Dear Family,
“Happy 6 month mark to me! Happy 6 month mark to me! Happy 6 month mark dear Elder Droge! Happy 6 month mark to me!” YAY!!!!!! Someone should send me some CD’s as a present, Like say Motob’s Called to Serve or Consider the Lillies or Jeff Goodrich or all of that. That would be tight!
Question - What happens when you write a letter in word and when you go to send it to the family, you forget to actually paste it in your email?
Answer – The Family doesn’t get to hear from you because all they get in the email is “Elder Adam R Droge; Befriendor345.” Mwa ha ha!!
No, I didn’t do that on purpose, but I laughed at myself when Dad told me about it in his letter. You see, the email site, myldsmail.net, is a kinda cruddy email. Very little space, slow, and easy to delete letters, so I write a letter in word, then copy and paste. Well, last week I forgot the copy and paste part. I just put in the addresses, wrote a subject and sent. It’s ok though. This last week was a very uneventful week. No real progress, so with having to recap last week, I actually have something to write about.
First though, Joe mentioned that he loved pineapple upside-down cake. What’s ironic about that is that I just had that a few weeks ago and I must agree. If you’ve never had it, that would be something to invest in.
Second, Dad – I loved the way that you started your letter. That was classic.
If you remember me talking about Ginger Keyes two weeks ago, new things have transpired that are very interesting. Two days after we went over last Sunday, we went over again with a really cool member in our ward. He was a Baptist minister that converted. Consequently, he is really smart. Ginger always has really good questions that stump us sometimes and we have to rely on the member that we took out that night (we always have to take a member to see her because she lives out in the boonies). Well, the way brother Greathouse, the ex-Baptist minister, answered her questions was just the thing that she needed to get her over the hump. Now she is a ton more interested than she was and is now progressing really good. We took our recent convert, Milan Eoff, the guy we baptized last month, over to see her Saturday and that was really good as well. It’s good to hear the story of a person that was just in your shoes a month and a half ago.
That’s all the investigator news I have right now. The sad thing is—that’s the end of it. Well, as far as you’re concerned anyway. The only other news that you’ll hear about investigators like Ginger Keyes and Cody Chambers (who I think will catch fire again once his mom gets baptized) is if they got baptized. That is if I remember to tell you if I find out. Why? I just got traded today. The trading deadline, the end of the transfers, was yesterday. I survived it 3 times in a row and thus was able to stay here in Midland for 4 transfers (a transfer is a period of 6 weeks) or 6 months (well, 5½ if you want to get technical about it). This time I wasn’t so lucky. I got the Axe here in Midland. Sad. But its time to move on with a new companion, a new area, and new people. I’ll miss this ward. They have treated me well. Hopefully the next ward will follow suit. I don’t know where that will be yet. If you remember, they don’t tell us where we’re going. They just say you are leaving. Get on the bus either Tuesday or Wednesday because you are going north or south. I don’t even know that information. Zone Leaders don’t know that until this afternoon, which is really weird. So you will find out next week where I am. I’ll get you the address so you can put it on the blog and that you know where to send letters to.
Other good news is about our bikes. If you remember, we were visiting a member and when we came out, our bikes were gone. So we told the members and filed a police report, but nothing ever happened with them. We borrowed some bikes for a while something new happened. Well, first off, we were talking to one of our investigators about it and he had just bought a new bike and hadn’t ridden his other one in a while and wasn’t ever really planning on using it ether, so he just gave me it. It’s a nice a bike. That was really cool. Then for Elder Larrabee, his friend that just returned from his mission found out that he had got his bike stolen. He was on his way to San Angelo anway, so he packed his mission bike in his car and gave it to Elder Larrabee. So now we both have bikes. No need to worry
One last thing before I sign off, Dad got the scripture challenge so we’re due for a new one. This one comes in form of a trivia question that I actually want to know the answer to because I am unsure. I have a guess, but I’m not positive. Where did Alma the Older get his authority to baptize and start a new church? Let me hear your thoughts. The answer also very well might be in that Book of Mormon packet that I got at Brother Parkers Book of Mormon class at BYU. Look at Mosiah 18 and places around it and send me a copy if it says anything.
If you noctice, the Befriendor has switched to the anti-alienator (un-hyphened). The Befriendor didn’t have a great ring to it. But anyway, farewell until we meet again!! Peace Out!
