Volume 7 December 2008 Issue 36
Hermana Emily Dahl
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl has just spent her last 6 week transfer in Mar del Plata, a resort area right on the ocean. She says she wished that she could spend summer near the ocean, and was amazed when it actually happened! The home she and her companion share has roses and lemon trees by the front door. They live with a couple in their nineties (called by the sisters "the nonos"), who wait for them to come home, check in with them, and turn out the light, just like real grandparents. This is a much larger area than her past assignments. All of the teaching she and her companion Hermana Johnston do comes by member referral, through the Bishop, who is very committed to missionary work. They've had many baptisms, and the two hermanas both agree that it is so wonderful and inspiring to see the ways in which accepting the gospel changes the lives of their investigators. One of their most memorable baptisms involved filling the font with a fire hose when the water supply in the font didn't work!
Hermana Johnston is a dental hygienist who keeps Emily committed to flossing every night.....This week both sisters received their transfer to Pompeya, where they will remain companions
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson is really enjoying his time as a zone leader in his new area of Citrus Heights. He reports: "For Halloween, we bought ourselves some $3 pumpkins and then we did pumpkin carving for our zone activity. True to our missionary selves, we used Book of Mormon stories as our pumpkin themes. My pumpkin was Samuel the Lamanite. We did pull out the seeds and bake them right there for treats while we carved. This all sounds like some relief society activity, I know, but I guess when you're Mormon it happens. We borrowed a fog machine from our ward mission leader. He has a professional one that'll just spew fog for hours on end. So we fogged up a room in the church and we set up the vision of the tree of life. We used chairs as our iron rod and we had white Christmas lights in a tree while we had flashing colored lights set up for our great and spacious building. We had various breaks in the iron rod where we would talk about how to overcome certain things in missionary work. It was really cool!
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Skyler went back to the Doctor this week and received the clearance he needed to resubmit missionary papers. He has gained back all the weight he lost while sick and is growing stronger each day. He is hoping by the first of the year to have a new missionary assignment and be back to serving the Lord. We will keep you posted. He has been blessed to work with the missionary’s these past 3 months and has loved helping teach the lessons to 3 wonderful recently baptized members. There is nothing greater than seeing a person change their life and come unto the Savior Jesus Christ.
Elder Mckay Crandall
Puerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall continues to serve in a suburb of San Juan. He describes the area much like Plano with houses that have front and backyards. This is in contrast to his prior area that was mostly apartments and no yards. His new area has its own challenges ... primarily in finding people to teach. Below is a note from a recent letter.
So the thing that I have had to learn over this past transfer is what faith really is and to really lose myself. Not only in the work, but in life. I am still scared to talk to people and not knowing spanish doesn't help but I'm progressing. I really know now the meaning of the scripture "he who seeketh his life shall lose it, and he that loseth it for my sake shall find it" I am still trying to lose myself, and in doing so acquire the Christ like attributes, especially patience with my companions and the language. This helps me speak more and be more willing to give service.
Elder Jacob Reading
California Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder Reading Jacob has been on his mission for 5 months. Today Dec 2, he received his first transfer. As of this moment, we do not know where he is going. He is sad to leave his first area, as he has had 2 baptisms and has 2 families in the stages of planning a baptism. One was going to be in Dec and the other in Jan. He is actually hoping to go to them both, depending on where he is sent. I want to relay an experience he had on October 21. He says "I have the coolest story to share with you. It absolutely is the coolest story so far on my mission. We were teaching a woman named Susan. Her husband is an inactive member and has been since he was a teenager. He hasn't been to church in about 30 years. We started teaching Susan and the first lesson we had with her was out of control. Her husbands' name is Wertzel. He had some harsh feelings toward the church because he was offended. They also did not like what was happening with proposition 8 . Susan also did not like the idea of God only being a man. So as you can see we had our work cut out for us and our first lesson was crazy. But, they wanted to get together again and talk more. We started teaching them more and we found out that Susan has had a bad history with Religion. She was mad at God and she has had a hard life. So things were not looking good for us while teaching them. But they still wanted us to teach them, so we continued. Suddenly things began to change. They began coming to church and they liked it. Their 2 children who are ages 6 and 7 also were liking it. Wertzel started becoming active again, and began meeting with the Bishop . They began supporting prop 8 and Wertzel wanted to come back to church and become active again. We were still teaching Susan and she still had some reservations about the church and that only men could hold the Priesthood. Wertzel was doing great and the Bishop let us know he was now worthy of his Priesthood. So, on Sunday we got a phone call from Susan. She said she wanted to be baptized. We were so excited! Only one problem. Elder Waller was going home in 3 days and he would not be able to see it happen. When we arrived at church Susan approached us and said she wanted to be baptized today at 5 o'clock. We were so excited, yet confused on how we were going to pull this off. We then wrote a quick program but were unsure if we could mass produce it before the baptism. The ward stepped in and helped and we were able to have a nice program when 5 o'clock came. So, on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. we had everything ready. Since it was after church, the entire ward stayed and watched Wertzel baptize his wife Susan. It was the greatest baptismal service I have ever seen and we were able to pull it off in 5 hours. Our whole ward was there to support us and help to make it happen. So before Sunday we didn't have a baptismal date, but on Sunday evening we had a baptism. It was the coolest experience I have had on my mission and perhaps my life. The Lord works in mysterious ways and it is so cool to see lives change when they live the gospel and follow the teaching of Jesus Christ. Susan was so happy and I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings us everlasting happiness that we can find no where else. I love this Gospel and I love this work. It is so great to be a missionary in the service of God and help change people's lives. This is the greatest reward.”
