Tuesday, October 15, 2013
First Transfer October 15, 2013 - Address to follow soon
Elder Gunnoe has been transferred to a new area. All we know right now is that he is in Elwood, Indiana. As soon as I get his new address I will add it. The area takes in the towns of Elwood, Alexandria and Summitville, Frankton and Moonville and all the farmland in between. We are looking forward to hearing how he likes the new area!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Card received October 4, 2013
Dearest Mama Bear and Family, (the card had a picture of a mama polar bear with her 2 cubs snuggled up on the cover)
What a week! Elder Giblette's tire popped 2 times in 2 days. We had a specialized training/interviews with President and Sister Porter! They're so awesome. Sister Porter made us Norske Pannekakers! Basically a super thin pancake. They were delicious! We played some games and she was taking pictures so make sure you check out Facebook. (the mission has a Facebook page where they add pictures and things that are happening in the mission - the page is Ohio Cincinnati Mission) Then after the meeting while we were waiting Elder Giblette and I sang a bunch of Hymns! We love singing. Sister Chapa played the piano for us. She's amazing :) The weather is starting to cool down which is nice. General Conference is coming up! I'm so excited :) The Sisters are awesome! Sister Fletcher is super bubbly and hard working and fun and Sister Chapa is super sweet, fun and definitely a hard worker. She's super funny as well :) We all work together really well. It's so fun being a missionary! A Brother bore his testimony yesterday about the power of the Priesthood and how the blessing he got from the missionaries allowed his physicians to diagnose a case of something most physicians will see once in their career and he had been misdiagnosed up until then and he was able to get the right medicine! That was my first and only blessing ... :) Good testimony builder! Send me pictures of what you changed at the house and whatever else. I want pictures too! :) I'll respond to your questions in your letter next week. It'll be a Q&A letter with just the A's. There's a sign I have to send you a picture of...it's The Big Ash Farm. Good times! Grandma sent $50 for Subway and $25 for Red Lobster/Olive Garden/Bahama Breeze/Seasons 52/Longhorn Steakhouse! It looks like the same Longhorn as in Washington but it's out of our area. I'll get to it eventually. Running out of room. Love you! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
PS. They sent stickers as well :)
What a week! Elder Giblette's tire popped 2 times in 2 days. We had a specialized training/interviews with President and Sister Porter! They're so awesome. Sister Porter made us Norske Pannekakers! Basically a super thin pancake. They were delicious! We played some games and she was taking pictures so make sure you check out Facebook. (the mission has a Facebook page where they add pictures and things that are happening in the mission - the page is Ohio Cincinnati Mission) Then after the meeting while we were waiting Elder Giblette and I sang a bunch of Hymns! We love singing. Sister Chapa played the piano for us. She's amazing :) The weather is starting to cool down which is nice. General Conference is coming up! I'm so excited :) The Sisters are awesome! Sister Fletcher is super bubbly and hard working and fun and Sister Chapa is super sweet, fun and definitely a hard worker. She's super funny as well :) We all work together really well. It's so fun being a missionary! A Brother bore his testimony yesterday about the power of the Priesthood and how the blessing he got from the missionaries allowed his physicians to diagnose a case of something most physicians will see once in their career and he had been misdiagnosed up until then and he was able to get the right medicine! That was my first and only blessing ... :) Good testimony builder! Send me pictures of what you changed at the house and whatever else. I want pictures too! :) I'll respond to your questions in your letter next week. It'll be a Q&A letter with just the A's. There's a sign I have to send you a picture of...it's The Big Ash Farm. Good times! Grandma sent $50 for Subway and $25 for Red Lobster/Olive Garden/Bahama Breeze/Seasons 52/Longhorn Steakhouse! It looks like the same Longhorn as in Washington but it's out of our area. I'll get to it eventually. Running out of room. Love you! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
PS. They sent stickers as well :)
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Letter Received September 25, 2013
Dear Mom & Pop,
