Change of Heart...and the Limitless Zone!!

MY GOSH, THIS WEEK....SO, I have so much to tell you. Okay, so first, I finished Doctrine and Covenants, and I am almost done 2nd Nephi for the 4th time! THE BIGGEST OF ALL...I HAD A CHANGE OF HEART!

My Silly, Fun, Goofy Baby Boy <3

But first...mom, tell my why you are missing me so much? (I really am). Well, let's talk for a second. Okay, so your little baby boy is  
fine, yes, baby boy. MOTHER, near or far, you are still the one that gave me life. You are still my main source of joy. I will need you 20, or 120, you will be source of help. You have emailed me the most and longest of anyone for a year and a half almost, and I have read EVERY word, some multiple times. You are my hero, my mom and my mom who needs to realize that I do, in fact, need you. I AM your baby boy and I am safe and sound and doing many great things. I do love you and promise you that things won't change, I'll just come home more wise, but still the same level of need for my FAMILY! My week better get you smiling....

Monday was okay. We had a lot of fun playing sand volleyball, frisbee and soccer, but I got very aggressive during sports to the point of playing way too hard and being hard on my fellow Elders. So I have decided to look at myself and make a change. Yep, Michael Jackson quote. 

Tuesday we did family history. Those stories you sent are perfect!! (Stories shared about our ancestors emigrating to Canada). We also had lunch with Nancy and met with our WML. It was a pretty good day, I am still trying to figure out how to change. 

Wednesday - It hits me like an iceberg. I need to be better, so we have a DLC (District Leader Council) and all the district leaders and zone leaders have decided we are the 'Limitless Zone'. We will baptize limitless numbers. We did service with one of our non-members and it was pretty good. I got some clothes for the Family History Fireside that I will dress in when I tell my story. Pictures to come. 

Thursday that change was APPLIED!! We did an awesome weekly planning and set goals to baptize and re-activate. And we WILL accomplish them. We taught this girl who stopped us on the street and asked to be taught, we set up another lesson and she said she would read the Book of Mormon. And she is going to be baptized, I just know it. 
We then met another investigator, not as interested, but we had a good lesson and are going to get him moving forward. Then we rushed to a lesson with a less active member who has decided to come back and loves cars, so that was great. Then we rushed to dinner. Non-stop Limitless Zone!!

Always need a car photo for his dad & brother 

Friday we had an awesome zone meeting and all the stuff we talked about at MLC, we brought to the zone and got them all excited as well. I started to realize that I need to work, work, work and put my effort into this and we had another great, busy day!!

Saturday changed me. So, almost a year ago, I went on an exchange with an Elder named Elder Gibb and he inspired me to be better, but this time it was switched. We had a great day and saw so much success. We got in contact with this YSA kid who wants to start meeting with the Elders, some guy came up to us and pretty much asked to be taught, and we got an awesome referral from this young RM (Returned Missionary). I was in YSA, so I was around young kids all day, it was great, but wait. So, at the end of the day, Elder Gibb and I are talking about the day and he says to me, "Elder Routledge, you saved me". I was like, 'what?'
So he has been in a huge slump. He is almost done, but has been in a slump and feels not good enough and all this nonsense. Well, apparently he was able to be himself and relax and my example inspired him to be better. He said that I was able to help him out and I was able to encourage him to be a great leader and said I was this amazing missionary. And you know, it struck me because the whole time I thought I was an okay, maybe even bad, Elder and that gave me what I needed. It changed me. Now I am going to work on my confidence and be the Elder that people see, and more than anything, be the Elder the Lord WANTS!!!!

Sunday - With the fire burning in my soul, I had a great Sabbath day and was able to grow even more and to just soak in the week and get the fire I need to baptize and to be the BEST I CAN BE!! 
We saw a lot of people set up lessons, had a great dinner, got brownies and had pure joy brought to my soul. 

Mom, Dad, Scott and Shel...I KNOW this is the true and only perfect church on the earth today. I love you all. I am going to be the best I can be, so expect to hear miracles form me. I will be better for MY LORD! 
I love you. You're my heroes. You are my family, my love and everything I care about. Have a splendid week and wait for the baptism. They will come!! You will see me in white soon, I promise!
I love you all, talk to you soon. 

