Wow. I remember thinking on Friday sometime, "Man this week is flying". It felt as if it had all been a part of one day and that it was still p-day but alas, I sit in the Knoxville public library once again! It's been such a great week! They always are but this week was the best one yet! I'll start at the beginning!
P day last week was great! We went to the thrift store and I bought an awesome three piece suit for 3 bucks! Great shopper. I also bought some Keds, to all of you who are fans, for 50 cents and some amazing Iowa state old-school track shorts for 25 cents! I am quite the spender. I'll tell you what! I wrote some letters. Among the many I wrote Taylor Swift. She and I will get married someday! She just has to write me back first.
That night, we had the traditional Monday night bachelor’s party! It has become the highlight of every week! Something I can always look forward to! We have 3 guys here, about ages 55-65, that are just awesome! One being our branch mission leader, we see him quite a bit. The other two go teach with us quite frequently, but Monday night is when the party starts! Let me just say...you get three guys that age with that much life experience and all converts to the gospel, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be a good dinner appointment. It's awesome! Great guys and I can say that I feel as if they are my best friends! We just blend in and laugh and joke the whole time! I will never soon forget them! Robbie, Tommy, and Harold! Awesome!
All of the days tend to blend together so I am not sure that I can decipher one from the other so these may get out of order! We have been working with a guy named Matt. They taught him twice before I got here and we have taught him numerous times since but we actually just moved his baptismal date up to the 11th of June and he is so excited! You can just see his life change every day! His countenance has literally changed for the better and you just see him happier every day! He is reading frequently the Book of Mormon and he loves it. He gets a little worked up over how dumb Laman and Lemuel are but hey, who doesn’t. He is a great guy and I know Heavenly Father is so happy to see him doing what is right!
We watched the Joseph Smith movie twice this week and I can just honestly say that I love that movie! It will never get old to me! I could watch it twice a week for the rest of my mission and be happy. Good thing because I will probably do that! And I just love that man! I have felt myself come closer to him over my mission. I have felt myself understand him a little better with every day that goes by. He was a great man. Like it says in the D&C, he lived great and he died great in the eyes of God. And, I love his personality. If any of us need an example of optimism at it's finest, he would be the guy. With so much oppression, he was always happy. I noticed in the movie when he is getting ready to be put into jail with Hyrum and others that he gets marched up in handcuffs to the front of the mob and he looks at Hyrum and just smiles. I love that! So many great thoughts come from that movie too! I quote it frequently!
This week we met a lady named Dixie Fee. Awesome lady who is about 78 years old. She is so funny! I have grown to just love old people! I think I may visit old folks homes when I get home just so I can continue to chat with them! I love them! She has some stories as well.
This Friday President Jergensen came out to teach with me and Elder Howard. He is such an awesome, amazing, inspired, kind hearted, and genuine guy. I think those must just be pre-requisites for mission presidents! We taught with him some great spiritual lessons where his input was much needed. He is a great president! Very, very loving too! He took us out to dinner at the Rib Shack. Great night! I walked away from that night just so spiritually uplifted and ready to go!
Sunday I got to speak in church. Welcome to the mission life again Elder Excell. Haha. Two weeks straight I’ve spoke now. It was a good talk I thought. I find myself just so at ease in front of people and so at ease sharing the gospel. That’s good because we taught gospel principles and 5th Sunday that day as well! Love it! We taught a lot about the plan of salvation! I just love that we have that knowledge! How comforting it is too that we have a God who loves us and has a plan for us. Considering that some people don’t even know God exists, I count myself very blessed. I just am so grateful for this gospel.
I found myself yesterday, during Memorial Day, so grateful for our armed forces. I have always been thankful before but not to the extent I was yesterday. If our veterans and those serving now did not do what they have done and are doing, then I could not be doing what has made me happier than I can ever remember! I love sharing this gospel. I think Elder Howard laughs at me all day because I just smile and am so happy to be here. I couldn’t ask for anything else in my life.
