Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Wed, We had Dinner with the Wonnacotts tonight! Got an invite for Christmas too!!! They are a fun family. The Dad is super competitive and I have fun beating him at basketball haha! We Then met with a member in the Sister's area! She absolutly loved us cause we were the elder's haha! Had an awesome cat who fetched! Never seen a cat do that so that was a cool expierence! Just got to know her and had a good Christmas message from the very center of the December Ensign where the staple are haha!

Thurs, District Meeting! It was good! I kinda hate the meetings where people are trying to bring the Spirit in with there voice...it happens too much haha! The Spirit is going to be there, yes you need to be more reverent but missionaries take it to the next level! Was a good meeting tho! We then had lunch at Cici's, pizza buffett! Good place! We then met with Sis Melina! She is pretty cool and works on Sunday and doesn't know why her husband doesn't come and so we will hopefully go back and meet with him! One at a time haha.

We then had dinner with there really good friends in the Ward! The Rodriguez's! I love them and today the Spanish came and did the lesson in Spanish and it was really good! I can pick up little phrases in Spanish and still kinda wish i woulda gone Spanish but maybe i can learn it when i come home! We then played basketball and i of course sprained my ankle! This one just barely got better too! It ached pretty bad and this is the first one that did that! Prolly the combo of getting old and out of shape haha

Fri, We did some service for a member, i hobbled along haha and then went service tracking for about an hour and just no success! I hate tracting and have never really seen much good come from it! Part of the work but it is crazy not successful! Kinda fun for awkward moments tho! Had some fun limping from door to door! Shaffer's then had us over for service! We set up their Christmas Tree! and that was pretty much it! They then took us to dinner and we just had fun like normal! When we come back out this is a family we will go and see for sure! We then went to the v.c. with bro Hoover and david sosa! Was a good time and the performance was pretty good with two young violinist!

Sat, We did service again! haha Sis Ezell"s weekly service and we finnally cleaned her garage and organized it! It looks alot better! Wish we would have done before and after haha would have been good. We then met with David Sosa and tried to get him going on jobs again...he just doesn't have the want to support himself so the government will just keep supporting him...wish i could be like that but i don't think it is in my jeans! We then went to dinner with Shannon Nani and her two kids who are down for the holiday's! Was fun. Her one daughter is 19 and isn't a member so we got to know her a little and gonna answer all her ?'s and hopefully teach her about the BoM before she goes back home and she is moving out for the summer so maybe the Elder's then will baptize her! We went to the V.C. and it was Todd Thatcher! He was amazing and we seen a c-d out of his! Look him up he is a really good singer! Has a deep voice and just sang really well! Piano guy he had was super good too! Finger's all over it really fast haha, didn't miss a not all night!

Church! YAY! Christmas program was really good! Sang songs and read some scriptures and that was sacrament meeting and the best thing about it, the Shaffer's came!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They liked it and we will try to get them to want to come back! We Then had a lunch! With the Boogards! I got shhhhh'ed during the closing prayer cause apparently i was loud and didn't realize it and the 2 year old was asleep...whoops haha it was super funny! They are a fun couple! We then came home and managed to lock our keys and phone inside the apartment LOL, luckly we knew how to get ahold of our roomates # ! Other than that we just went and did missionary work and had one potential come from it! Sometimes you work work work and don't seem to get anything!

ChristmasEVE! We went and did service/play card games with a cool member! Heather Rose! Took some stuff and loaded her car and then played Rummy, card game style and it was good! Then had a good meeting with Sis Lawrence and the kids! Hopefully we will get the kids mom away from the Jehovah Witness haha! Then went Carroling with our roomates and DL It was really fun and had a good time! Then went to the Shaffer's Party and hung out and played darts and listened to country music haha! Lots of new songs out haha, i didn't turn it on and didn't tell him to in my defense!

Christmas! Had the Conferance, was really spiritual! and fun! Watched the movie Elf, kinda stupid but fun to watch in the V.C. screen! It was good to talk to ya! We then had a good time with the Wonnacott's and there family! Might've watched a couple of possesions of the Heat/Thunder game haha and played lots of card games and basketball! We fit right in and it felt like i was at home, played pinochle too haha! Still remember exept there rules were a little different!

Loved Christmas and it was a really good spirit! Went to the mall today and seen the christmas tree...send me the s-d card so i can send this one back haha! Record some stuff on that one and maybe wait and take some pics of new years and send it to me :]

Thanks Love you! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Next week is transfer's to and i don't know what is going to happen!

Mon, we had an appointment with a guy from India! His name is Yash and he really isn't interested in joining but we will see after we teach him cause he says he really wants to learn more! But then again i don't know if we will see him again! We learned alot about India tho and how the school system works so that was cool! We then had a fun little lesson with the Opuku Family and it was kinda fun, Just got to know him a little been a member for 8 years and his wife is due in like 2 days from then so i don't know if they have a new baby boy or not! We will hopefully hear from him this week!
Tues, My companion got really sick and threw up all last night, so i called people! got a couple naps in and that was the day haha it was funny cause we had 5 appointments and 4 of them called earlier in the day and had to cancell haha so we rescheduled all of them and had a lazy day at home! It was kinda nice and good to get some rest, I didn't catch any of it so i am happy!
Wed, Mission Tour was really really good! Elder Packer just brought the Spirit and strengthened all of us on what we are doing! Everytime a G.A. comes they say they just feel the Spirit really strong and say we must be doing the write thing! That is always nice! He did say he would not be surprised to see the missionary count go up 30,000 and i thought that was crazy, he said it would at least 20,000, It was really just a good way to be where to learn how to become a better missionary! It is always the little things that you have to work on and i think it is the same with everything in life! The little things are what really matter!
Thurs, we Weekly Planned and took it easy today! didn't want to rush too much with a sick companion, We watched the first session of G.C. with a member and it was just as spiritual to hear the mission announcement as the last time haha! Good ole Tom knows how to speak doesn't he? We then had Dinner with the Wonnacott family! They are super cool! We then played basketball with some youth and an investigator Ricardo who we took on a tour right before! It was a good day! Played full court and i am really out of shape haha! i need to lose about 20 lbs!
Fri, Exchange with Elder Lott! We came out together and was in the MTC! It was a good day to catch up with him, especially when you just get dogged all day long haha! We also talked alot with their roommates and had like an hour of chuck time...ooops didn't really mean too haha lost track of time! But it was a good day full of talking and just getting caught up with a good friend! Learned alot today it was good!
Sat, Today was a good day! It was busy! We went to set up for our Ward Christmas Party with the ward and it wasn't very hard then afterwards worked in the sister's area! We then went out to eat with a member and the sister's! It was fun! Mexican food is really good! The Christmas party was good! we picked up 300$ worth of deserts at costco! It was fun to walk out with all the faces at us hehe...then steak and shrimp for the christmas party haha! Tasted more like prime rib! Twas a treat!
Sun, Church was good as usual! We then went and worked with no meeting just talking to people! After had dinner with our Ward Mission Leader and tried to get on the same page but i think it will take more work...i hate working with people haha! I love teaching about the gospel and all but people are just annoying! Met with David Sosa tonight and talked about him coming out with us and had him come the next two days!
Mon, Went and picked up David only to get dogged and then went and worked the sister's area again with no success but did schedule an appointment for them haha! then got dogged again then went to the v.c. to do parking and well you know the rest of the story...wierd to see people from home but cool all at the same time! Janae will hopefully send me a letter now haha Godfrey's are cool people!
Tues, Picked David up again, helped him apply for a couple of jobs, then met with Sis Shelton who is a cool member who is recently returning and we are helping her out and trying to get her to do some missionary work! Then met with Ricardo and his brother and had a good time teaching them the first lesson! Then had dinner with a member whose daughter came from BYU and happens to room with Taylor Kraus haha small world haha! It was a weird couple of days haha!
Wed, Temple and now i got to go cause the comp is kicking me off!
Love YOU! TALK TO YA ON TUESDAY!!!!

Small world

It is a small world! Jeff and Julie Godfrey, from right here is Soda Springs were visiting in Maryland with their daughter and decided to take the grandkids for a little outing to see the Christmas lights at the Washington D.C. Temple. The walked in the door to see two Elders greeting people and one of them looked awfully familiar! Elder Stoor had been called in to greet people at the door on Monday evening. Julie said they had planned to go Sunday, but waited until Monday because of the fog. They just stopped by my office on their way home to report that he looks healthy and happy. Does my heart good to know that they were just with him, but I'm completely jealous!!

