As my companion would say, “Howdy ya’ll from down here in California.” Nope, it’s not Elder Grange anymore. Elder Grange was transferred to Placentia to work with Elder Vaha (also previously in my district) so now I’m here in Harbor Hills working with Elder Keeler. He is from New Mexico and he was my second district leader on the mission, so I already know him pretty well. He’s been in Spanish most of his mission so we are really going to work on speaking, learning, and up-keeping our Spanish. It’s going to really be a great experience. He’s an awesome missionary and loves the work. He grew up on a farm growing peppers I think. He’s a short, ball of fun so I’m pretty excited. I learned a lot from E. Grange and it was fun to work with him, but now he moves on. It’s about time too because he’d been here for ten and a half months. That’s a super long time. My new district leader is Elder Olsen.
This week was good. I went on exchanges with Elder Cash on Tuesday. He is a really nice guy and our personalities go pretty well together. His family isn’t members/active members so they didn’t really want him to serve, but he is anyway and is being a great example for his younger brother—half brother. He has three nieces and nephews like me so we related pretty well to each other. It was fun to be in the Corona Del Mar ward. It is one of the richest in the world I believe. Houses go for millions of dollars. They are right by the ocean and even cover a small island called Balboa Island. Saturday I went on exchanges with Elder Vaha in the Newport first ward. We went to a wedding reception and a ward party so it was a pretty laid back day.
Not too much else this week I guess. Friday we taught the Hawkins family. Elder Grange and Elder Queen took their son James out tracting on Saturday. He’s 19 and not sure about a mission, but they said he enjoyed it. We had dinner with John Geyer and talked about the Book of Mormon Friday night. He’s not a member, but his wife is. He’s progressed a lot and comes to church all the time, but he said he’s kind of going at his own pace right now and is happy where he’s at. He’s a super smart guy and enjoys everything about the church so far; he just is being really careful about his decision and is taking it really slow. I really hope he comes around some day.
Oh yeah, we went to the temple on Wednesday! I love the temple. Having it in my area has really been a blessing. I wish I could go more often, but I guess there’s a time and season for everything. It’s such a pretty temple—I can’t wait to take you guys there. I guess President Hinckley was kind of skeptical about putting it in, thinking it wouldn’t be used much , but I think it is one of the most active small temples in the world now. It’s a very peaceful and pretty place.
Oh wow, my week is finally coming back to me. Thursday we had mission conference. It was half the mission on Thursday and the other half on Friday. It was really neat. Elder and sister Foster of the 70 came and spoke to us. I enjoyed it and heard some great stuff.
Sunday we taught Hailey Tweter and finished up the recent convert discussions with her finally. We visited a couple people so Elder Grange could say goodbye and then we went home so he could pack. We had dinner with an interesting family. The father is on a quest to find the brass plates. He’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever talked to and thinks he knows where they are. He says they are somewhere in a 15 mile radius down in Panama and he is going to go look for them. I’ll explain more about it next week, but it was really interesting to talk to him.
That’s it for this week I guess. My year mark is this Friday. It is the strangest thing in the world. I guess I’ll just have to keep enjoying everything and not worry about it. Have a fantastic week everyone. I love you as much as all the sands on the beaches.
Elder Curtis
Friday, November 20, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
But Who's Complaining?
Week six is here again oh week six is here again oh send all letters to the office, week six is here again oh week six is here again, oh who knows what’s going to happen. Actually, today isn’t even my P-day. We are going to the temple on Wednesday, so that will be my day of preparation. I have to write today because Wednesday is Veterans Day so the library will be closed. Actually, I had to do laundry and shopping today as well so I don’t run out of food and clothes—so who knows why they even change P-day at all. But who’s complaining?
This past week was crazy. We went on three exchanges! Two of them were in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday so I didn’t get Elder Grange too much this week. Tuesday I worked in the Newport Beach first ward with Elder Queen, and Wednesday Elder Tagg came to work in Harbor Hills with me. Saturday Elder Olsen came and worked with me as well. It was pretty fun. Wednesday we taught the Weigs. They have two lessons left until they are finished. Thursday we had a lesson with a member named Hayley Hanssler. She recently started coming to church again and it is a good opportunity for her to learn more and strengthen her testimony.
