Mike's Mission - January 2008

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFF66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c006e0dkfegl.gif"> <div>                          <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Michael's Mission Page</FONT>      <IMG SRC="04e55390.gif" border=0 width="85" height="57" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>                     California Santa Rosa Mission  June 2006 - June 2008    |   <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com"><U>theHaslams.com</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#009933" TEXT="#080000" background="03dbec00ddwnzy.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Front Page"><U><B>Front Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="latest_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Latest News"><U><B>Latest News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission Photo Album"><U><B>Photo Album</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="companions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Companions"><U><B>Companions</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>=====================</B></div> <div> <A HREF="may_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission May 2008"><U><B>May 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="april_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission April 2008"><U><B>April 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="march_w008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission March 2008"><U><B>March 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="february_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission February 2008"><U><B>February 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="january_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission January 2008"><U><B>January 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="december_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission December 2007"><U><B>December 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="november_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission November 2007"><U><B>November 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="october_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission October 2007"><U><B>October 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="september_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission September 2007"><U><B>September 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="august_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission August 2007"><U><B>August 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="july_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission July 2007"><U><B>July 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="june_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mike_Mission June 2007"><U><B>June 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="may_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission May 2007"><U><B>May 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="april_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission April 2007"><U><B>April 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="march_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission March 2007"><U><B>March 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="february_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes mission February 2007"><U><B>February 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="january_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission January 2007"><U><B>January 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="december_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission December 2006"><U><B>December 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="november_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission November 2006"><U><B>November 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="october_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission October 2006"><U><B>October 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="september_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission September 2006"><U><B>September 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="august_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission August 2006"><U><B>August 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="july_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission July 2006"><U><B>July 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="arrival.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arrival in Santa Rosa"><U><B>Arrival in Santa Rosa</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mtc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission MTC"><U><B>Departure & the Missionary Training Center</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>=====================</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mission.net/california/santa/rosa/index.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mission.net/california/santa/"><U><B>California Santa Rosa Mission Alumni Site</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>January 2008</B></div> <div> <B>January 28, 2008 - "Sadly, I called it" - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >What Michael was referring to in the title of his e-mail was simply that he believed before he departed that President Hinckley would not be alive when he returned home.  He learned about the passing of President Hinckley very early on, probably even before his family at home.  He and Elder Zvirzdin were eating dinner at the Orosco's home. Their daughter and son-in-law are living with them. The son-in-law got a text just before 7 pm PST from a former mission companion who received it from his father a church operator that President Hinckley had passed away.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Regarding his experiences this past week Michael wrote, <I>"So this week was another frustrating week as we search for the elect in Shiloh Park.  I think I need to be transferred as areas seem to improve after I depart.  We had another appointment with Angela and Lucio and they called and canceled 1 hour prior to the appointment.  