HAPPY PICTURE DAY!!!

Oh so happy!

FINALLY got a picture of Elder Nine with President and Sister W after 6 months in the field.

He had one taken the night he first arrived into Bakersfield, but somehow the Mission office lost it. I have called a few times to nicely ask if they could find a copy or at least a digital copy. They searched, and eventually all we got was a photo taken of Elder Nine with his second companion, and an "I'm sorry we don't have a digital copy of the picture with the President."  However, they did say that the President would make a point of getting a picture with Elder Nine during one of their conferences about a month ago.  Well, just so happened that the day the Conference took place was the same weekend that Elder Nine got super sick from food poisoning, and so was unable to attend the Conference. :(  

Really?

It started to seem like "fate" just didn't want Elder Nine to get a picture with his mission president. 

We were so happily surprised today when we receive this photo in the mail. The photo was taken on 21 January 2014 during transfers. 

So here it is - FINALLY - Elder Nine with his mission president, President and Sister W. :D

Mission Letter Week 28 - 27 January 2014

Hello everybody!

Hope life is just swell for everyone cause it is FANTASTIC right now here in my new area, P 5th ward in the P Stake. :D It’s funny ‘cuz we went all the way to Bakersfield just so I could come back to an area that literally borders my last one.....WOOP! haha! So it was a little anti-climactic but I am not disappointed by any means. The ward is great and we are settling in nicely. I was apparently deemed worthy of OPENING a NEW AREA! wut. Has to be inspired ‘cuz I didn't see that one coming!

Emily, I am so glad you got to go to a youth fireside. I love those! :D And it sounds like you learned a good bit of stuff from it too! And I'm glad you are getting to see what it’s like to have a new kind of fun with your friends as you grow up! I remember thinking very similar things as I grew up and its super cool to see you thinking and feeling the same way. :P Fun story for you, one of my last nights with Elder S, my last companion, we went to somebody's home for dinner and right away the big white lab dog came up, rolled over with joy.....and projectile-peed right into Elder S's face!! XD HAHAHA! It was so funny! Nasty, but funny! Well, I hope you get a lot from these youth firesides and activities you will get to go to from now on. You are going to grow a lot from these experiences and learn a lot from your leaders and even your friends. I would encourage you to make friends with people that you meet at those activities, even if they are outside the ward because WHO KNOWS the difference you can make in someone’s life or that they can make in yours. :)

BRAKY, my favorite shoes are definitely the lace-ups (Doc Martens) that I got. They are sturdy and shine up really nicely. My slip-ons are actually a little big. A 13 would have fit me better because they need to be a bit snugger.

Mama (and whom ever else it may concern) like I said I am now in the P 5th Ward in the P Stake and as I have NOT mentioned yet, my new companion is Elder J (see attached picture). I'm sorry I practically ran the debit card out, I needed a new bike helmet because my original one had a huge crack in it that I didn't see and it would not have added significant value in a real accident. Tried to keep it cheap! :) I am in another bike area so, as of yet, I have not driven a car...and I'm really okay with that because it is SO much easier to contact people as you ride by...imagine doing that with a car.....NO. Hahaha!

LOVE the pics :) sorry I have been slacking...I promise I’ll work on getting more. ;) Really this time though. haha.

Elder J and I are opening a new area and have 5 investigators already! The ward is stupendous with helping us in the work...or rather they are actually working and we are helping them...as it should be. :D The ward is split in half and we have, of course, the half further away from the apartment and we also live 2.5 miles outside our area....yay!!! It’s not too bad. Compared to the RV  area, this place is a joy ride. Minimal hills! :P The other Elders in our ward are actually the Zone Leaders, Elder A and Elder F!!!! WOOP! So it’s cool to work around him again and Elder A is SUPER cool....he's also 26. XD Cool guys.