Newly Called 2 Serve
Elder Chris Martin
Santa Domingo West Dominican Republic 1-11
Chris received his mission call last month and is so looking forward to reporting the the Missionary Training Center on the 14th day of January. He is busy finishing up his semester at BYU and then will be home and start packing his bags for the greatest adventure for the next two years. Congratulations Chris!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 2008
Volume 7 October 2008 Issue 35
Elder Tommy Bailey
HOME!!!!!
Tommy returned the last week of August. He was greeted by his entire family who are most excited to have him back home. He enrolled in college the next day and his old job in the pro shop at the Golf Course was waiting for him. He and his parents were able to go up to Salt Lake for General Conference this past weekend and he took a quick trip up to Rexburg to check out BYU-Idaho. He’s thinking of transferring up there maybe in January. He gave an amazing Homecoming Talk. It’s so good to have him home.
Hermana Emily Dahl
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl can't believe she's just one week away from her transfer from Bolivar to --where? Her new companion is Hermana Velasquez, who is from Missiones, a town in northern Argentina near Brazil. So now it's 24-hour immersion in the Spanish language. Armed with taco seasoning and ranch dressing packets, Emily and her companions have slowly turned Bolivar on to tacos, and veggies with ranch dressing. Per her special request, next come the sauce packets from Kraft Mac'n Cheese.
In describing a recent district conference, Emily said, "It was so wonderful to see all those beautiful Argentine people fill the chapel. I love to see how the church functions in another part of the world---it it such a testimony to me that it is really true." The hermanas are working really hard and had 6 investigators at Sacrament Meeting this past week.
Spring has arrived in Bahia Blanca, much to the hermanas' relief. The week brought a " zone conference in Mar del Plata. and a giant P-day with half of the missionaries in the Bahia Blanca Mission, followed by watching General Conference in English with other 'yankee' missionaries!" From time to time, the hermanas of the mssion gather at the mission home with Hermana Spitale, wife of President Spitale, for workshops, talks, testimonies, and lunch together. Emily says that these are among her favorite moments, "We laugh and cry together!" and sends her love and greetings to family and friends!
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson had his first transfer in June to Folsom (think Johnny Cash and Folsom Prison Blues) near the Sacramento temple. The area there was quite affluent making the work a little tougher. However, Trey noticed all the new and antique cars in the driveways and was able to strike up conversations with people by showing interest in their cars. He named these conversations "Gospel for Gearheads." While in Folsom, Trey's brother Rhett was visiting relatives nearby and they were able to spend a couple of hours together. Except for Trey's missionary "uniform", no one could tell the two brothers apart.After just a couple of months, the area in Folsom was closed due to a reduction in the number of missionaries so, in August, Trey was transferred back to Marysville where he started as a greenie. Except now he's the senior companion and district leader. He has seen much success in this area where he divides his time between two wards and a branch. Most investigators have been baptized, including the "flirty girl" from the last Preaching Fourth newsletter, so they're working with members to find new people to teach. He especially enjoys his standing weekly appointment with a family where he and his companion "taught the Plan of Salvation, drawing it out on the board and explaining each part. They all got a kick out of our drawing skills. The diagram was even still up on the board when we arrived the next week. So we taught the kids the 10 commandments, again using the board for fun drawings to show each commandment."
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot is home on a medical leave trying to get feeling like his old self again. He contacted a nasty bug called Giardia and has not been able to get over it. After several weeks of Russian doctors trying to help him, they decided it would be best for Elder Thiot to return home to get some better medical care. He spent the first week home in the hospital and the next four trying to feeling better. The advantage of having the Plano 4th Ward Elders living at his home has been great. He’s been able to go on teaching appointments with them when he is feeling up to it and has had some great experiences. While in the hospital, one of the surgery nurses told him that her husband used to work for the Russian Embassy. We had a nice dinner appointment with him where Sky was able to practice speaking Russian. We’ve also discovered that the man who works in the optical shop at Walmart is from Russia and Sky enjoys speaking with him too. The doctors are going to do some more tests this week and see if they can’t figure out what is causing Sky to feel so poorly. We are hopeful that they will find it and he will soon return to the mission field. Thanks for your prayers in his behalf.
Elder Mckay Crandall
Puerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall left the MTC in the Dominican Republic August 19th and headed to San Juan. He was sent to and served in Santurce for just 6 weeks. Santurce is northeast of San Juan and small but very compact. McKay said it is a cement city where everything has bars and they don't go near certain places after dark. He was assigned to a companion from Honduras who has only been out a month longer than himself. They were both learning together. He has taught several people and experienced his first baptism there. Last Tuesday we heard he was being transferred and we have yet to learn where he is now. His last letter was 8 pages hand written! He shared many of his feelings, experiences and testimony. "Sometimes I thought faith was blind because I did not know why I was supposed to follow a commandment. But I have come to realize that faith is NEVER blind. Christ has promised us many blessings, even blessings untold if we obey the commandments of God." He continues writing about faith and how it takes action.
Elder Jacob Reading
California Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder Reading just passed the 3 month mark. He is still in Ramona, California. He also serves a branch 20 miles away in Jullian. He spends the night with a family every Saturday in Jullian , attends church and travels back for church in Ramona. He loves his mission, is very happy with his companion Elder Waller, who is going home this month. So I guess Jacob is killing off his companion, as they say. He has had a baptism since he arrived in California and is teaching approximately a dozen or so at a time. They have quite a few baptisms scheduled this month. He had quite a bad biking accident a few weeks ago. This is the story in his words. On 9-19-08 we were riding our bikes to an appointment. My trainer was 30 feet in front of me. I got distracted and wasn't paying attention and when I looked back in front of me, I saw a car. I did not have time to react. So I smashed into it and it flung me pretty far. My companion started riding back towards me. I told him"I think my legs are broken". I couldn't move them. I was probably going 15 MPH because we were going down hill. Heavenly Father was watching out for me because people from out of nowhere were showing up. Within 2 minutes of crashing, there was a nurse, an off duty fire-fighter, and a member family from our ward. An ambulance was called to check me out. My pants were ripped and I was bleeding pretty bad. Fortunately nothing was broken, and I was fine. I just had some good cuts and bruises. It was more embarrassing than anything. My running into a parked car spread around the Ward pretty fast. I got some good laughs out of it. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet. I have the greatest calling to be a missionary. Heavenly Father loves me and all his children. I have seen many lives change and receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has to give us. I am so grateful for this gospel and I am grateful to be able to share it with everyone. The spirit is so strong and guides me through my mission and protects me. Jesus is the Savior and he loves me. I know he lives! The gospel is true! Love, Elder Reading
Elder Tommy Bailey
HOME!!!!!
