3-25-13

Landon’s Letter

Hello :)

Sorry I don't write much and I don't feel too much like writing today but I will let you know how my week went.

To start it off we went out pounding the pavement, then we continued to do that through out the rest of the week. I think we talked with about 160ish people this week. Maybe more but I can't think. I don't even remember what I did yesterday. Oh wait yesterday was church. wow............... Ya these days are just meshing together. It feels like things were forever ago and that things were just this morning. It is getting crazy. I guess we need a change up in our routine. Not in location or companion because I really enjoy serving with Elder Washburn. But we just need to try something new I guess. hm...... Anyways. Ya that's about all that we did this week.

Sorry. :(

It was a good week though, we had alot of fun.

Rachel- I am glad that you enjoyed your week. I am glad that you got to experience a little bit of what we go through.

Natalie- Keep up with all you are doing, The pay off will come for what you are doing know. You reap what you sow.

Annie- I am excited that things are going good for you! I think it is fun to to put together something that will help the area grow!

Megan & Justin- How is young womens Megan? How is the elders quorum Justin? I am glad things are going good for you!

Mom- Thanks for all you do. I haven't sent it yet. I spent the last 2 p-days playing basketball. I might get it off today. I don't know though ;)

Dad- Thanks for all that you do! I appreciate it. I hope your plans go good I know that they will be good!

I love you all.

Elder Webb

Annie’s Letter

HELLO WONDERFUL FAMILY OF MINE! First of all, I didn't get transferred and neither did Sister Bergeson. No surprise as we are in training. So same address. Same AMAZING ward. Same awesome companion. Life is good. So let me just tell you about some stuff that's happened this week...

First, not last Wednesday but the Wednesday before Sister Johnson were on exchanges and found David, I think I told you about him. HE told us that he had been praying, pleading on his knees for direction. The next day, no sooner than he got home from work, we appeared at his door with a message of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Sister Bergeson and I went back on Tuesday with Sister Winther and had the most incredible lesson ever! It was seriously amazing! We were meant to see him Friday but his little girl was sick :-( so we didn't see. him. Sunday morning we knew he had to go into work for a while, but we took over orange rolls and invited him to church. He said "if I can't make it this week, what about next week?" We told him church was 3 hours and that he should just come whenever he could. Then we trotted off to Loveland to make breakfast for Miles. Back up...
Saturday we were out visiting potential investigators in Loveland. We parked the car and tried to contact 2 potentials down the street and then walked down to Tony's. We knocked, and knocked again. And Tony didn't answer. So we got back in the car to go see some other potentials. We went down the street (Tony lives at the end of a cul-de-sac so we were going to turn around). We saw Tony outside at his truck! So we pulled over, got out and went and talked to him! He had been in the restroom C'est la vie. So we had a great chat with him and invited him to watch conference and told him we would follow up with him after conference. Then he told us to go talk to his neighbor, Miles, who was out washing his car. He told us to go wash Miles' car for him. So we walk over and said "Miles, Tony told us to wash your car for you." Miles wouldn't let us wash the car :-( BUT we started having a good conversation with him and then.... He went and turned off the water and sat on the trunk of his other car and just gave us his undivided attention. He really only had one question: "Do you believe that your family on earth will be your family in heaven?" WHAT A GREAT QUESTION! So we got to talk about that and it was fabulous. We challenged him to read the Book of Mormon. accepted. We asked him if he would be baptized. He said he had already been baptized by a priest who was like a father figure. We explained more about the priesthood. And asked him again if he would be baptized. accepted! MAY 11 IS THE DAY! It was SO exciting! Then we asked him if he and his children (Jaden 8 and Toran 5) would come to church with us tomorrow. Because why put it off finding out if this is true!? Accepted. We asked if we could come and make breakfast. After a little coaxing he accepted that too! SO we called Brother Smith who is basically amazing! and asked him if he would accompany us to breakfast in the morning. He said he would. We have used Brother Smith a lot this week. He is seriously just amazing. And he's not even a ward missionary! But totally willing to help us whenever! So Sunday morning. We wake up and get everything ready. Drop off orange rolls at David's, drop off orange rolls at Ryan's. And then go to Miles'. We go in and start talking about this and that and the Book of Mormon while we're taking over his kitchen (which is BEAUTIFUL! He totally redid his kitchen all by himself!) We made a great breakfast! Bacon, eggs, sausage, pancakes...it's not about the food, but it was seriously great! We were asking about the introduction, which he read to his kids the night before, and there was definitely a concern when he started talking about the 3 and 8 witnesses. What it came down to was "why does everything go back to Joseph Smith?" So we explained a little about why Joseph Smith is important, but not central. So then we left and went to church. Brother Smith swung back by Miles' to drop off a white shirt! How awesome is that?! I've never had a member do something like that before! It was awesome! So we get to church and Miles' boys were SO GOOD in sacrament meeting. Better behaved than most of the members kids! The talks were about general conference and prophets...I was a little concerned because no one was really talking about Christ. But then a sister started talking and while her talk was still on the same line as the others, it was completely focused on Christ. It was amazing. Definitely an answer to prayers. Then we went to gospel essentials and the teacher was talking about eternal marriage, we were a little nervous, Miles' isn't married. But it worked out really well! She taught it in just the most perfect way, totally guided by the spirit and it was wonderful. At the end of class, President Wallis brought David in. He was going to text us when he got there but I think President Wallis got to him first, which is totally awesome! At the end of the lesson, Sister Winther introduced David and asked him to tell the class his story of how we found him. And then the teacher asked me to share any thoughts I had about it. The spirit was so strong. It was just seriously amazing. Then Priesthood went great for both of them! David and Miles both introduced themselves and told their stories of how we had found them and their background. David participated in the lesson a lot! Miles less but that's okay, he is a much more quiet person than David. After priesthood David asked someone "is every Sunday like this?" He really loved the whole atmosphere and the discussions. He is definitely coming next week and he is excited to bring his little girl as well. Miles found out that he has family in the ward! He thought his entire family was baptist...until yesterday. So that was awesome! He is also going to come back next week! David went and invited his own member (Sister Winther) to the lesson we set up. So awesome! All day we had members calling us and wanting to tell us what happened in priesthood, or how awesome the Miles' kids were. The young men were all trying to imitate Miles' voice because it is SUPER DEEP! We had dinner with the Smith's last night (the same Smith's mentioned before) They called and asked if we thought it would be okay if they invited Miles and his boys to dinner. FREAK YA! So they did. So there were 18 people in their house that night. We were able to watch the Restoration movie and explain more about Joseph Smith and how really it all goes back to Christ even though Joseph Smith is hugely important. It was seriously just SO amazing! The members in this ward are super amped up to do missionary work. Honestly President. You should come to church here. It starts at 11 am the address is 8250 Cornell Rd. Cincinnati, OH. These members are the most amazing member missionaries ever. I have never seen anything like it.
Our investigators walk in and we don't see them again until after church. They do more than fellowship. They friendship. I am very lucky, blessed, to be serving here. I hope someday I can be as incredible as these wonderful people are. I am just so excited about this work! It's so humbling and exciting to be a part of it. To be able to teach people like David and Miles the gospel. It's not a sacrifice at all. Only the best thing ever!

