July 2007 - July 2009
From Elder Logan Wells
Hey there my amigos! So i am just chillen here in Puerto Rico. No not really it is actually still in the 90s in the day and well far from cold. As for a cold christmas that is only a dream for the next two years. I know we live in Az but there is still some kind of temperature change. But what to say other than the fact that the work is true and that there is nothing more important than just getting out there and doing it.Well I am in my second transferI am still in my greenie area and the work is progressing. My companion and I opened this area and there is no doubt we can see the benefit of our work. We are having two baptsims this month. One is a lady that is 59 who a few years ago was the town drunk but the moral of the story she changed her life around and has been searching for the truth and well yeah she knows that she has found it. Pretty cool. So what really goes down here is that you walk around and people are blaring there regatone on speakers on top of there cars. Seriously. Oh yeah Max I drive an 2008 corolla, navy blue baby. We actually just got it and was a blessing. Well yeah Iam doing great. The work is work and we all know this.I Love you all and have a great Christmas. Peace Elder Wells
From Elder Mike Kleinman
Elder Garrett Jones
Hope everything is well and you all had a great Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving for us was one of the best days of the mission so far for me. I think the holiday had a lot of people thinking about their families and their lives and what it all means, because it was a glorious day for the work here. Since the beginning of my mission I hadn't spoken so much straight spanish without really any break, I would finish teaching one guy, and then turn around and start teaching the lady behind me. We did it for about 2 and a half hours. Our thanksgiving dinner was slightly different from others I have had, but I am sure the whole mission thing explains that well enough. The Lord blessed us this past week when I baptised Gilbert Rodriguez, who we have been working with for a while now. This Sunday my companion is going to give him the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was such a cool experience for me to actually be in the water performing a saving ordinance for someone. The spirit there was so strong. He told me afterwards that he felt like "shouting joy and happiness," I love that kid. Well another cycle has gone by and I am still in my same area with my companion. Spanish for me is really starting t come along now. Being with a native companion has helped me out a ton and I feel like psople can understand me, and I them, much better now. Hope all is well with you all and know that I love and miss you. Elder Jones
From Lorin Hendricks
Hello, Greetings from Provo, the big news is that it snowed four inches this weekend. it was amazing! It is very cold up here, but you don't spend much time outside right before finals so it doesn't matter. I don't have a huge amount of time, because I have to go to class in a moment, so forgive the small blurb.Finals are in three weeks and i have to say that Iam fairly nervous. the final in math is 49% of my overall grade. that is crazy. I will be spending the next little while studying and not much else. oh well, finals will be done soon. I will see you all soon (unless you on a mission) Lorin
From Elder Max Crandall
What*s up guys and gals? Things are great in Mt. Vee. I*ve been through my first transfer and it*s been kind of weird so far. I heard that the last mission president ruled by fear with an iron fist. He strived for efficiency and ran the mission like a machine. President Showalter is pretty much the exact opposite. He is concerned with feelings and retention. Don*t get me wrong, both things are good but no one is scared of him. Missionaries think they can just slack off. It is kind of frustrating but I guess all you can do is do your best among the retards. Elder Rammell and I have been working really hard. We baptized a gal named Jessica. She*s 16 years old and she has a one year old daughter. Eesh. She*s really cool though and she*s been really receptive. We had also been trying to teach her family. They didn*t want to learn but they were very supportive of Jessica and came to her baptism. The baptism was so powerful and the Spirit was so strong that now her mom, sister and two brothers are getting baptized! It*s been so neat to teach them. It*s amazing how much of a difference the Spirit can make. It*s amazing to me, being out here, to see how important family is. I talk to poor and even poorer people all day long and the ones who rarely complain about their situation are those who have family surrounding them. I definitely took my family for granted before my mission but I*ll try never to do it again. Thanksgiving! This way cool family from second ward offered to feed us. We hung out and played with their kids until 3pm and then we ate. There was tons of food and it was scrumptious. I also had Mountain Dew. Delisioso! I*ve been thinking about how Valley View Ward was butchered and passed out like tasty little cocktail weenies. Valley View Ward was like a well-oiled machine so changes back home must be to open more and new opportunities to perfect the saints and build the kingdom. I*ve come to realize that when life seems to be spinning out of control, the best thing to do is rely on the Lord. He knows what will best help us grow and become more like Him. We*ll stay strong and build up Valley View again. We will again have our glory days! For the Motherward!! (Jeff, I miss ya man). Like Daniel says, my mind is like diamonds. *Elder Crandall*
From Elder Gary Chambers
