A not so White Christmas _/(0.0)\_

So... Like

Ohio is being really weird weather-wise...

like

it was 60 degrees last night 

like

WhAAAT

and now its 40 again...

and it's supposed to snow Thursday

You crazy Ohio.. just Crazy

Well lets hit the run-down

Pretty much everyone bailed on us this week due to the holiday's 

I got to go on exchanges with New Castle which was lots of fun

umm

I GOT TO SEE MY FAMILY AGAIN which was BOSS

oh and Elder Nelson is getting Transferred and I'm getting a new companion!

All and All a good christmas

Mission lyfe isn't easy but it is certainly with out a doubt 100% worth every single second spent in his service

I Love you all Have a very happy rest of the Holiday's!

Elder Bone

OCM

MERRY (EARLY) CHRISTMAS!

HEYO all ya'lls back home

This week was pretty cool some highlights are 

• met with Sabbatha a few times and she is awesome and is coming to church for Christmas with her family
• We had Zone Conference
• We blew a tire on the way to Zone Conference  
• We had to change said tire in 10 degree weather... in suits
• Church got canceled 

yep that pretty much sums it all up 

unfortunately the Computer isn't cooperating so I has no way of sending Pictures 

but yeah

like Christmas is this week...

when did that happen again?

anyway

Love you all!

Merry Christmas

Elder Bone

OCM

ALL RIGHT! WHICH ONE OF YOU WAS WISHING FOR A WHITE CHRISTMAS?!

SNOW

lots and lots of snow

on a sunday

with no plows

.....

what's round on the sides and high in the middle?

OooHIO

yea temps went from about 40 to the 20's literally over night

it got COOOOOOLD

Elder nelson and I both are now almost always in at least one layer of thermals, usually more

We did a lot of service for others this week, we helped an investigator Sabbatha (well Elder nelson helped I just lifted his tool kit and handed him stuff) with her car... in 20 degree weather... yeah it was cold

but when we came in we got to play with the Puppies again and I got photos this time!

We also had a Christmas Party with the Ward that was Polar Express themed so I now have the "Hot Chocolate" song stuck in my head XD

I didn't bring my camera to that but someone else got a picture of me as a snowman that I just got drafted into some how....

seriously like I was just minding my own Hot Chocolate and the senior Primary all came up to me and were like "that one!" and all the other missionaries around me just laughed 

it was fun though!

Well I really don't have much to say this week sooooooo

love ya All!

stay safe out there in UT

Elder Bone

OCM

CHRISTMAS CONFERENCE 2K16!

so yeah we had christmas conference this week and it was epic

UNlike last year's two things changed

I remembered my camera

and 

I actually knew people this time XD

and since that kicked off the week I'll use it to kick off this email!

We all started off at the Kirtland sites to meet and greet and had a good time catching up with everybody

then after everyone had arrived we all piled back into our cars to head to the stake center where we had dinner and watched the slideshow for our mission of all the photos missionaries sent in for it

then we had a bit by President Brown on #LIGHTTHEWORLD 

then back into the cars to drive to the (literally next door) Kirtland Temple! WOOT WOOT OCM REpreSENT, and there we got to sing lots of Christmas Hymns and had some testimonies including but not limited to President Conner of the YT stake 

Sister Newbold (one of the senior couples I worked with in Tallmadge) President Brown, because of course he would be testifying 

and Elder Titera who is one of our Area 70's so that was cool

then we all piled back in the cars and drove home :)

all and all a good day 

the rest of the week was pretty fun

we went to one of our investigators house(s) (english :insert Eyeroll here: )

and they had 8 ADORABLE PITBULL PUPPIES

I about died

3 of them took a nap on my lap 

it was a good day

I'll get pictures next time we go

Sunday was good too 

I got to be Moroni for the primary 

it was fun

That evening I was looking through my journal and I found a poem I started in Solon so I finished it yesterday..

so 

here it is

Dear Father,

The days have been long

the hills steep

the temperature cold 

the work feels so stalemated

Your Son neglected by those who claim otherwise by the crosses the've collected

we walk and talk 

to Your children on the street 

as we try to gather in Thy lost sheep

but this world grows dark and dim

as Satan spreads the lie of sin

I've asked for Strength 

and Hope

and Love

and a soul to free like He did with the caged doves

But as I labor diligently 

I find that a change has occurred in me 

my prayer for strength received response 

by the miles journeyed long 

the plea for hope 

finally seen in a rare glimpse into eternity

The call for love

or charity

felt now, I have, the love of Thee

I feel it so strong and pure for all Thy children 

even those that mock and scorn

Try as I might I have not found the last 

A caged Dove to show that Thou hast forgiven the past 

But as I ponder Quietly

I wonder 

if that Dove

might just be Me

 

I love you all

Have a very Merry Christmas Season

Elder Bone

OCM

Pictures Ho!

