Navajo Code 9/9

Yaa Teeh!

       What a great Week in Flora Vista!!!!

       So on Tuesday we met with one of our investigators and discussed church for the most part. She didn't really like relief society so we talked about it and it all worked out. :) Then we got to go meet with our family who is getting baptized this week! The mom of the family has been meeting with missionaries for over 3 years. I feel so blessed to be one of the missionaries who get to see her be baptized. She and her daughter, my new little sister :) will be baptized on saturday at 11:30. Then the other two kids in the family will be baptized at 1. There are two seperate baptisms because of some family stuff.

       On Wednesday we met with one of our investigators who has been trying to quit smoking. Well when we walked in we found out he was drunk, but we still had a good lesson with him. We also taught a lot of lessons that day.

       Thursday, Thursday Thursday Thursday. I got to teach my first Distric Meeting. I did a get to know you game and then taught about the importance of Prayer. I love Prayer, it is such a gift to be able to communicate with our Father in Heaven whenever we desire. We just need to take the time to do it, and believe me it is WELL worth it. Then we taught a few lesson then had dinner with a family in the ward. During that dinner was the first time I had heard about what's happening in Syria.... Oh boy. Just let everything happen but no boots on the ground for another 18 months, please. :)

       Friday we meet with a new investigator. When we walked in he was drunk. Then he started going off about the Book of Mormon. He said it didn't make sense and the Bible did. It was really kind of interesting. Then towards the end he got up and sat down next to Elder Deakin. Fyi, Elder Deakin has a minor speech impediment. He put his had behind Elder Deakin's head and said he was transporting something into him, that Elder Deaking couldn't stop. Let's just say this guy is lucky that he didn't touch Elder Deakin. :) Then when we got up to leave he gave Elder Deakin a "Brain Rock". A rock that was in a dried up river bed. Ya, that guy was really interesting. Then we went over to the guy we say on wednesday and helped him put a boat cover on his boat. It was nice cause he wasn't drunk. I love it when people live the gospel. Then we got to see the family that being baptized this weekend. I love that family!!!

       Saturday we got to help the ward do some service putting up some knew raingutters. It was nice to be able to do some physical labor. Then we had lunch with our recent convert. Halfway through lunch a car rolled up and out got 3 gangsters. Ya that was interesting. The showed our recent convert all of their guns. Exchanged hugs and stuff. Ya that was REALLY weird! Then we got to go do service for the family that is getting baptized! I have now offically helped build a fence. I used the post hole diggers for the most part. I told Elder Deakin I was going to be mad if I wasn't sore the next day. lol. So after we put 3 posts in we found out that they need to be moved. HAHA. Oh good stuff. I was really glad to do some hard labor. :)

       Sunday before church I went up and played the piano for a little bit. Yep I was sore! Oh it made me laugh. After church we got to meet with our new ward mission leader and explain some stuff. Then we got to go have dinner with the family that is getting ready to be baptized. I really do love this family.

       So that was my totally awesome week. Thanks for all the support!

      Elder Bryson Chipman

 

The Barn- where we live

 

What I do when I'm bored

 

Elder Deakin and I

 

Last transfer's district

 

This ring makes my finger turn green

 

She reminds me of my mom

 

Purple wrists after service

 

The Tacoma  :)

 

What I do with my boredom cups :)

Navajo Code 9/3

  Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I don't have long today so I will cover as much as I can.

 

       Last Monday for P-day we went up to the church and played basketball and then played the piano. Then we had an awesome 1st lesson with a new 14 year old investigator. We invited to be baptized then his dad came out and kicked us out. NOT COOL!!!! This kid is soooooo prepared. For later missionaries. :) Then some less actives took us out to dinner and then we came back and I showed them the CPR with the cups. Oh they also had a quote on their wall that said, "A friend will bail you out of jail, a best friend will be sitting in jail with you saying 'that was fun' ". So I told them I had an add on to that quote, "A best friend forever will bail you out of jail saying 'I told you I could run faster' ". So the guy goes and gets a sharpie and writes at the bottom and then my name. That was cool, not going to lie.

