BAPTISM!!!

Filling the Font

 

 

I feel like a Hobbit

 

 Tiffiney's Baptism! President Fowler on right

  

 The Lawn Mower I killed...Don't worry it got fixed!!

 

Campbells and I

 

 At the Training meeting. 

L-R Sis. Stoutenburg from Wyoming, ME, Elder Klain from Cardston, Sis. Robago from California.

On the Road again...

Alrighty, well I've got a busy week lined up! But first I'll do a brief recap on last week.

We've had a pretty good week of meeting with people and getting things ready for Tiffiney's Baptism. We were able to get in contact with and meet with some people that have fallen off the Radar for a while. Sometimes as a missionary there's so much going on that you get overrun and don't know who to see, or who even wants to see you. But I've been surprised more often than not that when I put forward the faith to go and see someone who I don't think really wants us there they often are excited to see us and wonder where we've been. Its a huge blessing and relief and I'm making better efforts not to get those ideas in my mind and just let the Lord direct me where to go.

We spent a day of service at the Campbells. They're so Awesome! Sis. Campbell is a hard worker who's always busy running around doing something (she's also the Relief Society Pres.) Bro Campbell is always good to talk to for a laugh and to make you feel welcomed. Bruce...haha I'm going to miss him too when I get sent out of here. He Keeps me on my toes. He's got smart aleck remarks like Dad which make me feel more at home as well.

Friday was another trip to Buena Vista for a Zone Meeting, Where I was informed I would be heading to Charleson WV for a special leadership training this Wednesday. A good chunk of the mission is going to be there, which is awesome because I love seeing other Elders I've worked with before. Apparently they're flying in some people from the MTC to brief us on some of the changes being made in the missionary program and how we can help transition that in. I'm stoked to get back to Charleston or West Virginia in General. That news made this coming week all the more busy. Today Elder Bolan will be going to Lynchburg on Exchanges and Elder Wiederholt will be spending today, tomorrow, travel on Wednesday and Thursday morning with me. Super long Exchange but we figured it'd make sense since we'll both be going to Charleston. The one thing that is a little messed up is that its a Leadership Training... As of yet I've only been a trainer. News like this is questionable especially when Transfers are the next week. (which reminds me no Email till Tuesday next week)

This may then be my last week in Gretna. I've grown attached to the people here and the quiet lifestyle of the country. There is a chance I could stay but I'm kinda Doubting it at the moment. I wouldn't mind it at all if I stayed but if the Call goes to go elsewhere then I'll be stoked for that as well.

Oh yeah, BAPTISM THIS FRIDAY! Yay! I'm so Excited for Tiffiney. She's changed so much since I met her and I see how much the gospel has changed her life. Its wonderful. Farther happiness and blessings await her I know it! I'll be sure to let Ya ll know how it goes next week.

Till then, Much Love
Elder Sundad

PS. New exciting Letter Policy! Anyone who writes me a letter this month will get a prompt Reply and a limited edition picture! Limited time offer so get those letters rollin!

Maple Leaf District‏

Hey Everyone!

Sorry for the delay on emails this week. I forgot to mention that tomorrow was transfers and thus Tuesday (today) would be emails and not Monday. But Alas here I am! 

 

Its been pretty crazy this last week. Lots of Driving. We had to drive to Buena Vista for a Zone meeting, and from there we piled in the back of a Malibu for another hour to Roanoke For a special training meeting. The training meeting was great! There's exciting things going on in the Missionary world. The First Presidency has just rolled out the new Unified Train the Trainer for missionaries. Its an intense program which has a very structured 12 week program to follow for all new missionaries Globally. It also includes some new hardware. We got a Portable DVD player added to our apartment! Pretty soon all missionaries will get them but seeing as we are training using the Preach my Gospel Dvds we get first dibs on the new Tech. Sadly we can't take them out of the apartments to use in our teaching but thus far its been a great tool for morning studies. Our companionship study has improved immensely. I was running out of things to go over with Elder Bolan but I knew there was so much left to cover. Now we get a full 2 hours for companionship study and we almost always run out of time on what I want to accomplish. Much more productive. New missionaries are going to be much better teachers from here on out. I wish that I had the opportunity to go through this but at least as a trainer I get to do it as well and perhaps even benefit more from it now. So that's the main bit of exciting news. I'm part of the first generation of the new training program! 

 

Aside from that this week we've done a lot of running around Gretna. We had some good Book of Mormon Loans tracting, which is impressive considering how few houses we knock due to mass distances between properties. Have some new investigators! Oh and on Sunday we had some great news! One of our old investigators returned from North Carolina and is working to set up a date for baptism again and Also We had another investigator in Sunday school who said she really wanted to be baptized and wanted to know right away what she needed to do in order to prepare for one! So we should finally see some baptisms lining up this upcoming Transfer! I'm pretty stoked and I know that Elder Bolan is too. I really hope that we can make things work out to get these two in the water quickly. 

 

I most of the Zone is transferring out which is sad because we've had an awesome Zone. I love everyone that I've worked with so far. But its kinda neat too because we'll be getting the only other Canadian Missionary currently in the mission to our district! We'll be the Maple leaf District!! I'm way excited for that. Elder Jensen is going to try to secure me a copy of  O Canada for our Next District meeting. I've had to play all of their patriotic Songs, Its time for some Canada!

 

We'll I'd best be running and getting everything ready for the rest of the week. I miss ya'll lots. Can't wait to see your letters in the Mail ;) 

 

Love,

Elder Sunada

New Surprises everywhere!‏

We've had a blast this past week.

 

Elder Fisher and I both had Birthdays and I finally crossed the Threshold of 20. No Longer a Teen!! What Does that mean? I'm not quite sure. But I'm told the next 10 years should be as much fun, If not much more, That the last 10 years so I'm alright with that.

 

On Tuesday we had a full day of work, but also some great members who made us and awesome meal. Wednesday we spent time with The Campbells who took us down to the smith mountain lake dam. Sadly it was closed to the public for the time being so we didn't get to tour it, but we had a great picnic and just enjoyed the beautiful weather. I apologize for those in places who may not have been having the most optimal summer weather. I'd trade with you if I could, Cause all this +90F is starting to get to me. But I suppose I'll just have to put up with it ;)

 

Its also been a funny week as Elder Fisher has been making all the preparations to go home. Its kinda funny to think that he's so close now. Its been bugging him too. He keeps saying that the closer it gets the worse he feels about it. I know he's excited to go but I also understand his hesitancy. Its a Big Change coming and going. Missionary work is so hard but so great. Its a forever Bitter-sweet experience. I'm Glad for it though.

 

We have some big news coming up though. On June 29th, President and Sis. Thornock go home :( Its going to be a bit of a change but I'm super exacted to see what President Pitt will be like and what he'll bring to the table. Also Grenta will be getting a brand new Mission Vehicle!! This is a pretty rare treat. One that I never considered would happen during my mission experience. I lucked out. Rumor is that it'll be a Jeep SUV. SICK! So hopefully that works out. I'll be driving back to Roanoke for the day to pick up the new Vehicle as well as....MY NEW GREENY...WHOA. I'm going to be training an Elder Fresh from the MTC this Transfer! Its pretty exciting but also pretty scary because my effectiveness as a trainer will heavily influence his effectiveness as a missionary. So far I don't know a darned thing about him. But I imagine I'll get to know him pretty quick on the ride back tomorrow. So I'm going to have to work hard to keep us both on track. An experience to grow for us both.

 

We'll I gotta Run. Love ya'll!

Elder Sunada