September 13, 2016

Well, he made it!!

We were so excited at the airport that we forgot to take a picture of him with our sign:(

He served so well and is now a powerful force for good.

Jared, WE LOVE YOU and will always cherish your mission experiences with you!!

September 6, 2016

Wow, that is a heart breaker to hear about Deondre.......I would love to be able to visit their family next week. I was able to have a good relationship with him back in highschool, it would be special to visit them. I will keep them in my prayers constantly. Send them my love please.

The bike trip sounds like a blast! no i never did that trip, but lookin at the picture hahahaha Brian is getting chubby:)) hahahahha #thatmarriedlife He may be able to beat me in a "sumo wrestle" hahahaah nah just messing around:)) 

well, so first off it has been an incredible week, it has been super awesome for me to be able to reflect on the progress that our ward "La Dehesa" has had in these last 8 months. To arrive and have all the ward council just against us as missionaries and to be able to see that as we continued striving to involve them in the work how things have been turned completely around. This last sunday we had 141 people attend sacrament meeting (generally its 95-100), 20-30 of them that have been reactivated families in the last few months and with 7 investigators again:) The bishop gave his testimony and just testified on missionary work and thanked us for all that we do and he invited all the members to reach out and continue to help our ward grow. It was super special to see the difference:) It makes me feel very at peace knowing that i have been able to take part of the growth of this ward, and also in this asignment in the mission. As i have been talking with the amazing missionaries that i have been in thier circle of influence throughout their missions to see the changes made just makes me feel super happy. Within the next 2 months there will be 4 couples getting married and following that there will be more than 10 baptisms that come from that! 

I will never forget the wonderful miracles that i have had the opportunity to observe and the lives of people be changed. I know without any doubt that this gospel is real, Christ is at the head of this church. I am eternally grateful for the wonderful people i have met. It breaks my heart to leave this mission and embark on a new one, especially with all the progress of those in the area and also the zones and the direction that we are heading......but this is how the lord would have it. 

I am excited to see the fam and be able to continue building the wonderful relationships that we have:) See scotts football games, late night talks or drives with rachael, sleep overs with brian and kinsie and also Steph and Vince. PPI's with dad, and running errands with mom. Its going to be incredible! It breaks my heart to be ending my missionary service and those who i have come to love so dearly here in chile.....but i know that it is what needs to happen and that i have more who love me back at home and i have a greater work to do there. 

I love you guys so much, 

See you on Tuesday:)

Elder Collins

August 30, 2016

Wow, Wama.......that is super scary....but that is truly a blessing that dad went out to be with her, i will forsure be praying much for her and clearly will join the family in the fast. I have come to gain a true testimony of fasting....truly one of the strongest ways to recieve divine help. 

Lots and Lots of things have happened this week, first off in our area we are having TONS of success with working with members in all phases of the work! Its interesting how as we worked more with the members, consequently we had 7 investigators that attended church and are becoming truly converted!:) its funny because in total there were about 15 people there in the sacrament meeting that were parts of incomplete families that we had invited! There is this family we found this thursday that was INSANE!! so i was on exchanges with a Zone Leader and we were heading to an appointment and we had 10 minutes before the lesson and we saw an middleaged man on his patio with his grandson playing and i felt the strong impression to contact him and as we started talking he didnt seem so interested....but we asked if we could enter his patio and talk with him for 10 minutes and he said yes, and the first thing we did was gift him a book of mormon and testify on how it is the book would change his life and he paused and said "i think i have one in my house" and went to look for it and then he came out with a huge picture of his daughter and son getting baptized in our church!! and then as we entered his apartment he had pictures of missionaries and thier familys on the walls that were 20 years old! as we asked him if he had ever been baptized he responded no but that he went to church for years and years with his wife and kids but didnt remember why it is they never were baptized him and his wife.....then all of the sudden his wife "nelly" walked in and as she saw us this light just lit up in her eyes and she then shared with us all her amazing memories of the church and then explained she was never baptized because she wasnt divorced yet with her ex husband at the time...but now is! and all she has to do is get married now and with out us saying anything she looked at "Juan" (Her husband) and said "Hey! we gotta get married and start going back to church so we can be sealed together!, Elders when is the next ward activity and what time does church start on sunday?" we were just in shock.......we told her how the following day there was a Ward Family Home Evening and she said "WE WILL BE THERE!!!" and to our surprise she was there with her son and grandson and aswell sunday!!! It was incredible how the lord truly means when he promised that the "Feild is white all ready to harvest" we are just to thrust in our sickle and it was super cool to see how this family is super prepared and will be able to achieve many things in thier lives:) 

I am so grateful for the tendermercies of the lord:)

Love you!

