Latest Pics and Staying in Beckley!

July 21, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Things here are still going. Elder Morgan is still working hard. He isn’t too bad and we are still working hard. And Katy is doing well, so we will see what happens. Every lesson with her she takes notes and reads the pamphlet before and takes notes on it as well. We went to teach the plan of salvation and she already knew all of it because she had studied it all!

Also her neighbor Mike has started coming to church and wanting to learn more. He is kind of odd but really smart. He studies quite a bit, and loves the Hebrew and Greek translations. Other than that those are really the only people we are teaching as of now. 

And Jacob, the crazy one, is still coming to church and we are going to have to start visiting him again because he had a bad day at church... meaning he wouldn’t shut up about every aspect of his life that is more than likely false, and then sharing things he shouldn’t. Poor Mike and Katy!

We had a zone wide contest on which district could pass out the most family proclamations. We handed out 107, so about 35 per companion ship! It was a good time, we just started handing it to them as we talked so they couldn’t say no, and had to take it. So it was a good time!

Then we had to take a trip out to McDowell County where Welch, WV is. It’s infamous for the stereotypical red necks. It wasn’t that bad. It was a nice little town, but then it made sense when we talked to the man Elder Morgan had to interview for baptism. He had asked him, “Where do you live?” He said "McDowell County." Then Elder Morgan asked again, "Where do you live?" Then he said, "Welch." Then he asked one more time and he gave him his address. He also forgot his birthday. It was a pretty good experience. There is a bunch more, but I don’t know if I have time to write it all!

I’m attaching a video of Steven [video didn’t come through, unfortunately]. I think I’ve told you about him a bit. He lives in the Oak Hill area, and he is pretty funny! This is him playing his harmonica. I have a couple more. I hope the attachment works!

Oh, and I did think of one thing I would like for my birthday. It is some more of that Abercrombie cologne. Other than that I can’t think of anything.

I’ll have to send Jake another e-mail to see what he is up to.

I’ll have to send some other pictures with their little stories behind them. I will be going to the eye doc tomorrow morning! So it’ll be fun to see again

Anyway, I think that’s all. Transfers are in about 9 days or so. I think I’ll be staying in Beckley for another because of Katy, mainly because of what she told us. I don’t know if she will ever tell anyone else, and I imagine President Salisbury wouldn’t want to stick to missionaries in there to deal with it all over again. But we will see. I just hope I get a companion I get along with really well cause I’m getting a little tired of the area. HERE WE GO!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

July 29, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Glad all is well at home. There isn’t too much going on here. We have found a couple more families who are just great! Especially a part member family, where the husband served a mission and the wife and kids are non-members. The reason they are less active is because her ex-husband and her have shared custody which means they share on decision making and the ex-husband is anti- toward the church so he wont let his kids go. The parents don’t want to just leave their 12 year old and the younger ones at home every week, so once he is of age or the father consents there will be at least 3 baptisms there! She is already reading Joseph Smith History, because she has finished the B.O.M Multiple times!

Also there is another couple we found, the Mooneys. They are a lot of fun, and an older couple with a huge house! It’s not too often you find people who are pretty well off who are interested in learning more! 

Then there was the baptism for the man who has been active in the church for 43 years, and the missionary who taught him 43 years ago flew in from Arizona to baptize him, there were over 70 people there, and his wife was on cloud 9 because she has been waiting 43 years for him to join her! Because of this there were multiple families who came up to us and told us they want to get back to church and prepare to go to the temple so they can be there when the McGradys get sealed! So its created quite the ripple effect in the ward, I think it’s just what was needed!

So I am staying here another transfer. I will be in Beckley another 6 weeks and be here in total 7 1/2 months that’s a long time! This next transfer will be the hardest yet I imagine. My new companion is Elder M___. I’m told he is extremely flamboyant, burns incense during studies, and I don’t know what else. So I’ll be praying and fasting for patience! I’m not too happy as of now. I was excited with how the work was going and Elder Morgan and I had begun to get along really well. And now this. I’m not sure how most of our investigators will receive him. I’m hoping we don’t lose anyone for that reason, although I can see it. But we won’t know till he gets here so I’ll try and keep a positive outlook.

Oh and we went with a member and had a photo shoot kinda deal so I’ll have to send you the pictures as soon as I can get the cord for my camera from Elder Morgan!

I did get my contacts! I got soft lenses, because last time I got hard lenses they hurt! These are much better. They don’t hurt once I get them in. So it is a lot of fun to see. The eye doctor told me in WV and most other states I am not legally allowed to drive without contacts/glasses. They won’t even give me a license! He said my vision was about 20/60. So I guess that’s bad! 

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

August 4, 2014

Hi All!

Thanks for the package. I enjoyed what was in it! And you were right, I didn’t wait, I was too excited!

Elder M__. and I are getting along ok. He is nice and all. Just really different, and he tries to feed dogs treats that he carries with him and pets and talks to every cat we come across and compliments them on their beautiful eyes of whatever color and tells them how much he loves them etc. I don’t know how to explain it . . . he is overly loving. That sounds weird to say but he goes over the top to the point where people give him weird looks. So I hope all goes well with that.

