April 8, 2013---Las Vegas West Mission

Good morning, San Francisco!! 

              So I am leaving today at 5.  I will be going to the Sand Stone stake, and I will no longer have to worry about being a zone leader.  I will be training, and will be a district leader, which is what I wanted.  I will be sad to leave here.  I will pick up my greenie today, so that should be cool.  I am excited.  I will have to bring him emailing tomorrow, so I will let you know more about him tomorrow.

 

Doing good besides that.

So the other elder is looking at a cheaper place to live.  I am not sure how much.  We have found a few places that look nice, but i am not sure.  He might want to live at a place that is like $750/semester. and I don't think I will go there with him.  I think I would go to the Ridges if that is the case.  I really did like the Ridges, so we will see what he wants to do.  I am not going to live in a dump, haha.  

Can you check on registration for classes and stuff like that?  And make sure i am ready to sign up and all that good stuff?  I am really excited about going off to school, again, haha.  Sorry Mom, nothing personal.  But, I love you still.

Yeah, it is right next to my stake I am in now.  So not too bad, and I will be a district leader again, which will be cool, because last time I was not able to really give trainings, but now I can.  

Ok, so my new comp is Elder Koluse.  He is from Tonga, and is just learning the language.  Pretty cool, though.  He is a really good guy and really wants to work hard.  He is almost a year older then me.  

April 1, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Dear family, haha, I know I suck at writing.  I am not good at it, but I will tell you all the stories in about 4 months.  Give or take, haha.  That is so weird to be able to say now.  I love it.  I really do.

So transfers are coming up next week, so that should be interesting to see how that works out.  I am like 99 percent sure that I am leaving the area, and I will finally no longer be a zone leader, but I will train a new missionary.  So that will be cool.  I am hoping to be on bike so I can keep losing weight.  I am 20 pounds down now.  I am 5 pounds under what I came out at.  I am 245 so that is not too bad.  We are on the Slim Fast diet.  I was thinking about not telling you and just coming home at 230, haha.  That is my goal.  It is really not too much out of the question, so wee will see what happens.  I think I can do it.  I was at 265.

Me and my comp are doing good.  I am about to do something about housing, mom.  Can you help me out by looking at the school stuff and finding out the deadlines for stuff and letting me know?  I would really love you even more for that.  So please, mommy.  Love you. 

It is weird that the mission is winding down.  So the missionaries in the ward now........are they any good?  Are they cool?  Do y'all know them well at all?

Hey sorry Mom.  I got the package.  Thank you, so much.  It is awesome.  We are having an activity today and we are eating that and gumbo.  Weird mix, but oh well.  It should be good.  Thanks so much, and the gumbo is what the charges are on the card.  

Hey, so I had some basketball shoes rip today, and I was wondering if  could buy some new ones?

Mommy, you are the best.

March 25, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Hey, how much money do I have?  I need to know for housing to see what I want to do.  Me and Elder Driggs are rooming together and we are talking right now about what we are doing, but I need to know what the money situation is.  

Hey, so that is really cool that you are in Utah and not coming to visit me, haha.  That's ok.  I will be home soon anyway, so don't worry about it.  I am not jealous, haha.  

I love y'all.  This week is realy good.  We had a lot of fun and are awesome.  

Well, I am the worst son ever.

March 18, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Good morning, family!  This week is good.  Again, I am terrible at writing.  I am sorry, but it is not always my fault.  But, kinda is, haha.  Oh well, yeah, it is actually, but sorry.  Love you so much.

Yeah, I knew a lot of Wadworth's, and a few Bleaks there in Panaca. One was one of the ward mission leaders.  Kinda cool.

That is really cool that Evan got his mission call.  I am excited for him.  I bet he is so pumped.  I wish I could have gone at 18.  I would be home and engaged now, haha.  

How can you be at a car show and not get a picture of a car?  That makes no sense at all, haha.  Oh well.   

We are really doing good.  I was looking at the stats from the zone and since I got here the stats in the zone have more then doubled, which is exciting.  They are doing really good work and we have been able to see the difference in the work as they have worked harder.  

Love Y'all. 

March 11, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Hey, so this has been another good week.  I am loving the mission and really having a lot of fun.  We are doing good and we are seeing some exciting things happen in the area.  We are loving the ward.  This week we got to go to a symphony for the Zion's Youth Symphony.  It was really cool.  I really enjoyed it.  We had some time to see President Nieder and a lot of the missionaries that I knew on the other side of Vegas.  It was really cool.  I loved every minute of it.

March 4, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Andrea, what about Mrs. ------?