Saturday we taught Bro. Emrich’s mother again, who wants to be baptized in a year when her grandson gets home. It was a good lesson about the Plan of Salvation. Yesterday we taught the Doane family the first half of it up to death. We had another great lesson with Hailey Tweter about some of the commandments and had an awesome couple there to help us—the Reeves. Church was fun with the primary program and everything, but I really enjoyed the stake Priesthood meeting last night. It was all about the Book of Mormon. They had Elder Grange and Elder Ofa (who was in my district last transfer) speak about how it changes lives. Then there was a return missionary who had the same topic. Then President Clayton spoke about the same thing, then Elder Holland spoke about the same thing (i.e. we watched his talk from conference). It was super powerful and I immensely enjoyed finally hearing that talk again. I can’t wait to put it on an electronic device when I get home so I can listen to it lots and lots.
We weren’t able to teach Michelle this week. She’s still having a really tough time and she wasn’t able to make it to church either. I sure hope she can at least be baptized next transfer. Speaking of next transfer, we think there are going to be some changes in this district. E. Grange has been here 10 ½ months of his mission (including when he was here before) so we are thinking he might be leaving. However, if there are so many new missionaries that the ward gets a new set of missionaries, we might both be staying (not together though) to train the new ones in the area. We’ll see what happens, but it should be interesting. Other Elders in the district have a high possibility of moving as well.
I guess the only other news is that the Roostapisheh family moved back to Germany on Wednesday so we don’t get to teach them anymore. Hope everything goes well for them over there and that they stay strong in the church. This week should go by pretty quick because we have to do two more exchanges. Elder Grange kind of saved them all for the last couple weeks, but that’s okay. Things are more exciting that way. We also have a mission conference this week. That only happens when someone important visits the mission and this week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful week.
I love you as much as all the fish in the sea, Elder Curtis
This past week was crazy. We went on three exchanges! Two of them were in a row on Tuesday and Wednesday so I didn’t get Elder Grange too much this week. Tuesday I worked in the Newport Beach first ward with Elder Queen, and Wednesday Elder Tagg came to work in Harbor Hills with me. Saturday Elder Olsen came and worked with me as well. It was pretty fun. Wednesday we taught the Weigs. They have two lessons left until they are finished. Thursday we had a lesson with a member named Hayley Hanssler. She recently started coming to church again and it is a good opportunity for her to learn more and strengthen her testimony.
Saturday we taught Bro. Emrich’s mother again, who wants to be baptized in a year when her grandson gets home. It was a good lesson about the Plan of Salvation. Yesterday we taught the Doane family the first half of it up to death. We had another great lesson with Hailey Tweter about some of the commandments and had an awesome couple there to help us—the Reeves. Church was fun with the primary program and everything, but I really enjoyed the stake Priesthood meeting last night. It was all about the Book of Mormon. They had Elder Grange and Elder Ofa (who was in my district last transfer) speak about how it changes lives. Then there was a return missionary who had the same topic. Then President Clayton spoke about the same thing, then Elder Holland spoke about the same thing (i.e. we watched his talk from conference). It was super powerful and I immensely enjoyed finally hearing that talk again. I can’t wait to put it on an electronic device when I get home so I can listen to it lots and lots.
We weren’t able to teach Michelle this week. She’s still having a really tough time and she wasn’t able to make it to church either. I sure hope she can at least be baptized next transfer. Speaking of next transfer, we think there are going to be some changes in this district. E. Grange has been here 10 ½ months of his mission (including when he was here before) so we are thinking he might be leaving. However, if there are so many new missionaries that the ward gets a new set of missionaries, we might both be staying (not together though) to train the new ones in the area. We’ll see what happens, but it should be interesting. Other Elders in the district have a high possibility of moving as well.
