June 2009 NEWS

Elder Jeff Stoker

Russia, Samara Mission

August 2007 ~ 2009

So I found out.....absolutely nothing about my transfer. I will still be in Saratov, but I haven't found out who I will be with yet. I will be drifting around Saratov all this week. President Utchdorf and Elder Andersen will be coming to Samara on May 30, so on the 29th I will be taking a train to Samara and will get the chance to be at that meeting. Our entire mission is way excited. I am very happy because I am still in Saratov though this cycle. I guess Saratov just cant get rid of me. By the end of next week I should know who my companion is, and where I will be for sure. We also recieved news that 5 fresh American greenies will be arriving here this week. This is the first time I will see a greenie in aabout a year and a half. HURRAY! Ok, so i got a good story. As you all know, I have been working out every morning. You know...running, pull ups, push ups, etc. I guess it is finally paying off. Here is the evidence. Elder Beck and I were walking down the street and we saw a woman coming towards us. She was just staring at us the entire time. Unfortunately, as she was focusing on my muscles in action, she ran directly into a pole. It was really funny. We did our best to not laugh at that moment. We decided that it would be best if we eased up on our workouts...for the good of those around us. So that is my evidence. My comp and I are just walking distractions, because we are so ripped and muscular. It is either that, or we are really goofy looking...so I choose ripped and muscular. Ok, here is another story for you all. My comp and I found a purple cell phone on the ground. I love purple, so i snagged it. I decided to try and call the most recently called person, which happened to be a girl named "Super Mega Chick". We explained the situation to Super Mega Chick, and we agreed to meet somewhere and do the hand off. We waited for like 15 mins. Then this little 13 year old girl comes running up, asks for the phone, and runs off. I was shocked. It took me until Senior year to get a cell phone. Kids these days are spoiled! haha. It wasnt as magnificient as Max's cell phone story, but it will have to suffice. At church this last Sunday, the branch president asked me to get up and speak. Normally I would stress out and be upset, but suprisingly i accepted and was happy to speak. I am at an interesting stage in my mission. I feel like I am on top of my game, and not very much catches me off guard anymore. Hey, and it only took a couple of years! Well, that is all the time that I have for now. I love you all. Have a great month. Make sure you are all sprinting to the end!

Elder Stoker

Anziano Scott Ball

Hey missionaries, I'm doing good and still in Milano. My companionship was closed and now I have united with the other companionship. It was closed because we don't have enough missionaries to sustain so many companionships. My companion was transfered after only one transfer with me (I promise I'm not a mean companion). The work is doing good. Last week, we were kicked out of a building for ringing on doorbells inside. Well, we went in the building because a guy let us in and we started to ring doorbells inside. Some old ladies got scared and called the building manager. So, the building manager came and started yelling that we couldn't be inside and that we had to stand outside and speak into a speakerphone. Our president always tells us to get inside, so we always try our hardest to get inside and present ourselves in person. The building manager started yelling at us in Italian to "shooo"! (pretty much). I wasn't taking it and wanted to continue, so I said that she doesn't have to treat us like dogs. Then, she got more angry and threatened to call the police. The funny things is that the police do nothing because we are within the law and not breaking into peoples' houses. So, to calm her down, we decieded to leave and start another building. This is one of the many experiences of doing what we call "casa in casa" (house to house). Hope you guys are keeping on. I'm NOT getting trunky even though it is tempting. Big LOVES, Anziano Ball

Elder James (Jimmy) Michael Miller

Hey Brothers!Things are crazy here in the Big Apple. Things finished up pretty well in the Bronx. We had a baptism a couple weeks before i left and a couple more to follow in June. One in particular was really sweet. She went into the church/temple down in manhattan and asked to learn more about the church. turns out she lived in our area in the bronx so the sisters called us and she hasn't missed church since we met her and she studies the scriptures every day. She even had a dream in which an angel showed her some keys and told her to remember them because "they open the doors." Shs wasn't sure what it meant, so we taught her about priesthood keys. That's the first time i've taught an investigator that. She was amazing I was really sad to leave her and the others behind but duty calls. In fact duty called me and asked me to be a zone leader. so i'm now serving as a zone leader in South Manhattan. It's actually my old area only now i cover the family ward instead of the singles. So i already know the area which is nice. We live in a sweet apartment in the lower east side. we're high rollers. now it's back to street contacting non-stop. I'm excited though. I'll let you all know how it goes. time is short. i'll catch you all again soon! Live well. Live Happy. LIve STRONG. Love, Elder Miller

