Not Just Artifacts

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a good week as we did a lot of service and missionary work. We taught quite a few lessons that turned out good. Always fun. We did a lot of service like always. One project was with this lady that lives in the middle of nowhere. She has found a lot of Native American stuff like arrowheads and graves on her property. It was really interesting.

We have a new branch mission leader in the branch in this area. Our meetings with him went well and he has some great plans for the area. I am doing well and love Tennessee. Have a great week.

Moroni 9:6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

Love,

Elder Blazzard

The Field is Green

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a good week. We did a lot more service this week which included a lot of planting. We did service for a thrift store and we mowed a lawn for a member. She fed us so that was good. My hands are a little sore from a the digging, but it was fun and we got to talk to a lot of people because of all the service and exposure.

A past missionary who served here came by Thursday. He was cool. We went and tried a lot of people this week, got to meet some interesting people. We had a good lesson with this guy in the middle of nowhere. It was a long conversation but by the end he agreed to read the Book of Mormon. It was difficult to turn that conversation around towards the restored gospel. We traveled on some more crazy roads, again, and I am glad the car didn't get stuck. I was praying hard, haha. Next week have zone conference in Nashville.

Oh, and it turned super green this week, and got humid again, yeah.

Alma 41:10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

Love,

Elder Blazzard

New comp and Changes

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a busy week. I received my new companion on Tuesday, Elder Tracy from Salt Lake City. He is the second oldest of five children in his family. We did a lot of service again this week. Some gardening and cleaning out gutters and I was sun burnt by the end of it. We did the gutter cleaning for a older lady member who is from Yugoslavia.  She was so funny. I tried not to imitate her accent, but it was hard.

Some news from the mission is they are splitting the McMinnville Zone to McMinnville and Cookeville Stakes. We got a new Branch President and the wife gave a testimony, she talked about how hard it was to get the kids ready for church, well the kids were wondering why it was so important to get there on time this Sunday, and one of the kids asked if it was the 2nd coming, it was super funny. I had a fun week and was able to share my testimony a lot. The Lord loves you and is always looking after you and knows what things you are going through.

Read this at Church of Christ Bible Study. It really hit me.
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. (John 12)

Love,

Elder Blazzard

The Road is Straight in the Gospel

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a fun week. We did all the regular service. We went down to Centerville this week and we had a member invite us to teach one of their friends. The lesson went really well as we taught both the restoration and the plan of salvation. She is reading the Book of Mormon and asked great questions. It was a good trip down to Centerville. We travel a lot. Sometimes I get sick of all the travel, the roads are not really straight, I have to make sure I look forward when we drive.

We had stake conference down in Franklin this Saturday and Sunday. They just refinished the gym floor, so the smell was bad I got a huge headache. It was a good conference though, they talked good about helping the missionaries and finding people for us to teach. We got transfer calls, I am staying in Fairview, but Elder Decker is going to Murray, KY. I will receive Elder Tracey. I do know him a little. It will be a fun ... new transfer. Have a good week and look forward to tomorrow for the Lord will work wonders.

Mosiah 8:18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.

Love,
Elder Blazzard

Artichoke Dinner

At the Stake President's House

"Why Then Are They Baptized for the Dead"

Dear Family and Friends,

I had a really good week. On Tuesday, we worked with Meals on Wheels.  The day was a chicken broccoli casserole and vegetables. It was fun to dish that out into the little plastic trays. There are a couple of Mormon Moms that help with the routes so we get to see them.   We had a long Plan of Salvation lesson with the couple we see every Tuesday.  They had a hard time understanding the spirit world and the need for baptism for the dead.  They have been taught that baptism is not necessary for salvation, but nevertheless it was a good discussion and I think we explained it well with the help of our member.

We had district meeting and I went on exchanges with the Dickson Elders. It was a good exchange. We had a downpour on Thursday, so a little flooding. General Conference was really good, I enjoyed all the sessions Saturday and Sunday. Elder Holland did a really good job finishing the Conference. His talk was really touching. I can't wait to read them again. I had a awesome birthday dinner yesterday. A member made cajun chicken pasta and it was really good. We visited some people then came back for cake it was a good day. I going to have a fun p-day, have a good week and remember conference, love y'all.

"Remember who you are and what God expects you to become. You are a child of promise. You are a man of might. You are a son of God.”

Thomas S. Monson




Love,

Elder Blazzard

Easter Every Day

Dear Family and Friends,

I had good week here in Franklin, TN. I went on exchanges with the Dickson elders this past week and had a great time. We taught a lot of lessons while I was there. Spring is still coming in as the trees have bloomed and bugs are everywhere. I am excited for summer. We went to the Easter concert in Franklin last night and it was fun. We had a couple of investigators and less actives come attend. Nathan Pacheco and David Archuleta were really good.

This week was a little slow with lessons in our area as we had a lot of people gone for spring break, but we still were able to keep busy with service. Helping with meals on wheels every week is awesome and very fun. We had a good lesson with an investigating couple this week. We taught the plan of salvation and it went very well.

Looking forward to my Birthday, it is my companions Birthday today, so it is going to be a fun day. Have a good week y'all.

Mosiah 4:6    I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life

Love,

Elder Blazzard

Elder Bednar and the Work

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a good week of missionary work here in Fairfield, Tennessee. The mission wide meeting with Elder Bednar was great in that he put a great perspective on everything. I just wish I could have recorded it. Earlier in the week, we got haircuts for the meeting. The whole week was exciting and we had some good lessons with investigators and members. A few non-members came to a concert put on by the Redhead Express. It was a good concert, I enjoyed it. We have another concert planned for next Sunday night and I am really looking forward to it. We had a good lesson with a guy yesterday, I tried to ask him a lot of questions to get him to think a little deeper, I think I did a good job. I went on exchanges with Elder Daines in Franklin. It was a good exchange, but their a/c was out. It was a good week. Have a good week y'all.

John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Love,

Elder Blazzard