My District

From left to right: Elder Macfarlane, Elder Blomquist, Elder Nicholls, Elder Shumway, Elder Fernandez, Elder Crosby, Sister Cline, Sister Huffman.  Kneeling in front: Elder Mitchell and Elder Witbeck

I think we've had a decent week this week. We taught more lessons than we have any other week, it's been kinda nice. I'm still trying to learn who's who in the area, but I think I'm getting it down. I know mostly how to get around, but I still would probably get lost looking around.

We've got some interesting people we're teaching. We were teaching the plan of salvation to someone, and they surprised me. Usually the idea of having a body in the afterlife and all that gets people excited, this guy was like "that's not appealing to me. But maybe I'm wrong, maybe we will have our bodies and I'll be surprised". He has a lot of questions. When we taught about Adam and Eve he asked how it was they couldn't have children in the garden. How are you supposed to answer that? We tried to explain it as best we could, but there's no real proof I guess on that, it's all just speculation, which does no one any good. I want to tell him these things don't matter, but they're concerns he has so I don't feel right in saying that. It's been interesting working with him, he has such a different view of the things of eternity.

I think the area is starting to pick up a bit. We've been working to gain the trust of the leadership, and it'll go uphill from there. It'll take some time to get things rolling again, but I'll probably be here a while to get things going. There's still a lot of improvements that need to be made, both personally and work wise, but things should pick up here in the next few weeks.

I'm excited for this Saturday. We're having some general authorities come and speak to us! We're getting Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Donald L. Hallstrom of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Craig A. Cardon of the Seventy and Bishop Gerald Causee, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric! It's gunna be pretty sweet, I'm excited for it. We had Elder Ballard speak to us last year, so we get to hear him again. I'm excited for this!


Well, that pretty much sums things up. Things are improving here, but at a slow pace. Hopefully we can get things rolling pretty soon. I've almost got all the tools I need to do it, now i just need to buck up and do it.

Take care everyone!

Elder Blomquist

Been another week like last week. Had the fewest lessons this week than I have in the last 8 months. Elder Martinez is so done. Part of it's my fault, I haven't said " let's go!" We've got interviews with President Cannon on Wednesday, so I'm going to talk to him about it then.

Went back to Nampa last Saturday. One of the people I taught got baptized. Was good to see. Taught him most of the lessons and was hoping I didn't go too far so I could see it.

Funny thing happened at church yesterday. there was a kid sitting in front of us, and he kept sticking things in his ear. First it was a brown crayon. He put it in there and let it sit for like, 10 mins. Then he took it out and replaced it with a toy battleaxe and then put a lance in the other ear. It was really funny, couldn't stop laughing for a while.

 

Take care!

 

Elder Blomquist

16 Months Today!

16 months today! Can you believe it's been that long? Seems like a blink of an eye.

Payette is gonna be a struggle, my biggest yet I think. The elders before me didn't take care of this area very well. All our records were trashed, I don't know who our investigators are, I have a companion who's only got 3 months left and doesn't care much anymore, it's a struggle. I feel like my mind has been shutting down lately. For the past 13 months I've been the driving force behind the companionship. It's be me to say "let's work" and where to go, even when my comp has been in the are longer than me. I'm getting tired of it and don't know what to do.

But the area's alright. It's small, but that's kinda a nice change at the moment. I don't wanna stay though. This has been a hard week on me mentally, and I'm ready for another change. We haven't really done much since my companion is ready to be done, but there's some good people out here.

 

I don't know what else... Things have just been hard and I'm ready for a break. Hope everything is going good for y'all.

 

Elder Blomquist

Got Transferred

So I did get transferred. I went to Payette, a small town on the Idaho/Oregon border. I went from a town of 80,000 to one of 7,000. It's gonna be a pretty big change. I'm excited though. It's bittersweet to leave Nampa though. Especially when the Bishop announced that I was leaving the area and everyone said their goodbyes at church. IT really did feel like home. But I got a new adventure ahead of me, new challenges, new people, new everything.

so before I forget, here's the new address.

 

1106 1/2 2nd ave s

Payette, ID 83661

It's a nice little place. It's pretty much our own house.

 

My comp is Elder Martinez. He's from Peru, but lives in Utah. It's only the 1st day, but I think we'll get along. He was a Spanish elder who went English, so he doesn't speak the best English, but I can understand him pretty well.

