Mission accomplished!

On Wednesday, November 7, 2018, Elder Derek Allen Troy returned home after faithfully serving his Savior, Jesus Christ, and the good people of Houston, Texas, for two years in the Texas Houston Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  His parents and youngest sister, Katie, were waiting at the Portland, Oregon, airport to greet him.  It was a wonderful reunion!  Later that night, he was interviewed by a member of the Stake presidency who honorably released him as a full-time missionary.  Derek then bore his testimony to his family members who were in attendance.

It's back to a regular life for him--goodbye to Elder Troy and hello to Derek again!  It will be somewhat of an adjustment for him going back to his old life, but it will never be the same as it was before because of the amazing and growing experiences that he had serving a mission.

Many thanks for reading all the emails (posted on this blog) that Derek sent these last few years.  We know that many of you readers do not share our faith and we are grateful for the love and support you've given him.  We hope that you have been able to gain somewhat of an understanding of what a full-time mission is for our young men and women and to feel of Derek's deep testimony of Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and the truth of the Book of Mormon.  It is precious to him and to our family.

May God bless and keep you and yours always.

All our love,

Troy Family
JD, Terri, Derek, Evan, Alexis, Katie, Buck the Dog and Pepper the Cat

Houston Texas temple with Mission President and Sister Peterson

Day before leaving Texas at the Houston Texas Temple with the other departing missionaries and President and Sister Peterson.

Waiting outside the stake president's office to be released.  Exhausted and a little nervous, but ready to return home.  Look at those worn out shoes he's wearing!  They've certainly seen their share of walking.

Katie, Mom, Elder Troy and Dad (Evan was at BYU in Utah and Alexis was at BYU in Idaho and couldn't make the trip home due to school conflicts)

All the Elders returning home together at the Houston Texas temple.

All returning missionaries at the Houston Texas temple with the mission president

These elders entered the MTC together and are exiting the mission together.  The tall redhead (3rd from left), Elder Chamberlain, was his MTC missionary companion.

Playing Uno at the mission home the night before coming home.

One last meeting with Mission President Peterson.

Saying goodbye to Texas, the Texas Houston Mission, Pres. Peterson and one another at the Houston airport on November 7, 2018.  Mission accomplished!

The last email...Elder Troy returns in 3 days!

I'm so UNtrunky that we contacted all morning and found three new people, I just spent two hours drafting a document for president about changes to improve the efficacy of our temple program, and I still haven't packed or weighed luggage, and I need to be in Houston in twelve hours. This doesn't even feel real.

I'd better go pack now. Love y'all! See ya Wednesday!

Elder Derek Troy

Just one week left...

The work is going well here. We saw Aydan and his mom (who have baptismal dates for November) last night and she wants to be sealed to her (member) husband in the temple. They had lots of questions, it's very exciting!

Love y'all! Have a great week!

Elder Derek Troy

New beginning with an old friend

Short email this week. Send everyone my love!

We set another baptismal date this week, our other date’s (Ayden) mom! We’re very excited for their family. We also picked up a sweet new person to teach named Julianna. She’s Brazilian! She has come to church two weeks in a row and is taking to the gospel very well.

I also had the privilege of being invited back up to College Station to re-baptize my good friend Micah. Life took him away from the church for some time, and we are glad to have him back. Pictures attached!

Love y’all.

I wonder what he saw in me?

Things are great here.

It is finally cooled down. Its stayed pretty hot here for a while, but today was downright chilly. I even wore a jacket, and didn’t get sweaty today - which is probably the first time since march. It was low sixties and rainy. Picture proof attached!

Our investigators in both our family ward and the YSA both seem like they’re falling off the wagon. It’s sad that I won’t get to see them baptized before I leave, but Elder Heiner and his next companion will probably get to make that happen. However...

I did get some great news this week. A brother I taught in College station has made the decision to get baptized... AGAIN! After faithfully serving a full time mission in Brazil, this good brother eventually parted ways with the church. After years away, we were able to teach him and encourage him, and this morning he asked if I would be the one to baptize him next Monday so that he can once again receive full fellowship into the church. What a privilege!

