June 10th, 2013 Hello, how was everyone's week? Is there any chance that anyone knows a David Scott? He is like one of my favorite people in the world, he reminds me of some of the Newton classics, he'd fit right in with you all, Clair, Sue, he's a real hoot. He's our Ward Mission Leader in Hansen ward and we love 'em, he is soooo good at what he does. He also manages the Church Welfare farm out here which is even more commendable, just a stellar individual. Speaking of those type of people, President and Sister Cannon, Wednesday at our meeting in Boise could possibly be the last time that I see them, VERY sad, I love those too soooo much, they are amazing friends and servants of the Lord. I hope you are able to hook up in St. G like she was saying, that'd be cool. So some news on the new mission. As you probably know, it takes affect on July 1st, but the determining transfer is in a week on the 17th. For the Twin Mission, there is going to be a 3 week transfer (half the time of normal) to usher in everything, so there will be a transfer at the beginning of July, kinda crazy. Not sure if this changes departure dates or anything we'll find out. It'll be interesting as well to only have like 2 to 3 sets of Zone Leaders here rather than 12 or so in the whole mission, there's a lot of responsibility President Cannon has said in making this whole transition, it'll be good . We have had some of the most productive and spiritual member-missionary dinner appointments that I've probably ever had on my mission lately, there are so many awesome members who are going to be a MAJOR part in teaching and preparing for the hastening of the work in the area. One of the families, their son went to Venezuela on his mission and it sounded like it was probably at the same time as Tim, not sure though. So every month we have a "Zone Vision" which is a paper that is designed in a way that catches the eye and makes you want to keep the commitments for the month. I completed my first one and the reception was great, I'll attach it for you to see. There is a family and the dad looks like a younger version of Papa and he has Italian connections, long lost relative??? It was way cool to be out on splits the other day in the 1st ward. There was a former investigator that a member and I contacted and she wants to make improvements in her life and progress in the Gospel, we've taught her twice and she said that she'll be coming to church this Sunday, so I"m hopeful for that as well as this other guy who had an interview, passed it and everything and something happened and the baptism fell through, so we're trying to get him on board, he's pretty awesome and knows the Bible like the back of his hand. I'm going to start a Marketing Research Development Foundation with Elder Porras, we were working on some of the logistics at Bishop's Store-House this week, I'll manage the southern part of Utah and he'll cover the top. He's from St. George but all of his siblings went to USU so he is probably going there. Great missionary and friend, he is one of the APs in Twin right now. I have found Mibs the 2nd, they look identical, it is crazy, you'll have to send a picture so I can compare the two. They nicknamed her George for some reason and I told them about Mibs. Wonderful family, they have 9 kids, and most of them are from Haiti, they have a great set up and are tremendous parents. One of them is a social worker and looks like he was one of Tim's friends. The Mibs girl is Ukranian and 3 years old so unfortunately she doesn't know any Russian :( but her parents speak it. There was a HUGE yard sale thing at the park by our house and I was able to see some friends, a guy in Twin that Elder Dearborn and I set up to be baptized, happened a week after I left, and Brother and Sister Christensen, ward missionaries in the 16th ward in Twin, they were sooo happy to see me. Elder Sangio who was with Elder Kelliher back in the days of Dearborn, came with this girl to Maxies at the same time that all the missionaries were eating, it was great to see that guy. This is the last P-day before the split so it'll be weird to see a lot of new faces next week, but it's life. Are you guys doing the D&C challenge as well? Well I gotta get goin, sooooo have a WONDERFUL week, Love ya much! :) - Elder Bennett

June 3, 2013 First off... Well, another crazy week as usual, it sounds like you guys had a pretty interesting one as well. The exchange with Elder Mander went great, I was able to see this guy that is the father of one of my previous investigators. Also while we were by the Family History Center this guy was saying that this Russian guy lives across the street. Soooo of course we went by and he answered the door and didn't seem very sociable or anything, but I started speaking Russian and he was like, "Huh, Interesna?" (Uhh that's interesting) and he was like wow, you don't have a bad accent, and I was like, you don't either, he laughed and slapped me in the shoulder (did it another time for something too :) ) nice guy, but he said that his kids read the bible and that we should go teach someone who doesn't know Jesus and it kind of ended there, he wasn't interested in us coming