Dear Family

Dear Family,

haha so life has been going well on the mission. Things have been pretty slow lately cause we have baptized all of our progressing investigators and now we are working on recontacting other investigators and finding it has been a real challenge. But the Lords word will roll on. It has been great to see the change work in the recent converts. I have notice that right after they are baptized satan works really hard on that person. Almost everyone of our recent converts have a mountain to climb and I now understand the importance of why members need to pitch in and fellowship. The members have been the real support on keeping them active. every one that is in the fold has had at least some one that took the time to bring us there and that is why we are here today I am grateful for the people in my life that has brought me to this moment. I have also realized that our choices affect not only us which can be for good or bad. Our choices can and will affect generations of people and "may we choose the harder right then the easier wrong" the mission is not easy but I know that it is the right thing to do and I know that the choices I have made to go out will effect generations. I love you. ALOHA !!!! 

Elder Boyd

Hello from Honolulu!

love you too dad thanks this letter is only for you to read for the support life is difficult and I still feel like I haven't gotten that answer to my prayers yet but I hope I will I see the blessing of the gospel I believe in the truth of this chruch I guess I can say that I struggle with the apostasy cause I know that there is only one truth so how do you know for sure that you truth is the only truth when other feel that same burning desire that there religon is true I want to believe but believing can only bring you so far I went on my mission feeling that I don't know it's true but I believe so I toke that leep of faith trusting that the lord would catch me but I feel like I'm still falling I just don't know how I'm going to receive peace that this is true with out having some kind of answers. how long must I fall tell I get an answer that god is really there and he love me how can I know.. I don't mean to rant but it is really discouraging cause I can't look them in the eye and tell them that this is true that god is real that he loves them if I haven't felt that my self. I believe and will continue to believe and i know that the gospel makes me happy and that it fills a void of emptiness inside me but thats it so that's how things are really going on but I'll be ok I wont quit I just don't know what I;m going to do when I get home cause if I don't get the spiritual witness of why I'm here whats the purpose in life is the church true and is god real, I know for a fact because i have seen it in other RM's I will fall away and that is something I don't to happen but I know if you do not have a true fondation in some thing that will happen any one can believe in santa clause but that doesn't make him real you can be influenced to be good by something but that doesn't make it real I know I letting scratch get in between my eyes but I want to know not this believe stuff I WANT TO KNOW but I don't know how to know any ways I 'm done sorry for that I'm just letting off my steam so yea the hurricane pass over us like it was nothing didn't even rain on us so the lord is protecting hawaii. so this week is transfer week and I'm staying the area and I got a new companion elder smothers. He is so great and has lots of wisdom up his sleeve because he has three more months left so I might kill him off haha (send him home) so trying to help him be trunky I mean not trunky haha he is from Alabama and speaks Tongan. taking over the area is hard this is my first time so it is difficult to call the shoots I'm better at being the wing man haha but it has been a great learning experience. elder smothers and I have made it a goal to get to know the members more sense kahuku is a small mormon community all the investigators we get is form members which is good and that is our goal to get more member trust. It is a little of a change with a new companion and the week has been a little slow kahuku had there home coming game on Friday and the whole town went so we went as well to see who we could find and it was so much fun the power went off in the neighborhood so we had no light or fan when we went to sleep, but on a good we got a new investigator she is nine years old and her family is less active. her mom wants her to get baptized this Saturday so we taught her every day last week and to day 5 we are teaching her the last lesson at the visiter center yea super awesome this week is crazy we have two baptisms on Saturday and two other baptisms happening in the ward on that day as well so hard at work. I will let you know how it goes. I love you dad  ALOHA​

Transfers tomorrow

I'm alive!

