First Christmas away from home

We were excited for Christmas day so that we could Skype with Addison.  We had arranged a time to make the call for around 11:00, but then we switched it to around noon.  We talked for almost three hours.  We had time to talk with just our family, but then Rachel came to say hi, Bonka Don talked to him a bit.  Nate and Christy and kids just said hi.  We also called Benson over to chat with him for a few minutes.  It was nice to let Addison talk with more than his boring family.  ;)  We could have talked longer, but he and his companion really wanted to watch a PG movie at the church before they went to Brother and Sister Millers for Christmas dinner.  They rigged the TV and speakers at the church so that they could have a good time watching the movie.  He brought Little Caesars pizza with him to the church to warm up in the microwave.  He is doing great and was his same self. I told him that I was going to take a screen shot of him and he quickly said, "Okay, wait!" and put his iPad on the chair and ran to strike a pose.  I love that about him.  He isn't one for pictures, so he often gives us poses instead.  I use to hate that, but now, I really miss it.  When it came time to say good-bye, I really had a hard time.  I started to cry and hid myself behind Ada so that he didn't watch me cry.  He knew I was crying though and it got Ada going.  I tried to compose myself so that I could talk to him some more.  I miss him.  He opened all of his presents a few days ago.  He couldn't wait, I guess.  He did order a suit and some more pants and ties online that should be arriving soon too.  I am so grateful for technology and that it provides ways for us to communicate.  It is amazing to me that we are so blessed.  I hope I never take it for granted. We love Elder Daugs.  He says that he is doing well.  He misses being able to watch TV and he gets bored sometimes at night when they are in their apartment before bed.  But, he has a great attitude and works hard.  It was a Merry Christmas indeed.  I can't wait until Mother's Day now!  

First week in Wellsville

Hey guys!                                                                                                         December 22^nd, 2014

This week was a crazy week! But awesome at the same time!

So, Monday morning we got transfer calls so I packed and got all my stuff ready to go. Then I went to the Owens for the last time in a while which was great as usual! They do this special thing when the missionaries leave the area.

Tuesday was transfers so we drove up to transfer meeting in Pittsford. There were lots of missionaries going home so it took a while to go through all of heir testimonies and the new missionaries got their trainers. Then on the way home to Wellsville we rode with the Hornell Elders and we stopped at Nick Tahoes and got a garbage plate! Which doesn't sound that good but I really like them! Then the rest of the week I can't remember the separate days but we taught a couple lessons throughout the week. We went to a choir concert at the school to support one of the members. Also we got a call from the craziest guy on this planet! We talked to him a couple times but just a short summary he said he has trillions of dollars worth of inventions and patents that he wants to give to the church so we can build this temple that was designed by Joseph Stalin! This temple will be in Kansas City and it will be protected by lightning and tornadoes. He has worked on designing things for the army including submarines, helicopters, etc... He has this mob and the masons who are after him and trying to steal his stuff from this vault he has at his house. He is also a world-class chef apparently. And by building his temple he is going to solve world peace and improve our relationship with Russia etc... Also all of his inventions are mostly weapons and torture devices made out of PVC pipe like bows and arrows and flogging poles! So, obviously worth trillions of dollars!  He said he wanted to meet with us and he would bow down to authority but we decided that probably wouldn't be safe so we didn't. Anyways, that was crazy and I'm not even making this crap up!

We had district meeting this week and our district is huge! It has three sets of senior missionaries, the Hornell Elders that are a trio, us, Bath Elders, and the Dansville Sisters. So, that’s awesome! We had a branch Christmas party which was good so I could get to meet some of the members. Then the big thing for this week was we had a baptism on Sunday after church! So for a big part of his week we were planning for this baptism, which was a lot more work than I would've thought! I love Wellsville so far! The senior couple here is awesome and is really going to help this area. The area is progressing good and we are going to get a ton of work done! And Elder Christensen is awesome!

Wellsville is smaller than Springville but it is the biggest area in the mission. There isn't much for restaurants here though. The Millers who are the senior couple are feeding us on Christmas. We get to watch a PG rated movie on Christmas too. We can Skype anytime pretty much so whenever works for you and you have to remember the time difference.

Well that's pretty much it!

Love, Elder Daugs

This is from the choir concert it was on one of the walls painted from back in 1988. I doubt the people in the school even know that they have a Mormon temple in their school.

Moving to Wellsville! ~ Transfer day!

Hey everyone!                                                                                             December 15, 2014

So, this week was an awesome week! Monday we went to the Owens and did the usual stuff, which is always great! The rest of the week we did the usual stuff but I don't remember any specifics. Friday, we went to zone meeting in Orchard Park and learned some new things, played some games and made Christmas ornaments, etc...

Saturday was my favorite day! Lynette went to the temple to get her endowments and the Owens took us with them. We went to the temple, which was awesome! I had been praying about something in my patriarchal blessing for a couple weeks and it was answered right before the session started so that was great!! Gave me a little clarity about things in the future but not much, I'm still confused but it will come eventually!

Then, we went to the bookstore then to Cici's pizza then home. But the drive all of the way there and back went by so fast so it wasn't even bad!

The Owens make it fun! Then on Sunday we had usual meetings then we went to a stake Christmas concert thing in Amherst. Each branch or ward had to do a musical number so Lynette asked if we could help sing, which I don't know if that was the best idea! Anyways, that was fun!

