So this week went pretty quickly but I have just been trying not to  stress about our area. We had two exchanges this week which both went well. We were able to find quite a few people which was really good.  Our area is not doing super great and it's a real struggle building it up. It is a lot better than it was a few weeks ago though. 

Something that was kind of cool this week was we were having a lesson with one of our investigators outside one of the buildings on campus at a table. The lesson was pointless and we dropped the guy but as elder Henley was saying the closing prayer I had this thought  that we should talk to the girl sitting at one of the tables close to us. So I was just about to go talk to her when some guy walked up and said something to us and it made it just to where it would have been awkward to go up to her so we left. I told elder Henley I felt like we should have talked to her and we decided to go back. We went up to her and started talking and she was familiar with Mormons because she's had some LDS friends and she was totally interested in meeting. So now she's a new investigator and we are meeting with her this week! So that was cool. 

On Friday president and sister Russell had their last day here and they decided to come to our district meeting! So that was super cool to see them their last day and talk to them before they left. 

On Saturday president Orton got here and  we got to talk to him on the phone shortly. Should be interesting to see how things will change. I was also able to see Maria my recent convert from GP, she came to church and bore her testimony here! Then I was able to see the Sharps also from GP on Saturday. It's so good to see them again! Other than that we will be meeting the new mission president this week and I think we will have MLC also, we will see.  Love you
Stay Solid

This week was a much better week than the first here in Corvallis!  Even though this was finals week for the spring term, we have been able to have some lessons and find some new people.  

On Tuesday we had 5 lessons set up with people and 4 of them cancelled which was a bummer but we found several new people and we were able to have 4 lessons still with different people.  

Wednesday was a pretty average day.  We taught a couple lessons and did a lot of walking around campus. 

Thursday was a really good day.  We were able to go down to Eugene and have zone conference.  There were six zones at this conference and it was President Russell's last one before he goes home.  First it was cool to see a bunch of the old friends from all the past areas but also it was just super spirit filled.  The talks were really good and they ranged from "listening in teaching" to "breaking bad habits".  Probably the best parts were the musical numbers though.  You could just feel the spirit so strong it makes you want to tear up.  I was not about to start tearing up though so I made sure not to let that happen.  haha  It was a great meeting though.  

Friday we didn't have district meeting because of zone conference but we still had new missionary training which is fun.  The new missionaries in our zone are really good already so they pretty much train Elder Henley and I.  lol

Saturday was definitely the best day of the week though!  The First Ward Elders were contacting in their area and found a young couple, Jacob and Anissa, who asked them to come back so they referred them to us.  We went and saw them Saturday and it was a phenomenal lesson!  They invited us in and we all sat down and they started asking us question after question.  So we taught them the Restoration which answered many of their questions.  They had a bunch more questions about our missions and also the plan of salvation and church so we were there for two hours just teaching and answering questions!  I asked them what they had felt as we taught them and they both said, "I just feel like this is right.  I just feel so peaceful and warm."  I was just amazed.  I knew I could feel the spirit as we went through the lesson and it was beautiful to hear that they did too!  We invited them to church and they both came Sunday which also went so well.  Sacrament was really good and they had a beautiful musical number and Bishop Glasmen spoke and they loved it. Luckily Elder Henley and I taught second hour too and the lesson went so so well. They both added their ideas and testimony.  It's just a beautiful thing to see people take steps like that!

Sunday evening we went to Bishop Glasmen's for dinner and it was a good time with all of his family too!  

Definitely seeing some miracles since we have been here which is beautiful because Elder Henley and I cannot get this area going on our own!  Much love fam.
Stay Solid

Bishop Glasmen and Family

This week was a straight struggle!  

Monday we got here to Corvallis at about 6pm after driving for several hours. We were super tired and had no clue what was going on or where to go since both Elder Henley and I are new to the area.  On top of that, most of the zone is new and they dropped everyone off at the gas station and we were supposed to help everyone get where they were supposed to go but we were lost also.  lol  Eventually everyone found their apartment and we were able to get all their stuff there as well.  We were going to try and contact people that first night but they were having FHE at the building and they all wanted us to come do FHE with them so that's what we did.  haha

The next couple days were just super painful and long.  lol  So we have no people on date or progressing which means we have almost zero people to teach!  This was dead week because finals are next week so people are either going home or coming back so its almost impossible to find solid people.  But other than that, we've been doing super well.  

