Week 81 - A couple of funny videos and growth through learning...

Hey guys! 

Once again sending y'all that weekly update on what's been on the haps. This week I had this big meeting with all the other missionaries in leadership positions and our mission president. It was a huge meeting about how we could better do our meetings or how we could be better leadership... it took forever though felt like 10 hours :p but it was super beneficial for me. We listened to a talk about knowledge and one of the parts I really liked about it was that if we knew everything then we wouldn't have to grow and if we didn't have to grow we wouldn't like have experiences and if that's the case why would we be here! She also talked about work and jobs and schooling and all this other stuff and she said something at the very end I'll quote it for ya she goes on to say in her talk  "For those of you lucky ones who are going to be taking jobs, I hope some of you will take jobs that you are not fully qualified for and tell yourselves, “Who wants a job they are qualified for? There would be nothing to learn.”

So yes, let us gain knowledge, but let’s not get too big for our britches. The best leaders are 

restless learners and perpetual rookies. They realize that it is not what you know that counts, it is 

how fast you can learn.

Yes, “the glory of God is intelligence” (D&C 93:36), but it is in seeking, not knowing, that we find 

truth. In that space is where we discover the true glory of God. Thank you.

I agree completely, it's not what you know that makes you stand out but it's how fast you can learn. I've learned so much on my mission and it's taken me a little bit to get it all but I'm still learning day by day. I'm so thankful for all the many things I gain. We had so many awesome and amazing dinners this week we got to have papusas which is one of my favorite Hispanic foods and then got to do a ton of service for a member named Marvin. He's such an awesome guy he really cares about the missionaries and is always there for us if we ever need him! So it felt good to give back to him. As we were contacting this week we found this lady who at first we were just gonna walk by but then I had the feeling we needed to go talk to her and come to find out when she lived in El Salvador she use to go to our church down there! And now we're teaching her and her family, they're a solid good family! :) Don't worry I'll keep you updated on it all! Thanks so much for checking in! Until next time!

Love Elder Tidwell 

Of course I had to get pics with Elder Curtis...

Exchange with Elder Hunt

My Zone...

On Exchange with Elder Guzman

performing some service...

Marvin!!

At a taco truck with Jacob...

Got my hair cut...

Blanca...one of our English students.

Week 80 - A new area...I am on a bike!

Hey guys! 
Well, I'm super sorry about last week and not writing, I got so busy and then. All of a sudden the day was over! So just to recap on that week before this one. One thing that stood out to me the most was we saw this family... they have two autistic children and we talked about them a little bit when we first came in and she was like, " I won the lottery twice!" I was a little thrown off and confused by that comment not gonna lie. Then we talked for a while and got to know them and they got to know a lot about our families and us. In the whole Houston 10th ward I have the nickname of Elder Gessner or Elder 290 (other streets around that area) because of my last name hahah, there is a Tidwell area and a Tidwell Rd. We then showed the family a video called the will of God. If you haven't seen it you should go watch it right now, but after we watched I said I know at times it can be really hard. And the hermana started to cry and she was like you're right but you know why I said I won the lottery? I said I didn't know and what she said will probably stick with me forever. She said I say that because they already have there ticket into the celestial kingdom our Heavenly Father loved them so much that he didn't want anything bad to happen to them, now all I got to worry about is us (her and her husband) After she had said that I definitely cried but I thought, wow, she truly understands grace. I miss the H10 ward so much... This week I got to see them all again, I had to go back for a baptismal interview and I got to see all of my old favorite members!! 

This past week we had transfers and I had no idea what was gonna happen this time. All I know Sunday night was I'm leaving and then began the packing. So Tuesday came around and I found out the worst news.... I was going to open up this area called bear creek and we were ganna be on bikes (yikes)... Now the positive I was gonna be with this missionary Elder Blackford who I knew nothing about so I was really excited to get to know him! So we met at transfers and we were there forever trying to get the bikes all figured out. Then when we finally got to the area it was like around 4 and we had nothing there like nothing. If you'll remember to the beginning of last transfer Elder Schloer and I had gone there and raided the place all we left was some barbed wire and a few crumbs even to small for a mouse. ;) When Elder Blackford and I got there we just headed out tried to find some members and find some solid people around but nothing. We had English class and then this lady called me and Elder Blackford dolls and that we are so beautiful and she just couldn't drop it hahah. After all that there was an activity and as the new elders no one knew us but I asked one hermana if we could come over for dinner and then all of the hermanas wanted to feed us and the whole week got filled with meals and dinners. That's the first time that's ever happened to me. As we got home that night I was a little discouraged and Elder Blackford said "it's the calm before the storm elder" I said you is right! And then I heard him said " it's been a long time" and I said shouldn't have left you and he said Elder whatch you know? Since that we've realized we've officially stated that I am a rap nerd just like him but it's really crazy we have so much in common it's awesome! So the rest of the week has been filled with lots of biking and lots of sweating and trying to get to know as many members as we can. But miracles have napped this week too, on Saturday after a day of just nothing we were gonna go to a members house and I was like let's say a prayer before we go in. In it I asked that we could please find someone there and that they could let us in and it happened!! We got to know this lady and she said the elders have never came to my house before. She was really grateful we came by and then last night, Sunday we got done with dinner at the Alcantatas which is one of my favorite families in this area...she's insane hah she made us these things called palliadas which is a food they make in Honduras, they are so good like ah I love them. So then we went contacting and right before we went in Elder Blackford asked, could you pray and I said wait I did it last time, he then said well you just got the lucky touch. We then went in with just having asked our Heavenly Father if we could find someone, he plopped a family right into our hands! Aft first we didn't talk to them but we went back and they are such a great little family they've been going through a little bit of a rough time and they said they've been praying for something help. I have such a strong testimony about prayer and how powerful it really can be, If we have faith and hope, everything is possible, Si tenemos fe y esperanza todo es posible. Sorry this ones kind of long hahah but I hope you like it! Love y'all lots!

