Write Landon a Letter

landon.aldana@myldsmail.net

Address:
Elder Landon Aldana
741 Plummer Road (appt 1503)
Hunstville Al, 35806

Monday, April 25, 2016

Hello! 

Hmmm where do i even start.... I really don't have a clue about where to start or what to talk about... its been a good last few days, Hard but good. I Guess some things that have been on my mind for the last little bit I want to write about... One big thing that has been going on here and something that we have been pushing forward in the mission is what we call "Miracle May" The idea of it is that we all want to put our faith together and in the month of way we would like EVERY companionship is May to baptize!! WOW!!! CRAZY! SOOO COOL!!!

Miracle May is something we call a "BHAG" Big Hairy Audacious Goal, something that hasn't been done in a long time here. something that we all believe, and really want to do together. It holds everyone accountable. we cant lift for someone else, we all have to put all on the line. A test of faith!! I'm sure ill talk about it more in the coming weeks but the thing that has been on my mind the last few days is Obedience. 

Why are we Obedient? Is it because we want Gods blessings? I sometimes think that we believe that if we do A God will bless us with B. Almost like going to the exchanges. God ill give you 3 hours of service if you bless me with something.... and we go to work, that we must first do something for God to bless us and give us miracles.  

A GREAT Mormon Message shows this very thought very well! "shower of Heavenly Blessings"

Over the last few months I've felt that i have been able to see a Ton of miracles. nothing crazy like moving a mountain or healing the sick. but small miracles all around us everyday! God is always looking to bless us, hes our Father!! would he not want the best for us? we are obedient out our love and respect, God shows us the way to TRUE freedom and blessings as we follow his commandments we avoid Sin, Addictions, Guilt. What an Awesome God and Father in Heaven we have!!! 

I'm very excited for the coming month, what a BHAG we have set as a mission and what a miracle we are asking for. A test of faith that we put our obedience too. I love the south. I love these people, God and y'all and hope that everything will be great as we try our best and look for all of the blessings that God gives to us everyday!!
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Elder LAndon Aldana!

Monday, April 18, 2016

April 18th, 2016

I Hope that everything is going well for y'all, I wrote some cheese email for a little bit but then I got rid of it because it was more babbling then writing haha!

um... Elder Whetten is great! we get along super well, he wants to be a composer so every now and then he will jump on our electric piano and start to playing something he wrote.... its great!!! 

I guess to answer your question about what we do... we really don't do a TON of different things. Your typical missionary that you would think of, out knocking doors, talking to people at the store, going to the park. Really just going anywhere where the people are is what we really try to do most days. Also depending on the time of day you can decide if you want to tracked or set up a booth in the park. Really it just comes down to how creative you are. This week with the weather starting to warm up we have been thinking of different ways that we could use the parks here in town to contact people more. 

we thought of setting up a booth and serving water/kool-aid. doing a 20 questions...{Do Mormons really have 7 wifes??} {Whos john..... Joseph Smith anyway?}. Having a MORMON MAGICIAN come to the park for a little bit and teach the gospel with card magic. thats where we have been doing some of the more different things. Most other days its just what you would think we do as missionarys. Tracked, Visit less active members, sort visits with members. 

Everything has been going well. we have been having a good ol time. sorry we don't have a huge amount of time but we have been having a lot of stuff to do these last few days. Hope everything continues to go good!!

Elder Landon Aldana!!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Its been a Hard year, its been really cool to see how far I've come

Family!!!.... and any other???

I've been thinking about what to write this week, nothing too crazy has really come to mind about whats been happening with us this week. Elder Whetton and I have been getting along super well, everything here has been about the same. Nothing too crazy has been going on, we are working with Sister Jamie (who was baptized about 3 weeks ago) and just keeping on doing a lot of finding. Trying to come up with new ideas or something that we can do different to find people. We just have been trying our best to keep on working our best. We had a little Kick start this week and are committed to push ourselves a little bit harder! We have asked the Lord a lot, so i guess we better be willing to give the Lord ALL we have!