Well what a week it's been! Full of rain, brownies, bike riding, move ins, funeral, and correlation. This Friday we were over at Greg's house and we were reading with him on his porch and the sky kept getting darker and darker and it was only 4:30...we left his house and as soon as we rounded the corner I felt a few drops and said "uh oh..we gotta go.." Next corner..it was raining pretty hard..so we booked it to the Gardner's which was a few streets down and as soon as we got on the porch it was a super hard downpour. Barely missed that. Saturday was Brother Tony Mensah-Daku's funeral. He was from Togo which is next to Ghana. He had a condition with the veins behind his lungs and they basically shut down and he was home alone asleep when he suffocated to death. His 8 year old son came home when his dad wasn't there to pick him up at the bus stop. The door was locked and no one would answer so the police and apartment management came to open the door and Harrison ran in to find his dad and they couldn't wake him up. He had been dead for about 2 hours. Very sad! I swear I'm bad luck. Elder Giblette crashed on his bike :( We were going down this super steep windy road and you know me I take stuff like that fast and lay my bike down in turns. He was following at his own pace which I guess was a little too fast and he couldn't quite navigate the turn so the bike went down. He slid on his arms, belly down and the guardrail post was what stopped him. He's alright...just a little sore. Sister Fletcher and Sister Chapa are super awesome :) Sister Chapa just came out this last transfer and Sister Fletcher goes home in November! The ward loves them..And loves feeding them. They had the 2 meal calendars passed around (ours and theirs) last Sunday and they ended up getting 4 dinners and we had 0. Luckily the Unklesbay's fed us last minute as did the Martins. Good eats! Sister Unklesbay made chicken that was rolled and coated in BBQ chips! Oh my gosh, so good! The Martins made these super good steak taco's with homemade tortilla chips (she's from Chile). Then again on Saturday we had...Outback Steakhouse! It was Elder Giblette's birthday so we treated ourselves :) Soooo good! We have 9 investigators but only 4 or 5 are being or staying solid. We keep getting a ton of media referrals which is good. Hope all is well back home! It is so awesome being out here! It's already October! Time flies. My new companion is so awesome! We talk all the time and get along really well. He's a great guy. As you heard earlier ya we have Sisters. We make a bomb team. Hopefully the weather stays cooled down now. I miss the Temple! Thanks for the love and support guys! I love and miss you! Ta ta for now.
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
Well what a week it's been! Full of rain, brownies, bike riding, move ins, funeral, and correlation. This Friday we were over at Greg's house and we were reading with him on his porch and the sky kept getting darker and darker and it was only 4:30...we left his house and as soon as we rounded the corner I felt a few drops and said "uh oh..we gotta go.." Next corner..it was raining pretty hard..so we booked it to the Gardner's which was a few streets down and as soon as we got on the porch it was a super hard downpour. Barely missed that. Saturday was Brother Tony Mensah-Daku's funeral. He was from Togo which is next to Ghana. He had a condition with the veins behind his lungs and they basically shut down and he was home alone asleep when he suffocated to death. His 8 year old son came home when his dad wasn't there to pick him up at the bus stop. The door was locked and no one would answer so the police and apartment management came to open the door and Harrison ran in to find his dad and they couldn't wake him up. He had been dead for about 2 hours. Very sad! I swear I'm bad luck. Elder Giblette crashed on his bike :( We were going down this super steep windy road and you know me I take stuff like that fast and lay my bike down in turns. He was following at his own pace which I guess was a little too fast and he couldn't quite navigate the turn so the bike went down. He slid on his arms, belly down and the guardrail post was what stopped him. He's alright...just a little sore. Sister Fletcher and Sister Chapa are super awesome :) Sister Chapa just came out this last transfer and Sister Fletcher goes home in November! The ward loves them..And loves feeding them. They had the 2 meal calendars passed around (ours and theirs) last Sunday and they ended up getting 4 dinners and we had 0. Luckily the Unklesbay's fed us last minute as did the Martins. Good eats! Sister Unklesbay made chicken that was rolled and coated in BBQ chips! Oh my gosh, so good! The Martins made these super good steak taco's with homemade tortilla chips (she's from Chile). Then again on Saturday we had...Outback Steakhouse! It was Elder Giblette's birthday so we treated ourselves :) Soooo good! We have 9 investigators but only 4 or 5 are being or staying solid. We keep getting a ton of media referrals which is good. Hope all is well back home! It is so awesome being out here! It's already October! Time flies. My new companion is so awesome! We talk all the time and get along really well. He's a great guy. As you heard earlier ya we have Sisters. We make a bomb team. Hopefully the weather stays cooled down now. I miss the Temple! Thanks for the love and support guys! I love and miss you! Ta ta for now.
