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Monday, October 26, 2009

Week #65 - Total Weight Loss for the Week - 14 pounds

Hey Everyone,

I didn't think last week could be topped, but the flu did it. So, work didn't really start up until about Friday. The rest of the week wasspent in my nice warm bed. So, not too much to update on this week other than it was way boring and a waste of time. I got a nice amount of mail though so that made life better.

As for transfers, I'll be sticking around good ol' Ukiah for another six weeks. I'm pretty glad I'm not leaving. My companion will be staying too, so this will be the first companion I've had in 2009 for more than one transfer.

There are a lot of crazy things happening in the zone this transfer. There are three whitewashes AND Elder Bush, the first person I trained, will be training his first greenie this transfer in our zone, which means I will officially be a grandfather this week. I'm way excited to meet him. He'll be my favorite grandson I've ever had.

For Halloween I'll be carving a pumpkin today with my companion, and it's probably going to be just as cool as last year's (if not cooler).

Other than that, I'm still a missionary and the gospel's still true. Thanks for all of the support and have a good week!

Elder B

Monday, October 19, 2009

Week #64 - Professional Thug for Life

Hi Everyone!
Quite the week. You have no idea how long I've been planning this scheme to talk to Mom on her birthday. As expected, everything ran smoothly. I took one for the team when they drew blood from me twice (I was kinda hoping I'd dodge that when I went to the hospital) but it was every bit worth it to wish the mother a happy birthday. Looks like my position has again been reaffirmed as best child in the family. This might be another crazy week- so we'll see what happens. Thanks for all the prayers and what not- they're much appreciated. President Bunker called and asked how I felt about a transfer to Santa Rosa next transfer in case anything happened. I told him to talk to the Chief to see if it was necessary- but I've got a feeling it may end up happening either way. So, any mail that will get here after next Monday can be sent to the mission home just in case. Whatever transfer news we get this Sunday should be pretty exciting.

I wish I had some cool stories from this last week other than a couple of very flirtatious young nurses Wednesday night in the hospital. I'm getting more and more grateful I didn't have surgery there after seeing people's reactions when they heard I had to go in. I guess for a spiritual note, I've been reading a ton from the Book of Mormon and it's been crazy awesome. The more I read it the more I'm blown away and shocked that anyone could deny its truthfulness. Also on Sunday in Elders Quorum they talked all about the power and importance of priesthood blessings, and how no one should ever hesitate to ask/give them. At the end we all gave blessings to everyone in the group who wanted one (most did). It was way uplifting and pretty powerful.

That's about all I've got for the week. I hope all is well back home and have a fantastic week! The gospel's true.
Elder B

Monday, October 12, 2009

Week #63 - Happy Birthday to Mrs. The Mom

Happy Birthday Mom! I'm so excited it's finally the Mom's birthday again! I've been waiting an entire year.

This week was crazy busy. Unfortunately not much was due to actual work in our area, but it was still good. We had president's interviews which were awesome. President Bunker's pretty amazing. He's very helpful and very encouraging. We also had stake correlation yesterday with him and the Ukiah Stake Presidency. It sounds like things are going to improve a lot in the stake with the missionary work and combining the ward and missionary efforts more which will be great. It seems like every ward I've been in has had the same problem: they do great with the people who come to church every week and whatever else but don't really look at the people who aren't coming anymore or who might want to come (i.e. the wards will hold activities where there's not even an effort to invite less active members or non members, they just have active members sign up for the missionaries at dinner in relief society rather than at least trying to call a few less actives who would be willing to have us, etc). Someday.

Life's great in Ukiah. We baptized a ten year old boy Saturday and that went really well. There's always a great spirit at baptisms. I asked him how he felt afterwards and he said he felt "just really really happy." Thattakid. He's the bomb. We taught Sharon the Plan of Salvation and it was awesome- she's very ready...BUT...she just got really really sick so we haven't been able to see much of her which is too bad. Hopefully she recovers soon. She's in our prayers.

Other than that we've been trying to work with the members a little more and we've had some really good experiences.

Anyway, things are good. It's insane how fast this transfer's been. We're already in our second to last week. Time doesn't ever slow down in these parts. Crazy California.

The gospel's true!
Elder B

Monday, October 5, 2009

Week #62 - Jeffrey R. Holland is the Bomb!

Hey everyone!
This week was excellent on account of an incredible General Conference. Lots of amazing talks- and of course, Jeffery R. Holland's was nothing short of crazy fantastic amazingness. That was probably the most powerful witness of the Book of Mormon I've ever heard in my life. I wish I could show that to anyone who questions it or thinks it's any of the pathetic excuses he threw out. I don't know how anyone can watch those leaders speak and not know that they really are called of God and special witnesses of Christ. They are!!
(Here's the link: http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-1117,00.html Then click on Sunday Afternoon Session - Jeffrey R. Holland. You can watch it or just listen to it.)

We picked up a pretty golden investigator this last week named Sharon. We tracted into her (how often does that actually happen?) and taught her a solid first lesson and she loved it- then asked if she could come to church. It was way cool. Miracles definitely happen. We've still got a ton of work to do in the area...lots of "rebuilding" and gaining trust...and helping the ward realize that missionary work is actually pretty important and worthwhile. We do have a baptism this Saturday though, so that will be great. Things are improving but still very weak in the ward. Hopefully Sharon works out and causes at least a little more excitement around here. I don't know if I mentioned it last week, but in zone conference our mission president encouraged us to start praying in every prayer to blessed with more frequent remembrances of the Savior throughout the day. It's been working wonders at keeping me more focused and helping me just feel a ton better during the week. If there's one thing I've gained a strengthened testimony of in the last few weeks it's the power of prayer. ...and the Book of Mormon. And lots of other stuff. But definitely prayer.

Life's good. The gospel's true. God's in the work. Capture the dream. The gospel's still true.
Much love!
Elder B