Monday, February 27, 2012

New Address

New Address

Elder Chase Paxman
391 East SR #4
Cathlamet WA 98612

Thank you for letters!

New Area

Transfers went well. I'm in Cathlamet now. Well, not right now. Right now I am in Longview. Lots of stuff going on. So Cathlamet is on the very west side of our mission. The edge of our area is about 30 miles from the coast. We are also about 30 minutes away from any other missionaries. We cover all of Wahkaikum County in Washington. That consists of Cathlamet, Skamokawa, Rosburg, Greys River and Deep River. Also, Puget Island (which is technically Cathlamet). The county has a population of about 4000 people. We mostly stay in Cathlamet but every once in awhile we will make a trip out to Skamokawa (pronounced skamokaway). Rosburg Greys River and Deep River are way out of the way and we don't really have the miles each month to drive there. Speaking of miles, I have a car now. That is just about the nicest thing ever. However, we have been walking a lot recently because we are essentially out of miles for the month of February. We get 1150 miles a month and we went over that limit yesterday. The Zone has some extra miles though but we wont be driving the next few days. Cathlamet is right on the Colombia River. We cross over part of the Colombia to get to Puget Island. But if you cross the whole river then you are in Oregon and out of our mission. There is a ferry at the end of Puget Island that you can either walk on or you can take your car on it and go into Oregon that way. The Elochoman river is also right next to us. There is one High School in the area - Wahkaikum High School - There is one convenient store in town and it's way overpriced so we don't shop there, we just wait until p-day when we come into Longview. There are some local restaurants though so we eat there sometimes.
There were about 50 people at church on Sunday. More than I thought. So, like Pamela was saying I found out quickly that Grandma and Grandpa Bingham served here. The morning I got into Cathlamet we were made aware that Brother Wishon had died. Elder Crowther worked with him a little bit and he helped out with missionaries a lot. We went to the funeral on Friday and Sister Wishon came up to me and told me about the Binghams. I had no idea! Almost everyone in the branch knew them. It was cool to find that out.

This Branch is way more involved in the missionary work than Yakima 3rd ward. It is so cool to see people working with us and actually devoting time to help us and go out of their way to do so.
We live with members. Sort of. The Dunn's have a home and disconnected from that they have a trailer. We stay in the single-wide trailer. Its actually way nice. We have queen sized beds, a leather couch, two lazy boys and our own bathrooms. And the Dunn's are a way nice older couple. Brother Dunn's first wife passed away a few years ago and then he and sister Dunn got married a year ago. So they are still kinda newlyweds. Which is weird...

Elder Crowther is awesome. He has been out 20 months. He has 3 transfers left. He is trunky... But not so bad that he wont work. He is definitely ready to go home but he is going to work hard until the end. He is a funny dude. I don't even really know how to describe it. I enjoy his company, we get along, that's all you need.

We do a lot of less-active work. That occupies most of our time. We have only a few investigators and it is really hard to just go and knock on people's doors in Cathlamet because its more of a place where people go to get away or retire or farm... Knocking doors doesn't work.

Well. That's all I can think of.... probably. Its way fun in Cathlamet. A lot different. Very very rainy. But I'm going to like it here. I should be with Elder Crowther for a few transfers.
Love,
Elder Paxman

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Cathlamet

I'm going to Cathlamet Washington to serve with Elder Crowther. Elder Crowther has been out over 20 months so I will probably be the companion that sends him home. Cathlamet is a brand new area. President opened it up 6 weeks ago I think... Elder Crowther was the first missionary in that area so I will be going there to do some big work. There has been nothing there in the past. It is the Cathlamet Branch that I cover. Its not a ward. So I will most likely have a car and it will be spread out. The population of Cathlamet is about 600 people. Also, I know it sounds like a swear word. Elder Dutson and I have been walking around Betty's basement randomly yelling CATHLAMET! Cathlamet is about 4 hours from Yakima so it will be a long drive on Wednesday. If you have any mail just send things to:

Elder Chase Paxman
8656 W Gage Blvd Ste #205
Kennewick WA 99336

We have 7 people on date for baptism and I am leaving... That kinda makes it hard. But I will email/write Elder Dutson to see if all of this actually happened. I'm looking forward to my new area. Elder Pereira is coming in to be Elder Dutson's new companion. They were MTC companions.

