August 25, 2010 Email (This one's pretty funny!)

Hey Fam.
That's cool that Kayla's back! Kinda a big deal! Did I miss a welcome home party?
My Birthday was pretty legit! On Saturday we had a little district lunch to celebrate! We just brought our own lunches and sat out on the lawn picnic style, and I brought my presents and opened them. It was such a big deal that even one of the assistants came to celebrate. (ok so he was just there with the zone leaders, but it makes me feel cooler! haha). Then on Sunday we had a lot of church and 3 lessons that fell through, but I was still happy anyway, and for the grand finale-the fireside. It was really cool despite all the things that fell through. And I gave a great 5 min. talk about enduring to the end. It was totally led by the spirit because I still didn't know how I was going to put all my ideas together when I got up there to talk. Pres. Winn was the speaker right after me and he referred back to my talk 3 times. I felt very shocked and happy! Oh, and after Center ward (Carlisle's ward) I was talking with Bro. Stokes (Ward Mission Leader-from Australia-cool) and Sis Carlisle came up to me and just stood there with a really excited look on her face and I could see a hug coming on so I put my arms out and said no and I thought I was ok till she gave me a hug anyway and a kiss on the cheek in front of everyone. Bro. Stokes just laughed and said he's gonna have to call home and let you know I've been kissing all the ward ladies. haha Then when he left he wished me a happy birthday and said, "but I'm not gonna kiss ya." haha
I love knowing I'm loved and people are thinking about me! I got the pics just fine! It was awesome! I don't get a lot of free time to do much, but I like getting letters from everyone. So you can send however many of the emails and blog entries you want from the guys and I'll read whatever I can.
That's kinda a bummer about the line of authority. Thanks for trying though. haha I knew you'd like Pres. & Sis Winn’s blog! (*There are some pics of Elder Partridge and a couple of videos of him singing!) haha I'll have to remember that she calls the basement the bat cave during transfers so I can give her a hard time about it.
So we haven't contacted Eliza yet (the Sudanese woman who wants to get baptized) because she's been sick a lot cause she's pregnant. But that will come. We're still teaching Zac (the kid from England) and that's going great. On Monday we taught about the 10 commandments using the hand signals and also the Word of Wisdom and the law of Chastity. It's pretty sweet! We're still teaching Fred (the man from New Orleans). He has a tooth that needs to get pulled and so it's hard to meet with him, but it's still easier to meet him now than before just because he told us how much he appreciates how we listen to him and don't just try to preach to him. He said, "I've been Baptist for 52 years I know a little somethin' somethin' about the Bible" He sees us as his friends; not in the sense that we go over to hang out or anything but because we actually listen to him and try to help him out. I haven't found out about the temple yet for Charles and Moe, but I definitely will! Only 6 more months till they go through!
So after the fireside on Sunday during refreshments I saw some people I haven't seen in a while from the North Stake. I saw Bro. Skipps from the 7th ward bishopric and he said he didn't know I could sing like that and than told me I could sing at his funeral! haha He's a clown! I also saw Bro. Erskine (the high council man over missionary work in the North stake.) He said he misses me but the work goes on.
Awesome about Caleb and Joe's farewells. Let me know how well they went.
I want to come over and learn how to make crepes too!!!

Hi Mom this is Elder Willnauer. I'm typing for your son. I'm very hungry and he is a very slow typer. I blame the doctors.
So let’s see, on Friday we were going to an appointment with some people we found the day before. They ended up not being home. But on the way back a man came up to us named Israel and he wanted to know the address to the church building and what time it started. We got to talking like missionaries do and it turns out he was baptized in 2002 (I just made a rhyme haha) Ok, um, so on Saturday we went over and met with him and his girlfriend, Rhonda. We taught her and 2 of her sons and they've accepted a baptismal date for Sept. 18!!! It's pretty cool how the Lord will bring people to you if you're doing what you're supposed to.
On Thursday we had 24 hour exchanges with our zone leaders where we go on exchanges all day. It just so happens that there was record breaking rain fall that day. And guess who was out in it... ME!!! Yaaa! When it 1st started we were able to get into the church building. Then the other Elders came and wanted to know if we needed a ride. They sounded a little reluctant to give us a ride and we thought we couldn't get any wetter, so we decided to walk to lunch. We went out into the rain like men, and about half way across the church lawn we were completely drenched as if we jumped into a pool with everything on. We quickly realized this was a bad idea and ran under the roof of the church building like little girls. So for lunch we went to Elder Doucette and Willnauers (that’s me!) apartment and threw ALL our clothes in the dryer. Just one of those fun experiences.
So yesterday we got a tandem bike. So I've accomplished one more goal that I've set for my mission. The funnest part was probably seeing cars go past us not too quickly and being able to see their face as they looked at us and laughed at us…I mean with us. Hah, But it wasn't all fun and games. With only 10 minutes left to get home we rushed on our bike and the chain fell off. So using my bike fixing skills, I tried to put it back on and failed. Not to mention we blew our back tire. But we were gonna be late! So... I... man'd up and jumped on and I peddled us 4 blocks while Elder Casey steered, all with a blown back tire. Awesome!
Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Elder Partridge aka B aka The BizzNap. Bye!

