Letter from Laurie Cutler

Dear Holly,

I had the happy privilege of seeing Elder DeSantis last night at the mission home and today at a baptism. He is doing so well! I met his investigator, Mark, at the baptism and he seems very sincere. Yesterday I had lunch with Kealey and she mentioned how sad she is that Elder DeSantis will be transferred next transfer. Everyone loves your son, including my husband and I. He is a GREAT missionary and leader. It made me so happy to see him again! Thank you for sending him to serve the Lord.

Love,
Laurie Cutler

Week 75, January 9, 2016

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date:  January 9, 2016

Well another good week, we have been pretty busy because of Zone Conferences. It is super fun to see all the missionaries and get to know them! We have one more week of Zone Conferences this week so we will be pretty busy again but, that is always good I like being busy. 

We had some really cool things happen this week! So there was a guy named Mark who just showed up to church. So I went to talk to him and we sat by him at church and he said he has been once and really liked it. He also had a friend who was a member and he really liked how he was just different then everyone he treated everyone so well. He said he wants to learn more about all this and then maybe even join! How crazy is that, like that never happens in Wisconsin especially in the area I am in right now! So just know your example can bring people into the church! He also stayed for all 3 hours and he really liked it! So we are super stoked for Mark! 

Next awesome thing that happened was Michelle and Jackson Vanlue came to church again and Michelle Jackson mom is really clicking with Sister Jackson the bishops wife. This probably one of the best compliments I have gotten in my life right here. We had our lesson after Sacrament which was on God. The question was asked "how do you know God is real?" Michelle rose her hand and said "Because of this man right here" *pointing at me. She goes on and says "he showed up at my door in the freezing cold some what uninvited and has helped my son out so much" Ah man that was a great moment in my life right there! 

Now we are starting to teach Kealey again I don't know if you remember her you probably do I wrote about her all the time. She is really wanting to find out what is true in life so she is reading the Book of Mormon again, I really hope that we can help her receive her answer! She is awesome though so I am excited! 

For the Spiritual message for all this I have a quote I want to talk about it comes from our mission President he said something super profound "This church doesn't get you somewhere, it makes you something." I love that so much it is so true we aren't in this church just to make it back we are here because we want to become so much better while we are here! I have started to realize that more and more each day. I have so much to do to be more like our Savior but, I have plenty of time to do be more like him. I have seen that this church has made me such a better person but, it only does that if we live it! We can't change if we don't make the changes to our lives we need to! I love you all so much I am always here to help! 

Love Elder DeSantis

Week 74, January 2, 2017

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date:  January 2, 2017

Wow so crazy that it is a New Year! All I am really going to write about today is what I have learned this last year being on a mission. When I look back to when I started this year all the way back in Green Bay, I am shocked of how much I have changed. I have truly learned so much in just one year. 

I want to talk about two men who have influenced my life completely. This isn't to say nobody else has, because trust me so many people have helped change my life. The first is President Cutler, that man is amazing. The spirit he has is so amazing. All of his trainings I have heard and for the wisdom in that man. He has showed me what truly matters in life and to stay focused on those things! He gave the Lord his whole heart for 3 years and the Lord did wonders with him! I know he was called of God, I look to him as an example every day! I truly know "Family Life is Eternal Life" -President Cutler

The next man is President Williams, now I see the same qualities in him that I did in President Cutler. The thing that he has done for me is something I can barely put in words. The love that radiates from that man is so real. His leadership qualities are truly those of the Saviors. He has helped change my life in a way I wish I could express in words, he will never know what a difference he has made in my life. He has set me on the path to God. He has helped me realize so much more of what the Atonement is and what it truly means to me! 

