Daniel vs Transfers

Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 12:01:39 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Transfer calls are not in yet! They messed up and havent decided on whats going on yet. So we dont know where were going. President called me last night and asked me to be a District Leader, and also said "See you on Wednesday(transfer day)" So I do think I'm leaving Queen Creek.

Conference was awesome! I hope everyone got the chance to watch it all. The Priesthood and Sunday Morning sessions were my favorites. I was blow away.

On Tuesday Elder Krueger and I were going on our "Late Night Date Night" through the park. Every few days when we have nothing late at night we walk through the park and talk to some scary sports parents watching their kids play. We ran into the Mendozas and we got to talk to them there. Just seeing them makes me happy. We visited with Sis. Mendoza and her mom for a little bit while they were watching Bro. Mendoza coach their kids softball game. They're doing really good. Even the mom, who caused a little opposition is all into it now. She said she fell asleep watching the BYU channel, and is planning on going to church with them. 

We had another lesson with our new investigator Linda. She's doing good. The Air Conditioner in her house is so loud that it makes it hard to teach. But it shut off just for a little bit while we finished the plan of salvation. And she said she would be baptized when she knows its true!     

Lindsey FINALLY got baptised. Its about time. And all went well. The baptism was amazing and she was really happy! She really felt it. And I'm so grateful for that because I really wanted her to feel that it was different than her baptist baptism. I get to confirm her in sacrament meeting if I'm still here next week. I feel so bad for her and all the stuff she had to go through just to get baptized and especially because that opposition had to come from the ward. Her fellowship, Sis Sanders, told us that she was really frustrated and discouraged alot. She even said "Why is the bishop forcing him to baptize me if he's being so mean!?" It makes my heart hurt to hear that kind of stuff. But the whole ward thinks the bishop did a good thing because they don't know the whole story. Whatever. It all worked out and it seems like her husband is luckily having a change of heart.

Serving is Arizona has taught me alot. I feel like it would have been a breeze to serve in Mexico and knock on a million doors. But because I hate doing things ineffectively, and the best way to find is through these members, I have to work with them. It literally forces me to learn and grow. I'm thankful for that, but at the same time it is so stressful, annoying, and frustrating.

Im out of time!

Love,
Elder Feller

Oh I forgot! Pictures of Lindsey and her Family!

Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:00:57 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Hello! The most imortant thing that happened this week was the baptism of the Mendoza family. It was so amazing! On friday we did all their interviews, and the first one took so long, we had to call in another guy to help out. Ray is a talker... But its all good. The interviews were good spiritual experiances for them. Then on sunday evening we had a really good baptism service. My companion got to baptize them, and I confirmed them. The spirit was very strong and all their non-member friends and family were there. So it was good all arround. They are an amazing family and a living testimony to member missionary work. They were so prepared by the Lord to recieve the Gospel, and have a great work to do. I plan on coming back to Arizona in a year to see them sealed in temple.

Pictures below!

Lindsey should be baptized this coming week sunday after confrence. Its been a long hard journey, but she's still doing good and is super ready. We're all excited for it.

Not much else important happpend this week. We had a health fair on Thursday and we all left feeling more stressed than when we went in because now we recognized it. Haha. I liked living in innocence more... Then on friday my companion went to the foot doctor that made a presentation at the health thing, and got a huge wart frozen off, and a perscription.

Love,
Elder Feller

Elder Krueger right before the baptism.



Elder Krueger, Brother Whiting, Ray Ray, Ray, Savannah, Danielle, Me.

Mendoza Family

Daniel vs Mormons

Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:26:01 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

So recently we have been preparing the Arizona area for the new add campaign from the church "I'm a Mormon." and Mormon.org. The church is going to be pumping tons of adds into the TV, Internet, and billboards here. We're really excited! They have asked every member and missionary to make a profile. I'm really excited because they have done this in other areas and have seen good results, but this time, they are fixing their mistakes. Previously, they haven't prepared the members to be ready when the adds come through, because studies have shown that the biggest result from the campaign was 54% of members were approached by non-members and asked the question "Why is your church doing this?" So the church, through the ward leadership has sent out a presentation that we saw in every ward as to how to prepare to do missionary work when the opportunity comes. Problem is, in my mind everyone around me is stupid and doesn't know what to do! We had a ward completely skip the "what to do when you're approached" Steps. But, the Mission President is on my side and in Zone Conference last Friday we talked about what more we have to do to get ready. They asked us to meet with every member again, emphasize the points and role play talking to their friends with them. We have like 1000 people in all our wards and so we're going to be doing this in church meetings. I'm so happy! This is the perfect excuse to teach them member missionary work, and the perfect reason for them to listen! Statistically, 54% of them will be approached, but in Queen Creek I think that will be higher, and my goal is to have every member talk to people, by approaching them! So we're setting goals and making plans for that. The Elder Feller & Elder Krueger trainings will start next Sunday and... never stop. Member missionary work is way to important.

Other news, Everything is going pretty good.

We went to the Mesa Temple Visitors Center with the Mendoza family. They loved it. Every bit of it. Then on Wednesday we taught them the commandments, and she was drinking a Iced Tea while we were doing it, when we taught it, she was bummed, and then just simply put it on the ground. It was an awesome lesson. Then this morning we got weird text messages because her mom was telling her all this crazy stuff about how we believe God is from Outer Space, and we believe in moon men and all this crazy stuff. We resolved all that. It was cool because she kept saying "us Mormons" and "we". I could tell where her heart was. We talked about how you feel when you go to church or meet with us, compared to when she hears that garbage. She agreed and we're back on track. I was worried for a second because I got up in priesthood yesterday and announced the baptism and told everyone how it came from a simple invitation, and they can all do that as well.

