Elder Forsberg: July 2010

Week 18- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

Mom I didn’t get any memory card in a package from you. What was in the package? If it was in the 4th of July package, it wasn’t in there or when did you mail it? There are only 5 people working a Jay's post office, so everything takes forever to get to me.

Yes mom, I do. She wants me to confirm her a member. She wanted Elder Jones to be the one who baptized her.

Lisa Bean is two grades younger than me. I think she is not my age though. I am happy for them. I knew her. We weren't friends, but I knew her. So mom, did you do the awkward thing and went up to her and said "hi, I think you subbed for my son's pre-school class back in 94." So, what did you do?

Little kids are cute (when I don’t have to deal with them). Marquita, our investigator, has an 18 month old named Gabriel and he gets excited to see us. We will be walking up to the door and he says, "mama, the guys. mama ,the guys the guys." That’s what he calls us 'the guys.' He was sick last night, so we gave him a blessing. Not as easy as you wanted it to be.

Yes, Kalen told me you are going on Utah trip. I love the fact that all the time I was home (all 20 years), the family hated traveling and as soon as I leave everyone is going everywhere. I am not bitter. Mom, you have cousins? When did this happen? Wait, our family didn't have reunions growing up? We only had 2-3 Evans Family Reunions and 1 Forsberg Family Reunion.

I had the best zone conference yet. President Jensen runs Zone Conference differently then President Summerhays did, but I guess the career makes the President. President Summerhays was a business manager so we had to have our suit jackets on and in our seat 10 minutes early. We did the same thing with President Jensen but then when he walked in he said, "oh elders, you can take your suit jackets off if you wish." Which everyone did because it was 94 degrees outside. We learned about the same thing we always learn about. How obedience brings the spirit. We need the spirit to do anything as a missionary. Mine is run very different than most missions. I talk to a lot more people then I usually do.

Mostly I feel about Jay is that Jay could make the energizer bunny stop working, but I am trying to keep working hard. We just got a referral from Atmore. I hope it pans out.

So tracting, we ran into this lady Miss Barbara (not her last name) and she was friends with Brother Ivy, so she invited us in and then we talked for awhile.

Something sweet happened this week. We got letters from the Jr. Primary. It brightened our day. We got them because they had a lesson on missionary work. Keep in mind that it is a branch so the Jr. Primary is 2 kids. It was still sweet.

Elder Forsberg

Week 18- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

I had the best zone conference yet. President Jensen runs Zone Conference differently then President Summerhays did, but I guess the career makes the President. President Summerhays was a business manager so we had to have our suit jackets on and in our seat 10 minutes early. We did the same thing with President Jensen but then when he walked in he said, "oh elders, you can take your suit jackets off if you wish." Which everyone did because it was 94 degrees outside. We learned about the same thing we always learn about. How obedience brings the spirit. We need the spirit to do anything as a missionary. Mine is run very different than most missions. So what were you zone conferences like? What was the format?

But I have some advice for you and your missionaries. Ok, this is what we do in my mission. We teach a lot or read a scripture and ask the person what they are thinking or how they feel about that because when you are teaching the gospel you should take it slow. This helps the person learn better because they might have questions or it helps the missionaries know what to focus on for the next lesson. Now you might already be doing this, if not, you don’t have to if you don’t want to, I just thought I would share that.

Mostly I feel about Jay is that Jay could make the energizer bunny stop working, but I am trying to keep working hard. We just got a referral from Atmore. I hope it pans out.

So tracting, we ran into this lady Miss Barbara (not her last name) and she was friends with Brother Ivy, so she invited us in and then we talked for awhile.