Tommy returned the last week of August. He was greeted by his entire family who are most excited to have him back home. He enrolled in college the next day and his old job in the pro shop at the Golf Course was waiting for him. He and his parents were able to go up to Salt Lake for General Conference this past weekend and he took a quick trip up to Rexburg to check out BYU-Idaho. He’s thinking of transferring up there maybe in January. He gave an amazing Homecoming Talk. It’s so good to have him home.
Hermana Emily Dahl
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl can't believe she's just one week away from her transfer from Bolivar to --where? Her new companion is Hermana Velasquez, who is from Missiones, a town in northern Argentina near Brazil. So now it's 24-hour immersion in the Spanish language. Armed with taco seasoning and ranch dressing packets, Emily and her companions have slowly turned Bolivar on to tacos, and veggies with ranch dressing. Per her special request, next come the sauce packets from Kraft Mac'n Cheese.
In describing a recent district conference, Emily said, "It was so wonderful to see all those beautiful Argentine people fill the chapel. I love to see how the church functions in another part of the world---it it such a testimony to me that it is really true." The hermanas are working really hard and had 6 investigators at Sacrament Meeting this past week.
Spring has arrived in Bahia Blanca, much to the hermanas' relief. The week brought a " zone conference in Mar del Plata. and a giant P-day with half of the missionaries in the Bahia Blanca Mission, followed by watching General Conference in English with other 'yankee' missionaries!" From time to time, the hermanas of the mssion gather at the mission home with Hermana Spitale, wife of President Spitale, for workshops, talks, testimonies, and lunch together. Emily says that these are among her favorite moments, "We laugh and cry together!" and sends her love and greetings to family and friends!
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson had his first transfer in June to Folsom (think Johnny Cash and Folsom Prison Blues) near the Sacramento temple. The area there was quite affluent making the work a little tougher. However, Trey noticed all the new and antique cars in the driveways and was able to strike up conversations with people by showing interest in their cars. He named these conversations "Gospel for Gearheads." While in Folsom, Trey's brother Rhett was visiting relatives nearby and they were able to spend a couple of hours together. Except for Trey's missionary "uniform", no one could tell the two brothers apart.After just a couple of months, the area in Folsom was closed due to a reduction in the number of missionaries so, in August, Trey was transferred back to Marysville where he started as a greenie. Except now he's the senior companion and district leader. He has seen much success in this area where he divides his time between two wards and a branch. Most investigators have been baptized, including the "flirty girl" from the last Preaching Fourth newsletter, so they're working with members to find new people to teach. He especially enjoys his standing weekly appointment with a family where he and his companion "taught the Plan of Salvation, drawing it out on the board and explaining each part. They all got a kick out of our drawing skills. The diagram was even still up on the board when we arrived the next week. So we taught the kids the 10 commandments, again using the board for fun drawings to show each commandment."
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot is home on a medical leave trying to get feeling like his old self again. He contacted a nasty bug called Giardia and has not been able to get over it. After several weeks of Russian doctors trying to help him, they decided it would be best for Elder Thiot to return home to get some better medical care. He spent the first week home in the hospital and the next four trying to feeling better. The advantage of having the Plano 4th Ward Elders living at his home has been great. He’s been able to go on teaching appointments with them when he is feeling up to it and has had some great experiences. While in the hospital, one of the surgery nurses told him that her husband used to work for the Russian Embassy. We had a nice dinner appointment with him where Sky was able to practice speaking Russian. We’ve also discovered that the man who works in the optical shop at Walmart is from Russia and Sky enjoys speaking with him too. The doctors are going to do some more tests this week and see if they can’t figure out what is causing Sky to feel so poorly. We are hopeful that they will find it and he will soon return to the mission field. Thanks for your prayers in his behalf.
Elder Mckay Crandall
Puerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall left the MTC in the Dominican Republic August 19th and headed to San Juan. He was sent to and served in Santurce for just 6 weeks. Santurce is northeast of San Juan and small but very compact. McKay said it is a cement city where everything has bars and they don't go near certain places after dark. He was assigned to a companion from Honduras who has only been out a month longer than himself. They were both learning together. He has taught several people and experienced his first baptism there. Last Tuesday we heard he was being transferred and we have yet to learn where he is now. His last letter was 8 pages hand written! He shared many of his feelings, experiences and testimony. "Sometimes I thought faith was blind because I did not know why I was supposed to follow a commandment. But I have come to realize that faith is NEVER blind. Christ has promised us many blessings, even blessings untold if we obey the commandments of God." He continues writing about faith and how it takes action.