August 18, 2010 Email

Hey family,
I'm way sorry about not getting back to email last week. We had to help move some furniture into our apartment, but I did get the package you sent. I opened the presents that you said to open now, but I'm waiting till Saturday to open the rest. I will miss the crepe breakfast, but ya. haha Sorry about the batter experience with the blender. That’s no fun, but a good trial for patience. “Come what may and love it.”
Sounds like some sweet stuff going on with school and open house etc. Lots of people asked about me; wow. I feel special.
We got some furniture, nothing special, but at least it's a place to put my clothes and what not. We're on the bottom floor, so half way under ground. Garret Shields doesn't live in my last area, but that would be sweet if I got to serve in his stake and we could go on splits. haha Could you imagine how nuts that would be? I'm still in the same area as before with the Carlisle’s and everyone else. I just moved apartments because they closed one down. I don't have a car still, but I am really working to find a tandem bike because we live in a really inconvenient spot; on the opposite end of the stake about 4 blocks out of our area, so we end up wasting time sometimes just because it takes a while to walk.
I was reading Caleb's letter 8 email today and was wondering if there was any update or progress on my line of authority? I was also thinking about something that I like the best in packages and letters and I was wondering if you could send more pics of fun random things you do. It was awesome to get pics in the envelope you just sent.
So sweet about Colton’s call! I am a little jealous, I admit.
My comp is Elder Casey. He's from Georgia in the Atlanta area. I don't know too much about him, but he can eat a lot like me, so I hope we don't eat people out of house and home. haha We're gonna get screens on our windows finally in the next couple days.
On Sunday we were at our apartment for lunch and we got a phone call from a member down in Sandy who used to work with the Sudanese people as an inner city missionary. He told us about a woman that lives in our area that they've been working with and she wants to get baptized. Pretty great miracle. We're going to add her next week because she's sick right now.
We're also teaching a kid from England right now who's on summer vacation here visiting his uncle and auntie. We've been teaching him for a couple weeks now and he wants to get baptized when he gets back in England around his family and friends. So this last lesson we had with him-2 days ago-he said the closing prayer and asked for help learning so he can be ready for when he goes back to get baptized in England. When he said that, I just smiled and felt so good.
HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!! Coolest thing this week; I saw Charles and Moe Tuigamala! I was on exchanges with Elder Doucette-our DL-and they drove by and I didn't see it was them. So then they flip around and drove up along side of us and I was thinking it was probably some one else wondering what E. Doucette was doing back in the area. Then he said "hey," and I saw it was them and I ran over to their car and gave the most excited hand shake in my life. They live right on the border of my area and my old area now. He gave me his new phone number and said to give him a call. They were almost as excited as I was. I'm gonna have to see when they are going through the temple so I can go with them.
I really hope we get more referrals because that's where you get solid people.
I'm glad my birthday's on Sunday so I won't be tempted to waste time, because Sunday will be a full day. We've got a fireside that night that I get to speak in and sing a couple of musical numbers with other missionaries. Saturday we're having a zone lunch in honor of my birthday. They're so nice to me.
Wow you spoil me so much. I love it. Thanks a ton. As far as stuff for the other box: I could use some more mac and cheese (we used 2 boxes yesterday at a lunch with E Doucette and E Willnauer). Oh, and a pack of Poore Brothers potato chips. I miss those. Even though we didn't get them that much they don't have them here and they're really good. Other than that whatever you want to put in it. It's funny because you always end up putting the best stuff in them.
You guys are such a great example for me, too.
Love you more,
Elder Partridge

