5-6-13

Annie’s Letter

Hello wonderful family! So I"m in Mt. Vernon! Crazy! On Wednesday, Sister Bergeson got a training call so I knew I was leaving. No surprise there. A few minutes I also got a training call. President Nilsen told me I would be going to one of the most successful areas in the mission. So Elder Smuin instantly started guessing mt. Vernon. Wednesday night we got to go with the Smith's and Miles to Texas Roadhouse...SO GOOD! It was hard to leave Montgomery. It's amazing how quickly you really come to love the people you serve. At transfers I got Sister Arnell! She doesn't have any relatives in Wyoming that she knows of, but there was like a feud in her family a long time ago so she doesn't know most of her extended family. She is awesome. She's from a tiny town. She dances. She is studying recreation management. And the list goes on. We have a lot in common and it has been super fun the last 5 days. She is willing to work and not scared at all! She is an incredible missionary! Then they announced that we were going to Mt. Vernon. I was o excited! I practically started jumping up and down in the chapel! After the transfer meeting everyone was coming up to us and saying "you're so lucky! I"m jealous!" Well, if I would have been them, I would have been jealous too!

Mt. Vernon is super country. It is so beautiful here! I love it! Plus, we're super spoiled. We went outside and saw our brand new 2013 Toyota Corolla...that's red! It has a touch screen. And bluetooth. AND... WE HAVE A BIKE RACK! So hopefully we'll also be getting bikes soon! When we got to the apartment we pulled into...OUR GARAGE! yeah. And went in laden with groceries and stuff that Sister Miller had bought for us. Wow. She is our mom here. She's awesome! Our apartment is then nicest in the mission (that comes straight from the office!) It has 2 full bathrooms! It's awesome. We are so so spoiled. But that's not even the best part! The members are awesome! They have all been so welcoming and wonderful! They are excited to have sisters! IT has been fun getting to know them and work with them. We have an awesome bishop and ward mission leader and ward council and everyone! We are very excited!

We will probably be calling at 7 on Sunday night. THat's the plan. But we'll have someone call you and let you know more details later. I do have a phone card still. Haven't used it yet so it should be good. 

went to them Millers on Saturday for dinner I smelled this very familiar smell... CALICO BEANS! I had decided that was the recipe I was going to tell her to get and then she already had it made! I was so excited!

Now, let me tell you about the wonderful Amish families. There are 3 of them that have joined the church. They had secret meetings when they were learning about the church, I have heard about these wonderful families for my whole mission. The first got baptized Jan 2012, then April 2012, and June 2012. The first 2 families have gone through the temple and the 3 is planning on next month! Hopefully we'll get to go with them! They still live their Amish lifestyle but they have also accepted the gospel. They are amazing. They have been shunned from their communities. Their kids got kicked out of school, there is a senior couple on special assignment to teach them. Their families have shunned them, other Amish people won't go to their businesses. One of them has 16 kids and only 7 of them joined the church. The others also shunned them. Bro. Hochstetler said he has never felt hurt like that before. I can't imagine all the heartache these incredible people have gone through. They have their own group for church but yesterday was stake conference so we got to meet all of them. We had been practicing the kids names, there are about 20 kids we met yesterday just in their families! They are SO CUTE! THey were a little shy before church but they kept looking at us and smiling during the meeting and after they were not shy at all. Rachel asked if they could have a picture with us and we were like... we want pictures with you! Of course! So we took one, I'll attach it :-) They are technically on the elders side of the area, but we only split it for like tracting. We won't divide the ward. They thought that was how it was going to go and it was causing hard feelings before we even got there so we fixed that real quick! So hopefully we'll get out there this week and help the Hochstetler's plant a garden. They are seriously amazing! Imagine our surprise when Bro. Troyer whipped out an iphone! And even more surprise when we learned the Hochstetler's have 2 cars! So funny. Apparently that's not too uncommon for Amish people now. (phones, not cars. Bro. Hochstetler is a rebel.) Anyway, totally in love with these kids. THey are adorable. They want to serve missions. They're so sweet :-)

We also found a new investigator this week! His name is Mark. We'll go back and teach him on Wednesday so that will be exciting. We have been working hard and really trying to work with and around the members. It's been an exciting adventure! We are just so thankful to be here and have the opportunity to serve with these incredible people. This is like the golden area! Everyone wants to be here! We are very blessed indeed.

Well, I think that's about it! Have a wonderful day all! Remember to share the gospel! Get on mormon.org, make profiles! Carry mormon.org cards with you! Give them to people, leave them with the tip at a restaurant. Reach out in any way you can! "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?!" Love you!

Annie

Landon’s Letter

Hey!

I have been hit by a flood or enthusiasm because of this work. This is the work of the Lord. It is going! From everything that I have heard, everything that has happened, and everything that is going on, it has been awesome!

Our week has been very great. We have see alot of great things in our area. We have been trying to work with members and also our own finding (tracting). We have been blessed. This past week we were able to find 4 new investigators. Pretty much all of them from tracting. I am so grateful for all that we have been blessed with. Also 2 of those investigators accepted dates for baptism on June 2.

It was a really hard week or work. We had alot of work to do but it was fun. Like I said before we tracted alot.

As a goal my mission has made a goal of getting 60 baptisms in June which startes with this month. We are trying as best as we can to exercise our faith so that we can contribute to this goal. We have never as a mission gotten 60 baptisms in the month of June.

Like I was saying before. This work is moving forward. I got a letter from the Neiderers which had a letter from Ryan to his family. He mentioned "Catch the Wave" which I can see as catch the spirit of missionary work. This is the Lords work. I found this morning a scripture from Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; Yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy." I am so grateful for the opportunity to be just a part or "be an instrument in the hands of God". It is something all of us can do. Every act of kindness, being a good example, showing Christlike love, and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost is what we need to do to "be an instrument in the hands of God"

Rachel-I am glad that you had a good time at Lagoon. That is awesome. Just think you are so close to finishing school and almost being a big bad senior.

Natalie-Crazy. Good luck with everything that you have to do. Enjoy your last week of school. by the way you never let me know if you wanted those pictures sent by email or a picture by mail.

Annie- Keep up all the awesome work. You are a great example in all the things that you do. Keep it up I love you! It was great to talk to you.

Megan & Justin- I hope that you enjoyed the temple trip. Are you planting your garden this year? Have you done that?

Mom- Thanks for sending the Ensign. I can't wait to get it. when does school get out? Thanks for all that you do. I can't wait to talk to you on Sunday.

Dad- I am so grateful for all you do. I am jealous that it only took 30 minutes to cut the whole yard. It would take me an 1 hour and 40 minutes to cut the whole lawn. Good for you!

I will be calling sometime between 5 - 8 my time so between 3 - 6 your time not sure when exactly. I still need to buy a webcam for Martlews so it should be through skype.

I love you all. Thanks for all that you do!

Love your favorite Elder, Son, and Brother

Elder Landon Webb