Mar 31

Dad:

Well, we never heard if you got transferred for sure and where to. We need details and pictures. Who's the new companion?  Where's he from? Car or bike?  What's the ward like?

Back home we decided to shake things up. I sold the classic Mini on Craigslist. Here are the new owners about to drive it away:

Sorry to see it go and Zack was pretty sad too but I was tired of driving him places because it was always broken down! We were spending money and time on it every week.

So it has now been replaced with a 2001 Jeep Wrangler.  No need to be jealous, it is rougher than it looks in the picture.

Zack says it's way different than the Mini.

Also this week Maddie performed in her school play "The Odd Couple". It was really good and funny.  Grandpa and Grandma came over and watched the play too on Thursday night.

The weather was nice here the past two days. Zack is going to drive the jeep to school without the top tomorrow. It will be cold in the morning!   We took the hard top and doors off today and went home teaching. It's not as easy to get them off as a soft top so we may switch to a soft top.

Teaching any one solid in your new area?  We got a new Elder in our ward and the other Elder stayed so he has been here 10 months in the ward!

Send pics and tell us lots!  We are very proud of you!

Myka will be 1 year old this week.  Time flies!!!!!  Here she is going for a ride in the wagon with one of her favorite toys, a rubber ball.

Take care. We love you!

Graham:

Dear Family, 

I got transferred to Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, serving in the Penn Cove ward. I have a car again and a pretty big area to cover. The island is about 40 miles long and we cover a little more than half of it. I left my camera at the condo but did take some pictures. We live in a two story condo on the ocean! The ward here is full of people in the navy because our ward has two navy bases on them. A lot of people in our ward boundaries live in the navy housing which means we can't tract into them and that we have to focus on member referrals. Our bishop is a dentist and said he would do a cleaning, X-rays, and any dental work for free for us.

You got rid of the mini already?! Sweet jeep!! We have a white 2013 Toyota Corolla. I'm also sad to see the Mini go. I never got to ride in it! 

Yesterday we fasted for our investigators and to see the power of fasting. We had 5 non-members at church and really saw the effect of fasting. It was a little scary during the third hour because they combined everyone together and role played how to invite people to share the gospel with their friends. Surprisingly, the investigators we had at church loved it and are excited to invite their friends! We put a family on date this last week for May 2! They are so excited for baptism.

Love and miss ya'll,

Elder Graham Feidler

Dad:

What is you comps name?? Where's he from?

Graham:

Elder Doucette from Salt Lake City.

Mar 24

Your son asked me to forward this to you.  He and Elder Rice are holding my Lyft mustache. -Jim Watts

Grandma & Grandpa - Mar 24

Dear Elder Grandson,

Where do the weeks go?  We hope you had a great week.  Today it looks like you had sun and warmer weather.  Monday will be good too but the rest of the week there is going to be rain. Like 1 to 3 inches of rain. Get some rides lined up or you are going to get very wet. I bet you are wondering when the rain will ever let up. We are wondering when spring will really come too. We are having cold weather again this week.

Did your gloves arrive yet from LLBean?  Have you sent the old ones back?  Ask some members if they have extra suitcases you can have.  I bet someone will.  You stay in one place for so long that you collect too much. You will have to determine what is the most important for your work.

This past week has been a very challenging week.  The big hall bathroom toilet quit working.  Grandpa pulled the toilet and there was a big tree root in it about two feet long and lots of little roots. He cleaned out what he could and put it all back together and two days later it won't work again.  He didn't get it all out. Now we have to dig under the house and replace the whole line. It is a messy deal. I can't stand to have the house torn up.

Friday night we went to eat and get groceries and when we came home the mail box had been twisted around. I got on the camera for that area and saw a white car go by then back up and hit it. It is hard to tell what kind of car it is but it had a black spoiler on it. Now Grandpa has to replace it. We still haven't done any work around here to get the house for sale. 

What have you been doing? Do you have some great contacts yet?  Well, I guess you will soon have a new area to go to this week. I hope you get a good area and companion and a car. We are praying for you. You probably hate to leave because you have made such good friends with church members but there will be more in the next area. We pray for you every day. Keep up the good work you are doing and you will be blessed.

We are going to Houston on Thursday to the VA then over to your house. Myka is walking a lot now. I am going to make sure they show her a picture of you each day and say your name so she will know you when you come home. Don't worry about that. You will be a good brother, we know that.

Take care of yourself. We are anxiously waiting to hear where you are going.  We love you so much and are thankful you are serving the Lord.

Until next week, lots of love,

Grandpa & Grandma

Dear Grandma and Grandpa!

