Mike's Mission - July 2006

<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>July 2006</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>July 31,2006 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Michael wrote to say it was a busy week as we taught several people including Benito (who came to church on Sunday), an unnamed former investigator who thought they would not return to meet with him, the Cervantes family who seems excited to learn about the gospel and the father of a part member family (who also came to church). </FONT></div> <bR> <div> Michael added that Sister Page is going to help convert some of this long sleeve shirts to short sleeve shirts. In the hot weather Michael has needed more of those than he took with him.</div> <bR> <div> He concluded with, "I love the work and it's certainly moving forward here in the Vacaville 3rd Ward. Since the Vacaville stake is in the new Sacramento Temple district we will be able to attend a dedication service at a stake center in Davis, California on September 3rd.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>July 24, 2006 - </B></FONT><B>Michael reports that Vacaville is WAY HOT.  The temperature hit 115 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.  Riding a bicycle is such heat with a shirt and tie on is quite uncomfortable.  The locals says this is the most extreme heat spell in 10 years in Vacaville. None the less he adds, "</B>the work must go forth and so we endure the heat<B>".  </B>Michael added that the first revision of the missionary handbook ("the little white Bible") that is consistent with "Preach My Gospel" will be out soon.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="071902c0.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Elder Bennett (left) and Elder Haslam (right)</B></div> <div> <B>Photograph Courtesy of the Page Family </B></div> <div> <B>of Vacaville California</B></div> <div> Michael wrote Bishop Reasch last week with some advice on what to teach the Priests about serving missions. These items included:</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Have patience to "wait upon the Lord" for answers to your prayers.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The joy that comes from the work</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Go home teaching</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Be obedient 100%</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Elder Bennett has 5 older brothers and sisters and like Michael's father Reed he grew up like an only child. </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He reported getting a letter from his other family the Schwendiman's. They apologized for being weak letter writers.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Their investigator who had been taught previously by another missionary is progressing slowly (at least according to the goal of having the former missionary baptize her on August12th when he visits). A sister named Valerie is progressing well and hops to be baptized within the month. He added that he was looking forward to going back to visit the Cervantes this coming week.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Michael wants his friends parents to share information with us so that we can share it with Michael.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>July 17, 2006 - </B></FONT>Michael was very upbeat. He indicated that he and Elder Bennett have built up their investigator pool rather quickly.  Elder Bennett who has been serving for over a year said that "I've never had it so good". They picked up a young couple during the week from a member referral. They have shared the first discussion with them and it went very well. Michael has said that he really likes his trainer and that they have fun introducing themselves. Michael wrote,<I> "It's funny he's from Nebraska too, because when people ask us what we thought when got our call to the Santa Rosa Mission I tell them I was just glad it wasn't Nebraska. Which is not only the truth it makes a good joke too".</I></div> <bR> <div> Michael indicated that he is looking forward to his first interview with President Stoddard tomorrow, adding the he and Elder Bennett had some apartment cleaning to do today.</div> <bR> <div> When asked "Is missionary life what you expected it to be?", Michael responded, "<I>Not really, but I guess I never really formulated in my mind what I thought I would do everyday. I love teaching people about the gospel and I'm sure every other missionary does too. I'll just have to get used to the fact that you don't get to do that a whole lot. I'm getting used to trying to find more people and trying to share with everyone about the gospel. It's funny to see the kinds of excuses people come up with. Right now I'm still trying to lose myself in the work".</I> </div> <bR> <div> Michael challenged his mother to spend part of her summer reading the scriptures. Looking ahead he knows that 18 missionaries return home on August 7th which will mean closing some apartments across the mission.  Since their apartment was just opened they doubt that it will be closed.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>July 10, 2006 - </B></FONT>In Michael's E-mail he lamented all of the appointments they had during the past week, which were not kept!  