10-22-2012

Annie’s Letter

Hello dearest family! Just incase you were wondering... I love you all so much! You're just the best family ever! Thanks for telling me about the 7000 applications, that is so crazy awesome! I am so excited to see the work exploding! Hopefully by the beginning of the year the OCM will have about 60 new missionaries! We will be doubleing up in some areas and the work will really progress! EXCITING STUFF!

Dad: I'm being good, don't worry! I'm still working hard, but I make sure I take care of myself (and so does my dear cousin, Sister Twitchell!) We keep tabs on eachother. I think we know when the other one needs to take it easier better then we do ourselves. We're just both really stubborn. Thanks for all your advice, I am definitely doing all of it! I have a Dr. appointment on Friday. Although, natruall, I feel much better now. I am going to bed earlier and that has helped SO much!

Mom: I write a lot of people. you guys, ElDee, aunt jan and uncle Jon, aunt DeAnn and Uncle Ed, Grandpa, Landon, Elder Knickerbocker, Elder Taylor, Elder Prettyman, Elder Tubbs, Elder Lancheros, Kirsten, Wesley, Nate's family, Tina, Amber, Sister Palmer, Sister Harnish... so so many people. I love it! Writing letters is SO fun! So yeah, I use a lot of stamps. :-) I'm so excited to get the lighthouse! I love lighthouses! There are a lot of people that are big into them out here. They always make me think of Aunt Jan. I miss her! There is an EFY song... I think it's called "like a lighthouse" or something like that... I think you would really like it!

Megan: Sounds like everything is going well for you! Good luck with Young Women's in Excellence! I'm sure you'll do great! It will be wonderful!

Justin: I'm still waiting for a letter from you. You have less than a year to get it to me. Get on it!

Landon: You're awesome! Finding weeks are hard, but they are so important! Keep up the great work buddy! You're such an amazing example and I am so proud that you are my brother! Plus, I'm impressed that you cook! What have you been learning to make? You should keep track of recipes you get from you mission!

Natalie: You would not get a witches hat! You should have. I'm glad you had fun with Mom and Rachel this weekend. You'll have to take me to that place as soon as I get home next October!

Jon: Congrats on state! Is it weird that you're done with high school cross country? Yikes! You're getting old! ;-)

Rachel: I am so glad you got a little breather this week from your crazy schedule! I am so glad you are having such a wonderful year! Good luck with the football game on Saturday. Do you have a plastic mouthpiece? Maybe ask Travis if you can borrow his. haha. Seriously though... I don't want your lips to freeze to your mouthpiece! But if it does, make sure you get a picture and send it to me!

Not much has really been happening this week. Mark and Olivia are still doing well with not smoking, the 4 little girls we are teaching are adorable and want to be baptized so bad... I think we need some heart to hearts with their parents... yikes. Our other investigators are doing good as well.

And.... I GOT TO SEE KATIE THIS WEEKEND!!!!

Sorry, I accidentally sent that. I'm having a hard time typing today, which is really irritating. Anyway... yeah, we had a stake relief society thing on Saturday in Dublin which is where Katie lives so I got to see her. Linda couldn't come which was sad. But Linda just found out she is having a little girl! In February! And Uncle Matt is a stake president for a YSA stake. How awesome is that!? Anyway, it was super awesome to see her!

Mom, dad, Landon, any other returned missionaries who read this... advice on getting people to church? We have done everything short of putting them on a leash and physically dragging them to church! ...and I've thought about doing that! haha. but I won't don't worry. anyway, we have reminded, visited, texted, called, made breakfast, arranged rides... I just don't know what else to do to help them understand that this is a big deal. So... yeah, any advice would be much appreciated.

Well, I don't really have anything else today... sorry this letter is kind of disjointed and... off. anyway...

I love you all! You're the greatest! Have a fantabulous day!

Love,

Annie

Landon’s Letter

Hey family,

This week was just great! So for the past few weeks we have been trying to find new investigators from talking with everyone and also from former investigators. It has been absolutely crazy. This week we found 3 new investigators, 2 which we will pick up next week, and 2 potential investigators. We have been really blessed this week. So one of these new investigators is Alex. He is 24 and has been taught before. He wants to learn about he gospel and likes it but he needs to get a testimony on his own. It has been really fun to teach him only though it has just been twice. He came to church this week which was great and actually the first investigator we have had in a while. We have been really blessed by the Lord this week. While out contacting (yes we were actually contacting and I was actually talking to people) we found a girl named Laura. She had talked with a recent convert about the gospel last year and he is know on a mission. So she knows a little bit about the church. To our suprise she had invited her boyfriend to meet with us as well. When we met with her we were able to answer some questions and we taught the Restoration which I think she got pretty well and I think he was open to it. It was really fun.

So this week for exercise we played some soccer. haha ya and I beat the Colombian 1 day! Ha Ha we have had some fun but we are still focused. This week I also learned that during one of President Monsons talk during General Conference he talked about North Bay. It was a talk about when he called a less active man to be the Branch President. One of the men here Tom Etches Sr. told us about this guy. It was really interesting to hear the story. It is amazing just how small the world is. Oh also Les Stroud (Survivor Man) has a house here but we haven't seen him. He lives 1 hour away.

