Amazing Week

Wow this week has been amazing let me tell you. We had a zone conference this week and we had the opportunity to here from Elder Kenneth Johnson from the Quorum of the 70. It was amazing to be able to sit and shake his hand and talk one on one with him. He is definitely a man of God and has a very strong spirit. Grandma Baker would love him and his wife just because of his accent. He is from London, or some place over there, and then we had a fireside the next day with him it was great.

Then it got better because Ray got baptized on Saturday. It was amazing, the spirit was so strong. Then the next day I had the opportunity to give him the Holy Ghost and next Sunday he gets the priesthood. He is loving the gospel so much and he wants to come visit us in Colorado some time. The only thing that was not so cool was that Elder Aguilera got food poisoning bad and was sick for a few days. But he is all better now.

We have another cool friend that we are teaching named Drea and she is way cool too. She is planning on getting baptized in the near future also, she is way cool. Well this is Elder Aguilera’s last week and he is doing great, so pray for him because he isn’t too happy about going home because he loves his mission so much.

Well family love you lots and tell Alex he will love his mission. I want to tell him about it because Riverside and LA are pretty much the same environment. I am happy for him.


Kenneth Johnson
Sustained to the Second Quorum of the Seventy March 31, 1990, at age 49; sustained to the First Quorum of the Seventy April 3, 1993. Former regional representative and stake president; converted to the Church in 1959. Graduated from Norwich City College in England and did graduate work at the City and Guilds of London Institute of Printing; former college instructor and partner in a British insurance brokerage firm. Born July 5, 1940, in Norwich, England, to Bertie A.M. and Ada Hutson Johnson. Wife, Pamela Wilson Johnson; parents of one son.

Bus Rides

Well this week has been just as good as all the other weeks. One thing that is different is that our investigator really has been out with us every day this past week, except Tuesday and it has been way fun.

We are starting to get a little cool over here; it must be preparation for me- AAAAAH!

Oh yeah, we have retired our bikes for the rest of our missions. We are full on bus rides, it is way fun and we get to talk to people on the bus too, I love it. Thanks for the packages and that huge card it was great. I love you all family.

Wooo hooo 21

Well Family thanks for the cool packages and sweet emails you all gave me. I have to say this is one of the best b-days ever because of all the love I feel from you and all the members here. I know I have been telling you all about how great our week has been going but I have to say that it is getting way way better. I have to tell you, our friend Ray decided he wanted to get baptized so he is really exited about that. It is way cool because I feel he is more of a friend than any thing else; I probably will keep in contact with him for the rest of my life. Just know he is way cool.
We have a lot of other people that we are teaching that are making great choices also. I was talking to my companion while we were laying in our beds and we both find that we are so busy we have no time to dilly dally or even relax, not that we want to but if we did we couldn’t, it is awesome. You wake up and before you know it you are sleeping again, I like it. So I was told you got my flight plans in the mail or that you will soon so. But I want all you guys to stay focused as well. I don’t know what on but do it…
Thanks family I love you.

Happy Halloween

Wow, it sounds like a lot of good and sad things are going on. I am glad you are going to have a girl Erica, now you can save money and use hand me downs- woo hoo! Well that is sad about Mike’s wife, I will pray for lot’s of things.

Well this week has been great. I have never been this blessed with this much work my whole mission; it is way great to have this much work. I have to say that it is nice to not have any time to just tract for 4 hours at a time and we have a team up every day, it is great. You know all those missionary experiences that all missionaries want? All those text book questions and answers from investigators? That is the kind of stuff we are getting! Stuff like "Will you teach me about the restored gospel?" "Come into my home and teach me about it all!" Even the most famous one "When can I get baptized?" I love it! It is such a blessing to be here right now.

As for not telling anyone that I am leaving soon, it is impossible because all they ask us is ‘how long we have been out’ and stuff like that. That is very specific but I try not to bring it up too much. Oh yeah, everyone is telling me it is way cold there. And me, who is climatized, am a little worried to go from 80 mid-day to 50 mid-day, eeeeeeeeeekkk. Oh well. Well family, I love you and have a good one!

Horse Dog

Hey Family,
Sorry for not writing this past week I didn’t even really get to have a P-day because we were so busy; but it wasn’t a to eventful week. This week a few things happened, first we have this investigator. His name is Ray Boreddo and he is doing so well in progressing (He most likely will get baptized soon). But we had the opportunity to go over to his house (and see it because normally we teach at Starbucks) but we went inside and he has the biggest dog I have ever seen. It is an English Mastiff and the nicest dog ever. I have pics I will show you when I get home but it was pretty cool to play with it; it is kind of like playing with a horse. We are also teaching a man named Elijah and he is from the south, so it is really hard to understand him at first but after an hour it gets easier. Now I know what David Perley felt like when he went on his mission to the south, all that Ebonics and stuff. Ok love you all


English Mastiff

Conference and Cockroaches

Hey Family,
I am feeling a lot better, a whole lot better. I was just miserable last Monday but all better. So I have to tell you about this experience from last week. Okay so we visited this old investigator and he has had some drug problems his whole life. He hit rock bottom and didn’t know what to do so he called us over. We went over and his house was a mess and normally I ignore that but the longer I sat there the more I noticed that the walls were moving and then I lost focus of him and I guess the cockroaches got use to us and started to come out EVERYWERE, IT WAS SERIOUSLY EVERYWERE! Huge ones the size of your entire thumb! They got all over me, so when we got home we had to check ourselves before we went inside so we didn’t take them inside our apartment. We had a team up with us at that time and he called us back when he got home and told us he had them in his pants and in his crack it was a awful experiences but its not like we stopped going over we just meet with him in other places (other than his house).
So conference, I can honestly say that Elder Holland’s testimony on the Book of Mormon is by far my most favorite talk ever! Just listen to it on line again, it is so cool!