That’s cool a new family moved in, where are they from? I miss the lake now! The youth in the ward just reported on an activity they had where they went out on a member’s boat and went tubing and jet skiing. And then some other members told us about their white water rafting trip and those kinds of things. I miss water!  Oh well, it won’t be long, but it’s hard to hear about all the fun the people are having! That’s nice that guy was paying attention [to us when we ran out of gas in the boat], I feel like most people would just think you were being weird and assume you were just having some kind of weird Mormon cult dance party... 

I’m excited for the new football season and the fact I’ll be back for at least post-season, to watch the hawks win the Superbowl again! I’m glad Lynch decided to play. I remember hearing that he doesn’t talk to the press, and there was a quote I heard from him that summed him up. The reporter asked why he doesn’t do interviews to which he responded, "I’m ‘bout dat action boss." I guess he likes to show it on the field and not from his mouth? I have a lucky tie I got from my trainer which is Seahawks colors. It’s really old and wrinkly but I wore it every game day last year and they won the super bowl so I plan on continuing out that tradition.

Katy is in an interesting predicament. We got a text the other night that she said she was lonely and was following the spirit to go to Greensboro, WV and become a sister wife. We told her it was not the Spirit and to stay, and she didn’t listen and texted us later that day that she made a huge mistake and is scared. So there isn’t much we can do for her other than tell her we told you so. So, we hope she gets back soon and we can teach her how to recognize the spirit. She seems to act impulsively on her emotions and doesn’t think much through so hopefully we can work through that with her.

Other than that we are still just teaching those we have, who aren’t progressing too much, but plan on finding some others. 

I’m wondering if you could send me some more slacks? The two I have are too small now. They are kind of like high waters and I bought a few pairs from wal-mart a while back but they are all poofy and funny looking.

Anyway, things are going well. We are still living with the other set of Elders which is a blessing because it helps take the edge off of things. I just hope this transfer goes by fast, I can almost see the meals from members going down.

Also there is a family I really like to visit they feed us pretty well, and I taught Jason how to make sparkler bombs. I may have told you before but he loves them! So when we come over he has one made and we blow something up each time we go over. So that’s always fun. I have videos of it but of course the church e-mail won’t let me send them! 

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

P.S

The music rule has changed and we can now listen to any hymn in any arrangement, so I’m wondering if you could find a lot of country/blue grass arranged hymns and put them on a USB for me so I can change it up. Mo-Tab gets really old really fast! 

LOVE YOU! 

August 11, 2014

Hi Everyone!

My birthday was good, but all our appointments fell through and we walked a lot, but that’s alright cause a birthday on a mission is just like any other day! 

I think I’m a 31 waist and a 32 length would be perfect, I don’t have any others that fit other than the suit pants and my stretchy waist tan pants from Wal-mart.

Not too much happened this week. I’m getting burnt out on Beckley. I’m getting tired of it. I really hope I get transferred, although it is nice having the other set of elders in the basement. The members I can tell already don’t seem to like my companion that much. He isn’t the most personable person. He just kinda cuts members off at dinner so we can read a scripture and leave. He also thinks just about anything will get him excommunicated or sent home. He is afraid that if we are at a members house for dinner for like an hour and a half that he is gonna get sent home... and some members there is just no way to eat and get out in a hour. 

Anyway, other than that Katy came to church and had a good time, she had an interview with President Salisbury, and afterward she seemed to be doing a lot better than she was. We also found a couple new people to teach and hope they will go somewhere and a few potentials we hope to teach this week.  

And we were making a "District WVCM" video but president said we can’t do that so we had to stop. Oh, and fall seems to be coming early here. Leaves are starting to change already and the last 2 weeks it has been in the low 70's and hi 60's. It’s kinda weird because usually it’s in the 90's. I’m not complaining though! 

From the e-mails I received from president and what he has told me it sounds like I will be a district leader next transfer, and I really want to go back to Pembroke, VA and that is a district leader area, so in my e-mails to him I will start asking if I could serve there my last 2 transfers. Who knows!

And that’s about all... 

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

A Baptism and a New Mission President!

June 23, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Well this week was Savannah’s baptism! It went well. It was just hectic on Sunday when we did it. Some of the members got all up in arms about something. I think someone brought their kid who was sick to church. I don’t know. Then some of the other kids around 10-12 or so got in a fight outside. There is one kid who comes every couple weeks because the dad has partial custody, and the mom is insane, so of course this kid has some serious issues with swearing and hitting etc.... So other than that it went well. I was the one to baptize her so it was good. All went well.

Other than that this week has been terrible. We had 2 appointments work out and they were both member meal appointments. We were teaching over 15 times a week or so and this week we only had one and it was a quick 15 minute one. Everyone we had scheduled with cancelled, and then ignored us and blew is off when we stopped by. No clue why, but we will keep working through it, I guess. We did a TON of tracting last week because that’s all we had to do. No one else could or would meet. It sucked. But hopefully this week will be better. We have a meeting to meet with the new mission president on the 11th.

