Received Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Got to be fast today!

Do you have a dinner appointment every night? Or how often? I know I have asked before, sorry, can’t remember...

yea, probably on average 6 days a week. Very good. Also we get lunch every tuesday

Have you received your Ensign YET?

Yes! and read a few articles

Did you pass your car inspection last week?? How were your miles??

pass: yes miles: iffy. going to have to start asking for rides all the time

Did you hear about the terrible tornado in Oklahoma?

yes. bad things happening all the time, kinda crazy!

Did you hear about some big, general leadership meeting in June?

I did not! I hope I get to watch!

You going to the temple this week??

I did yesterday, it was good. Got a ride from brother Coleman. We owe that family!

Is half your mission going to the temple? How does that work?

yea basically every special Monday opening half the mission goes.

How are your groceries holding out?

Good. We budgeted well

What is 16 x 16?

256. Pure memory. 17's is 289? 18's 324 19's 371? then 400 then 441? i don't remember. 25 is 625

Did you hear from Pres. Christensen at Zone Conference?

no, everyone was busy. we just had the president Packard show the whole time (except for the AP's did a bit too). he did a good job. you could tell he was kinda pooped by the end, he was up all night with a daughter in the hospital the night before too (that's where sister packard was)

congrats on Quinn doing the bike ride. Sad to hear he only enjoyed it as much as me.

interesting talks on sunday. Also I think it's interesting about Moses, we can see in Moses chp 1 (PofGP) that he was promised that because of his faith he could be more powerful than the waters. Moses did not assume that promise was figurative or not applicable to him; he actually believed the promises of god! we get promised so much (in scriptures, gen conf, etc), including a lot about missionary work, but how often do we really trust those promised like Moses did?

I can't believe Quinn got a check plus! did Zurla tell the story behind that? Zurla always gives check's or, if he thinks it's not a good job, a check minus. I always asked what I'd have to do to earn a check plus (if there's a minus there needs to be a plus! opposition in all things Zurla!) but I don't think he ever gave me one. Quinn takes calc from him right? does he find it pretty easy?

We email in the library, thus the day lateness. We also are in a big rush today.

we did lots of missionary stuff last week. teach people. help people stop smoking. there is a lady in our ward that likes to go to a bible study with another church. she wants to get the pastor baptized so the entire congregation will join too. she suggested we do service for him. we helped wash windows at their church, and he made us lunch. he was very nice, but doesn't want to get baptized. I didn't ask directly, but he was able to explain the thought behind the "right for me church" pretty well.

sorry I don't have more time, thanks for all the stories! love you all! also, transfers are coming up, so next pday is next wednesday!

Untill next week!

Received Monday, May 20, 2013

QUESTIONS:

I sent you your Ensign; by chance have you got it yet?

not yet. looking forward too it

Did you get your apartment clean last week?

cleanER anyway. I think it's pretty good. We have to get our car nice and shiny today because we're going to zone conference this Thursday and they are doing car inspections

Did you get rain this last week?

we did. It was a weird new England misty rain. It seems like half way it's raining/it's just extremely humid mist everywhere. no big raindrops.

Any new news on your investigators? Any come to church today?

no, unfortunately no big news. taught only a couple investigator lessons last week. One of them did show us a baby squirrel they tried to rescue. They found it struggling in their driveway, so they gave it some food, and put it in a box with a shirt (as google instructed). Supposedly if you do that there's a good chance mommy squirrel will come back to retrieve it. Not sure what they'll do otherwise. I pet it and took a picture. They live across the street from here so maybe we'll go see afterwards. We had Stake Conference yesterday, no investigators were there.

When we were teaching Aiden Lang (son of a recent convert. Mom is less active; just gave permission for baptism) they had a friend over to Leo convinced to sit in the room for the lesson, which was cool. He didn't ask to learn more or anything, but it's somebody who we'll continue to see around so we may have chances to build on it ourselves even. Also we have 2 lessons set up with people we tracted into and got return appointments for this week, so those could both be very good. they both seemed to have real potential

What songs did YOU sing in church, remember?

