Last Email Before Heading Home

Dear Friends of the interweb!!!!

This email is the very last email I will send home as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the New York, Utica Mission. The best part about all of this though, is that I have the same feelings as I did when I left home. Sad to leave those I have come to love, adore, and teach, and am going home to others whom I love, adore, and will get to know. But the one thing that still applies for when I left home on this blessed journey as a missionary, applies now as I depart from being a Missionary ending my journey. This is not good-bye forever, this is only good-bye for now! smile emoticon (Thank goodness for modern technology and Email, Facebook, and Youtube!)

So, as you know I went to the Palmyra Temple last week! Yes I did take pictures and a lot of you that are my Facebook have already seen a sneek peak of what is to be added to this email. Those of you who don't have access to Facebook, will get to see them here smile emoticon Not only did we go to the temple, but we got to tour a lot of church sites there including, the smith far and cabin, peter whitmer farm, the sacred grove, the printing press where the Book of Mormon was printed, and the Hill comurah where the Golden Plates where laid and buried! I will put captions with the pictures so that way you all know what is what. But For this final email I would like to say thank you and bear my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.

THANK YOU! To all of you who have supported me in the last 2 years of my life both verbally, spiritually, physically, and everything in between! Nothing can express the Love I have felt from all of you across the United States and else where and my deep gratitude for the blessing you all have been in my life and my families life.

I know that my redeemer lives, I know he is there, knows my name, and knows who I am. I also know that he knows each of you, loves you, knows your name, situation, and is willing and doing all he can to bless you in any way he can. I know that he died for us on the cross so that we can truly become clean from sin, and sorrow too, so that way we can be happy, blessed, and one day united with our families and with our Eternal Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ for all of Eternity. I have felt that power of the atonement of Jesus Christ in my own life again and again. He has been able to change me, shape me, and help me become whom he wants me to become. I can promise you that I am still learning, growing and will continue to do so, until that bright and perfect day when the savior of us all shall come to the earth once more. That day, will be a truly blessed day. I love my savior with all my heart, might, mind and soul, and will continue to serve him, be his servant, and an instrument in his hands forever till the day I shall surely die. I say these things in the blessed and sacred name of Jesus Christ Amen.
I will see and talk to you all very soon!

--
Love Ya's!
-Elder Zenger

RUSSIAN CATS!

Dear You people of the earth! (Aka those who read my emails lol)

!!WARNING!! 

-The following email might be a little scattered brained, excited, random, and completly off topic than usual. This is due to lack of sleep, television, music, and many other things in the last 2 years. This is also due to the fact that the person writing this email is going to expire as a missionary in 9 days and is slowly getting excited. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! 

This week has been a pretty good week! I will admit that my caring level for planning the next week or so (since I only have a small time left) has decreased  A TON and It is hard to control and let alone something I cannot control. But I will have you all know that I am excited, like I have said before, to go home and what not. I am not however going to be those "Trunky Missionaries" Who are dumb and break the rules and not teach effectively because I am going home. I have lost part of my caringness for planning, but I am determined to finish strong and do what I can with those around me in the time I do have left. 

Most of you as you are probably reading this, I will be on my way to Utica, NY to spend the night at the Mission home so that tomorrow morning at the bright and early time of 6:00 am we can head off to the Palmyra Temple to go through the temple and visit the church sites that are in Palmyra. It is going to be awesome! I will take and send next week (which is my final email next week) pictures of all of that awesomeness! 

I really don't know what else to say cause I still have 1 more time to email before I go home so I will save those for my final words as a Missionary for the Lord next week :) I love you all and thank you always for all you have done for me, each and everyone of you, in the last 2 years of my life and your continual support as I return home very soon. May the Lord bless you in all that you do as you continually hold to the teachings of our savior Jesus Christ! Have a sweet week! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

The Dead Sea Squirrels!

Dear Ere' body!

I don't know how long this email will be due to time and other things! ( I hate emailing at freakin library's it sucks) But I will do my best to get off what I can today with the time I do have! It has been an odd week let me tell ya! 

So, I am going to start off with the last few days cause the rest of last week was just the usual stuff haha So Saturday, Elder Connole got some stomach stuff, and on top of that in the morning we had snow flurries through out the day, and when we came in for dinner (and to let Elder Connole rest) we got a text from the Zone Leaders telling us that we are NOT allowed to drive when it is snowing...period... so we looked outside and its not snowing any more but it is now turned into freezing rain... yeah it sucked haha so we stayed inside and did what ever we could to keep ourselves busy and productive.