Lindsey is also doing good. The bishop still messed things up with her and her husband and we're working on that. I wont go into too much detail. But on the positive she called us last night and gave us a new date that she, her husband, and the bishop decided for her to be baptised on.

Jacob is doing good too. He's having trouble talking to his parents... Understandably. He's in a really tough position, and since he's not moving forward to much, we're afraid of him moving backwards... But he'll do good. He's a good kid.

Love,

Elder Feller

...And I'm a Mormon.

Daniel vs Nice Weather

Date: Mon, 12 Sep 2011 10:49:53 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

This past week has been pretty slow. We had a lot of cancelled apointments and people were so sick of the heat that there was no one outside. But starting on friday the weather got nicer. It was only 100 degrees outside at the hottest part of the day. We were hoping to talk to a bunch of people on saturday when the weather was a little nicer but only mormon people were outside! So it was a rough week. Not too much happened.

 

Lindsey cancelled on us this week because she was having an argument with her husband that day and didnt want to pull us into it. The situation is still rough there, but I think the bishop is feeling the pressure on him to get it together. He basically created a problem... and theres nothing we can do fix it. I talked to our ward Mission Leader, Bro. Larsen about it on saturday, and he was just as mad as me, if not more.. It was really funny because he was trying to maintain a neutral position, because he has to live here forever... but we could tell. We we went to give him the progress record and he said "I'll crumple it up and throw it in his face and say 'wow, I didnt know there was a form for regression!'" It was pretty funny. But, through it all, Lindsey is still strong and wanting to be baptized. She's pretty confused and shook up still, but she's still on the right track. She was sick this week and couldnt make it to church... 

 

The Mendoza's are doing awesome! We had a lesson with them on wednesday, and dinner with them and another family sunday, and we rescheduled going to the Mesa Temple Visitors Center for tonight. So we're really excited about that. They want to leave a little early and take us to Weinersnitzel because Elder Krueger has never heard of it before... They are planning on being baptized on the 24th of September, but we might have to move it a day because of the General Releif Society Meeting. I told the Ward Mission Leader to just move it and he said he'd call the Prophet. But thats ok, they still are doing awesome, and really want to be baptized.

 

One of the guys we live with ordered 150 pounds of ties. So we've opened all of them and have made a huge ball of all the extra ugly ties. Its massive... but remains unfinished. Pictures next week.

Not too much else, but I have a bunch of pictures since I forgot my camera the last few weeks!

Elder Darrington's backpack sweat

Elder Darrington and I transfer morning...

Elder Krueger and a spikey tree.

P-Day bounce house.

All the ties.

Vaccum sealed bag

Elder Krueger in some of the Ties. This picture does not do the ammount of ties justice.

Daniel vs 4 weeks

 This week was insane...

 

Start with the bad, then I'll get to the good. So last tuesday we had a lesson with Lindsey. We taught the commandments and she had prayed about the 10th for baptism and was wanting to get baptized that day. Her husband gave us a ride home that night and all seemed to be well. Well the word goes arround the ward and Bishop finds out about it, he calls the ward mission leader and freaks out. Bishop wanted the husband to be ready and worthy to baptize his wife.  Its a little late to mention it... We went over on saturday and explain that hes not ready or worthy, and Lindsey is ready now, and she needs to be baptized. On Sunday, the Bishop decided to pull Lindsey and her husband into his office and offer the option of working with her husband to be ready and worthy to baptize her, obviously not on the day selected by us. He says he'll get back to him in a week... but the baptism is supposed to be in 3 days. Lindsey was devestated, and was crying because she was really excited to be baptized. I get a call right before our last ward starts and Lindsey's fellowship says that Bishop told Lindsey she couldnt be baptized untill her husband does it. So I go outside to call bishop. I was pretty mad, obviously. Bishop steped out of his priesthood authority and into mine as a missionary, by meeting with my investigator, and canceling my baptism and essentially hurting my investigator. Bishop said thats not what he said and he would go over and clear up the "misunderstanding"... So I had no idea what to do at this point, and church was about the start, so I decided we needed to be there because we hadnt had the chance to take the Sacrament yet, and we needed to be there for all our investigators at church. So I didnt know what was going to happen and I was having stress attacks at church! So we went home and called Lindsey's fellowship and found out what happened. Bishop went over and the husband agreed to meet with bishop and try to get worthy to baptize her. Lindsey said if he's not ready in two weeks shes doing it anyways. So I'm glad shes still staying strong. The baptism is going to be put off a few weeks. I called President to let him know that Elder Case wouldnt need to come back this weekend to baptize her and he wasnt happy about what Bishop did. He said "Elder Feller he cant do that" and I said, "I know..." "Whats the ward? Whos the Stake President? Whats the Bishops name?" ... So I dont know whats going to happen, but President isnt going to let it go.

