Alister Return Home January 13, 2011

January 11, 2011

I'm kinda nervous about the weather, we got a legit 5 inches of snow last night and it's supposed to keep on going. If it doesn't let up by Thursday I'm afraid they will cancel my flight and I will have to stay in Knoxville Forever!!!!! Probably not forever, but I would still like to get home sometime soon. I wouldn't count your hours before I get on the plane. So we'll see.
Love you mom.

December 27, 2010

I hadn't gotten it yet, but traditionally missionaries leave the Thursday after transfers which turn out to be the 13th. Yeah, we got snow and they canceled church and I didn't have to give my talk so I have to talk on the 8th. I will probably just give the same talk for my homecoming. I really like the subject our bishop here gave me, so it should be a good one, one worth giving twice.
Love you mom I only get to write you two more times on my mission. I'll see you soon.

December 10, 2010

Awesome! I am glad to hear everything is going good. And there's snow! I finally sent Christi her letter. I hope she got it. Either you or mom said something about her moving back to Florida. So I don't know if she got it. I was really slow sending it off. Oh, well I will have to talk to her on Christmas. I don't know if we will be able to skype home. I don't know of any members in this area that has it.
We have a few invites for Christmas and Christmas Eve so we will be taken good care of. We had a bad winter storm a few weeks ago, but now all the snow is melted off and it's just cold. but we are supposed to get hit hard again on Wednesday. So maybe we will have a white Christmas after all.

Now! On to the important topic! Green Chili! 5 Pounds of it! It got here like Tuesday and I am addicted to it! I have been using it in everything. I made grits yesterday morning, With green chili. Awesome!!! You should be jealous.

There was something else I wanted to talk about that happened this last week...
Oh yeah! So we had a Christmas party for the missionaries and had a little talent show. There are two other missionaries that live really close to us. Elder Hedgecock Who is really good on the guitar, and Elder Summerhays who is pretty good on piano, so we adapted Bon Jovi's song Dead or Alive to mission work and preformed it in front of a bunch of missionaries, including the Mission President. Elder Nunn and I took care of the vocals, it went a little bit like this.

It's all the same, 6:30 Wake-up, Pray and change
Every day, It seems we're wasting away
Another place, where the faces are so cold,
We tract all day, just to bike back home
[Chorus]
I'm a Mormon, on a Bicycle I ride
I'm wanted, In a white shirt and tie
I want to, Find, teach, baptize.

Sometimes we sleep.... Eight hours every day
The people we teach, always go their separate ways
Sometimes you tell the day, by the lesson that you teach
and times when your alone... (look at each other awkwardly) wait, that never happens.
[Chorus]
We tract these streets, a Mormon Bible on my back
teachin' these peeps, but they rarely want us back.
We've been everywhere, now we use the word 'Y'all'
We've seen a million faces, and we've taught them all.
[Chorus]
[end song]

It was awesome!!! I'll talk to you on Christmas.
December 6, 2010
I am in Redneck Vegas!!!!

My companion is Awesome!!!

I Only have 6 weeks to live it up!!!

This will be the greatest transfer of my mission!!!!

President Griffin decided to send me to Seveirville Tn. Which, if I remember right, is about 40-50 miles east of Knoxville. This area is the great tourist trap of the Tennessee Smokies, but I am really excited to be here. It sounds like the work is ready to get done, and I am ready to do it. The ward seems a little iffy so working with them might be somewhat of a challenge, but that's OK. We will whip them into shape. My companion is awesome.

Elder Nunn is from Hatch NM. He's been here for 3 months and his last companion kept him from working as hard as he wanted to. Now that I am here he is so ready to get stuff done. He's young, energetic, funny and just plain fun to be around!

But holy cow! I only have six weeks of this, and then it's done. I feel like there's so much to do and so little time, but I am so ready for this. I love Y'all and wish that you catch the spirit of the season.

Love Elder Jose.

November 29, 2010

Well I got some big news! They are moving me somewhere else for the last month of my mission. I am not sure why or where. (I will find out on Wednesday. But I did have a really fun thanksgiving. The Chacon Family fed us and he made a really good spread. we left with a lot of leftovers. Brother Chacon isn't a member, but he is really nice and I think we are going to try and start working with him. Well... Elder Cziep will. We have been so busy the last week. I interviewed 6 People who were preparing for baptism in two days. Crazy! But good. As sad as I am to leave this area and the people here. I Think I am Ready for a new place and new faces. I've one more chance so I gotta make it count.
Love you guys. I will let you know where I am next week.
Ster

