I knew that USU and U of U was playing, but I didn't get to hear about it. That is great news though! About the teams, I am more of an Alabama fan than an Auburn fan. Mainly because of the people, and the colors! Plus there is an Auburn fan that bugs me here, so that turned me away from them. Funny thing happened, we went to visit a family that we have been working with and they are renovating a home they have, and they painted a room perfect BYU colors! I made sure I mentioned that to them! It was fun looking through their house, they have half done, and they really made the other half look good, except the ninja turtle room that their daughter painted. Cool theme, but the room looks hideous. :)

Everything is still good! We are having another baptism Tuesday, and have been working with this member for a while. We also set a baptism date for another investigator for Oct. 13. Funny thing is, Elder Blanchard taught with me on that one and he asked her what she had against baptism, and she didn't have a reason, so we set a date! He was our zone leader and him and his companion came up to interview our baptismee! It felt weird teaching with him again. We had an awesome low country boil and it was delicious. They boil sausage, corn, potatoes, and shrimp in a big pot with Cajun seasoning and pour it onto a table and people dish it up! We were left with a lot of leftovers.

Transfers are Wed, and Elder Lane will be leaving Eufaula. I will be getting a new companion named Elder Blain. Funny right? Lane to Blain. I hope he will be a good companion like Elder Lane was. We did some work here in Eufaula and now I have to pick it up again and start pushing forward! I am always nervous to see who I will have to get along with next. Especially now that the Elder who has seen most of the movies I've seen, and jokes like I do, is going to be leaving. We really had a great time here. It's weird to think that after this next companionship I will be out a year! I hear it only gets faster from there.

Did you talk about me singing in your talk? Because I don't do it anymore :). Elder Tialino egged me on every time we talked to someone so I got used to it, but now, I know my limits, and solos are past those! But I will make this commitment, I will join the choir when I get back. I will not make my choir teacher bribe me to come. :) If you would cancel my solo for my homecoming that will be great! :) We'll work something out though next year.

I wonder who Jameson will date next! Since he's going through my grade I can refer people to him! :) Naw, I won't bug him about it. I do want to know if he's considering the ViSalus. But it sounds like he's doing good! He should wear my tiger shirt to some dates! That is a girl getter! I wouldn't be surprised if they ask him to marry them with that beast on! haha.

From what I heard, the world is going downhill fast. Everything is going whack. There are many rumors I've been hearing, and so many people are concerned about what the turn out will be. Hopefully everything is going good where y'all are. But I do know that if y'all are planning on buying guns anytime soon, that the cost of ammo is going to explode. I know that you aren't the guns type so I think you will be fine. Now everybody down here is worried, because they all have guns! Some people reload their bullets so it's nothing to worry about with them.

Well, I hope everything works out for this week. Everything should be fine, I don't think I will be involved in the cleanup crew further south. Our ward was advised to get their tetnis shots if they were to go down there, how scary is that?

Love you guys, and I hope all continues to go well!

All is well! We didn't get as much rain as we thought. We were preparing for the worst since Pres sent a message to everyone to prepare. We bought the same provisions as the elders on the beach! We were ready to stay at the church for a day, the car was loaded up with crackers, granola bars, a big pack of water, and even a blow up sleeping mat! A member heard we were staying at the church so he lent it to us. If that Hurricane came over us, we were ready to stay there for a week! We were also going to bring putters and golf balls in case we got bored... that would've been fun! But we got the message that we didn't need to worry about anything, and that it was going to miss us. We were very disappointed. I thought I was going to get a picture of the eye of the hurricane, but we were well over 100 miles away.... It is a blessing to miss it though, we got some work done this week. We have another baptism set for next Tuesday. A kid we, and the past elders, have been teaching for a little while. We hope that this will get his whole family coming to church. Elder Lane might be leaving next week and that's why they want to do it. There was much prayer and pondering, and planning, and many other things that end in ing! Who knew that baptism could be this hard of a decision, for us! He is a real good kid, we just hope his family follows through with him. We heard from the lady in the hospital, she is fine right now, actually back to work again! She is TOUGH! She is going to get stints for her heart in Columbus, and she is working.... Crazy right? But someone has to earn the money, and her husband isn't doing a good job now. We confirmed our investigator, and now he is an official member! So now we can't count his lessons as investigator lessons, we are going to have a lot of recent convert lessons though. It is great to see how fast, and how well he is improving. I know that nothing comes easy when it deals with salvation, but it definitely wasn't a cake walk for him! He is still dealing with quitting, still clean, but still dealing with it!

