We're Not In Central Ohio Anymore...

Hey Mom! 

I am now serving in the Youngstown ward. My companion is Elder Dixon. He is 22 years old and has already served 4 years in the army. He's a great guy and we get along well. He is an amazing missionary and I've learned so much from him already. Being a Zone Leader is pretty stressful but I'll get used to it. I'm having a good time! 

Saying goodbye to Marysville was really really hard. Saying goodbye to Paul was one of the saddest moments of my mission. I love that man so much and he has impacted my life way more than he knows. Hopefully I can go back for the baptism next month. I also said goodbye to the Hiltschers who are such a great family in the Marysville Ward. I'm gonna miss them as well.  

Youngstown is nothing like central Ohio. This place is weird. The majority of my mission I have been in pretty well off rural towns. Youngstown and all the other towns we cover is nothing like that. It is the sketchiest area I've ever been in. I've seen some sketchy stuff on my mission but in this place that's just the norm. I've felt completely out of place my whole week here and it feels like I just arrived to a new mission. I now can relate to a lot of the experiences Zach had on his mission. But, I love it here! There's a lot of work to do and a lot of people to talk to and I'm excited to keep going. I'm just gonna say this about this area: I was pretty sheltered in life back home. I lived in a nice town,  I went to a nice public school,  I had good friends, I felt safe 90% of the time. I knew bad things were happening around the country but to me it just seemed like that was something on TV and it doesn't happen in real life. My eyes have been opened on my mission and I know that things like that happen in real life. I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help these people though. Living a Christ like life and keeping the commandments will make the whole world better. I know that. I have experienced the benefits of the Gospel in my own life and I have seen the problems that occur when the Gospel isn't there for anyone. 

Anyway, it's been a good week! We had a lot of fun talking to lots of people and finding people to teach on top of zone leader duties. The missionaries in my zone are awesome and we have lots of miracles happening here. We have worked in Sharon, PA a few days now. That is a really interesting place. Really cool town though. I have not made a jumpshot in PA yet but I promise that will happen soon. On Monday I went on exchanges with Elder John the district leader of the Ashtabula district. We spent the day in Sharon and Greenville, PA. Good times. We got to knock this one street called Stateline road. One side of the street is PA one side is Ohio. That was pretty cool. 

We had a sweet miracle on Sunday evening. We met this man named Tyler. He has been searching for truth for so long. He was so thankful that we came by to talk to him. His friend has recently gotten baptized and he has seen such a big change in him and he wants that. The spirit was so strong when we taught him on his porch and he has such a strong desire to change and find God. I am so excited to meet with him again and help him on his journey back to our Father in Heaven. I already love Tyler. 

I'm excited to keep working here in Youngstown. It is so different but I know the Lord will help me in this place. The people need the Gospel here really bad. And I'm going to try to bring it to them. 

I love you mom! Thank you for everything!

Your son, 

Elder Collier 

Goodbye Marysville! :(

Hey Mom! 

That sounds like a really fun trip that you and Dad are on! And those pictures were so cool! And it's so crazy that Parker is companions with taggart! He emailed me and Patrick and Woodson on Monday and told us that. (Of course Titan Country has been keeping in touch while we are on missions)

As you can safely assume from the subject line, I am getting transferred. Elder Gloschat is also leaving. We are getting doubled out which is really sad. We won't be here for Paul's baptism next month. But this next assignment should be pretty exciting for both Elder Gloschat and me. 

Elder Gloschat has been assigned to teach in the Nepali Language. Which is pretty insane! He's going to New Albany and he will be learning and teaching in Nepali the rest of his mission.

I am getting transferred to Youngstown Ohio. It's about 3 and a half hours East of Marysville, right on the border of Pennsylvania. In fact, my new area will cover part of Pennsylvania! I'm closer to towns that Zach served in on his mission than any of my previous areas. I am leaving tomorrow. I'll send you my address next P day! Oh and also I have been assigned to be a Zone Leader of the Youngstown Zone. So that will be pretty wild. I am really nervous about the assignment but I known that the Lord will help me out. He will make my weaknesses become strengths. If He can help Elder Gloschat learn Nepali then He can help me be a Zone Leader!

This week has been a really good one and I'm sad to leave Marysville. We met a kid on Wednesday evening that has a huge desire to be baptized. He is on date for September 15th. Paul's date is September 22nd. I'm sad we will miss those but I trust that the new Elders will take care of them! 

