WARNING: THIS LETTER MAY SEEM WEIRD AND DISJOINTED TO YOU. I NEGLECTED TO WRITE LAST NIGHT AND GOT UP LATE THIS MORNING. MICHAEL WAS ALREADY ON THE COMPUTER AND WONDERING WHERE MY EMAIL WAS. WE KIND OF WROTE BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE. HOPE YOU CAN MAKE SENSE OF IT!!!

Haha oh mother! what the heck is up with this slacking?????? ;)

Sounds like a bummer with the stone family reunion, but, that's what it is always like right?


That's cool though that all of those guys are getting home. so it seems like this is the shortest e-mail I have gotten from you. I guess it's summer and not that much is really going on right now. same here .

I would write more but I am pretty sure I put all of it in Jennifer's e-mail. So what's going on? not much? me either. Just being a missionary you know... that's all ;P

Love ya. Were you able to get some conference cd's for me? I would get them but I don't really have a way to. if you can't that's okay too, so dont' sweat it. either way, I do have an ensign.

Love you.

Things are going pretty well. we either need someone to come out teaching with me or to sit with Elder Haines, where ever the member goes, Elder conlin goes the opposite. So, it's the who can babysit elder haines game, everyone but me! it has been good though. He is recovering well and only has 7 pins in his toe, he has a doctors appointment on wednesday to find out more. I guess they want him to come in once a week for a bit. He just has to lay down with it eleveated and can't do anything. he gets a bit frusrtated at times. I don't blame him,.


You should have ammon start helping you out with your gas money driving him around that much haha.

Jennifer has my e-mail, with the week and stuff. I told her to hold it randsom. so we'll see what happens, she will probably give it to you though. I will send you a few pictures of his toe.
Send Trevor my regards and tell him I wish them the best.

Love

Here are some pitures of the broken toe.
They are in a progression from right after it happened to after the surgery.






This week was pretty interesting and a little stressful with trying to get Elder haines a babysitter. He isn't allowed to put any pressure on his foot at all. They ended up putting 7 pins in it and fileting the top of his toe. So, because of this we had to either find a member to come out with me or one to sit with him. It was about 50/50 with that, so we didn't get to do too much proselying, or really any finding until the end of the week when we would just drop him off at someones house, then me and the other missionary Elder Conlin would go out and work. It has to be pretty hard on Haines with only having one transfer left and having to lay down all day every day. He has been getting a little antsy as well. which I don't blame him for, especially because he is on some pretty hard stuff. He was on Vicoden before the surgery and now he is on Percocet (if we really wanted some money we would jsut take the whole bottle and go up to East Toledo and make $2700 or so).

I have been noticing since I have been here I have had a lack of the spirit in my days so I have really been praying for the Holy Ghost to be with me so I can be guided in the things that I need to to and really, especially now, where I need to be. Last night, we were able to have a very very spiritual experience with one of our part-member/investigator families who missionaries have been working with for a really long time. Here is the story: Bill Repka, whose family has all been members for a few years now told us last night, that he had promised God that he was going to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints a few weeks ago. We were all amazed. He has always asks for blessings when we are there except for one time. We have always wondered why. After we were done Teaching he had asked us for a blessing, and we were going to give it to him then but then a member came to pick Elder Conlin and I up to go out teaching (which was very powerful as well) who had gotten stuck behind a train and had to walk half a mile to come to us. If he had not gotten stuck by the train he would have came in during or before Brother Repka told us that he wanted to be baptized and that he just has a few hang ups to the point where he doesn't think he is ready to take the invitation at the back of the Book of Mormon. But, he said he is willing to do whatever it takes so he can recieve his answer and become a member. When we came back to get Elder Haines we gave him a blessing. When it came time for the blessing he asked the member (who went teaching with us) to give him a blessing (and had challenged him to be baptized and to act a few weeks earlier). Talk about revelation and prophecy! As Brother Narayan proceeded to give the blessing the spirit was able to flow through him and he said everything, I mean absolutely everything that we had been told just minutes before he showed up. Then, as he said these things he told him what he needed to do to be able to accomplish these certain things. It really was the most amazing experience I have had on my mission with Revelation and following the guidance of the spirit. It has really shown me what I need to do so I can be in tune and know what I need to do with investigators, we have been working with Brother Repka since we have been here and just found this out. Brother Narayan who is very humble and receptive to the spirit figured it out within minutes.

