More Pictures

Service Day!  Got to love yard work!

He does clean up good!

March 26

Hello once again!!

 

This last week was pretty much the same as it has been since I got to this area. Kinda frustrating but its ok. We are staring to see a little more potential. Last night we went to home evening with the breanch and played Pickle Ball which is way fun. Its kinda like tennis and ping pong mixed together. One nice thing is that with the branch we are able to stay busy with activites and there are sometimes non-members there who the branch is starting to work with so hopefully soon we will be able to start teaching them.

 

We also got to do service which I love. On Saturday we did some yard work (white trash style). we were filling stacks of tires with dirt for a raised garden:) Not my style but its also not my yard.  And then today we went and helped clean up a yard. We had three huge fires going (with the help of lighter fluid). It wasn't nearly as much fun as huge fires at home beacuse everything here is constantly soaked. But we got them going and after the heat dried out the wood they got super hot. We had green, blue and purple flames. It looked sweet. The one picture is me right after we got home and then the other is right after I got dressed. So that is about as current of a picture as there is (less than an hour).

 

Also this week I am finding all kinds of new Oregon allergies. They really started on Thursday and by Saturday I no longer had a voice. It is getting cleared up now thankfuly so I just need to keep it under control now.

 

That is fun that Jessica donated her hair to locks of love. I wasn't sure that she was ever going to let anyone cut her hair again.

 

I can't belive that Hailee is 2. I still remember the day she was born. Crazy how the time flies. And even though I am not there I am still her favorite even if she likes to spend time with Grandma.

 

That is too bad to hear about Eriks bike. I still need to find out about mine and if the Mission is paying for it or not. There are missionaries that when they get their nice bikes they wrap them in duct tape so they look junky so they don't get stolen. I don't know about that. A little too redneck for me.

 

Thanks for all that you do! You are the best family! Love and miss you tons!!!

 

Love Dustin

March 19

Hello again!

 

Ok so I was going to send you some pictures but the file won't work. I love having to use library computers... Not! So I will have to get that figured out later.

 

Anyway I am glad to hear that you had a good week and were able to be safe in all your travels. I bet that was fun to have some time with Grandpa and Grandma. This week was really interesting for me. The Spanish Elders in McMinnville got in a serious car accident (they were not hurt nor was it their fault) and their car was totaled so Elder Henrie and I spent a lot of our week driving them to the doctor for a post accident physical and to clean out their car and to their apointments etc. Lucky for us we don't really have any work going on and neither do they. It was fun though we were basically in a foursome for half the week.

 

We still don't have anything going on. This week we really spent in the car driving all over the mission helping out the Spanish Elders.

 

Some good news though, transfers were yesterday and Elder Jorgensen from my last District just got transfered out here. Elder Jorgensen and I went in the MTC at the same time and got really close in Gresham so we are super excited about that.

March 13

Dear Family, 
  
What a crazy week this has been once again. It always seems to amaze me at how fast the time really flies. This week makes it official that I have been gone for six months (tomorrow). I really can't believe where the time has gone. If you had told me a year ago that right now I would have been out on a mission I really am not sure that I would have believed you but now here I am. I really do have Bishop Dance to thank for that. He was a very patient man with me. That is exciting that Brother Landers is the new bishop. He will be very good.  
  
So we still don't have any work going on right now. This week once again we only taught three lessons, none of which are investigators. It is a little bit frustrating that we try and try but don't seem to get anywhere. I think that President Morby sees my frustration. The last tme that I saw him he pulled me off to the side and asked if I was ok (something that isn't out of the ordinary at all for him to do). However he then said that as he read my letter he was concerned for me and the area. He said that he has been concerned for this area for a while because it has really taken a step backwards. And then in his e-mail this week he said that if you have an investigator that is YSA age to make sure you refer them over to the YSA Elders. I think that the church wants to see the YSA branches be more successful so they are really pushing missionary work in them. We were able to get 20 hours of Tracting in this week though. It is not my favorite thing to do but it does keep us busy. 
  