I guess the only other news is that the Roostapisheh family moved back to Germany on Wednesday so we don’t get to teach them anymore. Hope everything goes well for them over there and that they stay strong in the church. This week should go by pretty quick because we have to do two more exchanges. Elder Grange kind of saved them all for the last couple weeks, but that’s okay. Things are more exciting that way. We also have a mission conference this week. That only happens when someone important visits the mission and this week Elder Foster of the 70 is coming. Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful week.
I love you as much as all the fish in the sea, Elder Curtis
80 Degrees
Hi! How is the weather treating everyone? It’s about 80 degrees right now…J Thanks for the fun Halloween card! How did you manage to get it to me Halloween night? Must be skill :D We had a pretty fun week. Friday we had a ward party/trunk-or-treat. It was great because they first had a chili cook off and asked Elder Grange and I to be the judges. There were probably 20 pots of chili that we both got to taste test. Some of them hadn’t cooled down sufficiently so my tongue got a little scorched. They were really good though. There was also lots of cornbread, but we didn’t have a competition for that. After dinner, a pie eating contest, and some games, everyone went out to trunk-or-treat. For Halloween on Saturday we had dinner with the Sneary family and they fed us chili J It might have been left over from Friday lol.
Tuesday we taught the Roostapisheh family and they said they might get sent back to Germany so we hope they are able to stay. We also met with a less-active named Bro. Johansen and he was really nice. We ate with the Loveridge family for dinner and it was Bro. Loveridge’s birthday. I also got to play the Ukelele while we were there and I thought it was pretty cool. Wednesday I was on exchanges with Elder Lambert. We had a good time and even taught a couple lessons to members chosen by the ward mission process. I can’t believe that was this week. It seems like forever ago.
Thursday we taught Michelle Christian the Gospel and asked the McArthers to come with us. Sister McArther has MS so she can relate to Michelle really well. In the end, only Bro. McArther came, but it was really good for them to meet and we had a good lesson. If she comes to church the next two weeks she can be baptized on the 15th of November so pray that she can come and that she can get an answer before then! She’s really nice though and it’s been great teaching her. She didn’t make it to church two weeks ago because she hit her head on her toilet (she has a hard time controlling her muscles) and had to get 7 staples. We don’t know why she wasn’t there yesterday though.
Yesterday we had dinner with the Lewis family (our ward mission leader). I just love that family. They are the nicest of the nice and are so excited about missionary work. Bro. Lewis is perfect for the calling, even though he is new to the ward and doesn’t really know anyone. They live in a really nice place with a pool and a hot tub in the back. We had BBQ chicken and it was superb. They are pregnant with their second son right now.
We have our primary program this coming Sunday so that will be pretty cool. Too bad we don’t have a nursery program. We have 5 nurseries! I guess they aren’t as good at singing…There are tons of little babies and kids though and lots on the way. I guess that’s what happens when you have a college in the ward. I can’t believe Lauren and Devin are getting married!!!!! That’s amazing. Didn’t he just get off his mission? They must have really gotten to know each other at college. I think they both went to BYU-Idaho. That’s so funny—they will be such a fun couple. That’s great news about Susan Purdy. I got to know her in the singles ward. She is one of the coolest people ever. Everyone in the ward loved her. She was even one of the Sunday school teachers.
I got to see Erasmo last Saturday at the temple tour so that was fun. He said he is leaving—possibly to Mexico. Hopefully we can stay in touch. Guess that’s about it. Love you guys.
Elder Curtis
Monday, October 26, 2009
She Wants to be Baptized
Good afternoon! I sure hope everyone is still doing great. I love hearing from everyone on occasion and at least hear what’s going on in their life by reading the family news letter. Thanks for sending that—it’s really nice. This week was kind of sad because the Moaddeli family and the Sneary family “dropped” us. Sister Moaddeli after three weeks of not seeing her talked to us on the phone and said that it is causing too much strife in the home to continue with the lessons or a baptism so she said she’ll call us when she feels her family is ready. It is so sad for me because she was on fire and just so ready. Bro. Sneary called and canceled the appointment we had with him on Sunday and said he wants to take a break for a while. Fortunately we are going to eat with them on Halloween night, but it is sad he already doesn’t want to continue after only two lessons.
