Elder Fords Australian Christmas

City in New South Wales, Australia

 Hello family and friends!

All is well here in the land down under! I am enjoying the warm days but not enjoying the loud kookaburahs (that is a bird, and I am not sure If I am spelling it right) at 4 in the morning! ha It was wonderful to talk to family and friends briefly on the phone. I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas and enjoy watching the college football games on new years day like I used to! ha. 

 We had zone training meeting up in Coffs Harbor this last week. The zone leaders gave some inspiring trainings on HOW to do missionary work more effectively. We then had zone P-day, where we played laser tag and went to a really beautiful out look. there was a cool "sky-pier"where you could see EVERYTHING! Transfers were this week, I am staying in Port Macquarie with Elder Tsai. It will be fun! We are starting to teach with a lot more unity and power.
   My core experience with god this week again several smaller things piled up to make a principle known to me. The first was when me & elder Tsai were listening to a talk given by Carol B. Stephens this last general conference entitled "Do We Know What We Have?" A marvelous talk about the restoration of the priesthood and the endowment. I was then reading a bit out of "Our Search For Happiness"by M. Russell Ballard where it was again talking about the mighty power of priesthood and it's restoration to the earth. We also taught the restoration lesson twice this week, both times the spirit was stronger than I have ever before taught with. The power of the priesthood was on my mind a bit to say the least... We had the opportunity to give a blessing to a father of a home this weekend. After the blessing he said he felt much better and didn't cough once the rest of the time we were there. Yesterday, we were speaking with single sister in our branch, she said when her child was young he developed whooping cough and almost died, but was saved due to "vaccines and a WHOLE LOT of priesthood!"The statement was one of faith and struck me quite hard. I have always heard stories about the priesthood and blessing and miracles. It is usually an "Oh, wow. what a nice story" kind of thought. However, with all my studying and the experiences we (me and Elder Tsai) had had this week I realized what power we have here on the earth. The Power to Act in GODS Name. The words from Sister Stephens talk are in my head the last couple of days, "Do We Know What We Have?" that was my core experience with god this week.

   I have realized the importance of the spirit in teaching. It is near impossible to teach as Jesus taught without the spirit. I have been trying to slow down and have the spirit a lot more in out lessons this week. The outcome? HUGE! This week we taught the restoration (a lesson I have taught countless times in the last 6 months) more powerfully than I have ever before taught. Simply, because of slowing down, helping the people to understand what we are saying slowly and more boldly  The spirit is much stronger, it is undeniable in these lessons. The investigators are much more receptive and understanding. The spirit is EVERYTHING. 

   We went to visit a man on Christmas eve. He has no family, is somewhat old, and has some word of wisdom issues... he was a bit down in the dumps... We brought a Christmas message and the spirit into his home. Before we left he was singing and playing Christmas songs on his guitar! We were walking out the door and he said something along the lines of "I was feeling blue earlier, but you guys have changed my whole day. Merry Christmas!" It was so pleasing and enlightening to see such a mood swing on such a great night

   The Christmas season truly was great! I hope you all have an amazing new years! I love you all. 

   Love,

      Elder Ford

White HOT Christmas

I is definitely not white as in snow here... but the sun does reflect quite bright off of a lot of white objects... ha But yes it is very warm here! It is nice! I love it. But no, it really does not feel like Christmas at all... haha except we put up the lights in the apartment and hung up the stalking I got in my package. And we found a mini tree in our closet! So yea... ha and the bag of nuts did make it seem a little bit more like Christmas! ha Christmas Conference was awesome! a lot of good stuff. we watched a movie called Ephraim’s rescue. apparently it is new. It is a story of a man and how he helped the pioneers cross the plains. it was awesome! I liked it. very spirit filled honestly. There was a quote in that really stuck out to me "You have to Lose your life in order to Find it!" That hit deep. I even wrote it down in my notes! haha. Christmas is interesting down under... ha it is a lot more like the 4th of July almost... everyone keeps inviting us over for lunch. I can call around 7 that should work. all the people sound fine. an hour is about the longest I can take probably. Things are progressing here work wise. We had 2 investigators at our ward party. and 1 at church last week and a different one this week. we should be picking up here soon! all is well! oh and this is crazy to think that that the Knudsen’s are moving! they are like the 1 family I never expected to move... but it makes sense once you think about it...

My core experience with God this week is I guess a lot of little things. A lot of little things started to become more clear. In my studying and because of the Temple trip we were blessed to take. The love of God & Christ was truly shown to me this week through personal revelation. There was no great or marvelous moment, but several little moments that cleared things up and made me understand more fully the gospel. Which in turn brings great joy to a missionary. It was quite the appropriate experience given the season!

  I have been doing better in my teaching I feel like. Me and Elder Tsai had a good companion study earlier in the week that helped me listen better. As I am becoming a better listener I am more able to teach according to their needs, rather than hitting all the points of the lesson. Before, I thought "What they NEED is to listen to the WHOLE lesson and stop interrupting!" Obviously I was in the wrong here. ha. I am starting to be able to better help the people we teach and apply the gospel to them as I tailor the lesson, even in mid-lesson. Continuing to try and better my teaching skills, onward and upward!""

   We visited a less active man with an active member in our branch. For a while I was trying to think of something to help this individual. When after he said some of his further concerns, my mouth opened and I asked a rather deep question inquiring about his feelings of the church in general. As I sat and watched him ponder I noticed his expression change a bit. It definitely was a testament to me on how listening and having the holy ghost with you can change EVERYTHING for the better in a lesson.

Love you all Merry CHRISTmas!

