March 10, 2014 letter from Wes

Hey everyone,

It was an alright week this week. It has still been cold, but it is supposed to be getting warmer this next week. I'm really hoping we don't get anymore snow haha. Nothing too spectacular happened this week. Me and elder Benard had some weird people we talked to this week down in the city. We walked around Johns Hopkin university and tried to talk to people but it wasn't a very good idea haha. Everyone is extremely liberal and nobody wanted to talk to us at all. We talked to another promising guy that sounded cool until we found out that he was going to sell some weed lol. We don't have too many investigators right now, but at least Jason is super awesome and its getting baptized. And we also have a members recently married wife who is going to hopefully get baptized next month. I really don't have to much more to say about this last week. Oh yea we found this cool less active member that used to play ball at the church with a bunch of his non member friends but they stopped coming because no one let them in. So now Tuesday nights we should have a ton of people that are coming to play basketball, so im stoked about that. Wednesday night they want to have a member basketball night too which I hope will turn out.

Letters for the past two weeks

March 4, 2014

Hey guys,

How are you all doing? From the sounds of the trip, you had a lot better week than I did. Yesterday we were snowed in for about the 6th time in the last two weeks. Preparation day was horrible; we didn’t get to do anything. Towards the end of the day it got nicer and we took some buses to Essex to play ball with some other missionaries. Needless to say it took us 2 hours to get there on the buses, we missed basketball. My wallet I think was stolen but I’m not sure, I told sister Pascoe it fell out my backpack but I don’t know what happened, I thought for sure I had it in the church and Elder Benard thought he saw it too. But as we were leaving it wasn’t there... I’m not sure I brought it in for sure, but I thought I did. I really hope none of the missionaries took it. I lost everything; luckily I got my credit cards cancelled; elder Larson in the office is getting me a new driver’s license and missionary credit card. But other than that I lost my cash, visa, wallet, missionary ID, temple recommend, bus pass. I have absolutely no money to my name right now and no wallet or anything, and I’m broke as a joke. And on top of that, this has been the worst winter of my life by far. It has been bitter cold for like 5 months…. I did get your letter by the way and it made me happy. I hope you guys know I love you guys so much. I’m glad everything is going well for you. It makes me happy to see that you are all happy and having fun. My friends have told me that the weather In Utah has been really nice so that’s good. But anyways at least our investigator  is doing really well, he quit smoking and he is doing an awesome job. He is ready to be baptized for sure. We also picked up another investigator this last week who seems very interested in the gospel, we met him walking around in a blue light zone, which is a zone where they have cameras so the cops monitor it but they wont go into because its too dangerous haha. But other than that there hasn’t been too much to really speak of.  Elder Benard likes the same things as I do, so we are in the same boat. That’s about all I have to say about this terrible week, but hopefully this one will be better. Sorry to have to ask for a new wallet and stuff, I wouldn’t ask for it, but I really need one. Anyways I have to get off, but I love you guys, thanks for all you guys do for me :) Have a good week!

love wes

February 24, 2014

Hey family!

It was really good to get emails from you guys today! This week has been crazy. I’m convinced that Baltimore is Sodom and Gomorrah here on the earth today haha. Baltimore is bad news to say the least I wont go into detail about some of the stuff I saw this week but it was not good. I bought some Excedrin migraine like everyone has been telling me and it doesn't do squat, all that's in it is ibuprofen and a can of mountain dew without the flavor. On Saturday i vomited because it was so bad. Luckily yesterday and today so far I don’t have headaches. I did call sister Richards about it a couple days ago and she told me to buy some Excedrin migraine and get back to her. Needless to say it didn’t do anything like I said so next migraine I get I will call her, but don’t worry about it, I’ll get it figured out. The members have been really good about feeding us this week; we had a meal every night this week which was awesome. It was our zone temple day on Saturday so we got to go to the temple and do endowments which were awesome. I enjoyed this time way more than any time I have ever done it, so that was cool. I must say though, one thing about this ward is there is a lot of lawyers and doctors and they all disagree with each other so its kind of hard. I have noticed that is in a lot of wards though. But anyways, its been cold here and I am sick and tired of it. I can’t wait till it get warm! You are very lucky you get to go to Cancun! I’m jealous right about now. I hope you have fun, you guys deserve the trip for sure. So the USA really didn't come in first in the Olympics!? That’s a joke, I’m calling corruption on that one. As far as investigators, {one we are working with currently} is the most solid investigator I have ever seen in my life, he is already a member minus the baptism, so that’s pretty dang awesome. Cant wait for him to be baptized, he is a high school teacher in the inner city. We also have another new investigator from Ireland who is recently married to a member here and she already told us she was going to join the church no matter what so that will be another baptism haha. It doesn't 

 get any easier than that. I’m glad these miracles keep happening because besides them, there is not very much real growth investigators in Baltimore. But anyways I have to go. Hope you have fun in Cancun and tell the girls and I love and miss them! Have a good week.