On the bright side he reported visiting the home of a former investigator.  When they met her, she said, "<I>I'm glad you came by, I was going to call you. I want to be baptized</I>".  Surprised at hearing that remark they indicated that she'd need to review all of the lessons again and attend church which she agreed to do.</div> <div> Michael indicates that in the small town of Vacaville there are 15 missionaries. Twelve Elders and three Sisters. The group forms the Vacaville zone.</div> <div> Mike says that his ankle is doing fine and that riding a bicycle has also helped in rehabilitation. He also said the weather has been real hot.  High temperatures in excess of 100 degrees all week.</div> <div> For the 4th of July they joined in a neighborhood barbecue, but had to be home by 7 P.M.</div> <div> Mike reported that Elder Bennett is an awesome trainer, even if he does come from Otoe, Nebraska. He added that the ward members are real nice and willing to help, however, the ward does not yet have a ward mission plan.</div> <div> <B>July 3, 2006</B> - <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Michael used E-mail for the first time to tell us that he's assigned to the Vacaville California 3rd Ward. His trainer is Elder Bennett from Otoe, Nebraska. So while not being sent to Nebraska (the place Mike feared he'd be sent), his trainer is from the small town of Otoe, Nebraska. Looking up Otoe, Nebraska on a map I found that it is east of Lincoln and quite close to Palmyra!</FONT></div> <div> He and Elder Bennett are both newly assigned to the 3rd Ward in a process known as "whitewashing".  An area is said to be "whitewashed" when during transfers all missionaries previously working in an area are transferred somewhere else.  When I served in Thailand there never was a "whitewashing".</div> <div> Michael correctly guess that we found where he was assigned by tracing his bicycle transaction in his account at the credit union.</div> <div> Commenting on the weather (good boy - Dad is a meteorologist) Mike wrote<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, </FONT>"<I>It's not too bad, the area isn't that big so it's a good place for bikes but it's pretty hot out here. They say they'll get heat waves where the temperatures are upwards of 110 for 3 or 4 days straight and then it goes back down to mid 90's. So we do a lot of sweating on our bikes. I haven't experienced a heat wave yet but I'm sure it won't seem that much worse than what we get now. "</I></div> <bR> <div> Describing the cultural geography Mike said,<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> "</I></FONT><I>There are also cows that live around the city, which you'd think would mean Vacaville was pronounced the same as the Spanish word for cow--vaca. But it's not. It's pronounced like the Vac in Vacuum, weird huh".</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Regarding his companion Mike wrote,</FONT> <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>my trainer is Elder Bennett. He's from a little town in SE Nebraska called Otoe. He's been out for about a year and is an awesome missionary. He's real calm, but still excited for the work". </I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Relating the work of the past week Mike said,<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > "</FONT><I>We didn't have a whole lot to work with when we got here. Two investigators were just barely got picked up before we came. But we've picked up 4 this week and hopefully their appointments will hold up this coming week. Because we didn't have a whole lot to work with we've been tracting atleast 2 hours everyday, one day about 3 and a half. It's interesting when you go tracting to hear all the different responses you get. One guy told us he was busy with sacrificing a goat in the backyard. We asked him if he was serious about that and he said he was. WEIRD. We've had plenty of people tell us that we're not Christian. Some people think we're solicitors and point to their no soliciting sign. Others just flat out slam the door and you'll say, "Have a nice day". It doesn't get me down because I know that they don't know what we're trying to give them". </I></div> <bR> <div> Describing his apartment and bicycle Michael added,<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><I>"Our apartment is very nice. My companion says it's the best one he's stayed in so far and it's got central air conditioning so you can't go wrong there. The bike I purchased, again if you don't already know from J, was $340, it's a Specialized Hardrock Sport. It's pretty nice and certainly capable of surviving the mission. Most areas in the mission are car areas. This is also my companions first time on a bike and he's been out for a year so I assume that no more than a third of my mission will be on bike, but you never know I guess".</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Mike concluded with the following request to family and friends,</FONT> <I>"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>Please CONTINUE TO MAIL LETTERS. I'm only supposed to be on the computer for a half hour on E-mail and if I have to read everyone's E-mail before I write back I won't get much written." </I></FONT></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>