10/27/2014

Dear Family,

Thanks for all the questions. This week was equally stressful, but much more rewarding. We taught more lessons than I ever have before. Between the two companionships we taught 7- lessons which is crazy. The only problem is that all of those lessons didn't result in any promising investigators. We taught Julia last night who is golden. she is pretty set on being baptized next month sometime. After that, nobody is close to getting baptized. It is the same with the other companionship. They have one guy getting baptized next month sometime. After that, nobody is close to getting baptized. It is the same with the other companionship. They have one guy getting baptized, but not much after that. The other elders are Elder Kelly and Elder Ewell. They are really funny and outgoing and they get along great. IT is cool because they are both converts to the church so we hear some pretty crazy stories from before they were members. Elder Kelly has been out about 13 months and Elder Ewell has been out for about two months. We basically teach everybody we see on the streets and we are passing a lot of Books of Mormon out, but it is not really resulting in anything promising. We feel like we are called to re-activate the less-actives. There are quite a few that we are working with that are coming back to church. In fact, there was this lady that we visited that hadn't been to church in years. We went over there and I just asked her to come to church and she said yes! She was there on Sunday.

So the son of the recent convert died on Friday. It was like a few hours before we went over there. She was upset and pretty much a mess. We are going back on Tuesday to check up on her. It is cool to see the relief society organize efforts to help her out. She is getting food and a lot of love and support.

The guy that we challenged gave us bogus number haha. I hate it when that happens. We run into a lot of black people that are super nice and too nice to tell us no so they give us a bogus number or address or something. It doesn't hurt to ask, though! We challenged several people to be baptized on a specific ate and sometimes they say yes and sometimes they say no. We will keep trying.

So I have not received that letter yet, but I am sure that it is coming. I got the package with the coat and waterproof stuff. Thank you so much. I am looking forward to the other packages coming soon. Tell Grandma Reiley thank you for her letter and gift. I will see if I can write her a letter sometime today.

So Nick's great great grandma taught grandpa and grandma Reiley! What? Such a small world. We keep finding more connections and it is awesome. I have already been invited to their family reunion on the first weekend of July 2016. Who would've thought? We are where we are supposed to be. Speaking of connections, Jim Lasson's first cousin is in this ward. He had no idea that Jim was sealed in the temple and that he is in the Elder's quorum presidency now. His name is James Howard and he grew up in Idaho Falls and St. Anthony and remembers hunting with Jim in Teton Valley. Just another cool thing and another reminder of why am here.

A few comments on the side notes... I can't believe that Kansas City is in the World Series. The weather is actually really sunny and nice right now. WE are out on the lawn emailing because it is so nice. This last week was nasty though. There was a tornado in Washington, toward the northern most part of our mission. it did some damage to some buildings, but I don't think anybody was killed, just hurt. The umbrella is holding up and I think I am good for right now as far as things that I need.

Stake conference sounds like it was cool. President Cooke and President Kunz are the best. They have a certain spirit about them Those are both really good messages and we should take them to heart. President Taylor talked about this. He said that your mission will e what you make it to be. Nobody else can control that because nobody else can take away our agency. Then President Kunz always shares an uplifting message. We are here on this earth to have joy. That is one of the most overlooked principles in the gospel. WE are looking for more joy and happiness and peace and that is why we are here on missions, to spread that. Sometimes we think that the gospel restrains us or keeps us from experiencing happiness, but it is the complete opposite. By LIVING the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can use the atonement and feel forgiven of our sins which brings true happiness. Everybody feels guilt for things that they do wrong because everybody has the light of Christ, it is our job to tell everybody how to get rid of that guilt.

Thank you for all that you are doing in supporting me and loving me. Thanks for your daily prayers. I know that hey help me which helps me reach out and touch other peoples' lives. I love you.

Jaxon.