Cameron will be home Tuesday, July 20, at 10:30 pm. Friends are welcome to come to the airport to welcome him home.
Cameron's "mission report" will be held on Sunday, July 25th, at 11:00 am at the Burton LDS chapel, corner of 4000 West and 2000 South.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Elder Cade Casper:
July 6, 2010
It has been a good week, I feel way blessed and am excited for what's ahead. I can't believe that I hit a year in two days.... crazy.
So my new area is Carnegie, which is the Zone Leaders of the Pittsburgh Zone, which is the zone Greenfield is in, so I didn't move too far, just across the rivers. It's also the ward the McKinley's and the Hannah's are in, ha pretty funny huh? My comp is Elder Bylund and I love him to death. He was up in Erie for a transfer when I was there and I am stoked to be with him. We are around a lot of awesome missionaries who I love. He is from Orem, UT, and is 25 years old, he is an awesome missionary and person who loves the people he serves. The Lord has blessed me a lot to be here. The missionary I replaced went home, and I grew close to him too, his name is David Smith, and he knew Emlen Birch really well when they went to UVU together, everybody loved Elder Smith.
There is an awesome family in our area named the Espesito's. They are SO great, and I love them so much already. They all came to the transfer meeting when I got assigned to here, and they love and take care of the missionaries. They aren't members, but the mom (Dianne) reads the Book of Mormon everyday, and she and her husband (Jim) have 6 kids: Alena(17), Rocco(16), Sophia(14), Cecilia (12), Amalia(10), and Rosina (8). They are awesome. Dianne is going through a very difficult time right now so we see them pretty often. The ward is great, and I have the privilege of speaking next Sunday on love and service. This area is awesome and it's a great place to hit my year mark. Being a Zone Leader isn't much different, but there are some things that I am learning and that I am trying to learn from Elder Bylund.
Sounds like a very fun weekend. We didn't do much on the 4th/5th besides take a nap on the fourth and go to the Espesito's yesterday. P day was good, we had some good basketball. I have thought a couple of times of "what was I doing this time last year" and that's when I remember the fourth was the big slap in the face that "this was the last shabang." It's going quick though.
Well, I better try to get to everyone else. I love ya Mom and Dad and hope you have another good week. Things are going well, thank you for you prayers. My new address is:
737 Washington Ave. Apt. #2
Carnegie, PA 15106
Love yinz!
CADE
It has been a good week, I feel way blessed and am excited for what's ahead. I can't believe that I hit a year in two days.... crazy.
So my new area is Carnegie, which is the Zone Leaders of the Pittsburgh Zone, which is the zone Greenfield is in, so I didn't move too far, just across the rivers. It's also the ward the McKinley's and the Hannah's are in, ha pretty funny huh? My comp is Elder Bylund and I love him to death. He was up in Erie for a transfer when I was there and I am stoked to be with him. We are around a lot of awesome missionaries who I love. He is from Orem, UT, and is 25 years old, he is an awesome missionary and person who loves the people he serves. The Lord has blessed me a lot to be here. The missionary I replaced went home, and I grew close to him too, his name is David Smith, and he knew Emlen Birch really well when they went to UVU together, everybody loved Elder Smith.
There is an awesome family in our area named the Espesito's. They are SO great, and I love them so much already. They all came to the transfer meeting when I got assigned to here, and they love and take care of the missionaries. They aren't members, but the mom (Dianne) reads the Book of Mormon everyday, and she and her husband (Jim) have 6 kids: Alena(17), Rocco(16), Sophia(14), Cecilia (12), Amalia(10), and Rosina (8). They are awesome. Dianne is going through a very difficult time right now so we see them pretty often. The ward is great, and I have the privilege of speaking next Sunday on love and service. This area is awesome and it's a great place to hit my year mark. Being a Zone Leader isn't much different, but there are some things that I am learning and that I am trying to learn from Elder Bylund.
Sounds like a very fun weekend. We didn't do much on the 4th/5th besides take a nap on the fourth and go to the Espesito's yesterday. P day was good, we had some good basketball. I have thought a couple of times of "what was I doing this time last year" and that's when I remember the fourth was the big slap in the face that "this was the last shabang." It's going quick though.
Well, I better try to get to everyone else. I love ya Mom and Dad and hope you have another good week. Things are going well, thank you for you prayers. My new address is:
737 Washington Ave. Apt. #2
Carnegie, PA 15106
Love yinz!
CADE
Monday, June 21, 2010
Elder Adam Walker is HOME:
I just wanted to tell everyone that Adam got home last Thursday and reports next Sunday the 27th at 1:30 pm at the Burton Church. We will be having a dinner after sacrament at the house and would love YA'ALL to come if you would like to come. We are so excited he is home safe and are enjoying him being home. Hope to see you there. Carla
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Elder Cade Casper:
April 5, 2010
Hey, so it was a good week. I can't believe this transfer is over already. I'm staying, and training.... again haha. It will be good. Elder Lee is going to a more Spanish area so I am really excited for him.
The baptism didn't happen. I really am not sure if Ryan is prepared or qualifies for baptism. I read or recite D&C 20:37 and I really don't know if he is humble. He is the one that postponed it, and he postponed it for next weekend. It was good/bad. They haven't called us back or anything for a while, so we are meeting with them tonight so Elder Lee can say goodbye. I have prayed a lot to know if we should continue with the baptism. He was humbled on Thursday night when he told us that he didn't feel worthy for baptism, that he felt overwhelmed. The craziest thing happened though. We were teaching about the 10 Command. So I went to Exodus 20 to teach them, a sticky note from seminary popped out from another scripture in the O.T. It was a quote from Richard G. Scott talking about the things Satan puts into our minds when we want to repent or do something the Lord wants us to do. Things like: "You can't do it, you're not worthy, it's too late now" etc. He read it and it really hit him home. He said that was exactly how he was feeling. It was cool to see that little miracle. So I am writing President to see what he has to say of course.
We had an awesome invest. come to both sessions of Saturday Conference. His name is Matt and he loved it. He is in a wheel chair and we talked to him on the street, he is a nice kid. Some less active members came and it was awesome to see. A man named Bro. Witgen came and that was a shock, he enjoyed it. The Clark's are starting to come back. It is so cool to see them come and they also have the goal of getting to the temple. I am so happy for them.
It was a really good weekend, and things are really picking up here in Millcreek. Since I'm training, I may be here another 3 months but no guarantees. The city is really changing now that it's warming up. People are coming out of obscurity on the streets haha. I guess the violence downtown gets bad in the summer, but don't worry, our area doesn't have any of downtown in it. Oh, and everyone but me (& the Lindblom's) are going this transfer. The Zone Leaders in the district are getting doubled out, so everyone will be new.
Anyway, I love ya and I will hear from you next week!
April 12, 2010
Hola Madre.
So this week was good. It was nice to go to Pittsburgh, it was way warm, like low 80's. Even when we got back it was like 75 in Erie. But, it's pretty much like Rexburg, it snowed this week as well.
My new companion, my "son" as we call them, is Elder Davis. He is from Taylorsville, UT. He is a good kid. Soft spoken, and quite a bit different than I am, but he is hard working and very willing to talk to people. He is kinda scared about it all, and struggles to speak of course, but he is very willing and it's awesome to make progress each time he opens his mouth.
So the new missionaries in the district are Elder Tranter (my trainer) and Elder Zaleski (my MTC comp). I was way pumped to hear they were coming to Erie, I will be learning a lot from them.
So the Kasbee's didn't get baptized. They have really thrown me for a loop. We taught them on Wednesday with Bro. Bittner and it went ok, the Kasbee's brought out the concern that they didn't want Blake to be baptized because he has a mother who isn't setting the example and isn't willing to change, she is pretty hard hearted. So we lost contact with them after that, and they still haven't returned phone calls or anything at all. I don't know what else to do.
Matt, the one to come to conference, can't come to church for a while as far as we know now. Since he is in a wheelchair, he got some bad pressure sores that make him have to sit outside his wheelchair, keeping him from leaving his house. It's a sad thing, because we set him with a baptismal date of May 1, but if he can't come to church we aren't sure if he can come. We are praying for a miracle that they heal so he can be baptized. Outside of that there isn't a whole lot going on. It was sort of a slow week. New transfers are bittersweet, because I like the change but it's almost overwhelming.
There was a good lesson in Elder's quorum. First off the brother teaching talked about how Elder Scott (I think) was down in Mexico in a lesson and could tell that the brother teaching was really struggling to find his words and teach the class, but he kept trying, and taught what he knew to be true. Then he attended his home ward back in Utah and a brother who was very knowledgeable was teaching, and saw teaching as an opportunity to sort of rise above and impress a few people, and Elder Scott immediately noticed the difference in the two lessons, the first was more heartfelt and sincere, bringing in the Spirit, the latter, not so much. It doesn't matter how much we know, just how much we know what he teach to be true and if we have been converted to the gospel.
Not much to really say besides the new companion, the new district, and the Kasbee's and others. Things are going well and I am enjoying each day, some more than others. There is never a reason to hang our heads. Oh, Elder Lee is in Harrisburg.
I love ya and am thankful for the prayers you offer. Love Cade
April 19, 2010
Hello Madre.
It was a good week, but wow am I glad it's finally p-day....
We had quite the week. It was really cold and rainy, but it was ok. We had a good week with working with the ward, I am starting to really love them and get close to them, and I have had many say that they wouldn't mind me dating their little sisters when I get home, so I guess that's a good thing right? The ward is good, and we are hoping to find some new solid members for the ward here, Erie needs it.
So yes, Elder Tranter and Elder Zaleski are our Zone Leaders, it's great to have them in the district too. We learn a lot from them, and it's fun because we all know each other, today we are going to the beach to mess around and go swimming (wink wink). Speaking of the lake: Last night it was about 8:35 and we didn't have much to do, and I was so ready for p-day. We were down by the lake and I thought, well, let's just go sit out at the lake for 15 or so minutes. So we parked and were walking out on the docks when I was taking pictures with my camera (which I will send this week I promise) and I wasn't really watching where I was walking. As I was walking along, I heard this loud hiss, it about made me jump in the water. Ha, it was mother goose sitting on some chicks that I thought she was going to come snapping at us! Ha I know how mean they can get. Anyway, that was some fun from yesterday.
Matt came to church again, and the ward did awesome with fellow shipping him. He doesn't question anything we teach. He is still working with his pressure sores, but he was able to come so that was good. He can't come to Stake Conference next week because he will be down in Pittsburgh, so we may push his baptism back a few weeks. He is doing well. We are teaching a young couple named Samantha and Chris. They are really cool. Samantha questions everything and is very skeptical about Joseph Smith, and especially that there are living prophets and apostles. They are looking for the truth and want a church to take their family to. They get a lot of flack from fam and friends about meeting with us but they are pretty good about asking us about it.
The Clark's are coming back to church and they are doing awesome. They fed us on Saturday and we just sat down and talked with them. The Bittner's are doing well, Bro. Bittner is going to be ordained a High Priest next weekend. There will be a member of the 70 at stake conf. so that will be cool, and I think President will be there too.
My comp is a pretty weird kid, but way nice and humble. Ha we aren't way good friends or anything, but we get a long. He has struggled a couple of times and it's taking him a while to get used to missionary work, but I assure him that I'm still getting used to it. And I play the piano at every district meeting but not much besides that.
I can't believe Andrew gets home this week, he was such a good missionary, take notes at his report and let me know how he did. I have gotten some letters from Adam and still haven't responded, but I will do that today. He is doing well and I love hearing from him. He is in a branch where about 8 people came one Sunday haha.
Well even though it's been a little cold, it's getting a little more green. Things are going well and I am still trying to stay motivated and keep pushing. The Lord is on my side, even when I don't do what I should or am as diligent as He expects me to be. I am thankful for his patience and mercy that He has for me. It's been hard to get through to people that this isn't just another religion or another church, but THE way, THE truth, THE only way to salvation. I love ya Mom and Dad and Dad I enjoy your letters each week.
Oh and I am trying to fight off baseball fever, I think I ask about it with the ward members too much, dang it. Love CADE
Hey, so it was a good week. I can't believe this transfer is over already. I'm staying, and training.... again haha. It will be good. Elder Lee is going to a more Spanish area so I am really excited for him.
The baptism didn't happen. I really am not sure if Ryan is prepared or qualifies for baptism. I read or recite D&C 20:37 and I really don't know if he is humble. He is the one that postponed it, and he postponed it for next weekend. It was good/bad. They haven't called us back or anything for a while, so we are meeting with them tonight so Elder Lee can say goodbye. I have prayed a lot to know if we should continue with the baptism. He was humbled on Thursday night when he told us that he didn't feel worthy for baptism, that he felt overwhelmed. The craziest thing happened though. We were teaching about the 10 Command. So I went to Exodus 20 to teach them, a sticky note from seminary popped out from another scripture in the O.T. It was a quote from Richard G. Scott talking about the things Satan puts into our minds when we want to repent or do something the Lord wants us to do. Things like: "You can't do it, you're not worthy, it's too late now" etc. He read it and it really hit him home. He said that was exactly how he was feeling. It was cool to see that little miracle. So I am writing President to see what he has to say of course.
We had an awesome invest. come to both sessions of Saturday Conference. His name is Matt and he loved it. He is in a wheel chair and we talked to him on the street, he is a nice kid. Some less active members came and it was awesome to see. A man named Bro. Witgen came and that was a shock, he enjoyed it. The Clark's are starting to come back. It is so cool to see them come and they also have the goal of getting to the temple. I am so happy for them.
It was a really good weekend, and things are really picking up here in Millcreek. Since I'm training, I may be here another 3 months but no guarantees. The city is really changing now that it's warming up. People are coming out of obscurity on the streets haha. I guess the violence downtown gets bad in the summer, but don't worry, our area doesn't have any of downtown in it. Oh, and everyone but me (& the Lindblom's) are going this transfer. The Zone Leaders in the district are getting doubled out, so everyone will be new.
Anyway, I love ya and I will hear from you next week!
April 12, 2010
Hola Madre.
So this week was good. It was nice to go to Pittsburgh, it was way warm, like low 80's. Even when we got back it was like 75 in Erie. But, it's pretty much like Rexburg, it snowed this week as well.
My new companion, my "son" as we call them, is Elder Davis. He is from Taylorsville, UT. He is a good kid. Soft spoken, and quite a bit different than I am, but he is hard working and very willing to talk to people. He is kinda scared about it all, and struggles to speak of course, but he is very willing and it's awesome to make progress each time he opens his mouth.
So the new missionaries in the district are Elder Tranter (my trainer) and Elder Zaleski (my MTC comp). I was way pumped to hear they were coming to Erie, I will be learning a lot from them.
So the Kasbee's didn't get baptized. They have really thrown me for a loop. We taught them on Wednesday with Bro. Bittner and it went ok, the Kasbee's brought out the concern that they didn't want Blake to be baptized because he has a mother who isn't setting the example and isn't willing to change, she is pretty hard hearted. So we lost contact with them after that, and they still haven't returned phone calls or anything at all. I don't know what else to do.
Matt, the one to come to conference, can't come to church for a while as far as we know now. Since he is in a wheelchair, he got some bad pressure sores that make him have to sit outside his wheelchair, keeping him from leaving his house. It's a sad thing, because we set him with a baptismal date of May 1, but if he can't come to church we aren't sure if he can come. We are praying for a miracle that they heal so he can be baptized. Outside of that there isn't a whole lot going on. It was sort of a slow week. New transfers are bittersweet, because I like the change but it's almost overwhelming.
