Home life

Time Marches On

2011-06-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

I think that the long winter is finally over. The days are finally getting warmer and I want to be outside. Problem is I also want to stay outside. I guess I need to have the entire back yard redone so that I can live outdoors when the weather is nice. Klynton got a new job at a place he likes much better. Colton has gone away to scout camp and I have to admit he's a bit of a Linus and I like having him out of the way at times. Don't take that wrong but it is a bit of a relief at times to have your children move on with their lives.

Yeah for summer, fresh from the garden stuff and yeah for getting warm!!

December life

2010-12-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

Well, the lights are up, the trees are in the window, I am starting to get the gifts wrapped and the Christmas music is on the radio. I love this time of year. I get the Christmas spirit as soon as I start singing the Christmas songs on a nearly daily basis. That is about all it takes. It becomes extra strong when I get my bedspread on and the trees up.

Memories flood my mind of Christmas's when I was blessed by others generosity and concern as well as being able to bless the lives of others in the same way. I love the stories we read and the memories of others as a reminisence of the Christmas spirit comes to mind. There are so many with a good heart and a willingness to share and who do so as angels who walk among us.

May God bless your every footstep and know that we at this household wish YOU a very Merry Christmas!!

Almost 2 Weeks

2010-11-30T16:04:00.000-08:00

Wow, it is hard to believe that it has almost been 2 weeks since that boy has returned home. What a difference!! He has really embraced the missionary work, kept the commandments and wow the changes!!!! I love what living the Lord's way and working to bless others in his name does to one's soul. That boy is no longer a lad, he is a man and it is so fun to see the maturity. He takes on the tasks around him without being asked and seems to want to be in the middle of what ever is going on. That is so much better than being reclusive. Klynton seems really glad to have him home as well and it has been fun having both of them in the same room but I have started calling them trees because they are both so much taller than I am. Amazing. The school stuff should be taking off soon and he can get things done in a hurry and then be ready to go to school.

At this Thanksgiving time, I feel so blessed to be able to have such wonderful family and friends in my life! I feel that my cup runneth over and that God in Heaven is so good to me. It just doesn't get much better than this! Having friends and family around at Holiday time and being able to spend a little time with them!

Last Week!! Last Letter!!

2010-11-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

This is my last baptizem Suyash, this happened yesterday night.
Love you

To all of you who have followed the blog: Thanks so much for your love and support!! This isn't the end of the blog, but it is the end of the mission. I will try to maintain the blog occasionally as big things come along. Then when Klynton goes, I will do it all again. Colton gets home on Wednesday night about midnight and we are so looking forward to that.

Leslie

November '10 Week 1

2010-11-08T09:41:00.001-08:00

Well well well the end is even more in sight...

You ain't kidding this is probably the busiest week that I will have, and its my last. Actually mom the Trip to Erode and Coimbitore is today, I will be lieaving with in the next couple of hours, but I promise I will get you some Photo's, I love the country side on the way to any place, India is just quite the beautiful place, and you never know what to expect, you can have which ever way you want to live life, you can life in the smallest of the small, or the Biggest of the Big, and that is how India is. I agree this is probably the greatest opportunity that we could ever have to learn what the lord wants us to as we spend time in his service and in a blessed land.
So Jess is going to Baltimore huh? That's SWEET!! we just had a few missionaries that got visas come from that mission. Pretty cool.
Hey by the way mom, You'll Never guess what I just received in the Mail.... the shoes. I finally got them, When I was in Bangalore for ZLC I was in the mission office, and I was looking around, and All of a sudden I see a box with your hand writing on it addressed to me, and of course nothing but a few Gatorade packets and the shoes made it safely, the Milano's and the what ever else was destroyed, Supposedly "rats" got into it, But I did get some Beef Jerky. Those rats where probably 5'3 and spoke Tamil, Oh well what can do, I at least got new shoes for the last week and a half of my mission. THANK YOU !!!!!!
Well yes I did get to go and visit with Usha, and her family, and that was such a great visit, they bore such strong testimonies, and Usha has done a full 180 from Roman Catholic to one of the Strongest members in the Branch. It was really grate to spend time with them. They wrote in my Book of remembrance for me and left quite the letter's. My heart will probably go with them and the rest of India when I step on that Air plane.
I love you all and am so grateful for all the support you have given to me, I know that this is the lords work, I know that the savior lives, that Our heavenly Father is Mindful of ALL of his Children and that with out his power and his guiding hand Nothing is possible. I know that this is his true and living church, I know that it is Directed by a living prophet, and I know that The Prophet Joseph Smith did restore the truth of god and if fact translated the book of Mormon. I know that the power it holds is not any mans power, but gods power. I don't care what anyone says, its true.
I love you and am so thankful for your love and supporting prayers in the last Two years.

Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

October Week 5

2010-11-01T09:10:00.000-07:00

Wow...I think some one is way too excited about the future... Okay i am excited too, but I have way to much to do to even think about that kind of stuff, I am going to zone leaders council today, and will not get back until wednesday, and then on monday next week I will be going to Coimbitore for exchanges with a few of my Missionaries there and that will be for a few days since its like a six hour train ride to Coimbitore from Chennai... Oh what fun it is to ride and Indian train for six hours, I lucked out and was hooked up with some really good tickets, which means I don't have to sweat the whole way there. (thank you members of the church)
Well things are Awesome here in good old Chennai, we are really working hard, and really spreading our wings from just focusing all of our efforts on one specific place, we are really getting to know the Area, and working on really using the members, for some reason the last set of Elders where not really using the members on exchanges, or ever using them for any kind of work. It is such a fun thing to visit with the members and to really work with them, I love spending the time with them, they all have just such strong Testimonies, since more that 80 percent of the members are all converts.
We are going to go and see some of my converts today, I am so excited to see Usha, Rechella and Anto, they are not in my area, but we got permission to go, so we will be going before I go to Bangalore today. Lunch... Mmmmmmm I love the food here so much, I might just have to move back... ;)

Well I just want you to all know that I am so thankful for the Examples that all of you have been to me. I have been so grateful for all that you have done for me, I have been able to in one way or another use something that all of you have taught me. I use them every day and have been ever so blessed because of it. There are some that have no Idea how much they have caused a change not only in my heart, but in the hearts of hundreds in India. That is not an exaggeration. I Know that this is truly the lords kingdom on earth, I know that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1830 I know that because of that we have the understanding of god and his Eternal plan for all of us. I know that his plan is perfect, and that what ever happens in our lives it is for the betterment of our selves. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of God, and that the spirit that it brings is so Powerful that no one can second guess, if they read it with a heart that hears and Ears that Feel. I am so thankful for all that that means. I know that the words in the book of Mormon where written for us in this time and if we use them and it EVERY DAY that we will "be able to know all things which we should do" 2 Nephi 32:3 I know that there is "no other way nor name given under heaven whereby salvation can come except in and through the name of Christ." Mosiah 3:19 I also know that god is watching over all of us, he knows we are here, and that he know's our needs and our wants, and I know that he pulls all kind of strings, and that miricals are not over. He is a god of power, and when we show our faith, all things are possible.
I love you all and am so happy that your happy. With all my Love
Elder Colton Frederick

October '10 Week 4

2010-10-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

HOLY COW CAN SOME ONE PLEASE PUSH THE PAUSE BUTTON!!!!!?!?!?!?!?!
Well Here I am again sitting at the same computer that I always sit at writing again another Email.... I have no Idea how the days just Keep flying by. I cant seem to make it slow down... That's not a bad thing though.
Well I have quite the News, I HAVE ELDER LOHAT BACK!!! Yes its true were back together just rocking good old Chennai, and are ready to just burn the and work it to the ground.
I finally got to listen to that CD that you all sent to me for my Birthday, Last night after my Follow-ups. It was kind of Weird to listen to you all, and it was really fun to make comments to you even though you where not Physically there. It was pretty cool. I thought it was kind of interesting at how much all of you have changed, and that was a year ago... I cant even Imagine the changes that have been taking place....
Well as for my news, nothing to much, I now have elder Lohat, and we are just really loving every minuet back together. We have really been having so cool experiences with how we want to do the work, the spirit has been really strong as we have been brain storming together about our goals and about our courses of action. Its kind of cool to know that with in just a short amout of time I will be handing over the ropes to him to take care of the Chennai Zone. Pretty sweet, but kind of humbling just to know that its the lords work, not my own. Just goes to show that he really is aware of what is going on in his missions.
Well Not much to say Other than I know that the church is true. I am so thankful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to come to India and to Take part in such a Peculiar work in such a Peculiar place called India. I am so amazed at how much the lord blesses his children as they are truly obedient to the commandments of god. I love the Verse in Mosiah 2:41 how Obedience brings forth the blessings of heaven, I love the lord, and am so grateful for the opportunity to serve his children in India. I love this place so much and am absolutely convinced that this is the greatest work that we could ever do. I love The people that I meet, and that I work with so much, I am so excited to see My brothers and sisters make promises with our Heavenly Father and see them just take off in life. I am grateful for the example of the savior, he is truly the Master, and I know that he lives. His Atonement is proof of our Father in Heaven's love. I love you all and am so thankful for you and your Constant love and testimonies.
I love you all.
Elder Colton Frederick

October '10 Week 3

2010-10-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

HOLY COW !! I think I need glasses after that Email...Just kidding.
Well first of all I have some pretty exciting News...My companion is now the new assistant, and I am being made into the senior Zone Leader, and now my new companion Is.... ELDER LOHAT!!!!! wOOO HOO!! Yep I am so excited to have him again. We are going to ROCK chennai!!!
Okay so that's the transfer news, on other news for the week, have been just as busy as ever, we went to zone conference, and received sweet trainings about following the spirit in our lessons. It was just amazing... by the way.... we finally have VISAS!!!! Yep you read it, our mission finally received visas for some of the American Missionaries, The missionaries that where supposed to come just Before Elder Peckham where given their visas on Tuesday and will be coming to the mission this week. I will have four of them in my new zone. As you can guess this just rocked the moral for the mission and for the work, we can see the hand of the lord in our mission and in our lives and are so excited to get some more missionaries. Our hopes are that Elder Pecham's batch will be allowed to come about the same time that I take off. It would be such an amazing blessing to see this happen. I know even more now than ever that the lord really does take care of his missionaries. President Funk said " Its the lords work... He knows where here." so it was pretty amazing to see what it is that the lord does for us.
So in some more cool news. We set Suyash for Baptism this week, his Date is the 14th of November... MY last week. Suyash was so excited about it. He tried to act passive about it, but you can see in his eyes that he is so excited about it. I know that he will really be a great leader here in India. He has a great life ahead of him and so I know that he will be awesome.
JESS YOU ROCK!! I am so excited to here that you sent your papers in, My mom said that you did it On Wednesday!! that is so awesome... and of course all those that can are welcome to the airport. ( That is weird saying that)
Okay on another note, I am way excited,we will be having as I said 4 new missionaries here in my zone, and of course I get to go on exchange with them. I am SO EXCITED they have been pretty sweet to the ears, and so I think that I am going to take advantage of the situation and learn as much from them as I can.
Oh by the way mom, about your experience at the Doctors office.. I think Its so cool that our doctor has the Priesthood, and is able to use it in his practice. (how many people can say that instead of giving you any treatment that their doctor gave them a blessing and they got better Immediately) ahh the power of the Priesthood.
Well as much as I would love to go on, I really don't have much more to say, the week has gone by so fast that I didn't even realize that it had been a week since General Conference until I had been in the middle of sacrament Meeting, and then I felt like it had only been like a day.. Weird
I know that this is truly the lords Church, and I know that the work that I am engaged in is truly the lords, I know that the proclaiming of the gospel is fulfilling scripture. I know that the plan of Salvation is real, I know that the savior lives and that he loves us. I know that Heavenly father lives and that he loves us. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family who roots for me from far away, I am so grateful for the Emails that I get, and the love that is shown to me and those around me. I want you all to know that I love you too, and I am praying for all of your success. I am so thankful that the lord has blessed us with his gospel in these latterdays. I know that Joseph Smith was visited by two heavenly Personages, and I know that he was inspired, and directed by god to restore his truth back on the earth today. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the lords living prophet. I love you all and am so happy to call you my Family.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

October '10 Week 2

2010-10-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!
well since I didd'nt get a letter from you all this week I figured I would Update you all with the new Information of what happened this week. What a week it was too, I have had quite the neat experiences. From families getting baptized, and people wanting to be baptized, and even to taking an airplane to Bangalore and back.
I hope you all enjoy the picture that I sent. That was my airplane ride to Bangalore, I went and had my Full on Zone leaders council, it was awesome, My mission president gave a great training on following the spirit, and how we can attain the gifts of the spirit. It was way cool. We also discussed all kinds of things about the mission. It was quite the experience.

Other news, Usha, Richella and Anto where Baptized this week!!!! Elder Tewari got them baptized during General Conference this week... WHICH WAS AWESOME General Conference was quite the conference I really liked the whole thing. I think that It was quite interesting that they really focused on having faith in the lord, Trusting the prophet, and following the words of living prophets are soooo important. that talk about the 14 fundamentals of following the prophet by president Benson, is sweet, and I had just read that the other day, and to have them talk about all of the principals that where said was pretty cool. If you get the chance and haven't followed the council in reading it for FHE..... DO IT!!!! Its quite interesting at what was said.
okay any who, so that was about all that happened During Conference, after conference we went and saw Suyash who has been looking for answers to his prayers, and was not sure if he was even praying correctly, so we sat down with him and talked to him about how he could receive an answer, and he ended up praying and asking specifically to know that the book of Mormon is true.
His friend from Utah (Cheryll) who is a member of the church, was in complete tears, the spirit was so strong as Suyash said the prayer. You could hear the desires of his heart where so strong and you could tell that he really wanted to know the truth about the book of Mormon. He said though that he will be baptized, that he knows that Jesus Christ is our savior, and that this all was true, but he said that he really wanted a spiritual witness that it was true, he did'nt want to just simply believe, He's such a stud!! I love him so much. Well that was just about all of my week, I loved every minuet of it, mostly just because of the way every thing just played out. My most favorite thing though was Usha's baptism. It was probably the greatest moment of my Entire mission, That was quite the Cake topper, To see that whole family get baptized was just so thrilling. I Just wanted to give her a big huge hug, and tell just tell all of her family how happy I was for them.
with all of that said, I know ever more the stronger that this is the lords true and living church. I know ever more that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I know with all my heart that the savior did Atone for all of us so that we could be able to come back and live with our loved ones. I will be so happy when I get to see all of the people I have taught, and baptized in the Celestial kingdom, I know that the promise that the lord gave to Joseph Smith is true, when you bring but one soul to my kingdom, how great shall be your joy.
I Know with all my heart that this is the greatest work in the entire world. I know that this is the lords work and that it truly does bring so much more happiness when we follow the words of the prophets, and we apply the gospel in our lives. I love you all and hope the best for you. I am happy that your all my family
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

October '10 Week 1

2010-10-04T09:14:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!!
Wow, what a week, I am glad to here that your all on the mend of what ever bug you have just had. Sounds Pretty Nasty!
Well, My week has been pretty busy as well, I have been on quite the Roller coaster of life, On Monday Last week, we took the Mission president with us on exchange, (he came to Chennai for Interviews) and we took him to see Suyash, President Funk also graduated at Utah State University, and so it was quite the Exchange, and Suyash really benefited from it, President talked about Faith, and we went on about the gospel of Jesus Christ, which was really great, because now he is thinking about baptism. Yesterday after church, we where looking at the October 2010 Liahona, and it has a ton of Pictures of the Temple in side, and Suyash turned to me and said, " I think I would like to go there with in the Next year or so." I got a big old grin on my face and said to him "Hey that's a great goal, Well get you there" He smiled and said " thanks... When can we meet again?" which in suyash talk means "I want you to come to my house so that we can talk about baptism" I was so happy, and so was he.
My week was also consisting of Interviews for all of the missionaries here, and then some good old Lock downs (I was stuck in my apartment all day long), and then me running around trying to get into school... Pray hard please... Ill need it.
So over all I had a pretty good week, I have also been thinking about families a lot lately, there is a couple of x-pat. Families here, and we had the oppurtunity to go and visit with them, and it was so cool to see how strong the gospel was in their lives, I was really impressed with the attitude of the children about the gospel, and how much it really has blessed their lives. I really think that it is so cool to see families faithful in the gospel, and living their lives in a way that is harmonizing to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I really hope that when it's my turn to have a family that I can do the same and Help my Children live the gospel. The whole thing brought my thoughts to how much you as a family have truly helped me learn and grow, and It brought me to true Joy Knowing that you have helped me and the rest of our family to know about How we can have happy lives. It is such a blessing to see families that are so loving, and so caring about every aspect of each other, and that are yet still so secure in the promises that they have made together. It is a shocking thing to me to see families that still have some problems, but are sure that through faithful obedience to the lords Doctrine. Shocking in the aspect that I know so many other people that would benefit from living the truth. I guess in short, It truly is such a blessing to be able to carry this truth to so many families here in India, and then see the problems they have just melt away because of their faith in the lord.
I know that the gospel is true, I see the evidence of it every day and because I do My testimony grows, I know that this is the lords truth, and that it is what will make families the happiest. I know that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly father do love each and every one of us, and that they truly are aware of everything that we need, and or want. I know that my Redeemer Lives, that he loves me, and that he atoned for each of us. I know that Joseph Smith, did receive the Keys to open the last dispensation, and that Thomas S. Monson is the lords mouthpiece today, I am so happy that we get to listen to the words of a living prophet, and I know that what he and the 12 apostles say is exactly what we need to hear at this time.
I love you all and hope the best for you, I am happy to have you all in my prayers.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

September '10 Week 4

2010-09-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Family!!
OH boy what a week, I have had some of the most interesting experiences this week.
On Monday I told you all that I was going to this Leadership training for a few days, and holy cow was it awesome, we learned from the mission president the "simplified curriculum" of Preach my Gospel. We worked on 8 things that we can do to improve our teaching, Listening, and the reception of the spirit in our lessons. It was so amazing to learn more and more about how to teach the gospel, and how to Help people Know that it is true. I had a blast. But it took four days of us being out of our area, so now its time to play catch up with our goals.
I did have a really cool experience on Saturday, My companion has been teaching a brother Named Suyash, he lived in Utah for a while, he went to Utah state University and met a ton of members there, and began to go to church, he made lots of return missionary friends, and then moved back to India, He met a sister that is teaching school here that is a member and has been coming to church here for a while, so he decided to come with her to church, so to make a long story short, the missionaries started teaching him here a few weeks ago, and then we went on Saturday which ended up turning out to be really great, he even came to church in a white shirt and a tie this Sunday it was pretty cool. As we sat down with him though it was really interesting to see and listen to him speak about what he had the desire to learn. I really enjoyed listening to him and thinking about how much he really knew, and how much he had the desire to learn about the gospel. As we taught him I was able to feel the spirit.
Anyway, Life is good here, Like I said we are trying to play catch up with our goals, and we are hoping to be able to make up for what happened last week.
I am glad to hear that your on the mend, I have been praying for you and your health. I hope that super bug gets out of there pretty fast, it sure doesn't sound good. NOT FUN.
Hey that's great about Klynton's Job, I am happy to hear that he knows how to do some pretty good business I know he will enjoy good Ice cream, and dishing it up is all kinds of fun.
Well I love you all, and am happy to hear that your on the mend, I hope that you get feeling good enough to get out and get back to your normal old schedule... If you even have one, by the sounds of the last two years there is always some thing new going on. at least that's just how I feel. You can never do the same thing twice, no matter what your doing.
I know that the church is true, I know the Book is blue, and I know that God is a Mormon too. " that came from one of our assistants to the president, I laughed pretty hard.
But on that Note, I do know that this is the lords true church, I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what brings us the greatest happiness, I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that it does contain the way to get back to our heavenly Father. I know that the Savior atoned for our sins, I know that because of his sacrifice that we can return and live with our Heavenly father again. I love you all and am so grateful to call you mine. I know that the lord is watching over you and is allowing us the oppurtunities to learn and become better people every day.
You are all in my prayers
With lots of love
Elder Colton Frederick

September '10 Week 3

2010-09-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

MOM!! FAMILY!!!
Well Life is good, I am sorry about last week, I was pretty busy, we had to send a missionary home who was finishing his mission, pretty crazy to see him go. This week is pretty busy too, I am going to Bangalore for a leadership training meeting with all of the zone leaders and the district leaders in the south part of the mission. I am pretty excited to see what President Funk will be training about, I went on exchange with the assistants yesterday for a little while and they said that it was probably the best training they have ever seen, I am way excited( you all know how much I love Leadership trainings!! WOOO HOO!!!)
So about my Companion His name is John Boone Block, he is from the small town of Chicago, he is faster then a speeding bullet and can do 20 pull us with a missionary on his back, (not me, I havn't tried yet) He is about 6' 3" and about 180 pounds, he is about 26 years old and very cool, he ran track in high school, can play the guitar and the piano. He is really loving and way into the work. I really like him. We have been really working hard, my new area is really cool, we have a member that takes us all around one area and introduces us to families that love to hear about the gospel, and is able to get us into any house we want. Suguna has the coolest testimony ever and is a recent convert of about 4 months. So with the concoction of all three of us, we are able to put a huge dent in the week by about wednesday its so cool.
I really don't have too much news other then life is good, and I am headed to Bangalore, for the week, until Friday Morning, I am really excited to learn, but am bummed about the amount of time I spend out of my area. Oh well, Suguna is on it, and preparing our investigators for baptism.
I love you all and am so happy to have you all working hard, I know your all sick, but please be careful with what your doing... Weird, shouldent you be telling me that ? Just kidding
I am so grateful to the lord for allowing me to come here and see the people that I have change and learn the gospel, I know that I can never forget the things that I have learned here, and am so grateful that the lord has allowed me to grow. I can still remember my first day E-mailing you in Rajahmundry and how hot, weird, and strange it was to be experiencing all of this. I know that this is the lords work, and I know that is the only true and living gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the lord did send his son Jesus Christ for each of us. I know that the savior did atone for each person on this earth, and I know that by living the gospel we can accept the atonement, I know my savior lives, I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it truly was translated by Joseph Smith. I know that Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet in these days. I am grateful that the lord has blessed me with such a great family and friends, both here in India, and in America. I know that it is the family of god, and that we can be able to live with each other in love an harmony as we develop the love that the savior has for us.
I love you all and am happy for you, I am praying for you.
Love
Elder Colton James Frederick

September '10 Week 2

2010-09-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

MOM and Family !!
YOU ALL BE CAREFUL!!!! I dont like hearing about you all getting hurt!!
SO here is the deal, I have a little less time, but I have some news, I am transferred to the 3rd branch and am now a zone leader here, My new companion is way awesome, his name is Elder block and is from Chicago He is way cool I really like him so much.
So thank you all for the Happy birthday wishes and thanks for the love and wishes and prayers. I love you all and am so grateful for the gospel that we all live in our lives, I am grateful for the savior gospel of jesus christ in my life, I am glad that I have the oppertunity to live with god again. I love you so much and am praying for each of you.
Please remember that .
I promise that I will get you more of a real letter this next week.
I love you.
Elder Colton Frederick

September '10 Week 1

2010-09-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Wow You all had quite the busy week, and now your all camping with out me... HOW DARE YOU! Just kidding.
Life is good here in India, we are really working hard and trying to get people into the waters of baptism, when I started the week we only had two baptismal dates, now we have 5 with a date, and are planning to set about ten more... PRAY HARD.
I told you about Usha and Anto this last week, well there is more and more, this week Usha got really sick, so we ended up giving her a blessing, and helping her in her home a little, (she hated it, because men here don't help the women, but she couldn't do anything about it,) she later thanked us for it. The whole Family knows that they need to come to church, and are now making the correct steps to following the gospel. Sister Usha is such a funny women, she loves to ask questions, and it is so funny to watch her eyes get big as we explain about specific things. This last time we had to pull out the Pearl of Great price to help her overcome her concern, and then instead of attacking it she said this. " Frederick, I need one of those, I need to read the Doctrine and Covenants, and your Pearl of Great price.. I think that would be a good thing." I love her so much, she is just willing to really take a hold of the gospel and run with it, as well as drag her family along with her.
Well mom since you asked about the Mission, the news is that right now we have about 50 Missionaries in the mission, 2 are going home next week, 5 are coming from America, then in october on the 22nd 14 missionaries go home, three weeks after that 8 more.
With in the last year we have had 388 baptisms as of Sunday, our goal is 600 for the year (this is 100 more than our goal last year and with half of the missionaries) we are really hopeful for the next couple of months because we have planned to set more than the goal for the month, for one companionship. So hopefully... well pray hard, and work hard to get it done.
The mission is really working to get people active because that will lead to a stake, which will lead to wards which will lead to a temple. The lord is really blessing the mission because of the hard work ethic that the missionaries and the members are putting out there, the branches are really strong and working hard to get people to the temples. so basically the goal is the temple, and more and more converts to build up the church, these people are really Pioneering their way into history.
I guess this leads to my Testimony of how much I know that this really is the lords work, I have seen so many people make complete changes to their lives, I know missionaries who diddn't even know what a missionary does become the best missionaries in the mission, I have seen my self make the changes that I needed to be able to teach the gospel, and become the person that the lord would like me to be. I know that Because the lord loves his children he will pull Miracles out into peoples lives so that they can know the divinity of his truth. I know that the book of Mormon truly is the word of god and is his words, I have seen men who couldn't even say hello in English speak better English then I do. I know that the lord has truly Sacrificed his life for us so that we could be able to live with him if we just but exorcise a little faith in him. I know with out any shadow of a doubt that Joseph Smith was Visited by God our Father in heaven and his son Jesus Christ. I know that he was commanded to restore the gospel back on this earth, and I know that if we follow it with all of our heart might mind and strength that we can and will be blessed, that we can live in gods kingdom. I know that the plan of salvation is Real, and I look forward to being able to truly take more part of in in my life as I build a family that is based on the Savior Jesus Christ and his Doctrine . I know that the savior lives and that he loves us. I love you all
With all my love
Elder Colton Frederick

