MAY NEWS

Elder Grant Andrew Huish

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

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

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!

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

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

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

April News

Elder Gary Chambers

Dominican Republic Santiago Mission

October 2007 - 2009






YESS!!! I made it to the Cover Page! I'm like... a celebrity now right? Oh golly... I'm blushing and everything..... Wow so how is the work you're probably asking me? (figuratively speaking of course...) I couldn't be happier. This oportunity... This chance of a life time... Man! How do you some it up? It has helped me to realize what is REALLY important... I mean, what counts! It has helped me to prioritize my goals! Most of all it's shown me what joy you can have from studying las Palabras de Dios (Whoa watch out for that Spanish!). I remember specifically Max writing a BIG letter home that had a section in it for me... before I left on my mission. I remember specifically him saying "Study the Book of Mormon!" and me thinking... "Yeah... I probably should..." Wow how true that is, how lucky we are to have this book! The Book of Answers as I like to call it. Ok ok, I know you guys already know what I'm talking about, so I'll say something different. Running dust slams the dream boat paper! HA! Hows THAT for something different? (Warning: Don't try to understand that) Anyways, what I'm trying to say is... We are SOO lucky to be here... to have this opportunity. Well, as a short lil update on my portion of the world (which is right next to Logans portion! Haha how ironic... Hey Logan!), The Dominican Republic is great, and the people are so cool! Not to make you guys jealous or anything... but I just can't seem to stay dry! I know they say not to count the baptisms... but once you pass 100, it's just too much to ignore! (Joke?) Haha no, but it's great. It's supposed to be hot here, but I lucked out and got pitched into the mountains where the weather is usually nice :) However, Arizona gets more rain than I do... what's that all about? All is well gentlemen... all is well. The Church is true and don't you EVER forget that! You're all on the right track (Except for Jeff). Be Fearless, Live Strong, and Do your best to make your Heavenly Father proud! Never forget that the Lord is on your side. Take Care... Elders? (or do you prefer more casual like... Home-Dawgs...)



Love Elder Chambers

P.S. Haha here's a lil game fore you... See how many "...'s" you can find!



Elder Chase Judd

Jambo everyone that is hello in swahili I can't wait to learn that language it is just soooo exciting. Well Ijust want to yell at Jeff and say " Zdravstvuite" yeah he knows what that means hahaha. Well I am off to the MTC on Wednesday FINALLY!!! I have been waiting my whole life for this moment and I am really excited to teach some African Americans. Hi Grant Hi Daniel HiGarrett Hi Jeff Hi Mike Hi Logan Hi Brock Hi Gary Hi Scott Hi Max Bye Dallas Bye Lorin and Bye Blake. Well I hope everyone is doing well... besides Jeff because he yelled at me, I was going to send you some peanut butter but nope not anymore. My farewell was yesterday and I cried through the whole thing I know its pretty embarrassing but it was Alli's fault she had to sing my favorite song "Joseph Smith's first Prayer", and in the third verse she sang it in espanol which made me cry even harder so I am just a big baby. Oh and it made everyone in the audience cry even Chas, just kidding Alli made everyone cry......... Daniel that is crazy that you are in the 2nd worst place in the USA. nyobzoo Daniel I am sorry I am not good at writing anyone back, forgive me please! I love you all! Wish me good luck GG I get set apart tonight so I gotta get in all of the cod4 I can get that is call of duty 4!!!!! Halo 3 sucks Halo 2 is way better ok guys. Chase



Elder Mike Kleinman


Hey Kids!How is everyone doing? We had a baptism this last week, she is a Bolivian girl name Danny Paola Oreyai Chavi, and yes she did insist on us using her full name all the time, I don*t know why, and it was a real pain. But she is a wonderful girl with a great testimony. She is going to go visit her parents back in bolivia to convert them as well heh, neat huh? Well, things have gotten a little more interesting here in La Rioja, there is a strike that has been going on for 3 weeks now, where all food supplies and fuel has been stopped from going outside of Buenos Aires City. It all started with the people living outside of the captial city getting angry that all food products and fuel were so much cheaper inside the capital and super expensive everywhere else. So they told the president (a woman ha!) to balance out the prices so its more fair for the poor farmers to buy their own supplies. Well, apparently the pres. pulled a Marie Antoinette "Let them eat cake" thing and cut off all routes for food supplies and fuel to enter any province outside of Buenos Aires city. Long story short, theres no food here and people are now rioting hah! But we got a good supply of rice and pasta to last us. Also, all the trucks that were bringing the food are blockading the highway so buses cant get through, and transfers are coming up so this should be interesting :) Well, I hope all are doing well and I*ll witre you all next month!

Elder Kleinman



Elder Grant Huish



Hey everybody hows it going? things here in Oregon are going pretty well. im actually back in civilization which is a nice change. my new area is pretty tiny though just like 4 sq miles or so. oh and im on bike now which is actually pretty nice, makes me feel like a missionary though my weak video game legs are struggling. my new companion actually grew up in mt vernon washington which is weird that he ended up in oregon. we are teaching some pretty sweet people here. its kind of weird, this lady who just moved into the ward was investigating in another area of the mission and she had a baptismal date set so that was pretty cool to find out until she told us where she lived and it just so happened to be the address of an excomunicated guy and then we found out that she still smokes and is on probabtion for like 17 more months which pretty much means she cant get baptised as you probably could tell. well i dont really know what to say othere than that. oh the other day i was riding my bike and night on the wrong side of the road so i turned of my light so that i wouldnt bling people driving past and then all the cars went by so i turned my light back on just in time to se a mail box pole sticking up out of the sidewalk which i was just lucky enough to crash into.... it was great i have a huge bruise on my leg now but dont worry there was only a little bit of blood.... well i believe that that is all that i have for now.... good luck everyone!

elder huish


Elder Garrett Jones



Greetings from the Bronx. Everything is going well here and I am so happy to be a part of this great work that we are all in. We have been able to see a lot of the Lord's elect come forth asking us to be baptised recently and its been such a cool experience for me. Natividad was baptised and confirmed by her husband and then I was blessed to be able to confirm Eddy after he was baptised by my companion. This coming week is transfers and I'm almost 100% sure I'll be getting a new companion who I don't really know, which is always awkward for the first little while. Whoever I get should be able to teach me some new things.Time here makes absolutely no sense. I start talking to somebody in the street thatI think I contacted yesterday and it turns out that it had been several weeks ago. I start talking to somebody that it seems like forever since we last visited and its been three dadys. Anyways, it comes down to just putting our trust in the Lord to guide us and remind us through the Holy Ghost of who we need to visit and who is ready to really progress and come unto Christ. As a District we've been looking for ways that we could do some service and one of the things that we've come up with is to teach English for free to whoever wants to come every Thursday and Saturday. We'll teach English for an hour and then share a spiritual thought for 30 minutes afterwards for those who want to stay. Tomorrow will be the first time we do it and we are excited to see how everything goes. I love this work and am so happy to be able to be a part of it. I love and miss you all.