Elder Jacob Reading
California Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder Reading just passed the 3 month mark. He is still in Ramona, California. He also serves a branch 20 miles away in Jullian. He spends the night with a family every Saturday in Jullian , attends church and travels back for church in Ramona. He loves his mission, is very happy with his companion Elder Waller, who is going home this month. So I guess Jacob is killing off his companion, as they say. He has had a baptism since he arrived in California and is teaching approximately a dozen or so at a time. They have quite a few baptisms scheduled this month. He had quite a bad biking accident a few weeks ago. This is the story in his words. On 9-19-08 we were riding our bikes to an appointment. My trainer was 30 feet in front of me. I got distracted and wasn't paying attention and when I looked back in front of me, I saw a car. I did not have time to react. So I smashed into it and it flung me pretty far. My companion started riding back towards me. I told him"I think my legs are broken". I couldn't move them. I was probably going 15 MPH because we were going down hill. Heavenly Father was watching out for me because people from out of nowhere were showing up. Within 2 minutes of crashing, there was a nurse, an off duty fire-fighter, and a member family from our ward. An ambulance was called to check me out. My pants were ripped and I was bleeding pretty bad. Fortunately nothing was broken, and I was fine. I just had some good cuts and bruises. It was more embarrassing than anything. My running into a parked car spread around the Ward pretty fast. I got some good laughs out of it. Fortunately I was wearing a helmet. I have the greatest calling to be a missionary. Heavenly Father loves me and all his children. I have seen many lives change and receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has to give us. I am so grateful for this gospel and I am grateful to be able to share it with everyone. The spirit is so strong and guides me through my mission and protects me. Jesus is the Savior and he loves me. I know he lives! The gospel is true! Love, Elder Reading
Friday, August 1, 2008
August 2008
Volume 7 August 2008 Issue 34
Elder Tommy Bailey
Washington Tacoma Mission 8-22-08
Elder Bailey It looks like Elder Bailey will spend his last few weeks in beautiful Belfair, WA, near Gig Harbor. Located on an inlet, the scenery is gorgeous. It so happens that his companion likes to play golf on p-day, much to Elder Bailey's delight! Their teaching pool has increased and they are hoping for a couple of baptisms before he comes home. He relates the following story: "So we just had a miracle happen. We got a media referral from the mission office. This lady called and wanted a bible delivered to her. We deliver the bible and give her a church tour and it was one of the best tours I've been a part of. We committed her to get baptized on August 3rd and she is so solid. She wants to feel the love of God and Christ more in her life and this is how she does it. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!" His mission has been full of such "miracles". While tracting in a trailer park on a hot day for about an hour without success, Elder Bailey started to complain to his companion that they should leave. They knocked on one more door, and they didn't even finish introducing themselves before this guy says "I'm in a hurry right now, but I would really love for you to come back and talk with me tomorrow!" His whole family is Mormon. The elders couldn't stop laughing. Elder Bailey says, "The lord decided to slap me in the face and say "Tommy, stop complaining!" When asked if Elder Bailey would like to contribute to this (his last) edition of Preaching Fourth, he writes: "Wow! What can I say...........Words cannot describe what its been like to go on a mission. You have your ups and downs of course but my testimony has grown so much over these past 2 years, and that's something that is very special to me. The Church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior, he died for us. The Book of Mormon is true. Missionary work is the most important and rewarding work we can ever do. I look forward to seeing everyone real soon."
Hermana Emily Dahl
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl: Hermana Dahl continues to have one adventure after the other--but the happy news is that their most promising investigator, a widower named Arturo, was recently baptized! The excitement in the ward was contagious, because this is the first baptism in 3 years in the area. The whole ward turned out to simultaneously celebrate his baptism and his 52nd birthday with cake and lots of delicious Argentine dishes. He will receive the priesthood this Sunday, and already is a powerful missionary force in his daughters' lives, and with his friends. Emily's companion, Hermana Hendriksen, suffered a concussion at a ward activity, and woke later in the middle of the night crying with a severe headache. After Emily contacted the district leader, and the sisters prayed together, she was able to sleep. However, the next morning the headache persisted, requiring a doctors visit, with his recommendation to sleep more, and take Tylenol. Arriving home late, the sisters discovered they were out of Tylenol, so knowing that Nyquil contained pain reliever, dutiful Hermana "Hendri" took 2 tablets. In Emily's words "BAD IDEA!" Emily could barely get her up in the morning, and though they worked for a while, she was falling asleep sitting up, then came home, slept 6 hours, went to an evening appointment, then returned and slept from 9 p.m. to 7a.m. The lessons: Nyquil does NOT equal Tylenol! and Effective missionary work requires an alert, well-rested mind free of OTC cold medication! Emily promises pictures within the next week or two, and sends her love to all.
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson “I have a cool spiritual experience of the week. In my last area, I probably told you about the Haney’s. If I didn't, the wife is the only member and she was
recently re-baptized less than a year ago. They lived just around the corner from us at the Littlefield’s. You may remember them as the family with the weird girl that always tried to flirt with me. Well this lady's parents live in my ward here. Small world. Amber, the flirty girl, always came to church with her mom but wouldn't agree to take the lessons and wouldn't hear any of such talk. It turns out, in the time that I've been gone, Amber wants to be baptized and they're actually here in Folsom now. I'm the one that gets to teach her some of the lessons until they go back to Loma Rica! Coincidence? I think not!
