Almost Home! E-mail July 9, 2012

Most of  Elder Daniel's email is business related as he is preparing to come home in 15 days!   We are so excited and looking forward to his return! 

The Temple! E-mail - June 26, 2012

So I will actually get to send you a real email!!  This last week Alfredo called and asked me to be his escort in the temple.  It was really weird escorting someone through the Temple.  It reminded me of when John did it almost two years ago!!

 

I also had my outgoing interview with the Presidenrt it was pretty intense.  We talked about college and making goals for your life and such. We also talked about being released... PLEASE let me be released on Wednesday, if not John, we are going to be comps! President made me promise that Iwould continue to live mission rules that means you too!!!!

 

Don't have much else to say so I will  let you go.

 

Love you all!
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

God Bless The Long Road! E-mail June 18, 2012

Well it was an interesting week. We had a lot of trouble meeting with people. It's weird, it seems that people expect me to be trunkie, but its hard not to be.  I have my final interview with President tomorrow, it is super sad to know that I will be leaing soon. Some of my investigators cried earlier because I was leaving for good. It's sweet to hear Alfredo got his call, he really deserves it! I don't know if I ever told you his story...

Alfredo and I met back when I had been out for six months, back in Menifee. I was in Menifee Lake and he was in Perris and we didn't know each other super well, but we knew each other(he gave us lots of rides)! Then I got transferred to Temecula and he moved to the desert (unknown to me) so when I got to Perris I thought  I would see him... nope, so then I got transferred to the desert and we almost spent everyday together.  He was like having another Elder with us and  was also a way to deal with my companion.  Alfredo had a pretty sucky home life, so we stuck it out together! It's sweet that he is going on his mission, that has been his goal for the past while!  I am super proud of him!

My Bishop here asked me to speak my last week, so I will be speaking on how Heavenly Father has blessed the long road as a missionary.  It should be interesting, the Ward has been super nice as they keep pushing me to work my hardest these last few weeks. I have a baptism on Saturday so I know I'm working hard!

Well, I  don't know what else to say so I'm going to sign off!!!

Love you all!

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

A Long Week! E-mail - June 11, 2012

Well, it was transfers week and all the Elders had a party for me since
I'm on my death bed (its my last transfer)!  So begins the final countdown
6 weeks and no one is letting me forget it and I mean no one. The
Elder that is killing me (my last comp) is pretty cool. He is making a
list of what stuff everyone wants so I don't know how much stuff I will
have.  The guitar I  had is now Elder Mckees. I really don't know what else to say and I'm running out of time.  Sorry.
Did anyone get an email from Meaghan, because i didn't???!!!
--
Love,

Elder Zachary David Daniel

Coming To A Close! E-mail - June 4, 2012

Well as I look back on my week, I realized that the people in my ward are as trunkie as me. Not that that's bad, they are just super excited that I get to go home and see everyone.

We have a new Less-Active we are working with.  His name is Jayson and he has a clone of Jack only it's a girl!!!! Also went to the craziest Spanish Birthday Party, even in America the cultures are so different... when they hit the pinata everyone sings this Spanish song as loud as possible. Then after you sing happy B-day the person takes a bite out of the cake and someone pushes their face in the cake!  It was crazy!!!

So we played baseball today and I almost hit a home run so close...  I called the APS - mom - and see my other email for the details.

 

Much love,
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

E-mail - May 14, 2012

So it was great talking to everyone the Bishop thought John was
hilarious and then asked me if "he's always like that" I just sat there
and smiled. Just get gift cards to T. Bell and Pizza Hut. I love Pizza
Hut it is so amazing!!!
 
Well I hope everything is going good there...
 
About the teeth thing... we have a less active we visit in a trailer
park and whenever we go over she tells us how the government is messed
up and how we don't need health insurance or dental she always says 
"I have never been to a dentist my entire life and my teeth are

fine... they are not!!! The few she has left are black!!! It's super
gross. One day she gets into it. She is talking faster and faster and
I started scooting towards the other end of the couch and my comp is
sitting there trying to get involved in what she was saying.  Then
this spit comes flying out of her mouth and I can watch it floating
there in slow-mo just lobbing across the room and it nails my comp in
the eye and it takes every fiber of my being not to bust out
laughing... then she looks at him and says " honey I know our
government is a little bad, but it's no reason to cry. We went home and
my comp took a shower.
 
Well that's all I have time for. I love you and wish you the best.
 
