14 Mar 2016

This week was good. On Monday we went bowling as a zone. It was really fun. I won one of the games we played.

On Tuesday we had a district lunch. We ate at our district leader's house. My district leader is Elder Ama and his companion is Elder Mahi. Elder Mahi made some burgers and everyone else brought stuff. Nothing happened during the day but after dinner we were at the stake center using the bathroom and some people needed help running their church ball game because playoffs started. I was going to be a ref but then their other one showed up so Elder Paul ran the clock and I did the book. It was our service for the night.

On Wednesday we had exchanges. I went to Elder Mahi's area with him. We had lots of fun. In the morning we went to the mission office and Elder Mahi got driver certified and also got certified to drive the mission van. Then we went to lunch at Subway. After that we went to a church to have a meeting with his stake president to discuss missionary work in the English wards. While we were waiting we went to the room where all of the pipes for the organ are. After that we ate dinner with a really cool family. We had BBQ chicken sandwiches and Cheetos. It was a great meal.

On Thursday we had weekly planning it, was a lot better than last week's. After that was finished we went to dinner. We went to a Marshallese family in the next stake over. When we walked in the first thing I saw when I walked in was a tout of frozen fish. So I thought that was what we were having for dinner. Luckily we had chicken and rice. It was good and I tried to eat as much as I could so I didn't offend them.

On Friday we had district meeting in the morning. It was a good meeting. We had a training by our Sisters on hope. They talked about how hope is the start of faith. Then we gave a training on following up with people. I think it was really good, but I'm not sure how everyone else liked it. That night we went to a Marshallese wedding because the family invited us for food afterwards. I think that's the first wedding I've been to that I can remember. When they were signing the marriage paper thing they didn't have a pen so they used mine. I'm pretty proud of the fact my pen married someone. So we had to leave at 6:30 for a FHE with our ward mission leader at the church history museum. The wedding finished at 5:45 and when 6:30 came the food still wasn't ready so we left. The museum was awesome! It was my first time being there, the first thing we saw was the first vision movie. It was good we took some less actives and some non members.

On Saturday morning I was going to play basketball with the Marshallese branch because there were some non members coming but someone died so there was a funeral there instead. I was kinda bummed out. So we went to Brother Buttar's house. He is one of the ward missionaries and he was a mission president in Arizona a few years ago. We went over the unbaptized list with him and we might have found a good potential. So the rest of the day consisted of everyone canceling their appointments. One of our lessons didn't cancel and that was the last one of the day. His name is Bill Tate. He is going through a rough time. The whole lesson the spirit was there and I had the prompting to ask him if he wanted a blessing. So I asked him. He said yes and I gave him a blessing. The spirit was super strong. All the things I needed to say came to my mind. Bill and I were bother teary eyed at the end of it. It was a good lesson.

Sunday was a regular Sunday. Brian came to church.  I think we are going to push his date back. We feel that he isn't progressing fast enough to reach his date. That night we had a lesson with a family where the mom is active and the daughter just got home from her mission. Everyone else is inactive. We taught the plan of salvation.  It was a good lesson too. Hopefully we can help them get active and go to the temple. That was my week.

7 Mar 2016

This week was good, we helped this lady from Africa move for like 3 hours. She had so much stuff. It took forever. We made probably 3 or 4 DI runs to donate things. Each one of those runs we filled up the back of a truck and a trailer. We had pizza for lunch so that was good. Then that night we taught mutual and did a lesson on missionary work.We showed some videos and did some role plays. It was fun.

On Wednesday we had some awesome lessons. We had a lesson with Nelson Neff again. He is so awesome. I love seeing people with his enthusiasm for the gospel. He is a man that gets it. We talked a lot on the topic of repentance. After his lesson we taught another mutual. We watched the last episode of the district 2. Then we talked about missionary work. After that we taught the McFarlane family. They are really cool. I have lots of fun when we go over there.

On Thursday we taught Brian the plan of salvation, he is progressing pretty good. After his lesson we had weekly planning. That night we had a lesson with the Meyer family. It was a really awkward lesson. So we made it short. Then we taught a guy named Bill Tate. He is really funny and has lots of stories. We committed him to stop drinking coffee so the can prepare himself to go back to the temple.