Garrett

Elder Max Crandall

My Brothers,*Que pasa? Things are going good here in Everett. My new companion is a native Spanish speaker from Costa Rica. His name is Elder Martinez. Elder Martinez only talks to me in English. I keep asking him to speak Spanish, he agrees it*s a good idea, then he talks in English. Not really much help. My mom sent me *Learn Spanish in Your Car* CDs for my birthday but Elder Martinez won*t listen to them in the car. Lo siento big guy, I thought we were supposed to be helping me learn Spanish. We don*t have much in common but the good news is he doesn*t have an American driver*s license so I get to drive! w00t! Elder Martinez and I both got whitewashed into this area so the work in kind of slow. I*m pretty much in the mission president*s back yard; less than 10 minutes from the mission home in Mill Creek. We live in a member*s home. Her name is Sister Smith. She is a 79 year old widow and has virtually seen the entire world, **but before you go off gallivanting to Europe and all those exotic places, I recommend seeing this great nation of ours.* We talk to her almost every night for about 30 minutes. She gets peeved if we don*t and I guess sometimes you need to kiss some member bootie. I accidentally told her that I know how to crochet now, so she wants me to make a ton of little beanies for the babies in the hospital. Honorable, but not why I*m out here. Her house is just filled with weird old stuff. She*s a big fan of antiques. We live downstairs and have our own little teeny kitchen. We have a car, but the trunk has duct tape on it so it won*t fly open. Apparently when another elder was serving in this area, someone ran into the back of him. I guess they figured a working trunk isn*t all that important. There are pretty much two parts to the Mukilteo area where I am * actual Mukilteo, which is really rich and prideful, and Southern Everett, which is full of Mexicans. Our ward has tons of people moving in and out. There is one road in South Everett that is just lined with apartment complexes. Since there have never been Spanish speaking elders in this area before, we*ve kind of been starting from scratch. If you wanted to know the update on the Spanish, I can understand about 80% of what*s said to me and I can communicate around -3% of what I want to say. I know it*ll come though. I have faith. The work has been kind of all over the place. It seems like we can find tons and tons of Mexicans who are interested in hearing about the gospel, when it*s preached in their home. But come Sunday, you*d think they thought we had the plague. I*ve never faced so much rejection in my life. At least it*s givin* me practice for when I get in the dating scene again. Well, I love you guys and pray for you. You are all amazing examples to me. *Elder Crandall

Elder Scott Ball

Ciao Everyone!
Everything is going good here in Genova still. Transfers are coming up in two weeks and I'm very scared that I'm going to be transfered to some very small town. It is so fun being 4 in the apartment here and going into 2 is going to be difficult, also depends how funny this companion might be. Right now, this week, we are working to give a baptisimal date to a Ecudorain guy who didn't believe in god. We had a good easter here in Genova and everything is completly closed here. No one is on the streets and it is very funny. Also the day after easter is a holiday and again nothing is open. We couldn't do any finding work really, so we just set meetings with some members and investigators then. During the day after easter, we went to a park and played ultimate frisbee with the sisters. On our way over there, we took the bus and there was this old lady sitting in one of the seats. A note, all the buses are usually full (meaning most of the time, you are stuffed, STUFFED in the bus). So this lady was getting out of her seat and a sister missionary started helping her out. The lady took her umbrella and started whacking the sister over the head yelling, ROBBER ROBBER! Then, the old lady started to run out the door and whacked me and another missionary with the umbrella. It was quite funny. Everyone on the bus was laughing. We saw that old lady again, but we didn't want to go up to her and say anything in fear that we are going to get hit with a umbrella. Have fun Elders, till next time.Vi voglio bene.
Anziano Ball

Elder Jeff Stoker

Dear Elders,
I hope things have been good for all of you. I got my first transfer two days ago, and i will be moving to my new area today. I am excited to experience some change, but i love it here in my first area with my trainer. Things have been good, but i think that it is time for a change. The weather here has been getting really nice. The only bad thing is all the snow is melting and it is make mud everywhere. I normally have mud over everything when we finally make it back in for the day. I am in a hurry, and i am sure all of you know how that goes. Just wanted to write and say hello to all you missionaries out there, and all you future missionaries. Keep on working hard. It is hard to believe that it is already the end of march. Well Love you all....sometimes. Have a great month.
Elder Stoker
ps. Mark Gets home May 1st. How crazy is that?

Elder Brock Smith

Aloha Ka Kou My M_town Brogs

Whats up? Well here on kauai things are goin good although Im probably gettin transferred from Kauai in 2 and half weeks and Im thinkin so im not lookin forward to that this island is the bomb but ill go whereevah the Lord want me to go. So E Crandell hows the Espanol? I thoroughly enjoyed last months newsletter it seems as if the time inbetween flys by so fast maybe its just me but it seems that time on a mission is in fast forward mostly all the time. This truly is a great work and Im thankful to be a part of it I see the hand of the Lord everyday and am so greatful for all the he does for me. Im anxious to see what this next transfer holds and I hope that by some miracle I stay here. Well things are goin good my greenie is startin to loose a little bit of his green tinge he is really startin to get into this work howd transfers go for those of you that had them? Well I could ramble on for longer but I think Ill call it quits nothin real cool to report until next time Iesu Pu And May the Force Be With You Always Elder B Smith

Elder Daniel Anderson

Hello Everyone!So nothing too exciting was happening around here before transfers. All of our investigators and people that were coming to church all stopped coming and they don*t want to hear from us anymore*yea it sucks but what can you do? We did find a super fun family. They are part of the Vang clan (white * like me!) and they just came from Thailand like 3 years ago. The family has 3 boys and 5 girls, that*s pretty small for a typical Hmong family. They don*t know very much English so we just go teach them and slowly try getting them to pray with us and then do some other stuff. My companion says that I need to make them *my mission project.* He thinks that they will get baptized but it will take a lot of work and it probably won*t happen until the end of my mission. We are always working on finding investigators and helping the ones that we do have. Sundays out in the field are SO STRESSFUL! I miss having a normal Sunday where everything just runs smoothly*but hey what can you do? Yesterday we had like 12 people set up to come to church but when we went to *face to face* them nobody was home and none of them would answer their phones! It is so irritating when people don*t follow through with their commitments but it*s okay, I am like the least stressed missionary in the branch so it is all good! We got our transfers and I am staying in Stockton! I*m the senior companion and I*m going to be follow-up training my brother * Elder Xao Yang. He was just trained by the Elder that trained me * that*s why everyone calls him my brother. He doesn*t speak very good English, so my Hmong is going to get crazy good*hopefully.

I miss you all and *love you Big, Big* Daniel

Elder Logan Wells

So I am in Caguas and well my companion is from here his name is Elder Guzman he is way crazy he is definitely a nerd and says that he wants to know everything and take over the world, a bit of a wack job if you ask me, but it shall be interesting, I am just hoping that my knee will be fine, with all the walking I was doing it was still hurting but I just didn’t want to go home so I told a few fibs to stay out here, but I have a car now and well it shall be really good, I am in the largest ward in all of Puerto Rico and supposedly all of the members here are really cool and help with everything, its super sweet they have dinner nights for the missionaries so we are going to get fed all of the time, well President told me that if the other two baptismal dates that we have get baptized on those exact days then I am allowed to go to those baptisms so I am hoping that I will be able to go to the baptism this Sunday and then the one on the 13 so that should be really cool because I love the people over there and they are the first persons that I am going to be visiting when I get back to this place that is for sure, I loved it over there and had the best time, it was quite a shock when I found out I was leaving well with all of the work that we were doing it was a bit of a downer well it is all good now because I think that I am going to be awesome here because I think they need someone with a little bit of street smarts here because the other guy that was here before me still didn’t know where to go he used a map the whole time and was here for 5 transfers, so crazy lets just hope that he doesn’t kill himself in the other area because its difficult, but man the other two people that are in my district seem like they are from another world, so we shall see what happens, it will definitely be a little bit different considering my whole mission I have been around normal sane people, well who knows. My companion is the driver and well doesn’t have a clue I had to tell him how to get home and I had only been there for two hours, how funny is that? Well friends, peace out, have a great month! I love you all! Elder Logan Wells

Dallas Rowley

Hey everybody, So my papers are turned in, I sent them to my Bishop about a week ago, & my Stake President sent them to "the brethren" 4 days ago. My call is going to be sent about a week later than usual, because of General Conference. But what can you do. I'm getting pretty excited to find out where I'm going. Man, I might not make it to Chase's farewell today because I have a meeting with my Bishop at the same time. But what can you do. Well, I hope you all are having awesome times, and hopefully I can tell you all where I'm going by next newsletter! Dallas

