10-29-2012

First of all...

Annie’s Letter

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!! There should be 54 of those, cuz that's how old you are! Haha! Sister Ellington's husband, Brother Ellington, birthday was this week. He thought he was 46 turning 47 but then discovered he was actually 45 turning 46! Man, he gets a whole nother year of life! That's the way to age! haha. I'm so jealous ya'll got crab. That sounds SO good! I think in December I'm gonna have to save my $$ and get some shrimp at least. I can't go through the holidays with NO seafood at all! That would just not be okay! Anyway... Transfers are... I'm not sure when. Because Thursday of week 6 for this transfer falls on Thanksgiving so... I have no clue. I should find out... next Wednesday. I'll try to find out sooner. Exciting news about the snow... haha. It's cold here, and they are expecting snow this week but that's really early for Ohio. But with the non-winter last year, it would be good to have a great winter this year. Corn is hard to grow without water. FYI. Anyway, it is really cold outside, but we are doing okay. We are so lucky to have a car!

So a fun new thing I learned... slack lining. It is a blast! It's basically tight rope walking but you hook it up between two trees, you're not super high off the ground, and it's on ratchet straps so a little thicker than a high wire. But it's a lot of fun! I took 3 steps! And I'm really quite proud of that fact. when I get back I will introduce you all to the joy of slack lining. But mom, you might not want to do it. you'll probably throw out a hip! Haha! I haven't got to make that joke in a long time! It feels great! :-P This week has been a really good week. We have done lots of finding, we found 3 new investigators. One who is from Puerto Rico! I wish I spoke Spanish! yikes! No one came to church again this week :-( But it's okay, we'll get there. We are doing great finding and the work in Marysville will progress! We ARE going to have a baptism in November and December. We have a goal as a mission to get 500 baptisms for the year (unheard of in the OCM) but we are SO close! And when we get it we're gonna have a PARTY! the P is for proselyting the A is for all day! The R is for righteous the T is for today! The Y is for you and you know what to do we're gonna PAAAAAARTY! Don't let the Devil know! PAAAAAARTY! Cuz he'll try to stop the flow! haha... I'm super corny. I'm very aware. Oh, I'm also learning that I am definitely my father's daughter. I hate it when lights get left on, and I don't like the heater to be on for longer than necessary... oh man. However, I still think the thermostat on the fire place is a bit far. haha. Anyway, I love you dad! I'm so glad I'm your daughter! And yours too mom :-) I just have the greatest family ever! I'm super lucky!

Wow, so this letter is super spastic. Sorry. I'm just typing... I'm tired. haha.

Dad, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. I hope you got the card I sent you! I think it's great! Thanks for being the greatest dad EVER!

Mom, I hope you get to get sprinkler systems in! That would be so nice! You were so busy this summer you probably didn't have time to water at all! And I'll have to make sure someday when I get married I marry someone who likes crab. We can't have the crab haters be more powerful than the crab fans! That's definitely going on my "list!"

Megan and Justin, you do spoil your dogs. I'm so glad though. I want to see active doggies and not pupsicles when I get home next year! Megan, don't worry about going to people's houses. Just show them how much you care and they will love you. Also... cookies are a good way to get into people's good graces. It's encouraged on the mission. If the elder's don't learn how to cook anything else... they can make cookies.

Natalie, I'm glad school is going good. I'm not worried that no one asks you for my address. I'd probably be more worried if they did haha. I can't wait to see all the cute stuff you're making! Send me pictures! Lots of pictures, STAT! I'm pretty sure there is a ring I haven't seen... get on that!

Rachel, I'm glad everything is going well for you and you're not breaking the law anymore. Never a good idea. I am so proud of how much you have grown up!

My family is just wonderful. I am so lucky to have you! I realize that more on my mission than I have at any point in my life. It's weird... I've been on my mission almost as long as I lived in Orlando. But it's way different. i feel like it's been a lot longer since I've seen you guys! I can't believe I'm down to less than a year! Time sure does fly when you're having fun! I hope you all have a great week! I love you all SO MUCH! Thanks for being wonderful examples! Love you!!!

Annie

Landon’s Letter

Hey mi familia,

Ok no I have not learned spanish at all I didn't pick up any spanish from Elder Badillo. I won't have the opportunity to learn anymore from him because he has been called from the North reaches of North Bay to Leamington which is the furthest south in Ontario we can go. (Just in time for winter I don't know if he could have survived up here) Anyway I am sad to see him go but I am excited to see who Elder Kozak, my new companion, is and get to know him!

So this week that person I mentioned in finding is not interested in learning more. She just wanted questions answered. So I am very sad about that. But this week we heared some very exciting and inspiring news. Our landlord, Brother Hatt, mentioned to us that a student in his class, who we tracted into and gave him a Book of Mormon last month, has been reading from the Book of Mormon! That was a huge building block to my testimony about finding. No effort is wasted!

Also I have been thinking about lighthouses (thanks Mom :) ) and this will be short. We are lighthouses shining out to those stranded in the darkness of the world. We shine bright with the light of Christ and we want to share that love and warmth with others. We want others to see and to come into the fold of Christ. Think about it, light rules over the dark. Light is matter when darkness is nothing, it is not matter like light. When we think of light, heat is always associated with light. Light is warmth and darkness is cold. Love of Christ and Heavenly Father is warmth while Satin is cold. (Thank you Elder Bednar) We want to share this light with everyone but we need to first build ourselves on a sure foundation. We need to build our lighthouse on rocks. How many lighthouses are built on sand?

I know you may be bored with me trying to explain the gospel but I think it is very interesting how light vs darkness and warmth vs heat are 100% relatable to the love and warmth of Christ and Heavenly Father and the coldness of Satin.

Rachel congrats on finally becoming legal to drive! That's awesome so when I come back you are going to be my driver right?

Natalie you are doing what Annie and I are doing. Missionary Work! The only difference is you have a stronger influence on helping Jon then we do with anyone we find here.

Annie keep up all the hard work you are doing amazing!

Megan remember we aren't perfect just do your best and you will be blessed! You will recieve more trust from the Lord while helping the Lord to feed his sheep (YW, VT, ect.) you are awesome!

Mom I love you thanks for your great example.

Dad I love you to thanks for all yo do I hope you have a great birthday this week!

Love your favorite son, brother, and elder

Landon Webb

P.S. Sorry out of time that's why its so small.