July 13, 2008
Well, things here are going pretty good. I know last week I was pretty discouraged but this week has been just the opposite, it is amazing at how much has changed. We've had a lot of success this week and it has really been encouraging. We have 3 investigators with a baptismal date but one didn't show to church so we will have to postpone his. But the date is for the 27th so I hope all works out. One is Joseph that I told you about, he has smoking problem though and I think he drinks too. We are going to teach him the word of wisdom tomorrow and then we just pray that he will change. He is a good guy though. I know that he will be willing to change its just a matter of how long it will take for the change to take place. Other than the baptismal dates this week, we also got some new investigators, we got 11! I was pretty excited and it really shows me that our prayers are answered, it was pretty amazing. We also found two families that we are teaching which is very rare around here and we have another family prospect this week and I think it will go really well. So, as far as the work goes, this week has been good. I just hope our success continues into the next week too. We get transfer news at the end of this week but I'm pretty sure that I'm still here and I'm ok with that. I wouldn't be too excited if I got moved right now when the work is just starting to pick up. I know I'll still be here though. I dont know what else I can really say,I hope that is enough. I am really starting to enjoy the area. The language is still a problem ha, I have kind of given up but that's ok, I know very little. Something that happened to me just this morning was that my toe nail came off, ha of my big toe. I'm sure that's something you want to hear about huh? It has been broke for a long time from playing basketball so it was good that it finally came off, its pretty gross though but don't worry, I took some pictures ha. So that's just what is going on here. I hope you have a good week though, have fun in Texas, I love you, thanks for everything.
Elder Hansen
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Elder Andrew Pena:
July 7, 2008
This week was awesome! We met our new Mission President on Wednesday. President Gonzalez and we had like a two minute interview and we got to talking and I brought up Elders Shattuck and Gannaway and he was like, oh yeah I know them, they wanted me to tell you hi. I just said we were good friends and that's about it. Anyways, he was also up in Rexburg like two weeks ago, he was there for a new born baby, but it was good we got to meet him and had our district meeting!! The 4th was the best ever!!!! We started our day off with weekly planning and got out of the apartment at 3:30 -yes, weekly planning takes that long, went and tracted a street for about 2 hours and went and ate hamburger helper at a members house, no BBQ, no fireworks, but we did get one new investigator!!!! yes!! haha Which is always the best anyways!!! ok so that's how my week was, we went and tracted a street on like Thursday and started talking to this guy about our religion and he said the only thing he sees that is wrong with our religion is and he named like 15 things and then he goes to say that people should not take what they hear from the Internet and television and believe it so then he says but I went on the Internet and on utube looked up a lot of stuff on your religion so I know all about it haha, we tried to talk to the guy but he talked for 20 minutes straight and we tried to leave he just kept talking! So that's the the sweet week I had and the awesome fourth of July I had!!! Oh also on the 4th after we had dinner we went to an appointment that was not there, then went over to a member's home, his name is Felipa Huerta and he is the only member and reminds me a lot like dad except he only knows Spanish and knows very little English.. ha and the grandma reminds me of grandma Phillips just Hispanic!!! haha So the family is awesome and we kicked a soccer ball around for like 15 minutes and went home at 7:00 because we are not allowed to be out past then so my fourth as you can tell was awesome!!! haha So we came back and finished our weekly planning and then it was time for bed!!! haha.... we have about 8 people that we are teaching and we have 3 baptisms -2 for this Saturday and 1 on the 26 of July and her name is Linda and she is like 60 years old but is sooooo funny!!! My first day here was the first day we came in contact with her and she called us and told us to come visit so we did and she was all sad and crying and we talked and she met with the missionaries before and she said she has been praying and she knows that this is the true church so we committed her to baptism and she said yes but she has a problem with smoking and her last day was the 5th so we'll see if that still works out for her. We are teaching 2 other girls but I think only one is interested, she came to church yesterday so we might be getting another one here soon and other than that it's still going great!! They moved the standard of excellence up from 15 quality lessons to 20 and we got 19 this week!!! So we're working on it!!!... Oh and I wrote an email like two weeks ago about speaking Spanish well everyone thinks I'm speaking Spanish!!! haha yeah right, I'm trying but I'm not learning how to speak! I want to learn how to pray first but no I'm not speaking Spanish I just want to real bad!!! haha So I even wrote a letter to the President about it and said maybe if he could do anything about it!!!:) haha but I think that's about it I'll try to be fluent in the next 3 weeks!:)
Elder Pena
