Week 29 - May 28, 2012

Hi family --

Can you believe that this is the last week of this transfer already? That is just crazy to me. Almost six weeks in Clarskville already... weird. This stuff is going so fast.

We had interviews with President and Sister Woodbury last week. They are the coolest. :) From what President said to me in our interview, it really sounds like Elder St. Mand I will be together for at least one more transfer, if not more. Which is good, because we know that there are two new Spanish elders coming in and I don't really want to train anyone, so getting that hint from President was welcomed. Haha. He also said that he was nervous putting two pretty new missionaries together. And rightly so. But he's really really enthusiastic for us. And I'm excited for us too, so we're on the same page. It was fun to see the Woodburys.

As planned, Agustin and Gabby put a deposit down on an apartment in Indianapolis. They're leaving next week. :(  But they seem excited about meeting with us until they go, and then meeting with missionaries up there. Plus, there's a Spanish branch in Indianapolis, so I'm excited for them to go there and not have to listen to translation, and have all sorts of special accommodations like in English wards.

Rodrigo and Esbida are also good. They didn't make it to church, but he has commented to us about how he feels his life is going smoother since we started visiting. Ain't no coincidence in that! The gospel fixes everything. Let us share it, and you start living it, and it'll get even better! So we're still excited for them and doing what we can.

The other exciting thing was that Aida (just like the Broadway show), a lady we met a while back, came to church yesterday! She is from Cuba, and has only been in the States a few years. Brother Romney (the guy who called you guys) was super great to her, and we had a Gospel Principles class in Spanish for the first time in quite a while in the Jeffersonville Ward. It was way great! And it was cool because we involved some members we knew speak Spanish, and they totally made the class wonderful! It was a huge load off our backs, because we hadn't really prepared anything very strong. Haha.

Today we ate breakfast with some members and the Jeffersonville English elders and then went and played softball. It was so fun. I'm an easy out when I go up to bat, but I did make it around the bases a few times! It was boys versus girls, and lots of the girls had played softball in high school. But we still totally creamed them. It was awesome.

All is well up here in Clarksville. It's weird that Macki is only a few hours from here right now. And that you two are the only ones in our families in the state of Arizona right now. I'm pretty positive that has never happened before. Haha.

At any rate, thanks for everything. We keep on keepin' on as best we can.

I love you guys!

--Zac

Week 28 - May 21, 2012

Hi family --

It's good to hear y'all are doing good. For the first time ever more than one of us is living outside of the state of Arizona, since I'm out here and Kyle is in Europe. Haha.

Anyway, we had a good week here in Clarksville. We had a really cool appointment with a couple named Agustin and Gabby earlier in the week. We knocked their a while back and she said come back on a Tuesday or Wednesday. We couldn't come back those days, so we popped in on a Friday. They told us they had waited for us to come back on Tuesday or Wednesday! Most everyone just forgets about the missionaries, so you treasure the people that say they await your return! So we set up an appointment and saw them early last week. Turns out that the night before we knocked, they had prayed together and asked that God give them more direction and guidance in their lives. What more can you ask for -- people that want direction! And God sends it a day later! So we had a good restoration lesson, and they were open to it all. The sad part -- they are putting a deposit down on a place up in Indianapolis. They are moving as soon as they can. So we are so bummed about that. But we're going to keep teaching as much as we can because we know that the missionaries in the Indianapolis mission are going to love working with these people. It seriously was so fun to tell them, "We are the answer to that prayer -- I know that it wasn't a coincidence that we knocked on your door the very next day!" God listens to us. Little do we know how the answers will come!

We also saw Rodrigo and Esbida yesterday. They are cool, and totally committed to baptism! :) We have lots of obstacles to overcome -- she works every Sunday, like most Hispanics. He doesn't, and it's so atypical to meet a Hispanic with a set work schedule. But I reckon that's just another sign that they are ready. He speaks good English and has Sundays off. There aren't many more qualities that will set someone up for success in the gospel in the States that those two things! So we are still excited for them. And excited is kind of an understatement. Oh, and they always happen to have food on the stove when we come by, so I've eaten lots of tasty Mexican food the last two weeks. Haha. And get this, I'm acquiring a taste for spicy salsa. Who'd have thought the picky eater I was would actively choose spicy salsa! Hahaha. Miracles do happen!