Elder Adam R Droge
Antialienator345
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Letter 8-11-08
Dearest Family,
Byron – I have the answers to your trivia scriptures, which I enjoyed. 1 – Proverbs 28:25; 2 – Acts 20:7-9; 3 – Jacob 6:12; 4 – D&C 88:126. Fun scriptures. Everyone should look them up. That last one gave me a headache. It was hard to find.
I’ve received no response on the current scripture challenge, so they stand again.
One thing real quick, before I move on to me. There is a confused missionary who tells me that no one has ever said that R-Rated movies are bad. I know someone has, but I haven’t bothered remembering who did because I haven’t ever talked to a member who had a problem like that, so someone help me out.
Anyway, quite an eventful week this week. We started the week of on a bang by teaching a new family that really loved the message and accepted the soft baptismal commitment. The kids were key in the lesson. They are the perfect, teachable age, 10, 8, and 6. I think that really helped the parents a lot. The dad had a really horrible accident a few months ago. He was working in the oil field and got nailed with a big pipe and flew 40 feet across and 30 feet down. He broke several ribs, his lung collapsed, his face was shattered, and his hand was bent all the way back. Basically, he almost died on the way to the hospital, but lived and is now almost fully recovered. Now his sister-in-law’s sister died in a car crash this week after we taught them. That is sad, but I’m glad we’re here to help them. They loved the message and I have high hopes for them. They are Eric and Heather Miller. Kids are Damien, Haylee, and Kyle
Next thing I will bring up isn’t so happy. We were in a nice neighborhood, visiting an active member who is going through a hard time. After talking with him for about a half an hour, we came out to get on our bikes and leave, when we found that our bikes were gone. Stolen. They left our helmets though, that was weird. We reported it to the police and have told all the members that we talk with to keep their eyes open, but they haven’t showed up. That bike was expensive and has made me feel a little like Buzz in Toy Story when he figured out that instead of being a spaceman, he was only a toy. Defeated. But all is good. We have borrowed some bikes right now because the people here are nice. After transfers, I’ll figure out what to do if they haven’t showed up yet. I’m hoping they put me in a car area. That would be nice. I’ll probably end up buying a new bike, anyway. It’s all cool. We can do nothing but move forward when bad things happen. Hakunah Mattatah.
Anyway, last of all, yet a new chapter in the Cody Chambers saga has begun. To refresh your memory, Cody Chambers was our investigator that almost was baptized back in May, but fell off the map. When that happened, we decided we needed to teach his mom, so we did. We dropped in on her one night and have been slowly teaching her since, because she is hard to talk to sometimes. So last night, we dropped in on her again with the ward mission leader and guess who was there? Cody Chambers. He sat in on the lesson and was listening intently. We started out by reading Alma 32 with them and that turned into a really good discussion and she started throwing out questions at us, which is really good. If people never ask questions, that usually means that they aren’t fully serious about it. Anyway, a few questions in, guess who starts answering? Cody. He started to basically teach his mom with us, talking about the Spirit World, Baptism, Authority, etc. Pretty soon, she caught on that Cody knew a lot and believed everything, so she called him out and asked him what his problem was and why he didn’t get baptized and stopped coming to church, reading, and praying. She told him that she liked it when he was doing the right thing because he had a spirit about him that she now misses. Then he opened up and said he believes most of it, probably 97% of it, but not all and was also cheating with his smoking. We were then able to commit him to start reading, praying, and letting us teach him again. He accepted on terms that we go slowly this time, which we will. Cody has to work most Sundays now, but will come when he can and Ginger will come to church with Melissa, Cody’s ex-ed wife who was very hesitant, and Cody’s kids who are 5, 3, 2, and 1 and had been asking their parents if they could go to church. Very awesome. It couldn’t have gone any better.
On that note though, I will leave because I am now out of time. Peace out everyone and remember who you are.
Elder Adam R Droge
Befriendor345
Byron – I have the answers to your trivia scriptures, which I enjoyed. 1 – Proverbs 28:25; 2 – Acts 20:7-9; 3 – Jacob 6:12; 4 – D&C 88:126. Fun scriptures. Everyone should look them up. That last one gave me a headache. It was hard to find.
I’ve received no response on the current scripture challenge, so they stand again.
One thing real quick, before I move on to me. There is a confused missionary who tells me that no one has ever said that R-Rated movies are bad. I know someone has, but I haven’t bothered remembering who did because I haven’t ever talked to a member who had a problem like that, so someone help me out.