There was a good lesson in Elder's quorum. First off the brother teaching talked about how Elder Scott (I think) was down in Mexico in a lesson and could tell that the brother teaching was really struggling to find his words and teach the class, but he kept trying, and taught what he knew to be true. Then he attended his home ward back in Utah and a brother who was very knowledgeable was teaching, and saw teaching as an opportunity to sort of rise above and impress a few people, and Elder Scott immediately noticed the difference in the two lessons, the first was more heartfelt and sincere, bringing in the Spirit, the latter, not so much. It doesn't matter how much we know, just how much we know what he teach to be true and if we have been converted to the gospel.
Not much to really say besides the new companion, the new district, and the Kasbee's and others. Things are going well and I am enjoying each day, some more than others. There is never a reason to hang our heads. Oh, Elder Lee is in Harrisburg.
I love ya and am thankful for the prayers you offer. Love Cade
April 19, 2010
Hello Madre.
It was a good week, but wow am I glad it's finally p-day....
We had quite the week. It was really cold and rainy, but it was ok. We had a good week with working with the ward, I am starting to really love them and get close to them, and I have had many say that they wouldn't mind me dating their little sisters when I get home, so I guess that's a good thing right? The ward is good, and we are hoping to find some new solid members for the ward here, Erie needs it.
So yes, Elder Tranter and Elder Zaleski are our Zone Leaders, it's great to have them in the district too. We learn a lot from them, and it's fun because we all know each other, today we are going to the beach to mess around and go swimming (wink wink). Speaking of the lake: Last night it was about 8:35 and we didn't have much to do, and I was so ready for p-day. We were down by the lake and I thought, well, let's just go sit out at the lake for 15 or so minutes. So we parked and were walking out on the docks when I was taking pictures with my camera (which I will send this week I promise) and I wasn't really watching where I was walking. As I was walking along, I heard this loud hiss, it about made me jump in the water. Ha, it was mother goose sitting on some chicks that I thought she was going to come snapping at us! Ha I know how mean they can get. Anyway, that was some fun from yesterday.
Matt came to church again, and the ward did awesome with fellow shipping him. He doesn't question anything we teach. He is still working with his pressure sores, but he was able to come so that was good. He can't come to Stake Conference next week because he will be down in Pittsburgh, so we may push his baptism back a few weeks. He is doing well. We are teaching a young couple named Samantha and Chris. They are really cool. Samantha questions everything and is very skeptical about Joseph Smith, and especially that there are living prophets and apostles. They are looking for the truth and want a church to take their family to. They get a lot of flack from fam and friends about meeting with us but they are pretty good about asking us about it.
The Clark's are coming back to church and they are doing awesome. They fed us on Saturday and we just sat down and talked with them. The Bittner's are doing well, Bro. Bittner is going to be ordained a High Priest next weekend. There will be a member of the 70 at stake conf. so that will be cool, and I think President will be there too.
My comp is a pretty weird kid, but way nice and humble. Ha we aren't way good friends or anything, but we get a long. He has struggled a couple of times and it's taking him a while to get used to missionary work, but I assure him that I'm still getting used to it. And I play the piano at every district meeting but not much besides that.
I can't believe Andrew gets home this week, he was such a good missionary, take notes at his report and let me know how he did. I have gotten some letters from Adam and still haven't responded, but I will do that today. He is doing well and I love hearing from him. He is in a branch where about 8 people came one Sunday haha.
Well even though it's been a little cold, it's getting a little more green. Things are going well and I am still trying to stay motivated and keep pushing. The Lord is on my side, even when I don't do what I should or am as diligent as He expects me to be. I am thankful for his patience and mercy that He has for me. It's been hard to get through to people that this isn't just another religion or another church, but THE way, THE truth, THE only way to salvation. I love ya Mom and Dad and Dad I enjoy your letters each week.
Oh and I am trying to fight off baseball fever, I think I ask about it with the ward members too much, dang it. Love CADE
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Elder Adam Walker:
Here is a before and after picture, its pretty neat.
The one picture is at Jessica's baptism, Aaron wasn't reading or praying at that point and wasn't going to get baptized. The second picture is the day before I left, both of them had been baptized and are now solid members. The light of Christ definately is real, you can see it in their eyes.
Me and Elder Schatt. He goes back to Rexburg in 3 weeks, our time is dwindling down!
This is what it is like to be an old missionary haha, you have 5 of your companions at a zone conference with you. It was pretty neat.
Our week here has been pretty good. We have found some pretty good investigators. We set one man with a baptismal date, his name is Wayne Willis. He is in his 50's and he knew the Book of Mormon was true and he said he didn't need to pray about it, that he would be okay. I stressed to him that he had to pray to gain a testimony in his heart. We got that through to him and he prayed. He knows its true. He is getting baptized May 15th. We also have a part member family that we are working with, one of the daughters is really interested. Her mom is a member and she has been surprised at how receptive she has been to us. Usually she just shrugs off the missionaries and that is that, but we have had some great lessons with her.
On Sunday there was a kid who came to church, he is 19 and is a member but hasn't been too active over the last while and hasn't been living the greatest life style. But he has had some pretty neat experiences lately and he knows that going on a mission is the best thing to do in his life right now so he is preparing now. Well, he has a girl friend that is not a member, I talked to him about her and said lets get her ready so you can baptize her before you go on your mission. He liked the idea, I guess he has already talked to her a little bit about it. He said she really liked the part to where she could be sealed to her husband and children for eternity. Her parents are fine with her coming and everything so I guess the hardest part is behind us. Now we just have to start working with her. Great things are happening here. haha! All I have heard about this area is negative things but I don't know why, I think its great, you just have to be patient and do things a little different. There is so much more to missionary work than tracting. Sure that is a good chunk of your time and people are defiantly found in that manner, Wayne was found tracting, but there are more effective AND efficient ways. I think that's one of the things that most missionaries struggle with most, including me sometimes. You have to work hard and work smart. This is the Lords work but he expects you to do everything on your end as well.
Oh yeah! I almost forgot again! I was going to tell Dad last week but I was at conference and there was a Philippine woman there. Kind of a neat story, she came to the Saturday session and she made us a Philippine dish, they were like these clear noodle sort of things with chicken in them, it was really good I thought, it had a different texture to it but I thought they were good. But while I was eating I asked her what part of the Philippines that she was from, I said my dad went on his mission to the Philippines, I think he was in the Davau mission. She got a huge smile come over her face and said REALLY! what year!? I said I think around 80 she said that was about the same time she was there. She said her mission president's name was President Sperry. This lady's name was Sister Tolentino (that was her maiden name) she married a guy from Salt Lake City and now they live here in West Virginia. She said she remembers an Elder Walker but doesn't remember exactly who he was she would have to look at some pictures. So there were no guarantees but does that name sound familiar to you? Its a small world out here, I have made all kinds of weird connections. When you're a member of the church the world becomes very small. There is a member here in the branch that I am in who has a daughter who dated Zach Lindstrom, I played baseball with him. haha small small world. Its been a great week though. Time just cruises right on by. I'm loving it all though. Everything is great! Love you, Elder Walker
April 10, 2010
So this has been a pretty neat week. Our best investigator Wayne Willis, we have him set for Baptism May 15th. He came to church on Sunday. He enjoyed it a lot and so that was great. He wants to keep coming and he hasn't had any coffee since last Friday so we are making good headway with him. We tried to go and teach a lady that had been taught in the past by some other missionaries in this area, and when we were there she told us if we didn't get off her porch she was going to shoot us, haha, it was pretty funny. I'm pretty sure that is a threat. There was a cop right across the road, we were just laughing cause we could turn her in for a hate crime, that seems to be what people are all about now, its ridiculous. We just laughed though.
Yesterday was kind of different, We were in our apartment and all the sudden someone comes and pounds on our door. We answer it and they tell us to get out, there is smoke coming from out of the building! So I loaded my journals in my backpack and we got out, (that's about the only thing that I have that is important to me at this point, everything else can be replaced). The fire department came and everything, the whole building was filled with smoke, it was a mess. When someone opened the door of the building, smoke would come billowing out! The whole building was evacuated and the "experienced" volunteer fire departments from the 3 surrounding towns came to fight the fire! Come to find out a dryer, that is used to dry towels at the physical therapists office which is below our apartment, burned up and caused a little fire or something that caused a ton of smoke. It didn't damage our apartment at all but the building that we live in reeks like a burned up snow machine belt! haha its great. So that was pretty exiting. That's something that doesn't happen everyday so it was fun. Its been a great week though. I love it out here, I hope things are going well there.
Love you all, Elder Walker
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Elder Andrew Peña:
April 19, 2001...Last update!
Thank you everyone for your emails! I loved them and they are helping! This last week was great! My last full week on my mission we were able to teach a lot of people and to see Quincey Williams be baptized, so I guess you could say we ended with a BANG!! That was awesome! And it was a miracle! The members here are amazing! I have been able to grow a friendship with them and it's going to be hard to leave! Everyone says, how do you feel about going home?!..haha I have no idea. To everyone that asks me that question my response is I don't know, I have mixed feelings. Now let me explain..... families are the greatest thing that we have and I feel I have been able to grow a special appreciation of my family since I have been gone and that I am very grateful. However there have been so many amazing experiences that I have seen and witnessed on my mission! I can't believe that things I never knew before have been the things that I have grown to love and even through this service have seen so many lives blessed because of the teachings from the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am a witness to it and will ever be grateful! But I know it is not an end but a new chapter of life which is exciting! I can't believe it has been two years! It goes by fast! On April 16th this week I went to Chile's with me and my companion and Elder Cook and his companion and with Sister Alexandrina Borges who is one of the recent converts that was baptized that we found and taught. This week we also were able to finish with 3 non member church tours! That was great! I am running out of things to say so I will end with my testimony....... I know that God lives, I know that he has prepared for us something that is bigger than we can now understand and we are all apart of it and he has prepared a way for us to be happy and successful. I know that we will be successful through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ and by remaining faithful to the covenants we have made! Through our faith we will see changes in our lives and others and we will only want more of that happiness in our lives. I know because he loves us he called a prophet in these latter days and as we heed to the warnings that come from him! We will find guidance, direction, peace, comfort and answers to our problems in our day and for our time as families and individuals! I love our Savior, He has willingly laid down his life for us and because he did he understands perfectly our heartaches, our trials, our pains, our afflictions, our burdens and if we come unto him, through his teaching by obedience and diligently seeking him we will find that peace and answers which we search for daily! I know he atoned for our sins and loves us all! I especially know that He, Jesus Christ lives today and He can and will be a part of our lives if we will allow him to come in! We do not have to be anyone special. He has given us all the gift of the Holy Ghost for more guidance. We will all feel imperfect, that is because we all are! But it is through the decisions that we make that will give us more happiness and peace! We will choose our own salvation, we will choose our own happiness, we will choose liberty and eternal life through Jesus Christ, or we will choose captivity through the devil. My prayer for myself and us all is that we may be faithful to those promises we have made and learn to better understand them so that we may choose the better decisions in our lives! I love all of you and thank all of you for you support and for your love! I will see you in a couple of days!:) Love, Elder Peña
Thank you everyone for your emails! I loved them and they are helping! This last week was great! My last full week on my mission we were able to teach a lot of people and to see Quincey Williams be baptized, so I guess you could say we ended with a BANG!! That was awesome! And it was a miracle! The members here are amazing! I have been able to grow a friendship with them and it's going to be hard to leave! Everyone says, how do you feel about going home?!..haha I have no idea. To everyone that asks me that question my response is I don't know, I have mixed feelings. Now let me explain..... families are the greatest thing that we have and I feel I have been able to grow a special appreciation of my family since I have been gone and that I am very grateful. However there have been so many amazing experiences that I have seen and witnessed on my mission! I can't believe that things I never knew before have been the things that I have grown to love and even through this service have seen so many lives blessed because of the teachings from the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am a witness to it and will ever be grateful! But I know it is not an end but a new chapter of life which is exciting! I can't believe it has been two years! It goes by fast! On April 16th this week I went to Chile's with me and my companion and Elder Cook and his companion and with Sister Alexandrina Borges who is one of the recent converts that was baptized that we found and taught. This week we also were able to finish with 3 non member church tours! That was great! I am running out of things to say so I will end with my testimony....... I know that God lives, I know that he has prepared for us something that is bigger than we can now understand and we are all apart of it and he has prepared a way for us to be happy and successful. I know that we will be successful through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ and by remaining faithful to the covenants we have made! Through our faith we will see changes in our lives and others and we will only want more of that happiness in our lives. I know because he loves us he called a prophet in these latter days and as we heed to the warnings that come from him! We will find guidance, direction, peace, comfort and answers to our problems in our day and for our time as families and individuals! I love our Savior, He has willingly laid down his life for us and because he did he understands perfectly our heartaches, our trials, our pains, our afflictions, our burdens and if we come unto him, through his teaching by obedience and diligently seeking him we will find that peace and answers which we search for daily! I know he atoned for our sins and loves us all! I especially know that He, Jesus Christ lives today and He can and will be a part of our lives if we will allow him to come in! We do not have to be anyone special. He has given us all the gift of the Holy Ghost for more guidance. We will all feel imperfect, that is because we all are! But it is through the decisions that we make that will give us more happiness and peace! We will choose our own salvation, we will choose our own happiness, we will choose liberty and eternal life through Jesus Christ, or we will choose captivity through the devil. My prayer for myself and us all is that we may be faithful to those promises we have made and learn to better understand them so that we may choose the better decisions in our lives! I love all of you and thank all of you for you support and for your love! I will see you in a couple of days!:) Love, Elder Peña
Monday, April 5, 2010
Elder Adam Walker:
Sounds like it was a good week for you all. It was good here, it was nice and warm all week so that was nice. Today it is a little cold, small snow flurries but it is nice. I got transfer news yesterday, I am going to a small town called Pennsboro, its up kind of by my first area. The Branch is a really small one, I guess the smallest in the mission they only have 8-15 people there each week, so when I thought I was in a small one now, it only gets smaller. It will be fun though, I am looking forward to it. I am getting a missionary that has only been out for a month so that will be fun as well. Elder Chin is getting transferred as well and he is going to another small branch in the same stake up there. This morning we went on a hike to a waterfall it was about a 2 mile hike but it was pretty neat. The Waterfall was misting really bad and it was pretty cold when we got by it. If I wasn't a missionary I would have jumped out in the water, it was very tempting haha. It looked really refreshing. There are some really pretty places out here that is for sure, I am going to miss it a lot. haha its a little different than the green of Idaho. It will be nice to see that beauty again as well though.
We had stake conference on Sunday, it was a regional conference, it was really good. Elder Packer spoke along with Elder Jay Jensen (presidency of 70) Elder Sitati (the black 70) and sister Thompson ( counselor in the general relief society ) it was a great conference. it was a multi stake thing so they broadcasted it from salt lake. It was a good preparation to General Conference here in a couple weeks. They all really stressed the family and how the family unit is getting smashed more and more and how we are going to have to make a better effort than ever to save it. If we follow the prophet and do the things that he tells us to do we will survive the storms. He is the Watchman on the tower, he can see whats ahead, he knows what we need to do to prepare for the future, so we need to heed his council.
