Week 71 - December 19, 2017 - So what's the goal for today? LIGHT THE WORLD

Hola y'all :)

Alright so this week was a pretty good week. Imma just skip to all the good stuff so you don't have a boring letter this week haha! 

First awesome thing that happened this past week was our Christmas Zone Conference. This one was different because the Nola zone was combined with the Slidell zone so there were so many missionaries! And it was the Christmas Zone Conference so it was a bunch of fun and not as much just sitting and listening to instructions. The instructions we did have were really good tho. My favorite was by the Slidell ZL's, Elder Heninger and Elder Bailey. Theirs was about how to have a good/memorable mission. Here are their three points

1. Check yourself before you wreck yourself

      So forget yourself

So the basis for that one is that we need to make sure that we are doing the things that we should be doing and making sure that this work is about the people here and not about us.

2. Work hard, Play hard

     Live Louisiana

This one is pretty self explanatory but missionary work isn't supposed to make us miserable. You can make it fun and you can still do fun things but the work has to come first. Also we are called to Louisiana so we gotta live Louisiana. You gotta get excited about the things that they get excited about and you gotta get in and live the culture. That is something that I firmly believe helps missionaries connect with the people they teach.

3. #gettheshot

So this one is kinda different. When we take a picture we are trying to capture a moment. We are trying to capture the feeling of what was going on so that we can look back and remember everything that we did. They used this as an analogy for the mission. Are we capturing the feeling of the mission so that it can look back on it and remember how amazing it was? 

Those were the three points and I thought it was pretty cool yeah! After that it was a white elephant gift exchange and I got a pug face pillow with a picture of the three Chalmette sisters on it haha! 

Now the other thing that happened this week is something that I usually don't write about because I usually don't like them, but I had a great exchange this week haha! I got to go with Elder Boyd, the English trainee here in Chalmette! I have never had more fun on exchanges and I have probably never had more fun tracting lol. So the beginning of the day we planned and Elder Boyd asks "So what's the goal for today?" and before I can answer he gets super excited and says "LIGHT THE WORLD!" So that became the joke for the day. After every house we knocked on and every person we talked to we would say something along the lines of "Man, we just freaking lit the world!" It made tracting way more fun then just going and knocking on doors haha. And later that day Elder Boyd and I got to go caroling with the Sisters in a trailer park over in Chalmette! Boyd was super happy because he loves to sing haha! All in all it was a good day!

Well that is the news for the week! Oh actually I didn't even say anything about transfers! I am staying another one here in Chalmette with Elder Hernandez! 

Alright y'all! Have a Merry Christmas!

Elder Nathan Stoddard

 

 

Week 70 - December 11, 2017 - Snow?!? In Louisiana?!

Howdy y'all :)

So to start with the strangest new of all, IT SNOWED IN LOUISIANA!! I never thought I'd see the day! It literally snowed everywhere! South of the Lake where we live only got a little bit and it didn't stick long, but in Hammond I think they got like 2 or so inches which is just crazy! It is definitely a Christmas miracle!!

This week was really good but also felt super short for some reason. Donald is doing good on his goal to be baptized on the 19th of January. He is using lemon juice to try and help him lose the urge to smoke and he says it is working! Please keep him in your prayers so that he can kick the habit once and for all! We also got to meet with the Smith family this week. We took them 8 copies of the Book of Mormon! So now all the people in the family old enough to read have a copy! We also watched The Restoration with them because of how many kids they have. We thought it would keep the kids attention more than a lesson haha.

On Wednesday we got to go to the Farrell's house to watch the Christmas Devotional since we didn't get to watch it on Sunday. It was super good and Sister Farrell was awesome enough to buy us all pizza for the Devo and let us have our district meeting there afterwards.

Scripture for the week: Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

I hope all y'all have a merry season of peace on earth and good will towards all men. Christ was born to bring peace so let us do our part and share that peace with others that don't have it this Christmas season. Each of us has the power to be a light to someone who may be lost in the dark this season.

Elder Nathan Stoddard

Week 69 - December 4, 2017 - It's a Christmas Miracle!!

Hola y'all!

So its been another week out here in Chalmette Louisiana. People keep saying that it is December now but I'm not sure if I believe them. I mean I don't remember sweating in December in the past but I guess that is what it feels like out here!

