ZLs Take Over

May 28, 2013

 Dear Family:

Hey! Well Elder Feist and I have had a pretty good week. I need to say sorry about last week and my super lame letter. I was in a really bad mood because my ZL's were being difficult. They crashed their truck and so they made other elders give them a ride everywhere all of P-day and they pretty much ruined my whole P-day and it made me pretty mad. So I just didn't have much to say, sorry ha. They tried to do it to us again this week so I called them and told them it was somebody else’s turn to be burdened by their mistake, and then some other things. So I kinda had a Sharee moment that she told me about in her last letter when she talked to Mr. Price. Maybe our last name is Wood? It’s ok though, they were exercising unrighteous dominion and taking advantage of the dumb missionaries that aspire to be mission leaders so it’s not like they can do anything about it anyways. They don't have the ability to hold my Driver’s License back. So Mom I am wondering what it is called when you get vertigo really bad because you have those rocks loose in your ear? Sister Snow sounds like she is having the same problem she just doesn't know what to tell her doctor it is.

So Monday after I sat in my apartment doing nothing all day we went and had a picnic for dinner with some ward members so it was fun and we got to throw the football with the kids a little bit. After that we went and taught a recent convert lesson to Char and Isaac. Right after the opening prayer I got a bloody nose. I didn't have a lesson set up with Elder Feist cuz it was P-day I just had a couple things in mind I was going to do. So he ended up teaching his first lesson by his self, on my way to the bathroom I told him to flip to Exodus 20 and read it so he got it figured out. I felt bad though cuz we were at the Drake family's house and the kids were being crazy. After I helped Isaac and the Drake’s son with their pinewood derby cars. The Drake’s son took first place by the way, so that was pretty fun. I wanted Isaac to win, but his car was shaped to un-aero dynamic.

Tuesday Elder Feist told me I talk in my sleep a lot. He said he thinks I talk for a while cuz the alarm doesn't wake him up in the morning and it would take me a minute of talking to wake him up. I guess the first time I kinda freaked him out ha which I think was last week. Monday night I guess I sat up and said something about the atonement like I was making the person I was talking to sound dumb and then I rolled over frustrated like. Also on Tuesday I destroyed my comp in getting “wife points” and “Bettys”. I dunno if I told you guys about that or not. We play a lot of different games all day to keep it fun. Bettys are PT-Cruzers because someone’s investigator named Betty had one and something. Anyways there is a ridiculous amount of them in Hemet and San Jacinto. We probably see like 20 a day. They are all worth different amounts of points. Solid colors are all the same points, black Bettys you have to say Blama Lama Lam after so it sounds like the song. Flames, Woodys, convertibles, and other things are all worth like 3 times as much. So that keeps it fun. It is ok though because he destroyed me the next day when he called out a white stretch Betty. I dunno who would even want to buy a limo Betty, but there is one! Wife points are a lot of things, but mostly just sprinklers that didn't go back into the ground and the first one to push it down gets it. I think we had two bike run-ins this week because of them this week. But no crashes, neither of us went down haha.

Wednesday I finally got in contact with Susan again. We are still on good terms but she just thinks with this new business she is trying to start she doesn't have time to meet with us or go to church. Our “team up” for our lessons that night (Alfonso Castillo) offered me a job for when I get home ha. He is a salesman I guess and he likes RM's because they are good teachers and can describe the product well and stuff. I don’t really know what exactly he does though, pretty much sells like different insurances I guess and maybe 401k's? I dunno, it would be something I could do at school if it actually sounded like a legit job, but not enough that I would do it in the summers or before college. I think I still want to try and get my CDL when I get home. So I told him I would let him know when I got home, he is moving to Provo anyways, so it’s not like it would be hard to get in contact.

