Monday, August 31, 2015

Sword Fights

Hello Everyone,

This past Monday we went over to the Knoll’s and we had a foam sword fight, lots of fun for a missionary.  Tuesday I went on exchanges to Stockbridge with Elder Richardson.  When we got to their apartment the person above them had a water leak and it came down into theirs and so it smelled pretty bad in there.  But it was ok because we didn't stay long and we were out the door and were doing that missionary thing.  Then we went to their dinner appointment, we had steak... it was awesome.  It’s been too long ☺.  Then we went and saw this less active couple who had not gone to church in 15 years.  They were pretty excited to get back [to going], super exciting to see.  We exchanged back and then we had Chick-Fil-A.  Then we went and saw the Harpers and did some service for them.

Thursday I got sick, but we saw Levi & Joyce.  They are still doing [good].   We had dinner with the Huddlestons and took brother Huddleston on a team to see Sister Henderson in Flovilla.  She is someone we found in Jackson.  We taught her about the Restoration.  The spirit was so powerful.  So hope she reads the Book of Mormon.  My companion loves Burger king so we go there like every other day.  It’s kinda funny.

This weekend we saw Russel and Candy and they are both doing good.  Still working with them and they are coming along.  We also saw this less active Brother Sisk.  He was carrying his 44 mag long barrel and he was cooking 60 pounds of smoked pork.  Yep, but he was really cool.  Sunday was really rainy all day but it cooled things off so it was nice.  We got to see Brother Price.  He's like the coolest guy in Jackson.  We always check up on him and make sure he's doing alright.

Thank you for reading and have a great day!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Lots of Detail This Week

Hello everyone,

The time goes too fast, especially when you’re having fun!  This week we found a lot of people and it was a lot of fun because we knocked the apartments a lot this week.

Monday we went and saw Bro. Price and we had frozen dinners with him.  Not the best dinner I've had out here but it was a lot of fun to talked to Brother Price.  He's a good guy.  We then went to see his friend who lived pretty close to him but he wasn't down to talk with us on Monday.  Oh well, [maybe] next time.

Then on Tuesday we had our district meeting and we got President [Foote’s] new rules and clarifications.  So that was kinda cool. I guess nothing really different.  Did some finding, then we went and saw Levi & Joyce.  They are doing good they been strong in the word of God and still coming to church.  Then we saw some people in Flovilla and then we had dinner with the Knights.

Wednesday we saw Sister Cox in the nursing home and talked to her a bit and read the BoM with her.  [She is a] sweet old lady.  Then we went up to Jackson lake and found a few part member families around Sister Kirkland’s and also saw Sister Kirkland and had dinner with her.

Thursday was really short because of weekly planning so we helped Sister Kirkland with her pond and then we rushed over to the Knolls where we had dinner with them.  Also, today we are going to sword fight with foam swords so it’s going to be fun.  That night we then saw Brother Swafford.  We talked to him and we are trying to help him overcome addictions.

Friday we saw my favorite Investigators, the Harpers, and then we did a ton of finding that day so it as a good day.

Saturday we did service for the Wicklunds and she made us breakfast.  We cut down some under growth and trees and stuff.  Then we had lunch and then went and saw Russell.  Russell has like ten guitars or more and a drum set so I took the chance to play with him.  He was on the drums and me on the guitar, it was a good time.  We then taught him about the three kingdoms of glory in 1 Corinthians 15.  It was a really good lesson for him.  He has more question, so he's still down to talk plus he enjoys playing with me!  Haha!

Sunday the Harpers came to church and that was a surprises.  After church we had dinner at the Stansel's and Brother Stansel went on a team up with us and we saw some people with him.  The rest of the night we went finding.

Thanks for reading my very long letter!  Keep praying for me!  Love ya all!

Monday, August 17, 2015

New Companion, Elder Waite

Hello everyone,

This week we saw Russel and had a powerful lesson and with out us asking him he quit smoking on Monday.  So we see he is making changes in his life and it’s exciting!  Elder Mascrenas, and I saw Levi & Joyce the night before transfers.  We talked briefly because it was late but we invited them to church and they did come and we are meeting at their house Tuesday at 4 with Sis Menard who's a good friend of theirs.

This week was transfers.  My new companion is Elder Waite from St. John's, Arizona, a little small town. Fun thing, we got to do is go up to Atlanta.  Elder Waite taught this lady and she wanted him to baptize her so we got to go back to Atlanta.  It was pretty awesome!!!

