Letter 8-24-09

sorry its late again. it's a crazy life! Feel free to leave comments or questions and we will do our best to answer them!

Sounds like Coleman's first day was good. I'm so glad that he can't remember any of it haha. Silly boy. I sure do miss him.

The new medication sounds great. I'll do a trial month and if I think it's better then we'll continue, sound good?

Uncle Jim's funeral sounded amazing. I know he was a great man. Even now I think sometimes, "I wonder if Uncle Jim is watching. Guess I'd better do better." I know what he's doing now mom. But tell everyone I said hi and that I'm sorry Jim is gone, but I know he's better now. I'll write Grandpa and Grandma today, or at least I'll try my best. I may just sit wherever we go today and write letters instead of play ball or golf. I know I need to write them.

Teaching this week was a lot of fun. Friday night we went to the High Priest's social. It was at the Group Leader's home. He invited us to come because he wanted us to teach them (16 or so people) how to be better missionaries. Elder Parkin and I were pretty nervous. We were asked to speak for about 15-20 minutes. Well, it ended up at that we taught for closer to an hour because everyone was very involved. The spirit was directing us so much. Elder Parkin and I were trading off so perfectly and we taught in unity, always testifying of what the other had just spoken about. Everyone was blown away. I know this church is true because nowhere else in the world will you find a room full of retired people with a whole life's worth of experience seeking help from two 19-year-old boys. It just doesn't happen. The calling of a missionary places within us some of the most amazing abilities ever seen. God has truly given us what is required to help his people. Well, everyone really loved it. They were all talking so excitedly after it was over. We got so many genuine compliments. I think it really helped the members feel like they can trust us as missionaries with their friends. The work here is EXPLODING! The ward is doing a 40-day fast for missionary work. One family a day for 40 days fasts that the missionary work will prgress in the area. I know it's working. We are finding more and teaching more than anyone else in the Zone.

I want to talk now about a family that I really love. Chris is 22, his wife Tiffany is 20 and they have a 14-month old named Mason. We tracted into Chris a while ago and on our first meeting with him he invited us right in. He knew us because he works at a restaurant that we eat at every monday morning. Well, we met with him a couple times but never caught his wife there. Well this last week we dropped by and they were both home. Tiffany blew me away. She started talking about how she's been looking for a church and how she thinks that we might be it because chris talks about us all the time to her haha. She talked about how she went to church last week and it was fun but she was disappointed because she didn't learn much. I was thinking "are you serious? She can't be that golden. Come now..." Well, she kept talking and said she wanted to have a big meeting with her son and husband but also wanted a time when mason could go somewhere and they could do scripture study. Me thinking: "I don't believe this, it just doesn't happen like this." Then she says she wants a time when it's just girls and just guys learning separate things. I about passed out. I am like dying trying not to shout for joy. Well we met with them again yesterday and we shared a lesson. After we started talking about prayer. I'm going to quote tiffany. "After you guys left last time I prayed. But I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell you because I didn't want you to think I'm weird. But when I prayed I got this really warm like tingley feeling. I can't explain it." She looked at her son: "It's kind of like unconditional love like I have for Mason. I felt that. I knew it was from God." Elder Parkin and I were on the verge of praising Hosanna to the Most High God! Then Chris said that after he read a prayed that they got a random check in the mail for $119. They have been short on money and he said he knew it came because he's doing what is right. I love this family. They are just going to eat the Gospel up!

I'm going to be sending a box of stuff home soon. I'm going to send Grandpa's suit home because I never use it. I'm always afraid of getting something on it so it's better if I just send it home.

Well, I better get going. We have a lot to get done today. I love you a lot mom and dad. I know that you care a lot for me. Oh, one more thing i forgot to mention. The High Priest Group Leader, Brother Bacon, is a dentist. He said he'd fix my filling for free! So exciting. The ward here loves its missionaries. I really do feel at home away from home. I look forward to the next email. I love you all. Tell the family I said hi. Happy Birthday Lindsey. I'm working on getting your present in the mail.