The following day, we got up in the morning and we got a call from the Branch President saying that church was cancelled due to weather.... So, us being Missionaries and not having anything planned from 8:30 to 2:30 we had no idea what to do! So after telling our investigators and Less actives that there was no church, we got a text from a family we teach and they invited us over for breakfast (lunch) and to have a lesson! It was such a blessing! Especially since none of the roads were super good yet and we only lived like 2 min away up the street so haha 

Then for the epic title of this email! This morning we woke up to a dead squirrel in our toilet! Yup you are reading that right, a dead squirrel in our toilet! It was the oddest thing cause we don't know where it came from, why it was there, or how it died....but we think it drowned itself which is how it died.... haha so yeah that has been my epic week this week and I actually have 2 pictures to send ya! (Yes the Squirrel is included so if you don't want to see it...look away haha) Have a good week and I will talk to you all soon! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

MERRY CHRISTMAS - ya filthy animals!

Dear you Non Filthy Animals xD haha (did ya like that?)

I have to say first off THANK YOU  to all of you who sent me cards, presents, and letters for christmas! I loved them all and I hope that most of you got the Thank you cards I sent out as well as the Christmas Cards I sent out as well! ( I sent out like 40 so I hope some of you got them 0.o lol)

This week has flown by super fast because of the Holiday Season and yet this week there is another Holiday coming our way that will make this week go by super fast, then the following week we have a zone meeting, and I have my temple trip, which will make that week go by super fast, then the following week is transfer calls, then after that is transfers and I will home. 0.0 MIND BLOW!!!!  (Bang) Anyways... onto other things!

Christmas was sweet! We had all 3 sets of Elders in our Unit (yes there are only 3 sets in our unit) over at our apartment on Christmas Eve and they spent the night! (It was a wild night...that is all I am going to tell you right now haha ) WE then got up the next morning and all opened our presents 1 at a time before we headed off to skype home and got to 2 other members homes for the rest of the day. 

Skyping home was actually different this time around than it has been the last 2 times. I was calm, I had plenty to talk about, and it was just awesome! (course they were all on their "Phones" and talking to me at the same time but oh well! I would be to if I had one haha) It was weird to tell them "See  ya in 3 weeks!" But It was still awesome! I loved watching the other elders call home for it was all their very first times calling home on their missions and it was awesome to watch them and see them smile and glow with excitement!

Other than that Things have been good here! It hasn't snowed yet but it is getting cold again so we might have some by the time I go home ;) haha Talk to y'all next week!

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

WEEK OF CHRISTMAS!!

Dear All you Wonderful people out there! 

I have to say.... THANK YOU!... (that is as big of a thank you I think I can do over email with out using the entire page lol) You all are amazing and just awesome! I love every single christmas card I have received and letters, and all sorts of other things! I feel spoiled... haha 

I have to say that Christmas only scares me this year because that means that New Years is around the corner, and I have to admit that New Years is going to scare the crap out of me! 0.0 When New Years comes that will mean I will be going home in only a couple weeks. Which isn't a scary thought really, the scary thing is... I don't know what the heck I am going to do and how I going to do it! But that can all be worked out in its own good ol' due time after I get home, find work, and yada yada yada :) I have been asked many times since this new transfer happened from many different people over email, letters, and those who I am around here the question, "Are you excited to go home? Are you Trunky? What are you going to do when you get home? School? Work? Are your parents excited?" and many many more questions that are similar haha

I have to say my answer to those is something a good friend of mine who is going home on the 27th of this month who isn't going to be able to bear his testimony with the rest of us at transfers  but was able to do so at our Zone Meeting last week. Elder Stockton Butterfield said in his testimony, "I want to tell all of you, to be excited to go home! Be excited! Your mission is a preparatory state or time to help prepare you for what is going to come when you get home. When you came on your mission you started a new chapter in your life and you were excited! Now when the time comes to go home, be as equally excited and anxious! When you go home you start a new chapter in your life as the new person you have become while you have been on your mission. Show the Lord what you have learned, show him what you've got!" 

That is the way I truly feel about going home. I am excited, anxious, ecstatic! There is always good things to come, if we are faithful and true to the Lord and his commandments. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas, and I will see you all next year ;) 

(haha see what I did there! Next year... get it?....WWWWOOOOOWWWW....that was lame haha)

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!!

Dear all you people who are either in upstate New York bearing my burden of the cold and snow (or worse) and those who are back west or across the world who are in the warmer weather!