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
Elder Giblette and Elder Gunnoe
Elder Gunnoe and Elder Giblette at the Unklesbay's for dinner!!
Thanks to the Unklesbay's for taking such good care of our Missionaries!! :)
Monday, September 16, 2013
Finally...a long letter to post :)
Family,
Oh my gosh! Such an awesome week. So we got fed yesterday by the Felsheims. They BBQ'd New York strip steaks for us, with green beans with bacon bits on top! The thing was literally like an inch thick and about 4x6" big! Ahh! Me and Brother Felsheim are connected. In his garage...A 2008 silver 505hp 6-speed Corvette Z06!!! Ahhh!!! It has the 7 liter L57 in it AND there's a remote on the key ring...it turns off the mufflers and sounds amazing! He's a machinist but like super high tech machinist. He makes helicopter blades for the government and jet engine parts, blades and tools. I told him I'm keeping in contact so we can ride in it when you come to pick me up. Hope you liked the pics from Sis. Unklesbay. They're an awesome family! Love em! Thanks for the letters!! Sorry it's hard to respond to each one. I always love the counsel, love, and love hearing how things are going! Dad - I bet it's quite weird sitting with mom in Sacrament! Good times! Cole - that's awesome you're working at Pali. What are hours/schedule like? Mom - hope the new calling is treating you well! God really did bless me with this body. I has so much strength and energy when we're riding bikes despite 90 degree heat and 80-90% humidity. I kill my companion - poor guy. I thank the Lord every day for the strength He has given me. I get MSF money next week. Yay! I've been better lately. We got some new furniture. Finally an end table I can keep my things on. I hope you liked the pictures. Meeting Dallin H. Oaks was AMAZING! Such a great man. He went straight from Gospel Doctrine Teacher to Apostle! Never been a Bishop or a Stake President or anything. Scary stuff! Sorry I missed you on p-day. We cleaned all day and got there late and I know you're back to a schedule. My bad. It's fun being out here! Lovin Ohio! If you can think of anyone else I can write please send addresses. Nana sent me like 100 cards to send out and collectively from everyone I have almost 100 stamps! Love everyone so much. I get written pretty often..Stephanie writes basically weekly..she's amazing. Nana sends me a card often. Got a few cards from Grandma and Grandpa. One letter from Sis. Mastro. Mostly email but I've gotten a few letters and they said they'll write more. I need to go find more sheet protectors..my binder is full and they're all front and back filled. Crazy stuff! I love letters. I saw all my MTC family (district) at the meeting with Elder Oaks. It was such a great reunion! Strongest bond ever. I love them all so much. Can't wait to hang with them post mission. Eternal friends! Lovin life. Got fed by the Unklesbay's again (she may have told you this) but I was petting Shadow, their little dog, behind his ear and he whipped his head around and bit my whole thumb! Even broke the skin by my nail. That hurt! Good dog story huh? :) Thanks for the letters and the bread!! Mom - I hope you liked the pics. I'll try and take more soon. I sent you a badge pic. It's somewhere around when I sent the map pictures. Check and let me know Monday. I want to stay here. I'm gonna own this area. Transfers are next week and there's 30+ missionaries coming in so we'll see. Hope you and dad are feeling better! Dad - Stake Conference was amazing so you heard earlier. I'm always staying positive now. Cole - that job sounds sweet. So excited for you. School goes by fast. Enjoy it because you will miss it no matter what you say. Do all you can because it's your last chance. It's already September! Crazy stuff! Fall is going to be awesome and crazy. So many leaves to clean up. Still hot though. Hottest it's been since I got here. So today's weather was intense. We left at 2 and it was 92 degrees with 90% humidity and sunny. Went to a members home and left at 4. It was semi-cloudy and still hot. At 4:45 we were waiting outside for our ride from the family we were having dinner with (it gets dark at 5). I was looking at the sky and realized how dark the clouds were and I told my comp.."Uh, it's about to dump.." As we were loading our bikes it started to rain. Off in the distance was all the lightening. It started to downpour. Literally. Hardcore. And it got insanely windy. We got to the