Received Monday, June 24, 2013

QUESTIONS:

Did you get the ward bulletin? yes! It was funny to see Andre Either made the bulletin  I couldn't believe all the announcements either. Do we still have some singers in the southern California Mormon choir?

Do you do service on other days besides your p-day?

yes. we actually don't do any service on p-day. I few people have asked us about that, but I feel like I've never heard of missionaries doing service on p-day. We do service every Tuesday with an old couple who still get all their heating from burning wood, and have a giant property (they used to raise Beefalo, a mix between cow and buffalo) and they always have stuff for us to do. Also last week we went to 2 different soup kitchens to volunteer. We'll try to pick on of them to be regular helpers at.

What did you have for dinner on Sunday?

Good question. We were at the Andersen's home. they really felt like they knew someone else with connections at arcadia. Sister Andersen asked if I new a Jim Fox in the ward. I said yes! tell brother fox I'm in his cousin, Leslie Andersen's ward. Also they mentioned they were great friends with Erica Moore!  Ashley Andersen is home from BYU for the summer (1 year older than me) and she said she was great friends with Erica. They told me I should go out with her when I get back. I said that I didn't say hi to her in my American Heritage class, so too late for that. All this was happening as we ate some delicious taco's, and then chocolate cake. Logan Andersen (going to a be a junior at high school next year) said he would invite his friend Ben to mutual this week.

What did YOU think of the WW training?

It was good. I enjoyed watching it. The things that were sort of new-ish were how much they are going to be implementing technology for missionaries (no word for here in the MBM yet) and talking about having our chapels open all the time for tours, so there's still some questions to be answered. I think a lot of it is they just want to help people be missionary minded in everyday life. There is no formula, it's just a lifestyle. I thought the section of the faith needed for missionary work stuck out to me (and fun to see young Monson). Last general conference in Elder Andersen's talk he gave a promise that as people sincerely pray about who to share the gospel with names and faces will come to mind. A few times here in Canton ward I feel like I've seen that promise come true, but often people will say they prayed about it, and "I thought of my co-worker _____, but she would never join because _______ (is an atheist, or strong in another church, etc) and my friend_____ but I can't say anything to her because ______ (she would get offended, won't ever be able to keep ____ commandment or etc) when in actuality a lot of these people are being prepared to hear the gospel and we as imperfect people are just unable to see it.

I wish I could have a hard copy of all that was said to read it over, I'm sure there is more to be gleamed. One thing for me that stuck out also (besides just another confirmation that working with the members is central to everything) is we need to do a better job of having the ward leadership come with us on some of our visits, both to less actives and investigators.

Does each companionship have one phone to share?

yes. the AP's have a phone per each missionary though

When one missionary gets transferred, the phone stays there?

yup

How will it be decided who will get a car, who will get to ride a bike?

It's all the mission president. It's part of the very tough decisions they have to make

How are all your clothes holding up?

doing great. Maybe I'll get my suits and things dry cleaned since I hit the year mark

How are the necks of your white shirts....as in dirty, or clean?

doing fine. They don't ever come out sparkling shiny, but it's not too bad.

Have you seen any other missionaries that wear a retainer at night?

no, but many have admitted their supposed to. Some say they're supposed to, but it doesn't fit anymore, so they don't. I'll make sure I don't slip into that category.

Does your apartment have air conditioning?

yea, and it works well.

How are your shoes...wearing out?

doing just fine. My tennis shoes are doing fine also.

You guys did tons of stuff! it all sounded fun. That's really exciting about Grandma too. What did she do to help quit smoking? any of the old querky things like cinnamon sticks and gum?

Good to hear the many adventures we're basically enjoyed by all, because even if something is worse than school, it's ok as long as you don't get homework!

Too bad about Christophers broken nose though! if it's going to happen, basketball's a good way to do it at least. The first thing I thought when reading that was the facemask thing.

did Griffin do all the big rollercoasters at 6 flags? I think that's a fun park.

I also got the package about my year mark. It was very fun. Greatly enjoyed Griffin's talk, good to know dad is still throwing things across the table and good to know Griffin's food always still tasted good even when stuff fell on it from the cross-table passes. I wore my shirt the very next day after I opened it up. 

We helped someone move I thought it was the perfect chance. It was admired by many. 

Also, at the top of the letter inside (EDITOR:inside the box that I sent for his 1 year anniversary) you put the quote by Elder Andersen "this isn't missionary work, it's missionary fun" if you look at the talk (and the footnote) you will see when he said that he was quoting something Jackson Haight said to him over the phone about working on the digital mission here in the Boston Mission. Jackson is the son of president Haight, 2nd counselor to president Packard.