I tried to cash in on my free lunch with Elder Manning. We went to Red Robin on Tuesday and Elder Manning was going to pay for us but a member was there and saw us and paid for everyone's meal. There was 10 missionaries there! It was probably a $150 tab. Elder Manning was relieved that he didn't have to buy us Red Robin. He will probably buy us McDonalds today or something...

The 7th person we have on date is Eva. We set her date for March 24th. She is in the process of changing her life and this baptism is all a part of the process.

Umm. There was baptism on Saturday. The Selah Elders had a baptism. Elder Dutson and I taught the Restoration to all in attendance while they changed after the baptism. We got 6 of our investigators to come and see the baptism so that they can get pumped for their own!

So we were over at Yvonne and Terrance's home the other day and I told them I was going to the Vancouver area. Then we asked Adriana, who is 10, if she still wanted to get baptized this Saturday. She said yes and we asked her who she wanted to baptize her. She didn't say anything so we said "Elder Dutson can". She said okay and then her mom (Yvonne) said, that's not what you wanted. Then Adriana told us that she wanted me to baptize her. I was sorry to tell her that I couldn't because I would be gone... Then Brother Norman, who was there with us, offered to come pick me up on Saturday for the baptism and then drive me back. I told them I would call President but I don't think it would happen. Then we finished our lesson and Adriana said the closing prayer. All she said was "I'm excited for my baptism and please bless that Elder Paxman will come back on Saturday so he can baptize me" that was it... MELT MY HEART! I called President and he said no just like I expected. I'll have to tell her tonight. But Elder Dutson will do a fine job of baptizing her I am sure. He holds the Authority.

We ate with Rick one more time before we left. He took us out to Red Robin on Thursday! Nice guy. We talked about religion and other stuff. We didn't agree on a lot of it ha ha. But we agreed on some stuff! Jesus Christ is our Savior. I believe that. Elder Dutson believes that. Rick believes that. That's why we're friends.

I think that's all. Any Questions?

Send them to the address listed above!

Love,
Elder Paxman

Monday, February 13, 2012

Six People on Date!

So. This week was a good week.

We have six people on date! Our companionship accounts for half the people on date in our whole zone right now. That has nothing to do with me. Elder Dutson and the Holy Ghost are the senior members of
this companionship.

Here's what happened. Elder Petersen served in the Yakima 3rd ward a few months before I was here and then he went to Vancouver. He baptized a young man there and his mom just happens to live in Yakima 3rd ward boundaries, so he called us and sent us over there about 3 months ago. We went there and talked to this guy's brother who is ten years old. We told him to tell his mom that his brother was getting baptized. Then a few months later Elder Petersen got called as a zone leader for the Yakima Zone, which is right next to our zone (Selah zone). He went over to this ladies' (Andera) home and they taught them the first lesson and put them on date for March 17th. Then they called us and told us the story. Pretty crazy! Andrea is the mother and she has three kids in the home, Alexis Donovan and David. There is a father figure around but we dont know him yet. I havent met any of these people yet but we are meeting with them on Wednesday with Elder Petersen and Elder Bale.

This week we also had a contest of sorts. Elder Manning, our district leader told us he would buy lunch for the companionship that got the most OYM's this week. Our OYM numbers have been down in the district because of the cold weather and Elder Manning has been trying to motivate us for weeks to do better. This contest worked. Elder Dutson and I won by 11 OYM's. We were at 59 Sunday night and we decided to knock doors at 8 PM just to do it pretty much. We got 9 OYM's in 10\ minutes. If we wouldn't have done that we would have tied! So we got 70 OYMs and we will get free lunch. Along with all those OYM's we taught 20 lessons this week. Thats more lessons in one week then I have ever taught. We also got 9 new investigators this week! it was a very good week. We had one investigator at church and she will hopefully be on date soon. And I'm probably leaving.

Transfers are next Wednesday so you should all send mail to:

8656 W Gage Blvd
Ste. #205
Kennewick WA 99336

I am probably leaving. We get the call on Saturday and I will tell you where I am going on Monday. It's bitter sweet. We have a lot of good things going on right now and it would be hard to leave no matter where we were. But I'm sure my next area will be great. Hard work will yield the results that we are getting here in Yakima.

I dunno what else to say now. Ive run out of material. Terrance and Yvonne are getting married on Saturday. The Delaney's (A family in the ward here) are getting sealed in the temple Saturday. I am way excited for the both of them. Marriage is a very cool thing. Ya know?

