Monday, September 26, 2011
Pictures!
In a world slowly dimming...
This week has been phenomenal!! It has been a short week but then again, which of them are not. I know I rant about time and the speed by which it passes us every week but I have finally figured out some sort of reason to it all. When you are loving your life it flies and my life right now, I am happy to say, is flying!
Wednesday last week we spent some time just writing letters and trying to catch up on a few things. I made some cd's for some other elders and I wrote a talk that I will give someday when thousands of people will listen to me...probably not anytime soon but it never hurts to be prepared. I’ve just come to realize so much that the principles which I find myself teaching others as a missionary of this gospel are not just for spiritual matters and those who like religion. They are ever reaching eternal principles that will always be true for anybody with hearts open enough to receive them. I used to think that what we learned in church was good and that it would benefit me at church but those things which I learned up until this point in my life, as aspects of this gospel, help me in every-day non missionary decisions. Pretty incredible.
Wednesday night we had dinner with another one of my favorite families, Wes and Danelle. They are pretty funny. They are both really inactive members of the church but we had a great dinner with them. Wes gave me some of his old clothes that he was throwing out because he was changing his style. Pretty funny cause what I got seemed to me to be brand new but oh well. They are both finalizing divorces with other spouses and combining families and now have five boys under the age of 9. Pretty crazy house. Once again I have decided that I can wait a bit for kids. :)
Thursday and Friday we spent mostly just working. I can't really remember too much of what we did. Thursday we had dinner with the Collin’s. Funny older couple that are just a hoot. I have never laughed so hard. And we had real Idaho potatoes. From Idaho. I felt at home. It was great.
We also are helping a less active member get the Aaronic priesthood which he received this Sunday. That was pretty awesome to see. This week we are helping him memorize the sacrament prayers tho because he is blind and so he obviously can't read the cards. He’s awesome tho. He has a little girl that is 6 whose name changes one day to another. One day her name is Christallyn and the next it's Keith and then some days it will be Bravestar. Never get it wrong tho or you'll be confined by the metaphorical handcuffs of 6 year old tears to drawing butterflies for about 45 minutes straight. I’m practically pro at drawing butterflies with Crayola markers that have been left cap-less for weeks. :)
Matt, our baptism from June is doing super good. He also has been given the Aaronic priesthood and is working towards the temple. Although we are trying to replace habits with others. We went over the other day and he was playing his computer which is fairly typical of Matt, but I asked him how many hours he has played that game and he looked on his profile to see how long he had played accumulatively ...the equivalent of 3 years six months and 23 days straight. Wow.
This upcoming couple of weeks is a bit hectic. So this week we have zone conference tomorrow. We also have leadership the week after. Both of which are in Des Moines. We have exchanges with Oskaloosa somewhere in there and also have interviews with President which we have every other transfer that week. Of course you throw in the district meetings weekly and the weekly planning. P-days. Regularly occurring appointments. And conference. We’re a tad busy....oh yeah and we have to work in our area sometime. I’m looking forward to it tho. It will go by so fast unfortunately.
Today so far, I have had the best day ever! I miss manual labor so badly. It’s hard to explain but the feeling of a drill in my hand and a tape measure in my pocket just was exhilarating as we put up some sheetrock with Brother Fee. (Took us to Nauvoo pageant). It was amazing. I miss working like that a lot. I guess I just love working. We finished a 16x16 room with 4 walls, a ceiling, two windows, 8 outlets, and two doors in about 3 hours this morning. It made me miss my dad a lot. I can't wait to work with him someday soon. He taught me everything I know.
Church was phenomenal....we had 5 investigators of the Lord's gospel there and 6 less active's we have been working with. The meetings were great. Our branch president likes to misquote scripture tho... pretty funny. Last week he said, "If ye love me...serve one another". I love this branch tho. I can walk up to any person and just talk with them for hours and love it. I miss them during the week and look forward to seeing them on Sunday. It’s just a great area. I have been so blessed to serve in Knoxville.
Things I have learned this week....
-I want to ride bikes a lot when I get home. I rode this recumbent (the kind where your almost laying down) and it was awesome! I want to do rag brye race in 2013. Dad I want you to do it with me. You put your back tire in the Missouri river and go til your front tire hits the Mississippi river in 7 days.
-The gospel brings happiness. (Old news I know, but I learn it over each week)
-Sunsets set in the West....I guess that's why I like them. It connects me to those people I love.
I can't help but think pretty regularly about the situation that we, as an American society, find ourselves in. Maybe it's cause I get to see a pretty wide spectrum of people or perhaps it's because I grew up in a bubble, but regardless I find myself worried for the future in which I hope to raise my kids. It’s frightening that wrong has become right. And right has become wrong. 6,000 years ago, Adam and Eve lived with God and look at us now. How far we have fallen. I have many theories. All of which will probably never be read by more than a handful of people but oh well. I’ll speak my mind freely because I can. I believe in self-control. I have learned in my life that it brings confidence. I have found it to bring hope and happiness. I believe it is something far too under-valued today. Anybody who believes that they sometimes just can't control themselves surely must not believe in the same plan I do. The phrase "that's just who I am" was, is, and ever will be a fallacy. The divine potential woven into the fabric of your soul is that nothing is impossible including the ability to overcome anything. Self-control is a lost habit among society. Debt, broken families and all unhappiness seems to stem from a lack of self-mastery or self-discipline. The commission given by Jesus Christ is to become like him and be his disciples. To become a disciple...discipline is necessary. I am not quite sure where I am going with this but I guess it all stems from a thought I had while in the shower this week. (My most sacred place of thought and inspiration). I just realized very vividly and confirmed by the spirit that I am not my body. I am much bigger than that and that all sin is conceived in my very human heart and mind but not in my spiritual soul. This world is a time for us to win the battle over ourselves. It is for the spiritual man or woman inside us to overcome that natural woman and man on the outside. And it is possible. Some of the most intense battles fought by men are those fought within themselves. The best victories always come from those same battles.
I wish I had a way to convey everything that I have learned from the spirit in my life. I am so very blessed by my Heavenly Father to be given the opportunities that I have had. I love being Elder Excell. But my missionary work will not end on august 24th, 2012 because I know that there are more people out there who I may impact. I know the gospel brings happiness and that's the bottom line. And as a side note to that...love makes all the difference.
