Its funny that you ran into Marley. A sister missionary came out that reminds me a ton of her and ever since she came out (about 7 months ago) I've been thinking, I need to get Marley's address somehow. So if somehow your able to get hold of her address I'd love to send her a letter sometime to see how she's doing. Also a sidebar to that, I wrote Kaylee Stephens a letter and she hasn't replied yet, so now she owes me a letter, and she doesn't have any excuses of not having my address!
The traveling was way fun. All the assistants went together and it felt like a road trip. I always kept in mind where I was but its weird because you get the feeling that you don't have a home. That feeling is probably going to be more familiar soon because Elder Hansen and I got reassigned this transfer to be traveling assistants. So now we go on two exchanges a week with all the Zone Leaders in the mission. That'll be really fun because we get to proselyte more but I'll miss the training opportunities. By the way I taught Path to Action at ZLC and spent most of the time having a discussion on mastering our stories, I used the example of the epistles between Moroni and Pahoran where Moroni where Moroni gets way mad at Pahoran and Pahoran didn't do anything in fact he's been run out of town. Moroni didn't have malicious intent though, he just didn't have all the data to formulate the proper story.
The weeks of war went good. They boosted the numbers really well, but not quite as much as we had hoped. Well I've got an hour to get the interviews schedule worked out before 6, but I love you and hope your week is great!!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 1, 2010
Hey, sorry this is coming in so late. We've been doing what we're calling the weeks of war. We're focusing on the war chapters and all the assistants are traveling around the mission and doing exchanges for all last week and all this week. Its about 6:15 now and we'll be leaving at 7 for the McMinnville zone, I'll be going to Manchester till Wednesday morning and then I'll be going to Franklin and from there we'll head back to the mission home for ZLC on Friday and then Saturday we're off to the Nashville zone. We've set some crazy high goals like 2000 potential investigators and 840 new investigators 80 dates set etc. Most of these goals are double our normal averages so we're really pushing for them but its been really fun.
I'm glad to hear that Grandma is doing better and that she can get out. Its a bummer that Ali is going to have to do more physical therapy. What you said about her curfews reminded me of something that happened last night. It was about 8:00 and some missionaries gave me a call to ask if they could go over to a neighboring area and spend the night so that they were all there on the morning of P-day. However in the handbook it says that P-day doesnt start till 10 so I talked with them about it and told them no. They kept pushing and I asked, "well why do you want to have a sleep over so bad?" and they responded, "Just for fun." and I said that it was not an adequate reason and they'd just have to leave their apartment after 10 a.m. the next day. Then I thought to myself, wow, Mom and Dad said that exact same thing to me all the time. But when I did it it wasn't breaking mission rules :).
Anyhow nothing too crazy has gone on this week and I've still got to write an article and make some spreadsheets before we leave in 30 min. But I love you and hope your week is fantastic.
I'm glad to hear that Grandma is doing better and that she can get out. Its a bummer that Ali is going to have to do more physical therapy. What you said about her curfews reminded me of something that happened last night. It was about 8:00 and some missionaries gave me a call to ask if they could go over to a neighboring area and spend the night so that they were all there on the morning of P-day. However in the handbook it says that P-day doesnt start till 10 so I talked with them about it and told them no. They kept pushing and I asked, "well why do you want to have a sleep over so bad?" and they responded, "Just for fun." and I said that it was not an adequate reason and they'd just have to leave their apartment after 10 a.m. the next day. Then I thought to myself, wow, Mom and Dad said that exact same thing to me all the time. But when I did it it wasn't breaking mission rules :).
Anyhow nothing too crazy has gone on this week and I've still got to write an article and make some spreadsheets before we leave in 30 min. But I love you and hope your week is fantastic.
Feb. 15, 2010
So our trip down to Tullahoma and Fairview was crazier then anticipated. Some of the crazy stuff that you would normally see down there are just crazy southern homes and all the redneck stuff. What we actually saw was a crazy big snow storm! About when we got to Murfreesboro it started to snow way hard and huge flakes like you'd see in the mountains. Totally out of the norm here. It continued to snow like that all night.
So when we got to Fairview it was about 10:00 PM and Elder Hansen and I wanted to go home. However President said that we shouldn't drive anymore in the snow and just stay the night with Fairview. Having intended on going home we didn't have anything to stay the night, such as blankets a change of clothes toiletries, contacts solution, etc. So we found some extra blankets and slept on the floor for the night hoping that in the morning the storm would've passed and we'd be able to drive home.
