Oregon, Portland Mission
October 2007- 2009
Hey everybody how are you doing? I must inform you all of a miracle that has just occurred, I actually remembered to write this on my own without my Mom telling me.... I just thought you should know that..... things here in Oregon are going pretty well.... it seems that we have already knocked all the doors where nice people live and now it is just a bunch of mean people left, many of which are old.... yesterday me and my companion were tracking, and you see my companion doesn’t like to knock no soliciting doors but I don’t care cause they need the gospel as much as anyone right, so as I was saying yesterday me and my companion were tracking and I come upon a no soliciting door and I disregard it just as usual but I looked in the window and saw a little gate thing blocking the stairs so I assumed there was a baby so to be nice I decided to knock instead of ringing the doorbell, after I knocked these two huge dogs just start barking like crazy and then I see this furious man through the window, "why would you knock you just woke up my baby why do you think it says no soliciting go away" being the jerk I am I replied "we aren’t soliciting anything" to which he replied in a very firm tone "go away, go away".... man I love the wonderful tracking experience especially in the old nice neighborhoods where everyone has already had the missionaries knock on there door like 40 times.... well other than that there are only two pieces of big new 1 there is a part member family in which all of the nonmembers over 8 are soon to be baptized and they are awesome and just to show that miracles do happen, a member actually invited us to teach someone in there home if you can believe it.... Well I love you all and wish you the very best of luck!
Elder Huish
Elder Mike Kleinman
Hey Brothers,
Well I have been transfered to serve in the mission home as the financial clerk. I am loving it. I get to drive around town in a van to go run errands when I am not doing the accounting.We still get to go preaching after 5 pm. each day.Well, its been pretty crazy here in the office. I guess its always like that the week after transfers. I´m learning a whole bunch though and get to really work on my studies a lot more now. My area, Barrio Los Boulevares, is extremely cool! We are going to have two baptisms in the following week. They´re named Amado and Rosa Rojas. They are from Peru and were just waiting on their marriage papers to arrive from there and then they´ll get baptized. They´re really cool people and very spiritual. When we went to go visit them, a lady stopped us in the street and asked us where our church was. She said that she wasn´t satisfied with her Catholic background and wanted change. We told her where it was and continued. When we arrived at the Flia. Rojas, Rosa started talking about how she has always been inspired throughout her life. Well, we put it to the test and we prayed with them to find out if anyone they knew would be interested in hearing the gospel. She listed like 30 something names and we were extremely happy! One of those names was an old friend who lived nearby, so we asked if she could accompany us to go see her and invite her to church. She agreed, and when we got there, it turned out to be the lady that stopped us in the street! They were both very happy to be investigating the church and now this lady (named Maria) has a friend to go to church with. Well, she went and loved it so much, she is inviting her entire family and relatives to next weeks! There are sure a whole lot of miracle happening in this area and its pretty sad that I will only be in it for two more weeks because I´m being trained. Then I move over to another area with the rest of the office missionaries. President Olsen told us we have the hardest job in that we have to fufill our office duties, and since we are seen as leaders in the mission, we also need to achieve the highest preaching and baptizing goals as well. Sheesh... But hey that just means more room for miracles because there is no way we could do it otherwise hehe! Well, anyway, Thanks to all the families for your prayers and support.
Till next month my friends!
¡Ciaó!Elder Kleinman
Well I have been transfered to serve in the mission home as the financial clerk. I am loving it. I get to drive around town in a van to go run errands when I am not doing the accounting.We still get to go preaching after 5 pm. each day.Well, its been pretty crazy here in the office. I guess its always like that the week after transfers. I´m learning a whole bunch though and get to really work on my studies a lot more now. My area, Barrio Los Boulevares, is extremely cool! We are going to have two baptisms in the following week. They´re named Amado and Rosa Rojas. They are from Peru and were just waiting on their marriage papers to arrive from there and then they´ll get baptized. They´re really cool people and very spiritual. When we went to go visit them, a lady stopped us in the street and asked us where our church was. She said that she wasn´t satisfied with her Catholic background and wanted change. We told her where it was and continued. When we arrived at the Flia. Rojas, Rosa started talking about how she has always been inspired throughout her life. Well, we put it to the test and we prayed with them to find out if anyone they knew would be interested in hearing the gospel. She listed like 30 something names and we were extremely happy! One of those names was an old friend who lived nearby, so we asked if she could accompany us to go see her and invite her to church. She agreed, and when we got there, it turned out to be the lady that stopped us in the street! They were both very happy to be investigating the church and now this lady (named Maria) has a friend to go to church with. Well, she went and loved it so much, she is inviting her entire family and relatives to next weeks! There are sure a whole lot of miracle happening in this area and its pretty sad that I will only be in it for two more weeks because I´m being trained. Then I move over to another area with the rest of the office missionaries. President Olsen told us we have the hardest job in that we have to fufill our office duties, and since we are seen as leaders in the mission, we also need to achieve the highest preaching and baptizing goals as well. Sheesh... But hey that just means more room for miracles because there is no way we could do it otherwise hehe! Well, anyway, Thanks to all the families for your prayers and support.