Rubik's cube: Now that I have one I feel the need to solve it once, then I can always say I did. Can you send instructions? Elder Stevens was really excited to see I got one and asked if he could scramble/solve it. I said only if he knew for sure he'd be able to re-fix it afterwards, because I kind of liked having it all lined up. The colors on it are cooler than regular ones. He scrambled it up when I got it and has been tinkering with it since, to no avail. He's gotten "very close" many times, but alas, we are not playing horse shoes.

We played football last week like I said. It was very fun. Elder Stevens didn't super want to go, but I'm glad he was willing to give it a try. He played in the 1st of our 2 games. I won both times and really enjoyed it. Had to quarterback us for a few drives in one game (I think in the 4 drives I was passing I had 1 pass td, 1 run td, and 1 pick and 1 turn over on downs).

Today elder Stevens said he wanted to play tennis. He hasn't played much before, but their were rackets and balls in our apartment and he wanted to give it a try. We played for about an hour this morning. I was glad that my (very low) expectations were exceeded. We never kept score and it was very different from the "You play to win the game!" style that I am used to, but it was still fun to do some physical activity for a while.

We had a pretty good and productive week. had good meetings with active and less active members and investigators and met 3 new people with fairly strong potential to become investigators. The first happened because there was an older single lady at church I didn't know, who is active so we asked if we could come by some time and talk because we're trying to meet everyone. She said yes, and in fact her brother was just moving into her house, so we wouldn't even have to find a chaperon to come with us; also he wanted to feed us. Nice. While at church we asked about her brother's potential receptiveness to the gospel, and what about the gospel we could talk about that would most likely catch his interest. We wanted to make it as easy and natural to have an uplifting/spiritual discussion during dinner, so when we got there for the dinner appointment I asked If I could leave our spiritual thought that the beginning of dinner instead of the end. The plan worked great. We had great discussion over pizza and nothing formal about teaching him was set up, but they both said we could pop by anytime for a glass of water and to talk or whatever. Perfect. Also they said they leave the door open and we could just come by and eat whatever's in the fridge if their not home (not a joke).

the 2nd is when we dropped by a house of some members on our ward list we'd never heard of. I 20's looking girl answered and said her dad was an inactive member and she investigated the church in the past and really considered joining the church, and was willing to give it a try again! she said she quit meeting with the missionaries then mostly because she was too busy.

the third is when we went to visit another inactive couple in the ward. Their neighbor was on the porch and we got talking to her (then the inactive couple came heard us and came out and talked too). We gave her a book of Mormon, and gave her a blessing too (at the suggestion of the inactive couple, she has cancer). She really enjoyed it all, but said she would need to talk to her husband. hopefully that goes well.

Oh, last exciting thing to report about. Yesterday on the way to dinner we saw a bald eagle! we saw it fly out of some trees right next to the road where we were driving. I parked and dashed out to try and take some pictures. We saw it one more time in our searchings, but only for a second and it flew away again. sorry no picture!

that's all from me!

Received Monday, June 17, 2013

Zak just passed his 1 year anniversary on June 20th.

Good job, Zak!!

**FROM THE MOM: SORRY THIS IS SO LATE IN GETTING UP. We took a quick trip up to San Fransciso on Monday; never got back to posting his letter. It's good though, enjoy!

QUESTIONS:

Did you receive the milk jug package? How was the cotton candy?

yes, it was wrapped quite excellently. almost as inconspicuous as when we wrapped a bike for mom for Christmas I possibly could have taken the cotton candy to our RS president here (archaeology major) to study it, but after I had attempted to gnaw on it for a few minutes it got sticky and gross. I think David could have put that in his sling and slayed Goliath just as easy. It still tasted like sugar though.

We did just get an email from president about the mission leadership broadcast. He'll mention a lot of times when he goes to mission president gatherings. It's funny because he doesn't really do it pridefully, but usually mentions them to subtly talk about how our mission is the best, or things that we do differently than others, like other missions going to extremes with the flood of sister missionaries to not cause problems between sisters and elders (of flirtation), like having different P-days and other things to ensure minimal contact. President said that when sister Packard heard that and said something to him like "that's a terrible idea!" Because it would pull down the whole Zion idea of the mission. Also Elder Ballard told him they copied a powerpoint presentation Pres. Packard used for us about becoming "part of the very fabric of the ward" and it was being used in at least 1 mission in Utah. Also he's mentioned a thing or two about his son's mission where they have some formula you put all your key indicator numbers too and in outputs 1 number to let you know how well your doing (but this is very much not a numbers mission. Just do what you're supposed to, receive revelation and let the Lord worry about the results).

also those were some exciting license plates you saw! Did you ask dad or anyone about the SJax one? "NO-SJAX" must be a reference to Steven Jackson going to New Orleans. They were probably a saints fan. or a rams fan who lost a bet. I'm hoping his replacement ins STL is able to fix his Word of Wisdom problems and shape up...

