Heading to Joliet!

Surprise!  My area is being whitewashed and I have been moved to Joliet to serve as a Zone Leader.  No time to write today, I'll catch up next week.

Elder Herdt

Wasn't the first day of Spring last week?

 Elder Herdt and Harvey

So while walking to an appointment I ran we took wrong turn and found this lady who needed some help. While talking to her we found out that she investigated the church in Massachusetts and we had a great time talking to her and she invited us back!

This is why I didn't write much today!  Zone Bowling.

100% and more miracles!

Hola,
Another 100% on our apartment cleaning!

“I have often said one of the greatest secrets of missionary work is
work! If a missionary works, he will get the Spirit; if he gets the
Spirit, he will teach by the Spirit; and if he teaches by the Spirit,
he will touch the hearts of the people and he will be happy. There
will be no homesickness, no worrying about families, for all time and
talents and interests are centered on the work of the ministry. Work,
work, work--there is no satisfactory substitute, especially in
missionary work.”
–President Ezra Taft Benson

So after having a heated wrestling match with my companion who is at least 40 pounds heavier than me I choose to write my epistle for the week

Our zone's focus is to "Fill the funnel" of finding. By focusing on the 10/10/30 principle  (invite someone to hear the restored gospel by 10 minutes of leaving the apartment, contacting 10 people a day and contact someone every 30 minutes if you don't have an appointment) and inspiring members to follow Elder Ballard's council. 

Something new that our district has been doing to focus on the Zone focus has been to daily report on how many people we have contacted. I have found that with a greater frequency of follow up allows a greater increase of results. similar to the quote by president Monson; "When performance is measures performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates".

Last week as a district we contacted a total of 122 and this week we contact 187. This week our district is shooting for contacting at total of 200! I will love to see that increase. Our district has seen a lot of miracles since we have been trying to do this. like this week, we talked to this lady who was out side and we gave her a card and asked her if she was religious she said, "kind of" she had a problem knowing why things happen and was kind of bitter. One of the sides of the card had a picture of the salt lake temple on it. We asked her if she had ever seen it and she no until we told her what it was then she remembered that she went to Salt Lake a few years ago. he conversation was really picking up till her husband came home and kind of shooed us away. We invited her to check out mormon.org and if she would be interested give us a call. Another man we contacted use to be married to a member. Its always cool to see small blessings.

We have a few investigators on date, Robert who has been investigating for quite a few years is on date for April 11th. I am convinced he is getting close to the waters of baptism. One lesson last week we started off the appointment asking Robert one question. "Do you have a testimony of the Book of Mormon?" and what an answer we received. The Book of Mormon has been apart of Roberts like way longer than the misisonaries have ever been visiting with him, He says he has been in contact with the Book of Mormon for the last 35 years! He knows it is true, he feels the power of its pages. He has learned much about Christ form the Book of Mormon and is so grateful for it coming into his life. His only problems is he has not been able to come to church the last months do to being in the hospital. also he needs to quite coffee within the next week. I'll I can do at this point is follow up and pray.

This week was also Zone Conference and after Zone Conference President Fenn asked, "Who knows any good places for authentic Mexican food?" You could guess who answered that question. Because I told him where to go he took us out with him. It was very cool to eat with president Fenn.

So I'm getting tired and getting a head ache. Maybe it was because of wrestling.... 

bye!

-Elder Herdt

Almost a Full Grown Man!

Hey Sunshine,
Thought I'd wish you a happy 20th birthday.  Your packages are at the mission home if you haven't got them yet. Have a wonderful day. You are no longer a teenager, you're almost a full grown man! 
Love,

Yer mama

Thanks mom!
Had a pretty great birthday, way better than My 18th. Remember that,
when I went skeet shooting all by myself? Bad birthday. But this one
was pretty good.
Look what Tyler sent me, you can can tell we're all family

"Happy Birthday Bro!!!! You are officially no longer a teenager.
That's kind of a big deal. Your almost a full grown man. That means no
more cutting the crust off of your sandwich"
-Tyler Herdt

Got all my packages, Thanks!

Thanks for the shirts. My first shirts are not looking the best.
I can not believe Jenna is married. That's too weird.
(Sam Moody enters the MTC the same day Elder Herdt gets home)
Maybe I can face time Sam right before he goes in. Speaking
about FaceTime. The mission is getting new iPads re-issued to
missionaries I'll send you the email on it. I am not required to buy
it though because I came out before August 23rd. In the Future I may
be able to purchase the iPad the mission is lending. The new one is updated and
has 32 gigs so it would be cool because if I owned it then I could
make a quick call at the air port.
Elder Herdt

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Mosiah 2:17

The Nance Family

 One of my favorite families I have taught and served on my mission.

Brother nance has had several heart surgeries in the last few months so we went over often to help there family..

We put down new bricks under their wood burning stove.  

Then we had to  re-pipe the stove.

That was pretty fun and it didn't turn out to bad

Good-Bye to the Wonderful People in Morton

The Bishop In Morton!

Ortiz family!

Flexing with a returning less active who is thinking about serving a mission. Please Note, That I thank you so very much for sending me new shirts because shortly after this picture I flexed and ripped a hole big enough to put my head through around the shoulders:) 

Some of our investigators going out to lunch with us. Santa and his wife and a WWII Vet.

This is Ryle, he tried to steal my name bag every time we crossed paths. Last Christmas I gave one to him for a present. we been best friends ever since 

The only family that was able to serve me real authentic Hispanic food. I felt bad for everyone who fed us after because she blew everyone else's food out of the water.

The Nava family

Best ward mission leader ever!