AUGUST 5th

Well, yesterday was an amazing day. As we looked through the former investigators section in our area book, we found a 24 year old named Caesar, who taught and lived at the Spoken English Center. We happened to find his classroom at the end of one of his classes. The secretary went to check with him to see if it was alright for Elder Ludlow and I to sit in on his class as he taught the differences between WILL and SHALL. Five minutes into the lecture he asked his students, "Will Jesus come, the second time before I die?" Some say "Jesus shall come, I don't know." And then he invited us to the front of the class so that the students could ask us questions about America and answer questions about India. It was absolutely incredible. We spoke for 30 minutes with the class about food, movies, places to go and the family in America. We also spoke about the food in India and the families in India. For most of them, it was the first time they spoke with an American. I absolutely loved it. I told them some jokes and they loved it.

We then taught Caesar and had a very successful first lesson.

Last night we went to Brother Bazil's family. Elder Ludlow and I have been working with them for almost two months and the children have come to church once and his brother has come twice. We taught the Restoration again, but this time using only The Book of Mormon. Brazil is quite an entertaining man, he has sailed on a ship for most of his life and has been all around the world. Apparently, ice cream is best in China and Australia. US hamburgers are delicious and Germans like to fight. He can imitate a pretty decent Scottish accent and says he is smarter than most people he sails with. His family is Catholic and he has been Catholic for 58 years. He has agreed to let his children be baptized if they want, but is pretty attached to the Catholic Church himself.

We compared the church to a ship, with a prophet like the captain, and his apostles like the crew. Not anybody could run a ship, but someone with training or authority. The apostle were given authority to lead Christ's church. After Jesus Christ died for our sins, persecution grew until all of the apostles were also killed. From history we learn Peter was also crucified, James was beheaded. It is thought that Thomas even died in Madras. The ship had the Holy Bible, or a radar, but no one knew how to correctly decipher the radar. When Joseph Smith prayed and asked God what church was true, God chose Joseph to be a prophet and restored the authority God gave to the apostles. We now have someone who can understand the radar, who can teach us God's plan. Joseph Smith was commanded to call 12 apostles and restore Jesus Christ's church to the earth.

Brother Bazil looked more humble then I have ever seen him. Elder Ludlow said, "Brother Bazil, as I look into your eyes and those of your daughter's and wife's, I know you can feel the Holy Spirit. I know that you know this message is true." The spirit was very strong and they did not need to answer Elder Ludlow's question for us to know the answer.

"It is true," Brother Bazil responded. "I know it."

It was a remarkable lesson last night, and a great way to tie off a remarkable week.

August 12th

This was a great week. I was able to perform a baptism last Sunday, I always love the baptisms and they really make the week great. The best birthday gift in the world is bringing someone into the Gospel. I am so grateful that I was able to baptize Brother Kumar the day after my 20th
birthday.

On my birthday I was fed so much that I think that I'm 4kgs heavier for the past 5 days. In India, people like to feed you on your birthday. I did not go starving that day. We started out the morning teaching and then Elder Ludlow and I went to pick up a birthday cake he had ordered for me. The birthday cake was the face of a girl and the cake said "Happy Birthday Elder Nixon, Love Sister Nixon!" I loved the cake! This is the only girl I have been able to hold in the past year! We cut cake with all my converts and Missionaries at the church, then we went to eat at a members home. Later that day, we taught some great lessons which was the best part of the day. Then finally we ate at another members home for dinner and they made us banana bread in celebration of Birthday.

It was fun, but I have to say that a birthday is not a birthday without family. I am so grateful for the love and support for the people here in India. I received Uncle Randy's package on my birthday and it was amazing, he packed it with very nice treats and homemade jerky.

This week has moved by so fast and many great experiences happened. One day we had been knocking all day and we came upon this man that looked very surprised to see us. He quickly invited us in and we went and began to get to know him. After a few moments of introductions, he looked at us and said, "I need you, I know the Lord sent you to me, I have waited for you," He had tears in his eyes and he confessed that he has some serious struggles that he is dealing with. It was not the first time we have had an experience like this, but this time I was very humbled as I sat back thinking that here is a man that has a family, he is in his 50's, he has a career, he had children in college, and he is looking for help from a 20 year old.

