Dear Family,
After sending the letter that said Elder Croff's height was 4'6", I asked him
what it was to make sure, and I definitely exaggerated it. He is 5'1" tall,
which I still think is the shortest Elder in the mission as far as I know. So I
think that I can still claim the shortest and tallest companions in the mission.
Sam is doing great, and she set a baptismal date on Sunday for April 10, and she
is really excited about it. She told us that Elder Croff is the one that
convinced her to get baptized, but she won't tell anyone what he said to
convince her. She said she will tell us what he said when she gets baptized.
We also have two other progressing investigators that are doing well. Mildred
Cipra, who lives in Polk, PA, is an older lady who we invited out to church this
week and came, and when we talked with her about it afterward, she said she
thinks she may want to become a member, as she really enjoyed church and loves
what she has learned so far from it. Our third progressing is Shirley Winkler,
who I have told you about before, and she lives in Oil City, PA. She didn't
make it this week to church because she was really sick and tired, but we are
still teaching her and she is still receptive. Hopefully we can set a date with
her, because she is often very negative and down on herself, and she thinks
she's not worthy of the blessings of the gospel because of past transgressions.
We continually try to reassure her that she can be forgiven for anything, but
there are some things she dwells on that are hard for her to forget. We will
still continue teaching her and testifying, and I think a change of heart will
eventually come.
As far as the weather goes, it has been cold for the last few days. Pretty much
below freezing is what it's been like most of the time lately. Luckily for us
though, Saturday is supposed to get up to 52 degrees, so we are happy about
that. Hopefully after that it will continue to stay warmer and usher in Spring,
because we are ready for it!
Zone Conference was yesterday, and it was a very stressful morning! It was in
the Butler, PA chapel, which I have only been to once, when I got a ride. I asked for directions and thought I knew how to get there. The chapel is on a road called Saw Mill Run Road, which I assumed was right off of Route 8. I drove all the way through Butler looking for this road, and then 15 miles past Butler, with no success. So we drove back through Butler, and ended up driving about 10 miles past Butler the other direction. The road was nowhere to be found, so we stopped at a gas station and asked how to get to the road. They didn't know, but said to try a gas station in Butler. So we did. We used the pay phone and I called the person who gave us directions. I then realized that there was a turn-off about 8 miles before getting to downtown Butler, and Saw Mill Run Road was off of THAT road! Needless to say, we were about 45 minutes late, which is the latest I've ever been to any meeting of missionaries. I was so stressed and worried about getting chewed out, but I found out later that all of the other missionaries from the Brookville Zone were late as well. We were the latest, but only by about 15-20 minutes. The other ones were late because our Zone Leaders called and told us to take our time, because the roads would be icy. I guess of all the times to get lost and be late, I picked the best one!
That is wonderful news that Snow received the funding to build a new library,
and that it will be shared as the county library as well. That will be great
for the community as well as Snow.
I got a few wedding invitations in the mail lately. I got Andrea's about a week
or so ago and I got Josh Draper's yesterday. It is crazy to see my cousins near
my age getting married since I've been out, but I am very happy for them.
The new Stake Presidency is definitely inspired, as I can see by your testimony.
Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies, and I know that all of these new leaders will
be wonderful in fulfilling their callings.
That is great that Ben is becoming an Elder on Sunday. I am so proud of him and
his accomplishments in life. It makes me very happy to see him being so valiant
in the gospel, and so motivated to get his papers in for his mission. It makes
my joy full to see him progress so much in the gospel.
I am enjoying serving in Franklin, and I would venture to say that this is my
favorite area already on my mission, from the people that I have met and the
things that are happening here. Steubenville is a close second, but I think
that his has surpassed it. The love I feel for the people in this area is
overflowing, and it makes all the difference as I see that love change people's
lives. I love this gospel and I love to preach it and feel the Spirit work
through me and others. I know without any doubts in my mind that it is true and
I can't deny that, because the Spirit has let me know it so many times. I love
all of you and your support is priceless to me out here. It is great to hear
good news and I hope it continues. I hope this next week is even better than
this one, and I wish you all the best.
Love,
Andrew