This week has been pretty good for the most part. The big news is that Donald has agreed to try and quit smoking and be baptized on the 19th of January! We are calling him every night to check up on him and to say a prayer with him to help him quit smoking. He says that it is helping and we are going to meet with him Wednesday to check on his progress as well.

 Another awesome Christmas Miracle that happened this week is that we started teaching a family of 8! They are English but they live out where all the Spanish members live so we are going to be the ones that teach them! Don't ask me all the names cause I wont remember but 6 of them are old enough to be baptized and two of the boys are old enough to receive the priesthood! The father is a member but he went less active around the time that he was 17. He told us that the reason he wants his family and especially the kids to be taught is because he remembers that path that the church had put him on when he was younger and is hoping that they can get on the path and stay on the path. He remembers how kind everyone was in the church and how different it was from the atmosphere of the ghetto he grew up in. It was a super cool story and we hope that we can help his family come closer to Christ this Christmas season. 

Other than that this has been a pretty standard week. We knocked a lot of doors and met some cool people that we are going to be meeting with again this week. And I have picture for the week but didn't bring my cord to send them lol! I will send all of them next week I promise!

Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Remember the reason for this CHRISTmas season. We have a Savior, he was born in a lowly manger, he has suffered all things for us and HE is the greatest gift that has ever been given. Remember Him this season and spread the joy of Christ to all those that are around you! There is no better way to be happy than to serve someone the way that Christ served them! Spread the reason for your joy with everyone!

Elder Nathan Stoddard

Week 68 - November 27, 2017 - Turkey Day y'all!!

Howdy y'all!

Alright this has been a pretty blessed week! And no it isn't just because we got fed well for Thanksgiving, but that is a pretty big part ;) So about three weeks ago our branch started a two week fast for increased missionary work here in the Chalmette branch. Well I can say that God has heard the fast of all these members. On Wednesday we went to a part member families house that we visit regularly. Well the mom, Daisy, is always super nice to us but has never been interested in having the lessons. The missionaries have been trying to teach her for about a year or so but she just was never interested. Well we get there on Wednesday and Maximo tells us that she is ready to take the lessons! She hadn't gotten off work yet that day so we haven't officially started teaching her yet but we are going tonight to start teaching!! She also came to church yesterday which is awesome!! 

So for Thanksgiving we had a busy day! We started at the Downtown Convention Center where a group of us missionaries volunteered to help at their annual Thanksgiving feast for the homeless and less fortunate. We were assigned to work at the area where they were giving out free clothes. It was an awesome thing to see! There were so many volunteers that just walked in off the street to sign up to help! It was an awesome thing to watch! After that we had a lunch appointment with a member and her sister! It was really good! It was the traditional stuff that you would have back home! It was a lot of fun! Then that night we had dinner at our Branch Presidents house! They can cook some good food! It was the traditional ham, turkey, stuffing, greenbeans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. It was sooo good! After we ate with them we had a fire in their backyard and went around saying things that we were thankful for! It was an awesome night!

The rest of the week was pretty standard. We did a fair amount of tracting out in Chalmette which was pretty good. We didn't meet too many people that were interested in our message but hey, we had fun out doing it haha! 

I think that is about it for me this week! Remember as we are coming into this Christmas Season that "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" Go out and make someones Christmas season special! The best way to become happy is to help others be happy as well! 

Love y'all!

Elder Nathan Stoddard​​​​​​​​​​

Week 59 - September 25, 2017 - Sushi Steve

Hola y'all :)

So I am sorry but this weeks email is going to be super short! 

Both Elder Israelsen and I got sick this week so we were out from Tuesday night until about Friday with some form of head cold or something. We were both really stuffed up and had sore throats so we took it easy and got better. I did learn a new skill while we were sick tho. I now love making friendship bracelets! A couple of the sisters in Hammond made them and I bought the stuff to make them the Monday before I got sick! What a stroke of genius! or inspiration! But yeah it is a fun way to pass the time when you are sick!

Other than that the only other really cool thing that happened this week was when we were going around to the Spanish members with our Group Leader. We had just barely stepped out of the car when an Asian guy says "What do y'all do?" So we tell him we go around talking to people about Jesus Christ and he has us come talk with him. We ask his name and he says "Sushi Steve". lol what kind of awesome name is that?! He was super funny and taught all of us some funny hand

shakes and wants us to come by and visit him! He speaks English so we should prolly pass him off to the English elders but nah, we want to keep meeting with him because he is sooo funny! 