Dad I love you more than applesauce – song...remember that? Was that your poem from school?

I can't remember. It sort of almost rings a bell, especially when you say poem, but I cannot remember. Probably because I don't like applesauce that much. I would need to sing Dad I love you more that milkshakes, or something else

Do missionaries do anything there for their 1 year anniversary?

It depends. There is a restaurant chain over here called Uno that I've heard of people going too, none in our area though. Old tradition says you burn something at all the landmarks (tie at 6 months, shirt at a year) but I don't want to do that. My current plan is to ask a member for a candle and I'll put it in my breakfast thursday morning. I don't want to make too big deal out of it though. Probably the tradition most held to is that lots of missionaries go to a restaurant called 99 when they have 99 days left, which I think is kind of funny.

Happy birthday again to mom! you got good stuff! I've heard a bit about that Duck Dynasty show. Sounds like they could be friends with the alligator hunter people. Probably would have a tough time communicating though.

fun graduation for Quinn (and promotion for kylie). Just too bad he didn't win any good cash prizes. I remember I went to Tokyo Wako too, and the waitress asked if I just gradated from middle school.

Thank you Kylie for your letter! isn't gospel homework the best? we give that out basically everyday, but we don't call it homework either. Having help to have a great direction and purpose in life is (I think) one of the greatest blessings and the church and gospel. Christ wants us all the have the most abundant life we can. He knows our potential, see's not only who we are but who we can be, and that's sort of the point behind everything he asks us to do. Keep your hand on the rod, stay rooted on the firm foundation. It reminds me of Lion King. I remember watching general conference at BYU at president Monson quoted Lion King when Simba is confused and not sure what to do. He see's an image of his father up in the clouds who tells him "remember who you are!" Simba was not meant to just sit in a Jungle and eat bugs. It was nice and easy, but he needed to remember his true heritage; father was the king! he was meant for so much more.

that was a very good picture of quinn waving at graduation. good camera and good photographer.

about funny names in graduation: there was also a Happy in my graduating class, her last name was different though. Peter Pan also graduated with me. There was also a Golden, which was cool.

Interesting about Tebow now in NE. Hope it goes well. Walking into our apartment one day (after I had read about it from mom's letter) someone else was walking in wearing an nfl cap. I mentioned it to him and he said it was good news because he was a Giants fan. I might have been the guy we met when we tracked our apartment and he told us he was uninterested because he was a "Godless heathen" (true story).

This week we did service at Salvation army and a Christian Fellowship center, both soup kitchens. not sure which we'll go to next week. Both were alright, met some interesting people, both working there and coming for the food. The people seemed kind of surprised to have people our age volunteering, and not at a court order (likely for possession of alcohol, like most of the others). (I think the CFC is better, but I don't think Elder Stevens agrees). Both gave us food.

Taught some good lessons, especially about prayer and how to actually receive revelation/ask questions. (we just got training on this).

We were able to reconnect with a part-member family who we haven't been able to have (useful) contact with in a while. We popped by and talked to the non-member husband for a shorter visit and afterwards he texted and said he did some praying and pondering and he really wants to get back on track with lessons and everything. Also we weer able to help him find a babysitter so he and his wife could go on a date. Always fun to help out however we can (and the laurel we referred was happy too!)

One less active we're working with came to a RS activity because we went to her visiting teachers house and sked her (the VT) to invite her (the Less Active). Working with the members is always the key! She probably won't be at church still for a bit though, her husband (who's only home on weekends) may, or may not know she was actually baptized about 2 years ago.

Since the mission is getting so many new missionaries, but not a ton more of cars there are going to be a lot more missionaries on bikes, so they sent out an email to everyone asking if they had any to donate. Our ward has about 10. This week we started picking them up (we have a bike rack) and storing them at the church, so the office elders (one is from my old MTC district) can come down with the tailor and get them all.

this coming week I think we'll finally be able to do an FHE we've been trying to organize for a while with a reactivated mom/new convert daughter (Nellie, who was baptized while I was here) and their home teachers. We're all going over for dinner, then doing an FHE afterwards. I think it's perfect because they are doing well with their testimony and everything but they need a real friend at church, someone who'll notice when they're not here and give them a call to see how their doing. Everyone needs that.

