11 December 2012

hello how are you? well this one will be short and I wont add any photo's for this last E-mail. any way I just wanted to let you all know that I love you and that I am looking forward to seeing you all soon. so there is not really any news other than I was able to see the torres and the meza family again and let me tell you time flies the meza girl is 2 now and I was there for her first birthday party. so needless to say I was surprised to see her. and the torres family is doing great. and I was planing on putting the photo's up my self so you will have to wait. oh I decided where I want to visit.I will let you know who when we come. so I will see you and speak to you soon. LOVE YOU MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas!

3 December 2012

so how are things going I thought that I should let you know that I have been given an extension........ hahahahahaha I know that one would get you:) :D :P :b 3:D okay any way no I haven't gotten extended but I do want you to remember that I am still a missionary and yes for only a few more days. but don't remind me please!!! porque estoy bien cajuelado (yes I know that's not proper Spanish Diana.) so not much has happened this week other than a lady that we have been teaching has chosen to be baptized soon I wont say how soon I want that to be a surprise (I can feel your suspense) well I know have a photo for you (look to the attached photo) so this is the baptism last month on the 4th. so we have been working (see mom I'm not as lazy as I used to be) or am I??? we will see :D so yeah not much to report this week (had an appointment this morning all is good so far) Love you all and I will speak to you next week!!!!

26 November 2012

The week has been well. we had some really awesome lessons these last few day's that the spirit was very strong and we are very happy. and there is not much to talk about this week but yeah. sorry that I wont be able to send you more in this e-mail I will work to have more for you next week!!!

19 November 2012

Okay I finally sent photo's I have kept my promise. so now there are some thing's that have happened 1st. I have been working on a drawing of a hand and this hand is rather special it is of the savior and it quotes his in saying to this end came I into the world. and come unto me and feel the prints of the nails in my hands. I like it. okay so the scriptures quoted are John 18:37 and 3 Nephi 11:14 What do you think of it?

I have been seeing an increase of my faith, knowledge, and love for the Savior. it has been great these last few weeks just learning. and it has also been stressful just a lot of things hitting be each day. but it is worth the fight it really is. also about the other photo I attached can you guess what it is? well it is what I call the Ziegler Claddagh ring but yeah it is what I saw in a dream hope you like it.

so with all my Love Elder Ziegler...

12 November 2012

how is everything going? things are going well. well on other news I am doing well we just had a stake conference and Elder Zwin and Elder Christensen were here to reorganize the presidency. they are powerful speakers. they gave us all a challenge to read chapter's three and six of preach my gospel in ten days and I would like to extend that to you all and I would ask you to send me some of your thoughts and impressions that you receive in that time. so that is one of the things that happened. Also on that side of pain Mariah you are not the only one who had a digit hurt on the mission I got my thumb hurt badly about three days ago and it in now starting to feel better still very sore though. Oh we started a new teaching method we have been using my superior art skills (haha) to depict various moments of the book of Mormon and today I'll be working on the the part of when Lehi finds the Liahona out side of his tent. I know that I have been promising photo's but I simply have not taken any. and I hope that this amount will satisfy those who will be reading. and this I say with Love Elder Ziegler.

5 November 2012

I received my package!!!! and the work is going well. we just had two baptisms and I must tell you I was very happy. I will show photos in a few weeks hahahaha I know I don't have much time left and I won't tell how much time but yes the time is at hand. and well the work so far has been doing well we are still working hard and looking for the Lords children who are looking for the gospel in their lives. and well things are going well and then I will let you know how they went. and I will admit I have been getting frustrated a-lot and I should tell you that I am concerned about something Love Elder Ziegler

29 October 2012

well many things are going well we are working hard and seeing many miracles in our area we are helping two of our fathers children work towards baptism soon. and they are loving the gospel. I just found out that some one I started teaching on the island got baptized in July!! I was very happy to hear that. I have been seeing how it is that I have changed in these two short years and it is remarkable to see who I was and then look at who I have become. my faith in our Lord has been strengthened so much and my love for others as-well. I am more comfortable to speak to others. and I have a better understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ. so much has happened that I cannot say in words I only know that I have changed so much. and I love it. I am having a hard time right now I am having so many mixed feelings and I just don't know what to do about it. I want to go, I want to stay!! it is hard for me right now I bet Mariah should know how I feel. but so far every thing is okay I am still working hard and still chugging along. well that's about it for this week but I pray all is well and that you all may be strengthened as I have been. With Love Elder Ziegler.

22 October 2012

so this has been a good day and a great week we are teaching a few people and some of them have a date for baptism. and they are very excited. well things are going well and the up-coming months are looking well for the area and the ward. the lord really has blessed this mission and the people here in Canada. well not much has changed other than no I haven't gotten my package from you mom and dad but I got one from Diana..... Hermana Ziegler. I will send pictures next week of the card very funny and she gave me a pillow tie ha ha and it's purple. but yeah not much new right now. so things are good. I assume all is well and wait till the next week. so lets see I think that is about it for the things I have to write so until next week. Love Elder Ziegler

15 October 2012

well today so-far is a good day. and things here are going well and we are working hard and we are looking for more people to teach and this is proving a little difficult but it is a good thing that we have to work hard this work was not meant to be easy. so how are things? I have not yet received the packages so you will have to wait at least another week. I will keep you updated. any way not really any new experiences. Oh, we do have one it was interesting we come home one night and a fellow just gets in our car and after seeing us gets out and walks away. it was interesting and a little funny. there are not many things new but a few things here and there. I am sorry that this is not as long as we all would like but I don't have much to talk about. so until next week with my love Elder Ziegler

8 October 2012

How are things?? things for me are going well and I am loving my mission more and more. the members are great and we are teaching a few people that I can see that the Lord has prepared them. There are many things going on right now that I can't remember them right now. However I will include one experience. We started teaching a family and the Mother and Child are rather interested. the second lesson that we had with them the Child started crying at the end and the way they could describe that they were feeling was "happiness" and the Spirit was very strong it was wonderful. it was one of many times so far on my mission. and now let me tell you that I love you. okay now about something that I learned at conference I heard alot about having a change of vision and have the power of the atonement help you over come the dark clouds that blind your spiritual eyes... it was just an amazing conference this year. and I look forward to next year!!!! well at least to the Ensign. and so untill next week and with Love Elder Ziegler.

1 October 2012

so this has been an eventful week I am now the new Spanish District leader and I am still in Vancouver and I am still with Elder Rivera this will be 6 transfers in the Vancouver Spanish area. Winter is coming! time to get the wool socks out :) any way yes the weather is getting colder and the leaves are falling. Many things here are looking good the trees are reds, yellows, and greens and the peak of the mountains are starting to turn white so yes the winter is on it's way. well I have finally accepted that I will not be here much longer no matter how much I would love to stay. As we all know that there is a time and a season to all things. and to adopt the great words of J.R.Tolkien for me wanting to stay. "So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide, all they have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to them!" and we learn from the Book of Mormon that this life is a time given to man that they may repent and receive the gospel. so all I have to do is decide how I will use this time left, that I have in-order to help my brothers and sisters learn of and accept the gospel. I am doing well although I have been stressed out but things are getting better. I love you all and I will talk to you next week.

24 September, 2012

how are things going? things are doing very well here in the Canada Vancouver mission and I am doing well too. things are good I am learning a-lot still and understanding more the gospel and how to live it, it is great!! So how is the work going? very well we are teaching a wonderful family and they are just loving the gospel and wanting to get baptized.... OH Gabriel and Nancy called me yesterday it has been over a year and a half since I have seen them. I can only imagine how big their kids are now. Birthday like's or need's? two White Shirts, Long sleeve. cards from my favorite nieces and nephews (children of my sisters) and..... that's it nothing else I don't want anything else. You can't believe that 2 years has gone by so fast. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT IT HAS!!!! President Tilleman told me the same thing! "Make every Moment count." but he told me to get trunky but in a certain way. now how are things there? that is so cool that Donny recived the priesthood. I had been thinking about him a-lot. any way I was also thinking about my mothers cooking and what I want to eat first... So many good thing hard to chose but I think that I have settled on chicken rolls mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm soooooo gooooood! so yeah thats how things are right now I love you all and with that Love I say "until next week!!!"