If Brother Narayan had arrived when he had planned, and that train wasn't there to stop him, one of us could have been the one to give him a blessing. would we have been in tune with the spirit? maybe. But, if he did show up at the planned time, we might not have even figured all of that out. The Spiritual experience we had started far before we would have even though and not even with us in their house. It was absolutely stunning. after the blessing Brother Repka just got up and was speechless. He did not know what to say. He just had this look on his face like, wow, God was truly working through you. what a miracle. I hope that one day, I will be able to be that in tune with the spirit.

The rest of the week, Prior to this, we focused on finding and we tried to do as much contacting as we could. Somehow we ended up by the river and there we took a few pictures because we got distracted (don't tell anyone this though, Missionaries, you know, Like me, are suppose to be super focused and diligent. every now and then it calls for a photoshoot. Plus I need to take more for you guys ;)

all is good here though, we have a week and a half left in the transfer. can you believe that already? within a month and a half it will have been a year! it has gone by so fast. I cannot believe it. absolutely amazing.

Love,
--
Elder Michael Stone.

Hey mom,

I'm so happy it's not! it gets up to 90-95 just about every day now! I love it! It hasn't been too humid either so it's good. I'm glad to hear that you got to go down to spencers wedding. Is he going to U of I? or where? I'm probably an hour or two away from the Indiana border. Maybe he can make a road trip and come take us out to lunch or something because we get fed almost every night ;P
I'm glad Jerry and Blaine Like me haha, That will give Ammon an even better repore.


As far as my week went it was pretty good. We are doing a lot of less-active and part-member family work here. We don't have as many investigators as we would have guessed two weeks ago but that's okay. we stay busy and have plenty of opportunities to find. The end of the week was a bit of an adventure though. I found out this morning that I'm going to be in a triple-up.

We went to go do service for this older family and so we were mowing their lawn and I did the back. Their front yard is a short steep hill and so it looks like it would be difficult to mow, but do-able. Elder Haines had the mower for ten seconds or so and started to go down the hill. Before I get there, Let me describe the mower; It was probably the first gas one after the original push mower, so it was one level, you couldn't adjust it. The safety lever didn't work, the blade was dull, and the connection to the body wasn't as good as it should be. Now, as he started to go down he slipped and fell on his butt and pushed the handle up in the air and elevated the back of the blade, as he did his right foot went under and got wacked several times. Luckily, He took a former companions basketball sheos to use instead of his running shoes, so he was wearing leather shoes instead of a mesh fabric. Due to that and a very dull blade he still has his toe, unfortunately, he broke his second joint in his big toe. At first, I just thought he fell weird and jammed his foot or something, it looked funny, so of course I laughed. But now, I kind of feel back because now he has to get surgery and be on crutches for the rest of his mission. Depending on the recovery rate and his mobility will determine if he can finish up the next 7 weeks or have to go home a transfer early for recover. I think he will be able to stay for the rest of his time here. we were able to give him a blessing the night it happened and we plan on giving him one the day of his surgery. As we gave the blessing we felt good, at least I did so I'm pretty confident it will work out.

