Packing again.  Where did I get so much stuff?

Greetings from Oshkosh!!! The land of cheese, beer, Packer fans, and no hills or mountains. Truthfully, those five descriptive words define all of Wisconsin. Oshkosh has about 66,000 people and it sits on the south west end of Lake Winnebago (which is not part of the great lakes). The Oshkosh ward has about 100 active members and a list full of odd last names so I feel as if I fit right in because everyone in this ward is a one of a kind. I love it! The members are very friendly, I got a lot of warm welcomes from many of the members and the Bishop announced that he is the opposite of me: He is from Wisconsin and served his mission in California and he ran hurdles in High School and he attended one year of college before going on a mission. Sounds like he and I are going to become pretty tight with each other!!! The ward has one missionary out in the field right now, another recently returned Elder from South Korea and another Sister who just recently got her call to Fresno California. So this ward knows missionaries really well. Elders have been serving in this ward for a very long time; it was one of the original areas of the mission when the mission opened in 1978. The apartment is a very nice size and has weights and an ab roller so I can work out in the morning. We have a car here and bikes so I'm going to be able to stay warm (not really but kinda) in the winter.

My new companion, Elder Stevenson from Las Vegas, NV.

My companion: Elder Stevenson. He is from Las Vegas Nevada and has been out on his mission for 19 months. He recently turned 20 on September 29th. It’s so funny because I think that's my birthday too. We are one year apart. Elder Stevenson graduated in 2012 and attended one semester at UNLV with an undeclared major. He started his mission in March of 2013 and I started in June of 2013. He and I are the two most experienced missionaries in our district so there will be some example setting that we will be doing. He played some soccer, played some video games, he loves paintballing and likes going on adventures. He stands 6ft, and weighs in at a whopping 150 pounds when he's soaking wet with a towel (jk, not really. but he does weight 150) He and I are stick and bone and we both have one goal in common as Elders: Gain Weight!!! Elder Stevenson is a focused Elder. Not a dud that doesn't have fun, but a focused Elder that is here to serve the Lord. He teaches very well and knows the scriptures very well too. He is obedient, clean, and organized. This will be a fantastic transfer or hopefully two with him.

Goodbye Elder McMoore

We had an amazing miracle on Sunday. Between all of the Sunday calls that I have to do as a district leader and studies, and lunch and dinner. We only had one hour of proselyting time. We wanted to use our one hour as best as possible. What we decided would be worth our time was to visit two potentials. While we were visiting one potential we met another woman who we were not expecting to meet. She asked who we were and we began to get to know her. She expressed some difficulty in quitting drinking, and we mentioned how the Savior can help her. From there the conversation turned to the atonement and how He bled from every pore of His body for us. The woman asked us why He would do that for her. We taught her that Christ and our Father in Heaven see within her a greater potential than any of us can see. We taught her that she is a daughter of God whom He loves and that she is worth every drop. We offered her a Book of Mormon and suggested that she read Mosiah 3. We exchanged numbers and got her address and then set up a return appointment. As we were saying goodbye to her and the potential that we initially came to visit the woman said to us "I will cherish every word that I read from this book." Boo-to-the-yeah!!!

Found a hoodie in my new apartment -- it fits great!

Thank you for the prayers and letters

My new address is:

Elder Andrew Luymes

1800 Robin Ave. S207

Oshkosh, WI 54902

Scripture for the week: Mormon 8:16

 16 And blessed be he that shall bring this thing to light; for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God.

Love,

Elder Luymes

Hurdle Man - daily work out includes 5 high kicks, stretching
and a hurdle over the cliff bar.

Park tracting -- got a little artsy fartsy with my nametag.