Celebrating Independence Day with Elder Arnold, the sister missionaires and the Reschke Family
Doing what missionaries do best.
More of the same.
Trying to make a reed vibrate.Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Pictures (July 2010)
Celebrating Independence Day with Elder Arnold, Doing what missionaries do best. More of the same. Trying to make a reed vibrate.
Another week down (07/27/2010)
Well another week is in the books. They seem to go faster and fast each week.
Things are going well here in Vancouver. We are still working with a lot of people, but we just can't get them to come to church. It is really frustrating but I guess that's life for ya.
We are still working with Domingo. He is doing really well and he wants to get baptized. There is just something holding him up that we aren't too sure about. We think it is self worth because his wife is always saying "If you would have just joined earlier maybe our kids would still be active" and all this stuff so we just think he thinks that he has no place here in life. But he is a really good guy who really knows his stuff. He has read a lot of books about Joseph Smith. Now we just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon.
Deborah is doing well. We are working with her Husband Arturo. We told him the other day, “look Arturo, we are not here to baptize you, we just want to teach you about Christ and show you what your wife believes in.” The spirit was there and we know he felt it but he is just so stubborn that who knows if he will act on it. He is really a nice guy, but for one reason or another, doesn't want his wife going to church or doing anything like that.
Friday we had interviews with President Greer. He is an awesome guy. We talked about a lot of things and he helped me a lot. I asked him about which College to go to, ASU or BYU-I and he said it’s really a toss up. Either one will work, you just have to be patient with the answer. We talked about when I will be coming home and he pretty much put it up to me. So my tentative release date is December 22nd. That is not for sure. It will be in about 6 weeks or so but that is the tentative date. We talked about a lot of other things. I really enjoyed our interview. At the end he prayed and said thank you for letting us be in the great weather since in Arizona it is 117°. I though it was pretty funny. But he is a good guy.
Other than that, things are going well. How have all of the Birthday celebrations been going? Mom, from your letters it seems that you have been really busy lately. I was wondering if you guys wanted to tour the mission. It doesn't matter to me but there have been a few that have done it lately so I was just wondering.
Well that's about it for this week. Have a great week.
Things are going well here in Vancouver. We are still working with a lot of people, but we just can't get them to come to church. It is really frustrating but I guess that's life for ya.
We are still working with Domingo. He is doing really well and he wants to get baptized. There is just something holding him up that we aren't too sure about. We think it is self worth because his wife is always saying "If you would have just joined earlier maybe our kids would still be active" and all this stuff so we just think he thinks that he has no place here in life. But he is a really good guy who really knows his stuff. He has read a lot of books about Joseph Smith. Now we just need to get him to read the Book of Mormon.
Deborah is doing well. We are working with her Husband Arturo. We told him the other day, “look Arturo, we are not here to baptize you, we just want to teach you about Christ and show you what your wife believes in.” The spirit was there and we know he felt it but he is just so stubborn that who knows if he will act on it. He is really a nice guy, but for one reason or another, doesn't want his wife going to church or doing anything like that.
Friday we had interviews with President Greer. He is an awesome guy. We talked about a lot of things and he helped me a lot. I asked him about which College to go to, ASU or BYU-I and he said it’s really a toss up. Either one will work, you just have to be patient with the answer. We talked about when I will be coming home and he pretty much put it up to me. So my tentative release date is December 22nd. That is not for sure. It will be in about 6 weeks or so but that is the tentative date. We talked about a lot of other things. I really enjoyed our interview. At the end he prayed and said thank you for letting us be in the great weather since in Arizona it is 117°. I though it was pretty funny. But he is a good guy.
Other than that, things are going well. How have all of the Birthday celebrations been going? Mom, from your letters it seems that you have been really busy lately. I was wondering if you guys wanted to tour the mission. It doesn't matter to me but there have been a few that have done it lately so I was just wondering.
Well that's about it for this week. Have a great week.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
A very busy week (07/20/2010)
We had a very busy week between teaching people and doing service.
For the service part, we mowed lawns, pulled weeds, and gave some gravel a face lift by sifting out all of the dirt. It was all fun and it kept us on our toes.
