Mike's Mission - May 2008

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=110 BGCOLOR="#FFFF66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03c006e0dkfegl.gif"> <div>                          <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Michael's Mission Page</FONT>      <IMG SRC="04e55390.gif" border=0 width="85" height="57" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>                     California Santa Rosa Mission  June 2006 - June 2008    |   <A HREF="http://www.theHaslams.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.theHaslams.com"><U>theHaslams.com</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=190 BGCOLOR="#009933" TEXT="#080000" background="03dbec00ddwnzy.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Front Page"><U><B>Front Page</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="latest_news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Latest News"><U><B>Latest News</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="photo_album.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission Photo Album"><U><B>Photo Album</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="companions.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission Companions"><U><B>Companions</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>=====================</B></div> <div> <A HREF="may_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission May 2008"><U><B>May 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="april_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission April 2008"><U><B>April 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="march_w008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission March 2008"><U><B>March 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="february_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission February 2008"><U><B>February 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="january_2008.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission January 2008"><U><B>January 2008</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="december_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission December 2007"><U><B>December 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="november_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission November 2007"><U><B>November 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="october_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission October 2007"><U><B>October 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="september_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission September 2007"><U><B>September 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="august_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission August 2007"><U><B>August 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="july_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission July 2007"><U><B>July 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="june_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mike_Mission June 2007"><U><B>June 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="may_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission May 2007"><U><B>May 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="april_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission April 2007"><U><B>April 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="march_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission March 2007"><U><B>March 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="february_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes mission February 2007"><U><B>February 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="january_2007.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission January 2007"><U><B>January 2007</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="december_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission December 2006"><U><B>December 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="november_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission November 2006"><U><B>November 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="october_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission October 2006"><U><B>October 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="september_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission September 2006"><U><B>September 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="august_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Michaels Mission August 2006"><U><B>August 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="july_2006.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission July 2006"><U><B>July 2006</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="arrival.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Arrival in Santa Rosa"><U><B>Arrival in Santa Rosa</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="mtc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mikes Mission MTC"><U><B>Departure & the Missionary Training Center</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>=====================</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.mission.net/california/santa/rosa/index.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mission.net/california/santa/"><U><B>California Santa Rosa Mission Alumni Site</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=370 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>May 2008</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>May 26, 2008 - "I don't like to count, but we are pretty close" - </B></FONT>With just two weeks to go Elder Haslam spoke about all kinds of new teaching opportunities, more than almost any other time on his mission. Sister Heath was too busy this past week to make an appointment, and a new appointment time has not yet been realized.  Sister Melendez, <I>"is starting to realize her dependence on God.  She has been going through some emotional struggles and realizes that on her own she can't take it. This should give her enough motivation to come to church and worship with us which can make a big difference in her progress". </I>A returned missionary from Fiji gave them a referral, though he was not excited about it, he told the Elders,<I> "yeah she'll talk to you but I'm not sure where things may go". </I>When Michael spoke to her on the telephone he found her to be quite excited. He said, <I>"I talked with her and she was way excited about meeting us and talking about the church". </I>They also met an older gentleman who lives in a trailer park. He had been thinking about the meaning of life. They gave him a pamphlet and when they returned they found that he had read it, and they have a return appointment to discuss the restoration of the gospel. Finally they had met a black man who is seeking the truth. He said he had looked at the Mormon faith but was troubled about the former denial of the priesthood to black men. They have a return appointment to visit with him and Michael has been thinking about how to approach the issue of the blacks and the priesthood. One thought was to challenge him to determine if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the Priesthood or not. If it doesn't then the issue has no importance, while if it does, then it's power can bless his life.</div> <bR> <div> Looking forward Michael wrote,<I> "I will most likely finish the Pearl of Great Price and of course next week I will finish the Doctrine and covenants and therefore have read the entire standard works on my mission.  Also I will read the conference talks by then too.  This week and next week is also and in depth study of the Atonement.  Wish me luck. On the calendar this week is my last district council and interview with President Stoddard (before the final interview)".</I></div> <div>   </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>May 19, 2008 - "Summer Heat" - </B></FONT>Ukiah has been real hot this past week. A couple of days the temperature rose to near or just over 100 degrees. Michael wrote, <I>"Believe me I have felt the heat.  