Rebuked!!!

Collin!!! Mister Pipster making me proud all the time! You libero ball digging champion of pure awesomeness you! MAN I’m just feeling so much love from the fam right now! I got emails from everyone! So let’s get right down to the business…this week has been crazy!!! UPS, downs, crazy experiences…I never do it justice in my emails so maybe one day you guys will have to fly down and spend some time with me ;) To respond…I love the baby chicks story... peep peep peep peep. And dad, you have too much faith in mom. 5 days is all she’ll last.  She is no fun (as Ava said). :) As for volleyball… man that would be so crazy to watch! Good job, go Highland hawks, and yes sadly I remember the getting lined up according to our skills and being thrown pointless statistics and then being absolutely rebuked.!

TORNADOES!!!!!!! So this Friday we were out tracting and out of nowhere these super loud alarms went off! So Elder Bills and I made a mad dash to Sister Miller’s house in our ward (she has a basement). When we got inside, Sister Miller was on the floor crying uncontrollably. When she saw us, she said that her grand daughter was riding her bike to her house! So Elder Bills and I ran back out and it was seriously something straight out of The Other Side of Heaven. Leaves and twigs and all sorts of stuff were whipping past us in the wind. Luckily, we found the girl fast and she was holding onto a stop sign as tight as she could! We tried to grab her but she wouldn't let go and then we started pulling her leg and pulling and pulling and well yeah, kinda like how I am pulling on yours... sorry that was a waste of time. It had to be done though. :) We did have a tornado warning though, but they hit Oklahoma instead. COOL HUH?!

So back to for serious... This week I think Thursday I got pretty upset with a lot of different things. It was probably one of the hardest days of my mission and I can’t really explain why, but I was just super tired and worn out. So right at 9:30 p.m. when planning was done, I got right into my Captain America shirt and sweats, but I was not feeling like a hero in any way. I brushed my teeth and wrote in my journal about everything I was frustrated about. I think when I got to complaint number 6, the Spirit just REBUKED me saying “you’re being a real idiot (pardon the french). So I started to pray. I won’t go into too much detail, but it’s the craziest thing…prayer works!!! I’m happy to report that from Friday on I am back to old optimistic, happy me! Which is funny because now looking back, I have been out for just about as much time as I did pest control, and without a doubt this has been easier! Not because the work is any easier but because I have SOOOO much more help in doing the work that I need to do here on my mission.

I might have to cut this letter short because I need to email my favorite cousin in the whole world, but let me tell you some of the highlights of this week.

1. We had a super awesome dinner with some Samoans in our ward! The Olamelavas and the Terrys. We ate huge steak burgers, rice chips and, Gatorade. Yeesh, maybe I don’t want to go to New Zealand ;)

2. Sunday, Elder Bills and I had a last second assignment to teach gospel principles on prophets. WORST LESSON EVER! There was a girl named Laura-Denise (don’t forget the hyphen or she will cut you). She is African American and has born testimony of her anger issues this past fast Sunday... so before class we introduced the whole class to our recent convert Johnathan Stapelton by saying their name and greatest fear. Laura-Denise said she hated creepy crawlies and that she hated the name and everything about them. When Elder Bill’s turn came he said he couldn’t think of a fear so I said "aren’t you afraid of SPIDERS" without realizing I named the thing which should not be named. Laura-Denise began to dig in her bag for something to throw at me. I still don’t know what it was, but luckily I dodged it because it was big and black and made a huge clang against the chalkboard behind me. Then to start the lesson, all manner of false doctrine came out of her mouth about how the prophets aren't always right.  I almost lost my cool and sent her out but patience prevailed. Oh, and don’t worry, we resolved all the false doctrine preached.

3. We met a girl named Kaylani. She is what I like to refer to as a halficuz (half poly half white). There are a ton in Blue Springs Missouri! She is 16 and not a member. Her parents aren't really in the best relationship so she is currently staying with her grandparents who are super awesome influences and members of the LDS church! We taught a super good lesson and asked her if she would like to learn more, and she said definitely! She is also a volleyball player and really good looking, but that’s not the important things to mention…just a little noteworthy...