This week was awesome! We met our new Mission President on Wednesday. President Gonzalez and we had like a two minute interview and we got to talking and I brought up Elders Shattuck and Gannaway and he was like, oh yeah I know them, they wanted me to tell you hi. I just said we were good friends and that's about it. Anyways, he was also up in Rexburg like two weeks ago, he was there for a new born baby, but it was good we got to meet him and had our district meeting!! The 4th was the best ever!!!! We started our day off with weekly planning and got out of the apartment at 3:30 -yes, weekly planning takes that long, went and tracted a street for about 2 hours and went and ate hamburger helper at a members house, no BBQ, no fireworks, but we did get one new investigator!!!! yes!! haha Which is always the best anyways!!! ok so that's how my week was, we went and tracted a street on like Thursday and started talking to this guy about our religion and he said the only thing he sees that is wrong with our religion is and he named like 15 things and then he goes to say that people should not take what they hear from the Internet and television and believe it so then he says but I went on the Internet and on utube looked up a lot of stuff on your religion so I know all about it haha, we tried to talk to the guy but he talked for 20 minutes straight and we tried to leave he just kept talking! So that's the the sweet week I had and the awesome fourth of July I had!!! Oh also on the 4th after we had dinner we went to an appointment that was not there, then went over to a member's home, his name is Felipa Huerta and he is the only member and reminds me a lot like dad except he only knows Spanish and knows very little English.. ha and the grandma reminds me of grandma Phillips just Hispanic!!! haha So the family is awesome and we kicked a soccer ball around for like 15 minutes and went home at 7:00 because we are not allowed to be out past then so my fourth as you can tell was awesome!!! haha So we came back and finished our weekly planning and then it was time for bed!!! haha.... we have about 8 people that we are teaching and we have 3 baptisms -2 for this Saturday and 1 on the 26 of July and her name is Linda and she is like 60 years old but is sooooo funny!!! My first day here was the first day we came in contact with her and she called us and told us to come visit so we did and she was all sad and crying and we talked and she met with the missionaries before and she said she has been praying and she knows that this is the true church so we committed her to baptism and she said yes but she has a problem with smoking and her last day was the 5th so we'll see if that still works out for her. We are teaching 2 other girls but I think only one is interested, she came to church yesterday so we might be getting another one here soon and other than that it's still going great!! They moved the standard of excellence up from 15 quality lessons to 20 and we got 19 this week!!! So we're working on it!!!... Oh and I wrote an email like two weeks ago about speaking Spanish well everyone thinks I'm speaking Spanish!!! haha yeah right, I'm trying but I'm not learning how to speak! I want to learn how to pray first but no I'm not speaking Spanish I just want to real bad!!! haha So I even wrote a letter to the President about it and said maybe if he could do anything about it!!!:) haha but I think that's about it I'll try to be fluent in the next 3 weeks!:)
Elder Pena
Elder Brantley Shattuck:
Pictures: Tim Naylor - Baptized June 14, 2008
I have been working with this family for like 15 weeks and they have been re-activated, the father is preparing for the Melchizedek Priesthood now and his son was baptised by him. The home teacher confirmed Tim. It is one of my favorite baptisms so far.
June 26, 2008
I just got the call and I get to stay in Warrenton again for another transfer, I am training again and am also becoming the new District Leader, which is not that awesome but I will take the good with the bad I suppose. Anyways this past week something pretty funny happened, somebody handed us some anti paper and when we got back to the apartment Elder Packer started to play with a lighter and tried to burn it. Only problem is that the anti paper didn't burn all that well and would light but then just stop, so anyways he kept trying while we were walking out to the car, couldn't get it started so then he threw it in the dumpster, we went to our appointment and came back in like 30 minutes to pick something up at the apartment just in time to see roaring flames coming from the Dumpster. Of course it was started because of that stupid paper that Elder Packer threw in there so I just told him to get in the car and we drove off just in time to see the fire truck screaming down the street, lights blarin and horns blazin, man it was funny. Nothing bad happened, just a toasted dumpster :) Don't worry, I am being safe. LOVE YOU Elder Shattuck
July 2, 2008
My life is really busy right now and I hate being a District Leader, I just like being a normal missionary with no responsibilities except my area. I am afraid that it might not happen for a long time again. My new companion's name is Elder Nielson and he is from Post Falls ID. He is a good missionary and I think we will be able to accomplish a lot this transfer. We got a referral and went to his house and taught him the restoration. His name is Rodney Yannicks and committed to be baptized on our first visit with him. He has a lot of obstacles in the way though. The Word of Wisdom will be a hard one for him to quit. He drinks, smokes, drinks coffee, drinks tea, and etc. Him and his wife though have a desire to be baptised so it will be neat to see how the gospel changes their lives. We meet with them again on Saturday and will probably reteach the restoration, they aren't the smartest people so we are going to have to go slow with them. Then again their date is for the 26th of July so we are gonna have to get them to quit this stuff like right now! I am doing well though, I have no complaints other than Elder Gannaway isn't in my zone any more, I am praying that we will become companions though so we will see what happens in the mission life to come. Love you mom have a great week!!! Elder Shattuck
July 9, 2008
Everything is going well over here in Warrenton and I am really enjoying it right now. Elder Nielson is easy to work with and we get along pretty well. We have a family(Yannicks) that are getting ready for baptism, they are struggling with word of wisdom issues still and that will be the big trial before them. At first the wife didn't want to meet with us at all but since her husband, Rodney, came to church with us and has met with us twice her heart has been softened and is willing to meet with us on Friday. It is exciting, I have no doubt that they will be baptised. They have two little girls which I believe are at the age of eight and six. So that is pretty neat.
