December 26, 2011

It was great seeing and talking to you yesterday!
I moved today. We are living in an apartment, with another set of
Elders. It's going to be so cool. We cover the Franklin, Hampton,
Kimbell, and Cohaven Wards.
I'm so happy to meet new people. Idaho is great. The people are great.
I CANT WAIT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THEM.

November 28, 2011

We had an awesome Thanksgiving dinner, and breakfast, and Turkey Bowl. It was sooo much fun. I love playing football. We played tackle. Everyone was sore the next day.  My legs hurt soo bad. I made 2 touchdowns!!! and Tackled like 3 times. Brings back some good memories.

Undre and his wife is going to get baptized. But I think I already told you. I'm super stoked about that.

I don't know what to say.   I Love you guys so much. I cant believe that I have been out for this long!!!

November 14, 2011

Sorry, I haven’t written in a while. I have been super busy.
I am doing great. We found out on Friday where we were going and I am staying. I’m not going anywhere until after Christmas then I don’t know if I’m leaving of staying. I am doing great.  =) I am happy, enjoying the work, loving everyone!

We started teaching a family!!! They are from San Jose!!!  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Love,

Elder Lee

October 18, 2011

It has been a good week.

Everything is going good over here. Elder Fullmer is my new companion.

We are trying to start teaching this Swahili family. But our fellowshiper hasn’t asked them if they want to get the lessons yet. We are waiting for her go. We got a couple of referrals the other day and we are going to contact them this week.

So guess what? Elder Bowan of the Seventy is coming to our mission and having a mission tour. We are going to see him on the 29th and we are going to take Andy and Isis with us. It is going to be awesome.

We were walking on Collister road and this guy comes up to us and asked " you’re the Mormon missionaries right?  My son was going to your youth Bible studies back in San Jose and I would like him to keep going." he gave us his phone number and his address. It’s great.  We are going to go by this week to see him and bring a young men’s leader with us. It’s going to be awesome!!!

There is not much really going on right now.  But I have noticed that everyone has their lights on during the day. It really bugs me. lol.  Like it is 12 in the afternoon and sunny and people have their lights on.

October 11, 2011

I'm doing good. I am just taking it one step at a time. I am taking it in. I'm alright though. I'm going to study more on the Plan of Salvation. =)

Last week was great. I had an awesome birthday. I got 2 birthday dinners and card from my YSA Ward. It was so cool. Its bigger than the Computer!! I was really excited to read what everyone wrote.

On Tuesday, My daddy, The Zone Leaders and a ton of other missionaries  went to the All You Can Eat Sushi. It was awesome. I was soooooo full, but it was sooo worth it. There was this roll that was fried and has Rooster Sauce on it and it was called the Godzilla. It was my favorite. In the sushi place there was a good 23 missionaries in there at one time. They weren't to happy about us ordering so many rolls. 7 of the missionaries were all Polynesian so they were pounding down the rolls. It was a good P-Day. Today I'm hanging out with Elder Richards (Daddy), Elder Urbon (ZL) and Elder Fullmer. We are going to go to the driving range and go in the sauna. Another good day.

Ok so an update on Andy. Andy is going to get a sustained for his calling next week!!! He is going to be the Teachers Quorum Adviser. He is super stoked about that because he used to be a football couch for that age group. He is going to be great in that calling. It will give him more opportunities to be with people in the ward and to help his testimony grow. Also he has this Black Dodge Ram 2500 Lifted 6 inches. I have to jump to get in. Before he sells it, he wants to take us mudding. Its going to be Sweeeet!

An update on Dave and Lynne. Dave got his job at BSU. He is working the parking lot.  The Bishop is currently working on getting them both callings in the ward.

My new bike is amazing.  My bike got stolen from behind the church. And I needed to by a new bike.  While we were on Collister Rd planing what we were doing next. I saw a kid riding MY bike on the other side of the rode. So we followed him for a good 5 minutes. We lost him once but I found him. And then followed him a little while longer and then we lost him at a baptist church at the end of our area. Now I know what he looks like I will keep my eyes open. Ill find him soon. And get my bike back.

Oh ya. one of our Investigators Jessica is ready to hear more about the Gospel. She has already accepted the invitation to be baptized but she just has to work a couple of thinks out. She met with bishop on Sunday and she came to church. So we are excited for her.

Well nothing else is really going on. The weird weather is back. It was in the 80's at the beginning of last week. It rained for a good 3 days and then it was sunny a day and then it rained for 2 more days and today started out raining but now its sunny and partly cloudy. Fall is here.

