December 28th, 2011

I was at the bus stop waitng for the bus to take me back to my
apartment when a lady walks up to me and is crying. She asks me when
the next bus is coming and if it will take her to Valley Station. So I
start talking to her and she gives me a big ole sob story about how
hard her life is and all that jazz. Which happens pretty often and it
is always followed with them asking for a few dollars. but she didn't.
She told me that she doesn't want to burden me with her drama and so
she walks away. I thought that she was a fake. So i went and sat back
down, but i had a prompting to go back up and talk to her. So i
grabbed a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet(can't spell) and i pulled a five
spot out of my wallet and stuck it in between the pages. I walked up
to her and she looked at me and starting crying again. She told me she
didn't believe in God and if there was a God he doesn't care about
her. So i told her that was not the case. There is a God and he loves
you very much, and that is why you ran into me today. I talked about
the Plan of Salvation, and the bus pulled up so i just walked away.
She chased me onto the bus and was sobbing and asking me why i did
what i just did. I didn't know why i did i just knew that i needed to.
She told me that i was the most christlike person she had seen in a
long long time and she asked where our church was located. I watched
her walk to the front of the bus and offer up a prayer of thanks to
the God that she again believed in. Two prayers were answered with
this experience, a young fired up missionary looking for someone to
teach, found someone to teach, and my friend i met at the bus stop who
was looking for a testimony of her Heavenly Father and found it.

Transfer--Indiana Here We Come!! December 19th, 2011

I'm getting transfered to Newburg Indiana. I will be on a bike. I will be Junior companion for one more transfer and then I will train after that. I am nervous.

I need to make a few purchases for a bike area in the winter time. I have to buy Fenders to keep the water from the streets from getting on me and a leg strap thing and some slime tubes, so I might be spendig a little money in the near future.

I had to say goodbye to all of my investigators and we have gotten pretty close in the last little while. it has been probably one of the hardest things I have had to do. I am worried that they will drop the missionaries after I leave. But Elder Freestone will still be around so thats good. I am getting set up to train and I am kinda scared but Elder Freestone told me that I am already better then he is. I don't believe him but it gave me a little bit of confidence. It is nice to know that President
thinks you are a good missionary too. Normally people don't train until their 9th or 10th transfer here and mine will be my fifth. So I
am trying to learn everything that I possibly can as
quick as I can. That is about all from here in Ky this week

Love,

Elder Dye

December 12th, 2011

Hey there Family!!!!

This past week was an exciting one! i will just go through the days
Monday: Got invited to a christmas party that was being thrown by the
campus cru ( bible study group) we ended up teaching 15 or 20 people
in this party I felt like we were some old school missionaries just
standin there and preaching. It went well and we got us some new
investigators outa that. I broke my umbrella on accident and i had to
walk about 30 blocks in the pouring rain so i got soaked.

Tuesday: Was packed full of appointments. 2 of them were first lesson
restoration lessons and the other 2 were progressing investigators. We
set another baptism date with our investigator Carlos for Dec. 31st!
Which is really exciting because this area has not baptized in a long
long time. Then we had a lesson with some baptist seminary students.
We were making alot of progress with them and then all of the sudden
it turned into a bash and the kicked the crap out of us. So we
scheduled a return appointment cause we were not going to get our
trash kicked and i was ready to tear apart the doctrine of the
Trinity. so we went in there and i had a change of heart and we had a
nice friendly talk with tons of testimonies bourne and they didn't
know how to bash with the spirit.

Sunday: Elder Walter F. Gonzales of the presidency of the seventy came
to our branch to talk to us. So one of our investigators was with us
at church and we went up and shook his hand after and he asked our
investigtor if he was a member and he tole him no and he asked if we
had invited him and we told him we did last night and he turned us
down. so then Elder Gonzales invites him to be baptized and promises
him all of these blessings and stuff it was crazy!! So now ty is
thinking really hard about baptism!

That was my week. There was a challenge in our zone to see who the
most obedient and successful companionship was and me and Elder
Freestone won!!!!! So the Zone Leaders have to take us out to eat.

