November 18 Email

Hello everyone! so this week on Saturday, all the new missionaries and the trainers did what's called "extreme street contacting". We get the greenies and trainers and do some switchin so everyone has a different comp for the street contacting! I was with Elder Kristola from Finland! (he's elder Jorgensen's trainer)! The fun twist is...We did it in a BLIZZARD!!!!!!!!! It was very very cold! And I got snow in my hair! we were on 400 W from 300 S - 200 N downtown! (right by the Gateway mall and Energy Solutions arena-where the Utah Jazz play). There was hardly anyone outside! it was kinda rediculous! like the third person we talked to flipped us off and swore at us! She was up in our grill and everything and I was way confused b/c that's the first anti I've run into. but Elder Kristola just smiled at her and said "have a good day!" We did this up and down 400 W for 4 hours! and it was set up as a competition! Each companionship got a certain number of supplies to give out, and there was a points system with different points for each of the supplies and commitments such as a hard commitment (baptismal commitment) and lessons taught, etc. so really we could only win by relying on doing things other than just handing out supplies! The big pointers were a "yes" to a hard commitment, a full referal card and teaching lessons! so we focused on those! and we ended up in 2nd place! we only lost by 10 points! but it's ok b/c the prize was pretty lame anyway!
Elder Dyson makes fun of me H-core for using a shoehorn! but he's wrong! a shoehorn is boss! There's no dissing on the shoehorn!
At one of our dinners, the little girl tried to give elder Dyson and me family kisses! haha it was very funny!
On a more spiritual note! Last night may have been the most spiritual lesson I've experienced! We met with Patti McDonald for our fourth lesson with her! She's going through a ton of rough times right now in life! we talked about how she can recognize the spirit in her life and showed her the ways in which she's already experienced the power of the Holy Ghost in her life! Then the Spirit flooded the room as Elder Dyson was speaking to her! We committed her to be baptized on Dec. 12 and she wasn't sure if she'd feel ready to be baptized that soon! So we committed her to pray specifically that night to pray to get an answer from Heavenly Father that she should be baptized on the 12 of Dec! and then sit pondering about it afterward and look for the feeling of the Spirit to testify to her that she does need to be baptized on that day! and we promised her as servants of Jesus Christ that she will recieve an answer! And I know She recieved that answer last night and will want to be baptized on the 12.
I love you guys a ton!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers!!! It's sweet to hear about everyone getting their calls and stuff!

Love Elder Partridge!



*I happened to be in UT for the Saturday blizzard he talks about and as the snow was blowing sideways all I could think about was how I was sure he wouldn't have to be out in such bad weather! HA! Was I wrong!!!
Cyn

November 17 Letter

Dear Fam!
A little about the week!
Nov. 4-Wed. I don't know if I said this before, but today we got a breakfast and training from Pre. & Sis. Sonne as a reward for our zone putting 20 new people on date for baptism. The training was about mercy, justice, the atonement, and parenting! I also went to Deseret Industries at welfare square today. There's a family we're teaching that I'm going to write Kayla about and ask her to let you know when she gets it! It's really cool though! Be excited!
Nov. 5-Thurs. Tonight we went on exchanges with the DL! I went into their area with Elder Houk (The DL's comp) while DL Elder Hancock came to our area with Elder Dyson. Elder Houk is an insane driver! I've driven 10 times better than how he did with my double vision! I was scared for my life!
Nov. 6-Fri Today we met with a family that I'm writing Kayla about also! A different one! By-the-way, I'm not writing her about them and not you because I love her more, but because she'll think it's way cool and can relate! I'll hint! The man's name is Ali Muhammad! So ya, ask her about him when she gets the letter in about a week. Tonight was really hard! All our appointments dogged us so we ended up walking about 15-20 blocks in a big circle because we parked and walked to save miles! But no one was home! A dog totally slobbered on my head! It was disgusting!
Nov. 7-Sat. Today I drove!...A lawn mower! Don't think that's allowed though? oops! Only thought of that afterwards! We ended up doing a ton of service today instead of teaching the people like we'd planned! We totally lost our phone, so we checked everywhere we'd been, said a prayer and were prompted again to go look in this one spot in front of one of our investigator's homes and we were kicking through the leaves and feeling around because it was night and a man next door came out and asked if we were looking for our phone! He had it and gave it to us and we talked with him and he's not a member! That was such a faith building experience!
Ok, I'm just going to talk about this family that I'm going to write Kayla about cause I can't stand it! They're from Tonga! Her name is Ofa and her brother's name is Nua and they're from Cali and just moved here a month ago and actually, they were born in Mesa! Cool! Their grandfather is the minister for the Free Church of Tonga! Our appointment fell through with them today, but half an hour later, like 2 blocks away from where they live, they pulled over and gave us hot chocolate because they felt bad and wanted to let us know the original time we set up for the next lesson wouldn't work and we rescheduled! It showed a lot of integrity!
Nov. 8-Sun-We spoke in church today! Yay! and we went to the Samoan Ward! Not gonna lie, it was sweet! But only one of our investigators came to church today! :( and she's not even on date!
Nov. 9-Mon. Zone meeting was really good today! I learned/realized we can ask God as missionaries to give our investigators a witness right there! We went on exchanges again with the DL and this time, I was with Elder Hancock in our area! We taught Emmanuel, which went well, but Suzanne was gone! :( Then we went to Ofa and Nua's and their other sister and her son to teach them a little! Actually, we learned that the sister is already a member and her mom's family is very active, but her dad's side is the Church of Tonga! They're sweet! I'm sad though because we gave them to the Tongan Elders to teach! But I know it'll be better because the Tongan Elders know more about the culture and the Tongan Ward will be amazing to fellowship them! Then we-all 4 of us-went to a lesson with Theresa who's getting baptized on the 2! Yay!!!

