Hey hey hey. This week was WAY up and down. As for the MP3, I think english talks would be better. I hate the voices of the translators :) And yeah, if you could get some motab, awesome. If not, don't worry too much. I know that lisa and Cole have/had a ton, maybe they could hook you up with some cds while you're up there or something?
So yeah, this week. The weekdays were really brutal. We were out tracting all day long and not getting any success. Just a few lessons here and there, nothing really great. Then on Friday we had a lesson set up with this one guy and we walk in and him and his buddy are drunk and his buddy sits down and starts trying to pull a Zeezrom on us and make us cross our words, but it didn't work. I wanted to punch him in the face though(and then I speedily repented). So we were just really burned out and at the end of our ropes. I was just really deflated. Then on saturday, we actually sat down and taught 7 lessons and got really close to setting this one guy for baptism. It was sweet. Really good day. We were running around we were so busy we didn't have enough time to do everything. SO that really helped out. We're just trying to get every day like taht! haha
Things are starting to look up, we had a person at church yesterday. We found him like, 5 weeks ago but he was just like "I'll call you and I'll come visit you someday" which is what every hispanic says when they're not interested. Well then this week we're driving out of his apartment complex and he comes sprinting out of his house and pounds on the car window and goes "I lost your phone number, I'm coming to church this sunday." so we give him our number and lo and behold, he showed up! It was sweet! So this next week is looking up real nice. The lady we were excited about was margarita. We haven't taught her in almost 4 weeks, but we got ahold of her and we've got a lesson set up for tonight. I haven't heard anything about Teo unfortunately, but I think this accident might speed up their return to Nicaragua. He's going to be out of work for a few months at least, and she doesn't get paid that much, so they're going to be real strapped for money. So we'll see. Umm, what else is there to say. That would be awesome if Uncle Steven came back to church. Wouldn't that be something? And Ashley was in the chapel with him? Isn't that interesting!? Man, the Lord works in mysterious ways, we just have to wait to see the end of His plan. Well I think that's everything. Thanks for the scriptures and what not. Love you all and hope you're all doing awesome. The church is true. Keep on keepin on.
Elder Campbell
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
23 Aug 2010
How's everyone doing!? Well, this week has been kind of tough. We've been finding a ton of poeple, but it seems that they all drop us after 1 appointment. Like, we have a good appointment, and then we just can never ever get ahold of them anymore. And then we teach some people and then all of a sudden, they turn super stubborn and hard of heart and don't want to listen anymore. It sucks, but we keep on working and trying.
SO about the bible. I appreciate it. But is there any way that I could get the medium hard cover one. Not the soft one, but not the hard one? Both the hard and soft cover weigh a TON and I already have a cover that would fit the medium one. SOrry to be picky. Also, I just realized that I'm down to 7 pairs of garments. I don't nkow where they all went. I was just looking through my bags the other day, and I only have 7 pairs of garments. It sucks. And 2 of them are rippping. (That means he's working hard!) So maybe a few pairs of garments? SOrry for the needs. And whatever happened to the Book of Mormon? Did it ever get to Virginia Beach or is it still backordered? Just wondering, I was thinking the other day that I never heard anything about it.
So, where to start. Well, we got to use a member's computer last night to go on and surf the new mormon.org and it is SWEET! Our president has been talking about it nonstop how it's going to become the greatest finding tool in all the church for missionary work and I can totally see that. It's not going to be huge for spanish work, but for english work or people that actually have computers, it will be SWEET! We watched some videos and read some stuff. It's way cool. A lot cooler than when I got out of th e MTC.
Soo, man, I don't even remember this week. I went on exchanges back up to Henrico and I had to go on an exchange on my exchange. SO that was weird. But we taught this CRAZY lady who just can't get over the law in Arizona, and we're still seeing a ton of repercussions from that. Me being white, people just LOVE to talk about all the "racismo" and stuff going on here. It's just hilarious, but it gives me an opportunity to practice my patience :)
Man, I don't remember if there's anything to tell you or not. Like, I really can't remember. I've been jump-roping for my morning exercise, but still waiting to see any results in weight-loss, due to the fact that the slim fast diet was a complete failure! haha I just hate having something tell me I can't eat! I can too!
