Today. But Later...
Oh, by the way, so an update: We met with S, and had a really great lesson. We actually listened to Elder Tad R. Callister's talk in Korean on lds.org, so he and Brother Lee were the only ones who could understand it. He seemed to enjoy it. We then went over that account of King Lamoni's father and Aaron, and taught a lot about prayer. It's been nice, because every time we meet with S, he says the closing prayer. At first, he was hesitant, because he thought we wanted him to pray in English. However, he now feels comfortable. It was cool, because when we stopped by last week, we saw his lesson 2 pamphlet open...to the page on How to Pray. So, hopefully he's been doing that extracurricular work. Anyway, we'll most likely see him at church this Sunday, because Elder Potter kind of guilt-tripped him into it. "This is my last Sunday here. My mission is over. And I'm speaking too." And S just couldn't turn that down.
It's really hard working with him for two reasons: First, the language barrier. Then, he works nights. 11-7 is his shift, and he sleeps all day long. He's come to church, but he said he feels bad because he can't stay awake and he doesn't want people to think bad of him...I think it'll be good though.
Wainwright is a military town, so that's over half the population just on the base, right? Well, we've just come back from a LAV (Light-Armored Vehicle) Ride with Brother Master-Corporal Morris. It was so awesome! We were all geared up with the helmets and Bakiara (sp?) and winter stuff, because we rode outside the hatch. It actually wasn't too cold, because we were dressed for it, but it was soooo dirty. We were literally caked with mud by the end, and our goggles were hopelessly muddy. Well, Elder Potter was lucky--the military personnel have a term, "cougar-bites" which is when the guys standing up out the hatch get thrown when the driver hits a big bump and bite the steel of the turret. Elder Potter was spared because he hit the guy in front of him, knocking his nose on his shoulder, rather than losing a few teeth. THAT would have been an awkward homecoming, seeing his girl, that he's proposing to in 2 months, and probably not being able to kiss her. XD
My Companion will be enjoying the Utah weather for Halloween (More like suffocating. It's freezing here compared to there!) because he's going home next week. Lucky. That's okay--he's put in his time, and he's really ready to go home to his family, his dog, his gun, and his girl. I'm ready for him to go too. Ouch! He read that. Nah, but I don't know what my next comp will be like...Elder Potter was just so tolerant. I just sure hope my next comp won't worry over whether or not I use his pool stick if he uses my guitar. hmmm.
Well, I'll just be enduring to that end! Actually, it's gonna come too quickly, at least it will if the rest of the mission is just like these last 3 months. Well, you should be getting the CD I made in not too long of a time....I hope. So, until next week, love all y'all!
Peace!
This is Loveridge, Signing off.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Letter 10-14-2009, Part 1
Rushed, but in essence, my week thus far!
Dearest darlingest Momsy and Popsicle, et al.:
So, this week hasn’t been all that eventful…It’s snowed quite a bit, so pretty much the same old gig. Cold. However, there were a few things that I may or may not have written about in my last few emails, but I messed up so many times in writing them that I don’t know whether or not they actually got put in, so I’ll just include them now. But first, I think I should answer your questions.
Firstly, No, dad, the $190 wasn’t for a guitar. I spent a grand total of 100, and that was including extra strings, extra picks, a capo, and a strap…the actual guitar was a $60 piece-of-hud from Wally World. =P The $190 was for my amazing winter coat and gloves, as well as some awesome socks. I’ll be buying the boots today, so that’ll maybe be another 100 or so…then thermals will be around 15 or 20, the way we’re calculating it…apparently, winter hit fast this year, and Wal-mart isn’t stocked for gear…they don’t have boots OR thermals. Grrr.
Secondly, the Orrs’ address is legit. We see President Orr almost every day, so it works just fine! He actually wanted us to do that, instead of sending it to the church.
Then, our investigators are having problems. DM has expressed a desire to be baptized and to quit drinking and smoking. She says she knows it’s true, but she wants to quit—even before she comes too church. The problem is she told us her plan, and it’s gonna take at least two months. But, she won’t be pushed. The last missionaries tried to, and she just kicked them out. So, hopefully the blessing we gave her, giving strength and rebuking the taste will work.
Then S is having a ton of problems with people here…everyone’s giving him grief because he’s Korean, and his girlfriend tried to fly out to visit him, but she got rejected at the border and nobody said anything why… and he’s so caught up in all that that he doesn’t ever answer his phone or door. However, we’re meeting with him right after this to just hang with him, help him feel welcome, and we’re bringing reinforcements: We have a Korean family in the branch, and their 18 year-old son is coming with us. Hopefully it helps, and everyone will maybe stop
hindering his progress.
Other than that, it’s just a bad time of the year for meeting with people. We’re working, and we’re getting tons of people to teach, but the hard part is getting follow-up visits, since most of them are oil workers, who literally don’t come home for weeks at a time. Hopefully we’ll have better news next week, eh?
So, a while back I was on exchanges with another missionary, and we went to this out-of-the-way place that he’d wanted to go to for some time—he felt it was a really good time to go there. So, we show up, and alluvasudden, we see a house starting on fire. So, we called 911, just in time apparently, and I totally thought that was the reason we were supposed to come out. THEN, we started tracting out this tiny little town. We did this for about an hour and a half, and at the last house we came to, this lady let us in, and told us she was LDS, but had been less-active for
quite some time. She then set up an appointment for those missionaries to meet with her kids, and to see if they would want to hear about the church. AWESOME SAUCE.
Then, I gave my first Priesthood Blessing. It was pretty intense, because I immediately whipped out my Blessing Book and Elder Potter slapped it out of my hands, telling me I don’t need it. So, I walked through the blessing, having no idea what to say…now I understand why people giving blessings say that “It’s not necessarily ME that’s giving the blessing, but rather the blessing is being given THROUGH me.” It was a huge testimony builder for me, because the sister we blessed hasn’t had a problem since, and has been working just fine! Power, right there.
So, there’s one story that I’m still laughing about, but other people in the branch are kinda annoyed by it. To start off, I’ll share an experience:
I had a funny idea: if people are taught the gospel on the other side, are they also tempted with anti? So, I asked the Young Men’s president, and he responded that the answer was in Jacob 4:14. Since then, I’ve been laughing about it!
We were in Priesthood on Sunday, and the member who teaches that class gets stuck on these random details and kinda interprets the gospel his own way (i.e., pets being sealed to us for all eternitytype-stuff) Anyway, we were reading about who gets into heaven…of course, people then started asking questions about what-ifs, murder, rape…etc. A heated debate followed. I then piped up and said that the answer to solve this whole problem is in Jacob 4:14. After reading it off, I was chuckling, but the room was silent. So then I stumbled to explain that it doesn’t matter what other people do—worry about yourself for now, do the temple work, and let God make up the rest. I meant it as sort of a joke.
Then, I guess they didn’t get my attempt at humor, because not 10 minutes later, they were starting on a whole new can of worms…fortunately the ward mission leader had stepped in, and corrected them, saying the same thing that Jacob did, but in layman’s terms. They always get into huge debates every week… We usually work to keep the peace and change the subject.
Now, what I thought was funny about all this was my companion reading in Alma 2:5, and being puzzled about “Wonderful Contentions.” I sort of explained “Wonderful” in the sense of “I’m awed that this is even a debate!” I got my answer for sure 3 days later in that class…hoo-boy.
Well, I’ve got pictures on a CD and I’ll be mailing them off. What I didn’t know is that Canadian mail only took three weeks because they were in a slump or something THEN. Now, it’ll be about a week and a half, I think.
Well, I gotta run to go see S, so we’ll catch ya next week!
CHRISTIAN
Dearest darlingest Momsy and Popsicle, et al.:
So, this week hasn’t been all that eventful…It’s snowed quite a bit, so pretty much the same old gig. Cold. However, there were a few things that I may or may not have written about in my last few emails, but I messed up so many times in writing them that I don’t know whether or not they actually got put in, so I’ll just include them now. But first, I think I should answer your questions.
Firstly, No, dad, the $190 wasn’t for a guitar. I spent a grand total of 100, and that was including extra strings, extra picks, a capo, and a strap…the actual guitar was a $60 piece-of-hud from Wally World. =P The $190 was for my amazing winter coat and gloves, as well as some awesome socks. I’ll be buying the boots today, so that’ll maybe be another 100 or so…then thermals will be around 15 or 20, the way we’re calculating it…apparently, winter hit fast this year, and Wal-mart isn’t stocked for gear…they don’t have boots OR thermals. Grrr.
Secondly, the Orrs’ address is legit. We see President Orr almost every day, so it works just fine! He actually wanted us to do that, instead of sending it to the church.
Then, our investigators are having problems. DM has expressed a desire to be baptized and to quit drinking and smoking. She says she knows it’s true, but she wants to quit—even before she comes too church. The problem is she told us her plan, and it’s gonna take at least two months. But, she won’t be pushed. The last missionaries tried to, and she just kicked them out. So, hopefully the blessing we gave her, giving strength and rebuking the taste will work.
Then S is having a ton of problems with people here…everyone’s giving him grief because he’s Korean, and his girlfriend tried to fly out to visit him, but she got rejected at the border and nobody said anything why… and he’s so caught up in all that that he doesn’t ever answer his phone or door. However, we’re meeting with him right after this to just hang with him, help him feel welcome, and we’re bringing reinforcements: We have a Korean family in the branch, and their 18 year-old son is coming with us. Hopefully it helps, and everyone will maybe stop
hindering his progress.
Other than that, it’s just a bad time of the year for meeting with people. We’re working, and we’re getting tons of people to teach, but the hard part is getting follow-up visits, since most of them are oil workers, who literally don’t come home for weeks at a time. Hopefully we’ll have better news next week, eh?
So, a while back I was on exchanges with another missionary, and we went to this out-of-the-way place that he’d wanted to go to for some time—he felt it was a really good time to go there. So, we show up, and alluvasudden, we see a house starting on fire. So, we called 911, just in time apparently, and I totally thought that was the reason we were supposed to come out. THEN, we started tracting out this tiny little town. We did this for about an hour and a half, and at the last house we came to, this lady let us in, and told us she was LDS, but had been less-active for
quite some time. She then set up an appointment for those missionaries to meet with her kids, and to see if they would want to hear about the church. AWESOME SAUCE.
Then, I gave my first Priesthood Blessing. It was pretty intense, because I immediately whipped out my Blessing Book and Elder Potter slapped it out of my hands, telling me I don’t need it. So, I walked through the blessing, having no idea what to say…now I understand why people giving blessings say that “It’s not necessarily ME that’s giving the blessing, but rather the blessing is being given THROUGH me.” It was a huge testimony builder for me, because the sister we blessed hasn’t had a problem since, and has been working just fine! Power, right there.
So, there’s one story that I’m still laughing about, but other people in the branch are kinda annoyed by it. To start off, I’ll share an experience:
I had a funny idea: if people are taught the gospel on the other side, are they also tempted with anti? So, I asked the Young Men’s president, and he responded that the answer was in Jacob 4:14. Since then, I’ve been laughing about it!
We were in Priesthood on Sunday, and the member who teaches that class gets stuck on these random details and kinda interprets the gospel his own way (i.e., pets being sealed to us for all eternitytype-stuff) Anyway, we were reading about who gets into heaven…of course, people then started asking questions about what-ifs, murder, rape…etc. A heated debate followed. I then piped up and said that the answer to solve this whole problem is in Jacob 4:14. After reading it off, I was chuckling, but the room was silent. So then I stumbled to explain that it doesn’t matter what other people do—worry about yourself for now, do the temple work, and let God make up the rest. I meant it as sort of a joke.
Then, I guess they didn’t get my attempt at humor, because not 10 minutes later, they were starting on a whole new can of worms…fortunately the ward mission leader had stepped in, and corrected them, saying the same thing that Jacob did, but in layman’s terms. They always get into huge debates every week… We usually work to keep the peace and change the subject.
Now, what I thought was funny about all this was my companion reading in Alma 2:5, and being puzzled about “Wonderful Contentions.” I sort of explained “Wonderful” in the sense of “I’m awed that this is even a debate!” I got my answer for sure 3 days later in that class…hoo-boy.
Well, I’ve got pictures on a CD and I’ll be mailing them off. What I didn’t know is that Canadian mail only took three weeks because they were in a slump or something THEN. Now, it’ll be about a week and a half, I think.
Well, I gotta run to go see S, so we’ll catch ya next week!
CHRISTIAN
Letter 10-07-2009, I think I'm turning Canadian!
Wow, where do the weeks go?! I turn three (months) tomorrow, and my dad (trainer companion) dies soon, so I get to inherit some of his loot. Woot! That's 1/8 of my mission, right there. That's sounds soooo much longer now. But it does go pretty fast. Just yesterday, it seems like I was just getting here. I'm just sick because I know eventually I'll have to leave Wainwright. The people here are so tight. I dunno...It just seems like a whole different place than Utah. Seeing the difference between Utah and this small-town-feel makes me almost long for this...I think I might actually consider moving up to Canada after. It's kinda like Mayberry, but just a bit bigger. The people here are all just studs.
So, talk about crazy weather, eh? Yeah, things are cooling down here too...it snowed on Sunday, and it's been flirting with freezing for the better part of a week now. Today, we're at -8C, so like 10F, I think. Good thing I'm just in a Tee-shirt and jeans, eh? I'm going to buy my winter gear today, so I'm kinda excited about that...I'm going to come home in 2 years and shout out that all y'all don't even know what cold is, then walk around in a golf shirt and shorts. It's so cold here, that 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit is a HOT day. I'm still coming to grips with the whole 40 below thing, which should happen by maybe Halloween. Boo.
So, first and foremost: Conference. WOW. I think that's the best General Conference I've seen. I mean, you know there's some serious power when an Apostle commands that something be written by the angels, yeah? That was amazing! Other favorites include Elders Bednar and Oaks, as well as Elder Callister. I loved his statement:
Abraham sacrificing Isaac is a similitude of God giving His Only Begotten. If God and Jesus are the same, then Abraham isn't sacrificing Isaac. Abraham is sacrificing Abraham.
