Big Old Fat Rain!

Yeah, Yeah you know the drill by now.  Here is what Dyllon had to say today!

Dyllon: Hey, I'm on.

Mindy: Hey Dyllon it is Mom. How are you doing today? How is the weather in Tennessee? Did your 3 female investigators come to church yesterday?

Dyllon: It's been raining 24/7 We're on hurricane warnings. we got our investigators to church, they loved it!

 Kendall: Hey sorry, your email didn't come through earlier. How are you. How has been the last week since we last talked?

Dyllon: Awesome! Last week was busy, We had an investigator drop us, but we got our 3 promising investigators to church! They loved it and were really fellow shipped.

Kendall: This is Dad, so glad that you got the three girls to church. Is the mom still okay for them to be baptized on the 29th? Do you have a portable DVD player? Too bad about the Tennessee loss. Is everybody bummed?

Dyllon: We have a follow up lesson with them tonight and we're going to go over with a member and really get the mom involved! We do have one baptism for the 29th though, "C" the 9 year old from the less active family.

Mom:  That is wonderful. I am glad that she and her family have been reactivated. I hope that they are able to find good friends in the ward that keep them active.  I hope that the girls mom finds a common bond with the member that is going over with you tonight. It always helps when you find a friend that is there for you and understands your questions. Did you have to bust out the rain coat?

Dyllon: I have the rain coat out today, It's raining like Ive never seem before! Small rain, Big rain, Raing the blows sideways, Big old fat rain!

Mindy: ah.. there is the sense of humor that I love.  So, I am bad and have not sent you a sweatshirt yet. BAD MOM. The only one that I can find is the one that Colby gave you and I am not sure you want that one. I will go and buy one today and send it. Do you want an XL? Or, would you just rather go and buy one today at Pday and I can put money in your account. That way if you are cold it will be taken care of today.

Dyllon: I got Aush a shirt, It has the rocky top song on the back, I'll send it today! As for a sweatshirt for me, I like the crew neck sweatshirts. but if it has a hood it's no big deal, i don't really like the zipper ones though. Dad, Everyone was in a crappy mood Sunday, We tried to tract on Saturday, the most common response was, "Watching Football, I'll come to church tomorrow" I heard the ending of BYU Utah was crazy! BYU Got like 3 chances at a field goal or something like that?

Kendall: It was pretty crazy. The fans stormed the field after a blocked kick, but the ball was still live and they assessed Utah with a 15 yard penalty. BYU lined up to kick it again and it bonked off the field goal post and the Utes won. Dave's picture was in the DesNews with his face all painted going crazy. It was funny to see. Yeah a crazy ending for sure.  Yeah, if you just put like 30 bucks in my account that would work, It just get's cold in the morning.

Mindy: okay, I will go and put $50 in your account tonight, so just buy a sweatshirt that way you will have it tonight. I will put the vans and body wash in the mail tonight. Anything else that you need? I wanted to send you a gift card. If I sent a subway card would you be able to use it?

Dyllon: If you could find my football, That would be fun for P-days, and coupons. Also if you could send more pictures of back home, The families in my ward and investigators love to see pictures of home. I would love a Subway gift card!

Mindy: I am putting a little coupon book together for you. I have bought a small photo album (4x6) that you can keep in your back pack. okay, we will get some printed out today and get them in the package. Okay, I will get everything in the mail tonight. I hope that you have a super good week. We are praying for you and the people that you teach.

Dyllon: Send me that picture of Dave! haha.  Thank you! Also let Dave know I'm going to send a letter out to him and Lindsy today!

Kendall: Do you think that you might get transferred in the next transfer in Oct?

Dyllon: i wont get transferred until at least November.

Kendall: We love you Dyllon, we love to hear from you and glad that you are having some success. Keep up the good work and rely on our heavenly father will any struggles you may have.

Love Dad.

Mom's computer locked up, but she says that she loves you and that we sent letters today in the mail. Talk to you next week.

Dyllon: Thank you mom, Thank you dad! I love you and you're in my prayers! Let the kids know i love them too! Talk to you next week!

Mindy: Love you lots Dyllon!