Elder Forsberg

Week 18- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

I got another shutterfly order form thingy. Did you send me more pictures or was this from the last order? Oh, I got the pictures this week and I really enjoyed looking through them, but I have one question, why was almost everyone wearing green? And Brody is at that cute phase where he knows how to smile for pictures. I am sure Austin looks cute in person, but in almost every picture he looked like he was trying to hatch an evil plot. Being Toren's son, he might be doing that. Braden looks so big when you put him next to Brody and Austin. Not to be mean, but I didn’t realize how big of a head Brody has. Of course Brody wants to do anything Braden does. Braden's older and can do more things and if you give it time, Braden will get annoyed by it then when you have another Brody will get annoyed by it. It is the circle of life. You're tired all the time, talk about the circle of life. Mom was tired all the time when we were all at home. Maren, if you're tired all the time, then why are you going to run a half marathon?

Maren, if you want the memory card, mom and dad have to send the first one home. I haven’t taken as many pictures but thank you. Things have gotten better in Jay. The worst thing is the companionship. Do you remember how you and Mallory fought? Yeah, it's like that. He is annoying me all the time now. We went to dinner at a families house and Brother & Sister A (not going to tell you the name) start to get in an argument and almost word for word it was the same argument that Elder Jones and I had this morning. Thank goodness he is going home next transfer.

No one needs service. Everyone is so far away they do it all them selves and they don’t want us to do anything because it's too hot. So we get to tract a lot. Yes, I do remember when Kristina did a British accent. I wasn’t that fond of her during that time because she was trying to be something she was not.

Yeah, Marquita's boyfriend is more active now. He is in a different branch. The best thing is her boyfriend's brother just got back from his mission (Brazil) and really laid into the line for his family. He is doing scripture study every night and really gets on his mom for saying bad things about Marquita. Which is good.

I had the best zone conference yet. President Jensen runs Zone Conference differently then President Summerhays did, but I guess the career makes the President. President Summerhays was a business manager so we had to have our suit jackets on and in our seat 10 minutes early. We did the same thing with President Jensen but then when he walked in he said, "oh elders, you can take your suit jackets off if you wish." Which everyone did because it was 94 degrees outside. We learned about the same thing we always learn about. How obedience brings the spirit. We need the spirit to do anything as a missionary. Maren, could you ask Blake to tell you about how his Zone Conferences were run when he was on his mission? Mine is run very different than most missions.

So tracting, we ran into this lady Miss Barbara (not her last name) and she was friends with Brother Ivy, so she invited us in and then we talked for awhile.

Week 17- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

Mom Jay is a small town with many towns in the Jay Branch area. People will work together but more people are independent. I am learning names a lot quicker than in Fox Run. If you run into Sister Youngblood can you ask her if she has family in Brewton or who goes to the Jay branch because we have some Youngbloods here. I enjoy the branch, not the area. Sister Taylor is a character of her own. We went there for lunch. We spent 4 hours there and didn’t notice.

Mom we all know as soon as Jen moves back to the OC you will have 6 children. Toren, Maren, Mallory, Blair, Kalen, and Jenifer. Gee mom, you will be finished by the time I get home. That only leaves you year and a half. I don’t know what I want don’t to the house I will tell you know.

I am glad you are having fun with your calling mom. So, you are in charge of the dinner calendar? I have been slowly working on Keshia. I told her about how I almost gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation. Then I told her just a little tiny bit of the Plan of Salvation. I hope she asks questions about it. But if she decides that she wants to talk to the missionaries she might feel more comfortable at our house than at her apartment. For 2 reasons, I don’t think Silver will like the missionaries coming over and she is female, so they couldn't go in. Dad or Brent are always there so the missionaries can come in. Now Keshia probably won't want to talk to the missionaries. I am just saying if she wants to. I hope Keshia becomes a member, she would be a great member. So have the OC5 elders found anyone to teach.

Zone conference is this week. That should be fun. If members don’t let us use their washer and dryer then I will be wearing all my clothes over again because our washer doesn’t work and Jay doesn’t have a laundry mat. Plus, one of my pant zippers broke so I am down a pair of pants. I have been taking a lot of pictures but the funny thing is I can't send this memory card home until you send my other back. Marquita is really getting excited for her baptism. Everything is set up for it. The church and the programs.

