Elder Forsberg: 2010

Week 26- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

You took second in the championship that is amazing since you had known time to practice. So how often go to the temple next time you go can you get me a picture of the Spokane temple I have gotten in to different temples since I have been on my mission? Yes missionaries are loud to go to the temple as long as it is on pday you don’t use your mission car and you have approval from your mission president and if has to be in your area or zone. But I will never be able to go to the temple on my mission. Because there is no temple here not even in Tallahassee. There has been talk of a Pensacola time but it is just talk right now.

Well, every transfer has a possibility of being transferred. We get to know Monday before transfers on Wednesday. So I don’t think I am getting transferred but only the mission president knows at this point. President Jensen likes keeping elders in the same area for a long time. I love jay. But I don’t want to spend my whole mission here.

Maren your present is in the mail I mailed it today so it will be late be it will get there. But if you want an extra long letter the I will do my best it will probably be there by late October or early November what I am busy. I told you about the car thing remember elder Jones put a dent in the bumper. But we still were really productive thanks to the members.

R.D. has been really busy so we haven’t invited him yet.

Maren you should be thrilled because I email you second to last best we first email at jay so when the computer kicked me off I went over and saw how Elder Newsom was doing but when I walked over this old man say hey Mormon. So I turn to him and said oh hi how you are? Then I introduced myself . then we talked it was every awkward. Because as soon as he said 4400 I knew he was a Jehovah's witness so we had a talk so I talk about the Book of Mormon a little bit but it was very awkward.

Well, with the apartment we decided we are not going to run away.and today I was backing the car up because the is part of having a car backing the driver up. And she pulled in and got out. So I just said hello and waved and she said hello then went in her apartment. So I think if we just say hello. She wont yell.

Well, this week we have been really busy so busy I don’t even think we tracted this week. Because of all the less active and investigators we needed to see.well I have sent my journal home if you are interested it should be there on Friday. We are teaching this family that has been burn by other Churches in the past but both the mother and the daughter really want to come to church. Vanessa (mom) we tracted in to her she said she has been praying for a church for her and her youngens. Katrine (21 daughter) well before we even met her she has read 40 page of the book of Mormon and want to come to church. Trevor (17 son). We really haven’t talked to him all that much but we had Zack (a priest) invited him to go to the halo 3 night they are having. And Katrine tells us that he is really excited to go.

Elder Mantei is a work in progress. Because he always complains that I don’t talk enough. But every time I try to talk decides he is not finished talking. And in the last week he has pick up something new. The 3 of us will be talking and I am saying something and he starts to talk over me. Its not like we are having a debate or anything just talking. It is really annoying. Elder Mantei is one transfer ahead of me.

So this last Sunday we all had an assignment elder Newsom gave a talk, I taught gospel principles I think my lesson went really well. And elder Mantei had to teach priesthood.

That my week

Elder Forsberg

P.S. sorry Maren i forgot to tell you about elder Pearson of the seventy. i did not care for him at all. if i knew what it was going to be like i would of decided no to go. so President and Sister Jensen gave a talk and it was good. The sister Pearson gave a talk and it left me inspired. Then Elder Pearson gave his presentation. And it sucked. most of the talk you just felt like you were being yelled at. We was saying some really good things to improve on but like a crazy person he talk really fast and changed topic every 5 minutes. A good speak will pause after every point for those who wish to take note. I stopped trying to take notes because every I tried I would miss something. He talked for 2, 2 hours blocks. My mind was fried after that. He said that he was a mission president and I just kept on thinking wow if he was my mission president I would go home a reapply. He was a CEO I have found that they are very spiritual but emotionally cold. The most poetic way of saying it is I was hit with a wave of bluntness and drowning in a ocean of knowledge. And he was so confusing he sent 10 minutes on numbers. “elder you need to have high numbers set high goal for fill high goals” then at the end of his rant he said “now elders its not about the numbers its about the doctrine”. Which just left you saying WHAT?

So yeah that’s how that went.

Week 25- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

I am sorry I had to hand write you a letter this week. We had to go to the Jay library because our car is getting fixed. The library is within walking distance. I hate going there because it has a one hour time limit and it's not like someone tells you to get off after an hour, the computer just shuts down and I hate it. I was only able to send mom 2 paragraphs. All I ask for is enough time to e-mail my family once a week. Everything else can change, even that is too much to ask for. So basically, what I am saying you need to be nice to your missionaries. Let them use your Internet. The rules are if Blake is not home, they can sit in the garage with the door open. That's allowed because anyone can see what they are doing.

Your Utah trip sounded fun. Day 4 sounds really like a lot of fun. Why didn't you go to Ogden? Mom always went with dad when we went up to Wenatchee.

Toren had to have a blood transfusion? Now or are we talking like a year ago or this week? Wait, your friend has a son serving in Florida? Maren are you networking for people related to people serving in Florida because you seem to know a lot.

Oh and send me pictures anytime, but try not to send more than 32 at a time. Oh, and I would choose the ones you want to send, but don't send them until or after September 29th because that is when the next transfer is.

And fine, if there is anything else cool about your birthday I won't tell you. oh and your present will probably be late. Right now we don't have a car so shopping is kind of hard. Do you still want an itunes gift card?

Yes, we got 6 new investigators this week. This area's time has come. R.D. did want to rile us up. He wanted to convert us to his church so he invited us to go to his church, The Church of Christ. So we went and everyone was nice and happy for us to be there. The preacher's lesson felt more like a history lesson because he was just telling us about the Bible. There was no 'this is how you can be like Jesus' or 'this is why Jesus did this,' plus they sand a lot of songs. We must have sang 7 songs before the preacher got up. We are hoping that since we went to his church that he will come to ours.

So we have been having problems with our crazy neighbor. Other, or should I say, past elders were not very good neighbors, so she thinks all elders are evil. She screams at us from time to time. There is a senior couple that runs the mission office, the Koons. Sister Koon is in charge of ordering, mailing and paper work. Elder koon is in charge of apartments and cars. We are seeing if Elder Koon can handle it and if not, we will probably move either to a new apartment or complex. I don't want to move and if we do, I hope we move to Brewton, AL, which is still in my area. We could walk to teaching appointments and be closer to Wal-mart. I miss Fred Meyer's. I do like the photo center. They have this thing where you can put a whole lot of pictures together so they are all on one print. I think it is really cool.

