December 19, 2011

Thank you so very much for emailing me. I absolutely love reading this email. It really inspired me when you wrote that bit about prayer. I felt the spirit testify to me about that. I will improve and follow up with you next week. You have a busy week just before Christmas. That is good, keep the work rollin' and tell Riley to give it his all. I am still excited about that previous week just because it was so much fun to do the work. This week was still great but it consisted with a lot of rejection.
So When I call you on Christmas, it will be about 9:30 like you said and just as we're on the phone we can set up skype, so have it ready to go with the family available. I am still restricted to speaking to just the blood related family, cameron is ok. That is a bit unfortunate for those I wont speak to but it is also being obedient. Well I am excited for this week because so much is going on. Well here is how the last week went...

 

It has been another good week. I got the privilege to go on exchanges with the wrekin elders, once with Elder Hobbs and once with Elder Stocking. My Exchange with Elder Hobbs was great. One thing I noticed in Elder Hobbs is that he has great trust with the members and he has made great friends with them. I am so confident that they enjoy his presence in the wrekin area. During the exchange we were able to find a young man on the spot to teach and Elder Hobbs and I worked well together in being unified with our teaching. The lesson went over well and afterwards we rejoiced in the joy to share the gospel. Even though it was cold my heart was warm and filled with the spirit. On the exchange with Elder Stocking, we were able to get to know each other very well. It is always good to have a strong relationship with your leaders. Because of that relationship I was able to ask him many questions. I had noticed that he is very knowledgeable in the gospel and almost the entire exchange I was asking him questions and he would answer all of them with references too. I was amazed on how much he understands. He also helped me with my teaching skills and how to teach simply. That is something that I will always be working on all throughout my time serving the lord. I enjoyed these exchanges very much. It also made the week seem very fast.

 

I had a great experience when I was at the train station just after we exchanged back. I looked at the train times and saw that our train doesn't leave until and was expected at 10:52. We had about five minutes, so to maximise the time I turned to a man and began to speak to him. At first he was a little hard hearted when I asked how his day has been and he replied with a "good until you showed up.". After a minute or two of explaining to him our purpose as a missionaries and about the Book of Mormon, his heart was softened and he began to show sincere interest in the book. He was asking me great questions about what we believe and how the Book of Mormon is word of God. He asked me for the book and without hesitation I allowed him to have the Book of Mormon. After I finished with our conversation I looked back at the time and I was a bit frightened when I saw that it was 10:58. I thought we had missed the train. Then I see that our train was delayed until 11:02. I was relieved and then I began to think how the Lord was able to do that. I know that that man needed to hear about the Book of Mormon and I know that the Lord provided a way and the time for him to hear this great message.

 

Our Investigators in our teaching pool are three: Sian, Jamie and Paul. Sian is busy for work and then gone for holiday until after Christmas. We are planning to see her just after and she claims to have a bunch of questions for us. Paul, who we taught just last week is doing well. He has not shown too much commitment however and that is a bit worrying. He does have much trust with us and that is the strength of Paul right now. Jamie is fantastic, we taught him just this weekend and he is showing some great potential for progression. We also are helping him and his family of three children (he being a single parent) with Christmas by supporting his incapability to provide gifts for his kids. So we were able to speak to the relief society president and another family in the ward who are very fortunate and caring to help out with Jamie and his family. We have got a few gifts for Jamie's children and I know that Jamie appreciates the act of kindness, he has expressed his thanks to us. I think this will be a great Christmas.

 

Hope you have a Happy Christmas! I will talk to you then.

