Hey there!

Sounds like it was an adventure like usual going on vacation. That's really some short days in the Parks. what was the reason for that? is it just because they haven't hit their summer season yet or what? How is Aunt Kathleen doing? Still have a good humor and stuff? you have to do some coercing to get her to come out for my homecoming next year. Better start now! I'm glad to hear that Cassidy treats Jayme well. How does he fit in? Now, If I remember right the blue bayou was then one that is with the Pirates of the carribbean correct? Mmm.. that would be the place to go and eat. you probably have to pay a lot for the ambiance though.
I knew that Adam had never been to Disney but I didn't know that he had never been to the beach either. I bet he really enjoyed the trip. that's cool that you guys were able to go too. I Can't imagine the water being too warm yet though. I'm pretty sure last time I was at the beach I Was on a horse as well. maybe one day we'll make a trip up to erie and go to the beach there. but it's not the same as the Ocean. it's not too far away from us here.

Is the school year really almost over? wow. that was quck huh? hopefully you will be able to get a job so then you will have something to do. if not you could just become a handy mandy and work on the yard and the basement. You would get into some really good shape and then you could do it your way too and then you wouldn't have to worry about someone doing it the wrong way and stuff you know? haha that would be super legit you know? but, I guess that's dad's forte. and you know... you could always just put the two kids at home this summer to work as well. you know, teach them how to clean, cook, plant things, ride the tractor, etc... but I dunnooo...
Well, that's about it. so I will talk to you next week.


Love ya!~

Michael




P.s. Woops! did I get you?

Alright, so. I got transferred back to the west side of the state. I shotgunned an area again. I'm in a city Called Perrysburg and we cover some of Toledo as well. So if you remember, Shotgun is where they take two out and put two new ones in. Like what I did in Wadsworth. Also, I'm doing it again with a Missionary, Elder Haines, who was just a Zone leader for the last nine months and goes home in august, So almost exactly like what I did in Wadsworth with Elder Wilkinson, but a bit different. There weren't sisters here before so it wasn't as big of a notice and a change for the ward and somethings were actually going on here. The missionaries we replaced just weren't the most obedient, so they moved them far away. haha. We have a couple of investigators and a handfull of part-member families that we are working with and plan to set baptismal dates with this week. we were able to set one last week with an investigator who they found through the former investigators who had been taught several years ago. This last few days that we have had have been amazing. the ward members are willing to do anything with us. in the few days that we have been here we have had a number of members come out with us and some for multiple hours at a time.

Elder haines is from orem, he is pretty cool and was actually my zone leader for a couple of transfers when I was back in the akron area and we have been getting along great. so yes, a big improvement.! My shoulder has been a bit better, still taking some anti-inflamitories, but there is still some annoyance there, hopefully it will be gone in a little while.

We were looking at the week we have already set up so far and we have a possibility of having five baptismal dates or so by the end of the week. hopefully we can obtain it and help others come unto Christ. There is one part-member family father who is amazing. after we met him the only question we had was, why is he not a member?! oh man he needs to be baptized! his family is solid too!

Anyways, my address is 403 Three Meadows ct. Perrysburg, OH, 43551. feel free. my mailbox is always available and has room for new things.

They did some kind of regional stake conference broadcast from salt lake this weekend where President Eyring and Elder Ballard spoke with a couple of others. is that a new thing that is suppose to start happening? I thought it was a bit strange, I have never seen it before

Oh well.

Much love, this time is for reals yo.
--
Elder Michael Stone.

Hey Mom!

I actually thought I was losing some of my humor. Seemed like I am not as funny as I once was! Turns out I am getting transferred out of the Akron Zone, Elder Yukish will be in a triple-up in barberton for 7 1/2 months. crazy. I haven't been anywhere for too long yet. So I'm curious how I will feel about my new area and my new comp. Hopefully he is a good one! I'm guessing that not too many people will be getting transferred this time because in the last one about 2/3's of the mission was changed. with me there are only two others getting out-zoned and one within. so not too many changes. I guess we will have to find out on monday next week to let you know where I ended up.

