7/14/13 HI EVERYBODY!

Thank you all SO much for your emails this week. They really do just make my whole day. Knowing that i have so much solid support back home has become such a priceless asset. This week has been SO great! To start off, Arvis is still doing so strong. He's halfway through Alma right now which is crazy because he's only been reading for a couple weeks. He's still progressing like crazy and if his step mom gives permission he'll be baptized at the end of this month! We're praying and fasting that his step mom's heart will be softened and we're going to be calling to meet with her today right after this, wish us luck! We don't have any other progressing investigators at the moment but we've talked to loads of potentials this week. On Saturday we were going through a really cool park and this young guy was standing on the corner smiling and it appeared that he was waiting for us.....This never happens! we of course go and start talking to him and it's all in Latvian and then halfway in the conversation he just switched over to English like it was his first language! You have to realize that the people here that speak English are always the young trouble makers and the reason they know it is because of school. needless to say but it really isn't all that good for the most part. This guy spoke FLAWLESS English. Honestly better than most people back home and he didn't even have a hint of an accent when he was speaking English. He told us that he really just wanted to talk to us because he figured we were American and because he loved English more than anything. He told us that it just stuck to him one day and he's been addicted to the language ever since. It was incredible to listen to this guy talk. Overall he wasn't super interested in our message but then again, most young aren't. The one thing that did come from it though was that I invited to come to our district language study which is a meeting with the missionaries that are in my district come to for the purpose of trying to learn the language better. I told him to come and that we could really use his help with him being a native of Latvia and a pro at English. He said yes and we're so excited to get him in the church with us. Sometimes people need to see what we're like first before they want to meet and find out more about the truth that we have. Missionary work is the greatest thing in the world and I'm so happy that I'm doing what I am! Last night we had a strange experience (actually is really wasn't that uncommon) that I wanted to share with you. My companion and i were walking down the street when a couple of hoolies (teenage trouble makers) across the street yelled at us about religion and then waved us down to come over. Of course i started walking over with my companion because where else do fun stories like this come from if not from moments like these right? ha  We went over and the three of them were pretty drunk but not super hammered. They asked us what we were doing and we gladly told them what we tell everyone. We're here in Latvia because we want to share the message we have about Christ's church on the earth again today. They all kind of laughed and smirked and started talking about useless things. I told them that we had things to do and that we didn't want to waste our time but they kept on talking to keep us there. We talked about their life they had at the moment and it was so eye opening for me. These guys were 23-25ish and literally had nothing better to do with their lives other than to sit around drunk and high. They went to their jobs everyday and drank every night. One of them was actually fairly receptive to what I was telling him and it really hit him hard that here he saw 2 young men that were using their life to actually do something worth while and hard. He told me that he didn't do much other than drink smoke and work. I tried to bear a simple testimony to him about how life should be so much more than that. Life isn't about going out, becoming dizzy, passing out, and then waking up the next morning with a killer headache. Satan has blurred people's dreams by alcohol and drugs to where he keeps them from gaining their full potential. After I was walking away from these guys I just thought to myself where I would be if it wasn't for my faith in Christ. Honestly I probably wouldn't be much different from them. Id be lost and smothered away y one of Satan's tools against young men today. I'm so grateful for the life I have and the reason I'm here is because I want to share this light we have with everyone. If people could just be aware of Satan destroying their lives piece by piece, I know that they would get out of the hole they may be in and try to better themselves through a better power, that being Christ of course. Anyway, sorry for my soap box but it just hit me very hard last night and wanted to share it. I really am doing so well here and I'm loving everyday more and more. bad news bears though...I think I'm getting chubby :( all this work and no time to work out and play. Mom, do you promise you'll still love me even if I'm a little plump?hahaha no I'm not that bad I promise but it is kinda funny haha

I miss you all like crazy and I hope everything is going great! Love you!

-Elder Connor Webb

P.S. in other news this week, I caught a pigeon in my house!