Till next month my friends!
¡Ciaó!Elder Kleinman
Lorin Hendricks
Hello all, Sorry for not writing for the last little while. finals kept me very busy. Iam finally done with school, for the semester and I am back in arizona. The only real news is that I am going to the Peru and I report June 4. So I am back for a month then I leave again. other than that i am working and just killing time for the next month.I am really excited, but I am also extremely nervous. Honestly I am really tired too. In fact tonight I have another 8 hour shift back at Neilson's so I really don't have a lot of time to type today so I will talk to you all later.
See you, Lorin
Elder Brock Smith
What up mtown peeps? Things are sweet here in waimea with my cuz hos my comp which is pretty sweet we are way chill with each other so thats cool but the fog sucks really bad and its killin my allergies as well which sucks but im dealin with it though we have had two baptisms here in three weeks so that cool we are truly bein blessed one of the wards we cover is just so missionary minded si much is goin on this is such a great work eventhough it is challenging esp as DL i love serving but id never wish for it though having the ZLs hammer you sucks they make you do everything then they take credit for everything that turns out good which is pretty gay sometimes the numbers thing is pretty gay but i know we need it i wish that we didnt though but i dint like it though one thing that was eventful was that we got attacked by a dog and I beat it with a bat and it ran off with it tail between its legs which was awesome im now the dog slayer with the club that we made out of ironwood but thats all to report peace! B. Sexy B. Smooth
B. Smith
Elder Daniel Anderson
Hey Everybody!
The work here in Stockton is about to EXPLODE and I will be here to see it! My life has gotten so much more stressful since I’m the senior companion. I love my companion, Elder Yang. He is Hmong and was born in Thailand in a refugee camp. His family moved to Wisconsin and he is the 4th of 9 kids. He speaks a ton of Hmong to me because he is more comfortable speaking Hmong than English. I have learned a ton with him. Because he is Hmong EVERYONE lets him in and we get to teach. We had 12 other lessons this week all because of Elder Yang getting us in the door. We have a lot of potentials that we are working with and this transfer is going to bring out a lot of blessings. We were going to go contacting one day and I pulled the car over by this park and sat for a minute not really knowing what I was going to do but then I got out and pointed at a house to go to and it was HMONG! They let us in and it turned out the old man is a SHAMAN! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and it was really neat, the Spirit was helping us big time! Yesterday we ate all the insides of a chicken or a turkey, I don’t remember which. I also ate CHICKEN FEET!!! YUCK, it was so GROSS! Our whole zone is going to the Cambodian New Year for Preparation Day and I’m so excited to go see what it’s like! It’s going to be so much fun, lots of gross food that actually tastes good now…weird clothes…you know all the crazy Cambodians in Stockton, it should be great! The work is going good and I love it. I just found out that I will probably be staying in Stockton for at least three more months. I have a new calling in our branch. I am the organist and now…..Primary Pianist!! It’s hard but fun at the same time. It reminds me of my mom. I love and miss you all, have a great month!
