SOOOOOO, I got TRANSFERRED!!

Hey all,

SOOOOOO, I got TRANSFERRED!! I left draper, and I'm now in the Daybreak area on the west side of the valley. Our area is pretty tiny, and we're on bike again (NO CAR!) it's alright though. If you ignore the hills all over the place and the constant wind, it doesnt take too long to get places. it really does seem like it's uphill both ways sometimes. Some days we have to work pretty hard to go downhill. The Oquirrh Temple is in our area which is really cool, we ride past it every day on our bikes. the area itself is very very organized. it's a pretty large track housing development, so everything looks the same. I'm slowly getting used to the area and finding my way around, but it's so easy to get lost when it's all so similar.

I left the Riverview stake which had 9 wards, and now we have the Daybreak stake, and the Founders Park stake which total 17 wards, so I have a lot more leadership and bishops to catch up with the wards are tiny, sometimes only 2 or 3 blocks. I have two companions again, wooooo! Elder Huber, from Amarillo, Texas, he's pretty quiet, but he has random outbursts at times. Also, Elder Franklin, from Lehi, Utah, He's waiting for his visa to mexico, so, whenever he gets it, we'll probably be back down to 2 missionaries. The two of them have been out for one transfer (6weeks) so I'm still doing that whole training thing. The two of them are like one missionary. They finish eachothers' thoughts and do everything together. I'm also still district leader, which is alright so far. I dont know any of the district members yet but I will soon. I hope the district does well, but in the past the companionships have struggled a bit.

As For the work here, there is a bunch to do. I hope to keep the same pace going that's been here in the past. we had a baptism this past Saturday for Kenzel Estanol. I didnt teach him a whole lot but we plan on helping his dad work towards baptism. I'm also getting to know our investigators slowly. We're working with a lot of children, which I love to teach. We spoke yesterday at a ward as well and i was given the lovely subject of the Gathering of Israel... I did alright for a talk written the morning of... (I still dont like speaking in church and i put off writing it until the last minute)

Anywho, that's all i have for this week, I love you all, keep the faith, always be an example of the believers 1 timothy 4:12

Love,
Elder Wright

We gave them a book of mormon and they gave us some indian dessert and milk

Hey everyone!

We had yet another excellent week! it was amazing. We had another baptism this week for Ariel Thorup, who we've been teaching for about 3 weeks now. She came home from girls camp and told everyone that she knew the church was true and she wanted to be baptized. Elder Neilson performed the baptism (his first one) and i did the confirmation. We kept busy throughout the whole week. We picked up a new investigator, Robert Newhook, who is from eastern Canada. He and Elder Neilson were talking about all the weird things that americans do. he talks really canadian. We also, ran into some people from India. It was interesting to talk to them, they were what they called, fundamentalist hindu. We gave them a book of mormon and they gave us some indian dessert and milk, and a Hindu bible, called the Bhagavad gita. we cant read it but it was interesting to talk to them about reincarnation and karma and stuff. there are quite a few similarities in the basic doctrines of their belief and ours.  We were also walking through an apartment complex and we saw a lot of Jehovah's witness stuff in the doors, so we started making a collection of it all. 

WE got hit by a massive rainstorm on thursday morning, but about 2 hours later it was bright and sunny and over 80 degrees. Utah weather is weird.

Well, we have transfers coming up in 2 days and we have no idea what's happening in our area. We are sure stuff is going to change in the district, but i have no idea if i'll still be here in a week. I might miss this area though, there are a lot of things that started to become a lot better than they used to be and it really started to take off.

I love you everyone, i hope you all have a good rest of your summer. Do good continually Mosiah 5:2

Love, Elder Wright

there were new investigators falling into our laps

Hey everyone!

