The Missouri River (week #11)

I made it through transfers. I am glad that it worked out the way it did. I have to admit that I wasn't quite ready to leave Ava if I were assigned somewhere else, and I like my trainer. But all in all, I am doing fine. The weather is nice outside. It's very cold, but the sun is out in full. 

 We recently had a zone activity the other day. I don't remember the place where we had it but the area that we were in was very nice. Some of the landscape reminded me of where Grandma and Grandpa live. There are a lot of rivers around here and lots of little creeks. The water in a lot of them is clear and has this very nice blue hue to it. The water is freezing though, but they are the perfect rivers for trout and bass. I'll send some pictures of the place we went to for the zone activity. It was still a little chilly, and we waded in the rivers with bare feet to get to some cool caves on the hill side across from the shore. That water is soo cold. I honestly don't know how I did that. I never thought that I would wade in a river in Missouri in winter, but luckily my feet didn't fall off. Because a few of the elders in my zone are reading from Saints, I thought that wading across the river gave a taste of what some of the pioneers did excepting the fact that the pioneers did it in snow and went across much larger rivers. Anyhow, it was pretty cool. 

I am going to be in Springfield for three days while my companion is attending a meeting in Bentonville. Lynne G. Robbins is going to talk to him and other zone leaders and district leaders. Before I know it I will know the Republic area in Springfield almost as well as the area in Ava. I will be with my MTC companion again which I find interesting. Anyhow, you are right. I have felt a bit homesick, but I am doing my best to focus on the work. Hopefully, whichever companion I am with this week, I will be able to work in helping some more people learn about the Gospel whether they are in Ava, Springfield, Mountain Grove, or Mountain View. I want to let you know that you can feel confident that the Lord is watching out for me. I will pray for the family. I love you Dad, and I love the family. I know that the Lord will be with you in your new calling. Hopefully, it won't be as stressful as when you were a Bishop. Until next time...

I have so many stories jumbled up in my head right now, that I don't know where to start, and I can't remember a lot of them. I met a lot of new people last week, talked with people that I had met but had not talked a lot with before, and met with people that I am starting to get to know better. There are people of all types around here. Last week I had started to experience a little bit of what people who have lived in Missouri feel when the whether is not always at its best, but the work goes on regardless rain or shine and sometimes literally so. My companion and I are still on bikes, but our truck should be coming in fully repaired in the next two weeks or so. 

Thanks for writing to me. The family's letters are really rays of sunshine for me. I know that sometimes I do not write much, but I have to admit, writing letters can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. I am still going to try to do my best. 

My companion and I have managed to develop a relatively promising teaching pool in Ava. We have been on exchanges though a lot. First I am in Ava, then in Mountain View, then in Mountain Grove, then back in Ava, and then at West Plains again for District Council. This week, my companion has to attend a conference for zone leaders and district leaders in Bentonville for three days, so I will be in Springfield again. We are all over the place, but we do our best to do effective missionary work wherever we are. 

Right now in Ava, my companion and I are planning to hold a knitting night with the idea for members and nonmembers to get to know one another and strengthen one another so that perhaps we can gather some people to teach the Gospel to. We are hoping that we can get enough people to be a part of this event and we also want it to be consistent. Either way, I am feeling healthy. We are well fed and taken care of. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. I will keep you in my prayers also. I love you Mom.
Love, Elder Flynn