Elder D 4.1.13 "Mission Spliting...where will I be assigned?"

Family and Friends,



Good Day to my homeland. I love you all so much. During this Easter holiday, I've had time to reflect on the Savior and his Atonement and Resurrection. Never before had I thought so deeply of the love that He had for us to take upon Him, the Perfect Son of God, all of the sins and the mistakes that we have made so that we may return to the Fathers presence. Such love. Such mercy. He didn't have to do it. He had the ability to quit when it got hard. But it had to be done. Just imagine what the angel said to Jesus as he suffered in the garden.

 

 I am so happy for His grace and love for each and everyone of us.  So last week, our district went back to the Air Force Museum on Monday for a few hours. I got a picture in a space suit, we used the flight simulator which was awesome, and just looked around at all the stuff. There had been some new exhibits since I was there last time. It also had snowed from Sunday thru Tuesday so we have a lot of snow. Ohio has crazy weather. One minute it's a blizzard. You turn around for 1 minute and there's sunshine and the snow's melted away. But thankfully, Ohio has realized that it's spring and there needs to be more sunshine. It feels so good not to wear a suit coat anymore,

We found a new investigator last week! It had been a while since we had found someone and so we are very happy. Lynn is a very religious woman who needed help moving. So we helped and she loved it. She had apparently been talking to the missionaries before us for sometime. I really pray that she will even want to learn more about the Church.

For Easter Sunday yesterday, we had a lot of plastic eggs and lots of candy so we decided to decorate them and fill them with a picture of Jesus and M&M's. We drew a tie and name tag on the face of the eggs, then we handed them all out to all the members of the branch. They loved it! The whole branch loves us and we love them. I'll need to get a picture with them before I am transferred.

I've been holding this bit of info back for a while now but I feel that now is the time to share it. Because of all the new missionaries coming out in the field soon, our mission would have way to many Elders and Sisters in the Great Ohio Columbus Mission by the end of the year. So we have agreed to split the mission and the Cincinnati Mission shall rise again. I have no idea where I will be. The zone I am currently in will become part of that mission but I have no idea what will happen. I do know that it will happen in July but I don't know what mission I will be going to. I feel as if I will be going to the Cincinnati Mission and if that's where the Lord needs me then I will go with a glad heart. But I really want to stay in the Ohio Columbus mission. I was called to serve here. But like I said, I will be happy where ever I am sent.

Love you all. Have a happy spring break.

Love Elder Ephraim Kade DeCoursey

Monster from Ohio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ground Monster...We found this while tracting. It's pretty intense. I fought it. I'm not sure who won, though.

Sister D 3.18.13 "There is a reason..."

Hey home,

I have attached a few photos of the creepiest thing I have encountered on my mission. This is in the house that we are staying in. It sits next to the fridge and it's name is HapHitch. Meaning happy hitchhiker. Seriously, I think it's going to be looking at me one day when I wake up in the morning.

Anyways, things are getting better here in Rochester. There is a snow storm every Monday without fail for the last few weeks or so. So P-day begins with a movie. Today, we watched the Book of Mormon movie like in real life. It was in theaters or something like that. It was horribly awesome. I don't think it was a good idea to let people who weren't members to see this film because it would defiantly turn them off from the Book of Mormon. Oh, well at least they told the viewers to read the book to find out the true account of the story told in the movie. It was still really fun.

(Here is a picture of the meetinghouse in Rochester, MN. )

 

My faith has been put to the test this week and I think that I'm coming out ok. There is a reason that I'm out here. I'm here to help the Lord with His work in saving His children. I have been spoiled in other areas, well maybe prepared is a better word. I know that because I have seen so much success in the other areas that I can take those successes and use the experience that I gained here in Rochester. I'm working for a better cause than I think I can fully realize.

Love to you all from inside a snow bank,

Sister D

Elder D 3.11.13 "Celebration for the Misson"

This is Elder Riggs. He's been out for 22 months. He was trained in Beavercreek/ Xenia so we know a lot of the same people. He's from Orem, Utah.                   And this is me burning a couch last night while wearing my new $4 suit I got at Goodwill. Why not burn a couch? It was a members and they wanted to burn it so they asked if we wanted to join in so of course we said yes. I love my new area! There are at least 60 active members in the branch and I met them all on Sunday. They love us. We gave talks ( I used my Farewell talk) and that really got their attention towards us.   I got a GPS last week, since our area is so large.  It is over two counties.  I put in all of the members addresses and it really helps us.  And since both of us don't know the area at all, it was necessary.                     These Statue are in the town all around.