We've spent this week meeting our investigators and planning and organizing since its a new area and we both are unfamiliar with it. This Wednesday we should be up and rolling though and we're planning to have a blast!! All in all, a good week! :)

You'll see in the attached picture that I have short hair...I just cut it myself about an hour ago! Yeya. Looks pretty good. Plus I cut Elder J’ hair and Elder F’s :) I'm pretty half-way-somewhat-decent too, if I do say so myself! >:D Another cool thing is we got to play basketball again today!! The last two transfers Elders S, P, and S didn't really like basketball so it was tough to do that on a regular basis. But now we'll probably get to play every week plus some practicing at the court near the apartment. :DDDD YEAH!

B T DUBS! Elder S is in Brazil now, preaching and teaching!! And Elder S feels that he is not far behind!! So that is very exciting for them both. :D

Okay, we have to start wrapping up now to get to dinner on time. I'll leave with my testimony. I have a very strong faith in my Savior. He loves us. He knows what we are going through. When we are going through tough times that is not the Lord saying "here you go, have fun!”,  because He is a God of love. Not of pain. He sometimes allows the pains and struggles of the world to leak through but only to teach us and never more than what we can handle. When we rely on our Savior’s love we can over come those struggles. Not always in the way we think, but as we have that "trial of our faith" we will come out on top. Obey. Love. Work hard.

 Love you guys a ton! :) Talk to you next week!

P.S. I couldn't figure out this stupid computer so I couldn't attach the picture. >:( I'll try to get it next week!!

Elder9

Mission Letter Week 27 - 20 January 2014

HEY GUYS. :D

Today is going to be shorter than normal, sorry.

I AM GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!!!! WOOHOO!! I am really going to miss this ward but this is SO EXCITING!!! This morning Elders S and P and I went to go play racquetball with President C and our YM President, Bro. P.  IT WAS AWESOME!!!! We played from about 530-830am. DA BEST!!!!

Unfortunately, I don’t have an address for my new area yet because I don’t even know WHERE I am going. I also apologize for my poor typing today.  I’m in a bit of a rush to get it done. (that's alright son, I can edit it all for you. ;))  Love you still. I’ll type better next time, I promise.

Thankfully, I did not feel the earthquake... or maybe unfortunately. IDK. Maybe it’d be cool! :P

Yes, I do email President W every week. Why??

Yeah, I can take pics of service projects and stuff that we do. :) I'll try to get better with the pics. I honestly just don’t think about it these days. It just feels like same old business everyday, so I’ll try to keep pics in mind as my days keep FLYING by! :) Also, because your son is a complete fool, he did not get pics of his first baptism. I know. I KNOW. Don’t gimme too hard a time on that. Sowwy. :(

The core of my wand is definitely a chicken-heart-string. Most assuredly. (here's the pic that Elder Nine sent home, showing us his hand-carved "Harry-Potteresque" wand, which they then promptly might have used to play duels. Just maybe.):

I did not bring the pitch pipe  with me so you should be able to find it in my stuff I packed away for ‘laterses’ (in Gulom's voice). More than welcome to it. BRAAK. Have fun and good luck with the Dallas MCO auditions.

Hahaha! I LOVE the beard!!! Very impressive.

Emily, That’s awesome that you got to babysit!! Sounds like you might have found a job now! :P I'm glad that it was a good thing for you! Sorry to be so short but I gotta get packed up for transfers!!

Love you guys! Hope all is well! I’ll send some pics right now and then I gotta bounce! More details next week!

~ Elder 9




Mom's note:
S’s father posted on the Bakersfield Missionary group site the following:

“Elder S is sad to say good bye to Elder Nine and others that are getting transferred from his district, (pictured below). Here are a few words about his feelings about Elder Nine, his only companion since entering the Bakersfield mission about two months ago. "Elder Nine has been a great friend to me and we have suffered, triumphed and grown together. I think there is a special bond between companions that perhaps you couldn't create in any other relationship. I've learned things from him that I couldn't have learned from anyone else. He really is an awesome guy.” “

That brought tears to this Mama’s eyes. Tears of great joy, great pride, great thanksgiving, great love, and  great “MISSING MY BOY”! What a great and appreciated compliment to Elder Nine!