It sounds like the "Obama Care" passed, alot people out here are glad it passed, I don't agree with it I don't think, I can see it causing lots of other problems coming because of it. the Government has control of 1 more thing about us now. but hey, we can stay on our parents insurance until we are 26 I hear? That sounds good, I don't have to grow up for 5 more years now! haha I'm kidding but I'm sure that is what many people are thinking about that one. Our World is a mess, Spiritually and Temporally. God has become the past and the strength of man has become our Idol. I'm sure our Heavenly Father is pretty displeased with alot of things. I guess all we can do is do our best and live the way we are supposed to. I have been reading in 3rd Nephi over the past while specifically when Christ first came here and the signs that lead up to his arrival. Samuel the Lamanite warned the people and gave them a sign telling them in 5 years a new star would appear and there would be a day then a night with no darkness and then another day. When the five years came, many people had lost hope and said it was false and many fell into transgression and went against many of the followers of Christ. Eventually the sign did come and many were ashamed that they had gone against God. I hope we all can stay strong even though the world around us is beating us down saying to do otherwise. Its saddening and frustrating to see especially the young people who are now being raised and to see them being raised in darkness, they have no guidance, God is a pastime for them and they say they don't need him. Its been humbling to see, I hope that I never forget what I know and how I have seen others struggle and how the gospel has gotten people through the hardest of times. God loves us, he wants the best for us all. If we will just accept his will and do the things that he has asked us to do, great things are in store, it might not be a pocket full of cash, but he has promised us eternal life. something no pocket full of cash can buy. I love this gospel and this work, I know its true.
Elder Walker
We had stake conference on Sunday, it was a regional conference, it was really good. Elder Packer spoke along with Elder Jay Jensen (presidency of 70) Elder Sitati (the black 70) and sister Thompson ( counselor in the general relief society ) it was a great conference. it was a multi stake thing so they broadcasted it from salt lake. It was a good preparation to General Conference here in a couple weeks. They all really stressed the family and how the family unit is getting smashed more and more and how we are going to have to make a better effort than ever to save it. If we follow the prophet and do the things that he tells us to do we will survive the storms. He is the Watchman on the tower, he can see whats ahead, he knows what we need to do to prepare for the future, so we need to heed his council.
It sounds like the "Obama Care" passed, alot people out here are glad it passed, I don't agree with it I don't think, I can see it causing lots of other problems coming because of it. the Government has control of 1 more thing about us now. but hey, we can stay on our parents insurance until we are 26 I hear? That sounds good, I don't have to grow up for 5 more years now! haha I'm kidding but I'm sure that is what many people are thinking about that one. Our World is a mess, Spiritually and Temporally. God has become the past and the strength of man has become our Idol. I'm sure our Heavenly Father is pretty displeased with alot of things. I guess all we can do is do our best and live the way we are supposed to. I have been reading in 3rd Nephi over the past while specifically when Christ first came here and the signs that lead up to his arrival. Samuel the Lamanite warned the people and gave them a sign telling them in 5 years a new star would appear and there would be a day then a night with no darkness and then another day. When the five years came, many people had lost hope and said it was false and many fell into transgression and went against many of the followers of Christ. Eventually the sign did come and many were ashamed that they had gone against God. I hope we all can stay strong even though the world around us is beating us down saying to do otherwise. Its saddening and frustrating to see especially the young people who are now being raised and to see them being raised in darkness, they have no guidance, God is a pastime for them and they say they don't need him. Its been humbling to see, I hope that I never forget what I know and how I have seen others struggle and how the gospel has gotten people through the hardest of times. God loves us, he wants the best for us all. If we will just accept his will and do the things that he has asked us to do, great things are in store, it might not be a pocket full of cash, but he has promised us eternal life. something no pocket full of cash can buy. I love this gospel and this work, I know its true.
Elder Walker
Elder Andrew Peña:
April 5, 2010
Hello everyone! this week was great! AGAIN! Ok so first off while I would not like to jinx myself so I will " knock on wood. " I haven't been sick or hurt or have done anything to myself this past two years! And the last three weeks of my mission the 1st one I sprained my ankle and it turned all black and blue and swollen to where I had no ankle! Then the 2nd week I was sick and couldn't talk and my throat hurt and I was losing my voice and last week on Monday I was playing ultimate Frisbee with our zone and while playing, dumb me ran for the Frisbee as fast as I could and trying to catch the thing I went to dive for the Frisbee and my middle finger hit the ground and I slid over my finger and bent it back to what seemed to be my elbow because it hurt so bad! My first thought was that my finger had fallen off! Anyways I went to a member in our ward who is a physical therapist and told me I hyper extended my finger and the ligaments are tender and swollen so the 2nd and 3rd day my hand was huge and you couldn't even tell I had a middle knuckle! It was bruised inside my hand and today it is still sore and still a little swollen! So I hope I don't continue to hurt myself because I may come home on a stretcher!:) haha.... but ok starting with the week! It was amazing. We set a baptismal date with Quincy Williams. He is 9 and from a part member family. They have been coming back to church for the past 3 months. He will be getting baptized on April 17th! So hopefully that will turn out to be my last baptism on my last weekend in the mission field! We had a good lesson this week with Joe Brown who is 20 years old and wants to know a little more about our church and has a lot of questions! He came to the first two sessions of conference and seemed to like it and had some questions! He seems a little more curious than wanting to be baptized but I think his curiosity will turn out for the better, eventually! We are going to try harder to teach one of our investigators named John Bjork, good guy, very kind and open! We are just struggling to catch him home! We hopefully found a awesome family. Her name is Jamie and she has three kids and she has family members that are members of the church in Utah and she wants to do a church tour so hopefully this week we can take her and her family on one! She was super open in speaking with us so I hope it all goes good. We have an appointment this Tuesday at 2:00pm! General Conference was amazing! I loved it! It is the best thing that has ever happened to this world! I love going and listening to the messages and the testimonies and to the warnings that we need to be aware of! The world is ripening in wickedness and everywhere we go there is something that is trying to distract us! Music and television and so much that tries to catch our attention! One of my favorite talks out of soooo many was in the priesthood session when President Uchtdorf talked about an experiment some doctor did to test these 4 year old kids! He put them in a room gave them a marshmallow and said if you wait for a period of time you can have two marshmallows. If you eat it you don't get anymore! He left the room and left the kids alone and watched from a two way mirror or whatever you call them! He said that many of them immediately ate the marshmallow and some waited a couple of minutes and 30 percent of them waited until they could have two marshmallows! I guess the doctor thought it was interesting and later realized later in life the kids that waited were far more successful than those that didn't wait! They had better grades in school they had an education in college and successful marriages those that didn't were the opposite! He went on and explained much about the blessings of patience and taught much the doctrine of patience! I loved it! So what do I notice? In the last two days I find myself very impatient!.. Yikes.... it's nothing new. I always need to repent! That was my week and I loved it all! I hope everything goes well and I hope you all have a good week and I will look forward to reading the emails of those that email me this upcoming week!:)
Elder Peña
Hello everyone! this week was great! AGAIN! Ok so first off while I would not like to jinx myself so I will " knock on wood. " I haven't been sick or hurt or have done anything to myself this past two years! And the last three weeks of my mission the 1st one I sprained my ankle and it turned all black and blue and swollen to where I had no ankle! Then the 2nd week I was sick and couldn't talk and my throat hurt and I was losing my voice and last week on Monday I was playing ultimate Frisbee with our zone and while playing, dumb me ran for the Frisbee as fast as I could and trying to catch the thing I went to dive for the Frisbee and my middle finger hit the ground and I slid over my finger and bent it back to what seemed to be my elbow because it hurt so bad! My first thought was that my finger had fallen off! Anyways I went to a member in our ward who is a physical therapist and told me I hyper extended my finger and the ligaments are tender and swollen so the 2nd and 3rd day my hand was huge and you couldn't even tell I had a middle knuckle! It was bruised inside my hand and today it is still sore and still a little swollen! So I hope I don't continue to hurt myself because I may come home on a stretcher!:) haha.... but ok starting with the week! It was amazing. We set a baptismal date with Quincy Williams. He is 9 and from a part member family. They have been coming back to church for the past 3 months. He will be getting baptized on April 17th! So hopefully that will turn out to be my last baptism on my last weekend in the mission field! We had a good lesson this week with Joe Brown who is 20 years old and wants to know a little more about our church and has a lot of questions! He came to the first two sessions of conference and seemed to like it and had some questions! He seems a little more curious than wanting to be baptized but I think his curiosity will turn out for the better, eventually! We are going to try harder to teach one of our investigators named John Bjork, good guy, very kind and open! We are just struggling to catch him home! We hopefully found a awesome family. Her name is Jamie and she has three kids and she has family members that are members of the church in Utah and she wants to do a church tour so hopefully this week we can take her and her family on one! She was super open in speaking with us so I hope it all goes good. We have an appointment this Tuesday at 2:00pm! General Conference was amazing! I loved it! It is the best thing that has ever happened to this world! I love going and listening to the messages and the testimonies and to the warnings that we need to be aware of! The world is ripening in wickedness and everywhere we go there is something that is trying to distract us! Music and television and so much that tries to catch our attention! One of my favorite talks out of soooo many was in the priesthood session when President Uchtdorf talked about an experiment some doctor did to test these 4 year old kids! He put them in a room gave them a marshmallow and said if you wait for a period of time you can have two marshmallows. If you eat it you don't get anymore! He left the room and left the kids alone and watched from a two way mirror or whatever you call them! He said that many of them immediately ate the marshmallow and some waited a couple of minutes and 30 percent of them waited until they could have two marshmallows! I guess the doctor thought it was interesting and later realized later in life the kids that waited were far more successful than those that didn't wait! They had better grades in school they had an education in college and successful marriages those that didn't were the opposite! He went on and explained much about the blessings of patience and taught much the doctrine of patience! I loved it! So what do I notice? In the last two days I find myself very impatient!.. Yikes.... it's nothing new. I always need to repent! That was my week and I loved it all! I hope everything goes well and I hope you all have a good week and I will look forward to reading the emails of those that email me this upcoming week!:)
Elder Peña
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Elder Adam Walker:
I went to the doctor for my foot yesterday, and everything is good. So no worries on that. I might have to do somethings when I get home but he said I should be able to finish my mission fine. The doctor was way cool he was trying to work with me so I could keep working, he is not LDS but he was really cool about everything.
We have had two pretty neat things happen this week, 1 involves finding a new family to teach and the other involves the Cops, haha no worries it wasn't too bad. First off we were out tracking on Saturday and it was freezing cold, no one was letting us in, but we just kept going. We tracked for about 6 hours and pretty much no luck, and then we knock on this one door, a man comes to the door and he says do you want to come in and warm up? We said yes of course, that is the easiest way to get in a door I suppose. We sat down and talked to him for a while, then we started talking about the Restoration a little bit and the Book of Mormon and he asked a bunch of questions that he had been wondering about our church, some misconceptions that he has had. Well come to find out he is a Doctor at the Local Community Doctors office and he is from Oregon. One of the members sees him a lot because his health is not very good. Well this certain Doctor I guess gave the member a piece of Anti Literature, a anti movie about a bunch of stuff. The member ended up taking it back to him when he found out what it was and tried his best to explain the things in the movie. Well that was a year ago and this doctor has just left his current church because of various reasons and is very interested in what we have to say, and what we really believe and teach, so he is open. We were all smiles there. Its nice to teach people who can think on a little higher level than Welfare :) I am exited to see him again, he has 6 people in his family so we will see what happens with him and his family.
The Second is pretty good as well it happened yesterday when I was on exchanges with Elder Chin. He came up here and we went out to see the Niece family that we have been teaching, it is the Family of 7 that is getting baptized March 20th. Well where they live really is out in the middle of no where and the only way we can get down to their house right now with all the snow is to drive as far as we can in our car then hike in the rest of the way. Usually we have to walk about a half mile to get down to where their house is. Well we went as far as we could and then we turned our car around, and just sat there for a second. We had called them and they were not even home from school yet and the parents were out a ways on the main road waiting for them to get off the Bus. Well all the sudden this man starts coming towards us on his tractor. So I pulled over as far as I could so that he could get around easily on the road. Well he stops his tractor right next to where we were at at just starts freaking out on us, these were his exact words, "You got to leave! This is my land, and my cows, and this is your car, LEAVE!" (haha pretty good statement to say huh? Dang Rednecks) I said I was sorry and we didn't mean any harm and that we would go park it out at the nearby church. He told us to leave again, He was drunk as a skunk, No big deal though, he gets back on his tractor and rudely motions to us to come on. We followed him out and then we met up with the Nieces at the near by Baptist Church, about 2 miles from their house, and we told them what had happened. They said he is a jerk and he does dumb stuff like this all the time, he just drinks too much, and the funny thing is that he doesn't even own the land. They have a Polaris Ranger to get in and out of their house right now, so they said they would just take us down in on that and then bring us back out when we were done. By this time the bus comes and drops their kids off so we all load up on the Ranger to go down to their house, there is nine of us on this thing haha when we get to the gate this man and one of his sons comes out and starts cussing at all of us and flipping us off, we flipped the Ranger around and we went back to the church and they started chasing us down the road, they quit after we got so far away, but they decided that the best thing to do was just to call the cops, and let them take care of it. Well a little time passes and 1 cop comes, he talks to us and asks us what is up, and he says that he will go talk to him. Soon after that a West Virginia State trooper comes, a couple minutes after that the Monroe County Sheriff comes and then a few minutes after that, the K-9 unit shows up. haha it was a mess, we had no clue what was going on but they had the dogs out of the car, we could see through the trees from where we were at but we really couldn't see what was happening. All this time there are 5 kids freezing out side, and the heater in their van that they have to park at this church is broken so we turn on our car and they are sitting in there trying to get warm. The cops ended up taking care of everything and told him he had better stop. They are going to get a restraining order put on the man from the family we are teaching just to keep them safe. They said it has all been getting worse since we have been coming and seeing them, they don't like the Mormons too much. haha but its not phasing them, is just making them stronger. So its been a pretty crazy week already, but its been a good one.
The family that was supposed to get baptized this weekend has been put off for a few weeks, they just are not quite ready yet. They are still doing well, Coffee is just a hold up that is going to put them back a few weeks. Transfers are this next week and there is a good chance that I am going to be transferred (not guaranteed, but very likely) So I might not be here for it now. So that will kind of be a bummer but oh well. We have been doing a lot of tracking lately, we have a ton of people to follow up with so we have been pretty blessed. Little by little things are coming along well. One of the Part Member families that has been coming came again this last week, this is 4 weeks in a row now! So we are happy about that, hopefully she will just accept to be baptized now. I think she will, it might just be a little more time. The doctor that we are teaching is coming along well also, we saw him on Saturday and he had a whole bunch of anti stuff that we had to clear up, it took quite a while, but he has come one step closer now. It was a great lesson, lots of clearing up but also a lot of testimony bearing.
Overall its been a great week though.
3-9-2010
It has got up to 70 a few days this last week its been pretty nice. Last Tuesday we washed our car and the members that we live by cars. It was really nice even though I got a little sunburned cause my arms haven't seen too much sun in the last 4 months or so. Its been raining here the last 3 or 4 days and it has melted all the snow. It has caused a huge problem with flooding. There have been a lot of mud slides as well. Some of the roads we have to go on have just been washed away and there is just a small spot that you can drive by on. Kind of a mess! Things are starting to get green FINALLY again, all the brown is disappearing. Its slowly changing
We have had two pretty neat things happen this week, 1 involves finding a new family to teach and the other involves the Cops, haha no worries it wasn't too bad. First off we were out tracking on Saturday and it was freezing cold, no one was letting us in, but we just kept going. We tracked for about 6 hours and pretty much no luck, and then we knock on this one door, a man comes to the door and he says do you want to come in and warm up? We said yes of course, that is the easiest way to get in a door I suppose. We sat down and talked to him for a while, then we started talking about the Restoration a little bit and the Book of Mormon and he asked a bunch of questions that he had been wondering about our church, some misconceptions that he has had. Well come to find out he is a Doctor at the Local Community Doctors office and he is from Oregon. One of the members sees him a lot because his health is not very good. Well this certain Doctor I guess gave the member a piece of Anti Literature, a anti movie about a bunch of stuff. The member ended up taking it back to him when he found out what it was and tried his best to explain the things in the movie. Well that was a year ago and this doctor has just left his current church because of various reasons and is very interested in what we have to say, and what we really believe and teach, so he is open. We were all smiles there. Its nice to teach people who can think on a little higher level than Welfare :) I am exited to see him again, he has 6 people in his family so we will see what happens with him and his family.
