The Baptism of A Lifetime...

March 24, 2014

Hello Everyone!

   This week has been another crazy one. 

I was blessed to be able to be on exchanges at the beginning of the week with some great Elders. Then I came back to Thermopolis on Wednesday and have been here with Elder Clark who is assigned in Riverton, we are just on exchanges until this Friday. 

The work here in Thermopolis continues, I am still getting to know the area and know the people. Nothing too crazy or exciting happened in my area this week but something amazing did happen in an area within my Zone. The Tensleep Sisters had a baptism Saturday morning...

Some back ground information... Tensleep is a small town of 250 people and yet there is a full time set of Sister missionaries there. These great sisters were placed in this small town 6 months ago and when they arrived, the community strongly disliked the missionaries!  Yet these Sisters followed the Spirit and became the center of the community’s focus and admiration; they have inspired and changed a community. So this last Saturday morning was the first convert baptism in Tensleep in the last 10 years! Because Tensleep is such a small town, it only has a small LDS building that does not have a baptismal font.... What it does have is a creek that literally runs right past the little chapel.
    

When I pulled into Tensleep the temperature was 18 degrees and snowing. We found our seats in the little chapel and it continued to fill with people until there were no available seats. The Bishop stood and began the services, the Spirit was so strong right from the start. A great talk was given on baptism and then it was announced that we would all make our way outside to the creek to witness the baptism. All of us got outside and lined the creek bank. It was cold and still snowing, I shivered as I waited for the woman and her husband to make it to the creek's edge. He lowered himself into the water and looked up at his wife, he took her hand and they walked to the center of the creek. The Spirit was so strong, all ceased to be cold and the sun broke through the clouds! I was able to take the following 2 pictures and catch the beautiful moment....

   

It was as though I was in pioneer days as I witnessed this wonderful baptism! I am thankful for this woman and her husband and their commitment and dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ! I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ and there is one way to enter... That is by baptism! I invite all to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it the word of God, if you do so with an open heart, real intent and faith in Christ then I know you will receive an answer! You must act upon that answer and be baptized by one holding the restored Priesthood authority of God. I know for myself the Book of Mormon is true and I am thankful that I have that knowledge and acted upon the answer I received from my loving Father in Heaven. I am so blessed to be here and to be able to invite all to come unto Jesus Christ and be baptized!
  

- Elder Organ

Crazy Week!

March 17, 2014

  Well another week has come and gone! Where does the time go!? 

Monday we drove to Billings, Montana (4 hour drive) and we got some shopping done and then went to the mission home and stayed there with 6 other Elders. Then we got up at 3 am and got on the vans and started towards Helena which is normally a 4 hour drive. It took us 6 hours to get there because it was snowing so hard, one of the passes was closed and we had to go back and travel another route to get there! But we finally got to Mission Leadership Council and it was an awesome meeting! Then we turned around and traveled back to Billings. 

We got back into town about 9 pm and had not eaten dinner yet so we went to Steak N Shake... And as we were waiting for our food this guy comes up to the 4 of us and starts asking us questions about the Priesthood, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. At first I thought this guy was an RM just playing a joke but then I realized it wasn't and that this guy was "golden". So we get all his contact info and tell him that missionaries will be getting a hold of him. Then we eat our food and by the time we are done the place is closed up and so its only us and the clean up crew. As we are getting up to leave the same guy comes up and says "You know how you use the priesthood to bless homes... Well can you bless businesses? Can you bless Steak N Shake?"  Well we had never been asked that before, we were unsure but after talking about it we told him... If your manager is alright with it then we can do that. So he goes and talks to his manager and comes back all excited, "He said that would be great!" Haha so long story short, I witnessed the Steak N Shake in Billings get blessed, it was great!

Wednesday morning we were able to attend the temple, it was so amazing to be able to go again! Then we ran some errands and headed back to Wyoming, got home late evening. The rest of the week was busy with lots of teaching. We gained 2 new investigators who are both on date to be baptized April 12th! They are both young children but are so smart and so ready to be baptized! There are so many investigators, less actives, recent converts and members to teach! This area is a very vibrant proselyting area that I hope to be able to add to! It is awesome, and truly a blessing to be a part of! 

I love this work! I got to go, we are leaving to drive about 3 hours to where we will be on exchanges for 3 days. Talk to you all next week! Love you all, thank you for the support!  

P.S. I will try to remember to bring my camera cord next week so I can send some pics.

What A Blur!

March 10, 2014

Hello Everyone,

    Wow this week has been such a blur! Monday and Tuesday was spent saying goodbye to so many people I have grown to love there in Great Falls! I really will miss GF but my parents both said it best, "You were able to be in people's life and they in your life so you could both learn from one another." I know that is certainly true, I have learned so much from all the people I have been able to get to know on my mission in all my areas and I pray they have been able to learn a little from me too! 