We also had the privilege of having the amazing Sister Kimball with us Saturday and Sunday. She is just finishing up her mission. She extended for a couple weeks and is doing a tour of the mission, all the sisters areas. She is just amazing and I love her. I'm gonna miss her a ton! She is an amazing example and I am so grateful that we got to spend 2 days with her and learn from her! Seriously amazing missionary. She goes to BYU! So we'll be friends. :-)

OH! this morning during personal study I was thinking about how we can help Jaden, Miles' 8 year old son pay attention to our lessons because this far he was been super distracted but we really want to teach him as well as his dad. Inspiration struck. The next lesson is the Plan of Salvation. SO today and tomorrow I am in construction. I am making... A PLAN OF SALVATION BOARD GAME! Like the game of Life but for the entire plan of salvation! It's going to be awesome. I'm super excited! I love the spirit!

Mom-haven't talked to Dr. Giles recently. I'm feeling great though. Also, in the picture that the Neiderer's have...Elder Taylor is the red head. I don't know if there are many of those but he is one of them.

Dad-Thanks for taking such good care of me! I am so grateful for how awesome of a dad you are! :-) Also, I bought Sister Bergeson a birthday cake last Monday that we shared with the district because it was her birthday and I wanted it to be amazing! Also I'm out of $ for this week. Stupid having to pay for laundry. It's expensive. $10 a week and we don't get reimbursed for it... Sucks.

Meg and Justin-hope all is well for you! You're both amazing!

Natalie- Have fun with school! And wedding planning! Don't stress too much. Just relax. Get stuff done but make sure you have time to have fun too.

Rachel- I am so proud of you chica! I can't believe how much you are just growing up! I don't like it at all. You're amazing!

Landon- you're such an awesome example. Keep working hard buddy! I know tracting all the time isn't fun but it does pay off. 6 of our 7 investigators are from tracting. The 3 most solid ones are from tracting. It really is effective. Ask a lot of questions. Get to know them and their background that way you can work with what they already believe. PMG says to build upon the faith people already have. If we don't ask questions, right from the beginning, we can't do that. Also, when people discover their own answers to their questions they own them and they mean a lot more. So questions are good. :-)
I love you all so much! I know I say it all the time, but I seriously have the BEST Family ever! Thanks for all your love and support. Love you all!

Annie