August '10 Week 5

2010-08-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!! (and Friends!)
Hello from India!!
Oh boy do I have some fun news this week. We have just embarked in the most interesting three weeks of my Entire mission... three people in a companionship... holy cow I really hope that having children is easier, but if my children are anything like I was probably not. we have been really working hard getting to two areas, keeping them separate, and yet keeping companionship unity. Oh boy let me tell you it is tough I am just praying that I can stay sane long enough to plan for my night, and then go to sleep, because the fun just starts again in the morning. I really am having a good time with it, I have the chance to get to know two companions as well as get to know each of the new investigators. Then I get to spend time in my own area. SWEET!!! its really kind of fun to see two different areas, and then work in both of them in the same day. I am also in a new apartment so it kind of feels like I am the one transferred and just in a new area, so now I am putting two mental maps together in my head and seeing where they both lead, ( let me tell you I wish I had a GPS some days.)
OH Man I am sorry to hear about Jess's car, that really bites, some people just don't use their heads, ( I know I am no exception sometimes but really, Hitting a car with an ax is ridiculous even if your in danger)
mom your going through my mail huh??... are you really looking for photo's? ... Just kidding its no problem, but thanks for telling me.
Wow it sounds to me like the scout stuff is really taking off, and now that I hear that everyone is back into school is crazy, I cant even imagine school right now, even to have family in school, but I am glad to hear that everyone is getting back to their educations, that is what the lord asks of us, to continue learning and growing, and seeking out of the best books. I am really excited to put my efforts into learning (unlike what I did before my mission) there is no giving up or getting fed up this time, I know that the lord will help me if I really honestly give it my all, he'll make up the difference.
Well for a story this week, I have found a really sweet family that I have really been trying to get to progress. Usha, Anto, and Richella are the coolest family ever. Usha and Anto are originally roman catholic, Usha has spent A LOT of time in the bible and know's that roman Catholicism is not correct, but just doesn't know where to find the truth, when we started to teach her it was kind of crazy hectic because she had a ton of questions, but when we pulled out the book of Mormon and she decided that she needed to read it, things began to really progress. Usha now reads the book of Mormon every day, and not just reads, but tears it apart by studying it, she uses the foot notes and is really prayerful about the whole thing. Her husband is just willing to follow what ever she teaches him, and the daughter Richella is of course going to follow her mother. We finally got to teach them about the Word of Wisdom, and the whole family really loves to Drink Tea and Coffee... it was so funny because as we where teaching about Tea and Coffee, she stopped me and said "Frederick... you cant make me do this.. I really like my Tea and Coffee."
I looked at her and said " Sister Usha, I am not going to make you do anything, this is all up to you and god."
she looked at me and just blinked and we continued on.
The next day she called and told me that she wanted to follow it. It was way funny to watch as she has called me every morning to tell me that she is doing it. and what was even better was that this morning she called and told me that she was now enforcing it with her husband and her daughter. and they love it!!
I know that this truly is the lords work and that his commandment are there for us to grow and be happy. I am so grateful for the gift of Moral agency that the lord has given to us. I am so grateful that we have the gift of the Holy ghost, as it leads and guides us in our lives and as the lord has given us this gift as we bring our lives in accordance of his gospel.
I know that the savior lives and that his atonement was truly infinite, I know that by living our lives the way that the prophet has taught us that we can be happy and successful in our righteous endeavors. I know that the gift and power of prayer is sent from the lord, and that the lord does truly listen and answer them. I know this because the prophet Joseph Smith did see Our Father in heaven and His son Jesus Christ. I know that a young farm boy 200 years ago was chosen by god to restore the truth and Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that by abiding by its precepts we can, and will get closer to God.
I love you all and am so grateful for all of your support, I know that the lord is watching over you and that you all are being guided by our lord and savior.
Thanks for all that you do and say,
Love, Elder Colton Frederick

August '10 Week 3

2010-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

HOLY COW YOUR ALL..... busy.. Good, its good for you.
Oh man Tell Parker I am sorry, that's tough, I know we have to be really careful here in India because of the mosquito's they are terrible here, sometimes they are is big as your pinky finger nale crazy little bugs, ( we have an electric tennis-racket that fries them when ever I see them, as well as some stuff that we can burn that keeps them away, but they are terrible little bugs.
well on to other news, Things here are going to be getting a little... bigger, we are now combining two areas for at least 3 weeks, and I am now in a threesome companionship that means we have A LOT to do and very little time to do it. Ahh the beauty of missionary work.
I had a really cool experience last night, we went to a part member home where every one but one brother are members, and only the mother and one daughter are active with a family of 7 (I hope you understood that) anyway I have been working with the non-member brother who is just not happy at all, he is always quiet and just doesn't talk much. With in the last two week's I haven't been able to get much out of him other than he just was not happy, and that he had a lot of dreams... but he wasn't sure how he was going to get to them.
So yesterday I was talking to him, and I the thought came to mind to shut up. I looked at him and asked " Anand... who is god?" and then I shut my mouth and began to listen... really listen... it was great because it opened him like a book, I found out what has happened in his life to make him so unhappy, and I was able to listen to him and the spirit tell me his concerns, and now because I shut my mouth, I know how to help him resolve his concern. I was so grateful for the opportunity to have the spirit tell me to shut up, and listen to what he had to say. it is truly amazing at what you can learn when you listen to those around you and you don't say anything. I love learning from a mission.
well not to much other then that has happened here, we are just working hard and focusing on getting things done here in Chennai, and boy oh boy do we have alot to do. My plate is clear full, and I am so excited to start at it.
I know that your all being taken care of, and I am so happy that you are all as busy as possible, I hope that you all continue to do so, its so much better when you stay busy, I wish that I could just stay busy all day and all night, then I don't have to sleep and I can get things done even faster.
I know that this is truly the best work in the kingdom of god, and I know that by sharing the gospel you can truly be blessed, I know that when you put your life in the lords hands he blesses you and is able to sustain you in all things. I know that the lord lives and that he loves us, I know that by his love he was able to send his Beloved son to this earth to atone for us and to allow us to be forgiven. I am grateful for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the book of Mormon, I know that is is another testament of scripture that can help us to gain that closeness to the lord that we need. I Know that Thomas S. Monson is the the lords true and living prophet. I know that as we Listen to his and the apostles words, that we can be able to safeguard our lives so that we can live with the lord and our families.
I am thankful for every aspect of the gospel and all that it has done for me, I may be 20 years old, and not much has really happened in my life, but the little things that it has done for me are monumentous for me to learn and grow. I know that by living the gospel plan and applying it into our lives, that we can be able to overcome the sad times in our lives.
I love you all and am so grateful for you and your support. I am grateful for your sacrifices to help me become who I am to day.

Love
Elder Colton Frederick

August Week 3

2010-08-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well Being that my New P-day is on Monday, I guess we are all just going to have to get used to the changes of schedule.

So the last couple of days have been good, we just had a baptism this week, and are going to be having a few more next week.
Chennai is a pretty cool place, its just on FIRE!! we have been really excited about seeing people progress and getting ready for amazing changes in their lives.
Like I said, not too much going on around here, just a change in schedule, I have now officially started it today so like I said not to much has been going on around here.
I love you and hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you and your support for me to be working out here, I Know that you are all cruzing through life, just flying by the seat of your pants... Haha (I know I am only funny to my self) but anyway I will be happy to hear from you all next Monday
I Know that this is the lords true gospel, and I know that because of the Prophet Joseph Smith's simple question, we know and love the lord even greater. I know that because the lord loves us so much that he really did give us temples, all so that we can have the understanding, and feel the love of the lord. I am grateful to the lord for giving me such a wonderful family and friends who truly care and who are so supportive to do this work.
I know that the Book Of Mormon is the word of god, and that because of it we have the gift of understanding the ways that the lord works.
I love you all, and hope to hear from you again soon.

Elder Colton Frederick

August '10 Week Two

2010-08-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!
Hey Well life is good here in good old Chennai, Just really excited for the weekend, we have a couple more baptisms. The district that I am with is just amazing, we have two amazing missionaries here who just really are excited about doing missionary work, they are all just amazing.
I don't really have much news, I am just staying busy, we have a lot of work that we have to do, so that really makes me focus on getting them ready, mostly that is just my life just running as fast as we can to one appointment to the other.

One neat experience that I have just had though is that we are teaching a really neat sister that is Roman Catholic, who knows that the Catholic Church is not correct, but isn't sure what is the correct Church. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she is now in 1nephi 8, but she just dissects the crap out of it with her bible Knowledge, but with sincerity, and now knows that it is true she feels that she must read the whole thing. She came to church this last week and had a lot of Questions about the sacrament and how its not bread and wine, and how its passed, funny lady, she is a little nuts, but I love her so much, she keeps me on my toes, and makes me have to really look things up in the scriptures, she has me scouring the New testament looking for scriptures that have to do with the soul. We just taught her the Plan of Salvation, and she had LOTS of questions, it was fun to watch her face as she gets more and more understanding of the truth. we just have to make sure to pick our "battles" she loves knowing more and more about the bible.

Well as I said, not to much has been going on around these parts, Mostly I am just teaching the gospel with some amazing missionaries, and looking forward to serving with more and more great people.
I know that this is truly the lords true and living church, I know that this is the greatest work that the lord could allow us to do. I know that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ we can be saved in the lords eternal kingdom, I know that the future is only as bright as our faith. I also know that when we put the lord first in our lives and we are obedient to his commandments we can and WILL be blessed. I love you all and I love that you are all strong members of the Church of Jesus Christ, I am so happy that you all have the same faith that I do that we can live together, no matter what happens, just as long as we accept the savior and his atonement, and live the gospel.
I Love you all, and am excited to hear from you again.
Elder Colton Frederick

August '10 Week 1

2010-08-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!!
well it sounds to me like things are going pretty good, You have all been Crazy Busy, and will be even more, That's great, I am sooo happy for you all. I know that the best Cure for a little sadness is when you get right to work, I love being able to just get lost in what ever it is that I am doing and then all of a sudden... Its time to wright home again, Kind of cool how that works out.
So I have some news. As of the 15th of August We will be changing our schedule, our whole weekly schedule, that means that our preparation day will no longer be on Wednesday. It will be on Mondays from the 16th onwards. For all those who are writing on tuesday night, you are going to have to write a little earlier, that means like...Sunday.
Well as of that I am pretty good, I have a ton of things to get ready for this week, we are having one more baptism this week, and then two more next week, so we have to do all of the paperwork, Interviews, (this Means that I have to get he zone leaders to come and do the Interview's because I am not allowed to interview my own investigators even though I am the district leader.
In other news, our mission is slowly slowly going down in numbers, we just had 12 amazing missionaries going home, and now that means that we are going to be taking areas and putting them together so that we know each area... oh what fun, that means Million more souls are on us to cry repentance! Bring it on baby, we have the lord on our side!!.
So it sounds to me like your all getting the mission on the brain now, Tyson, Brigham, Jess, I think next on the list is Hayden, Klynton, Devin, Kadee, Teancum, (not in that order) but holy cow, the craziness of it all, I don't think the whole family will be under one roof for the next LONG TIME, 10 years I guesstimate. Thats cool.
KYLE!!! Man those Photos are awesome, I am so happy for you, thanks mom for sending them. I have to say that you are all looking pretty freaking good.
Its crazy to me that all of these things are going on out there, but its cool to see and hear the news.
Well I am so grateful for all of your support here, and I know that your all doing well, I know that your prayers are being answered, and I also know that as each of you look to the Lord, and focus on the things that he has taught I know that no matter what you will all be blessed, I know from a little hearsay that things are not so good with the things that are going on, but I know that the lord has promised us that if we are prepared, and if we are able to follow the commandments, the evils of the world will pass by us, "as the destroying angel passed by the children of Israel" I know that you are all being watched over, and I want you all to know that I pray for each of you on a daily basis. I love you all and know that the lord is there.
Love
Elder Colton James Frederick

July '10 Week 4

2010-07-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Mom!!
Hey Well things are Pretty good here, Chennai is amazing, and there are just so many people here that are just willing to listen to the gospel, we where walking to some investigators home, and all of a sudden some guy comes running up to us and was asking us what we where doing here, and if he could know about us, we then shared with him about Joseph smith on the road, and he said that he wanted to come to church, I was just really so surprised to see that he wanted to know about the gospel.
So Zone conference was Pretty good, the New Mission President, President Funk is way Chill, I really like him, I was able to sit down with him in my Interview, and come to find out, he is originally from Manti, and Both of his Little brothers where born in the Mt. Pleasant Hospital!! so we where really able to connect.
Chennai is Amazing We are really rocking it out here, and I really like the area, its way sweet. The people here are really nice, and very loving. One of the things that I have been trying to do here is to wash the peoples Dishes, here in India, only the woman goes into the Kitchen, unless the boys are putting something in there, so I have been sneaking in there and washing all of their dishes, its the funniest thing ever to see the womens faces, they just stare at me in pure shock that I would do anything like that, and sometimes the men try to "pull" me out, they don't try to hard, they are also usually in shock, its pretty funny.
Yes mom I found the school, it is rising star, and they come to church every week, Brother Gorden and his wife are in provo now, they haven't been here in about a year, but it was really cool when I asked about them to the family that is running the school, she was so excited that I had Knew about them already.
Well about Kyles wedding pics, you'll just have to tell the hoser to send me some of his Pictures, I am not getting on to facebook.
Hey I am so happy to hear about lane, that is way cool, your going to have to send me some pictures, I know that things will be so great you'll all be taking pictures any way, but I want to see the pics.
Well I love you all, and am just so happy to know that "we are all in this together" I know that even all the problems that are in the world are able to just pass us by as we stay strong in the gospel. I know that the lord is watching over all of you, and I also know that he is aware of your individual circumstances. I know that this is truly the lords work and that because of the wonderful gift of the gospel being restored, Know that those that embark in this work are doing the right thing. I know that the book Of Mormon truly does testify that God lives and that he loves us. I know that because of the savior that we are all able to live with god again, because of his gospel plan.
I love you all and am so happy for your success and your desires to preach the gospel to those around you, you are all such amazing examples.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

July '10 Week 3

2010-07-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Vanakam from Chennai!! (means Hello in Tamil)
Well life is great in Chennai, My new companion is Elder Tewari, he is originally from India, but has been brought up in the states, he was living in Virginia before his mission and has now been out 6 months, so it has been pretty interesting to see the way he does things because he was trained by a former assistant, and follow up trained by another former assistant, so now just a lone little Elder from little old vizak gets to try to live up to the standard given... pretty fun, I am really enjoying the way that Elder Tewari works and has a way to do everything. he is espically fun because he was a big politician in Virginia before his mission.
Well it sounds like your all just having a blast, I hope that you can send me some pics of the good old wind rivers. Oh by the way the package came, but is in custums in Bangalore, the hosers have my shoes, and wont give them back unless I go and get them... There is a good thing that I am in Bangalore today, ahh Zone Conference, somebody is going to get a good old chew if they don't give it to me. Oh well what can you do?
Hey so how is Jess, please keep me updated, that poor guy is working hard so that he can go on his mission, I am quite proud of him and his hard work, I know that he will do an amazing job, because the lord want's us at our best before we go and do his work, and I know that he will do just amazingly as he dedicates his life to what he knows to be correct.
Well I just want to let you all know how thankful I am to have you all be a part of my life, I know that its not easy just simply going through life, but you all do it well, and You have all been such grate teachers for me, I know that it wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for the savior Jesus Christ. I know that because of his Atonement we are able to have happy lives... if we work at it. Lately I have really had my eyes opened to the atonement of the savior. I feel that each day my eyes have just slowly been opened to the light and love that it brings. One of the things that I am trying to work on is just simply my love for everything, and I know that it truly is a gift from god to be able to love one another, and to have compassion and charity for others, but I also know that it is so important to have it for if we have it not, "we are nothing."
I know that this is truly the lords true and living Church and I also know that the book of Mormon is a true Witness that the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored. I am so grateful that we are able to go and proclaim this to "every living creature" I know that by living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can live with each other in the lords kingdom, and that the wonderful plan of the living god is that we can live in his kingdom as families.
I love you all and am so thankful for your prayers and your willingness to write and support me here in India. Your all the best.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

July "10 Week 2

2010-07-14T09:47:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!

Well I actually don't have very much time this week because I am GETTING TRANSFERRED!! I will be going to Chennai first branch, I will be leaving on Friday for Chennai, I am pretty excited too, because it will be the biggest area that I will serve in, and the biggest place in the whole mission.
but I will be sending you some pictures with this e-mail, I really hope that you like them, I know that time is less, but I wanted to at least tell you all that I love you and that I' will be giving you more news with everything next week.
I love you and I know that you are all being watched by the lord, I know that The lords plan of Salvation is true, and I know that the savior is the center to the lords plan for us all.

I love you and know that time will pass as it passes, I know that we are all excited to see each other again, but... I STILL HAVE 4 MONTHS!!! I have time to work... I love you and I know I will be seeing you in due time.
love you all so much, Please don't misunderstand my comments, but my whole mission is going home with in 4 months, 42 missionaries are going home in three week intervals, so I just want to be able to focus on the mission.

Love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

July '10 Week 1

2010-07-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

OH MAN YOU HAD WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!!!

AH the fourth of July, I got fed rice and then got sick because of it...
Sounds to me like you all had just quite the amazing week this week, and oh boy was I missing you for the fourth, although I am quite glad that the lord let it fall on a sunday this year, all because he know's of the party that will be happining next year... OH the Fire works. they will be AMAZING!!! almost like Divali here in India.
Wow, sounds like the winds are a changing in life, speaking of the winds, I NEED PICTURES!!! so here is the deal, pics for me, pics for the family!! (mom no worries they will be on the way soon)
Well it sounds to me like you had a lot better of a week so far then I have, I was on lock downs on monday, This means that I could not go out prosalyting for the whole day due to some stupid people thinking that they cant live with a one rupee raise on carrots!!! can you believe it Carrots!!? anyway, that day was terrible!! I thougt I was going to die of cabin Fever. Then the worst... At 5:00 in the morning I woke up due to my body screaming GO TO THE BATHROOM!! and it hasnt stopped since... ahh rice. from that, I have had my week.
other wise I have had a great week, we are working on some sweet families who just already love the gospel, and have already had spiritual experiences, we are really hoping that we can watch them progress towards baptism.
Other then that, not to much has happened here, I am just Fighting the urge to run to the bathroom!!
I do have some other news, WE HAVE A NEW MISSION PRESIDENT!! his name is President Funk. I will be meeting him at the end of this month. So thats really all my news.

Something that I have been thinking about lately is the amazing promise of the book of Mormon, One of the families that we have been teaching we just gave the book of Mormon to, yesterday, and we showed them the Promise that Moroni Gives to all those who read from the book, Moroni 10:3-5 states that all those who read from the book, desiring to know if it is right and true, must ask god. and that if they will do it in faith, and With Real Intent, that means are willing to do what they must to follow it completely, will receive an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost, and that "by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of All things." I know that what god, and Moroni promises is true, and as I have promised this to so many families here in India, I promise this same thing to all those who have, and havent done this yet, and I challenge all of you to do this, read from the book, again, and then pray with a sincere Heart, I know that you will get an answer.
I love you all and hope the best for your week, I know that this is all true. I am praying for all of you and for your well being, I know that god lives and that he loves each and every one of his children.
Love you all
Elder Colton James Frederick

June '10 Week 5

2010-06-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!
Well what a time to prepare for, It sounds like your all getting quite busy with this summer being about to end, ( I know that as soon as you all realize that the summer is here, you'll then realize that its over) I cant believe how fast time is just FLYING BUY!!! I have about a two day week, and that doesn't help that it's Sunday and Wednesday, mostly because those are the days that I realize that the week is just about over.
I actually am shifting my apartment this week, we are shifting to a place in our area, instead of being a 20 minute bus ride now I can walk out of my front door and be in my area. Our apartment is way nice, I really like it.
Well we had quit the week, we have been Finding some REALLY sweet families, they are all just so sweet, We have one family that asks us when we are going to come back all the time, and they all just love what we teach.
I had a neat experience with this family who are Brhaman, (Hindu) they tried to tell us that they pray the exact same way that we do, which we ended up explaining that because they talked to a brick, or a stone that there was no way that they could get the things that they needed. We where really amazed that they actually got down on their knees and prayed to "Heavenly Father" and not just Heavenly god.
We have another family that we are teaching that are from Bangal, (northern india) that are Just AMAZING!! they asked us when we where coming back and also where so excited about the Plan of Salvation that they asked us how they could know that it was true, and then when they prayed they said that where so thankful to god that these two sons came to teach them truth. I am really hopeful about all of these people.
Well I love you all and am just so happy for you all, I know that this is truly the lords church, I can see it in every thing that is done, I am so thankful that the lord lives and loves us, I know that Jesus Christ truly atoned for each of us. I know that God Lives and that he truly did Select Joseph smith To Restore his Gospel. I know that those who devote their lives and talents to him and his bringing about his truth, in families and around the world are all doing the lords work and are bringing to pass the Immortality and Eternal life of man -moses
I love you and am so thankful for your prayers.
Elder Colton James Frederick

June '10 Week 4

2010-06-23T08:44:00.001-07:00

FAMILY!!
well sounds to me like the life and times of good old Mt.Pleasant are going great!!
Just don't forget that the greatest growing comes from the scriptures. I have seen so much more of a change in my self as I have put my nose in the scriptures. I know that the best way to learn is to ask the lord for his help.
well life is good here in good old Vizak, I am really excited to be able to be here and be teaching some of the coolest people. I told all of you about Amar and Saritha, and man things are like pulling teeth with these people, but We think we have found a solution, we are giving them a chapter to read, and then calling them in the morning and giving them questions that they need to look for in the chapter, and then we are following up with them that night. sooo.. hopefully that will get them excited about the scriptures, we are also giving them a tour of the church tonight and then we are taking a great exchange to help give them some help with their 1year old son. who is their excuse for not coming to church.
Well we just had zone conference this last week which was really amazing, and sad at the same time, this was our last one with my mission president. He gave us his advice, and told us about how his family became members of the church. As all of this was said and done, it got me to thinking about my life goals, and about how I really want to have my family raised as members of the church. I Thought alot about how much I really don't have any Idea about what I am going to do with my life, but at the same time I am so excited about how much I get to plan it all out as time goes by.
I love you all, and am so happy for all of you, I hope that you all know that I know that this is truly the lords Gospel restored. I am so happy that you are all living and keeping your lives in the gospel of our lord and savior. I know that he suffered for all of us and I know that it was all out of love for us that the lord created the plan of salvation. I know that this is the greatest work that we could ever do (next to having a family) and I know that if we live the gospel and show the lord the evidence of our faith, that he will give us what we need.
THanks for all that you do!!
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

June '10 Week 3

2010-06-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Hello FAMILY!!!
well thanks for all of the Info! I hope everything goes well with Jess, I will defenetly keep him in my prayers more specifically some times it does take some waiting before the lord has us ready for our new experiences, and sometimes we have to remove things with in and about us before we can do the things that the lord has us do his work.
Well I had quite the experience this last week, we have been teaching this family the Fathers name is Joseph and the wifes name is Hemilata we where teaching them for quite some time, and as I told you last week she was not really sure that they wanted to take baptism, so we started to talk to them again and found that they where not willing to take baptism, even though she new that if she did that she would be able to go into gods Kingdom, if not, she knew the consiquences, and she (Hemilata) said that she understood, but that she just could not do it. I was so sad, all I could do was bear my testimony to her and let them go, It was quite sad, and then the next sunday we also dropped a family who had a baptismal date, but just was not interested to come to church. (I think that I have had my heart broken to many times for these people that I don't even blink anymore, its sad, but I cant get my Emotions in the way, of anything, if you do, you just end up getting hurt. which doesn't help them, No matter what, your Emotions will not get people baptized, Only your sincerity will help them get into the waters of baptism.
Well I am sorry about the cold there, but I am so happy that its getting into the Rainy season here, because It has just been so MISERABLY HOT!!! Oh well, I did Kind of Enjoy it, mostly because I have just really learned Diligence even when its tough. Kind of like that good old saying "when the going gets tough, The tough get going. "
As much as I had my heart broken with those people, I have really enjoyed learning about how we as people gain experience, and how when we gain a testimony we can Enjoy the gospel in our lives and be blessed by its teachings.
I know that the lord lives that he loves each of his children, and that he truly does have our priorities in mind, He has the happines of each of us at heart. I know that god truly loved us so much that that he sent his son Jesus Christ on this earth to atone for our sins.
I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that by reading and following it that our families can truly be blessed. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and spokes man for god. I know that Joseph Smith truly under Direction from god restored the gospel and the priesthood of god to bless each of his children and to teach them how to become like him.
I love you all, and I hope that you all have a great time this week.
To all of you fathers out there, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!
Love, Elder Colton Frederick

Jume '10 Week 2

2010-06-09T12:26:00.001-07:00

Hello Family!!