 Elder Stoor, Janae Godfrey, Jeff  Godfrey

Wednesday! We had two appointments...Rene and Fe...he got baptized two weeks ago! He taught us the first lesson tonight! The Spirit was strong and he has a strong testimony! They are from the Philippians and it was just a great meeting! We then had a less-active dog us but we took a sweet member out with us! His name is Wolfgang Brunner! Not sure if i spelled his name right...he is from Austria and told us a bunch of mission stories and we went and worked with him for a little while! It was really really good! More on him later!
Thurs. Weekly Planned in the morning and got most of the stuff we needed done...map updated...everything just put back in order! Things become a mess out here sometimes and it is because you get more people and it is a constant battle to stay on top of it!
We met with Betty! A less-active Merri Maurer! We watched the 20 min..restoration dvd and had a good talk with her! We then went to the festival of lights with her...on fri...We then had a little meeting with Shannon Nanni about tithing...bishop has been worried about her and her not paying tithing i guess. she is a recent convert but she just told us she has been forgetting and knew how to do it so i guess we did our job we shall see..We then watched the 1st session of general conference and it was really really good! We watched it with Sister Aiiress after biking like 5 miles haha. 4 miles one way so we were up to 9 miles on a bike and it was before 4 still! we then had a lesson with a new investigator. Living here with his 5 brother's from Honduras .my comp's bro is serving there...and then his sister, Ricardo's is serving a mission in Mexico...so hopefully we found a goldmine! He came and played basketball that night with us! We started a basketball thing back up with the youth and it was fun to get back in the gym again! Miss it alot! We had a good dinner tonight with the Rodriguez family as well!
Fri, We finished Weekly Planning and then did some service we started last week and finished it this week! We were racking a butt ton of leaves and it was fun. Then had a member we did it for there neighbor feed us lunch! I love the Farns! They have helped us out alot and are doing alot for us! They are the best! We then had a meeting with a member who just wants to play cards with us and it is fun! Play rummy and i kick there butts like i do all the time in a card game! She is in a tough situation and i think us just being there helps and it is fun! We only play a couple games and then leave and talk all through the game. it is nice i fit right in with them! Heather Rose is her name. the one's that remind me of Chad and Jamie. Then saw some bells ring at the v.c.! It was crowded and really good! Bells were really good, took that household of like 10 people, where Mauer and shannon live! 8 people came lol! Super good too
Sat! Bishop Breakfast! It was really good! Had oatmeal! I didn't get enough to fill me up...i need alot now so i am gonna prolly start to really pack on the weight here. We did service afterwards for a member! She gave us $25 for McDonalds! for a christmas gift which was really nice! We went to eat there afterwards haha. Had a good lunch! Spice McChicken is really good and a perfect price haha, We then met with Mr. Jones! He just got out of prison and is getting use to being a father of 4 kids again! Super hard but he wants to learn how to improve his life and i hope he tries out working with us fully towards coming closer to Christ to help him! We shall see...we then had a couple of appointments bail on us and we played football with a group of kids for like an hour! It was fun. they were all freshman and afterwards they all had a BoM in there hand and thanked us for it and also it was the first time "older people" played with them. had smiles on there faces and so did we cause it was fun to play football! wish i coulda played cause i really enjoy it! Hopefully they will call and we can come play again with them! We then went to the V.C. again! YEAH! For a Flute Ensemble. it was good but seen better! Went with David Neville, member who drove us in a Nisson Cube..never buy one haha it is gay! also with David Sosa a recent convert and his friend Marcus who we have been teaching! was good to just walk around the v.c. and be there again! We went every day this week lol
Church! Sun. I had to say the opening prayer in sac meeting! I still hate praying in sac meeting and never want to do it again! Church was really good today! I loved all three meetings and that normally doesn't happen haha! We then had an appointment bail and then had lunch at a sweet member's home! Wassum's he was sick so we also gave him the sac. They have a cute little girl that liked me and kept giving me stuff! She is almost two and wanted to sit on my lap and we aren't allowed....some rules they give us are just dumb! we then had another appointment bail so we checked on people and not really much! Then the Awesome member we took out, took us to the v.c.! Bro and sis Brunner are the best! i want to be like them when i grow up! A fun couple who does cool things sho just are crazy in love with each other and it is just obvious and they don't have to do the PDA to show it haha! Tis on there faces! And they are funny! We told a couple of sister's that they were getting baptized next Sunday and those sister's went ballistic it was a good time! Also met Rene, and Fe there! And also an Indian Family that we invited who live right above us in the apartment complex! Will start to teach them! they had a great time! I love the Indian Culture and they are going to feed us! I like how spicy there food is! It was a good week and i feel like i was at the V.c/ alot! I guess everyday brings that too ya! Go Festival of Lights!
Sounds like Temple Square was fun!
Keep up the basketball Shelb! Tell mom to send some pics and videos with the s-d card haha!
Meg needs to stop texting so much! talk to him don't text, you will like him more haha,
I am excited for Christmas apparently you are getting an e-mail about the 40 minute thing...we will see i guess! Keep it down on the mission phone for sure but i might call a little bit on another phone but it depends on who we go to! i don't want to talk for ages but maybe a little longer than just 40 min.
Well i think i gotta go! See ya next Wed...might be a really long email next week haha!
Send the pics and i will too next week haha sorry send the s-d card back so you can have them all and i don't have to worry about sending them!

Wednesday! We had a dinner with the 2nd counselor in the bishopric and it was really kinda awkward but it was good food! And they gave us a couple of referals that we checked out and one wasn't too interested but the other one might be so that might be fun! Then we met with a man who got baptized on Sunday for the sisters! Rene, and his wife Fe we are now going to be teaching the new member lessons to him, not all of them cause this ward actually teaches them. We will still have weekly meetings with him and i was here to see him get baptized and confirmed haha! He is a sweet man and woman from the Philippians, more on him later...
Thursday! We had District Meeting in the morning and it was a really good district meeting! It was just a good one, helped us to figure some things out. We met with the sister's on how we can best help there area and get some more stuff so that is good! it is going to be different trying to do two area pretty much! We went to lunch, then saw a less-active Sis Maurer. She is a good lady who is on the brink of returning and has a cool roommate who asked a bunch of ?'s and wants to learn all about us and we can do that haha! We then had a cool meeting with recent convert, who had his friend there and he was a little annoying but we teach everyone. He thinks he knows it all! haha Marcus is a cool enough kid and still in the high school age but it will be fun to continue to meet with him, had another meeting later where we had a good first lesson with him! We then had a sweet dinner! Rodriguez are pretty cool and we go there once a week! Afterwards we had a meeting with an old bishop of the ward and he let us go through and pick some 20 names to go and check on to see if we can meet with them, old investigators from around 2005 so that was good and just helped us with some ideas that are pretty cool and if they work i will let you know later!
Friday! We had a bunch of meetings with less actives today! We met with a couple of them, Cheryl Shelton who did come to church so that was fun!  She is a cool lady, just needs to make church a priority. We then saw Sis Lewis, she is an elderly lady who just isn't really interested at all but is friendly and nice and let us teach her a lesson. She liked it too but just doesn't want to pursue coming back right now for some reason! We  then saw Sis Aairess, she is a crazy black lady. I ? if she is all there in the head! But she is nice and bore her testimony in church just another crazy black person i guess haha. She is sweet and very kind.  We then played Rummy with a member and her daughter. They are sweet. Part-member family that told us they hated Goodman lol. The husband could not sit in the same room as him haha. Left when he came in. They kinda remind me of Chad and Jamie. She is a member and is sweet, he is a war vet who has alot of health problems and isn't the same as he used to be~
Saturday! We had a couple service appointments in the morning, moved a couch with the Dougall's for the sister's, then had a pancake scout fundraiser breakfast that was really good pancakes, then helped a member move something heavy, then helped bishop with his Christmas stuff from downstairs to upstairs! Was really good! Then met with Shawn and Will! With a priest from our ward! Talked to Shawn on the street and then met will inside. Will can't talk..but loved the lesson and Shawn asked all the good ?'s you want asked. We then went to the vc to park for the Festival of Lights had to stand outside in the cold all night long! Then stayed for the 9 Jenny Oaks Baker Concert that was amazing!
Sunday! We had Ward Council in the morning, Awesome church! then went on a walk with Mark, and eternal investigator, met with missionary's since 2005. He loves the Catholic Church too much. Doesn't believe in the Apostasy obviously but is a good guy to sit and talk to and i learned alot about the catholic church from him and will see if he wants to believe in the apostasy after we meet with him or not.  Bro Brown fed us steak from the dutch market...really really good steak! It was fully raised on the no adding things to him type of thing and it was just fabulous! Then met with 3 people with him, one investigator for like 10 min., then two home teaching visits where they were good and one guy is prolly coming back! Robert Carey but i don't want to hear his sob story on how he left the church again! people think we have all the answer's on like why he left the church and things but we just don'T haha. Then watched the first pres. devotional with him! weird i was in the MTC last year for it haha
Monday! Didn't meet with anyone in the morning...but we went to the v.c. with the Schaffer's! It was amazing...Jenny Oaks Baker was good, It was super spiritual, we went through the 3rd lesson in a new thing at the v.c. they asked good ?'s and it was super duper good. loved the spirit, and how it is working with them! They just need to start to show more action and i think they are there..They took us to Wendy's and we got home at 10:20 haha woops but it was fun!
Tuesday!Went to ZT in the morning and just had a good tour of the new v.c. It was really good and just alot of new exhibits and things! We then had another meeting with Marcus and David! First Lesson and it was really good. He might be good but i am not sure how it is all going to work out with him! It was a scattered lesson but he is young so maybe he will read and learn! We then had dinner at the Shaffer's tonight! It was another good time! Played Darts...good bacon burgers! I have not had this much fun in a long time i just feel at home with them! I love it! We had a really good spiritual talk too! It was soo strong and i think they might come around! We talked about the Atonement and sacrament and then it just went to the spiritual feast of ?'s and how scott is going to come to know these things are true and stuff! I love these guy's so much!
Today!, did a tour of the capitol building! that was pretty cool! We got some special tour too by a guy who works for Senator Hatch! Twas fun. went up and all around the capitol, sat in on the senate and house for a minute and just had a good time!  Got a pic with Senator Lee, if you look at the reporters for the congressmen i might be in the background  i watched Senator Lee give his for Fox News another guy gave it for another one...i think maybe you can go and see, pics next week i gotta run! Love you all!!!!!
Love Elder Stoor

HUMP DAY!!!!!!!

IT'S HUMP DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S HUMP DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is finally here - everyone tells me that the second year goes faster & they better be right.  It seems like Seth has been gone for years sometimes.  I will admit there are times when I can't believe it has been a year, but they are much fewer.  Then there are days like today when I am surfing around the internet and find a missionary blog and see the most handsome boy ever smiling next to someone that is has been teaching the gospel to:

Elder Arnett, Alaina and mom Brenda Bangi, Elder Stoor
Lila Lum, Jeanette Huston, and Sister Porter

He has told us all about Brenda & her adorable little girl ~ isn't she a cutie!!

