Lots happened I promise

So yet again the computers are down at the church so that means limited emailing time. However I don't have much to say about this week.

The highlights this week were trackting, going down to Battlefords to talk with President, trackting, and having branch conference.

The branch conference was quite fun just because we about doubled in size and most of the people who regularly come came. Plus we had a killer potluck after. Overall would do again. Mainly because the stake presidency are the best in the mission ;)

Like I said a lot happened this week. I promise ;) It was a good one. Love yous. have a great week

Scary

So I'll make this quick but I thought I would send out a mass email because I promised to tell you about two experiences this week.

First of all we've been in a lot of rain this last week. I don't think I've seen this much rain since my time in the Battlefords. But, tracting in the rain works just as well as any other tracting ;) However one night was particularly stormy and there was one thunder crack that woke both of us up. I don't think I've had an experience like that since my time at the scout camp where we met the Mccougar. 

The other experience in spite of being startled awake by thunder was much scarier to me. Because as I was peacefully sleeping Elder Nielson was not. I got woke up to somebody touching my arm and telling me that I need to wake up the phone was for me and then speed walking out of the room. I followed him because of the urgency that he was displaying. He was waiting for me at the doorway of the study room and as soon as I got to him he went to the window and was just looking out. I then asked him where the phone was and all he responded was a quick shrug. I then asked him what was going on and again he responded with a quick shrug. After that he passed by me quickly. As I followed him out back to the room he jumped in bed and very efficiently put his covers back on and rolled over. At that point I realized it was all just a dream of his and he pulled me out of sleep for some reason because of that. It was freaky. The thing was is when I looked at the phone somebody had called that night after I fell asleep. So whatever was going on he needed to tell me before the morning :) 

That's all I've got. We've been doing lots of tracting and teaching. Most of which has been good. Overall a good week. 

Love, Elder Mikesell

p.s. shout out to Connor and Madi receiving a saving ordinance this week 

Exchanges in Stoon Round 4

So one word that would sum up this week is Trackting but, there's much more that happened than that. However this week was so much trackting :)

The first big thing that happened this week was we went out to Saskatoon for Zone Conference. It was one of the more engaging zone conferences I've been to in a while. There were also three Elders that it was their last zone conference. Which made me realize it was my second to last zone conference and at this point Elder Nielson would tell me "three months" you can wait three months. But, it was pretty good. President Craig gave a wonderful portion on studies. We can all tell he follows what he preaches as well because he is a very well versed man. It was really nice to hear him talk about it. 

After Zone Conference I got to go on Exchanges with Elder Beus who is a new Zone Leader. It was nice to exchange with him because he's from Tremonton area. So basically cache valley except not :) For our exchange we went straight trackting as well. We had a few lessons planned but they didn't work out. But, We got Five Guys so it was worth it ;) It was also super nice to be in Stoon. I love that city

So the next exciting thing that happened was I gave a talk on Sunday. I know that doesn't usually seem like an exciting thing but I got to talk about Commitment and Goals. So I was excited. But, because this was the first talk I was explicitly told to prepare a 15 minute talk and I was worried. So I went hard on preparation and I abated that fear. I still, however, felt like I was going to only talk for 15 minutes max. I was expecting to go under. Before we got up to talk, Elder Nielson was asked to talk as well, I told him to prepare to make sure he had a talk that could last for all the remainder of the time. So I got up and was just excited to talk about what I had prepared. And it was going good. And then towards the end of the talk one of the Branch Presidency got up (I thought he was going to tell me to cut it short) and went and sat by my companion and said something to him. At that moment I was like "oh no.." "What did I do?" So I wrapped up my talk and sat down. As I was sitting down I noticed that the Branch Presidency was all smiling and I was super embarrassed because I realized I had talked for way too long. Elder Nielson, after it was all over, told me that the final time was 35 minutes. I could've gone longer.. I was so surprised I talked for that long. I guess that's what happens when you get me to talk on something I enjoy :) 

One of the tender mercies for the week was we had an appointment with someone who we had been meeting with for a while. We asked the branch if there was anyone who could come and one guy who hadn't really done much with the missionaries for a long while (to my knowledge) said he could come. It was amazing how well he was able to connect with her. It definitely was meant to be. 

Overall it was quite the week. I'm ready for more 

Staying in Stoon

So the highlight of this week rotated around being in Saskatoon for half the week. At the beginning of the week were Elder Nielsons last few days and at the end of the week were Elder Nielsons first few days. So basically my week was a form of Chiasmus. Either way it was a good time.

So not too much happened at the beginning of the week except for the power of prayer and faith being applied. I was not thinking and we didn't fill up on gas before we went down to Battleford at the beginning of the week. I'm used to driving gas efficient subarus so the small tank and not much gas efficiency of the RAV is going to throw me off for the rest of the mission. Anywho so we made it halfway to Battleford and the low gas light came on. It was also the time of the evening where small towns only have Cardlock gas stations open. So we were pretty done for. We actually ended up calling the NB elders and telling them to pray for us because we were just going to give'r till we dropped. The point we were at was the car telling us we only had 14 kilometers left and the next town that would have a gas bar would be 20 to 25 kilometers away. We just about didn't make it. But, somehow someway we made it to Cochin. And a gas bar was open. It was amazing. 

Next part of the week was spent with Elder Griffin for my second exchange with him. It was super good to be with him again and I got to be a Zone leader for the day. We went pretty hard that day and got a lot of good stuff done. Also there's a unique culture in our mission where a lot of people who serve in Winnipeg learn ASL because there's a massive deaf community there. So I got in the club and learned how to finger spell. I've got it pretty down already after a few days. I'll probably try to teach Elder Nielson so we can send secret messages during church or when we can't speak. :) 

Then I got Elder Nielson Senior. We hit it off pretty well because we both served in Portage and there's lots of good stories from portage. It's been a pretty good first few days and I hope to see more coming. Other than that I can't think of too much that happened this week. 

I love youz have a great week

p.s. We saw a bear cross the road in front of us #threebears