We did meet with Jacob again. He is nuts. I took some notes this time. Sometimes he just gets on a tangent. Well he always does, and he just goes! Today in priesthood he talked about how he was in a mental hospital and they are a demonic cult and I can’t remember what else, but it was bad. He went for 15 minutes until we had to just say no more! But we met with him earlier this week, and he told us some of these things. (The notes are vague and leave out a lot of detail because I couldn’t write all if it or fast enough!)

1. He fought in gorrilla warfare in America’s own back yard

2. The Government puts babies in jars

3. Native American medicine is the most holy and sacred medicine. 

(Keep in mind he thinks he is Native American...and a Nephite. That’s what he uses to justify smoking tobacco because its part of the Native American religion...)

4.He was a Systems operator for the military and knows everyone’s information

5. He helps the CTU the "*something* Terrorist Unit"

6.Star people on space ships brought us the technology we have now

7. He tried to explain quantum theory

8. The Lamanites came from Atlantis, which is also called Turtle island

9. Atlantis is star based and the government uses worm holes to travel to and from

10. Enoch's job was to watch for ancient astronauts

11. We were created in a lab by the star people to mine gold

12. He worked for Reagan and help put together the "start wars program" and invented ISO's which are satellites with lasers to shoot down space ships to protect earth.

13. God made the star people, who then made us 

14 He has seen the original, Priest-edition of the Torah in Jerusalem

15. He was on a White House mission in Bellingham, WA and met this girl who was an original descendant from the Canaanites, and she had the original Pentatuch, and it was to advanced for us, and we weren’t ready for it so he had to take it back to the house of Israel...

16. He was injected with rocket fuel, and now has genetic alteration.

17. Omni is an electrical current and a spiritual state of being... not a prophet..

And there was much more that I didn’t get a chance to write... he is insane. Sadly, it was the highlight of our week.

And I have the doc appointment about my stomach tomorrow. I’ll be sure to let you all know. I checked at the eye place today and with the insurance. They said it should cost $75 for the exam and contacts total. It wasn’t an exact price but around there. Next P-day I will be going in to get that done so if you all could put some money on my card for that so I can see again!

I will be buying my other pair or slacks today because last week I ripped another pair. I’m still used to jeans and not slacks!

And thanks for the answer about Revelations, that makes sense.

We are trying to plan an activity with an investigator and some members to go fishing this month, and a member’s pond. So I hope that works out it will be a much needed break!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer 

LOVE YOU!

June 30, 2014

Dear Everyone:

So this week was pretty boring. At church last week that whole blow up was about a member who had brought her kid to church who had "Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease" which is apparently really contagious. Unfortunately, Elder Morgan caught it, and we were told by the mission nurse to not leave the apartment for the week. So needless to say there was a lot of studying, napping, and working out. There isn’t much to do as a missionary when you’re stuck inside all week!

Although I did start a new project. I have begun correcting the bible. It’s fun to do because we always are talking about how the Protestants don’t understand anything because all they have is the bible and the bible isn’t always clear (because it’s been translated so many times and has lost some precious truths!) So I started in Genesis and begun marking every alternate translation in green, (Heb, I.E, "Or", or an explanation of a verse.) and then all the JST's in yellow. Needless to say I have a blister on my right hand and I am 1,000 pages into the Old Testament with everything marked so far, in the footnotes and in the verses! It’s fun to look through it like that. After I finish both the Old and New Testaments, I plan on reading through using all the alternate translations and see if that helps give me a better understanding of things. Not to mention Isaiah . . .  I had to mark about the whole footnote section! So much to try and understand. The New Testament won’t be as bad because its only like 400 pages or so! It’ll be fun to see when it’s done!

Other than that we are just hoping the Lord has been preparing people this week we have been inside. Elder Morgan can’t go out until Wednesday, so I have some more time to finish! Although I probably won’t finish until I’m about to come home. Since I’ll only have a 30 minutes a day or so after he is done being sick!

I’m always bummed on the 4th out here because it doesn’t get dark till 9:30, and we can blow things up anyway! It takes all the fun out of it. I’m just bitter on the 4th! 

I will schedule an appointment for my eyes this Tuesday or Wednesday when Elder Morgan not stuck inside. It’ll be great to see again!

The new Mission President is here, and we will meet him on the 11^th. I’m pretty excited to see if there will be changes made and who he is! It’ll be interesting to get a feel for him. I hope he will be exciting, I think he was an accountant before so who knows!

Anyway, I’m doing well and haven’t caught hand, foot and mouth yet! I’m guessing it’s from when I had that terrible cold that my immune system is built up so I won’t get it. I hope I won’t because that’s another week inside! It’s nice to rest for a day, but after that it gets so boring since we can’t do anything fun! But I think I’m in the clear!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

July 7, 2014

Hi Everyone!

All is well. We actually got to work this week. It was a nice change of pace! Although not much is happening still. We were either dropped by our investigators, or we dropped them. We have been visiting active members and setting up a family mission plan with them and seeking referrals, and a TON of tracting, we probably spend around 5-6 hours a day of it. It’s rough, but it’s not too bad because you meet some characters! 