Well that is all for this week! 

Elder Stoddard

 

 

Week 58 - September 18, 2017 - Holiness to The Lord

Hola y'all :)

So the first cool thing that happened this week was that we got to go to the temple as a district! It was sooo fun! I love being able to go to the temple as a missionary! And you sometimes run into someone from a past area which is cool! This past time I ran into Elder Moody, senior missionary in Hammond. He told me a lot about what is going on there. I learned that a lot of people that I had worked with in Hammond to prepare them for the temple will be going through soon and I can wait to go and see them go through! It will be such a cool experience to go through with someone I've come to know and love!

Other than that this was a pretty standard week haha! Missionary work doesn't really change that much so there isn't much to tell that I haven't already told! The Spanish group here is doing well. Yesterday was a pretty small group tho because most of the families had to work until 6 and that is when the group meets! We did get some cool youth there and they are interested in coming again and bringing their family so we might be on to something out here!

So this week I was reading in 1Corinthians Chapter 4 and I think I found the perfect scripture to describe what is is like as a missionary. 

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

This is what I love about the mission, I go out every day as a fool 'for Christ's sake' but because of this others become 'wise in Christ.' This has been the hardest thing about the mission. It isn't fun to be the 'fool' or 'despised' or 'the filth of the world.' Who would want to be these things? But it is soooo worth it! I wish it was easier to set aside my pride and be that 'fool' but every time I do I never regret that decision.

I love y'all and pray that everything is going good for y'all :)

Keep the faith and always remember that our Heavenly Father and the Savior love you and are aware of you :)

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Stoddard

Week 67 - November 20, 2017 - H-Town

Howdy y'all!!

So this letter is going to be pretty lame and short so I am sorry! Haha transfers week is always kinda slow!

My new companion is Elder Kevin Hernandez, a.k.a H-Town. He has been out for about 8 months so far. He was born in Mexico but grew up in Houston Texas so he isnt too far away from home out here. He is super funny and has been helping me out a lot with my Spanish! And it is nice to have a native comp because all the people here love the natives haha!

Other than that this week was pretty slow. Izzy and I went and said bye to all the members he wanted to see and then after transfers I took Hernandez around to meet all the branch members and all the Spanish members. 

I'm sorry this is such a lame email haha! It will be longer next week I promise!

 

 

Week 66 - November 14, 2017 - Where did the transfer go?

Where did the transfer go?

Hola y'all!

First off, Where the crap did this transfer go?! Like it feels like it was just last week that we lost English Elders and it became just me and Izzy in the apartment! It has been a great transfer and I am sad to see it end. So the transfer news is that Elder Israelsen is going to go salt n pepper in Metairie. Kinda funny since last time Izzy and I got separated I went salt n pepper. I am staying here in Chalmette and my new comp will be Elder Hernandez. I am super excited to have a native comp that can really help me with my Spanish! This should be a good transfer!

So this week was kinda crazy! We had interviews with President on Tuesday and that was good. I really love our Mission President and his wife. They really are like our parents away from home. This week we got bored of the regular tracting routine and so we decided to go on a walk haha. We went to an area that has some cool graffiti that we wanted to get pictures with and just walked around and got to talk to a bunch of people! Best part is it is sooo much easier to start a conversation out on the street than it is on someones doorstep and a lot of times people will end up coming to talk to us! For example, we were walking past an art gallery that wasn't open yet but the owner was outside and stopped us to talk and ask what we were out doing. We got to tell him about what we were doing and where we were from and he thought it was super cool. He even let us come into his gallery so that we could look around! In the end we traded information with him and are planning to do service for them at the gallery!

The other cool thing that we got to do this week was go with Brother Landers to give presents to the granddaughter of a member of our ward. It was a member that I have only met once before but she is super sweet and her granddaughter was sooo happy to get presents! 

Idk I know that a lot more stuff happened this week but my brain just can't remember them right now haha! Well I hope all is well with all y'all!

Elder Nathan Stoddard

10500 Hayne Blvd

Apartment 205

New Orleans, LA

70127

 

 

Week 65 - November 6, 2017 - Elder Oaks!