Things here are starting to look good. Elder Sproul has about 2 weeks left. Its soo crazy!  By time he leaves I will have been with him for 4 and a half months. He is a great guy and he is going to do a lot of good. We have been doing really well on getting things done and at least trying to find new people. I get my new companion on my birthday!

We found a new investigator that is really interested in learning about the church. She wants to come to church and read the Book of Mormon.  We told her to keep the Book of Mormon that we gave her and read it. We are going to give her a call soon and see what she wants to do.  Some of her family is giving her a hard time.

I gave a talk on Sunday. Oh man. I was nervous but I think I did really well. I went off the Spirit. No talk written out on notes. Just my Preach my Gospel in front of me and I just talked. It was good. I got a lot of complements afterwords. I like that. =) I felt really good about it.

Andy's Baptism went great. I got to baptize him. It was a great service. The spirit was so strong there. It was amazing.  I will never forget these experiences that I have had with Andy. He is a wonderful man. After we went back to where everyone was at. He bore his testimony on how he felt and he shared with us a scripture Mosiah 27:29. He told us that after he read that scripture he hoped for those thing in the past to be lifted off his shoulders and he said that everything that he had hoped for had come true. Everyone was crying by this point. Brother Buff ( Andy's gospel essentials teacher) gave his talk on the Holy Ghost. He could barely talk because he was crying. He was baptized older and he knew how Andy felt and he brought up his experiences with the Holy Ghost. It was an Amazing baptismal service.

11

I love this area. We had a guy come to church on Sunday and he went to all the classes.  We had a member come up to us during sacrament meeting and he told us that the new guy is a non-member and he wanted to introduce us to him.  We set up an appointment to go see him and his daughter on Monday. We went over and he just jumped in and told us about his life. He needs help and he has had influences in his life that all lead back to the church. He has been reading the Book of Mormon on his phone. He is in Messiah and he told us that he feels that he should be baptized..... I was ecstatic on the inside but I knew I had to pay attention to what he was saying. =)  We told him about the lessons that we have and stuff like that. Then he started asking about the temple and we told him about the priesthood and what certain things we need to do to be able to go to the temple. He is a great guy. We set up our next appointment for next Monday and he said he is going to have us over for dinner and then we will have the first lesson afterwards. He said how he knew where to go was that he went on to Mormon.org and learned a lot about our religion. That’s how he knew what time to come to church. I have a true testimony of Mornon.org now!!!  Mormon.org is amazing.  You guys need to make a profile!!! Please!! Everyone 18 and over!!!  

I love you all. =)

Elder Lee

 

Dave's priesthood ordination was great! We could feel the spirit. I gave Dave a blessing then gave him the priesthood. It was great I can't even explain it. I think Bishop Orien said that the spirit that we feel now is the same as the spirit that Joseph and Oliver felt when John conferred the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joesph Smiths head.

 

TJ and Lynne got baptized on Saturday and was confirmed on Sunday. It was a wonderful baptismal service. TJ got baptized first and sat like a Buddha off to the side as Lynne got baptized. Dave got to baptize Lynne and she had to be baptized forward because of her bad knees so Dave baptized her and she didn't go all the way down and Elder Sproul was in the font so he put his hand on her head and pushed her down and Dave had both of his hands on her back pushing down so she would go down and she got all the way under and she got up and she coughed and she said " you nearly killed me."  She then thought of something to say to show that everything was alright. And then we told her that Elder sproul was the one with his hand on her head she laughed. We had a great time and Lynne bore her testimony after the baptism about how she came to America and why she waited a little longer to be baptized instead of being baptized with Dave.  They are wonderful people. 

 

I love you all. I pray for you guys everynight. Stay safe.

 

Elder Lee

We had a pretty good week this week. On Sunday it was announced that Lynne and TJ's baptism will be at 11am on Saturday the 6th. I'm super excited for them.  And also Dave has been preparing himself to receive the Priesthood and we were talking about it on Sunday while eating dinner with them. Dave told us that he will see us at 8 on Tuesday. And that was the time that the bishop told us to come over to the church and we asked him how he knew we were going to be at the church at that time and he said "because that is when I'm going to be getting the priesthood." So then we asked so who are you going to have give you the priesthood and he said, "Elder Lee. You have already given me a bath and confirmed me. Why not?" and I of course said I'll do it.  I don't know what I did to influence this mans life but I sure did something.  I am so thankful that I'm out here serving the Lord. Helping people change their lives for the better.  Lynne is still getting ready for her baptism date.

Love you all lots. Your always in my prayers.