This week has probably been the hardest and craziest week of my life.

Hello family!

Thanks for all the nice emails from you guys! This week has probably been the hardest and craziest week of my life. So my new area is in the Jones Falls ward here in Towson, Maryland. Towson is a nice area and 80 percent of the population in Towson city is under 25. 

My area is huge! Our ward is the biggest ward in the mission, with 900 plus people on the roles and average of 320 people at sacrament! Its bigger than most Utah wards. It is a very young ward because The Johns Hopkins hospital is in my area and half of the ward is working and going to school there. There are about 12 colleges in my area! Our area covers some inner city and some really bad spots in Baltimore. 

Today we had district meeting in Essex which has the the two most dangerous streets in America haha. There are places called blue light areas in my mission area, which means that they have blue lights and cameras all over the streets. Police pretty much don't even respond to phone calls in this area any more haha. To put in perspective how crazy this area is, there are about 500,000 people covered by us and another set of elders and two sets of YSA missionaries. 

It has been a crazy adjustment. Not to mention me and my new companion Elder Benard "shot gunned" the area, which know one cared to tell me. I found out we were "shot gunning" at transfers from Elder Benard. 

This week has been very hard. First of all they took the car away from this area and the start of this transfer  and gave it to another area. We soon figured out that this area would be impossible as a car and out ward mission leader called president Richards and "told him off" about taking the car, haha. So we got a car from the mission office yesterday which was such a life save. We had already walked to everybody who was in walking distance of out apartment. It took us three hours to walk to a members house each way.

These last couple days me and Elder Benard have been completely exhausted after walking about 25 miles in 2 days. But luckily we have a full time car now. These last couple weeks I have been having bad migraines almost everyday, so today I'm going to call sister Richards and see what we can do for it. Two days ago it was so bad I felt like I was going to throw up. So yea you could say its been tough. 

I'm so glad to have the best family and friends in the world, I don't think I could any of this without you guys! 

I love you guys so much, I'm glad to here that everything is going well back at home. I hope the weather there has been better that it is here. The weather has been an absolute joke. The entire state of Maryland was almost in chaos. But today there hasn't been a cloud in the sky and its 50 degrees! :) Tonight I get to go play basketball at the church with a bunch of people and some less active members, so I'm very excited about that. :)

 We have a very good investigator who is being baptized next month who is a school teacher in inner city Baltimore. He is a very humble sincere guy who is VERY solid and ready to be baptized. And we have another lady were about to start teaching who just got married to a member and told us she is going to join the church with her husband! So we pretty much got a free baptism haha. She is an anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins hospital and her husband is an RM who grew up in Maryland and is a Navy Seal. 

So that's sweet. Well I'm in the Towson library and have to get off now but I love you guys very much hope you guys have a good week!

love,

Wes 

Transfer to Jones Falls, MD (Suburb of Baltimore)!

Hey guys!

So yes I'm getting transferred after six months in Woodstock. I'm headed to Baltimore! Apparently my area has been the zone leader area in Baltimore for a really long time but I guess they moved it because I'm not a zone leader! Elder Tilley tells me I'm not it the hood but I'm in the really rich area, probably the richest area in the mission.

It is supposed to be a good size ward though. I'm pretty excited, I will be going on exchanges in  the hood though in inner city, so that will be fun! ;) My new companion is someone named Elder Bernard. No one has a clue who he is, so it should be interesting.

 

Yesterday I got to hang out with the whole Harris clan for the last time. I was sad I had to say bye to all them but it was a good time, and I got some pictures with them so its all cool. This last week nothing really happened to much, the three investigators I'm leaving behind are doing well and are going to be baptized this next month.

