Deer,
It sounds like you guys had fun. The town of Rogersville celebrated Independents Day on the 3rd this year. There was a big parade down main street and after that a huge party down at the city park the rest of the day. We didn't go to it though, we had appointments. We drove by it Sunday morning and saw that is was trashed!
Yesterday we had 6 investigators at church and 5 of them were potential-priesthood-holders. The 3 guys that I talked about last week will be getting baptized on Sunday evening. They were at church. The other 3 are members of a part-member family that we are teaching.
-von
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 27th and it is now HOT
On saturday we had a baptism (see attatched picture). It went well. Because the faunt at the church was being difficult we held the baptism at a (indoor) pool of a member (se attatcher picture). In order to get to this pool one must first enter the master bedroom, then enter the master closet. When you enter the master closet you will find yourself in a short hall way with 2 doors to you left, 2 doors to your right, and one at the end of the hall. Enter the one at the end and you will find yourself in the "private oasis" that we turned into the baptistry. Yep. It is a really nice house.
The baptism went very well though. She was so excited.
Last week we started talking to these 3 guys in our aptartment complex. We had them read the intro to the book of mormon were it says it is "the most correct book on earth" and the got really excited. They said "That means that book is more correct then the Bible! And it's shorter so it gets more to the point." I just wanted to respond and say "you said it, not us." We met with them again and they said they would come to church, and they did! well 2 of them. A sister in our branch has really been longing and praying that this branch will turn into a ward and then a stake. That was a promise to one of her children in thier patriartical blessing. When These 2 potential-priesthood-holders showed up she was just so ready to step it up and welcom them. We committed them and the other guy to be baptized on the 11th of july. We are excited.
We had 4 other potential-priesthood-holders investigators come to church yesterday and a couple less-active-prospective-elders too. It is great! We are deffinitely seeing the hand of the Lord in our work this week.
Well I love you all,
-von
p.s. The other pictures are of a park that has a "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" theme up in Kingsport. That park is called "Daral's Dream" and Warrior's Parth State Park. I might have spelt Daral wrong and it might not be a state park. Oh well, it was pretty cool.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
June 13th
Dear Arizona!
Our trip to Nashville went well, though we didn't get to go to the temple. In our exodus out of Knoxville and the rest of east TN we used alot of miles on our cars. We got a carter bus and a few other 15 passenger vans and headed on over. It was blimin hot there!! We were all sitting there melting in the chaple waiting for Elder Ballard to come in and some one walks in and say "Elder Ballard has givin approvel for the elders to remove thier suit coats." so we all did quite willingly, but even then it was still misrable. The Apostle came in without his coat, said a few jokes like "why are you all standing? Is it cooler that way?" and told us to all be seated.
We were instructed to talk to 10 new people (other than tracting) a day. We also were instructed to have concentrated study time. Also to take members to invite friends to church/FHE/lessons/whatever. This will help us in our work.
Elder Platt and I have been striving to live more concentrated lives as missionaries.
Sunday we met a lady who use to work with a member of our ward. We asked her what she is looking for in life and she said nothing really. She said the she felt that her purpose right now is to help her son be happy and good and teach him were to turn for guidence, God and the scripures. So we showed her that the first few principles in the restoration pamphet were just that, blessing families and prophets/scripure is to help us do that. We told her about prophets and Joseph Smith and she said that she would be scared to follow someone who might be a scam artist and that she would need some thing to help her know it was true. So we told her about the BoM that it is there to help us know if he is true or not. We are going there tonight to teach her and her son with the member.
I hope all is going well for you people out there!
love ya!
-that kid in the south
Our trip to Nashville went well, though we didn't get to go to the temple. In our exodus out of Knoxville and the rest of east TN we used alot of miles on our cars. We got a carter bus and a few other 15 passenger vans and headed on over. It was blimin hot there!! We were all sitting there melting in the chaple waiting for Elder Ballard to come in and some one walks in and say "Elder Ballard has givin approvel for the elders to remove thier suit coats." so we all did quite willingly, but even then it was still misrable. The Apostle came in without his coat, said a few jokes like "why are you all standing? Is it cooler that way?" and told us to all be seated.
