May 2, 2011 Email

Hey guys,

So with the car break-in mom, IDK why they picked our car? Probably because it was unlocked but that's not my fault because the car lock on my side doesn't work. But it was pretty cool how they looked in the glove compartment and took our gas card, but skipped right over my camera. I was lucky. I will need a new backpack so I will just buy that with my debit card. It was also cool because for the 3 days that we didn't have a tiwi card to log in, it just stayed logged in. Pretty cool. After we discovered the incident we called Pres. Winn and he said to call the police, so we did. Then we waited 2 hours for the police not to show up. Great.

We had 2 baptisms this weekend. One of a 9-yr-old kid named Bridger and the other an 84 year-old named Jess. For Jess's baptism, he just got over double pneumonia and could not walk, so his son-in-law, Elder Ostrom, and I carried this man down into the font and pretty much got baptized with him. In the confirmation his grandson blessed him that he had now fulfilled what he had to in this life and was to prepare for the coming weeks to continue to serve. Cool. We also had 3 baptisms back in Tooele. I wasn't able to go back to Tooele, but they got baptized, which is all that matters. Plus we'll be able to see them when we go to visit them as a family after the mission.

We were out last night at 8:50 trying to add 2 new investigators before the end of the week and we didn't find anyone new, but we did hear about Osama being killed.

We ended up getting 4 inches of snow here in Granger and it was all gone by the afternoon. I despise Utah weather. That was pretty much the assurance that it will flood this year. That will be interesting. Cool.

I'll be skyping some time in the evening between 6-9 pm UT time. It's gonna be cool.

So being a ZL..."we're definitely not in Kansas anymore." It's a lot more to do. Some of the things are very administrative and most people see it as boring. The paper work/behind the scenes work to make sure everything runs smooth and ya. So We are working just as hard, but the #'s are lower than in Tooele because we aren't working as much in our area. It's been frustrating this last week because we knew our weak area was going to be adding new investigators this week, so that was our focus all week, every free moment. But we only ended up adding one person. We tried every method possible. IDK what's going on.

I still think it's cool how you are a missionary the same time as me, mom. Cool.

Ya I know Elder Ahlstrom. He introduced himself to me at a mission lunch thing last transfer. He told me he was friends with all them and they said to look for me, so he looked for me and found me. He seems like a great Elder. It'll be fun to be around him for 5 more months.

I love Gary! I'll be praying for you daily. And yes I will definitely be hanging around and visiting when I get home.

I didn't know Ashlyn was already actually going to Jerusalem. That's sweet. Great for her.

I thought that there was no way L could have beat me after brain surgery, but looks like she's still proving me wrong. Isn't health insurance great?

Holy smokes!!! L is ridiculously intelligent. Let me just say...props from your big bro for juggling all that at once and doing so incredible on your ACT. "You da bomb."

By-the-way, I took an IQ test and I have an IQ of 132 which is in the top 2.2 of the entire world. I feel smart, too. And that's after 19 months not going to school. Heck ya.

Love you all,
Elder Partridge

A Subtle Message From Sister Winn

A few weeks ago I left a comment on Sister Winn's blog. After looking at hundreds of pictures to get a glimpse of Elder Partridge at a Zone Conference, there were none, so I simply asked if he was still serving in that mission. Not long after, this post appeared on her blog. I have to admit, I was a bit shocked and embarrassed, but looked forward to what future posts would appear. Well, she definitely did not disappoint! Go here to check it out. Thank you, Mama Winn!!! You really are the best!

April 25, 2011 Email

Hey,

I'm now a big dog zone leader! So I did get transferred out of Tooele just like I was NOT expecting. But I'm in the South Zone in West Valley City in the Granger East Stake, which is interesting because Dyson served here, too. Funny. I'm with another companion that was in the MTC the same time as me-Elder Ostrom from Florida.

We just went to the Temple this morning. The first time in almost 5 months now. It was pretty refreshing to go through a session, and especially to receive revelation about a Zone goal for May. April was pretty bad and embarrassing here in the South Zone, so we decided with the potential that we have, we are going to blow May out of the water! We have Zone Leader council coming up tomorrow (my first one) where we'll discuss our goal and actual for April and our goal and plans for May and whatever else they want to know.