The weather has been nice here. It has been cool the whole week. Every morning we wake up to cloud coverage that I call a marine layer because that's what my dad always called it when we were in San Diego and it usually "burns off" at about 1 or so. I don't know why I call it that but I do. It keeps things cool at night and makes it so it doesn't warm up so much during the day.
Most of the people we are teaching are doing well. The only person to come to church this week was Jorge as in Jorge and Claudia. We had actually dropped them for a couple of weeks a couple of weeks ago to see if it would get them serious. Then he came to an employment thing at the church and the branch employment specialist invited him to come to church and he did. So that was nice.
The Arroyos are doing really well. We had an appointment with them yesterday and brother Arroyo was saying. One day I will get baptized I don't know when but one day. I guess about six months ago he wanted nothing to do with the church but then his son was put into juvie and we think it has humbled him. He is a real nice guy. Now we just have to get his wife to stop telling him that the reason why their kids are so bad is because he never gets baptized (let’s just forget the fact that she hasn't been to church in years)
Well I wrote down what I wanted to talk about this week in my planner, but then I forgot it. But I wanted to write down the things that I didn't realize I would do when I got on my mission.
1. A marriage counselor
2. A family counselor
3. An employment specialist
4. A financial Planner
5. Addiction recovery expert
6. A lock smith
7. Give instruction on the function of the church.
8. Speak in church more times a month than high counselors
9. Be called on to play the piano at any second, even sometimes after the song has started.
10. Learn more about myself than I every have.
That is my list. Those are all things that aren't found in Preach My Gospel, the white handbook, or your call letter.
Well that’s about all I have for this week. Have a great week
For the service part, we mowed lawns, pulled weeds, and gave some gravel a face lift by sifting out all of the dirt. It was all fun and it kept us on our toes.
The weather has been nice here. It has been cool the whole week. Every morning we wake up to cloud coverage that I call a marine layer because that's what my dad always called it when we were in San Diego and it usually "burns off" at about 1 or so. I don't know why I call it that but I do. It keeps things cool at night and makes it so it doesn't warm up so much during the day.
Most of the people we are teaching are doing well. The only person to come to church this week was Jorge as in Jorge and Claudia. We had actually dropped them for a couple of weeks a couple of weeks ago to see if it would get them serious. Then he came to an employment thing at the church and the branch employment specialist invited him to come to church and he did. So that was nice.
The Arroyos are doing really well. We had an appointment with them yesterday and brother Arroyo was saying. One day I will get baptized I don't know when but one day. I guess about six months ago he wanted nothing to do with the church but then his son was put into juvie and we think it has humbled him. He is a real nice guy. Now we just have to get his wife to stop telling him that the reason why their kids are so bad is because he never gets baptized (let’s just forget the fact that she hasn't been to church in years)
Well I wrote down what I wanted to talk about this week in my planner, but then I forgot it. But I wanted to write down the things that I didn't realize I would do when I got on my mission.
1. A marriage counselor
2. A family counselor
3. An employment specialist
4. A financial Planner
5. Addiction recovery expert
6. A lock smith
7. Give instruction on the function of the church.
8. Speak in church more times a month than high counselors
9. Be called on to play the piano at any second, even sometimes after the song has started.
10. Learn more about myself than I every have.
That is my list. Those are all things that aren't found in Preach My Gospel, the white handbook, or your call letter.
Well that’s about all I have for this week. Have a great week
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
The tale of a mixed-up week (07/13/2010)
Well this week was topsy-turvy. It had its high-lights and its low-lights. It had its hot days, and its cool days. It was a very up and down week.
First Wednesday-Friday
Well even though I said in my last e-mail that it has been very cool and pleasant ever since I got here, it got hot, in a hurry. Wednesday and Thursday were both in the high 90's while Friday cooled off to about 92 or so. It was hot. I guess when it is hot, people don't like to hear the gospel. Wednesday we did not get into one house and Thursday we only got into one. It was hard. It was frustrating, but I just kept thinking that we are so blessed to be able to get in with a few people each day that a couple of days not getting in will just make us realize how blessed we are.