so things are going well I'm still alive haha sorry for emailing so late last week that is very rare that we wensday pday but yea. so we have three baptisms schedule the third is on 10th as well so two in one yea. also my companion is being tranferd and I'm staying in laie zone kahuku so things are crazy taking over the area and planing three baptisms by my self cause my companion doesn't  know the area haha. everything has been great kahuku is all about there high school foot ball team so they are hard core fans I mean hard core the whole neighborhood shuts down for a game so my companion and I have no other choose but to go and find people there it is actually affective because they can't run or hide and the whole neighborhood is there so we can find any one to sit by and talk to haha it's great. so a couple of nights ago I had a very awesome experience eating at a members house. we started taking to this girl acrose the table she was being kinda quite so we started asking her questions and she shared with us that she felt like she doesn't believe that god is real and it was a emotional discussion and it was hard cause some of the questions she ask I have ask those questions too but it was amazing because the words that I have said to her i know they were not from me because I couldn't even answered them my self but I saw a change in the girl's face as I spoke and gave her the comfort that she can receive an answer if she does her part. I love the gospel and the spirit I know that I don't know every thing but I know that the gospel is true that if you live it you will have the most happiness than any thing in this life could give you I have witness the effects it has had on others. love you have a good week ALOHA!! 

Aloha!

Yes I totally agree I will do my best to send more general letters but really I just want to write people that will write me. life in the mission is moving so fast by the time it's pday I don't remember my week but I will do my best. how is every thing going for you how is work and the fam doing what has been going on back home. I hope every thing is going well. thing on the mission have been a little hard lately and it's stuff I would rather not share and thoughs things are most of my week so a lot of it is negative stuff so I don't know what else to email beside the week was busy and I'm full of food I'm trying to come up with some thing to write but it is hard ever sense the mtc I have dropped spiritually and have been trying to gain the faith to keep moving on there has been so many times were Ive been so over whelmed with doubt I think I should just come home I guess you can say that satan is working on me. I have been dealing with all kind of temptations and also have had consistent unclean thoughts I don't know what I should do because sense I lack the faith I don't know that god is really there I feel like I have no foundation against evil, and it is really frustrating and discouraging to resist temptation with no back bone but blind faith. I know that the commandments bring true happieness but all that goes out of the window when you don't know that you have a purpose in your life that god is real and really love you and most importantly that the christ is the savior of the world and the atonement is really a thing and can change me. I am trying my best but I'm falling short. The savior said If you love me keep my commandments well it is hard to love something if you don't have asuriety that the thing you love is even real. IT is also hard to preach and testify about some thing that you don't know it's true, I do believe in the church and god is there but I have my doubts. I want to over come this but I don't know how and I also don't know how I'm going to receive my answer but I have been reading the book of mormon and have felt a difference I just haven't received my answer. I wanted to mark this urgent but I don't know what is considered urgent so I didn't but really this is a problem. I want to thank you for your great conceil and I don't mean to be difficult I am just trying to find the truth and fighting against some thing with no weapons or shields, and it is hard but I know all I can do is my best even though my best is not that much it's all I got. so that is what is going on so I'm sorry that I haven't been able to give you guys a good letter lately I"m trying to stay out here but it is difficult and I really don't feel like good is there and that he loves me so how I suppose to help others feel that. I'm sorry I don't mean to complain I just letting you know that I'm going through a hard time. I love you dad and don't ever want to let you down thats why I still here but I don't know if I have any more strength. I hope every thing is going well back home keep moving forward. aloha   

Letters to brothers

Dear Elder Boyd
You are getting fatter man that's a compliment. You are doing a great job on babtisims.I am doing a great job on working out and eating healthy I have been learning cool stuff in the Book of Mormon. I have been learning how to be thankful for every thing I have,and to be nicer to my brothers.And we got to see Chad and that was real fun.Keep on doing the good work see you later.
Love Spencer

haha you crack me up of course I'm fat I'm a missionary plus there is no way to have healthy food heir so yea but I'm gald to heir your getting yoked haha thats awesome that you are reading the book of mormon keep it up love you bro 

Hello elder Boyd 

How is the mission going
It looks as if your doing good 

It looks as if you and your companion get along with each other 

Their is this video I was watching and it reminded me of you 

 The Laie Hawaii Temple Youth Cultural Celebration (3:13) Lds. Org 

Lately I talked to the bishop and confessed 

It was a great experience and now I am stronger then ever 

I'm reading scriptures every day I'm doing my duty to God and much more 

It's a real blessing 

I heard your gaining weight but don't worry I'm sure it will stop and you will lose lots when you get home 