 

Elder Lee

 

Alrighty then. So Dave's baptism was Awesome! I could feel the spirit so strong in there. That morning before Dave's baptism there were 2 other baptisms before his. So we had to get there at 7:30 to fill the font and set everything up. The first baptism was at 9. I ended up giving the closing prayer. Definitely was not expecting that. And the second baptism was for a little girl that just turned 8 and it was a really neat experience to be there. The closing hymn was A Child's Prayer. And it was the arrangement that Kalena and I sang in Church. And that one was at 10. And Dave's was after hers at 11. After each baptism we had to top the font off with warm water so it wouldn't get cold for the next baptism. It ended up not too bad by the time we had to use the water. =) 

 

On Sunday I got a Huge Migraine!! We ended up missing the first 2 wards we went to. And the 3rd one is the ward that Dave is in and Elder Sproul had to give a talk so we couldn't miss out on that. So we get a ride over to church and I am not feeling good at all. And I sit down next to Dave and he says "Are you alright Mate?"  I tell him I have had a really bad headache for a while and he asks me if I'm well enough to do his confirmation and I said " I wouldn't miss it for the world" So church starts and we sing, do the prayer and then the announcements. My heart is racing!  We walk up there. And the second councilor puts the mic in my face and I confirmed Dave a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and gave him the Holy Ghost. I was told I did a good job. I don't really remember. I let the Spirit take over. I could probably figure it out if I really concentrated but it would take away from the Awesome Spiritual factor.

 

Everything has been going really great. I have been doing a lot better in the Lesson and Talking to people. I just need to get farther out of my box and I need to start making more decisions for myself. I am so glad I am on my mission. Its going by so fast. I cant even believe it. I love the people up here so much I want to help them as much as I can.  

 

Tell everyone over there that I say hi and I want you all to be safe. I don't want anything happening to my family while I'm gone. I love you all. Have a great week.

 

Love Always,

Elder Lee

 

I'm so excited to tell you that Dave is getting baptized this Saturday!!! We are super excited. Sunday before church sister Degraff and Dave were making his baptismal program. While I was greeting the members  to church Sis. Degraff said "Elder Lee, come here." So I walk on over while there was a break in the people. I sit down next to Sister Degraff and Dave is on a bench behind me. And Sis. Degraff says "Dave wants to know if you would like to give him a bath." ... I paused for a moment not knowing what to say, they smiled and she said " I had to use Dave's words."  Then it clicked!  I said " I would be Honored."  Dave asked me to baptise him. What a Blessing it is to know that I have touched his life in a way that he wants me to baptize him. It's a real privileged to baptize someone I think. I think it's cool that the first person I get to baptize in Idaho is from Newcastle, England. I'm very happy for him. And his wife Lynn. She is going to be baptized on the 6th of August!  There are so many awesome things going on in this area! 

 

Remember the guy I told you about that had all the Disneyland facts. We had another lesson with them and it went great. She asked us tons of questions! And we answered them all and she was very impressed with us. We told her about some of the things we believe and she would get a confused face and we would explain it and then she would get it. She knows a lot about a lot of churches. And John helped answer some of the questions from what he could remember. And he kept looking at us for the ok that he had it right. And most of the time he was. And Sunday was fast Sunday and he told us at the lesson. I'm going to bare my testimony on Sunday and we were like  you go John. And he was the last one to go up and he told everyone that the last visit we had really helped him open his eyes. Because he was baptized in the church fell away and came back and fell away and came back again and he said that this time, at this moment that I know the church is true. I was blown away. I was saying in my mind " You go John!"  We are hopefully going to be able to see him and Sara soon.

 

 =) love you lots, 

Elder Lee

My 6th month mark is today.  I HAVE BEEN OUT A QUARTER OF MY MISSION ALREADY!!!  This is crazy. This transfer has gone by so fast. We are already on week 6 and we are going to get transfer calls on Friday! I really hope I get to stay in this area. It's a great area and so much is going to happen and I know I have to be here. Elder Sproul is awesome. We are getting along great.  We are getting so much work done it's Intense!! 

Becca's baptism went great. I said the opening prayer and I ended up having to lead the music too. There were 5 missionaries for her. She was so awesome. A week and a half before her baptism. She gave up coffee Cold Turkey, and we told her to continue to read the Book of Mormon and It will help her with it. And she has been good ever since. She calls us her little Angels. She also calls us her little brothers. 

Dave has a baptismal date for the 16th of July. And he is doing great. Lynn needs a little more time. She has never grown up in a religious home.  She has also gone thought a lot of trials in her life. 

