HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013!!

ELDER LANGFORD'S UPDATE!!

Happy New Year!!

Whew! Not too much time, but first off we had a crazy miracle! We were calling a less active to set up an appointment and I accidentally called the wrong number. His wife had just recently died, and so her phone number was still one of the numbers to his house. So I called that, and a random guy answered and said wrong number, so I went on and said, well hey we're the missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and so and so, and shared briefly what our message is about,  the restoration, plan of salvation and the gospel of Jesus Christ here and there. He said he wanted to know more! Haha!! so we got his address and kept his number, and stopped by a couple days later, and found out, that it was actually his friend's house.  His friend, happened to be the daughter of the less active man that we were trying to call.  She said that it was perfect timing for us to come and cheer up her day, and said that she'd love to take the lessons, and make her decision about the church... whoa... freaky miracle... We had wide open eyes driving away from there! We were very grateful for the miracles the Lord has given us!

Also, thank you to all that participated in the Christmas call! It was great to hear all of your voices! I KNEW YOU WERE REAL!  Feels like I was born a missionary, and all past life, was pre-life... so weird... so thanks for bustin the temporary veil! Love you all!

Haha, funny little thing.  So we were biking over Atlantic Bridge (the bridge from Morehead City to Atlantic Island, (look it up it's steep!), and I saw a man out in the water, in a little Kayak, and I couldn't help but think, that it was Nathan comin to say hi! Idk, just thought I'd share that. Totally thought of him there!

On this weeks menu, I have taken part of eating crab, which actually wasn't too bad, but come to think it was like a crab pot pie, so it was covered in crust in butter, so it had to be good! Then, I had some sushi, which turns out, isn't as good as everyone says it is! :/ Probably the craziest thing this week, was the baby octopus... that was disgusting...no approval there...I'm willing to try again later if it's DEEP fried or covered in something think...but plain and cold, it was like a suctiony gummy bear with a dirty sock flavor....no go!!

Went  on an exchange where i took over the area for the day, and it went quite well! Nobody died or worse left the church, so it's all good! 

Oh also, gotta go but before I forget, there was a Jewish lady that we were referred to, and we talked to her for a while, and she's way in the hebrew clothes and all get-up, but she really wanted to come to church and to see what we believe and learn more for herself, and she loved it! She liked the testimonies the most (so always bear your testimony! it touches the souls that you don't even know! Every single time!), and is getting a copy of D and C, and heading back next week, and, has agreed to take the missionary lessons to hear more and talk about, baptism? She said she's already been baptized, so we're excited to explain about the restoration to her and authority and hopin for a warm reception there! 

Anyway, that's the goings on over down yonder here.  Nothin too crazy this week, but still trying to adjust to the area! Well, read the Book of Mormon, stay true, and I love all of you!!!!!!!!!! CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHERE KAITLYN'S GOING!!!! Put me down for: Orlando, Florida!!

Love,  Elder Langford

 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ELDER LANGFORD!!!

NOW SERVING IN MOREHEAD CITY,  NORTH CAROLINA! 

 

Great Blog from Jeff.  I'm noticing that many of his verbs ending in ING don't have a G anymore.  He is writing with a southern style!!  Funny!!!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

So, in a crazy chain of events, I got split up from the trio, and got moved... to Morehead City!! Woot! It's right on the coast, and actually right next to Jacksonville! We live in a wealthier member's attic, which is on a ranch! There are horses and dogs all runnin a muck! First thing I did on the way down there though, was I had a shrimp taco! We stopped at a mexican place coming into the area, and I decided, it's time to start liking/trying seafood a bunch, so I had a nice shrimp taco, and gotta say, it was pretty good! THIS, is the area, where I fear the 30 lbs. will sneak on me.. these people feed you like it's your last meal, every single time! I've learned I need to pace myself if I want to walk out of the house straight!

So also on the way down, I road down with Elder Tyler Winger, who is apparently one of my zone leaders now... for those of you who don't know him, he was on student counsel at Pone peak... pretty crazy!

But yeah we live in a nice decked out attic with a weight bench and everything! Couldn't ask for more! We have a mini fridge and like a boyscout stove kit... I've had straight eggs and crepes the past couple days! You can bet that today for preparation day that I bought like four things of cereal and milk... getting some real food in there! Plus sriacha hot sauce, which I brought from Jacksonville, which goes with me to dinners and on almost all the food I eat!

PS, We couldn't find my helmet, so before preparation where you usually buy a new one, I had to wear a horse riding helmet for like four days biking... that'll get some prospective investigators right there ;) the helmet was like a dome bigger than Cowboy's Stadium...

