Dear Family,
Elder Ah Kiong is a good guy and we're getting along well.
A normal day for us is:
6:30 wake up
6:30 - 7 exercise
7-8 eat, shower and dress
8-9 personal study
9-10 companion study
10-12 knocking on doors and visiting less actives
12-1 lunch
roughly 1-5 trying to visit more lessactives and set up appointments and if that doesn't work revelation tracting (knocking on the doors that the spirit directs us to)
5-6 dinner(usually with a member family but when not at home)
6-9 teaching appointments and if not back to tracting
9-9:30 getting either midweek numbers, diamond lists (the investigators that are closest to baptism), Weekly coordination reports( how the meeting went with the ward mission leader and how everything was coordinated), or ending week numbers,
9:30-10 plan for the next day (usually takes a LOT longer than a half an hour.
10-10:30 get ready for bed and then go to sleep( but being a Zone Leader you don't get to bed until about 11ish)
Then we do it all over again... it get pretty monotonous... but we trying to do different things to make it different...
Thanks I really like the Christmas ornament. And tell everyone thank you for the letters and for the pictures. I loved them.
We technically do live with a member but at the same time we don't. We live in a member's basment but its a basment apartment... with its own kitchen and bathroom and everything. So kinda but not.
Its nice though I really enjoy it. We live with two other missionaries which I like because it allows you to get to know more people. Elder Allen and Elder Fischer.
I am doing fine... still adjusting to being a Zone leader and the RICH area... its really hard but I'll make it through... I hope.
I love you all very much thank you for everything.
I miss you!
Your son and brother,
Elder Cameron Landon
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
A new area......
Dear Family,
Well,... I am in Highlands Ranch. Our Zone is the Temple Hill Zone because the Temple is here! I am so excited to go back to the Temple. Its been a long time... I don't remember a whole lot. I cannot wait.
But in our Zone we have three districts. And we cover two stakes with our Zone. The Highlands Ranch Stake and the Littleton Stake. My companion is Elder Ah-Kiong. He's is part Samoan and part Chinese. So I get to serve with another polynesian, which I have no problem with because they are very happy-go-lucky people... and he can EAT! I eat nothing compared to him ..or to Elder Vave. Elder Ah-Kiong has been out for a while now... he goes home in March. He's from Hawaii. We're getting along very well.
My new area is great we cover the Northridge and Summitview Wards. The members are great! The only two problems I'm having with the area are: EVERY ONE is freaking RICH! these houses are HUGE and everyone is so weathy... its blowing my mind. and the second thing I'm not liking about serving here is... I DON'T KNOW MY WAY AROUND!! Everything looks exactly the same... All I know is that the mountians are to the west... that's all I can tell ya.
Being a Zone Leader isn't bad but I'd rather not be one... I mean its helping me work more and harder which I really like but there are a lot of responsibilities. And with those responsibilites we don't get as much sleep... and you know me, I love my sleep. Take Yesterday for instance... we were at the church in meetings (including sacrament meeting in both wards and the rest of the block for one) from 7 in the morning until 4:30 that evening... that was a LONG time. I was having a very hard time staying awake for it.
One good thing about being a Zone Leader is that all of them have cars.. and we got a brand new one. A 2011 Chevy Malibu... its nice; and can drive very smooth... I LIKE IT.
Oh yeah! so the transfer train ride was interesting.. we met in Rifle and drove to Grand Junction. And then once the transfer meeting in Grand Junction was done they handed me a set of keys and said I was going to be driving a car back to Denver because the Church was going to sell it. (the church sells the missionary cars once they hit about 50,000 miles. So I was a little hesitant about it because we had to drive through the mountains of Vail, Aspen, and all the other BIG RITZY ski resort towns and there was snow up there.. but that was okay with it... I just followed the truck and trailer. What they didn't tell me was the ACTUAL reason they were selling the car. Something was wrong with the breaks! Every time I pressed on the breaks they would bounce and that made the whole car shake. It was scary in some parts but I just slowed down and took my time and prayed... a lot. but we made it safely and nothing went wrong.
We live in the basment, which is like its own apartment with two other missionaries. Elder Allen (from my MTC district) and his companion Elder Fischer, he's from Chile and he's funny! I like living with other missionaries... it gives you someone else to talk to and get to know.
I'm glad Sister Field was able to talk to you. I've only met them the one time I was at their house and then briefly at church. They seem like very nice people. That's so nice of them that they are willing to bring back a package.