The 4th of July was awesome!! We went to 2 ward breakfasts. And then we went home at about 11:30 till about 5 sitting at a desk doing paper work. That took so long. We did that because 1. it's the 4th of July and not a lot of people want to hear what we have to say, 2. president said we can only see the people we have set appointments with. And 3 we are not aloud to make first contacts. so ya.  Paper Work Day. Yayyy. After  dinner we came home early so we could be able to see some fireworks. We sat on the hill where we live and watched all the city's in the valley shoot off their fireworks. Guys it was the coolest thing ever. I saw a firework show in Boise, Meridian, Garden City, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, and Star. It was Amazing the whole horizon was fireworks. and of course the people with the illegal fireworks. =) It was awesome. While we were watching, Sister Blaser ( the sister that we live with) brought us out Ice cream. I was almost about to cry but I didn't. It reminded me of the block party that we did every year back at home. 

I miss you guys a lot and I hope you all had a great 4th of July. Hope to hear from you soon. 

Love, 

Elder Lee 

I'm so glad to hear that you had such a great time in Utah. You always deserve those. Sorry I didn't write last week. Really busy.

My living conditions are interesting. The members are awesome. The house is great. We have the basement to ourselves. But our street on the other hand. Oh Buddy! Our street is almost double the legal limit on the incline for the street. The incline of the street is about 17%. and it's a long street. Our window in our living room over sees the Valley. It is so cool. Elder Sproul is Very obedient. He is awesome. He has been out for 20 months. 

We had a baptism on June 11th and Janene from my old area got baptized on the same day so I got to see her after. Unfortunately I didn't get to see her get baptized but I did get a picture with her and she looked really happy. Our baptism that was on that day was with Tiffany Degraff. She is pretty awesome.  She has such a sweet spirit about her and her desire to learn is very inspiring. 

Dave and Lynn are from Newcastle, England. They are really cool and really nice. We just started teaching them the first discussion last night and after the lesson we were talking and Dave mentioned something that made us kinda go. What?!  He told us that both Himself and Lynn both want to be baptized and he said "the bishop didn't tell you?" Ya he might of wanted us to find out on our own. I'm super excited about that.

And Becca Taylor She is getting baptized on the 25th of June. We went in to our appointment with her with full intention to telling her. "OK we need to buckle down and get a date for your baptism."  Well after our lesson with her of course. So after our spiritual thought on Baptism, we said "so about your baptism." and she said. " I know. I have been thinking about it and I have been really thinking about getting to it soon. I have been thinking about the 25th." and we were all like, that is perfect. It's after your birthday and you can have a party after to celebrate.

Love you all,

Elder Lee

June 7, 2011

We are having a baptism on Saturday for Tiffany Degraff!  She is a wonderful young lady.  She is 10 years old and I was asked to give the opening prayer at her baptism! =) Janene's baptism is on the same day!  It is going to be awesome!!

I'm in Boise now!  My new companion is Elder Sproul. He is pretty cool... he was in BAND!! He played sax and he is from Hyrum, Utah. =)  I'm in the foothills above my old area so I get to go to the future baptisms of the people I was teaching before!! And guess what!!  Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were like the best days for missionary work. We taught 2 & 3rd lessons and got 2 new investigators!!! And I extended the baptismal invitation to Thomas. The guy I was talking about last week and he ACCEPTED!!! June 11th!! And Janene's Baptism is June 4th!! So hopefully (if we are not having a baptism here in Boise) I get to go back to both!!! And that will make 3 baptisms in Centennial Ward. I'm so excited for everyone over there!!!! AHHHH!!! XD!!! 

I am definitely sad that I am gone out of my first area. I keep calling it back home since I have been here in Boise.  Saturday and Sunday were really hard for me because I had to say good bye to everyone. We went by Bro. Stanfeild’s and we talked for a little bit and he said some things and I almost started to tear up. He is a wonderful, warm and kind hearted man from Sacramento. I have to introduce you guys to him when you come pick me up. I'm really going to miss that area. But I know that I am needed here in Boise.

I g2g. I love you all,  

Elder Lee

Oh man, it has been a long week. We have been teaching a lot. We had another lesson with Thomas. He is really starting to get more comfortable with us.  He is beginning to understand and is asking a lot of good questions. I am really starting to notice that I'm starting to change on my mission. I am looking forward for people to ask me questions so I can answer them. And I think I did pretty well. We taught him the second lesson. It was a great lesson.

We actually had a fun week too. Today we got to play golf with Brother Rause! You have no idea what that means but to us it’s awesome. We have been trying to play a round of golf with him for the whole transfer. We got to play 18 holes and go to the mall with him before. Right know I'm at the Parkinsons. You know where Ashley lives. We celebrated Skyler's first Birthday.  We got him a card.  I got lots of pictures so you will be able to see it. This is such an awesome family. Ashley has been house sitting her parent’s house and she has been saying stuff like "I can't feel the spirit there" and " I feel so much cleaner here." It is so awesome to here that she can feel the difference of where the spirit is and where it isn't. 

