I Think I'll Go To BOSTON

Boys and girls, the announcement has dropped. The Connecticut Hartford Mission is being dissolved and swallowed up by the Massachusetts Boston Mission. This is exciting news and I'm excited for the change that will take place when the Pehrson's go home in July.

Not a whole lot has happened this week. For those of you who know my leg situation, I'm doing much better. As far as numbers go, we had a pretty successful week, especially considering I was out of commission for a couple days due to the leg. On Saturday, we gave away a few copies of the Book of Mormon and got some return appointments for Sunday afternoon. Of course they all canceled or boached us. Figures. What'er.

We were able to FINALLY contact our old investigator Raynor and are meeting with him on Tuesday so I'm excited about that. We also have Zone Conferences this week so that should be good.

I'm really sorry about how short this is, especially since it's the first one for a few weeks, but really not a lot has happened. I'm doing well, just missing all of you like crazy! I hope all is well on the homefront! I love you all so much and pray for you always! Much love from CT!

Highs and Lows in Hartford

Great news, everybody! I'm staying in Hartford! Can you believe I've already been here 6 weeks? Me either! I'm really excited especially since we've got our new pad. It's been kind of stressful trying to get settled in the new place but we've pretty much been there for a week now and it's starting to feel like home. I'm glad I'm not moving even though we really don't have anything going on.
When we met with Malicia this week, she basically used the scripture that talks about lusting being adulterous to say that she is no more in the wrong than we are because it's impossible to not have those thoughts. She is just trying to justify her actions and doesn't understand what God wants and expects of her. We pretty much just bible-bashed for an hour and a half and afterward I just felt awful. Something that really helped me was this:
In Sacrament Meeting, someone shared the story of Alma. When he was rejected and depressed and ready to turn back (like I had felt) an angel came and comforted him. Alma 8:14-15 says, "And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying: Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you.”
This really helped me because even though Alma wasn’t being received, he was doing what he was supposed to and for that, the Lord said he had great cause to rejoice. Hopefully I, too, can find great cause to rejoice.
I know this one is short and I’m sorry but this is the extent of what has happened in my life. I love you all! Write me, please!

Navidad en el Bario and The Big Move

That's right. We have officially said "goodbye" to the slums of 288 Park Street and moved to what i like to refer to as "an island oasis of prosperity in a sea of poverty. I will be doing another video tour of the new apartment as soon as we get all of our furniture but until then, if you would like a sneak peak at the amenities, you can visit, www.parkplacect.com. We split up the foursome so Elder Prusse and I are together on the 19th floor with great views of the city and Elder Dowdy and Elder Russell are on the 12th floor with great views of trees and power lines. My new address is:

Elder Cody Jardine

2 Park Place Apt 19J

Hartford, CT 06106

Please use it often. Our first day here, the lady in the lobby was telling us that missionaries lived here years ago and got lots of letters and packages from home. Don't disappoint me :)

The move itself was pretty hectic. First of all, all of our furniture is basically worthless so lots of it fell apart and we looked like the Beverly Hillbillies carrying couches with holes and dressers from the 60's through the swankified lobby but WHAT 'ER! Also, it lacked organization like none other. Again, WHAT 'ER! I'm in a better place so it all worked out in the end.

Now an update on Christmas and New Year's.

Christmas was good. But then again how could it not have been when I got to talk to almost everyone I love for a very long time?! I told the other missionaries that I didn't care where I was or what I was doing as long as I had a phone in my hand all day, and that was truth. We went to some members of the Spanish branch for the day because it wasn't our day to drive the mini van but it was fun. I got a new watch that I love but will have to exchange because it was too big, some really pretty ties and a sweet set of cuff links, cologne, amazing pillow case from Melanie, :) and lots of candy.

New Year's, on the other hand was not so awesome. Back when we were living in the ghetto, we had these neighbors that always played loud music. It got about a trillion times worse for New Year's and lasted until 7 in the morning for two nights in a row.

As far as missionary work goes, things have been really slow from the holidays and moving but we are ready to hit the ground running again and things are going really well. We taught Malicia last week and if she and her boyfriend can keep the law of chastity, she'll be good for baptism! Please pray for her!

I love you all so much and want you to know I'm doing well. Peace and blessins, Ya'll!