August 1, 2011 Email

Hello!

Arian's baptism went fantastic!!! The lights over the baptismal font went out, but that was about it! She was so excited for it. When I first got here she'd already changed a lot and as we've taught her she shines more and more every time. Their family is amazing! It's fun; it's all jumbled up with different relationships of cousin, dad, uncle, step-mom, etc. and they all just call each other bro and sis and mom and dad. They are such a tight family! There was one lesson in particular that was a big factor in her decision to be baptized. We'd asked her to pray about it and seek Heavenly Father's will, and she prayed about it and didn't really recognize an answer. But she told us one day and she got way freaked out, so she said a prayer and felt so much better afterward. We just sat there and let her feel the spirit. She was worried what her dad would think of her getting baptized. So we gave her a blessing and it was one of the most powerful blessings I've felt. It was straight from God, and after it was given we sat there in more silence (there was a lot of silence) and eventually we just asked her what she felt God wanted her to do. She knew to baptzed, not because we said to, but because she felt she needed to. And she has been happier and happier ever since.

I was able to talk to Dayne (with permission from Pres. Winn). He's coming out with us to serve on August 13. Sweet!!!!!

We just went golfing in a brother's shed and played volleyball in the rain! We are going to be going to golf for morning exercise every day and get some free golf lessons from an older guy who's been golfing since high school. Just today he helped us a ton! I've got the body rotation down now in about 30 min of practicing. Watch out!!!

And ya Ryan did tell me about buying the boots for my birthday! (He does everything for us, he's way too nice). I don't know if I'll do it because I'm not really gonna use them when I get back home, so probably not. Thanks for the advice though.

I love you! Take care!

Love,
Elder Partridge!

*Dayne is his cousin in UT who will be leaving to serve his mission in Honduras the end of August, so Pres. Winn has given permission for them to serve together for a day so they can spend that time together and it won't be 4 years without seeing each other!

**I found out from his companions blog that they have received 32 referrals and are teaching 11 new people since they did the hide race for the 24th of July celebration! Wow!

Hide Race Photos

Yes, this is Elder Partridge, on a hide, being pulled behind a horse!

I hope his mouth is closed!

Hang on!

Elder Partridge rolls off and Elder Hancock jumps on!

They got under 10 seconds and took 2nd place!

Can you believe how happy...and dirty they look?!

July 25, 2011 Email

Hola bonitas!

Haha, we decided we'd try a new finding activity; hide racing! We knew we couldn't be on horses, but it said nothing about being drug behind them. It reminded me of going tubing at the lake, only you're on dirt/poop instead of water, you're being drug by a horse not a boat, and you don't eat it quite as bad surprisingly! Shout out to my boy Ryan Niederer for getting us in, and Coach Kennedy for pulling us. She didn't go easy on us, but she could have pushed us harder. It was a fantastic boost for the work! We are hearing about non-members talking to their friends about it and they are willing to listen to us, and we now have full trust of all the members here! Fantastic!

This is Elder Hancock's second transfer, but he's already doing better now than where I am after 2 years of missionary work! I am definitely giving the posterity flag to him. And the cactus! He is an amazing Elder. Must be something to do with the AZ heat or something! We're serving in the Lyman Stake aka "the Bridger Valley". We cover Lyman, Mountain View, Urie, Fort Bridger, Lone Tree, Roberts, etc.

I just had a time line realization and wrote some essays this morning. (For his college applications) I've been kinda prolonging doing it for a while so I could only keep studying Preach My Gospel and the scriptures, but I need to git er dun!

I'm good for memory on my camera! No worries there. We don't usually make it to Wally World because we like to stay in Lyman on p-day. Oh snap! and for my b day I would die for some homemade salsa and salsa verde that you make...the smooth stuff! I don't know if you could do that, but it would be sweet. And I don't know if this is too much to ask, but if at all possible, could you send me my boots out so I can wear them on p-day? If not, no worries, but that would be great!

Jeez Lewise! That's good timing with the pic of the girls in the rain! I miss it!

We get our mail forwarded out to us every week.

We have a baptism tomorrow for Arian. I haven't talked much about her, if at all, but she's an amazing girl, I'll tell you all about it next week. Pinky promise.

Love you tons! Will "talk" to you next week.

Love Elder Partridge

Baptism Pictures

This was at Sammy Hood's baptism on Monday.

July 18, 2011 Email

Howdy Bukeroo,

"My name's not Bukeroo." "Sure it is partner." I'll give you a hint. I'm on the "Home home on the range. Where the deer and the antelope play..." It starts with a W and ends with a yoming. Ya, you guessed it. And I'm with the hardest working companion in the mission. His name is Elder Hancock and he is from a ranch in AZ on the border of Mexico. Between Nogales and Douglas. Steller. We just had a baptism today of a girl named Sammy Hood! She is completely solid. She's one of the most fun, outgoing, firm converts I've seen. It seemed like she was already a member when I first met her. We are getting so much accomplished. Actually, she just showed up with her fellowshipper, Jordan Madsen, so I'll let them introduce themselves.

