6 July 2022

 Once again, my mom reminded me that I haven't been sending out enough "weekly" emails. So I guess this may cover the last little bit.

About a month or so back, we got to visit Arizona together and spend time with our cousins out there. It was a great time, we had a baking competition, a pool party, a belated birthday for our mom, and got to pet emus through a strange visit with a friend of the Brinkerhof's. I got a brief visit with grandma Battraw, where there was a nice talk of her recent family history trip and a tour of things through the house.

The Fourth of July around here was nice, we had a trip to Connor Prairie, a fun smores roaster, and a nice evening at home. We thought we would be able to see a fireworks show from a nearby park, but we couldn't see too much of it, so fireworks weren't the most exciting part of that.

In service, there have been some nice opportunities lately to serve outside of the normal scheduled assignments. Most of the district got to help a nonmember woman move things out of her house, helping an elderly lady with gardening, and one activity that looks like it may become a district activity. Things have been going really well with service and I think I've been able to find greater joy in the Work.

In less pleasant news, I found that the weird grinding noise coming from my car as I drove it, was in fact, not a good thing. Just yesterday I started driving, then noticed that my brakes hardly worked. I quickly tried to return home, then tried to fill the car's brake fluid to see if that was the problem, which it wasn't. After contacting a member of the ward, he helped me with the car, and it looks like one of the brake pads is just about gone. Also, the strange liquid dripping from my car wasn't water. It was brake fluid.

Well, that's most of the news from this end. Mom has occasionally tried to remind me that my mission may be ending soon and that I may need to start thinking about my future, but... uhh... been out for about twenty months, so... I'd say that I'm almost halfway through. Plenty of time left!...right?

16 May 2022

 In the district, with our numbers down to four missionaries and two mission leaders, we've lost quite a few. Our mission leaders are supposed to be ending their missions within the month, too. But on our regular meetings, I did have some experiences that God really is aware of us and knows us during some of the lessons. A very strengthening experience.

As of service, I did get a funny experience with my Mission Leaders. We were talking about my schedule and they mentioned that I was supposed to be serving at the Temple on Thursdays, asking how it was going. I corrected them, letting them know it was just every other Thursday, only for them to turn it back on me, informing me that I alternated assignments, and did laundry every other Thursday. I looked at the clock after she said that.

"So... I'm supposed to be at the Temple... right now?!"

"Um... Oh, yes!... I'll end the meeting, get ready quick!"

Good thing it was a slow night and with a phone call, said they had the hands they need.

One last notable event that happened just a few hours ago, I was helping some nonmembers move donations and furniture from their house. I hated going into the basement. It smelled of campfire mingled with dead animals and death. I thought it was cigars, until I talked with one of the people helping us move stuff, and they clarified that the smell was weed.

Well, good thing that was my first confirmed scent of that.

18 April 2022

 We had two more missionaries finish their missions recently, leaving us with a district of four, and me as district leader. It is strange with a district over such a large geographic area, but so few missionaries among us. My mission leaders are finishing their missions soon, too.

Not much different with service, except that I think after replacing a Temple laundry shift, I went through a bit of "Temple withdrawal", noticing a tangible difference in my life, not having as much time in the Temple. Out of all the things to be addicted to, I'd say the Temple isn't bad, but I may need to be picking up some more shifts.

We had a mission activity recently, where the district went to some Native American mounds nearby. It was a nice park with interesting history bits in it. One I couldn't help but take notice to was that the guide said there were two civilizations, or just one with a cultural change. The change happened about 0 A.D. (give or take some), and I think they said the people fizzled out around 400 A.D., (give or take some), and I couldn't help but think "Hmm... I wonder what people would have a large cultural shift sometime after 0 A.D., something about some people experiencing several generations of peace after a very important visitation, then fizzling out..."

That's most of what's new with the mission. Easter was good, with Ben, Teresa, their kids, and Tom visiting. It was fun, with a nice Easter dinner and some time with family.

7 March 2022

 One thing a bit more exciting happened this week, when after a Sunday meeting, I was asked to be district leader. The previous district leader is about to be released, and I think in the service mission, since transfers don't happen the same as in a teaching mission, this may be a position I may hold until I am released. In addition to us losing more missionaries, I heard that my mission leaders were going to be released soon. They've been here since the beginning of my starting in the service mission and before, so it's going to be a much different experience to have them leave.

