Hello Everyone,
Mom, I got my package with the medicine. I got it last week, but failed to mention it. Sorry. Thanks for the medicine. I also got grandma's package. That was really kind of her to send me food in the form of a card. My Comp's liked it too. ;)
That's so cool that Jade is going on a mission. There is a kid here in Tallahassee who leaves on Wednesday for Anaheim California, Vietnamese Speaking!! Almost as crazy as Tim Terry's. That's a lot of time for them in the MTC. I feel bad. I loved it, but I hated it. I don't ever want to go again. Due to a good cause. (He had the swine flu and was in isolation for many days)
This week has been great. We have been having trouble meeting with Phil Baker and The Davenport's (Kevin). Instead we've been blessed with finding new investigators. We went to a referral's house to give her a Finding Faith in Christ. She wasn't home so we were walking back to our apartment when a man yelled to us and asked us to come over. He was sitting on his truck talking to a woman there and wanted to know if we had any money. When you walk around with a shirt and tie every day, people think you have money. Instead we told him the only thing we have to give is a Book of Mormon, Restoration Booklet and a Finding Faith in Christ DVD. He took all of them! We talked to him for a while and found out that missionaries have been by before. We set up a time to come back the next day. Rich, his name, was ready for us. He had watched the movie and read the booklet. He also had a bunch of questions. Where did God come from? Why can't I practice plural marriage? (usually people use that against us, he wanted to do it!!) We did our best to help answer his questions and he really appreciated our honesty. We're going back to his house on Wednesday. It's going to be great.
We had another really cool experience this week too. Elder Tew and I were tracting when we heard some noise. Loud cheering noise. We decided to tract in that direction. When we got there it was a park and there were people playing basketball. When we came up to the court they yelled out, "The Elders are here!" None of them were members, but there were a few who had played with other missionaries before. We stayed and watched, I couldn't resist. Afterward we talked to a few of the. AJ and Mario. They didn't know much about our church and just started asking questions. Good questions. Not trying to confound us or trap us, but just wanting to know. We gave them a Restoration Booklet.
We also met another guy named Josh. His story is awesome. He grew up a Preacher's Boy. He knew all about the bible, but at this point in his life he feels like he is missing something. He went to Covenant College in Tennessee, where he is from. Almost dated a Mormon girl, my guess is she found a RM instead. He is done with college and is visiting some friends in Tallahassee. Decided that he would go play some ball and found missionaries instead. He reminds me so much of Clark. Tall skinny basketball player. Very reserved, but was also very open to talk with us when everyone left. He asked about repentance and how he felt like nothing every day. Falling into the same old traps. He asked some of the greatest questions. Not because they were eloquent or easy for us to teach, but because they were straight from the heart. He knew he was looking for something. A good feeling that he hadn't felt in a while. We gave him a book of Mormon. We are going to meet with him on Saturday. It was just a really cool experience to be a part of.
This week has been full of blessings. I love being a missionary.
Love you ALL,
Elder Call
Elder Call
Off to the MTC
Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Transfer week....
Hey Y'all,
Another week has flown by. Each seems to be coming faster than the last. Transfers was this week. As a Zone Leader, Elder Tew and I had to get everyone to the Transfer Spots. Especially those who didn't have a ride. Campus never has a ride. So we went early Wednesday morning to pick up Sis Fink. She was being transferred to Destin. Sad day, right? Sis Hernandez got her new companion (I forgot her name) and we drove them back to their house. However, we had a few tag alongs with us. Elder Kanaras didn't have his companion yet, so he stayed with us. Crawfordville Elders also stayed with us too.
We had three extra missionaries. Good thing service is on Wednesday. We took them with us to the Ronald McDonald house. It was a lot of fun having so many missionaries together. We then went to the capital too. My camera is broken (got dropped and the lens won't close. Everything else works, just can't take pictures. I need to get it fixed) so I couldn't take any pictures of the capital, but I'll steal some from Elder Jenkins so you can see it. After that it was back up to Transfer spots to get all of the missionaries being transferred. We also got to see all of the missionaries who were about to go home. I still have 14 months.
We tracted into a less active girl the other day. She is almost 21, goes to TCC and is a member. We went back over to visit with her and teach her. She had some really good questions. We also talked about her past. Most of her family are members. Her parents are members, but two of her older brothers aren't active. They didn't serve missions. We talked about the fears she had, why she stopped going to church and all the good things. We then shared with her our purpose and how to read the Book of Mormon marking the promised blessings. I hope she takes the challenge. Marking the promised blessings changes the way I study the Book of Mormon. I am now looking for what I'm supposed to be doing to be a better Missionary, Priesthood Holder and Father. Its great and I learn a lot.
I am really going to have to learn how to smoke food. Especially chicken. We just got done going to Sonny's and they smoke everything. Its amazing. We also see smokers on the side of the road all the time. It's not that hard to do, I just want to perfect it. Then we can have a real B-B-Que when I get home. Yum!
Love you all. I can't wait for Conference Ensign's to come out.
