8/29/2011

Hello there,

How was everyone's week? mine was good, We were able to teach more people this week (thank heavens) now that people's life's are slowing down because of school. We have been looking in the potential investigators section for a while now and we have been contacting people in there, also we have been given a list from the ward council of people to go and contact, that has been turning out really well too! The weather is still hottish. It should be cooling down soon. (I hope)

We found this part member family a while back and we have been teaching him and invited him to be baptised, he said yes! but in time. So we are working with him slowly but surely. His name is Wade. He is awesome!! He comes to church and he is reading out of the Book of Mormon, he really likes it! It's a huge change for him but he can defiantly feel the spirit. His fiance' and her son are members and I was talking to her yesterday at church about him and she said that he is really changing! She said it is taking time but its amazing on how well the spirit is working on him. I told her about Dwight and the struggles, I also told her how proud he is of me and how he wants to talk in church on Fast Sunday, and how far he has come since the past. She started to smile and cry, I felt like she needed to hear that, turns out she did! She said that that made her feel a lot better. Man I love what I do...

So transfer calls are coming this Saturday, I'm really nervous, anything can happen. Elder Joyner might die here (as a missionary) or may leave. I may leave too. I sure hope I DON"T! this area rocks. It has defiantly been a slow process here but there is so much work to do here. Elder Joyner has been getting kind of trunky so all he talks about is home and the members can tell as well and our Zone Leaders found out and talked to me about it privately, I told them it is true. They told President Merkley, so we will see what happens this Saturday.

It is so crazy that I've been out for this long. It really doesn't feel like it. You all may think other wise tho ha ha! I haven't burned anything at all, I don't have any ugly ties to burn, I'm not going to burn a good tie that I have bought. Sorry to hear about Lauren and her job. I thought she was doing so well there? I'll be praying for her to find a new one soon... Again, I find no suprise what so ever that Lauren and Joey are hanging out so much. We saw this coming before he even left... that good that he treats her well. Thats awesome that she started college. Just the basics this year i'm guessing?

So Jade sent me out a package with a letter for my birthday! I was happy to recieve it. She went to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando Flordia a month or so ago and got me some souviners! she took pictures of the place too. It's official, I'm going there, no matter what!! It looks so cool!!! I was really jealous.

I went on exchanges with Elder Bartholomew, one of the Zone leaders, (in the picture) he is really awesome!!! I had a blast with him, we were talking untill really late and he asked me if I think that I am ready to take on being a senior companion yet. I told him absolutly, I'd be scared and nervous for a while but I know that I can take it. If I become Senior companion here, that would mean that I would be District Leader I told him that I can do that too. He agrees with me 100% So we will see! Even tho he has no control on what goes on with transfers, It was great to hear that...

We gave a talk in church yesterday, It was on Missionary work (duh!) It went really well! I focused my talk on D&C 4 the best missionary scripture. I broke it down and explained it easier. Elder Joyner talked on member missionary work. It all went great!!! Well, that is about it for me, I hope you all have a great week!!! love you all!!

Elder Daniel Stuart

8/23/2011

Hey there!!!

Hello! How is everyone doing? My birthday was great!!! I spent most if the day biking, But it was all worth it. We stopped my a active family to talk to there son who is going to be baptized soon and Elder Joyner told them that today is my birthday so they grabbed a small loaf of banana bread with chocolate chips and put a candle on it and sang Happy Birthday to me. That was really thoughtful of them. For dinner, we ate at the Zonts and Sister Zonts made some delicious enchiladas! that is pretty awesome that she got that recipie from you, and she made....ready for this?.....Cherry Pie!!!!! I almost flipped out when I saw this!! I haven't had a homemade pie since i've been out!! It was delicious! she also made some cupcakes that are to die for. We spent the night playing games and having a good time. After that, We went to another members house and ate ice cream at there house and they bought us both a tie. (nice ones too)

So I did get the package. Thanks!! I enjoyed what was inside, I was a little bummed when I didn't see any pictures in there, but its okay. Thanks for the tie too. Its really nice! Now I have two of them. Haha, I bought the same tie 4 months ago. But thank you anyways!!!
I'll admit, it is kinda weird not being a teenager anymore. Its weird to thing I'm now in my 20's. That must make you feel old huh mom? Just kidding... Thats awesome to hear that Joey is home now, I bet it is weird for him to be home. Oh did you know that so many people are engaged or married since I havce been out? Holy Cow! everyone is getting married! It must be the popular thing to do now. Haha.

Well this week has been pretty good, We taught a few more people than we usually do but it is still slow, We have been on bikes since Wednesday and it was really hot for about two of those days, Elder Joyner is used to biking, he was in a bike area for 10 months of his area, so he would sometimes get really far ahead and I would be really far back, I almost puked one of those days, haha. My shirts have been soaked!!! It has its advantages tho, I get to be in shape and take more pictures, like a dead cat!! I really do love serving a mission. There are times when I don't want to do it because of how slow it is but then again I think to myself of how miserable i'd be if I was home now. I can definatly feel the spirit here, especially when I follow the rules, even if they some are stupid....

