Email from 06.05.10

Here is a picture of Junior, myself and the girl that we just baptized, Adelphe Jousil.

Well my reign as senior comp has ended. LOL. Elder Alger is now the District Leader so he needs to be the SC.

The reasons for the transfers are because some new missionaries were coming in mid-transfer so people were switched around a lot. I don’t know why I had to go, and I definitely have no idea why I am in this area. I have prayed and fasted about it, and what I do know, is that this is where the Lord wants me at this time. We had to get a new place because there wasn’t enough room for all the elders in Fort Lauderdale so they had to find a place for us to live.

I feel fantastic; my wrist only hurts if something pulls back on my thumb. I had surgery on my eye, in fact the doctors were surprised at what they saw, and there was a poor little intern with the eye doctor who got a little scared when he looked at my eye, lol, so funny. They thought it was just a bacteria build up, but when they cut into it they weren’t real sure because it was different than what they were expecting. So they took a couple of sample pieces to the lab. I haven’t heard back yet and I go in for a checkup in 5 days I think. By the way, what’s with all the surgeries? I go 23 years without one then all of the sudden I get 2 in the same year, pretty crazy.

The teaching pool is great, we found 5 kids ranging from 11-17 and they are very interested, so we will see what happens with them. We also have a woman named Netti Baker who will be baptized on the 23rd, and a guy named Ronni who is 17 and he has a date to be baptized on the 3rd of July. I am learning a little Jamaican Creole and Haitian Patwa languages. It is kind of fun . We are still studying in Spanish each day, but in this area, I doubt we will use it much.

Here is a picture of George Halas, Bro Halas’ son, and me. He was in my last area

Email from 05.29.10

It has been getting really hot and humid lately and we are on bikes a lot, because we have very limited miles we can use for the car. Elder Alger and I got drenched a couple of days ago, it was hilarious because we were going to visit a contact but we had no idea if she was even home. So we said a prayer and ran for it and we were wet from head to foot, dripping everywhere, when we got to our contact Deborah’s house, her brother came to the door, and let us in, the mom called us crazy for being out in that weather, but she gave us towels to dry off. We were able to have a very spiritual message with Deborah and she said she would pray and ask if the things that we taught were true. So I guess sacrifice brings blessing huh, who knew?

That is so cool that it snowed over there, I kind of miss it a little bit, I really miss the mountains though. Something cool though, I think we live by one of the only true hills in Florida and we ride up and down it almost every day...fun stuff.

So I might have to get something cut out of my eye, apparently my sty that I thought I had wasn't one at all. They think one of my pores is clogged and they might need to cut it out. Yaaa, that it so exciting I haven't even been out a year and I will have 2 surgeries here in Florida, so funny. I finally got sister Welch to look at it, and when she did she said "O my that isn't good at all"

New Update...

We just got a letter in the mail from the Mission Preside that Ster was made Senior Companion in this new area. Can't wait to hear all his new experiences.

Update from the Mission Field

So a little and a lot have been going on with Sterling. The last two weeks there wasn't a lot of information in his emails. Mom did get a wonderful letter where he bore his testimony for her for Mother's Day. It was a wonderful letter. Things have been going well with Elder Jarvie and him. They had another baptism, her name is Adelphe Jousil. They had Junior (his pic is in the post below) baptize her and one of the Elders confirmed her.

Here is a pic of Ster and a man in his ward. He is a health enthusiast, if you can't tell. :) He was giving information in regards to supplements when Ster wasn't feeling well.

Then there was an upheaval this last week. Both Elder Jarvie & Ster had a PPI w/ the Mission President this week. Then the Mission Pres told them that they are wanting to make some changes in another area and told them that they are being split up and that Ster is going to be transferred the next day. So Ster packed up and is now in the Ft. Lauderdale South mission. He is with 2 other Elders, Parry & Alger. Both are Spanish speaking missionaries but they are in an English speaking area. Elder Alger is Sterlings companion. Elder Parry works in the office during the day. After he finishes in the office he will then join up with Ster and his comp to finish out the day. Transfers weren't for another 3 weeks so this was a shock for everyone.