Last night for FHE at the branch we had cinnomon rolls for the refreshments. Yours are still the best:) 
  
That is cool that Jessica is working at Lucy's. Which location is she at? They have really good pizza there. Do you think that she could get a job at WINCO after she graduates? I think that it is cool that she is starting to feel grown up. She has an incredible amout of potential. There is a recent convert in the branch that has a disibility and it is really sad to me to see his mom and others just keep pushing him down and saying that he can't do it. I wish that they could see the potential that he has. I am so greatful that there are people in the Branch that see that and are helping him to catch the vision. Klayton is now going to community college and trying to figure out a job that he can do. I am so greatful that he is taking hold of his life. I am also way more greatful that Jessica won't ever have to go through that. She is incredible! 
  
Thanks again for all that you do for me. You are really the best family in the world! Love ya tons!! Be safe in all your travels and soak up a little sun for me. It forgets to visit us over here.

March 6

Hello again! 
  
This last week went by reallly fast once again. I really have a hard time figuring out how the time goes by so quickly. This week was a little bit different for us. We car inspections down in Salem. Which is actually the Capitol of Oregon which is weird I thought for the longest time that it was Portland because it is more famous. It was good down in Salem because while we were there we had Zone Training on goal setting. President and Sister Morby were there and shared a little bit on goals. President Morby is HUGE on goals. It comes from his real estate and investment background I think. He is such a good man. During the role play I got to be an ex-member that I am currently working with and President and Sister Morby taught me. That was fun. Afterwords President said sorry because they are still working on building their teaching skills. We also had apartment inspections this week. Great news once again Gold Star apartment! Last time the apartment I am in failed, and would have again if it were not for some TLC. I think that in all reality it shouldn't have gotten a Gold Star but the improvement was so good that they felt bad not giving it to us. Other than that it hasn't really been to exciting of a week. Just a lot of time going out and trying to find people to teach. I did meet more people that the know the Landers this week. I had dinner at their home because we were on exchanges once again. It was fun to hear stories about people that we both know. Not too much else went on this week. I feel like I do is ride in the car to and from dinner apointments and YSA activities. I really find myself hoping that I am being somewhat effective right now. 
  
Thanks for all your love and support. It really means a lot to me knowing that my family is at home supports me in what I am doing. 

February 28

Dear Family

This week has been interesting. We have really tried to keep busy and keep pushing forward in the work here. It is still WAY slow but I keep reminding myself that so was Gresham when I first got there so I just need to keep myself busy and allow the Lord to take over from there. This is His work and so he has a very strong desire for us to find success. However I also need to remember that He wont force anyone to the Celestial Kingdom. We have our agency and I am so greatful for that. Without it we really would be stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Now at least if that happens it is because I chose to be put there.

Sounds like life just keeps trudging forward like always. It is crazy to think that is is all ready March. Just think in just a little over two moths we get to have our second phone call. And in two weeks I will have been out for six months. Where has the time gone???? Don't get me wrong I miss you all very much but it doesn't seem like it has been that long since I saw everyone.

Thanks for the package. The GPS is super helpful. Also the bread and cookies.... FANTASTIC as always!!! We have breakfast as a district every P-day and yesterday everyone came over to our apartment and I used the bread to make french toast. Everyone loved it. The only problem is that I am almost out all ready but I love to have everyone come over and cook for them. Who would have guessed that I would have liked to throw the partys (not durring missionary hours)? Plus the cookies are basically gone I think that I have four left. There was an Elder yesterday that I think ate five or more plus I am pretty sure that Elder Henrie has had at least that much. On Sunday night we are having a special Break-Fast dinner as a district because we are having a special fast to find people to teach. I am in charge of a side so I think I will make the tomato cheese and been salad. It is funny how much I feel like I am in Relief Society getting assignments for dinner and making them for breakfast. But it is better that way because in Gresham it was always me doing it all.

So we still don't have too much to do. Which is really evident because there is a Senior couple that covers a ward in out district who had a family emergency so we took over there ward also. So with three wards we didn't even get to teach ten lessons. UGH! It is ok though we can make it through. We are finding ways to keep busy. If nothing else we are driving a lot. We even got unlimited miles for our car we are having to drive so much. It feels like all we do is drive out teach a short lesson in Yamhill and then drive thirty minutes to Dayton for dinner and then 15 minutes to Mcminville home.