On Friday we had zone training. It was really good. I learned a lot and got pumped. My favorite training was probably the one from the Sister APs. The talked about the joy that the gospel brings and how we should be more joyful while we do missionary work. That night we had a FHE at one of our ward mission leaders houses. We got some nonmember kids there. We talked about how we can better our relationship with Christ.

Saturday was really slow. We went contacting all day and went on ward visits.

On Sunday we went to all 3 of our sacrament meetings. I love going to the Marshallese branch. I never wear the headphones because I like to listen to their testimonies in their language. We went up to bear our testimonies twice yesterday. It was a good way to introduce myself. I also consecrated oil in Elders Quorum. After dinner we got stuck in the rain. It was wet. So for the last few days I've had a cold so some members gave me NyQuil. So right before I went to bed I drank a little bit. It was so nasty. About 5 minutes after taking it I threw up because it was so nasty. Well that was my week.

29 Feb 2016

 This week was good. On Tuesday we had transfers. Elder Rodgers drove me to my new area. The address they gave us for the building I had to pick up Elder Paul at sent us to the middle of a trailer park. We eventually found it. The whole first day we walked because my bike was still at my old apartment. We went around and pretty much met a bunch of the ward missionaries. My apartment is really nice though It's probably one of the biggest ones I've stayed in too.

On Wednesday we contacted people for a lot of the day. And then we had a lesson with a recent convert later in the night. We were talking about the scriptures and how they apply to us. Then the guy (His name is Nelson) said something and Elder Paul, our member present and I all  opened our scriptures to the same place so we could share it with him. None of us planned on sharing that scripture at the beginning of the lesson, but the spirit prompted all of us to share that scripture it was really cool.

On Thursday we ate lunch with some old dude. We ate beef stroganoff and it was pretty good. After that we had weekly planning. It was long.  All of our lessons the rest of the day fell through. So we had a chance to do some more contacting.

On Friday we had district meeting. It was not the most exciting meeting ever. The district is kind of odd. After district meeting we went home and ate lunch. Then we went and visited a dude that moved from Cameroon. His English is ok, but we are getting a translator. After we visited him we went to the mission office to get a French Book of Mormon for him. Then that night we had a meeting with one of our ward mission leaders. We are going to start teaching active families and help them with their missionary efforts.

On Saturday we had a packed day with like 7 lessons planned. But one by one they all fell through except for the one at the end of the day.  So we did some service for this lady who is moving. Then our ward mission leader took us out to lunch. We went to Culvers! I was so happy, it's the first time I've gone in like 2 years. So it was a slow day, but we worked hard.

On Sunday we went to all 3 sacrament meetings. I liked the 5th branch. It was pretty cool listening to them speak Marshallese. We had a head set for a translator, but I didn't use it for the last talk. I also already knew some of the people in the Marshallese branch, I played basketball with them in my last area. So it was cool to see them. Church was fun. We found a non member at church and pulled him into a room taught him and put him on date for March 26th. It was a good lesson, a little jumpy because that's the first time we taught the restoration together. But we found out Brian (the guy we put on date) just moved in with his girlfriend, who is the one he came to church with. She is also in high school too, so it's not like we can get them married. Frustrating.  Then we went and visited some members and that was our night.

So I now cover two English wards and the 5th branch which is the Marshallese unit. The Marshallese branch covers the whole valley so if I stay maybe I will get a car. It's weird to think that I may end my mission in this area. I think I will have one more area, but who knows. This morning we went to this Philippino ladies house and ate breakfast with the 2 sets of sisters in our stake.

22 Feb 2016

This week was great. On Monday we went ice skating in Murray. It was really fun to watch the people that haven't done it before. I was proud of myself as I didn't fall over at all. We had lots of fun. Then later we were cutting through the parting lots at the Valley Fair mall and a young lady stopped us. I think her name was Kara. Anyway, she asked us some questions about baptism and repentance. She got baptized when she was 9, but hadn't been active since. So we explained to her that when we take the sacrament we renew our promises with God and it's like being baptized again. She started crying and said thank you and then we went our separate ways. After she was out of sight we realized that we should have gotten her address and sent missionaries to her home. We felt pretty bad. So we will be watching out for her so we can make things right.

