June 20, 2011

Hey,

So, the Lord pulled a fast one on us this time. I DID get transferred back to the Beaumont Zone, to the Twin City Ward. I really was not expecting to get transferred. I think it surprised everyone. Elder Tracy is training a new missionary in Livingston. So, I had the new truck for like 10 days, but at least I was blessed with that. My new companion is Elder Shepherd from North Layton, he's been out about 6 months. We share the ward with 2 other Elders, Elder Hoffman, the Stewart's cousin, and he is also training this transfer, so he will get his new companion on Wednesday.

Our address is:
3146 Matterhorn Dr.

Port Neches, Tx.

77651

If this email reads a little weird it is because I went to bed at 11:30PM and got up at 4:00AM this morning so my brain is a little frazzled right now.

The big news in Livingston is that a week ago we set another Baptism date for July 16th. She is the 14yr old granddaughter of a less active member. Oh while I'm remembering, I never told you that there is a prison in the Livingston area that holds all the death row inmates for the state of Texas. I thought that was a neat little fact. Anyway, the less active member works there, that's why I remembered. Anyway, Her Mother is not a member either, she didn't seem as interested as her daughter, Katrina, but we were hopeful.

So I guess this area got hit pretty hard 3 years ago with Ike and Rita, well turns our our summer is starting the same way as that summer did 3 years ago.....fun times!

Oh I also heard today that in August Elder Jeffery R. Holland is coming down to release The Stake President and set apart a new one at stake conference, that's exciting!

Oh yeah if you could please remember to talk to dad about the CDs I don't know if you were waiting to see if I got transferred or not, and I understand your busy, but I would really appreciate it if you could get those sent out before you leave for pageant.

So I'm just about out of time(Did dad get the card I sent him?)

Got to go
Love you Bye!

June 13, 2011

Hey,

Yes, transfers are next week. I'm pretty sure I won't get transferred, but you never know.

So it's been a pretty exciting week. We had Zone conference on Thursday. We said good bye to President Moldenhauer. It was the last time we will see them until mission reunions. They talked a lot about the hand off to President Crawford....Pres. Moldenhauer made a joke at Zone Conference that we know President and Sister Crawford have to be sanctified because they have 4 daughters.

Also, at Zone conference we got a new vehicle. Turns out our vehicle coordinator used to be on the High Council of the Kingwood stake so he came up to do "rescue missions" some times and saw how rough some of the roads are.....yup, a brand new 2011 Chevy Colorado LT (Z71). I feel really blessed and surprised. I think this is now the nicest vehicle I've driven in my life it had 43 miles on it when we picked it up!

12 days huh? wow! I didn't realize you would be leaving for the Hill Cumorah Pageant that soon. Should be fun though, right?

Oh, yesterday our newly SUSTAINED, not yet set apart, assistant ward mission leader got up in priesthood opening exercises and told the priesthood that he "wasn't bashful", that he was going to be calling on brothers to go to less actives and "rattle their cages", and if anyone said no they would have to stand before god at the judgment and explain why they said no. YIKES!!! Hasn't he read D&C 121? "no power can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood...but by persuasion, long suffering, and by love unfeigned." That is totally the wrong approach to missionary work... I'm a little concerned about this but we'll see what happens.

We're still having trouble finding new investigators. We did meet a black girl with a member(I can't spell her name) she came to church and said she would be back, but we haven't been able to teach her yet.

Well, I'd better go, I hope you don't completely lose your mind over pageant.

Love you guys
bye

June 6, 2011

Hey,

So, at the Houston airport, it maxed out at 105F yesterday. They say we're breaking records right now. I think normally its like 89F and the old record was in the 90sF. No we are definitely in a drought here. Some of the Magnolia trees ( I don't know if you know what their like, I didn't before my mission) their leaves are turning yellow they are so dry. Gardens are really taking a hit. Whenever it does rain (which is not very often the plants jump 3in. then stop.