Also in Jacksonville, when I said my good byes, one of the sisters in the ward, (Sister Kiehl), went for the hand shake, and totally surprise hugged me!! Sooo illegal! I almost called my mission president (nope). But it was good to say goodbyes, and also to meet her husband, who came back from deployment on the same day I left. Great family! Tell them Hi for me from Morehead people who have her number :D

Oh mom, you'll love this... I can't wait for the :B I TOLD YOU SOO!!! But I deserve it.. haha!! So in my new district of missionaries, I'm the only one that can play the piano, so I now play the hymns for district meeting every week!

    "If only my mom would've told me about this or to practice more... or love me enough to at least warn me! Hahaha juuust kidding..."  It's been preached to me, and now I more understand what it means to wish you had played more piano before your mission... I actually played and sang a duet of Silent Night with my new companion in a member's home, so I'm getting back up there with the piano! I get a chance every Monday to practice! PLUS, to many a surprise, my companion and I have decided to sing at all of our member dinners and appointments.. So I sing like everyday for millions of people! So that's all normal hunky dory and what not now. We're probably, it looks like, actually going to sing a duet for church once... we'll see how that goes -_-

Speaking of my companion, his names is Elder MOSES!!! Hooo man! Can you have a better missionary name? I submit that you can not! Especially here in the bible belt! Haha it's awesome! I'm preachin with the prophet! Haha and someone said that he looks like Ken off of Toy Story 3, and... HE DOES!!! Hahaha it's soo funny! Or Fred from Scooby Doo! I'll send pics when I can!! Soo great... ahh. He's a great elder, and I'm a senior companion and follow up training him technically, but once again, it's another example (like Elder Clegg) of just being ready to go! He's got his head screwed on right! Haha also funny story, ironically, a member said he looked like Justin Beiber, and I look like 'Tintin'... that's a new one! Someone also said that I look like David Archuleta, and someone also said that they completely recognize me, and are 90% sure they met me in the prexistance... so I guess now I know what I looked like way back when as well ;) So that was weird, but good to finally meet someone I've never known but that knows me from a place she doesn't know, but knows, that I know. Who knows....

 I found out as we were leaving the ranch one night, that our neighbors are in a band!!! Sounds like worthy investigators to me ;) We have made plans to go contact them ASAP!  Also, on every Monday now, a couple members take us and are teaching us how to play tennis, so that's great! This place is pretty great I gotta say, I've been here less than a week and I love it!

Couple more things, I.... ate..... oysters!!!!!! and..... I liked them!!!!! Crazy huh? Need I say more? It looks like a lugie, but tastes like super salted chicken fat :) so with that being said, who couldn't like them ?  Plus... I saw the east coast in full view! Sounds like I need to get someone a jar of sand ;)

Another crazy thing, we went to a part member family who are personal trainers, one just had a hernia, so he was kind of relaxing, and the other one, the mother, man....she was ripped! She could take me down in the twinkle of an eye! Seriously it was something else!  A funny thing, kind of weird, they had a daughter, blonde long hair, junior in high school, how do I say this... "if someone who was not a missionary were to look at her, they might say, something, good? For me personally, very familiar? Anyway, the main point is, her name was Katie K. ... haha so it was really hard to teach that lesson :D

So also the people that we live with, are way nice. We have lunch with them every Sunday, and they're just down to earth, really great people! They are the Reese family, and they have quite the gathering! They're grandparents with many kids who like to come over with their grand kids, and also people that come for the horses, so it's always a mad house! I'm doin my best to get names down!

Ohhh one more thing! First Sunday in the ward, the young women's president comes up to us, dresses us up in these crazy (in a member's words, gay), wise men outfits, gave us a script, and for third hour, we went into the combined young womens, and read about the wisemen to them, as wise men... pretty intense way to have my first Sunday! It was great, and we had some fun with it.

And.. for now, I think that's all! It's been a super crazy week and everything's changed! And to add on, I'm taking over the area for a day on exchange next week so they're not slowin down one bit! Haha so first off, I want to leave you with a Merry Christmas :D :D and, a quote that someone said in the ward, that was pretty dang funny concerning this week... He said “This is Jesus week, we ain't doin nothin!” hahaha!!   Anyway, I love it! Even if there is no snow! I love you all soo so much and look forward to talking to the family on the phone tomorrow!!! Wooooooot! I hope you all have the best Christmas! Seasons Greetings from the east coast! Stay close to the Lord! Love y'all!!!!!!!!!

"Justin Beiber" gets Transferred and Moves!

