Elder D 3.18.13 "Keep Knocking"

Dear Friends and Family,

I wish I could say that this past week has been very successful but sadly I cannot. It was a hard week. We had found many potentials, but one by one our appointments fell through. No one was home for the return appointment or they were home but completely ignored us. We still have a few names to visit but the work is hard here in Darke County. This really is a trial of my faith. Prayer has been a big help for me. It gives me the courage to keep moving forward. To keep walking. To keep knocking. To continue to find that child of God that I was sent here to find. And I wont quit. No matter what Satan throws at me, I will never quit.

I have recently discovered that now I can email my friends along with my family now. If anyone wants to keep in touch with me, PLEASE send me your email address Because I want to keep in touch with you too.

I've learned several new recipes that are super simple and really cheap to make. The Queso-Hot Dog, wich is a quesodilla wrapped around a hot dog in the bun smothered in BBQ sauce. It is so good and very filling. The other is a Tongan Sandwich. This delicious meal is made with toast, Mayonnaise, 1 egg over easy, and Top Ramon. O my goodness it is so good!!!

On Thursday a member of the Quorum of the 70 came to the mission and spoke to us on to concept of "being Saved". Many members of the Church hesitate when asked this question because it seems rather complicated. But it is so simple! We are saved from physical death because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And we are saved from spiritual death because of the Atonement but only if we put forth the effort to do so. I would write more on the subject but I believe a better and better educated explanation is done by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. I can't remember what talk it was but this talk has changed my whole perspective on this work.

And that's all. Your awesome. Your amazing. I love each and every single one of you.

Love, Elder Ephraim Kade DeCoursey

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 in Front of the Map at the MTC

                                                                  At MTC in Provo, UT Nov. 28th 2012

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 3.5.13 "Greenville, OH"

Mom,                                                    3.5.13

I was just ETed (Emergency Transferred) Greenville. I got here about an hour ago.  I was rather saddened by the call.  I am excited also. 
 

Everythings fine with me. The reason for the transfer is because of the missionaries that were serving here in Greenville. I don't know what the deal was but I think I'll know later. But I litterally have nothing to work with, I'm in a branch now and this area is huge.
I will write you about this more when I find out. 
Love you,
Elder Eph DeCoursey