February 18, 2013

It seems that whenever the car is repaired, it is more likely to brake... The Lord is still watching over y'all, and I can tell. Things got cold here too. The weather people said there was going to be snow flurries, but none came... I was so excited to get a picture of snow in Alabama! But I just learned about transfers and it looks like I'm going to be going to Callaway this Wednesday! I thought I was staying in Branch for a little while, but the Lord has a different plan for me. Now I have to call many people and say my goodbyes. I think that's one of the hardest things to do in the mission, because there are so many people that I need to call! This transfer is HUGE, we have about 17 missionaries coming in, and when I came in we had only nine. It tells you how big it is.

Our week has gone great! We met knew people, gained new investigators, and those that we scheduled BCD's for are doing great. I know Elder Danner will do a good job keeping up this area. I also know he is nervous. This is his first time taking over an area! But I'm going to be with another one of my MTC companions, Elder Harrer, it's going to be one hard working, fast paced companionship!

We had an experience this past week. We went to a house where we were going to teach a couple of new investigators, and apparently the girl's mom, and the girl is seventeen, told them she was baptised and also told them that she found the church wasn't true because of the things she found in the Bible. I just thought, not again. But we gave them the clear choice, and bore powerful testimony, and asked them if they wanted to investigate still. They didn't give us an answer, which I think is good. But it might be a while before they are ready...Maybe they will have to move. That just boggles my mind though. I don't like to get into thinking about what happened, but it shows how tricky the devil is.

We had two investigators at church, and are excited to continue to see them progress! But all is well, because it ended well, for the present. I did get your package, and I loved it! The M&M's were a bit beat up, but everything else was good, we had a romantic lunch Elder Danner and I.....just kidding! It was real good though. It was a lot of food too. But congratulate Ashton for me! That is awesome, he'll get into the heavy work now! So what does this mean about Tati? :)

But it's good to hear from y'all as usual. I'm going to be sending a small package soon, that could mean a couple months though haha. But hope y'all enjoy your President's Day!

Ps. I got to meet the new special teams coordinator for the FSU team's mom! She was nice!

February 11, 2013

Wow, that's weird that Madi is engaged! The world is always changing, I guess ol' Centerville has to change also! I still think you haven't changed mom! Sorry I haven't sent you a birthday card.... I feel bad for that, especially since you always send me things!

I understand very well that sickness is not fun, especially when you have important things to do. I was sick with a dry throat and congestion for around five days, I stayed in two of those days. The lessons that we taught while I was sick wasn't fun, but I know God strengthened me for those. One lesson I took some tissues to use and I was expecting a short lesson and setting another date for next week, but it took much longer, longer than my tissues lasted.... that was miserable. Luckily she was kind and offered me tissues as I struggled to teach. We ended the lesson, and set another up for the week after. The next lesson went great though, I prayed for strength and what to say, I was well equipped with tissues, and the spirit was strong. They were definitely two different sides of the spectrum.

Our week went by alright, we have 2 BCD's set for this next month, and good prospects. Not as good as some previous one's but they will be assets in the church. But a couple days ago we had a great experience. We set out of our apartment with a day well planned. We came back after 30 minutes driving around finding out all of our plans fell through, like biting cotton candy and expecting something to chew.... we sat in the apartment then searching and calling some former investigators. Some answered, some hung up after we addressed ourselves... but we ended up sitting there with no real idea what to do. I knew the last resort was tracting, so we got on our knees and prayed for guidance and clarity on where to tract and what to do. Elder Danner had the thought to see one investigator, and so we drove and found that they weren't home. I had the faint idea to get on the bikes, so off we went to grab them. After the prayer I had the prompting to go tracting just down our street, but I shrugged it off thinking that it was only because I saw an attractive girl that I wanted to run into down on it. (Don't worry my mind is focused on the work, it was an observation (: ) But we rode our bikes around town attempting to visit one more person who also wasn't home, so we rode to the street and locked our bikes. With my legs tired from the giant hill we biked, I took my time locking them up and resting. We looked and noticed a couple walking on the sidewalk towards us. We said hey, and the guy asked, "How's your mission's going?" Immediately I recognized him from when Elder $ and I were ringing the salvation bell at Walmart.

