Waterford, Michigan

OK, so like I said last message, Im here in Michigan and im loving it so far.

I live in Waterford, Michigan and its awesome here. I am in the Clarkston area and I go to the Clarkston ward. Everybody in the ward is very nice and yeaterday being my first Sunday they were all very welcoming. I have been feed by members every day sence I've been here which is great because I don't have to cook for myself that much yet and the food is really good, the bad thing about it is that its hard to see any results from the workouts Elder Attwood has been making me do. But i am eatting food and Im surviving so thats the best part.

The weather here has been worse that home. Last week was good and not to hot and thats how half the week went, then mid-week i just got super cold, so the weather is more moody than California, But I still like it....so far. Im taking more pictures on my camera so I'll try to send it out soon.

We have taught a few people this week and they have all been super friendly. I think my favorite investigator is Brandon. He lives in the same apartment complex that we do. He is black and he calls us his 'brothers' and 'Elder Homies', its pertty funny and awesome. we went to teach him a few days ago and we got his friend Fa to be an investigator (awesome!!!). We went back yesterday but he forgot so we are going back on Wednesday.

Today for P-day we are going to go play Frisbie Golf and I'm super stoked for that. Its been awhile sence I've played.

Hope you all have a great week and I'll send more adventures next week.

The Field

I've been in Michigan for almost 3 days now and its really cool. It’s not P-day but they said that I should get to a computer to email and let everyone know that I’m safe and that I'm having fun.

The mission President is really nice and he is glad to have me (thanks to all the good things mom said about me). It’s been a great 3 days. I got to the Detroit airport a little after noon on Monday the 20th, got picked up by President and Sister Holmes, and went to the mission home for the rest of the day. I slept at some other Elders’ apartment and then in the morning went back to the mission home for a transfer meeting. My first companion is Elder Attwood, he’s really cool, I will be his last companion because only has 3 months to go. He says he is going to whip me into spiritual shape but physical as well (you'll see pictures). Last night (first night with Elder Attwood) we ate dinner at The Walkers home and tonight we are getting feed again, but I forget their name. I love you all and i hope you have a great rest of the week.

Peace, Love, God Bless.

P.S. Feel free to send me letters, pictures, and miscellaneous junk

Elder Richard Aufdermauer

Michigan Detroit Mission

33505 State St. Ste. 101

Farmington, MI 48335

Elder Richard Aufdermauer

950 Village Green Ln #1-3005

Waterford, MI 48328

Week 3

Hey Everybody,

I leave the MTC on Monday. I have to be at the travel office here at the MTC at 4am for my 7am flight and I arrive in Detroit around 1pm.

We got go to the temple again, and it was really awesome!

I've been learning so much here and I'm a sad to be leaving so soon because I want to learn more, but I know that I'll learn so much more when I'm out in the field. We just had another TE (teaching evaluation) today. My companion and I sit down and work with a teacher to get help with things. One of the problems my companion and I have is that I tend to dominate the conversation (my comp is a little shy and doesn't talk) but we’re working on it. We also have TA’s (teaching appointment) periodically. This is when we are assigned an "investigator" and we go teach them. It has been such an uplifting experience, even though they aren't real investigators. One of the Guys we had, his name is George and the second time we meet with him I invited him to get Baptized and he said yes. It was so cool doing that I just hope I’m ready when it comes to the real stuff.

Week 2

I’m getting sick! Elder Willard (also Detroit bound) is one of the missionaries in the room with me and he got really sick. He had to go to the doctor's office and was quarantined for a day and a half. I’m not quite that sick and hope I don’t get to that point. Everybody in the district is on medication so it doesn’t spread too bad.

I've been learning a lot here and its awesome! I can’t really put it in words but I’m growing day by day and I love it. The food is great here but I don’t want to gain any weight. It’s all you can eat, so I’m rationing my portions. We also get an hour for gym, which is great, but I wish it was longer (I usually play Volleyball the whole time), and the rest of the day we are sitting down in class; that is not going to help me stay slim!

I went to the temple this morning and it was really cool. It’s hard to explain the feeling in words but a lot of you know how different the spirit feels there.

A new crop of missionaries came in Wednesday so I’m no longer a newbie and I finally know someone here that I knew beforehand, Steven Meakin. I forget where he is going but I think it’s Spanish speaking.

Elder Morrison is one awesome elder, he is one of my zone leaders and he taught me how to tie the apostate knot in my tie, i think its also known as a split knot.

I’m having so much fun here. I love you and miss you all so much, and I pray for you all every night.

Week 1

Hey Everybody!!!!

The MTC has been so fun.

When Mom, Dad, and Dianna dropped me off at the MTC, I was greeted by Elder Pitt. He helped me take my bags to my room but before I got to my room we had a small orientation where we got my name tags!!! The room I am in is shared by 4 Elders; Elder Orme, Elder Johnson, Elder Willard, and I. There are 9 guys in my zone and I love them already.

There are about 2600 missionaries here but I've only met a few. We already started doing some awesome teaching training to try to get a little more comfortable with teaching on the street and at the door. Today, the 4th, we practiced inviting people to accept challenges (we aren't supposed to call them challenges, I just forget what we’re supposed to call them right now because I have so much on my mind). For a practice "challenge" my companion, Elder Orme, and I went out to challenge some other missionaries and we stopped a few that were going to the field, and we challenged them to enjoy and to effectively work out and to have fun; the Elders we stopped looked very happy to see that we were trying our best.