I've got a couple dates‏

6/28/10.....Hey Peeps, Things here are still going well. I'm liking Ocala more and more everyday. It's actually starting to feel like home. One day last week I was jogging in the morning and it really hit me. There is one thing that always makes me think of Utah though...it's the sunset. Here they just aren't that great. Ocala is isn't anywhere near the coast, it's got trees everywhere. So, I can never get a good view of the sunset like I can in Utah.

Now that I've bored you to death let me tell you about last week. Well, the first bit of good news is that on Monday we set a baptism date with Amy. It was really cool. I'm the one who asked her if she would get baptized and set the date. I hadn't done it yet. She was totally up for it. It was so cool! So she's going to be baptized on July 10th. We taught her a few times last week. She studies so much, and always has great questions. I'm really excited to see what she will do for the church. In other good news, we also set a bap date with Sam! She's actually going to be baptized this Saturday. So July is going to be a busy month. We're going to baptize Sam on the 3rd, Amy on the 10th, and Leslie on the 25th. I'm really excited to see it all happen. We also confirmed Ethan yesterday.

We got a few new investigators. We have Tommy and Katie, Leslie's younger sister. Tommy's story is pretty cool. He has a nephew who is serving his mission at the MTC in Provo. All he does is call people during the day and teach them over the phone, and that's what he's been doing with Tommy. Over the last two months or so they've been talking on the phone a few nights a week. Then last week Tommy's nephew called us and told us about Tommy. So we went and saw him last week and he was at church yesterday. It's strange because it's like his nephew did most of the work. Tommy is totally dedicated to going to church and changing his life. We're going to try to set a bap date with him this week. Hopefully for the 17th of July. If we can do that, July will be a great month!

Last week we finally met with Lucious again. On Thursday Elder Trott and I went and taught him. Elder Trott is a stud. He's my District Leader, and has only a few months left on his mission. Anyway, we taught Lucious and it was a really powerful lesson. Mainly because Elder Trott...I could learn a lot from him. So the lesson was great and Lucious actually showed up for church yesterday!! I was so happy to see him. Unfortunately we won't be able to see him again until Saturday because his work schedule is so messed up. I think we're going to have to be more patient with Lucious...I have faith that he will be baptized though.

Like I said in my last email, transfers were last week. Elder Porter is gone, and Elder Blair is actually training this transfer. The new missionary is Elder Day from Syracuse UT. I'm happy he's here because now I'm not the newest missionary in Ocala haha! He's a great guy. I've been trying to help him out a lot because I was in his position just a few weeks ago. I think we'll get to be good friends. I actually get along with everyone in the apartment really well. We all joke around and have a good time being with each other. Elder Trott and Elder Barrionuevo are at our apartment usually at night when we're getting ready for bed. We just talk about our day and goof off a little before bed.

The situation With Tovah and Christopher was bad at the beginning of last week. I won't go into detail because it's complicated and so much has happened, but we've been able to get things turned around and headed in the right direction. There is still a lot of work to do there, but I know with faith in the Lord all things are possible.

All in all things are really good right now. The Lord has blessed us with a lot of wonderful investigators. I look forward to working hard this week and helping people. I love this work.

Love Always, Zach

Another six weeks in Ocala...‏

6/21/10.....Just like the subject said, I'm staying at least another six weeks in Ocala. Elder Porter is the only one getting transferred in our district. I'm happy I get to stay because we have so many investigators that are doing really well. We probably have six or seven and I feel it's not a matter of if they get baptized, but a matter of when. Speaking of baptisms, last night I had my first baptism! We baptized Ethan. It was super cool! We were supposed to baptize him on Friday, but some things came up and it didn't quite work out. So we did it last night. It was a really cool baptism because Bishop Larson combined it with a Youth Fireside. I've probably said this a bunch of times, I know I have in my journal, but Ethan is a really great young man. He's 18 and I can see him doing a lot of good.

