It's a week before Christmas and all through INDIA....

Hello everyone! 

This week was a pretty good, weird week!

My companion got really sick on Monday, so Tuesday and Wednesday we spent a lot of the time in our apartment, so I got to read the Conference issue of the Liahona. Conference was so good!! But, I still liked listening more than I do reading the talks. Haha!

Anyways, this week was a pretty good week other than that. For the time that he was able to go, we worked HARD. So one of the culture things here is that at Christmas, the Christians will put stars on their houses. Like big stars and they put lights in them. It's like Heavenly Father is telling us as missionaries, "Hit this house! I gave you a sign!" Haha it's really nice and it makes it really easy to go tracting because we just look for stars.. It's almost like cheating. We got 2 new investigators, 12 potentials that we are meeting today and tomorrow, and 6 or 7 more houses we want to knock. Why does Christmas have to end? 

We got to go to Rajahmundry again on Friday for Multi-Zone Conference for the Rajahmundry and Vizak zones. I got to see Elder Cuhna and Elder Aydelott from my MTC batch which was fun! And I met some more Elders, so it was just really fun to be there. We got to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional which was really good. I really like President Uchtdorf's talk on receiving gifts. It's so true! Especially in America. India they do a little different. It's more of a time where they get to get together in their families and visit/ be with one another. Not many gifts, so my companion doesn't expect anything for Christmas so I am going to get him a couple things for Christmas. 

I still haven't gotten my package yet, but I am anxiously awaiting the day that it arrives! I think that pretty soon I will be sending a package home, so I may need some extra money in my account since I don't know how much that costs! I don't think that it will be a big deal since you are raking in the dough, with all the home renovations and what not ;) haha but the basement looks great! I can't wait to see it in 18 months! I'm almost 1/4 of the way done with my mission.. Crazy!

So when would be the best time to call? I'm thinking that I want to call at like 8 in the morning on Christmas Day here, which would be like 7:30-8:00 PM on Christmas Eve there.. Would that be okay?

Anyways.. I love you all! Do some service back there! Give presents and a Christmas dinner to a family in need or something! It would be really good for all of you! :) 

Love,

Elder Head

Kind of a boring week in India :)

Hello everyone! 

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MITCH!! How old are you now? 17? YOu can go see rated R movies legally now! Haha just kidding! Don't do that. It's not worth it. 

This week was a pretty good week. We worked hard, but still the area that we are in is still struggling a little bit. Luckily, we found new investigators this week! It's been so hard trying to work with no investigators, so it is really relieving to finally have found people! One 13 year old girl told us that she wants to be baptized, so things are looking up a bit :) 

Man, nothing really cool happened this week. It was kind of a boring week. I mean, as boring as India can get.. As a missionary that can be really boring because the fun things we are limited to can only be done on a Monday.. Haha well church was really good this week! It was the primary program here and the little kids are so adorable! It is so different, but I loved it even more than the ones in the home ward! (Sorry primary presidency) :)  The little kids here are so adorable and their faith is off the charts! They truly love the gospel. A lot of them are part-member families where only the children are members or the parents are inactive. It's really fun to serve here and be a part of this branch. 

I would love to see some pictures of home! You can't demand pictures from me and then not send any in return! It's not fair! :) haha well, I guess that's it for this week. Sorry it's lame! 

Love,

Elder Head

Liquid refreshment - a nice cold DEW

Elder Head LOVES watches & he finally has one
that has his favorite saying when referring to himself,
"I'm kind of a BIG DEAL" :)

Elder Head - "the dog whisperer?"

Elder Head & Elder Vaiphei before transfers

Elders Taylor, Head and Newbill all from Utah

Ay Carumba!!! When cardboard solicitation signs don't work...try using cobras???

Hello everyone!!

This week, I'll start my letter off with a terrifying story! So it was actually today, December 3, and for our district activity we were going to go to a town called Yanam, like 30 km's away. So before we got on the bus to go, we went to an ATM to get some cash so I can pay for stuff. As we are waiting for the people in the ATM office to finish, this beggar lady comes up to me with this odd looking box.... And she opens the lid and I hear this hissing noise and then this FREAKING COBRA sticks its head out of the box. I have never been so scared. And the lady keeps saying, "Annaia" (meaning brother) and asking me for money while she sticks this cobra in my face. I yelled at her and ran away. I was so scared. Luckily, they take the teeth out of those cobras so they aren't dangerous, but they are still disgusting and I hate them. 