Other than that, this week has been way cool. Lots of cool experiences that I can’t write down (it needs to be told face to face) so I will tell you those later. Well love you family, stay safe.

Sick

Well Family, I am so sorry but this email is just going to be as short as the last one because I am so so sick. I don’t know where it came from but I got it. I guess I could have got it from anywhere, I do meet a lot of people. So the conference and the cockroaches- I need you to remind me of for the next email, Okay? I love you all family and you all are in my prayers.

Growth

Well this week is better; I have grown a lot. I have had such a desire to work more and more. We had President Interviews this past week and President told me he almost moved me in the middle of the transfer because there was a young missionary in the mission who did not get along with his companion and had problems (and stuff like that) and I was about to go on another assignment. I was scared to death but it all worked out and I stayed because he felt I needed to stay.
I have a companion that is really easy to get along with but at the same time he is being vary hypocritical and jerk-ish but I am trying not to get mad at him and be patient. But he is still a good kid.
I have a story, I can for sure say that being an a bike as long as I have has been a benefit in my legs. I was riding up a hill about two days ago (and a very steep one) and out of no where, guess what comes running.. yes a dog at full sprint. So I don’t know if it was the adrenalin pumping or the legs but I beat that dog up the hill and for sure down it- it was intensely fun. He did get really close but maybe that was my fuel. Well, I am sorry my spelling is way off today (well more that usual). Well, I got to go but I love you family.

Uuuuuuuuuu

I am so sorry but unless the Lord helps me I will not remember the week right now or what I wanted to tell you today. It just seems that as I go through the week I have all these things I want to tell you but when the time comes I draw a blank. I guess I need to start writing them down, yeah that is what I will do.......Well the work is still going great, I still am loving all the work. We are hardly ever on our bikes anymore because we are always with a member in there car but that’s not a bad thing, that is really good. A lot of the time we go out with the priests; it is way cool to go out with them because they all want to know all they can about missionary work before they go on their missions. I wish I was more into the missionaries when I was back home. Maybe I could have progressed faster than I did. One of the things that I am doing to stay focused and not think about how much time I have left is, when people ask me how long I have been out I just say “a long time” because to me it is going to be a long time which is okay with me. I really am loving my mission and I want to die strong, and I will.

Sweeeeeeeeet

Ok so this week has been pretty hard work-wise, just because we have a whole lot to do but I LOVE IT! It is such a good feeling to have so much HARD work. We all hear that the Lord’s work is the hardest work ever and I can for sure put my vote in on that one. I love to be busy. The thing that I am working on is working on my weaknesses and making them strengths. I have seen myself getting prideful a little and I know (and I mean I know that is not good) so I keep having to remind myself that I am nothing (Nothing with out the Lord). But there are good things that are coming to me also, I feel like the veil is being lifted for me to gain knowledge. I am learning so much so fast but it is great; just because I get to testify of the truth of the gospel but not of what I learned about because most of what I learn is too much to be taught. I just know that it has to all be correct and that there are no flaws in the gospel. “The puzzle is being put together...fast." I love you family and always pray for knowledge.

New Transfer

Well we are in a new transfer and I am staying. I only have two transfers and a half left. But I am glad to stay in Moreno Valley longer because I am teaching a lot here and learning a lot as well. I notice that every time that I teach I learn at the same time. That is because we are saying what the spirit is directing, so the words that come to the mind are what we are suppose to say and I learn from those words. I love to have the spirit as the 2nd companion that I work with, He is a great help. I have to say that the quote that mom and dad gave me was exactly what I needed. So our baptism received the Holy Ghost on Sunday it was great.
Well I didn’t have a really exiting week, so it may not be a long email. But I am working on those questions to the best of my ability; I will send them to you in the mail. Love you.

Eeeore

Erica you got another cutie on the way- wooo hoooo! That is great news! That is such a weird thing because we had a lesson the other week about when the spirit enters the body and it was cool to say to this lady, who had a baby that was 7 months old, that her baby was with her Father in Heaven 8 months ago. So Erica you can say your new baby was with our Heavenly Father 1 month ago. Makes you think that babies are a lot more heavenly than we think.
So the baptism was amazing, there was so many people that we had to have it in the chapel. But it was a good one, the spirit was strong.
Well this is the last week of the transfer so we will see if I stay or go. I have to let you know that I have never been this busy my whole mission, it is great I love it. Most of it is us just working all the time- work work work- it’s the best! That is why I don’t want to go home.... well one of the many reasons and I have loved to learn to be obedient (or how ever you spell that word, I guess I should learn how to spell it if it is that cool). Well this week I get to train all the missionaries in the zone, I can’t count how many times I have trained on my mission but I am really exited about this one because it is about Recognizing the Spirit.
Another thing, this Elder I am with is getting better. I think all he needed was a push into the work. He should be fine now. Well family I love you and all your prayers and emails. Love you!

Temperature: 100°F, Clear

So So So Busy

Ok so this week has been so so so busy. I have never been this busy in my whole mission. It is great! The only down side to this is that I have been sick the whole time and it isn’t fun. But because of us teaching so much I have become a great teacher and am drawing so close to Christ. It has been great. My companion is getting better.
Lets see what else…? I am getting real tired of people telling me, “Ooooooh you are going home soon! Are you exited?” Because honestly, I am not all that exited to come home but at the same time I am. Ask mat or Erica, they can explain the feeling I am having- weird weird. Well this one is going to be a shorter one. Oooh, I forgot I don’t remember if I told you, we have another baptism this up coming Sunday. Way way way cool, I am exited for this one, in the next email I will tell you all about it, just remind me because I might forget.
PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM WOO HOO

Temperature: 81°F, Clear

Letter 8/17/09

So this week has been pretty good. We had our baptism on Saturday and it was awesome! I guess the main thing that I have to say is that I have never worked this hard in my entire mission. We have so much to do right now, teaching all the members and stuff- it is awesome. I love it when all day we are sitting in a home with a family and teaching a lesson and that is what we have been doing all week. We are barley even on the street anymore. We are always in a home, some of the time we don’t even use our bikes in a day we just get a ride from appointment to appointment- it is awesome, I love it.
So we have this new guy we are teaching his name is AJ. He is Asian and really smart in the Bible (just a Christian believer) and we have had a few discussions with him. But he sure is a hard one to teach because of all the questions he has but that is okay- no biggie.
Well I thank you for all your prayers and I want you to know I feel them. Love ya!

