Happy Autumn!!

Dear Family,
I got transferred!! I am now in Eden. This is where Elder Brown trained Elder Terry. So my first two companions have been here before. I had to speak this past Sunday. I shared my story of how I got here on my mission, and how the Lord has prepared a way for me to get here. It was crazy  after I gave my talk. The 2nd speaker began and he was talking away and all of the sudden a little kid pulled the Fire Alarm. Everything started to go crazy, and the spirit just zipped out of the room. It was funny, but it kind of disrupted everything. I'm glad that it didn't happen when I spoke because I felt like I needed to share my story with the ward. It was funny that I had to speak. They had prepared for the Elder I replaced to speak. He thought he wasn't going to be transferred, but he was. Elder Severson (my new companion) was kind enough to tell me on the drive up to Eden, that I was going to speak on Sunday.  On Saturday went to the Ward mission leader's home and did some service for him by burning a bunch of stuff. Then we went that evening with them to Riverfest. Its a yearly event here. It was a lot of fun and I really am liking this new area. We haven't had a chance to teach a lot yet, but I'm sure that we will this week. We have 2 investigators with baptismal dates and the work seems to be growing here. I really like Elder Severson. He has it set up where we go to the YMCA each day to work out in the morning. That will be awesome so I can stay in shape since this area is full car! WOO! I love that. I might actually get to drive later on this transfer too, so that is just awesome! I have a feeling that I'll be teaching a lot more in this area than we did in Tanglewood. Hopefully I'll start to get the feel of what it really is like to be a missionary teaching and that sort of thing. And not spend so much time just waiting to see if anyone is home and being disapointed to not find anyone there.
I know that the Lord loves me and that he really does care about me. He isn't giving up on me. I just sometimes give up on myself. I feel that things are starting to get better. I'm seeing myself start to really grow in just the few days that I have been here. We have some awesome members here and I espeically have come to love the Dawsons. Sister Dawson said that she might be giving y'all a call. She loves to stay in contact with missionaries families. Really good people here. Its a very small ward. I think only 150 people or so and they are very close knit. I think that it'll be way good. Well I have to get going . Thanks so much for everything. I love you

Elder Colton.

September 15 2008

Hi Family!
We still haven't had a chance to get into the really rural areas just because we are limited in our miles. But we did get to go to some places that usually don't get to go. We met with a less active member. He said that we could come in and watch what he was watching or leave. He said it was about how religion came about and that it would be interesting for us to see. We declined his offer to come in. He said he would write down the name of the show and we could look it up later. We could hear the show explaining how The Apostles are like the 12 Zodiak signs and that Christ is the ultimate Zodiak and on and on. He came back and gave us the name and we said that we would see him later. It was weird! I don't even remember what it was called now. That was probably the most eventful thing we did this past week. We both had a stomach flu that we were getting over so we didn't get to accomplish a lot. We were in Courtney, North Carolina this week. That is a part of our area and we had a Media Refferal out there. Sadly she isn't receptive at the moment, I'm sure missionaries can try her again later. We as well are praying for a miracle in this area. Our investigator is still doing great. She called us on Sunday and said that she is ok. She wanted to know if I was getting transfered or not. I told her to call on Wednesday and that is when we would know. We find out tomorrow night if I do or not. Thanks for praying for her. It really has been amazing to see her change in such a short time. Her personality has started to show and that she is really feeling happier about herself and how her life is going. We pray that she stays committed. Things are still rolling along here in the mission. We are on bikes this week and I hope that things won't be too hot. It is starting to get cooler, but not as cool as I would like. Probably by then it will start getting too cold. I hear that it chills you to the bone out here when it gets to winter time. We will have to see when that happens. Well I have to get going. Thanks so much for all that you do, I love you.
Love Elder Colton

September 8th Snippet

I caught a virus this week and have been sick the past 4 days, and it has sucked. Elder Terry has not able to do much because I've mostly slept. I'll be trying to use the counsel dad gave me in his letter about praying for a miracle in this area. We need one and I'd love to see this area explode before I get transferred. The Lord can work through us to make amazing things happen. We've been teaching one young lady a lot lately. She is an investigator that has (had) a boyfriend who was a member and in the military. She has now ended that relationship. She found out that he wanted to marry her just so he could get extra money while he is in Iraq. The good news is she still wants to meet with us and have us teach her. She says that we have made things so much better for her. This past week we taught her the Word of Wisdom and the Law of Chastity and she has committed to live both of them. She has surprised us because at first we felt she was just doing this to please her boyfriend, But when she came to church a week or so ago, she said that she felt at home. She wants to come back as much as possible. Also she told her friend that she chose the Mormon faith because it just makes sense to her. She has been a Christian since she was 5 and only now feels she has found what she needs. We hope she wants to continue with the discussions. They will be opening up a new area and changing the district a little bit. We probably won't be having the Zone leaders in our district anymore, but will have Winston 1st Ward with their Elders and Sisters. Its hard to not think about transfers. I just have to remember I have the Lord to help me and that things will be fine.
I love you all,
Elder Colton

Memories of my First Area

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