Little bit from my last week in Nampa, we had 3 baptisms on Saturday. 1 was a YSA (young single adult) who we've been teaching for a few weeks. We actually moved up her baptism a week, and it was good to see before I took off. 2 were some kids that didn't get baptized at 8, so we had to come teach. They were supposed to get baptized in September, but the step dad wanted to baptize them, but wasn't married and living together yet, so he couldn't till that happened, and then one thing after another just piled up to push it back. It finally happened and was good to see. There's another baptism on the 19th that I'll be able to go back and see, so I got lucky on that 1.

 

I'm nervous about the area though. Elder Shumway was a struggle for me. Had to teach him people skills, and it was hard to deal with at times. One example is that we would go over to members house for dinner and he would belch at the dinner table. That one didn't last long, I got on him pretty quick about that one. But also the Elder who's coming in with him, I'm nervous about him as well. I don't know much about him, but I know he's one I would not want to serve with. Nampa just feels like home, so I don't wanna see it go down the drain.

 

It's been a long time since I've packed my bags. I've accumulated so much stuff... I came to Nampa with 1 1/2 suitcases, I left with 3 bulging suitcases. I probably will send some home (eventually).

Well, I'm out of things to say... 1st day in an area is always interesting. 1st week too for that matter. we'll see what this week brings.

Elder Blomquist

Happy New Year!

Happy new year!

 

Transfers are on Monday. I'm pretty sure (or at least kinda hoping) I'll be shipped out, but we'll see what happens. 7 1/2 months is a long time for a missionary to be in an area.

This Saturday should be a good one for us. We've got 3 baptisms planned. 2 are some OAY's, a 10 and 12 year old who we've been teaching since September are finally getting baptized. The step dad wants to baptize them, but couldn't till they got married. they got married a few weeks ago, and the baptism is planned for Saturday. The interview is on Wednesday, but I'm pretty sure they'll pass.

The other is a YSA. She was referred by some other elders, and she took to us right away. We've only been teaching her 2-3 weeks now, but her baptism was set for the 12th, but we moved it up to the 5th so she could go with the ward to a temple trip they're having. I feel she's ready for it, so it was no problem. It's exciting to see all this happen before transfers. I was hoping I'd be able to see these investigators get baptized before I leave, and now I can = ]. There's still one more investigator I would like to see baptized (scheduled for the 19th of January), but hopefully I wont go to far so I can see it happen. He's a 10 year old kid that's pretty fun to teach. I always love going over there.

 

It seems like all we teach is kids right now. It's been pretty fun, I always love working with the kids. Early on in the mission I didn't like teaching kids, they were always hard to teach since they couldn't understand as much, but now I love it. I love being with the families. It's pretty funny, Elder Shumway is the youngest of 2, so he's not as used to all the noise and commotion, but I love it. I fit right in with those families. Sometimes I think I rile the kids up more than calm em down. But it's fun, I love it.

It's been snowing for the past week. It's been scary to drive in. The car just doesn't seems to wanna stop! I was making a right turn, and the car just kept going. I ended up turning a 180, it was pretty scary.

well, take care everyone!

Elder Blomquist

Slow Down Story

Another week come and gone. It's pretty boring here in Idaho, no interesting stories. Well, I guess there is one.

 

So we were driving home one night, going about 25 mph, and some guy with his arm outstretched in the middle of the road. I don't wanna hit him so I stop and roll my window down and he comes up and is like "SLOW DOWN, IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD. 10 MILES AN HOUR (holding up 8 fingers)". I know he's not all the way there, so I'm just like "ok, I can do that" to which he replies "10 miles an hour, Jesus loves you." I drove off after that (going 10 miles an hour) and he yells "TOO FAST". I just ignore it and keep going and he stops another car coming the opposite direction and does the same thing. There's the funny for the week.

Got to go to the temple last Friday. Been about 14 months since I've last gone, and there was a big difference. There was a feeling and a power there I've not felt for that long. It was good to get back and feel that spirit again. We're able to go about once a month, and we're encouraged to find a family name to do. That'll be exciting.

I don't really know what to say... This is a short letter, but over the next 2 weeks (not gonna email Christmas Eve) there's lots happening, so I'll make up for the short letter. I got a package coming home too, so if it doesn't get there before Christmas, don't open it till the 25th!!!

Love ya,

Elder Blomquist