Love 

Elder Lee

What? Jake's been called "The Quiet Man?"

HI Momma,

It was great taking to you too. I loved seeing you guys. You should get a better camera before Christmas. =)

This week has been going very well. We picked up some new investigators and we have been making some good contact with some LA members that we are trying to get back to church.  We just started teaching this one guy his name is Thomas. He is pretty cool. He reminds me a LOT of Jared. He is really into far out things and he is going to school for an engineering degree. He seems really interested and we gave him the first lesson and a Book of Mormon. We taught him at the Peterson's so after we left they all watched the Restoration with him. It was a really good lesson.

Ok, so Janene is soon to have a baptism date again. She told us the 21st we set it all up and it fell through unfortunately. We just need her to keep holding on staying strong, going to church. Get everything settled with her job and have the baptismal interview, and ETTE. She is trying so hard. I HATE THIS ECONOMY!! AHH it is hurting everyone and its making it hard for people to progress in life. We just have to keep our heads high.

I think I have told you about Bro. Stanfeild.  He is from California. He lived in Bakersfield and Grass Valley.  He is a less active that we just love. He is so awesome. He talks forever but that's a good thing. That means he likes us. We met with him this week and it was my turn for the lesson. And I decided that we should have the lesson about Giving and the Feelings of the Holy Ghost. So we watched the Mormon.org video "The lesson I learned as a boy" by  President Gordon B. Hinckley. I told him about the feeling I felt when the ward came to bring us food when Grandma passed away and the feeling I felt of their kindness and their hospitality towards us.  Then he told us about a time that he helped some people out and how he felt the good feeling inside and it was really powerful. You could definitely feel the spirit in that room. After we had the spiritual moment and our prayer, he said to me “It’s always nice to hear from The Quiet Man."  That's his nickname for me. =)  He is great. I had a smile on the rest of the day.

Well, I got to get going. I miss you all. Love you guys so much.

Love,

Elder Lee

P.S.

Everyone that is over the age of 18, make a Mormon.org profile.  Please and thank you. =)

Guess what?

Ashley got baptized on Saturday!!!!! It was SO awesome! And super Spiritual! I can’t even explain how I felt, it was an amazing feeling. She is so awesome, and a super star I’m telling ya. She is about to have her baby last Sunday and she asked everyone on her own if they would do their specific parts at her baptism. We didn't have to do anything really, just set up the room and fill the font. Brother Blaser (Ward mission leader) made the programs. She had the baby on Monday. We talked to her on Wednesday. She said "No matter what. I'm getting baptized on the 7th!" And I was like "Your Awesome!"  Ashley also told us that while she was in the hospital. She didn’t really want to watch TV, so she picked up her phone (that's an Android) and started reading the scriptures that was on it until her phone died.  She is my Hero. Some fully active members don't even do that. I was really impressed with her. Come Saturday 30 people showed up at the baptism. It was a great turn out. The talks were wonderful. The musical number was called Perfect Love, which talked about Christ and his Love for us. By then everyone was crying. Ashley was baptized by her brother-in-law, Zach that got his mission call to Mexico, Mexico City.  The glass in front of the Font was all fogged up. Elder McAdoo and I got the opportunity to be the witnesses. It was great. On Sunday Ashley was confirmed and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Elder McAdoo and I were able to be apart of that wonderful experience also.  Again, I can’t put into words how I felt but it was awesome! I know I say that a lot but it really is true. =)

I got to talk to my family on Mothers Day!!!!!! I got to see how everyone is doing. Take care of some medical business. Craig and Julia are married!!!! What!!! That's crazy! I never would have guessed! Man! I need to know these things. That is big news. Tell them Congrats. 

I love being out here. Being on a mission is the best. No doubt about it. You help people. You teach people. You help people understand better. You get to be with awesome companions. I really hope I don't get a crazy one. But I will try to work through that too. You come closer to your Heavenly Father and Christ. I love it.

I miss you all and I love you.

Elder Lee

Ashley's Baptism!! 5/7/11

The baptisimal service was amazing. Ashley was glowing the whole day and the next when she got confirmed on Mothers Day. =)

Left to Right.
Elder McAdoo, Ashley Parkinson, Thyme Parkinson (her daughter), Zach Parkinson (Ashley's brother in law), and me. 

April 26, 2011

Hey mom,

Q: Are you sitting down?

A: Yes, I am sitting down. That is awesome!!!! I’m sorry I never got around to doing that either. So you are finally going to plant the garden of your dreams and use all those seeds that we bought you for Mothers day that one year. Like 5 years ago. =)

Q: Since you got to Meridian you have lived in the same house serving the same wards right?

