Sooooooooooo......
I love life! It's great! And I don't really know why... Maybe because I am a full time servant of the Lord sent here to the Gulf Coast to help bless the lives of the great people of the south and to help show them the way to gain eternal life and get them started on the path back to Him, which is through the waters of baptism? Or maybe it is great because the Lord has given me an opportunity to learn charity and patience in a 6-12 week span and that I am learning it, though it may be hard sometimes? Or maybe life is so amazing is because I not only have the most amazing family ever and tons of awesome friends back home cheering me on and praying daily for my success, but I also have legions of angels on my side, helping me fight my daily battles and giving me a boost up and a push in the right direction? I really don't know why life is great...... Maybe it's because every day is a miracle if we see it that way. Life really is all about our attitudes. I have learned that lesson well the last few weeks. This life and the way we view it is largely based on our attitudes. Take Laman and Nephi for example. They went through the same wilderness for 8 years, and Nephi praised the Lord and loved life, and Laman cursed the day he was born... well not quite, but still. More like the day Lehi and Nephi were born... Anyway.... Basically I am learning life lessons that make me a better person. It's not easy though. Focus on the positives...
I am excited for dinner this week. Dinner appointments every night except Saturday. Oh, and we are now having a "zone breakfast" every other p-day. We all get together, have breakfast and have a spiritual thought, an unsuccess and success story, a joke of the week, and of course, prayers. We had it this morning with biscuits and gravy, eggs and sausage, bacon, muffins and juice. It was delicious! All in all, it's about 3 dollars per missionary to feed all 14 of us. It's great!
Phillip Karen, who was a missionary here about a year ago, was back in town the past few days. I got to meet him. It was weird to think about possibly coming back as a non missionary. Weird...
Soooooo.... The Lord is great and amazing. Always remember that.
With Love From The South,
-Elder Dwight Mendenhall
PS... yes, it's short this week. Tough. :)
Monday, May 16, 2011
May 9, 2011 Happy Mother's Day
Hey All Y'all!
So..... I love Mother's Day! As many of you know, I was able to Skype home yesterday. It was awesome! And surprisingly enough, it didn't make me trunky. It was just....normal. To me, it was almost like I never left. Interesting, huh? It was awesome! I do miss home, but I am out here for a reason, and my work is not yet finished.
So, Elder Woolf is an interesting character. Let's just say that we are going to have to see what these next 5 weeks will bring. It's already been one. Crazy! This week we are going on exchanges with the zone leaders, next week is zone conference in Hattiesburg, and the following week is exchanges with the Spanish Elders. So.... all in all, pretty crazy stuff. It is pretty stressful taking over an area. Not the easiest thing to do. But it is sure a learning experience. I love the gospel and I love the people and the work. I may not have any baptisms yet, but I know that I am helping people anyway. I am super grateful to be here.
Well. I guess I don't have too much to say.... Things are going to be different this transfer, that is for sure. I am learning to love my companion.... and as I have heard him say concerning people he knew back home, "love the person, not the sin". Sooooo.... yup. Hahahahahaha. It's what I am doing. Kia Kaha is my motto. Forever Strong. The Lord is with me, and wants me to succeed. And with God on my side, who can prevail against me? We may not win every battle, but we will "fo sure" win the war.
With lots of love and peace from the South,
Elder Dwight Douglas "Hal" Mendenhall, The First, Esquire. :)
So..... I love Mother's Day! As many of you know, I was able to Skype home yesterday. It was awesome! And surprisingly enough, it didn't make me trunky. It was just....normal. To me, it was almost like I never left. Interesting, huh? It was awesome! I do miss home, but I am out here for a reason, and my work is not yet finished.
So, Elder Woolf is an interesting character. Let's just say that we are going to have to see what these next 5 weeks will bring. It's already been one. Crazy! This week we are going on exchanges with the zone leaders, next week is zone conference in Hattiesburg, and the following week is exchanges with the Spanish Elders. So.... all in all, pretty crazy stuff. It is pretty stressful taking over an area. Not the easiest thing to do. But it is sure a learning experience. I love the gospel and I love the people and the work. I may not have any baptisms yet, but I know that I am helping people anyway. I am super grateful to be here.
