A new week and a new year!

Hey Mom!
Looks like everyone else didn't have time to write me, but that is ok. I understand how they get busy and that dad has been working hard to get all of the stuff figured out for the stake. That is amazing how the entire stake was realigned! I am happy that our ward will be going back to the Stake Center, it feels more at home than at the other building. It's great that Bishop Ashdown will still be the bishop. He has really done an awesome job. I think that we still need his inspiration to help our ward prepare in the coming years, especially with how the economy is going.
Thanks so much for the packages, and I did get a card from Ron and Shannon. A bunch of people in the ward wished me a happy birthday. It was nice and it ended up being a memorable day. It was very different not being with the family, but I think that the baptism made up for it.
So on to the baptism. We spent most of the day preparing for it. We were over at the Dawsons working on a project that we are doing for the Bishop.
While Elder Fairbanks was doing that, I was in the kitchen making cookies for a treat afterwords. Then we went to the church and got all of the chairs set up, and started to fill the font. We had the programs made the day before so all we had to do was copy the inside of the program in the library. People started to come in and we had a pretty good turn out. There ended up being over 10 non-members there. Brother Wagoner spoke on Baptism and the importance of it. Brother Richardson performed the baptism (he was a member that gave her first Book of Mormon and works with her at the hospital). Then we went back to the chapel and gave some members the opportunity to bear their testimony about the Gospel. Elder Fairbanks gave a talk on receiving answers to prayers and tied it in with the First Vision. The spirit was very strong. We had a closing song and a prayer and then everyone went and had some refreshments. While everyone was moving into the kitchen, a woman stopped Brother Dawson and put her arm around him and said that after tonight her whole perception of the Mormon church had changed. She had been told we were a cult and a very strange people who didn't believe in Christ. And she said that now all of those misconceptions had left her, and that she thought that we were the most Christ centered church she had ever seen. That was super cool!
Sunday during Sacrament meeting I was asked to confirm her a member of the church. That really was an amazing experience since it was my first time giving someone the gift of the Holy Ghost. I really felt the spirit and hope that she was able to write down the things that I said. I just remember mostly saying that she was a Pioneer for her family and that she was going to be an instrument in bringing others into the Gospel through her example and love of the Lord. Her husband went up and bore his testimony. It was very simple yet very powerful in that he is so thankful that she had decided to come into the church. It was a really good meeting and felt so blessed to be a part of it.
So that is what happened this past week. For this coming week we are trying to see if we can work with another investigator and maybe get him closer to being baptized. When we were in Gospel Principles yesterday we talked a lot about praying to know and that it is really the only way that we know what the truth is. He really looked like he was pondering that a lot and we will be seeing him this week. I sincerely hope and pray that he will be open to being baptized. He has done all that he needs to. We know he has a testimony, but there just may be one or two things holding him back. I just hope that those concerns will be resolved and that he will want to be baptized before I get transferred out of here.
That is so cool that Christian and Ryan bore their testimonies. I wish that I could have been there to hear it. Being on a mission has its challenges, but its worth it. This baptism really has made my mission and it is inspiring to see that changes she has made in her life. Hopefully we can find more that are ready to make that change, but if not that's ok because I just need to keep trying as best as I can and the Lord will do the rest.
Well we have to go get shopping and all of that other stuff finished for the day. Hope that you all have an awesome week and thanks for all that you guys do.
Love you guys!
Love Elder Colton

Happy New Year and Birthday to ME!!

Hey Mom!
I was wondering if you were crying after you hung up on the phone(mom wasn't,she was just peaceful and content to hear his voice). I had a few tears as I was bearing my testimony, but I was surprised that I didn't cry more. I usually do when it comes to these sort of things. But it really was a joy for me to talk to you and everyone else on the phone. I was glad that it didn't make me homesick like I thought it would. It just made me more motivated to work hard. I am glad that you are feeling better and still have one more week off before your back into the hustle and bustle of regular life.
Some cool news that I'm sure dad will tell you about is that our investigator is getting baptized! And we set a date for the 3rd! I think it'll be awesome to remember one of my birthday's on my mission with a baptism. We will be busy this week getting everything figured out and all of that. I am thankful for this opportunity to teach her and to see her come to Christ.
This year has had a lot happen. Its amazing to look back and see all that has happened and how time has started pass a little faster. And realizing too that I have been out 8 months already. One Christmas down on the mission and one more to go :) Same with the birthday.
Thanks so much for your words of encouragement and always being there when I've needed you. It has been a new adventure here on a mission and I'm glad that I don't have to fully go at it alone. These weekly emails have always brought strength to me when I have needed it.
Well we are off to do shopping and get things ready for this week. I hope that you all have a fun last week of vacation and that it all is a good last hurrah! Love ya!
Love
Elder Colton

Merry Christmas!!

Zone Conference was a little different this time compared to the usual ones. We had inspiring talks, and President had musical numbers from Elders and Sisters. Then at the end he opened it up for people to bear their testimonies. We all felt the Spirit. President and Sis Hobbs gave Christmas gifts to us and a card from the 1st Presidency, that was cool!
The people that we are teaching are doing rather well. I think that we will be having a few baptisms soon. Elder Fairbanks and I are working well together. We both have realized that when we teach, we work off of each other in an effective way. We can feel the spirit while we teach, its great!
We have had a chance to do some service and it really had been fun.
I can't wait to talk to you guys later on this week!! I hope that everything is still going well for ya :)
Love
Elder Colton

Its almost Christmas!

