Mukilteo, WA - week ending April 21, 2014

Chris's letter from 4.21.14

Well I emailed late Monday (the 14th).  We had dinner and FHE with the Davis family after emailing.

Tuesday we had our Mormon.org time where we can go on to the approved church websites and watch videos, read articles, etc. Tried to visit a few people. Helped a couple in the ward with a move. Well moving stuff up from their basement to their garage so when they do really move and leave they can just move it from the garage to the truck. Had dinner with the Watkins and got to make or color eggs. Have some pictures of them. After that we went on a split with two guys in the ward. I went to the lesson with Quinton and Elder Stewart went with Austin tracting. When we were in the lesson with Roberta we set a date for baptism!!!! WHOOT WHOOT!

Lots of meetings on Wednesday. But also got to have dinner with the family that brought me to the Hockey Game.

Thursday we helped the couple move a couple other things. Then lunch and Sports DAY!! Much better turn out then the past couple of weeks! Dinner provided but at our place and then just some visits.

Friday was FULL of weekly planning. Well most of the day at least. Stopped to get a couple things at some members houses. Had dinner with the Bishop and his family. Then went and saw a couple more people.

Saturday. Woke up and Elder Stewart had a flat so we had to go get a new tube. Lunch. Saw and met with a TON of great people today. I liked today because people were home and ok with us to come in. Helped move a piano from a garage to the front room. It was DANG heavy. Found out that we might be able to go golfing out here! Its only 30 dollars on Mondays. Still expensive BUT we might be able to get a discount from someone that is a member. :) Dinner with the Haupt family! Probably got a picture from them of us with the hashtag sign. After that saw a couple more people.

Sunday! Happy Easter! It was a great day! Saw a lot of wonderful people at church! Had meetings. Biked from our house to the church. I think its two miles up and down hills, in 6 or 7 min. It was dumb! haha! I was hackin all the way through our meeting with the bishop because I breathed in SOO much pollen! HAHA! Dinner with the Buchmillers. Had a TON of fun! I will get the videos of Egg Wars to ya mom. Helped give a blessing and then it was time to go home! That's the week! :)

Tom wrote back to Chris and asked:

What was the most spiritual experience you had this week, and why?

Also, what was a lesson you learned this week to help you with your life?

Priest Quorum. We watched the Restoration video. It was amazing and then after we had a group discussion and some amazing experiences were shared and the Spirit was most definitely there! It was just a strong feeling that I don't think could be denied.

I learned a lot of things this week. It is hard to write in your journal when ALL you want to do is go to bed haha! I think I have learned to just do work. I said it a ton when I first got out and totally used the nike swoosh all the time. BUT I think when I put it into effect this week it really showed to me the importance of it! SO go out and just do it. Like it says in the "We Bought a Zoo" movie. All you need is 20 seconds of insane courage. And then just do it. Now as I say this I can see that it could be taken in the way to do bad. That is definitely NOT what I mean. 20 seconds of insane courage to help a struggling brother or sister. 20 seconds of insane courage to invite someone to join you for a church activity (that can be church itself). OR just 20 seconds of insane courage to just share what you believe.

Baptism will be May 17th. So next transfer but if I get transferred I should be able to come back for it. I hope I don't get transferred. I love this area.

Mukilteo, WA - March 31, 2014 (week 56)

Week of March 25-30th

This week was NOT full of teaching appointments, but it was full of SERVICE!! 

So Monday and Tuesday we were busy with transfers and seeing people that Elder Rencher got to say goodbye to. Wednesday was District meeting and tried to see a couple people. Dinner and mutual for the evening. They had New Beginnings this week so we went in there (they had food)! ;) 

Thursday we helped an older gentleman in our ward, Brother K., with moving some things for his mom and then got Dickeys (which is a really good bbq place where missionaries get 50% off) for lunch!  After that we helped the sister missionaries with their bikes, saw people and then went to sports day. 17 PEOPLE including Elder Stewart and I!  1/3 of the total (15) were non-members (not LDS)!!!  :-)  After that we had to set up for a funeral for a very older gentleman in the ward (Amos B.). He was 90 and knew it was his time. So I didn't get to attend the funeral of my own grandfather this month, but I did get to meet with and talked a couple times with Brother B. Well anyway, during the service....I got teary at some parts because I truly felt the presence of my own grandfather standing next to me in the back. I really felt like his arm was around me. Oh, it was overwhelming but peaceful. That funeral service was Friday morning but we set up Thursday afternoon, chairs and tables. 
Friday was the funeral service and take down after. 

Saw a couple people after cleaning up from the funeral service, and then went BACK to the church later in the afternoon to help with a wedding reception that was happening Saturday night. Had a quick dinner with some members and went to see some kids in the ward perform in their band program at the high school. We were told by a LOT of the kids that are in the winterline/drumline that their friends saw us and they were interested who we were, what we were doing, and why we were sooo dressed up!  We helped the youth with a conversation starter and then the youth took it from there to invite to whatever (church or youth sports day). 

On Saturday we weekly planned. Then helped more to set up. Elder Stewart had a baptism in his last ward, so we went and saw it.  Then Brother Nishimoto picked us up for my x-ray on my toe and then he brought us back to the church for the reception.  The two that got married...the groom was from ohio and bride from up here. The bride got baptized 4 years ago in Alderwood 1st Ward. They met at BYU-Idaho. They had a reception in Ohio and a reception here for her family (all non-members). It was TONS of fun!  I think that we helped make a different impression on that family about missionaries. We even got a picture with the bride and groom!!   :-) 

Sunday..Meetings. Church. Linger longer or meet and greet with finger foods. Meeting with bishop after that. We had dinner with the D____ family.   I hope we can teach them soon and from what we talked about I think we will! :-)  So this evening I got to talk to two people that I LOVE SOOO MUCH!!! Seth and Jocie A!  Because I couldn't go to the baptism I got to call them. :-) It was SOOO great talking to them! They are TRULY SO amazing and I am grateful to God for it all!  If I was born a year earlier or later, or if they didn't live at THAT  house that we knocked on...I just cant understand HOW anyone can say things are a coincidence!  I am excited in a year to go to the temple and see them get sealed together as a family!!  (explanation of "sealed")

Don't you wish every week was like this, Mom?!?!?!    (Indeed, I wish EVERY week had this much information!)


This x-ray was mentioned above.  Chris jammed his toe about 8 weeks ago.  We have heard some conflicting diagnoses, but the bottom line is that he will be fine and it will heal, but it will remain painful for a while.  AND, when he gets home, if we need to do some repairing, we have an awesome sports med guy here.  

Coming in from the rain.  Drenched.  Completely drenched.

Well, it appears Elder Udall's jacket works well.  The dry section of the pants was covered by the jacket.  Pants?  Soaked through.

 Elder Udall & Elder Rencher got to attend an Everett Silvertips game with a family from their area!  They had permission to go because of the family that took them.  

One time deal. 

Elder Rencher with one of the Morrison kids.  The Morrison family took the missionaries ice skating for their p-day activity.

Elder Udall's District just before transfers on March 24.