June 24, 2013 - Pictures

 "The Dogs ate our homework"

 Elder Barne's infected leg

"I don't know why, but I seem to have an edge when it comes to teaching old ladies."

 My other new BFF Pat

 Washing Susans windows

 Elder Barne's infected leg

 My new BFF Susan, at In-N-Out

June 24, 2013

Hello,

 

You are probably wondering why I am emailing on a monday, because of the mission split, we are going to have a transfer meeting tomorrow, and it will be a special one with all of the missionaries. President and Sister Cook will be going home on the 30th so this is our chance to be with them all together, and say goodbye to them. I will miss them, they are both so sweet.

 

This last week has been out of control. Elder Barnes scraped his shin last week, and didn't clean it very well. So 4 or 5 days later, he had a super high fever and his leg was extremely swolen. It looked like he had elephantitus. So he had to spend a lot of time off of his leg, and at the pharmacy and at a doctors house (Dr. Zundell in our ward). Luckily with three of us we were able to drop him off with a preisthood holder, and Elder Thunell and I were able to still go out most of the time.  It is terrible that this is his last week and he cant really do anything.

 

So, I am not getting Transferred. That means I am staying in the Carlsbad Mission, and not in the Irvine Mission. I am going to miss Orange County but I think I like North County better, there are a lot more people who like to talk to us here. The San Diego Temple is beautiful but Newport is still my favorite. We will have to go there so I can chill in Laguna again. I don't know what is going to happen with Elder Thunell and I yet, we will either be together covering both wards for a week until next tuesday or we will each be getting new companions tomorrow and going our seperate ways. It is a VERY confusing time for everyone right now. No one has the slightest clue as to what could happen.

 

The Broadcast last night was awesome! If you didn't watch it, you should! It's on LDS.org and it is well worth the time. They put a lot of good stuff in there. It was an honor to be a part of it, it was a very unique conference. I hope my ward grabs on to the missionary work spirit and flies!

 

I love you, I am going to try and find a card reader to shoot you some pics!

 

Elder Strong

 

June 14, 2013 - note from a ward member.

Elder Strong

From: Lisa B Date: June 14, 2013, 2:05:49 PM MDT To: astrong@novatek.com Subject: Elder Strong Dear Strong Family, I just wanted to write a quick note to say that we REALLY enjoyed having your son serve in our ward here in Laguna HIlls.  He is a very dedicated, obedient missionary.  My husband is the bishop, and so we were able to have them in our home each Sunday night, and for dinner on a few occasions.  I just wanted you to know that he is an amazing missionary.  He does not seem like he just came out from the MTC, even though, I believe, we were his first area.  Just wanted you to know that you did a great job as parents, and that you can be very proud of Elder Strong! Love, Sister B

June 18, 2013 - Pictures

 Elder Thunell

 Elder Thunell, Elder Barnes and I

BAPTISM!

Wendy & Madelyn

TEMPLE! my hair was being blown by the wind

June 18th, 2013

Oh man, what a long day!

 

We just got done with shopping, which didnt take long, because we didn't have any money haha. we went to the  San Diego Temple this morning, our session started at 9 so we had to get up at 5 in order to be obedient and go running and shower and everything to get there in time. a convert of about 14 months took us and did the session with us. I bought a MoTab cd and pocket BoM at the distribution center with my home card.

 

So real quick before I have to leave...

 

We found a new investigator named Pat. she is in her late 70's or 80's, she is an amputee (right leg, bellow the knee), and we had her read Alma 40 : 23. the Spirit was so strong you could taste it! She makes us oatmeal raisen cookies and loves it when we come over! we set her up with a sister who is in her complex who rides a motorized chair so they can scoot to church together on sunday. thats the best we've figured out thus far. (Mom and Dad; read my patriarchal blessing and think of Pat). I have seen a ton of miracles happen since I got to the 'dido, I have a good feeling of what is to come!

 

There is a World wide broadcast on sunday regarding missionary work, you guys should see about going to it, it should be awesome, the whole gang is going to be there (Monson, Packer, ect.)

 

So, now I have to Email President Cook for the last time, and then gotta go cut this hair!

Love,

Elder Strong

June 11, 2013 - one pic

Getting ready for an outside lesson, Elder Thunell (nearer) and Barnes farther)

shortly after this, we roasted hot delecious shmoes.

June 11, 2013

Dear Mom and Dad,

 

Things have been really good lately.

 

We have a surprize Baptismal Date this Saturday, and then we have 2 the next Sat. and then in the other ward we have one the next week

 

YEEEEAAAAAAHHHHHH BOOOOOOOYYYYYYY!!!!!!

 

Covering 2 wards has stretched us pretty thin. The Ward Councils in both wards have been shaken by the reality that we can no longer do their dirty laundry on top of our investigators, and so they have had to step up a ton. I am happy with the amount of teaching we have been able to do. almost every appointment hour of the day is a set teaching appointment now :).

 

The Baptism for Saturday is our investigator named Madelyn. She has been going to Church for about 3 years, she is dating an innactive member who she lives with. she has wanted to get Baptized for a while, but couldn't because of her living arrangement. a few months ago, her best freind Wendy moved from Oklahoma, to just down the street from her, Wendy started taking the lessons and going to church. now Madelyn is moving into Wendy's place untill she gets married and they are both getting baptized this month, along with Wendy's son! I don't think I can really explain the long line of miracles that have led up to this point of time, but they are very evident.

 

Elder Thunell (Tuh-nell) and I are two peas in a pod, I am so happy to have him around for a couple of weeks, and I hope we can stick around eachother through out the rest of the mish. as long as this transfer he doesn't get sent up to O.C., we will finish in the same mission together. (he goes home 6 weeks after I do).

 

We have been sacrificing a lot the last few weeks to experiment on the concept of obedience bringing blessings, and it has been the BEST. I have never heard of so many miracles in my life! every other person we talk to seems to grow closer to Christ, every lesson we teach is guided by the spirit. It is so good, I never want to stop.

 

Next week we are going to the Temple, and the week after that we have a Mission Conference that will be AMAZING. President and Sister Cook will be going home that day, so will Elder Barnes. usually they grab an Apostle for this kinda thing, so cross your fingers for me.

 

Thats all I have this week.

 

Love you!

June 4, 2013 - PICs

 We moved our Table onto our patio. it was the best idea EVER

 A sweet Austen Mini that I want

A cat who climbed up to our balcony.

June 4, 2013

So, crazy story.

Sunday Night we get a call saying, "hey, you guys need to pick up the Felicita Elders and take them to Vista tomorrow morning. be there by 5.

We had to wake up at 3:30 to get there on time. One of the Felicita Elders was waiting on a Visa to go to Denmark, and it went through. So his companion has moved in with us, and now we are a TRI-PANIONSHIP covering 2 wards. Fun stuff

Elder Thunnel (tuh-nell) is awesome. he is a pure-bred hipster. He even lugs around a typewriter from the 80's and wears raybans on chums. He is from Highland, UT and is a super nice guy. we get a long very well. I was pretty stoked to be put with him, when I first met him at Zone Meeting I could see that we would become friends.

Covering two wards is pretty intense. It's like, whenever we are working in the Felicita ward, I can feel Twin Oaks Valley getting jealous. But whenever we are in TOV, I can tell that Elder Thunnel is bummed that we aren't working in Felicita. and is has only been one day! so it will probably be a struggle for the transfer, but if president didnt think we could do it, he definately wouldnt have trusted us to. Sunday should be fun, We have to go to both wards for church and ward counsel AND ward Mission Correlation.

Wish us LUCK!

Elder Strong