18 Apr 2016

 This week was pretty good. On Monday we played soccer. It was really fun!  It was really funny, because Elder Paul leveled one of our APs.  My team won. Then we went to someone's house that we teach and had Domino's Pizza for dinner.

On Tuesday my duties as a district  leader began. I sent a text out welcoming everyone to the district. They consolidated our zone, so the district boundaries got realigned. Then I had to call all of the senior couples.

Wednesday was kind of a slow day. For most of the day we went and tried to contact people, but not a whole lot of people answered their doors. That night we got to teach Brother Neff. When we went over there I practiced the training that I was going to give for district meeting on him. But brother Neff likes to discuss things really thoroughly because he wants to understand everything. The member that we took with us for that lesson was brother Buttars. Brother Buttars was a mission president about five years ago. When he found out I was getting called to be a district leader he was really excited. He goes out with us a few times a week. He always talks about his stories with President Monson, because he was an AP under President Monson when he was a mission president.

On Thursday we had a meeting with the Zone leaders. They wanted to talk to me and the other district leader in the zone. We talked about our responsibilities and things we want to do for p-day. Then we had weekly planning. It was the same old stuff. That night we taught the McFarlane family. It's always fun to teach them. I have to keep their kids from climbing on me because they love me.

On Friday was my first district meeting. We started off with announcements and that sort of stuff. I had sister Thetford share something that she learned in her studies this week. Then we played a get to know you game. We played 2 truths and one lie. They thought both of my truths were lies. I said I'm the middle of 5 children, my favorite Disney princesses is Tiana, and I love the band, One Direction. The sisters laughed at me. Then the Spanish sisters gave a training on learning by the Holy Spirit. They did a object lesson where they had me read as much of a chapter in Isaiah as I could in 45 seconds. Then they started taunting me and throwing stuff at me. Then I did a follow up training on Applying what you learn. There was 20 people at my district meeting. 4 sets of young missionaries, 5 senior couples, and the Zone leaders.

On Saturday I got to go through the temple with Li! That took up most of the day. It was amazing, I'm so proud of Li and the decisions he has made. If this was the only thing that happened on my mission it would be worth it.

On Sunday we gave talks on how experiences and miracles bring conversation. It was kind of a weird subject but everyone told us we did a good job. Then after church we took Bruno to temple square for his lesson. He had lots of questions and they are all good. We taught most of the plan of salvation. The Spirit was really strong. Then as we were leaving I got a text from the sisters saying that they were sick and needed blessings. The English and Spanish sisters live together and one of each was sick so the other 2 went out to work. So we met them upstairs in their landlord's house and gave them blessings. Then I had to rush home and do call ins. So that was my week.

I got Sammi's letter.

With Bruno on Temple Square

With Li at the temple.

11 Apr 2016

This week was pretty good. On Monday we played baseball and kickball. My team was dominating at baseball. Then we switched up the teams for kickball; my team got smacked. It was really fun though.

On Tuesday we went and visited Brian so we could go over the baptismal interview questions. He answered all of our questions. He is a funny kid. We went to dinner, but when we got there everyone was sick. So instead of having dinner we gave blessings. So we went to a gas station and got dinner. Then we went to Mutual to do a follow up on a Book of Mormon challenge we did. After that we played volleyball with the youth.  My team won the first two games and then I switched teams and we barely lost. I realized that our youth group is above average when it comes to athletics.

On Wednesday Brian had his baptism interview. He passed! After the interview we played some basketball with a few kids that were walking down the street. Our zone leaders played too. In the evening we visited the Neff family. They had a family member just pass away and it was very unexpected. Sister Neff was really upset, so I offered to give her a blessing. The Spirit was really strong during and after the blessing. She was more cheerful immediately after the blessing.

On Thursday we had weekly planning so that took up a big chunk of our day. After that we went to visit Brian and figure out the program for the baptism. We got a few things figured out before we had to leave. After dinner we helped out with the youth choir.

On Friday we had our last district meeting of the transfer. It was really good. We talked about people that we needed help with. That took a lot of the time. After we went to Chick-fil-A for lunch. I've never been there, but it was good. Then we figured out the rest of the baptismal program with Brian. He asked me to confirm him. We were supposed to get transfer calls that night, but we got an email that told us we are getting them on Saturday instead.

We set up for Brian's baptism the whole afternoon. The baptism was good. He had to get baptized 3 times. He didn't go down the first 2 times. We had a video presentation from our ward mission leader. It was pretty cool. After the baptism we went to dinner. We ate with a Samoan lady. Then we went to visit Bill Tate. I always love visiting Bill, he is so funny.  We shared Elder Holland's talk with him. Then we went home and got transfer calls. So Elder Paul and I are staying together. Our zone is being consolidated. So I'm now in the Hunter Zone. Elder Andersen is my Zone leader again! I also got called to be the District Leader. I'm scared.

