Hey Mom,

 

Things are coming close. President Sorensen at transfer meeting made a comment about this being his last transfer meeting and that they only have five weeks left before they leave. He hasn't really made any comments like that before. I think it's really starting to come to him that it's coming to a close. That also means that its coming to a close for me as well, it's crazy to think about that there really isn't that much time left at all. It will be a little hard when Vallinga gets here because I will only have a few weeks left and I don't know how much will be changing and I probably won't really have a desire to change too much when there isn't that much time left. But who knows.

That's sweet that Jerry is going to be keeping me a spot to help coach. I will have to get back into the football mentality ha. it will be three years by the time I start again. That will be nice though, I need a good excuse to work out. It should be nice too because I don't think it will take up that much time, just a few hours every day just going to football practice. Sounds pretty legit to me! haha.

Oh yeah, I just went to the dentist as well, we have one in the ward. I went because I thought that I had some cavities, Turns out that my gums have just receded and so part of the root is showing on my teeth. I have to rub some sensodine type of toothpaste on my teeth at night to build up some protection there and then start brushing and flossing a lot softer so the gums don't get torn up any more. Kind of a bummer. I was told at my last dentist visit before my mission that I had a gum infection because I didn't floss at all and now I guess I went a little bit over-board and tore up some of my gums. dang. It's kind of annoying but I will have to get better at it now. that's for sure. I need to have some good teeth if I'm going to be an Orthodontist. Can't be having some messed up teeth in the profession!

 

So what's going to be on the Menu when I get home if you are having steaks and a bunch of ribs when I'm gone? Suprisingly there are very few mormon women out here who can cook really well. you'd think it would run in the Religion or something! haha there is this one member here who cooks with alcohol all of the time! it's so good! she made us this Vodka pasta a couple weeks ago and then some Marlo Chicken that was some of the best food that I have had on my entire mission. I'm sure my Palate will just be blown when I get back to the Promise land and start eating some of that divine food! Hopefully I won't get my fat back.... I was noticing the other day how small my legs have gotten and that I actually need a belt now because my waist on my pants are all too big. I remember when my Jeans that I brought with me were stylish-y tight, now they are just loose jeans haha. it's crazy. So I have been trying to bulk back up and using the dumbells that we have in almost all of the free time we get.

 

The new companion is new. He's cool. He's only been out a year on his mission and for the last nine months he has either been training or greenie breaking so he hasn't had anyone who takes control and does things differently than him so right now it seems like he is having a harder time adjusting that he had planned on. I like him though. He's quite different than all of my companions I have had by far! He is a lot like Dom Bills. Big into Musical theater and that kind of thing... so He's always doing some weird dance-ish thing and singing. Not to athletic and just about everything he is interested in I am not and have no clue about so I can't have much of a conversation with him. haha There has been a decent amount of silence because of that. Not because he is a quiet guy, but because our interests are so far different it gets somewhat hard to hold a conversation and I think he is trying to learn his role as a Zone-Leader as well. It's alright though. I'm sure it will go well and it seems that we are getting along so far. I have no beefs or see any forthcoming either. We don't have the whole ward anymore. It lasted just under a week. the sisters are moving in later this afternoon so they will have part of it. but because of that we had to take some of the east side which was ghetto and give them more of the west, so the boundaries are really quite strange if you ask me, but it works out that way I guess. We don't have any investigators. There are like two families that we try with but their commitments and priorities are else where so we can't set up appointments and when we do they usually aren't there. There is a huge amount of Less-active work here and the Bishop is getting the entire ward pumped for missionary work. The Bishop, Ward Mission leader and I spoke this last sunday on the Gathering of Israel and then the Bishop straight up told the ward that He has recieved revelation and guidance from the Lord that this ward intends to grow and that they need to be doing a lot better on inviting their friends to learn of the Gospel. With this up-coming fast sunday we are going to be starting a 40-day fast to be able to reach the ward goal of 2 baptisms a month (one per companioniship) and then a specific reason for themselves on inviting someone to learn of the gospel and Ideally meet with us.

 

I talked to Stetson. Sounds like he is doing Fairly well but his family is struggling a bit. It's been hard for them. I had a good talk though and He knows that there is divine design behind all of it and has been able to feel of our Heavenly Fathers hand More than ever in his life. It really makes me happy to see these guys that I grew up with who I never would have wanted to go on a mission find so much success and change so much. It's really cool. Such a blessing for me to see the Atonement in action.

