9 Months and IPADS!

 Oh Happy Day! He got an IPAD!

Hello family and friends! I love and miss you all so much. I really hope y'all know that. 
This week was definitely one for the books. WE GOT iPADS! I never thought I'd see the day when we get them. But it's finally here. It's weird to say "I own an iPad." But I do! It's been so nice to have! It's going to be the BEST thing in the world. It's so much easier to teach, we have so much LESS to carry around, daily contact with investigators has become easier than ever, and in a couple of weeks we'll have Facebook! I'm so excited for all that is happening. We are becoming disciples of Jesus Christ in the digital age. Happy day! On Monday, we went to the Chase's so we could have one last hoorah before Elder Macaspac got transferred and before Sister Chase went to Utah for the summer. It was one of the best nights of my mission. The Olsen family came over as well. We gave advice to the people leaving and shared scriptures and thoughts and good memories. Sister Chase had joked the whole transfer that Elder O'Neal and I would have a dance off... So we did! hahaha. I definitely lost because for one I can't dance and for two Elder O'Neal has millions of hidden talents that people don't know about (like dancing). It was a lot of fun, eventually everyone in the room was dancing and having a good time. It was a good ending to that transfer. I hope that Elder Macaspac is doing well in his new area and that Sister Chase and her two kids are having the time of their lives in Utah. We've been teaching Dolores the new member lessons and that is going well. Also, Ruby is doing INCREDIBLE as always. She has to be the MOST golden investigator I've ever had on my mission. She continues to progress and I am so excited for her baptism on the 4th of July. We joke all the time with her saying that there will be fireworks the day she gets baptized... cause there will be! LOL. Elder O'Neal is still the best. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to become best friends with him. He's cooler than the flip-side of my pillow. IN TWO DAYS I HIT MY 9 MONTH MARK. I'm so glad I've made it this far. It's weird to say I haven't seen my family in 9 months. It's definitely gone by fast already. Elders joke with me and tell me that I need to take "pregnancy pictures" because I'm hitting my 9 month mark. hahaha. I hope everything is going well with all y'all. I love and miss you and remember to always come unto Christ. His arms are open wide.

-Elder Josh Needles

Miss you all!

I'm staying in the HOOD!!

I've got some GOOD news! I get to stay ANOTHER transfer in DeSoto! It'll be six months in this area and I am overjoyed! I have an amazing companion, great friends in the ward, and a happy heart. I was so nervous I was leaving. I thought it might happen, but my companion (Elder O'Neal) just kept saying I wouldn't get transferred. He was right! I'm just so grateful that God is allowing me to stay longer in this area and stay with Elder O'Neal. PAAAARTAAAAAAY!

Anyway, this week was good other than the nerves that come along with transfer week as always. We had another GREAT lesson with Ruby. She is progressing so well. She is reading the Book of Mormon so quickly (even though she thinks she's taking her time with it). Maria, Dolores, and Judy came to church on Sunday and it's always such a great day when we see their faces at church. They have such a special spirit about them. They are great! We had (as a district) 21 new people come to church on Sunday! 21 NEW PEOPLE! It was definitely a miracle. Last week, we went to a member's house in the Mountain Creek Ward to do service. The lady wanted to "zone" our feet. It was so cool! She could tell things about us just by feeling the pressure and energy in our feet. She hit me spot on. She said I have allergies, that I get nervous when I feel not in control of something (like transfers), and that I need to better trust the process. (Not sure exactly what that means LOL) When she did my companion after me, she told us that we try to take each others burdens onto ourselves and help each other a lot. I thought it was super cool to get my feet zoned! 

This week we get iPads as a mission. We don't get to do Facebook right away, but eventually we will be a "Facebook Mission." I'm really excited! It will be really nice to have iPads and a lot easier to plan and teach. It's going to be AWESOME! 

This last Saturday was my INCREDIBLE sister's birthday (Megan). I hope she knows I love her and hope she had the BEST birthday. Tomorrow is my mom's birthday as well! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM THAT EVER LIVED. I love you so much mom. Have an incredible birthday.

I love all of you so much. My heart is so full of love and I'm glad to have such amazing people in my life. (In Texas, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, New Zealand, New Mexico, and so many other places!) I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

Josh Needles

I'm 19

I'm 19 years old

Holy Moly guess who's not 18 anymore?? That's right ----> me!!! I had such a great week. I miss home, but I felt lots of love out here in Texas from being with so many great people for the week of my birthday.

Good news! We set another baptismal date in the YSA branch for Ruby. She's going to be baptized on July 4th. Hopefully I get to stay here another transfer so I can be here for it. I'm crossing my fingers that I get to stay with Elder O'Neal one more transfer. Transfers are NEXT WEEK already. I can't believe how fast this one went by.

On Saturday, I had such a great birthday. I was woken up early in the morning by Elder O'Neal, Elder Macaspac, and Elder Truman with SILLY STRING ALL OVER MY TIRED FACE. They recorded it and I looked like a wreck, hahaa. Regardless I was pleased to have such an exciting start to my birthday. Then my awesome companion Elder O'Neal (who truly is my BEST FRIEND out here in Texas) bought me IHOP for breakfast. He had them put "19" in whipped cream on my pancakes. It was great. We then went to the Rojas for lunch. They fed us mexican food and made me a cake that said "Happy Birthday Elder Needles." It was so kind of them. They sang me happy birthday and we had such a good time. We then went to Maria, Dolores, Judy, and Tony's place. They ALSO made me a cake which I was thrilled about. I seriously love them so much! We had a good time there then went to Texas Roadhouse with the amazing Lori. She had presents for me, and an ice cream cake, and even brought a picture of my family so they could "be there for my birthday." It was the best and I can't thank Lori enough.

The next day Elder O'Neal gave a talk in both the YSA branch and the DeSoto Ward. I talked in the YSA branch as well. His talks were AMAZING. It was also my older sister's birthday. I love Sam so much and hope she had an INCREDIBLE birthday. I got some more presents from members and got to go to the Chase's that night. They made a cake as well. I had a candle to blow out and their daughters kept taking out the candle, licking the bottom, and putting back in my piece of cake. It was really quite humorous.

All in all it was such a great birthday because of amazing people like Elder O'Neal, Lori, The Duartes, The Chases, and so many more. I'm so blessed to be here and am hoping and praying I stay for one more transfer...   FINGERS CROSSED.

Love you all!

Elder Needles

He obviously didn't get enough cake!

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

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

Elder Needles with Elder McAllister

Not sure what this is all about????

Missionary Stories from India

Elder Needles with his new companion
Elder O'neal. Elder O'neal is from West Jordan,Utah