-- 
Elder Zachary David Daniel

Another Week! E-mail -- May 7, 2012

 Well I'm in a car!!!! Hemet is really nice. We live in the nicest apartments in the whole city... that isn't really saying much though, we live by ourselves which is good but weird I haven't lived with just one other person in sooo long. We live about four miles outside of our area which kinda stinks we have to drive a little ways to get anywhere. I cover the "hick" area we have TONS of trailer parks and farms.

 

 About my letters to Meaghan did I not put your name on it?? I'm so confused, your address makes NO sense... I'm in Cali your gonna have to simplify things... and about skyping... I know where we are calling from and sometime after 2 o'clock my time so sometime around 5 o'clock your time.... now I don't know if I will actually be skyping or just calling; don't know if the member we will be going to has skype....  

 This week was interesting, we have a lot of people that wanted to meet me.. I don't know why but they freaked when they heard I was from Kentucky " We have never met a Kentuckian before!!!" so it was kinda cool. I went back to the desert, don't know if I ever told you about Chris Madson. He was one of my hardest investigators and he finally got baptized, it was sick. I spoke about baptism and didn't do horrible.

 

 So my birthday is coming up and I haven't really given it much thought... with me coming home soon I don't want you buying something big that will go to waste cuz I will only use it for a few months,maybe just hold off till I come home... 

 

 I don't know what else to say... I love you all, keep safe
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

The Hardest Thing Ive Ever Had To Do‏! E-mail - April 30, 2012

Well I was transferred to Hemet... no more Dl, no more leadership at all. My new comps name is Elder LeVan pretty shy but seems OK (I've only known him a few hours) this is going to be short because the library is closing and some guy is singing really loud super LOUD!!!

 

Well I have to say Highland was my favorite area and I'm really gonna miss it. It was soooo hard to say goodbye to some people, especially the Sisters and the Henches. It was one of the Best districts I was in. Well this is most likely my last area and it looks really promising and... he has started dancing!!!!!!!! Well the area is looking good I have only met one member though a Recent Convert he was baptized like a week ago I  mistakenly thought his mom was his wife so I didn't have the greatest first impression....

 

I also have not yet unpacked.  I just can't do it... for whatever reason I don't know... well the library closes in like 10 minutes so I'll get going.  Love you all and hope things are going well. 

 

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

PS The letters will not be sent back anymore it was the home share we were staying in.

13 Weeks! E-mail - April 23, 2012

Dear family,

 

Well first off mom, I  have no idea yet when I'm Skyping.  I  might get transferred this week (it looks high) so I'm waiting for transfer calls before I have all the info... my comp is fine we went to some doctors and they believe he is too stressed. I  wasn't surprised at all!!!! It has been difficult but there is only a week left. Elder Hench (one of the Senior missionaries) read my blog last week so if your reading this I'm going to be very careful with what I say...

 

We had interviews this last week and President and me had a really good one. We talked about the trunkiness thing and he gave me some good advice.

 

Well now, Meaghan a Senior comp, I remember when that responsibility fell on me.  It was about the same time as you when me and Fly whitewashed Redlands ahhh good memories... just remember this is your area you know it, even if you don't think you do. I can promise you that you do, don't let anything or anyone tell you  that you don't and don't  let it get you down. Work hard and it will get done. 

 

So other than that I don't know what else to say, it was a normal week. Well except for the fact that I never wanna ride a bike again.  Everyday I get more upset at that thing I don't even wanna look at it anymore... How am I gonna ship it home?? I have got to ship a lot of stuff home sooo I don't know how I'm going to do it.

BTW I  only have 13 weeks left, isn't that weird!!!

 

Well I hope all is good with you and Iwill talk to you next week... maybe somewhere new!!!!
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

E-mail -- April 16, 2012

Well Meaghan wants me to stop talking about going home. Well I have a couple interesting stories to tell about going home then I'm done!!!!!!!!!!! So sister Tanner in our ward was really excited to feed us on Monday only because her Sons Mission President had sent her his info about coming home.... he arrives a week before me...  so we read her letter together and it was like torture... then she calculated how many days I  have left that was even more sad... so I have decided I'm not telling people I have been out for 21 months anymore... I'm going to lie!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

So I have been thinking about you picking me up and in the end  I just think it would be best for me to come without seeing you first... it's already becoming difficult for me to work with everyone talking about going home. Its just something I don't need and plus the longer you wait the happier you will be!!!