We picked up a part member family this week but it will be a long process with him.     The zone did have 2 baptisms this week so we're excited about that.  That makes just 3 for the month though.  Not too bad, but not too good either.  We're working on more next month as we already have 4 committed".</I></div> <bR> <div> Regarding the new leadership in the Shiloh Park ward Michael reported, <I>"The new bishop has already chastised me for interrupting in Ward Council.  He'll do a good job once we get on the same page though.  Also we have a new Ward Mission leader.  He's a great member that was baptized about 3 years ago.  He has a strong testimony and is willing to serve and I'm sure the Lord will do wonders with him.  His name is Brother Byron Webb.  I love him, he's awesome". </I></div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>January 21, 2008 - "Heart Breaker" - </B></FONT> Last week they dropped all of their investigators from the first 8 weeks of effort in the Shiloh Park ward.  So this week they set a goal for all companionships in the zone to find two new investigators and the zone leaders (Haslam and Zvirzdin) needed them as much or more than others in the zone. Michael reported the following: <I>"So we went out on Tuesday after District Council and within 2 hours we had gone to a call back of the previous week and caught her and her husband home and taught them a short lesson with a return appointment on Sunday!  Bam! We had two new investigators!!  It was definitely a miracle.  We went back on Thursday and Angela ( the wife ) said that she had been thinking about our message and how she felt like reading the Book of Mormon and coming to church!!  Then on Saturday night we stopped by and they were both there and on their way out.  They were just talking about us when we knocked on the door, perfect timing again!!!!, and they said they would come to church and we would teach them at 2 pm on Sunday.  Well this is all very miraculous and incredible and any other cool word you can think of, BUT just as the title of the e-mail says, it was a heart breaker yesterday. They didn't come to church and did not keep the appointment at 2 pm. We have no idea why.  We even had perfect fellowshippers and everything.  So we're still praying for them and hoping for the best.  Their names our Lucio and Angela".</I></div> <bR> <div> Michael added, <I>"The zone had a baptism last week and 2 more this week so we at least got 3 for the month of January".</I></div> <bR> <div> Michael said that he had his usual interview with President Stoddard during the week. He remarked, <I>"... [the interview] went well but I never seem to get anything out of the interview.  I don't know why.  President told us that everyone in the zone seems to be doing really well though, at least getting along with their companion".</I></div> <bR> <div> After making the remark about the zone he added that a sister from Utah was headed home for medical reasons. That had Michael really confused since he said, <I>"but she seemed to be doing fine".</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>January 14, 2008 - "Family E-mail" - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Elder Haslam indicated that the Shiloh Park ward will be getting a new Bishop next Sunday. He thinks that perhaps the Ward Mission leader would be a good choice.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Next he talked about his zone adding, <I>"the zone is doing because that's a better topic than how our area is doing"</I>.  He indicated that within the zone there are 3 baptismal dates for January and 4 for February. He said, <I>"The zone is in high spirits and is working hard though.  It's nice to see them together because they're unified in the right way, unified in the work and not in a social unity.  I'm lucky to serve among them and hope I can learn from them".</I></div> <bR> <div> Sister Sorbi told the missionaries, "<I>that after prayer and fasting she decided that it was very clear that she did not need to join the Mormon church". </I>He added that she came to a baptism, but unless a miracle occurs she won't be joining the church.</div> <bR> <div> Michael reported that their other contacts are being unresponsive, canceling appointments or refusing to make them. So he said, <I>"we're pretty much back to square one".  </I></div> <bR> <div> Michael reported, "T<I>his week we put a sign on the wall that says, " The Hand of the Almighty God", below it we put a sticky note with one thing we saw that God had his hands in that day.  We've done it for the last 4 days and it's starting to build our faith that God is in the work each and every day.  To be able to look back and see one way that he assisted  us that day is really good.  Of course it's from Elder Eyring's talk "Remember, Remember".  It will help build our faith".  </I></div> <bR> <div> Michael concluded by saying this P-day we had some great basketball in our zone.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>January 07, 2008 - "19 Months!" - </B></FONT>To start this week's e-mail Michael said,<I> "I don't know where the time went or where it will go.  It's just going too fast".</I></div> <bR> <div> His companion Elder Zvirzdin is turning 21 this week. Michael added, "I bought him a new pair of pants for his birthday.</div> <bR> <div> They again met the Frazier family, but were unable to have a discussion with them. They had done some reading, and hope to meet with them again on the 8th.</div> <bR> <div> Marjorie is still struggling with the authority question. We asked her to fast and pray about it this week.</div> <bR> <div> The Price family is back, and we hope to meet with them this coming week.</div> <bR> <div> Michael saw Sister Osborn this week. She's still struggling as a single mom with a former husband who does not want anything to do with the kids.</div> <bR> <div> President Stoddard attended their zone development meeting. He participated in a role play where Michael said, <I>"Let's start by talking about Michigan State, you always seem to talk about things that don't matter". </I>He added, <I>"Everyone got a good laugh out of that one". </I>Michael added the president has a tag that reads, <I>"It's hard to be humble when you are from Michigan"!</I></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>