Monday, April 22, 2019
I'm still in Ava, Missouri (Week #15)
April 1, 2019
Dear Family,
It was really nice to read your emails. Thanks. The vegetable garden sounds cool. I have met some people around here that love gardening, crocheting, knitting, canning, quilting, sewing, and other things. The area around here now is starting to remind me of the Berenstein Bears tv show. Some of the people remind me of characters from that show. We meet with a lot of the older women in the ward. They all have lived exciting lives that I would never have expected. There is one member who is elderly. He is ninety-three years old, but he is incredibly active for his age. He only eats vegetables because he is convinced that meat is poisonous. He helped us lift a large entertainment center onto his truck the other day. He used to work for NASA on the lunar expedition projects too as an aerospace engineer. He also served in WWII towards the end of the war. He was a technician that helped lubricate and maintain turret anti-aircraft guns. By the time he finished training and made it to the front though, the war was almost over luckily. Interestingly, he has a mild case of Asbergers so he is very intelligent. He is very good at fixing things. Most amazing about him though is that he is always willing to drive us places and feed us. He has a big heart and strong commitment to the Lord. His next three neighbors are also members of the church interestingly enough. These neighbors support one another. The other neighbors nickname him dad, or like to call him that because he is always serving them.
Dear Family,
It was really nice to read your emails. Thanks. The vegetable garden sounds cool. I have met some people around here that love gardening, crocheting, knitting, canning, quilting, sewing, and other things. The area around here now is starting to remind me of the Berenstein Bears tv show. Some of the people remind me of characters from that show. We meet with a lot of the older women in the ward. They all have lived exciting lives that I would never have expected. There is one member who is elderly. He is ninety-three years old, but he is incredibly active for his age. He only eats vegetables because he is convinced that meat is poisonous. He helped us lift a large entertainment center onto his truck the other day. He used to work for NASA on the lunar expedition projects too as an aerospace engineer. He also served in WWII towards the end of the war. He was a technician that helped lubricate and maintain turret anti-aircraft guns. By the time he finished training and made it to the front though, the war was almost over luckily. Interestingly, he has a mild case of Asbergers so he is very intelligent. He is very good at fixing things. Most amazing about him though is that he is always willing to drive us places and feed us. He has a big heart and strong commitment to the Lord. His next three neighbors are also members of the church interestingly enough. These neighbors support one another. The other neighbors nickname him dad, or like to call him that because he is always serving them.
I have a new companion now. My other companion got transferred out, and I am staying for at least another transfer. Who knows how long I will be staying here. It's a great place though. I have really grown to love it. Hopefully, we can fulfill the Lord's will for this area for this transfer. I am glad to hear that everything is going well back home. I hope that Analia passes all her exams. I do not believe that I can call Grandpa because the announcement says only immediate family members.Tell Grandpa my best wishes. I love you all. Until next time...
Bingo! (Week #14)
March 25, 2019
It has been a busy and exciting week. As missionaries, we did lots of service last week. We served at a senior center and participated in a bingo game. I knew that it was a form of gambling so we just participated for fun so that we could fellowship with the people. We have met a lot of interesting people. All of them are retired and elderly so they have a lot of stories to share.
It has been a busy and exciting week. As missionaries, we did lots of service last week. We served at a senior center and participated in a bingo game. I knew that it was a form of gambling so we just participated for fun so that we could fellowship with the people. We have met a lot of interesting people. All of them are retired and elderly so they have a lot of stories to share.
I have met a person that has traveled all around the world. She had been in Africa and used to see Giraffes in her backyard. She has also been to Antarctica and knows what an emperor penguin looks like in person. She also is of native American ancestry. She is now in ole Missouri and will remain here probably for a good while. She says that living in this area is tough for her, and that she needs our help in certain things.