Sister Dibb --I liked how she talked about how none of the men were wearing the safety equipment that had been provided.
Well, I made a double blunder: Firstly, I forgot my little list reminding me what all I was gonna email about. Secondly, we're on a joint-P-Day with the Lloydminster Elders, so there's a really short time limit for emailing.
But I just wanted to say, we've been into Saskatchewan quite a bit, so I can officially say: You remember how we wrote down where Elder Loveridge is serving, and I wrote down Saskatchewan? NAILED IT!
-Elder C. Loveridge
Joseph (Porath), I'll have to email next week and catch up with you! The work here is good, but I'm shivering. Figures. We had a massive...MASSIVE....rainstorm yesterday, and my clothes are still drying, because we didn't have our car. I can't help but keep thinking this is your kind of country. Oh well, God knows where He wants us. GODSPEED!
So, talk about crazy weather, eh? Yeah, things are cooling down here too...it snowed on Sunday, and it's been flirting with freezing for the better part of a week now. Today, we're at -8C, so like 10F, I think. Good thing I'm just in a Tee-shirt and jeans, eh? I'm going to buy my winter gear today, so I'm kinda excited about that...I'm going to come home in 2 years and shout out that all y'all don't even know what cold is, then walk around in a golf shirt and shorts. It's so cold here, that 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit is a HOT day. I'm still coming to grips with the whole 40 below thing, which should happen by maybe Halloween. Boo.
So, first and foremost: Conference. WOW. I think that's the best General Conference I've seen. I mean, you know there's some serious power when an Apostle commands that something be written by the angels, yeah? That was amazing! Other favorites include Elders Bednar and Oaks, as well as Elder Callister. I loved his statement:
Abraham sacrificing Isaac is a similitude of God giving His Only Begotten. If God and Jesus are the same, then Abraham isn't sacrificing Isaac. Abraham is sacrificing Abraham.
Sister Dibb --I liked how she talked about how none of the men were wearing the safety equipment that had been provided.
Well, I made a double blunder: Firstly, I forgot my little list reminding me what all I was gonna email about. Secondly, we're on a joint-P-Day with the Lloydminster Elders, so there's a really short time limit for emailing.
But I just wanted to say, we've been into Saskatchewan quite a bit, so I can officially say: You remember how we wrote down where Elder Loveridge is serving, and I wrote down Saskatchewan? NAILED IT!
-Elder C. Loveridge
Joseph (Porath), I'll have to email next week and catch up with you! The work here is good, but I'm shivering. Figures. We had a massive...MASSIVE....rainstorm yesterday, and my clothes are still drying, because we didn't have our car. I can't help but keep thinking this is your kind of country. Oh well, God knows where He wants us. GODSPEED!
Letter 09-30-2009
Apparently, control-V doesn't PASTE...it refreshes the window.
Out of time again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm half a second away from breaking mission rules just to use hotmail again....this email was even longer than the first! Bah humbug.
-Elder C. Loveridge
remind me:
-Elder Kikuchi on Prayer/Book of Mormon
-Other Side of Heaven
-Burning bush/Sacred Grove
-I'm buying a guitar today and helping Sean come to believe in God with I am a Child of God, and helping him pray like the Lamanite king..."O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day."
-the temperature is 6c and I haven't been wearing a coat or anything, and I'm warmer than the natives and my comp.
-recap of your emails
Out of time again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm half a second away from breaking mission rules just to use hotmail again....this email was even longer than the first! Bah humbug.
-Elder C. Loveridge
remind me:
-Elder Kikuchi on Prayer/Book of Mormon
-Other Side of Heaven
-Burning bush/Sacred Grove
-I'm buying a guitar today and helping Sean come to believe in God with I am a Child of God, and helping him pray like the Lamanite king..."O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day."
-the temperature is 6c and I haven't been wearing a coat or anything, and I'm warmer than the natives and my comp.
-recap of your emails
Letter 09-23-2009
Hello my dear, happy familot!
Wow, bummer times about the U and the Y...oh well, there's always next week, right? Well, all I can say is the 2010 Utes v. Fighting Irish game had better live up to the hype I've been giving it! I'm telling ya a year in advance to record that game!
So, the reason we are emailing this late in the day is because we were doing service for the Van Ees, helping them to pick their potatoes. The whole time I was thinking my mom would get a kick out of hearing me do this, because she'd just say, "Welcome to my childhood!" We spent all morning and afternoon working, and afterward I held up my arm to my torso and saw the difference between reddish-tan and pasty-white! Today's work and yesterday's walking has changed my skin color immensely!
We have a monthly allowance of 5000 klicks right now, and we need to get it raised up to 6000, because there just isn't enough to travel to ANY outer areas! So, to save on K's we've started walking in town---good idea so far. We'll see how it goes...since yesterday we've had four cars stop on the road and talk to us, either telling us to "keep up the good work" from ministers of other churches, or else visiting members that have referrals for us. Either way, it accomplishes a purpose, getting the townsfolk to know who we are!
Well, we have a new investigator this week, to replace the one we lost...(Technically two, because M's getting baptized tomorrow!) Her name is MM. (I swear we only seem to pick up female investigators) and she's technically a member of another faith, but doesn't subscribe to what she calls their "political B.S." We explained a tiny bit about the plan of Salvation, and all she could say is that it made sense, at least when compared to the version of her church's beliefs. She doesn't want to force her kids to be members of that church, and so they haven't been baptized, which has made her parents, er, displeased.
We gave her the first two pamphlets to read and the Book of Mormon, and she's been reading it with her kids...her son has devoured them, though, and is even taking the Book of Mormon to school and reading it there. She said, "People say, 'Why are you letting him read that?' and I said, 'Why not?'" She gets really mad when people slam her with religion, and appreciates that we just want to share the info. So, she has taken the place of DS, who has now moved...and coincidentally, has taken DS's job! Crazy, right?
So, I forgot to share this right off, but we had a mission tour, and the GA was Elder Kikuchi! He's truly an amazing man. We got 6 whole hours of personal time with him, and he shared with us soooo much we can do to improve ourselves and our missions. Basically, his point was about the morning schedule. When he asked every single District how their morning schedule went, the replies came back in the 50-90% range. He then went off on many, many things we could do to improve our entire day, just from that morning schedules....
I hate myself right now. I just spent the last hour writing out my email, and it all deleted!!! I now have a big bald patch where I ripped my hair out.
So, to sum up stuff that can't wait until next week, Congrats Marshall. I told you you had nothing to worry about! I also got Tiffany's and Kim's letters, so thanks for those.
Well, no time. gotta run--M's family is having us for dinner, and then she's getting interviewed! I hope I remember for next week!
See ya!
--Elder Loveridge
Wow, bummer times about the U and the Y...oh well, there's always next week, right? Well, all I can say is the 2010 Utes v. Fighting Irish game had better live up to the hype I've been giving it! I'm telling ya a year in advance to record that game!
So, the reason we are emailing this late in the day is because we were doing service for the Van Ees, helping them to pick their potatoes. The whole time I was thinking my mom would get a kick out of hearing me do this, because she'd just say, "Welcome to my childhood!" We spent all morning and afternoon working, and afterward I held up my arm to my torso and saw the difference between reddish-tan and pasty-white! Today's work and yesterday's walking has changed my skin color immensely!
We have a monthly allowance of 5000 klicks right now, and we need to get it raised up to 6000, because there just isn't enough to travel to ANY outer areas! So, to save on K's we've started walking in town---good idea so far. We'll see how it goes...since yesterday we've had four cars stop on the road and talk to us, either telling us to "keep up the good work" from ministers of other churches, or else visiting members that have referrals for us. Either way, it accomplishes a purpose, getting the townsfolk to know who we are!
Well, we have a new investigator this week, to replace the one we lost...(Technically two, because M's getting baptized tomorrow!) Her name is MM. (I swear we only seem to pick up female investigators) and she's technically a member of another faith, but doesn't subscribe to what she calls their "political B.S." We explained a tiny bit about the plan of Salvation, and all she could say is that it made sense, at least when compared to the version of her church's beliefs. She doesn't want to force her kids to be members of that church, and so they haven't been baptized, which has made her parents, er, displeased.
We gave her the first two pamphlets to read and the Book of Mormon, and she's been reading it with her kids...her son has devoured them, though, and is even taking the Book of Mormon to school and reading it there. She said, "People say, 'Why are you letting him read that?' and I said, 'Why not?'" She gets really mad when people slam her with religion, and appreciates that we just want to share the info. So, she has taken the place of DS, who has now moved...and coincidentally, has taken DS's job! Crazy, right?
So, I forgot to share this right off, but we had a mission tour, and the GA was Elder Kikuchi! He's truly an amazing man. We got 6 whole hours of personal time with him, and he shared with us soooo much we can do to improve ourselves and our missions. Basically, his point was about the morning schedule. When he asked every single District how their morning schedule went, the replies came back in the 50-90% range. He then went off on many, many things we could do to improve our entire day, just from that morning schedules....
I hate myself right now. I just spent the last hour writing out my email, and it all deleted!!! I now have a big bald patch where I ripped my hair out.
So, to sum up stuff that can't wait until next week, Congrats Marshall. I told you you had nothing to worry about! I also got Tiffany's and Kim's letters, so thanks for those.
Well, no time. gotta run--M's family is having us for dinner, and then she's getting interviewed! I hope I remember for next week!
See ya!
--Elder Loveridge
Letter 09-16-2009
Well, good to hear from ya again!
So, yeah, don't be offended...I messed up on the email bit. I'm not avoiding y'all, I swear!
Firstly, MY WEIGHT: 173, or 8 pounds more than I had before I went in to the MTC. Two weeks ago, I was 20 lbs heavier(193)...."what's your secret?" you ask...I don't know! Nothing sticks on me! Once I leave this area, and I'm no longer getting 3 huge meals a day, I'm probably going to drop below 165 (Pre-MTC weight) Oh well....maybe I'll write a book and get famous!
Secondly, I haven't sent any pictures because we can only use computers in public places...the only public place with a computer is the library, and they have a strict "No CDs, no disks, no flashdrives, no memory sticks...etc." rule! So, I went to Wal-Mart and spent 5 bucks on a CD....then, a member told me he could just make one for me on his computer! So, with this chance to get more than 60 pictures on a cd to mail home, I'm going to wait--I still have no pictures of the branch or anything--most of the pictures were just sunsets, scenic views, and some random stuff...Maybe next week, eh?
Last Saturday, we had a branch party. It was awesome! There were corn cobs a-plenty. There were tons of tube-steaks! There was soooo much food, it reminded me of a funeral! Anyway, what happened is we started to play games--first, the egg-on-a-spoon relay.Then, the three-legged race. We finished up with the egg-toss...and I pegged president Orr with an egg! What happened next will be talked about in the ward for a while:
One member started spraying people with water. Then a kid came up and threw a cup of juice at him. A full water-fight broke out. Everyone was throwing cups of water...until I grabbed a bucket and hosed people. Then, it got worse and worse....and President Orr got his revenge on me. So, to pay him back, I went inside and grabbed the ginormous pot that the corn had been boiled in, and dumped it out the window onto the spicket that people were filling up at...except it wasn't President Orr there. It was this one little girl about Ashley's age, and she just stood there as this pot emptied, and emptied, and emptied, and emptied......and emptied. For real. Now, she has this personal vendetta against me...I think we have too much fun in this branch!
Sister Orr gave us each haircuts...mine was practically a buzz-cut. I can't do ANYTHING with my hair, because it's so short! The new joke is, "Elder Loveridge, what's the difference between a bad haircut and a good one? Six weeks!" This happened right after the party, and she hadn't been there...could she have been paying me back for egging her husband? And how did she find out? Oh well...only five more weeks to go!
So, this last bit of time has gone really fast MB has a Baptismal Date for September 24 S (I'll tell more about him in a sec) has a Baptismal Date (BD) for October 10 DS will have one very soon. If she receives an answer to her prayers, she'll definitely go for it! DM has expressed a desire to be baptized and to quit smoking--hopefully she's not just giving us lip service KH....might be dealing. She dodged our appointment, and we saw her in a car with a lady and was definitely passing something back and forth...then they drove off and we followed. We gave up when they went into the grocery store and spent almost 10 minutes in the parking lot...shady. But, we'll keep teaching! We have a bunch of other investigators, plus the list of less-actives we're working with, but these are the ones that have changed recently.
So, S is our new investigator: He's 31 years old, and he came to Canada from Seoul, S. Korea because his father told him that this is where the money is. He's here for school and work, but his plan has kinda changed, and he wants to learn English and "assimilate." He's actually been here the last 3 years, and his English isn't too bad...he just has some problems with certain words, to which he shakes his fist and growls "Ah, English!"
He's the friend of a family here in the Branch that just moved in--they're seriously dynamite! She introduced him to the gospel by giving him a Korean BoM and an english one...it's been promised that it's one of the fastest ways to learn a language by a General Authority! So, we taught him lesson 1 and part of 2...and his response was that his perception of church people ("People that believe God") was really messed up by some bad experiences he had in Korea...then, he met the Mormons. At first, he just started going because his friends went and wanted him to play basketball with them. Then, he noticed how nice everyone was--that really affected him.
Here in Canada, he said that he feels like he's being taken advantage of by his boss and his landlord and other people. So, we tried to show him that we're not here to take advantage of him in any way--just to help him. All he could say was "Thank you." So, we then talked more about the plan of Salvation, and watched Finding Happiness. (There is one guy in the movie that he really connected with) Afterward, we committed him to baptism, and he accepted! He's really funny, and waaaay nice. The only thing is, he's not like the other Korean guys that came to our house way way back. He's really great with kids, and he is seriously going to be rockin' in the church. Partly seriously. He plays guitar, so we're going to have to jam--I learned some songs, like I am a Child of God so I can play that one for him.