Elder Call
Another week has flown by. Each seems to be coming faster than the last. Transfers was this week. As a Zone Leader, Elder Tew and I had to get everyone to the Transfer Spots. Especially those who didn't have a ride. Campus never has a ride. So we went early Wednesday morning to pick up Sis Fink. She was being transferred to Destin. Sad day, right? Sis Hernandez got her new companion (I forgot her name) and we drove them back to their house. However, we had a few tag alongs with us. Elder Kanaras didn't have his companion yet, so he stayed with us. Crawfordville Elders also stayed with us too.
We had three extra missionaries. Good thing service is on Wednesday. We took them with us to the Ronald McDonald house. It was a lot of fun having so many missionaries together. We then went to the capital too. My camera is broken (got dropped and the lens won't close. Everything else works, just can't take pictures. I need to get it fixed) so I couldn't take any pictures of the capital, but I'll steal some from Elder Jenkins so you can see it. After that it was back up to Transfer spots to get all of the missionaries being transferred. We also got to see all of the missionaries who were about to go home. I still have 14 months.
We tracted into a less active girl the other day. She is almost 21, goes to TCC and is a member. We went back over to visit with her and teach her. She had some really good questions. We also talked about her past. Most of her family are members. Her parents are members, but two of her older brothers aren't active. They didn't serve missions. We talked about the fears she had, why she stopped going to church and all the good things. We then shared with her our purpose and how to read the Book of Mormon marking the promised blessings. I hope she takes the challenge. Marking the promised blessings changes the way I study the Book of Mormon. I am now looking for what I'm supposed to be doing to be a better Missionary, Priesthood Holder and Father. Its great and I learn a lot.
I am really going to have to learn how to smoke food. Especially chicken. We just got done going to Sonny's and they smoke everything. Its amazing. We also see smokers on the side of the road all the time. It's not that hard to do, I just want to perfect it. Then we can have a real B-B-Que when I get home. Yum!
Love you all. I can't wait for Conference Ensign's to come out.
Elder Call
Monday, April 12, 2010
More Fire Ants!
Hey Everyone,
Its been a great week. Elder Tew and I have been working really well together. We each have our own abilities, but we are figuring out how to make them work together. Elder Tew is really passive and loving, I'm more bold. nuff said. Its been great teaching and I think our investigators like it too.
So this week I found out that I'm allergic to Fire Ants. Those nasty things got me again this week. Early in the week we found a less active girl while tracting. We talked with her for a while and she told us her story. Her parents are members in DC and her sister just got home from serving in California. We asked if we could come back and she told us that she needed help in her Garden. Elder Tew and I came back on Saturday to meet with her and help her in her Garden. Her friends were there and one of them knew Dallas Strickland. A member here in the Singles Ward. We had a nice talk while working with them. We also discovered an ant hill on one side of the Garden. We mostly avoided it. We planted sunflower seeds, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, peppers and some various herbs. It was a lot of fun planting and learning.
I was planting some peppers when I felt a most unpleasent sensation. I was getting bit on my hand, again. One of the ants was going crazy. He had bit me, but trying so hard he was completely vertical trying to rip off my flesh. It was nuts. I only have about four bites. They started to swell a little bit while we were there. Kind of like a misquito bite. Well, that night it was a little bigger than a misquito bite. My whole wrist was swollen. It kept getting worse and right now my whole four arm is swollen. It looks really bad, but its not. The swelling will go down by tomorrow. It is just making my shoulder really tired. All that swelling is weighing it down. Kind of funny.
Zone Conference was this week. We were studying about the Atonement for this Zone Conference. Man I love listening to President teach. He is so submissive to the spirit and very bold about promising blessings to missionaries. (Do you still remember mine?) He gave two individual blessings to two missionaries this time. One who is brand new and one who goes home this week. It was awesome to hear them. I can't wait to see what is going to happen to those two missionaries.
We then spent the last bit of Zone Conference reading and listening to Hymns. Did you know that How Firm a Foundation is written in First Person. Its God speaking to us. I never knew that before and it changed the meaning of the song for me. We also learned a lot about Mac Wilberg. He's a genious.
Transfers are this week, but I'm not going anywhere. My old area, Ozark, is getting some big changes thought. It will be interesting to see how that works out.
I love all of you very much. Its getting very hot down here. Summer isn't here yet, but you'd think it was.
Love Elder Call
Its been a great week. Elder Tew and I have been working really well together. We each have our own abilities, but we are figuring out how to make them work together. Elder Tew is really passive and loving, I'm more bold. nuff said. Its been great teaching and I think our investigators like it too.
So this week I found out that I'm allergic to Fire Ants. Those nasty things got me again this week. Early in the week we found a less active girl while tracting. We talked with her for a while and she told us her story. Her parents are members in DC and her sister just got home from serving in California. We asked if we could come back and she told us that she needed help in her Garden. Elder Tew and I came back on Saturday to meet with her and help her in her Garden. Her friends were there and one of them knew Dallas Strickland. A member here in the Singles Ward. We had a nice talk while working with them. We also discovered an ant hill on one side of the Garden. We mostly avoided it. We planted sunflower seeds, tomatoes, peas, lettuce, peppers and some various herbs. It was a lot of fun planting and learning.