Sounds to me like there is quite the amount of activities going on there, people coming home from missions, people going on them, people just moving along in life!! I am so glad that you are all good though.
Well life here is good, nothing like killing snakes though. I am just running around like an Elder worried about families who don't seem to want to do anything...Grrr, oh well. we have been working with this family that I have been just so hopeful on, but this last week they went to their families house and the brothers to the wife where scolding the husband and telling him that he was dumb for wanting to be baptized again, and the wife just seems to not care... so right now we are trying to be a little creative and get them to have a spiritual experience so that they can know what the spirit feels like so that they can get an answer... pray hard.. thats what I am doing....
on the other hand, things are pretty normal around here, just trying to learn more and more, I really have enjoyed my companion, he is way cool, and he is teaching me a ton about just being a person, as well as gospel things, I really like the way he does things.
I had quite the learning experience the other day, just about how much the lord really loves his children, and how sad he must feel about the things that go on in life, as I was out walking, I saw something that just made me sick to my stomach, and since that time I have just really felt bad for what the lord puts up with. It makes me want to make sure that I and my family NEVER ever get into those kinds of things. I am so glad that I have been on a mission to learn some of these big lessons, and I am so happy that I have had the people around me to train me how to live and except things in life. It is truly amazing at how much the gospel can truly bless us if we really strive to learn it and follow it in our lives.
Sorry for the rambling on about life.
I am really happy your all enjoying the weather, I think I might die here if it gets any hotter!! I am praying for the rain, so hard that you just want to die... your sweating to death, everything is wet, and you cant even concentrate because your brain is soooo past fried... but its fun, and good for the body!!
well I love you all and am so happy for you all to be doing so well, I hope everything goes well with all of you this week, and I am praying for you, so don't forget it. By the way for all of you snake fighters BE CAREFUL.
I want you all to know how thankful I am that you have been such great examples in my life, I am also thankful for you teaching me so much. I want you all to know that I know that this is truly the lords true and living church. I am so happy that the lord has given us so much, and that he even sent his son to come to the earth for us and our sins to be overcome, all so that we could live with a loving, and living father who wants our happiness.
I know that the book of Mormon is the lords words and that by reading and following it that we can be able to have happier and more loving families.
Thanks for all that you do.
Love Elder Colton Frederick

June '10 Week 1

2010-06-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!!
Well not too much time here, but I did want to tell you a little news!!
So I now have a new Companion, and he is way COOL!! we have been pretty excited to work together, he is from Idaho, his name is Elder Thompson, Its been a lot of fun the last few days, and I have already learned so much from him, things that I never would have thought I could do, but it is soooo much more effective.
We have been working with some really sweet families this week who hopefully we can get baptized, Amar and Saritha where having a tough time understanding the importance of getting an answer, and we also decided that we needed to start from the beginning. So that is what we are doing.
I am sorry this one is a little short, but I am pretty busy this week, I have a few Erends that I need to run, (buying a new Mattress!!!!) Hopefully this will help me sleep better.
I love you all so much an want you all to know that I know that the lord lives, that he loves us, I know that he truly answers prayers. I know that he restored his gospel and did so for us and our families I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god. I know that the prophet Thomas S Monson is the lords Mouthpiece today. I know that the blessings from living a life worthy of a temple recommend and then using it is the best thing that we could ever do. I am amazed at the way that the lord works in such small and simple ways.
I love you all and am so happy that you are all such great examples in my life, I hope and pray for you all every day. I thank you for your love and kindness that you have all given to me.
Love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

Ps. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL THOSE THIS MONTH< YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE>

May '10 Week 4

2010-05-26T09:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Family!!!
Well life is good, I am way happy and really excited about life. I have some sad news, my companion is getting transferred, I am getting someone else, I am a little sad, Elder Lohat has been alot of Fun, and I have really enjoyed his company. My new companion is Elder Thompson
I have had him in my district before, he is a really fun guy, so I am a little excited.
Life has been good, My companion and I are really excited about Amar and Saritha they have accepted a baptismal date, and will be baptized on the 19th of June. We are praying hard for them, I know that they are ready, and will be such a blessing to the church here in India. I am so happy that I have been so blessed with so many wonderful Families here in India that have taught me so much about how I want my family to function, I have seen such a difference in my attitude as I have been with so many great people.
Well not too much news again this week, I am just working on getting people to really read from the book of Mormon, and get their own testimony... sometimes that is the hardest thing to do, that and getting people to church. but when it happens, things just take off like a rocket!!! we have this family that we just met the other day, the brother is a Janitor in a High school and he has two children, since he got married his wife started to have "fits" and has needed care for it, some times she isnt all there Either. About 5 years ago he ran off deciding to leave his family, after sometime he decided that was a big mistake and he came back looking for his family with the Idea of Fixing the problems, he found his daughter in the hospital, his son in an orphanage, and his wife on the road. Since that time he has also lost faith in any church because of how Nasty the Pastors are, and how corrupt they are, so he ended up just not going to any church. We where walking out in the rain and saw the wife and Just knew that we needed to go there. When we did they invited us right in and told us this story, as we shared the restoration they said that they would come to church and wanted us to come back, when we came back we gave them a book of Mormon and the Father has been doing everything that we have asked him, he even came to church on sunday and LOVED IT!! We are going tonight and are hoping to set him with a date.
Well over all it just goes to show that the Lord really does work in small and Simple ways. I know that he is there and loves each of his children, and wants all of them to know about him and his Gospel plan. I know that this is truly the place that peace and love can come, I know that the Lord truly bled and died for you and me. I love him for it. I know that God lives. and I also Know that he has given us his words to read and Learn from so that we can come closer to him.
I love you all and am praying for you. I know that you are all good, and Happy, and I hope the best for all of you as things in life go on.
with all my Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

May '10 Week 3

2010-05-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Family!!
Wow what a week it sounds like your about to have, and that you are having!! I am so happy to hear that your all happy and excited about life!!!
Well You said that you want News, So not too much news, other than I am way excited to get back to work this week, we are going to go and see Brother Amar and Saritha, They have been really trying to progress, Amar came to church but their child is a little sick, and brother Amar's sister is facing some problems with her Husband, he is quite a peice of work, and to top it off it was an aranged marriage, Amar went to the police about him today and they are going to go take him to Jail, (he was just going to go and beat him up, but we talked him out of it)
On a fun note, IT FINALLY RAINED !!!! It has been so hot here that no body could function, and last night it rained and it hasn't stopped since!! and when we woke up this morning my companion and I had to go walking around our area to check out the beauty, I even got a few Pictures, ITS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!!
I am sorry not too much news, I am going to be better next week, I actually have a few apointments today Early, otherwise our work wont get done for the week.
So I want you all to know that I am so thankful for the Emails, I am grateful for the news. and I am really excited for all of you!! espically Kyle YOUR GETTING MARRIED CONGRATS BRO!!!!
I hope that you all know that your in my prayers, and I am really grateful for all that you do, and all that is going on. Please know that your loved from clear across the world, and that I know that your being watched over always.
I know that this truly is the greatest work that we can do, I know that the lord is there and that he truly did send his son on Earth to atone for us, I am so grateful that he has given us families to share this wonderful love and grow together, with. I know that God truly did restore his gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Living Prophet Thomas S Monson is the lords Prophet Seer and Revolator in these last days. I know that This is the Lords gospel, it is his true and living Church. I know that the spirit truly testifies of him and his son. I know that they live and love each and every one of you.

I love you all,

Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

Mother's Note

2010-05-13T08:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry I am a day late. But, with my having surgery yesterday i didn't remember to check this yesterday.

May '10 Week 2

2010-05-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
Too all Mothers out there!!

Hey family!!
It was so nice to hear all of your voices this week, Kind of weird to realize that this was the last time that I will talk to you until I get home.
Well as I just talked to you all recently, not too much has changed, I am happy and really excited to rock the Missionary work, so we (me and the mouse in my pocket) will see you all soon!!
I am happy for all of you that are progressing through life, I want you all to know that I know that your when you are trying to progress, you'll all get the things that you need espically when you focus on the things of the gospel and not the world.
Kyle!! Congrats on next week, I know that you'll be to busy to write next week, but I am so happy for you.
Jess, I am so excited for you, hit me up again with an Email, I miss you and am so happy to hear about your progress, by the sounds of it you are really happy.
I love you all, I know that the lord is watching over all of you, and I know that this is his true and living church. I know that Jesus Is the Christ, that he truly atoned for our sins, I know that he loves us so much that he wants each of our brothers and sisters to know about him and our Heavenly Fathers Gospel plan. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that by following by its precepts we can be closer to god in all things.
I love you all and am so happy for you. Best of luck to you all!!!
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

May '10 Week 1

2010-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hello Family,
Well its very nice to hear from all of you!!
Its really cool to hear that People are leaving for missions, and that calls are coming and people are taking off to lands away from home to serve the lord and to gain growth and knowledge about our lord and savior, all to bring more of our brothers and sisters to the gospel.
I can't tell you all enough how awesome you all are. I have been thinking about how each and every one of you reading this Blog have each touched my life and pushed me to go on a mission, I know that it probably doesn't seem big in your lives, but I know how big it is here in my life. I am so grateful that each of you have been such blessings in my life.
Well I am pretty excited to talk to you all on Sunday, Kind of weird, I feel like I just called you for Christmas yesterday, doesn't really feel like its time to call again, and then soon after that I will be coming home. The lord wasn't kidding when he said that time will fly right by as you concentrate on the work of the lord. Its CRAZY!!
Well not to much has happened this week, I have been pretty excited for peoples mission calls to come, and that people are putting papers in, and then some of you out there are getting married, but are not telling ANYTHING...KYLE!!!!!! what the crap is up bro!! I haven't heard a single thing since I very first got to Vizag, that was 3 months ago, and I know your getting married this month...
well I am also really excited to talk to all of you, I have been thinking about what I am going to say... and I don't have any CLUE, so your all just going to have to think of things that you want to know and ask away, other wise I wont know what to say. I know its going to be cool to hear all of your voices agian.

Well as I said not to much here to say, I know I am just way excited to talk to you all. I am so glad that you have all been such an influence in my life.
I know that this truly is the lords true and living church, I know that the lord answers prayers, he has in the past and he does now today. I know that the lord really does love each of his children, I know that the savior lives and that he truly atoned for our sins, I know that the savior understands that we are not perfect, but that if we work like everything depends upon us, and pray like everything depends upon him, I know that our lives will work out the way that we need. I know that the the Lord truly appeared To Joseph Smith Two hundred years ago, and I know that He restored his gospel, I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that it truly testifies of the lord and savior.
Alma was right when he was speaking to Korihor, Everything denotes that there is a God, that he is Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent, I know that these things that we do are all according to the lords plan as long as we do what he says. I am so happy For the Plan of Salvation.
I love you all, and am excited to talk to you all this sunday.
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

April '10 Week 4

2010-04-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

Family!!!
Well life is going Pretty good here in good old India!
JESS YOUR A FREAKING STUD!! I am so excited for you!!!, You have to tell me when you get your call, I know how strange it is when you actually put your papers in, but I promise that it will be the most rewarding choice that you ever make in your entire life, and that goes for all of those who are putting their papers in and are receiving calls very soon, (you know who you are)
Well A big congrats to BRIGHAM!! I am so happy for him, thats great!!
Okay well not to much is going on here, We just had Zone Conference, It was one of the best That I have ever been too, I was really able to see how much we have been working, and I was able to have a great Interview with president Nichols, I love him so much. I sometimes wish that I could sit at his feet and just watch what he does and learn from him.
Highlight to all of my Uncles, I just want you to know how much I really love all of you, you have each helped me in my life, and on my mission, I have been able to see your love and your small teachings in my life have been there so that I could be able to learn and grow. you have been such a grate insperation in my life, and I aspire to become just like Each and every one of you, I love you all, and am just so happy that you have put the gospel into your lives and your families, Please remember how important it is and don't forget the wonderful examples that you have put and been in my life. There are a lot of Missionaries here that want to meet you all. I also want you to know that the work that you did with me is being rewarded 7 fold if not more, your example has been a blessing in my life.
I don't have any news lately I am doing pretty good, and I am really happy, working with my Companion has gotten really good, and we are starting to see a lot of success, we just recently had 2 baptisms, and we are planning on setting a couple of Awesome Families Today if not tomorrow, I really pray that they know how much this gospel can truly bless their family.
I love you all and am so happy to know that you are all striving hard to live the gospel. I know that this is the lords true and living church, I know that it was restored along with the gospel 200 years ago, I know that Joseph Smith truly Saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I know that Thomas S. Monson is his living successor and that he holds the keys to lead and guide this church in these tough, and trying days, But I also know that as we all try to live the gospel and we put forth our effort to read the scriptures and gain a relationship with our heavenly father that we can be saved from sadness and sin. I am grateful for a living and loving savior. I know that the lord has given us a divine witness to know his plan for us, and I know that its the word of God. The book of Mormon has been truly writen for us in this day.
I love you all and am so happy for you I am praying for you all.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

April '10 Week 3

2010-04-21T08:53:00.000-07:00

HOLA FAMILY!
Well Things are great here, mom it sounds like you had a good time at Conclave, I am really happy that was fun, but I am sorry about the Gopher, at least its not one of the Rats here in India, they are as big as house cats, I almost kicked one the other day that was trying to get into our gate at home, but it ran away!! they are NASTY!! sometimes I wish I had a hand gun and I could just POP them as we drive down the road.
Hey so I Have a cool experience that happened this week, as we where out "Finding" and just Knocking on doors, it was about 8:15 and we had a half an hour to travel to get into our apartment, we also had just been canceled on, so we thought we would go and see a family that we had met a while back, but as we where walking down the road, we noticed that we where too far from there house, and that it was behind us, but as we where talking about it, we felt like we should just keep walking and searching, and all of a sudden this brother starts talking to us, we offer to share our message with him, and he invites us to his home. When we got to his home, we found out that his wife had studied in a Christian school, Her husband was hindu, but he was very interested in hearing about how his family could learn to be happier, and he wanted a way to raise his children in a proper way so that they would not end up like everybody else. As we sat down with them we shared about prayer, and Sister Lila (the mother) just started to ask some really good questions, so we offered to come back later and answer them. The next time that we came they had had Family prayer every night, and where really excited to ask their questions, which where about how they could get an answer to their prayers, and who was the Holy Ghost, and why was he so important, and then they asked the Most Important Question... why is your church different from all of the rest? and it was so great, we just unfolded the restoration on them, and they where so happy, and excited, they even asked us for a book of Mormon before we could give it to them. The spirit was just so strong with them, so we are really praying hard for them. They are so awesome!.. well I am glad to hear the your doing good, just take care of your selves, I know life gets tuff, but I promise that its worth it.
I know that the lord lives and I know that his son Jesus Christ Atoned for our sins, that he was resurrected and that he and Our heavenly father appeared to Joseph smith 200 years ago. I know that the truest happiness is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that through the Wonderful plan of our Heavenly father we can be together for Eternity as we work out our own salvation. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god. I know that the lord has called and chosen Living servants today. I am so grateful that we are able to listen to his words today.
I love you all and am always praying for you.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

April '10 Week 2

2010-04-14T09:16:00.000-07:00

Family!!
hey thats great!! you just sound so BUSY with EVERTHING!! Hey Tell everyone at conclave that I said HELLO!!! I miss everybody, I have been thinking about all of the fun things at scout activities.
HOLY COW CONFERENCE WAS AWSOME!! I completley loved it, it was one of the funnest ones that I have heard, I think that the Lord wants us all to know how much he loves us, and how much we need the priesthood, and the gospel in our lives, espically after sunday mornings session from Pres. Monson, it was AMAZING, I was just really blown away by the spirit.
SO my questions where a little Vague, so my answer was vague, so, its about time I just get specific about all of my questions, oh well that's what I get for doing my own thinking with out enough thought. good old me.. I just have a hard time asking the right questions for my self.
Mom I think its funny that you bring up the way that we change, I am so grateful that I have seen the Kind of people that I want to hang out with, and the kind of people that I should seek to be with, sister Beck answered that question with out me even asking she said " women(and men) should be women, not babes that need to be constantly petted to keep them happy." I Like that, I need to just plain surround myself with people who rise up to their best and want to teach by example. People who just want to push each other in the right way towards a righteous goal. Thats what I am looking for when I go home, Righteous friends.
Oooo... Tell the Spencers I am praying for them, and send them my love, I really love them, they are just absolutely an amazing family. I know that times get tough, but I also know that the lord gives us these Infirmities to strengthen us.
Well, not too much happened this week, I am just blown away at how much, and how fast the time flys by, I know its just part of the lords time and plan, but I just cant believe the speed that things like time goes out the door, I was just thinking about how it feels like I was just sitting down to Email you all last week. Oh well that's life I guess.
I love you all and am praying for you all, I miss you, but am happy to be doing the lords work here in India, I know that this is the place that I need to be, I am so grateful the lord has called me to be here to help these wonderful people. I know that this is the lord true and living church, I know that the Savior lives, that he atoned for our sins, I also know that he restored his church by selecting a living prophet. I know that the power that he sent back on this earth through Peter James, and John, is the power that can truly bless all of our families. I am so happy that we have the ability to hold this power as we strive to stay worthy and live the way what we should.
I love you all, and am so happy for you all I know that your being watched over.
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

April '10 Week 1

2010-04-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

FAMILY!!!!
I hope you all enjoyed Conference, I am so excited for it, I get to see it THis week, I have questions that I am hoping get answered, I hear that it was really fun... I don't know how that works, but I am looking forward to it.
Wow, you all sound so busy, some are preparing for the end of semesters, some for marriage, some for Events, and some for just everything else, I am praying for you all, and I am hoping for the best in all that you all do. That is so exciting about everything that is going on. I have thought about you all a bit this week. Its crazy that your all just moving on, some times its a little weird as I sit here and progress only with my Investigators and not in life, but I am just so glad that its the lords work that I am doing and not my own, I think I would go nuts!!
Well I have a cool story for you this week, on Sunday we had an appointment with this family that has been having troubles, the husband and wife are fighting and they have been starting to really get torn apart, he finally received a testimony of the book of Mormon, and then he started to come to church, and she wasn't happy. So this week we decided to take the Branch president and his wife, but they called us and told us that they were not able to go, and that they wanted to send another couple, so they sent brother Sunil and Sister Nazreena, they where really happy to come, but when we got to David and Hephzibah's, Sister Hephzibah was so angry that she went into the other room, and sister Nazreena went in after her, we had a great lesson about the atonement with brother David, and as we needed to go, they stayed with the family, when we got home, we called brother Sunil and he told us that they had just left brother Davids home, and that the family was laughing and smiling when they left. We called brother david and he told us that he needed to pay his tithing, and that he wants his whole family to be baptised, they just need to wait for sister to come to church. They are so happy!! It was so Amazing.
I cant Imagine my life without the gospel and I am so Happy that the lord cares about us so much that he has given his son Jesus Christ, all so that we could be able to Live with our families in the next life. I know with all of my heart that this is the lords true and living chruch, I know that by living the restored Gospel, and by following a Living prophet that we can truly live in love with each other. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and that it is the only way to reach the Kingdom of god. I hope you all know that I Love you and that your all in my prayers.
I love you all so much,
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

Colton '10 Week 5

2010-03-31T07:25:00.000-07:00

Hello Family,

Oh man your in Cali !!! I wish,
Well that is cool about Garadilli, but its just plain not cool that your telling while I am just dieing for some kind of Chocolate that is not form India. not that its not good or anything, but there is nothing like Chocolate from America.
So I have a funny story for you, So my A/C froze the other day, and I was trying to fix it and then it just randomly stopped working, and sunday was the next day, so I didnt want to call a Repair man to come while I was at chruch, and since it was sunday, well you get the point, so I and my companion ended up sleeping with out an AC for TWO DAYS !!! It wasnt really sleeping, I thought I was going to die, I sweat all night long, and when I woke up There was a pool of sweat on my bed where I had been lying, when I finally had the Idea to sleep on the marble floor thinking "oh that has to be cooler" NO CHANCE it was hot to!! but then when we called the repair man he came, looked at it, and went out side, and then came back it and it was working, I looked at him and said "what happened?
He said "the breaker was switched off I just about KICKED MY SELF, I suffered Two days because I forgot about the breaker switch, stupid me.
Oh well, life is good though, we are really working hard, and praying for some new Investigators, we have been having a hard time getting new People to teach.
By the way McKenzie Thanks for the Invitation, it came this week, You look Great together!!
Well time is less, but I am so happy for all of you, I hope that you all know that I love you all, and am just so grateful to call you all mine.
I know that this church is true, and that Joseph Smith truly was called of God to restore his Gospel, I know that by living it and abiding by its Preepts that we can enter into Gods kingdom. I know that the Prophet Thomas S. Monson is the lords Chosen Seer and Revolator today, I am so excited to hear from them Very soon, and listen to the words that the lord is going to tell us through his chosen Servents. I love you all, and am so grateful for all of you, and the Lords Master plan for each and Every one of us.
I love you all, and am so grateful that the lord is watching over you, I feel you prayers Ever day Thank you so much.
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

March '10 Week 4

2010-03-24T08:49:00.000-07:00

MOM!!!! FAMILY!!! WARD!!!
OH man thank The lord for another day.
Well life is going well, we are really working hard, I have been on exchange with the zone Leaders, The assistants and my district leader almost every other day, and just learned a ton. I have been pretty happy, we are really working on setting people for baptism. We are also working on resolving concerns latley. Its been really fun.
WOW your going to Cali? that's cool, while your there you should go and see Frankie, I know he would love to see you. You had better send some pictures. I would love to see what it looks like.
Its getting warm there huh? Ya well, its just getting hotter here, I think its true there is three different Temperatures here, HOT, HOTTER, and HOLY &$^# ITS HOT!!!
I do have one cool story to tell you this week, My zone leader and I where on exchange, and we went to see this brother that comes to church every week, but tells us every time we come that if we talk about baptism that its better for us to not waste our time. But when we when we asked him If he believes that the book of Mormon is true, (he is reading it Daily) and if he has asked god if it was true.
As we sat down with him we asked him and he said that he didn't have the guts to ask god, we asked him why. he told us that he didn't want to bother him with little things. My zone leader and I laughed a little and said " brother I know that your not bothering god, he wants you to ask him if this is true." so after a little time we committed him to pray and ask God. I told him that We would call him in the morning, and he said okay. I prayed so hard, I just wanted him to receive an answer, but the magic happened the next morning, I called him at 8 and as I talked to him, I said "brother Narayan Raj, did you get an answer? " He was so excited he said " brother, I got an answer Last night. As I was praying I had the reoccurring sentence come into my head ' as much as you love me the book is true' " Meaning that as much as I love you the book is true the book is true - needed some translation there- I was just so happy that he he had received an answer that I started to cry and was just so happy for him, I just think that its truly amazing that the lord works and does unexpected things every time.
By the way, I have an odd question Hows uncle Eph? Just was thinking about him the other day, Tell him I said hi, and that I asked about him.
well mom thanks for the advice, I will work on that, sometimes it just takes a little humility on my part but when we care the lord makes things easy.
so you said more newsier, I am not exactly sure what you want to know other that at the moment I want to Kill all of these kids in my Email room, there are about 10 of them and all of them are yelling at the top of their lungs in Telagu, and playing computer games. oh well Kids will be kids.
I want you all to know how much I love you all, and am so grateful that you all are taking care, I pray for you daily. I know that the lord is watching over you.
I also know that this is the true church of the lord and savior Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly father lives and that he loves each and every one of us, I also know that he did Select another prophet for us in this Dispensation so that we could know who he is. I know that the book of Mormon is true, and that it was written for us, and that by living its precepts that we can receive the revelation that we need to continue on in life, I also know that Jesus Christ Lives and that he Atoned for our sins, I Know that his living Servant Thomas S Monson is his True and Living prophet, I know that he is truly there to help us know what god wants for us.
I love you all and am so happy that your all safe.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

March '10 Week 3

2010-03-17T08:45:00.001-07:00

Hello Family!!!
well I am glad to hear that your busy mom, it sounds like EVERY BODY was busy this week, in between getting married, and arranging marriages, to just plain having fun.
Well, life is good here, just trying to stay sane when it comes to dealing with those who don't really want to be Delt with. got to love those that you stay with all day every day.
Well life is good here in India, I am loving good old Vizag, its absolutely amazing, there are just so many people who are ready and need the gospel in their lives right now. we just found a family who when we started to teach about how the gospel blesses Families the wife just started to cry and say how happy she was that even though she had an arranged marriage, how grateful she was to have such a great husband. Someone who would help her children to grow and have a great roll model to watch and follow. They where so happy to have us that they wanted us to come as soon as possible, they are a grate family, I really pray that we can help them to truly receive the restored gospel.
So not to much this week, I am just glad to see that everyone is happy and ready to stay busy, never thought that I would say it, but I hope that I die being busy.
I just want you all to know that I love you and how grateful I am to have such a grate family who is willing to work hard at living the gospel.
I know that this is the true church, the Church of Jesus Christ, and I continue to have my testimony grow every time I talk to people who don't know what it is that they want in life, or what they are truly doing here, I know that God truly has a plan for each of us, and I know that when we listen to his council and we search the scriptures, I know that the holy Ghost is truly able to speak to us, and that buy his guidance we can truly attain the level of perfection that we can become. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon, and its Divine coming forth, I am grateful for a living prophet who is able to speak with our heavenly Father and tell us exactly what we need.
I love you all, and am so happy to call you all mine.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

March '10 Week 2

2010-03-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

HELLO FAMILY!!
WOW, mom tons of questions this week.
Life is good, I really liked zone conference, it was really great, I loved it. we had Elder Perkens come and talk to us, he is the Area authority. I learned a ton.
So I am loving my area, its great, I have some absolutely amazing pictures of the ocean and the mountains in the back ground of an apartment complex that my companion and I where finding in. (I will try to send them soon.)
Ummm... I am still running, and It just feeling great, I am feeling so good, Now all I need to do is get some dum bells, then I can work on my 6 months to sexy... Who said that?
Hey Brigham! CONGRATS!!! man that is so awsome! I am so excited for you, I hope that you put your whole heart into every moment, I know that is what has made me be so happy with the work that I have done, its truly the best thing that I have ever done.
Hey mom, sounds to me like your just working so great and hard, I am happy for you, I think that I will have to feel like that when I go home, otherwise I might go crazy, I cant sit for very long, I start to get restless, even in church, I want to be doing something other than fighting sleep because its all in Telugu.
Well I havent really had much of amazing experiences lately, I have just been studying and applying what I am learning into my teaching, I keep finding grater and better ways to teach. Espically with my new companion, he is great, he is a really hard worker, and he knows what he is doing, I like him because he is native and he understands the craziness here, so is fun
Just want to tell you all that I love you all so much, I am so grateful to all of you for teaching me and helping me become what and who I am today. I know that the lord will bless you for it. A shout out to all of my wonderful uncles who have taught me so much, I look up to you all, and hope that you know it. You are all such great fathers, I am so happy to call you mine. you have each taught me something that I can use the rest of my life. I bore my testimony about you in zone conference this week.
I love you all, and am so grateful for all that you do, I know that this gospel has truly blessed our family and I am so happy that we are able to follow the saviors example and learn about his atonement and apply it into our lives and into our relationships, I know that as we do so, that we are able to come closer to our gracious Heavenly fathers presence again, I am so grateful for a living prophet who leads and guides this church, I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, I am so glad that Mormon was able to see us and what we need, I am so grateful for the Gospel and the Priesthood being restored by the prophet Joseph Smith, I know that he Saw the lord and his beloved son. I am so grateful for the whisperings of the spirit. I know that he speaks to us if we are truly living worthy of this companionship. I know that the savior lives and that he truly did atone for our sins, I am so happy that he did such so that we could return and live with him and our families again. For those who are going to be going to the temple soon, I know that this is truly one of the greatest blessings that you could ever have I Exhort you to contemplate the things and the blessings that you receive there, and for your future family, I am so gratefull for a loving Father in heaven who cares enough for us as to give us the power on this earth to become families for Eternity.
I love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

March '10 Week 1

2010-03-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

Well an Absulutly Good Morning to you all,
Life here is grate, I am just loving the Heat, and the beauty of Vizag.
Wow, the Trade-O-ree, huh? man I miss that stuff, Making me think of it, excites me, I am excited to get back and do that again.
Hey it sounds to me like you had an amazing Conference I like what you learned mom, I think it truly is amazing at how much we can learn at church and at Conferences at church, sometimes I think, "I don't need to learn anything else" but then I find that I cant say that because I am just a young guy serving the lord, its always fun to learn though, I tend to also just wish that I could just use osmosis and put the whole standard works and Preach my Gospel into my head. oh well what can do.
Hey mom, I am sorry to hear about your friend, that is sad. Espically that his sons weren't happy, I am also glad to know that the lord is truly there for us, and I am so glad that the savior lived and died for us.
I really don't have much to tell this week, other then I will be in Hyderabad next week, I have zone conference next week, and a general authority will be coming, I think its the first councilor in the Asian area presidency, but I am not sure. We will see.
I am so glad that we have so many things to learn from in our lives, weather it be a mission, just life, getting married, having children, gaining new friends, or just watching people go about their lives. I know that the greatest thing that keeps us all learning is the gospel,
( Im sorry I can't really concentrate I have a whole bunch of Kids playing shooting games on the computer and the volume is clear up.)
I Know that the savior lives, that he loves us, and that he truly atoned for our sins, I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and I know that the only true progression is by following by its precepts, I Know that the lord truly does provide a way for us to keep his commandments, I have seen is so much here in a land that is so totally based on the world. I know that the spirit is truly there to teach and testify to us that our Heavenly Father lives, that he loves us, and that he wants us to learn of him,
I know that his chosen Prophet was Joseph smith and that he was directed by the savior and by the lord to restore his church. I know that the living prophet is Thomas S. Monson.
I love you all and am so happy to know that you are all watched over by the lord, I am so thankful for your prayers.
once again thanks for all that you have all done,
Mckinzie!!! Congratulations once again, I love you and am so happy for you.
Family thank you all for your patience.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

