Hey everyone!

I can't believe that it is already the last week of transfers! It has been going by so fast out here! This week has been such an amazing week!

On Tuesday Elder Taylor and I hadn't been able to talk with anyone all day. No one was home. So we prayed that we would be able to find someone that the Lord wanted us to meet! We got out of the car and we started walking to the next person we were going to visit. But the thing was that I had remembered the address wrong so we were walking around looking for a place that didn't even exist. But as were walking around a lady came up and started talking about how she thought that it was so cool to see people walking around representing Jesus Christ. We talked to her about Christ for a bit and his atonement and what it meant to each of us. As we were talking to her she started crying and she said that she was going through some hard time and that she prayed that she could have help and find someone to talk to! She said that she knew we were the answer to her prayers. As we were talking to her another lady walked by and asked if we were talking about Jesus. We said that we were so she was like "Well I want to join!" So we had a mini testimony meeting right there! It was the coolest experience! We were all standing out in the rain talking about Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong there! It was such a testimony builder to me to know that Heavenly Father not only answers my prayers, but all of his children's prayers.

We had exchanges this week and I was pretty nervous because I would be the one in charge of our area! But I prayed for the strength to do it and it ended up being an amazing experience! I learned that It is not about what I can or can't do, that doesn't matter at all because the Lord can do ALL things! I was able to go out and have confidence and I loved the experience.

For our ward Halloween Party Elder Taylor and I invited everyone we meat with. We called the Lady we talked to in the rain and she came with her four kids. We also invited Al and he came with his 2 kids!! It was so awesome having the two families there. The ward was so nice to them and really made them feel welcome! Al and Bro Matson challenged us to a 2 on 2 game some time! He was talking some major trash on Elder Taylor and I haha. It was pretty funny! We are good friends with Al and he has been taught by Missionaries in the past and he said that we were definitely his missionaries! That was really cool!

I just want to let you all know how much I love this work! I was reading in Alma 37 and verse 45 really hit me today! I invite you all to read it! It talks about the Liahona but then it says that the words of Christ can guide us to a far better promised land. I know that to be true! Being out here has really strengthened my testimony on how this church brings us happiness. I am so grateful for it and i love getting to share this wonderful news to everyone. This is the Christ's church and because of him we all can hope in this life! I love you all!

Elder May

This week has been such an amazing week! Pday was awesome last monday! All the missionaries close by come to the church and we play volleyball and a bunch of other games. Afterwards I accidentally took the wrong phone.... So when we got to our dinner appointment that was like 30 min away I realized that I had taken the wrong phone... so that was fun trying to figure out who had who's phone and meet up somewhere to swap them back.

On Tuesday we visited a family and the wife was from utah and the husband was from pittsburgh. He was making fun of her about growing up in a small town and so I told him about our neighborhood and what it was like. He thought it was so funny that we had to chase pigs and goats and donkeys out of our yard. He couldnt stop laughing. But they are an awesome family! We had an amazing lesson on prayer and they want us to come back and keep teaching them. I have learned that if you act like normal people and actually talk to them before you try to teach them, they are so much more receptive to what you are teaching. They said that is what we needed at that time. I love being able to meet all of these amazing people out here. I definitely know that I was sent here for a reason.

On Wednesday, we taught Marlon again! He is really coming a long and he is so humble. When he prays he never prays for himself. He always prays for his family and Elder Taylor and I. He is such a sincere person and I love being able to talk to him and to teach him. During the lesson though his mom came outside and started to get mad at us because I guess she thought we had ebolla or something because we talk to a lot of people. We reassured her that we didn't and she was good after that. I guess this ebolla thing is a big deal or something.

Later that night we were able to teach Billy. He is less active and has been through a lot. When we first went to teach him he was very certain that he would never come back to church. But we just talk to him and are his friend and his heart has been softening. He says he thinks about coming to church now. I love being able to teach him because the spirit is so strong everytime. We testified that the Atonement of Jesus Christ will heal all wounds if we turn to him. It was a great experience.

On thursday we taught this Japanese guy named Jim. The first time we went there he talked a lot so we decided to read the scriptures with him. We read 2 Nephi 31 and he loved how plainly everything was taught. We testified of baptism and then he asked him to be baptized and he accepted. He knew that is what he needed to do to follow Jesus Christ. I love how powerful the scriptures are! There is no way Elder Taylor and I could have taught it that powerful or that simple. The Book of Mormon is the mos powerful tool that we have. It is my favorite book that I have ever read. I took it for granted before my mission but I have changed so much through that book.

We had a miracle happen to us on Friday. In one of our areas, Mckee's Rock's, we didn't have anything going on there. So Elder Taylor and I prayed that when we went there on Friday, we could find a new investigator. I have been reading in Alma right now and it talks so much about how miracles are performed through faith. So I decided to exercise my faith and go out and do all we could to find a new investigator and we would be blessed with one.