We know that there is a reason for this transfer and why Sterling was transferred. Can't wait to see why. Keep your prayers coming for him!

Email from 04.26.10

After transfers Ster and Elder Jarvie are still together in the same area for another 6 weeks. They both seem happy about it.


This is Fania, she's 18, on her baptism day. Aaron, 20, is baptizing her. He goes out on exchanges with them. According to Ster he really likes hanging out with the missionaries and is a pretty funny guy. Ster and his comp are trying to get the ward more involved so they are having them do the baptisms and the missionaries confirm. He had to baptize Fania a few times because of a few issues but it all turned out alright in the end.


This is Junior, who is the only member of his family. He is preparing to go out on a mission himself. He goes on splits w/ Ster and Elder Jarvie as well. Don't they all look scary and threatening? ;)

Email from 04.20.10

Today is transfer day and Ster is staying in the same place. We are really happy about this and so is he! Here is his email. I'm not lying, I laughed hard on this one:

Well hey guys it’s your son Elder Nisson.

So Elder Jarvie and I are going round three baby woot woot, so we are going to try to get all our progressing investigators baptized. Well that has always been the plan but you know, stuff happens.

So I just want to say that I didn't like slam any of you when I was giving that talk about the family I was just using you guys as examples of the perfect parents, so just wanted you to know that nothing I said was in any way bashing on you guys ok. Oh yea, I also told them about how no one in the family was allowed to ever say “NO” to mom, lol, yea, our family is so awesome. Because you know I love you all and I look back now and just think of how much love you two show for all of us. I really hope that someday I can be as good a parent as you two are. Writing that talk was kind of a humbling experience for me and how I kind of underappreciated you both and the family in general. Seeing all these other families that we teach sure makes me realize how blessed we are, as your children I mean, to have parents that really care and love their children.

I am doing fine. P-days are pretty boring we shop we clean we write letters, sometimes we do other things like sports but not often, that’s about it. Then at 6 we start teaching again. I still haven't driven. lol. You have to sign a paper and I haven't got around to it. Plus you know how much I don't like driving so I may never get around to it... hehehe.

Teaching pool is slowly dwindling away lol. But we do have 4 dates. Maddie and Shelly Manasse, and Maggie Casmir, and possibly JB Manasse. We have others but they are not progressing very fast.

Spiritual stuff is going good I am still reading the Miracle of Forgiveness and I'm not sure if I'm going to make it lol... ugg depressing, any ways. Also, I'm still marking my book of Mormon whenever it mentions Jesus and all his other names, and whenever Jesus is speaking, either himself or through his prophets. And I’m concentrating on Isaiah, if I can figure out that guy then I can unlock the mysteries of the Universe whahahahahaha. Yea its fun stuff.

Here is a story I would like to tell that actually happened last night. We went to see a member to talk to him and the TV was on, and all the sudden naked women appeared on the TV. Elder Jarvie and I just stared at each other and hurried and turned the television off. Lol Then we decided that what we were going to teach changed, we now turned our attention to the law of chastity lol. So we started to talk to him about it and we came to find that he was really struggling with a few things pertaining to chastity, and we talked to him and told him we need to get all the bad things out of your house so they don't tempt you anymore. He wasn't too happy about that but with some gentle persuasion and the spirit he said ok. So after about 20 min Elder Jarvie and I have two bags in our hands that are just filled with pornography. So here are 2 missionaries with a large amount of dirty movies in our hands lol and we then say a prayer lol. Elder Jarvie said " Elder Nisson I think I can safely say this is the first time I have ever prayed for a man in his home holding pornography" lol so funny, that whole thing was just hilarious and sad at the same time, no joke. Then, while we were driving home we had to call the sisters in the ward where this guy goes to church and I had to tell them what happened. Needless to say I would rather look for and throw away pornography and then help this man with other problems than ever have to tell sister missionaries about this stuff on the phone, oh my goodness, so freaking embarrassing. I’m pretty sure I was very red. So any way, there is a funny and sad story for you.