Anyway, quite an eventful week this week. We started the week of on a bang by teaching a new family that really loved the message and accepted the soft baptismal commitment. The kids were key in the lesson. They are the perfect, teachable age, 10, 8, and 6. I think that really helped the parents a lot. The dad had a really horrible accident a few months ago. He was working in the oil field and got nailed with a big pipe and flew 40 feet across and 30 feet down. He broke several ribs, his lung collapsed, his face was shattered, and his hand was bent all the way back. Basically, he almost died on the way to the hospital, but lived and is now almost fully recovered. Now his sister-in-law’s sister died in a car crash this week after we taught them. That is sad, but I’m glad we’re here to help them. They loved the message and I have high hopes for them. They are Eric and Heather Miller. Kids are Damien, Haylee, and Kyle
Next thing I will bring up isn’t so happy. We were in a nice neighborhood, visiting an active member who is going through a hard time. After talking with him for about a half an hour, we came out to get on our bikes and leave, when we found that our bikes were gone. Stolen. They left our helmets though, that was weird. We reported it to the police and have told all the members that we talk with to keep their eyes open, but they haven’t showed up. That bike was expensive and has made me feel a little like Buzz in Toy Story when he figured out that instead of being a spaceman, he was only a toy. Defeated. But all is good. We have borrowed some bikes right now because the people here are nice. After transfers, I’ll figure out what to do if they haven’t showed up yet. I’m hoping they put me in a car area. That would be nice. I’ll probably end up buying a new bike, anyway. It’s all cool. We can do nothing but move forward when bad things happen. Hakunah Mattatah.
Anyway, last of all, yet a new chapter in the Cody Chambers saga has begun. To refresh your memory, Cody Chambers was our investigator that almost was baptized back in May, but fell off the map. When that happened, we decided we needed to teach his mom, so we did. We dropped in on her one night and have been slowly teaching her since, because she is hard to talk to sometimes. So last night, we dropped in on her again with the ward mission leader and guess who was there? Cody Chambers. He sat in on the lesson and was listening intently. We started out by reading Alma 32 with them and that turned into a really good discussion and she started throwing out questions at us, which is really good. If people never ask questions, that usually means that they aren’t fully serious about it. Anyway, a few questions in, guess who starts answering? Cody. He started to basically teach his mom with us, talking about the Spirit World, Baptism, Authority, etc. Pretty soon, she caught on that Cody knew a lot and believed everything, so she called him out and asked him what his problem was and why he didn’t get baptized and stopped coming to church, reading, and praying. She told him that she liked it when he was doing the right thing because he had a spirit about him that she now misses. Then he opened up and said he believes most of it, probably 97% of it, but not all and was also cheating with his smoking. We were then able to commit him to start reading, praying, and letting us teach him again. He accepted on terms that we go slowly this time, which we will. Cody has to work most Sundays now, but will come when he can and Ginger will come to church with Melissa, Cody’s ex-ed wife who was very hesitant, and Cody’s kids who are 5, 3, 2, and 1 and had been asking their parents if they could go to church. Very awesome. It couldn’t have gone any better.
On that note though, I will leave because I am now out of time. Peace out everyone and remember who you are.
Elder Adam R Droge
Befriendor345
Letter 8-4-2008
Dear Family,
First off – we’ve had a few birthdays, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAWN AND SARAH!!! Let me know how everything went. I hope it was good.
Joe - I got a letter this week that said that I was lucky because I got two letters from you in one week. Well, that was the only letter that I got. I was very confused. Either the other letter got lost in the mail somehow or it was sent late. Just thought I’d let you know that I never got that second letter yet… but thanks for those pictures. They were great. I especially liked the one with Henry in the Easter basket. That was fun.
Dad – That scripture you sent is Alma 26:22. To make you feel good, I didn’t use the Bible dictionary and here in Texas as a missionary, I don’t go to the normal Sunday School class. I just found it off the top of my head. But it was very good. I like that chapter. It has a good message.
Shawn – If you somehow get this letter, I found some cool information. There is a member down here named Jeff Tew that served in the Oklahoma Tulsa mission from 1999 to 2001. I don’t know if you know him, but I believe he was there when you were there so let me know.
