10/26/2011

Hey,

So this week was quite interesting, on Monday, we had a district outing in Claremore, its a town right outside of Owasso. We hung out with the Sister missionaries and the senior couple and went to the Will Rogers Museum that is that is there, that place was... interesting. He is some really popular guy that used to live around here in the early 1900's. The pictures of him honestly makes him look like a pedophile, especially with his pencil mustache. After that, we went to a Gun Museum! It has the largest gun collection in the world! Holy cow there were a lot of weapons! I forgot to bring my camera this week but I will next week, sorry! I'm going to miss that District, they are all really cool people! The people in the ward are amazing! I took loads of pictures with them as well. But I'm needed somewhere else! So I just realized that missionaries collect a bunch of junk if they are in a area for a while, it makes it that much harder to pack!

On Thursday, I woke up around 5:30 Am to finish packing, after that, we headed to Tulsa to transfer points and there, I met a few people that I recognized. I got a few pictures with them, then we left. I was in such a hurry, I didn't realize that I left my area until we got to Missouri. I sat with my cousin! Elder Stuart. Did you know that I have a distant cousin out here? I think I told you. The drive was really long. A total of at least 4 or 5 hours. Geez... But along each transfer point, I saw other missionaries and past companions. One good old reunion in my opinion. When we finally got to my transfer point, I met Elder Denton, he's really cool! very polite as well. He's from ( ready for this? ) Utah! I've only had 2 companions that are not from Utah. He is somewhat of a cowboy. He works on a farm all the time and with horses everyday. He has been out for about 3 months, so I'm follow up training someone again. He is older than me, it's weird to be senior companion over someone that is older than me. This area is super busy! as soon as I got there, we went straight to work! I love it. We met with a investigating family that believes in the Trinity and doesn't agree with the Godhead. We explained why we believe in that and they still didn't really believe it. They are all about the Bible, (as is everyone here) so I whipped out some Scriptures in the Bible that clearly explains how God and Jesus are two different people!!! that really made them think when they saw that. They then said: Well, what about the Book of Mormon, does it explain it too? We said of course! and flipped out some passages on that as well. That lesson went really well, the Spirit was definatly there. It really made them think. So, Funny thing about this area, there is a Town that we cover called Flippin. Can you believe it?! Flippin! HAHA!!!! That will never get old to me, they also have a Church called The Flippin Church of God. Holy cow! if someone doesn't think that is funny, then they don't have a sence of humor. I'm getting a picture of it, don't worry!!! I can't turn down a wonderful oppertunity like that! Welcome to Flippin Arkansas! hahaha!! wow... that made my day.

So the ward here is great, I found out that a good 85% of the members are old, really old. Mountain Home is a place where people come to retire. There is a very small amount of youth here, like 5 people. So my first day of church, and I got hit on already. Oh, brother... don't worry, they are not attractive, and I mean that in a nice way, not a jerky way. The Bishop asked me to go up and bear my testimony, I was more than happy to do so. After I was done, I was walking back to my seat and in the process, I saw someone that I regonized, but I couldn't put my finger on it. It literally bothered me for the rest of sacrament. After Sacrament was over, I went up to intorduce myself to her but someone beat me to it, as I was waiting, I heard her say that he name is Katherine. That name clicked! I now knew who she was! when she said that, I said: Kat! she looked around confused and saw me and smiled and said hey! she was a less-active in my first area, Springfield. She just moved here and her first day to church just happened to be mine as well. I tried so hard to get her to church in Springfield and she never came. How crazy is it that she came when I was here! Nuts huh? anyways, I'm enjoying this area, I still miss Owasso a lot, but I always will. I just have to keep moving on. I better get going, I love you and hope you have a great week!!!

P.S. Congrats Lauren on the Blessing! I wish I was there!!!

Elder Daniel Stuart

Hey there,

So this week was somewhat bitter sweet... Transfer calls came in on Saturday and I'm leaving... I was so crushed when I heard this, I almost broke into tears and put a hole in the wall. I've come to really love this area with all my heart and I have really grown to love the people here as well, this area is super hard but I would never trade it for anything. I'm going to Mountain Home Arkansas. Arkansas again. I thought I would never go back there again, Oh well, I guess the Lord has something else planned for me. Everyone that I have talked to about this area has absolutely loved it and has had a load of success there. I'll be the Senior Companion again and will be follow up training a Elder Benton. He came out in late July. I'm pretty excited to start fresh in a new area tho. So on church on Sunday I told quite a few people and they weren't very happy, especially Sister Nielsen and the Bishop. I love that family! Then again there were some other people that didn't really affect them. Kind of surprised me but I just have to keep reminding me that I am just a missionary. It happens all the time to members, one come in and they leave and get a new one. Just another Missionary in a way, I'm here to serve them and the Lord and then go to the next area. But for some reason I can't help but to REALLY love the people that I serve. They are almost like family! Sorry if this sounds somewhat depressing, I don't mean it to be, Ha ha.

