Elder May: Chapter 22

This Elder was in a very big hurry yesterday to get out to a service activity so I was glad to get a few replies to my own questions and then this email.  Glad to know he is busy and happy.  We love him and miss him terribly but oh, so proud of him!  Enjoy!

Chapter 22:

Is that really what chapter this is? Crazy stuff.

I am going to have to make this chapter a little brief because of an activity that we are having pretty soon.

First off: The work is going to go a lot smoother now because they added an extra set of elders into the Hudson area. There great missionaries known as Elder Brau and Elder Reese. So we introduce ourselves as Elder May (like the month), Elder Sites (like websites), Elder Brau (like eye brow) and Elder Reese (like Reese's peanut butter cups). That way we all can be remembered. But we all are in one two bedroom apartment and it is different but it is also a ton of fun.

Secondly: Our stake is kicking us out of their stake as they split to form a new one. Our ward will be a part of the new stake. We don't know what it will be called, where it is located or who the presidency is but we are having a special stake conference on the 16th of October to address all those concerns so stay tuned.

Thirdly: We are teaching a lot of people. Combined for last week we have taught probably 50-60 new people and over 100 lessons. We have a lot of people that are progressing towards baptism and I am very excited about the work going on.

Please continue being awesome and I appreciate all the unseen things that you do for me and all the countless other missionaries in the world. God knows what you do and will bless you for it. I love you all.

Love,

Elder May

Elder May: Chapter 22

This Elder was in a very big hurry yesterday to get out to a service activity so I was glad to get a few replies to my own questions and then this email.  Glad to know he is busy and happy.  We love him and miss him terribly but oh, so proud of him!  Enjoy!

Chapter 22:

Is that really what chapter this is? Crazy stuff.

I am going to have to make this chapter a little brief because of an activity that we are having pretty soon.

First off: The work is going to go a lot smoother now because they added an extra set of elders into the Hudson area. There great missionaries known as Elder Brau and Elder Reese. So we introduce ourselves as Elder May (like the month), Elder Sites (like websites), Elder Brau (like eye brow) and Elder Reese (like Reese's peanut butter cups). That way we all can be remembered. But we all are in one two bedroom apartment and it is different but it is also a ton of fun.

Secondly: Our stake is kicking us out of their stake as they split to form a new one. Our ward will be a part of the new stake. We don't know what it will be called, where it is located or who the presidency is but we are having a special stake conference on the 16th of October to address all those concerns so stay tuned.

Thirdly: We are teaching a lot of people. Combined for last week we have taught probably 50-60 new people and over 100 lessons. We have a lot of people that are progressing towards baptism and I am very excited about the work going on.

Please continue being awesome and I appreciate all the unseen things that you do for me and all the countless other missionaries in the world. God knows what you do and will bless you for it. I love you all.

Love,

Elder May

Elder May: Chapter 21

This week was an extra special treat – we got to see Elder Hayden in his baptismal clothing in the picture he shared and see the joy in his and Elder Sites face as they brought someone into the waters of baptism.  My heart is full.  We miss him terribly, love him to the moon and back but we are oh, so proud of him… Enjoy!

Chapter 21:

1) People are coming to us for the message.

This week was an awesome week! It was so good because we were able to have so much get done! We were able to go to a training center in the mission that we call Metro. I might have mentioned it a few chapters ago but it is just a meeting of a few of the missionaries, especially the ones that are training, to learn from one another about different ways that we can be better missionaries. We also go and teach college students and that is NOT easy. There were a lot of people that only believed in science and wanted proof God was there. One of them was pretty cool because I walked up and said "Hi" and he said, "Hey I love your outfit!" That made my heart feel good. If you want to be my best friend forever, compliments are the way to go. The best lesson we taught there was to a guy named Will and we literally walked ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE CAMPUS TO TEACH HIM. He thought we were pretty cool and gave us his phone number and we set his baptismal date. I will check in with the assistants to the President later to see if it went anywhere.

Metro really helped to have that extra UMPH to do all the things that are required of us as missionaries. Doing so allowed us to see some extra miracles. Here are a few:

Lori Lipka: LORI GOT BAPTIZED! Lori is so awesome and I know that her life has been changed because of how amazing it is and how she has been able to apply the different teachings. She loves it so much and I am glad to have been able to meet teach and baptize her.