I answered, "Well, tired from riding, but it's worth it!" We found that he lived right down the street from us and that he was from Utah, just barely moved down 5 months ago. His GF is from New York, they met online. Weird combination right? But we got their number and now we are excited to call them today and set up a time to meet!

Anyway it goes on, we continue walking and knocking, but the next funny experience happened like this. We are talking to Billy Ray, and he is very long-winded and a puppy from his house wandered out the door and behind a neighboring house. I asked him if he wanted us to pick it up for him. He said," Well sure!" I think he was a little drunk. I hurried around to grab the dog and saw he trotted into the neighbor's yard past the fence. I hurried faster as the dog rounded the corner again and as I turned I saw a family sitting there staring at me.... I said excuse me as I picked up the puppy, and it started crying horribly! I promised them I wasn't torturing it and I turned and walked away feeling embarrassed. But about halfway back Elder D stopped and looked back so I did the same. The teenage girl was following us, I asked her, "Can we help you?" She told us, "You have my dog...." I probably looked foolish standing there dumbfounded. I apologized and explained that Billy wanted it back, and she told us that was her uncle and her family lived in both those houses. We continued to talk to her and she turned out to be interested in the church. In fact, she only just recently became interested in church! I thought that was pretty cool. We are going to stop by again soon.

Well hope you like my novel! My sickness is gone and I feel tons better! I'm still safe, and hyped up again to do work! Thanks for the love and emails! Talk to you next week!

February 4, 2013

Well, it turns out that I'm sick too. It finally happened, I managed to avoid it for a long time, but it caught up to me. It should be gone in a couple of days, and it's not that bad, just a sore throat and runny nose. But all else is well. I'm sure y'all heard about the kid held hostage in Midland City, Alabama. That is in our area, and only five miles away from our apartment! We aren't really affected by it, only that it's all people talk about. Not much else has been happening. Our companionship is doing great and we are working hard to get people dunked! But more meaningful than that. :)

I'm glad everything is still going good over there, and that it has been going good since I've been gone! I'm not worried about my money, I was just curious. I thought that I paid for a lot of it, so if you are in a tight pinch, feel free to use it, I don't mind having to work for it when I get back! And about clothes, I will just "borrow" from my brothers! :) Not much has been happening by way of perfect investigators, but we are still praying and searching! I know we will find them soon!

By the way, have y'all been doing family history work? I've recently been on our family tree on Familysearch.org, and updated a few things.... :) you might need to check them to make sure they are correct, especially your information! haha. I'm not sure about the birth dates and birth places of Ashton and Jameson, and that's about all I did... It is way fun to look at that stuff, I still need to figure out how to find new information, and apply the sources.

How much has our ward changed? Has it stayed pretty much the same? I had a dream that a member from here took us to a gas station in Centerville because we weren't able to get it anywhere closer. I freaked out because I didn't want anyone to see me and know I was back early. It was weird because I talked to some of my friends at the gas station and I remember thinking afterwards, why did I do that? Now everyone will know! It was very weird. I hope you haven't had anymore dreams about me coming home early.... elder Danner had one of me going too. But don't worry, I won't!

Ten months left, 7 transfers, so I'm guestimating that I'm going to be in at least two more areas after this. Maybe even only one more! I would like that, that way I don't have to visit so many people after, when I come back. haha. I'm going to have to burn some of my white shirts because they are nasty. Mainly from last summer. I think I'll be good with what I have. I'll just need to iron more!

Love you and talk to you next week!

January 28, 2013

.....I spent like fifteen minutes writing you, and I accidentally erased it.... so this might me much shorter....

I'm not surprised that Jameson is injured again, it has been a while, so I knew he was due for one! That's weird how bad the weather is over there, here it's all sunshine and bright smiles! I heard that a cold front was coming in again, it might just be the same one.

Everything is going great, we are having lots more lessons, and many new investigators. My new comp is making sure that we stay busy, and it was real hard last week because nobody was available, but now that the ball has started rolling things will progress lots faster!