I don’t know if I told you but we had a truck for the first transfer and a half I was with Elder Morgan. Anyway so after a while Elder Morgan decides we don’t need a truck and wants one of the new little toyota corollas, so of course they gave us one, and it sucks! I hate it. It can’t go anywhere or do anything, It’s not that it’s not a truck. I didn’t mind the Chevy Cruises and the Subarus we have in the mission, but this car is on another level. It has zero acceleration because it’s one of those like half hybrid cars and just looks super feminine anyway. So I just let Elder Morgan drive. It’s like one of those cars you see old people driving.

Anyway to get to the point, we had a Zone meeting in Charleston this week, and we put in the GPS that we wanted to take the fastest way there... and apparently the fastest way is down an old dirt road out in the boonies of course. So we took it thinking we could make it. But it kept getting worse and worse. Every time we hit a bump or hear a rock get shot up from a tire, Elder Morgan would say, "Oh, I think we scratched it!", "Careful, careful" and more. Anyway in this "road" that is skinnier than 1 lane we met up with a giant flat-bed dodge with a trailer on it... so he pulls into the ditch to get by cause he can and rolls his window down to talk to us. He says laughing at these 4 guys in suits in a little corolla, "Y'all know where you’re goin?" to which I responded, "Yeah, Charleston. You think we can make it through here with our little Toyota?" To which he responds laughing again "No, not a chance. This is an old 4X4 trail." He was really friendly about it. I’m sure he thought it was funny to see 4 guys in suits in a little Toyota on a 4X4 trail. I don’t blame him! So we turned around and went the long way. Needless to say we were 30 min late. We would have been fine if we had a truck!!

Road to Charleston?

Other than that not much has happened here, just a lot of tracting. On the 4th we went to 2 member’s homes. One we ate some burnt hot dogs and hockey puck burgers and played with their grand kids who are 9 years old for 3 hours. Then we went to another member’s house, who are a bunch of rednecks and it was a blast! They had grills, games and then had a finally of over 60 mortars going off at the same time! It was awesome! So we had a good time, Well, I did. Elder Morgan was ready to go once he found out we were not gonna be inside.

Anyway that’s about it! Chris and I e-mailed every now and then but not too much. He did e-mail me when he got home - just a sentence telling me he was home.

They said they can’t find anything wrong with my stomach, but to come in as soon as I get the pains again for an ultrasound. I will get my eyes checked today if they can fit me in or next Monday, probably!

We meet the new president this week so I’ll tell you about him! Im excited to see what he is like!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer 

July 14, 2014

Hi Everyone!

So I forgot to bring my camera cord today, or I would send you those videos I took of that guy playing his harmonica! I will next week though!

I keep forgetting to call the eye doctor. I’ll call today and see if they can fit me in. Otherwise, I’ll wait another week. That’s so cool the Nashes live next to President Pitt! I do know Elder Hewlitt! He is the AP now and I served around him earlier in the mission. He is a funny guy!

We met President Salisbury on Friday. He seems like a great guy -- different from President Pitt of course. He is very much a business man. He had his own accounting business or something like that, and so he is a lot more like a get it done kinda guy, as opposed to President Pitt who just went with the flow. President Pitt was also much more emotional. But they were great. They told us about their family. They are from Sandy, Utah. President Salisbury’s wife is very quiet. She is shy and has not served a mission before like Sister Pitt had so she is still getting used to it. She said she doesn’t like bugs and the outdoors too much, so she came to the perfect mission!

The other day I was on exchanges in Charleston, and we were talking with this black guy who is in his 30's or 40's. He was drunk, so he just kinda nodded and agreed with us. Then this little black girl who is like 4 years old comes out with a big purse over her shoulder and her mom’s shoes on or something. She put her hand on her hip and the other in the air and walks to whom I’m assuming was her dad and says with the perfect sassy black girl voice, "Now you put dat cup down! What I tell you ‘bout talkin wit them!" After we just kinda smiled and waited to see what he would say, she looks at us, hand still on her hip and waves her finger at us and says, "Get on wit chore bad self!" It was hilarious!

Speaking of that reminded me . . . we hear gun shots most every night. We live in East Beckley (although our house before was right in the center but now it’s on the edge),

and the members tell us not to go there or walk there cause it’s a dangerous place. At least for us it’s not. Everyone is black and I think that’s why they think it’s dangerous. I guess there are a ton of drugs there, but anyway, we were unloading a car the other night at our house, and we heard like 6 or 7 gun shots. Come to find out that was a murder about a mile from our house. The other elders talked with someone who said, “my best friend got murdered last night at like 9:30.” So that is crazy to know. We just thought it was some red neck having a good time, but turns out they aren’t red necks!

