Companions Tres

Dear Friends and Family,

This week was rough because I was sick with a cold. I am still feeling a littlee sick, but it is not as bad. On Monday we had dinner in Grand Rivers. We roasted marshmallows and had hamburgers. One of the kids rubbed his face on my white sleeve which left a huge mustard stain on it. His mom was not to happy with him, but I said it was fine, so she stopped getting on him about it. I did get most of the stain out later. Another member came by and brought me four caffeine free coke bottles and some cereal. I am spoiled here in Calvert.

On Tuesday we went to Nashville with the same older couple that takes us every transfer. This transfer meeting was extra long with four musical numbers, probably because like twenty sisters went home. The mission had to close a lot of areas because around 40 sister missionaries are going home between this and the next transfer. On the way back we stopped at Golden Corral, of course. Things are looking greener all around.

We had to get another bed for the third elder (Elder Hunsaker), for a joke we got a cot and put it between my queen bed and Elder Nimmer's full bed. It was pitiful looking. The member who owns the house did get a bed for him. Just a twin but it is nice.  I still have my queen bed but I now have to share my bathroom. (we are sobbing for you Elder)

On Wednesday we had district meeting with our new District, the Paris District, and the district leader works in Paris, TN. We worked Calvert City after and had some good lessons. We then had an early dinner in Grand Rivers with some members which is a nice resort-like place and supposedly the water is 80 degrees in the summer. I really want to try that water out someday after the mission. We had a member take us to Smithland and try some referrals, with no luck. We did have a good lesson with a part member family and then the night was up, there is not enough time.
On Thursday, I was feeling the sickest, we went to Symsonia and then on to Reidland. In Symsonia we had a lesson with a crazy cat lady, who always says, "Next!" I laugh inside every time. We tracted before dinner and I was drunk on my sickness, could barely think. The last house we knock a rude baptist mom comes out and goes on and on about the bible. I probably was standing there with a sad, sick face, that wasn't to fun. The night got better though because we had dinner at basically grandma and grandpa's house. The old couple remind me so much of them. I feel so much at home there. We then had a great lesson with a part member family, it really was great and about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Elder Ashton's kids - mortensen, daines, and blazzard

On Friday we stayed in, enough was enough, even Elder Nimmer was sick, we didn't want to kill everyone. That night we did go out with a member though, got our phone, it got left at the part member family's house. We then had two lessons with less actives, and guess what... they both came to church on Sunday.
On Saturday we worked Benton. Benton is getting ready for Tater Day on April 6. Tater Day is basically a redneck get together. Everything is going to be fried and have rebel flags. It is going to be amazing. Good thing I fit in.

On Sunday we had church and we had a lot of less-actives show up. We worked Calvert City and of course a person tried to bible bash with us. I was like not today not again about your misconceptions of faith and works. Then a member came and picked us up for dinner. I think they live in Sharpe. We had lasagna and orange juice. We then watched the new Easter video after I took a little bit to put it on the big screen. The grandpa was amazed that I would put so much effort for just a 2-3 min. video. It was funny. Today the sun is shining and it is a perfect 72 degrees outside it feels wonderful. We did stay in Briensburg today because we have no miles.

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day. Alma 37:37

Love, Elder Blazzard

Kentucky = at least Six Months

Hello Family and Friends,

This week was another great week. On Monday we went in for an oil change on the car and were late picking up the car in Paducah. The guy was upset, but we got the car, thank goodness. On Tuesday we worked Benton. We tracted a trailer park which was very sad and desolate, however we met a couple of new investigators from that work.

On Wednesday we had District Meeting, the last one of the transfer. We went to Favoli's for lunch, it was good. On Thursday we worked Calvert City. That night we went on exchanges. It is always strange to be away from my companion for any length of time. On Friday we woke early and drove to Murray. A member, who is a former Bishop, drove us down to the temple in Nashville. The session was great and I love the temple because it is so peaceful.  Afterwards we went to Chick-Fil-A and that place was crowded. The trip back was good, but long. We drove straight to the church for the YW fundraiser. The YW raised a lot of money. There was a dessert auction, people were buying forty-five to eighty dollar cakes.  It was crazy.

On Saturday we completed our weekly planning and then worked Reidland. We received transfer calls that evening. We are both staying for another transfer AND we are receiving another Elder. It is going to be a blast. We go to Nashville, Tuesday, to pick him up.

Today we are in Paducah, for P-day, we went to downtown, and had a great lunch, at a deli. Then went to the waterfront and looked at the Ohio River. The work is going great, and the members of the branch in Calvert love the missionaries. They are so nice and supportive.

All week we have been teaching the plan of salvation to like almost all our investigators. I love that lesson so much. It really gets people to start thinking about the bigger picture, and what they need to do in this life. I love y'all and thanks for the support.

Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me. - Mosiah 26:30

Love,

Elder Blazzard

Warmer Week

Dear friends and family,

This week was another great week. The week started off slow, but it got better. On Tuesday we worked Benton. On Wednesday we had no district meeting because zone meeting was scheduled for Thursday this past week. We also worked Draffinville, we had lunch with some members at Majestic Pizza House. We then went on exchanges that night with some other members.

On Thursday was zone meeting, we got are new iPads, 2nd gen 32gbs. Yay! It was fun and almost felt like Christmas. We drove to Reidland and tracted and tried a referral. We had dinner in Grand Rivers, they live by the lake, it was a nice day too. I felt like I was on vacation for a wee bit. On Friday, had a lunch in Benton with a member, then we worked in Calvert City, it was a great day an had a ton of lessons.

On Saturday we drove to Reidland but on the way we visited many less actives, we met a member who didn't even know that there was a building in Possum Trot. It was fun to clear that confusion. We had dinner in Reidland then lesson there too. On Sunday church was finally back on. It was a very nice day, my companion and I just wanted to walk around and have no lessons, but of course we had a full day.  We had dinner that night and then had a lesson with two teen members, it was a great lesson.

Sorry this letter is so short, but it is 75 degrees outside and it feels great. We go to the temple on Friday and get transfer calls this Saturday.

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can
do.  2 Nephi 25:23


Love,  Elder Blazzard

Snow Day 7.0

Dear Friends and Family, On Monday's preparation day we had a lot of fun playing nerd wars, I volunteered to be the zombie first. We celebrated Elder Nimmer's birthday at a member's home that evening and there was a lot of food. :) On Tuesday, we had our district meeting because of the temple trip on Wednesday. We picked up the zone leaders and drove them down and then we went to Cook Out for lunch. We worked Reidland, we tracted and dropped in on potential investigators. That evening we met with two part member families. On Wednesday the temple trip to Nashville was canceled because of the storms/weather. I was bummed but at least we didn't get stuck on highway I24, I heard a lot of people slept in their cars. We worked Benton that day. After one of our teaching appointments we came out to the car and the doors were about frozen shut. That night a blizzard [almost a blazzard which = 7 blizzards] came through the area and it looked crazy. Snow was blowing everywhere. We had to shovel the snow and it took forever. Thursday we had to stay in to dig out.
On Friday we walked to Draffenville. That was so much fun and I even was sun burnt. On Saturday we went to Benton and a member took us to a Mexican restaurant. On Sunday church was canceled because the heat is still out in our building. We ended up going to the Symsonia Baptist church. That afternoon we visited and ate with a member and then had a few more appointments including dinner at another member's home :-). Basically we celebrated Elder Nimmer's birthday all week. Mosiah 4:30 But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now, O man, remember, and perish not.

Love, Elder Blazzard

Nashville and Back

Dear Friends and Family,

This week went well. On Tuesday we went to Benton with the second counselor and brought food to a less active and went and confirmed the person we baptized. We got a call that day from the mission president to do it that day because they might be moving out of the Possum Trot area. We finally had district meeting again. It was good to see the district after so long (winter storm shutdown). We went to COOK OUT for lunch. Afterwards, we tracted Benton.

That night we went to the uppermost reaches of our area to drop off a Bible to someone who asked for it from media services. The husband was rude and slammed the door, Elder Nimmer was not going to take that because we used a lot of miles to get that book to him. So he knocks on the door again, and gives the Bible to him ... it was great, For the rest of the night we went to Calvert City Church of the City. The youth pastor we met the week before works there, it was a good service on 1st Philippians.

On Thursday we went to Reidland which is basically Paducah.  We tracted and looked for houses for rent. The lady we baptized and confirmed is getting kicked out of her rental this Saturday :(.  We met with her and a less active right before dinner. We had dinner at a member's house, The member had a problem with her computer, so we earned dinner. After dinner we receive a text from the zone leaders saying we need to get to Nashville now. So we leave, but first we had to run home, get our stuff, then run to Mayfield and get the Spanish Elders there. We got into Nashville around 10:00 p.m. and we drove though the middle of the city. It was so awesome. Broadway was cool and the music was loud and their were a lot of people out and about. We had to get to Nashville that night because the mission thought the roads were going to be bad. We stayed with YSA Green Hills Elders and played RISK all night.

The mission wide conference was good. They gave us the standardized rules for the iPads and the use of Facebook because we had 'whatever' rules because we were a trial mission. Another cool thing they are doing is a "six weeks until you leave" program which prepares you for post mission life and helps you make plans.

The person who got baptized found a home to rent and we helped them move in Saturday. Elder Nimmer and I did all the moving. Thank goodness we weren't busy that day. On Sunday church was cut short because there was no heat in the building and we were all freezing to death; we just had sacrament meeting. It was Elder Nimmer's birthday, so we had cake at a member's house. We then had dinner at another member's house. That night we went to a Christian Fellowship.

Thanks for the support and prayers, love y'all.

Moroni
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?

 41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

Love, Elder Garrett Blazzard