Last p-day of the transfer... crazy how fast it's flown by. It's been a good one though, it'll def be interesting to see what happens. we find out who leaves and stays on Friday.

 

It's been a weird week. I couldn't tell ya why, but it felt weird. We did the same we've been doing for the past 5 weeks (18 lessons), but it felt off. We didn't really do anything different, so I dunno what's up.

 

Not much has changed from last week, still mostly doing member visits raising missionary awareness. One of our investigators is looking at getting baptized here pretty quick, so pretty soon we're gonna be down to 0 investigators who are really progressing towards baptism. We have about 8 investigators, but only 1 of them is really coming along. Pretty much none of them come to church, so that's what we're gonna focus on this month (today starts the month of September for reporting purposes).

 

There's been a part member family we're kinda starting to work with. We haven't had a discussion or even invited them to, but we've been going over there helping them milk their cow and just hanging out building that relationship. they're pretty tight. Amity (the mom) is making me a glitter tie (went and bought a tie from DI and she's gonna glitter it up for me, should be pretty sweet). Dwight (the dad) said he'd take me horseback riding in the mountains when I get off the mission as well. We've been working with their neighbor (an active member) to invite them to start investigating and having the discussions with us. I've got a pretty good relationship with Dwight and Amity, so hopefully we can start teaching here pretty soon. Bailing (or however it's spelled... baling?) hay with them tomorrow morning, so that should be fun.

 

Almost got in a wreck on Friday. We were in a roundabout coming home from district meeting, and a car pulled in right in front of me. Had to almost slam the brakes and turn to the side to avoid getting hit. I dunno if they didn't see me or just didn't care, but it was a pretty scary experience.

 

Dana, the girl we baptized about 2 weeks ago, went to the temple with the ward and did baptism for the dead. She's coming along great. She's been my strongest convert baptism (out of the 4 I have = P ) and it's truly amazing to see the change the gospel makes in the lives of people. Her family is getting better, but still nowhere near being supportive from what I've been hearing. But she's staying strong and it's been great to see.

 

That's about all I got for ya, life's still pretty boring as far as stories go. Working to stay busy and productive. Workin hard, playin hard... Life's pretty good right now. Just anxiously awaiting transfer calls. I think Elder Fullmer and I are staying together, but it's always unpredictable. We'll find out on Friday...

 

love,

Elder Blomquist

Been the usual week. 19 lessons, about 14 or so to active members. We've got anew angle we've taken things, and it seems to be working so far. It's gonna take some time to get things rolling on it, but we got a new ward mission leader and he's on board with us, so hopefully wont take too long.

 

Most exciting thing this week has to be a wedding. One of our investigators just got married Thursday, and we got to go to the wedding. His name is Scott, and he's awesome. He's one of my favorite people to work with.

 

that's about all the news I have... School is starting to start. I remember when school was getting out, and it's time to go back now. I got about 3 weeks till my year mark, transfers are in 2 weeks, this past month has gone by so fast. We've been working hard, playing hard, and having fun.

 

I'm really trying to think, my letters seem to keep getting shorter and shorter every week. I guess I'm just to the point where being away from home doesn't bother me as much. I know there's a lot more that we've done, but you may just have to wait for my journals to see all that I've done. I've been decent at writing in my journal (more of catching up on days I don't write), and it's mostly been written for the most part, but when I sit down here I just space on everything. Is there anything you wanna know? that's the hardest thing... If ya ask questions I know more about what to write and all that.

 

You know what? I think I sent President Cannon a longer letter than I sent you... hmmm.... ask me more questions! if ya can't get a letter out, email me. I really don't know what to say in these letters home...

 

Love,

Elder Blomquist

Laura Bryson Holland

 

 

 

 

Laura Bryson Holland and her family moved close to where I am serving.  Our families were great friends when we both lived in Houston, TX.  It was great to get to see her again after so many years.

Happy birthday Alex! I know it's tomorrow, but I wont be able to tell ya then. Tomorrow is also a special day for me, my 11 month mark. Can you believe it's been that long? 13 more to go, almost halfway done. This time next month I'll be burning my shirt.

