January 13

Hey!!!!

Sounds like a really interesting week... car repairs, schools closed, power outages, broken pipes... I guess that this is one of those weeks that "will give thee experience and shall be for your good" My week was also like that. We had people not come to church, people that couldn't meet with us, people that aren't sure that they want to meet anymore, people that are not reading the Book of Mormon etc. I guess that all you can say is that some times you have to pass through the sad before you can know or understand the happy..

It is exciting to hear about Krystal. We have 25 new missionaries that are coming in in February and 10 of them are sisters. There is going to be a big change in how things are going to work  in the field. It is super exciting time to be a missionary. I hear that Salt Lake is just totally backed up with everything. I hope that it doesn't take too long for Krystal to find out where she is going [LA Visitors Center:)]

We didn't really have too much happen this week. This week is a week that I call a diligence week. There is nothing happening so you just have to go out and work so that the Lord knows that you are willing to work. 

We did have a scare yesterday at church. Jeff is like clock work, he is always there at least thirty minutes before church starts. We got out of our meeting at 12:50 and there was no Jeff... Not a good thing to not have a recent convert not at church the week after confirmation. We figured that he must just be running a little late. We stood at the doors greeting people and there was still no Jeff. The meeting starts and we walked outside (thanks to Sprint we don't have any cell service in the building) and called him at home. He answered which wasn't really what I was wanting. He was just having a really bad morning. Elder Byam and I each gave him a tie and he couldn't figure out how to get it tied and he couldn't find his clip on so he was very stressed. He found his tie and made it for Sunday school so that was good. 

I was going to say that it is very cold here but really it has been just under freezing so I don't really have any room to complain. However it did snow (if you can call it that) for like two minutes this morning. This is the picture of the wood bridge behind my apartment COVERED in snow. You might have to look really hard to see that there really is snow.

Have a great week!!

Love Dustin

picture

                                          Dustin, Lorenzo and Elder Byam
                                           Lorenzo is an 82 year old artist/sculptor -
                                                      thus the animals in the back of the truck

January 6

Happy New Year!!! 

I can't believe that it is 2013! Where does the time go? Elder Byam and I were talking and I told him that in my mind it is still 2011, I guess I should catch up with the times because I am obviously behind. I almost wonder if the way that time passes while on a mission is the way that time (that doesn't exist) will be in the eternities. Just a thought.

We had a really great week! On Saturday Jeff was baptized! That went really well. We were a little worried because Elder Byam and I were giving the prayers and also the witnesses. Well on Saturday we got a text that said that Bro LaBar (who was giving the talk on baptism) and Bro Ed Davis (talk on Holy Ghost) were both sick and they asked us if we would plan on giving the talks just in case they were not better. Talk about running the show. Luckily we didn't end up having to give the talks:) President and Sister Morby showed up right after the baptism ended. They were trying to make it but got stuck at the airport all day. It was still really great! There was lots of fellowship there and Jeff was so happy. Funny story Jeff didn't like the way the jump suit fit (does anyone?). So he told us that our mission was to figure something else out.... UH.. SO We asked him what size of pants he wore, same size as my temple pants. What size shirt, same as Elder Byam. Done! So Jeff got baptized in our personal clothes. 

We also had a really great week with the Mossbergers. We extended a baptism date to Desiree which she accepted very quickly but then got a little nervous and asked if she would be joining the church by accepting. We shared Mosiah 18 with her and talked about how baptism is how we come into the fold of God and so by being baptized she would also be joining the church. She said that she was still really open to the idea but that she wanted some time to think about it before she just committed to a date. She also was wondering what a Mormon baptism was like so we invited them to come to Jeff's. They came and she really enjoyed it. On Sunday they came to church!!!! They had a really great time there and really felt welcomed. They said that they will be back... 

Now on to something way less spiritual and way more funny... There is a man named Lorenzo that comes to Church in Tualatin. I say Tualatin because he always come to church at 9am. So up to this point in time he has been coming to our ward but with the new year we now go at one. He isn't a member nor does he live in Tualatin he actually lives about 30 minutes away and has to pass a few LDS chapels to get to ours. He is not the best person to have in class because he makes the lesson.... wander. A few weeks ago (about 2 months I think) he told one of our investigators that she was going to go to hell because she hadn't been baptized. AWESOME!! Just what everyone needs.  Elder Byam and I did want to get our picture with him because he is so far out there. He is 82 yrs old and an artist/sculptor. In his truck he always has a few sculptures and has a few of his paintings on the side. When we asked to get our picture with him he asked if we could get it in front of his truck. 

Love You ALL!!!

Dustin 

December 31

Happy New Year!!!

It was good to be able to talk with you on Christmas. Everyone sounds like they are doing well. Lots of changes in our family. It is way cool that Krystal, Jessica and I are all going to be missionaries at the same time. I don't think that anyone would have ever seen that one coming.  We hear and talk all the time about how the Lord is hastening his work, so true for our family. We really see how the Lord's hand has been in our lives and we have been guided to where we can make the best choices. So cool!!

Nothing else too exciting happened this week. Jeff had his interview so he is all set for this Saturday. In our district (four companionship's) we have six people getting baptized!!! That is in addition to all of the Child of Record baptisms that are happening that day!! Talk about a fill the font day!!!

Transfers are next Monday. I am really hoping that Elder Byam and I don't get transferred. I think that transfers are the most stressful part of being a missionary.

Have a great week!! Love you all very much!

Dustin