Update: December 17, 2012

HEY EVERYONE!!  THIS IS KRISTI.  SO MUCH TO JEFF'S SURPRISE, APPARENTLY HE WAS TOLD YESTERDAY BY THE MISSION PRESIDENT THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE TRANSFERRED TOMORROW MORNING (TUESDAY).  HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE HE WILL BE GOING/LIVING AND WON'T FIND OUT UNTIL HE GETS PICKED UP TOMORROW.  CRAZY!!  DUE TO THIS, PLEASE DISREGARD THE ADDRESS THAT I SENT TO YOU LAST WEEK.  IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO MAIL TO JEFFREY FROM NOW ON, MAIL IT TO THE ORIGINAL ADDRESS WE HAD AT THE MISSION OFFICE:     ELDER JEFFREY LANGFORD

                  NORTH CAROLINA RALEIGH MISSION,

                  6508 FALLS OF NEUSE, STE 100,

                  RALEIGH, NC  27615-6845

                            

Family and Friends,

Ok, so bad news… I left my planner, which has all my notes on what to write to you this week… which was a lot of stuff… hmmm… So,  I guess I should mention first off that I’VE BEEN

TRANSFERRED!! Luckily for us… they told us that we weren’t going to be transferred out of our trio, so we got allllll settled into our new apartment.  Now they’re bringing in an extra elder

to fix the trio, putting me in a new area, and making two of the elders (Elder Clegg and whoever his new companion is) move back all their stuff (beds desks couches) to the old apartment

to separate again :D so it’s been nutz. President told us last week that there was literally a 10 percent chance of us getting transferred, and we are.  So the trio is broken up, and I won’t

have any idea what part of North Carolina I’ll be in until later tomorrow when I’m putting my bags in a stranger’s car with a new companion heading there! Woot, woot! Sadly enough I

have to say good bye to my ward, which will be missed for Christmas, but the Lord has called me elsewhere, and we’ll see how that goes! It’s been soo weird to really comprehend… to

think that I’m really leaving this area that I’ve basically been in for for six months… like weirder even than leaving home…  I don't know  how to really describe it… but I’m anxious to see

what’s coming up next! The saddest thing is that I don’t get to see the five people we’ve been working hard with get baptized the end of this month, early January and mid February… I

know for a fact though that Elder Clegg will keep them and the ward in good hands!  He’s been prepared from the beginning and it definitely shows!

Some miracles before I left were really powerful! We were teaching this part member family, and he was really less active,and she was just so curious and eating up everything that we told her, and really taking the time to read, and find the answer for herself. We were teaching her the plan of salvation, and we talked about what the atonement is to her, and how it applies to her, and she just started crying…. Like balling… it was so inspiring to see how the spirit was working inside of her… she truly experienced a witness from the Holy Ghost of the truthfulness of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. She said “ I know for myself now that these things are true, and that there is a force literally pulling on me right now to just learn as much as I can about it, and continue to progress” she committed to baptism on the 23 of January, and is making leaps and bounds to get there. Truly a miracle!

Another thing that’s been incredible to see, is the ___ family, after being baptized, they have fully been involved in the church, and have make such incredible leaps and bounds in all that they do. The father has been struggling trying to get a job and quit smoking, but it really trying his best to stay on top of things, and has set a goal for himself, for the purpose of becoming a member and following Jesus Christ, to quit smoking, and continue to have the drive to do what’s necessary to keep on changing his life. He’s a changed man, and to see just how his whole countenance  has changed is such a blessing to see. So inspiring. The little kids gave me a couple hand made Christmas cards to go home with. Can’t argue with that ;)

Someone… aka both my companions, now spread the news faster than wildfire, that they think I look like Justin Beiber… so now… like everyone in the ward thinks I look like Justin Bieber!! Pretty gay… it’ll never leave me… someday! All the young women give me crap. It’s great.