Email from 04.12.10

Hey guys how’s life been in Arizona where the cacti run rampant and the red rock are everywhere? (mom and dad were visiting Cyn & Deb in AZ this past weekend)

Yea that place is ridiculous, who decided to colonize over there. You know I think there was a quote from J. Golden Kimball when a man who was a bishop in Arizona when it was just barely lifting off said. "Don’t worry Kimball with some water and some more good people this place will be alright. Elder Kimball responded " Well I’m sure some water and a few good people would make hell a pretty nice place also." that’s good stuff.

Well, how did Ryan’s Baptism go? Did he like it? I’m excited to hear that the kids are doing great in Arizona.

So that is what’s been happening lately, fun stuff huh..........man I’m tired. I’m so tired I have two sty’s in my eyes, one for each side lol, this is getting way too stressful.

And it looks like one of our investigators is going to do some jail time and then a probation period of 2 years so he won’t be getting baptized any time soon, also some investigators saw this PBS special about Mormons, and polygamy and Joseph Smith running for president and all this other stuff, which is sometimes hard to explain.

Also we have Fania, who should be baptized this Sunday hopefully, and then her sibling in the weeks to come, once again hopefully if the Lord wills it anyways. Fania is about 18 years old

Mission is going good. Oh yeah I never told you guys that Elder Jarvie and I had to give talks yesterday in Sacrament meeting, about the family unit. I prepared so much stuff but when I got up there I didn’t use anything and I just told about some examples from our family and how awesome we are. I even got to tell some stories about how me and dad went to the car dealer ship and laid down the price, then, he forgot to ask mom lol such a funny story. Everyone really laughed at that. Also mom I used your 3 things to solve everything, prayer, fasting and sleep. They laughed at that too. I also told about how much you both showed so much love for all of us. I also talked about dad and how he is the greatest hero to me and how I thought he could do anything in the world, and has probably done everything. I also talked about mom and her continual revelation for everyone, and her complete selflessness. Yea, I just talked about you guys, I love you guys so much you both have given me so many stories to tell to people especially our investigators, I'm always telling stories about you two to them, I’m sure Elder Jarvie is getting tired of them but I think they are awesome. You two are AWESOME, love you two so much. I even tell stories about my siblings just so many stories to tell that fit into so many situations lol. ahh good stuff.

Well, after reading the book that dad gave me on Blessings and the talk from Elder Oaks, I have been trying to bless people left and right, and two people we blessed got better by the next day, they both said it was amazing, and we tried to tell them it was the spirit and this is part of what makes our church true. That was some cool spiritual experiences.

I love you guys so much you both are such an amazing example of how a family should be, and I never realized it until I gave this talk. But you two truly knew what you were doing. I feel so blessed now that I know that, I know it is kind of like duhh, But for some reason it just hit me now, and that I need to be like you two. Well I Love you guys so much, thank you for always being that perfect example for me and the family I am truly grateful to the lord for opening my eyes to how awesome you both are. I hope you both are feeling good.

I love you both so much, take care.

The last two weeks

We've had a few short emails from him the last couple of weeks so I thought I would add some pictures.



Here is a pic of Sterling w/ the turtle that he and his comp found to put in the bathtub of the Zone Leaders that live with them.

Here is a pic of Ster and his companion, who is on the phone, and the third man sitting on the car is Aaron, a member from the Ward they do splits with.

Email from 03.15.10

Monday was Sterling's birthday and his P-day so we were able to talk to him on his birthday, well, email him anyways. He is now 24 years old!!!

We got a few sentences from him:

How is life today? can you believe that I am 24 years old o my gosh just thinking about it i think I lost my hair line.... lol the elders that live in the apartment kind of find it hard to believe also. Elder Simons who lives with us, has the same B-day as me and he turned 20 today.