On the bright side, while I was in Charleston, Elder Livingston, the Zone Leader, came to Beckley, and they found this lady named Katy. She has had a hard life with drugs and a lot of other things but she has been clean for 5 years now and has a 12 year old son. They taught her the 1st lesson and she asked to come to church and I guess was super excited! They met her Saturday and she came to church on Sunday! All the members were great with her and the bishop’s wife gave her a ride home because she rode with another member there. When we saw her later that day she told us she had read 3 Nephi 11 multiple times and said, "I dont think my preacher had the authority to baptize me. I need to be baptized into your church." She also told us, "All I want to do is be obedient!" When she talked about the show “the living dead” we told her we can’t watch it. So she says "Ok, I’ll stop watching it then." We had to clarify with her that just as missionaries we can’t watch it. She can watch it all she wants! So she is willing to give up anything. It’ss pretty great. We think she could be baptized late this month or in August, unless we find something else out and she needs an elevated interview. But we will see!

The set of Elders a couple miles from us just moved into our basement, because their neighbor is a pot head and now their apartment reeks of weed! So we have them all moved in now and it’s fun to live with another set. Although I imagine they will move out again when they find a new place next transfer. But they have been talking about shutting that area down anyway because there is nothing there. So they could split the Beckley area! We will see!

With the world cup, once the US was out I lost interest. People still root for other countries but I don’t see the point of rooting for someone else unless it’s my country! oh well. 

That’s nuts it’s so warm! It’s been up in the 80's and 90's here. And nice and humid! You walk outside and just feel super sticky!

For my birthday I would love to just wait and have gifts just be concealed permit classes and a 9mm :) That would be so great! Or just have some go toward a truck, because I dont really need anything out here. I have most of what I need. It’s just little stuff that happens day to day.

I’m glad I have served. I’ve learned more out here than I had in 21 years at home! And also  how to talk to random people. I still remember when I would make Joe ask for a straw for me at McDonalds! 

Anyway that’s about all that’s been going on!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

Spring Allergies and Another Transfer in Beckley! Plus new photos!

Here are some more pictures and letters from West Virginia!

June 2, 2014

Hi All!

I haven’t got my stomach ache checked yet. I was going to Friday but had zone meeting so I wouldn’t be back in time. So I have it scheduled for Wednesday. When I got it checked the first time they thought it was a hernia because we helped a family move right before it hurt. But they checked it out and said it wasn’t. Other than that no one knows what it might be. They have ruled out a hernia just from talking to me. They say everything sounds like it’s a hernia, but said I would be able to see or feel it especially me being as skinny as I am. So, we will see what the doc says when they check it out again.

And I did get my shirts. They fit pretty well! So I’m happy, and I am low on slacks again. I ripped another pair. Not the new ones, my last pair of "old" ones. 

But it’s nice here. Everything is green again, so it’s not super ugly! But the pollen this year is insane... I guess it’s not normal for it to be like this. We will walk outside and the red truck we drive is pretty much yellow. I’ll have to take a picture. It’s bad. My allergies are killer. I’ve had a runny nose and a sore throat for 3 or 4 weeks straight now. I’ve gone throw 6 rolls of toilet paper by myself, just from my runny nose and probably a cough drop every few hours...! Oh well, it’ll die down soon I hope!

So there is this less active member we are seeing his name is, J___. I don’t know if I have told you about him yet but he is freaking nuts. He tells us all about these government conspiracies he is a part of and make up these ridiculous stories! Like the government owes him $800 million because of some reason or another, and his mom needs to send him some info which is in Carlsbad, New Mexico so he can get into his safety deposit box to get the money – but his mom is stuck in Lubbock, Texas. Oh, and he was kidnapped and put in an institution for 15 years where they forced him to take psych drugs…and plenty more. Now all he talks about is how he wants to get married in the church, which is good but he is 40 and super creepy and after gospel principles class (which is in the relief society room) he tries to flirt with a new person every week. It’s bad especially when he tries to talk to the young women. Only one really, but she is 17! So we have to baby sit him and cut him off when he is going to say something super inappropriate...which he does a lot. So it’s a full time job when he is there, which is every Sunday! Bless his heart. The other day he told us he was an agent but no one can know that. And he was the one who started the major medical reform with George Bush. And his uncle signed the Declaration on Independence and plenty of other things!

Other than that things have been slow and his week just about everything has fallen through, but that’s all right next week should be better we hope. No one came to church but Savannah is still going strong for June 22nd. But transfers are on the 18^th, so I’ll probably be gone but that’s all right! 

That’s cool Jake is in Mexico now! He did e-mail me and told me about how a member of his ward got shot the other day when someone tried to steal his truck. But sounds like he is having a good time! And that’s to bad about the boat. Some members here were telling us about their boat and how they are going tubing. It killed me!

That’s crazy Chris is getting back already! Time goes by fast I guess!

I’ll be sure to send some pics next week. I forgot to bring in the connector for the camera.

But all is well and I’m kind of excited for a new area. I would love to serve in Pembroke, VA again!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

June 9, 2014

Hi Everyone!

I’m feeling better. I will be getting the release form today so I can put you on there so you can see. When I went in they gave my antibiotics for my "cold" and took blood and a urine sample to figure out what’s up with my stomach. I may be transferred before the appointment so I will make sure I can call in or something to figure out what’s going on! And even though with this "cold" or whatever it is, it’s the sickest I’ve been on my mission, and the sickest I can remember except for the flu. I don’t think I’ve ever been like that before. But my problem is I never feel justified to stay inside. I feel like I have to literally be unable to get out of bed. So we walk around in the 85 degree humid air and I just suffer... I’m sure it doesn’t help, but all is well now!