The Second is pretty good as well it happened yesterday when I was on exchanges with Elder Chin. He came up here and we went out to see the Niece family that we have been teaching, it is the Family of 7 that is getting baptized March 20th. Well where they live really is out in the middle of no where and the only way we can get down to their house right now with all the snow is to drive as far as we can in our car then hike in the rest of the way. Usually we have to walk about a half mile to get down to where their house is. Well we went as far as we could and then we turned our car around, and just sat there for a second. We had called them and they were not even home from school yet and the parents were out a ways on the main road waiting for them to get off the Bus. Well all the sudden this man starts coming towards us on his tractor. So I pulled over as far as I could so that he could get around easily on the road. Well he stops his tractor right next to where we were at at just starts freaking out on us, these were his exact words, "You got to leave! This is my land, and my cows, and this is your car, LEAVE!" (haha pretty good statement to say huh? Dang Rednecks) I said I was sorry and we didn't mean any harm and that we would go park it out at the nearby church. He told us to leave again, He was drunk as a skunk, No big deal though, he gets back on his tractor and rudely motions to us to come on. We followed him out and then we met up with the Nieces at the near by Baptist Church, about 2 miles from their house, and we told them what had happened. They said he is a jerk and he does dumb stuff like this all the time, he just drinks too much, and the funny thing is that he doesn't even own the land. They have a Polaris Ranger to get in and out of their house right now, so they said they would just take us down in on that and then bring us back out when we were done. By this time the bus comes and drops their kids off so we all load up on the Ranger to go down to their house, there is nine of us on this thing haha when we get to the gate this man and one of his sons comes out and starts cussing at all of us and flipping us off, we flipped the Ranger around and we went back to the church and they started chasing us down the road, they quit after we got so far away, but they decided that the best thing to do was just to call the cops, and let them take care of it. Well a little time passes and 1 cop comes, he talks to us and asks us what is up, and he says that he will go talk to him. Soon after that a West Virginia State trooper comes, a couple minutes after that the Monroe County Sheriff comes and then a few minutes after that, the K-9 unit shows up. haha it was a mess, we had no clue what was going on but they had the dogs out of the car, we could see through the trees from where we were at but we really couldn't see what was happening. All this time there are 5 kids freezing out side, and the heater in their van that they have to park at this church is broken so we turn on our car and they are sitting in there trying to get warm. The cops ended up taking care of everything and told him he had better stop. They are going to get a restraining order put on the man from the family we are teaching just to keep them safe. They said it has all been getting worse since we have been coming and seeing them, they don't like the Mormons too much. haha but its not phasing them, is just making them stronger. So its been a pretty crazy week already, but its been a good one.
The family that was supposed to get baptized this weekend has been put off for a few weeks, they just are not quite ready yet. They are still doing well, Coffee is just a hold up that is going to put them back a few weeks. Transfers are this next week and there is a good chance that I am going to be transferred (not guaranteed, but very likely) So I might not be here for it now. So that will kind of be a bummer but oh well. We have been doing a lot of tracking lately, we have a ton of people to follow up with so we have been pretty blessed. Little by little things are coming along well. One of the Part Member families that has been coming came again this last week, this is 4 weeks in a row now! So we are happy about that, hopefully she will just accept to be baptized now. I think she will, it might just be a little more time. The doctor that we are teaching is coming along well also, we saw him on Saturday and he had a whole bunch of anti stuff that we had to clear up, it took quite a while, but he has come one step closer now. It was a great lesson, lots of clearing up but also a lot of testimony bearing.
Overall its been a great week though.
3-9-2010
It has got up to 70 a few days this last week its been pretty nice. Last Tuesday we washed our car and the members that we live by cars. It was really nice even though I got a little sunburned cause my arms haven't seen too much sun in the last 4 months or so. Its been raining here the last 3 or 4 days and it has melted all the snow. It has caused a huge problem with flooding. There have been a lot of mud slides as well. Some of the roads we have to go on have just been washed away and there is just a small spot that you can drive by on. Kind of a mess! Things are starting to get green FINALLY again, all the brown is disappearing. Its slowly changing
Elder Cade Casper:
So my new email address (because they are changin systems) is cade.casper@myldsmail.net . This week went very well. The whole Kasbee family came to church! We had to go and wake them up at 8:30 because we didn't think that they remembered about daylight savings time, and they all came. Sis. Kasbee really doesn't like church because she knows she's not doing what she needs to be, but we were very glad to see them all there. Ryan and Blake are scheduled to be baptized on April 3rd, yep, best birthday ever: A session of conference, then a baptism, then the next session, then the priesthood. Yep, that would be sweet. They wouldn't be confirmed until the 10th though, and either Elder Lee or I won't be here. It will be interesting to see if I stay or go. We didn't make too much contact with our other investigators so that was a bummer. Al and Molly are doing ok, their daughter got sick and I don't think they have been reading or anything. They keep saying they really want to come to church so we can't give up on them. We had some good lessons with some less active members. Chris Meyers is a 33 year old R.M. that goes to Med school. He is lazy and knows he needs to come back, but says he doesn't feel anything even when he was living the gospel and coming to church. But, he said he is willing to meet with the bishop. Other less active members said they were coming to church and never showed. We have some lessons with less actives that active members are coming with us to, that should be really good. I don't know if I ever told you about the Bittner family. They were just reactivated and are so solid. Bro Bittner was a hard core biker that has a ton of tattoos all up to his neck. It's really cool to see him with a shirt and tie on. He is really excited about going to see less actives and telling them his story, so we are making plans for that. Anyway, I better jet. Thank you for all you do. I love you both and am thankful you are being blessed for you service in the temple. Keep working at it I know it will come.
CADE
CADE
Monday, February 8, 2010
Elder Cade Casper:
Jan 25, 2010
It has been a good week. I hate how many ups and downs there are as a missionary, at least for me. But it has been good.
The weather was still great until yesterday and it has been raining since. We have tracted a lot and this has gone ok. Zone Conference went really well. There was freezing rain on the way down to Butler (1.5 hour drive) and I drove across this way way slick part where there was like 3 cars off the road. Elders that are in New York were coming down and slid off at that spot, it wasn't as bad when we went across it I'm sure.
But we found two new investigators this week. Elder Morales, who serves in the other Erie area, was on exchanges with me and we knocked 3 doors in the afternoon. The first- Mira. She spoke Spanish so Elder Morales and her just went at it, I picked up a few words here and there. She accepted a B of M and he and Elder Lee are going over today. The second door- not interested. The third- Jackie. She soaked up every word we had to say. She kept realizing how we went out door to door to tell people of all these things they don't know about. She is reading and praying. She accepted a baptism date of Feb. 27! She is awesome. She has told her brother about us and he is reading and praying as well. So cool. But, she didn't come to church so that was a real bummer. She told us she would. We are meeting with her on Wednesday with a member. We are also starting to teach other people like Sue Hays and Joe and Carlee, who are hardcore Catholic. They took us through a scripture chain that of course led to Matt. 16, about Peter being the rock (and first Pope) of the church. Lame.
But it's crazy to have things like that then to have such disappointment in the exact same week. I have felt like a failure as I train Elder Lee. He has gotten upset a couple times and said that this isn't what he signed up for. He gets mad at himself and at me when people don't accept us. District Leader is still interesting, and I hate it. I am trying to figure out a way for me to learn the best as I study, but I always have to study for District Meeting. I would love to just be a normal missionary. The Bishop hasn't been to open to us, and I don't think he thinks we are working hard. I think we are working hard, I just hope it's effective. I have no clue what I'm doing sometimes, and I hate that. But I know I am selfish when I think and ponder about things like that when I should be rejoicing at the fact of Jackie and Dakota and the people we meet with. Something I am still trying to do.
Thank you for the package. I am so excited about this DVD. Did you buy the book? You should for yourselves, it's powerful. We will probably play it at Dakota's baptism. I was way excited to see Mike's picture. He will do awesome for those people. I got an email from Cody and I am glad he is doing good. He said it's awesome to have Scott and B home.
I am thankful for your prayers and that you are serving in the temple. Thanks for everything. It will be something else to see my emails when I get home, and realize that I have gotten through the difficult times of my mission, not because of anything I did, but because the Lord will never leave me. That is a fact I have to always hold on to no matter what. I hope and pray that I am learning for the benefit of others, and not myself. Hope you have another good week and I'm glad you are doing so well. I love you and am thankful for you. Love CADE
Feb 6, 2010
Wow, it's been soooo cold here. It hasn't gotten below zero, but being in the weather as a missionary is ten times worse than back in Rexburg. Wow, my face was taken through the ice ringer this week. Nonetheless, it was a good week the Lord blessed us with.
But this week was good. Dakota's baptism went well, it was interesting however. But it was funny, after he was baptized he yelled: "THAT WAS NOT COOL!!" Ha so we hurried and shut the curtains on him. So when I started to confirm him, I said his name, and as I was beginning the ordinance he liked crouched so our hands weren't on his head so I stopped, then a guy in the circle told him that he had to sit up, ha just little stuff like that he is a crack up. And after he was confirmed he said that it was not cool. It was an awesome experience to confirm him though, what special gifts the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood are.
We had a good week with finding, however, Jackie has ignored us. But, we got a call from a less active's husband named Ryan, and he left a message asking us why we hadn't been over in a while. We stopped going over because he wasn't willing to change yet, he didn't want to make commitments. But we went over there last night and he said that he sees a difference when we do come over, and when we don't. And he knows something is missing in his life. Sis. Kasbee, his wife, is very standoffish about church. She has had her feelings hurt and she said that she doesn't like how she feels when she comes, they both have W of W issues. But we taught/testified about the Atonement, and eternal families, and he and the kids are coming to church, and Sis. Kasbee is just lacking faith. We are going over there tonight and teaching them as a family. The Lord has obviously blessed us a lot this week. We are also teaching an awesome Catholic family named Carlee and Joe Yochim. They aren't just Easter/Christmas Catholics, they know their religion and they say that the Great Apostasy is their greatest stumbling block. So I said that instead of praying about the Apostasy, they need to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and so we knelt and prayed. We are fasting with them next week so they get an answer. We have awesome people to teach, but they need to come to church and meet the members. I am thankful that every single event that happens out here as been nothing like I thought it would, if I just trust in the Lord. Every decision I try to have a prayer in my heart for guidance, and every time, the Spirit guides me.
Anyway, we are about to go eat. We had a sleepover last night with the zone Leaders, they are good elders. I am loving this district more and more each week. However, the Assistants are going to be at D.M. this week, ha great. Love ya! CADE
It has been a good week. I hate how many ups and downs there are as a missionary, at least for me. But it has been good.
The weather was still great until yesterday and it has been raining since. We have tracted a lot and this has gone ok. Zone Conference went really well. There was freezing rain on the way down to Butler (1.5 hour drive) and I drove across this way way slick part where there was like 3 cars off the road. Elders that are in New York were coming down and slid off at that spot, it wasn't as bad when we went across it I'm sure.
But we found two new investigators this week. Elder Morales, who serves in the other Erie area, was on exchanges with me and we knocked 3 doors in the afternoon. The first- Mira. She spoke Spanish so Elder Morales and her just went at it, I picked up a few words here and there. She accepted a B of M and he and Elder Lee are going over today. The second door- not interested. The third- Jackie. She soaked up every word we had to say. She kept realizing how we went out door to door to tell people of all these things they don't know about. She is reading and praying. She accepted a baptism date of Feb. 27! She is awesome. She has told her brother about us and he is reading and praying as well. So cool. But, she didn't come to church so that was a real bummer. She told us she would. We are meeting with her on Wednesday with a member. We are also starting to teach other people like Sue Hays and Joe and Carlee, who are hardcore Catholic. They took us through a scripture chain that of course led to Matt. 16, about Peter being the rock (and first Pope) of the church. Lame.
But it's crazy to have things like that then to have such disappointment in the exact same week. I have felt like a failure as I train Elder Lee. He has gotten upset a couple times and said that this isn't what he signed up for. He gets mad at himself and at me when people don't accept us. District Leader is still interesting, and I hate it. I am trying to figure out a way for me to learn the best as I study, but I always have to study for District Meeting. I would love to just be a normal missionary. The Bishop hasn't been to open to us, and I don't think he thinks we are working hard. I think we are working hard, I just hope it's effective. I have no clue what I'm doing sometimes, and I hate that. But I know I am selfish when I think and ponder about things like that when I should be rejoicing at the fact of Jackie and Dakota and the people we meet with. Something I am still trying to do.
Thank you for the package. I am so excited about this DVD. Did you buy the book? You should for yourselves, it's powerful. We will probably play it at Dakota's baptism. I was way excited to see Mike's picture. He will do awesome for those people. I got an email from Cody and I am glad he is doing good. He said it's awesome to have Scott and B home.
I am thankful for your prayers and that you are serving in the temple. Thanks for everything. It will be something else to see my emails when I get home, and realize that I have gotten through the difficult times of my mission, not because of anything I did, but because the Lord will never leave me. That is a fact I have to always hold on to no matter what. I hope and pray that I am learning for the benefit of others, and not myself. Hope you have another good week and I'm glad you are doing so well. I love you and am thankful for you. Love CADE
Feb 6, 2010
Wow, it's been soooo cold here. It hasn't gotten below zero, but being in the weather as a missionary is ten times worse than back in Rexburg. Wow, my face was taken through the ice ringer this week. Nonetheless, it was a good week the Lord blessed us with.
But this week was good. Dakota's baptism went well, it was interesting however. But it was funny, after he was baptized he yelled: "THAT WAS NOT COOL!!" Ha so we hurried and shut the curtains on him. So when I started to confirm him, I said his name, and as I was beginning the ordinance he liked crouched so our hands weren't on his head so I stopped, then a guy in the circle told him that he had to sit up, ha just little stuff like that he is a crack up. And after he was confirmed he said that it was not cool. It was an awesome experience to confirm him though, what special gifts the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood are.
We had a good week with finding, however, Jackie has ignored us. But, we got a call from a less active's husband named Ryan, and he left a message asking us why we hadn't been over in a while. We stopped going over because he wasn't willing to change yet, he didn't want to make commitments. But we went over there last night and he said that he sees a difference when we do come over, and when we don't. And he knows something is missing in his life. Sis. Kasbee, his wife, is very standoffish about church. She has had her feelings hurt and she said that she doesn't like how she feels when she comes, they both have W of W issues. But we taught/testified about the Atonement, and eternal families, and he and the kids are coming to church, and Sis. Kasbee is just lacking faith. We are going over there tonight and teaching them as a family. The Lord has obviously blessed us a lot this week. We are also teaching an awesome Catholic family named Carlee and Joe Yochim. They aren't just Easter/Christmas Catholics, they know their religion and they say that the Great Apostasy is their greatest stumbling block. So I said that instead of praying about the Apostasy, they need to pray about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and so we knelt and prayed. We are fasting with them next week so they get an answer. We have awesome people to teach, but they need to come to church and meet the members. I am thankful that every single event that happens out here as been nothing like I thought it would, if I just trust in the Lord. Every decision I try to have a prayer in my heart for guidance, and every time, the Spirit guides me.