I am constantly humbled by situations like these. I know that the Lord has really blessed me with such a wonderful calling which allows me to help people through their struggles. I had another experience this week with an investigator who is a 65 year old University MBA professor and knows English better than me. He has struggled with tea and he just couldn't get over it, his confidence was low and my companion and I really didn't know what to say. We went in and taught him the importance of obedience and how this is the way to honor our Father in Heaven. We then taught repentance and how when he repents he will fell that guilt completely leave his body. The next day we came back and he was so happy. He was celebrating that he did it! He did not take tea and he repented and felt a literal weight taken from him. He explained it was the greatest of all the feelings he has ever had, and he is so grateful for us and he knows that as he keeps the covenants is making, "His Father" is very happy. I now realize the importance of the gospel. Some of the people I teach have money, families, cars and other materials of worldly value, but they are all not happy because they are missing the gospel in their lives.

My favorite part of the mission is watching the Gospel change the lives of families.

August 19th

This was a great Birthday!!!!! I am so grateful for you and dad. I'm grateful for all you have done for me and continue to do for me. I love my family and miss you all.

The work is going great. I have to tell you a funny story. There are 12 girls that came to Visag for a summer exchange program, from BYU. They really stick out like sore thumbs because they are all white as snow, like they have not seen the sun in a very long time. Rumors are flying around the city of Visag that a "dozen American Girls brought swine flu to Visak!" I guess the swine flu is starting to spread through Visag and people believe that these girls from BYU brought it with them.

September 8th

I loved hearing about my lacrosse buddy, Neil Watterson and how he walked on and made the BYU football team. He was quite the football player in high school and I know that he will be a great asset to the team.

This week has been kind of emotional because I look and see the end of the tunnel and realize that I have 11 months left on my mission and I feel like I have so much work left to do.I love the mission so much and I am shocked looking back in time to see how far I have come.

On my way back to Visag, after interviewing with the President Nichols, the train ride back was 13 hours long and it gave me time to reflect and think about my mission. In reading D&C section 15 verse 6, this is why we are all here. This is what makes me tick, The greatest desire of my heart is to dwell with my brothers and sister in the Celestial Kingdom. Everyday serving these people is the greatest blessing of my life. I am so grateful to be here and to be working diligently to bring my brothers and sisters to a knowledge of their Redeemer.

On Sunday, as Elder Ludlow and I were walking through a neighborhood trying to find people to teach, we came across a bunch of workers who were tearing down an old two story flat. Now in India, they do not use power tools, they use sledge hammers and picks to tear down a building made of concrete. We felt like we should give the workers a rest, so we picked up hammers and began to work. We worked and worked and worked ......We worked until our hands were literally bleeding and so badly blistered, we couldn't shake hands, let alone pick up our bags. By the time we were finished and leaving, we noticed the entire neighborhood was hanging out their windows and on their roofs watching us. We met a lot of people and received a lot of contact that day. It was a great experience.

I challenge you to read the scriptures and study by specific topics. I promise the things that you discover are worth a lot more than any earthly possessions. I am grateful our family has worked hard to follow the teachings of the prophets.

I love you,
Elder Nixon

Happy 20th Birthday!

Just wanted to take a minute and wish Billy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY this Saturday, August 8th. We are so proud of the wonderful young man he has become, and we look forward to all of the great things he will continue to accomplish.

Happy Birthday Billy!

We Love You!

Life in Visakhapatnam

Excerpts from the Letters of
Elder William L. Nixon II

June 10th

I love and enjoy working with Elder Ludlow. He is disciplined and determined, and I have been very blessed with great
companions. Our teaching pool is growing so big and we are constantly teaching lessons. We have two baptisms set for this
Sunday and one for the following Sunday. There has only been one baptism in my area in the past seven months and the drought is coming to an end. We are hopeful that we will see several baptisms within this next transfer.

One of our primary objectives is to build the Branch and to strengthen the members. We put together a huge "Mission Board" where members can find tips to help with the mission work, the Branch goals for the mission work, updates on missionary firesides, and pictures of recent baptisms this year. This area has a lot of potential, and I know that with the help of the Branch members we will meet our goals. There is a new energy within the Branch and everyone is beginning to support the Elders. We have worked with the Branch President and the Mission Leader to develop a Branch Mission plan.

This past Sunday we brought a man by the name of Karthik back to church. He is a returned missionary and has been inactive for a year. I don't know why he went inactive, but every missionary attempt to bring him back failed. He knows more about the gospel and Preach My Gospel, then anyone I know. He quoted word for word an entire page from Preach My Gospel. I feel he will be a Stake President here someday, and I have never felt the Spirit as strong as I have in trying to get him back to church.