17 September 2012

well this has been a great week. we have been working hard and we have not had much time to rest.

now I will let you know that I have been doing well and I have been learning a-lot about how I can keep growing and come closer to my savior. I have been reading in Jesus the Christ and there is just so much that I never knew and I have started to read the new testament with a greater understanding of the events that are happening. and so there are many things that I have been learning but not much has been happening and so my e-mails have been short. but I have been coming to understand who I am and who I can become.

I am loving my mission more than ever.!!!!!!!!!!!!

well I have not much more to tell.
so till next week and with my Love Elder Ziegler!!!!

10 September 2012

Hello this has been an interesting week I have been working hard and I
have been losing weight it has been fun. Today one of the Elders
that we were with said "you might get sent to surrey!" I must admit I
got scared because I know that I would get big again and that, to be
honest is the last thing that I want.

well any way I have been thinking a-lot about how to develop more faith and I have been lead time and time again to one key thing and that is the Christ like
attribute of knowledge. so I think that in-order to develop more
faith I need to obtain more knowledge of my savior. now that to me was
an interesting thing because our Zone has been focusing mostly on
having perfect faith, doubting nothing. so it has been great I have had
that additional push to develop it.

so more about my life so far... I got the package and well I can't
send a photo of me opening it, it didn't last long about the only
thing left is the almonds I am saving those. well I must let you know
that I bought a new watch and no not because my other is broken I
still have it in working condition but I liked the watch that I
bought. so I now have two watches. that is more than I can remember
ever owning at one time.

we life is life and I am trying to make every
day the best ever so yeah I am loving it so much.

LOVE YOU MORE!!!.... For Eternity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so with that
Love, Love Elder Ziegler.

3 Sept. 2012

So this week has been a good one. we have been working hard to find new investigators because President Tilleman gave us a challenge to find 5 so we got to work with only 4days left we had to work hard and for a little bit we thought that we wouldn't reach it but at the end of the week we did and now ElderRivera and I are very excited to make it the standard for the area so that we can help the area and the ward grow.

Well on other news we are teaching a family and they are awesome we only had a few lessons with them and I already love them so much it is great to see how they are loving the Gospel and applying it to their lives it truly is wonderful.

Also this last week has been full of service we have been helping people move and it was one after another and day after day... I was tired so I think needless to say I slept well. but other than that not much has been happening.

The weather is cooling down and the summer is slowly turning into fall and I can just smell the winter rains in the air.

I have been reading a lot from Jesus The Christ and it has been wonderful I have learned so much that I wish I had read it a long time ago.

well I have to get going so I will talk to you next week. Love you all.

27 August 2012

okay so when I heard about uncle Jim I simply was pondering a-lot about how I could help and I felt it hard to say much on the subject. for the only words of comfort I know of are that the Lord has revieled that it is all apart of his Plan. I am glad to hear that uncle Jim has passed. it is good to think that he has gone to a place where mortal pain is non existent.

now I would like to tell you about my week. well we have been able to work closely with the members and have found a few less actives and helped them feel the love of our father. so we have been working hard and walking a-lot I have started liking using public transit you are able to meet so-many people that way. and I have been able to open up a-lot more. now I don't have much time so I have to get going.

I have to go so untill next week!

20 August 2012

So how goes the March of Heavenly Fathers work? well the work goes well.

I tried many times to check my balance here but I can't the machines here don't have that option.
and I know it was a few months late but I decided to send it anyway I wanted to send it in time for feb.14 but as you can guess I forgot. any way that was funny you have to admit.

so the work as I said goes well we have been seeing miracles and they have been coming fast and we have had to work hard to keep up. now this has become a subject that I don't like talking about but I only have a few months left and so you may be getting a letter or call about travel info and stuff. any way I am loving my mission more and more every day and I keep learning more about my savior and I love him even more every day. I have been reading the book Jesus the Christ and it is awesome I have learned so much and it is great. so things are well here.

so I have no idea about the scholarship stuff so if you could take care of that for right now that would be great.

with much love Elder Ziegler

13 August 2012

hello every one I am doing well this fine sunny day in Vancouver b.c

any way it has been a great week we have been working hard so that we can start getting things going in our area. it has been slow in the work but we are not losing heart. because when we lose heart the Lord cannot bless us for our efforts. How goes the battle? well as I said we are out there every day working hard and helping others come back to the Father. How is the big City? Things in the city are doing great I have been learning so much and to be honest I am used to living here now and I might just be even more used to it by the time you see me. but I promise that I wont bore you with the little details. So is there anything either of you need? I would like an update of the family photo's.

other events that are going on. well not much has been going on other than me learning how I need to do better and how I can keep on doing well. so I know that these have been short as of late but I have a lot on my mind.

7 August 2012

Yesterday was a holiday and so I was not able to e-mail. and so a few things that are new (1) we have a an investigator that is preparing to be baptized on the 18 he was taught for a wile before and now he wants to make that covenant with our father in heaven. (2) we are now going to use public transit and car we have a very limited mileage allotment and so we will be working twice as hard.... I Like!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (3)?????? well I'll let you know if there is anything else. but the week has been sweet. we are learning so much I have really expanded in my knowledge about the gospel. a return missionary said " I wish I knew how to studdy when I started my mission because I am only scratching the surface of the knowledge I can have" and that is so true for me too. well sorry that this is short but I weill lett you know of anything else.

30 July 2012

well there is not much new here. but there are a lot of things that I have learned like one of the most resent is the example of one inviting others to the Savior and another inviting others to the adversary I found it wile reading in Alma 48 and like always satin only invites us to come to the border of our comfort level and then when we are there tries to make us think that it is not a bad thing to go farther. but on the other hand our Savior has told us that we need to become better and he teaches us how we can be able to meet His standard. like the Nephites had Maroni to teach them how to defend our selves from the attacks of our enemy. we have modern Prophets to lead and guide us. so that was one thing I found in the book of mormon that was a cool insight. and well I am sorry that I got this to you so late but I was just a little busy playing basket ball. and so I was not able to get it to you sooner but that is all about what we have been doing so far today and not much else this week a-lot of hard working looking for people to teach. so I hope all is well with you there.

23 July 2012

Things here are going well I have a bit of a surprise for you. well yes we had a baptism and I am so happy I can't even describe. now not much else happened this last week but this was the highlight of the week I was blessed with one of my greatest desires to have found, taught, and then baptized at least one of our fathers children and he has blessed me with two and they are so wonderful they are truly converted to the gospel and they said that there is nothing that make them leave.

well... to be honest I cannot think of any thing else to think about. sorry that it is so short. I love you and pray for the best.
Love Elder Ziegler

16 July 2012

Well the work goes on and we are working harder and harder than ever before but we can still work harder!!!

any way about our last week I was able to see how some one can be so certain that they had received an answer that they will let nothing get in their way. one of the investigators that we have said that they had received an answer. he said I know it's true because God told me it was and nothing else matters. and to hear that it was so cool because I have always tried to explain why I am serving a mission so eloquently that it floored me to hear someone say so simply " I know because God told me, I will because God told me too" I was shown that as Adam said "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."(moses 5:6) and that was so powerful to hear a simple testimony I was really humbled.

any way about the rest of my week it has been hot as-well an average of 23c and I have had to ware my short sleeve shirts to keep cool, and I have been getting a tan! I can tell because I took off my watch and under it is WHITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and the rest of my arm is more brown so I CAN TAN!!!!!! NOT RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no more lobster boy. hahahahahahahahaha.

any way things are going well I have gone a wile without using my accents but I have been using them more often and it has been fun.

guess what we went to the Torch!!!! yes the Olympic Torch. and a few other of the Vancouver attractions one is the Vancouver gas-town steam clock. and that's about it. well it has been a good week. so I will talk to you next week.!!!!!