Things I have learned this week:
- Any tornado crawl space can be converted to a club house. (Pictures to come soon)
- Whenever my kids have bike problems...I am a pro. (Two flats and a new tire)
- Iowa is made of rock hard clay. (Service for a less active family. Shoveling out their basement so they can add on)
- Orugula is the best lettuce God invented.
- Squirrels will move for cars but not bikes. (R.I.P.)
- Sunday morning rain can flood to mid car level in Iowa by 9 o'clock am. (Ford Fusion = amphibian)
- I will buy a ford fusion someday. (See comment above) :)
- Taylor Swift, Kiera Knightley, and Emma Watson make great witches in my dreams where I get to be in the last battle with Harry Potter.
All in all. I am happier than I have ever been, and get used to me saying that because everyday just gets better. If we live our lives in the right way then we get closer to the Lord and nothing makes you happier. The commandments and "rules" of the church may seem restrictive and a little up tight sometimes but when followed, we experience more freedom than we have ever known. I can testify that Jesus is the Christ. He knows our every desire. I can also testify this week of prayer and the miracles wrought by it. How great an opportunity we have to know that our loving Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. He truly does love us. I find myself not fearing the future or preoccupying my time with those thoughts because I know that if I do what is right today, tomorrow will be better. I am grateful for opposition. Without hard times and sad times, I would not know what happiness is. I love my Savior and his father, being my Heavenly Father, and I hope to share that with more people this week than last week!
To climb a latter you must start at the bottom and climb rung by rung until you reach the top.
I love all of you so much! I sent some pictures in the mail today so expect some soon! Until next week: already one day closer than normal due to the holiday....I love you!
Elder Excell
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Q&A - May 31, 2011
1. What is a typical day like for you?
Two lessons scheduled and the rest is just finding people. Whether it be from street contacts or knocking doors or anything. We just find people! We also work a lot with less actives! Lots of service!
2. What kinds of things do you do on P-days? Sports? Sightseeing? Laundry? :)
Thrift stores!!! I got a three piece suit from the Methodist almost free shop for three bucks! Hot dog!!!
3. Do you have good support from the branch there?
Small branch but very tight knit and they love us. They worked hard to get it like that lately cause this is only the 4th transfer of missionaries here in about 3 years so it's been awhile. They should see their first baptism on the 11th!! :)
4. What was the best moment of your week?
The day with President! You'll see in the letter!
Two lessons scheduled and the rest is just finding people. Whether it be from street contacts or knocking doors or anything. We just find people! We also work a lot with less actives! Lots of service!
2. What kinds of things do you do on P-days? Sports? Sightseeing? Laundry? :)
Thrift stores!!! I got a three piece suit from the Methodist almost free shop for three bucks! Hot dog!!!
3. Do you have good support from the branch there?
Small branch but very tight knit and they love us. They worked hard to get it like that lately cause this is only the 4th transfer of missionaries here in about 3 years so it's been awhile. They should see their first baptism on the 11th!! :)
4. What was the best moment of your week?
The day with President! You'll see in the letter!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Here we go again...
Oh man! I just can't even begin to explain how excited I am to be here right now!! I know you guys are wondering tho...where is here? Well, I have been assigned to the Knoxville, Iowa area. It is a small town southeast of Des Moines. Very small town but our area also includes the towns of Pella and Pleasantville.