November 22, 2010

I got the one with the pants and the camera, I don't know if you sent another one or not. Go ahead and tell Christi when I will Be home, if you talk to her again. Also tell her I have been a slacker and haven't written yet. I will do it tonight so I don't forget. Sounds like you had a good time in Utah, this thanksgiving we will be Baptizing and that’s what I am thankful for because it came out of the blue. Bro. Gurley has been coming to church for years and I thought he was a member but I was surprised when I got a phone call telling me he wasn't and that he was finally ready to be baptized. It's going to be on Wednesday, so Happy thanksgiving! Then we were finally invited somewhere for thanksgiving, Also there will be a turkey bowl. I'll tell you how that goes next week.
This week we attended a seventh day Adventist church... on Saturday? It wasn't nearly as bad as the church we went to while I was in Maryville. Also they fed us afterward so that was nice. They are all vegetarian so at least the food was healthy, and it didn't taste too bad either.
Hopefully we will have something better for thanksgiving.
Love you mom
Ster

November 15, 2010

Don't worry about last week. I e-mail at the weirdest times.
So about the pants, I actually think I am a 30 waist now. I have lost a little bit of weight, but I think the pants should still work. I have been trying to be better with my money, but I have been sick all this last and i was going to ask if you could send some more money so I can buy some medicine to help me get over this cold.
Most of this past week has been spent trying to get rid of this stupid thing which has meant a lot of quality time with Elder Cziep, and he's starting to get on my nerves... again.
I've gotta get over this so I can get out and start working again, or I'm going to go insane.
I wish I had more to report on.
I guess I could tell you what I've learned in studies this week. I have been studying the gospel of Jesus Christ And it's first principles and ordinances. Faith, Repentance Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Of course last but not least is enduring to the end, which is a combination of all the other things. From what I have gathered faith can be lost, we can choose not to repent, we can break our baptismal covenants. and we can drive away the holy ghost. Enduring to the end is, in a nutshell, continuing to strengthen our faith in Christ, continuing to repent. renewing our covenants, and striving with th holt ghost is how we endure to the end.
I pray that we will continue to follow the plan our father has for us so that we can live with him again.
I love you and hope you are helping others come unto Christ.
Love Elder Jose

November 8, 2010

Hi Mom and Dad
We had our stake conference here in Chattanooga. There were a lot of talks on the importance of temples and temple worship. Both the Atlanta and Nashville temple presidents and their wives spoke, it was really neat. Not a whole lot more has been going on. just seem like a slow time in the mission work. I gotta run.
Love you. I'll look forward to next week.
Ster

November 1, 2010

Hey I got the Package you all sent Thanks for the candy I was getting over a little food poisoning so I haven't been able to enjoy it all, but it's been good so far, (I Love Chocolate!!!) I haven't written Christie yet, I haven't had a whole lot of time, to write, but I will write her this week. Cool Andrew's Getting his Eagle! Is he the first Jose to get his?
Let's hope your next job will be better than your last one. Dad said you didn't really like working there.
we had a really fun Halloween. a senior missionary couple invited us over for a party. It was really fun, we played the mafia game and ate all kinds of goodies.
I'm doing good mom! I am glad You write and let me know you love me.
Thanks mom I love you.

October 25, 2010

Yeah mom we're doing alright. The power flickered on and off during lunch today but it came back on so we're all good. We did have a pretty crazy thunderstorm wake us up last night.
So dad told me you're out of a job! What happened? I hope everything is alright.

Sorry about last week I ran out of time to write, Hopefully dad filled you in on what's going on in Elder Jose world. I am still frustrated with my comp. He has been a lot better this week. Some day's he's more normal than others.
That's neat to hear about grandma Lucia I know she accepted her work. Her heart was pure.
I love you Mom I hope everything is going good in mommy world.
Elder Jose

October 18, 2010

Sorry I wasn't able to E-mail yesterday. Yeah I don't want to have to drive all the way from pocatello just to get home, Isn't the I.F. Airport bigger anyway, I guess it doesn't matter just so long as I get home.
Dad told me a little more about the rental property. Do you have anyone lined up to move into it yet? Dad made it sound like there was a deadline.

I'm glad you got a hold of Christie! I don't think it would be a good Idea for me to cal her. But if you could get me her address I would like to send her a letter.

Elder Cziep is doing better, he still has a ways to go but he is on the right track to becoming a great missionary.

I love you Mom. You have always known how to make me smile, and I am grateful for your example of love in my life.