When I see a little face like that it makes it all worth not having my boy at home for a couple of years.  Brenda got baptized last week & this little girls life will be forever changed because Seth was there to teach her mom.  I love my missionary & I will gladly share him with the people in Washington D.C., but that doesn't mean I won't count down the days til I get a big hug!  365 & counting down!!!!!!!!!!

hello

Wednesday, Wonnacot's had us for dinner! They are a pretty cool family. Some younger kids some that are 2 or 3 year's from a mission, Then after dinner we just went out and worked for about an hour. Had a really good spiritual thought there. Played a little bit of an church apples to apples game we played at church...it was fun and spiritual. Tis good for the kids.
Thursday...no proselyting on Thanksgiving...So we went to a Turkey Bowl in the morning and was running around playing football with adults and a couple of young kids it was really fun except i was the only one that can catch a ball it seemed like haha. Wish i coulda played football..afterwards a little basketball. We were there from like 8 to 1 haha. I fell and my teeth cut my lip pretty bad but it is all healed now. This made me super super sore. A week later i feel like i am just getting over it. I am getting old it feels like haha. Then we came home and did a little Weekly Planning like we were supposed to do and then we had dinner at a member's. Deep fried a turkey...no more roasting when i come home. Deep Fried Turkey is the best think i have had on my mission haha. Gordy's were there names and they are nice people. Had a spicy stuffing too and it was amazing good.
Friday, This was the most sore i have ever been. We went out and just did some missionary work. It seemed like everyone was home cause of the holiday's so that was really good. We set up lots of appointments for next week and We also got 4 referral today for the Spanish. It was kinda crazy how many referrals we got. highest referral day for me so far! I could hardly walk around today.
Saturday! We had another good day haha i don't have my planner with me so i don't remember what we did on these days till monday haha. I think we may have had a dinner appointment again...i love getting fed and One of these day's it was with Bro Brown! This guy is pretty cool. Is doing a big miniture train thing. It takes up the whole garage and he has a lot of time to work on it cause his health is pretty bad. He has had a rough life the past 5 years. Apparently he lived with a staff infection for like a year and it is one of those infections the docter doesn't know how he lived. Supposed to have died from it like 9 months before they found it. He was not active in the church at the time and it took that experience to get him back. It is good that he is back.
Sunday, Church was not very attended cause half the ward was up in New York cleaning up so that is good. This ward is really great tho. Alot of really cool members. We had the Dougals, the office couple who are assigned to our ward to take us to Brenda's baptism...she got under! It was a neat experience to be there! That is 3 now i guess! And counting...
Then came back and the sister's had a baptism...in our ward it is split between us and sister's Sister Joost and Nakatasuka...not sure if i spelled them right. They are pretty good and had a baptism. We are also taking over there area for the Festival of Lights. They are at the V.C. most of the time so we get to have all there appointments at night. It is going to be tough i think but it should be do able. They are letting us keep our car and giving us more miles so that is good.
Monday, we were out of miles so we started biking! I couldn't keep up with e. Peterson and we went into a bike store and i got me some skinny tires haha. They are about a 1/4 the size of the other one's. It is super nice and should have done it a long time ago...and they were on sale...saved like $15 so it was swell...we also were able to get alot done, We found 3 new investigators today...Lewis, Carolina, and Shawn. All i think have potential so it is very very good...we met with a less active that isn't really smart at all! haha I hate teaching dumb people sometimes...but i love it all at the same time.
We then had a sweet dinner with Gladys Mu..... Was very good. Gave us a refferal for the ASL, Her son Idi is sweet and we are going to start to take him out. I have found a good friend in him and he is gonna keep me updated on all the sports so i like him alot haha. We stayed prolly a little longer than we should have but it was just fun to sit down and talk. E. Peterson gave a really good spiritual thought on a moth and trials haha. Might could send it to ya...by Boyd K Packer i think...look it up maybe
Tuesday, was really cold so we drove today...met a few people, Had a lesson with Stacy Staples, she is a sweet elderly lady who lives alone had a really good first lesson with her and just am hoping she will progress and find out this is true but i am not expecting too much out of her but hopefully she surprises me...We had a meeting with Janae Lawrence, she is a black girl getting ready to turn in her paper's and we are encouraging and she loves to have us over. It is fun to just sometimes open up and talk and just have some fun and that is what we did with her...just got to know her and laughed a little bit. She will be a great missionary...then we had a meeting with the Shaffer's Scott and Gale...They are pretty sweet! I felt right at home at there house it was weird. She grew up Mormon...he was Jewish. She stopped going to church in college and just hasn't felt worthy to come back to church and found another one she feels better in haha. He converted to Christianity in 2004. Said he was never going to do that but he did. Said he would never marry a mormon and did. It was just a good meeting. I love them so much. We started to just answer all there ?'s and then it led into a plan of salvation and we taught the whole thing. Super spiritual. They ate it all up too. It was cool to see it one there faces. Prolly the best P.o.S. i have ever taught and it was mainly them teaching. They understand scriptures really good. I am looking forward to good times with them! We are going to Jenny Oaks Baker on Monday with them and dinner on Tuesday with them so it is gonna be fun! he likes to cuss and is a country boy so i kinda feel at home haha
today was good too, we went to E. Lott's apartment cause he has laundry, he is with E. Moss right now so we played a board game and did laundry and then went and took a pic with Santa with the sister's for a thank you card for the Ward. Will send ya one and will send pics next week hopefully.
I don't really want much for Christmas, just pics from friends and letters haha. Its all i ask.
gonna maybe sit down write Colten, Parker, and see how they are doing. i am terrible at writing letter's sometime. Some days you just aren't in the mood and it only happens once a week so not a lot of time to write.
Thanksgiving sounds like it was fun, Doug and Kendall look big haha, everyone changes in two years i think and i am at one year!
Next week i can say in a year i will be home haha. I think it is going to go by really fast now. Transfer's zip by for me right now and only have like 8 of those left. Crazy crazy.
I don't know much else to say exept i really like this area and my companion so it will be a really quick transfer. I love being able to just go out and work and have someone who knows just as much as me about what to do. he has been out 9 months so it is super duper nice!
Well if there is anything specific you want to know just ask!
Love Elder Seth Stoor

Feast of Sharings

Sister Matsumori posted a new blog about the Feast of Sharing.  Go check it out - amazing how they pitched in to feed so many.  Looks like Elder Stoor will be in charge of carving the turkey when he gets home.

http://teachallnations5014.blogspot.com

Elder Stoor was transferred!

So Wednesday didn't do much haha not very long to go work!
Thursday, We Weekly Planned for the last time together. It was a quick easy one and just got alot talked about! We had a meeting with Earl where we may or may not have just played a game of chess with him! He beat us both and then we talked about him getting baptized! Should be fun. Hopefully he will.
We then saw Sis Jones, had a good conversation about prayer! Go look at the October Ensign and the article on prayer. It is really really good!
After we went over to Kirk's and taught him a little about faith! We were late and was going to do service but didn't end up doing much! I was super tired and slept for dinner didn't eat and my comp didn't set an alarm and so we were about an hour late. Best nap i have had in my life tho. Kirk laughed when we told him we fell asleep. It was funny.
Friday, we went on a blitz with Elder Fisher and Rushton and just talked with everyone! Talked to prolly 80 people between us and not one thing from it...take it back a referral for the Spanish. It was fun tho and just good to be out with four of you hitting the streets.
We then had a awful lesson. Teaching just sucked on our part and it was with...Jigga...Big Mama Michelle. This mom is HUGE! It was just a super fun lesson tho. She is a really good person! She danced with Elder Fisher at the end! Oh boy...i have never seen a butt go from the behind to the side then to the other side...Called Jigga for a reason and it was super funny. Also said the closing prayer with her daughter and her friends that are 20 so it was kinda weird but funny ending...wanted us to go to the club.
Then we had a meeting with Stephanie that night! It was good to finally see her again! It has been since September! We had a really good lesson and just always seem to catch her at the best possible time! She has been really busy but will hopefully start to have time to meet with us!
Sat, Meeting in the morning...Tried to talk to people and was checking on everyone it seemed like today...we met with Brenda...she is just the best. our roommates came and it was good cause we needed a 3rd male. Lesson really just wasn't good and i wasn't very happy about it. Our teaching just sucked! But we did get her to ask her friend to baptize her so next week she will be baptized by a friend!
Brenda did still stay in the next lesson...this was at the church...with Jeannette and Lila and the Porter's! Taught the same thing and it was a 180 degree difference! it went really good! Taught P.O.S. with W.o.W and Chasity! I love teaching Chastity it is just awkward from the very beginning it is great! These two will both be baptized tho and i am very excited about it! Brenda on this Sunday coming up so i will get to go back for it!
Sun, was Stake Conference  It was freaking General Conference worthy talks...They were so good. First one was on the Atonement and Grace and how it is all by the grace of the atonement that it works...just blew my mind haha. Another was about having distractions and how much we can get ourselves doing then we can't feel the spirit in our lives! Twas good too
We then went to Bro Peguse! This man is AWESOME! We watched the Redskins game, gave him the sacrament and i had a really good talk with him! I am so grateful for this man and i have loved the friendship we have made! News about him coming up but this meeting was the best and we almost didn't give him the sacrament but we ended up doing it!
Mon, We went and helped prepare food at the feast of sharing. They feed the homeless and the first half of the day we were preparing food for it. Cutting chicken and turkey, cutting pies sure it is all over the mission blog! Coming from our apartment...Sis Holt in jeans should be illegal! Especially in front of Pres.
 we then had a sweet meeting with a cool new investigator! Izzy is his name and it was just fun! Awesome lesson, we then went to go see Kishea...she is officially a Levite and she has the Priesthood! She is ridiculous! and also today was Elder Arnetts Birthday! I took him to Moroni's Pizza Place for dinner! it was good. we had a good fun day capped off with Call Out Night, we played pool and bang and had some fun and found out i was leaving and going to a car area! YAY!
Tuesday!, Chucked out today cause it is chuck out tuesday! Packed in the morning and then we went to go say goodbye to Bro Peguse...We learn that he collapsed and he was taken to a hospital...we went to the hospital right away...found out that he had passed away. It was like having a family member die for me. He was a truly awesome man! They let us in and we seen his body...there is truly a difference when the spirit leaves. You can really notice the difference  It just wasn't him. We read a scripture together...Alma 40:11-12...this scripture has never been so real than it was there in the hospital. We then held hands and said a last prayer with him. This is when i started to cry. I was pretty good till then and i just every time i think of it now i just go into tears. I know the Plan of Salvation is real...i know he is in a better place, he lived a good long life. Born in 1928, but there is just some reason it is hard. Today was just hard.
After we went to Sis Macks and that made it better....then to Ihop...then me and elder arnett left our roommates and went to Mia...then to the church for FHE! Then me and elder fisher went down to Zeitsman! Twas good meetings and saying goodbye just sucks! I hate it...especially the for good goodbye's. It is time to leave tho i would go crazy if i stayed for another!
Wednesday! We go to the Transfer meeting now...hate it cause they just changed the format and we have a meeting where we find out who our comp and area is in the morning! I don't like it one bit...but i am with Elder Peterson! he was in the DC 3rd District when i got there and he left the transfer before i. He was with Elder Goodman so he had a rough six weeks...Should be fun for us both tho. I think i will really like him. We are in Quince Orchard East Area. Up in Gaithersburg...will have to let ya know about it next week!
For Christmas ..i really want to skype i will be honest...don't know if it is allowed here but tell me what you think...i don't really need anything for Christmas ..just some caramels will be nice haha. maybe an ipod classic too :], or a nice long letter from everyone! including some friends. that would be the best present in the whole wide world! and a picture of everyone too...i like to have more pictures if i could from you guys and friends!
Thanksgiving is a non pros day so we have football with the ward in the morning and then a dinner...should be fun! Weekly Plan the rest of the time.

