Week 35: Another Baptism Date Set!

Hey Friends and Family,

Well it’s starting to cool off and winter is just around the corner! I'm so excited for my second winter in Idaho! Now I can adjust to the weather so it doesn't hit me like an ice wall! :) A LOT of things have changed recently both here and down in Mesa I hear!

First off, my sister Tobie is now an official Idahoan!!! hahaha. She is now a student in the beautiful BYU-I-"DO" This means two things! She will get an excellent education. AND an excellent husband.... in about 4 months. ;) hahaha. The running joke in the mission is that is where members go to get married. Regardless though she will have a blast!

I also heard that the ward boundaries got changed. :( I am no longer a part of the Patterson Ward. I guess I'm back in the Parkwood ward after 11 years. :P I don't know why this has happened but I know that the Lord will take care of things.

Well this week has been great! It’s rained almost every day!!!! So different than in Mesa! It actually cools off when it rains! :) We taught a total of 24 lessons this week to members, less actives, and a few to investigators. Last week we met a new investigator! His name is Adrian, he is a young father who really wants to know the truth! It was so neat, the spirit was there as we talked about the Restoration of the Gospel! Afterwards the spirit directed us to set a baptismal date! We invited him to be baptized on October 12th and he agreed. We will meet with him again tonight.

Spud Day is this Saturday! :) The missionaries are going to rock the Spud Tug. And we have also been asked to help with the Demolition Derby! I get to be a driver in an old beat up 72 Impala, going head to head versus this truck named the "DESTROYER" sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult! :) If you nearly had a heart attack while reading that then I did my job! hahah no such luck on the driving! BUT I do get to direct traffic... not as cool. but still outta be fun! :)

Well that's about it for this week folks! Sorry it isn't as jam packed as it has been! I'll try better next week! I love you guys and hope you are doing well!

Congrats to Sam on getting his mission call!!!!!!!!!!! I'm proud of you buddy! Now get on out here with the rest of us! ;)

Congrats and good luck to Katelyn for her Farewell talk being this Sunday! My mom should be there in my stead! haha

Well... that's all I got. Love you guys!

Elder Rash

Additional Question/Answer Session with Elder Rash

1. Describe the training you went through to become a trainer?

It was basic stuff. Counsel on how to encourage and edify your trainee. We were given new 12 week programs and discussed what our role is as trainers.

2. What are the 13 planning guidelines and do you use all of them in your planning?

The 13 planning guidelines help us plan more effectively in daily and weekly planning. They are in our planners. I use them in weekly planning a lot. In daily planning we use them but not as strictly.

3. Do you live with members?

We live in an apartment next to members. The members who own it and are serving a mission in the Phillipines.

4. Did your companion go to the MTC with Elder Ward? (Elder Ward was a missionary from Elder Rash's mission that was killed in a car accident 2 weeks ago.)

Yes, Elder Blake knew Elder Ward. It was hard on both of us when we found out. I know Elder Floyd, Elder Ward's companion. We served in the same district in Pocatello.

5. What differences are there from going from junior companion to senior companion?

The only difference is if something goes wrong you get blamed for it. Hahaha. No...it's just more decision making and helping your companion be his best.

6. What is the 12 week training program?

The 12 week training program is set up to further the missionaries technical understanding. In the MTC you learn what to teach. In the 12 week program you learn HOW to teach. We get an additional hour of study time each day to study the 12 week program.

7. Do you have a monthly mileage limit for driving your car?

Yes...we get 850 miles. If we go over we walk.

8. Out of the investigators you have now how did you locate or come into contact with them?

MEMBERS; they are huge to missionaries!!!!!!!! Without members the work slows down to a crawl.

 

Additional note from Elder Rash's mom and dad:

This week we were in Caleb's mission as we took Tobie off to college at BYU-I. We stopped in at the Cox Honey store to buy a case of whipped honey to ship home. The clerk who helped us knew Caleb. It turned out that he was on exchanges that day and was at another missionaries apartment actually a stone's throw from where we were. We were able to drop a package off at cousin, Camee and Tyson Cox home, for Caleb to pick up later. Homemade Rash Salsa...hope it doesn't make him homesick. One of the highlights was spending about 3 hours with the Hammon Family in Idaho Falls. As you recall this is a family that Elder Rash became very close with and later discovered they are actually distant cousins of Caleb's. We had a great polynesian dinner and several hours of conversation. Thank you again to the Hammon Family!!!! Not just for an enjoyable evening but for taking such great care of our son. We are eternally grateful to you!