Ames 9/6/11

I have been in Arizona for exactly three months today! wow it seemed to just fly right on by. I am emailing on a tuesday this week, because it was labor day yesterday as we all know, and the library was closed. Maren asked why I was emailing last tuesday as well, and that is because on transfer weeks our pday is changed to Tuesdays so that we transfer on a pday and dont waste a work day driving alot. So instead we waste a p day =/. Transfer Pdays are the worst pdays on the mission, just ask anyone =P. This last week was a pretty hard week. Since we baptized the campbells, we now have no investigators. So we are spending all of our time trying to get some new ones, with so far no avail. We have also been meeting with some members so that elder nordyke can get to know the wards. The Miracle lessons are starting to burn down sadly =(. we are trying to figure out better ways to get some new investigators, Because knocking doors here doesn't work so good for two reasons: one, i know almost every door in my area. Two, Elder Sims knocked all the other ones before i got here, so everyone has pretty much seen missionaries in the last 6 months. So we are trying to come up with some new ideas that havent been done here in the area.

     Elder Nordyke is alot different than elder sims. It isnt bad, its just hard to make the change. We are starting to get to know one another and it is helped me to be a little bit more patient =)

One pretty exciting bit of news! I got a blanket! I decided affter a particularly cold night that it was about time that got one. Its pretty legit, Maren would be proud: Toy Story! I included a picture as an attachment.

Sounds like the family is all doing good. Yes dad im sad that i missed the fireworks, anything that burns or blows up is my type of fun. Haha, yesterday i actualy tried to cut through a glass bottle using some string and cooking oil. I remembered seeing it on a youtube video probably like three years ago haha, but it didnt end up working. I still have to experiment when i get the chance =D

     I got moms package in the mail, Love the Shawn white Gum, and also marens letter with all the photos, thanks for those too. Im starting a Photo Album with all the pictures i get sent to me from home and other friends, it should be pretty fun by the end of the mission.

Kyle Brandt left on his mission didnt he? 

Thanks for all the Prayers on my behalf as well as kyles and all the other missionaries in the world.

Love you all lots!
Elder Ettinger

Transfer Doctor says . . . Kyle 8/29/11

Hello everyone!

This past week went by super fast! Its crazy how it always seems like i'm going to bed each night, and the days are already over!

Transfer Doctor says:.. Elder K. Ettinger, looks like you'll be staying in the VILLAGE!!!!! WOO!

Yes, that is right!, both elder riley and myself are staying in the village ward again! i'm way way stoked about it! I requested to Pres. Godwin that i'd stay another transfer because we're working with 5 investigators now!! The lord really has blessed the village ward this past transfer! We're really hoping to set a baptismal date with lawerance and Valarie this Wed when we teach them. 

Last saturday for service with crazy uncle bob, i set up some forms to pour a concrete walkway! Clyde Postma would be proud! ha! i love how all the service i've done so far has to do with lil jobs that i've done back at home. Also, last Wednesday i layed Sod for a member who had NO idea how to do it. He said i was called to the village ward to help make his yard look like heaven ha. He's a way helpful member as far as our missionary work goes in the ward. His wife is the relief society pres. So she gives us insights and little tips on certain members, to help them grow in the ward. If that makes sense.

Thats so cool that you guys have the trip planned out for when all the relatives come together! sounds like you'll have lots of good fun! Just wont be the same without the boys, Pistol and Popper!!

The miracles of a mission are so awesome to witness! and the San B mission is really growing quick with members! 

I'm so Glad that everyone is doing well! Have a great week this week! And don't have to much fun!

Stay out of the heat as much as you can! I cant wait for fall and winter here! I'm sick of the heat!

Love you all, Elder Kyle Ettinger

Where in the world is Elder Ettinger? Ames transfer week 8/30/11

    Where in the mission is elder ettinger your asking? Surprise!!! he is still in the Gila Valley! haha. yea im going one more in the Gila, But this time it wont be with elder sims :( he got transferred to Tucson back to a spanish branch. He was way excited to go back to spanish but said he would miss the Gila quite a bit, and i can see why, yesterday was filed with goodbyes. like literally all day we were going back and froth between wards saying good byes, we put 35 miles on our car and we only cover two wards! pretty crazy. My new comp is Elder Nordyk, He is from Illinois and has been on his mission for 19 months. I attached a photo of us. Im still a little nervous about the change because I am the one that has to call all of the shots for the first few weeks, because i know whats going on and he doesnt. So we will see what happens there.

     The campbells were baptized this last saturday! way exciting! And brother campbell came to not only the baptism, but he came to church on sunday to see the confirmation. So that was pretty exciting.  We estimated about 75 people attended the baptism, it just go's to show how awesome the ward is here, and how many people have been waiting for this to happen. There were even a few non-members present that we may be able to start teaching soon, hopfully we can get some member support in there quick  :D. There is also a picture at the baptism. Its kinda blurry. (Some elders are photographicly challenged) It has been a great week for the work, with the baptisms and all, im hoping and praying that this next transfer will hold some great things in store and that we can get more members fired up in the work :D. Some other things i would like to mention:  I found out that pretty much everybody says Ensign the same way that dad says it here, like everyone. Apparently it is an Arizona thing to do? any comments dad? 