So, the family that introduced him to the church is going to be a really good resource for work: the Husband has been talking to lots of people at work about the gospel. She has a sister that is Less-active moving into Wainwright, and her Bro-in-law and nephew aren't members...but have expressed a desire to be taught the lessons!
The branch here is seriously unheard of, from what Elder Potter tells me. Things like this don't usually happen: We have had 10 different members or member families come out teaching with us. It's almost one for each investigator! Everyone wants to help in missionary work. They come up to us at church, "Elders! Guess what I did this week! I shared the gospel with some of my co-workers!"
Well, needless to say, my vision of missionaries is kind of shattered. I don't know how it is for other missionaries in other missions, but a mission doesn't really seem like "hard work." There are hard things, like waking up after 3 sleepless nights in a row, or dealing with the amount of driving we do, but other than that, teaching is easy! Sure, we get quite a few cancelled appointments, but I wouldn't say it's "hard." I'd say it's more like how certain prophets felt when the stubborn people just wouldn't listen! It's not that I feel personally put off as much as it is that they don't see what they're doing to themselves...missionary work only seems "hard" because of the amount of people that slip through the cracks! Cool story, though:
For district meeting on Monday I exchanged with another companionship. So, we ended up driving an hour out of town to this little spot called Winfield. The other Elder just said, "I really felt like we should come out here today." Well, when we got there, we noticed somebody's house starting on fire, so we called 911. So, we tried tracting a bit, and this other Elder said again, "I feel like there's a reason we're supposed to be here." I was thinking that stopping that fire before it was out of control was reason enough...however, we kept tracting, and the last house we tried before we left ended up being the house of a less-active that had been under the radar. She invited us in, and her husband yelled out: (Jokingly!) "Everyone hide! It's the Mormons!" Then we asked if that's what always happens, and he said that if we'd have been J-Dubs, they'd have sicked their dogs on us.
Anyway, she seemed fine with us being there, but had a non-chalant attitude toward the gospel...she'd been baptized about 17 years earlier. However, she said that we could teach her kids sometime, and that they might be interested in it. Hopefully that turns forth fruit.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, the Lord helps us, and gives us direction. If it weren't for this, I'd almost say that missionaries doing anything besides teaching is a waste of time! Why? Because we don't know who is prepared. We don't know who needs the gospel at that time. A scripture really stood out to me this past little bit, which is in 3 Ne. 18: 30-32. Christ is talking about people that take the sacrament unworthily. However, we can apply this a little more broadly: He says not to cast them out, but to continue ministering unto them, for we know not but they will repent and be cleansed...so, even though missionaries may get discouraged and think their mission is hard because they don't baptize anyone, they should consider this scripture.
I like it more in this light: Don't cast off your mission, or think it's a waste, but continue ministering, for you don't know who is prepared, and whether they will repent and come unto Christ. I Don't feel I'm on my mission to baptize many. If I return after two years with only one baptism, I will feel I have made a significant difference--A quote comes to mind: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world."
If I can help even just one person, such as MB, to gain a strong foundation in the gospel, my work is complete. Those other people, however, are just as important---it's not a number on a sheet, or a name and a mailing address. It's not a figure, or a blessing in heaven. It is one of our brothers or sisters that is lost and needs the light--we are keepers of the flame, and we should never forget that what we hold is the most important thing to the world.
I love all y'all, and I'll see you when I get back!
--Elder C. Loveridge
So, yeah, don't be offended...I messed up on the email bit. I'm not avoiding y'all, I swear!
Firstly, MY WEIGHT: 173, or 8 pounds more than I had before I went in to the MTC. Two weeks ago, I was 20 lbs heavier(193)...."what's your secret?" you ask...I don't know! Nothing sticks on me! Once I leave this area, and I'm no longer getting 3 huge meals a day, I'm probably going to drop below 165 (Pre-MTC weight) Oh well....maybe I'll write a book and get famous!
Secondly, I haven't sent any pictures because we can only use computers in public places...the only public place with a computer is the library, and they have a strict "No CDs, no disks, no flashdrives, no memory sticks...etc." rule! So, I went to Wal-Mart and spent 5 bucks on a CD....then, a member told me he could just make one for me on his computer! So, with this chance to get more than 60 pictures on a cd to mail home, I'm going to wait--I still have no pictures of the branch or anything--most of the pictures were just sunsets, scenic views, and some random stuff...Maybe next week, eh?
Last Saturday, we had a branch party. It was awesome! There were corn cobs a-plenty. There were tons of tube-steaks! There was soooo much food, it reminded me of a funeral! Anyway, what happened is we started to play games--first, the egg-on-a-spoon relay.Then, the three-legged race. We finished up with the egg-toss...and I pegged president Orr with an egg! What happened next will be talked about in the ward for a while:
One member started spraying people with water. Then a kid came up and threw a cup of juice at him. A full water-fight broke out. Everyone was throwing cups of water...until I grabbed a bucket and hosed people. Then, it got worse and worse....and President Orr got his revenge on me. So, to pay him back, I went inside and grabbed the ginormous pot that the corn had been boiled in, and dumped it out the window onto the spicket that people were filling up at...except it wasn't President Orr there. It was this one little girl about Ashley's age, and she just stood there as this pot emptied, and emptied, and emptied, and emptied......and emptied. For real. Now, she has this personal vendetta against me...I think we have too much fun in this branch!
Sister Orr gave us each haircuts...mine was practically a buzz-cut. I can't do ANYTHING with my hair, because it's so short! The new joke is, "Elder Loveridge, what's the difference between a bad haircut and a good one? Six weeks!" This happened right after the party, and she hadn't been there...could she have been paying me back for egging her husband? And how did she find out? Oh well...only five more weeks to go!
So, this last bit of time has gone really fast MB has a Baptismal Date for September 24 S (I'll tell more about him in a sec) has a Baptismal Date (BD) for October 10 DS will have one very soon. If she receives an answer to her prayers, she'll definitely go for it! DM has expressed a desire to be baptized and to quit smoking--hopefully she's not just giving us lip service KH....might be dealing. She dodged our appointment, and we saw her in a car with a lady and was definitely passing something back and forth...then they drove off and we followed. We gave up when they went into the grocery store and spent almost 10 minutes in the parking lot...shady. But, we'll keep teaching! We have a bunch of other investigators, plus the list of less-actives we're working with, but these are the ones that have changed recently.
So, S is our new investigator: He's 31 years old, and he came to Canada from Seoul, S. Korea because his father told him that this is where the money is. He's here for school and work, but his plan has kinda changed, and he wants to learn English and "assimilate." He's actually been here the last 3 years, and his English isn't too bad...he just has some problems with certain words, to which he shakes his fist and growls "Ah, English!"
He's the friend of a family here in the Branch that just moved in--they're seriously dynamite! She introduced him to the gospel by giving him a Korean BoM and an english one...it's been promised that it's one of the fastest ways to learn a language by a General Authority! So, we taught him lesson 1 and part of 2...and his response was that his perception of church people ("People that believe God") was really messed up by some bad experiences he had in Korea...then, he met the Mormons. At first, he just started going because his friends went and wanted him to play basketball with them. Then, he noticed how nice everyone was--that really affected him.
Here in Canada, he said that he feels like he's being taken advantage of by his boss and his landlord and other people. So, we tried to show him that we're not here to take advantage of him in any way--just to help him. All he could say was "Thank you." So, we then talked more about the plan of Salvation, and watched Finding Happiness. (There is one guy in the movie that he really connected with) Afterward, we committed him to baptism, and he accepted! He's really funny, and waaaay nice. The only thing is, he's not like the other Korean guys that came to our house way way back. He's really great with kids, and he is seriously going to be rockin' in the church. Partly seriously. He plays guitar, so we're going to have to jam--I learned some songs, like I am a Child of God so I can play that one for him.
So, the family that introduced him to the church is going to be a really good resource for work: the Husband has been talking to lots of people at work about the gospel. She has a sister that is Less-active moving into Wainwright, and her Bro-in-law and nephew aren't members...but have expressed a desire to be taught the lessons!
The branch here is seriously unheard of, from what Elder Potter tells me. Things like this don't usually happen: We have had 10 different members or member families come out teaching with us. It's almost one for each investigator! Everyone wants to help in missionary work. They come up to us at church, "Elders! Guess what I did this week! I shared the gospel with some of my co-workers!"
Well, needless to say, my vision of missionaries is kind of shattered. I don't know how it is for other missionaries in other missions, but a mission doesn't really seem like "hard work." There are hard things, like waking up after 3 sleepless nights in a row, or dealing with the amount of driving we do, but other than that, teaching is easy! Sure, we get quite a few cancelled appointments, but I wouldn't say it's "hard." I'd say it's more like how certain prophets felt when the stubborn people just wouldn't listen! It's not that I feel personally put off as much as it is that they don't see what they're doing to themselves...missionary work only seems "hard" because of the amount of people that slip through the cracks! Cool story, though:
For district meeting on Monday I exchanged with another companionship. So, we ended up driving an hour out of town to this little spot called Winfield. The other Elder just said, "I really felt like we should come out here today." Well, when we got there, we noticed somebody's house starting on fire, so we called 911. So, we tried tracting a bit, and this other Elder said again, "I feel like there's a reason we're supposed to be here." I was thinking that stopping that fire before it was out of control was reason enough...however, we kept tracting, and the last house we tried before we left ended up being the house of a less-active that had been under the radar. She invited us in, and her husband yelled out: (Jokingly!) "Everyone hide! It's the Mormons!" Then we asked if that's what always happens, and he said that if we'd have been J-Dubs, they'd have sicked their dogs on us.
Anyway, she seemed fine with us being there, but had a non-chalant attitude toward the gospel...she'd been baptized about 17 years earlier. However, she said that we could teach her kids sometime, and that they might be interested in it. Hopefully that turns forth fruit.
So, when life gets dark and dreary, the Lord helps us, and gives us direction. If it weren't for this, I'd almost say that missionaries doing anything besides teaching is a waste of time! Why? Because we don't know who is prepared. We don't know who needs the gospel at that time. A scripture really stood out to me this past little bit, which is in 3 Ne. 18: 30-32. Christ is talking about people that take the sacrament unworthily. However, we can apply this a little more broadly: He says not to cast them out, but to continue ministering unto them, for we know not but they will repent and be cleansed...so, even though missionaries may get discouraged and think their mission is hard because they don't baptize anyone, they should consider this scripture.
I like it more in this light: Don't cast off your mission, or think it's a waste, but continue ministering, for you don't know who is prepared, and whether they will repent and come unto Christ. I Don't feel I'm on my mission to baptize many. If I return after two years with only one baptism, I will feel I have made a significant difference--A quote comes to mind: "To the world you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world."
If I can help even just one person, such as MB, to gain a strong foundation in the gospel, my work is complete. Those other people, however, are just as important---it's not a number on a sheet, or a name and a mailing address. It's not a figure, or a blessing in heaven. It is one of our brothers or sisters that is lost and needs the light--we are keepers of the flame, and we should never forget that what we hold is the most important thing to the world.
I love all y'all, and I'll see you when I get back!
--Elder C. Loveridge
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Letter 09-09-2009
So, this is a letter I meant to send last week, but I accidentally put the message subject in the recipient address box! Whoops...apparently it can't read my mind to find out where I want it to go!
Alrighty, well...where to start? SO much has happened!
So, here's a quick breakdown of some stuff:
P-Days are on Wednesday. We usually check by 11:00 AM, so emails should be in by then! (Today's a fluke. We're not staying with the Van Ees full time anymore, so we spent the morning with them.)
So, it's just awesome to hear from all of you! Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I was such a hindrance on your world-travelings! Sounds like you two got a taste of the Magellan bug and liked it!
So, one thing that makes me really happy that I have to laugh at: We were at a member's house for dinner last night. He plays for a band that does events, like parties and stuff. So, over the years, he's learned five main instruments, and can play any brass instrument...my comp plays the trumpet, and I the guitar (both of which he plays) and he let us spend a little time after dinner, the lesson, and the correlation meeting (He's the branch mission leader) to play his equipment...Well, he brings out his guitar and hooks it up to his full-stack amplifier, brings out his 10 or so pedals, and hands it to me. (Quick note, this is the guitar I've coveted forever, and I get to play it!) So then I messed with the pedals for a sec. and started playing a song....to which he immediately exclaimed," I don't understand what it is about you Utah boys! You all know that music, but here in Canada---uhn-uh." So then I played some blues licks, to which my comp trumpeted to, and it was a good way to end the day!
So, the work is going really great--except we might be dropping JANE DOE as an investigator...We taught her on Monday with President Orr, and she seems to have developed this...er...fascination with Elder Potter! So, she spent the whole lesson just complimenting him, telling him that he should move to here to teach her, that we should pay him, that we should buy him a house, that he has really nice pants...etc. She prayed, and said," Thanks for sending over the Vice-President, Elder Potter, and the other missionary." I had to fight so hard to keep from laughing when she said that! So, every time I talk to President Orr now, I call him Vice President. It's great! It's sad, though, but we talked about it, and we don't think she'll be held accountable given the circumstances (She was actually very normal this time, though--no other person or anything)
So, did I tell you about our two golden investigators? Probably not! They happened last Wednesday evening. So, the first is MARY DOE. She was a little skeptical when we first knocked on her door--she was shifty-eyed, and was really curious about what we believed in, comparing it to what she believed...anyway, we taught her the whole first lesson with a member present (Sister Crozier--I think she asked for your number, so maybe expect a call!) It was wonderful, and I know she felt the spirit. After reading the Joseph Smith story, and when we told her that if she would pray, she'd know if it was true, she was just like," Well yeah. So you're telling me that I need to pray? I will do that." She was very serious about it, and she had even read all of the pamphlet for lesson one before we taught her! So we left her the Book of Mormon and she's going to read!