Thursday we ate dinner with the Cox family. Bro. Cox is going through cancer of the throat and kimo etc. and is not a member. They are super nice though and we had a great talk with them. They have four kids who are all moved out of the house, but they still have two dogs so those are their kids and entertainment now. Their house is amazing. Anyway, we had a really good spiritual thought with them and talked about the Book of Mormon and how it answers questions of the soul. Bro. Cox was then able to ask us a question of the soul that related to him about how he could find comfort/faith for his upcoming surgery and we answered it with the Book of Mormon. It was pretty neat.
We taught a couple Preach My Gospel lessons to members in the ward who were selected by the ward mission process this week. They were chosen through prayer and inspiration so it was neat to teach them, even though they aren’t less active—just in need of encouragement and the good word of God.
Saturday we had a temple tour. The mom of Bro. Emrich (a member we’ve been working with) was able to come and she really liked it. She is from outside the mission, but it was cool because she wants to be baptized. She is waiting for Elder Emrich to get off of his mission (he’s been out about the same amount of time as me) to baptize her.
Yesterday Edward went to church finally, though we had him go to the singles ward and we passed him off to the singles ward elders. We had dinner with a part-member family, the Lowengrubs. The wife is somewhat active and the husband and five kids (12 and under) are non-members. They are nice but have some pretty wild girls. It was a fun evening. Their kids are all swimmers and Sis. Lowengrub said they swim 1-3 miles a day. That seems pretty far for a 10 or 5 year old. They are all really fit kids. I played their piano for them and they enjoyed that. They also asked me to take a look at a new viola they are renting for the son. They wondered if it was broken or if it worked, but all it needed was rosin on the bow. It’s pretty funny to get a new bow and move it across the strings because it doesn’t make a single sound until you put rosin on the bow to give it friction.
It was a pretty low week on numbers, but we know if we keep working hard and keep the faith, it will work out and we’ll have experiences that will make it worth-while. As it says in the scriptures, especially while talking about Adam and Eve, you have to know the bad to know and appreciate the good. Have a wonder full week. Love,
Elder Curtis
Thursday we ate dinner with the Cox family. Bro. Cox is going through cancer of the throat and kimo etc. and is not a member. They are super nice though and we had a great talk with them. They have four kids who are all moved out of the house, but they still have two dogs so those are their kids and entertainment now. Their house is amazing. Anyway, we had a really good spiritual thought with them and talked about the Book of Mormon and how it answers questions of the soul. Bro. Cox was then able to ask us a question of the soul that related to him about how he could find comfort/faith for his upcoming surgery and we answered it with the Book of Mormon. It was pretty neat.
We taught a couple Preach My Gospel lessons to members in the ward who were selected by the ward mission process this week. They were chosen through prayer and inspiration so it was neat to teach them, even though they aren’t less active—just in need of encouragement and the good word of God.
Saturday we had a temple tour. The mom of Bro. Emrich (a member we’ve been working with) was able to come and she really liked it. She is from outside the mission, but it was cool because she wants to be baptized. She is waiting for Elder Emrich to get off of his mission (he’s been out about the same amount of time as me) to baptize her.
Yesterday Edward went to church finally, though we had him go to the singles ward and we passed him off to the singles ward elders. We had dinner with a part-member family, the Lowengrubs. The wife is somewhat active and the husband and five kids (12 and under) are non-members. They are nice but have some pretty wild girls. It was a fun evening. Their kids are all swimmers and Sis. Lowengrub said they swim 1-3 miles a day. That seems pretty far for a 10 or 5 year old. They are all really fit kids. I played their piano for them and they enjoyed that. They also asked me to take a look at a new viola they are renting for the son. They wondered if it was broken or if it worked, but all it needed was rosin on the bow. It’s pretty funny to get a new bow and move it across the strings because it doesn’t make a single sound until you put rosin on the bow to give it friction.