Upon waking up our hopes were quickly dashed to pieces. It had snowed most of the night and was still snowing. So we had our studies there while Elder Smith was unpacking his stuff and getting ready for the day and then we decided to throw the clothes that we had in the washer and dryer so we wouldn't shower and then put back on dirty clothes. We didn't know at the time that the slowest dryer in the world resides at their house. P.S. they live in a two bedroom house that is the most rickety place I have ever seen. When we turned on the washer one of the pegs is missing so it rocks back and forth when it washes. That motion literally causes the entire house to shake.
Also their shower is what has been dubbed "the croucher" because it doesn't have a place for a shower-head so what they've done is attach a hose to the faucet and a shower-head to the end of the hose. The hose is attached via tape, lots of tape. So you get in and turn the water on and it comes out this nice little hose/shower-head but if you pull the shower head above the faucet you lose all water pressure and it all comes through the tape at the faucet. Also the drain in the tub doesn't work unless you hold it down. So you have to crouch down in order to get any water on you and you have to hold down the drain or the tub starts filling with water. So I found the best way to bathe is to hold the taped faucet with one hand to get better water pressure, hold the hose with the other hand, stand on one foot and hold the drain down with the other foot. It was quite an experience.
Then after we got out of the shower we were still left without any clothes for round about an hour. So we continued to study wearing bedsheets until we got dry clothes. Then President called and approved us to drive and right as we hung up the phone the dryer finished. It was a crazy experience. That was pretty much the highlight of the week as far as excitement goes. I took a video of the house so you can see it when I send of this next card it was really fun because it was totally off the wall.
Then just normal work. The two Sr. couples who work in the office are going home and their replacements just got here today so thats going to be a little chaotic in the switch-off but probably fun, the new Sr.s are really excited to be here and they'll do awesome. Well I love ya and have a great week.
So when we got to Fairview it was about 10:00 PM and Elder Hansen and I wanted to go home. However President said that we shouldn't drive anymore in the snow and just stay the night with Fairview. Having intended on going home we didn't have anything to stay the night, such as blankets a change of clothes toiletries, contacts solution, etc. So we found some extra blankets and slept on the floor for the night hoping that in the morning the storm would've passed and we'd be able to drive home.
Upon waking up our hopes were quickly dashed to pieces. It had snowed most of the night and was still snowing. So we had our studies there while Elder Smith was unpacking his stuff and getting ready for the day and then we decided to throw the clothes that we had in the washer and dryer so we wouldn't shower and then put back on dirty clothes. We didn't know at the time that the slowest dryer in the world resides at their house. P.S. they live in a two bedroom house that is the most rickety place I have ever seen. When we turned on the washer one of the pegs is missing so it rocks back and forth when it washes. That motion literally causes the entire house to shake.
Also their shower is what has been dubbed "the croucher" because it doesn't have a place for a shower-head so what they've done is attach a hose to the faucet and a shower-head to the end of the hose. The hose is attached via tape, lots of tape. So you get in and turn the water on and it comes out this nice little hose/shower-head but if you pull the shower head above the faucet you lose all water pressure and it all comes through the tape at the faucet. Also the drain in the tub doesn't work unless you hold it down. So you have to crouch down in order to get any water on you and you have to hold down the drain or the tub starts filling with water. So I found the best way to bathe is to hold the taped faucet with one hand to get better water pressure, hold the hose with the other hand, stand on one foot and hold the drain down with the other foot. It was quite an experience.
Then after we got out of the shower we were still left without any clothes for round about an hour. So we continued to study wearing bedsheets until we got dry clothes. Then President called and approved us to drive and right as we hung up the phone the dryer finished. It was a crazy experience. That was pretty much the highlight of the week as far as excitement goes. I took a video of the house so you can see it when I send of this next card it was really fun because it was totally off the wall.
Then just normal work. The two Sr. couples who work in the office are going home and their replacements just got here today so thats going to be a little chaotic in the switch-off but probably fun, the new Sr.s are really excited to be here and they'll do awesome. Well I love ya and have a great week.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Feb. 8, 2010
Sorry that it's taken me a while to get to writing you. We had a bunch of visa waiters leave last week and we're having three more come in today and we're doing two emergency transfers today as well. Along with the normal Monday stuff. Things are going really well though. Tonight we'll be driving out to Tullahoma to do a transfer of a visa waiter and then out to Fairview and then back to Brentwood and I'm looking forward to that. I've not been out to Tullahoma yet, and both Tullahoma and Fairview are way out in the country and you see the crazy stuff out there so I'm kinda excited.