member's home and in the 30 foot run to the house we got soaked. Had to use paper towels on my hair and arms. Then I went out on the porch to watch the rain because I was fascinated. I've never seen so much rain so quickly. And it's 9:00 now and still raining. Not as hard but still. Amazing how quick the weather changed. So we're getting Sisters in the ward. We got a new investigator today! He's a sweet 16 year old guy that I see a ton of potential in and we're teaching his mom. So I'll keep you posted on that. Tomorrow is the Labor Day Stake picnic. I'm gonna be on our Ward's team for the soccer tourney. Once again I'm blessed. Definitely with you guys. Elder Giblette it is (new companion)! He's such an awesome guy. Matches me so well. From Montana. Hard worker, energetic and just a great guy! We've had such an awesome few days. 2 new investigators. So much hard work. A lesson tomorrow with John after we have dinner with the Felsheim's again. We're helping a family move in today from Albuquerque. The work is slowly building. New investigators but no one with a date yet though. But we'll get there. Well I guess I'll just finish this up so I can send it off. I love and miss you! Enjoy this novel! Love you!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
Oh my gosh! Such an awesome week. So we got fed yesterday by the Felsheims. They BBQ'd New York strip steaks for us, with green beans with bacon bits on top! The thing was literally like an inch thick and about 4x6" big! Ahh! Me and Brother Felsheim are connected. In his garage...A 2008 silver 505hp 6-speed Corvette Z06!!! Ahhh!!! It has the 7 liter L57 in it AND there's a remote on the key ring...it turns off the mufflers and sounds amazing! He's a machinist but like super high tech machinist. He makes helicopter blades for the government and jet engine parts, blades and tools. I told him I'm keeping in contact so we can ride in it when you come to pick me up. Hope you liked the pics from Sis. Unklesbay. They're an awesome family! Love em! Thanks for the letters!! Sorry it's hard to respond to each one. I always love the counsel, love, and love hearing how things are going! Dad - I bet it's quite weird sitting with mom in Sacrament! Good times! Cole - that's awesome you're working at Pali. What are hours/schedule like? Mom - hope the new calling is treating you well! God really did bless me with this body. I has so much strength and energy when we're riding bikes despite 90 degree heat and 80-90% humidity. I kill my companion - poor guy. I thank the Lord every day for the strength He has given me. I get MSF money next week. Yay! I've been better lately. We got some new furniture. Finally an end table I can keep my things on. I hope you liked the pictures. Meeting Dallin H. Oaks was AMAZING! Such a great man. He went straight from Gospel Doctrine Teacher to Apostle! Never been a Bishop or a Stake President or anything. Scary stuff! Sorry I missed you on p-day. We cleaned all day and got there late and I know you're back to a schedule. My bad. It's fun being out here! Lovin Ohio! If you can think of anyone else I can write please send addresses. Nana sent me like 100 cards to send out and collectively from everyone I have almost 100 stamps! Love everyone so much. I get written pretty often..Stephanie writes basically weekly..she's amazing. Nana sends me a card often. Got a few cards from Grandma and Grandpa. One letter from Sis. Mastro. Mostly email but I've gotten a few letters and they said they'll write more. I need to go find more sheet protectors..my binder is full and they're all front and back filled. Crazy stuff! I love letters. I saw all my MTC family (district) at the meeting with Elder Oaks. It was such a great reunion! Strongest bond ever. I love them all so much. Can't wait to hang with them post mission. Eternal friends! Lovin life. Got fed by the Unklesbay's again (she may have told you this) but I was petting Shadow, their little dog, behind his ear and he whipped his head around and bit my whole thumb! Even broke the skin by my nail. That hurt! Good dog story huh? :) Thanks for the letters and the bread!! Mom - I hope you liked the pics. I'll try and take more soon. I sent you a badge pic. It's somewhere around when I sent the map pictures. Check and let me know Monday. I want to stay here. I'm gonna own this area. Transfers are next week and there's 30+ missionaries coming in so we'll see. Hope you and dad are feeling better! Dad - Stake