Week 103- ONE WEEK LEFT!

Please Come to Bennie's Homecoming

Heatheridge 7th

Ward June 19th at 11:00 AM

LDS Chapel at 620 E 

Heather Road Orem

We will also gather for an Open House after his talk  

12:30-5:00 at 

Our Home 707 East Cherapple Circle (1780 North) in Orem

He will also have a chance to speak the following week Junes 26th at 1:00 PM Heatheridge Stake Center - Heatheridge Second Ward450 E 2000 N Orem

Second to last P-day...  Holy cow.  It was a good week.  We told you what happened last Monday already, so on to Tuesday.  We had a lesson with L-, and it was quite interesting...  We talked about temple baptisms, and whoever taught him that initially did a not great job because he thought that it opened a portal to the spirit world and bad spirits could escape...  Yeah, interesting guy.  After that we dropped by the laundromat and read some BOM with A- (girl).  We visited with S- in the rehab center after that.  He's recovering well!  He just wants to be walking again.  He's just as faithful as ever though! It's awesome! Then we helped the Chamberlain’s move some stuff from the garage into the shed!  Elder French and Elder Smuin came down to party with us there that night, and spent the night at our apartment! It was so fun!  We all took a peeps picture!  I'll have to get it from Elder Brown and send it.  Then they spent the whole day with us. Wednesday too!  It was especially great because they got to go to the Chamberlain’s with us again!  We taught B- that night.  We finished up the commandments.  He agreed to live them all if he finds out the Book of Mormon is true.  So we committed him to fast about it on Sunday, and find out if it is true.  

Wednesday morning we were supposed to help out with seminary , but we forgot to set alarms!  We showed up a half hour late...  Sister Hale said it was fine, and that we used our freebie day, but I felt so bad....  Sister Hale was really understanding though, it was great.  I love the Hale's so much!

Thursday was pretty enjoyable.  We ran to the Chamberlain’s early in the morning because I had forgotten some stuff there the night before, then we had zone district meeting.  It was a pretty fun day!  We mostly played games there.  Werewolf for trainer trainee meeting, then human foosball for ZDM.  After that I had brought scotch bonnet peppers for all the people that hadn't had them yet.  It was really funny, but also very sad.  I felt kinda bad after.  The Hale's took us to reindeer grill for dinner!  No they don't actually cook reindeer... Dad, I know exactly what you were thinking.  They got us some super good pizzas for dinner,  then we helped out with some of their moving preparation.  Unfortunately we didn't move any animals this week. It was really fun last week!  But I did find a massive spider.  No joke this thing was as big as my palm.  It freaked me out so badly... Ugh.  

Friday was cool.  We got our laundry done at the laundromat and did BOM with A-.  We helped Sister Chamberlain trim some trees after that.  It was a good time.  Then we had dinner with the Walter family.  Mom, if you were to have a third boy what would you have named him?  Because the Walter family have a Benjamin who they call Bennie a Nicholas no they Nick, then their youngest is named Alex, so it was always wired to hear them talk about Bennie, or ask him to do stuff for them.

Saturday was an off day for me.  I don't know why, I just felt weird.  We had basketball that morning.  Then we went to a family history center barbecue with Elder Summit and Elder V.  We ran over a snake on the way there!  Proud of me dad??  We had dinner with K- and J-.  It was pretty fun, we talked about Vivint and next summer, and also how they will be in Utah the 19th of June, so they want to come to my homecoming!!!!!  So cool!  They fly out the day after I do.  I started assembling all my things and getting out my suitcases that night...  Yikes...  Not excited about that stuff.

Sunday ewe got to teach primary!  It was so fun!  Brother Hale had to leave church early, so we got to take over his class.  The 5 and 6 year olds, so it was a party.  Then we dropped by A-‘s after church to unwind a bit, and pretty much all her friends came over they day, so we got to meet a lot of them.  We went to the Gardner’s after that because Brother Gardner is starting a missionary journal to keep a record of all the missionaries that served here, so Elder Brown and I were the first to sign it!  Then we had dinner with the Knight family!!  It was tons of fun!  There are so many people here I'm going to miss so much.

Today we went to the Jefferson Memorial and Ceasar’s house, and are just getting back home.  We have dinner with the Cheney family tonight, and then will probably hang with A- for a bit!  One more email then I'll see you guys!!  Love you so much!!!!

Week 102- It's June

Bennie tried a new method of communicating this week.  He sent us a "weekly" via video that he shared on our icloud album.  Uhmmm..ya! So- basically we don't have much to relay onto you guys this week.