Last week was a weird week. I can't exactly explain it, but it feels like we didn't do as much. However, I know we worked really hard. I think it's because over the last few weeks we haven't been tracting as much, and last week we tracted quite a bit. Unfortunately we didn't meet any people tracting. I still really enjoy it though. I think part of the reason last week was weird is because we had some disappointments. We met with Lucious only once and it was just to set up an appointment. Then when we went to the appointment he was asleep, and his niece wouldn't wake him up for us. It was really lame! Then we had a major set back with Catelyn. We've been trying to set up an appointment to meet her parents, but they aren't ever available. On top of that they feel like they haven't been good parents as far as having a religion goes and are going to make her go to church with them. Also, last Friday we taught a young lady named Leslie and had a really great lesson. We actually set a baptism date of June 27th. Then later that night she called and said her mom won't let her get baptized, and she'll have to wait until she's 18 which is next April. We ended up working it out so she can get baptized on July 25th. Then there was the little mess we had with Ethan's baptism. Also Amy was out of town so we couldn't teach her. Then Courtney is having a hard time. She really enjoys the Book of Mormon and Church, but her best friend keeps giving her Anti-Mormon junk. Courtney is so confused, but needs to just listen to the Spirit. I know she feels it and we've tried to help her understand, but she's struggling. Then yesterday during 2nd Ward we found out Bishop Heally doesn't want to baptize Christopher yet. He feels they should wait a few more weeks...it's actually a long story, but I'm just about out of time. All in all I'm still happy! I understand there will be set backs and disappointments, but it's all worth it.

Well, my time is almost up. Sorry it's so short this week, and if it's at all confusing. I love all of you!

Love, Zach

Good Week

6/14/10...Hey Everyone, This last week was really good. We had a lot of appointments and have quite a few investigators that are doing really well. It's weird. Today my companion Elder Brandon and I were talking about how well the last week has been and he said he feels like we've been working really hard, and he's been exhausted. Then he asked me how I felt. Well, I told him I don't feel like we're working that hard. I feel like we're doing a lot of good, but can still do more. So far it hasn't been as gruelling as I thought it would be. So far I don't feel like I've had too many challenges. I still feel like there is more we can do. I actually think a lot of it has to do with my age, and maturity. Don't get me wrong, I'm super thankful for all the blessings we've had.

We have...six investigators that are doing really well, and then we got two more who we haven't had much of a chance to see how serious they are about finding out whether or not the church is true. Good news. Two of our investigators are going to get baptized!! Ethan will be baptized sometime this week, and Christopher is going to be baptized next Wednesday. I'm really excited! Lucious is coming along. We had some good lessons with him last week. Although when we went to see him on Saturday he wasn't there, and he didn't show up for church yesterday. I am really disappointed. He's such a wonderful man. Amy is doing really well. Elder Blair and I taught her last Saturday. She's really interested, and is committing herself to finding the truth. She's been to church twice now, and she asked for a copy of the Gospel Principles book. So we gave it to her and she's been reading through it and the Book of Mormon. She's amazing. The other two solid investigators are Catelyn and Courtney. Catelyn is 14 and Courtney is 15. They're great young ladies. They're both really interested and have been reading the Book of Mormon every night. Then there are Sam (she's a girl) and Leslie. We've taught Sam once and she seems interested, but it was a hard lesson. We taught last Monday at the Reid's house and there were 16 people there! It was Catelyn, Courtney, Sam, and then the entire Reid family. We didn't expect there to be so many people, but that's how it worked out. I don't know If I've said much about the Reid family. They're a member family and they have 8 kids. It reminds me a lot of home...at least how home was before we all got older. Their son Harrison is 17 and has been so much help to us. He'll be a great missionary someday. There is also another youth that is helping a ton. He is Sean Horst. I think he's 17 and loves going to teaching appointments with us. He'll also be a great missionary.

We're still trying to rebuild the level of trust in the 2nd Ward. It's going well, but there's still much work to do. Last week we visited some members in 2nd Ward and have been trying to get them to go to appointments with us too. Also we've been staying for all the classes on Sunday. I guess before I got here the missionaries would just go to Sacrament. So we go to all of it, and like I said last week Sundays are really long.

