15 Down, 9 to go!!

Well, it's been 15 months. 5/8ths of the way through! Next month it will be 2/3rds of the way through! Time is going by way too fast. I'm not liking it, because over the past 6 months (which seemed like 6 weeks) I've really grown a love for this work. I've got to get going if I'm going to use what time I have left effectively.
Anyways, the new area is fun, other than the entire town smells like cow dung. But you get used to it. haha. My companion, is an interesting one. He's one of those "too smart for his own good" Elders. I like him, but often times when he speaks, especially to investigators, I have to re-explain what he just said. He has a very large vocabulary. But it's fun to make him mad, becuase I'll use my lack of understanding to confound him in his large vocabulary and make him mad. It's pretty entertaining.
We've had a crazy week this past week. One of our investigators who was going to be baptized on the 25th passed away unexpectedly. Her husband (who also had a date) is going through a really hard time. The funeral was on Friday, and it was one of the weirdest funerals I've ever been to. You could definately tell who were members and who were not. Anyways, the husband still wants to be baptized, which is really cool. He is looking forward to doing the temple work for his wife and being sealed to her. It was really cool to see his resolve.
Also, I found out that one of the families in my area was taught by Jeff Poole's brother!! We were over at their house when they asked where I was from. When I said West Valley City they asked if I knew the Pooles! I told them I pretty much was a Poole after all the time I spent over at their house! It was really neat to find a connection to home.
We got a message from a mission president the other day. He told us to block off our schedule for the entire morning and afternoon tomorrow. We're having some sort of mission wide meeting, but no one knows what is going on. So obviously, there's a lot of speculation. Some say that they're going to split the mission. Others say that President is going to throw a Valentines Day party. I think that an apostle is going to make a surprise visit. I don't know, but I'll let you know what it's about.
Anyways, I love all you guys so much!!
Elder Denison

On the Farm

Hey guys.
Well, I'm in my new area with a new comp. He is quite the character. This transfer with him will be fun. We are in the Lehi Stake in Mesa, covering three wards. It is a lot different from the area I just came from. My last area was about 300 square miles, this area is barely two square miles (however, we still have a car. My comp has medical issues, so he can't ride a bike, but he also can't drive, so I'm the designated driver for six weeks.) The last area was nothing but millionaires, but in this area all of our time is spent in trailer parks. One cool thing, however, is that we live in our own house. Three bedroom, seperate from all other buildings, completely ours, just Elder Ellsworth and I. It's on a small horse ranch, so as such when I sleep the only thing seperating my head from a dozen cows is three feet of space, and six inches of brick and sheetrock. It's pretty legit. So, this new area should be fun. Oh yeah, I did get to go back to Cave Creek to see that family baptized. It was really really cool. I hope you all are doing well, and I love and miss you all!

Transfers. . . . .

I am being transferred back to Mesa. It actually might be part of an indian reservation, but I'm not sure. I will be getting a new companion. I'm not too happy about leaving, though. The family I have been teaching gets baptized this weekend, but I'll be gone by then. Hopefully I'll be able to get permission to come back for that baptism. Anyways, I guess my time in Cave Creek has come to an end. I spent all day yesterday saying bye to everyone. It was so sad. Bishop Morgan of the Cave Creek ward even made an announcement in sacrament meeting that I was leaving and he wanted to thank me for serving here. This is probably the hardest transfer I'll ever do. I've been here so long and the people here are so great that I've become part of them. Well, we're definately coming back here to visit. Love you guys so much!!!

My Email from Scott this week. . . .

Hey sis. So ironically enough, we had interviews with President on
Thursday. Just as I thought the interview was coming to an end, he
asks me how things are going back home. I tell him that I knew very
little how things were. Little did I know how little I knew. Wow,
almost down to single digits of months left. But I'm not gunna think
about that. Well, the work here is going great. There was a baptism
that was scheduled for this coming weekend. It's the family I was
telling you guys about over Christmas. They are progressing super
fast, but they want to push it back a week as they have prior
commitments on that day. So the baptism will be 3 days after
transfers. =( Hope and pray that I don't get transfered!!! It's a
long shot, but it's still possible. Anyways, other than that, we've
had a really good week. There are a lot of confusing things going on
right now in the work. There was a couple (not married) who were
working on getting baptized by the end of the year. She is an
excommunicated member, but we baptized her 14 year-old son in
November. The boyfriend had a date on New Years Eve, and we we're
hoping that he would have been ready to be baptized then, but a few
days before Christmas, they left for Hawaii together. =( We've been
spending the last few weeks trying to contact them, but they fell off
the radar. Then on Sunday, they randomly showed up to church! But
they skipped out before sacrament was over and we didn't have a chance
to talk to them! Oh well. Other then that, things are going great.
I love you so much!!!
Elder Denison

News about Christmas!

Hey familia Denison,

So kinda some pretty big news for calls home for Christmas. President Ellsworth said that we can skype if we want. Now I know that that sounds great and exciting, but I am going to be honest with everyone, and say that I'm not too sure about it. My reasoning is because a lot has changed, we all have changed, probably both in character and in appearance, and it may be too big of a shock for me to handle. Now, I'm sure this will disappoint a lot of you, if not all, but tell me what you think, and we will see what happens.

Also, concerning Christmas calls home: A lot has changed since I last spoke with you guys. And there are a few additions to the family. As far as who I talk to when I call home, I'd like to keep it to just the family I knew when I left. I think it may be too hard for me to try and talk to Paul and Tracy. However, if you guys really want me to, I'll think and pray about it. I won't have much time anyways, so the calls will probably have to be very short. So over the next few weeks until Christmas, maybe strike up a list of things you want to talk about so we don't forget about anything as we are talking.

So I hope you guys understand my feelings about these developments, and please let me know how you feel about them. I love all you guys so much!

Reply to my email. . . .

I knew that Chad's in Afghanistan. Last Tuesday it was really on my mind a lot, because I thought that he flew out the next day. We had Zone Conference that day, and during one of the breaks I asked president if I could get special permission to call him. President said yes, and as soon as we got home, I called. No answer. Later that day president called dad and we found out that he actually flew out that morning. I was so sad. I would like his address. Do you know if he is able to send mail? He kept promising me a package ever since I've left, but the total amount of contact I've gotten from him is 3 emails. I guess I'll just have to send him a package and make him feel guilty.

Well, have fun in freezing Salt Lake! I am actually not excited at all to be going home in November. It's been getting a little colder here, but I've felt like it's FREEZING!!!! I hate being climatized. =)

Football and Food.

Hey Jen. For Thanksgiving we had a game of tackle football with one of the wards (it was an unsanctioned church activity!). I am so sad that I didn't play in High School. That was probably one of the funnest games I've ever played! Nothing beats running as fast as you can and plowing into some little quarter-back! But we were very very very sore afterwards. It probably didn't help that we didn't play with pads. =) But no one was seriously hurt. =) We only had one dinner appointment, which was very nice as we weren't worried about eating too much, and we weren't rushed for time. So it was pretty nice.
Transfers are in two weeks. I've been here 5 months, so it's likely that I'll be transferred, but I really hope not. This has been my favorite area by far. Love you guys!!!