I love ya'll,
Elder Excell
Wednesday last week we spent some time just writing letters and trying to catch up on a few things. I made some cd's for some other elders and I wrote a talk that I will give someday when thousands of people will listen to me...probably not anytime soon but it never hurts to be prepared. I’ve just come to realize so much that the principles which I find myself teaching others as a missionary of this gospel are not just for spiritual matters and those who like religion. They are ever reaching eternal principles that will always be true for anybody with hearts open enough to receive them. I used to think that what we learned in church was good and that it would benefit me at church but those things which I learned up until this point in my life, as aspects of this gospel, help me in every-day non missionary decisions. Pretty incredible.
Wednesday night we had dinner with another one of my favorite families, Wes and Danelle. They are pretty funny. They are both really inactive members of the church but we had a great dinner with them. Wes gave me some of his old clothes that he was throwing out because he was changing his style. Pretty funny cause what I got seemed to me to be brand new but oh well. They are both finalizing divorces with other spouses and combining families and now have five boys under the age of 9. Pretty crazy house. Once again I have decided that I can wait a bit for kids. :)
Thursday and Friday we spent mostly just working. I can't really remember too much of what we did. Thursday we had dinner with the Collin’s. Funny older couple that are just a hoot. I have never laughed so hard. And we had real Idaho potatoes. From Idaho. I felt at home. It was great.
We also are helping a less active member get the Aaronic priesthood which he received this Sunday. That was pretty awesome to see. This week we are helping him memorize the sacrament prayers tho because he is blind and so he obviously can't read the cards. He’s awesome tho. He has a little girl that is 6 whose name changes one day to another. One day her name is Christallyn and the next it's Keith and then some days it will be Bravestar. Never get it wrong tho or you'll be confined by the metaphorical handcuffs of 6 year old tears to drawing butterflies for about 45 minutes straight. I’m practically pro at drawing butterflies with Crayola markers that have been left cap-less for weeks. :)
Matt, our baptism from June is doing super good. He also has been given the Aaronic priesthood and is working towards the temple. Although we are trying to replace habits with others. We went over the other day and he was playing his computer which is fairly typical of Matt, but I asked him how many hours he has played that game and he looked on his profile to see how long he had played accumulatively ...the equivalent of 3 years six months and 23 days straight. Wow.
This upcoming couple of weeks is a bit hectic. So this week we have zone conference tomorrow. We also have leadership the week after. Both of which are in Des Moines. We have exchanges with Oskaloosa somewhere in there and also have interviews with President which we have every other transfer that week. Of course you throw in the district meetings weekly and the weekly planning. P-days. Regularly occurring appointments. And conference. We’re a tad busy....oh yeah and we have to work in our area sometime. I’m looking forward to it tho. It will go by so fast unfortunately.
Today so far, I have had the best day ever! I miss manual labor so badly. It’s hard to explain but the feeling of a drill in my hand and a tape measure in my pocket just was exhilarating as we put up some sheetrock with Brother Fee. (Took us to Nauvoo pageant). It was amazing. I miss working like that a lot. I guess I just love working. We finished a 16x16 room with 4 walls, a ceiling, two windows, 8 outlets, and two doors in about 3 hours this morning. It made me miss my dad a lot. I can't wait to work with him someday soon. He taught me everything I know.
Church was phenomenal....we had 5 investigators of the Lord's gospel there and 6 less active's we have been working with. The meetings were great. Our branch president likes to misquote scripture tho... pretty funny. Last week he said, "If ye love me...serve one another". I love this branch tho. I can walk up to any person and just talk with them for hours and love it. I miss them during the week and look forward to seeing them on Sunday. It’s just a great area. I have been so blessed to serve in Knoxville.
Things I have learned this week....
-I want to ride bikes a lot when I get home. I rode this recumbent (the kind where your almost laying down) and it was awesome! I want to do rag brye race in 2013. Dad I want you to do it with me. You put your back tire in the Missouri river and go til your front tire hits the Mississippi river in 7 days.
-The gospel brings happiness. (Old news I know, but I learn it over each week)
-Sunsets set in the West....I guess that's why I like them. It connects me to those people I love.
I can't help but think pretty regularly about the situation that we, as an American society, find ourselves in. Maybe it's cause I get to see a pretty wide spectrum of people or perhaps it's because I grew up in a bubble, but regardless I find myself worried for the future in which I hope to raise my kids. It’s frightening that wrong has become right. And right has become wrong. 6,000 years ago, Adam and Eve lived with God and look at us now. How far we have fallen. I have many theories. All of which will probably never be read by more than a handful of people but oh well. I’ll speak my mind freely because I can. I believe in self-control. I have learned in my life that it brings confidence. I have found it to bring hope and happiness. I believe it is something far too under-valued today. Anybody who believes that they sometimes just can't control themselves surely must not believe in the same plan I do. The phrase "that's just who I am" was, is, and ever will be a fallacy. The divine potential woven into the fabric of your soul is that nothing is impossible including the ability to overcome anything. Self-control is a lost habit among society. Debt, broken families and all unhappiness seems to stem from a lack of self-mastery or self-discipline. The commission given by Jesus Christ is to become like him and be his disciples. To become a disciple...discipline is necessary. I am not quite sure where I am going with this but I guess it all stems from a thought I had while in the shower this week. (My most sacred place of thought and inspiration). I just realized very vividly and confirmed by the spirit that I am not my body. I am much bigger than that and that all sin is conceived in my very human heart and mind but not in my spiritual soul. This world is a time for us to win the battle over ourselves. It is for the spiritual man or woman inside us to overcome that natural woman and man on the outside. And it is possible. Some of the most intense battles fought by men are those fought within themselves. The best victories always come from those same battles.
I wish I had a way to convey everything that I have learned from the spirit in my life. I am so very blessed by my Heavenly Father to be given the opportunities that I have had. I love being Elder Excell. But my missionary work will not end on august 24th, 2012 because I know that there are more people out there who I may impact. I know the gospel brings happiness and that's the bottom line. And as a side note to that...love makes all the difference.
I love ya'll,
Elder Excell
Q&A - September 26, 2011
1. With General Conference this weekend, will you get a chance to watch all the sessions and where will you watch them?
We do get to watch all...hopefully with investigators but if not we are still able to go and we will watch at the church. Crazy that after this weekend, I only have one more conference as a missionary.
2. Do you have any investigators or less active members lined up to watch with you?
As of right now...we do for 3 of 4 sessions. We'll get the last one covered tho. I've been waiting for this weekend for months. It's kind of a sacred weekend for me besides the fact that it's conference. 12 months ago I came home from Brazil. I love seeing where I've been and where I am.