Elder Collins

Photos: August 27th (two year mark) lunch at Applebee's:)

today at our zone activity, the cutest little 2 year old chinese girl and her mother wandered in and i got to play basketball with her as my comp and two other missionaries spoke with the mother:)

August 23, 2016

WOW School has started once again?! how nuts is that!!! Funny to think that rachael is a senior now....and scott  in middle schooll........wow how time has really flown!! But the pictures look great, scott is repping some sick socks and vans (i dig that style) also rachael looks wayyyy more mature that i would have imagined and she just needs to be careful not to draw the eyes of the guys too much because she cannot even imagine what damage that does to the guys and where their thoughts go to! i just say, be careful and take care of those who are around you....even if you dont realize it, you are always being observed.

Powell sounds like is was a killer experience!! Im pumped to hit it that first week:) gotta put some color on me;) haha but as far as plans that i have.....just getting home the 13th....maybe on the 18th if there is anytime, go to a little get together with some missionaries from the mission to celebrate the chile independance day...but we will just have to see haha:) i just know that after powell i have to get right into working, and a calling in my ward...but other than that nothing is planned haha

These last days have been an eye opener. On saturday night as Elder Young and I were planning, we were fixing our goals and they were elevated and i just thought to myself "what does this goal serve if we dont have a plan to complete it and work diligently to do it" and so i shared my thoughts with Elder Young and we made specific plans...and the next day we were able acheive the very elevated goals that we had made, the lord made all fall into place thanks to our diligence in working. We were running around working miracles.....one of the most satisfying days of my mission and it made me reflect on myself and i strongly felt the need to really be as diligent as i possibly can and even more so that elder young can have a good high level to keep living up to once i go and him and his new companion can really achieve much more.

Our investigator that is Jewish.......has a baptismal date now!!:) he is wow......the book of mormon really was written to convince the jews and gentiles that jesus is the christ! The ward is really taking charge on helping him capture really everything and he totally has a testimony now:) Sad that he will be baptized after i am at home, but i will be able to take part in his preparation and also for Valeria.....she completely recieved her answer from the Book of Mormon as well this week!!!! she now has no doubts on being baptized but she just has a little bit of fear of water....but that will be overcome:)

Really things are just amazing, working my little tail off until i cannot more:))

Love you

Elder Collins

August 16, 2016

So first off about Victor (the guy who wanted to get married in the temple), turns out he lives litterally on the other side of the road outside of the boundries of our ward.....so he is going to have to attend the other ward and be baptized there with the missionaries there, but that doesnt matter! whats important is that he is going to get baptized:)

YEAH! i remember sister Weichers, and also Todd Pennington haha how funny that they are married! hahahaha super cool to hear!! 

Braeden braeden braeden, that is amazing to hear, really though. I am super glad that he is doing well! and that his mission was the greatest time of his life, i cant wait to just sit down and talk and talk about our wonderful experiences that we had. But really, braeden has been an amazing example to me always, and i am grateful that he became that missionary that the lord would have him become:) 

Time is short, very short.....two years is just a glimpse into the eternities. This morning i had the opportunity to go to the temple and we got there early and we were the first ones there for the session and it was a super surreal experience seeing all the temple workers talk and communicate to eachother in such a loving and real way (i could feel the spirit with everything they did) and it gave me this glimpse on how the Celestial kingdom will be like. We will all be "temple workers" and will be lights to all those who are around us. I could feel the approbation from the lord on my service as a missionary and could feel the weight on my shoulders seeing what the lord has instore for me in these upcoming years of my life. I cannot say that i have been the WORLDS GREATEST MISSIONARY, but i can say that i have come to understand my purpose, eternal purpose in the plan of salvation. I have come to know my savior for who he is and have learned how i can work with him to become more like our father. These two years have been short, but have prepared me for the eternities to come:)

I love this gospel. It is the Truth.

Love,

Elder Collins

August 9, 2016

Soooooooooooo yeah Elder Young is having some health problems, but all is well:) We are still seeing the hand of the lord in all things:) And as for Bryan, he is doing great actually today we talked with him and he is reading the book of mormon and is praying to ask the lord for help to be prapared for his baptism the 10th of September:) He is incredible:))

Wow seth is home!? Golly i hope that i wont be like a deer in headlights!?! But im sure that he is killing it, id imagine him being an incredible missionary and also will do great in applying all he learned at home:) Great to hear....also braeden gets home tomorrow......wow Give him a HUGE hug for me, really i miss that ol' chap haha :)

I am super super up for the family temple trip!! I have the goal to find time on a weekly basis to visit the temple, so that is totally in my plans:) Its going to be spectacular:)) That really just touches my heart hearing that about scott and his fast, really wow, he is so much more mature than i was at that age.....i didnt do a true real fast until i was here in the mission......he is going to do so many great things in life (even though physically he is small, he is a giant spiritually) :)

As for news this week, we have been able to really see the hand of the lord in all things. With it being transfer week we only worked in our area Saturday and Sunday and so it was very little but in the end we still had 5 amazing investigators come to church!! And also a new guy who just showed up with his Mormon Girlfriend saying "hey im getting married to her this saturday, so what do i need to do to be able to get sealed for the eternities?" Elder Young and i just looked at each other with our jaws dropped and we explained the process of baptism and everthing and he was like yeah i know its all true, lets do it! hahaha The lord really provides the way when we are looking for his help and completeing that which he has called us to do. I know that the lord is the head of this wonderful gospel and he will not let us fail if we do what he asks us to do:)

