October 24^th 2011

Well that sounded like an exciting week. That was a nice long email. I love being informed. So this was a week! So my new companion is Elder Jones from North Carolina. He is awesome. He came out a transfer after me and became a zone leader at the same time. We both have very similar working and teaching styles and we get along very very well. We both love to tell stories and that is usually what takes up most of our free time. It’s nice because I love telling stories to my companions but sometimes they don't appreciate them and they kind of don't listen but with Elder Jones being a story teller as well he appreciates it and he listens and gives me feedback. We don't just tell random made up stories. Just in case you were wondering... Everything has happened for reals. Even if Paul Dunn creeps in a few times, it’s real to us. So with Elder Jones and I both being new zone leaders it has been a learning experience for both us. But it’s been fun and I have grown so much as a leader this past week. I feel lazy at times because I am not busting my butt all day long beating on doors. Elder Manu's style was knock now think later. We have taken a lot more time thinking and it sure has paid off! I'll tell of two total miracles that happened this week. So I was a little nervous for this transfer to start. Everything Manu and I had going on was finished or over so I felt like we were starting with very little this transfer. So Tuesday night we had a zone dinner with the 2nd councilor in the Stake Presidency. It was at the church and went just swell. We have a great zone. I had left our phone in the car on accident so when we were finished we went to leave and we had a missed call and a new voice mail, so naturally we listened to it. It was a member of the ward that meets in the same building as us and he was relating to us that a man had come to the church with his son wanting to know when service started and if he could have some info about the church and its belief. His name is Leroy and me and Elder Manukailea had knocked on his door like 2 months ago. So we called him from the number the member gave us and he answered and wanted us to come over right then. It was only 7:30 so we took the member from the other ward with us and went and taught him the Restoration. It was great and he is so smart and spiritual. So we taught him on Tuesday and on Wednesday and again on Friday and him and his 7 year old son came to church on Sunday. So that was a total miracle. He's not married to his baby’s momma that he has been with for some time and he has some word of wisdom issues but has expressed the desire to change in both areas and I have seen it done. So that’s one. The next one is great as well. So a few months ago some members said that they were going to be renting out a room to some nonmembers and that we should teach them. Well last week they came to church because they have finally got settled in. So we talked to them a little bit. Elder Manu thought they were a waste of time but the guy wanted a large print Book of Mormon which the mission has to order in when someone needs one and it takes a min. but we had gotten one for somebody but we aren't teaching them anymore so we just took it on over to him on Thursday and taught him and his wife along with their 6 year old son. So we taught an amazing, spiritual restoration lesson and at the end invited both of them to be baptized. We thought for sure they would say yes but they shot us down so fast it was sad. He loves coffee and she just wasn't sure. But both Elder Jones and I felt like they were both going to be baptized and they didn't even know it. So we had dinner with the member they live with on Saturday and we had some delicious tri-tip. I will learn how to cut the cow myself to introduce it to Arizona. It was sooo tasty along with the garlic potatoes with some good vegetables. So we had dinner and then we had another lesson with Michael and Mercy Slover. That’s there name by the way. So this time we taught the Plan of Salvation and decided to focus a lot on Mercy's children that got taken away from her a while ago as well as the atonement of Christ that explains his ability to have empathy for anything we go through. So it went very very well and it was a great lesson with a very strong spirit. We invited both of them to be baptized again with the same result. But this time Mercy started revealing all her concerns. They were pretty lame, like she knew someone that got baptized and they just take all the churches money and she doesn't think that should be allowed. I don't think that’s even a concern ha. So we resolved them but they still said no, so we extended a commitment to pray about it and to come to church with a question. So they came to church and they looked like they were having a good time. So afterwards we were super super busy and had a lot of things going on. They wanted to talk to us and so we made some time and stood in the hallway and Michael says Mercy why don't you tell them. So she told us that they both wanted to be baptized as soon as possible and asked how long it would take. They had already been to church twice so next week it will be their third week and they will get baptized on Nov. 5th. So the nervousness has gone away a little bit. I am still a bit nervous for the whole zone baptizing but I’m trying to be more obedient so I can qualify for God's blessings. So I know he will help me. So this is a bit of sad news. Manat Soutsevang, the quadriplegic that I helped baptize passed away last Monday the 17th at 12:03 pm. It was super sad. We went and sang for her family on Monday night with the Tongan elders. We went to the viewing on Saturday and her funeral was on Sunday during the Tongan elder church so I took elder seumanutafa with me to it and it was weird and Buddhist. But it felt good to recognize her and give her respect. So that was super sad. Her soul was saved just in time. She had Lou Gheriks disease and was close to passing away a few times. We know she stayed alive just long enough to be saved in God's Kingdom. She is now resting in paradise. So the work is still true. Everything is going great. Oh our apartment sucks right now! The power doesn't work in half the apartment which half consists of the power going to our fridge, microwave, hot water heater, and both bathrooms. So that has been lame. We actually had to put our fridge on our balcony cuz it was leaking then we got an extension chord and plugged it in in another room so it works. But we have had to take cold showers every morning. We took showers at the church today in the baptismal changing rooms. So it was our first warm showers for a bit. We told the apartment office on Saturday but they said it probably won't get taken care of till tomorrow. We told them like 2 weeks ago but they didn't do anything about it. So if it doesn't get taken care of soon I might not be a happy person towards them anymore. So I hope this email was good. I love you.

Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

The North Sacremento Zone!

Temple Night Shot

Angel Moroni

Me in front of the Temple.

Us at Georgina's Baptism.

Me with the Reidheads.

October 17^th 2011

Well we just got done playing football with another zone. We played for over an hour and lost so I am not only extremely tired but angry. The other zone pissed me off so bad. Oh well we'll just keep our 80 baptisms for the year so far compared to their 50... So I don't know how much I am going to email. Sorry I forgot to tell you that this transfer is a day early so we have a normal p-day. The new missionaries are coming in a day early from the mtc so that is why they did this. It’s only a one-time thing. So this week was exciting going to lunch with the Reidheads. We were on exchanges so Elder Manukailea didn't get to come. I was surprised how well it all worked out. I texted Brother Reidhead on Wednesday night and we just set up to meet at the church at 11:30 the next day. So we met up and talked for a bit then headed off to Golden Corral. I took them on the scenic route that went through the Old Air Force base. We had a great time eating and talking about things. I thought it would make me super trunky but it didn't. I have been pretty trunky because Elder Manu is going home and it gets me thinking about it but meeting with the Reidheads helped me feel like nothing has really changed too much back at home and that things will go on just the same when I get home. So I’ll just keep doing the work and baptizing. This week Georgina finally got baptized! But she didn't come on Sunday for her confirmation... We'll get her this week for sure. We went on two exchanges this week. I was with Elder Taufu'i on Tuesday. He came to my area and we did some good work. Thursday I was with Elder Morgan. We had a lot of fun. So we got our transfer calls last night. Of course as you all know Elder Manukailea goes home so he is leaving. I am being made the senior Zone Leader and my new companion is Elder Jones. He is from North Carolina. He came out a transfer after me and was made a zone leader the same time as me. He is a really cool kid and an amazing missionary so I am excited to learn from him and serve with him. The stake is super bummed that Manu is leaving. He has been here for 6 months and has worked wonders in the zone. I hope Elder Jones and I can continue that work down here. I'm sure if we work as hard as me and Elder Manukailea have been and are obedient we will see the same success. The stake is so close to hitting their goal of 100 baptisms for the year so we are all working hard to achieve that. The mission goal this month was 80 baptisms. We have 51 baptized so far with 44 more people with a date to be baptized in the next two weeks of the month so we are super close to hitting that goal. If we hit that and repeat it in November and get our goal of 101 we will reach the mission goal of 800 for the year. We are all working our hardest right now to achieve these goals. The field is very white and ready to harvest. Even in Elder Schmid's area where the people aren't white! Man they are baptizing so much. Oh and on the white note. President Lewis has taken note that a lot of the missionaries in the missions white shirts aren't so white anymore. That is very true for myself. He asked us to ask for new white shirts for Christmas so that’s what I’m doing. I think 2 of each, long and short sleeve should be fine. I still have a fat size 19 neck. I wish it was smaller and it might be late but I would rather be safe than sorry. I'll let you know if I start losing any weight. Oh and I didn't do that diet. I quit the same night of the day I started. I received revelation that I shouldn't do it. It took almost falling asleep while standing up to be revelation. I like my picture on my camera of me with the Reidheads. I'll send it home. As well as my memory card cuz it’s full, or will be soon. I hope everyone is having a lot of fun. Love you.

Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

Georgina flaked on her baptism two weeks in a row. So we took a picture together to remember how pissed we were.

the group at coloma, the place where Gold was found.

Me beating President Lewis at horse shoes. I'm not as good at it as i am at Corn Hole.

we went out a little too far...

Glen Taylor (76 years old!) The stake President sons Ben Treadway baptized him. He's going to Italy Milan mission in January.

Me and Marcie Maxie she got baptized like two months ago.

the group of us who baptized Manat. Elder Seumanutafa, Me, Elder Taufu'i

All of us at the Tonga families house for dinner. They call me their son because i eat as much as their tongan sons. (Their last name is Tonga)

Lunch with Paul & Chantel Reidhead from my home ward in Arizona - October 13th 2011

October 10^th 2011

Well since Mom isn't here to read this one, I guess I’ll write it to the boys and Dad and I assume Ellie didn't get to go either so she can be among the first to read this one. It’s going to be a good one I hope. I have a pretty sweet story to tell today about some events that have happened in the previous weeks ending last night. It really has defined my purpose as a missionary and it was an amazing experience I will never forget. So a couple of months ago the missionaries in the Tongan ward were tracting and they ran into a Samoan guy with a Lao girlfriend. Well the Lao girl was the interested one so they tried to give her to the missionaries who speak Lao (even though she speaks perfect English or I guess I should say understands it) You see Manat (the Lao girl) is paralyzed from the neck down. She can't move anything but her head side to side. She can't even nod or anything. She has a lot of trouble speaking and you have to read her lips to understand what she is trying to say. Well the Lao missionaries didn't want to teach her. The Lao program here is dwindling to the point where they have 3 active members and a load of in active people who haven’t been to church in 20 years. So their main goal is to grow the group so the program doesn't get shut down. So when they found out about Manat they said no because she wouldn't be able to come to church ever so it would be a burden to their program. So Elder Taufu'i and Elder Seumanutafa started teaching her (the elders of the Tongan ward). She really desired baptism so they began working with her more and more and then they found out she would never be able to come to church. So they contacted me and Elder Manukailea, being their zone leaders, to find out what they should do. We didn't know so we talked to President Lewis and he asked if she was accountable and we said yes she definitely is all there, she is just a quadriplegic so she can never come to church. Well he said that anyone that is accountable, or alright in the head, has to have baptism or they can never go to heaven. So we continued on in the process of teaching her. The Lao missionaries found out she was getting baptized so they got all defensive but then they remembered she wouldn't be able to come to church so they again declined teaching her. Here is where it all comes together. So I had been to lessons with Elder Taufu'i and he has some spiritual connection with her because he can hear her talking even when I can't see her lips moving. She will be sitting there and he will start asking what and I would get all confused because I don't see her doing anything and he would be like oh she said she needs help because her head has fallen back too far and she can't breathe. It’s amazing. I've seen it time and time again in the lessons with them. So we went on and she had a date to be baptized. The date was supposed to be this Saturday but her family didn't know about it and they wanted to come so they did. This is where it all gets crazy. So the Tongan ward did the baptism program and first off it was amazingly spiritual to begin with. I don't know how many people have been to Polynesian functions but before the meeting begins they all just sit there and sing acapella hymns until its ready to start. So they were singing their hymns, singing my favorite in the process, How Great Thou Art, in Tongan and it was amazing. All the Lao people were already crying and following along in the hymn books reading the lyrics. So another thing. Elder Taufu'i's aunt married a Lao guy. Manat married that guy’s brother so they are randomly connected in that way. So we had the baptism. Her being paralyzed she needed a lot of help in the font so they asked me to help baptize her. I was with Elder Taufu'i who was holding her body and Elder Seumanutafa (who is Samoan) who held her head and said the baptismal prayer and I held her body and plugged her nose and mouth and helped push her whole body down so we only had to do it once. She was so scared but so courageous. After we all got changed we all confirmed her and she was saved after that point. It doesn't matter if she ever comes to church or anything. She has been baptized and received the Holy Ghost and is saved in the Kingdom of God. That’s what our purpose is. Saving Souls. Not growing a ward or group or keeping alive a dying program. Even better the guy conducting the baptism knew Manat, him being Tongan, but they lived by each other six years ago and he would pick her kids up from school. He said she was normal then and now she is totally different. But it was an amazing experience. Oh and for a musical number Elder Taufu'is aunt and cousin sang a song that was amazing and they both cried through the whole thing. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. It was hands down the best experience and most spiritual baptism of my mission. Manat Soutsevang is saved. Other than that the rest of the week was kind of lame. We went on a few exchanges, one with the hmong elders who we live with and the APs. It was good and fun. Elder Manukailea goes home next week. This is his last week. It’s kind of hard being with him cuz it makes me think a lot about what it’s going to be like going home but that’s not for a long long time more. So I just work hard and forget about myself. So yeah. That was the cool thing this week. I hope it made sense and you enjoy it.

