Week 42...Stomach Flu = Not Much Missionary Work

Week 42…March 24, 2014

     Hey you were fine this week with your email; you got it to me before I got here.  We had to run some errands before we got here so it was sitting nicely in my inbox.  One of those errands was sending you a package J  I put the shipping on my card so check it please.  Sorry it is so much, I thought it was a flat rate box but apparently it wasn't. I used a box that was just lying around the apartment so I used that.  So hopefully it will be there Wednesday.  I also got the New Era and the letter from Boris that you sent.  Well onto the questions. 

1. What are the highs/lows for the week?  The beginning of the week was OK, but it went downhill from there.  Thursday Elder B woke up feeling sick to his stomach so he went back to bed and he slept all day.  Later in the day he started puking.  So he had the stomach flu for a few days.  Our hope was that if he stayed in bed all day he would feel better for zone conference on Friday.  On Friday he woke up and felt decent so we were able to go to zone conference and it was awesome!!!  At lunch time he thought it would be a great idea to eat a baked potato and chili, turned out not to be such a great idea and he puked that up too.  Luckily we were able to finish zone conference and then we went to dinner at the W  family’s house that night. Elder B just slept on the couch while we ate.  After dinner it was off to the ward talent show.  It was a pretty fun night.  Lots of good performances from the ward and Elder B even showed off his yo-yoing skills.  He is super good at the yo yo.  We were able to get quite a few less actives and non members to the talent show.  So this week has been good but it’s been kind of a rough week.  I will say that being holed up in the apartment all day watching random movies and studying while Elder B was sleeping is not the most entertaining thing, especially when there is a whole lot that needs to be done.  But zone conference was awesome and lots of good training was given.  Yesterday and Saturday night was stake conference and it was definitely awesome.  So basically the latter half of the week was spent either at zone conference/stake conference or in the apartment.  Elder B did not eat anything for like 3 days and he thinks he lost almost 10 pounds from the dreaded stomach flu (hope I don’t get it J) 
2. How's your weather been?  Pretty good, it rained Wednesday but the rest of the week was pretty warm.  I think Thursday it was about 65.  So it has been anywhere from the 40's to the 60's
3. Is there still snow on the ground?  No, but it is supposed to snow tomorrow so we will see what happens. 
4. How was zone conference?  It was awesome!!!  A lot of the training was focused on using members effectively and how important they are to the success of missionary work.  We focused on how we can help the members do their missionary work and continue to Hasten the Work of Salvation.  President instructed us that tracting should pretty much be a last resort to use for finding contacts.  He wants us to do everything we can to build relationships with members and to help them invite their friends and neighbors into the gospel.  Things are really beginning to change with the way missionary work is being fulfilled.   Missionary work is not much like it was 30 years ago other than we are still sharing and inviting people to Come unto Christ.  We also talked about how you need to have faith in the Lord’s timing about finding contacts and that things will work out.  Sometimes all we can do is just plant the seed for someone else to nourish.  It was a pretty awesome zone conference.  It is sad to think President Topham only has interviews in April and then one last zone conference in June before he returns home.  He’s a great man and mission president.  
5. Did you have your stake conference yet?  If so, how was it?  Yes, it was awesome.  We were able to go to both the Saturday and Sunday sessions.  The theme was Hastening the Work of Salvation.  A cool thing about Saturday is that they invited all of the youth (12-18) to come as well.  Elder Dunnigan, the area seventy was at the conference.  He gave very good talks both days.  On Saturday he talked a lot about member missionary work and how it can be simple and easy.  He showed a video from the Hastening the Work website.  I've seen it many times before because we use it for an activity with members.  He used it in his talk and talked about how a lot of missionary work can just start out as simple acts of kindness.  Here is the link to the video.  https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng  It is the video entitled I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go. On  Sunday that same message was echoed throughout the meeting.  Elder Dunnigan mentioned an interesting thing that Elder Perry said.  He said that Elder Perry said this recent hastening of the work (change in missionary age) is as big as the restoration of the gospel and coming forth of the BOM.  It’s so awesome that I/we are a part of this huge, wonderful, important work that is rolling forth throughout the world. 
6. What are 5 positive things from your week?  1) Well, I’m not sick yet…let’s hope it stays that way.  2) Zone conference, stake conference and the talent show were awesome.  3) I got to see Elder J (AP and Zach’s trainer) at zone conference.
7. Do you have both SD cards?  Yes, I forgot to throw the one into the package today.  I will send it next time.   