Ha ha ha 

Well I've got to get on with my day love you bro 

Go serve the lord  Love, James

yea man life is crazy the mission is a blessing you learn a lot. I know you can do it man keep up the good work it will be hard at first but I believe you will find your way if you rely on the lord and keep doing what your doing you will over come. I have meet a lot of less actives and the big thing that causes them to fall away is that they stop reading there scriptures they stop coming to church and most importantly they stop praying so make sure you do the simple things. and yea Ive gained weight you guys probably wont be able to recognize me when I get off the plane you'll be like who's that fat missionary haha I don't think I lose it ether cause of moms good cooking so I try to have High hopes but yea. any ways you have a great day brother.

July 4th Breakfast

Riding bikes everyday!

OK I will do my best to answer your questions my companions name is elder graham he is from Canada and is an awesome missionary. the bike wreck was crazy it all happened so fast I was flying down the rode because we were in a rush cus we had no car and no one would give us a ride we rode our bike from kahuku to laie to met a family at the temple and we were ten minutes so we were going fast and my companion slammed on his brakes to turn in the bike lane and I was right behind him my bike is crap and had no treds and very little brakes and add gravel and hard wind to the situation and you get a bike wreck. landed on my right hand first and scraped it up then my left then my elbow then my nee no brakes just some wrist spranse and lose of pride haha the worst thing I found out in the hospital was that I weigh 185 pounds so yea. our investigators we have four kids preparing to be baptized and they are in a less active home we have tone of less active the whole neighborhood is most members Its a pretty small town we have one baptism this Saturday but we didn't really teach her she just moved from uhta  but I'm baptizing her so this will be my first. so yae hope that helps love you dad keep working hard and thank you for the pics and the up dates        

Elder Boyd,
It was good to see the pictures of you and your companion. Of course me and mom were worried about you're hand and the bike wreck you had. Tell me what happened. As you know I ride a bike almost everyday and I have wrecked three times my self. The first time was bad I skinned my knee the second time I thought I broke my thumb the third time I just slid on my side. All were at about 16to17 miles an hour. As you know my last letter from two weeks ago had a lot of questions in it. Well you have won the prize just like your brothers Josh and Grant. On the don't answer your dads question game. Do you remember me saying at the kitchen table why can't your brothers just answer my questions whyyyyyyyyyyyy!! So don't forget I ask the questions for a reason so answer so throw me some answers when I ask it's a no brainier. On another note. What part of the world is your comp from? How many families in you teaching pool how many less active in your Ward how many part members how many perspective elders? I really liked the scripture you picked for your plaque. We had a lot of fun in Utah at Zions national park pictures attached we will have to go there when you get back. Be safe riding your bike keep up the hard work you are amazing!!! We are so proud of you. Keep trying two steps forward one step back. Live each mission day as an amazing opportunity to learn and grow by the spirit you will look back on this and say if you can serve a full time mission you can do any thing in life. Stay close to the spirit oh by the way grandpa Boyd turned 76 years old last Thursday picture attached. On Ward up Ward keep working hard the fruit will come.

Love Dad

 

Elder Boyd in Hawaii!

May 31, 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Boyd:

We’re pleased to have Elder Boyd serving in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. Included are several photos of him with President and Sister Warner and the group that arrived with him.

We have found that weekly encouragement from home helps missionaries remain happy and also inspires greater missionary effort. Mail should be sent to:

Missionary Name (First, Middle Initial, and Last)

Hawaii Honolulu Mission

1500 S. Beretania Street, Suite 416

Honolulu, HI 96826

Please be aware that first class and priority mail can be forwarded from the mission office to missionaries without cost. Other services (FedEx, UPS, DHL) do charge to forward mail, which we collect from the missionary.

May the Lord’s blessings be with you and your family as Elder Boyd serves the people here in Hawaii.