4. We had Connie attend church (Super sweet older lady). She had a great experience and she sat in the middle in between me and the relief society president, Sister Nelson. Before church started, I explained how the meeting would go and I jokingly pre-warned her that I’m so bad at singing that even the people who are good sound bad next to me. She got a good laugh out of that one and when it came time to sing we both sang decently loud with each other and it turns out she was terrible too...

5. We taught a family with 11 GIRLS ELEVEN!!! The dad was a really friendly pastor and they let us sit on their couch as they all gathered around. It was a good message but Elder Bills and I did not have it in us to boldly say that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the ONLY true church... FAIL

I love you guys so much and think about you everyday! Good luck in volleyball and everything else.

Love,

Elder Ward

p.s. Mom GO HAVE FUN!!!

Faith Isn't Simply Believing...It's Doing

COLLIN?! DA HECK???  You Dog you! Give me the deets!!! I want to know how volleyball went too! I did get Nate Rogers letter though. I will write him back today. Man that kid is hilarious. Oh and poor Ava! Do you know what movie it was that she accidentally rented on “video on demand”? The Atonement is so amazing and Jesus was right when he said that children are the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Make sure to tell her that I love her and Aubrey and well everyone... Collin you dog! Oh and Taylor McBride?! Who is he engaged to? Blake was with Annie... Annie Rossel? This is weird... Oh, and MOM I NEED KARSON AND ROBBY"S EMAIL ADDRESSES!

Anyways though, this week was as spectacular as ever! I started it out by meeting my Grandpa (Elder Bills Trainer, Elder Masters). he is a short guy with red hair and he is hilarious! He just has a ton of energy and reminds me of well me... We had 4 zone leaders come down from a far away area to stay with us before they went to their zone leader council the next day. So Elder Bills and I, Kamalu and Schofield took the other 4 zone leaders through one of our crazy workout sessions! I'm pretty sure they all cried because I know I did. :) I almost threw up after too... and I don’t think they will be able to straighten their arms out for awhile.

But enough of the dibble daddle! This week we set Bernard on date for baptism!!! April 28th! We are taking him to the temple open house tomorrow with his 10 year old son, so I am super pumped! Other that that, nothing too special happened this week. We met a UFC fighter who used to be investigating. He was huge! When he saw us at first, he just wasn't happy and didn't want to talk to us. Then he saw our name tags, and he got a big smile and just said OH ELDERS! We also taught another huge guy who had been in a motorcycle accident last year that humbled and prepared him big time! He lives next to a lady named Sister Jarvis in our ward, and she said that he would have slammed the door in our face a year earlier. In fact, we had a hard time leaving his house to make our next appointment.  He has got real potential and we’re going to go see him again on Wednesday.

This week though I learned a lot of stuff... go figure right? We ran into a ton of people who don’t really understand 2 Nephi 9: 28-29. These people study the scriptures so much, which is good, but as President Keyes put it, “people are going to know more and more and more until they know less and less and less until they know nothing at all.” It's so true and we ran into a ton of those people this week (as in 3 or 4). I hate it when they say the bible and your Mormon bible's gospels completely contradict each other and then throw completely meaningless arguments out that have nothing to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Elder Bills and I will be good boys and listen and when they are finally done, we ask them if they have read the Book of Mormon... it's usually a no, but either way, we just testify that everything that God wants us to know and do are in these two books. If they read what these prophets so desperately try to slap into our brains and actually APPLY them into our lives, there is no way that you could say that the Book of Mormon isn't true.

I also learned a ton on faith! Faith isn't simply believing…it's doing! If everyone TRULY had a complete understanding of the BOM, the world would be perfect... so I really want to increase my faith and do everything I can to be a legendary missionary. So Collin I need you to do me a favor. In my “do no touch drawer” I have that blue and white racquetball racquet. I need you to return that to the school please. Don’t judge me. ;) I want to do everything I can in the next 21 months to bring others to the gospel of Jesus Christ. THERE IS NO GREATER BLEESSING! MMMMHHMMMMM! Family I love you a ton and think about you a lot. Sometimes, (I think I’ve said this before), I’m kind of like Jake the Dog from Adventure Time when he can’t focus. Finn will be talking to him and then he will ask him a question and he has Ice Cream in the toaster... haha not really. But I am not going to lie, Thursday night I did wonder how Collin’s game against Gilbert went and then on Tuesdays I like to picture you guys chillin at Morenos after a good temple visit.

