Spring Has Sprung, Just not in Illinois!

Well it's cold today but no snow in sight! Makes things a
little better when you can see plant life. Eskimos must me super depressed all the time because of all the snow. A hope springs coming soon! I want to see leaves on trees and I want warm weather, it's not fun when you have to bike in 15 degrees.

This week, for a lack of better words,was kind of a poopy one. I didn't feel like I was on top of my game.  The whole sharing a car with another set of missionaries has thrown our appointments out of whack, but I'm not going to blame it on  that. I know I need to learn something and I will learn it so I can utilize the blessings that should be. I liked a quote from a member this week; we were talking about 2 Nephi 2:1-2 and Jacob 3:1, where it talks about how the lord consecrates our afflictions for our gain and how the lord will council with us through them. The member said that "afflictions are like tuition, the faster we learn the less afflictions we have to pay." So, I just need to saddle up and learn some things.
But, the good thing is that our recent converts have friends and family who want to get baptized now, so we have a lot of potential investigators and baptisms that are going to be coming from them. Another great miracle is our investigator Tom Carr, met with our bishop, who is a doctor and made a battle plan on how he is going to quit smoking so he can get baptized. I really enjoy battle plans because something I always say is, "No war was won on a whim, you must make a battle plan! The devil has already made his and if you don't make one the devil will always win!" We have really been prioritizing him as a investigator to focus on and now he can see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's giving him hope! 
   I want to share a little from my studies in this epistle. I was studying the book of Jacob and I really enjoyed chapter 3:1-2.  It stood out so much to me. Some of the things that stood out to me was how Jacob used the phrase "pure in heart" which is only used in the scriptures about 4 times. Secondly I felt corresponded well with 3 Nephi 12:8 and D&C 97:21 talking about the blessings of those who are pure in heart and what is the Pure it heart. He then teaches us that even the pure in heart go through trials and need to pray. God teaches us to pray and the Devil teaches us not to pray (see 2 Nephi 32:8)  I think it so cool that Jacob teaches us about afflictions here. Because in this scripture he is really just speaking out of experience. In 2 Nephi 2:1-2 Lehi tells Jacob that all of his afflictions have been blessed for his gain and in Jacob 2:5 he gives an example of how he is pure in heart, because sin becomes ABOMINABLE to him. He sanctified him self and devoted him self to God as we do that the Lord will council with us through our afflictions.                                                                                                                  I know that God lives and He loves us. I know that Jesus is our savior and we can over come all our afflictions through him because he suffered that we might be free. I know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God and will always stand up for him. I thank him everyday because he helped bring this book "The Book of Mormon" to the world and that book as saved my life, physically and spiritually and through that I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet today that will help lead us threw tumultuous times.   

Elder Herdt           

Two Baptisms and More to Come!

We baptized ourselves a family this week! It really was a great thing for the ward, they haven't seen a baptism in a couple of years. What a glorious week! It just really helped to lift our spirits. I was on extra spiritual guard so I could feel prepared to baptize and confirm someone for the first time. It was weird because I couldn't feel the tug of Satan as much, which I expected him to fight with all of his strength to make the baptism not possible. The Shaviss family ( Gianaurre and Euraina)were the ones to be baptized. Brother Bradfield got to baptize Gianaurre and I Baptized Euraina. It was a wonderful experience, just one to remember. I felt so empowered and as I stood In the fridged waters and said, "Being commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you In The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. I never have felt more empowered, when doing something, I my life. We got out and went to change and while we were changing Gianaurre told us that his friends wanted to transfer churches to our church, so there are a couple of new investigators. Then right after the baptism, Euraina's sister said she wanted to be baptized too. I see a lot of success coming from this family.
The next day we had the confirmation and we were sitting way in the front waiting for them to come and sit with us but, no
show...... I was freaking out when then the bishop's councilor came up and said can I have the Shaviss family come up to be confirmed. When I
looked behind,there they were. It was a true trial of faith.
Elder Palmer and I gave the confirmations and the rest or the week
went amazing.

I think it was too cold for the lady we met with the ROMNEY license plate,so she didn't come. We'll check up on her this
week.

So I've almost been out 9 months.... Bleh! I cant believe it! its just crazy, I feel like I'm now where Elder Engler was when he was Training me and I Look to him now and see where his is at and I can't believe it. The next thing you know Elder Palmer will be training. I've learned so much on my mission but ONE thing that I have learned is obedience and why we do it. The commandments, mission rules and so on and the BASIC standards of Life that we should always live by. We must always find was to live the Higher law that Jesus taught, (see 3 Nephi 12:6,10-12, 48 and 27:11, Helaman 13:28 and Mosiah 4:29-30) also some of my Favorite
quotes from talks about obedience are; Bruce R. McConkie said "Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws, the greater will be the endowment of faith."
and Ezra Taft Benson said "When Obedience ceases to be an irritant and
become our quest, in that moment God will endow us with Power from on
High" So something I have Learned is that obedience to God's
Commandments are HUGE!


Transfers are this week but thank the heavens Elder Palmer or
I are not leaving. But with that comes some new news. The Hermana's
got T-boned and their car was totaled and now we're on bikes so....... I
may need some things. Have Robert Help you out with this, see if he
can find me some helmets that will look good with dress clothes and I
also would Like a muli-tool kit for a bike or some type of tool kit.
Don Coleman's family Gave us a REALLY nice bike of his to ride. I'll
take a picture to send you. We are hanging In there with the Cold, It
wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have to bike, but that's life. Elder
Palmer is used to the cold so I'm the one who is hurting more. It hasn't been as glorious as I thought biking on my mission was going to be. (I'm sure the snow and cold has something to do with that!)