Love Elder Jose

October 08, 2010

Hi Mom and Dad
We had our stake conference here in Chattanooga. There were a lot of talks on the importance of temples and temple worship. Both the Atlanta and Nashville temple presidents and their wives spoke, it was really neat. Not a whole lot more has been going on. just seem like a slow time in the mission work. I gotta run.
Love you. I'll look forward to next week.
Ster

September 29, 2010

I'm so sorry for not E-mailing you! I have been up in Knoxville since Monday and haven't had the opportunity to e-mail 'til today. We are having trainings again. The good news is it's giving me a break from Elder Cziep. I'm glad to hear that you got back safely from Seattle. Tell Drew to write me a little bit about it. Elder Cziep told me I got your postcard. He is staying in Brainerd with another missionary so I won't be able to read it 'til I get back. Cool news is I am back in Chillhowee for a couple of days. So I get to visit some of the members here. It has been really neat. One of them was asking me about Christie and I hadn't heard from her in a little while. Do either of you know what's up with her?
Anyway, I love you both and am grateful for your prayers. Keep praying for him to fortify my patience, I'm going to need it.

Elder Jose.

September 13, 2010

Man Seattle Sounds Like it's going to be fun! You should do something really fun while your up there. There is supposed to be a lot of music venues up there, You and Drew should go to a concert. OH I forgot to tell Dad About my new companion. His name is Elder Cziep (Pronounced: Jeep) He's from Portland, Oregon. To be honest he's a little obnoxious. But the Lord sent him here for a reason, so hopefully we will get some good work done.
I love you mom, Hope your day brightens, someone else’s. You've already made mine a better day.
Elder Jose

September 07, 2010

Was just thinking... One more transfer has gone by and I am one more transfer to going home... I felt sick when I thought of that. My first companion Elder Speth is going home on Thursday and Elder Loveland will be leaving the area so I will be getting a new companion here very soon. This mission thing is going way too fast. I need to enjoy this opportunity while I have it. I pray that you all appreciate the blessing of the moments that god has given you today. I love you and am grateful for your love and support in allowing to serve the Lord like this.
love Elder Jose

August 30, 2010

I just wanted to report on the baptism we had this week.
Tim Olsen is working as a dishwasher at Cracker Barrel. One of his close friends from work is Collete Mae. Collete, being an awesome missionary, invited him to church , gave him a Book of Mormon and by the time we started teaching him, he already had a testimony of the Book Of Mormon. We had an opportunity to participate in his conversion by teaching him the principles of the gospel, and helping arrange his baptism. It was a wonderful Event.
Don't be afraid to share the gospel with your friends, which are how most of the mission work in our mission is done.

I love you guys.
Elder Jose

August 23, 2010

So Thursday night our zone leaders called and scheduled an impromptu exchange (Exchange: When mission leadership will trade companions for about 24 hours for training and fun) So I spent the night before my birthday in Cleveland TN. They have a very nice ward there. Well, their ward mission leader has set up a tradition that every missionary that comes to that area has to take the "chocolate challenge". He buys a 1lb box of assorted chocolates the poor visiting missionary has to eat it in under 30 minutes. The one thing he conveniently leaves out, is that the chocolates are sugar-free, using sugar alcohol (which is a laxative) as a substitute....

I was sick to my stomach the whole weekend. Brother Coleman (the Cleveland ward mission leader) did buy me a very large, lovely, moist piece of red velvet cake to make up for it.

Laxative free.

That was my birthday, we are having Hibachi today. I wasn't feeling up to it on Saturday.
I got the package, I loved it! You are so amazing! My companion doesn’t get any mail so it makes me grateful you still remember me after being out for so long.
I love you. Elder Jose

August 16, 2010

Chattanooga is just about as big as Knoxville, so it's not that big of a change, but it is a whole lot hotter and wetter down here. Oh and the mission work here is golden. I love it.

Our teaching methods aren't really changing, we are just getting taught differently, so we can teach better.

I told dad I needed some things so sorry for telling you so late. just some garments and white shirts. Also sorry for e-mailing late, we didn't get to the library on time yesterday.
Thanks for being so patient with me I have been really busy lately.

I love you mom, be sure to get that mean Uncle Lance back.

Elder Jose

August 09, 2010

Hey guys,
So, Crazy news, they are changing the missionary training curriculum. Normally that wouldn't have too much to do with me, but now that I am in leadership, that means I have to help train my district. on this so we are going through a four day leadership training. As cool as that is, it's also a pain in the butt. (There is a lot of sitting). We are learning some really good things though and I am looking forward to the next couple days of training.
Another cool thing about this training is I get to see Elder Speth (who trained me) before he goes home.
I'm gonna be tired. It's good to know you guys are out there and you still love me. I love you lots.
Elder Jose

