The Importance of Goals

I made a Mormon.org Profile.
You should too. Will you?
Ill send the link to my profile next week.
I found out yesterday that Im getting a new companion in a week.
Elder Sellers is sick of driving around our mission teaching people he can't talk to.
I understand.
The best part of the gospel is the fruits of diligent repentance. 2nd Nephi 31:20 - The Book of Mormon
Would there be a point to playing Soccer if there weren't goals? What about basketball without baskets?
Without a pupose we lose excitement and true motivation.
There is a pupose to us being on earth. Its to return to live with God. The goal is never ending perfect happiness.
God loves all his children so he provided a plan, guidlines, tools, and coaches to help us reach that goal.
What happens to soccer players who dont come to practice, listen to their coach, or understand the rules of the game?
They usually don't reach their fullest potential as soccer players and foul out because they are not playing by the rules.
As a result their experiance playing the "game" isn't fun and full of hardship.
I invite you to listen to Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of god, and our coach for life.
I invite you to read the Book of Mormon and ask god if it is true. If you ask with a sincere heart and real intent having faith in Christ you can come to know by the power of the Holy Ghost that this book along with the Bible contains our rules for life.
I know these things are true. And you can too.
You just have to try.I say the same thing every time someone asks me where Im from. I grew up all over the world. Then the following conversation ALWAYS follows:

Q: Oh where overseas?
A: Russia, China, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Canada, Mexico, and when I wasnt there I was in either Maryland or Virginia
Q: Is your father in the military?
A: My mother is a diplomat for the United States

then either :

" oh wow"
or
Q: what is a diplomat?

99% of the time the above conversation happens. I've litterally said it probably 10,000 times. My companions can answer the question for me.

love your son,
Elder Curran

Another Exciting Week

Ive had so many miracles last week is just one big Blur.
Jeff L was baptized. He asked me to baptize him.
I love to worthily use my priesthood.
The Mormon.org campaign is coming to Seattle. All overthe Internet TV Busses and billboards So pretty much you wont be able to go a day in Seattle or surrounding areas without seeing Mormon.org comercial or advertizement.
Things are about to explode.
We found 8 new investigators.
A Jewish man tried to argue with me that Jesus Christ wasnt our Savior. A muslim yelled at us for like 10 minutes about how corrupt Christians are. Each day "Christians" tell us we dont belive in Jesus Christ. And then last week a woman told me that becuase there is no Santa Clause there couldn't be a God.
I know that there is a God.
He loves me.
So he gives us prophets.
Thomas S. Monson IS his living mouthpeice.

I see and agree about the discussions.

no to the card.

Working hard.

Love your son, Elder Curran

SERVICE

On Saturday, we did some service for a Ukrainian investigator, who coordinates donations/refugee efforts back in Ukraine. (Editorial comment: Refugee efforts in Ukraine? Unlikely. End comment.) It was the hardest form of service that I've done on my mission. Imagine loading 1000 plus 50 pound boxes into a shipping container. Plus there couldn't be any space between boxes, so we had to stack them in every whicch way, 3D tetris-style. It was crazy to say the least. But afterward, the whole group was incredibly appreciative and dumbfounded of why we would come help for no reason. During lunch, we taught 10 new Ukrainians about the restoration of the gospel and the purpose of the Book of Mormon. One was extremely interested! And wanted me to come teach his family in two weeks!

I have beenintrigued lately about the effects of service on someone's heart and how it can truly prepare them to receive the gospel. Mosieah 2:17-18 - The Book of Mormon. This week for about 1 minute, I remembered my life before my mission and how empty it felt. I broke down into tears. I don't want to go home.

A Samoan who was a less active returned missionary stole $4000 from me. I learned my lesson. I actually have a best freind who is Samoan, but he's not the most trustworthy.

As for after my mission, I actually have a proposal for you, I'll actually be e-mailing you that in three weeks for you to give me advice, as my patriarchal blessing states to consult with my parents. It definately involves finding a wife.

Didn't get a birthday card, but thanks for sending one.

Love,

your son,

Elder Curran

Crazy Investigator

Im 25.

25 is a very reflective age to turn.

This is my third birthday in a row as a full time missionary. Crazy.

Alora Campell was baptized on Sat!

Our investigator Jeff accepted a baptisimal date for September 3rd.

Were teaching an alcoholic woman named Lisa who has developed feelings for me. She writes me love letters everytime I see her. I would be concerned about it but shes 45 and is the woman in the attached picture. I asked her who Joseph Smith was and she told me "he was a prospector?"

I asked where the Book of Mormon came from and she said, " I dont think we'll ever know"

My response was to burry my face in my hands in frustration because 2 months of work has gone nowhere.

Were turning her over to the ward until she can get sober. Also, my new companion hates her.

