Dear Family,

First, I wanted to tell you that I have received a new email address. The Church is updating, and they made a deal with gmail for the missionaries. So, I had to create a new account. My new address is colton.savage@myldsmail.net  That will be the one to send me an email to from now on.

Last week was definitely hectic, but it has finally decided to calm down. We are now back to the old routine, and things are going better.

The most exciting thing that happened this past week was on last Saturday. We had a mission-wide Zone Conference up in Fishers. Every missionary in Indiana went. The reason being, we had some amazing visitors. Elder Lansing, our Area 70 in Indiana, Elder Costa a member of the 70 presidency, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson. Now, that was really cool. I was in a room of only 140ish missionaries and an Apostle. The spirit was so strong there, and I learned so much. It was amazing to be able to shake his hand and feel the spirit there in the room. I learned so much from them, and it was really cool to see an Apostle just laugh and have fun. For example, when President Corey got up to say a few words, he told us that he was very proud of us and was very thankful to have been given such a great group of missionaries to work with. Then he said, "I just wonder who I am going to have to pay for this gift", and behind him Elder Christofferson was smiling and pointing at himself.

We have also had some good success with our investigators this week. We had two come to church on Sunday, Stacy and Pete. It was really cool to see them there, and Stacy said she would love to come back next week. We were also able to have a great lesson with Vicky Ward and her Husband Greg. That was the lady that we met with on the Sunday before last who was really excited to learn.  We went over and watched the Restoration DVD with them, and she said that she learned a lot from it. It was also amazing to find out that within less than a weeks worth of time, she read all of 1st Nephi, 2nd Nephi, and Jacob. We are very excited to be working with her.

My tooth is doing much better. No more pain. The dentist, Dr. Ingram, was very nice and he did a great job. He has a great practice set up, and if I was living in Indiana, I would have no problem going to him on a regular basis.

The death of President Corey's councilor wasn't a shock. He has been battling cancer for a very long time now. It was in his brain, and it just finally took its toll. He was a great man. I only got to meet him once, but he had a lot of love for the missionary work. Actually, he and his wife really wanted to serve a couple’s mission, but sadly that didn't work out.

Well, even though I didn't have to give a talk on that Sunday, the Bishopric knew that Elder Gasser and I each had a talk prepared. So, he and I get to speak this coming Sunday now. I think that I am going to change a few things with the talk this time around.

I have come to find out on my mission that there is really no way to tell who is ready to accept the gospel. The Lord makes ready who He will on His time, and we just have to roll with it. It is amazing to see the diversity within the people who are willing to learn. Age doesn’t seem to make much difference. The family we are teaching at the moment, the Wards, are in their mid to late twenties.

The weather is cooling down again today. Elder Gasser and I have really enjoyed the past few warm days, but I think that the storm that hit you is now on its way to us. I can't wait for the next couple of months to go by so that we won't have to walk around with big coats and everything on. It will be nice to have “Spring” come around again. Hopefully, I will be able to appreciate the warmth more this year than I did last year.

Well, speaking of cars, we have been driving around a new 09' Toyota Corolla, and as you have probably heard on the news, that isn't the best car to be driving right now. The Richmond Elders are taking it in this week to get the kinks taken out so that it will be a little safer to drive. I truly hope that this doesn't spell the end for Toyota. I really like their cars, and that would be one brand I would look at to get after my mission. Hopefully, it will all work out. It would also spell disaster for all the workers who would be out of a job if that happened.

I wish that there were fewer dishonest people in the world. I just hope that no one does that to my bank account while I am out here because I can't keep an eye on it.  I guess that the bank watches it though, and if any strange withdrawals are made, they will let us know.

I guess that this missionary work has turned me into a creature of habit as well. It is just different habits at this point in my life. I will let you know if anything fun or exciting is going on around here.

That reminds me. On Sunday, we had a referral for the Bishop’s granddaughters to get taught and baptized. We are really excited about it, and I can't wait to see them learn. I have truly seen what it means when people say that there are those we are meant to teach in the areas we are sent to. The Lord sends us to where we are needed.

Thanks for all that you do. It has been a great help to hear from you all each week. I hope that everyone stays safe this week, and that everything goes well with your plans. Let me know if anything happens in the extended family as well. I miss you all, but I know that I will be home before I know it. So, I need to give my all in this work while I still can. Thanks again.

Love,

Elder Savage