Monday, April 30, 2018
Not much news
Today's email was pretty short, with not much news. Elder Panter said he is doing good and keeping busy. He's excited to get a phone starting next month. We just ordered it and had it shipped to him today. I hope that means he will include more pictures. :) We are looking forward to our Mother's Day call. I can't wait to hear his voice. Right now they are trying to find someone that will let them call us from their house. I'm sure one of the wonderful members in Colorado will help them out! The one thing Braxton did say was that he is continuing to practice the piano. I'm so happy about that. He has never taken any lessons, but he has self taught and is actually pretty good. I'm hoping he got some of my grandma's talent in that area. Not much other news, but it was good to hear that he is doing well.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Craig Zone Conference
Elder Panter had his first Zone Conference today and his mission President's wife posted these pictures. I'm happy that we have a good mission president and his wife taking care of our kiddos.
Monday, April 23, 2018
April 23 Colorado is beautiful
Elder Panter is doing well still. He says he has been a little down this week but is optimistic about next week. If you have any extra time, and could send him an email, letter or even a prayer, this momma would sure appreciate it. :)
Last Thursday his ward had a dessert auction for a fundraiser. He said it was good and they raised over $800. He loves how the little kids love seeing the missionaries and he said it is fun to see their reaction when they find out that the missionaries are coming over for dinner. It makes him smile.
I asked about his favorite meal so far and he says it is the steaks that they get. They are always cooked so good. Apparently the people in Rangely spoil the missionaries. I'm thankful for that.
I asked if he had seen any miracles on his mission. He said it is always a miracle if he gets at least 8 hours of sleep. Hahaha. Hasn't lost his sense of humor. He then told me he has seen that people's hearts are softened over time and that we can be the start of it.
Elder Panter finally took his camera with him to the computers and downloaded some pictures for me to share. I was so excited to see pictures of him, and not one of them has him in it! Silly kid! But Colorado is sure beautiful...
Last Thursday his ward had a dessert auction for a fundraiser. He said it was good and they raised over $800. He loves how the little kids love seeing the missionaries and he said it is fun to see their reaction when they find out that the missionaries are coming over for dinner. It makes him smile.
I asked about his favorite meal so far and he says it is the steaks that they get. They are always cooked so good. Apparently the people in Rangely spoil the missionaries. I'm thankful for that.
I asked if he had seen any miracles on his mission. He said it is always a miracle if he gets at least 8 hours of sleep. Hahaha. Hasn't lost his sense of humor. He then told me he has seen that people's hearts are softened over time and that we can be the start of it.
Elder Panter finally took his camera with him to the computers and downloaded some pictures for me to share. I was so excited to see pictures of him, and not one of them has him in it! Silly kid! But Colorado is sure beautiful...
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| Sample of Elder Panter's schedule. He stays busy. |
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| Elder Little |
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| Elder Smith |
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| Elder Smith |
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| Random House??? not sure what this is |
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| The Escalante Expedition monument. It says "The Escalante Expedition discovered White River (which they called the San Clemente) and crossed it near here on September 9, 1776. Seeking a route from Sante Fe to California, these Spanish explorers were the first white men to examine much of Western Colorado." |
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| Beautiful Colorado |
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| Beautiful Colorado |
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| Beautiful Colorado |
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| Beautiful Colorado |
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| You can see for miles! |
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| Beautiful Colorado |
Monday, April 16, 2018
April 16, 2018- Service at the tank
Elder Panter wants to thank everyone for the emails and all of the prayers in his behalf. He is doing well. He says for fun they just joke around and hang out because there isn't a whole lot to do in Rangely. They get to drive a 2017 RAV 4 that has what they call "TIWI" in it. TIWI is a system that tracks their speed and the safety of the car. If they go fast or do something wrong or drive out of their area, TIWI will start yelling at them. I think I love TIWI.
Elder Panter, Elder Little and Elder Smith stay in Rangely a lot of the time. They do go to Dinosaur about once or twice a week. My Aunt Allie and Uncle Wade told me they have gone to Dinosaur for ball tournaments and there is a good place for ice cream called something pickle. I passed that information on to Braxton and he says he has seen that place, but it is closed until the weather is warmer.