All my spiritual experiences must be followed up with a funny story. As you well know, being on a bike means we get all sorts of funny, degrading, obscene, uplifting, and everywhere in-between comments yelled at us from cars. While riding my bike, I received one of these less than savory comments. Well I saw that a stop sign was coming up for this offending car and there was a car in front of it to block a quick escape. I decided to pick up the pace of my peddling and catch up to this car. I thought maybe I'd throw a MORMON.org pass-along card into his open window. Just kidding. The guy freaked out! He rode the person's in front of him tail, about rear ending them, all the way
through the stop sign. He then ran the stop sign and proceeded to weave wildly around the car in his frenzied effort to get away. It was pretty funny. Elder Trey”
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot has been in Stackty Russia since the 23 of June. His flight to Russia was memorable. The first leg from SLC to Chicago ended in a surprise when the passenger sitting next to him got airsick and lost his lunch all over Skyler. Fortunately, he had a hoodie in his backpack and swapped out his suit coat for a clean hoodie. Not your usual missionary travel outfit, but it worked. His new mission president only laughed when he picked him up at the airport a day and a half later. Elder Thiot has been blessed with some great opportunities to share his testimony. They have grown their teaching pool up to 15 from 0 what it was when he and his companion both came new to the area. They are working with some great people and having some wonderful experiences. Elder Thiot said the language is getting better each day and he is able to “conversate” with people better all the time. The branch he is serving in has 18 people with plenty of room for growth. He is hoping to help them grow the branch while he is there. When asked how he is, here is his reply. “I am probably the happiest missionary in the world, life couldn't be better! I love missionary work, when I wake up every morning, I am so excited to get to work it feels like I am going to six flags everyday! I love this work, and it is all about helping people find out for themselves. We all have the ability to find out for ourselves, the church is true! From Russia with Love, Elder T.O.
Elder Mckay Crandall
Puerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall wrote when he first arrived in the Dominican Republic. “How are you doing? I’m doing great! We did not get to the MTC (CCM) until about 2:30am Eastern Time. We only got about 4 hrs of sleep last night! The CCM is great! It’s one floor of the hotel on the temple grounds. The whole grounds are gated. This is going to be a very different experience! it is very humid here. I thought I knew humid because of Texas, but it does not even compare. It’s not very hot but the humidity makes it about 10x worse. The rooms are a lot nicer but they are smaller. I have just enough room to hang up my shirts and pants but I do not have very much room for my other clothes. I have one meal since I have arrived. It’s good but very simple and we will have bananas for every meal. We also have to wash our dishes. Well I need to go. I only have time for this one email. I’ll write again. Sorry I did not get to say goodbye yesterday. well things are going great here! The language is coming, but slowly. We went to the temple today! It is beautiful! –Mckay”
Mckay lives in Temple housing with lots of other missionaries. Some Native, some foreign. The first day in the Dominican Republic he went to the college campus close by to do first contacting in Spanish. That was a bit scary for him. He seems very upbeat and happy.
Elder Jacob Reading
California Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder ReadingThis is the first entry for Jacob in Preaching Fourth. As his mother, I am excited to be getting these newsletters again, as I love hearing about the Elders serving from our Ward. Now I have another missionary and I am loving it! The news so far from Jacob is great. We were so excited to see Blake Bickmore and Jerry Martin at the MTC. They came to see Jacob off on his mission and I think Jacob was surprised and thrilled. He loved the MTC and had a great companion. His name was Elder Miller, from Lindon, Utah. He is the oldest in his family of 8 with one on the way. Jacob being the youngest of 7, was the polar opposite. He was hoping his District would love to play basketball. Unfortunately, for him, his companion and District loved to play croquet. Now that is a sport Jacob had not heard of very often. He said in big bold letters, that it was the most boring sport every invented. He did get to play basketball, but not as often as he would have liked, but he now is a pretty good croquet player as well. He was made Zone Leader 4 days after his arrival at the MTC. He said I am the boss over 25 Elders and Sisters. I thought to myself, being the youngest of 7 he has not been the boss of too many in his life, and so I think he enjoyed the calling. He was to make sure they followed the rules, and could come to him with any problems. He loved the food, REALLY DID, and said the stuff he had heard about the orange juice was not true. He left on the 29Th of July for the mission headquarters, as of this entry, we have not heard from him or the Mission President. We assume all is well and he is happy. We sometimes wonder if his letters are written by someone else, but we love feeling the spirit that comes through. His email address is jacob.c.reading@myldsmail.net.
Recently Called
Michael Spellman
California Los Angeles Spanish Speaking 9-10
Elder Tommy Bailey
Washington Tacoma Mission 8-22-08
Elder Bailey It looks like Elder Bailey will spend his last few weeks in beautiful Belfair, WA, near Gig Harbor. Located on an inlet, the scenery is gorgeous. It so happens that his companion likes to play golf on p-day, much to Elder Bailey's delight! Their teaching pool has increased and they are hoping for a couple of baptisms before he comes home. He relates the following story: "So we just had a miracle happen. We got a media referral from the mission office. This lady called and wanted a bible delivered to her. We deliver the bible and give her a church tour and it was one of the best tours I've been a part of. We committed her to get baptized on August 3rd and she is so solid. She wants to feel the love of God and Christ more in her life and this is how she does it. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!" His mission has been full of such "miracles". While tracting in a trailer park on a hot day for about an hour without success, Elder Bailey started to complain to his companion that they should leave. They knocked on one more door, and they didn't even finish introducing themselves before this guy says "I'm in a hurry right now, but I would really love for you to come back and talk with me tomorrow!" His whole family is Mormon. The elders couldn't stop laughing. Elder Bailey says, "The lord decided to slap me in the face and say "Tommy, stop complaining!" When asked if Elder Bailey would like to contribute to this (his last) edition of Preaching Fourth, he writes: "Wow! What can I say...........Words cannot describe what its been like to go on a mission. You have your ups and downs of course but my testimony has grown so much over these past 2 years, and that's something that is very special to me. The Church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior, he died for us. The Book of Mormon is true. Missionary work is the most important and rewarding work we can ever do. I look forward to seeing everyone real soon."