2 days ago Elder Jarvie and Myself found a Snapping Turtle, so we decided to catch it. So elder Jarvie said, I don’t know about this. I don’t think it would be that good of an idea. I gave him some calming words and he eventually saw it my way. I told him what if we put it in our Zone leader’s bathtub. (The Zone Leaders are in their apartment) Ya that got his attention, so I picked it up put it in the trunk then proceeded to put it in the ZL bathtub, then the next morning Elder Simons got a nice surprise. He he, so funny, so hilarious, aww it was good stuff. He couldn’t believe what was in there, aww we got such a laugh out of it.

I study with Elder Jarvie, my Spanish is kind of on a downhill, but it's all good things will happen the way they are supposed to happen. Elder Jarvie is a great guy and I am still very happy that I can actually talk to people.

We are having one of the 70's here to talk with us tomorrow for Zone Conference so that will be fun.

We kind of wear them (glasses) whenever we remember to put them on :) (note: This came from a letter Sterling wrote: Sterling suggested that they buy some non prescription glasses to wear because people with glasses look like they are smart and look like they know all the answers. J So they bought some, and lo and behold, they got two new investigators. But he says the charm must have worn off because no new investigators since. Too funny.) (You can see him in glasses in the picture)

Love you so much dad and mom, thank you for your love and support you continually show me, it really lifts me up.

Email from 03.09.10

We did get an email from him last week but he only said a few words and had to leave.

Transfers happened this week and for the first time since he has been on his mission he isn't being transferred. We're happy about this. I think that he is too. He will be with the same companion, Elder Jarvie. The missionaries that were in his condo are leaving and a Spanish speaking pair of Elders will be moving in. We thought that this was interesting because the area that they are in is mainly caucasian or English speaking. So "technically" Ster's comp is the only assigned English speaking missionary in the area.

He also has a new email address which is listed to the left.

Now his email:

Hi Everyone

The couple that we are teaching who aren't married have decided that they probably should be married. We are just waiting on the date now. Here is a spiritual experience that we had:

We were about to visit Sophia and Alfredo and we received a text form Sophia telling us that she would study with us but doesn’t want to join our church. But we went over there a little later to talk, and we were thinking of something we should say so we went with 3 Nephi 27. But when we got there, Alfredos personality had changed towards us, and he would actually smile at us, and we were thinking something weird was going on. But we went into the house started talking, told them our purpose, the spirit was very strong this lesson and I felt the impression to ask them about some of the feelings they have been having. So they told us and a whole lot of stuff came out. Sophia had a dream the previous night about me and Elder Jarvie Killing her, lol, and Alfredo Had received and Answer from his prayers and knew this was the true church of Jesus Christ. This blew our minds we had no idea Alfred was reading the scriptures and Praying, and he received an answer how amazing, so that is why his attitude towards us changed. and we resolved Sophia’s nightmare problems, lol, so they are back on track and moving forward much much faster than before. Cool huh.

Another experience I had was yesterday Elder Jarvie and I ate at a members, and this member likes spicy things. and I told him how I have had some really spicy peppers before, he then asked me if I would like to try something called the "DEMON" Elder Jarvies told me about this before and I was kind of excited by the offer. Because I was thinking I have had some hot stuff in the past I can handle this. So he put about 4 drops on a chip, when Elder Jarvie did it he only got 1 drop I think, so I eat it.... wait for a second nothing was really happening, then it started coming and coming and coming and got hotter and hotter and hotter. I was so HOT and I was in more pain than I have been in a long time it was worse than my broken arm. I was sweating everywhere, there was not one pore on my body that did not sweat a little, and the pain it feels something like chocking, you can’t get away from it and it was just stuck there, for 10 min this pain lasted, at 5 min they gave me some milk and some ice cubes, o my goodness never again, that thing was so freaking crazy hot.