Email: Baptism of Keriann and Tyler

Hello to my great family,
                                  How have you all been doing this past week. It sounds like things there are crazy as ever. I hope you all are at least finding sometime to sleep in all of your busy schedules. I know there are a ton of the families out here that are going crazy this time of year and I just kind of chuckle to myself and think ya I remember what that was like back home.
                                    So just a little update on how I am doing. I am officially feeling a ton better. I thought I had kicked on Wednesday because I was feeling much better and we were able to go out and work some more and get some things done. Then on Thursday we went on exchanges and something hit me again Thursday. I woke up and I was really sick again. Mainly just my stomach. The worst part was having to go and teach District meeting. I was able to work through it and we ended up having a pretty good meeting. Later on that day I was feeling much better and we were still able to go out.  I think I am completely recovered from my little spell of whatever it was that hit me now. Hopefully I scared it off because i definitely do not want that coming back again. It was not fun at all.
                                      As you all know we had a baptism on Saturday, that went absolutely amazing. There was so much support from the ward and I am sure that Keriann and Tyler both felt so welcome there. We were able to get a lot of the young women from the ward to come and help with the program. I think that is great because they will both really be able to feel just how much they are cared for. Elder Hyde was able to baptize Tyler and i got the opportunity to baptize Keriann. When they both came up out of the water they just seemed ecstatic. After I was talking to Tyler and he just kept telling me that was so great, and that was so fun, and i loved that. ha ha He is such a great kid. Then on Sunday I got to confirm Tyler and Elder Hyde confirmed Keriann. So we just switched. That went great as well and the spirit was very strong there. They are going to do so well and I know that their family will be very blessed for all that they did.
                                    Now a little bit about Kris. Mom you asked why we don't meet at his house. So that is because the lady that he is renting from is extremely anti-Mormon. He is scared that she might get kicked out if she knew that he was interested in the church. He is still doing great as well. We met again last Friday and he committed to be baptized on the 22nd of June. We covered, in our lesson, the rest of the Restoration lesson that we did not cover last time. He once again loved the concept of the Priesthood and that we have Apostles and Prophets on the Earth today. He came to church with us on Sunday and there were some great messages that were given. There was a lot on missionary work and finding answers for ourselves There were also some that were about conversion. It was such a great time for him to be there. He is also wanting to meet with us more!
                                       i just wanted to write quickly on my year mark. Wow isn't it crazy that i have been out a whole year! For me it has just flown by. I just finished the Book of Mormon from the challenge that we did. It just struck me when I finished oh man this is the goal I have been working for, for so long. It was so amazing to look back and see just how far I have come in what seems at times like an extremely short amount of time. I only pray and hope that I will continue to grow and learn as much I have in these past 12 months. Thank you for supporting me so well and I ask that you will continue to help me over these next 12.
                                    Well that is about our week. There wasn't too much that has been going on, mainly because I was sick. I love you all and I am so grateful for all of the support and love that you have sent my way. I hope you all had a great memorial day weekend and good luck with the rest of you week.

Love Elder Payne
                   

Beautiful Day!!

Email: Baptism this Saturday!

Dear Family,
                 Hello to you all, well here is a little update on how things have been going. I am currently feeling quite a bit better than I was yesterday and this morning. Up until just a little bit ago I want able to get much fluid or food in me without it going straight through me. As you could tell I was a little dehydrated. Hopefully I can start getting things to stay down now. I should be feeling quite a bit better tomorrow.

                   Well anyways enough about me haha lets talk more about what has been going on out here. Lets start with the Allans, they are still doing great. We had our last lessons with them last week. We covered the Word of Wisdom on Tuesday and then on Wednesday we covered the Law of Tithing. As you can imagine they took all of it just fine and didnt have any problems with any of it. They are looking very solid for this Saturday. We were getting everything set up for the baptismal program and Keriann their daughter wants me to baptize her! I am really excited because this family is one that I have gotten really close to over my time here.