Thus far on my mission, I’ve shied away from getting into the water with investigators, because it’s better for them to share that moment with one of the members (who will have the responsibility to continue fellowshipping them) rather than selfishly claim that honor for myself. In this case, however, it seems appropriate, and I’ve accepted!

I look forward to it. I love this brother, and in many ways, he reminds me of myself.

Oh! We also had a tri-mission conference. Elder Holland of the quorum of the 12 apostles, and Elders Robbins and Texeira of the 70 spoke. 

Before the meeting started, Elder Holland wanted to shake every missionary’s hand, and I made sure to stick to the statement he requested from each missionary (my name, where I was from) but as I went to release his hand and walk to greet the other authorities, Elder Holland hung on and drug me back. He looked me dead in the eyes and said thank you for coming before finally releasing me. It was interesting.

He later made a statement to the effect that, he had had an instant interview with each missionary during their handshake; and that he could tell the caliber of missionaries that we were, from what he saw in us. I wonder what he saw in me?

He was much more positive than we had been expecting. I left with my eyebrows un-singed. He shared some interesting thoughts with us.

Thank y’all for your prayers, Love y’all! Have a great week!

Elder Derek Troy

Trying out his artistic side

It has been a great week! We have found a lot on campus. 

In the family ward, we set a baptismal date with a young boy from a part-member family, named Aden. 

We enjoyed conference and look forward to the schedule changes resulting in greater faith and religiosity at home!

Elder Heiner and I were inspired by Elder Gong’s attempt to paint with water colors. We're trying it out today! Elder Heiner is very artistic. I would like to be. We’ll see how it goes!

Elder Derek Troy

Elder Holland and an iron will

Hello all!

No group letter from Elder Troy this week, so we’ll just share a few snippets of his letter to the family.  As you can see, he is laser-focused on the work and finishing his mission strong!  We had a good laugh at his last sentence.

Thank you for your continuing support and love of our son.  We appreciate you all so much.

JD & Terri

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It was recently announced that in October we will be going to a tri-mission conference where Elder Holland of the 12 will speak. He’s one of my favorites, so I’m excited. Hopefully he surprises us with a very spiritual and uplifting address!

We have had a great week this week. Elder Heiner and I are experimenting with some new ways to find people to teach and baptize through part-member families. It’s been really successful, so we’ve been sharing the techniques we’ve developed with the zone, and everyone’s excited about it.

In the YSA ward, the people we are teaching are progressing really well! Finding is going smoothly, and the weather is finally lightening up, which makes campus contacting more comfortable.

We have to do something called “my plan” at the end of our missions. It’s supposed to be this really spiritual program where the missionary prepares to return home as they finish their mission. So far, I found it to be more focused on trying to make missionaries trunked out. It’s not gonna work with me, I have an iron will. But I hear that when missionaries get to week five, which is on the subject of dating and eternal marriage, they crack. I’ll try to stay strong.

Love y’all!

Elder Derek Troy

Baptisms A-Plenty!

White Oak finally had a baptism!

Andrew and Aden were baptized this weekend in a very smooth and well attended baptism.

The only hitch was that the entire Spanish branch was there at the same time using the building for an event, even though we had the building reserved. The Spanish cultural event was supposed to start at 6:30 but nobody arrived to even set up until 7. Haha. Bro. Martinez went out into the hall to keep all of the rowdiest kids quiet during the baptism (he’s the man!) so it worked out! The Spanish folks were all super nice and tried to send us home stuffed.

It turned out though, that Aden (age 8) though that when we talked about how baptism symbolically represented our deaths, that it meant that he would literally die under the water and come back to life, so he was secretly pretty worried hahaha. His Dad, Andrew, said that when he woke up on Saturday, Aden was already awake, looking tired and a little nervous in the kitchen. 😂 But Andrew set him straight.

That was the first baptism the ward has had in 10 months, so we feel pretty accomplished! I did both confirmations and am super proud of their family.

I also got to go back to the College Station Stake (where I served for a total of nearly 9 months) for a ‘why I believe’ fireside event. While there I got to see all 3 of my missionary trainees again (all of whom I trained in that stake) and even reunite with Rudy Martinez. Always happy to see my CSTAT family!

