December 9, 2013

 Great! I might just wear my huge trenchcoat, that way I won't have to pack it! I miss the snow and mountains, but I'll probably miss the beach as soon as I leave, haha. I'm excited to come back, but also sad because we have some people really progressing! And people we thought would take a while too, God truly is in charge of this work. Well update, we are in a tripanionship now because our DL was transferred early to be a ZL and we had to give him up to the AP's at night, it seemed secretive, so I took pictures! :) So now his companion is the new DL and is working with us! He is funny, and tells good stories. He is a jock, so he fits right in with us.

 Only three days left, time to clean, burn, and pack what is left! I will not burn any of the clothes while they are on me, I'm too close to be sent home early! :) I'm going to miss this ward... so these three days are going to be filled with pictures. Thanks for the updates for the past two years! We need to save all these emails in a file so they aren't lost in case they delete this in a couple months... But the church is true, the book is blue, the angel flew, and Joseph knew!

 See y'all soon! :D

December 2, 2013

I'm pretty sure I will be able to email next week, the email's length probably won't be that long... transfers are next wednesday, and so we should have a normal monday.
>  Things are going pretty normal here. I thought about my time here in Destin and Pine Forest, and even though we haven't had baptisms, I have found that doors were opened, and feet were put in them! We have room now to work with many people here, and who knows all the people who are going to be blessed with the Gospel because of those who welcomed us! We just helped move a part-member family and their son we talked with a while and he now feels comfortable with us, we talked to him about the gospel. He accepted to have the lessons. Another door opened! It may lead to his girlfriend taking them, and his sister. No good deed goes without a good consequence! I was going to say unpunished because it fit, but it didn't make sense...
>  I did hear about the field goal return from auburn! I'm glad y'all recorded it! I'm super excited to see it, there are a few 'bama fans here...:)
>  Our Thanksgiving went great! I had deep-fried turkey for the first time, and it was great! We also ate at a part-member's house and had fresh killed turkey, and fresh seasonings, it was also delicious! Funny thing, it is difficult to say which is better! :)
>  Do missionary's always talk with the high council when they get back? That is going to be awesome, my understanding about them has increased a lot. Who is on the high council? What missionaries are going to be coming back the same time? I don't remember who left around the same time.
>  Also, black friday....on a thursday?? We saw all the crazy people in the strip malls along 98, a wave of cars in the parking lot. One of our members said they went, and didn't buy anything! :) They went because their mom wanted to go get something, and this guy is in his 40's haha. He said there were guards around the I-pads, ridiculous...
>  That's all for the excitement here! Have any last questions for me, or things I should get before I get home?

November 25, 2013

Nov 25 at 10:25 AM

 It was fun being at the Smartt's. I didn't tell many people that my birthday was here, like you saw on the video, I still feel uncomfortable with lots of attention... but they are awesome! It takes an hour to get to their house from where we live. They are very resilient!  I did get the box, and I loved it! Those were the coolest gifts, I've told everyone about my Ender's Game T-shirt! I told Elder Miller more than 5 times... :) 

 That's weird that I'm coming home the 19th, so I have another week to stay, I wonder what they'll do with me. Probably a tri-panionship until the day comes.

 Not much is happening, besides thanksgiving. We are having a turkey bowl that morning, and we are inviting a lot of people, it should be super fun! Two visitors set it up, and it turns out they are from Humble Texas! One is a shorter white guy and the other an asian looking man, didn't catch their names, but what a coincidence!

 The next biggest thing for our ward in the christmas party the 7th, it's going to be good! The sisters want to perform with us in the talent show. So far we almost solidified what song we want to do... I love last second ideas! :\ haha. 

 Doors are opening for us, we have been able to have dinner and talk with a guy we've been trying to sit down with for a while. He wasn't ready for the lessons yet, but he agreed to sit in the lessons we teach his mom. Big step! We were also able to befriend an artist with a studio on one of the busiest parts of town, Harbor Walk. We talked to her and let her know we would love to help with whatever she needed in her shop, and she said she will call us to set up her christmas display. It is a great environment, and she is a good christian.

 Thanks for keeping me up with the fam! Love y'all! 3 weeks....again... :)

November 18, 2013

 

 I don't know anything about the flight info, but I did take care of the temple recommend! pres Smith said he'd mail it to me, that was like a month ago... I'll ask him about both. I'll have to figure out about sending my bike too, I don't know if we take care of it in the mission home, or if they expect us to do it ourselves before.