I am out of allergy medicine and don’t have the funds to buy more. I feel food is more important! But if you could help me with it that would be awesome! Oh and I was wondering if you could just put money on my card also to buy slacks here, so I can try them on and make sure they fit. Because the other 2 I have are like high waters!

This week something cool happened. We were just walking around talking to people, and we walked past this guy and asked him if he wanted to learn, and he said “no” and that he was upset. So we went on and then decided to go back and pray with him. He agreed and told us he had been praying for a sign. He had a falling out with family and had been contemplating suicide and asked God for a sign and 5 min later we showed up. So we talked with him and his wife for an hour or so and learned he had a rough life. He grew up in Detroit and his parents neglected him and he ran away at 13 and grew up on the streets. He finally moved to WV with his grandma who was the only person in his family that cared for him. Then he got his own place, and just recently he got in an argument and his grandmother who told him she didn’t want him to come to her funeral so he was pretty distraught and needed help. So we talked to him and he told us quite a bit, but kept crying and saying, “I’m gonna be a mormon!” It was great. He is 28 and is married and has 1 kid and another kid from his wife’s previous marriage.

Other than that Savannah is getting interviewed this Sunday for baptism, and she is gonna make it! We are excited although it’s a few days after transfers, but that’s all right. We found 5 new investigators this week and they are all pretty solid! I can see 3 of them being baptized in the next month or two! 

I’m giving a talk this week in church on one of the beatitudes. So it should be good. I’ll try and prepare before Saturday night!

That’s great Sherman got on the cover [of the new Madden video game]! I’m stoked about that. I’m glad the hawks are doing things now!

President Pitt leaves on the 27th of this month actually! It’s crazy. It’ll be interesting to see how the new president is. I’m excited for a change but I just hope it’s not a bad one! He is a younger guy in his 40s or 50s and he served a mission obviously but his wife didn’t, and Sister Pitt did. So I don’t know how she will be. Especially because President PItt talked with them and told us she is kind of shy and Sister Pitt is the complete opposite! She is great and speaks her mind! Like one time we were talking about Guantanamo Bay  because our Ward mission leader had to serve there for the Army, and he said how you can just feel the evil there and that these people, he said, have no good in them. To which Sister Pitt says "kinda like our president!"  At this last meeting an Elder asked her if we could give her a hug because she was leaving. She gave a huge smile and nodded and president looks at her and says lovingly, "Now Sister Pitt, you know the rule." And she says, "You know I’ve never seen it written anywhere!" And president says, "Sister Pitt, some rules don’t have to be written," and then he chuckled, and she says to the Elder, "I don’t care I’m going home!" She is so funny, although she is the stern one.  The President loves us to much, so she is the one who tells us how it is sometimes! 

And that’s crazy about the kid from Mountlake Terrace... I’m glad someone took action instead of just all running and hiding allowing others to be killed. I think that’s what people need to do more often! 

I’m excited to see Oliver’s soul patch!

Oh, and I forgot to tell you last week the WVU mascot is LDS and he showed up Sunday for sacrament for some reason so it was cool to meet him. I’ll send home the picture thing he signed for us!

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

June 17, 2014

Hi Everyone,

First off, Happy Father’s day! It was weird. For me it didn’t seem like it was Father’s Day. The ward here did nothing to celebrate fathers. Both are talks weren’t on it and none of the classes were and no treats from relief society! Good thing you weren’t in this ward!

Savannah will have her interview tomorrow, because she had to work Sunday. She will pass though we know it, and she will be baptized on the 22nd!

Oh, and I’m staying for a 3rd transfer with Elder Morgan and my 4th in Beckley. It’s a long time! It’s nice we have begun to get along better so we are having a good time, but it will be hard cause I’m killing him [meaning his companion will go home after this transfer]! And me hitting 20 months when he goes home will be hard to not think about it. I’ll do my best!

This last week was a lot slower. All our appointments fell through but that’s all right, because now we have to see them all this week! The family we found where the husband wanted a sign is doing good. They love us to come over and to read. Also, the 9 year old loves us so that helps that he always wants us over! They didn’t make it Sunday because of her work. I

It was great. We made a bet like I told you with Richard about the US/Ghana soccer game, where we were supposed to not have a chance. If the US won we would cook them burgers and they would have to pledge allegiance to the flag. Needless to say we will be buying some big ‘ol juicy burgers for them! We won 2-1! Elder Morgan is a big soccer fan and since I’ve been with him I’ve begun to like it more. So I was actually excited about a soccer game for the first time this week!

Other than that not too much else new is happening with this slow week. I’ll have to resend all the pics with the new ones just to make sure you get them all. The church e-mail doesn’t let you send more than 1 at a time for some reason.

My stomach ache is better. I have a return appointment this week and will see how it is. And I’m not sick anymore! It was the most sick I’ve been in my life other than a flu. But the antibiotics did the trick!

