Hello there

It has definitely been an interesting week. Yesterday especially. We taught a couple of people who were really just looking to bible bash so it was a pretty rough day all around, we weren't able to leave the house until 3 because we had to wait for the plumber to come fix our toilet because it was leaking,we did get to do some service around the house, but we didn't have much of a day to begin with, and pretty much everywhere we went we were met with rejection, but it was definitely a way good learning experience and a testimony builder.

Today we were able to go to the temple which was really good for us to kind of refocus and prepare ourselves for the rest of the week. Georgia has been really good so far. The members are awesome and we get a lot of help from them as far as meals and getting people out on team ups and splits.

Tonight we are visiting with a progressing investigator that we met while tracting. Last time we invited her to be baptized, but she is waiting to learn more about the church, so we're going to focus on getting her to sacrament meeting.

Right now Elder Cooper and I are serving in one ward and are working alongside three sister missionaries also in the ward, so pretty much we have the north half and they have the south part of the boundaries. As far as other missionary work that we've been doing we have been working on less actives and part member families. I am definitely thankful for the family I was raised in and the strong example of my parents and siblings. It sounds like everyone is doing good. I can't wait to hear back from you!

Alex with his Mission President

Alex, President Mathusek, and Sister Mathusek
Taken at the Mission Home on Alex's first day in Georgia

Dallas

Ok, so It has definitely been a really good first week. White washing hasn't been exactly what I expected, but I am liking it. Our address is 227 Eagle Lake Dr and I cant remember the zip code other than it's in Dallas Georgia.

We definitely lucked out and have been blessed with a car, actually its probably one of the nicest in the mission, its a 2009 Malibu, which has been very much a convenience. On top of that we have a generous amount of miles, about 300 more than the sisters who are serving in the same ward with us, so we have to keep that secret so they don't go ballistic on us. Elder Cooper also bought a GPS
which has been really good to have especially when we dont know the area. Actually, I would very much like one for myself, not right now, but maybe next transfer if my next companion doesn't have one himself because they save so much time that would normally be spent trying to figure out a map and are pretty cheap now a days. As far as a bike I am still wanting to get one, but probably not for a while, especially if we have a car, so I will let y'all know. But we may use them here if we ever get short on miles at the end of the month and I would like to use one.

We haven't been able to teach a whole lot because one, neither of us know many people in the ward or in the area and the sisters took all of their investigators and most everything in our area book, so we don't have too much to work with there. We have mostly been visiting less active and part member families which has been really different than what I would have expected just coming out of the MTC because it is a lot different teaching style. However it has definitely taught me a lot, especially the importance of being active in the church and keeping covenants and how doing so will truly bless your life as well as your family.

I have also been able to see how important planning is and how Heavenly Father has blessed us in our planning, and been able to go to meet people we were supposed to meet at the right time. We have one new investigator who we found through tracting and we are teaching her again tonight. The ward is awesome here we have a lot of really great members and a superstar ward mission leader. The ward has about 600 members and only 250 or so active, so if we can reactivate people they'll split the ward in no time. We are really hoping to have a baptism this transfer which will be hard, but definitely possible we just need to start finding people to teach, which is what missionary work is all about. There are a lot of part member families that love to have the missionaries over but aren't interested in the lessons or hearing our message, so we're praying for their hearts to be softened, but it is definitely a really good area with tons of potential.

But that is definitely way cool to hear about Andrew's mission call! when does he leave? I heard Hunter is working on his papers as well so hopefully I will hear from him and all the other guys soon. Ok well I hope you have a wonderful day!

-Elder Alex Harrison

The Phone Call

Being a substitute teacher, I'm used to getting phone calls at 6:45 AM. But on Tuesday, March 10 I got a call that made my day! As I was sitting at the computer writing an apology to my hiking buddy for oversleeping, the phone rang. Assuming it was my robot friend from Deer Valley Schools calling to offer me a fun filled day in some Special Ed classroom, I was in no hurry to answer. You can imagine my surprise when the voice on the other end said, "Is this my Mom?" I was overjoyed to hear my son's voice calling from the Salt Lake Airport. We had a nice (but short) visit. I don't even remember the details of what we talked about. I only know that he sounded happy and so excited to be headed to Georgia. He can't wait to go meet his Mission President, a new companion and start preaching the Gospel. In the next two years I can expect only 4 opportunities to speak to my boy: on Mother's Day (61 days and counting) and Christmas. This was an unexpected treat and it made me one happy Momma!

Hello Dallas Georgia!

Hey there, I just wanted to let you know that I made it to Georgia safely and met my companion, Elder Cooper, who is from Calgary Canada. We're living with sister Perkins who is a really nice member here. The area I am assigned to right now is the Dallas East area in Dallas Georgia, we're white washing this area which means we're opening it up so it should be really exciting. I sent a letter yesterday so you should get it pretty soon, but its pretty nice out here, a lot of country that's for sure. We saw a couple dead racoons and possums on our drive over but other than that there are a lot of trees. Ok well I will talk to you later!

Hola Familia!

Hello!
Well, this is the last time I'll email from the MTC thankgoodness.

Anyways, the weather has been nice, it snowed on us last night so it was cool to wake up to fresh snow on our way to the temple, and now its all melting, but it was good while it lasted.  you'll have to email me some pictures of Sarah at LDS Prom!  and if you could email Aunt Candith and the girls and thank them for sending me some cookies and chocolate because I left her email address in the room and do not have any time to go get it.  Well it sounds like things are going good, has anyone moved into my room yet? is everything locked away in storage somewhere now? ok well I hope you have an awesome weekend. We leave for georgia on tuesday, I think our flight is at 8 or so, but it will be a wonderful adventure for sure! Ok well I hope to hear from you soon enough!
-Alex