December 23, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well I give you a snowy and cold greetings from Indianola Iowa.  It is about 2 degrees outside and will be getting even colder tonight.  And it snowed about 6 inches Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Yesterday church was canceled because of the snow so me and my companion went out shoveling snow all day.  My back, knees, and feet are killing me right now but it felt good to do that for people. 

Well other then that it was just a normal week.  We had exchanges with the Zone leaders this past week and that was fun.  Not much happened with Investigators since everyone was out and about doing christmas stuff.  And this next week we will be trying to visit families and bringing that Christmas spirit into the home.  There is a new mormon video out that captures perfectly what christmas is all about. 

Well that is about all for this week.  Hopefully we will be having a great christmas here.  And merry Christmas to everyone in the west!

Sincerely;
Elder Spencer Ariotti

December 16, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well it has been another week in Indianola.  It has been cold for a few days and then it will get warm for a few days only to switch back.  This next week we will be staying warm for a little while then let some snow maybe come by Thursday.  I have also heard that next week will be a cold one for sure.  Hopefully it will be able to snow for christmas at least.  I am really looking forward to that day with skyping.  Hopefully most of you guys will be able to make it.  If not then I will be able to see you in about 2 months for sure.

Well this week not a whole lot happened with investigators.  We had exchanges with another set of Elders in there area so that was fun and good.  Then on Thursday we had a big christmas Zone conference and that was really fun.  We had trainings from our leaders and testimonies from leaving missionaries (including me).  Then in the afternoon we had all the districts give short skits which was really amusing.  Some you could tell had only a few hours to prepare while others had some more time on there hands.  We had a lot of fun though.  Then we finished it off by watching the new movie: Ephraims Rescue.  That was a really great movie.  If you have not watched it I highly recommend it.  So those where the main highlights of the week.

Well this next week we will be getting a lot more member meals thanks to our new coordinator.  So we will not be eating a lot of ramen this next week.  Well I love you all and I know that this message, the gospel, blesses and changes lives.

Sincerely;
Elder Spencer Ariotti

December 9, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well it has been another week in Indianola.  We actually have snow on the ground!  It has snowed all day yesterday but it has only gotten up to maybe 4 inches.  Not to deep.  But it is still very cold outside.  It has been in the teens for most of the week.  This next week they say it will warm up to the 30's but get colder again.  People are saying that this will be a very cold winter.

Well not a whole lot to report on this week.  Nothing major happened with our investigators.  We may be dropping two of them because they are cancelling all of our appointments.  We have been working a lot with potential investigators that missionaries have previously found and have showed some interest in learning from us.  We have had a few people tell us to come back and others that have given us a few amusing ways of saying no to having us come back.  This week we will hopefully be visiting with the members a little bit more then this past week.

Well hopefully we will not be freezing this next week.  we will be having our christmas zone conference this week so that should be very fun.  All the districts will be doing little short skits having to do with missionary work or the scriptures.  I will let you all know how that goes.  Well I love you all and the Gospel is true!

Sincerely;

Elder Spencer Ariotti

December 2, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well it has been a great week in Indianola.  We had a great thanksgiving feast at some members house and a lot of pie.  Then it was fun to watch them shoot guns a little bit and it was a very good day.  The rest of the week was good as well.  We are trying to meet with our investigators as much as we can and that has been going good.  Two of our investigators are making it hard to meet with them so that is a little frustrating.  But we are going good with all of our other investigators. 

This next week will for sure be getting colder.  If anything this past week it has been a roller coaster of warmth and cold.  This next week will be getting the highs around 20 for a few days.  Next week we may get some snow!  Christmas is definitely coming.  Hopefully there will not be a whole lot of ice or anything like that.  That stuff just makes me nervous.

Well this next week we have a lot of appointments.  Hopefully they will not fall through.  And hopefully we will be able to progress with a bunch of our investigators.  This is a very exciting month!  Love you all and the Gospel is true.

Sincerely;

Elder Spencer Ariotti

November 25, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well it has been quite a week.  My new companion is Elder Tappen.  He is from Alaska.  Another Visa waiter.  And this next week looks like it will be getting cold and a little bit warm but only to cool down for the year.  It has been very cold in other words.  Oh and we did get three new investigators to make up for the ones that we had to drop this last week.  The Lord is definitely preparing people for us to teach.  This next week we will be finding out how on board these people are.  The year is soon coming to a close and we have the goal of 550 to get to.  We are at about 420 or 430.  We still have a ways to go.  And this next week is thanksgiving!  We will be going to a few houses to have some dinners.  Hopefully we will be able to make the most of the day.  But it will be a fun week.  Love you all!

Sincerely;
Elder Spencer Ariotti

November 18, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

Well it has been another week in Indianola.  I have just received transfer calls and I am staying while my companion Elder Huxford is leaving to a new area while training.  All I know is that I am staying.  Not sure how old my new companion is or his name.  Did I ever mention how much I dislike transfers?  There is a lot of stress and it is not very pleasant to go through.  But there is new adventure that is awaiting.

Well this was actually a hard week.  We dropped one investigator because she was not progressing and didnt want to.  Another because he left the room while we were knocking on his door to meet with him.  And another because he left to go urbandale.  So we are now down to one investigator that we are on good speaking terms with.  And she is very frustrated right now because her boyfriend left her.

But we have been working hard to find new people.  And we will continue to do so with the new missionary that will be coming.  I will continue to work my hardest at proclaiming the Gospel so that all people will have the opportunity to hear about it.  Love you all!  Keep us in your prayers!

Sincerely;
Elder Spencer Ariotti

November 11, 2013 - Indianola, IA

Dear Family:

 

Well it has been a cold week in Indianola Iowa.  We had a lot of appointments scheduled and it was going to be a great week.  But things turned around and a lot of people had to cancel on us.  One of those being a young non member that wishes to have the lessons.  It was kind of disappointing but I still remember that this work is not easy and things will happen.  Everyone has there agency.  It is a great gift but very frusterating to many people.

 

But then we made it to Sunday and church and that made this week good.  We had two of our investigators finally make it to church and that was awesome.  Although there daughter had a little tantrum it was good because it was the primary program.  There was such an awesome spirit the whole time and you could tell it was a great learning experience for all that were there.

 

So it was stressful but very much worth it.  And this week will be another stressful one as we will be having last minuit exchanges in our area and will be awaiting transfer calls sometime this weekend.  I will probably be getting transfered but the Lord has his own plans for me.  I know this Gospel is true and I love it so much.  Love you all!

 

Sincerely;

Elder Spencer Ariotti