So while we were out there we got a prompting to visit this house of these people we helped move in about a month ago. We went to the house and there son answered the door. He recognized us and we talked for a while and just got to know him. After a while HE asked US what we believed in and what we taught. So he pretty much started the lesson and was super receptive to the whole thing! When we talked about the first vision the spirit was super strong. When we started talking about the Book of Mormon he said that he was constantly praying to know how to grow closer to Jesus Christ and that the Book of Mormon might do that for him. He said that he would pray about because he wanted to know what we were saying was true. We didnt do anything, he was prepared to hear what we had to teach. I can't describe how much of a testimony builder that was for me. God answered our prayers. I know without a doubt that when we pray he is there listening to our prayers.

On Sunday Marlon came to church. He loved it there and the members really made him feel welcome. After church we got about 5 bags full of groceries and from members. Apparently people are announcing in all of our meetings to help feed the missionaries. In Elder's quorum it was announced that we only new how to make waffles and cereal. So I dont know what stories are going around about us. But i'm not complaining! Free Food haha.

In the Book of Mormon I have been reading about Ammon and his missionary work among the Nephites. I love how before he does anything he tells king Lamoni I want to be your servant. Ammon is such a great example to me. He is obedient to everything that he is commanded to do and you can see the love he has for those that he teaches. I want to invite you all to look for opportunities you have to serve others. You will feel God's love he has for those people and you will feel a peace that you can't receive from anything else.

Well I better go, I need to go beat Elder Taylor's butt in tennis before it rains. I love you all.

Elder May

Hey everyone!

This week has been great! I'm really getting the hang of things. There is still so much that I need to learn but I love being able to serve out here.

Tuesday was a pretty eventful day! It started off with Elder Taylor and I locking ourselves out of our apartment. When we went to work out in the morning we forgot to grab our keys and apparently you need those to get back in your apartment! So we decided to break in. So we walked around back and decided to break in through our patio door. I climbed on Elder Taylor's shoulders I could barely reach the patio so using my crazy upper body strength I pulled myself up and we got in through the back door haha. We locked ourselves out again later on in the week but some nice guy let us in through his apartment. Obviously I haven't changed much since I left haha.

But later on in the day we were walking around visiting people and it started to rain on us. Elder Taylor had an umbrella but I got soaked. We were in a part of town with a bunch of gangsta type people and we were trying to talk to them and I was getting frustrated because I felt we were just wasting our time because no one was interested in what we had to say. But after being out for a couple of hours when we got back to our truck, the person we had try to visit earlier was standing outside. We were able to talk to her and she said that the missionaries always show up when she needs it most. We talked for a while and we invited her to conference and she said to call and visit her again sometime. If we hadn't been walking around in the rain earlier we would have missed seeing her. I know that Heavenly Father knows what he is doing and that if we are doing what we are suppose to, he will bless us.. a lot!!

Later on that day we visited this guy named Dan. He has had so many challenges in his life because of his choices. His life is better now and he just talked to us about everything. Afterwards he told us how impressed he was with us for being able to just listen to him and that he was so impressed that we were just 18 and 20 years old. He said he could tell there was something different about us. The spirit was strong there and we just testified of Heavenly Father's love for him. He invited us back and gave us these way sweet Steeler's hoodies.

On Wednesday we visited an older lady in the ward. She was having phone troubles so she asked me to call customer service and try to figure it out for her. So for the next our I talked to an Indian guy on the phone and didn't understand anything he was saying. Elder Taylor and the lady were just laughing at me because I couldn't understand anything they were saying. I say "what" at least a million times. But afterwards she told us of this guy in the apartment building next to us who was interested in the church. She had no idea where his apartment was. So we decided to knock on doors until we found him. We went to the 2nd floor in the building and the first door we knocked on was his. That was such a miracle as well. Heavenly Father is seriously blessing us so much out here. I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am for him.

So for conference I say you mom and dad! It was so weird but I couldnt stop smiling for the rest of the day. I am glad that I was able to see you and I bunch of other people I knew in it.

We also had one of our investigators show up to one session of conference.We invited 50 people and two came! it was so worth it. Our investigator named Marlon really liked what he heard and he stayed around and talked a while after as well. We also had a less active person we have become really good friends with ask for work off so he could come.

The work is amazing out here and I love it so much. I love this Gospel. It brings so much peace in my life and being able to share that peace with others is the best thing there is. Jesus Christ is our Savior and he lives. Through him we can change ourselves and become who God meant for us to be. I love you all.

Elder May

                                                

Me and Elder Tripp at the MTC

Well I survived my first week in the mission field and it was crazy!! I am serving in Pittsburgh! Everyone from the MTC wanted to go to Pittsburgh and I am the one who got it! I am right outside of Downtown so I see it quite a bit driving around. I just wanted to make sure Jeff knows that so he can be super Jealous haha. I am  the Pittsburgh 6th ward. And my address is

136 Oakville Drive

 Apartment 1-C

Green Tree, PA

15220

So on Monday we had to wake up at 2 in the morning to make our flight for Detroit. We had about an hour layover in Detroit and then about another hour to Pittsburgh. When we arrived at the mission home we just relaxed and ate pizza. It was fun to meet the Mission President. They are awesome. That night I actually got banished to sleep in the AP's apartment instead of the mission home. I slept on the floor. And I honestly slept better then I have in a long time.