Hola! I guess those in AZ are getting that cool weather right about now... ... yeah there is no change in weather here, unless it got hotter or something. I wasn't expecting anything cool though, so i guess i'm ok. It's a good thing i lived in arizona, now all i have to do is get used to having your shirt stick to your back all the time. Well nothing is EXTREMLY new here... we just got the rest of the latinos last week so testing our spanish on them has been... an experience. They usually understand us, it's when they try to talk back that there tends to be problems. Lots from the DR so their spanish is Rapido, love the challenge. We've been told not to teach them english, cause they want to learn it, and if it gets carried away, everyone will be speaking english with each other, and nobody learns spanish. Doesn't help any when the gringos hit the field. Solomente espanol... We just got back from our service project at the University! 45 minutes of trash-loving missionaries scoopin up junk... we had some people call us over to them, and they were asking us questions like... "why are you picking up trash??" and "who are you?" haha i stopped at first to think for a sec... i didn't know why we were doing it, so i just said "Porque no?" Haha i wish i know enough spanish to tell him more, but that seemed to suffice. We taught at that same university last Tuesday, and i realized something about this place... In America, if a complete stranger of a different faith came up to you and just started blabbering about his church at you, you'd probably just ignore him and find ways to get away. But we nearly always get people who actually listen and ask us questions (uh oh!) about our message, it's really cool... the people are way too nice, it seems unreal.. Well I love it here! wouldn't have it any other way, can't wait to pull a Jeffler and get out into the field, only 1 week left and i'm out of the CCM! Well i'm down to a minute now, so i guess i should wrap it up, I love you All and i hope that things continue to go smoothly for you! the Gospel is true and i love to teach more than i thought... (who knew?) Adios! Love, Elder Chambers
From Elder Scott Ball
Buon Giorno!Everything is going great here in Genova. We have such strong members in the ward. Funny thing is alot of them are return missionaries that speak English, they are Italians that served a mission. My English is getting very bad, its a symptom of every missionary here. I'm learning Italian really well, the key is to focus. I finally got sick of not understanding the people and just focus and prayed for the gift of tongues and it came. I am able to communicate and understand. Not communicate so well, but I do understand. I'm not really homesick.. it is nicer here than Arizona. I don't know what it is in Fahrenheit, but in Celsius it is about 10-15*. I just got the November newsletter because it was sent to my mission office, but that is cool. Wow, its so great to hear that Alex got back, it just seems like he left. Its kinda hard to get a written letter off sometimes, because it costs about 2 dollars here.. the euro is so much more than the dollar. I live in Genova with my companion and the zone leaders. Its a pretty pimp apartment. Well, I don't have a nice car or anything, but I have metro, bus, and my own feet. We don't have a dryer here, but the washing machine is really nice. We do have hot water! Anyways, I just wanted to wish everyone a Buon Natale! Merry Christmas for you English missionaries. Mike.. "Tu sei brutto"! il stesso a "You are ugly"! Ci vediamo fino un altro giorno!Scott
From Elder Brock Smith
Whats up M_town Crackers,How was everyone's Thanksgiving? I am Thankful to be out serving a mission right now,seeing the change in peoples lives is great rather they are coming out to church again and wanting to live better lives or having the gospel for the first time it is amazing to see the change take place. I pray everyone stays true to the church and what we have all been taught. The ways of this world don't bring happiness I have discovered it and found many investigators who have as well. Our Heavenly Father asks very little compared to the rewards that we receive. We are asked to go to church one day a week and the blessing we receive for tiring our best, well we get so much more than we can ever give. The other day I met an investigator who quit his job so that he could come to church with his family. He was the only support as far as a job went 7 children, and yet he had faith that the Lord would provide if he did his part. Soon after he found a higher paying job that gave him sundays off. It was so amazing to see the power of this mans faith. I was reading an article by James E, Faust the one in the conference issues b4 he died I thought that was interesting that it was on the power to change our lives for the better, That is what we need to do is constantly change our lives to be more like the Savior. I know that I want to hear well done my good and faithful servant there is a mansion prepared for you and your family, you shall have everlasting glory, now that will be sweet. I know that I want to see My Dad . I know that this church is true, and if we simply follow the prophet we can live with Our heavenly Father and our families forever, now that will be Heaven. This Life is a test. And as My Mom says an open book test, we can get all the help we need. We need to prove to ourselves that we can be true at all times. WE ALL WANT A"s. Anything but the Celestial kingdom would be ---- well you know would not be where we want to be. I hope and pray that we will live the gospel more fully this next year starting with today. Let us all model our lives after the Savior. Have a very Merry Christmas and a very great new year.... Elder Brocky Smith