On Sunday we bore our testimonies in our first meeting. Then we went to the Marshallese branch. They gave us a bag full of ties so I was happy. Then I confirmed Brian. It was short. During fast and testimony meeting one of the less actives we work with bore her testimony for the first time ever. And then we bore our testimonies.  And Brian said the closing prayer. After dinner we took Bruno (our investigator from Africa) to temple square and had a tag-team lesson in French and English. It was awesome. The Spirit was really strong and he is on date for May 21st! Well have a great week.

Brian's baptism 

4 Apr 2016

This week was pretty good. On Monday we went to the aquarium. It was good, but I don't think it was worth the money. My favorite part was probably the autres, but I couldn't get a picture of them because they moved around too much.

On Tuesday we had a lesson with Brian. We taught him the 10 Commandments and the law tithing. We also helped this Spanish guy move. It was a service project for the whole zone. It was really fun and they had this weird bulldog that was crazy. It had this rubber tire it would chew on so we would steal it and then run into the garage where he couldn't get it. But then we always threw it back and it would run after it like a kid on the Fourth of July getting candy.

On Wednesday our day was filled with finding. While we were out we got a call from one of our relief society presidents. She and her counselors had been making visits and some of the people  needed blessings so she called us. So our afternoon was filled up because we were giving people blessings. I had to give a blessing to this lady that might be going blind. Then in the evening we talked with brother Neff. Then we went to the Mcfarland's house. We shared a short message and then a nerf war broke out. It was me and their son against Elder Paul and brother MacFarlane.

On Thursday we went and visited people in the morning and then we did weekly planning. For dinner in Marshall easement took us to Golden Corral. It's the first time of ever gone there, I liked it. While we are there I saw some people from my last area; it was cool. Then after that we went and helped out with the youth choir.

On Friday we had district meeting. We had a training on companionship unity. Then we had to answer various questions about each other. We Did pretty good. Then we all went to Taco Bell for lunch. After that we went and blessed a less active lady's house. Never done that one before, it was cool. The rest of the afternoon was just spent finding people. Then after dinner in the evening we helped a family moving in. It took about two hours to move them in, they had lots of heavy stuff.

On Saturday we watched the first session of conference with brother Neff and his wife. They made us breakfast before it started and it was really good. While we watched conference I played with their cat. Then for the afternoon session we went downtown. We got to sit on the first row of the terrace. Right behind us there was these two girls from Sweden and their sisters. They were cute. We went out a few times to use the bathroom because we got there an hour early. The last time we went to use the bathroom we were coming back in and they almost didn't let us back in. They didn't want to let us in because they put us in the wrong seats when we first got there. Our tickets said balcony but the people on the terrace level told us to go in. They were kind of rude when we told them that they had let us in here and they told us that this is where we should go, and they had already seen our tickets three times and made the mistake three times. Finally the guy just let us in and said "if you get kicked out don't blame me." Priesthood session was really good, I really liked the talks. President Monson's was very good as well. 

I met a guy with the last name Aldous at priesthood session. He said he had a sister in his mission with the last name Pleshek. Turns out he was in Sammi's mission.

On Sunday we watched the morning session of General conference with our stake president. He fed us snacks. Then we went and watched the afternoon session at the church building, I really liked Elder Holland's talk. Then after that we ate dinner with brother Butters and his family. Brother Butters used to be a mission president in Arizona Tempe mission. He is really funny guy. 

After that we went to a mission call opening. It was for my buddy Li. I taught him all of the after baptism lessons when I was in the YSA Ward. We got pretty tight right before I left that area. He is from China and he was baptized here last June. He is going on his mission to Australia! He enters the Provo MTC on August 24th. He has to go back to China before then but he got permission from the first presidency to go to the temple before he leaves to China. He is going to go in a few weeks and he has only been a member for about 10 months. So that was the highlight of my week.

Mission Vision

This is our mission vision.  In this last zone conference I learned something that I thought I already knew.  I finally learned what it means to forget yourself and go to work!

28 Mar 2016

This week was good. On Monday we played basketball and volleyball. I hurt myself trying to dunk. I hyper-extended my knee a tiny bit so it's a little sore. It's not very bad though. It was a good activity.

