More Random Pictures: Sent May 5, 2014

Me feeding a lama! :)

Me feeding a lama! :)

Me at Wind River

Wyoming sky!

Arby's fries and eggs in a burrito!

Me at Big Horn River!

What a Week!

May 5, 2014

Hey Everyone,

    I had a really busy week! I was able to go on exchanges from Monday to Saturday this week with 3 separate companionships so it was a fun time. I enjoyed being out with the missionaries and learning from them and we had some cool experiences! I wish I had more time but my time is gone, we are getting ready to leave with our Bishop to his cabin to go snow shoeing for Preparation Day, I am super excited.

    

Missionary work continues on and I am loving it. I enjoy my companions and the people here we are working with! Life is great, love you all!

Attached are a lot of pictures of me and another Elder being pretty epic in the Wyoming sunset on top of this huge rock... Haha!

 

 

Teaching In The Prison

April 28, 2014

Hello Everyone!

     This week was a busy week! 

 

Monday to Wednesday afternoon we were traveling and having MLC in Helena, Montana. I always love the opportunity to travel back through Montana, I really love it there! The meeting was great! We got back Wednesday night and we had 2 meetings to attend and also went to a stake youth seminary activity that night. 

 

Thursday through Sunday was busy with several spontaneous service projects and lessons with people on the street. We had a busy weekend and the highlight was on Sunday when we got to go teach the Restoration in prison! 

     

There is a lady in the ward that writes several people who are in the prison here. One of them is a member and reads the Book of Mormon daily and has been growing spiritually a lot and asked the lady in the ward here to start writing H----- D------ who is another lady who is incarcerated there. So she began to write her and just after a few letters, she mailed her a Book of Mormon and then went and met her in person twice. We were then called and told that H---- was really open and would love a visit from us. So we went and all had our first experience teaching there in the prison. It was us 3 on one side of the glass and H----- on the other side, she introduced herself and explained she has a desire to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints and so we taught the Restoration in about 10 minutes with the pamphlet. She asked if she could have the pamphlet, we had to remove the staples and talk the guard into letting her have it but we got it to her! She has been there several years and will be sentenced in about 2 weeks and will go finish her time elsewhere. We hope to see her again before she leaves and teach her more and follow up on her promise to read the Book of Mormon. It was a powerful and neat experience! 

     

I know that Heavenly Father loves His children! I am blessed to be here on a mission and enjoy it all, even the rough times, I know it is all to help me grow and become the man I need to be. Love all of you and am thankful for your support!

P.S. Hope you enjoy the pics, I figured they were self-explanatory! :) The one with the 3 bowls of a spoonful of honey... That one is for my dad, he will know what it is... I am the cook in the companionship, I make what you always made me as a kid!

  

(Sidenotes: Since Elder Organ didn't explain them, I will. The above picture of the truck is just for me. When he was 8 or so I dubbed him Butch and its what I've always called him :) The bowls with the honey is something our dad always did when we were kids. Whether he was making us Cream of Wheat, Malt-O-Meal, or oatmeal, he prepped our bowls with a spoonful of honey and butter.)

Pictures of Elder Organ: Sent April 24, 2014

I absolutely love technology and the progression of all the tools we have to communicate with people from all over. It really is a great thing!

A member who lives in Worland, Wyoming met our favorite Elder Organ at a Stake Seminary activity on April 23rd and was able to snap some pictures and then was kind enough to forward them on via email to my parents with a little note. This isn't the first time we've been surprised by little tidbits of news and photos either. My mom has gotten both texts and phone calls from members who have spent time with Elder Organ and thought to take pictures and relay little messages. Its always a happy surprise!

"My name is Michelle Winder, and I live in Worland, Wyoming. I met your Elder last night at a Stake Seminary activity. The missionaries were invited to participate to encourage our seminary kids to continue reading through out their lives. The stake wanted to use the missionaries as good examples. The Elders and Sisters split up into teams, and were part of all of the activities. They had scriptures chases, balloon popping to find clues, mad gab, putting scriptures in order, etc. It was a fun night."

Yay for unexpected pictures!! Enjoy :)

Hey Everyone

April 21, 2014

    Crazy week this week with transfers! 

I am staying in Thermopolis and was driving a truck to pick up my new companions when WHAM! A deer decided to run out in front of me when I was traveling 70 MPH so long story short, I killed another deer and was totally going to take it home to clean it and eat because how epic would that be!? But... I found out it is illegal in WY, so we left the deer there. Me and the missionary with me are fine, a tad banged up but totally fine. The truck on the other hand is NOT okay, the whole front end will get replaced. So that was an exciting time this week. 

   

We had a temple square referral so we went and met Lufa from Madagascar! We taught him the first lesson and the Spirit was so strong, he accepted baptism, the BOM and wanted us to come back. The only bummer is he moves back to Madagascar in 6 days! So we will see what we can do to pass him on to Missionaries in Madagascar, so awesome we have missionaries all over the world and can do that!

   

We had a good week this week, I am enjoying my new companions Elder Swisher and Elder Archie. Easter was great, a really fun time! 

