Elder Christian Thomas Dietz: The adventures of Elder "BIG Daddy" Dietz

Hey there homies! It's me Elder Dietz!

Well Week one was a success. Wasn't easy, but it was rewarding! I got a little Homesick, but I'm doing much better! One thing that I have to brag about is that I'm in the Coolest mission there is. There is no arguing with me, you'll lose.

> There's one really good way to combat homesickness and other hard times missionaries have. I learned the secret Saturday night. I read this quote by Gordon B. Hinkley: "The Best antidote I know for worry is work. The best medicine for despair is service. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired." I have seen similar quotes and scriptures a lot in the past two weeks. I can promise you that it is true. I cant' tell how much it helps get rid of homesickness. If you lose yourself in the work, you will begin to forget yourself and your problems. You then will feel the need to help others with theirs. One of the things I have had a lot of cool experiences with so far is prayer. The most powerful one happened Saturday night. I was feeling pretty discouraged so I decided to go to bed. As I was saying my prayers, I got a prompting to open my nightstand drawer. There was a book that I was given. That book was at my open house for people to write in. There are a lot of loving and encouraging messages in there, but one of them caught my eye immediately. It was the first one and it really stood out to me because it was long and written in red. I was written by one of my siblings. It was their testimony of prayer. It was perhaps one of the strongest testimonies on prayer that I have read. They have no idea that their testimony of prayer has blessed my life on the Mission so far.

Sunday Morning I had the great opportunity to attend Music and the Spoken Word. It was my second time ever. It was a neat experience. The music was beautiful, and the spirit was definitely there. I can't wait to go again Next Sunday! [Not this week because of General Conference.] Sunday was also my time to my new branch. It was crazy having my records read into a new ward. Our chapel is Located in JSMB. It is very beautiful! Probably the coolest looking chapel I've been in. So it fast Sunday and I got that Feeling. Yes the feeling that I needed to bear my testimony. So I did it, and it felt really cool to bear it people that I had never born it to before.

Monday Morning devotional is an awesome way to start off the week. It marked the beginning of week two. The spirit there is so strong. I just love it! One of the Best things about the Mission is the fact that we get to do our own Family History work when we have free time. I have worked on one line a lot and it has paid off. I found Four family names to take to the Temple! It's so cool when that happens. [FOR MY FRIENDS THAT ARE LOVELY DAUGHTERS OF GOD: I need help with doing female names. I was wondering if some of you were willing to do some of the names for me? I will send them to you. Just email me your address!] Later that day I got to tour the Church Office Building (COB). Part of that tour includes going to the observation deck. It's way cool up there! You can see some of the most beautiful sights and buildings in Downtown Salt Lake City. Before the tour at the COB, I was walking up some stairs at the Family History Library and felt a pop in my knee. About 2 hours later my knee was killing me. Well in case you didn't know, I tore my meniscus last football season and the pop was in the same knee.

Tuesday I went with on of the senior missionaries Elder Musgrave,to get X-Rays on my knee. So that was quite the adventure. Later that day I was with another Elder who offered to take me to City Creek for lunch. While we were waiting in line for Chick-Fil-a, a very nice gentleman asked if he could by our lunch. I think I mentioned last week that as a Missionary you don't turn down free food. It was awesome! We sat and talked to him and then he had to go back to work. Then I noticed that he Left his Briefcase! So we waited for him until he came back we were all grateful for that. Tuesday ended on a great note! We had transfer conference. I got assigned to my First companion/Trainer Elder Spencer Young. I also got assigned to the Family Search Center Zone. The FSC is located in the basement of the JSMB. It's an awesome zone especially for starting off. If you ever want a way cool Family History experience, come To the Family Discovery Center! It is the coolest thing ever! It Involves iPads and learning about you and your ancestors. COME TRY IT OUT!!!! So when I moved into our new apartment, I came to one realization. My Mom's cleanliness standards rubbed off on me. I AM A CLEAN FREAK! The apartment was nasty! But my companion and I are changing that for sure.

I'm running out of time, but another two awesome blessings happened. First, I Found out that my knee did not tear again. Instead I have to do four weeks of Physical Therapy. The second is that I found another Six Names for the Temple that's TEN this week!

I am so grateful for this mission! I am blessed every day because of my decision to serve. It is truly where the Lord needs me. I love this church. It is true. I can never deny that. I love and miss all of you! Thank you for your prayers on my behalf and all the other Missionaries around the world. Keep 'em coming because we need them! See you in roughly 102 weeks!

Love you all,

Elder Christian Thomas "Shaunk BIG Daddy" Dietz

P.S. I found out I can email and write anyone! Here is my Email address:[ Elder.ctbdD.Dietz@gmail.com ] Please email me! :D i want to see how you are!