Love,

   Elder Ford

 "Come What May & Love It!"  - Joseph B. Wirthlin

Sophomore Missionary

I realized after I sent this e-mail last week that I was at 6 months out! 1/4 served! So I am now calling myself a sophomore missionary... hahaha I am doing well though! I was touched to hear about the ward Christmas party and all the thoughts and old pictures. ha. Mon... i totally remember the Sheppard outfits too! haha There was a festival here last week called "The Festival Of The Sun!" Pretty much an excuse for a bunch of young people to get together and drink at a big out door concert! It was crazy to see! ha but it did bring some teaching opportunities! The work is progressing here and the whole zone broke the record for new investigators half way through the month! I am excited to see how the rest of the month progresses! It will be interesting! the sunsets here can be just as beautiful as Missouri sunsets, I included a picture of one... our Christmas conference is on Thursday and since we are traveling so far we get to go to the temple in Sydney the night before as well! so that will be interesting! President Howes is VERY temple focused! it is good. I will try to take pictures after If I have time! i would like to call around 6 or 7 Christmas eve, which is 1 or noon here. seems convenient for both parties.. but we will see. Elder Tsais family is on the east coast so they are 2 hours behind. I will let you know for sure next week!

My core experience with god this week was due to the fortunate opportunity I had to go on several exchanges with other missionaries! Every Elder I served with and every person we met were so different. All kinds of back grounds, behaviors, and habits. Some were loud and some are more quiet. However, when we were teaching we all were common. All faithful sons of our father in heaven. We may act different and have our individual personalities, but we are all converted to the same gospel. it was really neat to fill the spirit in different ways as I taught with different missionaries! Also, miracles happen on exchanges. We got into houses and met Less active members that hadn't been visited in years! We talked to more people and got more potential investigators and even investigators than we could have with out that individual missionary or on our own. 

   I m trying to be more patient when I teach. I notice I often think "okay, I know what to say there!" and want to say  it, and am so eager to say it! But that isn't good because that means I am not doing as good of a job at listening once I have this thought. I am just waiting for them to finish. It stems off from the listening problem I am getting better at. I need to be more patient with my listening I think. It is so easy to jump into a topic and start bashing when you know something is wrong! But the spirit immediately leaves as we know... I have noticed lessons go better when I am more patient and stay away from the bashing line. 

   As i try to teach as Christ taught I am becoming a better teacher and ultimately a better me! I learning "people skills" I will use for the rest of my life. I am becoming evermore eager to share the gospel and what is important to me. In my studies I am becoming so much more grateful for the life and knowledge I have, particularly pertaining to the gospel, because of the sacrifice of others (ancestors, parents, friends, etc.).

   We invited an investigator to be baptized this week and I think it really made it click with her that we are here to help and change. It really established our purpose with this daughter of god. helped her to understand the restoration much better too!

Jealous of the Surf...

I am doing well friends and family! I love you all. Australia is fun! I saw a kangaroo for the first time yesterday! That was fun! I have now seen both of the big animals people want to see here  in Australia! We visited a man named Derek, and he showed us some beautiful places near his home. That is the 2nd picture!  Port is Beautiful and the best part is... There is no snow! ha I hear you are now suffering that... I am so sorry... ha. It is nice here. very warm, I am really enjoying that! I am happy to hear form all of you.

OH and my mission address is: P.O. Box 2723 Carlingford NSW 2118 (letters only)

The Coast here is Beautiful! I love being able to see it. It is odd though cause I am so used to seeing it on the west side and the sun setting so it is a little disorienting at times... because it is obviously on the east side! The waves are HUGE it taunts me and makes me really want to learn how to surf! ha 

  My core experience with god this week was for the first time seeing a huge blessing from dedicated fasting. I started my fast Sunday and ended my fast with prayer and dedicated my fast to our finding efforts. I had never seen a big blessing from fasting before... It just kind of seemed to be "what we do"or "just cause"that is what we are told. I have never had more new investigators are opportunities to talk to new people as I have had this week! it was quite amazing honestly! in fact our zone has nearly reached its goal for finding on the month. I have never been close to reaching a goal like this before. I hope to again see a miracle! I hope that we can continue to see and act on these opportunities. For, I did notice that the harder I tried to set up a return appointment and help them learn, and all the things we do to get a new investigator that they opened up more and I was able to help them learn and like us more. Due to the spirit I would say. Gaining a testimony of Fasting and effort is what I would say my core experience with god was this week! 

   I am doing better with listening. I was on exchanges with Elder Leneham this past week. We visited a former investigator that was a 7th day Adventist. It could have very easily turned into a bible bashing session. But Because me and Elder Leneham had the idea of asking inspired questions and listening fresh in our minds from 12-week study that morning we were able to help him understand the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith more. We saw his countenance change. It was interesting. I am trying to do better at listening, and seeing success. But like any bad habit it is taking a little longer than I would like to break.

I love you all and hope all is going well! I pray for many of you back home every night.

   Love,

      Elder Christian Ford

Elder Ford Down Under

 Culture shock is real... it is weird. But It is fun! I am enjoying my time. I have never had to turn on a light switch before.. but I have now! So one thing that is interesting is people say as after everything. example.  "That t-shirt is cool-as mate!" I hear the swear word that starts with an A almost every time I hear it! it throws me for a loop... but not as much of a loop as the driving on the left side of the road! it BLEW my mind! especially right and left turns. there are so many mental accidents it is crazy but fun! 