 

But I'm excited to go to Jones Falls. It really is one of those areas that a lot of missionaries wish they could serve in. I hope my new companion is cool.

 

Thanks for the package you guys sent me, I loved it. Thanks for the nice things you liked about me to, it made my day. Thanks Sarah and Lynz for the emails too! It is good to here both of you are doing good :) I hope school is still fun for you.

 

Thanks dad for the update on sports it was cool to here the jazz beat the heat. Well I hope you guys have an awesome week and have a good Valentines Day I love you guys very much. 

Letters from January 20, 27 and February 3 2014

January 20, 2014

Hey guys! 

Elder Tilley and I had a great week. We were able to take our investigator Chris to a baptism in a near by ward because elder Tilley was the elder who began teaching her so we got to go and bring him. Afterwards we had a sweet lesson with him and when the spirit was super strong we invited him to be baptized and he knew that he really wanted to, so he is scheduled for the 22 of February because we have some stuff to work on with him, like the word of wisdom. But no biggie, the spirit can do all things! Hopefully his girlfriend and friend who are doing awesome and taking the lessons will get baptized too! I sadly will probably will not be able to see it though because I am 90 percent sure I am getting transferred. But oh well, it doesn’t matter. I hope you all had a good week. I dont know about you but I am sooooo done with this cold weather. I am ready for it to warm up! I was bummed to here that the Niners lost but I am glad the Broncos are.  I love you guys very much, I am excited for the package and letter! Have an awesome week!

Elder LeGrande and Elder Tilley fill up water containers
 for a member from a water spring

January, 27, 2014

My knowledge of the Gospel has just grown tremendously, I have also just mainly learned about people which are super important in missionary work. Missionaries, [I know]  aren’t so robotic anymore. You have to read people with help from the spirit and just teach to there needs and ask question to help them teach themselves.

Briefly, this week has been very good, our investigators who chewed tobacco during every lesson we have taught so far all committed to live the word of wisdom. Me and elder Tilley were both super nervous because we didn’t want to lose them as investigators, we studied and real played it a lot and as we taught them the spirit was stronger than any lesson I have ever taught or been in. It was a miracle just to see how the lord has our back. Chris is on date and his two friends have committed to be baptized but not on a specific day yet. Mission conference was also super awesome this week. S Gifford Nielson is THE MAN. Btw he is 6'6! But it was an awesome mission conference, he really talked about how the second coming is coming soon and how we just need to be the help in the wards and branches to bring others to his gospel. Another thing he taught that our mission is already focused on is real growth and about finding those big fist investigators. We could be baptizing thousands in Baltimore but the numbers are not what were focusing on. Anyway that was my week! Played ball with a bunch of really good elders today including my best buddy elder bell who was my MTC companion, almost all of us played HS ball. Thanks for all you do for me guys I love ya very much I pray for you guys every night! Love ya :)

Love wes

February 3, 2014

Dear family,

Had a pretty good but tough week. We had pretty much no miles this week so we had to walk a lot. We walked 10 miles one day and my shoes are starting to get decently worn out. We were able to see our investigators the 3 amigos  and that was really good. We bought them jolley ranchers, gum and mountain dew to replace there tobacco and coffee. We were also able to go over there house yesterday with two other friends they invited to watch part of the super bowl because we were able to get permission from president! I only saw the first half of the game and I must say it was a joke of a game. But oh well me and elder tilley had fun with them and the had steak and shrimp for us, so that was pretty sweet. The weather here is terrible. I am so done with this stupid snow and cold. It snowed a little this morning and our cars got grounded, so we cant really go anywhere on our preparation day which stinks. I heard we could get up to 30 inches of snow later this week. I don't know how much more of this crappy weather I can handle. But anyways I hope you guys had a good week, I liked the pictures you guys sent of Dad playing Austin [McCombs] in church ball! Whats he up to these days? Anyways transfers are next Wednesday and we should find out where and what on Sunday night. So I just now found out that two of my good friends just came home from there missions. I'm not going to name anyone but I am kind of upset about it. I guess I cant really blame them at all, because missions are the hardest thing ever, but I wish they could have stuck it out. But oh well. I will be looking for your letters in the mail! Thanks for always supporting me and encouraging me. It really does make a difference. I love ya guys have a good week!

Love,

Wes

January 13, 2014

Hey guys!