The missionaries have district meeting every Tuesday in Craig, so that is why they wait and get groceries there each Tuesday at Wal-Mart. Good ol' Wallyworld.
In my questions that I ask him each week, I asked something interesting about each of his companions. Elder Little is a "really big dude". He is 6'5" and weighs 290 lbs. Elder Smith loves computer science, so he and Braxton talk a lot about that.
One of the questions I asked was Braxton's favorite thing favorite thing that happened this week. His reply was that he was able to sleep. He loves sleep and can only have 8 hours. I'm thinking he is missing sleeping in. LOL. When I asked him what he was looking forward to, he said more sleep. :) He also said he is looking forward to having dinner at the ward fundraiser. I will be asking him more information on that. That's all he said about it.
Something interesting about his apartment... the lights flicker randomly. I wonder if that reminds him of Stranger Things???
Something that made him happy this week... he was able to bond with the ward members and their kids on Sunday at the potluck after church. Some of the kids are getting more open with with the missionaries and it makes them happy.
Elder Panter, Elder Little and Elder Smith stay in Rangely a lot of the time. They do go to Dinosaur about once or twice a week. My Aunt Allie and Uncle Wade told me they have gone to Dinosaur for ball tournaments and there is a good place for ice cream called something pickle. I passed that information on to Braxton and he says he has seen that place, but it is closed until the weather is warmer.
The missionaries have district meeting every Tuesday in Craig, so that is why they wait and get groceries there each Tuesday at Wal-Mart. Good ol' Wallyworld.
In my questions that I ask him each week, I asked something interesting about each of his companions. Elder Little is a "really big dude". He is 6'5" and weighs 290 lbs. Elder Smith loves computer science, so he and Braxton talk a lot about that.
One of the questions I asked was Braxton's favorite thing favorite thing that happened this week. His reply was that he was able to sleep. He loves sleep and can only have 8 hours. I'm thinking he is missing sleeping in. LOL. When I asked him what he was looking forward to, he said more sleep. :) He also said he is looking forward to having dinner at the ward fundraiser. I will be asking him more information on that. That's all he said about it.
Something interesting about his apartment... the lights flicker randomly. I wonder if that reminds him of Stranger Things???
Something that made him happy this week... he was able to bond with the ward members and their kids on Sunday at the potluck after church. Some of the kids are getting more open with with the missionaries and it makes them happy.
Elder Panter has been able to meet more people and has been able to help others this week. He and his companions went to do service at what the locals in Rangely call "The Tank". The Tank is an empty water silo that they use for acoustics for music. Brax said its really cool. To read more about it, visit https://tanksounds.org/.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
April 9, 2018
Braxton is doing well. He said there has been a lot happening. He loves the people in Rangely. He told us that Rangely is really small and it has no Walmart. They go to Craig on Tuesdays for shopping. Craig is a town that is about an hour and a half away from them and that is what the Stake they are in is called. Their area covers the Rangely 1st and 2nd Wards and Dinosaur, Colorado is part of it.
They are fed almost every dinner, which makes a momma heart happy. I am so thankful for good people that watch out for the missionaries!
I asked Elder Panter what was something interesting that happened this week. This is what he replied with... So this week while we were in a meeting with a less active member (he hadn't been to church in like 18 years) he said he didn't believe in God because there are too many people suffering in the world. The spirit prompted me to say to him "wait until Aug 14." Weird right!?!?
They are fed almost every dinner, which makes a momma heart happy. I am so thankful for good people that watch out for the missionaries!
I asked Elder Panter what was something interesting that happened this week. This is what he replied with... So this week while we were in a meeting with a less active member (he hadn't been to church in like 18 years) he said he didn't believe in God because there are too many people suffering in the world. The spirit prompted me to say to him "wait until Aug 14." Weird right!?!?
Braxton met the Filfreds this week. They are ward members who are 100% Navajo and they fed them Navajo tacos! He says they are really cool people.
The thing he learned this week is that the more faith you have, the more the spirit will guide!