 I'm excited to see BYU's basketball team, and also all other sports! Especially Dad's basketball team, I think that's cool! We should make dad a coach hat! :) and a fancy, shmancy clipboard!

 Anyway our week went alright. I got hit on by a gay guy... yes it's true, I was weirded out, and a little flattered...JK! not serious. He was a street contact that we met on the beach last pday, and we got his number and gave him a BoM and tried to get a teaching appointment later in the week, but that's not what he was after. But being cordial and polite, and blatantly blunt said God delites in chastity, and I want to follow God, if you want to learn about his happiness give us a call, but until then please don't talk like that to us. We haven't heard back from him... :) 

 There is a lot of stuff planned for December! I'm excited. And I hear ya about the weird weather, yesterday we had overcast without rain the whole day, and since this morning it hasn't stopped raining... It's like a box of chocolate. you never know what you're gonna get! :] haha, we live pretty close to bubba gump's shrimp shack. 

 About the special musical number for the 15th...who's performing? /:)

New Pictures

November 11, 2013

 Y'all already heard about our branch becoming a ward? That was one of the most exciting things that has happened this week! We didn't know it would happen so soon, I was caught off guard. There were a lot of people there, and they didn't know about it either. A less-active family came, and one of our investigators, and also a lady who isn't a member, also affiliated with the less active family. We were way excited to see all that, and now it's going to be hard to call President Riley, Bishop Riley!

 We had a terrific week actually. We have a cool story of how we found a new investigator. So we were trying to have a lesson with this black guy who we met at Publix. We got an appointment, but it got cancelled the morning of. We happened to run into him again the 2nd time ever being in publix here, and set another time. This time we didn't call him in the morning and just went over with a member. We knocked on his door, and a lady and man we didn't recognize were there, and so we thought we had the wrong house, they were very surprised. They invited us in which surprised us. Turns out this guy lives with them, and he was asleep. But as we continued to talk with them it turned out we stayed for an hour! We found that this guy was a excommunicated member, and his wife isn't one. He went on a mission, and went to BYU, but wasn't living the right way. He actually came to church in January but hadn't been back. Elder Miller mainly talked with him, and the member and I talked with the wife. We talked about all sorts of religious topics, and thank goodness Bro Proulx knew his facts! It went super well, and I felt the Spirit prompt me with certain topics to bring up. The main message was Moroni's promise, and to take it straight to God. She has a very firm belief in the Holy Ghost, and not a crazy-bark-like-a-dog believer in the Holy Ghost. She was excited to hear the restoration, which she believes needed to happen, and gave us both their phone numbers without asking. We are going to see them tonight, and have dinner with them. The husband talked to Elder Miller about how he missed being a part of the Gospel, and how he wants to return. So everything was set up for us, and these people are prepared. It's funny how we found them through this other guy!

 We also had a powerful lesson with the less-active family who came to church, but just with their 3 daughters. The Spirit was strong, and you can tell their conviction and desire by how they look at you during it. There were many distractions, telephones going off, kids making noise, but there were a couple times where there was silence, and we bore our testimonies, including the member with us, and they took it in! It was a big step.

 Many things are happening, and all we can do is keep working and pray that God will grant us more of his mercy and grace to continue to keep these things going! 

 And I saw the picture you posted on Facebook, Sis Smartt showed me! :) haha

 Thanks Dad for representing me well! I wish I could've heard the talk.

 And last big thing, We pulled a 21 miler to drop off a book of mormoon stories and see a former investigator couple. It was worth the hour and 30 minutes of straight biking, we stopped at a members house to pick up the book and the look on her face that we biked there was priceless! total of 300 miles biked since the middle of last transfer, hoorah! :) Love y'all and talk to you next week! 4 weeks...

November 4, 2013

Halloween was pretty fun, the chili was really good! All I had to eat was the test cups, and that's it. We were more focused on who we should talk to and just having a good time also. There were more than 8 non-members there, the ones we invited didn't show though... But none-the-less they all had fun we heard! When we got in for the night, around 7:40, I just watched church Christmas movies, and Elder Miller practiced on his guitar. So pretty uneventful afterwards.