Daniel
The work here in Stockton is about to EXPLODE and I will be here to see it! My life has gotten so much more stressful since I’m the senior companion. I love my companion, Elder Yang. He is Hmong and was born in Thailand in a refugee camp. His family moved to Wisconsin and he is the 4th of 9 kids. He speaks a ton of Hmong to me because he is more comfortable speaking Hmong than English. I have learned a ton with him. Because he is Hmong EVERYONE lets him in and we get to teach. We had 12 other lessons this week all because of Elder Yang getting us in the door. We have a lot of potentials that we are working with and this transfer is going to bring out a lot of blessings. We were going to go contacting one day and I pulled the car over by this park and sat for a minute not really knowing what I was going to do but then I got out and pointed at a house to go to and it was HMONG! They let us in and it turned out the old man is a SHAMAN! We taught him the Plan of Salvation and it was really neat, the Spirit was helping us big time! Yesterday we ate all the insides of a chicken or a turkey, I don’t remember which. I also ate CHICKEN FEET!!! YUCK, it was so GROSS! Our whole zone is going to the Cambodian New Year for Preparation Day and I’m so excited to go see what it’s like! It’s going to be so much fun, lots of gross food that actually tastes good now…weird clothes…you know all the crazy Cambodians in Stockton, it should be great! The work is going good and I love it. I just found out that I will probably be staying in Stockton for at least three more months. I have a new calling in our branch. I am the organist and now…..Primary Pianist!! It’s hard but fun at the same time. It reminds me of my mom. I love and miss you all, have a great month!
Daniel
Elder Gary Chambers
Well well well... its that time again! I know I can't really talk to all you guys individually, so asking how everthing is going would be pretty pointless wouldn't it? As a matter of fact... any question would be pointless... I guess I'll just let you know how the D-Rizzle is, oh and me too. Life is still great fortuneately, I'm still stationed in the coldest part of the mission (Constanza), but I'm fully expecting that to change after this transfer since they sent me a new comp. Thats right, i FINALLY got me another one of those Missionary boys to replace my old one... Elder Rampton got shipped out and Elder Hill was sent into the mountains to fill his spot. He's a way cool guy from Idaho, and we get along great! I hope my wife is just like him..... haha NOT, that sounded so wierd to say... can i take that back? I'm going to take that back...... I never said that. Something cute and interesting happened the other day. I was out on the balcony (thats right, we live on the 2nd floor, cause we're cool like that) washing my clothes in the dinky lil washing machine when i noticed something strange going on below me. I couldn't figure out what she was doing at first, but one of our neighbors was making motions at her face while a lil boy held a mirror in front of her. I looked a lil closer, sneaky-like of course, and saw she was holding a razor in her hand! She was shaving her mustache and beard! I was soo bummed... It looked really good on her too... Right as soon as she finished, she glanced up and totally caught me staring. I quickly tried to busy myself to make it look less obvious that I had seen anything, but I'm pretty sure she knew. Officially the first time I've ever seen a girl ACTUALLY shave her face to get hair off of it... Wow....... Anyways, that pretty much explains how I'm doing and how the work is up here, so I'm gonna go now! Love you ALL!
Love, Your Home Dawg Elder Chambers
P.S. Hugs and Kisses all around!
Elder Scott Ball
Ciao Tutti,
Hey, I'm so glad to be out here in Italy. I was transfered and now I am in the small city of Treviso, which is 30 minutes north of Venice. I'm not used to this small city because I was in a big city for so long, but its going good. We have 30 active members here and a nice little branch. I'm with a kid from Oregon called Anziano Perez. He is pretty amazing and we are making the work grow here. Wow, time flys here, I can't believe that I've already been in Italy for 7 months already. I'm so grateful to be doing to Lord's work here and for all the people that accept our message. We do 'house to house' here and for all the hunderd doors we knock on, its great to feel the joy when one person invites you in and listens to the gospel. We are doing great and I hope that everyone is excersing their faith power in finding the elect. Give em' Heaven.
Vi voglio tanto bene.
Anziano Ball
ps. We are able to go to Venice for P'day! YAY!
Hey, I'm so glad to be out here in Italy. I was transfered and now I am in the small city of Treviso, which is 30 minutes north of Venice. I'm not used to this small city because I was in a big city for so long, but its going good. We have 30 active members here and a nice little branch. I'm with a kid from Oregon called Anziano Perez. He is pretty amazing and we are making the work grow here. Wow, time flys here, I can't believe that I've already been in Italy for 7 months already. I'm so grateful to be doing to Lord's work here and for all the people that accept our message. We do 'house to house' here and for all the hunderd doors we knock on, its great to feel the joy when one person invites you in and listens to the gospel. We are doing great and I hope that everyone is excersing their faith power in finding the elect. Give em' Heaven.
