Hey Family!
I hope everyone is doing well! Thank you for the pictures of everything!
Do we see the sun here? Yes, we do see the sun. For just about 5 days of so we've had a good deal of sunshine (finally), but even then it hasn't been as gloomy and dreary as I'd come to expect from what everyone has said about the area. Now, the Elders from Arizona have said that there isn't enough sunshine here, but I've been quite happy with the amount we've had. Also, I'm so glad it hasn't been as hot as Texas usually is! That has been really nice! And I must say, it's quite beautiful here, very green and colorful when everything starts blooming. Anyway, what's been new with me? Not much. Same old same old. Still trying to be a better missionary, still trying to wake up on time, and even if I don't wake up on time at least get up when I wake up instead of sleeping in even longer. So that's fun.
Alright, so, how goes the work you're asking yourself by now. It's going alright. This week has been a little slow. Everyone we've had an appointment with so far has canceled or postponed on us so far. The only other appointment we have scheduled is with a girl and that is for Sunday evening. Keep praying for everyone though!
Things seems to be going alright. We're working more on tracting and trying to get the members more involved so we can hopefully get refferals from them. It's slow going, but we're trying new tactics and starting to see a little success. We don't have any solid new investigators yet, but we've got quite a few potentials!
Oh! I have a really cool story about some street contacting we did a few days ago, but I've run out of time and have got to go. I'll try to write a letter today and include that story in there. Needless to say, it was awesome and I loved it! It was so cool to have someone actually respond positively and actually accept a Book of Mormon on the spot!
I love you all and I hope everyone is doing well. It's good to hear that Kaycee is happy and is doing well!
Transfers are May 5th (or whichever Wednesday is close to that).
I love y'all!
-Elder Michael Starks
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
April 16, 2009
Comment from Darlene: This is Michael's response to a "howler" I sent him complaining about troubles I was having with the Mac in the absence of my "IT guy".....we've had a 'running feud" over the Mac vs. a PC so I knew he would laugh about it. (If you don't know what a "howler" is, read Harry Potter and you'll get an idea.)
First wow. I knew things would happen that you, of course(!), wouldn't go to the Apple Store for or call Apple Support about. For example, you shouldn't need to have downloaded Adobe Reader because Mac OSX natively reads PDF files via Preview, but also because I have (at least, I think I still had when I left...) Adobe CS3 Design Premium installed. Anyway, I'm glad you sorted it all out and I'll be happy to clear up the mess when I get home and make sure the iMac is in good running order. That'll be a fun job to get caught up on the first week or two I'm home. Anyway, that's far in the future. But, in the interim, GO TO THE APPLE STORE WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS! Also, if something funky really does start happening with the computer, go online (to www.apple.com/retail/willowbend I think...if that doesn't work, just go to www.apple.com/retail and then pick out the willow bend store) and schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar and take the comp down there to get any "serious" problems fixed. The Apple Care should still be good on the comp until the end of November of this year as far as I remember.
Okay, so what's new in the work, you ask? Well, Easter was...interesting. In the first ward, the program was awesome and very cool, but we had to leave for part of it to go to the other ward's Missionary Coordination meeting. However, we didn't know we weren't holding it that Sunday, so we just talked with the rep. from the Relief Society who also didn't know it wasn't being held. Anyway, we got back in for the closing part of the program, but we missed two of the talks that, from the snippets I heard, seemed like they would have been really cool to hear. But we didn't have any investigators in that ward, so oh well. Anyway, moving on to the next ward. Wow. We had three investigators there, which was awesome!
Anyway, to make a long story at least a little shorter, we met with the couple we are teaching and the cool thing of the story was that last night she told us that she prayed like we had told her to doabout a difficult situation she had when she went to church and felt no one spoke to her and she got an answer! She said the Lord basically told her to not worry about what other people thought of her, that the purpose she goes to church is to worship Him, not others, and that she should go out of her way to introduce herself to people if people don't introduce themselves to her. It was cool to hear that, but it was also apparent that she had been upset by events. So...trials and tests. We testified to them that if they'll keep coming (which they said they plan to) they'll have better experiences and they'll feel the Spirit and be edified. It was so cool to hear Joelene speak last night! She spoke for probably close to half of the time! It was awesome! Aside from that, things are progressing along with others. I would ask that you all just pray for them and our other investigators.