So, we needed a closing prayer, which of course, she is supposed to give--she agreed, and gave a beautiful prayer, thanking our Heavenly Father that we could come and teach her, thanking Him that she could feel the spirit there, and asking for help to know whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, and if the Book of Mormon was true...YES!!!
Then, we rushed off with Sister Crozier to SARAH DOE's house--she had the cutest little daughter that would say," Awww come on, you guys! Don't you know you're the best guys ever?" and "Chill out, mom!" every two seconds....hilarious. But we taught SARAH the whole first lesson, and she accepted it really well--she works crazy long hours, so it was kinda like pulling teeth to get her to set a date that we could come back. That's kinda the trend here--people just say to come back whenever.
So, after we committed her to read and pray, she got really quiet. Tears filled her eyes as she told us that her father died when she was eight, and that she couldn't understand how any God could do that--she said that nobody has ever been able to explain that to her before...sooo we gave her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and asked her to read it before the next time we stopped in. We told her that inside, it may not say exactly why her father died, but why death is necessary--I know for certain she felt the spirit, and she just smiled!
Other than that, we met with a stagnant investigator...or at least tried to. She wasn't home...but her husband was! So we stepped in and taught him for a while. We didn't teach the whole first lesson because he was a little distracted...however, we came back on Monday and taught him more when we could sit down and not be distracted...well, he likes answers. More than that, he likes facts. He likes for us to show him specific scriptures about doctrines. He asks really good questions, but I think he's wording them differently than he thinks them, because he says that we answered them....kind of. (Kind of is just a filler word. It doesn't really mean anything...except in some situations. Then it means EVERYTHING! Like "I love you....Kind of." or "You're going to live...kind of." Or "It's a boy....kind of." Speaking of which, congrats Amers and Marsh!)
He has the Qu'uran (sp?) in his desk to compare against the Bible and bible bash the Muslims...I sure hope he's not investigating because that's what he wants with the Book of Mormon. From what we've told him, he can't come up with anything negative, except "So, the Book of Mormon is just a re-hash of the bible?" Then, we explain that BECAUSE the doctrines are the same, it can act as a second witness of Jesus Christ. If you have two books, both supposedly the "Word of God" that conflict on ANY point, then that means that either book is wrong, or God is a liar, and is not constant.
Anyway, the point of this is, his wife, MARSHA, who gave us a lukewarm reception last time (As we left, we over-heard her telling her friend that she accepted because she had to get rid of us somehow.) was busy for the first part of the lesson (which was more just a Q&A sesh. for her husband) but actually came in and sat for the lesson--she was really interested, and asked some questions--we shared the latter part of lesson one, and then asked if we could come back to share more--she immediately said," Yes!" and then turned to her husband to ask when...good stuff! Except...her husband is military...e.g. He's posted here in Wainwright...I think he may just be living with MARSHA. I forgot to check for rings again! anyway....that happens a bunch...almost all of the less-actives in this town are shacking up with somebody, almost all of those are military men...it's something I've kind-of had to come to grips with.
So, yesterday we did service for another stagnant investigator--we ripped out her entire back deck! Guess what we found underneath...? An old well! It was around 3 feet in diameter and a good 6 feet deep...they lost a dog a couple of years back. Wanna take a guess at what we found in the hole? Planks. What were you thinking? No, the well didn't swallow the dog! what a mean thought! Anyway, it was really good, because I think it softened her heart--before we even said anything, she asked us to come back on Saturday to teach her!
The work is really progressing here, I think! The only discouraging part is the less-actives. This is a whole different world from Utah. There are oodles of less-actives. One wants his name stricken from the records. One yells at any missionaries that come around. One was surprised we got his address. One FINALLY married his girlfriend/common-law of 7 years and isn't open to talking about the church, but wants us to come and hang with them. One might end up coming back...just gotta fix his WoW problem and get him married to the nurse he lives with. There are still tons more...but we'll get 'em!
I really want to thank all y'all for the support you've given me. I really appreciate it!
Amy+Marshall--Congrats! And good luck, Marshall!
Mom--Yes, I wrote the thank-you cards...but I haven't sent them XP I'll get on that!
Dad--I'm glad to hear you're out getting some exercise! Soak up them rays! BTW, I really hope you get to meet the Van Ees! They're such wonderful people.
Carrie+Josh--yes, I love that scripture, and I am eagerly thrashing the nations! Thank you for the CD's...life-saver! I actually have fallen in love with the Garden since you sent me those.
Jeff+Nat--Tickling the Cat-gut might come in handy someday: apparently a couple of Elders in this mission used the guitar to teach a lesson that went really well!
Tiffany+Tim--no letters...really? =P just playin'
Kim+John--I laugh every time I hear someone talk about John...I swear everyone here has at least one talk on CD--The youth here adore you!
Jen+Michael--I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. I think that's one of the greatest things we teach in the Church: The PLAN! I love how comforting it is that this life is not the end--death is not some horrible thing...it's merely the way back to our Heavenly Father.
Much Love!
--Elder Loveridge
P.S. Guess what I saw when I stepped on the scale today? 191. I was 165 when I got into the MTC. Luckily, you can't see it on me! My coat's buttons though....=P
Alrighty, well...where to start? SO much has happened!
So, here's a quick breakdown of some stuff:
P-Days are on Wednesday. We usually check by 11:00 AM, so emails should be in by then! (Today's a fluke. We're not staying with the Van Ees full time anymore, so we spent the morning with them.)
So, it's just awesome to hear from all of you! Mom, Dad, I'm sorry I was such a hindrance on your world-travelings! Sounds like you two got a taste of the Magellan bug and liked it!
So, one thing that makes me really happy that I have to laugh at: We were at a member's house for dinner last night. He plays for a band that does events, like parties and stuff. So, over the years, he's learned five main instruments, and can play any brass instrument...my comp plays the trumpet, and I the guitar (both of which he plays) and he let us spend a little time after dinner, the lesson, and the correlation meeting (He's the branch mission leader) to play his equipment...Well, he brings out his guitar and hooks it up to his full-stack amplifier, brings out his 10 or so pedals, and hands it to me. (Quick note, this is the guitar I've coveted forever, and I get to play it!) So then I messed with the pedals for a sec. and started playing a song....to which he immediately exclaimed," I don't understand what it is about you Utah boys! You all know that music, but here in Canada---uhn-uh." So then I played some blues licks, to which my comp trumpeted to, and it was a good way to end the day!
So, the work is going really great--except we might be dropping JANE DOE as an investigator...We taught her on Monday with President Orr, and she seems to have developed this...er...fascination with Elder Potter! So, she spent the whole lesson just complimenting him, telling him that he should move to here to teach her, that we should pay him, that we should buy him a house, that he has really nice pants...etc. She prayed, and said," Thanks for sending over the Vice-President, Elder Potter, and the other missionary." I had to fight so hard to keep from laughing when she said that! So, every time I talk to President Orr now, I call him Vice President. It's great! It's sad, though, but we talked about it, and we don't think she'll be held accountable given the circumstances (She was actually very normal this time, though--no other person or anything)
So, did I tell you about our two golden investigators? Probably not! They happened last Wednesday evening. So, the first is MARY DOE. She was a little skeptical when we first knocked on her door--she was shifty-eyed, and was really curious about what we believed in, comparing it to what she believed...anyway, we taught her the whole first lesson with a member present (Sister Crozier--I think she asked for your number, so maybe expect a call!) It was wonderful, and I know she felt the spirit. After reading the Joseph Smith story, and when we told her that if she would pray, she'd know if it was true, she was just like," Well yeah. So you're telling me that I need to pray? I will do that." She was very serious about it, and she had even read all of the pamphlet for lesson one before we taught her! So we left her the Book of Mormon and she's going to read!
So, we needed a closing prayer, which of course, she is supposed to give--she agreed, and gave a beautiful prayer, thanking our Heavenly Father that we could come and teach her, thanking Him that she could feel the spirit there, and asking for help to know whether Joseph Smith was a Prophet or not, and if the Book of Mormon was true...YES!!!
Then, we rushed off with Sister Crozier to SARAH DOE's house--she had the cutest little daughter that would say," Awww come on, you guys! Don't you know you're the best guys ever?" and "Chill out, mom!" every two seconds....hilarious. But we taught SARAH the whole first lesson, and she accepted it really well--she works crazy long hours, so it was kinda like pulling teeth to get her to set a date that we could come back. That's kinda the trend here--people just say to come back whenever.
So, after we committed her to read and pray, she got really quiet. Tears filled her eyes as she told us that her father died when she was eight, and that she couldn't understand how any God could do that--she said that nobody has ever been able to explain that to her before...sooo we gave her the Plan of Salvation pamphlet and asked her to read it before the next time we stopped in. We told her that inside, it may not say exactly why her father died, but why death is necessary--I know for certain she felt the spirit, and she just smiled!
Other than that, we met with a stagnant investigator...or at least tried to. She wasn't home...but her husband was! So we stepped in and taught him for a while. We didn't teach the whole first lesson because he was a little distracted...however, we came back on Monday and taught him more when we could sit down and not be distracted...well, he likes answers. More than that, he likes facts. He likes for us to show him specific scriptures about doctrines. He asks really good questions, but I think he's wording them differently than he thinks them, because he says that we answered them....kind of. (Kind of is just a filler word. It doesn't really mean anything...except in some situations. Then it means EVERYTHING! Like "I love you....Kind of." or "You're going to live...kind of." Or "It's a boy....kind of." Speaking of which, congrats Amers and Marsh!)
He has the Qu'uran (sp?) in his desk to compare against the Bible and bible bash the Muslims...I sure hope he's not investigating because that's what he wants with the Book of Mormon. From what we've told him, he can't come up with anything negative, except "So, the Book of Mormon is just a re-hash of the bible?" Then, we explain that BECAUSE the doctrines are the same, it can act as a second witness of Jesus Christ. If you have two books, both supposedly the "Word of God" that conflict on ANY point, then that means that either book is wrong, or God is a liar, and is not constant.
Anyway, the point of this is, his wife, MARSHA, who gave us a lukewarm reception last time (As we left, we over-heard her telling her friend that she accepted because she had to get rid of us somehow.) was busy for the first part of the lesson (which was more just a Q&A sesh. for her husband) but actually came in and sat for the lesson--she was really interested, and asked some questions--we shared the latter part of lesson one, and then asked if we could come back to share more--she immediately said," Yes!" and then turned to her husband to ask when...good stuff! Except...her husband is military...e.g. He's posted here in Wainwright...I think he may just be living with MARSHA. I forgot to check for rings again! anyway....that happens a bunch...almost all of the less-actives in this town are shacking up with somebody, almost all of those are military men...it's something I've kind-of had to come to grips with.
So, yesterday we did service for another stagnant investigator--we ripped out her entire back deck! Guess what we found underneath...? An old well! It was around 3 feet in diameter and a good 6 feet deep...they lost a dog a couple of years back. Wanna take a guess at what we found in the hole? Planks. What were you thinking? No, the well didn't swallow the dog! what a mean thought! Anyway, it was really good, because I think it softened her heart--before we even said anything, she asked us to come back on Saturday to teach her!
The work is really progressing here, I think! The only discouraging part is the less-actives. This is a whole different world from Utah. There are oodles of less-actives. One wants his name stricken from the records. One yells at any missionaries that come around. One was surprised we got his address. One FINALLY married his girlfriend/common-law of 7 years and isn't open to talking about the church, but wants us to come and hang with them. One might end up coming back...just gotta fix his WoW problem and get him married to the nurse he lives with. There are still tons more...but we'll get 'em!
I really want to thank all y'all for the support you've given me. I really appreciate it!
Amy+Marshall--Congrats! And good luck, Marshall!
Mom--Yes, I wrote the thank-you cards...but I haven't sent them XP I'll get on that!
Dad--I'm glad to hear you're out getting some exercise! Soak up them rays! BTW, I really hope you get to meet the Van Ees! They're such wonderful people.
Carrie+Josh--yes, I love that scripture, and I am eagerly thrashing the nations! Thank you for the CD's...life-saver! I actually have fallen in love with the Garden since you sent me those.
Jeff+Nat--Tickling the Cat-gut might come in handy someday: apparently a couple of Elders in this mission used the guitar to teach a lesson that went really well!
Tiffany+Tim--no letters...really? =P just playin'
Kim+John--I laugh every time I hear someone talk about John...I swear everyone here has at least one talk on CD--The youth here adore you!
Jen+Michael--I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother. I think that's one of the greatest things we teach in the Church: The PLAN! I love how comforting it is that this life is not the end--death is not some horrible thing...it's merely the way back to our Heavenly Father.
Much Love!
--Elder Loveridge
P.S. Guess what I saw when I stepped on the scale today? 191. I was 165 when I got into the MTC. Luckily, you can't see it on me! My coat's buttons though....=P
Happy Birthday, Mom 08-30-2009
Happy Birthday, Mom!!
I noticed that on Sunday it was 08-30... that date rung a bell... OH YEAH!
So, I forgot to send this last week, somehow... So, happy belated birthday, yeah? Congratulations- you're one year closer to getting senior discounts at restaurants! At least in two years, I'll be home... then I can forget your birthday and recover a lot sooner! =P
Seriously, though, I love you sooo much! I really think about the things you've taught me quite often... those lectures didn't go to waste! I think you'd be shocked if you could see things like the room, peoples' kitchens... I actually do the dishes! Woot-woot! I feel trained!
Love you!
--Love, me
I noticed that on Sunday it was 08-30... that date rung a bell... OH YEAH!
So, I forgot to send this last week, somehow... So, happy belated birthday, yeah? Congratulations- you're one year closer to getting senior discounts at restaurants! At least in two years, I'll be home... then I can forget your birthday and recover a lot sooner! =P
Seriously, though, I love you sooo much! I really think about the things you've taught me quite often... those lectures didn't go to waste! I think you'd be shocked if you could see things like the room, peoples' kitchens... I actually do the dishes! Woot-woot! I feel trained!