Speaking of Sundays...I gave a talk yesterday in 1st Ward Sacrament. It was awesome! I'm really happy they asked me. It actually turned out to be a trial of my faith. In the past when I've talked I wrote it all out. Everything I wanted to say, and then pretty much just read it while up there. Which has worked in the past pretty well, but this time I did it differently. I actually was planning on doing it that same way. Then after I had completely finished writing it and was finished with it I talked to my district leader Elder Trott. He told me I shouldn't do it that way because it makes it harder to receive inspiration from the Holy Ghost while giving the talk. He said I should study and just make a little outline of things I wanted to go over then let the Spirit guide my words. I agreed, but honestly didn't want to do it that way. I was scared. However, I put my faith on the line and did what he said. I wrote down bullett points on a 3x5 card. There were only 4 or five of them, and that was only to make sure I didn't get lost on some random tangent. So, I had my card and just spoke through inspiration from the Holy Ghost. It was by far the best talk I've ever given. I felt so good afterwards! It was a great Sacrament meeting. The youth speaker who was supposed to talk wasn't told he was going to be. So, he quickly shared his testimony, then Elder Trott and I spoke during the rest of Sacrament. I spoke first then he spoke. Elder Trott is a really great missionary. Anyway, I Sacrament yesterday. The Spirit could be felt so strong! I wish I could send a copy of my talk, but like I said, I didn't write it out.

On Wednesday last week we had a Zone Conference. We're getting a new Mission President next week. So, last weeks Zone Conference might have been the last time I'll hear from President Newman. It wasn't that big of a deal for me because I haven't gotten to know him very well. He has been helpful though. He actually gave each missionary a blessing. It was really cool. We were there all day. It was a long day. I actually had a lot of trouble sitting there all day. I feel so unproductive. Pdays are hard too. About the only good thing about Pdays is being able to write emails. Other than that I'd rather be out working.

Wow, I just realized that I've been in Florida for a month now. It went by really fast. This transfer ends next Wednesday. So this upcoming Saturday we'll find out whether or not any of us will be transfered. I hope Elder Brandon and I can stay here in Ocala. We have a lot of good things going on. Every six weeks is a transfer. Which means we're in one area for at least six weeks then have the chance to get moved to a different area. So if I don't get transfered I will be here in Ocala for at least another six weeks.

That's about it for now. Sorry if any of it is confusing.

Love, Zach

Gated Community

June 13...It’s 10:46 at night and Rachel is wide awake, doesn’t she know that I want to go to bed? She has soo much energy that she just goes and goes. This is a far cry from how she ‘s been the past year and a half. The VNS that was implanted in December of 2008 didn’t help with her seizures, in fact it changed them from her falling when noises caught her to causing her to have partial complex seizures when she slept. The longer the VNS was on, the more seizures she had. She would just sit there and stare into space and sleep a lot. When she did fall she didn’t even cry. She was so wiped out that she was unable to do anything. I would sit on the floor with her and cry for her, since she didn’t cry for herself. At the beginning of this year we turned off the VNS and put her back on Sabril. (She was on this medicine before she had her surgery in 2002. After the surgery we took her off all meds and she was seizure free for quite awhile, but they slowly crept back.) We had to get the Sabril from Mexico or Canada before but now you can get it in the USA through the SHARE Program. Well, she isn’t having seizure’s any more but she goes a mile a minute and everything around her goes on the floor or in her mouth.( I’m impressed with how durable a hobnial dish can be, it has even survived a few flings down the stairs, books however, don’t fair as well.) As you’re picking up one rearranged room, she’s busy in another. As for things in her mouth, I’m not sure how safe it is to eat potpourri!? What about tree leaves? I’m sure the dog food is fine and Miah likes the company. We’ve had to adopt the “gated community” approach in some areas and “lock down” in others. As for the remaining parts of the house it’s still free range. So now I sit on the floor and cry for myself.

Brady is how old?

"Happy Birthday"... Brady and Rylee! I can't believe that Brady is 28 already. Wow Brady, you're getting old! It doesn't seem like it's been that long, and after all I'm only thirty something. And his cute daughter, Rylee, is now 6.

Hey Momma!!!

Mon, Jun 7, 2010...Hi! Thanks for the letter and pictures. They really made me happy! Sorry I didn't write last week. Things here are good. You can pretty much read all about it in my other email haha. My new pillow is nice. At first it was uncomfortable, but I've adjusted to it now. I got lucky...when I got here I was getting cold at nights. Then Elder Brandon told me he has some extra blankets and I've started using one of them. I don't need my helmet right now, but I'm glad to have it and the other stuff. I've been using the exercise bands a little bit, but nothing much yet. While I was in the MTC I didn't ever get a chance to exercise and right now I'm trying to get back into the habit. They also have an exercise program called FFF. Every morning we do 100 pushups, 100 situps, some running, and leg exercises. I guess it's a revelation that President Newman had. I've been mostly doing that for exercise. I plan on being able to do more within the next few weeks though.