Look! he's painting me pulling off a Captain Morgan stance! It's not as good as I would want it to be. I was trying not to fall off my balance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The reason that I'm on so late than usual is because we had a party as a mission up in Columbus to celebrate our success last year.  We just got home, it is 8pm.  It was a great day to spend it with all the missionaries.

 

 

It is fantastic that Dallin is making the steps necessary to serve a mission. I wish I had taken more of the mission prep classes before I left. But I learn best on the job. Tell him I am proud of him. 

 

 

Sister D 3.11.13 "Sister Pyle"

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm now located in Rochester, MN. It is a pretty decent sized town. Pretty much everyone works at the Mayo clinic here, (it's some sort of hospital/research place). When I came in we were teaching only one person and then spending the rest of our time out tracking, trying to find new people to teach. It's a lot different than my other areas I have been in. When people say that Mormons are a peculiar people, they were talking about the Mormons here in Rochester, MN. Seriously, it's creepy sometimes.

My new companion is great. Her name is Sister Pyle and she is from Brownsville, OR. We have been getting along great. It must a NW thing.

We live with the Bishop here in Rochester.  We have one room, one shelf in the refrigerator and cupboard.  Very different than having the whole basement- (first area), or a whole apartment -(2nd area). 

 

 

We had a huge snow storm last night and woke up to tons of snow. 10 inches is quite a lot. Our car has to go into the shop for some repairs so we will be without the car for the next two days. 

 

 

 

Breaking news! My mission president said that we can now email friends from home so I can email anyone how wants to email me. That's different than before maybe they are trying to save postage? Whatever.  My email is amicherie.decoursey@myldsmail.net.

Love from the frozen and snowed in,

Sister D

 

 

 

Sister D 3.5.13 "Wei's Baptism and Hello Rochester"

Home,                  3.5.13

So transfer calls came today...and I'm going to Rochester to be with one of the sisters there. She name is Sister Pyle and she has been out about 8 months. President said that he thought that I would be able to help strengthen her. So i'm packing again.. I hate packing. But I knew that I wouldn't stay here in Dinkytown for long. Sister Morgan is staying and training TWO new missionaries. She is kinda stressed about it.

I'm glad that there is so much good going on at home. Yay for the baptism and for Zack going on his mission. He will do great. I love that kid. I'm so happy for Jenny that she was able to bring her friend into the church.

My favorite spiritual experience this week was of course the baptism of Wei. She was so nervous before the baptism but afterwards she couldn't stop expressing how happy she felt and how much she knew that the Lord loved her. I could feel that as well. She is such a great girl. Still a little silly 18 year old but has a great spirit about her.

The baptism program ran smoothly until the end when the plug wouldn't come out of the font. So, we tried to go into the water and get the plug without getting too wet. It wasn't until the Elders went in their that the plug came out and that was because they slipped down the stairs and landed in the font. Super funny!

 

It was a great experience. I'm excited to be moving on to a new area. For the new experiences that I will have there.

Love you all,

Sister D

Elder D letter home to mom 3.2.13

Dear Mother,                                        3.2.13

I have received both packages and I am so grateful for the picture and the letters.  I will definetly study the Orson Pratt Lesson on Joseph Smith and the Lectures on Faith, so I may use the information on my mission.  I understand that you are desperate for letters from me.

I do my best to write you but lately our P Days have been filled with activities.  First the Air-Force Museum, then the Temple and lately hanging out with the hippies, in Yellow Spring.  .......   where we ate at an Amish Buffet named Der Dutchman.  That place was good.  All the food was grown there by the Amish and they supply this restaurant. 

Since Monday last week, we have found 7 new investigators.  6 of them are solid but they do have their own vices that we will work with them on.  And this last P Day, we as a district, went on a hike (I have pictures) and spent the rest of our time in this town called Yellow Springs. 

Yellow Springs is a town that is definitely hippie town.  They have a lot of import stores.  .......We have a wonderful conversation with the clerks of one of the stores.  People are very nice when you don't judge them.  I think I made a few friends that day.  After Yellow Springs, we had dinner at a place called Young's Dairy.&nbsp (This photo of Yellow Springs is courtesy of TripAdvisor)  All the food they have are completely fresh and home grown.  I had me some good buffalo sauce cheese curds, which were very good.  I've also realized my love for Reuben Sandwiches.  If you could send me a simple recipe on how to make Reuben, I would be eternally grateful. 

