Osage Beach

Well sorry I am in Camdenton today. This week was pretty good. By the way Happy Anniversary; one of my investigators J, had his anniversary this weekend too. He has had the same girlfriend since seventh grade and they have been living together for 3 years I think. They are still not married haha yeah I think it will be a while. So I heard Chris got pulled up to Varsity; that is pretty awesome. Sounds like from Dana's letter that everything is really good; I also like the story of the less active lady bearing her testimony I thought that was classic fourth ward. Also good for Thomas pumpkins in the pool, genius. Well as for my week same old, same old, we went looking for a lot of less actives I think it was Thursday that we went up to Stover which is in our area but it is pretty far especially with a mile limit, but I think we drove about 130 miles that day just trying to hunt some people down and did fairly well. We met two guys that are both less active and one of them has a throat cancer and he goes into surgery this Friday so we are going back this week but when we were talking to him every other minute he would spit up a nice pool of blood into a dish, mmmmm. They were nice guys though. I also saw my official dream house this week and I have said that about three people's houses but it was this one for sure it was beautiful I am going to buy it someday. The only thing is I didn't take a picture of it I was like "ahh geee wiz" but whatever I know where it is now. Our investigators are still the same just trying them to overcome smoking and blah blah blah it will happen next month fa sho. If I don't get transferred the calls this week I hope I stay I really like this area but I have never been in a area for more than three months maybe I'll break the curse this time around at least I hope so. I guess another thing that is cool is that Fall is upon us it won't snow until the middle of November at least that's what the members say, but the leaves changing are awesome I'll take some pictures. All the yellows, browns, reds, and purples are pretty cool. Well I am sorry I don't have much to say but that is all I can think of. I am sending pictures though they are a thousand words per pic at least that is what I hear.

Osage Beach

Well this week was pretty good kind of the same as last week a lot of finding and trying. About the documentary I have to watch it first to make sure it is appropriate because Elder Babb and Woods came up to our area and sometimes we can get a little crazy but I so it should be coming next week sometime. You asked about others, Logan is in Mexico he says he hasn't felt more out of place but he says he has a good comp and he is having a good time. Nelson is doing good he just left his first area and he is in a really nice place so he is excited. That is about all I know bout them. Things are going good here since we only have two suburbs and they probably only consist of like 15 houses we go country road tracting which is a dirt road that has trailers so can't really promise much about being visiting sketchy people, because they are all over the place. Don't worry though I won't go down to Ivy Bend which is a magical place where every rapist, murderer, and meth head in Missouri gathers. The police told the elders before us that they shouldn't go there unless they have a police escort and even the police themselves don't go there unless they absolutely have to. So don't worry I will stay away from there I have only been out there twice and that was twice to many. Well it is getting tough out here I hate cold weather and it is getting colder with every day I hate it. I am going to shoot myself when snow starts falling. Investigators are doing good still kind of stuck with them: Dj is still struggling with smoking the two daughters are just still not sure but they are reading now so it should be getting better. J is still struggling with Word of Wisdom and I don't think marriage is happening anytime soon. So... yeah... bummer. Brother N who is less active with a part member family got out of jail and has a good job so we are going over there more which is better and I am super glad something might come out of that. That is about it. Yeah a lot of work to do. Sounds like everything is good and dandy at home. Seth is awesome, a temple is going up, Stephen is going to leave for his mission ( I am actually pretty close to St. Louis) and life moves on. I am happy for ASU brother Howell keeps me updated. Have a good one family.

Osage Beach

Well it is very hard it is really weird I don't know why but if feels like everyone is dying I am so sad that Grandpa is gone there are so many good memories that have been shared with Grandpa. I also have some bad news Rick the guy that me and Elder Babb were teaching he passed away Sunday morning. Elder Babb called me up and he seemed super bummed. Rick was the old crazy guy that loved us and we would go to his trailer and he would watch Ellen before we could talk to him about church and stuff he was the one with four toes. Yeah so the weekend was pretty sad. I am sorry I don't have my Bolo I left it in my trunk back at home. President Shumway shared with me a scripture it is Alma 40:10 I believe it talks about the souls of the righteous and how they will dwell in paradise. It might not be verse ten but it is around there. Well I am doing pretty good I guess I'll tell you about Archibald he is nice he says I am pretty chill and that it is a pleasure serving with me. He has about 3 months left, just doing our best to find some people in this small town to teach we are kind of running short on our teaching pool since we dropped a lot of people. This week we invited J one of the people with a date to be married that went pretty rough he exactly doesn't have a huge desire to be married I think but he has been living with this girl for like who knows how long. A long time I'm sure so that was kind of crazy. DJ is doing okay still smoking but she loves us and the church we started teaching her oldest daughter as well and that is going pretty good so hopefully some good will come out of all of that. Conference was really good I feel like there was a huge focus on Repentance and doing our duty and bringing in any less active, part member, potential, Investigator that is out there. My favorite talk was Eyring in priesthood session he talked about how the Bishop would call him up and take him out to visit people in the ward and they would kick the beer bottles under the couch, or they would send the kids to answer the door because the parents wouldn't want to talk, and stuff like that. It feels like that for me every single day but he said that he felt that it was more for him than those he taught and I feel the same way with every rejection and slammed door we get in our face it is sad but that only helps me in a way. Even Christ was rejected and he was the greatest teacher that the world will ever have. Not saying that I am even close to Christ but I feel like I learn to love people better with every rejection kind of weird but that is how it feels. Well that is basically all I have this week. Best wishes to everybody back at home.