 

       So on Tuesday we got to help some ward members weed. It's been raining for the past 7 days for about 30 minutes each day. So the first we go to cut down is about 7 feet tall and the truck was as big as a 50 cent coin. I'm SO glad I had my leatherman! Then we met with one of our investigators who has been meeting with missionaries for quite some time and we were able to commit him to baptism!!!! This area is really starting to pick up!!!

 

       Wednesday we got to go out tracking and I saw the coolest thing! An Osprey!!!!! (If you don't know what it is ask Dustin, he should know. :) ) I was on a military rant to Elder Deakin for like 20 minutes after that. lol. Then we got to go up and help out with scouts at the church. When we got there the person we were supposed to be helping called us and cancelled. So we stayed and I got to play the piano for the opening hymn in 2 wards! I didn't even do that when I was supposed to be going to mutual. :) Then we helped out with the deacons. They were talking about the swimming merit badge. Then they challenged us to a basketball game. That was lots of fun! That night I got my first call as a district leader. Elder Tingey, serving in Escrito had a question about a baptism date rule. It's crazy how much the spirit tells you what you need to know.

 

       Thursday we had Zone Training. For lunch myself and 5 other Elders played basketball, including the former Assistant to the President. That was crazy fun!!! Then after that I had my first ever DLC (District Leader Consel). I'm so blessed to have 2 fantastic zone leaders and a former Assistant serving with me. So I heard this week that New Mexico has a thunderstorm season. IT'S TRUE!!! So dad, when I'm back we gotta come back down here around this time and we'll go nuts taking lightning photo's! :)

 

       Friday we taught a less active CPR with the cups, he then took out some coins and showed us some tricks. Oh, so cool! If you guys know any let me know! They are so much fun!!! Then we met with an investigator, when we walked in you could tell that the spirit wasn't there. It was weird! We started talking and found out that he had started heavily drinking again. We started talking to him and then he asked for a blessing. Elder Deakin gave that. Then all he could say was, "It's so Clear! It's so Clear!" I then had several idea's come to my mind from my Father in Heaven of ways that they could keep the spirit in the home. When we left the spirit was in the home. Amazing. Then we got into our truck to head home, cause it was time for us to go home and we got a text from a member that wanted to see us. So we went over there and listened to her and calmed her down and read her a scripture. It was a testimony builder that Heavenly Father does send his spirit to his missionaries!

 

       Saturday we went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders. I went with Elder Tolman. He's a great guy who is really nice and has lots of great idea's. That night we met with the family that is closest to baptism, 9/14/13, and had dinner with them. Before we ate we were outside and I scared the 2nd oldest daughter because she was turned around getting the ball and I came running up, jumped, and yelled. HAHA. Oh that was good stuff. :)

 

       So on Sunday we met with the investigator we met with on Friday that had been drinking. He had come to church and was happy as can be. We even extended a baptism date for 11/2/13! That incredible for what had happened on Friday!!! That night I took numbers for the district for the first time. Lots of time on the phone. lol. :)

 

       Monday we, E. Deakin, Jacobson, Vance, Jamison, Tolman and I) got together and played Ultimate then Seach and Destroy. Search and Destroy is played on a playground. It's basically tag except the person who is it is blind folded. Everyone is on the play ground and can't touch the ground or go where the person who is it can't go. IE monkey bars. Lots of fun. Then we had a lesson that night were I saw the biggest moth I have ever seen!!!! It was about as big as a half dollar bill. Not cool. lol.

 

       Well that's all for now, thanks for all the support. Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 8/26

Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I'm not really sure what to call this week, but I guess will go with.... CRAZY AWESOME, STUFF HAPPENING, OBJECT LESSONS, SINGING week. .... Ya, that about covers it. :)

 

       So Monday we didn't really do much, we cleaned and went shopping and had a couple lessons.

 

       On Tuesday I finally got to try out of my object lessons that I've been wanting to try for a while. So it's about the atonement. You get a jar of water, only a little water, and you explain that the water is like us when we are born. All clean and pure. Then you add food coloring to symbolize sin. You mix it up and it so dark that you can't see through it. Then you poor in a little bleach, symbolizing the atonement. It gets a little clearer. The more bleach you put in the clearer it gets. (You mix it in.) So the more we use the atonement the more full our lives are, the water level is higher, and the more pure we are thus equalling true happiness! :D Oh it was AWESOME!!!!!!! I love object lessons.