(1) Elder A & Elder Nine at their “Out 6 months and not a greenie any more” traditional tie-burning ceremony.

(2) burning Elder Nine’s tie.

(3) Elder Nine savoring the last Christmas cookie sent by dear friends, the K’s.

(4) Elder D making a goofy face.

(5) Elder S in his Christmas PJ’s making breakfast for dinner.

(6) “The District”, Back: Elders S, S, S, Nine, Front: P, A, celebrating the last night night together as Elder S finally received his Visa to Brazil, having been temporarily assigned to the Bakersfield Mission until the Visa arrived. Elder S is also waiting for his Visa to Brazil.  The first one is just kinda cool. The second one is the real deal.

7.) Sister D said "Tell Bob I said 'hi'." So, Sister D says "hi"

Mission Letter Week 26 - 13 January 2014

HOWDY Y'ALL!

Apparently nobody but Texans say that around here. YAY! No accent but at least I still have the lingo, haha.

It's okay, Mama, I was sick too on Friday and Saturday. Food poisoning. :P It felt GREAT...NOT.

B T DUBS transfers are a week from Tuesday and there is a fair to decent chance that I will be transferred because I've been here so long. I know this place like the back of my hand now and probably know most of the non-members here too. I feel like I've talked to every person in the area now haha. Good stuff.

Yeah, I'll try to get the (Christmas) stocking back to you guys sometime.

SOOO, This week has been kinda...slow. Again. BUT! We got to work a LOT with the Brethren in the ward this week, including knocking doors with the Elder’s Quorum presidency. :D

Other fun fact for the day: I might have the best looking legs out of all the missionaries in the whole mission. Bikes do wonders for legs! >:) AND NEXT.…

Well, because I was sick over the weekend I didn't get a pic with the President ‘cuz I was busy blowing chunks...and it was yummy. I was actually going double dragon. I'll let you do the math on that one. Have fun.

For some reason this week, I couldn't imagine why, my thoughts have been really extra focused around the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I was reading in Moroni chapter 8 (v. 25-26) where it talks about the first-fruits of faith in Christ and such. Basically the fruits of faith is baptism because our desire is to follow Christ and to do that we have to in order to get baptized, but then it says that when we do that, we fulfill the commandment, and THAT is what remits our sins. I've known this my whole life but it popped out at me that there was such a clarification on that topic. That it is our obedience and humility to the commandments of God that cleanses us. One of those commandments is, of course, baptism. We were reading that scripture with R., whom Elder N  and I baptized and confirmed, in his "new member lesson" last night and we talked about the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him and the members whose home we were in. It was a wonderful lesson and the Spirit was really testifying strongly to all of us. Especially for R. as he has the GIFT and COMPANIONSHIP of the Holy Ghost now. It was a very special experience.

I got your letter in the mail and I LOVED it! :D I love hearing from you guys and all the fun things that are going on. :) BUT OHMYGOSH. That part about L.… :( That is so sad. I'll right another email in a second that I'd like you to send over Facebook message to A.. Thank you.


I gotta go now, so I'll leave with my testimony: that when we lean on the arm of the Lord and on HIS understanding not our own, and as we trust in Him, He will carry us when we can't go anymore. Think of Footprints, the poem, and the little statue I got before my mission (from Sister V. of Christ carrying that worn-out man). Our Savior and our Heavenly Father love us and want us to be happy. Just like any parent would say, let’s help Them help us. Obey. Be humble. Love. Serve.