I'm also pretty sure that I met the twin of Oscar from the office. maybe just a little blacker. He was way sweet and I taught him a mini first lesson and asked if he thought that could be true and he goes "yeah, I think, based on my readings of the bible, that that is pretty much how God would do it." So I asked if we could come back and he goes "Maybe in the future, I'm just reading generally right now, trying to study up on a few religions". So you know what I did? I gave him a mormon.org card. BAM! Insta-baptism! Well, we'll see. But what else, umm, I hit 14 months in 2 days. Weird, right? This last month has gone by kind of slow. They were flying by, and they've kind of slowed down. But after this next transfer, only 1 more elder in the spanish zone is older than me on the mission, so taht will be way weird.
So do you remember when you asked me what college I was going to? Well, could you send me a pamphlet on BYU or something? I also heard that Fresno and UNR and Boise jumped ships to Mountain West. That's cool! And Utah went Pac 10 or something? What is the world coming to!? Well, I don't know if there's anything else exciting to tell you today. I think that's about all the news I got.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a good week. Take care.
Elder Cmapbell
(Must be the modern spelling of our name, huh?)
SO about the bible. I appreciate it. But is there any way that I could get the medium hard cover one. Not the soft one, but not the hard one? Both the hard and soft cover weigh a TON and I already have a cover that would fit the medium one. SOrry to be picky. Also, I just realized that I'm down to 7 pairs of garments. I don't nkow where they all went. I was just looking through my bags the other day, and I only have 7 pairs of garments. It sucks. And 2 of them are rippping. (That means he's working hard!) So maybe a few pairs of garments? SOrry for the needs. And whatever happened to the Book of Mormon? Did it ever get to Virginia Beach or is it still backordered? Just wondering, I was thinking the other day that I never heard anything about it.
So, where to start. Well, we got to use a member's computer last night to go on and surf the new mormon.org and it is SWEET! Our president has been talking about it nonstop how it's going to become the greatest finding tool in all the church for missionary work and I can totally see that. It's not going to be huge for spanish work, but for english work or people that actually have computers, it will be SWEET! We watched some videos and read some stuff. It's way cool. A lot cooler than when I got out of th e MTC.
Soo, man, I don't even remember this week. I went on exchanges back up to Henrico and I had to go on an exchange on my exchange. SO that was weird. But we taught this CRAZY lady who just can't get over the law in Arizona, and we're still seeing a ton of repercussions from that. Me being white, people just LOVE to talk about all the "racismo" and stuff going on here. It's just hilarious, but it gives me an opportunity to practice my patience :)
Man, I don't remember if there's anything to tell you or not. Like, I really can't remember. I've been jump-roping for my morning exercise, but still waiting to see any results in weight-loss, due to the fact that the slim fast diet was a complete failure! haha I just hate having something tell me I can't eat! I can too!
I'm also pretty sure that I met the twin of Oscar from the office. maybe just a little blacker. He was way sweet and I taught him a mini first lesson and asked if he thought that could be true and he goes "yeah, I think, based on my readings of the bible, that that is pretty much how God would do it." So I asked if we could come back and he goes "Maybe in the future, I'm just reading generally right now, trying to study up on a few religions". So you know what I did? I gave him a mormon.org card. BAM! Insta-baptism! Well, we'll see. But what else, umm, I hit 14 months in 2 days. Weird, right? This last month has gone by kind of slow. They were flying by, and they've kind of slowed down. But after this next transfer, only 1 more elder in the spanish zone is older than me on the mission, so taht will be way weird.
So do you remember when you asked me what college I was going to? Well, could you send me a pamphlet on BYU or something? I also heard that Fresno and UNR and Boise jumped ships to Mountain West. That's cool! And Utah went Pac 10 or something? What is the world coming to!? Well, I don't know if there's anything else exciting to tell you today. I think that's about all the news I got.
Anyway, I love you all. Have a good week. Take care.
