Week 24 - April 23, 2012

Hi everyone!

Well, I fought the good fight here in Versailles, and my time is up. We got the call on Saturday that Elder S is going to be the district leader here, and that I'm leaving for a new area. We don't know what area. You only get told if you're going to be a leader or trainer, the rest is a mystery until you go to the transfer meeting or get rides and things figured out from your zone leaders. So we speculate that I'm off to Shelbyville KY, because the other areas that are losing elders are zone leaders or follow-up training new people. But next week I'll be able to tell you for sure.

Us!

To be honest, I'm glad to be going. The ward is seriously so fun. The last few days have been really sad, saying goodbye to all of these people that I love. A couple of people have thanked me for my work and diligence, and it really makes me feel good when the people of the ward pay attention to the missionaries. I feel so ridiculous for never really working with the elders or taking an interest in them. So leaving the Frankfort ward is a bummer, but I feel like I've learned all that I can learn here, and that I'm off to have different experiences somewhere else.

Our last visit with Patricia, the store owner where we taught English. :)

It was kind of a bummer, because we told everyone that this was my last Sunday here, and that they should come to church. Only Pam, the less active that came to church on Easter came. But hey, I was really happy to see her and sit with her. She's seriously cool. Off-beat, to say the least, but all of the LDS church out east seems to be kind of... special. Haha. And I love it.

The good news for the elders that are staying is that we have started teaching a really really cool lady named Sara. It's super refreshing to start teaching someone that shows a genuine interest and listens intently to what you have to say. And the stuff that always makes me really feel good about the work we do is when we ask someone about how they feel about what we have to say. I love when they are conscious of the peace and calm that the gospel brings. That's the good stuff, people! That's what your whole life can be like if you let it! But often times they don't... But we're trying, and she seems to have lots of potential.

Kind of a funny story about people that didn't really pan out well... We met a lady named Penny in one of the neighborhoods that has a lot of Hispanics in it. She's way nice, not super interested. A few weeks ago we waved at Penny on her front porch. A friend that was with her called out to us from across the street. Her name is Becky. She asked us to come over, and we chit chatted for a while. She was interested, so we shared the lesson. She invited us back. We came back and read the story of Nephi getting the plates from Laban. She really liked that. We had another appointment with her. But she texted us and cancelled, and said that the church isn't what is right for her in her life right now. We called and texted and tried to figure out why she wasn't interested after two really really great appointments. Becky really seemed to be getting the significance of this!

We also met a Hispanic lady named Yesica that is definitely a woman, but her mailbox said "Señor Yesica Rios." And it totally wasn't an accident, because her roommates' names were all on there properly with "Señora" or "Señor". We haven't followed up with her yet, but I'm sure that will be kind of a funny story one of these days for the Versailles elders to tell people. Haha.

The Gonzalez family. They make Spanish work function here, and are so great!

Today I'm finishing up my packing, which is not very fun to do. I'm also going to be sending home a box or two of things I have accumulated during my time here, so look forward to those. We've also got a bunch of meal appointments, which is fun, because the members are so great and want to do something nice for us, but I just hate eating so much food! Hahaha. But I'm happy to have the chance to see a few people here and there and say goodbyes and thank them for all that they have done for me in my time here.

It's a weird thing that I'm moving on to my second area. I kind of felt like I'd be here forever. Be born here and die here, in terms of my mission. And I'm kinda nervous to move off into the unknown. But I'm also excited to go see new people, some new scenery, etc. It'll be good for me, I know.

I hope all is well at home. You all sound really really good, and that makes me happy. Sorry these letters aren't awfully spiritual. I do really feel a sense of peace that is beyond my own ability to keep calm. I just didn't want to be nervous about moving and stuff. The unknown is a little scary, right? But I'm not too worked up about it, and that's a great blessing. John 14:26 talks about the Holy Ghost being the Comforter. John 14:27 talks about the peace that only the gospel of Jesus Christ and bring. My life is good because of the gospel. I know that without doubt. That's why I'm here -- trying to help others have that in their lives!

Have a good week everyone! I love you!

