William's Last Letter

2013 March 5

Our week was busy, my companion had little wisdom in scheduling but it worked out nearly perfectly, I have had just enough to pack and organize all the miscellaneous accumulation of stuff, and all my other things of import. Today is busy also but at the end I am going to see Ashleigh Lish who was formerly Ashleigh Beard, who I baptized over a year ago which is great. We have a lot of appointments come up, and I will be inviting people to meet at my departing missionary fireside which if any one who lives in the general vicinity can come 1465 E 4600 S Ogden 7:00 tomorrow evening. Just a general thing if anyone is going to be in this vicinity. Well not much else has been outstanding, my companion had his birthday yesterday I set up a surprise and set up president coming.  It was fun.  Well I don't have any special requests, I don't really know.  I just ask as we go on Thursday, maybe some superhero movies and that, but nothing that I could think of specific to that day. Well I love you lots see you in 49 hours! (Barring any unforeseen events)

William's February 26 Letter

I am doing well, although I cut open my big toe. But that is not really related, I feel fine and the work here is progressing, slowly, onward.   My week was a good one, we were able to get lots of things done although lots of things fell through it was good, we had lessons set up, and had several where the less active members show their desire to return to Christ. One in particular the Donehoos we have been teaching for the past 4 weeks and they have made it a goal to get to the temple. I received grandma’s and aunt Jill’s valentines and I would like to thank them for that.  We have  our car but no gas card so we have no means to fill it, so we had to park it for  a while to conserve gas, a member sent 5 gallon's with our ride from church to put in the tank, helped a ton. Our dinner Sunday we had tunge taco's with a ward mission leader and his wife. It was fun event.  Monday (yesterday) we gave a blessing to a ward missionary’s sister.  She is doing much better now, she was having seizures and the doctors are looking into why. Today we went to Salt Lake temple and went through a live session. That was interesting, the temple has interesting art. We then went on a tour of the Beehive House on Temple Square which was super spiritual, the two sisters had pure testimonies to share and I learned a lot of history, and had a really good time.  I have enjoyed this week and look forward to another great one, Love you lots!

William's February 19 Letter

My week was actually pretty good. We got a car, and an apartment. The car is amazing! It has blue tooth and a usb and aux and it is awesome! I can't drive it but it is amazing. The apartment is a little office on a farm.  We live next to buffalo and a water piping company, and I have no Idea what the address is, just down the road from Brother Daines, well not really if you remember on your way up to his house you see the farm to the west of the highway there just a small one. That’s where we live now. We got in contact with our investigators and the less actives we are working with. We had several good lessons where people have expressed desire to come back to church. We have had many good experiences and have been asked to give talks. We are working with a family that is coming back to church, we don't have many investigators as it were but we are working with lots of people now. I am sad to hear of Nicole’s passing, send much love and condolences, I will miss her. Well not much else to report on.   Love you lots!

William's February 12 Letter

2013 February 12

My week was fantastic, we had freezing temperatures most of the week but the day time was fine. We still have to walk but it is OK, we find rides to the areas we need and go tracting and visiting in those wards. We have had a lot of people working with us to help make the teaching pool grow but it is well. We have mostly less actives, but we have been going all over and visiting everyone. People are helping, we don’t have full weeks but we have much more work than we did prior, I really like this area. We have been setting things up with an investigator that Dr. Daines knows well, so we go over there often. We are getting more persistent with our investigators, not a lot of them meet their goal but they still enjoy our visits. Well love you lots!

William's February 5 Letter

2013 Feb 5

Well as stated, I do need to read my letters before I send them. I hope I do a better job here. I had lost track of birthdays out here.  It’s crazy how much time has gone by. The past week we had terrible weather, so we did not get much done.  I am staying in Willard (still no car) with Elder Knittle, a hard worker, a little like my old companion Elder Maynez, who is now my zone leader! So exiting. We have gotten quite few return appointments and work is coming to us as we go and visit people. We get dropped off in a ward to tract a little bit in that ward till dinner. Not the most effective way to teach but we are getting quite few results from it. Brother Daines(?) says hi, we going to be teaching some people with his help. His daughter is going into the MTC when I go home. Elder Gingrich went home with Elder Henthorn, two of my favorite missionaries, but we had a good experience before he went. (Henthorne) We went to his brother in law’s baptism, and he and his brother (who had been less active for years before his brother entered the mission) bore testimony and gave encouragement to those people there. It was very spiritual; we are having good success here. Love you lots!