Thursday we had a lesson with our new investigator Charlotte Cross. She enjoyed the restoration but had a lot of questions. So that is awesome. She went to our last baptism with a friend from our ward so that is how we got in contact with her. She came to church yesterday. We committed her to be baptized and she said yes, so all I have to do is keep helping her along. We also had a lesson with Robert and Laura. Robert didn't really agree with me about prophets and the restoration. I ended up using a lot of things out of the bible and it helped him a lot. I surprised myself with the things I was using and decided Elder Allen helped me out a ton there. So Brett, in reply to your last letter, my interest in The Bible doesn't have to do with bashing, it is for situations like that. Bashing around here isn't actually that common. It’s not really a problem here. If I went to a nicer place like Murrita I guess it is a lot more common. A lot more educated people. There is actually a Bible college there so I guess it gets pretty bad. People come after the missionaries just for the fun of it there. But that is getting cut out of the mission here after this transfer so I don't have to worry about it there hopefully.

Friday we ate with the Greathouse’s so that was fun. They have one or two friends they want us to teach we found out about so that is cool. We had a lesson with Gary and taught him the restoration and he liked it.

Saturday we helped Robert and Laura move. That turned out to be super nasty. There were some dust bunnies in there I thought that were going to come alive. It didn't look like they had really cleaned in there for a while. The back yard was pretty bad too. They are the kind of people who won’t ever throw anything away. There was this couch in the back with mouse poop all over and he still had us put it in the moving van. He said it can be cleaned.

Sunday was good. It was the first time in my mission I could just sit back and enjoy the whole time. That and worry about my investigators. It was nice. No talks, no teaching class. I liked it.

I guess last night in my sleep I sat up yelled "Silence is golden Nathan! Go back to bed!" I think it is kinda fun now I have somebody that remembers what I say ha. Well got to go! I'm way over time ha. Love ya!
- Elder Wood
 

Awesome Cookies!

May 20, 2013

Dear Family:

Well we had a good week! Stayed busy, but no super exciting stories though. So make sure you keep a copy of those pics I sent you, those are from E. Feist's camera. By the way, that is his bike in the picture, it is pretty sweet. I like mine better to ride and it is pretty good looking, but I like how his is mostly white.

Monday was good, just your usual P-day.

Tuesday we picked up two new investigators Ty and Gary. They are like 20 or 21. I think I told you we met them last E-mail, but this was our first lesson with them. It went pretty well.

Wednesday we had In-and-Out with Jessie and Ruth and then a Book of Mormon lesson. They are probably my favorite people we are working with right now. They joke around a lot and keep it fun so I enjoy that, but they are also progressing in the gospel rapidly.

Thursday we met with another pair of investigators we just picked up. Robert and Laura. They are older. They seemed to accept the message pretty well, but Robert is a pretty strong Baptist so we'll see what he thinks about the restoration. We found some medium cookies on Thursday. We went to teach this inactive member Sister Sombrano and she had some lemon cookies that were pretty good.

Friday we had some awesome cookies. These were homemade lemon cookies and we were at a less actives home again.

 

Saturday I had a meeting set up with this guy named Johnny. He is a Mason. When we got there his wife said he was asleep but he wanted us to come back. I was pretty excited to meet with him. He knew about Joseph Smith being a mason and stuff and he seemed pretty interested in talking with us. He asked us if we had anything for us to leave him to read so I left him a Book of Mormon and ran back to the apartment real quick and got his some stuff on Joseph Smith and then the restoration. Bro Boyd actually just read a book about the similarities between Masons and Mormons and taught us some stuff. We are having him come to the lesson too.

Sunday was pretty good. I finally don't have to teach the Gospel Principles class anymore and Bro Boyd is doing it, I thought I was actually going to listen at church for three hours and then they made me and Elder Feist give talks. That is ok, it was only 10 minutes. We both talked on families. I used "The Family a Proclamation to the World" I didn't realize how awesome it was until now. I know it is hanging at the top of the stairs at the house but I had never really paid attention to it, much less read it ha. But I think that went pretty well. Sorry l have a short letter this week. There hasn't been too much that is that interesting to write about. I did just think of something that could be useful though. Instead of mailing me CD's maybe have Sharee try emailing me the file. I don't know if that will be too big so it might have to be the mp3, then I can just make the CD on this end so we could try that out. Well that is all for now, hope you have a good week!