I love you so much:)

Love, Elder Collins

P:S: here are some Super 8, the 4 different styles #iminheaven:)

August 4, 2016

My beloved family,

First off, sorry about not writing yesterday like i had told you guys that i would....after we finished the training of the New missionaries and their Trainers we returned to our area and Elder Young was super super sick and so he went to bed and was out cold the rest of the day, therefore thats why we couldnt write yesterday..... :)

Awesome to hear that the Girls Camp was super great!! What a cool experience to be able to take part in those programs and see the lord work in their personal progress. Also makes me laugh imagining mom camping....haha!!:) 

 Thats super cool that you guys have now gotten your motorcyle endorsments:) i was just thinking and i am going to have to get that when i get home!! Alll over again!! haha but that sounds like it was super fun:)

Wow, those experiences are super special that Sterling had on his mission. I love to see and hear how the lord really is at the head of all things and makes things work. As long as we are doing all we can do to what the lord would have us do he puts all the peices together:) Im super pumped to sit down with all my buddies and talk about the sweet experiences that each of us had experienced:) 

Awesome that scott is enjoying football and trying to become as i am;) hahah

Well as for this week its been super fun! It was super super packed with lots and lots of things to do....but we were able to finish well the transfers and now all is ready for this upcoming transfer:) The New Missionaries this transfer are super prepared and really are going to work many many miracles! In our area the coolest thing happened, we visited Carmen and her Son Brian, Carmen is an eternal investigator that just comes to church every once in a while but hasn't gotten married yet...but her son recently moved in with her (we was pretty addicted to drugs, but has been changing tons) and he was so touched by the spirit and in our lesson he asked us if he could be baptized and so now he has a date!!:) He is super repentant and wants to change his life completetly:) 

Things have been soo good here:) 

PS: we are going to baptize a jew....that lives in a hobbit home!:) Ill send pics...

July 26, 2016

Ster is looking super good!!!!! Wow he has really....changed a ton!!! Thats so cool to see:) wierd....but cool:) Actually it was funny because this week we contacted this guy and he didnt speak spanish so i started speaking in english and turns out he is from the philipenes! We had a solid conversation, super cool guy and it just made me think of sterling haha:)

Thats great to hear that the trip all went great, everyone was safe and no harm was done:) I cant wait to join the fam, its gonna be killer:) And the new flyboard looks super sweet! whats the difference?? i see that its still powered by the jetski, i thought that it might have been the one where the person can control it themselves but no:) In the end did you guys end up buying the skate one?? that one seems sweet aswell:)

Wow, so good to hear that business is going crazy good! As the end of my mission is coming up i have been thinking a bit on how it is i can apply all that i have learned in my future business life which will be super awesome:) So that means once dad buys back the SLC stores brian will then buy the rights to them? that'd be crazy sweet!! 

Football season is starting up soon!! So pumped to see how scott has advanced and how it is he plays now, (see if he is a man now;)) haha So pumped for that:)

Ky came home, thats super sad to hear...but the good thing is that its better for his health. Before i would never had understood that but in these last 7 months i have been able so see really all behind those decisions and i know that its really what the lord would have him do:) Will he have the chance to serve in another mission? or is it the end?  Byron is a missionary now!?! WOW!!!! All the "youngins" are becoming real men now!! Makes me super happy to hear that, they will be killing it as they dedicate their all to the lord:)

HAHAAHA mom, wait....your not 30??;) oops;) haah but thats really awesome that that happened, everyone that sees pictures of you and dad are shocked to hear that you guys are 50 and they go nuts haahah keep it up mom, your killing it:)

Well another week has just flown right by!! Its crazy how time works.....But this week has really been spectacular:) Elder Young and i have been focusing a lot on our progressing families and looking for ways that members will be able to help them in thier conversion instead of us, and it has worked perfectly:) On sunday we confirmed 13 lessons with families and members to join us!! Its awesome to see how as we just truly focus on strengthening the ward, baptisms will just come as a result. I was reading my setting apart blessing and it has always called my attention one part that says, "a great work you have been called to do is to strengthen the wards, branches, and districts that you are called to serve in" and i always had thought that that meant just by baptizing people or reactivating would be our part. But i have come to realize that its true...but there is a better and more effecient way to do it. By strengthening those members that are active and having them do the missionary work as we help them complete with it:) I love that i have the chance to put this in practice for the next few weeks and the rest of my life, This is going to be a great few weeks:)

Also i have been studying a few talks from general conference and there was 1 message that i really loved this week. Its "Always Remember Him" by Elder Gerrit w. Gong. I love how it states about the importance of Remembering the lord in all things and really forgetting the things that are holding us back from progressing, like sins that we have commited and how we need to forgive and forget our selves so that we can remember the lord and put him infront of all things. Its Incredible to see how as i have strived to forget the errors and remember the lord i have seen the lord take control and i have been able to be a true instrument in his hands:) 

I love you so much:)

Have a great Girlscamp!1

Elder Collins 

July 19, 2016

GREETINGS FROM CHILE!! 

