1. Monday is President’s Day – does that mean no email from you due to libraries being closed? You did email us on Columbus Day, so you must have found a different computer to use somewhere else? The library is closed, but we are using the computer (me on the desk top, Elder Caldwell on their laptop) at the Heller's -- while they feed us a Nachos lunch, they're the best!
2. What's your weather like? Are these big Winter Storms in the Northeast affecting WV at all? Actually, school is closed because it is a "Snow Day."
3. Is the Matt & Rebecca wedding still on? Yes. Are you just going to wear your regular missionary suit for the “Best Man” duties? Yes. I will look like a missionary up there.
4. Why is Oak Hill a tough area? The attitude/morale of missionaries there has been low ever since I have been here; it's just a tough area - not a whole lot of reaping right now, just sowing. But, the Oak Hill's hard efforts are bringing success somewhere else in the mission!
(Oak Hill got two brand new missionaries to come in a couple transfers ago ("doubling in"), to start fresh and just get the past attitudes/influence outta there).
5. Why does Steve, your investigator, give everyone knives as gifts? Does he make them? Is it related to his work/business? He lives in an small camper, and lives off welfare, and uses all his money to buy knives. :)
6. Are missionaries returning home each & every transfer?
Yes, 18 missionaries (10 Elders, 6 Sisters) returned home in January.
7. Are you still getting new missionaries from the MTC each & every transfer? Yes, 16 missionaries (11 Elders, 5 Sisters) arrived in our mission in January.
8. Since Elder Williams (your MTC comp) is one of your zone leaders now, will he be the one calling you to tell you if you’re transferring? Yes, he will be!
9. (Elder Brenchley informed us he & his companion sent a joint package to his companion's family and we'd need to go pick up his things that were included in that package) Why did you & your companion send both your stuff together in a package to Caldwell’s address? We were just doing that to motivate Ya'll to get together!
10. I’m reading this new John Grisham book, and it all takes place in YOUR mission boundaries! (Beckley, WV was even specifically mentioned). The hot topics are black lung disease, strip mining, contaminated water from the sludge, areas that have “cancer clusters” that are suspected to be caused by the environment, wrongful deaths from illegal activities of the coal mining companies. Is this all fiction? Do you hear about any of this? Is your area a healthy, safe place to be/live? We heard about this from Bro. Bowman on our long drive (45 min.) up to our appointment. He has his own law agency and he sues the mines if they are having their workers do unsafe things, etc. Don't worry, Mom, we are far from the mines.
11. Questions about all your meetings: How often do you have Zone Meetings? Once a month? Some meetings you write about, it seems like they include way more missionaries/areas than just your zone. Is that still considered “zone meeting” or is that an additional “special meeting” you had that month?
Missionary Correlation is every Sunday@ the church. Bro Geisler, the mission leader, hears from all of us, and then gives a summary in Ward Council. Who is planning meeting with? Just your companion? The whole district? Is it part of District meeting? Is it held in your house? At the church? Weekly Planning is between companions every week (usually Thursday) @ our house.
Zone Meeting is every month. Then Specialized Training, Interviews, & Zone Conference cycle every 3 months. ST =December, Intrvw = Jan., Zone Conference = February. Mission Tour (when General Authority comes) = once in a while. ST and ZC include the Charleston and Parkersburg (near Ohio) zone.
Are District Meetings once a week on the same day of the week? District Meeting every week (random days, except when we have a bigger meeting) And Mission Correlation meeting is on Sundays with all the missionaries, the ward mission leader, Bishopric member, etc?
12. Why did they have to have a “No Weapons” talk at zone conference? Is there a weapons problem in your mission? It's probably done for the fact, it doesn't look good for Missionaries to be wielding around knives and stuff!
13. Do you wear your dress shoes in the snow? How are they holding up? I wear dress shoes, and they are doing good. What are you wearing on your feet when you do service at the Jackson farm? There’s snow all over up there, right? I wear my Nike running shoes. I was thinking about buying some black boots, that my pant leg can cover, so I can do service, and have some sturdy shoes for walking out in the snow. Do you wear the coat you took? Or just the one Sis. Jackson gave you? I mostly just wear the Jackson's coat.
14. Out of all the missionaries who came out with you.....are you the only missionary still in his/her original area? Has everyone else transferred at least once? As far as I know (and this is just talking with other missionaries and such), I am the only Elder still in his first area. The 2 sisters that came out, are training so they are still in their first area.
14 1/2. Do Sisters have to train longer? No, they got trained (2 transfers) Then they are now training (2 more transfers).
15. Also, I'm wondering if all the Beckley public librarians know you missionaries, since they see so much of you? Are they LDS? None of the librarians are LDS, but we are always talking with them!
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