The mission is so young now, I am the Oldest out of all of the Leaders in the mission. I have been out longer than all of them and there are only two that have been in leadership longer than I have. So it's strange. It's a maturity level that I'm not use to... as in they are not where I have been living for the last 6-7 months. We have a leadership training meeting on Thursday and a Zone-Leader council on Friday. These meetings are generally good, but sometimes can be basic as well because everyone has only been out a year or less. The council portion of our meeting is a little frustrating too because it goes in circles and often times there is no new conclusion made. It's interesting, I mean I understand how it works, The Lord gives a commandment and we struggle because we don't follow it. So, we have these "council" meetings where we talk about different things just to get back to the point of hey, Just do what we have been counseled to do! it's not working because you aren't doing what you are suppose to do. There is sometimes new revelation but oftentimes it's just that we aren't doing what we have been commanded to of the Lord. When we do it his way, it will always work. Go figure right? He created everything. ha.

 

This week should be a fast paced one for me.

 

Love ya.

Hey Fam.

This week was a fairly good one. I got a call from President on Monday concerning going home. He had just made a comment about what you had written at the bottom of those papers they sent you. So we discussed that and we came to the same conclusion we did last time that we will just have to wait and see what Vallinga has to say and what he wants to do. He told me that they were going to go ahead and book the flight just in case I do stay so they don't have to scramble to try and get me a ticket and that way avoid the problem and possibility of me not getting one at the time that I need to. He said it would be a lot easier to just book it and then if things change to move it earlier than not have one at all. So we will still have to wait until the start of July. Either way though I will be fine with it. I'm not worried about it at all. He also told me that from where he stands right now I will go home a zone-leader here in Lima. I'm fine with that too. I enjoy the privileges. haha  

Then, on Thursday we got another call from Sister Smith, who is the housing coordinator for the Mission telling us that we needed to help her with getting sisters an apartment here in Lima. I mean we had heard about sisters coming down here but we didn't know when and so when we heard this we were a little surprised. After that we called President to figure things out, so we had to re-draw the area boundaries so the sisters didn't cover the roughest part of town, THEN last night when the Assistants called us with transfer information we were told that they were still taking the two elders out but that the sisters aren't coming down yet (I don't know why, they could totally do it tomorrow). Because of that I will have the whole ward to myself for a little while, Hopefully it's like two to three weeks, that would be cool. We would have a lot more to do. I'm pretty sure who my new companion is, there is a missionary in our zone that got called to be a Zone-Leader and is getting "in-zoned". So, unless they told me incorrectly I should be getting a pretty cool companion who can sing, So I'll make sure to have him sing for members and in Sacrament so they will like us more and give us some referrals. ;)

I didn't know that Stetsons mom passed away. He is on the other side of the Mission right now so I don't ever see him,  I may see him tomorrow but if not I will just have to give him a call. That's sad. I'm sure he will do okay. I don't see him going home, but at the same time I can. That's a tough choice to make.

 I would definitely love to help out with one of the football teams. You were sure right about that. If they pay me that would be sweet, I don't expect it to be too much though. If they don't I'm sure I would help out on occasion, that would give me a good reason to work out more. I will have to see what happens there. Help me Normalize pretty quickly though that's for sure. 

With one of the areas closing down temporarily, we are now the same size as one of the districts in the Cleveland zone, Normally we are only a companionship larger than them. We are basically a glorified zone, but with the size and amount of missionaries we have it's  really easy. I don't really have to worry about too much like the bigger zones do. We have a couple of missionaries who were pretty disappointed when they found out that they were staying here, but it will be good for them. One of them is a Pride bomb and needs to get over himself so where he is now (which he hates) will be really good for him and the other one just has a difficult companion who will help him learn and understand more of his purpose so he can go and do what is best for him. Tomorrow will be a long day though. We have to leave around 7, Possibly a bit earlier to be able to make it to transfers on time and then we won't get home til around 7pm. It's about a four hour drive out to Kirtland. I am making Elder Judd drive out there and so I may only have to drive back. We'll have to see. But it it a really really LONG drive!

Hmmm... well.  I can't think of much else to talk about. I think that's it for now :P 

Peace out. Have a good week and I love ya!