 

       Wednesday we met 2 people who have been really prepared to recieve the gospel. It was insane how well the first lesson went with the restoration because the ladies father had been a deacon in another church but when we explained apostacy see didn't have any questions or objections. Oh and I used an object lesson for that one too! :) You get six cups. You write things on the cups that a church needs to be a true church aka, scriptures, authority, teachings, temples, leadership, ordinaces. So you stack the cups into a pyramid in no particular order except for authority which is in the bottom center. So when you take it out the whole thing falls down! And explain it from there. It works really well. That was such a great lesson! Then we met with our recent convert and talked with her about CPR (Church Pray Read). And yes, I have an object lesson for that too. But for this one I'm going to let you guys do it and figure it out. You need 3 cups/mugs that are the same size and 3 butter knives. You place the cups upside down and space them out in a triangle one butter knife away from each of the other two cups. Rules, cups can't move, knives can't touch the ground, you have to use all 6 items to support the scriptures, and the scriptures can't touch the cup. Goal, support the scriptures. I'm interested to see who can get this, and yes it's possible. Then as we were traveling home for the night it was raining, and the nice thing about New Mexico is anytime there is rain or dark low clouds, there is lightning!!!!! :)

 

       Thursday, oh Thursday. We did our studies and went out to try and contact some people. We knocked on this door and we got a phone call from President Batt. So Elder Deakin answered the phone while I talked to the man who had just come to the door. Right after Elder Deakin answered the phone he said, "It's for you." Oh boy..... So I answered it and we said hello to each other. Then President Batt asked me if I would accept a calling from the Lord of being a District Leader. Oh boy oh boy. I said yes and the we said good bye. All the while Elder Deakin was talking to this guy, come to find out he's a high priest that wants to come back to church. So ya, my mind was kinda in shock for the rest of the day. But with the last 2 appointments we did we shared 2 object lessons, one being the atonement the other on faith. You get a waterballoon and fill it a little full of water then blow it up all the way so there is only a little puddle of water at the bottom. You explain what faith is then you go over to someone and hold the balloon over their head and ask, "Do you have faith?" Then you take a lighter :) and light it under the water. It won't pop. You repeat with everyone. Then after everyone has had a turn you explain a little more about faith and light the side of the balloon and POP!!! Oh it's fun stuff!

 

       Friday wasn't very eventful but we did find another less active member who just wanted to know when and where church was. So that was fun.

 

       Saturday was increadable! So we had a half mission zone conference at the mission office because Elder Paul V. Piper of the first quorum of the seventy came down to tour the mission. I learned so much from him! He's amazing! And an added bonus I got to see and sit with Elder Provard!!! So we had know about this for a few weeks and Sister Batt had called me and asked if I would sing in a quartet for this. AWESOMENESS! We sang, "Our Savior's Love" It was awesome. That was such a blessing to be able to sing for Elder Piper and his wife. Then at the end of the conference President Batt said that a few missionaries would have the opportunity to be interviewed by Elder Piper! Half way down the list he called my name. Oh man, what a blessing! We talked about my family and my mission and plans for after my mission. When we were finished told me to tell my Dad thanks for raising such a great son. So THANKS DAD!!!! Then we had dinner with a part member family at a restaurant and our waitress looked like Amber Folkerson, only a few years older! CRAZY!

 

       Sunday the ward choir was singing in sacrament meeting and Elder Deakin and I were a part of it. We were singing, "A Poor Wayfarring Man of Grief" We sang a duet for the 3rd verse. He sang melody and I sang bass. IT WAS AWESOME!!! Then I had one of the most special experiences of my mission. I was talking to an 8 year old girl who we visit her and her family quite often. So I squat down to talk to her and we talk for a couple of minutes and when we finish I stand up and she reach over her walker, She got trampled by a horse a couple of weeks ago that completely crushed her leg so she is in a full leg cast and can't put any weight on it. She leaned over her walker and gave me a hug. Oh man, I have a new little sister! She may not know that yet but she will!