The only difference about being a Zone Leader is that you have to get numbers from each district leader in your Zone and then report those to the APs (the Assistants to the President) and then once a week discuss with all the other Zone Leaders and the President on a confrence call about how we can help each area improve where they need to improve. Also as a ZL you have to set a good example to other missionaries, and if any missionaries are acting out or causing problems or not following the mission rules you have to straighten them out... ( I couldnt' think of another way of saying that but basically thats it) so that is one reason why I don't want to be a Zone Leader, because they have to help missionaries get back on tract and they can carry a bad reputation. But I hope I can be a fun ZL and still help them want to follow the rules.
So on Thanksgiving we've got two "Turkey Bowls" we're playing at (football games.. with the wards) and then spend the rest of the day visiting family that said we could come by... so we'll end up eating at like four or five houses... I'll be so stuffed, it'll be great!
Before I forget my new address is:
10286 Willowbridge Ct.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Thanks for everything! I love you all! Please take care!
Your Son,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
Well,... I am in Highlands Ranch. Our Zone is the Temple Hill Zone because the Temple is here! I am so excited to go back to the Temple. Its been a long time... I don't remember a whole lot. I cannot wait.
But in our Zone we have three districts. And we cover two stakes with our Zone. The Highlands Ranch Stake and the Littleton Stake. My companion is Elder Ah-Kiong. He's is part Samoan and part Chinese. So I get to serve with another polynesian, which I have no problem with because they are very happy-go-lucky people... and he can EAT! I eat nothing compared to him ..or to Elder Vave. Elder Ah-Kiong has been out for a while now... he goes home in March. He's from Hawaii. We're getting along very well.
My new area is great we cover the Northridge and Summitview Wards. The members are great! The only two problems I'm having with the area are: EVERY ONE is freaking RICH! these houses are HUGE and everyone is so weathy... its blowing my mind. and the second thing I'm not liking about serving here is... I DON'T KNOW MY WAY AROUND!! Everything looks exactly the same... All I know is that the mountians are to the west... that's all I can tell ya.
Being a Zone Leader isn't bad but I'd rather not be one... I mean its helping me work more and harder which I really like but there are a lot of responsibilities. And with those responsibilites we don't get as much sleep... and you know me, I love my sleep. Take Yesterday for instance... we were at the church in meetings (including sacrament meeting in both wards and the rest of the block for one) from 7 in the morning until 4:30 that evening... that was a LONG time. I was having a very hard time staying awake for it.
One good thing about being a Zone Leader is that all of them have cars.. and we got a brand new one. A 2011 Chevy Malibu... its nice; and can drive very smooth... I LIKE IT.
Oh yeah! so the transfer train ride was interesting.. we met in Rifle and drove to Grand Junction. And then once the transfer meeting in Grand Junction was done they handed me a set of keys and said I was going to be driving a car back to Denver because the Church was going to sell it. (the church sells the missionary cars once they hit about 50,000 miles. So I was a little hesitant about it because we had to drive through the mountains of Vail, Aspen, and all the other BIG RITZY ski resort towns and there was snow up there.. but that was okay with it... I just followed the truck and trailer. What they didn't tell me was the ACTUAL reason they were selling the car. Something was wrong with the breaks! Every time I pressed on the breaks they would bounce and that made the whole car shake. It was scary in some parts but I just slowed down and took my time and prayed... a lot. but we made it safely and nothing went wrong.
We live in the basment, which is like its own apartment with two other missionaries. Elder Allen (from my MTC district) and his companion Elder Fischer, he's from Chile and he's funny! I like living with other missionaries... it gives you someone else to talk to and get to know.
I'm glad Sister Field was able to talk to you. I've only met them the one time I was at their house and then briefly at church. They seem like very nice people. That's so nice of them that they are willing to bring back a package.
The only difference about being a Zone Leader is that you have to get numbers from each district leader in your Zone and then report those to the APs (the Assistants to the President) and then once a week discuss with all the other Zone Leaders and the President on a confrence call about how we can help each area improve where they need to improve. Also as a ZL you have to set a good example to other missionaries, and if any missionaries are acting out or causing problems or not following the mission rules you have to straighten them out... ( I couldnt' think of another way of saying that but basically thats it) so that is one reason why I don't want to be a Zone Leader, because they have to help missionaries get back on tract and they can carry a bad reputation. But I hope I can be a fun ZL and still help them want to follow the rules.
So on Thanksgiving we've got two "Turkey Bowls" we're playing at (football games.. with the wards) and then spend the rest of the day visiting family that said we could come by... so we'll end up eating at like four or five houses... I'll be so stuffed, it'll be great!