Love ya!

Elder Wood

 

Elder Feist

May 13, 2013

Dear Family:

Hey will this week was good!  It was fun to get to talk to you guys! I really don't have to much to say about this week I didn't already tell you. That and my time is cut short cuz I got the slow computer and it took forever to get those pictures loaded to e-mail you.

Tuesday I was in Riverside to pick up my greeny Elder Feist. It was fun to go to the mission office again and get out of Hemet for a little while. Elder Feist is awesome. He is from Meridian Idaho (right by Boise I guess). He actually lived in Emmet but I don't think he went to high school there. He is really into baseball. He played at Dixie. We get along good, we both like to work hard but have fun at the same time.

Wednesday Elder Feist got to have his first lesson with Joseph. It was kinda a weird lesson. Wasn't really like a good sit down lesson. But then he got a good lesson with Ruth and Jessie.

Thursday E. Feist got to meet Char while I went through the baptism questions with her so that was good for him. We had some good lessons with Sister Sambrano and Roy Brown. 

Friday we had a bunch of meetings that wasted a bunch of time. Then I pretty much spent a lot of time getting stuff like the program made for the baptism. We had a few other lessons too. It was Elder Feist’s b-day and Sister Doke had us over for dinner. She made us chicken and mashed potatoes and stuff. Sister Doke and I were just talking it up at the first while we were dishing up and Elder Feist appeared to just be enjoying his meal. When Sister Doke and I got our chicken and started eating she noticed that hers was pretty much raw all the way through (she is a good cook but she was really tired and either the oven was on really low or something) so she took hers and mine after I had a few bites and put them back in the oven. E. Feist turns out he ate the whole thing before she noticed that it was raw. So that was pretty funny. I also got a package from Glenn on Friday. Thank you for that! I think my dad’s siblings are sort of competing, because I keep getting more awesome things each time haha.

Saturday was the baptism of Charlene and Isaac. That was really neat. We started teaching them when I got here and it was just cool to be here for the whole process. The spirit was super strong and was a great experience for everybody. Char was funny, right after she came up out of the water she yelled Yes! and threw her arms in the air. We got permission to confirm them at the baptism because of family being there and stuff so that was neat. We did have one problem with that though. Somebody thought it was a good idea to pull the plug in the font even though I told them not too cuz I can open it with this metal rod that was there. So right in the middle of Char's confirmation it was making a sucking noise that everyone could hear cuz how loud it was. It didn't last too long though. Elder Cook had some neat investigators there that are really excited to be Baptized now. He is an ex-gangster that isn't questioning a thing and just making some huge changes in his and his families’ life. It was good to meet them and talk to them for a little while about the gospel. I am going to try and make it to his families’ baptisms. E. Allen got to come back for the baptism so that was fun too.

Sunday church was good. I taught my last gospel principals class I hope. They got it set up finally to have somebody actually be a teacher and not just have us do it every week. Everybody seemed to like E. Feist. In Elders Quorum we have this guy that is 57 that is awesome. He has a white duck dynasty beard and is ripped. He has a black shirt kinda like one Brett has. Anyways he wears it every week and it is super tight on him. During class he was asking why this ward didn't have any talent shows and talked about this girl who could do this inverted crab walk. Then he did it! We went and taught a really awkward lesson to this guy who didn't really listen but then he said his mom might be interested! Then we biked to Sam’s house to Skype with you guys. That was awesome. I really enjoyed that. I wish we got to do it a little more often. In my letter to  President I thanked him for letting us use Skype because of all the other missionaries you told me about that couldn't do it. For dinner we went with E Albright and E Kelly to a members house we helped lay sod. That was really fun cuz that family was awesome. At the end E Feist and I ended up singing and playing the guitar for them, so that was fun and they really enjoyed it (it was kinda random we had the guitar in the car ha)

Well that is all for now! It was good talking to you and I am excited for the next Skype! Love you bye!