I have not been able to play any more lacrosse, but we are playing football with our Zone today, which I'm really looking forward too.

That's everything for now! hopefully I'll remember to bring my camera to get you pictures sometime soon. I got some good ones of the cotton candy.

I love you!

and Happy late Fathers day dad! Usually whenever I hear about Tim Tebow I remember when we were watching him play in college and you taught a life lesson. Tebow kept running the same play again and again (his classic run-pass option thing) and it kept working. you said it's important that whatever you choose to do in life, you do whatever you can to be great at it (like Tebow, who was great at that one play). I try to remember that.

Received Monday, June 10, 2013

QUESTIONS:

I sent you a package, have you received it yet?

I have not. Hopefully it'll be there today

What did you end up doing for P-day last week? You were going to do dodgeball but that fell apart.

Our district mates came over here and we talked about going to a museum in town, but decided against it. Didn't want to pay and it probably wasn't going to be so fun anyway. For the digital mission we were all given articles written on an lds blog that they asked us to read and summarize and answer some questions about (what words would you use to google this... was it uplifting... etc) that we had to drive over to someone to take up to Boston. They also emailed out a sheet that had many different ways anyone can digitally help with the mission. Sort of interesting lots of blogging related stuff. I'll attach it to the bottom.

What are you doing today? probably nothing super exciting for P-day part of the day.

How was the baptism on Saturday? Did investigators come?

it was really good, but our investigators did not come. We were able to do a short lesson with one beforehand though. their kids had a bunch of friends over, so they couldn't leave for the baptism (they didn't seem to disappointed though). they had a few different (nonmember) friends there who really liked it and asked a lot of questions. we got to talk to 2 of them for a while. They lived outside the ward boundaries, but still it was good. They were big sports fans and talked some good sports with some Bristol ESPN people too which was kind of funny.

I am tired!

Sunday/yesterday was good too. So a few weeks ago we tracted our apartment complex building, and one person named Anthar (female) said they didn't really want to have a lesson or anything, but was interested in learned about religions and might come to church one day. Yesterday she was there! it was a good sacrament meeting, about seminary (seminary graduation just happened). 2 youth and the 2 teachers spoke. Also the senior primary girls sang and did a good job. Anthar liked it and also stayed for sunday school, but not relief society. She asked something to the effect of: what makes this church unique from other Christian churches? we gave a quick answer but she also agreed to let us come by today to give the long answer. very good! we asked what time was best a she (clearly was paying attention to the seminary kids) said how about 6 AM? she was kidding about that though.

I remember doing the things Griffin did on the boat and looking for gold. Good vacation!

Good to hear I;m still the best and espn/sports knowledge. even while on a mission and I can't look at it, I still "play to win the game".

Good luck to Griffin on his talk! in this ward every sunday someone from primary reads a scripture, and there's a youth speaker along with all the regular things.

I have not been to Alcatraz. I did get to go to San Francisco on a youth trip. Dad and Chase were there. We went on a boat trip under the bridge and saw the island, but I think trips onto it were sold out that day or something. I also remember driving down that super winding road.

Is Kylie excited for seminary next year? Hurray for cemetary!

that;s about all. This upcoming week should hopefully be pretty good. We're looking for a place to do some regular community service and we found a few different places we can try and see if it's a good place (one is Salvation Army food place, and I think another soup kitchen)

Happy almost birthday to MOM! Just think, if you live as long as Noah, 52 is practically still a wee little bambino pequno! I love you!

Received Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Did you transfer??? Do you have a new address?? New companion?

Nope, nope and definitely not. I would have been very surprised to anything different happened. Elder Stevens is still pretty green and learning the area, and I don't think he'd be shipped off after just 6 weeks. I never really expect someone to get transferred though.

Now, have you heard about this Worldwide Training on Sunday June 23^rd? It is titled “The Work of Salvation”.'

still have not, still hoping to see it though. We go to ward council every 3rd sunday, which is the 16th, so maybe I'll hear about it then, if not before.

found this on lds.org "Ward and stake council members, their spouses, full-time missionaries, and other interested Church members are invited to participate in a special session of the Seminar for New Mission Presidents entitled “The Work of Salvation,” which will be broadcast from the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. mountain daylight time. The program will be subsequently rebroadcast to many areas of the world. President Thomas S. Monson, President Boyd K. Packer, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will share messages about missionary work and conversion.