On Tuesday we had a lesson with one of our on date investigators (Amber). We taught her lesson 4 and 5. She was really excited for her baptism and to receive a calling after she is baptized.  We also made the program and I am giving the talk on baptism. After our lesson we went to lunch with our senior couple at Cafe Rio. It was really good and they were playing regular music so that was a tender mercy. Then later that night we went to Kolbie's baptism in Millcreek. It was a good service. I got to see Elder Fike again. After that we ate dinner with the Lewis family. We have been teaching their 8 year old daughter, Mariah. They are an active family but they just waned us to teach her and prepare her for her baptism. They are a really nice family. Sister Lewis is from Brazil and she is really funny. Before we left she told me to send her a wedding invitation when I get married. I assured he that it wouldn't be for awhile then she said, "That's what they all say." But it will be awhile.

On Wednesday we taught Amber again. We talked about latter day prophets and went over the baptismal interview questions. She did really well. She is really excited to get baptized. Then after that we went over the program with the ward mission leader. After that Elder Wells and I were walking to dinner and I realized that transfer calls are this week and we find out on Friday night what's happening. I thought we had another full week left. It also kinda hit me that I only have 5 months left so I can't waste a whole lot of time. Then that night we had a lesson with a returning member , her name is Tara.

It was a good lesson and we taught the Word of Wisdom. She is pretty accepting of everything we talk about. After that I played lightning with the young men. It was fun. Then we plastic wrapped the sisters door and headed home.

On Thursday Amber had her interview and she passed! Me and Elder Coleman did the interview because Elder Beagley had his Trunky Temple trip because he's going home. So while the interview was going on it started to hail and thunderstorm. Then it started to snow. Utah has crazy weather and it changes so fast. After the interview we went to Cafe Rio. It's a tradition that started with Elder Helgesen that we go every Thursday before weekly planning. Weekly planning was good. Just as we were finished we got a call from a man named Johnny Carroll. He lives at the other side of the area. Our ward mission leader in that ward told us about him, but I had never met him. So we got a ride and went to his house. When we got there he was drunk. He was also threatening to drive his truck off of a cliff. But we calmed him down.  He is super depressed because he lost his job and some other things. While we were there he finished 5 cans of beer. And be told us that he wanted to go to rehab. But yeah that was interesting. After that we went to dinner, and then went and contacted people. After that we went to the stake center and played basketball. I sucked it up really bad. I am so out of shape. We got home planned and then crashed.

On Friday morning we had district meeting. It was kinda sad because we had 3 missionaries going home. We had a training about studies and how we can make them better. After that we ate at Chilies. No one paid for us this time. After that we helped carry a microwave up a flight of stairs and then we did some contacting. After that we went to dinner.  We had some kind of pot pie. It was ok. After that we did some more contacting. Then I got sick and we came back to the apartment. 

So at about 9:25pm we got our transfer calls. So I am going to the Granger West Stake and being Sr companion to Elder Paul. I have met him a few times and he is really weird, but apparently he works hard so that is good. After that Elder Semu and Coleman came to give me a blessing. I was told not to worry about this upcoming transfer and that it would make me grow. So I'm not so nervous anymore.

On Saturday we went to the baptism of Mariah Lewis. She is an 8 year old we have been teaching. We had the privilege of helping confirm her after she was baptized. Right after that we had Amber's baptism. It was very short and simple. I gave the talk on baptism and I was also a witness when she got baptized. So we have had 2 convert baptisms this week. Not a lot happened the rest of the day, I visited some people to tell them that I was leaving. There was actually some people that were sad. A wife of one of my ward mission leaders surprise hugged me when she found out. She said "Just don't hug me back and it's ok." I thought it was pretty funny.

On Sunday Amber was confirmed and we helped pass the sacrament. Then we went to Koibi's confirmation. After sacrament meeting no one showed up to gospel principles so sister Thaxton invited us to the marriage and family relations class, so we went. It was kinda weird, but we had fun and learned a little bit. After church we went to a Samoan house to eat dinner. I ate a lot of fried chicken. After dinner we went to visit some people and then we went to the Thaxton's house. I was sad all day because I'm leaving and lots of people said they would miss me. So I've been depressed all day.