He did have another milestone on his journey at the Mission President's home this week. It is their Farewell Dinner and Testimony meeting.  Each missionary is presented a special WDCN Mission Gold Coin from President Cooke and his wife.  He commented that it was not okay that he was there and it just doesn't seem real to him to be coming home.

He shared with Brad a bit of the testimony he bore that night.  He said that he has gained a greater appreciation for the principle of obedience.  He has gained this appreciation over the two years as he has had times when he was not so obedient, or selectively obedient, to certain mission rules.  He suffered and found that this was a very low point in his mission experience.  In time, he recognized his attitude and disobedience and made a huge change to be more obedient and observe all the rules.  He has been able to see such a difference in his attitude, his happiness, and blessings.  As he has been training Elder Brown these last few months of his mission, Bennie says he has been trying his hardest to share this perspective and wisdom to benefit his "greenie" in his upcoming mission experiences.   

Today marks officially two weeks until he is home! We are busy doing little projects to make his homecoming great!  

Love you all- Michele

Farewell Dinner

Gold Coin

Week 101- “A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible and there cannot be anymore Bible!”

Please Come to Bennie's Homecoming

Heatheridge 7th

Ward June 19th at 11:00 AM

LDS Chapel at 620 E 

Heather Road Orem

We will also gather for an Open House after his talk 12:30-5:00 at 

Our Home 707 East Cherapple Circle (1780 North) in Orem

He will also have a chance to speak the following week Junes 26th at 1:00 PM Heatheridge Stake Center - Heatheridge Second Ward

450 E 2000 N Orem

Okay, late letters, so it’s a quick letter...  Sorry!  

Tuesday we had a lesson with LL- in the morning.  I feel like it's sinking in with him, so progress is being made!  The Gourleys had us over for lunch! It was super fun!  I love going out to their house because it's right on the beach of the Patuxent River and everything is so pretty there. One thing it did this week was rain.  Like, a lot.  It's been raining for almost a month straight.  It's like Washington State over here. We dropped by Brother Heath’s for a while to do some administrative stuff after that, then we went to A’s to read the Book of Mormon. We had dinner with The Hale's after that!  It was super good--peanut butter and jelly!  Sister Hale had such a hard time feeding the missionaries peanut butter and jelly, but it was so good!  

Wednesday was also pretty good.  Looking back this week was pretty busy.  Dang. We did our laundry that morning at the laundromat, and read the Book of Mormon with A- some more.  She doesn't like reading it by herself, so I'm hoping spoon feeding her a bit will get her to appreciate it.
Sister March had us over for lunch that day!  It was pretty fun. We've been sharing 2 Nephi 29:3 lately, where it talks about the Gentiles rejecting the Book of Mormon by saying, "a Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible and there cannot be anymore Bible!"  Missionaries quote that a lot when people slam the door on us.  We read it a couple weeks ago and it really reaffirmed my testimony of the Book of Mormon though.  Go through and read that chapter if you get the chance, it's a pretty good one! (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/29?lang=eng)

We went to The Chamberlains after that and taught B-, then we had dinner with them!  Elder Blood and Elder Smuin came too!  It was so fun! 

Thursday was mostly meetings again.  Then Brother Hale took us out to dinner at Bert’s 50s diner, and we got to go see a couple of their Amish friends after that!  

Friday we did our studies in our hammocks at the church!  It was so much fun!  It was cool to be outside and studying too.  Then we went and visited a returning member, Sister G-.  She has 4 dogs.  They're very eccentric dogs.  By the time we sat down most of the dogs liked us, but one of them, it's name is Shady, growled at us the entire time we were there!  We went and did service at The Chamberlains after that! Planted a tree, pressure washed some steps---good times.  For dinner we were taken out to dinner at Panda Express by The Sponaugles.  

Saturday was pretty enjoyable.  We played basketball at the church, then we were going to help The Hale's start moving their animals, because they're moving soon, but we got rained out.  So we went and helped Brother Palmer start tearing apart his basement instead!!  It was pretty fun! Ripping paneling off the walls and breaking closets down!  So fun! Then we went and did more Book of Mormon with A-.  

Sunday was quite eventful... As always we had ward council at 7:30 AM.  This week’s main agenda item was planning sacrament-meeting talks.  Well, I kind ducked behind Brother Grange as well as I could until we were just about done.  We needed one more talk for June 26th, so I sat up
pretty confident I was in the clear.  As I sat up Bishop made eye contact with me, and asked, "Will you be here?"  I told him, "I'll be in Utah..."  So they promptly switched one of the speakers from the 12th of June, and put me there instead...  So yeah.  I'll be speaking three weeks in a row based on what you told me today Mom and Dad!  I got to bless the sacrament though!  It had been almost a year since I'd done that, and the last time I did it was in sign language!  Then we went to The Chamberlains!  I love all of The Chamberlains so much! I seriously could not have asked to meet better people out here than I have.. It's so awesome.  I cut Spencer's hair again!  He asked for me to make it like mine; I hope he likes it.