Another fun thing we get to do here in Clarksville is go to these way cool Firesides in the mission home. They have one each month in English, and one in Spanish. So we went last night with the Bisoso family (seriously the coolest family ever). They spoke about their conversion and why the gospel is so important to them. Afterwards there was a testimony meeting, and it was really amazing. My favorite was from a lady that was baptized last week in Louisville. She is so excited, and so clearly feels the difference that the truths of the gospel have made in her life. It was way cool. The funny thing to me was that we also had one of those testimonies. You know the one -- the one that is way too long, and just goes no where. Apparently awkwardness knows no bounds when it comes to languages. But it was still an awesome meeting, and I hope one day we can get investigators to go. Several people told us they would come, but nobody showed. :/  There's always next month, I guess. Anyway, I'm looking forward to being in the Louisville metro area because of stuff like the firesides.

I can't think of much else specifically that has happened this week. I did really enjoy speaking to several of the other missionaries that came to the fireside yesterday. I had served near some of them in my previous area, and they commented on how much my Spanish has progressed, so that's always nice to hear! I am seeing my progress a little better now that I'm not using senior companions as crutches and safety nets. I'm also mortified of coming to situations I've never encountered, or where I have to take control, but I guess you never learn if you don't have those awkward and trying moments.

Things are good. It's so weird that it's been 8.5 months. That in a few weeks it'll have been a year since I opened my call. That I occasionally start writing in Spanish in my journal on accident, or start to answer other elders in Spanish, but they only speak English. Haha. Funny life experiences, right? And I wouldn't trade them for anything. :)

Thanks for all you do for me!

Much love,

Zac

Week 27 - May 14, 2012

Hi everyone!

I talked to y'all yesterday on the phone, so I don't know that I have tons to say. But I will publicly say that it's been quite the adventure so far. I haven't had volcanoes blow ash on me (Kyle in El Salvador), or hitch hiked to unexplored neighborhoods in my area (Tanner in Chile). But I have learned a lot about the kind of person I am, about overcoming nasty stuff in life, and about how happy the gospel makes me. I already knew that last one, but it's extra clear as I have talked to so many people that are close-minded to our message, thinking they know better, thinking that they don't need it, and saying that they are happy. But they often times don't seem very happy, and I feel like the principles of the gospel would fix that. So I try to share them, just in case they'll bite.

Us in a park trying to contact people. That's Louisville across the (super super gross and brown) Ohio River. We can't really see the skyline unless we get really close to the river, so it was fun to go down there.

We are doing good here in Clarksville. After three weeks of contacting and tracting and contacting and tracting, we're finally sort of sifting through and finding those that are willing to sit and listen. Rodrigo and Esbida, a super super kind couple, are having us over tonight for our third visit. We're so excited for them, because as we were chatting in the second lesson, Rodrigo told us about how he felt something so different -- a harmony, he said -- as we talked about the Restoration of the gospel. And that is what it's all about! Take that feeling and hold onto it! Chase after it! It's a confirmation that what we are saying is from God! So we hope to bring that feeling to their home each visit. They are seriously so cool, so we are excited to visit them.

New ties (thanks, Mom and Dad!) and our new tiny scriptures! They come with a cool camouflage case that make us look super legitimate.

I'm running out of time on my computer, so I don't know that I have time to share more. But I'm working hard, and doing the best I can. I have really learned a lot, especially in the last couple of months. I hope y'all can feel it in the letters, because I'm happier. Not everyday is super happy, but most days are at least alright, and every once in a while we have a really great day. So we're doing good. :)

Thanks for all that you do for me! Aren't we so lucky to have the truth in our lives? It's just so good. Too good to ever let go of. :)

Have a good week!

Love,

Zac

Week 26 - May 7, 2012

Hi everyone --

"To the Rescue" is the stake theme here, and yesterday was Stake Conference. It was fine. No investigators came, but it was kind of interesting how many Hispanics were there. There is a Spanish branch in Corydon, which isn't too far from us. A few members came, and the sister missionaries working there came down and translated. They asked if I wanted to translate, because a story that a speaker was telling was way too difficult to translate, but the funny thing is that the sister translating is a native Spanish speaker -- and she asked me to do it! I said no, because I knew none of the words (it was a story about weak marble that Michelangelo used to carve a statue that is famous now and how the touch of the master's hand can make anything beautiful... or something like that). Anyway, the speakers were good, and it was all about being good member missionaries. That's a goal that I have -- help share the gospel a little bit better after I take the name tag off. I wasn't so good at that before, but I've got lots of life left to open my mouth.