Elder Cmapbell
(Must be the modern spelling of our name, huh?)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
16 Aug 2010
So this week was sweet! We've done a ton of finding and we've found some really sweeet people. We had I think the best zone conference of my mission on Saturday. The First Presidency and the Twelve are making this huge push to change how we teach people, and its AWESOME! They haven't really 'changed' anything, but they're focusing on some principles of PMG that really change everything when we teach. The big focus now is on making 'inspired questions' and then listening to diagnose needs. Pres. Perry related it to a medic. If someone's sick, you don't just start tossing medicine at them. You do some tests, you find the wound and you apply the appropriate medicine. Its like in the gospel, you find the need, and apply the appropriate part of the gospel to fix it. And they're also focusing on teaching "PURE DOCTRINE" instead of teching the application and hoping that it works. They've also made a bunch of changes to how we work. LIke before, baptismal candidates had to live word of wisdom and law of chastity for 2 weeks prior to getting baptized, but now, we as the missionaries have to feel that they have committed to live these and keep them after baptism. We also simplified the way we do numbers and pres. perry said that "PMG and the scriptures are everything that we need. Everything else is fluff, so we're cutting it out." He also said that we can now have I-Pod's in the mission as long as they have Gen. Conference talks, appropriate music and what not. So maybe you could load my MP3 player with some general conference sessions and some Motab and hymns and send it to me? That would be sweet. Like, as many as you can. But no rush.
So the weather has kind of cooled down, it's been really cloudy lately, so not QUITE as hot, but still freaking hot! We're finally getting to know the area, so that's nice. Umm, what else? OH, all my recent converts are still doing good! Grizselda, the one that moved back to New Mexico, well she's trying to convert her sister. She reads the book of mormon to her grandma and her sister and they both love it. It's awesome! Also, Teo, my first baptism, he had a bad accident at work on Friday. Some guy above him in the building frame was cutting with a circular saw and the saw dug in and fell on Teo, but hit him on his left arm. It cut straight through the bone and all the muscle and tendon and everything, almost took his arm straight off. But he's doing better now, still in the hospital and drugged up, but he's doing good. SO maybe some prayers for him!?
List of things I need- A new bible. I gave mine to a recent convert in Henrico. Medium-hard cover would be best. Umm, maybe some vitamins? And that's it. :) Thank you!
Well, I hope you have a great week, love you all.
Elder Campbell
So the weather has kind of cooled down, it's been really cloudy lately, so not QUITE as hot, but still freaking hot! We're finally getting to know the area, so that's nice. Umm, what else? OH, all my recent converts are still doing good! Grizselda, the one that moved back to New Mexico, well she's trying to convert her sister. She reads the book of mormon to her grandma and her sister and they both love it. It's awesome! Also, Teo, my first baptism, he had a bad accident at work on Friday. Some guy above him in the building frame was cutting with a circular saw and the saw dug in and fell on Teo, but hit him on his left arm. It cut straight through the bone and all the muscle and tendon and everything, almost took his arm straight off. But he's doing better now, still in the hospital and drugged up, but he's doing good. SO maybe some prayers for him!?
List of things I need- A new bible. I gave mine to a recent convert in Henrico. Medium-hard cover would be best. Umm, maybe some vitamins? And that's it. :) Thank you!
Well, I hope you have a great week, love you all.
Elder Campbell
Monday, August 9, 2010
Aug 9, 2010
So this week was interesting. We were told when we got here that our purpose was to work with the less actives in the ward and find new people. So we started doing that, and then the other companionships started getting mad at us because apparently they "were already working with some of the less actives" so then we had this "meeting" with the three of us and we had to set boundaries and limits on people and it was just ridiculous. then our progress record yesterday in church was nothing but less actives because we don't have investigators yet, and the High Councilman and the Bishop were worried about that, so they called the mission president and then I got a call from one of the AP's (the one I don't like) and he chewed me out for giving off the impression that I was there for something other than missionary work or something so I had to go and straighten that out with the bishop and High Councilman and it was way stupid. But it's good now. We found some sweet new people to teach last week, one of them is a really cool lady named Margarita and she told us that she wants her 4 year old son to be a missionary like us. We're way excited for her. Yeah, we're in a super ghetto area. The south side of Richmond is where all the crazy stuff goes down. Like, we live in a really nice area, but we go to the GHETTO parts. I told you about La Mancha. Dead Guatemalans turn up in there all the time. It's full of morenos and they start prowling around at about 6:30ish and they always rob the poor guatemalans. And a lot of times at night, the Guaties are drunk, so they don't understand even more and then they get jumped or something. It's way crazy. But we avoid all the bad places from about 5:45 onward. Don't worry about that. And yeah, the ward is taking care of us. We ate with a family yesterday and they just pulled a bunch of Silverware out of their drawer and gave it to us, then the mission office found a microwave and vacuum for us. I was sleeping on these little couch cushions for the first 3 nights, it was terrible! hahaha but it's way better now. The high councilman that called the mission president came over last night with a 12 piece set of un-opened steel pots and pans. Apparently an old wedding present that they never used, so he figured we could use it. I think it was also kind of a peace offering for the phone call from the AP. hahaha.
