Robert goes to Mormon prom

Thank goodness Eden Theiss was brave enough to ask Robert to prom, otherwise I don't think he would have gone.  He is such a handsome and amazing young man.  I wanted him to have an opportunity to dress up and go out with a charming young lady.  Eden came over to the house before Prom for photos.  They were such a cute date!!!  Betsy, of course, went crazy on the photo taking opportunity :)

Robert was a complete gentleman.  He opened her door and took very good care of them.  Next stop is group photos at the O'Brien's house.

Eden, Robert and Kelsey

This is a repeat photo from when they were just little kids in Sunbeams together.  Eden and Kelsey came to Robert's 4 year old birthday party!!!  Twelve years later ...

The Guys

The Group

After photos the group went to have a nice dinner before going to the dance.

The dance

While at the dance, Robert was able to get together with his friends from Crestwood 1st ward and have a few photos taken too!  Especially since Eden is from the Crestwood 1st ward.  Betsy especially liked these photos because she made the dress of one of the girls in this photo.  Serena, the girl on the far left side!

Crestwood guys:  I don't know the two on the left of Robert,
Robert, Zach, and Trevor

Extra photos!!!

Game against elizabethtown

What a crazy night this was. 

First, the game is away in Elizabethtown, KY which is at least one hours drive from where we live, and even farther from Robert's school.

Second, the game is at 6:00 pm - ugh, Robert doesn't get out of school until 3:45 (really 3:55), it's at least one hour, 10 minutes away and it's rush hour.  Plus the boys are supposed to be there by 5:15 to warm up.  It was impossible.

I picked up Robert from school and we stopped to get food so he wouldn't get car sick.  We ran into heavy traffic - ugh!  Then we had bad directions - ugh.

We finally made it to the field about 10 minutes before the game was supposed to start.  Robert slept in the car to try to avoid car sickness (it only worked a little).

Third, the boys haven't played together for over a week due to spring break.  ugh!

It's an amazing sports complex!  I wish we had something like this in Louisville. 

The game started strong, and it was very competitive.  Elizabethtown was very aggressive.  We didn't look very connected.  You could tell we haven't played together for a while - our passes are off, our touch isn't great. 

Week 95 - warm weather = nice people

This week was nice a warm week.  With the nice weather people were out and about however they were in the parks and other areas that were not in our area.  But this week they will be home and we will get to teach them.  We have a part member family that we are working with but they are not sure if they want to take the lessons right now. One possible reason is that the farther is active and the step mother is active but the real mom is not and is against the church.  We are praying that the real mom's heart can be soften and that Mackenzie will want to take the lessons.  

We had a great zone meeting about missionary skills. The zone leaders talked about as a mission what skills are we good at what skills are we not good at.  It is always good to keep working on your skills because they will make you a better missionary.  I am excited to follow up train with it.  

I did another Baptism interview this last week.  They are always a little stressful cause you never want to tell someone that they can't get baptized.  luckily I haven't to do so.  I love to hear the testimonies of Investigators that are about to be baptized.  they are so sincere but more is the spirit that you feel when they tell you how they have changed and repented.  There is a very sweet spirit.  

Love you all,  I know that God loves you all especially the ones that are going through hard times

Week 94 - General Conference

General conference was great.  I really liked Elder Hales and Bednar talk.  I have always liked Elder Bednar talks.  I have always had this fascination with the Holy Ghost and its purpose.  The first scripture that I memorized and Loved was Moroni 10:5 "And by the Power of the Holy Ghost ye shall know the Truth of all thing." I appreciated his remarks greatly.  This week went really well.  Elder Carroll and I are getting along and are working hard.  This week was more of service and getting to know and talk to people in the area.  We planed some trees for them and they told us that whenever they look at those trees they will remember that we planted them. All of these potential Investigators are just popping out of no where.  We just need to contact them and start teaching them the gospel. Pray that we get new investigators

This a photo of Elder Carroll 

I accidentally left my camera laying at the mission office for a while.  While I was gone, everyone had fun taking photos with it.  

Car Accident for Toyota

Poor Jessica and Tate.  They were sitting at a triffid light waiting to turn right and a car pulls up looking like they were going straight and then all of the sudden changed direction and ran right into their front left fender.  

They took photos and exchanged insurance information. The other driver was super sorry and said he was sorry he hit them.  They had to wait for an hour and a half for a police man to come.  They took the reports.  

Week 93 = Easter

This last week was pretty good.  I dropped of Elder Marastica at the mission office on Friday and then was on exchanges with my Zone Leader until Monday.  Easter was great for me.  It was a time for me to reflect on the Savior.  In the sacrament meeting I had a greater desire to change and even come closer to the savior,  probably because I read a consecration missionary talk.

Another highlight was In one of our wards a recent convert and a reactivated member both gave their first sacrament talks on Easter. The funny thing is that the reactivated member was more afraid to do it than the recent convert.   Members over here are very missionary minded and are awesome but the work is a little slower.  I am excited to be with my new companion Elder Carroll he is a new missionary.   we have a couple potentials but we really need to find.  I know that it is possible to find and baptize up hear otherwise the Lord and mission president would not put us hear.  Wish me luck in the land of wealth.

Savannah, GA with Sandra Orr

Our first stop after checking into the Marriott riverfront was to eat lunch at the Pirate House.  We had a delicious lunch and then were given a tour by Anne Boone.  The building is the oldest in all of Savannah.  

We then took a trolley ride all around the city learning historical facts along the way and at each stop.  We walked around the Marriott mansion and the famous park, and settled into our room before catching our ghost tour at 7:00.  I enjoyed the boutique shops right along the river.  The ghost tour took us to the Anthony Low mansion, and other places that are said to be haunted by people that used to live there.