Hola y'all!

This week was super fun! Alright, it all started out last Monday. Our district took time out of pday so we could go to a Haunted House Monday night. It wasn't a very scary one but it was a lot of fun to go out and do something like that as a district! And it was funny seeing some of the other Elders freak out haha!

This week we also did a lot of service for a family that is in our branch now that was homeless for a while. The father had been active until he turned 17 and his girlfriend isn't a member but they have been coming to church and the ward has been helping them out soo much! We got the chance to help move donated furniture into their house a couple times. They are really nice and very appreciative of what the members have done. We are going to start meeting with, and teaching them this week now that they are all set up and into their new home.

Alright so the best thing this week was definitely our mission conference on Saturday. We got to go to Baton Rouge as a whole mission and meet Elder Dallin H. Oaks! We started with a mission picture with him and then we all got to shake his hand! That in it self was cool! It was crazy to have an Apostle in the same building as all of us! And the conference was nothing like what I expected. Most Zone Conferences are wayyyy too long and boring for me. Elder Oaks didn't have much time so it was only a two hour Conference but it was also super funny! Elder Oaks has a great sense of humor and likes having people laugh! He opened it up to question and answer with us and it was really cool. One of my favorite things he said was about humility. I won't get the quotes exactly right but I will get the gist of them. One Elder asked "So if we are to be humble, and being humble requires self-abasement, how do we be humble and not ruin our self-esteem?" Elder Oaks response was amazing. He said in effect "I do not think of humility as self-abasement. Being humble is being open and being able to be taught." I thought that was a good answer cause when we hear that we need to be humble we always seem to think that that means we need to make ourselves less, but in reality humility helps us make ourselves more than we ever could have been.

To end my letter I just want to state something that I have been thinking about a lot this weekend. So I have been thinking a lot about what the gospel is. So one of the things that came to my mind was a quote from Jack Sparrow in the first Pirates of the Caribbean. About ships he says, "That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs but what a ship is... what the Black Pearl really is... is freedom."  As members and especially missionaries, when we are asked what the gospel is we tend to think in a list, at least I did. It's the Restoration, the Plan of Salvation, the Commandments. So now I am going to change the original quote. "That's what the Gospel is, you know. It's not just a Restoration and a Plan and a Law and Commandments, that's what the Gospel needs but what the Gospel is... what the True Gospel really is... is Hope." Isn't that exactly what the gospel truly is to us? Isn't it the hope that comes because of the Savior? Isn't it the hope that because of him we can return to our Heavenly Father, and see our loved ones again? Isn't it the hope the because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can have help through all our struggles? 

Well I hope y'all have a great week!

 

 

Week 64 - October 30, 2017 Frozen in Nola

Hola y'all!

So as the title implies, IT IS COLD!! I never thought I would say that in Louisiana! I actually really enjoy that it is cooling down but man, I have gotten used to hot, humid Louisiana weather! I never remember being this cold in Lewiston at 60 degrees! 

So this week we had Zone Conference. It was super long, it went from 10-4:30, but super good! Many of the instructions focused on how we can be more unified by not judging others, especially missionaries and on how we can use Preach My Gospel more effectively to become better missionaries. All in all it was a great time, I just wish it was a little shorter haha! 

This week we really focused on some of our investigators that are close to getting baptized. One of them, Donald, is sooo down to be baptized and he knows that the church is true and that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, but he has a problem with smoking. He really wants to quit and this week when he went shopping he wasn't going to buy any cigarettes so that he could be done for good, but the care taker that takes him shopping threatened to not let him have his allotment if he didn't buy cigarettes!! WHAT THE WHAT? Who does that?! This just proves to me that the devil really does work as hard as he can to make sure the elect won't be baptized. So please keep Donald in y'alls prayers so that there can be a solution found to this problem!

Other than that there isn't much that is exciting to report. We are having a good time here in Chalmette and the work is progressing even with Satan doing all he can to stop it. 

Elder Nathan Stoddard

10500 Hayne blvd. apt 205

New Orleans, LA

70127

 

 

Week 62 - October 11, 2017

Howdy y'all :)

So we have had an awesome week this past week! It all started last p-day after we got done emailing. We went to City Park and played a game called SpikeBall in the rain! That was really fun and getting soaked in the rain is like the closest thing to swimming you get to do on the mission so I loved that! We then got to go to one of my favorite families houses, Brother Maximo and his family so all in all it was a great p-day!