We have one new promising investigator. Her name is Vanessa. She has been praying to find a church she can go to with her children because past churches have burned her bad. She is excited about the church and her son is too.

My companions have a crazy side to them. Elder Newsom is always rearranging the apartment and Elder Mantei talks about a lot about girls. I haven't had to sit through this much talking about girls since, ever.

Oh, Elder Pearson from the first quorum of the seventy is speaking tomorrow at Zone Conference.

Elder Forsberg

P.S. It doesn't stop getting cold here until November.

Week 25- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

Ok I believe you mom that you didn’t call the mission president. But see the thing you miss when you are not home. So what do you listen to it every night or something or did you delete it. This wont be a long letter because we are at jay library and that means a 1 hour time limit. So I will be sending you a letter for the rest of my letter home.

The Wilson's are having another child? I thought she was in her 40s. weird but hey OC 5th is growing I guess hahaha.

Well, I want a GARMIN GPS. I don’t care if I get it for my birthday or Christmas or both I want one. Now, I know you and dad, so I feel I must say "I DO NOT WANT A TOMTOM" or any other off brand. I would like a Garmin. But anything else would be fine that you want to send me.

Yeah, I know all about Uncle Steve's family. But this week has been crazy busy. I am sorry for a short email. But our car is finally getting fixed and Elder Pearson of the seventy is coming tomorrow.

I haven't even received dad's package yet, but I hope it will come soon. Plus, we went to a different church this week because we were invited. I will tell you more in the letter.

Elder Forsberg

Week 25- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

Dad don’t even talk to me about a day of rest. I don’t even get a day off my day off is only when I email the rest of the time I am working or cleaning. But you knew what you were getting yourself into when you got off your mission. Sunday are busy like every other day and I try not to go tracking on Sunday so I remember it is Sunday. Dad I would of just switch Sundays.

You had to give a talk to the entire company. That would be nerve racking. I am glad it went well and you got to meet the CEO that must be fun. But still try go up to doors and preaching the gospel.

Sorry this wont be a large email I am at jay so I only have an hour which really sucks.

I haven’t received any packages I am kinda getting worried. I will be sending a letter to add on to my week since the time.

But I have been having problem with are neighbor again tell you in that letter.

Elder Forsberg

Week 24- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

i would be happy with any pills because 1 week off of it and 6 new pimple one is even in not on in my nose. plus my nose got burnt so that sucked.

no mom different feelings. everyone used my mission to make me do thing. such as you need to do this. why . because you will need to do it on your mission so you need to start now. and everyone would just not stop talking about it. my mission got brought up 12 times a day. so was burnt out of the mission talk before i entered the mtc. Mallory gets to go on vacation for 3 months.

branches aren't to bad. i really love them branch i am in. there are 3-4 families that feed us every week. and they are so excited when we come over. which makes it really fun for us. and the Anderson even invited there non member neighbor over fir dinner which is best. fighting going to sleep worried he is going to miss something yep he is a forsberg alright. not much is happening in jay this week. but we visited a lot of less actives. during service this week i got to hold a baby goat. i got pictures. elder Peason in coming in next week and i will be sending you a mission picture well a picture of half the mission. i don't mind teaching Sunday school. but elder Mantei actually enjoys teaching it.

We tracted in to this guy called R.D. he talk about the bible a lot with us. the funny thing is he would read a scripture like he was about to bash us. so he would read it and say what do you think about that and we would say oh yeah we totally agree with that. then he would quickly flip to the next scripture. and we would agree with everything he read. he didn't know this but most of the scriptures he red were scripture mastery scriptures. so he couldn't attack the big thing in the church. so he attack the small thing. like he said that because of our age we shouldn't go by elder then he told us what elder meant. but he was say the rule of a bishop so we told him that. and he said that we were the same thing. which they are not. but after he was done explaining what an elder is he look at he look at us like oh i got them now and said now do you really feel comfortable going by elder. with out pause all three of us said. yeah we do. then he attack the name of the church. he said the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints. that's not right you should drop the of latter day saints part and become the church of Jesus Christ. guess where he goes to church century church of Jesus Christ. so then he said, "Well, I got a lot of stuff to do today" (running scared). so we ask if we could leave him with a prayer. he said yes i will offer it. and in the prayer. he prayed that we would find the whole light. which was funny because he needed to we already have.

Mom not to scare you but guess what disease has been found in southern Florida. i will give you a hint Toren's mission president called you at 3am in the morning for this. that's right Dengue fever is being reported in the Florida area. There have been 12 cases in Key West and now several reported in the Orlando area as well as far north as Ocala. mom stop freaking out its not even in my part of Florida. and mom if you have faith in the lord ye shall not fear. i telling you this because I told everyone one else. and i know you hate when i hide stuff from you.

love yall
elder forsberg

Week 24- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

Yay BYU won i didn't thing it was going to win because they had a alot of new players. but they did. i guess that is what happens when you have the lord on your side. dad you will still get a kick out of going on campus when you visit your grandchildren there. you still have hope Kalen could decide to go to BYU. ok dad since you spent so mu ch time on campus what did you get me. nothing just what iu thought. i am glad you had fun at the game. dad i would love to go to Utah with you. but i am not going to the game NEVER AGAIN. dad can you ask uncle bob to give you Megan address i don't have it so i cant write her. well i of the investigator fell through but this it was good. you saw Elder Jeffrey R. Holland he his my favorite apostle. we don't have junior senior companions in this mission. president summerhays did like that some missionaries to think they had more power then they actually did. so it is just one drive the other one handle the phone. with president summerhay if you ask for leadership you wouldn't get leadership. and president Jensen hasn't reinstated it so yeah. but your never guess what sickness has been report in Florida. i will give you a hint Toren got it on his mission. that's right Dengue fever is being reported in the Florida area. There have been 12 cases in Key West and now several reported in the Orlando area as well as far north as Ocala. we aren't doing much today. we are going to the Beldens. but we do that every Monday. we mostly visit less actives this week. i got to hold a baby goat this week during service.

love yall,
elder forsberg

Week 24- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

I am glad you are having fun in Utah. this week has been a lot of visiting with less actives. i did serve which i had to hold a goat. a baby goat.i will give you a hint Toren got it on his mission. that's right Dengue fever is being reported in the Florida area. There have been 12 cases in Key West and now several reported in the Orlando area as well as far north as Ocala. i may or may not get you a itunes gift card. because the cheapest one is 15 dollars but most is 25 dollars. but i will send you something. and did you know that on September 22 something huge happened. yeah that's right Joseph smith was told where the golden plates were have was able to go get them. and all 9 return appointment fell through. but as in life.