P.S- I am now emailing in the mornings on Monday- so if you want to get a email to me it would have to be before then. LOVE YA

Good Week

It sounds like things are going great with you all. Andrew is getting baptized? I have to see him in his white! And then Jasen getting the priesthood-wow!! And then there is Melanie getting her new world, pretty much- that is so cool. First I have to thank my sister Erica for being the good sister she is because she really has the words that I need at the right time.
Well I have a way cool story for you all, this pasted Sunday after sacrament meeting my companion and I were on our way out and this lady stopped us on the way and this is what she said "I have a little girl named Alisha and she is 9 years old and I would like here to get baptized....... on Saturday" WHAT!!! I was shocked but so exited at the same time. I have never had something happen to me like that before it was sweet, what a blessing. But then we go on through the day and I notice this boy when we were in priests (we were just in there that day) and afterwards he came up to us and said "I have taken the lessons at the beginning of the year but couldn’t get baptized because my mom didn’t want me to. But now I am 18 and I feel like I need to be baptized" WHAT!!!! Wow my heart sank in gratitude it was amazing! At first I didn’t understand why this was happening to us and not other missionaries but I will do whatever the Lord wants, so we will get it done. So we have a baptism this Saturday. Well the rest of the week was cool, we are getting a lot of work done we are always busy but I love you all and will talk to you later.
Temperature: 63°F, Clear

Say What?

Wow, that is awesome that every one (the scouts) got to go over Pawnee Pass again. That for sure is a great place. I loved it up there. Anyway I have got some news for you about this special assignment, it actually isn’t that bad. He is a good kid and loves to work, that is when he does work. See that is what I am talking about, he said he use to be a missionary who never worked but now he is going to finish strong and that is good. He goes home in December with me (about two weeks earlier than me) so we may or may not go home together we will see.
Anyway, you want a story about a non member? Huh, well I will tell you a story about how I came to know that I am so so so much more blunt and bold about life and other things now. It showed me I am for sure not the same person as when I left. We met this guy walking to an appointment and while we were sharing and just about ready to leave he started to ask us all these questions; like what he can and can’t do and we did explain most of the questions. But he started to get into some ridicules ones such as, “Can I eat humans?” or “Is that wrong?” And I just about fell on my butt (in shock) and we found out then he was a Satanist and I hard core called him to repentance, along with my companion (this is when I was with Elder Durbin). I have never seen so much guilt in a person’s eyes before. I sure hope he felt godly sorrow- geesh. That was about three weeks ago but it was a good one I didn’t tell you so there you go, a non-member in SO CAL.
So I want to tell you a little about my companion. He is super skinny and from Austin, Texas and he is proud of it. We also have another Texan in the apartment, so I get to here about the state all the time but it is good, I guess I get to learn.
Have you found Bill next door to be ready to take the missionary lessons? Because I think he would make a great member. This is a fun game that keeps you missionary minded, look at a person that is a non-member and imagine what calling they might be good at. It really makes you want them to be a member and you do the work. Try it! Well I got to go love you all.

Temperature: 90°F, Partly Cloudy

Gun

Hey Family,
How’s it going? I have some new news; Elder Durbin is leaving, which is really sad because I have a good time with him I feel really sad to have him go. I am getting a new missionary, a troubled one I have to fix President said. I am not to excited for that, I just want to have a normal companion. Elder Durbin is going to Murieta to train; he is really exited about that. I will have to make my own speculations about this kid because everyone else’s is not good.
Well as for the week, it has been good and we have picked up a few new investigators. It made me happy to see there is hope in this area- ha ha. For a while I didn’t think the work would go anywhere but it has, so now we can get teaching. So I would like to know something, what are the missionaries in our ward and who are they? I would like to know about them. That is so nice of you to shine there shoes and shine them for them. I hope they noticed.
So the other night all 4 missionaries were out on the porch (because our house was 90 degrees in side because our AC broke) and we heard 5 gun shots about 100 yards away from us- it was intense. But funny at the same time because we have a greenie named Elder Smith in the apartment and he has never heard any gun shots in his life except for in the movies, it was fun to see his reaction. Ok well I have to get going now but I love you all and will talk to you next week!
Temperature: 97°F, Clear

Hot hot hot

Okay Family, So I don’t know where to start. For this week it has just been so sparatick and weird so if this email sounds a little weird forgive me. Ok so it has been really hot out here lately. I have never sweat this much in my whole life! We have to carry a towel with us so when we get off our bikes, either to tract or to go to a lesson, we can dry ourselves off- it is nuts.
So I have this Sister in our ward who is letting us use here weight loss stuff that she sells for free. It is called herbalife it is natural stuff. I don’t know what will happen but I hope it works because from what I see in the pictures everyone is getting thin and healthy and I am getting big. All I know is that when I get back all I want to do is run because I have biked my heart out and I want to do some running, I have turned into a health fanatic.





Oh, I forgot there is a good side to all the heat all the people feel for us and let us in at the door but we always end up right back out on the street- they must not like letting the heat in the house.... Ooooooooh I hate it when that happens, I had something to tell you but I forgot grrrrr! Oh well. Well the area is small in every way- population, geographically, membership- also it almost seems like we have a branch. Well fam, I got to go, love you all and will talk to you next week.
Go across the street and share the gospel right now or if you are at work go talk to one of your coworkers right now, ready.... GO!

