Thanksgiving X5!

Dear family and friends,

Time has gone bye so fast! I feel like I was emailing y'all yesterday! This week was supposed to be eventful, but appointments fell through and such. It happens and people are busy which is okay! Monday my companion and I went fishing and I was the only one too catch fish! Looks like all that hard work of fishing over the years pays off! Just kidding it was all pure luck! Tuesday my companion and I went tracting and we found a man who was talking with us about religion and what he believes and such and it was a good experience! We have a return appointment with him today actually! Hopefully he remembers that we are coming over! Wednesday we helped a member with some service and did some more tracting. No lucky tracting, so we decided to give another investigator a call too see if we could come over for our return appointment! He said he couldn't this week because of Thanksgiving and all. I was like "Ben no!!! We have too play ping pong!" He wants too play ping pong with us and teach him again! So we rescheduled with him for this Wednesday! After that my companion and I went too the church too help with Young men and Young womens! Wednesday's and Sunday's are my favorite days in the mission because I love being around the youth and the leaders and the branch! Makes me feel like i'm at home and the branch members love us a lot! The young men didn't have young mens that night because of Thanksgiving and all, but the young women had too do some painting ornaments for a Christmas tree they do in their stake center! For all of those who really know me, you know that art and painting really isn't my best attribute... I tried painting ornaments and such, but I got kicked off that committee because I wasn't doing them right. So I laughed and they all laughed and I helped cutting out cardboard and such! After I was done I got bored cause I couldn't do any of the artsy stuff, so I found a basketball and started too dribble and spin the ball on my finger and such just for fun. After that I helped clean up and started too get ready for the next day, which was Thanksgiving! Man that day was full of food and pain for me... I started the day off with breakfast at a members house and they fed us steak and eggs! I was so full after that, and then I went too another members house for a Thanksgiving dinner/lunch ordeal. I was already full, but had too eat again. It was painful, but the food was so good! After we got done with that, we had yet another appointment! I thought I was going too burst from food overdose! Luckily for us, we played some kickball with the members before the food so I got too rest from eating and get some exercise in! Shout out too the Wittwers for getting me into soccer a little more because I destroyed that game and kicked so many home runs! After kick ball we ate, yet again. I was so done at that point and when we went home, all the Elders in our district came over for district meeting the next day. Yet again another night without sleep thanks too Elder Ferrell! That next day we played football which as always was amazing! Caught 6 touchdowns and led my team too victory with a pick and then a touchdown to win the game! It was awesome! Had an exchange that day so I went south to an area called Monte Sano which borderlines Scottsboro. I was with Elder Larson for the night. He is a cool kid! We had 2 Thanksgiving dinners that day as well.... I was not ready for them! After the dinners we went tracting and such and had no luck there. Saturday came rolling around and the Monte Sano elders and my companion and I went too a members house for some lunch and it was good! For the rest of that day we tried too tract, but since it was the Iron Bowl and all, nobody, and I mean nobody was going too answer the door! Football is a way of life down here! Everyone who saw us thought we were crazy because we weren't watching the game! Found out 'Bama won the game... but I will still be War Eagle all the way! Sunday was good as usual! It has been a good week, and this week I get too go to the temple which is awesome! Love and miss all of you guys! Happy late Thanksgiving! Remember what you're thankful for even though the holiday has passed! Next is CHRISTMAS!!!!! The best holiday of the year!

Love,

Elder Muhlestein

First Fish!