My new companion is Elder Tsai, from Maryland . He is very nice and has been out for 18 months. He does speak Chinese however he grew up speaking English at home. We are in an area called Port Macquarie! It is a cool little surf town that has a branch of near 50 active members! It is a beautiful place! and I am loving it! 

The flight was 14 hours on an A380 Airbus. so that was cool. it is incredible to think that such a massive thing can defy gravity and fly! I met a real nice couple named Sam and Beck! they were nice and told me all kinds of useful things and stuff about Australia! 

This is the 1st e-mail I have ever sent a mission president. I thought I would tell you all of my experience...

 My core experience with god this week was profound. I have NEVER received so much personal revelation as I have this past week. When I was on the plane flying into Sydney I was coming from a week of disobedience, and thought that I need to change my ways a bit.'I went to help Elder Gunderson (assistant) get carts for all of the luggage. I asked him to tell me about the mission, expecting something about the culture. He responded by saying "The more obedient you are, the Happier you will be." If that is not the Holy Ghost working through leadership to confirm my own feelings and revelation I don't know what is. Then you asked me what I would struggle most with I didn't even have time to think. I spoke instantly and told you with out even thinking about it, that I would struggle with obedience. It was almost as if someone had spoken the words for me... quite odd. But! Your words about "Free Obedience"moved me. I realized I indeed was in the wrong and needed to change and be better. The following car ride with you and Sister Howes proved to me that exactly as I felt like I kept answering the questions you asked wrongly. The next day we had several trainings on the mission rules and guidelines. Some of the rules were different from what I had been used to in Missouri, but with the revelation I had received the day prior I understood I needed to accept the new way and send a few items home. Gladly met that requirement. Then Sister Howes proceeded with her story about the "Joking Elder." I am sad to admit that I realized that in my loud and seemingly insensitive personality, that I had the same exact issue outlined in the story. I began to think of all the nice brothers and sisters I likely offended in St. Louis, as well as in my life at home. I began to feel very guilty... The training showing the gridiron coach learning the importance of always living righteously enough to give a priesthood blessing added onto the guilt as I had just 48 hours before come from the most disobedient time in my brief mission experience. I thought to myself that this mission was too much for me. I could not possibly live up the the great expectations President and Sister Howes have of me. It is NOT my personality and is not me. I am unfit to be what they need me to be...   The I thought what else did we learn today?" We were taught, I believe by Sister Howes, how we must change to circumstances. We must rise to occasions, you can only change yourself! You have to change so You can do what is expected of you. I was amazed. This was the climax of my experience with god this week. It continued as I had the opportunity to spend time with the Baukham hills(?) Elders however, The counciled me on how best to adapt to the land and stressed the importance and sanctity of Missionaries and missionary work. I had not told them all of my experiences, but they still reached into my soul and helped me. Leaders are certainly inspired and chosen. I am so grateful for the lesson I have learned and hope I can become adequate enough to meet your, and more importantly the Lords expectations.

Thank all of you for your support! the lord loves all of us!

Missionary Arrival

Your wonderful missionary has arrived.  He is so polite and kind.  Thank you for sharing him with us.  He will be a great help and strength to the mission.

Sister Feil

Australia Sydney North Mission

2010151@ldschurch.org

 

Guess Who Got their Visa!

  After a long 5 Month stay in Missouri Elder Keefer finally got his visa... hahaha Sorry I had to fool you guys! But yes Elder Keefer is going to Australia in a week! That is the reasoning for the Trio! It is fun though! Me, Elder Bowen (Coalville , UT 13 months), and elder Keefer are enjoying our brief trio-companionship!  We are doing well! Elder Keefer opened this area so it is still fairly new! and he has put together  solid area book and is ready to hand it off! We have about 10-12 investigators and 12 members in our small Linn branch! It is an adventure though! I am excited to serve here! We have a very good Branch Mission leader who loves us! He is a nice retired doctor who used to go an a lot of safaris when he was able bodied! ha He has shot everything from Lions to elephants to deer to gazelle and everything In between! he loves to tell us his hunting stories and show us his trophies! He is however very humble and grateful for the success the lord has allowed him to have in this life! I am doing well. The other night I was thinking to myself how grateful I am to be out here doing the lords will. I truly do love it! My testimony has been destroyed and built taller because of it! I never understood the metaphor of tearing something down to build it up stronger until now! I am so blessed! I am grateful for all that the lord allows me to have and do! Now..you are probably thinking this doesn't sound like the Chris I knew... he was always joking and playing around! Well, part of that is because this is a serious work and partly because I still do have fun! haha I lov eit! we see so many craxy things and just laugh! It is great, in fact for today we are going fishing and drinking mountain dew at our branch mission leaders 14 acre lake! I love to play pranks on my companions! The other night Elder Bowen was showering and me n' Elder Keefer turned off the hot water valve! haha it was so funny! Well I am doing fantastic and I hope n' pray you all are as well!

Love,

   Elder Ford

Elder Ford in Missouri

AH! HELLO my friends and Family!!!

I am doing well still. Missouri is fun still. No matter how used to a small town you think you are... you always see something that surprises you! haha The other day there was 2 old guys sitting by a fire they made on the grass on their front lawn, cooking hobo dinners for lunch, a big ol guy with no shirt and they had the door of the pick  up open listening to the most hick country music I have ever  heard! haha coming from me , you know that means a lot! hahaha it was funny! 

   I am not driving any more, my companion got his papers signed so now he is the driver! So I am back to standing behind the car backing him up and on the passenger side! ha. oh and carrying the phone, which my companion is happy about because he doesn't have to talk to people any more! ha but that is alright with me, because I like to text the other missionaries in our ward funny things randomly! haha.