With some news on a different topic, we are having Stake Conference soon, and I heard that there is a Young Adult session where W. Christopher Waddell, First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, will be presiding there, and we can submit questions to him. Sounds exciting to me! Other than that, things have been mostly going the same, but I have been seeing some really great missionary opportunities around as I serve!

28 February 2022

 Been a little bit since I last sent out an email. Over the last little bit, in the Temple, a YA session has been made once a month, and I have gotten to serve as an ordinance worker. Also, the district has lost a few missionaries at this point, with more on the way to be released. A lot of the missionaries I've gotten to being around are moving on now, but I've still got a fair amount of time left, so it just kind of reminds you to value the time you've got on the mission.

Things at the Bishop's Storehouse are interesting, too, because they are asking me to come in on Wednesday nights, which conflicts with the night I have at the Temple. But recently, I have noticed that really recognizing that the Lord's plans are greater than ours really brings a more enjoyable and successful mission.

24 January 2022

 This week my mission schedule got mixed up again. I`ve been asked to try several shifts at the Bishop`s Storehouse, which has displaced some other things, and haven`t been doing the Humane Society recently. The Bishop`s Storehouse requires me to get up real early... I`m supposed to be there at 5:30 AM. Does leave me a little tired in other parts of the day, but I`m still trying to figure a couple things out. Other than that, not much new happening.

17 January 2022

 This week has been going mostly the same, but I came down with a cold on Friday. I stayed in and did some indexing during that time while I recovered. I also heard that the Humane Society didn`t want to sign a missionary memorandum, so I won`t be able to do missionary service there the same anymore. There was a mission activity on Saturday, but I wasn`t able to go because I wasn`t feeling well. Other than that, not much new has been going on.

10 January 2022

 This week one of my supervisors got covid. At that location, she really knows what goes on, so things have been a little slower without her around. Some volunteers have been looking to others who have experience as leaders... one of them being me. One of the things I like to say to other volunteers is: "If I`m the one who knows the most, then we`re in big trouble". Service there has been a bit interesting, but I think I got called to the leadership spotlight only once.

I took some days to do indexing just in case I had a covid exposure while there. I didn`t actually remember how long I was around her, but I just played it safe.

There`s a mission activity coming up this Saturday, where all the missionaries get to go to the Temple together and enjoy some activities afterwards. I think it sounds nice.

Just something kind of funny I had to learn at the Humane Society, was a new way to walk. I work with soap sprayers to clean kennels, and it is very slippery if not diluted first. It`s never supposed to end up on the floor if it`s not diluted, but that didn`t stop me. Made a nice big mess and had to waddle-shuffle in a weird way to stay on my feet till I got the floor cleaner.

3 January 2022

 Yeah, I realize after mom told me to send out emails again that I had been slacking on that a bit.

Recently things have been fun, with Tom, Sam, and Makenzie visiting us for a little, though not at the same time. Tom came for Christmas but Sam and Makenzie didn`t. We played some games together and got to enjoy family time. Once, I even got Matt to come to some service with me. I also got offered a position at the Bishop`s Storehouse, which I plan on looking into soon. I heard I would be working on sorting, stocking, and helping on a truck. Teaching in the Primary is going well, but I am terrible with names and faces, and just got a whole new set to memorize... but it is nice to know the previous children are hearing to Young Men and Young Women`s. Sometimes I think it is great to see their bright spirits shine in different ways!

I also realize now that I haven`t been taking many pictures... maybe during this new year that will be different.

1 November 2021

 The past little bit has been going well. I got to celebrate my birthday, my year mark, and Halloween over the past week! Lots of things happening... many of the teaching missionaries I have served around are being transferred around, so things are getting shaken up again. Mom and another ward member had an idea I could try for some service around the community, come spring, for people around the area. With my botanical interests, they directed me to growing tomatoes, onions, and other plants for small gifts to people, like canned salsa or fresh veggies. I was thrilled.

Another mission activity is coming up, and I was put on the planning committee. I hope it turns out well, and all the other members of the committee (though it wasn`t really my idea) were in favor of doing a laid-back game day. Board games, social games, and physical games were discussed.

So far that`s most of the new stuff!