Elder Wood

Elder Feist and Elder Wood

Baptismal Font

Elder Allen, Brother Boyd and Elder Wood

 

 

 

 

 

Elder Allen Moving On

May 6, 2013

Dear Family:

Well I had a good week. I forgot my notes from the letter and from the whole week so I won’t have as much to say. Brett your story was crazy, it was some good reading for sure haha. Sharee I heard of a cd you could send me. I guess there is an orchestra version of Skrillex that some missionaries have somewhere. Check it out for me and see if it is any good and if a missionary should have it (I doubt it will be a problem) If its good you don't need to ask me about it cuz that will take forever, just send it if it is good.
Tuesday me and E. Kelly went on exchanges which was way fun. We ran into E. Sparks on the street so we went to lunch with him. For lunch we went to an awesome barber and got a super fresh cut. This is the shortest I ever remember having my hair. Then we went to DQ cuz we get to eat there for free. I would send you picture of my hair but I didn't get my camera with my notes either ha. Just check the blog here in a while, I will be on it soon but I will tell you about that later. Then Kelley and I went and had some sweet lessons. I don't have my notes so the only one I can remember was sister Fantasia, cuz it was really hot, and it was nice to sit and drink some water in her house.

Wednesday I honestly don't remember what I did.

Thursday we helped move in an older couple that is pretty cool.  Then some lunch and then went and did some service for sister Doak. So we pretty much didn't get any good lessons in until that night.

We did a lot more service this week than we wanted to.

Friday I dunno either

Saturday we got transfer calls...  luckily I can actually remember Saturday cuz it was only two day ago. Normally how they go the Pres. calls all the leadership in the morning during study time aka ap, zl, dl, trainers. I was for sure we weren't going to get a call so I just didn't worry about it. So in the morning for breakfast we went with Elders Albright and Kelly to our free breakfast at the Kozy Kitchen and went and laid some sod. That was kinda fun because I got to play in the dirt instead of mowing somebody’s lawn or something like that we always do that messes with my allergies. They are in the San Jacinto ward so we went with Elders Kelly and Albright to do that one. We did a little bit of calling around and it turns out that nobody in any of the zones had gotten a call from the president so everybody was on edge cuz it is such a crazy transfer. After that we went with them back to DQ again for some free lunch. While I was ordering I had the phone and got a call from the Pres. so I gave the phone to Elder Allen. He got called to go back to being a ZL. He was one for 6 months before he trained me. He is going to Lake Elsinore. We thought we would be together for another transfer cuz he only has one left, so he isn't very happy about it. Then he said the Pres wanted to talk to me. I thought he was just going to say what”s up? He told me I was training. So I am headed to the mission office tomorrow to pick up my new companion. So that should be interesting. Allen was telling me the whole time it was going to happen but I didn't believe him. I am excited for it, but I feel a little bit inadequate.

Sunday we pretty much went and saw all our favorite people and taught a few lessons. It was a fun day but I am going to miss Elder Allen.

Well not much else to tell you, I am sure I will have plenty to tell you next week. I have a lot on the fire. but I am excited to talk to you!

See your face in 6 days!

Love ya bye!

Elder Wood

 

 

Mission Blog

April 29, 2013

Dear Family:

Hey so I just found out that the mission has a ward mission blog. I think it is something like http://riversidecaliforniamission.blogspot.com/ and it is pretty good. That is crazy you got so much snow! Then with the power out and stuff, those that sounds like a good adventure getting to drive around in stuff like that. I also just found out it isn't against the rules to have an iPod here. (I found out first week cuz a bunch of kids have them) I don't think I would want my iPod though, I wouldn't want to delete all the good music off of it. Thank you dad for getting mine out of my truck. I thought I had put it in my room. Dad I liked in the letter where you talked about never seeing strawberry shortcake. In Hemet I haven't seen a decent cookie and Elder Allen and I were talking about it right before I read your letter. People have fed us dozens, but only like 1 family has had some good ones, and they had to be fresh. Other than that, Elder Allen and I are considering just making some ourselves ha. Also I need all the advice I can get on pinewood derby cars. My investigator that is getting baptized on the 11th that just turned 9 is making his first one and asked me for help and I want him to win. Also I figured out how I won't complain if you buy an automatic sports car. If you get a Cadillac CTS it wouldn't be too bad. I saw a new black one of those and it looked like the Bat Mobile. So pretty sweet.