Conference was amazing so you heard earlier. I'm always staying positive now. Cole - that job sounds sweet. So excited for you. School goes by fast. Enjoy it because you will miss it no matter what you say. Do all you can because it's your last chance. It's already September! Crazy stuff! Fall is going to be awesome and crazy. So many leaves to clean up. Still hot though. Hottest it's been since I got here. So today's weather was intense. We left at 2 and it was 92 degrees with 90% humidity and sunny. Went to a members home and left at 4. It was semi-cloudy and still hot. At 4:45 we were waiting outside for our ride from the family we were having dinner with (it gets dark at 5). I was looking at the sky and realized how dark the clouds were and I told my comp.."Uh, it's about to dump.." As we were loading our bikes it started to rain. Off in the distance was all the lightening. It started to downpour. Literally. Hardcore. And it got insanely windy. We got to the member's home and in the 30 foot run to the house we got soaked. Had to use paper towels on my hair and arms. Then I went out on the porch to watch the rain because I was fascinated. I've never seen so much rain so quickly. And it's 9:00 now and still raining. Not as hard but still. Amazing how quick the weather changed. So we're getting Sisters in the ward. We got a new investigator today! He's a sweet 16 year old guy that I see a ton of potential in and we're teaching his mom. So I'll keep you posted on that. Tomorrow is the Labor Day Stake picnic. I'm gonna be on our Ward's team for the soccer tourney. Once again I'm blessed. Definitely with you guys. Elder Giblette it is (new companion)! He's such an awesome guy. Matches me so well. From Montana. Hard worker, energetic and just a great guy! We've had such an awesome few days. 2 new investigators. So much hard work. A lesson tomorrow with John after we have dinner with the Felsheim's again. We're helping a family move in today from Albuquerque. The work is slowly building. New investigators but no one with a date yet though. But we'll get there. Well I guess I'll just finish this up so I can send it off. I love and miss you! Enjoy this novel! Love you!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
Elder Gunnoe playing soccer at the Labor Day picnic.
Rain storm in Fairfield, Ohio.
Elder McMichael (first companion) and Elder Gunnoe.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Little bit of an update...more to come soon
I was able to chat with Elder Gunnoe via email this morning and thought I would post some of what he had to say....
"Tomorrow is transfers which is why today is p-day. My companion is getting transferred and I'm staying here in Fairfield." I asked him "Are you doing ok?" He said "Ya I'm alright. I've been sleeping on a couch or sleeping on the floor for the last 5 days (they are dealing with a bed bug issue which I have heard is quite a big problem in that area of the country), the apartment is torn apart, everything I have is all in trash bags so I'm living out of trash bags for a week. I'm losing my companion tomorrow and either I'm getting a follow up trainer or I'll be training. We haven't had very many real missionary days in almost a week, and ya, we've gotten fed a few more times which is nice. So ya that's pretty much been life lately. The letter I still need to send to you is like 7 pages long so that'll explain a lot." I told him "Sorry to hear you are dealing with bugs! and sleeping on the couch/floor. Do you feel you would be ready to train? Are you glad you're staying there?" He said "Ya it's not like a bad thing it's more of a tedious annoying and ongoingly dumb thing. I feel ready to do anything but you know me - that's just the way I am. I am glad I'm staying here. Like you have no idea. I love Fairfield. This place is awesome. I definitely can do anything and it's thanks to you. Honestly. I wouldn't be where I am without you. Thank you so much for everything you've taught me and everything you've done for me." I asked him "What do you think would be the ideal amount of time to stay in one area before being transferred?" He said "I think 4-6 months is perfect to be in an area because you can really develop a relationship with the members and continually work with the same less actives and really get work accomplished. Because being new to an area, in the first 6 weeks the only work that really gets done is getting to know the area and the members."
