Another Great Week!!

It has been another great week here in Chesterfield!

We had a Special Zone conference on Thursday. Elder Walker came. It was really really good. He is the head over the temple committee, and had lots of knowledge about them. For the first training he gave, he gave us six tips on how to become better missionaries. I forgot my notes at home, otherwise I'd give them to you. They were really good. Then after lunch he role played with us a lot and then we had a Q and A session. We would've just loved to sit there and hear his answers to our questions, but all things must come to an end.

We had a really good week besides that too. We found two new investigators and we were actually let into a house last night!! It was the first one in about 8 weeks. We were a little taken back at first, only because it doesn't usually happen. We got in and taught a 1st discussion. She was hesitant about setting a return appointment, so we won't say she's "new" but she is a solid potential. I'm not going to lie though, it feels really good when you actually get into a house and people are nice. On Sat. we tracted all day. I think it came out to be seven hours of it. Then the Chesterfield Ward had their "Trunk or Treat." That was a lot of fun, and there were a lot of non members.

Our investigators are doing really well. Marge is doing better than she ever has. She is asking questions and really taking it seriously. Her biggest thing is not seeing how the restored gospel will change her life. We've been planning out a lesson of her for almost a week now and are really excited for it. MacKenzie said in our last appointment that she is going to be baptized but is just waiting for her husband to be worthy to do it and he is really close. It blind sided us when she said it and we were in shock. It was a really great time.

Vita is also doing really well. We had our appointment in a members home. In our meeting previous, she asked about how it was being a part member family. It just so happens that her biggest fellowshipper's husband was a member and so they were able to talk about it. It went perfect. We are hoping to set a date here in the near future, maybe this week, we'll see. The others will just take a little more time and elbow grease.

Transfer calls are coming this Sunday. Neither of us want to leave. It just seems like yesterday when we were worried about transfers. This transfer went way to quick. Elder Nelson thinks that he's going to leave. He's been here four and a half months which is normally the longest you stay, but its not unheard of to stay longer. We'll see.

Mom-I got the sweaters the other day. They are perfect! Thanks a lot.
Dad-the emails are in my inbox. it costs to print them out so I don't, but yes i save them there.
Josh-good job in scouts and in marching. Just keep at it and it'll all be worth it in the end. Don't get comfortable in band. Make sure you keep pushing yourself to be better. That's what happened my last year. the underclassmen forgot what it was like to lose until we were humbled.

Anyway, just keep going and remember to not only read the scriptures daily but to ponder them throughout the day. It helps a lot!

Love,
Elder Egan

Ahola,
Its been another great week in Chesterfield!! We were able to go to the Temple twice this week. One was with MacKenzie. We walked around it with her and James (a less active member). Then we went inside and just sat in the waiting room next to the recommend desk. It was great to see them inside the Temple, even if it wasn't the full thing. She is getting so close to baptism, the change that's come about in both of them is great. Then the next day we were able to go and do a session. I just love the temple. People don't realize how great it is until you cant go often. We treasure and look forward to the days that we are able to go. It brings so much joy and peace amidst the outside world.

Besides MacKenzie, our investigators are all over the place. Vita is doing great. We have taught her for two weeks in a row!! She is still scared of water but it seems like she is willing to do it anyway. She brought up a new concern though this last week. Her husband isn't interested and she asked if there were any "Part Members" in the church. We quickly told her that there was. The great thing is that her main fellowshipper (an old friend) is a part member family and Vita is really excited to ask her about it.

Another of our investigators, on the other hand, is reverting back to old ways. He's started drinking and swearing again. He wasn't at church this week either. His roommate said that he remembered how much fun he was having with his old friends. He still wants to keep meeting with us though. The hard thing is is that he's not willing to pray about it right now because he knows the answer he'll get and doesn't want to really change right now. It looks like it'll take much longer than we thought, but it'll happen. It will just be on the Lords time and not ours.

We also had a really good teaching week. We taught 49 lessons total! 15 came yesterday. We spent all day tracting and the Lord was smiling down on us. However, out of those 15 lessons we didn't get a single new investigator or return apt. We just keep going trusting in the Lord.

Mom-long sleeve would be great and I still have a bunch of meds and stuff. Get well soon!!

Just keep going and don't forget to open your mouths (D&C 33:8-10).

Love,
Elder Egan

Tuesday October 13

Sorry its late but the library had in service yesterday. Its been another great week in Chesterfield/Parkway though.