The cookie recipe is as follows:

1 box of cake mix of your choices

¼ to 1/3 of veggie oil

¼ cup of water

¼ cup of flour1 egg

Anything else you want to put in it (nuts, chocolate chips, candy)

Mix all and roll into 1” balls bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until brown on the sides then let sit for 5-10 to make harder

(red velvet with white chocolate chips is good)

Elder Forsberg

Week 17- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

Oh yeah dad, I'm sorry you can't be out here with me tracking in 100 degree heat. The Mentor Graphic picnics has gone way down since I was a kid. So, you are finally fixing the kids bathroom. Gee dad, it has only needed it for about 5 years now. Are you taking Kalen out driving a lot? Have you finally had a child who wants to drive with you? Dad thinly populated is an understatement, we have 24 members over 3 to 5 towns. Yeah, the branch is doing well. I almost had to give a talk on Sunday if the High Counselor didn’t show up, but he did. I wrote a six page talk of the Plan of Salvation.

Zone conference is this week. That should be fun. If members don’t let us use their washer and dryer then I will be wearing all my clothes over again because our washer doesn’t work and Jay doesn’t have a laundry mat. Plus, one of my pant zippers broke so I am down a pair of pants. I have been taking a lot of pictures but the funny thing is I can't send this memory card home until you send my other back. Marquita is really getting excited for her baptism. Everything is set up for it. The church and the programs. Yeah, I got Bishop May's letter but I haven't replied yet.

I am sorry this letter is not to long but not much happened this week.

Elder Forsberg

Week 17- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

Thank you for the package. I loved it. I use the erasable pens every night to write in my journal. I use them so I don’t have to go back through with white out. Well no, this chocolate didn’t really melt. But the chocolate in the bottle was all melted. Lol! Oh, and thanks for the otter pops. How did you remember that they were my favorite? I haven’t gotten anything from Shutterfly, but then again, I received your package on Saturday. It may get here this week. Oh, I was wondering why you sent me an empty photo album. Now it make sense. As soon as mom and dad send me my memory card, I can send this memory card home. Well, to you then to home.

This area isn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it's just the little things that make it hard. Like our washer doesn’t work, so I might have to wear all my clothes over again. We have a potential investigator down in Milino, which is good and bad because Milino is 45 minutes away from Jay and that’s just to get to the city of Milino. We can really only go down there once a week. The branch is really nice and since it is so small I can learn every ones names quicker.

Don’t worry Maren. I get sleepy at the beginning of a session too. No, I shouldn’t be limited in time any more in Jay because Elder Jones took me to the Jay library which has a 1 hour time limit. Now we go to Brewton library which has none. He will do any accent at any time, (British, Canadian, Scottish, Mexican and many more) plus there are just little things that make him weird. The next transfer is August 18th. A transfer is every six week, so one month and two weeks. I think I can make it through another transfer here in Jay. That’s just it, there is not much of the Lord's work we can do up here. No one needs service, so we just tract a lot.

Marqitas lessons are going great. We mostly answer her questions because she has been taught all the present lessons and lessons 4 and 5 are for after baptism. Well, 4 is for preparing to be baptized and 5 is for after baptism. That’s what she keeps saying. that her boyfriend Luke so turning her life around. Luke's mother is crazy because she blames Marquita for stopping Luke from going on a mission, but the way Luke lived his life it was apparent he wasn’t going to be allowed to go on a mission. If you catch my drift.

Gee Maren, Braden tells you no. I seem to remember mom telling stories about you throwing huge temper tantrums because she wouldn’t let you cook an egg on the stove. Yay, Brody has learned to smile. You might not have noticed, but he is not smiling in any of the photos you sent. Zone conference is this week.

The cookie recipe is as follows:

1 box of cake mix of your choices
¼ to 1/3 of veggie oil
¼ cup of water
¼ cup of flour
1 egg

Anything else you want to put in it (nuts, chocolate chips, candy)

Mix all and roll into 1” balls bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes until brown on the sides then let sit for 5-10 to make harder

(red velvet with white chocolate chips is good)

Elder Forsberg

P.S. Sorry, I just thought of this. You gave Shutterfly.com my Jay address. Are you able to change that when I get transferred?