                  Alrighty well let me tell you about one of the investigators we picked up this last week. So this guy was a media referral that we have not been able to contact for about a month and a half. The thing with him was that in the referral info all there was, was a phone number and no address. In the info it said that he did not want us contacting him at his house, which I thought was funny because there was no address anyways. haha Anyways finally we got a hold of him and he said he would meet us at the church. So we met with him and lets just say that he is one of the most prepared people I have ever met. We started out talking about his past associations with the church. He told us that his older sister had met with the missionaries when they were younger. He said that he could really feel a difference when the missionaries would come over. Then he told us how he went to the open house of the nauvoo temple and he just absolutely loved the feeling that he had there. Then he told us how he went to temple square in Salt Lake and had the same feeling. Well I told him that, that was the Holy Ghost and that there is a reason that he feels that way in those places. Well he also came to church with us on Sunday and  definitely the best part was after when he told us how much he loved the High Priest Group. He said that he felt so privileged to be in a room with so many amazing men who have the spirit radiating from them so well. We are going to be meeting with him again on Friday. I am so excited to meet with him again.

                    Hey I just wanted to comment on what has been going on with you guys. That is so awesome about the baby blessing. You all looked great and it looked like it was a great experience. Savannah looked absolutely gorgeous as well. By the way I liked how in one of the pictures dad is holding a cup of Diet Coke. haha I am sorry about the rain, it seems like that is just sort of a theme that goes a long with our family activities. Also something really neat about the scripture that you sent me. So in my personal scripture study I found the exact same scripture and I really, really loved it. It was so cool that you had heard the same exact thing.
                   Well that was pretty much the highlights of our week. It was a good week right up until I got sick things should be better now though.I love you all and hope you have a great week.

 Love Elder Payne

Addendum from Mom:

Hi everyone, 
   Just a little info on the first of his letter.  We got a short email from him on Monday saying that he was really sick and would email us tomorrow.  After you see the picture of him you'll understand just how sick he was.  So thankful that he has great people in his ward to take care of him. The McGhies have been so great to he and his companion and it is their daughter Makaylie that was baptized on his bday, after they adopted her two weeks ago.  Buffy, the mom, called to just check on them since she hadn't heard from them since Sunday and she knew he wasn't feeling well.  She wouldn't take no for an answer and went to the store and got him all the things he needed to get feeling better.  They are an amazing couple and I am so thankful for them.  She called and let me know that she was taking good care of him and that he was slowly getting back to the land of the living.  The Lord is so mindful of his missionaries!! So grateful to have him serving on a mission.  Thanks for all of your love and prayers in his behalf.  Have a great week.
Love,
Sheri

Email: Really Sick! :(

Hi family,
              I am really sorry but this is just a note telling you guys that I am going to be emailing you tomorrow. I am extremely sick today and can barely stand sitting at this computer right now. I was up most of the night last night puking and......well i will save you from the details of the other end. So ya it kind of sucks. In fact i threw up so hard I broke a blood vessel in my eye, and a few in my eye lids!!! crazy right well I love you and i loved all of the pictures. You guys all look so great and little savannah looked just beautiful in her dress. Once again i am sorry but I will fill you in better tomorrow. Love Elder Payne


P.S. here is a pic of me last night after upchucking what felt like two gallons of stuff!!!!

Email: No transfer and Pictures

Hi guys,
            I'm sorry but this email is going to be very short. It is just basically to inform you that I am not being transferred. Elder Hyde and I am staying together for another 6 weeks. There are three of the Elders that are being transferred out. I am excited to get to know some new Elders and get to know new people.
            It was so good to get to talk to you all Yesterday. You don't really know how much you miss someone until you get to talk to them again. I just want to thank you all for all that you have done for me. I truly have the best family in the world. i don't know what I would do without you all. So thanks again for being such a wonderful family. Hey dad I was just wondering if you could send me out my "toolbox" binder out to me. I would really love to have it. Well family you are all great and I promise that next weeks email will be much longer ha ha love you

Love Elder Payne

I hope you enjoy my pictures.

Brother Allan's mountain man stuff-

 For Whitney-

 A member called my Mom for Elder Payne's favorite cake and made her famous chocolate cake for him!

 Birthday packages!

 Mikayla was baptized on Elder Payne's birthday! Hunter was a witness.

 Making goop with Mikayla-

 Birthday celebrations for Hunter!

 Letter from Drake! Drake loves to cut little pieces of paper, scribble on them, and put them in an envelope for his uncle. He also drew him a picture of himself and wrote his name! This all came in one envelope. :)

Skyping on Mother's Day!