I've officially been serving for 1 year! happy day. we celebrated by having a BAPTISM! We started teaching Judy Keane 3 weeks ago and she wanted it so bad. She's talking about going to the temple in a year now. She is definitely one of those prepared individuals. As for the rest of the week we taught so many people this week and there were new investigators falling into our laps. There is a black family that we were asked to stop by, and now they are all preparing to be baptized in september. Transfers are coming up in a week, and i have no idea what is going to happen. We also had a wedding last week that was super cool. We met a Bishop edgley of the presiding bishopric, which was cool, anyway, we're out of time so we have to go.
Love you all, keep the faith
Elder Wright

Omni 1:26

New Mission President

Dear Brother and Sister Wright,

We have just had the wonderful opportunity to meet Elder Wright and we look forward to serving with your son in the coming weeks and months.

As we begin serving as Mission President and companion of the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission, we would like to introduce ourselves to you and express our desires to love and take care of your son or daughter. Transitions in the church are everyday occurrences and we will do our very best to make this a smooth one.

We come from Fountain Valley, California on the coast in Orange County. We have seven children, six of whom are married and providing us with 29 grandchildren. Our daughter, Melanie, who at the age of 41and a special needs individual, is excited to serve with us as a “missionary”.

Our three sons each served missions and so we feel we have walked in your shoes and know of your love and concern for your missionary. We recently served a mission in Australia. We express our gratitude for all you have done to bring your son/daughter to this point in his/her life. During the next three years we have a sacred trust to safeguard each missionary from spiritual or physical danger. What these missionaries become while serving their mission appears to be the launching pad for the rest of their lives and we are very mindful of this. It is inherent in our call to have a sincere love for each of these young men and women and we look forward to serving with this strong valiant army of our Savior in this part of His vineyard.

As you continue to communicate with your missionary on a weekly basis, we also ask for your prayers on our behalf as you pray for your own son or daughter. Each missionary brings unique qualities and talents that will bless the lives of many who live in this area. Encouragement and support from home will always be a boost in the mission field. Letters from home are always a joy and strength to the missionaries. We will do all in our power to lead and guide this mission under the Lord’s direction. If you have any concerns or information that would help us better serve your young man/young woman, please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,
Bruce and Elaine Miller

'The Great Green Jello Festival'

yo everyone,

A bunch of stuff happened this week. I'm not sure if i mentioned this already but we have a new mission president, President Miller, who was just called about a month ago. We recieved a bunch of new trainings from the first presidency and quorum of the twelve, which are supposed to help us refocus on Preach my Gospel and helping us invite the spirit into our discussions. All the district leaders and Zone leaders were trained for 4 days straight at the mission office. We spent each morning and afternoon relearning everything, and i feel it will really help our missionary work. The district leaders now have to take all the new information and convey it to the rest of the missionaries. It's been a REALLY LONG week with the meetings, and with everything else going on in our areas and in the district, but I feel really prepared for the coming months.
Our stake also held what they call, 'The Great Green Jello Festival' It's pretty much like our stake's Pioneer Day. But anyway, there was lots of food and lots of green jello, and a lot of people. We decided to set up a missionary table and pass out stuff to the members but not everyone was super interested in our stuff, especially when there was rock climbing and face painting and stuff. To attract more attention we started preaching to everyone. I got up on my soap box and started yelling at everyone. We talked to a whole bunch of people and encouraged all the members to invite their friends to learn more about the church. If anything, we simply got our faces out so people know that we are there to do work. Anyway, It was loads of fun and we received several referrals from it.

The Gospel is true. Live it. Follow the example of Christ 2 Nephi 31:10

Love,
Elder Wright

In reply to an email from home regarding a question to how he feels the last year has gone Rudy wrote:

the one year mark thing is kinda odd. I dont feel like i've really been out that long and i dont feel that much more mature or anything, but at the same time, when i look back at who i was when i came out, i see a whole world of difference. Especially when i think about my leadership responsibilities. Leadership is wearing on me. when i was district leader before all the members of the district were experienced and obedient. Now it seems like all the elders in my district are taking steps backward. there are a few that strive to 'be anxiously engaged in a good cause' but there are others who must be 'compelled in all things.' We dont use any negative encouragement to get elders to be obedient, but sometimes i feel so frustrated because that seems like the only thing that will get them to be. It takes a lot of love and patience. everyday is another trial. I wish there was a one fix solution to all of this but of course, it wasnt meant to be easy. anyway, more to come in another email.