 

 

 

 

7/7/13

hey everybody! I'm down to my last couple minutes this week but I thought I'd share an experience with you. About a week ago my companion and I were at the church and we found a random number in our planner. My companion decided to call and set up an appointment and it turned out to be a young teenage guy named Arvis that wanted to meet the very next hour. This was Friday and we were just going to go contacting so we set up the appointment. He wasn't super enthusiastic the first time we met but wanted to meet again. The next day he came to a YSA BBQ thing we had all day and then even proceeded to come to church the next day for all 3 hours! We've met every day this week with him and he's getting baptized this month! The only hold up is that his parents really aren't supportive of us and refuse to allow him to be baptized but I feel really confident that their hearts will be softened. We're actually going to meet with his parents this week. The 17 year old kid is incredible. He's halfway through the book of Mormon already and comes to church every week. He texted us last night and sent a super long message telling us all about his new found faith in Christ. Definitely keep him in your prayers! Today I'm going biking with some missionaries out to the caves in the countryside and I'm sure there will be loads of pictures to follow. Thanks for all the support and I promise you that I can feel it here when I'm starting to have a rough day. I'll send a picture of something I've found that really helps. It was something Bryson Toth said in his homecoming talk years ago but it came to mind and now I absolutely love it. I love you all so much and you're smiles and prayers make me so happy!  You're the best! 

-Elder Webb

P.S. Learn how to cook while you can at home. Long story short, my companion and I almost burned down our house this week...hahaha oops! 

 

6/30/13

It's so nice to hear from you! you're a pretty good mom :) just kidding, you're the best! but really though, I find myself talking about you and Dad all the time here. MAN! I miss hoopfest!!!! those were crazy days back then but I'm looking forward to watching them again. I'm glad  to hear about everyone having jobs. Here in Latvia it really isn't all that common for people to have jobs and I know it really hurts them personally and with whatever family life they may have. My language is getting better and better everyday and I know that it's ONLY because of my prayers and studies. I'm meeting with a man named Mark Vanderhart who's from Chicago (teaches Hebrew, Greek, and the Bible...no big deal..) and I love him to death. He's about 60 years old and he's probably the smartest scriptorian I've ever known. Our lessons are so awesome 1 because they're in English (Tender mercy for sure) and 2 because he knows EVERYTHING about the bible. It was actually a super cool experience last week ill share with you. This is probably the 5th time meeting with him and meetings normally goes as follows. We meet and say hi of course and go into an open room. I always ask him to pray because he wont pray with us thanks to the fact that he wont pray with any non Christians (EVEN THOUGH WE ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) but in an incredibly respectful way. he says the prayer exactly like we do and we start with answering all his questions. he has a lot... This last week was super cool though because I was on an exchange with other elders when we were teaching and one asked, "Mark I don't know you very well but I'd just like to know why exactly you're meeting with Elder Webb if that's alright to ask?" he replied by saying, "Well I'm here because I truly do want to learn about your church but I never want to learn about the Mormons through anti material. I want it straight from the teachers. In short I guess I'm here to learn but also to challenge your doctrine a little bit to see if it can be put to the test (PERFECT!)" and then the coolest thing happened. he turned to me and asked my while looking right in my eyes " Elder Webb, Why in the world are you here? you know that I'm a pretty hard nut but why do you keep on wanting to meet?" I paused for a moment and held eye contact with him and said, "Mark I'm here because I feel a genuine love for you and I love meeting because we both learn so much. Granted I don't have 60 years of bible knowledge under my belt but this I do know without a doubt in my mind, Nothing has ever blessed my life more than the Book you're holding in your hands. I'm only 19 years old but I can tell you that I know with the utmost truthfulness that this book is directly from God and that along with the Bible, you can come to a full knowledge of your Savior Jesus Christ. I'm here because I love you mark and because I want this to bless your life like it's blessed mine." what he said next brought the strongest spirit we've ever had in a lesson so far. He looked at me and said after waiting for a moment, "I want you to know that i love you too. Not just as a missionary but I love you as a real person. I want you to know that I want to see you after this life. We may have some differences on doctrine but I want you to know that I love you Elder Webb. When I'm in my hotel room reading your Book of Mormon, I've asked myself many times....What if this book was true.."after he said that he paused holding the book of Mormon just staring at it we waited for a moment and gave the Holy Ghost a chance to flood the room and believe me it did. It was incredible! He flies back to Chicago this Thursday so I'm meeting with him one more time on Tuesday and I talked my mission president into coming with me. it's going to be an incredible lesson. I can already tell. I'm going to get his email and try to keep in touch with him but i think you should send him a message or a letter or something. you know, do what moms do :) anyway he's incredible and I cant wait to see him accept this gospel. Other than Mark, we have Martinš who's progressing in every way except for attending church! come on! people here have the custom that even if they live in the city, the family always owns a small home in the country side where they travel to every Sunday. It's called the Laoukous in Latvian English and I HATE IT. we also just found a new investigator names Arvis who's 17 and totally GOLDEN. We don't even know how we got his number but we've met with him everyday for the last 4 days and he came to church yesterday! he's reading the book of Mormon like crazy and told us yesterday that it brings him a strange feeling of hope that there's something better than just average life...YEAH BABY! ill keep you posted on him too. LIFE HERE ROCKS. it's way hard at times but I'm right in the heart of finding the lost tribes of Israel. We have branches here that have a member from every tribe. We literally are gathering Israel. Also, I started reading Jesus the Christ and it's changing my life. tell dad to give it a look. It's an incredible book all about the life of Christ that opens your mind to so many insights. well, I love you all of course and I love hearing from you. you're the best family in the world and because of the picture that we have together from the morning I left, I've been able to talk to so many people. I've kinda been showin you off :) love you loads!