     Not a whole lot more going on than that.

Thanks for all the Letters and Prayers.

Love you all.

Elder Ettinger

Elder Ames Ettinger and Elder Nordyk

Photos from Kyle

We received some photos from Kyle today.  Here are a couple of my favorites.

Who leaves a piano on the side of the road?

Playing with someone's pet python

Why do missions fly by? Ames 8/22/11

So time is going by way to fast! honestly, we are 1/8th of the way through the mission already! idk if that seems that long to everyone else out there, but it went by so fast!

This week was just another week in the Gila valley. Not a whole lot going on. Exept the fact that i got no mail this week, NO MAIL! what is this peeps? haha jk its not that big of a deal. The campbell boys are getting ready for the baptism this week, we made them some invites, and have the program all set up. im so excited about it :D.
A fun little mission fact for you though, this next transfer, including the couple missionaries and the mission pres, we will have 230 missionaries in the mission! there weren't even that many when the mission was twice the size! its pretty crasy, the lord must have alot in store for the mission.

As far as obedience goes mom, im the most apostat missionary in the mish... not. haha we follow the rules alot closer then most of the other missionaries. but i guess we aren't perfect. on the other end of things though, you  have the 110% missionaries that are so obedient that they start making new rules and crap. its pretty lame. Elder sims was telling me that President Walker a while back said "You aren't on your mission to be obedient, you are here to save souls." so as long as we are using righteous judgment we are doing fine. which we do. :D

So funny story that happened this morning, i was reading in the new era, as i do sometimes, and i came across a photo of a bunch of young women. I just glanced at it and i thought one of the girls looked like Tori Leavett, so i looked a little closer, and it was! ha, So i scanned around the pictures and i recognised about 8 people that live up in diamond haha. the new era is from like 2006 so its a super old photo, but super funny!

Not a whole lot more going on, Transfers are this next week, so im not sure whats going to happen there. im pretty sure im going to stay for at least one more, im hoping its with elder sims, we have gotten along real well.

love you all!
> Elder Ettinger <

Investigators who just walk into church? Sweet! Kyle 8/22/11

Hello there,

So this week has been a pretty big change for the village ward success that we've been having!

Earlier on in the week we got two referals from the sisters in the ward above us, they said that a couple just walked on in to church and was really interested in what was there for them. We got their address and called them up as soon as we could. We had our first lesson with them on tuesday! There names are Valerie and Lawrence, Valerie right off the bat of the lesson asked us when she would be able to get baptized! we told her that they would have to hear some lessons, and learn about the gospel before jumping right into getting baptized! Lawrence is super excited as well! and i'm super super stoked for how solid these two are gonna be! Recognizing the miracles  is so awesome!

This transfer has totally flown on by! I want to stay in this ward again so i can teach the 4 investigators we have now!

Elder riley and i are sorta getting along more, this past week has had some tough days but, i'm pulling through the rough spots.

Sounds like the Garden is in great abundance this year! keep up the good work on it!

I also enjoyed the picture of you guys going down the river! looks super fun! reminds me of the river trip ames and i went on as deacons with dads priest quorum.

Obeying the rules? I try my very best to obey every single mission rule! There are some that everyone has their own opinions about. But, i try and follow them all! 

My mission is the coolest thing ever! and i know there are little miracles here and there everyday! its so great!

Thanks for all the updates and prayers and support! You're all so great!

Love, Elder Kyle Ettinger

God Speed Ames 8/16/11

I love using the phrase "God Speed" whenever i can ha, its just so cool. This last week was a real winner, and i will tell you why (Duh). The Campbells have set a date! pretty freaking stoked! There were a couple families focusing on them through this miracle lesson that we have been doing, and brother campbell has changed so much in the last two weeks. The baptism will be on the 27th, so its still a couple weeks away, but we are still going over there, and we are going to keep making it solid, they are already inviting people, so that is making it a little bit better as well, there are going to be so many people there. its nuts! Also this week, we got to do some service building an awning. it was so fun! im glad that mom and dad made us kids work hard growing up becasue now its all just fun and like no work. We were also doing some drywalling at another members house, and i was wiring up some kitchen outlets, three of them were cold (Not connected to power) but then i had to hook them up to the power that came out of the ground, and their house is old so it doesnt have a breaker for all of the house. so i was hooking up the hot lines to power these outlets i just put in, and i got electrocuted! haha it was freaking cool. and it didnt even hurt! i was kinda surprised! So yesterday when we were over there again, i wanted elder sims to touch it so he could see what its like, but he wouldnt do it. So Brother flake got some spare wire and jammed it in the outlet and then took the other ends and zapped elder sims when he was up on a ladder. haha. it was funny. Naturally though he had to come in the other room and get me too. which then tripped the breaker. but when he got back from out side we told him that he had to do it too, so i got to shock him. Super funny. Dont we all just love missionary work?

Thats pretty much all thats going on. Im emailing on tuesday because today is our Temple day! im so excited! its been too long! like over two months since i have gone!

Anywho. Pretty Short today, Transfers are coming up on the 30th, man this one just flew! Im hoping that i stay in the Gila also with elder sims, we have become pretty tight, but he is more than likly going spanish. so we will see.

Love you all!

--

> Elder Ettinger <