The Holiday is Underway

My Second Christmas season in Ohio and My last one as a missionary, kinda crazy how fast the time has flown by

Ohio on the other hand hasn't quite made up it's mind on what it is going to be doing weatherwise 

I mean it snowed last sunday but it was 60 degrees this sunday so you know 

it's weird

Things are going a bit better especially in the district and everyone is excited for #LIGHTtheWORLD and all that as well as christmas conference

I don't really know what else to add here 

sooo

Love you all from Ohio

Elder Bone 

OCM 

Happy Thanksgiving

The leaves have changed here in Ohio

and thanksgiving for this year is in order

I am so thankful for this unique chance to speak of the one that spoke the greatest words of compassion 

of thanks

of hope 

of the chance of the brightest future

Jesus the Christ

the Hope for us all 

for almost 2 years 

I've sought to teach others of the Hope That God has given us all

He sent his Son

to save us all

To Him we are all indebted

and all he asks

is

"come, Follow me"

So give thanks this Thanksgiving

for without Him all hope would be lost

I love you all back home

and know that no matter what

no one is lost to the Lord

Elder Bone

OCM

p.s. 

Thank you all for the care and concern regarding my downhearted last letter 

the week in question was not the easiest but fear of the unknown was only a magnifier so thank you all for the hope you shared with me 

I love you all

and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Confusion

This week has been some major ups with the work but some insane crushing downs with what is going on around us 

I don't know what to do or think about 

I'm trying to stay focused on the work but literally everyone brings up the election

so

aparently we are to swear in a man that has less qualifications than a piece of cheese 

and is so blatently sexist and racist it's not even funny

like

I don't even know what happened

the work has been moving forward as we finally have some investigators to work with and they are progressing decently

so

that's nice

Love you all

stay safe!

Elder Bone

OCM

parables

so this week was interesting 

we had President Interviews and that thankfully helped with some of the difficulties I've been struggling with in this area

he provided some solutions and so far they are helping so that's good

sorry I'm on a weird laptop so typing is really draining on my hands right now so this might be a brief letter

I've been rereading Jesus the Christ and I've been pondering the words of the saviors parables

it was such a radically different way to teach simple truths. In those parables are layers that each reveal a different depth and direction without losing the simplicity of the gospel though

they make me look at life differently 

and see the hand of our great creator just a little more clearly

(that or my mind is so prodigiously empty that nothing can stop me from seeing it)

still a geek and always will be 

Love ya all

Elder Bone

OCM

because I'M happy

sooooo

long week 

sick companion

life

so what to talk about today...........

moving swiftly 

many of us do

trying to connect to others

constantly seeking something

some stand above the rest

they are the ones that throw caution to the wind

those that really truly care about one thing

that they 

without causing any one any kind of pain

without losing sight of important things 

without abandoning sanity

embrace happiness

so what if i'm strange

what if I do things a little 

differently 

or 

in a less 

"conventional" manner

i'm happy 

and isn't that what we all look for

being 

HAPPY

like

true

"i'm giddy about it so much I'm jumping up and down excited about life"

happy

so yes i'm gonna dance like a fool

or party hard

or just beam with excitement because 

I CAN

and i'm happy 

and I hope you are too

love ya'll 

be Happy

Elder Bone

OCM

GOOD MOR... Oh wait I've used that one....

subject lines are hard :P

thanks for all of you that emailed me :)

as for the rest of you 

DISHONOR

DISHONOR ON YOU
DISHONOR ON YOUR COW
DISHONOR ON YOUR WHOLE FAMILY

JK

if you didn't get that reference and you are my age..

how?

anyway

The good news is I've had a much better week that actually involved quite a lot

like

• We tore down a old wooden porch covering
• taught some people the gospel
• met our downstairs neighbors who are legit and really fun as well as interested slightly in the gospel as one lived in SLC for like 10 years 
• (it's hard to avoid us Mormons there for some reason)
• fixed a fridge 
• and actually did something for preparation day! 
• for like the first time in what feels like years but really was only months 

so all an all a better week for sure 

Love ya all thanks for the boost and encouragement 

I don't think I could do it without ya

Elder Bone

OCM

Trees and trial

Ohio, is full of trees, thousands, possibly millions of the things, the branches reaching over the roads and the fields, they provide shade and comfort as well as good timber as the early pioneers in Kirtland no doubt discovered. The wood that built the Kirtland temple as well as all the major (and minor) buildings in kirtland could have been and probably were planted long before the restoration of the Gospel began in 1820.