Zone Conference

We did not get an email on Monday from Dyllon.  It turns out that it was zone conference.  I have been super busy at home as we are refinancing our home and have spent my spare time getting ready fotrthe appraisal.  Here is what Dyllon had to say last wee.

Dyllon:  Hey I'm on.

Kendall: Hi Dyllon How are you!?

Mindy: Hey, its Mom. How are you doing today?

Dyllon: I'm doing good! sorry i didn't email yesterday, we had zone conference. How are you guys?

Kendall: Mom and I are on at the same time. We are going to try and just send you one email reply back and forth so we don't overwhelm you with questions. Did you read our email this week. Mom wonders if you could answer some of her questions in it? She's dying to know (ha ha).

Dyllon: I knew about the Utes on Saturday :/ Elder Snow from the 70 came to talk at stake conference and he's a Utah State alumni! He was bragging all about it. My skin is doing really good, I've actually lost 10 pounds! i am going to get a haircut next P day. I could use some more body wash. The best meal I've had was probably Sister Craft's Mexican food. She's from Columbia and it was the real deal. The worst thing I've eaten was liver and onions. Yikes!

Mindy: Hey, I received an email from Hunter yesterday. He is recovering from is malaria. I told him that I was going to send him a care package and asked him what he wanted. He asked for BBQ sauce, crunchy peanut butter, rica a roni, creme savers, jelly bellys and koolaid. Can you believe that he asks for everyday items that we take for granted. I am glad that you are able to get the things that you want and need easily. How are your investigators doing?

Dyllon: My investigators are doing okay. The old lady "A" dropped us because her daughter got her some anti Mormon literature. so that's sad. But we have 3 young women "A" (17) "Al"(16) and "H" (13) That we tracted into. They have been progressing fast and have a "Soft Commitment" to be baptized on the 29th. The only problem is their mom is not interested in the gospel and is reluctant to let her girls get baptized.

Mindy: Have you gotten our packages? We will get you some bodywash and send it out. How was the girl "C", is she still wanting to be baptized? Also how was Zone conference?

Dyllon: I got your packages yesterday. The mission office here isn't very good at forwarding packages. "C 'is still wanting to get baptized we still need to teach her some lessons though. Zone Conference was good. it's fun getting together with all the other elders and sisters. I like the Neutrogena body wash. Thank you. I sent you guys out a hand written letter last night. I'm going to try to do one of those a week, so keep on the lookout for that.

Mindy: what packages did you get? I am just curious?

Dyllon: The deodorant and cookies, My Blessing and razor blades. I went on a companion exchange last Friday with Elder Grabinger into the Spanish area. He just got switched over their 2 months ago. While i was out their i just had an distinct impression that i might get switched to Spanish. I'm kind of nervous because they're short on Spanish elders. Yes i can get Aushlynn a shirt. What size?

Mindy: If it a women's shirt get her a large. If it is a men's shirt get her a medium. Well, hopefully you can pick up Spanish if you do get switched. But either way the Lord will help and bless you. Is there anything else that you want that we can send you?

Dyllon: Coupons, We usually shop at walmart. A sweatshirt, and a pair of my vans.  (THAT'S MY BOY!)

Mindy: OOoooo...my favorite...Coupons. What kind for food? Breakfast and Lunch ? What sweatshirt? Your lifeguard one? What color of vans?

Dyllon: Just coupons like lunch and dinner, my lifeguard sweatshirt got stolen at 7 peaks. So just a Sweatshirt of any kind. and my grey vans will work. That's gonna be crazy! Well, it's been great talking to you! I have to get a lunch appointment! I love you all and keep a look out for that letter! Have a great week. i get the t shirt.

Mindy: Bye, have a great week!  We Love you!!!

Holidays....on a Monday!

                                                              Elder Fr...

First off can I say........."Who in the world would decide to put a holiday on a Monday!!" And, why are libraries closed on holidays? Wouldn't more people go to the library if it was open on their day off?  Did they not realize that it upsets the careful emotional balance of a missionary mom.  All holidays need to be on Thursdays and Fridays ONLY.  We must put a bill into congress!  Missionary Moms Unite!!