Hey Ciera. You're the best sister ever and I want everyone who reads this to know that. There really is no contest. You're the best.

I love you all

Love,
Elder Paxman

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Hey There

I never know what to put in that subject line... its usually something lame like "hey there"

It was a good week. We went to the temple today and that is why p-day changed. There are no early morning sessions on Mondays so we went Tuesday! and switched p-day to today this week. That pretty much makes any week complete. So I have nothing else to tell you. not really.

We are teaching this family now. They are entitled the Richards family. Amber and Elijah. We knocked their door and she told us to come back! So we did of course. They met with missionaries 6 years ago and they helped them stop smoking and drugs and drinking and everything! But they went to church and the people in that ward didn't treat them well so they didn't go back. CRAP! well. Now they are youth ministers for Morning Star. Its the biggest church in Yakima. We've actually run into a lot of people who attend there. So they aren't LDS and they probably wont be. At least not in this life. And the biggest reason why they aren't is because people at church didn't treat them well. That is a bummer. The LDS church is supposed to stand out as people who love everyone and accept them. But not this time. Failure. Anyway. The Kimbo's - That family with cheddar bug and terry and melissa and others - they attend morning star. I dunno if you remember them. I sure do.

I met a guy this week who calls himself "King James". he spoke a lot but he didn't really say much. I also talked to a guy on the street who proudly told us he canceled his playboy subscription and he is still a virgin! "A 55 year old virgin, Its a miracle!" he said. Honestly, it would be a miracle if he wasn't.

Then Sunday was the Super Bowl. I'm a bad missionary... I watched a lot of the first half. I watched Mr. Quigley moon walk across the finish line hahaha. Commercials. And I saw the new etrade commercial. Baby speed dating. Ahhhhh! I'm a bad missionary. Breaking rules. But I didn't get to watch the last half. What happened was this. We passed around the dinner calendar during relief society and no one signed up for Sunday night so I asked sister Statler if she would feed us because she is someone I feel comfortable begging for food from. Of course she said yes and told us to come over around 4. We went home and then I realized, crap, we're going to the statlers for dinner! they super bowl is going to be on!! They always have sports on their tv when we go over there so of course they had the super bowl on. For the first quarter we mostly ate in the kitchen but finally we gave into temptation and watched the game.... Just until halftime. When we saw Madonna we left :) And then we saw three people around 7-9 and we heard that it was an awesome game. We went to a less active member's home and he told us it was "the best super bowl ever played". That might be an exaggeration but it did make me feel bad for the young man who missed the last part of the game because he went on exchanges with us that night... He didn't seem too bummed.

This less-active member also told us that we are 60 days away from a war with Iran. Israel is going to bomb Iran and we are going to have to step in, blah blah blah. So. If gas prices go up don't say I didn't warn you.

It was kinda a bummer to miss the super bowl but I knew I would so its not too bad. Giants win. Who cares!.... I do...

Yvonne and Adriana are still going strong. They are going to be interviewed on the 17th and married on the 18th and baptized on the 25th. I hope that all works out. We are working hard to get them both prepared. President Greer needs to interview Yvonne because of stuff that has happened in the past. But everything is falling into place. I will probably be leaving Yakima on the 22nd. That is a guess but I am pretty sure. I've been here forever. I hit 6 months in 10 days... It flew by.

I love you all. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Paxman for your package. Thanks for the letters. Thanks for everything.

Love,
Elder Paxman

Monday, January 30, 2012

Progress

Hello Hello

We had a really good week this week. We put another young lady on date. Her name is Marissa. She has two young children, Almonte and Davionte. She has had issues in the past with drugs but it 10 months clean and has seen the changes in her life that have come because of attending church. She has attended foursquare church in the past but ever since we have been talking to her she has latched on to the message. She will be baptized on the 18th of February. She is moving into 2nd ward boundaries in the coming weeks (we work in 3rd ward) so she will start attending their ward next week and then she will be baptized into their ward. We hope the transition is smooth. She is black. It's cool.

Yvonne and Adriana are still doing well. We moved the date and recommitted them to the 25th of February (it was on the 11th). They need to get married and they don't think they can do it financially until the middle of February. But they are still doing well. Yvonne calls us "her angels". She asked us the other day "are you guys angels?" We said no... But she still thinks we are. She's cute.