I asked him if he was feeling well and if he ever got sick after his companions did, and he said he did get sick after they did. Ugh. I think that's one of the worst things about this for me as a mom. I know he is going through so many things and knowing that he was sick and I wasn't there to help him is so hard! But I know this experience will teach him so much and help make him a stronger man. I know he is where the Lord wants him to be. I sure love my Bubba!
The last thing Elder Panter wanted me to make sure everyone knows is that he's doing okay and he loves you all.
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| This is the photo Brax sent this week. LOL I guess this is a restroom in the middle of nowhere that they stopped and used. From the look on his face, it must not be a great one. Hahahaha |
Monday, April 2, 2018
Rangely Colorado
Braxton got to go to his new area on March 30. It took him 5 hours to drive to his new area. He said it was crazy but didn't say why. Hopefully that will be in a future email. He is in Rangely, Colorado with the Rangely 1st and 2nd ward. He is in a trio right now. His companions are Elder Little and Elder Smith.
He says they have met some ward members and come less active members in the area. They have also met some people out on the streets and he says it has been a little nerve racking. This week, they were going to check up on a less active member and found that they had moved. They met a nice lady named Penny that now lives there. She wants them to come back at some point so they are hoping that turns into a good thing.
I asked Elder Panter the funniest thing that has happened and he said that Elder Little and Elder Smith both got the stomach flu this week. They had to stay in most of Sunday, and he said they are both funny when they are sick. Coming from a mom, stomach flu is not funny. Hopefully it doesn't pass on to Brax.
Elder Panter said that one of the things he has learned so far is that you just have to go and do. Don't let fear rule your life in things you do and things you say, because that is the devil trying to stop you from making someone's life better.
I love the growth that I already see in him. I know he feels like it has been crazy trying to figure things out, but he will get the hang of it.
A fun story from my end... during conference on Saturday, I was missing Brax like crazy. I hadn't heard from him and didn't even know where in Colorado he was. It was really hard on me. I told Clint's mom, Trina, that I just wanted to know he was ok. I said a quick prayer that Heavenly Father would please let me know that Brax was ok and that someone was feeding him and he was able to watch conference. Within 30 minutes of my prayer, I received a text from one of the members in Dinosaur, Colorado saying that she had met my son and he was in her home sharing a meal and watching conference with them. She sent me some pictures as well. Talk about an answered prayer! We truly are the Lord's servants and we help him answer prayers. I was so thankful for this Sister Angel!!!
He says they have met some ward members and come less active members in the area. They have also met some people out on the streets and he says it has been a little nerve racking. This week, they were going to check up on a less active member and found that they had moved. They met a nice lady named Penny that now lives there. She wants them to come back at some point so they are hoping that turns into a good thing.
I asked Elder Panter the funniest thing that has happened and he said that Elder Little and Elder Smith both got the stomach flu this week. They had to stay in most of Sunday, and he said they are both funny when they are sick. Coming from a mom, stomach flu is not funny. Hopefully it doesn't pass on to Brax.
Elder Panter said that one of the things he has learned so far is that you just have to go and do. Don't let fear rule your life in things you do and things you say, because that is the devil trying to stop you from making someone's life better.
I love the growth that I already see in him. I know he feels like it has been crazy trying to figure things out, but he will get the hang of it.
A fun story from my end... during conference on Saturday, I was missing Brax like crazy. I hadn't heard from him and didn't even know where in Colorado he was. It was really hard on me. I told Clint's mom, Trina, that I just wanted to know he was ok. I said a quick prayer that Heavenly Father would please let me know that Brax was ok and that someone was feeding him and he was able to watch conference. Within 30 minutes of my prayer, I received a text from one of the members in Dinosaur, Colorado saying that she had met my son and he was in her home sharing a meal and watching conference with them. She sent me some pictures as well. Talk about an answered prayer! We truly are the Lord's servants and we help him answer prayers. I was so thankful for this Sister Angel!!!
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| Elder Little, Elder Smith and Elder Panter watching conference at a member's home |
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| Elder Panter, Elder Smith and Elder Little having dinner in a member's home. (Elder Little is the big one) |
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