18 Jan 2015

Another great week! On Monday we played with a soccer ball where you have to hit all the chairs that everyone is guarding. I won the last game. It was an uneventful day. 

We taught a special needs guy this week. His name is Ryan. He is less active so all we really had to do was tell him to start coming to church. Then that night we taught a girl who is a recent convert who has gone less active. Elder Wells and I had to split because we were double booked. So I taught that lesson with my WML. It was a good lesson. We taught about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it can help her through her trials no matter how big or small. 

On Friday we had district meeting. We learned about how to begin teaching. Then the Zone Leaders have a training on the things we need to do to receive all the blessings we can. That night we taught the Ruis family. She has been getting help from the bishop and the bishop told us to go by and teach her. We were a little cautious when we got there because we weren't sure if she was meeting with us because of welfare or interest. It is Sister Ruis and her two sons living there. The church they have been going to has been telling lies about the LDS church. As we taught, we resolved concerns we didn't even know they had. It was a really good lesson and the spirit was strong.  After the lesson was over our ward mission leader was explaining the Godhead to the mom. When he mentioned the Holy Ghost she said, "Is that what is here right now?" It was so awesome and she told us that the could feel the Spirit of God with us. We put the mom and her 10 year old son on date for February 20th. 

After that we had a lesson with some of our other on date investigators and a miracle happened. We were teaching the plan of salvation, word of wisdom and law of chastity. When we were teaching the Law of Chastity, Elder Wells went to grab a pamphlet from his bag and then realized we were out of chastity pamphlets. We had run out the week before. We went through his bag last week and we both saw that he didn't have a Chastity pamphlet. But Elder Wells grabbed a pamphlet out of his bag and it said "the law of chastity" on it. So we had a pamphlet appear out of nowhere. So we have 5 people on date for February.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

11 Jan 2015

My week was great! On Monday we went bowling as a zone. I won one of the of the games. After that was all over we went to the Thaxton's house for FHE and dinner. We had breakfast burritos.  For the family home evening we talked about enduring to the end. The spirit was really strong as we testified. After the two sons left they said that the lesson was exactly what the oldest son needed. We weren't planning on teaching enduring to the end when we got there, so the lord had a hand in this.

After the FHE their daughter cut my hair. She kinda chopped it all off. They asked me if I liked it and I said, "Well, my hair hasn't been like this since high school." It looks ok. 

On Tuesday we stopped by a referral we got from one of our bishops a few weeks ago. We knocked on the door and no one was home again. As we turned around to walk away some people walked up the stairs and said, " We live in that apartment and we have been waiting for you guys to stop by so we can have you come meet with us." So we set up a lesson for the next day. The rest of the afternoon we tried to contact people, but nothing happened. So we build a snowman in front of the Spanish sisters door. Not a very eventful day. 

On Wednesday I was on Exchanges with the district leader in his area. The first half of the day was filled up with stake missionary meetings. It was super boring. We had a few lessons that day, but a lot of trying to contact referrals. We got talking about conference talks that inspired us and he started talking about the talk "What Lack I Yet?" So he told me to study that talk for the next few weeks to help me improve. 

Thursday was a slow day, but I ate pretty good. We went to lunch at Cafe Rio and some one paid for us and then someone else was disappointed that they couldn't feed us so they gave us $20. Then for dinner we went to Olive Garden.

On Friday we had district meeting. We gave a training on how to get and contact referrals, and how to return and report to the person that gave the referral. It was a good meeting. Then we climbed the light house again and got a district picture. That night we got transfer calls. I'm staying in my area for a fourth transfer and I'm staying with Elder Wells for a 3rd transfer. I love Elder Wells, but we were both hoping for a change. We also got a new AP. It's Elder Gilman. He is one of my good friends from the Central Mission.

On Saturday we had a lesson with the Lively family. They are a less active family that just moved in. They are looking to go to the temple and be sealed. That night we went to the adult session of stake conference. Elder Bourne is the presiding authority. On Sunday we had conference again it was good. Elder Bourne gave a really good talk about having a firm base in the gospel. Oh and those people who we set up an appointment with at their doorstep are on date for February. So we have 3 baptisms scheduled for February.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

P.S. If I sign that check can I send it home to you and you can put it in my bank account?