Well, saying goodbyes were pretty intense.   With Bro P… that was such a touching moment that I’ll never forget.. We went to stop by on the last day, to let him know that I was leaving, and I bore my testimony  to him of the truthfulness of all the things which we had said, and that we had said them truly for you benefit. He was obviously on a lot of pain pills and a little out of it, so we asked if we could close with a prayer. He said that he wanted to say the prayer, which he never does, especially when he’s drugged,  because he feels uncomfortable, but he asked if he could say a prayer for me as I left. It was one of the most heartfelt prayers I’ve ever heard hands down. It was so simple, and with many giant pauses because he was so out of it, but he was just sobbing, as was I..  and wow… it was one of the most touching moments I’ve had… I asked if I could say a prayer for him, and it was led by the spirit. Afterwards we got some pictures, and he asked for my nametag so he could always remember me. He made me promise to come back and visit. (not too hard). I hope and pray that I’ll be able to follow through with that. He’s asked me to give the prayer at his funeral, and I pray that I’ll be able to see him at least once more before that moment. I know that God loves Bro. P so, so much, and Elder Clegg and his new companion are going to do all that they c an to help him be baptized. If the opportunities lost, I’ll be doing his temple work very soon. It’s moments and times like these where you really realize what effect you can have as a representative of Jesus Christ. I wish I had more time, but I have to go today. It’s been good to have a second to ponder about this area. My first, my area, and to see, the incredible progression that has happened since the day I got here. So many more people are so engaged in the ward, and miracles are being brought into the ward family.  I’m so blessed to have served in such a great area, and I know that this is not good bye forever! Haha I Love you all so so much! Focus on what things make the season truly jolly this year! Thank you all for your much felt love and support, and thank you for the examples you’ve been for me to follow, and build my testimony off of for so many years! I wish you the best of luck and love in all things! Till next week! Love you!  Elder Langford

PS Totally forgot, today’s going to be absolutely crazy packed so I sadly will have no writing time at all…. So, I will be writing from my new area next Monday! Thank you all for being amazing! Cause, you kinda are, and stuff. Bye.~!

SURPRISE MOVING DAY FOR ELDER LANGFORD

NEW ADDRESS & UPDATE 12/10/12

Hey everyone.  As you will read in Jeff's blog below, he suddenly up and moved today.  Crazy week!!  His new address is:  I am very curious to know what will happen to anything that has already been sent to his other address.  I'm sure since it's still in his area that he will get it.  Hope you are all doing well.  Merry Christmas!! Love,  Kristi (Mom)!

Elder Jeffrey Langford

203 Valencia Drive #128D

Jacksonville, NC  28546

Hello Everyone, 

AAAHHHGGGHHH!!!!!! Crazy week! No time to write either which is also… crazy.  But basically to sum up the crazy events of this week, one of the elders from the other ward had to go home because of some health issues, and so because of that, and the fact that an extra elder won’t be coming in for that area in a while, Elder Clegg and I have been paired up with Elder Black in the other ward to take over both wards in a trio-companionship!!!!!WWWWHHHHHAAAAAA God works in mysterious ways!!! So now we’re covering double the area, so both wards, with three of us… it’s been extremely busy stressful, hectic, but it’s been happening!  Haha so yeah.   Oh and because of this, we moved! We found a new apartment by the church to put all three of us in. So with moving all of our stuff, getting two wards in the area now (6 hour church ROCKS! 730-2pm), and adding another companion, is just ballistic joy. Definitely a lot to get used to, but hopefully once the dust is settled on this crazy heaven sent tornado, it’s going to be super great and successful! We teach really, really well together and realize it’s for the investigator and we’re there to help them. It’s the other time when we’re not teaching that having three people is a craze fest…. But again, growing pains will subside soon! (Large faith required). We taught someone who just, showed up to church one day not knowing anyone, and he’s been the most solid investigator I’ve seen… he was on the Romney campaign, and has a lot of Mormon friends, so he just showed up one day to check it out! We taught him about the plan of salvation last night, and he’s just so prepared, and so open to hear the message. His faith is incredible, and his desire to hear more, to be baptized, and to truly seek out the spirit, is inspirational. Truly a miracle! Just a humble, tender man, who’s willingness made my eyes a little dry, requiring moisture!!! Anyway, spasmodic week going from one thing to the next in a matter of seconds, but it’s going great, and  once the kinks are worked out, things are going to be better than before unimaginably!!

PS: Our new place, as told by the housing coordinator, is the nicest in the mission… can’t argue with that! ;) Finally ants aren’t coming out of the bath frame!!! Wooooot! Anyway time’s gone, as it always is in the mission, so I love you all sooo very much.  And remember what CHRISTmas is all about!!!! Have a very merry one, and check out Mormon.org/Christmas when you get a chance!!! (Do it!!) I Love you all and appreciate all the love and support which I have.  Faith helps me every single time I need it!!!   Love, Elder Langford

"Best Week of the Mission So Far!!

Elder Langford's update: Dec 3, 2012

 Hey everyone,

This has been the best week of my mission so far hands down. It’s a bold statement but it’s a true one. My heart was full at the end of this week. So many miraculous things have taken place, and  I’ve been able to experience the Love of God for others, and myself, in ways that haven’t ever been so clear.\

First off,  I want to thank everyone that has sent me something! I hope I can get a thank you out to all of you! I really, really appreciate it, and I’m grateful for your kindness and consideration, especially for the socks. Thanks grandma for making my wash week stretch a little longer ;)

Speaking of foot/sock, I got my foot run over by the ward mission leader’s wife… she said she didn’t sleep that night! Pretty sad… she barely nicked it, and I feel bad she lost so much sleep! Good times.

