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

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