 

Love Elder Tucker Corbin

December 12, 2011

Thanks for emailing me, It means a lot. I have had a fantastic week and I cant wait to tell you about it. I will make plans and arrangements to call you at 4:30pm on Christmas day. I can't wait to talk to all of you. And yes it is a half hour for you and a half hour for mom. If you can do skyp just let me know because I have access. I was planning to be on the phone and skyp so that way if the skyp gets messed up we can still hear each other. It will be my greatest Christmas present too. I also cant wait for the photo album, it should be good to see the family again. So you got a BBQ, nice. Those steaks are so good, I can almost taste those sunday afternoon dinners right now. I am glad to hear that Riley is still doing great on the court. I also memorized the quote that you sent me a few weeks ago, and also D&C 4, because I remember in priests quorum I was nearly the only one who did't have it memorized. I am almost done with the Book of Mormon Challelnge. I am at the end of Ether. I should complete it this week. Well here is my fantastic week for you...

This has been an amazing week. I have noticed a steep increase of my faith. I am beginning to understand how faith can be used in all aspects of the work. It also has helped me become an instrument in the hands of the Lord. My faith in finding is what has grown so much this week. I have been having prayers in my heart that we are going to find those who receive us (pmg 159). I am so grateful for a greater understanding of faith in missionary work.
Paul is doing great, we met with him last Monday evening. He is so receptive to the spirit and he is beginning to see the whole purpose why we care for him so much. We watched the restoration video with him and there is no doubt that he felt the spirit very strongly. After the lesson he sincerely thanked us for what we do. We are meeting with him again tonight.
A few miracles that happened this week which were very spiritual experiences that are testimony builders to me. Last Monday on our way over to Paul we stopped this young woman who was on her phone. She seemed as if she was brushing us off. All she said was, "I promise I will talk to you, just go to my house 106 Oakfield." We also found out her name was Sian. So we went to Paul's just bearing her in mind. The very next day, we were in that area around the same time at night. We got to her road which we have a few potential investigators who live there and the very first thing I was thinking was 106 Oakfield, repeatedly in my head. So I just went by the spirit and looked for the door with 106 on it. When we knocked on she answered and she happily welcomed us in. We needed a fellowshipper because she was home alone so we gave it ten minutes and we had a fellowshipper who was the best possible fellowshipper for her just because they had so much in common. We were able to teach her and it was a very good lesson. She had lost her mother and two twin brothers in a car crash four years ago when she was fifteen. She has had a lot of questions that she wanted answered. We were able to also answer those questions of the soul she had by using the Book of Mormon and also by having our fellowshipper relate from some personal experiences of his family who past away in a car crash, too. The entire lesson was so spiritual and I realised how great it is to have the spirit guide us and lead us to those who will receive us. I felt completely consecrated to the Lord and I was an instrument in his hands, such a blessing.
On Wednesday, we were able to have another miracle. We were on our way to a dinner appointment with a pizza on hand, which we were providing the main meal. We met this man named John along the way and asked him if he would like to join us and have some pizza. He was excited and said sure why not. So we walked with him to our dinner appointment and all throughout the dinner time we got to know him better and some of his interests. After the dinner we then began to teach him in the members home. He was very understanding and the message of the restoration made sense to him. The whole situation just played out perfect and once again I am grateful for the Lord placing him in our path. I know I shouldn't ruin the story but we had lost contact with him after that lesson and we pray that as he reads the Book of Mormon that it will soften his heart. Always planting seeds.
On Thursday we had some sad news, Damion text us saying thanks but he doesn't want to meet with us anymore. No explanation but we are still friend and I can't wait for the day we run into him on the streets. That is when we can follow up with him on what has happened. I know the Lord is preparing him till that day.
On Saturday, we had a very great miracle. We walked up a street of a member and found this man, named Ant(Antoni), just outside his house. We found out that he was doing some painting and decorating and we offered to help. To his surprise and ours he let us in to help him. During the hour and fifteen minutes we painted with him, we talked to him about the beliefs that we hold and how we differ from other religions. He began to show interest. After he asked us if there was anyway that he could repay us for the help. We said nothing really, but we would love to share with you about the Book of Mormon. So we sat down for another half hour and taught him the restoration message. He was thrilled about it. I can tell he has been looking for something more in his life. I am so grateful for the Lord leading us to this wonderful person. The spirit was strong the whole time and even when we were walking away.
Later that day, we ran into this man named Jamie. He has three kids and is a single parent. He doesn't believe in God. We were talking to him for about ten minutes while he was on his way back to his flat. When we got to his flat we asked if we could come up with him and out of the cold weather. He let us come in and I know that the Lord had softened his heart. When we were at his flat he was showing sincere interest and asking many question about the restoration. We explained to him about the Book of Mormon and why it is so important. He is really intending to read the book out of real interest and his heart has been completely softened. I am so grateful to be able to meet Jamie and his children. I know he is prepared to receive the truth.
All these great experiences came about because Elder Hill and I have been working on having a prayer in our heart and having faith that we can find those who receive us. I have developed a great love for faith and I know that the Lord can do many mighty miracles. I now know that the Lord can open so may doors if we just ask him to lead us the way. This has truly been one of the greatest weeks of my mission.
I am looking forward to this week and I hope you have a great week too.
Love Elder Tucker Corbin

