Dear Moms and Pops,
So about Clearlake. First off, it's the meth capitol of the USA and marijuana is EVERYWHERE. We are teaching this guy who's getting baptized on Sunday and his neighbor is growing weed on the side of his house. A ton of people grow weed up here. There are a few pot dispensors too for the "medicinial" purposes. It's nuts, BUT the people here are very humble. The surrounding geography is beautiful, no doubt, but the actual town is downtrodden. This is an extremely poor town. Most of the roads are dirt and gravel. So we get a nice truck to drive in. We've had to kick it into 4wd a few times. But my zone, Lake County Zone, is the highest baptizing zone in the mission. The area that Elder Gardenr and I cover is also the best area numbers-wise. This last week we taught 31 lessons! We picked up 10 new investigators too. I didn't even pick up 10 new "gators" all of last transfer! We went on 2 exchanges this week with our DL's and for one of them I stayed in my area. I, having only been here for a few days, didn't know where to go, who to see and whatnot. That day ended up being one of the best of my mission. I taught 8 lessons and found 3 new investigators, and invited one of them to be baptized on a specific date. It was incredible. I've gone an entire WEEK only teaching 8 lessons and I did it in one day. This place is a gold mine.
As for weather, it's pretty hot and muddy here. Don't let the name "Clearlake" fool you either. The lake isn't very clear. It's actually quite stinky. It smells like manure all the time. Gross.
The ward here is ridiculous too! I've never seen so much speaker to congregation activity in a sacrament before. The congregation will answer the speakers quetions and when the speaker says, "good morning" the ward replies! It's too funny. There is a guy that looks like the Monopoly guy too. He has a huge mustache that curls up and he has that scruff under his lip. It's all white too. Pretty funny.
Our ward might be the worst ward in the mission when it comes to dinners. Last week we only ate at a member's house once, and that was last night. So, I have to buy more food and I have to cook it, uggghhh. Oh well, it'll be good for me, right?
I had the opportunity to stand in on a confirmation of a recent convert that got baptized last Sunday. That was a very special experience for me. I only knew the lady for a week, but the Spirit was SO strong. I loved it.
Guess what? I've been made an online missionary. I will be using facebook and a blog to proselyte. I start on Thursday or Friday after an online training meeting. The mission world is changing. I don't really know too much about it other than I am supposed to go online for about an hour or so a day and teach people online. It's pretty effective, if it wasn't they wouldn't be doing it.
That's about it for me this week. I'm happy to be here. It's awesome. Oh, if you want to know what areas are in my zone, we have Lakeport, Middletown, Kelseyville and Clearlake. Just and FYI.
Love,
Elder Edwards
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Transfer
Dear All,
So we got the transfer info and it's nuts. I was caught 100% off guard. I got moved to Clearlake, CA. It's up north a bit, a little East of Ukiah. I don't know if you know anything about this area, but it is super back woods-like, crazy people, lots of drugs because people don't have anything else to do, and it's super spread out. You want the kicker? I'm a Zone Leader (ZL) now. Yeah, NOT expecting that...I do have a very humble heart about it because I don't know what I'm doing and I was only a DL for 6 weeks. My comp is awesome! We are already clicking. It's going to be a fantastic transfer! Also, my zone is the highest baptizing zone in the mission right now. They had 4 last week. Elder Gardner and I have 7 investigators with a date and in total about 13 or 14 investigators. Last week Elder Gardner and his companion taught 30 lessons!!!!! HOLY COW! My area has the best numbers out of the whole mission. It's awesome to come here after the slow areas I've been in. Now we just have to keep it up. There are 10 missionaries in my zone and 2 districts. I now have to go on exchanges with all of the companionships, plus go on an exchange with the AP's. I get to go to more meetings in Santa Rosa with President Bunker, I collect the numbers from the whole zone and report them to the APs. I tell you this not because I'm prideful about it, but because I know you would want to know. I'm not quite sure what else we do, I'm still learning. The area is beautiful though, geographically speaking. We are right on the waterfront and everything. I'm excited to be here and to have a great companion.
As for Francis, she is getting baptized on Saturday! I have to miss it again, just like Susanne in Napa, but that's okay. Her testimony is incredible! She's come from knowig nothing, to having a very sincere desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ. She is awesome!
Please have everyone who would like to write me send the letters to the mission office and they'll forward them to me. That address is: California Santa Rosa Mission, 3510 Unocal Pl., Ste. 302, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Thanks!