Yesterday we went to this appointment with a lady who I thought was going to be a solid investigator but I was very wrong. She ended up being a complete psycho and told us she was a psychic and has like all the books that have only been revealed to the elect and she happens to be one of them. She also told me that Jesus Christ sent in his papers and retired from being head of the church, which means he is still alive and didn't actually die on the cross. Wow, it was one of the strangest things I have ever heard. We had a member with us too named Bro. Hitt and he asked her how she pictures Jesus Christ and she replied he looks like a woman, then related it to all of us in the fact that we were all born a woman...... I think she had one to many puffs in her life. So that was pretty funny experience. Elder Shattuck
Elder Adam Walker:
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Above: Outside Adam's apartment; Elder Walker with companion; Elder Walker with Mission President and wife.
June 26, 2008
Hey mom, I got your email and everything is going really well over here. My apartment is pretty interesting. haha it is really old but it is a place to stay and it's not too bad. My companion's name is Elder Harrison and he is from Salem Oregon. He is awesome, I have a lot to learn but so far everything is going really well. My new address here is:
203 Randolph Ave.
Apartment #3
Elkins West VA 26241
My P-day is on Wednesdays normally so that is when you will hear from me every week. This week it's Thursday because our day was all messed up because of transfers. I saw Seb Schatt yesterday, I went to high school with him and he is doing awesome. Also the WHOLE mission knows about Curtis and they all know that I am his cousin now. The mission president really made it known to everyone. I don't know if that is a good thing or not but it really got my name out quick. It's pretty ridiculous. Everyone has stories about what Curtis has done, he is a legend here.
On my plane ride from Atlanta to West Virginia, I talked to a guy the whole time about the gospel and I went through the first lesson and half of the second. I wish I could have taught more but I just ran out of time. I got his address and he wants more so I guess I have been put off to a good start. Today we have a whole bunch of appointments and we are going to go knocking some doors so that will be great and I hope we have some luck there. I don't have much more time but I want you to know that I love you all and that it was nice talking to you a couple days ago. Everything is going really well, the weather is pretty calm right now, it rained earlier today but nothing too bad. Love Elder Walker
By the way, the members over here are awesome! haha if you ask them to do something, they will do it, no questions asked. The Catholics even pay for a gym membership and 1 meal a week (Yes the Catholics) They say we get fed by members at least 4 dinners a week, plus lunches most of the time. haha Good thing I have a free gym membership from the Catholics :) Love you hope all is well.
July 10, 2008
I don't know if I told you about my little woods story haha. Well this man's name is Jerry Oldaker and he lives out in the middle of no where. He was a media referral and we were out trying to find his house for the first time and we couldn't find his house. As we were driving, the road ended and there were no more houses... so that's what we thought, then all the sudden we see this man (who looked like he hadn't showered in weeks) comes out of the trees and he said hi. We said hi back and asked if he was Jerry, the man we were looking for. He said he sure was and he was happy to see us. This guy is really nice but we are guessing he has inhaled a few to many drugs because he is a little slow, but indeed a really nice guy. We talk to him for a minute and then we ask him if we could go to his home so we could share our message with him because it was about to rain. He said it would be better if we just stayed outside. We asked him where he lived, and he pointed into the trees a little bit, and there was his 'house,' 4 pieces of plywood as walls, and then 1 on top of them to act as a roof. I couldn't believe it, it was a pretty humbling experience. It's unbelievable what people live with out here. We really are blessed where we live and what circumstances we live under. Most of the poor at home are rich compared to a lot of people out here. It's crazy.