I am hoping to get the "long" letter soon so stay posted for more news :)
"Tomorrow is transfers which is why today is p-day. My companion is getting transferred and I'm staying here in Fairfield." I asked him "Are you doing ok?" He said "Ya I'm alright. I've been sleeping on a couch or sleeping on the floor for the last 5 days (they are dealing with a bed bug issue which I have heard is quite a big problem in that area of the country), the apartment is torn apart, everything I have is all in trash bags so I'm living out of trash bags for a week. I'm losing my companion tomorrow and either I'm getting a follow up trainer or I'll be training. We haven't had very many real missionary days in almost a week, and ya, we've gotten fed a few more times which is nice. So ya that's pretty much been life lately. The letter I still need to send to you is like 7 pages long so that'll explain a lot." I told him "Sorry to hear you are dealing with bugs! and sleeping on the couch/floor. Do you feel you would be ready to train? Are you glad you're staying there?" He said "Ya it's not like a bad thing it's more of a tedious annoying and ongoingly dumb thing. I feel ready to do anything but you know me - that's just the way I am. I am glad I'm staying here. Like you have no idea. I love Fairfield. This place is awesome. I definitely can do anything and it's thanks to you. Honestly. I wouldn't be where I am without you. Thank you so much for everything you've taught me and everything you've done for me." I asked him "What do you think would be the ideal amount of time to stay in one area before being transferred?" He said "I think 4-6 months is perfect to be in an area because you can really develop a relationship with the members and continually work with the same less actives and really get work accomplished. Because being new to an area, in the first 6 weeks the only work that really gets done is getting to know the area and the members."
I am hoping to get the "long" letter soon so stay posted for more news :)
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Letter received 8/21/2013
This is bits and pieces of his latest letter home (it was 8 pages long which we were very excited about but didn't figure you all would want to hear all of it):
Thank you so so so much for not only that (we had sent him a GPS so he would find his way around his area) but for everything. I'm so supported from home and I'm really blessed for it. Like immensely blessed for it. Especially from the way you've raised me. I'm going to be successful thanks to you guys. I am already taking over in anything and everything I can. I apologize for not writing sooner. It's been a long few weeks. A new Ward Mission Leader was called so that will help. He's a great guy. Can't wait to get things rolling. We'll see where things go. Hope Cole will like his birthday present. Figured he might dig it. Nana sent me like a ton of cards so I have something to send to people. And I have now collected almost 100 stamps so I'm good for a while. I think I've gotten everything that was sent back from everyone, including Grandma. Should be caught up. I'm on top of the world baby! I can't wait to be a leader and move this mission forward. Me and my companion are designing a Member Record Form we're hoping to get implemented throughout the mission. Long story on that one. Couple of experiences I'll share in the next letter that are really cool. This really is the Lord's work! I know it, I live it, I love it. I love the gospel! Celestial party! I love you! Thank you again. I love you!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
PS. I love stickers. Have kids send them to me! Cars, Nemo, Disney, Looney Tunes, etc. :)
But...he didn't end there....
We took the Sacrament to Grandma Meadows. Super awesome lady. Has a super high grandma voice, puffy white hair, super blunt and yet sweet as molasses. Anyways, she lost her husband a few years ago and has really wavered in her faith even though she's sealed to him. So we're really trying to build that faith back up. But we love her. She's awesome. And we talked with this Muslim guy today who totally believes in prophets so we told him there's a prophet today but he has a hard time believing that because of the Koran. Great guy though! He said he'll research and call us if he has questions. It's funny when I knock doors I open the conversation with things in their yards but