1. How are things with your investigators?  Things are decent especially since we were not able to see much of them this week because Elder B was sick. 
2. J (French guy)?  He’s good, we had a lesson scheduled for yesterday but he had to cancel because of work. 
3. G?  He keeps cancelling on us. 
4. TP, Mandy, Lee & the gang?  Good, but we have not been able to contact them for a while.  We were finally able to talk to Lee on the phone last night and we have a lesson with them for Tuesday. 
5. 11 year old boy?  He is doing OK.  We may end up dropping him and waiting until summer to teach again because he is really busy with school. 
6. Claude and the senior center?  They are all doing well.  We are still just helping them with an activity where they learn about different random things and people. 
7. Any new contacts/investigators?  We got another media referral last week and it seems to be a pretty good lead.  We just have not been able to make contact yet. 
8. How's the street contacting going?  Good, we haven't done tons of it lately.  The weather has been up and down, so we try and do it when the weather is decent. 
9. How are the members?  They are doing awesome.  There is a new family that just moved into the ward a couple of weeks ago.  We went to visit them yesterday and we are going over for dinner on Friday. 
10. How are the dinner appointments?  They are good, we still average about 3 a week.  Nothing exciting for me to report on food J 
11. Have you received letters/pckgs from anyone else recently?  No, that department is sort of slow.  So people…I would love to hear from you all and have may mailbox filled with letters. 
12. Are things good with you and Elder B?  Yes, they are good…but as you know all good things must come to an end and transfers are in 2 weeks.  I’m sure one of us will leave and it will probably be me, but who knows. 
13. How are the sisters?  Do you guys like the new sister?  They are good.  We both have been really trying to build relationships with the ward.  The new sister is great, she really enjoys doing missionary work and is a great asset to the area.   

Well there you have it, my sort of boring but decent week.  Hope you all enjoyed it.  Hope you enjoy the package as well; there is a surprise in it for you too.  I’m sure you know what it is J 

PS…Gma and Gpa have a senior couple mission reunion in Utah in a couple of weeks.  The Von Stettons are excited to see them and they think you should figure out a way through gma and gpa to meet them.   

 Well love you and miss you all!!!

 Elder Muir

 

Week 41...It's our LUCKY day!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day

March 17, 2014

1.    How's your week been?  What are the highs/lows?  Well this week was pretty good.  It was another week of hitting the pavement and trying to continue to find people to teach.  We had another adventure singing in the park.  The weather was quite nice at the beginning of the week so it was nice to be out in the park.  We had a good amount of member involvement in the investigator lessons that we had.  We were able to make some progress with Lee.  We had a lesson with him on Saturday.  Unfortunately TP was not able to make it to church yesterday.  It does not surprise me because her track record is no bueno.  She seems to be doing really well but unfortunately we can’t get her to church.  So this week had its ups and downs but overall it was a pretty good week. 

2.    Have you seen any signs of spring?  Well it was like 65 on Tuesday and the bulbs are starting to come out and buds are on the trees, however, right now there is a dusting of snow on the ground.   We had a little storm come through last night/this morning.

3.    What are 5 positive things this week?  1) Someone fed us some good chicken enchiladas like the recipe you make :)  2) We continue building a relationship with the ward and continue to visit and talk with the members.   3)The weather at the beginning of the week was pretty sweet.  4) We got a LA (less active) youth to mutual this past week.  5)  I was able to run twice this week. 

4.    Did Elder B speak in sacrament meeting last week with you or was it just you?  Were you a fill in at last minute or were they planning for the missionaries to speak?  No, it was just me.  They asked me because I have been in the ward the longest.  So I was solo on the speaking assignment. 

5.    Brian Bodily wants to know if you've ever heard of white wash/pink washing an area.  He said in Ambrie's mission they call it a pink wash if sisters move into an elders' area and white wash if elders move into a sisters' area.  Just wondering if mission lingo is the same everywhere.  Yes that is a term used here.  It also is called doubling into an area.  Hopefully I never cross that road, but whatever if I do.  It will be an adventure. 

6.    Anything new going on?  Not really.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays we do splits with the HP and Elders in the ward. 

7.    Have you broken the news to Claude yet?  What about the new service opportunity at the senior center?  What are you doing there?  We did not really tell him.  We saw him on Wednesday when we were doing our new service there.  Basically we just help push people around to their different activities.  Claude was there and involved with that so we got to see him and sit next to him. 

1.       How are things with the investigators?  Things are going pretty good.  At least we have investigators so I'm not complaining. 

2.       J (French guy) ?  Well we had a good lesson with him yesterday.  We finished teaching him the Restoration.  His biggest hang up is why has he never heard of Joseph Smith before and why don't other religions talk about him.  We are hopefully going back next Sunday depending on his work schedule.  Things are going well with him.   

