Email: New Area/New Companion/New Address

Elder Payne's New Address:

174 S. O Street #73

Lincoln, CA 95648

Dear Family,
                    Well hello everyone. I hope this email finds everyone doing great. Things have been awesome here in my new area. I am really loving the work that is going on. There is so much more going on here than my last area. It is a refreshing change of pace to actually have people that want to be taught. We currently have about 5 or 6 really solid investigators currently. I explained Hailey in pretty good detail in my letter that you should be getting. We met her everyday last week and it looks like we will be doing the same this week.  We also have a man named Dennis. We actually invited him to be baptized last Friday and he accepted. It was pretty awesome and a great lesson. He has a baptismal date for the 1st of December. We are both really excited for him. I haven't met to many of the other investigators because we haven't had lessons with them since I got here. We should be having lessons with them in the coming week. I really love the area. It actually reminds me a little bit of home. It has a bit of inner city but it is only like 2 minutes to get out into the country. The place is prettier and smells a lot better than Citrus Heights. haha I have really been enjoying my new companion as well. He is a lot different than Elder Halle. It is great because he really likes to work hard so it fits me. With Elder Halle I was doing most of the pushing, because he is so close to going home. So I really enjoy that. He is from Las Vegas and has been out 20 months. So I get another old missionary. It is awesome because this coming week we have a lot of lessons set up. So it should be a great week. It is crazy that Halloween is this week! it has come up pretty fast. We have to be in by 6 that night so unfortunately no Trick-or-treating for us. We will probably end up getting tons of candy from members though so don't worry about that. Well I apologize that this is a really short email but I gotta run. I hope everything goes well for you all in this coming week. Especially with the big move coming up. I love you all. Happy Halloween.
                               
 Love Elder Payne

Pictures Galore! (Sept-Oct)

The memory card is back and we have many pictures to share! Enjoy!

Pictures from 7/28/12-10/17/12

(with Hunter's captions)

Pioneer Day Celebration

 Creepy spiders I saw-

Awesome picture I made- 

 Somebody's cool dog-

 The Triple Burger- I ate a triple, then a double, then a single. Yes, I was very sick after.

 Pretty flower-

 Last P-day before transfers-

 Last time with Elder Woolley-

New companion, Elder Halle/ We got new chairs!-

Nathan and Renton, the two coolest kids in the ward-

My little trick I do-

 Ultimate Plan of Salvation chart-

 Brolympics (ward party)-

Nasty pie with almonds, olives, and prunes (he won the pie eating contest)

 Jousting, I was the overall champion- (with red helmet)

 Bouncy velcro wall-

 Sweet rifle-

 Monkey bread!

 Sister Funua-

 Announcement 18 year olds can now go on missions!

 Elder Rodriguez, Spanish Elder-

 Daddy Daves, Part II

 We are Awesome!

(Elder Halle)

 Last of the district-

Email: Transferred to Lincoln!

Hello to you all,

                 So wow things are changing quickly. I am being transferred! As you can imagine this came as a huge shock to both Elder Halle and myself. We both thought that we would be staying for sure. When we got the transfer call Sunday night we both could not believe what we heard. I definitely was not very happy that I was being moved. It seemed like just when the work in this area was finally picking up that is when I get booted out of here. I am mostly just upset because things were going so well here. Elder Halle and myself were getting along really well. Like I said we were finally starting to get some good work going, and overall I just love this area so much. The ward members, the area itself, and my companion especially. I guess that is why they needed to move though because the mission is supposed to be a learning experience and if things are too comfortable then it is a lot harder to learn really important lessons.

                   The place I am being transferred to is called Lincoln. It is only like 15 minutes away from where I currently am. I kind of hoping that I would be moved further up north where there is less city, but I have heard really good things about Lincoln.  That is actually where Elder Halle was last at. He really enjoyed it there. My new companions name is Elder Newcomb. He has been out for about 19 to 20 months. I have been told that he is a really nice guy. I sure hope that we get along as well as Elder Halle and I did.