3. We haven't heard anything lately about your knitting. Have you given up or just not had time for such things?
I have been so busy lately. I letrally have had time to make a hot pad and that's it. I don't know if i could even remember how at this point! haha.
4. If Jared is not going to be baptized until November 12, does that mean you will most likely miss the baptism because of transfers?
Most likely, but that's not what's important. The important part is he is going to be baptized. I'm just the cheerleader.
5. How far away is Indianola from Knoxville? How often do you do exchanges with the Elders there?
Twice a transfer and it's about 30 minutes. I love doing exchanges tho. It just really switches things up and keeps things interesting. Plus, since oskaloosa is in our district, we exchange with them twice a transfer as well. I love it.
6. What's the plan for P-Day today?
It's been the best day so far!! I'm excited to write about it.
7. What was the best part of your week? Even if it was a short week since we heard from you. :)
It was all good. It's just so great to watch people change for the better and to see miracles happen.
We do get to watch all...hopefully with investigators but if not we are still able to go and we will watch at the church. Crazy that after this weekend, I only have one more conference as a missionary.
2. Do you have any investigators or less active members lined up to watch with you?
As of right now...we do for 3 of 4 sessions. We'll get the last one covered tho. I've been waiting for this weekend for months. It's kind of a sacred weekend for me besides the fact that it's conference. 12 months ago I came home from Brazil. I love seeing where I've been and where I am.
3. We haven't heard anything lately about your knitting. Have you given up or just not had time for such things?
I have been so busy lately. I letrally have had time to make a hot pad and that's it. I don't know if i could even remember how at this point! haha.
4. If Jared is not going to be baptized until November 12, does that mean you will most likely miss the baptism because of transfers?
Most likely, but that's not what's important. The important part is he is going to be baptized. I'm just the cheerleader.
5. How far away is Indianola from Knoxville? How often do you do exchanges with the Elders there?
Twice a transfer and it's about 30 minutes. I love doing exchanges tho. It just really switches things up and keeps things interesting. Plus, since oskaloosa is in our district, we exchange with them twice a transfer as well. I love it.
6. What's the plan for P-Day today?
It's been the best day so far!! I'm excited to write about it.
7. What was the best part of your week? Even if it was a short week since we heard from you. :)
It was all good. It's just so great to watch people change for the better and to see miracles happen.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Pictures!
Hold Hands and Stick Together
Oh, what a week, what a week, what a week! This week is commonly referred to as heck week in the Iowa Des Moines Mission. When p-day is not on Monday because of transfers, it just throws the whole week off! It’s crazy how much altering your set-in-stone schedule can change things up mentally. It’s been a great week tho!
This week, as far as big news, we got a phone call from one of the AP’s, Elder Dahl, and were told that we were staying together in Knoxville for another 6 weeks. I was so happy when i heard that! I love this town and all the people I have met. When I finally do get kicked out of here, I think it will take all the way from transfer calls on Saturday clear til Thursday of transfers to say goodbye to everyone I care about here! I just love this place so much. But until that day comes, I will not think about leaving. I will live up every moment and build even stronger relationships here in the town before I leave! If we spent all our time thinking about the end, we would never enjoy the present.
Last p-day we had a district p-day. Super sweet! So much fun! I love the Elder's in our district. Only one of them is getting transferred on Thursday so that made me happy too. And the crazy part is he is going to train a missionary in a brand new area never before opened to missionary work! That’s crazy! But on district p-day we played Risk...I took second! Sugar shoots! Made me a little upset. After all the years of playing at Grandma's table during Thanksgiving break i just couldn't pull out a win for the Hyde/Excell trained team! Sorry gang. We also played dress up tho. It’s amazing what you can find at some of the free thrift stores around here. I now have 7 suits...yikes. Time to give it to my boy. He does have the birthright after all.
We had a great lesson with a less active member named Beverly. She is a crocheting machine. She makes blankets like the world is in need of them or something. She is making a king size spread right now and I guess it's only gonna take her about a week! Wow! She’s good! She came to church this week after about 3 years of not going and loved it. She said that she just felt so good and happy. Fist pump!
Jared is still stoked to get baptized. His parents won't let him tho until he is old enough to make the decision by their standards and so as soon as he turns 18 he will be baptized. He wants to do it on November 12th. Super excited for him! He’s in seminary and just a rock star all around. He’s gonna be a lifelong friend for sure.
Yesterday we went on exchanges with Indianola. It was awesome. I worked with Elder Nelson from Omaha/Orem Ut. He’s such a stud. Awesome kid! We took our dinner hour and went to watch Christina (member girl in our branch) at her swim meet. It was at Simpson College and we just happened to be in town so we went to support her. It was fun! She broke a school record so that was sweet. Elder Nelson was a swimmer so he loved it.
Saturday we helped some people move out of a shed and weed through some unnecessary items and put it back in. UPS should really hire me. I’ve mastered the technique of applying Tetris to cardboard boxes. It was actually the family from Idaho. They are awesome. Felt bad for them tho because they got water damage on the first about 9 inches of stuff and lost quite a bit. A lot of it pretty valuable. But we had a good time with them. They needed the help and we were happy to do so.
Things I learned this week...
-Mail trucks are really funny looking...I never quite noticed it until this week. I spent about 30 minutes unconsciously analyzing why the federal government division of post would drive such an automobile. I haven't yet come to a conclusion.
-When needing pizza dough in a tight spot...use a package of biscuits and roll them out together. Works great and tastes great.
-My diet works. The diet of eating two dainty princess snacks among my other royal meals has been working. I’ve lost 10 pounds and am back at where I was when I left and a branch member even asked me if I had lost weight. Holla! The best!
-Technology can be an addiction. So annoying.
This week my thoughts come a little from a thought I heard and I’m not sure if I am quoting it quite correctly and I have a lot of my thoughts within there so I am not plagiarizing but thank you for whoever originally said this. You’ve inspired me.
Most of what I really know about how to live and what to do and how to act I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain. It was in the sandbox all along. These are the things I learned.
-share everything
-play fair
-don't hit people
-put things back where you found them
-clean up your own mess
-don't take things that aren't yours
-say sorry when you hurt someone
-wash your hands before you eat
-flush
-warm cookies and milk are good for you
-live a balanced life
-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work some every day.
-take a nap every afternoon
-when you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together
-be aware of wonder. Remember the seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows quite why but we're all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die and so do we. And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned. The biggest word of all - it was "look"- everything you need to know is there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.