So i recieved your email 4 times:) it worked perfectly!! Also it was great to be able to recieve little parts from Scott, brian and Kiinsie!! That was much needed, Thanks:) 

It blows my mind each day to see how great the family is really doing, i never would have imagined that things would be going soooo great:) I am pumped to begin to take part in that:)

But the cooles part that i liked from the letter was to hear that what i had written reached the hearts and touched the lives of many people in my circle of influence:) That was a super cool miracle!! I was thinking this morning in my personal study that there are quite a few times where i write and its just like a report on how the week was but this morning i prayed to the lord that i could start to be able to use these emails to still do the work of the lord and hearing on what happened really answered my prayers:)

But......THINGS ARE AWESOME!!!:)) haha As for the area we had a baptism this saturday!! His name is Francisco, oh and there was a super cool experience with him and his wife (Valeria), They have been going through some marritial problems and his wife the day before his baptism told him he shouldnt be baptized....and all this stuff and we visited them and talked about the counseling system and how each decision in a marriage should be made together after a council as they do that there will be more feelings of love and will have true happiness:) We then gave her a blessing of comfort and afterwards she was super calm and 100% for his baptism and now is preparing herself to be baptized aswell:) It totally worked and they are now counseling in all things:):)

I have seen many many miracles this week where we are out in the street following our plans and trying to get to each fixed lesson that we had but then the lord inspires us to stop and go back to talk to someone, or to contact this person coming up, ect. And i have been able to see how the lord is making things happen. Even though by going to the things we have planned is a good thing, its more important that we follow the spirit in all things and not let our will get in the way of that of the lord:)

This is the work of the lord, its is world, his children, his gospel plan of salvation. All we need to do is align ourselves with him:)

I love you so much!1

Elder Collins

July 12, 2016

HELLOO!!

How nuts that Jacksona and eli shared the homecoming/farewell! THat is super awesome that they got to see each other though before he went out on the mission:)

MOM!! your getting your motorcycle lisence!? that is awesome!!:) i need to do that agian.....and wow your in beehives! that is super cool, you will do great. THe girls will adore you:) Also, who are the behives these days??

that new software sounds super sick!!! im excited to see how it comes out:) Also brian will have his own costa! AWESOME!!! im so pumped to get back into the business, with my knowledge now haah its going to be fun:)

THE NEW MALIBU!? im super stoked!!! thats gonna be awesome!!!:) 

This week has been super great really! FRANCISCO is getting baptized on saturday!!!:) He is so incredible and has really had the biggest change of heart since i have got to know him!!:) He is the most converted investigator that i have had the opportunity to work with in my mission:) Really hes a gem, but his wife is a little distant with us now...but its just because he made the decision to get batpized before she did and she has been super affected by that but she will get over it and will be baptized in little time more:) The coolest is to see how its all falling into place how the lord would have it:) In a meeting that we had this monday i was reminded of the importance of truly seeking the will of the lord in all things, not just in these 2 years, but its a lifelong pursuit. I will need to do it for time and all eternity! All things are conected, one big GOSPEL:)

Yesterday we started working on the transfers with president and it was wierd to see on the board no one from my group....beign the only one left! its crazy how time has flown and how now i will be the oldest missionary in the mision!:) Things are going super great:) 

I know how much the lord trusts in  you mom, really! he is so happy with you and is now asking you to show and reflect that same love and same light that he has given you, to others:) 

Love you:)

Elder Collins

July 5, 2016...Maca:)

Hi!!
So Jared, his companion Elder Young, my mom, Danny and I met for lunch today. We had italian-style  pizza and we talked and laughed so much. It was great to see him again, and see what a great missionary he is. Same Jared but so mature. We reminisced a lot. It was wonderful! I hope you guys like the pictures!

Love,

Maca

July 5, 2016

💥 HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY!!! 💥

Sweet that you guys had a wonderful time this weekend! I love to see that the cabin is becoming the hang out spot where you take everyone:) I can see that it is being used very well:) I Hope that it still will have that new feel to it after so many uses haha ;) Dad is in Poland?! That is super random!! haha must be a great software deal if he has to present himself there, (business must be going well) Ohhh fourth of july weekend baseball games, sad to hear that scotts team lost...but at least they did their best that they could!!:) There is always next year! Is he liking Baseball or Football better now?? 