Thanks for all you all do!

Monday, August 10, 2015

Investigator from Burnt Hickory Baptized

This week was Awesome!  We saw a lot of miracles happen and we found a lot of people that were prepared.  Also, I was able to have Elder Platt come to my area and we had a very powerful exchange.  I hope it was a positive experience for him.  We were able to see a few of our less active members and read from the Book of Mormon.  Also we were able to see our investigators, the Harpers.  They had us for dinner and we shared a message with them.  While we were still up in the McDonough area we did some finding with members and we were able to find this man who has a younger family.  So we are going to see them Tuesday.

We found Russel about week and a half ago and he is a man who we studying with Elders up in South Carolina.  We were able to sit down and we talked about and read in the Book of Mormon.  Afterwards he told us it was true so we were so excited.  He also plays Guitars, Bass, and Drums so he and I jammed for a minute.  It was pretty cool.    Sunday, Levi & Joyce came home from Louisiana.  We are excited that they are back in town now.

This week is transfers and Elder Mac is leaving Jackson, off to white wash a new area and train as well so good luck to him!  I'm staying here to hold down the fort and to baptize as well.

Cool story.  I just found out about one of my investigators in Burnt Hickory who I had work with a lot was baptized just this past week.  I was super excited to hear about that.  It took him about 8 months from start to being baptized, but he did!

Thank you for all that you guys do!!!!

Bread that Tyler baked

The fence we helped build for the knolls


Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Two Trips to Atlanta

Hello everyone,

This week we were busy with meetings in Atlanta.  We had zone training up in Atlanta and we were able to go to the temple.  That is a blessing in and of its self.  I always try to have questions in mind of how to help our investigators and I usually get an answer.  So I invite ya'all to do the same in your life!

At our zone training we were instructed on what we should teach and the direction President Foote wants to go.  He put a strong empathizes on The Book Of Mormon and being exactly obedient.  The Book of Mormon making sure that we read it with our investigators and getting them to read on their own.  After zone training we were driving back and the gps did something weird and had us drive right through down town Atlanta at 5 pm on a Thursday so we hit the worst of it.  We didn't get back until like 8 pm that night so it was a long day in the car.

Early this week we had a lesson with Candy and our awesome team up didn't have a baby sitter so we had to go on our own, but were able to read from the book of Mormon with her and so we are excited.

Friday we had to go to Atlanta again for a doctor appointment and since I am the driver I got to go to midtown.  Oh boy!  Was that an adventure!  But we made it.  Afterwards we went and helped the Knolls put up a fence in their back yard.  Saturday we went finding most of the day and found this one neighborhood that like had not been “knocked” before which is really rare here.  But we were able to talk to this one guy who talked to missionaries while he was working down in Columbia (South America) and had a copy of the Doctrine in Covenants.   He is really cool and plays guitars.  He has like 10 guitars hanging on the wall of his house.  It reminded me of home, like yours dad!

This week was full of fun things that happened.

Thank you for your prayers and everything you do at home for me!  It means a lot!

Love you all!

Fast Week!

Hello everyone,

This week was probably my fastest week ever.  It flew by super quick!  Last P-day my companion and I went and played ping-pong over at the church.   It was a lot of fun.  We got to where we could put a lot of spin on the ball so we got pretty good.  As we were playing we got a call from bro. Harper and he saw our car at the church.  So he wanted to know what was up?  We let him in and he used to play in the Army so he kind of just destroyed us, but it was still really fun.  That night bro. Huddleston took us and we went to see Emma and Willie in Jenkinsburg.

The rest the week seems to mush together.  Friday we went on a time up with Bro. Denio to see an older-ish couple and he's a really funny guy and so he was able to open some doors for us.  He himself committed to get them to church in less than 4 weeks so that was pretty exciting to see.

This week we found that he have to go to Atlanta twice which is about one hundred miles round trip so we will be doing some walking and riding of the bikes!

I would like to inform “you’s all's” that you should give missionaries lots of "GOOD" referrals; ones that they can teach not just see.  To get a good referral is like getting a shot gun for Christmas!!!  Please be a blessing for a missionary in your area....but really, it’s like the greatest thing ever.

So recently I've been studying in "Jesus the Christ" and it is like the greatest book other than the scriptures.  I would highly recommend reading it.  I gave myself a haircut last night.  It’s not too bad doing the front but when it comes to the back, it was a challenge.

I love you all! Keep the Faith!