On Tuesday we had our transfer meeting. I got called to serve in Pittsburgh and my companion is Elder Taylor. He is super cool and we pretty much have everything in common. That night we went to a dinner appointment with the Rossignoli's. There was a pretty awkward experience there, I'll have to tell you it when I get home.

Wednesday was my first full day out here. Elder Taylor and I are both brand new to the area so we have to start from scratch pretty much. We had to go around and visit people in the ward and find people to teach. It was fun to get to know everyone. Everyone is seriously so nice out here and they are so fun to talk to. It was cool, we had a goal to place a BOM and we went to a house at like 9:00 and no one was there. So we went next door to a lady sitting on her porch and talked to her and ended up giving her one and we were able to bear our testimonies to her. It was cool to see that heavenly father was aware of our goal and provided a way for us to accomplish it.

On Friday we visited a guy named Billy. He is pretty much the definition of a "Hill Billy" haha. He has gone less active and says he doesn't believe at all anymore. We just talked and we had a good conversation about everything and he said he would watch General Conference.

Saturday was so awesome. We went to a place called McKee's Rocks and it is pretty sketchy there but I love it. When we first got out of our car we were in an all black community kind of like you see on the movie Blind Side. There was just rap music blasting everywhere and the first person we met told us not to talk to him because he was to drunk to remember anything. I love it there. We saw these people trying to move in so we asked if we could help and they were so grateful for the offer. We helped them and they were so impressed that we would do something like that and they wanted our names so they could give us a shout out on facebook. But we just told them about the church and invited them to come. They said they definitely would have to some time. They were so fun to talk to and Im glad we got to talk to them.

Afterwards we were walking around and this lady was sitting on her porch and asked if we wanted a popsicle. So of course we said yes haha. We gave her a pass a long card and she looked at it and said "so what is the book of Mormon?" We told her and gave her a copy and she said she really was going to read it. We are going to set up a time to visit her again this week.

After we went to the Turners house for dinner and then we taught a part member family the Tar's. They are from Africa and are super awesome. We taught them about eternal family's and we watched a video on temples. The spirit was so strong and I know they felt something. We are going to visit the son again this week.

On sunday we went to dinner again. Afterwards I told them that this was so much better then the 1.00 hotdogs we have been living off all week. Elder Taylor was like "yeah he still misses his mom's cooking." (Which I really do.) But we were just joking around but they felt so sorry for me. They treated me like I was a poor little kid. The wife decided they were 0also asked what my mom usually made for me. So I wouldn't be surprised if they show up with tons of dinners for me now. And I can just see them in Relief Society saying "We need to team together and save Elder May from his microwaved hot dogs..." It was so weird, I think that they just feel bad for me because I am new.

I love this work and I love this gospel. I love my personal study time I have every morning. The scriptures bring me so much happiness!! The church is true! Be examples in everything you do!

Elder May

Well the first week of the MTC has been crazy! When you first get here a million things happen at once! I felt like I was on a conveyor belt being taken around everywhere. I met my companions which are Elder Hummer and Elder Bramwell! They are pretty cool and we have a lot in common. 

On Thursday we had class all day long! Well that what it is like everyday! You dont have any free time! You are busy all day long! But I love it! I have changed so much and I love the gospel and this work more then I ever thought I could have. I hope this doesnt make you feel bad, but I havent gotten home sick once this week. I love serving the lord I cant thank him enough for all of the blessings i have recieved from him!

On Thursday I also was made a Zone Leader! Which was crazy because I had absolutley no idea what I was doing! I finally stopped getting lost trying to find my way around only like yesterday. I was so confused haha. But i am grateful for this responsibilty and I know the Lord will be helping me every step of the way, because I know i definitely can't do it on my own. 

On Sunday I had to play the music. So i pulled out my old reliable hymn! Sweet Hour of Prayer. Haha it's my signature one! The devotional Sunday night was great! I learned so much and the spirit is just so great.

On Tuesday we had another devotional and Elder Scott came and Spoke! He talked a lot about prayer and how great it actually is. God is listening to us every time we pray and he hears and WILL answer your prayers. My Faith has increased so much and I am praying all the time. I know he can help me with anything.

 So on monday when i leave I will probably be calling between 6 and7. But have moms phone ready because I could be wrong. We have a layover in Detroit but then its straight to Pittsburgh from there. The church is True I love you all and God loves you too.

Elder May

Hey family!

Everything is going great so far. I love the MTC! The spirit here is so strong. Everyone always says that but it is so true. I have already learned so much and I can feel myself changing. I am in a 3 way companionship. My companions are Elder Bramwell and Elder Hummer. They are awesome Elders and have great testimonies. So far I have only lost the key to my dorm so I'm doing good! I love you all. The gospel is true. Be examples of Christ in all that you do.

Elder May