Anyway, we are about to go eat. We had a sleepover last night with the zone Leaders, they are good elders. I am loving this district more and more each week. However, the Assistants are going to be at D.M. this week, ha great. Love ya! CADE
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Adam Walker:
Jan 19, 2010
Everything is working out real well here. This last week has been pretty crazy. We had a little show down at church this last week. The Branch President was teaching in Sunday School that little children who die before the age of accountability have to accept the gospel in the spirit world and they are not automatically saved into the celestial kingdom. I corrected him and made the point clear that they are saved into the Celestial Kingdom, I showed him a few scriptures, 1 in Moroni 8 saying that it is an solemn mockery to baptize a child. and also in D&C 136 where it says straight up that Little Children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the Celestial Kingdom. The Branch President is a very arrogant man and very prideful. and he didn't like to be shown wrong and he wouldn't accept that he was wrong. Now he doesn't like me to well and 3/4 of the branch are related to him so now they don't like me to well either because I told them something that was true but against what their grandpa or dad said. Its a mess. Some of these small branches are interesting. Its kind of like their own little break off sometimes. Its funny in some cases but when it comes down to teaching correct principles, that's not something to mess with. Luckily there were some members of the High council there as well and they were speaking in sacrament, and one of them spoke exactly on that point, teaching correct principles from the scriptures and other church materials, and not from your own opinion. that made the branch president even more embarrassed and he still just wont say sorry haha. its a mess, something so small, yet so big. Just accept that your wrong and move on with life. The High Councilors wife told me that that was needed to be done, she wanted to say something but didn't know how to put it into words. other people who are not related to him were glad I cleared it up as well, but anyone that has the last name Mann, they are all mad at me now, thank goodness the people who are not related to him are the ones that feed us so that wont hurt us. :)
Yesterday we had a great experience, right after I hung up from talking to mom on the phone in fact; We had a member that was preparing dinner at the church for a family that we are teaching. They have 8 in their family and so we had a ton of food ready and prepared. Well about and hour before dinner we get a call, "we are not going to be able to make it." The member that had slaved all day for this was just depressed, and actually a little angry at the same time. Because I guess this happened the last time that he had prepared dinner for a family that the missionaries were teaching. So here we are, 4 people with a huge crock pot of chili, enough to feed probably 15 people, and they all could probably have seconds. What to do? We call every member that we have numbers to to see if they wanted a free dinner. No one was able to come because they were all doing other things or had already had dinner. So that failed and nothing was going right, the member that had prepared it was even a little more disappointed at this point and I could see that he was just depressed. This whole time I am playing the piano on and off while my companion is calling people and praying in my mind, "please just make something good happen for this man." Soon after, his wife yelled from upstairs where the kitchen is in this church and said, "Tom...Tom, someone is at the door out side. So he goes and opens the door and the first thing he asks him, do you want some chili?! haha the guy was just like sure, why not I just was looking for some water. He needed like 5 gallons or something. He had just moved into a home right across from the church and the water had not been turned on yet. So we gave him access to the water at the church and told him to use as much as he needed. Then when he had got the water he said he would go try to get someone else to come to because someone had moved with him. He brought over a lady named Rhonda, She is pretty much a full time house sitter for this one mans mother. The guy who needed the water ended up getting a call into work for something so he couldn't stay but Rhonda stayed and had a big bowl of chili with corn bread. The members invited her to church, and then we asked her if it would be alright if we came over and taught her about our church. She said she would love that! In the end the members walked her back to her house and on the way out they stopped at the table in the church with church materials and introduced the book of Mormon to her. She said she would love to read it.
Our night turned out to be a success, it was a great night. A prayer answered and some members able to see some success come from their hard work and a great opportunity to share the gospel with someone new. God answers prayers. This was just yet another one of those times. He love us all, He is there.
Hope you all travel safely and everything goes well.
I love you all, always remember to pray.
Have a great week, talk to you next week
-Elder Walker
Everything is working out real well here. This last week has been pretty crazy. We had a little show down at church this last week. The Branch President was teaching in Sunday School that little children who die before the age of accountability have to accept the gospel in the spirit world and they are not automatically saved into the celestial kingdom. I corrected him and made the point clear that they are saved into the Celestial Kingdom, I showed him a few scriptures, 1 in Moroni 8 saying that it is an solemn mockery to baptize a child. and also in D&C 136 where it says straight up that Little Children who die before the age of accountability are saved in the Celestial Kingdom. The Branch President is a very arrogant man and very prideful. and he didn't like to be shown wrong and he wouldn't accept that he was wrong. Now he doesn't like me to well and 3/4 of the branch are related to him so now they don't like me to well either because I told them something that was true but against what their grandpa or dad said. Its a mess. Some of these small branches are interesting. Its kind of like their own little break off sometimes. Its funny in some cases but when it comes down to teaching correct principles, that's not something to mess with. Luckily there were some members of the High council there as well and they were speaking in sacrament, and one of them spoke exactly on that point, teaching correct principles from the scriptures and other church materials, and not from your own opinion. that made the branch president even more embarrassed and he still just wont say sorry haha. its a mess, something so small, yet so big. Just accept that your wrong and move on with life. The High Councilors wife told me that that was needed to be done, she wanted to say something but didn't know how to put it into words. other people who are not related to him were glad I cleared it up as well, but anyone that has the last name Mann, they are all mad at me now, thank goodness the people who are not related to him are the ones that feed us so that wont hurt us. :)
Yesterday we had a great experience, right after I hung up from talking to mom on the phone in fact; We had a member that was preparing dinner at the church for a family that we are teaching. They have 8 in their family and so we had a ton of food ready and prepared. Well about and hour before dinner we get a call, "we are not going to be able to make it." The member that had slaved all day for this was just depressed, and actually a little angry at the same time. Because I guess this happened the last time that he had prepared dinner for a family that the missionaries were teaching. So here we are, 4 people with a huge crock pot of chili, enough to feed probably 15 people, and they all could probably have seconds. What to do? We call every member that we have numbers to to see if they wanted a free dinner. No one was able to come because they were all doing other things or had already had dinner. So that failed and nothing was going right, the member that had prepared it was even a little more disappointed at this point and I could see that he was just depressed. This whole time I am playing the piano on and off while my companion is calling people and praying in my mind, "please just make something good happen for this man." Soon after, his wife yelled from upstairs where the kitchen is in this church and said, "Tom...Tom, someone is at the door out side. So he goes and opens the door and the first thing he asks him, do you want some chili?! haha the guy was just like sure, why not I just was looking for some water. He needed like 5 gallons or something. He had just moved into a home right across from the church and the water had not been turned on yet. So we gave him access to the water at the church and told him to use as much as he needed. Then when he had got the water he said he would go try to get someone else to come to because someone had moved with him. He brought over a lady named Rhonda, She is pretty much a full time house sitter for this one mans mother. The guy who needed the water ended up getting a call into work for something so he couldn't stay but Rhonda stayed and had a big bowl of chili with corn bread. The members invited her to church, and then we asked her if it would be alright if we came over and taught her about our church. She said she would love that! In the end the members walked her back to her house and on the way out they stopped at the table in the church with church materials and introduced the book of Mormon to her. She said she would love to read it.
Our night turned out to be a success, it was a great night. A prayer answered and some members able to see some success come from their hard work and a great opportunity to share the gospel with someone new. God answers prayers. This was just yet another one of those times. He love us all, He is there.
Hope you all travel safely and everything goes well.
I love you all, always remember to pray.
Have a great week, talk to you next week
-Elder Walker
Elder Cade Casper:
Jan 4, 2010
So, as I have taken a gander out at the multiple feet of snow, I have thought of you guys a couple of times. We had a bad snowstorm last night and Saturday night- church was cancelled. Ha yes, cancelled. So, it's pretty nuts. I don't know exactly how much it has snowed, but it's a lot. We have to shovel a trench around our car each morning so we can get in, now we have learned to just take shovels in the trunk. In case we don't have anything to do, we can go shovel people's driveways.
But the week went well. It was a fast week. I have been in Erie for 5 full weeks, crazy! We had some good days and some decent days. On Saturday it was really cool- we were working in an area called Lake City, which is 20 minutes from Erie, and we met with a ton of less- active members. We were pretty tired when we got to the apartment for dinner. I got two letters, one from Michele in State College, and some random letter from someone in Utah. It was cool- Michele is doing really well. She is still attending church weekly, and her son, who claimed to be agnostic before we left, is going with her every week and their home teacher, Dale Murphy's son, is getting Mason (the son) hooked on mutual night. So that was awesome to get that letter from her, I was very thankful to hear from her. The other letter was way random, but cool. There was no name or anything, but this person just bore testimony and talked about missionary work and stuff, it was something that I needed at the time. But things are going well, we are doing better at waking up early ha because we both struggle with that, and we have had some success. It's good to see good things happen because it's our work. Next week we should know if we are getting transferred or not, and I'm quite positive I won't be. Not sure about Elder Juarez, I wouldn't mind if we stayed together.
We are still trying to get Dakota, the 10 year old boy, to be baptized this month. We have not talked to them since before Christmas so we are trying to meet with them again. Kelly and her two sons were going to come to church, we had a ride for them and everything. But, this week we are trying to meet in a member's home because her home situation isn't a good place for the spirit. Her husband is nice, but he likes to bring out the fact that he smokes and drinks.
Your picture or attachment thing for the email didn't work. So I don't know if Cort could help you out with that. I hope you get a chance to look at the email today, but you will probably be busy packing and everything.
Well that's about it from Erie. Things are going well amidst all of the snow. I'm ok with it, just trying to stay warm. Oh before I forget- remember that "Reflections of Christ" thing by Mark Mabry, the pictures and the DVD? He came out with another book from the Book of Mormon. A less- active member showed it to us, the missionary that baptized her sent it to her for Christmas. It would be awesome if you would sometime check out either the Reflections DVD or the Book of Mormon one called "Another Testament", that would be awesome to play at baptisms, so we will be using it a lot :).
But it's good here. I know there are people in Erie waiting for the gospel. I love ya and pray you travel safe. Tell everyone hello. CADE
Jan 11, 2010
Man, I couldn't help but to laugh when you said you came home to a -22, I'm sorry. I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm sure it lifted Cort and Mel's spirits as well, something they definitely need. I will try to be short today so I can write everyone and see how they are all doing.
But the transfer is over, transfer meeting is tomorrow down in Pittsburgh. I found out yesterday that Elder Juarez is leaving, and I am going to be training and be a district leader! Over the Zone Leaders! Great, I am excited about training, and I will reflect a lot on how I was trained because I was blessed with a great trainer. But I am quite nervous about being a district leader. I can't imagine what it will be like to instruct other missionaries (especially the zone leaders) and the Lindblom's. It will be a trying experience. But I know things will work out, and the Lord will help me. I know that training will be good for me. It is 1000 times more important that I am exactly obedient and diligent as I bring this new missionary into the field. I think it's funny that he is coming here in the middle of the winter- sorry greenie!!
But things are going ok as far as the work is concerned. Dakota French is getting baptized on Jan. 30, and it is a struggle to try and teach him simply all the things he needs to know and he doesn't focus well at all. But, he is a good kid. Then after that, not many investigators that are progressing. We will be finding a lot over the next few months which will stink considering the weather.
But the DVD's? "Another Testament" DVD would be awesome. "The Reflections of Christ" is really good, but I looked through the book of the other one and it looks really good. So, if you could, send out "Another Testament". That will be real cool.
Things are going well, a very exciting time in my mission right now. I have been out 6 months- crazy. I love ya Mom and Dad and am thankful for your prayers.
So, as I have taken a gander out at the multiple feet of snow, I have thought of you guys a couple of times. We had a bad snowstorm last night and Saturday night- church was cancelled. Ha yes, cancelled. So, it's pretty nuts. I don't know exactly how much it has snowed, but it's a lot. We have to shovel a trench around our car each morning so we can get in, now we have learned to just take shovels in the trunk. In case we don't have anything to do, we can go shovel people's driveways.
But the week went well. It was a fast week. I have been in Erie for 5 full weeks, crazy! We had some good days and some decent days. On Saturday it was really cool- we were working in an area called Lake City, which is 20 minutes from Erie, and we met with a ton of less- active members. We were pretty tired when we got to the apartment for dinner. I got two letters, one from Michele in State College, and some random letter from someone in Utah. It was cool- Michele is doing really well. She is still attending church weekly, and her son, who claimed to be agnostic before we left, is going with her every week and their home teacher, Dale Murphy's son, is getting Mason (the son) hooked on mutual night. So that was awesome to get that letter from her, I was very thankful to hear from her. The other letter was way random, but cool. There was no name or anything, but this person just bore testimony and talked about missionary work and stuff, it was something that I needed at the time. But things are going well, we are doing better at waking up early ha because we both struggle with that, and we have had some success. It's good to see good things happen because it's our work. Next week we should know if we are getting transferred or not, and I'm quite positive I won't be. Not sure about Elder Juarez, I wouldn't mind if we stayed together.
We are still trying to get Dakota, the 10 year old boy, to be baptized this month. We have not talked to them since before Christmas so we are trying to meet with them again. Kelly and her two sons were going to come to church, we had a ride for them and everything. But, this week we are trying to meet in a member's home because her home situation isn't a good place for the spirit. Her husband is nice, but he likes to bring out the fact that he smokes and drinks.
Your picture or attachment thing for the email didn't work. So I don't know if Cort could help you out with that. I hope you get a chance to look at the email today, but you will probably be busy packing and everything.
Well that's about it from Erie. Things are going well amidst all of the snow. I'm ok with it, just trying to stay warm. Oh before I forget- remember that "Reflections of Christ" thing by Mark Mabry, the pictures and the DVD? He came out with another book from the Book of Mormon. A less- active member showed it to us, the missionary that baptized her sent it to her for Christmas. It would be awesome if you would sometime check out either the Reflections DVD or the Book of Mormon one called "Another Testament", that would be awesome to play at baptisms, so we will be using it a lot :).
But it's good here. I know there are people in Erie waiting for the gospel. I love ya and pray you travel safe. Tell everyone hello. CADE
Jan 11, 2010
Man, I couldn't help but to laugh when you said you came home to a -22, I'm sorry. I'm glad you had a good time, and I'm sure it lifted Cort and Mel's spirits as well, something they definitely need. I will try to be short today so I can write everyone and see how they are all doing.
But the transfer is over, transfer meeting is tomorrow down in Pittsburgh. I found out yesterday that Elder Juarez is leaving, and I am going to be training and be a district leader! Over the Zone Leaders! Great, I am excited about training, and I will reflect a lot on how I was trained because I was blessed with a great trainer. But I am quite nervous about being a district leader. I can't imagine what it will be like to instruct other missionaries (especially the zone leaders) and the Lindblom's. It will be a trying experience. But I know things will work out, and the Lord will help me. I know that training will be good for me. It is 1000 times more important that I am exactly obedient and diligent as I bring this new missionary into the field. I think it's funny that he is coming here in the middle of the winter- sorry greenie!!
But things are going ok as far as the work is concerned. Dakota French is getting baptized on Jan. 30, and it is a struggle to try and teach him simply all the things he needs to know and he doesn't focus well at all. But, he is a good kid. Then after that, not many investigators that are progressing. We will be finding a lot over the next few months which will stink considering the weather.