The new mission president is awesome, he is a lot different than Cowley was but he is really good. He is changing a lot of things though, for instance going to the gym (the gym that the Catholics paid for) we can't go anymore because he says that gyms are a distraction, which can be true for most missionaries. So that probably is a good thing. We just have to find something else for our exercise routine. But it will be good. I miss you all. Things are great here I am finally starting to catch on to things. Love you all. -Elder Walker
Elder Scott Snell:
July 7, 2008
It has come to my attention that rumors that my English has begun to slip. Well it's true,oh man, my English and my Korean are horrible. I speak a rare missionary language of both kind -thrown into one. So if at times I am hard to understand I am sorry. Well this last week was probably one of the hardest so far on my mission. But is was on the best at the same time. We had to work hard but we saw a lot of cool things happen. We were teaching a lady who has had a hard life and she was beaten by her husband and is divorced and only 29. She has just had a rough life but she is so happy and nice. We were teaching her really basic the first lesson and we started talking about Christ and she just starts crying. She looked at us and asked us why she was crying and why she was feeling this feeling that she was feeling. I have been praying really hard to teach more with the spirit and it looks like it is happening after all. It was really cool. I have been also stressing out really bad lately about learning this language and I have been having a lot of rough days with it so again I was praying. I pray so much now. But I was really asking heavenly father to help me to understand and find those people I need to and be able to understand them. Well we went into the subway to proselyte. I was scared but I suck at it. So I started after a little prayer, after about an hour I only talked to four people and given away four Book of Mormons. I still don't know how I did it. I can even do it in English. I guess the Lord was waiting out for me that day. He really does hear and answer our prayers. Well I had one of the most white trash 4th of July's in my entire life. We didn't have a flag so I made one out of hanker chiefs. It so trash.
Our BBQ grill didn't work and our beef was Australian. Oh man it was rough. Sounds like you guys had a pretty nice 4th. The usual hustle and bustle of summer baseball. I miss it though - so enjoy it while it lasts. The church is true and I know it. I love you and miss you. Elder Snell
July 13, 2008
I got a little taste of baseball the other day. Everyday there are little kids who play baseball on the tennis court in front of our apartment. It's like the sandlot only Korean style. Anyway we walked out there and I asked if I could have a try. Well they let me, I didn't think I was going to swing very hard. It was a tennis ball and a crappy bat. Well, he pitched it and I took it off about the 10th floor of the apartment across the parking lot and the kids freaked. My companion told them that I play for the New York Yankees so now I have a little fan club. It was funny. Transfers are coming up this week I will probably get a new companion which I think I am ready for cause this one is kind of getting on my nerves every once in a while. But we did baptize someone yesterday so it wasn't too bad of a transfer the next one might be the worst yet. I might get a companion who has been out for a year and a little bit as my senior and I already speak better Korean but hey I guess it will be a learning experience. I realized the other day that I am starting to gain weight around the mid section so I upped my abb work out I am bound to only come home bald and goofy and not fat too. I love you and miss you all. Elder Snell
July 20, 2008
Well another week has gone by and another transfer has begun. I got a new companion today. It's the one that I told you I would probably get last week. So this transfer will be one of those growing transfers again. My week was pretty good, one of the Elders in my house is headed home so we decided to hold a funeral for him last night, it was pretty cool. It started out being a joke and we had a memorial and such but then it turned in to something that was really spiritual. I think everyone got a little teary eyed. Its was good his family gets here today. Korea is good. I think I am the hottest that I have ever been. The humidity is getting so bad - I was sweating so bad and couldn't sleep last night then to top it of my companion had burritos so I could barely breath. He is stinkier then Riley. It was bad! It gets so hot that I take a freezing cold shower every night before I go to bed and as soon as I shut off the water I am sweating again. Oh man I miss the dry heat. We were suppose to have a typhoon hit yesterday but it missed us - don't worry mom - all we saw was a lot of rain. I love you and miss you all. Elder Snell
It has come to my attention that rumors that my English has begun to slip. Well it's true,oh man, my English and my Korean are horrible. I speak a rare missionary language of both kind -thrown into one. So if at times I am hard to understand I am sorry. Well this last week was probably one of the hardest so far on my mission. But is was on the best at the same time. We had to work hard but we saw a lot of cool things happen. We were teaching a lady who has had a hard life and she was beaten by her husband and is divorced and only 29. She has just had a rough life but she is so happy and nice. We were teaching her really basic the first lesson and we started talking about Christ and she just starts crying. She looked at us and asked us why she was crying and why she was feeling this feeling that she was feeling. I have been praying really hard to teach more with the spirit and it looks like it is happening after all. It was really cool. I have been also stressing out really bad lately about learning this language and I have been having a lot of rough days with it so again I was praying. I pray so much now. But I was really asking heavenly father to help me to understand and find those people I need to and be able to understand them. Well we went into the subway to proselyte. I was scared but I suck at it. So I started after a little prayer, after about an hour I only talked to four people and given away four Book of Mormons. I still don't know how I did it. I can even do it in English. I guess the Lord was waiting out for me that day. He really does hear and answer our prayers. Well I had one of the most white trash 4th of July's in my entire life. We didn't have a flag so I made one out of hanker chiefs. It so trash.