Anyway, enough of that. We're doing our best and trying to find new people all of the time! We're hopefully going to get a referral from a member who's shared a copy of the Book of Mormon with her friend. Yay!
Anyway, things are going relatively well. I still get stressed sometimes and worry way too much, but I'm doing what I can. I hope all of you are doing well and that life is sweet! I hope to hear from y'all soon!
Take care and I LOVED the tape! I love y'all!
-Elder Michael Starks
P.S. When am I going to get another tape?! Jill and Kaycee both said that they were going to be making another one soon...and that was back in Feb! Also, I LOVE the pictures! Sweet Bluebonnets! Press one and send it to me! I love y'all! I'm glad to hear y'all are all doing well!
First wow. I knew things would happen that you, of course(!), wouldn't go to the Apple Store for or call Apple Support about. For example, you shouldn't need to have downloaded Adobe Reader because Mac OSX natively reads PDF files via Preview, but also because I have (at least, I think I still had when I left...) Adobe CS3 Design Premium installed. Anyway, I'm glad you sorted it all out and I'll be happy to clear up the mess when I get home and make sure the iMac is in good running order. That'll be a fun job to get caught up on the first week or two I'm home. Anyway, that's far in the future. But, in the interim, GO TO THE APPLE STORE WHEN YOU HAVE QUESTIONS! Also, if something funky really does start happening with the computer, go online (to www.apple.com/retail/willowbend I think...if that doesn't work, just go to www.apple.com/retail and then pick out the willow bend store) and schedule an appointment at the Genius Bar and take the comp down there to get any "serious" problems fixed. The Apple Care should still be good on the comp until the end of November of this year as far as I remember.
Okay, so what's new in the work, you ask? Well, Easter was...interesting. In the first ward, the program was awesome and very cool, but we had to leave for part of it to go to the other ward's Missionary Coordination meeting. However, we didn't know we weren't holding it that Sunday, so we just talked with the rep. from the Relief Society who also didn't know it wasn't being held. Anyway, we got back in for the closing part of the program, but we missed two of the talks that, from the snippets I heard, seemed like they would have been really cool to hear. But we didn't have any investigators in that ward, so oh well. Anyway, moving on to the next ward. Wow. We had three investigators there, which was awesome!
Anyway, to make a long story at least a little shorter, we met with the couple we are teaching and the cool thing of the story was that last night she told us that she prayed like we had told her to doabout a difficult situation she had when she went to church and felt no one spoke to her and she got an answer! She said the Lord basically told her to not worry about what other people thought of her, that the purpose she goes to church is to worship Him, not others, and that she should go out of her way to introduce herself to people if people don't introduce themselves to her. It was cool to hear that, but it was also apparent that she had been upset by events. So...trials and tests. We testified to them that if they'll keep coming (which they said they plan to) they'll have better experiences and they'll feel the Spirit and be edified. It was so cool to hear Joelene speak last night! She spoke for probably close to half of the time! It was awesome! Aside from that, things are progressing along with others. I would ask that you all just pray for them and our other investigators.
Anyway, enough of that. We're doing our best and trying to find new people all of the time! We're hopefully going to get a referral from a member who's shared a copy of the Book of Mormon with her friend. Yay!
Anyway, things are going relatively well. I still get stressed sometimes and worry way too much, but I'm doing what I can. I hope all of you are doing well and that life is sweet! I hope to hear from y'all soon!
Take care and I LOVED the tape! I love y'all!
-Elder Michael Starks
P.S. When am I going to get another tape?! Jill and Kaycee both said that they were going to be making another one soon...and that was back in Feb! Also, I LOVE the pictures! Sweet Bluebonnets! Press one and send it to me! I love y'all! I'm glad to hear y'all are all doing well!