-Elder Webb

Latvia pictures

this picture is made completely of buttons

 

castle in Sigulda
 

castle in Sigulda
 

castle in Sigulda


 

Connor-"They let us wear chainmail!!!"

Gargoyle in Sigulda
 

Connor does love his weapons
 

This is by Saki.  He has these all over Riga.  This is Connor's favorite.

 

Connor made this especially for his Mom.  I have a great son!

6/18/13

HEY EVERYBODY! Kas Jauns!?

I was so happy to get all of your emails this week and I apologize for not writing on my normal P-day (yesterday) I had my first zone conference and it was so good. It was super weird to see people bear their final testimonies because they were going home before next zone conference because I cant even imagine this incredible work ending for me here in Latvia. I have already fallen in love with the work and I grow closer to my Heavenly Father everyday because I HAVE to rely on him. I know without a doubt I could not learn this language without His help in my life and I'm so grateful for that. I'm also SO thankful for all the knowledge I'm learning about the scriptures and people in general. I LOVE LATVIA.

This last week has been so sweet. We're talking Baigi Labi here in good ol Riga. Last P-day I had the opportunity to go travel to Sigulda which is a little town about an hour ish away by train (every time I get on a train I just wish it was taking me to Hogwarts) and the city there has some ruins of castles and what not. It was so cool! That's where the pictures I'll send are from. It was super funny though because we went in our P-Day clothes of course and for some reason people are A LOT nicer to you when you're not dressed as one of those "Satan-Worshippers-Crazy-Mormon people. It was rather refreshing honestly. Anyway, we went there and Elder Bland and I had a blast. I'll send as many pictures as I can. 

Let me tell you about Aleksandra (sorry wig you already heard about this) who's a member here and she's about 60 ish. When we go to church we're supposed to sit with members here and not your companion so my first week was a little intimidating knowing that wherever I sat, I probably wouldn't understand a word they said to me. I decided my safest bet was with some babushka (grandma). I sat down next to this lady and honestly she still hasn't stopped talking to me. Now, this wouldnt be so bad if I could understand a word of what she was saying but I seriously can only tell you what her name is, other than that I know absolutely nothing about what she tells me, ha-ha. I kind of feel bad but she seems to have a great time talking and always smiles (maybe that's not good...) after. I pretty much just say "labi" over and over again. we'll see how long I can get away with that. 