February '10 Week 4

2010-02-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

HELLO FROM VISAG!!!
and India
So yes Vizag is above Rajahmundry, this is where I would sometimes go to Zone Conference, its really beautiful here, there are some "mountains" here, and its also right next to the Ocean, My area doesn't go to the beach, but My district leaders does, so I am lucky to go and Check that out, I will probably go today.
Holy Cow, thats a freaking sweet car, I am excited to check that out when I get home!!
So to answer Grandma, I didnt Eat much, and if I did it was Chapathi's, Rice, or Raggi Ball, and LOTS of Veg curry, By the end I was eating plain Peanut butter for Protein, and I was lucky to get that, I had to buy it Banglaore, or have my District leader bring it, I was pretty happy about the change of food, I had a Grilled chicken sandwich yesterday that was absolutely AMAZING!! and it wasn't even all that big, but it was still Tasty. (my mouth is watering about your soup)
Oh man I wish it was 40 degrees here, I am dieing from the heat and Humidity, and sweating my guts out is just so much fun. I just love it when I come home and I can wring out my tie and sweat drips out like a wet wash rag.
Something fun though I am starting to go running with my new companion, and I can defenitly tell that I havent been running in a LONG time. but I am excited because I feel really grate.
Well not to much to tell this week, but I am really so happy to be here in Vizag, its such a grate branch, and the Energy here is awesome, I love it so much, I am so excited to be able to be in a new branch, and just learn how to use a branch that is so in love with Missionary work.
Its been so grate to learn in KGF, and now I am so happy to learn about a city the missionary work is the same, but its faster here, sometimes, but I love every minuet of it. and espically my new Companion, hes grate, he is from Dehli and he is almost more American than I am its pretty funny. His name is Elder Lohat, He is awesome.
Well I want you all to know that I am so happy to be here, and I am so grateful to be doing the lords work, I love you all, I know that this is the lords true and living church, and I am so grateful that he sent his son Jesus Christ to Atone for us, I know that he did that so that we could learn and live the gospel, I Know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that it was truly written for us in these latter days. I Know that the Prophet Joseph smith Truly did translate those ancient records, I know that He was called of god to restore he gospel.
I know that Thomas S. Monson is the true and Living Prophet.
I love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

February '10 Week 3

2010-02-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

HELLO FAMILY!!
Well life is good here in good old India, Mom THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!
I loved it, I actually got it on Thursday last week, so you know how it is.
So I have some news for you all, I'AM LEAVING KGF!!!! I will be flying to VISACK!! I will be in the second branch there, SO I am pretty excited, but sad to leave good ol' KGF.
Oh man, Matt and Molly Congrats!! that's Awesome I am so happy for you guys, it will be sweet to come and meet more members of the family!!
Thats funny about Christian, she sounds like quite the little rascle ;) J/k man I miss all of you guys, it sounds like things are just crusing along at home. By the way what kind of Car did Matt and Molly get??? I didnt even know that they bought one. thats great!!
Mom, you had better be careful about your shoulder, no more dancing with that guy. I dont want you hurt.
Oh man, Scouting on the district level, thats going to be wierd, But I would love to do it, I hope that can happen, I miss it tons, espically just being out there and being at camp, I miss it. oh well, just going to have to wait and see what happens when I get home.
Well not to much has been going on around here in KGF the only thing is my transfer, I will be leaving on friday. I got the call last friday, I was sitting there planning in the dark ( as usual latley) and all of a sudden My companion gets a phone call and starts to talk to our assistant, and says " yah hold on a sec, hes right here" he hands me the phone and I answer, and Elder Mehan says "hey Elder Frederick, I have some news for you" I said " Let me guess" and he said " I have to 'Kick you out' of KGF" I knew it was coming, but my heart kind of droped for a minuete. Any way he said, " So I am sending you to Visack second Branch."
I was happy for the call, but I was pretty sad about it too, I have spent a long time here, and had a lot of learning experiences, but I am also way excited because I will be in a city and there will be FOOD!! Thank the lord!! I am pretty happy though, I liked visack when I was there for Zone confrence, So iam pretty happy.
Well just want you to all know that I love you so much, and I am glad to hear that life is still going great, I know that the lord is watching over you all, and I am praying for you as well.
I know that this church is the lords church on the earth, and I am so glad that the lord has chosen us to come into this world at this time and in this Generation, I Know that my savior lives, and that he truly atoned for our sins, I also know that through him we are able to reach our father in heavens Kingdom again. I know that the Book of Mormon is the lords word, and that it was truly written for us in this day and age. I know that the prophet Joseph Smith was a true Prophet, and that he was truly called of god to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth. I know that all of his successors where all selected by God, and that Thomas S. Monson is the lords Chosen Prophet today. I know that the lord truly does do things by small and simle means, but I know that through them great things are truly brought to pass.
I love you all,
Elder Colton James Frederick

February '10 Week 2

2010-02-11T09:33:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!!
Well I have some interesting news, I now have a new Email Address which is made by the church, its colton.frederick@myldsmail.net the church is starting to do a new website for us because the other one was JUNK!!
well life here is pretty good, I am loving life as always, I have been pretty happy, we got Vicky Confirmed on sunday, and we are just excited for him, he will be receiving a calling this next sunday! we are pretty happy for him. Vicky is a great Kid, he is more American than most people think or wish they where, he likes to listen to English music, and he plays video games, and he has a skateboard (that is because he met Elder Riley) but he just is really western then most people here, its kind of weird because he lives in KGF.
HOLY COW!! the super bowl happend already? oh my gosh! thats really wierd, But hey I heard that the saints won so thats pretty cool. (not like I know anything about Football)
AH man another family party! holy cow... thats weird, I miss you guys, its been pretty funny latley though I have been telling alot of stories to my companion about you. He thinks your all nuts... Okay thats me included in that family buisness.
Oh man I am so excited for Matt and Molly, I am happy to hear that your getting that all done, I am stoked for you guys!! Its going to be cool to see all of you and some of you for the first time. I am just happy to hear that the family is getting bigger and bigger. I think its cool to watch the family grow more.
Okay so I have a funny story, So My companion started to notice that all of the local shops have been putting out a TON of watermellon, and CORN!! so we bought a bag of corn, and 2 watermellons, and then my companion had the brilliant Idea to put lemon on the watermellon, so we cut it up and put the watermellon in a bowl, and took a couple of lemons and squeezed them all over the Mellon, My companion and I just about died and went to heaven, it was the best thing I have had In a long time, so now we are on a bit of a fruit frenzy, I think we have had watermellon and Lemons every night for the last week, and then on sunday we cooked the corn, which, even though it was the size of Feed corn, it was absulutly DEVINE!!! I was just loving life, I hadnt had corn since I was at home. IT WAS SO GOOD!! (thats what happens when your stuck in a villages for 14 months.)
Well as I said, life is good here, I am just loving life, working hard and setting people for baptism, my companion and I are planning on setting a couple more people with a date this week, that will make 6 poeple with a date!! we are way happy, four are families, and two will be an elderly Genelman, and a sister that is in a part memeber family.
I love you all, and I am so happy to know that your all doing well.
I know that this truly is the greatest blessing that the lord can give to us is to help his children recive the gospel, I am so grateful for the gospel taught in our family, I know that the gospel was truly desingnd for families, so that we can be with our families in the life after this one. I am so gratefull that the lord has sent his son to this earth to take upon himself our sins, all so that we could come back and live with him agian. I know that he restored the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I know that Thomas S. Monson is the lords Mouthpeice today, I am so gratefull that the lord would give us another tesiment of his Son Jesus Christ, so that we could know of His Infinant Atonement, I am so gratefull for that and the teachings of living propthet. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that by reading it we can reach the closest to our Father in Heaven.
I love you all and am so gratefull for all of your prayers.
Love always
Elder Colton Frederick

February '10 Week 1

2010-02-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

HEllo FAMILY!!!
Oh man that is sweet about Amelia!! and Rod and Judy!! that's so cool, I am so excited to hear about that, I cant wait to hear about how much fun their having!!
Mom, I have been thinking about the Family history stuff, I am so glad that you have the Patience to do that, your in my prayers, I probably would have thrown the computer!! just Kidding! But good luck, I am kind of interested to see how it works more when I get home because no one hear even remembers their own birthday! let alone their parents or grandparents. I think that it would be interesting to check that out.
Well mom, I wish that I could send you a little sunshine from India, but one ray would probably cause an instant Melt!! its getting hot again, good old weather in India.
Klynton!! hey bro, good luck with the snowboarding stuff, I hope that your rocking the 720's when I get home!! then you have to teach me!!!
Well I am glad to hear that all of you are doing great, I am just trying to Rock KGF!! we just set two more people with baptism for the 27th of February. Its a father and a daughter, they are way awesome we really feel good about them, they are a part member family who are just so happy that we are coming and teaching!!!
Well there isnt really any funny stories this week, just trying to get back to work after Zone Conference, and a baptism, one neat thing though is we are going to start to try to do Baptisms on Saturday instead of Sundays after church, so hopefully it will go through and we can start to have more spiritual baptisms!
Its kind of interesting at how a days studies and how a day can be centered on one thing all day, something that has been really focused on for me the last little while is keeping our heads high and focused on the lords kingdom, in speaking about goals, we need to focus on the things that we want, and keep working for it, sometimes things make us look down from our goal, and we start to lose track of it, so for all of us, just keep your heads high, and focused on your goal of the Celestial kingdom, and don't loose sight on that goal, I know that's a bit easier said then done, but I know it works.
I love you all and I am so grateful for all of you and your help in bringing me up to the person I am now, I know that the lord is watching over all of you and he wants to help you.
I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves each one of you, I know that he truly atoned for our sins, and that he did that so that we could come back and live with him in our Heavenly fathers Kingdom. I know with out a doubt that "By small and simple things, great things come to pass" I know that Joseph Smith was Selected by God to restore his True and living Church, and that it is being led today by a Living a Righteous Prophet who is supported by twelve living Apostles.
I know that this is the lords true church and that it is truly built upon the strongest foundation that could ever be built, I also know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that by reading it we can receive true and real revelation for our own lives.
I love you all and am so glad that you all are doing well, your all in my prayers
Love,

Elder Colton James Frederick

January '10 Week 4

2010-01-27T09:06:00.000-08:00

MOM, FAMILY, EVERYONE!!!
HELLO FROM INDIA!!!
Oh man it just sounds like your all just loving life, I am so glad to hear about Carl and Priam, tell them CONGRATULATIONS!! thats awsome, I wish that the branch here had some of the members of the chruch there, Its just a complete differance here than at home, its crazy, but I love it. Its kind of interesting to see how a branch works on the inside, and a ward, being all caught up in the middle of it, I am just amazed at how it truly is the lords church, the people that are put into a position to change thier lives and to change others, it puts a bit of a fire under me to want to go home and help the ward, (interesting thing, but 2 years ago, I dont think I would have EVER wanted those words to come out of my mouth) I am just so gratefull to be a missionary for the lord!!
Well We just had Zone Confrence, and so we are here in good old banglaore, AGAIN!! man I swear I am here for something or other all the freaking time, but as they say here " what can do?"
So a funny story for you all, last week my companion and I came to Bangalore for his (my companions ) wisdom tooth, he had been having the top Left one growing in, (before his mission his dentist said that his top ones would not have to be removed) the tooth was hurting his mouth so bad that he could barly eat rice( thats a bad thing) and so we ended up going to a dentist here in Banglaore, whow supposedly was one of the best dentists in India. well as we walked in the doctor took us right in and sat Elder Riley down, and started to look in his mouth, and anounces " Yep, thats going to have to be removed" and were thinking "...DUH!! thats why were here" and so he gives my companion some novocane, and when my companion asks for Nitrus, he says, and I quote " Oh its okay your a tough guy" so we are just kind of thinking that he is just going to work on him with just novocane... we where right... the doctor starts to let the novocane work and starts to just talk to us, and my companions speach starts to slur. so all of a sudden he tells Elder Riley to sit back and to relax, so of course he sits back and opens his mouth, the next thing I see is the doctor grab a tool about the size around as a pencil, and stab my companion in the mouth, standing in a forward stance, and then I see blood come out of Elder Rileys mouth and go onto the Bib he was wearing and onto his chin. Then all of a sudden he grabs a tool that is the same size as a small pair of Hedge Clippers, the ones that you can use in one hand, and about as long, and all of a sudden yank realy hard to whare I hear a pop. and then I hear " okay your done." he stuck some cotten in there, and said "okay so you can go and have a seat over there. and points to the chair next to me. we paid and then got his drugs and left, we wer'nt in there for more that 20 minuets, and that is the time for us to walk in and out... My companion and I just Cringe everytime we think about it.
well that's about it, we are really working hard here in good old KGF, and we are seeing alot of changes happen in our Investigators, Thank you all so much for your prayers, Thier comming true.
I love you all so much, and I really am so gratefull for all of your prayers, I know that the lord lives and I know that he is watching over all of us, I know that the savoir Jesus Christ truly was our Greatest Example, I know that He Atoned for our sins, that we could strive daily to become like Him. I know that the God and Jesus Christ Truly apeared to an obscure boy, 200 years ago, I know that by and through him The lords chruch was Restored to teach us the gospel, I know that Thomas S. Monson is the True and living Prophet, and that his 12 apostals are called of God. I know that the book of Mormon is the lords words for us to follow in these last days. I Know that the lord hears and answers prayers, and that his will is done when we are following and Listining to his spirit, I love you all so much, and am so gratefull for your help.

Love always,
Elder Colton Frederick

January '10 Week 3

2010-01-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!!!

Well I am doing pretty good, I am just loving life, in good old Incredible India!! Its strange to think that this isn't home, I just keep thinking about how much I love this place and the people, Even with all of the funny things that they do, I almost cant imagine life anywhere else. I feel like all I have ever known was here in India, weird how that works.
AMY DID WHAT?!?!?!?! I cant believe it, I would have never guessed it, but then again, I haven't heard from her since before I left. Send Tom and Lori my love, I will keep all of this in my prayers. Shes lucky she doesn't live in India, she would probably be killed Literally. The people have it in their culture that you have your marriage arranged, weather it be arranged or love, usually there is some kind of Parental involvement, if not their cut off from ALL family Ties, I think its stupid to arrange a marriage, but at least have some sort of parental agreement, that's Nuts!! Oh well, all we can do is just pray for her, kind of interesting at how people can take Agency to a new Extreme on both ends of the spectrum... Just know that I love you Tom and Lori.
well I Have some pretty sweet news, Vicky's parents are FINALLY letting him get baptized!!! I cant tell you how much we have been working on getting him there. Elders found him In December of 2008 and since that time he has been coming to church, so finally we sat down with him and finally got permission to get him baptized, we sat down with his parents and the branch president, and talked about it, and they said that it was his choice. and his choice was a really big YES!!! we are way excited, he is scheduled to get baptized on the 31 of January... Its about time!!
we also have two more baptisms coming up in February so pretty soon I hope. They are a couple of Children to a family that we have been meeting with for about two months now, and their parents have said that it was okay, so now we are trying to work on the parents, but there is a bit of an English problem, means there is no English.
I am glad to here that things are Okay, I am praying for all of you, and just glad to hear from you all, its always nice to hear from all of you.
I want you all to know that I love you all, and I know that you are all being watched over, I know that the lord does everything with a purpose, I know that with every trial there is a blessing, and with every blessing there is more desire to live with our father in heaven. I know that this is the lords true and living church, I know that the lord has restored it through his servant the prophet Joseph Smith, I know with out any doubt in my mind that the book of Mormon is the word of god, I have been able to feel the lords spirit whisper to me that it is true. I know that there is no other way to reach the kingdom of god other than through the savior Jesus Christ, I know that he lives and loves each and every one of you, and he is always there to " comfort the meek and lowly of heart." I have no doubt that the prophet Thomas S. Monson is the lords true and living prophet, seer and Revelator in these last days, I know that his living twelve apostles are called of god. I know that the lord lives and loves each of us, and is listening to your prayers. I love you all and am so happy to call you all my family and friends.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

January Week 2

2010-01-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

HELLO FAMILY!!!
Holy Cow its Wednesday already!?!?!?! Oh man I almost cant believe it, things are just going buy so freaking fast, I cant even count the day's that pass, my companion where talking about time and how long we had been companions, and all of a sudden we noticed that it had been 3 months!!, we where both laughing because it sure didnt feel like it.
Mom by the sound of it, your probably right, the houses that you taught it and these are probably the same size, there is one member family that lives in a "house" about the size of my bed room in length, and there are 9 children, let alone the 2 parents, its pretty crazy, they all are just so nice though, and so loving, I am amazed every time I go there.
Oh man you are killing me with the Frozen Custard, I miss American Ice Cream so bad... don't get me wrong, I love the Ice cream here, but it just is nothing like home.
WOW!! Frank, and Mickie are going to go on missions here pretty soon huh?? THAT'S SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!! tell them Congrats!!!
Man mom, sounds like that Family History stuff is really taking off more and more, I Keep praying that you find Every one, I never realized how important it is to have a Genealogy until I came to India... Lets just say no one knows birthdays around here.
Hey the bishop Came for dinner huh? that's cool, I need to send him a letter... been a little while... OKay Ill repent, I just have to find his Email address again, I know were it is, just need to use it. the stake president too, In the mean time tell them I said "HELLO form INDIA!!!"
So I have a bit of an interesting story, Last night as we where coming home from an appointment, My companion got a phone call from one of the sisters in the branch, she said that she needed a blessing, so we told her that we could come tomorrow, (today) she said okay, but she asked for us to pray for her as well. This sister has been having some problems with her Ex- husband, He was cheating on her and was living a double life, and then she found out about a year ago, since that time she was trying to leave him, but he is a bit like Frank and just give her all HECK amount of trouble, he calls her and scolds her and try's to get the children to come away from her, so she has been trying to get a divorce, but in this culture if you get a divorce, most of the time the women is looked down upon because of it. Now she has been Hiding from him for the last year, and has made quite the amount of threats to kill himself,and all kinds of thing, just more and more problems, so she has been trying to get things taken care of, so I guess he called her last night and was trying to get her back, and she didn't know what to do, and she was just sick of him. so she called us to come and give her a comfort blessing, so when we showed up this morning she was in full tears, there was not any rest for that women in the last few hours, you could tell that she had been crying all morning, so we brought the former branch president in and we sat down and gave her a blessing, it was absolutely amazing, if you could have seen her face before and after, it was a complete change from one of utter pain, to complete comfort, (she was still crying of course) but it was just amazing at how much you could see the faith that she had in just a little tiny blessing. Just goes to show that the power of god is definitely on the earth today.
well I am Really happy to hear that your all doing well, I am glad that everything is able to play out the way things are supposed to.
Things here are great as you all should expect, we are just having a great time teaching some really amazing people who really want to change their lives an repent to best ability that they have.
I know that the gospel is true, and I know that the lord does truly do things in his own time and in his own way, I know that when we put our trust in him that we can become more and more like him in every way. I know that the savior lives, and that he loves each and every one of you, I know that he suffered the pains of our sins so that we could give him the pain of our souls, I am so grateful for a living prophet, I Know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that he restored the lords true an LIVING church through and by the power and Instruction of god. I know that the lord does truly answer prayers how ever small or big they may be. Thank you all for helping me get to ware I am today, I really am so grateful for every thing that you have done for me.
I love you all
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

January Week 1

2010-01-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!!!
Oh man that FHE sounds like a blast, I think its weird that, that many FHE's have passed, I haven't counted, but I do remember reading about a few fun ones here and there, I miss them, I bet it will be really weird when I get home and all of you are laughing at me because I am sitting on the floor cross-legged and eating my food with my hands. The sad part is that, that probably will happen. Espically if there is rice, so NO RICE or else you'll see my Indian come out.
So it sounds like Jess got beat up again by the family, JESS- Bro you got to wait for me, You cant just jump in there with out a wing man!!!! Ill be there in... okay a while, but just be careful man, They have snow and there's three of them!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Well the week here has been pretty good, We have been really working hard to get some new investigators, but of course the lord provided some, the neat thing was that it wasn't just any investigators either, we ran into an anglo family that was a Brazilian native family, it was pretty cool they where here in KGF for the Holidays and they decided to stay for 5 weeks. My companion had walked by the house earlier that day and about 30 minuets to an hour, later all of a sudden this brother that looks more mexican than Indian comes up on his motorcycle and asks us to come to his house. so we set up an appointment for the evening and then when we come to the address we come to a HUGE HOUSE!!! (remember I have been In villages my whole mission and have never taught in a house bigger than maybe Wheelers drive in, that has two Families staying in it) and the children are mostly all WHITE!!! I was just thrown though a loop! and then we started to teach them the first lesson and they invited us back, it was so Cool. My companion and I are way Excited to go back because the children all understand, probably better than most people. they actually asked us how they could pray!!!
Well that was about all of my cool stories for the week, mostly I have just been trying to work hard and get things done. I am way excited for this new year, we have actually made a goal for the half year, partly because My mission president might be going home, because his visa runs out, and then and also because all of the elders that are here are going to start to be going home in about May, and that is when the big batches start to go home, so our goal is 325 baptisms for the Half year, and last year we blew past that, so we Know we can do it agian, even with half of the people that we had the first time.
I Just want you all to know that I love you all, I am so grateful that you all have us in your prayers, and I want you to know that I can feel them always, I have seen so many of them answered and I thank all of you.
I Know that this church is the lords true and living church, and I know that It is truly led by the lord and the savior through a man called by them for us. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it truly was written for us in this time. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith did see two personages In a pillar of light, and I know that it was God the father, and his son Jesus Christ. I know that the Latter was sent here for us and that he did truly Bleed and die for our sins, and was resurrected for our hope in god.
I am so grateful for all of your hard work in being my Family, Friends and loved ones. You are all in my prayers.
Ilove you all

Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

December Week 5

2009-12-30T08:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Family!!
Wow it was really nice to talk to you too!! man I just wish that they were not closing shop, I was a little ticked at them, I guess I was also being a little selfish, you know, its not like I only talk to my family only 2 times in a whole year... hahah, okay enough of my self pity.
Well to everyone in the ward and everyware else HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!! I hope that as the time to make new resolution's comes you all find exactly what you want to do to progress and you do it!!
well alright, sounds like everything at home is going great!!! I just wish that I could see pictures of everyone.
Pretty soon here, I will start sending my pics and get them to you. I have a TON!!!! so just wait, and it'll be there.
well not too much on my end, I was pretty happy to talk to you all, it was nice to hear from all of the family (that includes Kyle and Kenny) and I really enjoyed talking to Jullian, He is a great kid, Tell him I said HELLO!! I think that its great that I got to talk to him, ( I kept in visioning Molly's Picture she has of him on her blog) he really is a great addition to the family!!!
Christmas was pretty good, I got to have some lunch at pres. Nichols and I got a "hill shire Farm" Beef stick from one of my Zone leaders, we did a Gift exchange and thats what I got. IT WAS AWSOME!!! I ate it in about 3 days.
Well sounds like life is coming back to you all after the Christmas season, and it sounds like your going to just busy all day long for the next long time. SWEET!! got to love work.
I know that all of you are being taken care of, and I know that you are being under the lords watchful eye. I am just so happy to tell you that I know that the church is true, and I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, I know that The book Of Mormon is the word of god, and that it truly was written for us in these the latter-days. I know that the savior lives and that he truly did atone for us so that we could return and live with him in Gods Kingdom, I am so happy to know that the plan that god has for us is made for each and every one of us, and that he has no exceptions, I know that Thomas S. Monson is the lords Living Prophet, seer, and Revalator. I know that as we bring our lives along the guidelines of the prophets that we can make it to the Celestial kingdom, as long as we keep and continue to make Sacred covenants with the lord.

I love you all,
Thanks for the prayers and the support that you all have given for me. I love you
Elder Colton James Frederick

Colton Christmas Week

2009-12-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

There was no letter this morning and I am not sure if he will send one this week, especially in light of the fact that he is calling home in the morning (December 24th). So, to all of you who watch this blog, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I just want you all to know that we love you and are grateful for your support. Not only mentally but emotionally and financially as well. Colton is doing so well and I will try to formulate a report after we talk tomorrow.

December Week 3

2009-12-17T09:08:00.001-08:00

Hello family!!
Hey sorry for not Emailing yesterday, I was at Mysore palace, It was a ton of fun, I took some pretty cool Pictuers, I had a lot of fun riding a Camel and getting “Blessed” by an Elephant!! Ill try to send pictures next week.

Mom, I have some news for you, actually I will be calling you on Christmas Eve morning, we have been having some issues on trying to decide when it should happen, so for sure it will be Christmas eve morning, It will probably be around 6-8 your morning time, so BE AT HOME… or at molly’s, you inform me on p-day and I will call there.
Well some more news, We got Guna and Leo Baptized this week, I am just sad because almost all of our progressing investigators are either now members, or we have had to drop them, so now we need to find like mad dogs, but no worries, My companion and I will do it we are finding fiends!!!! Its great!!!
So last night my district leader and his companion put on some Christmas music on and as I was sitting there listening to “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” I could just Imagine what it must be looking like at home, the tree… The lights… the SNOW!! And holy cow that must just look so cool, the other thing was I just kept thinking about how the memories must work in our minds and how I kept thinking about how I loved to listen to Christmas music, and now I wish it could be Christmas all year long!!!
I really am just so grateful to be here though, I am able to teach those around me how important it truly is to have the savior I our lives, and since this is the celebration of the saviors birth, we need to remember what that birth brought, I think its really interesting at how much people really don’t think about that, we are living in a time where the savior and his gospel principals are so important to our personal salvation, I just think about how cool it is that even though most people don’t think about who it is that has truly blessed us the most, we know the truth of the savior and how he works, and how he has done so much for us.
By the way grandma TAKE CARE!!! You are just too crazy, I don’t think that you slipped and fell, I think that you where snowboarding and aren’t telling anyone about it… be careful please?
Well I love you all so much, I know that the season of Christmas is coming again soon, but I also know how much it truly can bless our lives when we think of others and how the message of the restoration can truly bring happiness to those that are around us, this is the greatest Christmas gift that any one could give, is that of the gospel, I know that if you will help someone around you to hear the gospel that you will be able to truly feel the spirit, of the lord and of Christmas.
I am so grateful for the Christmas memories that I have of our family, and I truly know that the gospel has brought all of us together, I know that this is the Kingdom of god, I know that the book of Mormon is true, I know that the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints is the true church on the earth, and that Joseph smith truly did restore it through the savior and Gods Direction. I know that it is Lead by a true and Living prophet, Namely Thomas S. Monson. I know that the covenants that we make on a daily and weekly basis will bring us the most joy when we strive to keep them.