I love you all!

December 5th, 2011

You're awesome! I am so thankful for all the things you have done for me to be me. It seems like I was raised to be a missionary. I have been kickin the trash outa one of the worst areas in the mission and
president told us that we have done everything he wished we would and more, from the things he told Elder Freestone about me it sounds like he has high expectations of me.
Thanks for all you have done, and thanks for teaching me to chew with my mouth closed.
I have about 4 investigators that are really close to
baptism. I am not suppose to give out names. but 2 boys and 2 girls. They are so cool and I love them!!! But about me. I am progressing
fast,I have given trainings, and Elder Freestone and I are top
dogs all because we listen for the promptings of the spirit and I have been blessed with the gift of being a people person. I have been able
to learn how to make friends with people on the street within 2 min. I am so thankful for that! My knee is feeling better! The Church is true!

Love,
Elder Dye

November 28th, 2011

Hey family!

It was weird spending the holidays without you and it wasn't nearly as
fun but i had a good time still, we went and played some football in
the park and some random tough guys asked us to play so we did and I
played like a boss. I got asked multiple times where I played my
college ball at. It made me feel pretty good about myself. My knee
still hurts but its going to for awhile I have arthritis under my knee
cap. So I have some exercises to do to strengthen my quads. Not much
happened this week in the missionary work department. We only had 2
1/2 working days this past week, because of thanksgiving break no
singles were in town. There is a member from the branch that I am
serving in that just got his mission call to the Pocatello Idaho
mission! I thought that was kinda funny. I just want you to know how
thankful I am for all of the things you have done to help me get to
the point that I am now. The church is true!

Love, Elder Dye

November 21st, 2011

We have grown a huge teaching pool and
baptisims are going to start falling! I am so stoked for that! I
stopped taking the alleve and when i stopped the swelling in my knee got worse
and the pain did too. I will be heading into the doctor on Wednesday. I am just working through it though, I wasn't raised to be a baby!
I got your package and thanks for all of those rolls! they are
amazing, and everything else in the package was amazing too. My Book
of Mormon reading had slowed down and i have barely got to Alma. It is
crazy how fast you can learn things on a mission. It seems like i know
the Bible backwards and forwards. I was told by our zone leader that i
should be training either this transfer or next. And president is
really impressed with what has happened in the area. In 8 weeks the
Lord, Elder Freestone, and I were able to turn a terrible area into
what it is now! I love it! The knee is kinda slowing me down but not
enough to slow down our work!
Thats about all i got for this
week. love you all!

Love, Elder Dye

November 14th, 2011

Hey guys,

This past week has been an amazing one for me and Elder Freestone.
People just keep falling into our hands. We almost have too many
investigators to deal with. We had four at our Branch last Sunday and
that is about 1/4 of the Branch so it was pretty crazy and our Branch
mission leader wasn't even there so we were trying to handle all of
these people by ourselves. It was a good time hopefully they keep
coming and we see them in white soon. Me and Elder Freestone are
working hard. I have a request. Can i get some more music? I am sooooooooo Sick of the
same C.D. over and over again. I can listen to any church music not just Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Last night i looked up at the Ugly Louisville sky and saw some
stars and it really made me miss our view from the tramp! But i will
be back in the summer of 2013 and will have plenty of tramp time. I
use Shick Quatro Pro Razor Blades. But i have some mission prep notes i will mail
to you today for some suggestions. I love you all. The Church is true.
Love,