I have also met a person that has just about done everything that could be done in life. He flew a plane at thirteen, and for several years, he worked on the oil rigs in the gulf. He even met a fellow employee who became a famous songwriter. I don't remember the name that he gave me, but he said that this guy would sometimes be so wrapped up in his music that he would sit hovering in his work helicopter above the launch pad on the rig. I also heard from him that during a hurricane, they weren't able to evacuate fast enough and so they had to stick it out on the rig. He said that the swells were huge and that at one point during the storm, he looked out over the horizon, or what was left of the horizon, and saw more than thirty water spouts churning up the sea. That was probably pretty scary to he honest. He also recounted how he did some risky feats when ships and boats would pull in at the rig. The life he is currently living now is a drastically peaceful contrast to what he lived before. Now, he farms. He said that he lives in Missouri now because land is cheap.
I have also noticed that some of the people that I have met have traveled a lot and been to a lot of places. I have also met people that have pretty much lived in and around Ava their entire lives, which to me can also be hard to believe. One person that I have met used to work at an old uniform making factory. She told me that her family lived away from town and so when they needed groceries, her father would take what she called a potato sack which was very voluminous and then he would walk twenty miles to town. He would load it to the brim with various necessities and then he would walk the twenty miles back, walking through the woods over the steep hills because roads were not yet fully established. If I remember correctly, she said he would do this at least once a week. Anyhow, I find it amazing that these sorts of people can be found in a small community center in the middle of a small Missouri town. If you just took them at face value as elderly bingo players, then you wouldn't be able to tell what they've each been through in life.
Things are starting to look very green now. The trees have not yet budded their leaves fully. Today, our stake had a zone activity. I say stake because there are two or three stakes in our zone which is the East Zone of the mission. Currently, I am the only missionary from the eastern United States in our stake. The other missionaries are mostly from Idaho with the rest being from California, Arizona, and Utah. It was fun but tiring. I am glad to be headed back to Ava once again. Transfers have finally arrived. I am staying in Ava, and my trainer is being transferred to train another missionary in Rala. He is going to serve in a YSA branch near a college campus. This is the first time that he will be a missionary on a campus. I told him to beware of people like Mustafa... ha, ha. He only has six more weeks and then he's headed home.
I will be receiving a new companion who will also be the new zone leader of the stake. Another elder is also being transferred to Cassville MO. In addition, a few other missionaries are being transferred so things are starting to look a little different now. The number of people that we will be able to teach is starting to grow a little bit more. Honestly, it's just hard to contact people because of busy schedules. I hope that I can remain humble enough to be able to teach effectively.
General Conference was unusually more poignant to me this time. I suppose that is because of being a missionary or at least trying to be one. President Nelson was pretty clear about repentance and the hastening of the gathering of Israel. I noticed that there seemed to also be emphasis in particular on building homes as refuges. I then realized that emphasis has always been on these things all along. They are even more highlighted now though I guess.
My driving info went through, and I am now driving. One thing is for certain. These roads are definitely less busy than the ones in Jacksonville. They are, however, not in any means as flat. It's somewhat fun driving on the hills. I am thankful and glad that I am part of a family like ours. I hope that God protects you all and keeps you safe, and I know that He will as you build faith in Him. Conference seemed to also emphasize building faith in Jesus Christ. The prophet and the apostles seem to want us to really, really rely on the Savior.
Anyhow- I have started to see that some people do not have families in which they are assured loving relationships. I want to let you know that my testimony is growing, and that I am doing my best each day to strengthen it. Thank you all for your prayers for me. I love you all, and I will pray for you.
Love,
Elder Flynn
Sweets! (Week #13)
March 18, 2019
I am glad to hear that all of you are praying and reading your scriptures daily. I like to remember scriptures too. I try to remember scriptures so that I don't have to make anything up when I talk to people about the gospel. There is power in reading and speaking verses from the scriptures because the scriptures are the Word of God. I actually read this morning in my scripture study this verse which I have read several times but it is still a good verse: 1 Nephi 15:23-25- And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Wherefore, I Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things. I just really liked this scripture when I read it this morning.