So are you going to be in Disney all week long? That's pretty intense getting up at four and driving all the way to be in the park all day. goodness haha. Jordyn is getting pretty tall. I swear she was only as tall as the counters or barely above them when I left. Sounds like it has been fun this far with her being able to go on most of the rides?

I hope the house is still standing when you get back as well. I don't know so much about being able to see the floor. but as long as there is still a roof and walls I think you will be in good shape! ;P

So yesterday I had one of my famous Migranes. It started coming on around lunch time and then we went home and just layed around. after that we had an appointment with some Less-actives and man did it hit me. I had to hold in throwing up so much! when we left I did a little. we drove for about five minutes and then all of my lunch came up non-stop! oh man was that disgusting! haha I can't believe it. I still have a little of it today but I'm going to try to go see the Chiropractor to get adjusted so I hope that there is enough money on my card from home. Usually when I get migranes like this it means its time to go get fixed. so hopefully I will be able to get in today. there is a guy in wadsworth that has done favors for missionaries in the past for members that use to go see him, but they are gone now so hopefully he will still allow me to pay not as much so I dont go to much in the hole, but we'll see what happens. either way I still need to get adjusted.

well. I guess not too much to say now. so hopefully more next week!

Love ya

--
Elder Michael Stone.

Hey there,

This week wasn't bad. We are teaching a decent amount, the hard part is finding more productive things to do when we aren't teaching besides tracting. Reason being behind that is, we have stopped by all of the Part-member/Less-active Families to try to teach. So, now when we aren't teaching, there isn't much to do. So last night we just rode our bikes around downtown for a bit so people could see and and maybe be like "oh, we have some missionaries here? who are they?" kind of thing. I think that we will be doing more of that as well this upcoming week if it doesn't rain too much, thing about that is, it is always raining here! haha

I can't believe it snowed again there! that's pretty intense! that's cool though that you were able to get some work done. that's progress! hopefully when you lay the fabric the wind doesn't pick up and through it all around like when we did last summer. that was a pain. ;p. When dad puts in the sprinkler heads does that mean that you are almost done with the front yard and stuff? that's pretty legit. There hasn't really been springtime here yet, so I think It's all over that the weather is pretty intense. There were some tornadoes down in Alabama, I believe part of it went through King's mission, I e-mailed him. we'll have to hear what he says.

Where is Parawan, I mean I have heard of it because of Wrestling, but I really have no Idea where it is. That's coming up pretty quick. Are you getting as stressed about this as you did for Jennifer's? or are you now a seasoned pro? Do they have married housing down at SUU? hmmm. well I hope that they could get primrose. that would be pretty sweet.

I'm glad to hear that Trevor decided to get married in the Temple. I knew that he had no intention of going on a mission, but from the things he said and the way he behaved at school I never would have guessed he would want to be married in the temple and even be active in the church. That's good for him though. Hopefully it will give him more direction and straighten his life up a bit. He is just one of those guys that does whatever, whenever. as for the girl. I don't know a thing about her. He has been dating her for probably a year and a half, maybe two years? I don't know, but I don't think he Ever dated the Deleo girl.

Applying for work huh? You don't want to just sit at home and do whatever you want all the time? I guess that would get a bit boring... it would get you a little extra cash on the side too. so that would be really nice, pay things off and then go have some play money and whatnot right? You will get to do a lot of reading too in the library, that's good. but, at the same time, you might buy more books so we will have to actually have a room dedicated to that purpose in the future.

Anyways, I think we will be able to skype. it will be after 430 your time. I will have to give you a call to get things set up and stuff so I will probably call you next Sunday next time, just because I can, and then we can skype and do whatever. President doesn't want us to talk for as long this time though. He sent out a text and said, just because it's free doesn't mean you get to talk for longer. the rules still apply. so I'm pretty sure we wont be going for two hours again. that's all good though!

Anywho.
Much love!

