Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 9:52 AM

Death... Well snow, but that's basically the same word right? We've had like maybe 4 inches of snow here over the last 3 days, which really isn't that much but everyone here in Missouri is freaking out about it. I think it's because they don't realize that they can just sweep it away with a broom or move it with a shovel. Instead they just pour salt everywhere around their porch, which really hardly does anything to get rid of the snow so then it just piles up and gets packed down when people walk over it and then it turns into solid ice... Now you can slip on it and the salt still does nothing... One day they will learn.

 

With the snow and cold everyone is getting sick. Out of the four Elders in our ward I am the only one (knock on wood) who doesn't have a sinus infection or strep throat or hemorrhoids or whatever other problems you can think of. It makes it hard to do missionary work when everyone around you is sick. So hopefully they'll get better soon and we will actually be able to do something productive :)

 

Transfers are coming up this Thursday. We'll know tonight who is going where. Elder Monroe has been here for 4 transfers (6 months) now so we are pretty sure he's going. Then again, I've had this weird feeling ever since I got here that I would only be here for one transfer and it's not unheard of for people to stay in their first area for 5 transfers (7.5 months) so it'll be interesting to see what happens.

 

Dad, I didn't realize that old people were even allowed to get contacts. I guess having huge hands doesn't help either when you are trying to put them in / take them out huh? Now at least your glasses won't get broken from hugging people too hard. Personally I would recommend staying away from an extraction tube for your contacts. It's probably a little hard on the lenses  :) And you are right Mom, that story did give me a pretty good chuckle.

 

There have been tons of geese flying into Belton, especially near little ponds and stuff. Well we were driving through a trailer park a few days ago at night looking for a members house and I saw something flash right in front of us and then a "thud.... thud....". Well I looked in the rearview mirror and there are feathers flying everywhere and two dead geese right in the middle of the road. I guess that's the right way to go hunting. You don't have to go out of your way to find them and you don't have to pick out the pellets later when you clean them. And luckily enough, they don't damage your car either so it's a win win situation all the way around.

 

I was reading in the BoM in 1 Nephi 17 and the first part of verse 35 really stuck out to me. Its says "the Lord esteemeth all flesh‍ in one; he that is righteous‍ is favored‍ of God". I thought that was really cool because each one of us is on a level playing field our entire life. The Lord loves each on of us, wants to bless each one of us, wants to comfort each one of us... But ultimately what determines the amount of blessings that we receive is our righteousness. We are promised over and over again throughout both the Bible and the Book of Mormon that if we obey God's commandments that we will be blessed. It's not a very hard concept to understand. Keep the rules and good things happen to you. Break the rules and bad things happen to you. The best part though is that because of the Atonement, no matter where we are in life, no matter what mistakes we've made or what faults we have, we can make the decision to change right now. We can start on the path of righteousness this instant if we really want to, but the choice is ours.

 

That's about it for the week. I hope all is going well for you. Make it a great week. I love you!

 

     -Elder Nyholm

 

And here are some District Pictures. I don't think we got a single normal one. Sorry :/