This week was a good week for me. Wednesday was zone conference. First zone conference with President Robison. It was really good. He is a great mission president. He lectured on obedience and laid down many of his rules so we know where he stands. He is a lot more chill then President Rose was. I see it as a comparison between Nephi and Captain Moroni. Moroni was a very bold, blunt, powerful man who probably spoke with power in his voice, but could also be very kind and loving at the same time. That was President Rose. Nephi was softer and more chill in his personality and the way he talked and acted, but was also very loving, obedient, and really amazing and powerful in a different sort of way. That is President Robison. I may have mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again because I can’t remember for sure, but President Robison was actually an NFL referee from 1988 to 1997. He told some stories from his refereeing days at zone conference. He also worked in the Davis County School District for 30 years at several different positions, including a basketball coach, so that is way cool.
This Sunday, Milan Eoff, the first baptism we got in July, got up and bore his testimony in Sacrament Meeting. That was really awesome. He is very smart and knows what he needs to do. It has all made sense to him and he has a great testimony of the gospel. That is way cool.
Anyway, no one got any of the scriptures from last week so they still stand as the trivia for this week as well. Mom is stumped. Dad is searching hard, but has yet to find it. So keep looking. If I feel nice enough, I may give a clue if this has stumped people. But it shouldn’t, so press forward and I will work on the ones that Byron gave me just barely.
Remember, I love pictures, but I don’t have very much storage space in myldsmail.net – 50 MB to be exact. Send how you want, just keep in mind that if I have hard copies then I can keep them forever without having to send them to my old email to view in 19 months.
Peace out all and have a great week!
Elder Adam R Droge
Befriendor345
First off – we’ve had a few birthdays, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SHAWN AND SARAH!!! Let me know how everything went. I hope it was good.
Joe - I got a letter this week that said that I was lucky because I got two letters from you in one week. Well, that was the only letter that I got. I was very confused. Either the other letter got lost in the mail somehow or it was sent late. Just thought I’d let you know that I never got that second letter yet… but thanks for those pictures. They were great. I especially liked the one with Henry in the Easter basket. That was fun.
Dad – That scripture you sent is Alma 26:22. To make you feel good, I didn’t use the Bible dictionary and here in Texas as a missionary, I don’t go to the normal Sunday School class. I just found it off the top of my head. But it was very good. I like that chapter. It has a good message.
Shawn – If you somehow get this letter, I found some cool information. There is a member down here named Jeff Tew that served in the Oklahoma Tulsa mission from 1999 to 2001. I don’t know if you know him, but I believe he was there when you were there so let me know.
This week was a good week for me. Wednesday was zone conference. First zone conference with President Robison. It was really good. He is a great mission president. He lectured on obedience and laid down many of his rules so we know where he stands. He is a lot more chill then President Rose was. I see it as a comparison between Nephi and Captain Moroni. Moroni was a very bold, blunt, powerful man who probably spoke with power in his voice, but could also be very kind and loving at the same time. That was President Rose. Nephi was softer and more chill in his personality and the way he talked and acted, but was also very loving, obedient, and really amazing and powerful in a different sort of way. That is President Robison. I may have mentioned this before, but I’ll say it again because I can’t remember for sure, but President Robison was actually an NFL referee from 1988 to 1997. He told some stories from his refereeing days at zone conference. He also worked in the Davis County School District for 30 years at several different positions, including a basketball coach, so that is way cool.
This Sunday, Milan Eoff, the first baptism we got in July, got up and bore his testimony in Sacrament Meeting. That was really awesome. He is very smart and knows what he needs to do. It has all made sense to him and he has a great testimony of the gospel. That is way cool.
Anyway, no one got any of the scriptures from last week so they still stand as the trivia for this week as well. Mom is stumped. Dad is searching hard, but has yet to find it. So keep looking. If I feel nice enough, I may give a clue if this has stumped people. But it shouldn’t, so press forward and I will work on the ones that Byron gave me just barely.
Remember, I love pictures, but I don’t have very much storage space in myldsmail.net – 50 MB to be exact. Send how you want, just keep in mind that if I have hard copies then I can keep them forever without having to send them to my old email to view in 19 months.
Peace out all and have a great week!