Love yall,
Elder Forsberg

Week 23- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

So mom I heard something interesting this week. Someones mother called the mission office and requested for their son not to ride a bike. Now imagine my surprise and embarrassment when I found out it was you. Mom you said you would call my Mission President. And yes, calling the mission is the same thing. But thank you. Yeah, plus Elder Mantei wont let me forget that I cant ride a bike he brings it up every day and treats it like I am some kinda of freak of nature. It is getting really annoying.

I can wait until the end of the week its fine. But thank you for the business card but can you only send me 50 for right now. Because when I get transferred I have to pack everything I own in to a large suit case and a small suit case. So if you could send me some for write now that would be good. What did you order me mom. Is it something to do with the business card or is it something different. Wait you didn’t put a dolphin on them did you. if you didn’t that fine but doesn’t really say missionary. Mom I don’t thing you are getting what I am saying all I need is the memory card back. But thank you for the cd.

Mom I have been with my new companions for 2 weeks. But things are going well. We got 9 new investigators this week so that is really goods. This is more complicated but we don’t have to worry about going into single sisters houses anymore. we are planning for this week because we will not have a car for a big chuck of it. So Elder Mantei and me might kill each other because on Wednesday I want to really clean the apartment because we haven't had time to. We have been so busy, but Elder Mantei said we can't do that we will be too busy. We have nothing planned for Wednesday. So I ask him with what and he doesn't answer because we have nothing for Wednesday. But he hates the fact that I can't ride a bike. Because he is like this we need to tract tract tract. And me and Elder Newsom agree that is we weekly plan and really clean the apartment then go out tracting that is still productive. But better then tracting 8 hours that day. I will be praying that are car gets repaired quickly.

Mom Frisbees a dog. That’s what dogs do they chase cats. But not ity bity. Ity bity wont put up with that crap. Nope no pets in the apartment. The bamboo grove doesn’t deep fried there food how else do you cook food. Lol. Mom I am sure she will get the letter sooner or later. But then again you are very well known in the stake. But mom you got 2 letter from the mission president. One from president Summerhays and one from president Jensen. I have no time to relax on my p-day. It more like a w-day. Because we have people to see and things to do. I don’t even have time to do laundry on Mondays. If have to do it odd time during the week.

So this week was zone conference and the church has changed zone conferences world wide. For example lets take 3 zone conferences now 2 of them will be focus on teaching skills and every 3 months or every third zone conference will be focus on the doctrine. It was really fun and informational. I enjoyed seeing my zone again. And president Jensen is a really good teacher and mission president. But he said the elder pierce from the seventy is going to tour our mission and every missionary is to prepare a 3-5 minute talk on how they are becoming an effective missionary. And when they say 3-5 minute they mean 3-5 minutes and you know how I don’t test well and if you don’t ask mom. And plus we got to go to a fireside that they were speaking at it was good but with fireside we have to be invited to go. But president potter invited us to we had a good time. Brother Taylor gave us a ride and brother Taylor is kinda like the branches grandpa.

Mom do you know how to fix a pants zipper or get stet in permanent marker out of a white shirt? Oh I will be sending Toren birthday present to your house it has a recipe for you in it.

Love you,

Elder Forsberg

P.S. don't forget to send the package to jay address. not to the Pensacola address. thank you thank you.

Week 23- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear dad,

So mom is making you go to a BYU football game. The nerve of some people. Dad I like how you been married to mom for 29 years and you are just now learn there is a price for everything. So you went cell phone shopping and of course Kalen want the most pricey phone. research all you want but Toren and I have a bet going that you wont get yourself a new phone before I come home from my mission. I wont tell you who is on which side. I am almost finished with my current journal so if you could send me out a new one I would like that. I would like one like I sent home in red.

Missionary work is going really well we got 9 new investigators by tracting this week. And yes jay is a city small city. Now that I am out of Pensacola bible bashing isn’t really a problem. But its just normal missionary work. Elder Mantei likes teaching the Gospel Essentials class so he is teaching it.

Oh thank you for the journals. But just to be clear I don’t like pictures on my journal. I like it to say journal and have my name on it. But that you like I said I am running out of room in my current journal.

So this week was zone conference and the church has changed zone conferences world wide. For example lets take 3 zone conferences now 2 of them will be focus on teaching skills and every 3 months or every third zone conference will be focus on the doctrine. It was really fun and informational. I enjoyed seeing my zone again. And president Jensen is a really good teacher and mission president. But he said the elder pierce from the seventy is going to tour our mission and every missionary is to prepare a 3-5 minute talk on how they are becoming an effective missionary. And when they say 3-5 minute they mean 3-5 minutes and you know how I don’t test well and if you don’t ask mom. And plus we got to go to a fireside that they were speaking at it was good but with fireside we have to be invited to go. But president potter invited us to we had a good time. Brother Taylor gave us a ride and Brother Taylor is kinda like the branches grandpa.

So are car is getting repaired so I will be praying for it to be quick so we can get the car back. This week will be interesting. Oh I need more pills I ran out.

Love
Elder Forsberg

Week 22- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

The belden were so nice to let me use there computer. So I was able e-mail you. Yay. I didn’t tell you much about my new companions last week because I found out on Monday and I didn’t meet them until Wednesday. My new companions are Elder Newsom (new-some) and Elder Mantei (man-tie like the temple but no relation to the temple). They are both really cool but still really weird. Elder Newsom is from Orem, Utah and Elder Mantei is from Fairbanks, Alaska. I know what you are thinking and yes, I am excited to have a companion from a different state other than Utah. Elder Newsom has been in Jay before and he was sent here because I told President Jensen that I didn’t know my way around. He took that as I can't run the area. So he sent me Elder Newsom. I felt like calling President Jensen and screaming, "I don’t need a babysitter." But then Elder Newsom showed me a lot of things that needed to be done in this area. See, I have learned this week that your area is what you make it. Elder Jones was making it feeling like a black hole of misery, so it was, but the sun is finally shinning on Jay. And not to go into much detail, but lets just say Elder Jones stepped on some toes of the branch leaders. Elder Mantei is cool but he has health needs, such as he is a type #1 diabetic, so he will say are we going to eat soon my blood sugar low. I don’t notice because when I am working I don’t get hungry. Darn dads genes.