SO yeah, my companion is legit. It's frustrating at times, but I have to remember that he didn't go to the MTC like I did, so he's missing out on 9 weeks of training from the best of the best, ya know? SO I try to be really patient with him and help him when he does something wrong, try to help him not to make mistakes. It's way hard to know when to step in so he doesn't make a mistake and know when to just let it happen so that he can learn from the experience. Kind of like being a real parent, right!? haha But he's way sweet and he really loves being a missionary. He's dealing a lot with the first few weeks of home sickness, and I can tell that it was definitely revelation that we were put together because he's going through the exact same thing that I went through. Like, exactly. So I can offer him some advice on what I did and help him through it. It's a lot of pressure though! But it's really making me step up and make decisions like I hated to before!
Can I please have a mariachi at my wedding!? Please please please please! Elder Andrade and I did this street contact the other day that we had to pray afterwards. The spirit was so far gone it was terrible. We're talking to this lady on her porch and this like, 18 year old mexican girl comes outside and sits on the porch. Lets just say I never thought I'd see that much of a woman's chest outside of an adult theater. There are somethings about the hispanic culture that are still just echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah! haha
No, I haven't bought slacks or anything yet, we live really close to the house, so I'm holding off on getting any new clothes yet because I can just go and change right after church. And sorry to say, but I lost my watch. But it was also already broken. It was barely holding together, and when I finally lost it, I just bought a 12$ one at wal mart. Sorry. I was hoping that one would last me through my entire mission. But it's looking like I might actually be able to make it through this month on my MSF card. Elder Andrade Estrada and I don't eat out AT ALL!
Yeah, we're pretty close to the mission office, like, 6 miles away or something. We're there like, 3 times a week and I'm on the phone with Sis. Henrie just about everyday. I get to see Pres. Perry a lot, which is sweet. He's way awesome. The mission is going to have a lot of success under him. His spirit is way great but it's completely different than Pres. Millburn's, which I think is funny.
Well anyway, I love you all and I can't believe I'm about to hit 14 months. General Conference is right around the corner! have a good week!
Elder Campbell
SO yeah, my companion is legit. It's frustrating at times, but I have to remember that he didn't go to the MTC like I did, so he's missing out on 9 weeks of training from the best of the best, ya know? SO I try to be really patient with him and help him when he does something wrong, try to help him not to make mistakes. It's way hard to know when to step in so he doesn't make a mistake and know when to just let it happen so that he can learn from the experience. Kind of like being a real parent, right!? haha But he's way sweet and he really loves being a missionary. He's dealing a lot with the first few weeks of home sickness, and I can tell that it was definitely revelation that we were put together because he's going through the exact same thing that I went through. Like, exactly. So I can offer him some advice on what I did and help him through it. It's a lot of pressure though! But it's really making me step up and make decisions like I hated to before!
Can I please have a mariachi at my wedding!? Please please please please! Elder Andrade and I did this street contact the other day that we had to pray afterwards. The spirit was so far gone it was terrible. We're talking to this lady on her porch and this like, 18 year old mexican girl comes outside and sits on the porch. Lets just say I never thought I'd see that much of a woman's chest outside of an adult theater. There are somethings about the hispanic culture that are still just echoes of Sodom and Gomorrah! haha
No, I haven't bought slacks or anything yet, we live really close to the house, so I'm holding off on getting any new clothes yet because I can just go and change right after church. And sorry to say, but I lost my watch. But it was also already broken. It was barely holding together, and when I finally lost it, I just bought a 12$ one at wal mart. Sorry. I was hoping that one would last me through my entire mission. But it's looking like I might actually be able to make it through this month on my MSF card. Elder Andrade Estrada and I don't eat out AT ALL!
Yeah, we're pretty close to the mission office, like, 6 miles away or something. We're there like, 3 times a week and I'm on the phone with Sis. Henrie just about everyday. I get to see Pres. Perry a lot, which is sweet. He's way awesome. The mission is going to have a lot of success under him. His spirit is way great but it's completely different than Pres. Millburn's, which I think is funny.
