"I just need to track him down."

Dear family, lets talk a moment about me. I love this part of my day! Today is Pday of course, and we as a district are going to play min golf and climb Maryland hights again. That should be a riot. I don't think we have anything else planned. So that is my day today besides shopping, which is all ways fun with the Charleston Elders. I have started making a tape and you have the privilege of meeting them. Anyways on to my week, just to warn you all it was not all that exciting and most of my week was spent in meetings. Okay we shall move on now that you know that.

Monday went to Rittas, that was a ice cream place/ shaved ice. It was good, I loved it. Best ice cream I ever had (well besides nutters). We went to a store called Gabreal Brothers, it was like Good Will on steroids. But I like Good Will a lot better, I think it was more organised and stuff. And that was about it. Yea moving on.....

Tues. District meeting. Love a good D.M. I gave a workshop on good planing and why we do it. It was fun/ up lifting and you could really feel the spirit in the room. We had lunch together and then me and Elder Berad, who is are D.L ,went on splits together. We met this really cool lady (forgot her name (good thing she is not in my area)) but she had a Dalmatian (a dog with black spots all over it he was cool first time seeing one). And we saw Bro. Jonson, he reminded me of Perry a lot. That was about it for Tues.......

Wed. Wednesday and Thursday can almost be combine so here it is: Wednesday I got back from splits and we exchanged the car so we were on bikes (PS dad I sill have not looked at my tires but I will do that soon). We taught the Gunns about the plan of salvation and it went well. The Gunns are a part member family, the boys are members and so is the mom but the dad is not a member. But he will be, I just need to track him down. He is never around when we teach them.

Thurs. We had Pres. interviews and that was great. We had a good time and I love President Belliston. He just is so funny but more than that, he could quote a scripture at the drop of a hat. And I am pretty sure he has the BOM memorized by now and I want to be like that!!! Awesome guy, love him to death. Even though he won't give us a car (I cant see why though). Saw Sister Burden. She is like 90 years old and is still got a sense of humor that would amaze anyone. She is just to cool for school, as she would say! We did not have a dinner appointment, so we talked about life, me and Elder Meese over a frosted beer mug at A&W. It was a good man talk. Love that guy. He is quiet, but when he does get talking he is so funny.

Fri. This also marks the day for a new planer. I am still on MTC time and it kinda mess me up, but I am to lazy to change it so I just deal with it, I roll with the punches.

We tried to see Terry, but she flaked out on us. She is like the queen of that. We did lots of knocking and then had lunch. Had dinner with the Johnson's. They are a newly baptized family and there awesome. The dad reminds me of Cody Villarreal. We saw Brother Nottingham, who just celebrated his 99 birthday. He is so cool and he always tells us that he is only on blood pressure meds and that he is going to live to be 105.

Sat. We went to the flee market to find people and it worked some what. We found some solid people. We went to see Terry once again, flaked out on us. We went to historic Harper's Ferry and we did some tracking there. I placed a Book of Mormon and that was cool. Then we had dinner with the Elsworth's. Cool people, we use to live with them, well Meese did, I did not.

Sun. We had pec and then we saw Brother Ketley. He's is so cool, he is a fire man going through a divorce. He has had a hard life. He is a member but he thinks God has abandoned him. We work hard with him and he said he will try to come to church. We saw the Charleston's crazy investigator. His name was Chris and he is so funny. Well that's about it. See you guys next week.

love elder black

"well apparently I missed this or Hank for got to cover it"

So family this is my week:

Monday we went to Maryland heights, which is the tallest mount. in Maryland (its only like 100 ft tall), there is no such thing as a mount. here. We ate icecream at nutters (which is like the best icecream in the world) then we saw the battle field, that was cool but we did not take pictures because we had to get going to meet with families and do missionary stuff. This was also the time were I had a minor panic attack I then found it in (of all places) my back pack (yea I felt dumb) that was about it. I will be sending those pictures as soon as I can!

Tues. well we saw the Guns and a few other families but nothing new. We did lots of knocking and we did lots of tracking but I will let you know if anything changes.

Wednes. This was a fun day. We went to the auto car wash and it was like these elders have never been thru one. They were screaming and carrying on, I got a video of it. It was funny!

