E-Mail 11-16-2009

I told Luke I needed more info and I wrote him a very short letter letting him know we were alive and fine. I told him I would continue to write these kind of letters until I received more detailed ones from him. I also told him to send the pictures he's been promising us. This is what I received. . . . . . . . .
(He is such a smart alec!)

Didn't I tell you about Marie Davis? I'm pretty sure I did. and I put all my pictures on a disc to send to you I just haven't! Cause I'm trying to figure out if I need to send anything else home too! So I have a package that is going to be sent home with the tape recorder and all! and the disc of pictures with brief info on them! So you will have all the pictures of the mtc and my first area! I only sent Brianne pictures cause she asked for some! I'm sending you a whole disc full! I plan to send you a disc of all my areas after I get transfered.
This week I wore a white shirt and a variety of ties and black pants. I wore black shoes on my feet and also black socks! I went tracting alot and knocked on alot of doors! Some people listened, some people didn't! I taught a guy named Frank Hyer on tuesday. Frank was a media referral who wanted to join the church years ago, but his wife said she would divorce him if he joined....but she did it anyways so now he wants the lessons again. He is a real estate agent. I taught him the resoration and challenged him to read. Then set up an appointment for friday. I tracted. Friday we went and tought Frank Hyer againand answered some of his questions. Then afterwards we went and taught this other guy named Chris Reeves whom we tracted into. Taught him the resoration. He accepted it well. He seems really familier and he is only 24. he is married with two kids and he is a sherriff. Tracted some more. I drank some juice. When I consume alot of liquids I pee alot. it's science. I visit some members. I miss my first area. my companion is Elder Alex benson Nelson from west jordan utah. he is cool. he has short hair and wears a white shirt and ties. he has to have contacts. sometimes he wears glasses. We get along well. We teach teh gospel. We go to church. we feel the spirit. We do missionary work. A mission will be the gayest time of my life......I sleep in teh same room with a guy, I eat with a guy....I live with a guy....and I always have to stay with this guy 24/7. it's p-day today. I'm e-mailing my family.
Love Elder.

E-Mail 11-9-2009

Mom! You don't need all the info! plus....not much goes on here ....just tracting and teaching the gospel....I really don't know what to tell ya! I tell ya all the exciting things. Today we went to a zoo park thingy and saw some manatees! also some Gators, and a hippo who is an actual citizen of FL named Lou, and some snakes. That was pretty neat. Sister Williams is a memeber here in Inverness and she is also our neighbor. She and her Husband have a ranch and lots of land, plus some tractors! she is related to Niel A. Andersen of the quorm of the 12 apostles! so thats cool! The teaching pool is getting bigger and the waether is getting cooler and alot less humid! ......um.......I will pray for Katie! I'm glad she and Corgin is alright! I also got the letter from Dad! I really enjoyed it! I will try to write him back if I have time! I would do more info if I had more time and wasn't so slow at typing! I have only 30 minutes, and I have to write president Darrington every week to keep him informed! Oh a kid I went to high school with is in this mission. and also this kid who took Brianne on a blinde date and who's big bro married my friend Arianna who use to live in Apopka FL. small world huh?! anywho.......I don't know what else to say! but I love letters and await them! :D love you all peace!
Love Elder Stander

E-Mail 11-2-2009

Well here in Inverness we have a grand total of 4 potentials. Only like 2 of them are real positive! But It'll be better in a bit! My comp is cool though!
Last night as I was going to bed, I went into my closet and looked in my suitcase and there was this giant spider in there....So I took a picture, then I picked up something to kill it and I slammed down 3 times then it ran away into some of my clothes...so I coaxed it out of there then it ran under my small suit case....so I moved thet, then threw a rag on it nad took a shoe and slammed down on it like 10 times! Then I moved the rag and the spider was all curled up in a ball....then started uncurling.....It was freakin' invincible! Then I took the shoe and did a "squash n' slide" So I smeard it and then it died....but it was tenacious! It was about as big as a pop can top! I was a wee bit scared for a bit....mostly cause it wouldn't die! So there is a nice story for ya!
Not much is happening here in Inverness since we just tract alot and meet the members. But You will be glad to know that sister Williams has a son on a mission, so she takes good care of us! She is the one who got missionaries back into Inverness and Lecanto! So she is fired up about missionary work! They also own a farm/ranch, and live right next to us! It's almost like home! Only Hot!! haha! Thanks for keeping me filled in! and also Tell Dad I won't worry about the hay anymore! I was real worried!:D (actually kinda was) Keep up the good work, and don't die! kay? kay! peace out familia!
Elder Stander.