Also, I got to ball up with some kids this week. This group of teenagers were at this park smoking and playing basketball. Elder Gloschat and I decided to head to our apartment grab some Gatorade and head over there and play with them. They thought we were weird at first (everyone does) but once we started playing it was a blast. The Lord was on our side because we won and I have never shot so well in my life. They were really surprised especially since we were in shirts and ties. We were able to share the Because He Lives video with them and talk a little bit and it was really obvious that their hearts were softened. They didn't want to meet but that seed has been planted. I LOVE playing basketball with random people. That's the most fun contacting method haha! 

Anyway, I'm sad to leave Marysville. I love this place and I've only been here for 6 weeks. I'm nervous but I know the Lord will help me. I am excited for my new assignment and new area and I'm hoping to check Pennsylvania off of the JumpShotUSA list. 

Love you so much! 

Your son, 

Elder Collier 

Marysville is the Best!

Hey Mom! 

I got the package and the pants! Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Those shirts are awesome and we put our names on those license plates. Thank you! 

This week has been really good. I have been having lots of fun here in Marysville with Elder Gloschat. And Paul is the best like always. 

So Thursday was the last district council of the transfer since we have Zone conference this week and transfers are next week! Super crazy how fast this transfer has gone by. Time keeps speeding up. District Council went well. I love my district. Thursday evening we visited with a family up in Richwood. It's a small town about 30 minutes northeast of Marysville. The family hasn't been active in awhile and wants to return to activity. They are awesome and I am excited to see them return to activity and progress towards the temple. After that we had Book of Mormon class in Marysville and you bet Paul was there! He loves that class and he loves church! 

Friday we helped out at the food pantry again. I wore one of the new shirts I got! I'll send a picture. My collar tan line is super noticeable, it's hilarious. Not as bad as my lacrosse tan lines back in the day though haha! In the evening we visited with another returning member, we have been helping him work towards the temple as well. 

Saturday was a great day! In the morning there was a baptism for two of the children in the ward. Paul came! He loved it. It was great for him to see how a baptismal service goes. In the evening we met with this lady named Tina. Bishop Spaeth came with us to teach her and it was a really powerful lesson. Hopefully she acts on the things she learned. We met with Paul that evening as well. 

Paul came to church on Sunday! Sorry for talking about Paul so much haha! After church we said "thanks for coming Paul!" And he says "you don't have to thank me for doing something I want to do" it is so cool how much he loves church! He is such a happy guy now. He's changed so much. So we taught the law of Tithing on Monday evening. He was super nervous about the concept because he didn't want to not be able to pay his rent and things like that. But then he kept on saying that he doesn't want to rob God. By the end of the Lesson we asked if he would obey the law of Tithing after he is baptized. He responded by saying that he wants to start paying it before he is baptized! I probably didn't tell that story very welll but it was just so cool to see his faith increase so much during that lesson. He went from being so concerned about all his finances to wanting to start paying as soon as possible. 

Yesterday I went on exchanges with one of the Zone Leaders Elder Lamb! He is so cool. We had a blast together and had some great experiences. On Monday Elder Gloschat and I got a call from some of the temple square Sisters and they gave us a referral! So Elder Lamb and I met with him yesterday. He is a really cool guy searching for truth. He has gone through some tough times lately but we know the gospel will bless him. I'm excited to see him progress!


This week was great and I love Marysville! 


I love you mom. You are the best ever! Thank you for all you have done for me. 


Your son, 

Elder Collier

"I'm Thankful For My Go-To Guys!"

Hey Mom! 

In our mission we get to go to the temple every time we hit a 6 month mark of our mission or if our companion hits that mark. So I've been able to go twice so far! This time I went for my year mark. It was the best. We went with Jordan Ellington last week and today he is Elder Ellington! He flew out and entered the MTC today. 

Thank you for sending the packages! I'm excited to get them. Also that is so cool what Dad got you! Is that just an NES with the games already downloaded inside? That is sweet. It's just missing Sonic! Has Dad gotten more records for his Vinyl collection? 

So this week was CRAZY! But also so good! I honestly can go on and on about how much I love Marsyville. 