                    This past week has been a pretty good week. We had a few lessons with some people. One lesson with Kaylea that went well. She is going to be baptized in November. Something really cool happened yesterday. My district leader called me up last night. He told me that he ran into Honey greenshields husband, will. He started talking with them about Elder Halle and I. Will told them that he was so grateful for the things that we had done for them. For all of the time and effort that we had taken in helping them come to the Gospel. He went on saying that his life is so different now and he just feels happier as well as Honey his wife. So what Elder Ellsworth was trying to tell me by giving me that call was that I really have made a difference in somebodies life here. I may not really feel like it because I haven't had any baptisms yet but there is just one example of the people that I was able to help. I was really grateful for that call that he gave me. It made me feel so much better about the time that I have spent here. It helped me realize that I really did make a difference. It was so great to hear that and made me feel good to know that I really did help.

                    I was really sad to have to say goodbye to so many people that I have come to know and love. I never thought I could become as attached to this area as I have. I really have come to respect and love all of the members of this ward. I truly believe that these people that I have served around are people that I will have a bond of friendship with for the rest of my life. They really did take me in and help me feel so welcome here and for that I am eternally grateful. Well my next email will be from my new area so wish me luck. I will be telling you all about my new area and comp. I love you all and hope you all have a great week.

Love Elder Payne

Email: How great will be your joy...

Hello to everyone back home and those suckers on a cruise ship somewhere in the Caribbean,
                     Well I apologize for the size of the email last week. I didn't have to much time so I had to write quick. So this past week has actually been a pretty good one. We had a lot of up and a lot of downs. I did learn a ton though and that, I believe is the biggest thing. Anyways so let me begin with the downs of the week.
                    We officially handed Honey and her Husband off to the Sacramento missionaries. It was a sad, sad day but it had to be done. We were able to talk with Honey and her husband as well as deliver a large print Book of Mormon to her. They were both just very grateful for the service that we had provided them as well as the time we took to help them learn more. I have been talking a lot about them both in my Presidents letters that I send each week. We actually had Presidents interviews earlier today. He told me that there are going to be some leadership opportunities coming up soon for me. That was pretty crazy to hear. President told me that I should count them as baptisms, because I was part of their conversion process. It was awesome because he told both Elder Halle and myself that if and when they get baptized we will be able to attend. That was such great news to hear. Dad shared with me some great incite, and sent me some things that were exactly what I needed to hear. I was very grateful for what he sent and it helped me to understand so much.
               " If Honey does join the church, you can still take pride in knowing you helped "bring" her into the gospel, and you were part of it.
               "And if it so be that ye should labor all your days…and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (Doctrine & Covenants Section 18, verses 10, 15, and 16.)"
                 So more of the ups of the week. We picked up a new investigator. His name is Gary. He is an awesome guy that we actually have a lesson with later on today. I just really hope the things that we teach him will stick because I know that is can really bless his life. Things with Kaylee are still going great as well. She is a very smart little girl so she is able to understand so much that we teach her. We have just been going over the commandments with her. She has maybe one or two lessons left. So that is pretty exciting as well. Other than that this past week has been a pretty ordinary week, nothing to crazy or unusual that has gone on. Ok I guess there were a few interesting things that happened. So we were on exchanges last Wednesday, I was with our District leader in my ward. At the beginning of the day we had set a goal to stop every single person we could at bus stops. So we are going around doing this. We had just crossed a street when I noticed a lady sitting at a bus stop. So before I passed her I slammed on my brakes to talk to her. Well the other Elder was behind me and didn't notice that I had come to and abrupt halt, so he looked up just in the nic of time to barely swerve passed me. I just continued on talking to her while he had to gather himself and come back around. We thought it was pretty hilarious because we just about ate it right in the middle of the busiest street in my area. So later on down the same road we were riding next to each other, he was in the gutter and I was on the sidewalk. All of a sudden a bus pulls up right next to us and starts to merge right into where he was. So he had to come right up onto the sidewalk to avoid getting hit. unfortunately that is exactly where I was. Also I couldn't get over any further because there was a bench blocking my way. We were so close his handlebars overlapped mine and I could feel his hands touch mine, ,all of this while still riding at about 15 MPH. Pretty fun stuff . Luckily we didn't collide and we ended up being OK. Anyways so that is a little bit of my week.
                    It sounds like things are going well back home. I  cant believe that Linds Rob and Drake are really getting ready to move out. It just doesn't seem real to me. I really hope things go well in the move. Also Staci I am so excited for you. I loved seeing the 3D pictures of the baby. I just cant believe there is really a baby inside you. ha ha How are you feeling about things? Nervous?Excited? A little of both? You are going to be such a great mother and I am so excited for you. Katey I got your letter thank you so much. I sent my reply back to you yesterday, so you should be getting it soon. And last of all but definitely not least Hannah thank you so much for the brownies. They are delicious. My companion was even saying how amazing they were. So thank you so much for doing that. You are getting to be a pretty amazing cook. Also mom and dad I hope you are having fun out on the cruise. I am extremely jealous because that is the ship that I wanted to go on like a year ago. Anyways things are great. Thank you so much for all of the support. I know you are all doing so much to help me out and I thank you for that. I love you all so much.