William's January 29th Letter

2013 January 29

I had a crazy week. We had freezing rain so bad kids went Ice skating in their drive ways. Not an exaggeration, they really did. We had a snow so bad we couldn't leave the house and fog so thick we could see 10 yards at best. We taught three lessons, some had to cancel do to the weather, but the ones we had were good. An investigator may be in prison but it will be good for him. We still do not have a car, but transfers are here and they should have one then. Youmans is leaving halfway through the month but life is great apart from that. It is really starting to pick up and it’s enjoyable. I love it a lot. It is hard not to get trunky. Love you lots!

William's January 22 Letter

2013 January 22

It was a great week. We got a lot of work done. We were only able to do limit work in two wards, but we got a lot of significant things done. We visited a man who is convinced that he has not received an answer from God to his prayers, he believes in the church but he has, in his opinion, not yet received an answer. He has a very stressful time right now, eviction, warrants, floods, and unemployment. His life is not going well but he is determined to make it better. A young couple who’s the father is disabled, degenerative disease in his back, and he is less active and the mother is not a member. We had a good lesson, but they are in hard times but are looking forward to lessons. We had a good time visiting in the ward we live in, not a ton of success but we got a better Idea of the area, we do not have a car yet but we should get one this week today maybe, but they gave a car to some elders who had their car in the shop...... not sure about the situation but I have a feeling it was a crash.  The members are helping us.  We are using them much more now we have more options to work with, not wanting to ask one person over and over.

My mission president asked me to make an anti truncky goal. I decided building courage in my companion and investigators would be the most effective and I have seen a lot of good from the focus.

I love you all lots!

William's January 15th Letter

2013 January 15

It was actually very good, although the ETA on the car is now sometime in the future. But we had 2 good lessons, new investigators; more support from the wards and a change in the correlation time which means it will be easier for us to get there. We shoveled the church building, and we have lots of snow also, it was storming so bad we were told to stay inside. We had zone conference, it was engaging and we learned a lot and set our goals for the year.

I have decided to send some things home to save room.  How is the house coming? You should send pictures of the progress and I’ll give encouragement to finish it.

Well love you all lots!

William's January 8th Letter

2013 January 8

Oh my companion is Elder Youmans. He is from Alaska, Wasilla and he has been out for 4 months. Our week wasn't very eventful apart from an interview with president and walking 4 miles in the snow, not much else. We did set up a lesson and we still need a car. Our area and mission leaders are helping a lot, we have lots of support from the wards. We have moved in but we are now with a family in Willard. We’ve got moved pretty well and have had things set up. I enjoying it just very slow do to circumstance.  Love you lots!

William's January 3rd Letter

It has been a good week. We got moved into a new apartment and received a few referrals and have been able to set things up, we will get a car soon and our phone works. We have interviews with the president tomorrow, actually as today is Wednesday. Since we didn't have whole lot to do as it was difficult to get anywhere not much excitement happened other New Year’s and getting just the right amount of new socks so I can get rid of the holey ones, sad they seem a little scared to discard.... We have met a few new people and have had a few fun things happen, the most important being the move and a rather good discussion on commitment.  My District leader is very good, and we have been living with him a while now.  His companion was born in schrelanca and had come to learn English threw the Book of Mormon and receive a testimony of its worth. He has read it 80-some times. It’s been a good week and I love you lots!

William's December 18th Letter

2012 December 18

We had a great week. We met with several investigators, started teaching a family who is interested in the gospel had good discussion with fellow elders about the many things we can do to help our investigators out this time of year, our investigators have almost all shown progression, except a few whose current circumstance leaves them unable to attended meetings. But it’s so nice to see the spirit of the season in the homes we visit.