I better get going, but thank you for the package and the birthday wishes! Also, thank you for all of your support and love and prayers you send my way!!!! I love you all and have a great week!!!!

Love, Elder Daniel Stuart

08/17/2011

Hey there!

So, this week was pretty good, we were able to teach more people! Thank heavens... Unfortunately, no one came to church. It is still somewhat slow but I know it will change soon. Bishop asked us whats going on with the work and we told him that its just been really slow and not just us, there are also many other areas that are the same. It's all because school is out and people are out of town. Thankfully, school is starting up this coming week, so things should be back to normal. The Bishop and members of the ward council gave us a list of people to see that could possibly have people for us, so we are giving that a shot! I'm very grateful for a loving ward to serve in and are willing to help.

So we were at a members home the other day. The Zonts and I was talking to sister Zonts and she knows that my birthday is Saturday and she wants your number to ask you about my favorite foods that you like to make me. She is also a baker and she makes the best cupcakes that I have ever tasted in my whole life! her husband is so hilarious! We joke around every time we see each other. That is just one example of a family that I love dearly and how wonderful they are. The University ward is awesome too! Its a little different when it comes to missionary work, but I'm getting the hang of it. A lot of members in that branch are leaving to go back to college this week and it is going to be very weird this Sunday when I don't see the usual people. I was talking to one of them that are leaving and he said : "Well, I guess I'll see you on the other side huh?" Then I said: " Yeah, or on Facebook." He said: "Oh yeah! I forgot!!! Thank heavens for that!" Haha!!! He is so cool!

So we had Zone Conference this week, it went great!!! We watched a video about real missionaries going into a part member/less active home and reactivating them and also converting his wife, she was in tears before she went into the font. This made me think of Dwight and it started to make me cry as well. Man, the spirit was so strong at that moment. Gave me goosebumps. We had a lot of instruction from President Merkley and the Assistants and the Vehicle Coordinator, Elder Bond. I loved it all! until when Elder Bond told us that there is going to be a huge change with the vehicles in the mission. We are now in a car share with the Elm Creek elders, that I don't mind at all, they need it! But we are also losing 150 miles on our vehicle. (We are only limited to driving a certain amount of miles each month.) So, its going to be pretty interesting on how this goes. Thankfully, losing our miles wont start until the first of September. But we are going to give Elm Creek a break and start the car swap on Wednesday. I guess that that is what members are for, huh? We are really going to have to rely on them much more.

On the bright side, the weather last week was awesome!!! there were so many rainstorms and it really dropped the temperature! in around the 70's! One day, it must of been a high of 80 degrees! We finally gave our AC in our car a rest! man, Oklahoma has the oddest weather in the world! we set the state record for the hottest day, which was about 115 or 118 and now we broke the state record for most rain. It needs to rain more tho. I wish it was now.

That is great to hear that you are doing service, Mom. We need more people in the world that are willing to do service out of pure love, not forcing. That is also awesome to hear that Grandma and Grandpa are still there! So, Remember when I told you about the members that lived here and moved to Indianapolis? well I got a letter from them and they love that place!! They also told me that the 2012 Superbowl will be held there! Mom, you and Dwight need to get tickets for us now! especially since I'll be home!!! Too bad that the Colts won't play there tho. Dang rules.....

I miss you too, Mom and don't worry about it, time is going by so fast, I cannot believe it at all! Where is that kid going on his mission?! Dillon was telling me there is a friend of his that just got here to serve and he went to school at Arbor View! I have to meet him to see is if I recognize him! Who knows, Maybe I'll serve with him. Thanks for sending me off a package, I can't wait for it! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!!



Love, Elder Daniel Stuart

8/8/2011

Hey,

This week was better than the past ones, Even tho it was pretty slow. On thursday, we got a referal saying that there is someone in our area that was taking the discussions from other missionaries in this mission but since he moved, he hasn't had the discussions. So when we got to his house, the man said, Elders! your fast! I only moved on friday! He was really happy to see us, I think he has a lot of potential! We can't really see him for a little while because he is going into knee surgery. But i'm really excited to start teaching him! I smell...Baptism!! In the future of course :)

So this weather is really....hot, i'm just thankful that its not really humid because it hasn't rained here for about 12 weeks. Its been in the hundreds for about a month straight! So because of the extreme heat, everyone in the city is cranking the A/C, which is putting a lot of stress on the power plant, so they are starting to temporarly shut off the power in sections of the city so it won't be so bad on the power plant. So there have been rolling black outs for about a week now. We were at a dinner appointment on saturday and the first 10 minutes of us being there, the power shut off, and the food was still in the oven! but luckly, it was barely done. I still had fun there, we were having a good time, making each other laugh, then it got really hot in there but it wasn't any better outside, but luckly there were dark clouds coming our way then it started to finally rain!! It felt so good. Too bad it only rained for about 15 minutes. Good times!

