Meet Irad Garcia Martinez, a recently returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Benin, Cotonou mission in West Africa, where he faced language barriers, cultural adjustments, and new environments. Despite these challenges, Irad learned English and French (and 2 local dialects), and adapted to his mission field with great faith and perseverance. Throughout the discussion, Irad reflects on his conversion at age 14, his family's struggles and blessings, and how trusting in the Lord brought solutions to many of his and others' problems. Irad emphasizes the importance of keeping faith, studying scriptures, praying sincerely, and serving others to overcome adversity and maintain joy. Key themes include letting the Lord prevail, the power of prayer, and the gift of tongues.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:56 Mission Call to West Africa

01:41 Learning Languages on the Mission

03:19 Challenges and Trusting in the Lord

08:29 Conversion Story and Family Background

16:44 Spiritual Experiences and Scriptures

21:33 Leadership and Overcoming Difficulties

22:37 The Joy of Sharing the Gospel

23:34 Maintaining Joy in Hard Times

26:18 Returning Home: New Challenges

27:41 Life After Mission: Continuing the Work

31:26 Family and Personal Growth

33:15 Habits for Spiritual Growth

35:46 Receiving and Recognizing Revelation

38:59 Final Thoughts and Testimony

Meet Katie Cherrington, a recently returned missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in the Bentonville, Arkansas mission from June 2023 through November 2024, and shares her experiences of learning to trust God, overcoming fear, and embracing discomfort for growth. Katie discusses her outdoor-loving family, her passion for tennis, and her deep connection to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through stories of her mission, including the dedication of the Bentonville Temple and learning to work with companions, Katie illustrates the importance of faith, repentance, and charity. Scripture references such as Alma 32:21 and Helaman 5:41-47 highlight her journey from fear to trust, ultimately finding joy and purpose in her faith.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:22 Katie's Background and Hobbies

01:54 Mission Experience in Bentonville, Arkansas

02:45 Temple Dedication and Miracles

05:08 Lessons from Tennis and Companionships

07:26 Trusting God and Overcoming Doubts

09:32 Prompting to Serve a Mission

12:23 Scriptures and Personal Growth

18:20 Understanding God's Love

22:44 Embracing Trust Over Fear

24:06 Overcoming Fear: A Personal Journey

26:18 Influence of Mission Leaders

27:18 Lessons from Mission Presidents

28:12 The Power of Charity

29:50 Embracing Eternal Discomfort

34:01 Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause

38:00 Maintaining Spiritual Practices

41:39 The Role of Priesthood Blessings

42:53 Final Testimony and Reflections

Cade Goodwin served in the Texas Houston South Mission as a Spanish speaker from early 2023 to November 2024. Cade shared his experiences from his time as a mechanic before his mission and how it helped him in his service. He emphasized the importance of understanding and problem-solving, which he applied to both fixing cars and helping people spiritually.

Cade shared his personal experience of how his mission changed his perspective on relying on the Lord. He realized that the Lord is interested in the small things and cares about what matters to him.

Cade emphasized the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone and trusting the process, which led to significant personal growth. Cade identified the largest personal changes he experienced from his mission as his ability to adapt, his understanding of others, and his willingness to take on challenges.

Verses of Scripture referenced in this episode:

Isaiah 22:23-24

James 1:5

Mark 10:27

Alma 7:11-12

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541

Meet Gabe Ellermeier, who recently returned home from the Argentina, Buenos Aires West Mission where he served from November 2022 through November 2024.

Gabe discusses his background, family, and hobbies, and delves into how his mission and upbringing in a mixed family environment have influenced his ability to connect with diverse people. He shares his journey of spiritual preparation for the mission, highlighting practices like prayer, scripture reading, and receiving a patriarchal blessing. Gabe explains how specific scriptural verses and his admiration for the prophetic missionary Ammon guided him. He recounts heartwarming experiences of service that opened hearts and changed perspectives, such as digging a ditch for a family which eventually led the initially uninterested husband to listen to their message. Gabe also reveals the personal challenges he faced halfway through his mission, including anxiety and panic attacks, and how a revelation received by his mission president allowed him to continue his mission with a new assignment. The conversation further explores his life lessons from the mission, the impact of regular scripture study, and the skills he gained. Gabe concludes with thoughts on the unchanging love of God despite human imperfections, his career aspirations, and his strong testimonial, which he shares in Spanish as well.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:12 Gabe's Background and Family

01:13 Mission Experience and Preparation

06:43 Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles

13:28 Post-Mission Reflections and Future Plans

19:16 Spiritual Insights and Testimony

34:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Verses of Scripture referenced in this episode:

Moses 6:34

The story of Ammon in Alma 17-19

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541

Finding Spiritual Strength and Connection Through Music and Service: A Conversation with Christian Ragozzine.