Vi voglio tanto bene.
Anziano Ball
ps. We are able to go to Venice for P'day! YAY!
Elder Max Crandall
Buenos Di-zzle my broth-izzles,
Another day, another town. Last letter I was serving with Elder Freakin’ Martinez and living in Sister Smith’s freakin’ basement – “the prayer lair” as I liked to call it. I was only there six weeks but now I’m in a really dinky town called Monroe. My companion’s name is Elder Cole and he’s the DL out here. I’ve been companions with DL’s for all but six weeks of my mish. What the hecka? Cole has been trying to learn Spanish for about six months now and we have about the same level of Spanish speaking skill. This is a good thing. That statement may seem weird, but now I am forced to try to help communicate to the masses. With Martinez, I would watch him speak at 246 mph, the investigator respond at 287 mph, which left me at 0 mph, stalled in the middle of the intersection. Now Elder Cole and I have to struggle to try and get our point across, fumble and butcher the language, and wait for the Mexicans to correct us. Now Elder Cole and I crash and burn together, in unity. I think this transfer will be one full of difficulty and growth. Right before I left Everett, President decided to keep our car to get the trunk fixed so I had to buy a bike. There is only one companionship of Spanish missionaries in each zone so that meant that Martinez and I were responsible for all the Spanish work in the whole zone. So what happens when we have investigators over in Mill Creek or North Everett? Get on that bike or get walkin’, fatty! I was actually looking forward to trying to get back in shape. Oh well. Here in Monroe we are working with a gal named Rosa Evelia Esquivel Jime. She’s a 37 year old Mexicana with four chitlins. She lives with her sister and her two kids, who are members. She only speaks Spanish so it’s been kind of cool to try and communicate with her. One day we went over there and asked her if she had any questions about her baptism. She responded, “I am scared, but I am sure. I have doubts, but I have seen the light and must continue towards it.” I mean, gosh dang…does it get any greater than that? I submit that it does not. Elder Cole and I were able to go to the temple! No one gets to go to the temple anymore! Well, I think the rule is we can only go at Christmas, unless we have converts who go. Well, Elder Cole and Elder Hulet baptized a gal a year ago so we got to go with her for her first time through the temple. Elder Hulet also came with his companion, Elder Gaddie. Elder Gaddie is from Mesa too. I guess we were in the same seminary class sophomore year but I didn’t know him too well back home. He is actually one of my favorite Elders. Wanna hear something cooler? We’re going to the temple again today to see that same convert get sealed to her hubbie! Two weeks in a row? Sheeeeeeesh. Someone up there loves me. Way Sweet! I know this gospel is true. I know that our Savior lives and that He knows us individually. He wants to help us and all we have to do is turn to Him. Vos amo mucho –Elder Crandall
Another day, another town. Last letter I was serving with Elder Freakin’ Martinez and living in Sister Smith’s freakin’ basement – “the prayer lair” as I liked to call it. I was only there six weeks but now I’m in a really dinky town called Monroe. My companion’s name is Elder Cole and he’s the DL out here. I’ve been companions with DL’s for all but six weeks of my mish. What the hecka? Cole has been trying to learn Spanish for about six months now and we have about the same level of Spanish speaking skill. This is a good thing. That statement may seem weird, but now I am forced to try to help communicate to the masses. With Martinez, I would watch him speak at 246 mph, the investigator respond at 287 mph, which left me at 0 mph, stalled in the middle of the intersection. Now Elder Cole and I have to struggle to try and get our point across, fumble and butcher the language, and wait for the Mexicans to correct us. Now Elder Cole and I crash and burn together, in unity. I think this transfer will be one full of difficulty and growth. Right before I left Everett, President decided to keep our car to get the trunk fixed so I had to buy a bike. There is only one companionship of Spanish missionaries in each zone so that meant that Martinez and I were responsible for all the Spanish work in the whole zone. So what happens when we have investigators over in Mill Creek or North Everett? Get on that bike or get walkin’, fatty! I was actually looking forward to trying to get back in shape. Oh well. Here in Monroe we are working with a gal named Rosa Evelia Esquivel Jime. She’s a 37 year old Mexicana with four chitlins. She lives with her sister and her two kids, who are members. She only speaks Spanish so it’s been kind of cool to try and communicate with her. One day we went over there and asked her if she had any questions about her baptism. She responded, “I am scared, but I am sure. I have doubts, but I have seen the light and must continue towards it.” I mean, gosh dang…does it get any greater than that? I submit