E-Mail 10-26-2009

Well, it's going good, The transfer was a'ight, I'm starting to kinda sorta get the lay of the land, My new Comp is Elder Alex Nelson from West Jordon Utah, and I answered all your questions! :D
I'm actually in Inverness and am opening up a new area. It is pretty interesting. The average age of teh ward is 70, and the bishop has done like 70 or so funerals since he has been put in about 7 years ago. So it's an interesting place!
Sounds like teh Halloween party was fun! Bummer I missed it! I got a card from Chris and Susie! I really enjoyed it! I will have to write them back!
Jake told me about his giant Elk that he killed! and sent me pictures....Wow! I might be sending you some stuff.....but some of it is mine that I have aquried out here but have no use for....mostly books...and I am not alowed to read them cause they are not approved.
I have been doing good! and Have a very nice apartment! brand new! So thats cool! Haven't really done much this week except explore, and some book work. It's hard to do stuff when you don't know the area! But it shall be fun! Love ya!

Elder Stander

E-Mail 10-19-2009

Well, sounds like all is well. and even though we might not make much money this year from hay, the Lord is blessing us with meat from dead animals! Sounds like a pretty impresive Elk! I miss home...tis true. I'm really bummed cause I am getting transfered tomorrow. I will be in Lacanto, opeing up a new area with a new companion, so goal numero uno, is learning teh lay of the land! So make sure when people write me, they know to send it to the mission home not to Apopka! kay? kay! I would inform you on the investigators here, but I'm leaving them, so I don't want to think about them cause I need to move on. Maybe in a letter when I have time, I have to pack today. and still find out how I'm getting to my new area. So thats exciting. I will get some pictures for you too! I will write more later!
Love you all!
Elder Stander

E-Mail 10-12-2009

another week with out mail? have your forgotten me? jk. You must be pretty busy! or something. um.... I will try to send some stuff home. I have aquired some really good books, so I will be sending that home for myself, but also put some other stuff in that package, such as the recorder, which will need batteries, and and some other things. Kay? kay! Um.....lets see....general conferance was neat! ...um....no baptisms.......Oh! I heard a funny joke from Elder Condie of the Seventy. He said it over the pulpit, so I figure it's pretty safe for me to say...right? yeah! It's a story about Charlie the atheist. Ressurection morning he poked his head out of the ground and said "I'll be Damned!" And he was! hahahaha! Yep! :D Welp....don't know what else to tell ya really! have a grand day!
luvya
Love Elder Stander

E-Mail 10-5-2009

Sorry mother! I didn't recieve any e-mail from you on monday and I usually just hit the reply button! I ment to write you, but we were in a hurry, and I forgot to compose one for you! so I didn't....But after we left I realized and said oh poopy! and I don't have much time to write letters! I have a bunch to replay to.... Jared is loving missionary work, Zac should be leaving for the mtc this month, and Micheal is still on a mission. Oh and Brainne is working at the beat dump this year! There, now you know whats going on in my very small circle for friends! :D
as far as me, I am working and am pretty excited about these people I have been teaching! Erlik, and Danielle! They are the coolest! They are humble and accepting and the Lord has truely prepared them for this gospel! I have been study-ing alot! One of our investigators got some Anti material. It was this little card the had at the top "mormonism teaches" and then a list of docrines that we teach! All but one of them were true, but worded terribly! So I went through and found scriptures in the Bible to support all of what we teach! It was pretty easy since we follow the Bible in all exactness. When asked if we believ in the Bible, Joseph Smith answered "If we do, we are the only ones under heaven that does" or something along those lines, then asked, "How do you differ from the other sects?" he answerd " That we believe in the Bible and other profess their belief in there interpretations of the Bible!" then, "Will everyone but Mormons be damned?" He answered "Yes! and a great portion of them unless they repent and work rightoesness!" Then my personal favorite "I hear they baptize in Joe Smiths' name." He Answered" "If they do, it's as valid as the secterian baptisms!" (pg 119 in "The Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith) Haha! Joseph Smith dominates! So study-ing is pretty sweet! thats basically it! General conferance was pretty sweet though! Jeffery R. Holland laid out on those who speak ill of the Book of Mormon! And Tad R. Callister had a good talk about the truthes we teach! ....um....informative enough?
I'm pretty excited to meet my Nephew when I get home! Thats exciteing! keep me updated! You do a good job! :D Thanks for all you do mother dearest! I miss you tis true! But I will soon be home to you! hehe i am a poet! and I know it!
Love Elder Stander!
ps. "everybody was a kung fu fighting!"