 

But the good! I got a call last Monday evening, saying that one of the woman who went to a mission farewell was really impressed by the spirit, and couldnt shake it, and she was crying all day at work and went over the the Whitting's home and got a blessing and felt better. We met with her whole family on wednesday. Ray, Danielle, Ray Jr, and Savannah Mendoza. They cried. Alot. The next day we got a text from Sis. Whitting saying that Danielle texted her and they had a family prayer and it felt really good. Later in the day Ray called her and said he felt the same spiritual impression and was crying all day. These people are SO prepared its crazy. God is not giving them any time to waste. They were at church on sunday, and we met with them again that night, right before the Whiting's son got set appart as a missionary. When Bro. Whitting gave her the blessing she said that something was going to happen is 4 weeks. Last night we kinda put them on date for the 24th of this month. I say kinda because it wasn't to solid of a commit because people were coming in for the setting appart, and the lesson was getting distracted by all the people! But they understand that thats the day they're working towards. 4 weeks after the first blessing. Awesome. We're going to the Visitors Center with them tonight.

 

So this week was pretty crazy to say the least..

 

I guess its gotten all over facebook that my new companion is from Long Island NY and knows all these famous people. His dad does construction for big clients like Jerry Sienfield, Billy Joel, Steven Spieldburg. Our whole ward knows because of facebook... Welcome to Arizona suburbia... Thats all the coolest stuff. We biked to the top of the montain. Nothing else too big.

 

Love,

 

Elder Feller

Daniel vs Food

Date: Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:12:21 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

This week was pretty fun. It was super hot again, which is typical, but all the natives were freaking out because it was a record August. It was 117 the day I got my new companion. His name is Elder Krueger, and he's from Long Island, NY. He's the only 19 year old Mormon from Long Island, so I guess Im pretty lucky. He branch back home is pretty small so when we watched all three of our huge, young, Arizona wards fill up on Sunday, he didnt even know what to do. It was really funny.

Before Elder Darrington left, we were able to have a lesson with Lindsey. We went in with the goal of resolving her concern about "baptisms for the dead" and, honestly to my surprise, we did it. We built the lesson plan backwards from the first three lessons, talked about how baptism was essential, then about how it fit into the plan of salvation, and about how the spirit world worked, and how all of this is bassed on the foundation of the restoration of the Gospel, and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, and if the Book of Mormon is true then everything we say is true. Then I asked, "How do you feel about the Book of Mormon?" and she said she felt it was true, and then Elder Darrington asked her how she felt about Baptism, and she turned to us and said with a smile, "Well, I think its essential." And I laughed because that what we had been just telling her. And I said, "How about for yourself?" and she said yes, and I told her we had been praying about a day for her to be baptized on, and we had come up with September the 10th. She said she would pray about it and get back to us. But everyone knows what happens when you pray about getting baptized... You get baptized.

Not much else happened this week. The next most exciting event that happened was we had to "Double-Dinner" on sunday... We didnt really have too, but it was way too good to pass up. Our Ward Mission Leaders son, Eben, who drives us places and is a good friend, had his mission farewell sunday, he's going to Columbus Ohio. Well a TON of non-members came to church to watch him and they all went to his house right after Sacrament, so he gave us a ride over so we could mingle (but really so we could eat). They had Costa Vida style buritos. There was tons of food and Elder Krueger and I ate two buritos each. Then we had a quick lesson with Jacob after church, and we had dinner just two hours later. It was really good but we could hardly eat. But it wasnt too bad, because it was one of those families that doesnt feed you a ton of food, which we really appriciate. But then the brownies and ice cream for desert... I so hard to finish! I was able to do it, but not my companion. I thought I was going to lose it though. So we shared a quick message, and went back to the house for a few minites, untill we felt a little better.

Elder Krueger is a stud! The new MTC training program is awesome, so he came out pretty prepared. I'm just working on getting him more experiance, between it being 117, and a monsoon, we havent had a ton of talking with people experiance. But we're working on it...

Sorry I forgot my camera again! Pictures next week.

Elder Feller

Daniel vs A Baby Boy

Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:57:42 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Transfer Results: I'm staying in Queen Creek and training a brand new missionary! My first "son"! Its pretty exciting. I'm kinda bummed I have to stay in this area again, but at least I get to finish what I started! And I really think training is going to be good for me. Especially in this area. It will give me a lot of new excitement and motivation.

I cant even remember what happened this week...

We taugth Lindsey twice. They both went good. Kinda. The first time she started with an email some preacher sent her... Which was all completely false, (Except he said Mormons believe baptism to be essential... that's true, because Jesus said so: John 3:5) and then her fellowship got into it with her about baptisms for the dead. I was pretty frustrated, so I just waited it out until they would let us start the lesson. We started, and funny enough, we were teaching the plan of salvation, with an emphasis on the spirit world! WOW! So we worked it out pretty good. The lesson went well, except she hasn't been feeling good and got a massive killer headache at the end, so she kinda zoned out. But we taught her again Friday and I discerned that her baptism for the dead concern is because in the past she received a spiritual witness that her grandfather is in "heaven". Hmmm. Its a tricky one. But no big. The second time we taught her last week her less active husband sat in and was pretty positive. It was a really good lesson, but she was sick Sunday and couldn't go to church!