Let me tell you about the day we found a family of 6 that we found on the 22nd.  We tracted into the Reed's by using a method where, at the doorstop, we asked if we could leave them with a blessing upon their home and family.  They were all for it.  James, the young man at the door, was very excited to see us and when he let us in he collected his family by saying "the Jesus people want to leave a blessing!" James is 21, has a good amount of tattoos, he's been to jail and that's where his path began.  He realized that he was doing wrong and started reading the Bible.  He is now engaged to a girl named Gabrielle who I've already met.  When I was serving in Xenia, we started teaching her cousin, Brandon.   She wasn't interested at that time but shes very engaged in our lessons now. James's mother, Danielle, lives there with him and she is very interested, also her best friend, Amanda and her two children, Brad and Elizabeth. they live in Springfield but they were visiting and they were also very engaged when we shared the restoration with them.  We did so the same day as when we blessed their home.  They loved to hear it and are willing to learn more.  Hurray!!!

Tracting is hard again now that we're on bikes again.   It really is a trial of our faith because we're pretty winded by the time we get anywhere and I put so much energy out just to get out of my shell and talk to people that don't really want me on their doorstep.  It's hard to keep that happy face going when no one wants to just talk.  But I smile any ways.  I keep a happy countenance up and I get to work .  I'm not going to let that get me down or even give up.  I won't give up.  I read the material you send me mom, and I feel ready to go out and share my happiness with others.  My companions are a big help, too.   This is our distric in  Beavercreek. 

Elder Decker is a greeny.  One of the first of the 18 year old out on a mission.  He's big, he's happy, and he 's willing to get the Lord's work done.  He's from Wyoming and has the accent to fit him.  Elder Poulsen is on the last legs of the race.  He has 4 months left and he might just finish out here in Beavercreek with Elder Decker.  He's from Riverside, CA.  He's super up beat and positive about everything. 

I have gotten to do 4 of the 5 baptisms myself.  I know it's better if a member does it but they felt more comfortable if I did it.  I've had such a wonderful journey on my mission and I don't plan to end it there.   The last 2 baptism were for Jane and Andrew C____.  They are Kate W___'s 2 children and they are such a hoot.  Andrew is 10 and reminds me of Father.  He doesn't smile for his pictures.  And Jane is 12.  She is really into cats.  So much so that she related the Gospel to cats, somehow.  I have now helped a family to become complete.  I know that's why I'm still here in Beavercreek.  I am so happy to have helped them to reach closer to their Father in Heaven. 

I'm afraid I must go now.  There's more work to be done.  I will write more letters when I can. 

Love,
Elder Ephraim K DeCoursey. 

Elder D 2.24.13 "Jane and Andrew Baptized"

Dear Family and Friends,

I don't have much time to write letters today. We have a district activity in 1 hour and that should take the rest of pday. I will write more letters next week and will send them out. But right now I don't have time to do so. Maybe I'll write thru out the week at less productive times of the day and send them on Monday. But I will send letters to you soon.

We also have sisters serving in the same area as we are. There are 5 missionaries in Beavercreek. Plus our district is so much fun!! I will tell you more when I write you a letter. But for now I must go. Love you. keep on keeping on!! ha

I am sending a few pictures of Katie's children.  They were baptized on Saturday the 24th of Feb.  I know that my smiles are always weird. Especially at a baptism. I just can't seem to get it right. But I'm working on it. However, I win the hearts of the members by my smile alone so there's some good there.  Jane and Andrew were great to teach and baptize.

 

 





Did I tell you that Jane Cr....., my 3rd baptism (Feb. 16), pretty much adopted Elder Daw, Hogan, and I as her grandchildren? My smile is what really got her attention is what she said.  So some good does come from that problem. 

 

 I have a crazy picture at the Air Force Museum.  I was having fun.

Yes that is .... a very big spider. 

 

Elder Poulsen is training Elder Decker, my new companions.  He is one of the new 18 year old Elders that just came out.  I would love to tell you more about them but I must be going. I love you. 

Elder Eph DeCoursey

Elder D 2.13.13 Baptism of Duane S

Hi Friends and Family, It was a great week. I got to baptize Duane S..... on last Saturday.  It was a great experience.  I will write you more this week about it.  I don't have much time to email many details.  We have been so busy.