It was a pretty low week on numbers, but we know if we keep working hard and keep the faith, it will work out and we’ll have experiences that will make it worth-while. As it says in the scriptures, especially while talking about Adam and Eve, you have to know the bad to know and appreciate the good. Have a wonder full week. Love,
Elder Curtis
Monday, October 19, 2009
This week I gained a granddaughter!!! I love being an aunt.
I never know how to start my letters, but I guess I just need to start typing and what to say will come. This was a pretty good week, though it was a little bit slower than other weeks (lesson/success wise).
Last Monday we played ultimate Frisbee for our activity and we are planning on it again this week. It’s been nice to do email and shopping before the activity so we have less to do afterwards. We can just go home and relax/get ready for going back to work at 6:00. We usually have a dinner appointment at 6 and then we teach the Emerich family. They are active, but we are teaching the father because he was less-active for 18 years until just recently when his son went on a mission.
On Thursday we had zone conference and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The main focus was on the Book of Mormon and how we need to really emphasize it. We need to “place the Book of Mormon in their hearts.” As it says in PMG, the BOM is the most powerful tool in conversion besides the spirit. I think part of that is because it brings the spirit so well and teaches the gospel clearly. We think the BOM will be the key in the progress of some of our investigators, such as John Geyer.
Zone Conference starts at 8:30 and goes until about two or three in the afternoon, including a lunch that the local ward members usually provide. Wow, looking at my planner, we really didn’t do much besides tracting and visiting less actives on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. We did teach the Weig family the Restoration on Friday night and that’s always a treat. They’re doing really well. Sister Weig got called to be part of the RS meeting committee (or whatever it’s called these days) and Bro. Weig got called as the sacrament meeting prayer coordinator. Hailey is already a Laurel councilor.
Saturday was a pretty interesting day because I went on exchanges with Elder Cromarty in the Newport Beach second ward. In previous transfers I think the most exchanges I ever went on was two in a transfer, but now that Elder Grange is district leader we get to go on seven exchanges in six weeks! It’s going to be interesting.
Anyway, it was the first time I slept in a house on my mission—they live with an elderly lady (not even a member). It was also my first time being officially on bike so that was also pretty crazy. I was pretty tired by the end of the day so it’s good exchanges only last one day lol. They didn’t really have any appointments so we pretty much tracted all day and visited a couple people. It makes me grateful for being in a car. Of course, I wouldn’t mind the adventure if I was called to a bike area though.
Ross, I did meet this member who said his son was a missionary in Thailand around the time you were there so if you knew anyone by the name of Elder Tarayoa I think that would be cool.
It was neat last Sunday when we kneeled as a ward council and asked for inspiration on who we could invite to receive the PMG lessons. They came up with a good list of names and we invited one of the families, the Hawkins, to receive the lessons this week. We knew their 19 year old son wasn’t sure if he wanted to serve a mission, but when we talked to sister Hawkins, we found out we really were inspired because Bro. Hawkins has been somewhat less active as well so Sis. Hawkins was emotional and full of gratitude for the invite. They also have a 17 year old boy and two or three younger daughters so they’re a great family. A family that Bishop Nelson invited accepted to receive the lessons as well.
Yesterday was a pretty busy day. We had church at 9, then meetings afterwards till our appointment at 1:30 with the Hawkins. Then we taught the part member Sneary family part of the second lesson as well as about the BOM and baptism. At 4:30 we had a dinner appointment and then at 6 we taught Hailey the Plan of Salvation. It was a good day.
Well, have a good week everyone! It’s always fun to hear from you all.
Love,
Elder Curtis
Ps. Can you guess who said the funny quotes from the subject of this and the last letter?
Last Monday we played ultimate Frisbee for our activity and we are planning on it again this week. It’s been nice to do email and shopping before the activity so we have less to do afterwards. We can just go home and relax/get ready for going back to work at 6:00. We usually have a dinner appointment at 6 and then we teach the Emerich family. They are active, but we are teaching the father because he was less-active for 18 years until just recently when his son went on a mission.