In this episode of 'Can You Feel So Now?' podcast, host Justin Barton sits down with Christian Ragozzine, a recently returned missionary who served in the Denmark Copenhagen Mission. Christian shares about his family, passion for drumming, and love for music. He discusses how his musical interests helped him connect with others during his mission, enhancing his service and spiritual experiences. Christian recounts specific incidents where music led to meaningful conversations and how his understanding of prayer and reliance on the Savior evolved over time. He also reflects on critical lessons learned about repentance, personal growth, and God's love for all individuals, regardless of their situation. The discussion provides a deep insight into Christian's faith journey and the spiritual milestones that continue to guide him.

Some verses of Scripture referenced:

2 Nephi 33:1

2 Corinthians 12:10

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:17 Christian's Hobbies and Interests

01:10 Music and Mission Experiences

03:44 Scriptural Inspirations

05:42 Language Challenges and Spiritual Growth

11:47 Power of Prayer

17:08 Understanding Repentance

21:36 Sharing the Gospel with Everyone

26:25 Looking Forward with Faith

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you have felt a desire to make a change in your life due to anything said in this conversation, I invite you to get out and do something about it now, so that when the questions is asked, "Can You Feel So Now?", you can answer with a resounding YES!

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541

Meet Tryston Arnold, a recently returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Texas, Houston South Mission.

In the discussion, Tryston speaks about a time when he felt hopeless during his mission, and he recounts an experience where he had to train a new missionary in an area that seemed unproductive. Initially, Tryston lacked hope, but by acting with faith and trusting his companion, they saw miracles happen. Tryston explains that he sees faith as taking action with expectation, while hope is the belief that things can change. The discussion highlights how having faith, even when feeling hopeless, can lead to positive outcomes.

Some verses of Scripture referenced in this conversation:

Alma 36:3

Alma 7:11-12

Matthew 11:28-30

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you have felt a desire to make a change in your life due to anything said in this conversation, I invite you to get out and do something about it now, so that when the questions is asked, "Can You Feel So Now?", you can answer with a resounding YES!

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541

Meet Brayden Crossley, a recently returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Benin Cotonou Mission from November of 2022 until December of 2024 covering the countries of Togo and Benin.

In this conversation we discuss a wide variety of topics that led to change and growth for Brayden. Some of these topics include: sports and music, working together with different people and making harmony, breaking down barriers, making Christ the focus, and what it means to be righteous.

Some verses of Scripture referenced in this conversation:

Helaman 5:12

Ether 3:1-6

2 Nephi 25:23

Luke 22:32

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you have felt a desire to make a change in your life due to anything said in this conversation, I invite you to get out and do something about it now, so that when the questions is asked, "Can You Feel So Now?", you can answer with a resounding YES!

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541

Meet Breckin Krumbah, a recently returned missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the California Bakersfield Mission from November of 2022 until November of 2024.

In this conversation we discuss a wide variety of topics that led to change and growth for Breckin. Some of these topics include: mixed families, influence of a righteous mom, perfectionism, death of a loved one while serving, prayer, work horses vs. race horses, and making Christ the center of your life.

Some verses of Scripture referenced in this conversation:

Ether 5:6

2 Nep 4:28-30

If you or someone you know and love has very recently returned from their mission and would like to record a similar conversation, please send an email to alma526rm@gmail.com and we will line it up.

If you have felt a desire to make a change in your life due to anything said in this conversation, I invite you to get out and do something about it now, so that when the questions is asked, "Can You Feel So Now?", you can answer with a resounding YES!

If you find value in this project and would like to support its growth, please consider contributing anything you can. Venmo: @Justin-Barton-33 last 4 of phone is 8541