Love you!
--Love, me
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
8-27-2009, Van Ee's Phone Call
Brother Van Ee, the head of the wonderful host family our elder lives with, called my parents tonight to give them a little bit of information about their missionary. He called at 10:01pm. By looking at caller ID, we thought it was an inconsiderate telemarketer, but very quickly realized that "AB" stood for Alberta and we quickly picked up the phone. We are so glad that we didn't miss this call! He said that the elders were in the other room, and that he would later tell them "hi" from us as well as highlights from the calls to their families.
Other things mentioned:
His wife is out of town this weekend visiting with sisters for the first time in many years, otherwise we would have been able to speak to her as well.
He said that Christian is moving next Tuesday or Wednesday to the new address, and that we can contact him at the Pres. Orr address, or the Provost address–maybe they’re the same. He told the elders that if Provost is too far to drive, they will gladly take them back. :D
He (Brother Van Ee) just returned from a branch meeting (which was held over the phone due to distance limitations) and they discussed how to find better ways to help the missionaries. He said that the work is very difficult up there.
Bro. Van Ee has a daughter who lives in Herriman, Utah-- relatively close to our family. He gave us the phone number to contact her. He said that they come to Salt Lake once in a while and told my parents that they would like to meet them if they ever find themselves in Alberta as well.
He thanked us again for sending our missionary and expressed how much they enjoyed him and his companion.
Other things mentioned:
His wife is out of town this weekend visiting with sisters for the first time in many years, otherwise we would have been able to speak to her as well.
He said that Christian is moving next Tuesday or Wednesday to the new address, and that we can contact him at the Pres. Orr address, or the Provost address–maybe they’re the same. He told the elders that if Provost is too far to drive, they will gladly take them back. :D
He (Brother Van Ee) just returned from a branch meeting (which was held over the phone due to distance limitations) and they discussed how to find better ways to help the missionaries. He said that the work is very difficult up there.
Bro. Van Ee has a daughter who lives in Herriman, Utah-- relatively close to our family. He gave us the phone number to contact her. He said that they come to Salt Lake once in a while and told my parents that they would like to meet them if they ever find themselves in Alberta as well.
He thanked us again for sending our missionary and expressed how much they enjoyed him and his companion.
08-26-2009
Here are some highlights from Elder Loveridge's last letter, answering some questions that we asked of him:
His daily schedule:
6:30am: wake up/ work out
7:00am: prep time/eat
8:00am: personal study
9:00am: comp study
10:00am: leave
10:30am-12:00pm: Referral/LARC Contact
12:00pm-1:00pm: lunch
1:00pm-6:00pm: Finding Activities (ie: Tracting, potential contact, lessons, etc)
6:00pm-7:00pm: Dinner/Member Lessons
7:00pm-8:30pm: Set Lesson Time (Investigator Lessons)
8:30pm-9:00pm: Last possible lesson or leave for home to be in on time
9:50pm: Return home and Van Ees offer HOME-MADE: ice cream, pies, tarts, turnovers, cakes, rolls, buns, fruits, etc
He checks his email letters at the public library which does not have a printer. He's hoping to have the letters printed once he returns home.
The elders eat with church members/families for breakfast and dinner, so the only meal they have to worry about is lunch. They usually pool the remainder of their money allowance so they can provide that mid-day meal. He said for that meal they usually eat perogies, ramen, pizza, and sometimes "spring" for better food- like a whole rotisserie chicken!
He said that the member referrals are exploding! They spoke in church last Sunday about the members and missionaries working together, and they want to focus on teaching investigators at the homes of their member friends. He talked of the many scriptures that talk about the general church population participating in missionary work, and while it is the missionaries job to teach, it is the members job to find those to listen.
His daily schedule:
6:30am: wake up/ work out
7:00am: prep time/eat
8:00am: personal study
9:00am: comp study
10:00am: leave
10:30am-12:00pm: Referral/LARC Contact
12:00pm-1:00pm: lunch
1:00pm-6:00pm: Finding Activities (ie: Tracting, potential contact, lessons, etc)
6:00pm-7:00pm: Dinner/Member Lessons
7:00pm-8:30pm: Set Lesson Time (Investigator Lessons)
8:30pm-9:00pm: Last possible lesson or leave for home to be in on time
9:50pm: Return home and Van Ees offer HOME-MADE: ice cream, pies, tarts, turnovers, cakes, rolls, buns, fruits, etc
He checks his email letters at the public library which does not have a printer. He's hoping to have the letters printed once he returns home.
The elders eat with church members/families for breakfast and dinner, so the only meal they have to worry about is lunch. They usually pool the remainder of their money allowance so they can provide that mid-day meal. He said for that meal they usually eat perogies, ramen, pizza, and sometimes "spring" for better food- like a whole rotisserie chicken!
He said that the member referrals are exploding! They spoke in church last Sunday about the members and missionaries working together, and they want to focus on teaching investigators at the homes of their member friends. He talked of the many scriptures that talk about the general church population participating in missionary work, and while it is the missionaries job to teach, it is the members job to find those to listen.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
8-19-2009
Hello, helloooo!
So, I'd like to thank you all for the letters, emails, and packages! (Jennifer, I think it would be okay to use some lighter paper, though) The CD's are great (Except my "dad" already has all of the BofM soundtrack/best of EFY...ect. so when he leaves, I'm prepped!) thank you for that! It really is wonderful to hear from all of you how you are doing. I had to laugh though, because yesterday, I received a letter from mom, which said that Tyrel Einfeldt is gettin' hitched! Then, today I read Carrie's email, which says that all y'all attended Terrell Hales' wedding at the reception center. I got the two confused...
Anyways...(That's how the Canadians say it, mom!) It actually is nice to also get those words of encouragement from you who have served. Jeff, I actually have already applied your advice about sacrificing everything, even my agency. Ever since that point, my attitude has shifted--No matter how we get shut down, it's not funny, it's not maddening. It's actually just sad. Every time I think about those that aren't going to make it, I feel a little loss--even for those I've never met. I think that we all made the choice to come to this earth, specifically in this time--we knew and accepted the danger...it's scary how many people have lost their way. Furthermore, it's terrifying how Satan has glorified that feeling of confusion (Knowing not where to find it) and has driven those people to alternatives--drugs, crime, sex, even strict intolerance for the words of God. If ever I were to feel a sense of discouragement, it would not spring from failure to teach--it would be for their failure to listen. Satan is low, vicious, and vile--no shot is too cheap, and he will take one every chance he gets.
So...We had two investigators at church this Sunday! JANE DOE and JENNA DOE! ...well, there's been a development with Kelley. She's learning really well. She accepts it! However, our branch President thinks she has Schizophrenia. He said the whole time she just kept laughing, looking around, and jabbering away....to nobody. So, we actually have a member in the branch that we're going to use to fellowship her, because she works in the mental health aid department for the hospital. Every time we teach her, she learns more, though, and she really likes the gospel! JANE DOE, the 9 year-old who lives in a part-member family, used to hate church. She wouldn't even shake President Orr's hand! Since we've been teaching her (And since we used our friend "James" that we made) She came to church, and ran up to President Orr, and gave him a big hug. Twice. She later told us she really liked church, and was excited for us to come back.
So, Elder Potter and I are actually speaking this Sunday. My talk is on "Members and Missionaries Working Together," and his is "The Joy of Missionary Work." This branch is excited, and they have many referrals for us. However, the point we're going to emphasize is on the members being a VERY active part of that process. It's not just a "Okay Elders, here's someone I think could use the Gospel. If not, then Oh, well!" and then just hand it off to us. There are two excellent, EXCELLENT talks in this months New Era, right at the front, about the importance of missionary work not being just from the missionaries. What needs to happen is members need to fellowship their referrals. they need to either come with us to the teaching appointments, or to have the referrals taught in their home (Preferably the latter.) which, according to Elder Oaks, gives a 600x boost to their likeliness of accepting the gospel. (1 in 1000 homes tracted accepts...600 in 1000 homes referred and taught in a member's home accept!) This only goes to show the importance of members being involved in the process.
Well, Monday morning, we got an early start so we could clean the car for zone conference. (It's a 2.5 hour drive from Vermillion (Where we live) to Wainwright (Where we gas up) to Edmonton (Where we have zone conference)) So, Elder Potter says to me, "I'll start hauling out the junk in the back seat. You remove the bike rack." So, I proceed to unhook the hooks and untie the straps. Well, one of the hooks was still in...backwards...right at the top of the trunk by the windshield. The trunk closed a little bit, and the windshield of our brand-new 2009 Chevy Malibu went from clear/see-through, to about 7 million pieces of safety glass! Everyone at zone conference, of course, asked, "What happened to your rear windshield?" My dear, sweet comp replied," Elder Loveridge."
Well, besides the mishaps, our trip from Wainwright to Edmonton, then all around Edmonton working, then traveling around to the meetings, then from Edmonton to Consort, then from consort to Wainwright used up all but 10 km worth of gas. That, and the gas bars here all close by 9:30...which, because of the meetings we had to go to, and the hazards which only let us drive at 110, we didn't squeak into Wainwright until 10:30. So, with no gas, we spent the night at the branch meetinghouse! What a nightmare!! I don't like how much we have to drive...weekly, we meet with our Branch Mission Leader, who lives 1 hour away from either Wainwright, or Provost (Which we don't move to until the 28th) and 1.5 hours away from the Van Ee's, which is where we often eat dinner! And that's one-way. So, the goal here is to increase the Branch enough that we can get more missionaries out here to share the load! We already get 4000 Klicks--more than Zone Leader allowance--and we still need more, just because of zone conference and our weekly meetings with the BML! Joyous. Those CD's are gonna be really familiar to me. I used to think that all of Enya's music sounded the same...since I've had so much exposure time, I can now identify each song. WOW.
Well, the work is going great, and I honestly don't know what I'll do when I get transferred out of Wainwright. The people here are amazing. Peace, love, and Eternal life! That's the message we share, and that we will keep on sharing! Now y'all do your part to build up Zion so it's still there when I get back!
Love ya!
--Elder Loveridge
P.S. I am still sad about the LOTR cd. =P Although the fact that it was a sign seems a bit shady to me...I specifically asked President Rhodes about that soundtrack, and he said it was fine, but suggested that I stick only to the mellow parts, which I did, anyway. Seriously, though--there are but two tracks I crave: Firstly, Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, and Bach's Cello Suite No.1. Oh, wait--also the violin tracks to October Sky. If anyone ever feels like they just want to make another cd, that'd be just lovely! =D
So, I'd like to thank you all for the letters, emails, and packages! (Jennifer, I think it would be okay to use some lighter paper, though) The CD's are great (Except my "dad" already has all of the BofM soundtrack/best of EFY...ect. so when he leaves, I'm prepped!) thank you for that! It really is wonderful to hear from all of you how you are doing. I had to laugh though, because yesterday, I received a letter from mom, which said that Tyrel Einfeldt is gettin' hitched! Then, today I read Carrie's email, which says that all y'all attended Terrell Hales' wedding at the reception center. I got the two confused...
Anyways...(That's how the Canadians say it, mom!) It actually is nice to also get those words of encouragement from you who have served. Jeff, I actually have already applied your advice about sacrificing everything, even my agency. Ever since that point, my attitude has shifted--No matter how we get shut down, it's not funny, it's not maddening. It's actually just sad. Every time I think about those that aren't going to make it, I feel a little loss--even for those I've never met. I think that we all made the choice to come to this earth, specifically in this time--we knew and accepted the danger...it's scary how many people have lost their way. Furthermore, it's terrifying how Satan has glorified that feeling of confusion (Knowing not where to find it) and has driven those people to alternatives--drugs, crime, sex, even strict intolerance for the words of God. If ever I were to feel a sense of discouragement, it would not spring from failure to teach--it would be for their failure to listen. Satan is low, vicious, and vile--no shot is too cheap, and he will take one every chance he gets.
So...We had two investigators at church this Sunday! JANE DOE and JENNA DOE! ...well, there's been a development with Kelley. She's learning really well. She accepts it! However, our branch President thinks she has Schizophrenia. He said the whole time she just kept laughing, looking around, and jabbering away....to nobody. So, we actually have a member in the branch that we're going to use to fellowship her, because she works in the mental health aid department for the hospital. Every time we teach her, she learns more, though, and she really likes the gospel! JANE DOE, the 9 year-old who lives in a part-member family, used to hate church. She wouldn't even shake President Orr's hand! Since we've been teaching her (And since we used our friend "James" that we made) She came to church, and ran up to President Orr, and gave him a big hug. Twice. She later told us she really liked church, and was excited for us to come back.
So, Elder Potter and I are actually speaking this Sunday. My talk is on "Members and Missionaries Working Together," and his is "The Joy of Missionary Work." This branch is excited, and they have many referrals for us. However, the point we're going to emphasize is on the members being a VERY active part of that process. It's not just a "Okay Elders, here's someone I think could use the Gospel. If not, then Oh, well!" and then just hand it off to us. There are two excellent, EXCELLENT talks in this months New Era, right at the front, about the importance of missionary work not being just from the missionaries. What needs to happen is members need to fellowship their referrals. they need to either come with us to the teaching appointments, or to have the referrals taught in their home (Preferably the latter.) which, according to Elder Oaks, gives a 600x boost to their likeliness of accepting the gospel. (1 in 1000 homes tracted accepts...600 in 1000 homes referred and taught in a member's home accept!) This only goes to show the importance of members being involved in the process.