Dear family and friends,

Well, I didn't have any luck catching a monster catfish... but I did catch 2 bass and a crappie instead! This week has been so so because I have been sick for most of it and it has been terrible for sleeping or even functioning too! It has been coughing and sneezing and sore throat all week long! The branch members though have been so nice and given me medicine and home remedies too help get over my cold! Even though the church isn't strong up here, the branch members are like a huge family who love and take care of everyone who needs help whenever! So on Monday of last week I started my week with study and then emailing! Then I got my fishing gear all purchased and my licence too! Im going too be really mad if I get transferred too Mississippi because I got a year long licence for Alabama and not Mississippi! That would suck if I did, but I'll manage! After getting all the gear and everything, my companion and I went too the lake and started too cast out! In total we caught about 6-8 fish! They were all bass and crappie and pretty good sizes! We took them over too a branch members house so she could cook them up for us! Turns out, these fish have a lot of bones in them and they weren't cooked all the way through! That made it fun too eat! On Tuesday, my companion was pretty sick so we laid low for that day. Wednesday we had YM and YG. I feel like I love Wednesday's and Sunday's the most because I get too be with the Branch and the Branch members are so amazing! We had too set up for a Thanksgiving potluck on Sunday and help the activity day girls with a skit they were doing! It was super funny because there are two girls in activity days that are obsessed with Elder Park and I and they had us watch them do their skit I think like 6 times because they would always stare at us the whole time! Elder Park and I laughed because we both thought it was super funny how they are in love with us and have us do everything for them! I give Elder Park a hard time about it because this one little girl just always has too come up and talk with him or make fun of him and I laugh all the time at it! Thursday was super cool because we drove and hour up North too see Elder Dube from the first quorum of the 70 because he came too speak too us missionaries! I got too shake his hand and talk for a tiny bit with him! It was funny because as we was shaking my hand, he tried too read my nametag and was like "Elder....Muh.....elder.....Muhle....ummm....Elder Muhelle....ummm" So i helped him out and said Muhlestein and he said "Ahh! I couldnt pronounce it! I'm sorry for that but you're a wonderful young man!" I thought it was cool cause everyone shook his hand for like 2 seconds and he grasped my hand for about 30 trying too read my last name! So yea... I held a  first quorum of the 70's hand longer than anyone there besides his wife did! More blessings for me I guess haha just kidding! Friday we hit up T-City and talked with this older gentleman who had leukemia and wanted too chat because he never had company. As we were talking, I tried too give him a book of Mormon, but he said no because his head was hurting him. So I took the book back from him and set it on his coffee table and we all said a prayer together. After the prayer, Elder Park and I left and I left eh Book of Mormon on his coffee table. If he wasn't going too take it from me personally, I was going too have to "accidentally" leave it on his coffee table! Saturday was Elder Park's birthday! We had a breakfast with a branch member, then lunch, then dinner! the branch members sure love him up here! Our lunch appointment, the branch members fed us steak! But these steaks were huge! And it was the best steak I have ever eaten! Perfectly cooked and seasoned too! I have too start working out every night now because we get fed so much and I cant keep the pounds off! Sunday was the usual besides the potluck after church! I don't think I have ever been somewhere where they feed us after church! It was a whole Thanksgiving feast and it was soooo good!!! Love and miss all of you! hope too hear from everyone soon and happy Thanksgiving week! 

Love,

Elder Muhlestein

my first fish ever caught in Alabama!

Happy Missionary=Happy Mom!