Thank you for your e-mail Collin. Write me ya bum! Mom, please send me that info. Ava, don’t watch PG-13 movies. Dad, keep on flexing those golden pipes. Aubrey stay away from boys and Trevor, my fellow representative of Jesus Christ, stay strong and learn to drive!

Love,

Elder Ward

p.s. I am going over to talk to a young man today, mono e mono, because he threatened to kill his parents the other day... So wish me luck! I already prayed, but at least 5 more couldn't hurt!!

Su Su Super Awesome Week!!

This week was su su su super awesome! It’s amazing just how much happens in one week and it's really hard to tell everything and remember to respond to all your questions and ask some of my own... No I’m not working at the temple open house but we get to take 3 different trips with investigators. So far we are going with Bernard and his son, Bernard.  He is this sweet black guy who we met in his driveway. He always has a smile on his face and whenever he talks he tends to throw in a uhhhh huhhh or mmmmm hhhmmmm. He loves his son and he loved the plan of salvation and has a hard time understanding the restoration, but he really likes Elder Bills and I. So he definitely trusts us when we tell him this will change his life. Funny story…just the other day we had a lesson and after he asked me to give the closing prayer.  Whenever I said something he really liked he would say YYEEESSS!  I felt bad when I chuckled a little during the prayer... I couldn't help it.

That just tore my heart in half hearing about our good friends. sighhhhhhhhhhh... Keep me updated. I will shoot them a letter through Collin next week. DARN IT!!!! Well Satan is good at his job I will give him that, but hearing this just makes me want to go curb stomp him... kind of like how all the prophets and apostles did this weekend!!! Holy Cow! My favorite was that one talk on family! haha jk I honestly don’t know what my favorite was, but I do know that after teaching the restoration 1234787236238901447832 times it has given me so much more appreciation for who those men are and what they do. When the prophet first spoke to open conference, I found it hard not to cry as I felt the love of the Savior expressed in every single word. All the talks were super good and I know what you were talking about dad how we were all doing the same thing at the same time just thousands of miles apart... In fact it felt just like I was in the family room sitting on the brown leather couch with the fam.  In fact, I started to laugh when on Saturday everyone got to sing How Firm a Foundation and I could totally picture you singing at home just as if you were in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir... I love you Dad. I also pictured mom crying quietly to herself a little when Henry B. Eyring mentioned missionaries in his talk on sacrifices. (Who knows though, I could be wrong.) BUT MOM the prophet told you to slow down and meditate too! DID YOU CATCH THAT??? CUZ I DID!!! I was starting to wonder if that was a dumb challenge... Which reminds me dad…how are you doing on your challenge.  The house better look good right now

The work is really starting to progress!!! We still don’t have a giant teaching pool but we are really starting to get the members on board!  We have a couple investigators who are really progressing; Bernard and his son, Jeff, Mark (an RLDS guy who had DEEP questions talked with another RLDS convert and us at the church for 3 hours), and Jon (the guy who is 6'9 and has the 160 pound dog) who is starting to gain a testimony of the BOM but he was concerned about Nephi killing Laban. Collin, try to answer that! Why would the Spirit tell someone to break a commandment???? Oh yeah, and Connie we shared the restoration with and she asked us for a BOM. We just went back and she bought a KJB to compare to the BOM which is sweet because those 2 books testify and confirm each other! She said she stopped looking for a true church because there are so many... so lucky her, she found it! It would be sweet if you could pray for these people and thank you so much for praying for my Visa. I get asked about it a lot and I just smile and say I have no idea