Because of this though, I get to be in a triple-up for atleast a week, maybe the rest of the transfer. the reason why it's not something I'm happy about is because it's going to be a missionary who has destroyed trust in the missionaries serving in his previous wards. He is super lazy and a bit dis-obedient, but he has been in a triple up with the zone leaders in another zone for this whole transfer, and some previous occasions. It's a bit weird, he has been out as long as I have and he hasn't really had an area of his own and has just been a tag along place holder for his entire mission. He has only had one companion for maybe two transfers. pretty sad. The only reason he is coming here is so when Elder Haines has to lay down with his foot elevated (just about the Entire week) I can still go out and work. So, He is pretty much just someone for me to be with so I'm not alone when I work and Elder Haines can have his recovery time. Maybe it's a bit prideful for me to be saying this. but truth be known. all the Missionaries who know him will agree with me.
I figure this is an answer to some prayers that I have been offering. I have been asking that I may be able to have more love and charity. So, I get to have a lot of opportunities to serve Elder Haines and gain some patience and love for a missionary that is blah... but I need to get over it or it will be a long week or two. I doubt he will be with us that long though. probably not for longer than this. His area is currently closed so I'm sure he will go back to that with the new transfer. But, it has been good for me though because He can't get around that much because we all know how toe injury's are and he has to use crutches so I am very lucky to have this unfortunate time to learn some Christlike attributes. We will see what we can muster up to do this week. I'm going to ask the Dr. performing surgery if I can help. He is a member of the ward here so I will see. If I can, I will learn if I can be a doc. haha

Love ya!
--
Elder Michael Stone.

Hey mom,

Before I forget, Can you send me the April GC cd's?

This week we were immensely busy. we were able to teach more lessons this week than I ever have before. it was great! We were able to find and teach a lot of new investigators and a family that seems to have a lot of great potential. All of which we plan on setting baptismal dates with of course. Unfortunately, with Bruno, he said that he didn't find anything new about the book of mormon, but is still willing to meet with us. I bet he has received an answer and just doesn't know it yet. He is one of those guys who is just stuck in their traditions. We'll help him get there though.

We were able to find this one man, who said that he has been looking for a church and wants to start going again and raise his kids up religious. as we taught him and got to know him a bit the spirit was very present and we were able to invite him to be baptized within the first 10-15 minutes and he accepted of course. now, it's just the hard part with getting him to come to church and to do those other necessary things you know? ha Also we got a call from our bishop the other day who had just got a call from someone in Utah who has a friend that lives in East Toledo. This lady had invited her friend to meet with us and to learn of the church and she was very excited to do so. It seems great but she has a lot of negative pressure from home. more like anti pressure. but she is willing nonetheless. we were suppose to meet with her yesterday and all, but she called and was like, Is it still okay to meet if I have had a few beers? ha I called back and was just like no, we would prefer to meet you when you are sober so you can actually know what is going on and feel the spirit! of course that's going to be a no! ;P

As far as tornadoes, we have only been on Tornado watch, Last year, around this time there was actually a tornado that went through our area. but it was out by the farms and out of the city, more through the townships than anything. Where I am we are Right out of Tornado alley. So we have sirens and there was one that actually touched down in St. Mary's area not too long ago. In fact I think we almost had one last week when It rained for eight hours non-stop. not like a drizzle either. I mean a complete downpour. you were drenched if you were out for more that twenty seconds. When one comes we just go into a basement, but we don't have one in our apartment, so we just go sit in the bathtub. I'm not going to lie though. I really want to see one. It would be scary, but man I think it would be cool. Fun to clean up afterward too. Maybe that's bad to say. but hey, why not?

It's starting to get hot here. Yesterday and today it's upper 80's-90's, plus a lot of humidity. you walk out and you feel like you just got out of the pool or something. it's very different and makes the Heat a lot harder to stand. but, It's better than the rain and the cold. I don't think anyone is ever happy with the weather they are having though. I will get adjusted pretty quickly though. But, I really don't like the Idea of a crazy farmers tan and some really white legs... but I guess that's the life right? Maybe the Apostles will approve dress shorts?

