Ferndale 2nd Ward, Ferndale/Bellingham WA (11 weeks to go)

December 10, 2014 - just under 11 weeks to go!

 Yes, we are officially counting down.  Well, Katy and I are.  We are into "weeks" instead of months.  Chris, on the other hand, has instructed us not to talk about it.  

We received this photo from Chris's current bishop, Bishop Ross, this week, with the subject line "talented son".  I asked for the story behind it.

Bishop Ross sent me the following explanation:

It's a favorite trick (of my kids) that Chris showed us several weeks ago.  He dispenses some whipping cream in the palm of his hand, holds palm upwards, then slaps that arm with his other hand, creating a whipping cream projectile that he then catches in his mouth.  My daughters love it when he misses! :)

December 1 was transfer day.  Chris stayed in the same location (he's now been there 12 weeks), but got a new companion.

Me: Tell me about your new companion

Chris: My my new companion is Elder Brown. He is not brown. He is from AZ. Mesa. To be more specific Superstition Springs and Baseline! He went to Highland and wouldve been in 10th while I was a Senior. So didnt know him. He and I get along well, and he has a very big spirit in a small person (he's about 5'6").

Me: Tell me about your investigators:

Chris: We have multiple children that turned 8 or 9 (one is 15) and they have not yet been baptized. We are saying they all need to have a WHITE CHRISTMAS! (Not snow but white with baptismal clothes)

Click here to read about baptism: http://www.mormon.org/faq/topic/baptism

Me: How is *J (name withheld)?   (*J is a newly baptized member of the LDS Church in Chris's ward)

Chris: He was taking new member discussions but his car broke down with freezing temperatures 2 weeks ago and he has had a hard time getting it fixed so he is borrowing a friend's car to go to work, or gets a ride.  It's been hard to meet with him and he's missed two weeks in a row.  Please pray for him and the others in our ward.

Me: Do you think you will stay with this companion for a while?

Chris: I think we will be together at least til the next transfer on January 12th.  I hope to stay in this ward through the end of my mission.

I received a letter from Becky Ross, the bishop's wife.  She shared that she wants to help Chris with Chanukah this year, so once again, Chris gets to enjoy teaching others about our heritage and gets to have latkes and light the candles!  I'm so grateful to the folks in each of Chris's areas.  They have been kind, compassionate, caring and loving!

Ferndale 2nd Ward, Ferndale WA - 21 months

Received November 27, 2014 - didn't edit...

Hello Family from the good ol' parts of North western Washington where the rain comes down and the spider NEVER comes up! 

This past week and couple weeks have been interesting to say the least. Starting with this wonderful turkey day - we played a great turkey bowl football game! Wet and FUN!!

Last week we were busy EVERYDAY! We would go have a lesson, come home, change, (or change at the church because we didn't want to waste the miles) and off to a service project of some sort. Then to another service project and back to the house (or church) to change for another lesson. This would happen constantly. I remember one day we had an AMAZING lesson with some investigators and were running late to a service project. So we changed at the persons home we were doing the service for and after an hour or so we thought didn't we have another service project before lunch?!?! Well yes we did and guess what. As us missionaries do when we are busy, we were running late. So we ran to the car, jumped in went and p-up a lawn mower to borrow from a member. After doing getting the lawn mower in the car we called the other member who were going to follow us over there. Got to the lawn we were going to mow. Got both lawn mowers out and looked at the time. 4:42. Towards the peak of winter we get dark here around 430. So we were in the dusk time and we had...oh 5 o'clock it was dark. SO we run the lawn mowers to mow this guys lawn. We were just getting the last foot or so under a tree at 5:01! It was SWEET!! (This isn't like our lawn back home) It was probably just shy of an acre that we mowed! When we got there I remember Elder West and I agreeing that we trusted that God would keep it just light enough for us to see where we needed to mow until we were done. God blesses those who are trying to complete and help others in there acts of service. By the way dinner was a 6....Dropped the mower off at 522. Got home each of us changed and showered and we pulled up to the house at 6! SICK DAY! Every night last week we came home and CRASHED! 

This week on the other hand....Monday after talking to you for an hour....I called the mission doctor....he said all my symptoms sounded like conjunctivitus(sp)-pink eye....So went into the doctor at 3 and so it was that I did have it. Got eye drops and finished them today. We were in all the rest of Monday night after getting home at 5. The family that was going to have us over for dinner were kind enough to drop dinner off. Never had apple pie in a "peanut butter"-like jar before. Still taste the same, which was GOOD! Tuesday and Wednesday were nothing special. Usual missionary work of trying to set up lessons etc. It is different with this week being a holiday but we are still pushin' and hopin' that the weekend will bring new people to find teach and help/invite to come unto Christ and lessons out our ears!! :)

Love you all!

Love,

Elder Udall