August 12, 2010 Email

So I'm still in the same area with a different companion now. His name is Elder Casey. We're gonna baptize the heck out of Rose Park. I'm excited for it. Our apartment is in a complex that is really run down and a lot of refugees live there, but our apartment is newly renovated and is nice, but no air conditioning. Not exactly the best thing in the middle of the summer, but at least it's starting to cool down at night. We don't have any furniture either, just our beds and our study tables. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A SHOWER CURTAIN. haha That was fun this morning. I'll be back on a little later today around the normal time. I love you tons.

*He didn’t come back on so this is it for this week! His birthday is on the 22nd, so if any of you want to send me a message/make a comment, I’ll be happy to pass it on to him. A picture with a birthday wish would be fun too, or anything else you can think of. Thanks!

August 4, 2010 Email

Hello Puppet! (Pirates of the Caribbean).
Dad got a Facebook! Man, never saw that one coming. I never thought he could be that popular. haha just kidding!
"Called to Serve" SLC Mission style just has some extra fun parts in it. It's on the Winn's blog. I'll have to get it to you so you can follow it.
The balance board would be good, but I changed my mind about it because there's no way I'd be able to do it in the mornings and that's the only time I'd be able to do it without wasting the Lord's time, so we'll see about when I get home.
I did get the picture dad sent of us doing the model pose for family pics. We look pretty good up above the mantel for August for our birthdays. I really don't even know what I want for my birthday. I'm set as far as food goes and I really don't feel like I need anything else. Maybe one more short sleeved shirt since it's summer, but nothing in particular that I can think of. I think dad will love an iPod for his birthday. I love listening to talks especially because I'm not a quick reader and do better at remembering when I hear things anyway. It's really fun to listen to conference over and over too, and catch so many things I missed and/or forgot. The most enlightening talk I think I've listened to so far is Bruce R. McConkie- The Seven Deadly Heresies. It puts a lot of things really straight forward.
I can't believe I'm almost 20 either. I'm not old enough or mature enough…maybe.
I was able to go to the dentist and get a filling for quite a large cavity, almost good enough to be root canal status. Thank goodness I got it done, but I'm not out of the woods yet. I have to pray that my tooth takes to the filling and that the root doesn't die on me, but so far it's going great… no pain at all. On the way to the dentist we drove right by Moki's and In-n-Out and didn't stop at either of them to eat because they were in the UT South Mission. Oh well. In-n-Out is coming to West Valley in August, and I guess I can wait another fourteen months for Moki’s. The numbing was fun though. We went and taught a lesson afterward and half of my tongue and face were numb--and it was my good side--so it made it that much funnier.
Good luck on your fun tooth adventures L! I know you'll do better than I did with my wisdom teeth!
I'm glad Brittany got married to a great guy! I love her, too! She's pretty awesome. Weird that everyone's getting married in general, but fun times! I'm going to stay focused on my mission so I can find the people I'm supposed to. I know they're here, but we aren't finding them for whatever reason.
It's pretty insane that conference is only 2 months away from now. It is going by sooooooooo fast it's ridiculous! I'm excited for conference to be here again though.
Things are going good! And fast. Only one more week till transfers. I get a hunch that I'll be staying in the area, but most times I get a hunch they're totally wrong anyway.
I bet Kayla is very excited to come home after being away for so long, and I bet L is going to miss being the only child when Kayla gets home. haha
That's exciting for Rebecca Crowe, and for you to be invited to go through the temple with her. I'm excited to get to know their family more when I get home.
No worries about remembering everyone who asks about me. I'm sure there are a lot; at least I hope there are a lot! :)
I'm looking forward to reading the boys last week’s letters. Thanks for sending them and thanks to Sis. Udall for putting them together.
We got to go to the Temple and Bro. Mansell was one of the people doing the session. (He's from my last area and we taught Megan Franz in his home). It was cool to see him and we talked a little afterward! We ate at Blue Lemon across the street and as we were leaving he was going in!
That would be sweet if Kayla dropped a box off when she’s in town!
Anywho, love you tons!
Elder B