This week’s weather for Riverside:
Tue: 99°F
Wed: 100°F
Thu: 101°F

Area

Hey Family,
How’s everything going were... well were ever you all are at the moment? I know that you are doing some traveling but what is up? Any way I thought I would tell you a little about the area I am serving in. It is probably one of the smallest areas I have ever served in my whole mission, but it is good because I am still a bike- which I love because you get to talk to more people than when you are in car. Now the sad thing is we don’t have a lot of investigators, just a lot of potentials. One of the investigators, his name is Chris Brown, you know like the singer, it isn’t the real singer but it is a fun thing to talk to him about. Then we have Alex. Now Alex is special, she is 17 and has a 2 year old boy. Yeah she was 15 when she had him but she is a trooper and does very well for herself. She is very nice and loves to hear what we have to say. Well as for the members they are alright, there are very few families that take care of the missionaries well but they do a very good job of it. I really do like this place, it is great and I had a great 4th of July. We got really hot that day. I hope yours went well also. Love you all.

Temperature: 79°F, Clear

Dog Hit

Alright this week has been interesting. We have got a lot of work done but we also have got a bunch of trials. Okay, first I have a cool experience for y’all, Elder Derbin and I were riding down the most ghetto street you can think of in our area (the street is called Hemlock) and we were trying to get home as fast as we could. And as we were going I was right next to Durbin and I herd him yell, “WHAT THE HECK?” I looked over ready to fight who ever was messing with him and then I saw him staring at the ground (mind you we were still riding really fast through all of this) but I looked at the ground also and then I saw a small dog about the size of Bootsey (Brother Witt’s dog) right in front of Elder Derbin’s bike. He straight up nailed that dog and made it fly into a car- it was so funny (but also so sad at the same time) but the dog was fine. In fact it actually got up and chased after us. Aaahh, good times good times! So that is the experience of the week.
I hope everything is going good for all of you. I am glad that Wyatt had his blessing. Well Mom and Dad, the thing you got from Moreno Valley court is because I got a ticket for not wearing a seat belt. I know I should have been wearing it- it honestly was the one time I wasn’t but I will try to take care of it.
Love ya

Sweeeeeet

Hey Family,
How’s the life going? Sounds good! I got your letters and I got to see the tornado and wow I didn’t know that Colorado got cool stuff like that. So I do have to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY! I hope all of you Dad’s had a good Father’s Day, we had a good dinner on Fathers Day, they were nice people. The rest of the week has been ok. I am sick and I actually have been sick for a few weeks. Sorry Mom I thought it would go away but now I feel awful because Elder Durben got it to. So that is a bummer. Also we found out that other Elders are pouching from us in our area- how lame is that? Yea not cool at all. We are going to have to lay down the law, ha ha. Other wise the week has been alright. I have good news, I have lost 9 pounds of fat in one week wooo weeee. It is because of this cool member who put us on this special diet. It is way cool. So Mom and Dad I don’t know if my Ward Mission Leader called you again yet but he left a message on your machine, so you can check that if you want to. Well I promise I will have a cool story for you next week, ok.
Love you.
Temperature: ~ 82°F, Clear

MO VAL

What happened in Hemet? I just was needed to be in another spot in the mission.

What happened to your new companion? He is staying in Hemet and is fine. But he was good to be with.

Did you like being in the mission home? No, I didn’t. Just because being an Office Elder we don’t get a lot of time to work in the field, I felt useless.
How long were you there? A week.

Are you in Moreno Valley now? Yeah I am now in Mo Val (as they call it) and to tell you the truth, I might finish my mission here. Which reminds me, I might be coming home 30 days early for school. President said it is not good for an elder to go home and immediately leave to school and not spend time with family.

Who is your new companion? ELDER DURBIN and I can tell you now this elder is by far my most favorite comp. We get along so well and are so much alike and he is so nice too, he is a good guy.

Did you go to your new ward yesterday? Yeah, it was nice but our ward is super small.

Is it hot down there yet? No actually it has been super cloudy and I have only seen the sun 3 times. It is freezing. Well.... at least to me it is.

I really do love this area. It is going to be a good experience for me. The work here is great and the people are... interesting!

New

My Dearest Family,
I am sorry about last week and about how lame of an e-mailer I am. But I this week have had a hard time. I love my ward. I love Hemet but I feel they are getting to close to me as a missionary, so I decided I needed to move. So I will now be serving in Moreno Valley, I don’t know with who but for a while I have been an office assistant and I hear that is hard work, so I am glad to be moving.
I have been a little discouraged lately so I could use your prayers. It is just, I love the Hemet ward so much but I can’t serve around people that are just to close, such as those miamaid things. Mom you tell the Young Women to stay away from the Elders, it is no good.
Anyway, other than that, things are good and I am in Riverside again but not for long now that I might be getting transferred. Well there is one thing I need to know and that is when does school start? I need to know just because President does not want me to miss school. So he might send me home a little early (30 days at most). So just to let you know.
Temperature: ~ 75°F, Partly Cloudy

CTR

Ok Family, so I am sorry I haven’t been doing to well on the e-mailing. Ok so this week went pretty well. We should be having 12 baptisms (typo 2?) on the 14 this month. I am really exited and what not! I have to say training is really fun and all but it drains the heck out of the trainer. It is ok and all, it is just really hard to do and I am afraid that the Mission President might make me a District Leader next transfer- which is twice the presser on me. But oh well, what ever the Lord wants I will do.
The persecution has gone down, that or I am use to it by now. It does not bother my boy but we will give it time, he is a strong lad. Well, I will tell you what, I want a list of things you all want to know from me; the area, my comp, anything really and so that way I have something to go off on a tangent with. Ok family I love you!
Temperature: 63°F, Overcast

Short

I love you All! I don’t think I will be able to talk this week but next week will be great! But I do have to say WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO for WYATT! He looks like a good one!! Ok I will talk to you later.