back but he was cordial about it. It's a small world, he came from Kazakhstan and a few other countries. We ate dinner at this guys house who is an Advertising/Marketing Director for local businesses, he helps them create their commercials and stuff, ahhh, that's like almost exactly the type of stuff that I'd like to do. His son plays tennis and is apparently pretty good, they won like some Western Coast Classic tournament or something. We haven't moved yet, it's somewhat of a fiasco to a certain point. We have to move like in a week, week and a half or so. You're right, it will be a very sad day when President Cannon leaves. I hope that the new one is compassionate and kind like he is, I'm sure he'll be great as well. Mike acting crazy at Lake Powell diving off 45 foot cliff's isn't a surprise to me, he's always had some daredevil blood in him. You all are probably gaining a few pounds from all these restaurants in Kentucky and Tennessee... speaking of which Cafe Rio is the Korihor of the Restaurant business, you start out at $4 and you end up with $8 or so, they always try to catch you in your words and make it seem like their condiments are free... "Would you like Lettuce" "Does it cost money" "Yes" "Would you like some Pico salsa" "Is that extra?" "Yes" ughhhhh, it makes me mad, they are deceptive and sit on a throne of lies. The prophecies are coming true, "Things will become slippery from your hands" speaking of Papa's Oakley's and whatever else you too lost, just signs of the times :)... I'm really excited to go to the Temple this week with one of the Districts, it's been awhile. Hey we're heading out, that's awesome that you got to have a fun little trip together. I saw Shoshone Falls this week, it's pretty impressive, a WML took us out to see it quick. Things are going great though, we're getting closer with a few people. For Tim, there is this family that's awesome that fed us Tres Leche, it was good. Have a wonderful week you guys, love you all!!! :) - Love Elder Bennett

May 27, 2013 Hello, Yeah, the Kreigers are awesome, that's way cool that they called you. They served as a Senior couple in Alabama and have told us some pretty funny stories, such as an Elder that had a pet Raccoon in their apartment and they were able to tame it. You asked if the Burmese were baptized, they were, and there was a wedding an hour before, very casual, the Stake President, President Harris, married them. It was cool to see him, he was happy to see me again. I also got a picture of me with the LaMarche's Since we are in Twin for District Meetings, Interviews, Conferences, eating, etc. etc., I have the chance to see some people that I knew, it's way cool. That area is really blessed though, we always seem to be busy. It'll be interesting to see how the members change as there are more missionaries and less jurisdiction, we're all bankin' on more work because if they don't raise the bar then we are going to not have a ton of work to do or success. Zone conferences are about every 3 months. A quote that I have heard over and over, "The Gospel can make bad men good, and good men better". Doesn't surprise me about the whole people at the Temple mistaking Shelly's age, expected, she could get into Disneyland for the tween admission. You said that you were starting D&C, read something else for a few days and start it on June 2nd, that's the beginning of the 140 day challenge which ends in October. When we conducted the 8 baptism interviews, we each got a Burmese name from the Family, mine is Tarapoachee which means "little brother and teacher", it was tight to be able to get the "hook-ups" that I previously did in Twin, namely Free Great-Clips hair-cuts and Free Coldstone on P-days. I am learning SOOO much from the orange manual of the New Testament (Jesus Christ and His Apostles). I bought these ones from the DI that were like a dollar, Old Testament and D&C. We ate at the Kreigers 3 times in the last 2 weeks, they signed up a lot :) We played a lot of basketball last week. For Leadership Meeting, we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Larsen for the day. He is John Mayhew's personality in the flesh, like almost exactly. There was this dog that came over to me flopped on my feet and peed on me. Me and the WML went over the Directory and it took FOREVER and Elder Larsen fell asleep it was funny. We also went and got an ice-cream on the way home and it was the worst cone that we've ever had. Pop-corn Prayer=Success: Pop-corn prayer is a way of getting investigators comfortable with prayer. Each person just says one or two things they are grateful for or need. .............. Chick-Fil-A Demon children, So after one of our meetings, I believe it was a District meeting, all of us were hungry and went to Chick-Fil-A. It was kind of a bad experience which usually isn't the case. We had to sit at these little tiny table things with chairs with no back support and right by us was the glass to the playground things and kids were trying to break through to get us, spitting on it, licking it, and rubbing their lips and faces all over, the glass was disgusting. We had great lessons with 2 part-member families and the non-members