May 31, 2021

 Nothing really happened this week. We had exchanges with our zone leaders and that was good. I gave a talk about reverence on Sunday. This week was tough, and I'll be honest, right now I'm just reminding myself that I have about 7 months left and then I'm done. There's a little light at the end of the tunnel. This Thursday I get my 2nd vaccination. We are all really hoping that'll lift restrictions. I'm excited for this transfer to end in 24 days. 

Hope yall are doing well!

May 24, 2021

 This past week was a good one!

Last week we played pickleball with our district which is just elders YAYAY! Then Tuesday wasn't anything special, we had district council and got bdubs after. I got mango habanero and a few other spicy wings and I can testify of the ring of fire Wednesday we had a zone conference with Elder Wong and he's just all over the place. It was good, I didn't get a whole lot from it because it was basically to tell us that we suck at baptizing people. I didnt respond too well to his way of "encouraging" us to get more numbers. Thursday was a day of nothing. Friday, my last companion and I got permission to go to our last area for the funeral of the young woman we were teaching and that was a special experience. Her spirit was there and filled the room with love. I'm really thankful to have been able to attend. Saturday we spent the whole day doing service. We helped move a family into our branch and they're a super cool family. 2 of their kids are actually starting the mtc within the next few months. We did some yard work for another family and that was super fun, I loved being with that family. No pictures from this week

May 17, 2021

 Boy oh boy... what a week.

We were expecting transfers this past week which we got one day before transfer day. Both my companion and I are moved to new locations. The day we transferred, we found out a young woman had unexpectedly passed away the night before. We had met with her, her husband, and her 2 year old son every week and got to know them very well. I know her family could use prayers of comfort and peace.

I am in Kasson, another little branch, but they're so warm and welcoming. I'm excited for this new area, but I do miss winona. I was able to create some lasting relationships with some members there and I will definitely miss them. We had some good things happening in Winona right before we got moved, so we left that area with a lot of good opportunities for the new missionaries. I am excited to get to know the members in this area and hope to build some good relationships with them also.

The apartment in Kasson is DISGUSTING. Holy smokes. Walking in I was slapped in the face with a stench of buttcrack and body odor. There are 2 bathrooms in this apartment and the elder that I replaced was an absolute pig. The bathroom that is now "mine" had poop and pee crusted and caked on the floor. Some other unknown substances on the floor. Mold plastered the shower curtain and on the tub. And the smell in there was something so terrible, but so unique. I finally got my companions "permission" to buy cleaners to clean that bathroom. Wowzers. Now it's clean! I just need to buy a shower curtain, because I only got the liner. 

I got my first vaccination, doing good so far. I'm hoping that will help open things up for missionaries here. 

Something funny, to me and Elder Downey at least... we shared a single washer and dryer with a whole apartment building and I found a little surprise in my last load of whites... I'll just simply say ladies underwear haha. I won't put a picture of it, but something for me to laugh about hahaha

Nothing is going on other than that. I'd love to hear from all of you and I hope you are doing well! 

Pics!!!:

Lexi made a tie for me

Before pics of the bathroom

After pics of the bathroom!!

Brooke! She has an amazing spirit and testimony

My walking friend Rigby

May 10, 2021

 Hello everyone! It has been a few months since my last "weekly" email. 

The man we were teaching that got baptized moved back to Oklahoma about 2 weeks after getting baptized. The kid we were teaching dropped us, but his older brother is still coming to church. We have a friendship with him and he's getting excited and prepared to serve a mission. 

I had a cool experience with a lady who I recovering from surgery. We decided to write her a little letter and I ended it with "ti vogliamo bene" which is italian for "we love you" in a non romantic way. She told us later while we were doing outside service for her that when she read that phrase, she was reminded of the peace she had when her first husband would sing italian to help her fall asleep. I thought italian would serve no purpose in this mission, but it helped her so much that she was able to calm down, feel peace, and get rest.

We've been able to do service for several non members which has been great. I feel like I'm actually useful and doing something productive. They're all friends of a lady in our ward.

Our stls finally chilled out a bit and we've had some good pdays together which has been good. Hopefully they choose to be our friends next transfer also.

We are planning to get our transfer news within the next few days and our transfer ends/starts on Saturday.

Not a lot, but I'm alive. Love you all!