This week was kinda slow so not a lot to talk about. We had a lot of meetings and other stuff. Sunday and Monday we made friends with the Simpsons. They are a really cool family in my ward.

Tuesday we went to multi zones in Redlands. That was pretty cool. Learned some good stuff from President Smart. One thing that caught my attention from him was the emphasis he was putting on repentance. Basically he said if people understood it they would be coming up to us to be baptized. So as a mission we are all learning how to teach it better and explain repentance and how it is the key that connects us to the atonement. I also had a weird dream Monday night that a demon thing I guess stole my scriptures. It was pretty weird. I think dad is right, I think it is cuz something I eat before I go to bed.

Wednesday Allen had to go to the dentist but it was fun for me cuz I talked to the guy there who was working on becoming a dentist and I got some good advice from him.

Thursday we just had our normal visits. We had dinner with our bishop though. He had a player piano that was pretty neat.

 
Friday we had a really good lesson with Susan and she seems to be progressing well. Sam took us to Red Robin and that was fun.

Saturday we went up to Anza and Idawild. It is this really small branch up in the mountains by Hemet that hasn't had missionaries for like 3 years. We just went up to visit a bunch of less actives and try to get them to come to the branch meeting. It was pretty cool up there. It was like 4 thousand feet, but I think on the road we almost got to 5 thousand. The air felt way better up there. I think that is the highest altitude I will get on my mission until 2 years from now and I am chillin on a plane. It sucked when we got back down to Hemet and I got out of the car and it was way hotter and the air is all nasty and stuff. Somebody told me this weekend we almost got to one hundred already.

Sunday we went to teach Char and Issac (the ones getting baptized on the 11th.) We also got to hang out a second for his b-day party and give him some stuff.

Well sorry I am out of time. This letter and the last one might have been a little bit scatter brained cuz I have been rushed. We went and played pickle ball with Char both Mondays instead of playing basketball at the church.

This next week (the 6th) don't send my letter to my apartment. Send it to the mission home because of transfers I don’t know where I will be. They will hold it for a while too. So you might want to send me an e-mail of it cuz it gets help at the mission office until transfers are over. This transfer is going to be extra unpredictable because of the mission change that happens the transfer after this and that this next transfer is Elder Allen’s last one. So we really have no idea what will happen. If I train here I will be in this mission for sure (cuz of 12 week program but Pres has pulled people apart before then sometimes) if not (I don't really want to train) or just about anything could happen. Well that is all for now! Love you bye!  Elder Wood

Squirrel!!!  You have to look close to see it

The Squirrel is still there.

Elder Sparks, Elder Kelley and Elder Wood

???Road Hazards???

 

Can't Ride a Bike Without a Backpack! and Standard of Excellence

April 22, 2013 

Dear Family: 