Well, Monday morning, we got an early start so we could clean the car for zone conference. (It's a 2.5 hour drive from Vermillion (Where we live) to Wainwright (Where we gas up) to Edmonton (Where we have zone conference)) So, Elder Potter says to me, "I'll start hauling out the junk in the back seat. You remove the bike rack." So, I proceed to unhook the hooks and untie the straps. Well, one of the hooks was still in...backwards...right at the top of the trunk by the windshield. The trunk closed a little bit, and the windshield of our brand-new 2009 Chevy Malibu went from clear/see-through, to about 7 million pieces of safety glass! Everyone at zone conference, of course, asked, "What happened to your rear windshield?" My dear, sweet comp replied," Elder Loveridge."
Well, besides the mishaps, our trip from Wainwright to Edmonton, then all around Edmonton working, then traveling around to the meetings, then from Edmonton to Consort, then from consort to Wainwright used up all but 10 km worth of gas. That, and the gas bars here all close by 9:30...which, because of the meetings we had to go to, and the hazards which only let us drive at 110, we didn't squeak into Wainwright until 10:30. So, with no gas, we spent the night at the branch meetinghouse! What a nightmare!! I don't like how much we have to drive...weekly, we meet with our Branch Mission Leader, who lives 1 hour away from either Wainwright, or Provost (Which we don't move to until the 28th) and 1.5 hours away from the Van Ee's, which is where we often eat dinner! And that's one-way. So, the goal here is to increase the Branch enough that we can get more missionaries out here to share the load! We already get 4000 Klicks--more than Zone Leader allowance--and we still need more, just because of zone conference and our weekly meetings with the BML! Joyous. Those CD's are gonna be really familiar to me. I used to think that all of Enya's music sounded the same...since I've had so much exposure time, I can now identify each song. WOW.
Well, the work is going great, and I honestly don't know what I'll do when I get transferred out of Wainwright. The people here are amazing. Peace, love, and Eternal life! That's the message we share, and that we will keep on sharing! Now y'all do your part to build up Zion so it's still there when I get back!
Love ya!
--Elder Loveridge
P.S. I am still sad about the LOTR cd. =P Although the fact that it was a sign seems a bit shady to me...I specifically asked President Rhodes about that soundtrack, and he said it was fine, but suggested that I stick only to the mellow parts, which I did, anyway. Seriously, though--there are but two tracks I crave: Firstly, Chopin's Raindrop Prelude, and Bach's Cello Suite No.1. Oh, wait--also the violin tracks to October Sky. If anyone ever feels like they just want to make another cd, that'd be just lovely! =D
8-5-2009, Letter from President and Sister Rhodes
Dear Brother and Sister Loveridge,
Elder Loveridge arrived in Edmonton on Monday, July 27, a beautiful day. The entire group of ten elders and two sisters were happy and relaxed and excited to finally be here. It was delightful to hear them laugh and to watch them take in the beautiful scenery on the drive to the mission office. They met the office staff, completed some paper work and enjoyed pizza, before continuing on to the mission home.
We had a wonderful dinner together at the mission home with much cheerful chatter and exchanging of information about families and hopes and desires for their missions. After dinner we viewed a DVD for arriving missionaries which contains photos of all the areas of the mission. It includes church buildings and famous sites, roaring waterfalls, elk and bighorn sheep, stunning sunsets and skies shimmering with the Northern Lights.
Next came some training and a testimony meeting, during which their comments revealed that they are dedicated young men and women, anxious to serve the Lord with all their heart, might, mind and strength. Thank you for preparing such an outstanding son to serve with us. Please continue to inspire and support him through your loving correspondence and prayers. We will do our best to help him achieve his highest potential as a representative of the Savior.
Enclosed is a photo of us with him. Also included is some general information which may be useful to you. May God bless you and your family as Elder Loveridge serves with us in the Canada Edmonton Mission.
Warm regards,
President and Sister Rhodes
(George and Joan Rhodes)
Edmonton Canada Mission Boundaries
The following map indicates our Elder's mission boundaries. Currently, he is in Wainwright, which is at the southern-most tip of the mission (right by Edmonton). The only thing that comes to mind is if it's THAT cold in Wainwright, I can only imagine how much colder it will be if he's transferred farther north! One interesting fact about his mission-- it's the largest geographical mission in the church. So, there's A LOT of area that he could cover...
7-27-2009
(He was right! This hand-written letter took about 3 weeks to reach my parents! We're not sure why the mail system is so slow...)
Dear Family,
I'm writing from the mission president's home, because we're here in Edmonton! It's really weird, because it's kinda like South Salt Lake, sans le montaignes. That, and it's a metric country, so everything is kilometers, liters, etc. Plus, the mail here is essentially three to four times longer getting anywhere than our system-- you'll probably get two emails before you get this!
So, there's not really much to report. (Sorry for not calling you from the airport... I wasn't sure if you'd accept a collect call at 6:30am, and the next chance I got was mutilated by the time it took to get through customs.) We haven't done anything here yet, so I'm not sure what else to say... except I love you Mom. Really, I'm thankful for the things you've taught me, and how I've been more prepared than most elders have. This is definitely one thing I constantly think about- I've been shocked, thinking I was doomed for sure! Then I found out the back-story of some of the other elders in my district, and realized that if they can do it, I can do it! It also helped my testimony of the beauty of the Atonement. I think the most common thing in the gospel is how much our Heavenly Father loves us, and is willing to work with us-- He invites ALL to repent. That statement speaks volumes.
Well, love you all! Sorry there's nothing in-depth... there really isn't anything more to say. But I'm thankful to y'all for your letters and packages! It's unbelievable that for how short of a time that I've been gone how much it's like Christmas morning every time there's a letter or package. It's seriously so good to hear from each of you--
However... Don't send me those whole soundtracks. Maybe just selections, such as the violin suite from October Sky, and like things. The thing is, other music might possibly make me think about the movie, rather than just creating a peaceful atmosphere while I study/read/relax. This same thing goes for other letter contents, such as movie quotes, stand-up jokes, and mentions of worldly things. It's my biggest challenge to remain 100% focused on my mission, and to have the spirit at all times. One teacher at the MTC told us that what was hurting his focus/spirit was humming DISNEY tunes in his mind while tracting.
(Interesting note: I ALWAYS have music running in my mind, but because I forced it, and because of both exposure and the lack thereof, that music is usually hymns, unless someone make me think of worldly music.) I just want to do EVERYTHING in my power to have the spirit with me.
Well, our P-day is on Wednesdays, so I'll be writing you on those days.
Much love,
Elder Christian Loveridge
P.S. We get extra email time here, so email me, in case you didn't catch the subtle hints!
Dear Family,
I'm writing from the mission president's home, because we're here in Edmonton! It's really weird, because it's kinda like South Salt Lake, sans le montaignes. That, and it's a metric country, so everything is kilometers, liters, etc. Plus, the mail here is essentially three to four times longer getting anywhere than our system-- you'll probably get two emails before you get this!
So, there's not really much to report. (Sorry for not calling you from the airport... I wasn't sure if you'd accept a collect call at 6:30am, and the next chance I got was mutilated by the time it took to get through customs.) We haven't done anything here yet, so I'm not sure what else to say... except I love you Mom. Really, I'm thankful for the things you've taught me, and how I've been more prepared than most elders have. This is definitely one thing I constantly think about- I've been shocked, thinking I was doomed for sure! Then I found out the back-story of some of the other elders in my district, and realized that if they can do it, I can do it! It also helped my testimony of the beauty of the Atonement. I think the most common thing in the gospel is how much our Heavenly Father loves us, and is willing to work with us-- He invites ALL to repent. That statement speaks volumes.
Well, love you all! Sorry there's nothing in-depth... there really isn't anything more to say. But I'm thankful to y'all for your letters and packages! It's unbelievable that for how short of a time that I've been gone how much it's like Christmas morning every time there's a letter or package. It's seriously so good to hear from each of you--
However... Don't send me those whole soundtracks. Maybe just selections, such as the violin suite from October Sky, and like things. The thing is, other music might possibly make me think about the movie, rather than just creating a peaceful atmosphere while I study/read/relax. This same thing goes for other letter contents, such as movie quotes, stand-up jokes, and mentions of worldly things. It's my biggest challenge to remain 100% focused on my mission, and to have the spirit at all times. One teacher at the MTC told us that what was hurting his focus/spirit was humming DISNEY tunes in his mind while tracting.
(Interesting note: I ALWAYS have music running in my mind, but because I forced it, and because of both exposure and the lack thereof, that music is usually hymns, unless someone make me think of worldly music.) I just want to do EVERYTHING in my power to have the spirit with me.
Well, our P-day is on Wednesdays, so I'll be writing you on those days.
Much love,
Elder Christian Loveridge
P.S. We get extra email time here, so email me, in case you didn't catch the subtle hints!
Notice of First Transfer
Notice of First Transfer
Name: Elder Loveridge
Assigned Area: Wainwright
New Companion: Elder Potter
New Zone: Millwoods
Zone Leaders: Elders Toth and Price
New District: Camrose
District Leader: Elder Russell
Date Effective: July 28, 2009
Best wishes in your new assignment!
Sincerely,
President and Sister Rhodes
Canada Edmonton Mission
Name: Elder Loveridge
Assigned Area: Wainwright
New Companion: Elder Potter
New Zone: Millwoods
Zone Leaders: Elders Toth and Price
New District: Camrose
District Leader: Elder Russell
Date Effective: July 28, 2009
Best wishes in your new assignment!
Sincerely,
President and Sister Rhodes
Canada Edmonton Mission
Sunday, August 16, 2009
8-14-2009
Back on the keyboard....it's another shout-out!
Sister Van Ee loves to cook. Unfortunately, it's farm property in the middle of nowhere, and they
grow TONS of stuff...which means that everything we eat is home-made, farm-style. Tons of butter. It's all incredible, though...their home-made raspberry/cherry Jams are amazing! And the Canadian bacon--so much better than that junk on pizzas. Sister Van Ee told us the first day that she wants their 
home to be our home--to rummage in the fridge(Which we abstain from) and that she'll do our laundry! She's wonderful. Oh, and Mom...they don't do dishes. THey toss it in the washer--if it doesn't clean it, oh well! All the glasses are streaky and foggy...but they still work, right? that's how it was on your farm too, eh?
Have fun on the trips! And dad, when you're up on Jefferson's nose, be careful not to pluck any hairs--one sneeze and it's all over. =P
Love you guys so much! Thanks for the letters and emails! It's wonderful to hear from you! ...Except Marshall, you really shouldn't fuel me comedian stuff...my comp just rolls his eyes every time I pull something new out! XD
So, one thing I noticed that people commented on is Kelly...our investigator. I don't remember what I sent last week, but I think I left out a few parts based upon the emails I received, so, I figured I would fix it. She takes the lessons very well. We were reviewing lesson 1, and she said "Wait up! I want the WHOLE STORY. Take it from the beginning!" So we went back to the VERY beginning, including every detail...it took us an hour and a half, because she kept repeating everything that had happened up to that point to make sure she got it. She's very willing to learn, and even acknowledges the Book of Mormon and the Bible as good, and from God. HOWEVER, she has a short attention span.
Plus, she has this vendetta against certain things, like baptism, and lawyers...I told her that this mission was only for 2 years, and that after this, I was going back to college and eventually to 
law school. THEN SHE WENT OFF!! all about how lawyers are the worst human beings in the world...literally 5 minutes later I was able to calm her down enough to explain that those were men, driven by greed and Satan, just like the guys who changed Christ's Church, and defended my position. I don't know if I said this before, but my comp explained it really well: She seems like she's being antagonistic. SHe's not. SHe just has a lot of questions, and she wants answers. She's way nice though...just very ADD and she laughs a lot. A LOT.
law school. THEN SHE WENT OFF!! all about how lawyers are the worst human beings in the world...literally 5 minutes later I was able to calm her down enough to explain that those were men, driven by greed and Satan, just like the guys who changed Christ's Church, and defended my position. I don't know if I said this before, but my comp explained it really well: She seems like she's being antagonistic. SHe's not. SHe just has a lot of questions, and she wants answers. She's way nice though...just very ADD and she laughs a lot. A LOT. So, there's not too much to report that's new. Amazing branch, wonderful people. TOT
ALLY different from the ward back home. (I had to laugh though...our branch president totally reminds me of Datus Thorup!) I got a bike from wal-mart, since my comp already had one, and we've been riding those about. ...except it broke down completely less than a week later--the pedals literally fell off (The whole thing, not just the bottom part) the chain guard broke, the kickstand jammed, and the brakes stopped working! (Lucky the hills here are tiny and short, eh?) So I got that replaced...so much for Wal-Mart "specials"...
ALLY different from the ward back home. (I had to laugh though...our branch president totally reminds me of Datus Thorup!) I got a bike from wal-mart, since my comp already had one, and we've been riding those about. ...except it broke down completely less than a week later--the pedals literally fell off (The whole thing, not just the bottom part) the chain guard broke, the kickstand jammed, and the brakes stopped working! (Lucky the hills here are tiny and short, eh?) So I got that replaced...so much for Wal-Mart "specials"... As far as daily routines, it's nothing too crazy...wake up at 6:30, Pray, do sit-ups until I can't anymore--maybe go running or biking At 7, we shower, and before 8 we eat a wonderful Van Ee Breakfast*. At 8 I study, then at 9 WE study, then we're off on the 30 minute drive into town! At noon, we break for lunch, and at 5:30, 6, or 6:30 we eat with a member, whoever wants to feed us (Rather, whoever is first to sign up!) In-between, we work. The last missionaries compiled a big list of potential contacts...from 2 years ago. So, we usually try to reach these people. Only one of them has proven fruitful, so far...but who knows?
THen there's also trying to activate less-actives...usually they're hard to reach...some of them have even moved away without telling anyone...which has actually led to more teaching/investigators at their old houses.
So, for mom, the Van Ees are the family we're living with. They are seriosuly soooo cool. Brother Van Ee amost looks a little like Grandpa Mickelson, only younger and more talkative. The joke running between us is that at 9:45 every night, he comes in "Elders, would you care for a dish of ice cream?" And they're just wonderful people.