Elder Adam R Droge
Befriendor345
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Letter 7-21-08
Dearest Familia,
I am doing great down here in Midland. First and foremost this week – THIS WEDNESDAY – as in a day after tomorrow, The Bushmans, the couple that we live with, are going through Utah and will drop by at the Droge Home in Bountiful. They called and talked with Joe, but I am telling you again as a second reminder. They will be there Wednesday Morning, so make sure that you are there to meet them. They will be dropping off some items, namely some of the books that I’m not supposed to have. I wasn’t aware of that rule until a little bit ago. We as missionaries are only supposed to read 4 books (outside scriptures, Ensigns, and the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith) which are Jesus the Christ, True to the Faith, Our Search for Happiness, and Our Heritage. Any other book is not allowed, no matter how good or helpful. So I am being obedient and sending the other books with the Bushmans. Also, Mom, I had originally thought that your idea of just having me buy shoes out here would be fine, but I just got thinking that if the Bushmans are going to visit, they might as well pick up the Brown shoes as well as the ties that I got from Annie and Greg’s Weddings and then no one has to pay for postage at all and I don’t have to spend 30 dollars on shoes and we’re all happy. The other thing was that it would be fun for you to meet the members we are living with in person and chat for a little bit. So remember, be there Wednesday morning.
Joe reminded me of something very important. Fantasy Football. Joe will be in charge this year, so let him know that you are interested. Joe – I was planning on sending you an email on how to start up a private league and then give you the email addresses that you want, but I still don’t have your email address, the one right now still doesn’t work and no one has given me the updated one, so plan on a snail mail letter getting there Wednesday or Thursday giving you all the details.
So as for me this week, I can’t complain. Tuesday we actually got a baptism and I was there to witness it. The confirmation was in church on Sunday. It was Milan Eoff that got baptized if you look at the other emails. He is really smart and everything just made sense to him. He is finished with the Book of Mormon and is now plugging through the Doctrine and Covenants. It feels nice to have finally had success. After Milan got baptized though, our teaching pool took a hit. All the others I have talked about are slipping off the map except for Ginger Keyes, Cody Chambers’ mom. We got in and taught the Plan of Salvation. She is really straightforward and honest with us. If she has a question or a concern she will interrupt and talk about it. That is a good sign. She even made mention that it is stupid that people would avoid us and not be honest. She gets it for the most part and she still remembers that she received an answer, she’s just fighting it a little because she hasn’t started reading yet, but we recommitted her to read and I have hope that she will.
That’s all for me right now. I would think that it would be cool if all you returned missionaries write and tell me what leadership positions that you served in. That would be fun to hear.
Dad got the scripture again. D&C 136. I will have a new scripture next week because I forgot to bring my scriptures to email, but I will leave with 2 BoM trivia questions
1 – Who is Mormon’s grandson?
2 – Which brother did Nephi raise from the dead?
That’s all for now. Notice that I changed my signature in accordance to a hilariously funny request from Mom.
Peace Out!
Elder Adam R Droge Befriendor345
I am doing great down here in Midland. First and foremost this week – THIS WEDNESDAY – as in a day after tomorrow, The Bushmans, the couple that we live with, are going through Utah and will drop by at the Droge Home in Bountiful. They called and talked with Joe, but I am telling you again as a second reminder. They will be there Wednesday Morning, so make sure that you are there to meet them. They will be dropping off some items, namely some of the books that I’m not supposed to have. I wasn’t aware of that rule until a little bit ago. We as missionaries are only supposed to read 4 books (outside scriptures, Ensigns, and the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith) which are Jesus the Christ, True to the Faith, Our Search for Happiness, and Our Heritage. Any other book is not allowed, no matter how good or helpful. So I am being obedient and sending the other books with the Bushmans. Also, Mom, I had originally thought that your idea of just having me buy shoes out here would be fine, but I just got thinking that if the Bushmans are going to visit, they might as well pick up the Brown shoes as well as the ties that I got from Annie and Greg’s Weddings and then no one has to pay for postage at all and I don’t have to spend 30 dollars on shoes and we’re all happy. The other thing was that it would be fun for you to meet the members we are living with in person and chat for a little bit. So remember, be there Wednesday morning.
Joe reminded me of something very important. Fantasy Football. Joe will be in charge this year, so let him know that you are interested. Joe – I was planning on sending you an email on how to start up a private league and then give you the email addresses that you want, but I still don’t have your email address, the one right now still doesn’t work and no one has given me the updated one, so plan on a snail mail letter getting there Wednesday or Thursday giving you all the details.
