November 28, 2012

Dear Family,

Sorry I didnt email monday! we went to the temple today so our pday was switched! The temple was awesome! It's so great to go as a missionary!

Well Michael didnt think he was ready to be baptized so we will continue to work with him.  We taught a less active part memebr family this week! it went really well... the husband and 2 of the kids are not baptized so that will be awesome to teach them! We were finally able to get into some less active homes in both wards this week! we have the usual less active people that let us in and have a lesson but this week we were able to get in to people that have been anti and kinda sketchy. so ya things are going great! Elder Smith and I are getting along well, I have to sensor him sometimes but other than that its pretty good. Elder Smith has taught me to get out and work hard.  he is always willing to work and to do whatever we need to.

THanksgiving was great! we went to our stake presidents house, President Waite.  THen we went to teh Whites, recent converts. So it was pretty fun! oh and we had Turkey Bowl that morning! the whole mission gets together and we play football! two pools and 5 games... best of the two pools plays each other and guess who won.... Tule Springs Zone!!! (which is my zone lol) so ya there's some pictures attached of me holding the Turkey bowl trophy! haha I love it. pride is the only thing you have on a mission haha jk. well not much else is going on this week but I will keep you updated! I love the work and love the lord.

Love,

Elder John

P.s. read a talk given by Elder Holland, 'the Inconvenient Messiah' it does a fantastic job of explaining how things need to be done the Lords way!

and we also put up christmas lights!!! awesome! turns out I dont have to miss out after all!

November 19, 2012

Dear Family,
This week was awesome!!! Wednesday Elder Larry Echo Hawk came to our
mission to do a mission tour. (he recently spoke in general conference) and
our Zone was the hosting zone! so it was pretty cool! We made sure our
apartment was extra clean, just in case he wanted to look around lol. But
we received a full day training by him and it was awesome! he told of his
conversion story and it was very spiritual!
WE have a part member/ less active family in one of our wards that really
needs help. the home teachers randomly stopped by and saw that they were
in dire straits. their power is about to be shut off and they don't have
much food. so we went over and then got to the compassionate service
director and got some food over to them. the husband is a really nice guy
and we are going to start the lessons with them this week! its great to see
how the gospel can change people!
Also, Michael set a date for baptism!!! we were talking with him and he put
down his head for about thirty second and then he said, "I have no reason
not to be baptized" so we set him with the 30th of November! he is starting
to try to back out and stuff but we Will not let him! lol awesome stuff
this week!
A less active in one of our wards cant come to church because of her health
but this week one of her nurses came over and was asking a bunch of
questions about the church. So she answered them and she said that it felt
like it just came to her! the right answers just came and she was able to
feel the spirit. So she gave her some stuff to read about the church and
this nurse was very interested. that is how missionary work should go. all
that tracting does is show the members that we are outside and not in our
apartment lol. we might as well be because it just doesn't do anything.
Members are our primary source for investigators and referrals that come
from members are the ones that are going to stay strong after they are
baptized.
Well enough of my rant on how the wards need to work.. I love you all and I
cant believe that it is almost Christmas!!!
Love,
Elder John

November 12, 2012

Dear Family,

This week was great! we taught some good lessons to  our recent converts and everything is going well with all of them! Its so cool to see Zion Jones passing the sacrament and setting up chairs and stuff! 

anyway... I was kinda worrid because all of our investigators are baptized now so we have no new investigators to teach. but the Lord provides a way. He know that Elder Smith and I are here to work so He will give us work.  We got a new investigator this week. David, he was a referral a few months ago and we were finally able to meet with him.  Then we got another media refferal and she said she would be open to hearing our message, but she was sick this week so hopefully she is feeling better so we can meet with her.  Then we got a text friday night from one of our elder quorum presidents and said to stop by a certain house. so we went there and teh wife is a member but is very less active. and they are struggleing with everything: their power may get shut off anytime and food is scarce... (dont judge my spelling, my excuse  is that im on a mission haha) but her husband wants to meet with us and maybe to the discussions so that will be awesome!!! but on the down side, all of that work is in Cedar Springs  Ward. Elkridge has nothing going on lol. Michael Maclin, our black investigator was so close to setting a date for baptism this week!  he is definitely going to get baptized but we hope that it is soon! we met with Michael the day after the election and he was riding down the street on his scooter yelling Obama! to every car that passed by. lol its so funny! lol

Well thats about it for this week! Good stuff is coming up and I cant wait! I cant believe that in December I'll have been out 6 months! and it is all in the same area! anyway I love you all!

Love ,

Elder John

November 5, 2012

Dear Family,

This week was very hard!!! I was sick Tuesday thru Thursday.  Throwing up at members houses and stuff so ya haha.  But on a brighter note, Tiffany Shoemaker was baptized this week and I confirmed her on Sunday! She is awesome!!! So we have all of our investigators baptized but no new investigators so its kinda rough now, but im trying not to feel bad for myself since we've have like 5 baptisms! But our investigator Michael is still progressing, kinda... haha but our areas are doing well and the auxillaries are finally doing what they should and we are progressing that way.

sorry to be so boring but not a lot has happened this week, cause our entire appartment has been sick. Oh but wednesday we had a  talent show! it was pretty fun! then we had to be in by 6, bummer haha.

Our new elder in our appartment is awesome! he has been out 19 months and is hilarious!!! I attached a picture of him to this email and I'd like anyone who knows tommy boy to remember "tommy likie, tommy want wingie"

but anyway, I love this mission and love these people!!! our Recent converts are so cool! Zion Jones has been passing the sacrament for like a month and the Whites are still strong! And I am so excited for Rachael Farley because she has so much more to learn!!!

I love you,

Elder John

 

p.s. the pictures are, Elder Craft, And Tiffany Shoemaker