 

One person I want to talk about is Brother Proulx. He has diabetes and goes to dialysis every other day. He also got his foot amputated because of an infection he got. Needless to say, he’s been through a lot. We met him a long time ago, and have been doing service for him for quite a while now, and always teaching him a lesson here and there. When he was in he hospital getting his foot cut off, we’d go see him two, three times a week. Needless to say, we’re really close to Brother Proulx. He has a real sense of humor, and has given me over probably 20 death threats! Haha as a joke of course (don’t worry mom), and is very attentive when he can be and isn’t on pain pills. (really funny when he is though!). He’s in a wheelchair now, and had been getting pretty depressed with everything that had been going on with him… He said that because of us coming over, always being there for him and being willing to help, that we’ve been the joy in his life, the thing that’s kept him going, when especially in his state, it would be so easy to give up.  Brother Proulx lives in a little trailer home with  two dogs, (one’s a full blood wolf!), and because of his impairment, and the dog hair, it’s quite, cluttery.    It’s amazing how all of that slips away when we get the chance to just sit and talk to him. He’s made the insane effort, to come to church every week he can. He’s become really good friends with the family that takes him, and really loves and enjoys church every time he goes, and really wants to become a member of the church. Elder Clegg and I both agree, that if we were sent on our missions, for only Brother Proulx, it would be worth it. I’ve seen his life change. He is a different person. He strives daily to serve, to spread the gospel, and always give  away his Book of Mormon to someone else, and bring his family to church!  He’s an incredible man! This week particularly was special. We had a stop by lesson with him talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. About half way through the lesson, he just went off about how he wanted us to come over on a break day, and just learn. Just allow us to listen and learn everything he knows. He said he wanted to give everything that would be of value to us. All the skills he’s learned in his life to us, and give us the most beneficial things he can. He had us for thanksgiving and fed us! He gave Elder Clegg and me  digital picture frames so we could always remember him! He tells us every time we go over  that we are literally like family to him, and that he sees us as his sons, and wants us to keep in touch whenever we have to leave. We’ve had so many tender moments with him, and I felt such a strong spirit of God’s love for him, and my love for him. True charity for him. I wanted to give him everything I had, I wanted to give him the very best thing I owned that could bless his life, and the best part about it was that it was the gospel. To help Brother Proulx through this life to prepare for the next as it approaches, and to come to a knowledge that He is prized in God’s eyes, and much a appreciated for all the kindness he’s given to so many. He’s got such a strong spirit. As we left that night last week, he told us, that he didn’t know when it would be that he passed, that with his health it could be tomorrow, weeks, years…  he didn’t know… he asked if LDS funerals were any different from other ones.  We basically said people just talk about the person, and then someone says a prayer for them as they go to the other side. He pointed to me and said that no matter where I was or when it was, that he wanted me to give the prayer for him at his funeral… I almost burst into tears right there!  I feel so blessed to be able to meet such a man as Brother Proulx, and I can’t imagine how great he looks in God’s eyes. I can’t imagine what’s in store for him as he carries on, pressing forward in Christ. It’s my responsibility to prepare him to meet God. Even if that was the whole reason I was sent here, I would be content with that. He’s such a great and cherished man in the sight of us and the ward! ;)

We also had a baptism after a long road of teaching and getting through some trials ;)  That was awesome too and I’ll send pics asap! I was able to baptize them, and it was a great and humbling experience! Haha the first one took four times! I’ll be honest… good times. But it went really, really well, and it was great to be a part of them making their steps into the gate and the way.   He’ll be receiving the priesthood soon, and will really make a great contribution to the ward!!

Ahh I wish I had more time but I’ve used it up! Really quick though, I kind of rebuked the entire elder’s quorum to have more faith and repent… It was great! We made a big list of their fears for spreading the gospel, and then we said what’s the opposite of fear? Faith! And we told them to have more faith and to step it up!!  Gooood, stuff ;)

Well anyway, sadly my time is up :/ but hey, everybody pray for charity! I asked the question in my study today on how to maintain charity?  The answer was, through diligence unto prayer!  So ask yourself, what can I do personally to pray for more charity diligently, and how can I act on what I pray for? I love you all sooo so much! And know I’ve been sent here for a such a divine cause! Can’t believe I’m like fourth of the way done!  It feels like I just got here! Love you  all!!!!!! So much.  Elder Langford! 

FUNNY MISC. MISSION PICTURES!!

 

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