March News

Elder Jeff Stoker

Russia Samara Mission October 2007 - 2009

Dear Elders,
Another Month. I am starting to realize time is a very strange thing. I honestly feel like I wrote one of these yesterday. Anyways, this last week for me has been quite an adventure. Our investigators got baptized! What an amazing experience, that I will never forget. It has definitely helped pull the branch here together. Our investigators have come a very long way. He had to quit smoking and drinking, which was extremely difficult for them, because they had done it all their lives. But they were finally able to stop. It is really amazing to see the change that the Gospel can have on peoples lives. So I am still in my trainer, in my first area. I don't think that I am ever going to leave, and I hope I don't. My mission president said that I am probably going to be here a while too. It is way crazy to think that it has already been 6 months. Oh, and I think I have already talked about the new law that Russia just passed, but if I haven't, I will now :]. So every 3 months i have to go and renew my Visa. It used to be every year, but they just changed it. To every three months I will have to take a train to Samara, then fly to Moscow, then immediately hop onto another train that goes into Estonia.We get to spend an entire day being tourists in Estonia while all the paper work is going through, then you do the exact same thing to come back. I just got back from my first Visa Renewal trip, and boy it was beautiful. Estonia is quite a view. It was really cool, because everyone there knows about 8 different languages, and if you only know 7 you are considered retarded. We were able to just walk around and ask people things in english, and they all knew it. It was a really neat experience. Moscow was also way different than any other place in Russia. IT IS CLEAN! hah. But I am loving it here, and every day I seem to understand the language a bit better. I am glad to hear that everyone is doing great. Keep on keeping on. Anyways, Love ya all. Stay outta trouble, have a great Month.




Elder Grant Huish


Hey everybody,
Sorry I didn't write last month. I completely forgot. I know it was probably hard for you all not to get to hear from me for so long so I will try to make this a good one to make up for last time. well as far as the missionary work up here not much is new. we still don't have really anyone to teach and we are running out of places to look. I got my first referral in over 3 months the other day though and we are probably going to check that out tonight which should be fun. the weather up here is beautiful. it has pretty much stopped raining other than a few sprinkles every few days and it has been anywhere from 55-65 degrees during the day. I am absolutely loving it, it makes it a little less boring to be walking around when there is actually a sun and not just a vast grey expanse over your head. so last week when i was doing my laundry (over in Long View Washington) a guy in the store next to the laundromat tried to run from the cops and they tazed him and there was like 15 cop cars and a fire truck and an ambulance. It was pretty crazy, they had to take the guy of in a stretcher. other than that I wish you all the very best of luck. Keep up the good work. Jesus loves you all and so do I. Elder Huish

Elder Garrett Jones

Hey everybody. I hope all is going well in whatever corner of the earth you're in. It's cool to me to think that no matter what language you're speaking or country you're in, the Gospel that you teach people is the exact same as the one I am. It's amazing how much my testimony seems to grow everyday being a servent of the Lord and seeing him answer people's prayers. Here in the Bronx the work is going very well. There seems to be so many people who are prepared by the Lord to hear our message and who want to learn why they're here. The diversity of people with whom I get to work is very cool as well. I had a very interesting contact the other day that I think typifies to a very small degree the kind of people who I get to talk to everyday here in the Bronx. We were on the 6 train heading to our area and I started talking to the guy next to me. He looked about 25, was black, had a doo-rag, some fluffy purple gloves, boots and a big brown worn-down jacket. He told me that he had tried to read the Book of Mormon a couple of times but could never really finish it. Then he said, just like this, "I was reading, and I saw the name 'Sariah' and so I put it on my neck." He then showed me a tattoo that was on the side of his neck that actually said, 'Sariah.' After that the train stopped and he got off without really letting me recover from all the confusion. People here are just different than any I'm used to, but at the same time it's so great.The next couple of weeks are going to be very busy for us as we are working with several people who have baptism dates for the coming weeks. Spanish is great and I'm loving the work. Keep working hard! Love, Garrett

Elder Gary Chambers

*Hola mis amigas! *C*mo est*n? Well that's all you get in the way of Spanish from me... Alrighty then, here's the low down. Missionary work is coming along quite dandy if I don't say so myself... we have a few more baptisms coming up these next couple of weeks... assuming i don't get transfered that is... Transfers are next week and i am not sure how i feel about it. It would be nice to get a new comp, as I've been with my Dad for 2 transfers now... but who knows what will happen. We went to eat at a members house last Sunday, and initially we were excited. Expecting a hot delicious home cooked Dominican meal as is what is usually served (beans and rice grow on you...), but instead, she brought out this pot of.... ugh i didn't even know what to call it. It wreeked of Garlic, and appeared to be a cold mush. Later I found out that it was called "Cold Mush With Too Much Garlic"... I easily figured out how it got it's name, all by myself. Anyways, that was probably the worst thing I've had to eat yet....... uugh... I almost died. Today so happens to be the Dominican Independence Day... Where they broke free from the rule of Haitti, cute huh? No wonder they hate haittians so much... I thought it was just cause they were black, but I guess not. Anyways, that's pretty much it for me here. I've come to grow closer to the teachings of Christ, and am striving to live his Gospel... It's a pretty exciting thing to know who you are, where you've come from, and what you need to do to return and live with your loving Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon is the BoM! (pun intended) I love you guys, and hope your missions are doing great too. Take Care and always know that I LOVE YOU!Con Amor (that's Spanish for "With Love".... you're welcome) Elder Chambers

Elder Mike Kleinman

Hey everyone!Things are going great here in Argentina! It is FINALLY starting to cool off and its raining a whole lot more now. Walking up to your knees in flood water is fun... Transfers are next week and ill be moving up to senior companion teehee! We will be baptising a couple of crazy cool families in the upcoming weeks and Im really excited for them. For this last P-day we went to a gigantic dam thats just out side the city up in the mountains it was really cool, it was surround by huge cliff faces and a big lake in the center. We found a service door (that im probably sure we wren*t allowed in) that leads to the very bottom of the dam under the lake. It was super dark and really cold and it was all slimy and I felt like I was in Jeffs room again. Hah! Well, other than that not too much is new...my birthday will be in this next transfer, and I will end my teenage years, sad stuff huh? My lushious beauty from my teenhood will now slowly be fading away awww. Well, I hope all is going well with you punks and have a good...month..? *Cia*! **Les amo muchisimo!! Elder Kleinman

