The Grass is Greener on This Side

Dear mother,

The grass here is all green. It's not even hard for people to grow stuff, so they don't even bother with their lawns and whatever. It's just all green and overgrown, but somehow still beautiful - at times anyway. The Kudzu is nasty. It eats trees. But randomly there will be purple flowers growing in trees and stuff that are pretty. Don't know what they are. Anyway, moral of the story, the grass is greener on this side. :)

Z.'s baptism was stinkin’ awesome! B., Z.'s brother, baptized him, and N., his bro-in-law, confirmed him! It was just fantastic! Everything about it was great. I love baptisms! As a coincidence, we got to go to Augusta on Saturday before Z.'s baptism to watch one of Elder Cramer's investigators from his last area get baptized. It was great! She is an African American lady with a tattoo on her shoulder that says "100% black" haha.

W. P. didn't come to church on Sunday. Again. But this time he had a legit reason- he rode his motorcycle to Tennessee to leave flowers on his wife's grave. So. Hard to compete Gospel against family, especially when the Gospel is centered on family. D. didn't come to church either for some reason... I'm a lill’ worried, but not too much. Conference is coming up, and I'm 99.9% sure she's gonna watch it. You can put your money on the Prophet. 

So that's basically all there is to report this week. Now on to random other stuff.

Can you do me el favor? Get the book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, and if you can find it "World's Greatest Salesman" by someonewho'snameIdonothaveatthecurrenttime. Don't send 'em to me yet, cause I still have to ask President if I can read them on p-day, but I will for sure read them when I get home.

Question for anyone who knows the answer- Why do dirt and sand roads get all bumpy, especially when they're dry? Like, they get all ridgey and like a washboard. I don't understand the science behind that, and it's stinkin' annoying............

Note to anyone looking for a particularly spiritual experience- Mormon Messages on LDS.org: A Testimony of the Book of Mormon, and Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God, both by Jeffery R. Holland.

That's about it for me this week. Love you guys so much! 

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

That's South Cakalaki For Ya

Dear Mommy,

My new companion is none other than.... Elder Cramer from Las Vegas! He is so awesome. As an "it's a small world" note, his uncle is Mr. Cramer, the photo teacher at MV. Yeah. He's been out about 62.5% of his mission so far.

Elder Stever (yes, Seaver and Stever live together. Confusing? Yes.) is Elder Harper's new companion. He is awesome. Elder Wilcock trained him oh-so-very long ago. P.S. Elder Wilcock- I mean Seth- is sleeping safely and happily in Gilbert, AZ now... I miss that guy...... Elder Thompson, from my first district in Anderson, replaced Elder Wilcock and is in my district once again! The Zone leaders are Elder Law and Elder Waugh (pronounced like the sound you use to describe the sound of a dirt bike). So yes, wa-la! Waugh-Law! Elder Waugh and I went to high school together, for those of you who may know him. We had Seminary together my junior year. It's awesome! We had some time together when the ZL's came down to interview Z. and shoulder-angel D. (teach together with us. A super powerful 4-man/angel assault of Spirit!) Our Zone is stacked with awesome missionaries right now! Good things are going to happen!

Speaking of good things happening, Z. is getting baptized on Saturday! I'm so pumped! Lots of prayers have gone towards that, and I want to say thank you to all of those who have prayed for him- we couldn't have done it without you! D.V. has agreed to baptism on the 7th of April! She wanted to see the Prophet in action first. :) W. P., the guy I told you about last time who walked in the church, is on date for the 14th, too. So many great things are happening!

So, this question goes out to anyone who may have a solution: is there any perfume or anything with the scent of "tea olive"? Kindly respond soon if there is. I want it.

I don't know if I told you Jenni, but the frame you got me for Christmas has the little USB slot in it y'know? And I can use it to charge my GPS hahaha. Genius!

We heard a talk at Zone Conference from Elder Holland. It was amazing. He spoke about Peter the Apostle and just wow. I have been studying Peter and his life ever since. I will one day hope to share it with you, but typing it just doesn't do it justice...

Well that is really all I have this week. It seems like the busiest weeks have the least to write... Same as in my journal- the busy days are the shortest entries. Wonder why... That's South Cakalaki for ya.

I love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

Miracles Happen!

So um. Basically right after I read your email, but before I started writing this guy named W. just walked in to the church and found us emailing. W. has questions! His wife passed away and he is in need of guidance. So basically he's a new investigator. 

MIRACLE MOMENT!

Dear mom,

So to answer the Chihuahua question- he just has 27 of em running around mating and barking all day. No reason. Just fun. 