Our BBQ grill didn't work and our beef was Australian. Oh man it was rough. Sounds like you guys had a pretty nice 4th. The usual hustle and bustle of summer baseball. I miss it though - so enjoy it while it lasts. The church is true and I know it. I love you and miss you. Elder Snell
July 13, 2008
I got a little taste of baseball the other day. Everyday there are little kids who play baseball on the tennis court in front of our apartment. It's like the sandlot only Korean style. Anyway we walked out there and I asked if I could have a try. Well they let me, I didn't think I was going to swing very hard. It was a tennis ball and a crappy bat. Well, he pitched it and I took it off about the 10th floor of the apartment across the parking lot and the kids freaked. My companion told them that I play for the New York Yankees so now I have a little fan club. It was funny. Transfers are coming up this week I will probably get a new companion which I think I am ready for cause this one is kind of getting on my nerves every once in a while. But we did baptize someone yesterday so it wasn't too bad of a transfer the next one might be the worst yet. I might get a companion who has been out for a year and a little bit as my senior and I already speak better Korean but hey I guess it will be a learning experience. I realized the other day that I am starting to gain weight around the mid section so I upped my abb work out I am bound to only come home bald and goofy and not fat too. I love you and miss you all. Elder Snell
July 20, 2008
Well another week has gone by and another transfer has begun. I got a new companion today. It's the one that I told you I would probably get last week. So this transfer will be one of those growing transfers again. My week was pretty good, one of the Elders in my house is headed home so we decided to hold a funeral for him last night, it was pretty cool. It started out being a joke and we had a memorial and such but then it turned in to something that was really spiritual. I think everyone got a little teary eyed. Its was good his family gets here today. Korea is good. I think I am the hottest that I have ever been. The humidity is getting so bad - I was sweating so bad and couldn't sleep last night then to top it of my companion had burritos so I could barely breath. He is stinkier then Riley. It was bad! It gets so hot that I take a freezing cold shower every night before I go to bed and as soon as I shut off the water I am sweating again. Oh man I miss the dry heat. We were suppose to have a typhoon hit yesterday but it missed us - don't worry mom - all we saw was a lot of rain. I love you and miss you all. Elder Snell
Elder Cody Mitchell:
* * * * *
* * *
Above: Elder Cody Mitchell with MTC companion Elder Wilson and Elder Cody Mitchell with Elder Jordan Manwaring
July 5, 2008
We had a great day taking him to the MTC. He was so ready to go! He has written that "there is no way he could ever deny the truthfulness of this gospel after feeling the amazing spirit of the MTC. He loves it! His companion is from Washington and there are 11 elders and sisters in his district all going to the same mission. He said after the first day they could pray and bear their testimony in Spanish - however long it took them to get it out. He also said that a real testimony builder was when they all kneel in prayer and - in broken Spanish - know that God knows exactly what they are saying and that their prayers are heard and answered.
July 14, 2008
Cody is scheduled to fly out to Peru on July 16th but has not yet received his visa. There are a lot of elders who have not because the country is having some trouble allowing visas at this time. There is a civil dispute of some kind going on in Bolivia. I am not sure and they did not tell more than that to the elders in the MTC. Anyway, he is loving the MTC and learning a ton. The Spanish is coming along. He can do the first discussion and bear testimony and pray in Spanish, plus make simple conversation. He says it takes him longer than he would like it to, but hey, it's only been two weeks. He ran into several elders from Rexburg in the MTC.
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