 

       Well I got to go. It's been a great week! Thanks for everything. Until next week, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 8/19

Yaa Teeh!

 

       Crazy fun week this week with some cool experiences! Here we go!

 

       Monday we got to play ULTIMATE!!!!!! Oh was that fun! Although we did play at 3 in the afternoon..... on a turf field. LOL so it was a little warm. :) But it was so much fun. The people we played with really knew how to play so it was a lot of fun. I also set a personal record for distance with a disc, I did have a little wind to help but I threw a disc 70 yards! Ya, it was awesome! Then we had an exchange so I got to go down to Escrito! It's a Navajo Reservation that the work is really progressing.

 

       Tuesday the guy who the Elders there live with makes jewelry and he gave me a lot of cool stuff; 2 rings, a sand painting, and a bowlo tie. All of which he made! Oh ya, this guy is 94. Just to show how cool this guy is, when he was 84 he went water skiing!!!!! AWESOME!!!!! We finished the exchange then headed back to Flora Vista. We were trying to find a potential investigator so we stopped and got out of the truck and this high school kid came out and talked to us and agreed, along with his younger brother, to take the lessons! Oh that was such a cool experience!

 

       Soooo, on Wednesday we met one of the most interesting families.... EVER! We met a Medinite family! :) We started talking to the mom and we brought up that we believe families can be together forever. She said she didn't believe that, and it kinda sound like she didn't want to believe it. Oh and there were, no joke, like 10 or 12 kids around her when she said that. I DON'T GET IT!!!! FAMILIES ARE AMAZING!!!!!!! WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT TO LIVE WITH YOUR FAMILY FOREVER!!!!!!! Ya I thought about that one a lot for the rest of the day. Then later that day we were up on crouch mesa, a big spread out trailer park, and in the middle of a hill, with houses surrounding it for MILES, was a mountian lion. Just waltzing around and not having a care in the world. It was probably 100 to 150 yards away from us. It was awesome! I would have gotten a picture but we were in the middle of a lesson. Oh I haven't been sending pictures cause the computers I'm on are dumb. Then we met with a part member family that is awesome! I did some short little object lessons that really fascinated them. It was cool. Good Day!

 

       Thursday I got a package from my dad with my Orders from the Marine Corps. Then we went to contact some people and had some pretty interesting/ funny experiences. So the first one we were walking up to this house and there was a car parked outside. I'm in front of Elder Deakin and in a high pitched voice is calling back to him to do some stuff. I was just in a good/ hyper mood. Then I look in the car..... Yep. There was someone inside. *face palm* lol........... Ya when we were finished there we left quite quickly. :) Then later we were knocking on some doors and we knock this one and I start talking to this lady and I put out my hand for a hand shake ... and she completely ignores it. Then in an interesting way told us to leave and never come back. :) Oh some people make me laugh. :) We got to go on splits that night and I got to go with a college student that was home for the week. He was lots of fun. During the lesson he was kind of zoning out and the lady said, "Sorry, I have a messy house." Quickly he repied, "No, I was just admiring your clock." It was just laying on the ground next to the wall. She then said, "Oh really?! You can have it I was just going to throw it away." After a few, no it's fine's and no please take it, he got a free clock. Haha :D After the lesson he talked to me and said he was probably just going to donate it to some charity. HAHAHAHA :)

 

       On Friday we met with the lady that reminds me of mom. WOW she is DEDICATED to going to the temple! It's amazing how much she actually wants it! It was a really neat experience. Then we had a good teaching day and we really started applying what we've been learning and it worked! Imagine that... :)

 

       Saturday was way cool! So we had some appointments cancel so we were going around sharing a scripture and inviting people to church. Well one of the houses we knocked on the lady answered and it was really starting to rain. So we started talking and then she handed us an umbrella and we finished sharing our scripture and gave her the umbrella back and ran back to our vehicle. Oh that was awesome! Then we met with an inactive member who really openned up about his mission and how he talked to people. It really interesting how he did thing and I learned lots of interesting methods from him. The biggest thing I have been noticing lately is... I need to read the Bible again. haha.