But all is well, all is well:)
Elder Travis Herdt

Spiritual Ninja--Mitt Romney

My Spiritual Ninja Scripture!

1 Nephi 21:2-3

 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

 3 And said unto me: Thou art my ^aservant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.

This week was just one of those really good ones you get on your mission, Filled with more joy than usual and blessed by the Lord. It was great for our companionship and our District too, because we got the most member presents than we have seen in YEARS! (members going to lessons with us)

              Now on Tuesday was just one of those really cool experiences that was prepared and blessed by the Lord. Because we were low on miles we decided to walk from our appointment to a lesson.... on a windy cold day.... well we walked a couple of miles to the person's home, knocked on the door, he answered, said he was sick and told us to come back next week. Well we were a little sad because all  walking did for us was worked us out and got us cold.  So when we were walking back home I looked down a Street and saw this Red van, which I had seen earlier that month, that had this licence plate with big old letters. "ROMNEY" so without hesitation we went to knock on the persons door. We knocked on the door and this lady comes to the window and swats at us to go away. So, at this point, I'm tired and a little irritated too, so I whipped out a Free Book of Mormon Card and stuck it in there door and said walking away If you really like Mitt Romney you will want to read this book. So the rest of the day goes uneventful but the following day we get a text from Head quarters saying someone had requested a Book of Mormon. So we go to the address and it started looking familiar when we see  that it's the same house with the Romney van!!!! We get to the Door and before even knocking this sweet little old lady opens the Door and lets us in. We taught her the whole restoration and she was asking just the best questions, one of which was if we believed in the Holy Ghost.  We told her yes, and she said GOOD! because I had a very special experience with the Holy Ghost comforting me while I was in a surgery telling me all will be well and if you had said no I would have just booted you out the door. She had very great impressions from the Church growing up 25 years ago.  We invited her to be baptized and she said if this is all true and the spirit tells me I will join your church, and be baptized! It was great! She should be coming to church this coming Sunday and I just can't wait to see how she will progress. Maybe I can get Mitt Romney to baptize her too!!!! Anyone have any connections to help us out with that maybe?

           This Last Friday while I was at the missionary Training meeting, Elder Palmer and Elder Hansen got to run the area while I was gone. I was proud to come back to see how great their day went. They went found a ton of new investigators and I was quite impressed. I really enjoyed the meeting though. I got a lot out of it and felt like I came out a better missionary; more obedient and more focused on the work. The true highlight of that day though was when I was in the meeting with Elder Smith, McMullen and Tolbert. I got to sit down with Sister Fenn and get to know each other. We talked about how  Elder McConkie asked for her mother's hand in marriage and about her childhood growing up in a home like hers. She told us stories about Elder McConkie it was great. She asked me about my family and what I was planning on getting into as a profession after I get out college. It was one of the day's that I don't think I'll forget about.  

           Sunday was a great day! I was fasting that day for a friend and investigator and so I was extra sensitive to the spirit and I learned a lot from sacrament meeting.  After church the whole day we had got flipped flopped around. Our 3 o'clock lesson got moved to 4 so we had to move our 4 o'clock lesson to 3. Then a member came up to us and said, "go talk to my son he wants to set up a lesson with you".  Confused we went up to him and he told us that his wife wanted to take the lessons and asked if we could meet around 5.  We put them in to the schedule and all 3 lessons were just flawless. The member's daughter-in-law accepted to be baptized.  2 of our other investigators are getting baptized this week.  It will be the First person I will have ever Baptized!!!!  My week was just the best I feel like I could have had!

-Elder Herdt.  

We must be made as diamonds!

This may have been one of my first truly stressful weeks in my mission and as I've told others, that doesn't  mean that it was a bad week, but one that has mad me build the most.  The strongest natural made thing in this world is made only that way because its it put through the most stress of anything in this world! We must be made as diamonds. Strong, sharp, and clear, beautiful in the way that if others took a glance it would be easy to tell who we are and what type of people we are. 

                I was looking forward so much to the New missionary training meeting this week. I hadn't been to one in a while and it really made my day! 

Even though it was forever long. It put me in prospective of what type of missionary I was and what type of missionary I needed to become. I left that meeting well charged with the charge to do the work of salvation with all my Heart might mind and strength. Following that day we had a wonderful district meeting. I had the hermanas teach the principles of invitation and I gained a lot of knowledge of things I could do better. I felt  I had accomplished my goal as a district leader and that God was pleased with me, also because a few hermanas said that they felt like they got a lot out of district meeting. Being edified from every meeting is the goal.

                  Following Wednesday was by Birthday.  It went good but it was a hassle and a half of a day but it was good, I was a little sad to though because I didn't get to have an interview with president that day but looking on the bright side I can talk to him and ask him about more stuff now because I will have time to think about stuff! A highlight of that day was mama sent me some tacos from Las Vegas and they were so good!! Easy some of thee best, if not thee best tacos out there. 

                  One of the sad things though this week was the family we had on date for the 8th baptism fell through because she got pulled into work with-out any notice. Satan is a jerk sometimes.

                  But the True Highlight was  waking up at 3:30 am on Saturday morning to go to the temple! I learned a lot, I was very surprised how much I had forgotten about the temple but I remembered the things I knew in the past and more. That made me a happy camper, a tired happy camper, But a good one.

Elder Herdt