From Elder Kellan Brady
Hello to all...The other day I was thinking of all the many special places I have been able to serve in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission. I have been in the ghetto of ghettos(Christy Meadows, Civic center) The rural of rural(Elko,Wells,Wikeiup,Peach Springs)The cold of cold(Elko...on bike)The hot of hot two summers in a row in (Vegas)The Meth cap of the world(Golden Valley)The epitomy of 3rd world country (Supai), and of course now the rich of rich(Green Valley,Legacy area). I am so greatful that the Lord has trusted me to serve in such wierd, crazy, and yet such neat, and beautiful places. I have met soooo many differant,unique, and yet loving, and caring people. Well, I know that this is not even close to being my final testimony, because I still have so much to do. Yet I will say that my mission so far has been so full of memories that I cant even remember what it was like before my mission.There is no room to boast, but our Zone is on track to break the highest baptizing record in the history of the Zone. Green Valley has never broke over 15 baptisms. As of now we have 25 set, and actuals. We must thank the Lord for our many blessings. For I am on the winning team, as Julee says it best. Peace and Love! ELDER K.P.BRADY
From Elder Jeff Stoker
So I leave the MTC tommorrow. Anyways, as you can expect, things are way hectic for me right now. I just found out i was only allowed 44lbs total on the flight in Russia. If you go over you have to pay mega $ to get on, but oh well. I got to bring my make-up case, because we all know that this doesnt come natural. Anyways, This thanksgiving was AMAZING! Elder Holland came and spoke to us, and it was probably the best talk i have ever heard. The Food wasnt that bad too. I think that when i leave here, i am going to miss the food. It is great to be able to choose what you want, and how much you want of it. So the just replaced the Scale here, and i realized i have gained like 5-10 pounds! hah. I am such a Fatty. I am almost as fat as Daniel now. I have so much going through my head right now, i have no idea what to say. Ill just start spitting things out at random. Ill start by telling you all my favorite joke. How can you tell how old a Dinosaur is????? Go to its birthday party! hahah. Wow. I have been here at the MTC for way too long. And my Russian still sucks. I also found out that it is like -10 in Moscow right now. So I am probably just going to freeze to death. I cant wait to get there and get my shopka (the Fuzzy hat thingy) and my Courtka ( the gi-normous furry coat) I am going to try to get ones made out of Some exotic animal. I think that would be sweet. And i also want a whole bunch of Lenin things. I am so so so so excited to leave here though. It is a kinda of a love-hate relationship that i have with the MTC. I am sure most of you know what i am talking about. But i have to go now. I have a whole bunch of packing to do. Have a great month, and Stay out of trouble. I think President Hinckley ways it the best, "Dont do anything stupid." Well i hope to have some amazing experiences to share with you next month. I love you all (or at least most of you)! hah Love, Elder Stoker
From Elder Grant Huish
Hey everybody,Things are going good out here in Oregon. I*m basically in the smallest town ever, there isn*t even a grocery store, well there is but it is a grocery liquidator which basically means that it is expired food*.other than that it is freezing up here and it rains a whole lot as can be expected from Oregon*The people are way nice, but they are all already saved I guess*.sounds like things are going good for most of us which is good*.hope you are all enjoying whatever it is that you are up to*s later.Elder Huish GC
From Daniel Anderson
Hello Everyone! Nyob zoo kuv tsev neeg!
So it’s Thanksgiving already, it’s so crazy! It was probably one of the best days I have had at the MTC! We had a morning devotional and Jeffrey R. Holland was the speaker! He talked about how we are so blessed to be missionaries and how we need to give the Lord everything we have. He expressed how much he, the Prophet, the twelve apostles and the Lord love us. He also said how sad he was when his sons were gone at Thanksgiving for their missions and that our families would miss us! We had our feast at 12:30 which wasn’t near as good as Mom’s or Grandma’s. We had a fireside in the afternoon from the Director of Humanitarianism. It was crazy to see how much the church does around the world. Then that night we did a service project building 10,000 first aid kits. It’s hard to believe that I am halfway done here at the MTC. I got to talk to Jeff a lot on Sunday but it stinks because he leaves TOMORROW! Sunday night we had to say goodbye…again…it was exciting but kinda sad because I’m a lone wolf now. My companion, Elder Khamsa, (he’s learning Laotian) leaves on Wednesday December 5th. I will then be put with the other two missionaries who are learning Hmong, Elder Lee and Elder Jones. Yesterday was another all Hmong day and it was really hard, it’s so tough not getting frustrated with each other and it just sucked but it was good at the same time. There are 8 tones in Hmong and they are really hard to get, but reading out loud from the Phau ntawv Maumoos (Book of Mormon) really helps you learn and practice them. I think of all of you often and hope that everything is going well. Love, Elder Daniel Anderson
From Chase Judd
Hi.. I am still at my house just doing nothing. I start work tomorrow so that will keep me busy until I go on my mission. I hang out with my family all the time now they have become my best friends. So i wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Love, Chase