Quakes and New Boy

Ok how about them (((((quakes))))) -woo weee- those quakes are fun! Yes, Andrea I did feel them and it was big/ fun. My boy just about freaked out. He has never felt anything like that in his life, it was funny. So this week has been ok. We have not had a lot of success but we are having a good time. We wont be having a baptism this week due to our investigator flipping out on us; if you have any questions about that talk to Mom, Brea or Dad they all heard about it ... I think.
I am having a fun time training this boy. It truly is a blessing to have that greenie fire around again. It sure gives me a boost. Here is a little about my true greenie boy. He really is new and you can tell he is a “Elder Calhoon.” If you have ever seen the ‘Best Two Years’ you know how Elder Calhoon is. He has already gotten in 6 bike accidents, he forgets to take off his helmet and ends up tracting with it on, sometimes forgets to put on a tie and notices half way through the day, shoes untied always, smiling the whole nine yards and I love him to death! He is and will make a great missionary.
Well I love you all and will talk to you on Monday.

bloooop blop

Well I hope you all had a good Mothers Day! I love Mothers Day, we get to think about all the good times we had with our mothers. If you have any questions about what is going on just talk to mom or dad or Breanne. Sorry I didn’t get to talk to all the rest of you, time was short. We had to get to dinner, which by the way was awesome! I have never ate that much in my entire life... (except for maybe Big Juds) but they were Tongan, so that explains it. I love you all and will talk to you next week.















Picture from Big Juds
(Summer 2006)

Mother’s Day ‘Chat’ with Elder Stones

-Clarification on his ‘cut finger’ a couple weeks ago: Elder Lloyd and Elder Stones were sword fighting and he got stabbed in the hand.
You might ask, with what were they fighting? He replied, “Well, we are only missionaries, we don’t have swords. So we were using sticks!”
He said it bled so much that he stuck his finger in an empty water bottle (while Elder Lloyd got medical equipment) and there was an inch and a half of blood in the water bottle (Mom shook her head in shock that he didn’t think to apply pressure- ha). He said there is a really big chunk taken out and he probably should have gotten stitches but he didn’t really want to. He said it keeps opening up, but it is now starting to heal (three weeks later) and that with this cut, the car accident (last year) and some other minor things his right hand is going to have some cool scars!

-How is training? He said he loves it. In the mission when you are the trainer you are referred to as the “Father” figure while the new missionary is the “Son.” So he calls his new companion his ‘Boy.’ He says it is a cool feeling to have someone look up to you and learn from your example. But he says it is a lot harder than just being senior companion- because you are in charge of EVERYTHING.

-His new companion’s name is---------------- (I don’t remember) but he is from Rexburg, ID and Michael says he is quiet. I asked, “Well what kind of a kid is he? Is he a jock, a nerd, outgoing, shy, athletic?” Michael said he is kind of a computer nerd but that all of his companions have been and he really likes them!!
He said when his companion called home to talk to his mom he described Michael as really loud, exciting, full of energy, crazy and danced around! Michael said that he is kind of overwhelming to the boy because he is so blunt and forward with people and the boy is still so shy. But they get along and Michael is excited!

-We sent Michael a new set of pictures and he said, “Wow it looks like everyone is loosing weight in the family. They look great! I guess as they loose weight they are mailing it to me because I am getting chunky!” We laughed about that for a while. He said we are not going to recognize him when he gets home in January- he is now “dark skinned, blonde and fat!” (His words not mine.) Also in that package I sent him Nutty Bar- he said he already ate them all…haha!

- Mom told Michael that she went with the Dawson’s to visit Hemet (where he is at now) she told him everywhere they went. She said that they ate lunch at the Burger King and he said that he only lives a block from there and he can see the Burger King from his apartment window. What a coincidence! But he said the day that she was there they were out in the boonies- so they wouldn’t have run into each other.

-He said that the Swine Flu is EVERYWHERE out there and they have to be really cautious. They have to sanitize and wash their hands all the time. He said that they “even have to refuse handshakes to bums.” He says it’s kind of funny because they just nod or something instead of shake the bums hands- he laughed and said the bums probably think it is against the Mormon religion to shake hands (ha- only when there is swine flu)!

-He says that he really likes Hemet but that his ward is hard because the people are not missionary minded. He said they are just so scared and nervous to share the gospel with their friends. All the missionaries are doing something new called the ‘L. Tom Perry Plan’ (we should all try it- ask your local missionaries) and he said it is not going well in his area because the support of missionary work is not too high.
He said the persecution is still high but he is getting used to it. He said it doesn’t bother him when people throw stuff at them; it’s more when they yell hurtful things. But he said that it’s mostly high school kids and that he has learned to ignore it. He said, “I never thought of Colorado as ‘hick’ until I came out here” in reference to the persecution and amount of bad things that happen.

- When we tried to ask him if he wanted us to register him for college he said yes and then said, “You know I don’t want to come home. I love being on a mission and I am not ready for this to be over. I love it here.” He really sounds like he is having fun and he is already talking about an extended visit at the Dawson’s so that he can visit his mission when he gets home.

- He says he is sorry he doesn’t write longer letters but after he reads the letters he gets and writes one or two they can’t be that long. He also said that he hasn’t sent any video’s because most of them need ‘explaining’ or else Mom would freak out (ha)!

-It sounded like he is getting our prayers and that it would be helpful for all missionaries if we were all just a little more missionary minded and helped out our local missionaries more. (Maybe if we let the missionaries serving in our wards in, someone will let Michael in). He said we should do the ‘L.Tom Perry Plan’ with our local missionaries.

We talked about so much more (but I can’t remember it all) and in the long run he sounds so happy, healthy and grown up (at one point Dad looked at us and whispered “Is this really my son?”). He sounds so great and it was wonderful to talk to him. Next time we talk to him will be Christmas and then he will be coming home (wow)!