Warmest regards,

Sister Judy Tufts

Mission Secretary

Hawaii Honolulu Mission

Made it to the MTC!

hey i made it to the mtc alive I didn't crash on the airplane haha just to let you and other know that my email day is on thursday so let every body know. love you mom!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Elder Boyd

Thank dad you know you can send me an email any time during the week my mission president lets us read our email after 10:00 at night so your good. Um all I really need is money I don't have any right now and I have been preserving my food but I haven't been buying things for a couple weeks I'm ok though I eat a lot.  life is going great on the mission crazy busy learning, teaching and learning that I'm not
teaching as well as I could haha.  "but the ship is in ship shape over" so me and my companion had to do splits for the second transfer training. the elder that trained with us was the best missionary in the mission fled his name was elder Bronson. The reason why he is the best missionary is because he was in the district 3 video which is a series of live filmed videos from salt lake for all future missionaries. It was like spending a day with a celebrity haha it was fun although he worked us real hard I loved every moment of it he taught both of us a lot of things. It was crazy we had four lessons
back to back and he was evaluating us in every thing we did it was a
little nerve wracking but I learned a lot from my mistakes. I learned
so thing in preach my gospel which can apply to any one and that is
the phrase "am I a burden or a blessing " for an example we are having a hard time with our ward getting them motivated to do there callings and also help us out in missionary work and it really comes down to how you handle thing with people am I a blessing or a burden to ward. I have learned instead of tell some you need to improve on etc..etc...etc you ask what are there needs and what could I do to help you? The attitude of the atmosphere changes and I can testify to that. 

On Saturday we were teaching this family about the restoration and it
did not go well they knew a lot from the bible which can be a good
thing and a bad thing cause the bible can be taking so many different
directions and I learned that out real quick when I tried to resolve
there concerns with giving them answers in the bible that supports the restoration and when I did they toke that scripture in a completely
different direction. The restoration is beautiful it has given us the
opportunity to have a straight direction to know we're to go and what
to follow. We got some one on date it's was awesome we were teaching him the first lesson and a light bulb came on and he said to us "wait you guys are the only ones with a prophet and the priesthood, wait you have to baptized to go to heaven, when can I be baptized " me and my companion jumped through the roof I was like THANK YOU YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON I HAVE TOUGHT THAT HAVE REALIZED THAT so we put him on
date for May 20th which is a bummer cause I won't be there in fact non of my progressing investigators I will get to see them be baptized but that's ok the work moves on I fricken love this gospel. You have a
great week!!!!!!!!

Family, family, family

I love you dad I agree on what you have said and you as well keep
moving forward. 

This week was awesome a lot of our investigators are progressing
slowly but surely. Life on the mission is great I hope you are doing
well too. I have recognized the importance of having the sprit and his
role in teaching in preach my gospel it says that we are not to
receive personal revaluation for our investigators they must have an
open heart to receive there own personal revaluation through the
sprit. Some time that can frustrating cause many of the time they are
not yet ready and there heart is slowly softening little by little day
by day Visit by visit lesson by lesson, and that's the hard part some
I'm like darn it free agency haha it's important just some times
frustrating I wonder how God feels he probably like dang why did I
give that to him haha just kidding. Any ways It is our job as a
missionary to be worthy of the sprit though and as we do that we
invite the sprit. I have noticed in my life as I our my companion
testified the feeling of the lesson changes and then it's some thing
personal from us to the investigator then just come to church repent
and be baptized. It means more and I have had many experiences were the lesson wasn't going well then a testimony was said and there the sprit came and cleaned the mess. I recently was reading in the Book of Mormon the war chapters in alma there pretty intense I got to the two thousand stripling warriors and it was an amazing event. It said in the scriptures over and over that these boys were small young and little number the odds were against them but still they had faith and through down and was victorious. But I thought to my self that the missionaries are kinda in that same category. Young, small maybe in size or in mind, not that much experience compared to a priest that has been study the scriptures a lot long then I have. So what separates us from them simple we are called of God , we have the priesthood, this is the true church. The gospel is true and I love it the gospel has changed my life and countless others. That is my testimony I leave with in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Letter to mom