Its super funny because as you guys know, i had lunch today with Maca and her mother and Dani!! It was super special:) They are truly incredible and finally after 20 years of knowing Maca i can finally say that i know the whole story of how we met and the whole thing ahah its was soo fun, she has soooo many pictures of me as a kid that she was showing me and i was dying laughing (i think its safe to say that i was the cutest little kid ever;)) But anyways as we were talking they asked me how old scott was and i just made the connection as she asked me and i was like WWWOOOWWWW scott totally is a deacon now!! I felt the biggest peace as that came to my mind:) He is going to be a fine preisthood man:) I will be praying a lot that he will be able to pass the sacrament with calmness and peace and help those who he is serving feel the infinate love of the savior:)  (Make sure he gets Route 1) haha

Little Henry was baptized!? HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!?! I can not believe he is 8 already!!!!!!! I remember like it was yesterday that he was born and wowowowowoww that sounds like it was a really unforgettable experience:) I love to see how mom, you are having those spiritual experiences:) Makes me super happy!! Ever since the last conference when he gave this "talk" about looking at all through gods eyes....really to him what matters is that we as his children progress, and as long as we are heading in the right direction even though it may be a very small step, "choirs of angels sings hosana in the heavens". I love to hear that our beloved family members are little by little taking steps towards the right dirrection, i will be praying tons for them:)

I am so grateful to the savior, he really is the head of this church. Here is a little story, so when i got here to this ward....things were very tense and there was a very aweful relationship between the missionaries and the members (specifically the leaders)....and it was hard for the first few months to acheive working with them and it got to the point that i just decided maybe we just cant really help them.....(i lost hope) but right then in that time the lord really called me to repentance as he inspired me and my companion to teach and train the mission on how we can better work with members...it was very direct and i knew then that the lord needed me to be able to make that change. So as we had studied and studied and studied preach my gospel and counseled with president morgan we came up with a few ideas and as we just strived little by little extending our hand out to them to work in this wonderful way we gained one by one the confidence of members with us to the point that now the Elders quorum is really PUMPING in missionarywork, each investigator that is age for the Melquesidec Preisthood they get on it and really give them the best experience and are striving to build and save them:) We now have 3 potential elders that will be baptized in the up coming weeks thanks to the members of this incredible quorum:) I love to see how he wouldnt let us give up as other missionaries had done in the past but he knew that this was the time to pick things up and he now has changed the hearts of the majority of our ward to be so willing to help and bring their friends to this amazing gospel:)

I love this gospel with all my heart and i thank the lord each and everyday for the blessings he is pouring out upon me and using me to be the difference in the area that i am serving. 

I love you guys soo much and pray often you:)

Have a splendid week:)

Elder Collins:)

June 28, 2016

Wow, Jared Hansen is now home....NUTS! So funny to hear and see that things inevitably are coming to an end. and its a good thing:) but its really weird at the same time:) Makes me really remember how it was to come out on the mission the anxiety and the stress of jumping into the unknowing, and how its really just the same situation returing home! Tell him i say hi:)

About the Itenerary, in our mission the secretaries do the flights very late because President Morgan likes giving everyone a chance if the want to extend their missions. So you should recieve it within the next month or so ahah:) But an email to the mission office wouldnt hurt to remind them haha (funny because i will totally recieve that email hahaah) 

Lake powell looks like it was a blast!! I cant even imagine what it feels like to be hot anymore haha *count your many blessings* But an Air Chair! THats sooo sweet!! i have always wanted to try one because they look soooo sweet, i remember back in the day when we went to powell seeing people on them and it looked so dangerous but so fun at the same time! Im up for giving it a shot in the near future:) (Goo Kins!!!)

This week here in Chile has been wonderful, lots and lots of cold:) Lots and lots of miracles! We had a lesson with francisco this saturday (finally one with just us and him, without his wife because she talks a lot not letting him make comments) and we taught him about the Preisthood and how it will bless his life and the life of his family and he LOVED IT!!!! he finally accepted a baptism date for the 16th of july, and so we are gonna make that happen and hopefully Valeria is baptized with him:) Then sunday came and he showed up alone and said "well our son was sick so valeria had to stay home, but you dont need two of us to take care of a sick kid, so i came alone to complete with god" :D sOOOOOOOO sweet to see now how the members are also taking a huge part in his progressiion inviting him and his family to thier houses for family nights, to activities and just really exciting him about his baptism:) 

There are so many things that happen each week that are just more than i can write up in an hour haha but i just want you to know that i have no doubt that the lord is the head of this work, and Christ took upon himself our transgressions so that we could be healed again. Seeing that in first person makes me so excited to be able to heal many hearts at home when i return and be able to apply all this and even more to my work, school, social life. The gospel is amazing:)

Love you all

Elder Collins

June 23, 2016

Hey so now finally i have an official companion:) His name is Elder Young (Chilean) haha its been a really fun but pretty stressful two weeks, but now that there is the possibility to share a bit of the weight its pretty nice:) Elder Young is awesome, really though...he only has a year in the mission and is wow...incredible! The lord really has prepared him for what he is going to do here in the mission:) He is from Viña del Mar and is 25 years old, only child. Super sweet!! Finally a chilean companion:))