Elder Dye

November 7th, 2011

SOOOO Crazy story time! Out of no where me and Elder Freestone
decided to fast last Thursday knowing that the following Sunday was
fast Sunday. So we did a 24 hour fast and 2 hours after we broke it i
was prompted to walk through a parking garage. (Weird i know) I walked
by a girl and i got a bad feeling knowing that i shoulda talked to
her. So i decieded the next person i saw i would stop. So i did and
the person pretty much told me that she wanted to be baptized! It was
crazy. But things are starting to happen with the spirit, Elder Freestone, and me.
Work is getting done! The last baptism in this area was a whole year
ago and President Woodbury told us that he sent us there to flip it
around, and we are doing just that! We have 4 promising Investigators
but anything can happen!
I miss you all alot, but don't worry i would never come home! I love it out here! I love my companion and i am excited to work with him until Dec. 20th
and hopefully longer than that. Transfer calls were last Saturday and
we are staying together, But all of the missionaries in the Zone think
i will be training after this transfer... I am a little worried about
that. It is crazy how much i am able to learn now, and i have gained
quite the Bible knowledge and nobody wants to throw down with me and
Elder Freestone down in the Bible Belt. Many have tried but the spirit
didn't allow us to be confounded. I started the Book of Mormon again
on Saturday and i am already to Jacob. It blows my mind! I didn't know
i could read that fast! So I am sending you a challenge be done with
the Book of Mormon before Valentines Day! Cause i have seen how much
it can strengthen an already strong testimony. The Church is true!

Love,
Elder Dye

Notice About Letters and Packages for Christmas

Mailing Christmas packages
November 2, 2011

We encourage all family and friends of missionaries to mail Christmas packages to their missionaries
on or before December 1st.

Our mail has quite a journey. All USPS mail comes to the mission office, we update the addresses, and the mail sits until the follow day when it is picked up and taken back to the post office. It is then sorted and sent out a second time, this time headed for the missionary’s apartment.

All packages, other than those sent through USPS, are held in the back room here at the mission office until the zone leaders come into the office and hand deliver them to the missionaries in their zones. Packages sent by USPS get to missionaries more quickly, which is important at Christmas time, than do packages sent by FedEx, UPS, etc.

This year we have transfers on December 20. We always hold incoming mail for the five days before transfers because missionaries are moved to different areas/addresses during this time. This will slow the Christmas mail even more.

Mailing Christmas packages early will insure that your missionary receives them before Christmas.

Thanks,

Kentucky Louisville Mission Office

Elder Jake Dye
Kentucky Louisville Mission
1325 Eastern Pkwy.
Louisville, KY 40204

Happy Halloween from Louisville!!

Well this last week has been really really slow. I think that it has
been the trail of our faith and blessings come after that (Ether
12:6). Like i have said before, we share our branch of 40 with the
assitants. We teach Sunday School and pass and bless the
sacrament, and pretty much run the branch.
But this last saturday was a crazy day. The assistants called us about an hour
before the baptism and told us they just barely started the font, and
told us to get over to the church and figure something out. So we got
over ther about a half hour before it started and we filled up the
font with buckets. Elder Freestone and i were some working beasts.
i also had to give the talk on baptism in front of President Woodbury, and we had to be the witnesses. We are working hard and trying to be guided by the spirit to someone that is ready. The church is true!

Love,

Elder Dye

Package Ideas: Candy! and a knee brace, i am having a hard time
walking on it.

October 24th, 2011

Whats Happenin??

This is your boy Elder Dye writin from the Ghetto of luhavull! This
week has been great! We have had nonstop appointments this past week!
we have hardly had anytime to pros. We have a date set for Nov. 12th
and we have a few other investigators right on his tail! We have got 6
member present lessons this week and the standard of excellence(can't
spell) is 5! so we have been doing pretty good. My companion had me
take control of the lessons this week so i played the role of senior
companion this last week... And i think i did a decent job. We still
have investigators so i think i haven't killed it. I will tell you
what I have been getting to know my bible! We get bashed on probably
about 2-4 times a day. It's fun! We don't bash until about the third
attempt or second if we are in a bad mood. And THE CHURCH IS TRUE! Our
doctrine is so sound that they can send 19 year old boys to go
proclaim it! I have learned so much. We have been working pretty close
with President Woodbury and he has been stoked about the things we
have done. This areas last baptism was a year ago, and the numbers
have never been so high. he told me and Elder Freestone that we are
two missionaries with some of the highest potential. So i am hoping to
live up to that potentail! I really appreciate all of the things
everyone has done to prep me for my mission and also the rest of my
life. No crazy experiences this week, but i will make sure to have
some next week ;) I love you all!