3.       G ?  Well he cancelled his lesson last week.  I don't really how things are going with him because I have not had a lesson with him recently.  Elder B and someone from our splits list from the ward hae visited him recently.  Hopefully things will go well next time we meet with him. 

4.       TP, Mandy & Lee?  Well they are an ongoing process.  We had a good lesson with Lee  on Saturday.  He really wants to get baptized and just start over with a clean slate.  He has a really rough past.  We continue to pray that we can go somewhere with him and help him start over.  Hopefully we can get the ball rolling with TP  as well.  She didn’t show up to church yesterday even though she committed to come.  She had to work but that is always what happens so we'll see how things go. 

5.       11 year old boy?  He is slowly fading, we have random visits with him but they are not really consistent.  Unfortunately we may have to put him on the back burner. 

6.       I family?  They are doing well.  We are really trying to get the kids involved and trying to help them understand things.  They really don't know a whole lot about the gospel and don't seem to care too much either.  So we are just taking baby steps with them. 

7.       M (Wisconsin referral)?  He is pretty much on the back burner. 

8.       Anyone new that you’re working with?  We met a new less active lady that we are trying to work with.  Her son is the one that came to the mutual activity this week.  It is really hard to meet with her because she works every day.  She has been less active for a while so we are just trying to see what she knows. 

9.       How's the street finding going?  Good, we were supposed to have a lesson with a lady that we met last night on her porch but for some reason that fell through.  I’m not sure what happened but it didn’t happen so we hope to meet with her soon.  Her name is M and for some reason she totally reminds me of M from SLCC. 

10.    How was your zone conference/training?  It is this Friday, March 21st. 

11.    When are interviews again?  I am not sure. 

12.    Did you see Elder J at zone training?  It is Friday so I will see him then. 

13.    Anything new?  Speaking of buds on the trees you will soon have some chocolate Wilbur buds coming your way.  I felt the need for some chocolate so I bought some for you and me.  

14.    Anything that will make me laugh?  So we got a new RS president yesterday, she was in the RS presidency before.  The kicker is her husband is the EQ president.  I guess they broke the unwritten rule of putting families into 2 demanding callings. 

       16.     Is there anything you need?  I was thinking next time you send a package I would love to listen to the Paul Cardall piano Hymns CD. 

Well I miss all of you and hope you all had a wonderful week. 

Love you,

Elder Muir

Week 40...Hard Work = Miracles

March 10, 2014

1. How was your week?  What were the highs/lows?  This week was awesome!  A lot happened this week.  We’ve been working really hard to find people by talking to people on the street.  We spent a lot of time doing that and we found a few solid potentials and we have times set up later this week to meet with them.  So a high is we were able to do a lot of finding and there were fruits from our labors and the work is slowly starting to pick back up.  Another high is the weather is improving and the snow is starting to melt.  But…drum roll, the biggest high of the week was that TP showed up out of nowhere for the 3rd of hour of church yesterday…what???  We were supposed to be putting her on the back burner and haven’t talked to her for a couple of weeks.  Both Elder B and I were both shocked to see her there.  We had a good visit with her after church and it sounds like she is really trying to get involved with church again (she's an inactive member).   She seems much happier now because she found a job and is not sitting around the house all day doing nothing.  On top of that, Mandy and Lee (daughter and future SIL) want to start meeting with us again and we have an appointment with them tomorrow night.  The best news of all is that we found out  that Lee is off his probation.  Remember previously that he was going to be on probation until 2045.  So now we can actually go somewhere with them.  Another high was I got to give a talk in church yesterday (yes, I said a high).  That is the first time in 9 months that I have given a talk in church and it went well.  The biggest problem was I didn't find out until Thursday night that I was giving it.  So that made it a bit crazy to try and plan/prepare for it.  The topic I was given was Alma 34:32-34 (see the reference below).  I mailed a hard copy of the notes I wrote down and what the basis of my talk was.  I sent it off this morning so hopefully you get it soon.  The talk was great and I was happy to do it.  We did pick up a few other new investigators this week, I will explain about them below where you ask about investigators.  

 32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many ^awitnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not ^bprocrastinate the day of your ^crepentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the ^dnight of ^edarkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

 34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful ^acrisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth ^bpossess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.