We aren’t sure who is getting baptized next here, but we know that we’re baptizing. Come hell or high water (better not jinx it though, it is still flood season) we will find the person who is prepared here.

We got a sweet referral yesterday and are pumped for where he will go. A few months ago, we talked to a fellow on the street who was polite and talkative, but declined our invitation to learn more. This weekend, a member actually referred him to us as a friend of his. He had no idea about that earlier event. Cool ‘coincidence’!

Love y’all!

Elder Derek Troy 

Campus conversations continue...

Hello! I am alive. This is the last week of the transfer (I’m very unlikely to be moved) and next transfer is my last :(

Andrew and Aden’s baptism is looking good for this weekend!

We’ve been meeting lately with a YSA aged girl named Milan from the college. She’s been doing awesome. She has been reading the Book of Mormon a lot. Her priest (her family is Catholic) has been telling her a lot of interesting things about us. She doesn’t believe them, which is good, but she will have a lot of family opposition to overcome.

————————————————-

We’ve been meeting a lot of catholics on campus lately. It usually goes like this:

“Hey! Would you mind answering the question on the board?”

“Sure, no problem”

“Cool. Are you very religious?”

“Not really”

“No worries! Our job is to help people become closer to God. What do you think that you need to do to get closer to him?”

[10 minute chat, lots of questions...]

“I’ve had a great time talking with you. You have some great questions that we would love to help you to answer. Can we schedule a time to meet this week and continue our conversation?”

“I would, but I’m Catholic.”

“Didn’t you say that you weren’t religious?”

“I’m not. I’m Catholic...”

————————————————-

What can you do?

Anyways, here are some pictures:

I have a weird affinity for running lights on pickups. But this guy overdid it, even for me:

Keeping campus conversations going!

Here’s a school playground in our area with oil and gas equipment in the background. 

Elder Derek Troy

Laser focused

I’m trying to finish my mission focused, so you’ll definitely be hearing less from me until November. Sorry! I haven’t emailed anybody much the last few weeks, and that’s not going to change.

We cover a YSA campus, and it’s been surprisingly fun to proselyte there! I’m including a picture of working on campus. Elder Loveland and I split up (within sight and sound) to talk to more people. We have to stay in the ‘free speech zone’. I like to set up a whiteboard about 50 ft from the entrance of the Arts building, so that it’s the first thing all of the students getting out of class see when they exit. It’s worked really well! I think I’m getting pretty good at it.

Sometimes I talk to groups of three or more people at a time. Now I just need a milk crate to stand on! Frequently, while I’m sitting and teaching someone, other people will walk over to the board and discuss it. They often even take pictures of it.

This week the question is: “Could your spirit have existed before you were born? Where was it?” 

I’ve gotten some interesting responses!

We’ll find 4 people to teach in as many hours on campus. That would take about 14 hours of door knocking over the course of a week. Campus is super productive!

Also, here’s a pic with some of the leaders I serve with, and most of the Elders I came out with.

Love y’all! Have a great week!

Elder Derek Troy

Hot and humid

No group letter from Elder Troy this week, but he tells us he is busy!  We recently received his travel plans to come home the first of November, so it’s getting real!  Can’t believe this missionary has only a few months left in Texas.  Late summer is a tough time in Houston! They had temperatures near 100 degrees and 70% humidity this week.  Eek.

As usual, we appreciate the love and support you have showed our son.

Love you all, 

JD and Terri

Elder Troy with all his “children” (those missionaries that he has trained so far)

Elder Troy and his companion, Elder Loveland, with a member of their ward.

My joy is full!

What a great week I’ve had!

It was tough to say goodbye to so many good people in College Station, especially since I was there for such a long time! I was able to see some of the best and most prepared people I’ve met on my mission enter into the waters of baptism. But I am bound and determined to make the next 3 months the best of my mission. We’re off to a good start so far!

