Monday, 7/14/14 - Sunday, 7/20/14

Monday – Today we had the usual preparation day stuff. Played a bit of pool while emailing. That was pretty fun. I am not very good but that’s all good. After P-day was done we headed over to the Hoach’s to have dinner but they weren’t even home so we went home to eat. Rough night after that. We tried to see some less-actives but had no luck.

Tuesday – Today we headed to Daphne for our zone training meeting and listened to some great talks on the way that I really needed to hear. Zone training was okay but I was checked out a bit and could not focus. Took the Spanish Elders back home to snag their car and then they took it to the body shop. After they dropped It off we took them home. Then we came home and ate. Had our studies right before heading out for a long walk. We walked to Brother Martin’s and it was way further than we thought. Talked to Brother Martin and the nurse lady in there when we got there. He is at a nursing home. We gave the nurse lady a Book of Mormon and a card. Gave another nurse lady a card. Invited them both to church. Then we went on a little walk with a guy in a wheelchair. His name was Edward. Then Brother Cronin picked us up and gave us a ride home. He is so cool! Celestial member! Chatted with him a bit and that finished up our night.

Wednesday – Today we went on a pretty long walk to go and see Tony and whoever else was in our path. Met a nice lady and talked to her a bit. Then met Tony’s son and got to know him a bit. He is a good kid. Walked home and had lunch. Then we went to see Bryant and some other people but we didn’t get to teach anyone. Had dinner with the Blackburn’s and that is always really fun. They are just a really happy family and it is great to be around people like that. Left their place and talked to Rick briefly. They were having dinner. Then we went to see Jennifer who we met a while back. Ended up talking to her husband and it seems like something good might come from it. Good day. We also met a really nice less-active lady then a meanish lady who wants her records removed. Put a bit of a damper on the day but it was still good.

Thursday –Today Brother Brown called because he wanted to take one of us out to go to breakfast with Brother Rider and him. So I went and it was a pretty good meeting. Shared a little message and that was pretty good. Brother Rider is a good guy but I hope he will come to church someday. Came back home for my studies. Then we left to go and see Nadia, a less-active, and shared a little lesson with her. Met Brother Ott as well. He is a less-active and I think he might come back someday. He didn’t seem to be very strongly against the church. Then tried to see a bunch of other people but it didn’t work. Had dinner with the Willet’s. Good food as always. They have really fun kids. Then we had weekly planning. That finished the night.

Friday – Today we finished up our weekly planning and had lunch. Then Brother Brown picked up Elder Bochenek for splits. Then Elder Shoemaker and I headed to see Sister Jolley. Taught her a great lesson. She also gave us some gifts, small things but it was really awesome. Tried see a bunch of other people. Most of them didn’t work out. We did see the Bosarge’s, well just Tiffany and set up an appointment with them. It rained on us like crazy and then we also ended up running into a closed road so we couldn’t get to some people. Had dinner with the Cox’s and Dalby’s. Met back up with Elder Bochenek there. They showed us some of their cool guns too. Then we dropped by a couple less actives and met Brother Musial. He isn’t a member but his stepson is so that might be good for him.

Saturday – Pretty good but different day today. Reason being we went to do service at a swim meet. Elder Bochenek and I were “runners”. We went around collecting the timesheets and DQ slips. Elder Hummer gave ribbons to the winners and Elder Walker timed for one of the lanes. Elder Shoemaker just kinda chilled for most of it. Had our studies and all that good stuff after the swim meet ended. Taught Jose’ and Jesus’ a bit. It was a shorter lesson but we just kind of talked about their purpose meeting with us and our purpose meeting with them. Jose’ said he would try to come to church too. Tried to see Cherie and a couple others. That didn’t work out but we did get to see Brother Logan and talk to him about us teaching his grandkids. Saw the Carter’s briefly and helped them bring groceries into their house and shared our testimonies. Maybe that will help them. Then had our sweet Pioneer Day party at the church. Elder Bochenek beat me at stick pole. I beat Elder Shoemaker and I lost a best of 3 stick pole to Brother McGee. I beat him once though. I won against Elder Bochenek in checkers. We juggled. Oh Brother Webster won the stick pole championship for the men. Chase won for the young men and Sister Safford for the women. It was a good time!

