Daniel vs Falling Off Date!

Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:07:46 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

We had a crazy week.
So when I got to this area there was 5 people on date to be baptized, now there are zero. Its not my fault though! But were working on fixing it.
Three of them was Amanda and her two kids. One of her kids is 12 and is pretty typical. Kinda lazy and not really into anything. So its hard to get him into the lessons and keep him on track. But the rest of the family really wants to be baptized! We took her to the visitors center and watched the Joseph Smith movie, and after we went to see the statue of Christ, and she told the sister missionary there that she really wanted to be baptized. She said she would definitely be at church this week but she wasn't... I guess her younger kid was sick.. So she cant be baptized this weekend, but hopefully next. She's gotta get to church!
Then the next one was this guy named Bob. He talks a lot and gets off on tangents about how he's not a stalker and this girl named Carla needs to forgive him... Its pretty interesting. But I asked him why he wanted to get baptized and he said, "So I could hopefully get a job." Yeah... then we talked to him about what baptism means and he texted us the next morning saying "Tonight might be our last meeting, I think you guys are trying to convert me." So we made plans to go over, but the ward made me do splits with the priests, so I went with some of them to visit some poeple the bishop gave us while my companion, the ward mission leader, and a priest went to go teach Bob. The verdict was that he still wants to go to church, but doesn't want us to teach him anymore... So maybe someday.
The last one is Ada. She's an awesome investigator, but has some big concerns and is struggling with her family accepting her changing right now. She has two crazy concerns, the first is that she doesnt even know if she's feeling the spirit, or just her emotions. So we're building her faith to cope with that. And the other is she doesnt feel worthy to be baptized yet... And we're working on that too. She is excited to be baptized though. We took her to the Mission Presidents Fireside last night and she met President Howes. They both joked a little bit about taking the missionary who was here before me away, and then President asked her why she wasnt baptized, and then encouraged her to prepare to do so. It was pretty intense, especially when her family came up. But it was good, hopefully. She was kinda weird about it after, but I think it really made her think.
And were not the only ones with people falling off date. The whole zone is having a problem with it. I set a pretty high goal because we had lots of people, but we've lost a lot of them... so my goal is a little over the top now... The district is having a hard time, but were really working on it. Its just tough out there! But I've been praying about what skills we need to work on, and we're going to talk about it in district meeting.
Love,
Elder Feller

Daniel vs The Chandler Curse

Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 13:28:04 -0700
From: eric.feller@myldsmail.net

I'm am now the District Leader of the Mesa 2nd District. But my area is in Chandler! Consider the Chandler Curse fulfilled! (Chandler Curse: Mission legend that if you serve in Chandler once, you WILL serve there either a) Forever. or b) Twice!) My new companion is Elder Cunningham from West Jordan, Utah. He's a good guy, but just kinda quiet and calm. So because no one lives with us, I'm going stir-crazy all the time!
I really miss Queen Creek! I had so many good and bad times there, but I love it. I would definitely move back there. I just wish some certain things that I feel like I went there to do were accomplished before I left. Its hard knowing that those things didn't get finished before it was my time to go. Of course, I blame myself and think I could've done better or tried harder or been more persistent, but the hardest thing to remember is peoples agency. But I'm not done with them yet! I've instructed Elder Krueger well what to be focusing on. Man, I miss that guy too! My last few days in Queen Creek were awesome! Elder Livermore's companion went home and so he hung out with us for a few days. We had a lot of fun. We even got to teach a lesson to a drunk guy who was talking about suicide. Apparently it wasn't out of the normal for him, but Elder Krueger and I were kinda nervous because we didn't know.
But we spent my last day saying bye to everyone.
Not much to report here. I'm pretty sure people are going to be mad at me because a bunch of people fell off date this last week. But these people did not have a firm understanding that they were going to be baptized those days, and so they were not doing everything necessary to prepare for it. But we will be working extra hard to get them there. The goal is to have them all back this week. There was a lot of good stuff going on here before I got here, but I feel like one thing was seriously lacking, member involvement and fellowshipping! So thats a district focus I'm making. It should go good. From a lot of the members I've met, it seems like they're good on doing missionary work! I just have to put the pressure on.
Yesterday, my first Sunday, we did a Mormon.org presentation for the youth in one of the wards. It went really well. They seemed to get into it. This is such a huge deal! Everyone needs to take it more seriously! I've already heard of people who have been asked about it. But in most of the presentations, they still didn't cover what people are supposed to say!
More next week!
Love,
Elder Feller

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