The Lord's Servant,
Elder Routledge 

Slow Week, New Companion and 9 Hours of Training

With Elder Huston again!

So it was a pretty good week. I got to see Elder Huston, got a new companion, and got a member to finally decide to get her patriarchal blessing. This was a slower week so the email will be semi-shorter. 

Monday was a good day for the most part. We played basketball at the church will all of us and that was a good time. We cleaned up our apartment from top to bottom and that was fun. We had a giant camp out the last night with Elder Gemar and that was pretty fun, except the floor messed up all of our backs haha. But we're good now and my new companion's name is Elder Endicott. 

Tuesday we had the transfer train. I saw Elder Huston and a few other good guys. I did some shopping with my new companion and then we went out to work. 

Wednesday we had food share service in Oxnard and that was weeding, so as fun as it gets. We then had an awesome dinner with the Hernandez family (the Skype family) and that was good. We met our WML (Ward Mission Leader) and talked about the work and because he is brand new, we set up some good plans. We did not do much today, slow day. 

Thursday was big!!! I had to go to a MLC (Mission Leadership Council). Most of the time it is just for the Zone Leaders, but the District Leaders went to this one and it was like 9 hours with President Felix talking about our mission and how to better it. I was with Elder Landon Gregory that day because it was just for DL's so I was on a temporary exchange with him. It was very long, but very good. We changed up some of the numbers, made some new rules and took some away. It was just a good, long meeting. That night, I was just exhausted, but we had dinner with our Bishop at a really good steak house, so that was cool. 

Friday we had an awesome District meeting centred around baptism and that was really cool because it was just what we all needed to get excited. We also did our weekly planning because I was at that meeting all day Thursday. To end the night off, we had a good visit with one of our Deacons who was having a rough day so we cheered him up!

A very cool Sports Car

Saturday nothing happened. 

Sunday we had a really good day at church. We had 3 good classes, we taught the investigator class and that was cool. We had one of the members, who is 18, said that he didn't want to get a Patriarchal Blessing, accept getting one so that is really cool and super awesome. Then we had a good dinner with the Bishop!

Well, slow week, but good. I love you all so much. Muah. I'll talk to you all very soon. 
Muah :)
Elder Kevin Routledge 

Transfers, service....and SKYPE!!!

Uhhh this week has been just a crazy week for us and it has been pretty good, I won't lie. A lot better than last week. 

Elder Gemar
& Routledge

First off, Elder Gemar is being transferred, which I am very sad about. I think he has been one of my favourite companions. (Of course, he has said that about a couple other comps as well lol). I am happy to be staying in Camarillo. 

Monday we went and I got about 4 more fire patches. I have 2 more to get in this area and I got a 9/11 ONE FROM THE NEW YORK FIRE DEPT AND THAT WAS SOOO COOL!!! It was so amazing and it is a really nice patch as well. We also had zone activity where we played basketball, some volleyball and passed a football. It was pretty cool. 

Working out with his roomies 

Tuesday we had a nice family history session. I need to get a good, maybe 5 minute story to share that has some exciting parts and even short, but has more details. I need it because the conference I am supposed to share a story in is coming up in a few weeks. 
We were also walking around one night and ran into this Baptist kid. He was loud, like the Baptist preacher, but very nice. He invited us to one of his bible studies and we're going to go tonight, so that was cool. 

Wednesday was good. We did service at our food share out in Oxnard and that kept us busy. We also did some stuff on Mormon.org, and I found some deep doctrine talks just for me to read and learn. We also taught a lesson to a part member family and the non-member daughter is getting baptized soon here, so that is cool. 

Thursday was fun. We just did a lot of weekly planning and got our area all ready for those coming in our area, so for me and my new companion. 

The family that fed them on Mother's Day <3

Friday we had a really powerful district meeting on some of the attributes of Christ and how we receive personal revelation, so that was cool. We also had a good testimony meeting to end the transfer. 
We had a nice lunch with the Hernandez family and ended with a lesson with our investigators.