So the rest of this week, Bishop gave us a list of people to see, so we have been working on that quite a bit and we have been on bikes as well so it takes a bit longer then it would in a car. We easily bike up to or over 20 miles a day, I'm getting really used to this biking! So I found out that I will be in a full car area, I'm kind of bummed out about that, maybe I'll bike once a week or so. That is great to hear that you are in Primary, Mom! I'm glad that you enjoy it there, and congrats on the new Job, Lauren, I hope you enjoy it there. And I'm sorry to hear that work is slowing down with Dwight. I really hope that will pick up for you soon.

It is really weird that I have now been out for over 13 months! your right, this will be my last Halloween, winter, all holidays, everything! Holy cow! Good thing I'm not trunky :) It is just going by faster and faster. Oh, to answer your question about the picture. That white powder is flower, it was in those small pantie hose like material and we decided to rip them open and dump it on each other. The game was so big, that random people would drive in and watch us play. That was pretty cool!! Enjoy the new pictures. Well, that about it for me this week. I hope you all have a fantastic week! love you all!!!

Elder Daniel Stuart

October 11th, 2011

Hello there!

Sorry for not e-mailing you yesterday, It was Columbus day and the Library was closed. No matter, yesterday was freaking awesome!!!! We had another Capture the Flag game with our Zone and the other one. This one was WAY more fun then the last one. We won, again! This time it was 5-1 instead on 4-1 lol. It was located at the same place as well. I have pictures too so be sure to post them on the blog. :) So I'm sort of splitting my preparation day in half. Before I go on with the letter, I did get the package! thanks a lot! I LOVED it all! (especially the camel ha ha) I loved the pictures too, the only problem is that I still don't know what my house looks like... It's okay tho, I'll see it sooner or later. So as I told you last week, We moved into the Johnson's house last weekend and it's going pretty good. They are very nice and polite people, always willing to do stuff for us. They have a small farm that consists of some ducks, two cows, and two donkeys. My first morning there, President Johnson captured a possum in a small cage that had dog food in it. I guess they like that kind of food. This one looked like it had rabies. It has been killing a lot of there ducks. Pretty interesting day.

On Sunday, we ate at the Nielsens house. In case you forgot, that is where I last lived. It was great being there again. After we left a spiritual thought, we talked for a while and Bishop and Sister Nielsen both told me that they are extremely proud of me and the hard work and dedication that I have put into this ward. I've really turned this place around since I've been here. I'm not trying to be boast full, but that did make me feel better about myself! and Elder Chriss is doing a fantastic job here as well! We both switch off the lessons really well and get along just fine. I spoke with President Merkley during interviews a month ago and he asked me how my area is doing, I flat out told him that I absolutely love this area I don't want to leave for a while. I also told him that I know that I don't have a say in what happens for transfers, ONLY he does, but I really want to stay here for a while. He nodded his head and said: " Well, Elder Stuart, This is your area and your doing a great job here, so i'd like to keep you here for a while." Now, there is no guarantee that this will happen, so we'll see. It's wherever the Lord wants me, and I'm cool with it. :) Oh yeah, awesome to hear about the Wedding date! who is all going!?!? Now, on with the letter........

This week was pretty good! We picked up a new investigator, Koalby. His Mother is a member and he's ten. We taught him the Restoration and invited him to be baptized and he accepted! The Mom said that her Husband, Non member, wants him to be baptized only if Koalby is absolutly sure that it is what he wants to do. So we haven't set a date yet. But we will soon! I told the mother not to worry about it, I know exactly how she feels. As for the rest of out investigators, they are doing good. One of them is feeling a little stressed out with all that is going on, so we are trying to take it easy with him. Baby steps, very small baby steps he he. And for another investigator, he and his son, who is also investigating are struggling with the Word of Wisdom, they both smoke. So we are going to work with that when we see them next time.

