Michael's Mission - September 2006

<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>September 2006</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>September 25, 2006 - </B></FONT>Michael and his new co-senior companion Elder Davis apparently now have two wards to serve in Vacaville the 2nd and the 3rd.  Michael remarked, "<I><B>The second ward is tough but promising, this week we taught a lot of part member families".</B></I> They taught 2 lessons to Stephon during the week. He came to church on Sunday.  They do have some word of wisdom issues to work out with him before he can be baptized.</div> <bR> <div> The Cervantes family delivered a letter wherein they stated that they were no longer interested in studying the restored gospel. They said they were greatful for the encouragement to get back into prayer and reading the scriptures.</div> <bR> <div> On Michael's camera card was the audio from his address on August 27 at the 3rd Ward, and a video of his Rubick's Cube competition with the wife of the mission leader Sister Worthen. Michael won the match 2-1. He also included the list of "approved music" for P-day. He concluded saying the first of 8 time markers is approaching (General Conference).</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> <A NAME="first_baptism"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>September 18, 2006 - </B></FONT>Michael titled his E-mail <B>"Great Days and New Changes in Cow Town".</B> He went on to say that on September 22nd most of his zone in Vacaville is moving (except for the Sisters).  Michael's wonderful tranier Elder Bennett is being transferred to "Eureka California" as Zone Leader.  Michael's new companion in the 3rd ward will be Elder Jeremy Davis (who was part of Michael's group at the MTC. Michael says we are designed "co-senior companions". Elder Davis is from Kearns, Utah.  We certainly will be a "young" companionship! Among the other missionaries in the Vacaville Zone - Elder Delahunty is returning home to Draper Utah.Elder Jewkes is becoming a Zone Leader in Napa. Elder D. Davis is going to Santa Rosa as Zone Leader, Elder Blankenship is going a few miles south to Fairfield as District Leader. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0562ce10.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="225" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Valerie Ward's Baptism - September 15, 2006</div> <bR> <div> Reed thinks these large changes mean that the size of the Santa Rosa mission must be shrinking.</div> <bR> <div> Brother Wanlass baptized Valerie on Friday evening. She knew 2 families in the church and also a single lady on her street. I performed her confirmation yesterday and she also had her visiting teachers come over yesterday. The relief society is quick! She is doing awesome and seems to radiate more every time we see her. Next week I should know more about how her sister is progressing in England. </div> <bR> <div> Brother Snyder is ready to be baptized as soon as he has quit smoking.  The Cervantes family attended church on Sunday! They also are working with a less active family.</div> <bR> <div> He concluded his E-mail with <B>"I love the work! It is the Lord's work and cannot be stopped! Did you read the article in the Ensign on the place in South or Central America that went from 2 stakes to 7 in 1 year!"</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>September 11, 2006 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Michael started his letter, "Why be dry?"  Michael confirmed that many of the people in Vacaville work at Travis Air Force Base which is closer to Fairfield than Vacaville. Valerie's baptism is scheduled for 7pm on Friday the 15th, along with 2 others from the 1st ward. Everything is all set and we're excited. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> President Stoddard attended the sacrament service in the 3rd ward. We knoew he was coming to the area to interview the people in the 1st ward that the Zone leaders have been teaching, but we never expected that he would attend the 3rd ward.  I remind Elder Bennett that President Stoddard and I go way back (back to the MTC anyway).</div> <bR> <div> Michael explained, <I><B>""why be dry? because I have a t-shirt that I got from the Opportunity House that says Why Be Dry? on the front and Vacaville Swim Club on the back."</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>September 4, 2006 - </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Michael had to write the traditional letter on Labor Day since the local library was closed (the use computers at the library to send e-mail). Michael said he was not home sick even though his Dad was homesick at this point in his mission when school started in the fall.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Vaerie has set a baptismal date of September 15th.  Michael wrote, <I><B>"She is really strong and is very excited about her baptism, that's when you know they have truly been converted" </B></I>Brother Snyder has been making progress with quitting smoking. His father who also used to smoke visited and encouraged him to quit.</div> <bR> <div> We attended a temple dedication session at the Davis Stake center in Woodland. At the session I attended the temple president and his wife spoke, followed by Elder Perry, Elder Rosband, Elder Hinckley (Jr.) and then President HInckley. President Monsen read the prayer of dedication, while Elder Perry lead the hosana shout. The Sacramento temple is a small one. Only 19,000 square feet, which means attendance is by appoinbtment only.</div> <bR> <div> Elder Haslam added that he and Elder Bennett gave each other hair-cuts. He said Elder Bennett did the better job since he has more experience.</div> <bR> <div> Regarding finances the new missionary handbook specifies that the missionaries' monthly stipend can only be spent on food, toiletries, house products, laundry, and hair cuts. None of it can be used for bicycle repair, clothing of any kind, nor telecommunications charges. <B>This bit of instruction has Elder Haslam's father wondering how they are supposed to pay for bicycle repair or clothing?</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>