This is totally different than Tooele! But there are a lot of changes and growth that I incorporated while in Tooele that we are going to apply here, too.

I'll have to check with Pres. Winn to see if I'll be able to go back to Tooele for any baptisms, but probably not. But we'll see.

Oh sweet! Vicki Snow back in Rose Park got baptized! That's awesome! I definitely worked with them. That was with Elder Jackson 10 months ago. Crazy how fast time flies by. Tell Sis Carlisle thanks a ton for letting you/me know.

More fun news for L. Not really, but the way she deals with everything it might as well be good news. That's a compliment btw.

So ya, Casa del Rey is pretty delicious. I will miss it. I only went to Grantsville 4-6 times in the whole 4 1/2 months there though. But you'll definitely go there when you all come to pick me up. I'm going to take you to the people I was able to help bring the gospel to for sure.

Wow. I was off on my guess for Dayne's mission call. I won't see him for a hecka long time! 47 months.

I can't believe you stay up so late. I go to bed at 10:30. Elder Ostrom and I both found it funny that for our last lesson we went to a guys house at 8:00-8:45 pm and as we were leaving to go home, everyone else was getting ready to go out. I don't know how I'll be able to re-adjust. It seems crazy to me.

Tell Nanci Wudel hi from me, and thanks for all the fun Easter Pageant memories.

Let me just say..."I've had better Easters." It started pretty fantastic. We opened our Easter packages and slapped each other for about 10-15 minutes with the huge sticky slap hands. It has been the most fun we've had. For lunch we got into another 20 min slap-fest. Finally we stopped because our arms were getting sore. But then it was off to church. Sacrament Meeting is the last of all the blocks here, like back in Rose Park North. So we parked in the parking lot of the Stake Center and went to all the classes first and then sat through Sacrament Meeting and went to go back home for a quick lunch before the next Sacrament Meeting. We got in the car and Elder Ostrom realized his tiwi card (which allows missionaries to log into the stupid monitor box) wasn't there. Then he asked, " wasn't your ipod cable plugged in." "ya it was." oh great. We popped the trunk and they'd stolen the rest of the Easter packages for the Elders and Sisters and our backpacks. Luckily, we both took our scriptures and journals into church with us. But still. It probably wasn't the best idea to steal from missionaries either. I don't think God looks too highly on that. Just sayin.

I feel blessed, even though being Zone Leader could end up being very stressful. I love you all a bunch. Happy Easter.

Love,
Elder Partridge

And Happy Anniversary to you! My 19 month anniversary is coming up on the 30th. Love you tons. gtg

April 18, 2011 Email

Hey, What's up?

So yes Mom, I did know that Mother's Day is coming up and I could tell you're a little excited, ya. Just a little though. I think it would be sweet if we did Skype. Just sayin.

haha "What's poppin' with me?" haha oh Mom...Well, quite a bit as a matter of fact. First of all, Jodi Lund was baptized and confirmed this weekend! Holla! They are such a funny family. Don't worry, I'll send pictures.

Also, we found a new person to teach named Joey, or rather he found us. We were up hiking to the T on the mountain for lunch (that's another story) when we got a phone call from a lady at the employment center telling us Joey's info and that he wanted missionaries to come by. He just recently got out of jail, but while in jail learned about and gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon from his roommate who is LDS. He wants to be baptized and totally change his life around. Very humble (aka teachable) and wants to follow Christ the best that he can.

So I'm sure you're wondering about the hike to the T on the mountain. Maybe you weren't, but you are now. So this last Wednesday we did service for the Wall's (Cameron was just baptized a couple weeks ago), and so we were already in the right clothes. (Btw it felt great to be out doing yard work. No more snow). So we ended right before lunch time and we thought, let's hike the T. Ok. I immediately regret my decision. Not because the hike was hard, because it was actually quite easy, at least for me. Elder Aguilar being from Florida, still hasn't acclimated to the elevation-apparently. But ya it turned out to be quite anti-climactic; at the very end (the last 20-30 yards) it gets pretty steep, treacherous if you will,and we got up to the T and it was lame. I was expecting it would be like the Y in Provo-made of cement and what not, but you know what it is: it's a darn chain link fence laying down in the shape of a T with a white tarp over it! LAME!!!

