Happy Bump Week!!

Dear Family,
Can you believe this week is my 6 month out anniversary already? Time has passed at an uneven pace, some weeks so slow and others fly by. I am not the same person I was when I entered the MTC. I'm being refined in ways I wouldn't have if I had not served a mission. I have met people I will never forget. And my testimony of the Restored Gospel has intensified as I share it with the people here.
The work here is still going well. We went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders. We met with a woman named Janet. We taught her the first lesson, and she seemed to really listen. Afterward she told us she would love to come to church. Sadly she didn't make it this week. We will be calling her and see what is going on. On Saturday we taught another investigator the first lesson, he pretty much knows it all. He just doesn't realize it yet. We enjoy meeting with him and love his outgoing personality.
This week we also went to the "Trick or Trunk" for our ward. Thanks for sending out my make up kit. It was fun to use my "skillz" from my techie days and make up some of the kids. One of the girls won a prize for the witch I did for her. I "gave" Elder Severson a black eye, and it looked real. While we were there I got to visit with Brother Skinner from the Tanglewood Ward. His sister in law is in our ward and they had come up to visit her. He told me the the best news. Christa was baptized on Thursday. I was so happy for her. And thankful that I was able to teach her before I was transferred. I was a little sad that I couldn't have been there, and have been given special permission to write and congratulate her. I am so happy for her choice to be baptized.
The weather is getting colder here, especially in the mornings. I'll need to have you send out some of my hoodies and thermals. Everyone has warned me how I'll be chilled to the bone.
I'm keeping Papa in my prayers, hopefully he will be home soon. He has been so brave through this trial.
Thanks for all of your prayers, I feel them and they keep me strong. I love you all.
Elder Colton

No snow here...

(the view back home in Utah)

Wow that is crazy that it snowed. It is starting to get colder around here too. We turned on the furnace this morning for the first time. Elder Severson has been feeling sick and has a cold. I gave him some of my Vitamin C. I think that will help him get over the cold quicker.
I am thankful to hear that the transplant was successful for Papa. And its awesome how everything has gone so well for Greg too. I got a letter from Papa on Friday telling me that he was going into surgery that day. I've prayed for him that he would be able to recover well, and its good to hear that he is. It's a blessing that he is getting color back. I really hope that there isn't any rejection or infection. (Elder Colton's grandfather received a kidney from his son Greg last week.) I hope that you guys enjoy your break. It is fall break here too for some of the kids.
This week has been busy. We went to Dr. Kinney's office and he checked out our eyes for free. (he is the high priest group leader) and it was good to get a check-up. Then we met with an investigator. He is a really nice guy, but has told missionaries before that he is not investigating the church. He just likes to have us come over. Kind of like an investigator in my last area. Oh I got to use my tile laying and cutting skills this week. Brother Dawson our ward mission leader is re-doing his house and he was laying tile in the bathroom. I was able to help him. Thanks dad for the experience with that :) We are still trying to get in contact with our investigator who had a baptismal date for this weekend. He has been out of town. We had to push the date back to the 1st of November. We will be trying to see him again this week. He has been remodeling his house and we have offered to help him, but he hasn't taken us up on it yet.
One other thing. This morning Elder Severson got a call from the mission office saying that his date to go home has been bumped up. He is now going home on the 5th of December. President Hobbs will be going to a Mission President conference the next week, so they are pushing transfers back a week. Makes me kind of sad because he is an awesome companion. We ate with the couple who got married last week. He is such an outgoing and cool guy. His wife is friendly and they love to feed us and talk with us. It will be so awesome to see him get baptized. Well that is about it for this week. Nothing else too exciting has happened. Just a lot of work and also just chugging along each day. I love you guys and hope that things are still going well for all of you :)

Love Elder Colton

Happy Birthday Dad!!

I hope you had a great birthday and you know I love you and appreciate your example to me. I'm sure you loved mom's famous banana cream pie.
Yeah General Conference was great! I was able to watch all of the sessions. It is set up like our church buildings back home. I'm looking forward getting the next Ensign so I can read up on the talks and study. I felt a lot of the talks were centered on my concerns, I was thankful to listen to the counsel of our leaders.
Yeah it is so green here, a lot like when we were in Pennsylvania. I love it, its such an amazing thing to see when we are out driving around. So many shades of green, not like Utah. We are FULL car in this area(hooray!) and it really is the only way that we can effectively get around. Our ward and mission boundaries are all of Rockingham County. It would just be too much to try and bike to places. No one else yet has asked to be baptized, but we did see a couple married this past week. He has been going to church for almost 2 years. He should be a quick one to teach the lessons to and get baptized now that he is married. That was the onething that was holding them back. They had their ceremony in the Magistrates office. Elder Severson and I were some of the witnesses. We have dinner at their house tomorrow so we will be asking about teaching him and setting a date to be baptized. Cool stuff! Well that is my update for now.
I love the Gospel, and am so thankful to be serving a mission!
Love, Elder Colton

People and Places to Remember

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For Brynley...

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Most of you know that I have 3 younger brothers and one sister who is the youngest child in our family. Her name is Brynley. She is all girl; she loves to have her hair and nails done and she has a genuine talent for dance. She has taken ballet since she was 3. Its been a real switch too having a little sister after my 3 brothers. We have Barbies and Hannah Montana in the house after years of Mutant Ninja Turtles and Legos. She loves our family. EVERYONE in our large family with all the aunts and uncles and cousins. Besides all of the pink and glitter she has brought to our family a deeper sense of love and the reality of Heavenly Father's love for all of His children. She has a lot of faith in the power of the Priesthood and never hesitates to ask for a blessing when she feels sick or sad. She loves to sing the "gospel songs" as she calls them, especially "I Am A Child of God" and "Called to Serve" She also likes the music that her big brothers like, especially Death Cab For Cutie and ColdPlay. Brynley has brought a lot of "extras" with her, you see she was born with Trisomy 21, more commonly called Down Syndrome. This means that she has an extra chromosome on her 21st chromosome.

Sometimes it is hard knowing that Brynley will grow up in a world that is not always accepting of differences or kind to people who have disabilities. If people would take the time to get to know someone who has a disability they would find out that they are some of the greatest people they will ever meet. Being around Brynley changes your perception on life, you see how she lives each day to its fullest, laughing and being care free. Then I realize that this is how we should all live our lives. I don’t think my sister will ever realize the impact she has had on my life, but I know I would not be the person I am today without her.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and I hope that when you might meet or see someone with Down Syndrome don't be afraid to say hi. You can never have too many friends!!

Thanks Brynley, you are such a wonderful and inspiring little sister.
I love you Brynley!!