    

On Wednesday morning I left Great Falls about 9 am and got to Worland, Wyoming about 8:30 pm. There I met up with my companion who is Elder Anglin from Gilbert, AZ. We did not know each other there in Gilbert before the mission but know some of the same people and his Bishop is Ron Knight, small world! I knew Elder Anglin when he was a new missionary in the Great Falls Zone 6 months ago, he is awesome. 

 

Here is the Wyoming South Zone... Because of geography I am in a split Zone Leader companionship, so it is sort of like having 2 companions, 1 is Elder Anglin who I serve with here in Thermopolis and then the other Zone Leader is Elder Croteau who serves in Riverton, Wyoming which is where I served about 7 months ago for 6 weeks!  Elder Croteau and I coordinate and communicate a lot each day with things regarding the Zone. Hope that all makes sense for everyone, I am a little scattered brained today!

    

Wednesday night there was a miscommunication and so we had a dilemma. The dilemma was we had 2 Elders that are companions, one is from Brazil and does not have a drivers license and the other Elder just had his drivers license expire! Haha so neither of them could drive themselves back to their area, so I went with one of them and Elder Anglin took the other one to Thermop. We switched back on Friday and that companionship just wont be able to drive till the one Elder gets his license renewed! 

    

So Friday up until now has been great as Elder Anglin has taken me around introducing me to many members, less actives and investigators! There is a lot happening here and I am excited to be a part of it. There was a convert baptism Saturday night and that was great to be able to meet him and be in attendance! 

 

To answer a few questions I received in other emails...

 

Thermopolis is a small town of about 3,000 people. There is a strong ward here, again with a lot happening! The weather was cold and snowy the last couple weeks and so there was a ton of snow everywhere and up in the mountains but the last 4 days has been in the 40's and 50's and so all the snow melted super fast which caused a TON of problems. Two towns here in my Zone that have missionaries there were evacuated and flooded by the river. There were multiple places on the river that became so clogged with HUGE chunks of ice that the water had no where to go except for over the banks and flooded a lot. These little farming towns are built on the river for irrigation purposes and so many houses were destroyed or severely damaged. Members and missionaries helped all they could and will continue to help in the clean up stages of the mess that was left once the water resided. I will try to send pics of it next week. 

    

This afternoon my Zone Leader comp and I will travel with the sister training leaders to Billings where we will spend the night and then tomorrow we will travel all the way to the west side of Montana to Helena for Mission Leadership Council and then I will get back here to Wyoming Wednesday afternoon, should be another great adventure! 

 

I love you all so much and thank you for all the support!

Transfers...

March 3, 2014

Greetings Everyone,

 

    I had a busy and great week! We taught several great lessons and shoveled a lot of snow, for about the past 4 days it has been in the negative 20s and 30s with a lot of snow! So we stayed bundled up all week while we shoveled a lot, taught and searched for more people to teach. 

 

This past Tuesday we had our Zone training which went well over all and we had a surprise visit from our Mission President and his wife. President Mecham interviewed all the missionaries, I had a great interview with him which I really needed.

     

Sunday night I got a call from President Mecham with my transfer information, I have been informed that I will be getting transferred to Thermopolis, Wyoming and am remaining a Zone Leader. 

 

It is heart breaking to leave Great Falls after serving here 6 months, I have created a lot of relationships and have grown attached to this area. Although it is really hard to go, I know God has a reason and a purpose to send me to Thermopolis. I am up for the adventure even if it is 12 hours in a car to get there! ;) 

 

Ha ha those who know me, know I dislike long car rides!

    

I know the church is true if I am in Great Falls, Montana or Thermopolis, Wyoming. The church is true and I have a ward family, that is how it is around the world. 

 

My parents were able to meet the prophet, President Thomas S. Monson yesterday at the Gilbert Temple Dedication and I could feel of the Spirit as I read their testimonies and experience. I know as they know, that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of God, he speaks with God and reveals the word of God to all of us. (Amos 3:7) 

 

I testify if we will all keep our eye on the prophet and follow him with exactness then we will all be protected as this world gets more and more wicked! Hold to the rod, walk the straight and narrow path by doing the small and simple things such as reading your scriptures and saying your prayers. 

 

I thank all of you for your love and support! With Love, Elder Organ

Here is my new address for me new area! :)
 

Elder Aaron Organ
838 Clark Street

Thermopolis WY 82443

Busy Week

February 24, 2014

Hello Everyone

     Well the harsh weather is back, it is snowing and in the negatives once again but as missionaries in the Great Falls Zone we say, "Bring it on, the work will press forward!". And the work does indeed go forward. 