Today was really eventful!  We went bowling with The Roses,one of the senior couples down here.They also took us to lunch.  Right as we were leaving the Syracuse vs. Maryland quarter final lacrosse game came on!  We were headed out the door, but I got to watch the first three goals...  It made me miss lacrosse championships so badly!  When is the actual final?  Will I be home?  We also went frisbee golfing again today!  This time in the middle of a thunderstorm!  It was so much fun!!  Anyway, that's week 101.  Three emails left! 

Love you guys!

Hammock Studies

Week 100- Breaking into Triple Digits

Breaking triple digits over here!!  That's so crazy.  Anyway, I'll go through my week this time pretty good, because last week was kinda garbage- (meaning we didn’t get an email from him last week.)  So, here we go! 

Monday we went to Arlington.  It was pretty fun, just kinda rainy, and cold...  Then we had dinner with The Chamberlains!  Elder Summit and I did because Elder Brown and Elder Vermuelen forgot to take their phone on their trip to Point Lookout. That was part of the stress that added to not emailing so great on Monday, we were trying to locate two missing persons.  They were fine, just so no one worries. 

Tuesday was pretty awesome.  We had a lesson with L-.  We're going through the priesthood, like super in depth right now.  It's been pretty fun for me to study and learn about, then teach it too.  Then we had lunch with The Granges.  It was super good, pancakes!  They had this stuff called lemon curd, which was pretty much like liquid lemon bars. So good...  We went to the laundromat and read the Book of Mormon with A-.  We contacted a couple of our new move-ins after that.  It wasn't very successful; but it was good.  We had dinner at home.  Then we all went to Tara Gardner’s house.  It was pretty fun.  Her kids were so funny that night!  Savannah was getting on the couch and getting on Elder Brown’s back and playing with his hair.  It was funny. 

Wednesday, I had a kinda frustrating night, but well get to that.  We went and read the Book of Mormon with A- again.  Our goal is to try and get her to appreciate it. She has a rough time with scripture reading.  Then we went and visited with SW-.  Then we had dinner with The Bowies.  It was so good!  And their house is so cool!  It's in the middle of the woods on Dr. Samuel Mudd Rd., the same Doctor Mudd that treated John Wilkes Booth leg after fleeing DC.  He came right through our area.  Zekiah swamp is just down the road!  We went and gave a blessing after that, and then went to Cafe Rió with A-(boy).  It was tons of fun.  A- is so cool!  I love this area so, so much!  Then frustration came.  Basically, the traveling trainers wanted to come into our area, but they didn't tell me about it, and I was having a hard time with them thinking they didn’t need to contact us before they set up appointments in our area, so I was really upset. I wanted to totally lose my cool.  But, I found a constructive solution. I went on exchange with the zone leaders that day, so I didn't hinder the spirit with my feelings.  So yeah.  It was hard; but I think I have learned how to handle things constructively.

Anyway, Thursday we met with M- in the morning followed by Zone District meeting.  It was pretty fun actually.  I felt a little stress because the zone leaders had asked me conduct a zone council where we discuss ideas to create more zone unity.  It was really intimidating...  But I think it went okay.  We were able to get lots of interaction and feedback, so that's good.  Then I went up to Anacostia with Elder Jenks.  He's from Othello, Washington- dad (Brad served his mission in Eastern Washington)! Where all did you serve around there?  When?  It'd be cool if you ran into his family somehow. I felt really special because I was able to be on exchange with him on his birthday!  We arranged for the two of us and a few other companionships went out to dinner for him.  I got him dinner for his birthday gift!  It was a really fun night!  Finally, we got to do some Anacostia contacting!  Woohoo! 

Friday was awesome.  We got a car wash that morning as we drove to help out Elder Brown and Elder Hill and Elder Summit and Elder Vermuelen with service.  Then we pounded some pizza!  Elder Brown and I took a nice drive after that to cool off a bit from how frustrated we were the day before.  Then A-(girl) took us to Ghengis Grill for dinner. 

Saturday we played basketball, and went to The Chamberlains for most of the day. That wasn't originally the plan, but people kept cancelling on us. We did have a lesson with – J (young daughter) after a long hiatus because of J- and K-’s wedding. 