9 July 2012

so this week was different I now have a new companion Elder Rivera he is from Guatemala so he is a Guatemalteco but his family moved to Canada.

any way he is what you can call a fireball of energy (mucho energia) well we have been working hard on finding more of our brothers and sisters to share the gospel with and to help them find happiness in their lives. but it is not as easy as you would think but none the less we are going to work hard and do everything we can to do our Fathers will.

well we are given many opportunities to help others and help them feel of the love the Lord has for them and see the light from amidst the darkness.

well not much else to write about I will have more experiences this next week so I have some stories to tell. so until next week.

with love Elder Ziegler

3 July 2012

Well this has been a rather interesting week but I think that it was a good one we had a lot of opportunities to learn and help others. well I learned last night that I will not be transfered but I will have a new companion his name is Elder Rivera. and so any letters for the next 6 weeks can be sent to the vancouver address. friday night is when we have mutual for the youth and last friday the members played a small game of soccer in the gym and we were invited to play it was fun there was a lot of laughs and not many goals but I think that we did a good job on building trust with the members. and we also have been able to visit the members in our area more often and that has been helping a lot as well. and we have been seeing a lot of help from them in our efforts to help our investigators. and it has been helping. now I have been well stressed a little but that is to be expected and then I have been having a lot of growth in knowing who I am and what the gospel is and what it means for my life. I have really learned what repentance is and how to apply it in my life. now I know that you have sent a lot about how things are but I need some info if you could send me the information that I would need for school registration that will be helpful so that if I am able to fill it out myself or if you need to I will still know what classes I need to do and ones I would like to do. I will be calling President Tilleman to find out who will be filling them out. so I will let you know on that one next week. wil love Elder Ziegler

25 June 2012

so this week has been strange we had to drop our 2 baptismal dates because they wanted to keep going to the other church. now that was a stressful week. any way I am confidant that we are able to find others. now on to another topic I have had a wonderful Idea and if I could remember what it was I would tell you!! so now I would like to tell you about how happy I am! but I think that my therapist would get mad at me for lying. okay I am bad at jokes but really it has been a bit hard as of late and it has been well in a word hard. but all is well I know that as I work hard with all diligence of heart and mind that we will be blessed. and that as we work hard to meet our goals we will meet them.

until next week Elder Ziegler!!!!!!!!

18 June 2012

Well this has been a strange week we had to drop some of our investigators because they did not want to give up old habits. And then we are still working to find those ready and willing to have the gospel in their lives. So we are looking under every rock to find them. Other than that we have not been to busy only to the point of near fainting... ha ha not that hard but that is what it felt like. It is very wonderful to hear how you have been blessed just yesterday I was thinking of a promise that was given when I was set apart. "As you are obedient you and your family shall be blessed with the things that they stand in need of. And there shall new treasures of knowledge uncovered." and to hear that the blessings are coming forth. and I know that they will only be doubled now that there are two Ziegler's serving. Any way in way of news there is not much other than our mission is on track for the most convert baptisms in its history. THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!! We are helping more and more of our brothers and sisters come to the path that leads back to our father. And we are working hard to help those that have been placed under our stewardship. (I have noted that my e-mails are becoming a little more poetic) what do you think?
Now how are things there in your part of the world? and yes I am talking to everyone that will read this!. So??? what’s new?? Any way things are well with me and I will let you know of any changes!. p.s. I had a Costco hotdog!!!! hahahaha long time since Montana!

another thing that I remembered a rather funny experience it was raining and I got completely soaked. and then wile we where tracting another day a dog was barking at us and he was facing me then it turned around and ran strait into a fence and then was dazed for about a minute at first I felt sad for him but once I got back into the car I could hardly stop laughing.

11 June 2012

so this week was a little slow until the travailing assistants came for an exchange then we just started to find more and more Spanish people the Lord just putt more of his children in our path than I have seen before. and then yesterday we had 5 investigators come to church and they all have a baptismal date for the end of this month. When I heard that I was so happy I almost started to laugh... well I did for a little bit. three of them are a family a mother and her two children and the other two are twin brothers. the brothers said that when they came to church they felt a peace that they had never felt ever before in any other church. and they mother and her children we had been trying to teach for just over a month. but they have now accepted the invitation to follow the example of our Lord and Savior and be baptized. I am very excited to be here at this time. and I heard that one of the investigators I taught was baptized early this month and I just felt a peace that was so calming, I was relieved to know that they had entered into our Fathers kingdom. So things are well.... Oh I got the box Daddy and now all I am missing is R2D2 and then I will have the dynamic duo. and Diana it is wonderful that you too are finding joy in your mission. and don't forget to find JOY in 3rd place. (Jesus, Others, You) I have learned that is truly the way to find true happiness and joy. Nichole How are you!? the kids are growing so fast I hardly recognized them in the photos. and Mariah whats new? I still haven't gotten a picture of you and your new little darling. any way I pray all things are well with each and every one of you. now mommy you know I love you and you know that I miss you but I LOVE YOU MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! haha now lets see is there any one I missed.... nope so I will talk to you next week with updates on the family's here.

4 June 2012

Today is a good day!!! you know why? I don't ether that's why I asked you!

Any way this past week has been awesome we have been working hard and we have been able to find a-lot of people wanting to learn of the gospel. one that we found on Saturday is a fellow from Brazil he let us in and we shared with him the restoration of the gospel and he told us that it is time for him to stop procrastinating and go to church. and he came!!! he is an investigator for the ysa missionaries but we are all apart of Gods kingdom. President Tilleman has told us that "If we have the chance to teach them ... Teach them and then get them to where they will grow the most in the gospel. it doesn't matter who will baptize them if they understand you teach them. if they don't pass them to the missionaries they will understand." As we as a mission has applied this we have seen an increase of those who are wanting to learn of the gospel. "you don't know and they don't know if they are searching for the gospel until they have gotten a nibble of it and then if they want more there will be nothing that will stop them from devouring the whole tree." that is so true and it is something I would never have learned if I had not served a mission.

well one of our investigators is a searcher and He has told us that he has received answers to questions that he has had for many years that have never been answered until now. and he told us "I want to find the truth" .... we don't hear that every day. well we don't hear that hardly at all.

any way that is a bit of what has happened this last week and I am very happy and learning a-lot like never before. http://bcove.me/ma6qq8w0 I was listening to this talk and I was thinking how much it applies to missionary service. as men in the church we have the responsibility to serve a mission and then it is up to us on how we receive the blessings at the end of these two years. do we take gratefully the reward our Father has or do we look at the blessings of others and storm off thinking that ours were not what we had worked for. I can promise that we are sent to were we are needed and we experience what we need to in order to become tools in our Fathers hands. do not wait for a sign but become the very sign you need http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&id=2012-01-003-waiting-on-our-road-to-damascus#2012-01-003-waiting-on-our-road-to-damascus
so until next time Elder Ziegler

28 May 2012

So first things first I have some awesome news!! yesterday I was at stake conference and I saw an old friend that I had not seen for several years.
So other news about the stake conference. it was a nation wide conference and both Elder Christofferson and Elder Packer spoke it was a great!! any way we also walked a lot and my feet are a tad bit sore from that we had walked about 4 hours because we wanted to keep the sabbath day and our car was low on gas so we decided to use our cheveralegs instead. we meet some very nice people!!

On other news we started teaching a fellow from Nicaragua and he has sincere desire to learn and understand the answers to his questions. and we are waiting for another lady from Guatemala to get back so that we can start teaching her. she was a potential from a wile ago but she wants to learn and apply the gospel in her life.

So great things are happening for us here in Vancouver and I am loving every minute of it. There truly is no greater joy than to see one of the 99 who has wondered away come back to our Fathers loving arms. this is a talk that clearly shows our saviors love and also the role of church leaders and missionaries.