So, for mom, the Van Ees are the family we're living with. They are seriosuly soooo cool. Brother Van Ee amost looks a little like Grandpa Mickelson, only younger and more talkative. The joke running between us is that at 9:45 every night, he comes in "Elders, would you care for a dish of ice cream?" And they're just wonderful people. Sister Van Ee loves to cook. Unfortunately, it's farm property in the middle of nowhere, and they
grow TONS of stuff...which means that everything we eat is home-made, farm-style. Tons of butter. It's all incredible, though...their home-made raspberry/cherry Jams are amazing! And the Canadian bacon--so much better than that junk on pizzas. Sister Van Ee told us the first day that she wants their 
home to be our home--to rummage in the fridge(Which we abstain from) and that she'll do our laundry! She's wonderful. Oh, and Mom...they don't do dishes. THey toss it in the washer--if it doesn't clean it, oh well! All the glasses are streaky and foggy...but they still work, right? that's how it was on your farm too, eh?We currently have one Progressing investigator, McKenzie. She's only nine, though, so her attention span isn't exactly the best. She beats Kelly, though! So, we've come up with a way to teach lesson 2 to the both of them--I used my drawing skills to draw a character who goes through this little world we created--it's really funny. However, it's effective, and it'll catch their attention. It caught mine, anyway!
Well, it's wonderful to hear from Y'all. Concerning letters/packages--don't send anymore to the Van Ee's place. We're moving out soon! We'll be at the Cromarty's place on the 28th, once the 18-year-old living there moves back to Edmonton for college. So, the address I gave you is the Branch President, who we see quite often, and every SUnday, so it's better going there. The mail takes up to 2-3 weeks to get across the border...just make sure anything is labeled appropriately as in the mission call packet to avoid customs duty!
Have fun on the trips! And dad, when you're up on Jefferson's nose, be careful not to pluck any hairs--one sneeze and it's all over. =PLove you guys so much! Thanks for the letters and emails! It's wonderful to hear from you! ...Except Marshall, you really shouldn't fuel me comedian stuff...my comp just rolls his eyes every time I pull something new out! XD
--Elder Loveridge
P.S. The church IS true, and it's wonderful to hear of your missionary opportunities! Kim said something last week that I didn't quite address...The missionaries are dedicated to full-time serving. However, our branch president told us that it's the members' job to assist us--and he showed us scripture on that. I'm out of time!...took too long reading all the emails-- Haha. More later, yeah?
Saturday, August 8, 2009
08-05-2009, Another Hail from Wainwright
Hey there, everybody!
So, a quick answer to your questions: -CD's: Yes, we can have them--it's a half-hour drive into town from where we live, and a half-hour back every day. I talked to the mission President about music, and he said that movie soundtracks were fine, just as long as they don't distract from the spirit.
So, let me just start off by saying that I love this town. There are a few people living here that are married, but single, because their families just couldn't handle the small-town feel. I personally love it! I feel really close to the people around here and in the branch of 120 people. It's just nice to see familiar faces everywhere, eh?
THe people here are way cool, though. Denwood is the Canadian military base that pretty much gives people a reason to move to this one-horse town. (Sorry, I guess that's a little unfair...we have two whole stoplights!) It was kinda wierd though, because anybody can just stroll right onto the base--no checks, no inspections, no id required.
There's this one member there, though that had us over at his house. He's a pretty cool guy--wizards, dragons, swords, axes, and other crazy stuff that he's been given over the years by his kids adorn the walls and shelves of his house (He's one of those whose family couldn't handle the big-city/small-town transition.) He has now become our middle-man for sharing the gospel on the base--we, by law, cannot tract there....so he's just going to "introduce" us to some of his buddies!
So far, I've had no doors slammed in my face. THe people here are too nice for that. But, we're teaching this one woman who's hard to understand---it's like she's a golden contact, but is being worked so hard by Satan that we're meeting some heavy, heavy resistance....which is always followed by "Okay, so you're gonna come back and teach me again, right? Okay, cool!" It's the funniest thing, but it's kinda scary at times... Hopefully this time she prayed and has felt the Spirit! Hopefully it starts to sink in...
Well, not too much else to say, except we've given some good service here..lots of people are moving in and out, so we're right there to help! it's pretty great.
So, my companion is Elder Brandon Potter. He's pretty funny, and he knows what he's talking about--he's the oldest in the zone--21 months out...it's funny, because next month, he will have as much time left as I have logged under my belt! So I guess, as his second son, I will be killing him off...just hope he leaves me something good for an inheritance! I would say it's hard to teach with a companion, because he has his own style and method of teaching, and I have mine. With my MTC comp I got pretty good at knowing when to teach what, when to switch off, etc. I guess it'll come in time.
What else can I tell...? Well, it's surprising how much sin is out there, yeah?
The members of this branch are excited to have us here, though--almost to a fault. Every night we have dinner at a member's house--mostly it's good, but a few of the meals have been less than ideal for healthy upkeep of my body. So, remember that 18 pounds I gained? It's down to 7. That MTC food is toxic.
So, one last bit--I think the Lord understands our struggles and pains--and sends us tender mercies to help make up for those...in the RC at the MTC, and here in various buldings, we catch small teases of worldly music, and it's heavenly....well, worldly, but it sounds like heaven!
Well, Love y'all! I loved hearing from you as well. Take care, keep the faith, and stay strong!
(And look for those missionary opportunities! It's the Spirit's job to convert, the missionaries' job to teach...but it's the members' job to find those contacts!)
Love ya!
Elder Christian Loveridge
So, a quick answer to your questions: -CD's: Yes, we can have them--it's a half-hour drive into town from where we live, and a half-hour back every day. I talked to the mission President about music, and he said that movie soundtracks were fine, just as long as they don't distract from the spirit.
So, let me just start off by saying that I love this town. There are a few people living here that are married, but single, because their families just couldn't handle the small-town feel. I personally love it! I feel really close to the people around here and in the branch of 120 people. It's just nice to see familiar faces everywhere, eh?
THe people here are way cool, though. Denwood is the Canadian military base that pretty much gives people a reason to move to this one-horse town. (Sorry, I guess that's a little unfair...we have two whole stoplights!) It was kinda wierd though, because anybody can just stroll right onto the base--no checks, no inspections, no id required.
There's this one member there, though that had us over at his house. He's a pretty cool guy--wizards, dragons, swords, axes, and other crazy stuff that he's been given over the years by his kids adorn the walls and shelves of his house (He's one of those whose family couldn't handle the big-city/small-town transition.) He has now become our middle-man for sharing the gospel on the base--we, by law, cannot tract there....so he's just going to "introduce" us to some of his buddies!
So far, I've had no doors slammed in my face. THe people here are too nice for that. But, we're teaching this one woman who's hard to understand---it's like she's a golden contact, but is being worked so hard by Satan that we're meeting some heavy, heavy resistance....which is always followed by "Okay, so you're gonna come back and teach me again, right? Okay, cool!" It's the funniest thing, but it's kinda scary at times... Hopefully this time she prayed and has felt the Spirit! Hopefully it starts to sink in...
Well, not too much else to say, except we've given some good service here..lots of people are moving in and out, so we're right there to help! it's pretty great.
So, my companion is Elder Brandon Potter. He's pretty funny, and he knows what he's talking about--he's the oldest in the zone--21 months out...it's funny, because next month, he will have as much time left as I have logged under my belt! So I guess, as his second son, I will be killing him off...just hope he leaves me something good for an inheritance! I would say it's hard to teach with a companion, because he has his own style and method of teaching, and I have mine. With my MTC comp I got pretty good at knowing when to teach what, when to switch off, etc. I guess it'll come in time.
What else can I tell...? Well, it's surprising how much sin is out there, yeah?
The members of this branch are excited to have us here, though--almost to a fault. Every night we have dinner at a member's house--mostly it's good, but a few of the meals have been less than ideal for healthy upkeep of my body. So, remember that 18 pounds I gained? It's down to 7. That MTC food is toxic.
So, one last bit--I think the Lord understands our struggles and pains--and sends us tender mercies to help make up for those...in the RC at the MTC, and here in various buldings, we catch small teases of worldly music, and it's heavenly....well, worldly, but it sounds like heaven!
Well, Love y'all! I loved hearing from you as well. Take care, keep the faith, and stay strong!
(And look for those missionary opportunities! It's the Spirit's job to convert, the missionaries' job to teach...but it's the members' job to find those contacts!)
Love ya!
Elder Christian Loveridge
Monday, August 3, 2009
08-02-2009, Letter from Sis. Crozier
On Sunday, we received a call from Sister Crozier, a member of the Wainwright Branch where Christian is serving.
She was wonderful and was impressed with Christian and promised that the members would look after him and his companion (who is considered the hardest working Elder in the mission!). She provided us with his mailing address.
HERE'S HER MESSAGE TO US:
What a pleasure speaking with you this afternoon! I am looking forward to getting to know Elder Loveridge in the weeks to come as he serves in Wainwright Branch. Contact information, as promised: (she gives his addess)
We are so blessed to have your son and his companion in our area. Our prayers are that we cast aside our timidity, and our complacency, and make it a priority to give the Elders teaching opportunities. After all, I would not be a member of the church myself if a member family (whom we had known for several years) had not chosen the perfect moment to introduce us to the missionaries. If there is anything I can do to help in any other way, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Sis. Colleen Crozier
She was wonderful and was impressed with Christian and promised that the members would look after him and his companion (who is considered the hardest working Elder in the mission!). She provided us with his mailing address.
HERE'S HER MESSAGE TO US:
What a pleasure speaking with you this afternoon! I am looking forward to getting to know Elder Loveridge in the weeks to come as he serves in Wainwright Branch. Contact information, as promised: (she gives his addess)
We are so blessed to have your son and his companion in our area. Our prayers are that we cast aside our timidity, and our complacency, and make it a priority to give the Elders teaching opportunities. After all, I would not be a member of the church myself if a member family (whom we had known for several years) had not chosen the perfect moment to introduce us to the missionaries. If there is anything I can do to help in any other way, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Sis. Colleen Crozier
Greeny Elder gets a Green Dinner
Elder Loveridge gets a green dinner appointment from the Branch Presidents family.
Welcome to Canada eh! Green salad, green plate, green cup, green peas in the creamed tuna on toast or baked potato and of course green chocolate mint ice cream for desert. You only get one chance to make a good impression sometimes. We wanted ours to last.
And of Course our seasoned missionary of 21 months Elder Potter enjoyed every minute of it.
Welcome to Canada eh! Green salad, green plate, green cup, green peas in the creamed tuna on toast or baked potato and of course green chocolate mint ice cream for desert. You only get one chance to make a good impression sometimes. We wanted ours to last.
And of Course our seasoned missionary of 21 months Elder Potter enjoyed every minute of it.
(A friendly game of pool...)
It was good to talk to both families. Thank you for sending such fine young men.
Jason / Lori and the five B's
Brett 23 - on a mission in Ontario, CA.
Bradley 21 - working in Regina, SK.
Braeden 15 - soon to be 16 (or 21 she tells me)
Blake 14 - just ordained to be a teacher
Brookwynn 11 - she keeps us in line.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
7-29-2009, Shout-out from Wainwright, Alberta!
Hey everybody!
I'm writing from the Wainwright public library. Wainwright is a little town about 240klicks from Edmonton that just got re-opened to the missionaries. So, I first have to apologize for not calling from the airport--I'm sure y'all were expecting a call at 6:00 AM. But, I guess you'll be happy to know I did remember to take the picture of my comp and me with our sweet leis. Literally. Buh-boom SHhhh!! Those things weighed a ton though, and because of them, my backpack/carryon weighed as much as, if not more than my checked luggage!
Well, Basically, the time in the MTC was great. THe food was tasty, and it was in high supply, so that's why I peaked at +18 lbs. from my entrance date! Because there was so much I could eat, I stacked my tray high and full! Overall, the MTC was pretty dang cool, getting to teach and talk about the gospel all the time. Of course, like I've said before, the RC was the best! I met so many cool characters through that, one of which I had a really good experieence that I think I told you about. I need to write her a letter so that I can check up on her and make sure she took her daughter to church...then ask when the baptism date is! There were so many people that were just hungry for truth and knowledge about our Heavenly Father and why we're here.
So, on Sunday, we got the privelege of training the new ZLs in the ways of the MTC, and showing them the truth of many things...then, right before bed, we completed the passing ceremony, where we gifted them with the official ball of Zone Authority, which has been "passed down from the time of Ezra Taft Benson" and now looks like a nerf ball with no outside covering...to the untrained eye. So then, for the rest of the night, everyone was bugging them about signing sheets and stuff. Not my problem anymore! Bwahahaha! I'm sure they'll do fine, though...easiest gig in the world.
So, on SUnday night, we finished packing at around 11:00, and finally got to bed, just in time to squeeze in a few Z's before 3:15 rolled around and we had to be on our way to the travel office. ugh. It was a good experience though, leaving Utah, and heading out to Canada. One Elder's Girlfriend figured out when we'd be leaving and tried to say goodbye. He said "That's funny. That girl's heading right for me. And she looks just like my girlf---uh-oh." so quickly we intervened and dragged him away before he could do anything stupid...He thanked us, because he knew he would. THAT'S why we never roll alone!
So, after a couple plane rides and some brutal customs experiences ("You're here to do WHAT now?....eh?") we arrived at President Rhodes' home, and spent the night. They are such wonderful people! Totally different than what I was expecting...but they fed us, interviewed us, and guided us through a lesson. I kinda became the unofficial choruster and directed every song....even though we all worked as a district to learn to conduct. C'est la vie!