Don't remember. They were all from the hymn book. During the adult session of stake conference someone sang a solo of I Stand All Amazed

Doing any great activity today?

no. There's a few extra things we need to do because we're going to the temple next week, so there won't be much time. we tried to do 2 weeks of shopping, we'll found out next week if we forgot anything. We're going to go to a members house and use their hose to wash our car so we don't have to pay any dinero.

Happy birthday to kylie! I like the picture of all your candles in the apple pie. Not what I would have chosen for dinner or dessert, but I guess we can't all be right. Is the AHS soccer this with the same coaches as the actual team? I think that sounds very fun. What math is kylie in? did she have to learn the squares of numbers 1-25 (2x2=4, 3x3=9... etc)? I don't remember what I got in 8th grade math. probably a 97.

Was quinn sad he missed out on boxing? or did he pity da' fools who would do that? at least he would know what to do if someone's eye was swollen shut during their fight. Also if someone's nose gets broken just watch a couple youtube videos; they'll teach how how to put it back.

good job on inviting someone to church. I bet that was fun, especially since she basically said yes. Hopfully it'll work out another time (to here him bear his testimony? to hear all the youth bear their testimonys? I bet many of the youth could find someone to invite to that. especially people like BeeBee)

plus, you got to remember, you can't do that whole flirt to convert thing once you're a missionary, so use it now while you can! (just kidding).

Like I said we had stake conference this weekend. We went to the adult saturday night session and the regular sunday. We were not invited to the priesthood leadership session. On sunday we watched from our own chapel, not the stake center because it was a telecast! I have never heard of this before, but other people felt it was not very out of the ordinary. Basically all of New England was getting the same Stake Conference broadcast from Salt Lake. Elder Packer, and Perry spoke as well as the General RS president and someone from the quorum of the 70 presidency. I didn't realize stuff like that happened for stake conferences. Not-surprisingly, the speakers were good.

I think I mentioned in my last email there is a lady here who also attends a bible study for another church and wants to convert the pastor there/the entire congregation. She said he would let us do some service for him, and we thought it was a good idea too, so we set it up last week and will be washing windows with him this tuesday. He is very nice and not at all a bible basher type. Not sure if he's suddenly going to drop his career and join another church just because we're doing him service, but I'm looking forward too it.

We had some other very good visits with active members this week as well. People always feel like they can't really do any missionary work for whatever reason, but after talking for a little there's always tons of opportunities. For the family we met with yesterday we ended up with 2 people who their daughter can invite to activity days, 1 person who the mom can invite to enrichment night and 1 less active family they can invite over for dinner to help them feel more apart of the ward. Also they all accepted the challenge to use Mormon words in their every day conversations, ask "why do you ask?" after answering questions and see what discussions come up as a result. I think it helps for us missionaries to tell people from the start we're hoping to come back in either a week or 2 and have a continuing relationship to talk and counsel together about their efforts. Almost like setting a return appointment before you even start/before there's a definite reason, but works well. A big part of it is people see we care about them and their efforts/goals, we're not just begging for a * referral* so their friend can become an *investigator* and eventually we can report we accomplished another * baptism*.

We might go play basketball with the ward this Saturday (they do every Saturday morning) because Nathan Coleman is inviting a friend who he says asks him a lot about missionary stuff (when is he going/what is it etc) and he thinks he would really enjoy meeting the missionaries, and that would be the best way to make it happen.

That's everything for now. we got a cool letter this week from president, I'll include part of it. I've talked about my mission presidency a few times. President Packard might be 1 of the 3 Nephites and will probably give a talk on Zion over general conference one day, president Christensen is amazing and wrote that book and is a big name, the quote i'll copy is by president Christensen He's basically a "regular guy" who's just very consecrated to the lord and very good at missionary work.