Mom sent me my memory card but she sent it to my last area. So yeah, but I got it. Yay.

Ok, I will tell you about what apostate means. Well, you know what apostasy means, well, apostate means they are not supposed to do things they know are wrong but they do it anyway. Missionaries use a different language.

Saturdays have always been busy. But that Saturday was even more so. Plus, zone conference was on Thursday. Elder Jones gave them to me (the cd's) because they were copies and he was going home.

Ethnicity's? If I have seen any in Jay, it is on a huge oil field. Well, the people who own Jay. Some peanut and cotton farming. I don’t think Paul Jr. has a lot of friends. And he is in his 40’s. The Mission President was really busy, so I wrote a letter to Sam. He reached his year mark. Maren, the pictures are not showing up, so I can't see them and they are way too big for the screen. Could you re-size them?

Braden accepts Mallory? It's about time but never forget who his favorite is. Oh and in a lesson the other day I used all four books, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.

Well, I need to get off now, so I hope you have a week. I love you and your sons, no matter what size their heads are.

Elder Forsberg

PS. And Blake. I didn’t meant to forget Blake.

Week 22- Jay (e-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

I would just like to start off by say this thank you for the pictures and my memory card. Yes I have finally received them. But before you think that you were right and I was wrong. Let me say this. YOU SENT THE TO THE FOX RUN ADDRESS. As you already know I am in Jay. Thank you for the picture but please DO NOT print out my whole memory card and send it to me because I really don’t have room for them and if I have the memory card I can print the ones I want out at Wal-mart. Plus, that is an obscene amount of money to print them and send them. But thank you for the once you sent me. Elder Roberts didn’t take a lot of pictures in the MTC. So I am giving him most of those.

I didn’t tell you much about my new companions last week because I found out on Monday and I didn’t meet them until Wednesday. My new companions are Elder Newsom (new-some) and Elder Mantei (man-tie like the temple but no relation to the temple). They are both really cool but still really weird. Elder Newsom is from Orem, Utah and Elder Mantei is from Fairbanks, Alaska. I know what you are thinking and yes, I am excited to have a companion from a different state other than Utah. Elder Newsom has been in Jay before and he was sent here because I told President Jensen that I didn’t know my way around. He took that as I can't run the area. So he sent me Elder Newsom. I felt like calling President Jensen and screaming, "I don’t need a babysitter." But then Elder Newsom showed me a lot of things that needed to be done in this area. See, I have learned this week that your area is what you make it. Elder Jones was making it feeling like a black hole of misery, so it was, but the sun is finally shinning on Jay. And not to go into much detail, but lets just say Elder Jones stepped on some toes of the branch leaders. Elder Mantei is cool but he has health needs, such as he is a type #1 diabetic, so he will say are we going to eat soon my blood sugar low. I don’t notice because when I am working I don’t get hungry. Darn dads genes.

About the business cards. A picture in general, yes. A picture of me, maybe if it is a good picture and it turns out well. As far as facebook, no thank you. If they want it all they have to do is type my name in and this is important put on my home e-mail address and the mission e-mail because 1. after I am released this account gets erased 2. I only have enough time to e-mail family. But no saying. I am not sure if I want a scripture or not. I am going to say no unless you like put it on the back or something. (Mosiah 2:17). Thank you. Yes, send it to jay.

WHAT! Hawaii seriously mom? How come I leave for my mission and Mallory gets to go to Europe and you get to go to Hawaii and I am stuck in northern Florida in the summer. It's summer here until mid October. Aren't I the one that is supposed to be having the adventure? Gosh, I just can't win in this family. You could send me some pictures from Hawaii. Just pens and anything else you want. Just remember my favorite animal.

I am glad dad had fun at the wedding. But yes, I agree mom, you and dad should never move away from Oregon City. All of your children can go back and reminisce about the old times. When you are right you are right. lol. There is a community college in Wenatchee? What does dad have against fried okra? It is really funny you should mention it this week because Sister Taylor made some this week. It was good. All she did was chop it into small pieces and coat it in jiffy corn meal then deep fried them. If he said that it is gross then remind him what he ate it when he came back from his mission.

Mom I really need a new journal, plus I am running out of pills.

Oh, and in a lesson the other day I used all four books, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price.

Well, I love you.

Elder Forsberg

Week 21- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

Yes Maren is the better yeller in the family. Why wont I use her. And I am going to settle this once and for all. If you sent a package to the mission address it will be in the mission office until zone conference on the 22. if you sent it to the jay address I haven’t received a package from. I don’t think. So I sent you 2 picture one is on the memory card and the other through mail. If the one with mail in to big the reduce it by scanning it in to a computer. If you need a different picture let me know. Now think about it you must of sent it to the mission office because i haven’t gotten any picture from you. I might call the office today and see. I am sorry if Maren actually yelled at you. And if I the office has it. I don’t blame you. It is just very annoying for people asking why are you sending picture home. I want to see picture.

Yes Marquita is an amazing member. And she really like the missionaries. She even invited us to her baby shower. But that would be weird. And it rude it show up empty handed.

Babies have such language today. But I am glad you had fun. in Pullman. Just think of how Joseph Smith mother felt. And really mom wing wong was that necessary. I still am my fathers child after all.

So mom let me get this clear you and dad played fetch with Braden. That’s cute. Mom come down to the south I will be able to order for you to. Big portions in the south don’t be surprised if I come back 250 lb. they haven’t met something think cant deep fry. By the way pickled okra not that good. But I am sending you a recipe through the mail. That you must try.

But we had a very busy day on Saturday. We left the apartment at 930 am and didn’t get back until 9 pm. We were visiting people. And we did companionship study in the park and some Jehovah's witnesses came up to us and shared a little lesson (full of false doctrine) then before we could say any thing they left. They seemed very nervous to talk to us. There companionship are old men and one white one black person. Don’t know why but they do it that way.