Before I forget my new address is:
10286 Willowbridge Ct.
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Thanks for everything! I love you all! Please take care!
Your Son,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Finally,,,,, transfered.
Dear Family,
Yes, I cannot believe either that it has been one year tomorrow. I'll be home in no time though.
First off... Starting next week our P-days will now be on Mondays. So that is when I will email you and get you my new address. Because I'm being Transferred! Which is sad and exciting and scary and nerve-wrecking all at once.
Yes, we got our transfer call last night at about 10:20. Elder Vave will continue to serve here in Craig and Baggs. I will be leaving. We've got to be in Rifle by 10:45 in the morning to get on the "Transfer Train" which is just a caravan of several cars, a truck and trailer, and now a 15 passenger van, All loaded with missionaries, their luggage and bikes. So that's excitin'
So last night I started packing and getting things ready and then at about 11 o'clock I was getting tired so I went to bed. Well... we forgot to set our alarm this morning... luckily the MISSION PRESIDENT CALLED US!... Talk about a scary wake up call! I thought he SOME HOW KNEW!.. It wasn't terribly late it was 7:15 when he called... so about forty-five minutes late.
SO I answered the phone and he asked me something I was dreading.
"Elder Landon, because of your good service in Craig I would like to ask to serve as a .... Zone Leader. Can you do that for me?"
I hesitantly said yes.
So from a normal missionary one transfer to a district leader the next, and now a Zone Leader... I don't know if I'm cut out for this. But apparently he and some up higher (points to the ceiling) thinks I can. And their confidence in me is a little reassuring... but not much.. I so nervous...
So that limits the areas I serve in, the companions I could have. And through calling around I've found out there are only three or four places I could go.. Montrose, CO... (that's still "out west") or... Denver. I hope and pray I'm not down town Denver... I DON'T want to go there. AT ALL.
Steven's baptism went great! There were a lot of people there. There were almost more less-active members and non-members then actual members of the branch there. They were all Steven's friends. It was great.
His wife saied something to a member who then told us... Well first off Steven had to quit chewing before he could be baptized and we asked his wife, Jennifer if she wanted to quit smoking along with him. She was kinda on the fence about the whole thing, not only quiting smoking but being baptized, so we left her alone about it and focused more on Steven. Then what she told a member was "Well, when I get ready to be baptized myself at least I won't have to worry about having to quit smoking."
That's so exciting because one she quit! and two she's thinking about being baptized! I am so excited for this family I only wish I could be there when the rest of the family gets baptized.
Well, I love you all very much but I have to run around town all day taking care of things and saying good-bye before I have to finish packing. I miss you all very much and I've only got one more year left.. I'll be home in no time. ;) OH! one more thing about P-days being on Mondays now. Tansfers are always the day after P-day so they are now on Tuesdays. which means I will either be coming home a few days earlier or a few days later. So either Nov. 30 or Dec. 7. But it determines on when this next transfer is. But I'll let you know.
I love you. Thanks and take care.
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
Yes, I cannot believe either that it has been one year tomorrow. I'll be home in no time though.
First off... Starting next week our P-days will now be on Mondays. So that is when I will email you and get you my new address. Because I'm being Transferred! Which is sad and exciting and scary and nerve-wrecking all at once.
Yes, we got our transfer call last night at about 10:20. Elder Vave will continue to serve here in Craig and Baggs. I will be leaving. We've got to be in Rifle by 10:45 in the morning to get on the "Transfer Train" which is just a caravan of several cars, a truck and trailer, and now a 15 passenger van, All loaded with missionaries, their luggage and bikes. So that's excitin'
So last night I started packing and getting things ready and then at about 11 o'clock I was getting tired so I went to bed. Well... we forgot to set our alarm this morning... luckily the MISSION PRESIDENT CALLED US!... Talk about a scary wake up call! I thought he SOME HOW KNEW!.. It wasn't terribly late it was 7:15 when he called... so about forty-five minutes late.
SO I answered the phone and he asked me something I was dreading.
"Elder Landon, because of your good service in Craig I would like to ask to serve as a .... Zone Leader. Can you do that for me?"
I hesitantly said yes.
So from a normal missionary one transfer to a district leader the next, and now a Zone Leader... I don't know if I'm cut out for this. But apparently he and some up higher (points to the ceiling) thinks I can. And their confidence in me is a little reassuring... but not much.. I so nervous...