The weather here has snowed a little bit, but not enough to stick at all. Mostly its just been darn cold. It's different here too, the mornings are warmer then the afternoons. This morning I went outside to see how cold it was and it wasn't that bad so I didn't grab my coat and now its freezing cold outside! Learned my lesson, just grab a coat anyways. The forecast says that its supposed to snow tomorrow but its probably nothing too big.
Sorry I couldn't give more details but we've gotta get rolling so we can grab some grub and get on the road for tonight. Love ya and have a great week!!
The weather here has snowed a little bit, but not enough to stick at all. Mostly its just been darn cold. It's different here too, the mornings are warmer then the afternoons. This morning I went outside to see how cold it was and it wasn't that bad so I didn't grab my coat and now its freezing cold outside! Learned my lesson, just grab a coat anyways. The forecast says that its supposed to snow tomorrow but its probably nothing too big.
Sorry I couldn't give more details but we've gotta get rolling so we can grab some grub and get on the road for tonight. Love ya and have a great week!!
Feb. 1, 2010
Hey, this week's been a grand week. First, to answer your questions, we use the trailer about 3 times a transfer. We use it to move missionaries into new apartments and to close old apartments. When visa waiters come in and they need a third bed at the apartment we sometimes use the trailer or we'll just take the seats out of the van and use the back of the van. We don't use it too often, mostly its just used as extra storage :) but it's always nice to have just in case.
I put my memory card into its labeled and addressed package. Now all it needs is postage and it'll be on its way tomorrow. I had to wait for tonight because tonight we burned the altar that we used at zone conference where everyone put the things that they were going to sacrifice. We'll be collecting the ashes and putting them into little bottles and distributing them throughout the mission so everyone can have one as a reminder of their sacrifice.
So this weekend it snowed!! Lots!! This is the worst storm that Tennessee has seen in about 15 years! It snowed straight all day Saturday and a little bit Friday night we got about 2 inches. I know 2 inches sounds pretty weak, but for Tennessee its insane. Everything shut down, fast food places (including Subway the national chain,) grocery stores, our office building sent everyone home (not us of course), it was insane. We had all of the cars parked in the mission and it was one of the best weeks we've had number wise. It was a fun weekend.
Over the past year and over the next year the number of missionaries in our mission is being reduced. We've already lost 12 missionaries from this year to last. So in order to combat having to close areas down President Hutchings has become very good friends with the lady in Salt Lake who is over deciding where missionaries who are waiting for visas go. We currently have about 14 companionships that are sustained by visa waiters. This Friday we got a call from Salt Lake informing us that 7 of the visa waiters are flying out over today and tomorrow. Usually when they go they go one at a time, but this group is going together. So we've had to realign a few companionships and we're hoping to get some new visa waiters in next week. It was kind of funny because that same day Elder Hansen and I talked about how if all the visa waiters got called to their missions then pretty much an entire zone would be completely gone!
That's pretty much what's been happening since last Wednesday. Zone conference and ZLC are this week. We're focusing on understanding the Holy Ghost and receiving revelation. Elder Hansen and I are training on asking the right questions in order to receive revelation. It'll be fun. That's about it though. Hope everyone has a great week!
I put my memory card into its labeled and addressed package. Now all it needs is postage and it'll be on its way tomorrow. I had to wait for tonight because tonight we burned the altar that we used at zone conference where everyone put the things that they were going to sacrifice. We'll be collecting the ashes and putting them into little bottles and distributing them throughout the mission so everyone can have one as a reminder of their sacrifice.
So this weekend it snowed!! Lots!! This is the worst storm that Tennessee has seen in about 15 years! It snowed straight all day Saturday and a little bit Friday night we got about 2 inches. I know 2 inches sounds pretty weak, but for Tennessee its insane. Everything shut down, fast food places (including Subway the national chain,) grocery stores, our office building sent everyone home (not us of course), it was insane. We had all of the cars parked in the mission and it was one of the best weeks we've had number wise. It was a fun weekend.
Over the past year and over the next year the number of missionaries in our mission is being reduced. We've already lost 12 missionaries from this year to last. So in order to combat having to close areas down President Hutchings has become very good friends with the lady in Salt Lake who is over deciding where missionaries who are waiting for visas go. We currently have about 14 companionships that are sustained by visa waiters. This Friday we got a call from Salt Lake informing us that 7 of the visa waiters are flying out over today and tomorrow. Usually when they go they go one at a time, but this group is going together. So we've had to realign a few companionships and we're hoping to get some new visa waiters in next week. It was kind of funny because that same day Elder Hansen and I talked about how if all the visa waiters got called to their missions then pretty much an entire zone would be completely gone!
