Off And Running In Bountiful!

Hello, family. How is everyone? Good I hope.

Anyways my week…

11/11/09-I GOT MY NEW COMPANION. Elder Pape is his name, and he is from Kentucky.

He reminds me a lot of Brendon Blau. :D We just went around and met some of the bishops and ward mission leaders. My new comp is really cool! He's been out 17 months and I like him a lot. He loves working, and going out and finding people, it's GREAT!!!

11/12/09-TODAY WE DID SOME MORE MEETING OF BISHOPS AND WARD MISSION LEADERS. Elder Pape and I are starting from scratch in this area. We call it "White Washing" so we’re doing everything that comes with that, like meeting all the Stake Presidents, WML, Bishops, etc. We have already set up a lot of things, like speaking in wards, doing Family Home Evenings, teaching Young Men/Young Women, etc. It's going to be a sweet Transfer!

Elder Norton called me and we spoke for a little, and he asked me if I was ready to be a District Leader. My reply was, “Nope-nope-nope-nope....” But he told me a few things, and said that he has the feeling that he needs to put me down to possibly be a DL. So, who knows, but I told him that would be fine. Then that night I prayed. I prayed that if I was to become a DL, that God would walk me through it. And the Spirit came to me, and comforted me, and told me, that he would be on my right and left hands in all my days as a missionary. So, who knows when or if I’ll ever be called, but I know that no matter what, God will be with me.

11/13/09-TODAY WAS WEEKLY PLANNING, as well as Zone study! Elder Swisher [note-Elder Evans' MTC companion] ...

...is in my Zone; he is Elder Larrabee's ...

...companion. They came out with me! It was good to see Swish again, I’ve missed him.

Elder Pape and I have been working hard in the 19th Ward. We both feel that ward has a lot of potential, so we've been setting up tons of stuff in that ward.

11/14/09-HAD AN EXCHANGE WITH ELDER NORTON TODAY! My Daddy [note-his 'trainer']!


And it was so much fun! We got a lot done, and we both just couldn't stop laughing. It was snowing like mad, and since we’re in a walking area.... yeah, we got snowed on pretty good. But that's okay, because it just means my wife is getting hotter and hotter. [note-missionary "folk lore" states that the more "adversity" (in the form of rain, snow, etc.) a missionary bears while on his mission, the better-looking his future wife will be] :D. But, as we were walking we were having a snowball fight...

...and it was so much fun! We were laughing so hard, we couldn't even throw snowballs at each other. It was the most fun I have had in a long time. I love Elder Norton, he is an awesome missionary.

11/15/09-TODAY WAS FREEZING!! I have finally decided that I hate snow and the cold...

That's why I live in ARIZONA!!

I can't wait, till my Year mark, why? Because it will be SUMMER! Hot! Bring on the HOT!! :D

Today was just “stop by and visit” day.

11/16/09-SAME AS YESTERDAY. :D

Anyhoo... that was my week. I hope you guys enjoyed it, because I sure did. :P

Everything is going well. I love B-town. I'm going to ask President, if I can stay here with Elder Pape for another Transfer. I really feel that we can get this place BOOMING! That's our goal, so pray for us that we can.

I love you all. I'm so grateful for the Gospel. It truly does bless our lives. I just want you guys to know that I love being a missionary. Yes, it's hard, and yes, there are days when I just want to pack up and go home, but I can't as I have been called of God. I often look back on the 15th chapter of John. I really love this Chapter. The one verse I love to read when I have those feelings of discouragement is verse 16.

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

I love that verse. It is one of my favorites, and now I share it with you, to bless your lives.

May God bless you and protect you. One of my favorite hymns is Hymn 100, "Nearer My God to Thee". God is there and he will always protect you, and he will never leave you comfortless. Always pray. Prayer is amazing! Prayer has gotten me through some of the toughest time. I just wanted to leave my testimony with you.

Love,

Elder Evans

PS-I found a way sweet scripture on testimonies in D&C 62:3...

"Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you."