2. Looks like your weather has been much better...how was the weather this week?  The weather has been great, it was warm and sunny for most of the week.  There were a few overcast & cold days, but for the most part it was in the 40's and low 50's.  But it looks like later this week the cold is back. .Has the snow started to melt?  Yes, it is completely melted in some spots, mostly on the south facing areas.  But there are still plenty of spots that are not melted. 
3. How are things with the investigators?
1. How did it go telling Claude?  We have not told him yet that we won't be able to play pool with him anymore. We talked to the lady that is in charge of us at the senior center and she said she would find other stuff for us to do.  It sounds like we may be doing stuff with a group of guys but I am not 100% sure exactly what we will be doing yet. 
2. What about  M (guy from Wisconsin)?  Well we have not really talked to him in a while and he has not been responding back to our texts lately.  So the other day we stopped by and his dad answered the door and said he was asleep because he was not feeling good.  I kind of feel like his parents are not hip on the idea of having us around or having him interested in the church. 
3. 11 yr old boy?  We try and set stuff up with him but he always flakes out.  But we at least have contact with him since he lives close.   
4. Kenya couple?  We have not really talked to them, they are still really busy.
5. New investigators?  We have a couple of new ones.  One of them is G.  He is an old former investigator.  His sister in law is a less active in the ward.  So he was taught the lessons a few years ago, but things kind of fell apart.  So we just started teaching him again and he seems pretty interested.  Another new one is a guy named J.  He is from Haiti.  The sisters actually found him, they were just going through some old phone contacts and got something set up with him.  He is in our area so we started teaching him.  He works with a member of the ward so that is how he found out about the church. 
6. How's the finding going?  It is going well considering that is what we spent a considerable amount of time doing this past week and the result is we are having a lot of success. Whether it be from old investigators or some new people that we have found over the week things are looking better for our teaching pool.   
7. How are the members?  They are doing well.  We still continue to try and visit them as much as possible and continue to build those relationships. 
4. Any mission news or meetings?  Just zone conference in Harrisburg next week. Also we have stake conference coming up here in a few weeks.  We’re looking forward to stake conference and it should be good because it is all about Hastening the Work of Salvation. 
5. What are 5 positive things from this week?  1) It’s staying light past 7 pm now.  2) I ate salmon this week.  3) Also giving my talk was awesome, I enjoyed it.  4) I learned to drive in the snow all by myself without having to text or call you after each occasion and I’m still alive J  Hopefully that’s behind me now though.
6. How's Elder B?  He is doing well.  We continue to build unity and a better relationship on a daily basis.  I continue learn a lot daily.  I think I’ve learned more in 9 months than I did in the past 19 years.  (mom note here…not sure how to take that last statement J  Either he was a slow learner, didn’t listen or is on an accelerated program now.  I like to think he’s on the accelerated program now.  As our good neighbor would say, “It’s not a training issue, it’s a performance problem”.  We’re thrilled that he’s thriving, growing and learning so much.  Some things you just have to learn for yourself.)
7. How are the new sisters?  They are awesome and we only have one new sister.  The new one seems to be good so far from what I've seen. 
8. What about the ZL's?  Zl's are awesome and we only have one new ZL too and he is great. 
9. Any service or singing?  No singing, but we still continue with our service. 
10. Any good stories?  Oh yeah you'll love this, I still eat asparagus when people make it and are you ready???   Yesterday we had salmon for dinner at a member’s house and   I sort of liked it.  It still would not be the first thing I would choose to make or eat, but I got it down and didn’t mind it.  I could do it again if necessary J 
11. What are you studying right now?  Are you reading the BOM again?  Just studying PMG and started the BOM over and I’m studying it with the study manual that you sent.  I just finished 2 Nephi this morning. 
12. Any spiritual experiences you'd like to share?  It enjoy reading the BOM and seeing and reading about all its references to our day and how it is translated for us and meant to be a guide for us in our day and for our lives.  I know it’s true and each of us can gain power and strength through reading and studying it each day.

     Well to answer your question of what I could use in the package, the answer is gum and some more Junior Mints.  Also, I watched those 2 videos you talked about they are amazing.  Pres. Uchtdorf’s Mormon message about Bullying…Stop It   http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/new-mormon-message-video-on-bullying-resonates-with-global-audience

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/bullying-stop-it?lang=eng

Also the link to Elder Holland’s message about The Prodigal Son https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-02-002-the-other-prodigal?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2014&lang=eng

I don't know if you have read the March Ensign for this month but there is a story by Mrs. Tateoka’s husband about the day of the big earthquake in Japan (the Tateokas were the mission presidents in Japan during that time and Sis. Tateoka was one of Zach’s teachers at Reid school).  Here is a link if you have not seen it https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/03/unshaken?lang=eng 

Well there you have it, my week was awesome!!!  I love you and miss you all. 

Love

Elder Muir