 

I testify to all of you that Christ lives! I know He lives and is at the head of this church. I am so blessed to be His representative and to share the good news with the people of Wyoming! I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration. Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on Earth today and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is true. I invite you all to constantly ponder on your relationship with Christ, not just at Easter time. We should always be striving to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. 

 

I love each of you, thank you for your support!

  

-Elder Aaron Organ 

The Blessing

April 14, 2014

Hello Everyone,

    Well this week was extremely busy and super crazy! 

 

Attached are some pictures of this weeks encounters and adventures.

 

Horses we found on a dirt road, they came right up to our window!!

Horses we found on a dirt road, they came right up to our window!!

Horses we found on a dirt road, they came right up to our window!!

A seafood soup we ate, it had crab legs, octopus, squid, muscles, all sorts of things... I used to hate seafood but this soup was awesome, and who would have thought I would get such an exotic experience in Wyoming where all people eat is meat and potatoes!

All the supplies we ordered for the Zone... Over 500 Book of Mormons to give out!

 

At the beginning of the week I was pretty sick but had so many things to get done so no time to rest. Tuesday we had Zone training and then we didn't get back to Thermopolis until Thursday afternoon. As we were coming back to town we got a call from a ward member asking us to go give a blessing to Brother George (name changed) who was in the hospital. We said we would love to do that and would get over there as soon as we could. The following experience I share with all humility...

     

We went to give Brother George the blessing at about 7:30 pm on Thursday night. We went into his hospital room and talked to him for just a few moments. His voice was quiet and he was weak, so we asked him who he would like to give the blessing, he slowly raised his hand and pointed at me. It is always such a privilege and blessing in my own life when I can give someone a priesthood blessing. 

 

So my companion anointed and then I stepped up to the hospital bed to seal the anointing. I sealed the anointing and paused waiting for words to come, the very first words that came into my mind were, "It is okay to go home, your mission here is accomplished." I waited in silence, honestly praying for the faith to say those words, and then the words left and other words came to mind, I started the blessing and the words flowed. 

 

It was such a cool experience because through the blessing we really were able to know what kind of life this man had lived. He had lived a life of service, always serving anyone who came his way who needed help, he had had true Christ-like love for all men. 

 

Towards the end of the blessing he was told, "Your mission is complete here, all the experiences and knowledge you have gained in this life you must use in the next life in bringing souls unto Christ." And the blessing was then closed, Bro. George was so grateful, he was at peace. A little over 12 hours later he passed away. 

    

It was such a faith promoting experience for me. There is no doubt in my mind where Brother George is at or what he is doing, he is in the spirit world teaching people and using the knowledge he gained here to bring souls unto Christ just as he was told in the blessing. He is no longer in pain, he is experiencing true joy and true peace. 

 

I know this to be true and it is all made possible through our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ broke the bands of death and left the tomb empty on the third day! 

 

"I know that my Redeemer lives, oh what joy this sweet sentence gives!"

 

 This Sunday is Easter, I invite all of you to ponder your relationship with Jesus Christ, what he has done for you and the Resurrection. I know Jesus Christ lives, I am one of His representatives and invite all to come unto Christ. 

 

Love each of you, have a wonderful week!

My Testimony

April 7, 2014

Hello Everyone, 

    I do not have much time today... Another great week has come and gone. 

 

I was on exchanges until Wednesday evening and then Friday we had a mid-transfer adjustment where Elder Anglin was transferred to Basin and Elder Pradera is now my companion until transfers next week when I will probably receive a different companion. 

 

This transfer has been a blur, so much has happened! Attached are a few pictures of the adventures this week!

 

We transported 2 large mission bikes in the trunk of our car so had to take them all apart!

We transported 2 large mission bikes in the trunk of our car so had to take them all apart!

  

We found some buffalo this week!

 

This picture is of me with my Zone at Zone Conference this past week.

 

Because I am short on time I just want to bear my testimony to all of you...

    

This past weekend I had many of my prayers answered. I had several questions that I wrote down and knew I would be able to find the answers as I listened to General Conference, and sure enough that is exactly what happened! 

 

I know we have living prophets and apostles on Earth that speak to us every 6 months, what a blessing it has been to learn from them, I pray we can study their messages again and again. I testify that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet on Earth today and that he leads this church under the direction of Jesus Christ and God the Father. 

 

I testify that I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, I have read it and the Holy Ghost bore witness to my spirit that those words are indeed of God! I know that the Book of Mormon is another witness that Jesus is the Christ. I know that Jesus Christ suffered, bled and died for me and for you. Why would he do that? Because He loves each of us and it was the only way back for all of us; I testify that you and I were worth it to Him and to Heavenly Father. The atonement of Jesus Christ can bring true peace and enable us to become who He needs us to become. I know Jesus Christ broke the bands of death and that He lives today! He lives for you and for me, where is our relationship with Him? 

 

I testify that true strength comes from reading the scriptures daily and having daily conversations with our Heavenly Father. I testify that now is the time we must all choose whom we will serve... 

 

I declare to all of you that I have chosen to serve my Savior Jesus Christ, I love Him and have come to know Him in a real way as I have kept His commandments and followed His teachings. I am so thankful to be here on this mission for Him and I pray I can continue to work hard and give Him my very best. 

 

I bear you this testimony with humility but with surety and do so in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Amen.