I got two more cd this week. Both by the Mormon Tabernacle choir they are called to serve and come now fount. They are good cds.

But My new companions are Newsom and Manti (like the temple in Utah). Yeah I am way nervous because Elder Newsom was here when all the missionaries in jay were apostate and jay has changed into a productive area. But when the odds are 2 against one and you’re the one aren’t so good. But yeah I will tell you next week how things are. With everything there are good and bad. But I would being lying if I send I wasn’t happy to be free of my current companion I either love him to death or ready to causes his death there is no happy medium. And we have a small apartment. Try fitting 3 bed in my room.

But we actually had fun at the Anderson's this week. Yeah they actually treated us like we were there. But it was really fun.

Mom I was wondering if you could design me a business card. Well not business card more like a contact card. Because some people I want to keep in contact with after my mission. And every time I say Cominger everyone looks at it like it is Russian or something. It doesn’t have to be anything special. Just my info on paper. (phone, email, mailing address). I also ask Maren. But I wouldn’t need that much just like 15 for right now.

Mom I need you to do me a favor now Mallory, Toren, Audrey, or Kalen, can you show you this. But I need you to go on my facebook. And go in the apps. People have sent me and press ignore on every one but friend requests. Now I am warning you now you might have a friend request from Valerie Taylor. This is a person in the jay branch. If you want you add her if you don’t care then just leave it don’t delete it just leave it.

Oh I am running out of journal so can you send me a new one like the one I sent home. Please I am writing a lot for each day. And Maren got me erasable pens so it should be easier to read.

Mom I have a question from a family in this branch. They think there daughter is more intelligence then most 2 year olds. And they don’t want to put her in the public school just yet. So they were wondering if you knew of any Mormon home schooling programs or what you would do. What they told me is that she can recognize 6 colors and 3-6 shapes.

I don’t know why but I have been sick all this week. And it doesn’t help that I don’t sleep well. I think I might sleep walk because when I got up the other morning my blanket and sheets were flipped up side down. With the sheet over the blanked and the blanket was up side down. And it was spread out all nice and neat.

Love
Elder Forsberg

PS. Which wrist does dad where is watch on. Left or right?

Week 21- Jay (E-mail to dad)

Dear Dad,

Gee thanks dad way to make me fell better about my talk.

I am glad you had fun in Pullman. And as for the memory card. I might get a package at zone conference from her. It might be in there. But if not then I right she wrong. Because I know what I have received. But I got the other memory card.

Well every zone has a spot but the mobile zone. They meet at there spot and a buss pick up the elder going far. It goes out from Tallahassee to Pensacola back to Tallahassee.

But we had a very busy day on Saturday. We left the apartment at 930 am and didn’t get back until 9 pm. We were visiting people. And we did companionship study in the park and some Jehovah's witnesses came up to us and shared a little lesson (full of false doctrine) then before we could say any thing they left. They seemed very nervous to talk to us. There companionship are old men and one white one black person. Don’t know why but they do it that way.

I got two more cd this week. Both by the Mormon Tabernacle choir they are called to serve and come now fount. They are good cds.

But My new companions are Newsom and Manti (like the temple in Utah). Yeah I am way nervous because Elder Newsom was here when all the missionaries in jay were apostate and jay has changed into a productive area. But when the odds are 2 against one and you’re the one aren’t so good. But yeah I will tell you next week how things are. With everything there are good and bad. But I would being lying if I send I wasn’t happy to be free of my current companion I either love him to death or ready to causes his death there is no happy medium. And we have a small apartment. Try fitting 3 bed in my room.

But we actually had fun at the Anderson's this week. Yeah they actually treated us like we were there. But it was really fun.

Elder Forsberg

Week 21- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

Oh I am glad they surgery went well. Yeah surgery is pretty uncomfortable. Dad is so weird when it comes to high councilor talks. I sure if he ask someone to they would its not like he was going to the beach to have fun or anything.

Yes Maren, I have use the focus button many times it just doesn’t work well. But I have figure out how to use the flash so we are good. And of course there not good picture of me in a suit. I love haw mom and dad had months to get a picture for it and yet they made me do it on my mission. I sent them a printed picture that they will have to reduce to fit. But if not check on my myspace or face book. But I am glad you enjoyed the pictures. Oh I will be sending mom a recipe soon so you will want to ask her to email it to you when she gets it in the mail.

Maren I was wondering if you could design me a business card. Well not business card more like a contact card. Because some people I want to keep in contact with after my mission. And every time I say Cominger everyone looks at it like it is Russian or something. It doesn’t have to be anything special. Just my info on paper. (phone, email, mailing address)

But we had a very busy day on Saturday. We left the apartment at 930 am and didn’t get back until 9 pm. We were visiting people. And we did companionship study in the park and some Jehovah's witnesses came up to us and shared a little lesson (full of false doctrine) then before we could say any thing they left. They seemed very nervous to talk to us. There companionship are old men and one white one black person. Don’t know why but they do it that way.

I got two more cd this week. Both by the Mormon Tabernacle choir they are called to serve and come now fount. They are good cd's.

But we actually had fun at the Anderson's this week. Yeah they actually treated us like we were there. But it was really fun.

Maren I have always had a short companion. Ever this the MTC. When I was at the trade of with elder Barney I said I feel short next to you. He said I am short he was just my same height and I was not use to that. Which was true. Speaking of companions on Wednesday is transfer and I am getting 2 new companions. Yeah I am way nervous because Elder Newsom was here when all the missionaries in jay were apostate and jay has changed into a productive area. But when the odds are 2 against one and you’re the one aren’t so good. But yeah I will tell you next week how things are. With everything there are good and bad. But I would being lying if I send I wasn’t happy to be free of my current companion I either love him to death or ready to causes his death there is no happy medium. And we have a small apartment. Try fitting 3 bed in my room

Marquita is upset with her doctor because he said she is not allow to leave the area because of her high risk pregnancy. And she was going to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. But the funny this is she will be going to a bigger and best city. But it is still a no.

Jay is not a white trash town. It pretty good. Most live in house. But jay is a WHITE town. As in FEW year back they posted a sign saying all black must leave before sun down or they will be killed. Not even joking. So only white people live in jay.