This week I made a goal that I wanted to read the Prophets again in the Bible (for the most part) But there are a few Verses that have been kind of sticking out to me the last day or two. Philippians 4:11-12 and Hosea 6:1 Both talk about God pushing us to be the better and to be worse. I like to think God makes us change, and we have to deal with it. We can get all upset and get mad at him, OR we can take it and try again. Pick ourselves up and get moving because God has called us to step up. We should be "Content" with God.

I think some of the days were we have really mixed things up the most is when we get stuck doing the same thing, or we just get comfortable with where we are at. I don't really like that, when i get comfortable i get lazy. I don't push myself as hard. It's easy to say "well I can't do that" most of the time because I can't, and sometimes we shouldn't. We need to have Faith in God! As Philippians 4:13 goes on to say "We can to all things threw Christ" Even change when no change looks like its needed. 

I've really come to enjoy getting pushed to do better by others, when I'm asked to step up I Hate/Love it. In a training a little while back we talked about Expecting More, but letting others see they are trying their best. It's Sooo true, we all need to be pushed a little bit. We don't like it because its change, but in the end we can look back and see just how much we really did need it. These next few weeks were committed to step up and push ourselves a little bit out of our comfort zone. Keep us in your prayers haha. 

Its been a Hard year, but looking back its been really cool to see how far I've come, Its also amazing to me to see how far i have to go... Like! striving to be Perfect... who knew it could be so hard but fun at the same time. Alabama is good as always, still some hard-headed punks but i love em all! Hope everyone has a good week!

Elder Landon Aldana!

P.S. Congrats to Truman and Sabrina!!
Steadfast!

Monday, April 4, 2016

What a good week its been, some good food for thought, if any of y'all are keeping up with the weather here. (Looks like dad was haha). we were very lucky to avoid a Tornado that was going to basically Hit right on us. One was suppose to hit Huntsville and its path was right down our road. we were safe in our neighbors bathroom with all of them. Lucky for us nothing really happened, But Its was scary to think I was going to get to witness a tornado first hand. Everything has been going really well. 

I dont know if any of y'all know our mission... we have a vision here. more like what we want for every missionary here. We are Disciples of Jesus Christ, We Know our purpose, We are Steadfast in Christ Love of God, Love of Man, and we Teach Baptize and Retain. but the two things that really have stuck with me is becoming a Disciple and Being Steadfast in Christ. 

One). I dont know if it's been coming up more or if i have just started to notice it more, but everyone talks about becoming a disciple. Not a missionary, or a christian, but a disciple of Jesus Christ. Its something that I will work on my entire life but for now i can decide what kind of person that i am going to be. Will i have integrity? will i be converted when i need to be? will i be ready to be called on at any time? Will i stay motivated because I love God or i love praise? we have talked about these questions and others MY ENTIRE MISSION. it never ends and never will. Its the one goal i have for the future i know for sure im going to have to work on my entire life. 

I wont talk a ton about it because if you look almost every talk in Conference mentioned being a disciple. the one thing that i have really been trying to understand and i have been working on is remembering, As we strive to be a disciple our race is against no one else other then our own selves.  

Two) Everyday We say in this mission. "We are Steadfast in Christ!" we talk about how it might not be the coolest thing. It might be hard, and most likely we will have many failures along our way, but we always remember we are Steadfast. No matter what happens I strive to stick true to Jesus Christ. There is no easy way to be Steadfast. You take all that is put on you and embrace it. trust that as we are faithful to God He will be faithful to us. Also we strive as it ways in 2nd Nephi 31:20 we Love God and Love Man. Really the best way to describe the culture here in this mission is if you listened to Elder Hollands Talk, He but our mission into words, a lot of Scriptures and lot of sayings we all strive to keep. 

I would ask all y'all to join with me in "seeking so to" be good. Keep trying, get up and remain Steadfast in Jesus Christ. He loves us! Hes not someone out to catch us breaking the commandments but someone out to help us learn, the same way a father does not get mad at a Child for falling down when trying to walk. Keep going with me, We are only asked to try our best! Ima get off my soap-box but I loved conference also a lot of talks are things i hold very close to me as i have learned them on my mission. All about trying to be a "Disciple of Jesus Christ, and being Steadfast In HIm also"

I love y'all keep at IT!!!
Elder Landon ALdana!