I learned that I will be covering a Marshallese unit in my new area. The only reason I'm nervous about my area is that I will offend them because I won't like their food. I'm also sad because my district leader Elder Beagley is going home, I will miss him.

Love,

Elder Pleshek

15 Feb 2016

This week was good. On Thursday we ate at Cafe Rio which is always a good thing. After that we had weekly planning. It was good. We set good goals and made good plans for our investigators. Sadly no matter how good we plan our investigators still have there dang agency. 

On Friday we had district meeting and for some reason Elder Beagley always picks me to lead the music. Since I don't know how to do that I just wave my hand back and forth or make circles with my hand or make something up. After district lunch Elder Beagley and I went on a day exchange so he came to my area. We did a lot of contacting, but nothing came from it. 

On Sunday we gave talks in one of our wards. For the first time I was the concluding speaker. I had a 20 minute gap to fill and I thought I could do it because when I practiced my talk it took 19 minutes. I must have talked faster because I was nervous because I only filled up 15 minutes. So that's what all happened since Wednesday. Have a great week!

10 Feb 2016

I'm alive!!! Sorry I had a temple trip today and that is why today is Pday. 

Last week was good. On Monday we went bowling for our P-day activity.

The start of the week was slow, but it picked up towards the end of the week. Some missionaries in the East mission have been teaching a kid who lives in our area. So we had a pass off lesson. We went to Millcreek for it. One of the missionaries who has been teaching this kid is Elder Fike. Elder Fike is from the Central mission and we were in the same district for 3 transfers so it was nice to see him. Kolbie "the kid" is getting baptized on Saturday. We found another girl this week. Her name is Rosina and she is on date for the second week in March. There is another girl named Amber who is getting baptized in two weeks. So that will be exciting.

When Sister Caldwell called me I was walking out of Chilies because we ate lunch as a zone. In Chilies we were about to pay and the waiter said someone paid for us. Someone dropped over $200 to pay for an ounce of missionaries. Anyway, every time I go to the mission office Sister Caldwell always has to tell me that I have a beautiful sister and all I ever say is "I guess." I did get my driver's license and I got certified to drive in case I get transferred to a car area.

We had zone training meeting this week. It gave me a chance to study conversion. So this week my studies were really awesome.

Yesterday we had two non-member lessons cancel on us. It really sucked but it gave us a chance to visit some less actives. We even found someone to teach pretty soon. This family that is partly active because of their work schedule, have a son that turned nine yesterday and he hasn't been baptized. It's been a pretty good week so far. Well that's all I got.

1 Fab 2016

This week was good. We had a snowball fight on Monday for P day. Elder Andersen and I built a pretty good fort, but it couldn't with hold the 260 lbs of charging Samoan Elder Semu. It was really fun though. 

On Tuesday we went to the mission office for some reason and one of the office couples told us that we were moving. We live right under the APs. The leases ran out on both apartments. Our apartment cost more because we have one extra room. So the APs found a cheap place to live and we moved upstairs. Before I forget, my address has changed a little, I'm in apartment #1 now. 

This week was deep cleaning the apartment so we can close it. We had to clean up after probably three years of missionaries. There was a lot of crap. The walls were scuffed, the carpet was full of stains and the tub was kinda gross. The carpets are cleaned and the walls are repaired so it looks a lot better now. The really fun part was moving the washer and dryer upstairs. They are stacked and don't come apart so one of our APs and Elder Shin, one of our zone leaders, helped move it. I was holding half of it when we were going up the stairs, but I was on the bottom so all the weight started coming on my side. I thought I was going to die. We are moved into our apartment now, but we still have to put everything away. The upstairs apartment is a lot nicer and its above ground. So it's not like living in the pit we were living in. 

On Wednesday we had interviews with president Palmer. It was pretty great. I asked him about training and he told me I was worthy and qualified to train. He also said that he would look into it. Then he opened the transfer board in his office and showed me all the incoming missionaries. So we will see what happens. The interview was great though, I love President and Sister Palmer. They are so great. Yesterday we were supposed to pick up two new investigators, but they both canceled on us. This week was pretty uneventful because of our move and deep cleaning. Until next week.