We were looking forward to dinner on Monday with the Shipps because we had heard that Sis. Shipp cooked on cruise's. We were definitely not disappointed. She made ribs and potatoes and deliciousness. You were able to eat the ribs with a fork, the meat just fell off. Then we had this delicious molten cake that she made. I won't eat that good probably ever again.

Then on Wed. we had an appointment with Vita. We found out that she has anxiety for water, heights, etc. She wouldn't even think about setting a baptismal date because it scared her. We then told her about priesthood blessings and then gave her one. Afterwards we again asked her to pray about a date and she said that she would! We also met with Chris. He said that he wasn't ready to be baptized this Sat. so we had to drop the date. Then he wasn't at church on Sunday and his roommate said that he was at Mass. it was a little discouraging but he said that Chris has a really hard time making up his mind. It might take a little longer than we thought with him. We also had an appointment with MacKenzie. It went really good. She is asking questions that tell us that she is thinking about baptism. We also got back in contact with Kevin last week and we actually just got done with our appointment with him. We taught him the Plan of Salvation. He soaked it up!

We went to follow up with some members that we had left a commitment with the week previous on Thursday, the Vinas'. Sis. Vinas opened the door and brought us into the kitchen. It turns out that Bro. Vinas' dad is Elder Vinas of the 1st Quorum of Seventy, who happened to be visiting. So we followed up with Bro and Sis Vinas and then taught a brief lesson to them and Elder Vinas. I'm pretty sure that's the only time I'll be able to teach a General Authority. It was really neat. He told us just to "keeping going" which Pres. Turley always tells us. It must be true.

I'm doing really good though. and yes it has been getting pretty chilly out here. the first night we didn't have any heaters and we were both pretty cold. The next day we found two heaters and they've been on ever since. If you come across any dress sweaters, that could help keep the chill off without wearing my big coat.

Mom-I've got plenty of cereal and just keep a bug in my ear about a picture of the McCords. Good job learning to burn CD's. We love listening to talks, we actually just finished listening to the April 2005 conference. I'll keep an eye out for Sis. Loveland and Elder Murdoch.
Dad-Of course I know Sis. Bunn. I haven't been gone for that long. Well its been a while but yeah we home taught her for a while before I left.
Josh-what is this nonsense! You can't be starting to drive yet!! That's just crazy. Don't kill your self now (just remember to only drive with dad, I don't know if mom could take it, ha-ha). Just stay in there with band. Its all worth it in the end.

Stay strong and don't take the little things for granted.
Love,
Elder Egan

WOW!!!

Its been another great week in Chesterfield!! This weekend was especially good. Conference was amazing!! Between Elder Holland and Elder Scott and Elder Hales, all I can say is wow. I couldn't even take notes on Elder Hales and Elder Holland's talk. They were just too good and moving to even write or do anything besides listen. I was a little disappointed though, it seemed to go way to quick and now we have to wait another six months to hear more, oh well.

Our investigators are doing well. We watched conference with two of them, MacKenzie and Marge, at their houses. We haven't been able to get a hold of Kevin this week, so we're going to stop by in the next few days. Vita is doing really well too. We finally got an appointment. The Snow Cone place closes at the end of the month so hopefully we'll be able to teach her more. We're probably going to set a baptismal date at this next appointment, she's ready. Chris is doing really well too. He wants to move his date a few weeks back, but we're going to talk to him on Wed. He has a solid testimony and the devil is just trying to stop it from happening.

We had a really neat opportunity this past week. One of the colleges had a "beliefs fair" They asked for reps from our church and the AP's asked if our district would man it. There were a lot of different beliefs and we were able to hand out a lot of pass along cards. It was a fairly small school and so it didn't go as good as we thought but it was still really good. There was a booth next to us for the schools outreach program and we gave the girl there a Book of Mormon and she just sat there reading it all day. It was really neat.

Mom-I got the package. THANK YOU!! It was much needed. We don't know if we'll get the flu shot yet. No one has said anything. They have a swine flu shot out here I think, but it seems to do more damage than good. No, my hair is normal now, I only did that once or twice, and probably only once or twice more, haha.

Dad-that's neat. Yeah, you'll have to get me that name. There are some people in our ward who know Elder Sitati. They lived in Kenya for a while working for the government and Elder Sitati was a family friend.

Josh-We never went to that one. Its fun going to new places though and throwing down like that. What are you talking about "beat Southridge for a change"? We have always beat them and the times that we didn't, we should've. haha. Keep it up. anyway make sure that you memorize all your scripture mastery and then REMEMBER them. I wish I would have.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know it to be true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and can bring us closer to Christ better than any other book. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and did and saw the things which he said.

Love,
Elder Egan