On Tuesday we had zone conference. We were combined with the Taylorsville zone. President Palmer started off the zone conference by announcing the terrorist attack in Brussels where those missionaries were hurt. He told us not to focus on the negative things in the world. Then he went on to describe how the Iron rod is Christ and how everything we doing missionary work is of Christ. President Palmer also told us if we are unified as a mission, miracles will happen. He also told us that what we are doing is the most important work on the earth and we are doing it full-time. And it is not about us. It is about Christ. Then the sister APs gave the training on being unified with Christ. They told us that we should love him let him change us and follow him. Then the assistants gave a training on being unified as a companionship and testifying after each other. After that we had lunch.

After lunch we resumed the zone conference by hearing from President Young. He instructed us on the importance of the Lord in this work and how it is not about us; it is about the Lord. He also told us to use the time on our missions to strengthen our foundation on the Book of Mormon. Then we watched part of the missionary broadcast where Elder Bednar was training some missionaries. Some things that stuck out to me in the broadcast was where that all people have agency and if they don't use the agency they have to accept your message; don't get down on yourself. We also need to be obedient and relieved to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times. The training was a lot about using the Holy Ghost. Something that Elder Bednar said that really stuck out to me was that people don't learn from anything we say. They learn from the feelings they get from the Holy Ghost. The biggest roadblock towards progression is our own pride and lack of submissiveness. He also mentioned that teaching is listening and observing. Then at the end President Palmer closed the meeting with saying that we shouldn't focus on the little things in the church. We shouldn't be bothered if someone sits in "your" bench. He said that we should switch it up and not sit same bench every week.

On Wednesday we taught a lesson to the Wilkes family. They have an eight-year-old daughter who is not yet been baptized. So they want us to come over and teach the daughter. It was a very interesting lesson, because the daughter gets distracted very easily. Then after that lesson we went to the McFarlane family. They are really awesome family. They really like superheroes and guns, so we have lots to talk about.

On Thursday we had weekly planning. During weekly planning we got a call from some missionaries from the Salt Lake mission. They said they had received permission from their mission president to teach our investigator who speaks French because one of the elders in their mission can speak French. But we already have set it up where we teach once a week with the Temple Square sisters that speak French. Then later that night we got together. All the missionaries in our zone that it they're 18 month mark. We had a mass pants burning ceremony, and since Elder Paul it is 18th month mark, we went. It was fun.

Friday was a pretty slow day. We didn't have district meeting because of the zone conference. So we had district lunch instead. We had grilled chicken, it was really good! We brought a lemon meringue pie that a family gave us because we weren't going to eat it all on our own. While we were waiting for lunch to finish cooking we were playing with these remote control army tanks. When one of the army tanks shoots the other the controller shocks the person's hand who got shot. I played for like three seconds.

On Saturday morning we had a meeting with our ward mission leader in the third Ward. We discussed everyone we are working with in his ward and what they need to progress. We also discussed people that we could start teaching in his ward. The rest of the day was pretty slow until we got in for the night. Right after we finished planning and I got changed we got a call from one of our ward mission leaders. He said that brother Neffs nephew had gone into the hospital and brother Neff wanted us to come and help give his nephew a blessing. So I got changed and we left. We got to the hospital and give the blessing and then we left. It was kind of exciting.

On Sunday we had a farewell talk in the first ward we went to, a homecoming in the next ward we went to.  Then we had a ward conference in the last ward we went to. I really liked the ward conference because they had an awesome musical number by these five sisters from Hawaii. They were really good. And that was pretty much our week.

We are taking a guy to the Saturday afternoon session of conference.

 

 

23 Mar 2016 - Handwritten

I'm sending my thumb drive.  Could you please send me an email the day you get it and let me know if the videos work?

This morning I had a great study.  I studied Alma 7.  I loved that he was sent to teach repentance.  I need to put more emphasis on repentance while I'm teaching.  Then I studied Elder Renlund's talk.  It took new light this morning.  I realized that I still have a long way to go these next five months and an even longer way to go after my mission.  I am weak and simple like the scriptures say.  And I love what Elder Renlund said, "The Lord has called you for what He needs to do through you.  And that will only happen if you do it His way."  I wake up in the morning to get myself out of bed on time.  I tell myself, "If you want to be a trainer, you have to get up."  I say that about a lot of things.  In my Patriarchal blessing it says the things I ask for in righteousness I will receive.  So, if I keep being obedient and working hard, I may get that opportunity.  If not, I guess it wasn't to be.

I don't know if you have watched the Face to Face with Elder Holland or the Missionary Broadcast, Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts from a few months ago.  But I suggest you watch them.  They are really good.