IT WAS MIRACLE WEEK THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!! Since I've arrived here in Riga we haven't had 1 investigator, which has been pretty tough to say the least. I've been praying and praying to find someone and I honestly talk to anyone that walks by me on the street. We were out on Monday night last week for about an hour contacting session and right before it started, the rain came... :D  I turned to Elder Bland and told him that in the scriptures Rain is usually something people would pray for so obviously rain equals blessings. I went out as happy as I could down the street and started talking to people. For the first 10 minutes we didnt have any luck UNTIL this young guy walked passed me so naturally I said hello. He took out his Headphones and began to talk with us and I actually understood him! We testified of Christ and gave him a Book of Mormon. We asked if we could meet up sometime to talk more about Christ and about the Book he was holding in his hand.  He promptly told us we could meet that very next day at the church. What you have to understand is that we get tons of people that will say they want to meet but then continue to stand you up like a 16 year old waiting for his date. Needless to say, I wasnt completely sold but I was so grateful to my Heavenly Father for putting us in eachother's paths. The next night HE CALLED us to confirm!!! We of course met with him and at the end of a very spiritual lesson, we invited him to be baptized and he accepted before we could even finish asking him!! Since then we've met with him everynight! In our second lesson we were prompted to teach the word of wisdom and see if he had any problems because everyone and their dog smokes here. When we found out that he smoked we asked if he wanted to quit and he said yes. We told him that is was possible but only through hard work. What happened next brought the spirit so strongly... He sat and pondered for a minute and then proceeded to reach into his pocket and pull out a pack of smokes and chuck them across the room sinking the shot right into the trash can. He looked at us and was ready to find out how to quit. What a tender mercy... I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!!!!!!!! His name is Martinš (Martinch) so please remember him in your prayers!

Thank you all so much for the support you give me and I hope you know that I pray for every single one of you in my prayers and I think of you every night. Thanks a million for the blessings you give me! Love you all! Help the missionaries at home!!!!!!

-Elder Webb

6/10/13

Lab Dien! Ka iet Maijaaaaaaaaaaa??? here i am again just writing a letter from the other side of the world while you all are sleeping like babies back home. This week has been awesome!!!! Im still working hard with elder Bland and we're having an awesome time. We're out contacting everyday which is helping improve my Latvian so much. The only bummer is that because we're working so hard, I have hardly any time to take pictures; however, I am traveling today to Siguda which has 3 ancient castles so I'll be taking loads of pictures for you next week! Hmmmm....Stories from this week. oh! If you didnt know, It LOVES to rain here in Latvia. I'm not talking like a little drizzle, this is like full on notebook style rain and the best part is that it will come out of no where. Honestly it will be bright blue skies with a couple baby clouds one minute and then the next it's pouring down harder than I've ever seen. It's so funny because the people here don't really like the rain so when it comes crashing down out of no where they all run to the closest tunnel or some type of shelter and just wait it out. Of course I'm running around the whole time in it having the time of my life while all the Latvians look at me like I'm crazy but I can pretty much always get them to laugh about it. Anyway, the last time it down poured, this older gentleman got stuck underneath a really small tin roof of a shop and he probably had about three feet of space to remain dry. Seeing this as a golden opportunity (where he couldnt just run away) we went up and started testifying to him in Latvian of course. Honestly if a photographer would have been there it would have definitely made it on the cover of the next ensign because we're on a beautiful street with a massive cathedral right behind us and my companion and I are standing right in the middle of a sidewalk stream having water soaking us head to toe, handing this man a Book of Mormon who's barely finding shelter under this roof thing. Oh man it was so cool!!!!!!!! but...no picture :( hahaha it's awesome here though. We dont exactly have any new investigators EXCEPT I contacted into this man from Chicago who doesnt speak a lick of Latvian (tender mercy for sure seeing how mine is about the equivalent of a 4 year old with a mouth full of food) and he's here teaching OLD TESTAMENT AND HEBREW. Talk about the hardest lessons of my life. Honestly, we meet once a week and I get the chance to share about our church and he has a problem with mostly everything I say but he continues wanting to meet. I think he knows probably every single verse in the bible which is good and bad I suppose. He's a Calvinist so that makes it super fun too but I love him to death. His name is Mark and I'm so glad we have the opportunity to teach him. Other than him we pretty much just contact into drunks all the time which gets a little weird hahahahahaha the other day I went up and started talking to this man on the street and soon realized he was REALLY drunk. Anyway, I asked him if we could meet sometime when he was sober and he said yes and then told me about how he wanted to quit alcohol. My companion expressed that we could help him accomplish that through Jesus Christ and his eyes lit up. The next second he was on the verge of tears kissing our hands....you know how I am with other people touching me...let's just say that I'm pretty sure my BAC went up a little by the time he let go. man, so strange haha My district is awesome and I'm becoming so close with all of them. The coolest parts are that I'm serving with two of my MTC Masa's here in Centre and the second coolest thing is that there are only 13 Latvian elders and we're not getting anymore elders for the next 6 months. It's so humbling to know that God gave me the opportunity to be one of them. I love my mission with all my heart and I'm learning life lessons I couldn't learn anywhere else. I hope you're all doing great back home and I'm still praying for you everyday all day! I love you all so much and I can feel the blessings of your prayers everyday when I get discouraged at times. Thank you so much for all you do for me and I cant wait to hear from you! I'll send pictures next week!!! Es Jus Milu!