Dear Mom,

Easter dinner was pretty good! we went to a members house and it was by far the best meal that she has cooked for us ever! so yes! but, no lamb. That's okay though, we had some real good pork chops. So I take that Ammon got the Clutch down? wow. Impressive haha. I have been told that The Michael Jackson Dance game is pretty cool. A recent convert here has it and she really enjoys it, but it's with the kinect, not the wii.

Yep, Camille sounds like a RM, that's for sure. I think I will hug people when I get home, I have been getting practice with the elders here. I mean, we can't hug anyone else. so we hug each other. eh, it's how we do.

So, Speaking of Handicap kids, I was told a story once about a boy with downs. When He turned 8 years old he wanted to be baptized, and of course, we know that we don't baptize those with Handicaps like that because they have a free pass. He really wanted it though and he got baptized. when he turned 12 he really wanted to get the priesthood, Same thing there, He ended up getting it. Then, when he got old enough to get a patriarchal blessing, if we follow the pattern, he wanted that as well, like the rest of the things, they tried to talk him out of it because it's not necessary, but he got it anyway. Within his blessing he was told that he was blessed with his downs syndrome because in the pre-mortal Life he was one of those choice spirits that Helped escort satan and his followers out of Gods presence. He was thus blessed with this disability to be protected because God Knew that those he escorted out would recognize him and do all they possibly could to take him out. I thought it was really cool, I have never thought of it in that sense.

I'm pretty sure we will be able to Skype if it is approved again. It would be around 6:30 do do it after 4 when you are home so I'm sure we could do that. but, we don't really know anything about it yet. it seems to be that everything happens last minute without too much time to prepare. so When I find out, I will let you know okay? haha

What if you were to just lace the Retaining walls with poison? That would do the trick.Then you wouldn't have to worry about him coming back. So... you know, problem solved! I have thought about catching a squirrel too. they are all over the place here. I thought about using cereal to lure it into our apartment and then into a cage. I want a brown one and a black one! oh yes! haha

Since when Has Matthew been self conscious? I remember him always saying "I don't Care, Leave me alone!" haha oh that little goober ;P

You know, I have thought about more of the Spirit of my mission, than the letter you could say. I'm very excited to see Less-actives being able to progress and do the things that they need to and seeing success with those members in the ward. Of that I am Immensely appreciative. The thing that I guess I could say that bothers me the most, is that when we aren't teaching there is practically nothing to do. This last Saturday night when we were planning I took a look at my planner and saw that the only thing we had planned to do was church and dinner. We continued to plan and we came to the conclusion, it was time to go back and do the things, and see the people we have seen again after a number of attempts. That night I feel like I was Finally broken, I have never felt that broken ever before in my life. all I could think was why? When is this going to be over? as I prayed, I felt Like Christ was there with me, Just like when He was in the Garden Of Gethsemane (there is a picture of that in the April Ensign by Carl Bloch) strengthening me. The next day, I still hadn't slept it off, but as we drove to Church I looked at the back of my planner where I have a picture of Alma the younger getting Rebuked by the angel and I thought, Why Can't I have an Alma the Younger experience and then go forth to convert many people? then I was on the edge of sleep and all I could think of and see was The face of Christ and a big smile on it.

It was then at this point where I realized, It's time to take a step back and raise my vision a bit higher where I can see him there with me. That no Matter what we go through, whether it be big or small, easy for someone but hard for us, He is there for us and it will all be able to be put together for us when we have other difficulties and sorrows in our future. Most importantly that we will be able to understand more fully and in that day when we stand before our Savior, we can report back, "I did it, I did as you asked and I did my best, I never, no never gave up". How great will be that day when we will see him again and be able to Partake of his gladness.


Love you most,
--
Elder Michael Stone.

