Monday 12/24/2012 – Sunday 12/30/2012

Monday was a good day. It was P-day and we did the usual, but it was also Christmas Eve. We drove around for a long time looking for a barber, but apparently they all closed early. After our P-day crap was done, we went to the Shannon's for dinner. It was awesome!! We had enchiladas that were freaking good and I was running around with their daughters having a great time. They also gave us biscuits and gravy to eat on Christmas morning.

Tuesday was Christmas!!! We woke up and opened our gifts and I was blessed we could say haha! Thanks to everyone that sent me stuff! I loved my D12 Shirt from my Momma and the package from my Dad was awesome too. I also got a great Christmas tie and fruit snacks from the Kerr's and some stuff from a few ward members back home. Thanks everyone! We went to the Martin's for breakfast and so that we could talk to our families which was so great! I had a great call home and I think everyone else did as well! I was so happy to get to talk to my Mother, Zachary and Todd (Todd is family in my book). Then we also got food from the Lolly's that day and then we went to the Beyer's for Christmas dinner and had quail and back strap which is a type of venison. Then we headed home and I called my Dad and talked to him for a while which was awesome. It was great to be able to bear my testimony to my family and just chat with them about all the experiences that I am having out here. I love all of you back home thanks for your support!

Wednesday we had weekly planning because there was a tornado watch. Then we just went out and tried to contact anyone that we could find. We were trying to go see some referrals, but none of them were home. Then we had dinner at the Beyer's again because they are awesome and we spent way too long there. It is so hard to end conversations with them, so we felt really bad. Not the best day, but we will just push through. I did get my Mom's package and Todd's package today though. They were sweet! Todd sent me a Gotham Rogues shirt and my Mom sent a ton of awesome stuff and delicious fudge.

Thursday was Zone training that was supposed to be Wednesday, but was moved because of the tornado watch. Our baptism goal for next year will be 450! Gotta go out and work hard! Then we went and contacted and met some cool people. We met two guys both named Tom that were way nice and seem like they could accept the gospel some day. We also went to a less active family's home, the Tucker's, and read some of the Book of Mormon with them. They are planning on coming to church too! She asked for a blessing, but we had to go to dinner so we told her we would come back so we didn't have to rush the blessing. So we headed to the Willis' and ate and then headed back and gave her that blessing. At dinner we also found out the Willis' neighbor seems like a promising person to become an investigator.

Friday we went and talked to DJ. He is a young man that wants to go on a mission, but he is less active so we went there and talked to him about heading back and he seems like he wants to go! He will be awesome! Then we contacted all day and found a lady named Amanda and she seems like she is pretty interested! We had lunch with the Geiger's and had some amazing white chili that had chicken in it. For our dinner appointment we went to the Casey's and had chicken and fruit and it was good as well! Then we went home so Elder Lovell could pack up for the trade-off! Elder Wright from Tally 1 is coming to our area for the day!

Saturday was the day of the trade-off with Elder Wright. It was way fun and we worked really hard to try to find people, but we just didn't have any luck. We did see the Stansel's and had a good visit with them. They are reading the Book of Mormon regularly so that is great! We also saw Dwight Webb who is a recent convert, but he had gone off the path and is going to create his own church. Met Robert Guris as well who is also a less active and he was really nice and we had a good little talk with him. Had an awesome dinner with the Clawson's and then headed to the Radabaugh's to fill out the baptismal record for Betty's baptism to finally make that official.

Sunday was a good day. We got to teach a little five minute lesson to the Primary about the first vision. The Primary is the bomb! Just a normal good Sunday. We did have the combined fifth Sunday class and Bishop Matkin talked about a few different talks which was good. We met two people while tracting that were open to us coming back, so we set up appointments for next week and we will see how those go. We also talked to a really nice lady named Sister Baird. Unfortunately, her husband is against the church so she can't make it to services, but she is so faithful and her home teacher brings her the sacrament once a month. She reads and prays and studies the scriptures as well! She is so awesome!!

Have a great week everyone!!