Mom I have to agree completely with the light house. We are essential to help those out in troubled water come into the safe harbor of our Lord. We are very important to helping others come unto Christ so they can reap the rewards of being in the Celestial Kingdom. My Mission President said in Stake Conference here not too long ago, "Priests, Rabbi's, and Preachers will do a great job of filling the Telestial and Terestrial Kingdoms. Only we, as members of the Church, can help to fill the Celestial Kingdom." That is actually something that we and I have been studying and pondering this week. In Mosaih 18:8-9 it talks about our baptismal covenant. It mentions that we promise to be a Witness of Christ. So how are we a Witness of Christ and how are we suppose to do this? Well if you read down to verse 13 you will see. It is when Alma is baptizing Helam and in that prayer he says that this is a testimony that you will serve Him until you die. We are to serve the Lord all our days. Which means according to Mosiah 2:17 when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God. We are to stand as witnesses testifying of Jesus Christ and serving our fellow men. And as promised in D&C 17 I think. How great shall be our joy.

Thanks Mom :)

Ok I have 8 minutes so here we go.

Rachel: keep up the hard work and keep up being a good example to everyone. You are becoming more grown up each week.

Natalie: good you are making friends in school and having fun. I knew you would. Keep up with your work and have fun.

Annie: Wow you are just seeing everyone while I haven't seen 1 person I know. I am jealous. Thats ok keep up the awesome work. Bear strong and pure testimony. I know you have a strong testimony that will influence and change lives :)

Megan & Justin: Megan you are doing awesome as the YW President. Keep up all the hard work and you will continue to be blessed.

Mom: Thanks for being a great support and helping us gain our own testimonies. Thanks for all those times we read scriptures as a family. :)

Dad: Yes I got the money last week. sorry I forgot to tell you. Thanks for being there for all the support you have given me.I really appreciate it so much. You are always there to help me.

I love you all and I am grateful for all that you have done. Man can I just say I love being a missionary. I love sharing the Gospel and try to be a lighthouse. I love learning about the gospel. I love doing this work. The Lords Work.

Love your favorite Brother, Elder, and Son

Landon Webb

P.S. tell James I am so proud of him and I want to hear from him.

P.P.S. Oh and next week is transfers so don't send mail until I tell you where I am going.

10-15-2012

Annie’s Letter

I got emails back saying it failed sending to some, so here is another copy of the same email but without the pictures. Landon, sorry, you don't get the pics. And mom, ask Dad to see them. But I think everyone else got them. If not...too bad. But this card is almost full anyway so I should be sending it home fairly soon. That being said... Can you send my other one back? Thanks!

Hi Family! I hope you get this email today because I sent it with 5 pictures... But they are so fun! We have had a fun couple of weeks! We got to carve pumpkins! (mine is a conga monsta!) and we had fun in the dollar store with their Halloween costumes and we got to go the the zoo and we got a bunch of cigarettes! yes! So let me tell you about this week.

This week has been SO incredible! I told you in my email last week that Sister Twitchell and I had been changed and that I was rededicated to the work...well, you probably want to know how exactly we have been doing with that.

AMAZING!!!!!

So we decided that although we were doing well and working hard and being obedient there is definitely more that we can do. So on Wednesday we made a great new program called... P90X:Missionary Edition. I don't know if you have ever done P90X or heard of it but let me tell you... it is the most intense physical workout I have ever done, you start big and you get results! It's amazing so we decided that we were going to do P90X for missionaries. We are going to excel all of our morning schedules. We are going to sing the Mission Song every day! Instead of just reciting the opening exercises we discuss them and talk about why they are important to us that day. Our conversations (especially while tracting) are more focused and spiritual. We talk about principles of the gospel, about our investigators, about experiences that we have had in our lives and about how we can be better missionaries. We are planning better, we are planning not just what to teach but how to teach. We are doing that hard things, including tracting until the very last minute! (I'll be honest, not one of my favorite things to do because I never know if people are putting their kids to bed or whatever and quite honestly I'm scared of the dark. I have a crazy imagination! BUT WE DO IT ANYWAY!) We don't just give up on doors, we have great conversations with them. We are always teaching, Teach when you find, find when you teach! The cool thing about P90X is that we aren't doing anything different really, we are just doing more, doing better. Focusing more on the work and just trying to be more like Sister Cash (a legendary missionary in the OCM), Elder Holland, and ultimately like the Savior. So on Wednesday we were creating this plan and all of the "workouts" we found Terry. He was cooking dinner and really didn't have time to talk. Normally we would just go but we stayed and chatted for a bit and we will be going back to see him next week. And the next day we were tracting. We knocked on a door and no one answered. So we went to the next door. And we had a nice little conversation with the woman who lived there and then we left and saw that the lady from the first house was outside. Natural man says "she was ignoring you on purpose. Don't go talk to her." But the new and improved versions of Sister Webb and Sister Twitchell went back and helped her pick up her sheets and blankets (that were covering her plants) and talked about the Savior and what we can do while we are on the earth to become more like him. And we'll be going back on Thursday :-) Plus, we had been praying for a couple to teach and on Saturday we tracted into Susie and Ron! They are just like Joseph Smith. Very confused by the religious commotion and they just want to know what is true. They are stellar! They will be reading the Book of Mormon and we will go back and talk to them as well! An update on Bob, he wasn't there when we went back on Wednesday :-( BUT WE WILL NOT GIVE UP! So we are going to drop by tonight and talk with him. I'll keep you posted. :-) Okay, so here is some really exciting news!