That's pretty much what's been happening since last Wednesday. Zone conference and ZLC are this week. We're focusing on understanding the Holy Ghost and receiving revelation. Elder Hansen and I are training on asking the right questions in order to receive revelation. It'll be fun. That's about it though. Hope everyone has a great week!
Jan. 27, 2010
Hey, sorry I couldn't e-mail on Monday. Things just got pretty busy with the new arrivals. We had nine new ones coming in. One of the missionaries mentioned the first night in conversation that his mom was obsessed with the Tennessee Nashville Mission now and was looking up people's blogs and was talking with someone's dad, then I remembered what you had written me about someone contacting you about it and it made me smile and then I let him know that it was my Dad.
Another thing we did last week is a member visit with the Tolk family. She is a professional pianist and he is a chemist for Vanderbilt, and their son is a professional painter. We talked about how the gospel has blessed each of our lives and Brother Tolk talked about how he was never very mentally active in the church and never intended on going on a mission. Then when he was in college he had 2 very influential institute instructors whom he visited with one-on-one quite often and they eventually influenced him to go on a mission. Those two teachers were Henry B. Eyring and Truman G. Madsen!! They're older and very successful; just to judge what kind of home they live in, Garth Brooks was their next door neighbor a few years back. Brentwood's crazy!
Today was a little weird. We took the departing missionaries to the airport and in the group was Elder Calkins and Elder Cornado, who were both in my district back in Hendersonville. It was really weird to drive them to the airport and watch them go through security. It wasn't really sad for me or anything else, it was just really bizzare. In the back of my mind I know that they're going home and they're going to resume life as normal, but it just seems like we're sending them on a really long transfer or that we're sending them through this gate but no one really knows what happens on the other side. I don't know how to explain it but it was a strange feeling. We took them to the airport this morning at 5 a.m., so we were loading up their stuff at 4:30 a.m. then at 8ish I did my trailer certification, where we hook up the trailer to the van and I drive it around. For the certification it only requires a half hour, but we don't like using the trailer unless it's really needed. So we loaded it up with old furniture and took it down winding country roads to the dump and then drove out to Linden to help a senior couple move, then back to Brentwood to pick up more stuff then out to Lebenon, so we got back home about 7. So now I feel alright about driving with the trailer.
I'm really sorry about the memory card, I have an envelope addressed and ready to go, but my original plan was to wait until I got the pictures from this Saturday on it because we were planning on burning the altar from zone conference and roasting hot dogs. However with some situations that came up, President couldn't be there and Elder Cornish of the 70 came for a regional meeting and was staying at the mission home, so we thought it not wise to start a fire in the back yard until a later time.
I think that's pretty much all. I love you and hope that your having a wonderful week.
Another thing we did last week is a member visit with the Tolk family. She is a professional pianist and he is a chemist for Vanderbilt, and their son is a professional painter. We talked about how the gospel has blessed each of our lives and Brother Tolk talked about how he was never very mentally active in the church and never intended on going on a mission. Then when he was in college he had 2 very influential institute instructors whom he visited with one-on-one quite often and they eventually influenced him to go on a mission. Those two teachers were Henry B. Eyring and Truman G. Madsen!! They're older and very successful; just to judge what kind of home they live in, Garth Brooks was their next door neighbor a few years back. Brentwood's crazy!
Today was a little weird. We took the departing missionaries to the airport and in the group was Elder Calkins and Elder Cornado, who were both in my district back in Hendersonville. It was really weird to drive them to the airport and watch them go through security. It wasn't really sad for me or anything else, it was just really bizzare. In the back of my mind I know that they're going home and they're going to resume life as normal, but it just seems like we're sending them on a really long transfer or that we're sending them through this gate but no one really knows what happens on the other side. I don't know how to explain it but it was a strange feeling. We took them to the airport this morning at 5 a.m., so we were loading up their stuff at 4:30 a.m. then at 8ish I did my trailer certification, where we hook up the trailer to the van and I drive it around. For the certification it only requires a half hour, but we don't like using the trailer unless it's really needed. So we loaded it up with old furniture and took it down winding country roads to the dump and then drove out to Linden to help a senior couple move, then back to Brentwood to pick up more stuff then out to Lebenon, so we got back home about 7. So now I feel alright about driving with the trailer.
I'm really sorry about the memory card, I have an envelope addressed and ready to go, but my original plan was to wait until I got the pictures from this Saturday on it because we were planning on burning the altar from zone conference and roasting hot dogs. However with some situations that came up, President couldn't be there and Elder Cornish of the 70 came for a regional meeting and was staying at the mission home, so we thought it not wise to start a fire in the back yard until a later time.
I think that's pretty much all. I love you and hope that your having a wonderful week.
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