Elder Max Crandall

Bonjourno from the Not-So-Great-White-North! I hope everyone at home enjoyed the Super Bowl and more importantly, the Super Bowl commercials. Being the out-to-lunch missionaries that we are, Elder Dance and I planned a baptism on Super Bowl Sunday evening*about three people showed up. Elder Dance said, *A football game should not be more important than a baptism.* I replied, *Unfortunately, sometimes it is.* We really heard it from the ward members the next week. Silly us. Things are good here though. I just found out we have a really anti guy here in Mt. Vernon. He calls in for a Book of Mormon all the time, trying to trick the missionaries into coming over to his house so he and his trained anti-children can bash with us. I have never been there * thankfully. Over here in Mt. Bernon (as the Mexicanos call it) we have two wards. A couple of months ago, they formed a Spanish Group; not a branch, but a group. They have their own Sacrament meeting, Sunday School, and Priesthood/R.S., and then they meet with Mt. Vernon 2nd ward for YM/YW and Primary. Up until now there have never been any missionaries called to the Everett mission as Spanish speaking missionaries but lately I*d been hearing that President Showalter was thinking about calling some of the Elders and Sisters that are already serving here, to be Spanish speaking missionaries. Last P-day I was playing racquetball with Dance, Stevens, and Featherstone when President Showalter called. He talked to Elder Dance for a bit and then he asked to talk to me. I swore silently and answered the phone. *Elder Crandall, I am calling to see if you would be willing to learn Spanish.* I told him that I would do whatever he asked of me, but he said that it was completely my decision and the only inappropriate answer would be a dishonest answer. I asked him if I could think about it and call him back. I started to weigh out the pros and cons and there are so many more cons than pros. The more I thought about it the more I realized I wasn*t getting anywhere. I left the game, went around to the backside of the barn we were playing in and knelt down. Each time I mentioned the word Spanish, I felt calmer than I have in a long time. I ended my prayer, swore silently again, called President back and accepted the call to be a Spanish-speaking missionary. I know it*s going to be really hard, but this is what the Lord told me I need to do, so I*ll do it. Plus I know my Mom would kick my butt if I didn*t accept. On the bright side, a whole new genre of ladies will be available to me when I get back. So I*m leaving Mt. Vernon for sure and I just got word who my new companion is going to be*I think I wanna run a spoon through my ear drum. Well, I love you guys mucho and I know the church is true*even in Spanish. Love, Elder Crandall

Elder Brock Smith

Aloha My M town Peeps Howzit!> Things are carzy here on kauai Im still training my greenie and I foundout out this morning that Im going to be called as a District leader which is really crazy I dont believe I still have so much to learn about missionary work and now Im supposed to be teaching a distrcit how to do it talk about blind leading the blind but Im greatful for this oppurtunity to grow and to help other missionaries I only hope that I can live up tio this sacred trust that the Lord has given me I always try to do my best but I wonder sometimes if my best is good enough, any of you ever feel that way? Well Elder Anderson training at 6 months thats nuts the best advice I can come up with so far is be yourself and teach mainly by example actions def speak louder than words to that I can Testify it wont be esay this has been the hardest transfer besides my first ever and now I found that It will only get harder for me which is what the Lord wants right now. Other than that all is well and I look forward hearing from you guys and seeing your growth. I throughly enjoyed Elder Stokers journal entry not even one stake thats nuts and it sounds like even crazier food than im gettin over here I enjoyed your comment about becomin russian esp because it is true haha. Well I also thought that it was funny that Garret and Grant are havin a contest for shortest entry Grant def won by not puttin nutin at all. Kauai is the bomb I love servin the Lord and will continue to do to the best of my ability. Study the scriptures Alma 33 is amazing yes chapter 33 not 32 or 34 like even always uses but 33 read it awesome stuff. Well thats about it for now I love you all Iesu pu and may the force be with you always Elder B Smith

Elder Scott Ball

Ciao Ciao Everyone!This week has been crazy! Ok, so we've been trying to dedicate ourselves to finding investigators to teach, so we've been doing everything possible. We did Casa in Casa, where you go and knock on doors and teach lessons in people's houses. We did that on one building and only had one person that was interested and we taught her, but she seemed kinda hesitant. Anyways, funny thing, so they don't even open the door most of the time. They say, "Mi dispiace", which means in english literally, "This displeases me", I feel like saying sometimes, if this displeases you so much, then open the door! They have had so many Jehovah's Witness's come by that they don't want to open the door because the J-dubs (Jehovah's Witness's) put their foot in the door, so they don't open it anymore. They always think that we are J-dubs though, I hate it so much. They say that we preach the same thing as the J-dubs preach. Anyways, I was on the bus doing the this place that is up in the mountains and I met this Ecuadorian guy that said that he would be interested in our message. So we met with him and he said that this might be what he has been searching for. So we just had a appointment with him this morning and talked about the book of Mormon and how God is giving us new revelation in our time. He said that he talked to his pastor of the evalgelical church and that he said the bible is all you need to be saved. I told him that, If there was new revelation in our time, would he want to know about it. Although, he didn't understand me that well. My companion said it and he said he would try to pray about the Book of Mormon. We are begining the see investigators and our hard work is paying off. I'm just glad to be working to bring about the gospel in every tougue. We have had other appointments with less actives and are contining the work of reactiving the less-actives. I might be transfered next week, but I will find out then. It has been almost 3 months, I thought it has been longer, but I was wrong. Vi voglio bene! Anziano Ball

Elder Daniel Anderson

Hello Everyone!So I HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM!! WAHOO!! It was so cool, I got to baptize a girl named De and it was awesome. I had been practicing how to baptize her in Hmong all week and I was really nervous to have to do it because it was my first time ever. It was such a neat experience getting all dressed in white and getting to baptize someone*I can*t explain it, it was just a super neat experience. It was really weird though because it was the most contact I have had with a girl my age in like 4 months! Weird but cool. My companion/trainer/daddy got transferred to North Sac Town to train again and my new companion sucks! He is so lazy and trunky. He is going home right after this transfer. He is kind of funny, he reminds me of David Spade*his voice and everything. I can*t wait for this transfer to be over*but at the same time it*s good because it shows me what I don*t want to be like. He is teaching me a lot about missionary work though and the Hmong language. My mom found out that where I am in Stockton is the # 2 most dangerous city in the Nation but hey it*s getting better, it used to be the # 1 (for like 4 years in a row!) I was hoping that my Mom wouldn*t find out! It is a really interesting place to be in that is for sure. I meet the most crazy people in the world here and the people here are from Everywhere! This past week there has been some guy living in the church parking lot*not a bum*he is like doing some repairs on the building or something and he is a member but he looks so *inner city*. But come to find out, he went to Southern California speaking Cambodian and he married a girl from Thailand. He lived over there for like 3 years and he came to church yesterday and was talking with everyone in the Branch. He knows Lao, Thai, and Cambodian! He told me something that was so tight! He told me that George Lucas went and found all these exotic languages for the Star Wars movies instead of making up a bunch of Giberish! He said that the Jawas speak Thai and that Jabba the Hutt speaks Hmong!! Things have been really cool down here in the Branch, things are starting to pick up and we are seeing tons of blessings. Yesterday, our district had a goal for 21 investigators at church and we had about 17 just from the Hmongs! We have started teaching a Hmong class to teach people to read and write Hmong. I have to play the piano at church and I teach piano lessons every Tuesday. The first piano lesson was terrible, I had to teach like 12 teenager*s all at once! I love you all and I hope everything is going good. I love it out here! If you want a cool scripture to go through, read Moses ch. 1. It*s crazy you learn so much about our Heavenly Father and some deep doctrine and you can see how BOLD Moses is! Love, Daniel

Elder Logan Wells

Hello, I just had my 5th transfer, and I am staying in Rio Piedras. I am loving it here. There is lots of work to do, and seems there isn't enough hours to get it done. My companion is from the Dominican Republic and I am learning spanish, and he is learning english from me. I have learned mucho espano from him. I injured my knee, and had to have x-rays taken. I don't know what the outcome will be. I am trying to stay positive! This area is a biking area, and I am only walking now, and the area is so large it is hard to cover by walking. But I just keep plowing along. I love hearing everyones stories, have a great month. Peace, Logan

February 2008 News

Anziano Scott Ball
Italy Milan Mission August 2007 - 2009

Carissimi Amici,Well, I'm still serving in Genova, Italy right now on my 3rd transfer here. We are seeing a lot of progress here in the work. I just got my new companion from Spanish Fork, Utah, Anziano Rogers. I opened a companionship here with Anziano Ballard and we have done a lot of finding work doing Bus, Street, Homes, and Parks. That's sounds so weird to say that in English because we are always speaking Italian with that.. like Strada, Casa.. etc. The Italians here are awesome and we have meet many people and taught many lessons. We reactivated 2 less active members that have been inactive for some time. We are currently progressing with some investigators and are looking forward to invite them to be baptized. What else can I say! I love this work. I hear from some older missionaries that have been here, that they would like to stay longer. I'm starting to feel the spirit that they are feeling, always when I'm doing this great work. I'm living with the zone leaders currently and it*s pretty cool. Always learning something new from them. My old companion, my trainer went on to become a zone leader at Trieste, almost all the way across the mission (6 hours on train). It*s crazy to hear from everyone in these newsletters and to see people change during their mission. I'm learning from new experiences all the time. Especially, when talking with people and what to talk about and how to open up to people. I hope that I don't get transferred from this beautiful city, it*s the one closest resembling Arizona . . . with dry weather and the beautiful landscape.Vi voglio aver tanti benedizioni!

