More from Somersworth

Holy crap.......  What an eventful Father's day.   I don't even know what to say.   I am so glad that things worked out.  I can't believe that happened.  I'm sorry.  You are in a surgery room wayyyy too often.  Is the post recovery ok?  I imagine you would get the day off for work?  I love you so much.   I am so happy that things worked out. 

Umm...from the sounds of it, things are much less "eventful" over here in New Hampshire.  It's hard to compare.  This week we had some solid referrals from members.  This Thursday we are teaching a family of seven who called our bishop and warned him that he should be expecting seven new members to the area.  So we have the opportunity to teach them.  I am really excited to be able to be part of that.   We also have another lady who we are going to teach that will be having dinner with us at a members home.  So lots of good things are going to happen this coming week. 

Things in my new area are going great.  We are seeing some miracles taking place that I can't believe are happening.  We stopped by a non-active member, who hasn't been to church or anything in 15 years on Saturday, and saw him playing basketball in his front yard.  So we said can we play some 21 and he agreed to play with us.  So we played with him, got to know him a little more, and then we went into his house to cool down and drink some soda pop (perfect treat for a post workout).  When we got done talking with him, he agreed that would come to church.  I really wasn't sure if he would, but he showed up as he said he was going to.  After sacrament meeting, Elder Miller and I introduced him to our bishop and during the conversation, he mentioned how his wife (non-member) was going to change up her Sunday work schedule if possible to start coming to church.  If that wasn't enough, he also said that his sons (non-members) and daughters (non-members) said they wanted to start coming to church.  I could hardly believe it.  A member inactive of 15 years shows up and starts saying all of this. Gotta love basketball.

  

I am glad Dad enjoyed the hat.  I didn't know if the hat was too "bling-bling."  But I am glad that he likes it though.  The maple syrup was from a member in Vermont.  Believe it or not, that little container of syrup runs around $20 or so.  It takes around 40 gallons of maple sap to make a single gallon of maple syrup.  Hence, the extreme prices for the maple syrup.  To be perfectly honest, I still like Mrs. Buttersworth more than the "real" stuff.  But I will never admit that to a New Englander.  They would lynch me for sure.  

  

Things are going well out here.  Besides what I asked for in my package, the important one already being fulfilled, I have nothing really to ask for.  The members take care of us pretty well.  Both of us are getting really comfortable with the area and seem to have a good grasp on our role in the work in this area.  The members have an amazing splits idea they set up every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday where they have a couple of members go on splits with us to visit in-actives.  I have never seen that in a ward before.  It's a great idea. 

Well hopefully everything will work out with Mom.  I will keep a special prayer in my heart for her and the family.  I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers.  I haven't said this, but I pray every single night that the family will be watched over.  I love you all so much. 

  

Elder Novakovich

First Letter from Somersworth

Sorry I wasn't able to email last week.  Since it was a holiday, the College was closed down and we were not able to answer emails at all.  But it was a good P-Day though. We had the chance to play basketball with the bishop and other youth members in the ward.  It was awesome. 

I really like this new area.  The members are unreal.  We have a ward that is wholly invested in missionary work.  We have member meals every night, and the ward mission leader has it set up that we go on splits with certain members every Tues, Wed, and Thurs night from 6-8.  It's nice not having to worry what to do in the evening.  The Ward mission leader here is quite great.   He was a life saver this week because both my companion and I were put into this area fresh.  They shot-gunned the area and without his help, we would of been running around blind for quite some time. 

My companions name is Elder Miller.  He is a good guy.  He plays basketball, which is very good news.  I plan on balling it hard this upcoming transfer. 

The area I live in is considered the older part of Somersworth. I might have been scared in this type of neighborhood before my mission, but it’s cool though, because the kids they all like the missionaries here.  They call us the "church boys" What a nice title.  We got invited by one of the families on our street to go to a big barbeque they were having right before the husband heads to San Diego for work.  They are a Catholic family, but they feed the missionaries and provide support for them whenever we need any.  I couldn't have asked for a better area.  Even non-members hook us up.

I have had to step up my workout intensity now.  We get fed every single night, with leftovers for the following day. I can't complain with that at all.  I bought a perfect pushup thingy and it has been kicking my butt.  Perfect pushups are hard!  I never would have imagined struggling to complete a series of pushups.  

Love,

Elder Novakovich

Zone Conference - Sharon Vermont

Talk about a cool place to hold Zone Conference.  A couple of weeks ago Elder Novakovich participated in Zone Conference which was held in Sharon, Vermont at the Joseph Smith Memorial.

Pictures from Johnson, VT

Somersworth, NH

Camryn anxiously looked over my shoulder as we put Elder Novakovich's new address into google earth - her reaction when the image appeared - "At least now Darren lives in a neighborhood".

Transfer

We received a letter from Elder Novakovich today and found out that he received a transfer to a new area, Somersworth, NH.  We haven't had a chance to learn much about his new area but he tells us it is on the southern border of Maine and New Hampshire.  They have a Walmart and a Target - life can't get any better. 

His new address is:

Elder Novakovich
43 Franklin Street
Somersworth, NH 03878