Where necessary, local leaders should adjust scheduled worship services so that members are able to participate in the live broadcast of this historic event.

sounds exciting. I don't see it listed on the broadcast schedule though. You think you'll watch? I expect mostly to hear more of the same. There's lots of missionaries coming out; you got to use them. Give specific assignments. tell them who needs to be tracked down. Have them work with the youth, etc.

What happened to the Packard daughter? (in hospital)

Angela has been having health problems for as long as I've known of her. She was diagnosed just a few weeks before they came out here, I don't know what she was like before that. She looks much younger than she is. I don't remember what it's called that she has, it's very rare. It gives her stroke like systems. It's usually kind of hard for her to talk. I guess that day they went to the hospital she started having trouble breathing. There is no cure, but the latest treatment they started trying helped a lot. It has to do something with taking some blood out "cleaning" it and putting it back it. They don't know if there going to end up doing that monthly, or bi-weekly, or what for a long time or what. She is super nice. Good at missionary work (The Packard kids often give talks at our big missionary meetings. Such mission president kids. I think the latest story from Angela was how she invited a teacher to church). Often when I see her she'll talk about how she remembers coming to the airport to pick me up at past midnight.

Has it been so hot that you have sweat tremendously while out?

one or two days I did some sweating. The tie and collar don't help, but it's going to be getting a lot hotter in the coming weeks and months. This weekend is supposed to be nice though.

Can you explain why your p-day has to change during the week of transfers?

Because transfers are on Thursday, and that way you can pack on p-day if you're getting moved.

good stories! Quinn should have told Arianna that he'd buy get a tux for prom if she read to book. did it appear in her backpack by the work of Taylor Jensen or something?

I've told the story of the feral parrots in Arcadia a few times, people find it interesting.

Sounds like the youth now are doing better at making cakes than back in my day. I was proud of the Y cake I made one time, even though it didn't taste good.

We were going to try and organize playing dodgeball with the zone today, but it crumbled last minute. We might go to a museum or something with our district mates though (our district is only 4 people).

I have a few little stories for the week (you asking about sweating reminded me of this). on Monday it was a hot day. We had a lesson set up with an investigator family, we got a member of the RS presidency to come with us and everything. For the past 3 weeks or so, every time we've called to confirm the appointment they've asked us to push it back a week, I do think they do want to meet though. This time we decided not to call and confirm and maybe that would have better luck. It didn't. They weren't home. Walking back to the car we saw some people moving into an apartment, we asked if they needed help. They said yes!! Even though I got hot and sweaty it was pretty good. We got to talk some gospel while doing good service. one person seemed really seemed interested; was talking about how they had an lds friend growing up and was asking us a lot of questions. Asked about what we believe instead of just what are we not allowed to do (people always find that fascinating) but in the end didn't want to learn more. I'm slightly afraid she felt our explanation of being a restored church translated too much that her church was wrong or fake. It was a good conversation though and we'll probably never get to see the end of the story. Also she was from another town (outside the area) and was just helping her (less interested) friend move in.

funny weird story: this was while helping someone else move; a less active member. We got picked up by someone in the ward who partially organized it. Very hard worker, comes with us on splits a lot. could be defined as "bold to overbearing" at times though. We showed up at the person's apartment, but no one was there and didn't answer the phone. we were about 85% sure it was her place. he twists the door knob; it's unlocked. he opens up and marches on in. We found this odd, but I followed him in (no one else in our little party did). There were a few things in boxes and he said we should grab them and start loading up his car. Elder stevens said "what if this isn't her house?" right about them a man in his underwear (trying to hastily put on jeans) yelling (this is the clearplay version) "what are you doing!!" brother Scharrer (bold guy) says something like "good morning!" I did not find that a sufficient response for the situation and quickly said we were hear to help Candy move, this is her place right? Mr. Underwear stopped swearing and told us this was her place, but where she needs help is her new house not here, and the stuff we were going to grab was his, not hers. we quickly said thanks and scampered out.

Lesson learned: Don't walk into strangers houses!

the last fun thing was a different investigator had to reschedule a lesson from yesterday to today because their daughter had a lacrosse game and asked if we would come watch the game. We said we could swing by for a few minutes and we did. It was great to talk to them while there and very fun for me to see the lacrosse. I learned how to then passed back and forth with another of the kids for a few minutes too. I think I would have loved growing up playing.

That’s mostly everything. This Saturday an 8 year old (from a very active family) is getting baptized a lot of non members will be there (and us). We may have a few investigators there as well which would be very awesome.

I love you very much! Thanks for thinking of me! I'll be emailing again this Monday!