It’s been an interesting week! Got lots done! We have a few baptisms coming up which is exciting! We would be baptizing Sharleen and Isaac this Saturday but there is youth conference this weekend and we couldn't get any of the buildings reserved so that sucks. We have to wait until May 11th now. So about your last letter. That is crazy about the blizzard. Especially joey getting stuck in it. That is cool thinking about the things he learned in scouts form Dad. Hearing about Skyler and Aaron drinking the milk is too funny.  It doesn't surprise me that Skyler likes the milk though. That is totally his personality I think ha. I just told him about reading about him having a crazy time getting a plane and the milk and stuff. We will have to see what he says. He also had an awesome experience placing his first book of Mormon. Brett I might get a picture of your twin, I don't see him a lot so getting a picture might end up being awkward ha. But he has dark hair and always is scruffy like you. A little shorter than you but the same green eyes. He is the same age and just graduated with his masters but his is in teaching P.E. so it’s not quite as impressive haha. I think it is awesome that Jason got that hot tub. In the summers when I am home does it get to follow him home there too? That is cool that Nick is the coach this year, I hope him and Fieldstead work well together, I think they will. I think that is something they both have wanted to do for a while now so they should be excited and motivated to push the girls to be successful. That is awesome you get to go to BYU invitational, I know it’s not easy from when I went. That is cool you have worked hard at it. I also think it is neat you are doing the 800, cuz that was probably my best race even though it was the hardest on me. Oh and Sharee when people like that ask about me, tell them, and then tell them my address in on FB and tell them to write me. I love getting letters. Even though I am behind on sending some ha. I have had two done for a week now I just haven't had time to drop them off. Bill and his family wrote me. Sounds like they had a good time on the cruise and the warm weather. Dayton’s brothers name is Bo or Bou or Bow or however you spell it. Ya I know Kayden his other brother cuz we shared a tent at timberline a while ago. I also got a letter from Susan and some money. Thank you!  Ronny I also thought of one other thing to add to what I told you last week. I don't remember who it was by, but I think it was Joseph Smith, and it was a quote with something to the effect of, teach children true doctrine and then let them govern themselves. I think that might be sort of how Mom and Dad did it. I think you learn better that way, cuz those kids whose parents don't let them make choices either get way rebellious or just can't make decisions for themself. Both are problems. 

Well this week some of our investigators just got fed some big ol pieces of humble pie. I will tell you who as I go. 

 Tuesday we just had our regular meetings. We had a lesson at 9 before with Sister Snow who we are helping quit coffee. We took our backpacks to the church for our meetings and ran back home to get our suits on and get picked up by Elders Beeston and Moyer. I figured out I forgot how to ride a bike without a backpack. I got on and just felt like I didn't have my seatbelt on or something and I couldn't figure out why I was uncomfortable. I figured out it was because I didn't have my backpack on. We then had our lesson with Sharleen (Char) and that is when we got her to accept baptism! We also had a lesson that day with Jessie (the one who went to Utah for General Conference) and she is working to getting to the temple! 

Wednesday we tried to have a lesson with Susan (the one who tried to drop us) and she canceled on us she said she couldn't do it today. Then we just had a normal day. Sam was driving us around that night and our 8 o’clock appointment dropped through so we were trying to figure out what to do. Sam is like "guys I think we need to pray about it" so I said a prayer and we sat and thought about it. We came to the conclusion we needed to go and try and see Susan again. That is when we figured out she got served some humble pie. Things just went way down hill after she tried dropping us and she didn't realize it until we came back. (problems with money and getting a job and stuff like that) To top it off that day she had to have an emergency tooth extraction so they took out her two front teeth... We gave her a blessing and we are meeting with her again now. She said it is hard to go a week without us and even harder to try and go without God. She loved the blessing, she said she felt like she was levitating for minute there.  

Thursday Elder Allen went to San Diego to the temple to see one of his recent converts go through the temple and then get married in it. So that was cool for him. Christian came and hung out with me all day. We met with Joseph. He also got humbled. Friday he woke up in jail and got his daughter taken away cuz he got drunk and went crazy. He has drank so much now he is to the point he can't have any alcohol because he has a low tolerance and the smallest drink can mess him up. He is being a lot more accepting to the gospel now and is in classes trying to quit drinking. He has been sober for over a week now. He is trying to get his daughter back. We also taught Steve who is close to baptism. Elder Allen says he is the smartest investigator he has ever had. He understands it well. I taught Roy Brown again by myself while Elder Allen was with Bro. Boyd. That is always fun. Roy always keeps it interesting. 

Friday we had another good day and Sam got to see us put another person on date for baptism. Her name is Debra. She is like 20 or 21 with a kid and really cool.  