 

Well I spent the longest time in meetings on Friday, 8 hours and I  had to do the craziest practice session with Elder Alexander who just got unengaged don't ask how that happens, I  don't know. Then the next day I went to the ZL's place. They live in a mansion  and they sleep on queen sized temperpedic mattress's it is so nice, they also have their own workout room and an elevator to avoid the stairs... well it was a very interesting week to say the least.

 

.....  I have learned a lot about charity through this though.  Life is to short not to like someone or to hold bad feelings for people who have hurt you. In reality I  have changed so much in the past 21 months I'm not the same person I was before. The same things don't matter to me. I miss home but I would never go home early. I am sad. not for who I've become or that I'm away from home but because it took me so long to love someone because everyone is a child of god.

 

I love and miss you very much, but I'm on the Lords errand and I won't stop till all is done even in three months I won't be done for it won't be over not till all is said and done.

 

Love your son,

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

MY LIST! E-mail - April 9, 2012

I really don't know what to say...

umm...

I played softball today, oh, OK,  I know what to talk about.. whew that was scary.. so my comp was sick for about 5 days; complete and absolute boredom!! I truly sat around the apartment and did almost nothing. Things are not going the best in our companionship.  It's tough to be with someone like that so late in your mission and it's been difficult to deal with this last week. It made things a little tough especially since my district is all Sisters.  I can't even do an emergency exchange and work with someone else... but I have exchanges with the ZL's this week and I'm going to their mansion!!! It's gonna be sick!!!! Plus I have a Leadership Meeting which lasts about ohh * hours they are super boring!!!

Received a letter from Dan a couple weeks back that was super awesome but also reminded me that I have got to start planning for my homecoming,  there is a lot I have got to do and only a month to do it... so I'm gonna make a list

HOMECOMING LIST

!. visit Grandma

2. visit Daniel family

3. have super awesome pool party

4. go on a date

5. go to temple weekly

6. get car

7. get phone

8. visit old comps

9. go on road trip

10. go see a super awesome band in concert

11. hang out with friends

12. watch a lot of movies

13. read a lot of books

14.SLEEP

15. Go to baseball game w/ John

16. sleep

17 grow a beard

18 buy a hammock

19 eat lots of lasagna

20 SLEEP

Well, it might be a little early, but earlier the better.  It kinda stinks though because this is exactly not what I wanted to do... sometimes I feel like I can't control thinking about going home.. which stinks I miss home but I know the second I  get there I'm gonna miss being a missionary.  Its super tough, my bishop over the ward I'm serving in is really great though, he always gives me advice and cheers me up whether it is about companion problems or being trunkie. I'm getting my phone call soon to finalize everything so I'm gonna need to know the final plans.  What are we doing?  Are you picking me up?... Well I'm gonna get going!!!!!!!!

A New General Authority, A Hike And the 24th of July! E-mail April 2, 2012

So as my subject states, there were new general authorities, but want to know something crazy?? I know one of them!  Isn't that weird. You could say she was like another mother to me... the second counselor in the relief society was my last mission presidents wife, S. Reeves!!  So for my first mission reunion it will be crazy seeing her. We watched Gen. Con. at the stake center with all the missionaries so everybody freaked out... Read Meaghan's E-mail and it stinks that it's snowing there... if it makes you feel any better its like in the 80's nice and warm here....

Sister Schillemat was excited to hear that Meaghan might know one of her friends.  Its strange they were in the MTC together.  Although,  I think she was in the MTC before Meaghan... I don't know the whole language thing... confuses me... especially when you spend like a whole 3 months there... 3 weeks was enough for me!!

Well we went on a hike today all through the mountains around here.  I can't wait to go home,  I'm totally camping... even though I didn't go camping all the time,  I really miss it. It was like a three mile hike... I learned all about Hawaiian culture especially the Goddess Pele.  The two Hawaiians here say she is their favorite.  It's a very interesting culture  they have.  After about an hour into the hike the two of them started chanting to the sun and I was like what the heck are you guys doing and they were asking the sun to shade himself and the two seconds later a huge cloud shaded the sun... weird... they both smiled at me and told me not to tell anyone or Pele would destroy me.... if I somehow have an accident this week blame Pele it's all her fault!