Last Sunday, he entered the chapel and you could hear a pin drop. You could see the tears in the eyes of several members when he walked through the door. He bore his testimony that day and it was truly amazing. His sister is the wife of the Branch President, and she said that she couldn't believe that he finally returned. It was the best moment of my mission so far. He has already committed to teach the Gospel Essentials class in Sunday School.

We had the opportunity to go back to Hyderbad for our Zone Conference and we had a great time seeing the members that we served with and converts that we have baptized. I love those that I have taught and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to introduce them to the gospel. Mother Stella, the older women that I taught and saw baptized, made me dinner and told me that she had missed me too much. Jay Raj and his family are doing great and it is amazing to see how much the gospel has blessed their lives.

Right now we have 16 different people who we feel will be baptized in Vizag. I am loving the mission, and everyday it seems like time is moving very fast—almost too fast.


June 17th

This week has been great. I had my first baptism in Vizag. The Spirit was strong and I am so grateful for the opportunity to a part of bringing souls unto Christ.

When I came to Vizag, Elder Jenks told me that they had walked the same streets and knocked on all the Christian doors and there is no one to teach. Right away I knew that we had a lot of work to do and it was going to be very hard. We attended church the following Sunday and there had been only about 40 members in attendance. The few returned missionaries from the branch were dressed in jeans and not very engaged in the meetings. The companionship that had been there for six months had tried very hard to change things, but it was very difficult. We had to gain the trust of the members, so we suggested a movie night and it was something that had not been done in the branch. It was a huge success and the members loved it.

One of our goals was to get all the returned missionaries back to church in their Priesthood attire and to use them to help us teach the gospel and baptize. Our objective is to get them into a leadership mode to take charge and build the Church. And I can attest that miracles do happen. Last Sunday was on of the happiest days of my mission. I walked in the chapel with tears in my eyes as I saw all the returned missionaries in their Priesthood attire and the Chapel was completely full. The whole branch stayed for the baptism that we had that day. I felt like we were making a difference. We were on the right path.

Last night I received a call from the Zone Leaders and they were calling to report on the Zone Conference in Bangalore and to let us know about the success of the Zone. They informed me that the Vizag Zone is number two in the mission. They thanked us for working so hard to build the zone.


June 24th

Things are going great and I love the mission! I have been really sick lately, but I am working hard to get better. We had another baptism and it feels great to have back-to-back baptisms. Sunday we found a family of 14 with perfect English and a great understanding of our message. We are going back to teach them tonight and I am hopeful that the lesson will go well.

My companion and I are working really hard to build the kingdom and things
are really starting to pick up here in the Vizak Zone.

July 1st


I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with President Nichols during our regular transfer interview. It was very spiritual and joyful. During Zone Conference they displayed the numbers of all the districts in the Rjumondy Zone and Vizag Zone. It was a thrill to see how far we had come.

Rajumondry is the leading baptizing zone in the mission. So far this year they have 80 baptisms and have doubled other zones numbers. My first Zone Conference in Vizag, our numbers didn't even reach a quarter of theirs. I told the other Elders in the Raj Zone that I was so inspired by their hard work and that they are an inspiration to us.

It is a blessing to be a part of a great work and see a dramatic change in the Zone. Right now our teaching pool is growing. Some days we have so many appointments and people to see that we have to go on splits with other Branch members. Last week we had 20 member-present lessons and 25 new investigators. I was a little disappointed with our sacrament attendance. We only had 15 investigators. Still, I really feel that things are going great.

I am loving life and I am so grateful for this Great Gospel and to be a part of this Church. I could never do anything contrary to the teaching of the Church, because I know that nothing is worth giving up the blessings promised to us. One of my favorite stories is when Moses sees the glory of God and then when God leaves Satan and tells Moses to bow to him.... And Moses’ reply is a clear testimony that nothing in the world compares to that of our Father’s Kingdom. Satan can offer us nothing that can even substitute for the reward we are promised. I have never been happier in my entire life, and this happiness comes by living the gospel.

July 15

The work continues! It is funny to think that I am almost done with the first year and I guess it is true what they say, "the first year is slow, but the second year is down hill from there!" I know that I have much work to do before the end of my Mission and I am even more determined. I know that the next year will go by fast and I don't want to waste a minute of it.