Trainer

Well family, I’ve got some crazy news, I got a call Saturday morning from President and he wants me to train a new missionary. So I am now a Trainer! I am a little nervous but exited at the same time. I will be doing all the work for about two weeks but that is ok. I will need your prayers. I am a little bummed that Elder Lloyd is leaving; I had a good time with him. I will let you know more about it next week, I get the boy on Tuesday. Oh yeah, Elder Lloyd and I made a bet, if I trained in another area I would shave my leg and if he would stay in the area he would shave his leg- as you can see we both lost so both our legs are shaven but just one of our legs...... I am not going to lie it is really smooth.
We have another baptism on the 17th his name is Michael, woo hoo great name huh? I am exited for him. Well family, I will talk to you later, perhaps on Mother’s Day!!!!!!!!!!

Temperature: 70°F, Clear

Wicked

So this week has been pretty uneventful; just small things happened. I have come to the conclusion that I have learned more here in Hemet than I have anywhere else. I had an experience this week where I felt like every thing I was searching for fell into place; I was gaining so much knowledge I could not hold it all- it was crazy awesome.
I also got a sweet gash in my finger. I am missing a bit if skin. It was bleeding so much it kind of scared me how much blood there was. I have a picture I will send you all.
It is getting pretty hot also, I am going dark again. I am to the point were I can’t go a day without sweating profusely. I love the heat now, so that is good.
Well transfers are coming up, I may stay, I may go- we will see. I think I am going but only the Lord knows. I kind of want to stay but ... oh well, we will see. I love you family.

Temperature: 63°F, Mostly Cloudy

Exciting Week

Well this week has been really exciting. We, as a zone, had 8 baptism’s this week, one of which was our wards. It was amazing and a great experience. I loved it! This past Sunday (yesterday), I had to give two talks- one in sacrament meeting and the other at the baptism. The one at the baptism went well but the other one didn’t go so well, at least I didn’t think so. But hey, what can I say we had hours to prepare for it- oh well.
The rest of the week went well, we had a lady come down from UVU and tell us about her conversion from Muslim to Mormon, and it was awesome! I will have to get here name for you, so you can look up here story for your self. I love you all and will talk to you next week.

Temperature: 95°F, Clear

Crazy Week

Oh my gosh, I have had a crazy week. We have had so much success we are going to have a baptism this next Sunday-way exited! And we have already had 3 people tell us they want to be baptized. It all went well this week excepted one thing- EASTER SUNDAY, yes yesterday was horrible. I was so sick all day, just puking my brains out- it was awful. We had a good dinner but it still was bad. It was just a 24 hour flu... but it just had to be on Easter- ahhh. I did enjoy it! The cool thing about this week was that the atonement and resurrection meant more to me this year than ever before. It truly meant a lot to me this time. Well this one may be a bit short but I want to thank you for all you are doing to help me in anyway, it may be. I love you!

Temperature: 73°F, Mostly Cloudy

Good Week

Hey Family,
How’s life in cold Colorado (all of you except for Dawson’s)? Well things are going good for me down here. I can now tell you that through the Lord and prayer that things are possible. I have been praying so hard this past week to be a better leader, missionary and companion and that the people won’t bug me as much and that I will be able to find love in them. This past week has been amazing. We had multi-zones so we got to hear from president. Then we had conference, which was so amazing. You know what I have noticed is that when I was at home I wasn’t as exited as I was to see conference as I am out here. My favorite talk was either the one by Elder Holland or Elder Perry; they are good speakers. Here is something I want you to read.

I've learned...... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.
I've learned...... That when you're in love, it shows.
I've learned...... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.
I've learned...... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.
I've learned...... That being kind is more important than being right.
I've learned...... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.
I've learned...... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.
I've learned...... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.
I've learned...... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.
I've learned..... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
I've learned...... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I've learned...... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
I've learned...... That money doesn't buy class.
I've learned...... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
I've learned..... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved..
I've learned...... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I've learned...... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.
I've learned...... That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I've learned...... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.
I've learned..... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I've learned...... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I've learned..... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.
I've learned...... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.
I've learned...... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.
I've learned...... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.
I've learned..... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I've learned...... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I've learned...... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.
I've learned...... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.
I've learned...... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.

Temperature: 82°F, Clear

Seeeet Weeeek

HELLO Familia,
How’s it going? Well well well, so this week has been busy. I think this is the busiest place I have ever been at. There is a ton of work and I love it. The cool thing about this past 7 weeks is I have learnt so much in the gospel. We have this investigator named Mike and he has been asking us really deep questions. You know we try to stay simple but oh well, he wants to know.
So I had a deep conversation with Heavenly Father this passed week and he has helped me a whole lot to get through the hard times of persecution. So I want to know how my family is doing with the economy, just a random thing. Ok, I have to thank you all for the advice. It did help me with persecution.
Well sorry to cut this short but I have to go now but I love you all.

Temperature: 64°F, Clear

Sticks and STONES

Well, sorry for sending like 40 emails last week, the computer was being weird. Hopefully it doesn’t happen this time. So this week, well let’s see… I don’t know if I told you this past week but I am going back to Riverside to baptize a lady that Elder Lamm and I were teaching.
I have to tell you, I am having a hard time. I don’t know why the yelling and screaming at us is affecting me so much. No joke- every time we are on the street some one yells at us. I had a deep conversation with Heavenly Father. We have a lot of good work going on right now and I am so happy but you know it is not good when I am scared to leave any appointment or house or something like that…because of the people.
Well don’t worry about me, I will be fine. I have the Lord on my side, so I know I will be fine. It just must be a learning opportunity or something.
Oh, guess what? I met this lady that said that as soon as I leave Hemet she is going to give me a samurai sword- sweeeeeet huh. Well I think it is!
So we have this new guy named Mike and he is pretty close to Golden. He has some hard core questions that he asks but it is still a cool thing that he has questions. Well I got to go but I love you family and will talk to you next week.

