March 18, 2013

Yep, drags on at lightning speed! Only a couple of weeks until transfers hit and I have 5 more transfers left! But whose counting? :) I hope I get a wedding invitation, even though I can't come. You absolutely need to talk Ashton into dressing dwight in a tux and lead him down the isle with the ring! That would be awesome! haha. People are just shuffling out on missions aren't they? I have managed to avoid serving in areas with brand new missionaries. Not that I don't want to serve with them, it's just happens. It's weird to think that they look up to us, just as I looked up to the more experienced missionaries when I was green.

This week went pretty slow, but much improvement with investigators, don't ask me how... we had 7 gators at church, which was awesome. We taught a lesson yesterday to a man who doesn't have much of a religious background, he is a non practicing catholic. We had one lesson and learned that he didn't have that close of a relationship with God, so this last one we focused on just prayer and receiving answers. He was real appreciative of the information, and committed to kneel and pray everyday. He is progressing fast, and I love his honesty and character. When he says he'll do it, he does. We later learned that he is a manager over 150 people in a big business, and one of those people is actually in our ward! I always wondered why he acted a little peculiar... it was because he was respectful, and chose his words carefully. He is accustomed to talking with big important people, it's ironic that he isn't accustomed to talking with God... :)

Something cool that happened this week, we had a talent/road show last saturday. We invited lots of people, and actually a few showed up! It was real good, we had less-active members attend also, and it helped them get to know more people in the ward. Many people performed, and they were all fun to watch. The sisters from a neighboring area performed, Elder Harrer performed a song he wrote, which is amazing, people filmed him, I wouldn't be surprised if it was on youtube. I...set up the mike and chair for him! :)

Sprimg break is here, and I've already seen some guys dance on a wall outside Mcdonalds. We aren't even near the beach.... Some of these college kids... bless their hearts...

It's always good to hear from you, and hope planning goes well! Love y'all!

March 11, 2013

I am speechless.... haha, That is exciting! Real clever idea! I am so happy for him, it's weird to think that he is going to get married... When I read that I'm going to have a new sister-in-law, I just smiled from ear to ear! I wish I had news that is as great as that, so my email isn't boring, but I don't... Ashton takes the cake on this one! I love the pictures too, her look is priceless. I guess I'll get to know her a lot more when I get home, I know they will visit after they move to Minnesota. But just reading the beginning of her blog tells me she is an exciting person. (deep breath) My little Ashton is all grown up now.... haha, Jk.

Well I'll give you some news, we can email family, friends, recent converts, and priesthood leaders. We also got another hour to write and email. About the work, everything is coming together now. A family we haven't been able to teach in a while is back taking lessons again. We have a baptism this saturday, if all goes well. We have three new, good investigators! And a couple funny stories!

To start out, our gator has a mean dog named Sadie. She just had puppies and is very protective, she is also a chain dog. When she is outside, she is real mean. After talking to a lady, we started walking toward our gator's mobile home. I told Elder Harrer that I saw Muriah, the owner, call sadie a few times and didn't see her go in. He thought the opposite, but was still cautious. He slowly walked around the vehicles keeping an eye out for the devil dog. By the way, this dog is mostly black, and it was night time. He walked and got about ten feet from their truck and a series of wild barks came from the side of it. I saw a flash of black run into Elder Harrer, and he stumbled back as he swung his new scripture case toward the dog. Needless to say he died....

So that is my cool story! Jk, the dog bit his case and put five holes in it. He hurried back and the dog stayed in it's protective circle. By the way the dog is super nice when it is inside.

But this same family, and also another family we are working with attempted to come to stake conference, but ended up going to the wrong building. They went to one that we sold to a baptist church, and they walked in, sat down and then ended up leaving as soon as they found that it wasn't the right church! Real funny people! But the work is going good, and all is well!

Love all y'all! Have a great week!

March 4, 2013

There is lots that is happening over there! That is exciting, I hope Ashton gets engaged, that will be awesome! But it takes prayer and fasting, and faith, have him talk to Dad about the email he just sent me, it was a good one! I hope that New Orleans didn't set Coree back from her progression, there was a family here that Elder Harrer and his old companion were teaching, and were progressing very well, but they went to Mardi Gras and when they came back they said they weren't interested anymore.... very sad, but they will come back as they realize that God won't give up on them! ;) I wish I could watch ESPN and see that shot, that stinks for bountiful, they try so hard! haha. Sorry I still root for Viewmont even though we don't have very many good sports teams....

But Elder Harrer is the senior comp, and is doing most of the planning and organizing, I am his helper! I'm going to do half the work now that I am caught up with the area. He may be senior companion, but that just means he makes final decisions.

We have a baptism coming up maybe this week, most likely the next. She is so ready too! They have come a long way and it's exciting to see the progression as always! But today is nice and cool, we are wearing our fancy sweaters, might I say GQ status? :) and we are going to go feed goats today! just one fun p-day activity! Nothing much has happened this week, we are still trying hard to get another family back to progressing to a BCD. They fell off the bandwagon, but were at church yesterday!

I think this news will make you happy, so I will tell you.... I got a letter from Jackie again, haha, It was sent to Eufaula and I got it late. So she is writing me again!

Anyway, has Jorgan become famous yet? Who is the next missionary leaving? and has Casey gotten over the Beiber faze yet? haha, I'm so glad to see that Beiber isn't in spell check! But thanks for the news! I love y'all and keep up the good work!

February 25, 2013

Well, how I got so many ties? First from elders who are getting rid of them, second from gifts from cool members, and third the thrift stores! Alabama has lots of good thrift stores, and whenever I see a cool tie for cheap I am tempted to buy it! I'm not going to be buying anymore ties, I am alright with the amount right now and so I am going to refuse the temptation. Callaway is great, temperature is awesome, but for the past half week it's been raining. I like it though. We have Callaway and Panama City in our area. Not Panama City Beach, just Panama City. It is tons bigger than Ozark, population wise. We are right close to the Gulf, but we don't see it too often. I already love serving with Elder Harrer, it may seem weird that we are together, but this area needs a lot of help, and there are plenty of other Elders that can train. He has prepared the area really well though, this is his fourth transfer, so he's coming up on six months here. And yes I did request him!

I think saying goodbye is one of the hardest things, because you make lots of close friends, and if you don't tell them you are leaving, some of them get mad! haha. But I was able to call some people and get pictures with others. It was good!

We are working with a couple families, and several other investigators. We have 7 BCDs, that's a lot, and satan is working real hard on all of them. I can see the huge change they are going through, and I've only been here for 5 days! We have already had some awesome experiences.

So who are the Taggart's? Is Sally the lady you work with at Bountiful? It sounds familiar, but can't see a face. And why did Tag's parents name him after their last name? Very interesting.... :)

Well y'all don't have to worry about me, we are staying in a high class apartment, and the members give us food plus the meals they feed us, and also a member takes us shopping the first of every month. I was excited to hear that! I am really going to enjoy being here, if we could get the members more involved it would be perfect!

I'll take some pictures for y'all, hopefully they will show the place well. Love y'all and I pray for you everyday! And we'll just have to have patience with Ashton, he'll make the right choice!