Dear family and friends,

Can you believe it has already been a week??? It feels like its only been a couple days too me! I guess it is true what they say, time flies when you're having fun! Well I have been living in my new area which is called Scottsboro, Alabama! It is in North Eastern Alabama and the people here are either really nice or really rude! My new companion's name is Elder Park! He is from Rexburg Idaho and has been out for about 15 months coming up on 16! I'm almost at my month mark for being a missionary! It's super crazy! This week we started off with lunch with a member who needed help with her lesson in Relief Society about missionary work! Her name is Sister Johnson, but everyone calls her Grandma cause is basically like everyone's Grandma! She took us too a place called Pikeville market where they serve the best burgers ever! Now I know in Seattle everyone says Dick's burgers are the best, but these burgers were like burgers that were 20X better than Dick's! Southern cooking is the best! But we drove around Wednesday so that I could get a grip of the area. It is a really really pretty place out here! Then I went tracting for the first time! That is probably my favorite part of being a missionary. Talking too new people everyday, or getting yelled at by people too! Some guy in a really old, but nice and loud Corvette rolled up too my companion and I and looked at us and said "Do y'all have permits too be doing this?!" And we said yes and showed him them. As soon as we showed him our permits, he took off and was gone! Talk about being rude! I thought it was super funny though and couldn't stop laughing! He was going too Citizen's arrest us if we didn't have our permits and he was just looking for a fight really. If you're looking for a fight, don't come after the missionaries cause all we are going too do is preach the gospel and give ya a Book of Mormon! We had District meeting on Thursday and all the Elder's in the District which is 4 slept in our tiny Apartment in our room. We didn't sleep at all because Elder Farrell wouldn't shut up and would make us laugh all night! Other than that, Saturday was the big day for me at least. Elder PArk and I were tracting in a neighborhood and came across a man named Ben. We talked for about 5 minutes and then asked if we could teach him a lesson. He said yes and we taught him the restoration and he was super interested! He wants us too come back next week because he is in Georgia right now, but it is super exciting too be able too teach him about the Gospel! I have been reading in the New Testament for the past week starting with Matthew and it's just amazing too read about Jesus's parable about the ninety and nine sheep and the one lost one. That one sheep who was lost was more important too bring safely home than the ninety and nine. The reason? If we have already been converted ourselves too Christ and followed what he has asked of us, the Lord is happy. But if we bring that one sheep into the ninety and nine who was lost, the joy is even greater because we have brought another into his fold. I have never really liked reading at all and most of you know this, but I can't get enough of the scriptures. It is like I see them on a whole new level. I learn something new from then everyday and try too use the teachings in them too better myself and others. I love all of you and cant wait too hear about you're guy's life and whats been going on with it! I get too go fishing today which is amazing for me cause I love to do that! Hoping too catch a giant catfish!

Address: 3707 South Broad Street Apartment 604 Scottsboro, Alabama 35769

ALSO: If anyone one for some reason were going too send Christmas gifts (not saying you all should this is just for the people thinking about it) send them right now because I have transfers two days before Christmas and the Mission President has asked too get all the presents before transfers in case I do get transferred to another place!

Love,

Elder Muhlestein

News from Alabama

Alabama Birmingham MissionK 

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Elder Muhlestein has safely arrived in the Alabama Birmingham Mission! 

 

We are impressed with your son and want to thank you for all that you have done in preparing this wonderful young man for his mission.  He met his new companion and traveled to his first area.  

 

Attached are photos of Elder Muhlestein, one with President and Sister Hanks and one with his Trainer, Elder Park.  He will bless this mission greatly with his enthusiasm and dedication. We love him and pledge our best efforts in directing his service here. 

Elder Muhlestein has accepted a call that will change his life and the lives of those with whom he is serving.  These first few months will be full of new and challenging experiences, and your support in the form of encouraging and uplifting letters will help him greatly. 

Our greatest hope is that each missionary has a positive and growing experience, which will help give him a foundation for a lifetime of service to others. We appreciate the time you have spent raising your son to be such a responsible young man.  We thank you for your willingness to share Elder Muhlestein with us.  

President and Sister Hanks 

 

The Missionary Has Landed!

Niki received the following email from Ethan this morning...

"Hey I get to email you about my first area! It's in Scottsboro Alabama, near Tennessee and Georgia. North Eastern Alabama. Address is 3707 South Broad Street Apartment 604 Scottsboro Alabama 35769"

His current mailing address has been added to the sidebar for easy reference.

Go write Ethan a letter!!

-Holli (Ethan's favorite Aunt) :D

And he's off......Again!

We got a lovely jolting wake up call at 4:45 am this morning.  It was Elder Muhlestein hanging out at the airport before his flight left for Georgia.  He is super excited to be headed to the field.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Nicole M

Last Day in the MTC

Hey everyone!