Saturday Elder Jessup got to come back for a baptism so it was cool to get to see him for a second.

Sunday we had enough people at church and had taught enough people that week that we got Standard of Excellence which is cool. First one for me and Allen both (it isn't as easy to get as you would think cuz he has been out almost two years and working hard) If you look at the weekly e-mail that President and Sister Smart send out it will be on there one of these weeks. 

Well I am out of time! Love you tons!

Elder Wood
 

Quitting Coffee

April 15, 2013

Dear Family:

That story about Lydia was awesome, I am still laughing about it. Sounds like you had a really productive week, now I can't help I kinda miss that happy busy time at home in April but mostly May that is super busy but it is still fun anyways. I feel like me and Allen are being really productive, it is just a different kind. This week we taught a ton of lessons. So many we didn't have time for weekly planning ha. For all of those of you who haven't been on a mission in the last 5 years that is just like where we plan for the next week and it takes like 2 hours, so after study time you end up not getting to work for all morning. That sucks that is all I got back for a tax return, I’m going to owe you like 4 grand when I get back haha. I didn't notice that Dads name wasn't on the letter, if you clarified that because I was asking him questions that isn't why I asked them, I was just curious. It just dawned on me that dad can marry people now cuz I was talking to some members about civil marriages. I hope you get to do that sometime. I can't believe you actually burned the pile! I was saving that thing! ha jk. that thing was thick, I’m not surprised it burned that hard. Brett btw in your last letter Ronny changed your name, you will have to ask him about it haha. Also keep those backflip skills up, I lost mine a while ago and it is hard to get back. I flew of the tramp once and then I've sucked at it ever since. Ronny, how did I stay out of trouble? I have no idea to be honest. ask mom and dad how they did it cuz it beats me. I am glad you asked the question cuz it had me thinking about it. In a lesson I got asked the same question and it helped me have an answer for her. Otherwise I don't think I would have had an answer. They best I came up with was from PMG was p. 19. There is a quote on there from Boyd K. Packer "True doctrine understood changes attitudes and behaviors. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior  quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. The thing is my friends also understood the doctrine, probably even better than me. I think my saving grace was I saw a direct correlation with how my days and weeks would go in relation to my prayer and scripture study. That and living the gospel just made life easier. So maybe obedience too. I didn't understand a lot and I still don't. I think being in a small town also helped, we don't have it near as bad I found out at college talking to people and then talking to people out here. Sharee those are some impressive track stats. Also your story about Bryant thinking  Moni was named Robby makes a story Lisa told me make a lot more sense now ha. Also thank you guys for sending me the newspaper things.

 So here is the weekly breakdown.

Monday after e-mailing we went thrift shopping. I bought a old suit cuz I hate wearing out my good suit going to meetings and stuff. I will still wear my good one to church though. I also got a sick flannel shirt. We talked to a crazy while we were doing that. I don't normally tell you about all the crazy people I talk to cuz that is pretty much a daily experience. But I found this one funny cuz something that happened a few days later. It was this lady wearing all white that told us that we need to be vegetarians and never get married and we need to give our self to God. Then a bunch of other crazy stuff I don’t have time to go into about how the second coming just ended and it started in like 62 and he just left again like 2 years ago and now she is traveling by foot all over the country talking about it. On like Thursday I found the scripture 1 Timothy 4:1-3 while I was looking up stuff about dispensations. I texted it to Elder Albright and Kelly cuz they were with us when it happened and they thought it was pretty funny.

Tuesday I was on exchanges with E. Albright. That was fun. We went to the Rex's again for a minute and met her son that just got back from serving in SLC. So he and I talked about that for quite a while Elder Albright got referrals. Mom they have these things called pretzel rolls. You will love them. And yes they are amazing. They come from Costco.