Delaware had a baptism on Friday and at one point we mentioned it to Valeta. But we were booked on Friday and so weren't planning on going. But then she mentioned and asked if we were going to go! Everything fell into place perfectly so that we were able to go. We went with Valeta. She really felt the spirit. She said she felt touched in an way and a place that she didn't understand. And the members of the Delaware ward are awesome! They just love her and told her that they wanted to go to her baptism! ...she didn't know what to say. In the car she told us that she didn't want to mislead anyone, but that she was happy with her church. I asked her "if you knew without a doubt that this was the true church of God... would it make a difference?" She said that if she felt that something was missing at Trinity (her daughter is a teacher there and they are all very involved) that she could see herself changing churches. She is planning on coming to church next week (Primary Program!) So we are hoping she will feel the spirit again (hope is an abiding trust) and that she will realize that Trinity is just missing something. We love her though, she is incredible. Her life could be a sad movie, it would make me cry. It would probably be right up there with "An affair to remember" sigh. anyway, it was great! And some more exciting news........

We went to Mark and Olivia's house on Thursday. We talked about why we were sitting in their living room, why we were on missions. We talked about how this is a lifestyle, it's not just something you can do every once in a while when it's convenient. Olivia was like... yeah! This isn't a twice a week thing, when we see you and on Sunday. It's every day! So then Olivia told us that she hadn't smoked (they are on electronic cigarettes to help them quit) for about a week. I told her she might as well just get rid of the thing. Sister Twitchell asked if she could have it... AND SHE TOSSED IT! THEY HANDED OVER EVERY SINGLE SMOKING ITEM THEY HAD! Their electronic cigarettes and cartridges, their ash trays, their lighters... EVERYTHING! It's gone! We were just walking on cloud nine! The next day we ran into Mark and he was like I'm having a hard time. Major withdrawal! But Sister Twitchell told him to go home and read a scripture. Drew asked them to go to the baptism with him (in Delaware) that night. Olivia didn't want to go because her day had been crazy and she was really tired! But then she remembered how we talked about commitment and it's a lifestyle and she decided NOTHING was keeping her from going to that baptism. So they went! They also really felt the spirit. Olivia mentioned a couple weeks ago that she wanted Drew to baptize her. She thought that at the baptism would be a good place to ask him. Before she did I pulled her aside and talked about how Drew was leaving in December (which she knew) to go back to school and that they would need to be married before they got baptized. Her mom is against them getting married before they have been together for at least 6 months. December will make 4. So we talked about compromises. December and a cheap wedding (I"m an excellent wedding planner, for real). Or get married now and have the big ceremony later for their family... we told her we would fast for her mother's heart to be softened (which we did). And they have made the decision to get married in December so they can get baptized before Drew leaves! Wedding plans. In the church (free!) Bishop to perform the ceremony (free!) Sister Hoyt to provide decorations and the cake (free!) The Hoyt family to set up the decorations (free!) Brother Hoyt to make the video montage (free!) I told you... I'm good :-) Anyway, we don't have a specific date yet but will soon! We are so excited! And please keep them in your prayers. Olivia is going through a lot with her mom and Mark is having SEVERE withdrawal issues. He is really sick. But he'll get through. At the baptism he was really struggling so he went over to Sister Twitchell (she was with Valeta and by her backpack ) and asked for her Book of Mormon. So he read and then was better :-) It was awesome! Miracles happen! In Preach My Gospel it says we are allowed to expect miracles from God. And I always knew that but now I not only know it, I'm EXPECTING IT! As long as I do my part to work hard and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, He will preform miracles!

Also, could someone e-mail Sister Ellington and tell her that I said that I didn't call Drew a schmo? I'd really appreciate that. Thanks. haha. :-) She'll get a kick out of it. And she can tell you the story.

I'm so glad to hear that everything is going well at home! I wish I could have seen the old home! I hope you took lots of pictures and I hope that you send them to me! Mom, I would LOVE to get a copy of that talk and PLEASE and ensign from conference. We do get one, but I like to have one I can read and take notes in... and i don't want to steal it away from Sister Twitchell, so if you could please send me one that would be great! :-) But don't worry about sending me the contacts. I have enough with me to last until the end of my mission. But I'm glad you have them because I will need them as soon as I get home :-)