I was planting some peppers when I felt a most unpleasent sensation. I was getting bit on my hand, again. One of the ants was going crazy. He had bit me, but trying so hard he was completely vertical trying to rip off my flesh. It was nuts. I only have about four bites. They started to swell a little bit while we were there. Kind of like a misquito bite. Well, that night it was a little bigger than a misquito bite. My whole wrist was swollen. It kept getting worse and right now my whole four arm is swollen. It looks really bad, but its not. The swelling will go down by tomorrow. It is just making my shoulder really tired. All that swelling is weighing it down. Kind of funny.
Zone Conference was this week. We were studying about the Atonement for this Zone Conference. Man I love listening to President teach. He is so submissive to the spirit and very bold about promising blessings to missionaries. (Do you still remember mine?) He gave two individual blessings to two missionaries this time. One who is brand new and one who goes home this week. It was awesome to hear them. I can't wait to see what is going to happen to those two missionaries.
We then spent the last bit of Zone Conference reading and listening to Hymns. Did you know that How Firm a Foundation is written in First Person. Its God speaking to us. I never knew that before and it changed the meaning of the song for me. We also learned a lot about Mac Wilberg. He's a genious.
Transfers are this week, but I'm not going anywhere. My old area, Ozark, is getting some big changes thought. It will be interesting to see how that works out.
I love all of you very much. Its getting very hot down here. Summer isn't here yet, but you'd think it was.
Love Elder Call
Monday, April 5, 2010
General Conference!!
Hello Everyone,
General Conference was great. I love being a missionary and listening to conference. It produces such a different feeling than when when I'm at home. My focus is not on myself, but on others. It seems like I get the most out of conference when I'm focused on others. There were two main topics in general conference, Atonement and Family. So many times did I here about the home and family. How parents should raise their children, how children should follow their parents. How each day there should be chances and opportunities to teach and testify. I'm glad that I get to learn this now, and grateful that I was a part of it growing up. I loved learning. Especially when it was dad or mom teaching. It was very hard to understand sometimes, due to arrogance and impatient tendencies. However, the longer I'm out here the more I remember what dad and mom taught me. It's Great!! I then try to teach it to the people I love here. So many homes are broken here. We met a lady the other day who asked us to pray for her daughter. She just went through a divorce and we expressed our sorrow for her. She simply said, "everyone goes through it." Its sad to think that divorce is part of everyone's every day life. Its just how they were raised. In broken homes, due to the actions of someone else.
Its a good thing that I still have a while before I have to worry about that. It seems like a daunting task to get married. One that is, by the worlds standards, never going to last. So many things are getting thrown at the family. I felt this way last conference and feel it again this conference. There is so much against getting married and starting a family. Its sad to see people who "wait" for the perfect man or woman. There is always the "right one", but never will we ever find the perfect one. Our Mission President taught this at our Zone Leader Council. Those who wait for perfection usually miss out on it until they are forty or fifty. By then it is too late to begin a family. Its crazy how much you learn about raising a family on a mission. Ridiculously crazy!!!
I'm again glad to be learning this now. Learning how to teach, testify and love. Three things that will help me forever.
I love you all and pray that Conference will be your source of study for the next 6 months. I promise to make it mine.
Love Elder Call.
General Conference was great. I love being a missionary and listening to conference. It produces such a different feeling than when when I'm at home. My focus is not on myself, but on others. It seems like I get the most out of conference when I'm focused on others. There were two main topics in general conference, Atonement and Family. So many times did I here about the home and family. How parents should raise their children, how children should follow their parents. How each day there should be chances and opportunities to teach and testify. I'm glad that I get to learn this now, and grateful that I was a part of it growing up. I loved learning. Especially when it was dad or mom teaching. It was very hard to understand sometimes, due to arrogance and impatient tendencies. However, the longer I'm out here the more I remember what dad and mom taught me. It's Great!! I then try to teach it to the people I love here. So many homes are broken here. We met a lady the other day who asked us to pray for her daughter. She just went through a divorce and we expressed our sorrow for her. She simply said, "everyone goes through it." Its sad to think that divorce is part of everyone's every day life. Its just how they were raised. In broken homes, due to the actions of someone else.
Its a good thing that I still have a while before I have to worry about that. It seems like a daunting task to get married. One that is, by the worlds standards, never going to last. So many things are getting thrown at the family. I felt this way last conference and feel it again this conference. There is so much against getting married and starting a family. Its sad to see people who "wait" for the perfect man or woman. There is always the "right one", but never will we ever find the perfect one. Our Mission President taught this at our Zone Leader Council. Those who wait for perfection usually miss out on it until they are forty or fifty. By then it is too late to begin a family. Its crazy how much you learn about raising a family on a mission. Ridiculously crazy!!!
I'm again glad to be learning this now. Learning how to teach, testify and love. Three things that will help me forever.
I love you all and pray that Conference will be your source of study for the next 6 months. I promise to make it mine.
Love Elder Call.
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