Pictures December 5, 2011

yeah it may look nice outside but is is freezing. at least it isn't raining. The weather has been so nice this far and I see it as a blessing

This is my favorite member in the ward, just because he is so amazing. His name is Robert Taylor and he is relatied to Robert Plant. He also looks like Brenan Corbin in a few decades.

December 5, 2011

Thank you so much for emailing me. I was so excited to see Riley doing so well in basketball. I am on fire with it my friend. I wish I could be there to see him play, but I know my priorities and my desires are to serve the Lord. Bishop Waldron got released did he, Now its Bishop Scott. That is good to know. Bishop Waldron was amazing and I love him for the service he gave to the Chaparral ward. I know too that Bishop Scott will do great also. I love your support that you have for me and I thank you for all that you and tha Family do.

Well its coming up fast, you know I will be calling you on Chrstmas day. I would like to Skyp you and talk to you over the phone so that way we can see and hear each other, just in case the connection is bad on the skyp and we cannot hear that well. What time should I call you? I want to know in advance so that I can make everything work out. Let me know these details so that I can get it all worked out.

Well my week had be great and here is how it went...

I must say, I am getting excited for what is happening here in Telford. I can see miracles beginning to unfold right before my eyes. It is amazing how having faith will allow the Lord to perform miracles as we serve. What I mean by that is that there is great potential with the Badger family(part member family), who I mentioned about last week. Sister Badger came to church, like she usually does, but this time with her two children Estella and Ellis(age 17 and 9). Estella is participating much in the lessons and Ellis is enjoying primary. Elder Hill and I are planning to begin teaching Estella and Ellis this week. By starting the teaching process of teaching this week we will be able to have them dated for the twenty-fourth of December and also enables us to reach our goal of two baptisms by the end of the year. This is what I meant by miracles beginning to unfold. We have shown faith that we can achieve this goal and the Lord is providing a way.

We also had great progress with Damion earlier this week and had a fantastic lesson. He is reading the Book of Mormon and has claimed to feel the spirit when he does read from the Book of Mormon. We haven't had a lesson with him since then and I am a bit sad about that. We were planning to meet with him on Friday but he couldn't make it because he was feeling under the weather. We also invited him to church but he didn't come. We will be making contact with him very soon and we pray for him all the time. He still has great potential to progress. I think what will help him most is by getting him involved with members in the ward of his age group which there are a few in mind that would work well with him. We will be on that this week.

We Taught a young woman this week on the spot. Her name is Charlie. We had a great lesson with her and she did feel the spirit strongly. The spirit was also strong when Elder Hill and I bore sincere testimony to her about the restored gospel. We will not be teaching her in the future though because she has just moved to South Hampton. We have created a teaching record for her and will send it to the mission office who then can forward it to the missionaries in her area. We have her contact details so we will be able to get her exact location where she is moving to. I don't believe it was coincidence that we met her, she is prepared for the truth.