Me and my comp don't always see eye to eye... which is kinda sad but transfers are in like three weeks and then I'm most likely gone... it's sad but everyone is telling me I'm a goner.  I have only two transfers after this so... that's a total of like 15 weeks left of my mission... that's not a lot actually that's really short I'm super freaked... only four months :( I thought I would be super excited but I'm super not excited!!  I have only one temple trip left and two interviews how weird is that!!! I  even have to get my temple recommend renewed... can you believe that... but no more talking about going home... I WILL NOT BE TRUNKIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love you all,  will see you soon and can't wait to be home...
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

PS  I go home the 24th of July!

i couldnt even start to explain‏! E-mail - March 26, 2012

Well I just finished reading Meaghan's E-mail and I have a question!!!!! Did you get my letters??? And can we shorten the address please, I'm so confused when I write to you cuz well I never know if it went to the right person, plus I might send a package I'm not sure. Will it be expensive????

 

So my week in Cali was a tough one I was sick from Thursday all the way to Sunday!!! It was horrible!!! Plus our first day out after I was feeling better, it rains.... the Sisters offered soup and ice cream.  I  should have said yes, but I didn't. My companion just got ...... so life will be very interesting for the next few days let me tell you that story...

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

  lets just say Elder Daniel will NEVER be a nurse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

  

Other than that, the normal riding our bikes up mountain like hills... talking to crazy people... being taught by by Jehovah Witnesses... just your regular... everyone is excited about me going home which is weird, you would hope they would be upset, but they are just happy for me.  Everyone asks what my plans are and I tell them I don't worry my moms definitely got it all planned :)

Do I need anything???   Food is always good, Kraft dinner or Reece's cups... gummy bears, ohh yeah; two things I love bears and gummy... I don't know what gummy really is... an in-n-out is opening right by us, I  feel so bad for Meaghan she will miss the greasy ketchuppy  thousand islandy goodness of in-n-out plus their milkshakes it's calling my name!!!!!!!!!!

 

Well,  I should get going, Love you all, hope Ukraine is nice... I might have told you about the Romanian and what she said about Ukraine in my last e-mail if not I will tell you next week!

 

Until then.....
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

Hells Kitchen with Santa, Rain, and the coldest place in So Cal‏! E-mail - March 19, 2012

Well,as my subject states, it's been an interesting week...

It all started with my comp saying it's the last week of the transfer; something crazy is gonna happen!! Well good job Kozub!!!

The next day we were riding down freakishly big hills... HUGE HILLS... when Kozub yells AHHHHHH I'M GOING TO DIE!!!!!!!!! I look behind me and he is holding on for dear life. Later on we find out that his sprocket is broken... it's what the chain hooks on to the crank (maybe I will be a bicycle mechanic) well it was totally broken, so we borrowed our Bishops bike... the day we borrow, it he crashes into me and breaks the Bishops bike!!!!

So, I pleaded that the week would get normal, but it didn't. It started to rain for three days!!!! That's a big deal out here (remember I'm in So Cal) plus our heater in our home share is broken and it was 32 degrees.  It could snow in our house!!  Our home share the Devitas asked me to fix the furnace because I'm so good with that kind of stuff ( I totally laughed when they said that) it took two electricians (one the Bishop of our ward) a soccer coach (high priest group leader) and a Mormon missionary (me) to find out we had no idea what is wrong!!!!! So, we called an electric company and we are still without heat!!!!

"Hells Kitchen"  was interesting... our High Priests Group was doing a social, a potato bar, and they asked for some help. I  had told my comp that my old nickname was Potato Pete and the next thing I know we are standing in a kitchen peeling potatoes.... the man in charge, Bro. Coleman a.k.a. Santa ( he plays Santa during the holiday season and looks exactly like him) was extremely mean and no one wanted to be there.  He started getting mad at us for whistling... but  I got to eat three baked potato's and I was stuffed.

Well, I have to go, I'm going to do the test sometime this week at our Bishops house and that major is totally fine...

Love you,
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

An Email - March 12, 2012

Well, it's been one long week.  It's good to hear that Megs got to Ukraine alright...

 

It's strange to think back to when I  first arrived in Cali and was like, what the freak is this... I never thought I would get used to the smog, but I don't even see it any more... I figured out this week that the church's have something in Kentucky that they don't have in Cali... coat closets. It took me almost 20 months to realize that there isn't a single one here..

 

I am kinda excited about school. I'm mostly nervous. I think it's strange going from Mormon Missionary to Mormon student... I'm not used to living in a Mormon culture. It's gonna be weird, plus this whole finding an eternal companion is weird... its weird to think I can date again... to say the least, I'm scared. Truthfully, the Mission isn't that difficult. You do get difficult companions and hard people to teach, but it's weird because your like an icon to people, all the members love you, and you have all this responsibility and that's all going away in like almost 4 months... that's not long at all!!!!!!!!

