Back to Marysville!

Hellooooo!

It has been a good week in Dublin. It is a lot more mellow than Youngstown but it is still a ton of fun. We have had a great week. Here are some of the highlights.

So we started teaching a deaf lady this week! She is so prepared to receive the restored Gospel. She has been searching for it for 25 years! Her Dad was a member of the church and taught her when she was young but the mom didn't want anything to do with the church. They split up when she was young but she remembered the things her dad taught her. She was doing family history one day and she found out that a ton of her ancestors were pioneers that came to Utah from Kirtland! It finally clicked for her that the church her dad belonged to and the one she was looking for was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints. We have a missionary in our district named Elder Thomas that is basically fluent in sign language and he interprets for us. When we were teaching the first lesson we got through the first couple points and she stopped us and asked "is this called the restoration?" And we pulled out a pamphlet and showed her what it said and she responded "this is it! This is what my father taught me." It was such a cool experience. She accepted a date to be baptized and is now working with us toward that goal. She is the best. The Lord has been preparing her for quite a long time. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to teach her. 

Another great thing about this week was that I got to go back to Marysville for a day!! I went on an exchange with Elder Barnson. I love Elder Barnson, he's a stud. When I found out he was gonna be in Marysville I was so happy to know that Marysville was in good hands. The day was great. It felt like I was coming home. We had some great experiences and we even got in contact with a lady that I had met when I was serving in Marysville and set up a return appointment. The best part of the day was in he evening. I completely surprised three recent converts. Joan and Paul I had taught when I was in Marysville and Annette was baptized right before I got to Marysville but I was really close with her. They were all so surprised when I knocked on their door!! I didn't tell any of them that I was in Dublin and that I could come back to Marysville. When we went by Paul He answered the door and he said "they let you come back huh?" With a big grin on his face and I gave him a big hug. It was a good moment. We read the Book of Mormon with him just like the good old days. I've missed my buddy Paul. 

It has been a really good week and I am excited for another one. 

I love you Mom! Thanks for everything. 

Your son, 

Elder Collier 

Goodbye Youngstown

Helloooo

A Very Rushmore Christmas!

Well, it is transfer week and I found out last night that I am being transferred. I am heading back down to the Columbus area! I will be serving in Dublin, Ohio. Dublin and Youngstown are sooooo different. Dublin is a very wealthy area. It will be really interesting but I am excited. I am happy to go back home to Columbus where I belong haha! My new companion will be Elder Smoot who I came out with. This is the first time we have served near each other though. It should be good! The best part about going to Dublin is that I will be going on exchanges to Marysville!!! Elder Smoot and I will be Zone Leaders of the Columbus North Zone and Marysville is still a District Leader area so we will go on exchanges there. I am so excited to see Paul again. And everyone else I love in Marysville. It is going to be awesome. 

This week has been a really good one! We had a big half mission conference on Thursday with the four northern zones. We did a service project where we made blankets, we played a lot of fun games, listened to some people speak, had a christmas dinner and watched an end of the year slideshow. It was really awesome. It has really been a great year. It is crazy that I have lived in Ohio for all of 2018! Time really flies. I have made the best friends ever out here and have had the best experiences. At the conference I got to see my really good friends and two of my past companions! Elder Morse and Elder Madsen. 

Newell K. Whitney Store in Kirkland, Ohio

On Saturday we went up to Kirtland! It was my first time going up there. it was me, Elder McInnes, Tyler & Amanda & their two daughters, Mike (Another recent convert), Sister Fellows (who said she is friends with Zach on facebook for some reason haha) and Brother Thibideau. It was such a cool experience. Kirtland is such a special place. The spirit was definitely present. Being in places where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared was incredible. I know that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet called by God to restore Christ's church on the earth!! One of Tyler & Amanda's daughters said "I feel really good here" when we first got to the Kirtland Historic Sites. It was great to hear that she was feeling the Spirit!! 

I sang in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday!! It was really fun. I am glad I got to chance to do that. It is always a good time doing that. 

Well, that's all to report on this week! I am excited for the chance to serve in Dublin and I am excited for Christmas! And my P day is on Monday again this next week and will be until transfers! Love you, Mom!

Your son,

Elder Collier

Four Exchanges in Four Days!

Helloooooo

This week has been super crazy and it has flown by so fast! 

We had four exchanges in four days. So that means Elder McInnes and I were not companions for four straight days. That was pretty weird! On Tuesday we had the rootstown Elders come up to Youngstown. Elder Harmon and I were able to meet this guy that was super nice and had previously met with missionaries a ton! We are excited to go back. 

On Wednesday we spent the day in East Liverpool. I was with Elder Hunter for the day. We met this really awesome couple while we were tracting who have been looking for a church! They let us right in out of the cold and we were able to share our message with them. They are extremely interested and invited us back. I am excited to hear how it goes with them! 

On Thursday we went to New Castle, PA and spent the day with those Elders. I was with Elder Neddo for the day. Elder Neddo and I met with a returning member of the ward who actually was baptized in Vancouver! That was pretty cool. We finished up all the things that we planned at about 8:40 so we had 20 minutes left to work. We decided to head out in the cold and snow and knock on a few more doors. The second door we knocked on we were let inside! We met this lady named Lisa who was the caretaker for this man who is paralyzed. She only works at that house two days a week and only in the evenings so it was a miracle that we knocked on her door! She was really interested as well. I know that the Lord helps us in this work! 