So that limits the areas I serve in, the companions I could have. And through calling around I've found out there are only three or four places I could go.. Montrose, CO... (that's still "out west") or... Denver. I hope and pray I'm not down town Denver... I DON'T want to go there. AT ALL.
Steven's baptism went great! There were a lot of people there. There were almost more less-active members and non-members then actual members of the branch there. They were all Steven's friends. It was great.
His wife saied something to a member who then told us... Well first off Steven had to quit chewing before he could be baptized and we asked his wife, Jennifer if she wanted to quit smoking along with him. She was kinda on the fence about the whole thing, not only quiting smoking but being baptized, so we left her alone about it and focused more on Steven. Then what she told a member was "Well, when I get ready to be baptized myself at least I won't have to worry about having to quit smoking."
That's so exciting because one she quit! and two she's thinking about being baptized! I am so excited for this family I only wish I could be there when the rest of the family gets baptized.
Well, I love you all very much but I have to run around town all day taking care of things and saying good-bye before I have to finish packing. I miss you all very much and I've only got one more year left.. I'll be home in no time. ;) OH! one more thing about P-days being on Mondays now. Tansfers are always the day after P-day so they are now on Tuesdays. which means I will either be coming home a few days earlier or a few days later. So either Nov. 30 or Dec. 7. But it determines on when this next transfer is. But I'll let you know.
I love you. Thanks and take care.
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
Saturday, November 13, 2010
He is so great.
Dear Family,
Well... I guess you could say that I am ready for my winter things... we had a little bit of snow about two weeks ago but then last week was really warm and it wasn't a problem. but now its cold again... I just kept forgetting to ask you to send them to me. So yes if you could send those to me I'd appreciate it, and if you could put my green hoodie back in with all the stuff too. Thanks. Don't over night them or prioriety ship them to me because that's expensive but if you could try to get them here before next wednesday that'd be great. Because tansfers are next week and I am about 99% sure I'm leaving. I kinda hope I am.. I need to see a new part of CO. The longer I'm here them more I want to come home... its hard to explain.. But I'm fine don't worry.
So yeah transfers are next week and I'll let you know what happens as soon as I can.
Well we are still just preparing things for Stephan's baptism. The preparations are coming along great. I am so excited and so is he.
When he had his baptismal interview by our Zone Leader I asked him if he'd like to say the opening prayer and he said he was too nervous. So I said it. He then had his interview, and afterwards we had a quick little lesson about what happens after his baptism and how its a lifelong commitment. At the end of the lesson I asked him if he was calm enough now to say the closing prayer and he did... But he said he wasn't sure what to say. We told him to go by the Spirit and say what's in his heart.
He said a great prayer. and when he was done he shivered.. and said... "I hope I can get used to getting these goosebumps I get when your around." We told him that that wasn't us it was the Spirit and it was his Heavenly Father telling him that He's proud of the decisions he was making. He said that he wants to feel that all the time. And he's excited that he can.
I can't wait for the rest of his family to feel all the too and realize the blessings far out weigh the "rules" or commandments. and we CAN be happier.
Thank you for everything again and as always. I love you all so very much. Please take care.
Your son and brother,
-Elder Cameron Landon
Well... I guess you could say that I am ready for my winter things... we had a little bit of snow about two weeks ago but then last week was really warm and it wasn't a problem. but now its cold again... I just kept forgetting to ask you to send them to me. So yes if you could send those to me I'd appreciate it, and if you could put my green hoodie back in with all the stuff too. Thanks. Don't over night them or prioriety ship them to me because that's expensive but if you could try to get them here before next wednesday that'd be great. Because tansfers are next week and I am about 99% sure I'm leaving. I kinda hope I am.. I need to see a new part of CO. The longer I'm here them more I want to come home... its hard to explain.. But I'm fine don't worry.
So yeah transfers are next week and I'll let you know what happens as soon as I can.
Well we are still just preparing things for Stephan's baptism. The preparations are coming along great. I am so excited and so is he.
When he had his baptismal interview by our Zone Leader I asked him if he'd like to say the opening prayer and he said he was too nervous. So I said it. He then had his interview, and afterwards we had a quick little lesson about what happens after his baptism and how its a lifelong commitment. At the end of the lesson I asked him if he was calm enough now to say the closing prayer and he did... But he said he wasn't sure what to say. We told him to go by the Spirit and say what's in his heart.