I got to transfers this last Wednesday, and I found a box from grandma and grandpa and I found 6 letters to accompany it. While we were eating lunch in Utica for transfers, I had 3 different missionaries tell me that I got 4 packages instead of just the one I found. Sure enough, I walked over to the other tables and saw 2 packages from Mom and a package from Aunt Susie as well! It truly blew my mind and other missionaries minds as I tried to walk out to the car, that was taking me to my next area, with 4 packages and 6 letters in my hands along with all my luggage (I did get help don't worry haha) I am so grateful for all those who have willingly sent me packages for my last Christmas on my mission right before I go home. I will admit that I do feel bad for being prideful and complaining about the lack of mail I had received the previous transfer... I kinda felt like I made them send me mail....  :/ I am still very grateful for it and I am excited to see what lies inside with all the things I did receive! You all are super awesome and I don't know how I can repay you guys.

For all of you who keep asking me about how I feel about going home and what is running thourgh my head, I will tell ya. :) I have mixed feelings about going home, over all though I am excited to see all the family I have missed that I have been now blessed to be able to live closer to and be able to see them much more often when I come home! I am also sad to leave the people I love so dearly here that I have been able to interact with through out the last 2 years, but am so great full and blessed that we have Facebook to keep in touch and cell phones so that constant support and communication is much faster and more convenient for all of us! 

The Lord is truly hastening his work, and I feel so blessed to be apart of it now and forever! I hope and pray that the Lord will bless all of you this week whether is be sunny skies, or skies of grey and snow like here in Amsterdam New York, that you will continually feel the warmth and brightness, love, and comfort the spirit can bring not just for this time of year but always! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Week of Handicapness

Dear you all,

So I have a few things to announce before I talk about this week! 1. President Wirthlin has asked that all family members from back home to NOT tag us in any sort of post weather it be religious or not. So... yeah, I also go home in 6 weeks and I have it so that I can either accept the tag or hide it from my timeline till I get home.. so you all have agency :) 2. I have to say I have never felt more dumb in my life than this past week.... It has been ridiculous! Let me tell yas about it :) 

MONDAY- This P-day was the most bizzar p-day of my mission. So we actually didn't have the car this week, so we had to walk to get grocery's (which was not bad it was sweet haha) and then Elder Sanders and I just sat in the Apartment all day till our lessons... He wrote letters and doodled a little bit...while I (since I have had no mail in 3-4 weeks) went and wrapped copies of the Book of Mormon for our Christmas goal Elder Sanders and I are doing. (which is to hand out the B.O.M's I was talking about as well as the new christmas cards we were given)

TUESDAY- Tuesday wasn't to bad, we had District Meeting with all Elders and a Senior Couple (The sisters were at return and report and didn't tell anyone) and it was pretty sweet, and we had Book of Mormon class that night and we discussed Jacob 5 which was pretty sweet.

WEDNESDAY- Wednesday was a normal day... Nothing out of the ordinary happened, but we taught a lot of people. (that is exciting I just realized...) 

THURSDAY- This was my final Thanksgiving as a full time missionary and it was a sweet time! We had a "Turkey Bowl" in the morning with all the missionaries and some of the members and yes we played in a foot of snow! It was so awesome! But I realized how bad I suck at all sports.. haha We then had thanksgiving at the Gutheries and that was a good time! WE then went and visited a couple of people who were alone and that was a sweet time as well! 

FRIDAY- We taught a ton of people this day and we had like spiritual experiences coming out of our ears! 

SATURDAY- I almost died on this day :) So we were coming out of an appointment and the guy we were visiting said, "I would advise you to hold on to my rail as you go down the path and down the stairs." Me being Mr. Stupid, just glided my had across the rail until I got to the stairs. When I got to the stairs, I went to go grab the rail and in the process, I slipped; Elder Sanders says that My back was parallel with the stairs as I floated down the steps and some how grabbed the railing at the end, extended my left foot out and magically ended up standing up right!  I came away from the incident with some cuts in the middle of my palm which isn't to bad. 

SUNDAY- Church was pretty good, it was Elder Sanders' birthday so we made a cake and some grilled chicken for his birthday. I think he enjoyed it. haha 

SO that was my week, I have had ups and downs, (Literally and non) and I learned to always hold on to the iron rod! No matter what! I love you all and will see ya/talk to ya next week! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

SICKNESS and WEIRD WEATHER.

**There was not an email last week due to him being sick and limited computer time.**

Dear ______(fill in the blank)

 

This week I decided that I am going to try a new way of doing my "Mass Emails" home to you all. It is a way most of you have seen or if you are a missionary, then it might be the way you use it to send home to your families. I haven't done my emails this way in a while but I figured why not give it one more try!