 Good news though! At church, a family that we've been trying to work with decided to show up! A mom and her 3 girls, it was awesome to see them. The youngest, who is 18, said she decided to go to go to church the day before and called her mom, and they were there! I tried to commit them to come for the next 4 Sundays afterwards, so we'll see what happens! :) Now we need to get the other 3 members of their family, plus our investigator who is also linked to them...

 We had a good week. Got a new investigator, but we haven't heard of major improvements just yet. And the Hispanic side of our branch decided to throw a fiesta tonight, and invited lots of members, plus another of our investigators. It was funny because it started as a dinner appointment with 2 families, but then more and more people were invited and it turned into this!

 We also have a new sister missionary, and guess what her name is?... Sister Grady! I did tell her about our Schnauzer, she just said, oh gosh... Coincidence? I think not! :) She's from Spokane, Washington.

 One more thing, we had a Family History booth in a Indian Pow-wow festival thing, and it went super well! I found many names for people who were looking, but also failed at some names. It's impossible to look up Indian heritage, because they didn't keep records! But luckily most of the people were white. I did take pictures, they are good!

 Keep strong! I'll do the same. 5 weeks

Clock Is Ticking!

 I'm staying here for my last transfer, yay! I love it here, now we need to pick up the work and get some solid investigators! we have many potentials and almost progressing investigators, but little things are keeping them back. A big one is work, many people are busy here!

 We had a cool experience on trade offs last tuesday. Elder Hawker from West Jordan Utah switched with Elder Miller for the day. It went real well, saw some people, beat 2 tall white guys in street ball, and got 2 new investigators! It was dark and so we didn't want to travel far, so we went to see some of the people in our complex. We knocked on the door that I thought was the right one and said to Hawker, what if this isn't her apartment? He said that we'll just say we were sent here to help you! The door opened and we didn't recognize the lady, nor her big doberman... it was a nice dog though! She thought we were her friend paul, and we weren't... She asked us if we would bring a load of stuff from her car up before we left, we agreed. Her car was filled with tubs and other stuff she needed moved in, so we moved it all. If only we said we were sent to help you...! We found out she was from West Jordan Utah also, another coincidence! We talked to her about what we do, and she said we could give the sisters her number! So it worked great!

 We are looking forward to halloween, we get to be judges of the chili cookoff, I'm excited! This week could very well turn out badly, with not many visits because of the holiday, but we'll pray and move along!

 I asked about tati and ashton because in your email last week you said you are going there to help them move home... but anything sounds good! I love hearing about the other missionaries! Nate is awesome, I wouldn't want to be in that predicament, it would feel gross and smell bad! But he will do very well! If it turns out anything like Carson, I wonder what he will look like when he gets back! :)

 Make sure y'all let me know what goes on with halloween! :)

 Love y'all and take care, till next week!

October 21, 2013

That sounds real fun! The biggest trip we took was 8 miles on our bike going east! It would've been much longer had we gotten to our destination, and had to have gone back, but a screw in my tire stopped that... :)

 This week wasn't the best of weeks, but we foresee this week going great! We have a return appointment tonight for dinner with a nonmember family interested in learning about the gospel. We had a great visit with them last week. It started with a nonchalant visit and when the time was right, asked them questions about their background and talked about what we offer, and now we are going back! I heard they own many boats, one is an optometrist and the other is a dentist. So they have plenty of money. haha. 

 The weather is continuing to cool down, and we don't have any hot days anymore. Things are looking up!

 Nothing much else exciting has happened. I learned that there is supposed to be a color run here in Destin sometime in November. I wonder if we could volunteer at it... :). And I did get the package, thank you! More than half the food is already gone, and the wrist band and head band are sweet! I also got a package of letters from the young women. There are many names that I didn't recognize, how many new move-ins have there been?

 It's weird to think that I only have 7 more emails! I don't know how much is going to be said in the last couple. 

 But I decided to wait to apply to college, and then have time to work on some scholarships and ldsbc takes applicants 10 days prior so that's good. I haven't found out much more info on how to send my bike home, but i will soon enough. And also, is Ashton and Tati going to be living with us next year?

 Love y'all and I laughed when you sent messages through sister Smartt, it made my day!

October 14, 2013

 I am sending the memory card today! So expect it later this week. You don't need to send it back...