Oh, and it's Elder Morris (Zone Leader out here) birthday TODAY. So last week on Friday he had some Brisket, pork loin and BBQ sauce overnighted from Texas to here. It was some good stuff. It reminded me of Shiflet's brisket, only I think Shiflet's is better.

No transfer news till tomorrow. Sorrow.

When did L go out to Tooele? And why? There's not much out here. Don't get me wrong, I love Tooele-missionary work is the bomb.com out here. It's one of my favorite 4 areas of my mission. But ya.

So I'm not all that strong, but I surprised myself this morning. We were at the Zone Leaders and they have a weight bench, and I benched 135 lbs. That's a lot for me! I shocked myself. I'm so strong. JK that's not really that much, but I felt cool.

That was random.

It's raining again. In one way or another, the snow and rain have ruined every P-day activity this transfer. It gets fine for the rest of the week, but it's always been bad weather on Mondays. We were gonna go golfing, but not anymore. It's gonna be just like in Bonneville; we were gonna go golfing there, but never got to it and then the week after I get transferred they went. Lame, but it's ok. I think I'll live.

Love,
Elder Partridge

P.S. I guess Dayne is going to...Africa. maybe

April 11, 2011 Email

What's poppin!

I'm doing great. Transfers are next Wednesday and I have no idea what's going to happen. Last transfer I called everything for everyone in the whole zone. Even for the missionaries I'd never met out in Wendover. But this transfer is up in the air as to what's going to happen. I would love to stay here! This is such a great area. I'd also love to stay with Elder Aguilar! I love him! We are crankin things out here! If I do get transferred it will be good too though. "Whatever happens...The Lord is in it." Joseph Smith Movie.

So sorry if I'm not giving enough information in my emails about everyone we're teaching. So Sarah and Sara. Sarah Jackson is 9 years old and we just baptized her last weekend. Her family was less active and she hadn't been baptized. We first met them out in their huge back yard, where the deer and the antelope play. Sarah was so shy, she wouldn't even look at us and was hiding behind her mom the whole time. We helped them round up their horses for riding club last week. Very fun family. You'll have to meet them some time.

Sara Cassel was also baptized last weekend. She was being taught since before I came into the area. She has overcome some pretty huge things in her life to finally make it to this point. I am so happy everything went through and worked out. She's the one who quit smoking after 19 years straight of smoking. She just dropped it like it was nothing.

Pupusas are from El Salvador which translates to the Savior; so they are literally the food of the Gods. I really can't describe them. But for your sakes I'll try. Imagine a jelly filled doughnut. ok, got it? Now make it flatter/thinner and change the dough to tortilla. About the size of a saucer (Not a flying saucer, the small plate). Are you still with me? Ok, now instead of jelly, you put pork or beef or chicken or beans, or whatever inside. It's amazing. You should try some. Do Arzagas ever make them. Maybe not since it's an El Salvadorean thing, but they are delish!

When we were down there in Salt Lake for conference, we stayed with Elders Hoffman from Florida and Frietas from Brazil. You probably don't know them b/c I've never served around or talked about any of them. But they live not even a block away from Fat Cats bowling alley.

I get to go on exchanges with the Spanish Elders for Kayla's birthday. If she's turning 23, that means I'll be turning 21 in 4 1/2 months! Craziness!

We have a baptism this weekend of Jodi Lund. About 3 weeks ago we had that big leadership meeting and got the promise from Pres. Winn that we will put some one on date that night. And Jodi is the one that we put on date. She is so solid! She pretty much goes through every principle of Preach My Gospel one step ahead of us and teaches herself. We taught her last week using the tea bag and I wish I would have video taped her face as the flame almost got to her hand. It was hilarious.

So mom, do you ever go to the correlation meetings with the missionaries with Bro. Brian? If not, you should check into it. It's pretty great for us to tell ward missionaries directly what they can help us with.