It has been a fantastic week. We picked up three new investigators this week and has some sweet lessons with them. They are 3 kids in there 20s and all just want to learn about the Gospel! We have 11 investigators right now, which is really good but it is a lot to handle! Hopefully we will have some investigators on date to be baptized soon. Its still pretty cold here, but a little warmer than what it was last week. Yes the long johns fit just fine, which I already emailed and told Grandma, but they did help keep me warm this last week!  But anyways everything sounds like its super boring from what everyone in utah is telling me, so that doesnt bother me much haha.  Thanks for the letters sarah and lynz for letters I enjoyed reading them ALOT! I like how I can see both of your personalities come out in your emails! It helps me remember you guys! You guys both sound like you have had fun with school and friends. Thanks for the packages! Cant wait to get this next one! Thanks for always being there for me, I love you guys very much have a good week.

Love wes

Letters from Elder Wes LeGrande December 30, 2013 and January 6, 2014

Hey guys!
It was great to talk to you on Christmas! It made my day for sure :)
Thanks for all the awesome Presents! I feel like I got spoiled for sure. I was pretty stoked to get lots of nice ties from everyone! Please let Tricia and Grandma Peggy/Donna and Jess know how much I appreciated the Presents they got me. Brandi, Ashley and Karlee all sent me Presents so that was pretty awesome :)

Overall my Christmas was very different but it was good :) Donald was confirmed yesterday, and that went very well, we are going to play Basketball with him and some potential investigators today. I'm sure you are anxious to know the news on Transfers.

Well, I’m staying in Woodstock for another Transfer! Elder Zander is leaving to go be a zone leader and my new companion is named Elder Tilley. 

Elder Tilly is one of the most experienced missionaries in the mission, hes a tall kid and apparently he's good at basketball so that should be good! I think he might even go home next Transfer so I might have a trunky missionary as my companion haha.

He was a zone leader for six months before this and will now be the new District leader here.  I get to go on lots of exchanges again so that will be cool. So will be going too Transfers on Wednesday and President Wright is taking us, so he will probably buy us Cafe Rio on the way back :) But yea tomorrow we have district meeting and The Kunz (the senior couple in our District) are buying everyone in the District Lunch tomorrow for our Christmas Present to that will be awesome! They are the coolest senior couple in the mission. 

We also aren't allowed to proselyte tomorrow night and new years day so that will be interesting! Anyways I love you guys very much I missed you a lot during this Christmas season, but I'm glad to be out here on a mission :) I'm glad you had a fun Christmas with the family :) I feel like time is just going by faster and faster and my mission will be over before I know it, so I will continue to work hard until the very end. Thanks for always being there for me :) Have an awesome week! :) 

Love Wes

January 7, 2014

Hey guys!


It was good to here you had a good New Years Eve! We don’t get to stay up till 12 so my new years eve was pretty non existent ha-ha. And wow 17 days off (girls)? That’s a long winter break!

Anyways we had Transfers New Year’s Day and picked up my new companion Elder Tilley. He is from Memphis TN, and he was in the Sweats old ward when the Sweats were there. He is a 6'4 Baller, pretty dang good at Basketball; he got some offers from some small schools.

He doesn't go home as early as I heard but he leaves sometime in the summer, but won’t tell me when exactly because missionaries are butt heads about telling people that stuff ha-ha.

He is a really good missionary and definitely knows what he wants to accomplish and get done. I have learned a bunch of stuff from him already this last week. We also got 3 new investigators, so we were stoked about that!

We like a lot of the same things especially basketball and music. And he is Randy Rigby’s nephew, so he is a big Jazz fan too. I'll see if we can snag some free season tickets from him when I get home, he is also going to UVU. 

So yeah, it has been a good week, gave a couple blessings earlier this week and that’s about everything worth mentioning ha-ha. The weather here is awful though. It’s in the teens and single digits and the humid cold is 10 times worse than the dry cold. But oh well.

Sarah it was good to get that letter from you! :) Sounds like you had a crazy amount of homework! I hope school is fun for you and Lynz! :) Thanks for the scores pops! I hope you guys end up having a good basketball season! Break some old man ankles! Pull some Euro step on some dudes like I did to some Elders on New Years Eve! Tell all the guys on Tuesday what up for me and tell them they all better be there when I get back! I hope you all have an awesome week and stay warm! 

Love ya guys,

Wes