 

I didn't mean for my email this week to be a pity party... we had a good week ...kinda. we had a baptism, but she moved the day of her baptism out of the mission sooo it's weird... we got in a huge argument with her roommate because we were helping her move and we didn't know her roommate knew nothing of the situation, so she called the cops on us and it was weird... don't worry mom we didn't get into any trouble. When the police showed up he thought it was funny that any one would call because of Moromon Missionaries and he told us we were doing nothing wrong...

 

We also did a day of service, which was cool. We biked around in our service clothes and offered help to everyone... we didn't do much service, but more people were open with us when we were not in white shirts and ties...

 

It's weird because there is a Sister Jacobsen in our mission, Megs. Your comp might be related to her, but I don't really know Sister Jacobsen.. tell you the truth she kind of scares me...

 

Well I don't know what else to say, I hope everything is going well. See most of you soon, sorry not you Meaghan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel
p.s. has anyone done the plane thingy to you  yet Meaghan?????? Are there a lot of planes in Ukraine? Is it a third world country??

A snowball fight in SO CAL‏ March 5, 2012

Congrats to Meaghan!!!!  I hope you enjoy "the" Ukraine. All my ward members say good luck and one thing of advice; buy a new coat when you get there. They say that most likely your coat will not be warm enough... I  have no idea though, it's never cold here... Well, I never got pics of Virginia, but that's OK. It's weird to think you have only a year left, wow!!! I only have like 5 months left almost 4, how weird is that?? I'm about to go home and sleep in my own bed...

 

I know what you all  are thinking... How in the world did you have a snowball fight in So Cal? Well, our ZL's drove up the mountain and filled the bed of their truck with snow, then the Yucaipa ZL's did the same.  It was Redlands vs Yucaipa and it was crazy. We buried one of there ZL's in the snow in our truck and called it a victory! Many lives were lost (elders got too cold and quit) but in the end we stayed true and defeated Yucaipa what a great day.

 

On Saturday I did service with a ward member for 4 hours. We replaced part of a fence, so now I know how to do it. If you want one, it was a lot of work and the member said if there was four of us it would've taken under an hour... we should have asked for help.  

It's been a difficult week, my comp was sick like 3 days, then when he got to feeling better, my bike broke again...one of my ZL's   asked where I got my bike and when I told him Joels; he said that a lot of his bikes break easily. He has to fix his bike more than me and it's still in bad shape... he also told me my comp is infamous for faking sick and he's been sick every week of the transfer so far. It's difficult to determine whether he is really sick or faking. 

 

Sorry, but I'm running out of time.

 

I love you all hope everything is OK... I heard about all the Tornadoes... 

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

Missionary Photos

Pictures

12 DAYS!!! E-mail - February 27, 2012

It may seem weird, but I promise it will make sense soon...very soon...

 

So, as you may know or may not know,  I have been out 19 months and that means I only have 5 left now. This wouldn't be that bad if everyone in the world would stop reminding me... A lady in our ward has a son who will come back one week before me... so every time I see her it's like she has the countdown memorized!!  I've tried to ignore her, but every Sunday she walks in and says; 148 days left, and I'm like please don't remind me...!

 

Plus, March Madness is coming up and everyone is depressed because it seems BYU didn't do so hot this year.. I keep telling them to just vote for Kentucky but nobody listens!  When they win I'm going to laugh...

I bet you are all wondering what this has to do with 12 days.... well absolutely nothing... about a week ago the Sisters gave us a referral named Nancy... Nancy is in her fifties  and is super hilarious she's from New York and she lets you know it... She has started calling me her new  grandson (sorry Grandma... I still love you!) and last week she asked me to baptize her!!! So the Sisters who had given her to us had a baptism, and they invited Nancy. Well, she woke up sick and the Sisters told us, I looked at Elder Kozub and said we're going over to Nancy's.  She is going to that baptism,  even if I have to give her a ride on my bike!!!!  We went over and gave her a blessing, and her granddaughter ( named Tuesday) and her daughter (Melody) and then we did service.   At  the end we stood there and I asked Nancy if she was going and she looked at me and said I would love to but I can't... immediately without thinking I promised her if she would go she wouldn't just be spiritually uplifted, but also physically uplifted... to say the least, I went home crying, because I had no idea how  I could have promised her this. I was super upset at myself, but we began the bike ride to the church in our suits and not even half way there my bike brakes went out.  I looked at my watch and knew  if we started walking we would never make it.  So, I started to run and then I jumped on my bike and started coasting every so often dropping my leg and pushing against the ground to keep going... Now I know that mom is looking at this email, freaking out, but this was important, Nancy needed us  to be there.  I wouldn't stop!  My companion at this point was in total shock that I cared this much!!! But I didn't stop and we made it right in time, to every ones utter shock. Right after the person was baptized, Nancy looked at me and said 14 days  Daniel!! Now in only 12 days,  Nancy is going to be baptized and be clean again.