Suzette: Suzette is someone that we met yesterday. We had some time and went to an appointment that was more of a drop by and wasn't really set up. That feel through so we went to the park. We went there and prayed for one person to accept the message. Suzette was that person. I talked with her and she was very interested. She understands English well but doesn't speak it too well so I taught in my terrible Spanish-English hybrid. I am getting better at it but still. She set a baptismal date for the 15th. I asked her where she was from and she said "Puerto Rico." So I said "okay cool! Have you ever heard of the Mormones?" (Spanish for Mormons) and she said "Si mi abuella es Mormon." (Yes, my grandmother is Mormon." So I told her we were Mormon missionaries and she already knew and was still interested! SO COOL!

Agnes and Angelica: We were tracting for the third time on my mission and saw a miracle from that. We had walked down the entire street and there was one more house that had no cars and Elder Sites said, "Let's try this last house" We knock and wait there for a while and eventually a young girl opened the door and when we offered a prayer she said, "Let me go get my mom." The mom walked up and said she would love a prayer. We said a prayer and testified of eternal families. After we set up to come by at another time she told us that when she was younger her family was studying with the Mormon missionaries and her sister was baptized Mormon. The only reason Agnes wasn't was because she was 7 when the rest of her family was baptized. I don't know why they didn't baptize her when she grew up but still it is a miracle.

Jason: This is the guy that the verse for this week is written for. We went to an appointment and it fell through so we are leaving and we back up and Elder Sites is putting on his seat belt. When he finishes a car pulls up next to us and rolls down his window. He asks who we are and asked why were weren't going to every door. We explained we had an appointment and another one to go to but he asked what our message was about. We said "Jesus Christ and a modern day prophet. Do you believe in Jesus Christ?" He said, "Not a bit. I think the idea of religion is stupid but I want you to teach me why it is not. Here is my address and phone number and you can come by on Tuesday." That was a pretty cool thing.

I know that the Church is true. I know that because of the Restoration we have the power of God given to those that are worthy males with the priesthood. I know that that power is what will fix the world and all of the madness and chaos that are occurring. I know that everyone needs this message. I challenge you all to find someone to share it with and not be discouraged if they say no. I promise that someone will say yes if you valiantly continue doing so. I know that all of us have the gift of the spirit to help us to do so. I am grateful for what I have been given in this life and I am excited to continue in such a great work here

.

Love, Elder May

Elder May: Chapter 20

We were out of town this week so I was unable to post the email earlier – He makes us so proud and just smile when we read his emails home.  We read his emails and can seriously hear his voice as if he was in the room speaking to us.  And then getting to see his handsome face makes us so happy and also relieved.  We miss him and love him so much but we are so, so proud of him!  Enjoy!!

Chapter 20:

I wrote a song about my diet on a mission and its not too much different than my diet was back home. 

1) Corn dogs and Poptarts and a diet coke! Corn dogs and Poptarts and a diet coke! Corn dogs and Poptarts and a diet coke! 

That is the first verse. Elder Sites didn't think that was too funny. I took some pictures and a video on the way to email today. I am not very good at it during the week. So that is my bad. 

This week was really good though! Elder Bake, our district leader, went on an exchange with us to show us how to better ourselves as missionaries. He also showed Elder Sites and I how to tract because I never have until this past week. He said, "Go to a street with a lot of cars parked out front and start knocking." We did and a few lessons got taught while we were there. He also taught us what a clean apartment looks like. Pretty fun! We are getting better as missionaries and are really close to meeting the standards of excellence! (They are just goals that the mission president sets to help us expand our vision and to stretch ourselves as missionaries.) 

Jim: I have talked about Jim a few times but this week he left a very cool voicemail at about 1 in the morning. It just said this, "HEY ELDER MAy and Elder Sites its Jim. I want you to know that you got through to me. No more beer. Thanks. I love you. Bye." We also promised him that if he prayerfully sets a date for October for baptism, God will help him with his desire to live the word of wisdom. He immediately said "the 22nd." Then he said the prayer to confirm the date with God. That was pretty cool. 