On Friday we went up to Ashtabula and spent the day with those Elders. I was with Elder Hall. We had a great day together. We gave this guy that only speaks Spanish a Book of Mormon and Elder Hall was able to communicate with him pretty well! It was also great to see Elder John up there. I love that guy. 

That pretty much sums up all the exciting parts of the week! Next week is transfers so P day will be on Wednesday. I am thinking that I might be transferred but we will see! I have loved serving in this area and with Elder McInnes. 

Love you mom! Thanks for everything.

Your son, 

Elder Collier  

Christmas Season!

Hello!

It is officially Christmas Season but Elder McInnes and I have been listening to Christmas music for about a month now. You can't be too early to celebrate the birth of the Savior! We enjoyed a very merry week full of lots of twists and turns as can be expected in this crazy area we call Youngstown. As usual, I will share a few highlights. 

On Wednesday, Elder John got to come back to town and went on an exchange with me. That was a lot of fun. We found this really awesome family that is super interested in the Book of Mormon. Elder McInnes and I were able to see them on Sunday and are meeting with them on Tuesday! Really great family that I already love. Anyway, on Wednesday Elder John and I had dinner at Denny's because that is where Amanda works (I have been to Denny's twice in the last month and that is two more times than the previous 19 years of my life). Amanda was our waitress for the meal, she was so surprised and excited to see Elder John! After that we went over to their house to see Tyler. He was super excited to see Elder John too. It is always good to see Tyler and Amanda. 

On Thursday we had a really great chapel tour with this guy we are teaching named Scott. He is a little hesitant about churches so him meeting us at the church was a huge step for him. He really loved the building and he really opened up to us. We were able to answer a lot of the questions that he has had his whole life and he liked and agreed with everything we taught him. It was a really good experience for all of us. Oh, and he loved that we had a basketball court!

Saturday we had a ward Christmas breakfast. That was a good time. I got to wear my Christmas sweater that I love so much. (Shout out to Patrick, Woodson, Parker and Kent for having the same sweater). After that we helped a family of the ward deliver a lot of cookies to members of the ward and the people we are teaching. Delivering the cookies to the people we are teaching really meant a lot to them. It was great to spread Christmas cheer!

Also, this week we had a great time proselyting on Youngstown State's campus. We actually met this really nice girl that is from Vancouver!!! She went to elementary school in Vancouver (not pioneer elementary) but lived in Eastern Washington most of her life. It was super crazy to run into her! 

I really loved watching the First Presidency Christmas devotional last night. I know that President Nelson is a prophet of God. He taught us that the key to loving, forgiving and becoming like the Savior is to make and keep sacred covenants. I know that that is true, it was great counsel given to us from the Lord through His prophet. 

Thanks for everything you do Mom! I love you!

Your son,

Elder Collier

Featuring...Brother Thomas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

This week was good! This area is as crazy as ever but we are surviving! A lot of stuff happened this week, I'll share a few highlights! 

On Tuesday we had MLC down in Columbus. We drove with the Tallmadge Elders again which is always fun since it is Elder Watkins and Elder Lomax. I love those Elders. MLC was good! It was focused a lot on our roles as teachers. We do not convert people, that is the job of the Holy Ghost, our job is to be in tune with spirit and teach clearly enough to get the message as close to their heart as possible so the spirit can push it in. I hope that made sense over email! The trainings were great. Our mission is in good hands. I love President and Sister Stratford so much! 

Thursday was Thanksgiving! It was such a good day. We ate with Tyler and Amanda and it felt like we were home for thanksgiving. The only thing that could have made thanksgiving better would be if I was actually home with family, so this was the best possible option! I feel like a part of the Thomas family. They are the best. Their daughter Abriana showed us her list of things she was thankful for. She divided it into people, places and things. Elder John, Elder McInnes and I were all included in the people category, church was included in the places category and the Book of Mormon was included in the things category! It was adorable. After the dinner we asked Tyler to star in a video we were making to send out to the Zone announcing our zone focus for transfer. After we asked him her told Amanda "They are making a video featuring me... Brother Thomas!" And he stood up and raised his hands all dramatically. It was one of the funniest things I've seen. I love that guy haha! The video turned out really well and he got to bear his testimony at the end. That man is a convert. I am so thankful that the Lord allowed me to teach him. 

Saturday was BYU vs Utah gameday. So of course I was one exchanges with my good buddy Elder Oettli who is the biggest Utah fan I have ever met. There may have been a little bit of trash talk but overall it was a great day full of miracles. I love Elder Oettli, I am thankful he is one of the district leaders in the zone. He is a huge blessing! And of course the cougs had to choke again. It is okay, the curse will be broken in Lavell Edwards Stadium next year when I am there. That's just how it has to happen. 

Well, that was basically my week! It was a good one. I am thankful to be serving here in Youngstown with Elder McInnes. We have had a lot of great times. 

I love you Mom! Thanks for everything you do.

Your son,

Elder Collier