(3/2) Emails

I don't even know where to begin. This week has definitely been an adventure.

On Monday we were snowed in and had to hang out at the church all day. It got really crazy with all the other missionaries there. We had the Zone leaders, a companionship from a neighboring district, and half of my district there. (The church is normally the p-day hang out spot for this area). The time was spent playing card games and volleyball. That was the only day the weather was bad. The rest of the week was still cold but no more snow.

Now for some adventures in tracting. This week no one wanted to talk to us (surprise there). Just like any other week. There was one particular man who really didn't want to talk to us. I went up and knocked on the door and nothing happened. So I rang the doorbell. Then this guy with a Dallas beard and tattoos bursts out of the door cussing and screaming at us. A few more railing rants later he went in and slammed the door behind him. As we were walking off he opened the door again and yelled out a few more cursings. That was not a very good day.

This week also marked my six month of being on a mission. As tradition I got to burn a tie, which honestly is not as exciting as one would think (until I brought out the bug spray). I realize that i am 25% complete with my mission and that is a lot. But I can't help looking ahead and seeing how far I still have to go. These next few weeks are going to be hard with Sorella Price coming home. Since I was absent at her departure I guess I must be absent at her arrival back home.

Thank you for the wonderful emails received this week. I love to hear from my bros and all that is going on in their lives.

Alex- I hope you are not giving mom too much trouble with the home schooling. I know that writing is difficult. I struggle with it even now. But I know that you can do it. I love all the things you write me in the cards. Sometimes I wish to be there and offer my help, and it is difficult to see you struggle and I can't do anything about it. I know that I won't always be able to be there, yet I know that God is watching over you for me.

Jacob- It is quite funny you mention majora's mask. Just this week my companion was talking about how difficult it is. (Don't ask how the conversation turned to Legend of Zelda.) I remember those BYU pow-wows and how much I hated them. The homework is the worst. Mom and Dad had to almost force me to get it done. I hope to continue to hear all the fun things you are up to.

Brent- I was quite surprised to see an email from you. As an incentive to keep you writing, my response to you is for that email address.

Carolyn- (for when she gets back) I expect to continue getting emails from you. It doesn't have to be every week, but i would greatly appreciate it. I want to hear your adventures integrating back into normal life.

I love y'all and anticipate the events of the future.

Elder Price

I made a lemon cream pie!

Look at the snow!

Our ward mission leader nick-named his dog after Elder Farnsworth

(2/23) No Subject...

Hey Y'all!!

This past week has been pretty crappy. Winter has officially hit Arkansas. Remember last email how I said the roads were icy? You saw the pictures of everything covered in white "snow". We actually were not supposed to even leave our apartment that day. Apparently the zone sent out a text to everyone telling them to stay inside and not go out on the roads. We did not get that text. It wasn't until about 4:00 that we learned about our disobedience. Some other missionaries in the district texted us saying, "We're bored. Are we allowed to leave our apartments yet?" Me and Elder Farnsworth just looked at each other. "We weren't allowed to leave?" Not wanting to be further disobedient we went back to our apartment and made ice cream and pie. Yep.

The weather has been cold and icy all week which really sucks because we had to give our car to the sisters. Lots of cold nights walking and shivering with no one to talk to. Our investigators have continued to slowly drop off the face of the planet with very few new ones to work with. That's just how my mission has been so far. It is very hard and requires a lot of me. But the experiences I have gained and the increase of knowledge and testimony is totally worth it.

 It is weird to think that Sorella Price is finishing up her mission right as I am just hitting my 6 month mark. (yeah, I get to burn a tie!) I am interested to hear all the tales of readjusting to life. I am looking forward to getting my glasses back. I am not sure how long my backup pair is going to last. I really enjoyed the Valentines package with all the delicious treats and snack foods. The plush dog thoroughly surprised me. I was not expecting that.

I hope you get the moisture you need. maybe Arkansas can share (its actually snowing right now). Talk to you in a week!

Elder Price

(2/16) No subject...

Hot Dang!! So much is going on right now; both here in the field and back home. Things have just changed so much and I've only been out five and a half months! By the time my two years is done I'll come home to a completely different world. That scares me.

What's this about Alex being homeschooled? How's he doing? I just feel bad not being there for him or for any of y'all. It's one of those things that makes a mission hard that nobody warns you about. But if everyone knew exactly how challenging a mission would be no one would go!