And if you could get me a pair of blue pants that would be awesome

4 Jan 2016

My week was good. On Tuesday I went on an exchange with Elder Paukovic in his area. In the morning we went to the gym, I didn't know what to do because there were so many machines to use. So I used the rowing machine. That was fun. Then for breakfast I ate a bunch of Cheetos because they had a big box of them at their house. We went out and worked hard that day and we taught a bunch of lessons. We had a lot of fun together. 

On Thursday the Zone leaders came to our house to visit our studies. Our zone leaders are really cool. They are probably the best zone leaders I've had on my mission. That night we had a P-day from 6-9. So our zone got together and had a party. We played basketball, volleyball, Apples to Apples, and we ended of with glow in the dark capture the flag. We covered ourselves with glow sticks and shut of the lights in the gym. While we were playing I got the flag and sprinted towards my side. While I was doing that Elder Andersen (one of my zone leaders) who was on my team, didn't know I had the flag, was running to go and steal it. So I was home free. There was no one in my way except Elder Andersen. He was running towards me, but I didn't think anything of it and then BAM! We hit each other. He leveled me and I was on the ground and my eyebrow hurt. The lights came on and everyone gathered around me to see if I was ok. I said I was fine and sat up, but I couldn't find Elder Andersen. So I went to the bathroom to check myself out in the mirror. When I got in the bathroom I found Elder Andersen bleeding from his mouth. His tooth went through his lip. Then I looked in the mirror and my eyebrow had split open. It wasn't very big, only about the size of the tooth that hit it. 

On Friday we had district meeting. It was about listening to our investigators and to the Spirit. We then ate at Cafe Rio as a district. On Saturday Elder Wells hit his 18 month mark, so we went to the Thaxton's house to burn a pair of pants. They are an awesome family. Brother Thaxton is the Elders quorum president in one of the wards. Sister Thaxton makes fun of me because I am a picky eater, but they are awesome. 

Yesterday we had a lesson with a girl named Amber. She is a non member, but she has been coming to church for the past few weeks. So we finally got to have a lesson with her. We taught her the restoration and put her on date for February. Well, have a great week.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

I didn't lose my SD card. I bought a thumb drive and put all my pictures from my ipad on it. I still have all of my pictures. I wanted you to email me when you got them so I could delete them because I'm running out of space on my ipad.  I will by another one and send it to you.  Transfers are on the 12th.

28 Dec 2015

This week was fun. We wrapped and delivered gifts to a family on Wednesday. That was a lot of fun. On Thursday we only had an hour of proselyting. We had district meeting in the morning and then we had weekly planning after that. wWe got the night off so we went caroling as a zone. It was really fun. We went caroling to this guy that used to be a pastor somewhere so that was a little awkward. Christmas morning at like 6:15 we woke up to open presents. Then we went to our district breakfast. It was so good. We have an Elder in our district who can cook so good. We had a zone activity in the afternoon where we played basketball and climbed around the church building. Then that night we watched facing the giants and had a white elephant gift exchange. I got a box full of random stuff and it had a hair straightener in it. I won't have much use for that but I guess I can plastic wrap it to the Sister's car. This week wasn't very eventful. We had a guy go out teaching with us and he served part of his mission in Adams-Friendship. His name is Nathan Stephens. He said he has met Dad.

So that was really it. Have a great week.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

P.S. I'm sending home a thumb drive with pictures on it. Please send me a email when you get it and please tell me if you can watch the videos on it. Thx 

 Wisconsin license plate

 Elder Pleshek & Elder Snowman

Don't believe this for a moment.

21 Dec 2015

Before I forget, I will actually be calling at 12 my time so 1 back home. We are having a district breakfast Christmas morning and we aren't sure when we will be done. So this week was average. We went bowling as a district, I sucked it up. Our zone leader Elder Shin blew us away. After that we went to our district leader's house and watched the Saratov Approach. It was really good. On Tuesday we got to teach the Nu'u sila family. They are a less active family who is working on coming back to church so they can get sealed. They are a Polynesian family and they are really fun. I see a lot of potential for them to be strong in the gospel. 