Terrell: Terrell referred himself for a Book of Mormon. He has since talked with his pastor and isn't very interested but he might come around. They let us still sit and talk for thirty minutes and testify of the Holy Ghost, Book of Mormon, prophets, and all that good stuff. But while we were there he and his wife were extremely excited to see that we are so young and love God and Jesus Christ so much. They were losing their minds because of it and it was very cool to see. 

Winn Dixie: Winn Dixie is actually a store but I want to mention what happened there. At this parking lot, we went there with like thirty minutes before we had to be home and didn't teach a single lesson. But what did happen with every person there we talked to, which was about six people because it wasn't too busy and we left after it wasn't working too well, was they told us how much they appreciate us doing this great work and how we all need to be unified in preaching about Jesus Christ. I was just very thankful for that little pick me up. I wasn't discouraged or anything but it is always nice to hear. 

That is what I have for this week. I also got a haircut that actually looks normal. (Sports Clips for the win) Also I think that the lightning here is really cool so that is what the other two things are. 

I love you all and am very thankful for you! Talk to you next week!

Love Elder May

Elder May: Chapter 19

Elder Hayden caused us some worry this past week.  One of the hardest things as a missionary parent is not being able to get a clear understanding if your child is in real danger or not.  Looking at the storms and the maps, the hurricanes appeared to be right on top of Elder Hayden.  His mission president was great at keeping us parents apprised of what was going on and the members were wonderful at messaging us updates.  One of the sisters in Elder Hayden’s ward was without power for over 24-hours but miraculously enough, Elder Hayden and his companion were only without power for a few moments.  The rest of the time they were obedient and stayed inside as they were advised.  We know that many of you prayed and sent good thoughts for Elder Hayden and we are appreciative.  We know that his safety and being watched over are a direct reflection on the prayers said on his behalf as well as his desire to be an obedient missionary.  We miss him, we love him but we are oh, so proud of him!  Enjoy!

Chapter 19:

1) I am glad I built my house upon a rock

2) The rains came down and the floods came up

I think that those two verses accurately describe how our week went. I definitely appreciate all of the prayers and everything from anyone in my behalf this week. We spent three days in the apartment due to the storm that recently went through. The first day was from 6AM till 2 and they said we could leave but to be wise, and so we went out and taught a couple of lessons but ultimately Elder Sites and I decided that it would be better to return back because the rain was getting worse. Our area is actually the area that was hit the hardest from the rain. I sent a video showing the front of our apartment.

To put in perspective how much rain and water there was out front, the drainage system for our apartment complex empties into a lake that is in the middle of the complex. We were "patiently" waiting for the storm to go away and I looked out of the window and saw two fish that were very determined to escape the lake. They were swimming against the current of all the water in the

apartment complex so they could reach the sewer drain and make it to freedom. It was pretty inspiring to me.

The other video that I sent, I don't know if the blog will allow videos so I will send a picture of it just in case, shows that the brick phones that they give to missionaries can break over time. We just slid the phone up one day to text and the magnet broke. It still works and everything but it is pretty annoying.

Lori is going to get baptized this Saturday and she is extremely excited for that! She asked me to baptize her as well so that is really awesome. Jim came to church this Sunday and he loved it. He said he is excited to come next week and the rest of the weeks of his life too! Also, we were able to ask the ward council if instead of our usual scripture study class that we host on Wednesdays, if we can instead do a Missionary training class to teach the members of the ward how to be missionaries and how simple that can be. I am excited for it.

My miracle of the week:

Brianna: On Saturday night, a member of the ward was kind enough to give us some groceries for the upcoming week. We didn't want them to go bad or anything so we took them home. We got home at around 8:15 and still had 45 minutes to proselyte so we went to a nearby grocery store and started talking with people. The last person we talked to was Brianna. I offered to help her load her groceries and she said no. So instead I offered to say a prayer with her and she was much happier to do that. She prayed for her family (that is exactly what you want to hear as a missionary) and so we did and we were able to talk about how much God loves us and our families and she gave us her phone number so we can come by and share more! Pretty cool how when you continue on doing the things you are supposed to God will bless you with miracles.

I love you all and am very grateful for all the things you do for Elder Sites and I. We thank you for your many prayers and I love you!

Love, Elder May