This morning we got transfer calls and I'm going to Wellsville with Elder Christensen! So that will be great! I'm glad that I get to go to a new area but I'm going to miss the people here! Especially the Owens!!! I've really come to love them but I'm sure we'll keep in contact! Sandra will probably still keep in contact with you too mom. I don't know if I'll meet another family like them on my mission but I'm grateful I got to start my mission here and get to know them! They will be missed along with the other members of the branch!

Wellsville will be a great area! I'll be sure to try and take some pictures for you mom! Sandra might have to take some and send them to you though because I'm not so good at sending pictures home! Well have a great week and my new address is 19 Pine St. Apt 3 Wellsville NY

14895.

Love ya!

Elder Daugs

A glimpse into Elder Daugs' Apartment

Elder Smith posted this on Facebook:  "Don't let the true meaning of Christmas get away from you!!!!"

It is indeed a great message, but what caught our eye was the artwork in the corner of the room!  That must be Addison's desk where he studies and taped on the wall are drawings and notes from his brother and sister!  That made their day, knowing that he has kept them and looks at them often.

December 8th, 2014 ~ Surprise!

Hey everyone!                                                                                                     December 8, 2014

This week was pretty much like all the others. We had FHE at the Owens, which was fun as usual! Then the rest of the week was a blur. We did a lot of

tracking and found a couple more potentials. One let us in because she saw us at the trading post where we volunteer at, so it’ s good to see that all of that work there has finally led to something because I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have let us in if we had just knocked on her door and she didn't know us.

We have been teaching a new investigator who is seventh day Adventist which is really interesting! It's super hard to teach them and they have a lot

of weird beliefs but they're the most progressing investigators that we have. On day we were over there and her daughter got out her laptop and started finding all this false doctrine stuff so the whole hour was just resolving those issues! We've been sharing the "He is the gift" messages when we go tracking and I've figured out that if people don't want to listen it doesn't matter if we talk about the Book of Mormon, Christmas, or helping them do service! If their minds are set they won't change! So the he is the gift thing is good but not any more effective than any other message I think. You should've got some pass along card in the ensign this month! Be sure to give those to someone and share the video with some people!

We went on exchanges this week and Elder Cramer came over here to Springville. I like Elder Cramer; we have a lot in common and get along really well! We had a branch Christmas party on  Friday so that was good! We did service at the trading post and for Kelly.

Sunday was awesome! It was fast and testimony meeting and there were some pretty good testimonies from Sandra and Lynette. Then Jory Jensen showed up so that was awesome! That was so nice of him to drive all of the way down from Buffalo just to say hi! It was a great surprise! He got to meet some of the people from the branch then he had to go back up to his meeting so he could only stay for a little bit. What are the chances you see someone from your home ward in Utah in a small branch in western New York?!  Then that night we had the Christmas devotional. That's pretty much all. We are going to the temple this week on Saturday with the Owens because

Lynette is getting her endowments before she goes on her mission! It only took 4 1/2 months, but I finally get to go!

 Love ya!

December 1, 2014 Satan is hard at work!

Hey guys!                                                                                            December 1, 2014

This week was pretty good it had its goods and bads but nothing too unusual.

Monday, we did our usual p day stuff but we went to the Bakers for dinner instead of the Owens which is ok I guess. It was just he and his son because his family was out of town so not too exciting but still ok!

Tuesday, we had Zone conference up in Amherst. That was great as usual! I learned a lot on how to better improve myself and how to try and be more effective. I always love zone conference! While we were there we had to take our truck to the Nissan dealership in Orchard Park to get something fixed again! I think it was still something lingering from when it was wrecked but it was under warranty so that was good. Then we hurried back and had dinner at Kelly's. Kelly has a niece who is living with her permanently now because her living conditions weren't so great. Jim and Kelly are super nice people always thinking of others. It's funny because Jim is this guy with a big beard, ruff and tough and if you didn't know him you'd probably have a different impression but he's awesome!

Wednesday, we went to the trading post, then went tracting and tried to find more people. Then we had dinner at the Becker’s with all four missionaries, kind of an early Thanksgiving. Thus was Thanksgiving! It says in the missionary handbook that holidays are great for missionary work but not in this area! Everyone hates you if you knock on their door on a holiday! So we spent the majority of the day at the Owens, which was awesome! I love their family, they're so much fun! The food was great and there was lots of It! We ate, and played games and ate some more!

That will be a Thanksgiving I'll always remember!

Friday, we tracted some more! We found three new investigators and one said he would be baptized but we called him the next day and he said he prayed about it and God told him Joseph Smith was fake so that really sucks! Satan is working hard! We finally thought we found someone and he was asking really good questions, believed everything we taught and then changed his mind!

Then, Saturday we went and did some service for Jim then went tracting some more.

Sunday we had our usual meetings then we went to go see some new members in the branch out past Holland.  We drove all of they way out there and then she told us that she doesn't like the church anymore and she's not coming back. Then we went tracting some more and we met this really mean guy who threatened to call the cops on us and then two doors down was a state trooper and he was even meaner than the last guy! He wouldn't even shake our hand!

Surprisingly, I'm not tired of tracting yet but we're almost out of doors to knock on. Probably be finished by next week depending on our schedule. The weather has been normal, snow a couple days then get warm and melts all again! So that's my week!

Love ya!

Elder Daugs