Well. I guess I don't have too much to say.... Things are going to be different this transfer, that is for sure. I am learning to love my companion.... and as I have heard him say concerning people he knew back home, "love the person, not the sin". Sooooo.... yup. Hahahahahaha. It's what I am doing. Kia Kaha is my motto. Forever Strong. The Lord is with me, and wants me to succeed. And with God on my side, who can prevail against me? We may not win every battle, but we will "fo sure" win the war.
With lots of love and peace from the South,
Elder Dwight Douglas "Hal" Mendenhall, The First, Esquire. :)
A Lone Wolf In A Pack.... until I get another Woolf....
Dear Everyone....
Guess what! I don't have a companion! I shipped Elder Todd off this morning! Woot! Back to good ol' MP. Now I wait on my new companion, but since transfers are behind today (way behind) and we are one of the last stops, I wont get him until 9:00-9:30 probably, So until then, I get to hang with my español amigos. Should be fun. Anyway.... so my new companion is.... Elder Woolf! (did you see that one coming? Maybe up there... ↑) I know nothing about him, other than that he just got done serving with Elder Redmon (my trainer) in the North Monroe area (in LA). I am super excited though! The spanish Elders are staying together, so I get another transfer around Elders Price, Belt and Thurgood. I love those Elders. They are all great.
Sooooooo.... this week. We... ummm... we did.... ummmm. Stuff. Hahahahaha. We actually were productive. I was trying to go strong with Elder Todd until the end. We taught a new investigator named Dane Ellis. Cool guy. He has potential (well everyone does, but still....).
OH!!!!!!!!! Guess what we did Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went to a wedding. On the beach. It was legit! Hahahahaha, a member and a non-member were getting married. We had actually never met anyone there before (except for the Bishop and Brother Saucier). It was fun. And oh so beautiful. They looked so happy. *sniff* Hahahahaha it's quite the story about how it came about, so remind me about it in two years. I'm too lazy to type it out. We went to the reception, stayed there, helped clean up, and we brought a ton of food home with us (not the intention for helping or staying, it just happened). It was super fun to talk to the members that were there.
So, we had some good food this week. Meatloaf, pork chops, Golden Corral, steak, taco salad, etc! I love the south. I really do. I already know I am going to miss it in two years. Not that I wont mind leaving it, but there are things that you just have to love about it. Like the people.... because there is not much else to do with them. :D
Now the moment you have all been waiting for!!! It is May 4th, and I am not expecting anymore entries for the music contest. Not saying one couldn't come in today or tomorrow, but I doubt it. So I will announce the winners. Now remember, I am NOT biased in this, I promise! And I wasn't the only judge. And I really love the CDs I did get, all two of them.................. >_< (←grumpy face at the rest of you) and it was actually a hard decision... anywho. The winners!!!
3rd Place goes to: Mom and Dad!!! Who sent me my John Bytheway talks out. Technically not music, hence 3rd place, but still very much loved. Congrats!
2nd place goes to...... Naüdia Dowland! With "Dwight's Super Awesomenova Mission CD!" (or something like that). I love this CD! (19 Tracks) It has a lot of songs on it that I know and love, and some others I hadn't heard before. Honestly, a little too much Mo-Tab for me, but the selection of Mo-Tab on there were really good choices. All in all, I love the CD and listened to it two times last nigth while Elder Todd packed.
1st place goes to....... Jeanette Davis! Congratulaions! With her CD "Light Up The Sky" she scored huge points with me. I love the music on there. I only had heard 4 of the 19 tracks before, but it is just the kind of music I like. I already can sing along with several of the songs.
Prizes will be sent out eventually. Once I decide what they are. Which might be awhile. Okay. Well, all y'all take care, and beware back in Utah, as 4 southern missionaries are headin' your way.