 

Nothing in my short existence of 20 years could have prepared me for this 19 months . I am so honored to be a Missionary; to wake up every morning and put the name badge on. I know  that Jesus is the Christ. He has restored His priesthood to  the Earth through a Prophet, not because He needed to, but because He loved us enough to do it.

 

He never said it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it!
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

E-mail -- February 13, 2012

Well, it has been an interesting week!

 

I have all my DL duties back, which is kinda stressful, especially with sisters. It's not that they are bad, it's just when there's a problem I'm not so sure on how helpful I can be without getting too involved. Our handbook says not to council with the sisters so its difficult finding my boundaries. 

My new companion is a alright, we are doing our best to stick together and not get to out of sinc.   His sense of humor, i.e. his joke are horrible,  they are worse than Johns. It's that bad!!!  Received an interesting email from one Joshua King. It didn't really say much, but it was weird, I have no idea who he is and he told me I don't know who he is!  Now I really want to know who he is!! I think I'm going to talk to Pres about it.

My Comp was sick for two days. So it was tough doing work. It seems that all my Comps get sick lately. Mom I never told you that I'm really thankful you wrote down my setting apart. It has helped a lot to read through.

 

Well to answer some of Meaghan's questions we do go to Ward Council and yes its frustrating... we usually argue about the WMP and someone gets mad but we really try not to get to involved in those meetings, we just tell them what we did this week and sit there and listen to the problems in the Ward. I can only remember once were they actually asked me on a suggestion to help with the young men and that's only because the young men in that ward loved us. Hows your DDMs out there? Is your District Leader as awesome as me?? Don't give the guy a hard time though he does a lot... trust me I know...

 

Virginia sounds nice, but I do say I love Cali. I'm starting to like Mexican food (not beans) and I think I've got surfer lingo down. Its strange you think of So Cal and I can promise you would never imagine this... more people hang Mexican flags than the do American. Everyone here always talks about prop 8 and if someone got offended in church, 90% of the time it was because of prop 8. No other place probably in the world can you go door to door and people yell at you WERE GAY AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY!!! It's really quite heartbreaking last Sunday a women bore her testimony about how her brother was gay and no one could accept him and it tore her apart. Sometimes you feel like a guidance counselor rather than a missionary. But the weather is nice and the people are usually friendly and the wards love us. What's more to ask we find, teach, and baptize the Lords elect. God blesses us and that's all we need to do to go day by day week by week month by month all year round.  --

Elder Zachary David Daniel
P.S. This is important I will not email until Wednesday.

P.P.S. love you

A New Comp, A New DL, Another Crazy Week‏! E-mail - Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Well, I'm still in Highland. I'm sorry I didn't email yesterday, but the second I finished reading my email and started to write a new one, my new comp showed up so I had to sign off.

 

My new comps name is Elder Kozub. He is from Ohio, the south eastern part. He's in the same mission but a different stake. He is a convert to the church; neither of his parents are members, and his two brothers that are members, are not active. It's gotta be tough for him. It really makes me glad that I have a family that's strong in the gospel.

 

I also have a new district leader... me... again. I have now been called the relief society president (its an all female district basicly) so it has definetly been interesting. I started my duties today, holding another district meeting. It was about our new zone focus of investigators @ sacrament  meeting. It went fairly well, the senior couple really seemed to enjoy it.

 

Well, it was weird watching Williams go...Kozub seems interesting... I don't know how this is going to go, my ears have been plugged up lately, I don't know what it is. Plus I  am super tired right now... I kind of want to catch some z's, but no time for that! I have missionary work to do...!!!!!

 

Meaghan, did you get my letter? They might have sent my letter back to you mom. That happens every once in a while here. The home share accidently forget that we lived there when the post office asked. Yep, other than that, life has been the same old thing. Williams hurt his shoulder, my new comp wants to ride our bikes everywhere, and John was right..... I want the car back!!

Well, I'm going to sign off and get going to shopping.

 

Love You All,
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

January 30, 2012 - A few pics!

Elder Zachary Daniel with President and Mrs. Smart

January 30, 2012 - A few pics!