 

MONDAY- Monday was such a freakin busy P-day! It was really rediculous! Monday was Bro. Butts Birthday and we all (Missionaries in Greene, Binghamton, and Owego) decided we would celebrate it with some Kickball, cookie cake, ice cream and some gifts for him! WE went and picked up the Binghamton Elders and from then on it was just a literal running to and fro from store to store getting grocery's and other things for the Butts mans birthday! In the end it was a great time and we all were able to get done what we needed to get done!

 

TUESDAY- On Tuesday we went on exchanges with the Greene Elders (Elders Gatherium and Koyle) I stayed in Johnson City with Elder Koyle who is going home this transfer and we had a good time! We had a part member family take us out to eat to a place called "The Beef" with was a bar and pub sorta deal! It was pretty good!

 

WEDNESDAY- Wednesday, we had a Zone meeting that day with a member of the seventy, Elder Katcher! (He spoke in this last General Conference) It was a pretty sweet conference! He talked about how we can involve more of the Ward council and other members in missionary work.

 

THURSDAY- This day I have to tell you all that it was a struggle bus day! I just couldn't do anything with out messing up some how haha the biggest thing I was goofing on was when we played basketball after coordination meeting with the Elders Quorum and I kept tripping over my feet and falling on my but and it sucked pretty bad... I looked like I was freakin drunk! haha (I think it was all the cough drops, and nyquil I have been taking haha)

 

FRIDAY- We went on another exchange this day and boy I was just ready to be done with exchanges! haha we have like a total of 5 we have/had to go on this transfer because my companion is the Distirct leader so.... yeah that is always fun. This time it was with our Zone Leaders and I stayed again with Elder Bybee while Elder Sanders went to Elmira with Elder Sedgwick. It was a super fun exchange and Elder Bybee and I taught like 3-4 lessons and had a sweet ol' time!

 

SATURDAY- Saturday was a pretty good day; after we exchanged back, we had to drive straight to a baptismal interview so that Elder Sanders could interview them so that they can be baptized next weekend. Then we went on a small blitz with Elders Mabey and Muller which was super fun! To end the night, we went to the sisters Baptism and that is always a good time!

 

SUNDAY- Sunday was the most boring day ever! I don't know why but all the lessons where just super lame and dry and I was tired and had a runny nose and It was just horrible! haha but I sruvivred a all is well!

 

That was pretty much my week this week! I hope you all have a good week this week and I am sorry for not having a letter last week, its was just one of those weeks where my mind was somewhere else and I just...yeah ...anyways!

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

MANY BLESSINGS

Dear yous guys out there!

This week has been a pretty good week! The only down fall was that my companion and I are both sick with the same thing and we have literally had it for an entire week! It has sucked.. but we are both feeling a bit better today which is good and I hope that we are going to progressively get better this week.

Last week on Monday, we all played Volleyball with all the missionaries in our unit with Brother Butts from the Greene Branch! It was so much fun and we even played a little bit of basketball afterwards as well! On Saturday, after Elder Sanders and I went to a dinner appointment, we went to McDonalds and got some dessert since our appointment cancelled that we had right after the dinner Appointment. As I was backing out Elder Sanders (yup still can't drive haha ) A guy came running out of McDonalds and asked us if we knew a place where he and his wife could stay. Elder Sanders told him that he didn't know of any place, and I told him I just got to the area so I don't even know how to get home (I was trying to lighten the mood...didn't work). His wife came out and stood next to him and told us thanks anyways and told us God Bless. As we were driving down the road almost to our apartment, Elder Sanders and I were talking and we both felt super horrible that we couldn't do anything for this couple. Then just like as if I was sitting in General Conference, the Voice of Elder Holland came into my mind when he talked about, "You give what you can to those who don't have anything, even if it is just a little bit, that can go a long way." Elder Sanders and I both agreed that we needed to go back and give them a copy of the Book of Mormon we found in the car. As we pulled into the opposite parking lot, Elder Sanders and I emptied our wallets with what we had and stuck it on the inside of the Book of Mormon with a restoration pamphlet. We walked right back into the McDonalds and found the couple exactly where they were when we left and handed them the Book of Mormon, and said, "We don't know where you can stay, and we don't have much ourselves, but this is what we do have, and we want you to have it and we hope that it will help you in some way." They took it in their hands holding it and staring at for a little bit, and looked at us with sincerity and said, "Thank you, thank you very much!" We told them we would pray for them and we left. I felt so good after we went back and did that, I knew that it was the Holy Ghost bringing that talk back to my remembrance so that I can bless the lives of his children in some small way that I could.

