From: "Searle Vincent"

Date: September 29, 2009 11:11:30 AM MDT

To: mcdede@comcast.net

Subject: Re: Sept. 28,2009

Dear family,

    SO i am doing great today.  I am melting though.  They fixed our scale yesterday and ive lost a little over 20 pounds in 8 weeks kinda nuts. Im right about 200.  I fell in really good shape though b.c ive been working out alot and started doing my pushups and situps everyday which is good.

    I may not be able to email you next week but hopefully my mission president will. Y ou,ll need to send some pictures and not ones of me. I know what i look like! :) haha

    They work is really good.  i work so hard my only  concern is if my body can last two years working this hard and harder but i know when its in the work of the LOrd i have nothing to worry about.  I will be just fine.   But i promise i will have nothing left when i get back so be prepared :)   

    We go out on divisions tomorrow so that will be cool to get out of the building for a lil bit.   Im sorry about the snow.  Its colder here too.  By about to degrees though.

    I found something cool about out a while back and i decided i should write you about it today.  In the scricptures it uses the word to cry unto the lord in place of prayer often times.  In spanish the word to pray in orar and the word to weep or cry is llorar.  To cry in pray.  I usually draw a picture but cant so visuallies a sad face with the ll as tears before orar.  In the scriptures it says to become as little children and little children comunicate through crying and other emotions.  I realized our prayers should not be words at all but an expression of our real emotions unto the lord as a child comunicates its desires and needs to its parents.  We as humans often try to hide our emotions but we should never hide them from the lord we must express them to the lord as a child does.  I parent does not let the child just cry and do nothing and neither will the lord if we cry unto him.

    Its crazy im out in the real world next week but i know the lord will be with me every step.

    I am doing really well.   Just trying to be the best i can be and serve the lord.

    Please let me know if there is anyone i need to write to or that could use any help.

     I love you all so very much.  You are my strength.

     Love,

            Elder Searle Vincent

Date: September 22, 2009 3:06:16 PM MDT

Dear family,

    This week was pretty sweet.  First off just a second ago i was out on the basketball court and dunked for the first time in almost a year.  It was with a soccer ball but i got it really clean.  I was pretty stoked about that.  

     Also we watched a movie about joseph the son of isreal.  I came to realize how special the name Joseph is to me.  My Grandfather and great grandfather Joseph Smith and Joseph of egypt.  Some of the greatest examples in my life to me.  I cant even comprehend the trials that Joseph Smith and Joseph of Egypt went through.  Joseph of egypt was disowned and beaten and sold by his brothers for just living the comandments.  He was imprisioned and lived an icredibly unfair life but he was blessed immesureably for his obdeince and diligence.  At the end of the movie when he told i was really touched when he told his brothers who he was.  They were all crying about how sorry they were and he said that he for gave his brothers and that through his suffering as one man he was able to save thousands and a nation.  He blessed them for what they had done and welcomed them with open arms.  It amazed me and thats not even close to what the savior dealt with.  I have really been trying to focus on finding the good in everything b.c i truely believe we can find good in everything and become stronger from everything.  Also see the lords mercy in all things.

    One example is i lost my journal ( i ordered a new cool one though so dont worry)  on the bus last monday and was kind of distruaght about it but then i remembered look for the good and the hand of the lord.  I then remembered that most of what i had written was on the talks i had heard and that i had taken notes in another notebook so i really didn{t end up loosing much.  Would i rather still have my journal of coarse but lifes to hard as is to get down and frustrated about stuff.  I kind of felt like nephi having writtend his book b.c joseph smith lost the 119 pages.

     So who did heath play this week and what was the score of the BYU game.  i cant believe they lost at home.

      My companion is Elder Udall from Eger arizona.   Is sounds similar geographics to Park city kind of.  He's really nice and a good compainion.   I cant really find much wrong with him which is probably b.c im only looking for the good in things.

      Mom im sorry about the mouse iknow thats not what you want to see.  I'll pray for you :)

     In the scriptures it says many times i will consecrate your aflictions for for your gains and show you mercy.  I really like Jacob 3:1 and second nephi 2.2.

     im about out of time so i will just end by saying i love you all so much and your love and prayers are a great strength to me.

LOve,  Elder searle vincent