Yesterday it was about 87 and super humid! We tracted up a hill for 4 hours...no exaggeration! It was miserable. We were completely soaked. Then dried up cause we didn’t have any more liquid to sweat so we stopped sweating and it dried, but we had to stop because when we talked to people we could tell we were just so out of it, that is wouldn’t help our cause. Needless to say we didn’t get any new investigators! Oh well. Then we went to Fujiyama with a member, where they cook in front of you. It was pretty sweet!

The talks went well. I gave mine on the beatitude of "Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted," which was kind of hard so I just transitioned it into a talk about hope. I was so excited because I could fit in the Boise State 2007 fiesta bowl story and connect it with how the players had hope and the fans who had hope and stayed and didn’t leave were rewarded. It was cool to learn how without hope you cannot have faith, and that having hope leads you to act on the faith you have because if you didn’t have hope for the future what’s the point of acting on anything!

But all is well, and I hope to have a good transfer this one, although since Elder Morgan is leaving after this transfer, I will either serve here for a 5th transfer, or we will get doubled out. I hope we get doubled out because 6 months is long enough for an area!

Love ya!

Elder Latimer

P.S. A question I haven’t been able to answer in the Book of Revelations it says that it is a book that talks about things to come.  Then why is the scripture about the pre-existence in there since that already happened? Is it referring to something else? I just can’t figure it out. Maybe you can help? Thanks!

Pictures! And More Updates from Beckley

We finally got some pics this week.  A couple are below and we'll post more later.  He is doing great!

Wearing out his "sole" in the service of God (why is the other shoe so nice?)

Wedding of some investigators!

May 19, 2014

Hi Everyone!

So I did get the shirts shoes and camera! Thank you.  I sent the other [photo] card home so you should have some pictures, but I didn’t find that other one yet. And the shirts kinda fit. They are super long but that are still pretty baggy on my shoulders. If there is a way you can send some that are smaller and slim fit? These ones always come untucked and look baggy. But it’s better than a long sleeve!

Also I haven’t got an estimate for my eye stuff yet. I do know they said the insurance would cover $50 on the exam and around 100-150 on the other stuff. I will be going there after we finish e-mailing and I can e-mail you the estimate on a day when we are at the library again this week.

Also for the new camera it needs an SD card. The other camera had a XD card. So I can take like 4 pictures on this camera until I buy a new SD card.  So just wondering if you all could help me out so I could buy one of those today so I can take more pictures!

Richard and Kathy got married and it was good. We had a member take them out to dinner to celebrate. Now he leaves for 2 weeks for some training cause he is in the army reserves, but Kathy said we can bring a member and continue to visit her.

Savannah is on date for June 29th. She has come to church 3 times in a row now, and her dad told her we are not allowed over there anymore and that she can’t come to church, so she told us yesterday looks like we will need to find another place to meet. She also said, “I’ll bring my 9 year old niece to church Sunday!” So she is doing great.

The others are still kinda progressing but not as much mainly because we haven’t had time to see them.

This week was full of meeting people who just talked and talked and talk about what they learned in the bible by using Hebrew translations and trying to sounds super smart. It was funny though because they had no idea what they were saying. It was just a rant fest!

And I did the gallon challenge last week. That video should be on the camera card I sent you all. I’m sure you'll be so proud!

Other than that things are going well.

Love you all!

Elder Latimer

May 26, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Beckley is still going well. This week was a little bit slower, but it was still good. We saw Courtney and helped her to understand how to receive answers to prayer and the need to take a leap of faith. She told us she never gets anything out of church, and we don’t blame her.  The last Sundays that she went to were so bad! But this one was Ward Conference, and it was awesome! The stake president gave a talk on prayer and answers and leaps of faith. The stories he told were all like the same situation Courtney is in and so was the bishop’s talk. Then, in gospel principles we talked about faith in Christ and it was perfect. We hope it helped her to progress.

And I will start to take some more pictures. I just always find it hard to pose for pictures. You know me, but I will do my best. As of late the mission has been doing terrible with car wrecks. Pres. and Sister Pitt aren’t too happy and so part of zone conference was talking about that. Since then (one week) there have been 3 more accidents so in their e-mail today they said if there is one more preventable accident the whole mission will be walking! I sure hope not. Also he taught about priesthood lines of authority and revelation. How there is a priesthood line and a personal line, and through the priesthood line come the keys and personal line the revelation. He also taught how there are callings like the quorum of the 70 who are serving under assigned keys, where they are given keys for assignments and then after the assignment they lose them. He told us about how two 70s were recently called in the Ukraine, and so even if we get completely shut out of there, even just through a text message the keys can be delegated to help the Church continue to grow and function in the Ukraine! It’s great to have a prophet! It was really cool. There is a lot more to it, but I don’t have my notes and would take a while to type it out!

That’s crazy that Jake is already going to the mission field! I do write him still. I don’t know if he told you but he said his teacher said in his mission the cartel will throw grenades in the street and drive around with 50 calibre turrets on the bed of a pick-up truck. But the good news is they are all God fearing people and they love and protect the missionaries because they are men of God.