We were instructed to talk to 10 new people (other than tracting) a day. We also were instructed to have concentrated study time. Also to take members to invite friends to church/FHE/lessons/whatever. This will help us in our work.
Elder Platt and I have been striving to live more concentrated lives as missionaries.
Sunday we met a lady who use to work with a member of our ward. We asked her what she is looking for in life and she said nothing really. She said the she felt that her purpose right now is to help her son be happy and good and teach him were to turn for guidence, God and the scripures. So we showed her that the first few principles in the restoration pamphet were just that, blessing families and prophets/scripure is to help us do that. We told her about prophets and Joseph Smith and she said that she would be scared to follow someone who might be a scam artist and that she would need some thing to help her know it was true. So we told her about the BoM that it is there to help us know if he is true or not. We are going there tonight to teach her and her son with the member.
I hope all is going well for you people out there!
love ya!
-that kid in the south
Monday, April 26, 2010
26 April, 2010
This week I met a lady who was doing really bad. We were tracting these apartments and we saw a lady walking across the parking lot. So we go over to talk to her. We tell her about prophets and ask if she'd like to hear that message. She said ya. We were actually taken aback at first because we didn't expect her to say yes. So we were talking to her and telling her about the Restoration and I come to James 1:5 and Elder Harrison cuts me off and asks her "how do you feel about prayer?" She goes off on this huge story about how she had cancer and how God answered her prayer. We were then taken aback again. Then she tells us about how she tried to help this lady and gave her a place to sleep for the night and that she woke up and the lady was gone and so was her last $100 that she had and that now she is trying to borrow money from friends and no one will help her. She admitted that the night before she had seriously considered cutting her wrists and that right before she left her apartment she offered a prayer for help. She said that when she saw us walking towards her she heard a voice say "listen to these boys. They have a message for you."
At this point we were pretty excited. We eplained to her that this is the gopspel of hope and the plan of happyness and that we wanted to come see her again. She said that she would be home during the day on the morrow. We decided to give her some money to help her.
We went back the next day and she wasn't home. Because she didn't have a phone we decided to go by the next day. No go. We left it at that. The next day we get a call from her and she asked if we could come over in an hour. so we did. She explained that she had something come up and that she was sorry she missed us. She explained that the money we gave her was stolen. She was really depressed. We gave her a Book of Mormon and promised her blessing of happyness and strangth through the dark hours of the night and that if she drew closer to her savior and got baptized that the Lord will help her. She said that that was what she wanted and we committed her for May 4th. We explained that she needed to come to church this week and next week in order for this to happen. We arranged a ride for her but she didn't show. We when over after church and she said that some thing came up and she wanted us to come by that evening. We went by and no show.
Sadly she is dropped. I hope that what ever happens to her that she will be safe. I don't know if she was honest with us but oh well. we did what we could. it's in her hands now. I hope this will make an impression on her life.
-von
At this point we were pretty excited. We eplained to her that this is the gopspel of hope and the plan of happyness and that we wanted to come see her again. She said that she would be home during the day on the morrow. We decided to give her some money to help her.
We went back the next day and she wasn't home. Because she didn't have a phone we decided to go by the next day. No go. We left it at that. The next day we get a call from her and she asked if we could come over in an hour. so we did. She explained that she had something come up and that she was sorry she missed us. She explained that the money we gave her was stolen. She was really depressed. We gave her a Book of Mormon and promised her blessing of happyness and strangth through the dark hours of the night and that if she drew closer to her savior and got baptized that the Lord will help her. She said that that was what she wanted and we committed her for May 4th. We explained that she needed to come to church this week and next week in order for this to happen. We arranged a ride for her but she didn't show. We when over after church and she said that some thing came up and she wanted us to come by that evening. We went by and no show.