It's a bad combination to have your slowest part of the day be the hottest part of the day but that's the case".</I></div> <bR> <div> The missionaries in Ukiah tried a new approach to sharing the gospel with the local residents. They held a free car wash at the church.  Michael said, <I>"It was a very positive experience for everyone who came.  I wish you could have been here Rob.  The most interested guy was from Tokyo.  He is a Buddhist that works over at a Buddhist High School on the east side of town.  They have a temple there too called the temple of the 1000 Buddhas.  They really have 1000 Buddha statues out there too I'm told.  I gave him an English copy of the Book of Mormon and asked if we could come by his house and he declined.  But we might get to teach at their ecumenical class that they have.  We'll see.  I've found that it's good to get people in waiting situations.  That way they're not in a hurry, or think they're in a hurry.  Like at the car dealership when you get your oil changed, you can always get a great gospel conversation going with someone that is also waiting.  You just ask them how they're doing and what they do for work and pretty soon they ask you "what are you doing?"  It's a perfect segue". </I></div> <bR> <div> For their service project this week the Ukiah missionaries worked at a Boy Scout camp. Michael reported, <I>"We had a zone service project up at the boy scout camp again.  That went pretty well as we helped dig trenches, cleaned out a building and the waterfront area".</I></div> <bR> <div> Regarding the baptism on Saturday Elder Haslam said,<I> "Sister Thompson has made a lot of changes just in the way that she views life now in general.  She has a very repentant heart and was wanting to follow Christ.  I actually got the baptism done on the first try this time!  I was excited about that but Sister Norris kind of teased for it since I had to do it twice with her".</I></div> <bR> <div> Sister Norris who is engaged to the ward mission leader Craig Carter joined Elder Haslam and Elder Lythgoe when they made a return visit to a contact which they tracted out the prior week.</div> <bR> <div> Michael concluded, <I>"Well, I'm off to Ft. Bragg today, my last beach trip.  We're going to sleep over there too and hold District Council in Ft. Bragg.  It will be a blast and it's approved because, well because I approved it".</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>May 12, 2008 - "Happy Mother's Day" - </B></FONT>When Michael called at about 3:50 P.M. on Sunday May 11th, he was greeted with Robert shouting, <B>"Tell him to call back later, the Jazz game is not over yet". </B>So Michael agreed to call again in 15 minutes. When he called back the game was tied as regulation came to a close. I told the boys to turn off the TV as it was time to talk with Elder Haslam.</div> <bR> <div> In his telephone call yesterday and his e-mail today Elder Haslam provided some interesting information. The most shocking item was, <I><B>"My bicycle was stolen last fall".</B></I> It turns out that when he left the Davis zone that he left his bicycle there for the Elders in DIxon to use.  We'll after one of their bicycles was stolen, they began to use Michael's bicycle. Then both bicycles were stolen.  Michael said, <I><B>"Don't worry, I don't need a bicycle".</B></I></div> <bR> <div> When Michael arrived in Ukiah he started to teach a young woman who was dating the assistant ward mission leader in the Ukiah 2nd Ward. She continued her studies with the Elders in the Ukiah 1st Ward and has asked Elder Haslam to baptize her on Saturday May 17th.  Michael is excited about that opportunity.</div> <bR> <div> Elders Haslam and Lythgoe also met a contact his past week who may turn into an investigator. They are hopeful as the prepare for a return appointment this coming week. This contact is familiar with one of the members in the Ward, and that member agreed to join them as they make this return appointment.</div> <bR> <div> Michael and several other Elders attended the Oakland Temple on Wednesday May 7th.  They were asked to see if they could find members in the local area who would drive them to the temple and attend a session with them. The Elders in Ukiah were fortunate to find such a member.  Michael was very impressed with the Oakland Temple. He said, "It is very large and has a wonderful view of the San Francisco bay area (on a clear day)." Since it is an old style temple it has four large endowment rooms. Michael was impressed. He said they had a chapel session with President Stoddard before their session began.</div> <bR> <div> On Thursday Elders Haslam and Bush performed the <I>"Tour de Ukiah"</I> as they visited all of the missionaries in the zone at their residences. Michael said it was a lot of travel, but it was worthwhile.</div> <bR> <div> In his e-mail he again thanked his Mother for being so good to him. </div> <bR> <div> He also reported that he went golfing today with Elder Lythgoe. He said, <I>"I played for the first time on my mission today, so it's been about 2 years.  And I shot a 22 over par, on just 9 holes.  I did get 2 bogeys though, no pars however.  It was fun and not a bad course.  There are 2 holes that take you up into the hills and one that brings you back down and there is a beautiful view on that hole from the tee box.  Even with my bad play I still won.  Elder Lythgoe is more of a chef than a golfer".</I><I><U> </U></I>[Editor's note: Dad will soon have a golf buddy again who shoots about the same!]</div> <bR> <div> Elder Haslam has been worried about the ward knowing that his days are numbered. He reported, <I>"I don't know how much of the ward knows; but it could well be 25% of the active members.  We're not supposed to let them know but every now and then they corner you, or overhear something, or your companion tells for you.  Anyway, it's not too bad and the members that do know aren't really counting down for me".</I></div> <bR> <div> Elder Haslam concluded by saying that he's excited that this week will allow more time for missionary work. He said, <I>"We should get some good new investigators going".</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>May 05, 2008 - "Going to the Temple" - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >It's May and that means it is time for the Santa Rosa Mission's annual trip to a nearby temple.  Last year Michael went to the new Sacramento temple because he was working in Davis (not far from Sacramento). This year he will be going to the Oakland temple some day during the coming week. [Neither Temple is within the boundaries of the Santa Rosa California Mission, so they have to get special permission to leave their mission boundary].</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Reporting on the past week (the first week with Elder Lythgoe) Elder Haslam reported, <I>"So this week was pretty good.  Elder Douglas Lythgoe and I get along pretty well and he's gotten super excited to work hard so that's really good.  He said that he wants to make this transfer the turning point in his mission and get things going the right way.  He's been a good help to me and hasn't pressured me about the fact that I'm going home in 5 weeks. We had a good week.  We started teaching a part member family.  They are not 100% mentally there but they are pretty close.  They are really nice people and are definitely accountable.  They have been to church before and they want to come back.  I think that if he joins the church it will be a good strength to them in staying active. We also got a few ins with some other part members.  I tried to start teaching two of the part members that I am familiar with.  One of them we taught before, Ben Bogner, the other we haven't.  In both cases I was pretty bold at it but they declined kindly.  So, I'm at least trying.  So we're hoping that as we continue to work hard that we will be blessed. The Vander Stoep's were going to bring their neighbors to church but they backed out at the last minute.  Maybe another day".</I></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>