The first year of my mission has flown by and it is scary to think that I have less then a year left in India. I am so far from reaching my personal goal of baptisms on my mission and I have really reflected on what I can do better to bring more people the truth, faster.

July 22

We continue to work hard. Lately we are working harder then ever to help our investigators progress. We have done some things that we feel will help the people we teach and help them gain a stronger understanding of the Book of Mormon and receive a witness of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. The most important question that is asked is, "is the book true?" The difficulty of this question is that no one on this earth is able to answer that question. You must find out for yourself by reading, pondering, and praying. Our determination to find the answer lies within ourselves and our personal commitment to know it is true.

As a missionary, our job is difficult. Often people make the commitment to read, but most of the time the result is that they did not understand or they failed to keep the commitment they made. Elder Ludlow and I developed a 25-day scripture reading list. This took us about three hours of diligent studying, and the end result seems to be very positive. Within the 25-day reading list lay the scriptures which explain the Restoration of the Gospel, our personal Salvation, The Atonement of Christ, the relationship between our Father in Heaven and his children and the entrance into the Kingdom of
God. I feel that this is going to be very successful and I am more then excited. I know that if they follow the schedule accompanied with prayer, they will receive a witness of the truth of the Restored Gospel.

Everything is going great, and we are now working with a lot of investigating families. We are hopeful that there will be at least two baptisms within the next three weeks. Right now we are working with a family and they are keeping all of their commitments and the Father has already committed his family to baptism. Elder Ludlow and I are confident that they will be baptized within six weeks. I sure hope so because we love this family dearly. He calls us his angels and whenever we teach about the Prophets, he says that he thinks that we are going to be future prophets. We laugh. He is a funny man.


July 30

I want to let you know how much I love you. I understand that you are down in the Bahamas on business. I must say I am extremely jealous and wish I was down there with you. I think that our deep sea fishing experiences are some of my most fond memories, and I absolutely loved it. I really hope things are going well and that you are able to help the resort properties for Mr. Li and his company.

This week has been a little rough, I was sick again and I really just don’t know how to get feeling better. I am still working through it, and we had some great successes. A fireside planned for July 24th went very well, and we had 110 people in attendance. It was the most successful fireside I have seen thus far in India. The Chapel was packed and the Primary performed Pioneer story skits and we had a "curry cook off." I won "Best Man Made curry." I made three kilograms of Beef curry as a joke and it was all gone within five minutes. The People absolutely loved it. I don’t think they knew it was beef, though, because I almost guarantee if they all knew it would have not gone as fast. People really loved it. I used a tomato base rather than the Andra Special coconut base, and it was very good.

Last night I received a call from the Zone leaders after zone leaders council in Bangalore. They reported that Vizag Zone is now leading the mission. They also said that during the conference President Nichols spoke about leadership, how every leader has a vision and knows how to execute that vision. President had them watch Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and talk about it. The Zone leaders were very complimentary. They told me that as they watched that video they thought about our vision in Vizag and how we have been able to get the branch and Elders excited about that vision.

I was so touched by what they said and that they would take the time to call me about it.

Well, besides the success of the mission work, I have thought more about my plans for my future. I think that I am pretty determined to work for Policy Impact and I feel that I have thought of the way I want to go about doing it. When I get home I want to go back to BYU and major in public relations, then I want to go on to get an MBA from one of the great universities in Washington.

While I attend the evening program I want to also work on Capitol Hill and get some political experience under my belt, so by the time I about 30 I will have my graduate degree from a great school, experience on Capitol Hill and in the military. I feel politically it will be a very good start to a career in PR, and I feel that it is something I want to do. I think I will be in good position to join Policy Impact at this point. I don’t want to be like some sons who feel that things are owed them or who just get what their fathers earned and then spoil the company. I want to be self reliant and work hard to learn and to be able to lead rightfully. I want to prepare my self before coming on. Of course, my ultimate goal is to take over Policy Impact and help it continue to expand into the future.

Well my time is up, and I better get going. We could not email yesterday because the LDS server was down and I was unable to log on all day. So sorry for the delayed email. I love you so much and I am so proud to call you my parents. I love you.

Update From Billy -- July 10, 2009

This past week gave me an experience in which I never thought I would have. I share this experience with you to show the tender mercies of the Lord, are over all those whom he has chosen.