On a personal note, I wanted to share I have extended 3-5 invitations per day each day of this week. Consistent with the covenant I've made to share the gospel every day; one Wednesday of this week - three invitations before zone conference began in Oxford, MA. I pulled over my car - spoke to a man walking- told him I loved him (strange, hugh? those where the words that came out of my mouth) and wanted to share the most important message of the world that has forever changed my life. He looked and me in amazement, intimated, "how did you know?" Apparently he was pondering life's most important questions the morning as the Spirit prompted me to pull my car over and speak to him. He accepted my invitation to order a copy of The Book of Mormon through the full-time missionaries. He lives close to my home. It was a choice experience. Separately, just this morning, a man in Providence, RI whom I have known through work called me up and asked me to act as a referral for his employment advancement. I, of course, said, "yes!" Before we got off the phone I asked him about his family, life, and goals. I shared my testimony of how the Church has changed my life for good - helping me focus on the happiness and joy of others. I invited him to meet with the full-time missionaries. He accepted. In fact he said, "actually, I'd really like that - I need more meaning in my life today." He sent me his address and I texted the referral to the sister missionaries in the ward where my records reside just minutes ago. It happens to be in the boundaries of the Scituate Ward in the Providence Stake. Scituate ward is like your ward in the Nashua Stake. The bishop has a great vision of how to implement President Hutchin's (stake president) direction on how best to share the gospel. My next step with __________ (from Scituate, RI)? Invite him to stake conference this weekend!

That was in an email he sent to bishop they saw recently. That's just the way he is They all are very good at preaching about missionary work and they absolutely live it too!

I'm looking forward to hearing from them at zone conference this week; even though I heard they're going to crack down on people going over on miles.

I love you all! I'll be back again (in email form) next week!

Received Monday, May 13, 2013

QUESTIONS:

Yes I would love a copy of the conference Ensign. There is still a talk or 2 I didn't see/didn't hear.

Did you talk about cicadas? Will they come?

talk: yes

come: no :( they might be in other parts of CT but are not expected to be here.

Where is their (the Coleman’s) son on a mission?

he is in Washington State. We switched coasts.

Did you remember to write your Mission pres about the DL letter?

I will after emailing here. I hope I get some sort of funny response back. He sent us another really good email though, this time about Moses chp 7. (I don't remember if I mentioned last time he sent something about Moses 1)

What did you eat for dinner at the Coleman’s?

Ravioli. it was very good. Brother Coleman did a very good job. Also there was sourdough bread which was fun. They were just wrapping up their own skype conversation when I went up and Elder Stevens was already done. It was kind of interesting to see both sides of the end of the skyping, the missionary side (me) and the mother/home side. Sister Coleman seemed a little sad after the call, but not too gloomy.

It was very fun to see everyone, weird to think we're a bit scattered around now. I'm still enjoying listening to the primary songs in the car, thinking about my own mother who taught me most of them. Not as fun without the pictures.

I'll be on the lookout for Elder Calvert and welcome him to the MBM.

I don't think we'll end up going to that frisbee golf place today, but probably we'll try it next week.

It's good to hear Nana and Bumpa loved their time in the temple. I think we might get to go later this month for one of the special Monday openings. Are they in the big Salt Lake temple?

I'm in the end of Alma in my Book of mormon reading, just finished reading some of the letters Moroni and others write to each other. Trying to follow their example all the time.

Well, I think that's everything!

And Thus I end mine epistle.

Also, Congrats to Jessica on the wedding!

Received Monday, May 6, 2013

Wow! that is news! congratulations to little Elizabeth Cole and all related!

Steven and Heather had their baby 3 1/2 weeks early! She is doing great - that is who Elizabeth Claire Cole is. 6 lbs, 4 oz, 18" long. Born May 4, 2013

QUESTIONS:

What time for the mother’s day call??

we plan on going to someone's house to skype at around 4:30-5:00 our time at the Coleman's house. They also have a missionary out in the world somewhere.

Did you get the pictures I sent of CJ’s mud run?