Ciao Ciao, Anziano Ball

Elder Mike Kleinman

Hey Everyone! I was able to watch the funeral, and I really like how Thomas S. Monson and the others kept a very upbeat attitude. We got to watch it in english in a smaller room in the church. While the rest of the members watched it in the main chapel. We have our zone conference this Thursday and we have to travel to Catamarca. Also, Elder Robbins from the Seventys is coming to visit us and inspect our pensions as well. For what, I have no clue. I love this work we are doing here. We have a few families lined up for baptism in the coming month and they are progressing just fine. All is going well here in La Rioja. Its hotter than heck being at 125 degs., but you get used to it. Sad thing is, after hours of walking in plain sun, Im still not tan...sigh. Its starting to cool off here...a little. Anywho, in the next couple of week there is a really big festival going on called the "Chaya." its a big party where everyone on the street throws water balloons and flower onto other people, while the punk kids here will throw water balloons filled with urine, gross huh? Which will be just peachy in prostelyting clothes heh. As Missionaries we are not allowed to participate, but most Missionaries see that rule more as "guidelines." We are teaching a bunch of great families right now. Everyone of them are the poorest of the poor, but they are wonderful people. Well, other than that, I'm still with my latin comp. Elder Suarez. he's a great guy and I*ve really learned a ton of spanish with him. I hope all is going well with everyone else! Thanks for all of your support guys! I know this is the Lord*s work and none other*s. Remember to sudy your scriptures well! *Cia*! Elder Kleinman

Elder Gary Chambers

Hello My Brothers,Another week under the belt here at the DRizzle... Things are going great! Had a fair share of changes and excitements around here... Originally, due to the size of Constanza, there were 4 Elders here, However... One Elder who has had a problem with his skin reacting to the climate here, had to leave last Monday for the States... Elder Judd was re-called to finish his mission in New Mexico... Because of this, we figured that they would send up another Elder to be Elder Silcox's comp. WELL, we were wrong, they shipped out Elder Silcox too... he's in the big city Santiago now. Elder Rampton and I are left with ALL of Constanza for oursleves now :) It's safe to say between our investigators and theirs, there is No time to visit my old friend "The John"... Sad story I know. We had an Interesting contact last night... Before we had a chance to greet him, he started Preaching to us in a voice much louder than necessary. He was preaching about Christ, and from what I could understand, everything he was saying was true, so i smiled in agreement and let him run out of breath... Once he paused long enough to get a comment in edge-wise, my comp jumped in and asked if we could share a message with him and his family... and with no objections, we were invited in and sat down. He started up with the preaching again, but before he could gain any momentum, my comp headed him off with the First lesson. After a few minutes of nodding and intense staring (I guess that's his thing...) My comp offered him the pamphlet we used in the lesson. He paused... I know that he KNEW that he should take it, but he wrote it off saying that he didn't need it, and that he had a complete Bible, and read to us a passage that suggested to be saved, one simply needed to believe in Christ. My comp chimmed in saying that Baptism is a crucial part in salvation, to which he agreed... Elder Rampton went on to explain that baptism by the Authority of God is the only baptism that counts. He then explained plainly that after the death of Jesus Christ and the 12 apostles, the authority to perform saving priesthood ordinances, such as baptism, died as well. He then explained that it was restored to the Earth once more through the adminstering of angels when Peter, James, and John (3 of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ who recieved the authority from Christ Himself) conferred the preisthood ordinance through the laying on of hands to Joseph Smith, the First prophet in our times. After all this, he still remained hard in his heart and instead of listening just started talking about whatever came to his mind to the point that he wasn't connecting thoughts anymore, and everything just got random. With a sigh of dissapointment, we decided it was time to go, so my comp asked who's turn it was to pray, and he chose my comp. So we all bowed our heads, and about 5 words into the prayer, the other guy i guess either changed his mind about who was going to pray, or was a big fan of "The Double Prayer"... Cause he started praying too, and again, in a voice much louder than necessary. I almost laughed just from how unexpected it was... but managed to restrain. With a lil difficutly in concentrating, my comp finished the prayer, and we decided to remain in prayer position until he finished his. Once he ended, he looked up and smiled at us as if he did that sort of thing all the time and it was to be expected. Hahaha i loved it... We shook hands and left. Well that's about all i have time for this month, I gotta run now. Love you all, take care. Elder Chambers

Elder Jeff Stoker

So....another month. I decided that time is a wierd thing. So I just thought I would say some things about the church in Russia, because i dont have that many interesting things to say. SO in the Russia Samara Mission, there is a City called Saratov. Saratov is known as the heart of the church in Russia. There are the most families there than any other city in Russia. There is not even a temple in all of Russia. The closest temple is in Finland. Not very many members have been to the Temple, because it is way to ****** expensive for them to pay for plane tickets to get there. ******Everyone here is waiting for the temple in the Ukraine to be ******completed. Hopefully it will be completed soon* Wanna know ******something crazy? There is not even a stake in All of Russia. In Balakovo*..which is where I am*. There has been the same branch presidency for 7 years. They know my cousin who served 4 years ago. I have seen a couple pictures with him and the members here. Anyways, everything is good with me. I just keep on keeping on. We are really trying to work with our investigators right now preparing for baptism. They are going to have the baptismal interview this Saturday, so we are extremely excited about that. Hopefully they will be baptized before the end of February. Anyways, After that huge storm, the weather here has really warmed up. It is only like 30 degrees now. It seems like it is 100 degrees though after going from -30 to 30. I am going to try to send out a whole bunch of letters this next week. Things are crazy busy for us this next week. It always seems like we are on the run. I have been trying to experiment to try and find the best Russian foods, and the best Russian candies, and it has come with very little success. I could definitely tell you what you shouldn*t eat though. I had borsch for the first time this week. Borsch is beet root soup. I took one bite, and then i said I choose death, before I eat this. It was bad. Then I tried it like 5 days later, and I actually liked it. Maybe it was starvation, but I actually liked it. And it is sad to say, but I am getting used to the milk here. It doesn*t have the nasty taste to me anymore. And to top all that off, I have found mormon approved tea, that I really like. (everyone here LOVES tea.). I think I may be turning Russian, so when I get back, I am going to be very rude, and very obnoxious when I return! HAHAH. Oh wait*.i guess nothing would have really changed. And just so every one knows, your complaining with how hot and cold it is in your missions gets no where with me. it gets 110 here in the Summer, and it gets -30 in the Winter. haha. So just remember, while you are freezing or sweating, just remember that someone out there has it worse..... Me. Anyways, I love you all, and I hope you have a fantastic February. Love, Elder Jeff Stoker