But the DVD's? "Another Testament" DVD would be awesome. "The Reflections of Christ" is really good, but I looked through the book of the other one and it looks really good. So, if you could, send out "Another Testament". That will be real cool.
Things are going well, a very exciting time in my mission right now. I have been out 6 months- crazy. I love ya Mom and Dad and am thankful for your prayers.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Elder Matt Hansen:
Crystal Powell gave me (Cindy) an e-mail that her mom sent to her. They are Matt's mission president in Kenya:
Sister Genie Taylor is her name and she is the mission Pres. wife:
Friday was the Eldoret Zone Conference. It included the missionaries in Eldoret, Kitale, Kisumu and Busia. We had a good conference. The teachings were good, the comments, the role plays, the accountability's-----I really enjoyed it. It was Elder Hansen's (from Rexburg) last zone conference. He returns home on the 20th of January. It was humbling to see this handsome missionary with tears
in his eyes tell of being so scared when he came, but that through his experiences he has come to know His Heavenly Father and Savior and that the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church on the earth. He has grown so much. He is awesome. He's training a new missionary right now and his companion said how much he admires Elder Hansen and how kind he has been to him.
Sister Genie Taylor is her name and she is the mission Pres. wife:
Friday was the Eldoret Zone Conference. It included the missionaries in Eldoret, Kitale, Kisumu and Busia. We had a good conference. The teachings were good, the comments, the role plays, the accountability's-----I really enjoyed it. It was Elder Hansen's (from Rexburg) last zone conference. He returns home on the 20th of January. It was humbling to see this handsome missionary with tears
in his eyes tell of being so scared when he came, but that through his experiences he has come to know His Heavenly Father and Savior and that the Church of Jesus Christ is the true church on the earth. He has grown so much. He is awesome. He's training a new missionary right now and his companion said how much he admires Elder Hansen and how kind he has been to him.
Elder Andrew Peña:
Jan. 4, 2010
Can you believe it is 2010! Well it is! And it's time for goals and resolutions. Things to do and people to see. Lives to change and a new attitude and new way of life and a new beginning! Though we do it every week by partaking of the sacrament and renewing and committing ourselves to the Lord it seems appropriate to set a yearly goal! Some of which I have already set! I set these goals a while back and didn't think of them as being goals for this year coming up but that is exactly what they are! So I will stick to them and find great joy in it! Thank you for everyone's e-mails. It was good to hear from everyone. Thank you! It sounds like everyone is having a great week despite those who get their wisdom teeth out:)... Life here in Turlock is amazing! No matter what happens I'm grateful for the experiences! I was blessed and able to baptize Janelle Bucio, a part member family and the baptism was awesome. It was on January 2nd and on the 31st of December, yes New Years Eve, Joe Dillman was baptized and it was at 8:20 at night and I think it was the latest possible time for a baptism let alone the latest time of the year! Haha he was probably the last person in the world to be baptized in the year 2009!! Haha it was truly amazing! Again in those that we have been able to teach as they have been confirmed and received the Holy Ghost you can tell a difference and that is a miracle in itself! As a mission we were able to have 937 of our brothers and sisters enter into the waters of baptism in the year 2009 what a miracle! We just fell short of our goal but we have achieved so much! The year before in 2008 we had 588 and the year in 2007 we had 518 so that is amazing! On Friday we set our goal for this year of 2010 to have 1200 for our goal! As a mission we were going to set a goal for 2000 but we decided to come together and base our goals off the stake goals! So we are coming more unified with the stakes and wards and working together to accomplish this great work. Once we can get the unifying effect of missionary work and member work it will be absolutely amazing! So that is our goal! In the month of December alone we were able to have 122 people be baptized which is the most we had all year long! We have been asked to pilot church tours as a mission! Elder Perry has asked that we do it and it has been something that we knew would come just didn't know when! About 8 months ago two of my last companions were running the program in the Modesto stake! That was my first area becoming a zone leader and they ran it there for about 3 months and within three months they tripled their baptisms by doing these church tours. They were averaging 11 baptisms. The Washington Tacoma mission has been doing it for several years and they went from 800 baptisms averaging to about 1400 baptisms a year! AMAZING! Anyways we are piloting that in our mission and Elder Cook and I received our "training" and we will be training our zone tomorrow on the church tours! We are not allowed to take investigators on the tours until March 1st but until then we are practicing by using our members! So far we have done like three. And we need to be doing about 12-14 a week at the minimum! So a lot of our lessons will be at the church! The church tours are very specific to the questions you ask and pictures we use. It's awesome! I love it! We do a 10-15 minutes tour and then have a 10 - 15 minute lesson in front of the baptism font (it being open and the investigators facing the font). Not only are we doing something that is exciting but also Elder Ballard is coming to our stake conference on January 17th and I am super excited! We need to find a lot of investigators to invite to that! Here I am receiving all this information about some kind of supper of green chili and a family home evening with all my best friends! Yet I'm doing the best work I can be and I'll be able to meet an apostle! I'm excited! I would not want to be anywhere else at this time! I love my mission! I love you all and hope you continue to keep me in your prayers! I love you and and can't wait to hear from you again this upcoming week! We were listening to a talk by President Hinckley this morning and he talked A LOT about faith and missionaries and how being on a mission shows a lot of faith! I love the gospel and I have no doubt within my heart it is true and everything else that comes with it! It is great to be in church and in the gospel principles class with investigators I have been able to teach. And being able to see their lives change from night to day because of the teachings of the gospel! How does it happen!? It's a miracle and it's because of their humility and willingness to listen and obey the commandments! I love you all! Have a great week!:)
Elder Peña
Can you believe it is 2010! Well it is! And it's time for goals and resolutions. Things to do and people to see. Lives to change and a new attitude and new way of life and a new beginning! Though we do it every week by partaking of the sacrament and renewing and committing ourselves to the Lord it seems appropriate to set a yearly goal! Some of which I have already set! I set these goals a while back and didn't think of them as being goals for this year coming up but that is exactly what they are! So I will stick to them and find great joy in it! Thank you for everyone's e-mails. It was good to hear from everyone. Thank you! It sounds like everyone is having a great week despite those who get their wisdom teeth out:)... Life here in Turlock is amazing! No matter what happens I'm grateful for the experiences! I was blessed and able to baptize Janelle Bucio, a part member family and the baptism was awesome. It was on January 2nd and on the 31st of December, yes New Years Eve, Joe Dillman was baptized and it was at 8:20 at night and I think it was the latest possible time for a baptism let alone the latest time of the year! Haha he was probably the last person in the world to be baptized in the year 2009!! Haha it was truly amazing! Again in those that we have been able to teach as they have been confirmed and received the Holy Ghost you can tell a difference and that is a miracle in itself! As a mission we were able to have 937 of our brothers and sisters enter into the waters of baptism in the year 2009 what a miracle! We just fell short of our goal but we have achieved so much! The year before in 2008 we had 588 and the year in 2007 we had 518 so that is amazing! On Friday we set our goal for this year of 2010 to have 1200 for our goal! As a mission we were going to set a goal for 2000 but we decided to come together and base our goals off the stake goals! So we are coming more unified with the stakes and wards and working together to accomplish this great work. Once we can get the unifying effect of missionary work and member work it will be absolutely amazing! So that is our goal! In the month of December alone we were able to have 122 people be baptized which is the most we had all year long! We have been asked to pilot church tours as a mission! Elder Perry has asked that we do it and it has been something that we knew would come just didn't know when! About 8 months ago two of my last companions were running the program in the Modesto stake! That was my first area becoming a zone leader and they ran it there for about 3 months and within three months they tripled their baptisms by doing these church tours. They were averaging 11 baptisms. The Washington Tacoma mission has been doing it for several years and they went from 800 baptisms averaging to about 1400 baptisms a year! AMAZING! Anyways we are piloting that in our mission and Elder Cook and I received our "training" and we will be training our zone tomorrow on the church tours! We are not allowed to take investigators on the tours until March 1st but until then we are practicing by using our members! So far we have done like three. And we need to be doing about 12-14 a week at the minimum! So a lot of our lessons will be at the church! The church tours are very specific to the questions you ask and pictures we use. It's awesome! I love it! We do a 10-15 minutes tour and then have a 10 - 15 minute lesson in front of the baptism font (it being open and the investigators facing the font). Not only are we doing something that is exciting but also Elder Ballard is coming to our stake conference on January 17th and I am super excited! We need to find a lot of investigators to invite to that! Here I am receiving all this information about some kind of supper of green chili and a family home evening with all my best friends! Yet I'm doing the best work I can be and I'll be able to meet an apostle! I'm excited! I would not want to be anywhere else at this time! I love my mission! I love you all and hope you continue to keep me in your prayers! I love you and and can't wait to hear from you again this upcoming week! We were listening to a talk by President Hinckley this morning and he talked A LOT about faith and missionaries and how being on a mission shows a lot of faith! I love the gospel and I have no doubt within my heart it is true and everything else that comes with it! It is great to be in church and in the gospel principles class with investigators I have been able to teach. And being able to see their lives change from night to day because of the teachings of the gospel! How does it happen!? It's a miracle and it's because of their humility and willingness to listen and obey the commandments! I love you all! Have a great week!:)
Elder Peña
Monday, December 21, 2009
Merry Christmas to all Missionary Moms:
This Year for Christmas
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard,
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated
by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year... I'm giving Christ my son
I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving.
The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Clause,
my decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties,
two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I've spent more time in the temple,
Felt strength come from His words.
I've reread November's Ensign,
and my testimony stirred.
Our family prays more frequently
My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,
This year I'm giving Christ my son.
I wonder how those Lamanite mothers,
gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion,
their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence,
I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,
I'm giving Christ my son.
I stare at his face when he's not looking.
I memorize his eyes, their shine.
He's always hungered for the part of him,
that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard,
His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand,
This year, I'm giving Him my son.
Past gifts have lost their glitter,
I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated
by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns
that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make,
This year... I'm giving Christ my son
Friday, December 18, 2009
Elder Matt Hansen:
Everything here is going good and it looks like things are going to change for me in my last transfer here. I just got a call from President and it turns out that my companion is getting transferred and I am getting a new kid from the MTC, I don't know where he is from or anything but I guess I will know later this week. I am excited, I guess, but kind of nervous at the same time, I don't know the area real well so things will just have to work out. Other than that things are going well. Yesterday was a long day because we watched the general conference tapes from October instead of having sacrament meeting. The worst part about it is that they were in Kiswahili so my companion and I didn't understand much. I just read the magazine the whole time.
I'm sure you will have a blast for Christmas with all the kids there. I wish I could be there but I'm serious when I say this, I won't be. I won't be home until the end of next month so don't worry. I think they are going to send the itinerary to you but I don't know.
This week was definitely different than any other week I have had so far on my mission. My new companion got here on Friday so we have only been together for a couple of days but he is a cool kid. He is from South Africa and he helps me out to stay focused on the work. But before he got here something else happened, it was on Tuesday to be precise... About all I can say about it is that I'm happy you put money into my account because turns out we got robbed! It was a bit unexpected. My companion and I just came home and found that the lock and door was the same way we left it then we opened the lock, went in and the house was a mess. It looks like they just had a key or something because there was no sign of force entry, nothing was broken. They cleaned us out pretty good though. They got all my ties, my small suitcase, my suit, all my trousers, and money. Not to worry though, I still got one tie and a pair of pants and all my white shirts, they're not so white anymore. We don't know who it was but the zone leaders also got robbed the next day so it was the same people. Please don't worry though, we are safe and you put in plenty of money to last me and get me new things so don't worry, and thank you for the money. That's the week. Please don't stress out. Everything is going well. I love you mom and hope that all is well for you. I will get to go on a one day safari before I go home, and we stay on the same road as the church, not far at all. Love you, Elder Hansen
I'm sure you will have a blast for Christmas with all the kids there. I wish I could be there but I'm serious when I say this, I won't be. I won't be home until the end of next month so don't worry. I think they are going to send the itinerary to you but I don't know.
This week was definitely different than any other week I have had so far on my mission. My new companion got here on Friday so we have only been together for a couple of days but he is a cool kid. He is from South Africa and he helps me out to stay focused on the work. But before he got here something else happened, it was on Tuesday to be precise... About all I can say about it is that I'm happy you put money into my account because turns out we got robbed! It was a bit unexpected. My companion and I just came home and found that the lock and door was the same way we left it then we opened the lock, went in and the house was a mess. It looks like they just had a key or something because there was no sign of force entry, nothing was broken. They cleaned us out pretty good though. They got all my ties, my small suitcase, my suit, all my trousers, and money. Not to worry though, I still got one tie and a pair of pants and all my white shirts, they're not so white anymore. We don't know who it was but the zone leaders also got robbed the next day so it was the same people. Please don't worry though, we are safe and you put in plenty of money to last me and get me new things so don't worry, and thank you for the money. That's the week. Please don't stress out. Everything is going well. I love you mom and hope that all is well for you. I will get to go on a one day safari before I go home, and we stay on the same road as the church, not far at all. Love you, Elder Hansen
Elder Cade Casper:
Nov 30, 2009
Hey mom and dad, so I am getting transferred. I found out last Saturday night because Elder DeYoung knew an office elder that leaked it to us, but I found out today officially from my district leader. I am excited for change. I am going to miss Dover and this ward a ton, but I am welcoming to change. I am going to Pittsburgh tomorrow for the transfer meeting, and hopefully I stay on that side of the mission. But like I said, I'm going to miss this place. I have said some goodbyes to members and tonight we are going to Jay and Catherine's (with the bap. date) and the Shoemaker's as well, I'm REALLY going to miss them. But I will let you know next week where I am at.
But I laughed at your first sentence. I wondered a couple times what Thanksgiving was like back home. Bro Shoemaker kept asking me: "So, this is your first big holiday away from home?" And I would say yes, it is Bro. Shoemaker haha. Sounds like things went well and everything was fun, you guys didn't talk about me too much did ya haha? But Thanksgiving here was way fun. It was a neat holiday to be in Dover (Christmas would be sweet) I enjoyed it spending time with other families and their friends. We played in the Turkey Bowl. It was great. It was way muddy and I didn't take any pictures dang it, but it was fun even though my legs are still sore. We came back to the apartment and then around 2 went to dinner to Bishop Toone's. His son and the relief society president's daughter are engaged, so they were over there too, it was kinda weird but the food was really good. They are both from Utah so the food wasn't anything weird or different. Then we went to this single sister's house for another dinner, the Bruggeman's. She has like 4 kids, the oldest is 20 I think, and she loves the missionaries. It was really fun. Then we went to Pap Shoemaker's where a lot of the Shoemaker's were and it was us and two elders who are serving in York right now. It was fun. Then we went and had pie at a less active's house, it was a really good day. Ha we only ate at one place so that wasn't too bad.
But things are going well. I am glad I got to serve with Elder DeYoung, but I am glad to get a new companion. Elder DeYoung and mine numbers weren't the best, but he tried. We became good friends. Catherine is still scheduled to be baptised the 26 of Dec, but she is living with her boyfriend and we still need to teach the law of chastity, so I will be seeing in a few weeks how she is doing. We are going over there tonight to say goodbye. I went by Amanda and Ernie's last night, they are such an awesome couple. They are getting excited for the temple. I can't wait to hear in a year from now all about it!
It's great to be serving right now, I can't believe that I am almost out 5 months. Flying isn't it? I think so. I got an email from Scott and he said it would be his LAST one, wow. Send him my love for me. Then on comes the rest of them haha.