I did! i will speak of it after this

Talk about your P-day last week at the family’s amazing back yard!!

that seems like forever ago! I tried to take pictures. there were a few different/fun things. they had a big tire swing (the tire laying horizontally) you could stand/sit on and get pushed/spun about wildly. They did have a few obstacle like things we could race on too. a little like some of the balance related challenges they would do on Survivor sometimes. It's hard to describe. between two trees there were metal cords attached tightly between, on down low and another up high. dangling from the high cord were ropes, ad you were supposed to use the dangling ropes to balance/walk across the lower cord. that one was easy. another also had the two metal cords and 2 ropes were attached making a stretched V. It was harder, especially to do fast.

also they did have a volleyball net up, but not really a good ball, so we didn't play much. after that we drove to the stake center to play basketball, but the zone leaders lost theres! there was no ball :( we're playing today to make up for last weeks basketball failure.

Any interesting dinner appointments last week?

umm i'm sure. we always do. my enthusiasm for story telling is low right now because it'll be so much easier to tell any story "in person" over video next week. Yesterday we had a great experience. BTW are you guys still trying to fast a full 24 hours? we didn't yesterday because our sunday food appointment asked us to come over for lunch. It was with the Neeley family, they're great, love having missionaries over. Jake Neeley (18) was just ordained an Elder (no longer a priest) and is going on his mission to Brazil in August. the whole family is active. brother Neeley did not serve a mission. Jake is their oldest son and they want to do everything they can to help him be prepared. during dinner we talked a bit just about "stuff" and a bit about an investigator who came to a ward party a while ago that brother neeley has done a great job befriending and he really wants help her progress especially since many of their kids line up in age and he was astounded at how "normal" she is; i guess he's kind of just come to expect the people missionaries find and teach to be in the less-than-normal category. He's going to come with us to go teach their family this week.

It was at the end, after we left a spiritual thought they really started asking what can Jake do now to help get ready. I talked about taking Moroni's promise seriously, you can't bear testimony about it unless you really know that you can feel the spirit tell you the book of mormon is true by reading in it and praying (something I'm glad I put effort into pre-mission). Also I talked about having prayer become real. not just saying prayers, but to have it be meaningful; seeking after revelation (something I wish I had put more effort into).

Then they asked what can families in the ward do to help the missionaries, What real tangible things, don't say "pray for missionary opportunities".

we gave a short answer and asked if we could come back later in the week to give a more full one. I can report on this future exchange on sunday when we talk.

we also got 3 new investigators this week! woohoo! 2 are family that we found at the same time and the other is seprate. each have a great story. I'll tell it sunday.

I think I've been extra tired this week, but it's been really good.

I can't believe there was a baby born last week! I didn't realize at all it was getting close, I would have guessed there was months left! what does Jayna think of the sudden appearance to a new sister?

Good pictures! both in the email and in the snail mail. Christophers mud run looked crazy and fun. I would not have liked being in cold water though. being shocked would be weird too.

I hope kylie's knee gets better

the weather here has continued to be great. went out in a short sleeve shirt one day.

ok, that's all for now. see you on Mother's day!

Received Monday, April 29, 2013

Here is Zak right after reading his Mission Call Letter.

He was happy then; he is happy now. Nice.

I might have to be pretty quick today, sorry!

Talk about your new companion!

Elder Stevens! he's great. only been out 6 weeks, so I'm finishing his training. There's only been a few little things where there's that odd adjustment when I don't do things exactly the same as his first companion. He's from Ogden UT. 20 years old. 7 kids in his family, but he's #6, so he didn't have to endure being the middle child or being left behind the Big Red Boat, like me. Doesn't love sports, but doesn't hate them. Took Ballroom in high school  so maybe he'll become famous then win Dancing With The Stars.

How are the driving duties now...shared, or are you still the main guy?