So yes we remembered to set our clocks ahead, but D. didn't. She came to church about 10 minutes late. We were pretty sad she didn't show, but then she did, so all is well! It was ward conference yesterday and President McArthur pounded the pulpit and told the ward they won't gain salvation unless they do missionary work. :D

It's so great hearing about other people going on missions! It's way exciting. I love being a missionary! Oh yeah, I just remembered. This Wednesday is transfers. I will be staying in Aiken, and Elder Harper will be in Coker Springs, but our companions are getting transferred. 

I'm really excited for Kory! He's such a stud :) Wow what a guy. I miss him. I hope he has a great mission!

So am I still supposed to be expecting a package,]? '( P.S. will this have Máiréad's fiddle album in it? The other Elders are anxiously awaiting that. Oh yeah, along those lines, I gave all those YuGiOh cards you sent me to a kid in the ward. He needed them more than I did :) I love giving stuff to people. That's why I want those games to give to Z. :D

That's about it.. Love you guys!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

Miracles happen!

The Parting Glass

Of all the money e'er I had,I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all. Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all. If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.

Anderson was sweet, Aiken is sweet, and South Carolina is sweet!

Dear mom,

 

This week has been weird. We got almost nothing done. We had Zone Conference (Elder Cardon is still in Augusta, so we got to spend the day together again!) and learned a ton. We watched a video of Elder Holland speaking at the MTC from Jan 2011, and it was amazing. But before that day and after that day we had an awful time. Some people are lacking motivation lately. Some Elders here complain about hating every aspect of South Carolina and missionary work.... No bueno. But, on the flip side, you are right. Every single day I love it more and more here! Anderson was sweet, Aiken is sweet, and South Carolina is sweet!

 

Anywho, remember our investigator Z. So Z. is living with his dad and his dad's girlfriend and her kids right? Yeah. And his "sister" got married Saturday in the Columbia temple! She is way hot. Hahah. We got permission to go, but unfortunately we don't have enough miles to travel that distance, besides the fact that it would have wasted our day (in hind sight our day was useless anyways, so it wouldn't have been so bad..).

 

I've been reading the scriptures lately looking for verses to help motivate the other Elders. I found this one today in Doctrine & Covenants: 30:2

"But your mind has been on the things of the earth more than on the things of me, your Maker, and the ministry whereunto you have been called; and you have not given heed unto my Spirit, and to those who were set over you, but have been persuaded by those whom I have not commanded."

I shared it with them, but they showed no positive feedback (Except Elder Harper, our district leader. He's in the same boat as me trying to motivate our companions). I hope it impacted them though, because the work is suffering. Precious souls are in need of the Gospel, and we don't get to share it with them.

Ok I totally forgot to tell you that we went to Brother S.'s house and did service this week. We cleaned out his shed and helped him fix it up. Let me mention- he has 20 or so chickens, 3 turkeys (one of which was laying in the middle of the shed on rocks it thought were its eggs so it was super protective in nesting mode and it hissed like a snake when we walked past it), 2 big dogs, and 27 Chihuahuas. I was rolling around on the floor with the Chihuahuas after we were done working with him and one of em bit me on the elbow! I hope it wasn't radioactive, because Chihuahua Man is really lame for a superhero concept. Anyway, it was all good fun! I only lost a bit of elbow skin and a couple popped blood vessels. 

Love you all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

Tornado Warning

Dearest mother of mine!

 

The work this week is as follows:

We had some good lessons from our Zone Leaders, Elder Law and Elder Israelsen. We were kinda rebuked across the mission a bit for being... slack. So we repented and got on the ball. We had a fantastic week afterward! We hit all of our goals, so you know what that means..... The work has gone forth boldly, nobley, and independant once again! We have a lady named D., who has been mentioned before, who is really going along well. I have high hopes for her to be baptized in March. Z. and his parents are slowly coming to the final baptismal decision. Z. wants his mom and step-dad to be there, though... I believe they live in Texas, so that might be a problem. But, in good news, we are teaching 4 other people, all of whom are progressing (though we may have to drop them since they won't come to church!!!!!). :/

 

So anywho, I have been having so much fun here in Aiken. I love it to death. The BRP is really helping though. It has at least got sharing the gospel on the minds of the members, and some of them are really excited to participate in shepherding their friends like the Lord has asked. I think it's funny that people blatently disregard commandments from God to share the gospel and "warn [their] neighbor" as instructed in Doctrine and Covenants. If only they knew what they were doing. If only they knew they'd be standing accountable before the Lord for who they did and didn't bring into the fold of God.

