12-10-12

Annie’s Letter

That's right. No snow. Not even a little. To quote a wonderful movie... "What is Christmas with No (no) Snow (Snow)?" Someone...please go watch White Christmas for me. So let me tell you about how awesome this week has been!

We went out with members a lot! On Thursday we went out with 4! I think we went out with 7 or 8 total! It was awesome! Plus, two families signed up to feed us for the first time! (We went out with both of them this week). And so that means we are developing our relationships and they will trust us with their referrals! yay! We saw Mark and Olivia 3 times this week as well, they usually only let us come over once! But we went on Tuesday they told us to come back on Friday and then they were planning on coming to church, we were going to make them breakfast and then Drew Ellington was going to come pick them up and it was going to be awesome! But Saturday night...Olivia got the flu and couldn't keep anything down. Fine. So on Sunday we went with Drew in the evening and saw Mark and Olivia and set up plans for next Sunday. So we have a lesson with them on Tuesday, with the Hoyts and then on Thursday, with Sister VonNeiderhausen, and then on Sunday we are going to go over with Drew and Jordan Ellington and make a delicious breakfast and then go to church. It's happening. Plus, Olivia asked Drew for a priesthood blessing (we had an AMAZING lesson on the Priesthood with Sister Heap) and he went over with Brother Bates to give her one and she texted us last night and said it was amazing and that she has faith it will help her stay healthy so she can go to church on Sunday. It was great. We are trying to get them to know as many members of the ward as they can because we think that as they increase those relationships they will want to come to church more, even if they don't feel 100%. Once they are active we want them to get little assignments so they know they are needed and then next year when they get married and baptized it will just be the smoothest transition ever! Plus, they love it when we bring members. They always text us before our lessons and ask if we are bringing any friends. It's great. Also, Barb. Barb just had surgery so she is down with that. They cut her leg from ankle to thigh. But she is doing really well. We had a great lesson with her and she keeps saying things like "we're getting there." She has more of a testimony than she knows. She has been coming to church every week (except when she had surgery) for almost a year and it's going to happen. She will be getting baptized soon. And then Brooklyn. In the past, Brooklyn would only have lessons when Savannah Larkin was available but this week, Savannah couldn't go but she wanted one anyway! So we went and met her at her pastors house. (Her parents are in West Virginia so she is staying with him...and he is more of a parent to her than her parents are anyway) but I was so nervous if he answered the door because he has been telling her she shouldn't read the Book of Mormon and this and that... but of course he did answer the door and he was so nice! I told him I like the placement of his piano and he asked if I played and when i responded in the affirmative, he told me to sit down and we all sang Christmas songs for a a couple minutes. It was wonderful! He likes us! Not our church or beliefs, but us. So that's good. He had given Brooklyn "the truth" about Mormons...anti garbage. She was really open though and just had concerns about it (naturally). So we went through it and answered all her questions. She is praying and reading and just being awesome. She was going to come to church with the Larkins, but they ended up not being able to go. So she texted us Saturday night and asked if we could arrange a ride for her. OF COURSE! So Sister Parsons picked her up and she came to church and it was just grand. She is so sweet and faithful. She was on date but fell off so we are hoping to get her back on when we teach her on Wednesday...when we will be teaching her WITH SISTER NILSEN! so that will be super awesome. The church is true guys. Mom, I will get my testimony written and sent out to you...hopefully tomorrow. This week is kind of weird because today isn't really P-Day. Tomorrow is because it is the Christmas Devotional so they made that our PDay but we have our entire day booked tomorrow after the devotional so we don't really get a pday...so we get to email and go shopping today...and that's about it. Yeah, Sister Madsen is awesome and they are bringing my ukulele (I hope her son, Christain learns how to play it on the trip!) You might have to hook up with them in Utah because I don't think they'll get to Wyoming on the 21. It's a long drive. But I really prefer that method of shipping to mail. I love USPS...but don't trust it with an expensive ukulele. So you'll get to meet them The Madsen's are AWESOME! I just love them! And the Ellington's and the Skaggs! I will be making shrimp scampi for the Skaggs at some point this month. It's gonna be delicious! Speaking of delicous Christmas stuff. Wassail. Cranberries in a qt of water right and 6 cloves and 6 cinnamon sticks? and then 1 qt orange juice, 1 cup lemon juice and a cup of sugar? is that right? I can't remember exactly...but I want to make wassail too :-) If you don't remember, ask Johnson. I emailed the recipe to him last Christmas so I know he has it. :-) So tomorrow at the Christmas devotional: We will be with Shawn Bradley. BYU superstar,NBA, RM, and on Space Jam. He is like 7'6" or something... really tall. And we are going to be having DELICOUS food! (Ham, sweet potato souffle) The Marysville ward relief society is in charge. It's gonna be great. Sister Smith is actually in charge and she is like gourmet. I love eating at their house. Last time we were there we had like... Hibachi grill. It was so fun! and SO good! We are eating with them on Christmas so that will be fun as well. There is also a talent show at the thing tomorrow. No one was signing up and the poor assistants were just at their wits end so Sister Twitchell and I will be doing Abbott and Costello's famed "Who's on first?!" I am Costello and man... I really get into it! I have to take a second and calm down after we do it! I am really excited. It should be a lot of fun. Hopefully we're funny enough to pull it off! So that's really all I have to say... Funny, I still have 10 minutes. But I've pretty much caught you all up...So that's all for now folks! Go Christmas Caroling! Watch White Christmas! Get the missionaries at home presents! Go out with them! Pray for names you can give them! Tell everyone hello and I love them! I love you all and hope you all have a fantastic week!

Tata!

Love,

Annie

Landon’s Letter

Goodbye North Bay : ( Hello new area and trainee? AHH

Hey my wonderful family,

This week has been absolutely crazy. we received a total of 22 referrals this week from the members to do our Live Christmas Card. All we do is sing a song, read a couple of scriptures, and sing a closing song then end with a prayer. We have been absolutely blessed this week! The Lord is watching over this area and we are gaining the trust of the ward!

So as you can probably read from the title I am sadly leaving North Bay but I am also going to be whitewash training. Crazy! I don't know how that is going to go. So I am really praying that the Lord will guide us in our area and that He will guide me to help this new missionary. My thoughts are just scattered today so I don't know what else to say.

Rachel: Thanks for all the great letters. I am glad you are enjoying Jazz Band!

Natalie: Good luck with that 6 hour block. You are going to be exhausted. That really stinks.

Annie: I am so grateful for all you do! I hope that you have a great time!

Megan & Justin: That is awesome you get to teach by the Spirit. It will help you even more recognize it's promptings and it will bless you more in your life!

Mom: I am so grateful for all that you do! Don't worry no allergies. Everything has been normal. I am doing pretty good.

Dad: Thanks for all that you do! I hope that you continue to get to go out with the missionaries! I do not know if I will get to skype. I will have to wait until next week! I sure do hope so!

So I can't wait to see what chapter will be next in my life. I am excited to see. Oh and it is pretty close to Niagra Falls. I can be like hey I remember coming here! It will be awesome!

Sorry I am really scattered brained I slept 4 hours last night because I couldn't sleep. But I am not even tired. So haha.

I love you all and I am grateful for all you do!

Love your favorite Elder, Brother, and Son,

Elder Webb