When I get back, I'm going to come back for his dog! Her name is Bella, she is like a tiger in color, slender and fast, has a cool white spot in her eye, and it isn't cataracts! She has the softest fur! And she is a good defense dog, super friendly, unless she doesn't know you! Catahoola, red nosed pit bull mix, awesome dog. I have also learned that some of the best dogs, and also the smartest, are the ones you find off the streets! He found three of his hunting dogs on the streets and they are real smart. Anyway, enough about dogs.

The hardest thing I find now is continuing to improve. I don't mean to sound arrogant and prideful. The easy changes are over, and if I get content with how I am I move backwards, I start regressing. We are working on charity, and humility right now, and it's real hard to not make fun of these people down here. Of course, if it isn't offensive or negative we can joke about it, but I find myself thinking negatively about many people. We watched an old short film about pride, and it's one of those cheesy eightees shows that you watch for seminary. It helped so much. It said plainly that pride can thrust you down to Hell, and is condemning, even being prideful to those who are prideful. Satan is very tricky, you really need to watch yourself these days. Now that the outward sins aren't a big problem on my mission, I need to work inside myself.

That is awesome that Dad is getting even closer to becoming a motab man! I brag about him over here for that, also that he supports the paddle and switch in his school ruling! haha Jk. The Mormon videos that we are allowed to watch remind me a lot of Roger's. There is a lot of the same actors in many of the short clips, and one man is in almost EVERY ONE!! The guy who plays the dad in the Testaments is EVERYWHERE,

Reply to:

Reply to Parker Smith

August 27, 2012...............11:27 a.m. E-mail From Mission President

Hello

Some of you have not been receiving my emails. We are sorry but hope all parents get this one.

Missionaries from the Mobile and Pensacola zones are here in Tallahassee and will stay in the church next to the mission home. Fort Walton Missionaries will go to the Crestview Building. The Dothan, Tally and Tifton missionaries will remain in their apartments.

I’ve been coordinating our response with the support of our area seventy, FM (building) specialist, weather specialist, and stake presidents. We feel like all missionaries are safe with our present plan.

The hurricane is presently aimed at New Orleans but could still change directions and land as far east as Destin, thus, we’ve removed all missionaries from potential danger.

The missionaries are having a GREAT time! Local members here in Tally are lining up to feed these refugees. They might gain weight as a result of such Christian behavior. We are working to coordinate members in Crestview helping to feed those.

We know you have some anxiety at home but rest assured that missionary safety is our highest priority and we won’t take any chances. However, continue to pray for us.

We not only have the best missionaries in the church…….we have the best and most supportive parents. Thank you!!

President Jensen

August 26, 2012...........4:46 p.m. E-mail from Mission President

Hi Parents,                    

The storm is taking a westerly route so at this time the Tifton and Tallahassee zone look to be out of the hurricane zone. The Dothan zone looks to be uneventful as well. However these zones will still get heavy rain.

The target area is now from Destin to Baton Rouge. My main concern is getting our Mobile zone missionaries trapped in Mobile because there is a tunnel and bridge that leads out of the city going east. Thus, I’ve just called them and ask them to evacuate tonight, just to be on the safe side. They will go to Crestview and stay in the church there.

The Panama City, Fort Walton and Pensacola zones will still be affected but there is still plenty of time to have them move as evacuation routes are good.

Our options are much better now because half of our mission is out of the storm path. Previously, it looked like the entire mission was hurricane territory.

Again, we will do all possible to keep your missionary safe.

Hope all is well where you are.

President Jensen

The hurricane just went awry, so it will miss us. No hammer and nails this time. haha, we will continue to do our missionary work in the pouring rain. At least there won't be high winds! The work is in a steady progression. We have had a slow week, but it's alright, there can't always be perfect weeks! I do have three, but I can't trust the post office anymore. I'll have to send it via European swallows. Apparently they are good at taking things long distances....;) I will send it sometime, I'm not for sure when, because it seems that weeks go by like days, and it is easy to put things off. I didn't write in my journal for a week, and I thought it had only been two days! It's weird that school started again, now there aren't kids roaming the streets like there used to be. Now we have to coordinate more with appointments, especially with families! I have seen my first brown recluse spider, it was stationary and I walked away, we were weed eating and it was near the grass. I have an awesome picture of this huge banana spider. It was just smaller than my opened hand. The lady didn't even know it was in her front yard! Thanks for the Ipod as well.

Yesterday we had our baptism! I was lucky enough to baptize him. It was real good. Afterwards he told me, with a big smile on his face. "I feel real good!" It was a neat experience, being my first time to perform the ordinance. I was praying hard to make sure everything went right, and that I wouldn't mess up! The pants were extra long, but that's alright. I didn't have anytime to get them seamed. Thank you so much for the pants again!