have agreed to keep some commitments so we'll let ya know how that goes. One of the Bishop's here looks like and sounds almost exactly like Nicholas Cage So there is this family that lives in an Indian Hogan, the whole house is in a circle, no rooms,pretty interesting, everything is just in plain view. We contacted a few people and they were atheist, non-interested, etc. felt a little down afterwards, but we ran into some members outside afterward and shared a scripture with them and I did the one in Alma 8 where Alma the Younger is going to Ammonihah and he is rejected, spit on, reviled, and even kicked out and he's feelin pretty bad walking back and an angel appears to him and lets him know that he did his best and fulfilled his responsibility. Brother Robinson told us a thing he did on his mission in Alaska, Well there ya go I said that I'd describe the week more and I did it, have a great week! Thanks for everything, Love Elder Bennett

May 20, 2013 HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHELLY BELLY FELLY MELLY REGIS AND KELLY???? Hope that you have a great one! You're kids are funny, I'm honored that they share a portion of the royal blood line w/ me, it's fun to be their uncle, but I'm going to make sure that Ty has more self-esteem and confidence and that Taycie is not a supa diva in High School. Speaking of royalty, the 3rd installment (a word used to introduce a new section or portion of a bigger whole; I've returned back the my Kingdom over in Twin this last Saturday for the baptism of Riley. He's an awesome kid and so spirtual, he stands out from others because of his kindness, and just overall Christ-like characteristics. The parents were very touched . Since the "S" family live close to the church I saw them, wonderful visit. They told me how much they missed me and that they would come to Kimberly and make us food and would love to see me again. I love those guys. .You're right about the whole time is going by fast thing, it's crazy. Elder Kofoed, Elder Hardy, and a few others gave their "trunkamonies" which is defined as their last testimony at a Zone Conference, pretty self explanatory. Mine will be next time, crazy. Elder Kofoed and I have baptismal interviews for the 8 Burmese people getting baptized this week, they have quit smoking and have shown big improvements according to Elder Jarvis, in my area. I tried to just stop by Momma Truscotts quick but she wasn't home. I got to see a few awesome members at the baptism such as Brutha La Marche and family, the Presbas, Radmalls, Crofts, Christensens, etc. Bishop Christensen who is related or his wife to Elder Spencer Kelly that I served with in Russia, said that he's been just waiting for school to start. For morning exercise, districts meet to play basketball for a good cardio work out. We taught a part member family, Anyway, we had a powerful lesson and I challenged him to baptism and let him know that he is ready even if he doesn't think that he is (see Mosiah 18 & D&C 20 for qualifications for baptism), felt the Spirit way strong, in time he'll accept it all. For mutual the leaders invited us to do this presentation about how we take care of finances and p-day essentials They had to go to various stations and keep track of how much money they were spending from their $100 dollar allotment. They came out and looked at the car and I had to explain how to open the hood and where the wiper-fluid and battery were in the car to the Young-women, all I have to say is wow... we should know more as a people.... It was funny though when they had completely no idea about anything. We had dinner at this member's house who his son went to Japan and married a girl from there later, ahhhh, awesome lettuce wraps, they compete with Jared's. I learned a few phrases, "Ohio-mashi-man" is good morning and "Koneechiwa" is good afternoon I found out. ..Bishop's store house, I got to do that again which was fun. Saw some members that I knew from the wards that came to pick up orders for people. There was a dinner the other day with this girl that is a cutie (13 or so), but everything I said she would do this long gut-laugh that is probably the funniest laugh I've ever heard. So yeah I just got the Drop-box pic's on, the sock-monkey is a gift from the Bradshaw's namely Sister Bradshaw. Once in my testimony I talked about how when a monkey sees a shiny thing in a jar it gets it's hand stuck and won't let go, even if people are coming to get him, and how we as members need to let go of those things that are holding us back from sharing the Gospel and reaching our full potential. Sue will basically be a Mission-mom to the Chinese for 3 years. Cool about the Summit thing, I love David and Lori I wish 'em the best, hopefully that place is poppin' now days. Thanks so much for the updates, letter, and love. We're headin' out, looking forward to tellin ya more next week! :0 -Love Elder Bennett Oh yeah, the "Pleasant Surprise" was seeing President Cannon in the Hansen ward, he was traveling and didn't have the opportunity to have the sacrament so he came to that ward on his way to Twin, I love that man, it'll be sad in a little while when everything changes. Well love ya!