 

I love the story by Elder Ballard he tells in "Our Search for Happiness" about faith. I will summarize as best I can:

Elder Ballard was a mission president in Toronto. Some of his missionaries set up a meeting with many leaders from other denominations in the area and invited then President Ballard to speak to them. After some Q&A and a brief explination of our beliefs, the topic of discussion turned to the Book of Mormon. President Ballard explained where they came from, and the story of the translation of the Plates. One of the men spoke up at this point and said "Mr. Ballard, if you would only just show us these plates, then we would know what you were saying was true." President Ballard looked at the men in the room for a moment (I'm sure listening to the Spirit and discerning what the concern these men had), and responded, "If I set the Plates on the table in front of you right now it would in no way cause you to believe my message is true." He then expounded on the point of doctrine related to faith- that faith is something hoped for and not seen. We can have all the angels appear to us as we want, and that will not change a thing. That is a fact. It is only by faith that we may know the truth of all things- only by sincere prayer, study, and real intent to act on the impressions we receive that we will grow and learn.

 

Oh yeah I totally forgot! We had a crazy random 15 minute typhoon-like storm here on Friday! Rain so think you couldn't see 10 feet in front of you, and hail the size of dimes. It was nuts! We got a message about a tornado warning with the disclamer "don't worry, its just going through Wagener, so no big deal" except for the fact that Wagener is in OUR AREA!  Haha.. As far as I know nothing got hit, but we're not exactly in the loop either. It was just some fun weather that day. And as far as weather goes, we've had days this week in the 80's and in the 30's, so... Yeah.

 

BTW another funny story. I just accidentally deleted the whole email I was typing. Luckily we have the fancy "undo" command to save my skin from everlasting shame.......

Keep the faith.

I love you guys so stinkin much!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

 

P.S. I'm so glad for Leslie!

P.P.S. Why is everyone dying all of a sudden?! Sheesh...

P.P.P.S. Give Chumlee a big ol' smooch for me :)

 

Therefore..., let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Better Late Than Never

So Last Monday was President's Day and in the past Elder Seaver was unable to send/receive mail on a holiday.  I was planning on emailing him later in the day when I realized with a start that he no longer goes to the library to get his mail, but to a church building.  It would NOT be closed on a holiday.  I hurried to the computer and started frantically writing him.  Before I was quite finished I received this email-

So here I am, lonely and cold, broken-hearted from lack of email. Mourning my losses, I bundle up on the floor and rock myself to sleep, wondering - what is love? Did anyone ever really love me? Did I ever really love anyone? What is love? With this deep, mind-blistering quandary rolling through my mind, I tumble into a fitful sleep, never to awaken; lost and alone, with no one here to comfort me, I pass into a world of torment, agony, and gnashing of teeth. If only I had really been loved. If only I had received an email...

Smart aleck!!!  I quickly sent my email and he then sent the following: 

So. Decided to email eh? Hahahaha. Better late than never, I suppose. Unless we're talking about diarrhea, in which case it's better never than late. Speaking of which, Elder Kerr is pretty sick today. He is having a rough time with a flu bug rollin' around the mission. We got  a text about it even, so it's affecting that many missionaries. But we drugged him up and he is doing much better. Except for now - he is relieving some pressure right now by way of expulsion of previously eaten food and stomach acid through his esophagus and mouth. Yuck.

So........... There is a lot of random little things going on here. I don't really remember right now all the things investigator-wise currently, but they're all in my journal. I'll send home all my journals when this one gets full and y'all can catch up. Boy I wish I had a pensive. So we'll just say: this week the work of the Lord has been going forth boldly, nobly, and independent.

We have 6 investigators we're working with, and we have a good chance of baptizing them all. They are all solid (even though half of them have parental issues...).

C. M., a long-time investigator who was on date for this weekend, can't get baptized because her dad won't let her. But just this past Saturday her aunt passed away. I feel bad for thinking this, but maybe that was the answer to our prayers. Maybe their hearts will be softened and we will be able to help them. That is my dream, prayer, and goal, but we'll see how it goes. The funeral is today at 11, but it's in Columbia so we won't be going.. 

Man why is everyone dying?! It seems like the thing to do now-a-day. Like some fad for old people and rich people. Hopefully it'll pass... away. OOOOO bad pun!

So, question. Anyone wanna tell me how an automatic transmission works? I have no idea. I can't figure out why it doesn't just die when you come to a stop? Does it go into like a mini-neutral or something? HOW?!

Also, Jenni, can I please borrow New York Doll? If not, I totally understand. We just watch a movie every Friday night with people and I thought that'd be a good one.

That's about it. I'd like to end with a short quote:

"They say a man never really knows himself until his freedom has been taken away. I wonder, do you know yourself?"

-Arcturus Mengsk

Love y'all!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Seaver

Greetings from Aitken, SC!

Elmo hangs out outside the Golden Corral.

'Nuff said.