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
Guess what! I don't have a companion! I shipped Elder Todd off this morning! Woot! Back to good ol' MP. Now I wait on my new companion, but since transfers are behind today (way behind) and we are one of the last stops, I wont get him until 9:00-9:30 probably, So until then, I get to hang with my español amigos. Should be fun. Anyway.... so my new companion is.... Elder Woolf! (did you see that one coming? Maybe up there... ↑) I know nothing about him, other than that he just got done serving with Elder Redmon (my trainer) in the North Monroe area (in LA). I am super excited though! The spanish Elders are staying together, so I get another transfer around Elders Price, Belt and Thurgood. I love those Elders. They are all great.
Sooooooo.... this week. We... ummm... we did.... ummmm. Stuff. Hahahahaha. We actually were productive. I was trying to go strong with Elder Todd until the end. We taught a new investigator named Dane Ellis. Cool guy. He has potential (well everyone does, but still....).
OH!!!!!!!!! Guess what we did Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went to a wedding. On the beach. It was legit! Hahahahaha, a member and a non-member were getting married. We had actually never met anyone there before (except for the Bishop and Brother Saucier). It was fun. And oh so beautiful. They looked so happy. *sniff* Hahahahaha it's quite the story about how it came about, so remind me about it in two years. I'm too lazy to type it out. We went to the reception, stayed there, helped clean up, and we brought a ton of food home with us (not the intention for helping or staying, it just happened). It was super fun to talk to the members that were there.
So, we had some good food this week. Meatloaf, pork chops, Golden Corral, steak, taco salad, etc! I love the south. I really do. I already know I am going to miss it in two years. Not that I wont mind leaving it, but there are things that you just have to love about it. Like the people.... because there is not much else to do with them. :D
Now the moment you have all been waiting for!!! It is May 4th, and I am not expecting anymore entries for the music contest. Not saying one couldn't come in today or tomorrow, but I doubt it. So I will announce the winners. Now remember, I am NOT biased in this, I promise! And I wasn't the only judge. And I really love the CDs I did get, all two of them.................. >_< (←grumpy face at the rest of you) and it was actually a hard decision... anywho. The winners!!!
3rd Place goes to: Mom and Dad!!! Who sent me my John Bytheway talks out. Technically not music, hence 3rd place, but still very much loved. Congrats!
2nd place goes to...... Naüdia Dowland! With "Dwight's Super Awesomenova Mission CD!" (or something like that). I love this CD! (19 Tracks) It has a lot of songs on it that I know and love, and some others I hadn't heard before. Honestly, a little too much Mo-Tab for me, but the selection of Mo-Tab on there were really good choices. All in all, I love the CD and listened to it two times last nigth while Elder Todd packed.
1st place goes to....... Jeanette Davis! Congratulaions! With her CD "Light Up The Sky" she scored huge points with me. I love the music on there. I only had heard 4 of the 19 tracks before, but it is just the kind of music I like. I already can sing along with several of the songs.
Prizes will be sent out eventually. Once I decide what they are. Which might be awhile. Okay. Well, all y'all take care, and beware back in Utah, as 4 southern missionaries are headin' your way.
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
April 18, 2011
To Whom It May Concern....
I am HAPPY!!!!! I just got a ton of awesome and happy news!!!! First off.... my absolute favorite piece of news that I have been waiting for for weeks!
My best friend and brother, Elder McKay Jones, received his mission call!!!!! He will have the honor and priviledge of serving the Lord for two years in the.... HONDURAS COMAYAGUELA MISSION!!!! Spanish speaking of course. All of us over here were hoping for him to be called to the Mississippi Jackson Mission, spanish speaking, but I guess the south isn't that cool.... though it's pretty awesome. I am super excited for him!!!! Words can't express! We often talked about missions and mission calls, and I think he was ALMOST (not quite) more excited than me when I got my mission call. He is going to be one of the Lord's best and finest. He joins me in the field on August 10th. Happy day!
