Week 9: "Hold on. Hang on, Pray on!"

Hey guys,

Scripture for the week, D&C 112 1-14.

I hope all is well back home in the west, or wherever you may be when you read this. Just know that Elder Zilles loves you.

First things first, this week is transfer week, and here in the NHMM we get our transfer calls the saturday before transfers, which are on tuesdays. So saturday night we were asked to be to our apartments by 830 awaiting transfer calls. So Elder Chen and i sat there and played nurf basketball and shot eachother with nurf guns, because we were both very anxious. We were both hoping we would not be getting a call, because that would have meant nothing would be changing. But about 10 o clock our phone rang, and it was the AP's........... but guess what we are both staying in lyndon for one more transfer. FEEEEEW. The reason they called is Elder C got made district leader. Our district boundries are changing and we dont yet know all of the details on that. But we are both super stoked to be staying here. That means Elder C will die here, he will have been here 9 months crazy right? I am glad to be able to be his comp this last stretch he is a good elder and i truly have a love for him. This tansfer is only 5 weeks long, so elder chen misses 2 years by a week. He goes home to vegas march 27th, its wicked crazy, he is pretty nervous. I guess thats probably pretty close to when Elder Birky gets home right??

Well yes it is pretty wicked how fast time is going. Its interesting out here in the mission field, the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days, and they also say the months feel like years, but the years feel like months, so i will be home in no time.

I'm glad to hear that Zilles grandparents are doing well. Thats great grandpa wrote me, i was actually going to write him a letter today, but i will just wait till his gets here amd write him next week.

Well Zone conference was incredibly awesome. The topic was the book of mormon, and man was the spirit strong. No general authorities came to this one, but when President Wilkey is there you dont need anyone else to bring in the spirit. That man is going to be a prophet someday he is so amazing. I cant wait for yall to meet him someday, he just has a special spirit about him. He shared something really cool with us he said "when a missionary is called to the New Hampshire Manchester Mission, not only is he or she hand picked by our father in heaven, but they are hand picked by the prophet joseph smith. The prophet knows each one of you personally, and he has chosen you to come labor in his home country." I think that is pretty neat if ya ask me.

I was reading in my setting apart blessing the other day, and it says i will grow closer to the prophet joseph. At first i just thought that meant i will grow a stronger testimony of him, but i think it means more than that now. I love going to meetings, because i get to meet all the missionaries, and see my mtc buddies, and be with president and sister wilkey, they are great.

BROTHER GREGORY GETS BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy and excited for him, and he is a great man, his family is wonderful. Elder Gregory had to have surgery on his back, he had a cyst. He had surgery in provo before he came home and just came home for recovery, he heads back on the 27th. His mission does not cover temple square though or he would love to meet you.

Yup so our sisters come tomorrow, we are pretty excited to see who they are, Today we are going to littleton to set up their apartment so they can get right to work when they get here.

As far as getting people to church, especially kids, just show them and parents love and it really will go a long way. Sounds like church was really good yesterday, im glad to hear it.

Think about this-We are all created in gods image, why do you think our family is all so goood looking? haha And its ok, we all have to learn to deal with a new body at least once in our lives. I am trying to learn how to deal with this new missionary body haha. Im weighing about 175 right now and i love it, just wish this weight would have come during my football days. But i love my morning workouts, they are a great way to blow off steam.

WEll, i hope i answered everyones questions. Love you all so very much.

"Hold on. Hang on, Pray on!' (Ross Zilles)

Love Elder toner