He said a great prayer. and when he was done he shivered.. and said... "I hope I can get used to getting these goosebumps I get when your around." We told him that that wasn't us it was the Spirit and it was his Heavenly Father telling him that He's proud of the decisions he was making. He said that he wants to feel that all the time. And he's excited that he can.
I can't wait for the rest of his family to feel all the too and realize the blessings far out weigh the "rules" or commandments. and we CAN be happier.
Thank you for everything again and as always. I love you all so very much. Please take care.
Your son and brother,
-Elder Cameron Landon
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Herrrrreeees Cameron
Family,
Well.. October has come and gone... I can't believe how fast time has flown by. Our Halloween was pretty.... boring... just like any other day. Except we spoke in Sacrament Meeting in Baggs on Sunday about the blessings of Scripture, and we also did the sharing time in Primary... we taught the kids about Service and Missionary Work. It was fun. The night before we had our appointments cancel so we spent the evening with the Branch President and his family. They had their grandkids there. There's Emily who is 8, the twins Hunter and Mason who are 4, Aiden who is 3. Those are all siblings. And also Apsen was there she is 3 too. It was so much fun... I love those kids. They are great.. we were standing outside talking to President McConahay and they came up to us asking us to "run with them" so we ran at least fifty little laps around the front yard with them taking turns riding on our shoulders. It was fun... needless to say Elder Vave and I were VERY tired by the end of the night.
We did however move Stephan Clark's baptism from the 18 of Nov. to the 13. He's ready! He'll be interviewed by our Zone Leader tomorrow night. And what was cool was his youngest daughter, Brianna who is 11, came to us and told us she wants to be baptized also. But the only problem is, she being over 8 years old, needs to take all the lessons first... and she's only sat in on one. So we had to tell her she couldn't be baptized with her dad.
But she was happy when we told her the alternate plan. We told her if she could wait that her dad could baptize her. She lit up. And our idea is that by the time that Stephan is ready to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood then she'll be ready and hopefully the rest of the family will be also so he can baptize the older daughters and his wife also.. that's what we're hoping and praying for.
At least I'll be here for Stephan's baptism. I'm excited.
Elder Vave and I were riding our bikes down this path we saw next to the road going out of town.. and it turned out to be a nature trail.. but at one point it goes under a railroad bridge.. and kids have gotten up in there and spray painted it.. The Bridge is over a river, and its at least a hundred yards long, the bridge is. We climbed up there are took some pretty cool picutres. Here's a few.
That's about all I can think of at the moment but if you have any questions.. let me know.. I love you all and miss you tremendously.
Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
Well.. October has come and gone... I can't believe how fast time has flown by. Our Halloween was pretty.... boring... just like any other day. Except we spoke in Sacrament Meeting in Baggs on Sunday about the blessings of Scripture, and we also did the sharing time in Primary... we taught the kids about Service and Missionary Work. It was fun. The night before we had our appointments cancel so we spent the evening with the Branch President and his family. They had their grandkids there. There's Emily who is 8, the twins Hunter and Mason who are 4, Aiden who is 3. Those are all siblings. And also Apsen was there she is 3 too. It was so much fun... I love those kids. They are great.. we were standing outside talking to President McConahay and they came up to us asking us to "run with them" so we ran at least fifty little laps around the front yard with them taking turns riding on our shoulders. It was fun... needless to say Elder Vave and I were VERY tired by the end of the night.
We did however move Stephan Clark's baptism from the 18 of Nov. to the 13. He's ready! He'll be interviewed by our Zone Leader tomorrow night. And what was cool was his youngest daughter, Brianna who is 11, came to us and told us she wants to be baptized also. But the only problem is, she being over 8 years old, needs to take all the lessons first... and she's only sat in on one. So we had to tell her she couldn't be baptized with her dad.
But she was happy when we told her the alternate plan. We told her if she could wait that her dad could baptize her. She lit up. And our idea is that by the time that Stephan is ready to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood then she'll be ready and hopefully the rest of the family will be also so he can baptize the older daughters and his wife also.. that's what we're hoping and praying for.
At least I'll be here for Stephan's baptism. I'm excited.
Elder Vave and I were riding our bikes down this path we saw next to the road going out of town.. and it turned out to be a nature trail.. but at one point it goes under a railroad bridge.. and kids have gotten up in there and spray painted it.. The Bridge is over a river, and its at least a hundred yards long, the bridge is. We climbed up there are took some pretty cool picutres. Here's a few.
That's about all I can think of at the moment but if you have any questions.. let me know.. I love you all and miss you tremendously.
Your son and brother,
--
-Elder Cameron Landon
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