Flown by!

> This transfer has flown by! I feel like it was just the other day, I was at Aeroplaza picking up Elder Morrill and Westwood, but in reality that was 5 weeks ago! It's crazy how fast this transfer has gone. If it continues like this it won't be long before I'm back home giving my homecoming talk. And that is really weird to think about!
>
> On Tuesday we had Zone Conference. We talked a lot about the goal we set for 80 souls to Christ(80 baptisms) for the months of October to December last year. We ended with 34, which isn't a bad thing by any means but when they set that goal in MLCs the spirit was so undeniable. President talked a lot about how they set that goal knowing it was a stretch but having full confidence we could achieve it. I love that mans! He shared this experience, "After we set that goal of 80 souls to Christ, I saw no difference in the key indicators, and that's why I believe we didn't reach our goal. Not because any of you Elders or Sisters didn't contribute but because we didn't see any progress. Now just because we didn't hit it doesn't mean miracles weren't wrought in the CCSM(Colorado, Colorado Springs Mission) we had 12 people who weren't on date when we set this goal, be put on date and baptized! There were miracles." After he closed his opening remarks we split off by district and went through 5 different stations and got to break down our teaching and improve it. I really appreciated this because the more solid we can teach with the spirit the more our key indicators will increase and the more they increase, the more people we can bring unto Christ. All-in-all Zone Conference was and always will be lit!
>
> Also this week we recieved a list of people our bishopric wanted us to stop by, see if they live there, or try to get in to teach the discussions to. We really worked our tails off and got that whole list done in a day and a half. I know it doesn't sound that impressive but the sent us like 100 names, each of them with different need! I happy to announce that because we challenged the bishopric to do that we added close to 20 people to our teaching pool, which is AWESOME! Hopefully when they said come back on this day and this time, they'll actually be there. That happens a lot to us and it's kinda frustrating but we can't force anyone into heaven sooooooooooo yeah!
>
> Well transfers are in a week from tomorrow. I have a strong feeling I'm leaving my beloved Fountain because I've been here for 6 months, and that's a long time in one place for a missionary. I don't know where I'll go but it'd be nice to train. I think that'll be really fun. I'd be a dope trainer! But ultimately if I don't that's fine too. As long as I get to serve the Lord with all my heart, might, mind, and strength I'll be happy! Missions really do change you!
>
> I hope y'all have a fantastic week and grow spiritually and any other way you want to grow! HA HA! I look forward to hearing from you. Peace till next week!
> Elder Grandon
> 1&2.) A street we found while working the list
> 3.) A member gave us purple potatoes for dinner

Jan 14

>
> This week was a little weird. We had Exchanges this week with Mesa Ridge. I stayed here with Elder Ryan and Elders Morrill and Westwood went with Elder Marin in Mesa Ridge. I love that man Elder Ryan. He's so insightful and loves what he does. We were out tracting and we started talking to some construction workers. They kind of view us off because they didn't really know enough English to talk to us, so Elder Ryan just starts talking in spanish to them. He figured out they they all live in the Springs and that they get paid 1,000 per job! That mans Elder Ryan, What a guy!
>
> While on exchanges we talked a lot about how to hand this area off. I've been on Fountain for 6 months so I'm feeling like I'm gonna ship out soon. For the majority of this transfer I've been planning the days and where we're going to tract and basically everything. So we came up with the idea that each day we would take turns planning out the day and everything else so they can learn the area. We only have 2 weeks till transfers but I know, with a little help, that they'll know the area enough to take over when/if I leave. So far it's worked pretty good. They have slowly learned the area and are becoming more and more confident with approaches and talking to people. They'll do great when I'm gone.
>
> So Friday we had dinner with the Haywood's. They always come through with the bangin food and always have a lot of It! After dinner I shared a message. It was on Faith. I used the passage Alma 32: 28-30, this is where faith is compared to a seed. Then after explaining it deeper, I shared Hebrews 11:6. Then I asked how you've seen the gospel(or seed) grow and bless your lives. I really liked Bro. Haywood's response. He said something like... "The biggest blessing I've seen is peace. With the world straying further and further away from God and his plan for us, his gospel, has brought peace into my house, my children, my family and myself." After he said that I bore my testimony on Faith and the blessings it can bring us and then departed in prayer. I love this gospel. It really has changed my life and the lives of my friends and family. It will truly bring you closer to God and his son.
>
> That's really all I got this week! I look forward to hearing from you guys! I hope y'all have a fantastic week and if you don't... change your attitude and have a fantastic week! HA HA HA! Till next week!
> Elder Grandon