So a 50 mile bike ride?! thats insane!! but sounds like it was a killer experience:) I would have loved to participate in that, maybe post mission i can get scott to go do it with me:) Powell....wow how much do i miss powell trips ahah THere is nothing like a good old trip to really escape from the world than going to powell or to the sabatical:) Thats sweet that Barb and Bill were able to go! interesting, but sweet:)

KYLE IS MARRIED?! WOW!!! things are just going insane!! and HAILEY PENNOCK????? She is like 18 years old?!?!?! SOOOOO YOUNG!!!!! But as long as its in temple all is well:) haha 

When is it that the home comings start happening in the ward from those in my grade?? its gotta be happening soon haah one of my buddies ya got home this week!! Nuts!! (Thank goodness that i extended:)) haha 

I love your miracle!! That is awesome!!! the lord truly is aware of us in all moments even in the things that seem so irrelevant, he really strives and looks for opportunities to bless us more fully:) Thats awesome:) And tell kinsie happy birthday for me and give her a BIIIIGGGG hug:) i will write her a handwritten letter and send it this week:)

So as for me, it is transfer week so This week in the training with all the new missionaries i was just reminded how important it is to be an example in all moments. I was sitting down in with one of the groups on tuesday and as i was just testifying to them and helping them see their divine potential there was just a silence for a few moments...and i asked them how it is they were feeling and they looked at me and said "we want to be missionaries like you" and i just paused.....and told them that they should become better missionaries than i am and i showed them a little bit of how it is they could accomplish that. But that experience really got to me and i really felt the surety that the lord has called me to this mission for a reason and these new missionaries have been sent here at this time so that i could help them with those attributes that i have aquired. I am so thankful for the examples that i have had in my mission that have helped me become who i am, so that i can now be an example others. I thank the lord daily for his confidence and for the love that he gives me towards those who i am helping. 

This gospel is incredible, i am so grateful for the changes that the lord has helped me make in my nature. As i am coming to a close to my mission i want to take advantage of each moment to be moldable to change and really achieve that which the lord would have me do:)

The mission is incredible:)

Love you!!!:)

Elder Collins

June 14, 2016

Thank your for the prayers:) things are great, lots of work to do but the lord is really just taking the reigns:) So this next monday is when we have transfers, so that is when all is finalized:)

THats sweet that that pavilillion is new! im sure that its going to be even sweeter during the summer for mutuals and ward activities! super useful:) 

WOW Elder Anderson went to Stake Conference!? that is sooo cool! its always been my dream to have a stake conference with an apostol...but one day im sure that it will happen:) That is cool how his message was centered on service, i have been studying that recently and have seen that as we strive to serve unconditionally others the lord truly is pleased with us. there are few things that bring him as much joy as seeing us lift up one another:) I have been striving to look for opportunities to serve 100% unconditionally in all moments, and the lord has touched peoples hearts in that process:)

In this last week we have been able to see our investigators really start to progress! we had quite a few of them in church and the memebers were taking upon them the responsibility to bring them in and make them feel at home and it was truly incredible how much more powerful members are and reaching and softening the hearts of people:) We also had a less active family come back and they are LOVING IT! they now are helping us and leaving with us to visit to bring more to the incredible truth that they have found:) One family in particular is Francisco and Valeria and their little boy Cristobal. They are incredibe! they are studying the book of mormon together on a daily basis and are preparing to be baptized int he next few weeks:) they have come to church the last 4 sundays! The lord it really getting to their hearts:) 

Also there was this young 23 year old kid we found today as we were traveling on the subway and he ran up to us and started speaking in english and we got to know him and got right to the point on our purpose as missionaries (not knowing how much time we would be with him) and he oppened up completely and shared with us these incredible spiritual experiences that he has been having and how he is searching for the true love of Christ and as we testified to him of our conversions and the blessing that we have recieved through baptism and the gospel, he accepted the invitation and told us how he felt this overwhelming feeling of love and he knows that this is what the lord would have of him:) IT WAS AWESOME!! (also everything in english)!!

The lord truly is the head of this work, 

Love you

Elder Collins:)

June 7, 2016

So this week Elder Sullivan has returned home....He recieved the news from the General Authority and all was approved and so he went home on friday and is now with his family helping them in this time of many struggles....Please pray for them...:)

My Temporary companion is Elder Hansen (he was the secretary, and is the same Elder Hansen that was with me in my first ward together for 10 months) We are really doing great, but its interesting because he is still acting as secretary and not as Assistant.....so its like he is my companion but at the same time he isnt...haha there are things that i do and know that i cannot share with him and just have to keep to my self, which is super wierd haha but it will only be for the next 2 weeks when we have transfers:)

But sounds like you guys have a reallly wonderful time with BOML, i can see that it wasnt on the property up in the mountains this year (which is different) and it looked like there were a lot less youth than usual......but looks like it was great:) 