So I went on splits with the Zone leaders. We are really tight with them and Elder Bills is a district leader so he wanted to see how the masters do it. I went with Elder Kamalu in their area and MAN that day was thee least eventful day ever!!! Nobody wanted to talk to us! We didn't teach any lessons and even when we were tracting people were just really short with us and not having it.  I thought I was pretty good at having a good attitude, but nope, not compared to Elder Kamalu. Instead of ever saying anything negative, when we got home he said, “lets pray”.  He gave the prayer and just thanked for everything... everything!! It made me feel so much better just being grateful doing the Lord’s work. When we were planning, he told me that it's possible to never get discouraged on your mission and talked about how discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest tools... and we all know it not good to be a tool. So that’s why I really liked when I forget who talked about how loud laughter isn't good but having a sense of humor is important to help shake off some of the pressures of the world.

So with that, here is a funny story. When we were on splits, one of our appointments fell through so we decided to go and tract around that neighborhood.  When we were heading back to the car, a door was open so I said let’s try that one. We knocked and a guy opened the door, and the first thing he said was, “I’m so glad you guys are here!” Which usually leads to something awesome like a lesson, but sadly no. He was just as high as a kite... He just told us to wait outside for the mailman and flailing his arms everywhere explained how we need to stop him because he goes all over the place... I love Missouri but there are some weirdies here. (Need I remind you of the hand on my heart healing prayer??? )

As for you guys…Collin you better TRASH GILBERT!  I know Cody Martin and Ty Hutchins are still God's Children, but I don”t think it would be a total sin to throw them down into the depths of humility! Aubrey, I’m soooo super duper sorry I just don’t have the time to write you a letter right now cuz I only can on P-days and they are BUSY.  I will send you emails though. Mom how did you fall? Was it embarrassing? I love you guys SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!! Be good.

Love,

Elder Ward

p.s. I got to attend the ward luau and I got to learn to do the HAKA dance from Brother Olamaleva (Samoan). It was sweet and I felt cool, but I’m white so it really wasn't that cool!

It's not Supposed to be Easy

I DID IT I FINALLY GOT MY VISA CLEARED!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I head out April 3rd!!!! Nah, JUST KIDDING!!  But man, it's a really good thing that every week gets better in my mission or I would be really bummed that I didn't get to see any of that (New Zealand). In all seriousness, this has been the best week of my mission. I don’t know if I say this every time, but it really has!

Saint Bosco…shucks! (That is the volleyball team Highland lost to at their tournament in California this past weekend)  That had to be pretty disheartening!! I still bet it was super awesome and I really hope that Collin wasn't too bummed about 5th place. It still blows my mind how good they are. Hey is Bryce still on the team what happened there???

HAHAHA Disneyland is just way too stressful to be this so called "Happiest Place on Earth", but yes I do remember going that day with Trevor... what a punk. That does sound like typical Ava. Good job dad on well... just good job. Oh and that saying is really funny! (Be an instrument not a tool.)  It's just too bad that there are a lot of tools in and out of the mission field... I actually have a story on that later. Sorry again for the Visa joke I really appreciate that you guys are fasting for that. Oh, and yes mom, I got the package. My life is complete now... except Elder Bills has thee worst taste in music. He doesn't even like Alex Boye, but that is the worst I will say about him because I know that God had a reason or reasons for putting me with him... no doubt!

So, yes the work is still SLOW numbers wise. We have been following Elder Evans counsel and have been working through our members. We received 15 member referrals this week which according to his math…1 in 5 equals 3 baptisms. So yeah, we haven't seen a whole lot of results from our efforts, but I know they’re coming. Anyways though, Thursday we just had a BAD day. Our appointments fell through, we have very few if any progressing investigators, and we had to do weekly planning. I was struggling but I still had a pretty good attitude, but Elder Bills was just frustrated and angry and well just whining. So at the end of weekly planning, I asked him for companionship inventory and if there is anything I could do to help him. He said no and just slumped in his chair and well I just rebuked him (not in a mean way, but in a not as loving as I should have been way) and said you need to have a better attitude… you’re killing me!! He just said, “I’m fine"... Then this is when I slowed down and just asked him what was wrong (in a loving way, don’t worry).  I basically told him that we don’t come on missions for it to always be easy and baptize everyone we talk to. I used dad’s mountains and humility analogy and said that it’s going to happen and that if he is being obedient and working his hardest than there is nothing you should ever be mad about. So, whadya say we go out and tract like we used to for a good 10 minutes before we go visit the Neidholts. That day got a ton better after that!

