Week 19

Note from Michelle: Ryan had a hard week, one of the elders from his area was hit by a Yukon on Friday and is in critical condition in a coma. Ryan didn't want to talk about it but asked for your prayers for Elder Howe. 

Hey y'all this week was a dozy for sure! So first off! If your car dies under the bath-tub don't wait two weeks to call the missionary's,  just don't OK. Then  don't make the missionary's eat a ton of food especially when that are going to more appointments after your house on Thanksgiving, you're not helping! But idk if that's a problem other then here in the South! And black Friday sucks a ton!!!

Ok Monday. P-day, the AP picked us up and we went to the institute at LSU where we were going to meet up with other missionary's but they did not show so we got back into the car and went to the stake center to see what was going on there, which was nothing! Then they dropped us off at the apt where we did nothing there until dinner at brother Shoutay's house, that was nice to see him and get some more homemade bread! 

Tuesday, was fun we went to district meeting which was fun then we went out for lunch at Olive Garden, because the soup and salad are cheep, and good. We had a good time there, then we came home, went to help out a member who was moving, and that was fun and lasted up until dinner. Brother Smith took us out to Applebees and that was great to get to talk with him, and eat good food! 

Wednesday, we did reg service at the food bank which is always fun, then went to McD's for lunch which was sad :(, then we came home, took a shower then the north elders came and picked us up to go see if I could get my watch fixed. On the way we got stuck in traffic and the the Spanish elders called and they need a ride so we got out of traffic and went to pick them up as well.  We already had 4 elders in the car and we were going to pick up 2 more so wow, that was tight fit and we still didn't get anywhere, so then we went to our meeting with the sisters that are in our ward, to see how we can further the work in this area, and to get the members to like us more and to have them help us more. Then we went to Costco for food and dinner. We came home, went to our neighbors to play cards. then we did a hard workout. 

Thursday Thanksgiving! We went to breakfast at the Saints, and that's was awesome we told funny story's  one included sister Saints 73 year old naked comp ruining down the hall get chased  by a rat. Then we went to the Sanders for round 2 and that was fun we played bumper pool, then we headed out for Miss. Patty's for round 3, where we talked, ate more food... then we came home and played monopoly ( I don't like that game ) 

Friday. we biked to the mall after studying, and I do not like the mall at all, nope don't like! We were there all day and there was no good deals to be had. Then we had a movie night which did not work out to well. 

Saturday. In the morning we had to bike to the church which was 10.5 miles on a big busy road, for a funeral service, for a member, so we did it in like 35 min's  and then the rest of the day we did not dp too much but nap and get ready for Sunday.

Sunday. We had church always the best! Then we had to deal with a dead cat, don't ask! Then we ran around trying to do reg missionary work, which we ended up in a real ghetto area, so we went home before it got too dark, then we played cards with out neighbors again.

Yep that was my week it was interesting for sure! Anyways love you and hope the best for you y'all

Love Elder Gordon 

Week 18

Hi All,

Not much time this week, but it does feel like I was just here the other day, writing an email to you y'all. But anyway I had a way good week we had dinner at a member's house Monday night and on the way we helped this nice guy move into his apartment.  It was pretty cool to help him out because he had no idea how he was going to do it by himself. I am just glad that we went early to our dinner appointment. This week we had Zone Conference, that was fun we talk about how to keep the cars in better working order, then we talked about bike safety, then watched a cheesy video about biking stuff.  We had dinner at this one member's house and that was way good we had a lesson about the plan of salvation and it was a way cool discussion. ( you can never know to much about it).

This week it got a lot colder, we went to get on our bikes to go to a lesson and we made it out of the parking lot and the wind hit us and we were like nope... we went back inside to get hats and jackets then we left. But the other day we were riding to the north Elder's apt to get a ride to go do some service and we were in shorts and I was drinking my smoothie and boy I was cold, so ya I guess that winter finely hit the south  yep ye. 

But this week was fun, I hope the next is ever better! love you all  have a good Thanksgiving! 

Love Elder Gordon 

Week 17

Another week gone, just like that. I am coming to love Baton Rouge, I still love Marksville more,  and miss all the people but this week was kinda interesting.

Monday, was fun we went to the stake center, everyone goes to the stake center so it was fun. We played basketball for a good while, then we played volleyball, after that we went to a members house for dinner, which was nice to get to know them better. 

Tuesday, we had district meeting then lunch, we went to a  Philly cheese stake place and that was really good, after that we went to the mission office to get some more things like pass a long cards and more Books of Mormon's, because we hand out a ton. After that we went to knock doors, but then brother Smith took us out to dinner at some nice place and I came to the realization that I love blackened (just really good seasoning) oysters, sounds crazy, if you know my at all, but I love them! But ya we had dinner and it was the best! 

Wednesday, we ran a ton of errands (which takes a while on a bike), we went to the dug store, back to the mission office, to get something else for our area book, then we came home to drop off the stuff and we went back out to tract, for the rest of the day then we came home to workout (which we do every night), and the workout was killer but way fun. 

Thursday, we planned for next week then we went out tracing, came back for dinner, then the North Elder's came over, and we went out to get some things at a sport's store it was nice to get out and go to the store. 

Friday, regular day some tracing, then we went to Costco for food, and we came back with 15 dozen eggs and a king size blanket (the blanket is mine) that was fun, for diner we went to a members house and he fed us, red bean's and rice, then he sent us with the rest, which was like 3 pounds of rice and beans, which is crazy. we also snagged a few loafs of bread which he makes every week.

Saturday, we went to do service at the food bank for like 3 hours that was super fun, then we went to see a new-ish member, then we had interviews with the president, that was great to get to know him better. then we went tracing.