hello mama partridge :)
my name is jordan madsen and i just met your son yesterday and he is really cool haha i've only got to see him for 2 days but i already like him. i probably seem really creepy but thats ok haha me and my best friend who just got baptised today just saw the missionary truck at the library and wanted to stop and say hi and they wanted us to write letters to their moms (you) so here it is. I am 17 years old and love volleyball basketball and track. I have recently become a cowgirl and love to do cowgirl stuff. riding horses and things of that nature haha i would tell you a story but i havent known elder partridge that long so we dont have stories... yet haha so i will say ta ta for now :)
astalavista :)
Jordan Madsen :):):)

Hey Momma Partridge:):):)
This is Sammy, one of the girls your son has just recently started teaching. I just got baptized today and I'm so greatful that he got to be there:) Your son got to meet me in a interesting way. Well Elder Hancock, the missionary that has been teaching me from day one, decides to surprise me with meeting your son. One fabulous morning I was walking back from the barn after feeding my steers(male cows without their pride and joy) and i was in my boxers and a tee-shirt and was pretty embarrased about the whole ordeal but it was ok...... thought that i should drop in with a little hello and tell u, u have a an amazing son:):) so glad i have been able to meet him
Have a beautiful day
Love Sammy :):):)


PS! I love you family. Thought since you are always wondering who I'm teaching it would be better if they just introduce themselves! Love you!
Love Elder Partridge

July 11, 2011 Email

Buenos tardes,

We worked our tails off this week. Literally, there they go. Oh well; you know how it goes. It seems that it will be worth it. We went to the movies on the fourth of July. Como? Ya! We saw "17 Miracles" by TC Christensen (the same guy who did Forever Strong-Kia haha- and the Joseph Smith Movie, etc). What an amazing film! Full of miracles. And another cool thing is that "Albert" is in one of the wards I'm covering. It was so cool to see him and look at Elder Green and we both were like, "I know him!" He's such a great part in the movie, too. It was such a big deal too because TC Christensen came and talked to us after the film. Big deal! It reminded me of when Mark Mabry did the fireside and talked about different miracles behind the pictures; likewise, he shared some of the symbolism and miracles they saw shooting the film.

On the drive home we got off the freeway on Bangerter at a spot where you can see the whole valley, and there were fireworks everywhere shooting up! It was insane! Then while driving through the neighborhoods, there were fireworks lining both sides of the street exploding over our heads! It felt more like a war zone than anything else! Crazy cool!

It's official! I'm getting transferred to another area! I'm going to be a DL again! I'm so stoked to be hands on with the missionaries I'll be looking over! President just barely gave me the call and told me that it's a great area I'm getting called to! I am stoked!

Anywho, the Spanish Elders in our stake just baptized a lady named Rosio that we found a couple weeks ago. Well, more like she found herself and we were able to point her in the right direction. She came to church by herself for the first time 4 weeks ago, and no one knew about it. We were at another ward and we didn't hear anything from members. Then she came again the next week and one of our ward mission leaders got ahold of her and got her information and gave it to us. So we went by that evening and talked to her and put her on date! She said, "I want to make this covenant with God!" I don't know how much more solid and prepared someone can be! She smoked, but as soon as we mentioned that she will have to quit in order to be baptized she quit. It is incredible to see how determined this hermana (sister) is to following our Lord and Savior in everything she does.

We had an amazing miracle this morning! Kinda silly, but we were definitely blessed. We were out of gas last night. Straight up out of gas, and we didn't know it till this morning when we went around the corner to fill up. We put 16.447 gallons into our tank; and I'm pretty sure it's oly a 15 gallon tank. So we weren't just empty, we were running dry.

Well this is where I leave you because duty calls; we are going to get a couple married! Felicidades!

Con amor,
Elder Partridge!

July 4, 2011 Email

From the crossroads of the west,

"This is the 91st weekly general letter to the people who want to hear about what's going on in Salt Lake with me."

Gooooood morning Zion; this is your host, Zion Elder Partridge coming to you live from the Granger East Stake in West Valley City, UT. Looks like things were a little wet this past weekend with baptisms. We had the baptism of Teresa Avila. She just barely turned 9 and their family just moved into the stake a couple weeks ago and became active. She was baptized at the stake baptism by her uncle. We showed them the tea bag related to the gospel and they were ecstatic!

We got a referral this last week for Mone'sha and so we called her and left a message. She called back at 3:45 am; yes in the morning, and left a message that she was in Wendover and wanted a ride. Then later she sent us a text and told us she was going to be baptized LDS. So we gave her a call and talked to her, and this is the cool part. Guess how we got the referral...On her way over here from California she stopped by the one and only Cove Fort! I was like, "oh, I know that place! They give you pioneer toys and obsidian to play with on 12 hour car rides from UT to AZ!" haha So hopefully we'll get hold of her soon to teach her.

They've made air-born fireworks legal here and people are lighting them off all night. Literally! It's ridiculous! I am doing great! We are going to the movies tonight as a mission. It's "17 Miracles", and then T.C. Christensen, the director, is going to speak to us. Pretty big deal! It'll be fun. I'll take pics.

I'll be praying for L! And everyone else, too! Thanks for the update.

Love you tons. I need to let another missionary e-mail now.

Love,
Elder Partridge