Thurs. was zone conference. This was awesome. I love zone conference. It is such a boost, I love it!

Friday- OK this was a OK day. It started out good we had dinner with the Wards, which was good. We did some off roading in the car. My comp. does not know how to drive off road, so I had to take the wheel. We will not be returning to that members home again without a 4 wheel drive truck! And then I was still driving when I was in the city and the corners at the intersection are really sharp, (well apparently I missed this or Hank for got to cover it) because I bounced off this curb and was like oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo crap. Well let me tell you the next 20 min was spent changing this tire and I was not a happy camper!

Sat. we went to a excommunicated members re-baptism. That was cool. Then we spent 30 minutes at the repair shop, the whole time I was complaining that I could do this so much faster myself all I needed was a new tire!

Sunday. was fast and testimony meeting. I bore my testimony and it was cool! I got invited to talk to the primary kids to talk about missions and that was cool also.

Well sorry this was so lame. I will do better next week. I for got to write stuff down as you can tell.

love elder black

My story on the week

So dear family it is just another pday here in H.F. (Harper's Ferry) my emails home are going to change. I am first going to acquire all the e-mail address I can and then I will write one massive email to everyone like you are suppose to do. Now the second thing that I am going to do is break my days up and write a summary of that day throughout the week, I feel that if I write what happened, that night I won't be thinking about it on pday and forget it all and have nothing to report. So things are going to change a bit, this idea came to me watching G.C. (General Conference)

monday went like this: the Charlestown elders came down and we had pday together and we went out to Wendys and had a good time. The elders that came are elder Godfree and elder Larose . Elder Godfree was supose to be in India, but he could not get his visa and they just sent him here and he is a free spirit, . but they are tearing it up in Charlestown!

Tuesday went like this: we started out our day doing ps. (personal study) and cs.(comp study) which went very well. Then we tried to visit Roger and Karin, a less active family and tried to see Sister Copenhavor, which did not happen but that's ok. We then had lunch back at the apartment or house because it is a house! That lunch was yummy in my tummy after that we knocked Cabel Town a typical West Virginia neighborhood, no body had teeth!! Just kidding but after what seemed to be 6 hours of knocking, but it was only 2 1/2, I need to get in to shape I am such a wimp! We even had the car too! Can you believe that?! Anyway after that fiasco and might I add disaster. I had someone sick their dog on me! But we won't get into that because i am scared for life from it! after that we went to the Curs, that was a nice famliy the dad is a Marine SIMPER FI! We're going to get along quite nicely. We watched Finding Faith in Christ which we all bawled our freaken eyes out and she loved it, we ate dinner there. The kids went nuts, she was embarrassed but we assured her that we understood. I love the dinner (umm umm!) i love members that feed me! After that we taught the Cogles, nice family the lesson went good, but we had to drop them because they just were not progressing and not keeping commitments, I hate that! But the Lord will bless us, I know it.

Wednesday went like this!

DISTRICT MEETING!!! :)
i love district meeting its were you can all get together as a district and get closer and the zone leaders were there and they are cool guys. after that we went to A&W the best root beer in a keg I have ever had! They even give you a frosted mug how cool!!!

after that we had a cool lesson with Terry she is a cool investigator she calls us her babies, so weird! but we love her, . the lesson went well and we invited her to come to G.C and she said she would! that was cool! she has come a long way !

We did service at the library, that was fun. I made dive bombing birds (long story). There was this lady that came up to us and apologized for the mean things she said to us and slamming the door in our face. I have never met this lady, nor have i ever had her door all most take my head off (another long story). It made me think, in pmg (preach my gospel) it talks about how people recognize us as Gods servants when they see us doing small acts of kindness, so that helped this lady to see that were not all that bad and we want to help. After that we had dinner and went back to the old homestead and I passed-out on my bed, becaues this marks the first day I had to ride my bike! We share a car with the other elders, so they bike on one day and we bike one day. My bike has 2, that's right, not one but 2 flat tires! I did not know this until i got home and the whole time i was wondering why i was having such a hard time getting up hills and such!

but i think i fixed the problem (i think)?
Thursday the Dawn of a New Day! the sun arose and so did my spirits
in short we got a new cool investigator (have to tell you the story later) and that's about it moving on
Friday: we geared up for G.C and handed out flyers to everyone for the times. We went to lunch with the Charlestown boys/elders.

