Elder Josh Needles Called to Serve: May 2015

Monday, May 25, 2015

Birthday Week!!

Hello family and friends! I love the crap outa all of y'all. Hope you all had an amazing week!

I've had a GREAT week this last week. I had the most awesome opportunity to baptize Dolores Duarte! It was such a great baptism. After she got out of the font she was so excited. She just kept saying to her mom, "I did it mom! I did it!" It was such a good day. I felt the spirit strongly that day. I know Dolores made the right decision to be baptized. Now she and her mom are working toward going to the Temple to do baptisms for the dead! I love their family and am so excited for all of them!

My companion, Elder O'Neal, is a crazy man but I love him! We have had so many great times. I'm SUPER glad we've gotten to be companions. We've been working out and he's my "personal trainer." So I've been sore every day for the past two weeks. But it's good because I don't want to gain too much weight on my mission!

My birthday is this Saturday and I'm excited for it because we're going to go to Texas Roadhouse with Lori! I LOVE TEXAS ROADHOUSE. It's my favorite.

Anyway, yesterday we ate dinner at the Chase's and it was super cool because they have to be the coolest, awesomest, most amazing family I've met. They're so kind to us and we get along with them super well. THEY'RE AMAZING!

I hope all is well wherever you are! I love you all! Have an incredible week!

Elder Needles

8 months down

Hello family and friends. I miss you all so much and hope all is going well for you! Yesterday I hit my 8 month mark!! I can't believe I've been gone for 8 months. It seems like it's been FOREVER since I've seen y'all, but at the same time it's going by fairly quick. I'm having a lot of fun, especially with Elder O'Neal. He's become one of my best friends that I've had and I'm super grateful we are companions.

I'm excited for this week because it's Dolores' baptism! This last week she had her baptism interview (which went great). Elder Truman, our district leader, interviewed her and she did great. I was pretty nervous because she is a very reserved person and I was scared she'd forget everything and panic during the interview, but it was quite the opposite! She remembered everything to the point where Elder Truman was pleasantly surprised with her knowledge. He told her we've taught her well and that she is a very smart person. I'm excited because Dolores has asked me personally to be the one to baptize her. I can't wait for it. Her mom will definitely cry haha.

Pause, I had an awful nightmare last night where I went to Texas Roadhouse and they gave me Dishwater for a beverage and refused to give me Dr. Pepper. It was horrible.

Anyway, the Chase's yet again fed us steak which was glorious. I love steak and I love the Chase's so it was such a good night. Lori also cut our hair this week which was great because I really needed a haircut and Lori is awesome. She's one of the most Christ-like people I've ever met!

I hope y'all have an amazing week.

Seek Christ

Elder Needles

Monday, May 4, 2015

New Companion

Hello Everyone!

It's so good to be on my email again. I love hearing from all of you and I love to keep you updated on what's going on here in Texas.

Last Tuesday, I had to say goodbye to Elder Harvey, Elder Evans, and Elder Smith. It was a hard meeting. A bunch of people were crying while attempting to sing "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." It's never fun to say goodbye to missionaries! But when one door closes another opens. My new companion's name is Elder O'Neal and he is awesome! We get along great and have had a lot of fun this last week. I really think I'll enjoy this transfer serving with him. He's a great missionary and just a fun person to be around.

We've continued to teach Dolores and she's doing so well! She came to church yesterday and she loved it. She's really coming out of her shell even though she's a very shy person. I love her and her family and am so excited for her baptism on the 23rd. It'll be a good day!

On Saturday we had the ward picnic and it was a lot of fun. Elder O'Neal got to know a lot of the ward members and we played lots of frisbee. The Chase family is still as amazing as ever and we both love them. Yesterday, Brother Tatro invited us over because his nephew had just gotten home from his mission. He served in India and the Phillipines. He showed us lots of pictures and videos of cool things in India. He even taught the restoration like he would if he were there. It was super interesting.

This sunday is mother's day. Let me just say --- I have THE BEST mom in the world. I love her so much. She has taught me so much and helped me learn and grow for the better. She has done more for me than almost anyone and I love her eternally for that. Love you Mom! Happy Mother's Day! Can't wait to talk to you on skype!

Hope y'all have a great week. I love all of you!

Elder Needles