I am being transferred this time! It'll be exciting to find out where I'm going. I got the new gloves from LLbean but haven't had the chance to ship the old ones off because there isn't a UPS store nearby. Hopefully I can get that done today! The weeks do seem to be flying by. I feel like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done! I had the best birthday this past week! The ward members and investigators are amazing! Hope things get better at your place. Sounds like some bad news. Hopefully I'll get a car tomorrow!

Love and miss you guys!

-Elder Graham Feidler

Mar 24

Dad:

Elder FEIDLER,

Your are now 20!  How's it feel to not be a teenager anymore old man?  I hope you had a great birthday. Get to work now marking up those new scriptures. I wasn't sure if you could use a scripture case so I sent you my leather one. I'm mostly digital now. How has the weather been? It should be getting better as we head towards summer! Hump day of your mission is on the horizon. I remember that was the point in my mission where I knew other missionaries the most. After that point the older missionaries you know will start going home and you won't know all the new ones that are coming in. It is also a point where you are much more comfortable teaching and can really be successful. If you find you are accumulating too much stuff you can always ship some home.

So I'm wondering if you will stay where you are and maybe train someone or if you will get transferred? Can wait to hear your next step.

We are home from vacation. It has been really busy at work for me. I have bid several big projects and I don't know if I will get any of them. I hope so. Sales have been a little slow for me for the past few months and I am ready for them to pick up. Vacation was fun but it is good to be home. I hope we get a chance to vacation with you after your mission.

Today was an exciting day at Stake Conference. We have a new Stake President and it is Bishop Scott from Pearland!  His first councilor is President Holt and his second is Brother Peterson, your old seminary teacher!  It was packed at the stake center.

Chelle has been sick with food poisoning, we think, for the past few days. Friday it started and she was sick all night.   She is just starting to feel better today and able to eat.

Here's a picture we just took:

We received a picture of you that was emailed to us. You were holding an assault rifle!  Was that from the ward you are in now?

Zack's Mini is still dead. We got some new brake parts installed and now it will stop, but one of the back brake hoses forms a bubble on it so we had to order some flexible brake lines. Now the clutch also quite working!!!!  So we have ordered a new clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder. I hope that fixes it. We will see. This thing is a money pit.

Keep up the great work you are doing.  Let us know if you need anything. Did you make the birthday cake?

Myka on the flight home:

Love Dad

Graham:

Family,

The weeks fly by too fast! This past one was great. On my birthday, we went over to our ward mission leader's house where they surprised us with smoked ribs, tres leche cake, and the news that Sister Deputy is pregnant. Then we went to a lesson afterwards and kept getting calls from the Gamero family. We didn't get back from the lesson until 9:30ish when we were surprised by the Gamero family who gave me another cake and sang happy birthday. My teeth are going to be filled with cavities by the time I get back. I have't been to the dentist in a year! The rest of the week was pretty great too. We stayed fairly busy and had some really great lessons.

Transfers are tomorrow! I don't know if I'm staying or going but I think I'm going. My companion got a special assignment to train someone who isn't even a missionary. He lives in the mission boundaries and I guess my companion will be with him for 3 months to see if he can serve a full time mission. 

Also this week we spent a lot of time working with the members in the ward helping them feel comfortable with being everyday missionaries. We have heard some great stories of members talking to their friends about the church and getting them excited to learn but not inviting them. 

Can't think of much else going on here. Today is going to be a crazy busy day. 

I love and miss ya'll,

-Elder Graham Feidler

Dad:

Great! Sounds like you had a good birthday. Get a picture of you and Elder Rice and send it to us! We love pictures.

Do you need another camera??? lol

Graham:

Haha the camera you sent is falling apart but I will take pictures today with Rice and with the families I worked with. I am being transferred!

Dad:

Where???? Where are you being transferred to?  If you find out later make sure to have a member let us know.

Exciting!! Chelle wants to send a letter so we need to know your address.

Dental?  Do you want a cleaning. We could pay cash for one.

Grandma & Grandpa - Mar 17

Happy Birthday on Tuesday.  Did you get the package we sent? Hope it was something you liked.  Don't open the present 'til your birthday. Did you get the new gloves from LL Bean?  Did you send the old ones back? We got them to warranty them. Grandpa sent a bright pair of green gloves in the package so people would see you coming on the bicycle.  Hope you are wearing green when you read this.  It is St. Patrick's  Day.

We have seven elders in our ward, two are being transferred and one is going home.  The one going home is from Hawaii and is a real nice elder.  I have sent a picture of the elders to you on my iPad.  Ask Sister Goode in your district if she recognized one of them.  Elder Smith says she is his girlfriend.  Small world.