We ate at this really nice Chinese restaurant and we ate with the members. we also ate at the Vanvleats they're a nice family and have a cool dog, but it made me miss Simba. Simba this is a shout out for you! You are, and will always be the best and coolest dog in the whole world! Don't think i don't think about you! My prayers are for you to and I pray for you every night, stay strong for me girl!

Saturday: G.C> what can i say more than wow did you here Holland's talk i love him, he is so bold "well you should not be serving tea any way". Well, i have to go i will tell you about Sunday and more of Saturday next week so to be continued.....

got to go now and do missionary stuff

I am now with my new companion and I am now surviving in the Harper's Ferry area. And guess what? My companion is from the same stake you guys are in. His name is elder meese and his dad knows me I guess. So look him up. Ask Pres. Hettinger, I am sure he would know. Anyway you guys have something in common now. Anyway got to go here is my new address:

elder black
743 Chickamauga Dr.

Harper's Ferry, WV 25425

love elder black

got to go now and do missionary stuff by now and tell every one my new address please thank you

Nothing New

(at graduation)

Well guys, not a whole lot to report. I am getting transferred and that's all I know. So I'll keep you informed about my new comp and my new area. Until then, love elder black

I had the best week of my life

(opening his call)

I had the best week of my life this week. OK so it was Thursday
night and it was about oh 8:00 and we were out tracking for about an hour
and we were not finding anyone to talk to, but we heard some one behind
us and he was practically running to us. He said, "Man I am glad I caught you
guys. You guys are missionaries right?" We said that we were and he was
like oh that's great. He said he had a lot of questions for us and we were
glad to answer them. We talked for about an hour and taught him the first
lesson. It was so cool and he wanted to know more is that not cool or
what? His name is Brett and I will inform you on the progress.

love elder black

Still have their agency.

(at his eagle court of honor)

So last week lets see, well Monday I wrote you and well that's all I did.

Tuesday I don't really remember much. I just visited people and watched Elder
Walker take a 3 hour nap, yep! Slacker! But he is type 1 diabetic and
has to take insulin all the time and the med's he has to take I think
makes him tired. But anyway that's what we did and we saw a dead raccoon.

Wednesday we hung out with Bro. Forny. He took us out to lunch and we read
Scriptures to him. That man is so nice, I think we are the only thing
that keeps him a live. After all he is 95 years old!

Thursday we went to lunch with Bro. Fonry again and we read scriptures with
Brother Sheperd. He is a something or other in the army. I don't know what
you call it anyhow.

On to Friday we had a fun time tracking and getting shut down again and
again. I felt like that companion on the best 2 years how he said "I have
ran almost a ten K and no one has even stooped to talk to me" and my comp
said "I thought you had that lady with the walker cornered" and I
said"yea until she sicked her dog on me."

Saturday was boring. All we did was tracked and froze to death. Yep, that
was all my Saturday was about.

Sunday - We went to church and went to Sis. Clark's house we talked with
Jessica, her daughter, who got preg. at 16. She does not think that God loves
her and we have been trying so hard with her to make her see that the
repentance process is not a slap on the wrist, but more of a healing
process. Like Jesus said, "Come all ye ends of the earth and be converted
that I may heal you." So we did not even get a commitment out of her and
when I got home I had a mental brake down. And Elder Walker had to tell
me that every thing that they tell you in the MTC is not true, that in
the MTC they teach you that you get a baptism every person you find, but
its not true people. Still have their agency.

love elder black
p.s have you sent that package yet

I will always look to my Savior for help.