that it does not. Elder Cole and I were able to go to the temple! No one gets to go to the temple anymore! Well, I think the rule is we can only go at Christmas, unless we have converts who go. Well, Elder Cole and Elder Hulet baptized a gal a year ago so we got to go with her for her first time through the temple. Elder Hulet also came with his companion, Elder Gaddie. Elder Gaddie is from Mesa too. I guess we were in the same seminary class sophomore year but I didn’t know him too well back home. He is actually one of my favorite Elders. Wanna hear something cooler? We’re going to the temple again today to see that same convert get sealed to her hubbie! Two weeks in a row? Sheeeeeeesh. Someone up there loves me. Way Sweet! I know this gospel is true. I know that our Savior lives and that He knows us individually. He wants to help us and all we have to do is turn to Him. Vos amo mucho –Elder Crandall
Elder Michael {Jimmy} Miller
Greetings from the unknown land of Danbury, CT! Interesting fact, Danbury is the former hat capital of the world, and is where the term 'mad hatter' was coined. Many hat makers went crazy because of the mercury in the chemicals. And believe me the crazies are still wandering the streets here. Anywho, things are great here in the mission, I got the privilege of seeing Elder Jones yesterday at mission conference where we heard from Elder Maines of the Quorum of the 70. It was sweet. The ward members here are amazing. They feed us so much! I've gained 15 lbs!! And more importantly they're getting very missionary minded and we've gotten several member referrals in the last couple days. We've got an investigator with Hemophilia, Rich, who we're extending a date to tomorrow. He's awesome and is genuinely searching for truth. He's a missionaries dream! Anywho, the church is true the book is blue - take care all. BAM - Be A Missionary. Love, Elder Miller
Elder Garrett Jones
Greetings from the Bronx! Things have gotten a little crazy for me. On April 9th, my companion, Elder Bishoff and I were running around the corner on P-day to get some quarters for laundry and he saw one of those 3 or 4 foot rubber trashcans partly blocking the sidewalk. He decided to hurdle over it and when he landed he hurt himself. I called an ambulance and then President Searle. It turns out that when he landed he dislocated his femur from his pelvis. He needed surgery, a weeklong hospital stay, then another week at the mission home before flying home to recover. I have been pretty much a one man team directing my area ever since. My companions are the two english speaking elders I live with, and I won't receive a new companion until the next cycle when transfers happen. I was recently able to baptise two brothers, the Vegas, which was an amazing experience for me to be a part of. They were both super prepared and ready to follow Christ and it was sweet to watch them do it. The family are all baptized and reactivated and now their goal is to go to the temple and be sealed, so hopefully in a year I'll be able to tell you about how I was able to do that with them. That would be one of the sweetest experiences you could have as a missionary. The church is the only true and living church in this world, headed by a living Christ and a living God. I know that I am serving Him, and that brings me so much joy. I love and miss you all. Garrett
Elder Jeff Stoker
Hello Elders,I hope that everything has been going really good for everyone this Month. Because my last newsletter entry was pathetic, i thought that i would make up for it this month. Well things have been doing good for me. Me and my companion have been really trying to find investigators the last couple of weeks, and it is paying off slowly but surely. Last interview that i had with my mission president i told him that we are not going to have enough time to go finding, because we are going to be teaching all day. He laughed and said go for it. So i am trying to accomplish that. And let me tell you all, it is definately not as easy as it sounds. I think that i have had some of the worst trials thrown at me this last cycle. Needless to say, i am glad that i have got my companion with me, and even more glad that God is watching after me. So things are all good. Trials may seem hard, but they always pass, and the reward is always worth it. My companion and I have been teaching a Deaf guy. It is really hard, because we have to have a translator with us. It just so happens that i am in a branch that has 10 deaf people in it, so there are a couple member translators. We have been really blessed, and he wants to be baptized this next week. I am way excited. Let me tell you, it is really hard to have a lesson in Russian, and then it having to be translated into Russian Sign Language. it is amazing to see it though. I have come to realize that in no matter what language the gospel is being taught, it is true, and what max said about the gospel being true even if it is in the Spanish language is true. haha. Classic. Ill give you a high five for that one later maxwell. Anyways, love you all. Have a great month.
