Email Update: January 30, 2012

Hey Family

So I got transferred. I am no longer in the Magnolia 2 area. I got transferred to White Oak / Sam Houston 2. I am back in the Cypress Zone and my area borders my old area of Wheatstone. I was quite suprised to get moved. I have never been in a area so short as Magnolia 2. I was there for only two transfers. But in my new area I cover two wards: White Oak, which is a family ward and Sam Houston 2, which is a singles ward. My companion is Elder Kelly, he is from Las Vegas and he has been out for three transfers and I am his second companion. We have a lot of promising investigators, two of which have a baptismal date in February and I met them both and they are definitely prepared.

 I don't know my address. But apparently we are changing apartments here soon so just stick to the mission address for now I guess. Oh also this past week with transfers I said goodbye to my MTC district Elders: Esplin, Batt, Scoresby, Keliipuleole, and Maughan. Along with my good friend Hermana Martinez. It was very hard to say goodbye to them but this is the way it's suppose to be and they are a great group that will do great things. And I am very blessed that I had the opportunity to serve with them and have gotten to be their friends. I really liked the chart y'all did for Rebecca and I really enjoyed reading Grandma Wright's testimony that was really neat and special. I would love to have one of those.

That's all I can think of. I love y'all

Email Update: January 23, 2012

Sounds like everyone is doing well which is awesome! 

This past week was interesting! On Monday we had family home evening with the Ramsey family which is a part member family. That was really fun - we did an awesome activity which I took pictures of. 

Then on Tuesday we go over to Jason and Amanda's and when we knocked on the door Amanda came out to talk to us (When either Jason and Amanda come out of the house it is always bad news so we were like "uh oh") She told us that tonight wouldn't work because Cathy (Jason's mom) went to the hospital that night because she was having problems with her heart and she went to the hospital so the whole family was tripping. But as we were about to leave Jason pulled up he just came from the hospital. We offered him if he would like us to give his mother a blessing he called and asked his mom and she accepted so we drive to the hospital. We get there and we are trying to find Cathy's room when behind me I hear "Elders who's sick?" I turn around and there is this nurse there and it caught me off guard at first but I finally put the pieces together that the nurse was a member. I told her we are here for an investigator, not a member.  She asked us for the name so she could help us find it. I told her and Loni (name of the nurse) was like "oh she is my patient, follow me" (Hmmmm convenient..... there is a bigger picture here...) She takes us to Cathy's room, we make small talk and Loni continues to tell Cathy how she is a member and how the gospel has blessed her life and these missionaries right here will change her life. Loni continues to tell both of us that she doesn't even work at this hospital. She works at a different hospital called Memorial Hermann but the hospital we were at needed extra help that night so they asked her and she accepted (hmmmm weird..... I think not!) So we gave Cathy a blessing and promised her that she would recover. As we left we talked to Loni and we started talking about how this is so crazy and that the Lord is definitely working here. I am glad she accepted to work that night. Before we left I told Loni that when Cathy is permitted to drink anything make sure she doesn't get any coffee at all!!!! This is Cathy's huge thing haha she said "no problem". But it was kinda funny earlier, Cathy made a joke she said "well I am probably in here because I drink coffee like water huh." :) 

Well we find out the next day that Cathy went into the operating room so the doctors could put a pacemaker in her.  Well as they are rolling her in there her heart beat goes flat, but good thing she was right there at the operating room because they got her back and successfully put the pacemaker in her. She is now fine and is at home taking it easy. 

Then on Wednesday, Elder Troester and I were on exchanges and we went church hopping and got to talk to a Pentecostal preacher and share what we believe and understand more what they believe. Then on Sunday we got a lot of less actives at church which was awesome! Then went to Jason's new place (they moved just down the street from his parents) and visited with them. 

So it was an eventful week. Transfer calls are tomorrow so we will see what happens :) 

Love y'all a lot!

Email Update: January 17, 2012

I just hit 18 months and on the mission when you have 6 months left your are suppose to do whats called "6 months to sexy". Since you know you get all fat and flab (especially in Texas) on the mission, so you're suppose to make that push to get back into shape for when you go home..... yeah so far, not so good for me. Hopefully that will turn around. I need to start cutting down at member dinners but it's so hard since they go all with food and expect you to not leave any left overs! 

We just got a new investigator that seems promising. Jason and Amanda again didn't come to church it's so sad to always be anxious and looking for them every Sunday but to not see them in the end. Kinda depressing but, oh well, that's agency for ya. Thankfully the Texans lost their game and are now out of the playoffs! Nothing against them but like I said, they hinder the work. But it is still bad with the NFL playoffs still around because football runs this place. Places shut down for this stuff, not cool

Well transfers are around the corner. Tobchan and I have talked to President so we could be companions again up in College Station., hopefully that works out.

I love y'all take care now :)

Email Update: January 9, 2012

Ok so this past week was alright. The Texans played on Saturday and boy was it hard to work! Everyone was watching the game. So to make matters worse, the Texans won - I have nothing against the Texans. It is awesome that they made their first playoff appearance in franchise history, but it kills missionary work haha. Texas and football is just something else I can't even describe it. You would have to come here and experience it yourself. We got a new investigator on Sunday though so that is awesome. Jason and Amanda need to come to church still.

I hit 18 months in 2 days pretty insane. I woke up this morning to a crazy lightning storm and buckets of rain it is awesome! I have interviews with President in 2 days which is awesome. And I hope to report next week of more progression with our investigators.