As for doing missionary work, for some reason I decided to think-out a talk last night as I crawled into bed… I know. Weird. But what came to mind as a little catch-phrase was “Pray, Seek, Grasp, Invite”. We need to *PRAY* for the DESIRE to do missionary work and THEN to have those opportunities, *SEEK* them out ACTIVELY, *GRASP* them when they are in your reach and don't let them slip by. There is no "point of no return". You can't say "I already walked past that person I can't talk to them now" or "I didn't talk to my friend about it this time.....next time I will". TAKE THEM. GRASP THE OPPORTUNITY. DO IT. And *INVITE* people. To church, to activities, to ANYTHING. But invite. No one will do anything until they are invited by YOU. So invite people :)

Kay gotta run now. Love you guys! BYE!

Elder 9

Mission Letter Week 25 - 06 January 2014

Dear Family,

And now to email... :)   I like the change in the living room! looks nice :)

Sounds like you guys had a BLAST at the Koz Pad :D and I love the pics! THAT TUTTLE IS HUGE! :D Yes, I misspelled that on purples. I am loving the supreme goofiness! :D It's good to see friendly faces and people I love bunches! Including that very slobbery niece of mine. :D

So this week has been pretty great. Elder S’s parents sent him an iPod (mission approved one) with a bunch of BYU devotionals and talks from the Brethren on it. BEST COMP STUDY EVER! :D Haha. We have been listening to a lot of those (and some John Bytheway talks!!!), and I don't remember if I have told you guys this yet or not but I have a reaffirmation of a personal revelation of sorts I had a few weeks back. I feel that I know why I am here right now, on a mission, besides teaching and preaching, expounding, exhorting and inviting...and that is, the people I will be working with. Companions, missionary leaders, investigators, members, etc. I, very clearly, have a lot to learn from everyone, and I need a fair amount of humbling to do along the way. At least at this point in my mission THAT is my purpose, alongside the standard missionary purpose to "invite others to come unto Christ". So that was a nice relief. I felt like, for a while, there was something that I had to figure out that I hadn't yet. I had that understanding come to me during personal study and the weirdest thing is that what I was studying had nothing to do with anything like that. Funny how the Spirit works.

OH as a side note, I got some sturdy training shoes today at "BIG 5", a local sports and outdoors store. If you need me to return those for any reason just let me know. I got them because we go on hikes sometimes and when we do service projects it usually involves a lot of the deserty sand .____. LAME SAND. And the mesh on my Nikes just vacuum that stuff in. The ones I got are New Balance...but like I said, if you need me to return them, no big deal. (As his mother it gives me great pleasure to insert here that I counseled him to buy New Balance before his mission, which I’m sure he no longer remembers. So this last sentences brought a smile to my face! ;) )

I didn't write notes down for the letter you sent, mostly because I'm a mub (bum, backwards) so I apologize AGAIN. :D I'll make sure to do that this week as well. A lot of things seem to slip my mind these days when it isn't directly related to the work...maybe that's good...but not for emails. Ha!

I gotta go now, I love you guys! Thanks for being awesome and cool and awesome!! Tell everyone back home I love them and tell yourselves I love you guys more than anyone or anything on the entire planet Earth!

BYE!

Elder 9

P.S.
oh B T DUBS…….IT'S 2014!!!!!!! New Year’s Eve was super lame but I didn't expect much.......actually not true. We did have a 3 hr Nerf gun fight!   >:)  We had to be in by 6pm, so we started at like 630pm-ish - hahaha! It was glorious….kthxbai!

Mission Letter Week 24 - 30 December 2013

HEY GUYS!!

So first of all, I am just fine and was more than okay after Skyping. I'll be honest, it was not very emotionally impactful in a sad way... just happy and exciting and then it was over and we went and talked to a couple of people we'd met the other day. :P So no, it didn't make me trunky or anything. I'm doin' dandy. :D  It was AWESOME to see you guys though!! I feel like there isn't much to talk about now- haha! We haven't had much in the way of teaching to do, but this week we will be meeting with all the people that said "after the holidays".... It is now after... time to let us into your homes and give us all your food!!....I mean, listen to a message…ahem...

Oh one more thing about Skype, I feel like I hung up a tad abruptly at the end and I just want you to know that I didn't mean to. :) We just had to get going, to get to work... So yeah!

