Week #62 ~ NO! NO! ETC. ETC.ETC.

Hi Family,

A quote from the files of President Weston,

 "Believe that you can do it, under any circumstance. Because if you believe you can, then you really will. That belief just keeps you searching for the answers, then pretty soon you get it." (Wally "Famous" Amos)

So this week has been kind of a downer we are trying to see people but it is going really slow.  It is getting a little hard to stay positive.  Lots of knocking not a lot of letting us in!  All I know is THE CHURCH IS TRUE!  People should listen! They would be so much happier!

We are riding our bikes a lot and my companion and I are getting along great!!  He is awesome and kind and fun to be around.

I have gotten your package and letters and it was super awesome and the deneurolizer is super cool.  I got a package from the Koffords and it was such a nice surprise and appreciated as well.  Thank you all who send me letters I think that is the real lift for me at the end of a hard day. 

Today we are going to go to a zone activity for two hours. We are playing volleyball and seeing everyone from our zone, it should be a fun welcome change for the day.

That is my week,

Love Elder Vance

Week # 61 ~The week of many NO's!

October 20, 2014

Hello All,

  

To start with a quote from President Weston,

 "We arrive at the truth, not by the reason only, but also by the (heart)." (Blaise Pascal)

So we went to see the crazy man and since then he has called us 7 times in the last 2 days.  He says that the government is the devil and is tempting him.   He randomly talks to the ceiling to “someone” saying that he knows that he is listening.  He also thinks that all of his food is poisoned so he is starving himself currently.  Many other things that are not worth mentioning.  We have decided to never go over there every again. 

So far it has been full of NO's and doors closing.   We are trying to weed out the weeds from the flowers.   With all of the investigators and less active people that are in our area.  The entire week was just like the other days.  Day after day, knocking on doors and getting no's from everyone.  It is really slow now in this area.

 Last p-day went to the mall and to some thrift shops to check them out.   The mall here in Omaha is giant!!  It has two stories and tons of shops

So they have not opened up the "new" area again yet that I was opening previously.  We need two sets of missionaries to be able to open a new area.  So I am Actually helping open another area, the one next to my old one.   My comp is elder Sorenson, he is super.

To open a new area, it means that we are the first elders to come there in a long time and doing the things that the sister missionaries can’t do and also helping them out.   The sisters are helping us out also.  The members in the ward are really glad to have elders in the ward again.

I am staying positive, with all the NO’s and excitedly heading out for a new week of trying!

Love you tons,

Elder Vance

Week # 60 ~lkjd;lfkasjd ( I couldn't think of a subject)

October 14, 2014

A quote from President Weston’s files

"We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn." (Mary Catherine Bateson)

So this week was full of really ups and very downs.  We met some truly crazy, like mentally ill people, who have illusions of being poisoned and are staving them self because they won’t eat poison.  We also met some very nice people who told us no very kindly. 

BUT…We had to drop 2 investigators one of them, their baby died and they are mad at the world and very frustrated at everything.  It is horribly sad.  We just told them, that their baby was destined for celestial glory and we were here if they needed us for anything.  The other wont keep any commitments that we set with him. So that was hard. Feeling like he really does not want to learn, we will keep in touch with him. 

On the other hand we got a return appointment with a guy that we tracted into!  It is always exciting to get a new investigator.

All in all this week has been super.

I have also sent you a picture of our new Nebraska missionary car!  I think you will like it. 

Love Elder Vance

New Nebraska Missionary Vehicle

Week # 59 ~OMAHA!

Hello Family,

"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." (Lao Tzu)

Well this last Friday we had a little switch up.  Elder Neilson is a visa waiter and he got his visa and is now in Taiwon, My companion is Elder Sorenson and he is a district leader and he came out with me also.  He is great.  We are getting along great, and doing great things!

 Elder Hammond is in another area being a district leader.  All because Elder Neilson left early.  So there is just two elders living in the apartment and we are in a car share with Elder Millett and Elder Larson.  Other than that I has been a great week.

Our area is big and no one knows where anything is.  We are all new to the area.   My comp has a GPS and it helps us at least not get to lost.   

Life is good and I am feeling great.  Yes and we bike a lot! This Area is very hilly.  We have to go UP the hill BOTH WAYS, just like dad had to do, and it is tuff.

They had to close down Lakeview area again, the new area we were working.  There was not enough elders in the area to keep it going correctely since Elder N & Elder H left.  Now again I am in Millard with Elder Sorenson, same apartment.  7007 s. 145th st. Omaha Nebraska 61844.  It is an awesome apartment, new and nice.

I am now just trying to get the area down. I have to meet all new people in the area so it will take a little bit of time to get it memorized.  But it is exciting getting to know new people and new areas. 

Serving a mission is completely different from what I thought it would be like.  Not a lot of the people here are very interested in the church or leaning about our Hevenely Father.   Also, all missionaries have unique personalites, they all take getting use to and are sometimes hard to get along with. 

So we have been re-reading the BoM and I am learning a lot more about the stories that I heard in primary & Young Mens.   Like how the sons of Ishmael were just on the Band Wagon and did anything that their peers did.   It doesn't say anything about the wife's of Laman or Lemuel or Nephi or Sam.  I am sure it is because they are sacred and do not need to be talked about. 

I learned that I need to rely on my Heavenly Father more for things being on a mission. 

Words have come to my mouth when I needed them. He has helps me teach a lot of lessons that I did not know where to go with them.  But I was guided to say the things I needed to say.  I have had to rely on Him a ton with Millett.   He also with giving me strength while biking and walking and other physical things that I must complete.

I have sent a picture, we are the “A team” yes we have lots of fun together.  It is a nice change since the last companionship!

Have to go,

Love you lots!

Elder Vance