Hello Family

[moving me into college 2008]

Dear family and friends,

Today is May 31, 2011. The weather is hot; something like 95 degrees with 85% humidity. So yea, it's hot. More than I would like, but life will go on right?! Well I don’t have a lot to say. This was an exciting this week, I do have some miracles that happened.

So me and my companion were walking to go to our next appointment and the family we were going to see just so happened to be home (its very exiting when you can get people at home). And they invited us in and we taught them the restoration and after we were wrapping up the lesson she said, "Hang on," and she called down her 2 other daughters and she told us to tell them the same thing we told her. So we did, we explained the book of Mormon to her and we talked about the prophet Joseph Smith to them and gave them both a copy of the Book Of Mormon. They all said they would read and we said we would come back. But it was so cool to be able to get in to teach this family.

We also had a real cool experience with the bishop and his family. The bishop in this ward is real stern and strict, but we got in his home and shared a power full lesson with them and then he loosened up and we gained his trust. I think we showed him that we were for real! But the remainder of the week was spent sweating and working. There’s a lot to be done in this area and there’s a work to do, I'm just glad to be a part of it.

We were instructed buy Elder Holland recently and he said to the affect of this, 'I have been studying the early apostleship and I have learned this about the apostle Peter. After the death of Jesus Christ all of the apostles looked at Peter to lead them. Well he did not know what to do, he had only been in the church for 36 months. Could you imagine calling someone to be a apostle after only being in the church for only 36 months? They deserve a break here, but they did not know what to do and neither did he. But they all looked at Peter and said now what now what do we do? Well he said it has been great, we have seen lots of miracles and have seen healings and seen some amazing things, let’s go fish. That’s what we did when Christ found us, that’s what we're going to do now and that’s what they did. So we turn to the scene where they're on the lake at Galilee, and on the lake your sight is very good and so is sound. So they're out fishing all night and they have caught no fish. 0, zip, nada. No fish, but they see this figure and he has made a fire and he calls out to them and said, "How is the fishing going?" (Oh and by the way this is at night because that’s when you fish on Galilee) But he calls out and they respond lousy, "We have not caught a thing." And he said, "How about casting your net on the right side of the boat?" and I bet one of them said, "Now who is this guy that has this cute idea about were to cast are net? and there he is safe on the shore and here we have been working all night!", but they needed a catch so they threw it over the right side and they cant bring the catch in. It starts to sink the boat. One of the miracles is that the nets did not break and John said, "It's him! It’s him!" And Peter looks at John and then at the shore and just jumps right over the boat and said, "You all paddle if you want I am going in." And then he gets to the shore and Christ starts this little interrogation with Peter and he said, "Peter do you love me more that these nets and your boats?" and he said yes I do. And he said again "Do you love me more than these fish and your ores?" He said yes I do, I do! and then he looked him dead in the eyes and said, "Now may I ask you for the 3 time, DO YOU LOVE ME!" And he said yes I do then Christ said, "THEN FEED MY SHEEP! I ASKED YOU ONCE TO LEAVE YOUR NETS DO NOT MAKE ME ASK AGAIN AND WHEN I CALLED YOU TO THE APOSTLESHIP IT WAS FOREVER. YOU ARE TO FEED MY SHEEP FOREVER!"'

I have to go, but I was going some where with this, but be posted. I will continue this next week

Love you, bye!

Love elder black

Good in the MBM

Good afternoon to y'all!

Looks like it's going to be a hot and humid one today! Can't believe that it came so fast, soon July will be here and you will have to peel me off the black top because I am going to melt there! Well the good news is I am back in good old Odenton area. Yea, remember the bikes? Well it's time to dust them off and start peddling again. Which is not all that bad because I was going thru all my planners and I discovered that I have only 5 months left. So time to start that 6 month beautification process right now, the bikes are going to help.

Well family I will update you on my life here. Really there is not much to tell you, I am so new but I can tell you that we live right next to this army base and we go an it all the time. They check our ID cards and when we have the car, they make us pop the hood and they check for bombs. It's kinda cool. I sometimes think it would be funny to just yell, "Cut the red wire! Hurry! He's getting away!" But something in the back of my head tells me that would be a bad idea. I don't know, but ever since the assassination on Benladen they're at force protection condition bravo. Such a long word, why can't they just say "Guys that want to blow us up in this lane. Others in that lane." You think it would save some time? I don't know, it must just be the army. I don't know were they come up with all of these acronyms, but I think they're funny!

Anyway, besides trying not to go to a federal prison for the rest of my life, I am having a good time here and trying to stay out of trouble! What's going on back there folks? Any news from the out side world?

Life here as a missionary could not get any better. We have no one to teach but that's why I am here; to add some life to this party and kick it in to high gear. Oh yea dude, we're going to have a blast. Oh my new comps name is Elder Tommis and he is from Rexburg ID. He is a very good singer and he likes to bike (well I think he does). Other news is I think Fort Mead (my official area, that's whats it is called) is trying to kill me. The moment I got here, BAM! really bad headache, like really bad. BAM! Then came the allergies and they're not going away. I don't know what's going on, but I think some days I just won't pull through. But sure enough... I do. I never had this before, I guess there is no plants in Arizona that are growing so I never had to worry about it. But I think I will live. (I think)

So what else? Oh my companion makes for a really good wind blocker. I discovered this as I was behind him. I think it's called drafting, but I thought it only worked for nascars. But I was wrong. It works for bikes too. It helps a lot when your going up hill in the wind. Just get as close as you can to his back tire and you'll just zip right up that hill. Works every time. Except I almost crashed into him a couple of times, but I still perfecting it. Soon he will never know that I am back there! ha ha ha ha!

Anyway life is good. It is out here in the MBM, that's an acronym for you army people! It means Maryland Baltimore Mission.

Well time is running out so I got to hurry, but a quick shout out to my Sis back home. Pam sorry I am late, but Happy B-Day! And to my cuz back in Texas, Jennifer and Heather Happy B-Day! as well. Hope you all have a wonderful time and know that I think/pray/love all of you. If you ever get sometime and think of me, just drop me a line or two. I will get back to you. Well got to scoot!

love ya

elder black

just what comes with being a missionary

[going to the temple 201o]

Well family and friends, it's time for me to pick up and move on to another area. It is just what comes with being a missionary. I wished I could of stayed in Cumberland, but the Lord wants me here and I believe that. I am not going to lie, I was sad leaving it all behind and I was only there for a few weeks, but I will have more joy here. I am sure of it. Anyway there is great things I hear about this area. And a little about my new comp. is that his name is Elder Tommis and that he is in to singing and playing the piano. But that's all I know so far. Anyway, I will be keeping you all up to date on all the adventures that we get in to. Just a side note: that my dad (trainer) is gone. He is at home right now in Utah. Anyways I got to go but I love you and I will talk to you soon.

I hope you all have a great week. Love to here from you all. Thank you for all that you do!

love elder black