Temperature: ~57°F, Clear

And..AGAIN

Ok so I hate computers- only because I just wrote a sweet letter and it got DELETED in a snap grrrrrr. Oh well, so this week has been interesting. I have been sick for the past 5 days with strep and a nasty cough with all that crap in the back of my throat eewwww.
One thing that has happened this week, or should I say is happening, this week is major hard core persecution. I hate it so bad it makes me so so mad, I have never had this much persecution in my life. There are so many anti-Christ’s here. It makes me want to dust my feet like in the old times, but I don’t do that because I don’t want to be held accountable haha. But I will be fine, you all don’t have to worry about me. I am cool
So we won in softball against the senior softball team…finally. No for real. We have never won one fame and we only beat them by one- woo wee. Good times, good times! So the work is good well, we have a huge teaching pool but none of them will come to church. It can get kind of frustrating.
Well I have got to go. I hope my e-mails are getting better. I do try. Well love you all.

Wowow

So this week has been awful. I have strep and a cough- you know when you have all that crap in the back of your throat, eewww! But oh well. So I am having a hard time right now, a really hard time. Now I know why I was blessed with patients. I have never seen or have had so much persecution in my whole life and it is discouraging every day. It is nothing I want you all to worry about; I know what I have to do.
One good thing I got a call from Elder Lamm and he told me that there is a investigator in Riverside that wants me to baptize her, so in April I get to go back to Riverside, yeah! Finally the cold is leaving- I am tired of it. I guess I have learned to love the heat.
So today we played softball and won against a senior softball team... that has never happened in the history of playing them. So I am pretty happy about that. The whole week has been great we are getting a lot of people to teach; just none will come to church.
One funny thing that happened was that Elder Lloyd was hit on by a drunk lady, it was so funny...she did want us to come back but I don’t know if that was the wine talking or her. But one thing is for sure, if we do go back we will bring a team up. Well family I hope I am doing good on the e mails. I love you all!
p.s. mom I did get the package
Temperature: 48°F, Clear

Brrrrr

Did you make pizza with the pizza stuff we sent?
No not yet. We make up different stuff with the ingredients.

Did you make tacos with the taco stuff we sent?
Yes I did make tacos. I can’t mess that one up.

Did you get some new pants at JC Penny's?
Why yes I did and might I say I look mighty fine in them!

Are you the greatest missionary Hemet has ever seen?
I try to. It is hard because we have the best missionaries in the world here.

Are you on a bike or in a car now?
Oh I am on bike and it totally rocks.

Do you go to the Burger King by the mall?
No not really, I don’t do fast food any more.

Do you go to the Dairy Queen by the mall?
Yes I do eat there- only because a member owns it and we get it for free!

Is your companion doing better? You can be a great example for him.
He is slowly doing better

Is your ward helpful in missionary work?
No this ward sad fully is not helpful at all but we are working with them.

Do they feed you?
3 times a week or 4

Do you thank them? (Lots)
That is all we can do. It lets them know we care for them.

Do you brush your pearly whites?
yes yes

Have you ever had your suit cleaned? (At the cleaners - don't put it in the washing machine.) I try to clean it every 12 weeks

Who is your favorite person in Hemet?
There is this family, the Langston’s they are really cool with the missionaries.

We have had a good week, lots of thing have been going on. It is really cold but I don’t know if it is because I have climate-ised, or if I am a wimp, or if it really is cold. All I know is that Elder Lloyd is not cold at all. I guess I have to bear through it one more time.
Love you family

Temperature: ~63°F, Partly Cloudy

Razzle Dazzle

Okay, I have a few things to talk about this week. The first thing is this thing that happened yesterday, Elder Lloyd and I were just riding talking to people (because all our appointments fell through) but as we were riding all of a sudden we flew in to a swarm of bugs. I don’t know what kind they were, all that I know is that they were everywhere and these weren’t the ones in one spot they were everywhere, for almost 5 miles we were in a swarm. Never in my life has something like that happened, it got so bad we couldn’t see and we actually crashed- just try to imagine that.
The smell of the cows is still here and getting worse... if your going to pray for me pray that the smell wont be so bad because wooo-wee it is bad.
Yesterday, we gave a blessing to a lady whose life pretty much sucks right now and needs some major guidance. I have got to tell ya, I have never felt so much concern and love for one of the people I have met on my mission as I did that moment- I loved it and it happened me a lot. Also she is a little older and gave me good tips on how to treat my wife.... like I need that right now but it was still nice of her to tell us that.
Over all Fam. it was a good week lots of fun with the spirit. Love ya.

Temperature: 70°F, Mostly Cloudy

Smelly

Well I feel bad because I don’t have my planner with me right now and that is where I have all my things that I was going to tell you in- so this may be a bit shorter than all the other ones. This week has been good but the one thing that I am going to talk about this week is the smell here. Ok well you all know the smell of Greeley? Well, this place is 10 times worse. I have never thrown up from a smell before until this week- yes it was that gross! The cows are everywhere and the rain that we just had made it worse, but still it is a nice country places.
Love you
Temperature: 66°F, Overcast

First Week in Hemet

Well Hello There, How’s the coolest family in the world? Well let me tell you about Hemet. This place is a small country town, kind of like a hick town. It is PACKED with older people, yes old people, which isn’t bad. But it seems like a retirement home town. In fact, we baptized an 82 year old lady this past Sunday. We didn’t really teach anything, just preformed the baptism. It is a risky place to live... I will just say it is not as safe anymore as it used to be.

My companion has only been out 6 months, so he is still a little new. His name is Loyde and he is from Kamieye Idaho. He is an odd ball but he has a good heart and that is all he needs. It has been raining all week and Hemet is known to flood. And it is no warm rain- it is really cold.