 Cousin Jenna is getting married!? Finally! :) Jk haha. I think I said that about Ashton also, but I'm glad I'm going to be there for it! Maybe I'll actually get to meet him before their hitched! That is very exciting, and I'm way happy for her, and for us, it's good to have rich in-laws :)Jk! I'm also glad that Dad is alright. I bet he is making very good use of the time away from insanity. And how do you de-ice a plane? With an ice pick?

 Our week has gone good! Could have gone much better, but can't force anybody to be home or answer the phone! :) Good 'ol missionary work. I'm very glad we have members that are willing to take us around and see people. Bro Pehrson Hawkley took us around for 3 hours yesterday, and an hour and a half the day before. He is awesome.

 Our talks went real good yesterday. I prepared for a 14 minute talk, but only got 5 minutes to give it! It felt real good giving it, and the Spirit was guiding my words... Thank goodness for prayer! I had the feeling before the second speaker that I wasn't supposed to use my notes, have you ever got that feeling? You kinda think, Oh man... but thankfully it was only five minutes. We now have 2 potential investigators, and recieved 1 before the talks and also a nonmember decided to come back to this church after 20 years since he stopped taking the lessons. So yesterday went great, now we have to be sure to follow up and teach some lessons!

 Got a pretty good haircut last week, from myself...:) it doesn't look bad at all... plus Miller helped me a little. We used a set of clippers that almost didn't work!

 The weather is great here, how's it there? Any snow yet?

 Love y'all, and hope your week goes well!

October 7, 2013

We had a notice that we might have been evacuated, but the storm dissipated and there was no threat, just a day full of scattered rain fall. Conference was great, and I did get to see all 5 sessions. We had a member feed us breakfast and let us watch it there. We had to help them with their garage sale in return. This week we had a great lesson with an investigator, and now we have a baptism date scheduled! Elder Miller's first one, he is pretty excited. Here, it is hard to not get a member to come out with you for lessons. I love it! Everything is going fine out here, and things are still a little slow, but it is much busier than when we started!

Thanks for the information on the job and schooling, I talked to a member who is in that sort of stuff. He's not an agent, but works mainly with the information part of it, the name escaped me right now. I'm thinking of maybe taking online classes until I am able to get into school, and working. Do I have to apply to a school in order to do that? I know what classes I want to get into now, I'll email president and find out what I can do though. I don't feel like I need to immerse myself into schooling, but I do need to use the time I have and get some things done.

10 more weeks, it's going fast! For our mission to reach it's baptismal goal, our zone needs 30 baptisms, which divides it to 6 baptisms for our district, and we have one coming up in november now. We have plans to work with certain people, and know what people God wants us to prepare, now we need to get working! Our branch mission leader and us 4 missionaries depict at least 4 baptisms here in november, it is a good goal with names behind it! Definitely not a time to slip up!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. Love y'all!

September 30, 2013

I will talk to sis smartt again about the video, not that it's great or anything...:) This week went good! For some reason no less-active members are letting us in, but we were able to teach 2 new investigators, we are excited about them. Funny story, we ate with two members at longhorn steak house, and they let us order what we wanted. I ordered a 10 oz. NY strip, my comp ordered a 20 oz. steak, it was pretty big. As we were all talking having a good time, my companion spits out his lemonade on the table. I look, thinking he just laughed it up out of his nose, and he stands up motioning to jay shaver, the member, that he had something in his throat. Miller turned and jay stood behind him and did the Heimlich. A huge piece of steak came out on the floor, and miller picked it up, and we continued to eat. It happened so fast, it was funny! We were laughing so hard about the experience, and it was jay's first time doing it, so he was making tons of jokes. It was the hardest I've laughed on my mission! There were many people staring, but we didn't care. I wish my camera wasn't dead when it happened... then after we biked home, and I was still laughing about it! What added to the humor is the seriousness of the situation, yet it happened nonchalantly!

Well, two weeks in and we've already made a name for ourselves! haha. Next week is General Conference, so stoked! We are giving a talk the week after, a little less stoked! And before we know it all the holidays will come up and it will be time to go! We have a goal set for two baptisms before I leave, we are going to accomplish it. I have one in mind, but we'll have to find the other, but I have a good feeling that there are two prepared for us. We'll see what the Lord has in store!

Love y'all lots!

Destin!!

So I have no clue if the picture is huge on your side...But I'm here! Took a little time. I do look goofy...anyway the other picture I attached is of kellie Mecham Rowberry, and Her husband bro rowberry!

