SUZANNA GOT MARRIED?!?!?!?!?

March 4, 2013

Dear Family,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIANNA!

  This week was interesting. I transferred, and that was strange. I had been in Ceres for 7.5 months. It was strange to see it go, and strange to be in Fresno. We meet at the stake Center next to the Temple. Pity it isn't open on Monday.... The Mission home is in our area, which is strange. President and Sister Gelwix are never in church, though, from what I hear. They are usually visiting other places. It is just weird. 

I am still trying to get my bearings, but Elder Neefe is amazing. He is from Winona, Minnesota. He has been out a little less than a year. He has only served in one area. This one. It is interesting to hear his perspective on things. 

We are in a biking area. Probably the largest biking area I have ever served in. It is strange to think that my entire area is city, and it only covers a small part of the city. There isn't really that much more traffic than there has been. It is just biking. 

WEEK AT A GLANCE:
MONDAY- I packed. We went to the stake center and played rugby. That was fun. I really like rugby. I will have to teach all of you eventually. Then, I said goodbye to some people. That was hard. That is the part I don't like. I like getting to know new people, and learning a new area, but I don't like saying goodbye. We saw the H family, from Boise, ID. (He works for Winco.)

TUESDAY- We worked hard all day, and said goodbye to more people. I had to say goodbye to the Marshall family. Bro. Marshall lived in Blackfoot in the '20s. He was the hardest to say goodbye to. His health is declining. Will you see if Bishop Horrocks' dad knows a Jack Marshall? Also, will you see if 123 N University still exists? That was Bro. Marshall's home, when he lived in Blackfoot. He lived on the Reservation most of the time. He was there before our house was built. Crazy! 

WEDNESDAY- Transfer day. We spent most of the day waiting at the Fresno West stake center for someone's companion. We eventually picked him up at the mission office. It was strange to be there. We saw all the new missionaries. Their eyes were about as big around as dinner plates. I was like that once! 

THURSDAY- We talked to people. It was good. I don't remember anything specific.

FRIDAY- We had weekly planning. It was good. Same as Thursday.

SATURDAY- We had a really good teamup with our ward Mission Leader. He is awesome! He wants to help so much. We had some good lessons. 

SUNDAY- We had church. The ward here is very young. Lots of children. Lots of babies. It is strange to think that those people are in my age group....

MONDAY- We are doing Preparation day. We have our own Washer and Dryer! I am so excited. I was able to buy food. (We didn't have anything when I got here) I am writing Elder Smith. FUNFACT- Elder Neefe knows Elder Kirk Van Orden from Blackfoot, ID. It is pretty cool. I thought I saw a familiar face in his pictures. (Elder Van Orden is in Minnesota. So is Elder Burt....) 

I am glad the Eggs are hatching! That is much better than last year. 

SUZANNA GOT MARRIED ?!?!?!?!? She didn't write me or anything. He looks like a nice man.

I hope you have a wonderful week! 

I love you!

I know that Christ Lives! I know that the Book of Mormon is true. 

(That reminds me. I had a really cool experience the other day.  I was trying to explain how I know that the Gospel is true, and it hit me. I do know that it is true. I know because I have had a witness of the Spirit. Not all at once, but a little at a time. It was a good experience for me.) 

Elder Brett Jason Coles

March 11, 2013

Dear Family,

This week has been interesting. Elder Neefe has been sick, so we haven't been able to go outside very much. I have been able to study a lot. I just finished the section in Jesus the Christ about the Atonement. I hadn't realized just how much He had to go through. It was like I was right there with Him. I definitely appreciate the Atonement more now. I want to use it more, so that His sacrifice isn't in vain. I am working on developing Christlike attributes. Specifically, Charity. It is so difficult. How do you and Dad develop Charity? We had an experience last night where my charity was tested.

 We locked up our bikes to a fence in an apartment complex and left them for a while. (We went to some appointments with a member.) And when we came back, there was a set of handcuffs on the tires, rendering them immobile. At first, I thought someone was playing a joke. Then, I realized that the Handcuffs weren't the kind that you get from the dollar store, and they looked well used. I thought maybe this was the equivalent to putting a boot on our car. We determined that they did not belong to the police, because the police would have left some kind of notice, so we went to a member's home. (I was going to get a bobby pin, so we could pick the lock and be on our way.) Then, the security guard found us and told us that the Maintenance man wanted to talk to us. The Maintenance man went on and on about how this was a gated community and how we were trespassing, and how he respected us and what we do, etc. Basically it was a power-play. It made the both of us really mad. and I must say that I wasn't very Christlike when I shook his hand. I was pretty aggressive. I didn't say anything rude, but you know how I can be. I don't feel like I represented the Savior very well. I am going to do a better job. How would you have dealt with the situation?

Enough about that.

WEEK AT A GLANCE:

Monday- We had some appointments, but they fell through.

TUESDAY- We had Zone Meeting. Then, we also had appointments, they were good, and we were guided to some new investigators.

WEDNESDAY- We had some very good appointments, but had to go in early because Elder Neefe felt ill.

THURSDAY- We stayed in all day. Studied, etc.

FRIDAY- Same

SATURDAY- I was able to go on splits with the District Leader while he stayed with Elder Neefe. Other than that, we were in all day.

SUNDAY- Church. It was good. The time change hit me hard. We had dinner with some awesome members, the Woodruffs. They are a younger couple. I already told you the other things.

I love you all so much!

I know that Christ Lives! I know that He is the Creator and the Redeemer of the World! I know that the Book of Mormon is true!

Elder Brett Jason Coles

PS- How is the Book of Mormon Reading coming? Tell me what you learn! I want to know