 

       Sunday brought some new experiences. Such as, during the closing prayer of sacrament meeting, the lady read a scripture. During the prayer. That was a little odd. :) Then when we got to Elders Quorum I sat down and the 1st counselor came up to me and asked if I could teach. I said I could and would do my best. That was a really interesting lesson. It started out kinda rough but then we got some class participation and the spirit took over and it went really well!

 

       It has been a great week. Thanks for all you guys are doing for me! Until next week, Hagonet!

 

Elder Chipman

Navajo Code 8/12

Yaa Teeh!

       I would almost call this week Marine Week. :D Let me explain. :)

       Monday we had to go into Farminton to get our truck fixed and get haircuts. Then we had lunch. Niki this is for you. So Elder Deakin really REALLY likes Cafe Rio. I told him we were going to go to Costa Vida for lunch. I told him that it would be his new favorite reaustrant. He didn't believe me. So we went in and ate there. Costa Vida is now the new favorite reaustrant of Elder Deakin. :D Hehehe.

       Tuesday, WE FINALLY GOT RAIN!!!!!!! (As a matter of fact, we got rain pretty close to every day this week, IT WAS BE-AWESOME!) We had a great day teaching on Tuesday. We had members come with us to all our appointments. I really enjoy going to the W family house. They have a 12 year old boy, 9 year old girl and 6 year old boy. I love those kids! Then we had a really spiritual lesson with M & J. We had a member there that had gone through the same problem for 40+ years, Alcholism. He bore his testimony on the healing power of the atonement, the spirit was so strong! I'm so excited for M and how much better his life is going to become! Elder Deakin did a really good job at teaching that lesson. He really loves these people. :)

       So on Wednesday we had District Meeting because we had Zone Training and Interviews on Friday. Then we came back and had a dinner appointment with a family of a recently returned missionary who gave us some new teaching idea's, mainly object lessons. THEY ARE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've used them a few times and the people remember what we taught a lot better. Object lessons are great! Then we met with a part member family and was able to talk to them about the Book of Mormon. We talked with the father and explained how we would get an answer if it was true or not. I love being able to come out of a lesson and realize how much the spirit was working through me to reach out to someone else. I loving being a missionary!

       Thursday we were able to give service painting the house of a non active member. Then we talked with him and his wife for a little bit. They have this really cool small dog, it's really energetic and only has one eye. When you stand up it barks until you sit down but it doesn't bit. Well....... Ok so we were talking with them then we had a door to door salesman come in and talk to them about getting their carpets cleaned for free. So they said ok and we went outside to finish our conversation. So another guy came and said that they needed to be inside to watch the cleaning. Well when he came to the back door and started to come out this small dog started to growl and then charged the dude. LOL! He got inside fast enough but it was so funny. Note to self, never be a door to door salesman. Dogs don't like you. :)

       Friday was an amazing day. We had Zone Training and Interviews. So I got asked to play the piano on Tuesday. I also got asked to play two songs I had never played before, ON TUESDAY!!!! I talked to my Zone Leades and we got one song changed so I could at least attempt the thing. I only got like 2 hours of practice and did pretty good. Talk about a Faith building experience. :) Then President Batt talked about being willing to recieve revelation during the training. Oh man did I ever recieve revelation! I love that we can recieve guidence from our Heavenly Father if we are willing and worthy! What a great training! Then we got to meet with 2 older women who both, one more than the other, remind me of my mom. I love these daughters of God so much. I'm so happy to be able visit them and feel the Saviours love for them!

       So Saturday it rained pretty good, so what do we do as missionaries do? GO TRACKING!!!!! Talk about a fun experience, it was awsome we had so much fun! We even got some potential investigators! Then we went around and tried some former investigators. We got to talk to somebody that was walking while we were in the truck and asked if they wanted to meet with us. That was interesting. :)

       Sunday I was in class getting ready to help teach it when I hear, "That's the Jarhead." :) I turn around and get introduced to another Marine. He is also a reservist and wanted to know how to serve a mission. I got to talk to him for a little while about it. That was a really fun conversation. Then we got to meet with a new investigator, A, and we taught her the first discussion. It went well. I'm excited for her.