You probably guessed that I did not get an email on Monday.  My Monday was going great until Kendall woke me up at 5:00 a.m. to tell me that the library is closed today.  Me in the fog of sleep said, so, I don't need to go to the library today. Then he said, Dyllon uses the library to look and send his emails, he won't be able use the library today.  What!  I was instantly wide awake.  Kendall promptly fell back asleep.  For the life of me I could not go back to sleep because all I could think about was my email was in jeopardy of getting to me today.  I was so looking forward to it!  Thanks for waking me up so early and telling me!  Could you not have waited until......say I woke up on my own to tell me and shatter my heart!

I checked my phone all day for a message because I was hoping he could find a way to send an email, but one never came........sigh!

Around 10:30, I felt the familiar buzz of my phone in my pocket and it was Dyllon.  Yes!
Here is what he had to say:

Dyllon: Het I'm on for an hour. ( Is this a spelling error or what they say in Tennessee?)

Mindy: Hi

Kendall: Hi Dyllon, dad is here as well. How are you.

Dyllon: I'm sending pictures! I'm good! how are things back home?

                                    Dyllon in his University of Tennessee shirt

Mindy: Things are going great, we figured you wouldn't be able to email us yesterday because the Library was closed for Labor Day.

Dyllon: Yeah! all the library's were closed! we went to the mall for p day.

Kendall: I can see the big mall on google maps. It looks huge. How are your investigators doing. Any progress?

Mindy: So, how has it been with your investigators, any updates?

Dyllon: No, We've been really focusing our efforts on less actives. The problem out here is missionary's will baptize someone and once they're baptized they're totally forgotten and never come to church.

Kendall: That's too bad, it's important that the ward take an active role in fellowshipping the members once they are baptized. That really shouldn't be your job.

                      Elder S, Elder Brown, Elder M, Sister S, Sister C and Elder W
                                       Building Lasting Friendships at the MTC!

Mindy: So have you been back to see the older lady?

Dyllon: We're teaching the old lady "A", we tracted into a new family who say they lost faith in their baptist church and have invited us back. And yesterday we received a referral from mormon.org. we went to see him and he had been reading the book of mormon and lost it. So he contacted us so we could give him a new one. He say's he believes Joseph Smith was a prophet and invited us to come back.

Mindy: Awesome, what did "J" have to say?

Dyllon: She doesn't understand priesthood. She thinks just any baptism will do. She doesn't understand it has to be by proper priesthood authority, so she declined our invitation to be baptized.

Mindy: We will keep her in our prayers.....maybe something will happen. Did you get our package and Aunt Jana's? Do you like the Ties? I spoke with Kari yesterday. Hunter has contracted Malaria.  Keep him in your prayers. So, how big is your mission area? is it just the city of Chilhowee or do you also serve in the Knoxville area. Thanks for the pictures they are awesome.

                                                      Dyllon's sweet Ride!

Dyllon: My area is Chilhowee, Corryton and Maynardville.

Mindy: So what is your typical day like?

Dyllon: Wake up at 6:30 eat breakfast. Get ready at 7. start studying by 8, start tracting and getting to appointments by 11. go to a members house for dinner at 6ish, around 7 get back to appointments until 8:30 come home by 9. Plan the next day and go to bed by 10:30.

Mindy: So, you sound like you are having a good time. Did you get the razor blades that I sent you? Are you needing me to send you anything? How did the cookies survive? Were they edible?
I like the Tennessee Shirt. Hey, you never let me know what you wanted me to do with your last check. Put it in your account or pay your tithing?

Dyllon: Pay Tithing, but the tithing shouldn't take up that whole check. Put What's left in my account.

Mindy: It was only $20, it was your uniform deposit. I"ll put it all for tithing.

Dyllon: Did you see the pictures of Neyland stadium?

Kendall: Yes, is Neyland stadium in your area? That was cool. A bunch of people will get a kick out of seeing those pictures.

Mindy: Yes, very cool, glad that you got to visit. is it nice around the stadium?

Dyllon: Thanks for the sport's updates! Keep them coming! The Stadium is huge! I only have a couple seconds left. I love you and will talk to you guys next week! have a good week,

Mindy: Bye...we love you too!

Did you notice that I was only getting a few of my questions answered?  Not cool!  I guess that I need to stop sending emails until he answers the first one.  But, maybe he was just concentrating on sending pictures.

                                                      Chilhowee Tennessee