So now let me back up. Wednesday...after our fiasco in the airport, I had a long set of flights. When I touched down in dallas, i went to the counter to get my boarding pass and the woman told me that they had overbooked and would try really hard to get me on the flight. I was a little nervous but someone either missed the flight or voluntarily gave theirs up. All i know is Heavenly Father's plan was for me to be on that airplane...because that's where I was. Wherever we are, it's where we are supposed to be. All part of the plan. Anyway, i flew into Iowa. What a gorgeous place! I love it so much! Green, green, green hills. I walked out to see President Jergensen and also Elder Holman, the A.P. that goes home in 6 weeks. We met Sister Jergensen and the other missionaries that arrived that day and got our bags and we took some pictures and we were off in the giant van the assistants get to drive to the office. We took a tour of the office and met all of the senior couples there and then we got to go to the Mission Home - very, very pretty house. Dad, I think it may be the same one you stayed in. They have had it for a while. I thought about that the entire time i was in my bed wondering if it was the same one you spent your first night on. Pretty awesome! Anyway, we had a great dinner and some training and then we had a great testimony meeting. During all of this, we had interviews with president and i love that man. Great guy and i am so excited to work with him. He has a great vision.
We woke up thursday for the transfer meeting in Iowa City and there I found out i was going to Knoxville and my trainer would be Elder Howard. Little did he know he was training a veteran! It's pretty funny. We joke about it because i will actually go home one transfer before him. Pretty funny. I love the guy. He played soccer in high school and did a lot of student council stuff. He uses the zebra f-301 pen. It's a solid writing utensil choice. He is a fan of dollar stores and thrift stores. I have my eye on an awesome 3 piece suit for 3 dollars. Store opens at 3 today and you can already guess where we will be. He has some ugly ties. He has two other brothers on missions right now and he is from pleasant grove, utah.
We get to drive a 2010 Ford Fusion. Awesome car. It has a great turning radius and amazing windshield wipers so it is Elder Excell approved. We got back to our area and the apartment is nice! My standards aren’t probably that high but it has two bedrooms, which in mission language means 1 bedroom and a study room, a 3 person couch and la-z-boy type couch. It has carpet. (Like i said i am not hard to please) A bathroom and a kitchen and the food storage that we have accumulated over the transfers past is incredible. We have member dinners about twice a week on a good week but they all love us and give us stuff for our house. My favorite this week: Cream of wheat. I WILL NOT GET FAT!!! I swear it!
The branch is super small, about 35 active members. We have a tiny church house but very nice. The church is at 2000 S Jackson for your google earthers. And the apartment is at 110 W. Marion.
We ride bikes a lot. I look cute with my new helmet, i'll tell you what! To be honest, I just don’t care. Nothing could bring me down right now. I am so happy! I can’t believe i ever even contemplated not going back out! This is the best place to be.
In my studies this week i have been studying two talks specifically. "The Fourth Missionary" and also "The Consecrated Missionary." That's my goal and desire of who i want to be. And I have adapted the motto from dad. I find it appropriate since we are serving in the same mission. "Work Hard. Play Hard." My first night elder howard and i burned my six month tie. Granted it's a little overdue but tradition is tradition. We used hairspray and a lighter - true Zack fashion on how to start a fire.
The people we have been teaching are awesome! I obviously don’t have time to tell you about every lesson but i will always talk about one. This week we had a lesson that had been postponed about three times last transfer and we finally met with a girl named Alicia. She is amazing! We had a great lesson with her and she started to tear up after the Joseph Smith story and we asked her how she felt. She didn’t know how to describe it. Earlier she had told us about how her 7 year old daughter almost didn’t live past 3 months but then miraculously, after she requested to have the chaplain come every day, her daughter was released from the hospital and it was the best feeling ever. I knew she had witnessed a miracle and felt the spirit then, so i want out on a limb and asked her if she felt the same way after the jospeh smith story and she said it felt the exact same way. It was such an incredible feeling.
This week we have taught the Plan of Salvation quite a bit and what a blessing it is! Honestly i can't imagine living life and not having that knowledge! I particularly have grown a testimony about the sprit world after this life. How could death ever be mourned over knowing that they would have a perfect chance to accept the gospel. I just love that!
I can't explain to anyone the feelings i have felt this week. I have not been sad at all to leave because I know greater now than i have ever known, that there is no other place for me to be right now. I am where the Lord wants me and i intend on living the rest of my life in that manner. I have so much room to grow and there is no better place than Iowa for that right now. I know that Brazil was the place for me previously, but my work there is done and I have no regrets about that. Obviously, I love pocatello and everyone there, but right now, that is not where i am supposed to be. I am so happy to be where i am right now.