On Thursday we had zone conference and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The main focus was on the Book of Mormon and how we need to really emphasize it. We need to “place the Book of Mormon in their hearts.” As it says in PMG, the BOM is the most powerful tool in conversion besides the spirit. I think part of that is because it brings the spirit so well and teaches the gospel clearly. We think the BOM will be the key in the progress of some of our investigators, such as John Geyer.
Zone Conference starts at 8:30 and goes until about two or three in the afternoon, including a lunch that the local ward members usually provide. Wow, looking at my planner, we really didn’t do much besides tracting and visiting less actives on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. We did teach the Weig family the Restoration on Friday night and that’s always a treat. They’re doing really well. Sister Weig got called to be part of the RS meeting committee (or whatever it’s called these days) and Bro. Weig got called as the sacrament meeting prayer coordinator. Hailey is already a Laurel councilor.
Saturday was a pretty interesting day because I went on exchanges with Elder Cromarty in the Newport Beach second ward. In previous transfers I think the most exchanges I ever went on was two in a transfer, but now that Elder Grange is district leader we get to go on seven exchanges in six weeks! It’s going to be interesting.
Anyway, it was the first time I slept in a house on my mission—they live with an elderly lady (not even a member). It was also my first time being officially on bike so that was also pretty crazy. I was pretty tired by the end of the day so it’s good exchanges only last one day lol. They didn’t really have any appointments so we pretty much tracted all day and visited a couple people. It makes me grateful for being in a car. Of course, I wouldn’t mind the adventure if I was called to a bike area though.
Ross, I did meet this member who said his son was a missionary in Thailand around the time you were there so if you knew anyone by the name of Elder Tarayoa I think that would be cool.
It was neat last Sunday when we kneeled as a ward council and asked for inspiration on who we could invite to receive the PMG lessons. They came up with a good list of names and we invited one of the families, the Hawkins, to receive the lessons this week. We knew their 19 year old son wasn’t sure if he wanted to serve a mission, but when we talked to sister Hawkins, we found out we really were inspired because Bro. Hawkins has been somewhat less active as well so Sis. Hawkins was emotional and full of gratitude for the invite. They also have a 17 year old boy and two or three younger daughters so they’re a great family. A family that Bishop Nelson invited accepted to receive the lessons as well.
Yesterday was a pretty busy day. We had church at 9, then meetings afterwards till our appointment at 1:30 with the Hawkins. Then we taught the part member Sneary family part of the second lesson as well as about the BOM and baptism. At 4:30 we had a dinner appointment and then at 6 we taught Hailey the Plan of Salvation. It was a good day.
Well, have a good week everyone! It’s always fun to hear from you all.
Love,
Elder Curtis
Ps. Can you guess who said the funny quotes from the subject of this and the last letter?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Y for BYU Cougars!
Hello family! Some guy just asked me if we believe in evolution. Thanks to some of Ross’ comments in a previous newsletter I told him we believe God created everything, we just don’t know how.
I had a pretty good week. It wasn’t packed full of interesting things, but it was good. One cool thing we did was do a little presentation for the young women. For mutual we went and talked to them about missionary work and how they can share their testimonies with their friends. Then they wrote their testimonies in Books of Mormon and gave them to us. Some even kept them to hand out. They combine all the YW classes for their activities and there were still less than 10 girls there. Most of the members are going to college and only have young kids, or they are older and their kids are out of YW. We do have five nurseries though :P
Wednesday we went to the mission home for the district leader meeting since E. Grange is the new district leader. He gave a nice lesson for district meeting on Thursday. I think he’ll do a great job. Thursday night we went to a little emergency preparation meeting one of the members was doing for her apartment complex. It wasn’t anything fancy and only a few people came, but it was still fun and a good missionary opportunity.