Jace should take Jake’s story [about being bullied] and put it to use! That kid needs to learn! Sometimes people need a good old fashioned beating to get it through their head... just like me in 8th grade when I got my head busted open....

That’s so funny about nana [being called to serve in Young Women’s]! She is going to learn how to work technology. It will be so good! I’ll bet you before she knows it she will be a computer wiz! Or at least a cell phone expert!

I’m so excited for [football] season to start up again, so I can break out my Seahawks tie on Sundays! It worked last year and I’m hoping for a repeat this year! Speaking of that has the Sherman jersey been signed yet? Just curious.

Other than that all is well and still keeping pretty busy which is nice. Oh and I am going to be seeing the doctor this week about my stomach ache – the same problem i had a while back, where it felt like I got stabbed by a knife. But this time it was worse. I coughed and about doubled over! So I’ll have to get it checked again.

Love you all!

Elder Latimer 

May Updates

May 6, 2014

Hi Everyone!

So I haven’t gotten the shirts and that’s the right address. I don’t think its the address that’s the problem, it is definitely the mail man. I’ve never had one so absent-minded and lazy! He doesn’t take the mail we send unless we get something in the mail. He just walks right on by and leaves our letters. I got a card from Nana and Grandpa Ron the other day, and he came to our mail box, and we went outside to get it and he says, "Sorry, I’ve had this for a while." It was like a week late! He just forgot to deliver it I guess? We have about gone to the Post Office and complained, or where ever we need to go to get that taken care of. He has problems! Within the last week, those 3 short sleeve shirts I have all ripped, and now I’m down to only 1 long sleeve shirt, and we are supposed to get in the mid 80's all this week! So I was planning on buying one short sleeve white shirt with my mission card today and wondering if you could just throw some money on my home card so I’m not completely broke this month! I tried to work the other day in a long sleeve, and I might as well of sat in a sauna, IT WAS NASTY!!

Hopefully, the camera will get here because you have the right address. Maybe our mailman is a hard core protestant and doesn’t like Mormons? I don’t know!

Other than that transfers are happening tomorrow and to our surprise both of us are staying in Beckley! Which is nice because we are seeing some great progress here, and I’m excited to continue to help the people. We think we can get at least one baptism this transfer!

Last P-day was great! We had a pound of Reeses cups we got from a member on Easter… two half pound cups. We talked a missionary into eating both in under 10 minutes. Needless to say he did it and felt absolutely terrible! We found out in less that ten minutes he ate 2280 calories and over 150 grams of fat! And the kicker is that they were 7 months Expired! It was glorious! Don’t worry I have a video of it for you all!

Stake conference was great. Saturday night was awesome! President Pitt did speak and he was unbelievable. It was one of the coolest talks I’ve heard. I think part of that was he is done being mission president in 12 weeks. He is pretty sad about it! He taught us at a district meeting about a few of the things he talks to missionaries about before they go home. He talked about the temple, prophets and apostles and the doctrine of marriage. He covered what he said took 4 hours in the mission home briefly in our meeting, and told us he has a lot more to say when specialized training rolls around.  He said he has to say things that are so important he doesn’t want to tell us until his last transfer. We are guessing he is going to "rid his garments" I guess you could say. I don’t know if I wanna go to that meeting!  But I kinda do!

Anyway things here are good and weather is getting nicer which makes everyone happier and there are more people to talk to.

And I am E-mailing Jake we are keeping up on each other!

I was thinking the same thing about having to re adjust to Seattle. It’ll be weird to have buildings and people around. Like I said, to me now Beckley is huge, we were driving and saw like 15 people walking around within 5 minutes and we were both just blown away because we were both in tiny areas most of our mission! Maybe I’ll try and request going to Roanoke for my last few transfers? It’s the biggest city in the mission maybe that’ll help me get adjusted a little better,

Love you all!!

Elder Latimer

May 12, 2014

Editors Note:  On Mother’s Day, Elder Latimer was allowed to call home and so we spent about 45 minutes talking to him via SKYPE.  It was so much fun!  He looks good and sounds even better.  Because of the call, however, the letter is a little short this week! Enjoy!

Hi Everyone! 

It was good to talk to you all last night, and yes they did get to skype with their son [Eds. – the family from whose computer he was skyping from has a missionary who is in Japan and called in during the end of our call!]! I was afraid after I got off.  I told them, and they got it set up on their TV and then called him like 10 times with no answer. So I was standing there awkwardly and finally he answered so it was all good!

Oh and one thing we found out this morning . . . we found out that lady we helped move Saturday... she called us this morning and let us know that she found out people broke in and were using her basement as a meth lab. So that’s great that we got to smell all that stuff.  It’s not good for you! But that’s okay. If I ever start coughing up blood I’ll know I should go to the Doc :)

And other than that not much else is happening that I haven’t told you. There were a bunch more stories, but I didn’t have time so I’ll have to tell you all those when I’m back.  They aren’t quite as good without the accents and emphasis! 

Love you all!

Elder Latimer