Same Old - Same Old

Dear mom,

This week was awesome! We taught a ton of new people, and have a ton of return appointments this week. One I am really excited about is a couple named D. and N. All her family are members, but her dad was less-active, so she never joined. She and D. have a ton of questions, and they have sort of formed their own belief system since they don't agree with any denomination. We're going tonight to teach them. The N. family is all good to go for their baptism on the 20th. They are all interviewed and everything! I'm so stoked for them! I love that family!

It was fun to read all about your holiday adventures!

I really don't have much else to say. Same old -same old. I love being a missionary!

Love ya'll!

Elder Seaver

P.S.  

I have some concerns....................

There is a lot of stuff we have to do for school. There is a lot we have to get ready. And it's going to be expensive. I need el job. I am in good hands with you, I know. Do you think you could look for some jobs, and look at like a laptop versus like a tablet, or stuff like that? I am worrying for no reason, but I keep having the craziest dreams about school that are wigging me out a bit. :/ Also, do we still have that weight bench at home?

What is going on with Jami? When will they do the surgery? I felt horrible to hear how bad her procedure went. I emailed her that day, but she didn't respond. That's ok that she didn't, I just want to make sure she got it. She is such a tough girl. I wish her problems would all just go away and she could just be happy for Pete's sake. 

I love you mom! Also, I just thought of another thing. What about a telephono? I am so behind on technology and stuff. Sheesh.

Love,

Your missionary son with concerns but trying not to think about it so he can baptize everyone! :)

I Pray for You All

Dear mom,

Not a ton to report this week. The work is going well, and we are having a blast! 

The N. kids are going to be baptized on the 20th. I got to go on an exchange with Elder Cardon, which was GRAND! He is a great missionary. It was fun to be reunited with my good ol' MTC companion again. Great guy.

Glad to hear things at home are going well. I pray for you all, and especially Jami, every day. I know the Lord answers prayers. Simple as that!

Cool about the sisters in our stake. You should plan on feeding them right soon after I get home. I hope they're hot. Ha-ha j/k ;) But really.

Anyway, I don't have a lot to say today. We went and helped a member set up a new printer this morning which was fun. Technology is awesome now-a-days.

Hey that reminds me. I'm not trunky, but now that I'm thinking about it... Could you find out about job options at like Vitamin Shoppe or some place like that? Maybe look into working for Lego or Blizzard eh?

Jenni/Jake/dad (technology nerdz) what do you think I should do for a laptop/note-taking method, or is pen and paper best? I am good at pen and paper these days ha-ha- lots of practice with all these meetings we go to. 

And also. I know you all have me kindly in the palm of your hands taking care of me and all, which I really do appreciate. I just wanted to say thanks for all you do my sweet family. I love you all dearly!

I love being a missionary! :D

Love,

Elder Seaver

Bomb Diggity

Dear family!

This week was bomb diggity! We taught so much! T. N. and his sister A. (15 and 10) are preparing to be baptized next month. Their parents are members but hadn't gone to church in a long time. But they came this Sunday and it was sweet! They also have 2 adorable little kids, M. and K. (3 and almost 2). I love that family! :D We are going over there tonight to teach the word of wisdom and the Plan of Happiness. 

Man that worldwide mission president’s seminar broadcast was awesome! I absolutely loved it! We were all required to be there, and it was so worth it! I love how much emphasis the Lord and His servants are putting on member/missionary unity. The work really goes better when the members and the missionaries do it together. It is just awesome being a missionary. I love it more than anything! 

Our zone here is tiny- 2 districts. We have our district, Elder Thompson as District Leader still, and we have the Union Elders and the Union Senior Couple in our district. Then we have the Gaffney district, with Elder Bagley (whom I came out here with from the MTC) as district leader. They have Gaffney Elders and Sisters, and the Cowpens Elders. All 3 of their companionships are training. Pretty cool being in such a small zone where we can really minister one-on-one with them. It's kind of hard to explain what responsibilities of different assignments are on missions. I will do my best to explain one day, but basically all we do is relay information from President Holm to the zone, and from the zone to President Holm via the assistants. That reminds me, this Wednesday Elder Cardon is coming with Elder Nair and me on an exchange (he is an AP, and he was my MTC comp. It'll be so fun to finally get to teach with that guy! :D ). 

Well that's about it for this week. I love being a missionary! I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything! 

Love ya'll! 

Find someone to baptize this week! 

Baptize families! 

Elder Seaver

Updated Blog

Sorry I have taken so long to update James's blog-

It has been a crazy, great last couple of months.

FYI~ There are 9 new posts

Father's Day

Dear mom,

This week was indeed KILLER! My new companion is Elder Ezra Nair, he's from Chicago. He was trained by Elder Memmott right before I was companions with him, so it's a ton of fun reminiscing. He is a fantastic missionary, and we are having a blast! We worked super hard this week, and found some really sweet families. Please keep S., L., and J., and the Th- family in your prayers this week. 

Yes I got the package, thanks! That tie is awesome! And we are going to get us some sammiches after dis. 