Elder Stoker
Elder Stoker
Blake Smith
Hey, what's up everyone? Everything is going awesome here at home. My papers went in on Sunday (April 27th), so I am very excited!!!!! I can't wait to get out in the mission field. Well I am just finishing up another semester at school, and still working for my Uncle and my Grandpa. The new ward is ok, but still not the old ward. Well I can't wait to get my call and join you guys as a missionary. Well good luck and stick in there. And by the this time next month I will have my call too!!! Talk to you later. See Ya.Blake
Dallas Rowley
Hey everyone, I got my mission call a couple weeks ago! I am being called to the Ohio, Columbus mission! I report to the MTC June 18th, and I can't wait get out there. I know it's where I should be. So I'm going through the temple for the first time this week, I just got my reccomend signed by our stake president this morning. I'm really excited to say the least. But not much else is new. Sorry I've been writing such short updates lately, I've been writing them on my iPod, & they seem longer on here. But anyway, I hope you all are doing good! Choose the right guys, choose it. Dallas
Elder Logan Wells
Well hello there! To say the least things have been nothing but normal let me tell you, I feel like I just did one of these yesterday, so insane how fast time is flying by, we have all been out on the missions for a little longer now and by now we are starting to feel like missionaries, or at least comfortable with the routines of the mission, well this last month has been crazy I was in a place called Caguas it is a really cool place in Puerto Rico where the church is strong and thriving, so crazy, but well I was there for three weeks because I had to have an emergency transfer because of the knee. Well I was there and like all getting comfortable with this place because the people are wicked sweet and I was like yes I will be in a place for a really long time because our President likes to keep people in there areas for a really long time so I was like yes, I was so excited then the calls come for transfers and I was like no worries I will be here still, hopefully not with this crazy companion because I will literally kill him if we are together any longer so I was like okay, then this call comes and there like Elder Wells your leaving I was no I am not, I refuse I am going to stay here I have only been here for three weeks and I love it, no way no how, there like yeah, so I was like fine, well so happens that there opened another area in Caguas so that they had to share the car so the other times they will be on bikes so they had to move me. So I was like where am I going, of course they wouldn’t tell me. so I waited till transfer meeting and well there are these mountains that are right above Caguas that have just these houses all over these hill I have visited this place and I was like its really pretty but I would never would want to serve here, well I should have no better than to say something like that, so the lord put me in a place called Aguas Buenas that is all hills and has a car all the time because it is impossible to ride a bike or walk because there have been way to many accidents here. Well so I am in the hills it’s kind of creepy sometimes because I feel like someone is going to jump out of the jungle and try to kill me. But turns out I love the place we have a branch that has been around for 23 years and there are still only 20 to 30 people coming every week. So well we are working with less actives a lot and we have already got one family to come back and our ward mission leader. so we have our work cut out for us but I am going to have this branch up to 40 to 50 people every week before I leave this place so far we started at 28 last week we had like 35 and so we are getting there, poco a poco, that seems to be our slogan in our area because it is hard to get any Puerto Rican to do anything they suck at commitments but we are here to change that and call them to repentance. So how do you guys feel about the two new temples that are going to be built in AZ I am so excited. Well love you all and have a good month.
Peace, Logan
Elder Chase Judd
HI elders, y people who are not on the mission yet.
Well things are going great here at the MTCI love it alot and it is not that bad. I have one month left here and only one more lesson in ingles then all en espanol. The language is coming but as everyone who has been here it is frustrating at times. Sorry Jeff and Daniel you guys have it tough. 12 weeks WO. Well I hope everyone is doing well I love all you so much. My companion is pretty cool he is half Korean and from Texas, haha what a cool combination huh? So tell me what the weather is like in everyones mission ok? I love you all ADIOS.
LOVE ELDER JUDD
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