congrats to bailey simmons i guess haha didn't know they were dating. Wes will be a good missionary! so will Tanner...kinda weird how it all happens. Wonder if they will be companions.
Well i don't have much to tell ya else...Love you and thanks for all you do!
Love Elder Seth Stoor!!!

What's happening!

Wed, was just dumb had to stay in all day long! Played alot of pool and had a good dinner that night at the church, got a ride there!

Thurs, was interviews! This was the wierdest interview yet. I was on the verge of tears the whole time just talking about some things that are stressful to me. Mostly just kinda talked about you guys. I dunno if i will ever get over being homesick, it is just something i have learned to deal with. Also with missionary stuff, have had a hard time lately with everything. I hope by next week i will be out in the country somewhere and out of the city! i have served inside the beltway my whole mission and it is all just city. I want to go see some farms again! I kinda hope i go down to Southern Maryland.

After interviews, we just went out and worked and had a meeting with Kirk! This guy is my favorite! During the meeting, Elder Gumbi called me from California and it was nice to say goodbye to him. I will miss him alot. We played basketball a ton together! I dunno really the truth to why he went home early, but i guess he does.

Kirk is doing good tho, finally went inside his house for the first time. It is kinda a mess in there. He lives alone so you can imagine. Hopefully he will let us help him clean it! Keep askin everytime i go over there.
Met a cool guy named Darrell. He is super smart on the Bible or at least so he says and seems like he could be a good leader for the ward if we get him haha. Just prayed with him on the street and got his number. Hopefully we can meet with him.

Fri, Weekly Planned today! Got that all done and met with Mia. She is doing good still. Is a little sick and she didn't come to church again so we are a little frustrated with her. Prolly will say goodbye to her this week! Don't want to but she needs to come to church before she will be able to progress. Prolly gonna leave with an invitation with a notice we will set up the next meeting when she comes to church. Also met with Sis Jackson! She is a good lady! I sometimes question if she is there or not. She loves the church tho and that is what matters!

Sat, Had our missionary meeting, our ward mission leader forgot to tell us he went out of town so that was fun. haha But we went to lunch then went and talked with people. On average i shoot to talk to 10 people a day and lately have been hitting it. It is kinda a goal # but of course you try to talk with everyone. I think on average this last week i talked with 12 to 14 a day so not bad i guess. Have had a couple recently wanted to learn. Still not a lot but alot better than the last couple of weeks. Met with Jeanette with the Porter's! She is wierd. Can't tell if she is accoutable or not but i hope that she is. Hopefully she will go down on the 2 of December! Also ran into a man named Kenny Rodgers and had a good lesson with him. He is a smart guy whose religion is fairly accurate haha

Sun, Munch and Mingle is always great! Jeanette and Brenda came to church! Bro Peguse is the man! We then went to the V.C. With Jeanette and watched a trumpet people play!

Mon, We took Brenda to the V.C.! That was one of the most spiritual expierences on my mission! J.S. movie just put her in tears. She is gonna be going down on the 25th of this month. She is the most prepared person i have ever taught on my mission. She has the cutest little girl Alaina. Brenda walked into another church two weeks ago and said she wanted to be baptized! YAYA. We will do it for her! Also District Meeting in the morning then the man J.S. Armstrong took us all out to lunch! Love that guy.

Tues, Finally got some refferals in the phone! 3 today after i don't believe getting one for the last two transfers! Interesting. found a guy out of some false information...Izzy haha what a name. Then had a good g-q with a guy on a bike named Andrew. He might be interesting but we will have fun with him next week! Then had another good FHE last night! Taught Brenda with a couple members for like 30 minutes before on the Plan of Salvation. Then had an Atonement lesson. Then watched Mormons helping hands video about hurricane sandy it is super duper good go look it up! Then had a fun time watching sherrates with black people.

today we went to the temple and played tennis with Elder Porter! Had a really fun time. I love tennis.
Well everything kinda just dropped about last week and the locked out thing. Just isn't worth getting it through his head that he was in the wrong. but i am over it.

Well I don't have much time left so i better git going! Love ya so much and don't send letters to 16th street anymore! hopefully will be out of here by next week!

Just some socks for Christmas and i believe that is all i really want. More of the same one's you got me for my birthday! other than that i don't need much. Not really anything at all.

Thanks for your prayers they are much needed and have been felt this week.
Love ya so much and keep the e-mails coming!
Talk to ya next week somewhere!

Hey Family!

How is everything this week?
Wednesday was Halloween! Just stayed inside at night and got our weekly planning done so we did not have to do it on Thursday which freed up the day!
Thursday was an okay day, We had a couple appointments! Nkosi is a less-active but apparently just has been in Africa the last six months and is leaving this week again. Tried to help her change her locks and just had a good meeting with her regardless. Shared a scripture and she told us she was coming to church but didn't so people are crazy! We then ran into a white guy and he talked to us! Gave us his information and everything! I was super duper surprised! He seemed a little crazy tho so maybe that is why. Has a good job, so can't be too bad, but we shall see if he gave us the right information! We then just rode around trying to find more people and checking on a couple. With it being cold there is not very many people out on the streets anymore. Have to hit the right time,now. We then had a dinner with Aster! She is the best cook in the world! I love Ethiopian food. She is truly an example to me cause she doensn't know very much English yet but she can feel the Spirit! Kind of a reminder that the spirit is what converts and not what we say! Then we went a little late to our appointment and we found him in his underpants. He let us in, Gidy is his name, and we had a good lesson on Moroni 10. Didn't read and it is what we left him so we read it with him. I don't know if he will progress much more but we shall see. Met a sweet guy named Arthur! Had a really good conversation with him and just excited to go and see him!
Friday, Went on Exchange again! Elder Rushton. Wasn't as bad as i thought it was going to be. Elder Rushton is one of the most prideful people i know and i just don't mix with it. I joke all the time about being prideful and i am super prideful when it comes to basketball but i do it to have fun, but i hate pride. He was okay today tho. Taught alot. 5 lessons. Just a tad on last week for number's, we went on too exchanges and both times i went to their area and they taught 14 lessons and i was in 10 of them haha. Can't teach people in my own area but sure can in the others. Had a good meeting with Andrei! Only one worth talking about. I really love this man. Super humble and just wants to be a mormon. Knows it is true from the getgo this time around. Was taught 3 years ago. Planted seeds then harvest. I hate always having to feel like a seed planter tho. Feels like that is what i am doing.
Saturday, Met with Carl Russell. He is crazy haha. He is totally there but just some things he says...weed messed him up good when he was young that is for sure. Cool guy and has a super solid testimony so it was a good visit, but he talked for like 45 minutes without an interruption from one of us haha. Then had a meeting with Sharonda Carr. Been a few weeks trying to meet with her and finally did and it was super good! I don't know what my companion was thinking but jumped from about prophets to restoration and completely left out savior's earthly ministry haha. It worked but i think might have confused her. Everyone else says to teach people not lessons which is a fundamental  but i think it should be worded differently. Teach people lessons. You have to apply it to them and don't really worry about an order you teach it in. Just go by what you feel.. We then came back and took dinner, then about ready to leave then Sis Zeitsman called! Told us dinner was ready where was everyone. Wish she would call before she made food sometimes haha. She is a great lady and super good cook and no one knew it was tonight. Thought she was still out of town. Well we booked it down and had two dinners! Yeah love the bike. makes me eat a lot!
Sunday, Church! Fast and Testimony Meeting! Sis Mack singin is the best! Bytheway i might have told her that i was going to tell Chris Banks to write her and she had the biggest smile on her face so might want to tell him that i threw him under that bus haha. It was just a really good meeting! We also had an investigator there! Kishea! I am excited for her, she really enjoyed church! Hopefully the spirit got to her cause she needs it..stay tuned...After Church, we had a lesson with Janette...it actually held and she brought her crazy roommate that told us she was Mormon...well she is just crazy and didn't help with the lesson. Except she swallowed everything my dreamy eyed comp had to say haha. Every black girl thinks he is cute haha. The lesson went really good prolly cause we had it at the church! Put her on date for December 2, but we seen her both monday and tuesday and her accountability is going downhill everytime so i hope it isn't too good to be true cause she soaked up every part of the Restoration! Then, Bro Peguse! I love this guy! I am going to miss him for sure! Love being able to take the sacrament to him! i feel like that is an ordinance we take for granted for! I hope to never do that again! It truly has a power in it to take you through the next week! After we went to Pres. Matsumori's home for an FHE! It was good. We brought Kirk along and it was just super fun to be with him! He is a quiet guy but when he speaks he makes it count! Man of few words but he is one of the brightest people in D.C.! Told him i wanted to have Christmas at his place and he said BaHumBug it was super funny! FHE was good tho. Kinda lame but desert was good! I don't know if i will be going back to one of those tho just because i didn't find it too helpful. Good idea, and it was nice to see the Mission Home again and if our investigators want to meet Pres. then i will definitely go again. They do one every other month so we shall see!
Monday, Had District Meeting! Then afterwards, comp study and before we got out the apartment, news come that one of my really good friends here went home! Elder Gumbi. Emotions with that have been hard to deal with. I don't know what to do sometimes. Thing is i really don't like a lot of the missionaries in the mission and it sucks when one you do like goes home. I can count on my hands the number of missionaries i like! Missionaries get on my nerves and even sometimes i get on my nerves. Today was really hard tho and just really mixed feelings on everything. Not alot went on today and no one was out when we went out. Called people to invite for FHE tomorrow night and just went and walked out over to Mia's! I love her so much and i am afraid we will have to drop her unless she comes to church! Explained it to her for the last 8 weeks so this last two weeks have been some bold lessons. She has the best excused tho, she was in the hospital for this last one. She is just afraid of quitting smoking and coffee tho. I think she knows it is true tho. Had too many spiritual meetings with her. Things better change.
Tuesday was great! We had a lesson in the afternoon with Kishea! She is the one that came to church! Yay! Investigator who might progress...well except for the fact that she is a Hebrew Israelite who believes that only a Levite can baptize her. Well, she is pretty hard nosed as usual with those kind of people. She is really cool tho, is it 2 Nephi where it talks about being learned. I feel like if you know too much there is not much room for the Spirit to work with her. I hope it will, but we pretty much dropped her but she says she will come to church again and believes just about everything we taught. Not sure tho on what to do with someone who just thinks she knows freaking everything, which i give her props she knows her stuff just isn't very open to feeling the spirit. She did feel it during the First Vision which i don't know if i have not felt the spirit when i teach or when my comp teaches it cause it is prolly the most powerful thing that we teach!
We then kinda was just out talking to people and found one new investigator who told us to meet at McDonald's on Monday and gave us a legit phone number, but i am worried a little bit...haha
We also had the first official DC 3rd Ward FHE!!!! It was super super good. Taught cups and had Elder Fisher come and shoot it down with a nerf gun that was exciting, we then watched the Joesph Smith Movie! Last 10 minutes of the short one. It was super good. Had a recent returned member Bro Bryant go and pick up a brand new person who showed up at another ward and said she wanted to be baptized and she lives in our area!!!! YAY Her name is Brenda and she has the cutest 1 year old daughter! We played musical chairs and it was just a good night. Brenda is gonna get baptized prolly this transfer so i love golden prepared people!
Had a good reminder also about Faith this week. Forgot a little about how Faith works on how we learned from Elder Bednar. My prayers have gone back to being object instead of adgent. Things are really hard right now and i hope that as i try to go back to having more faith then it will be good. Action is the most important thing we can do. Even sometimes things just don't work out, and it is really hard to feel the spirit. I think those are the times where it is the hardest but really the only good thing to do is to exercise faith in someway. Scriptures are really good and i am grateful for the lessons i have learned in my studies lately!
I am grateful for this gospel, It is the most important thing in the world! Grateful for the biggest trial of my life...my mission. It has taught me alot and i know it is going to give me the foundation i need!
Thanks for everything and we shall talk to ya next week!