--
Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

October 3^rd 2011

So before I start. Mom I have done initiatory since I have done them for myself. I don't know if you remember or even ever knew but me and a friend would go to the temple once or twice a week in the morning every week until I left on my mission and once we did initiatory because we were late to our session. And just a month ago Elder Manukailea and I went to the temple and were again late to our session and decided to do initiatory there so I have done it a couple of times and I agree it really is neat. Sounds like your week was great mom. It’s nice to have one faithful writer to me each week. I think the family should write me more... I mean I do send a general email home every week so they can all read it. I am just curious about everyone’s life. All I get is moms. So Tuesday I went with Elder Taufu'i from slc Utah. He is half Tongan half Samoan. We had a really good day. He serves in the Tongan ward so we saw a lot of Polynesians. We taught probably the prettiest Tongan I’ve seen in my life. They are working with her to get baptized. The day was kind of boring. We had leadership but Elder Manu went and taught a lesson so it was just me with our two district leaders. After we went to lunch and it was swell. Wednesday we had another good day. We had a really good district meeting and then we taught a few people through the day. We went on exchanges with Elder Buttars and Elder Correia because Elder Buttars back is hurt. I went with Elder Correia who is originally from Hawai'i but has lived in Utah for a while. We tracted forever and then had dinner and while we were in dinner Elder Manu called and told me to come out because we had an appointment. I was a little bummed because we were planning on skipping dinner that night and that way I would get it but i didn't... We had a few more appointments then we had a meeting with our new Ward Mission Leader Brother Lopez who is Philipino. He is great and is willing to do everything we ask him to. He said if we wanted to mold our ward mission leader, now would be the time because he has no idea what to do and is going to do anything we ask him to. It was great. Then we switched up for exchanges with Elder Seigfried and Elder Heaton. I was a little bummed because I had to stay in my area with Elder Seigfried. Elder Heaton is one of the coolest kids in the world. But we made the best out of the next day and we taught some good lessons that day. Friday we had Zone Leader Rountable, where all the Zone Leaders meet together with President and Sister Lewis and we sit in a big circle(to make it round) and discuss matters in the mission. The last one was kind of lame because 7 of the 26 zone leaders were going home so they didn't participate much but only 2 this time are and Elder Manu is one of them and he is more focused than ever. Also most stressful, to my demise but its good. We had a lot of appointments on Friday and we taught all of them! Saturday was a mighty fine day as well as the day hell broke loose. Glen and Georgina were scheduled to be baptized. When we went to get Georgina up and ready for her ride she had disappeared and we didn't get in contact with her till 9 that night even though we went over there numerous amounts of times. She didn't have white underwear...! She has hurdled all the opposition that’s come her way so far, even someone being beat half to death in her home and she freaks on not having underwear. We would have bought it for her! But she will get baptized if not tomorrow, Saturday. Glen got baptized though and it was one of the greatest things I’ve experienced ever. It was my 23 baptism and probably the first time I got semi emotional while they were getting baptized. It was such a huge miracle. General Conference probably added to the spirit of it as well. Glen was baptized in between the morning and afternoon sessions. He added all sessions but Sunday evening because his blood sugar was up to 450 and i guess over 400 you should be in the hospital. We just hope he lives till next Sunday so we can confirm him and save his soul. That conference sure was good though. I learned so much and received so much revelation for how to become a better disciple of Christ. I hope Elder Holland got through to the boys well enough to make them 100% sure about serving a mission and being worthy to do so. I worry sometimes about them, not that I think they are bad, but that there is so much temptation in this world and we really do have to be alone sometimes in standing for what’s right.