The singing was awesome! Brother E took the Sally DeFord arrangement of “I Need Thee Every Hour” (same one I sang at my farewell) and went NUTS on it, making his own version! Haha. He was the band leader (or something or other) for the Osmonds for a long time (noooo biiiggg deeaaalll) and has lately not had a way to express his love for music (you know how we music lovers have to "express that" in a way others can hear it. :P ) So he took this as a chance to do that and it was AMAZING!

These last few weeks were definitely a challenge as we met with rejection after rejection with things like "we are REAL Christians" "We already know Jesus, you need to find someone else”, and other comments like these. I wish we could just instantly convey the love we feel for our brothers and sisters to these people we meet and the desire we have to share the gospel with them. Our message is for the believer and non-believer alike. People who say "We are Christian, we're good. BYE!”, do not understand what it means to be Christian or to be Christlike or to follow Jesus. Otherwise they would listen.  As President Hinckley stated, I don't understand why someone who claims to believe in Christ would not want more of Christ in their lives, their hearts and their homes. IT MAKES NO SENSE. So if we want to be true Christians, and this goes for EVERYONE, we need to truly be ready and willing to do what Christ would do, and then DO IT! We cannot sit idly by and say SURE I'm willing to do whatever God asks of me....and then continue to sit there. GET UP off your lazy MUB (bum spelled backwards, word of choice for the upcoming year) and DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! EVERYTHING! JUST DO IT! What gets you to do the will of the Father? Responsibility.  What gets you up off your lazy mub? RESPONSIBILITY. We have a responsibility to our God, and to our Savior to STAND and WORK. I cannot, must not and WILL not forsake Him. Don't be that key on the piano that goes dead during the concert. Don't be that person that says I am willing to do all things, and then turn and run at the face of responsibility. DON'T FORSAKE YOUR GOD.

That is what I have felt this week. That is what I have learned. And it's staying with me till the day I die and then onward. This doesn't end. There is no magical transition where one moment we are fighting and standing for what is right and the next we can just sit down. NO. We ALWAYS do what is right. We ALWAYS stand as a witness for Him, at all TIMES, in all THINGS, in all PLACES, and throughout all ETERNITIES...I added that last bit (about eternities) myself. ;P

Training might be the best thing in the world...it is also the most high-risk and high-responsibility task there is as a missionary...I say this not to brag. It has been said many billions of times here already, that being a trainer is the biggest mission leadership position anyone can possibly hold. Why? Because it is on the trainers’ shoulders to teach the new missionary what is good and acceptable, what is not, how to find, teach, learn, study, live, grow, and work. Again, I "boast not of myself" but rather share this to explain what it is that I am doing right now. It is fun. It is exciting. And it is SCARY. Elder S’s mission will greatly depend on his first two transfers...I only hope that by the end of this transfer I will have imparted all my knowledge and goodness to him and none of the bad, and foolishness. We are representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ and it is not something to take lightly. Luckily I had possibly the best trainer in the mission, and some of the best missionary leaders right now.

That is very sad to hear about T's Grandfather passing away. :( Loosing family is tough but at least we know what happens next. I didn't know him...I don't think anyways...but I know some of that family like C and T, and I send my love that way.

Emily isn't going to go to any dances....that simply is not going to happen. NO. HAHA! just kidding, It'll be an awesome experience. There is honestly a lot to learn from going to things like dances. Social skills, dancing skills, pickin’-up-all-the-ladies skills.....wait a second...gah. I'm so full of myself it's silly....ANYWAYS!!

It was great talking to you guys and I'm waiting for that letter! :D Love you all! Give my best to everybody for the holidays, the new year, all that jazz.

Till next week,

Elder BRRAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!

Elder S opening some AWESOME Great Harvest foodses! Some of the BEST bread I've ever had, and a bunch of other incredible bakery treats and such! :)

Has no real description.... It's music okay? We're desperate and poor. Don't judge.

