April 28, 2014

Monday 21

P-day with usual breakfast for the Elders, some laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping. We went to the viewing for Margaret Keller.  We met Scott, Joanna and Billie Jo Keller.  We also met Margaret’s brother who is a preacher for another church in Utah but he said” you Mormons are the best people on the earth”.  I guess because we did most of the lunch for after the funeral..  

 

Tues 22

We left at 8:30 for Owensboro for interviews.  President and Sister Woodbury were both there and we got to talk to both of them. He gave us his feelings of our purpose in being in Tell City.  It coincides with our feelings as to why we are here.  He gave us permission to go to DC in June to see Kellie and Shawn. 

We had training by the AP’s and it was awesome.  We first talked about including the members and ward or branch mission leaders in our work and then did role plays where I was the member and Evan was the ward mission leader in our group with the Hermanas.  That is a role play I could feel comfortable with and I did speak up and talk.  We then went on a walk in the church building and looked at some of the pictures of Christ without talking or asking questions.  We ended up in the chapel and talked about the sacrament and the meaning.  It was a very spiritual feeling and made me realize that I don’t spend enough time getting spiritually prepared to partake of the sacrament which gives me something to work on.  It was such a great meeting.  

Elder Holt came home with us in Elder Davis' place on exchanges.  We went to a Mexican place for lunch and my food was okay but if we ever go there again I will get the fajitas like Evan got because they were really good.

We went with the Elders to Melissa’s house to teach her.  She is a sister to Darin Sandage who is a member but less active.  She seemed very receptive and we are going to meet with her at the church on Saturday so that I can take the kids into the nursery and maybe it will go better without her kids climbing all over her.  

We then went to Cannelton and met with Nick (long time investigator).  He and his wife Angie were really excited about the gospel before but he couldn't quit smoking and then Elder Jones left, the Godwins left and he seemed to fade a little.  Hopefully starting over with the lessons will help him get interested again.  It makes you wonder if he was converted to the missionaries or the gospel.

 

Thursday

Evan took the car to Vince to get the air conditioning fixed. We picked the car up at about 4:30 and it looks nice and the ac works wonderfully well.   

We took the Elders to Cannelton to visit with a new contact but it was a no show.  It was a 15 year old girl that lived at Cotton Mill Apartments.  We noticed on the way home that Cassie was at home so we stopped and visited with her for a little while and learned that she is moving into Tell City and the Elders set up helping her move.

 

Friday

 We went with Elder Davis and Elder Edwards (exchanges) to visit with a lady named Lorraine.  We talked to her on the porch and she kept saying that she knew we were doing good things because we were teaching of Jesus but after trying to give her the Restoration lesson she just said that she didn’t want to offend us but she was okay with her love for Jesus.  Good practice for us though.  After taking the Elders home we went back out to Walmart because we wanted French fries but just wanted to buy some to cook.  When we tried to start the car it wouldn’t start.  We thought it was because I had left the charger plugged in but a man came along with some jumper cables and it still wouldn’t start.  Evan tried getting under the car to see if he could see the started motor and turn it a little but he couldn’t.  He did get a white shirt really dirty.  Bob and Laura were there so went home and got Chris’s truck and came back and pulled us to Cannelton where we left the car for Vince.  He doesn’t work on Saturday or Sunday so it will be at least Monday before we have a car.  
 

Saturday 26

  We got to the temple at 9:45 and the session was very full but we got in.  After the session there wasn’t room in the celestial room to even sit and pray so we just left. This temple sure does some things differently but the spirit is all the same.  We went to Corydon and ate lunch at Ryan’s buffet.  It is like a Golden Corral and was very good.  The best cornbread I have eaten.  We got home about 3:00 but with no car we couldn’t do anything.  I did call Roseann Sturgeon and talked to her for a few minutes.  She really wants to come back.  We will keep working with her.  It would be really nice to see her get to the temple before we go home.   We were supposed to have meetings with Melissa and Jeff at the church but they both canceled.

 

Sunday 27

The Elders picked us up for church.  We had nothing planned for the day because of the car.  We were going to go with the Elders to meet with Jeff Taylor but he canceled again. A couple of weeks ago I started reading President Eyring's biography so  I finished reading that.  What an amazing man.  Reading the book gave me so much respect and love for him and all he has done and is doing for the church.  What a spiritual giant.  His talks will be even more meaningful now.  I am hoping Sister Zellers has more biographies I can borrow.