Another happy piece of news is that I have a package on the way! Happy Bunny Holiday! It has some much anticipated items in it too! And I was also told by a certain someone that they are in the process of writing me a letter! Which I am super pumped and happy for. And on of my dearest sisters has finally advanced further into the realm of games, as she is using things I taught and showed her. And Elder Todd will be on his way to Utah at this time in 16 days! His plane will land before 1 pm. I was also reminded a get to call home in a month or so. A week from Saturday I find out who my new companion is.... and last but not least, one of the very happy things that is helping me choose to be estatic is....
EASTER!!!! This is the week of Easter, and my first as a missionary. I am super excited to share the message of my Savior during this Easter season and to be able to bear testimony the Atonement and it's awesome healing and strengthening power.
All of this has made me forget anything I was going to say about this past week. Oh. My bike is... falling to pieces. I am hopefully taking it into the shop today or tomorrow to see how much it will be for a new set of pedals/cranks and for a whole new back tire. It really needs it. If it is not too expensive, I will probably have them order the parts for me. I will also probably call the mission office and see if they have any bikes just floating around up there or any spare pieces. Even broken bikes I can probably grab a piece or two from. I ghetto rigged one of my pedals the other day. Yes. ghetto rigged. I have embraced the south. I can't wait until I go home and can let you all hear my new language which I can speak.
Ummmmmmmmmm.... Samantha was the only investigator we had in church yesterday, and we no longer have her set with a date. Her progression is slow, but hopefully she will continue to progress.
I attended two funerals this past week and visited David McGee in jail again.... he'll be out in November.
The work is progressing. I love the mission and doing the Lord's work. It's tough, but if it wasn't, it wouldn't be as worth it. I wrote new lyrics last night to the song "I Can Only Imagine". It give me hope as a missionary. :D I might have them next week.
Well, I hope all is well. If I can do anything for any of you, just let me know.
Love,
Elder Dwight
Mendenhall
I am HAPPY!!!!! I just got a ton of awesome and happy news!!!! First off.... my absolute favorite piece of news that I have been waiting for for weeks!
My best friend and brother, Elder McKay Jones, received his mission call!!!!! He will have the honor and priviledge of serving the Lord for two years in the.... HONDURAS COMAYAGUELA MISSION!!!! Spanish speaking of course. All of us over here were hoping for him to be called to the Mississippi Jackson Mission, spanish speaking, but I guess the south isn't that cool.... though it's pretty awesome. I am super excited for him!!!! Words can't express! We often talked about missions and mission calls, and I think he was ALMOST (not quite) more excited than me when I got my mission call. He is going to be one of the Lord's best and finest. He joins me in the field on August 10th. Happy day!
Another happy piece of news is that I have a package on the way! Happy Bunny Holiday! It has some much anticipated items in it too! And I was also told by a certain someone that they are in the process of writing me a letter! Which I am super pumped and happy for. And on of my dearest sisters has finally advanced further into the realm of games, as she is using things I taught and showed her. And Elder Todd will be on his way to Utah at this time in 16 days! His plane will land before 1 pm. I was also reminded a get to call home in a month or so. A week from Saturday I find out who my new companion is.... and last but not least, one of the very happy things that is helping me choose to be estatic is....
EASTER!!!! This is the week of Easter, and my first as a missionary. I am super excited to share the message of my Savior during this Easter season and to be able to bear testimony the Atonement and it's awesome healing and strengthening power.
All of this has made me forget anything I was going to say about this past week. Oh. My bike is... falling to pieces. I am hopefully taking it into the shop today or tomorrow to see how much it will be for a new set of pedals/cranks and for a whole new back tire. It really needs it. If it is not too expensive, I will probably have them order the parts for me. I will also probably call the mission office and see if they have any bikes just floating around up there or any spare pieces. Even broken bikes I can probably grab a piece or two from. I ghetto rigged one of my pedals the other day. Yes. ghetto rigged. I have embraced the south. I can't wait until I go home and can let you all hear my new language which I can speak.
Ummmmmmmmmm.... Samantha was the only investigator we had in church yesterday, and we no longer have her set with a date. Her progression is slow, but hopefully she will continue to progress.
