Oct. 28, 2013

Last week was kind of a crazy one.  

Elder Smith and I went there for lunch one day at a place called Dizzy D's. They have this burger called the 18 wheeler.  It has 9 1/4 lb patties, 3 onion rings, 3 eggs and 3 tomato slices.  If you can eat the burger in 18 minutes, the burger is free and you get your picture on the wall.  Elder Smith decided to take the challenge to eat the 18 wheeler.  Elder Smith was able to eat the 18 wheeler burger in 11 minutes!! That was crazy.  Needless to say he had a hard time walking the rest of the day.  

We did service for a lady that wanted her windows trimmed.  On our way to her place (we were in our service clothes) there was a lady that had told us that her prayers were answered and that Mormon missionaries don't have to wear suit and ties any more.  She also asked us if we could do some service work for her.  We told her that we were unable to help her at that time because we were on our way to help someone but that we could come by Friday and help. 

We got a phone call from someone that we tracted into.  He asked if we could help him build a patio in his backyard Saturday.  We told him that we couldn't because we had a meeting to attend.  We did mention that we would see if we could find someone who could help him.  We ended up calling the Elders Quorum President and told him the situation.  He said that he would find some people to help him.  So that was good.

We also went tracting with the spanish speaking Elders this week.  While I was out tracting, we came across someone who has been excommunicated from the church.  This person is convinced that the Mormons are out to take over the world and when you get old and can't think for yourself the church will come and buy all that you own.  That was an interesting person.  Another house that we came to we were able to see inside the house through the screen door and saw that this house had a cow head mounted on the wall.  That kind of creeped us out a little.  We had an interesting time tracting that day.

A couple of our investigators that we are teaching remind me of Kimie, whom I taught while I was in Pasco.  They just agree with everything that we say or ask them.  That's a little frustrating.

That's about it for the week.

I love you.

Love, Scott

P.S.  Elder Smith sleep walks.  One night he fell asleep while writing in his journal.  I finally turned the lights out when a few minutes later he got up and went to the window and opened the curtains.  When I asked him what he was doing, he said that he was waiting for someone.  They were coming to pick him up so they can go hang out.

Also the pedal striped out on my bike again.  I think I'm done with the bike.  I don't think it's worth fixing again.

Elder Smith after eating the 18 wheeler

Oct. 21, 2013

Hey,
Things are going good.  Things are getting better.  Although I did have to take my bike to the shop again.  I stripped out the pedal again.  They told me that I will need a new crank shaft for that.  That will be about $65.  It should be done by Wednesday or Thursday.

I still think that I will be transferred this next transfer.  I'll just have to wait and see what happens.  This Friday we will be heading down to Kennewick.  Elder Ballard will be speaking to us.  I'm excited to see and hear Elder Ballard.

I sent you a letter today.  Most of what happened I put in there so I won't repeat too much.  I'll also be sending some things home.  Mostly shirts that I don't need.  I'm also going to send home my iPod so you can put some more music on it.

Sorry there is not much in this email.  Like I said I mailed a letter home today that has most of what happened this week in it.

I love you.

Scott

P.S.  I did go to Saddle Rock today.  Here are some pictures that I took while I was there and one from when we went to the temple.

Oct. 14, 2013

This week was alright.  We had a lot of meetings and did a lot of traveling.  We had a zone meeting Tuesday.  Wednesday we made a trip to the temple.  The temple was awesome.  Thursday we painted a  house for Habitat for Humanity.  I also got my bike back from the bike shop.  It's good to have it back.  Friday we had our weekly planning meeting.  It's been kind of a weird week.  I'm glad it's over.  Next week won't be as bad.

We received a call from the Mission President letting us know that on Oct. 26 Elder Ballard will be here along with an Area Authority and a member of the 70.  We will be heading to to Kennewick the night before so we do not have to get up so early.

The training is coming along.  It can be challenging at times.  I think my companion is hard on himself somethings.

I do have a strong feeling that I will get transferred out of Wenatchee in a couple of weeks.  We will see what happens.

Well, that's my week in a nut shell.

I love you.

Love,
Scott

Oct. 7, 2013

When I got the call from Pres. Ware asking if I would train a greenie, I was pretty nervous.  I figure I must be doing something right in order to get this tall order.  I just have to take it one day at a time.

This week week had a trainer/trainee meeting in Moses Lake, which is about 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive.  In the meeting they told us what to expect and gave us some pointers.  They also told us to focus on the 12 week program.  Pres. Ware took everyone who was training with him and opened it up for discussion.  We discussed how we think the best way to train.  Basically we are to use the principles found in "Preach My Gospel".  Elder Smith and I have been working on those each day.

This week we will be making the 3 hour trip to Kennewick to attend the temple.  I'm looking forward to that.  Then on Oct. 26, one of the General Authorities is coming to speak to us.  I am so pumped for that.

My bike has a flat tire.  I fixed that.  Then I noticed that where the pedal screws are for the crank shaft has been stripped out and the derailer needed to be worked on.  I ended up taking the bike to the bike shop.  They later told me that the derailer was missing a part and would have to order it, so I would be without a bike for about a week.  Later that evening while at a dinner appointment, somehow the family we were having dinner with had heard that I my  bike was in the shop, so they are letting me borrow one of their bikes until mine gets fixed.  What a great blessing.  (I've already got my shoelace stuck.  I guess I'm going to have to get new shoe laces.  Oh, and I've already wore a hole in the crotch a pair of pants that I bought while in Pasco.)

Elder Smith and I have started to go through our area book to look for potential investigators (tracting is frowned upon and we are to only go if there is nothing else to do).  We started going through our list and contacting the people.  One house we came to the person who we had listed in the area book doesn't live there anymore,  but they people that do said that we could share our message with them.  We ended up teaching her the restoration and she also wants to come to church Sunday.  We were able to find another person who let us in.  Having people let us into their homes and give them lessons don't happen very often, but that night it happened twice.  That was pretty cool.

We do have one investigator that is preparing for baptism.  That is exciting.

That's about it.  

I love you.

Love,

Scott

Oh, I heard from a missionary that is in Vancouver that Oscar is planning on going on a mission!! (Oscar was one that we baptized while I was serving in Vancouver).

I was able to watch all of the sessions of conference.  There were some really good talks given.