First P-Day in the Field

Hey mom! 

I'm in Ohio! My first area is Bellefontaine, Ohio. (Pronounced Bell fountain) it's an interesting place! It's in the Dayton East Zone. I'm on the western edge of the mission. My companion is Elder Ames! He's super cool. He's from a town close to Manti, Utah. He goes home in November so I'm his last companion! 

It's been quite the week! Elder Bednar came last Sunday and that was super cool. I also gave a blessing for the first time on Sunday night. That was a really cool experience. 

So Wednesday we left the MTC at 3:30 in the morning. I called you and dad and then  I got on the plane and headed to Detroit! We landed in Detroit and then flew to Columbus! President and sister Stratford picked us up from the airport and then we went to the Ohio State institute building and had some training there! It was mainly just rules and stuff but we did some contacting too! I met a woman who her and her husband were actually currently looking for a church to attend! So that was nice! So we gave her a copy of the book of Mormon and promised if she read it and prayed about it she would come to know that it is true. After that we drove to the mission home and had dinner and a testimony meeting! 

The Rain made it feel like home!

Funny sign!

Shortest Street in the World!

Jump Shot USA!

Thursday was transfer meeting. I got assigned to the Bellefontaine area with Elder Ames! So we went there and had a good day! I had dinner at a members house and then  we had our first lesson that night! It was with a lady that actually came to  church all on her own last Sunday. She had been talking with a guy in Australia about the church since January through words with friends and then decided to come to church! The Lord really works in mysterious ways and prepares people to learn about His gospel! It's cool! We taught her about the restoration and I invited her to be baptized! She said yes! So hopefully it all works out. 

Friday we did service in the morning and then went to Elder Ames' last physical therapy appointment because he dislocated both of his knees awhile back. So I got to stay in normal clothes for most of the day so that was good! Then we had a lesson with a kid named Josh and set up an appointment for next week! 

Saturday we had a really cool experience. We received revelation through role playing. We role played during companionship study and I asked Elder Ames what it would mean to him to have a prophet of God on the earth today? And he said something like "I don't really know, but I think it would be cool. Like really really cool." And then I bore my testimony about President Monson being a prophet of God. Then we had a lesson with a new investigator named Dawn. And during the lesson I asked what it would mean to her to have a prophet of God on the earth today. And she said THE EXACT SAME THING ELDER AMES SAID. It was so cool. So elder Ames bore his testimony of President Monson. The lesson went really well and I invited her to be baptized and she said yes! It was awesome. We are meeting with her again tonight.

Sunday was interesting. The Bellefontaine branch only has about 25 active members. So sacrament meeting was small. A lot different than what I am used to. But it was cool! I was asked to bear my testimony and so I did and they was cool! 

So here's some interesting things in Ohio:

When people say sweep the floor they mean vacuum. They can vacuums sweepers.

People say warsh not wash. So I am from "Warshington"

There are drive thru drink places everywhere. It is the weirdest thing. It looks like a car wash but there's fridges on both sides and you just grab drinks and buy them. They are everywhere and it is so weird.

Well that's been my week! I love you so much! And it's okay that you painted the bonus room. I think I can accept it haha! And I hope you are able to see the mountain! 

Love you!

Elder Collier

PS...

Oh and by the way my P day is on Tuesday next week because we have a big mission activity where we are playing games at a park and stuff. So I will email next Tuesday! 

Also Elder Gifford Nielsen is coming on Saturday and I'm super excited! I was the only one that knew that he was a BYU quarterback haha! 

I love you!

Elder Collier (Sammy not Jonny)

Jump Shot USA Lives on... Ohio checked off the list. Only 41 more states to go!