Monday, April 27, 2015

Baptism and Sister Heaton


 We had a baptism this past weekend.  It was a great weekend.
Sister Heaton is just about the sweetest lady you'll ever meet.  I really enjoy living at her house.  She fixes us breakfast every morning and sometimes dinner on Monday nights.
 
Dad,

 This week wasn't too eventful, but it was a great week.  I got to go on exchanges with our district leader his name is Elder Kulu, pronounced kooloo.  He is from the Polynesian Islands. It was fun to hang out with him for a day.  [the other things reported are personal between Kyle and Kota]

Mom,
My favorite investigators right now are Jarrett and Kelsea.  She is a less active member and he is a non member, but they are so cool and loving.  I love going over to their house because its just a laid back teaching opportunity.  My favorite lesson I taught this week was the one about pre-earth life, with Jarrett and Kelsea.  Jarrett went to college and had a bible class, and we were able to discuss scriptures that he already learned about in college.  We were able to answer questions and have a really good discussion.

The area I am in is so small.  It is like from Cleveland Ave. to the outside of town going north, and from Cottage Street out to Dad's work.  That is what the area kind of looks like.  So far nothing weird has happened this week.

How is everything back home?  Did Kayla get Kenzie's email.  In the package can you send me Jesus the Christ.  I would like a paper copy that I can write in.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Two Weeks Worth

Dad,
     I'm doing so well, I can't wait for you to get my letter I sent.  It has this crazy experience this past week, it was weird and scary, but so cool.
     I'm tired I feel like I am having lack of sleep, but I do well hiding my yawns in a lesson. Yes, keep sending me emails, I look at them from time to time, and it keeps me going.  I miss Blair, but I'll see her before I know it.
    Everything is going smooth and lessons are going well, I'm learning more than I ever would back home.  Its crazy, I hope you and grandma and everyone are doing well.  I pray every night for it.
   So far me being tired not  from lack of sleep, I crash hard here; it just feels like not enough. I  haven't had any really cool experiences to speak of.  I got to bury a little dog for an investigator. She is  from New York and has the accent' she has a mouth on her; but its so funny hearing her talk.
     The weather was so weird here, first it was 75, then it started to fog up with dust, and then it rained mud--real mud, then it snowed for 2 days. Now it's hot again.
 Did you hear the talk about not being on your tablet and phones in church? As soon as I heard that I started to laugh, thinking about you and Kayla in sacrament playing on them and your phones in church.
   The ward mission leaders are great. So far the Bantas, who are  in the Academy Park Ward, tried setting Elder Sturgell up with a lady friend.  I mean he goes home in 4 months, but still he is a missionary, we cant have that!  But, we meet almost daily with most of them. There is a guy here that kind of looks like Greg Purdue.  He was the high councilmen over missionary work.  But, now there is a new one.
 I don't know if I want to still move here or not.  I want my kids to grow up around a lot of members, but its different here.  Maybe, we will see what happens.  Yeah, the area is very small and we are on the same streets everyday, and it gets to be kind of boring being in such a small area.
                                           A bike a member created for him and his wife.

 
Mom,
Things are great, I sent you a letter with an experience I had and it is really cool. So far we have 13 investigators and 8 on date for baptism, I'm excited, I love the work.
I did eat dinner at the Desommer's, she was really cool. She talked about home and she was excited that I knew where Medina was.
The pillow is great and no, I didn't get bedding; but the place where I'm staying already has everything I need. Sister Heaten sent you a letter the other day, she is a great lady, I love her she is quirky, she even makes us breakfast and it is so good.
I might be losing weight, it doesn't look like it from this end.  I run every morning and the Elders Quorum  president takes us boxing in the morning sometimes.  He was the best in the state and best in the region. He is really cool and owns 3 nationwide businesses, I don't know what they are called though.
So far I haven't really had a favorite lesson. We lost a guy we were teaching, but gained 4 new people. It's great they are growing so fast.  We will be having a few baptisms this next few weeks .

So far I'm being taken care of ,so I'm good on that.  Is there any news on Kenzie? Oh and I am emailing Erin Jackson now too. She is doing well, she is still serving her mission.

The lessons are easy, the ward's are great, they treat me like I've been there for a long time; very loving and great.   We  didn't get our aura looked with the Tongan missionaries on our personal day like I thought we would, so I don't really know what its like.  How was grandma doing, if she has left already ?
SLC when we went to conference

Monday, April 6, 2015

April General Conference

Dad,
Things are going great here, I'm loving it.  I sent some pictures of me and Elder Sturgell and a guy that is a member and has the priesthood, for almost 3 months now.  He is great and loving. Elder Sturgell is from Memphis, Tennessee, his parents are wealthy.   His dad is a banker and I dont know what his mom does. He was going to Harvard, but got sent out right after his graduation. He wants to work on Wall Street and be a banker or stock broker or something.  He returns home this June I think. My feet are fine now, I got the blisters in my Deerstags, not the new shoes; those are my church shoes. But, I popped them and now I am doing better.
The work here is great, we have 8 to 12 investigators; 8 on date for baptism, and they are all great. The weather has been great, sun and mostly warm.  I had to wear my sweater twice, but the sun has been out everyday. So far the meetings have only been fast and testimony, but great!  I gave my testimony in the last ward we went to.  We cover 6 wards because missionaries here cover stakes not branches or wards; but, our area is only a few blocks.
The food is really good we have had pasta 3 times so far. The weirdest thing we have had was last night. It was a burrito with this kind of chili stuff you put on it. It was good, but the chili was green. 
 Elder Crawford and Companion
Elder Crawford and new friend.


Mom,
My companion  is very knowledgeable in the scriptures and loves the gospel. We are very much alike. I have learned a lot, its hard to really write it all out. My feet are fine now, I popped the blisters and they feel great.
 So far we had only one baptism, one of our guys dropped us and it was sad.  But, after he dropped us we found a family of 7, 3 want to be baptized, 3 are to young to get baptized and one isn't really interested.
So far I am getting every meal, our home owner makes us breakfast every morning, it is great she is the best. It was so amazing to be in general conference to be so close to the prophet and the 12.  It was so spiritual and up lifting, at the end I told Elder Sturgell that dad was now going to get wings at On Tap, lucky dog. I really don't need anything except, I need an note pad to write letters home. Grandma Beninghoff sent me a card in the mail it was sweet. I love you, and I cant wait to see your progress in the Book of Mormon. I hope you are reading everyday or night. Remember to tell dad to stay off his tablet in church and get Kayla to get off her iPod ,the general authorities said so, and it shows respect for the Lord and those who have prepared to teach the ward  .
Priesthood Choir at the Priesthood session of General Conference 4/4/15

 President Monson coming into conference.


First Vision Sculpture at Conference Center in SLC, Utah.