President & Sister Robinson & Elder Eppich

President & Sister Robinson & Elder Eppich

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Baptism of Tyler and Alexis from Midland , TX

Hey! From Portales, New Mexico

Dear Dad & Mom and Family;

Well it has been awhile since I have wrote. I am sorry about that. I will work on that. I am really getting bad with the letter writing. I don't think anyone has gotten a letter from me in awhile. I have a stack of letters just sitting on my desk. I hope I get those people wrote back before the next year is over. Lol! Things are going great here in Portales. Mom, you were saying that it looks like it is a farming community. Well it is. There is a lot of farming here. I love it. It makes me feel at home. We have gone out and done some work on some members farms. It has been a blast. It was pretty funny watching my comp try and get the eggs from all the chickens, I was rolling on the ground laughing. Watching him around all the goats, cows and horses. He kind of gets freaked out. We are getting along pretty good. We have had a few scuffs but who hasn't! I think I can tell you that I am not ready to get married right when I get back. I think I may need a little freedom, this 24/7 stuff is kind of tough sometimes.
Guess What? We had one of the members take us home the other night. He wanted to see the house we live in. Well, we have a cellar under our house and he wanted to see it and so he went under there with a flash light. Well, as soon as he went under there he looked up and saw a whole bunch of black widows and a whole bunch of egg's too. So our house has them everywhere, under the house and you know me, I hate spiders so much. I started to freak out and my comp was freaking out too. I don't think I got more than an hour of sleep that night. LOL. It was bad.
Dang, I can't believe I am past my year mark. That's so crazy. This last year is going to fly by. We are going to get a new mission President here in about 3 months. I am sad but excited at the same time. I guess I have mixed emotions about it. So everyone keeps telling me that Portales is the place to be or in other words, The Promised Land. After our meeting last night I am starting to believe that. We are teaching this lady named Salina, her daughter Destiny, and her 4 boys. Jonny, Elisha, Clay, Micha. Then we also teach Destiny's boyfriend Cody. We were at their house last night teaching them the Restoration. At first they were somewhat into the lesson. Then we got to the Joseph Smith part and all the kids started getting closer to us. They were all leaning in so they could hear better. The circle of the little family got really tight. The spirit was so strong. Like you could grab your arm and slide it down your arm and wipe the spirit right off your arm. Weird analogy! Lol I don't know how else to describe it. It was so awesome! I told them the First Vision and I bore my testimony after and I started to tear up. It was so amazing. I loved it. We set a date with all 7 of them for April 10th. So pray that it will go through. We also set a date with this guy for April 3rd but he told us yesterday that he was good where he was at. I felt that when we set the date with him that it wasn't going to go through. That is ok! He is a great guy and it is his decision, we are here to share the message. We planted a seed and he was very grateful. The ward here is very missionary minded. They love to go out with us and they love to feed the missionaries. I hope I don't get fat before I leave here. Lol! Actually I have lost weight since I am back on a bike and using the tower 200. That thing works great and I get up early and exercise in the morning. Anyway, this ward kind of reminds me of home. Everyone is related and they are a strong ward. I just love it here.
So I hear that Taylor and Laurin and Rex will be there for the summer. That is going to be so fun. Where is Taylor working at? Did you say that Laurin is working for Kacie part time also? Wow! Everyone of the kids are going to be so big when I get home. Crazy! Well I had better get. I promise I will do better on my letters. You will get one next week Mom. Promise! Love you all and ya'll all take care!
See Ya'll , from Portales, New Mexico!
Love Elder Eppich

Monday, March 28, 2011

New Mexico is Great!

Hey! Mom & Dad

I know my letters have been pretty short. Not so good at letter writing lately. Mom I will start writing to you better. That is a requirement that we write our parents once a week. I have failed on that commandment lately. LOL I haven't written a letter by hand in about 2 months. Last letter I wrote was to Morgan. Things are going great here in Portales. I think I told you that when I walk out the door every morning to work it feels like I am headed out to work with Dad on the farm. Looks just like home. When we do service it is usually on a farm. Smells like cows here. We travel lots of miles on our bikes. There is just 2 of us that cover this town of about 13,000. The district all comes here to have district meeting. We have 2 sisters in our district and 2 Spanish speaking Elders, they cover 2 towns and then 2 Elders that come from around an hour away. We are well taken care of by the members of the ward. Our Bishop is so missionary minded and it is so great to have help from the ward members. We do have a family of 7 on schedule for baptism here soon so we are very excited about that. We ride about 2 to 3 miles to the Library to e-mail. We have a family that has kind of adopted us and they are a fun family. My comp is from Utah and he is an older missionary. He has been out for 5 months. He doesn't really like it when I suggest what we should do, I just kind of ignore it. He pulled out in front of an Ambulance the other day and I got after him for that so you can imagine how our day went. I just try to no dwell on it. For the most part we work well together. President Robinson was excited to send me here. Midland was a lot of work. I served there for 6 months so it was time to move on. I love this place and will enjoy my time here. The work is going good here and we are seeing great success. Hope you are all well at home. I heard the girls did good in their Moab half marathon. Sounds like things are beginning to start on the house. I am excited. Hope all the family is doing good. Miss ya'll and look forward to talking to you on Mothers Day.
Love ya'll- Love Elder Eppich

Thursday, March 10, 2011

We don't have an updated address for Nate yet!
We will post it as soon as he get's it to us.

Transfered to Portales, New Mexico

Hey! Mom & Dad;

Sorry! I kind of messed up today on the mailing. We have been swamped and lot's to do here in Portales. I am in a farming community, dairies, peanuts. My comp and I are the only elders here in this town. I had a very hard time leaving Midland but I think I am going to really enjoy the people here. They are so humble. The Bishop is very good to work with the Missionaries. People say Hi everywhere we go and even if they are not interested in what we have to share they take the time to visit with you. I love it. I don't have much to say right now have to run.
You all take care and we will talk to you next week.
Thanks so much for all the Birthday gifts. Best birthday.

Love ya lots! Love Elder Eppich

Monday, March 7, 2011

Getting Transfered Soon

Hey! Mom & Dad;

Well, how are things going for y'all? Seems like y'all are not liking the fact that y'all are all sick. That's no bueno, lol. I hope y'all get over that as soon as you can. Well things are going pretty good here in Midland. Right now with all of our investigators we are not doing to hot. We have dropped all of our investigators except like one. They are just not progressing at all. So we have been hitting the streets and knocking doors like crazy. We have really been trying to get the members to help us out. We can't do this work all alone we really need their help. We have been working on that lately. Brenda is doing alright. She is still smoking but she is slowly stopping. We just have to keep on her and let her know that we are here for her. Anyways, something cool happened last week. One of the less active ladies that has started to come back to church asked me to baptize her twins. I was able to confirm them also. She also asked if I would bless her baby, that was way awesome. I had a lot of fun doing this but I was so nervous. Great experience!
Well I think a transfer is in the working for me. I have been here in Midland for about 6 months now, I am ready to move on but not ready to change companions. Elder McAdams and I have worked so great together. I love that kid and he is a great missionary. I hope to serve with him again someday.
I want to let you know that I don't know if I am that excited about being 20. I still feel like I am 19. Crazy huh! It seems unreal that I will be on my mission a year on the 17th. That is crazy too.
I know this next year will fly by for me , I am committed to make it the best. My district is doing great. All the Elders are great and working hard. We have one of the companionship's that is tearing it up and they were struggling here a bit ago. I am so happy for them. Well I had better go. I love y'all so much and hope y'all get feeling much better. What is happening with the house or are you moving? Keep me posted.

Love ya Elder Eppich