I went on Exchanges with my District leader on Wednesday, that went really good. Elder Fullmer is a awesome missionary, I respect him a lot. He goes home in 8 weeks. His companion is brand new, like 5 weeks old ha ha . Other than that, not much has happened. I hope that you feel better soon! and I'll talk to you next week! Love you!!


Elder Daniel Stuart

Sep 26th, Oct 3rd 2011

**Sep 26th letter & Oct 3rd letter**
Hey!

So, How is everything going today? How was your week? This week was quite challenging. We had great things planned this week but a lot of things fell through which was incredibly frustrating but these things happen sometimes I really don't like having nothing to do but what can you do? We were in a car for most of the week. We switch off every Wednesday but we are trying to save miles so we were still on bikes every so often. I enjoy being on a bike, It's really healthy and gives me time to think. The bad part is that there isn't any bike lanes so we have to bike on the white lines on the busy roads. I've only gotten flipped off a few times; Not a big deal ;) So, as you can probably tell, I noticed that I didn't receive my package at all this week but I'll still be looking out for it you must be sending me something special if you are still gathering things together ha ha.

I actually did hear about Peyton Manning! that's too bad that he is out for the season. I hope that he gets well soon. I heard that he had to leave the country to get this certain kind of surgery. Is that true? Man, in a way I'm happy that I'm not watching football this season, because if I was then I would be super ticked right now :) But not to worry, Manning is probably making up a whole list of plays for when he is back, so things will be back to normal soon I hope.

So they are engaged? Well Congratulations! When is the big date going to be? Don't worry if I'm not there for it. This is where I need to be and I'm not leaving. Besides, I'm not allowed and I'm perfectly fine with that. I know that If I stay here that not only will I be blessed for it, but my family will be as well. That was a really good poem! who wrote it? Good job for them. So I talked to the person that was going to was baptized and asked him if he is really ready for it or not and he told me that he honestly is not. He wants to be baptized but he just isn't quite ready for it. I'm really happy that he told me this instead of us baptizing him and then he goes less-active.. Tell Dwight that I'm sending off the letter today, I'm almost done with it. I've been quite busy. I got a letter from Garrett again!!!! Man it's great to hear from him, I only get a letter from him like once a month.

I hope that you all have a great week and I'll talk to you next week! Enjoy General Conference!! Love you all!!


Elder Daniel Stuart

OCT 3rd LETTER
Helloooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

So I have not gotten your package yet but its all good, I'll be looking forward to it soon!!! I can't wait. Thank you for sending me it. I'm sure that I will like it. :)

So this week was pretty insane... Missionaries who live with members have a certain time limit to staying at there home and the limit is two years. We have been at the Nielsen's house for two and a half. So our Stake President has been looking around for a place for us to stay and he finally found one a few weeks ago. It's his house. So I'm not happy that we have to leave the Nielsen's house. They are great people!!! Sister Nielsen totally makes that place home away from home. They don't even want us to leave, Bishop Nielsen told President Johnson that it's really no big deal, we can still stay here. But unfortunately it has to happen. So we moved on Saturday, We now live farther away from everyone so we will still be at the Nielsen's house for lunch everyday to save time, gas, and energy when we are on bikes. So I don't remember the address to the Johnson's so for now continue to send my mail to my normal address or the mission address then they will send it to where I'm at now. But besides that, Conference went GREAT!!! I loved it all! being a missionary has made me appreciate conference so much more. Elder Holland's talk in Priesthood was my favorite. It seemed that Conference was too fast. Did Joey and Lauren go? I cannot believe that they are building ANOTHER temple in Utah and its going to be another one in Provo! well actually I can believe it. That temple is so busy. It's right across the street from the MTC and right down the road from BYU so it's always packed.

But the work this week was somewhat slow because of packing and moving stuff but this week should hopefully be better. We picked up another investigator this week! That was awesome!! He is a Pentecostal along with his father who is already investigating. They are fantastic! and are both very interested in the Gospel. We had a investigator with a date but he feels pressured so it will take a while.

That is really weired to hear that Danny and Kayleen will both be home soon. Feels like they just left. So when are Lauren and Joey getting married? Where? Well that was pretty much my week. Hope that you all have a fantastic week and enjoy the weather! It's slowly cooling down here. Love you all!!!


Elder Daniel Stuart