I think the last time we will see Pres. Moldenhaure will be on Thursday. We are having Zone Conferences this week. Then we have another Zone Conference on July 1st with President and Sister Crawford.

Right now we are doing allot of tracting and seeing members. We aren't really seeing a lot of success with tracting. We did have a media referral ( book of Mormon, from Mormon.org) from a lady who lives up in Corrigan....20 miles away and literally on the edge of our area and at the edge of T.H.E. mission.

I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with Elder Serdar this wast weekend. That was fun. I learned that there is a a new Chevy Colorado at the mission office that will be heading to Livingston sometime soon. Apparently, the office staff found out they can order trucks for the more rural areas. So, 4 of the areas that missionaries have been lobbying for trucks are going to get them. Transfers are in 2 weeks. I think I'm staying, but you never know.

Ok, I'm almost out of time. Hope this email was what you were looking for. :-)

So, I realized I didn't tell you about the pants until after I sent them, They have a rip and I was hoping you could Sew them and send them back out with the CDs. Go ahead and try the food stuff. I think Dad and Jacob might like it.

Love you guys
bye

May 31, 2011

Hey,

If you don't want that snow up their I'll gladly take it down here, cool things off. I think it's safe to say summer has officially arrived.

I sent a package today. I think you should get it about Thursday. One of the things in it is a conference CD case full of MoTab. I was hoping that dad could burn copies since some of the CDs are starting to get scratched. Also in the case is a list of songs I was hoping dad could burn some mix CDs from. Also, somewhere on LDS.org there are some CDs that can be downloaded I think they are called "A brand New Year". There's one for 2010, and one for 2011 if dad can figure it out I would appreciated it if you would send those out to me. Yes, they are approved. Needless to say after 18 Months I'm getting tired of Motab. I also sent a Memory card in the package FYI.

Ummm... another story.... I don't know we've kind of ground to a halt in missionary work. We still have our 3 investigators with baptism dates 2-July 9th, 1- Aug.-20th.

We spoke in sacrament last Sunday. I spoke on the Holy Ghost out of Pres. Eyring's talk "Serve With the Spirit". Like 4-5 people got on to me about being soft spoken, but other than that it went well. Oh and over half the congregation were visitors.

I had leadership training last Tues-Weds. It was pretty good learned a lot of good stuff. I found out President Crawford comes in either the last Tuesday or Wednesday of June (Pres. Moldenhaure's dates don't match) and the next morning Wednesday or Thursday President and Sister Moldenhaure will be driving back to Idaho.

Yesterday and kind of today my alergies have been real bad. I have been taking clariton but if it stays bad I'll start taking Allegra. That's what Sister Moldenhaure recommended.

Got to go.

Love you Bye

May 23, 2011

Hey there

Brighton got to feet of snow in late May!?!?! Are you guys in danger of flooding? That's funny that you have tons of rain and SE Tx is in extreme fire hazard. Most gardens aren't doing well down here.

Ahhh time once again for the "Pageant scramble" That's OK though right? Because the things we should put our time and $ into are things that will make memories, build relationships, and strengthen testimonies, right?

This past week I learned that being "thin skinned" is a form of being prideful. "When we focus on our reputation...become obsessed with our status....that's when pride begins to corrupt," Pres. Utchdorf. The ability to laugh at ourselves is a form of humility.

We still have our 3 investigators. One with a Baptism date in August and two in July.

Oh yeah the library will be closed next week for Memorial Day so I'll email on Tuesday, probably a little later than usual.

There's leadership training tomorrow and Wednesday. I'm not sure what will be talked about, but it should be good.

Elder Gaverett spoke to us this past week.

Oh yeah all the Spanish Sisters I flew out with Went home 2 weeks ago.

Ummm... We used the power of prayer to fix one of our members car's CD player.

This member goes out with us a lot. He had a CD stuck in his player (6 CD changer) for probably about a month now and every time we go out with him we would try to fix it. This time we prayed and pop! out the CD came. Prayer works!

Well I'd better Email Cameron

Love you guys bye!