Hey Mom,

 

My week was good. My back was acting up again. We had a zone conference on wedesday and my back was so fired up I could barely walk and I was thowing up for a little bit. I'm not sure if I ate something bad or if it was from the pain in my back. I'm not sure what it is. I mean I did physical therapy, I went to a Chiropractor and I have been doing my back exercises practically daily. Atleast a lot better than I have in the past when I have had to do Therapy. So, during the meeting Sister Sorensen made me lay on my back on a couch the entire time so I didn't really get too much out of the meeting because I was practically out of it the Entire time. They had me go and get an X-ray that night as well but nothing showed up, so they pretty much just said like they always have; "you just have weak back muscles, Stretch them and strengthen them" I'm gettiing really sick of that. I mean I have been strengthening my back since I was like 15 years old. I mean at one point in time I could squat 450+. You can't really have a too bad of back and still be able to squat that much. It doesn't make sense to me and it's really frustrating. There has to be some sort of solution! There has to be something that is making my back hurt or disabling my muscles from strengthening themselves. I get really upset about it.

 

I don't need an expensive raincoat. I don't really mind what it is either. Just something that can keep me dry. It's getting to be rain season here and I don't know what I did with my rain coat...

 

We just got done playing at an indoor soccer center and played soccer and some football. Man, I am not in shape as I use to be. I was really struggling towards the end there. Gonna have to do a total rehab when I get home.

 

What is matt playing in the band??

Things are going well here. Our Zone is picking up and we are getting some more baptismal dates as a whole that hopefully pan out to real actual baptisms. I'm trying not to get burned out though. They have really been loading it on lately for us as ZL's. I mean they really want us to be perfect. Like do EVERYTHING exactly the way the Prophet would, or as Christ would and know EVERYTHING as well. I mean a lot of it too is really quite un-necessary and they seem like they have been coming down on us if we aren't doing it the "right" way. I mean I want to do what I'm asked to do and be able to be a successful leader but I'm having a hard time seeing why all of this is necessary. I mean I understand the Principle, but, You can have the same experience without all of the humjub as well. It just seems really over the top. I kind of wish that I would just be able to go back to being a 'normal' Missionary and just work. That seems to be a lot more fun. But, Unfortunately I will be a zone-leader until the last five weeks of my mission. Elder Judd goes home in two weeks and then it's a seven week transfer because of the new President. Pres. Sorensen made the comment that I have good odds of staying a Leader until I go home.

 

I'm not trying to complain, I'm just trying not to feel over-whelmed. There just seems too much to do and I want to focus most of my energy into my area and the investigators/less-actives that we have to teach and find instead of working with missionaries and organizing meetings. They are both worthy things I guess but where our area is so feeble and new and so moldable right now with a newly called Bishop who is doing everything possible to help the missionary work explode here we really need to worry about the really nitty gritty and not all of the fluff you know?  I'm sure I will get over it. I have been trying to ignore a lot of it so I don't have a melt down or get burned out. I don't think I will either though.

 

I'm not sure what Is going on for mothers day yet. Sorry. I still need to find somewhere to skype. I will find out and then I will probably call saturday night like I did for Christmas. 

 

Per chance it may just end up being a phone call too. I will have to let you know.

 

Talk to you then.

 

Love,

Hey mom, 

I sure did get all moved and everything. All adjusted and what not. The apartment is pretty old so it was pretty dirty and the walls were practically black in some spots so we had to take care of those. Still not sparkling but we only had knock of magic erasers so they didn't work as well as the real deal haha. This ward is pretty good though. They were kind of surprised to see us there because they have been told that they will be getting sisters. which they will, just later down the road when housing is available for them. I hope it takes awhile though because a jump from two to six missionaries is pretty crazy and doing it this fast can be overwhelming also. I'm sure it will be good though. Bishop Talbot is on board with committing members to get us referrals and invite their friends to meet with us. If that works like it should than we should be very busy.

I will definitely find something out when it comes to Mothers day. I'm still working on meeting people haha. So, hopefully I know some by then.

Isn't it in the contract that you will have the money for this land by a certain time? I swear they have been saying they were going to buy the land for the last two years and still nothing. what a joke.  