   We are supposed to teach 20 lessons every week. it is our "Standard of Excellence" for teaching. It is mixed with Investigators, less-active members, recent converts, and member lessons. SO between those different ways we are supposed to teach 20 lessons a week. That is where 20 lessons came from in my last e-mail! This last week we taught 15 I think... so it was okay! 

   We set a baptismal date with Andrew, Oct. 29th! So that should work out well! We taught a man named Jeff last week with a member named Brother Glassford which was a great idea to bring him! He really helped Jeff understand the things w were teaching! Rita canceled on us this week.. she was feeling sick... so hopefully she feels better this week and we can teach her!! that would be good!  Other than that we have some potential-Investigators we are trying to start teaching, and a part member-less-active/active family we are trying to start working with! The father, Abdur, has been on and off investigating for many years. His wife (the member) and him stay home on Sundays to watch the sick kids, but the healthy ones come to church! ha He is a good example to his wife, or so she says, and seems very ready to accept the gospel, he pretty much just needs to be baptized an come to church more often! His oldest daughter is almost 8 and is REALLY excited to be baptized! She wants him to baptize her, and he very well could! So the circumstances are just perfect! We are going to try and start that up.. should work out! So that is the summary of the work here in Warrenton! we are trying to get the work going a bit faster! 

   Preparation Days here are a bit slow... We are out in the country, so we are pretty far from anything. We usually just shop for groceries, e-mail, and play basketball inside the carpeted gym in our church with ourselves or the other elders in our ward! other than that.. it is pretty slow! but that is alright! We get stuff done the rest of the week, and "P-days" are comparatively unimportant! Oh! A few weeks ago I bought "safety color green" hooded sweatshirt! So I am visible when I run in the morning! hahaha so that was fun! it is pretty cool! I enjoy it! All is well in Missouri! Have a great week! ;)

Elder Ford

All is well here in Warrenton!

All is well here in Warrenton! I am happy and teaching people (like I am called to do)! Me and my companion get along pretty well (happy are we)! We are contacted a former investigator to the church named Jeff. He is a nice guy, the reason the missionaries before stopped teaching him was because he went to jail! ha So that was fun... ha He doesn't have a job. SO it should be easier to meet with him. But, we will see. We teach him tomorrow! We are also teaching Rita again tomorrow, a nice old lady that works part time at Wendys! The closest person to being baptized is probably Andrew. He is dating a girl in the ward, so we are meeting with him to see if he really wants this or if it is just for the girl! Hopefully not  the latter! We are doing well though, we taught 20 lessons last week! So we met our "standard of excellence" set by our mission president! We are having fun and trying to do all we can to get this area going a bit faster! There is still no word on a Visa or anything of the sort. I will let you know when it comes! I do want it to come, but I do love the people and families in the ward! They are very nice, supportive, and love the missionaries! it is good to work with them! They try to help us, and guess what, it works! ha Funny how things work out when you do what the general authorities say! It is inspiring really... I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet and does the lords work. He does nothing, save it were for the lord! All of the quorum of the 12 are indeed "Special Witnesses of Christ!" I love you all and hope you are continuing to do well back home!

Sincerely,

    Elder Christian Ford

Elder Ford updates

I am going to start responding to people individually, and then writing a message to go forth unto all! haha Work in Warrenton is well. A little slow but well. Our zone leaders giving us ways to help find so that is good! We are teaching a young kid named Andrew. I say young he is my age. he is dating a girl in the ward. He watched conference with bailey (his GF) and she said he loved it. we are planning on meeting with him this week to see if he really wants to meet with us and get baptized or if it is just for the girl. I think it is a real intent though! so that is good! He is closest to baptism. We were teaching a man named Donny, who lives next to a recent convert. He came to church last week and said he likes his baptist church more, we were kinda gonna drop him but we invited him and his neighbor to come to general conference at the church, they accepted. Conference came and neither showed. I think we are officially dropping him. kinda sad... but we need to move on! We are teaching a former investigator as well. His name is Micheal. He has a trachea pipe. because he smokes so much.. sad! we are slowly working with him! and lastly we are teaching a lady named Rita! she is nice and "wants to go back to church" and was formerly a baptist! so that is good! we have met with her once and she liked it! just need to find her a ride! Her boss at Wendys is a recent convert so that should be good!  We watched conference at the church! and for the Sunday afternoon session were the only people there! hahaha kinda funny, the bulb in the projector blew! haaha so Elder Taft ran and got a tv from the library and we finished watching on that! so that was good! I am glad people are looking to help in with missionary work, because that is how it will work, with the members and the missionaries together! I loved conference it was great to hear from these inspired, called of god, men that we so often bare testimony of! What a blessing we have to hear it and so frequently and speedily! All is well in Warrenton! I am loving life.

Visa-Trunky

Indeed transfers was last week! I am with Elder Taft. is 21 and from Fruit heights Utah! he has been serving for 10 months!  or ten and a half as he says. haha he is cool and LOVES the jazz! so that is good. we are doing good. taking over an area after 3 weeks can be a little tough... but it is what it is! I can do it. we are doing alright! it is getting darker earlier now so that is a challenge! but... we will figure something out! The weather here is amazing actually! the last few Saturdays have been incredible! like PERFECT weather! makes me wanna watch football! hahaha makes me think of waking up to the house smelling like hamburger hash and watching Saturday morning football with you and Andy! that was our "family time" right there! haha  I don't want you to send a Christmas package cause IDK if I will be Australia then or not! if I get there you can just give me some money to buy a GPS or something... don't worry about it mom it will be okay! cause for all I know I might still be here on December 25th. hopefully not so I CAN avoid that winter! haha I AM doing great! do not worry. you know me! haha  all is well. the lord takes care of his missionaries! that is true. I promise! ha I wont lie I am getting a little "visa-trunky" that is what I am callin' it. ha but I am not worrying about it! no need to worry about something I cant control, right?