Nov. 10-Tues. Tonight we ate with some members at a Chinese buffet! I tried octopus! We also taught Patty McDonald tonight and had Stake Correlation with the Ward Mission Leaders!
Love y'all!
Love,
Elder Partridge

November 11 Email

Dear everyone that's cool and reads my letters!
This will probably be a shorter letter but cool none the less! So the other day I ate the taco bell grande meal and everyone was confused and impressed! my comp called me a freak for being able to do that! (in a good way). and my zl says I'm amazing and not just b/c i can eat a grande meal and not even be phased! The work status is! kinda stagnant and about to elevate to extremely busy and good! It's really hard for me to remember what happened in this week so IDK!
We go on exchanges 3 times a week with ward members and with the dl and zls every so often! I'm still trying to get used to it! It's weird though b/c I seem to be more bold when I'm on exchanges! I got to speak in church on Sunday! I did good considering we got the call on Sat. and I didn't do anything to prepare! The opening speaker talked on God's love for us! then i spoke on our love for God! then my comp. spoke on love for our neighbor! yay! I spoke for a total of 7 whole min! so it was short and sweet! IDK? everyone said they enjoyed it and I was a natural! but I prefer not getting a big head and always finding things I can improve on!
Last night I tried octopus for my first time! it was good! it was like chewing on a well seasoned twisted piece of rubber! mmm...
Our investigators are great and we have a couple baptisms lined up for the 21 and then a bunch lined up for the 28 which we'll see how it goes cuz that's the day of the BYU Utah game! :)
Love you guys! thanks for your thoughts and prayers! oh btw! the Zion mission theme song is hymn 248! "Up Awake..." check it out! it rocks my socks! Peace! out!
Love,!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Elder Partridge!!!!!!!

November 9, Amazingly Great Letter!