Love,

Elder Mullenax

letter 8-17-09

Sorry it's a day late, everyone was sick at my house yesterday.



Nice Apartment

The Fog that comes every day

Zack and his Comp. trying not to want to swim!

Zacks Companion hugging the fridge, they didn't have one for a couple of weeks, they were very excited to get a new one.

This is the "munitions depot"!! LOL

Family,

I'm glad that Lindsey's birthday was fun. How does she always guess what it is? It makes no sense! I just hope she doesn't slip into inactivity. It's a dangerous road. We see people all the time out here that went inactive because of very little things. Mostly it's because it's like riding a bike up a hill: if you stop pushing forward, you start rolling back.

I'm sorry to hear about Grandpa. I feel like I should write them, it's just hard to find time. I'm sad about the dog. That must have provided some form of normalcy to their life. It will probably be better in the end though.

I'm glad to hear you're heading to the temple. Nothing beats the spirit there. We don't get to go to the temple unless we're in a temple district (an area close enough to the temple to go) and even then we get to go every other transfer(a transfer is a 6-week period). The nearest temple is in Medford and it takes 3 hours to get there. So, out here on the coast we don't go to the temple haha.

I can't believe that Coleman is starting Kindergarten. Can you believe that in three years he'll be baptized? INSANE!! I wish I could be there to take him, but it's better that I'm not. I'd probably not let him go!

I'm excited for Sloan and I'm happy that Cody is finally heading out. Washington would be a cool place. Not as cool as Oregon, but it'll do. Honestly, I think your letters are the longest. I always tell you the most stuff.

WHAT!?!?! WHAAAAAAAT?!?! WHAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!?!?!???!! Goodness gracious. That's just rude. You tell them that I don't approve. They are not grown up enough! Haha. I'll pray for a girl though because this family needs one.

Okay, before I start into my week, I need to tell you that my filling came out in one of my teeth. I'm going to talk to a Dentist this week and get some quotes before we decide. There are 3 in our ward so I may be able to get it for free. We'll see. I'll keep you posted. Just be thinking of some ideas.

This last week has been AMAZING! We taught 25 lessons this week and the Mission Standard of Excellence(like the mission goal of perfection) is 20! The funny thing is that it didn't feel that different. We were just adding up our numbers last night to call into the mission and we had one of the most spectacular weeks we've ever had. We felt so blessed! God is truly rewarding us for doing what he asks: WORK HARD! My attitude is improving too. I'm trying not to do anything resentfully or to get done with it to do something I want to do. I've been working on becoming what we call the 4th missionary. He's the missionary that changes himself while on the mission, not just serves. He doesn't pass through the mission, he lets the mission pass through him. I want that!

I'll talk about they Anaya family today. They are the most Wonderful family in the world, partially because they're from New Mexico! I will miss them so much! Suzann is a member but she is less active. Her husband steve is not a member. Their daughter Audrey is like the perfect mormon girl. We went over last night and read scriptures with them. It was interesting because Suzann was once married in the temple but got a divorce. So we talked about that a little bit and I said that I'm never getting married until I die. And then she gave me a talkin-to about the need for it here haha. She is so funny. We love teaching them because they're always willing to learn. Steve is the most giving man I've ever met. He'll give us a ride anytime we need it. It's funny because it's the nonmembers that give us the most rides around town!

One more experience. We're teaching Richard and Susan Olson. Richard is a less active member in his 50s. Susan is progressing better than any of our other investigators. However she can't get work off for church. Well, we had a BBQ over at their house on Friday and they had their Son and Dughter-in-law there as well as three of their neighbors! Well, after dinner we all went into the house and we watched the Restoration DVD. It was so spiritual. After the movie Elder Parkin and I shared our testimonies. Well, Richard's son was very anti. He just wanted to bash Joseph Smith. So did one of their neighbors. Well Susan then bore her testimony of how the gospel has given her a purpose in life and how it makes her feel like she's found what she's been missing in her life. This touched the other neighbors, Nick and his girlfriend Ashley. We are now teaching them too! So despite the negative influence the spirit was still able to bear witness to them that it was true. I know that the Lord is preparing people. We just have to find them.