Love Elder Payne

Letter from a Member

Monday, October 14th, Mom received this email from a member. What an awesome surprise and so great to hear how Hunter is doing from someone else's perspective!

Hey Sheri,

The Elder's are over for dinner right now. They were playing a card game after dinner with my kids that your son taught them. We kinda had a weird dinner tonight. I asked the Elders last month what their favorite meals were. Your son said Poppy seed chicken. He described it pretty well, so I looked up a recipe on the internet that was pretty close to what he described and made it for them last time they came over. That was pretty good stuff! My kids really liked it too. This time was Elder Halle's favorite dinner night which is breakfast foods. It was a little messed up cuz we didn't have any milk to make buttermilk waffles out of so we had pancakes and cake dessert waffles. We also had this breakfast pizza thing. Anyways, I'm stuffed. I hope I didn't ruin these missionaries favorite meals. After having my cooking. Hee Hee. We are having them over again the Sunday before Halloween so we are having a fun meal that I will be more prepared for..

The missionaries sounded great today in Sacrament meeting. They helped sing a part in the Young Women Presentation. It really turned out awesome. Everyone in the ward loved it. I wonder when my son goes on a mission if he would actually get up and sing in church cuz he's not so much the singing type, but hopefully, especially because he thinks your son and Elder Halle are cool and they sang.

So I asked your son what I should tell you...my daughter just said to tell you that these missionaries are "hyper and annoying" hee hee. Your son just said to tell you that my son should marry Katelyn. Not so sure Katelyn would like that since she has a boyfriend....I think I will see if we can play a quick game of pit before they go home tonight.

I really appreciate the example these missionaries set for the youth of our ward!

Sandi Bryan

Pictures of Elder Payne & Elder Halle at the Bryan's Home-

Email: Conference

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

 

Dear Family,

 

Well let me start off by telling you that this past weekend has been absolutely amazing. Conference was such a fantastic experience, even more so out here in the mission field. To answer your question yes we got to watch all of conference. We were able to watch beginning at Saturday morning and got every bit of it all the way to Sunday afternoon. All of the missionaries in our zone came to the stake center and we all watched it together. I really loved the new perspective that I was able to gain on the things said. I think one of the biggest things, and I am sure dad talked about this, but it was in the priesthood session. Once again they talked about the mothers and wives to give more back rubs to their sons and husbands. Apparently it is isn't being done or I am sure they wouldn't keep commenting on it haha. I am just joking of course. Something really cool, between sessions Sunday afternoon they did the world report on the Brigham city temple and I saw mom singing in the choir. It was so cool I started to freak out! haha All of the other elders were just like what is going on? It was cool seeing mom on TV though. So a little bit about what is going on here. We met with Honey last week and had an excellent lesson with her. She is probably the most prepared person I have ever seen. She straight .up told that she knows that her life would have gone better if she was a Mormon. Well come to find out she doesn't live in our ward. She doesn't even live in our mission. It was so sad to find that out. I know that she is supposed to be there but things were so perfect and I could have had my first baptism. It really sucks but oh well there is nothing we can do about it. I guess just keep searching right. So that is what is going on with her. Things are going really great out here. I have been thinking about the family a lot lately. I miss you all very much and I am praying for you all everyday that things will continue to go well. I love you all and hope you have a good week. Love

