Lynchburg is sweet!

I love it here. The ward is BIG. And super supportive. They feed us daily and so it's really weird for me to go shopping and not have to buy anything for dinner! It's really awesome. I am getting used to driving a Malibu however. It's quite a bit smaller than a truck. Apparently we're going to be getting a Jeep compass next transfer though, because our car is over 50000 miles now. I'm pretty stoked.

Elder Richard is a great missionary. He's been out for just over 6 months, and really quiet, so I'm not really used to that yet, but hopefully I can get him to talk more. He's from Alpine, UT and he knew Elder Kelsch(my second companion) back home and in high school. He works hard and knows the area well. Sometimes thats the curse. I feel like he's treating me like someone who came in and disrupted what he and his last companion had going on sometimes, and that he's the boss because he knows the area better. I think we both know however that isnt how its supposed to work. I was the same way with Elder Kelsch when he came to Russell, so hopefully we can fix this before it starts effecting the work.

There was a less active member that we met at Walmart up in Kingwood one day, and it was completely random. We started visiting him and got to know him well, then he moved to a small town just outside our area. BUT! His brother and sister in law are in my ward here. They're soo cool! His brother is recently re-activated and his sister in law was baptized. They're both way legit. It's crazy how God will place us in certain places to that we can help entire families. Sooo crazy how that happens. Just builds my testimony more.

Well, love yall! I hope yall have a great rest of the summer as it comes to an end!

~Elder Wiederholt

1192 Homestead Garden Ct

Forest, VA 24551

Love yall!

Transferred!

I can't write anything too long, cause we're about to go to Morgantown to play some basketball and stuff. But, I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED! I'm going from Kingwood, WV to Lynchburg, VA. I can't wait. It's going to be soooo sweet. My new companion is Elder Richard. I dont know anything about him yet except that he's been out for 6 months. I think that's my calling, young missionaries. Every since missionary that I've been with when I meet them is always 6 months or younger. It's ok though, I love it. apparently he's absolutely awesome, which I dont doubt. His companion, Elder Lillie, is coming up here with Elder Stewart. We might not've gotten along at first, but I gotta admit, I'm gonna miss that kid. He's growin up so fast! Haha

Well family and friends, I love y'all very much, and I'll send a much longer email next week!

~Elder Wiederholt

888 Oakwood Rd Ste 310

Charleston, WV 25314

I feel happy... (Video)

Video, see last post " I feel happy..." for reference.

I feel happy...

And I dont know why, but its kinda wierding me out.

Really quick, just some pictures and a pretty cool video attached. Hopefully it all sends. The video is of something called a Tractor-pull, something definitely not in Oregon. It turns out that, as you can see in the video, the hole in the Ozone is actually over Oakland, Maryland. That video is of one tractor of many, 22 seconds over about 3 hours worth of Semi's, tractors, raised trucks and more. It was awesome. I also know that if this happened in Oregon, there would be people hanging in the streets. Pictures of us with some glow in the dark hats my Aunt Teddie sent us, Me with The Freeland family(we baptized Jeff and hopefully his wife will follow soon) and then us with Zac Lowery, a member who moved into the area for a month, then moved out again.

All the sudden over the last couple days I've been having a lot better time, and things have been better. It hasnt been so hot, and I've been really trying to show more charity and patience and stuff like that, which inevidentily just makes everything better. Also I'm really starting to get into the scriptures. Everything is so awesome. Everyone says this is a hard area, and its true. Everyone challenges your beliefs if youre not a regular christian(aka if your not mormon or jehovahs witness), and the more theyre challenged for me the stronger my beliefs get. Not that I'm bashing, I'm really trying to hold off on that, but once a muscle is torn down, it grows stronger.

Also I gotta say that I'm super thankful that all my companions so far have been erally patient and longsuffering with me. I have realized more and more of a hard head I am. As the Lord describes Israel in Isaiah(one of the first few verses of the first few chapters. I read that a few weeks ago), I have a neck of iron sinew. It's true, I tend to not budge too much. I'm working on that though. I swear!

It seems like that lately I've been doing a lot of changing. I suppose its about time, but I'm really starting to push myself and work harder. Not exactly tracting working hard or anything, but really just learning what I need to learn and applying it. Of course we're working, but it's slowed down since in my last 6 months here we've just about knocked every door in our area. We have a couple streets left, but we're doing a TON of Less-active work lately.

Well, I got some other stuff I gotta do really quick, and I sure do love yall! I saw some pictures from the beaverton 3rd ward get-together, and those seemed like it was an awesome time! I'm sad I missed it and hope that it'll happen again shortly!

~Elder Shain C Wiederholt

888 Oakwood Rd Ste 310

Charleston, WV 25314