Monday 12/17/2012 – Sunday 12/23/2012

Monday we went to Dan's house to eat some lunch with him. He made some spaghetti and redeemed himself because before I came out he made some really horrible spaghetti. I am glad that I didn't ever have any of it. We emailed and the TCC Elders borrowed our car and we got stuck at the church for a couple hours waiting for them to get back with our car. Then we had to go to dinner with the Paget's which was good. Then we went shopping right after dinner because we couldn't when we were supposed to do it. I got the Josh Groban Christmas CD! Man it is good! MoTab is in one of the songs which is fantastic!

Tuesday we went to District Meeting which was way fun. Then we went and contacted/tracted. Met a lady that seems like she is promising. Then we went to Walters and played some chess with him and that was good. We try to help him out a bit. Then we went and had dinner with the Bishop family and it was great! They always make way good food! Then we had Family Home Evening with the Looney's. We mainly just answered some questions that Amy had from when she was reading the Book of Mormon.

Wednesday I went to Tally 1 because the Zone Leaders had a meeting and their trainee, Elder McPhearson, needed someone in Tally 1 with him. So we went and we contacted some people. We went and saw a less active/part member family and talked to them a bit about the restoration. They have a son that wants to go on a mission so we are teaching him. We also read with a recent convert that is 9 to help her understand the Book of Mormon a bit. Had dinner with the Delp family which was interesting. Good food! We then went back with our comp's.

Thursday Dan came by with some Krispy Kreme doughnuts because he wanted to give us a Christmas gift so that was it. Had weekly planning and then gave Sister O'Dell, who is from another ward, a blessing. She is in the hospital in our area so that is why we did the blessing and not the Elders from her ward. We also went to Tabatha's and she basically asked us about all the topics we wanted to talk about anyway so that was way cool. Had dinner with Brother Gorby and played some chess.

Friday the world didn't end. What a surprise.......HAHA! Today we did a lot of contacting. Met a lady named Annie and we are going to teach her. Then I accidentally shut the trunk on Elder Olsen's middle and ring fingers. He ended up screaming like a girl haha. He was wearing a glove so there was a bit of padding luckily. He was on the opposite side of the car so I didn't know his hand was there. Then we had dinner with the Looney's and Amy. That was way fun. They gave us "I'm a Mormon" shirts that are awesome. They also gave us a book called "Mormons: An open book". When we got home we pulled names out of a can and mine was pulled out and I won the book!

Saturday we taught a guy named Elmore that we met after I shut the trunk on Elder Olsen's hand. He was quiet, but warmed up to us and seems promising. He committed to baptism also. Then we went to Keith's sister’s baptism and Elder Olsen spoke on the Holy Ghost and did a very good job. We went to see some people and found a guy named Dave as well and he seems like he is way prepared! Then I ate too much at the Nibley's. Great day!!

Sunday was good. We heard some awesome music in sacrament by a few people, including Brother Gorby! Then we taught Annie who we call Sister Gardner now. She can't see very well so we read with her. Then we went and taught Tabatha. We ended up watching a movie called "Joy to the World" with her and she really liked it. We also found out that she got in contact with her husband and he wants the decision to be a family one. So she is still trying to figure everything out. After that, we went and tracted around a referral and found a new investigator. It is awesome when people get placed in your path! To finish the night, we ate dinner at the Longfellow's, which was good but I ate too much meat. This week was awesome!!

Monday 12/10/2012 – Sunday 12/16/2012

Monday was the busiest P-Day. We had to clean two flippin' apartments because we had to move last week so we barely got everything done that needed to get done. We then went shopping and emailed our people. Then we went to dinner with the Oaks family. They got us Chick-fil-a which was pretty good. Then we came home and started putting our testimonies in the front of some copies of the Book of Mormon.

Tuesday I got my ear problem resolved so everything should be good from now on. We also taught Amy the last lesson until she becomes a member. She is still as awesome as ever! That is all that happened that is worth mentioning haha.

Wednesday we went to Dan's for breakfast and he made us some French toast which was pretty good! He is such a great guy. We also had a lesson with him and Elder Lovell bore his testimony to Dan and it was so amazing!! Dan felt the Spirit so strong as did all the rest of us. You could have cut that Spirit it was so thick!! I almost wanted to so I could keep it forever! Then later that day Elder Olsen had to do a baptismal interview and the girl was kinda messin' around and not taking it too serious so he couldn't pass her on in. So she is going to do it again in a couple days when she understands the magnitude more.

