Heart of VA

Well I don't think any of you could ever guess where I am! I am literally in the middle of Virginia in BUCKINGHAM!!!! Let me tell all of you something, this is a crazy experience for me cuz I am out in the middle of NO Where! I don't know how many of you follow my fellow friend and missionary Keegan Christensen, but like him I am now out in the middle of no where. I guess they send people like us out here to spice up the place :) So much good stuff has gone on this week and I dont even know were to start cuz I also what to mention some of the good studies in the scriptures that i have had!

So I packed everything up and headed to transfer meeting this past Tuesday and boi was I nervous for some reason int he back of my mind I have been having this feeling like I really need to prepare for this next transfer cuz it is going to be a struggle for me. Like I said I was reassigned to labor in the Buckingham Branch with elder Miller. He is from Idaho and has been out just a little bit longer than me!

The first 2 family or people of the ward that I meet in Buckingham each had about 10 Dogs and 5 cats.... so as many of you that truly tickles me :)

This past Friday they did have a trunk or treat at the branch so that was super duper fun. I got to meet all the members before they were in there shirts and ties which made things nice I would say. I will just have to say that it is comforting to know that where ever you go in the world there is always members of the church that u can rely on :) and that is the same in this area.

As for fun adventures that I have already had here;

- I got to help out moving horse fencing and got to be around lots of farm animals. Definitely reminded me of Staunton :)

- Was able to give out candy to car as they went through the "Haunted Forrest" and say " Thanks for supporting Historic Buckingham" hahah

- So on Saturday, after being here for 4 days and feeling uncomfortable but almost getting over it we are doing service for our Branch Mission leader when he tells us he wants to take us to Farmville for dinner. So we go and I always thought farmville was going to be similar to Buckingham cuz lets be real. Farmville sounds like lots of farms and buckingham sounds like the name of a nice city. Anyways Farmville is a city and I can not put into the words the relief I felt when I was it. To know that I am only 25 minutes away from a walmart, chick-fila, Buffalo Wild Wings, and shopping definitely gave me peace to my heart. I don't know what I would have done with out that city! Lets just say I slept more peaceful that night now that I know I have shopping at least decently close to me!

- We also had the coolest experience up at this place called Yoga-ville. i dont have any pictures but we will definitely be going up there again! It is like this secluded retreat where people go to find them self and become more peaceful. i will be real that I definitely felt very peaceful there. I We meet some really nice people there and I could totally see myself going there after the mission for a couple week stay! the Coolest part was there temple of all different kinds of religions. Definitely check out the website, well worth it! http://www.yogaville.org/

As for my studies this week they have been so great. Maybe it is because I am away from the city and able to focus more :) things that I would like to share with you!

- People recognize us as missionaries and members of the church by the love and peace that we show to people and bring them.
- This life is a time for us to purify ourselves. We can onyl truly purify ourselves through the atonement of Christ. We us the Atonment in our lives by strengthening our faith and repenting on the daily. We build our faith by learning about GOD.
- The easiest way to build faith is to learn what your building faith in. Now I am building faith in God so i am personally studying him.

So that is the jist of my week. Hopefully at least some of that made since. Thanks for all of your love and support and prays, plz keep them coming cuz I will know I will need them! and send me letters :)

- Elder Young

PS The Pictures from the Ranch are from a members place here! SOOOOO NICE. #trill #Lavish

Sure is hard saying bye to this kid, Sure will miss him!

These two have turned out to be some of my best friends here! Love them

Sure going to me Elder Goold and Campbell, Both exception elders

Love these two and there cute daughter!

Woods Cross 4 Lyfe

Peace out from Buckingham, VA Love u ALL!

This is the temple at Yogaville

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

The time has come, I Honestly would be totally okay if this time never ever came, But I am being transferred out of the Swift Creek Ward. Boi can I just say that the past 7 and a half months have truly been some of the best times of My life. I have meet some of the greatest people and hopefully have been able to touch the lives of those here,as much as they touch mine. I just want to say thanks for everything the people in the Colonial Heights and Chester Area have given me! I was able to bare my testimony on Sunday but again I just want to let you all know that I love this work, and especially love this work when I am able to work with the members in the Swift Creek ward. So much I have learned in the past 7 and a half months I feel I could never give it all back :)

With that, I am excited and a little nervous to see where the Lord wants me next. We find out tomorrow so hopefully I can get the new address on here asap. I know I will definitely need those encouraging letters these next couple weeks. Sorry it is short but HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Wild on the East Coast

HAHA, So sorry everyone that it has taken so long for me to get on here and write another email. monday was a holiday, Tuesday we emailed for a little but had lessons, so here we are today. Boi has it been the craziest past couple weeks ever! From people going to jail, to going and coming from psych wards, all the way to teaching intoxicated people, a man recently baptized had a stroke, then some people having babies. It has definitely kept me on my toes :) and so much I have learned!