I was told on Thursday to give a talk we got busy so I wrote it on Saturday night. He taught me how to turns a simple question into a rude comment. For example this really happened. Forsberg” did you know we had rice?” Jones” did you know I don’t care if we have rice”. That’s a good thing right.

Paul Jr. doesn’t change because he likes the treated he gets from other people who mean well. People wont treat him that way if he is normal.

We didn’t get to go to Tallahassee the president came down here. And I sat in silents writing a letter to Sam. But president and sister Jensen are very busy. All in all it was awkward. He will be going to weaver state. He starts the Monday he get home. He gets home on a Thursday.

Love

Elder Forsberg

Week 20- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

I had a great week!

Mom, Seattle is only 3 hours away. Or if you drive like you drove to the Seattle Temple when Toren was getting married, it will only take you 1 ½ hours. It is always sad to see people go, but they are going to be property people. Joshy? Mom, since when do you call Brother Hartley joshy?

The health department shut down a lemonade stand? That so funny. $1000 how much was the lemonade? $10 dollars a cup or something. Why did they shut it down. I want to see that news story.

Oh yes mom, I am an emotional wreck. That I don’t get to sit in the snow and watch a game I don’t even like. I won't stop crying until the season is over. Melodramatic enough for you.

Mom, the cool doesn’t come in until half way through October in Florida. I don’t know if it will be more or less humid.

We don’t have any investigators and the branch has no service project for us at all. In Fox Run we had 4 every week.

Oh and good news, we got a new washing machine this week. The Beldens found it for us and I gave my first mission talk this week. I gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation. I think it went pretty well. I was so nervous that my legs almost fell off. I was supposed to give a 10 to 15 minute talk but when I gave it and sat down. Elder Jones whispered to me that it was only 4 minutes. But I think it was meant to be because Brother Wiggins was suppose to give a 20 minute talk on the importance of Temples and he took 30 minutes. He is a good speaker and if you want to have a good talk about the gospel, you talk to Dennis Wiggins.

On Sunday, it was Elder Jones' turn to teach the gospel principles class. He didn’t want to and said it was a waste of time and said to cancel the class. Well, you know what, I did instead of fighting with him about it. At the end of PEC President Potter asked if anyone had any questions. So I raised my hand and said, "Ok, I was wondering if you still wanted to have a gospel principles class even though most of them are active members?" He said yes and that some won't people weren't ready for deeper doctrine. There was Elder Jones' answer right there. I know Elder Jones was afraid of teaching, even though he wouldn't admit it, so being the bigger person I taught the class.

We had to go to lunch at the Taylors this week, without Brother or Sister Taylor being there. It only was their son Paul Jr. who got in a crash 14 years ago. The thing that eggs me off about it is the doctors said if he works at it he can be normal, for the most part, walk and talk normal. He chooses not to change. So he is almost impossible to understand when he talks. He tries to tell us a story. He just said the same sentence 5 times and the story was over. Now to be fair, he has a short term memory loss problem that he can't help. Lunches like that are always awkward.

But guess what Elder Jones and I get to do on Friday? We get to go to Tallahassee, to the mission office. Elder Jones has to take some placement tests for college. So it's things like this that can make life interesting.

Oh, I showed a picture of the family to Marquita and I pointed at you and mom and said these are my parents. She looked shocked and said those are your parents, they look so young. I didn’t know what to say too that and so I just said thank you.

So have you found out if my memory card has been sent to me yet and if not have you sent it yet?

Elder Forsberg

Week 20- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

Yes, there has been talk actually. President Jensen said he tried to get the whole mission tickets. But it failed. I think him and his wife are going and maybe who is in that area at the time. I won't go if I could avoid it but you know me, I don’t like football.

Dad, you have to remember Brian Franzen. He is the guy I always said didn’t come prepared for class and didn’t participate when I came home from missionary prep class. So, it is no surprise to me that he has not sent in his papers yet. I hope he gets his act together. Oh, and a suggestion for Bryce, get a bug spray high in deet.

Wait, hold the phone. Toren blessed Austin in your ward? Why didn’t he do it in his ward? I am glad to Toren's missionaries got to come. When you are a missionary it is the special things like that that brighten your day because you get into a boring old schedule. But guess what? Elder Jones and I get to do on Friday? We get to go to Tallahassee to the mission office because Elder Jones has to take some placement tests for college. So, it's things like that that can make life interesting. I thought the Gailey's were going to be in Hong Kong for 5 years. Or has it been that already. I don’t think so, but maybe.

Dad if you and mom are going up to Pullman who is staying with kalen unless Mallory and Brent are still there?

Actually Marquita’s family is getting interested in the church. It's slow but it's working. I am becoming more fluent in southern. Elder Jones goes home on the 18th of August. I know most the members and how the branch works. Just hope my new companion has a GPS because I have know clue where I am going.

I am been out for 4 months now and I still don’t have a plaque? How do you not have a picture of me? Ok, ask Mallory to look through my profile on myspace and facebook, but I will send one home. My favorite scripture is Mosiah 2:17. But look it up. It might be 16, it’s the one that says when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are you the service of God. It's 16 or 17.

Oh and good news, we got a new washing machine this week. The Beldens found it for us and I gave my first mission talk this week. I gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation. I think it went pretty well. I was so nervous that my legs almost fell off. I was supposed to give a 10 to 15 minute talk but when I gave it and sat down. Elder Jones whispered to me that it was only 4 minutes. But I think it was meant to be because Brother Wiggins was suppose to give a 20 minute talk on the importance of Temples and he took 30 minutes. He is a good speaker and if you want to have a good talk about the gospel, you talk to Dennis Wiggins.

Oh, I showed a picture of the family to Marquita and I pointed at you and mom and said these are my parents. She looked shocked and said those are your parents, they look so young. I didn’t know what to say too that and so I just said thank you.

So have you found out if my memory card has been sent to me yet and if not have you sent it yet?

Elder Forsberg

Week 20- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

Maren you are not a little crazy, you are way crazy. Why would you want to run for fun and how did you get the kidlets to sit still for 12 miles? I bet if you were down here in the heat and humidity you would be singing a different tune. But yeah, I am glad you are having fun and plus you are so skinny. No one would know you had a baby in February.

