Sorry I'm Late!

Dear Family,
First off, I am still alive! I can't write much today. Today is p-day because we went to the temple today. The reason I am writing so late in the day is because there was an Elder who was with us who had a mini stroke in the temple and me and my companion and the other companionship had to go to the hospital.

The other elder will be okay. He had a blessing in the temple.

Anyways, nothing much to report this week. We had a very slow week, but surprisingly had 16 lessons, which is better than average. We asked Kendra to be baptized, but she didn't understand the importance of doing it the correct way. I am hopeful this week will pick back up. As most of the converts this year have been part member families, we are making a list of potentials we could help and will see if we could teach those families.

President asked us to give something up as missionaries to show the Lord we are willing to do all it takes to reach our goals this year. We are giving up our 2 hour breaks 3 times a week. Hopefully we can get more contacts by being out during the daytime hours more when we usually have our break.

Even during hard times, the church is still true!

Love, Richard

A Miraculous Week!

Hello all,
This was a really amazing week! There are many miracles happening all over the mission, even in our little part of it. There are new doors opening and new investigators coming out of the woodwork. The Lord really does place people in your path that are ready to hear the restored gospel. This week we were looking through our area book and found a former investigator from 4 years ago that we were impressed to visit. He welcomed us inside and told us that earlier that day he was talking to his Mormon friend about the Church and that he wanted to learn more. We'll be sure to visit him again really soon! We also found a woman with a husband that was inactive and wasn't in our records. He had recently died and she wants to learn more about God's great plan of Happiness. Lastly, we visited a man who used to be active years ago, but because of a bad divorce he left the Church. He wants his daughter to have the same experiences he had in the Church and wants us to continue to keep in contact with him. As I said, miracles do happen! The Lord truly places people in our paths that are ready to hear the restored gospel! The gospel changes lives for the better and I am lucky to see that happen!

Like I said this week was good! We continue to teach our new investigator, Kendra, who continues to take it slowly, but we'll do better at picking up the pace of her lessons. Lessons with her are sometimes difficult because her brother who is a recent convert is very intellectual and brings up deeper doctrine that confuses her and we have to jump ahead in the lessons. We'll have to find another place to teach her so it doesn't happen again.

Last month was the best month the Washington Seattle Mission has ever had with nearly 80 baptisms! I know that as we continue to set goals we can continue to have many more amazing months ahead.

Can I tell you how great the ward I serve in is? There is a single lady in her late 50's that we go visit/teach a lot because she is getting ready to go through the Temple (she wants us to go through with her too). She saw us tracting the other day and offered to take us for ice cream at the Ben & Jerry's shop. The members here are always so nice and offer us good food, which is good when you are on a budget.

We continue to work hard and I know that we will be blessed because of it. I feel your love, support, and prayers every day! Your letters truly make my day as well! Anyways, I will hear from you later. The Church is true!

Love,
Elder Richard Fetzer

Howl-o-ween

my pumpkin is on the left

Hello All,

Well, I need to keep this short. This week was really great! We started teaching a new investigator, who is a sister of a recent convert. She told us flat out that she would go at her pace and that she wouldn't do anything she didn't think she should. So as you can see, we have a lot to work with. Anyways, This week was also Halloween! On Friday we had a ward Halloween party where a lot of non-members attended. Many people have told me that it's the best party of the year. At the party there was Chili and Corn Bread. I never knew that there were so many different kinds of Chili. We were sent home with a large pot of Chili, which will take us forever to go through. The members here are awesome! Every time we go to their houses they offer us food and treats, which is really nice!

This week was transfers. I am staying here with Elder Kitchen. It is a miracle really. On Saturday we got the call for him to pack his bags for him to be transferred. After many teary goodbyes we received a call from President Larkin telling him that he felt as though he should stay. So here we are for the next six weeks. We both feel that it is meant to be. Something BIG is gonna happen in Issaquah 5th and we are going to be the people to do it.

On Thursday we volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, where they are building houses for people in need. Elder Kitchen and I insulated a basement. It was a lot of work, but very rewarding! It is amazing how many good people there are in the world, willing to donate time and materials for causes like that! It is a really good way to give service to those in need.
On Halloween we had to be in early. So what better thing to do than watch "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration." It is on the new Church History DVD's which are a really great teaching tool that we have begun to use a lot! The movie was actually really great for Halloween. It is both dramatic and somewhat scary for a Church movie. It shows the part where Joseph is overtaken by evil before the First Vision, which is kinda scary.

It is really amazing to have a testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. Because of him, we have the restored gospel on the earth again. We have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a knowledge of the great plan of happiness. It is really amazing to see people come to know that Joseph Smith restored God's Church once again on the Earth and to see how their lives change for the better.

As always, the Church is true!

Love,

Elder Richard Fetzer

P.S. (I got this from a kid in our ward)

Q. What is a wolf's (Chewy's) favorite holiday?

A. Howl-o-ween!