Monday 6/17/2013 – Sunday 6/23/2013

Monday was nuts! Had P-Day, I cut my own hair...ended up messing up and buzzing it off. Ended up going and giving Sister Schoonover a blessing. That was a great opportunity. Tender mercy from Heavenly Father was that with only about 2 hours to proselyte we were able to have a total of 5 lessons and 1 new gator. It was awesome! Then we headed home because with the blessing our P-day was cut short and we had some things we needed to finish up.

Tuesday we had a good District Meeting. I also got my Blue Angel in a bottle! It is sweet! Has #7 on it! Then we ended up having a ton of unplanned acts of service. A tender mercy that stood out to me today is that God really does love me. The only way that I was able to get back on this path had to have been because He was protecting me. For some reason, God protected me and helped me to gain the friends I did and have such great influences to help me find the truth. In the evening, we also did Area Book stuff. We have been rearranging it and improving it.

Wednesday we did a ton of stuff in the Area Book. Getting it finished and ready because transfers are coming up. Had dinner with the Schoonover's which was fun. Today the way I saw God's hand in my life was being able to get through the Area Book potentials so quickly and somehow muster up energy for the rest of the day. Later in the day we saw a guy that tried to tell us to just stick with the Bible. He was nice but kind of rude at the same time if that makes any sense.

Thursday the quote of the day was from Elder Smith who said, "I wonder if there will be farts in heaven?" Had the last weekly planning of the transfer. Also, played basketball for the last time this transfer. We also went to Z. Smith's house. We looked at all his animals. He has a couple pigs, 2 goats, 2 basset hounds and a bunch of chickens. The goat was very inappropriate with his licking. Brother Smith said if he didn't do that he "wouldn't be able to pee and would puff up and die. He probably enjoys it too." Funniest things come out of the Smith brother's mouths. Taught TJ a short lesson after basketball. I really see how God has blessed him and he has a testimony of this gospel but doesn't realize it yet. That is awesome to see in him.

Friday we taught Eilene and Sharon and Ricky (less active) and Sister Hall (less active). Great day! I saw God in my life as we were studying 3 Nephi 12 and Matthew 5 at the same time and seeing how Christ taught the same principle both times but spoke to each group to their own levels of understanding. Also, I was able to notice God answer my prayers to help me teach better today. Had a way good day!

Saturday was fun but I ate like crap because it was Elder Smith's birthday. We had a really fun day and taught a lot of less-actives. Had the Hardman's come out with us and all of the appointments fell through, but we did go with them to help a young girl named Tifanique fix her bike. Had dinner with the Curry's and I really love them. Sister Curry is just like my Mom and I love it! We were able to talk about their son, Elder Curry, and teach about the atonement. Taught about how the atonement took away all the bad so we can move forward. That was awesome and during our conversation I really saw God in my life and in theirs.

Sunday was awesome! Got Sister Powers (less active) and Eilene our investigator to church!! They both liked it a lot. We then had a companionship study and the Sims' and ate there. Then went to the Broadcast at the church and I am really seeing the hand of God working in these last days. The Gathering of Israel is happening! I am stoked! The ward seems to be getting excited as well! We also taught the McGuire's. They really need God's love!!

I will be staying in Fox Run and will be training. Elder Smith is going to Mobile.

Monday 6/10/2013 – Sunday 6/16/2013

Monday was P-day and I decided that I am going to start writing about how I have seen God's hand in my life each day. I was listening to a talk by President Eyring and that is what I learned from it. I also saw God’s hand when we were teaching Steve. The Spirit was there and I really believe that he felt it. He seems like he really has a desire to read from the Book of Mormon. We went and picked up a talk from Sister McArthur and it really seems like the ward is getting more excited about missionary work right now. We did the normal stuff and also had some Mexican food with the Brooke's.

Tuesday was District Meeting which was really good. Also did a trade-off with Pine Forest. I went to Pine Forest with Elder Helmandollar. We had a really good day seeing investigators and a few less actives. The way I saw God's hand in my life wasn't completely in my life, but more so Elder Helmandollar's. He has a rep of being disobedient, but he seems to work hard and still have fun. He told me that he has been waking up on time and that makes me really happy. He has grown a lot and God has changed him. I want to have the mission really turn me into a disciple of Christ. I always do my best, but I want to keep getting better. I love Elder Helmandollar.