Well, I am joyed to here you have had a good president's weekend. How did my brothers enjoy Meet the Mormons? I thought it was really good and like dad was saying, it was a lot better than what I was expecting. I actually got a chance to watch it as part of a meeting. It was shown to the mission way back in October before it came out in theaters (Holy beans that was forever ago). I wouldn't mind watching it again. It's actually on my list. I am keeping a list of movies, songs, tv shows, etc of stuff for when I return. Speaking of that, Sorella Price has only got a couple weeks left! How's it feel? Not too stressful, I hope.

It has been quite a week. We had exchanges in which I stayed in the area and had to take lead. The Elder I was on exchanges with has been out just as long as me so wasn't the most experienced. It was up to me to make sure our investigators got the spiritual edification they needed. No pressure. I learned a lot about leadership that day, mainly that being a leader sucks. Almost all our investigators dropped us, we were late to our dinner appointment, and I did not get along with my temporary companion. It was a rough exchange.

We also almost lost Dianna. On Wednesday we got a voicemail from her saying to cancel our appointment for Friday. I was freaking out thinking that it was my fault. During the exchange we actually taught Dianna a lesson and it did not go very well. We called her back and found out that she had got in an argument with her parents over the things we were teaching so her parents banned us from stepping foot on their property. What's a miracle is that Dianna still wants to learn and still came to church on Sunday. Yep, all the excitement of being a missionary.

Hope you continue in the Gospel and reap the blessings.

I love you all!
Elder Price

This winter has been very strange. I was surprised to know that in Utah there isn't snow.
The winter here in Arkansas has been very mild. There were a few days that were cold, but
its mostly been in the 50's and 60's. Until today. I finally got my first ice storm.
I was quite excited to wake up to a world covered in ice. It may look like snow
but it is just solid ice. I am just so happy that it finally looks like winter!
Hope you get some snow! (except not you Sorella Price. You are in Italy and don't get snow)

(2/9) No subject...

Hey!! How's life going?

Not much happened this week. Just the usual missionary schtuff. We are really working with Dianna to get her committed to baptism. The thing holding her back is that she wants to really know that the Book of Mormon is true first. Not a bad thing. Whats frustrating is that we feel God has already told her its true. This last time we met with Dianna she told us how she feels good when she reads. Dianna is such a solid investigator. She comes to church on her own and even asked us about the time change at the start of the year. Dianna! Just get baptized!

In other news, I tried alligator this week. It was actually at the dinner when you got the mystery text. The member that sent the picture is actually in the Jacksonville ward which is right next to Cabot. We actually share the building. And yes I am getting quite adept at volleyball. Every tuesday evening we have volleyball. It is a plan to fellowship investigators and is less intense then full out church. When I first got here, I had a not so christlike attitude about it. I'm sure you're aware of my previous opinion on volleyball and other sport activities. But now I look forward to it.

Have a great week!

Elder Price

(2/2) A New Month

What's up y'all!

I would like to say a few words about the package. First and foremost, THANK YOU!! I feel so loved to get a package just because. I greatly appreciated the contents and I'm very excited for the Random fruit snacks. The chips weren't too crushed. As you may have noticed patience is something I have improved on since being on a mission. Its just one of the things you have to learn. Also, be expecting a package from me within these next few weeks. Don't get too excited. It's more of a favor than a gift. (Everything will make sense in due time)

January is finally over! It was probably the longest month of my mission, and maybe even my life. I don't know why it was so long, but the days just felt longer than the laws of this earth should allow. I guess your January was different. Anyways, we had a decent week. It was a lot better compared to the rest of the month. What really made it awesome was the people we were able to work with this past week. We found this awesome couple that we were able to set a baptismal date with. Haven't taught them much... yet. Hopefully the more we teach them the more committed they will be. I really don't want them to be those investigators that push away the more they learn about the church, as Sorella Price was saying. Also we had a really good lesson with Dianna. After weeks her being busy we are now starting to get regular teaching appointments with her. We had a lesson about the first parts of the Gospel of Jesus Christ how there is only one way towards salvation. Then we really hit hard on repentance. The spirit in that lesson was unmistakable and very hard to miss.

Things are going well here in Cabot. It is still a hard area, but that doesn't mean there is no work to do. I am here for a reason; I have a responsibility I cannot shirk. Being idle in the gospel is a sin. I'll be praying for y'all!

Elder Price

Here's a picture of my beautiful face (because you asked for it)

(1/26) No subject...