Saturday we saw people, contacted people and had a nice dinner with a big Samoan guy who took us to get Chinese food so it was cool. 

Then Sunday was good for the most part hehe ;-) 
It was so perfectly awesome!! You know all about the big sacrament meeting and us laughing. (He shared with us over Skype about how he and his companion got the giggles during a sacrament meeting and were trying very hard to not laugh out loud....He's grown so much since he's been gone, so it's nice to know he IS still the same, goofy boy that left us 16 months ago...)

Skyping !!! 

After we hung up, we had smores with them so that was cool. I never cried, and I found this time was a lot easier for me. I think it comes from knowing you're being taken care of so well and I DO miss you. I am just not missing you. I'm not sure if you got that, or if that makes sense, but don't get me wrong. I do LOVE AND MISS you, but I just know you're all dong so well, so I have no need to worry. 
I love you all so much. You're all doing great and looking so good. 
Muah to you all. 
Muah and I'll talk to you next week. 

I love you, my family, with ALL of my heart!!

Elder Routledge 

Skype, Exchanges...and the L.A. Temple!!

So first. Skype at 5pm my time, 6pm yours (yay!!!). 
I have decided to start writing in my journal in a new way, in a more spiritual way. I am going to start to write the blessings I see and not just what I do. 

Monday we got to see one of our investigators and that was pretty cool. 

Tuesday I was on an exchange with one of the zone leaders I live with, Elder King. He is such an amazing example to me. On our exchange we did some leadership training and he trained me to be a better leader. I learned so much and have a lot of cool things I want to both try and improve on. 
It was a very good day and because he is in the YSA ward, I was for the day as well. I also got to go to Institute and we went to one of the University campuses and talked to people. 
Well, that was so weird to be on an actual campus and talk to real kids at school. It had a good, but weird feel, maybe 8 months or so it will feel better. 

Los Angeles Temple 

Wednesday we got to go to the LA Temple and oh my HECK!!! I received so much personal revelation on how to help the district and be a better Elder. All the stress I had left me and I was just like reborn. So what I needed. And I learned so many NEW things this time around, oh so great. I did forgot to take Uncle Routledge's name, so I just did one of the Temple names but still, so great. I just had a perfect day with the Lord. 

Thursday we had weekly planning and then did some service at the church with one of the workers. We had to move some benches and those are like, 1000 pounds!! Man, oh man, they are just so heavy to move. I honestly think that is the heaviest thing I have ever lifted.

His Dad's favourite US fast food! 

Friday I was on an exchange with an Elder and got to see the Reynosso family. They have added me on facebook and we just talked and it was so cool to see them. 

Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference meetings and we had a General Authority there. It was a great conference. 
We also got to see our Bishop and talk about the ward and how it is all switched up. His son goes on his mission in a month or so, so we chatted with him and told him how to prepare. 

Sunday night we talked to a lady on the street and gave her a pamphlet and we are going back to see her this week. Some parts of this week have been rough, but all in all, I am doing okay. I'm working with President to fix the issues and I am not painfully stressed, it is just there. 

But I will see you this week and we'll talk more then. I love you so much, dad, shel bell and Scotty too Hotty (nickname from childhood haha). I love you all. You 4 are my family, my love and my heros. Please keep the faith and read the words of Eternal life, the Scriptures. 
Muah, Muah and a big...
MUAH <3 <3 

Elder Routledge 

Beach Walk, Baptismal dates...and familiar faces

A lot of updates. 
First I am going to the Temple this week. 
Second my shoes are dead, bottoms, tops and sides dead, so I am just going to send them home so I can always have them haha. 
I need a long, good family history story to share with the mission by mid May and I need to dress in the era. Would you be able to help me with that? 
Finally, my ward boundaries changed so it has been a crazy week balancing and moving directories and all that jazz. 

Monday was good. I got a nice new, fresh hair cut. We also did a beach walk. We walked by the ocean for our activity so I have sent a few ocean pictures home. The one of me is not as clear by it was a (singing) "bright, sunshiny day". We also ate at an all-you-can-eat buffet and I did not eall all I could. I am at a good weight for my size and I have been building up but thinning out so that is cool. 