I love you all and I have nothing else to say but thank you to all of you! Especially those in my home ward (the Kimball ward) I got a surprise package the other day this last week when I was on exchange, and inside it was a homemade blanket made by the members of my home ward wishing and hoping that I will keep going, keep staying strong, keep my faith and trust in the Lord, as well as keeping warm this upcoming winter season. Thank you so much, and all of you who keep not only me, but missionaries everywhere in your prayers. WE feel them each and everyday and we are grateful for them and all of you! I hope you all have a good week and that the Lord will bless all of you for the good you do for others each and everyday!

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Transfers

 

Hola amigos

 

This week has been a pretty interesting week! I got to as you know be transfered to Binghamton New York wich actually we are called the Johnson City Elders cause most of our area is Johnson City so I better change that on Facebook....but maybe I won't cuase we actually live in Binghamton so I think I will just leave it :)

 

Nothing exciting has happened this week really, My new companion Elder Sanders is freakin sweet! I love him to death and I won't lie I really hope and pray that he is my last companion for I only have 12 weeks left and for the last 4-5 months I have had a new companion every transfer (6 weeks) and it has been getting a little depressing! haha but what happens happenes! This email is late because after we went shopping, we got together with the other 3 sets of missionaries in our unit (2 sets of Elders and a set of Sisters) and played some Volleyball and played a little basketball as well! It was so much fun! But that is why we are so late emailing cause we didn't go and do it first but now we know what to plan for, for next week :)

 

It is getting a bit cold here this last week... I had to bust out my coat yesterday.... that was really lame.. I about froze to death! 0.0 But I was greatful today was a nice day. I have to tell you all this sweet lesson we taught a Less Active guy. Well actually he taught us for a little bit. When we got there, the my companion and the previous Elder invited him to read 1 nephi 7and 8 before we came back. So when we came back he decided to act out the story's instead of just telling them back to us! (this guys is like in his 50s mind you) so he has some T.V and Phone cord and ties up Elder Sanders like Nephi and he tells him, "OK, you've read the story you know what to do!" SO elder Sander breaks out and the Less Active gets down on 1 knee and says, "Oh our brother Nephi, we are so so sorry, please forgive us!" Elder Sanders looks and him and says, "Yeah sure I will forgive ya!" He then proceeds to do the next chapter which talks about the Tree of Life (AKA Lehi's vison) He has laying on the back of a chair a green t-shirt with a tree on it and  a sign next to it that says tree. He then says, " I don't have a rod of iron but I do have a rod!" so he pulls out this very long tree branch with duck tape on it and he holds it to the chair and says, "Come guys, you know what to do!" So we grabbed hold of the rod and headed toward the tree of life, as we got the the tree he ran into the kitchen and brought out apple slices and put them on the chair and said, "Ok guys, partake of the white fruit that tastes so fine!" It was the best lesson of my life! It was so cool to see how people get involed in reading the Book of Mormon!

 

Other that...things are same old same old! I hope you all have a good week and I will see some of yous on the FB!

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Transfer Week! (Transfer 16 or 17)

ARE YA READY KIDS??!?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!! 

This week has been a very uneventful week. Which is ok, because things will get better! :) I just know they will! Elder Geminert got sick this last week with what we think is strep throat...yikes... but he is doing better than he was at the beginning of the week which is super good! His throat just hurts really bad....

So Transfers are this week! And I know some of you know cause of A. I told you this week on monday in an email. Or B. You found out through Pastor Yost :) I am leaving to spend at least (hopefully) the next 6 weeks in Binghamton centeral with Elder Sanders whom I have met before and is a freakin amazing missionary and person! :D I am excited to serve with him but I am sad to leave Elder Geminert and the people I have been able to become close with and get to know very well! But I know the Lord needs me to be there to learn something or to help someone or someones in Binghamton. Other than that nothing else has happened...we spent a lot of time sick this week and so nothing awesome happened... :P But things will be exciting when I get to a new area! 

Sorry its so short this week.... :/ 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Another Week of Testing.

Dear you's guy's,

This week has been another very slow week, but It was a bit easier this week has it has been in past weeks. I think it is because Elder Geminert and I have been trying to stay more positive and are trying to point out all the good things that have happened through out each day that have helped us fulfill our purpose.

