3/4/13

Annie’s Letter

Hello wonderful family of mine! So we did get to go to the Temple on Thursday and it was amazing. So story on the shooting. We were at President Wallis' house (he is in the temple presidency) when he got the phone call so he told us. There were some people fighting and they pulled into the parking lot. The temple parking lot shares a parking lot with a ward building. And the shooting commenced. They weren't members, had nothing to do with the church. It was a coincidence that they were at the temple. It was at about the time a new shift of ordinance workers was going in, so lots of witnesses and statements. The temple was closed for the rest of the night. However, at that time, there was a sealing going on ! What a cool wedding story! haha. But it was up and running again by Wednesday and wasn't even a thought on Thursday when we went. I am so grateful that we were able to go to the Temple. It is always such a wonderful experience and I just love it there! I wish sometimes that I could just stay in the Celestial Room forever! It is so beautiful and peaceful. I am amazed at the sacrifices that members of the church put forth to go to the temple. I think of the thousands of members who save for their whole lives to be able to take one trip to the temple so their family can be sealed for time and all eternity. They walk and ride and sacrifice everything they have. Sometimes people are sacrificing greatly to go to the temple and we don't even know it! Sacrifice. Sacrifice. Sacrifice. It really does bring forth the blessings of Heaven. I am so grateful that I have so many temples so close to me. How lucky! I hope I always remember how lucky I am and take full advantage of the temple and attend it often. Please go to the temple soon! All of you! To do a session or baptisms....JUST GET THERE! Keep your focus always on the temple. In our training this week we were learning a lot about family history and how to use it in missionary work. It was awesome to be able to study that and then to be able to go to the temple! To make it even more special, a member of the ward gave us family names that we were able to do. It was just the perfect week to go to the temple! yay! We were also able to go the the family history center and learn some of what goes on there. It was so cool. I can't believe how far back our genealogy is done! Kudos to all the people who have been on that! The family history center...leader guy was super impressed by how far back it was done. Ya for awesome family. Tell grandpa and Aunt DeAnn good job and thank you! And anyone else who has been working on it. :-)

Things here are going well. Slow, but well. We are still tracting... A LOT! We found a woman this week, Jean. We had an incredible lesson on the plan of salvation and the spirit was really strong. We arranged to come back. We did and had another good lesson. She was all set to come to church on Sunday, we were going to bring breakfast and it was going to be wonderful. But then she called us on Saturday night and said "I changed my mind. I'm not going to give any excuses, I just don't want to go." [Heart Break!] It was really sad. But hopefully when we see her this week we will be able to address her concerns and help her see that church will really help her feel the comfort and peace that she is lacking in her life. One day while we were tracting we knocked on this door and a man opened it and I just had nothing to say. No words in my mouth. The spirit was SO not with this man or in his home, it was just weird. It was like my heart was in a vice. I am so grateful for the spirit! I just don't know what I would do without that constant companionship in my life! I love it so much! I'm so grateful for it!

So this ward is super awesome. Very missionary minded. We have taken 4 laurels out tracting with us! It has been a lot of fun to go with them! They have really enjoyed their experiences. They have all got a pretty good idea of tracting. Nice people and not nice people. It has been awesome. And the sisters in the ward are organizing a splits calendar! They want to come out with us...to do whatever! Lessons, tracting, visiting less active members... whatever it is, they just want to do missionary work! And we aren't even having to beg or plead! They are just super awesome and want to help! A very missionary minded ward. I am so grateful to be serving here! It's been wonderful. It's a struggle. Every day Satan is working hard against us. But there is such potential in this area! I know that as we keep working hard and being diligent and relying on the Savior we will see miracles happening in this area! I know it! As we continue to sacrifice our time and our energy and keep tracting.... the blessings of Heaven will be poured upon us!

Sorry this letter is a little disjointed. I guess I'm just a little scatterbrained haha. But know that things are well here. We are in good faith and good spirits. We are enjoying the journey and working hard to fulfill our missionary purpose! To help our brothers and sisters come unto Christ that they may have the blessings of eternity! I love my calling. I love my companion. I love my ward. I love my purpose. I love my family.