Can you call them back?  (the Elders)

Hey family.  This week has been great.  We are still together and we are working hard.  We have found a few new investigators and so it has been great.  I really love the zone.  It is really cool to have the zone together and working hard.

I am hoping I will be able to train one day, haha.  I am tired of being a zl (zone leader).  I want to train a new missionary.  It will be new and fun, I think.  Just because I think that, it is going to suck when it happens, haha.  So Sister Black made me take a picture just for you, Mom, haha.  She said you commented on the blog, so she was going to put that one up there for you.  And so, I guess, she did, haha.  You are a stalker, haha, but it is ok.  I forgive you.  I am so happy that everyone is doing good at home.  I need --- to do better now.  He needs to go on a mission.  I am so grateful for my mission.  It is awesome.  It really is the best.  

Well, I love y'all and thank you so much.

February 25, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Good morning!  Thanks so much for everything.  That is amazing that Miss ----------- is going to take the lessons.  That is awesome.   She is such a great lady.  She was so nice to me.  I hope everything goes good with that.  I am going to write that note in hand-writing, haha.  I don't want to email that.  I will send it tomorrow.  That is great to hear, though.  Let me know as soon as you know what is going on with that.  Would be awesome.

So, transfers.  We are staying together with my comp, which is awesome.  I am excited to do that. (this last period was actually there!!  I didn't add it!  :)  I am so excited to see everyone on Mother's Day.  It will be good. 

I love y'all. 

February 18, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Dear mom,

Hey sorry, I had like two seconds yesterday because of President's Day, so I can get on today.  We are doing good in Vegas.  We are working hard and really having a lot of fun.  I might end up rooming with my comp at BYUI, and also Elder Driggs.  It would be a lot of fun.  We are enjoying great weather and I love the ward.   Transfers are coming up this week.  I don't know what will happen.  It will be fun to see.  I think I will stay, but you never know.  We shall see.  Sorry, running low on time.  

Love you.

Hey, yes ma'am.  I got the package, haha.  It was awesome.  My whole zone learned how to crack a whip.  It was sick, and thanks so much for the Valentines.  

February 11, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Hey family, whats up?

  

This week has been really good.  We have had a baptism in the area for the first time in like 6 months, but it was good.  The lady was really, really prepared and it was great.  The ward is really catching the spirit of missionary work.  It is great to see their enthusiasm to the work, which is great.

We are hoping to have a few more come up this week, which will be really nice to have.  But, we are excited to be able to work here.

I love y'all so much, and, yes, I am excited to get home, haha but, not too bad.  I am a little trunky, haha.  

February 6, 2013---Las Vegas West Mission

Hello, family, we had the temple day today, and it was really great to be able to go.  Throws off the week, though, with p-day on a different day.  It makes things a little weird.

We had a good week, though.  I hit my head pretty hard playing football yesterday for morning sports and it shook me up a little.  But, I am alright.  The lady I live with is a nurse, or something to do with the medical field, so she said I was ok, haha.  But, I slept a little and I feel a lot better.  Me and my comp are really getting along good now.  We have a lot of fun together, and make a lot of jokes, and talk about girls all the time, haha.  Just a little, haha.  But, it is good.  I think the ward likes us and we love working with the ward.  They are really great to us and we have fun.  

The more I think about home, the more nervous it makes me, haha.  I don't know how to be a regular person anymore.  I hardly remember that, haha.  It will be weird.  I hope.  It should be fine, though.  I will be ready when the time comes, though.  We have a baptism coming up on Friday.  It should be good.  This lady has really changed her life in so many ways and has found true happiness.  Well, I got to go.  Love ya.

That is good news i am glad he is doing good

January 28, 2013---Las Vegas West Mission

Hey, Mom, how are you doing today?

Hey, so 18 months, haha!  Yes, I did it.  If I was a girl I would be home, haha.  But, for real, yeah buddy!!

Good morning America,

This is Elder Zachary speaking........ and I have some important news to share with everyone.........I am now 18 months done with my mission!  I will be home in 6 months, haha.  I am so trunky (ready to pack his bags and come home), haha!!!  Just for an hour.  I claim the right to be trunky while I email.

It is crazy to think about how fast time goes.  I remember last year at this time I was 3 days from being transferred to Panaca, haha.  I am almost a year from the time that I left my first area.  It has been great.  I have changed so much and my confidence has grown so much.  I am a little cocky, haha.  Well, maybe a lot, haha.

Man, well, this week has been really good.  I got a new comp that I love.  He is a really good guy.  I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with him.  It amazing what can be done with a little hard work.  The ward is really catching the spirit of the work and we have loved working with them.