Week 16- Jay (2nd E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

I was able to find another computer. So you didn’t like Toy Story 3? Toren loved it. Oh, thank you for the photo album you are sending me. I don’t really like loud fireworks either. Gee Maren, you go on a lot of trips.

Well, I am in Jay now or you can send it to the Mission Office and I can pick it up at Zone Conference on the 22nd. If you send it to the Mission Office, please have it there on the 20th. Mom can give you the address or you can look it up.

Well, what the President told us is that they gave their house to the people and they didn’t plan on moving back. Nope, not a rich President, he was a high school teacher/farmer. Sister Jensen was a preschool teacher. The Zone Conference was all about getting to know the new mission president.

My new companion is Elder Jones. He is going home next transfer. He is a master of different accents, which he constantly slips in and out of from time to time. He is from West Point, Utah. I know, another missionary from Utah, it's unheard of right. Finally, I have a none athletic companion, but he is weirder than I am. Florida is just getting hotter and more humid. But we are in the country (country country, not spaced out city, but country).

President Summerhays hated to send people home. Packard and Hansen's job is to keep him out of trouble. Just think of Elder Cooper as Braden. You are just try to keep him following rules.

Jay is awful. I am not meant to be in a small town. Jay makes Pullman look like Portland. Well, ok it not as awful but still this area has 5 cities and 2 elders to cover it. Not 2 sets just 2. Last Sunday we had 24 people come to church. There is not a store in Jay. EVERYTHING is so far away and we can't even tract in the other area’s city because no one will drive 45 minutes to get to church. I have no idea who the Branch Mission Leader is. He is busy with his job. Well, if the missionaries have something to report but we do things all day and have nothing to show for it.

I don’t like cake with M&M's. I made it for the other elders. I picked off the M&Ms on my piece. Oh Maren, we are teaching a really good investigator in Jay. Her name is Marquita. Don’t let the name fool you, she is white with the black hair. She is getting baptized on the 31st of July. She is engaged to a less active member and this is the good part, she will not settle for a civil marriage she wants to get married in the temple. Plus, she would like to move to Oregon. What did you like about Oregon and what didn’t you like about Oregon?

Maren, I gave you the wrong recipe for cake mix cookies. I forget it, so I will give it to you next week. Does Blake know where Delta, Utah is? That's where President Jensen is from. Oh, did you know every branch building has an automatic piano? You choose the song and just keep pressing one key and it will play any hymn you choose. We are fed a lot. Sometimes we even have lunch appointments. Well, down in the south it's still dinner (lunch called dinner and dinner is called supper) but it takes us 15 minutes to get to them.

So I taught the Sunday school lesson and it went really well. You know when the Holy Ghost is there and everything goes well.

Elder Forsberg

P.S. Elder Jones doesn’t like chocolate. No allergies, he just doesn’t like it. I guess his loss.

Week 16- Jay (E-mail to dad)

Dear Dad,

I was able to find another computer. Dad, everyday I am baking alive. Ties aren’t the best warm weather clothes. How is Uncle Steve's family doing (grandpa included)? I just sent them a letter earlier today. Oh no, dad you have become one those crazy people who take their dog everywhere. Yeah, I agree with Frisbee. How is Itty Bity doing? People should not take dogs that big in public, but the dog can ALWAYS overpower the owner and could attack a person. Want proof? Look at the back of my left leg.

In my new district the district leader leaves much to be desired.

Nope, they change that now it's every 3 months to be interviewed. This mission had 26 last year. Thanks for making me feel unproductive dad.

Florida is getting more hot and even more humid. Plus, my area is on the Florida Alabama border. So that’s fun. Almost every less actives trailer (not kidding more trailers than houses) smell like smoke and are dirty as all get out. It makes my room look like Mr. Clean's room.

