Missionary Moving Club

Dear Family,

This past couple of days have been nothing but crazy. We have been running/biking/walking/sprinting/begging for rides to take us to our appointments because we were so busy. Our day started like any other day Monday...

Monday. We had a weird day since all of the Elders are on bike except for the ZL'S. They have a truck (someday after the mission I will have a truck...That is not PINK (Seth and Abigail.)) So we have a p-day car, meaning that we steal the car from the sisters for Monday and drive around for the day, but we have to wash the car, which stinks because we have no money for p-day, well everyone else but me. I find it funny that I am among the few elders that are Thrifty with their money. Elder Low, my companion said, "I didn't know that going to the celestial kingdom was dependent upon how much is in your MSF" we had an awesome laugh over that. We then went to an appointment after p-day, which we only got to set up another appointment.

Tuesday. We had zone conference that day, we had to bike and it is not fun to bike there, get all hot and sweaty and then put on a suit coat. We are crammed into a 15x30 foot room, man I was sweating like crazy, and during the break, I went out to the couch and slept for 15 minutes before it started back up. Now some background information, I woke up the night before and had a feeling that I needed to open a fast and I was up for about 2 hours debating if I should or if I shouldn't. I then got up and opened a fast, and fell asleep in minutes after I closed it. So during the entire the next day I was fasting, and it was rough a little, for lunch the mission president bought us all, all-you-can-eat tacos, it was rough having to say "No." (My reasoning behind why it was rough was because there was a Latino making them, now if they make them they are AWESOME but when a white guy makes them it doesn't have the same taste.) After we finished with the zone conference we had a lesson with some investigators that have a baptismal date, and it went well with them. We invited them to church on Sunday. Right after that had a lesson with another investigator, which was awesome; we had to skip dinner in between the lessons to continue to meet with our investigators.

Wednesday. we called some recent converts, who are ward missionaries, who we had a lesson with to move our time to later in that day but he was just like "Could you still come at 3 pm I have my friend Bill on over at that time and he has some questions for you guys?" When I heard that I was just like "YESSSSSSS, WARD MISSIONARIES DOING MISSIONARY WORK, YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" So we met with them at that time and we moved around our schedule to make it work. We got to eat dinner that day, the week previous we weren't able to go and teach and get fed; so we got to go home and eat. Right after we have our Scripture Study Class at the church, and we were going through the Book of Mormon explaining about what is being said, and we read 2 Nephi 28 which talks about false churches and their many avenues of attack and approach. We left them with 2 Nephi 29 to read in preparation for next week, and we had to stay with the missionaries in another ward at the church until their ride got there. (We had to lock up the building.)

Thursday. We gave service for some members that were moving and we helped them move from 9 to 1 pm then we had a lesson with a Less Active over Doctrine and Covenants 138:47-48, temples and sealings. After, we visited some people but they weren't there so nothing happened.

Friday...SERVICE FROM 10 TO 4 for the members that are moving. (They were supposed to be gone about 1 week ago, and they haven't because the mom want to bring every scrap of paper, everything in the house, and not leave anything.) It got to the point that the dad was like "16 boxes of Romance novels, BURN 'EM!" After that we had a lesson with our investigators with Baptismal dates, in which we had a church tour and explain everything that we do in the church. We ended at the Baptismal Font, and the spirit was there, they were on the verge of crying at that point. No sooner than when they left, our Recent Converts from earlier came to the church. We had a lesson on Genealogy and we set them up with a family search account. They were happy, because they had a baby die before they came to Church and they found out a little more on the processes in how they are sealed together as a family for forever, and we got them excited for that. Then we went and had dinner and we were supposed to weekly plan from 10-2 pm but that didn't happen so we planned to do it later in the day but it didn't happen. When we finished dinner, we went to bed at 9 pm and we planned the next day in the morning, and we didn't even get changed because we were so tired.

Saturday. We had a lesson at 10 in the morning on the opposite side of our area, and it is a 2 mile bike ride uphill with an 4-5 mph head wind. We got there 5-10 minutes after the set time and we taught the restoration, and there after we had some investigators that wanted to go to a baptism that some other Elders in our zone were having so we had to bike there, and explain what is going on. After that we had lunch and we were still so tired that we fell asleep during lunch, and weren't able to get to weekly planning. When we woke up, we discovered that we had an appointment in the middle of our area in 15 minutes, but they weren't there so we stopped by some other people and they weren't home. Guess what happened after, we were called by the members that were moving, asking us to come and help. We showed up and helped, and I hate to think of all of the boxes of books, of Romance novels, that we threw away.