That is really cool about your gospel doctrine lesson. something that I heard in the MTC a lot was that we are called, like you are called to be a gospel doctrines teacher. and who the lord calls, he qualifies. you are absolutely doing fine! everyone used to tell me about how much they enjoyed your lessons! they told ME. that tells me right there that they really do enjoy it! and when you are called you receive revelation for that calling that no one else can receive! because YOU are called to TEACH. it is pretty amazing really.

oh man.. no Utah game... it always feels a bit off when Utah has a bye! ha but at least Andy had fantasy football the next day right!? haha

I get jays and a few of Colemans emails. but no I haven't heard from Micheal! hope is doing well. I wouldn't imagine that his mail address would be different that is a pretty unique name! doesn't hurt to try! sounds like mays is doing fantastic! that is good to hear! is he dating Becca yet?? haha tell him I asked that! pretty cool that he is getting more job opportunities though! that is fun! glad alex is still around! i love that guy! he is cool. an awesome friend! and so fuuny! garret told me that frightmares has dueling guitars so that should be pretty cool!! wish i could see it but oh well!! no i havnt heard from the Rawling's or any other cousins! speaking of cousins can I get Dylans address. tell him thanks again, and hope didn't OFFEND HIM. BECAUSE i KNOW THAT FILM IS HIS PASSION AND I DIDN'T INTEND TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS JUST A FLIMSY OH THINK i COULD DO THIS? IT IS SOMETHING i REALLY WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT AND i GOT MUCH MORE OUT OF THAT TRIP THAN SOME LAME CONCERT! HAHA oops... caps lock was on... didn't mean for it to be ! hahahahahaha oh man... embarrassing! almost as embarrassing as my spelling... but yea.. I am too lazy to go back and retype all that so ... yea. hahaha

I am doing good! I love you mom! don't worry about me! I am doing well. all is well! :)

your son
   Elder Ford

Tiffany Baptized

 Hello!!!!!
Tiffany was indeed baptized! It was the first one I was able to see while serving so that was awesome! I also got to help teach her, I was there for about half of the teaching! it was really cool! She was baptized and was smiling for the rest of the night! So humbly happy! it was really happy to see! I was able to be part of confirming her, in the circle that is. So that was really fun!
   I am not getting home addresses no, but I am getting cities and states! Elder Phillips is from Reno/Las Vegas! he will be giving his talk in Reno not this Sunday but the next. He will fly into Reno on Wednesday and hang out with his family then spend a week in Las Vegas with his girlfriend! hahahaha then back up to Reno for his talk. ha that was his plan before I got transferred at least! The zone leaders up here, Elder Johnson mainly (elder Phillips last companion, think I have a man crush on elder phillips. hahaha cause for some reason he always comes up in conversation when I am with them! idk.. guess I could. I definitely plan on keepin in touch with him!  i can get more info if you want..?
   Glad all is well with the Paige situation! glad you are happy! and excited about the inheritance! hahaha not gonna lie...
   ha yea!!!! undefeated seniors!!! haha I love that! hopefully it was a good game! I was so freakin mad I couldn't watch it! hhaha it was like the biggest day of the year back home... haha but Brother Glassford 9the ward clerk) texted us the score at 1:58 in the morning haha. Hopefully Andy feels better and doesn't get too behind on school work!!! that would be bad!
   I try to write in my journal. it is not everyday but close to. I do like to write in it, it is a good way to stay mentally healthy and have a release. I do have a bed! and honestly I think I might have slept better on the couch buit the bed is probably better for my back! It is nice! I got a Mizzou blanket form sandy in maryland heights when we did some service for her. so that and my Australia blanket are on bottom and there was a comforter left in Warrenton that I use! so I am fine there! I cant think of anything I need. I am doing fine. the letter from Howes was interesting. I saw the bottom part about those that arent there yet. ha that was cool! I also looked on lds.org and my area CHANGED to the north so I bet I am in the north!, you're right! ha
   Elder weight is OPENING up st. peters 2 and I am staying in warrenton and getting Elder Taft. so that is fun. This week is transfers btw if you haven't gotten that yet! haha. so I am excited to meet someone new! well. I love you!  "Fear not, Only Believe!" -Jarius (Christ healed his daughter in the bible)

love you mom!

Your son,
    Elder Ford

Warrenton not Australia

Start out with a quick story... so today is zone P-day so we slept over at the zone leader a apartment last night. I didn't pack my card reader... so I cant send pictures! haha sorry! but I will try to do that next weeK!  Ha yea last week got kinda crazy!! haha but I am in Warrenton not Australia. haha I hove had no word on my visa still. I get the e-mails from church headquarters once a month telling me they are working on it. So as soon as I know you will know! I will not know till I leave. Warrenton IS very small and flat! haha but I like it. it is fun! I enjoy it. It is very different from maryland heights for sure! The ward covers half of the stake in size. we split the ward with 2 elders from the city of Troy. if you look that up it will give a reference on how big the ward is. and we cover Montgomery city too! so it is pretty intense!!! but awesome! My first day here I met a recent convert named Joe. hahaha he lives in a tailor park and was wearing a camouflage hat and a confederate flag belt buckle. hahaha but he is a pretty spiritual guy! good testimony, he prayed while angry as could be instead of smoking a cigarette. he said he had a special experience after his prayer that a voice told him to always obey the word of wisdom. crazy huh?? pretty cool! Not being with the zone leaders is different but it is way fun too. I miss Elder Phillips and our shenanigans, but I love Elder Weight (my new companion) too! it is fun. I do a lot more teaching here. we have an investigator that is pretty ready to get baptized she just needs to get off the nicotine. and she will. one of the most strong willed investigators I have seen out here. she came to church on Sunday and fits right in!!!  