I will find out tonight if I am going to be transfered next Monday.  I will write you next week and let you know if I am still here.  I am glad I will be here this next weekend, Jane Cr.... will be baptized this weekend and I will be able to see that.  She was found by tracting.  She is the Golden Investigator you alway hear about.  Whatever concerns she has had she has resolved them before the next week's lesson.  She has adopted all 3 of us as her grandsons. 

The 22nd Jane and Andrew will be baptized.  They are Katie W...'s children.  Katie W was baptized on Dec. 29th 2012.  Our first baptism in this area for over 18 months.  We have a lot of fun teaching them. 

I feel my confidence growing in leaps and bounds.  Recently, while I was pondering stuff, I realized that missionaries are Christ's elite in the amry against satan.  We defect him everyday day doing the Lord's work.  As I pray and study the scriptures, I sharpen my sword and prepare my armor before going out into the battlefield.  Our family motto, putting on the Whole Armor of God, has never been more helpful and clearer than now.  In my studies, Isaiah talks about a "cloak of zeal" & "garments of vengence".  Isaiah 58:16-19.  My understanding of it is that a captain of ancient armies wore cloaks & special armor to show their rank. And what is it that captains do? They rally their army & encourage & raise up those who are ready to join their Lord's army.  As a missionary, I and my fellow elders are the Lord's captains of His army.  Each person we "rally" to repentance makes us stronger and this comforts me each day.  At each dinner appointment, I share our message on the Armor of God, and the importance it plays in my family.  I am very happy that we had this scriptures as a family motto and had the opportunity to share it with other families. 

I love you all.  Dad, thank you for the example you've been for me.  I thank you for all the work that you've brought me along with you.  I thank you for all that you have done to help me be where i am today. 

I must go now. I have work to do,
Love Elder Ephraim Kade DeCoursey

Elder D 1.14.13 "Welcome Xenia"

Dear friends and family,

Me and my beloved Elders, this past week, have been working really hard to wrangle some gators. A dog almost took my face off. I'm talking more and it's getting easier to introduce the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to people. My companions are really helping me become more comfortable to talk to people. It's a work in progress but it's working.

I'm staying in the Xenia apartment which is really small with 3 elders.

 

 

 

But we make it work. I have actually grown to like tracting. It's so much more fun in a tripanionship. We tract for at least 5 hours a day if we don't have any appointments. You have a lot of time to think when walking from house to house.

It's difficult to be covering 2 areas. We have to work with 2 wards, plan twice as long, and divide our time so we can work in both areas. It's a work in progress and slowly getting better.

You are always on my mind and in my prayers. I will be writing letters to as many of the people that I know back home as I can. And I want you to do the same. Letters are candy to missionaries. I would love to here more about your lifes and about what's going on at home.

Love, Elder Ephraim Kade DeCoursey.

Elder D new pictures 1.2.13

I think I got the hang of this picture thing. Here are some pictures that I want you to see before I send home my SD card so you can make some hard copies with it.

1. Me and Elder Thompson
2. My District
3. Me and Elder Vickory
4. Me and Elder Moe (or Able)
5. Look at the background in this picture. That is Elder Nelson. He's serving in Norway
6. Me, Elder Maughan, Brother Wilson and Kate Wilson. My first baptism and confirmation.
7. My awesome zone.
8. Look at the snow!

That's all I will send for now. There's more but it will come with the SD card through the mail soon. As well as mother's present.

 

Amicherie last email from the MTC

Family,

This week will be my last week here. I am having a great experience here with my companions and with the investigators that we have been teaching.

One of them is a sweet lady named Ivelsese. The first time that we met her, she was a put off from our message and we weren't really able to build a relationship with her. The second time we met with her we went in with an attitude of wanting to just be her friend and answer any questions that she had about the gospel. As we went in there was a totally different feeling. We have become really close over the last few times that we have taught her. We invited her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, to find out for herself if it was true. Yesterday when we met with her, she told us her experience with reading the Book of Mormon. As she read the story of Sariah doubting Lehi because her sons hadn't come back from getting the scriptures, Ivelsese was able to become friends with her (her words not mine). She said that she was able to understand how Sariah felt when she started to doubt if her husband was really a prophet of God because she has been doubting that Joseph Smith was a prophet as well. After reading about this experience, she prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true and also to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Upon finishing her prayer, she waited for an answer to come. It wasn't until that night, when she was about to fall asleep, that she received her answer. A thought came to her mind that she knows wasn't her thought. The thought was," The book if true" At that moment, she knew that was the answer to her prayer. She was so excited that she started to have family scripture study every morning before the kids would leave for school. They would read from the Book of Mormon and pray to know if this is the way that they should go as a family. Needless to say they feel really good about the church and are now working towards baptism. Which is great...except she is already a member. She is just role playing an investigator for the sake of helping the MTC missionaries learn about how to teach investigators. Normally, she doesn't tell missionaries that she is just playing an investigator however because of how close we had become she shared the story that I just shared with you about her real conversation. Super nice and sweet lady.