Jacob is still afraid of what his parents will think and is still looking for an opportunity to talk to his parents. But, he got a stress fracture on his food and is out of cross country and football for the rest of the season. All his new free time gives him lots of opportunities to talk to his parents. Just saying. Maybe after he does it I'll heal John Tanner style. (Lame church movie reference)

Bro. Powell came back from his business trip, and to everyones surprise, brought his parents with him! So we actually got to meet them. They were very nice and asked us lots of questions about missionary work, because their step-grandson is going to Zimbabwe in November. We talked and then we were asked to share a message. We read Alma 32 and testified of the Book of Mormon, then Elder Darrington went nuts and pulled out Moroni 10:3-5, testified, and challenged them to read the Book of Mormon. It was interesting to watch the reason our investigator wont get baptised respond to that. He talked about how he's read some of it, and also the Koran, and challenged us to read the Koran when we get back. Which doesn't make any sense because he's Catholic...But he was very impressed by us and our faith.

I'm excited to stay in Queen Creek. I've got a grudge against this area and I will come off the victor! Even if it takes 6 months! Maybe 7.5 months because training is usually a 2 transfer call. But we should have a few baptisms. OH! Elder Lesh is the new AP! Man I miss that guy. But I'll see him soon.

Love,
Elder Feller

Daniel vs Week 6.

Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:58:58 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

I has been a crazy week!

 

Monday was P-day, then we had a good lesson with Bro. Powell. We talked about the blessings from baptism and the holy ghost and whats holding him back. He said he's "testing the waters" and the thinks baptism is "the path he's on" so we just have to push him a little farther there. His parents is still a hold up for him, so were going to work on that.

 

Tuesday was interviews and a sweet lesson! Interviews went good. I was like the second person to be interviewed. It was really good. We talked about my struggles with this area and everything right now. It went really well. Then the trainings from the other AP's and a crazy (but very good) Sister Missionary (We call her the Sister AP) went good. This Sister trained on finding and using members to help us. Everything she talked about were pretty good ideas.... If I was a woman. Pride you say? No, just honest evaluation. To be honest, and Elder can not do arts and crafts and be taken seriously. It didnt help that she indirectly called me out for a comment I made to her about how the ward leadership in my area refuses to listen to me. That just made me serious dislike of Sister Missionaries boil and swell. But those are my personal, and admittedly prideful feelings, please dont take them seriously. But to make it all better we had an awesome lesson with Lindsey. She investigated a year ago, but her inactive husband didnt like it. But she's back, and he wants to be involved too. The lesson went really well. She has tons of scattered questions and concerns, but they're easy to resolve. Keeping her on track is the biggest thing. Our new Ward Mission Leader came with us and he was getting really frustrated! But thats ok.

 

Wednesday we went to the temple, and then I got to go on exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders who has a hernia, and can only work a few hours a day. We got to hang out and watch some sweet old church movies while our companions went and worked. It was fun. I got the post-interviews scoop about the Queen Creek Zone from him too.

 

Sunday we went to church all day and I was exausted and starving after. But before we could go to dinner we taught Jacob a lesson at the church before he went home. It went really good. We learned that he wants to get baptized but wants to make sure his family is ok with it first. Understandable, but frustrating. All of our investigators have that right now!

 

Well its week 6 of the transfer so I dont know if I'm still going to be here a week and a half from now! I love a lot of people here, and have worked with them a lot, so it would be sad to leave. But it would be nice to leave and get to a new area with more potential. I found out that President told the Zone Leaders that Elder Darrington and I have probably one of the toughest areas in the mission... And I've been here for 4 months! So I dont know. But Dare-Bear thinks he's getting transfered out of here so we'll see!

 

Since I've been here a while, and ran out of things to take pictures of, I took some pictures of my best ties to show you guys!

 

Love,

Elder Feller

Ties

More ties

The sky goes crazy in Arizona

Darrington reading the new scout book in the library. 

Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2011 11:10:33 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net
Daniel vs The Time Change

 

This week was the same as usual. Last P-Day we went to a huge indoor sports facility and played football and soccer on a turf field for like 4 hours. I was so sweaty and sore! For the next three days I limped around, and Elder Darrington and I biked slooow. It was really fun though. I had to play Goalie during soccer because no one else would, and this Elder from new Zealand, who played competitive soccer back home, juked me pretty good. I hurt my left ankle because of it, but he didn't score!

 

I went on exchanges with one of our Zone Leaders. His companion has a hernia and can only work 4 hours a day. He goes home in two weeks anyways. So he's toughing it out. But Elder Hoy gets to go on exchanges with someone everyday, while their companion baby sits his companion. He's from Sacramento too, so we had a good time. 

 

This Sunday, all our church times changed! Previously, we had been going to the Hawes Ward at 9, then Montelena and Desert Wells wards were both at 11 in different buildings! It made it hard, because we have nothing going on in the Hawes ward, but some stuff going on in both of the wards. But the time changed this week, so we went to Desert Wells at 9, Hawes at 11, and Montelena at 1... So we got to church from 9 to 4 every week. Its crazy. 

 

So we had an appointment with Lindsey last week, (The one the relief Society president told us about) but, to my dismay, the Bishop canceled it so he could talk with her and her less active husband first... Fortunately, it worked out well. When they told him we were going to start teaching her, he said, "I'd really like to be a part of that" so we're planning on teaching both of them now! Tuesday night!

 

We had a good lesson with Bro. Powell last night. We talked about the blessings of baptism. He asked us the dreaded question "Do you think that I don't have the spirit with me all the time right now?" Its a hard question to help people understand, but we did a good job. He said "I think I'm on that track" But we know its going to take some time. He really needs to talk to his parents, that's the kicker!