Trees are amazing as they build and grow yearly strengthening themselves in times of ease for times of trials. They can start out so small, the Acorn is a good example, a small seed of a tree growing to the large and majestic oak trees. they learn to absorb extra water in times of great rain and to use that water quickly to fund new growth of branches to increase leaf production to in turn help with photosynthesis also to build up their internal structure and weather them against the Storms that are sure to come

we are much like tree's, for those of us who grew up in the gospel we had things rather easy as the floods of spiritual water flowed from our primary classes and all those songs we never really forget. 

those early years led us to branch out and explore, then came harder times and harder years as choices we have to make came into play, school got harder and kids got meaner and sometimes it was all we can do to sing "i'm trying to be like Jesus" in our head and not deck someone.

as we get to middle school and high school we notice the flood of waters are gone and we recede back to our reservoirs to protect us and sustain us through what could be a long winter. we can keep the water flowing as we read and pray and attend sacrament and dwell on the Lord but it's not as "free" as it once was, we must start growing strong roots to reach the water far below us to lift it up to continue helping us grow. 

this is a pattern that continues throughout life as we have ups and downs but we know that as long as we keep digging for water we will be sustained 

so keep digging and know that we are all here together to bless and uplift and inspire

thank you all for your support during the harder times 

Elder Bone

OCM  

(i'll be honest sometimes I just type and I have no clue where I am going with it but it's therapeutic to me)   

Youngstown ain't clowning around

look up that title, if you dare, know that I am safe and so far haven't sighted any so that's good

( I intend for it to stay that way...)

and oh yes they are real and I hate the fact that that's true....

This has been the "welcome home" I got to YT, I'll admit I haven't had the best attitude about having to leave Solon for this... place..

oh I also almost got jumped yesterday... so that was fun.

yeah my letters keep getting worse don't they :P

Some days are full of struggle 

others full of strife

some nights I wrestle 

with a desire for the light

but as we all know 

and as is very clear

sometimes God needs you to walk in darkness

for you to come near

to strengthen the grip upon the Iron rod

to be steadfast

sometimes you don't see the finish 

till it's done at last

Love you all

Elder Bone

OCM

Sayonara Solon South

Getting the boot back to YT AKA Youngstown AKA all the way back to my old district when I was a wee lad new born in the mission of the Ohio

(just forget that Columbus and Cincinnati are also Ohio missions...) 

Well Sorry it's short but we have plans for once to go hang out and say goodbye to some peeps in the zone and have some fun but know that I love you all and have a great week!

Elder Bone

OCM

Drier than a California drought

....Except at least in the drought of California missionaries are still baptizing..... 

yeah it's been another less than great week here in Solon

mind 

blanking

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...

...

Loading files...

-Scriptures...

FAIL

-Music...

FAIL

-Talks...

FAIL

-Games...

FAIL
-Life goals..

SUCCESS

--Subfolders..

 ---Pre-mission...

FAIL

 ---Post-mission...

CURRENT ACCESS DENIED
 ---Mission Goals...

 SUCCESS

  ----Write a half decent Letter about the work this week....

IN PROGRESS..?

  ----Baptize Nations....

IN PROGRESS

  ----Teach one lesson this week

FAIL

REBOOT SUCCESSFUL 

initilize Graphic User Interface....

SUCCESS

ANNND 

HELLO PROCRASTINATORS

Your tuning in to 95.5 the WEASEL coming at you live 

YOU ARE A TOY

Time is just a big ball of Wibbly wobbyly timey whimy..stuff

....

REFERENCE CHECK COMPLETE

ELDER BONE IS BACK ONLINE....

wow I'm bored

we will keep trying and keep moving forward.

love ya all 

it's been a lonnnnnnnnnnnng week

E1d3r B0n3

still some glitches in the system it seems...

Alleluia

So this is a Hymn from the Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir album

Elder Whipple and I have been listening to this album and while this is the simplest song on the album it certainly is by no means the least powerful.

