Happy (Belated) Memorial Day!

Hello Everyone!

How is everyone doing today? I hope really well. :) Today is Wednesday, and we just got the chance to email today. Monday was Memorial day, so the libraries were closed, and yesterday was Zone Conference over in Bossier City, and we hitched a ride with our Zone Leaders (biking that far didn't sound like fun...) and afterward, Elder Shumway wanted to visit some of his Spanish investigators in Sherevport, so we did. So no chance to email yesterday.

Zone Conference was awesome yesterday. Probably the last time I will see President and Sister Tucker on the mission. We talked about a new finding activity, "harvesting" is what they called it. Essentially, we talk to people (either street contacting, or tracting) and say more or less, "Hello, my name is Elder Mendenhall and this is Elder Crockett. We are representatives of Jesus Christ. He has sent us to leave His peace and blessing in your home. May we come in and leaving this blessing with you?". Of course, a little more personable, and then if they say yes, we go in, gather the family, learn a little about them (names, ages, etc) and then kneel in prayer and voice a blessing upon them and their home (not dedicating the home, just blessing). Bless them all by name, etc. Some missionaries have already tried it with some success. Like President Tucker said though, it's not some silver bullet or cure all. It is just another finding activity to try. It will work sometimes, sometime not. It should be fun to do though, once I get past the initial awkwardness of it. :D

Life is just fabulous, for no other reason then I am alive and have a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior and His work. :) I want to be more like Him, to feel the love that He has for all of my brothers and sisters. I love the South. I really do. I also love Utah though, and I can't wait to get back there. In the meantime though, I am enjoying myself here in Monroe. I love Elder Crockett. He's a good kid. :) Oh! I got to see Elder Kington yesterday too! It was great seeing him again. I love that kid to death! 4 1/2 months in Philly with him was just amazing. Hahaha, we had such a good time together. He is still over in New Boston, TX (his second transfer there). He's loving it!

On a secular note (and future note, but it makes me happy now)... I received a scholarship to BYU-Idaho. It's not's too big, about 1/3 of tuition cost, but I am happy to have it. Any little bit helps. Still not sure what I got it from (I assume I have Debi to thank there) but I have it. Super cool. I am excited to go there come January. I don't know if I ever mentioned it to anyone really, but I have decided for now to major in Recreation Management. I want to work with youth in an outdoors environment and help them better their lives and to succeed. To make a difference. :) Anyway, I am excited to go to BYU-Idaho. :) Come to find out, according to Rachel (as in my cousin Rachel), there will be about 7 of the "Shelton" family up there. Marlie and her husband, Jamie Shelton, Rachel, Ryan and his new wife, and then Camille Jolley. And myself. Super excited for it all. :)

Okay, everyone. I love you all. I need to wrap this up as I have a couple other emails to write. I love all of you! :)

Love,
Elder Mendenhall

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Who Reads These?

Hello Everyone!

I was just wondering who even reads my blog. Can you please comment and let me know. I would appreciate it. I love you all! :)

Love,

Elder Mendenhall

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Hello Everyone!

Hey All Y'all,

Well, what a good week. I got my new bike on Tuesday, ruined the chain that night (yeah... don't ask...I am just cursed with bikes...), fixed the chain the next day and have been enjoying it ever since. I love it. It is a night and day difference from my old one. The shocks on it are really nice too. 

Anyway, we had several good lessons this past week. Bruce, our top investigator, has had several issues with his diabetes this past week (type 1) so he missed Scripture Study and church. *Sigh* Oh well! :) Everything is just dandy though. 

We played basketball today, and I am a little battered and bruised, but happy. 

I teach my first district meeting on Wednesday. Should be alright. Oh yeah. They split our district, so it's just Elder Crockett, the Sisters. and myself. It's better then having 11 in the district. 

Ummmm... we are going to dinner right now. I love you all! Sorry to be short! Love ya!

Love,

Elder Mendenhall

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La De Da...

Hello Everyone!

So, I talked to almost everyone who is going to read this on Skype yesterday. It was awesome! :) I loved seeing everyone and talking to all of you. Just think. That was my last phone call/Skype home. Weird!