I love you all, and I hope to Hear from you soon. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

December Week 2

2009-12-09T09:26:00.001-08:00

Family!!
Holy cow what a week, its been a ride the whole time, Ive had some of the greatest/worst experiences I have ever had in my entire mission, and then to top it off, I have been at zone confrence!!!
so my week started good, after I sent my Email on wednesday, I had an amazing lesson with Rekha and Praveena.
The next morning I woke up and we had our studies, and went to district meeting were we learned all kinds of good stuff. but as I was sitting there, I started to notice that my head kind of hurt, then I kind of felt like I was moving without the rest of my body and then it would meet back with me. and then I started to feel like I was going to throw up. well so then I went back to the apartment thinking "oh maybe it will just pass" and as I was sitting there, I couldnt even move... well so I ended up sleeping most of the day, and then almost all of friday too.
In the mean time I had the motions that could remove all of your entestines and I had to poop so hard that I passed out!!! oh boy that was an experience of a life time!!! well then on satruday I worked part of the day, but had to come in for the evening because I just couldnt get to far from a toilet.
but then I was feeling much better on sunday and then I got the chance to Baptize Rekha and praveena both, I was just so happy to do so, I just felt so happy that I was able to help them recive those covenents with the father. I just hope that they stay strong in the church, they have a ton of really great fellowship in the branch, but you know how some people can be, I just pray that they stay strong.
well then monday I still had my motions, and to top it off, I also had the stomach cramps of a life time. well so I finally called sister Nichols, and come to find out... I HAVE WORMS!!! but its okay because we have the drugs to kill them !! whewww... ;)
anyway, then on tuesday I had my interview with Pres. Nichols and learned that I need to come up with some things... good old president Nichols, he knows just what to say to keep me guessing.
well then to top that al off I had zone confrence today and HOLY COW that was amazing!!! I love zone confrence so much I love to learn all of the things that are needed to be given. I was even lucky enough to give a talk today as well about Hope. it was really awsome, other than I feel like crap, I am so great!!!! I cant tell you enough how much I love this place. I just wish that I could stay.
well hey thats awsome to think that Jullian is getting used to being at Matt and Molly's. You know that if you where to get a Preach my gospel and teach him the lessons from chapter three, he would know every thing that would be asked in the baptismal interview for him. you could even do it for FHE, I cant tell you enough how much I absulutly love Preach my Gospel, it truly was written through the veil.
oh man as I was sitting here reading your Email, I could see Missel toe, and red and green, and snow and a big huge fresh Christmas tree with Lights on it and everything, and it made me smell fresh wassel, ahhhhhhh trunky for just a second......... okay thats enough I get to hang at the Nichols on Christmas so maybe just maybe I will get some kind of christmas.
Wel things are just wonderful here in good old india, I am loving life (even when it sucks) and I am just so happy that I can be doing the lords service.
I love you all and I hope that you all know that I know that this is the true chruch, I know that the lord Jesus christ Truly did Atone for us, and that he was resurected that we could overcome that physcial deth that we all must suffer one day, but I truly know that if we follow the truth that has been given to us by prophets, and that which has been restored by the prophet Joseph smith, I know that we can have all of the glory of god in our lives and that if we continue to make and Keep sacred covenents with the lord, I know that we can truly be with our family's together. I know that when we Hope for things in this world, and if we have hope in the savior and the father that we truly can come closer, I know that as we continue to follow all of gods commandments that means Keep the sabbeth day Holy, we read the book of Mormon every day, and we pray, and all keep all of the other commandments, I know that the lord will bless you. I know that the book of Mormon is the word of god, and that it truly is what can build a better relationship with our father in heaven, and in our family's. I know that the lord is truly listining to us when we pray. I know that Thomas S. Monson is truly the prophet today and that he does recieve revelation for us today. Iknow that the preiesthood of god was truly restored 200 years ago, and that as we use that power that has been given to us, that we truly will be able to bless those that we love.
I love you all, and I pray for you as well
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

December Week 1

2009-12-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Hello Family!!!
Wow, once again I am just absolutely amazed at the amount of time that has flown by, I cant even believe that today is Wednesday, especially because of how much has been done in the last week, we have two more baptisms this week, their names are Rekha and Praveena and they are the two most excited sisters ever, they love to read the book of Mormon, they love to pray, and they are just so happy all the time, they know that every thing that we teach as a church is true, and they want their whole family to become members WOO HOO !!! I love these two, they are such a testimony builder its just amazing!
Matt and Molly oh man that’s great, I am so happy for you! And your totally right, those steps to bringing someone into the church is daily scripture study, prayer, Family Home Evening. I am so grateful for the things that we can learn as we teach those that we love about the gospel. And the lord really does promise that the joy of one soul is great, and for Matt and Molly I know that this is the kind of thing that will bring you the most happiness. This, saving souls and bringing more and more children into the gospel is Missionary work. (I know that you already know that, but I just wanted to say it)
WOW you people are nuts, it sounds like its freezing there, I cant even believe at how cold it is there, every time it gets under about 75 degrees Fahrenheit I think that I am going to die(NOT) no I just am sure that when I come home I am going to freeze!!!! AHHH !!!!!
So Mom ware is the brother that you talked to from, and ware did he tell you to go?? I could probably find the place and tell you if you should go or not, I do know the Elders in all of Bangalore.
Oh man Good old Thanksgiving, I am so glad to hear that you all had a good one, Mine was spent in Bangalore, doing a career workshop for 5 hours, and then lunch at McDonalds, which is EXPENCIVE!! For a little snack wrap its 120 rupees that lunch or my companion and I for 2 days!! Oh well so that was my thanksgiving. But I am glad to hear that you all had a great time, as I was sitting there eating my lunch, I had the thought “ wow a year ago I was sitting at home with all of my family eating… Turkey, Potatoes, gravy, stuffing… oh… Oh man that sounds good, potatoes, gravy oh boy” then my thoughts went onto how long it had been since I had actually had a real American meal. And that was my birthday, and even that was partially Indian. And the time before that was… MTC oh well that’s life. HAHAHA
Well I hope that all of you know how much I truly enjoyed hearing all of your voices on that CD, I listened to it when I got it!! And THANK YOU FOR THE GOODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they where AMAZING I haven’t had REAL Oreos since… I don’t remember when. Oh mom by the way I don’t need anymore soap, I think I have enough to last me the next year, and maybe even another year after that. But thanks anyway. (its making some of the stuff taste like soap) but NOT THE OREOS!!!! Yah baby !
I love you all so much, and I want you all to know that I know that the lord is watching over you. I am truly praying for all of you and I know and apreatieate (I think that’s spelled wrong) the prayers that you are offering in my direction, they really are being answered. I know that this truly is the Lords church on the earth, and I also know that it is being lead by a True and living Prophet, I know that Joseph smith is a true prophet, I know that he saw god and Jesus Christ. I know that the book of Mormon is true, I know that when we follow the things that have been written in it that we are truly coming closer and closer to the lord. I know that as we keep and continue to make sacred covenants by going to church, by partaking the sacrament, and as you go to the temple, that the lord is truly going to bless us in the ways that we need.
I know that this work is the best and greatest work that a man could ever do, and know that it is truly being lead by the lord.
I love you all,

Elder Colton Frederick

November Week 4

2009-11-25T08:50:00.000-08:00

HOWDY DO FAMILY!!!!!!!

Holy cow, this week has just FLOWN by, I feel like I am cheeting, and Emailing early, but at the same time, I know I ‘am not … weird…. Oh well. That’s life in the mission field right???
Wow, sounds like a lot of you have been having a great, wonderful, Full week.
Matt and Molly CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! That’s awesome, that means another kid to meet when I get home. Wow.
Well the last week was truly amazing, I have had some really great learning experiences and have had some more baptismal sets, we are just really excited to see these people that we have been working so hard with, all make some HUGE changes in their life. When the lord promised happiness for bringing souls to him, He meant the most joy, love, excitement, testimony building, and sincere life changing faith that could be ever experienced. I just can’t Imagine anything else but wanting to help our brothers and sisters have this glories gospel in their lives. Something that I have been thinking about is how great it feels to know that the work of proclaiming the gospel is the most important work that the lord has, and I am right in the middle of it all.
I had a funny experience the other day, one of our investigators said “its to hard to travel from alamadum ( one end of KGF) to Robertsonpet (the area where the church is) because its so far” well considering that I cycle it most days, or I end up walking half of it and then catching an auto I didn’t really see how hard it was. By the way from one end of KGF to the other is about 5 miles. (NOT FAR AT ALL) but anyway, the moral of the story is, I got to thinking. Proclaiming the gospel is pretty hard work, but its also the greatest work in the entire universe. Poor guy got dropped.
Well its been quite the week, and it has just flown by, but I really don’t have to much to say other then I am doing great here in incredible India. I really have seen and learned a lot this week, and am just amazed at how fast the time just is going by. I just wish it would SLOW DOWN so that I could think, but as we all know, “when your close to the lord. Time doesn’t matter, its just a matter of how we use the time given to us in a day.” I hope you all caught that. Its just truly a testimony builder to me that the lord truly does love us, and he truly does give us tools to use. One of my most favorite scriptures is found in Mormon 9: 27-28. this is probably the biggest motivation to living the gospel that we could ever receive from a prophet, and I love the way it reads, it gives us advise, it gives us promises and it guides our lives by making us realize that we have our agency.
As I said, not too much to report, but I want you all to know that I love you all, I know that this is truly the lords church, that it is lead by the savior through a living prophet, I know that it was restored by the prophet Joseph smith, and I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that as we read it and follow its principals that we can truly gain the relationship that we need to get back to him. I know that this is the greatest work that we could ever do, is to proclaim the gospel. And I also know that as we keep and continue to make sacred covenants with the lord that we can truly enjoy the life of god.
I love you all, and truly do care for you, I hope you have a wonderful week.
Elder Colton Frederick

November Week 3

2009-11-18T09:11:00.000-08:00

Well Hello Home!!!
Life is absolutely Positively, AWSOME!!!
This week has just FLOWN by, it feels like someone strapped the days on a rocket and launched it at light speed.
So First off, the activity was a success, we had a great time, and so did all of the members, it was really great. I was so happy, my companion and I did some skits in each “Kingdom” and then when the Office couple came, they did the Celestial Kingdom, it was amazing, they had a picture of their family, and they where dressed in all white. It was Just so great, it was so hard to keep from crying when we went into the Celestial Kingdom.
Second of all, JASPER IS BAPTISED!!!! Finally! We have been working so hard on him, and he finally has been baptized this week, and not only that, but we have two more to be baptized on the 29th, Rakah and Praveena are the two that we are working on for this next weekend. I am so excited, We have been working on them since my first transfer here!! Whew that’s a long time!!
Well the adversary tried to rear his ugly head this week, someone broke into our apartment and stole my companions Coin collection (all Old Rupees) and his Head lamp but that was it, The kid tried to get into our window, but lucky us, we are in India, and EVERY SINGLE window in this country has bars on it, so that the monkeys don’t get in, but it also keeps 10 year thieves out of your house too. Oh well, I guess that’s what happens when you are doing the lords work, and Saten isn’t happy about it.
This was quite an interesting week, some of you asked about following the spirit in a couple of Emails, I am going to say these things, and then I am going to refer you to Moroni 10. First off, sometimes I find that the spirit is always speaking, it is our choice to follow or not. It always tells us which way to go, and how to follow, remember that if you look in the scriptures, when something is right, then you will feel as it says in Galatians 5 : 22 You will Feel Love, Joy, Longsuffering, Peace. And many others, just check it out, when I am out finding, I have found that the spirit is okay with what ever way I go, He is only going to suggest something if we are going the wrong way, or doing the right thing. The Next thing is that when we pray, the lord will usually give us a few different answers, and we need to follow them, for some things will be given in the right way. Always remember that if it is good, then it is of God, but if it is of not, then it is of the Devil. Sometimes we just need to pay attention to our feelings, but also to our thoughts, it tends to be that a certain subject can be on our minds for a long time, and we cant shake the thoughts, that tends to be the spirit LEANING on you and saying YES!!! And then there are other, many other ways that the spirit speaks to us. And that is why I am referring you to Moroni 10, because that is where some of the gifts of the spirit are located, but not only that it gives us guidance on how to act on them as well. We have to remember that when we receive inspiration that we also have to act on it, or else that inspiration is a waste.
Its truly amazing at what a little inspiration can do and what following the spirit can do. I know that when we follow the spirit of the lord, we will be lead towards the things that will truly bless us in life. I know that the scripture in Alma 37 : 6-7 is true, small and simple things truly bring great things into our lives. The whisperings of the spirit are some of the smallest, and most simple things. But when we follow them, then we are able to become great through the lord. Only through the promptings of the spirit are we all able to know who we are, and what we are going to become.
I know that this is the lords true church, and I also know that it was restored by his servant Joseph Smith. I know that the lord is watching over us all, and I know that he will always answer or prayers. I know that the lord truly paid for our sins when he Atoned for us in the garden of Gethsemane and that he does live again. I know that he is always there for us in the best of times and even in the worst. I know that Thomas S Monson, his two counselors, and that the 12 Apostles are Prophets, seers and revelators for us today. I know that when we follow the lord and his guidance that we can become the best tools in his hands. I pray for you all, and I know that you are all being guided by him. Just remember that I know that these things are true. I know that we are doing the lords best work.
I love you all, and I am always so grateful for your wonderful, and needed prayers. I am always here. Love you all from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks for the weekly updates.
God be with you till we meet again.
Elder Colton Frederick

November Week 2

2009-11-11T09:27:00.001-08:00

Well a Mighty fine How do you do to you all!!!
Wow it sounds like everything is going great at home, I really hope you people are taking a lot of Pictures, because when I get home I am going to want to see EVERYTHING!!!
Well it sounds like you are all getting along fairly good. Winter is about to set in there huh?? So India doesn’t really have a winter, the winter here is more of a TON OF RAIN!!!! About all it has done here is rain, rain, rain, rain, rain. Its ridiculous. And it is SOOO humid, my blanket has not been dry for about a week, and I have had the fan on it so that it would dry, but of course its not dry. So I am sleeping in just my “pj’s” woo hoo… but anyway, that’s life. Well I hope all of you enjoy those pictures of us at the lintons, the one of the Elder Eating the big old Burrito is my district leader, he is great I love him so much, cool little fact, he was the 7th deadliest youth in 2007 for martial arts, and he is GOOD.

Well I am really looking forward to this weekend, we are putting on an activity for the Branch that is going to be AWSOME!! Its based on the plan of salvation. We are going For a “plane ride” and then they all “die” and we visit each of the kingdoms, where each glory is portrayed in a skit. So My companion and I are going to be in the Telestial, and Terrestial kingdoms, and the Lintons are going to be in the Celestial Kingdom and show how much their families mean to them. It really is going to be great, I am really excited.

So I want to thank everyone who has been sending letters, and Email, I really am so thankful for them, its surprising at how much it helps when you all send your love, I cant tell you enough at how much I really appreciate all of your letters.
Well as the week has gone on, there really isn’t too much that I have to tell, the week has been pretty good, I have been just enjoying the time and learning as much as I can from the lord. It is really amazing at how much the lord can teach you when you actually put forth the effort.
I love you all, and I know that this gospel is the thing that can make us the most happy in our lives. Its truly amazing at how much we truly need the savior in our lives, I know that the savior lives and I know that he loves us all, I know that he truly Atoned for our sins. I know that he felt the pains of ever single one of us. I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, I know that he was called of God 200 years ago, and I also know that the book of Mormon is the word of god. I know that when we read it, we read the things that the lord wants us to hear, read, and see. I know that this is true, I know that we can live as families for Eternity, all because the power and authority was brought back to us so that we could learn and grow and become just like our heavenly father.
I know that this life is the time for us to prepare to meet god, and to perform our labors, that is to have faith, Repent, be baptized, receive the holy ghost, and Endure to the end. I know that when we do the things that the lord wants, we will be happy. But we have to figure out that thing that the lord wants us to do.
I love you all.
May God be with you
Elder Colton Frederick

November Week 1

2009-11-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I am so sorry about last week, you all know me and my lack of time sense, and so the mail thing timed out and I forgot to save it. So that’s that.
Well a very large how’de doo from wonderful Incredible India. These last two weeks have been quite a ride, We had zone Conference in Bangalore again and we had a career workshop on p-day last week, so that’s why I was so EXTRA short on time, and I had to travel back to KGF that day too. But I did get some news from some of you, Hayley, My regards, My mother is trying to get a hold of you. Jess, you did what? I am so glad that your okay, that is scary, be careful please, there is more havoc that we have to wreck when I get home. ;) and last but certainly not least KYLE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! That is so Freaking awesome, now when is Carl’s … Hint hint. ( a letter too)
Okay so a HUGE THANKS for the last two Packages, Grandma, I loved it, and I ate all of the Beef Jerky in about a day, I couldn’t let that get past me, and by the way, that those ties where great, Mom, thanks for the other package, I received it on Sunday, and I am so excited to get the next one.
Well Now that I have had my ADD moment, I have some really awesome news, we just set two sisters with a baptismal date for November 29th OH Ya!! We are so excited, I have been working with these two sisters for the last 3 months, When I went on Exchange with the assistants we found the younger sister, and then we met the mother that day, its been great because they where so excited when we asked them that I just about jumped into the air for joy, I could barley stand myself, I was so happy. But also we are going to have a baptism next week on the 15th, I am just so thankful to the lord for working his magic and preparing these people.
Okay so a funny story time, so one day we where out in this area where the former Elders have NEVER touched, and as we where out there, I was calling a member to take on exchange, and my companion sees this sister that is just staring at the both of us. So he walks over to OYM her (Open Your Mouth) and she invites him to her home before he can even say who he is, so we took down her phone Number (we had an appointment to get to, and there was no brother) and told her we would come back again, well the next day as we are out in the same area, that we had previously found 30 new investigators (all the lord my friends) we see this sister again. So we set up an appointment, and tell her that we will come back tomorrow and she says okay. The next day we go to her home and start to teach her, and she is just staring at Elder Riley, and every time he speaks to her she gets all twitterpated and cant talk. So we commit her to pray which she says that she will do, and we give her our phone Number just incase she has any questions, well that was the biggest, funniest mistake we have ever made, is giving Guna (G-oo-na) our Phone Number, because with in the next hour, she had called about 5 times. So finally we answered and started to talk to her and she was “just calling to see how we where.”
She is really funny, she calls almost every day just to follow up with us. Its great! We don’t even have to ask if she has read the book of Mormon.
By the way, there was not really any BIG day of the dead thing, other than they all go and put flowers on the graves of all of the people that have died. (Mom I know that you ask about the weird culture things of India, but I have to say that this country is on big celebration.) they all celebrate everything and anything that comes along, they have all kinds of interesting things here.
I want you all to know that I know that this Is the greatest work in the world and to proclaim the gospel is what brings the most instant, and true joy in the entire world. I know that this is Jesus Christ’s True church, I know that the plan of Salvation is something that I take true comfort in, and I know that as we follow the teachings of the savior that we can come back to his kingdom and live with our family and loved ones for all of Eternity. I know that when we listen to the prophet that we are listing to the lord. I know that Jesus Christ truly lives and that he did atone for our sins. That includes those that we do and the pains of those that we feel from other peoples sins, and mistakes. I love you and I know that the lord loves all of you, your all in my prayers.
Love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

October Week 4

2009-10-28T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey, my Email timed out, I had a good long one, but I dont have time to write another one, I am doing great, I am also really happy, we are seeing miracles here in KGF.
I love you all, and I know that what is going on here is true.
Love Elder Colton Frederick

Note: Apparently they only have so much time and his was up. Hayley Hann... Colton sends his regards and ask me to call you, I have tried but your phone never seems to be on. Call me back please.

Leslie

October Week 3

2009-10-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

WELL HELLO FROM INDIA!!!
Namascadam, and Namasta from good old KGF!!
Wow it souns like you have been having a blast with staying busy, I miss all of the scouting stuff, I miss ceramonyes, and everything. I have been thinking about that, and how much I really am glad that I was tought to see things like that in life.
Well as I told all of you I have recived a new companion, His name is Elder Riley, he is from Mtn. Home Idaho, he has been out one more transfer than I have. He is great, I really like him, we are really on the same page about wanting to do the work. espically with our goals, we want to really work hard and make alot of changes in the branch, he is a hard worker, which is really nice, and way smart, so i like learning from him.
Its really interesting leading out an area, I have found alot more about my area and branch in the last like three days than I have in the last two months, its nuts, (okay so maybe not more, but still alot) I really have been trying to see if we can get more of our members to come on exchange with us, we have a couple of the young men who come fairly often, but we want to work on getting the members to trust us and really get fierd up on the missionary work. Its absulutly amazing at what Preach my gospel teaches about working with members. I really love being able to read and then apply what it is that I read and use it in action. I hope that becomes something that I can use better, studying and applying. (we all know thats what i need)
Well not alot of really cool stories, but I do want to bear my testimony, I know that this is the Lords true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, I know that it does guide us when we honestly seek for guidence, I can see that the lord really does guide us when we are in need. I know that by small and simple things, great things come to pass. That right there is the biggest thing that changed this world, because a young boy of fourteen years, decided to pray aloud, the lord manifested him self to the young boy, called him as a prophet, and restored the church once again on the earth. I Know that Thomas S Monson is the lords mouth peice on the Earth again, I know that when we follow his adviece, that we will be able to recive the blessings that he wants to give to us. I know that the lord is there, and he wants to give us the things that we desire, but he only does that in the way that is nessicary to us. I know that the lord is always listining to us as we pray, he is answering in his own way. I know that it is his greatest work to teach his children about the plan that he has for us. I know that this work is the greatest work in the Entire world, I know that when we bring one of out brothers or sisters into the gospel, that we will recive the love and joy that Heavenly Father wants to give to us. He is watching over you. He loves you. and I too love you
thanks for the Email from everyone.
I love you.
love,
Elder Colton James Frederick

October Week 2

2009-10-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

WOW, What a week!!!!
Sounds like you where as busy, if not busier than I was. You all sound like your loving life there. Getting ready for the Holiday’s, and taking care of everyone there, Oh man. You have your hands quite full.
OH BOY can I just tell you how much I loved Conference? “That was Amazing!!” I loved every moment of it. Especially Elder Holland’s Talk about the Book of Mormon, I was just blown away at how strong and how firm he got up there and just Completely Scolded, ripped and Tore apart those who even have any doubt about the Divinity of it. As soon as he ended, I turned to my companion and we both looked at each other and said “ WOW” it was awesome, it completely made me want to change the way that I teach the book of Mormon to people.
Speaking of which, I have some News, My companion Is getting Transferred, :( I am quite sad, I love him so much, he is great!! He is going to Hyderabad 2nd branch. That just FYI is where my trainer, Elder Addagabottu, and Elder William, are both from. So that means Elder Chagoya is just going to tell a lot of hello’s from me. On the other hand, my new Companion is Elder Riley, he is from Idaho, and he’ll be here on Friday.
Okay so answer to a couple of questions, Gram yes I got your card, thanks SOOOO much!!!! Did you get my letter yet?? Okay I will keep my eye out for those packages, I am really excited for them. For Christmas, all I want is music, like the songs that we sing for Christmas, and also “Mannheim steam roller”, a little of everything would be great! Mom You’ll know what to pick.
Okay Kyle. What’s this about a girl, I only heard a tiny ity bitty bit of that section of life??? As they say in Telagu “Chependy Ra.” (means Tell me bro) If you’re getting hitched before I come home you and I are gonna have trouble ;) Just kidding, but dude keep me posted, its weird not hearing from my brother… cough cough, hint hint, every know and then.
Well I have another funny story for you all today… The monkey’s came back… and they brought reinforcements… as we woke up this morning, we where praying, and my companion finished and went to step out side to go and exorcise in out little “compound” and as he opened the door he saw monkeys. Well I was in the middle of praying and I hear this. A door opening and then a really loud gasp, then I hear “Elder…. Theres monkey’s …” I thought “ whatever, there is probably only a few of them” and continued to pray, then I finished and walked to the door to see about 10 sitting on our wall, and in the tree. I then proceeded to grab a hand full of marbles, and my sling shot, and just started firing at will, along with my companion, I think that we hit about five of them (they’re kind of dumb, they just kept trying to get into our gate) so then after they got the point that we where not going to stop until they left, they started to jump onto our roof, so the next thing that happened was, I ran up on top of our house just firing at anything that moved, ( more Monkey’s) My companion was following suit. About the time that we got up there, they where all yelling at us and running away. Our neighbors had seen them coming and just started to throw rocks at them, and some of them had big old sticks ready for them. It was probably the funniest thing that I have ever done. Any way, so now we just have to wait and see what they will do next, you never know what they are up to in good old KGF.