Yesterday was cool.  Church was fun.  Then we had a lunch dinner...  Mid-day meal at The Cottles. They made waffles with buttermilk syrup!!  I missed buttermilk syrup!  Then after that we went up to Why I Believe at the visitors center.  It was my last one.....  So weird....  I don't like it.  It was really fun because I got to see lots of old friends, but still just really weird because it was my last one.  

Today we woke up early and did sunrise pics at Calvert Cliffs.  Then took a nap, and went shopping.  Then had dinner with the Nichole's!  They're so awesome!  Then A-(girl) wasn't feeling well, so we stopped by to see if there was anything we could do for her.  Now we're just hanging out at home!  Love you guys!  See you soon!

Calvert Cliffs

Week 99- Arlington Visit

The most senior missionaries visit Arlington National Cemetery sometime during their last transfer.  Bennie's group did this yesterday and it consumed his whole day.  So, we didn't get to an email this week.

We did love talking to him on Mother's Day though!  He was so happy and cheerful.  He expressed a little nervousness in coming home.  Feeling like he has finally gained a grasp of how to be a successful missionary is a much more comfortable place for him right now than thinking of all the new challenges he will face upon returning home. We told him we would be at the airport in 37 days and hoped he would be too!

Have a great week.

Week 98- Going to Die in White Plains

(Bennie told me in a little extra email that he found out he will not be transferred out of WP this week..they call ending their mission dying- so Bennie will "die" in White Plains.)

We had pretty great week this week.  We had a lesson with LL- Tuesday morning.  I was on exchange with Elder Vermuelen that day.  Brother Heath was with us, so we were able to go have him supporting us.  He is awesome!  After the lesson Brother Heath told us he was going on a trip to Switzerland the next day.  I told him oh, I might not be here when you get back!  He was positive I'd be here and if I wasn't he said he'd call President Cooke and ask him what he was thinking!  He's a great ward mission leader!  We had lunch at Chick Fil A after that and took it to the laundromat.  It was fun.  A (girl)- is doing alright still.  

Tuesday was 50 days left...  Today is 44. Not cool.  We went to The Chamberlains for a while after the Laundromat (A- girl.) Max took us on a little hike through their woods and we found that graveyard I sent you pictures of!  It was soooo cool!!  Then we had dinner at The Granges.  They wanted us to jump on the the trampoline with them after....  So we did.  Then we went to Chipotle with A-(boy 1), and with Jake Cottle.  It was so fun!  I just love this ward. Everything about my life right now is awesome!  

Wednesday we had temple trip!  It was cool.  It was a little sad because Elder Gaudette is going home. This is so weird because I met Elder Gaudette in the MTC and he's going home which means I'm next which is just weird and I don't particularly like it....  Anyway, I had a good day with Gaudette that day.  A member from the ASL branch invited us both to dinner with him for our last meal with him.  We had a long metro ride out to Virginia, then met him at Sumo Hibachi!  It's just like Tepanyaki!  It was soooo good! Brother Bellamy was really good company too!  It was so much fun! Going home got kinda real for me though because it was my first last meal, and Gaudette was leaving, and I want to go to Tepanyaki when I go home.. So... Yeah.  Weird feelings.  

Thursday was cool.  We had a lesson with M- in the morning, then we had zone district meeting. We played a game at the end of it where most people are blindfolded, then one person is the Holy Ghost and a couple others are tempters. Well, I was picked as the Holy Ghost, which is funny because most people wouldn't really listen to me...  So, I had a rough time with it.  Sister Brimhall trusted me though!  And a few other people, including all the senior couples and my son (Elder Brown!)  And about 7 others, so I guess you could say I got a good portion home safe!  Then we had dinner with The Hughes at Tequila Grill.  It was tons of fun!  Later we went to basketball and met with A- (boy 2) during it.  He's doing well, breaking up with his girlfriend, but still wants to get to progress to the temple as soon as he can!  

Friday was good.  Like, really good!  We went to A’s (girl) in the morning, then we went down and saw A- (boy 3) way down south.  Then we called our referrals because we had a few extra hours.  We set up an appointment with one of them, then the other said we could come by that day.  So we did.
We expected just to drop off the Book of Mormon and Bible he ordered, but he told us to pull up chairs and we were able to teach the first lesson!!  It was so cool!  And Elder Brown did awesome!  He's very insecure of his teaching abilities, but I think this lesson was a good confidence booster for him!  The man said he would let us know if he wants to know more, and it was pretty much a miracle we called him right when he had some spare time.  It was so cool.  I just love being a missionary!  Then we had dinner with The Chamberlains!  