So, I pretty much ruined my shirt this morning. I just noticed. It has lots of little grease spots. I cooked bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, and waffles this morning. They were delicious! I might need to invest in an apron though. Might come in handy later on. But I love bacon, so it was worth it! :)

I guess I don't have much to say. I am buying a new bike tomorrow. I am now a district leader. I am still training Elder Crockett. Life is pretty much the same other then that. I am in Monroe for another 6 weeks. Yup! 

Not much this week, but what do you expect a day after Mother's day? :)

Love ya!

Love,

Elder Mendenhall

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Hot, humid, and it's only May...

Hey Everyone!

So, it's only May, and we have already had 90 degree weather. With the humidity, that makes the heat index well over 100 degrees. around 110 or so. Anyway, life is great, despite the heat! My camelbak keeps me hydrated. Funny story though. We get back to the apartment last night and Elder Crockett curls up on the couch. He looks exhausted so I don't bother him. Well, he passed out for over an hour while laying there. He was dead to the world. Bless his heart. He walks into our bedroom and told me he thought he was only out for about 5 minutes. Hahaha, not likely. I guess the heat and exercise on a bike will do that to you. Oh well. I am loving it. Not the heat exactly, but the mission.

Well, Bruce was supposed to come to church yesterday, but when we showed up with a member to pick him up, he wasn't there. So, no one at church. This is the hardest time I have had getting people to attend church. We keep on trying though.
Other then that, it's been a pretty good week. Nothing too big to talk about. We got a lot of potential investigators, but none really turned into new investigators. This week though! Hopefully.

I am super excited to Skype on Sunday! It's going to be really weird though, because after that, the next time I talk to all y'all will be in person...weird... I'm not ready for it to be over yet (luckily, I still have 1/4 of my mission, but still... it flies by!)

Hmmmm... I don't really know what to write. Nothing really happened this past week. Well, we only have one week left of the transfer, which is crazy. I've already been with Elder Crockett for 5 week! Hmmmm... we'll find out this week if I will finish training him (I am sure I will, but crazier things have happened...Like my training time).

The Sister missionaries had some baptisms Saturday night, which was cool. A mom and three of her kids. That was fun to attend and watch. Soon... soon, we will have some too!

Welllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll...........................uh. I guess I don't have anything to say. Weird. I hope y'all have an awesome week! I know I will. Try to stay warm over there in the west. Don't get too cold! Love y'all!

Love,
Elder Mendenhall

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Suthunuhs!

Hey Everyone,

My Dad sent this to me, so I thought I would forward it on to all y'all. :)

-Elder Mendenhall

Suthunuhs! Sho nuff! Southerners know their summer weather report: Humidity Humidity Humidity ------------------------- Southerners know their vacation spots: The beach The rivuh The crick -------- Southerners know everybody's first name: Honey Darlin' Shugah -------- Southerners know the movies that speak to their hearts: Fried Green Tomatoes Driving Miss Daisy Steel Magnolias Gone With The Wind ----------- Southerners know their religions: Bapdiss Methdiss Football -------------- Southerners know their cities dripping with Southern charm: Chawl'stn S'vanah Foat Wuth N'awlins Addlanna --------------- Southerners know their elegant gentlemen: Men in uniform Men in tuxedos Rhett Butler ----------------- Southern girls know their prime real estate: The Mall The Country Club The Beauty Salon -------------- Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins: Having bad hair and nails Having bad manners Cooking bad food ---------- Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, You "PITCH" them. _____ Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess." _____ Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder." _____ Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to town, be back directly." _____ Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table. _____ All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well. _____ Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'! _____ Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near" and "a right far piece." They also know that "just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20. _____ Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and Po white trash. _____ No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn. _____ A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb. _____ Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, ... And when we're "in line,"... We talk to everybody! _____ Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage. _____ In the South, y'all is singular, all y'all is plural. _____ Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them. _____ Every Southerner knows that tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; that scrambled eggs just aint right without Tabasco , and that fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food. (personally, I like them for any meal, and between-meal snacks).  _____ When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner! _____ Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.. _____ And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say,"Bless her sweet little heart"... and go your own way. _____ To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southernness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your little heart! _____ And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff....bless your hearts, I hear theyre fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language! _____ Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fah-evah ! There ain't no magazine named "Northern Living" for good reason. There ain't nobody interested in livin' up north, nobody would buy the magazine!   Now Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wish they had abeen! If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could.               FREE Animations for your email by IncrediMail                         Click Here!                                   --   If I M I because U R U, and U R U because I M I, then I M not, and U R not. But if I M I because I M I and U R U because U R U, then I M and U R!

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