Friday night though, sheesh, we went on exchanges with some other elders.  I was with an elder who, lets just say can be difficult to work with.... Well, Friday we had district meeting finish at 2:30pm. We got back to the house at 3 so I could drop off my things. From 3 to 4 he sat in the bathroom. When he got out I asked him if he wanted me to call anyone or if we had any plans. He said no and then ate 3 packs of Ramen. So, I took the Ammon approach and just tried to love him and win the heart of the person.  I just talked to him and, boy o boy, he just talked about how much he wants to go home and how obedience is pointless and way inappropriate stuff. I WAS ANGRY... so anyways we sat there till 5 and then we got a ride to our dinner appt.  Our dinner, by the way, was all green. We had corn beef and cabbage, green corn bread, green jello, and green lime ice cubes with sprite. But anyways, the family had me say both the prayers while we there and give the message. It was quite the experience! Elder Bills was not happy about it either, soo yeah, we are going to be working some things out with him.  I promise though that I just loved him and encouraged as best as I could. So that is my story about not even missionaries are instruments all the time some of them are just big tools.

Last story! Last night we went out on a team up with a youth leader in our ward and we worked with him for awhile. When we got back in his car around 7:30pm, he started telling us about his son and how he is falling away from the church. He is really concerned about him and his ex-wife is just pulling his son farther away... ohh and his son is 15. He was really upset and I just didn't know what to say to him except maybe we can come talk to him. So we went to his house and we just sat down and talked with him. While I sat down I caught a glance of something on the computer screen between all these icons… STARCRAFT 2!!!!! So, long story short, we didn't go in and rebuke him and tell him to go to church and repent but I won his heart! We talked about that stupid game and we became fast friends as we debated over whether the Zerg or the Protoss were better. He confounded me... Anyways though, I really know that I can help make a difference in that kid’s life and if I can just be a part of the reason that gets him out on his mission, then well, I don’t think I could be much happier!

I love you guys soooo much and think about you everyday. It’s sometimes like Adventure Time when Jake the dog can’t focus on anything and he microwaves an ice cream cone... Collin knows what I’m talking about. :) Have a good week. General Conference is going to be sweet!!!

Love

Elder Ward

p.s. My theory is that when I finally get to leave for New Zealand, the night before I will stay the night in the mission home. and the first presidency might be staying the night there too before the Kansas City temple dedication or the cultural celebration (early May), and I will get to eat a box of frosted flakes with the prophet... just wishful thinking but man that would be cool!

The Greatest Superhero of all Time

Whoops! I think I offended dad last week... cuz I didn't get an email from him. Before I forget, no mom, the chest pains are gone. Don’t worry about the exercise either, it absolutely does not take me off focus in fact it just helps Elder Bills and I, plus the zone leaders stay SUPER FOCUSED all day. In fact, yesterday I actually woke up at 6:30 for church instead of our usual 5:30 and I absolutely crashed on the way to church at the YSA ward that’s like a 15 minute drive away. So, we are trying to pull some strings to change the white handbook for all missions around the world to have a 5:30 to 7:00am crazy nutso workout. It has really has improved my studies because I have more energy in the morning and I'm learning SOOO much everyday! And, hey, I can finally straighten my arms out! It did not make for good volleyball last week though. Oh, and as far as the extra weight goes I think a lot of it is probably water (I drink a ton) I went pee 15 times one day last week. My pants fit fine and I weighed myself on 3 different scales the most recent was an electronic one that said 154… Oh, there we go, I just saw dad’s letter.

Monday: We had a super awesome black guy from the YSA ward buy Elder Bills and I Costa Vida. He was such a good missionary because he was bold in a super loving way.

