Bangor, Part 19

Me and Elder Mueller talk about hunting and hiking and outdoor stuff a lot. As is customary, he has done a lot more than I have. Which makes me feel boring at times, but not too bad. It's making me want to spend some time doing that though. I only have to wait a year now!!! I'm still not sure about riding the horses. Am I the only one who finds riding horses scary still? 

So, we are still seeing and teaching Helen on a consistent basis. She makes fun of me a lot because one time we had to postpone an appointment with her because I forgot to find a joint teach to come with us. Honestly, she will not let me live that down. Anyways, she hasn't told us directly, but we heard through the grapevine---the friendly church member grapevine---that she has a date in mind for baptism. Possibly the weekend of the 13th/14th, which is her birthday I think. So cool! There's someone you can pray for. Also, there's a 14 year old girl named Hannah who is also going to be baptized that weekend. 

We had a few new investigators pop up this week. Other than that, not too much. But the baptism dates have me excited. We don't have as many dinner appointments lately (since its the summer and people are away) maybe one or two a week, but that's still better than in Derry and Dundalk. I'm gonna have to get some pictures with some people before I leave here (presumably after the same weekend of scheduled baptisms) because I love everyone, but I definitely have some favorites, like Scott (ward mission leader in 1st ward), and Sister Reed (gives us food every Sunday since I've been here), and some others. 

So, how tall is everyone now? Who's gotten bigger/smaller?

Love you so much! 

Bangor, Part 18

Well, no new investigators this week. But, things could be worse. I have a good feeling about this coming week. We gonna make something happen. 

The weather here has stabilized at slightly cloudy. Hasn't moved much beyond that point. 

I was thinking of tu this father's day! Well, who else? Again, I'll just say how proud I am of my lineage, and how inspiring my fathers are. Especially you. I got to thinking how often I thought you would be disappointed in me, especially if I told you things that were embarrassing to me. I thought you might be embarrassed by me, or something like that. But I was always instead just impressed by how much you loved me instead. That's a man I want to be to my sons. Unless I pull a Van Waardhuizen, then I'll have to be that to daughters only 😁 I love my mom!!!!

We got some honorary father's day candy at church, as is customary. But we were also in two wards, so we got two treats! 

Dude, Justin is turning out sooo awesome. I'm gonna have to get him to teach me a bunch of things when I get home. 

It's not as easy to get out and do things in Bangor for p-days. Everything cool is a few hours away, and we have to get there by public transportation. In Dundalk we had a car, and were pretty close to a bunch of cool places. In Derry, we could get our neighboring area Omagh to come and take us places, because they had a car and they loved us. By the way, I hear that Derry has the car now. It's because the new Elders in Omagh can't drive. One of them is Obedmoth Cosmas (look him up, he's really cool). 

Anywho, that's it for now. Knockout drawing once again, Mom. Olivia, you are just the sweetest! 

Love you very much! Thanks for writing me so loyally Dad! Happy father's day! 

Bangor, Part 17 - June 11

What a week. Nothing really happened out of the ordinary, but with Elder Baklan gone I've had to do a lot more. In fact, I'm pretty sure Elder Mueller is making me take more of an active role on purpose. He's cool though. He's 20 months on his mission. He's from Vancouver Washington. He's a regular gun-and-knife nut, and he loves country music, and he voted for Donald Trump, and he loves dogs, and....yeah. Lots of stuff. 

Well, leading the companionship is more stressful than I would've imagined, and it's only been a week. I think I'm too stupid for this job. But anyways, haven't seen or heard from Steve, we taught Helen about the commandments. Helen's problem seems to be that she's too comfortable being not-baptized. She gets to enjoy so many benefits from members (babysitting Nathaniel, helping her move, going to activities, et cetera) with none of the commitments. All though she is trying to keep the word of wisdom now (not too much of a challenge for her) and she's still coming to church every Sunday. 

Yeah, so this last all-Ireland conference is President Donaldson's last one. He leaves on June 30th, if I remember right. I'm excited. To meet President MacDonald, I mean. 

Aw, that sounds like a very good day. Jim Bardgett gave us some weird brand of root beer on Sunday, and it was not good. So I guess the younger horses just aren't ready for that kind of trip yet, huh? Maybe soon. Still lots of summer left, isn't there? Everyone here is pretty sure that our idyllic summer weather that we've been experiencing is only temporary, and should've been over a long time ago. Me, I'm confident it'll go on for a wee bit yet. 

I don't think I have any pictures for you this week. Sorry about that. I think Elder Mueller looks like a broader version of Daniel. More of a football-player figure rather than basketball-player. 

talk to you again soon! Love you!!

Bangor, Part 16 - June 4

Transfers happened this monday...but not for me! I'm staying right in Bangor. Elder Baklan, on the other hand, is moving to Pollock (in Scotland). I am pretty happy to be staying. This will now be my longest area. And it's really growing on me too. It may just overtake Dundalk as my favourite area. My new companion is Elder Mueller. I haven't met him yet; I'm waiting in Belfast for him to arrive, since he's coming from Motherwell (also in Scotland). I know that he's been on his mission for over 1.5 years, he's from somewhere in the US, and he will be the Bangor district leader. That's pretty much it. 

Helen is doing really good. We are still inviting her to keep commitments whenever we teach her. I'm excited to go over the commandments with her; we'll be able to address a lot of her questions. On Thursday, we had a barbecue with her at the bishop's house. As promised, I made a pan of nanaimo bars. And as promised, she made us bananas wrapped in bacon. They taste as good as they sound---no really, they're pretty good. I'll send some pictures (probably later today, when Elder Mueller gets the chance to email). 

I had a feeling that the hat wouldn't be your size, let alone your style. But I also figured that you might either just have it as a keep-sake, or you could let someone else have it if you like. Just at least take a picture with it on. Tea cakes are very good, and I think Jaffa cakes are one of me favourite things. Elder Price was straight addicted to those caramel wafer things. Oh man, Elder Price. Whenever I see him we have lots of fun, even if it's just reminiscing about good old times in Derry. 

Um, to be honest, nothing has happened yet with Steve (that's the guy who we ran into). He keeps setting up times and places to meet, and then just doesn't show up. That's not unusual per say---in fact it kind of happens a lot, you know how it goes---but I did have high hopes for Steve. 

Anyways, looks like I don't have a lot of time today. At least not yet. Maybe I'll be able to send some more stuff when Elder Mueller gets here. We'll see. But know that I love yous. I've been testifying a lot about the Book of Mormon. It's my favourite thing to testify of. It's the holiest book that I've ever been able to hold. Me and Elder Baklan were making an ABC list of titles for the savior. My favourites are usually Master, and King, and Lord. 

Helen, Ben (ward mission leader), and bacon-wrapped bananas

Bye for now!