Sounds like yo uall are having a lot of fun and being very busy at home! I'm glad to hear it! Oh! I was thinking... you might be wondering what missionaries like to get for Christmas. Well, I have some suggestions for you. Just food for thought really as the holiday season is still 2 months away. First of all, who do I have this year? I need to know stat please :-). Obviously PJs are a necessity for Christmas, but don't get me any. I got some, just so you know. They fit and I love them. And I won't wear them until Christmas. At which point I will take a picture and send it to you and I know you will love my PJs and definitely approve of them! So we're good there. But things that missionaries do like: Sticky notes! Victoria's secret lotion! (I'm almost out ) Fruit leather! Deer jerky! (Justin, Megan this one falls to you!) Ohio State Shirt! (Because I haven't bought one yet ) Dried Mangos! Stamps (because I have used over 150 since I got here) and pink journals! I'm halfway done with my second one. I'll probably be done with it around Christmas so I'll need a new one so they match! And a new study journal for my meetings... The called to serve ones. Red. ISBN-13:978-1-60641-880-2 again...I like matching. I'm just a little OCD) Anyway... that's my little tangent :-) Rach, good luck with Interschool! Mom, I'm excited to see the living/dining room! Dad, I miss calling you! Megan and Justin, you guys are awesome and I hope everything is going well! I hope you had fun in Florida Justin! Natalie, good luck with school! yay for being done with the first half of the semester! Jon, good luck with state XC! You'll do awesome! Landon, keep up the good work! You are such an amazing example! I love you all so much! I can't wait to hear from you more! Letters are lovely! PS Sister Twitchell and I are both still in Marysville! Yay! But I think Sister Ellington may have told you that... well, I'm out of time! I love you dearest family! See you in a year! :-) Tata!!

Landon’s Letter

Ok I guess I will tell you guys alittle more about North Bay. sorry. Some of my favorite members here are Vernon Fretz (14 year old boy who is a rc), John Fretz (17 year old boy who loves to paintball), Bro Herbert Allan (I don't know his age but he is older and loves the missionaries. He is just awesome and excited about the work), Bro Lorne Cutts (another older guy who is very charitable), Sis Girard (she is hilarious), Jenner family (Ian & Fiona are the parents and they are hilarious Nathan is their son and is married to Emily and they are awesome), the Etches (Tom sr & Sandy do almost everything with the LA's), Sis Scherger (almost has been in the church a year and loves to share the gospel with everyone).

The weather here is really interesting because I think it isn't bad and then we go out side and its cooler then I thought and other times the wind is blowing and it just sounds freezing and its way warmer then I expected.

This week we went finding. The End. but we found potentially 6 new investigators we have set up appointments with them and we will see if they are ready for the gospel in their lifes. I sure hope they are but its their choice. We went out contacting one day (I really still have a fear for talking to people and I'll admit I don't like it but I need to change my attitude towards that) but we talked to 3 people on the street and we have contacted 1 of those. Also last week we set up appointments with members to bring some friends and that was great we have 1 n.i. but the other we haven't gotten a hold of yet... We also found a guy who is really interested. The missionaries taught him before but they ended up dropping him for that time because he wasn't progressing. He likes to try and decide for himself if its true or not. I don't think he knows how the Spirit works. When he answered the door he had the biggest smile on his face when he realized who we were. So we are trying but now we need to keep finding and we need to teach! Sorry I will try to keep better tabs this week :)

Rachel- keep up all the great and hard work. Good luck with interschool.

Natalie- keep having fun in college. It will go faster then you can think. Enjoy!

Annie- wow keep up the awesome hard work I enjoy hearing how you do!

Megan & Justin- I am really jealous how much camping you guys are doing.

Mom- I am eating good I usually cook...haha but this week we have dinners the whole week. I don't know how much I weigh.

Dad- I hope that when I get back we can go up there. I want to see what it looks like.

Oh somethings I am doing is I am collecting canadian pennies. I have them from 2012- 1960's and 1 from 1940. they are going to be gone next year so I figure I will collect them. haha

I love you all thanks for being great examples to me.

Love your favorite Elder, Son, and Brother (I need a new one of these)

Elder Landon Webb

10-09-12

Landon’s Letter

Hey my wonderful Family!

I hope you all enjoyed General Conference like I did! I know that it has helped me realize some very important things in life. First off since it is Thanksgiving, thank you for being such a great family to me. I really appreciate all that you do and all the support you have given to me. I wouldn't trade any of you for the world. I have found that my family is where my greatest joy comes from. I always love to hear from all of you in every aspect of your life.

Who heard Jeffery R. Hollands talk? WOW....... Do You Love Me? That has gotten me thinking how much do we love Jesus Christ? There is love in which we love something and then there is love like we need it. I thought of Cold Stone haha. There is a "like it", "love it", and a "gotta have it". Ya we can "like it" and have just a little bit of it here and there. We read scriptures, pray, go to church, and follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ like great suggestions to be happy because we have seen that it does help our lives. We can "love it" and try a bit more of it in our lives. Search the scriptures, pray for guidance, listen at church, and know that we can be happy because we do apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. These are good and better but this isn't what God has in mind for us. He wants us to be happy now and for ETERNITY. This leaves that last one and the best, we've "gotta have it". We feast upon the scriptures, talk with God and listen to his promptings during prayer, participate actively and ponder in church all aspects of our lives where we can improve because we are always learning, and don't follow the suggestions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but strive to live it every minute of everyday. Then the most important thing about this is to not keep this to ourselves but to share our joy, happiness, and love because they were given to us as a gift from our Loving Heavenly Father.

I thought that his talk was pretty darn good and there were many others that were just as good! What were some of your thoughts? I would really like to hear as I think Annie would be to and of course the rest of you:)

Rachel keep up all the hard work and keep having fun. I love you and appreciate all that you do!

