Nathan and AJ update 1/28/2013

I haven't been on in awhile because there was some talk in the missionary mom world about whether we could post our missionary's email or not. (Something to do with the by-line at the end of all the email and copy-write law.) The conclusion was that with some care we can use them for private use and not for profit use. So here is a little bit that I sent out about Nathan and AJ's email from this week.

I am adjusting to Nathan's communication style, which is VERY different from AJ's...but that's nothing new to anyone who knows them. Anyway, I am going to send out some information I have gotten directly and indirectly from Nathan on how he is doing. I will try to update about every 2-3 weeks. Honestly it takes that long to get enough information to include. :)

Nathan has adjusted well in Florida and is currently assigned to Fort Myers. The two things environmentally that he dislikes are the humidity...surprise, surprise...and the fact that there are no mountains. The land it too flat for his liking there. Demographically it is different too. He said that the people are either filthy rich and/or retired or poorer than dirt. It's okay though because everybody has the "Southern Hospitality" thing going on in the west side of Florida. Most of the time they will at least let you in the door for a little so you can cool off and maybe even get a drink of water. 

Nate has seen some success already since being in Florida. He had his second baptism yesterday and has another scheduled for Feb 23rd. He has two investigators that he thinks will set a date in the next week or two as well. They're challenge at this point is finding new people to teach. They were teaching about 18 people when he first got there and now they're down to around 10 because they've either gotten baptized or dropped out from disinterest. 

Nate made it through his first transfers this week. He didn't have changes himself because he still has 5 weeks of training to finish, but there were changes in his zone so he is excited to meet some new missionaries. There were 7 new sisters part of this change, and 10 new sisters scheduled each change for the next 4 changes. That will be 47 in about 6 months. By then they will be getting a new mission president. I think they get one sometime this summer. That should change things up. Its an exciting time of change in missionary work, and Nate will experience lots of it in the coming months!

Well, if there's one thing to pray for Nate in the next few days and weeks, Mr. Muscle dropped a ping-pong table on his foot this morning. He injured some toes and hopefully he heals quickly and it doesn't distract him from the work too much. I am confident that he will take some Advil and get by for a few days to see what is going to happen before complaining to the office or asking to see a doctor. Silly boy!! 

That's all I have on Nate for now. I will update when there is more to tell. Until then enjoy one of AJ last 4 email...

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Anthony Mlazgar <anthony.mlazgar@myldsmail.net>
Date: Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 11:34 AM

this week was a pretty good week for us. it really is true when they say that the weeks go by faster and faster everytime. cuz i dont even feel like its been full weeks anymore. and before i know it, im gonna be at home already. but elder jaramillo and i are just working hard and enjoying every moment of everything we do. he has made me laugh a ton in these last 2 weeks and im glad that he is the companion that im finishing with. 

         monday we had a noche de hogar with the familia pizarro. we taught a little message about families and how important they are. it went really well and its something that we have been sharing often with families when we go to their noche de hogar. and its worked out well so far, especially when there are people there that arent members. then after the message, we played some games and i learned a couple new ones that are pretty fun. thats one good thing about being here in the mission is that ive learned several games that are small but fun.

         thursday we went out to the coast again for our capacitacion especial. it was really good and one that i enjoyed more than normal. they talked a lot about christ, about his doctrine, and about how important it is that we teach that so that the people can feel the spirit more and want to be baptized so that they can follow those same things that christ taught. and it was really good so that we understood more how important it is to talk about christ and with that baptism. i learned a lot which was a change from the last few that we have had which were directed more at the newer missionaries. and also it was cool to go to the coast again and see everything one more time. since that was my last capacitacion especial of the mission. then after that we had a noche de hogar with a family in our sector and they had invited another family that is interested in listening to us. and everything turned out great and the family said that they want to share with us again another time so we set up a cita for this week. once again that just shows that things go so much easier and smoother if members will just present their friends to the missionaries.

       friday we had an awesome lesson with a new kid. his name is jairo and he is 19 years old. we had contacted him in the street a couple weeks ago and finally got in then. and he seems like he could be the one that gets baptized before i leave. his ex girlfriend is a member and she always invited him to listen to the missionaries but when he wanted and since he never really wanted to, he never shared. so he is familiar with the church but doesnt know a lot about it. and he told us that when we contacted him in the street, he felt that it was time for him to listen and learn more. and he is really interested in knowing everything. he told us that he is willing to do everything to know if its true or not. and then at the end he said that he would call us or that we could call him to set up another cita later on. so then saturday when he called us, it surprised us a lot. cuz we assumed that it wouldnt be til the next week, but he said that he didnt have anything to do and wanted to get together. and he understood everything that we taught well and said that he couldnt go to church this week cuz of a work commitment but next week he will go for sure. so we will see about that. so that was awesome.

       sunday was a pretty slow day, seeing as how it was sunday. the best part was just that we had another noche de hogar with a different family that had invited 2 neighbors and it was fun. and also that day lunch was a lot of fun cuz we ate with familia pizarro and its always crazy there. and as we ate, everyone told jokes and laughed and did all kinds of stuff. it reminded me a lot of being at home with so much going on all the time. but ill feel that again soon anyway.

       but thats about it for this week. just trying to finish strong and keep going til the end. hope you are all doing well. take care

Elder  AJ Mlazgar

Isaiah 61:1     DyC 90:24