- Been doing lots of Family History, since we don't spend lots of time on technology and I'll admit I go through some withdrawals from it. Doing Family History allows you on a computer to do the Lords work. So now I have just grown to love doing family history for anyone and everyone!

- So sad story this past week. As we were knocking on a members door one morning, she is like "what happened to your car"..... There was a huge dent and scratches on it! Like really. I guess someone must have side swiped us while we were parked at a lesson the previous night and not had the dignity to leave a note..... PEOPLE these days!

- I don't know if any of you have seen the pamphlets that we use as missionaries. I always thought they were nice but never really use them until this past week. With our goal to find the 'Ones God has prepared" We began giving people these to read before the Book of Mormon and boi did it help out. When we came back, those that actually read it were so excited for us to give them The Book of Mormon and it was great to see the commitment. Commitment is one of the hardest parts of a mission, not only always being 100 committed to the mission, but discerning the commitment level for those you work with.

- Now for the hardest lesson of the week, and we honestly get these lessons every so often. A member invites us over to teach there friend. I really like to ask questions just to track where people on with their spirituality. Well lets just say that teaching people that don't have a desire to go anywhere after this life makes things really hard!  I have not find out how to really touch these peoples hearts yet, I guess it will come to them in time. But I do have to say it totally grinds my gears when people don't care about life. I guess they don't realize how much of a privilege it is!

- We meet this sweet guy this week. He is head of finances for the Department of Agriculture. he is literally the one that takes money in and out of the economy, and if any of you were wondering. He is a very religious guy! Always goes to church, loves God, but very busy. Hopefully we can continue to share more with him though!

- Many of you have asked, How the weather?? Well this week the weather has been so awesome! Actually the past couple of weeks have been so great! Nothing beats doing missionary work when the weather is nice outside. It really does make people happier!

- Last, with getting done with the Book of Mormon reading and back into "normal" study, I have loved studying even more! This past couple weeks have been some of the best studies of me mission! to share a few things of what I learned;

Time Heals All. This has come up in my studies so much this week either while reading the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, or out teaching. God's timing is everything, and we just have to do our best to find it out!

We are to all raise a voice of warning! This was a great study that I had all about it is our DUTY to raise this voice of warning. This a responsibility and I am sure God will hold us accountable if we warned our neighbors. Hit up Warnings in the Topical Guide for a good study.

As members of the church we are only building their knowledge. Should not be taking any away. We are adding to it and maybe sometimes we do have to mold it. I have found this to be so true as we teach. Showing people this is not totally new, but just NEW AND IMPROVED (if that makes since).

Last today I studied about the Work of Salvation, specifically the Less-Active work that we do. It is true that members of the church are held to a higher standard than the world. We have made the promise at baptism and even more in the temple. it is my goal to remember this. WE HAVE TO LIVE TO A HIGHER STANDARD. And I hope that u all can strive to do the same.

Well thanks so much for reading, It was nice and long :0 There will be some more pictures up here soon. Sorry it has taken so long! Oh, and it is transfers this week and there is a chance i will leave. So maybe wait to send letters, but still write them in preparation to send :0 love you all and Good Luck with your week!

- Elder CJ Young

Loved Conference

I do not even know where to start this week! It really has been a trip, haha! BUT I LOVED CONFERENCE SOOOOO MUCH! The Prophets definitely spoke some true words there. I don't have lots of time to email this week just cause of lessons to teach. But we were able to watch the upcoming movie Meet The Mormons. It is a good movie. I would recommend it. I am excited to see what kind of impact it will have on people and on the church in the worlds eyes. The stories told in it were true. This gospel is true and that why those people live such peaceful lives in this cray cray world.

I will write a  nice email next weeks with the details of this week but till then, LISTEN TO THE PROPHETS VOICE.

LOVE elder young