I love you mom thank you for the letters and pictures I love to see
the gang I'm glad you got a lot out of conference thank you for
sharing I pray for you and the fam keep moving forward.
Hey this week has been very crazy transfers, baptisms, and wedding
it's been a blast and like every thing in life it all had to happen on
the same day. Haha it went well though transfers came and me and my
companion stayed in Coolidge so Back to work we go. Although last
transfer was really hard for many reasons but the biggest one was my
relationship with my companion. We didn't get alone really well and
the whole time I was focusing on the negative things about him
thinking I was in the right but really wasn't, It came to a point were
I couldn't teach with him. tell one day during the first few days of
the transfer a scripture came to my mind and it was the savior talking
about the moat in my brother eye and the beam in my on eye. After that
makes moment I had a deferent perspective on things especially my
company and most importantly me. Sense being on my mission I have
realized that I have a lot to improve.
I am grateful for the gospel and the ability to repent and change. I
have learned the to fully repent we must change, it is one thing to be
sorry and another to be changed And the atonement allows us to do
that. I really loved conference I can't tell you completely what I
have learned only that I was inspired and the I felt the spirt. My
favorite talk was Jeffery R holland and elder nelson what I liked
about Hollands talk was his expression of love for us also that we can
make tomorrow great. Nelsons talk on the story about two girls that he
tried to save from heart failure and the family that he tried to
contact it was an amazing story about how the temple bring families
together and brings us closer to the fold of God. I loved last week
and I can't wait for this week. Love you mom have a great day and a
great tomorrow

A letter to mom

         Hello! 

Thank you soooooooooo much mom you are the BEST !!!!!! I actually
don't have any money left so I'm freaking out thank you I love you mom
yea your right my birth day is coming up dang time does fly a couple
of weeks ago I really didn't think that but man. For my birthday I
would like some Star Wars stuff some basketball shorts and sherts,
money is always great. How is the family doing how are you doing do
you have less stress that I'm gone haha I tell people the reason why I
went on a mission was because my mother and I needed a break from each
other haha jk I would never say that This week was pretty slow during
the begging and then got slammed packed at the end. Lot of finding
people to teach. The thing I have been working on is teaching pep love
not lessons and it is hard cause some time you just want to hit all
the points and principle your supposed to hit. But when you teach they
some times throw curve balls at you and you are like wait well get to
that in a second. Although the people we are teaching are amazing they
truly want to learn and are seeking. The main thing of every thing is
love that is the center of the universe in every thing of the gospel
is an example on how God love us. He has brought back prophets so that
we can know what to do he has given us scriptures so we can learn for
our selfs and most importantly he gave his SON for US. Which I am
truly grateful for, any time you are feeling like he has left you
alone think of the endless thing that he has given you. Our follow
companions had a baptism this week end and they had me and my
companion speak in it !!! I was like what really, we tought the
restoration and switch of principles and I had to resign to the first
vision in front of a congregation. It was intense but preach my gospel
say that seek not to declare my word but first to uptain it and then
your mouth will be filled. That's not really how the scripture goes
but it's the jest. I also got to go to the Easter pageant it was
awesome and as a missionary I got a lot out of it I even noticed they
slipped in a couple Book of Mormon scripture haha sneaky Mormons, it
also tought a little restoration which was really cool. I got to see a
couple of people I knew and yea elder darosha and the hixseens it was
really weird I also was in shock when I ran into them I couldn't even
say anything I was like ........hi.....how.......are you guys and then
they were quickly on there way haha it was funny. I love the mission
it is really hard but has tought me that I need to work on so many
things. I love you mom.