Friday was a great day and filled with many wonderful appointments. The spirit was strong, we worked hard, and it was one of the better days of the week. We had our recent convert, Brother Shyam, with us on exchanges. He has such a wonderful testimony and he has really helped with the mission work since his baptism 3 weeks ago. As custom, when we take Brother Shyam, we treat him with ice cream to thank him for his work and his willingness to help us. The time was growing late and we really needed to be getting home. We rushed through the ice cream parlor and jumped into a auto to give us a ride back to our apartment. We made an agreement with the auto driver that we would pay him more if he dropped us off first and then he would take our member exchange home, the driver agreed.

As we were getting closer to our Colony, we made the decision to go the back way, which would put us at the top of the hill going down to our apartment building, rather than attempting to drive up a very steep and rocky road. As we looked down the steep road we could see our apartment building, it was several feet away. We were all having a great time laughing and joking around. Those laughs and jokes faded away as we began to realize that the brakes failed and the auto was out of the driver's control. The auto began picking up speed and we were bouncing fast down the hill.

I can recall, as clear as day, the feelings I had and the thoughts that ran through my mind. There was not a doubt in my mind that we were going to crash. I felt like the Lord was comforting me at that time and I felt very calm and at peace. Never have my thoughts been clearer than they were at that moment. I knew that whatever happened was the will of the Creator.

We sped through a small intersection and swerved to the right of a turning car. We barely scrapped past the turning vehicle and then landed right in back of a parked car. It was in slow motion as we were racing towards the back of a suburban. I won't go into any more detail about it, other than saying, imagine yourself as an empty coke can smashed under a child's foot. Right away, my companion and I jumped out of the auto as fast as we could. I hit my head hard and I thought it might have been cut open. But I knew I had hurry because I felt a sense of urgency, but at the same time I was calm and I felt no pain. My companion and I exerted all our energy trying to pry open the crushed auto so that we could pull the crushed driver out of the vehicle. He was bleeding badly and he was in very bad shape. I quickly tore my tie off and wrapped it around his head; he had a huge gash across his head. I got him to the side of the road quickly and a crowd began to form. His leg was shattered and he was cut very deep, but I felt like he was going to be alright once we got him lying down.


Then I ran to the member who was walking in pain. He explained that his knees hurt and that there was much pain. After a quick examination of his injury, I realized that he just had some bruises, but nothing serious. I am so grateful for the Athletic Training class I took at BYU. I turned my attention to my companion who I thought was fine and I realized that he was going into shock. He was white as a ghost. I told him to lie down quickly and try to control his breathing. I asked if he suffered any head injuries and he said that he was fine. I ran as fast a I could to a small shop to purchase water packets for the driver, the member and my companion. I bounced between the three of them until the ambulance arrived. They took care of all of us and then they rushed the driver to the hospital.

As we were leaving the area, a community pastor came up and asked how we survived, and then he said "God surely protected you." I know that my Heavenly Father was there the entire night with me. I have never been more at peace in my life. It wasn't until I jumped in bed that night, I realized that I had cuts across the top of my shins and I had bruises that had appeared all over my legs. As I laid in bed, I could not stop thinking how great is my God and I began to hum my favorite song, "Abide with me tis even tide" as I fell a sleep.

"For, Consider the Lilies of the field, how they grow---" What a beautiful statement of the Lord's hands in the creation of everything. I know that Heavenly Father has his hand directly in our life. We are the balls of clay in the Creator's hands, he molds us and forms us into a beauty that we cannot comprehend, but we must have faith, hope, and know that he does everything for us to bring us closer to him and help us prepare to receive all that he has. I am so grateful for the Gospel and the blessing
it has been in my life. There is not a greater power than that of the Atonement of Christ which grants us the "Power to change" and the possibility of always being able to receive the reward which our Father has prepared.

Love,
Elder Nixon

Billy's Testimony and New Pictures

Let me tell you, I absolutely love my companion, and we are working harder than ever. I feel edified every day after working and I can tell that the Father in Heaven is well pleased with our efforts because I feel that He is constantly sending more people for us to teach. Since the phone call home on Mother’s Day I have an extra bounce in my step, and I literally am searching to gather the "elect" and bring them to Zion. Last week Elder Ludlow and I met with 22 new investigators, and it has only been two days into this week, but we have already met 10. It is back to back appointments, and while walking from appointment to appointment the Lord sends us people. I know baptisms are on the way.

