Our Feet Are Firmly Planted In The Path Of Service....

Monday, Feb 13, 2017                                                          Onalaska, TX

" We had a exchange with the zoneleaders, today. We talked to this inactive member said he was fine where he is and is not interested in going back to church. His friend came over and we talked to him and ended up teaching him. The less active member was answering questions correctly and even bore his testimony on a couple of subjects so that was cool. We tried a bunch of people and then we got some really good Italian pizza and they left. 

On Saturday we taught a lady whose family is coming down in a couple of weeks and they are all members, but she isn't. She is going to get baptized when they come, so that is awesome. Then we taught this girl named Shenequa and it was a super good lesson. We brought a super good member with us and he helped her out. We also committed her to a date and she agreed. She prayed about it and said she'd come to church so we'll keep our fingers crossed. After that we tried some people and then then played basketball with our non-member buddies.

Sunday, a former investigator came to church and asked for help cause he got evicted from his house and it was the last day. He needed help moving some heavy things, so we went over and we helped him move stuff from that house to his new place.

Sorry it's so short this week- we're running late and we are planning on going fishing at a members house.

President Monson said, " Make sure your feet are firmly planted in the path of service and our hearts and souls dedicated to follow the example of the Lord. In moments when the light of resolution dims and when the heart grows faint, we can take comfort from this promise: 'Be not weary in well doing...Out of small things proceedeth that which is great." (Doctrine & Covenants 64:33)
Love,
Elder Saunders

District in Onalaska, TX Feb 2017

Sunset over Lake Livingston on the Onalaska Causeway Feb 2017

On exchanges in Onalaska and we see this kangaroo and sign to the left, ha ha. Feb 2017

Lots and Lots of Spiders Climbed Up the Broken Spout....

Mon, Feb 6, 2017                                                                   Onalaska, TX

"Today, me and Elder Taylor drove to Kingwood for this mission leadership training meeting. It was basically all the leadership in the mission to discuss issues. It started at 9 am and it ended at 5 pm. We then had to collect supplies and other things, so we left Kingwood about 6 and had an hour and a half drive, so it was a very long day.

The next day the neatest thing that happened was we did some service for a less active family and we had to fix a piece of pipe under his house. It was a super tight fit and I was the only one who fit. So I climb under the house and fix a pipe and it was dark (I only had this small flashlight). It was really muddy and there was a ton of Spiders! Tons......Did I mention that I am really freaked out by spiders? I get under there and it's pretty far down, so I try to fix it but the piece was broken and we needed another part. I climbed back out to climb back in the next morning....Yay :(

So the next day I climbed back down under the house, but since the pipe was broken, it was leaking. It was even more muddy. I tried to fix it and it won't even tighten on the pipe. So I am down there struggling forever, battling bugs crawling on me, and then I realize we have the wrong size piece. So I climbed out and we went to Lowes with a member. We got the right part and then I went back under for the 3rd time and finally put the right part on. I managed to kill this freaken huge spider! The member turned it on and it didn't leak!! I was so relieved. Afterwards, the member took us out to eat. We went straight to Whataburger. It was funny cause I am super muddy and the place was packed. I'm getting a lot of looks but not like the 'I'm cute" type. It was more like, You need to take a shower " type looks. So that was fun.

Friday we had another meeting in Kingwood.

Saturday was spent trying to find someone to teach and then we played basketball with our inactive new friends. We also got transfer calls and both of us are staying.

Sunday was hard to teach cause everyone was watching the game. We ended up through no fault of our own seeing a few plays when we visited people and every house had a ton of food, so we ate pretty well. 

Always ask yourself: "What have I done for someone else today? " Lose yourself in service.
Love,
Elder Saunders

I love serving in Onalaska! Feb 2017

Studying in Onalaska  Feb 2017

Beautiful Onalaska, TX Feb 2017

Did I say I love Onalaska? Feb 2017

Fishers Of Men and Rocks and Catfish.....