The other cool thing that happened this week is that we got to have two other Spanish missionaries come on a double in exchange in our area. Elder Maldonado and his trainee Elder Tu'avau came from Thrusday night to Friday night. Maldonado had served here in Chalmette for about 7 months so all the members and investigators were super excited to see him again! While we were on exchanges we all went to Goodwill after lunch to look around for a little bit. That little bit ended up being two hours haha. While we were in there a guy who was non-denominational started talking to me and like the great friends all the other elders are, they walked to another part of the store for a while to let me handle the guys questions! Eventually they all came over and got involved in the conversation. At one point this guy brought up Jehovah's Witnesses and what do ya know, there was a JW there. Soooo all four of us got to stand there while this JW and non-denom started bashing each other! It was pretty awkward standing there for that. After the non-denom finally got tired and left we got to have a good conversation with the JW and learn more about their beliefs and she got to learn more about ours! All in all it was a good time!

Well I think that is it for me this week! Have a great week y'all!

Elder Stoddard

10500 Hayne Blvd

New Orleans, LA

70127​​​​​​​​

Week 63 - October 23, 2017

Hola y'all!

Well this week was pretty dang eventful! So on Wednesday evening, us Chalmette missionaries went to Nunez Community College and set up a table to try and connect and talk with the students. We would ask anyone that was passing by to answer the question, "What makes you happy?" At first we were a little skeptical about if it would be effective since it is a small college but it was actually a lot of fun and we got to talk to some good people! We are planning to make it a weekly thing!

Next on Thrusday we got to have an all day service day! So we started at a members house that is going to surgery this week and Elder Israelsen and I gave him a blessing while the sisters helped his wife with chores around the house. We then went with Bro Landers to Slidell to help him with getting orders from the Bishops Storehouse. When we were pulling in I saw a car with an Idaho license plate and it made me way happier than it should have! One of the senior couples that was there had just come out from Fruitland Idaho and even crazier, they know one of my former roommates from BYU-I so that was really cool! After we picked up the orders and delivered them we went to Bro Landers house and helped him cement some posts into the ground for a fence he is building. All in all it was a good service day!

The rest of the week was spent doing the missionary grind. We found a couple new people that have potential so we will see where that goes. Sunday we got to go visit one of our members, Leonard, in the hospital with Bro Landers and Bro Hatcher. I must say, those two together is quite entertaining haha! They are best friends and bicker back and fourth all the time! Soooo funny!

As a district we have decided to memorize a scripture a week and recite it in DM. This week the scripture is D&C 42:6

And ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God.

I know that this is Gods work and that all us missionaries are called by a Prophet of God to go out and be a warning voice to the people of the earth.

Have a great week y'all!

Elder Nathan Stoddard

Week 57 - September 11, 2017

So I'm now a Vietnamese Speaking Missionary :)

Hola y'all :)

So this week has been a pretty interesting week. Okay so for the story behind the title. This Saturday Elder Israelsen and I went out early to tract because it was just such a nice morning! Sidenote: The weather has been awesome the past few days! 80 degrees with a breeze and low humidity... It has been heavenly! :) Anyways so we go out at about 9:15ish to check up on a member and decide to do some tracting when they weren't home. The area that we were in is called The Village. There are pretty much two nationalities, Garifunas and Vietnamese. Garifunas are anciently of African decent but were brought to Honduras so they speak Spanish. Well we picked two streets to tract and EVERY person that answered was Vietnamese!! Like holy cow!  None of them spoke much English so it wasn't very effective talking to them but it was fun! Now I am trying to learn some Vietnamese so I can tell them that we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Should be fun!

This week we went to the park again with our High Council Group Leader. We brought pizza again and played horseshoes and ultimate Frisbee! It was a lot of fun and we got to talk to a lot of people who were interested in playing with us or eating the pizza haha :)  I mean if the JW's were offering free pizza I would probably talk to them so.... haha all in all it was an awesome hour or so at the park :)

Other than that this week we have been working pretty hard with the members here. We are trying to get the attendance up at the Spanish group but it is hard because most of the members here work on Sunday and dont get off until 6 which is when the group starts. The members here are super solid though and love the missionaries coming over.