Thanks for signing me up for school. I really appreciate all the hard work you all put in for me. I feel like I'm a bum out here making you all do so much work for me. I also feel like a bum cause I almost forgot Father's day ‘til just barely.

Dear dad, Happy Father's day! 

You already know how much I love and admire you, but I would like to share one story I really appreciate about you in this email. 

Just the other day I was wrestling with Elder Thompson when all of a sudden I smacked myself right in the face. I instantly remembered that one time I put my hand on your ankle and you went to heel-drop my hand. I expertly dodged, and you dented your own leg with the fury from above. Remember that? Ha-ha. Anyway, long story short, I have gained a very high pain tolerance from all our wrastlin, and I am grateful for it. It helps me just work through the blisters, sore muscles, chafing (oh the chafing.. Friggin’ humidity.); the mental stress and spiritual stress is also something I have learned to work through from watching your boss-master-Jedi example. Thanks for being my dad, and my sparring partner!

That's about all I got for this week. I love ya'll a ton! I am grateful to be a missionary!

Love,

Elder Seaver

Please Share Your Testimony of........

Dear family,

Big news this week as follows:

1) Elder Tonge went home Tuesday for knee surgery. That means for the last week I have been in a three pack with Elder Thompson and Elder Davis. Dream come true! Companions with Elder Thompson at last!!! :) Elder Tonge is expecting to be back by the end of summer. 

2) We had a killer week! We taught this awesome family, the N-, and they came to church! Well, most of them did. It's a mom and her twin 16-year-old boy and girl, and a little 19-month-old girl. The 16-year-old girl didn't come- but she promised to next week! They had a ton of friends that go to the ward here and didn't even know, including one of the kids' teachers at school ha-ha. We also had this guy who has been investigating for months and months come to church named R. He is an ex-Jehovah's Witness and ex-Catholic. If you just combined all the positive qualities of those churches and doctrines and add a little Priesthood, you get Mormon! It was sweet.

3) President Holm called me Saturday giving me some information about the next transfer (starting this Wednesday). Elder Thompson and Elder Davis will be staying here in Spartanburg as a companionship. I will be getting a new companion. I'm staying here as well. They are splitting our zone (the Greenville East zone) and President asked me to be a zone leader again in the new zone. That's all I know so far- I will tell you more after transfers when I know.

Yeah, there is the week. It was awesome! I love being a missionary!!!! 

That's about it for me this week! If ya'll could, I would appreciate some emails wherein you bear your testimony and share specific experiences of blessings you've received from living a specific commandment (i.e. law of tithing, word of wisdom, law of chastity, keeping the Sabbath Day holy, etc.). It would help a lot with some people we are teaching. Thanks!

Love ya'll muchly! I appreciate all you do! Ya'll are the best family in the world- I wouldn't trade you for a thing! Except for maybe a recipe for tamale pie. I'm craving that goodness! :D

Love,

Elder Seaver. 

Bold as Bold can be

Dear mom,

This week was awesome! We had interviews and a fireside on Tuesday.

Elder Tonge had some bad news about his knee, he has to go home for surgery. Torn meniscus and multi-loculated cyst mass from taking too long to get it looked at. We don't know when he is leaving, but we found out Friday.

He had to talk to Sister Holm since she is in charge of medical during interviews in the interview room, so President and I did our interview walking around outside the church. That was fun. He said "this will probably be the last formal you and I have." he then promised me that if I was bold as bold can be, not overbearing, but nearly that bold "aim for overbold rather than underbold" that I would see more success this last two transfers in bring souls to Christ than I have in the last year. So since Tuesday we did that.

We were SO bold. And we taught double the lessons we have all transfer. We put double the people on date for baptism than we have had all transfer. We had double the people come to church than we had the whole last transfer. It was awesome! I love being bold! The trick is to just start teaching people and asking them about themselves rather thank asking, "could we come in for a few minutes and share a message?" It's awesome! I love being a missionary so much!

Transfers are coming up a week from Wednesday. President and I discussed what the Lord wants for me to do these last two transfers. He said, "You came out with Elder Thompson right?" I said yes. He just looked at me and said "hmm" three times. Then he paused and said "I will pray about transfers next week. That's good to know. Hmm." Elder Thompson and I have prayed and wished to be companions for our whole missions- maybe it'll happen! :) We are getting sisters in the next transfer or two here in Spartanburg, so they may take one companionship of Elders out. We'll see. I'll keep you posted. 

I'm glad to hear the family is doing well! I wear my Team Jami shirt whenever I wanna look classy- you know I like to look classy, and that fiery red with the perfect logo on it just looks so classy. It also prompts people to ask me about my amazing sister Jami, of whom I can then share stories. Then people say they will keep her in her prayers. They may not be of our faith, but I am 100% sure God answers to every prayer offered in faith unto Him. :)

I love being a missionary so much! I -can hardly believe it! It's the most fulfilling thing in the world. It's the only thing I've done in my life with any significance. I am grateful to be here. I love South Carolina!

Love ya'll muchly!

Elder Seaver