We are teaching a really good investigator in Jay. Her name is Marquita. Don’t let the name fool you, she is white with the black hair. She is getting baptized on the 31st of July. She is engaged to a less active member and this is the good part, she will not settle for a civil marriage she wants to get married in the temple. Plus, she would like to move to Oregon. What did you like about Oregon and what didn’t you like about Oregon?

Elder Forsberg

P.S. Yours and moms letters are different so you might want to read both and tell mom that too.

Week 16- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

Jay is huge. It takes us forever to go anywhere when we have an appointment. We cover 5 cities, so we have to drive 30 minutes to get to a dinner appointment. We can't tract the other cities because no one is going to drive 45 minutes to get to church. Yeah, the heat hasn’t been too bad but I don’t know my way around and Elder Jones, my new companion, is going home next transfer. It will suck if I am still here next transfer. Everything is so far away. They is only one apartment complex in Jay. Jay only has a branch which 23 people come to. My new companion is weirder than I am. His name is Elder Jones.

Jay has this one investigator named Marquita. (Don’t let the name fool you, she's white. No person of color lives in Jay. It is a very racist town.) She is really excited about being baptized on the 31st of July. She is all about the gospel now. She asks really good questions. Plus, she wants to get married in the temple and raise her kids in the church.

I taught the Sunday school lesson and it went really well. And to think I only had 2 minutes notice.

I am sorry to have to do this but since you always write me I will have to send you handwritten letters through the mail. Up here in Jay I only get an hour to e-mail. I will send you a letter. It might take me awhile but you will get one. As far as e-mailing goes, I can't wait to be transferred out of Jay. But the rest of Jay is okay.

Elder Forsberg

Week 15- Pensacola (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

How did you know they were the mission presidents of the Portland and Eugene missions? Were they wearing their tags? Did you talk to them at all? Is President Dyches still over the Portland mission and if you did talk to them, did I come up?

We are suppose to have only hymns. The mission presidents shy away from EFY music, but thank you. Maren, my address is changed so it is now 4065 Hwy 4 Apt A Jay, FL 32565. Yeah, I will tell you how I feel about this transfer later in the letter.

The pillow ties actually work. They are designer ties too. There is nothing wrong with being a part of the Washington Spokane mission. I just thought that Pullman wasn’t a big town and that was the biggest town that was closest to you.

Let me start off by saying Zone Conference DID NOT go the way I wanted it too. The mission office sent out a text saying Zone Conference was changed to a half an hour earlier. It was now starting at 8:30am, but did Fox Run get that text, no! We left our apartment at 8:28 am. Then one of our Zone Leaders called us and asked why we were late. All I could think was, 'Great, the first meeting with the new Mission President, that I will have for the rest of my mission, and I am late for and it’s not even my fault.' So we got there half way through the opening hymn. Then after the opening prayer President and Sister Jensen got up to greet us, which was awkward. He is a really nice person and I think he is going to be a good president. His family is from Dolten, Utah. You might have to ask Blake where it is. It is a really small town in Utah that starts with a “D.” I think it is a 100 miles from Provo. They sold everything before they came out and then gave their house away to a needy family.

So this week has been either hot or rainy. This week we walked 7 miles in 100 degree weather with 75% humidity. It was hot but we waved at every car that passed us.

I am being transferred up to Jay. Jay is the biggest area in this zone but the activity up there only allows for one small branch. Jay is in the country, which means we are going to do a lot of walking in the highest heat of the summer. There is practically nothing up in Jay. They only have one food store that is not that cheap. The missionaries live in a dump of a trailer.

The fourth of July was fun. I forgot to put the Grilleys name on the dinner calendar so we went over for lunch and of course you could tell sister Grilley was a little bitter about it. Then we went over to the Schoovers. They had a family dinner. We played crokay. Brother Schoover (Sr.) really likes getting into those games. Then we went home because Pine Forest was coming over and I had to bake a funfetti cake. I made an American Flag on top by using M&M's.

