Email Update: 5/26/2014--Surprise Baptism

Dear Familie,

First off, one comment on all of your lives:

Jeffery's teeth = Ouch.

The place we live is pretty awesome, even though we are just in a room of the house. Elder Gibson and i are living with a man named Jan Marshall, and he is really cool. He is a retired IT technicians manager, restaurant owner, and owns three dogs. The only complaint i have about those is that they are all lapdogs; no rottweilers for me... Probably because he used to own a restaurant, Bro. Marshall is a great cook; we had almond and Parmesan crusted Talapia for dinner on Saturday, and it was delicious (not to mention the first fish that i've had since i've been in Idaho...) All in all, we are pretty settled, and it's a nice change from country towns back to an actual city after almost a year.

Elder Gibson is from a tiny town somewhere around Pasca Gulla, Mississippi, which he says that no one knows about. So far, he's been right about that with every dinner appointment... Oh well, I really should be used to small towns by now. Anyways, Nampa is pretty cool, and it's actually really nice to be on a bike (even though we get a lot of rides from members), because we don't have to deal with mileage or gas or oil change or driving 41/2 hours to Zone Meeting or sticking stuff in the trunk or--- OK, i'm done ranting for now. Suffice it to say that the added exercise isn't the only benefit. It's still a little bizarre to be this close to the mission office, even though we haven't really spent any amount of time there, with the exception of talking to Elder Schloegel about getting a dresser in our room. It just feels like our mission overlords are just that much closer to swoop in at any time.... (dun dun DUUUUNN!!!!)

Some interesting stories on the work over here: we were at church this last week, a couple of families walked up to us, and one of the dads said, "This is so-and-so and so-and-so. They have been taking the discussions in our ward (which happens to be in the neighboring ZONE) for the past 4 weeks, and they have a baptismal date for this Saturday. We thought that we would try and bring them to the ward where they actually live, so that they can get used to it before they are baptized."

Needless to say, we were pleasantly surprised, if a little flustered. So, last night, we went over and got to know them, and figured out what they still needed to be taught. Jon and i-can't-remember-her-name are really awesome people, and both really excited about the gospel, Jon especially. Jon is a former Marine, now National Guard (mortar unit), and has done 3 tours in Iraq. Both of them have work or are working at the prison (not sure what positions), and apparently enjoyed it. They have a little girl named Destiny, and are all hilarious (the one usually at the expense of the other). They both seem super ready for baptism, and excited for it. Both of them have had a ton of good members in their lives, and both of them are impressed and firm on the choice that they have made.

In other words, SURPRISE BAPTISM.

Love and Insanity, Elder Stuver

5/19/2014: Email Update--Transfer 7

Dear Evrwun,

This week was pretty cool, but very dusty. We were spending most of the week cleaning out the room that we were going to move into, where most of the stuff hadn't moved in at least three years. After we finished with all of that, we actually started moving in. Strangely enough, that only took one day, while cleaning out the room took 3...

As for those we have been teaching, I've only met just a few of them, and so for they are pretty much the usual awesomeness; they've got hard lives, either physically or emotionally, but they are working really hard to overcome those struggles. Of course, some are better at it than others, but they are working hard, and with a little bit, of luck, (name that tune) and help, then they should do well. 

Well, that really is all that happened this week... Sorry. Oh well, things happen.

Love and Insanity,

Elder Stuver

P.S. Moving things up and down stairs becomes much more difficult when a elevator chair is in the way...

5/12/2014: Happy Mother's Day!

No email, but he wished everyone a Happy Mother's Day over Skype!

Email Update: 5/5/2014

Dear Everyone,

Sad to say, but this week was pretty much a flop. We had a few good appointments with Kathy, but that was about it. Most of the others canceled on us, and the rest that we tried to set up went to the black hole of a voice mail, never to be seen again. We also got news that several missionaries had to go home for various medical reasons, including Elder Maynard, whose sister is apparently sick enough that the Stake President, Mission President, and his parents all said it would be best to come home. 

A little bit of good news, though; Kathy may be getting baptized sooner that we had originally thought. She made the comment on our last appointment  that she has a doctor's appointment that she is concerned about, and if things turn out the way she thinks that they might, she would like to be baptized before an operation that may be necessary. All in all, equal parts good news and bad news. Along with the surgery, she is concerned about Transfers coming up, and would like to get it done before them if i am moving, if at all possible... Which could be more difficult than it sounds. Kathy is almost wheelchair bound, and she frankly should be, because of crippling pain in her back and legs, probably close to or worse than Grandpa's gout. So, we have had to think and work out how she might even be baptized, without breaking her. We came up with several different options, so we think that we have that covered, but that is all of the fiascos that come with this kind of situation.

Well, that is my interesting week. Thank you for all that you do, and for the prayers that you say.

Love and Insanity, Elder Stuver