Elder Williams in our room in Highlands.

January 30, 2012 - A few pics!

House in Highlands we were living in that is being "tented"!!

ALOHA!!!!‏ E-mail - January 30, 2012

Isn't John from Cali????  Saying "Aloha"  happens almost on a monthly basis, it's an "islander" thing.  It's pretty funny though, because we had a recent convert in our ward named Ben and he always does it, but he's from Mexico.

 

Well, it was an interesting week for me.  They tented the house we were living in, and I am now living with the Span-ams. At first I was kind of upset, cause I don't speak any Spanish.  I kinda wished Meaghan was here because I was soooo lost. But I have a crazy story. We went to our last appointment together on Thursday night and to tell the truth I  was starting to loose my mind . I knew I  was going into another lesson and I  wasn't going to do anything but my goal was to do my best and stay awake!!! So I sat and listened as the Spanish Elders started to teach and as usual I had no idea what was going on... then out of nowhere the spirit touched me and told me to testify. I totally didn't want to, how embarrassing would it be if I testified to them in a language they don't know, but the spirit compelled me. Fighting back tears I began to testify to these people, I didn't miraculously speak in Spanish, but I learned that the Spirit has its own language and as I concluded my own testimony the Spirit hit me and confirmed that they understood my testimony.  The father of the family we were sharing the message with looked at me smiled and said "Gracia's" although I  may not like it, I  had to face reality that night. I'm not the teacher, that is not my job. I'm the conduit by which the Holy Ghost is meant to teach by. I could sit here and tell everything I know about the gospel, but if the Spirit is not there the person will receive nothing to progress.

 

I finally sent pictures of pants, mom, if you want more just ask. Also sent pics of the tented house and Elder Williams. Transfers are coming at the end of the week and Williams thinks he's going,  but we will see. Highland has been great, we are going to play softball today at 2 and I'm totally excited. I  haven't played softball since Menifee so it should be exciting.  I will tell you how it goes next week.  I'm planning on writing Megs today so expect a letter. Sadly it will not be in Ukrainian, I'm not that awesome!

Well,  I'll let you go. Staying safe!

 

 Much Love,

 

Zach

 

One Hard Week! E-mail January 23, 2012

HELLO!!

 

As the subject said its been one difficult week. My companions bike broke.  It started to rain and we had two crazy days!

 

On Friday we received a call that a lady needed help moving. We put on our service clothes ( I  was wearing shorts again in the rain, I'm buying jeans today)  and we started moving at 9 in the morning and ended about 3:30 in the afternoon. It was one of the hardest moves I ever have done in my life. We moved desks that were almost 500 lbs and a china cabinet that was 9 ft tall. It took so much out of Elder Williams and I. The lady was going through a messy divorce and lost the house. She moved into a mobile home. It was a difficult thing for her but she felt close as the army of missionaries ( 8 elders, 1 bishop) moved this lady out of her house.

 

Tired and weary, the next day we went back to work we tracted for almost 9 hours that day and only took a lunch and dinner break. During our walk to lunch, we ran into an interesting person, as we were walking to Wendy's (thanks to mom)  and on our way we were talking to people, when my comp talked to a crazy person and she followed us to Wendy's it was super weird, but afterwords we lost her. 

 

Well, my time is up. I love you and I'll talk to you  soon. 

--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

Not Enough Info.....!!! E-mail January 17, 2012

So, it seems that I have not been putting enough info in my emails. OK... first off, I understand about not wanting a new dog. It's difficult seeing as Jack is now in doggy heaven, but having a cool awesome German Shepard around makes life better, plus Charlie is a grouch!!! I do understand and I can't wait to go doggy shopping with John!!!

 

I woke up at 6:30 and as usual hit my head on the fan!!! What a wake up. The place I live: we call the man cave, has a bunk bed, two desks, a fridge, two small dressers and a microwave/toaster oven all in a room smaller than mine back home!!! Imagine that! My comp (Elder Williams) is a pretty good guy. He's from Texas, Arlington, and has like 7 brothers and sisters.

 

We haven't really been riding our bikes seeing as Williams' is out of commission. He just started feeling better after 12 days, but then his bike broke. So we are hoofin it. It's weird having only six months left, everybody brings it up.  I  just looked at the ward directory and I don't know anyone any more so sad.