Well anyway, I love you all and I can't believe I'm about to hit 14 months. General Conference is right around the corner! have a good week!
Elder Campbell
Monday, August 2, 2010
August 2, 2010
Ok, so my address is 5514 Gristmill Rd, Richmond or chesterfield, I don't know and I don't nkow what the zip is. SOrry. (note from mom- It is Richmond and the zip is 23234)
So my companion is Elder Andrade-Estrada. He was born in Michoacan, Mexico, but he's lived here for about 8 years. he's a stud. The only hard thing is that he didn't go to the mtc, so I'm pretty much training him from the very beginning. Absolutely no experience. He went out with the missionaries before, but it's still way different now that he's an elder. So there have been a few frustrating moments, but I just always have to remember that he didn't get any training like I did, so I'm trying to be very patient. But the area I'm in is SUPER GHETTO. Like, there's this place called "La Mancha" which means the stain, and I'm pretty sure its because of the blood in the place. It's way hardcore. Then there's just a ton of apartments LOADED with hispanics, its awesome. I'm serving in a ward, but there's a TON of less actives, like, over 3/4 of the ward. That's the whole reason they put us in here, to work with reactivation. And I'm really sorrry to do this 2 weeks in a row, but My companion's computer isn't working, so I'm going to let him use mine now. Sorry. I love you all. Have a great week. Talk to you soon.
Ok, well we worked it all out. SO, like I was saying. We got into the apartment on Thursday and it was completely empty. Not a single thing in there. But we took an extra bed from the zone leaders and some couch cushions and we set Elder Andrade up in the bed and I posted up on the couch cushions for a few nights. We have a total of 2 forks, 2 knives and 2 spoons, we didn't have plates or bowls or cups for the first few days and no lamps, but that's ok, because apparently we live in one of the few apartment complexes in virginia where they actually put lights on the celing, or in the apartment period. It's weird. SO our apartment is still completely bare and sad, but that's ok. There are a TON of hispanics here it's INSANE! Like, i'm pretty sure there are more hispanics here than there are white people!
Umm, I don't really know what else to say. Hope everything goes well for you this week!? We could really use some prayers for finding more people and getting investigators if you could spare some.
SO my trainer officially died last tuesday. He's back home and doing who knows what. Has yet to email me. What a chump.
Ok, well I love you all. Buh bye
So my companion is Elder Andrade-Estrada. He was born in Michoacan, Mexico, but he's lived here for about 8 years. he's a stud. The only hard thing is that he didn't go to the mtc, so I'm pretty much training him from the very beginning. Absolutely no experience. He went out with the missionaries before, but it's still way different now that he's an elder. So there have been a few frustrating moments, but I just always have to remember that he didn't get any training like I did, so I'm trying to be very patient. But the area I'm in is SUPER GHETTO. Like, there's this place called "La Mancha" which means the stain, and I'm pretty sure its because of the blood in the place. It's way hardcore. Then there's just a ton of apartments LOADED with hispanics, its awesome. I'm serving in a ward, but there's a TON of less actives, like, over 3/4 of the ward. That's the whole reason they put us in here, to work with reactivation. And I'm really sorrry to do this 2 weeks in a row, but My companion's computer isn't working, so I'm going to let him use mine now. Sorry. I love you all. Have a great week. Talk to you soon.
Ok, well we worked it all out. SO, like I was saying. We got into the apartment on Thursday and it was completely empty. Not a single thing in there. But we took an extra bed from the zone leaders and some couch cushions and we set Elder Andrade up in the bed and I posted up on the couch cushions for a few nights. We have a total of 2 forks, 2 knives and 2 spoons, we didn't have plates or bowls or cups for the first few days and no lamps, but that's ok, because apparently we live in one of the few apartment complexes in virginia where they actually put lights on the celing, or in the apartment period. It's weird. SO our apartment is still completely bare and sad, but that's ok. There are a TON of hispanics here it's INSANE! Like, i'm pretty sure there are more hispanics here than there are white people!
Umm, I don't really know what else to say. Hope everything goes well for you this week!? We could really use some prayers for finding more people and getting investigators if you could spare some.
SO my trainer officially died last tuesday. He's back home and doing who knows what. Has yet to email me. What a chump.
Ok, well I love you all. Buh bye
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