Dinner Appointment Tonight

Fwd: Happy New Years

> This week felt super slow. On Tuesday the APs called and told us the trio was gonna be broken up for about 4 day. Elder Morrill went up to Mountain Shadows to cover for an Elder who had to go home due to a funeral. It was kind of funny because stuff like this always happens to him so he got a little chuckle in and started packing. Elder Westwood and I stayed in Fountain and just grinded for those 4 days. Those were some of the best days for contacting in my whole mission so far. We had a total of 127 contacts within those 4 days. You certainly get blessed for tracting. We got Elder Morrill back on Saturday evening about 9.
>
> On Saturday something that has never happened before happened. We were out tracting and right before we were about to cross the street to hit the other side, a guy stopped us. He said he was a CEO of a roofing company and offered us jobs. We felt a little weird so we told him we'd think about it. He drove off and as soon as he did Elder Westwood and I looked at each other and said "no" almost in unison HAHAHA! It was definitely an interesting experience.
>
> Well this week we started 2 hour church. It was kind of weird to not have another block after Sunday school. It'll for sure take some getting use to. The lesson was good but a little weird cause It was different. I'm definitely a person stuck in routines.
>
> On Friday we had district council. I unfortunately was asked to teach and the topic was on repentance and the Atonment of Jesus Christ. I guess it went better than I expected, I don't really remember it too well cause I like blacked out and just went to town. It's a very similar feeling you get after giving a blessing. I just don't remember what was said to and from me. I'll attach a picture of the board after my lesson ended
>
> Well that's really all I got this week. I hope y'all had a great Sunday, a great week, and a happy New Year! I look forward to reading y'alls emails. Love y'all!
>
> Elder Grandon
>

Christmas in Fountain

>
> Well to start off, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a fantastic New Years. This week was kind of weird, mainly because I got to talk to my family, but it was still a good week!
>
> Ok story first... so we went and had dinner at the Stowe's on Wednesday(they're the family we bought the ball for a couple weeks ago). They always make some super fantastic food and this time it was grilled chicken! It was sooooo delicious. Anyways I had totally not prepared an After-Dinner lesson, and she asked if I had a lesson for them! Well I kinda stalled a little then I came up with this super awesomesause idea. I told them, "this lesson is a little non-traditional but, we're going to go around the room and say Who Jesus is to us!" They liked the idea because it wasn't just us trying to talk over their kids but now their kids would have to interact in the group lesson! We went around and basically bore our testimonies and I got not only the Mom and Grandma to cry, but I got the Dad as well! He's a Blackhawk piolet so I guess I did pretty good. It was super spiritual and I loved every second of the on-the-spot lesson.
>
> Alright so now, Christmas! We spent all day at the Burlingame's. We played games and had a nerf war and all that jazz! I really loved calling home to see everyone, but it was a little weird. I felt like I was just there but in reality that was almost 6 months ago! It's crazy how fast time flies on a mission! It has defiantly changed my life for the better in this short time and I know, as I grow older in the mission, it will impact my life more than I could ever imagine.
>
> These 2 years that I have dedicated to the Lord will be the best 2 years for and of my life. I know they will be. Missions change people, I know this for a fact. And I'm so glad I chose to go on one and got called to the BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD! There's no other place I'd rather be. Sure college would be cool but this is where I need to be. Even though I haven't seen necessarily the impact I have on investigators lives(mainly cause we have like 2 that aren't progressing) I know that one day because of me they will get on the covenant path, and that's really why we're out here. We may not always see the results we expected or even wanted to see but in the end because of our actions we change people's lives for the better.
>
> Well there's not much more that I can think of! I hope y'all have a fantastic New Years. Don't stay up to late though HAHAHAHA:) and I hope y'all have a fantastic week.
>
> Love and peace,
> Elder Grandon