The Summer of the Lambs


Jayne B. Malan


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The day school was out at the beginning of each summer, our family went to our ranch in Wyoming. It was there with my parents and brothers and sisters, and a few cousins mixed in, that I learned about family loyalty; love and concern; birth and death; that one must finish a job once it is started; and, to quote my father, “There are only two things important—the family and the Church.”

One year my father was waiting for us as we arrived. He said he had a big job for my brother Clay and me to do that summer. I was about twelve at the time, and my brother was two years older. Pointing to the field by the side of the house, my father said, “Do you see all of these lambs in that field? I’ll share the money we get for the ones you raise when we sell them in the fall.” Well, we were excited. Not only did we have a significant job to do, but we were going to be rich! There were a lot of lambs in that field—about 350 of them. And all we had to do was feed them.

However, there was one thing that my father hadn’t mentioned. None of the lambs had mothers. Just after shearing, there was a violent storm that chilled the newly shorn sheep. Dad lost a thousand ewes that year. The mothers of our lambs were among them.

To feed one or two baby animals is one thing, but to feed 350 is something else! It was hard. There was plenty of grass, but the lambs couldn’t eat the grass. They didn’t have teeth. They needed milk. So we made some long, V-shaped feeding troughs out of some boards. Then we got a great big tin washtub, ground up some grain, and added milk to make a thin mash. While my brother poured the mash into the troughs, I rounded up the lambs, herded them to the troughs, and said, “Eat!” Well, they just stood there looking at me. Although they were hungry and there was food in front of them, they still wouldn’t eat. No one had taught them to drink milk out of a trough. So I tried pushing them toward the troughs. Do you know what happens when you try to push sheep? They run the other way. And when you lose one, you could lose them all because others will follow. That’s the way with sheep.

We tried lining up the lambs along the troughs and pushing their noses down in the milk, hoping they’d get a taste and want some more. We tried wiggling our fingers in the milk to get them to suck on our fingers. Some of them would drink, but most of them ran away.

Many of the lambs were slowly starving to death. The only way we could be sure they were being fed was to pick them up in our arms, two at a time, and feed them like babies.

And then there were the coyotes. At night the coyotes would sit up on the hill, and they’d howl. The next morning we would see the results of their night’s work, and we would have two or three more lambs to bury. The coyotes would sneak up on the lambs, scatter the herd, and then pick out the ones they wanted and go after them. The first were those that were weak or separated from the flock. Often in the night when the coyotes came and the lambs were restless, my dad would take out his rifle and shoot in the air to scare them away. We felt secure when my dad was home because we knew our lambs were safe when he was there to watch over them.

Clay and I soon forgot about being rich. All we wanted to do was save our lambs. The hardest part was seeing them die. Every morning we would find five, seven, ten lambs that had died during the night. Some the coyotes got, and others starved to death surrounded by food they couldn’t or wouldn’t eat.

Part of our job was to gather up the dead lambs and help dispose of them. I got used to that, and it really wasn’t so bad until I named one of the lambs. It was an awkward little thing with a black spot on its nose. It was always under my feet, and it knew my voice. I loved my lamb. It was one I held in my arms and fed with a bottle like a baby.

One morning my lamb didn’t come when I called. I found it later that day under the willows by the creek. It was dead. With tears streaming down my face, I picked up my lamb and went to find my father. Looking up at him, I said, “Dad, isn’t there someone who can help us feed our lambs?”

After a long moment he said, “Jayne, once a long, long time ago, someone else said almost those same words. He said, ‘Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep. … Feed my sheep.’” (John 21:15–17.) Dad put his arms around me and let me cry for a time, then went with me to bury my lamb.

It wasn’t until many years later that I fully realized the meaning of my father’s words. I was pondering the scripture in Moses that says, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of [all mankind].” (Moses 1:39.) As I thought about the mission of the Savior, I remembered the summer of the lambs, and, for a few brief moments, I thought I could sense how the Savior must feel with so many lambs to feed, so many souls to save. And I knew in my heart that he needed my help.

You wonderful young people, from what we’ve observed, you’re not unlike our lambs. You, too, are hungry—hungry for things of the Spirit that will make you grow strong and keep you safe from the coyotes that are out to destroy you. You are capable and willing to do your part in building the kingdom when you are taught how. And we want to help you.

We know that you need someone to love you, someone to listen and understand. You need to be needed. You need opportunities to come together in a safe environment, a safe fold so to speak, where you can share with one another and develop wholesome friendships based on brother-sister relationships rather than romantic involvement. You need opportunities to experience the joy of sacrifice and service, of caring for and loving one another as our Savior loves us. Within the gospel we have what you need, but you will need to reach out and accept it.

It would have been far easier to save our lambs if the mothers had been there to feed them. Young women, you are the mothers of tomorrow. Young men, you are the fathers. Together, you are the parents, the teachers, and the advisers who will help nurture and feed young lambs and lead them home. Prepare yourselves now for that sacred responsibility. Study the scriptures. Develop your God-given talents. Learn all you can about the world around you that is clean and good. Prepare yourselves to enter the temple of the Lord and be worthy to receive the ordinances and blessings by living, teaching, and sharing the gospel.

Your Heavenly Father knows you and cares about what you are doing. He wants you to fulfill your divine mission, then come home and bring your family and friends with you. He wants you to be happy. Be on your knees daily and talk to your Heavenly Father. Share the happy times. Talk about what’s hard for you. Like my father, your Heavenly Father will understand. He’ll be there to walk with you, and to comfort and protect you, for he has promised to those who seek him, “I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88.)

Our prophet, President Benson, has said, “The symbolism of the Good Shepherd is not without significant parallel in the Church today.” The sheep need to be led by watchful shepherds. “With a shepherd’s loving care, our young people, our young lambs, will not be as inclined to wander. And if they do, the crook of the shepherd’s staff, a loving arm, and an understanding heart will help to retrieve them.” (Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 3 Apr. 1987.)

Parents, priesthood leaders, teachers, advisers, be “watchful shepherds”; and you, our noble youth, band together in the strength of the Lord and lead out in righteousness. Reach out with loving arms and understanding hearts to those who are weak or wandering. Help bring them back to the fold, where they can learn of the Good Shepherd and grow close to him. And please choose carefully the paths you walk, for others will follow. That’s the way with sheep.

Of our little flock, we saved only one-third. And what of the Savior’s flock? He has said, “Feed my lambs. … Feed my sheep.”

This I know: He needs our help. With more people to help, more lambs will be saved. A simple fact, but true. Of this I can bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

go to this sight and watch this video


I too add my testimony that this work is of great importance and those who choose to heed the Masters call will find treasures of wealth beyond imagining. Elder Ziegler

22 May 2012

I got my shoes!!!! they are so new I will have to put some ware and tare on them before I get home today!

Do you get along with them? yes I am

any new and interesting foods? no I haven't not much is new for me any more.

so the reason that I am e-mailing today is because yesterday was a holiday so all the library's were closed so we had some extra time to clean!

well at this time I am doing well I will be in Vancouver for another 6 weeks. and I will be with Elder Flexhaug. so more about him. He loves watches he said just this morning before leaving "okay now for the hardest time of the day, deciding which watch to ware!" so that is rather funny to me because I have been using the same watch for over a year now and I have not even thought about buying a new one although I was thinking about getting an old wind-up pocket watch! I thought it was a good idea but I didn't get it.

Any way we had a good week we have been finding and working with the members. I am just loving my mission and I am thinking that I might want to stay....... please don't kill me mom! we will see what the will of the Lord. las cosas de aqui son muy diferente que alla! now for those who are not able to read Spanish and to save you the time of translating. I said that the things here are very different from there! now how are you all doing? http://bcove.me/64th4wx8 I love these videos they are so cool! I have not been able to hear them but I know that they are very good because I can feel the spirit when I watch them. so things are well here we are teaching and we are working hard no complaints. so until next week digo adios
Elder Ziegler

14 May 2012

Happy Mothers Day!!!!!! here is a flower for all you mothers in the world!. okay so I had the oprotunity to speak with my family yesterday I was able to say hello to two of my three sisters. Hermana Ziegler was not on the line. But I asked my parents to say hello. (some of you may be wondering why I am not talking to my family and that is because I spoke to them already) any way things here are going well. the weather is worming up and all things are starting to change.

yesterday wile driving to an appointment I saw something funny. I whish I had my camera so I could send a photo but I will have to do my best to describe it. it was a van with stickers on the back to show the amount of people in the family. and I think that we would have been able to get along because they were Storm-trooper helmets from star wars. any way I was laughing rather hard because my parents had just made fun of me for decorating my planner with star wars pictures. I just thought that it was funny.