Tuesday: Elder Evans from the First Quorum of the Seventy came for zone conference and it was AMAZING! I learned so much! Elder Evans is also speaking at general conference next month too! OHHH man though…it turns out President Keyes is pretty much the highest qualified and most inspired mission president ever! He used to be a member of the 70 and man I don’t even know, but he is really an awesome man. We pretty much just got rebuked for not working with members as well as we should and we talked a lot about desire and discussed Alma Chapter 17 to 42. We have had amazing results since hearing from Elder Evans and President Keyes and it is amazing how inspired these men really are. Oh, and we taught Bernard again and our plan is to take him and his family through the Kansas City Temple open house so the spirit can slap him in the face.

Wednesday: We started working with members and less active people and whadya know?! We found 4 really solid new investigators: Jeff, Mark, Debbie, and Connie! Anyways though, today we got invited into someone’s house while we had a member from our ward with us. He invited us in which usually means they really want to hear what we have to say or they want to contend with us. This guy was sadly the 2nd type. So let’s call this guy who let us in Zeezrom, okay? Well he began to tell us all these reasons why the BOM could never be true, and the member of our ward would argue with him. Eventually the phone rang, and I leaned over to him and said, "hey, don’t say anything anymore. I just wanna share my testimony and we’ll get outta here." So after he finished, I bore testimony on the BOM and how I knew without a doubt that it was true. But anyways, Zeezrom was not confounded and I did not convert him like Amulek, but it did feel good to hear the spirit whisper “you’re right”.

Thursday: We helped 2 different people move and it was just awesome! I love service!  I did feel guilty though because one of the houses we helped out with were really nice members from Oregon who had a daughter that died recently.  So we were there helping them out, and they gave us a total of 50 dollars for lunch. We tried to give it back, but they would not allow it. So we went to Ava’s favorite place in the whole wide world, CHICK-FIL-A!!!

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: I’ll be honest…we trimmed a lot of fat from our teaching pool. That sounds really bad that way. Don’t worry…it kills me to erase anyone’s name off our board and I love all of them because they are God's children.  But anyways though, Elder Bills and I have been working these past three days with the members to build there trust and, well you know, do missionary work the right way. Our "numbers" might go down a little, but we are still going to work our hardest. That is also something else we learned from Alma 29 and personal experience. I cannot get angry with myself if  I’m working my hardest because I should be content with what the Lord allows me. The better I have learned to do that and go back to my chilled relaxed attitude, the easier it is to really enjoy the work I’m doing and well, you know, just being happy.

This week though, I learned mainly about Jesus Christ. I started reading the New Testament and WOW it turns out that He is kind of a big deal. I read in gospel principles and studied the atonement and what He taught, and I’m literally just dumbfounded.  In my patriarchal blessing it says that I... awhh bummer I don’t have it with me. It says that I will have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that I will have a full understanding of the Atonement (something like that), but that’s a huge promise! It is definitely humbling to be his representative. I know I already said this, but He truly was the greatest Superhero of all time. I really like the picture of me in that photo album you sent, standing kind of as His sidekick or something which is pretty accurate. Like Robin (was to Batman), I’m really not that big of a deal. He really did die for us. He understands everything, absolutely everything. He has been there, done that and been lower than all of us. I love him so much.

Love

Elder Ward

Oh that I were an Angel...



?, ?, ?, Elder Bills, Elder Ward, Elder Taufas

MOM?! Do you even think I care about a letter just from dad?! You better be dying or something!!! (Mom’s letter hadn’t arrived yet when Connor started writing). Nah just kidding dad I love your letters too. Except now I don’t have a whole lot to respond back to... haha. I wish my mission work was a lot more like 24 (this refers to an analogy Mike used in his letter to the show “24”)…you wanna know why? Because no matter what was going on, Jack Bauer always came out on top and fixed the problem.  Just recently, over the past two weeks, we have been losing our more serious investigators. I have no idea what happened, but we went from having 4 on date for baptism to a big fat 0. Stupid Satan!  It's alright though…we haven't lost any of them completely :) and even if we do, I just have to remember Alma 29:1-3. Oh that I were an angel... But that’s enough of the bad news! Let’s get down to the knitty gritty (Nacho Libre).

