Reynoldsburg--Tornado! Almost.

Ya I don't know what else to say then to tell you about my day today. We were at a Brother Perfect's house all day to day cooking food for Elder Bradley's Birthday celebration. We had a great BBQ lunch with his wife and grandson who is a recent convert. Also with the Elders from Pickerington, and the zone leaders from Gahana. We share the car with the Pickerington Elders, and one of the zone leaders (I don't know how to spell his name) served in Reynoldsburg.

So it was a big fun event. One funny thing while Elder Bradley and I were cooking Brother Perfect was playing video games. I got some pictures I will send. The food was all great we had Ribs that had been cooked in Beer, then drained and cooked in Moonshine BBQ sauce. It was amazing. We also had stuffed mushrooms, which had crab and ritz crackers, and lots and lots of butter. They to were very good. Then we also had potato salad and corn. It was a large meal.

Then right as we finished and cleaned up a tornado warning was given and all the sirens were going off. That's an ominous sound. Then we had really crazy wind and tons of rain. The streets were flooded and we could hardly see as we drove home. Oh and there was tons of lightning. When it all died down and we were leaving to come email we noticed that one of the trees was slightly chard and was tipped over either from lightning or the wind because I also say tree roots. So I will tell you more next time if I remember.

That's what happened and is new in my life. I almost experienced my first tornado. So close but not that close. Anyway I love you and loved talking to you yesterday. Love the pictures. Tell dad to not hurt himself. You to mom don't hurt yourself with all this new work. Love you all and I will email you all next Monday. Keep it real!

Love Elder Young   

Reynoldsburg OHHHHHH

Well Emma it sounds like everyone had fun but you :) Well that the life of a girl going to college, with parents that have a grandson. If it makes you feel any better I got to walk out side all day this week in 62 degree weather that felt like 80 with humidity. On top of that we didn't meet with anyone that was interested till Sunday. 

This week we really just was just very long. Wednesday I had zone conference were they told me that we will finally be getting Ipad mini's. So we will have to figure out how they want us to pay for it so I will get back to you on that one when I know whats happening. That was really the highlight of this week. Mostly we have been seeing Brother Durham everyday because he stopped smoking again so we have been going by to give support and be a distraction. Walking sucks because you get places so slow.

We have also been inside a lot because Elder Bradley's diabetes has been just draining him. He has been having really low numbers as well as crazy high numbers. Like he was four hundred one morning (that's crazy high). So ya we have been taking sick days or hours for him to gain strength. He also has insomnia so he doesn't sleep that much so he just was not feeling good. I have been learning a lot about diabetes these past transfers.

I did get your package. Thank you so much for that I have been enjoying the music you sent me every night before I fall asleep. Also the candy and the beef jerky that is made in Forest Grove OR has been great.

Oh I almost forgot. We had a big service project working on a hiking trail down in hawking Ohio. At least that's were I think it was. It was so beautiful down there. All the trees had their leafs and the hill were just breath taking in comparison to Reynoldsburg. We then also got to see a little bit of a hiking trail called Old Man's Cave. You should look it up its awesome. That was another big highlight of this week. Going and working in nature were Ohio is actually attractive and a place where I would love to live.

Oh which reminds me my allergies are now in effect. There not really bad right now but they will get there. Apparently Columbus Ohio is a place were people with allergies come to die. It is this weird place were the pollen collects and is in abundance because of he heat and humidity. So this summer is going to be fun in many ways ;)

I just did something really fun today before I got here to email. I helped make BBQ sauce that has moonshine in it. That's right you sent me to Ohio on a mission so I could learn to cook with alcohol from members. We burned out the alcohol and then started adding ingredients to it. It smelt good and I can't wait to try it. We did this because Elder Bradley's birthday is coming up sometime here in May. So this up coming Monday we are having a feast of BBQ at a members home.

Well that has been my week. It was full of its ups and downs but such is life. I am doing well and I can't wait to see how this up coming week goes. We have a Zone training tomorrow almost all day. So the mission president will be there teaching us some stuff. Should be fun. Well I love you all hope you stay safe. Thank you again for the package I loved it all. You guys rule!!!!!