I have dedicated some the past week of my free time to studying about Zion. When I completed my studies yesterday I was shocked to see that it came out to 14 typed pages on the matter. One of the most important things I learned was the truth that Heavenly Father is the same today, yesterday, and forever. I also know that everything that has been promised is coming to pass, that the Lord knew of the Great Apostasy and the Restoration far before man was sent to the Earth. The promise that the Lord made to Noah is being fulfilled. The veil of Darkness which covered the earth was lifted the moment Joseph Smith bore his heart to the Lord seeking truth in the Sacred Grove. The truth being brought forth out from the ground was fulfilled the moment that the Book of Mormon was uncovered from the Earth. And the Earth is being flooded by Elders of Israel sent forth to search after the elect.

So where are we now? We are preparing Zion and establishing Zion amongst our Wards, Stakes, Branches and most importantly our homes. We need to search after the elect and gather everyone who is chosen to a unity of the faith. We need to be of one heart and one mind, dwelling in complete righteousness. Which came first, Zion, or the Holy City?! Once we establish Zion then we will be able to gather to the New Jerusalem and walk with our God, the King of Israel. How great is this plan.

My study really strengthened me. As I walk everyday I feel like I am running from appointment to appointment, with "Come to Zion" singing in my heart.

Some Elders say this is the easy time in their life. No worries, no college, no having to work. Those Elders are missing out. This is the time where we need to gird up our loins and diligently assist the Father in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. I love my calling and work hard to magnify it.

Update on Billy

Billy’s mission is quickly approaching its first year, but then who’s keeping track of time, especially when so many exciting things are taking place in Visak, where Elder Nixon is serving as District Leader. Among his growing love for the people, Billy’s messages home reference the lifelong friendships he is making with companions and fellow missionaries in India.

Elder Jenks (They never really do use first names, so it makes it difficult for those of us keeping up the blog.) is one of those. He and Billy met first in the Mission Training Center, and Billy was excited to learn that they would be serving as companions. Both quickly realized that their excitement was not misplaced. Working along with the other missionaries in the coastal city, they quickly built a pool of investigators, spending long days in 110 degree heat.

Billy shared how his testimony grew as they were directed to specific individuals and used novel contacting methods to meet investigators in a nation that has an official ambivalence toward religious freedom and missionary work. They built their investigator pool to eight, despite the fact that all the missionaries battled illnesses, which seem to be ever present for the young men serving there. Billy at one point was hospitalized but knew better than to let his Mom know, at least until he had fully recovered.

Among those novel approaches, Billy and Elder Jenks organized a movie night the local church congregation, showing The Prince of Egypt. Striving for authenticity, Billy even succeeded in tracking down a popcorn machine, another completely novel idea in India cinema. The evening was a success, but not to the level that Billy’s earlier open house had been in Hyderbad, where he showcased the life of Christ in video and the remarkable photographs of Mark Mabry.

Reporting on the success of the movie night, Billy said the members and the visitors loved it. The Elders had arranged to bring in a big movie screen, large speakers, a huge projector, and they borrowed rope lights that were run along the floor in
the aisles. At the end of the movie when the song “Miracles” came on, you could feel the spirit was so strong. “It was priceless,” he said. At the end, he bore his testimony of living prophets and the fact that there is one on the earth today—that they receive revelation from God. He said that is the strongest testimony he has ever shared concerning prophets. While he spoke, there was complete silence. “You could feel the emotion as well as the strong spirit in the room,” he said.

Along with the spiritual work, Billy and Elder Jenks challenged each other physically, working out regularly, despite the heat, and getting together with the other Elders to play football on the beach during their preparation day. For the game, Billy and Elder Jenks had special shirts made up that had their names printed in Telugu with their numbers on them—NFL Indian style. The shirts hit the comedic chord, and Billy admitted that while his competitiveness may have decreased this past year, his love for making others laugh has not.

The walking and exercise has taken weight off of Billy, which is noticeable in the photographs. “When we come home at the end of the day we can actually wring out our shirts and ties,” he wrote. “There is so much perspiration that we have a puddle on the floor.” With it all, he is enthusiastic, reporting that being with Elder Jenks is like working with his best friend. Their personalities are infectious as they work to make people smile and laugh in the streets, and challenge each other to set and keep goals. Billy wants to return to his lacrosse, and Elder Jenks has been inspired to go out for his university’s soccer team when he returns home.