Elder Taufas

Monday (Pday) we played some sweet volleyball at the stake center after we emailed and stuff. I've been teaching a lot of the missionaries how to play and they have been progressing along great! I had a sick bounce into Elder Taufas face and he was standing right up against the net. He and I are good buddies still and he is even teaching me a song he made up on the piano about the scriptures being true. We had lunch at Panda Express and a lady came up and paid for us. We tried to fight her but she said, “you two are missionaries and one day my son will be a missionary too and I want him to be taken care of.” What a good mom! Oh, and I bought a stuffed green alligator that I named Barney. Now its not so lonely.

Tuesday, the highlight was we visited a widow in our ward who has been having a real tough time because of health issues and whatnot. She cried when we walked in which was surprising cuz normally she is a ROCK. We read scriptures with her for an hour or so and we saw her again on Sunday and she was doing a lot better. :) I love my new ward so much and everyone in it. Don’t worry, Gilbert third will always have a place in my heart. So, I had been having chest pains and finally this day I called the nurse. Turns out it was just indigestion or heart burn. Don’t worry…I’m feeling better. I should probably eat a little more healthy, huh?

Wednesday, we found a lot of people. Elder Bills and I are really good at doing that. We just stink at helping them progress. Other than that, nothing too special happened but I did get to plan Thursday without any help because of exchanges and stuff.

Thursday was awesome! Elder Top and I taught 4 lessons and met some really cool people and have a couple of return appointments. We ate lunch at Jack-in-the-Box and I saw a deaf lady! As Elder Top and I were leaving, I just signed Jesus loves you. She told me that Jesus loves me too with a big smile on her face. Then later in the day, Elder Bills came back and we visited Suzie. We had a real good lesson! We have been meeting with her a while and I call her Grandma Suzie. She believes the BOM is true and that Joseph Smith restored the church but she has some other crazy ideas we won’t get into right now. At the end of the lesson, I was grabbing my chest cuz it was hurting (this is actually when I called the nurse. I swear I’m okay though mom. Don’t worry) and this is where things got a little strange.:) We offered to have a closing prayer and she said she would give it for me. She usually has us hold hands in a circle, but instead she put one of her hands over my heart and Elder Bills held her elbow. Then after she gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek... Missouri is weird!

Friday. we have all our meetings. Our ward mission leader told us a cool story when he asked me how I feel about Missouri, which I love of course! This is just the short version.  These 2 guys moved from one state to another on two separate days. The first stopped at a gas station and talked to the cashier guy and asked about the town he was moving to. The cashier asked why and he said he hated the people where he used to live.  The cashier said, “Oh yeah, you will definitely hate the people there too”. Then the next day the other guy came in and talked to the cashier and asked about the town he was moving to. The cashier asked why he wanted to know and he said, “Well, I loved the people in my old town. They were really great. I’m just wondering how it will be over there.” Then the cashier said, “yeah, the people over there are awesome you will love them!” Speaking of love, this same day we met with a lady who had been excommunicated a long time ago and no longer has custody of her 4 kids. She really wants to change and get her life in order. Heavenly Father wants her back too and I felt that love He has for her or probably just a small part, but it was amazing.  I got to meet her kids. 1 boy has autism and is 12. He calls me sir all the time, gives me hugs, and takes me everywhere with him. Then she has 3 girls. They all have been abused by an ex-husband of hers. But anyways, the mom wants Elder Bills and I to teach her kids and have a good influence on them to show that not all grown men are complete trash. ( Sorry, I’m still flustered that a father could even do such things), but I love their family so much and I think her girls really like me too. :)

Saturday, Elder Bills and I live really close to the zone leaders so we hangout with them a lot getting lunch and whatnot. These guys are nuts though, they wake up at 5:30 and do super beast crazy workouts like nothing I’ve ever seen, and whatdya know Elder Bills and I have joined in! Right now I cannot move my arms. This is seriously the most sore I have ever been in my life. More good news…I have added another 5 pounds to the 15 I’ve already gained, so 20 pounds so far whoo! I’m running out of time, but mom I just got your email thank goodness! That’s a sweet picture! Hey, it turns out I can email missionary friends. Can you send me Robby and Karson’s email? WHOA ROBBYS story about getting hit by the car was nuts! And as for another package, the cd's and hats are really all I need, but feel free to throw in whatever…it’s always appreciated! I Love you family! Yes, mom pay my tithing on that check that came! Please! And, oh yeah, Sunday went good too! Dad, once again, I really do appreciate your letters. Mom, never doubt for one second that your kids don’t appreciate you!