Now we have had a good week one full of planning and working hard. not any time to be lazy but I think I found a few seconds to snooze here and there so it was not all work was it???? Now to tell you the truth I can't really think of much to write but here is what I have. So untill next week when I have more to talk about I hope! or I will just make things happen so I have a funny story to tell.

So I was at the temple this morning and that was so nice being able to go to the temple and feel of it's spirit. It really is the house of the LORD. so this last little wile I have been a bit stressed out I feel like I have been pulling my hair out and not being happy but I feel better now I was able to see that I was being worked on for a wile and recently I have been a little off my guard.. if you haven't been to the temple in a wile go it really helps with every thing!!!! It is a place where our common enemy cannot be so you can feel that peace all around you! you just have to be willing to leave everything out side and never pick up the bad stuff again.

well any way I have been good other than the stress. we have been trying to teach a family but they have been so busy and this week they will be out of town for three weeks! I feel that all will be well they have come to church and they said that they loved it so I am very confident that they will be more than ready to learn more when they get back.

ohh... today after the temple we went out to eat and a fellow who was eating close to us (our whole zone) and after a little bit came up to us saying "you look like really great people. you know do the right thing and don't do drugs and stuff like that" and put two hundred dollars on the table and offered to pay our bill. we kindly turned him down but we invited him to learn about how he can repent. ( he looked like he had been a some trouble in his life.) I was told that he said that he really wants to change and feel forgiven of what he has done.

Other than that and having a great lesson with an investigator that's about it. The investigator that we had the lesson with said that they really do feel that we need a living Prophet in our day to lead and guide us. and they said that they don't feel that the church that they are going to is true. we invited them to be baptized the 16th of June and they had a definite answer to give us they said yes. and that was so cool to see them happily say yes!

Any way this is a short one I know but I feel that it was filled. ohh. one thing that helped me was something that I learned a little wile ago. is that one of the biggest lies that satin wants us to be leave is that we cannot repent. Mortal men might have fallen but unlike him we can Rise again as we apply the Atonement in our lives. He fell and will never be able to get back up. But since our eldest Brother did make it possible for us to get back up and keep climbing!

Elder Ziegler

Here is a great Talk by President Eyring


Mountains to Climb

Henry B. Eyring

First Counselor in the First Presidency



If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. 10485_000_17eyrin
I heard President Spencer W. Kimball, in a session of conference, ask that God would give him mountains to climb. He said: “There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain,’ give me these challenges.”1

My heart was stirred, knowing, as I did, some of the challenges and adversity he had already faced. I felt a desire to be more like him, a valiant servant of God. So one night I prayed for a test to prove my courage. I can remember it vividly. In the evening I knelt in my bedroom with a faith that seemed almost to fill my heart to bursting.

Within a day or two my prayer was answered. The hardest trial of my life surprised and humbled me. It provided me a twofold lesson. First, I had clear proof that God heard and answered my prayer of faith. But second, I began a tutorial that still goes on to learn about why I felt with such confidence that night that a great blessing could come from adversity to more than compensate for any cost.

The adversity that hit me in that faraway day now seems tiny compared to what has come since—to me and to those I love. Many of you are now passing through physical, mental, and emotional trials that could cause you to cry out as did one great and faithful servant of God I knew well. His nurse heard him exclaim from his bed of pain, “When I have tried all my life to be good, why has this happened to me?”

You know how the Lord answered that question for the Prophet Joseph Smith in his prison cell:

“And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

“The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

“Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”2

There seems to me no better answer to the question of why trials come and what we are to do than the words of the Lord Himself, who passed through trials for us more terrible than we can imagine.

You remember His words when He counseled that we should, out of faith in Him, repent:

“Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.”3

You and I have faith that the way to rise through and above trials is to believe that there is a “balm in Gilead”4 and that the Lord has promised, “I will not … forsake thee.”5 That is what President Thomas S. Monson has taught us to help us and those we serve in what seem lonely and overwhelming trials.6

But President Monson has also wisely taught that a foundation of faith in the reality of those promises takes time to build. You may have seen the need for that foundation, as I have, at the bedside of someone ready to give up the fight to endure to the end. If the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble.

My purpose today is to describe what I know of how we can lay that unshakable foundation. I do it with great humility for two reasons. First, what I say could discourage some who are struggling in the midst of great adversity and feel their foundation of faith is crumbling. And second, I know that ever-greater tests lie before me before the end of life. Therefore, the prescription I offer you has yet to be proven in my own life through enduring to the end.

As a young man I worked with a contractor building footings and foundations for new houses. In the summer heat it was hard work to prepare the ground for the form into which we poured the cement for the footing. There were no machines. We used a pick and a shovel. Building lasting foundations for buildings was hard work in those days.

It also required patience. After we poured the footing, we waited for it to cure. Much as we wanted to keep the jobs moving, we also waited after the pour of the foundation before we took away the forms.

And even more impressive to a novice builder was what seemed to be a tedious and time-consuming process to put metal bars carefully inside the forms to give the finished foundation strength.

In a similar way, the ground must be carefully prepared for our foundation of faith to withstand the storms that will come into every life. That solid basis for a foundation of faith is personal integrity.

Our choosing the right consistently whenever the choice is placed before us creates the solid ground under our faith. It can begin in childhood since every soul is born with the free gift of the Spirit of Christ. With that Spirit we can know when we have done what is right before God and when we have done wrong in His sight.

Those choices, hundreds in most days, prepare the solid ground on which our edifice of faith is built. The metal framework around which the substance of our faith is poured is the gospel of Jesus Christ, with all its covenants, ordinances, and principles.

One of the keys to an enduring faith is to judge correctly the curing time required. That is why I was unwise to pray so soon in my life for higher mountains to climb and greater tests.

That curing does not come automatically through the passage of time, but it does take time. Getting older does not do it alone. It is serving God and others persistently with full heart and soul that turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength.

Now, I wish to encourage those who are in the midst of hard trials, who feel their faith may be fading under the onslaught of troubles. Trouble itself can be your way to strengthen and finally gain unshakable faith. Moroni, the son of Mormon in the Book of Mormon, told us how that blessing could come to pass. He teaches the simple and sweet truth that acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it:

“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

“For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.

“But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.

“Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.”7

That particle of faith most precious and which you should protect and use to whatever extent you can is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Moroni taught the power of that faith this way: “And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.”8

I have visited with a woman who received the miracle of sufficient strength to endure unimaginable losses with just the simple capacity to repeat endlessly the words “I know that my Redeemer lives.”9 That faith and those words of testimony were still there in the mist that obscured but did not erase memories of her childhood.

I was stunned to learn that another woman had forgiven a person who had wronged her for years. I was surprised and asked her why she had chosen to forgive and forget so many years of spiteful abuse.

She said quietly, “It was the hardest thing I have ever done, but I just knew I had to do it. So I did.” Her faith that the Savior would forgive her if she forgave others prepared her with a feeling of peace and hope as she faced death just months after she had forgiven her unrepentant adversary.

She asked me, “When I get there, how will it be in heaven?”

And I said, “I know just from what I have seen of your capacity to exercise faith and to forgive that it will be a wonderful homecoming for you.”