So today is my first day on the Master Cleanse! Its sounds ridiculous and probably is but I am doing it. I don't eat anything for 10 days. All I drink is a special mixture of Cayenne pepper, lemon juice, Maple Syrup and water, as well as a smooth move herbal tea laxative at night as well as the Salt Water Flush in the morning to make me poop out all the toxins in my body. So when we eat fast food we take in a lot of fat, but along with it is all the preservatives that the company has to put in to make it legal to sell year old meat. Well those preservatives are what makes it super had to burn off the fat. So the Cayenne pepper goes into your fat cells and takes the Preservatives out. Now it’s all just chilling there so the lemon Juice, Squeezed from real lemons, absorbs that up and the water makes you pee it out. Now you can't live off of no calories so the maple syrup gives you all the needed calories for the day. But its pure maple syrup. Not the artificial kind. So that is what I am doing for the next ten days. They say you lose 2-5 lbs. a day but you gain half of it back after you start eating again. What I want from it is to, one jump start my weight loss( I will weigh less than dad even if it’s the last thing I do), Two shrink my stomach ( the inside one) cuz I can eat way too much and have to be full, and three save a lot of money on not buying food. After the preservatives are "cleansed" out you can burn fat a lot easier and so that’s it. You might think I am retarded for doing it but hey I’ve got to do something and nothing has worked too well yet. So yeah. Thanks for your love and support.

--
Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

September 26^th 2011

Well all the girls got the Toro sign down, what’s up with the boys?! So I can't email this week. We went to Coloma which is where the members of the Mormon battalion continued on to and they found gold there. We saw some sights, played horse shoes and even panned for gold. Me and a couple of other elders got in belly button deep before Pres. Lewis told us to come back in closer. They have every missionary go before they go home and this group was the last one until June so we got to go a little early in our mission but it was fun. I will have more next week I promise. I'd write more but i still have to shower and get dressed and we have an appointment in an hour so I hope everyone is doing well. Love you!

Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

So I have a few extra minutes tonight to email. So this week was good. We worked real hard, and still are, so we can see success. Tuesday we went on exchanges. I went with Elder Mortensen in his area. He is very tall. He's six foot eight! It was fun. We biked a lot especially to come to our leadership meeting at the church. It was at least five miles away. But we had a good time seeing people even though we weren't able to teach anyone the whole day. Wednesday we had a wonderful district meeting. President and Sister Lewis came to watch it and they said it was one of the best ones they have seen since being here. I'm sure they say that to everyone but it sounded like it came from the heart so it made me feel really happy. Then we had zone lunch. After lunch we had Zone training with President Lewis and it was really good. We have a goal of 101 baptisms in the month of December for another "White Christmas". Its 101 to emphasize the one soul that comes into salvation one at a time. So he talked a lot about that. It was really good and got us excited. He also trained on the "Standard of Excellence" for our mission. Before President Jardine left, us as leaders revised the old one to be more broad in some areas and more specific in others. It basically includes, and this is not all of them because I can't remember everything in this world, spiritually creating your days and weeks in planning, working with the ward members to find new people, to teach five member present lessons a week, to have three people to church every week with at least one person having a date to be baptized at all times and those should lead to 1 baptism a month. That's not even half of it but it’s all I could remember. On Thursday we went on exchanges again. I was with Elder Buttars in my area. It was the first time we have ever proselyted together, ever! It was fun. We stayed up way too late talking and I was dead the whole day. In fact I went to sleep at 10 like 4 nights in a row to make up for my lack of sleep that night. Friday we had weekly planning then a bunch of appointments. We tracted a bit and it was a good day. Saturday was CRAZY! So we have a Native American lady we’re working with named Georgina and her daughter is Dominic. Well they have huge opposition from their family. Not because they don't like the church but because they are super super GHETTO and have ghetto problems and crap. So we show up on Saturday to get them set up for church and a butt load of police cars had just left in front of an ambulance which was headed to the hospital. So Georgina owns a duplex, both sides, and rents one out to her friend who she’s known for a while. Well the night before her friend’s son hit her daughter Dominic because he was drunk. Well Dominic has some black people that want to get with her, that's how it works, and they heard about it so they showed up at 2 in the afternoon, when everyone was drunk ( Who's drunk at 2 anyways?!) and they beat the freaking crap out of this Mexican kid that hit Dominic. The kids mom (BTW the kids over 20) came in while they were beating him and they got scared and ran out and left the kid lying in his own pool of blood. So they called 911 and dragged him out to the front, cuz the duplex is behind another house, yeah its ghetto. So when we got there, there was blood everywhere and Georgina was cleaning it up so me and Elder Manukailea helped her clean it up outside. She said there was twice as much inside than there was outside and let me tell you, i didn't know someone had that much blood in them from what I saw outside. So we didn't get them set up for church too good. That night the neighbors whose son got beat up was drunk again and tried to fight Dominic and had a knife and cut her good on the arm. Dominic is a small girl and the lady is big and her boyfriend got a hit or two in as well. So they didn't come to church on Sunday. Georgina is actually in her interview for baptism right now but Dominic is at home and afterwards we will probably go give her a blessing. So that's what happened this week. I am in no danger so don't freak out. Plus me and Elder Manukailea are big guys and can hold our own and we can run fast ha. But really we haven't seen anything happen really. So I have to go now. Glen got his interview on Saturday and came to church Sunday so he will be getting baptized on Saturday between sessions of conference. Man what a memorable day that will be for me. I love conference and baptisms so it will rock. He truly is a miracle find. Lamar is scared to get married to Antonisha so were still working on that but the 40 bucks is still there when he mans up and puts some pants on, that is the pants of their relationship. So yeah that's it. I hope this one was entertaining to read. I thought it was a good story. And really I am in no danger at all.
Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