If only we could just go back to the basics. I firmly believe that to be successful, all we would have to do is internalize and apply these simple principles in all we do. Share what you have and share freely. Everything we have comes from God and is really not all that much "ours" as we may think. Play fair and be fair in all that you do. Don’t hurt people, whether it be physically or emotionally and with those people you hurt, apologize and make things better and after the apology, play as if nothing ever happened before. Put things back where you got them from and clean up your own personal messes. Don’t expect to live off of others generosity. Wash your hands before you eat and prepare for every important thing you do in the same way. Flush the bad things away. It’s ok to have some warm cookies and milk and take some time for yourself even tho it may not be a nap. Live every day as if there was the world to explore and it was all at your fingertips. Put the effort into your life that you put into it at first. Never quit doing and always be doing something good. When you go out into the scary world, find someone like you, be their friend, hold their hand, look before you cross, and stick together through thick and thin. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. It has all the potential in the world as long as it is cared for and loved. You are no different. You have all the potential in the world. Care for yourself and love yourself. You can be a big kid someday. I firmly believe that these principles are not to be looked over. They apply to everyone and have more depth in them than a senior thesis paper.
I love this life I have and the potential that has been given me and I am so thankful for the God that gave it to me. I know He is my Heavenly Father and the nurturer of my spirit. I love Him dearly and I know He loves me.
Until next week my loves,
Elder Excell.
This week, as far as big news, we got a phone call from one of the AP’s, Elder Dahl, and were told that we were staying together in Knoxville for another 6 weeks. I was so happy when i heard that! I love this town and all the people I have met. When I finally do get kicked out of here, I think it will take all the way from transfer calls on Saturday clear til Thursday of transfers to say goodbye to everyone I care about here! I just love this place so much. But until that day comes, I will not think about leaving. I will live up every moment and build even stronger relationships here in the town before I leave! If we spent all our time thinking about the end, we would never enjoy the present.
Last p-day we had a district p-day. Super sweet! So much fun! I love the Elder's in our district. Only one of them is getting transferred on Thursday so that made me happy too. And the crazy part is he is going to train a missionary in a brand new area never before opened to missionary work! That’s crazy! But on district p-day we played Risk...I took second! Sugar shoots! Made me a little upset. After all the years of playing at Grandma's table during Thanksgiving break i just couldn't pull out a win for the Hyde/Excell trained team! Sorry gang. We also played dress up tho. It’s amazing what you can find at some of the free thrift stores around here. I now have 7 suits...yikes. Time to give it to my boy. He does have the birthright after all.
We had a great lesson with a less active member named Beverly. She is a crocheting machine. She makes blankets like the world is in need of them or something. She is making a king size spread right now and I guess it's only gonna take her about a week! Wow! She’s good! She came to church this week after about 3 years of not going and loved it. She said that she just felt so good and happy. Fist pump!
Jared is still stoked to get baptized. His parents won't let him tho until he is old enough to make the decision by their standards and so as soon as he turns 18 he will be baptized. He wants to do it on November 12th. Super excited for him! He’s in seminary and just a rock star all around. He’s gonna be a lifelong friend for sure.
Yesterday we went on exchanges with Indianola. It was awesome. I worked with Elder Nelson from Omaha/Orem Ut. He’s such a stud. Awesome kid! We took our dinner hour and went to watch Christina (member girl in our branch) at her swim meet. It was at Simpson College and we just happened to be in town so we went to support her. It was fun! She broke a school record so that was sweet. Elder Nelson was a swimmer so he loved it.
Saturday we helped some people move out of a shed and weed through some unnecessary items and put it back in. UPS should really hire me. I’ve mastered the technique of applying Tetris to cardboard boxes. It was actually the family from Idaho. They are awesome. Felt bad for them tho because they got water damage on the first about 9 inches of stuff and lost quite a bit. A lot of it pretty valuable. But we had a good time with them. They needed the help and we were happy to do so.
Things I learned this week...
-Mail trucks are really funny looking...I never quite noticed it until this week. I spent about 30 minutes unconsciously analyzing why the federal government division of post would drive such an automobile. I haven't yet come to a conclusion.
-When needing pizza dough in a tight spot...use a package of biscuits and roll them out together. Works great and tastes great.
-My diet works. The diet of eating two dainty princess snacks among my other royal meals has been working. I’ve lost 10 pounds and am back at where I was when I left and a branch member even asked me if I had lost weight. Holla! The best!
-Technology can be an addiction. So annoying.
This week my thoughts come a little from a thought I heard and I’m not sure if I am quoting it quite correctly and I have a lot of my thoughts within there so I am not plagiarizing but thank you for whoever originally said this. You’ve inspired me.
Most of what I really know about how to live and what to do and how to act I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain. It was in the sandbox all along. These are the things I learned.
-share everything
-play fair
-don't hit people
-put things back where you found them
-clean up your own mess
-don't take things that aren't yours
-say sorry when you hurt someone
-wash your hands before you eat
-flush
-warm cookies and milk are good for you
-live a balanced life
-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work some every day.
-take a nap every afternoon
-when you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands, and stick together
-be aware of wonder. Remember the seed in the plastic cup. The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows quite why but we're all like that. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the plastic cup - they all die and so do we. And then remember the book about Dick and Jane and the first word you learned. The biggest word of all - it was "look"- everything you need to know is there somewhere. The golden rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and sane living.
If only we could just go back to the basics. I firmly believe that to be successful, all we would have to do is internalize and apply these simple principles in all we do. Share what you have and share freely. Everything we have comes from God and is really not all that much "ours" as we may think. Play fair and be fair in all that you do. Don’t hurt people, whether it be physically or emotionally and with those people you hurt, apologize and make things better and after the apology, play as if nothing ever happened before. Put things back where you got them from and clean up your own personal messes. Don’t expect to live off of others generosity. Wash your hands before you eat and prepare for every important thing you do in the same way. Flush the bad things away. It’s ok to have some warm cookies and milk and take some time for yourself even tho it may not be a nap. Live every day as if there was the world to explore and it was all at your fingertips. Put the effort into your life that you put into it at first. Never quit doing and always be doing something good. When you go out into the scary world, find someone like you, be their friend, hold their hand, look before you cross, and stick together through thick and thin. Remember the little seed in the plastic cup. It has all the potential in the world as long as it is cared for and loved. You are no different. You have all the potential in the world. Care for yourself and love yourself. You can be a big kid someday. I firmly believe that these principles are not to be looked over. They apply to everyone and have more depth in them than a senior thesis paper.
I love this life I have and the potential that has been given me and I am so thankful for the God that gave it to me. I know He is my Heavenly Father and the nurturer of my spirit. I love Him dearly and I know He loves me.