Friday we taught Hailey the Restoration again and even though it was all review, the spirit was strong and we were all uplifted and edified. We had two return missionaries helping with the lesson—one of each gender. Elder Grange even learned that he has a heavenly mother. Funny kid. I guess he knows the important stuff and that’s good enough.
Saturday we spent all day helping a lady move from an apartment to one down the road. She thought it would only take two hours lol. It’s someone the Newport Beach 1st Elders are teaching so they invited us to come help. It took about six hours, but we got everything in the new place so it was good. She fed us pizza and even gave us each a gift card to Burger King before we left so that was neat.
Yesterday was a great day of fasting and spiritual feasting. Bro. Wieg got the Aaronic Priesthood in Elders’ quorum and we had a great ward council meeting after church. Bishop Nelson is really getting the ward mission plan going so it was neat to be there. Speaking of which, we got a new ward mission leader yesterday. It’s now Bro. Lewis and he is almost as good as Bro. Loveridge. He’s super excited about the work and has great enthusiasm and ideas about what we can do. We’re excited to work with him.
We had a little FHE with the Wiegs after dinner and taught them the basics of how to do it. That was lots of fun, especially with all four kids awake and running around. Our lesson on Wednesday with them was a lot calmer :D
We also taught a part member family the first lesson after church. Sister Sneary was baptized last year and now we are teaching her husband and son (named Chance).
So yeah, it was a good week. The members here are great. The Bishop is stellar and our new ward mission leader very supportive. No, I never saw any of the BYU Chorus concerts, but I hope to be in them when I get back. Have a good week everyone.
Love ya,
Elder Curtis
I had a pretty good week. It wasn’t packed full of interesting things, but it was good. One cool thing we did was do a little presentation for the young women. For mutual we went and talked to them about missionary work and how they can share their testimonies with their friends. Then they wrote their testimonies in Books of Mormon and gave them to us. Some even kept them to hand out. They combine all the YW classes for their activities and there were still less than 10 girls there. Most of the members are going to college and only have young kids, or they are older and their kids are out of YW. We do have five nurseries though :P
Wednesday we went to the mission home for the district leader meeting since E. Grange is the new district leader. He gave a nice lesson for district meeting on Thursday. I think he’ll do a great job. Thursday night we went to a little emergency preparation meeting one of the members was doing for her apartment complex. It wasn’t anything fancy and only a few people came, but it was still fun and a good missionary opportunity.
Friday we taught Hailey the Restoration again and even though it was all review, the spirit was strong and we were all uplifted and edified. We had two return missionaries helping with the lesson—one of each gender. Elder Grange even learned that he has a heavenly mother. Funny kid. I guess he knows the important stuff and that’s good enough.
Saturday we spent all day helping a lady move from an apartment to one down the road. She thought it would only take two hours lol. It’s someone the Newport Beach 1st Elders are teaching so they invited us to come help. It took about six hours, but we got everything in the new place so it was good. She fed us pizza and even gave us each a gift card to Burger King before we left so that was neat.
Yesterday was a great day of fasting and spiritual feasting. Bro. Wieg got the Aaronic Priesthood in Elders’ quorum and we had a great ward council meeting after church. Bishop Nelson is really getting the ward mission plan going so it was neat to be there. Speaking of which, we got a new ward mission leader yesterday. It’s now Bro. Lewis and he is almost as good as Bro. Loveridge. He’s super excited about the work and has great enthusiasm and ideas about what we can do. We’re excited to work with him.
We had a little FHE with the Wiegs after dinner and taught them the basics of how to do it. That was lots of fun, especially with all four kids awake and running around. Our lesson on Wednesday with them was a lot calmer :D
We also taught a part member family the first lesson after church. Sister Sneary was baptized last year and now we are teaching her husband and son (named Chance).
So yeah, it was a good week. The members here are great. The Bishop is stellar and our new ward mission leader very supportive. No, I never saw any of the BYU Chorus concerts, but I hope to be in them when I get back. Have a good week everyone.
Love ya,
Elder Curtis
Monday, October 5, 2009
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