I love you all. For everyone that I didn't write individually, I'm sorry. This letter took my entire hour! I love you mom and dad. Congratulations Alyse and Slade. Good Luck Coleman! You're Uncle Gock is proud of you! Be safe. I'll talk to you next week.

Love, Elder Mullenax

letter 8-10-09

Here is Zack's latest Letter and a Few of the Pics that he sent home!





Zachary Fighting with Elder Teddy
Like Men In Black, but not! LOL

They have this crazy closet full of junk that they dig through when they are bored. They call it Narnia, and this is a pic of him going to "Narnia" Such a Dork!!

Eating Healthy as usual

His messy Desk area

Family,

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your laptop. I think that if you really wanted to you could be completely computer literate. I think that you are just to lazy and you enjoy letting others do it for you haha. The war at the beach is probably the funnest thing i've done in the last year lol. I didn't say who I was because I wasn't anyone special. I really like these missionaries, they are great. This is Elder Schultz's last p-day. He heads to eugene tomorrow and then he heads home thursday. Pretty ridiculous! I can't believe how fast these last 6 weeks have gone. I've already been out a full transfer. I'm done with training and now I'm into follow-up training. Good news, Elder Parkin and I both get to stay in North Bend for at lease 6 more weeks! We are both really excited. We are both doing really well. We've had our disagreements and our struggles just like anyone else, but we always work it out instantly and we always get along well. It's not really that weird. We're outside talking to people most of the day so really we only sleep and study in the apartment. He is an amazing missionary. I can't believe how knowledgeable in the gospel he is. Any time I have a question he always knows the answer or knows where I can go to find it for myself. I really enjoy being around him because I'm always learning something new from him. Sounds like the house is really coming along. I'm so glad to hear that hadyn has a big boy bed lol. I wish he could show it to me haha. Coley's a frisbee player huh? We are going to go play frisbee golf today for preparation. It's a lot of fun and it's Elder Schultz's dying request haha. I think it's so funny that Coleman thinks I taught him to play battleship good. It's nice to hear about the boys because it lets me know that I had some sort of impact on their life. I sure do miss them, but I know they'll be there when I get home. I miss you guys too, I just miss my boys more haha. I'm so glad to hear that President Dugger is still doing the MTC camp. That is the best thing for priest age boys. The spirit is incredible there and it gives you almost a "high" that you just want to feel again and again. Luckily, the only way to get that is through missionary work! So according to dad, how is my mission going? Sometimes I feel like I'm failing as a missionary. I teach these people and I share with them what has blessed my life but they still don't see a need for it in theirs. It doesn't make any sense. This week, I got sick, but we still went out and did missionary work. I'm so glad we did. Elder Parkin was sick too, but his worst day was tuesday. When we looked back on the week, if we had stayed home we would have missed out on our most productive day of the week. We had 6 lessons with members present that day!! 6!! Sometimes we get 6 in a whole week. The Lord tries us and then blesses us for our diligence. I know he does. We usually make our own lunch, but we get fed almost every night. We have a lot of member support, but the ward is smaller. There are two wards in our stake building. The North Bend Ward and The Coos Bay Ward. I'm in the North Bend ward and we go at 9:00. I did get my jerky. Elder Parkin and I have only eaten one bag haha. Well, I better get going. We have a lot of stuff to get done so we can go play frisbee golf, but I love you. I'll talk to you again next week. Tell everyone in the ward I said hi. Oh, and tell the Clarks that I know Ephraim Morris. I know someone in my ward that knows Greg and Trish! How odd is that!! I love you and miss you all. Have a great week! Love, Elder Mullenax

8-3-09 Letter

Elder Mullenax and Elder Coleman

Outside the Provo Temple

He says his dad can use this tag when he goes on his mission!

Elder Mullenax's Latest letter! Enjoy

Hey family!