September 19^th 2011

Well this week was good. That game sounded exciting, too bad they lost. Hopefully they win a few more. It sounds like Braden is working real hard and is getting more playing time. That’s great keep it up. This week went pretty good. Monday night we went to dinner with a Tongan member. He took us out for Chinese food. It was good but not the greatest I’ve had. Late that night we switched up for exchanges with Elder Morgan and Elder Forrester. I went with Elder Morgan in his area. He is in Lao work so it was fun. He lives with Elder Buttars so we stayed up late that night and talked for a long time. On Tuesday we were on exchanges nothing too exciting happened. We had a delicious dinner at these peoples. They fed us steak and baked potatoes with a delicious juice she made. It was swell and well worth the exchange. We switched back up after dinner. On Wednesday we had district meeting. It was good. We have great district leaders which leads to a lot of the success in the zone. We went on bike most of Wednesday. We biked so freakin far it was ridiculous. Like so much. It wasn't too bad though. I need the exercise. We had a couple of lessons and it was good. We had a good dinner with a young family and it was nice. Then we switched up for another exchange with Elder Johnson and Elder Jones. Elder Johnson came into my area with me. Thursday was good. We got to teach a lot of people. We taught Glen the old guy and it was good. He is still set for the 1st of October. We had a few other lessons that were good too. We have dinner with the Grover’s. We had enchiladas. They weren't as good as moms because no one’s is but they were ok. They were a fun little family. Then we switched back up. Friday we had weekly planning and then some more appointments. We rode bikes a lot on Friday too. Our ward had a chili cook off on Friday night and there were some good chili’s. Then we played catch with a football with some of the ward members. Saturday was good like all the other days. We set a lot of people up for church and it went good. We went to In n Out for dinner and I got my double double animal style with animal fries. It was good. Then we tracted some more and set more people up for church. As a zone leader they give us 20 more dollars on our cards so I still have 100 bucks with less than half the month left. So that’s good. Sunday we had a good church. Five investigators were there and all five are set up to be baptized on Oct. 1st. So were excited. I don't know if well hit our goal of 8 but we will be close. So that’s pretty much all that is going on now. Oh and I bought some new 20 dollar shoes today so I can go running more and be comfortable. I plan to weigh less than dad when I come home no matter how hungry I have to get. It might also mean less double doubles and animal fries... starting tomorrow. Well I love you all. Hope all is good.

Love Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

Natasha Schmid & Elder Arnett-

Natasha is Tyler’s best friend, Christiaan Schmids, Aunt. She lives in California and hooked up with Elder Arnett

I'll send this first just in case it happens again. Last week a missionary from Samoa unplugged the internet cuz his was going slow and jacked it up. It took me most the week to fix it but I did so that is why I didn't email. I had a nice long one written but it wouldn't send or even save cuz the internet was off so that is why I didn't email. No I’m not sick and no I don't hate you.