Elder Garrett Jones

Hey chaps.Greetings from the good 'ol Stamford Connecticut. Its still a little strange to me that I'm no longer serving in the great state of NY (I constantly talk to people about serving HERE in NY still) but I guess Connecticut is good as well. Actually to be honest I've really been enjoying my time here. After a long time of serving in city spanish wards that sadly don't have the strongest auxiliary programs its amazing to be here and to see the strength that this ward has. I'm sure ZL Elder Miller can relate since he served up here as well. Hiddy-Ho buddy! The first night I was here we had our correlation meeting and it was unbelievable how many members were there besides the Ward Mission Leader. Anyways things are good and I'm happy and healthy. I feel just like Abraham of old (and I guess Sarah as well despite my manly physique and all) as I've been blessed in my old age and have concieved! Thats right, I finally have been blessed with a son. We've been having a jolly good time together and have been teaching some cool people. The coolest people that we're teaching right now are a family of three women: Silvia (grandma), Adriana (mom), and Andrea (daughter) that were referred to us through a member friend of Silvia. They all came to church this past week and loved it so much that they came back for a young couple's meeting at around 5 o'clock the same day unbeknowest to us. At church there were a couple of confirmations and Silvia told her friend that as the bishop and Elders put their hands on the people's heads and began to pronounce the confirmation and blessing she felt an incredible feeling of peace and joy and she said that she knew that it was the power of god that filled the room. She said that she knew, because of how she had felt that the church is true. The coolest part of the whole thing is that Silvia, who is buddhist (incredible as she is the first hispanic to be so that I've ever taught), began to investigate the church because she wants her daughter and granddaughter to get some religion in their lives. Its amazing how true this church is and how the power of the God is manifest in the ordinances of the gospel. I love being a missionary. Its amazing how fast time has gone and I hope all of you will sprint to the finish and "leave it all on the field" as Elder Holland has taught. Besos, Garrett

Elder Logan Wells

Well my brethern things are becoming a reality way to soon, wellI am just here in Santurce which is a great area I am so glad that I am dying in this area. Well is great to think of all of the experiences and opportunities that have come to me thrugh being a missionary, well as I have been pondering exactly what I have learned and how I have grown and truly it boggles my mind. I really can't believe at how muchI have experienced, I would not change it for the world, that is for sure. So I heard that Maxi and I are going to be speaking the same Sunday, don't do too good, Max I do not want to look like a fool, haha! Well yeah its crazy, life in general is just moving too fast and I can't really believe it, not trying to get the whole cliche missionary thng going on, but time sure has flown,I am loving every minute of it at this point trying,trying not to get to trunky, as that is a common question around these parts as it is more than likely around everone else also. Well yeah its great to say nontheless, just enjoying life and ready to make somethings happen, for sure. I love and miss you all a ton, Congrats to our little Kleinman who will be home sooner than we know it, wow its great, haha ! Here is a funny story on our part over here, well me and my comp are just waiting for our investigator to come to the church we are just chilling and all just enjoying our selves when this lady starts yelling and is screaming policia policia and we are like oh great what is going on now, well me and my comp are sitting there and all of a sudden there is this guy running a bum with lots of stuff in his hands and then we are like oh great what do we do, so then we are like fine allright then, so we start to run after this guy me running and staying with my comp which was a surprise in itself because I had not the slightest idea that I could run like that hahha well we are gaining on him and we are literally right there when he runs into the street and another guy just clocks him right upside the head and drops him like a ton of bricks right there in the middle of the road it was great, we just kept on walking becasue we are not down with the spotlight things well it was great then another guy comes and well it ws hillarious, not that fighting is the answer but it was something that plays in my mind over and over again and never seizes to get a good laugh, well that was the story of my month. I love and miss you all! See you soon! Later, Logan