After 2 months of pounding the pavement and knocking doors in the richest area in the mission we are turning our efforts towards the ward and doing all we can to pound out member refferals and are seeing success.

We had a Russian investigator come to church! And even though hes leaving to go to Cali on Fri for a year, I now have the faith that I can baptize Russians.

Joseph Smith was a prophet, not a "prospector" and Jesus Christ, though him, restored the fullness of the Gospel. And its delicious.

Try it.

Samoa sounds intresting.

i dont think I would really want to go there. ive had some bad experiances with polynesians.

Dicussions were a terrible idea in my opinion. How can you teat a person to their needs when you have a rote presentation. Impossible to actually help the person from where they are at.

Kirkland is killing me trating so were going back to member work. I gave it 2 months and saw no fruit so were switching things up. Sorry about aunt Daisy. Although the truthfulness of the plan of salvation brings me peace and I understand the real plan. My mission is dwindling away. So sad.

love your son Elder curran

PS Sister Dryayba is the one who's sister is overseas.

Lots of Refferrals

New companion - Elder Sellers

1st Companion not from Utah. Hes from Minnesota.

Hes a poet. He writes a new poem every night. Hes extremely Cynical and Sarcastic. I love it.

My purpose as a Missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the Restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, BAPTISM, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.

I love being a Missionary.

Where has the time gone?

Our refferals continue to flood in. I have Russian refferals for practically every Stake in the mission. In about a month Ill probably just be spending all day driving around the Mission visiting refferals.

Apparently there is a super solid family of Russians in Mt Vernon I get to go teach.

Thank you for your prayers. Please continue.

Abinadi had great Faith (Mosiah 13:3-4) He KNEW the Lord would help in accomplish the task requested of him.

That helps me have the Faith that the Lord will provide the Russians to build the branch. :)

The Book of Mormon can bless your life.

If you have not been baptized into the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Meet with the Missionaries. Pray to find out if the message is true. Then follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the restored priesthood of God.

Im getting refferals from around the mission. We have two families in the group. They dont know english cause they either just got here or havent bothered to learn it. the kids speak it though. I still remember how to teach a little in Russian. its coming back. And we dont have sicussion. We teach people not lessons. tell Elder velazques Congrats. Thank you for the Birthday Wishes.

love your son,

Elder Curran

Companions went home/Teaching in Russian

What the Heck is going on?
Half my companions went home today.
PRAY FOR ME ! Alma 6:6 - The Book of Mormon
I think Ive completely lost my mind
I may or may not be training a new missionary. Ill let you know next week.
I actually taught 2 new Russians this week, and receieved 2 other seemling prepared Refferals. That was crazy.
I think God is trying to teach me 400 things at once.
There's way too many attractive girls in Kirkland, WA.
Regardless our eyes are single to the Glory of God and we go forward with Faith that the Lord has prepared people for us to FInd, Teach, and Baptize!
I bore my testimony in church in Russian to the two russian families who dont speak English.
The Restored Gospel has changed my life.

The tend skin did arrive. I was suprised at how heavy it was because i only needed 1 bottle of tend skin after shave. I realized after I opened it that I should have been more specific because cause it was 6 giant bottles of tendskin shaving cream. I apologize, I assumed that tendskin only made that one product. And now I feel stupid. So . . . how do a send them back so that you can have your money back? And if possible I really need the after shave that takes care of ingrown hairs and razor bumps.

Thats intresting about the cadillac.

Dont worry about the short sleeve shirts. One of my old companions who went home today is leaving some for me.

not all short sleeve shirts I like. Some I really dislike because of the collar. I do like however staffords and since I dont have the option to get online and look i knew we couldnt go wrong with that. Its all good.

I just got a tranfer call and looks like my companion is leaving. I wonder how many Ill have before I go home. only 18 more weeks left to be a full-time missionary.

Are you praying sincerely every prayer that prepared people are put in my path?

love your son
Elder Curran

Faith is Growing

It's August. Wow. Is this real life? Omni 1:26 -- The Book of Mormon. Had the awesome opportunity to teach a ma from India named Jazz, who grew up a Sikh, but has since drifted away. One day, we were talking aout his views and the Book of Mormon by his silver Honda. Two days later, he said a prayer to his Heavenly Father in the name of Jeus Christ. Taught a new investigator named Lisa, who is a Born Again Christian. (Super Anti) She asked me if we are Christians then why do we preach to Lutherans and Protestants and other Christians. My response was that we believe that Christ has more to offer, and we here to invite people to try and see if what we are offereing is really from Jesus Christ. She agreed to try and I was baffled. So I'm optimistic there. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It will bring the Spriit of God into your life. If.. you let it. Summer starts later here and will basically be aAugust and September. Hope all is well.

Love,

Your son,

Elder Curran