Hermana Emily Dahl
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl: Hermana Dahl continues to have one adventure after the other--but the happy news is that their most promising investigator, a widower named Arturo, was recently baptized! The excitement in the ward was contagious, because this is the first baptism in 3 years in the area. The whole ward turned out to simultaneously celebrate his baptism and his 52nd birthday with cake and lots of delicious Argentine dishes. He will receive the priesthood this Sunday, and already is a powerful missionary force in his daughters' lives, and with his friends. Emily's companion, Hermana Hendriksen, suffered a concussion at a ward activity, and woke later in the middle of the night crying with a severe headache. After Emily contacted the district leader, and the sisters prayed together, she was able to sleep. However, the next morning the headache persisted, requiring a doctors visit, with his recommendation to sleep more, and take Tylenol. Arriving home late, the sisters discovered they were out of Tylenol, so knowing that Nyquil contained pain reliever, dutiful Hermana "Hendri" took 2 tablets. In Emily's words "BAD IDEA!" Emily could barely get her up in the morning, and though they worked for a while, she was falling asleep sitting up, then came home, slept 6 hours, went to an evening appointment, then returned and slept from 9 p.m. to 7a.m. The lessons: Nyquil does NOT equal Tylenol! and Effective missionary work requires an alert, well-rested mind free of OTC cold medication! Emily promises pictures within the next week or two, and sends her love to all.
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson “I have a cool spiritual experience of the week. In my last area, I probably told you about the Haney’s. If I didn't, the wife is the only member and she was
recently re-baptized less than a year ago. They lived just around the corner from us at the Littlefield’s. You may remember them as the family with the weird girl that always tried to flirt with me. Well this lady's parents live in my ward here. Small world. Amber, the flirty girl, always came to church with her mom but wouldn't agree to take the lessons and wouldn't hear any of such talk. It turns out, in the time that I've been gone, Amber wants to be baptized and they're actually here in Folsom now. I'm the one that gets to teach her some of the lessons until they go back to Loma Rica! Coincidence? I think not!
All my spiritual experiences must be followed up with a funny story. As you well know, being on a bike means we get all sorts of funny, degrading, obscene, uplifting, and everywhere in-between comments yelled at us from cars. While riding my bike, I received one of these less than savory comments. Well I saw that a stop sign was coming up for this offending car and there was a car in front of it to block a quick escape. I decided to pick up the pace of my peddling and catch up to this car. I thought maybe I'd throw a MORMON.org pass-along card into his open window. Just kidding. The guy freaked out! He rode the person's in front of him tail, about rear ending them, all the way
through the stop sign. He then ran the stop sign and proceeded to weave wildly around the car in his frenzied effort to get away. It was pretty funny. Elder Trey”
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot has been in Stackty Russia since the 23 of June. His flight to Russia was memorable. The first leg from SLC to Chicago ended in a surprise when the passenger sitting next to him got airsick and lost his lunch all over Skyler. Fortunately, he had a hoodie in his backpack and swapped out his suit coat for a clean hoodie. Not your usual missionary travel outfit, but it worked. His new mission president only laughed when he picked him up at the airport a day and a half later. Elder Thiot has been blessed with some great opportunities to share his testimony. They have grown their teaching pool up to 15 from 0 what it was when he and his companion both came new to the area. They are working with some great people and having some wonderful experiences. Elder Thiot said the language is getting better each day and he is able to “conversate” with people better all the time. The branch he is serving in has 18 people with plenty of room for growth. He is hoping to help them grow the branch while he is there. When asked how he is, here is his reply. “I am probably the happiest missionary in the world, life couldn't be better! I love missionary work, when I wake up every morning, I am so excited to get to work it feels like I am going to six flags everyday! I love this work, and it is all about helping people find out for themselves. We all have the ability to find out for ourselves, the church is true! From Russia with Love, Elder T.O.
Elder Mckay Crandall
Puerto Rico San Juan East 6-10
Elder Crandall wrote when he first arrived in the Dominican Republic. “How are you doing? I’m doing great! We did not get to the MTC (CCM) until about 2:30am Eastern Time. We only got about 4 hrs of sleep last night! The CCM is great! It’s one floor of the hotel on the temple grounds. The whole grounds are gated. This is going to be a very different experience! it is very humid here. I thought I knew humid because of Texas, but it does not even compare. It’s not very hot but the humidity makes it about 10x worse. The rooms are a lot nicer but they are smaller. I have just enough room to hang up my shirts and pants but I do not have very much room for my other clothes. I have one meal since I have arrived. It’s good but very simple and we will have bananas for every meal. We also have to wash our dishes. Well I need to go. I only have time for this one email. I’ll write again. Sorry I did not get to say goodbye yesterday. well things are going great here! The language is coming, but slowly. We went to the temple today! It is beautiful! –Mckay”
Mckay lives in Temple housing with lots of other missionaries. Some Native, some foreign. The first day in the Dominican Republic he went to the college campus close by to do first contacting in Spanish. That was a bit scary for him. He seems very upbeat and happy.
Elder Jacob Reading
California Carlsbad Mission 7-10
Elder ReadingThis is the first entry for Jacob in Preaching Fourth. As his mother, I am excited to be getting these newsletters again, as I love hearing about the Elders serving from our Ward. Now I have another missionary and I am loving it! The news so far from Jacob is great. We were so excited to see Blake Bickmore and Jerry Martin at the MTC. They came to see Jacob off on his mission and I think Jacob was surprised and thrilled. He loved the MTC and had a great companion. His name was Elder Miller, from Lindon, Utah. He is the oldest in his family of 8 with one on the way. Jacob being the youngest of 7, was the polar opposite. He was hoping his District would love to play basketball. Unfortunately, for him, his companion and District loved to play croquet. Now that is a sport Jacob had not heard of very often. He said in big bold letters, that it was the most boring sport every invented. He did get to play basketball, but not as often as he would have liked, but he now is a pretty good croquet player as well. He was made Zone Leader 4 days after his arrival at the MTC. He said I am the boss over 25 Elders and Sisters. I thought to myself, being the youngest of 7 he has not been the boss of too many in his life, and so I think he enjoyed the calling. He was to make sure they followed the rules, and could come to him with any problems. He loved the food, REALLY DID, and said the stuff he had heard about the orange juice was not true. He left on the 29Th of July for the mission headquarters, as of this entry, we have not heard from him or the Mission President. We assume all is well and he is happy. We sometimes wonder if his letters are written by someone else, but we love feeling the spirit that comes through. His email address is jacob.c.reading@myldsmail.net.