What's up family!

Well that storm sucked here! Just a little rain and wind! Trees blew around alot and we called all our members hoping to do service yesterday but they are all fine with no damage all we hear is glad we are not in new york!
So Wednesday wasn't much. Talked to people like usual and met a guy named Fitzwilliam! Set up an appointment for Thursday morning and he held! Had a good meeting about his life and how the spirit has worked with him! There are some really spiritual people that i have met on my mission and it is really cool to see how we all have the Light of Christ! When everyone says the spirit, it is one of three things or two, Light of Christ, Holy Ghost, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Everyone has the light of Christ and it is the most aparent one i think. It is just a little glimpse of the Holy Ghost. Impressions from the Holy Ghost are deeper and stay with you a whole lot longer. Then the gift of the Holy Ghost can be your constant companion and is what we all want. Anyways we had a long conversation about how the spirit has worked in his life and how it can continue to work. He says he felt the spirit so i guess we did something right and left him with a book of mormon!
Friday, Appointments actually do hold! It is a miracle  Bro Bryant, less-active, but recently really starting to come back. He is really a cool guy and i will prolly have a pic of my bike soon to come that has some sticker's on it from him. He is into safety stuff for his job and has been working with the church to put a reflective sticker system on our bikes. Been working with the head honcho of the mission safety and the church seems to be buying into it so that is kinda cool. He also is working alot for the Mitt Romney campaign and his neighbor across the street, forgot her name, but she or he can't remember that either is the Campaign manager for Obama so he has had a little scuffle with them it was super funny, he put a mitt romney sign in front of her obama sign then he woke up the next morning with obama stickers all over his car. Oh the joy of politics. Tell me who the pres. is next week even tho i am sure i will know since i am in d.c.
Then Kiesha held, and didn't keep the commitment to read a P.o.S pamphlet because the front picture is of Jesus and it is a graven image. Tried to explain it but she went off on some old testament crap that i don't get. She has re-written the whole new testament in her words and is working on the parables of Christ right now so it is kinda crazy. Don't know where she is headed but it will be hard to get her into the church cause she knows too much. Scripture mastery in 2 Nephi somethin, learned one. But there is hope with the spirit so we shall see. Not gonna completely give up on her. Guess i need to use the language of faith more.
Then we had a quick meeting with Kirk! Love that man, since you got the Gospel Principles book to me i gave him the  other one i had and he loved it! Took it and was reading it before we left. The High Priest Group Leader also gave him a D and C! i am so grateful for the fellowshipping the high priest group did with Kirk! Would not have gotten baptized if it wasn't for them!
Then we went to the V.C. with Bro Armstrong and a recently returning less-active member Carl Russell! He said the J.S. movie answered his prayer and it was just great! He is a cool guy. Had a little tour on the P.o.S., funny story, the sister at the v.c. called me to tell me her plans for the tour and we were late for Kirk so we were hurrying and well the phone slipped and i had a come to Jesus meeting with the pavement. Then after Jesus was a little disappointed with me cause...well it just slipped out... said Shit on the way down and Damn it when i got up, then looked around and cars were stopping cause of course i was in the middle of an intersection and black people were askin if i was alright and then i was a little embarrassed for swearing then i thought i hope the sister at the v.c. didn't hear shit on the way down haha. Well i got back up, my comp said i spiked the phone and we picked up the pieces, i called the v.c. back and we booked it over to Kirk's with a big ole rasberry on my arm and a swelling in my hand! sister didn't hear me swear so that was good haha.
Then we came back to our apartment and seen Aster, a recent convert who lives in our apartment and always feeds us when we go there. Ethiopian food is good. Had a little lesson on the spirit world cause her grandma passed away and then left. Super good Friday! Although one of them was with and investigator it is still good to have 6 appointments hold!
Saturday! Words or letters can't describe my feelings for the morning! Elder Cook is just amazing. His wife is super funny and just does whatever she wants. She led us in a couple of songs and just had the time of her life. Just one of those cute grandma's! Elder Cook was kinda all over the place, but is was good. Then couple of people asked ?'s and at the end leaves an apostolic blessing! I don't know if you can even describe the feeling when those words come out of an apostles mouth! Crazy good! He left a blessing to let us know we were in the right place and that our family's back at home no matter when it will be, in this life or the next, i guess he said all those who we hold dear to our hearts will be blessed because of our service here! So be happy back at home cause the prophet said so. Also talked about sacred experiences just assuming Numbers 6:12 i think don't quote me and all he said was he has had experiences in his life to let him know that Jesus Christ lives! I agree, He does live. And he also shook all our hands too! That was pretty cool! Be JEALOUS!
Sunday was just as good, He came to dedicate our chapel! The whole program was great and the music was exceptionally great! Jenny Oaks Baker played Amazing Grace, Girl from Broadway lives in the AP's Ward sang "I Know My Redeemer Lives" I have never heard that song sung better! It was great!, DC Singles Ward sang the Mo-Tab version of Come Tho Fount, so that was good but the guys kinda ruined it but it was still really good. Then the two songs the congregation sang was super duper good. And the talks were simply amazing! Covered all lessons, super good testimony's on how this gospel is true and how it will live on here in D.C.. This chapel is the first one in D.C. for a really long time and it took 7 years to build! Elder Cook did a super good job!
Then we get a call out from the Assistants telling us to stay in our apartment on Monday! We went to Zone Training and then came home was supposed to clean, study, and plan. Well we studied, cleaned, and played games haha. It was one of the funnest days on my mission! Played Bang, Western game that I will prolly go buy next time i am in a car because it is the best ever! Then a little dice game, then we invented Shoe Game! It is the stupidest yet funnest thing. We all have slippers and you play golf in the hallways of the Rittenhouse. You just kick them as far as you can. My shoes are the worst for it but it is pretty fun! I ain't no good but i play anyways! Maybe a video coming. And the storm wasn't bad at all. The Trees were blowing and just a whole lot of rain. we just thought it was a dud till we heard about New York. Sounds like they got hammered. First time in forever the city of lights was powerless! That had to be weird  There is alot of leaves down and they are too wet to pick up and no one here has any damage or anything. Our power was out for a night and we had a backup generator that gave us half the lights and the outlets so nothing really happened. Super cold until they got the power up in the morning but they turned it on around 10 on Tuesday! It was really cold on a bike on Tuesday! I went with Elder Fisher on exchange! it was a super fun day! Elder Fisher is one of my best friends here in the mission field and i hope to always stay friends with him!
Met with a couple of his investigators and just had a fun time. Great to have someone in lessons to rely on. It is hard when your  companion is still learning alot and all the burden seems to be on you!
I stay with Elder Arnett till the 21st. I like him alot and he is going to be a great missionary once he gets everything down on how to study. I like how he teaches and it is fun to do it with him! This next week should be great cause i think it is back to missionary work!
I am safe and sound and D.C. ain't that bad at all! Love it here and hope you all are doing great! Don't worry about all the hype with weather here on the east coast cause they amplify everything! It is crazy to see people here react to just a rain storm. This one i guess was a doozy but black people and rain just dont mix!
Stay safe back there at home! How much snow you got now? i hope we don't get any this year again! that would be great!