I won't stay at the Montgomery’s for Christmas, we both are getting transferred and I am going to Willard Bay which is just south of Brigham City. So back North for a spell, it will be fun. I think I will see who I can go to for Christmas, a lot of the people I know up there have missionaries out so they may be busy talking to them. I need to see what the plan is though because I am transferred I don't know the area very well. But we cans still let you know what is going to happen since I don't have a time or anything yet.

But I love you guys’ lots!

William's December 11 Letter

2012 December 11

Our week was fantastic.

 We have reserved a lot of referrals, most of which are self-referred others have strong fellowships. We have been working on contacting them. We have had a lot of referrals, our investigators our doing well. They have been getting the assistance they need from the Lord. It is good to see it the spirit of the season is spreading and everyone is cheerful. We had a mission conference the other day and find very good skills and new principles to apply to the work and we have seen them assist, small things that have made a huge difference in the work. It’s so nice to know that Lord is in the middle of the work. I enjoy it.  I love you lots. 

William's December 4 Letter

This week was, very good, we haven't had baptism but a lot of lessons. We are having trouble getting some people committed and a lot of other people aren't able too. But most are excited about the gospel. We have been working really hard. We have been helping a lot with the wards visiting and teaching them. Funny enough not reserved to the Relief Society.

They all seem to enjoy it. We get a lot of referrals thought. Visiting those who are potentially interested, and it’s so much fun helping them. I got to talk to Tyson Sunday; his wife's grand parents live in my area! So that was fun. We got a Christmas tree up!  Full size one that we decorated ourselves! It took a long time because we had to put the bows on one by one and I was super intelligent and did top to  bottom...... this is said in a sarcastic tone. We deliver Christmas messages a lot and have been encouraged to be familiar with the church's Christmas special on Mormon dot org. I miss you all lots!

William's November 27 Letter

Thanksgiving was good..... I can't eat as much as I use too. I was full on the first plate and I haven't been able to eat very much since. But it was good we spent most of the day with the Montgomery’s and that was a good time. We had opportunity and talked with their family. The past week has been good, although our investigators haven't come to church we have many many referrals and just need to get out and visit and we will have a plethora of work. We had the experiences of teaching ward councils and the young men; we have seen a lot of good success from this. The wards are refocusing on the work, both stake presidents our very good about missionary work. We have had good talks from general authorities giving encouragement and motivation, and both gave talks on the overwhelming importance of the work and gave it to the stake to prepare to serve a mission young and old and gave them the charge, the best way to prepare is to help now. I found that exciting. We received many referrals since, very good week.

My favorite part of the week though was exchanges back to West Ogden , I was with Elder Green and we had a great time together teaching and I even got a chance to say hi to a lot of my friends; they are doing well and a lot of old investigators our doing well.... although some still won't quit smoking 

William's November 20 Letter

2012 November 20

Our week was good, we went to a stake conference, received a new stake president, assisted president Heirs with his talk, and had few lessons. Some lessons wound up cancelling on us, but others are excited to meet again. We invited President Heirs to come with us to another lesson. It’s exiting to see all the changes people are willing to make with the assistance of the Lord.

I will be staying at the Montgomery’s for Thanks giving. They requested our assistance with the turkey. It will be fun.

William's November 13 Letter

2012 November 13

We had a good week. We got a lot of things started up this transfer. Our stake president is very motivated for missionary work. We had a meeting and discussed ways he could improve the work.  We taught several lessons to investigators. They are all having a hard time getting to church though. Almost all of them are excited for baptism, but just a little distracted at times.

In Clinton, Patrick was baptized. We went down for that. It was very spiritual. I was excited to be able to attend the baptism. He was happy, he gave a testimony after words and that was the simple way he put it. It's nice to know they have a desire to come unto Christ.

