6 Months!

(Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person can hope for,

This week is a big week. In two days, it's my 6 month mark. Can you believe it?! It seems like it's zoomed by. I've been in this area for 6 months. In a week and a half is transfers, and most likely I'll be leaving. I'm kind of ready for a change though. I've called every person in our area. I think they might be ready for a change as well.

This week we have also been doing a lot of service. We did a bit of stucco, painting, pulled some weeds, moved rock for some landscaping, a little bit of everything. What's good though is that we have been able to reestablish contact with a few people we haven't been able to reach in a while because of service! So that's good! We also found a new person to teach this week! There's a family that allows us to visit every once in a while, and we eventually shared a message to the mother on the porch, gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a time to come back! That was our miracle of the week!

Today for Preparation Day, we went on an 11 mile hike! It was long. I didn't realize how long 11 miles is. My legs are weak now. I'm also sun burnt. But it was worth it! It was super beautiful! It reminds of my companion s favorite verse, which is Alma 30:44. It's a long verse, but it mentions that "all things denote that there is a God." When I see the beauty of the Earth, it shows to me that there is a God. What show you that there is a God?

Interesting fact! People outside of Idaho eat more Idaho potatoes than the people in Idaho. Makes sense to me. The people in Idaho are probably all sick of potatoes.

Pictures:

1-5. Pictures from the hike. The mountains in the background are the Tetons. We saw the trail that said "Not Recommended". So we went up that trail.

Obese and Hardworking Fish

(Elder Slade)

To the best family and friends a person can hope for!

Howdy everyone! Another week gone, and another on its way. This week we have tried to look for lots of service, because as much as I like setting in the apartment texting and calling, we decided we wanted some variety and change in our lives. So, this week we helped a lady move an outdoor fireplace 10 ft which involved lots of digging. I snapped one of the shovels, either because I'm too swoll, or because the shovels were 100 years old. (Probably the former). We helped at a food bank, where we ended up getting lots of free food. (Anyone want some potatoes?) We also helped paint a house, and we wrote some letters to some people who live in a assisted living home. It was fun! It helped this week move a little faster, and it felt good to get out a little more.

Service is a wonderful thing though! Aside from the personal blessings that come from it, like being happier, it serves the purpose of helping others feel loved and cared for. Have you ever had a bad day before, and then you come home and you find that someone has made your favorite meal, or done your chores, or made your bed? It makes you feel good, and just brightens your day. Service is ordained of God, as He wants us, His children, to take care if one another, and to help others feel of His love. I can't think of any bad things that come of service. I'd invite you this week to look for those around you that you can brighten their day, and help them.

The title comes from learning of this one place in Idaho where there's a huge gathering of fish we're people often go to feed them. Because so many people feed them, they get fat, and decide to stay there waiting to get fed. Elder Baron said the title when he heard about them. But, fun fact for the week! You'll be really surprised about this one. Here it is: The potato is Idaho's official state vegetable. Woah! Mind blown and such! Who would have thought?! I was sure it was going to be celery or something, but I guess not.

Love you all! Hope you all have a great week!

Pictures:

1-2. I took up a new hobby during lunch time this week. It's called carrot carving. At first I did it just with my teeth, then I used a knife. My first masterpiece is a potted plant, and the second glorious creation is a pawn from chess. Their starting at $10 a sculpture. Any takers?

3-4. Us with goats. We saw them and were like, "We have to 'go'at get a picture with them." And so we did.

July 13, 2020

(Elder Petersen)

Hey y'all what's up?

So the past couple of weeks have been a little interesting so to start off we are teaching a husband and wife couple who are inactive, inactive to the point where they really don't know really anything about the church. We have been teaching them with the wife sister who is a missionary right now in South Carolina and this past Wednesday we had a lesson with them and went over the word of wisdom with them. In that lesson the spirit was so strong that as we talked Ryan who is the husband started to cry. In that moment he realized that he could change and become a better person then he once was, he realized that the atonement truly was the only way for him to be able to live with his Heavenly Father again. This was probably the highlight of my week being able to see the change in the lives of those people who we teach whether member or nonmember. It is such a powerful experience to be able to help people make these changes in their lives one that I truly love. Other than that highlight of my week due to reassignments to our mission we are having another transfer this Wednesday although I have not been transferred nor has my companion Elder Bedah the mission is being changed up quite a bit. I really hope y'all are enjoying my emails even though with most of them there could have been a lot of improvement, I do know that I am not the best at writing and I do have trouble trying to think up stuff that you would like to hear about. So please let me know if there is something that you would like me to write about. So this last week I was experimenting and I made some raspberry rolls that turned out really good hear are some pictures! We also had zone conference so hear is one of our zone pictures.

July 8th 2020

(Elder Petersen)

Hello everyone how's life?

So not much has happened since last email except that we did in fact have transfers this last Wednesday, I stayed in Providence with my Companion Elder Bedah. We had zone conference this last Thursday in person which was really nice due to the fact that we previously had not been able to meet in any large group of missionaries in the past. So it was really nice to catch up with some friends that I had not seen in person or otherwise for the past three months. Other than that we honestly did not have very much going on just calling lots and lots of people to set up as many member appointments as possible so not much has happened.