Elder Gary Chambers

Hi people! Wait... it's June! MIKE'S HOME! lucky dog. anyways, I thought about buying some cheese today, but I didn't. I'm good, and time is moving as fast as a really really fast moving object! It's craziness I tell you... kind of like the missionary who broke my pellet gun... GRR! just 2 weeks from transfers... and now I have to spend it watching cats moving with leisure past my window.... LIFE IS UNJUST! Sometimes I'll fake cock the gun to see if I can scare them with the sound (they know that sound), but they mostly just stare at me, boldly calling my bluff... it makes me feel horrible inside... *sigh* oh well. In other news, the comp exchange went well :) We found some hatian guy the other day who speaks some pretty good english and he wanted us to teach him. He doesn't know very much spanish, so I told him we could do it in english. Well I lied to him, because I couldn't teach in english to save my life... the whole lesson I was stumbling trying to find the right words, it was super choppy, and made me feel like I was learning english for the first time. Luckily he understood and accepted the commitment to read the pamphlet of "the Restoration" and pray to know if it's true. We'll see him again in a couple of days... Well that's all guys, take care... hope all is well. Love, Elder Chambers P.S. I love you...

Elder Grant Huish

I just wrote you an awesome story about this lady and her mom in an epic brawl, but then myldsmail had an error and it erased it so I will not take the time to re-type it. sorry, but you can imagine is was pretty sweet. so yeah thats about all I have for now. Oh,I do start the d&c countdown on Saturday and half of you have even less time then me. Time is short, work hard and be happy because you all know the other option. Loves, Grant

Elder Dallas Rowley

Hello Everybody! It's been a while since I've put in my two cents, and alot has happened since then. I am really enjoying my mission here in Beavercreek, Ohio. My companion's name is Elder Maylett. I've had some pretty good companions on my mission so far. my last 4 companions have been greenies. I've been on a bike for a while, until about the beginning ofthis transfer, when we took over our neighboring area (Xenia) and got a car. So we're covering two wards right now. I'm enjoying it, and have never been so busy on my mission!
We just had 2 baptisms last week, and the previous weeks. one was a part member family, and the other one is Chinese, and is now back in China! we're teaching another part member family right now that just quit smoking/drinking/chewing and is going to be baptized at the end of this month. Transfers is next thursday, and I really hope I dont get transfered. I've been here for 4 1/2 months, and it's my favorite area! I'm having an absoulutely fantastic time here, and I hope to hear the same from you all!