Love Elder Young

P.s How's the picture with all the days of my mission going? Are there and missing spots?

Reynoldsburg OH

Sounds like a very full week. How did you crash into a tree? Is dad ok? Well I guess he is, because you didn't say much about it. Anyway glad to hear from you this fine wonderful Monday. I like and agree with your rant Emma. Sorry this is a rocky start to an email but Oh well.

This week for me was also very fun and eventful. This week we got on to car rotations with the Elders from Pickerington. So we have been driving around in a Subaru Legacy. It has accelerated the work here. This week we found 3 new investigators. One of them we had a short lesson with on the side of a road. She had seen as and stopped her car and talked to us, it is so nice when people stop us and want to talk instead of us trying to get people to talk to us. One of the people we found name is Richard Lee West but goes by Bobby. When he opened the door his first words were "Speak to me", He then let us in and we talked for an hour and half. It was a great lesson, I love the black people here they are so open to talk about anything. We also meet with a man who introduced him self as Brother Jerald. He was a little unsure about to expect from us and didn't want us to pray at the end of the lesson because he was unsure what spirits we would invite into his home. But through more lessons and exposure I think he will pray with us and be less uncomfortable. We also met with a man named Anthony. We met with him 3 hours and he fed us lunch. He was really cool and had a great grasp of the falling a way of Christ church. He also thought that the idea of the trinity was really stupid and has no support in the Bible. So that was great, but he like all other people here who are black realized that there are not that many black people or any other color of people in the Restoration pamphlet. It wasn't a big concern but still it is something that makes the work hard here. People think our church is racist. Bugs the heck out of me.

This Sunday there was a missionary fireside were we try to get investigators to come and get the feel of our church and what we believe. Its a great thing that gets people over the fear of coming into our church building in a less threatening way, because its not a church service. So I went and sang in the choir. I went to the practice on Saturday and I had a blast singing church songs. I don't know really at all how to sing parts but I listen to who is singing next to me and I follow there lead. I think I will go and sing at the next one.

Also this week was interviews. That means that I got to meet with the Mission President. Talk about weird encounters with your mission President. I love President Daines, but he is a very smart and very intimidating man. He also doesn't know me very well, which is fine and very understandable as I have only talked to him very briefly. 

That's my week this far, I really had a good productive week and I will miss the car when we give it back this Wednesday. Other than that this coming week should go really well. I love you all and wish you the best. Be safe and know that I pray for you all the time.

Love Elder Young 

Reynoldsburg

Well I am glad to hear that everything is going well at home and that everything is moving forward. I hope you you have fun in Utah with Jackie, and that everything works out with Hope and Dad in Utah. Is she getting another house or a apartment?

Anyway this week for me was not very eventful. Elder Bradley got really sick and we were in the apartment for three days! He is feeling better now and we now are eager to go and make up the lost time. We missed some warm sunny days because of this sickness. It was funny one of the sisters who is kind of pale was bright red this Sunday. Didn't use enough sunscreen.

I am happy to hear about Corrine going on a mission. Just tell her that if she can make it two days in the MTC or until Sunday it will be a breeze from there. At least that was my experience. It was weird just how easy it was to adjust to missionary life for me. Even leaving you guys at the car was not as hard as I thought it would be. I mean I missed you and I question if this was right for me, but I guess my burdens were made light through my act of faith of coming on a mission. So I guess my message to Corrine and Ammon when he goes to the MTC is that if you have a strong desire and you have faith that a mission is what our Heavenly Father wants you to do he will make up the difference and make you strong. That through faith miracles are wrought on the children of man. I sure both of them know this already there smart cookies, but this is something that I am gaining a stronger testimony of. So just tell them not to worry. And to write because I love our little chats (name that movie).

  

Well Sorry I don't have much to say this week. I really didn't do that much. Just know that I love you and hope everything works out. I pray everyday for your safety. Tell Emma to have fun at the temple. Tell Hope to be safe in here move. Just have fun all of you and don't let the little things get you down. Listen to Bob Marley's wise words and don't worry.