 Now I feel a rant coming on so I am going to rant here so you can take a nap for this part. Romance novels do nothing but arouse emotions that are powerful, emotions that ARE reserved for your spouse only. If anyone reads such things I would ask you to let it go, they arouse those powerful emotions that mean something to both God, your spouse (Future Spouse), and TOO YOURSELF. You sell them for something of naught, they become meaningless, worthless and you CHEAT yourself, when you read Romance novels. Personally, I think that if you read a romance novel you are breaking the Law of Chasity. How can you keep yourself clean spiritually, mentally, and physically if you keep feeding the powerful emotions for something of no worth. If you have fallen into this trap, then repent, and talk to your bishop, PLEASE!!! Okay I am done ranting.

Sunday. We woke people up for church, but they didn't show. For ward coordination we filled out a Progress record (weekly report for the stake) completely. In ward council we said that we had couple on for a baptismal date and that they had to come to church that day, and one of the primary presidency said "They only need to come for 3 Sundays, it needs to be 6 months before we extend a baptismal date!" I am sorry to say but I laughed out loud and said "That's not going to happen, but it’s a good idea." All of the missionaries that were in the meeting said "We can't even get half our own members to show in a year and you think that 6 months is the soonest?!" Another said, “they raised it from my mission, it was 2 not 3 Sundays" Members need to go on a mission if they really want to understand the church and people in the church. We had 1 investigator show up but that is okay we can work with them on that. We got out around 6 pm where we had a lesson planned but no one was there, so we had dinner, and then went to visit other people and same story, not there, so we weekly planned.

Thus it is in the life of a missionary.

From,

Ammon

I am well. Yes, I have been trying to drink more water. It isn't even funny anymore ever since I started biking, my quads have gotten so big that when I sit down I fill out my pants completely. They get a little tight whenever I don't pull my pants up a little before I sit down and what is weird, I am Down to 188 lbs. but my quads have gotten about another 1-2 inches bigger. I haven't been as good in writing in my Journal, I am better but not by much, and my personal prayer and studies have been good. I have had some Aha moments... My prayers are getting better; Elder Low has been helping me to remind me to pray for the district. 

this is one that I will Share...

Helaman 10:4-5...

Open your mouth and you are blessed

We were so slammed those days that we were so tired. The only time we stopped moving was lunch or dinner. Not so much that day that we needed help if it was there I thank you for the prayers, but I think it was more for the spirit to be with us as we taught the gospel. We still kinda need help adjusting to each others teaching style, mine is get out of the way I am teaching all of this lesson until you jump in and start teaching. His is more of a let you go until you run out of steam then reteach the lesson again from the last point that he taught. It is a little frustrating but we are working on it. Again thank you for the prayers.

Love you all,

Ammon

Tons of Tacos

Dear Family,

 

Monday was Crazy, we had so much to get done. In our zone ALL of the Elders except the zone leaders, are on bike, so we are left to fend for ourselves and find a way to get our shopping done, and all of the stores are on the opposite side of the area. We managed to get the ZL's to drive us around, so did the rest of the Elders, the Zone Leaders just drove Elders around all day. We had a zone activity, which the zone leaders showed up and us that was it, so we played some card games. I learned how to play an Indian Card game, which basically is playing the game Chicken with cards, it was fun.

 

Tuesday, we were busy all day. We gave service to some members of the ward who are moving out. Then we left to go give a lady a blessing again, she is one of those people who wants a blessing every day, for the same thing. If we don't anoint with oil, she gets angry, because we "AREN'T GIVING HER A PROPER BLESSING". We barely managed to get out of her house in time, she likes to talk and each visit will last almost 2 hours for a 5 minute blessing. We managed to get to our appointment and we got our Ward mission Leader to go on a lesson with us. We extended a baptismal date for a couple we are teaching and they accepted. Now the backstory on them, she is Latino and he is Austrian, so the Spanish Sisters, 2 years ago HAD to teach her, and the elders had to teach Him. The sisters at the time were just hungry for numbers, not for helping others. The couple was extended a baptismal date and they cut themselves off from the missionaries, and became a NEVER COME BACK. Well, we came back, are teaching them and got them to commit to a baptismal date. We later had a an dinner with a family who invited their neighbors on over and we taught them the Word of Wisdom, which they said they would live and they have yet to call us saying that they need our help to them resist the temptation, of course they may not even want to call us. There was a fire that started and they had to shut down the Cajon (a road going down to San Bernardino) and it burned from Monday night to Friday night, and the missionaries that were training and picking up their Greenies, were stuck down the hill, till Friday

 

Wednesday, we gave more service to some members who were moving, and we visited with an Investigator, whom we haven't seen in a month. We got in and started to teach the restoration, and his wife came in and had questions on the Book of Mormon, and it was awesome_. We had never got to sit down and teach them both but we did, and they have been reading the Book of Mormon, and they said they would come to Church (they didn't show up though) but they still said that they were interested in continuing forward to learn more.