How are things going out there?  Have you had any luck finding new investigators?  We are Ward Missionaries and at the weekly meeting Wednesday we heard the reports of our missionaries.  I realize how hard it is to find good investigators.  Members are really the best source and so many of us don't do our part to refer friends and neighbors. Your ward sounds like they support you more than ours does.  Keep up the good work.  Good people are out there just waiting for you to contact them.

I see you have been getting a lot of rain again.  There are flood warnings all around you.  We are not praying for rain.  We pray for it to stop and let you have a break. You should have good weather the next few days, no rain.

We are anxious to get over and see Myka.  She is walking everywhere. We don't go over that way until March 27th for another VA appointment.

This week we are going to Beaumont to a swearing in for citizenship.  A member of our ward is from Panama and is going to get citizenship.  They met on his mission. Oh, it is the daughter-in-law of the man that kept the bicycle in Rexburg. The Meachams.  I think it will be interesting. 

This coming Saturday, March 22, your second cousin, Courtney Jolly, is getting married in Boise, Idaho. She is the relative that was going to BYU Idaho when you went.  I wish I could have gone out there for it.  Ann and Marlene are going.

Grandpa and Larry did a swap meet at Trader's Village this past Friday and Saturday.  They took Aiden and Andi with them.  It was not a good one. It rained off and on all the time. They came home about 2:00 Saturday in the pouring down rain.  Larry did sell his old truck though.

We hope you have a very Happy Birthday.  We will be thinking of you and we will sing Happy Birthday to you.  Just can't call and sing to you.  Keep a positive attitude and have a great day. You have almost been out for a year.  We think it has gone fast. Has it for you?  Is there anything else that you need?  We pray for you and the work you do everyday.  We ask Heavenly Father to bless you for all you do and keep you safe. 

Be sure you take the lights and fenders with you if you get transferred in case your knew bike doesn't have them since you are using borrowed bikes now.  Does it look like you will get transferred the end of the month?

We love you and miss you.  Stay happy. We are thankful for all you do.

Grandpa & Grandma

Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

I'm wearing green and yes, I got your package. I can't wait to open it tomorrow! You can't go wrong with candy and beef jerky :) I haven't got the new replacement gloves yet. My companion and I don't know of a Sister Goode. She might be in a different district or zone. We don't have sisters in Mill Creek. We just have me and my companion. 

This past week we spent a lot of time tracting. We found two people that said we could come back this week and talk to them more. Also Jim, one of our investigators, is giving a talk next Sunday! He would be a member but his wife won"t let him get baptized.

I'm missing my little sister grow up too! She really won't know who I am when I come back home. The past 341 days have gone by fast at times but also have their moments where time drags by incredibly slow. I don't think I need anything right now. Maybe another suitcase to fit all of the things that I have now! :)

Transfers are next week on Tuesday, I don't find out if I leave or not until next Monday but I'm thinking I'll be leaving.

I love and miss ya'll,

Elder Graham Feidler

Mar 17

Elder Feidler

Happy Birthday!  20 is old. Hope you got the package. I hope you're having good weather. It's been nice and sunny here in Utah. It's been fun. Zack and I went skiing and most of this trip we have spent eating!  We drove by Provo temple and the MTC.  We thought of you. Myka is not sleeping well in the hotel. She did get to swim. We have enjoyed the trip. Maybe next year I can go to Washington and pick you up. I can't believe I have a 20 yr old son tomorrow. How's this week been? We love and miss you. Enjoy every day and serve others. You're doing great work. 

Love Dad

Graham:

Hello Dad, Chelle, Zack, and Maddie,

Utah looks like it was fun! I miss being able to travel outside of a 5 mile radius. I feel like I have a tracking bracelet on me! Today we were going to get together with some other missionaries and have a barbecue sports day at the Silver Lake Park but they cancelled on us so now we will probably just clean the apartment. Yesterday we taught the second hour again for Gospel Principles and we had a couple of video clips to share with the lesson but everybody else had taken the TV's. So of course we settled with using the projector :) 

This past week we spent a lot of time tracting. We have tried to see just about all of the former investigators and so we are left with nothing else. We found 2 potentials that said we could come back and teach them this week so hopefully that will go well. 