I attended two funerals this past week and visited David McGee in jail again.... he'll be out in November.
The work is progressing. I love the mission and doing the Lord's work. It's tough, but if it wasn't, it wouldn't be as worth it. I wrote new lyrics last night to the song "I Can Only Imagine". It give me hope as a missionary. :D I might have them next week.
Well, I hope all is well. If I can do anything for any of you, just let me know.
Love,
Elder Dwight
Mendenhall
Snow....? What's That Again? April 11, 2011
Dear Everyone,
Last night it was 79 degrees... at 9:30 PM.
Love,
Me
Seriously though. It was nice knowing you all. Hahahahahaha, I am going to melt away into nothingness! Or just sweat. A lot.
I love my mission. And Life. And Family. And Friends. And My Savior! Yay!
Okay, I am in a strange mood right now. This past week was really good for the work... number wise this week. We had three investigators in church. We are starting to teach two brothers (ages 13 and 16).... hopefully it will go well. They went to church, so that was good.
This next week should be even better! I hope. I know I am not really saying much, but you know, I somehow have used a lot of time already and don't have much to say this week. At least not that I really want to type out anymore. I love you all. Keep the faith.
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
Last night it was 79 degrees... at 9:30 PM.
Love,
Me
Seriously though. It was nice knowing you all. Hahahahahaha, I am going to melt away into nothingness! Or just sweat. A lot.
I love my mission. And Life. And Family. And Friends. And My Savior! Yay!
Okay, I am in a strange mood right now. This past week was really good for the work... number wise this week. We had three investigators in church. We are starting to teach two brothers (ages 13 and 16).... hopefully it will go well. They went to church, so that was good.
This next week should be even better! I hope. I know I am not really saying much, but you know, I somehow have used a lot of time already and don't have much to say this week. At least not that I really want to type out anymore. I love you all. Keep the faith.
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
March 28, 2011
Dear Everyone!
Life is just absolutely amazing! I am the very proud uncle of now eight nieces and nephews! Abby will be almost 2 by the time I see her, but I am still proud. Hmmmm... that would be tough having a job (like being in the military) where you are away from your own kids when they are growing up and missing parts of their lives... hearing them talk for the first time, walking, etc. I don't know how some of these Navy families here in G-port do it. Speaking of the Navy families, I talked to one of them for the first time yesterday.... Brother and Sister Farmer. Mainly Sister Farmer, as she was in the foyer after church and her husband was in a meeting. Anywho, she has two little girls. And I asked her where she was from.... she said Salt Lake. Knowing people just say that because they don't know if you know specifics, I asked where at by Salt Lake....any guesses where?! That's right! Good ol' Taylorsville, Utah! She graduated in 2005 from Taylorsville High School.... making her a sophmore when Debi was a senior? Correct? Either way she is going to look through her high school yearbook and see if she can find her. It will be legit if I can see a picture of my sister that someone else has here in G-port. Hahahahahaha, I already know what picture it is... at least I think I do. Anyways, Sister Farmer lived over by SLCC area. She wasn't positive, but she THINKS Bro. Farmer might have been in T-Ville 13th ward. I am going to talk to him more about it this weekend, hopefully! How cool? Small world after all!
Speaking of this weekend.... CONFERENCE!!!! Alright! I am totally pumped! It will be my first one as a missionary. I cannot wait! I am super excited! And Elder Todd and I have thought up a plan (with a little inspired help of course).... we are going to hold "cottage meetings" at member's houses who plan on watching conference there. Meaning, bring investigators over to member's homes to watch general conference and then to teach them about the gospel more as well! How amazing is that!? Hopefully the Farmers will let us go there. They have a lady that lives kiddy corner to them that is going to come to church next time, but we want to have her watch conference and to start teaching her. She is also a Navy family (the Farmers live on the Navy Base). And this weekend we plan to have a less active member or two at the Connor's house (also a base family). Then hopefully Samantha at another member's house, and we THINK we are going to a member's house that invited us over for a session on Sunday. We at least know they are feeding us. So that is our four sessions. I'm pumped!