Thursday we had a bug guy come and spray our place to get rid of some more roaches. Then we went to the half mission conference and it was way good! We listened to missionaries bear their testimonies for a bit then had some talent from missionaries. We also ate and watched a couple more groups of missionaries do talent and then watched the movie "Brave" from Disney. Then after President Jensen called a few of us up and I was one of them. He told us that some people donated stuff for less fortunate missionaries and that we in a sense qualified, I guess is how I would put it. So I got some stuff, but I haven't opened any of it yet. I am so thankful for all the people that donated to that cause. It made me think of my Mother and how much she would appreciate it and it made me feel good. I do know that there is a sweater and two ties in it though. That was really cool to receive! Amy also passed her baptismal interview and we got that all squared away. I will also get to baptize her which is so exciting! I couldn't believe she wanted me to do it!

Friday we got our weekly planning out of the way. Then we finally got to do a full day of missionary stuff after such a chaotic week and a half. Did some tracting and mainly just planted seeds. Elder Olsen re-interviewed that girl and she was awesome and passed. Had the Ward Christmas Party which was fun! Joked around a bit with Elder Mower, one of the couple missionaries.

Saturday we went to the Martin's to help with Christmas lights and to help his friend move. Then we went to Marsha and Ben's again to help them put the same door back in because it didn't work out too well the first time. Then we had Amy's Baptism!!!! It was awesome!! So spiritual. When I baptized her, I somehow bumped her head on the stair or the bottom of the font. I'm an idiot haha.... but she said it didn't hurt so I was glad. The spirit was awesome and then Amy bought us food at TGI Friday's. It was so flippin' good and I am so happy for Amy!

Sunday we had PEC and Ward Council and Church. Amy was confirmed by Bishop Matkin. I felt the spirit pretty strong during that. Then we taught the lesson in Gospel Principles and I felt like I couldn't talk. It was even on the Spirit world which is one of my favorite topics. After church, we did a little mini lesson with Jonathan because his wife, Lauren, and baby were asleep. They are hard to teach because they are always going out of town. Then we went and gave Amy's daughter Jamie a blessing and at first she wasn't too happy about that. She got scared when I started to anoint her, then they got her to fall asleep so we were able to bless her. Then we had dinner at the Hodge/Berkley home. That is Keith's family and we had good food! Then when we got home we for some reason were closing our eyes and using Elder Lovell's cane to try and find the tree in our yard. We both were able to do it pretty well. Okay it was sad, we were awful! Fun day!

Monday 12/3/2012 – Sunday 12/9/2012

Monday we found out Elder Olsen and I would be staying in Tally 4th Ward and we would be getting Elder Lovell and be in a trio. He was in my MTC District. Should be fun! We cleaned a bit, went to see Zach who didn't answer, and got stuck in traffic trying to email. So it took a while to go there so we ended up emailing for a bit, but then we had to leave to go home and take some pictures with the rest of the compound. Then we went back and emailed. Went to the Looney's to have a great dinner and an awesome lesson as well. Then we also had a Butterfinger cake. Holy Sugar!!

Tuesday we had District Meeting which was pretty good. Then since it was the last of the transfer we went to Moe's and had some lunch with the district. Then we tried to go see a lady named Dazia and she wasn't home. Then we did a lot of sifting through investigators and trying to see people and see if they are true seekers.

Wednesday was transfers so we didn't do very much. We did move because we need more room for Elder Lovell. We are still on the compound just in a different one. We did get to teach Dan for the first time and I think we got somewhere with him. He is still asking for evidence though. Then went home to build a bed and then to move in some more. Then Elder Lovell arrived so we had some dinner at the Jones home.

Thursday was chaos. First I had to go to the doc for my ear and found out I have to go to a specialist because the normal doc couldn't tell what was wrong. Our appointments all fell through as well. Just cleaned up all day.

Friday we weekly planned and had to pause to go see Patrick and we dropped him unless he calls us. Got some Krispy Kreme! Helped Brother Martin for 2 seconds then went home and finished our weekly planning. Then we wrote down our testimonies so that we can put them in the front of Book of Mormon's and wrap them. Then we are going to wrap them up and hand them out. Then we went to teach Amy about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Law of Chastity. Amy is awesome and is getting baptized the 15th of December!!!

