Wassup y'all

It was a great week!  I don't have a lot of time this week cause we hitting the hills of long island for some golf today⛳ I saw our neighbor a week or so back walking down the street with a putter so I hit him up and now we are going golfing with him.  We are borrowing some clubs from him and hopefully we get to share the gospel while we are at it!

Anyway some highlights of the week...they are flying by so fast it's crazy!  Next week is transfers so get ready it's gonna be a big free agency with tons of switching!  Anyways we had a great lesson this week with Herman and Silvia!  They gave a way good dinner....Hispanics are bomb:).  The spirit was strong and Herman is finally expressing he feels it's time to start settling down and changing and coming to church!  They missed church this week which stinks but thank you for the prayers and keep them coming, I love them so much and I know how close they are to making the greatest decision of their lives!

We also met this awesome girl named Emily who took us to lunch! She is 27 and recovering from a lot of word of wisdom things. I 've never met anyone more sincere in my life.. I wish I could have half of the focus she has on working and changing her life.  She is so humble and knows exactly what she wants to do and is ready for the gospel.  We told her if she puts that desire into reading the BOM and praying, she will know for herself!  We are now awaiting the answer! Will keep you updated! Prayers for Emily please.

I know God has a plan for us.  I know it's so cliche, but struggles are so real. I know that when we sacrifice for the things in our lives that will help bring us closer to God that it changes your life. I know if you pray everyday and let him completely guide your life, you will see some amazing things. I'm trying harder and harder to everyday.

Some great things this week was I had steak for dinner twice and almost got the cops called on us. Hit me up if you want the story hahaha!  We got some of the greatest  members out here and I've just been so blessed my whole mission with the people, I wish you could all meet them!  Take care guys and I miss you all so much.  Have a great week!

Elder Imlay

This is now a koby special(ya boi can cook)...VH got nothin on this

Hey homies.

If you get my title you are pretty cool hahaha! Anyway we had another solid week and last little bit out here in Terryville. It's been 6 weeks but we have a long transfer so a couple more weeks to go. I'm grateful I get Elder Powell for 2 more weeks and we praying another whole transfer! We have been working super great together as well as hard and smart. I've found the key is to work hard but working hard is working smart and really being invested for the right reasons. That is the key in life as well as missionary work.

Anyway I'm just going to give a few highlights of what's happened since I last emailed. First off, Silvia is the goat! Thanks for the prayer...please continue to pray for her and Herman. We have had some very spiritual lessons and she is so open hearted and really believes what we are teaching is true. Going deeper in the plan of salvation really made sense to her. She has accepted to be baptized!!! And she came to church for the first time yesterday! I love Silvia and I cannot wait for her to feel the peace and happiness of knowing Gods plan and living it. Like that's probably the thing I love the most about the gospel. God has a specific plan for every single one of us and our challenge is over coming the world to follow that plan.

Also Herman is doing good, definitely at a slower pace than Silvia.  He had a few too many beers when we went the other day but he is definitely growing day by day as well it's just a little slower. He asked me if I wanted one so I told him I'm a Heineken guy not corona...haha!!l. Anyways on the real we were able to find a single mom and her kid who is 15. Margaret and Angelise! We've knocked on their door 5 times previous and were about to give up, but Elder Powell thought Friday night was the night so we went and turns out they are super down. God has prepared them and they need it in there lives. We are seeing them again Tuesday so I will let you know! Keep them in your prayers!

Also another cool thing is Cesar, the returning member who hasn't been to church in a long while, has now come for the past 2 weeks in a row! He's super cool and just being friends, playing ball and going out to eat with him has really made a big difference for him! Also we were able to start more basketball (hahahahaha surprise right) on Saturday mornings at 10:30 and we've been inviting everyone. We finally had a good week with 2 investigators, a returning member and a few other members balling with us.  We think and hope it's gonna be a sweet tool for others to see what we are all about!

I hope you all have a great one out there wherever you are.  Thanks for everyone that sent birthday wishes a few weeks back and especially to my family and extended family for everything! Grandma and mom the packages hit the spot!  Anyway I know the family was in lake Powell this week but that's overrated,,,,,it's way better to be wearing a shirt and tie in 100 percent humidity getting a sweet farmers tan on Long Island being a missionary! Love you all and hope you have a great week. Happy birthday to my Uncle Rob, one of my biggest examples....I love him and our family so much.

Later on
#findjoyinthejourmey

Elder Koby Imlay

Birthday pic me and the St George homies, our district, and just dropping me and VH's song cover for you all just in case you forgot;)

Hey everyone! How goes It?

It has been a crazy last couple of weeks filled with some awesome experiences and it's been really fun! I was able to see Gods had in my life as I continue to progress and then see it help our people we are working with!  I'm loving Terryville so far and Elder Powell. He's already one of my favorite companions and we get it done together. Time is flying out here its crazy!