Me and my new comp...

Me and Leroy

Bear Creek sisters...

This cart was just sitting around outside...

The Monroys

We found some duckies!!!

My District...

Week 79 - No email today...just pictures!

Words from mom....

There wasn't a big group email from T today. He is being transferred so he is super busy getting ready for that! He isn't sure where he is going but is kind of sad to be leaving. He seems to be doing really well and is constantly learning and experiencing a lots of personal growth! Thank you to all of you checking in on him! Here are some pictures that he did send...

Me and Elder Schloer

Found myself an ugly Christmas sweater!

A familiar face!!

Week 78 - Always learning...Happy b-day video for my sister!

Hey...
Back to good old $3.99 hair salon hahah! It's been a pretty great week! This week I learned a ton about the atonement of Jesus Christ and especially grace. I remember back at home I use to look up at the bishopric as they took the sacrament, they then would just close there eyes and look down. I always wondered why until my mission I didn't understand they did so because of what is says in the sacrament prayer. That we take it, to remember the sacrifice that he made and from that I've really been able to think of the sacrifice he made for me personally. I've gained such a strong testimony about the sacrament and I really don't know if I could go a week without having it. And because of that I've really been able to let the atonement move through me and change me to be that worthy priesthood holder that I am and a future father I'm going to be. Fabian, has also given me so much to think about! He's been such an awesome example of someone who has truly been converted. He's had quite the crazy time... his dog ran away this week and had to break up a fight at work and then today (Monday) got robbed... like at gun point... Someone came up and robbed him. He's okay, the guy just doesn't seem even phased by it! He is such a stud! This week we had some crazy times, we had Spanish leadership council which was so cool! I always love going to these! For those of you who don't know what that is, all the Spanish speaking missionaries in leadership positions in the mission (district leader,sister training leader, zone leader) get together and we talk about things that might be going on in the mission. Like things that need some help or just to solve problems you know typical council type stuff haha. Just a quick shout out... it's my sister Jenna's bday! Happy Birthday Jenna! Man I miss them all so much! From what I've heard I don't think I'll recognize them, they are all growing so much! Also this week my favorite family was going to have us over for dinner, the Lemus, but the husband is a teacher in a school and has been getting ready and don't have the time to make anything so they took us out for dinner hahah! I love that family so much! Sorry this weeks a little short I'll try to make more time next week! Love y'all lots!

~Elder T

The first family I ate with in Louetta!! We had a Stake Conference.

Julio!! Man I miss the him and his family so much!

Exchange with Elder Norton!

My PNW brother Elder Backsteen!

Me and the old Phistdawg...haha

Man we are getting so old!!

My "brother" haha...

Week 77 - Fabian's baptism!!

Hey guys!!

Great week!! To start off... Fabian got baptized!! Man, such an awesome experience! I love that guy so much!! Hahah, he's probably one of the most prepared people I've ever met! Crazy thing happened though! So last Monday we went out to eat some fat phillies with Brother Sharp and he asked us about Fabian and stuff. One of the questions he asked was where does he live... And we both sat there and were like um we don't know we've always just met them at the church. So later that day I texted him and asked where he lived and guess what??? He didn't just live out of the area but out of the mission.... So we had already announced it to everyone in both the English and Spanish ward...so we were just like well crap.... Hahah so we figured out some stuff then called Fabian up and we found a way! He's planning on moving within the ward boundaries in a few months so we called president up told him the situation but just before that we offered a prayer to help things all work out and no matter what happens for Fabian to still be baptized and he had told us as long as he moves in the boundaries within 5 months he's okay to be baptized in the Spring branch ward! So right there prayer answered! After that everything was set and ready to go and so then the week begins hahah. Tuesday, we had zone conference which was amazing! Learned a ton about the difference between believing and sign seeker which was a super interesting topic I learned so much and just looking back I realized there have definitely been some times when I was a sign seeker. Fast forward to Thursday after weekly planning, I went on exchanges with Elder Curtis which seriously was so much fun, I miss being with him so much! We had some really great times together. We were able to figure out a few things for the zone though that we’re super excited to try out! Friday was district meeting which like always was a blast! Also ,I think sometime this week I got super sick like my stomach was wrecked and the one thing I know that's been known to help an upset stomach is some Sprite and funny enough after a little bit I felt normal again hahah. So baptism was amazing!! Finally after working with Fabian for 2 transfers we finally got to help him to the waters of baptism and seriously I've looked to Fabian as an example, he has been so humble and has accepted every commitment we've given him. He knows that the plan of salvation is true and that Jesus is the Christ. I was truly able to see his testimony after his baptism when he bore it and it was like watching a baby take its first few steps it kind of just takes your breath away and you see the potential they have. Then Sunday night was a great night I had such a struggle that day and was just kind of going through a rough day and I was talking to Elder Schloer in the car telling him what was going on and what was the matter and then I just got out of the car and MIRACLE! We met this family that use to meet with the missionaries about 20 years ago and said they've been waiting for us to come by again! I know there was a reason for it all and it was to find that wonderful family!

Love Elder Tidwell

Crazy sky!!