4 October 2021

 The past little bit has been going well. Most things at service assignments are good, and recently, I`ve been able to invite people to view General Conference. I hope it goes well with those people accepting. At one place, Second Helpings, there were several house herbs about to be thrown away, so I volunteered to rescue them. They were getting too big for the potting material they were in, and it didn`t look like anyone was going to claim them. Many of them were nearly dead, so I brought them home, got potting material, and did a bit of research on growing herbs. Though many of them still aren`t doing well, and some have gotten worse, others have perked up. I wasn`t too concerned with having empty pots for the ones that won`t make it, I heard that some herbs propagate very quickly, so there, hopefully, should be some new seeds to fill any pots that don`t make it.

General Conference was great, I really liked the talks about 1% increase each day and President Nelson`s introduction at the beginning. It was a very uplifting General Conference.

20 September 2021

 Not much different happening this week in my normal service, but we have had some fun family activities with Tom visiting. Also, there was a mission activity on Saturday where we gathered as a district and went through the Indiana war museum. It was interesting, and had a section where it featured exhibits going chronologically through the wars of the U.S., which I thought was neat. Tom came along for that one, too, and we ended it with a nice mission lasagna dinner. There are some things looking exciting up ahead, and looks like things are looking alright.

13 September 2021

 The past little bit has been going alright. I tried to get some little brothers involved with a service project with limited success. Tom also got leave from the navy recently, so we`re hanging out with him and doing some family activities. Recently, we visited an apple orchard and went through a corn maze (or blundered through it...) and spent the morning at the farm. Tom is willing to come along with some service projects, so I`m looking forward to that. One of the places I volunteer at is under quarantine for two weeks because someone got covid. Prayers would be appreciated!

Recently, the Temple has been closed, but is now reopening. Our district got to help with some reopening service and ended with an endowment session. We have a district activity coming up this week and I`m looking forward to it.

23 August 2021

 This past bit has been good, but earlier, I was coming down with some covid-like symptoms. I normally might not spend too much time at home, if not for the fact that I had also been around someone who came down with covid. Almost no organization wanted me around at that point. After seeing that I would have to quarantine for fourteen days or get a negative test, I took the test. It came back negative at the end of the week, so that was good. In the meantime, I`ve been trying some indexing and family history. Recently, I`ve gotten back into things and have been able to go back to my normal service. Things have been turning up for the better again.

2 August 2021

 I haven't been the fondest of cats before, but going to the Humane Society and seeing some of the kittens might have changed that a bit. I just got my first training there recently, and it looks like it might be nice. I think I have a slight allergy to cats, but the occassional contact likely won't hurt. Recently, I got to invit an RM to a service project, which I think went pretty well. Otherwise, things have mostly been going the same.

24 July 2021

 This past bit has been going well, following through with a lot of the service I have scheduled. I think it`s been nice to get to know better some of the people I get to serve with. Recently, after waiting for a long time, the Humane Society got back to me about a volunteer opportunity, and I got to attend an orientation meeting there. It looks like it might be good. In unrelated news, our dog, Nutmeg, recently got a very short haircut, and almost looks bald.

Well, that`s most of the exciting news. Things are looking good!

6 July 2021

 Been a little bit since I last sent these emails out, but things have been going well overall. Recently, I`ve been given an opportunity to serve in the Temple laundry. We didn`t have huge plans for the Fourth of July, but a member invited us over to their house. We drove down to Maryland to visit Tom a little bit back, and I think mom was rather glad to have someone to help her drive. This week, there is a mission activity where the service missionaries will have an opportunity to gather and serve together.

22 June 2021

 We had a trip to Arizona, and this week I got back into service assignments. Shortly after I got back, though, I had cold-like symptoms, and though I doubt it was covid, most organizations don`t want volunteers with those symptoms. I did indexing for a few days during that time. Last Sunday, I got to start working in my calling in the Primary. Things are looking good.

31 May 2021

 Not too much exciting going on, though I did get to take Nate and Matt down to Third Phase for some service. It was nice serving with them. School is out now, so things like this might happen every so often. It looks like different opportunities are opening up with Covid rules loosening and with the season changing.

24 May 2021

 This week has been mostly following through with normal service stuff. As a family, we got to go on a trip out to the farmer`s market, Thistlethwaite Falls, and Fountain Acres. It was a nice trip, we were sure to get some of the nice Amish treats and have a nice time at the Falls!

We also got a new Elder to the mission, and it`s been nice getting to know him. We got to serve together today. He seems cool.

Not too much else exciting happening. School for Nate and Matt is ending soon.