I have thought recently about struggles and life and have come to understand that without opposition in our lives, there is no room for growth. Anyone who says the words "That’s just the way that i am" must not believe in the plan of salvation. We weren’t cast in stone. We are living souls that were meant to learn and grow and never be the same as who we were before. Every step we take has to have a direction and we take steps with every choice we make. We do not stay the same. It is my goal to always make decisions that will allow me to step forward. Every single one of us has the potential to be whatever we want. Sometimes things such as sin or trials slow that down or weigh us down but through Christ and his atonement, literally nothing is out of our reach.
I am so happy to be here. I can’t say it enough. Knoxville is about to be thrashed by Elder Howard and Elder Excell.
My advice this week to all those reading.
- Never give up.
- Smile 24 hours a day
- Wear a helmet while riding a bike
- Don't be ashamed of who you are
- Convert yourself to using a pilot g-2 pen or a zebra f-301.
- Shop thrift stores.
- Don’t think you are too good for anything.
I love you all and thank you so much for getting me to this point.
I will make the reminder now that my address is within a distance where packages and letters can be to me in 3 days. :) Much better than three weeks!
Elder Excell
Iowa Des Moines Mission
Greenie and Lovin it!
So now let me back up. Wednesday...after our fiasco in the airport, I had a long set of flights. When I touched down in dallas, i went to the counter to get my boarding pass and the woman told me that they had overbooked and would try really hard to get me on the flight. I was a little nervous but someone either missed the flight or voluntarily gave theirs up. All i know is Heavenly Father's plan was for me to be on that airplane...because that's where I was. Wherever we are, it's where we are supposed to be. All part of the plan. Anyway, i flew into Iowa. What a gorgeous place! I love it so much! Green, green, green hills. I walked out to see President Jergensen and also Elder Holman, the A.P. that goes home in 6 weeks. We met Sister Jergensen and the other missionaries that arrived that day and got our bags and we took some pictures and we were off in the giant van the assistants get to drive to the office. We took a tour of the office and met all of the senior couples there and then we got to go to the Mission Home - very, very pretty house. Dad, I think it may be the same one you stayed in. They have had it for a while. I thought about that the entire time i was in my bed wondering if it was the same one you spent your first night on. Pretty awesome! Anyway, we had a great dinner and some training and then we had a great testimony meeting. During all of this, we had interviews with president and i love that man. Great guy and i am so excited to work with him. He has a great vision.
We woke up thursday for the transfer meeting in Iowa City and there I found out i was going to Knoxville and my trainer would be Elder Howard. Little did he know he was training a veteran! It's pretty funny. We joke about it because i will actually go home one transfer before him. Pretty funny. I love the guy. He played soccer in high school and did a lot of student council stuff. He uses the zebra f-301 pen. It's a solid writing utensil choice. He is a fan of dollar stores and thrift stores. I have my eye on an awesome 3 piece suit for 3 dollars. Store opens at 3 today and you can already guess where we will be. He has some ugly ties. He has two other brothers on missions right now and he is from pleasant grove, utah.
We get to drive a 2010 Ford Fusion. Awesome car. It has a great turning radius and amazing windshield wipers so it is Elder Excell approved. We got back to our area and the apartment is nice! My standards aren’t probably that high but it has two bedrooms, which in mission language means 1 bedroom and a study room, a 3 person couch and la-z-boy type couch. It has carpet. (Like i said i am not hard to please) A bathroom and a kitchen and the food storage that we have accumulated over the transfers past is incredible. We have member dinners about twice a week on a good week but they all love us and give us stuff for our house. My favorite this week: Cream of wheat. I WILL NOT GET FAT!!! I swear it!