 So these last few days have been really great for me to really come to trust with my all in the lord. It has been a very humbling experience having to really take all upon my own shoulders and the first 2 days i tried doing it my self but it just didnt work at all......then i decided to give everything to the lord and let him give to me all that he needs me to do and its been great:) I love to see the hand of the lord so constantly. My favorite part really has been the fact that we have the chance to really be able to change quickly, because that was a hard thing about the change from a trio to a duo was difficult because their were habits that were hard to let go (like going with out planning) and finally having the "white wash" Elder hansen and i have been able to find a way to plan and really complete with all that we need to do in order to be 100% obedient and 100% examples:) 

In our area we are seeing so many people really progress towards baptism and really its not us doing anything, we are really just having to trust in the lord and he is doing it all:) Its been fun:)

Love you, Elder Collins

May 31, 2016

Sounds like this week was just absolutely great! Had lots and lots of fun:) Also its crazy to hear that Aaron Fjeldsted is home! Now the batch of homecomings are here haha, week by week its all coming down:) 

This week has been very special for me, there are many things happening with the Family of my companion Elder Sullivan...and its gotten to a point that his family had asked him to end his missionary service and he decided and felt that he needed to stay out here after talking with them but then President Morgan told him to go to the temple and look to see what it is the lord would have him do....and as we left the temple he decided that the lord had shown him that he needed to return home and help his family....it was really shocking but amazing to me how calm everything was and how good we all felt about it....so it has been requested but now we are just waiting to see if the General Authority feels the same and he will head home or if he will feel differently and he will stay.....we will just have to see. So it would be awesome and powerfull if you can pray for him and his family that things will go as the lord has planned. 

In this very emotional and interesting week we had very little time in our area working but wow, every second that we had we could just see the lords hand sooooo strong and really all our investigators are progressing sooo well. They are reading daily the book of mormon, praying as familys, recieved spiritual confirmations that all is true, came to church and now we are really just having to teach them the lessons so that they will be able to be baptized!! Its amazing to me to see how merciful the lord is and how much love he shows to his children who strive to look and serve him. I love the amazing gospel and how perfect it is:)

Thank you for all:)

I will be praying for you guys in Book of Mormon Live:)

Love 

Elder Collins

P.S. we went to  SNOW TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! together with President and his family and the sister assistants we went to the "Embalse de Yesso" and WOW i was just sooooooooooo pumped to be able to go snowmobiling after the mission.......i am sooo excited really though:)

May 17, 2016

:)

Kristin Collins

On May 24, 2016, at 8:51 AM, Marlo Anderson <marloann@mac.com> wrote:

Thanks for sharing.  It sounds like he is doing well.  I will pass this on to Taylor.

       Marlo Anderson

   marloann@mac.com

        801-369-7144

On May 24, 2016, at 8:27 AM, Kristin Collins <kcollins@collinscorp.com> wrote:

The PS is for Taylor:)  I told Jared how Taylor had mentioned him in his Eagle acceptance speech…

From: Jared Collins <collins.jared@myldsmail.net>
Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 11:23 AM
To: Kristin Collins <kcollins@collinscorp.com>
Subject: :D

FAMILY!!!

Wow, so where should i start today....? So this week has been ABSOLUTELY insane! Always the first week of the transfer is just nuts for us with all the training meetings we have and the leadership counsel that we have to prepare and also now we start again with the next round of Zone Conferences and so its just been a lot of running around:) But It was truly amazing how even though that for our asignment, the lord didnt allow the work in our area go down. We were really only allowed enough time in the area to be able to work with our progressing investigators and let me tell you, they are REALLY PROGRESSING!! They are studying together as families the scriptures and also discussing in between them about the exact days that they would like to be baptized! This is the case with 3 families!!! The lord really is providing miracles:) Here in these next few weeks there is going to be lots and lots of blessings:) One way that we have found  (FINALLY IN MY MISSION) is how we can effectivly work with the members and by really doing everything through them or with them, people really can relate and really accept the gospel faster and are truly converted to the gospel, not jsut the "fun" missionaries that visit them. Its amazing:)

Its crazy for me to realize that dad turns 50 tomorrow!!!?? That sounds sooo old but i know that dad is still young at heart;) all that i know is that me and my 180lbs can still put up a good fight against him;) Really as i have been contemplating all my life and the wonderful experiences that i had with dad i just have truly felt the pure love of christ and it really has helped me feel the spirit as i think of dad, because as i relate the relationship that he has with me with that of god, i recieve the confirmation that the lord really loves me sooo much. More than i can ever comprehend:) 

Also hearing that you will be released mom is kinda sad, because that calling in the primary is just so awesome (Hard but awesome:)). Maybe they are preparing you for a stake calling??? haha we will just have to see what it is the lord has in store for you. I have been thinking on what calling it is that ill have as i return home and its going to be interesting to have such a 180 degree change in calling from being a full-time missionary to any other calling in the ward:) 

I just want you to know that i truly love you and am so grateful for your love and support that you give me:)

love,

Elder Collins

Also that about taylor anderson is super cool, tell him i love him for me:) #goodmemories