We also had the sweet opportunity to watch "Meet the Mormons" in our Zone meeting last Wednesday and it was a really good movie! Elder Geminert and I both agreed that one day that will probably be a movie that we hand out as missionaries and show to others  as we teach them. If you guys haven't been able to see it, I would encourage you to go and see it :) This movie is not for just members of the church, it was actually made for people who aren't members to understand more of who we are, what we believe, and how we live our faith as members of the Lords church. There was defiantly a sweet spirit that was there as we watched this movie and I hope that more people will watch it as it come to a theater near you!

This week is also transfer call week, we find out on Saturday what is going to happen, I have no idea personally what will happen but I know that I am game for what ever needs to happen for this upcoming transfer! Other than that, it has been getting super freakin cold this last week! Like It might freakin snow before halloween! 0.0 I hope that it doesn't...I don't want it to be super cold all the time. haha 

I love you all and I don't have much, but I hope that somewhere out there you all enjoy these emails/FB posts!  Keep on Keepin' on! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

ROUGH, TOUGH, AND BLESSED WEEK

Dear you all whom I Love so very much,

I want to let you all know that this week has been a hard week mentally and emotionally for my companion and I as we have done our best to do the Lords work, but as we all know, when we strive to become better and do better, Satan does the same thing; he tries harder and does what he can to tear us apart so that way may fall off the path of righteousness that leads to eternal life.Despite that hardships my companion and I have had this week, I do not wish to dwell on them or talk any more about them. In conference this year we heard a lot of people talk about how we need to let things go, and dwell on the bad, but hope for the good, and see the goodness that is yet to come.

This week did have some good things come from it! We did find a new investigator, we were able to see some of the small blessings that have come despite all the bad things that have happened. I want you all to know that I feel blessed beyond comprehension from this last week, and I still feel super blessed as I have looked passed the doubt, worry, and other un-positive feelings that Satan has thrown at me this week, and have done as most of the other speakers from this last General Conference have asked us “Which way do you face?” I asked my self that question this last week and noticed that I was not facing the Lord as often or as much as I should have been and that I needed to change. Just by turning to the Lord and facing him and the things we have been asked to do, I have been blessed immensely. I have not had any answers to my prayers yet, I have not had extreme or any other extra ordinary things happen to me since I have done this. What has happened to me is, that I feel happy, peace, comfort, in all things no matter what has or is going to happen! It has helped me feel more of a courage to head the words of Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum or the 12 apostles said to all of us,"Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith.....You may need to reorganize your priorities....If so, DO IT!

I also want to say a very very special CONGRATULATIONS to the new Mr. and Mrs. Wofley! Who got married this last weekend! I sent a special request in my email to my mother to give to those attending the ceremony (which I didn't they would actually do ) to take a selfie with those who were apart of the wedding so that way I could see everyone since I was not able to make it to the wedding. Here is what almost made me cry when I opened an email from my mom this week.

Thank you so much to those who where willing to be in the photo and to my cousin Bryson who was the camera man (AKA main selfie man) This truly has made my week and I love you all very much and I am so happy for both Robert and Sam that they are now married and are happy! I can't wait to hear from you all next week! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Conference and Tracting

HOLA! 

This week as most of you know was General conference and boy what a conference it was! I loved all the topics given in all the sessions and how much all of them in their talks no matter who they were or what session they spoke in, they all pretty made sure that we get off our lazy butts and just "DO IT!" - Richard G. Scott

Other than conference it was pretty much a finding week for Elder Geminert and I. We spent a good amount of time calling people to set up appointments, tracting, and trying our best to find those whom the Lord has prepared to hear the message of the Restored Gospel.We had quite a few tell us to come back and when we came back over the weekend, no one was home or wouldn't answer the door. It was kind of depressing, but I know that the Lord is with us and that if we keep our hopes up and keep on keepin' on that we will blessed for our efforts and so will others as we continue in faith to do the Lords work.

Now with that since all we did was find this week, I didn't take to many pictures so I will also post these pictures I am sending in this email on the FB (Facebook) for those of you have facebook to see as well, there might be some that you will see in the email that didn't make it onto my personal FB because of the rules which we have about what we can post picture wise on the FB. That is another reason why mom's are so great! haha :) 

I love you all and hope and pray that you will be blessed this upcoming week and that as you ponder the things which were shared in conference and the feelings you felt, that you may become whom the Lord would have you become! 

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Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Sick Week Blessings!

Hey hey hey!

This past week has been an all around really good week! WE have had a lot of our investigators move into other areas recently and have been sad to see them go but are glad that they are still meeting with missionaries somewhere else in our mission! One of them only moved into the sisters area so we still get to see him when he comes to church which is super sweet! 