 

Thursday, we gave more service to family moving. We went to our lesson with a recent convert which turned into them having a safety inspection and needing help cleaning the back yard of all the trash, which is a chore even in the desert, because everyone LOVES to throw their trash out of the window, and not worry about the consequences for everyone. So, no lesson there. Oh, and we were double booked for dinner so we had 2 dinners, KFC and Lasagna. We had to answer questions for some converts that are preparing to enter the Temple, we directed them to go to the Temple Prep classes but they are busy so we get to teach them on our weekly visits about the temple.

 

Friday, we had a lesson with the couple again and we taught the plan of Salvation. It was a hard road to hoe but we taught them about it, and he had questions on how to distinguish between an angel of the Devil and an angel of light, DC 129 is a great section. Our next appointment canceled on us so we got more time to go tract and we found no one outside, who would figure with a fire and smoke plumes that are 2 miles away. DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE FIRES. Yes, they were close but don't let that worry you, we had a plan in place if the fire got to us, we would have been well out of the way and safe. We then gave service in the dark of night, when the members were asleep because that was the only time it was cool enough. Then we fled like thieves in the night and went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders.

 

Saturday, we visited Less Actives all the day long, and for dinner, we had tacos. I had 15 tacos, while everyone was full at 5 and I was still hungry for more. We visited more Less actives, and then exchanged again.

 

Sunday, we biked for the first 2 hours of the day inviting people to church. Then we were picked up and went to Church and we were there all day until dinner, which we had to skip to make some of our appointments. We had an awesome time preparing for tomorrow, we basically got ready and we after had 5 minutes before bedtime, so we played soccer, but it lasted till about 11-11:30

 

I am doing better, but there are still some things I am working on. We have been trying to teach those who are progressing, but some of them just need a kick in the pants to get them going, and some have started. We were supposed to have 4 people at Church yesterday, but 3 of the 4 canceled. Yes, I have been trying to keep our apartment clean. Well you can't really have me being funny in person, but I still am funny. People here in the zone and ward LOVE to tease me and joke with me about MISSOURI, and the way I talk. They know that I won't say something out malice, that is mean or rude, so they take potshots at me, not to say that I don't tease back. (Except for the sister missionaries, it is unfair because they can tease me, but I can't tease back because that would be “flirting”.)

 Yes, I am as strong as an OX, to Quote Andre the Giant, "I can't help being the biggest and strongest, I don't even exercise.” Please Keep praying for me, it is needed.

 

 

I love you all,

From,

Ammon

Come to Zion, Beautiful Zion

Dear Family,

I am doing well, this has been a crazy week, getting ready for my companion to go home and to get the area ready for the new missionaries coming into it, but we found out today that I am staying and that my new Companion is ...... Drum Roll please...... Elder Low, my MTC companion. This past week we have been super busy, I have been tossed, traded, and thrown around with companions this past week, I have been in 2 different areas that are not my own, and I finally just got back into my area last night. Because of transfers today, we had to get everyone's stuff rearranged. We had to clear out an apartment in Bear Valley, because sisters were coming in. So, we had to clean it out, and remove all evidence of the fact that Elders lived there before. (But, I think they will know, because of the Cockroaches.) We had fun because we were there from 6 to 11-ish, cleaning. Man, oh man it is really disgusting what you find, we threw out a dumpster of trash and BAD leftovers that have been in the fridge for ...2 transfers or 12 weeks, or 3 months, who knows?! We had to clear out everything and man, oh man I thought that the apartment smelled bad before but cleaning it was repugnant like nothing else. 

 

These past weeks we have been jumping back and forth between areas, and my area has taken a hit, but we can fix that. I haven't been able to write in my Journal this past couple of week, but I will do better and write in it more for you.

 

We have been going and visiting many of our less actives, people who we never have thought to visit, we did and I have some pretty funny stories for when I get home. I got to go to a Tofu Shop and have Korean food, it was pretty good, but it is expensive. Members took us there and had us try all sorts of crazy food, and they were absolutely fascinated in the fact that I could use a pair of Chop sticks, they were like completely amazed that I could use them, me being a "COUNTRY BOY" and "HAVE NEVER USED CHOP STICKS BEFORE, BECAUSE YOU ARE FROM MISSOURI". Members are weird; they are just like the people here that think along those lines. Just because I am one of the 10 % of missionaries that are not from Utah, and am in the middle of the USA not from the coast, I mean people don't seem to get it when I say Zion is not in Utah, it’s in Missouri.