ha yea I know who you are talking about! Sister Davidson! she was the 1st person I met in Warrenton and is the relief society president. we only worked on the fence for like an hour.. so we werent there for too long. but it was fun! and not as hot as she probably made it sound. it was only like 11 in  the morning! ha but I had fun! I did get a little cutt on my hand.. and i was fine! it is a little cutt.. ha it is actually more of a scratch! haha  Glad to hear all went well up north though! good to hear. gotta love lynelle right? ha she is awesome! it will be a lot of fun to be able to hang out with them again! just like old times when me and colemy-poo were but wee lads.. hahahaha omg i am soo weird! haha  cool that alisha is pregnant I guess. i can see her liking being a mom. hopefully she does! sad to hear joan though! the worst things happen to the best people!! craig e-mailed me and told me about his eagel court of honor and the picture real. said it had a bunch of back pictures from way back when!  thought that was pretty cool! love that kid. cool that mays-face is finally getting a break I guess, or will be soon! I have a friend out here that lives in Holiday that is hopefully going to do wild land after. so I willhave to get him maysons info!  I heard he saved bruce willis' house? ha pretty funny! yea... no surprise with garret and sam... thats just them.. ha. those crazy kats... ha  yea andy told me abit about football. jonny more told me about fantasy! sao that is cool! haha gotta love the J-Kat!  

My new Companion is Elder Weight From West Jordan Utah. he is awesome! a choir kid and loves music and has a celebrity crush on selena gomez! haha he is silly but awesome! he knows the ward like crasy! he is an awesome missionary. I am happy to be with him! we have fun together! we took a picture of us wearing our Byu and Utah gear! hahaha so I will have to send that next week! ha.  but yes all is well! all is well. Love you mom! 

Ye son Elder-o Ford!

Freakin Happy

 OH MY GOSH!!!!! I thought the shorts were lost into the abyss that is my room!!!! I was SO FREAKIN HAPPY those were in there!! hahahha thanks for the cookies too. and the shirt, hopefully that will motivate me to continue my diet. So I can have it fit like it used to with out being a widge bit tight. hahaha so me and Elder Phillips got a good laugh when we say saw the article you printed and sent out! hahahaha thanks btw!! ha which president was it? It had to have been Clark... he has been gone for like... 90% of the time I have been here! hahaha that's funny! good to hear there is no legal garbage going on... and that my truck still works! the lights are a funny game... you gotta slowly and I mean mean slowly! turn the keys back towards you after it is started until the little blue AC light on the dash turns on. hahahhaa then they will work. but the light inside the  truck on the right wont blink. just make the noise! hahaha man that thing is funny!!!! That is So good that you are helping Lynelle! tell her hello and that I love her! she was pretty much my 2nd mom until she moved.. then it was a mixture of Ann Knudsen and Joan.. then it turned into completely Joan! hahahhaha but anyways I am glad you have the chance to spend time up there and help her  out! you know she will appreciate it so much! i still remember when they drove me up and flew me down back home... that was an awesome trip and I liked it! that was so nice of them and for some reason I feel like I have never said thank you but I cant imagine that I didn't! knowing me I have probably over thank! haahha oh man! big mike is leaving huh? wow that is crazy... it is really gonna hit the other guys now! super hard! wow... that's awesome! he will do great! that's cool about the Tolberts I guess. i will have to tell Garret Eskelson (he said he was jacobs mtc companion I have said this before I think). no need to pass this on.. but thank goodness I will be gone for that! haha and the engagement! ugh.. hahahha So I think we might try to sneak into a sports bar on Thursday night... haha idk though! I think we have a dinner appointment that night! and thank you for the schedule! so much! the Utah Byu game is on elder phillipos birthday! well... sounds like Andy is nuts as usual when it comes to school!!! what a crazy guy! hes crhay-zee! do you ever see garret? that guy man... every time we talk about weird Mormon stuff I always think of him quoting a movie saying "shine on ya crazy Mormons!' haha

the work is going well!!! we made contact with Mario and sandy again! sandy might come to church this Sunday! so that would be sweet! I am pretty sure she is the reason I am here. she was a referral given to us on the 1st night I got here! but idk! hahaha mario is still learning but doing well! we are trying to help the zone (or stake) get up to speed with the new plan we have going. oh I went on exchanges this week and slept in a bed for the 1st time in 10 weeks! ahhaha and honestly I think I slept better on the couch! ha but that was fun! me and Elder Prescott taught up a storm that day! it was cool! 

love you mom!

