Sep 23, 2011

Hello there!!

This week was great! It was a little slow tho, only because we are on bikes this week. Poor Elder Chriss, I am wearing him out so badly, as soon as we get home for lunch, he passes out and in Church too! I feel bad for him, we are biking so much lol but hey, the work needs to be done! So, I love being senior companion! It is a huge change and challenge but It's so worth it. I have to really focus on everything to make sure that I don't mess up with any appointments. Oh, I don't know if I told you but we have a baptism coming up soon. October 8th! Hopefully, he can make it. He smokes and he has to be smoke free for a while before the big day. Hopefully we won't have to move it but I'd rather have him be totally ready before he does get baptized.

Nothing extremely new has happened this week, other than my year mark! Holy cow, it really doesn't feel like a whole year. It only feels like a few months. It's all going down hill from here. So it was raining here pretty hard for a few days off and on and we were biking in it and with in seconds, we were both soaked and the wind was blowing super hard in our faces and I couldn't help but to just laugh, not sure why, but I did. I also started singing "count your many blessings" out loud.

So that is cool to hear about Joey and Lauren and awesome that he asked. Again, no surprise there, but I'm really happy to hear about that. I just realized that I'll be in laws with John and Katie!!! They are awesome!!! Tell them and his parents that I said hi and that I love them! I wonder when the big date will be? I'm not allowed to go home early for the wedding. I already knew that but I asked President Merkley just in case and he said that it is absolutely a no. I'm cool with that, I need to be out here and I have no problem if the big day is while I'm out here.

I'm not sure if there is anything else that I need in the package. Just what I said I guess and anything else you want to put in. Preferably not a lot of sweets. I'm trying to stay healthy... Oh, can you PLEASE send me the Rooks address? I sent Garrett a letter well over a month ago and I'm wondering whats up. Also, I'd like to hear from the Rook family. Well I got to get going butI love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week and I'll talk to you next week!!

Elder Daniel Stuart

Sep 13th 2011

Hello!!!

This week was very awesome!! Monday and Tuesday were a little slow but come Wednesday was transfers, I spent practically the whole day with my zone leader, Elder Bartholomew (love that kid) and 2 other zone leaders in the zone next to us, we just pretty much just chilled at his apartment, they had a big load of star burst candy and we started to throw them at each other. Well sooner than later, it was a huge war between us all and when we get hit, it hurts, really badly. Good times..... After that, we had to give someone at a cancer treatment a blessing, when we got to the building, it looked like a casino, it was huge!! and get this, they even had valet parking, at a cancer treatment place! what the heck!? when we gave the man a blessing, the spirit was so strong there, I wish the best for him. When we left, valet worker went to grab our car and when it came, Elder Bartholomew, said thanks man! and shook his hand and in the process tried to slip a dollar bill in his hand in a cool way like they do in the movies and the worker said sorry sir, we don't accept tips. Elder Bartholomew said are you serious! Man, I wanted to look cool and you shot me down. I was laughing so hard. It did look pretty cool, tho.

So when the last transfer loop came around, Elder Chriss was there. It was around 4:30 of so, I was sort of nervous to meet him, I was thinking to myself: "Ah man, what is he going to be like, is he going to be a cocky punk? is he going to be really homesick and not want to do anything? man I hope everything goes okay." Well when I met him, he was happy to see me and as was I. He is super awesome. He has only been out for almost 4 months and is super excited to work. I'm follow up training him, which means that missionaries are transferred for 2 transfers and follow up trained for 1. So, in a way I'm sort of training him, then again, net really. There are a few differences in being a senior companion and a junior companion. The Senior gets to drive (boo ya!) and also has to plan for everything, especially if you are in a area for a while and know the place and people. There are other stuff to do as well. So I have to do a lot of work. When I told my zone leaders and my ward mission leader that there are going to be changes in this area this transfer, I wasn't kidding one bit. Ever since Elder Chriss came in, we have been working our butts off like it's on fire. We have hardly been home, only for lunch and when we retire for bed. We taught a LOT more people then we have in the past. Put it this way, in the 4 days Elder Chriss has been here, we have taught more people then we have in a entire week. So, it's amazing. My ward mission leader is very impressed! He even told me last week that he is very excited for me becoming the Senior companion and he says that he and the entire ward expect a lot out of me. No pressure, right? Lol.