We also got to teach a man named Ross. We met Ross a few weeks ago and set an appointment with him. When we went to the appointment he was not home so we figured we will try by another time. We met a young man just the other day named Deon, who actually turned out to be Ross' son. Deon set up a fake appointment with us but because of that we were led back to Ross. When we met with Ross we ended up finding out that his sons real name was George. Even though it was a false appointment, it led us back to Ross and he is definitely prepared for the restored gospel. He invited us in warmly and we had a great lesson with him yesterday. He is committed to read the Book of Mormon and to also pray about it. He also would like to be baptised when he find it to be true. He had some great questions a true investigator would ask. We are very excited for him here in Telford.

I am so grateful for serving in this area where so many great things are about to unfold. This is a great time of year and I know it makes up for the cold weather(by the way it is freezing out here and I am in it for several hours at a time). It is so great to be a missionary no matter what the condition are. I hope you have a great week.

Love Elder Tucker Corbin

November 28, 2011

Thank you so much for writing me. I enjoyed reading your email. Riley is doing great huh. Fourteen big ones, nice. Tell him good job for me. Unfortunately I am limited to internet sites and I will not be able to read Riley's article but I will when I am home. I am glad you had a great thanksgiving and a good time with everyone around. Elder Hill and I had a great thanksgiving and had pasta bake with roast pototoes and cheesecake. really tasty. Thanks for the inspiring words you sent me. I really like that quote I will learn that one. Well here is the week I have had...

 

We have had a great week here in Telford. I can see that the future of this area is beginning to grow. It has so much potential and it is on the verge of turning the corner to making miracles appear. There is a part member family in this ward which we are planning to take some progress with. The Badger family, I just think that is a great name to begin with. There is the mother, Michelle, who is a convert of three years now and has such a strong testimony. Now her children are not members but are recently showing interest. Estella is at the age of seventeen and Ellis is nine. This past week we had a family home evening with them and we got to know each other much better. I feel we have made a huge step by doing that. Now we are focused on talking with Sister Badger on what we can do to take the next step which we believe is to teach them. I'll let you know how it turns out. I am so excited for it.

Damion. He is our most progressing investigator and he is beginning to catch fire. I think what is so great about him is that Elder Hill and I have a great bond between us, just as friends would. That is a key strength and he likes to meet with us because of that. Ever since we had first taught him, we have seen a definite change and he has seen it too. He keeps commitments that we give him and that has been the factor of that change. His biggest concern is having faith. He finds it difficult to believe that Jesus Christ is able to perform miracles such as walking on water, etc. From what we have seen he will continue to develop faith and slowly but surely his doubt with fade because of his willingness to keep commitments.

Paul, the investigator we have just found last week, is also very sincere about meeting with us. He is a great man and has a very high potential and is happy most of the time. On our follow-up visit with him he was once again welcoming just as the first time. He has read from the Book of Mormon and we showed our excitement for that. From what he understands of the restoration, he does believe Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God.

We had a great experience this week in which we applied a teaching tactic described on page 159 of PMG. It talks about skipping the appointment request and just start teaching them, then and there. We have tried it once with a couple of gentlemen on there lunch break but they just said in the middle of the the teaching and testifying, "maybe another time mate". A few days later we put it to the test again with this man named Mark. He had just finished laying bricks in his front porch and we started talking to him and asked him how his day was and all that. We were talking to him about his son who is paralyzed from the chest down due to a motorcycle crash. Then yielded the subject into the atonement and Jesus Christ and his ministry on the earth. After fifteen minutes we had taught most of the restoration lesson and then invited him to be baptised, which he accepted. I was amazed about how well this tactic works. We are seeing him on our follow up visit this week. I am excited for him and his decision to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.
I am so excited for this week. I hope you are too, have a good one.

Love, Elder Tucker Corbin