My One year mark!

Today is June 16th 2011. Which means that I have officially been out on my mission One year!!!! Yay I have "reached the hump" and its all down hill from here.. I think.. Well since its my year mark I Think ill talk a little bit about what iIhave been up to the last 365 days.

Lets go back to The last June 16th. The day my 2 years officially started. I woke up that mourning at my grandparents apartment in salt lake. (I had flown from Phoenix the day before so I wouldn't have to get up super early that Wednesday to get on a plane.) Anyways.. I remember thinking WOW I am really doing this. This is going to happen. I was also mostly thinking about all the sports games I was going to miss out on (I have somewhat got over that.)

Well anyways I arrived at the MTC some time early that afternoon. The MTC is a lot different then it used to be they used to have all the missionaries come with their families into the same room where they would show some video and it was just a big huge cry fest of parents leaving their kids and kids leaving loved ones. Its kind of like taking a band-aid off really really slow. Now they drop you off at the curb you have time for one last hug then Boom another missionary takes you away. Everyone I talk to say its a lot better this way.

The MTC District

Anyways back to my story.. so my parents drop me off at the curb another missionary takes me, and Boom I am gone. He takes me where I got to go, shows me around a little bit, and then sticks me in my classroom. I got real sick of that classroom.. I was in that room for like 8 hours a day for the next 3 weeks. So we sat there and waited for a bit. Then things started getting rolling. I Found out Who my MTC companion would be. I got put with Elder Matt Lee. A tall red headed kid from Washington. He was awesome! So for the next 3 weeks i was at the MTC where they attempt to teach you how to be a missionary. I loved the MTC experience and would love to go back. I made so many good friends there and have so many good memories from the MTC!

My First District.

So the MTC was over now it was time to be a "real missionary" I Flew to Billings Montana where our mission president was waiting to meet us! So President Gardner picked us up and took us back to the mission home where we took care of paper work and stuff and he told as about marvelous Montana and wonderful Wyoming! Latter on that day we found out who are trainer would be and where our first area would be! I was Put with Elder Ben Thomas and My First area was 2 towns of about 2500 a piece called Anaconda and Deer lodge.

I Loved my First Area that is where I really learned how to be a missionary. Elder Thomas and I ended up spending 4 and a half months together. I will never forgot the experinces I had there and the people I meet there. They welcomed me with open arms which is important as a brand new missionary to feel welcome in his first area.

Elder Weight and I

After that I had the privilege to take over the area where I received Elder Weight. We where only companions for 6 weeks but I loved it! He was a very quiet guy but once we warmed up to each other he was so funny! we got along great and did a lot of good work together. Then transfers came and this is where I get the call that I am leaving. The call came the week before Christmas. Our mission President calls us to let us know whats happening. I answer the phone and this is where I hear the Famous line from President Gardner "Elder Elmer I have a challenge for you." he goes on to tell me that I am getting doubled into Colstrip Montana with Elder Sherwood. (doubled In means that we where both brand new to the area. never been there before..)

Colstrip Power Plant

So we get put into Colstrip knowing nothing about the area 3 days before Christmas. This was an adventure in its self. We Get put in there and there is no work at all going there. We started from scratch. We had nothing to do except knock doors. Not only that after about 4 weeks we didn't have a place to live anymore. The member we where with couldn't house us anymore so ya.. we where somewhat homeless.. living out of our car and jumping from house to house staying 2 nights here and there so ya that was an adventure. Needles to say I am glad I had Elder Sherwood as a companion to keep me laughing or else man.. that would have been hard. Anywho, so now its late January and I get the Call to tell me that I am getting transferred to Bozeman Montana!

Elder Cabrera and I

So I get to Bozeman and i get put With Elder Copenheaver. I had only 6 weeks to learn the area because he was going home and Bozeman is a lot to learn in 6 weeks. So I learned the area and he went home. That is when I received Elder Mull as a companion. He was a good guy who worked hard and thats just what I needed at that point. We did a lot of hard work and really helped to turn Bozeman around. So after that 6 weeks was when I got the call.. Now i thought for sure that I was leaving! But.. I got the call to let me know that I was Training! Now it was my turn to train a missionary! and I was so excited! (I still am excited about it.) My trainee's name Is Elder Cabrera. He Is from Guatemala! we have Fun Together! We are on our Second transfer working together and we a are really doing a lot of good work!

If you would have told me 5 years ago that one year into my mission I would be serving in a town called Bozeman, Montana. I probably would have laughed at you. However I absolutely love it and I would not want to be anywhere else.

Just look at me now..

I have had a lot of way fun cool and exciting experiences over the last year.. However though I think the most important thing is that I truly have a testimony of this work. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of god and that the church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth! I truly know that. That is why I have given up the last year of my life and will give up the next year of my life! To tell people what I know to be true. 

Any ideas or inspirational stories for this Blog? Have Questions about the Mormon church? Send me a message on Facebook! www.facebook.com/max.elmer  (also there is a link to my facebook in the top left corner of the blog.) or send me an email at max.elmer@myldsmail.net