Sunday, we went to church, we had a linger longer it was nice to get to talk with the ward members and we got a lot of pie. Then we came home and took a nap, because well it the day of rest... then we went tracing which is not really effective on football Sunday, so that was my week. 

Anyway the Gospel is the bast thing that can and will happen in your life! 

Love you all a ton have a good week, 

Love Elder Gordon,

Week 16

I am doing good. My new area is super cool, I am in Baton Rouge and the part I am in is called Tiger Bend and my word is large. My new comp is a way cool kid from Ohio, he has been out for almost two years and he's going home next transfer so I am killing him off. (which means I will be his last comp). At first I was mad about leaving Marksville because the work there was looking up and I was loving the people there. But then I came to the realize that it is all in the Lord's hands and He can't mess up! That and the sister missionaries that are up here are the best so it all ok.

Alright so first off I did leave my last area Wednesday morning at 7:30-ish  but, it was sad to leave my first place. We had done a lot of good, also it was hard to leave all of the good food that was in the fridge we had about two racks of ribs in there :( and a ton of other food like ice-cream and just good stuff but it all went to a good cause (the sister missionaries). Oh that and I do miss the people a ton for sure. but we drove down to Baton Rouge in the morning to the stake center there to see where I would be going, once I got there I was told to put my crap in that car and my new home is in Tiger Bend, and I was like ok. So ya I am here in Baton Rouge, Tiger Bend which is in the Baton Rouge 3rd ward and we share the ward with two sets of awesome sister missionaries.  Anyway I am now on a bike which is awesome and I mean it, ( I think).  (Ryan told me his butt was sore) My new comp is Elder Ralph and he's is the best, he follows the rules and works hard which is the best because I don't think I  am ready to deal with a careless comp yet! Anyway we have a big apartment with two bathroom's which is so nice because I don't have to share. Since I have been here I have changed my eating plans a ton Elder Ralph has a smoothie ever morning and he can't eat dairy nor soy and he eats super healthy, which is that best, so I also have a smoothie ever morning and sometimes for dinner and I put a ton of spinach, strawberry's, pineapple, banana's, protein powder. chia seeds, flax seeds, and a whole ton of almond milk, it's real good. No junk food, no sugar, and it's all good. but other then that life is good I love it here in LA. 

So  the other day I finished studying Christlike attributes and holy cow I have a long way to go, before I will be ready to meet my maker. They are all so good but faith, hope and charity are most importation because without those three you are nothing see ( Moroni 7:45-47). but ya the gospel is the bast and it the only way. 

Love you all so much and I wish you all the very best. 

Love Elder Gordon

 

 

Week 15

Holy cow this past week was insane! It went by super fast I don't remember much. Monday was the same we carved pumpkins but down here in the south pumpkins don't last at all because it's still like high 80's and my pumpkin just died overnight in then in the sun, and elder Deakins was infested by ants by Wednesday.

Tuesday we had district meeting it was great and very heartfelt because everyone is leaving. 

Wednesday was fun we did the same as always bible study, saw people and had a good time. 

Thursday was another fun day we went on splits I stayed in Marksville with Elder Bown and we had a really good time we drove everywhere trying to talk with people but we ended up back at the apt. so we did a workout while dinner was cooking (dirty rice) and the workout was insane, by the end of it I could not lift my arms above my head, and I also threw up a ton because it was just that intense! 

Friday was awesome,  we had ZTM and it was the best, we had a basketball activity which was bump (lightning,speed, whatever you call it) and it was with the whole zone so like 40 people and I won, me out of everyone, it was fa un throw down in my nice pants and vest and tie. Then we went home took a nap, went to see a family that we are teaching and it was good for sure. 

Saturday was a big day it was Brittney Wrights baptism!!!!!!!! that day was fun and very interesting. It went by fast and the spirit was super strong. It makes me happy to know that I helped Brittney make the best decision in her life. 

Sunday was a good normal day, went to church, went to see the Griffins, then wet to some baby naming thing out in the backwoods with some members. 

Monday it was nice we went to see a bunch of people and they were all home. Then we went to go have lunch at the browns and holy cow sister brown can cook up some good ribs she made like 4 big old racks and then gave us the rest so that was awesome! Then we had to be in the house by 6 because it was Halloween so we got some ice-cream and watched the restoration video like 10 times  it was fun. 

Then today Tuesday was interesting we got up to Alexandria early and met the district at I-Hop for elder Butlers birthday it was nice then we got a call from president and he told us ( me and elder Deakin) that we are both leaving Marksville tomorrow for transfers, which make me sad because I don't think it is time for me to leave.  There is so much work here to do and we have made a lot of progress, I don't want to loose that progress.  But no, I am out in the morning and I have no clue where I am going yet. But it's all ok because it's all in the Lord hands and he knows what is up, all I need to do is trust him! 

Other then that I love life, it can't get much better! The Church is true, if you like it or not. And we can all live with our Father in Heaven once again if we abide by His teachings and His commandments. 

Love you all!

Love Elder Gordon 

and here are the pictures of the baptism I think my tie was appropriate for the occasion because you know ducks and water. 

Week 14

Week 14

IDK if I should even write this week because I did not get a letter this week! But that's ok I know that you're on your way to make a change! This week was super busy and fast but I do not expect anything else! This week we had a bunch of lessons and a bunch of new investigators we have a baptism coming up this week on Saturday so that exiting🐼 

This past week I was studying Christlike Attributes and wow we can all learn a ton from the Preach my Gospel on the Attributes. But the most important are faith, hope and charity. Because without those life is much harder. 

I know this church it true. I know that God love us all individually and has a plan for all of us, if you have faith and hope he'll get you to where you need to be and you'll be happy there! I love you all and sorry for the shorter letter. 

Love Elder Gordon