Love Elder Dye

The Field is White! October 17th, 2011

Hey there!

I am so tired now its not even funny. All me and Elder Freestone do is
work, eat, and sleep. We now have 5 sweet investigators that are
pretty close to following the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized
by someone with the priesthood (Like Me!) and we have a list of about
25 potential Investigators. Hard work and diligence pay off! Thats
about all i have to say this week but here are some pictures! I love
you all and the church is true!
Love,
Elder Dye

October 10th, 2011

This last week has been Crazy!!!
Not much has happened on the working side we have approached over 120
people this week with a short and powerful message on the Restored
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are just waiting for those elect to
come out of our hard work! But i have had the most crazy things happen
to me this past week it ranges from opussum attack to Kidnapper to
Suicide to Helping train a new missionary. I will go over each story one at a
time:

OPUSSUM ATTACK
I can't help but laugh, but it scared me to death, I walked outside to
take out the trash at 10 or so and our back fence is really close to
the building so close that you brush it every time you walk by. So i
walked by with the trash and all the sudden i started hearing this
hissing and growling noise so i turn around and there is a opussum on
the fence at shoulder level less then 2 feet away. So i freak out i
started screaming and swinging the trash bag at it and it just keeps
hissing or whatever they do. (Those things are nasty and got some
nasty lookin teeth) So to get it away from me i started barking at it
and it finally left. So now we sharpened the end of an umbrella that
we found and it is our opussum stick for every time we take out the
trash.

KIDNAPPER:
So we ride the bus and we kinda stand out. But on thursday night my companion and i
were headed to conduct a baptisimal interview at 8:30, and we never
ride the bus this late but this time we had to. So we get on and there
is this old guy on there with this stroller the stroller is nice and
high class and this guy is dressed like trash and he has a creepy
shirt on that said,"100% the Kids" I pull the phone out and type a
text on the phone to my companion and it said something like "that
is not that guys kid i am a little freaked out about it" and he types
back, "I was thinking the exactly same thing" and so we keep watching
and he keeps trying to cover this 2 year old boy with a blanket so no
one could see him. I was getting promptings from the spirit that i
needed to do something but i didn't know what and we got off of the
bus without doing anything, and i got sick to my stomach and i said we
need to do something so we called the cops and told them the bus
number and they tracked him down.

SUICIDE:
Yesterday we talked like our third guy out of suicide, i didn't think
that would be something that would happen that often.

TRAINING:
my compainion had a training to go to that lasted all day and so i got
a week old greenie shipped to me and we rocked UofL campus that day.

The church is true!

Love

Ghetto Elder Dye

October 2nd

Howdy y'all!

I got my new companion and he is a boss! We work our guts out. In 3
days we contacted 75 people and taught them a short lesson on the
restoration. Our numbers are off the charts and we didn't even have a
full week of work with transfer meeting on tuesday and him unpacking
and then General Conference. We had an Investigator come to conference
with us and he really loved it. I am so excited for him! I thought
that i could come out here and never get tired because of the slave
driver father that i had but i am more sore then i have ever been in
my life. So suggestion for justin & dad work justin harder! hahaha My
companions name is Elder F, he is from Utah and is 6'
4" so i look pretty small next to him. He has been out a little under
a year and has been teaching me a ton. I could go the rest of my
mission with him as my companion! It was his birthday the other day
and so we baked your cookies you sent me. Thanks for that package, it
was a good one. Thats about all i gots for ya this
week I love you all! The church is true!

Love,

Elder Dye

September 26th

Things are good, I Got all of my stuff bought. This last week has been good,
tranfers are tommorrow. I love you and will talk to you later. we have
a bus to catch and it comes in 7 mins so i have to go.