I'm still driving. We asked once (with Elder Holt) about shared driving, because I don't care and he wanted too, and they said they call Designated Drivers for a reason so the driver should always drive. Also I think it's funny they call them designated drivers, as if the other companion has been drinking or something

How is your garmin working? Does it have all the streets? (Like does it need an update?)

working exactly great. Excellent Christmas/birthday gift.

Do any missionaries in your mission ride bikes?

yes, especially since there are so many new missionaries coming in but not a ton of cars. It usaully happens when an Area is split, and one companionship will have a larger area with a car and the others will have bikes. Also they can coordinate together about it.

How much do you pay for a hair cut?

I had Elder Holt cut it twice, including right before he left. He did not charge.

Are you doing a fun activity (sport) today?

Exciting answer this time. So apparently in the elders ion our district's are there is a family that has a very big and exciting back yard. advertised were: a big "real" obstacle course, basketball court, volleyball court, mechanical bull riding thing, and 1 or 2 other things as well. The whole Zone is going down there today. [EDIT: It took several readings and Quinn to figure out what Zak's first sentence is! The word, "ion" is really supposed to be "in"; that helps. He also didn't need an apostrophe on the word district. He obviously had lots of thoughts and words to get out and he just added too many letters!!]

How are the necks of your white shirts?? Dark, grey, yucky? Steven said that he always just sprayed them with spray N wash pre-wash spray, then washed them and they always turned out great. Don’t let them get too bad, or it is harder to make them be clean.

not too bad, but not perfect. I had been using some wash n spray type stuff most of the time, and it's done a pretty good job.

How is your sock stash? Do you have enough?

Good. Elder Holt had a ton of stuff and didn't want to take it all, including a bunch of socks.

What did you eat for breakfast today?

bowl of: yogurt, frosted mini wheats, frozen berries, oats. gourmet missionary breakfast.

What do you do for service? Like are you supposed to have so many service hours a week? Just wondering.

There's an old couple who have a big property we do service for each week. The ward likes us to go help them out. We're going to start doing some community service in the next couple of weeks though. There is no specific hours requirement or ceiling. I think 2-8 hours was recommended by President Packard, depending on how busy you are. Also there is a lady at church I feel kind of bad for because she always comes to church but none of her kids or husband are members and may be slightly antagonistic. I think they give her a hard time but we found out she has a couple service things we can do and I'll enjoy being able to go over there and help.

Sorry we got to run soon! it was a weird week because of transfers and everything. We went to a lot of inactive members homes who we felt had higher reactivation potential. Not a ton of luck there, but just talking along the way we found 3 people who wanted to learn more! 1 was from MA, but we got his number, so we'll call and set him up with elders over there. The other 2 we have appointments worth this week, so hopefully they hold up on it!

also, Bishop asked us to come to BYC and help out with that which was great. I love the way he runs it. Each group there have specific assignments/goals they want to fulfill in the month. Most have to do with less/inacticve members. Some are about service and inviting friends and things as well. Bishop had us come so we kind chirp in our ideas/viewpoint and, most importantly, follow up with all of them throughout the month and help them actually accomplish the tasks (which has been somewhat of a struggle in previous months). I think it is a near perfect example of the vision for how missionaries can be used. It is lightening the Bishops burden, helping with something he thinks about. Helping build Zion in the ward in a real way.

The phrase president Packard likes to use is that the missionaries should become part of the "very fabric of the ward". There isn't this separation between missionaries and members doing different things, or even a you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours; but all of us working together to achieve the same goals that will bless us and those around us. When Elder Ballard and Christensen came to the mission they really liked the phrase and started using it too. Elder Christensen (In the presidency of the 70. different than Clayton) said he expects it to be used all over pretty soon.

so, I really enjoyed the BYC experience, a bit different than what I've done. Plus, you can tell a lot of the kids there really want their quorum's to grow, so we'll talk about how they can do that, we talked a little big about a family we're teaching that includes a 14 yr old son and the teachers quorum president said he really wants to come next time we teach. it was good.

ok, time to go. I love you all!