 

We're working on it!

 

Love,

 

Elder Feller

Daniel vs The Pain

Date: Mon, 1 Aug 2011 10:31:13 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net
This week was pretty slow again. But things are starting to turn around! School has started in Queen Creek (weird huh?) and so everyone's back to reality. We've made some good progress with our wards, people are starting to do stuff and help us out more. Having three wards as a missionary can be a blessing... but its also really stressful sometimes. I remember we had six wards in Gilbert... that was hard. I hardly knew anyone. But its going good. We biked almost 150 miles this week. Just trying to find some people outside to talk to! We're doing our best to qualify for blessings. But we're really sore because of it.

We had Family Home Evening with Bro. Powell and his family on Monday. And he helped us fix Elder Darrington's bike tube later in the week. The pulled pork was amazing... I cant even describe it. And he gave us a ton of the left-overs. They're gone. But we taught his family, and some friends of theirs who were in town about the importance of going to church, reading their scriptures and saying their prayers. It was funny because their friends weren't members, or really religious people, and I don't think they go to any church because when I asked the kids why they thought it was important to go to church, they asked the mom and she got really embarrassed! But the lesson went good and Bro. Powell was even at church yesterday! He told us on Saturday night that he had a dream where he didn't go to church, and when he did, he didn't wear his shirt and tie, and they kicked him out and wouldn't let him come back. So he took that as a sign that he needed to go on Sunday. But we were at our other ward so we missed him!

We were in the other ward because we were expecting a new potential there. Actually, she was taught about a year ago, but she's been coming to church on and off with an awesome member, and asked the Relief Society President if she could take missionary lessons again. So we got a call Friday morning! And we'll be teaching her next Wednesday. Awesome.

We also had a lesson with Jacob, one of our investigators who is 16 and has a member girlfriend. The concern has always been if he was sincere or not, and I've always really thought he is. Our lesson with him confirmed that. We asked him about his family and what they thought and he got a little concerned. He said his parents are like "whatever" but his grandma is mad, and he doesn't know about his siblings. Turns out, his dad investigated the church and almost got baptized while he was dating a Mormon girl too. But she got cancer and dumped him... So he never joined. But his family always talks with him about what he learned and his dad knows alot. So we're hoping theres still some potential with his family there. He told us his grandma was going to take him out to lunch, probably for his birthday, we don't know, and said she would drive all the way to Queen Creek from Mesa to take him to her church and he was he was happy where he was, and she just took him home. So he's going though some struggles, but these will help him have a spiritual conversion. So its bittersweet.

We're going to a huge indoor sports complex today with a ton of missionaries to play football and stuff. Should be fun.

Love

Elder Feller

Daniel vs The Sun

Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 10:49:31 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

We've had a rough week, but all is well. Its been extremely hot! Our arms are way darker, and for the first time in my life, I had a sunglasses tan! But I got rid of it the next day. Gross. But we've been scrambling to find someone to teach out here! This week we didn't find anyone, and got dropped, after 3 months of trying to get an appointment, by 16 year old Tori. Its almost a relief, but she's on "her our religious journey, and has her Mormon friend to help her out." Whatever. Honestly, its more of a relief. We're turning her over to the missionaries who cover her friends ward.

Elder Howard, one of the missionaries we live with, hurt some ligament and fractured his foot. It happened a month ago, but he just went in and they gave him a cast. So he's crutchin' all around the house now. Its pretty funny. But at least he has a car...

We've visited Bro. Powell the last 3 night, helping fix up bikes and talking with him and his family. He invited us back on Sunday for dinner, but we already had a dinner planned with the Elders Quorum President and his family, and they're awesome, so we couldn't cancel on them so we had to try and double dinner... Only because he was planning on making his famous pulled pork. First of all, you have to understand that Bro. Powell, even though he's not a member, is famous in the ward for cooking for youth firesides and scout trips. He cooks good. Pulled pork is his specialty. He made BBQ sauce, with a vinegar base (whatever that means...), a month and a half ago, and let it sit, so it would taste perfect. And he planned on smoking the pork all day and coming to church. Unfortunately, Satan broke his smoker so he couldn't get to church OR make the pork! So they made carne asada burritos and gave us all the left overs... But he fixed the smoker and we're going back tonight for dinner and Family Home Evening! Awesome.

Love,

Elder Feller

Daniel vs 1 Year

Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:59:35 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

This week has been pretty fun. I got a new companion, Elder Darrington (Dear-bear) from Declo Idaho (380 people). I don't remember if I told you about a missionary who put a huge deep whole in his knee mountain biking but he's my companion now. But his knee is getting better so we don't get a car. But we're having fun in queen creek.

The dust storm was crazy last week! I'm sure you heard about it and wondered if I got any of it... Queen Creek is right on the south-east edge of the phoenix valley, so we got it first! I was inside when it rolled in, but I saw pictures. But we biked around in the dust for a few hours. We walked out of a lesson to look at someones giant swing set in the back yard and it was crazy outside! All dark and dusty and windy .. at like 7. which is weird here, the sun comes up at 4:30 and down at  8:30. It was nuts.

Oh, so my old companion, Who was a big guy from Idaho, and was dieing in the heat, got sent to the mountains! In Eager, the little town with the closest stop light to Saint Johns. He's going to love it!

And, I don't know if you're aware, but I hit one year this Thursday!! The time has flown by, I can hardly believe it. I don't ever want to go home.