May 24, 2016

This weeks has been a great one!! We had the sweet opportunity to be able to be with the entire mission in 2 zone conferences!! It was fun to see all the new missionaries from January when i was there their first day getting assigned to their trainers and how now the majority of them are now training and really have become incredible missionaries in just the last few months:) I have come to have a whole new appreciation for the examples that i have had throughout my mission and really throughout my life. and now to see the example that i have given to missionaries here and also those who were in my circle of influence at home is just incredible. I have been thinking of lots of ways that i will be able to continue to apply these principles in my work/study life after the mission. Its going to be fun:)

That is so good that dad had a great birthday:) makes me a little sad to realize that i missed the BIG 50! but we will just have to have the real celebration in september, while im getting to know all the new toys that we have at home. I am going to have to try them all out (cabin, razor, houseboat, snowmobiles, cars, etc.) haha ill just take some good ol' 1 on 1 time with dad to try those all out;) haha 

Wow, Scott is now about to be in Middle school.......how does time go so fast?¡ really though!! blows my mind, just looking at the picture of the family at the cabin (and richard and michelle of course #family) seeing how everyone is married and starting their own lives and how really a lot has happened in these last few years:) its super exciting!! 

Maybe i will just have to get a calling real quick in the young mens program to keep me there in mutual;) Also, book of mormon live......that was one of the greatest experiences of my life. REally though and it makes me so happy to know that Mom and Dad are part of it, that is really inspired. My favorite part of the whole program are the moments where we are sitting there and there are just volunteers going up and reading. I took every oportunity that came to be able to go up and read and the feeling that i had as i did it was unlike any other, i truly beleive that in those sweet moments is where i gained my testimony:) 

You will have to tell grandpa happy birthday for me and give him a HUGE hug!!! And that when i get back i'd love to set up a fishing trip with him and dad and brian and scott:) 

Thank you for your love and constant support:)

Love you!!

Elder Collins

May 10, 2016

Well long time no see!!! ahah it was great to be able to see you all on sunday and be able to share those short few moments:) Everyone looks sooo good! and also it was wierd because in all the other skype calls i have felt like going home was such a scary and bad thought but this skype call i could just feel peace and felt the aprobation from the lord that when the time comes, its time:) Haha it makes me sad to see that by extending i messed up a few vacation plans but its for the better:) The lord knows that it was going to be this way so all will be well:)

So about the transfers, i am now just with Elder Sullivan (from Conneticut) and we are just ready to continue progressing, it was a marvalous time with Elder Prens for the last 4 months but its going to be awesome to be with just Elder Sullivan and really take things to another level:) That is what i love aboutthe mission, it gives me the opportuity to progress continually (that is, if i am willing to do what it takes). Things are going just splended, my "child" Elder Tomaz now is in the Office as a secretary so thats pretty fun to see him there and also here in my zone, my MTC comp is my zone leader with a other elder from the mtc with me who i was his district leader for a good amount of time, and so now i am just surrounded by those missionaries that have been with me the whole mission which is super fun:) 

I love this work, I love seeing daily miracles:)

Elder Collins

May 3, 2016

So first off, i would like to ask for sincere forgiveness for not writing you last week....what happened is that we decided to take 30 minutes in the morning to read our emails and then in the afternoon use our last hour to write and so in my 30 minutes i responded to the little emails with the intention that i would be able to respond to yours using the whole hour in the afternoon....but we were running really late and when we got  back to our area we had to go to our lessons.....SORRY!!!!

But anyways, that story about the missionaries over for dinner just blows my mind!! I cant even imagine going over to have dinner with a family and acting like that.....thats just soo sad. I have had moments that i truly had to hold the grossest things down in my stomach until i left the house to be able to run and puke. but i had to show that i loved the food by eating all of it with a smile and thats just part of the mission!! Thats ridiculous ahahah 

so about the skype call, we are planning on skyping at 3ish maybe 3:30 but around that time:) haha i am super excited as well, and its kind of weird becuase i realized the other day that this will be the last time skyping in the misison............woah.........CRAAZY!! I am super excited though. 

So as far as this week i have been super good!!! it was president morgans birthday!!!! We went over to his house in the morning and brought him his favorite candy and icecream and just spent a few moments with him and his family:) then as always we just got to a talking about allthe things that are going on in the mission ahaha and we ended up having a big meeting:) kind of funny haha

But Jorge Castro passed his interview and he will be baptized this saturday!!:) its soooo awesome! this sunday his mom and sister came with him (they are inactive) and they had a great experience:) He is changing the life of his family!!!1

Also we have been in the process of changing the whole vision of the mission to have the faith and the desire to baptize on a weekly basis and we are getting closer and closer to it! i love to see how the whole culture of the mission is being turned around and we are really aligning our mission with preach my gospel and with what the lord would have us do:) 

I am doing super duper good!! And also received the shoes and gatorade yesterday!! AMAZING!! i forgot how comfortable real new shoes are haha THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!:) also i bought the suit and its going to be a sweet grey and my comp got the same color so that'll be fun in Zone Conferences:) 

I love you all and just cant wait to see you on sunday!!:)}

Love you!!

Elder Collins