We met with Cheyenne Curly and her mom and her 2 best friends last night, and she's going to be baptized on April 30. We are going to put Emily Johnson on date for the same day when we teach her tomorrow.

Ooo! and on Saturday morning we went to the Aquatic Center and went swimming. jk. We went to the Aquatic Center and ate pancakes that Bishop Dalton was making. His wife and kids are way into water polo and they were having a 24 hour tournament that they invited us to. So we got there in the morning and a little girl ran a note to us saying that Bishop was cooking out back. Then we got a private escort from a coach through the pool grounds to go eat. Then Sister Dalton talked us through what was going on as we watched. I've never wanted to go swimming so bad in the last 18 months! Elder Aguilar agreed, of course, being form Florida. He said he wanted some one to just push him in. Sister Dalton said she could set that up. haha The funniest part is she was pretty much serious.

We are going to lunch in Grantsville. There is a Mexican restaurant that has food similar to places in Mesa. Still not the same, but it's close enough for me.

Anywho, those were some awesome adventures this week. Others include a trip to Rush Valley, Dumpster Diving, etc. you know, the usual.

Love you,
Elder Partridge

April 4, 2011 Email

Hello guys,

So Conference...AMAZING! Yes mom, we did get tickets to every session. We only ended up missing the Saturday afternoon session in the Conference Center, but we still got to see it in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was a pretty good trade though, getting to see Sarah Jackson baptized and confirmed between sessions and the joy and adrenaline and spiritual high from rushing back and forth to and from Tooele! It's great! The baptism went super! It would have started on time, but we were late. We decided it was better to be there late than not at all and we still rushed over there in 25 min.

Sara Cassel also was baptized this weekend on Sunday after Conference. It was great! She has overcome A LOT to be baptized. She has quit smoking after 19 years of it, and hasn't looked back.

We ended up staying with other missionaries in Salt Lake sleeping in their apartment on the floor, but it was worth it if for nothing else we got free pupusas; an El Salvadorian food. Very good. And it was intended that we would do that to save miles. It kinda worked, but not really since we drove all the way back for the baptism. And talk about the epitome of Utah crazy weather, 70 degrees Saturday down to 30's on Sunday. Ridiculous! But it was all great.

So in the first session I sat in front of people from the Grandview 2nd Ward. I didn't know them though. And I saw Sister Seamons and she says hi. Other than that, no one I know. Oh, and I saw Elder Oaks. I know him, too. I really enjoyed his talk, too. I don't know if anyone else caught this, but there seemed to be a big emphasis on marriage. 4 talks on the subject. And a couple on tithing and the Atonement/repentance/chastisement. I also liked Pres. Eyring's talk in Priesthood meeting. He lived in a rough neighborhood. haha After those talks, we decided yesterday to go by a Deacons Quorum Pres. and ask him what we could do to help him with his quorum. I was surprised at how well he knew his quorum members he had stewardship over, and the things he was already doing to encourage, lift, and empower them. I realized I need to work twice as hard now to make up for the things I didn't do as a quorum pres. when i was younger.

We also saw the Sharifi's that Elder Aguilar taught that just got sealed! Such a cool fam. And we visited a former Ward Mission Leader that was downtown that Elder Aguilar had worked with when he'd served down there that I'd met twice going there on exchanges. That was a great way to spend between sessions.

We do have some new investigators. We just added 2 young women who want to be baptized; Emily Johnson and Cheyenne Curly. Also, we added Jonathon Nicols who we taught once when I was here my first transfer and he wasn't ready yet, but is very devoted now to get baptized. He's 9. And we're teaching another 9 year old who has been coming to church with his mom and brothers who wants to be baptized. It's great!

Congrats to Spanish Fork and Gentry.

Definitely keep me updated on Dayne! That is so nuts!

Love you tons! Hope this all gets through. There have been some complications with the website. But ya.

Love you!

An Email Surprise

We received this picture of Elder Partridge and Elder Aguilar at the Unrein's baptism from a member in Tooele. Love it! Thanks Sister Christopherson!!!