Love Elder Dye

The Day Elder Dye Arrived at the Mission Home

On August 15th eighteen Elders and three Sisters, arrived to the GKLM. This was the largest group sent in over a year, so we had to use not only the large mission van, but also the Mission President's car and the Assistants' mini-van to transport everyone from the airport to the Mission Home.
The situation had been intense at the Mission Home that day over the weekend, after a freak storm downed large trees all over Louisville causing power outtages for thousands of homes. The mission home was one of them, as two huge trees across the street pulled down electrical lines and poles, not only taking out the power but also blocking the main thoroughfare on one side and our side street on the other.
Taking a circuitous route to avoid all the road closures, we finally arrived at the Mission Home. The Sisters and Elders were fascinated by the trees in front, twenty -five or so trucks, cranes, and other heavy equipment, as well as several television crews on site, and many took pictures.

September 19th

Sister Woodbury sent us a quick note about Elder Dye

Elder Dye is awesome! He's working hard and is already a leader among his peers. You should be very proud!
Take care.
Love, SIster Woodbury

September 12th, 2011

I got Staph Infection in my face and I am on a double dose of my
medication and it makes me real sensitive to the sun so i can't go
outside for longer then 2 min. without it killing me. I have 3 more
days until i can go outside. The mission is kind of hard right now
cause i can't go outside.

But we have a way solid investigator that i
think we should be able to baptize within the next month. I am super
excited! While i have been stuck inside i have learned an awful lot
and i think that i have grown a ton this past week. my purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them understand all of the great things that i
understand.

Don't let mom read this part because i know that i am safe but i live two blocks away from the fifth most dangerous hood in America! But the people here love us and we are always inside by 9 and if i am being obedient i have nothing to be
scared of!
I hate the devil and you can see him at work everywhere! Got your package! Thanks i love that beef jerky its the best thing i have eaten in a while. Take care of the missionaries in Idaho. The only member here that would feed the missionaries is moving away.
But life out here is good! The Church is true!

love ya!

August 29th, 2011- Letter from Elder Dye

Hey ya'll!

Thanks for all the packages and letters! They really mean alot! I am
glad everything is going good! everything here is going good also! i
had the worst moment of my mission this past week though.

we were teaching a guy named Andre in his friends backyard cause he was
watering his plants for him. but we were gettin through to him and i was about to give
him a Book of Mormon and all of the sudden his friend bursts in the
backyard screamin at us. his friend is a 65 year old Baptist preacher
or something like that. he started making fun of us tellin us that
there is no way in heck that we are Elders and we need to start using
our heads and don't let them brain wash us blah blah blah... this went
on for like ten mins and he was really bashing on us hard! he grabbed
me by my backpack and started jerking me around out of his backyard
and man handling me. and you know that Dye Temper... so we get out to
the sidewalk and he still has his hands on me and my arms are folded
just trying to bottle up my rage and this old guy hugs me! i just sat
there with my arms folded just waitin to blow! and he goes to push me
one more time. So i grab his arm and i told him "if you touch me one
more time im gunna break your bones, i don't care what you say i am an
Elder and i hold the same power God does." and he says im sure you do
and rolls his eyes. "and i said im not done, me and my companion here
have more authority then anyone in your church so if i were you i
would watch your tone! then i threw his arm back at him and left.

Missionary work is not hard, the hard part is keeping your emotions in
check. You get rejected and bashed on and things thrown at you,
investigators who know its true and just wont act on it and it breaks
your heart. it is hard to be a happy missionary when all thats
happenin. But i know that God loves me because on our way home that
night we have to walk by one of the roughest corners around and stuff
always goes down: beggars and all sorts of thugs and drugs and stuff.
but while we were walking through here everyone on that corner took
turns prayin with us and askin for some uplifting words, so we happily
gave them. and while we were walkin away a normal couple from Salt
Lake drove by and stopped and said we are members! ( that doesn't
happen often) and they said jump in we will grab ya a bite to eat
(that doesn't happen often either!) so we sat down and had a great
time that just showed me who is own my side... God is, and he has got
my back! haha

The Church is true. The Book is Blue. And Jesus was a Mormon!