4th of July

(Elder Slade)

So, this was a fun week. I ate a lot of food on 4th of July! I went to 4 or so picnics/BBQs. By the last one I could hardly eat any more. The people up here are too kind. We also were able to watch a parade that day! They weren't allowed to throw candy or anything (lame), but I jokingly thought they should throw out hand sanitizer. We had to be in by 9, but we were able to watch a few fireworks from the apartment. Other than that, the only difference from a normal day, was that we were able to call home. Our mission President suggested we could run a 5k as well, as long as we ran in our proselyting clothes. Color me lame, but I decided I didn't want to run 3 miles in a white shirt and tie. Maybe next year.

On Tuesday, we had our first in person zone conference in about 4 months. It was a great experience with lots of helpful trainings. A big topic we talked about was conversion. Rather than a testimony, which is knowing the gospel is true, conversion is more of being true to the gospel. If we know something to be true, it should cause us to make changes to our lives, and even changes to ourselves. Sometimes we know things to be true, but for some reason it doesn't result in anything. For example, we may know that Krispee Kreme donuts are the best donuts in the world, but we don't put in the effort to drive to it and buy some (man, I wish there were Krispy Kreme Donuts in Rexburg 😥). We may know that family is the most important thing, and then spend all of our time working, or doing other things. My invitation to you is to evaluate what you know to be true, and then make changes accordingly. I for myself know that the Gospel is true, and know that my Savior lives, and thus I will try my best to follow Him, even if it seems like it's too hard sometimes. As long as we keep improving and trying to become better and to change, we will be alright.

This week, we also had an exchange Wednesday with some other Elders. I with an Elder Moore from South Fork Utah. He's a funny guy! We got lost looking for a house that were going to do service in, and we ended up in the middle of a field on some back road, our car extremely muddy because we had to drive through some really large puddles. Also, today we went on a hike to Mesa Falls! It was beautiful! I'll include some pictures. This week I learned that apparently Idaho sponsors a semi-truck that pulls a giant fake potato that drives through all of the 50 states. It's apparently called the Big Idaho Potato Truck. Very creative name. You'll have to look it up though. Apparently if it was a real potato, it would take 7000 years to grow.

Pictures:

1-4. A few or the many pictures at Mesa Falls. You should go if you are ever in South East Idaho.

5-6. Elder Baron and I next to a giant gorilla.

I didnt know you guys existed in this town!

(Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person could hope for,

This week's title came from a time when we were on a crosswalk in Rexburg, and the cars that were stopped starting yelling at us. One guy yelled where we were from (a question I've probably been asked 1000 times) and told us he loved us. Another guy screamed. "I didn't know you guys existed in this town!" I think being a missionary in south east Idaho is the closest I'll ever get to becoming a celebrity. Some people get so excited when they see us, it's weird. I'm not used to getting so much attention.

Time is moving like crazy though. I can't believe it's almost July! The days feel super long, but the weeks feel short. Tomorrow is zone conference again, but this time it's going to be in person! Yay! Unfortunately we'll have to wear masks though. Less yay. Apparently there's a surprise speaker. I'm thinking it's going to be Shia LaBeouf telling us to just do it. Just kidding. I'll let you know next week who it is.

This was my first week leading our district council as a district leader. I gave a training on improvement through the atonement. The reason we are here on earth is to improve and become better.  And the thing about improvement, is that it's hard. It's hard to change bad habits, and start good ones. It's hard to grow the attributes that we and our Heavenly Father would like us to have. But change is definitely worth it (unless you're Batman. Then there's no need to change), and is possible. Pray and ask Heavenly Father for help. Make goals. Set plans. I know you can receive strength to improve as you put in the effort.

Happy July 4th everybody! Don't let your dreams be dreams! Just Do it! Idaho'nt give up!

Pictures:

1-2. Beautiful Sunset!

3-4. There was a bunny rabbit outside our window!

My foot is vibrating!

(Elder Slade)

To the best friends and family a person could hope for,

Not much happened this week. Same old text, calls, and sharing messages with members. It gets a little repetitive sometime. The title comes from a texting session where my foot was falling asleep, and I said, "My foot is vibrating!" Then I repeatedly tried to hit it against the coach to get it to stop. It didn't work. But one thing we've been working on more and more is Facebook proselyting. I'm not too much a fan of it, but the variety makes it enjoyable. We have made music videos, teaching videos and all other assortments of social media propaganda. Haha, just kidding, I wouldn't call it propaganda. But if you have time, you should check out our page, you'll probably see me in some videos! It's called Church of Jesus Christ In Rexburg.

Today, our new district and another district went to the sand dunes in St. Anthony.  It was super fun! It was sandtastic! We spent the time running and jumping off of the dunes as far as we could go. We also did some front flips off of the dunes. Suffice it to say, sand got everywhere.

One of the videos for Facebook we've been working on is about the Book of Mormon. What's amazing about the Book of Mormon is that it can answer all of life's questions. It teaches us. Why we are here, and where we are going. It teaches us the purpose of families, and how to strengthen them. It teaches us how to receive forgiveness, and how to forgive. It teaches us how to love, and that we are loved. It teaches us how to find peace, happiness, comfort, strength, patience, and faith. But above all else, it teaches of Jesus Christ, and that He lived died and was resurrected for us. If you would want to learn more about any of those things, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. I promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that if you do so with an open mind, you will find those things.

Interesting fact, Idaho grows roughly 1/3 of the U.S. fall potato crop. Given that the average American eats 140 lbs of potato per year (though the internet has been wrong before), then that's a lot of potatoes. Anyways, love yall!

Pictures:

1-3. Taking pictures with Elder Baron next to a potato field and a canal.

4-7. Various sand dune pictures. I wish I could fly. :(

8. Nuff said.