Wednesday Susan tried to drop us, but we didn't let her. She had to wait in the doctor’s office for like 6 hours one day and found a magazine with a bunch of anti crap in it. So we pretty much spent a whole lesson explaining the stupid stuff to her and she also decided that she doesn't belong in the church cuz she doesn’t have a family and can't pay tithing. It’s a good thing Elder Allen was there cuz he had some bomb answers to all her questions. We are going to see her again soon and hopefully all goes well there. I also got to talk about Jessie in a lesson about going to Utah and she loved it.

Thursday we went to see a guy named Joseph that Elder Allen picked up while I was on exchanges. When we got to his house all I saw was this black guy standing in front of a few people blaring a recording of somebody preaching and I was like Elder Allen. What did you get us into? So we went and met the guy and he was cool. Then he went in the house and switched the cd to some rap instrumentals and he is like let me show you how I teach people about Jesus. He started rapping and he was good! Then he turned to me and was like spit a rhyme! I was laughing so hard I couldn't even think. So then he started rapping about Joseph Smith and Moroni showing him the plates and stuff. It was cool! and he knew his stuff. I was super excited to get into the discussion and then he is like wait, we are waiting for somebody for our lesson. Then two Jehova Witnesses’ showed up and Joseph makes us promise that we won’t bash with them. So we pretty much just talked about the bible with them and tried to not tell them they were wrong. We also taught Steve and he's going loved General Conference and is gonna get baptized. I taught Roy Brown alone this time which was fun. So I pretty much got to see some of my favorite people that day.

Friday when I woke up I had a dream about grandpa. Me and him were in his old big garage and I just got home from my mission (even though I was in my shirt and tie). He was showing me this awesome semi that he welded the entire frame so it was completely custom. It looked sweet. All he had was the frame and he was getting hoses and stuff like that getting ready to drop in the motor and tranny and stuff. I also found my iPod and was super happy it still worked (something I was thinking about earlier that week) in a pile of fiber one bars. (Bro drake keeps giving me those things and they are amazing). Plus some other cool stuff that I don't have time to write. We had an awesome dinner at Sam’s house. His mom made us carne asada and it was amazing. We were supposed to go to some other city to go somewhere cool but I don't think Sam called Pres Smart to ask so we didn't .

Saturday I had my first experience helping somebody quit coffee. We took her (Sis Snow my first lesson in the field) coffee and hid her cups and coffee maker and stuff. So we just have a bunch of coffee chilling in our place. We are going to give it to this guy that owns a restaurant and gives us free breakfast whenever we want. Dad I used the first letter you sent me with Sis Snow. The one about the guy you met that speared his own fish and that awesome story there. She loved it. She said you were a good missionary and that you are also a really eloquent writer. (to me you sound a lot like Clive Cussler, probably cuz you listen to those books so much). we are working with her every day now to help her quit so she can get to the temple.

Sunday was good, we had some investigators there. I realized a couple things Sunday. Missionaries are the only ones in church that actually carry their scriptures anymore. Everybody is using I pads and phones now except us ha. I also got to stand in on ordaining Bro. Drake’s son a Deacon cuz he wanted Allen and I in there. It was a big circle and I thought we were going to break the poor kids neck so I was trying to hold up some of the weight. I have been thinking about blessings a lot because we do them a lot. During the blessing I realized something. There are not a very many things as comforting as a couple good pair of heavy worthy hands sitting on top of your head. After that, I stopped trying to hold up the weight.

Well that’s all I have for the week!

Love you bye!

P.S. I got Kaiden, Jetson and Skylers e-mails. Skyer is the only one I had a hard time with

 

this is me and Elder Albright and a cool sign.

Traditional Missionary Salute!

 

Also would you mind sending me the talk "Safety for the Soul" by Elder Holland with a letter. I hope it’s not too thick. I don't remember it for sure but I think it might be a good one for me to share with people about the Book of Mormon.  Just caught a 2 minute glimpse of it the other day.

Also tell Ronny I thought of another business idea. Storage units. Easy to maintain and everybody has too much crap to keep at their house. If somebody doesn’t pay, just cut the lock and take the stuff out and rent it out again