So nothing really happened those days until Friday night rolled around. It was 8:45 and we were thinking of what to do for the last 15 minutes of the day and Elder Arnold said we can go try Emilio, he is a guy Elder Arnold taught when he was here before and we can get in and see if we can teach him again. So we go by and he lets us in. We talked to him a little about 1 Nephi 8 and Lehi's dream. We then invited him to soccer the next day which he said he wanted to go to and to church on Sunday which he also agreed to going to. So Saturday morning rolls around and we swing by his apartment so he could follow us to the park where they were playing soccer. We all play soccer with the Priesthood and everything went great. Emilio made friends and everything. It was awesome. So then the next day before church we call him to see if he is coming he said yeah he was getting dressed right then to go. So he shows up at 1:50. He stays for all of church and we even got his son, Emilio Junior to go to nursery. It was awesome and he said he enjoyed church.
We also started teaching this family Edith and Marco. They are a cool family with 2 kids and Edith is pregnant and was due the 9th but still hasn't had the baby. Well, Sunday we were seeing if someone could watch the kids while she has having the baby and maybe take them some meals. Sister Resheke volunteered and so we went by Sunday night so they could meet each other. They hit it off really well and she is going to watch the kids during all of the doctor visits and while she is in the hospital.
Then yesterday we had a really good day. We taught 5 lessons and found 2 new investigators. I don't have time to go into all of the lessons except one. Just know they were all great. One of those was Deborah and her daughter Alejandra. They were taught about 9 months but Deborah’s husband Arturo is a staunch Catholic and so that is tough. Anyway we start teaching them and Deborah stops us and says do you have the power to heal. And we explain priesthood blessings then she asked if she could have one. So we did. Well Elder Arnold anointed and I gave the blessing. Well I bless her that she would be healed. So anyway after the blessing we asked her how she felt. She said she felt something go from her feet and leave her head. Then she just started crying. She said she had been diagnosed with a life threatening disease and was so depressed that she grabbed a bottle of pills on Friday and was going to kill herself. She didn't though (obviously). Well she never told us what her disease was but whatever it was, she is cured. It was amazing. An awesome story for an awesome day.
That is the story of our week. It was amazing to watch the Lord work with us. Have a great week
First Wednesday-Friday
Well even though I said in my last e-mail that it has been very cool and pleasant ever since I got here, it got hot, in a hurry. Wednesday and Thursday were both in the high 90's while Friday cooled off to about 92 or so. It was hot. I guess when it is hot, people don't like to hear the gospel. Wednesday we did not get into one house and Thursday we only got into one. It was hard. It was frustrating, but I just kept thinking that we are so blessed to be able to get in with a few people each day that a couple of days not getting in will just make us realize how blessed we are.
So nothing really happened those days until Friday night rolled around. It was 8:45 and we were thinking of what to do for the last 15 minutes of the day and Elder Arnold said we can go try Emilio, he is a guy Elder Arnold taught when he was here before and we can get in and see if we can teach him again. So we go by and he lets us in. We talked to him a little about 1 Nephi 8 and Lehi's dream. We then invited him to soccer the next day which he said he wanted to go to and to church on Sunday which he also agreed to going to. So Saturday morning rolls around and we swing by his apartment so he could follow us to the park where they were playing soccer. We all play soccer with the Priesthood and everything went great. Emilio made friends and everything. It was awesome. So then the next day before church we call him to see if he is coming he said yeah he was getting dressed right then to go. So he shows up at 1:50. He stays for all of church and we even got his son, Emilio Junior to go to nursery. It was awesome and he said he enjoyed church.
We also started teaching this family Edith and Marco. They are a cool family with 2 kids and Edith is pregnant and was due the 9th but still hasn't had the baby. Well, Sunday we were seeing if someone could watch the kids while she has having the baby and maybe take them some meals. Sister Resheke volunteered and so we went by Sunday night so they could meet each other. They hit it off really well and she is going to watch the kids during all of the doctor visits and while she is in the hospital.
Then yesterday we had a really good day. We taught 5 lessons and found 2 new investigators. I don't have time to go into all of the lessons except one. Just know they were all great. One of those was Deborah and her daughter Alejandra. They were taught about 9 months but Deborah’s husband Arturo is a staunch Catholic and so that is tough. Anyway we start teaching them and Deborah stops us and says do you have the power to heal. And we explain priesthood blessings then she asked if she could have one. So we did. Well Elder Arnold anointed and I gave the blessing. Well I bless her that she would be healed. So anyway after the blessing we asked her how she felt. She said she felt something go from her feet and leave her head. Then she just started crying. She said she had been diagnosed with a life threatening disease and was so depressed that she grabbed a bottle of pills on Friday and was going to kill herself. She didn't though (obviously). Well she never told us what her disease was but whatever it was, she is cured. It was amazing. An awesome story for an awesome day.