Nothing really happened on Wednesday, on Thursday we had weekly planning. We set one goal and that was to clean our apartment, because it was nasty. So we cleaned one room every night after planning. So our apartment now looks great. And you can feel the spirit more. 

That night we went on ward visits we went in a big group. It was us, Brother Joyce (ward mission leader), Villiami (ward missionary), Sister Singleton (ward missionary). Sister Singleton is a funny lady, she converted from the baptist church a few years ago. So she gets really excited/fiery  when she talks about the gospel. It was a good time. 

On Friday we had district meeting. It was alright. Lunch afterwards was good though. We ate sandwiches and sat around telling jokes. On Saturday we were eating with a less active family, we were having a good time, but the whole thing with the children of a same sex marriage came up. It was going okay but things were starting to get just a tiny bit heated between my companion and the wife. So the husband and I looked at each other and we could both tell this was starting to go down hill so he changed the conversation. It was a little awkward after that, but they said we could come back anytime so I guess they liked us. 

On Sunday we had two ladies come to church, different wards though. Anyways they both said they are interested in learning more so we have lessons with both of them this week. One of the ladies showed up to the Apple Farms ward which is where I have had most of my success in this area. So Brother Joyce took this lady on a tour of the church and explained the basics of the gospel to her. And she also has a 10 year old son who has not been baptized. So this next week should be good. We also had a musical fireside yesterday so that was cool. Talk to you on Friday.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

P.s. Did you send my Christmas package yet? And I still haven't gotten my license.

14 Dec 2015

This week was good. On Monday we went to a movie theater and watched a movie called War Room. It's an awesome movie! I think it would be something you guys would like. It's about this family who is struggling to stay together and it gets saved by the power of prayer. It's really powerful.

 

On Tuesday we had choir practice for our fireside thing we had yesterday. Then that night we played volleyball with some Polynesians. It was kinda scary. They are really good and they spike really hard. I do pretty good though, I can stay with them. It was really fun though. There is this old guy who usually plays on my team he is really funny.

 

Wednesday we had a few lessons, but the day was still kinda slow. We ate dinner with these two guys who took us out to eat. They were really funny. They are older and they remind me of the odd couple.

 

On Thursday I got to play church ball. I was so tired afterwards. We played full court and I'm old and fat so I was winded.

 

Friday was district meeting, that was good. I got to meet the rest of our district. After district meeting we went as a district to a place called Wingerz we got all you can eat wings. It was good and I was full.

 

On Saturday we went to 3 ward Christmas parties. At one of them they split the tables in to twelve groups and each group had an action they had to do for the Twelve Days of Christmas. Our group had a bunch of old people in it so we were the only ones that did it. We were six geese of laying. We kinda flapped our arms a little and the dude in charge of it told us we needed to do it better so I stood on my chair and kinda squatted and made a face like I was pooping.

Everyone loved it. So yeah that was my week.

 

As far as I know I can FaceTime home from my iPad. I probably will call 11 am my time so noon back home.

 

Love,

Elder Pleshek

7 Dec 2015

This week was great! Tim got baptized and I got to baptize him. I haven't had the opportunity to baptize anyone before. Tim is so awesome, the spirit is always so strong with him. I have never taught someone who is so excited to receive a calling.

On Monday when we were at Walmart I saw this fat guy with a big white beard walking towards us. I turned to Elder Wells and said "It's Santa." The guy came up to us and asked us if we were being good. We told him that we were, then he said "good" and walked away. But when he was walking away he said, "Ho Ho Ho." So yeah I met Santa.

On Tuesday we had our transfer meeting. It was really good. President Palmer shared a story with us that was really cool. Most of his stories include him almost dying. The Palmers are wonderful. I couldn't ask for a better mission president and wife.

On Friday we had a zone meeting. It was really good. It was all about following the spirit and consecrating ourselves. Our zone changed a little bit, we lost a companionship of Elders and gained both companionships of ASL sisters. So our zone got a little bigger. So that was my week.

P.s. I still haven't gotten my Drivers License and ponderize scripture is 3 Nephi 27:21