So Brody does look like me? Hopefully he won't have the same problems as I do. Maren, I have been praying for Brody's recovery since I entered the MTC. Braden said the prayer? That is so cute. What did he say about me? Did he call my Uncle Blair or Elder Forsberg? Maren, rest a sure that Braden is a Forsberg because he thanks Heavenly Father for his pillow, which means he likes to sleep. Forsberg's like to sleep. For example, Mallory has a pillow and you have a blanket.

Mom and Dad might of lost it (memory card). But the rules don’t change. I need to get a memory card to give a memory card.

Marquita's father was unable to go to sacrament meeting this Sunday so no (she didn't bear her testimony). We are teaching her family, a little bit. Marquita is excited about the gospel so she can be a little over bearing sometimes. I know I have probably not told you this before, but Marquita is pregnant with a baby girl. So that is exciting. She asks questions like, will Gabrielle be accepted? But she is a mom so she worries. She is going to name her baby girl Gracie. So it will be Gabrielle and Gracie.

Milton is about 45 minutes away from Jay. Well, we did a trade off, a transfer is different. In Jay you have bad phone reception and all you have is your companion. In Milton, well, Milton and Pace share an apartment so there are more elders to talk to. In Jay, most of the time, you only have your companion. So if you are annoyed with your companion, you have no one. The elders talked to me. But the families we went to see didn’t really talk to me all that much.

So you talk about me to your missionaries? And they brought an investigator, plus you read Alma chapter 32? Reading up on faith are we, very good. We visit less active members a lot sometimes.

Oh and good news, we got a new washing machine this week. The Beldens found it for us and I gave my first mission talk this week. I gave a talk on the Plan of Salvation. I think it went pretty well. I was so nervous that my legs almost fell off. I was supposed to give a 10 to 15 minute talk but when I gave it and sat down. Elder Jones whispered to me that it was only 4 minutes. But I think it was meant to be because Brother Wiggins was suppose to give a 20 minute talk on the importance of Temples and he took 30 minutes. He is a good speaker and if you want to have a good talk about the gospel, you talk to Dennis Wiggins.

On Sunday, it was Elder Jones' turn to teach the gospel principles class. He didn’t want to and said it was a waste of time and said to cancel the class. Well, you know what, I did instead of fighting with him about it. At the end of PEC President Potter asked if anyone had any questions. So I raised my hand and said, "Ok, I was wondering if you still wanted to have a gospel principles class even though most of them are active members?" He said yes and that some won't people weren't ready for deeper doctrine. There was Elder Jones' answer right there. I know Elder Jones was afraid of teaching, even though he wouldn't admit it, so being the bigger person I taught the class.

We had to go to lunch at the Taylors this week, without Brother or Sister Taylor being there. It only was their son Paul Jr. who got in a crash 14 years ago. The thing that eggs me off about it is the doctors said if he works at it he can be normal, for the most part, walk and talk normal. He chooses not to change. So he is almost impossible to understand when he talks. He tries to tell us a story. He just said the same sentence 5 times and the story was over. Now to be fair, he has a short term memory loss problem that he can't help. Lunches like that are always awkward.

But guess what Elder Jones and I get to do on Friday? We get to go to Tallahassee, to the mission office. Elder Jones has to take some placement tests for college. So it's things like this that can make life interesting.

Elder Forsberg

Week 19- Jay (E-mail to Mom)

Dear Mom,

Yes mom, maybe you should write a letter to the missionary department. Plus mom, who wants to enter the MTC where it is mostly Elders crying there eyes out? It's ok for you to do it because he might not have shown it, but dad was crying on the inside.

MOM, are you just now realizing their granddaughter are screamers? Olivia is a screamer also. Why do you think I always went upstairs when they were over? Don’t let the cuteness fool you, they get really loud.

Mom don’t take this the wrong way but the Carters sound crazy. The Evans put the sane in insane. But I guess you are half Carter since I have never seen you back done from a fight unless it is with a Priesthood Leader at church. And mom, how am I suppose to embrace something I have never known? I have never met your Carter side and besides, I am only ¼ Carter, if that.

The only really thing I need is my old memory card back, so I can send this one home.

This week has been hot. Try tracting in a tie when it is 98 degrees with 90% humidity. We couldn’t do it very well. Plus, the houses are a long ways away from each other.

So Marquita got baptized this week. The baptismal room is really small, so most of the service was held in the Relief Society room. She was so excited to be baptized. Anything that could go wrong did. The copier was not working, so we had to go to the UPS store and pay for the programs but it was fine. I finally got to meet her boyfriend Luke and it was fun. Then we went over there that night. She told us that almost everyone loved it. Her mom wants to be active again, so we are kind of teaching her family right now. When we teach Marquita they will stay in the room and listen. They won't really ask question but you got to crawl before you can walk I guess.

This week we had a trade off with the Milton elders. I went over to Milton while Elder Adam went over to Jay. I had so much fun there. Milton shares an apartment with Pace (the zone leaders). So I actually got to talk to people and not feel like I have been exiled to Jay. Most of the felling we saw treated me like I wasn’t even there. But it was still fun.

Every Sunday we go over to the Anderson's for dinner and they live in Pace, so the Potter's also live in Pace. They come over too. Those dinners are always awkward because again, they somewhat ignore you. The Potters and the Anderson are really good friends. Even when you try to be a part of the conversation, it feels like they kick you out of it or something. Then their daughter Jordan and her friend Jessica put on this little game show called the J and J show. She asked us if we wanted to play. But we were kind of pushed into it, so it was fine. All it was is riddles. Which I did pretty good at. And word scrambles. I have trouble spelling words normally. I can't really re-arrange letters in my head. Everyone around us kept on saying I know, I know. But Elder Jones and I were the only ones allowed to answer. They would only really give you 2 minutes. Then half way through the game Sister Anderson said maybe we should stop, the Elders aren’t being good sports about it. We will let you pick the game next time. Then everyone started in with oh why, everyone loves this game it every ones favorite game. So because I was feeling like they were saying, oh thanks for messing with our fun and felt like I was being grilled on stupid facts. I don’t think they tried to make us feel this way but still. So my suggestion to you is the missionaries do not come over to your house to be grilled on stuff that's not related to the gospel and make them feel uncomfortable.

