Week of July 12 continued

Mark Owen Vickers	2:34 PM (23 hours ago)
to me

That is so cool. I can't wait to have experiences like that is 20 plus years. 

I definitely have learned that we choose to act and not to be acted upon and we can choose to be happy. It's when we are in the service of others that we are happiest. So true. 

Love you Dad!

-- Elder Mark Vickers

On Jun 20, 2016, at 3:59 PM, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Hey Toade,

So I had an awesome experience this last week. My favorite companion stopped by. I have not seen him for the last 20 or so years. As I embraced him it was like no time had passed. I truly love him like a brother. 

I am so glad that you and your companion get along so well. Try and do a selfless act of service for him each day. I was listening to a BYU devotional and the speaker quoted President Hinckley as saying if you want to be happier focus on saying thank you and expressing gratitude to others. I'm going to try it. Mom and I are on the way to Dr. Hyde's so I will need to sign off for now. We love you with our whole souls!!!!!

Mom and Dad

On Monday, June 20, 2016, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Awesome !

On Monday, June 20, 2016, Mark Owen Vickers <mark.vickers@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Hey Dad! 

Thank you. It's been quite the growing experience. My new companion is really helping me understand where I want to be by the time I get ready to return home. Here is a picture of our companionship 'vision' we made 2 weeks ago. 

<image1.JPG>

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 13, 2016, at 5:40 PM, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Toade,

It's Dad. It is so good to see the light in your eyes and your beautiful smile. What you have gone through is perfectly normal. It is a preview of the rest of your life. There will be plenty of times when you don't feel like home teaching, having family home evening, going to church, etc. Remember then the conversation you just had with a servant of our Heavenly Father. The most important conversion you will be involved with on your mission is your own.

We are more proud of you than we have words to express. Have a great week.

Love Eternally,

Mom and Dad

On Monday, June 13, 2016, Mark Owen Vickers <mark.vickers@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I wish he could meet my mission president. I might recommend sharing with him the account of Peter walking on water and how the waves came and he was scared but as soon as he called out to the Savior he caught him up.

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 13, 2016, at 5:25 PM, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Those are essentially the words I shared with Lance the other night:).  We were up talking about his testimony until about 1:30 am.   The stake here is doing Trek on the 27th so we're working on getting him to that!

On Monday, June 13, 2016, Mark Owen Vickers <mark.vickers@myldsmail.net> wrote:

He's from Montana. 

So it's a bit hard to explain. I was honestly in a rut for awhile there. I have it pretty well documented in my journal so maybe full details in 1.5 or the next time we get to skype. :) I met with president and he helped me realize what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Essentially that duty trumps desire and even though we may go through tremendously hard things we must do what the Lord expects of us. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve as one of the Lord's servants. There is nothing quite like it.

On Jun 13, 2016, at 5:05 PM, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Where is home?:).  Also do you remember what you were going to share last week?   Life changing?

On Monday, June 13, 2016, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Dad started crying again:). He says you look so gooD!

On Monday, June 13, 2016, Mark Owen Vickers <mark.vickers@myldsmail.net> wrote:

He goes home at the end of this transfer in 5 weeks. We workout every morning. I'll be down another 20 pounds for sure by the time he heads home. :)

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 13, 2016, at 4:48 PM, DEANNE VICKERS <deannevick@gmail.com> wrote:

Where is Elder Vissar going home to?

On Mon, Jun 13, 2016 at 3:09 PM, Mark Owen Vickers<mark.vickers@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Como Estas!

So much has happened in the last week. We had transfers this last week
and I said goodbye to Magnolia. We'll see if we see Magnolia again. I
have a new companion named Elder Visser. (Picture attached) I am
serving in the Westfield Ward. We have 3 baptismal dates and hope to
set several more this week. Elder Visser is headed home after this
transfer. I am learning so much from him on ways to be more effective.
This area is so diverse with everything from executives to blue
collar. I love it already! I am learning that the Lord can do
literally anything through us as we are fully consecrated.