 

It was a rather slow week because of the car issues but we did have some really positive things happen with a couple of less active members.  Hopefully are car will be fixed soon and we can get back into full swing.

 

The gospel is true so what else matters.  We love you all and would sure enjoy hearing from any of you.  Especially those  six missionaries that I wrote to faithfully ever week while they served their missions and their siblings.  Is that enough of a hint or guilt trip?

Evan and Trudy

Elder and Sister Fullmer

Picture is of one of the gorgeous trees in blossom.

 picture 2 is the Ohio river after our last storm.

 

April 21, 2014

As we get to our two month mark we look back at what we have tried to do and wonder if we have made any difference so far.  We have visited a lot of people who have been offended in some way and are holding on to their feelings even though they probably never even think about it unless someone brings it up and reminds them they should be coming to church and partaking of the sacrament.  Habits become so hard to break.  They are all very willing to let us come and visit but are content with how life is going.  We keep holding on to the thought that we might be the one to touch someone's life as we teach our message and they will feel the spirit and desire a better life.

 

We had our first awkward moment this week.  A couple of weeks ago at District Meeting we were ask to each tell something about ourselves, our favorite quote and an awkward mission moment.  We laughed with the others about some of the awkward moments they had had and told them we hadn't had any yet and they all just said that we would.  Last Wednesday was the day.  We had gone with the Elders to teach a 17 year old girl who has come to church, FHE, a Relief Society activity and really is interested.  We had a meeting with Alicen after she got out of school.  She took us in her house which was a disaster and kept apologizing for the mess because they had just been moving in but to me it looked like just another messy bunch of people who don’t take care.  We were having a pretty good discussion when her brother came in and got on her case for having us there when the house was such a mess.  He went into the other room and in just a few minutes came in and said their mom wanted to talk to her.  We were sitting next to Alicen and could hear her mom telling her to get us out of the house.  She tried to calm her mom down but it wasn’t working and they just hung up.  She said it was alright to continue and we did and the spirit came back as we talked until the door opened and there was her mom loudly telling us to leave.  Her mom is actually a less active member but was very loud in telling us she didn't appreciate us being there. As we left Elder Avilas said well there is your first awkward moment on your mission.  I guess that makes us official now.

 

We did have a mixed good thing happen when we went to one sister.  We have been trying to get in touch with Roseann for several weeks and had finally found where she lived and went with the Elders to visit her. She wasn't home but her son said she was at her sisters so we went down to Kellers who we have also been trying to contact.  Roseann came to the door and told us that Margaret Keller (her sister) was dying.  She was on oxygen for some reason and had tried smoking and the oxygen had exploded in her face and she was burned so badly that they couldn't do anything but send her home to die.  Roseann cried and hugged me so much.  She kept saying that she had to get active in church again and get to the temple because she had had a dream where people in white were leaving her behind and she doesn't want to be leaft.  She had a daughter murdered a few years ago and wants to do her temple work.  We will get with her again after Margaret passes away.  Margaret had been very anti-Mormon but did let her girls attend church when they were younger.  Scott her husband is from Mink Creek Idaho so we have really wanted to talk to him.  We learned on Friday that Margaret had passed away and the branch is going to provide most of the food for the funeral.  Hopefully we can touch the family someway and help them find comfort as they remember what the gospel teaches.

 

Friday we had District Meeting as usual and for the role play this time we did a speed teaching.  We all sat in a semi circle.  I was the investigator and each missionary had one minute to teach me the first discussion.  The DL would tell them when to switch and the next one would pick up and teach.  I was so impressed and the spirit was so strong as they followed each other without missing a beat.  The only ones that even hesitated were the Spanish sisters and I think it was just because they had to think in English instead of Spanish.  Once again I am so grateful to be able to spend time with these amazing missionaries..  The work is going forward here because of these young people.

 

Friday at our branch activity we did have several less actives there.  The primary did an Easter egg hunt for the 7 little boys that were there.  We only have one girl in our primary and she was gone for the weekend.  The people are so open and friendly here that we feel so at home.  