mostly use their cars! Works for the most part! Gotta love Fairfield and Forest Park and Colerain and Mount Healthy and Seven Hills. It was funny, we were riding our bikes in Seven Hills and rode by a house with a bunch of people out front and loud music and I said to myself "Hey, I smell skunk...oh wait, I'm in Seven Hills...Hey, I smell weed!" :) True that! Good times. So many bumpin cars around here. Even bumpin mini vans! When we're on our bikes members honk at us! I can't wait for fall and winter. Gotta love the cold! My companion, being from Georgia, does not like that I am my dad and keep the apartment anywhere from 60-66 degrees which is freezing for him, inside at least. The apartment is always a disaster so I'd rather not send pictures...I'm not as good about that mostly because I'll be here for a while...my bad. Please read this months Ensign! It's sooo good. Oh ya, I forgot to mention...I'll let you know what he talks on and how it is meeting him when I see Dallin H. Oaks this weekend when he comes to reorganize the Stake Presidency! Going to be amazing! Talk about timing! So I need all the kids (littler kids) back home to send me stickers! We as missionaries love re-living our childhoods so we use stickers a lot! Please and thank you! I want to go to the temple so bad! Andrew Unklesbay (he takes us out to appointments a lot) just got endowed and he saw the new stuff! :( I'm so jealous. He is reporting to the Salt Lake City Utah mission in October! We're going to try and get a coffee table and some bar stools for the apartment because we work in the living room a lot and the floor is our desk. Thrift store here we come! Gotta make it more homey too. I'm going to try and send this and Cole's package out today but we'll see. I have given up ending this letter because I keep wanting to say more. Gotta shower! I can't wait to play baseball again. I will get back into it. I miss it so much. I held a baseball the other day and it felt so good. I just wanted to pitch for hours and hours. Something I'll definitely get back into. So today I got through all of D&C 107 which is about the order of the Priesthood. I'm researching and studying this because there's a lady (lives in Dayton but works in Fairfield so we see her and work with her) and she really wants to get baptized but she is having a hard time accepting prophets after Joseph Smith because she doesn't understand how that works so I'm working to help her gain that knowledge and testimony of Thomas S. Monson so she can be baptized! Such an awesome lady. Now off to write letters and then the rest of P-day! Love you! I'll send this now! Hope this made up for not writing in a while! Love you! This letter dates 8-18 and 8-19. Oh ya, we found out there is a missionary-only meeting with Elder Oaks on Sunday!!! :) So just the missionaries in our zone so it'll be very personal!!! Ahh!!! :) I can't wait! I love you! Have a great week!
Love ,
Elder Gunnoe
Thank you so so so much for not only that (we had sent him a GPS so he would find his way around his area) but for everything. I'm so supported from home and I'm really blessed for it. Like immensely blessed for it. Especially from the way you've raised me. I'm going to be successful thanks to you guys. I am already taking over in anything and everything I can. I apologize for not writing sooner. It's been a long few weeks. A new Ward Mission Leader was called so that will help. He's a great guy. Can't wait to get things rolling. We'll see where things go. Hope Cole will like his birthday present. Figured he might dig it. Nana sent me like a ton of cards so I have something to send to people. And I have now collected almost 100 stamps so I'm good for a while. I think I've gotten everything that was sent back from everyone, including Grandma. Should be caught up. I'm on top of the world baby! I can't wait to be a leader and move this mission forward. Me and my companion are designing a Member Record Form we're hoping to get implemented throughout the mission. Long story on that one. Couple of experiences I'll share in the next letter that are really cool. This really is the Lord's work! I know it, I live it, I love it. I love the gospel! Celestial party! I love you! Thank you again. I love you!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
PS. I love stickers. Have kids send them to me! Cars, Nemo, Disney, Looney Tunes, etc. :)
But...he didn't end there....