So yesterday, we ate at a members home and they told us at church if we spoke spanish, I said no and Elder Joyner speaks a little, but not enough to get by. Well the member (The Ahlborns) said that they are inviting there 5 friends over for dinner too and they are all mexican and only 2 speak english and 1 speaks very little. Well they are really nice, The Ahlborns also can speak spanish so It was kinda weird when they were all jabbering in spanish and they all would laugh, so Elder Joyner and I would smile and sorta laugh as if we knew what they were talking about. Thankfully, Sister Ahlborn would translate for us. So the really funny part was that, before we had to leave, Sister Ahlborn went to the kitchen and started putting candles in a big cake! Elder Joyner whispered to me: Do they know your birthday is coming up? I told him that I didn't tell them, so I thought that they found out some how. Well, it turns out that the cake wasn't for me, it was for them. Both of there birthdays are on tuesday. But its okay, I thought it was funny, I still laughed. There friends are extremely nice! I kick myself for not learning spanish in high school. Because It really can be usefull out here.

So a few members in the ward invited us to play basketball with them and there non member friends on monday night at the church, so we came along, and it was fun! they got along with us just fine! turns out that the non members are next door neighbors to one of the members and they want to do this every monday night now! They also want to eat dinner with us and the members too.

That realy funny that Grandpa dressed up like Don Johnson from Miami Vice for the 80's party, I've heard of the show, but not the actor. I wish I was there to see that! Man, I cannot wait untill I can go to Penny's Halloween parties! (don't worry, I'm not getting trunky) Well I got to get going, but I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Love, Elder Daniel Stuart

8/2/2011

Hey,

I'm doing pretty good out here. The weather is still hot. It's been in the high hundreds for a few weeks now but what else is new. The work is still kinda slow but its starting to pick up. Not a whole lot really happened this week, except for Monday, that was so fun!! We played capture the flag with our zone and the Tulsa zone as well. It was Zone vs. Zone! Even President Merkley played, and he is really competitive!! It was a blast! instead of tagging each other because there were girls there, we had these small panty hose like sacks filled with white flower and we would throw them at each other, whenever we got hit, we had to go to jail. I still wish that we were playing! We won 4-1! other people in my district were taking pictures, so I'll be able to copy them onto my camera and then send some to you. Man, I wish I was still playing!! It was super hot tho, I was so exhausted afterwards. Totally worth it.

Thats really great that Grandma is able to be up there to help you, Tell her I said Hello! Sad to hear that Dwight was sick on his birthday, hopefully you guys can do something later on. It really is bizare that I'm close to hitting my year mark!! It is going by really fast! I Joey really coming home that soon? already? Was that already 2 years? Geez Where did the time go!? So you can send a letter to Garrett but he probably wont send one back. He is told my that he is trying to be more obedient and emailing friend is against the mission rules (same here, I should probably do the same.) so we are starting to hand write each other. Sure it takes longer, but it is so worth it! Tell Lauren I said I love her back, and she too needs to write Garrett! he said he hasn't gotten a letter from her for 7 months!

So I have to say that the highlight of this week would probably be Capture the Flag and yesterday (Sunday) I had to instruct about 100+ people during 3rd hour on member missionary work. It was something that Elder Gibbons instructed us 2 months ago. Because it was the 5th Sunday of the month, there were more classes combined. It actually went really good!!! My companion was in the University Branch giving a talk, so it was me and my ward mission leader. He spoke for a little bit. Once towards the end when I said "any questions?" There was a man that came up and said that he can 100% testify to what I said, This plan that we have, he used someting like it on his mission and they had a goal of 150 baptisms in one year and they hit 152! This is going to work. I can really feel it! It may take a while to get the ward in the motion, but it's going to work!!

Well I better get going but before I go, could you send me out some stuff for my birthday? The only things I can think of at the moment is a few CD's I really can't think of anything in particular. If you need Ideas, just go to deseretbook.com or ask the missionaries for ideas. Also, there is a movie called The Best Two Years. Its hilarious! and you can get it on the same website. Ties, of course :P oh, and my cargo shorts. You know, the brown ones that I wore everywhere back at home. If you can't get to them or can't find them, don't worry about it. maybe just random knick nacks. Ask the missionaries! lol or Brian or Alan. Oh, and pictures please! would you guys like anything out here? I just realized I'm almost at my year mark and I have hardly bought any souviners! Thats what happens when your broke lol. So just let me know if you need something. ;) My shoes are fine, I'm taking very good care of them. The rest of my clothes are good too. If you cannot send out that stuff, don't worry about it.

I should go, butI hope that you all have a great week and I'll talk to you next week! Love you, bye!

Daniel