Update after Sandy

We received another letter this morning:

Dear Families,

There is good news from the Washington DC North Mission.  All missionaries have reported in.  They are safe, warm and accounted for.  None lost electrical power or experienced difficulties of any kind.   No mission cars were damaged, no missionary was in harm’s way, nor have there been problems of any kind reported.  We are happy to say that the mission will continue onwards, “with business back to normal”.   Your prayers and ours have been answered. We thank you for those in our behalf.

Some libraries and facilities that missionaries use for their Wednesday computer time may have closures.  Just know that if you fail to receive an email this week it is most likely due to other factors and not the missionaries well being.  Again we assure you they are all save and taken care of.

Warmest regards,

James R. Matsumori

President

P.S. 11 months today - can you believe that?

Frankenstorm

Dear Washington DC North Missionary parents,

As you are probably well aware, Hurricane Sandy (aka Frankenstorm) is forecasted to hit the East coast sometime Sunday evening through Monday.  While the exact path cannot be predicted, we have contacted all of our missionaries and instructed them to make preparations, including filling their cars with gas, not parking under or nearby  tall trees, not to stand by large windows during the storm, to purchase non-perishable food, water and batteries for flashlights,etc.


With the likelihood that we will lose power sometime during or following the storm, we will do our best to let each of you know our status as soon as the storm passes and we are able to make contact.


Warmest regards,

President James R. Matsumori

So Last Wed, We had a good p-day then had the dinner now at the new building which is super close for us so i am happy. Then we went to scripture study with the man Kirk! He is such a good guy. On the outside you would just think he is the average d.c. black man but he is smart! He can read and comprehend and he just gets it. Gospel is truly helping his life out still and hopefully all our investigator's will see and feel the same thing that he has done and then to have the same action...BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, Sis Medley is crazy! She is a crazy member who we do service for and is just crazy. So crazy that our roommates won't come with us because she is crazy! It was good tho but still i think her projects are never-ending, sounds familiar? Mia is kinda being wierd, but still cool. She told us not till November and it is coming around the corner and she is just putting it off. I want to be bold with her but don't want to lose her. She is doing good and always enjoy going over there.
We then had a new investigator meeting! Yeah, James Mason who lives out on Ingraham, he is a very smart guy, who has always lived in D.C. and bought the house he grew up it. It happens alot out here. People never leave. It is a nice place, but freaking expensive to live here. Milk is $4. Isn't it like $2 or $3 in Idaho? James is good tho and had a good first meeting with him. Did the cups object lesson and it went good! Hopefully we can see some success here cause he is very smart and accoutable and could be a leader for sure!
Fri, We had alot of meetings with members...good but don't seem to get alot done instantly but you never know when one of them will get somethin for ya! that would be nice about now. Had a good quick meeting with Tucker but this day was pretty slow. I talked to 16 people and not one of them is a newb! Dang sometimes this is tough!
Sat, We Went on exchange this day with the Zone Leaders! I went with Elder Furugen. He is from Japan and is the most loving guy ever! I love this kid so much. He is super funny and is so Asian. You could tell that this exchange was just to find out how Elder Arnett was doing cause he just relaxed when he got me. It was super fun. I was able to relax. I was able to just sit back and enjoy the ride. We went down to Harvard Univercity to do some g-qin cause they are in the Singles Ward. I have not seen so many scandelous black young women ever! Good thing i am not attracted too much. Although they are becoming cuter, but this is past the point. I was just thankful there weren't too many white girls. We had a good time just talking to people tho. I feel like i haven't been able to get someone investigating and it has been hard, but i think the reason is because i haven't been talking to them i have just been asking ?'s. Hopefully i will be better. E. Furugen is a good guy and helped me realize this. We just had a good day. Checked on a couple of refferals....two homeless shelters haha love it, Broke our fast at a buffett haha. Had a good fun day! Elder Furugen's comp is really uptight about everything so he was just kinda relaxing with me it was super fun and we did alot but nothing really to show for it!
Sun, Church was good again! It is just cool to be here in D.C. 3rd Ward, did anyone come to church?!! no... sad face, but there was a baptism so that was good. Eecram he is a good guy. Homeless but is super humble and cool! Munch n Mingle, then Bro Peguse! Then the Zeitsmans! then we had a good g-q night and picked up two newbs!!! That is only 5 for the week and when you have talked to 104 you are just curious what is going on??? idk. We will see!
Mon, District Meeting!! Then had an appointment after we went to lunch! Kishea! She is awesome but might be a little crazy but maybe she is just too spiritual for her own good. Some people you meet. She told us she doesn't want to commit to baptism till she knows it is true so all we need to do is make sure she reads the BoM and come to church and she will be solid. Had another appointment with a refferral named Gidy. Lives in a small room just enough for his bed. Comes from Nigeria and is a humble good man. Put him on date for Nov 18 so that should be fun! He might be moving but hopefully stay in our area but doesn't sound like it but likes the bom and his other copy is back in Africa so he was happy to have another one. Love it when the seed is already planted! Alot of times i just feel like a seed planter but hopefully they are good ones. He told us he would give us a call and tell us everything but we are going to call tomorrow and find out. Hopefully we can meet again it was a super spiritual meeting.
Tues, This was the longest day! I talked to 25 people and Arnett talked to 15 and not one is an investigator! We got a couple information to call so hopefully will see success come from that. It is just hard sometimes. We had one appointment today that dogged us too so that was hard. Just felt like we were out and about and nothing to really do, but because we are missionaries there is always something to do so we checked on people and talked to people all day! Checked on Ken, dude in the wheelchair from like month ago. He was home and let us in and had a good meeting with him. He told us he would read again. We shall see. He is just frustrating and we kinda dropped him but if we meet with him again then we will start trying again!
Today was one of the worst Zone activity's ever! Monster Mystery. Super dumb. Some game where you had to find out everything. I just don't like big groups of missionaries so i kinda just left the room and went and shot hoops in the gym. Figure's right? it was fun and have found a couple of fun shooting games to play! Seven on the line, then did a fun around the world 3 point shooting game. Still got my shot a little bit. Sometimes it comes and other's i just flat out suck. Kinda out of touch when you only get to play once a week and even then it mostly comes down to once a month.
Could you send me some razor's? The one's that dad uses. They are freaking expensive! Just wondering if that would be possible! My electric razor will work for a while but i like the other one better, sorry for being so picky!
 I feel like i have grown alot! I feel like i am a completely different person than who i was before my mission! Crazy how things work. This is the hardest thing i have ever done and it just seems like it will never end! When i think of it, there is always more work to do. Missionary work is prolly the best thing and the thing that will never end! Age thing is crazy but doesn't effect me too much! By the time all these guy's come out i will have just about 6 months left! Prolly more but it will be okay i think. won't change much but have more sister's in the mission field. thing there will be a time we go to priesthood session and get rebuked because there are more sister's serving than elder's haha. we will see!
 Thanks for everything that you do! You should go on a letter campain cause nobody else besides family writes me haha! Tell everyone to write. Mara get some cute girls to write me from college haha
Love you all and can't wait till next week!!!
Love Elder Seth Stoor!