Wednesday was a great and busy day. Our gators, Josh and Anna, dropped us. I realized how amazing it is that I am where I am. God has really blessed me to be able to overcome the things that I have. I was inactive for so long. I grew up with my Dad that was there, but not as an example of what to do, especially in the priesthood. My Mom was always there though! I also missed a ton of school and failed a lot of classes. I made a ton of bad decisions, but somehow God's been able and loving enough to lift me and bear my burdens. I know that there were many praying for me. While we were out, I realized that I still continue to become better because of even more prayers. I am so grateful for the growth that I have seen the past 3 years. God has answered and continues to answer prayers on my behalf. That is how I saw God's hand. Quote of the day: "The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Bishop Smith. Today I talked to a guy named Melvin who wanted Romney to be president. First black person I have heard say that on my mission. haha.

Thursday was weekly planning and that is where I saw God's hand in my life. Elder Smith and I talked about my relationship with my Dad and I guess you could say that I came to realize that with all that has happened throughout my life that my relationship with my father can improve. I do love him, but maybe not as much as I could. I don't know how to do this, but it is worth a shot. Tonight we also had our Thursday basketball and I played really well. We had 16 guys including us there. A lot of them left when we began the message though. That kinda sucked! Good day though.

Friday we had a good day! We have had a lot of success with less actives lately. Today while we were teaching one of them named Ricky, I noticed God in my life. We were talking about the sacrament and I realized that when you really prepare yourself for the sacrament, you will have great experiences. I remembered a couple weeks ago when I really prepared and prayed and asked for forgiveness for all the sins that I commit on a daily basis and I asked for a spiritually uplifting experience, and during sacrament I felt the spirit really strong. We also taught the Curry's and ate there. Brother Curry is doing awesome with quitting smoking! We also taught Sister Carter, a less active, and she was way nice, just doesn't believe the church is right for her. We did clear up a couple concerns.

Saturday we taught a lot of lessons. Well 3 if that is a lot. We ate at a restaurant called Ollie's that a less active member, Brother Ley, manages at. This is where I was able to see my tender mercy for the day. They were having some sort of photo shoot with motorcycles and women in bikinis. It saddens me that those kinds of things are done. These are the last days! Any way, my tender mercy was being able to not have a desire to look. I saw them and immediately was able to look away and not really even feel tempted to look back. I know that I was baptized and in being baptized I am a representative of Jesus Christ. The restaurant was really good food too by the way!

Sunday we had a good day at church. Father's Day program. Sister Schoonover spoke in Sacrament and it was a way awesome talk! Loved Brother Porter's as well! Ate with the Hardman's. Good food! Taught Marcus about prayer. He still will not ask God questions. So today a tender mercy was that we had like 5 or 6 less actives to church and we contacted all of them this week and 4 of them were because we invited them. So it was awesome to see our work pay off. 

Monday 6/3/2013 – Sunday 6/9/2013

Monday we had a really busy day. Went all over the place looking for some shoes for Elder Smith. I also was able to exchange my watch again because it broke. Exchanged 3 candy bars that we were given so we could buy a bunch of strawberries and freeze them. Got a lot of healthy stuff today. Had dinner with the C. Smith family. The Hardman's were there so we got to see them again. Got to see the Sneary's and set up a time to teach them. We also gave Bishop a tie and letters from all of the missionaries that have served in Fox Run that are still in the mission. We also gave his wife some flowers. It was awesome and they really loved it!

Tuesday we had Zone Training and the spirit was so strong. We talked a ton about love. It was a great lesson. Had a bunch of appointments fall through. We did see Sister Powers (less active). Also saw Marcus very briefly and talked to Primos, a potential. Called the District tonight and they are doing great. Awesome bunch of Elders. Random thing of the day is when we were driving and I saw a lady mowing her lawn in a bikini.

Wednesday we had a lot fall through, but we did get to teach Sharon a lesson. She is doing well, but Mike just doesn't completely understand everything. He is a recent convert. Seems like Sharon is excited about what we are teaching though. Ate with the Sneary's which was fun. They have been through so much! Had Coordination Meeting, good meeting.

Thursday was a busy day. Went to the orthodontist so Elder Smith could get a retainer. Had our weekly planning which was really good. I am really beginning to have a good love for Elder Smith. We also had dinner with the Seale's and that is always so good. Had basketball which wasn't that great. The guys haven't been as cooperative the past few times during the message. We might have to stop doing it. I played good though.

Friday was a good day. Taught Marcy, Sister Powers, the youngest McGuire, saw the Cheng's, had dinner with the Ryder's and started our trade-off with Pensacola. I got to be with Elder Goodwin. I didn't have a lot of time to write on Friday because of the trade off.