Saturday we had a service project pretty much all day!  It was a party!  We painted tons, tore down a shed, built a new shed, painted that.  Got free Chick fil a cards!  It was awesome!  Then we had dinner at The Bonneys after that.  They're the ones with the 14 kids.  It was loads of fun!  They have puppies and kittens and everything now! It was so great!  I love this area.  

Sunday we had church.  It was one of those days where you're doing so much we feel like we barely have time to breath!  We taught the Gospel Principles class, the lesson went really well! Sister Michela brought a member who hadn't been to church in a long time, so we made sure to introduce ourselves and meet her family. The kids haven't been baptized, but we think they're going to be coming to church more and so we’ll be able to interact with them.  Then we went to A’s (girl) for a bit.  We went to The Hales for dinner!  I love The Hales so much! Sister Hale made the Ranch Chicken*!  It was awesome!  The people here are just the best! 

Alright, I think that's about it.  Tonight we have dinner with The Knights, and then game night with them!  Good stuff!  I love you guys!  Only six more of these!  Phew... Love ya!

*One of Bennie’s favorite dinners and Sister Hale called me Saturday to get my recipe! There are so many nice people to care for the missionaries in White Plains, MD. 

Week 97- #notimeforsleep

#notime2sleep- this is a hashtag that Russell Wilson puts on his tweets.  Brad always includes it in Bennie’s letters and the past few weeks all of his letters are full of service, lessons, and visits to those in the White Plains area. I think he has really come a long way in learning how to serve and exemplifies this little hashtag that his dad sends him regularly.

Hello everyone! 

Tuesday was a big day but it felt really short.  We had a lesson with L- that morning.  It didn't go at all the way we expected.  Like...  Not even kinda, but it did let us go over some of his concerns and we were able to gauge kinda where he's at in regards to what we have tried to teach him, so it was great!  We stopped by Brother Cusic’s after that and visited with him for a while.  We had fun helping him wash his car. We went to the Chamberlains after that!  I love the Chamberlains.  We didn't have a lesson that night, B- said he wanted some time to work over what we had taught Sunday night.  We went to Noah's basketball dinner after that, and then talked with mom for most of the night.  

Wednesday we did service with our roommates for The Slaughters.  Helped with the shutters!  Then we all went out for sushi!!  We couldn't get Elder Brown to try any though...  So sad. I experienced two bloody noses that day because of my allergies, so that was great.  We worked on contacting couple new families that have moved-ins  after which we went to Brother Heath’s to do our stake coordination report.   We then met with A- for a little while to check in with her and finally, another A- friend took us out to Cafe Rió that night and we had a super good visit with him.

Thursday we had a meeting with M- in the morning and talked about the priesthood.  We directed him to some sections from The Doctrine and Covenants to read through to help him with learning more and preparing for that.  Then we went to our zone district meeting!  I got a really weird letter in my mail from the mission home...  Elder Parker and Sister Phillips are getting married on May 19th!!!!  So excited for them!!  We checked up on a new family in the ward after that and set up an appointment to go over the next day and get to know them.  The Morningstars had us over for dinner and I was able to share my favorite scripture with them!  So fun!  Then we

played basketball at the church with some guys and a couple other elders.  

Friday was so fun!  We had service for Sister Scharr that morning!  We got a good amount done!  Then we did the usual tradition and she got us two Ledo’s pizzas.  We went home and tore them to shreds!!  Each pizza is 30 pieces because they're rectangles, and when we all stopped there were 13 pieces left.  So yummy!  Then we went and helped a member of the other elder’s ward move!  It was fun to help out all day!  Stopped by A-’s for a second, then we went to dinner with The Toppers.  It was tons of fun.  Elder Brown and Brother Topper really connected on hunting, so it was cool to see them hit it off! Then we went and met The Knights.  They're really cool!  They have just
moved here from Virginia and have a family of 2 boys and 1 girl.  After we visited with them we went to The Bishop’s house because Jacob got his mission call!! He's going to Arcadia California!  

Saturday was awesome!!  We went to The Chamberlains’ all day!  We did service most of the day.  Our only breaks were eating and teaching.  We mulched all their planter areas, tore up a bunch of old dead bushes, took out a tree, planted some flowers, did all kinds of fun stuff!  It was such a fun day!  Elders Summit and Vermuelen came as well as Elder Smuin and Elder Blood!  It was a party!  

Sunday we had church, then we visited with A- for a bit. We went to The McSorleys for lunch.  Later that day we came home because my allergies were killing me!!  I lied down for a bit, and when I woke up Elder Brown was out, so I let him take a much needed nap.  Today we went to the zoo and Ceasar’s, then we went to The Chamberlains!  It was a great day!!