Sorry I didn't send pictures, I didn't think I took a lot, but turns out I have! :) but I will think about sending it soon, or maybe keep it until I get back! :) Anyway things are going great here, I already love the ward, and Sister Smartt and her son TJ, have helped us out a ton already! She is the one who sent you the video of me performing... They bought groceries for us the first day, and they are always asking if we need anything, they are going to take us to get my bike fixed today also, they are awesome!

We had a talent show and the sisters twisted my arm, so I played what I was preparing for half mission conference, I needed it to, I was super nervous! There are so many people here that are familiar to me, and I know that this is where I'm supposed to be the rest of my mission. The Ward is way excited to have elders again, and so there are tons of people willing to help us out with the work and anything we need. We also heard that we might be getting a brand new car this week, so our area will have two cars!

Elder Lane told us that the sisters in Pine Forest didn't really showed if they liked the scavenger hunt or not... it was awesome though, I should've took pictures of the poems we wrote!

Lots of good things are happening here, we haven't been able to have any lessons, because my bike tire is giving me problems and it has been raining on and off. It's supposed to rain all day today and tomorrow, but it hasn't happened yet, although there are huge black clouds coming in fast outside my window...

The sauce and spice is for y'all. The flag was from a member's non-member husband, he says he gets free things all the time, so he just gave me it! I did want a confederate flag, but I still got some time left. :)

This week a seventy is coming to speak to us, and I think this is my last half mission conference. It's going to be good!

Our address is 4010 Dancing Cloud Court # 392, Destin Florida, 32541

Love y'all and have a good week! I'll still be praying for y'all and Grandpa and great grandma!

September 9, 2013

I heard about the game, and I was way excited to hear they won! When I heard they were playing texas I thought the same thing, "Oh, no..." But That is way sweet that we have a good team this year. Do I know the quarter back? I'm not sure if I remember who he is... But it's going to be exciting to see Paul Lasike play, he sounds really good! I always admire a good rugby player! Our ward mission leader loves LSU and football in general, so he keeps us updated.
 We have been doing a lot of service here in Pine Forest. Mainly has to do with trees... and spiders... We cleared a corner of Bishop's yard that was over grown with trees and it was fun, and tiring. There was a huge Caterpillar in a branch that we cut down, so we took pictures of it, it was cool! I need to send my card, plus some other stuff, hopefully I remember!
 We had a real cool lesson in elder's quorum. It started with talking about some of Lorenzo Snow's experience, and somehow ended up with us talking about traits that we all have that help others. It was neat, and it felt good to compliment others on what they do well and what gifts they received from God. It goes to show how we all have things about us that add to the surroundings, either church or everyday life, that are given to us for that purpose.
 One more week, and we are transferring to Destin, hopefully... You never know with the mission! Not that I wouldn't want to stay here. I love the members here, they are great people.
 I am going to pray hard for Grandpa, that is a tough surgery he is going through. Our ward mission leader in Eufaula was out for months because of a heart surgery. Of course he was in his upper eighties... Good 'ol Bro Grafton!
 Also something funny. We had Zone conference last week, and they asked all who were not going to be here for the next one to bear their testimony. I wasn't sure if I would be or not, so I asked. Pres Smith said it would be in three months. I am still here for 3 and a couple weeks so I didn't give it. But then a missionary told me that the next one is a couple days after my departure day... So I might not have that opportunity! :O haha. We'll see, I might have to do it on a conference call or something.
 But that's about it for the excitement here this past week. So I'll try to find some cool things to do, or experience while I'm still here! :) But until next week, Love Y'all!

September 16, 2013

Haha, Dad is funny... It sounds like Dwight is in charge around the house! Forcing Dad to stay outside... :)
 News about transfers...It doesn't say we are going anywhere! But it also says the sisters are coming in still, so we've found a hole in the mission! :D So our thoughts are we are just going to chill with the other companionship and do whatever we want...JK, We think that our info is already in Destin, and we weren't, so there's no need to put us transferring from Destin to Destin... So we are going to coordinate with our leaders and figure it out. We do know we have a place there, thank goodness! Now we just need to be in the place. :)
 We are planning something special for the sisters coming in... We are going to hide the essential things they need at members homes, and have a little scavenger hunt... :) It's a clever idea to help them got on their feet faster, and get to know the members that will help them the most. What are some of the Items? Area book, desks, shower curtain... :) we are going to take pictures for sure!
 It sounds like Jameson has a sweet job! He is being blessed for sure. I'll continue to pray for Grandpa, just think what could've happened if we didn't pray for him... I'm considering it a huge blessing.
 Well, I have a more solid plan for education, and school. I'm going to pursue the FBI career, and I heard BYU has many students that are hired on. I bet there are closer schools that work just as well too, so I'll do more research when I get home. I have 2 transfers left...Crazy! I heard the roads are getting lots better around there. It's going to be exciting to see all the changes! But still 3 months left, still a long time!
 So I can't remember the Draper's names, but do y'all know Rockland and Lanette Draper? I'm pretty sure y'all do, but I wasn't sure. We have a new investigator, and Rock changed his life, so he knows him pretty well, even though they haven't seen each other for years... His name is Steve Evers.