So I am writing to you today. I have longer time now. I just realised I am such a slow typer. I need that recorder so I can describe people here better. I am no good at typing I
think having you do all my essays has hindered me some and I am sorry for
taking that for granite and for yelling at you to. I hope you will forgive me. All I can say about Hancock is SOUTHERN yep deep down country boys down here.
I thought I was going to be in some richy area,
but I am right at home. Me and this less active named Bill had a lengthy
discussion on deer and how they can kill 37 with in a single year. DAD
come to Hancock and kill deer, you don't have to see me, just come!!! I
have seen at least to 6 pointers and some other really nice and healthy
deer no elk though, bummer. But dad and Bill I think would get along really
good. He reminds me of Rick, but in reverse because he can cook. Anyway it
is slow here in Hancock and some days I just want to cry because people
are so stuck in there ways here that they refuse to let the spirit touch
there lives. The only comfort I get is from my trainer and the Lord everytime
I get down on my knees and offer up the desires of my heart to Him, I
all ways feel comforted. I get up off my knees and feel like what I am
doing is right. I was sent here to find that one or that 101, you know and
I won't stop till I find him or her. Like Pam's email said, in the standard
of truth which we say to nothing will stop it Satin if you think about it
is just a ghost and he is nothing to be afraid of or to give in to I know
that I am a child of God and that only Him will I serve. Sure I will
fall, were human we all do, but I will always look to my Savior for help.
I love you mom and I always will
love elder black and PS I need my ipod
dock. hahaha you and dad all ways send things without their chargers my
ipod does not run on faith alone! just kidding
love your missionary elder
black

"praying that I won't die!"

I just gave a man a blessing on his shoulder because he was
getting it operated on. I love Maryland right now I am in Handcock and
just an FYI, this is not my Pday. My Pday is on Monday but Monday was
Pres. Day so that is why I am talking to you on this day. I love the
people of Hancock. I love being a missionary. I met this very nice man
named Brother Forny. Brother Forny has taken it upon himself to feed
and give the missionaries beer. Now that's what he calls it, it is actually
rootbeer, but we call it beer for short and we think it sounds cool to.
Anyways a little about this sweet man he is 95 and he still drives and
he just got his license extended for 5 more years. You know how they
say old people drive slow? Well not Brother Forny, he drives like 90 miles
an hour and looks at you the whole time doing it! They always wonders why
I am asleep but I am really just closing my eyes and praying that I won't
die! He is so much like grandpa, in the regard that he is independent, he
lives on his own and he does not ask for help. He is so funny though, like
when we got all that snow Brother Forny went out with his shovel to
shovel snow and his neighbor said get back in your house and I'll do it! It
was funny because he was like, "I was glad he said that because I was
tired!" I love that man. He tries to be young again. He talks slang and stuff.
It's fun. He also demands that we play phase 10 with him and he wins every
time. I think he cheats. hahah I met the bishop of the ward he reminds me
of Bishop Marcotte. He is a good bishop and loves the people and really
pushes home teaching and from the other end of home teaching, I can see
how important it really is. So get on that home teaching, don't let the
members fall away from not being seen. And I know in doing so you not only
bless your life but theirs as well. Well this morning I was woken up to
what sounded like a WWII bomb alert siren. You know the one that they
sounded when planes would fly over or something? Anyways I did not know
what to do, I could not find any cover! So I ran in the living room were
my companion was, who's name is Elder Walker, but anyways I was like, "What
is that? It was loud." He said it was the fire station and I was like, oh
OK that's good no bombs. Then and he said no, no bombs and I was like OK.
well I needed to get up anyway. Well got to run.

love you elder black

Rocky's weekly report:

I don't have much time and I hate this thing, it's like a ticking time bomb. It's do or die, such a pain. I am doing well, no sickness or injury so we're good. I had a health and safety meeting yesterday and that was the most depressing thing in my life! He told us about a sister comp. that one of them fell off a 12 story roof and the sister ran down just in time for her to gasp her last breath! So sad and then he said don't be stupid! Ok, heartless!

What else is there? Not much that's going on. I have great teachers. I hate the rc and the trc, though. I have learned so much that I have a headache! Just kidding, but tell more people to write, because I have 10 minutes now. Letters help, there is something about opening a letter, better than opening a document or e-mail, but I do like e-mails, too.

I am glad to hear you are in YW's, that's so cool. I hear Dad is doing well and that's good. Tell grandma and grandpa I love them and tell dad I love him.

I love you guys, got to go, this ticking time bomb is telling me it's time to go, this is so dumb. Write me!!!