I have another encouragement to those who now wonder if their faith in Jesus Christ will be sufficient for them to endure well to the end. I was blessed to have known others of you who are listening now when you were younger, vibrant, gifted beyond most of those around you, yet you chose to do what the Savior would have done. Out of your abundance you found ways to help and care for those you might have ignored or looked down upon from your place in life.

When hard trials come, the faith to endure them well will be there, built as you may now notice but may have not at the time that you acted on the pure love of Christ, serving and forgiving others as the Savior would have done. You built a foundation of faith from loving as the Savior loved and serving for Him. Your faith in Him led to acts of charity that will bring you hope.

It is never too late to strengthen the foundation of faith. There is always time. With faith in the Savior, you can repent and plead for forgiveness. There is someone you can forgive. There is someone you can thank. There is someone you can serve and lift. You can do it wherever you are and however alone and deserted you may feel.

I cannot promise an end to your adversity in this life. I cannot assure you that your trials will seem to you to be only for a moment. One of the characteristics of trials in life is that they seem to make clocks slow down and then appear almost to stop.

There are reasons for that. Knowing those reasons may not give much comfort, but it can give you a feeling of patience. Those reasons come from this one fact: in Their perfect love for you, Heavenly Father and the Savior want you fitted to be with Them to live in families forever. Only those washed perfectly clean through the Atonement of Jesus Christ can be there.

My mother fought cancer for nearly 10 years. Treatments and surgeries and finally confinement to her bed were some of her trials.

I remember my father saying as he watched her take her last breath, “A little girl has gone home to rest.”

One of the speakers at her funeral was President Spencer W. Kimball. Among the tributes he paid, I remember one that went something like this: “Some of you may have thought that Mildred suffered so long and so much because of something she had done wrong that required the trials.” He then said, “No, it was that God just wanted her to be polished a little more.” I remember at the time thinking, “If a woman that good needed that much polishing, what is ahead for me?”

If we have faith in Jesus Christ, the hardest as well as the easiest times in life can be a blessing. In all conditions, we can choose the right with the guidance of the Spirit. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ to shape and guide our lives if we choose it. And with prophets revealing to us our place in the plan of salvation, we can live with perfect hope and a feeling of peace. We never need to feel that we are alone or unloved in the Lord’s service because we never are. We can feel the love of God. The Savior has promised angels on our left and our right to bear us up.10 And He always keeps His word.

I testify that God the Father lives and that His Beloved Son is our Redeemer. The Holy Ghost has confirmed truth in this conference and will again as you seek it, as you listen, and as you later study the messages of the Lord’s authorized servants, who are here. President Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s prophet to the entire world. The Lord watches over you. God the Father lives. His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, is our Redeemer. His love is unfailing. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

30 April 2012

How is the work?
well it is going rather well and we had a miracle happen yesterday. we had invited a lady to come to church last week and we called her Saturday night to remind her and she said that she would come and we were really hopping and praying that she would and she did!!!! when we saw her our jaws literally hit the floor. it was so cool she only came for sacrament but she told us that she would be coming next week and that she wanted to bring her kids to the youth activity night so that was really cool. any way we are working rather hard.

well other than that story not much else happened. we got a couch for our apartment because we live close to the mission office so we got a hide-a-bed so that other missionaries can come stay the night for zone leader conference's. it is nice to be back in the lower main land again we are able to talk to president Tilleman in one way or another every week. so that is really cool. I have been having a back pain for a few days now and it has not been fun because it hurts when I am not sitting right up against something right on that spot. any way things have been going well I have sent the letters so look for them!!! I LOVE YOU ALL MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. we will be going to the temple next week so next week will be on tuesday...

23 April 2012

May we forevermore Choose to do The Right




So this has been a great week we were able to teach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it had been a wile, the Lord is blessing us!!!!! I knew that he would as long as we had faith and did as he asked.

Any way I got the photo of Madison so cute. and all that hair just like her mother I bet!!!! and I bet that my sister is very happy to have her out, but just WAITE!! she will wish that time didn't go by so fast!!!!!!! remember how fast your mission went by???

So how are things back home? I mean I want to know I really do.

any way things are well here, other than the fact that the Cannuks lost last night and the entire Provence is in morning. but all I have to say is that we wont have another Riot in downtown this year.

okay now for the good stuff President Tilleman gave a training for all the missionaries in the lower main-land and the zone leaders and it was powerful he told us some stories that was just incredible we really felt the spirit in the room. and He really has a lot of love for this work and the workers even those who haven't come to work yet.

well not much else to talk about I have some plans to write real letters so I will put some more info in those.

16 April 2012

So things here are still hard work but we are still keeping at it. Elder Escobar our district leader was talking to us last night and he told us that he was very impressed at our diligence. Well if you know Vancouver you would know what he is talking about it's not the easiest area but it's not the hardest ether.

Any way it was kind of cool to see a change in myself not to long ago I was really thinking about what it is that I can offer to this mission and I was reading in my notes for preach my Gospel and I saw something that I didn't see before and that was I really wanted to become like my Savior and that was by doing everything I could to obtain for my self the Christ like attributes, and I saw that working on developing these became a part of who I am and I wanted them to be a part of who I will become. I also was really thinking allot about what it is that helps us develop a personal testimony that is so powerful that we give everything we have to the Lord. For some it is a miracle that happens in their lives, for some it is a simple witness that Jesus is the Christ and for a few it is a combination of both and then I was thinking about how do we gain that witness that the Lord is our Savior and it is the simple day by day choices we make to follow him and by that we develop Faith and that is when the miracle comes. I was just thinking that before the Spirit can witness to us of righteous actions we must first take that step of faith. so just like president Uchtdorf said "
Belief Comes One Step at a Time.

One dear sister had been a faithful member of the Church all her life. But she carried a personal sorrow. Years before, her daughter had died after a short illness, and the wounds from this tragedy still haunted her. She agonized over the profound questions that accompany an event such as this. She frankly admitted that her testimony wasn’t what it used to be. She felt that unless the heavens parted for her, she would never be able to believe again.

So she found herself waiting.

There are many others who, for different reasons, find themselves waiting on the road to Damascus. They delay becoming fully engaged as disciples. They hope to receive the priesthood but hesitate to live worthy of that privilege. They desire to enter the Temple but delay the final act of faith to qualify. They remain waiting for the Christ to be given to them like a magnificent Carl Bloch painting—to remove once and for all their doubts and fears.

The truth is, those who diligently seek to learn of Christ eventually will come to know Him. They will personally receive a divine portrait of the Master, although it most often comes in the form of a puzzle—one piece at a time. Each individual piece may not be easily recognizable by itself; it may not be clear how it relates to the whole. Each piece helps us to see the big picture a little more clearly. Eventually, after enough pieces have been put together, we recognize the grand beauty of it all. Then, looking back on our experience, we see that the Savior had indeed come to be with us—not all at once but quietly, gently, almost unnoticed.

This can be our experience if we move forward with faith and do not wait too long on the road to Damascus."

Are we waiting or are we on our way? well I was thinking about that and I thought that yes at times we wait for the Lord to tell us what to do even when he has told us "choose for your self"



Any way the events of this last week have been rather long and interesting it has consisted of finding and even more finding so we have had a lot of experience in that department. We also have a new missionary that is from Utah but just yesterday I learned something HE HAS BEEN TO ZIGGIE'S and he said that the hot wings nearly killed him lol and he told me that he met mamma, pappa and Hna. Ziegler well I was taken back a bit and when I came to my senses we went on with the day. well that is about all I have to write for this week ttynt, asta la aproccima samana!!!

10 April 2012

so yeah we have rather interesting holidays here and the libraries were closed yesterday so we are allowed to email today.

Any way it has been a rather slow few weeks a defendant test of faith and will. we have not been changed but here is our new address #2 8678 Osler st. Vancouver Canada v6p3a7. nothing bigger than a letter because we have a small mailbox and please no packages.

Other than that not much to report just that I am doing well and we are working hard at becoming obedient to the lord in all things.

well I have no funny stories or sad ones not even some spiritual ones it has just been a hard week full of work.