Until next week my loves,
Elder Excell.
Q&A - September 21, 2011
1. It looks like you are having a rainy day in Iowa. What has the weather been like lately? Are you feeling "fall" in the air?
Fall is definitely in the air! I am so excited for snow and cold. I know I say thay now and I will regret it soon but I am so excited for coldness and coming home to a warm bed! I love that feeling!
2. How was your district p-day? Did you finish your game of Risk?
We did indeed! I have some great pictures to send you but I regret to inform you that after all those Thanksgiving Day Risk tournaments, I took a measley second place! ugh! Maybe next time I will represent better! :)
3. Did you survive vine-swinging with less casualties this time around? :)
Not enough time for both vine swinging and risk. So zero casualties! Thank goodness!
4. Are the suits that you're getting from members mission approved? baby blue? :)
So the baby blue one...maybe not so much. But the other is approved and get this...I found another one for free at a thrift store that's a three piece and it is awesome! Fits like a glove too!
5. You're in Knoxville for another round. How do you feel about it?
I am. I am. I am so excited! I love this place. It's different tho knowing that it's like a 100% chance that you'll be leaving after this transfer tho! I'm gonna miss it for sure but I got 6 more weeks to enjoy! :)
6. What was the best part of your week?
Hmm...I'm not sure this week. The free suit was sweet. Exchanges in Indianola was awesome. I'm sure there's more... :)
Fall is definitely in the air! I am so excited for snow and cold. I know I say thay now and I will regret it soon but I am so excited for coldness and coming home to a warm bed! I love that feeling!
2. How was your district p-day? Did you finish your game of Risk?
We did indeed! I have some great pictures to send you but I regret to inform you that after all those Thanksgiving Day Risk tournaments, I took a measley second place! ugh! Maybe next time I will represent better! :)
3. Did you survive vine-swinging with less casualties this time around? :)
Not enough time for both vine swinging and risk. So zero casualties! Thank goodness!
4. Are the suits that you're getting from members mission approved? baby blue? :)
So the baby blue one...maybe not so much. But the other is approved and get this...I found another one for free at a thrift store that's a three piece and it is awesome! Fits like a glove too!
5. You're in Knoxville for another round. How do you feel about it?
I am. I am. I am so excited! I love this place. It's different tho knowing that it's like a 100% chance that you'll be leaving after this transfer tho! I'm gonna miss it for sure but I got 6 more weeks to enjoy! :)
6. What was the best part of your week?
Hmm...I'm not sure this week. The free suit was sweet. Exchanges in Indianola was awesome. I'm sure there's more... :)
Monday, September 12, 2011
Would you disown me if I came back a redneck cowboy?
What a fast week. It went by so fast that I can't believe that it went by at all. Elder Smith thought it was pretty long tho so I guess it happened.
I guess it was last Tuesday that I wrote so I'll start there. Tuesday after emailing, we drove about 30 minutes down to a nonexistent town called Hiteman, Iowa. Population 7, probably. Anyway, we had an appointment there with a gal named Shelly who, I think, I wrote about awhile back. We had an amazing lesson with her and things went really well. She was the one coming out of a Narcotics anonymous class. Well...Tuesday she dropped us. Meaning she told us not to come back again. She found Jesus and didn't want or need us. Kind of a little depressing. I kinda am used to that happening. Elder Smith was a bit “deer in the headlights” at the statement. It was his first time getting dropped. But we made it through.
Wednesday, I talked to Brian who got baptized last week and we talked for about a half an hour. It was pretty awesome! He talked for about 15 minutes about how thankful he was to find the church and how he is already feeling a gigantic change in his life. He says he is still hanging out with kind of a rough crowd but that he has just changed. He isn't doing anything he would regret and he just feels happier all the way around. He is such a stud! I love that kid. He goes into boot camp in San Diego today and I am so happy for him. We are planning on writing back and forth a lot so I am super excited for that! Yesterday at church he gave a talk and helped bless the sacrament so he is rocking and rolling. I love the guy!
I also talked to Sis. Strunk, who is Brian's step grandma. She is so funny and awesome! Her husband is a navy captain. Pretty high up and important. He and our branch president, who is getting promoted to a 1 star general in the army, argue all the time about who is better. Pretty funny. But anyway, Sis Strunk is just hilarious. She has had quite the life. She was a drag car racer, the national baton twirling champion and a very successful business owner. She and Brother Strunk met about 7 years ago, i think online, and got married. Anyway, she's awesome. She's my grandma away from grandma here.
Thursday was district meeting and it was super awesome. We just had a very spiritual meeting and I also introduced everyone to the Shawn Johnson plunger flip. They loved it. It's spreading. After district meeting tho, we had exchanges with the Indianola elders. Good guys. We did some good work and then we played Clue and Mancala at night. Haha. We have Risk in our closet, but that takes a bit more time. Hence the reason we are having district p-day today. We are playing Risk and going vine-swinging. Wish my body well!
I have cleaned more carpets on my mission than any other time in my life! I swear that's everyone's favorite service. I am practically pro at not only the cleaning but repairing of machines. Another missionary responsibility...handyman. Thanks dad for the training there!
Yesterday, we visited one of my favorite families here in Knoxville. They are actually from Caldwell, Idaho but they moved here after a bit. Anyway, they aren't members of the church and really aren't particularly interested in joining but I love them. Yesterday we talked to Michael (the dad) for about an hour about his life. He is pretty amazing. He was in the army for 20 years and was in the Special Forces, one of the secret groups that is top notch that no one hears about. They don't wear dog tags and if they get captured...no one will know because they are that confidential. He is awesome! He has some sweet stories but none he can tell us. Now he is bed ridden practically due to injuries and has surgeries often but he is very cool. Life-long friendships!
I was given two suits this week by members. They love me, I guess. They come up to me and say they find this suit and know I will love it. Well heck ya! I got 2 brand new 3-piece suits. Baby blue and charcoal with green pin stripe.
We had 3 investigators in church Sunday! Awesome! We had 5 less actives come back Sunday. It was a great day.
Things I learned this week-
-New diet plan. King size breakfast, prince size lunch, and peasant size dinner with two dainty princess snacks. I guarantee you I’m rocking it right now.
-While helping an elderly woman clean carpets, first ensure that you have sufficient time to move the hoarder's stuff out of the way. Second, ensure you have sufficient time to move it back to the exact same spot as before.
-I love cooking. Love it! That's not new knowledge tho!