P.S. yes I sure did get the package! thank you so much, But, I won't really be able to listen to that talk because it isn't by a GA. I really like the music though! ;)

Hey Mom,

Not too much happened this week. We were able to see a lot more less-actives and In fact we were able to help Ordain a Returning member that we have been working with to the Aaronic Priesthood as a Priest. It's really cool to see people actually progress and be able to work their way off of the Ward Mission Process. His last step was drinking Coffee and we were able to take that away from him about two weeks ago and he has been off of it since. He will be able to go to the Temple for the First time to do baptisms this weekend. Also there is another less active who has started to come back to church. we were able to get her to go to General Conference with Her sister and Something must have touched her because she has been to church the following two weeks and accepted a calling as a Nursery or Primary teacher. Now we just need to be able to help her stop smoking. It's really cool because the last few times before this when we would invite her to come to church she would just laugh. but finally she said that she would be there and has been true to her word. It's really cool.


Also we were able to have a pretty cool experience with Revelation. We have been focusing lately on working through members and helping them feel comfortable with talking to their friends about the gospel. Thursday we had a zone meeting where we talked about the Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion and asking inspired questions. you know, letting the spirit guide us. That night we went to a members home and role played with one of their daughters and we were able to receive some ideas on what we should do to help her friend become interested in the gospel. The next day her friend came up to her and asked exactly about what we had role-played talking to her. we were able to see success with the members and that was really good to see since we haven't been able to see any with investigators.

Umm.. I Just think a few Cd's will be good for now. Also, If the talk is given by a General Authority, Past or present of course. I will be able to listen to it.

I'm Glad to hear that Taylor Went on a mission, I know that he wanted to Last year and was working on it. I really do hope that he will be able to make it. As for the other guys that were there, well lets just say I hope they don't Mess their lives up too much. Because I can Definitely see that happening with the way that they lived in High school

So, How are you suppose to learn when you don't understand a word that is being said? interesting...

Ammon can Drive? woah, I bet that is pretty scary. I don't know if I would want to be in a car with him. Ten bucks says that the truck is wrecked before I get back. I give him 4 months after he gets his license.... Either that or he will destroy the clutch. whichever comes first works haha

Matthew Social? Since when is anyone in our family social besides Ammon? wow. that's really cool

Three weeks really? I don't know what You mean about how I want to do it? Like skype or Phone call? I don't really know, It doesn't matter for me to be honest. ;P I don't really know what I'm going to say either. last time there was just a lot of silence and no one talked. so maybe you guys could practice what you are going to say. as a whole.... so everyone is talking and not just me and you... Because you know I am not very good at expounding. but I will try to do better so it isn't as silent. it will be fun.

I dont' know about a Easter Egg hunt. maybe if we go to a different church and see whats going on we might be able too. But, you might just have to send me some lamb with some sauce and some good deviled eggs, the last ones I had weren't as good as yours ha.

Well, another day, another week. we'll find someone who wants to be baptized one of these days....

OH! in fact, someone called the church building yesterday and said that they wanted to be baptized! so I was excited about that. but, we looked at the address and found out that it's not in our area but the Zone Leaders, who usually baptize every month and teach around 25 lessons a week. Go figure. oh well. that's really good though. We are going on exchanges with them this thursday so I will get to talk to Elder Bills, who I actually went to school with. so we'll see what I can do about sending me to an area where they baptize like crazy.!

well. I think that's it.

Love ya

--
Elder Michael Stone.

Dear Family,

Yesterday it got up to 80! the Humidity was high too. oh it felt so good, today it's at 70 with about the humidity of California. It's nice to be able to take off the suit Jacket and just go around in short sleeves. it's supposed to go back down to mid 60's this week. it was pretty hot too just because it jumped up so high so fast. it's nice though. I don't think it is going to snow here again until the winter. but who knows. it sure likes to rain a lot.

I got your package this morning! thank you so much. I can't believe you cut Jordyn's hair so short. and I noticed that the tv isn't above the mantle.... I promise it will look way better with it up there. You also will be able to get the Audio and Security stuff set up behind there. haha.

So what temple did they reserve? no one will tell me! I don't know if you will be able to have the yard done by then either, but good luck.

Where was Joel Living? was he still with Brady? That's really cool that he was promised that he would be able to serve a mission. it will really help him grow quite a bit. Even if it's living at that MTC working at the call center and talking to people over Mormon.org, it's a good place to be.