Sadly she is dropped. I hope that what ever happens to her that she will be safe. I don't know if she was honest with us but oh well. we did what we could. it's in her hands now. I hope this will make an impression on her life.
-von
Monday, April 19, 2010
18 April, 2010
Good monday!
I hope all is well in the west. Last week we got to drive to Rockwood (35 miles east of Crossville and half way to Knoxville for us. adverage of 85 mile days) 5 times.
Monday we went there for an activity with the sisters there and the Farrogot(sp) missionaries.
Wednesday we drover to Rockwood to meet the sisters and car pool to Farragot/Knoxville for Interviews with the president.
Thursday the sisters (in Rockwood) asked us (Elder Harrison being District Leader) to help commit or drop an investigator they have had for a while and who won't buckle down and commit. So we went and had a great lesson and he is getting baptized on the 4th of May.
Friday was district meeting (which takes place in Rockwood). After District meeting we when on exange with the Zone leaders serving in south Knoxville. I went to Knoxville. I really enjoyed being back in a big city and being around the mission head quarters (assistents, president, senirs couples). So the Martenins (sener couple missionaries) serve breakfast for the zone leaders, assistants, and sisters every saturday morning. That was fun. I hope I get to serve in Knoxville someday.
Saturday we needed to exange back, in Rockwood being the central location.
It's been fun!
Our Buddhist friend came to church yesterday. The talks were perfect. 2 high council men talked about love, service and the atonement. The nice part about it was that he knew someone there and they sat in the overflow together. Afterwards he said "ya know my hearing isn't the same as it use to be. Next time I'll need to sit in the chapel so I can hear better." Boom! He's already got a fellowshipper and committed himself to come next week! The only thing that went wrong was that he left right after sacrament and Sunday school and Priesthood were 2 great lessons he needed to hear. We taught Faith in our Gospel Principles class and priesthood was on prayer.
Thursday morning we went on a bike ride so I could get better at it. Elder Harrison told me that you just need to come at a curb head on to get up it. What he didn't mention was that if you are going at high speeds it's not a wise move. So we are going across a street and here comes the curb. Remembering what he said, I went for it head on and my tire wasn't too happy about it. In fact it went flat. I, not wanting to crash and make a fool of myself, slam on the brakes and make a fool of my self, slamming into the grass as my bike flips over my head and starts heading out towards the street. I wrench it back towards me and get up the take a bow. Those baptists are laughing now.
Anyway. I hope you all have a great week.
-elder von sowards
I hope all is well in the west. Last week we got to drive to Rockwood (35 miles east of Crossville and half way to Knoxville for us. adverage of 85 mile days) 5 times.
Monday we went there for an activity with the sisters there and the Farrogot(sp) missionaries.
Wednesday we drover to Rockwood to meet the sisters and car pool to Farragot/Knoxville for Interviews with the president.
Thursday the sisters (in Rockwood) asked us (Elder Harrison being District Leader) to help commit or drop an investigator they have had for a while and who won't buckle down and commit. So we went and had a great lesson and he is getting baptized on the 4th of May.
Friday was district meeting (which takes place in Rockwood). After District meeting we when on exange with the Zone leaders serving in south Knoxville. I went to Knoxville. I really enjoyed being back in a big city and being around the mission head quarters (assistents, president, senirs couples). So the Martenins (sener couple missionaries) serve breakfast for the zone leaders, assistants, and sisters every saturday morning. That was fun. I hope I get to serve in Knoxville someday.
Saturday we needed to exange back, in Rockwood being the central location.
It's been fun!
Our Buddhist friend came to church yesterday. The talks were perfect. 2 high council men talked about love, service and the atonement. The nice part about it was that he knew someone there and they sat in the overflow together. Afterwards he said "ya know my hearing isn't the same as it use to be. Next time I'll need to sit in the chapel so I can hear better." Boom! He's already got a fellowshipper and committed himself to come next week! The only thing that went wrong was that he left right after sacrament and Sunday school and Priesthood were 2 great lessons he needed to hear. We taught Faith in our Gospel Principles class and priesthood was on prayer.