With both these men we have created truly a Father and Son bond. They have stepped in and been that Father figure for me while on my mission. I don't want to discredit at all what my Dad back home has done because I love that man with my whole heart and he is also one of thee greatest examples of my life and is why I made it out here! I just know that I was called to this mission so I could be blessed with two amazing Presidents who would alter the course of my life! Because of their testimonies mine has grown! I know with my whole heart that this is Christ church. I know that the priesthood which I hold is the same priesthood that Christ himself gave to his apostles and with it families are made eternal. I am so grateful to know my family is going to be with me forever and I will do all I can to make it so I have one of my own as well! I love my Savior Jesus Christ, I love His Church! I love you all as well and I hope you have a great new year! Make some sweet goals and don't quit on them! 

love,

Elder DeSantis

Week 73, December 26, 2016

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date:  December 26, 2016

Hello everyone it was good to talk to a lot of you I especially enjoyed the part where baby Holly just took the phone and stared at me haha she is super cute! It is crazy to see how big all of my nieces and nephews are. Honestly it scares me how much they have changed I always say that would know who I am when I go home, but truth be told I probably wont know who is who when I get home!

So I feel as though all of you know what I did this week but I will do a little recap for all of you. So the day before Christmas the office couple took us out to Chef Paz a new Peruvian restaurant that was super good. Might not have been the most authentic Peruvian food because a lot of them are from Mexico haha. Still really good though! Christmas Eve we went to a Part member family for lunch. The father isn't a member, but he is a guy pretty high up for Mexico. He has the position which is called the consulate for Mexico. They are a funny family very Hispanic so that was really fun! Then we had dinner with the Lewis family ah man such a fun family they have 4 little boys all under the age of 11 so we played games and what not with them. 

Christmas day we headed to our Bishops place for lunch after church. They are an awesome family as well they were Jewish or at least his wife was before they converted so that is pretty sweet! Then we went to the Fishers ah man love this family super funny and fun family, we played some minute to win it games with them, if you are wondering we won them all no big deal. 

Well my spiritual thought today is something that I have been struggling with and that is always doing the Lords will. I try my best to do his will, but there are times where I am too scared or think I know better. Every time I do that I am left feeling alone not because He has abandoned me, but that I have left him. When we do the Lords will we wont always know what is going to happen, and it is ok we don't have to know everything. I know that the times I have done his will I have just felt so much peace and excitement in my life! The difference in doing your will and the Lords is tangible! I am so grateful the Lord and for the guidance he gives me in my life! I love you all so much! 

Elder DeSantis

Week 72, December 19, 2016

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date:  December 19, 2016

That famous quote up there is what our investigator said, let me tell you all yes the air truly hurts your face here haha! So ya update on what is going on here, it has snowed a bunch here which is super fun. For some reason though after snow falls here it the temperature drops super low so it has been super cold. So when we are tracting people keep telling us "it is really cold you should go inside." Thanks people for the advice maybe you can let me into your home haha! 

Update with our investigators so Derrick is doing ok I guess he just left back home for college break which is a whole month so that is sad but he said he would read every day hopefully he does! Jackson also is doing good he really wants to be baptized, but we can rarely meet with him, but we did have a good lesson with him at our Bishops house! Alright we need you all to pray for Nathan he is super awesome, but he has two things holding him from being baptized, first thing is he needs someone to take his lease in his apartment so he can move out! The next is he needs to find a new Job that doesn't make him work on Sunday. If these happen he will be baptized for sure! In one of our lessons with him we asked "Nathan why do you want to be baptized?" he responded "well I feel like I am reading an unfinished book, I need to make that convent with God to complete the book!" I thought that was such a good answer! 

We also picked up the new missionaries from the airport this week which is always fun, they seem like a good new bunch! We also sent home the old missionaries done with their mission it was pretty fun they are awesome missionaries and we will really miss them all! 

So something that has been on my mind a lot recently is why we haven't seen any success here. I have felt like we have been working pretty hard and I have felt like we are trying to be exactly obedient. I just kinda wondered why no one was getting baptized. So I was reading one morning and I read in Jacob 5. There was a verse that really stuck out to me, so in this chapter it is talking about the Lords vineyard and working in it.

 One verse really stuck out to me "71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come."