I'm excited about you being ordinance workers in the temple. That will be such an awesome experience. You guys will do well and I'm thankful that you are able to do that. A lot of missionaries out here have less active or non member parents, and I am so thankful for the family I grew up in and being born in the covenant. Man I wish we could go to the temple in D.C., a few members have offered. But things are going well, Christmas is rolling around the corner. Oh I don't know if I told you: Elder Wallis is in my zone, he is a district leader and he was training last transfer. I will send you a picture of us here soon. But I love ya and am surely thankful for all that you do for me and others.
Dec 7, 2009
I am in Erie, PA, right up against Lake Erie. It is a frozen tundra up here, but the first snow of the year was two days ago. It is the first time since 81 that there wasn't snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. My companion is Elder Juarez from Yakima, WA. He is Hispanic and he speaks Spanish. He is cool, we sort of get a long so far, but we are just trying to get used to each other. He has been out 13 months. We got doubled in, or "white washed" into the area. So just like Elder Tranter and I did in Dover, we are two completely new missionaries in our area called Millcreek, but it's pretty much Erie. It is Elder Juarez's first time white washing an area, and my second, even though I don't know how much help I was to Elder Tranter when we did it the first time. So that is where I'm at, Erie, PA. Erie is the third largest city in PA, bigger than Harrisburg. It's pretty flat, which is rare for PA, so they kind of have a grid system. Neither one of us have GPS, so we are having a good time using a map. The elders before us didn't leave much, no real investigators, so we are starting from scratch pretty much. Each area has an Area Book, but some are better than others. The area book in Millcreek is terrible. There used to be 12 missionaries in Erie, now there is just 4. President has had to close a lot of areas since the missions merged, and Erie lost a lot. So, there is A LOT of people in Erie and just four missionaries, there is work for us to do. But this Area Book is really helpful when it's done well, but this one is really bad so it doesn't help us at all, it tells us where members live and splits the area into sub areas.
My address is:
2708 Garland St. Apt. #2
Erie, PA 16506
A lot of missionaries I know served here, and a lot of them came up to us and said how awesome the ward here is. There are two wards in Erie, and our ward has a lot, a lot of students. There is LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine), which is the nations largest med school, and other colleges and universities. The ward seems good, but I slightly compared it to the last ward I served in and it didn't measure up. But, we will get to know them and I'm sure I will grow to love them as well.
Oh I saw Chance Powell, who served in the Harrisburg mission, I'm sure you remember him from sports, he is from Hibbard. He is now in Dover with my last companion. Elder DeYoung called us a few nights ago (he served in Millcreek for 9 months) and said Susan Blackcloud called and wants to be baptized, so that was awesome.
I love you Mom and Dad and am thankful for you. I'm thankful you are active and set an awesome example for me growing up. I know the Lord is watching over you intently. Love ya, Cade
Dec 14, 2009
Things are going well in Erie. Things have picked up a little bit. We had some investigators come to the ward Christmas party with their kids. Their names are Kelly and Stacey, but we aren't quite sure where their intents are, or if they are really serious about church because they didn't come, but, we are just starting to really teach them so I will let you know how that goes.
But the week went well, we are starting to get to know the ward better and how we can better utilize them for rides and teaching people with them. We are trying to visit a lot of part member families in the ward, and hopefully we will find a family who is ready to complete their family or come back to church. Tracting has been quite unproductive here, we tracted one day when it was 15 degrees, with a 10 to 15 degree windchill- just to say we did it! It was so cold, people kept telling us how crazy we were.
We had a funny thing happen though. We were trying these former investigators close to downtown Erie, and we walked around the corner and this guy was hiding (from the wind- it was FREEZING!) behind a door, so we started talking to him. He knew us instantly as people spreading "God's Word" and kept telling us how he believed, he is black and VERY baptist. He said he was going to court for something to do with his Social Security, his name is Robert. He was waiting for the bus and was freaking out he missed it. Our car was parked like 150 feet from us and we knew he would watch us get in and drive away, so we were kinda thinking we could give this guy a lift (which is something we ARE NOT supposed to do). Finally, he asked: "Ya'll think you could please just take me half way or sumpin?" Ah man, if we said no, he would watch us just get in a drive away, so we said ya. On our way there I told him we would make a deal with him. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would read it, and we are meeting with him on Thursday at his house. Ha next time in a meeting if someone asks if we have found cool ways to find new investigators we will tell that story haha. I will let you know how that goes.
This week we had Zone Conference- it was great. It was a meeting when everyone could see that President is inspired. He said a lot about how lucky we are to be on missions, how they are better than the military, better than a college education, all of that. It was cool. It made me reflect a lot, these past two transfers have been interesting. It has been getting harder and harder to do little things like wake up on time, and it's getting to me- of course I'm not a morning person. But it was a great meeting. An elder made a movie of the mission in the past year, it was good, we all got a free copy.
But no one has came up to us or called and invited us over to their house for Christmas, kind of a bummer. I sure hope someone does next Sunday or even before that. But I will let you know next week all the details, if there are some. I will make the calls, and I will be able to call everyone so I just need numbers.
President's interviews are tomorrow, so that will be good. We have a good week ahead where we will try a lot of part member families and appointments, even though we aren't teaching a whole lot of people right now.
It's crazy to hear about the people that have been in Erie, never before would we have noticed that, of course. But things are going better, things will continue to improve, there is always a lot of things that could improve. I love the emails and am excited for the holidays. Hope everyone is safe back home. I love you both and think about you each night. I am thankful for the prayers you offer for me and I def need them. Cade
Hey mom and dad, so I am getting transferred. I found out last Saturday night because Elder DeYoung knew an office elder that leaked it to us, but I found out today officially from my district leader. I am excited for change. I am going to miss Dover and this ward a ton, but I am welcoming to change. I am going to Pittsburgh tomorrow for the transfer meeting, and hopefully I stay on that side of the mission. But like I said, I'm going to miss this place. I have said some goodbyes to members and tonight we are going to Jay and Catherine's (with the bap. date) and the Shoemaker's as well, I'm REALLY going to miss them. But I will let you know next week where I am at.
But I laughed at your first sentence. I wondered a couple times what Thanksgiving was like back home. Bro Shoemaker kept asking me: "So, this is your first big holiday away from home?" And I would say yes, it is Bro. Shoemaker haha. Sounds like things went well and everything was fun, you guys didn't talk about me too much did ya haha? But Thanksgiving here was way fun. It was a neat holiday to be in Dover (Christmas would be sweet) I enjoyed it spending time with other families and their friends. We played in the Turkey Bowl. It was great. It was way muddy and I didn't take any pictures dang it, but it was fun even though my legs are still sore. We came back to the apartment and then around 2 went to dinner to Bishop Toone's. His son and the relief society president's daughter are engaged, so they were over there too, it was kinda weird but the food was really good. They are both from Utah so the food wasn't anything weird or different. Then we went to this single sister's house for another dinner, the Bruggeman's. She has like 4 kids, the oldest is 20 I think, and she loves the missionaries. It was really fun. Then we went to Pap Shoemaker's where a lot of the Shoemaker's were and it was us and two elders who are serving in York right now. It was fun. Then we went and had pie at a less active's house, it was a really good day. Ha we only ate at one place so that wasn't too bad.
But things are going well. I am glad I got to serve with Elder DeYoung, but I am glad to get a new companion. Elder DeYoung and mine numbers weren't the best, but he tried. We became good friends. Catherine is still scheduled to be baptised the 26 of Dec, but she is living with her boyfriend and we still need to teach the law of chastity, so I will be seeing in a few weeks how she is doing. We are going over there tonight to say goodbye. I went by Amanda and Ernie's last night, they are such an awesome couple. They are getting excited for the temple. I can't wait to hear in a year from now all about it!
It's great to be serving right now, I can't believe that I am almost out 5 months. Flying isn't it? I think so. I got an email from Scott and he said it would be his LAST one, wow. Send him my love for me. Then on comes the rest of them haha.
I'm excited about you being ordinance workers in the temple. That will be such an awesome experience. You guys will do well and I'm thankful that you are able to do that. A lot of missionaries out here have less active or non member parents, and I am so thankful for the family I grew up in and being born in the covenant. Man I wish we could go to the temple in D.C., a few members have offered. But things are going well, Christmas is rolling around the corner. Oh I don't know if I told you: Elder Wallis is in my zone, he is a district leader and he was training last transfer. I will send you a picture of us here soon. But I love ya and am surely thankful for all that you do for me and others.
Dec 7, 2009
I am in Erie, PA, right up against Lake Erie. It is a frozen tundra up here, but the first snow of the year was two days ago. It is the first time since 81 that there wasn't snow on the ground before Thanksgiving. My companion is Elder Juarez from Yakima, WA. He is Hispanic and he speaks Spanish. He is cool, we sort of get a long so far, but we are just trying to get used to each other. He has been out 13 months. We got doubled in, or "white washed" into the area. So just like Elder Tranter and I did in Dover, we are two completely new missionaries in our area called Millcreek, but it's pretty much Erie. It is Elder Juarez's first time white washing an area, and my second, even though I don't know how much help I was to Elder Tranter when we did it the first time. So that is where I'm at, Erie, PA. Erie is the third largest city in PA, bigger than Harrisburg. It's pretty flat, which is rare for PA, so they kind of have a grid system. Neither one of us have GPS, so we are having a good time using a map. The elders before us didn't leave much, no real investigators, so we are starting from scratch pretty much. Each area has an Area Book, but some are better than others. The area book in Millcreek is terrible. There used to be 12 missionaries in Erie, now there is just 4. President has had to close a lot of areas since the missions merged, and Erie lost a lot. So, there is A LOT of people in Erie and just four missionaries, there is work for us to do. But this Area Book is really helpful when it's done well, but this one is really bad so it doesn't help us at all, it tells us where members live and splits the area into sub areas.
My address is:
2708 Garland St. Apt. #2
Erie, PA 16506
A lot of missionaries I know served here, and a lot of them came up to us and said how awesome the ward here is. There are two wards in Erie, and our ward has a lot, a lot of students. There is LECOM (Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine), which is the nations largest med school, and other colleges and universities. The ward seems good, but I slightly compared it to the last ward I served in and it didn't measure up. But, we will get to know them and I'm sure I will grow to love them as well.
Oh I saw Chance Powell, who served in the Harrisburg mission, I'm sure you remember him from sports, he is from Hibbard. He is now in Dover with my last companion. Elder DeYoung called us a few nights ago (he served in Millcreek for 9 months) and said Susan Blackcloud called and wants to be baptized, so that was awesome.
I love you Mom and Dad and am thankful for you. I'm thankful you are active and set an awesome example for me growing up. I know the Lord is watching over you intently. Love ya, Cade
Dec 14, 2009
Things are going well in Erie. Things have picked up a little bit. We had some investigators come to the ward Christmas party with their kids. Their names are Kelly and Stacey, but we aren't quite sure where their intents are, or if they are really serious about church because they didn't come, but, we are just starting to really teach them so I will let you know how that goes.
But the week went well, we are starting to get to know the ward better and how we can better utilize them for rides and teaching people with them. We are trying to visit a lot of part member families in the ward, and hopefully we will find a family who is ready to complete their family or come back to church. Tracting has been quite unproductive here, we tracted one day when it was 15 degrees, with a 10 to 15 degree windchill- just to say we did it! It was so cold, people kept telling us how crazy we were.
We had a funny thing happen though. We were trying these former investigators close to downtown Erie, and we walked around the corner and this guy was hiding (from the wind- it was FREEZING!) behind a door, so we started talking to him. He knew us instantly as people spreading "God's Word" and kept telling us how he believed, he is black and VERY baptist. He said he was going to court for something to do with his Social Security, his name is Robert. He was waiting for the bus and was freaking out he missed it. Our car was parked like 150 feet from us and we knew he would watch us get in and drive away, so we were kinda thinking we could give this guy a lift (which is something we ARE NOT supposed to do). Finally, he asked: "Ya'll think you could please just take me half way or sumpin?" Ah man, if we said no, he would watch us just get in a drive away, so we said ya. On our way there I told him we would make a deal with him. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he said he would read it, and we are meeting with him on Thursday at his house. Ha next time in a meeting if someone asks if we have found cool ways to find new investigators we will tell that story haha. I will let you know how that goes.
This week we had Zone Conference- it was great. It was a meeting when everyone could see that President is inspired. He said a lot about how lucky we are to be on missions, how they are better than the military, better than a college education, all of that. It was cool. It made me reflect a lot, these past two transfers have been interesting. It has been getting harder and harder to do little things like wake up on time, and it's getting to me- of course I'm not a morning person. But it was a great meeting. An elder made a movie of the mission in the past year, it was good, we all got a free copy.
But no one has came up to us or called and invited us over to their house for Christmas, kind of a bummer. I sure hope someone does next Sunday or even before that. But I will let you know next week all the details, if there are some. I will make the calls, and I will be able to call everyone so I just need numbers.
President's interviews are tomorrow, so that will be good. We have a good week ahead where we will try a lot of part member families and appointments, even though we aren't teaching a whole lot of people right now.
It's crazy to hear about the people that have been in Erie, never before would we have noticed that, of course. But things are going better, things will continue to improve, there is always a lot of things that could improve. I love the emails and am excited for the holidays. Hope everyone is safe back home. I love you both and think about you each night. I am thankful for the prayers you offer for me and I def need them. Cade
Elder Adam Walker:
It has been a great week this week, we have had some really interesting things happen that’s for sure. It has gone by really fast as well. We were supposed to be having another baptism this weekend but she feels that she isn't ready right now. It was really kind of a bummer because we have been trying so hard to help her out in every way possible. A member took us out to eat along with the lady that was going to be getting baptized... that was just great. If you can just imagine 2 autistic kids at pizza hut... one of them puking in the process, and yelling and screaming the whole time that we were there, you can just begin to imagine how the night was. Anyways it was nice of the member to try to fellowship her. Just didn't go the greatest. We just keep going though. One of the football players, Pres Crawford that we are teaching here at SVU has finally decided that it is the right thing for him to do and he wants to get baptized. So we are happy about that one that made our week much better, we saw him yesterday morning. This past week has been good, we made cookies for all of our investigators and they all really appreciated them. The ones we made this week were heath cookies, they were really good. We made 6 dozen of them.