So as for me this week, I can’t complain. Tuesday we actually got a baptism and I was there to witness it. The confirmation was in church on Sunday. It was Milan Eoff that got baptized if you look at the other emails. He is really smart and everything just made sense to him. He is finished with the Book of Mormon and is now plugging through the Doctrine and Covenants. It feels nice to have finally had success. After Milan got baptized though, our teaching pool took a hit. All the others I have talked about are slipping off the map except for Ginger Keyes, Cody Chambers’ mom. We got in and taught the Plan of Salvation. She is really straightforward and honest with us. If she has a question or a concern she will interrupt and talk about it. That is a good sign. She even made mention that it is stupid that people would avoid us and not be honest. She gets it for the most part and she still remembers that she received an answer, she’s just fighting it a little because she hasn’t started reading yet, but we recommitted her to read and I have hope that she will.
That’s all for me right now. I would think that it would be cool if all you returned missionaries write and tell me what leadership positions that you served in. That would be fun to hear.
Dad got the scripture again. D&C 136. I will have a new scripture next week because I forgot to bring my scriptures to email, but I will leave with 2 BoM trivia questions
1 – Who is Mormon’s grandson?
2 – Which brother did Nephi raise from the dead?
That’s all for now. Notice that I changed my signature in accordance to a hilariously funny request from Mom.
Peace Out!
Elder Adam R Droge Befriendor345
Letter 7-14-08
Dearest Family,
Well, I just barely wrote on Thursday in which I responded to letters from this week and last week and haven’t gotten any since, so today I won’t write an epistle because there is not much to write about.
Transfers are this week. If you remember my analogy from before, transfers are like the trading deadline. We’re all here as a team in Midland and every six weeks, at the end of the transfer, they will call you up and say if you’re staying or going. If you’re going, you pack up as fast as possible and get on a bus the next morning and head off to a new area just like that. It’s just like in sports. You’re playing for your team and doing all that you possibly can to make your team better, then when the trading deadline comes there is a possibility that you get trading to a different team. You have no say in the matter. You’ll just get a call saying that you got traded, and then you have to pack up like that and get on the plane to your new team and pick up from there. You can’t whine, cry, or wish to go back; you just have to press forward with that team just like you’ve been there your whole life. Such is the case with transfers, as I have mentioned. Well, I was almost sure that I was going to get transferred because I have been here in Midland for 3 transfers now. Normally you’ll stay in an area for 2 to 4 transfers. Staying in an area 1 transfer only or 5 transfers happens, but is much more rare. So I thought I was leaving, but it turns out that I will stay another transfer here in the Midland 1st ward. This will be my 4th. So as I like to say, the trading deadline has passed and I did not get traded. The Midland team wanted me here for another 6 weeks, which means I’m here till at least August 24th.
Well, I left you hanging last week, so I will take care of that. During my second transfer here, back in April and May, you may remember a guy named Cody Chambers. He was all fired up and wanting to get baptized, but it fell through. He got opposition and questions arose. He couldn’t handle it because he stopped doing what he was supposed to do. He stopped reading, praying, and coming to church. He has now turned completely cold and doesn’t want to be taught anymore. However, like I said before, there is light at the end of the tunnel. I’m hoping it’s not a train, but that’s beside the point. If you remember, when Cody was all fired up, his mom, Ginger Keyes, came to church and to the musical fireside that the mission put on. She didn’t come after that, so we were just confused. Well, when Cody started going cold, we felt like we needed to see his mom, but we never did because she lives out in the boonies and we weren’t sure how interested she was anymore. Well, after about a month or two, in late June, a few weeks ago, we got a referral for all the way out there, so while we were contacting that referral, which ended up being nonexistent, we stopped by Ginger. She let us right in and we had an amazing first lesson. At the end of the lesson she realized that we were an answer to her prayer. She was praying for guidance in her life that morning or the evening before, then we showed up. Prayer works and the Holy Ghost exist. That’s for sure. She said she wanted to help out Cody and also her husband, who is an inactive member that hasn’t gone to church in over 30 years, since he was a teacher.
Our baptism is good for this Tuesday. The guy I mentioned last Thursday is getting baptized. That is way amazing. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a baptism. Since… umm… hmmm… wait a minute… I’ve never had a baptism. This will be a first.
Oh yes, I almost forgot. The guy in Midland 2nd ward, Steve Conley, the former NFL player that I talked about a few weeks ago, got baptized. That is cool. It doesn’t count as my baptism, but that is still fun. By the way, no one did research on him via NFL.com or such. Ye fiends of the infernal pit. Get on that! …
Well, that’s all for this week. Peace out Drogeites. Oh yes, and just so you know, I beat Bruce in the longest ending war. He threw in the towel. Yay!!
