Not Much

Not Much: November 10th, 2014

Yo what up Family and Friends,

I hope you are all doing well. Things are going smoothly here in San Jose, Missouri. Elder Sjoblom and I are still tracking down people who are interested in the gospel and teaching those that are. We had meetings again in Independence this week. It's always fun to get up before the rooster for the pilgrimage to crazy Independence and see a bunch of my friends here in the mission. Other than that, Elder Sjoblom and I are doing well. Oh and I forgot to wish you a Happy Halloween a while back, or Happy 50 Cent Corn Dogs at Sonic Day!

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

This One Has Vomit In It‏

This One Has Vomit In It‏: October 27th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting. Every week is interesting here in Dirty Joe (what missionaries have so affectionately named my area), but there is so little time to sum it up.

Highlights would have to be:

Cutting a single mother's lawn this week for service. She had an electronic weed wacker. I stopped about halfway through and just pulled out a knife and trimmed the lawn it was that bad.

An AMAZING couple that is coming back to church and planning on going to the temple had us over this week and we discussed the worst meals we have ever eaten. I talked about the time I had pig lung and the sister had no problem, but she pleaded for Elder Sjoblom to stop describing a wilted salad and after some playful prodding from her husband, puked in front of us, threw a towel over it and then we proceeded to carry on with the lesson. She's pregnant so that makes it okay? I dunno, but I sure did get an ab workout from laughing.

We had a finding fiesta this weekend and found a bunch of new investigators that will hopefully progress soon. Keep it up and make it a great week. 

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(I DO have photos to send this week, but they involve the up chucking mentioned above, so I won't attach anything. Again, mucho amor!)

References

References: October 20th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was interesting to say the least. For the majority of the week, Elder Sjoblom and I fought an uphill battle against the nightly sporting events on TV and he captured it perfectly with, “I’m just so sick of competing with the NFL on Sundays.”[1] I’m praying that the Royals and the Chiefs lose soon so people will be humbled and find out that you can pray to God any time, not just when you need a field goal or a homerun.[2]

Besides our fight for primetime each night, we had some fun experiences this week. We headed out to Amazonia, Missouri, population of 312 for dinner one night and we reveled hardcore in the Boonies. We had sloppy joes[3], held pythons, lit a ridiculous bonfire, and got our car mighty dusty. Also, on the list of things that were out of this world, was when Elder Sjoblom and I followed a sweet Baptist we contacted on the street up the hill to drag a dying cat out of the bloody jaws of a neighbor’s pitbull[4]. You never know what’s going to happen as a missionary.

We’ve received a couple of sweet referrals this week and the work is looking like it’s going to progress soon. I’ll let you know what happens next week. Make it a great week.

Mucho amor,[5]

Elder Beau Hart

[1] See: Crap My Companion Saying While Driving Vol. III

[2] Or when you run out of paper while on the John.

[3] Things You Can Make With Coon Meat pg 107.

[4] Not the singer, this boy was one mean looking creature.

[5] If you haven’t noticed, I know only one Spanish phrase.

Lord of the Rings and "Chinese" Food‏

Lord of the Rings and "Chinese" Food: October 14th, 2014

Hello Family and Friends,

This week was fantastic! Elder Sjoblom and I have been working hard and now we are seeing the fruits. It's a great day to be a missionary.

For the majority of my time in this area, it's felt (get ready for some Lord of the Rings Nerd Rage) akin to the Men of Gondor defending Minas Tirith with Gandalf at their head. Despite having great leaders and a strong position, defeat seemed inevitable with the forces of Mordor and disappointment on all sides. But at what seemed like the breaking point, Theoden and the Riders of Rohan appeared, horns blowing and charging down the slopes to crush the hordes of orcs and to bring hope and light to the failing defenders. 

Transitioning this analogy to missionary work: This past week we have been begging investigators to come and doing everything to get them to attend, even dropping off a white shirt and ties for one, nobody showed up come the opening hymn. And at the moment of defeat, losing all hope for the work, I felt a vibration in my pocket, and very unprofessionally checked it while on the stand and hope surged again to new heights. A long lost investigator, responded to our text and said that he was on his way and that we should save him a seat. Josh came during the Sacrament and loved the services. What a miracle!

This week has been great. The work's improving and things are looking up. Sad news, transfers are this week, so the Elder Sjoblom and Elder Hart fiesta might come to an end. I'll let you know next week. Good news, I have become addicted to Chinese Buffets and the horrible, gut wrenching feeling that comes from stuffing your face with cheap lo mein and what I assume is mostly chicken.

Mucho amor and crab ragoons,

--Elder Beau Hart

(District Photo)

#LDSConf

#LDSConf: October 6th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

I don't have much time this week and the man sitting next to me at the library is looking up some not so mission approved photos. So this will be short. (Also, I'm going to give him a Book of Mormon, he definitely has time to look at that.)

Anyways, General Conference was fantastic! We watched it as missionaries at the church house and basically lived there for two days with all the ward parties and meals. Not a rough life, huh? Being stuffed physically and spiritually for two--now it's time to put it to work. 

San Jose (St. Joe) is still San Jose. Elder Sjoblom and I are still trying to find families that will progress. Miracles are happening all the time! One of them was last night. Two weeks ago we tracted into a family from Honduras and the father suffered through my Spanish enough to agree to a return appointment. Turns out his sister is a member in New Jersey and he was willing to learn more about what she believed. We lost contact, but then a couple days ago we received a referral from Headquarters from a girl about to leave on her mission to visit her cousin. Turns out it was one of the man's daughters and it was her cousin that referred her to us! What a small world! I'll let you know how it progresses!

Mucho mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Me and some missionaries at a meeting)

Smelly As Ever

Smelly As Ever: September 29th, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week looked better than the previous ones so that was a blessing! The work is moving forward here in St. Joseph. Hopefully we'll see some fruit coming of all the work.

We got to watch the Church's new movie, "Meet the Mormons" this week. What a stellar production! Man, compared to the other movies we can watch as missionaries, which are produced from the Church, this was out of this world.

We also had interviews with President and Sister Vest this week. They are such an amazing example of the gospel. It's shocking how much of an effect these people can have on missionaries. I love them so much and strive to be like them everyday in their dedication to the work. 

Keep on making it a great week. St. Joseph is as smelly as ever, but I'm coming to love it. The Lord keeps blessings us no matter what. Never forget that. 

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Kansas City Temple and Elder Sjoblom and I planning at night)

Twerking

Twerking September 22nd, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a trial. That's for sure. We got dropped by our only two investigators over--one by a lack of contact and one over drama because of twerking. It was a bummer of a couple days.

Elder Sjoblom and I have made the determination that we're going to work our tails off this week finding because there are people being prepared, we just have to get the message out to them.

Missouri stills continues being Missouri, nothing new to report other than the factories shut down for a couple of days down south and I could actually smell nature instead of dog food for a brief moment in my life. Don't worry though, they are back up and running and dogs continue to love licking my clothes, so all is well.

Mucho amor,

Elder Beau Hart

(Sorry no pictures! I forgot my camera at home)