Last night we had an interesting experience. We were asked by this lady to go and try to talk to her sister because she was going through a hard time and she really thought that we might be able to help. So we went in last night and started to talk to them, we talked about the restoration a little bit, but then the one lady that we went to talk to just stood up and started freaking out about how God has turned his back on her, she has done everything she could possibly do but everything bad is happening to her right now. Then her sister that asked us to come in, started arguing with her. It was a mess, it was the worst argument that I have ever seen or heard. We got them to cool down for a minute and we thought that we had things under control, when all the sudden they started freaking out again. It was a mess. The sad part was that they were just being so selfish about everything, all they cared about was themselves, if it wasn't for their own good, it wasn't what they wanted. It is such a long story to explain, and there are so many details but overall I was just thinking that its so sad to see so many unhappy families, we really take for granted what we know. Many people think they know who they are, but they don’t. The neat thing is that we do know who we are, we know exactly who God is and we understand that trials are here to make us stronger, no matter who we are, whether we are righteous, or wicked, we are going to have adversity. The only difference is how we take it and how we deal with it. We all have different hands of cards, and we have to play them the best way we know how to. Everything is going really well here though, I’m happy to be alive and everything is great. Next week is transfers, so I will be getting a new companion, it will just be interesting to see whom I get. I’m exited for change, but it’s been fun being with Elder Reed so we will just have to see how it goes. Thanks for everything, I love you all. Elder Walker
Nov 17, 2009
So transfer news! Elder Reed is leaving, and I'm getting a new companion. His name is Elder Anderson. If you remember the kid that was in my ward at Utah State and he lived in the same apartment building I did in Logan, we were in the same ward, we got our mission calls the same day, we were MTC roommates, and here we are, he is now coming to be my companion. I'm exited, he is a way cool kid, we will do really well with each other. I'm exited for this transfer, we have a lot of people lined up and lots of good potential. Our Zone is getting mixed up just a little, we are getting 2 new greenies. So that will be a boost to our zone and we are getting some solid missionaries transferred in so we are pretty exited about it all. We have a lot of work to do but it will be great. Life is just going really well. Couldn't ask for anything better. Time is flying by. Month by month, I want it to slow down. Tomorrow we have to get up at 3:30 so that we can get to Roanoke for rides and everything so its going to be an early morning. I should have my new companion by 3 or 4 tomorrow so I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to miss Elder Reed but I'm ready for a change and I'm looking forward with optimism. Its going to be a great transfer. Thanks for everything, love you all.
Nov 24, 2009
I was able to go out on exchanges with Alec Fullmer last Wednesday. It was really fun, we were in Roanoke waiting for our companions to come down on the bus and we had some time so we were able to go out and do some tracting. We got into one home and taught an awesome lesson. It was really neat to be able to go out with him for a couple hours. He is still Alec but has changed a ton, he is a really good teacher, really sincere and humble about everything, it was awesome. 2000 miles away we meet up and were walking down a street, haha I couldn't believe it but it was great. Everything is going well here. My companion is great, we get along well. The work is great. Nothing too exciting has happened, just a normal week, we have been tracting a lot. Trying to find people to teach. We have a lot of good potential, people are just scared of commitment. We have a baptism Dec 5th, so that will be nice. Thanks for everything, I love you all. Elder Walker
Dec 1, 2009
Sounds like it was a great Thanksgiving there at home. Mine went well also. We had a dinner with a family, there were probably 30 people at theirs. They had quite a bit of food as well. They even had a non-member family there so we were able to talk to them. Ever since Thanksgiving we have just been eating left overs the whole time, yesterday's was terrible. I felt really bad. we had a dinner appointment with this really poor couple, and we had left overs with them. All I can say is I'm glad I am a missionary and am pretty much immune to bad food because I'm pretty sure the ham that we ate was not cooked all the way through and the baked beans that she had made probably had more sugar and brown sugar on them than there was actually beans in the pan... the pumpkin pie, well lets just say it didn't look like pumpkin pie... haha- we are still alive though and its been a great week. I'm sure you have all kinds of stories about eating weird food, we just get a couple every once in a while. You might like to hear this, we came across this Phillipino family a couple weeks ago and they said they want to learn more, so I will keep you updated on them, hopefully we can see them sometime this week. We have a baptism this weekend, her name is Melissa Carter, so we are exited about that. We also set another person with a baptism date last night. So hopefully he will come along, his wife is a member but he is not yet. He just has to quit smoking and he will be ready. Pres Crawford is a college student that we are teaching here, and he will most likely get baptized at the beginning of next month, January. Then we have the Mkinya kids, remember the black, less active man we tracted into, his kids. They said they will hopefully have permission from the mother by Christmas. So things are looking good here, things are going really well. We just keep on going and hoping for the best every day that we go out. Thanks for everything. I love you.
Elder Walker
Last night we had an interesting experience. We were asked by this lady to go and try to talk to her sister because she was going through a hard time and she really thought that we might be able to help. So we went in last night and started to talk to them, we talked about the restoration a little bit, but then the one lady that we went to talk to just stood up and started freaking out about how God has turned his back on her, she has done everything she could possibly do but everything bad is happening to her right now. Then her sister that asked us to come in, started arguing with her. It was a mess, it was the worst argument that I have ever seen or heard. We got them to cool down for a minute and we thought that we had things under control, when all the sudden they started freaking out again. It was a mess. The sad part was that they were just being so selfish about everything, all they cared about was themselves, if it wasn't for their own good, it wasn't what they wanted. It is such a long story to explain, and there are so many details but overall I was just thinking that its so sad to see so many unhappy families, we really take for granted what we know. Many people think they know who they are, but they don’t. The neat thing is that we do know who we are, we know exactly who God is and we understand that trials are here to make us stronger, no matter who we are, whether we are righteous, or wicked, we are going to have adversity. The only difference is how we take it and how we deal with it. We all have different hands of cards, and we have to play them the best way we know how to. Everything is going really well here though, I’m happy to be alive and everything is great. Next week is transfers, so I will be getting a new companion, it will just be interesting to see whom I get. I’m exited for change, but it’s been fun being with Elder Reed so we will just have to see how it goes. Thanks for everything, I love you all. Elder Walker
Nov 17, 2009
So transfer news! Elder Reed is leaving, and I'm getting a new companion. His name is Elder Anderson. If you remember the kid that was in my ward at Utah State and he lived in the same apartment building I did in Logan, we were in the same ward, we got our mission calls the same day, we were MTC roommates, and here we are, he is now coming to be my companion. I'm exited, he is a way cool kid, we will do really well with each other. I'm exited for this transfer, we have a lot of people lined up and lots of good potential. Our Zone is getting mixed up just a little, we are getting 2 new greenies. So that will be a boost to our zone and we are getting some solid missionaries transferred in so we are pretty exited about it all. We have a lot of work to do but it will be great. Life is just going really well. Couldn't ask for anything better. Time is flying by. Month by month, I want it to slow down. Tomorrow we have to get up at 3:30 so that we can get to Roanoke for rides and everything so its going to be an early morning. I should have my new companion by 3 or 4 tomorrow so I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to miss Elder Reed but I'm ready for a change and I'm looking forward with optimism. Its going to be a great transfer. Thanks for everything, love you all.
Nov 24, 2009
I was able to go out on exchanges with Alec Fullmer last Wednesday. It was really fun, we were in Roanoke waiting for our companions to come down on the bus and we had some time so we were able to go out and do some tracting. We got into one home and taught an awesome lesson. It was really neat to be able to go out with him for a couple hours. He is still Alec but has changed a ton, he is a really good teacher, really sincere and humble about everything, it was awesome. 2000 miles away we meet up and were walking down a street, haha I couldn't believe it but it was great. Everything is going well here. My companion is great, we get along well. The work is great. Nothing too exciting has happened, just a normal week, we have been tracting a lot. Trying to find people to teach. We have a lot of good potential, people are just scared of commitment. We have a baptism Dec 5th, so that will be nice. Thanks for everything, I love you all. Elder Walker
Dec 1, 2009
Sounds like it was a great Thanksgiving there at home. Mine went well also. We had a dinner with a family, there were probably 30 people at theirs. They had quite a bit of food as well. They even had a non-member family there so we were able to talk to them. Ever since Thanksgiving we have just been eating left overs the whole time, yesterday's was terrible. I felt really bad. we had a dinner appointment with this really poor couple, and we had left overs with them. All I can say is I'm glad I am a missionary and am pretty much immune to bad food because I'm pretty sure the ham that we ate was not cooked all the way through and the baked beans that she had made probably had more sugar and brown sugar on them than there was actually beans in the pan... the pumpkin pie, well lets just say it didn't look like pumpkin pie... haha- we are still alive though and its been a great week. I'm sure you have all kinds of stories about eating weird food, we just get a couple every once in a while. You might like to hear this, we came across this Phillipino family a couple weeks ago and they said they want to learn more, so I will keep you updated on them, hopefully we can see them sometime this week. We have a baptism this weekend, her name is Melissa Carter, so we are exited about that. We also set another person with a baptism date last night. So hopefully he will come along, his wife is a member but he is not yet. He just has to quit smoking and he will be ready. Pres Crawford is a college student that we are teaching here, and he will most likely get baptized at the beginning of next month, January. Then we have the Mkinya kids, remember the black, less active man we tracted into, his kids. They said they will hopefully have permission from the mother by Christmas. So things are looking good here, things are going really well. We just keep on going and hoping for the best every day that we go out. Thanks for everything. I love you.
Elder Walker
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Elder Andrew Peña
November 30, 2009
This week was great! It went by super fast! And of course Thanksgiving was this Thursday! It went really well! We ate at about 2:00 and ate A LOT! We ate at the Thompson's home, they have 4kids. One who is 20, one who is 14 and twins who are 12. They fed us like we were kings! We were asked to do our weekly planning on Thursday this week instead of on Friday so that is what we did until about 2:00. We had a lesson with Ricky, Robert and Dominque Moore who will be baptized on the 12th of this month! We had dinner at the Moore's and it was good! We only taught two lessons that day from the time we had our planning session in the afternoon and our dinner appointment! As far as it went for missionary work it was zero! But that is ok! The turkey was really good! Along with the Idaho potatoes!;) We taught two lessons in a members home this week and we taught 23 quality lessons. We found a new person to teach, her name is Janelle and she is married to a less active that is coming back to church who we have been playing basketball with from 6 to 7 in the morning about 2 or 3 times a week! Tonight we will invite her to be baptized along with Rudy, Reyna and Alfredo! So those lessons shall go well! Pray for us and them! Wednesday I was on an exchange with Elder Kramer, one of the assistants, and it was really good! We had a couple of really good lessons that day and we did two church tours and invited them to be baptized and we were able to find out a lot of concerns that were holding them back! It was really a neat experience! Saturday we were able to find Dayunie who was someone that we had planned on being baptized about a month ago and we talked with her and her family and she was thinking about being baptized in December and we have a lesson with her on Tuesday so hopefully this week we can have 10 people with a baptismal date! Right now we have 5 but it will likely be 7 by the end of the week! So people are being prepared! And thank you for your prayers in helping us accomplish our goals! We had 5 investigators at church and 2 of them have baptismal date. There were 2 new investigators that have never been before that came! And then Dayunie hasn't been for like a month and she came with her family! So it was really good! We saw a lot of success as a zone! We set a goal to have 72 member present lessons! Our average from the last like 6 months is about 50 or so and we just fell short. We had 70 member present lessons! Our own companionship had a goal of 7and we got 8 but we could have gotten 10 so we just fell short as a zone! It was really good! As a mission we have 749 people that have been baptized and we have 236 individuals with a baptismal date! Usually 1/3 of the baptismal dates get baptized. That is usually worldwide, but as a mission I think we do a little better than that! That was pretty much my week! My companion and I gave talks in sacrament meeting and my companion gave a great talk on adversity and opposition. It was a really good talk! While I talked on obedience it seemed to me as the topics ran together! It was good! I can't believe how fast this month went by! We will have a lot of good lessons this week with our investigators! Hopefully we will be able to have a few more with a baptismal date! Today we have our zone activity. We are either going to play dodge ball or ultimate Frisbee and we get to eat a lot of pizza and cookies! Haha, our zone has 10 companionships in it! So it will be a good dodge ball or Frisbee game! Haha, something that I am pondering about latley and thinking about is our potential to become more like God! And the intelligence and the knowledge we obtain in this life! I'm thinking about studying a lot about knowledge but I've beeing thinking about it a lot but haven't really done much with it yet! We will also have our zone meeting this week! That will be good! We still need to think about what we are going to do for like role plays or activities for it! It is like a district meeting but instead we have the entire zone together! I may have shared with you about this before a little bit about prayer! And in the bible dictionary how prayer is a benefit to us! There it talks about sometimes God wants to bless us but those blessings are conditional upon our asking for them! But by our asking for them they are then granted to us! It was just something that I enjoyed as I was studying this week! I hope everyone has a great week and they had a great thanksgiving also! I didn't hear too much about what anyone did for Thanksgiving so maybe I will hear from you all next week about how it was! Thank you for the emails and we will look forward to hearing from you later!:) Elder Peña
This week was great! It went by super fast! And of course Thanksgiving was this Thursday! It went really well! We ate at about 2:00 and ate A LOT! We ate at the Thompson's home, they have 4kids. One who is 20, one who is 14 and twins who are 12. They fed us like we were kings! We were asked to do our weekly planning on Thursday this week instead of on Friday so that is what we did until about 2:00. We had a lesson with Ricky, Robert and Dominque Moore who will be baptized on the 12th of this month! We had dinner at the Moore's and it was good! We only taught two lessons that day from the time we had our planning session in the afternoon and our dinner appointment! As far as it went for missionary work it was zero! But that is ok! The turkey was really good! Along with the Idaho potatoes!;) We taught two lessons in a members home this week and we taught 23 quality lessons. We found a new person to teach, her name is Janelle and she is married to a less active that is coming back to church who we have been playing basketball with from 6 to 7 in the morning about 2 or 3 times a week! Tonight we will invite her to be baptized along with Rudy, Reyna and Alfredo! So those lessons shall go well! Pray for us and them! Wednesday I was on an exchange with Elder Kramer, one of the assistants, and it was really good! We had a couple of really good lessons that day and we did two church tours and invited them to be baptized and we were able to find out a lot of concerns that were holding them back! It was really a neat experience! Saturday we were able to find Dayunie who was someone that we had planned on being baptized about a month ago and we talked with her and her family and she was thinking about being baptized in December and we have a lesson with her on Tuesday so hopefully this week we can have 10 people with a baptismal date! Right now we have 5 but it will likely be 7 by the end of the week! So people are being prepared! And thank you for your prayers in helping us accomplish our goals! We had 5 investigators at church and 2 of them have baptismal date. There were 2 new investigators that have never been before that came! And then Dayunie hasn't been for like a month and she came with her family! So it was really good! We saw a lot of success as a zone! We set a goal to have 72 member present lessons! Our average from the last like 6 months is about 50 or so and we just fell short. We had 70 member present lessons! Our own companionship had a goal of 7and we got 8 but we could have gotten 10 so we just fell short as a zone! It was really good! As a mission we have 749 people that have been baptized and we have 236 individuals with a baptismal date! Usually 1/3 of the baptismal dates get baptized. That is usually worldwide, but as a mission I think we do a little better than that! That was pretty much my week! My companion and I gave talks in sacrament meeting and my companion gave a great talk on adversity and opposition. It was a really good talk! While I talked on obedience it seemed to me as the topics ran together! It was good! I can't believe how fast this month went by! We will have a lot of good lessons this week with our investigators! Hopefully we will be able to have a few more with a baptismal date! Today we have our zone activity. We are either going to play dodge ball or ultimate Frisbee and we get to eat a lot of pizza and cookies! Haha, our zone has 10 companionships in it! So it will be a good dodge ball or Frisbee game! Haha, something that I am pondering about latley and thinking about is our potential to become more like God! And the intelligence and the knowledge we obtain in this life! I'm thinking about studying a lot about knowledge but I've beeing thinking about it a lot but haven't really done much with it yet! We will also have our zone meeting this week! That will be good! We still need to think about what we are going to do for like role plays or activities for it! It is like a district meeting but instead we have the entire zone together! I may have shared with you about this before a little bit about prayer! And in the bible dictionary how prayer is a benefit to us! There it talks about sometimes God wants to bless us but those blessings are conditional upon our asking for them! But by our asking for them they are then granted to us! It was just something that I enjoyed as I was studying this week! I hope everyone has a great week and they had a great thanksgiving also! I didn't hear too much about what anyone did for Thanksgiving so maybe I will hear from you all next week about how it was! Thank you for the emails and we will look forward to hearing from you later!:) Elder Peña
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