05/25/2015

Dear Family

I am so glad you got the message from Sister Ard! I am so thankful to be able to be working with Brother Ard here in the Vancouver stake. It is so nice to already have a connection.

So we are still working with Mike and Teresa. Mike just pretty much said that he isn't moving out and Teresa said she isn't ready for marriage so we are kind of at a stand still. Unfortunately, Mike hasn't been coming to church now either. He is kind of sliding backwards. As far as new people, we have a few. We   are teaching a man in his 60's named Paul. He has been coming to church every week for years, but isn't a member. He will be a tough nut to crack. Also, a family in our ward is working really hard on a family. We have not met them yet, but they go to their family home evening and are interested in coming to church. It is a tough situation because there is not much that we can do; just be patient. The teaching pool will grow. Also, people here are generally pretty nice. There is a HUGE population of Apostolic Lutherans. Basically the women don't wear makeup or work, they don't play organized sports (because of the potential of pride and greed), they don't watch TV, and they are SUPER loyal. I have been invited to their church dozens of times and I have yet to meet one that can give me a reasonable explanation of what they believe (most of them literally say I don't know). But they are all really nice.  

We had interviews with President Taylor on Wednesday. So we only get 8 interviews our whole mission before our departing interview. This was my fourth interview! I am halfway over with interviews with President! I can't believe it. I talked to him a lot about our teaching pool and how to help it. He said that he served in Scotland and knocked on doors all day every day and just to be patient and faithful. I have to work on the Lord's timeline, not mine. He also said that he has NO intentions of sending me to the new mission so that is a relief.

I have a cool story I think I should share. So we had stake reports for the Vancouver Stake on Sunday. We have them once a month. This is with the stake that Elder Brase and I are brand new to. The stake president is known for being super intense about missionary work. WE basically have to get a list of 50 names of who the missionaries are teaching and we have to know a lot about them. We also collect the numbers for the month and a few other things. Elder Brase and I literally spent all day Saturday collecting this information. I still didn't feel like I knew anything going in to the meeting. I fasted and prayed that we would have a good meeting, despite our lack of knowledge. Then we shoed up and President Taylor was there. No pressure! haha. We ended up having a great meeting. The spirit was so strong. There is no way that that meeting should have gone anywhere close to decent because hardly knew anything about the stake. The Lord blessed s all with a good experience and I am so thankful for that because I thought it was going to be rough.  

I have been having a great Memorial Day today. WE went to a perk (kind of like Freeman Park but with more trees) and had a good barbecue. We spent a lot of good time with the missionaries. We played football, Frisbee, and soccer so we had a good time. I have been thinking about those who have passed away in service for our country. I have also been thinking a lot about Kimball today. Thanks for the pictures of  his grave (golf balls included).

How about those CAVS? Man they are tearing it up. I bought a pretty sweet Cavs shirt a few weeks ago. I really do wish they would wait for a couple of years, but a win is a win. I bet Grandpa Reiley is pumped. How are the Indians doing? Any other crazy sports news?

Thanks for the great email. I love getting them. Actually, I think I need some maroon shoe laces for my Walmart shoes! Other than that, I think I don't really need anything. Thank you! Everybody have a great week. I love you.

Love,

Jaxon

Steve and Maryann (Hansen) Ard .. She's from tetonia, he's from victor. Both THS grads. Woohoo; no idea on the funeral program one; looks like his zone, and the sunset.