I’ve been transferred into the White Oak and Sam Houston 2nd wards with my new companion, Elder Loveland. My new address is 10910 Gold Point Dr, Houston, TX 77064, apartment number 1114

White Oak is a small ward in Suburban Houston. Sam Houston 2nd, however, is not. The Sam Houston 2nd ward is a YSA ward, and its boundaries are enormous! We could cover a third of the mission if we had people in those far flung areas to teach. It includes the campus of a relatively large community college, Lone-Star College. School will start in a few weeks and I’ll begin a totally new challenge in proselyting the thousands of students on campus! What a test of courage!

Elder Loveland is from a little town just South of Portland, OR. I have another PNW companion! He’s been out for 11 months and this is his second transfer in the area. He likes rugby and being a missionary. He’s also a red-head.

This week was incredibly productive. I learned on my first day that the White Oak ward hadn’t had a baptism all year yet. Well I felt like that just wouldn’t do, and we would need to step up our efforts if the Lord was ever going to lead us to people who were prepared, so we worked our tails off this week. We saw many miracles as a result!

To start, I wanted to go get to meet as many Part-Member-Families in the area as I could in my first week, and we met a sweet family on my first night with two little girls, named Zion and Genesis. They both accepted baptismal dates!

I also got to go on exchange with Elder Ramsey up in small town Waller, TX this week to go conduct a baptismal interview. Kailei passed her interview with flying colors and will be a great member of the church! While I was there, we also got to teach two families (at once!) and set three baptismal dates, and found 7 new people (in two families!!!) who wanted to investigate the gospel! Wow!

I was also treated to fried alligator. It was good!! Genuinely tasty. Like chicken but slightly denser, less fibrous, and tougher. I think I prefer it over chicken, not that I’ll likely have that option often!

While I was gone, Elder Loveland and Elder Wiley were able to set an additional baptismal date in our area in the YSA ward with James, whom I haven’t met yet, but am excited to!

When I got back in town with Elder Loveland, we had an appointment with another part member family and were able to set two more baptismal dates, one for a soon-to-be eight year old child of record and one for a father who will be a new convert!

My heart is so full of gratitude. Never in my whole mission has my companionship been so blessed to extend the saving ordinance of baptism to so many people. What a blessing they will receive! And how blessed we are to be able to help them in their Journey!

White Oak ward has not had a baptism yet in 2018; we have four dates right now! So blessed! 

To cap it off, I found a young man named Allan almost a year ago. We found him knocking, taught him most of the lessons, and then handed him off to the YSA sisters, where he was baptized just a week or so later. We figured the YSA ward would do the best job of helping him integrate into and stay active in the church. 

Imagine my joy to see him on Sunday in church, and to learn that he has stayed fully active, and is preparing to receive the Melchizedek priesthood shortly. What’s more, he had still remembered me and my name after all this time.

My joy is full! 

Following are pictures with some of the families we had to say goodbye to in CS.

Elder Derek Troy

What must I do to be saved?

Hello! 

Glad to hear that y’all have been enjoying the weather! We’ve had some rain lately which has lowered the temperature, but the humidity has spiked so much that the temperature feels every bit as high! This week is in the low 90’s all week but the heat index says it’s supposed to feel like 100-102 😭

This week has been one with mixed emotions. Last night I was told I’m being transferred and honestly, I’m both saddened and relieved. Saddened because I think that in some measure, I have failed. I did not succeed in inspiring the zone to change. Relieved because now it is somebody else’s problem. 

College Station has been good to me. I’ve had three baptisms here, and a fourth I found and taught was baptized a few months ago by my successors in Brenham, and a fifth will be baptized by Elder Palmer on September first. If only I could have shared that success with everyone here!

I’ll be leaving the zone saddened and disappointed. I am optimistic, however, that my replacement will have whatever is required to solve the problems that this zone has.

I’ve resolved with the next 3 months of my mission to give everything. I am recommitting to  be focused and diligent and have decided that these will be the best three months — most diligent, spiritual, and obedient — out of all 24.

Please support me in that effort by helping me to stay focused on my purpose!

Lately I’ve been working on a vast personal study which has broadened and deepened my understanding of ‘The Gospel of Jesus Christ’. I though I would share what I have learned.