Sunday – Church was good today. Elder Bochenek spoke and did a really good job! Had a little change in our plans. Had our studies and ate at home because Brother Allen got a bit hurt yesterday and it didn’t have to do with the stick pull. We went all over today and tried to teach but no one was home. Didn’t get to teach anyone. Had a tie trade during dinner because Elder Shoemaker is going home this Wednesday. Then our 8 o’clock appointment cancelled so Elder Shoemaker packed a bit. We also all switched tags and acted like each other and it was so funny!

Sunday, 7/6/14 - Sunday, 7/12/14

Sunday – Today we had no ward council so we were able to do some studies in the morning. Then had church which was pretty good. We started a mission-wide fast yesterday so fasting was awesome this time. Hopefully our mission can have even more success. After church we went with the Dees’ to see a potential but that fell through. We then went to visit members with the Dees thinking we would be able to see some less-actives but we ended up seeing two active ladies. First we saw Sister Gignilliat and talked with her and gave her a blessing. Then we saw Sister Green. She has been taking care of her daughter who has cancer. You can tell it stresses her out but she is staying strong. Her daughter wasn’t there today so she got a break from it for a day. After that we headed home to do our studies and dinner. Then we went out to see Tony who wasn’t home so we stopped by Gabe Bradley’s and shared a message. He is a less active but seems to have a testimony. He is Brother Holladay’s grandson. Then we stopped by to see Pat. Met her son Tarrell and we set up a time to go see them. They are nice people.

Monday – P-day stuff was lame today. I had to take some survey. Both of us did actually. Elder Zwick is coming to our mission so it was an informational survey so that he will have an idea of what is going on here. So that took forever so I didn’t have time to write a single letter. Elder Shoemaker was really on one about buying some glasses with yellow lenses like the ones Brother Grantham has. Then we headed to the Phillips’ for dinner and it was awesome. They are a really cool family! They were telling us some very disobedient stories about some former missionaries in our area. Left their place and we ended up talking to their neighbor and gave him a Book of Mormon. Hopefully we can help him come closer to Jesus. Not much else happened after that. Just knocked doors around a gators house.

Tuesday – Today we went to Pascagoula for our district meeting and also had our district activity which was pretty cool. We went to the gator farm in Pascagoula. It was pretty cool! We got to hold a baby alligator. Took some sweet pictures and video of the gators eating chicken. Then we ate at Dairy Queen. Never get their 5 dollar meals because they are tiny! The burger was as big as a McDouble. Got home and studied. Then we had a great lesson with Joshua. His wife gave us Oreos and cereal so that was pretty cool. They are a really nice family. Unfortunately that was about all the positive contact we had today with someone.

Wednesday – Today Brother Lyon came out with us to see Pat. The lesson was great...up until the end. For some reason she got confused and thought we were telling her to worship Joseph Smith. I don’t know how. We explained what prophets are clearly and simply from what us and Brother Lyon thought. Then we headed to IHOP to meet Sister Tartini there because she has always fed the missionaries the day before transfers. None of us are going luckily but Elder Bochener will be coming with us to be in a trio. IHOP took forever because the server was one of two. So right after we headed to see Leigh Anne. Taught her about our life and the atonement and that really helped her feel better. She is such a nice, humble lady. After that we headed over to the Lahtinen’s house for a move. They finally got moved it! It was awesome to help and I am stoked to have the Lahtinen’s in my ward again. Then we went and saw a couple less-active families before heading over to the Constantine’s to eat dinner. That was fun! They have very energetic kids. Celestial family! Saw Sister Mitchel and she is very bitter about certain members. It’s sad when people let others hurt their salvation.