Mon., Jan 30, 2017                                                            Onalaska, TX 

"So for p-day we went fishing at a members house and it was awesome. It was a bad day for fishing. Last night was cold and it never really warmed up. Plus it rained a ton so a lot of junk came down the river. It was super relaxing and it wasn't hot, just warm with a slight wind. Man it was perfect. I caught a rock first, ha ha. Brother Poff was amazed how I got it out of the water. Then I caught a couple of 6 inch catfish, some 8 in catfish and even a 10 in catfish. You have to have a 12 in catfish or else you have to throw them back, but it was still relaxing and fun to chill for a while. After that the Poffs fed us, too, so that was a plus.

On Wednesday, we had the missionary broadcast so I was going to make blueberry muffins to take. I found out we didn't have a muffin tin, so I made blueberry muffin bread and put Texas on it. ( picture included). We arrived at the broadcast and found out that nothing was set up . We had asked a member to do it but he forgot so us and the sisters ended up watching it on a iPad which wasn't too bad.

In the broadcast there was a lot that happened but since every missionary mentioned it, imma quote some of my favorites to save time: Elder Goodwin said, " Basically we now plan in the morning and the studies are shorter so that we have more time to work out and get ready."  

Elder Carlisle said, " We still wake up at 6:30 but instead of having a regimented schedule such as personal study at 8, companionship study at 9, leave apartment at 10, we now have to use our agency to decide when to get those things done. Basically between 6:30 and 10 am we have to exercise for 30 min, personal study for 60 minutes, shower and eat breakfast for an hour and a half. Leave at 10. 

Elder Odland said, "They also changed the indicators that we report, so now we only report on baptisms, people coming to church, new people that we begin teaching a lesson, and people with a baptismal date. I think this is an awesome change because we will get missionaries that work out of a motivation to truly help people and not just numbers."

Thursday we helped a member and then we did our Hour of Power. We talked to this one couple whose husband had Alzheimer's. We would be teaching and this sweet man would randomly say, "Are y'all looking to buy a house down here?" So we would say, 'No" . He'd say, 'Oh it is so nice down here. We've been here for 40 years." His wife would gently remind him that they have been there 12. "Oh, that's it," he said. We would start to teach and he would say the same thing and then would ask us if we were looking to move there and his wife gently said no and she laughed. At the last he would make these funny comments like, "Is that your cat?" or he would point to us and say, "Y'all moving in with us?" He touched our hearts and it was sad but he sure made us smile. He is probably a lot closer to God then we are-Then we had exchanges with our zoneleader. 

Saturday we were able to do service and then came back and showered. We tried a bunch of houses and this one house had literally dozens of chew tobacco cans tied to a string and hung on his trees. I wanted to take a picture cause I was amazed but he opened up his door and told us to go, so I was disappointed. We ended up getting a picture by a giant chicken so that was pretty cool.

And so Elder Woodhouse and I continue to work and love the promise of the Savior in Matthew 4:19 " And he saith unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
Love,
Elder Saunders

The prize picture-A giant chicken Jan  2017 in Onalaska, TX

Beautiful Lake Livingston  Texas Jan 2017

My blueberry muffin bread. If you look closely, you will see the shape of Texas I carved in the bread. Jan 2017 Onalaska, TX

I Am A Child Of God And He Has Sent Me Here.....

Monday, Jan. 23, 2017                                                            Onalaska, TX

 In his email to us he said such a sweet comment." I know who I am and I am a child of God and I know he has sent me here to Texas for a reason."

" Today we had a lesson with this lady who says she was baptized when she was eight and quickly became less active. She said her records were lost and we've tried to find them with the clerks help, but they are lost. So we talked to the mission president and he said to baptize her again. We talked to her about that and she was on board. We also had a pass off lesson with the sisters and the guy seems pretty cool.

On Thursday we did some service for a member, and then did Hour of Power. We knocked a whole neighborhood and basically we just knocked a bunch of doors, ha ha. We stopped by our investigator and found out that her father-in-law passed away which is super sad, but in a weird way kinda good cause he was on his death bed and they couldn't come to church cause they had to take care of him. Now they can come to church.