 

This week was a really busy one, we had a mid-transfer adjustment so I spent some time on the road switching some missionaries. I was on an exchange in the Northern part of the zone for a few days, it was really fun to be with some great Elders who are both new to their area and are working hard. When I got back to my own area at the tail end of the week we had a lot to get done and sent in on time and then we hit it hard teaching. 

 

Elder Wyatt and I both spoke in church yesterday and so that was a great tool we used to invite anyone and everyone to church. Many of the less actives and investigators we work with all came, including a man we have been working on for 6 solid months who has been inactive for 50+ years came and sat in the 4th row, it made my week!

    

 Here are some pictures!

 

Our Ford Fusion that got stuck in the mud. Elder Nessen and I got out and pushed will Elder Wyatt stayed in the car at the wheel.

So much mud!

My suit coat (an old one) that I just washed and hung out to dry which worked great actually!

A picture of our baptism last weekend.

These pics are of when one of my favorite member families took us bowling on Preparation Day!

 

 

 

It was a busy, fun week with so much going on! We have a lot to get done this week and then this weekend we get transfer info so this transfer really has flown by! I have been here in Great Falls 6 months and really would love to stay 6 more if its God's plan.

 

    I testify to each of you of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, this book is true, it is another witness that Jesus is the Christ, I put the promise to the test, I have read this book again and again and asked to know if it is the word of God. The Holy Ghost bore witness to me that this book is true. I invite all to come unto Christ by reading the Book of Mormon and asking God with a sincere heart and real intent if it is true. By reading the Book of Mormon I came to know my Savior in a more real way. 

 

I testify that Jesus Christ suffered, bled and died for you and for me. I know He is my Savior and Redeemer. I testify that He not only died for us but He broke the bands of death, He left the tomb empty so that we can all live again. 

 

Jesus Christ lives today and is at the head of this church, I love being his representative, how great is my calling.

 

Love,

 

Elder Aaron John Organ

Baptism!

February 18, 2014

Hey Everyone,

    I am short on time but wanted to share a wonderful experience with you all! 

 

C---- L--- was baptized on Saturday night, it was a beautiful service where the Spirit was so strong! I am so thankful for him and his decision to follow Jesus Christ! I was blessed and honored to be able to confirm him a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; the blessing he received was powerful and specific. The Spirit was so strong and testified to all who where there, C-------'s mom and sister were there who are not members and they were both touched and felt the Spirit. It truly an amazing experience that I was so blessed to be a part of. His baptism and confirmation were not only a high light of my week but a high light of my mission. 

    

I testify that children of God come closer to Christ by entering the waters of baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Baptism is a two way covenant with God our Heavenly Father and is necessary if we want to return to live with Him again. The gift of the Holy Ghost truly is one of the greatest gifts, what better gift then a member of the Godhead to be with us at all times as we remain worthy! I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of God here on earth. I am privileged and blessed to be a representative of Christ. 

 

I am thankful for each of you and the support you provide me, I am in need of prayers and support right now to make it through a hard time. The adversary works hard but I know we must be strong and press forward. It is my hope and prayer we can all continue to press forward together. 

 

Love each of you!

Driving...

February 11, 2014

Hello Everyone,  

 

So the subject line is "Driving..." Why, you may ask? Because I spent over 20 hours in a car driving freeway miles. So this 20 hours was all spent on a freeway getting to somewhere, it does not include our "in-town" miles. Just to give you an idea... Yesterday I personally drove 535 miles moving missionaries around, that is why I didn't email yesterday, I was out of town all day. 

 

Anyways... Ha ha the reason I mention any of this is just to show you the uniqueness of my mission, it is geographically so wide spread, especially for a "states mission". To drive from the East side of my mission to the West side, it would take you 11.5 hours. To drive North to the South it would take you 9.5 hours and anything diagonal across the map can be even longer! Transfers around here are an all day process, lots of time spent in the car. 

   

My zone is 3 hours North to South and 2.5 hours West to East. I don't know how this compares to my missionary friends throughout the world but from what I understand, this is pretty unique for a stateside mission. 

 

Anyways I have rambled on long enough of geography, my point is we were really busy with travels this entire week that sadly we didn't get in as much teaching as I would have hoped but we did have some great lessons... C----- L----- will be baptized this coming Saturday, Feb. 15th and had some good lessons with other people we have been working with.

    

Life is hard sometimes but I always find comfort in praying and reading the scriptures... The simple primary answers really are the answers for life's hardest questions. I am grateful to be here on my mission, I know this church is true, if you will live the gospel and love it then I testify you will be happy. 

 

Love you all!