Love Elder Ford

Utah Poster in my room

So... I ended up buying some shirts and hats out here... hahahahahha Like I need 'em right?? ha so I don't need any clothes, I would like some more basketball shorts but I really just hate everything I have back home. haha i only like these ones. but those were nice when the black ones were in the wash. and the green ones I wear with other stuff. (pretty much just my Oregon stuff! haha)  so as far as clothes go I am fine. don't send the cookies either. elder Phillips came and him and elder Wickham are on a weight gain diet, so I figured I would go back to cutting, since I have gained pretty much all of it back! haha so it would just be a temptation.. maybe later on!!! BUT! I think there is a Utah poster in my room that has this years schedule on it? like on my night stand I believe, I would like that. Or send me a schedule... oh and have Andy tell me when Utah is having their Thursday game.. so we can have dinner at a sports grill at a convenient time! hahaha OH! speaking of sports bars... Elder Banks (one of the APs) said that he went to buffelo wild wings the other night and gymnastics was on TV... then with my creeping knowledge I remembered reading some where that the gymnastics worlds competition was in august.. so you should see if that has happened yet... and yes if Jordyn competed.. lols! haha and tell me! or tell me when it is if it hasn't happened yet! hahahahhaha I am SO freaking creepy it is funny! wow... I need to focus! lol

As far as Visa waiters are concerned.. I think they just send them out as soon as possible. there are 4 of us still here, but 2 have theirs and leave very soon! But we all saw each other at transfers and took a picture!!! i will try and remember to include that! I don't know if it is coordinated to have travel companions I was just told they get them there asap!

HOLY COW ABOUT THE FIRES!!!!! that is nuts!!! ashes on your car? that is like dooms day stuff! ha hope the lil guy is alright and the near accidents wasn't foreshadow... that would suck! He is probably doing alright though! 

Glad to hear that grammys house got sold. that is good. as far as the rest goes... is it just the necklace you have and they have the rest? if so I feel like that should be fine... if not just give them the rest... just say whatever! I don't get it man... I would like to write a letter to Kelsey and Dylan. I would to receive their addresses. :)   not to be angry at all! ha just to say hi! and tell Kelsey that I still hope WE can be friends and have a relationship. and yea. I am glad everyone is glad to hear from me. hannah said she was going to respond and Taylor said she is trying to.. so I am kinda waiting on those letters kinda not... haha I figured they would get a kick out of the stickers on it! glad they enjoyed it! I knew Amanda would be reading it so I added some stuff to Amanada in the letter to Kenzie! hahaha I am glad the Schwendimans got my letter too! ha weird to call them that huh? I wrote Mr. & Mrs. Schwendiman for the address. hahaha pretty funny huh? I told Kenzie and Amanda that they are the only girls in the pictures I have and everyone asks,as andy predicted, "are those your girlfriends!?" and just reply omg NO!! hahaha it was pretty funny I hope... I also wrote a letter to everyone in mikes family! so i hope that went over well!! 

Glad to hear Andy is having fun and doing something!!! dad sent a couple of pictures to me and his beard is CRAZY!!!1 hahaha that is so funny!!!!is he trying out for "beard wars" yet???does he tell you about what I write him at all? it is mostly just a bunch of nonsense! hahaha. but it is fun!

So our new companion is Elder Phillips. he is from Las Vegas and this is his last transfer! He is awesome! really funny and cool. He is really experienced and knows a lot! so it is great! funny story. so President clarkes rule on music was as long as the companionship both agreed it was okay. and Elder Phillips talked to him specifically about it, and said theat pres clarcke said yo;u;r mission should be a time to form good habits and memories for the rest of your life! use good judgment and do what is right (that advice sounds awful familiar to me for some reason *caugh*caugh* mom *caugh*caugh*), but as long as the companionship agrees on it, and you both feel it is missionary appropriate it is alright. so that was cool. no one has really asked president morgan so I think we are just going to wait till he releases HIS rule on it! haha so what I am saying is that we listened to taylor swifts RED album like all day on Friday! hahaha pretty funny! 

I am doing well, and having fun! Missouri is great! I am enjoying it. It is a great experience  Life is well and god loves the world. This probably sounds cliche for me to say but try and help the missionaries at home out. have them over for dinner sometime. let them talk to sam, mayson, garret, nick, and Chris. Maybe they will be more receptive because their best friend is doing and believes the exact same things as that missionary. IDK... I have been thinking a lot about my atheist friends a lot... probably just because I am out here! they probably a rent receptive still... whatever I love them and god does to! maybe mayson will be after some scary firefighting close calls... anyways! I am happy and liking what I am doing. it is weird to think about home at this point! weird... 

hahaha the assistants (who I just mess with all the time) just texted me and asked who hannah bareny is... this oughta be interesting... ha I think that means I have a letter! Banks is going to try and turn this into a joke on me... but I usually can comeback at him pretty quick! I like to mess with them. 

ELder Ford!!!!!

Nothing tremendously exciting!

    

 

As far as the package goes that is alright, I actually have some more requests... so that is fien! but please do send it quickly as we are bored of our music in the car.. hahaha. Could you send my utah football poster from my room? that would be cool! also, on my laptop there should be some music under the artist "theme songs" it is just randoms stuff, but could you put the utah and USC fight songs on a cd for me. as well as the 1 CD of church hymns I have on my laptop! if you could go ahead and do that... that would be great... hahaha maybe some M&M cookies? oh, and real quick. just to satisfy my creeping... could you look up if Jordyn Wieber has returned to Competing yet?? ha weird I know! but if she has I would like to know the results. hahah anyway! on to the real stuff!!!

yea... that part about granma and stuff was creepy... glad that's all going well... anyways moving foreward!!!

glad blake is back and you guys have more friends!!! what does andy think of shan-shan andreason??? that is awesome though!! I will for sure let you guys now a.s.a.p. where I will be at!