Elder Max Crandall

Hola, gentlemen * So, first of all, check it out! I found a typewriter! I bought it at Value Village (a local thrift store) for $2.50! I think it*s going to increase my weekly letter output by 50%...maybe. Handwriting was killin* me. So, you may have noticed, I have not been transferred. Six months in my greenie area but do not mourn for me. I*m having the time of my life. Mt. Vernon is my home town, my hood, my arena. I*ve had three companions but I*m still in the same apartment. Elder Jensen, my last companion, was just transferred to a new area as a zone leader. We only served together for six weeks but he was great. My new companion*s name is Elder Dance *Dance Revolution* as I like to refer to him. He isn*t a good dancer and he*s one chilly chili and doesn*t speak a ton, but watch out when he does. He*s a cool kat. I hear that President Showalter wants to have missionaries stay together and in the same area for longer so if you think about it, I only have three new areas left. We*ve been having a lot of success here. One gent we*ve been working with is Alwood Harang. One Sunday, Elder Jensen and I were sitting in the foyer at church and I saw Alwood walk in through the side doors of the church. I heard this voice in my head say, *You should go talk to him.* I thought, I*m so tired though and I just sat down in this nice armchair. *You should go talk to him.* Yeah, but he*s probably a member and members are so awkward to talk to. Then I didn*t hear anything. I was so furious at myself later for not recognizing the Spirit. Thankfully, the Lord knows I*m an idiot, and Alwood came and talked to us instead. We*ve been teaching him for a few weeks now. On January 12th Elder Richard G. Scott came and spoke to us. I think it was the coolest experience of my life. I*ve never been in the same room as an apostle before. It was incredible. When Elder Scott walked in the room, everything changed. It was an amazing feeling. I tried to stare at him for a couple of seconds but I had to look away. It was like looking at the sun. He taught us a lot of neat things about the Spirit and how to recognize it. It was seriously one of the best days of my mission. This mission thing is like an emotional rollercoaster. I have come to realize how the gospel can and should be an anchor in our lives. Before, I took church, the scriptures, modern day prophets, all for granted. But the other day, when I was having a particularly hard day, I read a quote by President James E. Faust. He said, *What is the cost of discipleship? It is primarily obedience. It is the forsaking of many things. But since everything in life has a price, it is a price worth paying, considering that the great promise of the Savior is for peace in this life and eternal life in the life to come.* I suppose what I*m getting at is, talk*s cheap. Elder Neal A. Maxwell once said, *Deeds, not words * and becoming, not describing * are dominant in true discipleship.* I came out here on a mission expecting things to work out and I have been blessed that certain things have worked out, but I now realize that the best missionary work is accomplished through example. Sorry for draggin* on but I love you guys. I pray for you and I know you are amazing individuals. I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that He directs the affairs of His church. Catch ya off the reel * Elder Crandall

Elder Garrett Jones

Hey everybody greetings from the Bronx, NY! Things are going well here for me, we're working hard and the getting blessings from the Lord. The Bronx is different than anywhere else I've ever been. There is always something strange and new going on and the people here are surprisingly very friendly. It is surprising how many Spanish speakers there are, it seems like everybody is from Mexico, El Salvador, or the good 'ol Dominican Republic. We have been blessed by the Lord in that we've been able to witness Fernando progress towards his baptism this past Sunday. We're way excited for him especially because of all the opposition he's faced. Grant I think I definitely had you beat in that last letter for the shortest entry, and it looks like I might make it again. I hope all is well for all of you around the world, especially those who just got out in the field. The Lord loves us all and this is his work. Garrett

Elder Logan Wells

Well let me see, life here in Puerto Rico is great I am still here in Rio Piedras. The work is going good. I am just working really hard. I am still biking and walking. We recently got another Elder, so I am in a three some now. Elder Lloyd is from California and is 26 years old. Funny to think he is the same age as my Sister, and she has 3 kids. He is real cool, and looks like he is 21. I recently hit my 6th month mark and burned a tie and as it was burning the curtains caught on fire then my bed and before you know it our whole house was up in flames, and everyone was running around yelling policia policia. Ha Ha not really. I have seen some crazy things in this past four months here and well I am really just so grateful for all that I have and for all the opportunities that I have in this life. I am Thank-ful for the Gospel,family and you my friends! Peace, Logan

Elder Daniel Anderson

Hello Everyone!I*M IN STOCKTON! It*s so crazy here, I hear gunshots and sirens all day and all night long*I am in the middle of the hood*it*s kinda scary. But it*s all good, the Lord is with us. We have to be back in our rooms at 9:15. My apartment is cool, it isn*t too crappy looking. I live with two English Elders and they are ok. My trainer*s name is Elder Thorsen, he is from Dallas, Texas, and he is an amazing missionary. Everyone has said that the Stockton area has sucked it up lately and they put him here to start making things happen. He is really dedicated and he is teaching me a lot. He was in the last group of Hmong elders that came to Sacramento and he has been out for 18 MONTHS! Me and Elder Lee are the first Hmong elders that came to Sacramento from the MTC in over a year! It*s crazy, all the Hmong elders are getting ready to leave, so in six months I will be training*not good*. The language is really tough and I am trying to understand things better but*it*s like everything they taught me in the MTC was all wrong. Almost everyone I have met here speaks Green Hmong and they taught us White Hmong in the MTC, so that doesn*t help. I got my new Hmong name, I*m Tsim Meej Vaj now! My last name in English is tight it*s VANG! Anyway, it means to create clarity or vision. My mission president is probably one of the smartest men I have ever met. He used to be a Seventy! He has a photographic memory and can quote the scriptures like I have never seen before! He knows so much, and he is so nice. His wife is tight too, and he has a 24-year-old son that has Down Syndrome. He reminds me of my nephew Thomas, he is so cute. I will have a car my whole mission but Saturday we rode bikes*it was awful, I*m getting so FAT! It was fun because you talk to a lot of different people but there was this thing in the road I couldn*t see and I ate it pretty good*I know I*m clumsy but hey I figured I should get it out of my system early!!! We are assigned to one branch, but we have 8 missionaries there (4 Cambodian Elders). A Laosian member in our branch just died so that was sad and one of our Hmong members just found out she has lung and liver cancer*it*s really sad because she already had her arm amputated because of bone cancer. We have a super tight investigator right now, named De. She is crazy into the church and we will probably baptize her next Sunday. It*s pretty sad about President Hinckley but it*s okay, the Church is still true and we will continue to press forward. I have to go, I love you all, be good! Daniel

Elder Kellan Brady

Hello to all,

I know you have told me you enjoy me sharing my missionary experiences. About a week ago I was on exchanges with an Elder from the zone. We were in our area trying to find the most effective thing to do.
As we were driving I felt that we should turn around and tract a particular street called Winding Hill. This felt a bit odd because tracting is the least effective thing to do in this area. Sometimes I doubt, but this time I didnt. After we tracted the entire street I felt it was a fruitless event. We were told by most of the people that Mitt Romney is a nice man, but they were not interested in our precious message. Except for one man that told us to come back some time. We came back a week later and met with Alimo and his wife Tanchi. After our first appointment, they ask us to come back the next day. We taught them a powerful 1st lesson. They were both at church on Sunday. It is so special to me how quick you can love someone like you were related to them. I love them soo much. They both are so kind and nice to us. All of their family is from Californa, and they consider us as their own boys. The other day they said that they wrote a letter to you.
Now I could go on and tell you about how golden they are; but I will share a story that will state that. Alimo had a dream on Saturday night of a lady that had a problem with her electrical system in her home. She was trying to figure out what was wrong and she began to be depressed. She said a prayer hoping that someone would help her with her home. Randomly, her Mormon member neighbor dropped over and helped fix the problem.

Now when Alimo went to sacrament meeting, a woman told the same story of the very thing that Alimo had dreamed. It is so neat to see how God will answer prayers in different ways. Alimo, and his wife will make great members. In fact, we happen to find them precisely when they are starting a Spanish Branch here in Black Mountain.