Natalie I told you that you would like to be over in school and the more you hang out with friends and do fun activities the more you will enjoy it. Sewing Awesome! ;)

Annie keep up the great work I don't think I will hear from you this week but I know that you are working hard and the Lord will bless you for all your efforts.

Megan & Justin thanks for all you do. Seriously thanks I'm not even there to see all you are doing but thanks for Serving the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ! Have fun in Florida Justin.

Mom thanks for all the support you are to me and thank you so much for all that you have done to help me in my life! I love you so much and am deeply grateful for all that you do! I will look into the ensign and let you know :)

Dad thanks for always being there for me in all the times that I have needed your help. You are a great example to me by sharing your time with me. Thank you for everything you do I love you!

Love your favorite Elder, Brother, and Son

Landon Webb

Annie’s Letter

Hello dearest family! I have NO time to write today... so here we go:

hope your week has been filled with supreme awesomeness thus far and that it will continue to do so! Our week has just been fantastic! So many miracles are made manifest to us each day as we strive to do our Heavenly Father's will!

First of all, what a miracle we witnessed on Saturday as President Monson announced the new age for missionaries! This is so incredible! The work is just going to BOOM!

It is going to be so awesome to watch how the work progresses in the coming years especially as a missionary. What an amazing opportunity we have to witness the change from this incredible perspective! Life really is all about perspective, President. "The sinking of the Titanic was a miracle to the lobsters in the kitchen!" TRUE! All the talks at conference were just exceptional! I am so glad that we still have a prophet today who speaks to God and tells us what we need to do to improve ourselves so that we can become more like our Savior. And of course, the amazing Apostles as well. I am so thankful for them! My personal favorite talk was by Elder Oaks about protecting the children. It really just touched the mother in me, well the future mother in me. I hope I will be a good mom someday! But for now, I hope I am being and continue to become a good missionary! Which brings me to another wonderful talk... Elder Holland's. Wow. Elder Holland is just amazing! To quote Sister Tiwtchell... "Elder Holland makes me want to repent for things I've never done wrong!" He really just inspires me to be a better person all the time. His talk has elicited serious contemplation from one, Sister Webb. How much do I love Christ? Can he tell by my actions? It was great to be thinking about this because then Landon's email was just perfectly aligned! So I'm just going to copy and paste what he said because he hit the nail right on the head!

Who heard Jeffery R. Hollands talk? WOW....... Do You Love Me? That has gotten me thinking how much do we love Jesus Christ? There is love in which we love something and then there is love like we need it. I thought of Cold Stone haha. There is a "like it", "love it", and a "gotta have it". Ya we can "like it" and have just a little bit of it here and there. We read scriptures, pray, go to church, and follow the Gospel of Jesus Christ like great suggestions to be happy because we have seen that it does help our lives. We can "love it" and try a bit more of it in our lives. Search the scriptures, pray for guidance, listen at church, and know that we can be happy because we do apply the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. These are good and better but this isn't what God has in mind for us. He wants us to be happy now and for ETERNITY. This leaves that last one and the best, we've "gotta have it". We feast upon the scriptures, talk with God and listen to his promptings during prayer, participate actively and ponder in church all aspects of our lives where we can improve because we are always learning, and don't follow the suggestions of the Gospel of Jesus Christ but strive to live it every minute of everyday. Then the most important thing about this is to not keep this to ourselves but to share our joy, happiness, and love because they were given to us as a gift from our Loving Heavenly Father.

My brother is awesome! "gotta have it!" We have gotta show our Savior and Redeemer how much we love Him! I hope every day I can work a little harder to show Him a little better just how much I do love Him. As we do that, He works miracles for us! For example:

Sunday after conference we went finding. We knocked door after door after door. It was dark, it was cold, doors were getting shut. Over and over again. We were discouraged. We stopped and prayed for guidance and continued on. We finished the long street we were on and still nothing had happened. I had a scripture in my head and in my heart during all of this. Alma 26:27. "Now when our harts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." I knew Heavenly Father would bless us if we pressed forward. We had planned to stop by one of our investigator's houses on the way home at about 8:45. I actually wanted to keep finding but Sister Twitchell had felt all day like we should go to her house and see her. All day, that is, until we were almost there. Then she didn't so much anymore. At that precise moment we got a text message from the assistants. We were at 43 new investigators. Our mission goal of 50 new investigators during conference weekend was completely in reach! (by Saturday night, we had found 12 as a mission. Satan was laughing his head off! and we were not okay with that! BTW on Saturday we found Jesse who is just awesome! And hopefully I'll have more to say about him next week! Suffice it to say... he is awesome! And just wants to do what is right by his kids and by God.) And we were not going to be a companionship that did not contribute on Sunday! We had passed a street the other day, Todd Ct. and I had, at that point, thought to myself "self, we need to tract this soon. Not today, but soon." Todd ct immediately came to mind and I navigated our trusty Fusion to the street without effort (or GPS). We went finding. We knocked and knocked and knocked. it was dark, it was cold, doors were getting shut. But I had faith! And so did Sister Twitchell! Just as the sons of Mosiah were helping me, the story of the 4th watch was helping Sister Twitchell. We were in the 4th watch and we continued on! 8:58. We knocked on one more door. And we met Bob. Who has so much faith and is willing to learn whatever he can about our Heavenly Father's plan for us, about His restored Gospel. We found our new investigator, President. We found another child of God who we can help come closer to Him. That is what this work is all about. Pressing forward just a little longer. Knocking another door. Showing Christ just how much we love Him. He spent his whole life going the extra mile. He never gave up. Neither will we give up! NEVER! Miracles happen. Everyday. As long as we have the faith to unbind God's hands. For it is us who binds His hands when we lack faith. He wants so much to bless us, we just have to let Him.