While ‘The Gospel of Jesus Christ’ is a pretty vague term, I would summarize it as the answer to the question ‘what must I do to be saved’? This questions has been debated and even warred over for thousands of years. Many good Christians (and members of other faiths) come to different conclusions about the answer to this question in their various sects. Here in the Bible belt, this question seems to be debated more than any other — as it is the core theme of Jesus Christ’s teachings.

Occasionally, however, we are given an incontrovertible answer in the scriptures. I have sought to find every inarguable statement by Jesus Christ or his Apostles about what is required to be saved, and the results have been surprising. I have not yet finished compiling everything from the Book of Mormon, so I’ll focus on the New Testament.

I found 75 passages of scripture in the New Testament (so far) which directly address the issue of being saved. Some passages are single verses, some are longer parables. I looked for any time the savior spoke about being saved, eternal life, the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God.

First, what does the bible say we are saved by?

1. Jesus Christ (8 times)

2. Knowledge or The Truth (6 times)

3/4. Grace/Faith (4 times, each)

5/6. Baptism/Works (1 time, each)

What does it say we should do to be saved?

1. Keep the commandments (16 times)

2. Have faith (12 times)

3. Endure to the end (6 times)

4. Be baptized (5 times)

5/6. Repent/Lose your life (4 times, each)

7. Become as a little child (3 times)

8/9. Be poor in spirit/have proper authority (2 times, each)

10. Receive the Holy Ghost (1 time)

What does it say prevents us from being saved?

1. Sin (14 times)

2. Lack of faith (6 times)

3/4. Love of wealth/being unlike a little child  (3 times, each)

5. Save one’s own life (2 times)

6/7. Be unbaptized/fail to endure to the end (1 time, each)

Interestingly, I observed that Christ is frequently separated from Grace and Faith in the New Testament. The Book of Mormon more frequently attaches Grace to Jesus Christ, as well as Faith. (IE The Bible says ‘Grace’ vs. the Book of Mormon more frequently says ‘The Grace of Jesus Christ’)

Christ and his apostles clearly taught us of the necessity of keeping the commandments. This was the highest priority in his teaching. Faith came second, and was also a high priority. I was also surprised to see how frequently ‘endure to the end’ came up in my study!

I’m excited to finish this study with the Book of Mormon now so I can compare the results of the two.

Have a great week everyone!

Elder Derek Troy

Elder Troy with two of his three "sons" (missionaries he trained), Elder Pinster and Elder Palmer

Elder Troy and his zone in front of the Houston Texas temple

Transfer coming and lots of leadership meetings

Howdy y’all!

I anticipate getting transferred here in a couple of weeks.  Please let everyone know to send snail mail to the mission office if they send any. Thanks!

So right now we have two baptismal dates, and I will probably leave before either of them get baptized, but I’m okay with that because I really just wanted Elder Palmer to get a chance to baptize early on his mission, instead of waiting eleven months like I did! He set a date earlier this week with a nine year old in one of our wards named Annabel. She’s super sweet! Our other date is with a Brother named Thomas. He’s a retired methodist minister. He has had baptismal dates before, but hopefully this one sticks!

We’ve had some interesting work with Less-Active members lately too.

It’s VERY hot right now. But not intolerable! We’re surviving.

Love Y’all! Have a great week!

Elder Derek Troy

Pressing on

Elder Derek Troy followers,

With our church Girls Camp and other things, we have been out of town lately and getting Elder Troy’s letters out to you has been delayed.  Sorry about that!

Elder Troy is doing well and still serving in the College Station, Texas, area!  Elder Palmer is still his trainee and is said to have lots of “greenie” faith with their investigators.  Haha.  They will be companions until Elder Palmer is done training with transfers on August 15th.  This is at least the third missionary that Elder Troy has trained.  They have a baptism for Thomas Smith coming up on August 11th and they are hopeful that Bro. Smith keeps this date!

Elder Troy said that he has no time to email most weeks, but always sends a quick email to our family.  He’s a bit stressed with missionary leadership responsibilities, but is doing GREAT, he says!

Please continue to pray for him.  He loves and appreciates all the support he’s received.  

Thank you so much!

JD & Terri Troy