Elder Litton leaving MTC

Scott was chosen to sing in the Priesthood choir at General Conference. He said "Singing at the Conference Center was sooo awesome. It's crazy standing up there, knowing you're singing to the world... The spirit was super strong.. and if you watch it online you can see all the general authorities turn around right when we start singing. For everyone who didn't see me, you can watch it on LDS.org. I'm in the last sing "Called To Serve" in the bottom corner for like 3 seconds. Just a little dot in the corner.. ha ha... It was way funny to watch all the people in the crowd trying to get the attention of their kids or brothers right after conference ended. Some of them had even made up a dance...

So this is my last week at the MTC. I'm stoked on Texas! I'm so ready to actually do the work. I might need some work on my Spanish though, ha ha. The church is awesome. It's Pure, Simple, Logical. It just all makes sense and it's full of Hope.

Elder Ryser transferred again

I am now in the incredible city of Zaragoza. It's out in the middle of nowhere but is amazing. I came at a perfect time. They had a party named La Fiesta do Pilar. (see his blog)

We have two baptismal dates for this Saturday and they are golden. They had been homeless for about 3 months when a member felt like he should go talk to them. He invited them to stay in his house and come to church with him. This was a month ago. Now they have hope. Islamil is waiting on a job offer.

Bowling on p-day


Spain is full of classy art

Elders Litton and Pinnock

From Elder Litton: So...I have some pretty good news. They're sending a MTC choir down to sing for priesthood session and i made it. I think there's about 200 people who did. We had to fill out these forms about our prior experience and stuff and somehow i got in. I guess i'm glad i was in the childrens choir now. But for those that are going to priesthood session watch for me. Maybe they will do a big close up on my face so the world can see all my zits...haha. Im super excited though...its gonna be a way nice time. we have practice everyday now. Its sounds really good....but i need to memorize all the songs. Sooo much stuff to memorize here....Spanish, Gospel Stuff (lessons), and now all these songs. We have to have 3 back up songs on top of all the songs we already have just in case one of the general authorities passes out of something. So maybe this will give you a good reason to stay awake during priesthood, haha. jk

Other than that not much new this week. We have to teach the first lesson in spanish for the first time tonight so that should be interesting. Im starting to understand spanish pretty well but speaking is a whole different story. I guess i just keep on praying for the gift of tounges. haha

Something cool I learned this week.....The general authorities we have during our lifetime will be our judges along with our Heavenly Father. Thought that was neat.





Here's Elder Pinnock at the MTC!

Elder Litton

Elder Litton entering the MTC

Elders Smith and Ryser

Luke emailed from Tahiti: ""so yeah I'm not going to say much this week cause the computer is acting really stupid right now; but everything is going well. I'm still in Punaauia with the same companion... love you all, Elder Smith" Alas. Communication is spotty to and from his mission.


Nick is enjoying summer in Spain - hiking, sightseeing... and missionary work in the meantime. For his year mark, "I got to go to Burgos to do an interview for a guy to get baptized. He's all good to go. The elders there, being the great guys they are, made me a Reese's cake. You would have loved it. Also some fajitas. It was the most delicious filling meal I have ever had on the mission from an elder."

Elder Johnson

Aaron wrote us from the MTC and said:

"I see David, Max, Will and Treyden almost every day. So it's been fun. Actually David has the room above me so we talk every night. On Wednesday I get the privilege to act as a Host Missionary to the new missionaries. That means I might host Scott and/or Andrew Menlove, which would be so cool."

His address as of August 24 is on our address list.

Elder Ward

From JJ's mom: President Uchtdorf has been in Hong Kong and the missionaries were able to hear him talk and got to shake his hand. His visit coincided with district and zone leaders and trainers' training so it was a slow week investigator wise. JJ said: "On Sunday President Uchtdorf stopped by. We got to take a picture with him, shake his hand, hear him talk to just the missionaries, and then hear him talk to the members of Hong Kong. It was a pretty good day. He talked a lot about just following the spirit, and being an instrument in the Lord's hands, and just completely dedicating ourselves to the work."



JJ mentioned that they would be getting a new companion, making their twosome a threesome for a couple of weeks. In Hong Kong 16 year old boys are set apart to be summer missionaries. For two weeks they live with full time missionaries and work right along side them. How cool is that?
JJ said: "Cantonese is coming along and I feel more comfortable all of the time talking with members and new investigators. We've picked up some new investigators, dropped some old ones, and have a few people coming close to baptism. Yesterday (Aug 3) we played basketball in our shirts, ties and dress shoes with a kid who was just shooting by himself. It was pretty funny - three missionaries playing in dress shoes in the middle of the afternoon. We were all pretty sweaty after that, but it was fun. You have to switch it up sometimes out here."

"Everyone is pretty much stuck or completely dropped off the face of the Earth. So we are doing a lot more finding right now and less teaching. Wilson's parents don't like other churches at all. They are strict ancestor worshippers, and they don't want him meeting with us... so things with him have to go really really slow. And then most of the other ones just won't progress... that's just how it goes sometimes. Everyone has their agency."





"Thursday it rained so hard, have you ever heard of black rain? Well it isn't completely black just really dark. I had the awesome opportunity to run from the Kowloon Tong chapel to the train station in it without an umbrella. in about 30 seconds I was as wet as I could get. It was actually pretty fun. But my shoes are still drying... haha"


Love you all. Thanks for your support.
Elder JJ Ward