Okay so enough of the animal experiences, My week has been pretty good, I have been able to see a lot of really awesome things this week. One of which is leading up to a baptism this next week. Our investigator Jasper is really a great guy, and he has really been prepared by the lord to become a member. About 7 years ago, he saw Elders, and met them, but he didn’t want to even talk to them, they told him about the church, and he thought nothing of it. Then he met elders about a year ago and didn’t think about it. But then about 6 months ago he met my companion now, and his companion then. Then he stared to become more and more interested, so they started to teach more and more, and he is finally going to be baptized on the 25th of October. We are really happy, because we have been really trying with him. He has done a complete 180 from who he was to who he is now, and we hope that he just continues to do better and better every day.
Well that’s that this week, I hope that you all enjoy your week, I know that the lord is watching over all of you, I am praying for you all, I know that he is there, and that he really does want us to keep all of the his commandments so that he can show us his love.
I know that what was said at General Conference was the lords words for us to hear, I know that Thomas S. Monson is the lords prophet seer and revelator, and that he is speaking to the lord often. I know that Joseph smith Restored Jesus Christ’s church. I know that the Book Of Mormon is the word of God, I HAVE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. I know that reading it will bring us closer to heavenly father, and that when we pray that he is listing to us. I also know that when we have troubles with those things in life that we can pray, but we also have to bare it with Patience, long suffering, and kindness. I know that Jesus Christ lives, and loves us. He DID atone for our sins, and I know that we can use that atonement to make our lives better, as we repent, and offer up a broken heart and a contrite spirit, the lord will make it known unto us as to what we need, and I also know that he will answer us.
I love you all, I know that as you continue to live the commandments and show God that you love him, HE WILL pour out blessings upon you, enough that there would be not enough room to hold them.
“ God be with you till we meet again”
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

October Week 1

2009-10-07T16:18:00.000-07:00

MOM QUIT COUNTING THE DAYS!!!!!!!!
That’s going to make me want to count, and then that will make me trunky… NO THANKS!!
On the other hand, life is good here in India, I am doing really well, My companion is doing better, and we are back to Kicking butt!!! Especially because we went on Exchange with the Zone Leaders yesterday, and I was able to really learn a lot, I think its funny how when we think that we have it down, the lord sends people to teach us, or shows us exactly what we need to learn, I LOVE IT!!
Well I am quite excited for General Conference, we get to watch it this weekend, I am just excited to hear what the lord has to say to us. I know that it truly is exactly what we need to hear. It sounds to me like it was pretty good, I got a few Emails that said it could definitely do the pick me up that People need lately.
Oh man, that Medicine man sounds awesome, I really am excited for when I can see those things again. All I get to see and hear is Pooja … don’t ask. Ill tell you later.
I miss those kinds of things a lot.
Well I am glad to hear that all of you still have your sanity in this crazy world, I know some times things get crazy, but when you keep a positive outlook on life, you get to the point ware it doesn’t matter anymore about the small stupid things. You can get through the day when you focus on the big important things and not let the little things get in the way. President Nichols said something in a zone conference, imagine when your backpacking, if you look at the goal and focus on it, you know where you need to go, but if you start looking at the trail and you focus on that, then you get lost. He compared the trail to the adversaries Temptations, but the goal is the Celestial Kingdom, where we want to receive exaltation, and Eternal life. So just Keep your chins up, and remember to say “Come what may.” and remember to just love it.
Well I have a pretty neat story today, so the other day we where getting our cycles fixed, and my companion where standing there talking, when all of a sudden three Muslim brothers walk up and start to ask us what we are doing, and what we believe. They started to ask a whole bunch of questions about the bible, and how it all works, so we answered them, and told them that if they really wanted to know more, they could come to church. That was 4 weeks ago, so as we where sitting in church on Sunday, I was just about to walk into gospel Principals class, to start it, and these two Muslim brothers walk in, one of which was wearing the clothes and everything. I invited them into class, and they said okay, they sat down and we started to teach class. Well the even better part about all of this was that the lesson that I was teaching was on… Prophets!! Oh boy that was awesome, because they got to ask all the right questions and that was exactly what we needed to teach. Then we continued to explain that prophets have been meant for all of us to learn, and that is why we have the Book of Mormon, it was great!!
Then afterwards we went to priesthood and Elder Linton taught about how we can get to the Celestial Kingdom, It was even better, because both of our Investigators where just blown away. After church, they asked us if we could meet, and they also asked for their own copies of the Book of Mormon. Since that time we have met with them, and answered all of their questions, and have started to teach exactly what they need, and want to hear. It was great, and their really progressing, quickly.
Well its time to go, but I want you all to know that I really do love you. I also know that the lord is watching over you. I know that he is answering your prayers, and he is also listing to every one of them. I know that this gospel can and will solve the problems of life, especially when we ask of him in faith. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the Mouthpiece of God, and that the twelve apostles are called prophets Seers and Revelators, by God. I know with out any doubt in my mind that when we listen to their words that we will be blessed. Not only the prophets of today, but the prophets of old. I know that the Book Of Mormon was written for our day. I take comfort in it when I read it because I know that the lord is talking directly to me, and my family. This is Gods Kingdom on the earth. The savior lives, and loves us. This is the lords work, and I know that it is the best work to do.

I love you all so much, and I know that the lord is watching, and waiting for you to ask for his help.
I love you
Elder Colton Frederick

September week 5

2009-09-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hello from good old India!!!!

Wow, Gram, sounds like you need to take it easy, I got three E-mails saying you broke your thumb, and that you put a rib out…. BE CAEFUL!!! I need to see you in one piece when I get home. Get it??? Got it? Good.
Well It sounds like every one at home are having a good time, sounds like your all staying busy too. I am really glad that you are doing so, I know that staying busy is probably the best thing to do anymore, then that way you don’t have time to think to much.
My week was pretty good to, I have been taking care of my companion the last couple of days, he has had a cold, and a fever, so I am watching him. Something really cool though, my companion and I are teaching this brother that we found, he is from Nigeria, he is Muslim, and he plays soccer for a huge company called “BEML” or “ Bharath Earth Movers Limited” it’s like CAT, they make Bulldozers, backhoes, and Tanks. Its pretty cool, but we started to teach him the other day, and as we where talking we got on the subject of temples, and he completely opened up, and wanted to know more. So now we are teaching about the Plan of Salvation this Next week. He is just so awesome.
Oh man, I wish people would update their Blog’s so that I could see pictures of these new spirits coming into the world, I found out last week that Dal Had a son, and I was totally not expecting that. I didn’t even know he was expecting. Well shows how much I know. I am so excited to hear about everyone though, I have been thinking about all of you here and there. I hope to see more of Amelia and Christian, I miss her so bad.
Well not to much has happened this week, its been just another interesting week, now maybe I am taking it for granted, but life is pretty chill here…. Although I did shoot a monkey with a sling shot the other day. I guess I had better tell that story. So on Monday’s we have our weekly planning session, and we have to plan so that the week is in order, but as we where sitting there, a monkey tried to get into our house, Now the reason we have sling shots is because these monkeys are not the nicest of animals. And they take what ever they want, when ever they want, they also are like rats. They are EVERYWARE !! So any way as we are planning, a monkey tries to get into our apartment, and I grab my slingshot, load a marble, and hit the monkey right in the stomach, he looked at me and I ran for him grabbing a stick, and opening the door, and the monkey and his friends jump up on to the roof of our house, and so my companion and I chase them up on top, and just start Nailing them with marbles. We haven’t seen one since.
Well that’s my week, Ill keep you all posted, for when the monkeys hit again. ;)
I want you all to know that I know that this is the true church on the earth, the more and more I see of the world, the more and more I know that this is true. I have no doubt that Christ Lives and Loves us, I know that he atoned for our sins, and the sins of the world. I also know that Heavenly father is merciful enough to send prophets again to us. I know that Joseph Smith DID see God and Jesus Christ. I know that he restored his gospel through the Prophet. I know that when Thomas S. Monson speaks this weekend, that he speaks the words of the lord, and that We are to listen and follow suit, I know that if we live our lives accordingly that we will be blessed. I bear testimony of all of this. This is the greatest work that we could ever do.
I love you all, and I know that the lord is watching over you.
Love
Elder Colton James Frederick

September Week 4

2009-09-23T09:13:00.000-07:00

HELLO HOME!!
Wow, it sounds like you have been having quite the week, and some of those wonderful problems that always trying to get us to look down. I am really glad that you are keeping your chin up mom, I know that the lord is watching over all of you!!! And I am just happy to call all of you my wonderful family.
MY PACKAGE IS WHAT???? Oh okay, well Ill just keep waiting, I might just scraping by though… J/K I know your busy, don’t worry to much, I know that it will get here when it gets here.
So news for all of you, maybe, but CONGRATULATIONS TO MCKENZIE PROCTOR!!! I hope that there are invitations coming soon… I want one. ;) that’s so cool, I think that everybody is getting married lately.
Well everything Is AWSOME here in good old KGF India, we are just Lighting it up over here, we have the coolest Investigators, some of which have set them self’s with a baptism date. Therefore, we are working hard at getting them ready for their dates. One of which in particular I think I really want to tell you about. So a couple of weeks ago I told you all about the brother and his wife that we really wanted to set with a date, the Husband smokes, drinks, and has been drinking coffee, well we had been hoping that we could set him with a date, maybe next month, at the end of It or so. Well when we where at an appointment he said, “ brothers I want my wife and I to be Baptized on October 11th.” So we told him Okay and that he was going to have to do a lot of hard work to get there, but we knew that he could do it. Well so we talked to President Nichols about him, and he said “ well go ahead and baptize him.” So we went yesterday to meet him, while we where sitting there, his wife who doesn’t speak ANY English just started to talk to me, and as we where sitting there, she said that she was SO happy that we had come and that her husband had been changing. She then said, “ We are going to stop everything, all word of wisdom problems by September 30th and that they wanted truly to be baptized on October 11th. One of the funny things about this experience with this family is that our former District leader, when we told him about this family, told us not to expect anything from this family, and I quote “because I have been in that situation and the husband doesn’t usually want to progress. ” well I hate to break it to him, but we are baptizing them in 3 weeks, all because they wanted to be baptized, we didn’t even ask.
So that was only one amazing thing that has happened this week, there have been many more, we received a new Branch President, who come to find out has been sealed in the Salt lake Temple, and has been all over the states. We are really excited for him, because he is just an amazing man.
I just want you to all know that I have now doubt that this is Jesus Christ’s true church on the Earth, I have seen, heard, felt, and know that there is nothing better that this gospel on the earth. As we where at Zone Conference this last week, Sister Nichols said some things that really touched me, and really testified one more time that all of this is true. She was talking about the Atonement, and how the savior went through it all, and how when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, that as he knelt down and prayed that if it was gods will that the cup could be taken from him, but he knew that he was the one that had to do this, there was no one else. So he suffered the pains of the world, EVERY negative feeling that we, any of us have ever had or will have, and that he did that because he loved us. He knew that he couldn’t do it just for half of us, or that he could stop half way through, and then pay the rest of it later, but he knew that he had to do it right then and there. There was NO OTHER way….
Later when the savior died on the cross, when he was stabbed in the chest, water came from his body, and they say that the stress and the loss of blood that he suffered, that that caused his heart to burst, and that he did truly die of a broken heart. I know that this is true. I know that Jesus Christ bleed and died, But I also know that he was resurrected, I know that he appeared to Joseph smith on a beautiful spring Morning, and that he told him that he shouldn’t join any church. I know that He then through the prophet Joseph smith, RESTORED his Gospel, TO ITS FULLEST. I know that Heavenly father has this and many more plans for us in time to come. I know that he loves us and that he listens to us when we pray, he doesn’t just pick and choose, he is a just and Loving God. He truly cares about us, he is happy when we are happy, and he cries when we cry. I know he is watching over us. I also know that he does want us to follow him, and be with him in the Celestial kingdom so that we can be Exquisitely happy for Eternity.
I love you all
I know that this is the lords work and his glory, and that I am laboring in the fields for my brothers and sisters in India.
Love,
Elder Colton James Frederick

September Week 3

2009-09-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well HELLO HOME!!
Wow, thanks for the Email's I knew you had probably sent an Email, but I had to give you crap, you know how I am.
WHAT KLYNTON WENT ON A DATE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!??!?!?!?!?! With who???? what did the stud do??? KLYNTON YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!!!! no email, no letter, nothing, Oh boy... J/k Love you bro.

Well life here is really good, I am in Bangalore this week for Zone confrence, it was alot of fun, and tommorrow I have my Interview with President Nichols, I am so excited!
well not to much has gone on here latley, we have had alot of really cool blessings latley, there have been alot of people here sick, with feavor, and they have asked for blessings, so we did as they asked, and the next day they where at chruch, COMPLETLY better, It was Awsome! I really have seen alot with the Priesthood latley, and every time I see it, I just continue to see that there is NO doubt that this is true in my mind. I just wish that I could do the Missionary life the rest of my life. I mean I know that I can do it as a member, but I just wish that I could be able to learn and go out all day and continue to help all of these great and wonderfull people understand that Heavenly father is really there, and that the really does know them, he is watching out for them, and he loves them. I know that this truly is the best thing that I could ever do in my ENTIRE life, I dont want it to end, but I know that when it comes to this, I have to stop some time, but Iam just glad that I am able to do it.
Well Happy birthday to all of the September birthdays at home, Mom, Kim, Kadee and last, but certanly not least KLYNTON, I love you all, and am just so happy to call ALL of you family!!
well time is less and I love you all, I know that this is the greatest work ever and that this truly is the chruch of Jesus Christ, I know that there is a living prophet on the earth, and that he really does speak to god.
Love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

September Week 2

2009-09-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well HI,
Well since my mailbox was SO full of Email from my family, and friends I just felt SO loved…(NOT!!!) Oh well that’s just life.
Well Life is good here, thanks for asking (Not) and I am really excited to hear and see all of those wonderful pictures of family camp, that NO ONE posted!!! UGH!! What the Heck did every one fall off of the face of the earth??? I didn’t get one Email this week, oh well, I guess I just wining because I am Half way across the world, and every one just jumped at the chance to say HI… Grrr J/K
No, I know you all love me, I just figured I would give you ALL a little crap, I was just hoping for a little more. I bet that everything is going great, and you have a good excuse for not Emailing… mom. But that doesn’t let any one off for not updating their Blog’s. (MOLLY, KIM) I have a BIG HUGE GRIN ON MY FACE, and I know you know it.
Okay so now for the serious stuff, life is really good here, I have had a lot of really cool experiences this week, first off, we went to this brothers house about a week ago and met the wife the first time, she didn’t speak ANY English, but it was really funny because she just kept trying to invite us inside, so we just kept trying to tell her that we couldn’t. so we set a return appointment for Friday, when we showed up, the Husband came right up to us and opened the gate and gave me a big huge hug, and then proceeded to do so to my companion, he then invited us in, He then explained that he was so happy that we would try to come back, and that we wanted to meet him. (that’s not all) so we explained Prophets, Jesus Christ’s earthly Ministry, and the Apostasy, and then we popped in the restoration DVD, that is in Telagu (their Language) and then watched that. As soon as the video was over, we shut off the TV and looked at brother Babu, and he was just in full tears. He was so happy that he told us that he wanted to come to church this Sunday, and that he would be there Early…. Well Sunday rolls along and he shows up to church, and loves it, so we set another appointment with him for Monday, and when we come, he then tell us how much he loved church, and that he wants to come to church EVERY week, not only that but when we asked him about if he had read the Book Of Mormon, he said “ oh ya, I read 10 chapters” my companion and I just started to cry, and cry and cry, we where just so happy that he had done so, and that he was able to tell us EXACTLY what they said it was amazing.
So now for my next experience, I was teaching these two brothers yesterday afternoon, and right at the very end, my companion gets a phone call, so he steps out side and calls it back and all I hear is “Umm Ya, he is right here, hold on a minute.” I look at him and he calls me out, I excuse myself from the lesson, and before I answer the phone I ask in whispers “who is it?” he said “ I don’t know” so I picked up the phone and said “ Hello, This is Elder Frederick” and all of a sudden I hear a familiar Muslim Voice say “ HI FREDERICK!!!” I just burst into tears because I knew Instantly it was… TANVEER!!!! Ya, I was just so surprised that she was calling, and then so happy that I couldn’t even breath, I was just so happy. So, She is doing really well, she had gotten my Phone Number from Elder William because he his at home now. So she called me and said Hi, and just told me how much she missed me. I cant tell you how happy I was. I have been praying for that Girl since Rajahmundry, and have been worrying so much that she would disappear. I just cant explain how happy I was.
Well that is about all I have time for, so I love you all. I truly know that this is the greatest work that we can do ever in our entire lives. I know that this truly does bring the most happiness and that the joy is so … Excruciating (not the best word, but it works) that you can barely breathe. I know that this is the truth, and I am so happy to be able to be one of the chosen young men to go and teach the people of India. I know that this is ware I need to be, and I know that there is no other place, other that in the family or the Temple that can bring so much joy to someone’s heart as the missionary work here does for me.
I love you all
See you next week
Elder Frederick

September Week 1

2009-09-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well Hello Family,
It sounds to me like I have been missing all kinds of fun things, every one is leaving, getting out into the world, or getting married.
Well its nice to hear that you are all going to be doing family camp, I miss that so much, I cant wait to go camping again, and actually want to be dirty. (means no running water)
Life hear in India is awesome, That picture that Sister Linton took was a couple of Saturday’s ago, we where on our way to go and meet our baptismal candidates and have their Interviews, (I sent more Pictures of the baptism) It was really funny, the young boy that I baptized was so scared that Elder Linton and I had to calm him down, and talk to him for about ten Minuets, in the water, to let us do it again, so that is why he looks so scared as he is getting out.

******[His name is Rajeev. Sister Linton says this about Colton in the email attached to the pictures "We also wanted to compliment you and your tender, loving, and encouraging way with Rajeev. Your kind manner is a wonderful personal quality. If you stay close to the Lord you have the potential to be a great father some day. May He bless you in all you do. It’s a joy to serve with you.]
Well I have a really cool story for all of you, we have been teaching this brother named Jasper, who has been investigating the church for about the last 4 months, he was meeting with my companion and his former companions before me, so as we have been meeting with him, we where one day at his house, and we started to discuss the Holy ghost, and how we need it in our

lives, and he said “ well how can I get the holy ghost??” so we have then set him with a date for baptism and now he is just trying to get past his previous arraignments and is hoping for baptism. The even better part is that as we meet him, he is completely aware that we want to know what is concerning him, and he will tell us openly, it is just absolutely amazing.

So far as life is going, it is really nice here, I really Enjoy KGF and am so glad to be here, I know that this is the best work in the world, and in the world to come, I really am so grateful to be serving the lord in the beautiful land of India, I am so glad that the work is not yet done, because I could spend the rest of my life doing this. I know with out any doubt in my mind that when the lord said “This is My work and My Glory – to Bring to pass the Immortality, and the Eternal life of man.” That he was meaning that this would be the most happy and wonderful Experience of our lives, I know that when we put forth the Effort that we have in our hearts, that he will make those things that are weak, into strong aspects in our lives.

I know that this is the True and Living church of our savior Jesus Christ. I know that when you pray with a sincere heart and with Real intent, that you will know that this is true, I also am so happy that I can say that I know that this gospel is the thing that will make you the most happy. When I see the changes that I have made, and drastic, and almost Impossible changes, that the people of India make when they accept them, I know that this is the most marvelous work that can ever be done.
I love you all
And this is my testimony , in the saviors name amen.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

Colton's mission

2009-08-31T11:14:00.000-07:00

The following letter came with this picture. Thought you would all like to see it!

Leslie.

Hello

I couldn’t resist sending this fun picture of Elder Fredrick riding his bike in KGF. He & Elder Chagoya make a great companionship and are really enjoying their bikes as they teach throughout the city. In fact this day when we passed them in the car, they arrived at the church almost as soon as we did!! Doesn’t this picture remind you of that movie “Called to Serve”?

Elder Fredrick is always happy and upbeat, and always appreciative of any little thing we do for them. He is a hard working and devoted missionary, and has a special gift of kindness with children. He knows how to encourage and befriend them.

It is truly a privilege for Elder Linton & I to serve with such a fine young man.

Thank you for raising him.

Sincerely
Sister Linton
Mission Secretary

August Week 4

2009-08-26T09:18:00.001-07:00

Well mom, I think that I got most of the letter that you sent to me, but it was a bit messed up, I only got part of it, and so then I went to reply and there was more to it, so if you could maybe send it again, but I am still going to write.
Wow, that sounds like you have been quite busy, I hope I am sorry to hear about work, I know that the lord will help you in your righteous endeavors, he loves you so much,
OH MAN you are so lucky, I wanted to see that session so badly, I really wanted to see it dedicated, oh well I know that I can go and see it when I get home, so no worries. I think that I want to go to every temple when I get home so that I can say that I have been there, I like that feeling (not to boast, but I do) just knowing that the lord has made it possible for so many people to be able to go and do all of the work for them selves, and so that we can do the work for the dead as well.
Oh man Family camp, Tell every one hi, and that I love them, tell aunt Kim Thanks for sending the E- mails, and the letters, and that I am sorry I haven’t been able to Wright back to her, I really am so thankful for it. Oh and tell every one to UPDATE THEIR BLOGS!!!!!!!! I would like to see what is going on with people, but No, no one will even say anything new… oh well that’s my complaint for the day.
Well life here in India is good, we are rocking out here in KGF, It is just a great place for the gospel to be accepted, epically now. I had a cool experience last week, one of the Assistants came on exchange with my companion and I, and we found some really neat family’s, one of which had some AMAZING questions about the Book of Mormon, and about A prophet. So we set a return appointment, which was canceled because it was raining, so finally we got to see them on Sunday, and so we shared the restoration again with the brother and the father, and then we taught it to the two sisters, and as we where teaching, and we got to the end, we asked her to read Moroni 10: 4-5, and she did, then she stopped… paused… and said “ brothers have you ever had the Holy Ghost Testify that this is true?” My companion and I just about fell off of our chairs. NO ONE has EVER asked that before, but we where so happy to explain that yes it has happened, and that it can happen to her to, and to their Entire family. It was just amazing.
Well time is less, but I love you, I too know that this is true, and if you have any doubts that, you can “ask God with a sincere heart and with real intent having faith in Christ” if the Book Of Mormon is true, and I promise Everything will be answered by the Holy ghost. I know that it Is the Word of God, and that though Faith, Repentance, Baptism by water, Baptism by Fire, and Enduring to the end, you will and can gain Eternal life.
I love you all.

Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

August week 3

2009-08-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

HELLO HOME!!!
Wow, it sounds like every one has been as busy as I have this week, I have come to the conclusion that staying under the water of work is exactly how we get along in life. You know something funny? If you had asked me how much I would like to work before my mission I would have laughed in your face and told you to get a life, but now I’ll tell you to look at Alma 34: 32 this life is the time to prepare to meet God, this is the time for man to perform his LABORS!!! And I mean it, I love the work of the lord, and I can honestly say I hope that it never stops for me, I know that this is the way to truly be happy.

I have had a lot of really neat experiences with the spirit this week, I have really been worried for all of my investigators, and my finding Efforts, and as I was praying the other morning I felt that some of the things that I needed to pray for where a little different, but I still did that, and as I went about my day, I saw that my prayer was truly fulfilled, and I knew that I was doing exactly what I needed.
There is a quote in Preach my gospel that says talks about how work is what is going to help us as we go along, it helps us not worry about anything at home, and it will motivate us to want to be better, and I have found that is completely true, I just wish that I could keep doing this work for our lord.
One of my most favorite experiences this week was another time I was praying, and as I was doing so out loud for my self, I was just about to say something, and my mouth was shut… I tried again, and my mouth was sealed, I just started to laugh because I knew that that is not what I was supposed to pray for. I thought it was really funny because now I know how the book of Mormon prophets must have felt when they where righting some thing about the savior, “ well he was a very …. A very…. Dang it I cant tell you what I want to, but I will tell you that he was the son of god” wow what a great blessing the spirit is when we try to live our lives like our lord wants us to.
Well it is great to hear that every thing is going well, I have been thinking that things are just about to start up again, I just hope that you all know that you really don’t need to go at it on your own, if you ask ye shall receive. I know that by the power of the Priesthood that you can have the things and the help that you need as you go about your daily lives. Just pray, I know that the lord really does answer your prayers. Don’t belive me just look in Moroni 10: 4-5 it tells you all kinds of wonderfull stuff, and also the good old classic James 1: 5.
I love you all and I bear testimony that this is true, I have no doubt of it. The lord is there watching over you.
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

August Week 2

2009-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hello family!!! And Friends!!!
Well Life here in India Is AWSOME!! I love it, I have been having a lot of really cool experiences, espically lately. I have been really working with an awesome family of 7 who are just so great, my companion and I have been visiting with them on almost a daily basis, they are so awesome. We have decided to set them with baptisem when we get home from zone conference.
Well I really don’t have to much time today, because I have been traviling today and I also had my interview with President Nichols. I love that man, he really is inspired by the spirit.
So I have some sad news, You remember Tanveer? Well I just got information that her parents where okay with her getting baptized, but her Grandparents have absulutly said NO, but she is going to Hyderabad, and going to Continue meeting with the missionaries there. I am just so glad that she knows that its true, I just wish that I could help her grandparents understand that this is true.
Like I said, I am running out of time, but I love you very much, and I know that this is true. I know that this is the work that I am supposed to be doing and I know that when you pray and ask god for any thing He will give it too you.

I love you all one last time this week.
Elder Colton Frederick

Colton also requested recordings from everyone telling him they loved him. His birthday is coming up and so if you have a moment, send him a letter by tape or cd.

August Week 1

2009-08-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Wow,
That sounds like just too much fun, I miss camp, REAL, FRESH, fruit, that I dont have to wash, and wont make me sick. Ugh.
Well mom, I havent been able to see pigs on the bus yet, but I did see a couple of chickens, and I the other thing I have seen is an old man peeing out of the bus as we where going down the road, I was really glad he was standing in the back.
Yes I got the two Emails last week, thats why I said what I said, my regellia pants are in a box... somewhare... I dont really remember what my room even looks like any more... kind of funny, not knowing those things... Yes I got the punn of KFC, But its more like Karnatica Fried Curry... sorry thats kind of funny. Well actually Kolar Gold Fields is more south east of Bangalore, its actually pretty famous, look it up on wickipidia, youll be supprised.
okay so here is the low down on my companion, His name is Elder Chagoya, he is from Chicago. Tall Dark and handsome for any of you ladies that will be looking for a husband, he is a cycelist, like lance Armstrong, and is planning on comming to utah when he gets home. ( 15 months) We actually where in the same district for some time while I was in rajahmundry, and then he was transfered here.
So about the missionaries that are supposed to be comming, I am not sure, all I have heard is that they are still trying to bring them in here, but we will see. I really hope that all of the visa's come soon.
Wow, I am so excited for Heather, I hope she has a good time in the temple, I miss it so much. Heather if you read this, I hope that you go with your husband at least once a week, and talk to him and also your partents about it, that is my most favorite place, and since there is'nt one here in India, I hope to hear that you are doing all of the work that you can. I know that that is the House of the lord, and that is also whear you can recive all of the insperation that you need. (For Everyone) I know that the temple is the place that explains our purpose in life, as Alma 34: 32 says " this life is the time for man to prepare to meat god, this is the time for man to preform his labors." I know that the labors that we are supposed to preforem are those in the temple, I also know that when we go to the temple and we do all of those things, and we keep our covenents that we will be blessed in all of our Rightous Endevers.
I love you all, I know that the lord is watching over all of you, and that he is answering your prayers. I am amayzed at how fast time fly's when you really do what the lord wants, and when you are doing the things that he has asked. I know that this is the saviors true chruch, and that he has restored it through a Modern day prophet. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god, and that when we read it, and we concentrate on making it part of our daily lives, that we will be blessed. I know that the Present prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and his twelve apostals are PROPHETS, SEERS, and REVELATORS. I sustain them in their calling. and I know that I am doing the lords Marvoulous work, because I am too weak to do this On my own. It is the lords work.