This week, I just want to bear my testimony that I know and I believe in Jesus Christ. I am consistently reminded by the spirit that He is everything. Without him there would be nothing. I have learned a great deal this week about justice and mercy through my studies. Justice gets you what you deserve and mercy gets you more than that. Because we become partners with Christ through covenants, he accepts our red numbers and we accept his black numbers. He fulfills our negatives, and by accepting Him, we become positive. He is our partner. I believe that Christ redeems all men from physical death, but only those repentant souls and those willing to be baptized with authority of God are saved by our Savior from spiritual death. I know the atonement is real because I know the fall of man through Adam and Eve was real. Both were necessary. I am so thankful for my Savior. With Him, I, and all of us, have hope in today and in the future. I love Him dearly. He is my Savior. He is my Redeemer from sin, sadness, and sorrow. Because of the loneliest walk he took, I will never walk lonely again. And that is the "good news".
I love you all so much! Words cannot express. Love is the forgetting of yourself and total submissiveness and respect for another. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you.
Elder Excell
I guess it was last Tuesday that I wrote so I'll start there. Tuesday after emailing, we drove about 30 minutes down to a nonexistent town called Hiteman, Iowa. Population 7, probably. Anyway, we had an appointment there with a gal named Shelly who, I think, I wrote about awhile back. We had an amazing lesson with her and things went really well. She was the one coming out of a Narcotics anonymous class. Well...Tuesday she dropped us. Meaning she told us not to come back again. She found Jesus and didn't want or need us. Kind of a little depressing. I kinda am used to that happening. Elder Smith was a bit “deer in the headlights” at the statement. It was his first time getting dropped. But we made it through.
Wednesday, I talked to Brian who got baptized last week and we talked for about a half an hour. It was pretty awesome! He talked for about 15 minutes about how thankful he was to find the church and how he is already feeling a gigantic change in his life. He says he is still hanging out with kind of a rough crowd but that he has just changed. He isn't doing anything he would regret and he just feels happier all the way around. He is such a stud! I love that kid. He goes into boot camp in San Diego today and I am so happy for him. We are planning on writing back and forth a lot so I am super excited for that! Yesterday at church he gave a talk and helped bless the sacrament so he is rocking and rolling. I love the guy!
I also talked to Sis. Strunk, who is Brian's step grandma. She is so funny and awesome! Her husband is a navy captain. Pretty high up and important. He and our branch president, who is getting promoted to a 1 star general in the army, argue all the time about who is better. Pretty funny. But anyway, Sis Strunk is just hilarious. She has had quite the life. She was a drag car racer, the national baton twirling champion and a very successful business owner. She and Brother Strunk met about 7 years ago, i think online, and got married. Anyway, she's awesome. She's my grandma away from grandma here.
Thursday was district meeting and it was super awesome. We just had a very spiritual meeting and I also introduced everyone to the Shawn Johnson plunger flip. They loved it. It's spreading. After district meeting tho, we had exchanges with the Indianola elders. Good guys. We did some good work and then we played Clue and Mancala at night. Haha. We have Risk in our closet, but that takes a bit more time. Hence the reason we are having district p-day today. We are playing Risk and going vine-swinging. Wish my body well!
I have cleaned more carpets on my mission than any other time in my life! I swear that's everyone's favorite service. I am practically pro at not only the cleaning but repairing of machines. Another missionary responsibility...handyman. Thanks dad for the training there!
Yesterday, we visited one of my favorite families here in Knoxville. They are actually from Caldwell, Idaho but they moved here after a bit. Anyway, they aren't members of the church and really aren't particularly interested in joining but I love them. Yesterday we talked to Michael (the dad) for about an hour about his life. He is pretty amazing. He was in the army for 20 years and was in the Special Forces, one of the secret groups that is top notch that no one hears about. They don't wear dog tags and if they get captured...no one will know because they are that confidential. He is awesome! He has some sweet stories but none he can tell us. Now he is bed ridden practically due to injuries and has surgeries often but he is very cool. Life-long friendships!
I was given two suits this week by members. They love me, I guess. They come up to me and say they find this suit and know I will love it. Well heck ya! I got 2 brand new 3-piece suits. Baby blue and charcoal with green pin stripe.
We had 3 investigators in church Sunday! Awesome! We had 5 less actives come back Sunday. It was a great day.
Things I learned this week-
-New diet plan. King size breakfast, prince size lunch, and peasant size dinner with two dainty princess snacks. I guarantee you I’m rocking it right now.
-While helping an elderly woman clean carpets, first ensure that you have sufficient time to move the hoarder's stuff out of the way. Second, ensure you have sufficient time to move it back to the exact same spot as before.
-I love cooking. Love it! That's not new knowledge tho!
This week, I just want to bear my testimony that I know and I believe in Jesus Christ. I am consistently reminded by the spirit that He is everything. Without him there would be nothing. I have learned a great deal this week about justice and mercy through my studies. Justice gets you what you deserve and mercy gets you more than that. Because we become partners with Christ through covenants, he accepts our red numbers and we accept his black numbers. He fulfills our negatives, and by accepting Him, we become positive. He is our partner. I believe that Christ redeems all men from physical death, but only those repentant souls and those willing to be baptized with authority of God are saved by our Savior from spiritual death. I know the atonement is real because I know the fall of man through Adam and Eve was real. Both were necessary. I am so thankful for my Savior. With Him, I, and all of us, have hope in today and in the future. I love Him dearly. He is my Savior. He is my Redeemer from sin, sadness, and sorrow. Because of the loneliest walk he took, I will never walk lonely again. And that is the "good news".
I love you all so much! Words cannot express. Love is the forgetting of yourself and total submissiveness and respect for another. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for any of you.
Elder Excell
Q&A - September 12, 2011
1. We know now that Knoxville has stolen your heart. What is the very best thing about serving in Knoxville?
I just know so many people and have become close with so many of them. It's just a part of me. It's hard to explain!
2. If I'm not mistaken, next week is a transfer week. That means we won't hear from you until Wednesday, right?
Yes, you will. I think I'll be sticking around another 6 but we'll see.
3. Are you still feeling like you'll be in Knoxville for one more round?
Reading your mind like always. :)
4. How many letters per week do you get on average?
Sufficient. I can't complain. But I also do a vey good job of trying to write people. I write everyone back that writes me and then I throw out a couple more to people. I just love writing.
5. What was the best part of your week?
Hmmm....I'm sure I'll think of it before I write the email.
I just know so many people and have become close with so many of them. It's just a part of me. It's hard to explain!