September 12^th 2011

Ok so things are going good. We are still working very very hard to baptize as many people as we can. We did have transfers and both Elder Manukailea and I stayed here in North Sac which means I’ll being killing Elder Manu. cuz he goes home at the end of the transfer. So that is exciting. He has a big goal of 8 baptisms for his last transfer which I have adopted as mine this transfer as well as if I had a choice but I’m glad to do it. We have a lot of people lined up for baptism at the end of this month and at the beginning of October. We will be very close to reaching our goal. So we have been working with people and some have been solid and some were solid but have been flaking a lot lately so we are really trying to find more and more so the numbers game comes in. Meaning if we have 100 investigators at least a few will get baptized. So that is going good. A couple of weeks ago we knocked on this old guy’s door who lived in a mobile home. He said he doesn't do religion or anything and wouldn't want to waste his and our time but if he was going to join a church it would be the Mormon Church. So we just went on and looked for more people. So this week we rode bikes every day to save miles up for a meeting we had to go to in Elk Grove on Saturday. Well as we were riding down the street we stopped to talk to this old guy in a motorized wheel chair. We talk to everyone so sometimes we have repeats. Well it turned out to be the old guy from the mobile home and we struck up a nice casual conversation then told him we would come by his home and he didn't object. So later in the week we went to his house and started talking to him about God and he said it was about time for him to join a church and the only one he would join is the Mormon Church. So we continued teaching him and gave him a book of Mormon and he accepted it. Everything we said to him he said it was like we were reading his mind and it was everything he really believes in his heart. So it’s been amazing. So he came to church on Sunday and said he can tell he’s making the right decision and was telling everyone he was going to join the church and it’s the only one he would ever join. He introduced himself in priesthood and said it’s taken him 76 years but he’s finally found the truth and he didn't even know he was looking for it. So it’s a miracle. It was awesome and we are super excited. We have experiences like that all the time. We are working with some really great people right now. So yeah it’s been real good. Yesterday Aunt Tasha came and visited me at church. She gave me a bunch of goodies before she left. She is very nice. I might call her up some time to take us out to dinner somewhere nice. So that was cool. You saw the picture of it. So yeah things have been going real good. We have a lot of great missionaries in our zone. It’s very diverse. There is a missionary from Samoa one from Tonga and the rest from the US but it’s cool. Elder Buttars is in my zone. We are doing great in the zone. We are the highest baptizing zone in the mission and are working to keep it that way. Even if we ourselves as the zone leaders have to get half the baptisms. It’s good though. This work is a lot more fulfilling when you exhaust yourself doing the work and then see the fruits of it. I wish I would have figured it out before. So that is what’s going on with me and some of my thoughts. Mom I need a new inhaler but I’m just going to get it myself. There’s a Walgreens around here so I’ll just take the box in and get a new one so I hope I have enough money for it. Also, Mom do we have insurance yet or going to get it ever. Sister Adams went home so she can't convince the missionary insurance to cover a different inhaler that they won't cuz asthma is a preexisting condition and the inhaler cost somewhere between 250 to 300 dollars. So yeah insurance would help that. As well, sorry I’m asking for so much, can you send me more garments. All my polly cotton ones are worn out and one of my mesh ones got ink all over it cuz my companion broke my pen. All I want are mesh ones. Maybe like six pairs? Only mesh though. I don't like the other ones. I wear xl tops and lg short bottoms. Please and thank you. Today is my 16 month mark. It’s going by so fast.

Love, Elder Tyler Pete Arnett

OK, since you didn't get a letter, I'll fill you in on some text messages my sister sent to me just a few minutes ago.

While at church, they were sitting on the first row behind the cushioned rows. They both saw something coming towards them fast & they realize it's a mouse! It ran right between them, they both look at each other in shock, not believing what they just saw. Elder Arnett grabs his bag & puts it on the chair next to him, and my sister is trying to keep from screaming during the meeting, she said it was pretty gross.

Elder Arnett says he is so busy with being a Zone Leader, but loves it. He is in great spirits and loves the area he is working in. He was super excited with all the goodies my sister brought him + the 8-pack of Powerade. She added a couple of bags of Swedish fish to the stash. He & his comp are going to hide everything from their other two roommates. He was shy & quiet when he met my sister at first, but warmed up to her as time went on. She showed him the picture of Elder Schmid & his mission president and wife we received last Monday shortly after his arrival in Africa. My sister told Elder Arnett to call her if he ever needs anything or needs dinner one night, she'll take them to dinner.

Emile