We have been so blessed this week with people to teach both new people and others we have been trying to get a hold of for a long time! We taught a ton a lessons this week and have were also blessed with.......COLDS.....yup...its that stupid time of the year again when sickness just starts floating around between everyone and we always get sick usually cause we are around so many different people and shake thousands of hands haha but I was blessed with only a soar throat (soar and kinda of losing it) and a small cough like I usually do. Elder Geminert on the other hand...well he got all the symptoms he has ever wanted! :D Runny Nose, Cough, headache, tiredness, and yeah he has been having a great time! haha Don't worry I have been making sure that we haven't been pushing anything and we have taken some days for him to just plop in bed and just sleep the day away while I try and stay busy  haha but he is feeling a lot better than he did when he first got it which is good!

The Lord has blessed us so much this week with lessons regardless of us being sick or not. The Lord will always find a way for his work to move forward and will always provide the way! I hope you all have a good week this week and that you all are pumped for Conference!!! WOOO! I hope to see some sweet pictures, posts and such with the hashtag #LDSconf this week while on Facebook! You all are amazing and I hope that the Lord blesses all of you for what you do each and everyday! 

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Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Winter is Almost Here!

Hey Hey Hey! 

SO this last week was transfer week and I now have a new companion! He is Elder Geminert and he is 6'5 from Temicula California (I don't know if I spelled that right but mom might fix it if its not haha) He has been out 14 months and he just came from being a Zone Leader in the Albany Zone. He is truly a boss! I have learned so much so far and have been even more obedient with him as my companion this week. I sadly do not have pictures for you this week like I said I was going too... but I am hoping by next week that I will cause Elder Geminert loves taking pictures so there should be some good ones coming your way soon! :D

The last couple days have been getting more cold, more windy, and it rained pretty hard yesterday which sucked because when it rains here in upstate new york....it does not get cooler like it does back home....it gets super humid, warm, and muggy....which as a missionary who wears a white shirt, tie, slacks, and a rain coat with a shoulder bag...it makes it even worse haha but we have been able to get a hold of a lot more people this week! Even though we had a super slow week with people moving and the normal stuff that happens to Missionaries on a daily basis, we are excited for what we were able to accomplish and for what we are going to accomplish this upcoming week. 

I will be honest I don't know what else to put in this email since not very much has happened this week at all besides church, and tracting.... haha which is something I have done A LOT recently in my last few areas. What needs to get done needs to get done no matter how hard it is or how much we really don't want to do it. "I told you it wasn't going to be easy, I told you it was going to be worth it." 

I have really been able to see how much over the last almost 20 months now I have actually changed myself and how much I love doing what I can for anyone I come in contact with whether it be fellow missionaries, friends at home, family at home, people I have met in other places, or the people I have been blessed to serve in my current area, and how much the gospel has touched my life and it really makes my heart and soul swell when I see, hear, or read about the gospel and or the Lord has touched other peoples lives in some shape way or form. I know that is how our Father in Heaven feels when we do what we can to share the restored Gospel with those around us and help them come closer to Christ and utilize his infinite Atonement so that one day they may too return to our Father in Heaven and we can all be reunited as a Heavenly Family. That I guess is what you can say is keeping me going and keeps me wanting to do my best every day is all of you both whom I know and love and have met, those I have heard about and haven't met yet, and those I have no idea who you are, I want you to know that God is your Heavenly Father, and he knows you by name and loves you more than you will ever comprehend and wants to do all he can for you so that one day you can come and live with him again. I love you all and will talk to ya's next week! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Elder Wankier is going Home!

Dear All y'alls!

Sorry for the short no mass email last week.... I realized that some of you got it and didn't get it cause I sent it to my mom but its ok cause I am writing you this week! :D

This week we indeed got transfer calls! I am staying, Elder Wankier is getting Transferred to Brigham City Utah for the next couple years and is mission is to hopefully find his companion (if ya get what I mean) in that time period ;) haha It's a good thing he doesn't read this! Until somone (Pastor Yost) tells him! 0.0 but by then he can't do anything about it cause that means it is already on Facebook haha 

This week was a pretty good week! Elder Wankier got to go to the temple and I got to spend the day with Elder Wilson here in Liverpool! Yup we were reunited for 1 day and it was pretty good! Other than that we have been doing a lot of juggling with appointments and stuff to see people cause everyone wants to see Elder Wankier before he leaves and then on top of that, the people we teach keep moving things around and or cancelling on us... oh well! That just means we need to lift up our heads and keep on keepin' on! 