2. If I'm not mistaken, next week is a transfer week. That means we won't hear from you until Wednesday, right?
Yes, you will. I think I'll be sticking around another 6 but we'll see.
3. Are you still feeling like you'll be in Knoxville for one more round?
Reading your mind like always. :)
4. How many letters per week do you get on average?
Sufficient. I can't complain. But I also do a vey good job of trying to write people. I write everyone back that writes me and then I throw out a couple more to people. I just love writing.
5. What was the best part of your week?
Hmmm....I'm sure I'll think of it before I write the email.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Pictures!
Miracles Happen!!
What a fantastic week it has been. I am every day astounded at all that the Lord does. I am completely humbled by his work around me not only in the world which I have the pleasure to live upon, but also the work he is doing to bring about righteousness based upon the faith and prayers of the faithful. He is awesome!
Once again, another week and a day, gone and gone and gone. I had a bit of an anxiety attack this week when I realized it was 11 months ago to the day that I returned home from Brazil and I have almost 11 months left of service remaining. Wow! The last 11 months flew by and I have no doubt that the next 11 months will fly as well. They always do.
This last Tuesday, we had the opportunity to talk with Shelley. Little miracle with Shelley. We met her outside of a Narcotics anonymous class that she has been attending now for 5 weeks and has been 5 weeks sober. Congrats! Another miracle is that our area here is a perfect square except for one little additional square mile in the south east corner where Shelley just happens to live. Hmmm....I wonder why. :) Anyway we had a great lesson with her. It was inspired by the spirit. We started talking about the atonement and then how we can access that power through faith and repentance and baptism all the while relating it to her overcoming of pain pill abuse. We then explained why baptism was necessary and what was important about Christ’s baptism and it just flowed soooo well. We then talked about the restoration and why that's important to baptism so we can access that atonement performed by Jesus Christ. We told her that her testimony would rest upon the Book of Mormon. We read the introduction page and she started crying. She said that she felt as if there was something so wonderful inside her that was just too big to fit inside her heart. It was overwhelming. She then committed to a goal of baptism on the 1st of October. We teach her again today and I am so excited.
On a completely other note....I landed the quad flip with the plunger this week. Totally sweet. I know that is in no way impressive to those of you reading because you most likely have never had the glorious chance to flip a plunger at the floor but if you ever tried it you would know what I mean! I know what my future family will do for FHE. That’s all I can say. :)
We got to go to Des Moines on Wednesday because I had a 3 on 1 meeting with President Jergensen. Those kind of meetings are very cool. Not very often do you get to sit in counsel in such small numbers with the president. It was me and two other trainers. Since we are the guinea pigs with this new training program for the church, we had an evaluation. It was a great meeting.
We had exchanges in Oskaloosa this week. I love those elds! We got to pick grapes on a vineyard for service. My skills in removing the governor from a golf cart were used as well. :)
We taught a less active member there as well that touched me. I was able to bear a solemn testimony that a lot of times we already know what we need to be doing and we waste our time praying for answers when we should just be praying for the strength to do what we know we need to. I love being able to use my personal history and testimony to help others. It is such a great feeling.
On exchanges, I talked with Elder Lewis for about 5 hours. We talked til a little after 2 a.m. just about life and school and doctrine and just everything! Love that eld! He is great!
While in Oskaloosa I got a phone call from Brian Lundy who we hadn’t been able to contact for about two weeks and he said, "Excell, I've been praying and reading from the Book of Mormon every day still. I know it's right. I leave for boot camp Wednesday and I want to be baptized before that. What do I need to do to make that happen?" So we had an interview the next day and he was baptized, confirmed, and given the Aaronic priesthood all on Sunday! He's a great kid! I'm excited to write him when he leaves for boot camp.
Things I learned this week...
-The post office accepts homemade envelopes! Yes!!
-1 roll of stamps cost a fortune but last a lifetime.
-Attitude is everything. "The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude"...that's on the wall in front of me every week as I email! Thanks for the tip!
-Picking apples in the pouring rain with no ladder with your best friends (members) is so much fun.
-My toothpaste has hydrogen peroxide in it...not sure how to feel about that.
-Marketing schemes are ridiculous...Charmin for example....I know I am buying four rolls that are double ply. That does not signify I am buying the value of 8 rolls. It only means I am purchasing 4 rolls of bathroom tissue that will be comfortable and not fall apart. 4 rolls is 4 rolls no matter the ply count!
I want to take this opportunity to let all those who read this know that I am a believer of prayer. I know it works. I have learned how to communicate with my Father in Heaven on my mission and I desire to have all learn to do so as well. Prayer and faith work miracles and I can testify that that is true. I have a huge opportunity in my mission to be witness to those miracles. I also would like to share my love for the Savior. I have learned through my mission that He is the answer to all questions. Jesus Christ is the center of existence and the epitome of purpose. He is the reason we are on Earth. He is the reason I am serving a mission. And he is the way by which I can return to my great Creator. I have faith in him and his atoning sacrifice that he performed for all nations’, kindred’s, tongues and people. I believe he exists and not just existed. I believe he speaks, not solely that he spoke. I am so thankful for his influence and example in my personal life and the life of all those close to me. I know His church is true. He leads it. It is his. I am so grateful for Knoxville, IA. It has stolen my heart. Wherever I go after this town, I will be missing a piece of me that will always be here. I am who I am today because of where I have been. This life that I have is whatever I choose to make of it. I know that to be true. We have the potential of an eternal infinity and we are the determining factor of how far we let ourselves discover that divine potential.
I love you all! I love my family! I love my friends! I love Elder Smith and who he is becoming!
With all the love that my heart can possess,
Elder Excell
Once again, another week and a day, gone and gone and gone. I had a bit of an anxiety attack this week when I realized it was 11 months ago to the day that I returned home from Brazil and I have almost 11 months left of service remaining. Wow! The last 11 months flew by and I have no doubt that the next 11 months will fly as well. They always do.
This last Tuesday, we had the opportunity to talk with Shelley. Little miracle with Shelley. We met her outside of a Narcotics anonymous class that she has been attending now for 5 weeks and has been 5 weeks sober. Congrats! Another miracle is that our area here is a perfect square except for one little additional square mile in the south east corner where Shelley just happens to live. Hmmm....I wonder why. :) Anyway we had a great lesson with her. It was inspired by the spirit. We started talking about the atonement and then how we can access that power through faith and repentance and baptism all the while relating it to her overcoming of pain pill abuse. We then explained why baptism was necessary and what was important about Christ’s baptism and it just flowed soooo well. We then talked about the restoration and why that's important to baptism so we can access that atonement performed by Jesus Christ. We told her that her testimony would rest upon the Book of Mormon. We read the introduction page and she started crying. She said that she felt as if there was something so wonderful inside her that was just too big to fit inside her heart. It was overwhelming. She then committed to a goal of baptism on the 1st of October. We teach her again today and I am so excited.