Thursday – Today we had coordination with Brother Brown and the Spanish Elders at Brother Brown’s. It was a good time! Brother Brown made us some key lime pie. Then I asked to see some of his old swimming stuff from back in the day when he was at FSU. He was way fit and had a little mustache. Tried to see Cherie after that and then went home for lunch because she wasn’t there. Elder Shoemaker also called his mom while we were at lunch and I ended up talking to her and found out that Elder Shoemaker is supposed to be on medication. His mom told me that he is completely different now than when he left without it. Talked to President a bit as well and he was pretty concerned. Then we picked up Elder Bochener and got to chat a bit with Elder Bott. Came home after for Elder Bochener to unpack and then had dinner with the Vasquez’. It was way good. We had ribs and all sorts of good sides. I really loved the baked beans a lot! Then we went to the store to pick up a couple things for Elder Bochener.

Friday – Today we did weekly planning in the morning but didn’t get completely done. Went over to the Grantham’s for a little lesson. We are sharing messages with some of the members hoping that we can strengthen them. Then we went home to finish weekly planning but ended up trying to update the ward roster on our GPS. The computers at our clubhouse wouldn’t let us so we tried the library. Neither of them allowed us to download the program onto the computer. Then the Grantham’s signed up for dinner too so we ate there and then finished weekly planning.

Saturday – Today we taught Jose’ and Jesus’ a bit and it went pretty well but they just sit there and don’t say much so I don’t know how much they comprehend. Walked around and talked to some really nice people. We might go do some service at another church. We talked to a couple that was telling us that their church had been going through some renovations. Shared a bit with Betty Imms as well. She was a bit out of it though. Didn’t get to teach very much so we headed out and went to see some others. Ended up sharing a bit with Quincey and he said he would be at church. Also talked to a couple really nice people in the neighborhood. Then went to the Safford’s baptism. It was for their niece named Gia. She just turned 8. Good service and some good food. Then we had basketball. It started late and there were too many people there today. It was hard to manage and not everyone got to play. I think some of them were annoyed about that.

Sunday – Had ward council and church. Both were good. The stake presidency came because it was ward conference. President Jergins gave a great talk and so did Bishop in Sacrament. President Jergins also gave a great lesson about the simple things we need to do to keep our testimonies strong. Brother Brown also told me today that Bishop said he wants me in the ward for 6 months so that made me feel good. Quincey did end up coming and I hope he felt the spirit. Had a potluck after church and it was awesome. So much good food! Had our studies after that. Then we headed out and had no fruits other than Sister Strickland and her daughter let us in and we shared a bit. That ended our day.

Sunday, 6/29/14 - Saturday, 7/5/14

Sunday – Today was good! Had Ward Council first thing. Brother Brown, our ward mission leader, was able to come this time. He has been sick and hasn’t really been able to. Church was good too. Elder Hummer, Elder Walker and I spoke in Sacrament. They always have the missionaries do 5^th Sunday Sacrament. Also had a great 5^th Sunday combined lesson taught by Bishop Mills. He taught about being prepared for disasters. It was awesome! Then he also tied it into the Plan of Salvation. We had our studies after church and that took us to the Stake Priesthood Meeting. It was really good! President Nielson, President Odona and President Jergans all gave really great talks. President Jergans told a story about how he would knock into people’s homes on his mission and ask, “Do you know me?” The other person would usually say “no” so he would reply with, “You should, the Savior sent me here to bless you and your family.” He got in to every door he said. Had ice cream after and then headed home. Brother Evans took us there and back and we discussed some awesome church stuff like China and a few other things.

Monday – Good P-day today. Just normal though. We didn’t do anything fun because we had no miles to do any P-day activities. Just enough to go shopping. Tried to see the Schwartz which didn’t work out. So we decided to see if we could find out some info about somewhere to do a family history booth. No places had anything that looked very promising so we will see what happens. Then we went on a night walk type deal. Met a really nice guy that talked to us for a bit and we shared a bit with him so maybe something will come of it some time. Knocked on some doors of some really huge houses and met a really nice lady named Gwen. She didn’t ask us to go back though. Planted a couple seeds though.