You can be sure that Sister Webb and Sister Twitchell have been changed this weekend. We are even more determined to do this work. To work as hard as we possibly can! When my mission is over, I have the confidence of Enos, Heavenly Father will look at me and say, just as he did to the two wise servants to whom he gave talents, "well done thou good and faithful servant." I won't have it any other way. I choose to have Him say those words to me. I will choose every day by my thoughts, words and deeds. This day, Sister Webb has become a new servant. Rededicated to serving the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. This work is worth every effort. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. I stand ready and willing to answer the call! I am thankful that I have such wonderful co-servants of the Lord all around me.

Now about the age change... here is what I think about that! :-)

I am so excited about the age change! I think this is very inspired and will definitely help the work to just explode! It is going to be wonderful to see the changes that are going to happen in missionary work and in the world over the next few years. I am so grateful that I am a missionary right now so that I have the incredible opportunity to see the changes from a unique perspective. I look forward to serving the younger sisters that are soon to join the ranks! What a wonderful time we live in! We are so blessed to see the work of the Lord expand in miraculous ways! As for me, I know I wasn't ready to serve a mission at 19. If that would have been the norm then, I honestly don't know if I would have served because I wasn't ready then and I may have thought I was "too old" by the time I was 21, which is a skewed perspective I know but I'm being honest. I am grateful that I was called to serve when I was and in the circumstance that I was! I know of several girls who I'm pretty sure probably already have their papers mostly completed so that they can serve now! I think the numbers of sisters will increase! So many girls want to serve missions but get married by the time they're 21, which is so great! But this will give them the opportunity to fulfill another very rewarding desire of their hearts. What a wonderful day we live in! I just can't say it enough! We were saved for this day because Heavenly Father has that much trust in us. And he has trust in these young sisters who will soon join us in the service of our Lord and Master. I have no doubt that the younger elders and sisters are going to change the whole vibe of missionary work throughout the world!

Sorry I don't have time to tell each of you individually how much I love you and how grateful I am for all of you and commentate on your exciting lives. But I love you all so much and you are just the greatest family ever! I echo Landon... my family is my greatest joy. I love you all and I am very excited to see you all...in less than a year! Except Landon. I'll see you in 20 months. Thanks for all you do for me! Transfers are this week, so I'll let you know about that next week. you guys are just amazing! I can't say it enough! Have a great week!

All my love,

Annie

Letters 10-1-12

Annie’s Letter

Hello dearest family! This week has been really fantastic! We have felt the spirit so strong and we are very excited about what is going on right now! The work is progressing! A couple of things... Sister Richardson is gone, one of the Sister's went home this week :-( and so her companion needed a companion, we have a trio so...tata. She will possibly be back in 2 weeks (transfers) I can't believe how fast this transfer has gone! It's just been nutty! It's been wonderful though. We have done some fantastic work thanks to the spirit. Here are some stories from this week...

On Tuesday we did some work in the farther out areas of our area. We met a wonderful woman, RheaDawn who is just as sweet as can be and had a great contact with a less active woman. Her family is really involved in another church and very happy, but they were very kind. They let us leave our car in their drive way and use their facilities and we just had a really good little conversation with her. Well, when we were done on that street, we went back into Marysville. We had about half an hour before our dinner appointment so we decided to go sticky note one of the members who just moved into a new house (down the street from our dinner appointment) and 2-2-5 them before dinner. We got to their house and decided we should just knock on the door and see if we could do anything for Sister Whipple. So we went in and she said that she was just waiting for Brother Whipple to get home so he could move a shelf upstairs. Well, before she finished the sentence we dropped our bags, grabbed the shelf and took it upstairs. Then we chatted about backyards, and how amazing their neighbour's back yard is and then we left to go 2-2-5. We went to the neighbor's house with the amazing backyard and Susan happened to walk outside at that VERY moment. So we chatted and she wants to learn more about the gospel! She knows how important church is and it breaks her heart that her daughter is not raising her children in any Church at all! We had a wonderful discussion about the restoration and then we went to dinner. We were 10 minutes late but this is a good reason to be late! We will go back and teach her, with Sister Whipple, on Wednesday and we are very excited.