Elder Adam R Droge Alienator345
Letter 7-10-08
Dearest Family,
We took our P-Day Thursday this week due to meeting the new Mission President, that's why I'm writing right now. President Robison is awesome by the way. He was exactly what I thought he would be. He met eand exceeded expectations. Its going to be a great 19 months with him as head.
Sounds like everyone is having a great time. Well, let me rephrase that. It sounds like the Bountifulites are having a great time. Bruce and Joe are enjoying themselves via Smallville, a new Kitty that is like a twin of like 2 or 3 other kitties we’ve had and takes me down a trip to memory lane when I see the picture Joe sent to me, and yardwork.
Oh, by the Way, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!! 55 years old and a senior citizen discount at Arctic Cirlce, who would’ve thunk it. Time goes by fast, doesn’t it?
So there was a question about that phone call you received on the fourth of July. Tracy Manning was calling from Midland, Texas. The Mannings are the coolest family in the ward. They are recent coverts of about 10 or so years and love the missionaries. The message was specifically for Mom. She has kept in contact with the moms of all the other missionaries that have served here in Midland 1st ward for the last few months. She was just calling to say how I was doing, give you an update, things like that. She had asked me what I wanted you guys to send me; that was the other part. Nothing huge. I was wanting some casual P-Day shoes that weren’t dress shoes or basketball shoes so I thought of either buying a pair or having you guys send my casual brown slip on shoes that I always wore back home. Those are in my box downstairs. I was also noticing the ties of the other missionaries here and I was told that it didn’t really matter what color tie you had as long as it wasn’t a ugly tie so I started wishing that I would’ve brought the 2 wedding ties that I left home, you know the nice yellow one from Greg’s wedding and the peachish one from Annie’s. When sister Manning asked what I wanted sent to me those are the 3 things that I thought of. Send those if you feel like being nice, but no rush. It’s not like they are too terribly necessary. Also mom, she said you could call her whenever you felt like talking or if you need anything. I realized after she hung up that she assumed that you had caller ID and failed to leave her number. I mentioned to her that you don’t have caller ID so she said she’d try back. In case she has forgotten, I don’t know her cell phone, but their house is xxx. Brother Chester Manning’s cell phone is xxx.
Congratulations to Dad for winning the scripture challenge. That story in judges is a weird one that I read while hammering through the old testament. It comprises of 2 or 3 chapters I believe and the one in Corinthians was quite funny, but don’t be too stressed, there was a JST in it that corrected it to say women aren’t supposed to rule in church, not speak. As tradition, here’s the next one:“If thou are merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and Thanksgiving.”There you go. You all obeying that commandment? We’re told we must sing and dance while listening to music whenever we are happy.
So onto me and my missionary experiences over the last week. First off, lets discuss one of the fellows that I believe that I mentioned last week. Milan Eoff. As a reminder, he has been jumping from religion to religion all his life and never felt like he came across the truth so he kinda gave up on organized religion. However, in the last few years he had seen the missionaries from our church pass by his house and he kinda wanted to talk to them, he didn’t know why, but they never did. Well, then we knocked on his door and he let us in. He almost didn’t, but then he decided he needed to. Well, it was all downhill from there. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a true prophet and he feels like he has finally found the manifestation of the truth that he had been looking for all his life. Do you know why? Well here’s why. We’ve always been taught a small formula growing up that we have taken for granted sometimes. The classic Sunday school answers. Read the Book of Mormon. Pray. Go to Church. Guess What? IT WORKS!!! Milan started reading the Book of Mormon and has found that he loves it. Said he, “The Book of Mormon teaches so much about Jesus Christ that it’s not even funny.” He’s a way cool, way funny guy by the way. We’ve knocked on his door just under a month ago and he’s already halfway through 3rd Nephi. Holy Cow! I wish I could read that fast. He just can’t put it down. He prays every night and he also started coming to church regularly and BOOM! He believes. I wish everyone would do that down here, but they don’t. Most don’t. Bishop Heller told us the other day that if everyone in the ward would pray twice a day and study the scriptures daily that the ward would be translated. The problem is that that will never happen. We as members need to repent! Read the Book of Mormon daily and pray twice a day. It will help. It really will.
By the way, Fascimile number 2 in Abraham is really awesome. Study especially figure 6 and you’ll find out why.