I got the package you sent and can't wait to open the presents tomorrow! 
Transfers are next week on Tuesday. I'm pretty sure I'll get transferred but won't know for sure until Monday. I have too much stuff to move around though. It won't fit in my suitcases anymore. That's about all that is going on here. I love and miss you guys,

Elder Graham Feidler

Grandma & Grandpa - Mar 10

Dear Elder Grandson,

Here is another week gone by. Did you remember to set your clocks ahead?  How was your week? Busy I hope. How is the new way of teaching coming?  When you can show pictures and talk about it, it will be easier to discuss.  Do you have any baptisms scheduled yet? I guess it is your turn to be transferred in a couple of weeks.  I hope you get a car and the weather warms up soon. It is so cold and rainy here. We are suppose to be in the 50's at night and 70's during the day. We are that way for two days then 40's and 30's for 5 days. Where is Spring?  Can't do much outside because it is so wet and cold.  Maybe tomorrow I will try to do some work outside.  We came home from church and I slept for 2 1/2 hours. I guess I found that hour of sleep. This past week was uneventful. We went shopping and to hair and doctor appointments. It was a cold week. Tomorrow Grandpa has a yearly stress test that he couldn't do in December because of the car accident.  I got all the CocaCola stuff out of the kitchen except for the fan. We have a new one but I can't put it up and Grandpa has to. Larry and Grandpa have a swap meet at Trader's Village Friday and Saturday.  Aiden and Andi are going with them. I really didn't want to go, but may have to go to keep them entertained. The gloves you said are shredded, are they the LL Bean gloves we sent you at Christmas? They have a lifetime warranty. If you could send them to us or to LL Bean, they might replace them.  I will send you money to send them if it is. I will find out how the warranty works in the meantime. We know you are having success on your mission. We pray for you each day. We pray you will find those special people waiting to hear the Lord's message and gain a testimony of the gospel. We are so proud of you. Keep up the good work. We love you and miss seeing your smiling face.  SEND MORE PICTURES!!

I am sending a picture of us from Mardi Gras last week from my IPad.

Lots of Love,

Grandpa & Grandma

Dear Gma and Gpa,

If your praying for the rain, please stop! haha This past week was a wet one. We haven't found any new investigators recently but have been trying. We are still teaching the new teaching method to all of the members in the ward and asking them for friends we could share it with. We have been getting a few referrals but they are always out of our ward boundaries. 

The gloves from Christmas are ripped up. I tried to stitch one back up but it just started ripping more. Should I send them to you or to LL Bean? I'm not sure of the return address. Thankfully it hasn't been too cold here. Or maybe I'm just getting used to the colder weather. All is well here.

Love and miss ya'll,

Elder Graham Fediler

Mar 10

Dad:

Elder Feidler!!!

Hi son!  It's Spring Break week here at home.  I still have to work......

But at least I get to sleep in with no seminary this week.  I have been driving Zack to seminary for a week now because the classic Mini has no breaks.  I worked on it all day yesterday and now it is worse!  I need to order more parts.

So even if we get the brakes all fixed, which I now estimate will cost another $300, the car will still leak oil like crazy!!! What was I thinking buying such a "fun" car for Zack to drive?  Shoot me....

I've been busy at work bidding a big job in Texas City. It bids on Thursday and we leave for Salt Lake on Wednesday, so I need to finish it by Tuesday.

The time change makes it dark in the morning now but light longer in the evening.  Maybe that will help you.  Any new solid investigators?  How is the bike doing?  Did you get the fender installed?

We are trying to get a birthday box off to you this week.  So you may get it before the end of the week.  We will try to wrap the presents inside the box so you will have something to open.  It will likely contain presents from Grandpa and Grandma and us combined.  Knowing your history you will probably rip them open early. :-)

Saturday night we went to League City to the Balla's party.  They got green cards so they can stay and work in America now!  The Britts are here to stay.

Maddie's choir performed at UIL on Friday.

They did perfect.

Maddie also had a flour war at Young Women's on Wednesday.

I didn't take many pictures this week so I'm giving you pictures updated from their Instagram feed.

Myka is walking a lot more now!  She was a show-off today when we went to Lake Jackson to Chelle's sister's house.

It's Rodeo Houston time here in town.  We aren't going this year.  Utah is going to be our rodeo.

I hope all is going great for you.  Keep up the great work.  We never got a picture from the member you said sent it.  Have someone txt me a pic one day. It's way exciting to get them.  I sent a video to the mom of one of the Elders in our ward today.

We love and miss you lots!!! 