Our mission has been cut short a week because of the big missionary mass, so this transfer is only five weeks instead of six. I guess I'll have to go shopping with y'all when I get home! Do I have anything in my bank or checking account? I think I don't but I'm not sure.

My comp loves Alabama. But he hasn't been here when it's hot yet! He'll love it even more, especially the gnats that want to land inside your ears! This is his second transfer, it's weird being his companion, because it isn't like we were in the MTC. But I'm glad to have him, he is a big help, and sometimes a hindrance... :) but everybody has down sides to them, except the godhead!

11 more fast sundays left! but ten months... time is flying!

Love y'all and be safe!

Happy Birthday General Lee!!

January 21, 2013
So today is General Lee's birthday. I learned that some people replace Martin Luther King with him, I wonder who.... ;) We actually just heard people outside singing, we looked and saw a big group of black people walking the street. You know what they were celebrating!

All is well, VERY well! Tension has receded, but pressure added. Good pressure. It's been a while since I have been fully responsible in the companionship. Now with a new companion, and a trainee, I have to be assertive. It's weird to think that my MTC companion is now my kid! Thats what we call people we train. In reality he is a adopted son, because he is into his second transfer of training, I'm still trying to decide to give him my prosperity tie...

The house is changing again, it doesn't surprise me one bit, haha. And Jameson got into another sweet line of work! I can't believe his luck, or the grandeur of his activities! I would love to do that when I get back, get in shape, and learn spanish I've decided. But that all has to wait.

That is awesome that Adrian is back, and Brianna got her call! My comp said that he has a friend in that same mission, and he is able to use Facebook for proselyting. He might have a tablet, but he said he's unsure about that.

I just was thinking about not only how many people are going on missions, but how the world will be when they all start coming back, I can see how Israel is going to gather more rapidly. All the missionaries will come back and still be missionary minded and help the continual influx of new missionaries. There is going to be a huge amount of referrals! It all is happening fast, but at a slow day-by-day pace.

Prayer is very strong, helps people move along!

Love all Y'all and I always enjoy hearing from you. Thanks for taking care of my broken valuables, like I said, I think it's expensive, who knows!?

PS, did y'all get the letter?

January 14, 2013

Of course all the cool things happen when I leave! Y'all get new phones, Ipads, Dish, a dog, and much more....now a snow day?? That's torture! :) That is way exciting though! I'm glad nothing bad has happened though, it seems many things are looking up for y'all though. Things are looking up here too, transfers are this wednesday and my new companion is Elder Danner, my MTC companion! We are going to work, and do well, and I'm way excited for it!! My current companion was fun, and I don't hate him, but the pace was uncomfortably slow. Plus it's going to be great catching up with Elder Danner.

This week our main investigator is back, and she is still way involved in the church, we are going to set a date for baptism soon. We also had a former investigator come to church with one of our members! We are going to find out more about that. We were able to listen to a talk given by Elder Cook, and Elder Scott yesterday in stake conference. It was mainly about the Book of Mormon, which was great because of our investigators! You know those men are inspired of God when you listen to them. Elder Scott talked about temples and enduring. Makes me want to go to one so bad!

Nothing too new has happened, the weather is SUPER nice, like 65 degrees with a cool wind. Much different than -5 and snow! I recently bought a good rain coat for 10 bucks at the thrift store, it's thick too, so hopefully the weather gets colder! My watch finally died, so I got a new one for 4 bucks, I think this one will last until I get back. It dropped on the ground and perished... :( I velcrowed it to my backpack because the pin broke on it that kept it on my wrist... I should've took a picture of it.

We have 18 new missionaries, mainly sisters, so changes are imminent! The mission will never be the same. I hope y'all like the package I sent, more cool ties and a Star Wars picture I found in the thrift store that I'm sure is worth money! Don't worry, I'm not distracted!

It's great to hear all is well, and I hope ya'll continue to get dumped on with snow! I'm going to continue to pray for y'all so you stay safe! Love all of you!