I have had one of those testimony giving experiences. I was asked to share my testimony in a meeting about the savior and the things I said I learned that there was not the slightest bit of coincidence in how the Gospel has played a role in our lives. and I was able to share the I know that if this Gospel was not true then I would not be standing here today. So I am a living wittiness of the message and in the knowing that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ.

I just wanted to say that I am supper excited to be a missionary I have never felt so happy and I have not understood so much of life and how to live it with joy.

ohh Hermana Ziegler you had what and didn't share with me???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so not fare and one thing I learned from english work is if your full no tengas miedo para negar ma`s comida bueno la unica cosa que puedo decir es echas las ganas y siga aldalante. sin desafio no hay victoria!!!!!!

To every one that will be reading HI!!!!! and how are you? you may send replies to the address listed hehe I love you all and I hope you have an awesome week.

9 April 2012

sorry no post from Eric today because it is a Holiday in Canada. Keep tuned for a post later this week.

2 April 2012

So how has your week been? Have you been busy at work? well we have been busy but we have not been able to teach anyone for two weeks now and we had to take this entire weekend for moving. NOT fun we are in an apartment that is nice hard wood floors and lots of room we are settling in rather well. When I know weather or not I am getting transferred in about two weeks. I will let you know my address.

I have not heard back about registering for school but I will ask in person and let you know asap.

any way I do have my new suit coat but I also put on my charcoal jacket for the first time and I was opening the pockets and the left one, the wrong seam popped so it's still wearable but I will have to do some surgery.

any way I LOVED CONFERENCE IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not describe how cool it was all I can say is watch it for your self

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2012/04?lang=eng

here's the link address they are very inspirational.

so what's new there I want to know I don't hear much from many people I have yet to get a photo from Mariah and I do thank you for the pics mom, dad and Nichole.

so yeah there is not much to talk about and I don't have much time left so I will let this one be short and say asta la aproccima samana :) :) :)

26 March 2012

So hows it goin eah? Everythins greet up heer an all dat yu know. ok that was my making fun of the way they speak up here haha they don't realy it's just like if I went to England I would have a slew of new words that you won’t get. Well I do now :) Any way I am very excited for spring it is raining today but the last 4 days was straight sun no joke it was great. Elder Flexhaug and I will be moving into our new apartment in the beginning of next month. I have no Idea of how it looks or how things will be. Just to let you know Elder Flexhaug is SWEET he knows a lot about cars so when we are walking or driving and he sees a car that he likes he tells me the make and model without even flinching and I just wait till he's done and say "what? Did you say something?" some times he repeat himself and others he will just look at me and say "ha ha very funny Elder!" so yeah I have fun with that. So onto some more news I am now officially ......... a blond I cant remember the punch line I was going to use. soo I just said what every one knows hehehe. Now where was I???....... ohh that’s right I was about to tell you that I have no new photo's to send you :P well I forgot to take photo's of the pizza I made last week and this week we are going to get ready to move soo yeah!!!!! Any way I hope all is well were you are because here it's great. I recently found out that a friend of mine is planning on not going to church! now what advice I have for them is go to another ward!! it's that simple granted you may not feel at home but the main reason we go to church is to feel of God's love for us and to renew our covenants. I mean what a marvelous opportunity we have to be at church away from all that worldly cares for those three hours. it is a chance we should do everything we can to go!!! SO GO!!!! Eric has given me permission to add a few things to this so my words are italicized. There are many who may feel left out or alone but we must remember that we go to church for several reasons one because it is a commandment, two because it strengthens our testimonies, three to renew our baptismal covenants, for to uplift and fortify our spirits. I agree with Eric if you are having a problem with someone or something in your ward then attend another one yes it may mean you might have to travel a little ways but it will be worth it. I do not know who you are in case you are wondering but I promise you in the long run it will be worth it if you continue to go to church. your life will be blessed I promise. now I know that the friend I am talking about will be reading this that's why I added it. well I am doing rather well I have been learning a lot from my study’s every morning and today I was really thinking about the tree of life and how Lehi wanted everyone to enjoy of the blessings that he did, to feel of the wonderful Joy that came from the love of God and holding fast to the rod of Iron. yesterday I read the same chapter and then drew something that came to my mind it was the tree of life and the rod of iron and the building but the path to the tree was what was different the path was not flat but went up and at time it was virtually vertical and I was thinking about that today that we the children of our Father must chose to take an easy path, one that is smooth and flat. or His path the one he has laid before us that is full of pot holes and things that will try and make us leave that path but once we reach the ends of the two paths we are faced with our rewards if we chose the flat and smooth we will meet a dead end!. But if we chose the Lords path then we can walk in his presence forever more. We are meant to have trials and hardships they may even come from those we love and respect but if we hold true to that Rod of Iron then we will be all the stronger for doing it. so we should do all we can to start on that path and follow in it for as long as we live for this world and the world to come. so I know that there is at least one reading who I have a great hope for. And that Hope is that they may one day soon chose that path they have the map but they lack the compass and that compass can only come after we follow Christ in the waters of baptism. I love this work and I love my family Earthly and Heavenly for we are all brothers and sisters I pray that you may feel that Love I have for you and seek for the blessing our Father is waiting to give you. With love Elder Ziegler

19 March, 2012

so I made some Irish soda bread it was really good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it had been two years since the last time I had eaten it. so just so you don't get made at me I will tell you that Elder Maynes came to the mission and he gave us some training and that was on good ol' St. Pattie's day. I did not have cored beef and cabbage but I did have the Irish soda bread thank you again for sending me the recipie. There are some members here that want me to teach them how to make it. (daddy) is it okay if I give them Grandmas recipe? I want your permission before I tell them yes or no.

Any way this last week was a bit of a ruff one not much to talk about with things to do it makes the days go by so much faster and I just can't seam to find that happy medium so I will keep trying. any-who I am well I have been losing the Lbs so that is good and I am still working for the 200lb goal. and yes I am working out... you may now get up off the ground hahaha. well yeah not much to talk about other than yesterday I saw the poster for star wars 3d not impressed the designers didn't really play to the fans it was just darth maul in the foreground yoda in the back and one other I couldn't see who it was I just remember that it wasn't the greatest. any way how are you Mariah? can you send me photo's?????. Nichole how are the kids? I bet that Thomas is already six feet tall. and beck has his mission call...... lol. and Diana.... losiento Hermana Ziegler como esta mi hermanita? bueno creo que la obra es fantasico mjor que alla! and Mother, Father how are you is everything okay do you need any prayers? well I would like to send some other E-mails so TTFN!!!!!!!

12 March 2012

So how are things back in Vancouver? it is strange being back in the big city. and there is so much I miss from my last area one of them is that I was accustom to drinking a lot of water and we were always close to a bathroom. here we have to hold it or go before we leave. How is your new Companion? he is very nice he was the elder that came into Spanish work when I left to the island. do you know your new address yet? not yet we are still looking for an apartment. did they just put new elders in your old area or did they put sisters there? new elders a greenie and a coconut (he is about to go home /ripe for the next mission) where is your new companion from? Alberta his name is Elder Flexhaug so I don't have very much time I spent most of it trying to fit everything I need to print off onto as few pages as I could I got down to two pages with very small print. so as for my week it was good we had a new investigator last night who was a member referral I love member referrals they all the ones I have had so far have been prepared and are very close to the waters of baptism. we had a powerful lesson with this fellow we asked him to pray at the end and so he did but he only said about 5 words and then we sat in silence for about 6-7 minuets and after that we asked him to be Baptized and he said that he would. well I am trying to get things together to send home a box of stuff so that I have more room in my suitcases. also want to send Diana... sorry Hermana Ziegler a gift that I think she will like. well I have to write president so ttynw talk to you next week.

5 March 2012

26 February, 2012

Hello everyone

so I got a hold of a Darth maul light-saber and had some fun a member
put this video of me up so I could send it to you I thought it was fun any way.
its not long but sweet.


so about mission life......

well not much different we will find out transfers tonight. Elder Smith thinks that he is out of here, he has been here six months and I have been here just over four. that is weird to see how fast time fly's.