Everyone here always asks me about the visa too! I will not know until I am actually leaving. We will get a phone call on our mission cell and be told I leave in 2 days be at the airport at this time or whatever. so I will not know until it happens. could andy tell dad that cause he asked too and i forgot to tell him haha  I am not "waiting for another call" no. this is my area right now. waiting wont do anything.  If mayson emails today I probably wont get it till next week unless it is soon!
Nothing tremendously exciting! we taught a 70 yr old lady named sandy. that was cool. she is away spiritual! she is cool! we helped her clean her house and I got a free Mizzou blanket so that was cool! we went on 3 exchanges last week! so we were EVERYWHERE!! hahaha and then the A.P.s came into our area. they are way cool and live in our apartment complex so we see them every mornign at work outs! they are funny! I give the 1st assisstant, ELder Banks, a hard time. but he is way cool!  they helped us find some potentials! that was good!well the work is good. it is fun! love ya mom!!!

Elder Ford!

4th of July

 

4th of July! it was fun! we helped a member build boxes for her horses to jump on??/ idk... we just built boxes out of wood! haha then we met the new mission president! he is cool. from Kaysville. We did get to see fireworks! we went witha few member families to this hill and saw a bunch out on the horizon! So it was a very different experience than me driving around in my truck with a dont tread on me flag flying out the back!! haha

our daily schedule is pretty routine and you pretty much guessed it. wake up at 630 work out till 7. shower get ready. study till 10. then since I am with the zone leaders we do do a lot of traveling! we got to a lot of district meetings that start at 1030 and go till noon! then district lunch! till 1. we do that probably 2 or 3 days out of the week. then we tract for a while or check up on potentials of less actives or go to our appointments! it is fun! the humidity is not as bad as it is said to be. it sucksZ! but it is kind of fun.. idk what ai am saying ahahaha

we do have out own apartment. the 3 of us. it is nice! the sister missionaries in the area as well as the APs and office elders are all i the same complex. so it is pretty fun! I see them a lot and we all work out in the complex fitness center in the mornings! so that is fun! my companions try to involve me in teaching as much as possible they are awesome! infact I lead off in most lessons!

with the package that is all good. we are going to walmart today anyways! all good there! we love the pirates of the carribean CD!! haha but those cds from you and andy would be great! and much appreciated!! :)

no word on anything visa. no one tells me anything. just that I will get a call when it happens and they will tell me i leave in like 2 days or something so pack up! ha i have not seen any of the visa waiters since we all departed so i don't know!!!!

I am fine! the hand is back down and i have 1 more antibiotic pill. so ya! all is well! my bedding is suffcient I just want my blanket! haaha 

i am doing great! thank you for everything! i am wearing the tie that dennis and his family gave me! Tell them thank you so much for everything again!!!

well love you guys! nick says he will try and come over sooon! tell mike to email me. idk his address!!! email address.

since you were with the faus

"see ya love ya bye!"

No Worries

1st off! thank you for the addresses!!
As far as sending stuff goes.. I just want a belt for my jeans, cause I  have to wear my church belt. lol. and i just figured if you were sending my blanket might as well send some other stuff! and I might buy a shirt here... like a mizzou shirt or something.. but we don't really go shopping at clothes stores.. just the ALDIs down the street. it is a REALLY cheap food store and it is all generic brand stuff. hahha  A Utah shirt would be cool. um... Dont worr about the shorts... guess they are just lost. lol. dad said it has been like 117 down there! that is crazy weather for you guys! but yea it hasn't been bad here, definitely sweat a lot more... but i don't really mind it. I am just trying to enjoy being here! The sun sets are Beautiful!!!! I feel a mix of grammy and forest gump saying that... haha I just keep thinking of that scene where is in on the boat. haha sorry for all my spelling miss haps but I just don't care! ahhaha

so one of T's MTC companions goes the single ward out here. Elder Eclinson or something??? seems cool.

Oh! and if you see a charge on the health insurance card don't worry...

Elder duke kicked a stump... that had a yellow jackets nest in it... and i got stung in the hand.. hahahahhaa it seemed fine, then the next day it got kinda swollen... hahaha so we went to the urgent care! ha I am on 10 days worth of antibiotics. but do not worry! it doesn't hurt or anything and i am completely fine!!!

life is good here.. oh i sleep on a coach by the way! lol    dont worry it isnt bad. it is comfortable.  I am going to see if I can attach some pics....love ELder FORD!!!

All is well in St. Louis, MO!!!

Thank you for all of your support and love ha! But I am doing great! just going along doing the work! The put my in a companionship with the zone leaders! So I am with Elde Duke & Elder Wickham! they are both really cool guys! Duke is from Glendale, CA and Wickham from Cheyanne, WY. Me and elder duke have already had several conversations about california hahaha. Yea we are over the Maryland Heights ward as well as a YSA ward, and it was one of the YSA sisters that was like "oh let me take a picture and send it to your mom!!!!" I knew you would be so happy and agreed and gave out your phone number... haha but it was cool! So i sent a letter home... IDK if you have gotten it. But yea I sent it! ha Glad to hear the friends are coming back over!! tis good. ha   always good to hear mayson didn't die. that is a plus. ha.   I have been reading jesus the christ and you should tell garret to read it. Cause he is oddly interested in religion for being atheist. ha but I think he would like it. From a literature stand point at least. ha. and jonnny-kay has not been coming over>?>> what a lame-o!!! haha    but yea if you respond within like the next 30 minutesa i might be able to replay again...     oh can you go on to facebook and send a message to Melissa Lyon. I want to write and tell her about the MTC, cause she is going to love it. make sure it is a mesage though, no need for a wall post. haha    and also the Rwalings address. I want to write them. In my letter I also asked for Keytins address as well as international postage. ahhaha you will see soon hahaha.

love ya mom!!!