Mission Update -- 2/24/10

Last week was a busy one (took a trip to Tucson), so I didn't get this posted. Here's Elder M's email from the end of Feb.



Hello!

It's good to hear from each of you this week! I'm glad things are going well. We've had a pretty good week here. Elder Boyer has been ill, but we've had some good things happen, and he's feeling better.

Here's some of what's gone on this week:

Last Wednesday we didn't do too much. This was Elder Boyer's first day of his first illness. We had a pretty restful Preparation Day, and said bye to the Elders that were to be transferred. We had dinner with the Houghtons, which was great. They're doing some awesome missionary work. They brought a friend to a Ward Activity, and are prepared for some more missionary work.

Thursday was a good day. Elder Boyer was still a little weak, but we had some good appointments. We had the Hesed House as well, which went well. They're really nice there. We also found a really old Spanish Book of Mormon there that had a family's testimony in it. Pretty neat. I've enjoyed the copies of the Book of Mormon you've sent me with your testimonies in them. We later went to visit the Apodacas. They're doing well. Our dinner appointment got cancelled for the evening, but they gave us money. It feels a little weird to take money from members, but it was nice of them. We went to Applebee's and used that money and the card I got in the mail. We went out with Brother Mitchell in the evening to teach. Our first appointment fell through, so we did some stop bys. We went to the hospital to teach Adam. The lesson went well, and Brother Mitchell did great. Adam is progressing both spiritually and physically with his leg, so we're happy there.

Friday was a productive day. We had our weekly planning after our morning schedule, which went well. We then went to Maple Terrace and taught Mike and Lorenszo there. We tried to stop by a few people, but didn't get to contact many. We went to Nancy's to try to teach Adam, but he was held in the hospital past his release time. We ended up teaching the family anyways. We had a dinner appointment at the Christensens that went well. They're a very nice family, and are a great help for us. We had some other stop bys, and tried to visit Adam in the hospital, but got there right after he was released! We just weren't meant to visit him on Friday.

Saturday was productive as well. We had a great MCM. Brother Stavron is a little nervous because he is going to give the closing prayer for the L Tom Perry meeting with all of the Stake Presidents, Bishops, and Ward Mission Leaders for the 8 Stakes of the Chicagoland area. We think it's pretty cool he's on the same program as an Apostle, a member of the Presidency of the 70, and an Area 70. We went to do some service for the Christensens after MCM. We helped them put together a bed. They also gave us some lunch. They're a great family, and have given us a referral for some other missionaries. After this, we drove to Naperville for our appointment with Hell-Bongo. He was home, but had to reschedule for Sunday. We then went and stopped by quite a few people. We had a visit with the Gamboas and taught some of their relatives, which was great. We had a dinner appointment with the Flemings, who are awesome. They're getting ready to do some missionary work. Sister Flemings dad was in the old mission presidency, so they've got a great background in sharing the Gospel. We went over to Nancy's to teach Adam after dinner. After that, we went by the Langstons and visited with them, and a family friend who we invited to take the lessons. She said no, but it was a good encounter.

Sunday was a good day at church. We had a productive PEC before church. They're setting up a temple trip for recent converts and other people, which should be great. The Popes are looking forwards to going. We had some great talks in sacrament meeting, and great lessons afterwards. We were happy to see a neighbor of the Gamboas who we invited to church show up with them too! After church, we went out to our new appointment with Hell-Bongo. He lives close to the Popes, so we took Brother Pope with us. Hell-Bongo wasn't home, so we went to stop by a less active in the area. She let us in, and we had a lesson. Brother Pope bore his testimony, and taught like Alma the Younger to the people of Ammonihah. Elder Boyer and I were his equivalent of Amulek. It was a great appointment, and very very productive for the less active sister. She's got some things to get her head around, but is quite nice. We hope to help her come back to acivity. She wouldn't commit to becoming active now, but promised she'd come when her grandkids come to visit. Brother Pope told her when she comes in he and Sister Pope would sit on either side of her family, and show them around. Pretty good for being a 2 month member! We were there for quite a while, so we didn't have too much time left in the day after that. We had dinner with the Hoyts, which was good. They're doing some awesome work with a part member family, and are great member missionaries. Their son also brings a lot of his friends to young men's basketball. We then went to the Adams. Sister Adams is our dinner calendar scheduler, so we were going through a list of people for her to call. After this, we exchanged with the APs. Elder Wilson came to Naper for to be with me, and Elder Boyer went to be with Elder Bateman, who is from Mesa.

Monday was a good day. We had our District Meeting, which went well. We have a good district here. After this, we went out and tried to find. We tracted into some people that were nice, but didn't get a return appointment unfortunately. We proceeded to stop bys after lunch. We stopped by a lot of people, but didn't teach many. This seems to be the story of the week actually. We did teach Keegan, who we had taught several months ago. That went well, although wasn't the most productive appointment ever. We went to the Gaffney's for an appointment which was good. They came to church Sunday for the first time since I've been here, which was great to see! After this, we exchanged back. Elder Boyer and I went to the Capeners for dinner. They do great missionary work. We went through questions we all get asked, and how to answer them. After this, we went over to the Andersens home to help them with their missionary work. They have a few families they're working with. They have some that they're going to give media to, and prepare to take the missionary lessons. They're going to invite quite a few families to the Ward party this Saturday, and introduce them to us. We're then going to invite them to take the lessons!

Tuesday Elder Boyer became ill again. Uh oh. We did a mini exchange with Elders nearby because we had quite a few appointments set up. We went to teach Amanda in the morning. She's working to get Sunday off. She got it off last week, but got really ill! Elder Wiser then went with me to Maple Terrace. We were going to meet with Wilma to get her set for church, but she couldn't meet. We read the scriptures with Mike. He was worried about Alma, so we challenged him to finish it in one month. He was saying, "I don't know about that!" and "You're crazy!" He then started reading more though, so we said three weeks, and now it's down to two weeks. He's really burning through it, so we're all happy. They announced that Maple Terrace really is not going to get torn down until 2012. People there are not happy about that. After this, we went over to Naperville to teach Derek, but that appointment fell through. After this we exchanged back, and Elder Boyer rested. We had a couple fall throughs Tuesday, which is usually no good, but was probably for the better. We had a dinner with the Gamboas in the evening, which was good. They cooked us Chilis Rellenos, which are big green chilis stuffed with cheese that are fried in eggs. We want to start teaching their nighbor more. After this, we went to the Glassets to help them with their missionary work. They've got some good things going with quite a few less actives. We're excited to see what they accomplish as they invite others to come unto Christ!

Today was good. My studies were on items recommended to prepare for our meeting with L Tom Perry. We have D&D 50:22 and D&C 43:8-9 to read and ponder, and also Preach My Gospel Chapters 9 and 13. I've been studying those Chapters in Preach My Gospel a lot lately, and am excited to learn more about them from these Brethren tomorrow. The Chapters are about finding, and working with Stake and Ward leaders. We did a Preach My Gospel Activity from Chapter 9 for companion study, which was productive. We're going to have a restful Preparation Day today. We have dinner with the Matthews, and an appointment with Amanda at the Stavrons tonight. They should both be great.

Well, I hope you all have a great week! I love you. Keep reading the Book of Mormon. It's one of the greatest ways for our testimonies to grow. I love reading the Book of Mormon, and learning from it. I've also really enjoyed listening to Jesus the Christ as we drive. Elder Boyer and I really appreciate you sending that!

Love you,

Elder Bradley E McMullin