A: True. Since I have been in Meridian I have been serving in the same 5 wards that I started in and I am loving it.  I love the people here and I love working with the Non-members. I am truly learning how to be a missionary here and how to love the people that I teach.

Q: Did you have a nice Easter?

A: I had a wonderful Easter! I focused on Christ and His Atonement. On Saturday we got to help out at one of our wards Easter Egg Hunts. It was a lot of fun! We got to look for eggs also and we got too get to know a lot of new people. On Sunday we had Stake Conf. so we got to hear talks from Elder M. Russell Ballard, Elder Johnson from the Seventy, The General Primary president and President Dieter F. Uchdorf.  It was a great session. It was so good we got to go to it twice. =) since our wards were split up. lol I was craving your honey glazed ham all day!!! You have no idea!! I was soo hungry at the end of the day.

Q: Do you every cook for yourself and your companion?

A: Hahaha no. We have nothing really to cook with besides Top Romen. lol I wish I could make some Bulgogi. But it’s too expensive.  =)

=) that was just for you mom. =) I love you so much.

 Ashley’s Baptism is coming up. 2 weeks!!! May 7th!! I’m so excited for both of us. For her that this is the first step to take to living with Heavenly Father again and for me that it’s my first baptism!! I'm more excited for her though.

I love you,

Elder Lee

April 12, 2011

Dear Family,

Thank you so much for all your letters.

Bro Skii. That is so exciting that you are getting such good grades. I'm so proud of you. You are doing so well, and so much better than I ever did in school.  Hey give Herr Boyle my email so I could email him.  Bitte =)  Love ya and I miss you a bunch.

Crystal. It sounds like everything is going so well for you. You got a new cell phone and getting to go to the Temple. Some Exciting times! =) There is so much to look forward too. I hope everything goes well for you at the Olympics! Swimming that’s going to be so much fun.=)  I had a dream last night that you painted my old room pink. Is everything working out for you?  I miss you. Love ya.

Daddy. Thank you so much for that letter. I greatly appreciated it. It’s good to hear that you have so much work and you have been receiving those blessings. Please be careful while you work. I don’t want anything to happen to anyone while I am gone. Every time I see an old car I think of that Chevelle.  It’s good that you want to start working on it again. I was wondering if you guys still have the Mazda? I hope you keep it. I miss stick shift. We have a car for the next week because of Elder McAdoos surgery. I keep going to shift. It’s a habit now.=) I miss you daddy. So much. Love ya.  I'll write Grandma and Grandpa when I get some time.

Momma. You gave me the Good SEAWEED!!! It was AMAZING!!!! It was soooo good. Thank you for your conversion story and your testimony. It was really touching.=). This is the last week of this transfer. Monday will be the start of the next transfer. Transfer #3!! I don't know if I will be leaving yet. I'm kind of scared. I really want to stay. I really feel that I have not done enough for this area this transfer. With Elder McAdoo being so sick. That alone took up about a week and a half. I don’t know. I have come to love this area. Ashley has a Baptismal date. May 7th!! And Janene has had most of the lessons done!! We are going to make a baptismal date for her!!  Exciting times in this area. We have a car! Because Elder Mcadoo's surgery. We have been getting so much more work done. It has been such a blessing. We have been working a lot with the Haradas. They are a wonderful family. We helped them set up for their gymnastics meet and helped out time the events. It was so much fun and very productive. One of the friends of the Haradas is a member that was there and she told us. After this whole thing, they really wanted to prioritize their life and make church a priority. And after we heard that I was jumping around, only in my head of course. And I really was thinking about this writing in my journal. I really care deeply about that family. I want the best for them. I want them to go to church. I want the kids to get the lessons and be baptized so the whole family can be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity. That’s where I want my converts to go, is the temple. Baptism just happens. It’s a crucial step. But the temple seals the deal. We talked to Brother Harada the other day and he said that he is all in for going to church. And he told us that all you have to do is to get my wife and kids on board. So ya, hoping we could do that. Soon!  Kelsey is another investigator we are working with. She has had all the lessons and she is having a hard time with her Dad. He won’t let her get baptized. We have been working with her for a while, and she loves meeting with us. She told us that we have helped her out a lot. And when we told her that we have one more week of transfers and then told her what that meant. Being one of us might leave or we both stay. She flipped out. She told us that she was going to pray really hard for us to stay. And she said "you two have been sent here for a reason and that reason is to help me with my dad."  She is really nice. Hopefully her prayers will help touch our Presidents heart. Well, I love you so much.  I got to go. Love you, I miss you.