Love ya,
Elder Dye

First Letter from the Mission Field!!!

Howdy y'all!!!

thats how they talk around here! they put this good ole country boy in the middle of the hood. i dont mean to
scare you but i do live in the hood. Me and my awesome companion live in the hood. there are drug
dealers and other stuff on each corner. it is quite the change! but at
least they all love the missionaries!

I have had quite the week! i will start from the start! So i got on the plane and flew to Atlanta GA when i stepped off that plane there was some massive culture shock! i am now the minority! haha thats something an Idaho boy aint used to!
so i have a three hour lay over in Atlanta and i talked to some people
there. got on another plane and flew to Kentucky and was greeted by
the mission pres his wife and the assistants. my mission president is
the man! his wife
was in the Mormon Tab Choir and she was the Assistant Conductor!

so i stayed my first night in the mission home with 20 other new
missionaries, it is the biggest transfer this mission has ever had. i
got assigned to the Y.S.A. branch in downtown Louisville.

I have been in some sketchy situations we have drunks come up to us yellin and
screamin and callin us some nasty names and gettin in our faces. but
its a good time! a drunk came up to us that got kicked off
the bus for peein his pants and wanted us to take him somewhere. just
lots of stuff like that.

i am not going to lie though i have went a whole week without mail. so tell my friends to get writin! can i get some homemade jam? i had to use store bought for
like the first time and it made me realize how spoiled i am! the
church is true! study D&C 76 and 77 it is some pretty awesome stuff! i
love y'all

Jake Flies to Kentucky

We got a phone call from the SLC Airport this morning.  Elder Dye had got up at 3:30 a.m. to ride the bus from the MTC to the airport.  It was fun to talk to him.  His knee is still hurt and he has to wear a brace but is excited to get to the mission field. He was a little anxious about his first airplane ride. 

MTC Doctor Visit!!!!!! August 2nd

       love you guys!  I have gained 6 lbs. and I am too fat for my knee! My knee swelled up with fluid and I had to go to the doctor. The doctor thought that I had torn my ACL so she sent me to the hopistal to get an MRI. It wasnt that bad I fell asleep inside it! But I got my results today and my knee is fine! I have to attend physical therapy everyday until I leave but I should be fine! I have learned so much, I have gained such a testimony of...EVERYTHING! Its crazy how easy missionary work is once your heart and mind have made the change. I am the new zone leader and i have lots of responibilties. i have been able to teach 5 nonmembers and the lessons have been going very well! I am the talker and the testifier.

     Last night Gerald N. Lund came and talked to us at Devo! Mom would know who he is cause he wrote The Work and the Glory books. It was a great talk on Faith! well i have almost used up all of my computer time! i only get 25 min on the computer! so i will write a letter tonight and finish this conversation! i love you guys!

1st Letter!!!!!

                                                                                            August 1st, 2011


Dear Family,

    I love the MTC and I am already learning so much.  The kid that was my escort was Elder Fletcher and he played college football as a Q.B. He was the man. My companion is pretty cool.  His name is Elder Starks and we get along great.  I have a great district and it seems like we already have a great bond with each other I know this sounds cheesey but I already love them.
   We did teaching role play today and me and my companion were heavily involved.  He is crazy, he is always keepin me going and participating.  I learned today that the spirit tells you exactly what to say and I can definetly feel the spirit as a constant companion.  The church is true!
 
Love,
Elder Dye

P.S.  Oh, I am  Zone Leader, I will write ya on Wednesday

Jake Entered the MTC

Jake entered the Provo Missionary Training Center at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27th, 2011. 
His Address is:  Elder Jacob Jesse Dye 
                         Kentucky Louisville Mission
                         Provo Missionary Training Center
                         2005 North 900 East Mailbox #216
                         Provo, Utah 84604

He will fly to Kentucky on Monday, August 15th.  His address will then be:
                      Elder Jacob Jesse Dye
                      Kentucky Louisville Mission
                      1325 Eastern Pkwy.
                      Louisville, KY  40204