Well I think that is all for this week :) 

Elder Nathan Stoddard

10500 Hayne Blvd apt #205

New Orleans, LA

70127 

Week 56 - September 5, 2017

Hola y'all!

Week two in Chalmette has been a blast! So it started off with the day after last P-Day. That is when Harvey hit our area the hardest and so we went on a self-imposed lock-down because it rained all day and half or the roads were flooded so we had fun as a Quadship playing games and putting together puzzles! All in all it was a nice day and a well needed break :)

Friday Israelsen and I went out tracting in the Village! That is where we do most of our work because that is where the highest concentration of Spanish speakers are located. We didn't have much success teaching anyone there but we did have a good time! At one door there was this HUGE hornet right on the door and it wasn't moving. Israelsen and I look at each other and we both HATE hornets but he says "Knock for Jesus" and walks up the the door and knocks on it lol. Nothing crazy but just a funny saying from the week!

Saturday we had interviews with the Mission President. I love President Varner, he seems almost like a father and is really easy to talk to. We talked a lot about planning and on making our plans according to good, better and best. He had some pretty crazy insights to what those are! I was actually surprised when he listed tracting as only good! He believes that there are better and more effective ways to do missionary work and I must say that I completely agree with him! Other ways of finding are usually more effective and lead to more solid investigators! All in all I love the interview.

After that we went to the park as a district with our High Priest Group Leader. He had this idea to go to the park with pizza, play Frisbee and invite others to eat and play with us! It was honestly super fun and pretty effective! We go to talk to so many people about what we are doing and why we are here! If nothing else we planted some seeds and that is just as important as anything!

Well I think that is it for this week! I hope everything is going well and that you are finding reasons to smile every day! 

Con amor,

Elder Nathan Stoddard

P.S. If any of y'all want to send letters or packages to some poor, helpless, hungry missionaries, our address is 

10500 Hayne Blvd apt #205

New Orleans, LA

70127

Week 55 - August 28, 2017

Hola y'all!

So my first week here in the New Orleans area has been awesome! I love the area and I love the culture! The houses here are all so cool and so different from one another that there is always something new to see! It is also super crazy being back with Elder Israelsen (Izzy). I love that I don't have to go through that whole awkward getting to know your new comp phase so it has been nice! It is also awesome being back in a quadship apartment, meaning there are two sets of elders in the apartment! It makes for some really fun times and good memories! The other two elders are Heath and Cooley. Heath is on his last transfer and Cooley just started his mission. 

So there isnt too much to report this week. Izzy has been taking me around to meet the members and get used to the area. I got to meet one of our investigators named Kimani! He is about 10 years old and loves to dance haha! He is planning to be baptized on the 16th of September and he is such an awesome kid! 

Well I am sorry this is such a short letter but this week has been a lot of packing and unpacking and cleaning an apartment!

Love y'all and hope all is well!

Elder Stoddard

Week 54 - August 22, 2017

Spanish Outcast goes to Nola!!

Hola y'all!

So as the title says, I got to go to Nola this week! We had a visiting General Authority, Elder Klebingat, so they had us go to New Orleans for a Zone Conference! Now for the awkward part of the story. We were 30 minutes late........ like that is the most awkward thing in the world! In our defense it was because the STL's sent us the wrong address and we ended up in the wrong part of New Orleans on a Saturday! Traffic like crazy! So we walked in 30 minutes late and I am so sad we did! The first part was my favorite part! Elder Klebingat went into some deep doctrine about the why we are here and why the House of Israel is so important! It was awesome. The rest of it was him hitting us hard with things that we need to change about ourselves as missionaries. It was pretty cool!  

We also took time out of our p-day last week so we could spend the rest of the day after Zone Conference in New Orleans. We went and spent our time at the French Market looking around at all the cool things that they have there!  I loved it!! I am so excited to serve there!

And that leads me to the next bit of information. I AM GOING TO SERVE IN CHALMETTE!!! I finally am going to New Orleans! I am sooooooo freaking happy! And even crazier news, Elder Israelsen is going to be my companion, AGAIN!!! Haha I am so excited for this coming transfer!!

Well that is about all for this week I think! Spent time saying good bye to people and did a lot for service!

Have a great week y'all! 

Elder Stoddard