July 23, 2013 - pictures

Elder Despain and I had a pretty fun time together at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park today

 These are the two pictures I got from a wonderful "stranger"

 Elder Lloyd, Elder Parker, Elder Despain and Elder Strong

Four very happy missionary mom's today

"Me and my baby boy" says Riley

July 23, 2013

Hey Things are going SUPER AWESOME here in the Dirty 'Dido.

We are having Pats Baptism at a members home in San Marcos, they have an awesome house with a pool that is going to be perfect for baptizing Pat.

We picked up a guy named Steve. I don't really know what I should tell you about him, but He is like 6'4 and 280 lbs. he has had a really.... different life. but he knows that the church is something he really needs to be apart of. he is reading and praying everyday, and we meet with him all of the time. He is a really big teddy bear. I think the sweetest guy I have ever met. we give him the cookies that we don't want to eat.

I have never seen missionary work go better than it has here, in the last month. we have been getting 3-5 referrals a week! it has been the best!

We had to come up with a boundary line for our ward to fit in a pair of sisters in the ward. so it will be interesting to see what it is like to share a ward. hopefully they don't steal the retirement community from me >:l

I am having so much fun! it is funny to train, I wear the Park rangers badge when we are around the apartment like it is a sheriffs badge. Elder Despain is fun to have around.

and that's all I have to say about that...

Elder Strong

Side note about badge - These are the badges I sent him and Zoe from our Yellowstone Trip. 

July 22, 2013 - Postcard

He didn't say much but it was a nice surprise. 

July 16, 2013 - pics July 16

 Elder Despain

 molly the cat

Pat

July 16, 2013

Hi,

 

Hows everyone doing? I have had an awesome time! Elder Despain is awesome! We have the funnest times together. I hope that we are having quality experiences that he can take with him for the rest of his mission, it is really cool to be with him at this part of his Mission. Training is super fun, I couldnt have asked for a better assignment.

 

Some struggles we have found are that we have similar attitudes and personalities, so we have a hard time motivating eachother, so we have to rely on the Lord to motivate us. But everything that we do together is fun. He is just a happy guy and a fun person to be around.

 

Pat is still getting ready for her Baptism, I think Elder Thunell and I are going to cary her into the font together to do the job. She says she is fond of the Firemans Carry. I am going to try and find some Postum for her to drink in the morning so she can kick the Decaff Coffee. and we are teaching her the Law of Tithing tomorrow so wish us luck. I have found that Chastity>Tithing any day. 

 

I hope that everything is going well for you,.

Thanks for all of the love and support. 

 

Love
Elder Strong

July 15, 2013 - Letter from new mission president

July 15, 2013 - Letter in the mail

I came home from work Monday to a nice surprise, a letter from Riley.

Dear Mom,                                                                                                         July 9, 2013

I am sooo tired but I don't want to take a nap. Well, I kinda do but I am not going to. We just helped some people empty a super gross storage unit. I almost got killed by a huge black widow. Luckily I got it off of my hand in time. It's the worst to help people on P-days. oh well.

I didn't get to write a good email to you this week the library was super busy, so my computer session was shorter than usual.

My new companion's name is Elder Despain from San Tan Valley, AZ. I am training him, so it's a different kind of relationship.

Just wanted to say hi, nothing new going on. I guess.........

Maybe this is why they invented email.

Elder Strong

July 9, 2013 - Picchures

Her name is Victoria, She has medical problems so she needed both of us to be in the font with her.

 She crocheted Elder Thunell and I matching ties haha

 I thought it would be funny to hang a pic of Emma Smith for my new comp to see. (it was)

Elder Despain

July 9, 2013

So I have 4 minutes to write a letter, I had a lot of stuff to send President Kendricks because I am training now.

 

My CPU is going to shut DOOWN!!! sorry!

 

I baptized with Elder Thunell. Victoria was a member once before but took her names off the records. but, we put them back on.

 

Hopefully we will get in the water together again to baptize a lady named Susan. and then Pat too!

Pat set a date for August 3rd! meet me at the font, its goin down!

 

Sorry again 30 seconds!

 

Love you, I got the package, yay sweet insurance!

 

Elder Strong

July 2, 2013 - pichars

 Sister Connor and Elder Hamblin and I (sister Connor is in Irvine now)

 Elder Sobczack (sub-check) he is in Irvine now

 And my whole MTC District

 Sister Rawle and I (in Irvine now)

 Elder Tetuanui and I (back in Tahiti now)

a SUPER COOL OWL in front of the Bobier Building in Vista, we saw one of them kill a Blue Jay. It was sweet

July 2, 2013

Holy moly, what a crazy week!

 

The Mission split and I lost some really good friends to the Irvine Mission. But I will still be able to keep up with them hopefully. I am going to miss the Cooks.

 

I showed up to the Transfer Meeting not knowing what was going to happen at all. Then President Cook started calling the Elders and Sisters that were going to be Training. usually he gives them a call to let them know before hand, but this time he called us during the meeting. So, I am going to be training a new Missionary! I pick him up today, he is being brought in by President and Sister Kenndricks, and I am excited to be able to meet them! I have an interview with President at 2 so I am happy to get to know him :). And I am stoked to meet my new companion!

 

We took my BFF Pat to a Baptism on Sunday, to show her how it works and so she could feel the spirit. In the program, the YSA Bishop had every one say why they decided to come to the baptism, and Pat said "I came because... I want to be Baptized."

 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

And then, I started tearing up and I have never been so happy in my WHOLE LIFE!

 

I love Pat, everything about her, I feel so happy to be involved in her journey! And she is just taking off. she is a super star!

 

I need to write a letter to my mission president, and I don't have a lot of time to do anything today because of meetings, so I will have to finish up with an I love you.

 

Elder Strong