Oh so we also had a sweet lesson with brother Powell this week. Its been hard to bring up his feeling on the gospel  recently. Almost like he's avoiding it. But we got him alone and I went for it! We found out some of his concerns and then had a really good discussion on commitments and living up to the blessings. I think that's what he fears right now. But it was really good. I almost cried telling him about Brandon and Zach, the first two baptisms me and Elder Lesh had in Chandler, and what a blessing it was. We know more about whats up with him and are better prepared to teach him now. It was awesome.

Pray I have more to talk about!

Love,

Elder Feller

Video of the dust storm

Elder Baird



Dear-Bear and I trying to get some pictures in The Pecans.  Our richest neighborhood.

More of The Pecans



My free new shoes!

Daniel vs Africa

Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:49:41 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Transfer week! I'm staying and my companion is leaving.

The Mongane's baptism went AMAZING. It lasted an hour and a half. In the talk on baptism, she included a little bit of the family's story, about their journy fleeing from Africa, to here. I dont konw how much I've written already, but Roy Mongane fled The DR Congo after being arrested at a peace rally. He escaped from prison, got a visa to America, and ended up being found by a man here and joining the Church. Meanwhile, his family was moving to different countries, waiting until he could get them to America. For 6 years, the lived in different countries. They started going to Church over there. When they finally made it here, there was so many problems and delays getting to the airport. They got held up in Customs in Dubai, and his youngest son, Joseph, (named after the Prophet) screamed about getting to America to see his dad, because he had never seen him before. Then again in LAX. The next flight wasnt for a while, so the members here in Queen Creek got ahold of a Bishop in LA. He took them in for the night and sent them on a plane to Pheonix the next day. After getting settled for a month or so, we were able to teach them. Last saturday they were baptized. Roy was able to baptize them. He got into the baptismial font, and started moving and splashing arround. Then he started singing "Count your Manny blessings" in french or Swahili. His wife, Rachel, came down into the water and started singing with him. Everyone was silent, and the spirit was so strong. He then baptized her and his two daughters, Ansi and Alice. Then in the talk on the Holy Ghost, the man to took him in and introduced him to the Church in Virginia spoke on the Holy Ghost. He talked about how the Holy Ghost had prepared these people to come to America. And, since Roy is a decentant of Ephraim, how a literal dicendant of the House of Joseph was brought to the promised land.
The next day in Sacrament meeting, during the confirmations, there were so many people in the circle I could hardly get my hand in there. But it was amazing as well. Roy did an awesome job giving some wonderful blessings to his family. His wife cried, and one of his daughters hugged him and said "thank you daddy!"

It was really amazing. Nothing Else that happened this week matters.

Love,
Elder Feller

July 4th - No Title (Probably should be Called Daniel vs. the Jungle or the Gauntlet

Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 11:58:27 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net
To: natfeller@hotmail.com; efeller@byu.net

Hello family! This past week was pretty much the same as usual. It was really hot. Most people in Queen Creek seem to dissapear when it gets hot.
Lots of fun stuff!
First things first! We taught the Mongane family! More like, just got them ready for the Baptism this saturday! We were doing to program and stuff. We had to bike outside of our area, like 3 miles, and it was 118 degrees outside. But they're all excited for the baptism!
Also, we stoped by this family's house and they werent home. But they have a jungle built in their yard! Pictures below.
So there were all these signs up for a missing turtle in one of our neighbor hoods this week. They were pretty funny signs. And we were biking in the day and it was really hot and no one was out... and we found the turtle! My companion saw it so I went over to the sign to get the phone number. and I was messing with my companion and reading him the description, making sure it was the right turtle. And these members we know pull up and ask us whats going on. We tell them we found the turtle! Then she gets out of the car, and takes the turtle away back to her house! We thought we were goign to be the heroes. But they did give the reward to us. 15 bucks at cold stone! But our glory and hopefully a teaching moment got stolen!
Also, one of our really good potential investigators, who is the girlfriend of this member, (They're like 50) came up to us at church and told us she got baptized. We thought they were joking... I kind of assumed she wanted to get baptized, but no. She really got baptized without us last weekend. They went up to Utah to go to his daughters wedding. She was talking to their friend up there about some gospel question she had, resolved her concern, and then asked when she wanted to get baptized. She said "how about friday in your pool?" So they called the utah missionaries up there, got her interviewed and baptized... with out us, her actual missionaries... So that was pretty funny. There goes one of our awesome potentials for this month... 
One more weird lame thing, pictured below is the Guantlet. We caught some scorpions and some other missionaries gave us a black widow and we had them fight. They just kinda sat there for a few days. But this morning! The scorpion is huge and black inside.... and the black widow is gone! Scoprion 1... black widow 0. Pretty awesome.
We're still working on finding. I've met with all the bishops and ward mission leaders and am still trying to implement all the stuff they're supposed to be doing. Thats what I feel like God has been telling me to do. So I'm trying. So far its going good. But nothing much to report this week.
LOVE,
Daniel

Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2011 12:03:05 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

The rest of the pictures..

 

PS I forgot to mention the huge statue of Moroni! Its at this excommunicated guys house who's trying to come back. Its pretty sweet. 

Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:53:21 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Daniel vs 11 Months!

Wow. Tomorrow is my 11 month birthday. Its hard to believe I've been out that long. It really doesn't feel like it.