Last week we saw something way cool happen as we decided where we were going for the night.  We had a lady who had requested a Book of Mormon and that night seemed right to go over even tho she wasn't answering. So we were planning on trying to contact her and then just work in her area. When we got there we saw a family at the house who had all their stuff on the front lawn. We asked what was up and if the needed help.  They had just got evicted and we're moving all there stuff to a  place where it wouldn't get wet and they were trying to find what they needed. There just happen to be Nina's (the lady we had BOM for) neighbors. We helped them for the rest of the night really.  They had a son who was about 15 and we talked to him about ball and got his mind of everything. They are such an awesome family and they were so grateful for what we did. When we were almost done, Nina came out and asked who we were and saw us helping.  I was able to go off to the side and talk with her. She was so impressed what were doing and wanted to listen so I taught her quickly about the Book of Mormon and how it could change her life while my companion was still grinding! Nina felt the spirit strong and wants us to come back.  She had to reschedule because of her health but we should be seeing her soon and the family we helped as well when they get everything together.  Erik, the young son, is coming to play ball with us on Saturday. God puts you in places if you are humble enough to ask him. I'm still trying to overcome myself everyday and just let him work in my life. I'm not the best but it is a life changing thing and I invite you all to let him guide your life.

Sorry you get a long email cause it's been awhile. If you are still reading you are OG. Other highlights this week was the 4th, which was super fun.  The members hook it up!  Also thank you all for the birthday wishes. It was one of the best birthdays ever. I'm so grateful for all of you for my family and my grandmas and my friends and all the members here who made it amazing! Reggie this 82 year old homie took all of us elders out that night for steaks and lobster so that was pretty awesome!

Lastly Silvia is doing great.  We had two lessons with her this week out of the Book of Mormon and she is starting to get her answer. She was literally about to come to church but then got a call that her granddaughter was in the hospital and she needed to be there...so this week is the one! She is progressing and so is her husband Herman! It's cool to see the people we are working with make changes in there lives and be willing. Cesar is a returning member we are working with who is trying to get back to church! Has been growing and it is such an example to me. Being friends and caring about someone works.  We've spent a lot of time with Cesar, going to dinner, having lessons, playing ball, all kinds of things and his testimony has grown so much.....I wish you could all see it.

Everything is great out here. President Tuescher is amazing! We had zone conference with them yesterday and what he taught was amazing. He is powerful and I love him and know he was called here for a reason. I am super stoked to work with him!

Here's a ton of pictures. Shout out to Elder Chase Jensen and my boys coming to visit!

Elder Imlay

Hey Homies!

What a week out here on Long Island. We've been busy and it's been super fun! If I hadn't already mentioned this place is nothing like anything I've done on my mission.  Its like I'm new again but wow it's cool to see the other side.  So a great thing we have is our nice whip (or car for mom if she knows those terms) that gets us places on time and to more places which is super good!  Also our ward is so awesome like they are so strong and take care of us so much and really want to be involved in the work.  It's such a blessing and I hope i can be like that when I get home.

Some of the things that are different is all the white not so nice people who we meet, who are 95 percent of the time Catholic!  We had such a busy week but had a lot of time to try and find some people.  Literally there was one street of probably about 15 houses and every person was Catholic that we knocked hahaha, but we scraped a couple return appointments and a guy named Brian seems pretty interested! I'm not in my element anymore in the city having the brothers let me in their houses cause I said "what's good brother".

Quick update on our solid people tho! Silvia and Herman, the two we are teaching are super awesome.  We had an amazing lesson with them on Wednesday and I know they know the church is true.  The spirit is crazy when we are there it's the coolest thing ever and I know it's because of how awesome they are and open to us.  Please pray for them to take action on those feelings.  We also have a ton of less active who we are working with and they are coming back and it's so cool to see that like this dude named Cesaer!  Its a story for a another time but we are seeing success!

Lastly we've been grinding out the service and it's been cool to help out so many people in different ways....it just feels good to be out there doing that.  My continued challenge to all of you is to make someone happy every day.  One thing I've learned on my mission and from my mom and dad is that when you are caught up in helping others be happy and showing Christine love, you are the happiest you will ever be!

Anyways this is super long but ya do what you gotta do. Our mission merges this week and we get a new president so that should be cool to see the direction we take.  There's definitely always room for improvement!  I hope you all are doing awesome and have a great week!  Go say what's up to my dude Rocky.  lLove you take care and find joy in the journey!

Elder Imlay 

This homie named Reggie in our ward who is 82.....he's like such a bro and took us out for prime rib!

Hey squad.

Well it was a quick week since it's only been since last Wednesday but the work rolled on and it was a good week. I hope all is well back home and I love to hear some updates!  I can't believe kaler graduated atta baby.....I had bets against you so way a prove me wrong....Just kidding!  Anyway quick shout out to the fine 9 love you guys and especially Brad and Blake.....Happy 20th birthday to both of you (Brad a few days ago and Blake in a couple)!