The moment when we realized what it was that President C. and his family got us :D

Some of the ties from the Ds. :D  Which one is the tie you were talking about?? (The one Brother D wore when he helped ordain me to the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordain me an Elder in the Church). The Donal Trump tie (red stripes) fits me better than any ties I have ever worn!!!

Elder S huddling down by the space heater. :D  TOOOAAASSSTTTYYY

Uhhh . . . .  Brother M. at his finest. :D

We played Scrabble SLAM! for a billion hours. . . SO much fun! We also played a dice-based game where you pretty much just roll for points and kinda "bet" with the points you already have. . . Also a ton of fun!

CHAMP!  Woof. . . .

Gift card moneysssss JACKPOT!!

Brother M. got a SWEET Glenn Beck Book, Miracles and Massacres. He's happy! :D

Sister M., K., and B., opening gifts and having a jolly old time. :)

 “That’s all folks!”

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and congrats to us for starting our “Golden Year” (the one and only full calendar year) on our missions as of Tuesday at midnight! WOOP!

Sending love to everyone back home,

Elders Nine and S

Mission Letter Week 23 - 23 December 2013

HEY GUYS!!!! :D

WE ARE SKYPING IN TWO DAYS - WHAAA!!!! We will be at the M. home...hopefully you 'll get to see them on Skype. :D They are just AWESOME! :)

Sounds like you guys are having a blast right now! We are too over here. It's definitely not like back home as we are proselyting all the time still...and still have to work Christmas day till 9pm like every other day.......WIFE POINTS. YUS. Hahaha! But really, we are having a blast. Caroling as a missionary is like, easily, the BEST thing ever! Yep.

I have not gotten any envelopes yet so I hope I get them today. :D But I DID get the packages!!! I accidentally opened the wrong one though :'( ............... HA JUST KIDDING!!! I only opened the one that had #2/2 on it and I LOVE the story book and the oils! :D Ooohhhh the oils. Sweet mama of all oil loving. I was vacuuming the apartment the other day 'cuz  it was super gross and dusty cause we live on a dirt lot, LOL, and something in my back pinched. It was pretty scary at first cause it was the same pain as my old back pains... Yikes. But, after a Priesthood blessing and some essential oils I was back in working shape by the next day. My muscles and nerves were in a spaz the rest of that day ‘cuz they were as scared as me haha. But Elder M, the medical…dude....senior-missionary-in-charge-of-"ouch-I-hurt-my-back" helped me out and gave me some ideas. Plus the blessing and oils, I was SET! :D It still aches a bit but I'm not worried about it. :)

Next week I will send you a picture of the Nutella...it will be glorious...you shall see when you see......so yeah.

ORLI IS SO CUTE :D and soooo BIG!!! Holy Big Baby BATMAN!!

We found a family while caroling and they may turn into progressing investigators this or next week.  >:D They are really nice and liked having us in their home so we hope to get back in to talk with them again. :) This week has also been great with the members in R.V.. We have started doing "missionary moments" at the beginning of Priesthood (yes, I brought that over here from our ward in Plano!) And we had THREE in one day! More than we have had in a while so it was great. Even the Young Men are getting more excited about doing missionary work! We have been going on splits almost every week and also visiting members and talking to them about Christmas and missionary work...When the members get involved things are just easier. Less stressful for sure. :) It relieves a burden that sometimes the missionaries don't even realize is there. We have to work together. SAME TEAM! SAME TEAM! When members realize this, that is when things start to roll. :)

Kay that’s all for now, talk to you guys on Wednesday! :D LOVE YOU!

Elder Nine

Elder Nine and Elder S getting into the Christmas Spirit!  Love this pic!

A more serious and pretty Christmas photo with one of their favorite families who feeds them often. (LDS missionaries depend on others for their daily dinners, or go without.)

Elder Nine's companion - The awesome selfie of Elder S. Love this pic too!