At the Pirate House for lunch

The Pirate house restaurant

seeing a train on the tour

statue made for the olympics

After a great day of sightseeing, we went on a Ghost tour that evening.  We had the best tour guide.  I was caught up in her stories.  At times I was even scared of what was going to happen next.

Our tour guide

After the Ghost tour we had a native desert to the Savannah Georgia area!  It was great fun.  We ate at a nice restaurant right on the river.

That night we took a ferry ride over to the island, where there is a grand hotel.  It was beautiful but I'm glad we stayed in Savannah.  We are at the Riverfront Marriott and it is perfect.  It is right on the waterfront, it is right next to all the day and night activity that makes Savannah so special.

The next morning, after I went for a short run, because it started to rain, we drove out to Tybee Island to see the set of the new movie "Baywatch 2017."  The movie has Rock Johnson and Zach Efron in it.  Unfortunately, it was rate R and didn't get to see it.  The set was amazing.

On the way back to Savannah from Tybee Island we stopped at a beautiful garden cemetery called, Bonaventure Cemetery.  It is known for being the famed midnight in the garden cemetery.  Sandra and I explored the cemetery for over an hour.  It was huge and had beautiful gardens.  It was so peaceful.  It was so big, I was worried about getting lost.  

On the way Sandra and I got into an argument that was very hurtful.  I dropped her off at the hotel and drove around for a while.  I just wanted to get away.  We both said we were sorry and met at Paula Deans for dinner.  We met up with Hannah's best friend, Michayla.  She played basketball for SOHS.  Jessica had to play against her.  She is a very sweet young lady.  I ordered the steak even though it was like $30.  YIKES!!!  It was delicious and we had a wonderful visit.  Michayla is in Savannah attending their art school.  She is very talented.

On the drive back we had a wonderful talk.  It was good to have some fun time away with Sandra, and even better to clear the air.

Week 92

This week was great.  We taught more lessons this week than we have in the past. We went on two exchanges this week Elder Ljonkol and Duran.  The members we live with feed us breakfast about every two weeks which is awesome because I get to eat a lot of bacon! 

We had a great lesson with the McCombs who are recent converts.  We and Family History consultants helped them with family History.  They were super excited to do family history and the Work in the Temple for them.  I can't wait for Mac to do baptisms for his Mom who has passed away.  

There is a Easter Video that came out this week that is awesome.  It is called # Hallelujah.  Have you watched it.  When I was on exchanges with Elder Duran we shared it with Catholics and other not of our faith.  they were really very receptive ... gtg  

Week 91 Devon's Birthday

Thanks for all those that wished me a happy birthday.  This last week the stake changed the ward boundaries so our wards got bigger and more people in them.  We gained a new investigator because of it.  The work is pretty slow but we have great members and some of them gave us referrals so that will increase the work. It’s ironic that the wards we serve in have sent out lots of missionaries and they talk about missionary work and yet the focus does not meet what is actually there.  It’s okay though this area has a lot of potential and surprisingly  I have a good attitude about the area.

So my Birthday was kinda weird because We had to go to a "my plan" meeting, which is basically a return home plan meeting. It mostly including job opportunities and how to network and get jobs.  It also focused on education.  It was a weird meeting for a missionary because I am still so focused on my mission that I’m not thinking of the future, but it was a good meeting. 

Do you remember the Congo family, well, great news.  I got to do a baptism interview for the Congo family that got baptized this last Saturday!  That was pretty awesome.

Southern Indiana tournament - Game 1

First game is Saturday at 2:00 at Marer Dei HS against Indiana Fire Juniors.  

Robert starts left wing.  Robert scores the first goal from a pass from Scott Strait.  It was a beautiful play. 

Half time 1-0.  

We score another goal 2-0.  We win 2-0

Basketball semi- championship game

Robert and the harmony boys are excited for this doubleheader game day. The first game is against Louisville first Ward. They do a great job of getting a good lead in the second quarter and finishing the game with a 10 point lead. Robert unfortunately had to right after he played two minutes into the second half.  Robert had a beautiful layup and a couple really nice outside shots.

The second game was against Crestwood second we held close for a while but then never could catch up.  It was a great season for the Harmony boys.

Week 90 Marissa's baptism

I got a call earlier this week about an investigator in my last area that is getting baptized.  Her name name is Marissa.  I was really excited to go.  There were so many people there.  I remember that we set a couple dates that fell through.  She is really shy and was timid about being baptized, but knew that it was the right thing to do.   We helped her feel more comfortable by bring her to watch someone else be baptized.  She was found by other missionaries that tracked into them.  Her husband is agnostic but he is investigating.  I was excited to be there to she both of them and to see her get baptized.  I felt the spirit very strongly there.  It was also nice to see members in my last area.  I also got to see Emily who was an investigator that Elder Wood and I found.  See is definitely going to be baptized but has to get married first and she wants to get baptized with her boyfriend.  Hopefully that will be before I leave.

There is a Congo family of 6 that other Elders are teaching.  This week they asked me if I would do  a baptism interview for two of the Congo girls who had failed a previous interview already.   One was ready but the younger one could not remember a lot of the things the missionaries had taught her. Because I was unsure i wanted to pray that night to know and do Heavenly Farther will.  I studied it out, council with others, and did lots of praying.  The answer was yes,  Heavenly Farther gave me peace even though she was very young and struggled to express her belief.  Heavenly Farther will help her  especially when she gets the Holy Ghost.