       So I want to try something new, If you, whoever is reading this, could send me riddles WITH THE ANSWERS it would be greatly appriciated! I'll tell you why later. :)

       Well here goes another fantastic week. I wish you all the best. Until next week, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 8/5

Yaa Teeh!

 

       So I don't have a lot of time today so I'm going to get right into it. On Monday for P day we played a really cool board game called....... AXIS AND ALLIES! Oh how I love that game. And my record is still perfect. Then we had dinner with a family and they asked if we could use a suit. I said sure why not. It's a cool gray suit. Then we took that family and brought them to the stake center in Bloomfield and all the other missionaries in the zone were there. The Zone Leaders had planned an activity for the families to give us feedback on our teaching. So each set of missionaries brought a family from their ward. Each family was give a room, a lesson to be taught and a rough outline on how they were supposed to act. They would be taught two lessons. One 15 minute and one 30 minute. We were assigned to teach... the Law of Chastity first. :) The lesson went really well. It's amazing to see what the spirit can do through you if you live worthy of it. And testimonies have a really big impact on people. In the feed back session the lady talked about how I sold her on marriage. Ya it was a little awkward when she said that but it was also nice to here that I had done a good job. Then we got to teach the Restoration. Elder Deakin then bore a really powerful testimony. It was a really great night and we got a lot of good feedback.

       On Tuesday the Primary had asked us to teach a couple lessons to the kids of the ward. There was a total of 54 kids there! IT ... WAS... AWESOME!!!!! The brought them out in 3 different groups and then from their we split them in half and taught the 10 commandments and the Law of Chastity because those are the two that we use  object lessons for. :) Then we had a really productive day with 6 total lessons.

       On Wednesday we had an interesting day. We were supposed to go into Farmington and turn in our truck for a Jeep Compass. It was sad. I want a truck! Oh, and the sisters drive the Jeep Compass's. So we got there and the vehicle coordinator, Elder Shrum, comes up to us and says, "I've been thinking about you and your needs for a vehicle and I think a Toyota Tacoma would be a better vehicle for you." YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh we were sooooooooooooo happy. And it's a 2013 Tacoma. I love that truck. But doing all that fun stuff took basically all day.

       Thursday at District Meeting our District Leader had us teach the Law of Chastity to the District because of the great comments we had gotten on Monday. Ya we taught a lot of Law of Chastity lessons this week. :) Then we had a ward party that night and I got to play ULTIMATE!!!!! The only down side was is that I still had to be in prosolighting clothes. Ya that made it really interesting. And the people we played with were actually really good. I'm excited to get to play with them again!

       Friday we had a weird scheduled day, we had a meeting with our ward mission leader at 8 then service at 11 and we still had to do studies for 3 hours and then do our weekly planning. So we did that and a member told us that they would bring dinner to our house because they were leaving to go else where that night. So I been inside all day and they sent the food with a just returned home sister missionary. She handed me the box and said that her mom wanted the box back. I said ok. Then I guess I just spaced out. The next thing I remember is her asking me to go empty the box. Ya I later learned that she had asked me to do that earlier but since I was spacing out I didn't hear it. Ya... that was probably really awkward for her. My bad. Then we had a really amazing lesson with our recent convert. We finished watching the Mountain of the Lord. The member we brought with us then got up and bore his testimony about temple. It was a really neat experience. We committed her to go to the Temple in early Nov to get her temple work done. I'm sooooo excited for her!

       Saturday, I have never been around so many dogs in my life in a single day. WOW! But it was cool all the dogs were really nice and friendly but they were probably really confused at how many other dogs they smelled on me. :) Then we got to go tracking that night. We knocked on one door and we hear, "Who is it?" I grin at Elder Deakin and yell back, "The LDS Missionaries". We stood there for probably close to a minute and ....... nothing. Wow, lol. Ya we hot a good laugh out of that one.

       So on Sunday we had to make some copies for the presentation we were giving to the ward during the third hour. Well that printer didn't really like me. It Jammed on me like 6 times!!!! Then when I finally got it to work it wouldn't count how many copies it had already made. So instead of getting 25 copies we got around 50. Oh funny stuff. We gave our presentation on a new ward mission plan, the L. Tom Perry plan actually. We shared a lot of video's from Hastening the Work of Salvation website. I love that website, it's so nice! The presentation went really well and the ward is excited about missionary work. :)

       It's been a fantastic week! Thanks for all the support! Until next time, Hagonet!