 

Elder Payne

Email: Miracle Week!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Hello Family, friends and all you other people ha ha

 

Como se hace todo el mundo? Espero que todos ustedes estan haciendo muy bien! Bueno, si usted traduce esto usted ser?/span> capaz de ver que me han cambiado a un misionero de habla espanola. Loco eh! Puede usted creer que yo voy a estar hablando espaanoles y ahora que tengo que volver al MTC por un periodo adicional de 6 semanas de entrenamiento. Ok todo eso era en realidad completamente falsa. Me disculpo yo estaba teniendo un poco de diversion.

 

Anyways this past week was a pretty good week. We saw quite a few miracles. The first one came when we were teaching Kaylee. So we were teaching the Plan of Salvation to her.( you may want to try and get a Preach My Gospel so that when I say a lesson you go see what is in that lesson.) Anyways it went very well and it was a lot of fun to teach. We got to use a lot of object lessons. Like to represent the different kingdoms of glory we used different amounts of light. Like we used a flashlight to represent the lowest kingdom then dim lights for the next and finally all of the lights in the room on to represent the celestial kingdom. That was a lot of fun then we also got to use the glove analogy to represent our spirits through out our lives. Then at the end of the lesson we..........wait for it..........committed her to baptism on October 27th! It was really awesome to get a firm baptismal commitment down. So now we just have to coordinate everything with the other missionaries in the Sac mission. The next miracle I saw this week came on exchanges. I went on exchanges with Elder Ashby. How cool? We got to talk a lot about our families and home towns because we have both been to each others towns a lot. So during that day we were able to each quite a few lessons. The most memorable by far was the lesson we had with a less active family. It was a very spirit lesson in which I shared D&C 121:7-8 She was very stressed and seemed like she was about to lose it at he first of the lesson, but as the spirit worked on her she was able to calm down and really listen to our message. After the lesson I felt prompted to ask her if she would like a blessing. She accepted so then I was able to give her a blessing. It was amazing! So this past Saturday we had the Bro-lympics. It was an Elders Quorum activity that was a lot of fun. We had various activities such as spitting contests, tug-of-wars, paintball shooting contests(I was the target!), pie eating(pmpkin pie with almonds olives and crushed prunes Blah), and jousting. It was a blast and I ended up winning the whole thing with 9 gold medals. For winning I got a big steak. Pretty great! Alright last miracle. So yesterday at church we got introduced to this lady. Her name is Honey. She told that she had met with missionaries about 17 years ago. they lost contact when they moved. Anyways she was watching TV when a Mitt Romney commercial came on. She just thought to herself "I think I will give the Mormons another shot" So she just showed up to church. That was so cool and such a blessing. She has had a lot of trails in her past and I know that this gospel can help her. Well the story goes on. We were shopping and came out of the store after we finished. Well guess who came walking up? Yep it was Honey with her husband right behind her. SO we got to talk to both of them. He told us that Honey had spoken very highly of us and our church. As we were leaving he told us "well you can expect us in church on Sunday! I can guarantee that it wasn't just a coincidence that we ran into each other today" That was such a miracle in my eyes. I know that these people are definitely prepared to hear the Gospel. Well I better wrap things up. I love you all so much. I loved all of the good news from back home(Staci and the baby, Katelyn and the dance and Hannah and school) and out here in Cali, ( Rob, Linds and the house) I love you all and keep the good news coming I hope you all have a fantastic week.

 

Love Elder Payne

Elder Payne and his new companion Elder Halle have quite a lot in common

 

Elder Payne in the pie eating contest 

 

Elder Payne won the "steak" with 9 gold medals in the "bro-lympics" in his ward!!