It was cool to meet the sisters serving in Corydon. They really think it would be cool to get all of the Hispanics in our area to Corydon Branch, so that they don't have to listen to translation and they can see how a normal ward functions (accommodating a second language is so hard and awkward in English wards). But it's a real sacrifice of time and money to make it there (I think it's like, 30 miles away). But we're considering it, and President gave us permission to bring investigators to all Corydon events (baptisms, ward parties, etc), so that's something to consider. Also, Hermana E, the native speaker, complemented my Spanish. If only she saw me stumble on doorsteps or in lessons. Hahaha. But it was still exciting!

Across that bridge is Louisville. You can't see it because of all of the tall trees though.

 We are still searching and talking to everyone we can. We haven't found many people that are super ready or super strong, but our planners are full of potential investigators, so we've at least gotten some contact and we can follow up with all of them. We taught one family last week that was way cool, and our lesson felt super good. We teach pretty well together, considering he's only been out one transfer and I've only been out four. We're excited for a return appointment with them. Their names are Rodrigo and Esbida, and their 11 year old son Juan. And Juan was all interested in the lesson, so that was way fun!

I don't think I told y'all this story last week, so I'll tell you now. An appointment fell through on Saturday afternoon (6ish). So we went tracting, because that's all we can do. A nice family let us in, but they only had 20 minutes. We do the best we can with the time, and invite them to church. And they came! It was way cool! And they happen to kind of know the one active Hispanic family, the Bisosos, in the ward, so they instantly had people to talk to! It was really really cool!  Their names are Abdon and Cristina, and they are super nice. The uncool part about it all was that I had to translate at church, and let me tell you, it is so hard. At least it was just testimonies. Because testimonies are usually kind of a formula it is way easier than talks. I had never translated before, and never really want to again. But I know that I'll have to do it if we can get more people to church, and I'll keep at it because church is so good. The translator doesn't get anything out of it, really. It actually becomes kind of mindless as you try to keep up with what the person is saying and change the words into a different language. But if they get something out of it, that's good! So anyway, the family missed their appointment this week, and we've popped in a few times to see how they are, but never talked to anyone. The Bisosos told us not to give up, because they cook and sell authentic Hispanic food for a living, and they said that is really laborious and tiring work. So we're going to keep trying!

I crawled around in a member's attic and ran wires everywhere (he's remodeling). Pitched roofs suck, because it's hard to get in the corner to pull wire where you need it. I got covered in insulation. You can only see a little bit here in my hair, because I had already shaken most of it off.

Occasionally zones put on challenges. I guess they are supposed to motivate missionaries to work really hard at something the zone struggles at consistently. So the challenge for two weeks (starting the day I got here) was to get as many new investigators as possible. The reward: free car wash, and military scriptures (they are awesome and tiny, and make it so you don't have to carry a gigantic set around -- and we carry them in two languages!). The elders serving near the military base have lots of ward support and opportunities to find. Apparently they always win the zone challenges. Well guess who won this challenge -- Clarksville Spanish! Because we don't have any investigators, all we can do is try to find. So that's what we did! And we won! So I'm pretty excited to get super small scriptures. It's going to be awesome to have a lighter backpack. :)  And I'm glad to finally upset the Brandenburg elders that always win everything. Hahaha.

Things are good -- we're working hard, doing good, being obedient. It's hard, and sometimes I'm kind of irritated that we don't really have anyone solid to teach, but that will change. I hope it changes before the transfer ends, but if not, maybe next transfer will be all teaching and no knocking. And by the end of the following transfer we'll be setting up the Clarksville Spanish Branch! Haha. Who knows?! All I know is that I can build the forms for the foundation to be poured, so I'm doing what I can. We're good. Hot and sweaty -- humidity is lame. But we're enjoying our time here too.

Thanks for all you do for me! I love you guys! Talk to you next week! :)

Love,

Zac