As for eating, it's pretty much hit and miss....or maybe it's hit or miss...I don't know which is right. Breakfast I have two eggs, oatmeal (thank you!), an apple, and a glass of milk. That's breakfast everyday. For lunch I usually just eat a peanut butter and honey sandwhich; with some V8 and maybe a banana, and dinner is whatever I can find. Everyday is a little different really. We do eat with members a few nights. On Wednesdays we eat with the Horst family. Brother Horst is the 2nd Ward Mission Leader...I think that's his title. Then on Fridays we eat with the Cruz family. They're actually in the Spanish Branch, but somehow we're lucky enough to eat with them. They're a really wonderful family. Also on Wednesday afternoons we eat lunch with the Mootz...I guess it would be Mootzes. They're an elderly couple. She's super sweet and nice while he's a rough old man. He's nice, but definitely old school. A war veteran and stubborn...but nice.

I'll probably send my memory card home in a week or so. I want to get some more pictures. I'm don't really take very many...I just don't think about it very often.

I don't remember how long it took for the last letter. I hope it doesn't take very long because I mailed Rylee a letter last week. I hope she gets today. After all it is her bday.

I'm sure it's quiet there. We've been eating with a family in 1st ward over the last few days. It's the Reid family and they have eight kids. It reminds me of how it used to be. They're kids are all pretty young. I think the oldest might be my age, but they all live at home. It's a little chaotic, but I really enjoy being there.

Hahaha...that's so funny it snowed. It's hot here. Usually in the 90s and really humid. It's rained just about every day for the last week or so, but then it clears up. Last night it was around 8:30 and we were tracting and I had beads of sweat running down my face. It's all because it's so humid. If I could, I wouldn't sit outside at night like you can there. There are bugs everywhere too. There are spiders all over, and other nasty little bugs. I definitely appreciate Utah more each day.

I'm sorry you weren't feeling well...wish I could help. I was sick about a week ago too. It was lousy. Especially because we still had lots of work to do...there was one day we were so sick we ended up not going out. We stayed home and slept.

That's awesome Ashley Snow got married!! I'm so happy for her! Tell her congratulations for me.

Tell Kaleb part of the deal was that he would go to ALL of church. He could just go to the Elders Quorum. It's not like they would expect him to go with the Priests...that would really suck. I definitely will keep praying for everyone. I know that once they start going to church and becoming active they will be so blessed. I see it in peoples lives everyday. I know my life got so much better when I started going again. Before I went back I thought I was happy, but I really wasn't. Not truly happy. Now I am. That's what living the commandments and the gosped will do. It blesses us in ways that we couldn't ever have imagined....speaking of Quintin, do you have his addresss? I don't have his or Sarah's.

Well, I thinks that's it. I love and miss all of you.

Love, Zach

Yea! A letter from Zach

Mon, Jun 7, 2010...So, were any of you surprised when I didn't email last week? The library wasn't open last Monday because of Memorial Day, so I didn't have a chance to send anything. The last two weeks have been good, but also more challenging. I guess it was challenging because we had some little girls we've been working with and things didn't turn out so well. We were going to baptize them on the 30th of May, but when it came time for their baptism their mom and grandma said they wouldn't come...they had more important things to do. So instead we had a little lesson on baptism. Then we made a plan to get their grandma, who is a member, active again so they would have the support they need. It actually went pretty well. We talked to her and helped her understand how important it is that she returns to church. Not only for her sake, but for the sake of the girls too. Things seemed to be going well with them, but when we went to make sure they were up and getting ready for church yesterday morning Jaquanda, the older of the two girls, wouldn't get up! We sat there for like 15 minutes trying to get her up while the others got ready. She just laid there ignoring us, and acting like she was asleep. It really made me realize that they aren't ready. I think she said she was excited and ready just to make us happy. Anyway, we got Timirra, Jaquanda's younger sister, Antwan, Timirra's younger brother, Dante, the girls uncle who is only..10, and Cathy, the grandma, all ready and off to church. On the way there Elder Brandon and I got into a little argument. He still wanted to baptize them, but I said I didn't feel they were ready. We talked about it, but didn't come to any real solution before we got to church. To make a long story short, he ended up agreeing with me, so we're not going to baptize them anytime soon. I couldn't comfortably baptize the girls. They just don't have the support that's necessary for kids of their age. They need an adult who will go to church with them, and be there to help them. We can't do it. So, it's a little saddening because I was excited for them, but I know it was the right decision.