 

Saturday Evan and the Elders went to Cannelton to paint with the Branch President.  He has a home that renters pretty much destroyed that they are trying to repair and put on the market.  They were coming home for lunch and to clean up for appointments but then two of the appointments cancelled so they painted even longer than planned.  Evan rested for awhile and then we both went over and I helped paint shutters.  This home is about 100 years old and was beautiful at one point but the renters had animals and it is in really bad shape now and is taking a lot of work.  It was good to get out of a dress and do some physical labor.

 

Sunday after church we had two different dinner appointments.  We went to the first family which included grandparents, kids, grand-kids and great grand-kids.  They have a small house and it was very crowded but enjoyable.  They had lots of food and we tried to eat just a little but the pecan and strawberry pies were just too tempting.  We went home and rested for a couple of hours and then went to the other home where there were only 8 of us.  Another delicious meal but much calmer visit.  This family really do feel like they are family.  

We love you all and would love to hear from you.

Dale and Ivalue-how is it going?  How was the drive?  Our Stake is coming to Nauvoo for Youth Conference and we sure wish we could tag along.  

Wallaces - We love the blog.  Sometimes we wish for a 4 day weekend.  Don't we live in a beautiful world!  It has greened up so much just this last week.  It is gorgeous here.

Samantha - Good luck this week in St. Louis at Worlds.  We love you.

 

Love you all

Evan and Trudy

Elder and Sister Fullmer

April 7, 2014

     We had our first taste of the downer side of missionary work.  We had two days when we couldn't get answers to phone calls and the appointments we did have fell through.  There were many reasons but just the same it made for a bit of a discouraging week.  We have been going with the Elders for some of their lessons and they didn't even need us this past week.

We did go to Arby's for lunch one day just because we had a coupon and a lady came up and introduced herself.  She is one of our less actives but made herself known to us.  We had a really good visit with her and will be able to visit with her and her husband later.  She freely admits that she is just offering excuses as to why she is less active so perhaps we can help her see the importance of partaking of the sacrament each Sunday and feeling of the fellowship of other saints.  One of the sisters in the branch came over and spent 3 hours talking about her troubles and concerns with her family and how she feels we were sent here to help them come back to church.

We did visit with an older couple from the branch on Wednesday.  The sister has Alzheimers but was pretty coherent while we were there.  They were both very fun and interesting people. 

     Thursday we had a baptism for a young boy in the branch.  It was a small gathering because there is some sickness going around but 3 of our 4 primary kids were there. 

 We had been having pouring rain for two days and because the rain and thunder storms cause the tornadoes we got to hear our first tornado siren.  The thunder here seems to go on so much longer than it did at home.  The friends we were with checked to see if it was anything to worry about but it was more for flash flooding.  I wonder if people get to where they don't pay attention to the sirens because they go off as often as they do. 

     Friday was our usual District Meeting which takes a good part of the day with the travel involved. As we crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky we could see a lot of debris in the river and the water was very high.  All the way to our meeting we saw so much water. The farmers are beginning to worry because they are usually in the fields by this time of year.  

We have two new Elders in our district and one new Hermana.  One of the Elders is from Chubbuck and the Hermana is from Shelley so with Elder Gerard from Idaho Falls and us we have a really good representation from southeast Idaho.  We didn't have to do any role plays this time and I was glad because I am still not comfortable doing them.  When we told the missionaries about our downer days they all just said welcome to missionary life.  I guess it is to be expected that every day is not going to be easy.

Because it was a rather slow week and not much to tell I thought I would put a couple of pictures on that we have taken.

     The first picture is the Community of Christ or RLDS church in Independence.  It is right across the street from our visitors center.  We stopped here on our way out.



This picture is of the Cotton Mill apartments.  It was originally a cotton mill built in 1849 and was abandoned for years and then refurbished into low income apartments.  It is just as long the other way as this way so very large.  The rock work is really pretty and you can look through some glass they have put up to keep people from climbing the old steps.


This is a picture of the Elders at our first district meeting showing support for each other.  They each sat on a chair, leaned back onto each other and then the chairs were taken away.

     I have lots more pictures but don't know how well this will send.  I am still learning how to attach pictures in a way that can be seen. 

We love you all and enjoy getting any news from you.  Just because our life is so different than it was doesn't mean that your lives aren't interesting to us as well.

Love Evan and Trudy

Elder and Sister Fullmer