So Canada so far is like Utah. Maybe more like Nephi, Utah. Edmonton has no mountains. Anywhere. Even though it's like the size of the whole Salt Lake Valley. They're the opposite of us: We have many subdivisions and little cities--they want to have everyone be part of edmonton. The biggest differences are that A) Everything is Metric B) Things are more expensive here (9 bucks for a Mickey-D's Combo??) and C) They fly their flag EVERYWHERE. THey're really proud of who they are....which is kinda funny, because they're so many different things! America is a melting pot...but we're all melted together. Canada is a melting pot that's not hot enough to melt anything, so All the Asians are still Asians with their same culture, living right next to the Ukrainians who are still Ukrainians...
Wainwright was closed a couple of years ago, because they just didn't have enough missionaries to support the outer districts. Because there haven't been any missionaries here, the people all realized that nothing gets done without us! So they all started praying for us to come back--now that we're here, they're so excited! EVERYONE has referrals, and already we've got someone that needs to be baptized (SHe's nine, but she needs to learn all of the lessons) so that's one in the first month...not that I can credit that to myself or my comp.
But within 20 minutes of being here, the branch president met with us and took us to teach a Home-teaching lesson to a recent convert who started smoking again, gotten a divorce, and started seeing this guy. So, we went and taught them a lesson about praying and how our Heavenly Father loves us and can communicate with us. It was cool, because we shared stories of times when prayer has helped us, and then they did as well, and they were like "oh...Yeah!" and really started to see what we were getting at!
Well, Waiwright is a military base-town, which means people are constantly in and out, and that most people are not members. Which is just fine! There are so many people that the Branch President wants us to talk to "Everyone I worked with needs to hear you guys!" "I need a first counselor, so you need to go find me one!" so there is tons of work to be done! IT's gonna be amazing. The other missionaries we told were so stoked and jealous...I guess this is the coveted location in the mission!
We're staying with the Venee family--awesome people! We're actually not here for too long, though. We're like 24 klicks north of Wainwright, and we're supposed to be about 30 Klicks south in Provost. However, the family in Provost has a 21 year-old daughter staying with them right now, so we can't be there. SOmething about avoiding trouble, I guess. I'm glad, becuase I don't want to have to watch out for my comp doing something stupid =P So, we're here for another month.
It's awesome, because it's a total rural area. It's like Fountain Green with no mountains, and canola fields and texas tea-pumps EVERYWHERE! IT's honestly the coolest mission in the world! The Venees actually used to be Dairy-farmers, but gave that up a few years back...they're just incredibly nice, making us big meals so we can get fat, and blowing off fireworks for us (There aren't ANY restrictions on fireworks here!!) and they're just wonderful people (Who also went on a cruise to Alaska recently...like 2 weeks ago) with 7 kids, all married, with kids and >grandkids! IT's seriously the best. BEST.
My comp is pretty sweet. He's from Clearfield, UTah, and he was a wrestler. I'm his second son...and I think I'll be the one to kill him off in three months. I just hope he leaves me something nice!
By the way--the health clinic at the MTC was closed, and so I couldn't pay for my Twinrix shot. So you might just be getting a bill in the mail, which I think is easier for me at your expense! =) But yeah, it should be around $93.....sorry about that! It'll be cheaper here in Canada to get a shot, I'm sure.
I'll have to write more later. Just wanted to check in and give a shout-out!
Muchas Smooches
--Elder Christian Loveridge
P.S. THe mail here is alright....however it's not great coming across the border. So I sent a letter to y'all, but It may not get there until two to three weeks from now. Email is just fine--we actually get a full hour out here, so there's no problem with a time-restriction. So if you want your letters to get here before CHristmas (One of the few holidays we share) I'd reccommend emailing them!
P.P.S. THe accents here aren't as crazy as Strange Brew... (It's a jelly, eh?) and they don't say Eh? after everything. It's actually about as often as I said it in Utah. However, those trucks are(Say it all phonetically) SEMEEs(Like Hemi) and the art on the side are DECKALS (Like speckles)and you park cars in the garAge (Kinda like Carafe) and They say bEEn. And agAIn. It's great fun!
P.P.P.S.--The keyboard... THe shift key is really overactive. REALLY. DOn't judge me!
I'm writing from the Wainwright public library. Wainwright is a little town about 240klicks from Edmonton that just got re-opened to the missionaries. So, I first have to apologize for not calling from the airport--I'm sure y'all were expecting a call at 6:00 AM. But, I guess you'll be happy to know I did remember to take the picture of my comp and me with our sweet leis. Literally. Buh-boom SHhhh!! Those things weighed a ton though, and because of them, my backpack/carryon weighed as much as, if not more than my checked luggage!
Well, Basically, the time in the MTC was great. THe food was tasty, and it was in high supply, so that's why I peaked at +18 lbs. from my entrance date! Because there was so much I could eat, I stacked my tray high and full! Overall, the MTC was pretty dang cool, getting to teach and talk about the gospel all the time. Of course, like I've said before, the RC was the best! I met so many cool characters through that, one of which I had a really good experieence that I think I told you about. I need to write her a letter so that I can check up on her and make sure she took her daughter to church...then ask when the baptism date is! There were so many people that were just hungry for truth and knowledge about our Heavenly Father and why we're here.
So, on Sunday, we got the privelege of training the new ZLs in the ways of the MTC, and showing them the truth of many things...then, right before bed, we completed the passing ceremony, where we gifted them with the official ball of Zone Authority, which has been "passed down from the time of Ezra Taft Benson" and now looks like a nerf ball with no outside covering...to the untrained eye. So then, for the rest of the night, everyone was bugging them about signing sheets and stuff. Not my problem anymore! Bwahahaha! I'm sure they'll do fine, though...easiest gig in the world.
So, on SUnday night, we finished packing at around 11:00, and finally got to bed, just in time to squeeze in a few Z's before 3:15 rolled around and we had to be on our way to the travel office. ugh. It was a good experience though, leaving Utah, and heading out to Canada. One Elder's Girlfriend figured out when we'd be leaving and tried to say goodbye. He said "That's funny. That girl's heading right for me. And she looks just like my girlf---uh-oh." so quickly we intervened and dragged him away before he could do anything stupid...He thanked us, because he knew he would. THAT'S why we never roll alone!
So, after a couple plane rides and some brutal customs experiences ("You're here to do WHAT now?....eh?") we arrived at President Rhodes' home, and spent the night. They are such wonderful people! Totally different than what I was expecting...but they fed us, interviewed us, and guided us through a lesson. I kinda became the unofficial choruster and directed every song....even though we all worked as a district to learn to conduct. C'est la vie!
So Canada so far is like Utah. Maybe more like Nephi, Utah. Edmonton has no mountains. Anywhere. Even though it's like the size of the whole Salt Lake Valley. They're the opposite of us: We have many subdivisions and little cities--they want to have everyone be part of edmonton. The biggest differences are that A) Everything is Metric B) Things are more expensive here (9 bucks for a Mickey-D's Combo??) and C) They fly their flag EVERYWHERE. THey're really proud of who they are....which is kinda funny, because they're so many different things! America is a melting pot...but we're all melted together. Canada is a melting pot that's not hot enough to melt anything, so All the Asians are still Asians with their same culture, living right next to the Ukrainians who are still Ukrainians...
Wainwright was closed a couple of years ago, because they just didn't have enough missionaries to support the outer districts. Because there haven't been any missionaries here, the people all realized that nothing gets done without us! So they all started praying for us to come back--now that we're here, they're so excited! EVERYONE has referrals, and already we've got someone that needs to be baptized (SHe's nine, but she needs to learn all of the lessons) so that's one in the first month...not that I can credit that to myself or my comp.
But within 20 minutes of being here, the branch president met with us and took us to teach a Home-teaching lesson to a recent convert who started smoking again, gotten a divorce, and started seeing this guy. So, we went and taught them a lesson about praying and how our Heavenly Father loves us and can communicate with us. It was cool, because we shared stories of times when prayer has helped us, and then they did as well, and they were like "oh...Yeah!" and really started to see what we were getting at!
Well, Waiwright is a military base-town, which means people are constantly in and out, and that most people are not members. Which is just fine! There are so many people that the Branch President wants us to talk to "Everyone I worked with needs to hear you guys!" "I need a first counselor, so you need to go find me one!" so there is tons of work to be done! IT's gonna be amazing. The other missionaries we told were so stoked and jealous...I guess this is the coveted location in the mission!
We're staying with the Venee family--awesome people! We're actually not here for too long, though. We're like 24 klicks north of Wainwright, and we're supposed to be about 30 Klicks south in Provost. However, the family in Provost has a 21 year-old daughter staying with them right now, so we can't be there. SOmething about avoiding trouble, I guess. I'm glad, becuase I don't want to have to watch out for my comp doing something stupid =P So, we're here for another month.
It's awesome, because it's a total rural area. It's like Fountain Green with no mountains, and canola fields and texas tea-pumps EVERYWHERE! IT's honestly the coolest mission in the world! The Venees actually used to be Dairy-farmers, but gave that up a few years back...they're just incredibly nice, making us big meals so we can get fat, and blowing off fireworks for us (There aren't ANY restrictions on fireworks here!!) and they're just wonderful people (Who also went on a cruise to Alaska recently...like 2 weeks ago) with 7 kids, all married, with kids and >grandkids! IT's seriously the best. BEST.
My comp is pretty sweet. He's from Clearfield, UTah, and he was a wrestler. I'm his second son...and I think I'll be the one to kill him off in three months. I just hope he leaves me something nice!
By the way--the health clinic at the MTC was closed, and so I couldn't pay for my Twinrix shot. So you might just be getting a bill in the mail, which I think is easier for me at your expense! =) But yeah, it should be around $93.....sorry about that! It'll be cheaper here in Canada to get a shot, I'm sure.
I'll have to write more later. Just wanted to check in and give a shout-out!
Muchas Smooches
--Elder Christian Loveridge
P.S. THe mail here is alright....however it's not great coming across the border. So I sent a letter to y'all, but It may not get there until two to three weeks from now. Email is just fine--we actually get a full hour out here, so there's no problem with a time-restriction. So if you want your letters to get here before CHristmas (One of the few holidays we share) I'd reccommend emailing them!
P.P.S. THe accents here aren't as crazy as Strange Brew... (It's a jelly, eh?) and they don't say Eh? after everything. It's actually about as often as I said it in Utah. However, those trucks are(Say it all phonetically) SEMEEs(Like Hemi) and the art on the side are DECKALS (Like speckles)and you park cars in the garAge (Kinda like Carafe) and They say bEEn. And agAIn. It's great fun!
P.P.P.S.--The keyboard... THe shift key is really overactive. REALLY. DOn't judge me!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Local Wainwright Temps
Local Wainwright Climate
Daily Normal Temperatures
Month......High........Low........Average
Jan.........(10.6°F).......... (-9.4°F)........... (0.5°F)
Apr......... (49.1°F).........(25.2°F)........... (37.4°F)
July........ (76.1°F)......... (49.5°F)........... (62.8°F)
Oct ...........(52.7°F)......... (27.3°F)........... (40.3°F)
As you can see, these are the NORMAL temps for Wainwright throughout the year. Our little brother who LOVES HEAT (ie... sleeps on the floor heater with a blanket over his head even during the warmer months) is going to find it challenging to stay warm! We will have to send him a lot of instant-heat hand warmers to avoid frostbite! Actually, when he was packing for his mission, he read in his mission packet that he needed to buy his winter gear up in Canada-- perhaps because there was nothing down here warm enough to help him in the cold, frigid temperatures. We'll just have to tone it down when we write him about our sunny summer vacations and cruises! Brrr!
Daily Normal Temperatures
Month......High........Low........Average
Jan.........(10.6°F).......... (-9.4°F)........... (0.5°F)
Apr......... (49.1°F).........(25.2°F)........... (37.4°F)
July........ (76.1°F)......... (49.5°F)........... (62.8°F)
Oct ...........(52.7°F)......... (27.3°F)........... (40.3°F)
As you can see, these are the NORMAL temps for Wainwright throughout the year. Our little brother who LOVES HEAT (ie... sleeps on the floor heater with a blanket over his head even during the warmer months) is going to find it challenging to stay warm! We will have to send him a lot of instant-heat hand warmers to avoid frostbite! Actually, when he was packing for his mission, he read in his mission packet that he needed to buy his winter gear up in Canada-- perhaps because there was nothing down here warm enough to help him in the cold, frigid temperatures. We'll just have to tone it down when we write him about our sunny summer vacations and cruises! Brrr!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Arrival Confirmation in the Mission Field!
Elder Loveridge is officially in the mission field!
Tonight at 10:03pm, Mom and Dad received a phone call from the Branch President in Christian's first mission area! Good news-- he arrived in Canada safely! The phone call was short and sweet... here are some highlights from the call:
His first area is rich in history, and is also known as "The Buffalo Capital of Canada":
Wainwright, Alberta, Canada-- population roughly 5775.
It's a small town located 150 miles east of Edmonton, Canada-- Christian's mission center. Wainwright's historic main street, below:
Tonight at 10:03pm, Mom and Dad received a phone call from the Branch President in Christian's first mission area! Good news-- he arrived in Canada safely! The phone call was short and sweet... here are some highlights from the call: - He and his companion will be living with a couple who is currently serving in the temple. After a month, they will move.
- His companion is a zone leader and has a great reputation.
- His P-Days are Wednesdays.
- Tonight the Branch Pres. took him out home-teaching and he told Mom and Dad that he was a great young man.
- The Branch Pres. promised to take care of him and to spoil him as well... :D
His first area is rich in history, and is also known as "The Buffalo Capital of Canada":
Wainwright, Alberta, Canada-- population roughly 5775.
It's a small town located 150 miles east of Edmonton, Canada-- Christian's mission center. Wainwright's historic main street, below:
I loved that I was able to find pictures of Wainwright, simply because it will make Christian's stories more vivid as we have an idea of where he is serving. It looks like a quaint little town that I'm sure he will grow to love.
(ALL pictures in this post are from the Wainwright website. For more info:
http://www.wainwright.ca/index.shtml )
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