I love you,
Elder Colton James Frederick

July Week 5

2009-07-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Well Hello Family,
Boy what a week, I have had, it was an interesting one for sure, I have gotten to KGF not KFC!!!! So KGF is near Bangalore only…sorry that’s Indian English, it is about 3 and half hours from Bangalore by bus, or should I say by the craziest driver I have ever seen, and there are about 13 million of them in India. Yah, its that bad.
Well it is good to hear that you have had such a great time on the 24th, I was missing it badly, I hope you people got pictures… GRRR no one updates their FREAKING BLOG… I am talking to you aunt Kim, and Molly your not out of trouble either, you should be taking pictures every day and updating weekly… just kidding, but I would like to see pictures of you people on a regular basis, I mean come on I am half way around the world here. [smiley face]
Well so my days here in India are good, I have had a couple of … Interesting stories lately one of which I would like to share now.
So my first day here in KGF I was with my companion and we went to see this awesome family who I had been told a ton about, and when we got there, we started to teach the Plan of Salvation and all of a sudden the wife looks horrified and runs out the door and her husband follows suit, we are then left in the room with their two sons, who are just staring at us, I then look at my companion and we both just shrug our shoulders and are wondering what is going on when all of a sudden this 250 lbs Indian (he was huge) walk in wearing a white robe. He then sits down and starts to talk to the children in Tamil (another Language) and the parents are just staring. The pastor then takes their prayer book and is looking at it. So then I take my Plan of salvation pamphlet and put it face down on my Knee just in time for him to look at it. He then turns to me and says “ ware are you from?” I then look at him and say “ the church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints.” Then he just started to rip into us and tell us that we should go and teach those who are Hindu and Muslim, and that we should not disturb the faith of the catholic families. So Then I started to say some thing, about how we are teaching those who want to hear, but then he just tells me that I am Evil and that my gospel is false because I am a latter- day saint and I have only had the gospel for some time where as he has had the gospel for the last 2000 years, so I asked him how he could know if what he had was true when he didn’t have Apostels , and he told me that he didn’t need one, and he started to just talk and talk and he wouldn’t shut up. So I yelled at him (I felt bad for doing it, but I did) and said “ But whare is your prophet? Oh ya, you don’t have one do you?!” but he didn’t hear me. Any way so to make this story short, he left and I started to cry because Of how bad I felt for his soul, I knew instantly that he had a special place marked for him in hell. Well any way we ended up getting the whole family to come to church because they liked what we had to say, and they knew he was wrong.
That just goes to show how much the adversary doesn’t want us here, especially because we just continue to have awesome stories like that, and of course there is more to it, but that is for when I need it.
I really am so glad that we have and know that we have the truth from the beginning of time, and before, I know with out any doubt that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and that I am doing our heavenly fathers great work, I hope that I have one of these experiences a day, just to prove to me and the adversairy that as Nehemia once said “We have a great work and can not come down” I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet of god, and that Thomas S Monson is the Prophet Seer and Revelator of this day, He does receive revelation today and that he does Know what is best for our families. I sustain my Leaders and I know that each and every one of them have been called of god to help us in our daily struggles. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god and that it does contain certain truths that have been able to restore the true church back onto the earth. I know that it is written for us so that we can know and watch for that great and Dreadfull day. I love you all and I know that The lord is watching over all of you. He has his angels watching over you.
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

July Week 4

2009-07-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well hello Home!!!!
so guess what... IM LEAVING RAJAHMUNDRY!! I am getting transferred on Friday to KGF which is even smaller that Raj, but I am way excited, because one of my Elder friends that had earlier been here is now my companion, his name is Elder Chagoya.
So not too much is going on here, I am just getting ready to go to KGF, its really hard, all of my Converts and my investigators are here, and I am leaving, I just am glad that I can be with them in the celestial Kingdom, if they do whats right. I love them so much, I wish that I could come back and see them all before I leave, even if I where only to be here for a couple of days... Oh well
so Life here is awsome, I am just loving India more and more.
it would be nice to have an Email at least twice in a month though. and then I woudnt have to guess what week it is, (I dont want to count the time because if I do, then I know how much time I have left)
well I love you all, and I know that so does the lord, he continues to bless you and I all of the time, I see his blessings every day when I go and teach all of these wonderfull people. I know that he does love us enough to send his son for all of us, and that he did restore his church for our families. so that we could become one Eternial family and be with him. I have seen the problems that happen in every day life, and I promise that as you keep that gospel in your lives that you will be able to see the things that you need to do. he will guide you in all of your lives. I can see it in my investigators lives, the musulim sister Tanveer she has been really sick the last couple of days, but I know that she is so happy because she is reading the book of mormon every day, and she knows that it is true, and I too know that it is true. I love you and I know that no matter what happens the lord is with all of you
Your Elder
Elder colton James Frederick

ps, sorry so short.

July Week 4

2009-07-15T08:56:00.001-07:00

Wow, that sounds like you had quite the trip mom, I hope you took a lot of Pictuers, I would like to see it all.
Well Life here is pretty good, I Might be transferring here in the next week or so, so be looking for that news next week.
We are really working hard here, we just set 8 people with a baptisim date, but I probabley wont be here for any of them because I have been here in Rajahmundry for the last 7 months, yep seven months have passed away, never to return, I honestly cannot belive the amount of time that has gone by. Every time I get home from prosaliting, I think "holy cow its night again" I just wish I could do more in a day, but I just seem to not have enough time. Oh well thats life.
hey so a neat little fact, One of the guys that was in the MTC with me was from Steamboat springs, he went to the Chicago south mission.
Well not to much has been going on really, no super neat stories, but I guess every day is a miricle around here.
I love you all, and Iknow that the lord loves you, I promise that as you all continue to keep the covenents that you made in baptisim, and in the temple, I promise that you will have all of the things that you need. I know that what the Prophets and apostels tell us is so that we can come closer to our heavenly father. I know that the prophet Joseph smith Recived the revelation to Restore our saviors church, and that he did recive an ancient record that was translated by the power of God, and was given to us and is now called the Book Of Mormon. I know that it is the Fullness of the Gospel.
I love you all.
Elder Colton Frederick

July week 2

2009-07-09T09:02:00.001-07:00

Well since I havent heard anything, I figured I would just update you a little bit. so when I got home from Zone Confrence, I just had a really great Interview with President Nichols, and He really helped me realize that when it comes to companions I just need to breath and think if it is right, wrong, or style, and I realized that I just need to get over my bad self, and be patient. things will change. well so as I did, we started our week, and in one day we had 11 new investigators, and we havent had a turn out like that in problebley a month, so I just realized that it really does help when we humble ourselves, and we do what the lord asks us to do, and love our neighbors.
Well so I have been pretty good, I just went on exchange yesterday, and I had a great time, I went into Elder Morrisons ( our new District Leader) Area, and I visited some really awsome families, the one that I want to tell you about is just amayzing, I just was quite impressed.
so we went to this family who is the father who is about 43, and he has two young dauters one is 11 and the other is 7 , the mother was not there, so I diddnt meet her. As we were teaching, the Seven year old was just so tierd, and she put her head on the eleven year olds lap, who was just completly in our lesson, she was asking so many great questions, and as the seven year old (smilie) was laying there, the eleven year old(tina) was just playing with her hair, and she just let her sleep there, and then we where getting ready to leave, and Tina said the prayer, she said something that just ripped my heart out, she said " please bless my sister, as she has some bad health, please bless my mom and dad in thier duty (jobs), I am so greatfull for my sister, I love her very much, please bless her in everything she needs." I cryed through the whole prayer, she is the cutest little girl I have ever met, and so smart. the people here are just so loving, they love thier families so much, and I just am amayzed.
Well Time is running short, and I am running out of things to say, but what I do want to say is this.
I know that this church is true, Iknow that god made a plan for us, and that this gospel really does bless families, our families are ordaind of god, and when you do what you know is right there is such a spirit, and a love that every one wants, I now that Joseph Smith is a true Prophet, I know that he RESTORED the saviors church, and that the Prophet Thomas S. Monson is the Prophet, Seer, and Revolator today. I know that My savior lives, and that he loves each and every one of us.
I love you all
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

July Week 1

2009-07-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

IM SORRY!!!!!
Man you have no Idea how bad I felt that I didnt wright, I felt way guilty all week because I didnt write to you. I just think that if you dont Email me I will just pretend like you did, because I keep feeling guilty that I diddnt.
Well Im glad to hear that life is going great at home, I am actually sending this letter from Visack, we had zone confrence, and our train got delayd 5 hours, so I probelbly wont get home untill about 8 tonight, so I get to hang out in visack for a day.. it should be pretty fun.
so I have a super neat story today, so you remember the musulim sister that I was telling you all about? well we where visiting her the other day and we started to ask how she felt, and she said that she was so blessed because she was praying to heavenly father, then she called us last night, and said " so I really want to be baptized, but my family wants to know if they have to be baptised to at the same time." obviously we told her no, and she said "well good, I hope I can be baptised this augest." I was so happey I just about yelled, and to top it all off, we where reviewing the 1st lesson, and she can teach it about as well as a missionary, she knows the restoration like I do, and she is reading the book of mormon EVERY DAY, she loves to read it, and she is usually reading 3 chapters in a day. I am so happy for this girl, I just keep praying that her parents hearts will be softend.
Oh man, I am so excited for Klynton, he must be having a blast, I miss the kid a ton, I keep doing things that I think "man I know he would love this" I hope he is having a blast at camp, I am so jelous.
well I know that the lord loves you, and that you are really in his hands, I am so glad that you are able to see the lords gentle hand in your lives, and I pray that you all continue to have the Hine sight to see him there.
Iknow that this church is true, andthat we really are doing the work that he wants us to do, I know that as we do what the lord askes us, and we live our lives worthely that we will be able to listen to his spirit, and we can recive insperation, and revelation for our families, our callings, and for our selves, I know that My savior lives, and that he loves me, I know that he atoned for my sins and the sins of the world, I know that if we put our trust in him, that he will lift our burdens and make them lighter, I know that he called a prophet once again and that that power and authority is back on this earth today.
I love you all
Love Elder Colton Frederick

Colton

2009-06-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Well Hello Everyone at home,
I am glad to hear that your doing well, Life here is pretty good, I have been really working hard to get things done in the lords Kingdom, and we finally had another baptisem, his name is Badri, this guy is good, he made me crazy though, he wouldnt show up to our appointments on time, but he would come 15- 20 minuets early for church, which is good, but I just about lost it with him a coulple of times, his English is pretty good, but he is just shy about what to say, so we didnt know if he understood what we where teaching, because he would just say yes, and then not ask questions. so we finnally got all of that worked out, and got him baptised this week.
we also have been working with this musulim sister, and that is pretty tricky too, she has been out of town alot, she tavels all over the country and she is hardly ever here in Raj, but when she is we get alot done, we started to ask her about how she felt about the book of mormon, and she told us that she carries it everywhare, she never leaves it our of her sight. Come to find out, she knows it is true, and she knows that she should follow what it says, so now we have set her with a baptisem date, so now she needs to ask her mother. that is going to be the "tell" becasue her mother is PACKA (EXTREMLY) Musulim.
Wow, the weather there sounds really interesting, It has been pretty wierd here too, some of the locals are really worried, becsue normally it is raining a ton by this time, and it still is hot, hot, and hotter, I dont think that it is under a hundred even at night. All I can say is THANK THE LORD FOR A/C !!!!!!
Pagent!! OH man, I was just thinking about pagent thismorning, I was thinking its just about that time, I wish I could see pagent, but Iknow that its all in due time.
well as I Said, things are great here in good old Rajahmundry, and I really am having a great time, I am learning alot still, I keep hoping that I can become like that wise old owl, I tend to find my self just listining to the people and to my companion and other missionaries as well, I like listining, its really neat to see what people have to say.
I love you all, and I know that the lord loves you, I know that he is watching over you, and that he is really there when you need him, I know that he loves to answer your prayers, because he answers mine, I see his answers Every week when I hear about home. I know that he really did send his son, and that he did have that great plan for Joseph smith to Kneel down and ask such a simple question, and that such a great answer came to him and to all of us. I know that the prophet Thomas S Monson is really his prophet, seer and Revolator. and that his apostels are really receving revelation today, I know that his work and his glory is comming to pass every day that we are living.
I love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

June Week 2

2009-06-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hello family!
well HYDERABAD was awsome, I really had a good time, and yes it was full of the spirit, I had a lot of really neat experiences, one of which I really want to share. So as I had said, monday we where traveling, tuesday was Zone confrence, and wednesday was our interviews, so each of those days, I had to get up early and I was not able to study the scriptures, and I felt quite down, like something was wrong, now mind you of course we had a great spiritual experience at zone confrece, but, I as I was sitting there, on thursday, I realized that I needed something, so before we went out to do our activity, I pulled open my book of mormon, and started to read, and I only read about 10 verses and I had to leave, so as we left, I just felt completly better, I also was able to do some more missionary work, it felt so much better to read and study. any way all I can say is I know that there is a huge difference when you start your day with a little bit of study.
Well I am sorry to hear about the weather, I wish it got that cold here, I am burning up, I feel like a snowball that was tossed into a Fire, I am littarly melting. its great, but at the same time, I am sick of sweating. Oh well thats life.
WOW stephen is going to washington !!! I have a member in my branch that is going to the same mission!! here name is sister Gorila (yes) she is from Rajahmundry!! man that is awsome!!!
Well canada huh?? that is pretty sweet, I hope that you have a good time, I hope that you take a lot of picturers!!
Man I miss camp, the other day, I was sitting there, and I thought about Klynton, and I realized "hey he is waking up on his first day at camp right this very moment!" it was kind of wierd, but I was so excited for him.
Mom its wierd that you said that I was a quarter of the way done, becasue I feel like I just came to india last week, I asked my companion if it was true that the first 6 months where the longest, and he said "oh ya," I just then felt like I couldnt belive that this is the longest, because it has just flown by, I dont even know whare the time went, I just keep thinking to my self, I wish I could slow down time so that I could teach more, and do more. I also wish I could Extend(sorry mom but I do) but my visa will run our before I could do so.
well I love you all, and I want you all to know how much the lord loves you, I know that he gave us our agencey to choose weather to do right or wrong, I also know that he sent his son do atone for our sins so that we could get rid of those mistakes and be clean sothat we can enter into his Kingdom. I love my savior, and I know that he loves me, I know that Joseph smith is a true prophet, and that god and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him that he was chosen to bring back the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all
Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

June Week 1

2009-06-03T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well hello family and Friends,
well this week has been pretty interesting, and so has the last few days. My week has been full, I have had a ton of appointments, and I have been visitings a lot of recent converts latly. well then, we have had Zone Confrence, and I have been in Hydrabad for the last 3 days, (by the time you get this any way) and so I am just enjoying the spiritual high, then we get to go and visit a film place for our zone activity, (its kind of like Disney land, other than there are no rides) tommorow. I am pretty excited, I also am getting excited, transfers are supposed to be comming up soon, I hope that I can stay, but I also hope that things are in place so that I can go, yes I have mixed feelings about staying, and going.
Well I am glad to hear that things are getting better at home, Sorry mom for both of us Leaving, but you knew that we had to fly the cupe some time right?? Just kidding, you know we will be back.
So I had my Interview with President nichols, and he asked me how I felt about having about a quarter of my mission being over, and I just said, I honestly can not belive how fast it has just flown by. so I guess thats life right?
Hey that sounds awsome about that fellowship, I really miss all of those things, I cant wait to come back and do them, but at the same time, I am just way too glad that I am here, and learning about our savior.
I know that this church is true, I know that our heavenly father put us here to learn, weather it be sickness, poverty, family problems, anything, I know that we are here to learn from every thing that comes our way, and as Nephi say in 1nephi 3:7 I know that the lord will provide a way for us no matter what our issue is.
I know that our savior atoned for our sins, I know that he did it because he loves us, and I also know that he also called The Prophet Joseph smith and a prophet to bring back his true chruch. I now that my reedemer lives, and that he is there for us when ever we need his help.
I love you all, I am so greatfull for all of your support, I hope that you know that you are all loved by me and the lord.
Love
Elder Frederick

May Week 4

2009-05-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

HELLO FAMILY!!! AND FRIENDS!!
well my week has been pretty good, I have a few more people set with baptisem dates, and I am pretty excited to see them begin on that straight and Narrow Path.
So Today I am going to start with a story, Well about a Month ago, we met this brother who if from Maryland, and he invited us to his house to share our message, well as we met with him, we found out that he had a son, and that his wife had died, come to find out his son is about a year and a half old. So we started to share with him the restoration, and he has had a lot of questions since that time. well yesterday as we had visited with him, we watched "finding faith in christ" and he had even more questions, well as we started to answer his questions, we finally found out that he doesnt want to just feel for an answer, he wants us to force him to belive... ya, so I just told him, thats not how god works, and thats not how we work, and so now, we just need to see whare he goes with it. I was so frustrated about that , I felt so bad for him that he want to have his agency taken away from him to become part of gods kingdom, and mom I felt like you do when I dont listen, LIke you just want to Throtel me... :)
Story Number two, so I was on exchange with My district leader, and all of a sudden he gets a call and says "oh... Hi president Nichols, how are you???" well then I hear " ya he is right here... here you go" and he hands the phone to me. Now the thoughts that where going through my head was this ".?." I said hello, and president Nichols says " Elder Frederick, I recived an Email from your mother about your grandmother... she told me that I needed to call you and tell you that eveything was fine..." I just about threw the phone, because he scared me, I had totally forgotten that you where going to Email him and tell me, so I thought that something had gone wrong. I was just happy to hear that grandma is okay, I hope that every thing gets better for her, I miss her.
Well I am glad you had a great weekend, Man I wish I was there, Oh by the way, I am so Jelous that you got to tear up the driveway, I woke up the other morning wishing I had two Pick axes, and could be putting some sprinkler into the ground. It was wierd.
That good old Dimitri, He is a great guy, I am so excited for him, I hope he has as much fun as I am having, I love being in the field. and hey thats awsome to hear that Jared and Paul are on thier way!! Oh man, I am so excited for them.
Well I love you all, I know that our heavenly father loves us so much that he gave us our agency to pick and choose if we will follow his plan or not, I know that my Savior lives, and that he is loves each and every one of us, I know that he Atoned for our sins so that we could live with our heavenly father and our families.
Love Elder Colton Frederick

May Week 3

2009-05-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Mom,
Well I am glad to hear that you are all having a great time, I really miss camping, and doing all of those kinds of things. I was thinking about going camping yesterday because it started to rain, hard again, and OH man I just continue to be excited for the rainy seson, becasue when it happens it will rain all day, and not let up, and then its not so freaking HOT!!!
Well tell Grandma that I love her, I know that it will be pretty early tommorrow when you get this, but tell her that I am not worried about her, and tell her that I love her and everything will be fine.
Well storie for the week, so as I said, that musulim sister gave us the Quran, and so Obvisouly I was excited, well I opend it up, and noticed that not a single thing about it had the spirit in it, so I have shut the stupid thing, and will only keep it because it was a gift. I really was suprised that it had so much anti-chirstion stuff in it, and how much it missquotes the bible, its pretty sad, the advisary obviously wants people to not even Know about our savior and his atonement.

I love you all, and I am so greatful for my savior Jesus Christ, I know that he loved us so much that he went into the garden of Gethsemnie and bleed for us, and our sins, I know that as he looked upon each and every one of our faces he did so with love and Charity, I know that he did so, so that he could fullfil our heavnly fathers plan for us to return to him and his son. I love my savior, and I am so greatfull that I could spend these two years to serve him, and to Proclaim his glory. I love you all and am so greatfull for all of your great examples.
HURAH FOR ISRIAL!!!

Love,
Elder Colton Frederick

May Week 2

2009-05-13T09:10:00.001-07:00

Mom,
well as I said my letter is also going to be short this week, but thank you for the advise, I am already doing that and just letting things just go buy, I just figure, its not for Eternity, and even if it was I would still love him for who he is.
Well Tell everybody Hello, and that I love them, I was really happy to talk to you all, it was really nice to hear your voices instead of just reading letters. Not that its bad to read letters, but I really needed to hear some familiar voices.
I am so excited to continue my mission and learn about our savior, I can see how much he really does love us, I was watching "the Testiments" with our branch, and in the scene when he Decends out of heaven, and the people start to cry and kiss his hands, I couldnt handle it, I just started to cry because I knew that when I see him I will not only do the same thing I am going to give him a big huge hug, because I know that he loves me and every one so much.
I to love you all
love
Elder Colton James Fredrerick

May Week 1

2009-05-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

Mom,
Well to start off, I am sorry to hear about your little bug, but I have been feeling that almost since I got here. That Throwing up, and Motions as we call it, is an every day, if not weekly experience here, now some times I am lucky enough to have no vomiting, but usally the motions are there, I havnt had a normal boul movement in about 3 months. But like I said, Im sorry to hear that, I hope that you get better soon.
Well your right I am calling home on sunday moring your time, but I am also calling home on saturday morning just to make sure that your ready for sunday, I will probably call at about 6 in the morning your time, so be ready both days.
Man I am so glad to hear that the OA is taking flight, I just wish that I could be a part of it. I really miss working with all of those young men, I love to see them grow into awsome leaders. I hope that when I get back that I can see some more changes, and may assist in some of them.
Well so a fun story for the day, the other day, my companion and I where riding our cycles and all of a sudden this guy said hey, well I just kind of ignored him, and then something said TURN AROUND AND TALK TO HIM. so I said Okay... well when I got back to him, he said in PERFECT american English, " who the heck are you guys?" well My companion and I looked at each other and then said " well we are missionaries from the church of Jesus christ, and we are sharing a message about prophets and apostels" he then looked at me and said " will you come to my home, I want to hear your message. " well come to find out, he is from maryland, and he came to rajahmundry about 6 months back and has seen Elders all over Maryland, and everywhare he goes in india, he sees us, so this time he asked us what we did, well any way, we are going for our third appointment with him tonight, and we are going to see if he will come to church this sunday.

well I know that my letter is a little short, but that would be becuse I am going to call on sunday, so be ready.
I want you all that are reading this to know that I know that Jesus christ lives, that he is the Christ, he is our lord, our god, and our savior, I know that he restored his true chruch through the prophet Joseph Smith, I have seen the blessings of this in my life and in the lives of those that I have been teaching. I know that the tempels are an esential part of having Eternal families. I have seen how important it is to the people here in India because the closest one is only... oh ya it's in Hong Kong. people here have to save mony for years to go to the temple, and for us in the states its just an hour away some times. I can honestly say that I know that this Church IS jesus christs true chruch on this earth, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

April Week 5

2009-04-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well hello all,
So Life here is awsome, I am loving Rajahmundury, and I am loving the work, other then the Heat, yesterday it was about 52 degrees Celsius, ya lets just say its really hot, I cant go out of my room with AC with out being soaked, I look like I have stepped out of the shower, and then when I am riding my cycle It is even worse, but thats life.
Well I have a cool story to tell today, so to start off we met this sister the other day that is Musulim, now most of the time we have to be really carful about teaching them because thier parents dont usually approve, well we started to teach this sister, and she has really opened up to us, she has a ton of doubts about her own faith, and she wants to know which religion is the truth, well so we are teaching her the truth, and she understands really well. we gave her a book of mormon yesterday, and she was so excited that we had to stop her from reading while we where talking to her. well thats my cool little story, I am really hoping that she will take baptizem, and change from the foolish traditions of her fathers. but we will see...
Well I am glad to hear that everthing is going well at home, I really have been thinking about how things are going to be a lot different when I get home, I am so supprised that things are so different already.
Well I just want you all to know that I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he loves each and every one of us, I am so greatfull for the tempels, and the blessings that we gain from going and keeping and making those Covenents, I really love my heavenly father. I know that he loves us and shows that love by calling prophets, I know that Joseph smith is a true Propeht, and that through him we know the truth of all things. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of god, and that any question we have can and will be answered by and trough it.
I know that The Prophet Thomas S. Monsen is a prophet of god, and that he really does speak the lords words.
I know that Jesus is the Chirst the son of the living god, he is my personal savior, and he does speak to us if we live rightously.
I love you all,
Elder Colton Frederick

April week 4

2009-04-22T09:02:00.000-07:00

Well hello Family!!!
Well this week has been pretty Interesting, I have been searching for a whole bunch of new investigators, we have been praying for them, for just about the last 3 weeks, and was feeling that the lord was just testing my patiants, because, FINALY the lord lead us to to 8 new investigators in 2 days, which was awsome, one of which is a hindu sister, and she has some friends in the church, she also has a book of mormon that she has been hiding from her parents. So when we had knocked on her Neighbors door(because they where christion) and where explaining prophets and apostals to the RCM sisters, the hindu sister was standing there and said," Oh ya those teachers like Abraham, and mosses, and the 12 apostels of christ." and I looked at her supprised and said "ya, those guys" I was absulutly blown away because she knew what Prophets and apostels where, because even some of the Packa...(means stontch) christions, dont even know here. well any way, we ended up teaching the restoration, and she already knew about Joseph smith, and was just excited to hear all of the message that she was pretty much jumping up and down. please pray for her, she has some pretty Hindu partents who dont like Jesus christ, so she is hiding all of her pamphlets, and her book of mormon.
Well as I have said my week has been pretty exciting so far, and I am pretty excited for this weekend, because the transfer call is comming. so we will see if I go or not.
Hey you got my Package!!! awsome, I have been hoping that it would come pretty soon, espically because all of that "wax" that I put on it, and then burned my fingers doing so, and then they wouldnt except it, and made me pay about 800 rupees for the stupid thing. so thats why it has taken so stinking long for it to come.
Hey sorry about the wood mess, but I know that you love me... right? j/k I am really sorry.
Well life really is going great here, I am really loving Rajahmundry, and the people here, I cant tell you how much being here has really changed my perspective on life.

I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ, and that it has been restored by a True prophet of god. I know that the same power authority that Jesus Christ gave to his apostels was given to Joseph smith and that I, and so many others hold that authority to teach about him. I know that the book of mormon is the Fullness of the gospel, and I continue to see that as I read, and study all of the things that jesus christ has tought to his decipels.
I know that the prophet Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet, and that he and the twelve hold the keys of the fullness of the gospel. I know That MY Redeemer Lives, and that he really did bleed and die for me and for every one on this earth, and that he was resruected so that we could each return and live for eternity with our families.
I love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

April Week 3

2009-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hello family and friends!!!
well, I am really glad to hear that everything is going fairly well at home, I know that the lord is really helping you and answering my prayers for all of you.
So, this wonderful week and weekend have been pretty amazing, we got to watch genral confrence and then go to zone confrence, which was great, my spirits are really lifted even more, and I am feeling a little bit more proficient in my work for the lord.
Genral confrence was really Powerfull, and I have been thinking about that all week, and that was part of our zone confrence discussions.
so some fun news, I might be transferring next transfer, I dont know for sure yet, but I will tell you when I find out.
Well I have a couple of fun new stories, one was what happend at zone confrence. as we where in visak I was talking to my companion about the ocean, and I explained how much of a deprived chiled I was and so my zone leaders, my companion and I went to the ocean, at night, and did some contacting for visak and as we where there, I got to go walk on the beach. it was AWSOME!!!I loved it.
okay so a spiritual experience, I was on exchange with my district leader and as we where out, my companion found this sister who looked very interested, well we went back the next day and talked to her, we found out that she was hindu, and many different chirstion pasters have been at her home and tried to convert her, well so as we where teaching, we answered all of her questions and then told her things that she was so suprised that we could answer when she hadent even asked them. she then proceded to tell us that she hated all of those other people that had come to her house, and then stated that when she saw us that she felt so different that she really wanted us to come to her house and teach her. she then also said that she was so happy that she wanted to do the same service that we where doing... she is 14

well Grandma remember that I am praying for you, I know how much the lord loves you, and I know how much I love you, and I think that you will be just fine, dont worry, everything will happen according to the lords desiers.