That is the story of our week. It was amazing to watch the Lord work with us. Have a great week
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The weather is perfect (07/06/2010)
I just wanted you all to know that the weather is perfect here. It has been in the low seventies with a slight breeze and mostly sunny. My Arizona instincts keep telling me that it is just going to get hot, but the later it gets, and the more I talk to people, I don't think it will, at least for not very long.
This week was somewhat of an uneventful week with a couple of stories.
We ended up doing a lot of service this week. We helped take down a vine that had overtaken a fence. We helped with our new member’s yard, the Nihipalis, they are from Hawaii. We also helped out over at the Boyles (where we used to live).
Friday we met the Greers. They seem very nice and excited to be mission presidents (well as excited as you can be!). It was nice to be able to talk to them about Arizona. It seems as though life will continue as normal with a few changes coming from the brethren.
We had an uneventful 4th of July. We weren't allowed to touch fireworks nor watch them. Although that was somewhat hard since everyone and their brother were launching them off. All fireworks are legal 2 days before and on the 4th of July here so it sounded like a war zone. It was ridiculous. Especially since it starts getting dark at about 10, right before we are crawling into bed. But it was okay. They had a lot of fireworks for sale that's for sure. Every street corner was selling them.
Last night we had quite the night. We went out with a member of the Branch Presidency, Hermano Garcia, a great guy from El Salvador. He is really nice and always smiling. Well anyway, we pile into his little Honda and start our journey for the night. Well we are telling him were to go and what not and we get to a stop light and tell him to turn left. The light turns green and we realize that he is turning left, but right into on coming traffic. He didn't realize that there was a median, or he just didn't feel a need to use it. So we are heading to on coming traffic with a few cars coming our way, a car going our direction on the right side of the road honking at us. Hermano Garcias' eyes get as big as cantaloupes and he started to slow down. I told him to just keep going because the median ended about 100 feet down the road. We get over and get own our way. Once we were all relieved and knew we were all okay, we started busting out laughing. Then Hermano Garcia says that was okay. It was so funny. He is a great guy and he made it a fun night.
Well that was the week in review. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Mom did you send a letter this week?
Stacy did you delete your blog?
This week was somewhat of an uneventful week with a couple of stories.
We ended up doing a lot of service this week. We helped take down a vine that had overtaken a fence. We helped with our new member’s yard, the Nihipalis, they are from Hawaii. We also helped out over at the Boyles (where we used to live).
Friday we met the Greers. They seem very nice and excited to be mission presidents (well as excited as you can be!). It was nice to be able to talk to them about Arizona. It seems as though life will continue as normal with a few changes coming from the brethren.
We had an uneventful 4th of July. We weren't allowed to touch fireworks nor watch them. Although that was somewhat hard since everyone and their brother were launching them off. All fireworks are legal 2 days before and on the 4th of July here so it sounded like a war zone. It was ridiculous. Especially since it starts getting dark at about 10, right before we are crawling into bed. But it was okay. They had a lot of fireworks for sale that's for sure. Every street corner was selling them.
Last night we had quite the night. We went out with a member of the Branch Presidency, Hermano Garcia, a great guy from El Salvador. He is really nice and always smiling. Well anyway, we pile into his little Honda and start our journey for the night. Well we are telling him were to go and what not and we get to a stop light and tell him to turn left. The light turns green and we realize that he is turning left, but right into on coming traffic. He didn't realize that there was a median, or he just didn't feel a need to use it. So we are heading to on coming traffic with a few cars coming our way, a car going our direction on the right side of the road honking at us. Hermano Garcias' eyes get as big as cantaloupes and he started to slow down. I told him to just keep going because the median ended about 100 feet down the road. We get over and get own our way. Once we were all relieved and knew we were all okay, we started busting out laughing. Then Hermano Garcia says that was okay. It was so funny. He is a great guy and he made it a fun night.
Well that was the week in review. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Mom did you send a letter this week?
Stacy did you delete your blog?
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