 Carving of First Vision

 Haden's Baptism

 Haden and Elders

Patrick's Baptism

William's November 6 Letter

My past two weeks have been good, last week we had training on Tuesday and emails were moved to Monday, but we had scheduled appointments. The training was good, back to the basics of showing and examples of giving direction and internalizing principles. It was a fun day. We had a baptism on Sunday which was great! This was the last day of transfers and Elder Hudson and I are staying in Harrisville! It’s so exciting, Jennifer wrote me a letter. We had a lot of teaching appointments and have dinner with an investigator. He is exited to get his family taught. He requested a bible, he is very interested. We have mounds of candy from Halloween, I was elder Hudson! That’s all the more costumed we got. We have had great luck with a lot of our referrals. It’s good to see the gospel working. Its so cool to see it work inside of people. so they can accept the atonement.

We had snow for a little bit but it all melted :( oh well there will be more in the winter. I hope it comes. Elder Hudson likes cold weather, he from Texas, a little weird there.

I ran into a family here that knows Jeff and a Kathy. It was fun they knew my name previously but hadn’t made the connection until the dad asked where I was from (he had not heard) then the mom said she knew Divis' in Washington and that was kinda neat.

We also saw an army of cats disembark from a trash can.... 14 cats just jumped out of the dumpster, we were going back into a cul-de-sac to turn around, and saw a cat on the dumpster.  Elder Hudson wanted look at it and when we got closer they all just jumped out in all directions it was kinda cool. Appropriate for the season any way, it was a little spooky because it was dark.

Love you all lots!

William's October 23 Letter

2012 October 23

My week was good. We have been receiving lots of referrals, and having lots of people to follow up with. Although the last Elder here left a lot of records that need to be signed and tracking down the people to sign is hard, for some reason they seem not to be home whenever we stop by. but the work’s picking up, we are getting along very well, we had  a lot of success this past week, we did exchanges with our district leader and he got into an argument with a Baptist, over something silly, they spent an hour or so talking with him, and did not get anywhere. Sad, but we got a family we have been stopping by for the past few weeks to agree to hear the lessons, which is good.  We might get a baptism out of it and get the family active!  We had a good experience with every one we are teaching, and hope that the people we haven't started with are going to be ready. Love you lots, we made cider here, weird recipe boiled the apples, not bad. 

William's October 16 Letter

2012 October 16

My week was good, we had several referrals, and got in contact with investigators who have been harder to get a hold of.  Our investigators are doing great! They are committing to baptism, some need to get to church but all of them are doing well. We had an adventure trying to find some people; some one sent an inverted address, it was something like 345 and 1650 which both can be street (not the actual numbers) and both could be houses.  We found it and they were not home :( but it helped us get to know the area) A lot of priests are getting prepared to leave for missions, it’s crazy.  So we have plenty of people to teach.  It’s been a good area, nothing to exciting is happening. We had dinner with a priest named a Garret's family, which was fun, everyone was so happy to be together, it was a small reunion. The members here are really missionary minded for, both stake presidents are engaged with us and that has helped. We are committing to teach a family named the Loves. Oh and we’re teaching a family that just came from Italy, they’re fun. It’s been a great week, we had spiritual experiences together, Hudson's trainer didn't do everything and I have to basically train him, not literally but go over the programs and lessons he needs to learn. He is doing great and we are really good friends. It’s a great time in the service of the Lord!

Love you lots

William's October 9 Letter

2012 October 9

Conference was a great time; I went to all of the Saturday sessions. Spent all day in Salt Lake, interesting, we either walked around temple square or the city creek mall, for lunch and dinner. The square is very nice and spiritual, I thought Pres. Uchtdorf's talk was really good about how things may be different in some regards such as a wards being different but they are all the same in their purpose. And the talk about selling your soul for a nickel, I hope some of our investigators saw it and apply it. My week was very good. We had lessons, some cancelled we received some referrals and have been working on getting into houses. The stake president is helping us a lot, and my companion and I get along very well. He’s a funny guy. The most talked about thing down here from conference is the age requirement changes. It’s made its way to the news. It's exciting to hear about. There is a priest who turned 18 this week; he said he is filling out his papers now. And to see the reaction in the conference center was great, it set the tone for the other talks which focused on missionaries, it was good conference.

Love you all lots!