 

It's tough to hear about Meaghan, but it happens a lot. We get Elders going to Mexico in our mission all the time and it stinks, but there's a reason for it. At the beginning of my mission there was an Elder named Elder Lamb and he baptised 6 people before he went to Mexico and even later saw them there. We may not know why the Lord sends us certain places, but I can promise you, Meaghan ,YOU ARE NEEDED THERE!!!!! Many times I ask why California? I would have loved to go to a foreign country, but I was needed here in Riverside Ca. Why? Chris and Robin Beltoe, Marcus Welch, Jackie Raney, Ryan Gaines, Julie Lunsford, the Mann brothers, Kevin Smith, Angel Diemer, the Clark boys, John Buzo, and Nelly Salerno. I don't list them to brag but I thank my Heavenly Father for every moment I spent with those 14 people.  They have changed my life just as much as I have theirs. If there is only one thing I learn my entire mission  is that I am grateful for this.  That God knows us perfectly!! He takes our talents, our goals, our motivations and matches us, maybe even handpicks us for a certain person. When you are placed in a certain area or with a certain missionary it's not your mission president that places you there, it's God.  In all His infinite wisdom, He knows who we are and what we can do. These 18 months are going to be difficult!!! You're going to work harder faster and longer than ever before, but you will be so grateful because when your head hits your pillow every night you will be exhausted and you will be sooo grateful for it because you know you worked your hardest, you put in 110% and that's what God wants. " Therefore ye that are called to serve God see that ye serve Him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before Him at the last day." 

 

I love you all! I wish you well, I'll start the applications, and may Jack rest in peace!!!
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

Sickness E-mail - January 9, 2012

Well it's been an interesting last 9 days seeing as this is one of the few times I have been outside the apartment, as my comp has been sick.  His name by the way is Elder Williams, we got the package thing with all the cards today and he says thank you for the birthday present. He thought it was funny that I never told you his name.

So about Jack, after a lot of thought (remember I have not done anything the last 9 days) I decided what we should do...   just get another dog... now I know what your thinking,  John,  and no it's not to much work. We should get a German Shephard and name him Vlad seeing as Meaghan is going to Ukraine and it sounds like a nice Ukranian name!!!! I know that having another dog around the house will be good for everyone including John. It's ok if you think it's to soon, we can wait til I come home and I will help pick him out!! 

 

I don't know if I ever told you I got a guitar.  I have been trying to learn, but its coming very difficult.  I can only play one song and it has no cords it's actually only four notes long. But I'm trying to become the master so I can return and jam out with John!  Maybe we can play in sacrament meeting together :)

 

I can't believe the Elders no showed did they call? President would kill us if we did that. Speaking of President Smart we had our interview on Wednesday and spoke about my last comp and your phone conversation.  He said he really liked John, also told me it wasn't weird that you called; he says if he didn't get a phone call from at least 4 parents in a day he would be worried. My question... where did you get his number? Plus you should see his cell phone its super nice!!!

 

Well, not much more to say just sticking in here while my comps sick.

 

Love you and talk to you later.
--
Elder Zachary David Daniel

A New Area, A Bunch of Sisters, A Sick Companion, Miracles! E-mail - January 3, 2012

I believe as I said last week, I'm in Redlands.    It has been a unique expierience. I am the oldest elder in mission life in the zone, so I'm Patriarch Daniel. It's weird, never thought I'd be a Patriarch. So I'm in Highlands in Redlands Zone.  Highlands is really interesting, it's one city built on a hill.   Biking will be fun! Although, we have not biked yet. My comps b-day is on the 27th ( I don't know why I said that).  We knew each other before he was in my district, the first time I was in Menifee. The Sisters are different... they like to ask lots of questions, it's like everyday they call to ask us something kinda weird. They are awsome workeres and they love the Lord so that's good. 

Well, my comp has been sick for the last 4 days I have been sooo bored. I watched movies all morning... church movies. Before my comp got sick though we had a ton of miracles. We were going to see this man at the dialysis center and we stopped by a lady to talk about the church and she wanted to know about what we believe.  While we were teaching I had the inspiration to ask if she had ever recieved a blessing and my comp said he had never given her one before.  So, we gave her a blessing and then my companion twisted his ankle and we had to go home, but I didn't know the way and he was in too much pain to lead the way so I went the wrong way... my bad, but we ended up on the street of this investigator that we had so we decided to stop by and see her.   She said that she needed us and was telling us that she couldn't be a member because she had anger problems.  I then told her about some members I know with anger problems and it calmed her down.

I realized that God sometimes sends us miracles because we need to see our faith in action. I know that it is because of our faith and our hard work that we saw those miracles.

 

Love,

Elder Zachary Daniel