Christmas Eve

>
> This week was packed. This week we had transfers and I said goodbye to my dad Elder Peel!:(
>
> Welcome Elder Morrill and Westwood to Fountain. We've been tracting a ton because our investigators decided to leave for Christmas. So yeah tracting is fun! Other than that not a lot happened this week!
>
> The special sacrament meeting was awesome. I felt the spirit so strongly. I truly love Christmas hymns and this gospel
>
> Well that's all from me this week! I hope y'all have a great Christmas and a happy new year! Love y'all
>
> -Elder Grandon
> 1.) A sidewalk masterpiece
> 2.) Us tracting

Ending transfer 3

>
> This week was good! We had our Christmas Zone Conference and a lot of success in tracting.
>
> First off, this week we have transfers. Elder Peel has been called to be a zone leader in the North stake. He's kinda nervous because him and another Elder are flushing the area and neither of them have been zone leaders before, but I know for a fact they'll do great! Also I got my wish! Christmas in Fountain! As Elder Peel transfers out I'm the senior companion and get to lead the area for probably one more transfer. I am getting 2 new companions. Elder Morril I know very well. He was in Mesa Ridge and got transferred within the district. Literally he got transferred to an area 5 minutes away from his last one. My other companion is Elder Westwood. I've been told he's a super chill guy, very easygoing, and is a great missionary. I can't wait to meet him tomorrow at transfers.
>
> This week Elder Peel and I were getting pretty tired of tracting, so we did a creative finding activity in a local park. We made a boatload of hot chocolate and handed it out in the park, all they had to do is tell us what Christmas meant to them, then we'd bare our testimony and hand them a Book of Mormon and their cup of hot chocolate. We couldn't go about this by ourselves so we called up Mesa Ridge and Security and got a bunch of people who said they'd come to the special sacrament meeting on the 23rd. While some Elders were doing that an Elder from Security and I challenged some guys to a game. If they one we'd walk away, if we won they'd come on the 23rd. We of course won because "every mormon is good at basketball!" as one of them said once he figured out we were members of the church of Jesus Christ. I know what you're thinking, "they'll never come just cause they got beat in basketball." well they actually gave us their phone numbers and addresses and told us to come by before then(the 23rd) and remind them. Hopefully this means they've been prepared for the gospel. One can only hope!
>
> On Thursday we had our Christmas Zone Conference. We talked about Joseph Smith for the most part. My admiration for President Stevenson grew so much while he was teaching us. He is a fantastic man and a future 70(I'm calling it) there's no way a man that spiritual isn't gonna become a 70 of higher. He's truly a man of God, and I love that he's my president. Anyways, after we were taught we had a party. The food, like always, was super good! After lunch we had an ugly sweater contest. Our district did things a little differently. Elder Peel was Santa(cause he was the district leader). I was Rudolf, the other Elders were other reindeer, and the sisters were elves. We went to Walmart and got these ridiculous onesies but it was worth it. We won so I can't really complain! All-in-all it was probably the best day this week!
>
> That's really all for this week. I hope y'all had a fantastic week and have a wonderful Holiday season. Just remember, without Christ none of this would be possible. I thank him everyday for his sacrifice and for his love for me.
> -Elder Grandon
> 1.) The Squad
> 2.) Because of Z.C. we had to wash our car
> 3&5.) The Elders
> 4.) Our awards
> 6.) The outfit before we found the right one:)