So as I read this it invites me or I guess us missionaries to labor with our might, I feel as though I am doing my best to do that. What I love about this though is it says that "you shall have joy" it finally hit me last night. We knocked on this ladies door and she was nice enough to just listen for a little bit in the cold, but she kept asking "why are you out here in the cold doing this?" I finally told her "it is because we know it is true, the message we have is true and changes lives." When I said that the joy that came into my almost frozen heart was so real that I knew that was the success I needed to feel! I love you all so much I know that this church is true. I am so excited for this Christmas I truly grow closer to my savior each time. I hope we all remember Christ at this time of year!

Love Elder DeSantis

Week 71, December 12, 2016

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date:  December 12, 2016

Well this week we were super busy with a lot of things which is good helps you really put your mind to the work! We have transfers this week, I found out I will be staying with Elder Lee for a third transfer which will be fun! We have so  many people that are so close to baptism so I am excited to get stay for that! 

We did a lot this week, we had our Ward Christmas party for the YSA ward which was super fun I love all the members of this ward they are all awesome! Derrick our investigator came to the party and he just loved it and made friends with soo many people he is so cool! He has a date for January 28th so pray for that! With the YSA ward we just got a new Bishop and he seems super awesome really loves missionary work so I am excited to see what will all happen! 

For the other ward we serve in things are going well also. Pretty sweet miracle Jackson one of our investigators was telling all the members he is getting baptized this Saturday. Sadly he wont because he hasn't been meeting with us and we still have a lot to teach him, but we told him if he meets with us a lot this week and next week that he could be baptized on the 24th so that is super exciting! 

Well if you are wondering the weather this week is going to drop soo fast!! This week it will drop to about 8 below but feel like -20 so if you would add in your prayers that I don't freeze that would be awesome haha! 

Little spiritual guy here so these past few weeks I have had the opportunity to give some priesthood blessings and more then usually which is great I love giving them, but I really wanted to talk about how amazing it truly is! What is amazing to think is that this power and authority I hold is one that truly can preform and has preformed such amazing miracles. What hits me is that I forget sometimes that I have the gift to hold this but when I do remember it I truly desire to live my life more righteous each day! After giving a blessing the person told me "thank you so much for being worthy to give a blessing always be worthy to use this great power!" I will always strive to be worthy of the Priesthood!  I love this Gospel I love it because it is all about serving others! I love you all and I hope you all have a great week! 

Love,

Elder DeSantis

Week 70, December 5, 2016

Area:

Companion:  Elder Lee

Date: December 5, 2016

Well this week was full of great miracles one is that it finally snowed! I love when it snows because it truly starts to feel like Christmas. Well this week we went on a lot of exchanges with the Zone Leaders which is always fun! 

Let me tell you about the miracles we saw this week. First one is this last Sunday we had Jackson, Michelle and Weston all come to church (an investigator family) and jackson wants to go and bare his testimony next Fast Sunday! Then later he came up to me and said he wants to be Baptized on the 17th of December how awesome is that! I love that kid!! Then we had our investigator Derrick come to church again and he is just eating it all up! He explained the 3 kingdoms during our Gospel Principles class perfectly!! It was so cool! I honestly think he will get baptized this Saturday so pray hard for him! 

Funny story for everyone so there was a Member in the YSA ward that needed a blessing she is from China and her English is hmm ok haha. So we gave her one elder lee did the blessing and I did the oil and what not, anyway after the blessing Athena (the memeber) was like "wow it's like magic" now its a lot funnier if you say it with a Chinese accent, then later she was like "ok I don't need medicine now." I love giving blessings or being in them the spirit is always super strong! 

For my spiritual thought I will try to express what I have been learning/feeling recently. So I have been praying that I can have a great change of heart and grow my desire and love for the people. Something I found interesting was I never really felt this "change" I was looking for. Recently though I have found my thoughts change and what I mean by this I I think of the people and not of myself or anything. With that I have found that my desire truly is growing and I am changing it is just hard to see at times. I truly am so grateful for this Gospel it has changed my life 100% it has made me not just a better person but it has made me who God wants me to be! I love you all and I hope you have a great week! 

Love Elder DeSantis