This week was a rough week and the work was really slow. We weren't able to really find anyone this week and the investigators that we have are not progressing. SOOOO basically we are literally at rock bottom in Kakinada West. It's really frustrating, but one thing I've learned from my companion is to not let it get me down. If I let it get to me, will I be able to have the Spirit? No. So we decided that we would make the best of it while continuing to work hard and be obedient. As we continue to do everything that we can and leave the rest to the Lord, then the work will progress, just in the Lord's time. I honestly kind of feel like this is a test for me, to see if I can overcome trials and I hope I pass! 

We may be moving apartments soon and I'm kind of excited! I love Elder Newbill and Elder Taylor, but three Americans in an apartment is just a bad idea. I get distracted and waste time. If I wanted to waste my time, I'd rather waste it in America! But that's not why I'm here! So I hope that we move before Christmas and all will be well! 

Last Monday, I weighed myself and I officially have broken out of the 200 pound club. I weigh a measly 198 pounds.. The least since I was 17! It's been crazy and we work super hard and it gets really hot but I love India so much. Best place in the world aside from home! Haha one funny thing is that Elder Taylor gets really homesick and so I play "I'll Be Home For Christmas" for him to help him get over it :) I'm the worst! Haha but it is really funny so I continue to do it! 

Well, I guess I'm out of things to say. We went on exchange this week and I took Elder Newbill to my area and we were riding in an auto and we got hit by another auto. It wasn't scary at all and neither of us were hurt, but it was a little bit sketchy! Haha well, I love you all and thanks for the support! 

Love,

Elder Head

Namaste!!

Namaste! 

That means "greetings" in Telugu! 

So this week was a weird week. My companion is brand new and so I have to show him all around our area and introduce him to all of our members, investigators, and other people. It's weird being in charge and being the one who knows everyone. My last companion was here 7 months and knew all the members so I didn't have to. But now that he is gone, I have to be the one who knows everyone. It's not a big deal and I enjoy going out of my way to meet the people in the branch and so it's all good.

The work went really SLOW this week. We had those three baptisms last week and another this week, and with those four baptisms, we now have ZERO investigators. We are basically starting from the bottom and working our way back up. I have the faith and I know that if my companion and I work hard, are obedient, and work efficiently that the Lord will bless us and that we will be able to find people to teach.

We were able to take part in our branch's Missionary Fireside and that was really good! It started at 6, but no one showed up until about 6:45 PM (Indian standard time is to always be LATE) but once things started it was super good. I took a bunch of pictures and hung out with the members. It was really fun and I enjoyed it a lot. One bad thing came from it though... I gave my SD card to the branch to copy the pictures I took onto the Branch system and I got a virus on it that deleted like all of my that I had just taken, including the baptismal pictures from the 25th. It's super annoying but one of the members is diligently working to fix it. 

First Thanksgiving away from home and we COMPLETELY spaced it. It's hard to celebrate an American holiday in India I guess. 

My new companion is great, just takes a little bit of adjusting to get used to! I love him and he is pushing me a lot to become better and work hard. I love being here and am constantly seeing ways that I have changed. It's weird! I'm glad everything and everyone is going well back on the homefront. Know that all of you are in my prayers! Love you! 

Love,

Elder Head

Transfers....

Hello Everyone!

First off, congrats to Mitch’s team for finally bringing the trophy home! I’m happy for the Jordan High football team, except for Mitchell. He doesn’t deserve a ring ;)

This week was a weird week!  On Monday, we were sitting in the apartment

after we finished Daily Planning and then, I noticed our phone was ringing and I went and looked, and.......ASSISTANTS. It was my first transfer call! They told me that I would be staying in Kakinada and that my new companion would be Elder Penumuru! The funny thing is that I had taken Elder Penumuru on like 7 exchanges and so it was really weird that he was going to be my new companion. Elder Vaiphei, my beloved trainer, is now a Zone Leader in Coimbatore! My new companion was a Zone Leader in Rajahmundry! It was a weird week and I’m excited that I have this opportunity to work with Elder Penumuru. He is way experienced and I have so much to learn from him! 

So this week Elder Vaiphei and I met with some of our recent converts and helped another family prepare for baptism, and on Friday, we got up at 5 AM to take him to Rajahmundry. I dropped him off, picked up my new companion and then met with President Funk for our interviews. He told me that he had high expectations for Kakinada! Elder Vaiphei and I had a lot of success and he expects the same. He told me that he expects me to learn things quickly and apply them to become a really good missionary. Elder Penumuru told me that President put us together so I can learn to be a leader, and that after this transfer, he expects me to be able to become a leader in the mission....Scary?! Yes.

This week we had three baptisms! It was so good and I’m way excited that we got to be there with them every step of the way. A sister and her two daughters. They are such a good family and they love me so much ;) It’s been so fun to be able to watch them progress and grow.

