28 April 2014 Staying In Glouster.

Transfer calls were Saturday. We're staying in Gloucester. Only three changes in the zone.

  Cool story. I sent it to Sister H. She was trained in Harpers Ferry, the neighboring ward though. 

  D.came to Church, we taught G. Principles about exaltation. They took it well. We then had a lesson after Church at her parent's house. Doctrine of Christ. He took it very well. When we asked him if he has prayed, he said, "I have, and I believe it." So he is still on track for May 24th. We're teaching the commandments next, our return apt is next week though do to work schedules. 

  B is still doing well. He missed church for work but was sad he couldn't make it. Don't know if I told ya'll but he owns a concrete business and is teaching a bunch of kids how to work steel and crete. Gotta be rough for a mid-life guy. 

 G  D in Kinston is also set for May 24th I just heard. As well as an investigator I  met in Kinston is set for either the 3rd or 6th, depending on his work schedule. Lots of baptism going on here. 

  That's about it. Getting a hold of the other investigators is the tough part. We do have an appointment tomorrow at a Verizon store with a potential. Hope it goes well. 

  Have a great week y'all.

Elder Meyerink

21 April 2014 going to Richmond in a Bi-Mission conference

  Easter was awesome. Bishop and his wife spoke. Both about Easter, the Atonement and change especially. Bob came to Church and loved it again. Our new investigator, Desmond, came as well. He is engaged to a less active member who wants to come back. We had a great restoration lesson at her parents' house last week. He is set for the 24th, we'll see how it goes. He seems pretty interested. Bishop told us to go home and watch this :http://easter.mormon.org/?cid=HPTU041514694 and Purifying Power of Gethsemane. So, we shared That with our Dinner appointment. It was really an awesome priesthood meeting we watched a series of the Bible videos. 

  Bob works for a concrete and steel company. Still doing heavy labor with them. He enjoys just about everything about the Church. oh, his date is now the 17th of May, so please pray that he can make his date. Thanks. We haven't talked to him yet about family history, but it's in line with the discussions a bit later with temple work. Don't remember how long they have been married, I think they have some kids, but their empty nested too. 

  The ward is small-medium size. They don't have pews, just rowed chairs. But, they are close to getting a renovation as the building is made to be renovated. They just need over 140 in constant attendance. Apparently, a General Authority not long ago said due to the people here, in the future, there will be a stake in Gloucester. They just need to figure out how to do the Work and have the Charity to spread the Gospel. Ward mission leader is okay, we have correlation weekly. He led a small discussion in opening announcements about referrals and member home lessons and such. The Hermanas (Spanish sisters) for now do English work until Spanish people come in for summer jobs. They attend the ward and translate for any Spanish people. 

  Oh, on May 3rd, we will be going to Richmond in a Bi-Mission conference with them to hear from Elder Bednar, who will then address the Newport News Stake (Ours) for stake conference the following week. We also will go to that even though they broadcast it to all the units. Tad R. Callister and Jay E. Jensen were supposed to come, but will be new people since they received new callings. 

  Thanks for the email. 

Love Ya'll 

Elder Meyerink

14 April 2014 baptism date changed

  Not to much has changed here. Bobs baptism has to be moved. May 3rd is when Elder Bednar will be having a conference with all the bishops and stake presidents so Bishop cant be there. Bob wants him to be there. Plus, we thinks he might need some more time to quit coffee and smoking. Mostly coffee. We have a few potentials coming up in the future. Its going good. 

Oh and if you wonder why my emails get shorter, its cause writing makes me trunkie. Talk to ya next week.

Elder Meyerink

7 April 2014 Amazing Conference all 5 sessions!!

  Well. Conference was Freaking amazing!!!!! We watched all 5 sessions. B. as well got to watch conference. His wife is a spiritual giant. He enjoyed listening to the different speakers. Which, also counts as an investigator at Sacrament meeting. He has never had a problem with the Church though. This is the first time he has taken the lessons. So far as we know, he is done smoking since he's working now. Yes, they were just recovering after the accident. Lots of financial things followed all her surgeries. He was not in the accident by the way. He is still set for May 3rd for baptism.

  We have a bunch of potential in the area. We have a few members that are working with people. As well as some former investigators we are going to check up on. So far as this week, most of our appointments cancelled. But, B.+ is still progressing towards baptism so I am completely content. We are also trying to look for a place to move. Ha, there was an ad in the paper for a 850/month 1br rec room professional/couple preferred. We thought that applied to us, but it is to far north to be affective in the area. Nonetheless, were not in a big hurry to move.

  Oh, the annual Gloucester daffodil festival was this weekend. We went and checked it out between sessions. It was kind of like the outdoor festival at the park between us and REI back home. Lots of little product stands. We did have the opportunity to pass out some Mormon.org cards. There were some members there from the Glen Allen ward in Richmond. It blew my mind how close I am to "home."

  That's a great quote form Joseph Smith. There were a ton of good quotes in conference, to many to count. This session was insane. The first two sessions it felt like the Church members were being reproved and commanded to repent. Which makes perfect sense, that's what prophets and apostles do ain't it? To me the theme of this conference was, "Something's about to happen...Are you sure your ready for it?" I also realized that this was my last missionary General Conference. It's crazy to think by the next one...I'll be home. This mission is going way too fast!

Hope ya'll have a great week.