So let's start with what happened on Thursday! After district council I went on an exchange with Elder Paul in Worthington. It was a blast. He is such a great missionary and we had some great experiences. We met a crazy guy. But we also met a ton of really interested people. The last contact of the evening was at 8:55 PM. We knew the Lord would put someone in our path. We turned the corner and there was this lady sitting in front of her apartment with her kids! We got talking to her and she was super cool and set up a time for the Worthington Elders to meet with them. It may not seem like a miracle but to us it really was. Also this will blow your mind. Elder Paul and I were talking and he brought up thst one of his best friends served in the Washington Vancouver Mission. Guess who it was. ELDER CALKINS. JONNY'S MTC COMPANION. It blew my mind. It's such a small world! 

So because this week was so crazy I'll skip to some other highlights. 

We had a great lesson with Paul on Saturday evening to discuss the Word of Wisdom. He knows that it's going to be difficult to live but he is super committed to living it. We were able to give him a blessing right then for strength and comfort to be able to live this commandment. He came to church on Sunday and had a great experience again! He is progressing so well. We fasted for him on Sunday and then we fasted again on Monday. (Not 48 hours straight don't worry. We ate food in between the fasts.) But then we had such a sweet miracle Monday evening with him. We came back to help him set goals and plans and he has already made huge improvements by himself!! We are so excited for him. He also said his first vocal prayer after that lesson and he started out by saying "Dear Heavenly Father, I'm thankful for my go-to guys" I could not stop smiling when he said that. I about cried. There is so much love that us and him share for each other. That's what the gospel brings! We feel pure Christlike love when we share His Gospel and when we try to align our walk with His. I LOVE PAUL. 

Okay so now I wanna tell a funny story from this week. 

So on Monday we were out at this apartment complex and we saw this guy and we just said hello to him and then he just started yelling like crazy at us! Yelling lots of things that we have already heard before like "you are a cult, you don't believe in Jesus." All that stuff that is obviously not true. And we just stood there and were like "no sir we aren't a cult. We believe in Jesus. Okay have a good day sir. Talk to you later." And then he walked away but then turned back around and started yelling at us more! And this is where I almost busted out laughing because he yelled "you are both Brainwarshed" and because we are in Ohio he definitely said it with an R. "Brainwarshed". It was so funny. It seemed like it would be such a terrible thing to get yelled at like that but we just laughed it off afterwards. It was great. 

I'm doing great Mom! And so is Paul! Thank you for everything. Keep me updated on how Skyla is doing. I'll keep praying for her. Last week I was prompted to put her name on the prayer roll in the temple and now I know why! I love you so much mom! 

Your son,

Elder Collier 

Still Putting My Birthday Present to Use!

Hey Mom! 

Those stories are super cool! I hope Lexi gets to know her well. That would be awesome. And Whitney seeing Tingwei is insane! I love Tingwei so much. 

This week has been really good! It's been a busy P day. We got to go to the temple today (I'm glad you got that text message!) And it was so great. I love the temple and the joy that comes from feeling the Spirit there. We went with Jordan Ellington who is leaving on his mission next Wednesday! He is going to Ecuador. He is an awesome kid. 

We biked a ton this week. We were basically out of miles for the month so we had to use the bikes! Yesterday we biked 12 miles in the rain and it felt like uphill both ways because of how strong the wind was. But it was totally worth it! I am exhausted but it was a good time. 

Paul is still doing amazing. He came to church on Sunday and loved it! He said he felt comfortable there even though he usually isn't comfortable around new people. That was great to hear that he enjoyed it. We had a really powerful lesson with him last night and he told us he doesn't think it's a coincidence we knocked on his door when we did and he now believes that God has something bigger for him planned than what he was doing. Seeing the change in this man makes biking uphill in the rain totally worth it!

We went on exchanges with the Zone leaders on Monday and that was a blast. We were in their area in Dublin. I was with Elder Weekes who was in the Cleveland Mission. He is from Vermont and played soccer at Southern Virginia for a year before his mission. He is a stud. We had a great time together. We met lots of cool people and had an amazing lesson in the evening with this guy named Ryan. He has been searching for truth and claimed to be agnostic but this lesson he changed his mind and considers himself Christian again. It is really cool to see people's faith in Christ increase. 

It has been a great week! I love you Mom! Oh, and could you send me some new blue pants? Mine are falling apart. 

Your son, 

Elder Collier