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.