That's so odd. Ammon was so stoked to wrestle and go to all of these other tournaments. But, sometimes you just hit a wall, especially when it's something that takes up so much time and a lot on your body. I never wrestled all year. (football is more fun anyways). He may have a good chance at playing linebacker for Varsity, but going from JV to varsity is a big change, it's a lot faster and a different game. so it will be a big change to go from freshman to starting Varsity. It will be tough too because there is a lot of catching up to do, maybe not with such a young team as they have, but against other teams there is quite a bit to do at a young age. it will take a lot of hard work and determination.

The things in Japan were pretty crazy. You can definitely see the Lords hand in your life every day if you look for it. I heard there was another 7. something off the coast again this last week. I know it sounds bad and all, but I really would think it would be fun and quite an adventure to live through a natural disaster... I know it probably wouldn't be fun at the time, but just to say that you lived through that or even to help clean up afterward. I think that would be a lot of fun. I know, I'm weird, always have been and always will be.

Sounds like you need some more sleep. I actually have been able to sleep surprisingly well since I ran out of my sleeping pills. Begging the Lord for simple things like being able to sleep more at night seems like it may be a bit silly, but it works, no doubt about that.

Nothing is going on here. we were able to finally set one baptismal date this last friday night, but the person it's with only half-way keeps commitments. I don't really understand what the reason for me not being able to find really anyone who wants to learn of the gospel and be baptized.

I was talking to another missionary the other day asking about a family that I was able to teach once or twice while I was on exchanges in Findlay while I was it St. Marys. This man who had a family of 5, his sister and her two daughters and one of their boyfriends, lived with him. he went up to one of the elders at walmart and said hey, my family wants to become members of your church, so they went and taught them and they were eventually baptized. the dad, was an ex-con, and had to be interviewed by president Sorensen, he told me that when He lived in texas he would take missionaries clothes and bikes away from them and then tie them to trees and a bunch of other things like that, the boyfriend of one of the daughters had been in prison too for drug abuse and gang fights and things like that. well, after these people were baptized the boyfriend went back to Indiana, killed someone and ripped their eye out and is now in prison again. the dad and his family took as much welfare money from the church as they could from this ward and started to move down to Florida one night, they stopped at wards along the way and tried to get as much money out of the church as they could. The bishop that was in the ward where they were baptized kept getting phone calls asking about him and he said just don't do anything with him, he is a professional con-artist.

It's so weird to hear things like this happen. you would think that while the person who was interviewing them would have the spirit tell them that they aren't ready. and if they truly are and know that it's true. why would they want to do something like that? The Devil is very crafty and works in many ways. we have to be careful with who we want to help. Helping is a good thing, but if we can see or know what is going to happen with what ever we have helped that person with, we shouldn't do it. The Devil is everywhere and he has been at this for thousands of years. watch your back. be that one man who stands strong when he has many Devils around him trying to pull him down, not the city that goes to hell from the hand of one.

Love ya!


--
Elder Michael Stone.

Dearest Beloved,

You know you can watch conference live streaming on the internet right? so you could have got on the wii, gone to LDS.org, and selected the General Conference tab. but I guess going retro and listening on the radio works too. ha

To answer your questions, The reason there is no picture in me falling in the mud is because everyone that was there was busy helping push the car out. so that would have been a trick... I was not driving either. The Sister, is Dani Talbot, she is Wilkinsons girlfriend. they met and started talking when they were serving in the same ward. she got mono and went home for three months and wrote him for the duration. when he went home she came back out and so I talked to her about him and you know how I do. The Cookie was from Elder Leake's Mom. Noah's ark was just sitting in some guys yard in a neighborhood outside of Akron. I was pretty impressed, he even made it himself. Coloring the Jar, I got bored. The Mattresses were really bad and so It was more firm to have them on the ground. The boxes were just sitting there in another missionary apartment so we built them up around the door and climbed out the window. Missionaries get really bored when there is nothing to do. it's not like we can go watch TV, so we have to go get creative.