So im sorry I lied to everyone and said I wouldn't be able to email until next week. Didn't know I could email during laundry time... go figure! This last week has been amazing in the MTC! I had an investigator I had to teach and her name was Sydney Young! She is a single mother of 5 and is searching for a church without holes in it. My companion Elder Butterfield and I taught her all the lessons: Restoration, Plan of Salvation, Gospel of Jesus Christ, Chastity (That was an awkward lesson...) Word of Wisdom and Tithing and fast offerings! She loved all the lessons and received them very well! The only problem in teaching her was she taught us most of the time! She was super into history and the first lesson we had with her I learned more about Scottish History and Bible History then I came in with! She is super sweet though and we asked her to be baptized. She said she would love too, but has to do her research before she gets into anything. It still is really good because at least she is reading her Book of Mormon and finding out for herself if this church is for her. Today I had to say goodbye too my teachers, Sister Luft and Brother Nielsen. Both of these teachers prepared me well for the field and were super amazing! Its sad to say goodbye, but it isn't forever! My zone is already planning our reunion when we all come back! It's funny, but it might actually happen! I don't know if I told everyone before, but Elder Gilbert is a DJ and has opened for big artists like Diplo, and he want's to DJ our reunion and is serious about it. I mean im all game for that and all, but I have no idea where and how this is ever going too happen! The District +Smith is doing well. I say +Smith because there is an Elder named Elder Smith who hangs with my District. So like a lost cute puppy, we adopted him into the brotherhood. He is super chill and heckaaa funny! All the Elders are great and i'm going too really miss them all! 

I'd love too hear from anyone! How is everything going?? Who is still undefeated in the NFL and College ball?? Is Darth Vader really Luke's father??? 

This is my District and our teacher Sister Luft!

Sincerely,

Elder Muhlestein

Another Picture!!

Sorry, overkill.....

Unlisted Number

Mom of Ethan here!

I received a text earlier today from an unknown number and like a dunce, I downloaded whatever was attached!  To my surprise it was this picture of Ethan and his district

at the temple.  We, as missionary parents, are so blessed to have members throughout the world looking after our kids and taking an interest in them.  This nice person snapped the photo and then sent it to me.  What a great day!

The Cardboard Legacy Begins!

Dear Friends and family,

Too start off, I have this blog spot that you can go too for address and other stuff that will be important as the years continue:    Eldermuhlestein.blogspot.com

So this week at the MTC started off very crazy!The days were long, and the nights were even longer. The first night was terrible, but now I sleep like a baby in my bed! My district has become closer and closer everyday and I love it! We are currently volleyball champions of our gym time. We destroy in sports! Elder Gilbert plays semi-pro hockey and Elder Butterfield is 10th in state for the 100M. And theres me so you could say we are stacked. But the food is getting very old now, it always hurts my stomach! I have no idea why it does that, but for some reason it does! The classes are amazing! Sister Luft teaches in the morning and Brother Nielsen teaches in the afternoon. Sister Luft does the most amazing job at these practices called demos. She has one of us be an investigator and she is the missionary. She always gets the spirit going so strong in the room, that everyone is silent and feels the spirit! Brother Nielsen also is an amazing teacher and always has us walk around the building to simulate finding an investigator throughout the floor. Like we look for other companions who are pretending to be investigators. He is an amazing guy who served in New Mexico and has been back for two years. So you're probably wondering about the title. The missionaries who just left today found cardboard in their room that had a bunch of signatures of old missionaries that went back to 2013! It was packed with signatures and pictures and stuff. So my district and I started our on cardboard signing in our room! We did our name, district number and letter (District 60B) position in district (Zone leader) and then a quote. I would tell you my quote, but you wouldn't get the back story too it so you would think its awful haha! I get too show the new missionaries around tomorrow because im a zone leader! My companion, Elder Butterfield and I are pretty chill so im not worried that the new people wont like us! Other than that, I havent done that much besides classes and chilling with the District! I wont be able too email for 2 weeks because Tuesday I leave for Alabama at 3:30 AM!!! Its crazy I know! But at least ill be in Southern Country! Love you all and hope too hear from you!

Sincerely,

Elder Muhlestein

 

This is almost my whole district! Far right is Elder Butterfield. Then Elder Frizzel, the Elder Girlbert, then me. Sweater man is Elder Ravenberg and the white shirt guy sitting down is Elder Hoffman!