Okay. So Elder Todd accidentally broke our phone last week and our car will be going in the shop tomorrow to finally get fixed from it being driven into a ditch a few weeks back. We are supposed to be getting a phone sometime this week, but we will most likely be phoneless and carless for a while. (Though we have a Fed-Ex package waiting for us at our apartment office, but it wont be there until 5. We missed the Fed-Ex guy. It could be our phone... or it might not be. Who knows. Elder Todd and I are both expecting packages from people, but I don't know anyone that would send something Fed-Ex... we'll see)
We both got sunburned last week from p-day on the beach. Mainly my face and neck and part of my arms. My neck is peeling pretty bad today. Elder Todd got a pretty nasty burn on his feet and legs. His ankles were swollen for a couple of days from walking and biking on them when they were burned that bad. We're both good though! And I am basically over my cold. Just blowing my nose a ton, which is also partly from the fact that there is pollen everywhere.
So Thursday, we had a church tour with Samantha! We got Brother Hillman to come and get us, go get Samantha and then we all went to the church. We then proceeded to show her the building and to teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ! It was awesome (we thought). And she also came to church yesterday! Woot! It only took 6 weeks before we got an investigator in church here in G-port. Hey, we're working on it.
I FINALLY (well basically) caught up on letters that I needed to reply to! I have now been able to write a few that I have wanted to. I still have a long list of people I need to write though that are expecting a letter. I'm working on it. Though I am almost out of stamps. Precious commodity, stamps.
So..............I found out yesterday (and today) that BYU lost in overtime to Florida. We had a few members in the G-Port ward who were at the game (New Orleans is only a couple of hours away). Extremely sad day. But oh well. You win some and you lose some. We just need to learn to pick ourselves up again and keep on moving on. Learn from our experiences and mistakes, and those of others, and become a better person from them. Become closer to our Savior and better develop our relationship with him.
Gosh darnit! Life is just so amazing! Jesus is the Christ and the only one who can give us REAL happiness. In our personal lives, our family lives, and in our relationship with everyone we meet. Men are that they might have joy, and that joy is possible through Jesus Christ and his Atonement. The Atonement is NOT just for sinners or for sins. It is for EVERYTHING. Pain, sickness, sadness, hurt, jealousy, heart ache, being lovesick, being homesick, self doubt, and everything else! Christ is AMAZING!
So, the work goes on here, and everything else. OH!!!! Another thing to be happy about! My brother from another mother, my best friend, McKay, has his mission papers in!!!! He should get his call either this week or the next. How freaking amazing!!! Especially when he is called to the MJM Spanish Speaking! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! That would be so freaking amazing! Since Elder Todd is about to leave me, the bum! It is his last transfer in the mission. He has 37(?) days left! CRAZY!
I hope all is well with everyone! Keep the faith and be strong! Jesus loves you!
Love,
Elder
Dwight
Mendenhall
Life is just absolutely amazing! I am the very proud uncle of now eight nieces and nephews! Abby will be almost 2 by the time I see her, but I am still proud. Hmmmm... that would be tough having a job (like being in the military) where you are away from your own kids when they are growing up and missing parts of their lives... hearing them talk for the first time, walking, etc. I don't know how some of these Navy families here in G-port do it. Speaking of the Navy families, I talked to one of them for the first time yesterday.... Brother and Sister Farmer. Mainly Sister Farmer, as she was in the foyer after church and her husband was in a meeting. Anywho, she has two little girls. And I asked her where she was from.... she said Salt Lake. Knowing people just say that because they don't know if you know specifics, I asked where at by Salt Lake....any guesses where?! That's right! Good ol' Taylorsville, Utah! She graduated in 2005 from Taylorsville High School.... making her a sophmore when Debi was a senior? Correct? Either way she is going to look through her high school yearbook and see if she can find her. It will be legit if I can see a picture of my sister that someone else has here in G-port. Hahahahahaha, I already know what picture it is... at least I think I do. Anyways, Sister Farmer lived over by SLCC area. She wasn't positive, but she THINKS Bro. Farmer might have been in T-Ville 13th ward. I am going to talk to him more about it this weekend, hopefully! How cool? Small world after all!