Thing are picking up in Jay, but just a little bit. Not in the good way. We now have an investigator in the Stixs of Brewton, which is far and we have an investigator who is only free one hour a week on Monday at 4, which is in our P-day. And of course she is a single sister, so we have to bring another brother with us and most people don’t get off of work until five. And to make matters worse our laundry time is cut back because we do it at a members house so we only really have time for 3 loads between the 2 of us, which ok, but this really sucks. Now I am ranting. So I will let you go.

Elder Forsberg

Week 19- Jay (E-mail to Dad)

Dear Dad,

This week has been hot. Try tracting in a tie when it is 98 degrees with 90% humidity. We couldn’t do it very well. Plus, the houses are a long ways away from each other.

So Marquita got baptized this week. The baptismal room is really small, so most of the service was held in the Relief Society room. She was so excited to be baptized. Anything that could go wrong did. The copier was not working, so we had to go to the UPS store and pay for the programs but it was fine. I finally got to meet her boyfriend Luke and it was fun. Then we went over there that night. She told us that almost everyone loved it. Her mom wants to be active again, so we are kind of teaching her family right now. When we teach Marquita they will stay in the room and listen. They won't really ask question but you got to crawl before you can walk I guess.

Ok dad, maybe you can explain this to everyone. I can't send a memory card home until I get a new one to put in my camera. I have not gotten one yet. I might get one this week but I haven’t gotten one yet. Mom said she send mine back in a package but that package should be on its way. She might have not put it in that package but thought she did. Or if she sent it to the mission office address and the date of arrival was in August or after the 22nd of July I will have to wait to get it at the next Zone Conference. As soon as I get one, I will send this one home.

Elder Forsberg

Week 19- Jay (E-mail to Barnett's)

Dear Maren,

Well, Happy Anniversary. Maren when did you be come so athletic? Does Blake not watch the kids as much as you do? Maren, I always think it is so funny that you and Blake are the same as mom and dad, who was mostly an at home mom and who was out doing work and church thing dad. But I think mom has watched us so much because dad lost everyone of us at some point. But then again, mom wasn’t as athletic as you are now.

Braden is becoming more sassy? Which side does that come from, the Forsberg or Barnett side? What do you mean he is saying he doesn't like your attitude? What do you say when you tell him no? Or is it just random. Watch out Maren, tantrums are just around the counter.

Oh, thank you for the pictures. And you were wearing green. No problem, I have to deal with a lot of complexes. I showed Marquita our family pictures and she said that your kids were cute and Brody looks like me. What do you think? Don’t worry Maren, he will grow into it. (Referring to Brody's big head.)

No, I haven’t gotten a memory card yet. It's either lost in the mail, at the mission office, or mom lost it at the house and thought she put it in a package. Maybe it is on its way right now.

The baptism was really good. She was nervous, but it went well. Her expressions were like they always are, calm and fun. The baptismal room is really small, so most of the service was held in the Relief Society room. She was so excited to be baptized. Anything that could go wrong did. The copier was not working, so we had to go to the UPS store and pay for the programs but it was fine. I finally got to meet her boyfriend Luke and it was fun. Then we went over there that night. She told us that almost everyone loved it. Her mom wants to be active again, so we are kind of teaching her family right now. When we teach Marquita they will stay in the room and listen. They won't really ask question but you got to crawl before you can walk I guess.

The sweetest thing was she told us she was getting at subway with her mom and her mom looked at her and started crying. When she asked why she was sad, she said that she just looked so clean and beautiful. Then on Sunday I got to confirm her a member of the church and I only got tongue tied a little bit and it was in the blessing part so I didn’t have to start over or anything. If President Potter will let her, she will bear her testimony for the first time next Sunday so her dad, who is RLDS, can hear it. It is so great. The family really seems interested in the church.

Zone conference is every month. But we only focus on the doctrine every 3 months. That’s the way the church wants it.

Well, that depends on want you mean by write. Brother Thompson writes me but he was my mission prep teacher. And Bishop Kerr writes me but he is the Bishop. Besides that, no.

What are you talking about an Evans song like a song about the Evans family? Did the Carters have a song of them. That's weird. They told me they were weird but they didn’t go into detail.

This months alone we drove 1736 miles.

This week we had a trade off with the Milton elders. I went over to Milton while Elder Adam went over to Jay. I had so much fun there. Milton shares an apartment with Pace (the zone leaders). So I actually got to talk to people and not feel like I have been exiled to Jay. Most of the felling we saw treated me like I wasn’t even there. But it was still fun.

Every Sunday we go over to the Anderson's for dinner and they live in Pace, so the Potter's also live in Pace. They come over too. Those dinners are always awkward because again, they somewhat ignore you. The Potters and the Anderson are really good friends. Even when you try to be a part of the conversation, it feels like they kick you out of it or something. Then their daughter Jordan and her friend Jessica put on this little game show called the J and J show. She asked us if we wanted to play. But we were kind of pushed into it, so it was fine. All it was is riddles. Which I did pretty good at. And word scrambles. I have trouble spelling words normally. I can't really re-arrange letters in my head. Everyone around us kept on saying I know, I know. But Elder Jones and I were the only ones allowed to answer. They would only really give you 2 minutes. Then half way through the game Sister Anderson said maybe we should stop, the Elders aren’t being good sports about it. We will let you pick the game next time. Then everyone started in with oh why, everyone loves this game it every ones favorite game. So because I was feeling like they were saying, oh thanks for messing with our fun and felt like I was being grilled on stupid facts. I don’t think they tried to make us feel this way but still. So my suggestion to you is the missionaries do not come over to your house to be grilled on stuff that's not related to the gospel and make them feel uncomfortable.

Thing are picking up in Jay, but just a little bit. Not in the good way. We now have an investigator in the Stixs of Brewton, which is far and we have an investigator who is only free one hour a week on Monday at 4, which is in our P-day. And of course she is a single sister, so we have to bring another brother with us and most people don’t get off of work until five. And to make matters worse our laundry time is cut back because we do it at a members house so we only really have time for 3 loads between the 2 of us, which ok, but this really sucks. Now I am ranting. So I will let you go.

Elder Forsberg

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