 

Been another good week I think. We had 21 lessons. I think about 15-16 were to active members trying to get them to do missionary work, but we're working and hopefully something happens out of it. It gets frustrating at times, we teach these good lessons, but most of the time I don't think they really take to our message. I know the spirit is present in the lessons, I feel it strong when we teach, but they don't generally act on it. What can we do to get the members more excited for missionary work? We've lost a lot of investigators over the past 2 weeks, dropped a lot and baptized others, so we're down investigators right now. What can we do to help motivate people?

 

2 big things happened this week. 1st was a baptism. I've talked about her before, but Dana got baptized. It was a good service (as all baptisms are). Everything went smooth, except the musical number I did. Sis Wheeler and I played guitar, she played the chords and I picked the melody. We did good for the most part, but we both messed up once or twice. My hands were shaking, I could feel them shake and I had to account for that as I was placing my fingers on the neck of the guitar. But it turned out good overall. Was confirmed the next day and is still progressing in the gospel at a good rate. She feels different than before, she said she was happy all day yesterday (day she got confirmed) and recognized when it left her. She's on a good path, I'm excited for her.

 

Elder Bell, Adam (baptized Dana), Dana, Elder Blomquist

 

Got another investigator that has some exciting news. We're going to a wedding on Thursday. He has to get interviewed by Mission President, but he's ready to take those steps. He was hesitant for one reason or another, but in thinking things through he decided to just move forward and do it. He's been ready for a while, there was just something holding him back. He finally got over those hurdles and is moving towards it. Gonna meet with mission president at the end of the month and we'll be able to set a date with him after that. But he invited us to the marriage on Thursday, excited for that.

 

I don't know what else there is. We've just been visiting a lot of members, getting to know the people, and find some more work to do. But it's been fun, I have a lot of fun with Elder Fullmer. He's a little different, but I can deal with it. We have fun, and it works for us.

 

So those goal things start next week? I'm actually pretty excited for that. Those are 3 things I've struggled with all 11 months (well, probably closer to 9 or 10, I was pretty good at the beginning of the mission), but now I actually have more of a goal to do it more than just to be obedient. That's a good goal in itself, but I never really got motivated enough to do it. But I've been doing better already, so I'm striving for 21 points a week.

 

Take care y'all

Elder Blomquist

Been an amazing week. Taught more lessons this these past 2 weeks than I practically did the whole 6 months I was in Caldwell. 21 lessons last week and 19 this week. They've mostly been to active members, but that's what we're supposed to do when we don't have work. We've gotten a few referrals and are working on contacting them, and good things are happening here in this area. People have been asking what's the difference between this transfer and last, and I think it's that we're actually working. Elder Bell was a little trunky and when we didn't have set appointments he didn't really want to do anything. We sat around a lot that transfer. But this past 2 weeks we've not been, we've been working hard and good thing are happening.

 

Got 2 baptism this Saturday. 1 is for an 18 year old girl named Dana. Her boyfriend is in one of our wards, and she was ready to meet with us. I think I talked a little about her before, but this Saturday is her baptism. We're excited for it, she is so ready to be baptized. She had the desire to be baptized after our first lesson, that's never happened to me before. She was almost done with the Book of Mormon (only took her 2 months to read cover to cover) and she believed everything. It's been amazing to teach her.

 

 

Other baptism is a 13 year old kid named Anthony. His dad is a member, but has never really been active. Dad just won custody of Anthony from his mom in Utah where he was meeting with missionaries before, and already had a baptism date for the 11th. We taught him several times a week since it was only 2.5 weeks away, and I think he's ready too. Everything just seems to be lining up for them. The dad got a job (hired by one of the member we brought with us to a lesson), and things seem to be just going right. I'm a little nervous about this one, just wondering if he's gonna stay strong or not, but I think he will. He seems pretty into it right now and has good support from his dad.

 

Elder Fullmer and I are getting along great. He ranks in my top tiers of favorite companions. We work hard, have fun, and it's been good. Heard weird things about him, but he's not bad, I like him. I can see me staying one more transfer with him.

That's pretty much all we've been doing, working hard and playing hard. Nothing more to it really. Things are good.

 

Take care y'all

Love,

Elder Blomquist