So, a month ago, we got a referral from another set of missionaries in a town called Gore. a man in that area moved to our area, so we visited the man and he is awesome, has read the Book of Mormon and really believes in it and loves it. So we thought he was solid! Well he was asking for some money from the church to get his prescriptions and I gave him the bishops number and told him to call him. Well I guess that there is a new church wide rule that we can no longer give out money to non members (people have stolen money from us) So in a way, the man got offended and didn't want to really see us anymore. Well when Elder Chriss came in, found out that his last area was Gore! and he know the man, he taught him! so we stopped by and the man opened the door just wide enough to see me and he said that today isn't a good day and was starting to shut the door. Before he did, Elder Chriss said: "Hi Ron!" He opened the door wider and saw Elder Chriss and the man said what are you doing here!?!? he came out and started talking to us. I explained to him about the new rule and sincerely apologized to him. He said that there is no reason to apologize, he said that he shouldn't of been so rude last time we met and he apologized to us. Well, long story short, he is a new investigator now!!!! Man, If Elder Chriss wasn't here, then we wouldn't of been able to get through. Talk about fate, huh?

Well, I'm almost out of time, but I have to get going, I am having a blast here and Love every bit of it. Tell Dwight that I got his letter and I'll write him this week. Love you!!!

Elder Daniel Stuart

9/6/2011

Hello there,

So this week had it's ups and Downs, I was sick for about 3 days with a chest cold so we didn't work at all. I went to the doctor and he prescribed me a inhaler to use and some other medicine. I am so grateful for missionary insurance!!!! I only have to pay 10 dollars for prescriptions, co pays, and other stuff no matter what. A dentist in our ward prescribed me some canker sore medicine and asked me if I am on my own insurance? I said i'm not sure, the church pays for it and I only pay 10 dollars, he said good, cause I'm going to get you the good stuff. He wasn't kidding! the insurance saved me 450.00 on a tube of cream!! holy cow! Well, I'm feeling better, I'm still hacking up stuff but I feel great.

So, if I'm correct, the page that they are talking about is Mormon.org members can create a page of there own and you can share your testimony on it and tell them why you are a Mormon. I believe that all you need is your membership number. It will take a few weeks for your page to be created. The church has to review it to make sure you are not putting anything inappropriate or apostate. But it is a fantastic tool to use, I encourage you ALL to create one and become familiar with it like I have. The last baptism I had came from Mormon.org, so it works. I cannot create one as a missionary here, we are not allowed to in this mission, which is cool, I don't need to. Yes, I did get Dwight's letter last monday but if he sent another one, I have not gotten it yet. I'll keep a eye out for it!

That is great to hear that you enjoy primary, Mom. Those children are amazing. Here, they all colored pictures for Elder Joyner and I. It was missionary month so that is why. I loved it! we have like 60 primary kids. They all have such sweet hearts and spirits. It's amazing how much of the Gospel they know, just listed to them. Keeping it "primary simple" is the simple basics of the Gospel. I've listened to the children here and I swear that they will make excellent missionaries in the future. I would love to serve in primary. I'll be looking forward to recieving the package, If you can, could you send my some music? Just not any tribute cd's, they are country and I hate country, and no EFY one's as well :) But Piano music, This is the Christ, Men's motab, stuff like that maybe? Also, The best two years movie. In a nut shell, that is what I do, But things have changed a bit. Also, PICTURES!!!! Its been ages since i've seen any new ones.

Okay so transfer calls, I'm staying! and Elder Joyner is leaving. I'll become the Senior Companion for the first time and I will also will be follow up training a missionary. That means that we are trained for two transfers and follow up trained for one. So he has been out for about three months. His name is Elder Chriss and he is from Gilbert Arizona. Finally, not a Utah companion.... I'm so happy I'm staying here, I love Owasso! I just wish there were mountains here.

Wanna hear something funny? All that news from home, I already knew would happen. Garrett, Adam, and I have been telling Marisa that she is going to have little red heads running around very soon. Sounds like we are right. And for Lauren and Joey, knew it. You knew it too, Mom. :) Can I have Joey's address or E-mail address please? Don't be too worried, Mom, she's growing up! We all saw this coming :) Joey is a great guy! Tell Dwight that I trust him and he is a good friend of mine.

So real quick before I log off our whole zone went to a minor league baseball game yesterday!! The Tulsa Drillers. It was awesome!!!! President and Sister Merkley came too. President Merkley is a Baseball freak!!! But we all had a blast and I got a little red. It's okay, I need some more color he he. Well I love you all and I hope you enjoy the pictures that I sent you! Love you all!!!


Elder Daniel Stuart