Snow in Missouri

Elder Bills

IT WILL NOT FAIL!!!

DARN IT! How did those pictures not send?!!!!!! Sorry guys. I will try again next week... Man, after reading your letters I am so mad! I had absolutely nothing to do with my time before I left on my mission and now all these awesome cool things are going on?! Joey, Blake, Robby, Travis, Justin?! Man, I miss those guys! All I had while I was at home was Starcraft 2 and Collin’s friends... Give Joey my love. Tell Justin I owe him a serious apology because I did exactly what he did and made fun of him for it. Blake & Travis, well, make sure they don't go back to their old ways. :) BEFORE I FORGET, MOM DON’T SEND THAT PACKAGE!!! I need copies of those CD's that we put on my iPod, or just the missionary “must-have” one, or whatever it is. I know there was something else but I can’t remember... Dad, I loved your lawn mowing story! I can totally put myself in your shoes (the same exact shoes that have giant, grass-poop clumps stuck to them right now). MIIIKKKKKKEEEEEE!!! CAN AVA PLAY?!

 So let’s get down to business.

 Monday, we taught Sarah and Dale. They just had a baby and they were super interested but now they are really busy and Satan’s winning the battle... It was a little awkward cuz Dale pounded 3 beers and dropped an F bomb while we were there (we had the Relief Society President come as a team-up too) but I think Sara is starting to realize that the Gospel will really help in her family...

 Tuesday, we had a team-up arranged with a 16 year old named Austin. He is a super cool kid and reminded me a lot of Collin just with big muscles. It started out as a bummer night cuz 2 of our appointments fell through so we decided to stop and pray. We were sitting outside of someone’s house parked in the car and I gave the prayer. I don’t remember exactly what I said but right after I said amen, whadya know??? A car pulls up into the driveway! Long story short, it was a huge black guy named Randy. We talked with him and shared the Restoration with him and then he said we could come meet with his family later in the week. (He also showed us his street bikes. Holy cow! He races and gets up to 216 mph on his bikes! They are sick bikes!) Anyways though, whether that family accepts the Gospel or not I know we left an impression on Austin.

 Wednesday, we taught a guy named John who has a 170-pound English MASStiff or in other words ONE HUGE GOG [DOG]. The lesson went well.

 Thursday, we had a good weekly planning session and did some Less-Active work from a list the Bishop gave us. The Coolest part was meeting a 19 year old named Brian. Man, he has life set! He has a job as a nurse, earns 40 bucks an hour, his hospital pays for his school, he is engaged and is starting up a restaurant... I have no doubt that he is happy but that night I went to bed smiling knowing that I am in the right place, and that I’m totally going to become a nurse when I get back ;) ...Nurse Connor.

 Friday and Saturday we taught 11 lessons combined and we are on FIRE! It’s frustrating that we haven't baptized for so long, but we are doing a lot of good, and we are super close with a guy named Eric! I probably already told you about him a lot but we got him to church and to commit to the W of W!

Sunday was just super good and we’ll leave it at that. I’m runnin out of time.

The main lesson I learned though this week is Daniel 2:44-45. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that stone cut out of the mountain! Joseph Smith promised that this gospel would reach everywhere in the world and IT WILL NOT FAIL... My testimony of that increases as I see God’s hand in this work and as I see my friends go out and think of them sitting in some random person’s home teaching the same exact thing I'm teaching but in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Croatian and Japanese. Temples are being built. The one in Kansas City is about to have their open house in a month which is making the mission work go CRAZY!