The Hansen's are doing well too! Mark is finally making it to the point where I think he would accept the invitation to be baptized. Dawn said she would be baptized but we didn't set a date with her because Mark isn't quite ready. He's ready he just doesn't know it yet!! Or maybe he does know it and we just need to invite him. Our district meeting this week was focused a lot on inviting people to be baptized this week. Often times missionaries fall into a pattern of just teaching to teach and they shy away from inviting people to be baptized. So our Zone Leaders committed us to invite at least 2 people a week. An invitation includes using the words... "Will you follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" And they want us to do that more often. So we will. And this week. Because of that. We have one more person on date! Good Zone Leaders!

What else... I dunno. We have received a lot of referrals lately. That's a good think. It stopped snowing. Its all wet now.

I rolled my ankle again last p-day. That makes like 4 times so far on my mission... Sister Greer told me to take the week off from basketball... We'll see. I probably will. I hate ankles.

I ate Manuto this week. It was gross. But I would eat it again. Cow's stomach... Interesting texture. I don't recommend it unless you are dying of starvation. That's all. i think...

Oh. That guy who's brain tumor was cured through the power of the Priesthood. Mike. Did I tell you guys that he called again and told us that his lung cancer is gone too!!! Priesthood... its powerful. And I gave the blessing! Its pretty sweet. We still haven't met with him. He is recovering and doesn't want to meet yet. We will see how that goes.

I love you all.
Especially you, Aunt Julie.
And the rest of you too...

Love,
Elder Paxman

Monday, January 23, 2012

Snow

Okay. So over the past week it has snowed about a foot. maybe more. at least a foot. We have cleared Betty's driveway pretty much every day. I got boots mom! It was cool. Elder Dutson called into the mission office and told sister Bodmer that he still hadn't received his Christmas package and was wondering if it was sitting in the mission office. She said no and he cried a little bit (not really) but he also asked if there were any boots sitting around in the mission office that we could use. She said no but she called Elder Dewolf who works in Yakima and she had him buy us new boots! It was awesome. I love my new boots. They keep my feet dry and warm. There are some stretches of sidewalk that haven't been plowed, or they have been plowed onto and now are covered with snow, so having boots is stupendous.

I also got my GPS mother. Thank you. I kinda love it. I will use it forever. Thank you thank you thank you.

We put a coulple people on date this week. Yvonne and Adriana. Yvonne is Terrance's girlfriend and Adriana is her daughter. They need to get married before they can be baptized but right now they are on date for the 11th of February which is before the next transfer so I will still be here if they get baptized on that date. Yvonne's dad died on Saturday night so she didn't make it to church yesterday... That was a
tough one. We visited her after church though, in the snow. Bishop ended church an hour early because of the snow. He probably could have ended it after sacrament but he waited until after sunday school. Then
we visited Terrance and Yvonne. She is hesitant about getting married right now because her first marriage was unsuccessful to say the least and her family is against her marrying someone who isn't hispanic like her... She is thinking about it and is going to pray about it and we will still plan on the 11th of February... So we have to work on the Law of Chastity and The Word of Wisdom (she drinks coffee), and we still have to introduce Tithing... This will be a tough one. They will make it someday though.

I was telling dad that I will probably leave Yakima on the 22nd of February. President probably wont keep me here. just a heads up.

Ummm.... what else... Elder Dutson and I had a really good companionship inventory the other day. We had Zone Conference on Thursday and President advised us to actually tell your companion if they are bugging you and why. And he gave us suggestions to do it more effectively. It was good. We have always gotten along. But now its even better. Good practice for later I suppose.

What else...We have spent a lot of time inside this week because of the snow. Exchanges have been cancelled on some nights because of the slick roads. We are being careful.

Angel didn't come to church. She had a seizure on Friday that dislocated her hip so she was recovering from that. So we are going to see her tonight.

The Hansens came to church on Sunday. We were thinking that we would have more people at church but Larry King forgot. Marissa got lost. and Yvonne and Adriana weren't able to come because of Yvonne's dad dying. But the Hansens were there! that was good. We watched the Glenn Beck conversion story with them the other day. That was fun.

Giants and Patriots in the super bowl. That is all I know. I asked Giovanni about the NBA but he doesn't know enough! I have no clue whats going on... Help me.

Love,
Elder Paxman