Get 'em - Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Family and Friends,

Nashville is a great city and I am glad I am here serving. For the first part of the week I was in Donelsen, which is the part of Nashville by the airport. Tuesday we walked a lot and we tried to contact a lot of people and had some success. We talked with a single mom who is a great investigator and who loves the Book of Mormon. She told this story about her house cleaner throwing away her Books of Mormon and trying to cast the devil out of her. It was a great story.  Some people are crazy.

After that lesson we walked home and in order to get home fast we decided to take a short cut.  We had to travel through a little forest on the edge of our greater neighborhood. As we got to the end of the street and started into the forest, dogs began to bark like crazy. We then hear a women say, "Go get him boy!" We were like, 'Crap!' and we ran through the forest, jumping the creek, and getting to the other side as fast as we could.  It was a rush, but we got home safely.

On Wednesday, after district meeting, the missionaries did a service project at Sister Mickelsen's  and Sister Young's house because they are getting ready to move. The rest of the week went without much incident. We played capture the flag with some members on youth night and it was fun. Oh, btw, I tried Fat Mo's this week which is a burger joint. It was really good.

Y'all have a good week.

Love,

Elder Blazzard

Public Transportation - Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Friends and Family,

This week we were without our normal mission vehicle, however, it was a good week because we were able to use the bus. The bus is fun and with careful planning we are able to get anywhere that we need to be. It is also a good excuse to go to the Central downtown station in order to connect to any bus that we need. I love seeing the skyscrapers of Nashville.  The AT&T building, or the 'Batman Building', is the tallest at just over 600 feet. There are a lot of row houses being built and so it is fun to see the growth and city planning.

This area has a lot of less-actives and we see a lot of them each week. We spoke with one that has been less-active for about 20 years and then decided it was time to come back this week. She attended church yesterday.  It was great to see her there.

It is definitely spring here. There is green everywhere and it is just going to get greener and more wet, yuck. Good thing it is beautiful or I couldn't deal with it. Sometimes I don't feel like I am in Nashville, because you can't see anything as the trees and greens trap your vision. Oh and the smell, sometimes it is very pleasant, but sometimes the humidity makes it smells gross, like sewage.

Right now I am on exchanges in the Donelson area of Nashville which is across the Cumberland River. Thank y'all for everything. The support and prayers, it means a lot.

And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours. (D&C 78:18)

Love,


Elder Blazzard

In the City - Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Friends and Family,

What a week in a new area with so many different things and changes. On Tuesday we took the car in for an oil change and to get the tires rotated. While the car was getting worked on we walked across the street and met with Austin a famous barber. He has cut NFL players hair and some famous country singers hair. He cut my hair for free. I was shocked when he was done because he cut my hair very short while the top is a little longer, I held back my horror and put on a smile for this famous barber. Good thing interviews are this Friday, man oh man.

On Wednesday we had district meeting, we took the bus. The first bus was the Central to downtown Nashville and then we transferred to the Nolensville Pike bus. It was a long bus ride but very cool. Downtown Nashville is awesome.

We meet with a lot of less-actives. One wanted his name off the records, stating that the Book of Mormon was all about Joseph Smith, oh boy, it was so silly. I read him a scripture but he just asked us to leave.

I am reminded of The Help (movie) all the time. The people are so funny, cool, and even say things like, "that boy is a terror, he is!" which is an example of a grandma talking about her great grandson who is two years old. She said it just perfect.

One night we had to drop off a Book of Mormon to this lady in an apartment complex. We walk up to the door and knock but receive no answers or signs of anyone being home. We leave the Book of Mormon at the door. The whole time other residents, who were hanging out, were giving us looks and asking us to pray for there friends. I all but ran back to the car for safety, I am the worst person ever but I couldn't help it.

Later that night went to this rich Italian guy's house. He has nice classic cars, very cool. We helped plant some flowers with his assistant. He is a singer and songwriter. They made us burgers and fries. The Cumberland meetinghouse is nice, and the members are friendly. The building is in phase two like in Calvert but a bit newer. Dark woods and blue walls. Thanks for everything, love y'all.

2 Nephi 7:7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Love, Elder Blazzard

Special Transfer - Cumberland, East Nashville, Tennessee

Dear Friends and Family,

I have been emergency transferred to Cumberland, or East Nashville. I am right in the middle of it all. It is the hood. I was transferred down last night, right after General Conference.
So the week was crazy. On Tuesday we had zone meeting and Elder Nimmer did a Burrito Challenge which was three big burritos in 30 minutes.  If you did it you get them for free. He did it (Bravo Elder Nimmer). Elder Hunsaker is from Idaho and has been out for 15 months. On Wednesday we worked Benton and that is when I got the call. On Thursday we had district meeting because zone meeting was on Tuesday.  My MTC companion, Elder Danielson, is now in Murray. It was fun to talk with him.

On Friday we worked Calvert City, but not really there was a tornado watch and we had to stay in a member's house for around two hours. We had dinner at a member's house that evening and they made me a cake for my birthday. I said a lot of goodbyes this week and it was sad.

East Nashville is cool, right by downtown and the skyscrapers, and lots of African Americans which is different from rural Kentucky.

I loved conference, it brought me peace. My favorite talk was by Elder Clayton, he talked about the little girl who was in the plane crash in Kentucky. That was my favorite because that happened 10 miles away from where I live, so I already heard the story. I hope everything is going well.

Conference Thought:
Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and
Just serve and look at the whole picture or plan.

Love you all and please pray for me,

Elder Blazzard