March 21, 2016

Haha thanks for the video dad it reminded me of every morning with you guys and that is crazy about the whole thing in your trip.  Hey life
is doing great in Coolidge the days go by pretty slow but man the
weeks fly hard and fast I'm already on week seven which means I'm a week away from my half way point of my two transfer mission of that's not a lot of time but time has its ways to catch you by surprise. Anyways There is never a dull day or dull conversation in Coolidge you won't believe the contacts we get sometime. This week we were focusing on mostly finding people so that means street contact which I absolutely love yeaaaaa haha I learn pretty quickly that I need to
work on this skill. Truthfully I am not a very social person if some
one wants to talk to me I'll talk to them but when people don't want
to talk I'll stay out of there way, you can see how that can be a
problem as a missionary cause one we are suppose to talk to every body and two 95% of people don't want to talk to us haha. It has been a real challenge but has been causing me to grow and learn and as I testify my testimony grows. The power of the sprit is strong when you are baring your testimony it is good for the person you are testifying to but I think it is also for you as well. It is good to heir your own self bare testimony cause then your like hu that is what I believe in I'm not crazy. we had splits with another missionary he is the
district leader really nice guy his name is elder stanger he is a
great mission and it was an awesome time I packed my bedding spent the night at the elders house and the next day was working on his area. Elder stanger is a great teacher he was helping me on street contacting how to be more open more relaxed and confident he showed me proper hand gestures and postures which really does make all the difference when you are talking to somebody we have to show that we care cause we do care but sometimes it doesn't look like it. It all was interesting how the phycology works how if your body is open and you are relaxed the person you are talking to becomes open and relaxed. What ever is out ward usually is reflecting inward on how we present our selves. But we can be this master sales men (which I am not sorry dad ) we can be super great and prefect at talking but when it comes down to sharing the gospel if you don't have the sprit with you it they won't be fully converted they might be convert to that person or missionary but Intel you give them that opportunity to feel the sprit they won't have that connection. So how do we missionaries keep the sprit with us we follow the rules with exact obedience we wake up on time study on time keep our mind focused on the work if we follow Heavenly Father guide lines we are promised blessing and the sprit. Saturday we had a lesson with one of our investigator and it went pretty well but really it didn't we were stumbling through she was throwing us left and right and we were all over the place it wasn't in tell one of the members in the lesson bore his testimony she could fell the sprit and then she committed to be baptized and wants to come to church and ever thing came in place because of the sprit I love you guys keep moving forward and listen to mom she knows best.

Pictures from Coolidge, AZ.

Joy in the Work: March 14, 2016

Thank you for that relative scripture I totally agree on that thanks
dad the mission life is hard but so is life so I can't complain This
week I learn a lot most important is to be patient. I actually thought
I was good at this but haha I was wrong. Time is the measurement of
mortality it's also the measurement of how we grow and learn. over
time we have opposition which develop us to change but a lot of the
things we can't change with out the savior and the atonement. This
month our mission president wants us to focus on the savior life and
his atonement and how it is the center of all things and the gospel
which is faith in Jesus Christ repentance baptism gift of the Holy
Ghost and enduring to the end all of these pro apples would fall apart
with the atonement. this week has been very hard and I wanted to give up. I was to busy blaming every thing around me when really I was the one at fault "you can't change what's around you Intel you change your attitude"  at the moment I was mad at heavenly for giving me these experiences but now I'm a SOOO glad. I learn if you step back and take a couple deep breaths try not to break any thing or any body and just say a prayer and ask for help then read your scriptures every thing will be ok. It was amazing how I could of made a problem or fix a problem. 

This week we had a (trainer trainer ) come by his name is elder Olsen
he was fricken tall he spent the whole day with us boy that was fun
haha preaching the gospel with some evaluating ever thing you do I
learned a tone though. I learned the importance of preach my gospel, I would try to to ask the Elder Olsen what I should do to be a better
missionary and every answer he came up with was from preach my gospel it was incredible every question I had  about missionary work like how should I talk to people how should teach what should I do to find people to teach it is in preach my gospel ! I really have been taking it for granted but I'm trying to learn more from that manual. Me and my companion have been tested a lot this week a lot and a mean A LOT ! ! Of our appointment fell through so we try to go out and find people it is hard though in Arizona every one want to stay in door cause of the heat and they also do a great job letting us know that they are not home by turning down there Tv and shutting up there dog after we nock I almost want to say we know your in there we are angels knocking at your door and you think you can hide from the lord but you can't  haha "I can see your arm " what movie haha so
yea the mission is crazy it has it's good time and the bad and in between. I know that the savior lives and he died for me and also
lived for me and was risen on the thrip day, can't being to say how I
know but I know because I have tried to change my life by me self with help of others but I couldn't do it he has changed my life for the
better and know I go and help people receive him to change there lives.