Does everyone remember that we almost got a baptism in May but it fell through? Well, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll tell you why Monday. Stay Tuned. I’m out of time.Peace Out All!!!
Elder Adam R Droge Alienator345
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Letter 6-30-08
Hey Family!
What is up? You must all be having tons of fun because you all forgot that I was on a mission in Texas. That’s ok. I forgive you. Its nice to get letters and thanks for those few select people who actually write consistently. I think its funny how very few people actually feel obligated to write and give me a bunch of excuses on why they don’t have to write, yet half the family threatens to disown me when I even say that I won’t send a letter. It’s funny because I’m the one that has absolutely no time to write and you all do. Don’t worry though, I don’t care if I don’t get letters and I don’t know why I am even talking about this, but I really have nothing to respond to. If you don’t send a letter, I’m not even going to be disappointed, but I’ll know who actually cares by seeing who takes 5 minutes out of their life each week to drop me a note. Anyone, I will move on and talk about me because I’m the one who everyone expects to hear about. ☺☺☺☺☺
By the way…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAREST SAMMY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! I feel horrible. I have been so caught up in the missionary work that I forgot Sammy turned a year old. I guess that 8 month year old Sammy that is in my camera is the one that is stuck in my mind. I just thought that he was going to stay that age for the rest of his life. Guess not.
There were no takers on my two easy scripture trivias from last week. I guess they stand another week.
So I have an assignment for everyone. Go to the website YOUTUBE and search for Elder Johnston. That is the funniest video. It is a video of a missionary that was in this mission. He likes to rock out to certain music and most people know that, so one day his companion secretly turned on the video camera and turned on his favorite song, a jazzed up version of a child’s prayer and “went to the bathroom” and that’s where the video starts. So he is at his best because he is in his natural state with no one watching him and he has no idea that he is being recorded. Check it out and tell me how you liked it.
So I have a friend that got his mission call to North Carolina. I was thinking to myself that that was way cool, then I thought to myself that I know someone that lives (or lived) in North Carolina. Julien and his mom Catrine McGregor. Then that reminded me… NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME JULIEN’S ADDRESS SO I CAN SEND HIM A NOTE!!! Someone should do that. Remember that I have his phone number in my (Bruce’s) phone.
I think there is a conspiracy against me. You have all pledged not to tell me anything about football, NFL or BYU. Just feel lucky that there are a few people out here that I have gotten a little information from, like how Bryan Kehl got drafted in the 4th or 5th round, BYU was ranked in the preseason polls at #12, and a dude on ESPN.com predicted that BYU would go to a BCS Bowl Game against Oklahoma. The NFL offseason is almost my favorite thing to follow and I’ve heard a few things about what happened in free agency and the draft, but not much. And also be glad that there are people that watched the NBA playoffs, because absolutly no one from Drogeville said anything about that. Your conspiracy won’t work, I’ll get my information somehow, so you might as well write and tell me what happens. Thanks to Dave for telling me who the Jazz drafted. That was fun to hear.
Investigator update:
1- Milan Eoff – He is a 58 year old guy is the coolest and funniest guy ever. He is real smart and likes the message. He has searched his whole life for a religion and never found one he liked so much, even though he was baptized 4 times. He came to church yesterday and liked it. He made mention that he needs to be baptized. Now we just got to make sure that he knows it is true
2- Elmo, Gloria, and Brandon Minjarez – We originally talked to Elmo and he invited us back, so we set up an appointment and he wasn’t there. Nothing new, so we gave his son Brandon a card and told him to give it to his dad. No one ever calls the card, but this guy did, so we went back. Turns out he has lived a hard life and has just moved to Midland with his wife Gloria and son Brandon to start over and search for a church. They are all three commited to baptism, but they got sick and Gloria had to go to the hospital so they weren’t able to go to church and couldn’t and had to reschedule the appointment we had when we were going to set a baptisimal date. Once they get better we’ll go over
3- Robert – This guy is a really cool new investigator who has felt the consequences of not following God and has commited to put his life in the hands of God and will join the church if its what God wants him to do. He said that he was like a modern day Joseph Smith, searching for a church. He mentioned that his wife will be really excited when she finds out about this. He would’ve come to church, but he has a 3 week old daughter that isn’t supposed to go outside
Anyway, that’s all for now. I have to go. Talk to you all later.
Elder Adam R Droge
Alienator345
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