Wednesday we knew that we needed to go visit Valeta (another investigator) who is just incredible and we set a time to go see her. But we knew she wasn't usually home at that time. But we heeded the prompting and went to see her anyway. And she wasn't home. Our backup was to continue finding in an apartment complex we had started near Valeta's home. So we went down and met Terri. Terri knows that we were sent from God to help her. We had a great lesson about the restoration, Sister Twitchell extended a soft baptismal invitation and then the spirit took control of my mouth and all of the sudden I was extending a date. Which she accepted! Since then, we had an appointment but she had just woken up and wasn't really up for an appointment... (I think it may have had something to do with her boyfriend being there, he is an alcoholic and I don't know how receptive he will be) We actually didn't know that they weren't married (they are an older couple) until Flo, Terri's neighbor (who I'll tell you about in a minute) told us.Anyway, I do think Terrri will be baptized but it might take a little longer than October 27. I think I needed to extend the date so that she knew that we are serious about this and we really want to help her and set goals so she can come close to Heavenly Father, which she wants so badly. She referred us to Flo. Flo is a widow, breast cancer survivor, and older than Terri. Maybe in her 70s. She is just so sweet and loves God so much. She cleaves to her Bible. We had a wonderful discussion with her about how much God loves us and wants to help and bless us. Our next appointment with her we planned to talk more about the Bible and then the following one we would tie the Bible to the Book of Mormon and give one to her and commit her to read it. Well, again, the Spirit just took control (how wonderful!) and we were talking about the Book of Mormon (and the Bible) and reading from them both and showing how they compliment each other and giving her one and she was quite excited about reading it! Yay!

We also got to see Valeta again. She is just so wonderful. She is really excited about the Book of Mormon and loves to read in it. I think once she gains a testimony of the Book of Mormon so is just going to soar. It's been such a privilege to teach her. She is very receptive to the message of the Restored Gospel. We haven't invited her to be baptized yet, the Spirit is constraining us but it will happen. We always want to and keep it in our minds but the time isn't right yet. We are going to help her with her house and have dinner with her and a lesson on Friday and we are very excited. She has also opened up service opportunities for us in the community. She works at a rest home and asked us to go in and sing to and with the residents so I took my ukulele and we sang and played and just had a grand time with the wonderful residents of carriage court and they have asked us to come back once a month. I am excited. I love these people so much. They just bring so much joy to my soul and I hope we bring joy to them as well (I'm fairly confident that we do).

We also saw Olivia and Mark. It's so hard with them. They have such great testimonies growing but they haven't really made church a priority. Any thoughts on how we can better help them understand the importance of church? This week we will be teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ with an emphasis on the sacrament and church attendance. And we have Miranda Hoyt coming with us who is a convert who struggled with a lot of the same things as Olivia so I think this will be a really good lesson. I love Olivia and Mark so much and I know, and more importantly they are beginning to see, the blessings that come from living the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. They just need to understand how important it is to not only believe it, but live all of it! They have been doing so great working on quitting smoking and praying, and their reading is improving dramatically... they will come around. I just wish it would be sooner. But that is the natural man. It's on the Lord's timetable. He has a plan for these two wonderful people.

We are also working with some families. Molly and Teanna are sisters and their cousins are Grace and Victoria. Both families are less active and all 4 little girls want to get baptized SO Badly!! They just have such sweet spirits. The kids are great and very receptive and do what we ask...mom and dad on the other hand are a little harder to work with. They work Sundays so can't take the kids to church and it's just hard. But hopefully Molly and Teanna's mom will be more proactive (she is so far) and that will help her twin sister also get more involved. We haven't seen Jared and Marie this week but we are going to get back in with them this week! They have such wonderful potential, Satan is working hard on them that's for sure! Satan really really really doesn't want this to work to go forward. I have never seen his presence so strongly as I have as a missionary. He is real and powerful. BUT we, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ are more powerful, because of His atonement we can overcome ANYTHING! Satan doesn't stand a chance. He just doesn't. I am so grateful for my Savior, my Redeemer, my brother and my friend Jesus Christ. For His amazing sacrifice for me and for each of God's children. His love is just astounding. I am so thankful for my knowledge of my divine heritage and that of each of my brothers and sisters. I'm just so thankful for the gospel and for how much it really does bless my life. I am grateful that I have the privilege to serve here in the great Ohio and spread the blessings of heaven to every person I see. HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING!

Okay,

Mom and Dad, I'm glad you're having so much fun in this time zone! It's fun to think of how close we are to you guys! :-) I can't wait to see pictures from your trip...in a year. Speaking of a year... I TURN 6 THIS WEEK! I have been on a mission for 6 months. does anyone else think that's crazy? Cuz I sure do! anyway, it sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time. Mom, you're such a great missionary talking to Ann! I know you brightened her day! :-) I'm so glad you get to take this trip! It sounds like a blast. Plus, how long has it been since you have done something without kids? a looong time!

Megan and Justin, I'm glad you're keeping busy! You'd go crazy if you weren't! Thanks for being so wonderful and willing to always help out with whatever you can. You guys are so great! Oh, that pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe...really good! Thanks so much meg!

Landon, keep up the great work bro! I'm so proud of you and so proud to be your big sister! I talk about you all the time! Just ask Sister Twitchell. It's true. Plus...look at this cool street sign I found! 2 members live on this street so I had to take a picture! I couldn't get one wtih it because I'm driving now and there isn't anywhere to pull over on this street so... I just a picture of the sign. It made me happy.

