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 
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
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