Three months ago we started teaching the young lady that is in the photo and she is just loving every thing about the church. she has a really strong testimony it is
just amazing to see how much she has changed from the first time we met her.

So other news one of our investigators wants to be baptized and they have been making big changes in their lives they have gotten rid of a lot of the former sins that they held onto.

We also had some exchanges with the zone leaders I went done to Nanaimo and I
found a few things there that I liked one was a hat that I thought "I have the perfect shirt for this" and of-course you can guess what I was saying with the other hat. "HAHAHAHAHAHA" "Show me your identification" lol any way I thought that it was sweet. Also on the way down to Nanaimo saw these statues and thought they were cool.
well elder Smith and I have to go to Powell river today so I have to
go ttyl and I will let you know what happens next week. love you more
:D

20 February, 2012

This last week was awesome!!!​!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!!!!!!!​!!!!

So to start out we have found out that an investigator that were teaching that moved is really loving Church. She has told us that she is really wanting to make changes in her life. but I didn't tell you!..

okay now why this week has been awesome We started teaching a lady that we do service with at the food bank and she told us that she had gotten a call from her daughter that lives in B.C. but is in the Alberta mission is really wanting to learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The lady we are teaching said "YOU AND ME BOTH!!!!" so that was cool. Another young lady we are teaching said that shoe wants to be Baptized so Elder Smith and I are super excited!!!!!! we are teaching about ten people right now and they are doing well. So we have had a great week..

Ohh we also got a call from Sister Tilleman and she told us that President Tilleman gets out of the Hospital today and will be skipping the rehabilitation hospital and that he will start resuming his responsibilities as mission president.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the big 7!!!!!
I made a video of me singing and lighting a candle on a slice of cake. it was a huge candle but you will have to wait till next year to watch it!!!

so I relised something the other night, the sisters I was in the MTC with Hna. Beck, Hna. Malani and Hna. Brown only have a few months left on their mission that is so weird now I know how Elder Trader felt when the same thing happened to him last spring.

Anyway how are things back home??? it is to sad to hear about the ? family I have seen what can cause things like that to happen and most of it leads to what type of conversion they had if it was a social they are most likely to dwindle away after someone challenges their faith, if it is doctrinal they will dwindle due to the lack of friends in the ward but if they had both they are more likely to stay strong. but that is only what I have seen. Keep them in your prayers.

So I got an e-mail from Hna. Ziegler and she was complaining about the price of international stamps going up!! all I have to say is I pay upwards of $20 for 12 stamps so don't complain to me about the price. I deal with it every week.

so now that is done with were was I..?... oh yes I was talking about how awesome my family is!!!! Need I say more they are so cool.

I bought some thread and fixed my pants it was just a popped seam so I just sewed them up.

other events that have happened? I don't remember so yeah. we are teaching a Spanish fellow here he calls us his brothers so that is cool. we are also going to teach him English to help him out as best we can.

I am sorry that this is not very long but I tried I really did..

13 February 2012

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERY ONE!!!!

Eric are you and your companion District leaders? just elder smith is DL I am just his companin. I would have told you if I was a leader of any kind although when I got transferred out here I was thinking before I found out that I was changing to English work that I was going to train but I didn't. I am actually glad I was taken away from the city I was going crazy I was hating it to many people all at once. but I did love the ward. as I do here.

ohh by the way I have the stuff I need to fix my pants so don't worry you taught me well my darling mother and if my sewing doesn't work then I will use duct tape and yes I was influenced by my father.

any way not much to report this week other than tomorrow is Elder Smith's B-day and he doesn't know but the food bank were we do service on Tuesday's the people there are planing a nice surprise for him. shhhhhhhhhhh it's a secret I promised that I wouldn't tell him so don't blow it for me I want him to be surprised.

now about how things are here in Courtenay things are well we are teaching several people who are really liking the teachings of the Gospel and it is so wonderful to see a light come into their eye's and their whole personality change bit by bit.

there are a lot of people her that are not to happy about us tracting after dark here we had one person call the R.C.M.P. (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) on us and file a complaint and another threaten to call them if we did not leave the neighborhood. so that was funny and guess what the time was 8:30pm the one who filed the complaint called the family history center to complain some moreand said "NO ONE SHOULD BE KNOCKING ON MY DOOR SO LATE" they were asked "what time is the latest you think any one should knock on your door?" they said "4:00pm!!!!!!!!" that is about 10 minutes before sunset in the winter here. I think that it is so funny that they made sutch a fuss about it that they called to yell about it in my mind I was thinking "wel I don't know which door you were but I am sertin you said "NO" so we left it at that and left your door for about 6-12 months to let you simmer down.

ohh I just remembered I saw some thing that daddy migh like it was a 4 season box set for The Beverly Hillbillie's for only $25 I thought that He would love that I would have bought it for him if I could but I can't. so I have been thinking and you know that is a bad thing.... most of the time. any way I was thinking of sending a box home of canadian candy/chips so if you have any requests all I need is the money and I will get it and send it to you!!! I saw hat ketchup chips are on sale right now so you might want to get it wile it's hot.

well I am not quite sure what to write about now I haven't gotten any letters from any one so that I can answer questions that I get throughout that week so yeah. thats about all I have for this week. Hasta la aproccima nos vemos! con amor Elder E. Ziegler

5 February 2012

How are you my son? I am doing well not much different just the same old same old and a head ache yesterday that's all gone today.


How is the work? it is going very well and the best part is that we had 4 investigators at church yesterday!!!!!!! the most I have had my entire mission.

there was an 5.7 earthquake not to far away? I had no clue!

I was in seventh heaven when I was in that forest it was so cool and the funny thing was I felt at home there. Not like a sense of like I was back in Carthage watching star wars but more like I was completely at peace and welcome. you know what I mean?

well any way it's great to hear that all is working so well for you. but I do have some sad news. President Tilleman is not feeling well and he is in the hospital recovering from a dog bite and a fall. so if you could include him in your prayers that would be great we are told that he will be fine but that prayer never hurts.

Well on to happier news Elder Smith will be 21 on the 14th and I have a plan to make him a cake just something simple.

Any way we are still working hard it is rather tiering and so I sleep very well at night and it is funny I wake up at 6:00, 6:25, and 6:30am but before 6:30 I just go back to sleep but it helps me be more alert after 6:30 so it's just like seminary days YAYYYYYYYYY

Any how so how is every one I am super excited to get your letters!!!!! so who is writing me??????? ( Read in a sad voice -->) alright I haven't got a letter in a month and I am desperate for those little pieces of paper.

(okay happy time) so I was asked if I was teaching any one cool well We are his name.... lets call his Nate is engaged to a less active member and we have been teaching for a little wile and yesterday when he came to church he bore his testimony which is so cool and amazing for him be cause he has been struggling with coffee and smoking as well as some other $/health problems and he said that his life hasn't been better but it has been easier to deal with. so he is starting to see how the gospel is changing his life.

Then another new investigator lets call him Jack is an older fellow but has two sons that are 8 and 6 and they just moved here a few weeks ago and he told us that so far every thing that's happened to him here in Courtenay has been for the better. and he said that he thinks that this church could be the one for him. and he really wants to give his sons the best life he can and also a good foundation of morals for latter on in life. so yeah we will see how things go for them.

Hey real quick question has any one commented on my blog if so could you send me copies of what they say?

Any way there has not been much different in mission life but I have been reading in Job a little at nights and I came across Job 20:8-9

8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.

9 The eye also which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.

when I read that I was like "WHAT??????" "thats kind of cool" but after reading it a few times I thought of how people can hear of how they can have a better life but they say it's just a dream and never accept it and so in that light to me this scripture is talking about Jesus Christ and He will not be found in them. for they have chased Him out of their hearts. That was fairly interesting to think about and I wanted to share it with the world I guess since this is going up on my blog.

Any way I have to write President ttyl.