August 2, 2010

I have left Knoxville to serve in one of the other city centers of our mission Chattanooga which is right next to the Georgia Border, In fact our area in particular is mostly in Georgia. My new companion is Elder Loveland. We have served near each other in Knoxville, so we already know each other pretty well. He is fun and motivated to work. So this is going to be awesome! Dad asked what a district leader does. So I thought you all might want to know. I have a few responsibilities. First I have to check on the members of my district each night. Make sure they're ok and see how I can help. Then Each Friday I conduct district meeting. We discuss how the work is going in each area, evaluate how we can improve, then I train on certain principles of mission work.
We have two other sets of Elders, a set of Sisters, and a senior couple all serving in our district. It sounds like a lot, but taking it one piece at a time, it's not too hard.
I don't have a lot of time left.
Love you guys. Ask more questions. It makes e-mailing a lot easier.
Elder Jose

July 26, 2010

Both Elder Beazer and I will be leaving Chillhowee. Elder Beazer is going home, and I have no idea where I will be this time next week! Gah! We have so much work and cleaning to do. I hate cleaning, and I won't even get to enjoy the clean house. Oh well. They are making me district leader somewhere. I guess that's a good thing.
Lately it has been really hot. The mission has cautioned us to take it easy if we start to feel overheated. A few missionaries have gotten sick over it. I have been just fine though, but it is still hot.
Love you guys, but I've gotta get going. Lots of stuff to do. And I still have to Pack!!! Gah!! I really don't like getting transferred...
Elder Jose

July 19, 2010

I am kind of in a peculiar mood this week. This past week doesn't seem like we have accomplished much, but it doesn't seem to bother me. Elder Beazer and I have been working harder and it seems to have uplifted my spirits. I know I am doing what the lord wants me to do, and he has blessed me with joy in the work. I hope that our success rate goes up soon, but if it doesn't that is OK. I am just glad to be in the service of our Lord.

I Love you guys. Don't think I forgot about you.
Love Elder Jose

July 12, 2010

Sorry I haven't written in a couple of weeks and I don't feel like I have much to report on. Then I started to think that you probably don't care about what i report on, you just want to hear from me. So here's another e-mail, from what I have heard from other missionaries the further they get along in their mission the less they write their families. I kind of feel like I have fallen into that habit so I am gonna try to break it.
Elder Beazer is still in going home mode, but I think he is improving. It doesn't help when there are a lot of other missionaries to remind him he only has a few weeks left.
Lately we have been having a hard time finding solid people to teach, fortunately our ward mission leader stepped in and is helping our ward be more proactive. So we will probably be teaching a lot more less-active members in the next few weeks.
Dad asked me about transfers. I think I will stay (just a guess) and Elder Beazer is definitely a goner.
I love you guys, I know the church is true.
Love Elder Jose

July 06, 2010

I wish it was 50 degrees here, we played Soccer yesterday, and I felt like I was going to die!!! Then I drenched myself in water and I felt a lot better. =D
I'm glad the Lord is blessing you. You must be doing something right.
I love you so much.
Love Elder Jose

June 28, 2010

So I am killing another Elder Beazer this Transfer and he is making it blatantly obvious. He still has four weeks, but with the way he's talking it is probably going to end up feeling like four months. Still the work goes on. Our major investigators were out of town this week, and progress with them seems to be going slowly. It has been really muggy this last week. Rain has threatened several times, but has always changed its mind. A month or two ago we had a service project planting gardens at a nursing home. At the end they gave us four of the leftover tomato plants and an extra cucumber plant. Now we have two fat cucumbers with more on the way, and a bunch of tomatoes that are almost ripe. They have been super thirsty this week. The heat has made tracking a chore, and no one wants to talk to us when it gets so hot, but they're always willing to give us water.
Well I hope summer has been treating you well. I love you all.
Grandma Rae, I put your letter in the mail today, so it's on its way
Elder Jose.

June 14, 2010

Man I remember Martin's Cove being very tough, but very motivating. I am very glad you had a good time and learned something from it. our trip to Nashville was like a huge missionary reunion. I have seen missionaries I haven't seen since the beginning of my mission. Elder Ballard really emphasized increasing our ability to teach and utilizing members to find, so we can baptize. If the missionaries ask you to go tracking with you, try it. You might be surprised.
I love you guys. Thanks for your support.
Love Elder Jose.

June 7, 2010

Sounds like you have been having an awesome week. Ours has only been "so-so", Elder Beazer and I have had to work out a few differences in our companionship, so the work is going slowly. Hopefully we have everything worked out so this next week should be better; we are going to be seeing an apostle this week. I am really excited for the trip. I am just wondering what I should ask, what do I need to learn that will help me most on the Lords mission. Thanks for all the prayers, hopefully the work will pick up again. I love you all.
Elder Jose