Hey y'all!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading y'alls responses about my previous email. Priceless! I hope to maintain my name-brand sense of humor. So I got the package and was very intrigued as to the contents. I have yet to open it but now know it has something to do with chips. (However, by the time you read this email I will have come to a perfect knowledge of its mysteries.) Speaking of packages, did y'all get my Christmas letter I sent many weeks ago? If not it would make me very sad :( I put a lot of thought and time into that. Anyways, I cannot believe just how much things change in the matter of a few months. You guys aren't the same family I left 5 months ago!!! Even the house is different. It is just difficult to come to terms that nothing will ever, EVER, be the same again.

So this past Sunday our ward started up a Preach My Gospel course. The goal is to help members become familiar and more comfortable using PMG to do member-missionary work. This first was one was just an introductory lesson about what to expect from the course. I think the PMG classes will be a great thing to have. Preach My Gospel is just awesome. I have a testimony that it is truly inspired writing. Elder Farnsworth thinks it should be part of the standard works.

It is so weird to think that Sorella Price has one transfer left. Where has the time gone?! I kinda feel left out. It's a strange thought that I will be the lone missionary. I'll just have to wait till Tori goes on her mission. I still have so much time! Not sure if that's a blessing or a burden.

This week wasn't all that exciting. The work is still going slow, people still don't want to talk to us, and we still don't have any baptismal dates lined up. Cabot is a tough area. The demographics is mainly affluent white people. Most of them (kindly) reject us. All though its a hard mission down in the south I haven't had doors slammed in my face...yet. Southern Hospitality is a true principle. Folks are just nice down here. On a positive note the weather hasn't been bad. Not bad at all. It has been fairly warm, upper 40's mid 50's, these past weeks.
Arkansas weather is weird.

 Well, hope y'all have a great week!

 Elder Price signing off

(1/19) Weekly Events

Hey y'all!

This week was interesting. Lots of new and exciting adventures I'm sure you're waiting anxiously to hear about. It was full of spiritual experiences, hardships, testimony and faith building, all sorts of missionary things. Each and every day I woke up wondering what was ahead. I love y'all and hope you rejoice in the gospel!

Have a blessed day








 ... Nah, I'm just messin' with ya :D But a lot really did happen this week. I had a nice little experience teaching a lesson that is sure to make a great story. We met this guy, Billy, while walking around and he seemed pretty interested. We managed to get a return appointment despite his crazy work schedule. When we came back about a week later we knocked on the door and no one answered. Being good missionaries we knocked again. Still nothing. Then just as we were about to turn away and walk off, the door opened and Billy's girlfriend answered the door. She said he was in the shower and would be ready in a few minutes if we could wait. So we waited for what seemed like 20 minutes (it was only 7) and finally Billy came out. We started going in to How to Begin Teaching when he cut us off and told us he had to run some errands. But we were determined. We were going to teach that lesson. He suggested we could come with him and share our message. It was weird and uncomfortable at times, but we ended up teaching Billy the restoration and the plan of salvation in his car and while he shopped at home depot.

A major change took place in the Cabot area. We got sister missionaries back! Before I got here there were sisters. The transfer I came to Cabot they left. Now we have them back. It is very weird to have another set of missionaries in the same area.

This weekend was also stake conference. I got to attend an adult session for the first time. It was really great. We had an area seventy there, Elder Thompson, who was very energetic and had a nice sense of humor. President Wakolo was there too and shared a really neat experience he had. One time in Fiji he was out teaching with the missionaries. They were talking to someone when a very large drunk man started yelling at them. President Wakolo turned to the drunk man and very boldly stated,"Stay right there. We will get to you next." The man sopped right where he was. The missionaries finished talking to the other person and went over to the drunk man. President Wakolo turned to the missionaries and said, "Let me handle this one." He went over to the drunk man, looked him right in the eyes, and told him,"God loves you." The man fell onto President Wakolo's shoulder and just cried. It was a very spiritual experience. I can bear testimony that God does love each and every one of us.

I was also part of the stake choir. Friday night our bishop texted us that the choir was in desperate need of members. Being the awesome missionaries we are Elder Farnsworth and I decided to save the day. There was a lot of other missionaries that were in the choir so we weren't alone. It went well. Despite having little to no practice the spirit was able to fill in where the choir lacked.

It was a good week. Lets just say my spirit was well nourished.
I love y'all so much and so does God!

Its the Day of the South!!
Elder Price