April and May were also good months for Billy and his parents. For Easter he received a CARE package with new ties, his much love licorice, and most importantly insoles for his shoes. In May he was able to call home for Mother’s Day and let Tammy hear his voice and the family feel his enthusiasm and love for the gospel. There is no question that an already disciplined and mature young man is changing into a remarkable leader, even though his brother Joseph thinks his accent is funny. In his voice you can hear a genuine love for the people and an understanding of the importance of the work and the transformational power it has in the lives of those who embrace the gospel.

“I have never been happier,” he told us, expressing his love for his mission president and for all that he is learning. “It is a remarkable journey, and I can feel direct blessings in my life as we love and teach the people.” It was also during the telephone conversation that he admitted to his hospital foray. “I was running a temperature of 104. I went for a couple of days hoping it would go away, trying to work through it.” It did not abate. In fact, it was soon accompanied by abdominal pain and at the insistence of his companion he called the Mission President and checked into the hospital.

“It’s important to be very careful on what you eat,” he said, explaining that the only American food they have is pizza, though it does not taste like anything we’re used to in the United States. Still, his spirits are higher than we have ever seen, with the only let down being when Elder Jenks was transferred from Visak to the Hyderbad 1st Branch on April 29. “I feel like I have lost a great friend,” Billy said, but then quickly rebounded with, “But I know that we will continue our friendship.”

The family excited to talk to Billy on Mother's Day. He had sent his Mother a beautiful traditional India dress with a strand of pearls. He expressed the love he has for his family and he feels like if he had it to live life over again, he would focus more on his family and be less concerned about friends. He has seen the worst living conditions and yet the people seem happy and are very friendly and loving. “The most important possession to have is your family,” he said. “That is what matters most in India. The families are very close and live near one another.” He said that he has come to appreciate that family and the Gospel are the real essentials in life.

His new companion is doing great, and Billy is really enjoying working with him. He is a great Elder to train, hard working and eager to learn.

So Long Hyderabad, Hello Visak.

I’ve been transferred!

After three months and two baptisms, Billy has been transferred from Hyderabad to Visak. He just had the first baptism in Hyderabad in over 8 months and a second investigator was due to be baptized the following week. Upon hearing of his transfer, Billy’s companion was very emotional and took the transfer hard. Billy said that there were many tears and he struggled to say good-bye.
Billy loves the people of Hyderabad and said that you never realize how successful you are or what an influence you have been until you see how many people you have affected. He feels that he did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do and thereby strengthened the members. Between he and his companion, they were able to baptize two young men and he feels like he helped his companion gain the confidence he needed. His companion expressed to Billy that he helped him a lot and he would miss him.

Billy expresses frequently how much he loves his mission and India. He says that if this is the way he feels over being transferred, he doesn’t know how he will feel when he leaves India at the end of mission. It is hard to say good-bye to those you love and respect.

For his transfer, Billy took a flight to his new area of Visak and upon his arrival, he felt like he landed in the Bahamas. It is not as big, and certainly not as western as the Bahamas, but the weather is amazing. He even likes the humidity in the air and loves seeing the ocean. There are cocoanut trees everywhere and the people are very loving. Billy is now a district leader and said that his area is so small that he can easily walk it in a day. In his last area, Hyderabad, there were more people in just his area than there are in the whole city of Visak. They don’t have a church building so they use a small rented office to conduct their meetings.

Billy’s new companion is Elder Jenks. They started their mission together and now they are companions. They are exactly alike and they haven’t decided if that is a good thing or a bad thing. The other night Elder Jenks and Billy were in their beds and they heard a loud banging that woke them up. They were a little scared—OK A LOT SCARED. It sounded like someone was banging something in their apartment. Elder Jenks grabbed Billy’s football and Billy grabbed his belt and they set off to investigate. They were determined to beat whatever had gotten into their apartment, so they ran into the kitchen. Elder Jenks had forgotten that he put about 10 eggs on to boil several hours ago, much to their surprise, the eggs were exploding all over the kitchen. Billy said that he had no idea that eggs exploded. There were eggs everywhere—ceiling, walls and all over the floor. Billy and Elder Jenks couldn’t stop laughing at the situation.

The mission is going great. They have set some high goals for the area. They walk in the hot sun all day long, teach lessons, and love feeling the spirit of Lord beside them.

Thank you for all of you who have written and continue to write. He truly appreciates all your letters and hopes that you will continue writing to him.