May 13, 2013 Heck, that whole Skype Call was squampus, very frustrating, at this point it was laggy and awkward enough that I kinda wish I just got on the phone and talked to everyone for a little bit each, but it's over, so whateva. It was good to see the family clan and Father Abraham over in Kentucky. Those kids were wild at the end of it, that's crazy that "Mibblets" as she calls herself is able to communicate now. You asked about Zone Leader Responsiblities, I found this hope it helps.... Most missions are divided into several zones, a zone being a geographic area specified by the mission president (though these are often the same area as the LDS ecclesiastical unit known as a "Stake"). A zone encompasses several more organizational units called districts. Each zone and district is presided over by leaders drawn from male missionaries serving in that area. Zone and district leaders are responsible for gathering weekly statistics, assisting missionaries in their areas of responsibility, and general accountability to the mission president for the well-being and progress of the missionaries under their stewardship. A district typically encompasses four to eight missionaries, and may or may not comprise more than one proselytizing area. An area is typically a portion of the LDS ecclesiastical unit known as a Ward (or congregation), one Ward, or multiple Wards. Anywho, the "Back in Black" title of my letter last week referred to the AC DC song, as named, and I did it because I was coming to Twin again, "Back in Twin" to the tune of that song. I was saying about La Grande that I miss living with those 4 elders, no sales tax, people pumping your car gas, and some of the members/investigators, but I like it here. Transfer day we showered and stuff at 3 in the morn to get to Ontario at 7:50 and we had a rest stop in Boise because one of the APs hit this thing with the trailer and they had to go get a UHaul rental one so it gave me time to see all my previous comps at the mission office, got to Twin like 2:00ish or so. Well like I said we are going to be moving across the street in like 2 weeks, not sure what house to tell ya. Things are going great we meet a lot of people at parks, on the street, referrals, etc. I feel we'll see a baptism together. Well I love you all, Happy Mothers Day to everyone, especially Mama, I'm so grateful for all your help to get me to where I am, as well as Papa, you have both done so much I can't repay ya. Well we're heading out, I'll talk you you guys next week! - Love Elder Bennett :)

May 6th, 2013 I can bear solemn witness that If you give money to me to try and gamble the predictions of transfers for you, that you and I would be broke, transfers ALWAYS surprise me! I was called to serve in Kimberly 1 as a Zone Leader with Elder Kofoed, so that should be way fun, I've already had a blast at getting to know the Zone, and I already know the Twin area like the back of my hand, I've just gotta get a hang of Kimberly now. I expect that this and following transfers will be VERY busy for us, so I ask for your prayers, it's a lot to manage, but I've already felt peace/comfort from Heavenly Father as I am serving in this regard. Oh and guess what, hahahaha, I just got done eating at Chick-Fil-A :) Oh, also, a kind gentleman jumped in front of us and paid for it, seems like Idaho. The only downside was packing and getting ready in the morning at 3:00. I got to see a TON of missionaries that I haven't seen for a long time which was way fun, such as Elder Dearborn, Elder Poplin, Elder Lehmuller, Elder Hardy, Elder Bloomfield, Sister Christensen, Elder Kelliher, etc. Congrats to Justin for completing the Ironman, way to be! Well since today has been way crazy, I've actually got to get going here, but I'm lookin forward to communicating with you guys on Sunday, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! - Love Elder Bennett :)

April 29th 2013.....If you are not familiar with the Lord of the Rings quote at the beginning of the tale it goes blah blah blah and "In the Darkness Bind You". When you were mentioning the whole "Pillar of Salt" talk that President Ricks was giving it made me reflect on all the stuff in the world that "binds" us down and makes us subject to it. According to Christ He said, "The Truth will make you free", who's going to challenge that one? The Gospel is seriously the only way we are going to have lasting happiness in this life and the life to come. It's way sad, to see people around you, we had one this week, who are affected by Anti-stuff that other churches put out, and those who just willingly choose to reject the teachings of the Savior. There was one of our investigators that got caught up in all that , he was saying blasphemous things about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Dang, you get your heart broken so many times on your mission that you are about ready to take on most disappointments later in life. I feel that is why on your mission that you go through droughts and hard times, to help you realize how good you really have it when times are, well, good :) I have a testimony of this great work we're involved in, it's tough, but the life of a disciple of Christ is not easy. My knee is doing just fine, it only hurts when it is bent a certain way. That reflective vest, I have not worn that cursed thing. The possibility would be with a new missionary. The Fellowship did enjoy the Pringles and the Charleston chews as well as myself, I explained Jared's run-in with the Charleston and how it jacked up his toe, can't quite remember the medical terminology they concluded on it. Speaking of Jared, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Congrats papa That'll be a good experience for you and you will come to love and serve the members of the High Priest group more than ever before. That's awesome that Mike is gung-ho about full-time missionary service, he needs to prepare and be ready though, have him read Preach My Gospel and the scriptures in it daily. That'd be way cool if he got that job at the DI, he's a good worker, better than dang Fiesta Fun. Another picture is a Bennett original, my District making the Book of Mormon the "Keystone", pretty cool right? Yeah, I'm going to Skype ya on Mothers Day. President Cannon mentioned October 21st, but I'm not sure if that's set in stone, apparently they send you some pre-going-home papers about my time. Had Stake Conference this week, the 70s came, Elder Bowen, Elder Hamilton, and a new Stake President was put it, we predicted the right one like 4 months ago, saw it a mile away. Elder Bowen focused on missionary work, but there was a Q&A that people could ask questions. I liked how he was saying that we (Elder Bennett and crew) are the "Part-time Missionaries" and the residents are the "Full-time" because they don't transfer. He asked who do you really think knows your neighbors better, someone whos been here for 6-12,ex. weeks or someone that's been here for 3-5 years. Really pumped up the members. President and Sister Cannon were at the Saturday adult session, it was great to see both of them, they spoke. Well I love you all, we gotta get going, have stupendous week! - Love Elder Bennett