Elder Lee

April 5, 2011

So the past week has been crazy.  So here is the story. Saturday night my companion threw up 24 times. Of course I was asleep the whole time. When I woke up he told me. We ended up not going to church. He felt horrible the whole day. So at the end of the day I gave him a blessing. I truly felt the spirit talk to me. I had no idea on what to say so I listened to the Spirit. When I didn't know what to say I heard a voice telling me what to say. I was literally a mouthpiece for the Lord. It was Amazing. Monday was the same thing. He was really bad but we thought it was just something else. That night at midnight he woke me up and said we are going to the hospital. He said it was the worst pain he has ever felt. So President Cannon took us and we were there for 3 hours. They told us that his appendix was inflamed. He had to have surgery in the morning at 8 and the surgery will take 30 minutes unless there were complications. The Surgery took and hour and a half.  Apparently, his appendix burst 36 hours before the surgery. So it was around Sunday that it burst. They said "anytime waiting longer than 12 hours is dangerous." because the bacteria can spread to your heart and brain. But all of the bacteria stayed in his stomach area. So they said he was lucky. We think he was blessed. Heavenly Father needs him around longer.

Ashley is doing great. We finished the last lesson with her. So all she needs to do is to have the baptismal questions and some other stuff needs to happen and she is good! =)  Two more weeks in this transfer so hopefully I will stay in this area. Fingers crossed.

Is there an Elder Bradley Out there? Because in one of our buildings it has that Elder Bradley is in the Sacramento Mission. So keep an eye out for him.

Conference way awesome!!! Jeffrey R Holland’s talk was great too. Seriously, a temple in Meridian!!! Hopefully it will be done before I go home. Our mission has 3 temples now! Crazy!  I saw Doug King singing IN CONFRENCE!!!!  It was so cool!!!

I love you guys so much. Stay in touch. You’re always in my prayers. =)

Elder Lee

March 29, 2011

Today has to be short.  I have had a long day.  Sorry.  The wards I am serving in are: Centennial, Bristol Heights, Hobble Creek, Edinburgh, and Vienna woods.  Awesome wards. I love them. I have to go to my appointment.  I love you.  I am having my appointment with Ashley. This is going to be awesome!  I love you all so much. Great job Jared!!!  On Eagle badges and your Grades!!! =)  Good luck Crystal in you TRAINING!! =)  Mom when ever you can get that package to me. I will be so happy. If I could get the shirts soon that would be great because after General Conference this Sunday I’m going No Coat!  =) I love you. Thank you so much.  I have been praying for all of you. Love ya.

Elder Lee

I promise to write more next week.

March 22, 2011

Hey everyone,
Everything is going great in Idaho.  The weather is really weird here, windy too.  We were walking yesterday and it started raining.  Light at first then it got harder and harder then it just stopped.  Then it started raining in the distance and we just watched it come towards us. And it started to rain hard on us. Someone gave us an umbrella because she couldn't give us a ride. This was all on one street and within 10 minutes. Transfers were ok.  I'm in the same place which is good and my companion is Elder McAdoo.  He was my trainers companion in the MTC. And my trainer went to Elder McAdoo's old area in Oregon so I am destined to go there!

We are doing our hardest with what we can. I know Heavenly Father has been teaching me and I think I haven't been getting it until now.  I am going to go above and beyond with the work.  I love getting letters!  Thank you to those have been sending them and packages. It warms my heart every time I see my friends names and Elk Grove. I love you all and I miss you guys.

 

Love always,

Elder Lee

March 15, 2011

Hi Momma,

 

Ashley is doing great! I didn't have my companion last Tuesday so it was just my ward mission leader and I. I was freaking out because I wasn't prepared and the next lesson was on the 3rd lesson and we only practiced it like once in the MTC. So I was pretty scared. But I knew the Spirit was with me, and Ashley would feel the spirit and understand what I was trying to tell her. The Spirit was so strong. I deffinatly felt it. I somewhat knew what I was doing. But the Spirit was guiding me right along. We talked about her baptism date and she wants to be baptized around the end of April. But we are really trying to talk to her about making it earlier because you know how Satan trys to tempt us and gives us obsticals that might make her struggle along the way. Hopefully we can talk to her about that.

I will be in Meridian another 6 weeks until transfers. And then IDK. Who knows where I might go. I might just stay in meridian.

 

I love you Momma!

Give everyone a hug for me.

 

Love,

Elder Lee

March 8, 2011

Hi Mom,

Yup, transfers were yesterday and I am still in Meridian. I'm so happy.  I don't have a companion yet. I'm with my Zone Leader right now. But I should get to meet him this afternoon. Elder Threet (my zone leader) is awesome. We have been talking about all the people he had contact with in this area. This area was where he was trained. Telling me things I should remember and who I should take care of and who I should work on that was dropped from when he was here last. We went to a couple of places and he has a relationship with them that is amazing. He said. "The people I teach, I grow to love them and I come to talk to them like brothers and sisters." That's what I want to do. I want to love everyone I teach and have them come closer to their Heavenly Father. That would be Amazing! =) I would be so happy when I come to that point in my mission that I care about investigations and less actives and members so much that they are like family. =)

Tell Vera Happy Birthday for me. 