Elder Bryson Chipman

Navajo Code 7/29

  Yaa Teeh!

 

       What a great week in Flora Vista, New Mexico! Here we go!!! :)

 

       On Monday we just sat around the house and I took a much needed nap. Then we went out and we got my first ever referral from a non member, and it was a good referral too! Check that out! We met with a young family for the first time and got to know them. It was pretty cool. They seem pretty excited to here about the gospel!

 

       On Tuesday I found one of the coolest things ever in the Book of Mormon! The United States Marine Corps birthday! Look in Alma 49: 1. Just goes to show that the Marine are freaking awesome! We had a really good teaching day, we got 5 lessons. The last one was the most interesting. We went to visit a non active member and right when we showed up one of his friends showed up with his 18 month old daughter that has the exact same name and spelling as my oldest niece! Ya that was really pretty cool. We talked to him for a while and we learned a lot and hopefully taught him something too.

 

       So on Wednesday right before we left the house I opened a box of wheat thins and had a few then put them away when we left. We taught the Plan of Salvation quite a bit that day. During one of the latter appointments I noticet that Elder Deakin was kind of copying my teaching style. That was a real wake up call. I love Elder Deakin and I want him to be the best missionary he can be so I want to make sure I doing everything I can to be obedient and teaching like Christ would so he can see that and take that from me. Then we came back to the house and I was so excited to eat my Wheat Thins and I opened the box and I looked down and there were ant EVERYWHERE in my Wheat Thins. Needless to say I was not extremely happy. But life goes on. :) Especially since I have another box. :)

 

       Thursday, If you want to see how obedient a missionary is give him a package at the beginning of the day because we aren't supposed to open letters or packages until after the day is over. It was torture!!!!! We then went and found a potential investigator and we went and talked to him for about an hour. It was really pretty interesting. Then we taught a couple more lessons came home and did a good fast planning session. Then I got to open a really awesome package! :)

 

       On Friday we got to go to a less actives house. We knocked, he opened, we sat down. His dog walked in the room. It was a good size Akida. He said, "I hope you don't mind dogs." I said I didn't. He got up and left the room. The dog came over. The next thing I remember is 5 more Akida's coming towards me! They went haywire! It ... was... AWESOME!!!!! Then we went and visited a less active who is really sick and getting ready to die. It was weird cause here body looked exactly like mom's did. It was a little weird but we had a good lesson with her Nurse who is interested in learning more. Then for the last lesson that night we were showing a video to a recent convert lady and her daughter. So for mission rules we need another priesthood male. So we contacted them and he came with his wife. So we were watching the movie in the church and about 10 minutes into the movie he got a phone call and step out side of the room. No problem as long as he comes back in about 2 or 3 minutes later. So 10 minutes go by so I tap Elder Deakin and we step out side and try and find him. He was in the clerks office doing work for the bishop. So we stayed there until we had to go in and end the lesson. It was really funny.

 

       Saturday we didn't have any appointments so we decided to stay at the house a little longer than normal and organize the area book. But before we did that we had lunch. I made......... Potato Soup! Oh is that stuff good! Then we organized the area book. We didn't leave the house till after 5 PM. But before we organized everything we had 31 potential investigators. After we left we had over 100 and had them almost all mapped out. Fyi, the streets make no sence here. lol. There is no grid system and nothing makes sence. It drives me nuts. Haha. :)

 

       On Sunday we had Ward Coucil. While we were waiting for it to start I heard this joke about rain in Flora Vista, "Remember in the Bible when it rained for 40 days and 40 nights? We got an inch and a half." LOL oh good stuff. Then we spent the after noon going over the area with the ward mission leader. We also taught 2 lessons bringing our total lesson count for the week up to 22. The area record was 21. :D :D :D

 

       The work is marching on and I am so excited to be apart of it! I love this mission and this people. Thank you for all your support! Until next time, Hagonet!

 

Elder Bryson Chipman