Speaking of the Spanish Branch, I went on exchanges with one of the Spanish Elders from our zone. As we were driving out of one of the neighborhoods I saw a van going in the opposite direction from us. I felt we should follow them. Now keep in mind that we are on the lookout to find Spanish people for the branch. The people passing were Spanish looking. I normally will never follow someone. In fact, I have never followed someone home; because most people would be creeped out. Even I would be for crying out loud. Anyway, we did follow them home and we invited them to church. Yet, another soul was being prepared. The lady and her kids that we followed home were discussing just the other day how they needed to find a church. The whole family will be at church this weekend. As awkward and unnatural as it was, I am greatful the spirit led us to them.
I got my final Missionary packet today. It contains all the info about my mission I will ever need. I am grateful for it, but at the same time I don't want to open it; knowing that it represents an ending to my sweet mission.
I love this work! I love My mission! I love all of you!!!
Until Next Time ELDER K.P. BRADY

January News

Elder Brock Smith
Hawaii Honolulu Mission, March 2007 - March 2009

Peace Out! Mahalo Ka Ko! Elder B Smith your M town Rep. Holla >

Elder Jeff Stoker

Hey Elders,
HAPPY HOLIDAYS. So I am finally in Russia. How crazy is that you may ask….let me tell you. CRAZY. Yesterday, Christmas Day, was -30 degrees. If that isn’t coat weather, then I don’t know what is. Every time I go outside, my nose hair freezes, which is an extremely weird sensation. But I really do love it here. Russia is completely unlike anything else I have ever seen. The people are probably the weirdest people on earth. A lot of them look like walking mummies, because they have smoked and drank so so so so much throughout their lives. They all have gold or silver teeth (if they even have teeth). I think they hire Russians to be in the rap music videos. haha. They have some nice grills. Anyways, I don’t really have a lot of time, and I wish I could write a lot more, but I am going to have to be very vague and completely random in this letter, so please forgive me. The food here is both good and bad. Their ice cream is to die for, and the juice is incredible, but their milk tastes like something just went terribly wrong with that cow. Russian music is hilarious. It is kind of like Mexican music, but imagine Mexican music with techno instead of banjos and what not. All of the Younger generation of Russians usually listen to American music. And kids will always come up to us and ask us to translate music. And pretty much they all worship 50 cent here. They mostly like American Rap. I have heard Akon’s new 17 hits, since I’ve been in Russia. It is way hilarious. Which reminds me, they also love Crazy Frog. I love it so much. I drop on the floor and just laugh everytime I hear it. Well I just wanted to say I love you all, and keep up the good work. Ill do better next month. Or at least ill try.
Love,
Elder Stoker

Elder Max Crandall

The mission has been a wonderful adventure and a life changing experience. I’ve been out for about four months now and I love every minute of it! Right now, I’m serving in the Mount Vernon 1st Ward in Mount Vernon, Washington, which is about 45 minutes from the Canadian border. The ward here is very diverse and it’s been so awesome to work with such diverse and wonderful people. My companion, Elder Jensen, and I have had amazing success here in Mount Vernon, but the work is far from over. Elder Jensen is a district leader in our zone, so he and I have many opportunities to work with other missionaries around our area. We are pretty lucky because we are in the most beautiful part of Washington, in my opinion. The stake we serve in covers all of Skagit County and seven islands in the San Juan Island counties. It really is an amazing area. What’s even more amazing is the amount of success our mission is experiencing. It seems as though more and more people are accepting the gospel and making the commitment to be baptized each day! The main reason for this success is because the members and missionaries are working together to double the convert baptisms as the prophet has counseled. It is so cool to see how the Lord has prepared so many people for the message of the Restoration. On my mission, I have had a lot of fun and made a lot of friends. I am already dreading the day when my mission is over. Although one day I will just be a regular person again, I hope I never lose this sense of urgency I feel for missionary work. I absolutely know how important this work is and I know that it is the Lord’s work. About two months ago, my old companion and I had the opportunity to teach a gal named Jessica Delafuente. At the time, we also tried to teach the rest of her family but they were uninterested. A couple weeks later, Jessica had the opportunity to be baptized and her family was very supportive and attended the baptism. The spirit at Jessica’s baptism was so strong that the rest of her family told us that they wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. It’s amazing to see this message touch the lives of others as well as my own. I love being a member and a missionary of this church. I love this because I know this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ that spring day in the grove of trees. I know that God restored His church to the earth and brought about the Book of Mormon through His prophet, Joseph Smith. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and enjoy this holiday season.

Love Always,
Elder Max Crandall

Elder Gary Chambers

Hey You all! Wow quite a bit has happened this week… ok… here i go. So I had thought that i lost my wallet but it was in my back pack! Who knew… So i gladly put it in my back pocket, just befote we took off to our New Kid meeting that Thursday morning… Well we were a lil bit early, so we stopped off at a flee market kind of place to buy some super cheap ties (2 for a dollar mas o menos) What a deal! Well… this flee market is super busy and people are bumping into each other all over the place… so my comp (just before we dove into the crowd) warned me of thieves and to be careful… so as a security measure, i buttoned my back pockets… Well as we’re bustling through the crowd, i kept feeling fingers poking my butt… at first i didn’t think anything of it, but after about the 6th poke the realization hit me “wait a second… I’m not at the Stokers right now! This shouldn’t be happening!” So i reach back to check my pocket and my wallet was still there, but the guy managed to undo my button! It was a close call, so the rest of the time I walked with my hand of my left check… it worked out pretty well from there on out! Ok next story… My comp and i had a meeting with a reference we got that was like 2 or 3 miles out! It was a long walk down a stretch of well traveled road… so my comp (being experienced) pulled the hitch-hiker trick and flags us down a ride about a mile into the travel after being denied several times… Well we pretty much got fired on (they weren’t there) so my comp was a lil bit angry to start with, cause we traveled all that for nothing. Then he started getting really upset when everyone kept driving past his extended thumb while shaking there head. I thought it was kind of funny, but decided it was time to start helping out. So i told him “All right… i’ll use my beautiful face and get us a ride”… Just saying that to be stupid… So i turn around and stick up my thumb and the first car stopped! Hahahaha it was so funny! I just busted up laughing while he was shaking his head in disbelief hahaha that was awesome… So New Years day comes around and a member invited us to this thing he was going to do New Years morning (1/1/08) at like 6:30 called like some kind of stair climb with upwards of 400 steps... We had to start the new year by doing something cool, so of course we said yes. So that morning we took a hike down to where the stairs were at and after seizing it up, thought i could run up them... haha we all thought we could run it...... wow we were wrong, i got a pretty funny video of how pathetic I am hahaha... i tried to send it but it was too big. Anyways, it was WAY harder than it looked, and was a pretty cool challenge. Well, that's it for this week!Love, Elder Chambers

Elder Mike Kleinman

Happy New Year from Argentina ! We went to the new mission home to celebrate on Dec. 20th, this is were we received all our packages ! Yeah. We also went to a big festival in central, where they celebrated San Nicholas (Saint Nicholas aka Santa Clause) but here, he is really a Saint ! the apostasy & ignorance never ceases to amaze me.Thank you to all who sent me such wonderful goodies.The candies are delicious, since the Argentine's version of candies are halls cough drops. Ugh..Well after much partying, movies, fiesta's we are all back to work. We have had several baptisms since I was transferred Dec. 12th.I am in La Rioja. The mother of the family is going to get married soon, and then we will be able to baptize her too.My new area is the poorest area of my mission, but has the friendliest and most humble people you'll ever meet. I am constantly speaking Spanish, since my new companion is from Chile. He's great. Missionary life has been rewarding, I love it down here. Well I hope all the rest of you guy's had a great Christmas. It was good to talk to the family. Till next time my brothers. The church is true. Ciao, Elder Kleinman

Elder Daniel Anderson

Hey everybody!