I know my email is short, but I need to go and buy some groceries and be obedient in my time, so I love you all, and I want to bear my testimony to you that I know with out a doubt in my heart that Thomas s Monsen is a true prophet of god, and that he does speak and teach with the true authority of god, I know that what he said is true, and that "this is not a time for fear, its a time for faith"
I love you all and i am praying for you all.
love Elder Colton Frederick

April Week 2

2009-04-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

Hey mom,
Well Everything is awsome, here in Rajahmundry, Other then I dont get to hear about Confrence until this saturday and sunday, but we will be watching it at the chruch, we also get to see the priesthood session on satruday, so now I have to plan for that in my week.
Some Fun news, I am also going to Visack on Monday and Tuesday. I am pretty excited. its my third Zone Confrence, and My Third Interview with My mission president, so I get to ask him some fun questions.
Okay so answer to your question there are 2 missions in India, and In my mission there are 12 Areas and there are at least 2 companionships in each area, and it continues to grow. and Our mission covers all of south India from about Mumbi down.
Hey mom, check out the Ademick Language in the bible dictionary.
So I hope that the Family party was a ton of fun, I was actually thinking about that the other day, and I was thinking that there are about 18 more until I am home for them. that CRAZY!!! I cant even belive that it has been 4 months since I was home, I honesly cant belive it.
Hey thats awsome, Tell Klynton to go as often as possible, I really wish I had taken advantage of it and went to see confrence.
Well I cant tell you how excited I am to hear that Uncle shon is going to the temple, I really miss going, I wish that there was one here In India, but there isnt, I Hope that every thing goes great, espically because of the amazing things that happen. I hope that he goes every week, and is Cealed in the temple with shon and wendy, because I know how important it is to have the lord in our realationships. that is the only person that can fix any problems that we could ever have in our lives.

Well all, I am so glad to hear that everthing is going pretty well. I just want to tell you how much I love you, and also that I know that this is the true church of jesus christ, and that he really did pay for our sins so that we could be with our heavenly Father. I know that he was resurected for us so that we could be just like him. I also know that through constent Prayer and searching of the scriptuers is the only way that we can have true Happiness in our lives. I know that the book of mormen is the word of god, and that the things that it tells us is the truth. I know that Jesus Christ is our lord, God, and our savior, and that only by and through him can we become like our heavenly father.
I love you and I love my savior.
Love Elder Colton Frederick

April Week 1

2009-04-01T07:38:00.000-07:00

well hello to everyone,

so to answer your question, Yes I did get both packages, and the soap worked, it even kept the "big rodents" out, the Indian Postmen, they didnt touch it, other than to send it. I hope that you get my package soon, I have sent it about 2 weeks ago, but they kept sending it back, so you should have it soon. this time I just told them to send it, Ididnt care how it got there. just as long as it got there.

So my question is why do all of the prophets go refer back to Abraham, like why do they always the god of abraham, the god of Isiac, and the god of Jacob??? I just was wondering, but as I said, I am just going to have to do some more studying to why I think.

Ya the rain was awsome, I wish it did it more. the people are funny, they where all so amayzed that I was cycling in it, so was my companion.

so a pretty cool story for today. so about a week ago, we went to this sisters house, she is a less active member, she is 16, and she is married (which is illigal in India, but they just dont care) to a hindu, she is also best friends to her sister inlaw, and her sister in law is fairly supportive to Harika. Well so Elder cunningham and I had tried the best we could to visit, and bring her the truth, well then we started to teach Sweety (the sister in law) she likes the message, and she seems interested, well so Elder william and I have made it our goal to reactivate Harika, and baptize sweety. well so we have been calling this house the "fun" house, becasue of the wierd things we find out everytime we go. So this week we where sitting In the morning planning on what we wanted to teach them, and I thought "lets watch the Testiments" I didnt say anything, but then my companion said, I think we should watch the Testiments with her, it would be good I think. I agreed, and so we went and watched it. we then found out that sweety has been trying to commit suicide by cutting and by taking pills, because there was no peace in the home, well then as the movie was ending, All of us in tears, we found that Harika really does want to come, but something is always in the way for her comming, she also said that there was no peace, and that she was always sad, and that she has also tried to commit suicide, they then in broken sobs asked us for a blessing, which where some of the most beautiful blessings I have ever given and heard. Since that time they have felt so happy, and are now reading the book of mormen every day.
so I have come to a couple of conclusions because of that story, and because of a few different less actives, That suicide is the cheaters way out of life, and as the famous line goes "Cowboy up" and so if I ever hear of any one trying to commit suicide I definently would like to talk to them and make them realize how dumb they really are for thinking that way. Honestly it really makes me sad that people dont want to put thier trust in the lord and keep trying.

I want to bear my testimony that I know that this church is true, and that I know that the Gospel Of Jesus Christ really does bring true happiness to those who are unhappy, I now that Jesus is the Christ, and the son of god, who did Atone for our sins, and I know that through and by him all things are possible, if we just put our trust in him and in the lord, and humble our selves, that the lord will give us the things that we need.
I love you all,
Elder Colton Frederick

Week 4 March

2009-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

So, to start off, I am sort of confused, I only forgot to write one week, I thought that you got all of them. oh well I am repenting and writing again.
I did recive the package, and thank you, I really appreated the treats!! I gave one to one of the couples and they where asking how they survived? I have no Idea, but I was so excited that I froze them and only eat one like every other day. its so great. THANK YOU FOR THE CHOCLATE!!!
okay so now I am curious, what movies have they been previewing, I just want to know, I have been curious to what cool movies I have been missing.
So now that you say something about the temple, That is really awsome, It brings some more sence to what is there, I really like the Idea.
Okay so I have been thinking about some things latley, maybe you can answer some of this for me. so why does everything start and end with abraham, now I am going to do some more studying, but I would like to know what is up with that.
Hey Paul is comming to Indai??? THAT IS AWSOME!!! I am so excited to see him!! maybe we could serve together. Man I am so Excited to hear that.
Well i am sorry its cold there, it has been almost excrusiatingly hot, I never put on sunscreen, but yesterday I really needed it, I kind of got burned, but not badly, so from today onwards I am putting on sunscreen, espically because of how hot it gets here, 45 degrees Celcius, ya thats hot.
so it was pretty cool, the other day, I was out prosyliting and looked up at the sky and the clouds in the north where really dark, so I said to one of the native elders, " man that looks like its going to rain pretty hard." he looked at me and said " no its not, sometimes it looks like that, but it never rains." well he kind of ate his words, about 10 minues later, we where on our way to an appointment, and I looked up at the sky, and all of a sudden this drop about the size of a 50 cent peice hit my leg. and then I stopped and put all of my stuff in a plastic bag, and told my companion to do the same, well then as he was putting his stuff in his bag, it just started to pour, not just like rain at home, but it was in sheets, and the drops where huge, well we had an appointment, and I started to walk out into it and this guy grabs my arm and says "sir dont go out, its raining, youll get wet" I just looked at him and laughed and said " Brother, I know..." and walked out into it. and I was completly soaked in about thirty seconds, it was awsome!! I wish I had pictures. well any way it was great my companion walked out and said "are you nuts? its raining" and I just said
"well we have an appointment, and the rain isnt going to hurt you, is it?"
he looked at me and said " okay" so we rode for about 20 minuets in the absulutly beautiful rain. our appointment buncked, and we went out finding, but no one was in the roads, it was some one rolled up the streets in new york city, but the whole city. ya it was way cool.
well to answer your question, no I dont have to boil the water, for dirinking or brushing, I just brush, no big deal, the curry's I eat kill any kind of bugs that I could possibly get, and then to top it off, I dont drink anyting but botteled water.
so I have this family that I found about 3 weeks ago, and we have now set the sons with a baptizem date, and are trying to teach the parents about baptizem and how the parents, even though they where baptized in a differnt church, need to be baptized in the true church. well we decided to teach the restoration again, and as we where teaching the restoration, we hadent even talked about baptizem at all, and the youngest son says "brother, what about me, I want to be baptized in the TRUE church, can I be baptized?" and I looked at him and said " OF course you can, as long as its okay with your parents then yes you can, you have the desire, so yes" well to be short both of the sons are going to be baptized on april 5th. I am so freaking excited. I know that the True authoity was given back to Gods children through Joseph smith, I know that this church is true and that the Priesthood keys are back in the hands of the prophets, and that the things that the ordinences that are done on this earth are important to our salvation, I know that if you are truly keeping the commmandments of god and reading your scriptures, it brings you true happiness, and I know that if you put your trust in god, that you he will bring you the things that you need, in his time, but it will happen. I know that Jesus Christ is the ONLY begotten son of Heavenly Father, and that he did atone for our sins, and that if you remember the covenents that you have made in baptizem, and in the temple (for those who it pertains to) that you will be truly happy, and that the lord trully love each and every one of us.

I love you all, and I will see you all next week.
Love ELder Colton Frederick

Week 3 - March

2009-03-18T07:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I am glad to see that life is going good, and that everything is going AWSOME! I really think that the work your doing with the OA is great, I think that you will start getting a better turn out, mom you always know how to keep things Interesting and fun. man, I really wish I was there for the food, that sounds Delicious, I mean dont get me wrong, I love the food hear, but man do I miss American food. Oh well thats life, and I can get it when I come back.
well life is good, my companion is good, and leaving, transfers are tommorow, and I am getting a new companion. his name is Elder William, he is from Hydrabad, Elder Cunningham is going to go to Chenni, pretty cool huh? I kind of feel bad though he is going to the hottest part of India at the Hottest Time of the year. and its a walking area, so no cycling.
well, life here is great, I am working hard at figuering out all of the names of the Areas, and of all of the people. I know the area, but the names are whats hard for me, because most of them are like AVA road, JN road, and theres Ganesnager, and all kinds of places like that all over my HUGE area, but I am getting it. which is good.
Well, I am excited to see your regelia, I want some pictures, by the way, the package I have sent has Pics in it, and also some letters.
Tell grandma that I did finally recive her letters, and that they all came at about the same time, it really just depends on who gets them in the "post office" here in india. by the way, if you send anymore packages send them to the chruch In rajahmundry, because other wise I will have to pay for the Curriour. Here is the Address
18-11-15 Tummaloua
Near Venkateshwara Apartments
Rajahmundry 533 104
India
Remember this is the church address, so when I transfer it will change, but if you want to send Letters, you can still send it to the same Address that you have been in bangalore. this adderss is for Packages if you send anymore this transfer.
Well, as I have said, life here in India is awsome, I am doing great, losing weight, and looking great, I am Really growing in the gospel, I really enjoy being able to study, and find answers to questions that people have. I know that this church is the true church of Jesus Christ, and I know that the book of mormen is the word of god, I know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet, and that Thomas S. Monsen is the propehet of god today. I know that he does recive revelation from god to help us stay happy and closer to our families.
Ilove you all, and I am praying for you.
Love
Elder Colton Frederick

First week of March

2009-03-05T07:13:00.001-08:00

MOM,
Well I am so glad to hear that your calling gram, I really miss her, I keep thinking about what I can do to help more here, but I know that my prayers are all that matters, and That she will be fine. I know that the lord realy does listen to our prayers, and that she will be fine.
OKay so about the housing, most of the houses look like they do in Mexico, the only difference is that they are smaller, really all you have to do is watch "The Bourne Ultimatum" and that just what it looks like. our appartment is a lot bigger though.

So I have a couple of pretty cool stories and pictuers, so my companion and I where going to a members house

and I turned around to get a member on the back of my cycle and then all of a sudden I heared a loud crash, well I looked back and my comanion was standing back up and he had blood all over his face, and there where peices of bike flying all over, well I instantly jumped off of my bike and grabbed my handkerchief and walked up to him and put it on his face and applied pressure onto his face,

I also sat him down and took care of him for shock, then I was asked if I should take him to the hospital by someone who was freaking out, and I figured that it would be better to get out of there then let people get all freaked out because of the blood, so then we got into an auto and got to a "hospital" well the "Docter" wiped him up, and said that nothing was wrong, well when we got back to our appartment I could see that the docter was an IDIOT and that I needed to do something, so I checke him for a cuncussion and cleand him up and dressed his wounds. so there are some pictures I am going to send so check them out.
So no I havnt gotten my packages yet, but It shuold be here soon, so we will see,
I am so glad to hear about the everything that is going on, I know that the lord is taking care of you all, and I love you all. I want you to know that I know that the church is true, and I know that the lord loves each and every one of you. I know that Joseph smith is a true propeht, and that he really did restore the gospel of Jesus christ, and I know that we truly hear the words of the lord from a living prophet today.
I love you all
Elder Colton Frederick

February Week 4

2009-02-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

Well I am glad to hear that scouts have been going well, I am so glad to hear about Uncel shon, Tell him that I say to go as often as possible, when I read that I almost shouted, but I kept it in.
SO jess is an Elder now, AWSOME!!! I keep thinking that he has some time, but that he is going to go on a mission pretty soon, I know that he is a great man, and that he is very close to his father in heaven. He will do some great things in his life, I am sure of it.
I hope your foot is okay, Im sorry about that, please be carful, I would like to see EVERYONE in one peice, when I get back.
well I am runnig out of time, but I want you all to know that the Vanadi family has been baptized, and that I was able to baptize one of the sisters, so some realy cool news, Rajahmundry had 11 baptizems this sunday, and we are pretty sure that is a new record.
I also have a couple of more baptizems this week.
I love you all, and I am so excieted to let you know that I know that this church is true, and that The book of mormen is the word of god, and that if you pray often that the lord will be with you in all things. as one of my best friends said "live your life on your knees" it really does work and the lord is really there listening to us.
Once again I love you all
Elder Frederick

February Week 3

2009-02-18T07:20:00.000-08:00

GREATINGS FROM RAJAHMUNDRY INDIA!!!
So I am so excited to get your package, I cant wait to have some more books of mormen!! we have been out, when I read that, I told my district, and they where so Excited!!!
Well Life here is great, I am so stoked to hear that others are putting thier papers in, I hope that everyting is going great in thier lives.
So I am going to be sending a package pretty soon also, and the letters are going to be in it, I have sent my letters to klynton and grandma twice, and they came back, because I had the wrong stamps. so I am going buy all of the things and send everything to you, and I also am sending all of my pictuers to you to, so you get to see some of my converts, and baptizems, ( by the way, the Vanadi Family is getting Baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) ya Im excited
so be looking for those in about a couple of weeks. so I hope every one is doing great, I am loveing my new area, my area is huge. I can ride for an hour, and then make it to my appointment.
so today we woke up early and Rode our cycles on the second biggest bridge in all of asia, and guess ware that is, yep in Raj, its not very long, maybe a mile and a half, but the people here are always telling us that its so long, so when we did it, they have all been suprised to hear that.
so I hope that every one in the OA are having fun, I cant tell you how much my experiences in the boy scouts is helping me, every time I write a talk, I am using scout stuff, and every time I tell a story, its about scouts, and I know that the boy scouts is what made me be able to be here, I hope that every one know's and understands that the principals in the OA are what makes Awsome missionaries.
Well I love you all, and I hope everything is going well, please send me more of your great questions, I Love replying to them, and being able to think about what is going to come next.
I know that the book of mormen is the word of god, and that as you read, you will come closer to god, I also know that it answers any questions that you have, if you pray and ask in faith.
please keep praying for my investigators, I am praying for you all, and I love you all
Elder colton Frederick

Febraury Week 2

2009-02-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I am so sorry that this is a little late, but its because we had Zone Confrence in Hydrabad, So we got up Yesterday and rode a Train to Hydrabad, and then didnt get to the appartment until it was time to go to bed, and we left Rajahamundry at 9:00 am.
Well, my New companion is great, his name is Elder Cunningham, and he is from Sanantonio Texas, He is great, he is a really hard worker, and loves the lord, he has been out for 6 months, and he is second branch in Rajahmundry.
Answer, no I am not out of Raj, I am just in a different Area, that is Huge, I love it, and We are ridding cycles, I really am happy that I get to get out and stretch my legs.
Well so the money is called Rupees, and its about 50 Rupees to 1 dollar, so its pretty nice, there are a ton of stuff that you can buy, but if its nice, its about 1500 Rupees. so equal to 30 dollars.
well so As you know, we where teaching the Vanadi family, and guess what? we set four sisters with a baptizem date, and then I had to leave, even though I wasnt going very far, I figured that I needed to tell them that I wasnt going to be comming to teach them anymore, and the 2 of the sisters started to cry, well, I was fine untill the other two came in and we told them, the one sister is about 10 years old, maybe 12, but anyway, we told them, and it was like someone had turned on the fire hose, well that made me start to cry. well we got some pictures, and I will send them home pretty soon. any way, The date we set them with is Feb 15th, and now I am hearing that they arnt really excited, I mean they are, but they are not really acting like it. thats what I hear anyway.
well Zone confrence was AWSOME, I had a great time, the Second counciler in the Asia area presidencey came and he said a lot of really cool things. any way, I really got a lot of notes about everything said, and I got a really cool talk that was deffinently written by the spirit of the lord, because when I read what I had written it was not something I was expecting to come out of my head.
any way, I want to bear my testimony that I know that this church is the true church of Jesus christ of latter day saints. and I know that my heavenly father lives and that he loves each and every one of us, and every one in this whole world. I know that Jesus Is the Christ, and I know that he bled for the sins of everyone. I know that Joseph smith is a true prophet, and that he really did bring back the true church of Christ.
I know that the gospel Is ture, and that with it all things are possible, I know that it heals families, and people alike, Iknow that if we raise our children in the gospel that our children will grow to love the lord.
I also know that the book of mormen is the word of god, and that it my most favorite book, I love you with all of my heart, and I know that the lord loves each and every one of us, remember the power of prayer is the strongst thing, because you are talking to your father in heaven.
I love you all
Elder Frederick

February Week 1

2009-02-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I hope Creed gets his call soon, I want to see whare he is going. so Congratulations!! new Adviser.. thats awsome, and Good, elder Tyler and I keep talking about hanging out when we get back.
Well I will have Jessie jane send you an Email this time, SO I have some news, I am transferring tommorow, and I am going to second branch, I will be going to second branch, my new companion is Elder Cunningham, and guess what, Rajahmundry is becoming a zone!! And my companion is now the Zone leader!! Pretty cool huh?? Well, I am pretty excited.
well mom your right, the streets are not clean, and you honestly cant turn your head without seeing some one peeing on the side of the road,
well, I have some other news, I got in an accident on my cycle, I am fine, I was riding in the night, and going pretty fast, and some guy on a motercycle cut me off, and so I ended up laying my cycle on the ground, well then I slipped off of my bike, and was sliding on my hands and right knee, and I slid about 10 feet, well as I was sliding, something said bounce and tuck and roll, well I did, and I felt hands pick me up and flip me over. well I then came to a stop, got up and grabed my cycle and continued to ride, I got to my appointment, and my hands where fine, but there was a big hole in my pants, and my knee was fine to, i wasnt bleeding, but I am bruised pretty good, and whare my garments where, there is no pain, but below them there is a bruise, and its pretty red, but other wise Im fine, so no worries
Well I will be sending some things home pretty soon, and some letters, so be watching for them in a few weeks.
I hope every thing is going great, its really great here, and to heare about every one, sorrry I need to cut this short, but I need to go do the rest of my P- day activites,
I know that you are all being taken care of, and that the lord loves you all, I love you all, and I am praying for you, thanks mom for everything you do, and every one else, I appriate you all, I know that if you keep on your knees, and your nose in that good book, that the lord will bless you all, remember the church is true, and Joseph smith is a true prophet, and that Thomas S monsen is a prophet of god.
I love you all, and I am praying for you.
love Elder Colton Frederick

January Week 4

2009-01-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hey!!!
So I have great news, good news, and some not so good news. so the not so good news is that I am kind of sick, My head is killing me, My sinuses are stuffed clear behind my eyes, I am coughing up beautiful green and yellow stuff, and I feel like sleeping for forever, but I just keep pressing forwards, I am taking all of my pills, so hopefully it will leave soon.
The good news is that I just had 2 baptizems on sunday(sorry I forgot to tell everyone) but it was great, I actually got to do a baptizem, his name is Ratnaker, I will be sending picturers soon, and he is a body builder, he is short but huge, and really going to be strong in the gospel as well.
And now for the Great news.... drum roll please?? and I have another 4 and maybe 6 more baptizems next month!!! Chyeah Boi!!!
I am pretty excited, and we keep finding so many great people, so thank you so much for the prayers, I really appreateate them.
so story time. Well as you all know about the family with the 16 grandchildren, the Vanadi family, we have been teaching them for a little while now, well we invited them to church a few times, and they havent shown up, well we found out why, thier parents wont let the sisters out of the house with out a brother or father with them, and they cant come to church because their parents wont come with them. so Yesterday my companion and I had family home evening with them becaue they want to have it with the elders. well while there, we asked the father, and he said, well they also have collage, and they are all to young, well we showed him the importance of coming to church, and he had a look of " okay youve defeated me," but I dont think that he is willing to let them go. so we need to find a way to help them come to church.
now for second story, so about a month ago, we found this family with the parents, and 2 childern. the father go in an accident, and injured his leg. well we have been teaching them, and the son and daughter have accepted baptizem, but the mother and father dont think that they (the parents) need to be baptized. Well monday was the mothers birthday, and she is really great, and so we bought a cake, and we had family home evening, and just had a great time, so now we are teaching about baptizem to the childern, and trying to get the parents to be baptized now.
Okay so some of my favorite foods here, Butter chicken, prawns, absalutly wonderful, Chillly chicken, Tastes like wingers, only not sweet, and I absulutly love them, Sweet lassie, Its a drink, and it is so good, its like curd, but its sweet. and Artos, it tastes just like red cream soda, I absulutly love it, and get this, its only in Raj. yep only in Raj, I am so happy that I am here. :)
well so as I have said, life here in Raj is great, I am seeing so many great things, I am so happy to be here, and the people here are so great, I hope that I can stay just a little longer, but transfers are on the 4th, so you never know, and I might not be able to send e-mail that day, but if I can, I will.
well I hope everything is going well there at home, I know that the lord is taking care of you, I love you all, and I do miss you, but not enough to come home, sorry, I know that if you pray every night and every morning that you will become closer to the lord, and if you read your scriptuers at least 10 minuets a day that you will have so many blessings, and that if there are any problems that the lord will bless you if you just stay close to his words.
I know that the church is true, and that Joseph smith was a true prophet, and I know that Thomas S. Monsen speakes with heavenly father and Jesus Christ on a daily basis. I know that the book of mormen is the word of god, and I know that if we seek dilegently that the lord will unlock the mysteries of the scripturs to us. the lord really is Our loveing heavenly father. Jesus Christ really did bleed and die for our sins, and that he was resurected on the third day, and that we will return to see him again, and that he will be here sooner than we think. I love you all, and I know that the lord will bless you as much as he has blessed me if you just do the things he askes. I say all of this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.
well we will hear from you next week, I love you all, keep smiling, and remember the church is true!!!
Elder Colton Frederick

January 3rd Week

2009-01-21T08:28:00.000-08:00

Okay,
I will try to watch for some pictuers, and its good to hear that molly is busy with the baby's, I am just a little frusturated that I hadent heard anything about it, but thats life right???
So this weekend was Zone confrence, and I had a great time, we went to Visack, and I got to go on exchange with my MTC companion, and we stayed at his appartment. we learned a ton about the mission, and about the people here, we had interveiews with President Nichols, and when I was in my interview, he asked how I felt about being in the field for a month, and I looked at him and said " right, its only been a week." but then I realized that it has been a month, and I have been on my mission for two months, and I really honestly never felt it go by. I felt bad that I haddnt realized, so when I got to my appartment this morning, I looked at the calender that Alexis gave to me, and I saw that I had only crossed off until the 11th, and that today was the 21st. I was quite supprised.
so a neat Experience... well, we met these three young men, and we had set an appointment to come back and meet with them at a later date, and the buncked us, but then we where riding around for some finding, and they where out whare we had met them. well, we said hello, and they explained that they had been out of station and had forgotten that they had set an appointment, we asked them if we could share the message, and they said yes, but we would have to do it rite there... well we said a prayer, and started, and about three minuets into it, a man came and told them in telegu (the local language) that they souldnt listen to us and that they should go up stairs. well the one boy said " give us a minuete, but we will be right back" we said okay, and waited, well the man left, and the boys came back with 3 more boys. well they then explained that thier father is hindu, and that he hates christions, and that the boys where interested, and wanted to hear about our message, and asked us if we could go down the street, and teach so that when thier father came back, he wouldnt see them. so of course we said yes.. we then tought the rest of the lesson, and answered all of thier quiestions, and they then said that they wanted to meet with us again, so we set another appointment with them on thursday.
so here are some really neat things that I have eaten.
Non: its like a flower tortella,but it rises, and has butter all over it.
Butter chicken: AMAYZING!! Its my favorite, I think that everytime I eat at sri kanya (a "nice" resturant) I get it.
and Onion curd: curd mixed with cilantro, onions, and some pepers, but it depends. I absulutly love it, but I have to be carfull, because when I do eat it, I tend to get really tiered after.
but any kind of food here is wonderful, and all of the currys are really good.
I am loving the fruit, I wish I had more!!
so I have a request for all of you reading this, will you please pray for the Vanidi family, their the ones with 16 grandchildern, and I really am hoping that they will except baptizem, we feel that thier ready, and we are going to set them with a date tonignt or tommorrow, I really have come to love them, and I keep feeling that I have more to do with them then just teaching and baptixing, I dont know what, but I just know what I feel.
Well as I said life in india is great, I just keep thinking about everything that I am doing, and kind of wishing that It wont stop, I really hope that one day all of you can meet all of these wonderfull people.
I Love you all, and I am praying for you all as well.
Please be carfull out there, and know that the lord loves all of you, and he wants you to return to him, but in the time that he has planned, and not any sooner. I love you all so very much.
Elder Fredeick

Colton's next letter

2009-01-14T07:31:00.000-08:00

Ummm you remember what I said, about being informed, well Ididnt even know that there was a New baybe!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR, I would have liked to have been informed... Thanks... alot... JK

so answers, My mission Pres is from alaska, and has about 100 acers of absulutly beautiful land, and has invited me to come up when I get home and go fishing in thier rivers, and go hunting with him.
Yes I absulutly Love the food here, I have officialy lost 10 LBS, and I am feeling great, The food is wonderfull, rice and all kinds of different Curry's, and the banana's are soooooo good, When I got to india, sister linton( one of the office Sisters) gave us a whole bunch of snaks and bananas an I ate about 10 of them. oh ya.... they are way good. so ya the food is great, I just had a drink yesterday made form cantalope, that was amayzing, and all of the things that they make here is really good, but sad to say, I am really starting to miss my hamburgers... alll they have here is chicken, and mutten, not that its a bad thing, but I want a steak, maybe some REAL potatos, and some of aunt kims wonton salad.
So yes, we travel on bikes here, sorry cycles, bikes here are Motercycles, and cycels are peddle bikes. I am really having a blast on them here, other then they tend to rip my pants, so I have to sow them every now and then.
well I have to speak in Zone confrence... and the topic is on how to make our goals personal, well I just wipped out my timberline card, and wrote my talk in about 10 minuets, and when my companion read it he was blown away, and he is the District leader and has been out for 15 months, and never heard about the SMART goals. so we will see how it goes.
well Ihope that answeres some of everybodys questions, please continue to ask, I have all kinds of answers.
Love you
Elder Colton Frederick