Thursday morning we went on a bike ride so I could get better at it. Elder Harrison told me that you just need to come at a curb head on to get up it. What he didn't mention was that if you are going at high speeds it's not a wise move. So we are going across a street and here comes the curb. Remembering what he said, I went for it head on and my tire wasn't too happy about it. In fact it went flat. I, not wanting to crash and make a fool of myself, slam on the brakes and make a fool of my self, slamming into the grass as my bike flips over my head and starts heading out towards the street. I wrench it back towards me and get up the take a bow. Those baptists are laughing now.
Anyway. I hope you all have a great week.
-elder von sowards
Monday, April 12, 2010
12 April 2010
Dear family,
I did recieve the package. I liked the contence of it. Thank you for the iPod and the candy. The only problem with the candy is that Elder Harrison doesn't eat alot of sweets. So that means that I am eventually going to eat it all myself. I told him that the more of it he eats the less of it I will eat, and I need to more candy like I need the plegue. But he still didn't eat any of it.
We are still on the prowl for more people to teach. We got the most hours tracting in our zone! We have had a few people allow us to come back for a return appointment but none have come through. The closest was a Buddhist man who said we could stop by anytime. We went by yesterday and he was busy, but we set up an appointment for Wednesday. He said that we are the only church people we has/will ever let into his house and that we have made him excited for Wednesday. I'm sure that dad may have some advice for teaching buddhists (though this man is white and has chosen buddhism and not just raised that way) but I wouldn't get the return email till after the next appointment.
We tried to do our first bike day on Wednesday but that morning I got on and found that the tire was flat. So we took the car. At lunch we found that I just didn't fill it up all the way so we filled it up and set out. I have no idea what to do with the gears. I rememberd that I figured them out on Keven's bike but this seemed alot different. I shifted to a gear that had minimum control. Elder Harrison din't know how to discribe how to use them propperly. Then I discovered that I didn't tighten the srews tight enough when my handle bars slipped while going down the hill. The point of a bike day was so that our Baptist freinds could see that we were still out working. I think that bapptists probably just think that we (I) was retarded. Elder Harrison probably did. At least I got a good laugh at myself.
They wanted to go on a hike today. I don't understand why. We do that every day. We probably won't go.
Type to you later!
-von
I did recieve the package. I liked the contence of it. Thank you for the iPod and the candy. The only problem with the candy is that Elder Harrison doesn't eat alot of sweets. So that means that I am eventually going to eat it all myself. I told him that the more of it he eats the less of it I will eat, and I need to more candy like I need the plegue. But he still didn't eat any of it.
We are still on the prowl for more people to teach. We got the most hours tracting in our zone! We have had a few people allow us to come back for a return appointment but none have come through. The closest was a Buddhist man who said we could stop by anytime. We went by yesterday and he was busy, but we set up an appointment for Wednesday. He said that we are the only church people we has/will ever let into his house and that we have made him excited for Wednesday. I'm sure that dad may have some advice for teaching buddhists (though this man is white and has chosen buddhism and not just raised that way) but I wouldn't get the return email till after the next appointment.
We tried to do our first bike day on Wednesday but that morning I got on and found that the tire was flat. So we took the car. At lunch we found that I just didn't fill it up all the way so we filled it up and set out. I have no idea what to do with the gears. I rememberd that I figured them out on Keven's bike but this seemed alot different. I shifted to a gear that had minimum control. Elder Harrison din't know how to discribe how to use them propperly. Then I discovered that I didn't tighten the srews tight enough when my handle bars slipped while going down the hill. The point of a bike day was so that our Baptist freinds could see that we were still out working. I think that bapptists probably just think that we (I) was retarded. Elder Harrison probably did. At least I got a good laugh at myself.
They wanted to go on a hike today. I don't understand why. We do that every day. We probably won't go.
Type to you later!
-von
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter Sunday
I got a bike. I enjoyed conference. We need more investigators. I hope all is well.
-von
-von
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