--Zac



April 29, 2012

The Louisville Temple President met Zac today at church and called Zac's parents to tell them what a great missionary he is.  The Temple President said that Zac is well and his Spanish is really good.  We now know that he is somewhere in Clarksville, Indiana which is just on the other side of the river from Louisville, Kentucky.

 

Week 23 - April 16, 2012

Hi family!

Well, another week crossed off here in Versailles. We get calls on Saturday to see who is getting moved. President told us that our trio companionship would only be for this transfer, so we anticipate at least one, if not two of us leaving here in just over a week. The mission is going to be short one Spanish elder, so we are really confused about how everything is going to shake out. Sometimes they have areas called "zebras" where they teach Spanish and English both, and that doesn't necessarily mean that both elders speak Spanish. Because Versailles is small enough and the Hispanic population is low enough, we think that this might become a zebra area for a while. If it does, I probably won't stay, because I still have lots of things to learn as far as Spanish and teaching goes. If it stays Spanish only, it's all kind of up in the air. I'm kind of ready to leave, because we are running out of work to do, but it isn't unheard of for people to spend 5 and sometimes 6 transfers in their first area. Next time I write I'll know for sure.

On an exchange with our district leader, Elder L. We went and saw Irma's family out on a horse farm. We hope we can get Agustin to the ward temple trip this weekend! :) And the white kid isn't hers -- he just lives on the farm in a different house. Haha.

 The work is kind of dying right now. We're super sad about it. People just aren't keeping commitments very well. No investigators at church. Minimal reading. Occasional praying. We feel like we're explaining it all clearly enough, promising the blessings that come from all of this, etc., but it's hard for them to make it part of their lives if it isn't something that they're used to. The one bright spot is that Gustavo is still reading from the Book of Mormon! We still haven't tackled the Word of Wisdom thing with him yet, just because when we sat down with him last he had some other concerns we tried to work on. We were talking about it yesterday, and we really feel like we go out and do the best that we can, doing what God would have us do, rather than just teaching and baptizing people that aren't ready or understand what it means. God gets that we're doing what we can. We just haven't found the people that are ready.

Our media referral, Yesenia, has ended up being really cool, so that is something positive in our schedules. She's young and has a 9 month old son. She listens intently and seems to enjoy our message. Except that she told us in our third appointment that she's moving to Florida soon to be with the father of her son. We were sort of devastated. She wanted to leave this weekend, but her ride didn't work out, and she hasn't bought a Greyhound ticket yet. So we're going to teach her as long as we can, and if she moves off to Florida, we're positive that the missionaries down there can continue building on the foundation that we are laying.

We had Zone Conference last week, and it was super super good. President and Sister W are so fun, and I'm always impressed when they know my name without looking at my name tag. I just can't imagine being in charge of 180 people and keeping them all straight, but they seem to do a great job.

Our contacting challenge is still going strong. We've managed to get in 30 contacts 3 or 4 days this week, so that's good! It's getting less awkward with time. Haha.

I don't know what else to say. We don't have lots of funny stories or anything in this little town. There isn't a ton out-of-the-ordinary that goes on with us except that we're three white guys trying to speak Spanish in Kentucky. That's weird enough on its own, so I'm kind of glad we don't have too many other weird moments, you know? Haha.

Us and Patricia in her store. She's so fun. :)

Update on our English class -- we've had to cancel it, or it has been cancelled the last few weeks for various reasons. Last night we went to the little store for the class, and Patricia, the owner was there. She said she's super sad, but that the classes just can't continue. Everyone was off playing soccer or doing other fun things in the nice weather. We're sad we won't interact with that group much anymore because they are all so fun. Super super fun people. But now they'll have a few more English words under their belts, and we can talk to them when we see them in town -- maybe get the gospel in their lives. We tried with Patricia, but it didn't work. Maybe with some of the others... maybe.

Anyway, things are going fine with us. We're doing all we can to keep it up and do some good in the world!

Thanks for all y'all do for me!

Much love,

Zac

Week 22 - April 9, 2012

Hi everyone!