We had Diwali this week which is the Hindu festival of light....and noise! Everyone buys fireworks, specifically firecrackers and mortars, and sets them off. It was SO loud. We had to stay inside. No big deal. Everyone stayed in my apartment except for Elder Vaiphei.

Well, thanks for all the love and support! I love India!

Love,

Elder Head

PS.  By the way, it’s 70 degrees here......in November! And they sell ear muffs!!

"Jordan Pride?"

Newest Kakinada members!

Elder Head and his new companion Elder Penumuru

Zone Conference in Rajahmundry

Zone Conference before transfers with Elder Vaiphei
Elder Head looks a little tired or.....

Ryan sharing the gospel with every living thing??? or maybe a pig standoff? :)

Oil & Water Never Mix ....Cooking 101 :)

Hello everyone!
This week was a good week! We got a lot done, had some funny moments, and did some good work! 
We got to go to Rajahmundry (again) for Zone Training! It was a really good meeting. I really like the Zone Leaders that we have. They are just generally fun people to be with and they are such good missionaries. We learned a lot and we had a lot of participation from the missionaries, so the Spirit that we felt was really strong. Then, on Wednesday, Elder Taylor and I went on an exchange in his area and it was really fun! Having an American companion in India is like giving a pyromaniac a match. Haha it was a blast. We got some good work done, and so much fun at the same time. I love my Indian companion, but there is something different about having the American!
This week the work went well. After struggling so much to find new investigators, we finally found some new families to teach! One of them plays the keyboard, so if we baptize him, then I don't have to play in Sacrament anymore ;) fingers crossed!! This next week we have a family being baptized. They have these two little girls (ages 13 and 10) that love Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez. Even in India I can't get away from JB and SG. Haha but they are really funny and love America so much. I love that family! 
A funny cooking story for you, Mom! On Sunday I was preparing lunch and at the grocery store I had found some frozen french fries. Naturally I bought them, and on Sunday I was going to prepare them. Elder Newbill and I were cooking in the kitchen and the directions said to place the french fries in hot oil. So I heated the oil up and put the french fries in... No one told me that they would explode!! They steamed up like crazy and it was really loud and Elder Newbill and I screamed because it was the scariest thing ever. It was really super funny. I learned an important lesson yesterday.......
I'm never cooking again. 
Well, thanks for all the love and support! I love being here so much! I'm totally blessed! Congrats to Mitch's football team for being slightly better than my team. If it wasn't for us, they would not be where they are now, just saying. Happy Birthday to Spencer! 
Good luck on the mission Ed! You are going to do so good! 
Love,
Elder Head

An Electrifying Week in India!!

Hello everyone!

I'm happy to say that I am alive and well, however, this week was still a tough week for finding new investigators. It's like every house we go to is a Hindu home (weird, right?) that is NOT interested in Christianity. That's okay though. They usually are pretty nice about telling us no, so that makes it a little easier to accept rejection. We got yelled at two times and I got told to get a real  job. Selling salvation isn't a "real job" to people I guess.. Haha!

This week was a good week. We got fed like four times which is good, but also is very bad at the same time. Their portions here are HUGE and it is all rice and stuff so it's just straight fattening. Then, on top of it, it has been a really cool week and very rainy. There was a cyclone that hit Chennai and Nellore (Naylore) and the aftermath landed here. It was just really, really rainy. Some of the member's homes here were flooded and there were snakes swimming in the water. SCARY. But it was really cool. One scary experience, but a really cool one. (Mom, don't freak out, I'm fine.) We were at an investigators home trying to air dry with our wet clothes on and we were under a pavilion. It was really bad storm, so there was thunder and lightning. All of a sudden, lightning struck the transformer that was like 30 feet away and I watched this line of electricity come and stop right in front of me. It made my heart pound so much and the hairs on my arm and neck stand up, but luckily it only got close. I know that the Lord was watching over and protecting us. It was a close call, but lightning looks really cool up close.

Haha well, I'm also officially an Indian......... but that's about it this week.. Not too much was happening. We have some investigators that are 13 and 10 year's old that are obsessed with America and ask so many questions.

Tell Mitt good luck this week! 

Love,

Elder Head

New members for the Kakinada Branch

So apparently...... in India you ask the girl's brother for his sister's hand in marriage ;)

It is good to know that Ryan still likes to take "random" pictures!!  I am hoping that he has some great ones of the Indian landscape and cool meaningful ones too :)  We were able to instant message back and forth with Ryan last night.  He loves India and says that he has found a wife and is staying there forever........as his mom......I informed him otherwise ;)  We are glad that he is safe and enjoying his time in India serving the Lord.