Saturday was the day of the trade-off with Elder Goodwin and our first lesson was with the Abbott's. It went well. Elder Goodwin is a good teacher. Had lunch with the Jaurez family which was really good! Then we got a bit lost, talked to a really nice guy who told us to go see his neighbor. His neighbor was Roy and he was mean and said we were "soliciting souls for Christ". Headed home to get the car and go to the McGuire's and they were busy helping a neighbor. So we gave their friend a BOM. Went to Glen's, which fell through, so we saw Sister Long who introduced us to her friend Eilene. Then saw a potential, Amanda and her daughter Lilly. Lilly gave me a stick. Had dinner with the Walke's that took too long but was delicious. Taught the Sellers a lesson then went to drop off Elder Goodwin and trade back. Got half way to Elder Goodwin's place and realized we didn't have his stuff so we had to go back. So that took forever!

Sunday was a great day! Church was fantastic! After church we taught Sister Long a lesson about the Atonement and then taught Eilene her British friend! She is so cool! She has been going through a hard time but is open to learn! Then we had a delicious dinner at the Chasen's. Brother Jennings picked us up and we went and taught Marcus who is awesome, but we can't get him to pray about these things. He doesn't want to question God.

I also remembered this but I am not sure if I ever wrote about it. A while back I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and Elder Smith was asleep, but he was kneeling down in the middle of his bed "sleep praying".

Monday 5/27/2013 – Sunday 6/2/2013

Monday was nuts! It was Memorial Day so we had to find a place to email 'cause the library was closed. Brother Brooke's told us we could grab his key for the family history center. Got his key, but it didn't even open the family history center. So we eventually got Brother Kirby's key, which let us in but then we didn't have the password. So we called a ton of people and finally got Sister Smith to come down because they won't give the password out to anyone. So we got to email, but it made the day really hard. Had to take the keys back, but on the upside I was able to get an MP3 for way cheap for some gospel tunes. Then later we tried to teach the McGuire's, which was really hard. They had a lot going on that was distracting them.

Tuesday we went on a trade-off with the Zone Leaders. I was in Pace with Elder Wilkey and Elder Judy went to Fox Run with Elder Smith. It was a good day. We ended up biking a lot. There are a lot of people that really need to embrace the gospel. I just really noticed that. The south has a weird religious culture and it is pretty sad in some cases. Elder Wilkey is such a great missionary! He reminds me a lot of Elder Olsen and I really loved Elder Olsen a lot! I hope I can be more like him. It wasn't the best day proselyting, but I really enjoyed it. I ate way too many oreos. We had dinner with the Castagna family. We got there and had to wait for them to get home, which was weird, but it worked out okay. When we got there, their sons thought we were kidding about dinner cause the family was gone to see Star Trek. Pretty funny and weird. Also gave a lady a blessing.

Wednesday we traded back in the morning. Elder Smith and I had lunch and then headed to the library to print some stuff out. Then did some unexpected weekly planning because we are too busy tomorrow. Went to see a couple people and helped Sister Simmons, a less active, with a couple things. Headed to the Fowler's for dinner. Played around with their kids a bit, which was fun. Then we came home and helped the Knudtson's at the soon to be Sister's apartment because we didn't end up getting them this last transfer.

Thursday was pretty good, we had a lesson with Castella. She is way cool! Then we helped Sister Anderson and her Dad pack up a Uhaul because she is heading back to Texas. They gave us Subway. Yum! Did the rest of our weekly planning for the most part. Went to TJ's for a lesson and found out later that it was at his Grandma's and he had a ton of people there. Had a lesson with Sister Hall, a less active, that went pretty good. Then had a ton of guys at basketball. Most of them had to leave and didn't listen to the message though.

Friday was great! Had Zone Conferene for most of the day. President and Sister Jensen's last one. I will miss them, but President and Sister Smith will be awesome. I really needed Zone Conference though. I was having a struggle for a while. Hugged Sister Jensen! After Zone Conference, we taught Marcy a lesson which went pretty good! She is way golden and is really understanding everything. Then had a delicious dinner with Bishop Smith and family. Ribs!

Saturday we started the day a bit rocky. Elder Smith and I just had a bit of a disagreement. I am trying so hard to conform and really just be way humble with him to make this work. I just feel some of his ways are not the most effective. So I will just keep doing the best that I can. Had a good Stake Conference today as well. Elder Giddens of the 70 spoke and did a Q&A session. Ate at the Long's and that was way good. Then we helped the Cheng's move a couch and loveseat out of their house.

Sunday we had an awesome day at Stake Conference. Our District ushered for it, which was hot outside parking people. The message that has kept coming into my mind lately is to be “let the mission change me”. Taught Marcus a lesson. He has way strong faith! Cool guy! We also ate at the Hardman's. The Eubanks were there and it was delicious! Those were the highlights of the day!