                  Love, Elder Boyd 

Love every minute: February 29, 2016

                  Dear Family,

Coooolidge is great a little weird but great we have been doing a lot
of serve. Some at the food bank it's crazy there and you meet some
interesting people it humbles me though cause when I start think I not
well off I see these people and my love for them is great I couldn't
even Imagine not live in the gospel it has blessed my life and I feel
the drive to help others to revive it also. We also did service form
some that has a missing leg HE is fricken awesome though our service
for him was detailing his car and it is sweet. He also has a lot of
models some Star Wars ones too he gave me a starwars box I told him I
was a fan and he instead for me to take I said I'm fine but he was
just going to throw it away it I couldn't resist. Any ways the work is
great it's a little slow, to paint a picture of it some days are slow
we try to find people but no one would listen or it wasn't a good time
but that is ok. I meat some in the ward that I felt prompted to go
talk to it turned out he wasn't doing so great but nether was I so we
talked about our problems together and in the end we both felt better
I'm glad that I followed that promting the lord works in weird way. I
found out that some time we need to reach out to our brethren that are
in the fold cause we all need saving. I'm studying in preach my gospel
chapter 10 how to improve my teaching skills I recommend going over
that in family study. the one thing I need to work on and I think is
key in teach and in life is listening. Now mom and every body know
that's something I need to work on but I know that the lord will help
me. When I'm in a lesson I worry about what I need to say next but if
I listen the sprit will tell me what I need to say. I love you dad and
all the family thanks a lot here are some pics
Oh ps I can read emails during the week so tell people to send them
before lady so that I can respond to them instead of reading
everybody's emails I'm a slow typer and reader so that would help
thank you! 

Love, Elder Boyd 

Letter #2: Feb 22, 2016

                  Hello Family,

Thank you dad you are truly the reason why I'm here and you have
dealed with my all my life which I have toyou on that one cause
I ain't easy and just want to thank you keep up all the good work. How
is mom doing is she lest stressed is josh and Jessie doing good how
are the babies doing not James and spencer I mean Weston and Nora I
miss not walking in and seeing thoughs two. Any ways This week was
pretty slow. Right now we are just visiting recent converts reteaching
them the discussions and a lots of ROLL PLAYS !!!! I'm no good right
now at teaching but I'm trying and slow but surly getting better. I
think the most hardest thing for me as a missionary is getting out of
my comfort zone and speaking up haha I kinda fell like the little
brother in our house I speak no one heir me and it's hard but that's
ok it pushes me to talk. me and my companion are teaching each other
great lessons in life he is teaching me to be bold, more confident and
when there's a problem you go fix it. I'm teaching him patients and
long suffering and enduring to the end haha He is great. One day my
companion and another companion in our house had to go to training
meeting in Tempe so I went on splits with another greeny oh it gets
better he is form Brazil and doesn't even know that much English so
you can probably imagine how the rest of the day went haha
 it was a night mare but you now what I learned how to
get out of my shell and teach and the lord brought mighty mericails
there's a scripture in D&C 100 5-8 and it says (5.Therefore, verily I
say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts
that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded
before men;
6.For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment,
what ye shall say.7.But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall
declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart,
in the spirit of meekness, in all things.
8.And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the
Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things
whatsoever ye shall say) and we got and return appointment with some
one that we visited that was interested so hey great. Later in the
week We also did some service, "my favorite" yard work in the sun it
was great and the women that we did service for she was from Georgia
so it brought back so memories of North Carolina
She was very nice and with the service we did for she now wants to
come to church and take the lessons so this week was busy and not so
busy but it sure had its moments I hope you are doing great thank you
for being awesome

                  Love, Elder Boyd