 

I have been to the temple a couple of times. It's really pretty. I go to the Boise Temple.

 

Ashley is doing great. She wants to pick her own date to be baptized. This is going to be so cool for her. =) I'm so excited. We have another investigator. Her name is Janeen. We just met her and she wants to be baptized too!! She knows the church is true she knows the Book of Mormon is true from what we know by meeting with her and talking with her that one time. She was going to church when she was 14 and she took all the discussions and had a baptism date but she moved. And never got baptized. Now she is 40. Her friend is taking the discussions and she told Janeen that she should meet with the missionaries. We asked her to be baptized on the 26th of March and she said she would. We might have to push it back. But I'm Super Excited for her too!! After so many years! She told us out of all the churches she has been to, this is the church that makes the most sense. So cool.

Well, its still snowing. Not enough to stick at the moment but enough to see it fall. You would love it here. My area isn't a car area anymore so I think I'm going to be on bike the whole time. So crazy. Time to get in shape!!

  

I miss you too Momma. I love you too.

Love,

Elder Lee

March 1, 2011

Everything is going great. Hopefully we are going to have another lesson with Ashley tonight and give her that baptismal commitment. We picked up 3 new investigators tracting. They seem promising. We went tracting with a new elder and we knocked on this house and his friend answered the door and we taught a rough 1st discussion. We are going to try to go for another appointment soon... So about the house. Awesome! Did Dad and Uncle Stan do it all themselves?

Ok, so cool spiritual lesson here.

I was reading in Revelations. I actually did this for one of my dinner scriptures. In chapter 12 it talks about the war in heaven and how we are fighting a mighty dragon (Satan) and his army. And in Verses 7-11 it talks about what we use to defeat the army's.  They specifically say they use their words and their Testimony's. So they didn't use swords or their fists to fight..... Being in Idaho doesn't mean I don't get yelled at or cursed at.  I still have to stand for what I believe and have a smile on my face and wave at them if they are in a car yelling at us. We have to be Christ like. We are His people. We fight not with fists but with our words and our actions.  If someone starts pounding on what we believe we have to stand up for what we believe. Our Testimony is our greatest weapon to soften the hearts of those who harden their hearts against us.

Well, I got to go. I love you all so much.

Love,

Elder Lee  =)

February 22, 2011

Dear Family,

I taught my first "first" lesson!!! super exciting. This investigator just married a less active 2 weeks ago and 2 weeks ago we asked if they wanted to take the lesson.. Ashley said she would!!!  So great! We gave her and her husband Josh, a Book of Mormon during the lesson to read from.  Josh said, "Oh that will due until we get her a quad with her name engraved on the front."  She was telling us about how Josh has been answering all her questions about the church and then we are thinking that "man, he still has a testimony." Oh ya!  Then at the end of the lesson we asked Ashley if she was to continue to read from the Book of Mormon and pray about it and to gain a testimony if she would be baptized and she said YES!!!  I'm so excited for her, you have no idea.  Well I really have to go now. I love you all so much. Jared, I am still waiting for my letter from you!!!! =) I hope everything is going well and turns for the best.

Love,

Elder Lee

=)

P.S. Tell you more next Tuesday. =)

February 15, 2011
 

 That's  horrible about the toilet tank overflowing upstairs! That's crazy. The Halls (the members that we are staying with) left for a week. So we are in charge of the house.  I hope nothing happens like that while they are gone! Don't worry everything is going to be fine. =) fingers crossed.

Yes! I got the Package. Thank you very much. Everything was wonderful. I was so excited when I saw the seaweed you have no idea!. lol 

The talk in Sacrament went ok. My companion and I only had 5 minutes each so it was short.  So it was good. =) you know me. I was really nervous. But they said I did good.   We are in a car share area so we get the car for a week and another companionship gets the car for a week and we just trade back and forth. When we don't have the car, our Zone leaders drive us to the store, library and so on.
 

I have another like.....4 weeks with Elder Richards. Transfers are 6 weeks apart.  I will let you know when I have a new companion. 

I think I failed to mention. I cover 5 wards in my area. All the wards cover less than a 3 square mile area. some wards have 10 deacons and 2 of the deacons have 2 trays to pass the Sacrament.  Huge wards!

I love you all so much. Your always in my prayers, now probably a little more.

LOVE YA

Elder Lee