Hey mom,

...and everyone else.

I'm one of the oldest tenure-wise in my zone too. It's so strange that the entire mission changed in a matter of months. It's crazy how many more missionaries come out during the summer than all of the other months. man. I don't know why they send me border to border, but seemsd like eventually I will end up in the middle around Kirtland and Cleveland right? haha who knows. For transfers, if you are being out-zoned you go to Kirtland at the stake center there and we have a big meeting where you are told where you are going, Then you throw your stuff into the truck and head out. So, I drove a ton on transfer day. Elder Furtney is from Cedar City and he has been in warren the entire three months he has been out.

This ward isn't too active in missionary work or even too excited about it for that matter so we have been trying to get on the good side of the leaders, mainly the Bishop. So we have been trying to get names of people from him to go see and update him with people that we do see as often as we can. Yesterday the both of us fasted to be able to work better with him and the rest of the ward getting them to become more missionary minded and so on and so forth. It seemed to go really well because we proposed a way for the ward to become more active in PEC and then later that day we went and ate dinner with the Bishop and his family. We shared a powerful lesson and told his wife, who is working on some of her friends that we would come back later and help her know how she can invite them to learn about the Gospel. It was very good and miracles will happen with hard work and becoming united with the ward. That is the key: the members.

Hey, It's alright, you weren't the only one who was getting annoyed by their bodies this week. My eye was annoying me so I had to wear my glasses for about half of the week. I don't like wearing those very much, but my eyes are a-ok now. Just needed a break! haha. I've been trying to eat a lot healthier this week too. I needed to turn my eating habits around, so I didn't buy any freezer food and so I'm hoping to be able to keep it up for awhile, and if I fall I will still be eating healthier than I was. I gotta get myself in shape!

I met that Brandon Ruiz guy once at state, He signed one of my shirts! I know it was pretty cool. he is a big guy.

Don't get a Mazda 5, those are like wannabe mini-vans. They are super ugly and really really small! Get a Pilot! or a Hyundai elantra or sonata. They are good looking cars.

This weekend I did a lot of pondering on discerning the promptings of the spirit. It's an intersting thing to think about and try to understand. There was instance where I felt the spirit so strongly and I didn't know why. I didn't know what to do either so I was praying asking to be able to know what I needed to do, but I couldn't discover what it was that I needed to do unfortunately.

Wanna hear a Crazy story? So, we don't live in the best part of town (plus everyone is black...) and one night I woke up around 3:30 to what I thought was a gunshot. I was like, oh crap... then I heard this terrifying scream of this lady (she was black too, You could tell) probably the most terrifying and stomach rentching thing I have ever heard in my life. Then I heard that sound again and Either the guy was beating the tar out of her or destroying something, I figured they were drunk or high, I looked out the window to try to see what was going on. Thankfully there was a tree there blocking my vision. But I just laid there and listened to this woman yell and scream "NOOOO aahhh" I can't remember exactly, but oh man It made me sick! I felt like I could have thrown up right there at that time! oh man, I was then so grateful for where we live where we don't have to put up with crime and all the other nonsense that goes on out here. It's pretty crazy. I don't really appreciate it, but, We do what we can and keep ourselves out of trouble! ;)

This last week we have set the trend of inviting everyone we see to be baptized, man it's such a great feeling. we are teaching this man named michael who has had three strokes. he came to church and has a baptismal date. we are hoping to be able to see some amazing things take place here.

Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.
P.s. Here is a picture of my shoe.. I don't know if they will or can replace it. I haven't had any problems with it letting any water in yet.