Connor's first letter from Latvia

Mana Gimene!

IM IN LATVIA!!! I am assigned to Riga South right now and my companion's name is Elder Colton Bland (facebook stalk him). IT IS SO AWESOME HERE!!!!!!!!! The language is so hard but other than that it's crazy fun. Yesterday was the first time i got to go to the branch here and the members are incredible. I bet we have about 80 members and they're all incredible. It was fast and testimony meeting yesterday so i took a deep breath and decided to go up. My language wasnt the greatest but i did my best to be as happy as i could. After the meeting some babushkas (russian grandmothers) came up and told me how great i did (i think...) and one lady told me something so cool. She said that when i stood up, i had a smile that was so contagious and she saw it spread to everyone in the room and that my dimples and smile was something these people needed. it was such a cool experience. My district has two of my MTC masa's in it so it's really cool to see them a lot still. My companion is an awesome guy. I feel pretty confident with being able to get along with anybody so i'm not too worried about companions. Man it stinks to be in real life. I had to go shopping for my own food today! Like i would have died if i didn't go get it, and i don't mean just going to the fridge and having food magically being there. Also i've decided that laundry is the essence of Non-funness. We do a lot of contacting here and it gets a little hard at times. Honestly if i got a dime every time i heard "nav laika" (now lyka) i'd be so rich. Honestly it's all worth it though when someone accepts a Book of Mormon, but no worries i promise i'm smiling the whole time regardless of how hard it gets at time. Also, I swear i've already smoked about a pack of cigarettes since being here because everyone and their dog smokes here. I've been so busy i havent really had time to take any pictures but i promise ill send some next week. My mission President is incredible. He actually reminds me a lot of President Dude which is a real tender mercy. he actually loves fly fishing too! tell grandma Diann that sister boswell wants her email to write her if she wants! I really do love it here and im so grateful for the chance i had to talk to all of you on monday. It was so nice to hear you and know you're all doing great.

stories- hmmm......Well we dont really have any investigators right now because the work here is a little slow but no worries, that's going to turn around real fast. When we're out contacting i love to talk to everyone the walks past me except sometimes it's not exactly appropriate. Here in Latvia, apparently clothes aren't very important. Honestly all the girls, which is about 70% of the population here, dress like they're going to prom EVERYDAY. Honestly we do a lot of looking down because it's so ridiculous. Other than them the people here keep to themselves a lot. a lady actually yelled at me the other night for saying "good day" to her because it's not appropriate to say that to someone you dont know. Lucky for me, Mother Teresa backed me up and ended up walking with me for about an hour talking about the gospel. I gave her a Book of Mormon and told her to come to church so we'll see what happens. She kept calling me "berni" which means child hahaha she was so great. 

Im so happy im out here serving my Lord everyday, all day. i wouldnt be anywhere else in the whole world. I would GREATLY appreciate prayers for my language if you could spare some prayer time for me. Know that i pray for you all everyday and that i love and miss all of you so much. Talk to you soon!!! LOVE YOU

-Elder Connor Webb