Hey Everybody

We had some really cool things happen this week it was awesome.

The First thing that happened is a change in the rules. During the missionary broadcast they let us know about two things happening. There was a change in the schedule that Missionaries need to follow and a change in the the Key Indicators that we are supposed to keep track of. In the Schedule change they changed the time we are supposed to do planning to the morning and they changed everything into blocks. In that as long as you do everything you need to do in the time block then it doesn't matter what order it is in. I think that this change will help Missionaries be more responsible in making there schedule for the day. Instead of it being a rigid schedule, it is now more up to the missionaries what they need to do and is thus more flexible. The change in Key indicators is that there are now only 4(Baptized, Confirmed, Investigators at Sacrament Mtg., and New investigators.) this is a big change from the old 9 plus one that the Mission President is supposed to create. They said this is to more focus missionaries on baptizing converts and Our Purpose. I think it will help missionaries be more accountable for what they do in a week and will hopefully focus more on bringing Investigators to church.

On Tuesday I had a great day of Exchanges. I got to go with Elder Pike and it was great. I was in the YSA for a day and we had a lot of driving to do. I think that the coolest thing that happened all day was a dog. There was this dog in the one are that we went to. It looked like a shag rug and it was small and cute. but then it tried to get us to go away. When we walked toward it, it ran away wimpering. Then it came right back barking at us.

The next awesome thing that happened was Jacobs Baptism. There whole family was there and it was great. I am so happy that he was baptized. I also had to give a talk in Brentwood 2nd on Member Missionary work. so that was cool that is what happened Sat. and Sun.

Elder Stokes

Pics: Bowling, Baptism, and cool car

Stuff

Hello all,

Well this last week has been really boring. We have been trying to get together a baptism that will be happening this next Saturday so that has been stressful. I think that it is even more stressful is that we kind of procrastinated some of the things so we will have to be really fast in setting everything up. I hope that it goes well and that he will be be baptized without any problems. I think this will be great. This last week got to meet with some really cool members and try to get some referrals. But we haven't had any luck. Most of them just talk a little about how they are working on somebody but don't give us any referrals to help them so that has been kind of interesting. It hasn't really helped that I have been here for a long time so I have noticed that they sometimes say the same person but had forgotten that they had told me this before. My highlight for this last week is that we have been doing a lot of service so that has been great and it really fills the time when everyone is gone. well this week wasn't super eventful so that is it.

Elder Stokes

the week of stuff

So this last week has been really awesome and a lot of fun. I has a great time being out here in the rain. yes it rained, and yes I loved it. but it really rained a lot out here I mean there was this little stream that had a little water but after the rain it filled almost to the top and was almost overflowing. It is a very interesting kind of rain it will be light but then I will just pour for about an hour. But we had some great lessons this week. We had our lesson with James that went well and our lesson with Jacob. We also started teaching Julian the New Member Lessons. We haven't been able to meet with Garland and We really want to because I think that him and Elder Dewitt are a lot alike. When we try and go finding in the rain it hasn't really worked but apparently if you tract in the rain you will have a more beautiful wife(yes, I did here that from a zone leader). So yay for tracting in the rain. Though we seem to be getting potentials that we can go by and hopefully find some investigators. My favorite part of this last week was that Trina and Derek came to church. Even though Trina is pretty far along pregnant. She says I will be easier for her to come at 9 than at 11. so that is really cool and we hope everything keeps going well with them. Well that is it for this last week. Goodbye

Elder Stokes

hey everybody

Hello all,

Sorry about last week I had some troubles with my computer and there was a messed up district activity because the sisters changed the time of it and we forgot. So the time we were planning to email was taken up so that was lame. but it seems like you got to see a picture of my new companion E. Dewitt. We are having a great time here in Brentwood and we are doing great. We are still teaching James and Jacob. And Jacob is still set to be baptized on the 28th of this month so that is great. We haven't had very much luck with finding investigators but we have done a ton of service. We got to help out alot with Kathleen. We helped get a old car going and it runs great. We also helped put together a 4 wheel drive wheelchair. It was so cool. But we did have some trouble with Elder Dewitt getting sick so I got some time to work on the puzzle and I finished it. It only took me tons of time working on it( I hated the Frame) but I was getting better at them so I got faster and Faster. Him and Elder McDaniel knew each other in high school so that is cool. Mcdaniel also had a trainee but there was an ET(emergency transfer) so now we have Elder Shingleton in our district. He is really good at talking to the members and gaining member trust. not much has happened this last week but we are trying really hard to find investigators. Oh yeah, we ended the year with 339 baptisms and President is having our new goal be 400 again. Only this time it is going to be much more organized and each district will have their own goal assigned to them.thank you for all the support.

Elder Stokes


Pics - Elder Dewitt and the finished puzzle

Happy New Year!

Letter to Rachelle - we are posting this because he wasn't able to get his main letter out due to technical difficulties.

Hey Mom,

So this last week has been kind of crazy and a lot of fun. My new companion is great. I don't know if I will be able to send pictures because there is a virus on this computer and I don't know how to get it off at the moment. So that is kind of sad. but I will try and get on another computer to send them. Something fun about my new companion is he has a lot of card games. In the mission you are either new(year 1) or trunky(year 2). And I am so sorry I might have to finish up my main email later. We had a district activity that went way to long and it messed up our schedule so much. I won't be able to finish the main email. plus with the virus problem it has been very annoying. I will send the main email later. Also I guess my goals are to set goals.

Elder Stokes

Here is a photo Sadie received from her friend Toni, who met Joshua and his new companion Elder Dewitt last week.  It is so great that Sadie has people who watch out for Joshua there.