Speaking of this weekend.... CONFERENCE!!!! Alright! I am totally pumped! It will be my first one as a missionary. I cannot wait! I am super excited! And Elder Todd and I have thought up a plan (with a little inspired help of course).... we are going to hold "cottage meetings" at member's houses who plan on watching conference there. Meaning, bring investigators over to member's homes to watch general conference and then to teach them about the gospel more as well! How amazing is that!? Hopefully the Farmers will let us go there. They have a lady that lives kiddy corner to them that is going to come to church next time, but we want to have her watch conference and to start teaching her. She is also a Navy family (the Farmers live on the Navy Base). And this weekend we plan to have a less active member or two at the Connor's house (also a base family). Then hopefully Samantha at another member's house, and we THINK we are going to a member's house that invited us over for a session on Sunday. We at least know they are feeding us. So that is our four sessions. I'm pumped!
Okay. So Elder Todd accidentally broke our phone last week and our car will be going in the shop tomorrow to finally get fixed from it being driven into a ditch a few weeks back. We are supposed to be getting a phone sometime this week, but we will most likely be phoneless and carless for a while. (Though we have a Fed-Ex package waiting for us at our apartment office, but it wont be there until 5. We missed the Fed-Ex guy. It could be our phone... or it might not be. Who knows. Elder Todd and I are both expecting packages from people, but I don't know anyone that would send something Fed-Ex... we'll see)
We both got sunburned last week from p-day on the beach. Mainly my face and neck and part of my arms. My neck is peeling pretty bad today. Elder Todd got a pretty nasty burn on his feet and legs. His ankles were swollen for a couple of days from walking and biking on them when they were burned that bad. We're both good though! And I am basically over my cold. Just blowing my nose a ton, which is also partly from the fact that there is pollen everywhere.
So Thursday, we had a church tour with Samantha! We got Brother Hillman to come and get us, go get Samantha and then we all went to the church. We then proceeded to show her the building and to teach her about the gospel of Jesus Christ! It was awesome (we thought). And she also came to church yesterday! Woot! It only took 6 weeks before we got an investigator in church here in G-port. Hey, we're working on it.
I FINALLY (well basically) caught up on letters that I needed to reply to! I have now been able to write a few that I have wanted to. I still have a long list of people I need to write though that are expecting a letter. I'm working on it. Though I am almost out of stamps. Precious commodity, stamps.
So..............I found out yesterday (and today) that BYU lost in overtime to Florida. We had a few members in the G-Port ward who were at the game (New Orleans is only a couple of hours away). Extremely sad day. But oh well. You win some and you lose some. We just need to learn to pick ourselves up again and keep on moving on. Learn from our experiences and mistakes, and those of others, and become a better person from them. Become closer to our Savior and better develop our relationship with him.
Gosh darnit! Life is just so amazing! Jesus is the Christ and the only one who can give us REAL happiness. In our personal lives, our family lives, and in our relationship with everyone we meet. Men are that they might have joy, and that joy is possible through Jesus Christ and his Atonement. The Atonement is NOT just for sinners or for sins. It is for EVERYTHING. Pain, sickness, sadness, hurt, jealousy, heart ache, being lovesick, being homesick, self doubt, and everything else! Christ is AMAZING!
So, the work goes on here, and everything else. OH!!!! Another thing to be happy about! My brother from another mother, my best friend, McKay, has his mission papers in!!!! He should get his call either this week or the next. How freaking amazing!!! Especially when he is called to the MJM Spanish Speaking! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! That would be so freaking amazing! Since Elder Todd is about to leave me, the bum! It is his last transfer in the mission. He has 37(?) days left! CRAZY!
I hope all is well with everyone! Keep the faith and be strong! Jesus loves you!
Love,
Elder
Dwight
Mendenhall
March 22, 2011
Hey Y'all!