We took the Sacrament to Grandma Meadows. Super awesome lady. Has a super high grandma voice, puffy white hair, super blunt and yet sweet as molasses. Anyways, she lost her husband a few years ago and has really wavered in her faith even though she's sealed to him. So we're really trying to build that faith back up. But we love her. She's awesome. And we talked with this Muslim guy today who totally believes in prophets so we told him there's a prophet today but he has a hard time believing that because of the Koran. Great guy though! He said he'll research and call us if he has questions. It's funny when I knock doors I open the conversation with things in their yards but mostly use their cars! Works for the most part! Gotta love Fairfield and Forest Park and Colerain and Mount Healthy and Seven Hills. It was funny, we were riding our bikes in Seven Hills and rode by a house with a bunch of people out front and loud music and I said to myself "Hey, I smell skunk...oh wait, I'm in Seven Hills...Hey, I smell weed!" :) True that! Good times. So many bumpin cars around here. Even bumpin mini vans! When we're on our bikes members honk at us! I can't wait for fall and winter. Gotta love the cold! My companion, being from Georgia, does not like that I am my dad and keep the apartment anywhere from 60-66 degrees which is freezing for him, inside at least. The apartment is always a disaster so I'd rather not send pictures...I'm not as good about that mostly because I'll be here for a while...my bad. Please read this months Ensign! It's sooo good. Oh ya, I forgot to mention...I'll let you know what he talks on and how it is meeting him when I see Dallin H. Oaks this weekend when he comes to reorganize the Stake Presidency! Going to be amazing! Talk about timing! So I need all the kids (littler kids) back home to send me stickers! We as missionaries love re-living our childhoods so we use stickers a lot! Please and thank you! I want to go to the temple so bad! Andrew Unklesbay (he takes us out to appointments a lot) just got endowed and he saw the new stuff! :( I'm so jealous. He is reporting to the Salt Lake City Utah mission in October! We're going to try and get a coffee table and some bar stools for the apartment because we work in the living room a lot and the floor is our desk. Thrift store here we come! Gotta make it more homey too. I'm going to try and send this and Cole's package out today but we'll see. I have given up ending this letter because I keep wanting to say more. Gotta shower! I can't wait to play baseball again. I will get back into it. I miss it so much. I held a baseball the other day and it felt so good. I just wanted to pitch for hours and hours. Something I'll definitely get back into. So today I got through all of D&C 107 which is about the order of the Priesthood. I'm researching and studying this because there's a lady (lives in Dayton but works in Fairfield so we see her and work with her) and she really wants to get baptized but she is having a hard time accepting prophets after Joseph Smith because she doesn't understand how that works so I'm working to help her gain that knowledge and testimony of Thomas S. Monson so she can be baptized! Such an awesome lady. Now off to write letters and then the rest of P-day! Love you! I'll send this now! Hope this made up for not writing in a while! Love you! This letter dates 8-18 and 8-19. Oh ya, we found out there is a missionary-only meeting with Elder Oaks on Sunday!!! :) So just the missionaries in our zone so it'll be very personal!!! Ahh!!! :) I can't wait! I love you! Have a great week!
Love ,
Elder Gunnoe
Monday, August 12, 2013
Letter received August 12
Dear Family/Blog,
Hola from Ohio! What a week it has been. Still a hard area to be in but we’re pressing forward! We have 2 solid investigators, 2 so-so investigators, and 3 potential investigators! The work is moving forward. We are now on bikes which means during this week of being on bikes, dinner time means shower time. Because soaking wet clothes when it’s not raining is not right! It does rain often though so that doesn’t help. We’re still getting to know the area and the members. We’ve reactivated one family, we’re helping a recent convert re-quit smoking, AND we’re never getting fed. We have had 1 member meal and we have 1 planned for next week and 2 that are always set in stone monthly. So money runs out fast from needing real food all the time. The apartment is still a disaster which is why I haven’t sent many pictures. I saw a bunch of my fellow MTC missionaries at zone meeting and a trainer/trainee meeting which was awesome. I’m being told by President Porter and my companion and missionary leaders that I have a ton of potential and will progress quickly which is comforting to me. I hope all is well back home!
Love you all!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
Hola from Ohio! What a week it has been. Still a hard area to be in but we’re pressing forward! We have 2 solid investigators, 2 so-so investigators, and 3 potential investigators! The work is moving forward. We are now on bikes which means during this week of being on bikes, dinner time means shower time. Because soaking wet clothes when it’s not raining is not right! It does rain often though so that doesn’t help. We’re still getting to know the area and the members. We’ve reactivated one family, we’re helping a recent convert re-quit smoking, AND we’re never getting fed. We have had 1 member meal and we have 1 planned for next week and 2 that are always set in stone monthly. So money runs out fast from needing real food all the time. The apartment is still a disaster which is why I haven’t sent many pictures. I saw a bunch of my fellow MTC missionaries at zone meeting and a trainer/trainee meeting which was awesome. I’m being told by President Porter and my companion and missionary leaders that I have a ton of potential and will progress quickly which is comforting to me. I hope all is well back home!
Love you all!
Love,
Elder Gunnoe
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