On a completely other note....I landed the quad flip with the plunger this week. Totally sweet. I know that is in no way impressive to those of you reading because you most likely have never had the glorious chance to flip a plunger at the floor but if you ever tried it you would know what I mean! I know what my future family will do for FHE. That’s all I can say. :)
We got to go to Des Moines on Wednesday because I had a 3 on 1 meeting with President Jergensen. Those kind of meetings are very cool. Not very often do you get to sit in counsel in such small numbers with the president. It was me and two other trainers. Since we are the guinea pigs with this new training program for the church, we had an evaluation. It was a great meeting.
We had exchanges in Oskaloosa this week. I love those elds! We got to pick grapes on a vineyard for service. My skills in removing the governor from a golf cart were used as well. :)
We taught a less active member there as well that touched me. I was able to bear a solemn testimony that a lot of times we already know what we need to be doing and we waste our time praying for answers when we should just be praying for the strength to do what we know we need to. I love being able to use my personal history and testimony to help others. It is such a great feeling.
On exchanges, I talked with Elder Lewis for about 5 hours. We talked til a little after 2 a.m. just about life and school and doctrine and just everything! Love that eld! He is great!
While in Oskaloosa I got a phone call from Brian Lundy who we hadn’t been able to contact for about two weeks and he said, "Excell, I've been praying and reading from the Book of Mormon every day still. I know it's right. I leave for boot camp Wednesday and I want to be baptized before that. What do I need to do to make that happen?" So we had an interview the next day and he was baptized, confirmed, and given the Aaronic priesthood all on Sunday! He's a great kid! I'm excited to write him when he leaves for boot camp.
Things I learned this week...
-The post office accepts homemade envelopes! Yes!!
-1 roll of stamps cost a fortune but last a lifetime.
-Attitude is everything. "The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude"...that's on the wall in front of me every week as I email! Thanks for the tip!
-Picking apples in the pouring rain with no ladder with your best friends (members) is so much fun.
-My toothpaste has hydrogen peroxide in it...not sure how to feel about that.
-Marketing schemes are ridiculous...Charmin for example....I know I am buying four rolls that are double ply. That does not signify I am buying the value of 8 rolls. It only means I am purchasing 4 rolls of bathroom tissue that will be comfortable and not fall apart. 4 rolls is 4 rolls no matter the ply count!
I want to take this opportunity to let all those who read this know that I am a believer of prayer. I know it works. I have learned how to communicate with my Father in Heaven on my mission and I desire to have all learn to do so as well. Prayer and faith work miracles and I can testify that that is true. I have a huge opportunity in my mission to be witness to those miracles. I also would like to share my love for the Savior. I have learned through my mission that He is the answer to all questions. Jesus Christ is the center of existence and the epitome of purpose. He is the reason we are on Earth. He is the reason I am serving a mission. And he is the way by which I can return to my great Creator. I have faith in him and his atoning sacrifice that he performed for all nations’, kindred’s, tongues and people. I believe he exists and not just existed. I believe he speaks, not solely that he spoke. I am so thankful for his influence and example in my personal life and the life of all those close to me. I know His church is true. He leads it. It is his. I am so grateful for Knoxville, IA. It has stolen my heart. Wherever I go after this town, I will be missing a piece of me that will always be here. I am who I am today because of where I have been. This life that I have is whatever I choose to make of it. I know that to be true. We have the potential of an eternal infinity and we are the determining factor of how far we let ourselves discover that divine potential.
I love you all! I love my family! I love my friends! I love Elder Smith and who he is becoming!
With all the love that my heart can possess,
Elder Excell
Q&A - September 6, 2011
1. Is Sister Wood the sister missionary that is serving in SLC? Isn't she the sister of someone in the ward there that thought you should write her? Do you exchange letters often?
Haha, ya she is. And I get a letter about every other week and I send her one about every other week. It's pretty fun to just have a constant pen pal that I don't know. I imagine we will be pretty good friends after this all.
2. Where is Elder Franz serving now? How much longer will he be in Iowa as a missionary?
Elder Franz goes home just before Christmas! And he is serving as a zone leader right now in Boone, Iowa.
3. When was the last time you played the piano? Do you need me to send more sheet music your way?
I was asked to play this Sunday. I'm always up for new music!
4. What was the best meal you ate this week and who was it prepared by?
I made a recipe from Uncle Limpy consisting of fried potatoes in italian dressing and also frying some Iowa chops in italian dressing. Super good. I love cooking. Elder Howard wrote a letter to my future wife and said that she better learn how to share the kitchen because I love it so much. Haha.
5. Has your Nauvoo temple trip been rescheduled yet? When it happens, will that take the place of Pday and will we still hear from you that week?
Well, we were gonna go yesterday but got nixed again. Oh well. Someday I will make it there! :) It does take the place of p-day but you'll still hear from me that week! Maybe just not on Monday.
6. What was the best part of your week?
Surprise Baptism!! You'll see.....
Haha, ya she is. And I get a letter about every other week and I send her one about every other week. It's pretty fun to just have a constant pen pal that I don't know. I imagine we will be pretty good friends after this all.
2. Where is Elder Franz serving now? How much longer will he be in Iowa as a missionary?
Elder Franz goes home just before Christmas! And he is serving as a zone leader right now in Boone, Iowa.
3. When was the last time you played the piano? Do you need me to send more sheet music your way?
I was asked to play this Sunday. I'm always up for new music!
4. What was the best meal you ate this week and who was it prepared by?
I made a recipe from Uncle Limpy consisting of fried potatoes in italian dressing and also frying some Iowa chops in italian dressing. Super good. I love cooking. Elder Howard wrote a letter to my future wife and said that she better learn how to share the kitchen because I love it so much. Haha.
5. Has your Nauvoo temple trip been rescheduled yet? When it happens, will that take the place of Pday and will we still hear from you that week?
Well, we were gonna go yesterday but got nixed again. Oh well. Someday I will make it there! :) It does take the place of p-day but you'll still hear from me that week! Maybe just not on Monday.
6. What was the best part of your week?
Surprise Baptism!! You'll see.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