It's transfer day here in the mission! Which means another 6 weeks have gone by which means.... I have two years left! Two years for two years! Elder Todd and I are staying together, which means he "dies" in Gulfport! 43 days! And I am here for at least another 3 months. 99% sure of that. Actually, all of the Elders in the Gulfport ward are staying. Fun stuff!
Soooo... since transfers are today, that means p-day is today as well. Hence the email today! And we spent about three hours on the beach today with 15 missionaries! It was a party. We had lunch, played some football and volleyball. I got a little sun, meaning my arms are red.
Now that Gulfport Spanish is living in Gulfport, starting today, we are officially sharing our car with them. We are supposed to switch off every week with them. We'll see how well it works. We get it the rest of this week.
This Thursday, we are having a church tour with Samantha! Hopefully all goes well. Our local leaders need to be on board with this. Samantha has had issues with church leaders in the past. Here is praying all goes well. Also, she wasn't at church Sunday because she was in Alabama, but she is coming this week. We just need to arrange a ride for her.
We met a lady yesterday. Her name is Ecco. She was baptized when she was 16 in Colorado. She has 4 children. Anyway, a member friend in Utah that she was talking to on Facebook, sent the missionaries over to her apartment (us) to give her a blessing, as she is going through a hard time. Hopefully we can get her back to church. She's been in Gulfport 6 months (same with Elder Todd!).
There is just not enough time in one day. Elder Todd and I are trying, but we need to pick up the pace. Keep the ball moving!
Not too many dinner appointments this week, but a lot next week. The members here are pretty legit! Especially Brother and Sister Sowers. She takes care of our meal calenders. Because we had so few this week (Spanish had one and we had two) they are taking the four of us out to lunch on Thursday.
Oh! I have a cold. On the beach. In 80 degree weather. Don't ask me how that works. I'm just talented. I'm almost over it.
Just so everyone knows, the best things to every send me are.... stamps and gift cards to food places. Hahahaha
Not much else to report on. I love you all. Keep the peace!
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
It's transfer day here in the mission! Which means another 6 weeks have gone by which means.... I have two years left! Two years for two years! Elder Todd and I are staying together, which means he "dies" in Gulfport! 43 days! And I am here for at least another 3 months. 99% sure of that. Actually, all of the Elders in the Gulfport ward are staying. Fun stuff!
Soooo... since transfers are today, that means p-day is today as well. Hence the email today! And we spent about three hours on the beach today with 15 missionaries! It was a party. We had lunch, played some football and volleyball. I got a little sun, meaning my arms are red.
Now that Gulfport Spanish is living in Gulfport, starting today, we are officially sharing our car with them. We are supposed to switch off every week with them. We'll see how well it works. We get it the rest of this week.
This Thursday, we are having a church tour with Samantha! Hopefully all goes well. Our local leaders need to be on board with this. Samantha has had issues with church leaders in the past. Here is praying all goes well. Also, she wasn't at church Sunday because she was in Alabama, but she is coming this week. We just need to arrange a ride for her.
We met a lady yesterday. Her name is Ecco. She was baptized when she was 16 in Colorado. She has 4 children. Anyway, a member friend in Utah that she was talking to on Facebook, sent the missionaries over to her apartment (us) to give her a blessing, as she is going through a hard time. Hopefully we can get her back to church. She's been in Gulfport 6 months (same with Elder Todd!).
There is just not enough time in one day. Elder Todd and I are trying, but we need to pick up the pace. Keep the ball moving!
Not too many dinner appointments this week, but a lot next week. The members here are pretty legit! Especially Brother and Sister Sowers. She takes care of our meal calenders. Because we had so few this week (Spanish had one and we had two) they are taking the four of us out to lunch on Thursday.
Oh! I have a cold. On the beach. In 80 degree weather. Don't ask me how that works. I'm just talented. I'm almost over it.
Just so everyone knows, the best things to every send me are.... stamps and gift cards to food places. Hahahaha
Not much else to report on. I love you all. Keep the peace!
Love,
Elder Mendenhall
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