Great Week!!!

This past week we went to a newly organized singles branch out here, man I loved it! We have been teaching a lot and trying to come up with some new lessons. We made a new lesson about Satan. We used old ties and tied kids up to a chair and taught them how Satan binds us and we can not move, it is a really fun lesson.

As far as Jason, no he is not getting baptized this week. We have to push it back because he says it still is too fast. It was a little disappointing at first, but then I remembered this is Heavenly Father's work and it will go forward, so with that being said we have 2 other baptisms this week! We are very excited!!! There is a 9 year old boy named Derek Pyper, he is an awesome kid who is very excited about getting baptized. Then there is a 14 year old boy named Ryan Garcia. I love teaching him because we can relate the experiences Joseph Smith had at his age and he really embraces it!!! I will definitely send pictures!

Brad asked Jake, "Why do you think we read over and over again in the Book of Mormon to remember how merciful God has been to the children of men?" This is what Jake said, "I think in order to remember how Heavenly Father has been so merciful we need to be able to see it in others lives so that we will then in turn be able to see it in our own lives. I really have learned that Heavenly Father doesn't give just one person an experience he gives it to everybody, it just depends on who wants to learn from it. I agree with "we have to choose to live in Zion." In the movie The Work and The Glory, Mama Steed says that her Zion is with her family, living the Gospel, that truly is the Zion we all are looking for. It's up to us to make that Zion."

I hope that makes some sense.

Well I have to go for this week. I can't wait to hear from you again, I look forward to this every

week!!! It helps give me a boost of energy!!!

xoxoxo
E Sawyer

Mission Conference

Jake sent this picture of all the missionaries in his mission. I wish he would have told us something about the conference...maybe next e-mail.

Feeling Better

I'm feeling a lot better this week! I am so sick of being sick! haha

Jake and his companion Elder O have been teaching Jake's friend Jason. They have set a baptismal date with him for the 19th of December. Jake is extremely excited and says this about it. "I do know that the Spirit is the one that has done a lot of the work for Jason. The Spirit truly prepares people for the Gospel. I love to be able to see the change in people when they realize that they are missing something, but they can't put their finger on it. I love it when I am in someone's home and they say, 'I am just looking for something I just don't know what, but I need something else in my life.' Shazaam...that's when we know that the Lord has truly prepared them for us to be there at that exact moment!"

Please send my love to the Dad's ward.

I love you all so much and am grateful for everything you do for me and I don't even realize it!

Thank you for everything you have done!

xoxoxoxo
E Sawyer

One Sick Elder

Jake had a very tough week last week. He was taken to the hospital last Monday after he fainted in his home. He had a fever of 104 and was very sick! The doctors still aren't sure exactly what he has other than a viral infection that has affected his liver. They are also treating him for the Swine Flu. The test that we are waiting for now is to see if he has also contracted the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I just couldn't believe it when the Dr. told me that, the test results for that won't be back for about a week. So Jake is being released tomorrow with a lot of antibotics and has to take it very easy for a few days. He certainly was one very sick kid. We feel very blessed that he has gotten better so quickly. Thank you everyone for your many thoughts and prayers on his behalf.

The District: Elder Ozorio (Jake's Comp.) is is giving him a big hug! Elder Bland (Jake's first Comp,) Elder Callison ZL, Elder Merrill ZL, Elder Shields, Elder Kafoa, and Elder ?

...sorry I forgot his name.

Jake's Comp Elder Ozorio, The Zone Leaders...Elder Callison,

Elder Merrill and of course Elder Sawyer.

Happy Thanksgiving

The work is going good, slow, but oh well. I really hope things pick up! Elder Oz is a very hard worker, and were are trying to get more work. One really nerve-racking thing...this Saturday we have 2 baptisms, and at one of them Elder Cook is going to be there. We have to teach a lesson on the Restoration while they are changing after the actual baptism. So please a prayer on our behalf would be great! I am very nervous!

This week I was able to teach the 1st discussion at President Karras's house. It was really great. There were a lot of people there that we used to live by, but of course I had no

idea who they were! haha Dad thank you for your help on the question of life during the Second Coming today in my personal study I was directed to read in the 88th section of the Doctrine & Covenants which was amazing it really spelled out a lot for me

and answered so much! So thank you!

For Thanksgiving this week we are going to go see a bunch of families. We are also able to watch Disney movies. So Elder Oz and I are collecting movies that we can watch, and

I am really excited about that!

Sounds like another great week for FHE. I really miss those guys up there! I think about them all the time. You will have to tell everyone I said Hi, and that I send my love. They are a great ward and I am constantly trying to find great people out here that may be able to go up there and meet the great people

I have come to love!

Thank you so much for everything that you're doing for I really appreciate it!! You are always doing so much for me that I don;t even realize...so thank you, thank you, thank you

I love you so much! I hope everyone is

doing well please send my love!

xoxo

E Sawyer

A New Area

Well I got transferred last week, and yes I am in Grandma and Grandpa's stake. So it is legal to see them! hahaha I just can't see them a lot because I need to stay focused. Also Pres. Smith (from Bonneville Seminary) is one of the Stake Presidents.

As far as being this close to home, it's not hard...for the most part...I just joke with people that I don't have to ask my parents how the weather is, because I'm in it too! This past week has been long, but very good. I have learned so much. I have come to realize that I cannot lean on others like I used too. I need to gain my own standing in the church and I need to do it for myself. The people here are great. I always thought you had to go far to meet investigators of the

church, but I realized that they are in our backyard.

My comp is Elder Ozorio from Brazil, and he goes home in 32 days. He is a great comp, I really do love him, we do have a car it's a old Sebring. Elder Ozorio can't drive he doesn't have a drivers license, so I get to do all the driving. Woot Woot!

We just baptized 2 people last week. Jorge and Matt, they are both older guys that truly have a deep testimony for themselves. We have a ton of gators, but a few with dates are: Alicia, her father Derek, and a boy named Dax. So far everything is great with them! We have more I just can't remember their names. We also have a ton of potential! I can't wait to meet these people and start to give them the knowledge they are looking for!

P.S. I saw Grandpa in the temple this morning!! HaHa :)

I love you all!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Elder Sawyer

Soda Springs Area

The Soda Springs Geyser. It was discovered back in the 1800's. It started throwing off the timing of Old Faithful, so they were asked to cap it off. Instead they put a man made

timer on it to go off every hour.

Pretty Cool!

Elder Bland's tie. Can you believe how wide that thing is???

The McKinley family from Soda Springs. They are a great family. Katy, Mia, a neighbor girl, Forrest and me.

Elder Bland and I on Halloween. (we had to be in at 7:00)
Don't you just love our costumes?
Look at the name tags!!! :)