My new companions name is Elder Geminert (Gem-Mine-heart) who is currently a Zone leader and will become a normal missionary to spend the next atleast 6 weeks with me! isn't he lucky ;) ahah

I love all so much and I will see some of you on Facebook and pictures are to come next week! 

--

Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

I'm Lazy this week! (my title, not his :] )

Dear mom,

SO this email is going to be the mass email as well because I have no idea why.... I will admit I am lazy this week and there aren't any pictures to send any way cause we are lame... haha I know I know. But I am excited that dad has work until he gets another job which I will pray for the interview as well! This week was a good week! Nothing really happened until friday. (the sisters turn to have the car) we get a call from the sisters durning our lunch hour and they told us that the car won't start and that they don't know what to do.... haha not so long story short, we went over with a memeber to jump start it and it started working again so all is well there :) Saturday Elder Wankier and feel super impressed by this by the way, we walked 15 miles through out the whole day in 4 and a half hours! 0.0 My legs were jello and my feet hurt so bad! haha We walked to the library and back to our apartment, then from our apartment to the church, from the church to a potential, from the potential, getting lost in a neighborhood with no outlet, to an investigators home, and then finally back to our apartment. It was a long day! haha Then sunday, our ward got together with Pastor Yost's congregation to make blankets for a nursing home and some soldiers and it was really awesome! We got a ton of stuff done in around an hour! It was cool to see how service can bring the spirit and for everyone to get to know one another and especially to help our Heavenly Fathers children who are in need.

I hope you all have a good week and I love and miss you all so much! 

Love,

Elder Zenger

Found the Missing Email! :] Facebook Facebook Facebook!

Deal all of you over the interweb!

As you may have noticed (or maybe you haven't I don't know) I am now allowed to us Facebook as a missionary! :D I am allowed to only use Facebook to talk to and communicate with Investigators and Less-Actives. I am also encouraged to be friends with members of the church in the areas where I am severing so that way they can share the things we post about the Gospel! If you are family or friends back home and do not have a gospel question, PLEASE still email me or hand write me a letter. I am not allowed to just chat about anything except for the Gospel. My mom will still be putting pictures and this email on the Blog (obviously since you are probably reading this from there haha) and I will post some pictures on Facebook that we are allowed to post. Pretty cool huh? :)

That has literally been the highlight of this last week. WE have had a few investigators move away or who are about ready to move away so that kinda stinks...but it gives a chance to find new people who are prepared to hear the gospel either through members, Facebook, or through our own efforts. 

Elder Wankier and I get to go to the State Fair today with Pastor Yost and will send y'all pictures of that through email next week :) Other than that I hope and pray for all of you daily and I love you all and hope you all have a good week this week! :) 

 

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Love Ya's! 

-Elder Zenger

Fair, Birthday, and Cancellations.

Hey Hey Hey Hey!

I want to first thank you all for the Birthday wishes you guys gave me on Facebook! I will admit I forgot it was my birthday until when I was on exchange that day someone told me happy birthday cause they saw it on Facebook haha 

This last week was aight, It had been a super busy week! Lets go through and see what happened shall we? :) (If you don't want to come that is ok, you can just skip to the end if ya want to haha )

MONDAY- We went to the New York State Fair with Pastor Yost! It was such a blast! We couldn't do too much cause of the rules in the White Hand Book, but we did eat a lot of really good food and had a good time with Pastor Yost! We got to eat Ala gator bites, Kangaroo, Pizze Fritte, and a Twin-X! A Pizze Fritte is just like a Churro except it is 2 feet long and tastes a whole lot better haha The Twin-X was a Twix stuffed in a Twinkie, wrapped in Bacon, and then deep fried. :) It was so good! haha 

WEDNESDAY- We had district meeting, and had exchanges with our Zone Leaders

THURSDAY- We came back from exchange, and did our Weekly Planning

FRIDAY- We went on another exchange

SATURDAY- We cam back from exchange around 3, realized that we left our phone in their car and had to drive all the way back to get it, come back pick up the sisters, go do Facebook time, then gave the sisters the car so they could go to their dinner appointment while Elder Wankier and I sat at the church doing Transfer Suggestions, and some other stuff, and didn't get home till around 8:30 ate dinner, did a District Leader Call, then we planned and went to bed! 

This week was nuts... haha but it also was pretty good! haha We had a ton of people cancel on us this week but we have 6 appointments set up so far for this coming week so we should be good! :) 

Thanks for all that you all do for me, my family, those I love, and for anything else that you do! You all rock my socks and I hope and pray that the Lord will bless all of you this upcoming week as you go through life! :)