Dear Family!
We just found a CD player in the closet and are listening to an EFY CD right now because it's P-day and we get EFY CD listening abilities on P-day instead of just Mo-Tab! Actually, when Elder D was first out, Pres. Sonne just had the rule "anything that brings you closer to the Spirit" and he listened to Jack Johnson a lot, but people abused it, of course, and it got changed to Mo-Tab and talks!
Lauren! How are you doing?! I hope better! Take it easy! I'm glad to hear your harp concert was amazing! That thing (the harp) is a pain! But you sound awesome on it!
My apartment's way nice except for the 3 Black Widows we've killed and 1 we didn't! Scary! The members living above us are cool! Bro. Wanburg is in charge of growing and placing the flowers/plants on all of Temple Square! We have our own washer/dryer, own kitchen, study tables, couches/living room, bathroom, bedroom and closets! It's one of the better ones Elder D has ever been in!
Renee didn't get baptized on the 31st and she's moving so we're just finding out what she wants to do! She's still coming to church, but won't really meet with us regularly like she needs to before baptism, so we're just gonna figure out what she wants, commit her to do it, and meet with us or we'll move on! Because there's so much for us to do and if she's not committed, we will use our time to teach and find those that are committed! Thank you so much for the continual prayers for me and my comps and my investigators!
We did Temple service on Monday and besides vacuuming in the changing areas/women's lockers, we straightened the rows of chairs in the Solemn Assembly Room for them to shoot footage to use in the Visitor's Center! So if you go and see it, I arranged those right before they filmed that!
Honestly, I am feeling amazing! The normal things that I didn't like or bothered me back home don't bother me any more! I just have a deeper understanding and love, mainly from being totally immersed in the Gospel and just out of respect for everyone around me! My health is great! Unstable at times, but great!
Lauren, your room is incredible! I hope you realize how sweet it is and are grateful for it! My pumpkin's pretty sweet! not gonna lie! What did you guys do with it? SMASH IT?!?! haha
Filltridge's! 6 members!!! OH MY! How it's shrunk! Mom & Dad! You look rad! I like the white shirt and socks with the shorts! and the peace sign! As long as you guys are comfortable with yourselves, then whatever! haha I don't have to worry about you embarrassing me for 2 years! haha (This was in response to pics we sent him.)
Oct. 29--Zone Conference-We talked about Faith and Hope! We hope for something in life! Then we have a trial in all things! Then we do action to show our faith and every time we press through the trial-no matter how large or small-we will receive the blessing or thing hoped for! Tonight we got the Samoan Ward from our ZL's! YES!!!!
Oct. 30--I ate a whole burrito of tongue for lunch because Elder Orme thought I liked it that much! To imagine what it's like, imagine the rubber bumps on the back of the tooth brushes we use that are really cool! Now make it 4 times that big, but the same texture! That's the chunks of taste bud covered tongue in my burrito! :/! NO BIEN!!! We've promised Emmanuel and Suzanne that their bills will be paid and Emmanuel will get a job if they keep the commandment to come to church! Last week Suzanne had to work, but Emmanuel came with his daughter, Beyonce! And their bills have been paid!
Oct. 31--Halloween! Tonight we had a Zone party at the North Point church building! We played this tennis game with a kick ball and 2 people on each side and a net made of chairs! I was way good because of my volleyball skillz! We also watched "The Best Two Years"! It was even funnier now because I understand a lot more now and was watching it with 17 other missionaries!
Nov. 1--We traveled to the North boundary of the mission to check a referral with our Ward Mission Leader and right to the east of us is the airport, so we went out there on a road right before the runways start and the planes fly right over! So one P-day, we're gonna go out there and get some pics of planes right over us! Speaking of planes! There's a stunt pilot that flies right over our house some times! He's insane! Barrel rolls, flips, nose dives! He does it all! Insane! Our Zone goal for baptisms is 45 in November. Each companionship needs to get 2 people on date this week! Oh...in Psalms 46, count 46 words in and read the word! Now read 46 words from the back, not including the last word-the name Selah! Put the first and second words together! Who wrote the book of Psalms?! haha
Nov. 2--Elder Dyson was messing with the emergency brake while making phone calls and it got stuck! It got so bad, we said a prayer for help! We opened the trunk and the only thing we had was a cookie sheet we used on Halloween to bake pumpkin seeds! So I grabbed that and smacked it against the emergency brake button! And it released! :) Then we said a prayer of thanks! Very funny moment! I had my first Samoan dinner tonight! I love these people! God knows me so well to place me in this mission! Because He knows how much I love the Polynesian people and there are so many Polynesian people! I get to interact with them a lot! But He knows this is where I belong! It's very cool! We taught Lanae again tonight and cleaned up any questions in her mind about baptism and authority. The Spirit was so strong in that lesson and it was really obvious that she felt it!
Nov. 3--We had New Missionary Training today at the mission office! It was the first time I've seen my MTC District in 2 weeks! It was great to see them again and hear about some of their experiences! I bore my testimony about the power we've been given and our faith! I told how on exchanges the other day, DL Elder Hancock and I went to Emmanuel's and just stopped by to say his so Elder Hancock could meet him. Turns out he'd already seen him a week ago-this is Sat. the 31 and he was really drunk and stuff, so on Sunday, I fasted that today when we taught the Word of Wisdom, they would have no problems quitting that stuff! I bore my testimony that I knew they would because of my fast for them and my obedience, and the Lord was bound to do this! I told them that it hasn't happened yet, but I can already tell you what will happen. Later today, we had the lesson and guess what? They committed to keep the Word of Wisdom from now on and are still going to be baptized on Nov. 21 as a family!
That's about it! Love you all!
Love,
Elder Partridge

Latest Pics

Role playing with Jerry (foam ball) and Harry (Pumpkin).

Elder Partridge & Elder Chase Roberts @ MTC

Elder Partridge & Elder Tanner Hatch

Elder Dyson & Elder Partridge

First Snow!

Elder Scheifer & Elder Partridge @ MTC

The place where he ate his first head/tongue taco.

"Rose Park"...his area.

November 6 Letter

Hey Family!