By way of announcement... this is a 5 week transfer. So transfers are on... the 21. Which is like 2 days before Sister Bergeson's birthday so better not get transferred! I don't think we will because she is in training and we have only been here for 5 weeks So we should be safe...but who knows. I gave up trying to guess transfers a LONG time ago! Anyway... why, you might ask, is it a 5 week transfer? The answer, my dear family is: because the MTC time is shortened. This next transfer of new missionaries will be the first group that we get that is in the MTC for 2 weeks instead of 3. So our transfers didn't line up with the new missionaries coming in so we had to adjust. Which also means that (providing I stay in the Columbus mission) my mission just got shortened by a week. :-( Lame. anyway, thanks for your emails! It's so fun to get them! And Lando, I got your letter and sent you one back! :-) I love you guys lots! Keep smiling! Be happy! Look for opportunities to invite people to come to activities or church of family home evening or whatever. And always be aware of opportunities to share the gospel. Love you guys!

Tata!

Annie

PS nat, don't worry about doing bad on a test. Everyone has one. Just keep on truckin along! and Landon, how do you keep track of how many people you talk to?

Landon’s Letter

Hello my family,

Today we got to go to Niagara Falls. It was kinda cold because of the mist. It was almost raining it was so thick but we did get to see Rainbow bridge, the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, and also the UNITED STATES. haha. It was great. I couldn't believe that that was us those years ago. It was great but I wish that all of you were here. The members that took us were Bob and Karen Ayers. I am grateful for them and I will have to write them a thank you card. It was great!

This week we are focusing on Finding. We didn't have a very fruitfull week in our key indicators but we did work hard. We are trying out a new way to focus on finding. We have divided up our area into reasonable walking areas that we can walk around for a couple of hours. Then as we plan for an area we run through these points.

1. Are there any Recent Converts in the area and can we schedule an appointment with them.

2. Are we having a Baptismal service this week or coming up? Who will we invite?

3. What Part Member families are in the area that we can drop by or schedule an appointment?

4. What members, active or less-active, can we drop by or schedule an appointment?

5. What former investigators are in the area?

6. Do we have any referrals from our investigators in this area?

7. Are there any Media Referrals? How can we influence the Media Referrals?

8. As we walk around from place to place we are looking for any kind of service.

9. Tracting, Pre-noticed tracting

10. Talking with Everyone

11. ESL / Stop Smoking Workshop

It has been fun and a bit challenging. I hope that it's not too much and it is to help us focus on finding.

Nick was confirmed this week which was exciting. It was so great to see that happen!

Sorry there isn't much this week. We just are trying to build back up. It seems like every end of the transfer the areas I have been in have died off. I don't know if that's my effort which might be or I don't know what. It is something that I need to focus on getting all the way through the transfer. Any suggestions? So we are building up....again. :( So we are back to finding.

Sorry I don't have much to say this week but a picture is worth a 1000 words ;)

Rachel- I hope that things go well for you. Pretty soon there will the the Lagoon trip. Is that going to happen this year? Do you have any festivals? What is going on in your work life? I love you!

Natalie- Don't worry I got under 50% on a test in Physics last year. Granite I was late and that scattered my brain but still don't worry congradulations no more pressure of being perfect ;) You are doing great.

Annie- I was so excited to read 2 of your letters! You are a great example to follow! I hope that you do stay with your new trainee. We just had a 5 week transfer as well. Fun huh? All of the sister in my mission are training or being trained.

Megan & Justin- I am glad that things are going great for you two. Are you planning on going camping in a couple of months in the spring or are you going to wait until summer to go? Are you ready for summer? I am it's not much to tract in the cold.

Mom- Sounds like a fun week. Paws week. I remember that week. Sorry it wasn't my favorite but I hope all goes well. How are things going around the house? Do you have any summer plans yet for any of the houses?

Dad- You are right those memories are worth more then all the money that could ever accumulate in the world. That was a fun time! I was glad to go again and see where we stood.

I love you all!

Love your favortive Brother, Elder, and Son,

Landon Webb

Do some of the pictures look familiar?