It's sort of funny -- I'm passing all of my "firsts." My first Easter, New Years, Christmas, and Thanksgiving are all done with! And I'm half way done with all of my Conferences, and soon I'll be halfway done with all of my phone calls! Crazy, huh? Time has been moving so quickly. It's hard to believe that this transfer is winding down. This week and next week, and then we'll be getting phone calls about transfer moves. Crazy!

Well, I told you about the contacting challenge/promise that was extended by President W... and it's been an interesting experience here in Versailles. It's just not a giant place. And we already feel kinda creepy since we walk around all day and contact people, but to get to the 30 people we are supposed to contact we sometimes have to go really far out of the way when we see someone on a porch down the street or someone walking ahead of us. We try super hard not to make it any weirder than it already is, but sometimes you just can't make the situation seem normal. But what we do isn't very normal anyway, so I guess it's just time I embrace the awkward. Haha. Anyway, the contacting challenge has actually been kinda cool, because we've interacted with a lot of people that we probably wouldn't have otherwise. We can't really tell that there has been more success, but at least people have seen our smiling faces and understand what we do a little better, and they at least have a card in their hands. Lately we've been going down to the soccer field, because Hispanics love soccer, and that is the ONLY thing that seems to motivate them to keep commitments. They're always there to play for their team or practice. So we go down there and try and ask who is winning and who is playing and if they're any good, and then work our way in with some gospel stuff. They always give us funny looks -- three white guys coming down the sidewalk, splitting up and talking, and then getting back together after 10 minutes or so and are on their way. But hey, we do what we can to talk to people. Haha. And it's super super fun when people ask, "Where did you learn Spanish? You speak well!" so that's been a fun thing about contacting everyone we pass.

Us and Agustin. He's super cool. :)

 Church was good yesterday, although no investigators made it. We were hoping Gustavo would make it, but for whatever reason he didn't. We went on an exchange yesterday because we double booked ourselves on accident. I was with Brother E (law student, served Spanish speaking in Omaha, Nebraska), and my companions went to our other appointment. Brother E and I knocked on Gustavo's door, just to say hello and wish him a happy Easter. Well... his girlfriend came to the door and said he was next door with his cousin, drinking his brains out. She made it sound like he's a complete drunk, which is news to us. And we haven't taught him the Word of Wisdom yet, so that sounds like our next challenge... but he's been reading in the Book of Mormon (all the way to 1 Nephi 11!!!) so we really feel like there is sincere desire with him, we're just going to face some more obstacles than we originally imagined. Fingers crossed all goes well with our next few lessons.

We hand out lots of cards that have a phone number on the back to get a free DVD about Jesus Christ. When the person calls and submits their info, we get a text with their info and what they want, and we go deliver it. With all of the cards I have handed out on my mission, only one person has called it, and it was last week! (And it was Elder S that contacted her, but still exciting!). Her name is Yesenia, and we went by her place to give her the DVD. She had us in and we watched it with her. We've already had a second visit with her, and she seems so great. She's way quiet, but very kind. And it's really exciting when we explain the importance of priesthood authority and someone seems to get it. That does not happen all the time. Haha. But anyway, we're excited for her and hope it all goes well from here on out.

We've been meeting with a less active named Pam for a while. She is so nice. A little off-beat, but super fun. Guess what... she came to church yesterday! Yay! So we hope we've helped her start a pattern where she can keep this up a little bit. It'd be so fun to see someone really start coming back after lots of visits and encouragement. :)

As for us, we're doing well. A companionship of three is still weird, but we've made it work. I'm not going to be upset when I go back to a companionship of two, but we really do make it through all of our lessons and things pretty well.

Easter is over, but just be mindful of Christ and all that he has done for us. That gigantic article in this month's Ensign on the atonement is pretty cool if y'all have the chance to read it. It really made me think a lot about how all-encompassing the atonement is, which made me think about the chance we have to all be resurrected after this life. The gospel is just too good. Too perfect. I'm glad I'm here (trying) to share it with other people.

Thanks for all you do for me!

Love,

Zac