Friday we had a district meeting and then we visited a guy named Zach. He is a pretty chill guy. He's about my age and is living with his girlfriend, but is interested in what we have to share, so we taught him the Restoration. After that we stopped by this former named James. He was outside so we walked up to him. He was super excited and told us that the other missionaries came over a ton. He said he would always feed them pound hamburgers and rib eye steaks, ha ha. He was really happy that we stopped by, so that was cool.

Saturday we taught a couple of people and then we went to basketball later on. A bunch of kids showed up-like there was 20 people there. It was crazy, almost too crazy but all those kids were non-members. 

Love, 
Elder Saunders

Elder Saunders eating a giant burrito at a sweet restaurant that feeds missionaries, free. Bless their hearts! Onalaska, Tx Jan 2017

Sweet members sent this picture of our sons teaching an investigator. Jan 2017 

Y'all Got Guts-I Call It The Spirit of God.....

Monday Jan 16, 2017                                                                        Onalaska, TX

" On Tuesday we drove to Kingwood and had a meeting and we were interviewed by the President. After that we visited a special family when I served in Kingwood, the Snows. They are doing good and then we drove back and went to dinner.

The next day we stopped by this guy named Bob and we chatted with him for a bit. We got him into family history. We're gonna stop by and see him later and set up everything for him.

Thursday we had 'hour of power'. We knocked on three streets and got nothing. Then we came to his house with this big ole gate and there was 3 dogs barking. We were wondering if we should go in . Finally I was like, "Eh, why not?" So we walk in and we were like three steps in and this lady comes out and says, "Y'all got guts! Are you still doing it the old school way?" We laugh and said yes. She said, " Good, keep it up!" She goes on to tell us how they are Catholic but never go and how she wants her kids to be raised in religion. She told us it was not a good time but asks if we can come back later and teach her and her three daughters. So that was cool.

We then knocked on a bunch of doors and came to the last door and knocked it. This old guy answered and said to come in. We talked with him and his wife. They are super funny. They are just one of those old married couples who bicker back and forth. He's straight Cajun and has a thick accent. She is German and has a strong accent. We taught them and ended up getting a return appointment.

District meeting was the next day and then all four of us went to this place called Spuds. It's amazing. They have this big menu with all kinds of things like, BBQ chicken, bacon cheeseburger, Cordon blue, etc. The only catch is that they put it on a potato. For example, I got the chicken Parmesan and it was a baked potato cut in half with fried chicken, tomato sauce and Mozzerella cheese and Parmesan cheese and it was amazing. 

After lunch we went and tried some people. No luck. We went to the Poffs house for dinner. They surprised me with a birthday party. They bought us all t-bone steaks and a bunch more food. Then they gave me a present that had like 6 presents in it. A cool notebook, two ties, oil vial, Houston temple key chain, and a custom shirt that she made cause she is a graphic designer. It was an amazing night!

On Saturday we had five set appointments and all five dropped. We had to scramble but we were able to teach a couple of people so it wasn't all bad. We played basketball with a member and like ten of his non member friends.

Love,

Elder Saunders

Kingwood Zone while serving in Onalaska Jan 2017

Tri Zone pic while serving  in Beaumont at Christmas  Dec 2016

The Dillard family is so sweet to feed us every Sunday  Jan 2017

Last Birthday in Texas...

Monday, Jan 9, 2017                                                              Onalaska, TX

" Tuesday we went and saw this investigator named Bob. We took a member with us and come to find out, both of them were in the same branch of military. They talked about the army and talked and talked, ha ha. It was all good though cause he got that guy to open up. We even talked about family history with him. He was interested.

We knocked a bunch of doors and honestly we didn't have much success, but what we did get was a funny story. So we're knocking and we get to this house and we knock on the door. A lady answered and so we contact her and she's like, " Oh, you can meet me outside the gate. Y'all shouldn't have come in." So we told her okay and we walked outside the gate. She stared at us and then slams her door, ha ha. Another guy was moving his fridge. We walked up to and I asked him if we could help. He wouldn't talk to us. He was struggling so I grabbed a side and helped him lift the fridge and.....He still wouldn't talk to us. So yeah, this is a different place, ha ha. 

We also helped a member tear apart a car engine. That was fun.