Hey Mom,
It is crazy how fast this month has flown by! It doesn't feel like winter here, it has only rained a little bit. Today it feels like its around 60.
We have been talking to a lot of people; about 8 per day on average sharing the Gospel. We are hoping that we will see some results soon. We are teaching a few families. They are way cool and have been nice whenever we have come over. The father of one family has started to get interested in the church again. He hasn't been too active for the past few years. The other night he called us late with some questions and was wondering about some scriptures. We pray that things continue to go in the right direction for him, so that he can one day baptize his son (who is 2) and be with his family forever. We also had a cottage meeting over at the Major's home with two other families. It was very good. We watched the Christmas Devotional and then shared Christmas stories. It really brought the spirit of Christmas in for us.
One other family that we saw this week were the Lawrence family. They have a little girl named Laurel who has Down Syndrome, and she is about 16 months old. She really made me miss Brynley!! It touched my heard whenever Laurel looked at me. It reminded me of how Brynley can look inside of you and talk to your spirit. I felt Laurel talking to my spirit. She knew who I was. Her beautiful eyes made me appreciate the knowledge of the gospel that we have. Especially knowing that these children are choice spirits of our Heavenly Father.
My new companion Elder Fairbanks and I are getting to know each other better. We are the same age, he has been out one transfer longer than i have. He is from Canada. We have had some good talks.
That is fantastic that Steve is out and ready to go! I'm sure that Seth is probably having the same problem that we are. We are just trying to find people to teach and that seems to be a never ending process for us. Hopefully things will start to get better. We are trying to involve the ward as much as possible.
That is awesome they have announced another temple! I too wonder about who the next apostle will be. It would be interesting if it was President Hinckley's son. I know that your prayers and everyone elses help me a lot. I thank you so much and I love you with all of my heart. Thank you for always being there for me and being my best friend. I love you,
Elder Colton

Let There Be Joy To Everyone This Christmas!

The BYU College Of Fine Arts and Communications has produced an awesome new video:

“Joy to Everyone This Christmas”

It shares a message of hope that all people will experience love, peace and joy this Christmas. I hope the song and video inspire you to serve others this season!

The photography is stunning! The faces of children and families are so beautiful. The vocals are by Jenny Jordan Frogley and David Osmond.

Enjoy!

Elder Joseph B. Worthlin

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, died December 1, 2008

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin died last night. He was 91. His conference talk from this past October Conference was one of my favorites, "Come What May, And Love it." Even if you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints you will enjoy this talk. He gives some great advice, good laughs and insights how to handle life when it doesn't go like we've planned.

He will be missed!

Thanksgiving is Over and now...

Dear Mom,
It's December!!! It sure came up quick. I was thinking back to when I was in the MTC and it felt like Christmas would be forever away. Now it is almost here.
The rolls turned out great! I didn't know that they had Rhodes Rolls here, but they did at Wal-Mart. I showed Sister Kinney how to make them and they were a hit. They said that they would want to make them every year now as a tradition. I did get your cookbook and thanks so much for it. I have been craving your cookies. I think I might convince a member to let me use their kitchen and bake them.
You asked me one thing that I learned this past week. Well one thing I learned is that I'm not the only one that goes a little crazy when things don't always go the way that you'd like them to. We had an exchange with the Zone leaders. I was with Elder Taysom, who is from Idaho. We talked a lot about how we both get a little stressed out when people cancel for appointments. As well as when we don't get to do what we planned to. We just have to realize that it happens and to move on. It was good to know that even he as a Zone leader can feel the same way that I do. That it happens to everyone and not just me. It reassured me that I'm ok and that I am doing the best that I can right now. That is all that the Lord asks of me.
I got a few letters this week from: The Church's, The Hobush's and Aubrey Ashdown. Aubrey told me that she really enjoys your lessons in Relief Society and thinks that you are an amazing teacher. She looks forward to when you teach. And she really appreciated it when Christian went over to give her the sacrament. She thought he was so polite:) All of us Coltons are. It was nice to hear from all of them and to know that they are doing well.
Elder Severson leaves this week and he is really excited about it. I honestly don't think that we will get a lot of missionary work done this week. He will be packing and saying goodbye to a lot of people in the ward. Sometimes I get worried with changes. I know that the Lord is watching over me and that it'll be ok. There is a the possibility that I will be made a senior companion,ahh!! I find out all of that stuff tomorrow.
I love you and I'll write again next week,
Elder Colton

My Favorite Parmesan Crusted Rolls(aka Magelby's Rolls)
Texas size rolls (1 bag Frozen Rhode's bake and serve)
1 c. Parmesan cheese
1/4 . parsley flakes
1/2 C. melted butter
pinch of garlic powder
Directions:
Mix Parmesan cheese,garlic and parsley. When bread has thawed about 1 hour, dip rolls in melted butter and roll in cheese mixture. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Let rise again. Bake 20 minutes at 350 or until lightly browned.