As for me, things are going fairly well. We inherited a couple of investigators so that's cool. Right now we are really trying to train our missionaries. especially our District leaders. There is one in particular who really just can't do it. For example we have them fill out the information for the ward mission process on excel, that's pretty easy to do right? then we have them attach it to an e-mail and send it to us so we can report on it. He can't even attach it. wow. I thought the youngins were suppose to be more with technology... it's kind of frustrating when you teach people and walk them through things and they still can't figure it out. We are trying to have a meeting where we will be able to sit down with them for a good amount of time and go through things so they can fulfill and magnify their calling so we can be able to help this zone be productive and unified in purpose. I think that's what happens when people get sent out here. The rumor and word on the street is that if you get sent out to Findlay, or sometimes Toledo you are a bad missionary and the area's out there are really bad and they suck... yada yada yada. it's what you make it. You're area will be as good as your attitude and commitment to work. So, we just have to find some way to inspire them and help them do better so they will be able to gather those who are needed within Christ's church at this time. I'm excited to be here in Lima with a brand-new Bishop that isn't in the Traditions of his fathers and is willing to do anything and everything to change and to help the ward grow and become active. It's going to be fun and an adventure just like normal.

Love ya!

Our address will be 2092 edgewood Lima Oh. 45805

Hey Mom,

I totally realized that I forgot to add my address when I walked out of the Library. It's 2001 Sterling ct. ste. A Findlay OH. 45840. This may be temporary though. We have been talking to President about moving the Zone leader area down to Lima. They just got a new Bishop a few months ago and he is really fired up about missionary work and is promising that he will be having the Ward Mission process working correctly and asked if he could get a second set of missionaries. The original idea was to send sisters down there but he didn't think that would be good because Lima isn't the best place for sisters haha. Their boundries would have to be out of control to keep them out of the Ghetto. But now, instead of moving it from two to four. He wants to move it from two to six. He's just waiting on the Bishop to e-mail him back. It seems like it's pretty for sure but I'm trying to not count my chickens before they hatch. The sisters Idea may be a little later than us but that will be okay. Elder Judd was trained there so we are hoping to go down sometime this transfer so we can pick up some of the people he use to teach!

My interview went well. We talked about school and he said that I will have to talk to the new Pres. when he gets out here in a few months. so we'll have to see what happens then. I guess for now we can just plan on me coming home when Planned on right? haha.

I'm sure Jordyn will be glued to me. I am the favorite brother in the entire family. lol I'll have to see what happens depending on work and school. If I have work. I have been thinking too that it might be a good idea to get an intern or a shadow at a dentist or an orthodontist to see if that's really the Career path I want to take. I don't want to get into a job that is un-enjoyable. If there is no basement when I get home I will just keep my clothes in everyones closets throughout the house and sleep on the couch or something. I will be like a vagabond within our own home haha. It's all cool. I won't have much stuff to worry about. I probably wont be coming home with too much Either.

Things are slow here. The ward isn't really warmed up to missionaries. about a year and a half ago... maybe a little more now there were some pretty disobedient missionaries. pretty much just one who destroyed all confidence in the missionaries and now they are pretty hestitant to help out so when we do have members in our area they are almost reluctant to work with us. It's very slowly getting better though. Who knows. We are really hoping to go to Lima. We are stoked when it comes to that Idea haha. For example. This ward promised a baptism a month for each companionship in 2010. Which they did with 24. the next year they had 12 and so far this year they have had a whopping 0! things are not going the right way here with the ward. they don't deserve or even want two companionships right now. so we are hoping that instead of putting sisters in Lima, They move us there and then wait for the transfer to be over and move sisters here to Findlay and get rid of the Elders here and just have one set of sisters for this ward. We think that would be a wake up and a good oportunity for missionaries to regain the trust of the members and really actually be able to work and do what is needed you know?

Anyways... haha not too much else. I love ya mom. You are the best! I sent you a letter today and you should be getting it in a few days. Hopefully things will pick up and go better in regards to getting the basement and yard done.

I also attached some talks from Elder Bednar and Brad Wilcox talking about Grace which are really good and then I believe Elder Mckonkies last talk that he gave at General Conference. They are definitely worth reading.

Love ya! have a good week!

Hey Guys,

This week was good. I ended up back in Findlay. I will die where I was born! Things are good though. I mean, The zone is half the size of Akron with only twelve missionaries but a lot farther apart. So, there is less administration to do so we have a lot more time to go out and to do work in our area. It's good. I will just have to adjust to having more time on my hands than normal. This zone though is somewhat of a disaster. It's the smallest one in the mission and has been known for where they stick the dis-obedient misisonaries. We actually right now have some really good ones. some are just new so they don't always know what they are doing but that's okay. We just have to focus on a lot of training with our District Leaders and other missionaries as well so they know how to better work with their wards and what not. Overall, it's less admin but more ministering. It's a weak stake and a we have two wards and three branches. They struggle, the church doesn't quite opperate as the way it should so we need to make sure that our missionaries are outstanding so they will be able to assist their ward leaders better and inspire them to do better and do things the right way.