Tuesday – Today we had district meeting. It was really good and Brother Brown was there so that was good. Sister Maeser and Sister Turina taught and did a great job teaching about charity in our companionships. Had our exchange with the zone leaders and it went great! I went with my former companion, Elder Smith. He treated me to some IHOP. It was really good. We taught a guy named Chris who is coming back to activity. He wants to be a singer. He is pretty good but gets a bit too into it at times. Saw a guy named Gene Bass who is living with a lady who doesn’t like the missionaries because they visit her neighbor so it affects Gene. Had dinner with an awesome family/couple the Gould’s. They were way nice. We were even way late because we forgot our stuff at the apartment. Oh, we also taught Skyler and his friends. I pogo’d at their house. Went back to our apartment in Theo and all 4 of us stayed here. Had some mad tie-trading.

Wednesday – Said goodbye to the zone leaders this morning. They went to Crestview for MLC. First thing we did today was go through our HQ referrals and call them all. We have quite the list and who knows which ones were contacted. Then us and the Spanish Elders went to the Tartini’s to discuss all of the Relief Society sisters in the ward. Sister Tartina went through it with us. It should help me to get to know the ward a lot better and have some info to go off of. We also shared a quick message with Norma right before that. She doesn’t seem too interested. Also went to the Brockwell’s and shared a message with them. They are a part member family but her husband didn’t sit in. Then we went to our apartment to give Elder Miller his backpack that he forgot at our place. Then we headed to Goula to do a baptismal interview. I interviewed Maggie and she is great. Very kind hearted girl.

Thursday – Today we went to Brother Madison’s to do our coordination meeting with him. Brother Brown and the Spanish area. That went pretty well. Brother Brown is very excited about missionary work all the time. The Lahtinen’s move was postponed so we just went into our weekly planning. That took a long time! So then we had dinner. Then we went up to the Grantham’s with Brother Brown to visit them and shared a message. Brother Grantham is excommunicated but working himself back into the church and Sister Grantham is a member. Such a sweet old couple. We also gave Brother Grantham a blessing because he was feeling sick. Then we went with Brother Brown over to see Sister Mitchel, a less-active who was offended but I feel she will come back. She is a great lady and very funny! That finished our awesome night with Brother Brown. I do also have to share that the spirit is guiding missionaries on what to say because I told Sister Mitchel that when she realizes when she needs to come back it will be hard but I told her to just remember Christ went to church with the person he knew would betray him. Normally I don’t think I would say that.

Friday – Happy Independence Day! Don’t blow yourself up! Today we taught Joe, Coach, Jesus’ and Cedric about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. They are some of the guys from basketball and they are really cool. They also fed us ribs for lunch that were pretty good. Either it was Jose’s dad or Jesus’ dad that mad them for us. I just can’t remember who’s dad he was. Tried to see Betty but no luck there. Then swung by a bunch of people on the way to see Bryant and LaVell. Met a really nice lady named Claudia at LaVell’s apartment complex. She is set in her ways but hopefully we can soften her up. Had a good dinner with the Turley’s. The DaCosta’s were there also. It was a bit strange though. I felt like we were killing a party. Then we went out that evening and tried to contact some people but it didn’t work out.

Saturday – Today was a hard working day. Biked like 10 miles but didn’t get to teach who we were going to. We talked to some awesome people though. Talked to 2 black guys about family history and we might actually get to do some with one of them named Nate. Saw Bryant’s dad and they were heading out so we talked to him briefly. Also talked to Marouf and he didn’t get to read from the Book of Mormon yet. Briefly talked with Stephen Gayle and met his wife. She is also really nice. Met a really nice French lady named Andree’. She is awesome. Wish we could teach her. Also talked to a really nice couple. Can’t remember their names but they told us to go see the wife’s sister. I guess her sister likes genealogy. Met a guy named Joshua and set up a time to go back and share more with them. The Dees came out with us and our appointment fell through so we went and taught Cherie instead. The lesson went really well. Cherie is awesome! I hope she will come to church. The Dees then treated us to Subway. Then we had basketball and I forgot my shoes. So I tore it up with some Nike slides! My ankle is pretty sore. It will be fine!