Other than that the work is going really well! We are making progress with our investigators. Right now we have three that are praying to know when they should be baptized. One of them is a man named Lucious. We met him tracting...he's really wonderful. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned him before. Anyway we asked him if he would be baptized on the 20th of June, but he said he didn't feel ready yet. However, he did say that he definitely wants to be baptized. Then there is Ethan. He's 18 and is dating the Bishop's daughter. That's how we met him. We also asked him is he would be baptized, but he wanted to learn a little more. So he's praying about it. The other person is Christopher. He's 9 and his mom is a less active member. They came to church about a week ago, and we had a really spiritual lesson with him last Wednesday. He's a wonderful kid. He has a great mom too. They're deciding when he will be baptized. I feel really good about all of them.

We have a few more investigators that we're working with, but haven't invited them to be baptized yet. They great people too. Most of them are friends of youth in our wards...Elder Brandon and I are the missionaries for the Ocala 1st and 2nd Ward. Sundays are long. We are at church from 7:30am until 4pm. I really enjoy it though. Anyway, back to our investigators. There are a couple young men in our wards that are helping us out a ton. They are sharing the gospel with their friends, and inviting them to church and to meet with us. With that being said Elder Brandon and I are trying to work with the members more. Which means first getting to know them. So, I'm trying to remember as many names as possible and it's going well. We especially have to work hard in 2nd Ward. The missionaries that were here in the past focused more on tracting, and didn't really win the hearts of the members. We're basically trying bridge the gap, and gain their trust. So far so good. Elder Brandon is really good at talking to people. He's really got a gift. He can talk to anyone. I can see him going into politics someday. He's a great guy.

On the 29th of May we all donated blood. It was part of an Eagle Scout Project for one of the youth. That's really the only reason we were able to do it. Elder Blair, Elder Porter, and I didn't really have any problems...well Elder Porter weighs only 125lbs so he couldn't do the same thing we did. We did something called the ALYX machine. It takes your blood and separates it. Then in puts the plasma back into your body with some saline. They can get more blood this way, and help more people. That's the machine Elder Blair, Elder Brandon, and I used. Elder Brandon got his butt kicked by it. The next day he barely made it through church and was super sick. He just about passed out a few times. I felt really bad for him. He's good now though.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Again, thanks to everyone that has been writing me. It's so wonderful hearing from all of you. It really brightens up my day. I'm sorry I haven't been able to write you individually...I'm working on it though. I love you all, and will talk to you later.

Love, Zach

I just remembered something...we had a total miracle happen! Saturday night we were tracting just before it was time to go home. One of the last doors we knocked on was a lady named Amy. We talked to her for a minute then she invited us in. We continued talking about the church. She asked where we meet and what time, most people do, and we told her and invited her to come. She didn't seem to sure about it. Then we continued talking. Well yesterday at church she showed up! I was so shocked! We've talked to so many people, and invited most of them to church. Usually they'll say "maybe" and not even show up. She was there and went to class too. I was especially surprised because it was late Saturday night when we invited her. It's wonderful. We meet with her again tonight.

Okay...now that's really it.

Love, Zach

Ramblings from a mom of questionable sanity...

June 2, 2010...Emma and I ventured out the front door this morning (something not often done, we have a strict back door policy for Rachel's safety) to take some picture's of our beautiful flowers. While doing so I spotted a few weeds in our ground cover, being the master gardener that I am, I promptly bent down to pluck them out. To my horror there were more, LOTS!(Compliment's of the Rose of Sharon bush). This inevitably lead to me wanting to get all of the new little seedlings out. Emma grew impatient waiting for me to try and complete this never ending task and threatened to ground me. Can a daughter ground you? My heart skipped a beat as my excitement grew... just think of all the things that I could accomplish if I were grounded. Oh the joy! But then I had to come back to reality, quit picking weeds and go run errands. Darn.

No letter...

6/1/10...Monday was Memorial Day and as you know, Zacherys' pday. Apparently he must use the computers at the library, which were closed on Monday, so I guess we don't get a letter this week. Sigh...