Tuesday was cool. I was on an exchange in one of my older area's so I got to see some old faces. We had service this morning and did filing for like 2 hours and that sucked a bunch. After that we taught the first lesson to an investigator and that was cool. He was pretty receptive. We also had dinner at one of my favourite families when I was here, the Cobb's so that was really cool. The son opened the door and gave me a hug and said, "You're back". It was a nice heart felt moment and to end off the day, we had a pretty intense sports night. 

Wednesday was cool. We did service for our investigator cutting up a fallen down tree in her backyard. That was really tiring, but kinda fun at the same time. We also did more family history and I was able to have someone do the Baptism, Confirmation and Pre-Endowment work for my Great Uncle Routledge. This week I am going to do his Endowment so that is FREAKING COOL!! I have also learned where Papa's from so that's cool. We went and joined ourselves to the youth night and that was pretty radical. 

Thursday we did weekly planning and it was really good. We made some plans for all of our investigators and half are now in another ward so that is kinda lame, but it's okay. They are in good hands. We also set 3 young kids of a part member family with a baptismal date and all 3 accepted with such excitement. Those 3 are in the new ward as well, but it's okay. By the hand on one or more servants the work shall be done. 

Friday was so cool. We had a spiritual overload for a DM and man, oh man, it was good. I provided training on being true disciples of Jesus Christ and I learned a lot myself. It was pretty much saying how important callings are, but it was done by the district and myself in a very powerful way. To be honest, it was the district that made it so powerful, they are all just such good Elders. Yep, all Elder's district. We also had dinner at a really great BBQ place called, 'Wood Ranch'. All the meat is smoked with wood chips, man, so great. Then to end it, we went bowling with the Elders Quorum. 

Saturday was cool. I was on an exchange and that was really cool. Tonight we had a fireside with a Baptist preacher converted to Mormon. He said he was going to show us what baptists do, so he was yelling and praising the Lord and Pleading the whole talk. It was cool, just a little weird in the chapel to hear yelling. I liked the experience, but I'll stick to the quiet, gentle spirit. I was blown away by his conversion story and his testimony. 

Sunday we had all our ward boundaries changed up so we have this week to figure out who is under who's direction and get new ward lists and all that fun jazz. 

Today we have to cut our Pday short because we are going to the Temple. 
Well mom, I love you. Dad, my tiny old man, you're the best and Shel, Scott, I love you to my twin war brother and sister of the Eagle Clan (??? No idea what he means lol). 

Have a great week. 

MUAH, MUAH, MUAH 
See y'all soon. 

Elder Routledge 

Volunteering, Awesome Roomies...and WINSTON!!!

Lots of news. 

First skype will probably be in the evening (only 3 more weeks!!) our time. 

Camarillo 

I also have been feeling very different since I left. I don't think I'll ever go home the same or look at movies or video games the same. There has just been such a change in my view of life and I think I just realized it. I feel way better, but in a weird way, that I won't go home to my old life, that I'll have a new one waiting for me. I am going to come home, look for work and marriage and start my life. I also really badly want to come back to my mission as soon as I can. 
February if possible.  

Room mates/companions

This week was good. Monday we had a fun day. We played sand volleyball at a cool park, had Panda for dinner, which is no good. I have to kick fast food. I did half a baptism interview and that was cool, but I had to stop halfway through because of issues he had, so President finished it. The man and his wife were baptized on Saturday. 

Tuesday I was on an exchange with a new missionary in the district and that was good. I was able to print off a name to take to the Temple and it was my great uncle Routledge and that was freakin' cool! We also took a YW to a lesson and it was awful. The guy was a bit strange and made the girl feel uncomfortable, so she left and so that was no fun. 

Wednesday we went on another exchange and we had district leader training and counsel. We got chastised by the mom of the young woman we took to the lesson so that wasn't much fun. 

Thursday was okay. So, I am not going to lie, I really just don't feel like emailing today, but I'll push on for my mom, and family and dad. 
Today we had an awesome zone meeting and we had a lot of training working with member sand other stuff. That took up a lot of the day and then we did our weekly planning. 