Love, Elder Meyerink

31 March 2014 New address, Teaching, Apartment hunting

  Gloucester is still amazing. Our progressing investigator B., is a part-member. She got in a severe car crash last fall. Rear ended a logging truck. Its humbled the both of them. She is miraculously recovering. She has talked to him alot about the Church. We taught the Restoration last week and the Plan of Salvation yesterday. He took it really well. He is in 1 Nephi 4 as of yesterday. He says he believes the Book of Mormon is more of Gods word. He is set for Baptism on May 3rd and is going to stop smoking Cold Turkey as soon as he gets back into working. The ward is excited, as well as his wife. Prayers on their behalf would be a big help. Thanks for the support. 

  Yes, we live like a mile southeast of Gloucester Courthouse. Ha, believe it or not...we're looking for a place to move. This apartment is terrible. We're need to fix the shower, hard water buildup...bad. We got the stuff to do that today. It is quite a big area. We cover all of the peninsula and go into King and Queen county. There are Hermanas here too. (Spanish sisters) Our Zone meeting are at the Williamsburg Building. We're actually going to Newport News today to just have some fun since we have enough miles to burn, they don't roll over month to month. Yorktown is in the Newport News south zone. We'll visit history studd when we tour the mission for ya, I want to see it too. Elder grace is from Sacramento. He is Japanese, just the looks, his dad was born in Japan then moved here as a very small child. 

  Weather sounds normal there. Its warming up here. Yes, I go over my patriarchal blessing regularly. I got a scripture size one in the MTC and I made a wallet sized one in Mt. Olive. They rock. 

 the new address.

 6869 Endfield Rd. 

 Gloucester VA, 23061

 Don't worry about boxes, most should be going that way soon. I think maybe another 3 flat rate boxes. Oh, and a member in Kinston is shipping something to the house. It's my Christmas Present from them. It will be from J.or L . Dont open it. IT IS FRAGILE...VERY!! (Just letting you know) I'll let ya know later when I start real packing, but that's in a few months.

 Now, we're working. After all, Elder Grace goes home 6 weeks after I do     

." We're old, but we know what were doing too, as well as open and humble to the Lord's will. great things will happen here," Pres. Baker told us that. 

We also have interviews this Wednesday. 

This is the Newsletter for the Mission. They are sending us PDFs so ya'll can get them too. :P

Heres the ward Boundaries: https://www.lds.org/maps/?lang=eng#ll=37.44864,-76.560766&z=10&m=google.hybrid&layers=ward,stake,mission&id=meetinghouse:5427576-02-01&expand=1 

Hope yall have a wonderful week! 

Elder Meyerink

2014 March 24 Love new Town & Comp! Cool Picture

  Gloucester is amazing. By the way, it's pronounced Gloster. Elder Grace and I have clicked like crazy. Four days of being in the area and we have three new investigators. Two of which are part member families who have never been taught before. The other was a member's friend they invited to dinner on Sunday night. We shared a message we planned on about "Ask in faith" from Elder Bednar. After the lesson with her and the family, she asked us quite a few good questions and we answered them and asked her if she wanted to take the lessons. She said yes with enthusiasm. Miracles are happening. 

  We also had ward conference yesterday. Pres. Hamilton (Stake Pres.) has great vision on understanding The atonement.  Bishop Huie also has a great vision for reactivation, baptizing and most important, conversion of all. So far, this transfer/companionship/area rocks. I've applied a lot of things I learned in Kinston here, sharing how we did member work there with Elder Grace and chatting about it, we have a great plan for helping the Work here. 

  Yup, just as you described, it's mid-country. A bit less rural that Mt Olive but less city than Kinston. Its the perfect blend of city and country, at least for my taste. It reminds me of where Mike and Krystine live in WA. 

Oh, and the picture is of us doing some...service...at a members place in Kinston. :P

Love ya' ll, have a good week!

 

 

Below doin' member service in Kinston!!

Mom says yup-- that's his elbow--but really Elder welding in Shorts?!! Never in Dad's shop!!

 

17 March 2014 Picture- Transferred --I've got the Hang of it!!

 

                       Picture taken 2014 March 19 @ lunch with Chad, Liz & their Grandma.

 

 

  I am being transferred to Gloucester VA. I am actually taking the place of Elder Richardson, who served with me in with Mt. Olive. Elder Grace is my new companion. He was in the Virginia Beach Zone when I was in Sandbridge. He is a cool guy. It's gonna be great. 

  As for Zone Conference. There was so much that I can't really put it into words. Especially since I left my notes at home. We tried to teach the restoration without using words or empty phrases such as um, like, so, kind of, and well. It was hard since our generation is so used to using those words. Yeah, It is a great time for me, especially since its coming to an end. I have noticed I've been learning more when I don't email as much. It's a weird phenomenon. I've reached a point where I just want to be absorbed in what's happening here. Maybe it's just cause our p-days are so jammed that emailing seems less desirable. Sorry. I just feel like this is the first part of my life away from home long enough I've gotten the hang of it. 

  We got a hold of J. We swung by and talked to him when he was picking up his back yard. He came to stake conference when Elder Perry broadcast from UT. He emphasized missionary work.  J. enjoyed it. We had a member call us this week to tell us he had a referral for us and that he was going to have him over for a lesson this week. Should be good. Oh, and we haven't met with G. D. at all. And, we probably won't teach him. We're gonna try to stick with the stake referrals and get them up and running again. 

  Hope all goes well this week. 

Elder Meyerink