Love, Dad

Graham:

Family,

Wish I had a week off for spring break! :) 

This past week it poured for most of the week, day and night. I got to use my rain pants which really helped, but the rain was coming down so hard it went right through my rain coat. We have been staying busy and trying to teach all of our members the new way of teaching. We hope it will excite them to tell their friends about it. A few of our investigators dropped us last week and told us they weren't interested. The week before, we dropped some of the other investigators because they weren't making any progress. Right now we don't have too many people to teach but we are tracting often and asking everyone for referrals. My bike is still holding up. They took my mission bike back because we had bikes that members are letting us borrow. The fenders you sent work pretty good. The front one didn't fit but I got the back one squeezed on. We had two families move into the ward just recently. One from Italy and the other from Salt Lake. The one from Salt Lake moved into section 8 housing but they didn't know that until they started unloading the moving truck. 

Not much else going on here. Just trying to keep busy.

Love and miss ya'll!

-Elder Graham Feidler

Dad:

Keep up the good work. Summer will come soon. Hopefully less rain then!

Graham:

Nick, a 16 year old kid who just got baptized gave this rap in sacrament for his testimony.

I'm a born sinner
Going to school
Trying to be a winner
Tryna act cool
But looking like a fool
That's when I knew
Cool wasn't me
A fool wasn't who I was suppose to be
Blinded by my fears
Discouraged by the tears
Pressured by my peers
Worried about next year
A voice said to me
Do not fear me
Life is a treasure and I am the key
I fought for your agency and now your free
I gave you my son
Who atoned for thee
And the voice said loudly to me
Open your eyes my child
And you will see
He gave me his hand
And said abide in me
I will never leave you
Nor forsake thee
I said god why did you choose me?
He said its not about you now
Its about who you will be
Get baptized
And be not mesmorised
By the devil and his evil way
But follow my way
And go not astray
Take my path
And feel no wrath
Live your life
With no strife
I give you my word
Now let it be heard
Write it on your heart
And never depart
You called on me
Now I'm giving you a fresh start

Dad:

Way cool!   

Mar 3

Dad:
Elder Feidler,

How's it going? I hope you got my letter and McD gift card. It's Sunday here and we have had a great Fast Sunday.  I enjoyed doing the extra research this past week and sending you the letter.  It was a testimony builder for me to gain more knowledge and share it with you.

This week has been busy.  I went to the dentist on Friday and got my teeth cleaned. Saturday I went on a temple trip with the youth ( Maddie and Zack) and they did baptisms.

Myka is not wanting to take naps anymore.  She has been a hand full. Zack's car is still dripping oil like crazy!  We add another quart every week and water too.  He had to pull off after choir practice today and take a picture next to a real Texas size truck!

Is there anything you want or need for your birthday?  Will transfers take place before your birthday?

I am very proud of you for all the hard work you have put into your mission. Keep it up!

Love you

Graham:

Aloha Family!

This past week we had a zone conference and learned a new/better way to teach the missionary lessons. We have been able to try it several times and have seen much success! I was able to set up a time to meet and talk with my mission president last week and he helped me through the questions I had. I also got your letter and talks. Thank you so much! My mission president also gave me a talk called "What is the Blueprint of Christ's Church?" What an amazing talk.

  

The picture above is of the pamphlets we use to teach the lessons. The new method of teaching is going through the pictures in these and asking them what they see. 

This morning we got to go bowling as a zone. We had about 20 missionaries together. It was a lot of fun even though my highest score was only a 99. 

I love and miss you guys!

- Elder Graham Feidler

Dad:

Great to hear from you!  I was beginning to worry.  A bowling score of 99?!  You need more practice!!!!  

Anything you want for your birthday?  Staying dry?  We love and miss you!

Graham:

Thankfully we got a ride with Bishop to the library today to keep us out of the rain. My waterproof gloves I got for Christmas have been ripped all up. I went bowling a couple of weeks ago and got a 165. My birthday! I don't know what I need for my birthday. Ummm, a label maker would be nice or some new 2013 scriptures. 

Dad:

Will there be transfers before your birthday on Tuesday the 18th?  

Graham:

Transfers are March 25th, a week later.

Feb 24

Elder Feidler

How's the work going this week?  All is great here. We are all staying busy.  Maddie is practicing for another school play and did some babysitting on Fri & Sat nights. She makes good money doing it. Zack is just busy with seminary and school.  The Priest came to our house Wednesday night and watched the Olympics. 

We are at a pre-Nauvoo trip fireside tonight. Zack and Maddie will go this summer on a bus trip with the stake. 

Zack and I went hometeaching today. This past week Grandpa & Grandma came over and spent the night as Grandpa had eye surgery at the VA. All went well. It was for a cataract. 

Sounds like your mission is going well. Sneak a picture of Elder Rice so we can see him. 

We love and miss you. We will be a little closer to you in March. We are going to Utah for Spring Break. 

Keep doing what you're doing and we will keep praying for you!

Love,

Dad