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!