The coolest thing that happened this week was:

We went to Brother Powell's house. We've taught him all the lessons and hes waiting to go to Yuma to "talk about some stuff with his parents." We're assuming baptism. But anyways, we show up at his house just to say hi. We talked for a little bit and he talks about fathers day. Well his 7 year old son takes this to mean that fathers day is right now, so he goes and gets this book "Fathers of our Faith" with President Monson on the front and gives it to his dad. Bro. Powell laughs and asks him what it is. The kid says, "Mom said to give it to you for fathers day!" and we all started laughing really hard. He gives it back to him and says "hid it until Sunday and I'll act surprised!" then turns to us and says "I think she's trying to give me another hint" It was so funny. Meanwhile we're trying to sneak a lesson in there, and we talk for a while and he says, "well do you guys have a lesson or anything tonight?" Of course we do. We read 3 Nephi 27 with him. The Doctrine of Christ. And his sister in law comes in as our member present. The spirit power punches every one of us and it was an awesome lesson. His wife walks in at the very end and is like "So do we have a date set for baptism!?" I guess they were putting the pressure on him earlier because he just kinda stared at the ground. Oh, I forgot: The whole time his step son's mission call is sitting on the table in the other room. But he's in Nauvoo with the other youth in the ward. So Bro. Powell asks us to come back on Saturday for dinner and to open the misson call. So we move our dinner around and go back on Saturday. We get there a little early so we go to the store with Bro. Powell to get some stuff. We stoped by the bike store to pick up my companions new bike and he also gets me a new comfy bike seat because mine was broken. (By the way, Bro. Powell is the nicest person probably ever) So we go home and everyone is there waiting for his step-son, Ty, to open it. Meanwhile, Bro. Powell is going crazy making tons of chicken wings for everyone. He's also an awesome cook. The chicken wings were aammaazziinngg. But Ty opens his mission call, and at the dread of his mother, he's going to ZIMBABWE! Pretty crazy. He's jumping arround all excited, Bro. Powell is passing out the most amazing teriaki, buffalo, and bbq chicken wings ever, Elder Baird and I are talking to a non-member girl who goes to a huge non-denom church, trying to get her interested (didn't work). But Elder Baird and I hang out with Bro. Powell and the family a little more, and he keeps giving us these extra wings. I was sooo full. But it was really amazing, and the spirit was really strong.

So Bro. Powell is going to Yuma and California this weekend and he's going to talk with his parents while he's there.

Other than that this week was really slow. We had dinner with one of our favorite families, the Seymore's, on Fathers Day. He gave us some flat brimmed ASU hats! Pictured below. And we're probably going to get some more.  The family really likes us too because we remind them of their sons who are on missions right now.

That's all for this week,

Love
Elder Feller

Pictures,

Hiking San Tan Mountian

Karate Kid at the top.

Birthday cake cookies! Thanks mom!

ASU!

Daniel vs Five On Date

Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2011 10:48:01 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

This whole week was long, hard, and HOT. Not much has happened since last P-Day. Of course, I'm still in Queen Creek with Elder Baird. Transfers past and we're going round two. Wednesday, we weren't allowed to go to transfer meeting unless we were getting transferred... so our roommates called us from there and put us on speakerphone so we could listen to the whole thing. It was pretty funny. Except everyone already knew where they were going so it wasn't that surprising. Last week everyone getting transferred found out when they signed on to write their emails to the Mission President. Because we put in our stats and it tells us our wards. The funniest part of that was a sister missionary who got emotional when she found out she was going to Yuma. The called me over to talk to her about it, and I found out she was going to my old area! So my old Yuma area now has sisters!  Weird. But she was worried and asked me if it was really ghetto. She's from Idaho, so I had to say yes. But its still cool! oh well.

So the most exciting part about this week is that Ryland and Jaycee Wilkins are getting baptized on Wednesday morning! Its really exciting. Bro. Wilkins got the priesthood from his grandpa. It was a super powerful blessing! He drove us home after and was just amazed, he said "wow that was powerful... my lip was quivering!" So we're super happy. We will have pictures of their baptism next week!

Also, The Monganes are planning on July 9th for Baptism! We're still working with them, but thats when their friends are going to be in town. So that's awesome! So we have 5 baptisms coming up. Two of them are 8 year olds so they dont count as convert baptisms, but who cares. They count as souls saved in my heart!
Ohhh, we were at Brother Powell's house, just chit-chatting, hoping to fit in a lesson, and then all of a sudden his kid runs inside, crying, with blood pouring out of his mouth. He biffed it on his bike. So they went to the ER... And we had to leave.

Also, We had a crazy day. We had to take a missionary with us for the day while his companion was in a meeting. So we were making some copys of some stuff and then he  decided he needed to go all the way to his area to wash this guys truck so that he would listen to them. So we didnt have anything going on so we decided to go. We had to get a ride all the way down there, in this tiny little truck because he wasnt expecting three of us and we finally get to this guys house and he is loading his truck up, so we cant wash it. Then we have to walk 2.5 miles back to his house where we met his companion and got a ride back to our area. Not that cool of a story, but it explains the random pictures below. Elder Russell and I. He's tiny. 
Until Next Week,
Love,
Elder Feller

 

Daniel vs The Second Transfer!

Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 10:34:58 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

 

Helllllooooo from Queen Creek. Transfers are tomorrow and I'm not even going to the meeting. Elder Baird and I are going round two in the QC! Which is exciting because we're hoping to baptize like 6 people this coming transfer. But we'll get to that in the upcoming weeks.

 

By the way, I did not get any calls last night. No trainer or District Leader calls. BUT ELDER LESH DID! our beloved district leader Elder Lesh is becoming a zone leader and leaving Queen Creek.

 

Last week was pretty good. Not much to tell. Brother Powell went to Yuma this weekend to "discuss some things" with his parents. We took that as meaning he's telling his parents he wants to be baptized. So we've been praying for that to be a good experience for him. The Mongane family moved to queen creek, which is good. They still don't live in our area but they go to our ward. No one tells a stubborn little man from Africa what to do! We're hopefully be planning their baptism as well when we meet with them on Wednesday. We met with the Wilkins family finally! They are doing awesome and we're going to dinner and the visitors center with them tonight. Bro Wilkins met with Bishop on Sunday so hopefully he'll be ready to baptize his kids pretty soon.

 

Other than that I slept terribly last night, so I'm not in the mood to write a lot. I'm kicking my missionary work up a few gears this transfer so expect big things!

 

Love

 

Elder Feller!

 

PS! The Nerd Award! I forgot to tell you. There is a ten year old girl in one of our wards that gives all the missionaries a test to see if they are a nerd or not. Its pretty funny. I passed the test the first night I was here, and I finally got my certificate! It is show bellow.

Elder Lesh's last district meeting!

My Nerd Award!

Elder Baird and I

 

The Broom game! You spin around staring at a broom and then drop the broom and try to jump over. Its harder than it looks...

May 23, 2011

Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 10:41:45 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net
This week was a little better than last. But it was still pretty boring.
The most exciting thing that happened was our lesson with the Mongane family. We taught the first few principles of the Commandments lesson, then talked a lot about baptism. We almost had them on date! But the little 8 year old was like "I dont think I'm ready..." Which is funny because the daughters are tottally ready. The mom is really shy and its hard to get her to open up and tell us whats up. She did say that we could stop asking her to pray because she already knows its true, we're just teaching her, like its a class. Awesome to hear. We were hoping for this up coming weekend. I dont know if its going to happen. Unless we just surprise them this friday and say "how about tomorrow?" That might work because when we tried to set a date, the dad, who is a member already, said we can choose a date like a doctor chooses a date for a pregnat woman, but we wont know when they will be ready. I wanted to say, "no, its like a birthday party. We set a date, invite everyone, and then get ready for the party." But I didnt. We're working on it. The mom also asked who would baptize them, and our fellowship turned to the husband and said, "well?" and he went off about how anyone can baptize them. Then we clarifired. But yeah. Maybe next week we'll have a surprise baptism. They are tottally ready.
Oh here is the blog about the family coming to america: Trevordayleyblog.com/2011/03/29/beautiful-day/
Its an awesome story.
Today is the first day of week 6! Last week of the transfer. Its gone by really fast!
Brother Powell was at church! That was really exciting. I think he's close. But he's got a big last bridge to cross. His family... But we didnt get to teach him this week. It was a crazy week for them.
Also, we've had pizza like 5 nights in a row, then Lazagna, then this pasta thing two nights in a row. Last night, a family invited us on the whim to come over and eat carne asada tacos with them. I had to go. I needed to eat something else! hahaha.
Love
Elder Feller

Daniel VS The Worst Week Ever

Date: Mon, 16 May 2011 10:50:59 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

Not much to report this week. We hardly had any lessons because 8 we had set up canceled. Pretty much no good or exciting ones. The Monanges had to cancel friday and then didnt make it to church because they are super sick. We probably arent teaching them again untill next friday.

So I spent a lot of time biking arround in the heat. Until Friday when Elder Baird's bike broke. We spend some time fixing it, and then it happened again. Totally busted.

So saturday comes arround and some more stuff cancels on us. We had to speak an active members 8 year old kids baptism... Not to fun. It was pretty awkward and pretty bad. hahaha. We spend a lot of time biking arround, talking to all our ward leadership and stuff, prepping for Sunday and then at night, I was riding down the street, Chandler Heights Road to be exact, I was riding with no hands and I look back at my companion who was messing arround, then I look ahead and there's a little drainage ditch (See picture bellow) perpedicular to the sidewalk and I grab my handlebars trying to avoid it and I fall right into it. Of course, I kicked the curb with my shin, trying toget it back. That backfired, it just took of some skin and left a bruse. Then my thigh and my handlebars met, and I have a bruse there too. Then I fell off the front of my bike and hit the grass with mostly my right arm, wich is now sore. But have no fear, My helmet is ok. It did not hit anything. Dont worry. So I rolled off my bike to the right and sat on the curb untill my companion caught up with me and I had him take a picture. Seen below. Pretty sweet first crash of my mission I would say.

Then Sunday no one was at church and everyone canceled on us for the Mission President Fireside. So not much happened.

So, its been a rough week, but we're staying positive. As long as we're doing what God wants us to do, then there's no reason to be depressed right?

Love

Elder Feller

Pictures!!!

1&2. Elder Lesh hopping the fence to let us out of a gated community while on exchanges.

My bike seat also broke off earlier this week.

Elder Parrott and I in T-Shirt form.

Me in the Ditch I fell in.

Chocolate pancakes on P-Day morning make it all better?