Elder Packard is being a black ops missionary for the next transfer. A black ops missionary is a missionary who takes problem missionaries. The one he is getting has not been a good missionary from what I hear. To the extent he has went on dates and done other things with girls. He is so bad that Elder Packard is getting another companion to help him. So there will be 2 people to watch this one.

Mike just keeps cancelling to help his friends. So all I really can do is wish the tripheta (tri-fet-a) good luck.

Maren, I have a recipe for you. Take any cake mix then only put one egg (not the suggested 3) in. Mix until you have batter then put something in them like nuts or chocolate chip or something, anything really. Then roll them into cookies and bake them. They should turn into cookies. I didn’t get a recipe, I only saw someone do it. So it might need adjusting. But red velvet with white chocolate chips is good.

Elder Forsberg

Week 15- Pensacola (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

So this week has been either hot or rainy. This week we walked 7 miles in 100 degree weather with 75% humidity. It was hot but we waved at every car the passed us.

Gee mom, Mallory hated driving with dad, I hated driving with dad, Kalen doesn’t want to drive with dad. Are you noticing a theme here? Oh, I am sorry to hear about Mike.

So I am being transferred up to Jay. Jay is the biggest area in this zone but the activity up there is so that it only has one small branch. Jay is in the country so that means we are going to do a lot of walking in the highest heat of the summer. There is practically nothing up in Jay. They only have one food store that is not that cheap. The missionaries live in a dump of a trailer. My new companion is Elder Jones. My new address is 4065 hwy 4 apt A jay FL. 32565.

My Braden's cute, but poor Frisbee. I miss Frisbee and Ity Bity.

Let me start off by saying zone conference DID NOT go the way I wanted it too. The mission office sent out a text saying zone conference was changed to a half hour early. So it was at 8:30 but did fox run get that text no. so we left our apartment at 8:28 the one of our zone leaders call us and ask why we were late. All I could think about is great the first meeting with the new mission president that I will have for the rest of my mission I am late for and it’s not even my fault. So we got there half way through the opening hymn. Then are the opening prayer president and sister Jensen got up to greet us which were awkward. But he is a really nice person I think he is going to be a good president. His family is from Dolten, Utah. You might have to ask Blake. It is a really small town in Utah that starts with a “D.” I think it is a 100 miles from Provo. They sold everything before they came out and they gave their house away to a needy family.

I can't really take those pills because it says on the bottle don’t be out in the sun a long time. That is all Missionary work is, so I can only take one at night before I go to bed. I am suppose to take them twice a day.

Well, my allergies are fine, but my throat is so cloged with stuff from my nose it’s annoying. I can clear my throat 13 times within an hour and still have stuff there.

Mike just keeps cancelling to help his friends. So all I really can do is wish the tripheta (tri-fet-a) good luck.

But mom, I have a recipe for you. Take any cake mix then only put one egg (not the suggested 3) in. Mix until you have batter then put something in them like nuts or chocolate chip or something, anything really. Then roll them into cookies and bake them. They should turn into cookies. I didn’t get a recipe, I only saw someone do it. So it might need adjusting. But red velvet with white chocolate chips is good.Thank you for the package. I really enjoyed it I am sending my journal home today. I hope you enjoy it.

Elder Forsberg

Week 15- Pensacola (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

So this week has been either hot or rainy. This week we walked 7 miles in 100 degree weather with 75% humidity. It was hot but we waved at every car the passed us.

Mike just keeps cancelling to help his friends. So all I really can do is wish the tripheta (tri-fet-a) good luck.

So I am sending my journal home today, hopefully. Who all came to Kalen's party? What did they do?

Thank you for the package. I really enjoyed it.

Elder Forsberg

P.S. No we are told through e-mail. We look on a list that is e-mailed to us on Monday, then we look at it and my name was on it. I am going to Jay. Then on Wednesday of the week we leave to go to our new area.