Conference was really good, Man did I learn a lot. Priesthood session was Phenomenal. Throughout the course of all things I took about 16 pages of notes. It was a great learning environment. I thought it was a bit weird how Elder Hales didn't speak at all though. Also, Elder Holland has had some pretty bleak talks lately as well. Overall though it was really really nice and I learned a lot. Hopefully I will be able to implement at least half of what I learned. As Missionaries we really loved the Fact that Elder Ballard said that the members of the Church need to find people for us to teach and that Tracting doesn't work anymore whatsoever. It's true, it was great for us to hear, we have been putting a lot of emphasis on working through the members in hopes to be able to start teaching their friends. We'll see how it goes.

Jayme Told me about Cassidy. wow. I didn't think it would be this fast. I knew that it would most likely happen before I got home, but it's only been 8 months. haha.

How do they expect you to sleep when they do everything possible to make you uncomfortable? That doesn't really make sense. Maybe I should get one of those too. I ran out of sleeping pills and I don't' really want to have to call and get more from the doc. So I have been taking about 12 mg of Melatonin to work on it. A lot of prayer too. The Lord is willing to help you in all things because he has really experienced all things as we learned this weekend.

Package, Um. You can send me a lot of Fruit snacks/gummies, I need chewy things to eat besides gum. Maybe a big bag of Peanut butter M&M's? oh, I can't really think of anything. you know me. I don't ask for much. so if you feel so inspired, send what you may.

Locks of Love, That's for kids that have cancer right?

I was actually talking to someone about Cambodia the other day and I was like oh hey! I know someone who is there on her mission, but I think she gets home really soon. Sweet trip.

You make the yard work sound so quick. Don't you still need to plant like 50 or more trees? Sprinklers take a really long time to do as well. good luck.

This last week was a really weird one, a little tough too. Elder Yukish and I have having some difficulties. it's pride that is really what it is. we have been out the same amount of time and all but he is the "district leader and senior companion" so when he does things that I dont' really agree with he gets really like no, it's this way and I don't care because of that reason, but it's getting worked out. he has only had one companion who has been out longer than him so a lot of things he is like well I... yada yada. I'm just like come on, I have really actually had senior companions.. Correction is not taken well when you think that you are immovable and all knowing, fortunately none of us are, so it should be easy. He forgets sometimes to call people and to give assignments for district meetings, and in the past I have reminded him and he got upset. so this week I was just like you know what, I'm just not going to care for that stuff. I'm just going to worry about getting us appointments and the teaching. so he didn't give them until two days before. but like I said it's pride. It all needs to be worked with.

Also, wow, this week during our weekly planning he got so upset because of a comment I made. I can't really even remember exactly what I said but it was just like a it's your choice, it's fine with me either way. Then he just got really mad and started yelling and was just like I don't even care anymore. so, Like me, I called him out and just asked why he was even here. he was like I don't know.
I don't get that. why would you be doing something that you don't care about? it does not make sense. if you don't care for it, don't waste your time being here. I did tell him that if he didn't care then he should call president. So I decided that if He says he doesn't care one more time, (because it has already been said multiple times) I'm just going to tell him to stop wasting his time and to go home. I'm blunt, can be rude. but to me it just doesn't make sense why you would do something you don't care about. it's a waste of time. That is valuable stuff.

we also had a solid investigator have to drop us though because her husband doesn't like us coming over. She said she is going to fast and pray for him in hopes that he will have his heart softened . Hopefully she will be able to receive the gospel, with her husband or not. it's really sad how Marriages aren't united like they should be. especially when we bring something that will solve all of their marital problems. The world is in trouble these days.

Things are good, we are just still in need in of investigators who are willing to come to church and be baptized. all of the ones that we are teaching and been taught have been invited to be baptized and accept, but they just don't want to set a date or move anything forward so they can be able to have those blessings. it's alright though. things will work out in the end.

anyways. That is my rant. gotta stay in a good mood and all you know.

Much Love My friends.

--
Elder Michael Stone.