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Sept. 12, 2016

Heylo Eberyone!

I've hit six months! I can't believe it's already here. This Wednesday
will be transfers, and I will most likely be leaving the Lindsay 1st
and Grove 3rd wards. It's been so great to be here. If I could, I
would stay in this area for another three months. We'll see what the
Lord has in store for me.

We have a tradition as missionaries to burn an article of clothing
every six months: the first time, we burn a tie, the second time a
shirt, third time a pair of slacks, then (sometimes) a full suit. As
the 9th was my six-month mark. I got to burn a tie. We took some
videos, but didn't really get a good shot of the actual burning, so I
took a few screenshots of the process. Since it was polyester, it
kinda just dripped fire at first. Then we sprayed it with body spray.
That's when it lit up.

We have an awesome opportunity coming up for this area! Recently, the
Child family moved into our ward from the Memphis, Tennessee area. We
helped them move in about a month and a half ago. Recently, however,
they reached out to us. Bro. Child informed us that he and his family
have been inactive for about ten or so years,and they moved to this
area hoping to return to activity. They have three kids (18, 16, &
13), none of whom know the Gospel very well. They want us to teach
their whole family! And even better, their youngest has not been
baptized yet, and she wants to be! Here is yet another miracle family
that we have been praying for as a mission. They're excited to meet
with us, and we're excited to as well.

We also had the opportunity to go to a meeting in Tempe for all of the
new missionaries and their trainers this week. It was an awesome
learning experience. I have been so humbled by this experience, but
coming to this meeting and seeing that other missionaries, who have
far more experience than I do, are running to similar problems as me
is really comforting. The Lord has given me this opportunity to grow,
as well as to help Elder Pavlakos become a more effective missionary.
I feel that, only through the Lord's help, I have done so. It has not
come without challenges, but those challenges have helped us learn. I
am so grateful for the doctrine of repentance! Because of it, I am
able to continually strive to turn my will over to God, and let it
fall in line with His. Even though I am not perfect, He lets me
continue to ask for forgiveness, and gives it to me. I will continue
to improve, because I will continue to trust in God.


ALL IS WELL IN ZION!!
Elder Grover

Sent from my companion's iPad