Love, Elder Edwards
So we got the transfer info and it's nuts. I was caught 100% off guard. I got moved to Clearlake, CA. It's up north a bit, a little East of Ukiah. I don't know if you know anything about this area, but it is super back woods-like, crazy people, lots of drugs because people don't have anything else to do, and it's super spread out. You want the kicker? I'm a Zone Leader (ZL) now. Yeah, NOT expecting that...I do have a very humble heart about it because I don't know what I'm doing and I was only a DL for 6 weeks. My comp is awesome! We are already clicking. It's going to be a fantastic transfer! Also, my zone is the highest baptizing zone in the mission right now. They had 4 last week. Elder Gardner and I have 7 investigators with a date and in total about 13 or 14 investigators. Last week Elder Gardner and his companion taught 30 lessons!!!!! HOLY COW! My area has the best numbers out of the whole mission. It's awesome to come here after the slow areas I've been in. Now we just have to keep it up. There are 10 missionaries in my zone and 2 districts. I now have to go on exchanges with all of the companionships, plus go on an exchange with the AP's. I get to go to more meetings in Santa Rosa with President Bunker, I collect the numbers from the whole zone and report them to the APs. I tell you this not because I'm prideful about it, but because I know you would want to know. I'm not quite sure what else we do, I'm still learning. The area is beautiful though, geographically speaking. We are right on the waterfront and everything. I'm excited to be here and to have a great companion.
As for Francis, she is getting baptized on Saturday! I have to miss it again, just like Susanne in Napa, but that's okay. Her testimony is incredible! She's come from knowig nothing, to having a very sincere desire to follow the example of Jesus Christ. She is awesome!
Please have everyone who would like to write me send the letters to the mission office and they'll forward them to me. That address is: California Santa Rosa Mission, 3510 Unocal Pl., Ste. 302, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. Thanks!
Love, Elder Edwards
Thursday, July 14, 2011
6 Months
Dear All,
6 Months...it's so hard to believe! It really does go by in the blink of an eye. I am trying to make the most out of it, trust me.
Things in Fairfield are going well. Francis set her own bawptism date! She will be baptized on July 28th I think. There is some big young single adult activity that weekend so things are a bit crazy. But she has a testimony and a strong desire to follw the example of the Savior. We taught her about tithing and that was her HUGE weakness. She doesn't have a lot of money, she has some debts, and she has a son that is on disability. She literally can't spare 10%. She said that she will give what she can.
We have transfers again this weekend. Again?! Goes by so quick. I think I'm going to stay in Fairfield for 6 months, so I think I'm good to stay. Elder Carter has already been in Fairfield for 4 1/2 months, so he is gonna be transferred.
So, not much else on this end, other than 1/4 of my mission is done in the blink of an eye. It's nuts. We had dinner at someone's house because their son just returned from his mission and it was crazy! So many people there. It made me think and wonder about what my return will be like. I doubt it'll be anything like that because I don't know anyone in St. Louis. Oh well, I don't need to worry about it.
I'm really happy to hear that you (Dad and Mom) are making it to the temple weekly! As a missionary we extend commitments to people every day, and you are not exempt from that list. I don't have to tell you that you are blessed for doing so. If I could, I would go to the temple every week as well.
Anyway, have a great week.
Love, Elder Edwards
6 Months...it's so hard to believe! It really does go by in the blink of an eye. I am trying to make the most out of it, trust me.
Things in Fairfield are going well. Francis set her own bawptism date! She will be baptized on July 28th I think. There is some big young single adult activity that weekend so things are a bit crazy. But she has a testimony and a strong desire to follw the example of the Savior. We taught her about tithing and that was her HUGE weakness. She doesn't have a lot of money, she has some debts, and she has a son that is on disability. She literally can't spare 10%. She said that she will give what she can.
We have transfers again this weekend. Again?! Goes by so quick. I think I'm going to stay in Fairfield for 6 months, so I think I'm good to stay. Elder Carter has already been in Fairfield for 4 1/2 months, so he is gonna be transferred.
So, not much else on this end, other than 1/4 of my mission is done in the blink of an eye. It's nuts. We had dinner at someone's house because their son just returned from his mission and it was crazy! So many people there. It made me think and wonder about what my return will be like. I doubt it'll be anything like that because I don't know anyone in St. Louis. Oh well, I don't need to worry about it.
I'm really happy to hear that you (Dad and Mom) are making it to the temple weekly! As a missionary we extend commitments to people every day, and you are not exempt from that list. I don't have to tell you that you are blessed for doing so. If I could, I would go to the temple every week as well.
Anyway, have a great week.
Love, Elder Edwards
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