There also was another special experience we had. We visited a lady who had to go to the hospital a couple days ago, but couldn't get in, so sunday we went again to give her a blessing. She was real appreciative, and also made sure to ask if we could help with her lawn, which is an actual blessing, because her husband wouldn't let anyone do it, thinking we were doing it to convert him. As we were walking to our car, someone told us to freeze. Drue was there with his step dad and we walked over and talked with them. They were there because his mother was in the ER with chest pains, possibly a heart attack. They said there was no positive signs of it, which was good, but she needed a blessing. We walked in, and went to the curtain enclosed room where she was sitting on the bed, her face red with pain and tears in her eyes. We talked, and joked for a short while, trying to make the situation less tense. My companion then began with the anointing, and during that I was praying hard that I would have the spirit enough to end her pain. I let Heavenly Father know that I was going to bless her with relief to her pain, that she really needed it, and that I will follow the spirit for the rest. As I placed my hands on her head, she stopped me, because another wave of pain came, and she needed pressure on the front of her shoulder. After that passed I continued and said it. When I closed, she looked up at me and I could see the relief in her expression. She said the pain had passed! The redness of her face changed to her natural color, and she was very grateful. We learned that she is still at the hospital, the nurses are having her take heart medicine, but I do know from that experience, that priesthood blessings do work. That even though I was super nervous about giving one at a time of crisis, that I received help, and was able to be led by the spirit!

It's good to hear from you, and I hope that all continues to go well! Love y"all!

Hurricane Update

 Hey, just checkin in with y'all. There is going to be a Hurricane going through the south, but since I'm so far north I don't think we have much to worry about. The folks around here say it's going to turn into a tropical storm by the time it gets to us. Our mission is taking precautions and making sure we are all alright. Just letting y'all know. I might or might not be able to email monday, but we'll see. It's going to be interesting going through a hurricane... And don't worry, I won't do anything stupid! :)

Hey, sorry, I think I'm a size 38... but don't justify my size by dad's, he has been doing Insanity so he is losing weight as I'm gaining! Thanks for the package, I just barely got it, and haven't looked in it yet, but I look forward to it! The memory card wasn't stolen, I just believe some missionaries wanted to see the pictures I had in there! I'll do some investigating....? The NBA is getting weird....I won't know anybody on our team when I get back! But I'm glad CJ is gone. :) Anyway, I found that I need the baptismal pants, our investigator asked me to baptize him this weekend! Well, it was more along the lines of a coin toss... Hopefully these other pair fit perfectly! He has been doing great, he's done with the first set of lessons, and has given up lots of things for good. He is going to have a hard week!

Nothing too serious has been happening, the area continues to improve, and we just need to stay busy. This past week has been slower, but we still had good numbers. It is very interesting thinking about my position out here. There is so much hanging on us. We could choose to be very disobedient and do whatever we wanted, or be lazy and just stay inside where it's cool, but instead we choose to be out and stay busy. It's pretty neat to think how much we actually control out here. We had a lesson with a family who hasn't been to church in many months, and they committed to do it every week. I don't know if my patience is wearing thin or if I am not scared of tense situations anymore, but I am finding myself confronting them about it and finding out the real reason why they aren't showing. I found myself telling a man that if he believes that our church is true that nothing should be able to stop him, that even though the other church is more "fun" that he knows to come to our church. I could see the guilt on him, but I needed to make sure he knew what he was doing. I find that sometimes we are too scared to lay down the line. Especially in those make or break situations. I have found myself justifying lazy acts and I get on myself for doing that. But if I learn anything out here, it's how to be stern and direct when it comes to those times when wrong is happening and it is being justified. Our President just sent an email saying that things in these times are being more black and white. The good is becoming more good, and the bad is getting more grossly wicked. What's awesome about our new investigator is he is choosing the good part. He doesn't ask what he can't do, he asks what he needs to do, he is very inspiring. He came a long way to be where he's at now. In fact, he told us many stories about bar fights last night. His wife told us many times how she can't believe how he has changed. Her mother doubted his change, saying she will come to our church if he successfully gives up smoking and drinking. God truly prepares people he needs in his cause. This man is going to be a great influence in the church.

We have been working hard, we are trying to get the members involved so that it continues to progress. Continue to be a good influence on that Catholic lady, when the time comes don't be afraid to invite her to learn from the missionaries, and always bear your testimony! And if she refuses, don't be afraid to knock over some more cactus's! :) Just joking, don't do that!

Tell Jameson marriage first, and if he is still unsure, fast, pray, date, and marriage again! :) Love you guys and I'll talk to you next week!