Love Elder Young 

Reynoldsburg

Wow it sounds like you had a really full week!! I happy to hear that you are all doing good though you have a lot that you are doing. Happy Late Birthday Emma and Jackie. I wish that I could have been there to spend those days with you. Well the weather here is extremely unpredictable. It has been raining a lot and one day was surprisingly cold. For the most part however it has been very humid which has made the 60 some odd degrees really nasty. I still am happy that its warm and not really cold. I say that now but by the end of this summer I will be looking forward to the cold.

  

We were able to meet with Jacob and he is still wanting to join the church, he has been reading the Bible and Book of Mormon. He even has been taking steps to stop smoking all on his own. It was kind of a weird visit, but if he still wants to be baptized we will help him along the way, if we can meet with him regularly. He said he wanted to come to church this Sunday but didn't answer the door. So we are extremely confused by him and his actions.

We have also had some cool contacting experiences. We were stopped by someone who was driving by in a car and asked if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We told him we were Mormon's and he said that he was interested in talking to us and wanted to learn more about what we believed. He also told us that he already had a Book of Mormon and had read a little of it and said that he couldn't see a difference between it and the Bible. That was funny. We then were knocking on doors near a members house and we ran into a man named Anthony. He also asked if we were Jehovah Witnesses. We told him we were not and he then continued to ask us if we talked about Jesus. We said that we did. He then began to say that we were in fact Witnesses of Jehovah. He was a really cool guy and said we could come back. I love the black people here because they actually want to talk to us about religion.

I really liked the story that you shared from the New Era and the experience that Jacob had. We have to stand up for what we believe no matter the opposition is. If we do the blessing we will receive will be great and we will know through the Holy Ghost that what we believe is true. When someone rants to you and attacks your beliefs just remember that the only reason they hate our religion is because its true and it teaches change and people don't like change. One scripture that has been sticking out to me lately is the one in Nephi when he says that they people will say, a Bible, a Bible we have a Bible and we need no more (that's not word for word but its close). I have have been told many times on my mission that the Book of Mormon is not true. One man took the time to tell me that the Book of Mormon was of the devil and was not worth toilet paper. That all we needed was the new testament. Funny enough he was foaming from the mouth. All that did was make me believe more.

I hope that you all are looking for missionary experiences, and that you have good encounters with people. It truly is great way to strengthen your own testimony and it also gives the person you talked to a chance to hear the restored gospel of our Heavenly Father. I love our Heavenly Father and I know that he wants us to be happy. I know that what I go out and share with people everyday is true and that it can and will bring them closer to God, because I have seen it in my life and in the lives of others. All we need to have is faith, because through our faith we can have an even stronger witness if we endure to the end. I love you all.

Love Elder Young

Reynoldsburg

Hello Family!!!!!!!!! I have been having a wonderful week as it sounds like you have been as well. The weather is slowly getting warmer. It also has been getting wetter so I have been doing a lot of walking. I am sad to say that we have not been able to meet with Jacob again :( We will continue trying though. It is very scary the change that we ask people to do in a matter of weeks, but we know through the Atonement any change can happen if we have continued faith. That is something that I have been searching the scriptures on a lot lately. Faith is a marvelous thing it is also confusing. All the talks were my favorite because they all focused a lot on how to build faith and the atonement. They always do but this time it just made a big impact on me this time. 

  It's amazing how if you study the scriptures and pray daily how much more the Lord has a hand in your life. That is something that I am seeing more and more. That it is through small and simple acts that large and powerful things are given to man. That as we grow and strive to be better the Lord gives us little pushes so that you can grow even more. Its sad though that it has taken me this long in my life to learn these things, well at least I have learned them. 

  General Conference was so nice because it is a missionary holiday here in Ohio. The time difference makes its so that the whole evening is taken by General Conference and the Priesthood session on Saturday. The time for Saturday were 12 to 2 and 4 to 6 then 8 to 10. So On Saturday we didn't leave the stake center. Oh ya the Reynoldsburg has the stake center so I didn't have to go far. That was nice.