The branch is super small, about 35 active members. We have a tiny church house but very nice. The church is at 2000 S Jackson for your google earthers. And the apartment is at 110 W. Marion.
We ride bikes a lot. I look cute with my new helmet, i'll tell you what! To be honest, I just don’t care. Nothing could bring me down right now. I am so happy! I can’t believe i ever even contemplated not going back out! This is the best place to be.
In my studies this week i have been studying two talks specifically. "The Fourth Missionary" and also "The Consecrated Missionary." That's my goal and desire of who i want to be. And I have adapted the motto from dad. I find it appropriate since we are serving in the same mission. "Work Hard. Play Hard." My first night elder howard and i burned my six month tie. Granted it's a little overdue but tradition is tradition. We used hairspray and a lighter - true Zack fashion on how to start a fire.
The people we have been teaching are awesome! I obviously don’t have time to tell you about every lesson but i will always talk about one. This week we had a lesson that had been postponed about three times last transfer and we finally met with a girl named Alicia. She is amazing! We had a great lesson with her and she started to tear up after the Joseph Smith story and we asked her how she felt. She didn’t know how to describe it. Earlier she had told us about how her 7 year old daughter almost didn’t live past 3 months but then miraculously, after she requested to have the chaplain come every day, her daughter was released from the hospital and it was the best feeling ever. I knew she had witnessed a miracle and felt the spirit then, so i want out on a limb and asked her if she felt the same way after the jospeh smith story and she said it felt the exact same way. It was such an incredible feeling.
This week we have taught the Plan of Salvation quite a bit and what a blessing it is! Honestly i can't imagine living life and not having that knowledge! I particularly have grown a testimony about the sprit world after this life. How could death ever be mourned over knowing that they would have a perfect chance to accept the gospel. I just love that!
I can't explain to anyone the feelings i have felt this week. I have not been sad at all to leave because I know greater now than i have ever known, that there is no other place for me to be right now. I am where the Lord wants me and i intend on living the rest of my life in that manner. I have so much room to grow and there is no better place than Iowa for that right now. I know that Brazil was the place for me previously, but my work there is done and I have no regrets about that. Obviously, I love pocatello and everyone there, but right now, that is not where i am supposed to be. I am so happy to be where i am right now.
I have thought recently about struggles and life and have come to understand that without opposition in our lives, there is no room for growth. Anyone who says the words "That’s just the way that i am" must not believe in the plan of salvation. We weren’t cast in stone. We are living souls that were meant to learn and grow and never be the same as who we were before. Every step we take has to have a direction and we take steps with every choice we make. We do not stay the same. It is my goal to always make decisions that will allow me to step forward. Every single one of us has the potential to be whatever we want. Sometimes things such as sin or trials slow that down or weigh us down but through Christ and his atonement, literally nothing is out of our reach.
I am so happy to be here. I can’t say it enough. Knoxville is about to be thrashed by Elder Howard and Elder Excell.
My advice this week to all those reading.
- Never give up.
- Smile 24 hours a day
- Wear a helmet while riding a bike
- Don't be ashamed of who you are
- Convert yourself to using a pilot g-2 pen or a zebra f-301.
- Shop thrift stores.
- Don’t think you are too good for anything.
I love you all and thank you so much for getting me to this point.
I will make the reminder now that my address is within a distance where packages and letters can be to me in 3 days. :) Much better than three weeks!
Elder Excell
Iowa Des Moines Mission
Greenie and Lovin it!
Q&A - May 23, 2011
1. Have you learned yet what the length of your call to serve in Iowa is? We have people ask us this question almost daily since we didn't really know before you left.
I do not know for sure but in my interview with president jergensen he mentioned that i only have a little over a year left. My guess is i will be going home in August like we all expected.
2. I saw on the weather that you were getting rain. Have you gotten to experience a true Iowa thunderstorm yet like Dad has always talked about?
Iowa thunderstorms and lightning storms and rain = awesome!!!