Monday, April 13, 2009
April 9, 2009
Weekly update -- Alright, so, investigators. The Tommer's are doing well!!! He watched all of conference on Sunday and a little bit on Saturday! He loved it! And she watched at least some of it with him, too! They have changed so much in the past few months! They're happier than they were, and it's a change in their countance more than anything else. We had a lesson with them last night and it went pretty well. We reset a baptismal date of May 10th, just because they haven't been to church enough times yet (well...technically not at all). But they'll be at church on Sunday and they're excited and nervous about it too. We are going to take them on a "building tour" tomorrow morning so that they will know where the building is at and just be able to be in an LDS building at least once before coming to church. We're so excited for them. They said they would pray about May 10th, but they felt good about it. We're into teaching them about commandments that they need to keep before baptism and some they'll keep after baptism. Last night we discussed tithing and they said they would keep it after they were baptized. The one that is probably going to be the hardest for them will be the Word of Wisdom, and we're going to tackle that one next week.
As for other investigators, they're coming along. Everyone else we're teaching are just about in the same place as last time. We're still doing all that we can and trying to help out the Less-Actives in our wards as well. Fun fun times!
We have some new investigators. They have grandchildren who are LDS (and actually, one of their grandchildren is getting married in the Temple on Saturday). We talked to them for a little while on Monday, and we have an appointment next Tuesday with them. Hopefully we'll be able to get somewhere with them! Pray for them, too!
I'm thankful for the prayer from dad! It might not be such a leisurely day as I would like, but it'll be good, I hope! I think I'll be able to buy or borrow a tape player today. Also, I need to copy Elder Nelson's journal entry about my bike wreck and mail that to y'all. The way he described it was just hilarious and mostly accurate (with great embellishments).
Okay, things Elder Starks would love in packages:
-home made cookies
-other home made goodies
-ties (and specifically 100% Polyester ties...most likely to be found in thrift stores...fat ties with awesome patterns on them...the thicker and stiffer, the better...one brand that is usually awesome: Wembly)
-letters
-pictures...current ones!
-CD's (I'll be more specific about that a later time)
-other things of that nature
Don't get me wrong! I like getting packages period...but I've been meaning to write for a little while some of the things I'd really like (if you can't tell, 100% Poly ties are high up on that list) so you guys would know what I'd like.
Anyway, I've gotta go for now! I love you all and I hope everyone is doing well!
I'm so proud of Jill for watching all 4 sessions (yes, we get to watch all 5 sessions of conference, including Priesthood session!). That's so awesome! She should write me and tell me what her favorite talk was. Mine was Kevin W. Pearson. I really liked his talk. It was awesome.
Anyway, I love y'all, y'all'er awesome!
-Elder Starks
As for other investigators, they're coming along. Everyone else we're teaching are just about in the same place as last time. We're still doing all that we can and trying to help out the Less-Actives in our wards as well. Fun fun times!
We have some new investigators. They have grandchildren who are LDS (and actually, one of their grandchildren is getting married in the Temple on Saturday). We talked to them for a little while on Monday, and we have an appointment next Tuesday with them. Hopefully we'll be able to get somewhere with them! Pray for them, too!
I'm thankful for the prayer from dad! It might not be such a leisurely day as I would like, but it'll be good, I hope! I think I'll be able to buy or borrow a tape player today. Also, I need to copy Elder Nelson's journal entry about my bike wreck and mail that to y'all. The way he described it was just hilarious and mostly accurate (with great embellishments).
Okay, things Elder Starks would love in packages:
-home made cookies
-other home made goodies
-ties (and specifically 100% Polyester ties...most likely to be found in thrift stores...fat ties with awesome patterns on them...the thicker and stiffer, the better...one brand that is usually awesome: Wembly)
-letters
-pictures...current ones!
-CD's (I'll be more specific about that a later time)
-other things of that nature
Don't get me wrong! I like getting packages period...but I've been meaning to write for a little while some of the things I'd really like (if you can't tell, 100% Poly ties are high up on that list) so you guys would know what I'd like.
Anyway, I've gotta go for now! I love you all and I hope everyone is doing well!
I'm so proud of Jill for watching all 4 sessions (yes, we get to watch all 5 sessions of conference, including Priesthood session!). That's so awesome! She should write me and tell me what her favorite talk was. Mine was Kevin W. Pearson. I really liked his talk. It was awesome.
Anyway, I love y'all, y'all'er awesome!
-Elder Starks
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