I am glad to hear that all of you are praying and reading your scriptures daily. I like to remember scriptures too. I try to remember scriptures so that I don't have to make anything up when I talk to people about the gospel. There is power in reading and speaking verses from the scriptures because the scriptures are the Word of God. I actually read this morning in my scripture study this verse which I have read several times but it is still a good verse: 1 Nephi 15:23-25- And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction. Wherefore, I Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things. I just really liked this scripture when I read it this morning.
Anyhow, we now have our truck back. It is fully repaired and fully functioning. The mission office won't let my companion drive anymore so now I am the designated driver. I just need to finish my paper work to be the designated driver. We are both glad that we have the truck back. We will be able to go farther into our area now to see people. Last week was full of service. I think that last week, my companion and I each got nineteen hours of service which is just under double what we are supposed to get for each week, which is ten hours of service per companion. What we did was cleaning out and repairing this nonmember's house so that she could sell it. There was plenty of work for us to do. This house was all the way in Ash Flat, Arkansas- about two hours away from our area. The elders from Mountain View and the elders from Mountain Grove were helping out as well. Ash Flat does not have a set of elders. Ash Flat has a senior couple serving there. They are very kind. They bought us all breakfast on Saturday morning before we went back out to work on the house. The place that they took us out to eat at was this interesting country restaurant that served breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They had a wide selection of very delectable pies and giant cinnamon rolls. Man, those rolls looked good, but they were too big for me to eat by myself and while one of the elders wanted to split one with me at first, we decided to just eat strawberry cream pie instead. That day, we ate lots of sweets. The nonmember had kondike bars, drumstick ice creams, brownies, and chocolate cake. That was probably okay. I didn't get a stomach ache or anything like that, and this week is a no treats week because the entire mission is still doing the fitness challenge and this week, you can get five extra points if you don't eat sweets for the entire week.
The landscape is finally greening up because spring is getting closer. It's still a little chilly outside most of the day, but it's getting increasingly warmer. I am pretty excited for the warmer weather. It will get busier around the town square because of the warmer weather. More people are out and about. There are a lot of trucks carrying round hay bales that come through town. People also seem to become more cordial with the warmer whether. The sun has been out much more frequently which always lightens my spirits pretty good. I am looking forward for General Conference. The missionaries in the mission are all circulating theories about what is going to happen this conference. I don't like any of their theories, but either way... we'll see what will be said. I still am praying for the family. How is "Come Follow Me" doing? I have heard some interesting experiences from families that have been doing it here in Ava. Some say that they have had an initial rough time with it. Others seem to have just gone forward with it smoothly. I hope that it's working out okay for you. I have to admit that I haven't really been doing it. For some reason, I have lost my manual and so I am using my phone instead. The mission president encourages us to study it. It's not a huge priority like Preach My Gospel or the Book of Mormon in terms of studying for missionary work, but President Strong wants us to do it more so I am going to try harder to do it. When I have done it, I have found it to be great. I love you Mom! I hope that everything is going okay.
The landscape is finally greening up because spring is getting closer. It's still a little chilly outside most of the day, but it's getting increasingly warmer. I am pretty excited for the warmer weather. It will get busier around the town square because of the warmer weather. More people are out and about. There are a lot of trucks carrying round hay bales that come through town. People also seem to become more cordial with the warmer whether. The sun has been out much more frequently which always lightens my spirits pretty good. I am looking forward for General Conference. The missionaries in the mission are all circulating theories about what is going to happen this conference. I don't like any of their theories, but either way... we'll see what will be said. I still am praying for the family. How is "Come Follow Me" doing? I have heard some interesting experiences from families that have been doing it here in Ava. Some say that they have had an initial rough time with it. Others seem to have just gone forward with it smoothly. I hope that it's working out okay for you. I have to admit that I haven't really been doing it. For some reason, I have lost my manual and so I am using my phone instead. The mission president encourages us to study it. It's not a huge priority like Preach My Gospel or the Book of Mormon in terms of studying for missionary work, but President Strong wants us to do it more so I am going to try harder to do it. When I have done it, I have found it to be great. I love you Mom! I hope that everything is going okay.
Love,
Elder Flynn
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