Here's a little of what happened this week! (besides what I wrote in the email).

Friday- Oct. 23--I'm out of shape! We drove an Elder to the hospital for an appointment because we have a car and he and his comp don't! He's a Spanish speaking missionary in our area from Canada. We tried to read scriptures in the waiting room for study, but it was hard because the health channel was on in the corner right by us and there were some fun things it would talk about sometimes that we couldn't help but watch! It was annoying, yet funny!

For dinner we had a good orange chicken at a member's house. He went to Japan on his mission. We had a bundt-chocolaty chocolate goodness and mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert! Renee got a job at Sizzler! We went to the Bishop's house and talked to him, then back out to work again. We work so hard!

Saturday-Oct. 24--"We slept in!!!"-Home Alone! Really we totally did on accident! We got out in time (sacrificing breakfast and our workout to start studying in time) and we stopped by a boy named Miguel who just got a job on Sundays! Dang! It doesn't seem like it will go anywhere, but I'm hoping it will! We taught our first lesson with a kid named Michael who's 19 and doesn't seem too excited to be learning about what we're teaching! He's not very committed. We stopped by Emmanuel's and he wasn't home, but a ton of kids came to the door! We taught a girl named Lanae! She's Samoan and from Window Rock, AZ. She's like 17! She's living with some friends of the family! Later that night, we stopped by the Dickerson's. A very nice family who's LDS except the father! (This is where I saw BYU vs. TCU). They'll be at the trunk or treat on Wednesday!

Sunday-October 25--We role played to Jerry and Harry Today! I went to 3 Sacrament Meetings which weren't long at all like I thought they'd seem! In one Ward, it was their Primary Program! For dinner, I had my first roast dinner! mmmm...it was a good one! It was a way cold night! My nose, ears, and fingers stung so bad from how cold it was! It was a very discouraging night because it was so cold! All I could think about was going back to my nice warm bed!...Sob story! Suck it up!

Monday-Oct. 26--It was a short night's sleep! :/ Today we had our Zone meeting! The goal is 20 new people on date by this weekend and 38 baptisms in the area for November. What we were taught/what we learned, was that as we prove ourselves this month(throughout my mission) the Lord will trust us and place people in our path! I need to learn how to tell people what I need to the way I think it because it sounds really bad when I talk to people! (That's why you just have the Spirit with you all the time and He'll tell you what you need to say! Tonight was the really discouraging night when all our appts. dogged us!

Tuesday-Oct 27--First snow fall in the mission field and we went contacting in it! I actually enjoyed it a lot when the big part of the storm came through and it snowed a ton with huge flakes! I like it more because during that time, it actually feels warmer than when it's not snowing. Then came the amazing experience with Emmanuel! Also, that night, we taught a Sis. McDonald whose son is on a mission in Columbia, but she's not a member! She's ready and willing to be baptized as soon as she gains a testimony for herself of the Book of Mormon.

Cool! Well, I hope to hear from you next week so I can talk more with what you're all up to! Keep me posted!
Love you tons!
Love,
Elder Partridge

November 4 Email

So the work progressed amazingly this week and I'll tell you why! O*B*E*D*I*E*N*C*E! WE ARE PROMISED AS SET APART SERVANTS OF THE LORD THAT BLESSINGS WILL ALWAYS COME ACCORDING TO OUR OBEDIENCE! Especially as a Zion Missionary! Qualifications include: Is meticulously obedient every day! Sacrifices the things of the world for the things of God! Teaches and testifies of the restored gospel to EVERYONE! Baptizes EVERY week! (6/transfer)! Serves God with all his/her heart might mind and strength! Knows and thoroughly understands the principles and doctrines of PMG ch. 3! Works Smart and focuses on key indicators! That's a Zion Missionary! That's what I am (or am working to become)!I have a ton of pride in this mission and the work we do! Especially how we do it! We do what's called a hard commit every day! We challenge at least one person a day to be baptized on a specific day! and I've only been denied a few times so far! so it's a huge key to the success of this mission! Being bold is vital to the work we do in this mission!
So we just got started to be fed by the Samoan Ward this week! and they make you eat and eat and eat! if you're done they'll say Elder, You're just resting? and you have to say yes! haha and there's a trend out here that all Polynesians follow! If they forget to feed you they say "Elders, we are so sorry! Here, Here's $40! go and get something to eat! That's what happened last night! I love it! but I'm also disappointed because I love eating with Polynesian people!
Love yall! The Church is true!
Love Elder Partridge!

*Because he has referred to being a "Zion Mission" a few times in the past, I asked him what that meant, so this is the explanation. :)