We have an investigator that is in a drug rehab home and is working so hard to overcome her weaknesses.  She is preparing to be baptized on the 9th.  We are really excited about that.

The work is going forth boldly, nobly, and independent.  And the purposes of God are being accomplished.  

I love y'all and thank you for all the support y'all give me.  

Oh yeah, I got that.  It(package) was awesome.  I was so excited.  Are you going to do that with the rest of my emails?  Because that would be sick if you could, please???  Today is a park and clean p-day.  But, we might play some basketball later today.

January 22, 2013--Las Vegas West Mission

Hey, family.  I have had a good week.  We had transfers and the library was closed yesterday so we did not get to email, but I got a new house and a new comp yesterday.  His name is Elder Seamen.  He is a really good guy.  I like him a lot.  I might steal his ties though.  He has too many really nice ones, haha.

But, the work is going really good.  We have some amazing ladies that we are teaching that are in a drug rehab home.  They are just eating up the gospel and loving every second of it.  It has been such a good thing.  One is set for baptism on the 9th of February.  It should be good.  We are having a lot of new investigators come out of the wood work.   So, it has been good.  

As far as the housing goes, I still don't have a clue, and you said I should have some money to work with.  Why is that and where is going to come from?  Because I have no idea, haha.  I am a broke man, haha.  Let me know where the money is coming from, please, haha.

Well, I am going to look for some housing some more.  I just wanted to make sure I wrote something before I did so I didn't leave you out, haha.  I love y'all and especially you.

January 14, 2013---Las Vegas West Mission

Hey! So, I jumped on Facebook really quick to get a email for a friend at school, but it is ok.  I don't break the rules, mom.  Haha, stop worrying.  It will be ok.  I love my mission and the rules.  I would not be zone leader if I was breaking the rules, haha.  And yes, it is ok to be on email when I get on once a month.  Love you, Mom.

Oh yeah, I have heard about it.  Those are the assistants.  I didn't watch it though.  (news broadcast from the Vegas area featuring missionaries and Taylor's mission president).

Sorry mom, I lost all my time on looking at housing at BYUI, haha.  Sorry.  I love you and everything is going really well.  Got to run!

January 7 & 9, 2013---Las Vegas West Mission

Oh yeah,  it was way cool to see Mr. Brad and Evan.  It was really cool.

Yeah, I think I am ready for school this time.  I really am a lot different than I was before.  I will be good and, yes, I still want to be a teacher.  I think that will be awesome, so that is the plan!

I am on to get a form that we have to give to the district leaders, and now I am on for what is called Mormon.org time so we can familiarize ourselves with it.

Oh and these are just some of my favorite missionaries in the mission.  One is in my zone, Elder Gregory-Tews, and the other is just one of my good friends and another zone leader, Elder Edwards.  Yeah, they make me look so fat.  Haha, they are both really skinny.  Well, thank you, haha, I weigh 260 in that picture!

Hey, can you send me Alex and Sydney's emails?  I have not heard from them in about 18 months, so I thought I would write them.

December 31, 2012---Las Vegas West Mission

Hey, it's Monday!!

Haha, I think MC should go.  I love her and want to see her, but I would rather just wait and see a more mature her.  haha.  JK, but for real.  I hope he is good.  I would hate to have to kill my sister's new husband!  That would be so much fun.  The week has been good.  It really has, but I have been sick most of it, but I am better now.  Well, love y'all. 

December 17, 2012---Las Vegas West Mission

Dear Family,

Mom, I know that I am no good at writing details.  Sorry, I moved from the Rosequist house on Monday.  It was sad.  It was like leaving home again, haha.  I now live with the Tesima family.  He is the stake president of the Lakes Ward.  My companion is Elder Mouser.  He is really a good guy.  I like him a lot.  We are having a good time together.  Yeah, I am really sad about leaving right before Christmas, but we are asking permission to go back to their house for Christmas.  I hope I get it.

Yeah, I got the packages.  Ha, I am going to open them all at the same time.

The new area I got transferred to is the richest area in the mission, so the work is a little slow, but I think it should pick up with a little hard work and stuff.

That is a lot of people on a mission.  All the girls are going now.  That is crazy.  I am excited about it.  MC better go out.   haha  No, i am joking.  That is up to her.  But yeah, the new area is not too bad.  We will be moving from the stake presidents house soon.  I am not too sad about that.  He is a good stake president.

Well, got to go.  Love ya.

Oh, and on Skype, I don't know yet what we are doing.  I will have to let you know on next Monday. 

Love ya