Elder Henley is a homie and we both love working with the young people.  The ward here is pretty cool and it's a super nice university.  It's been a little colder this week and rained off and on but we still managed to find 6 new people to teach.  We've talked to some cool people and shared some good messages so far, including to a group of sorority girls which was pretty entertaining!haha  Most people are pretty nice and seem willing to hear us out so that's always good.
Love you
Stay Solid

June 5 2017

This week was a great week!  On Tuesday we had a mission leadership conference which was super awesome because it was in Bandon!  It was so good to be back there and see the ocean and what not.  We had half of our meeting out on the beach so that was pretty tight!  I definitely enjoyed that a lot and they had some good teaching segments on being strong in spirit and being the watchmen over our fellow missionaries. 

Wednesday and Thursday were pretty normal days.  Friday we had district meeting which was good then after that we went to the Sharps for lunch and a fun little object lesson on miracles which was super cool.  It's always so good to have members like the Sharps that are super awesome and are always helping us.  We had several lessons on Friday too.  Maria is doing well still!  She is moving to Portland though which will be awesome as long as she goes to church!

Katherine is still doing awesome!  She was one that Elder Hatch and I baptized our second transfer together and she's only getting better and better. 

We had another lesson with Mike and Corey and they are doing so awesome--Getting closer and closer to baptism.  Dustin and his son are also doing well which is so awesome!  They both want to be baptized and are loving the lessons.  

Saturday was awesome because Sally was finally baptized!  It was so cool to see! She felt the spirit so strongly. Sunday I was able to confirm her and that was also super cool!  It was definitely a great end to my stay here in Grants Pass!  

It's been such a great experience to be around all these people and to have been able to teach them and watch them grow. 

I'm being transferred to Corvallis to work with the YSA ward at the University.  I'm whitewashing in the Elder Henley.  I think it'll be a lot of fun.  I'm looking forward to it!
Love you
Stay solid

Just a quick note because today is transfers.

I'm going to Corvallis to be a zone leader there and I'm whitewashing in with Elder Henley who is a new zone leader.  We are in the YSA ward on campus.  That's the big news.  Oh, and Sally was baptized last weekend and I confirmed her!

Love you 
Stay Solid

This week was quite the week.  

Tuesday we had another zone conference which Elder Ross and I had to teach.  We taught everyone on qualifying our investigators, which I felt went pretty well!  After the meeting, on the way back from Central Point, we were able to stop for food. While we were eating we were able to catch the Cavaliers come back and beat the Celtics which made the day even better.  haha

Wednesday we were able to teach several lessons.  We still have 5 people on date and they're doing really well!  We are teaching several more that could be on date soon as well.  Sally is doing awesome and will be baptized this upcoming week which will be awesome!  It will be the most awesome thing to see that before I leave this area.  

Friday we went up to Eugene to do exchanges for the day which is always not fun but I got through it and then on Saturday Boatnik started.  Boatnik is a huge festival in Grants Pass on Memorial Day weekend.  Its like a big parade and carnival where they have boat races on the river and tons of people attend.  Elder Ross and I also borrowed a tandem bike from the Sharps and rode it all around town during the celebration.  haha

Have a great Memorial Day.  Love You
Stay Solid

Elder Ross and I getting ready for Boatnik

                                          

This week there was some pretty cool stuff that went down.  First, we've budgeted our miles really well this month so we were able to go see all the people who live out in Narnia. 

Tuesday we had an awesome lesson with Sally!  She is super cool and I hope she sticks to her baptism date so I can make it before I get transferred. She should get dunked June 3rd so that will be dope!

Wednesday we drove out to all the middle of nowhere places to see a bunch of part member families.  

Friday we had a district meeting and then we drove down to Cave Junction to see some of the YSA people on the list we were given.  It's always good to go down there and then we can go to the border and I can go back home to California for a quick minute.  haha

The best part of this week was that I was able to go back down to Central Point to my last area to see the rest of the Seeley family get baptized!  Anna and Collin got baptized now which completes the family, other than their two 4 year old daughters!  It was so awesome to see and talk to them again.  It's great to see how far they've come from that night that Elder Clark and I tracted into them with our Christmas message.  They are super awesome and it's so cool to be able to be a part of the conversion of an entire family!

That night we also had a zone activity at the Sharps which was really cool.  The Sharps are awesome and they are always doing awesome stuff for us.  We were able to have several people come to church also which is always good.  Have a great week!
Love you
Stay Solid