Recently Called
Michael Spellman
California Los Angeles Spanish Speaking 9-10
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April 2008
Volume 7 April 2008 Issue 32
Elder Kyle Roeser
Brasil, Belo Horizonte 07-08
Elder Roeser Wow. This week was so busy that it seems like it should’ve been 2 weeks. :) I’ve been with E. Santana for 7 days now, and I think that he is the hardest worker I have ever met. Seriously. He is really converted. He’s a preach my Gospel missionary. We went and got the new missionaries last Tuesday and did all sorts of training with them, which was awesome. Transfer meeting was kind of crazy, riding in micro-busses to bring everyone to the church, but it went just fine. I’m learning a lot. The Lord is teaching me how to do his work. He’s teaching me what it is to use all my heart, might, mind and strength. Time is flying, you guys are great. Have a great week! I love you guys lots. Lots lots! Elder Roeser
Elder Tommy Bailey
Washington Tacoma Mission 9-08
Elder Bailey has had a wonderful experience in the small town of Raymond, WA on the Pacific Coast. There hadn't been a baptism in 7 1/2 months prior to his arrival in Raymond. He was determined to break the slump. He relates the following story: "Wow! So where do I start. This week was a trying week for me and Elder Lockhart. Nobody that was in our teaching pool was going anywhere so we had been praying mightily all week for a miracle, somebody who is prepared and will be baptized in March. So the week is going by, nothing is happening we are working really hard, we fasted Thursday also. We get to church Sunday morning, I'm still trying to figure out where this miracle is going to come from. So we got to church a little early and this lady walks in with her family, her name is Jackie. She's got 3 kids, 2 of them are baptized. She's got a little 9 yr old girl who hasn't been baptized, Jackie isn't baptized, and her dad Jacob isn't baptized either. They all showed up to church, out of no where and we are going to start teaching them this week. I'm way excited.....Do I believe in miracles? YES! :) I KNOW more now than ever that if we pray to God and believe that we can get an answer, he will answer our prayers. I KNOW fasting works. I KNOW because of the experience I had with Jackie". Jackie and Miesha, her daughter, were baptized by Elder Bailey and his companion on March 16th. As a missionary, he is learning to expect the unexpected. While on splits in Aberdeen, his companion suddenly announced, "so to bring the spirit into the room we are going to sing "I Am a Child of God." I was like ummm you can sing it by yourself lol it was the first time I sang a song in a lesson, it was pretty cool." Elder Bailey is experiencing life in the Northwest - clam digging and eating clam chowder that he thought was pretty good!, cold, cloudy, wet, dreary winter days and the beauty that is the result. Needless to say, he is eager for spring to arrive. http://dearelder.com/Elder_Thomas_Bailey
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson left the MTC on February 5 and arrived in Sacramento, California to be assigned to the Marysville, Loma Rica and Camptonville areas. When he's in Marysville, he rides his bike, and he and his companion have a car for the hour-long drive to the areas further out where they cover two wards and a branch, usually teaching the Gospel Principles class for Sunday School. Besides teaching people in homes, and at Beale Air Force Base, Trey has given priesthood blessings at the hospital, and has been able to do some various service work. He has cleaned llama pens, fixed up a yard for a wedding reception and, in another yard, sawed up a bunch of dead and fallen tree limbs with a chainsaw. Trey said it was a "hack" of a good time! Trey sounds so upbeat about doing missionary work that, when his mom told him it would be okay to tell her if he was down, the response was "I'm fine! Everything is upbeat in my letters because I am upbeat."
Hermana Emily Dahl:
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl: Filled with anticipation and excitement, Hermana Emily Dahl left this past week for the Bahia Blanca Argentina mission--first to Atlanta, then an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, then a four hour bus ride to her new area. Several elders and sisters traveled to the same mission, though with just a few exceptions, they dispersed to other areas when they arrived in Buenos Aires. Emily was assigned a new companion, though she did get to travel to Argentina with her first companion, Sister Fagergren (picture attached).
Emily says that she is so thankful to have attended devotionals with speakers such as Elder Holland--she said she was so busy taking notes that she nearly ran out of paper. Without exception, she says, questions and concerns that she had been feeling that week, were answered in Elder Holland's talk. The sisters in her district were able to meet and visit with General Primary President Sister Cheryl Lant. By the time her 2 months in the MTC had passed, Hermana Emily says that she was REALLY ready to move out into the mission field. The elders and sisters spent about 9 hours daily in class (picture of "hermanas" attached). And, not surprisingly, the meals at the MTC never earned 5 stars in her missionary restaurant guide. Emily was excited to hear that in Argentina, a good quality steak compares in cost to a hamburger in the U.S.A.
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot received his Mission Call early in December. It’s been a long 4 months waiting to go. Skyler has worked at Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Stonebriar Mall since January. He has been the top shoe sales man in his region. I think if he can sell the Gospel of Jesus Christ (a much finer product) like he did shoes, he will be just fine. Skyler leaves April 3rd for the MTC. He will have a stop over in Sacramento, California to meet his new niece (Charlie’s little daughter) who we are hoping has arrived by then. He will then travel to SLC and get to attend General Conference and then the following Wednesday, April 9th enter the MTC. We’ve got some packing to do between now and then. Have a wonderful week Elders and Hermana
Recently Called 2 Serve!