So, I have been thinking about things that make a difference. Like I mean, within the areas of the mission. Just about everywhere I have served there has been a lot of potential but never been able to completely tap it. but here, it just came. where there is still a lot of potential, I mean it just was I guess you could say too easy to find all of these people to teach. I worked just as hard in other areas and I wasn't teaching this much. Maybe it's the Impact of the members here where the role they play is more present and people just don't know it or what. I mean we honestly haven't really gotten the member work truly started here yet so all of the people we are teaching are off of our own accord. It's just interesting to look at and think about the differences in spirit in certain places.

That's my weeks thinking... ha well
See ya!



--
Elder Michael Stone.





 

Hey Mom,

This is definitely a better place than before. We are decently close to the lake, our area goes clear up to it. we haven't been up there yet though. It can get pretty humid, that is true, but I think I'm getting use to it. we have had some really good weather the last few days where it gets in the 70's and the 80's. I'm not sure if I will be with Elder Haines until he goes home or not, we are suppose to get a really big shipment of missionaries this next transfer. More than are going home so they will have to open a few areas, and they have made mention of wanting to split ours, mainly because it has before in the past. So, there is a possibility of us only being together for this transfer but still living in the same place next. who knows. As of right now there isn't enough work in the actual city of Perrysburg so we are trying to find some more work to do here so we can prepare it to split, we spend most of our time up in east Toledo, Right on the banks of the Maumee river. As far as making things hard on me, No, not so much. I actually like it because they have been out a lot longer than me and I am able to learn from them so that I can be able to improve in areas that I am lacking and Luckily for me, neither one of them are or were too trunky, haines isn't nearly as bad as Wilkinson was, so we can still work hard and help things move along.

I Kind of had a though of that about JR. Maybe a bit of misconception, but a sort of like me where you forget, or don't realize that your faith cannot effect the agency of others in the slightest. But that's all good, he will adjust and be able to get into the normal swing of things and do well. Also, Like me, He probably forgets that missionary work isn't solely about baptisms. It's hard when you don't see it. You just have to try really hard to notice the tender mercies you see in your days and how you can touch people. Not necessarily baptizing thousands like Alma or the Apostles on the day of Pentecost.

That is a lot of people getting married, I guess it's that time of year? haha Hopefully this ward will be supportive of Jayme and have a good amount of people show to the reception, I think it could be better than you think too due to the fact that you can have people from somerset and from whatever your ward is called now, I forget.

So this week was really good. I'm pretty excited for what can happen here. we were able to have a member, or more, come out with us every day this week for multiple hours and it was great! We were able to get someone to church too! It has been a while since I have had an investigator come to church. His name is Bruno Rivera. It's actually pretty interesting how we found him. So, as you know, the phones we have stay in the area and being both new, we have no idea who anyone is in our phone. So I have been working through and calling people who I don't know. So, really everyone in there. Bruno happened to be one of them. I didn't get to talk to him but he sent a text to us a few days later and we were able to go over and to talk to him with our ward mission leader. He really seems like an honest seeker of truth, accepting a commitment to fast to find an answer as he has read and prayed in the past and not gotten anything so we invited him to fast for it. He did, and he came to church fasting where one of the speakers talked about fast and prayer to find an answer. especially to the Book of Mormon. It was really cool we hope that he was able to get one or to get one soon. We were able to fast with him as well. We are going to invite him to be baptized when we go see him on Wednesday. I'm stoked! Many prayers have been answered and many prayers will be as long as we continue to be faithful as much as we can.

I can't believe that Utah is really expecting flooding. that is crazy. I don't remember ever hearing about something like that ever happening before. That's intense. Is it from the rain or is in the snow melting too fast this year? You could have a really green start of the summer, that would be odd. It's really green here which is sweet. haha global warming? who know that one guy would be right? ;P

So, the world ended on Saturday. I'm e-mailing from a remote location which I can't disclose. You know, the Rapture and all.

Love ya!


--
Elder Michael Stone.

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!