The laptop sounds great. I'm glad to hear about slade and bubba. Speaking of
Bubba, I was reading an old ensign the other day and saw that picture of
Alyse and Bubba again!! I couldn't stop laughing! I showed it to Elder
Parkin and he laughed too. Especially because the article was about
Disfunctional families!! lol

Yeah, I'm sorry about not getting back with everyone. I have ZERO time to do
anything. I don't have enough time to even do my missionary work. It's so
frustrating lol. I email for an hour, and then if I find time between doing
all my other preparations, I'll write. Sometimes I don't have time to email
everyone back. I'm sorry!!

I took the bike back, no problem. The money went back to my credit card.
Elder Schultz is giving me his bike. I did get a nice razor, thanks! I
really appreciate it. I can't think of anything else I need. If I do, I'll
let you know.

The beach was awesome last week. What do 4 missionaries that can't swim do
at the beach you might ask? Well, I'll tell you! First we bury a
dying(meaning he's headed home at the end of this transfer) missionary in
the sand. Then we reenact the War Chapters of the Book of Mormon!! It was
great. The tide was coming in so the waves were getting closer and closer.
These were the Lamanites. We then began buliding walls around out Nephite
City to keeo the Lamanites out. We eventually had to build a circle fortress
because the Lamanites would move passed us and surround us. Then
Moroni(Elder Schultz) showed up and brought us supplies(rocks and sticks)
from the Land of Desolation(up the beach toward the road). When he would
leave he would yell, "Teancum(Elder Wilson)! Protect the city!!" Then when
the Lamanites would breach the walls, we would have Helam(Elder Parkin)
convert the Lamanites(pour dry sand on them to make them mud).
Unfortunately, apostasy overtook the city and the Lamanites conquered. It
was a lot of fun and people were pointing and laughing at us. Four spiritual
20-somethings playing in the sand at the beach lol.

Leo is doing well. He got a job at McDonald's this week so we haven't met
with him yet but he is so excited for baptism. We're a little worried though
because he had to work this last sunday. We felt like it was going to
happen. We know the craftiness of the Devil... We are going to call him
later today and set up a time for us to come back and teach him. He should
be moving towards baptism rapidly.

Robert is progressing well. He asks a lot of questions and he always reads
what we ask him to. We can tell because he has very specific questions about
what he's read. He wants to play college basketball so he's trying out for
SWOCC this year. I hope he makes it. I really like Robert. He's a really
good guy and always very polite.

Steve Anaya is slipping a lot on the Word of Wisdom. He can't stop drinking
coffee. It sucks so bad! We always joke about Steve saying "There couldn't
be two perfect men in the world so God had to give Steve PTSD" lol. He is
such a great guy. He will be a wonderful addition to the ward, if we can
help him get off coffee.

Richard and Susan are progressing amazingly. They are both so capable and
intelligent when it comes to reading the scriptures and being able to pull
out principles. We were sharing with them about the tree of life vision in
their front yard and their neighbor came over and listened in. Guess what?
We are now teaching their neighbor and his wife! On top of that, Susan's
kids have been contacted by missionaries and they've been meeting with them
for a while! They are so wonderful! I love them.

It's getting close to the end of the transfer and Elder Schultz leaves. I'm
going to miss him a lot. He is the best missionary that I know. Honestly, if
I could be like one missionary, it would be him. I even told him that on
Friday when I was on District Tract with him. He will be tough to see go. He
lives in Mesa, AZ and he's going to start school a week and a half after he
gets back. Ridiculous!! Lol.

Well, not much more to report. I love you all. Keep studying Preach My
Gospel. We will need it because perilous times are about to spew forth. We
need to be prepared. It will happen in the next 8 years. It's a prophecy
from President Hinckley. Become more deeply rooted in the gospel through
Preach My Gospel. I love you all so much. I miss the boys a lot. Tell them
that Uncle Elder Gock Loves them.

Love,

Elder Mullenax

Starting thisBlog

I am starting this blog so that anyone who would like to know how Zachary is doing on his mission can follow him through his weekly letters to the family and see the pictures that he sends. He writes once a week on Mondays, so I will Update once a week, unless we get an extra letter or package.

Lindsey