Elder Dallas Rowley

Elder Max Crandall

To: The Elders of Israel

From: Elder Crandall*s Mom

Brethren: I am writing on behalf of Elder Crandall. He has had a busy month and hasn*t been able to write home but the tender mercies of the Lord have once again answered a mother*s prayer through someone*s willingness to listen to the spirit. All the information in this newsletter submission came to me through two wonderful ladies. One of them lives in the town of Sultan, Washington. The other is the mother of another Elder that serves with Elder Crandall. Elder Crandall has spent the last six weeks serving in a very tiny town called Sultan, Washington. He has been the zone leader over a series of very tiny towns spread along a rural interstate. Most of the towns have a population of no more than 3500 people (that*s about the size of MVHS) but there are many of these towns so it makes for a large zone and many miles on the zone leader*s car. The mission president decided that for Elder Crandall*s last transfer he would take him out of leadership responsibility and have him train a new missionary. So Elder Crandall has just been transferred to Marysville to a bike area. He is currently in a 3 pack because SLC did not send any new missionaries anywhere last week because of the flu in the MTC. Hopefully, his *greenie* will arrive this week and they can get started. There is a young missionary serving in Elder Crandall*s mission named Elder Merrill. He has been out for about six months and Elder Crandall has been his zone leader. Elder Merrill sent his mother a letter and shared this story with her. She shared it with me. I*d like to share it with you. "Mom, I have exciting news that I haven't told you anything about. We've been teaching a lady named Francisca Farias. She was found through tracting by Elders Crandall and Prudent who got her to church several times, but then she had to go to Mexico for a month. She got back just after we got transferred here. The problem was that the Francisca that came back was not the golden Francisca on the Teaching Record. She had gone through a whole month of anti-LDS opposition down in Mexico and she even brought her stubborn Catholic mom back with her. Ever since we met her, she was still going through all that opposition. It took us a long time to get her back to church. Last week, we were teaching her and we asked her what she truly sought in her life. We weren't intending to discuss baptism with her because we already had earlier and she had been uncomfortable, but when she answered that she wanted the presence of God to accompany her in all her life, we recognized the gift of the Holy Ghost and knew the covenant requiredto obtain it. She still had the opposition and was too timid to commit to baptism, and she also thought that she wasn't ready which wasn't true! So we took an unconventional route- we had her interviewed without a date set. Elder Crandall did a wonderful job with the interview...she came out crying...the good kind, and as we were leaving, I started talking to her and she suddenly said, (this part was in Spanish but it said, "Can I set a date soon?" or something to that effect). It was music to my ears!! I asked her if this coming Sunday would be alright. She said Esta Bien!!! So yesterday, Francisca was baptized by Maxwell Crandall. It was so exciting. It was especially fun because everything went like clockwork....very unusual for this ward! It was so Awesome!!!" Thank you all for being such wonderful young men and valiant servants of the Lord. Thank you for listening to the spirit and following those promptings. It is a privilege and an honor for me to know and associate with you all.

Take Care, Sister Crandall

Elder Jordan DeGroff

Hola Everyone!So i am now in Mexico! Its called Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The city or area im in is called Allende on 5 de mayo st which is a car wash with little rooms on the sides of it. Im living in a small 2 room house that can barely fit the 3 of us... its enough to live in as they say. Yes i said 3 as i have 2 companions! Elders Stojic y Gil! Stojic is from Phx(Deer Valley), AZ and Gil is from Cuoutla Morelos, Mexico. They are both awesome! They are teaching me alot but the Spanish still isnt coming... its really tough right now as we are teaching a few families and I dont understand a word they are saying... The people we are teaching are Oscar y Lidiya(couple), David y Lorena(couple) and Erika. Erika has had the discussions for awhile now and is getting baptized this Saturday!! The thing is they told me I will be performing the baptism!! Its crazy! In the MTC we had to memorize the Baptismal Prayer so im good that way! So I do know it so it should be pretty easy to do! So the Food is amazing!! Its been all with chicken, some sauce(salsa), rice, and tortillas!! Its bomb! And then to drink its always been a fruit water. They take the juice of a fruit and add water to it to make a drink. Its not a fruit juice. Its better! Taco Bell is horrilbe compared to this! But today I honestly had a craving for Little Caesers $5 pizza! What else.... Its amazing here! it rained today pretty hard. Oh ya.. I have pants that are dry clean only, they dont have dryers here as you hang them up after you wash them in this machine. I dont know what the machine is called but it has a washer on one side and a spinner to spin the water off it. If you look on google you will find it. Its made by Downy or thats the one a member uses that let us use it. It only uses cold water as well. No hot water so I was wondering, do I still need to dry clean it or can I just use cold water and detergent? The place where we shower is also the bathroom. Bascially the floor gets totally soaked and there is a drain on the ground. Its really crazy! Also there is no hot water. Just cold water so that part is tough! There is a bunch of mosqitoes and have gotten bit over 30 times since ive gotten here... Its horrible but its just cuz I have sweet American blood which they like. But when I become Mexican after like 6 months of living here it will calm down and not be so bad! Well that good enough for now! What we do is print out emails around 11am and then write back around the time im sending this. Like 430 which is 230 az time. Its also VERY humid here. Especially since its rained today and yesterday. When it rains it poors!!Hope to hear from ya soon! Love,Elder DeGroff