I'm with Elder Judd right now. He goes home at the end of this Transfer. I actually think that we may be the oldest companionship in the mission right now. As in, both of us have been out together than any other companionship added together either. We'll do good. He is from Sacramento CA. We are about an hour south of Toledo, It's all flat here too. I haven't been able to talk to President about anything. He e-mailed me and said he wanted me to call him but we have interviews on thursday so I think I will just talk to him then about it.

It sounds like there is a lot going on right now back at home, trying to get the house done and the yard as well. We are sure going to have a lot of plants. that will need a lot of matienance and will look great as long as we keep on top of it! It will be awesome though. I may be tempted to throw a party or two... or several lol

Sure. Trip to wherever cool in the winter will be fine with me... Are you still Going to Hawaii next month on that cruise you mentioned awhile ago with grandpa? If not, we could totally do that for Christmas instead!

Things are a little slower in Findlay, The ward isn't as enthused and there aren't very many people here even in the city. Also, we may have to re-arrainge our area boundries because we share the ward (of course) and our area has a lot less members in it to work with so that makes things harder as well. hopefully we will be able to get some more in it and start talking to them about referrals and getting things going here.

Well. so far things are pretty quiet. Love you guys!

Hey mom,

Easter was good. We were able to go and spend it with the Pflug Family. But guess what? I'm getting transferred again! I'm kind of bummed. Elder Trammell has been here for one more transfer than me so he was set up for the leave but I guess I am instead. I'm still a ZL I will just be going somewhere else. It's all up in the air for Findlay, Cleveland, Kirtland or Youngstown. I really wanna go to Cleveland or Kirtland. I would not be happy if I went to the other too at all. I have down my time in both of the other places and they are super depressing places! there aren't very many missionaries and the units out there don't operate very well if you ask me. Also, I have yet to serve in Kirtland or Cleveland, So I'm hoping that I will be able to go there for the rest of my mission. I'm pretty sure I will be wherever I get transferred til the end of my Mission. Trammell Goes home one after me and Barlow one before. He just Got released as a ZL also, So I will not be serving with him.

I was hoping that I would be able to stay here. I really enjoy it a lot. The singles branch totally makes this area and we have had a lot of success with a lot of our converts and we are suppose to have 3-5 more baptisms here within the next transfer, so I'm disappointed that I will be missing out on that. I am kind of struggling to submit cheerfully to the Lords will because I really enjoyed it here and didn't say goodbye to anyone so I'm going to have to try and squeeze a bunch of people in for today so that I can get a picture and what not! Last night I was actually somewhat upset. I don't want to leave at all but whatever. It gives Perrysburg a real run for its money when it comes to my favorite area. Oh well. I had a lot of people add me on Facebook so we can stay in touch that way. So, in regards to your comment, I do know most of them. I really do. So if you get on you can just accept all of the adds for now and when the time comes when I am home I will be able to get rid of them if I don't know them or if I dont' want them to stalk me. lol Also, I didn't get on to accept those people. I had someone do it because they couldn't find me on there at all. so yeah. along with that I think that the mission pictures of me shouldn't be on there. My opinion. At least of the ones with me messing around because I have a name-tag on and it could be viewed as a poor image for the church if people see pictures of "mormon missionaries" messing around. the other ones where I'm just with people and what not is fine. That's just me though. Thanks for taking those other pictures off though. I totally forgot about them and it's kind of embarrassing lol

I can't believe it snowed! we are suppose to get flurries here but nothing too much. It should be about 65 tomorrow. that will be nice!

I got the package and there were two big plastic bags in there, I don't know if you just put them in there to have them in there or what. they were ripped as well. Hopefully there wasn't something in there that I was suppose to get... The box had been ripped as well so I don't know. lol but I did get the candy- that's the important part!


I know you are kind of bummed that nothing is going on in the house anymore. Don't you worry! when I get home It's going to be a party all the Time! I will have people over and My homecoming talk will be off the wall amazing. I do my best to impress haha. you know me! arise to the occasion right? ;P

President hasn't gotten back to me yet on his decision. we should be having interviews next week anyways so I'm sure we will talk then and So I should have an answer in two weeks or so. We'll see.

This next area will be my last. I hope it's good and that I have a good comp. Otherwise... I dunno!

Love ya!

Michael Stone	10:03 AM (5 hours ago)
to me

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