Elder Routledge & Gemar

Friday we went to a big dental thing, where we were volunteers. All these dentists come from all over Cali to do dental work for people who cannot afford it, so over the 3 days, they see about 2000 people. This year they did over 1.8 million dollars in dental work. That was really cool and took up a lot of our time. 

Saturday we went back to the dental thing and we were there for 6 hours walking people around. We got to see some guy have his teeth pulled. It was just a really cool day. We worked real hard all day, so by days end we were tired, and came home to a nice meal our zone leaders prepared for us and that was just awesome. I live with 3 really great Elders. Like last night the one gave me a back fixer upper and massaged my feet and everything. Kinda weird but still...the love hahaha. 

Sunday we got yelled at 2 more times by a member telling us we're not good missionaries because we had to cancel a lesson this week. And our neighbour swore us out, so it has been a crummy week and a great week at the same time. That's probably why I am not feeling up to emailing. 

Well, that's my week and I love you all and I'll talk and see y'all soon. 
Love Elder Routledge 


PS

WINSTON IS BACK!!! I found him in one of the apartments in Oxnard!! He is back!! For 6 months he was gone but we're back together!!!

Elder Routledge...and Winston

No photos...but a visit from Elder Hamula of the 70

First off...you like guns now? (Just for the record..I do NOT like guns now lol) What the heck with you and Shel with all these guns?? And you went to ELDER BRONSON'S without me :( 
I want to go see his family. Sounds like you had a great weekend. 
Well the only update I have for you is the USA wants me to join the military haha. I got served with these forms that qualifies me for the military but I think the office is taking care of that hahaha.

Monday was so great. We had a busy crazy week, as you did as well, so lucky. You got to see my comp's family and play with guns. I just can't get over that. 
you got to see Dave and Chels, my boy Elder Pincock and the Bronson's uuggghh. Oh and Tate !! 
Well, today we did beach volleyball and I lost my camera for a few days so I have like, no pictures. I found it, but yea, it was a good day. 

Tuesday was pretty cool. I went and got a knee brace because my knee is really sore and has not been 100% for a few months, but my Mission President assures me it's nothing, so it's probs not. He was a PT before his mission. 
We also did more family history and had lunch with Elder Gregory because he is back in the zone, so it's cool to see him. This afternoon we had interviews with the MP and that was real cool. Our mission leaders are so great!!! We also tried to catch lizards, haha. You heard all about though. 

Catching lizards

Wednesday we got a text from one of our investigators saying she was no longer interested but we were not giving up. We set up a lesson to see her tonight and we did service at the food bank. I forgot what else we did but we had our drop/save lesson and we talked to her for an hour and she has decided to still investigate. Her younger daughter sure is an interesting one. She is very nice but has intense questions. 

Thursday all I really remember is we did our weekly planning and we had a nice visit with our YM leader. It has been a long week, so my memory is going haha. 

Friday we had...Elder Hamula of the Seventy come to our mission and talk to us and OH MY GOSH ALMIGHTY. It was so amazing on so many levels. He just spoke with so much power and his testimony was so strong. He told us so much and in 7 hours I learned so much from him. He started to cry while bearing his testimony and all you heard in the chapel was his voice and sobs from the Sisters and....me. I was just crying and crying and could not stop. He said if we could see past the veil we would never doubt the church, if only we could see. 
It was just so amazing and I went in thinking it would be good but left with such a sure testimony of this gospel to the point where I could, and can, live another 70 years on this earth with my testimony locked into my heart. 

Saturday and Sunday did not even compare but I was on an exchange in Oxnard. I saw a lot of old faces and that was really cool to see. Church was 7 hours again, covering two wards. It was just such a good week and man, I am so glad it is over. I was tired all day, everyday and still am. We have just been so busy, like we're already 3 weeks in and time is...poof!

Well mom, dad, Shelby Scott. I know without a doubt this church is true and that I am here because I need to be. Please don't stop or loose your faith in our Saviour, who needs you and you need him. I love you and I'll talk to you soon. 

Your brother and son, Kev

Elder Routledge
a servant of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!