3. How long do you get to be on the computer to email home on p-days?
We are at the libarary but elder howard says we get to be on for about an hour. perfect!
4. Are you in a car or do you need to buy a bike?
We have 900 miles to use per month on our 2010 ford fusion. Elder howard and i both have bikes here from a branch member and we use them often to save our miles. Most our miles go to the other city that is part of our area. its about 25 miles away.
5. What do you like best about your new area?
It is so green here. the weather at this point in time is about perfect. The people are very kind. I love it here in Iowa. I already feel very welcomed and in no way out of place.
6. What do you like most about your new companion?
My companion is awesome! He is a very optimistic elder and i love him! Already one of my favorites.
7. Are you happy?
I haven't been this happy ever. :)
I do not know for sure but in my interview with president jergensen he mentioned that i only have a little over a year left. My guess is i will be going home in August like we all expected.
2. I saw on the weather that you were getting rain. Have you gotten to experience a true Iowa thunderstorm yet like Dad has always talked about?
Iowa thunderstorms and lightning storms and rain = awesome!!!
3. How long do you get to be on the computer to email home on p-days?
We are at the libarary but elder howard says we get to be on for about an hour. perfect!
4. Are you in a car or do you need to buy a bike?
We have 900 miles to use per month on our 2010 ford fusion. Elder howard and i both have bikes here from a branch member and we use them often to save our miles. Most our miles go to the other city that is part of our area. its about 25 miles away.
5. What do you like best about your new area?
It is so green here. the weather at this point in time is about perfect. The people are very kind. I love it here in Iowa. I already feel very welcomed and in no way out of place.
6. What do you like most about your new companion?
My companion is awesome! He is a very optimistic elder and i love him! Already one of my favorites.
7. Are you happy?
I haven't been this happy ever. :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Called to Serve Again!!
We received the call on Wednesday, May 11th - Zack was called to serve again with a new assignment to the Iowa Des Moines Mission!! This is the same mission that Rick (Dad) served in exactly 25 years ago, almost to the day. What a great bond they will share in the years to come through this new experience! He leaves on Wednesday, May 18th at 6:30 a.m. and flies directly to Des Moines where he will once again have the honor of serving as a missionary.
We love you Zack and are so proud of you and the journey you've taken to get on this path!!
We love you Zack and are so proud of you and the journey you've taken to get on this path!!
Ready to Serve Again
As many of you know, Zack returned home from Brazil on October 2, 2010, after coming to the realization that "anything worth doing is worth doing right." He had some things to take care of and knew that even though it would be one of the hardest things he had ever done, it was the right thing to do. He has been home for just over seven months and has grown immensely from this whole experience. He submitted a letter (following is a short excerpt from that letter) a few weeks ago requesting permission to once again serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
"...I have also come to understand more fully that doing right will always be right, regardless of the circumstances. I have served nearly 9 months as a missionary, but if I may quote President Thomas S. Monson, "I repeat what prophets have long taught—that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much." I have much more to give. Serving a full-time mission is not only a correct thing to do, but rather a duty, and an obligation. I have not fulfilled my obligations and my duty to God quite yet. Regardless of the circumstances and the difficulties, it is still the correct thing to do. I want and need to return to the service of the Lord, therefore, I am submitting my formal request to be reinstated as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on this day." -R. Zachary Excell
"...I have also come to understand more fully that doing right will always be right, regardless of the circumstances. I have served nearly 9 months as a missionary, but if I may quote President Thomas S. Monson, "I repeat what prophets have long taught—that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission. Missionary service is a priesthood duty—an obligation the Lord expects of us who have been given so very much." I have much more to give. Serving a full-time mission is not only a correct thing to do, but rather a duty, and an obligation. I have not fulfilled my obligations and my duty to God quite yet. Regardless of the circumstances and the difficulties, it is still the correct thing to do. I want and need to return to the service of the Lord, therefore, I am submitting my formal request to be reinstated as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on this day." -R. Zachary Excell
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