Hunter's view-

 Payne Family view-

Happy 20th Birthday Hunter!!!

A member in Elder Payne's ward contacted Mom about a week ago to find out what Hunter's favorite dinner and dessert is. What an amazing lady!

She made him poppy-seed chicken for dinner and then made my mom's FAMOUS CHOCOLATE CAKE that is Hunter's absolute favorite!

She was sent this picture tonight. What a fantastic surprise!

Tomorrow is Elder Payne's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!

Email: Update on Investigators

Well Hello to everyone,

Wow what an amazing week that we have had out here. There have been a few low points, but hey that  happens. So lets get the lows out of the way. First off I thank you all very much for all of the prayers that you have said on Cece's behalf. Unfortunately this past week she dropped us and is no longer going to
be taking the lessons. It was really quite a shock how it happened. As you know from the last email that i sent about her the lesson that we had with her went very well. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and how it can bring us strength and peace in times of trial. At times it seemed as if she was about in tears. Well after that we could not get a hold of her at all. We tried relentlessly with no results. Finally we went over one day and she was home. We met her at the doorway and she did not seem that happy to see us. She  mentioned to us that either her Sister or sister-in-law had just passed away. We did our best to show her we cared and asked if there was anything that we could do to help. We asked if we could come back and talk with her more and help her out and she told us that she did not want us to come back. Oh man that kind of sucked mainly because i know how much this message could help her if she would only accept it. I guess at this time she just isnt ready for it. We are going to try back in a few weeks and see if there is any renewed interest on her behalf.

So there is kind of the downer part of the week but let me tell you about what else has been going on here. Mikayla is doing awesome! She is so excited for her baptism this coming Saturday. We have been going over the lessons with her, just to review for her baptismal interview. She is a very smart girl and has remembered basically everything that the other missionaries have taught her. We have been busy setting up the program and so that has kept things interesting. What is awesome is she actually asked me to be one of the witnesses! I am so excited and yes it is going to be a wonderful birthday present. I just want to reiterate what i have already said in past emails. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be apart of helping her in her path to baptism. There have been so many missionaries that have taught her and there have been so many prayers said specifically for her to get adopted, and some how i have been lucky and blessed enough to be here and be apart of the actual ordinance. Wow what an amazing experience.

Well Keriann and Tyler are still doing great. We have gone over the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a few of the
commandments. They are taking it all in very well and are learning so much. i love when I get to be able to see the change that the Gospel not only makes in an individual but in an entire family. Each one of them seems to be coming closer together. i know that is because of the importance our Heavenly Father puts on the family. He wants the family unit to be our main focus and is one of the most important things to him. We are going to be putting a big focus on getting young women to their lessons this week. Mainly for fellowship for Keriann. We want her to really feel like she is welcome and want to be their at church and mutual and even at school. Please be praying for her.

So i just wanted to share with you one of the testimonies that was given on this past Sunday. Their was a lady and she was talking about an uncle that she had that found out he had terminal brain cancer. The doctors told him that he only had 3 months to live. So the very first thing he did was go to his bishop. His
bishop asked so why is it you wanted to me with me? The man explained the situation and then asked "Bishop I have a firm testimony of the Plan of Salvation, but I just want to know, Am I good enough?" Wow the second that woman uttered that phrase a wave of emotion past over me. It really made me think and made me ask the same question, Am i good enough? I truly think, that is something that we need to ask ourselves every now and then. Am I living up to the standard that our Heavenly Father has set for us? Or is there more that i can be doing? I want you all to keep that in mind this coming week, because that is what I
am going to be doing.

Well I want to thank you for the package you sent me. That was such a great surprise and thank you so much for the wallet. You know just how much i love Superman and when i saw that i was just giddy with joy. Thank youall for all that you do for me. I really do appreciate the love that i feel coming from back home. I truly have the best family on earth. So a little info about skypng, plan on about 5 oclock your time. If I have to adjust things i will just calls you guys and figure it out. I should have pretty much as much time as i
need because we are eating dinner the same family that we are skyping with so it will work out perfectly.

Thanks again and I love you all.
Love Elder Payne

Pictures from Elder Payne!

My new tracting approach- haha

 This is Brother Allan's mountain man stuff-

 Chili cook-off

Thank you for the package 

I loved this!