Natalie, welcome to college! haha. There is a lot of work and I'm the same way it is really hard to study when you haven't really had to in high school. So rachel, learn from all your older siblings... STUDY now and make good study habits and college will be easier. But I'm sure everything is going great Natalie. I'm so proud of you! You're a wonderful girl. I know you are working hard and will do great! How is work? You haven't really mentioned it since you told me you got a job... I hope you're loving it. Tell Jon hello for me. :-) How is cross country going? I'm sure he's kickin' butt!

Rachel, you're so busy girl! I don't know how you manage to get everything done! But I'm glad you are having so much fun. Enjoy high school. It is a great time of life. I love hearing about all the fun things you're doing. Plus, I'm super jealous you got to play star wars for marching band. I bet it was a nice change from el diablo! haha.

Well family, I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week. Thanks for all you do! Oh, and thanks so much for my coat and boots! and the bear! I re-named him Robby. And the fudge is great! Thanks so much! I'm going to share it with the elders because we will never eat it all! That's a lot of sweet! haha. So thanks from the elders as well! OH, I got a letter from ElDee last week, she had been in the hospital so I hope everything turned out okay. I love having her so close. And the Skagg's address is

51 Greenfield Dr

Milford Center, OH

43045

Oh last thing...could someone get on facebook and add the people who have added me (especially Sister Skaggs!) and also ask for Dayla and Muhammad addresses? I know you're all crazy busy but if anyone get's a minute I would really appreciate it. Thanks much! I love you all and I miss you! Keep being the wonderful people you are! We really do have a great family. We are SO lucky! There are some messed up families in this world. We are very blessed. Thanks mom and dad for keeping us together and raising us right. You're the best. Love you!!

Annie

 

Landon’s Letter

Hey my wonderful family!

So I decided to start my letter earlier this week. It has been very hard, very hectic, and a great learning experience. Two weeks we met with 1 investigator and the same with this past week. They all just decided to stop talking to us at the same time. Ok so we have been discouraged but I guess I needed to learn alot of patience. So the work has kinda slowed down but we are still putting our shoulders to the wheel and trucking along. I am always reminded about when I want to get discouraged to just keep putting my head down and keep pulling along. But we realized this week that we needed to fix some things. So now we are taking some time to plan with the Bishop a way to help strentghen the ward. There are atleast between 200-300 names on the list and alot of them are families. Now Satans been very hard at work here in North Bay and he has been very successful. There are many families that have been split up, many people whose lives have been changed, and much much more. But 10 from the list are consistently active. Crazy huh. So we are trying to build the church once again from the foundation up.

So today we had a good P-Day which included leaving at 12 to head out to the middle of no where again! But we didn't see a bear this time :( We ended up seeing the beautiful colors of the leaves. I tried to take pictures but there is no way a picture can give the full description of how it really looks. The vibrant colors of the red, orange, and yellow are popping. As we were driving out they have their "hills" which rolled out infront of us. I wish I could have taken a good enough picture but it looked like we were driving towards a copper forest. A bright, vibrant copper forest. It was soooo beautiful that it was really quite amazing. I absolutely loved seeing all the beautiful colors. So I picked some leaves and brought them back and put them in a book to press them. I did this earlier this year with green leaves and they didn't change colors so I am hoping they remain the same color. Dad I thought you might like this. At this members house in the middle of no where I saw a picture of a galaxy and was amazed by how it looked. Then she showed me a couple pictures in a magazine of the venus transet and that was cool. Do you remember that? That was fun hopefully we can do it again. In one of the pictures there was a picture of an airplane next to the venus infront of the sun. It was really cool. Then while writing this remember I said that pictures can't a full description of what these things actually look like. So what do all these other galaxy's look like?

Rachel good luck with everything. Don't worry you will pick it up and be better then me by the time I get back so you better be able to teach me. :) You might laugh but it is serious ha ha. Good luck with keeping up with Jazz Band, Swing choir and work. Man you are just keeping busy like a bee.

Natalie I agree with Annie, Welcome to College. But don't get too overstressed there will always be more on your plate even after you finish what you think to be the last assignment. Just make sure you keep some time to hang out with some friends (that is really awesome by the way!) and have some fun but don't let pintrist call too much because then you get too hung up and nothing gets done. Trust me I know because of facebook. haha

Annie thanks for being a great example. I love being your brother and there are many times where I think about how you must be just talking to everyone. You are a great example of a missionary. I love to be your brother I really do keep up the great work. (Don't worry I love being a brother to all my sisters!)

Megan & Justin I hope you are having fun with everyone being at your house! Just be glad that I'm not there you might go through things twice as fast as you are right now well except the eggs. ha ha. I have really come to appreciate family this month and I am so greatful for you two!

Mom thanks for being such a great, yes I will say it twice, MOM! I am grateful for all that you do in my life and for the great example you have been to me. It is really such a blessing to have been raised in such a great family. I am grateful for your loving care you have given each and every one of us!

Dad thanks for being such a great, yes I will say it again, DAD! There have been many times where I have thought back to stories you have told me about your mission and I wish I would have asked more about it. I am grateful that you have always put time aside for us in our lives. Thank you so much!

Well I won't be able to write until Tuesday of next week because Monday is Thanksgiving........ Ya Thanksgiving weird I don't really like it but oh well I will have to celebrate 2 I guess :)

I love you all thanks for being such great people!

Love your favorite Elder, Brother, and Son

Landon Webb