Mckay Crandall: Puerta Rico San Juan East June 2008
Waiting for Call 2 Serve
Jacob Reading
Working on Mission Papers
Michael Richardson
Philip Olpin
Elder Kyle Roeser
Brasil, Belo Horizonte 07-08
Elder Roeser Wow. This week was so busy that it seems like it should’ve been 2 weeks. :) I’ve been with E. Santana for 7 days now, and I think that he is the hardest worker I have ever met. Seriously. He is really converted. He’s a preach my Gospel missionary. We went and got the new missionaries last Tuesday and did all sorts of training with them, which was awesome. Transfer meeting was kind of crazy, riding in micro-busses to bring everyone to the church, but it went just fine. I’m learning a lot. The Lord is teaching me how to do his work. He’s teaching me what it is to use all my heart, might, mind and strength. Time is flying, you guys are great. Have a great week! I love you guys lots. Lots lots! Elder Roeser
Elder Tommy Bailey
Washington Tacoma Mission 9-08
Elder Bailey has had a wonderful experience in the small town of Raymond, WA on the Pacific Coast. There hadn't been a baptism in 7 1/2 months prior to his arrival in Raymond. He was determined to break the slump. He relates the following story: "Wow! So where do I start. This week was a trying week for me and Elder Lockhart. Nobody that was in our teaching pool was going anywhere so we had been praying mightily all week for a miracle, somebody who is prepared and will be baptized in March. So the week is going by, nothing is happening we are working really hard, we fasted Thursday also. We get to church Sunday morning, I'm still trying to figure out where this miracle is going to come from. So we got to church a little early and this lady walks in with her family, her name is Jackie. She's got 3 kids, 2 of them are baptized. She's got a little 9 yr old girl who hasn't been baptized, Jackie isn't baptized, and her dad Jacob isn't baptized either. They all showed up to church, out of no where and we are going to start teaching them this week. I'm way excited.....Do I believe in miracles? YES! :) I KNOW more now than ever that if we pray to God and believe that we can get an answer, he will answer our prayers. I KNOW fasting works. I KNOW because of the experience I had with Jackie". Jackie and Miesha, her daughter, were baptized by Elder Bailey and his companion on March 16th. As a missionary, he is learning to expect the unexpected. While on splits in Aberdeen, his companion suddenly announced, "so to bring the spirit into the room we are going to sing "I Am a Child of God." I was like ummm you can sing it by yourself lol it was the first time I sang a song in a lesson, it was pretty cool." Elder Bailey is experiencing life in the Northwest - clam digging and eating clam chowder that he thought was pretty good!, cold, cloudy, wet, dreary winter days and the beauty that is the result. Needless to say, he is eager for spring to arrive. http://dearelder.com/Elder_Thomas_Bailey
Elder Trey Nelson
California Roseville 1-10
Elder Nelson left the MTC on February 5 and arrived in Sacramento, California to be assigned to the Marysville, Loma Rica and Camptonville areas. When he's in Marysville, he rides his bike, and he and his companion have a car for the hour-long drive to the areas further out where they cover two wards and a branch, usually teaching the Gospel Principles class for Sunday School. Besides teaching people in homes, and at Beale Air Force Base, Trey has given priesthood blessings at the hospital, and has been able to do some various service work. He has cleaned llama pens, fixed up a yard for a wedding reception and, in another yard, sawed up a bunch of dead and fallen tree limbs with a chainsaw. Trey said it was a "hack" of a good time! Trey sounds so upbeat about doing missionary work that, when his mom told him it would be okay to tell her if he was down, the response was "I'm fine! Everything is upbeat in my letters because I am upbeat."
Hermana Emily Dahl:
Argentina Bahia Blanca 7-09
Hermana Dahl: Filled with anticipation and excitement, Hermana Emily Dahl left this past week for the Bahia Blanca Argentina mission--first to Atlanta, then an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, then a four hour bus ride to her new area. Several elders and sisters traveled to the same mission, though with just a few exceptions, they dispersed to other areas when they arrived in Buenos Aires. Emily was assigned a new companion, though she did get to travel to Argentina with her first companion, Sister Fagergren (picture attached).
Emily says that she is so thankful to have attended devotionals with speakers such as Elder Holland--she said she was so busy taking notes that she nearly ran out of paper. Without exception, she says, questions and concerns that she had been feeling that week, were answered in Elder Holland's talk. The sisters in her district were able to meet and visit with General Primary President Sister Cheryl Lant. By the time her 2 months in the MTC had passed, Hermana Emily says that she was REALLY ready to move out into the mission field. The elders and sisters spent about 9 hours daily in class (picture of "hermanas" attached). And, not surprisingly, the meals at the MTC never earned 5 stars in her missionary restaurant guide. Emily was excited to hear that in Argentina, a good quality steak compares in cost to a hamburger in the U.S.A.
Elder Skyler Thiot
Russia Rostov Mission 4-10
Elder Thiot received his Mission Call early in December. It’s been a long 4 months waiting to go. Skyler has worked at Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Stonebriar Mall since January. He has been the top shoe sales man in his region. I think if he can sell the Gospel of Jesus Christ (a much finer product) like he did shoes, he will be just fine. Skyler leaves April 3rd for the MTC. He will have a stop over in Sacramento, California to meet his new niece (Charlie’s little daughter) who we are hoping has arrived by then. He will then travel to SLC and get to attend General Conference and then the following Wednesday, April 9th enter the MTC. We’ve got some packing to do between now and then. Have a wonderful week Elders and Hermana
Recently Called 2 Serve!
Mckay Crandall: Puerta Rico San Juan East June 2008
Waiting for Call 2 Serve
Jacob Reading
Working on Mission Papers
Michael Richardson
Philip Olpin
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