The food here is good. The water tastes like I liked a wet rock. Needless to say the water here is horrible. I have been buying powerade and bottled water just to get by. I'm learning a lot about teaching in general here. I'm also learning about how to help others come closer unto Christ.

Ma, I will be leaving the MTC at 5:00am on Wednesday for the airport. My plane doesn't leave the until 8:30am so I should have some time to call home. Dear Elder me what phone you want me to call. Also, I probably wont be getting on the computer next week because of just getting into Minnesota thing. I got the package, Thanks! Are you guys in Utah right now? Dear Elder me and let me know.

Dad,
Happy Birthday! I love you! Be safe.

Dallin and Louie,
I miss you sooo much. I hope that school is going good. I know that you will be fantastic at anything you do. . I love you guys. I wake up in the morning and think that I have to go wake you up so that we can hang out and I can bug you but then I remember where I am. PS.....you smell! :)
I hope that you got my letter and that you are going to write me that story. Have mom show you how to get onto dear elder and write me a short letter. I want to know about what's going on with you and your crazy stories. You should probably send me a picture because you know I love them even if they freak me out.

Love,

Sister D

Elder D 10/29/12 - "I've been called to teach, not be taught "

Good Day Kennewick Washington!
   It has now been 3 weeks since coming out to the field and I got to say, it's an amazing land. I'm serving in the Beaver Creek area, which is comprised of some very Christlike Catholics who will let you in from the rain but will have nothing to do with your message. Just yesterday we had a very interesting experience with a baptist preacher man. We tracted into him and he tried to convince us. That's not why I'm here. I told him that I've been called to teach, not be taught and walked away. Other than that, there was a lot of potential yesterday where we were knocking on doors.
   I love my trainer, Elder Dallin Maughan. He reminds me a lot of my brother. He's ADD, been of his meds for a few transfer's ( about 12 weeks), he hasn't been but he's told me he's prone to anger. When our training session is over He will be going home, so he's a bit trunky. He is very intelligent. He worked as an Internet Security manager before he came out so he knows alot about computers. He's also a big nerd.

  Before we came here, we were doubled in ( both new to the area), there was a companionship that wasn't very skilled at being a missionary. They would spent there time with less active members instead of doing what they were suppossed to. There was a lot of trust lost with the ward and the missionaries. So it's our job to get that trust back. So far so good. Members of the ward visit our apartment bearing gifts. I love this area.
  On Friday, we tracted for 5 hours straight in the pouring rain. I did not have an appropriate jacket for that kind of weather and I got soaked. My suit is perfectly fine however, albeit a little wrinkled. We really exercised our faith that day. It is suppossed to snow tonight which is okay because I now have an actual coat that is not a trench coat, which I was told not to bring. I will be very warm with it and also a new pair of gloves that I got from another missionary.
  The are I serve in is about 5 miles long so we don't have a car. We have bikes. I have been able to maintain my weight at 210, however but I notice my stomach getting smaller each. My legs have never felt more powerful.

 

  Our toilet broke on Saturday. We woke up and noticed that it decided to baptise the bathroom. We made plans to go with a member to Walmart to go get new toilet parts. This member was actually quite the handy man so when he came over he had his tool box in hand and new parts and said "Where's the problem?" He showed us how to fix the toilet and fixed the leak. Bro. Hinrichsen is such a blessing. He's now on our cookie list.
  Before I leave, I have a few words for those of you who are preparing for a mission. Study the Book of Mormon and the Preach My Gospel manual until your sick of it then study it some more. I study these every opportunity I get and I wish I had studied them more before I left. To  those of you who are interested on why I'm taking 2 years out of my life to bring maybe 8 or 9 people to the Restored gospel of Jesus Christ: Ask the missionaries. They can help you.
 So long for now, dear friends and family.
 Adiue.