So it feels like it has been forever since i have e-mailed. This week was a long week! But it was perdy good i guess.
Tuesday night was the best p-day work i have ever done! We didn't really plan so that kinda was not good and we just went out. Had a couple people in mind but i was just going to plan to g-q, but we checked on a person not too far from our house. She answered and let us in. Kamia-she is 19, wants to come to church and has a desire to learn more about Christ. Had a really good lesson with her and extended a b-date for Nov 4th. Only problem is, it is a week later and her father told us after she ran in the house that she is not interested in joining a church or coming. It kinda sucked. But hopefully she will call us but we can't really do anything just because her father was kinda strict. He wasn't the time before when we asked if she was home. Was a really nice guy. Was nice when he told us but pretty much said,"she doesn't have the guts to tell ya she is not interested and wanted me to tell ya that. Guess it works. After that we found a really cool 16 year old who wants to learn more! Had a good g-q and my companion did it. It is nice to have a companion who has figured out how to pick a newb up. I musta been terrible when i first came out so i am glad to have a good companion.
Wednesday was also a pretty good day. Went to the V.C. and had a tour and watched the J.S. Movie on the big screen. The V.C. is being re-modeled. Have the back of it completely gone and putting in all new things and for the next three days it is closed. Month of November they might not have it open completely still, But supposed to have it workin for the festival of lights in December. But Rakiya was her name and she has two cute kids. They are rambunctious and felt right at home at the Visitor's Center. Rakiya said they don't usually do this at a new place. only at home. Not even at my brother's place. Kinda a testimony of the Spirit and how it just comforts and relaxes and it was good to see her recognize that. Movie was good too. only people in the big theater. Kinda sweet!
Thursday we weekly planned, helped Earl study for his driver's lisence then invited him to church. Hopefully he is still serious about meeting with us but not really sure. Fun to just hang out with him and help him out. He is a good guy just doesn't have life figured out yet.  Then had another lesson with Kamia, gave her a BoM, cause we didn't have one before...terrible...and just taught her about the book of mormon for about 10 minutes it was good, said she was coming to church but then flaked out! Then had a really quick meeting with Tucker. It was really fast and short all at the same time. Felt like we just through it on him, but didn't have much time. Hopefully will see him soon. He didn't come to church either! Freak.
Friday we met with the Smith's. Kevin Smith the one that has been meeting with missionaries for 7 years, wants to get baptized, but couldn't come to church when he said he was going too but said the week after so hopefully this next Sunday he will be there and then the Sunday after that and so on. Think he is really going to this time around, but i am sure every missionary has thought that. He is really sweet tho! Just trying to teach him and let him know it is true, but i am pretty sure he already does he is just stubborn. did the cups object lesson and talked about temples in the two meetings with him this week! He is cool, and they fed us so that was excellent!
Saturday, we just kinda said we are going to go g-q and didn't have much of a plan little bit but we were gonna find this day! Kinda worked but not really. Found a cheesy person but never know. Already dogged her appointment and won't answer phone. Then That night we were the answer to Burt's prayer! He is a good guy. Kinda vented to us but it was really spiritual. He lives in the West area so that kinda sucks. He said he was gonna be at church in the morning but wasn't as well!! Gosh dang it!
Sunday was sweet! New church building i loved it! Spirit was soo strong. Congregation was excited and we are gonna use this building cause it is just a massive sweet place! We seen Bro Peguse. He is the man! Then we heard the Redskins won so that makes everyone else happy! Then we went to the V.C. with J.S. Armstrong and Denise Jones (RC) cause the General Primary President was speaking! It was really good! She gave a bomb talk. There were 3 General Authority's including her haha. Gerard the area seventy, and sister Matsumori! Prolly soon to be Pres. too. Good people! Was really good night to feel the Spirit!
Then my birthday! it was aight! Had District Meeting then Elder Porter the new senior couple bought me lunch. So that was nice. Then had 2 hours of comp study. Then went to a bomb lesson with Sheila! Wasn't a good teaching by me at all, companion did good, but when she prayed she pretty much got an answer it was crazy when you can just feel the Spirit flood the room. Did it during her prayer when she asked if what we said was true. Super excited! She is a really nice Chritian lady that just hasn't found the truth and i think we got her cause she committed to church and we didn't even ask her! hopefully she will be there then we will show her the font and throw her in haha. That night they sang happy birthday and we had an ice cream cake the J.S. got for me. I love that man alot! He likes me too i think. Keeps me updated on the Facebook world haha. Everything you have told me about Facebook i already know from J.S. haha. He is a sweet guy who just wants to help us out. He goes to the V.C. to just "chill out". The ice cream cake was good and he gave me a card that said the date when Obama's last day in office was and just sending me happy news on my birthday haha. Made me laugh.
Got everything from everybody today and yesturday so thanks sooooo much! The Somsen's in Rexburg sent me a hoop haha it is fun to play pig in the apartment. They are super nice and Brandon sounds like he is doing good! Grandma's are the best! and Grandpa's too! Thanks for the card and the socks are perfect and as well as the books! They will come in handy! Hopefully will write a few letters today. got one for grandma and grandpa and hopefully the Somsen's and then hopefully but i don't write a ton of letters on one p-day to you guy's but next week for sure!
Tuesday we seen Kirk! He is my favorite guy. Still going strong and i hope to go through the temple with him before he goes home. That is my dream! It was a pretty good day as well. Since my birthday i have just felt good for some reason. HAven't felt good for a while and it is nice to just feel good. Not sickness not feeling good, prolly just a little homesick feeling. Maybe it will all go away but i doubt it.
Tennis is fun. Played this morning with Elder Porter. I suck at it but i kinda want to get into it at college! will but nice! Had a good time this morning.
This gospel is true and there is just no getting around it. I have been reading the Bible lately and Mathew is really good. I didn't think i would like it but it has just kinda sucked me in. I have found a love for the scriptures that i never thought i would ever get. I just thought they were the most boring thing ever before. Now they are exciting. Getting good scriptures to use. Stories are full of just bashing sometimes. Christ owns alot of people in the bible. Smooth about it too haha.
Glad to be were i am! Sometimes i feel like i am just a worthless missionary cause i don't know alot but i know i am learning and growing every day. This is making me into the person i want to become. I have come to love change. Recently i feel like i have changed alot and i think it is why i feel better. I can't explain how i have changed tho but i know i have.
Hopefully you all have a fun week! Love you all and can't wait till next week!
Love Elder Stoor

What's up!

Conference was sweet! The first session started off with a real bang didn't it? Wonder how long that one was in the works for. Someone told us they are expecting a real wave of people at the MTC and are cutting it short to One week cause of the 12 Week program. Lucky buggers. One Week would've been real nice. Might suck for the language people tho cause it is all getting cut to 1/3 of the time. so do the math haha. But the First Session was the best ever session of conference i think i have ever watched. Elder Bednar's talk was definitely hands down the best! Did you love the euphemism by Elder Holland? Talking about how it is not scripture cause after he said it, it was! I seriously loved every single talk, tho. D. Todd during priesthood just kinda owned! I felt like the whole conferance subject was becoming a disciple of Christ. Priesthood was definately about change and becoming better. I just feel like we are lucky to have such good men leading our church. They are super smart.
Something i am gonna make you jealous hehe....We have an apostle coming to dedicate our new church here in D.C.! Heard it was Elder Oaks. and then there is a mission conferance on the 27th and Elder Cook is coming! I am pretty excited! I love hearing from the apostles! I am excited for freakin Bednar's talk to come out so i can print it off. That was freaking deep!
So we met with Earl again! Helped him with his homework for driving class and taught him a little bit of the Plan of Salvation, i am not sure at how interested he is. I guess i can't judge i just have to learn to help him for him!
Met with Drunk Charles again! Had an appointment in the evening he was totally wasted but seemed to be accepting and learning and told us he didn't drink and i believed him till we set up to come see him in the morning...Hey Charles you ready for our appointment...What the Hell you callin so early for?...for our appointment we set up last night!...What the Hell you talkin about...we met with ya last night and you said to come back at this time...I did....Yep...oh well can we re-schedule i don't remember anything.................Oh just when you think he gets it turns out he took nothin in, DC people are soo cool! haha
Friday i think we dropped half of our people, Couple no contact for a month and couple dropped us talking with them haha. It was Great! Had a good lesson with Mia tho. She is now doing every other day on smoking and coffee to get it down! We put her back on date for the 4th of November so hopefully she makes it but Not one soul came to General Conferance! 6 people told us then wouldn't answer their phones and didn't show up! Sometimes people are just the best to work with!
Gratful for the testimony stregthened weekend! I think we should all take Pres. Monson's advice and study the talks out! I love General Conferance and am grateful for every talk! Oaks kinda called out the rest of the world and i hope they take heed to it, Do you wonder what Scott's wife thinks about getting her journal read? I just don't know what goes through D. Todd's Head to make his talks so good!
I just have to say i love the Library of Congress computers it is so fast! I love being down on the Mall and some museum should be good today! Like that we can come down to the Mall whenever we feel like it on p-day!
The news with the missionary age i don't think i like! I kinda want to be older than my wife if i can help it so none of the sisters were even a problem for me like some. Now i am gonna be older than a lot of them. I have a feeling that there is going to be a wave of sisters that go on missions. Guess that is a good thing. All it does for the guy's is get us out after high school, Thought about Parker and think he might be a little pissed at the announcement hehe
For the mission we are doing a 40 day fast from something that is making us disobidient! Process of Purification. I thought the whole time during General Conferance on what i was going to do and it just happens. Think i am just going to just get the schedule down pact, and increase my knowledge by studying at night. It is gonna be hard but i think it will be good. Might help my desk be a little cleaner.
Well the next time i email i will be a man instead of a immature teanager! Crazy that my birthday is here. Even crazier that in 7 weeks i hit my year mark! Somedays coming home seems like it is never going to happen then other's it is right around the corner!
thanks for everything you all do! It is going to be a longer week, i am assuming that p-day is next wednesday again! so look for the e-mail then! Thanks for the pics mara keep em coming! Meg no kissin no more! Shelb keep dominating at volleyball and gear up for basketball! Wierd but i will watch your next year's basketball season! Tell mom to record alot during basketball and send it! Mom, keep being Mom that means alot!, Dad take a break every once in a while! (not from being dad)
Love you all!
E. Stoor

Hey i am gonna have to be quick

Hey i am gonna have to be quick

Sounds like a good thing for the Bodily family. I will have to come visit on a motorbike when i come home haha. Instead of going to Mohab the Somsens will have to come with me to Naavou! Can't spell worth a darn.

10 months is a long freaking time some days and other days it has all gone by super fast. Today was Death Temple and it was freaking long time at Death Ball so don't have much time to e-mail. Sorry should have e-mailed before i played basketball. Need to set my priority's straight.

This week was pretty rough. No one really wanted to talk with us and we had a bunch of meetings. Only 4 new investigators so that was a really bummer week. Really terrible, especially in the city where you should at least get 6 or 7, and that is not really working. I guess it has normally been about 8-10 a week. Just to say that Monday, we got 4 and that totalled all the week before, just goes to show.

Had a good lesson with Mia again! That was good we were afraid that she was going away but has started every other day for coffee and cigarettes. And said by November for sure so we set a date for November 4th and going to the Visitor's Center for General Conferance! I love it up there cause the spirit is already there and when the general authorities speak it is just dynamite!

Also been meeting with her cute 18 year old daughter Erica. She commited for November 4th as well. Both kinda reading the book of mormon but they need to do better in my eyes haha. When you read that book you get it, if you don't you never will.

Had that Meetin for just the trainer's and trainee's and that was all fun. I need to start doing a better job. I have been lazy the past couple of weeks it feels like it anyways, but i guess it is time to go so this week is going to be fun! We get call outs on Sunday morning weird...then transfer's and p-day is on tuesday so heads up.

Sounds like everything is going not too bad back at home. sorry this email is kinda lame but i guess it is what it is.

Went on an exchange with Elder Fisher on Friday that was fun. Had a good time teaching a crazy person that doesn't understand anything i say. And also the scripture 2Nephi:25...really wow. And she is just literally crazy, but it was kinda fun all at the same time.

