Mike's Mission - November 2007

<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>November 2007</B></div> <div> <B>November 25, 2007 - "A lot of Things" - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Among them was a wonderful Thanksgiving day. Michael reported the following activities in the Shiloh Park Ward:</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">A "Turkey Bowl" football game. He and Elder "Z" were on opposite sides playing against each other. Michael indicated that, <I>"The QB on my team played football for BYU years ago.  Bro. Hardisty was his name"</I>. He said it was a blast. We were grateful there were no injuries!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dinner with the Halbertsons (a senior couple in the zone). Michael said, "It was great to get to know them better".</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Dinner with a less active part member family. Michael said, <I>"They have 5 kids and the place was a zoo.  No order in the house at all.  They just do what they want and the parents don't say much about it.  It was way hectic and we tried to share a lesson but they weren't into it.  I tried to paint them a picture of what it would be like for their kids to be baptized at the end of the year and then next year they can take them to the temple.   I think it's what they want but not what they're willing to work for it sadly". </I> </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Next they went to another family's house and had pie and played apples to apples.  Michael reported, <I>"It was fun and a good way to get to know the ward so that we can use them to do missionary work.  There were also nonmembers at the home too so it was good".  </I></div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">On Friday Elder Haslam ran into Angela's neighbor (at Utah State) at her aunt's home in Santa Rosa. He gave her a personal note to take back home to Angie in Logan.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Michael reported that at the end of a tough day of tracting they found a lady (age 72) who had listened to Mormon missionaries before. Michael said she was interested in hearing more because of the way we were explaining things, so we are going back to see her on the 26th.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Michael reported on his zone by saying,<I> "The zone is doing well.  We have only 1 baptism for November but 3 lined up already for December with more that are good possibilities.  This week we have zone conference here in Santa Rosa and Elder Z and I will do a training on using direct questions".</I>  </div> <bR> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.gif" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The next scheduled transfers in Mike's mission are scheduled for December 25th. Michael reported,<I> "Obviously they have been moved to a different day, Thursday 12/27.  We send the dying elders home the weekend before Christmas and the new missionaries come in the day after.  We will then have a Polynesian Luau All Mission Conference and Transfer on Thursday. It will be a blast"!</I></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>November 19, 2007 - "Life With Elder 'Z' " - </B></FONT>In a word life with Elder Zvirzdin is WONDERFUL. Michael described his week as <I>"amazing"</I>. He called his new companionship a <I>"Zion Companionship"</I>. He says that Elder Zvirzdin has a lot of energy that is contagious. After helping other missionaries get settled into their new apartments on Tuesday and Wednesday, Elder Haslam and Elder 'Z' still had time to find some very good new contacts.  One is a young family that lives near a convert of 2-years, and the other appears to be a golden contact that they learned about while attending their new ward the Shiloh Park Ward.  Regarding the ward Michael remarked, <I>"In priesthood they asked if people had missionary opportunities to share and it took a good 10 minutes for everyone to share"!  </I>Michael reported that if every companionship in the zone has a baptism in December, then President Stoddard will take them all out for a steak dinner. He said to accomplish that goal just 3 companionships need to find a good contact.</div> <bR> <div> Speaking of his new apartment he added, "<I>We moved into our new apartment.  It's a sweet 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment!  It's so much nicer than my last 2 bedroom 1 bathroom apartment for 4.  I'm loving' it". </I></div> <bR> <div> Michael laments that he is the "oldest" missionary in his zone.  I guess somehow his zone does not include the Elders who are serving as assistants to President Stoddard. </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>November 12, 2007 - "You'll Never Guess" - </B></FONT>My FIRST companion is my NEW companion. Yes Elder Alex Zvirzdin  my MTC companion is my new Zone Leader Companion.  Michael described him,  <I>"He's the funniest, hardest working, and happiest kid in the mission.  It will be a blast!"!</I> Again Michael is WHITEWASHING his new area (the Shiloh Park Ward).  Formerly sister missionaries were serving there. Michael added,<I> "I don't know what it is but they can't keep me in the same area for too long.  I think I average less than 3 months per area right now and depending on how long I stay in Shiloh Park it may get shorter.  So I am sad to leave.  I just started to get to know the members and now I need to leave.  I'm not going to leave any real investigators though.  We dropped Rachelle and Laureen won't call us back.  I feel bad about it.  I think I could have done more". </I> </div> <bR> <div> He added that some good things seem to be happening in the Santa Rosa zone, and the transfers appear on the face of it to have strengthened all companionships. Concluding his transfer report Michael reported, "The new AP is actually my older "brother".  Elder Dupre, he was trained by Elder Bennett 3 months before me.  So that's the news on transfers".</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>November 5, 2007 - "Ups and Downs" - </B></FONT>Michael reported, <I>"The area is still struggling, I can't get out and work like I would like because of Elder Scott's blood pressure. He gets pains and he has to rest. It will be nice when I have another real zone leader to work with. Rachelle is doing all right, we almost dropped her but she read and agreed to another appointment tomorrow.  Didn't teach Lauren this week, we talked with her and hopefully this week will work.  Other than that we are looking for the elect, hopefully we can find the time to actually work at that this week".</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>