It is a good place here and I am having a good time. Love you family.

Temperature: 54°F, Overcast

All About Hemet

While looking for interesting facts about Hemet I found...well...some!! Hemet is in the desert (east) of Riverside County but it still beautiful and green.















The most interesting and the thing the city is probably best known for is being the home of "Ramona", a play about a racially discriminated orphan girl growing up on the Mexican colonization of California. Ramona is officially one of the longest running outdoor plays in California, having been started in 1923.

Here are some interesting graphs on the Average climate in Hemet, California!















To learn more about Hemet, CA click HERE!

Transfered....AGAIN

Hey, I don’t have a lot of time, I am getting transferred again, to Hemet in the desert. It sucks getting transferred so much. I would like to just stay in one spot but look on the bright side I get to train a newbie, well kind of he has only been out for 6 months.
But I am going to try and email you again when I get to Hemet but if not I will talk to you next week. I love you so much. I hope you are doing well. I love hearing from you all and your days. I love you.


Ok I have a little bit more time. So this week we have had a ton of rain it is crazy but way fun to ride a bike in, the only down side is I have to remember I am in a tie and tag and all that-so I can’t be to crazy! And now I am getting transferred to the area that Elder Lamm just came from, Fruitvail Ward and I have not heard a lot of good things about that ward, so it is going to be a lot of hard work. That is what I have noticed, if the ward is not supportive or helpful the work is oober hard and it doesn’t help that I am getting doubled in again with some one new. Oh well this is where trust in the Lord helps. I am still exited there is not as many hills to ride up there, we get free dairy queen (but that stuff is probably bad for me-so I wont ever go there). There are always ups and downs to each area.
I think my new comps name is Elder Loides, I don’t know were he is from but I will tell you next week all that stuff. Well, fam got to get going off to pack... again... I love you.

Temperature: ~45°F, Clear

Another Week

Ok well this week has been a good week. We had great experiences, lots to be said, but I am only going to tell you a few, do to time. Well, we have a investigator named Brenda and we have been teaching her for about three weeks now. And we just taught here about baptism and she is exited about getting baptized. But she said she is not ready yet. So we are going to give her time, but she is definitely going to be baptized.
Also you will never believe this but Elder Lamm and I found a jungle. Ok it may be small but it looks like one. It is up in the mountains, or I guess I should say hills, but it had palm trees, vines, all kinds of animals, even those kangaroo rats- I saw one of those things jumping around in there. It was awesome! Elder Lamm and I are going to go back to that place and walk around in it next p-day. Oh by the way, I got to see Danny and Amy. They came to Riverside to see Amy’s twin sister and they invited me over to see them before Danny was deployed in 3 weeks. Over all we had a good week. A lot of good things are happening in my life here on my mission and I love it.

Meeting Up With the Gibson's

Michael was able to see Danny and Amy Gibson in Riverside on Sunday (January 25). Danny and Amy are family friends and Elder Stones is serving in Amy's sister's area in Riverside. The Gibson's got to call and report that Michael is doing great. Danny said that he looks like he's gained some weight(haha)but that he looks healthy and very happy. It was good to hear that Elder Stones is doing good and is happy!!

New Pictures

Stripling Warrior














































































Burning his tie- ½ way through his mission

Crazzy Week!!

Ok, sorry for not emailing you yesterday. It was a holiday and so the libraries were closed.
Anyway, I have a cool story to tell you, so about 3 days ago my companion, Elder Lamm and I, were tracting this street and we weren’t having a lot of success. Then our last door is where the rest of the day changed. We knocked on the door and a man around 70 or 80 opens the door we introduce ourselves and he says "Why I otta’ knock you in the jaw!” He starts walking fast towards us and socks Elder Lamm in the jaw. Lamm turns and runs and I am right behind him. Then I turn around and stop him and asked him what he was doing he replied, “Nothing, come on in and we will talk.” I said no, we are just going to go. Then Elder Lamm went to shake his hand and he pulled him in his house. Luckly Elder Lamm got away, but still it was a close one, but we weren’t worried- he was only 80. But we both thought it was funny. We had a good laugh.
We have had a lot going on. We are now teaching the members, just to get them siked about missionary work. Things are great, all is well but i just had to tell you that one cool experience. Love you family.

One More Year I GET To Serve

Hello family, man do I have some cool stuff to tell you. Well you know I am on special assignment because I am doubled in. Well it is really hard to start a teaching pool if you don’t have one. I want you to know we are being blessed because we are not finding people the people are finding us. We have had 5 new investigators in the past week which is awesome. It really is a humbling experience and we have a great ward to work with, probably the best I have seen in my whole YEAR OF SERVING!!!!!!
Yeah, man has this year gone by fast. I started in Riverside and now I am back. It is like I never left. I truly have had a great year and learned a ton and can’t wait to make this next year better than the first. Thank you families for all you do and your phenomenal support. I love you.

About Elder Lamm

Elder Lamm is from Boise Idaho and is proud of it. He is probably going to be the only companion that I have that is taller than me. He is 6’ 4” (wow) and has a size 14 shoe! He is awesome and great at working, I love it. We work well together.

New Area

Hey Fam,
Sorry I didn’t write you last week but something big happened, I got transferred! But that was way unexpected. I am back in Riverside on a special assignment. My new comp, Elder Lamm, who is way cool by the way, got doubled in to the Canyon Crest Ward on bike and I will tell you what I have never had a harder area. There are so many steep hills and I am not in shape at all but at the end I will be able to do the biggest bike race ever. The work is slow but we will get it going soon enough hopefully. This is going to be tough but hey I got a good companion to help. He is awesome and way funny. Also he is going to probably be my only comp that will be taller than me, its weird being the short one- he is 6’ 4”.
We had a great New Years and Christmas. Elder Marks loved the stocking he said "Stones your fam. is awesome!"
Well I’ve got to go but I love you.