  So with the Mp3 player I would like classical music, hymns, music of any kind that you feel wont be distracting to the spirit. The handbook just says to not have music that  have romantic overtones and does not dull your sensitivity to the spirit. I will let you judge. I would like more songs with singing that isn't all hymns though. Also I have been missing the lovely song Nessun Dorma. I guess some of the songs I had on my player at home could work. 

  Thank you for the pictures I love seeing what you are all up too. I try to send pictures when ever I can. But I really don't take that many and I don't know how to put labels on the pictures nor do I have time to. Oh the life of a missionary on a strict schedule. What will I ever do ;)

  I love you all and pray for you always. Always pray and read your scriptures they are key to gaining a testimony and seeing the blessing you have in your life. Also read and ponder the words of your patriarchal blessing always. It is something that has given me strength and something I know will help you. Be strong my family hard times are coming and only our Lord and savior will get us through it. Don't mean to leave on such a sad note so I will say this Crack House.

Love Elder Young

Ain't I a stinker (Say like Bugs Bunny)

Still in Reynoldsburg!

Wow that's amazing to hear all that. Tell all those who got mission calls congrats for me. I love it here in Ohio. Its a little weird at times and the people here even admit that its a dull place to live. But the people are really nice and very willing to talk about religion when its warmer. People tell me all the time to come back when it is warmer. It's kind of funny how many people in one day will tell me that its cold outside when the answer there doors. I know its cold I'm outside in it :)

Anyway Ken's baptism went great. I was the one who baptized him. I had to do it 7 times because his knees kept coming up. The font was not very full. It would have worked if I was baptizing an eight year old. After the 7 dunks though he was really happy and gave a powerful testimony. On Sunday he was confirmed and given the Holy Ghost. It was funny and sad though. Ken told me that he thought he was baptized on Thursday and that he lost a day, Saturday. His mind is slipping him. I know that he was prepared and that he was ready for the covenants he received. He has been accepted into the ward so that has been really helpful.

Jacob didn't come to church this week. It made me a little sad. We had a great lesson with him on Thursday. He believes already that they BOM is true and believes that the first vision could have happened so its been really easy teaching him thus far. He is a great guy and I hope that we can meet with him again this Tuesday or Thursday. Better yet both days.

That's been my life this week so far the rest was just the usual stuff. I'm glade to hear about Hope maybe selling her house and that Emma's ready for life. I hope you all are doing well. Happy to hear that mom is still likes cleaning houses. I don't think that I could let others clean my house and see how much of a mess it is. I love you all.

Thanks for the package, I did get it this week. I have loved the cookies though they really got banged up this time. Still really good though;) I love the music and listen to it every night now before I go to bed. The star gate music made me laugh. Thanks for the Oils as well. Though I have to admit I don't know what to do with all but two of them. I loved the whole Star Wars beginning title thing. I have it pinned on the wall next to my desk. You guys are the best. I laughed a lot when saw and read it. It lifted my mood for the day, I really needed that.

I hope you have all been reading your scriptures everyday. It is something that has changed my life. I just seem to help think of things in more of an eternal out look. Especially in the 8 and 9 chapter of Mormon. Its a mini Revelations. I have almost read through the Book of Mormon again. This will be my third time through ever. I have been also reading in the Bible in the old testaments. I have hit a real dry patch while God tells Moses what the people should and shouldn't do and how to make sacrifices. UHHHHHH. The scriptures are a great think and in these times they can keep you strong. I encourage you to all set a goal to read through the Book of Mormon from cover to cover and focus on a either commandments or the doctrine of Christ. You will get so much from it. I have as I have looked for the doctrine of Christ.

Anywho I love you all and pray for you always. You are the best family ever and I wish I could be there to help you though Hopes move. But I guess Heavenly Father has other plans. Better plans than what I could ever think of. Love you all and keep it real.

Love 

Elder Young

P.s Next package (meaning whenever..... Emma)  could you send me an mp3 player full of music that you think is mission approved, Please. Again no rush. I feel bad asking for things. Oh and yes this is mission approved as long as the mp3 doesn't have ability to do apps. Oh and more Pictures please.