My Pioneer Peeps!

Hey y'all! 

First off,  I heard about Josh Burton from mom's letter on Saturday. It broke my heart, I cried and cried that night. My prayers go out to the family and friends. I wonder about the other missionaries, are they okay? Are many injured? Those poor families. I am glad I wrote him while he was on his mission before I left on mine and got to know him better. Sad sad news. 

As for this week, it was INCREDIBLE! We saw many many miracles.
We tracted 13 hours and gave out 14 Books of Mormon. In Etna, this is a miracle. We spent a LOT of time car tracting. We keep a solid supply of Peach-o's in the glove box to keep us going. One day we worked for three hours going door to door. Most people are nice. One lady has a pet deer with only three legs. Much different from your normal ferret in Ashland. We also have a different door approach than in Ashland. There we would say, "Hi, we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and as representatives of him we are out offering a prayer on peoples homes and families." or "and we are out offering free copies of the book of mormon!" or "we were in the neighborhood and wanted to drop in to meet you". But that doesn't work here. "Hi! We are missionaries and we drove 4 miles off the main road into the mountain just to get out and be eaten by your 3 vicious dogs just to have a prayer with you then leave!" people think we are crazy and suspicious. But it is going well. Most people live where they do to get away from people. I am thinking we need a new tactic and bring cookies. 

We have 3 new investigators and one of them is a very VERY kind Jewish man. He LOVES what we are teaching. Man, we need to teach more Jews because it matches what they have so well! I have never had more powerful lessons than we have had with him. We will be talking about how the gospel blesses families and he will say, "Wait, so you are saying our families are symbolic of the spiritual family of God?" Oh. My. Gosh. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN MY WHOLE MISSION?!?

This last week my companion punched me in the face. She said it's her natural instinct when she is scared. I guess she doesn't like being woken up with someone 2 inches away from her face yelling, "I'M DONE SHOWERING!" :) I love Sister Neilsen, so much. :)

Yay for Pioneer day! The speakers in church were talking about their experiences at trek and It reminds me of what Mikey said to me last time I went to trek - "Didn't the pioneers do it so we didn't have to?!? It's like sending a Jew back to a concentration camp!" I sure like that guy. Our President has given us time every week to do family history so that we can be familiar with it to help gators, and boy am I hooked! We are also finding a name to take through the temple for when our zone goes this transfer. I figured out that one of our great grandmas Pheobe (on the Markham side) has a daughter that doesn't have any information or work done for her! Her name is Hatti and I am going to hunt her down and do her ordinances for her! The spirit of Elijah is soooooo cool. I am hooked. 

Speaking of dead people, they just found 3 dead bodies in a shed in Yreka (said Why-Reek-uh) and they think the killer is on the run toward this town. Crazy! "Lock your doors and don't take candy from strangers!" Thought you would love that bit of information, mom. ;) 

We went to the hardware store here in Etna, and they don't carry leathermans. There is no hope. What kind of hardware store doesn't carry leathermans or pocket knifes?! Okay, my rant is over. On Tuesday we are teaching primary kids how to be missionaries! It's a cool activity they are doing, a mini MTC for the kiddos! They all received mission callls in the mail and are FREAKING OUT excited for this! Some little kids actually thought they were flying out to Japan! So cute. I love working with little kids. We will teach them how to knock on doors and we will have strangers behind them! Scary/exciting! 

We also had interviews with President Young this last week. It was really amazing. He said "Sister Orr, you are so confident and yourself, there is no guile about you. You're not trying to be anyone but yourself. You MUST have incredible parents and an amazing family!" That I do. :)

Love you all! Thanks for the letters and packages. I am one happy missionary! 

Sister Orr II,

Peach-o consumer