September 2, 2013

Some crazy coincidences have happened this week. You wouldn't believe who I ran into! I don't know how much y'all remember sugarland, but a member in our ward had her parents here visiting, and after church, I was talking to a guy and I told him I lived in sugarland. Her parents heard and walked over asking who lived in Sugarland. I told them it was me and they asked me lots of questions like what ward, and who I knew, where in sugarland I lived, and I couldn't tell them anything. But I used what memory I knew and was able to piece some of it together, and telling them y'all's name helped too. They were like, I remember Tony and Michele! Long blonde hair, moved to California? Well anyway their last name was Mecham, and they definitely remember you teaching seminary! Their daughter lives in our ward, she's 23, and married, we just looked at each other like, do I remember you in primary? It was weird and funny! The next time we go over to the Rowberry's, that's her last name, we are exchanging pictures!

 I changed my profession again. I thought about it again, and flying would be good, but I feel that being in the fbi would be good also, being a detective. I've changed my final decision to a split decision! :) I will further pray and ponder! 

 This are is still slow, ward mission plan is being made THIS sunday for sure, but who knows? I thought it was going to happen three weeks ago! Our ward is funny, has great people in it though, and we know they can do lots of good, we just got to find a way to get all their efforts together for missionary work!

 Who is emailing me? Well... Jameson, Dad, Sis watts (Callaway), Elder Danner, Meagan, Elder Lane, and sometimes others, so not too many people! And I am waiting to see if they are moving us soon, or waiting for two weeks. I still don't know....:) I'll hopefully find out soon!

 Last box? Peanut butter m&ms of course! If you could find a hymn book for a uke that would be sweet! I'm not sure about other things... Head band for basketball. :) I'm going to be sending some things home, I haven't got around to it yet, but it will come! What are some things y'all want? I know there are some things out here that you can't find in Utah.

 God Bless! :) Love y'all!

 Ps, I'm praying for Jameson!

August 26, 2013

Haha, I was wondering why I didn't get an email last week... :) I trusted that you didn't forget me! That marriage photo was hilarious! Dad blocked two people with his big body! :D haha. I can't wait to meet our in-laws, they seem fun!

 Well, I've finally decided to be a pilot, and have a solid backup minor to go with it, in case something falls through. Dad's Idea of Westminister is a good one. I remember hearing the name, but where exactly is it again?

 If I was nate, I'd be nervous too! I wonder how many languages he's gonna know when he gets back! Probably like 50! He's a tough kid, and knows how to make a situation humorous! It's a real talent and will help in many situations.

 Nothing real exciting has happened this week, except continuing wacky rain patterns! Pouring for thirty minutes, no rain for 40 and then back to pouring. It makes it really hard to bike... We were able to have a returning member at church yesterday, it was great! She is excited to make improvements. It's weird to work here knowing that we only have like 4 more weeks to do it, and maybe not even that...I got like 10 emails today, Yay! Now I have no time to write to all of them... consider yourself lucky to get one! :) JK, I always make sure I write y'all! We are emailing in pensacola state college, and it is packed! Now we have like 10x as many people looking at us weird! :) haha, I know what they are thinking, where are the aliens that are going to get plastered? :) jk, it's mainly just jealousy!

 We have a basketball night, and a volleyball night, and they are pretty fun! I'm decent at basketball, and my companion is super good at volleyball, so I found the reason why we are both here! :) There have been 2 investigators already from basketball night, we are hoping to get more and invite more people to it.

 That's about it, I'll have to find some better stories for y'all next week! LOVE Y"ALL!