21 Mar 2016

 This week was good. On Monday we went to downtown Salt Lake. We were going to go to the Salt Lake cemetery but it rained. So instead, we went to the Salt Lake Pioneer Museum. It was a cool museum. It had like six floors in it. My favorite part of it was the room with all the guns and swords. I also liked the two-headed sheep. After that we all came home. On the way home we stopped at the sandwich place. While we were there we met this dude who was a host on a radio show. When we were all headed back to the van to eat our lunch the dude stop us.  He wanted all of us to say our name and where we were from so he could record it and put it on his radio show. After that, he left and we started eating. We were about to leave and then he came back. He wanted us to say the Pledge of Allegiance so he could put that on his radio show as well. It was really cool.

Tuesday was kind of slow. We went around all day trying to contact people, but we had no luck. We did get to visit the Samami family though. They are a fun family. The mom is white and the dad is Tongan.  I talked to the dad the whole time about his mission. He served on the reservations in New Mexico. We talked about the high school basketball teams on the reservations. Apparently in New Mexico they are a lot better than back home.

On Wednesday we started knocking a group of houses called Fox shadows. There are a lot of records of people in there, but no one is sure if they still live there.  We didn't have any luck. So then we went to a different ward and started trying to contact less actives. Only one of the houses answered. They had a vicious dog and it tried to bite us through the screen. It was a little stinker. After we did that we had a lesson with Brian. He seemed to accept everything we talked about. We taught him lesson three, which is the gospel of Jesus Christ. After his lesson we headed to dinner.  We had pulled pork sandwiches. They were really good. After dinner we went and visited Nelson Neff. He wasn't able to make it to church on Sunday so we taught the Millennium lesson from the gospel principles book with one of our ward mission leaders. After that our other lesson canceled so we went to the church and we played basketball with the young men in the seventh ward. It was really fun. They all wanted to play me one-on-one and I beat all of them. And then right before for we left I dunked it. It felt really good. I haven't done that in a long time.

On Thursday we went to lunch with the zone leaders. We went to Culver's, While we were there they asked us if we wanted to help them out with the service project and we said yes. So after we ate lunch they took us home to change and then we went to the service project.

The service project was deshingling a roof. We were there for three hours and we didn't finish it. I never have deshingled a roof before, but it was fun. By the time we left it was time for dinner so you quick went home and changed and then we went to dinner. For dinner we had roast and these really good cheesy potatoes. And then for dessert we get ice cream. Then we went to the stake center and participated in the youth choir because there is not enough showing up for it. And that was our night.

On Friday we had district meeting. It was pretty good. There was some training given on the trust. After district meeting not a whole lot happened over lessons canceled on us. It was kind of frustrating but that's just part of missionary work. So we did a lot of contacting on Friday.

On Saturday we went back with the zone leaders and helped on the roof again. Three of us were on the garage roof removing the shingles.  Elder Fakatou was on the other roof helping lay down the tar paper. After that we went to a lesson, but that didn't happen because they didn't answer the door. Then we had another service project where we raked the lady's yard for her. By the time dinner came around we were really tired. For dinner we had some Mexican food with this awesome family. Their oldest son went to the same high school as Atiba Jacobs. So we talked about Atiba for a little bit.

After dinner we went to the stake center so I can use the bathroom.

While we were there the Marshallese branch was having a wedding. They just finished the wedding and the bride and groom were walking out of the cultural hall and they were playing some love song and it was kind of making me trunky so I tried not to listen. Then we went to visit Bill Tate. It was a good lesson he is always a fun guy to go and visit. He is progressing slowly but surely. He's a great guy.

On Sunday, since we had the temple dedication we couldn't bring our investigators to church. So we took them to Music and the Spoken Word. Afterwards we took them on a tour at Temple Square. We brought Brian and some less active people who are returning. We also brought a man named Bruno. He is from Cameroon and he mainly speaks French, but he is learning English pretty good. So we had a Temple Square sister give Bruno the tour in French. We are going to set it up so that once a week we can take Bruno to Temple Square and we can tag team teach him in French and English. Then we came home and had lunch. Then we went to the 3:00 session of the temple dedication. It was really good. We got to hear from Elder Nelson, Elder Stephenson, Elder Clayton, and Elder Ringwood along with others. My favorite talk was probably by Elder Clayton. Then we went to dinner and we ate with a family where the wife is from the Philippines. We had Thanksgiving dinner. It was really good. Then for the rest of the night we visited member families.

That is the address that was on dad's first letter I got, but I've only got one letter from him. You could send my package to the mission office if you wanted to. I sent you a letter with a thumb drive in it.

You should get it today or tomorrow. Let me know if you get it and if all the pictures and videos work.