We had zone meeting, so we woke up early and traveled to Kingwood. Afterwards we visited some members from when I was there, like Nancy. She is doing really well. After that we taught the plan of Salvation to this investigator named Laurita. I asked her where does she think we came from before this life? She told us that she believed in Evolution and that we came from apes. I asked her if she would be baptized if she came to know that the Gospel was true and she said, 'No.' Elder Woodhouse was like, "So you don't wanna follow God?" We were able to teach her more and taught her about Baptism. She wanted to know if she could be baptized by taking a shower instead of immersion and we went back and forth. Eventually we got a maybe from her about being baptized.

On Sunday it was my birthday. I woke up early and opened some presents that my family sent. We went to church and about halfway through church, a member from the ward pulls me and my companion and her husband aside. She turned to her husband and said, " When you ask the missionaries to fill out a card that has important info on like their birthday-you probably should read it. Cause guess what day it is?"  Her husband was like, "His birthday? She's like, Yes his birthday. Am I the only one that doesn't know about that?" It was funny. I told her it wasn't a big deal. Later we went to a members house and had a birthday dinner there with the sister missionaries.. I didn't tell them it was my birthday but somehow they found out so that was cool. We came home and made another cake that my mom sent and a closing party. A great day for my last birthday in Texas. 
Love,
Elder Saunders

Members back yard in Onalaska, TX. Beautiful Sunset. Jan 2017

Hidden here by the anchor in a members backyard overlooking Lake Livingston. Sorry about the low light. Jan 2017

Cake mix we made for my birthday, German Chocolate! Yum! Jan 8 2016

Birthday Dinner at the Dillards ! Jan 8, 2016

"Invasion of the Ladybugs'

Mon, Jan 2, 2017                                     Onalaska, Texas

"On Tuesday we had transfers and I rode to transfers. I got my area and it is Onalaska. It is a super cool area. We live with some members. It is a huge apartment that has an upstairs that we sleep in. The shower is big and it has a bench press in it, ha ha. It also has a acoustic guitar which I like to play everyday. We also have a pet cat named Raven. 

We had this infestation of ladybugs (they are not cute and as is everything in Texas- they are big! like beetles)They were everywhere so we cleaned out the whole apartment and got rid of most of them. I would explain it, but Ether does it much better. Its in Ether 14: 21-22: 
21: "And so great and lasting had been the war, and so long had been the scene of bloodshed and carnage, that the whole face of the land was covered with bodies of the dead. "
22: "And so swift and speedy was the war that there was none left to bury the dead."

On Wednesday, the members we live behind, were getting their foundation redone and one of the workers struck the main water line. We lost our water to our house.

Thursday we did service for a member and we made flower beds for him. He took us to lunch and then we did an hour of power in the dark with a lot of dogs. We found this one family that told us to come back tomorrow. 

We had district meeting which was kinda weird because I was used to being district leader over twelve and now we have a district of four. It has been quite an adjustment. After that I did an baptismal interview for one of the sisters' investigators. 

We went to this Mexican place that is owned by these less active members that love the missionaries. So we literally walk in and the waiters immediately give us a table and we can order anything and they bring it right out and it's free. When we left we went to the owner and thanked him. He thanked us for coming and asked us to keep praying for him. We visited more people after that and went to dinner and the members fed us some quail that he recently hunted and it was good. After that we went to the church and played some basketball with some less inactives.

The sister missionaries had a baptism that we went to. After that we tried some people and had no luck. We ate at the Poff's house. They were great. It was Sister Marx's birthday so they fed all four missionaries ribeye steak and baked potatoes. It was amazing! We came home and listened to fireworks. Thankfully our water came back on. 

At the end of the week we saw a part member family, whose house had cockroaches everywhere. Like hundreds! It was a bit scary. (You remember when I was in Orange and a big cockroach slapped my companion?) 
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Saunders

Leaving my greenie missionary, Elder Jones. He is a good, good missionary and I am going to miss him. Dec 2016.

The bottom of our sweet apartment in Onalaska. Jan 2017

Our sleeping quarters in our apartment. Super cool! Jan 2017