I hope all of you had a MERRY CHRISTMAS! Christmas day was really cool. Elder L. Tom Perry came and spoke to us in the morning. His talk was really good. I got to shake his hand and I was wearing a new scarf that my family sent me for Christmas. Elder Perry asked me where I was from. I told him AZ and he just laughed and said only someone from there would be wearing a scarf and then he flipped it over my shoulder, it was pretty funny. Christmas was overall, really fun and relaxing, yet spiritual at the same time. I have so much food now, it’s disgusting….I have gained 25 pounds!

So tomorrow is the BIG DAY! A lot of the language missionaries in our branch are leaving today or have already left the MTC. Only us Hmong and one Cambodian going to Sac-town are left. It’s kinda sad but I’m excited to go. We had a departure devotional on Sunday and that’s when it really hit me that we are leaving so soon! Yesterday in class we talked about all of the Hmong culture and it was so crazy! I loved learning about it though. They are really animistic (They believe there are spirits all around us that cause good and bad things to happen) and we talked about the Shaman’s and the different rituals and ceremonies they do at different times, it’s going to be so different with them, but I can’t wait, I love them so much already! The Hmong people really have a lot of Truth in the things they believe, it just isn’t all the truth that we have in the gospel, it is so exciting to be able to go and teach them what we know. In class the other day we all had to tell stories and then if we were listening we had to translate what we heard into English. This is what I understood:

“I with a time was. When I was talking to myself I said, “I that how many that.” When I obtained and went to somewhere I a bird was close to me.” That was all I understood. It was awful! I’M GOING TO DIE THE FIRST FEW DAYS IN THE FIELD!! No, I will be alright, the Lord will be with me!

The church is true, Jesus is the Savior of the world. God lives and loves each of you, and it is only through Jesus Christ that we can find true happiness. Stay strong, the Lord is with you. Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Love, Elder Daniel Anderson

Elder Grant Huish

hey friends, i hope things are going well for everyone. as for me i am still in a tiny little town with 1600 people, a ton of rain, and 9 places to buy beer and not one to buy bread.... YAY.... well as for the missionary work it is frustrating but hey what can you do? i have learned that as a missionary the power to backhand some people would be very effective, but thats mean so we cant do it... other than that things are going well up in Rainier, we have had alot of snow which is cool though we dont really get the chance to play in it. i hope everybody enjoyed there christmas and new years, i do believe it was the first away from home for most of us, well those of us who are away from home. in case you were wondering, yes i am just writing alot to make it longer because mine is always like the shortest in the whole newsletter, well except for maybe chase's. but hey chase yours better be long this time. oh and congrats my friend, i am ever so proud of you. well thats all for now.
elder grant huish gc

Elder Scott Ball

Hey All,
So this year is going to be great. Everything is going good here in Genova and I'm seeing miracles that couldn't be explained without mentioning God. We discovered a less-active and his brother (non-member) while waiting at a bus stop and we are going to be setting up a baptisimal date probably next week. They have had work every sunday until this last sunday, so they have been able to come to church. It is so great to see them work together and learn the gospel more fully. I've been able to understand Italian pretty much easy now..... now I have to work on speaking it well. Also, I'm learning to speak spanish here also. Alot of south americans come here and live here, I don't know why.. but they do. I can understand when they speak spanish, but I can only speak Italian, which they don't understand, this is why I'm learning spanish.
Christmas and New Years was great and we really had a fun time. We have eaten so much over the past week that I've gotten sick. I think I'm pretty much over it right now, but it stinks and I really want to go and talk to people now after sitting in the apartment for a while. We had to stay in for New Years and go home at like 10 p.m. because we got permission from the presidente. There ARE still so many drunks on the streets from New Years. We didn't go out after New Year's day because we had to do a super cleaning on the apartment which took the whole day, but I think Presidente made us do it becuase there isn't much talking to do with drunk people that day. It pretty cold here, but not snowing.
Short letter, but don't have much time, got to get back to work.
Ciao Ciao,
Anziano Ball

Elder Logan Wells

Hello my Brothers!

Okay well I am in my third transfer and have gotten transferred to an area that is in San Juan and is called Rio Piedras. It*s pretty crazy. I had my first baptism a couple of weeks ago. Well I have been transferred to an area that is all biking and up hill. It*s hard at times. Well my new companion is from the Dominican Republic and does not speak any English. So I am forced to speak Spanish all the time. Which I don*t mind because it helps me learn a lot faster. Time is going by so fast, I can*t believe it. I am in a Ward right now I am part of the San Juan Stake and we have about 70 to 80 people in church every week. So that is pretty sweet. The ward is awesome I love being in a Ward because the people know how a church needs to be ran and in the other little branches we definitely have to help the branch keep going. The building is about half a mile away from our apt. So Daniel you*re finally out of the MTC the real work is starting to begin. The weather is definitely crazy it*s still really hot and humid and its always raining they said we are out of the rainy season but it rains here everyday. It is cool, and I am really loving this place. So crazy how we are all over the world now, to think that a year ago we were just boys getting thru school and thinking about our missions and where we would go? Well love you all and have a great month. PEACE Logan

Elder Garrett Jones

Hey everybody, Well guess what? The unthinkable happened...I got transfered! My zone leaders got a call and told me Monday night that I was going to get transfered today but I had no idea where to. I didn't think there was any way it would happen this cycle but it did. I'm now writing you from the far side of the Bronx from where I was bedore. We're in the area Olmstead and my companion is Elder Doermann, one of the Elders that was with me in the MTC! We're way excited to get down to work with each other and build the kindgom but it will be trying to be with someone my own age and of my own language abilities. From what I've heard the Bronx is a really fun and interesting place to work and be. Sorry this is so short but with transfer meeting and unpacking and everything there isn't much time to write.

Love you all, Garrett

Chase Judd

HEY EVERYONE, This has been an exciting month for me. I had an awesome Christmas but 3 days after i got my mission call. I leave april 2nd to go serve the lord in the Mexico Veracruz mission. So i am really really really excited!! ok oh and im speaking French and maybe some spanish. Your Brother, Chase

Elder Kellan Brady

President Wadsworth ordered 150 UNLV-BYU game tickets and was wondering if anyone would benefit from going to the game. If anyone would be willing to drive up here, and would like to get into the game for free then let me Know ASAP. The game will be this Sat @ 5:00 pm. Speaking of President Wadsworth, we had interviews with him a few days ago. He said someting that was very special to me. In my interview he told me many wonderful things, some of which I can not tell you now. Yet I will say that he said that he really loves and respects you as parents. When he said this I thought, How would he know my parents because he has never met them. After I thought that he said "I dont need to meet your parents to know that they are great people, because I have already met them through you". He even told me to tell you, ''Thankyou for being such great Parents''. This weekend Lexi Wells, and Mike Vapper will be baptised. Lexi has been a very good example to her mom. We hope to even bring Teri Wells (Lexi's mom) into the church soon. Mike has come such a long way. I am not sure if I told you about him, but just in case I didn't, I will inform you again. Mike used to be a part of a huge gang from New York. He began to feel very badly about what he was involved with. He made the difficult and dangerous decision to turn his life around and turn in a bunch of the gang members to the police; and even himself. After he served his time, he came to Las Vegas to get away from the old gang that was trying to kill him. It was here that his heart was further softened. Mike has been going through the life changing repentance process. He is now really excited to be baptised. It is soo neat to see the Lord change his people. I sent home a lot of return address stamps home about a week ago. Please use them so they don't go to waste. I love my mission, and this time of year! I look forward to the call home on Christmas!!!
Until Then Peace and Love ELDER K.P.BRADY