August 18, 2013

All is well here! Everything is slowly improving, and we were able to get 2 new investigators last night! We group taught them, because the other pair of missionaries were with us. It went super well, and Elder Miller did a great job at the how to begin teaching points, he learned well! Things are still slow, but we have a firmer grasp on the area now. The ward had us also give talks Sunday. Mine went well, until halfway I noticed some heads down, so I knew I had to change it up a little, and so I freelanced the talk. It got their attention back, and so I went back to the end and finished it. It was only supposed to be a 10 minute talk, mine turned out to be like 20...:)
 Nothing too exciting happened. It rained for about two days straight. A tropical storm hit and drenched us, but it wasn't too bad of one. But nothing too new! Elder Miller is a good cook, and he plays the guitar well! Something else that's funny is that we report key indicators weekly, but since there wasn't supposed to be missionaries here, it isn't set up yet on the computer, so the mission office doesn't get our work... they are trying to fix it now, but I don't know if we are going to destin at the end of the month, or the end of the transfer, but we'll see!

Surprise!! - August 11, 2013

Now get this... I woke up transfer morning and took a shower. When I came out, my comp told me Elder Blanchard called and said that since Destin hadn't been open yet, that I'm going to Pine Forest for about a month! For a while I thought it was a big joke, seeing that he was going home the middle of this transfer, but we got to the meeting spot and he told me that they didn't have an apartment for us yet, and that they were going to do that, but in the mean time we are working in Pensacola! So now here we are, in the soon-to-be sister's new apartment opening a second companionship in Pine Forest! We see it as kind of a boot camp before we go to the beach! And I'm glad we did come here, because I have never opened before so I'm learning a lot from this practice session! Elder Lane, my old com padre, and Elder Simmons are the other two, and Elder Miller, from utah/texas is my trainee. He's 24, an old fart! :) He's a great guy, real nice!

 So far we mainly organized the apartment, and cleaned. We had one lesson! It was good, can't wait to get more people to teach! There are no progressing investigators that are being worked with, and the members aren't too gung ho about the work, so we are brain-storming ways to improve the area. But thank goodness next week the bish is getting back, and the ward mission plan is being put into effect. I wish it was this week though...

 This area is the total opposite of the beach. Many old people, lots of trees, but there are many more businesses than Callaway. I find that opening an area is a lot like being a entrepreneur, we make our own schedules, and have to work hard to be successful! The members aren't used to hard working obedient missionaries, so it will be hard. But with hard work and time will come fruits of our labor, so we'll see how this all will go! :)

August 5, 2013 -Reports are in!

So there are going to be some big changes over here! Nothing like Ipads yet, but they are still coming! :) But looks like I'm moving! So I'm going to be training...and I'm opening a new area i think... I'm going to destin! Awesome right? It's a branch, so I know I'm going to love working there, I like starting small. I'm not sure if I will be working with sisters again, but It's going to be crazy starting brand new, and training fully! I am way excited, but also nervous, as always, and I'm pretty sure there are many more things to take pictures of there! I'm definitely going to miss the people here, we have a baptism this saturday that I will miss... :, ( but he is prepared and I'm still counting it! :) it's the last of the investigator family, the dad's brother. He finally is ready!

 Once again it's going to feel strange moving, I hope I will get a companion that likes basketball! haha. This will be a stressful, yet exciting transfer! And just as our ward is on the up and up with missionary work, and a awesome new bishop, I get transferred! Lame right?

 Want to hear the story of the week? So we bike all the way across our area to contact a referral, it took us an hour of hard bike riding, we look for his apartment, and can't find it... we get a nearby member to help, still can't.... then the guy calls and says he wasn't even home, and he isn't interested... :( haha, lame.... but we got pizza from the member, so all was well!

 Actually I have a better one, Josh, the one who is getting baptised, had an appointment scheduled for saturday night. We got there and then he texted us, saying he was at work.... so we taught the guilford family. He came in about halfway during the lesson covered with black paint, looking dead tired. He told us he started work at 530 in the morning, and it was 8 o'clock then. Long time! He said that he could've finished tomorrow, but wanted to go to church, so he worked 8 more hours to get it done! That was awesome to hear! We had a short lesson, and he about fell asleep. The next day he couldn't make it because he got paint in his eyes, and they swelled the next morning...:( but it's all good! haha

 So that's a little of what happened! Many great things! But not as great as y'all! :D