Surprise Pic

We received an email from a member visiting the area where Michael is serving and she forwarded us this un-posed, action packed photo! Apparently he and his companion were tracting a street and caught up with the neighbor of the member's mother. The sister who sent the picture to us said she and her sister had taken a walk by the bay and happened to catch this "photo-opportunity" and decided to share it with us. She has a daughter serving in Texas so maybe we'll have the opportunity to return the favor sometime.

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

Michael has had very little time for sending emails in the past several weeks. He was transferred to the Northern coast of Oregon, in an area where they don't even have mail service. They're trying to figure out how to manage the mail...along with a million other things! He and his companion have been living in a travel trailer which belongs to a member of the branch until their apartment was ready. They started moving this week and will probably finish up with the last few things right after Christmas.

The family was able to talk to him today (YAY!!) and he sounds like he's doing well. He said to thank Auntie Nelda and Kristie for the Sonic gift card, but alas...there is no Sonic where he lives - in fact - there are only a couple of Sonic's in their entire mission area! Kind of like Walmart...none to be found.

On the bright side of things, they don't get too many doors slammed in their faces...in fact, there are very few people even in the area to open the door and then slam it in their faces! Around half of the homes are vacant because it's a "vacation" haven during the summer months but few people live there during the winter months.

It was great to talk to MIchael and feel of the depth of his testimony. He loves serving the Lord and sharing the message of the gospel with others.

Enjoy a few pics - Michael in his new area PLUS...a BONUS of his "cameo" appearance on Christmas Eve at the family gathering (well...at least "flat Michael" was there!).

Yay! Transfers!

Well, no email from Elder Starks today but we know he was transferred from the Tigard / Beaverton area to the Northern Oregon Coast. He is serving in the Neah-Kah-Nie Branch in Rockaway Beach. He is currently living in a 34' travel trailer until their apartment is ready. The travel trailer is the guest house of some very kind members of the branch. The first picture is of Michael and his new companion with "Daddy D" and "Mama D" is taking the picture...I instantly like her since she's Mama D!!

We're really excited to hear about his adventures in this beautiful area of Oregon! We love him and miss him but know that he is in the Lord's hands.

July 16, 2009

Here's my update of the work. It's going great! I think I told you about the guy was being baptized last week with his son, and he was, so that was cool. But I wasn't really involved in his teaching, I just came in right before his baptism. However, we have another investigator who is going to be baptized on August 15th! So exciting!!! She is totally ready and has been SO prepared for the church. It's really an awesome thing. She's really a golden (if not platinum) investigator, just one of those you get maybe once in your whole mission (if at all). I'm so excited for her! As for everyone else, we've eliminated alot of those that aren't progressing or aren't keeping commitments after we've been trying to work with them for some time. We're still trying, but we're down to basically two other investigators that we're trying to get ahold of and tracting. We've also started a new program that is going WONDERFULLY well in Summerlake and that we're going to start in the next week in Beaverton 1st. We're going around doing FHE's with family's and helping them become better member missionaries as well as learning how we can best help the members become better member missionaries. It's SO COOL!!! And it's going great too. No results yet, but the members are really excited and talking about it with one another, so that is a big plus!

That's all the news I have for now. Things are going better, I had to buy an air pump and some new inner tubes last week.

I hope all continues to go well. I hope y'all know I love you so much! I really really love y'all with all my heart! Let Lisa know I thank her for her email and I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to her this week.

I love you,

-Elder Michael Starks