We both listen to it differently and picture different scenes, many from the Saviors life.

for me it takes me to a somber moment, a moment of deep pain,as the Savior of the world carried both the sins of the world and the pains of all that have ever and will ever live, on top of that agony in an act of cruel torture, He carried his cross to the mount of his death.  

The words speak of Praise and glad tidings but the tone feels of suppressed pain, I've pondered on this and I've shared this with Elder Whipple that I believe it would be a song sung by angels. angels that, knowing what the eternal out come of what was about to happen were shouting for joy but still were greatly pained at seeing the absolute agony of the one universally loved in heaven but almost universally hated on earth.

IT was a great and dreadful day one of eternal agony and one of eternal joy as hope of the future became possible. 

I love this track and I hope you do too

So musical spiritual side note aside

This week went well as we haven't still had much success on the teaching front but we did have to try our hand at cooking and the food was TASTY 

so that's good

we also had Zone Conference and that was really cool as well.

exchanges went ok, pretty much the same ol, same ol.

lots of tracting and walking but we live

love ya all back home 

Elder Bone

OCM

#Conferenceiscoming

#holdontoyourbutts

Matthew 25:21

Honestly

This scripture is my Goal

my true motivation to every move I make and every choice to decide

I try to run it though this scripture 

It's a short one this week sorry We have a lot to do and not a whole lot of time to do it

So.....

Elder Bone

OCM

A Mighty change of Heart

the past is interesting 

it defines us and makes up who we are 

but the same pieces of our personal history that made us who we are we seek to Hide and even destroy all reference to if possible.

Why?

because of Repentance

The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes Repentance possible if not for him this life would never progress, learning, growing, existing

all would be wiped away and impossible 

but Christ DID atone and as a result we can Repent

Repent is a powerful word 

sometimes used in the church to the point of boredom

how many of us hear about repentance and think that's just for those that committed the big sins and what not

WRONG 

Repentance is literally turning our hearts to god and away from sin

to CHANGE to become something new to let your actions chart a course of change in your life and in your soul

I have to petition the father with great earnestness to repent just as much as any 

Drug addict

Murderer

slothful person

has to 

because they like me are all changing 

I have to become better day by day

or all is nought

we only have this time on earth to learn and develop the traits of Jesus Christ 

we are setting a course to the Eternities

there is not a moment to lose 

Press forward with steadfast faith in Christ my Good Brothers and Sisters 

Ponder anew the Things God can Do with you 

live life to the richest you can by making each day an adventure no matter what you are doing 

and above all 

love one another 

Until I write you again I bid you all adu

Elder Bone

OCM

The End of an Era

seemed like a dramatic enough title to commemorate the end of august

why?

No clue

SO since you all like my creative writing style so much I am going to try and keep it up

Walking, step by step by step

the hot sun beating across the back of our necks 

Heads held High

grinning from ear to ear

at the Joke another shared

Side by side

Two by two

here to save

me and you

He made it possible 

so long ago

Christ 

Jesus 

The Atoning One

We walk 

miles at a time

to find one 

to share a truth

that effects us all 

As we walk and talk we speak of many things

some of them amazing to think

How much we've changed we often remark

just a year ago we often start

we listened to music with our ears 

and now it pierces our hearts

we drew from our minds 

now from our souls 

for the words to lift those with heavy tolls 

the Tolls of Sin we rarely bring up 

for those are paid in full by Him

that's all we want to share we often remark

how you can be happy at last in this Dark

the Dark of sin settling in the very veins of the earth

it slanders everything good and wonderful

we discussed the other day why ZSatan makes it this way

as we thought of how much our talents we've suppressed 

and now we discover we are just as good as the rest

Satan's lies aren't all in sin

He really seeks to make miserable man 

so every time I draw

and every time I write 

I actually am participating in the fight 

the fight against misery

the fight against idleness

because creative things are from our Father

the Creator of all

and he Made everything so we could be here

and learn to be like him

and become as he is

for is that not what Christ said those many years ago

Are we not all Gods?

we were born to create 

to act and not be acted upon

and by acting 

We Win

and Satan really honestly doesn't have a prayer against us 

so 

if your feeling sad 

or lonely 

or tired of the fight to do Right

pick up a brush

or a pencil 

or start typing 

or grab some clay

just do what you can to create and let God help you

he will

because at the end of the day

that's what he wants for us

I love you all 

creativty is back

imagination is back

joy is back

life is back

the dark tunnel I was in has ended 

No longer am I working toward the light

I am in and surrounded by it

I am Back

and better than ever

Elder Bone 

OCM