Saturday was the big open house for the new church on 16th st. It is a pretty big church. Me and Elder Fisher sat at the missionary desk to answer ?'s but it was pretty much just members to come through. It was sad. Prolly 90 percent of everyone that came was a member, but i guess that is fine, we will just have to get everyone else there. It was a pretty good showing for a service project they did...the gym was packed and they got everything in and out fast. Pack the Pantries...Nell Zeitsman was in charge of it all, she is a super cool lady. The one that feeds us all the time. Feeding me for the last 7 months so i guess i like her haha.

Yesturday was the worst day. It just seemed like it was going to rain all day long. During Studies it did, freaking poured all morning and then when it was time for us to go out it stopped raining and we went out but black people and rain don't mix. Everyone told us to just go home haha, get out the rain. Super funny but we were able to check on a lot of people and so it was a good day i thought. Didn't teach...made for a very very long day. Prolly the longest day of my mission cause i just wanted it to be P-day haha.

In response to my birthday, I don't really want alot haha. I am not too excited for it cause i hate missionaries and they make birthdays a big deal and i don't really want it to be a big deal haha. Whatever you guy's do though i will love. Don't really need anything in particular but i will get a package sent to dad for his birthday maybe next week haha sorry. Still sittin on my desk.

Got a letter From the Bybster yesturday! wrote it to me on July 23 and Aug 20 hahahaha. Super funny. Then afterwards it sat on his desk before he got it sent out i guess haha. Glad to hear from him tho, said he is training too so i guess that is supposed to mean he is doing okay.

Thanks for everything you all do and i think this was the lamest e-mail ever but i have 15 minutes left haha

Love ya!
Elder Stoor

This week went by swell.
Talked to people the whole time on wednesday night! That was good. Got some refferals for our room-mates so hopefully that will make them happy.
Met with a refferal, Janeva. She has 3 kids. 11, 4, 1 and one more next month. She was a really good lesson. Followed along. Her son was great the 11 year old. Hopefully will be able to get her to come to church and get a family. don't think we will have much luck with the boyfriend cause you know she ain't married. Should have put her on date but didn't. Accepted the first lesson and seemed eager about it so that is good. This week was filled with alot of dogged appointments and not much success in talking to people.
Friday i went on exchange with Elder Rushton, my roomate. We had an awesome day. Went to this old lady's house who they are not yet teaching but have weekly service appointments and we vacummed and took her garbage out then while she was doing laundry downstairs, can't go down there unless there is someone there in case she falls, we played pinball! That is super fun. She had a machine downstairs. Then we came back home and took lunch then went to a dogged appointment then had a super good run in with a man named Vernon. He is super sweet! one of my best lessons! Put him on date and he just practcally knew the spirit already and how to feel it and it was strong! Super cool. Said he would come to church when football wasn't on....dang football.. Then taught a super crazy person after that! then another man that night. It is great to just go from teaching to teaching. I like that alot better than g-qing. It was great day!
Then on Saturday, We had a sweet lesson with a man named Charles. He is super cool! Love that lesson. Just new it all! Love it when it is easy to teach people. Said he would read and pray and we would talk about baptism later. So next time i am for sure he will be on date! Then we taught a man named Josh Procter who played college football. He is cool! Asked all the right ?'s just he is YSA so that kinda sucks. Then a super good meeting with the Smith family. Had a good visit with Kevin and his son. Just kinda chillin with them but we shared a super good spiritual thought and they committed to come to church when it didn't interfere with the Skins playin haha everyone is in love with the Washington Redskins. Picked up three newbs.
Sunday! Law of Chastity for Sunday School!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!! That was the best one ever. Crazy people and talkin about sex on a Sunday haha. Sis Medley quote....They don't know out in the world cause all the parents are having a titty party and pornography nonsense. haha Sis Mack gave some good input too. Oh they know.... haha Super funny. When Momma Mack speaks it is legit! Then of course Bro Peguse that night. He is the best! Just makes me feel good!
Super mad cause i missed Sis Macks talk in sacrament meeting and also E. Miller's farewell. Can't believe they are going home. He is like a E. Murdock of the DC 3rd Ward, There wifes are pretty sweet too!
District Meeting Monday was great! I love meetings...sarcastic...Wasn't really able to get in with anyone today either and nobody wanted to talk.
Tuesday was the same way. It made for a long couple of days! Until 8:15 at night we had nothing done that day! Called Stephanie who was a sweet g-q a couple of days ago. We taught her the best lesson ever! Loved it. Super cool expierence. She told us she was just going to call us when we called. Love it when that happens. When you do things like that you don't think it is a spiritual prompting but looking back i don't know how she came to my head! Love it when the spirit is super strong. She said she would live the Word of Wisdom cause we taught her that with the restoration. Love it!
Today was good too! Played some sports with E. Miller for his last P-day activity. Love this guy. Them and the Murdock's are in the same mold! Love them both and will go see them after the mission. Made good friends.
All They have said lately is it is going to be Alma 17:2-3 and i know it will be with them. They are such great examples on just doing things right. I hope it is like that for us when we meet up again as well, with whoever is reading this. We will both be strong in Christ and everything will be good!
Love this Gospel Love all of you. Mom you got a letter coming with Mike's and Jordan's cause i don't know their addresses haha forgot to write them down. Tell them i am sorry for getting back late. I am the worst EVER!
Thanks for everything and i can't wait till next week to write. Give me some good news!
 Love you all and till next week!

Hi family!

Been a pretty good week i think. After i e-mailed last week, we went to the Holemead dinner, where the ward feeds us every P-day and it was a big birthday party for Elder Fisher. Kinda dumb and overthetop but i guess everyone else had fun. Hope nothin like that happens for my birthday haha. We were there for way to long and didn't get to do any missionary work but oh well i guess haha.
Thursday was a good day full of weekly planning as always and then dogged appointments. We did some service in the morning so that was good. For our investigator Mia who didn't come to church so we are having her pick out her new b-day. She is prolly the most legit person i have ever taught. Taught her 18 year old daughter as well. She is a cute black girl haha. Both are super spiritual and can tell just get alot out of our meetings. They ask good ?'s and i think will both get baptized while i am here!
 Had a good meeting with Earl. First time since the first week i got here. He opened up and said he was going to come to church and he did! for some reason it is the hardest to get investigators to church. They just don't wanna come. Most people baby them there and i don't really want to do that. I want them to come cause they want too, but they can't really progress unless they come to church. Kinda annoying, but Earl came!
We also picked up a new b-day for the 14th of Oct. Lori Chase. She is one of the most solid people i have ever g-q'ed. She taught us the first lesson until the Restoration/BoM. It was super neet to teach a super smart religeous lady who didn't want to bash and actually could see what we were saying! Love it when people already know there was an Apostacy and that there is no true church on the earth. Well there really is haha
Took Kirk to Why I Believe and he introduced himself and had a jolly old time. I love chillin with him cause he is just laid back about everything is just cool. Loves everything that happens. Says he is struggling feeling the Spirit, and i thought that he sounded normal to me haha. Tried to explain how to feel the spirit and such and he seemed to understand that he has been feeling it just not the way the other churches think it is.
We taught a guy named Tucker who just wanted to prove us wrong on the Jesus Christ is Jehova (can't spell). He tried to use the Exodus 6:3 on me and i just had to prove me right. haha i don't prove him wrong i just prove me right and i am getting good at it although i know you are not supposed to bash but sometimes it just happens. the Lord is speakin in that one tho and got him to say that he was hehe. Think that is where the Jehova Witness people get Jehova God from...just dumb. 
Had Zone Conferance, They showed a little of the CNN or whatever clip on mormons and then about the BoM play and other stuff and it is just kinda sad. Wasn't too bad against us i guess, heard there was a couple of bad things on there but i guess you can't be all right in the media. Was a different spirit it brought tho and i didn't really like it. Zone Conferance was good tho. Learned a little bit on how to be better and was just a good place to be. Lasts for freakin ever tho! I love hearing from Sis. Matsumori and Pres tho. They are good teachers in my book. Know how to have fun and always have a couple of one liners to give out. They are super funny and just for some reason just make me want to listen every time they talk.
Afterwards had a good meeting with the Smith family. He is serious about getting baptized but will leave church to go and watch a football game so hopefully the Redskins bye week comes fast, so we can dunk him haha. He has been meeting with missionary's and haveing them over to really just hang out for the past 7 years since his wife was a member. Really cool and says he now wants to get baptized so i think we can to that.
Happy Birthday Father! I have something but i need to go to a post office to get it sent and don't know when i will do that but i can't ruin the surprise but i think you will like it. Will write ya a letter then try and send it.
I am doing fine but it just seems to be becoming a routine again and talking to people is losing the fun. Hopefully it will come back and i can have fun with it again, but sometimes it is just a grind. But i guess that is life sometimes.
I am at the Library of Congress again. The computer's here are the best to use, i like them. I am happy that i can come to the Mall ever P-day i want to it is nice.
I think we are going to try and see a little bit of the air and space and then go back.
Shay is looking cute as ever and i hear good things about her man from Miyasaki so i guess i aprove, but we will see when i get home but not that it matters too much just as long as he fits in with the cousins.
Porter is looking huge haha. Someday i think i will write Jordan back. I am a terrible friend. Maybe get it done today...hopefully. Emma is just starting to look like a toddler huh? Crazyness. 
how big is Soleigh and Zippy haha i can't spell.
It will be wierd to see how big everyone is when i get home and how much change has happened but i guess that is all what a mission is about. Change. Change in people is what you are searching for, on the way to change everything and find out that you just change yourself. Seems like every time to study the same thing it seems to change cause you are just getting new things out. Change change change. Some you like, some you love, and some you just don't like. See a little change at home too. hopefully all good change from now on. Although Katie better wait for me to get home before she is married. Shay and Mara i guess can but  Katie just has to wait and i just figured shay was doing to be married before my year mark and she is just scrapin by haha.
Thanks for everything and hope this was long enough haha. Sometimes i just type and type. Love y'all and thanks for your e-mails!
Till Next Week