Saturday we didn't put on a shirt and tie all day!! It was so weird! First we helped a lady that isn't a member move into our ward boundaries. Then we went to Marsha and Ben's again. We helped them with their path a bit more and Ben put in some French doors. We also invited them to go to the Handles Messiah tomorrow.

Sunday was good! The Christmas program was today and it was awesome! This ward has a lot of talent! Today we mainly went around and just set up appointments with people that we have been teaching because it is more effective to see them then to call. We did teach Tabatha and her father a bit. He is one confused guy. He knows the Book of Mormon is true but he just doesn't understand what that means. Then we came home and I did a funny... I used the restroom... I got up and was adjusting the rug... Then everything fell out of my shirt pocket... Went in the toilet... I hadn't flushed... So I pocket vomited in the toilet. Then as we were going to bed we kept hearing some weird noises. It was way strange.

Great week and I love you all back home!

Monday 11/26/2012 – Sunday 12/2/2012

Monday was almost the perfect P-Day. We got everything that we had to do done.  After the usual cleaning and shopping and what not, we went and taught Tabatha with our member friend Keith and committed her to read and pray daily. We also got her to pray with us there and she doesn't like to do that kind of stuff. That was also her first time doing that. She will also write her husband to get permission to be baptized.

Tuesday we had District Meeting. It was pretty good, President and Sister Jensen came to give us tickets to Handles Messiah that we are suppose to give out to less actives and non-members. We also went to Walter's home, the guy with cerebral palsy, to help him out and so I could lose at chess. I suck at that game, but it is fun to compete. In the evening, we went to Brother Flannery's home with Brother Casey to hopefully teach him more and to get him active.

Wednesday we went to the Ronald McDonald House because the Spanish Elder's couldn't do it today so we did. Then when we came home, our landlord, Dan, was here so we chatted with him and he is finally going to allow us to teach him actual lessons. Then we did a lot of sifting through people to see who are going to be solid investigators. Then we had a lesson with a guy named Lewis. He gets confused easily, but he said if he finds our message to be true he will get baptized.

Thursday was weekly planning and it always seems to last forever. Elder Faulkner also narrated our companionship inventory. Then we went to go see a less active named Birdie Thompson who wasn't home, but there was another less active lady there that we talked with. Then we had dinner and then headed to teach Whitney after that and that fell through. Then we headed to the Looney's to teach Amy. Taught her about the plan of salvation and she really loved it and was excited to have that knowledge and she bore testimony. We gave her a blessing and then left and she gave us her E-cig and her coffee and coffee pot. Then we smashed the pot.

Friday was chaos.  We had to go to a couple people before our studies. Then we went home and studied. Then we went to Birdie Thompson's and chatted with her. We were going to help her with her yard work, but she didn't want any help. Then we tracted around her place all day. We had dinner at the Lawson's and Brother Lawson gave us each a tie! Then we went to the Looney's for Family Home Evening.

Saturday was way successful! We went to the Tally 1 Sister's baptism of Diane. That was really good even though we didn't get any of our investigators to it. Then we taught Bahiru that came to church last week. We told him God would bless him if he reads and prays daily, but we think he misunderstood us and thinks that if he does those things that our church will help him pay his bills if he can't afford it. Then we went to a lesson that fell through so we ended up going to Rosalyn Davis' place. She gave us a little Christmas tree. We found out Paris, her daughter, wants to take the lessons and also picked up one of her neighbors as a gator. Then we went to the Morgan's, the less actives that we haven't taught for a couple weeks. Talked with them about the Plan of Salvation. Then ate at Bishop and Sister Matkin's and talked to the Bishop about a lot of good stuff. Then we went to see Zach and set up an appointment with him. Then we picked up Keith and went to Tabatha's. She wasn't there so we wrote a note and hopefully she will still be coming to church. Then we got stuck in traffic for an hour so we planned in the car and just went home.

Sunday was a good day! We got 9 people at church by our efforts! The Stake President spoke in Sacrament about how to bear testimonies haha. After church we had a great dinner with the Geiger's. Then we went around trying to contact people. We ended up getting an investigator. Then we came home to study, but that didn't happen. We did go to the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional which was way good! I love this gospel!