So this week we had just one of our investigators at church, Marsen!  He's part of a part-member family and it's looking cool for him. He's a little shy and awkward but I'm loosening him up.  He's such a cool guy and progressing!  We also had 2 cool new investigators come this week from referrals! We taught a dude named Lawrence who had a room with all mirrors in it kinda weird, but the guy was way awesome and interested in reading the BoM. We showed him the connection from John 10:16 to 3rd Nephi and he's on his way.  We are seeing him again tomorrow. Also taught a guy named John who is a pastor that said he's been seeing the Book of Mormon most of his life and it was time to find out for himself what it is.  We shortly explained the restoration and it clicked and he's now studying! God definitely is preparing John and it's cool to see it.

Lastly quick update on the fam I told you about last week.  I can't spell the last name so we will leave it at that. We had an amazing lesson with them reading from 1 Nephi 3 and how God will prepare a way for them to follow him and to read the scriptures and come to church. The spirit was super strong and I have a testimony that when you are being yourself and you use your testimony and share it with others, it changes lives. I know these seems super cliche but I challenge y'all to share your testimony with someone this week, even if it's family!

Anyway I love you All! Nothing too exciting other than that. My companion is super awesome...I love elder Bennion.   It's the last week of transfers so I will let you know what happens next Week!  I am sending a couple pics. Saturday we had a BBQ and we were the grillers hahaha, which was super dope! Anyway have a great week. Go warriors!

Elder Imlay

That pasta was a Koby special!

Hey,

Well it's been 72 weeks and there comes a point with everything in life when you feel comfortable and confident about what you are doing.  However, out on a mission it's pretty hard with all the changes and stress everyday....next week could be a different story but right now I just feel so comfortable with where I'm at even tho it's still hard.  Missions are hard and you miss a lot of things and lots of people, but I feel comfortable. Being a missionary is life changing and anyone wondering if they should go and those who are preparing to go...I give you my testimony that it's made the biggest difference in my life and I'm more grateful than I can express!  Shout out to all the homies serving and those preparing! Good luck Sister Cowan!

It was a great week out here! I love where I'm at in Jamaica Queens.  It is such a unique place and I've been blessed with some of the most amazing people on my mission. I love the ward.  We've been working strongly with them trying to strengthen them and we had some way cool member visits this week! It's been way cool working with Elder Bennion. We have the same way of thinking and we are becoming really effective. With everything you do in life if you will just focus on letting God direct, he will.   Three of our investigators came to church....Madsen who is part of a part-member family that we've been working with, Steven who is kind of a bible basher but he came, and Rikiann who is amazing! Jamaica ward was able to have 7 investigators this week it was so pretty cool.  God has his timing but I know it because the ward has been stepping up and it is cool to see them starting to come together.

Rikiann is awesome.  She is from Jamaica and literally walked into church last week and we started teaching her and she came this week and she is so cool.  She has a member friend and I'm just excited to see her progress.  We were able to get a member to pick her up and bring her to church and it's cool to see that fellowship and again see the ward moving forward!  We also have another girl in high school who we've been teaching that we met on the bus.  She's super awesome and solid.  Her name is Crystal and I'll keep you updated. 

Sorry so long but it was a good week.   We had zone conference as well,  The Reynolds (President and wife) are leaving and that's pretty crazy but I'm excited to see what's coming in the future. FYI Im calling Warriors/Celtics in the finals. Congrats to Kaler on grad and everyone graduating!  And Happy Birthday pops!!

Final thought from a speaker yesterday....."discover who you are and what you want through prayer and go for it".  I know if you pray to God for the strength to find out what he wants you to do or to become, he will show you as you act and show your faith. I love you all and I miss ya a lot. I can't believe you get to see my boy Bunk dog soon! Have a great week and findjoyinthhejourney!

Elder Imlay

Hey, 

Quickest week I have had on my mission.  I'm staying in Jamaica and getting a new companion! It's going to be a homie not from our mission and Pres asked me to be his comp so that should be cool!
It's crazy and I'm excited for the next chapter of the mish.   VH is back and everything is going good! Sorry my email not gonna be that long!

Anyway we had tons of fun and got to visit some members this week.  We have been focus a ton on helping our ward.  Our ward struggles alot and I wish they could see the feelings of a ward like mine back home.  We are truly blessed and should be grateful for the things we got even the little things.  I love the people here and I hope they can overcome themselves and keep moving forward.

We also got to talk with our neighbor more and her family is super cool.  Hopefully in the near future they will decide to come as a family and when they come to church they are going to get sucked in I know it.  Also we got a new investigator named Jane who was about to be baptized in Nigeria but then moved here.  We got a blessing from God on that one and she should be baptized really soon! That kinda stuff doesn't happen in New York, but it's way cool so pray for her! It's been a good week and we've been busy and us homies here have been making the most of it cause we are about to be split up!

Love you all!   Go jazz!  I'll talk to yall next week!

Elder Imlay