 

I have to go,

Love you all,

Ammon

Teaching

Dear Family,

Well Monday, we did not have a lot done. We basically did nothing for our zone activity, and we were asked the day previous to drop off some primary papers for the kids that didn't attend.

 

Tuesday, we had a bad day we were dropped by everyone that we had set, and everyone that we found previous that week, we went by a spur of the moment kind of a thing and they weren't there. We met a Born Again guy who started to Bash on us, but was polite almost. We taught a brief lesson of the Book of Mormon to them and they said, "WE have a bible, we don't need your bible,” inside I was like Read 2 Nephi 29 and you won't be saying that. So we left and stopped by some potential that we had on our sheets and they left for Canada 2 months ago, and just got back so got in with them. We began to teach them The Restoration, we were there for 2 hours and we became "Counselors" for them, we sat and listened to their marriage problems, hence the 2 hours. We had dinner with the Bishop and his Family, and the kids were kids, they didn’t want to eat, they didn't want to sit, they didn't want to play, they just wanted to do what they wanted to do, and they tried all night to get their way. We found a lost Member we have a return appointment, and we may have a potential investigator out of it. Oh and our ward mates called about an investigator, the message was one of "Still has a desire, and will wait till things cool down." 

 

Wednesday, we met with a less active, we shared a scripture Alma 41:12-15. (Oh, if given the opportunity, find a speaker Called Hyrum W. Smith, and listen to his talks on self-worth, apostasy and prayer/mission.) We gave service at Bishops Store house, it is very different and you get to meet some very different people and their view on missionaries and the church. We have a scripture study class at the Church, and we had a member show up and study with the Class, he is a history teacher, and is into a lot of the Bible history. He went into the class and shared his conversion story, and about how he came to know that the book of Mormon was true. He shared some things of how he had the missionaries on over for years but never wanted to join. Then he had a dream that he would be asked to be baptized one last time and that was it. Our ward mission leader showed up and was introducing the new missionaries, and interrupted them and asked if he would like to be baptized, and how he was like in his head, "CRAP! THAT IS A SIGN FROM GOD" and accepted the invitation to be baptized.

 

Thursday, we biked all day and were trying to find more people, we tracted, we soap boxed, we placed cards & pamphlets. We had a lesson with a Less active recent Covert, he is 16 years old, and he doesn't talk or participate in the lessons, but we found out that when you bring up Pokemon Go that he WILL NOT STOP TALKING ABOUT IT. So we have to tie everything to Pokemon. My personal favorite is HOW SIN IS LIKE A POKEBALL. This made us late for dinner. We met with some Eternagators, and we shared a scripture on Karma, then on how we need to be Chaste, upon thinking of that I don't know if Karma and Chasity are the best mix of teaching. They also asked about Garments and when is the right time to take them off, like for water sports and other things, but they seemed to get the message and said we could come back. They love to make missionaries feel super awkward in that lesson, (I taught them that lesson before and they gave me crap for it the first time.)

 

Friday, we were stuck inside for all of the day except for the 2 hours that we were out and about. We got to meet a less active that has avoided us for 2 weeks, and we invited him back to church. Weekly planning takes too much time, because we have to plan finding activities for every day because we don't have people to teach.

 

Saturday, WAS HAZZZZZY!!! It was so bad that at the end of the day they put out a warning that there are a lot of pollutants in the air, and not to go outside. If we knew at the beginning of the day that would have been better, but we were huffing and puffing it all day long trying to see people, and we got Heat Exhaustion really bad, even though I drank 2-3 gallons of water.

 

Sunday, I woke up to a Charlie Horse, and promise not to laugh at my pain, but as I had it I fell off of the bed and hit my head on the nightstand. By the time, I had it stretched out and climbed back in bed, no sooner than when my head hit the pillow the Alarm clock went off, and we had to be up to get ready for Church. We had meetings all day. I kid you not, if you think that there are no meetings that a missionary has to go to you are dead wrong. Sunday we had meetings from 10 to 6 and we didn't get a chance to cut out because bishop invited us to the meetings to have more priesthood there to pass training down to the Quorums and less actives. We did manage to get a lesson with a less active. We promptly found out that he will be gone for 2-3 weeks, and that he won't have time thereafter to meet for another 2-3 weeks, so we lose him for a transfer, sadness... But he is making progress, to come to church and read the book of Mormon, and we gave him some scriptures to read while he is gone so that shouldn't be a total loss.

 

Love,

 Ammon