December 14, 2021

Everyone!  Once again, I'm just going to share what Ethan told us when he talked to us on the phone.  I'm really only doing this for family history's sake. 

Ethan is still serving in Loveland, CO.  They just had transfers and all the District had changes.  In fact, the District boundaries changed and they are all car areas now, which Ethan is glad of.  He is still with Elder Bateman and training is going well. Many of the other missionaries in the District are also training.

Last week, Elder Bateman found a really cool YSA guy through Facebook finding.  They had a great lesson with him and found out that he is in a different area.  They had a "pass off lesson" with him and the other elders only to find out that he isn't in those elder's area either so they didn't really pass him off.  Ethan and Elder Bateman are still teaching the man and are going to pass him off later.  But the man is already talking about baptism so that is great.  And Ethan said the lesson was really cool.  

Ethan shared with us that about 25% of people found are through Facebook.  They spend time each day in Facebook finding.  He said they sometimes feel bad/judged when, after a dinner appointment, members ask them what they are doing for the rest of the night.  They will tell the members "We are going to the Church to use the Wi-Fi and do some Facebook finding."  He said sometimes they get a look like "oh, you're going to the Church to waste time" but they really do find good people that way.  It's more effective than knocking on doors all day.

They were able to go and help clean the temple again.  Ethan was charged with vacuuming all the baseboards. He thought it would be a quick and easy job but it ended up taking him over 2 hours.  He couldn't believe how many baseboards there are in the temple.  But it was a fun experience for them.

The ward Ethan is serving in had their ward Christmas party last week.  It was catered by Qdoba and they gave the extra food to the missionaries, which is a plus.  Ethan and Elder Bateman were asked to read the Christmas story in Matthew 2 and Luke 2.  At first, they thought they were the only ones who were going to read it but the man in charge decided to have other people help them read it.  Ethan said it was kind of chaotic and he had to call on people to read.  But he said it was a good night.

They have a Zone Christmas party and gift exchange later in the month.  They had to buy a white elephant gift that was under $5.  Ethan and his companion went to the thrift store and found some Nerf guns that they thought would be perfect.  We told him he should find a Colorado-specific shirt that would be funny, but he decided to go with something safe.

The District went on a hike on p-day to Devil's Backbone. It is in the sister's area and, since they all have cars, they can get out and do more things.  The photos that are included are of the hike and the view.  

If you know Ethan, you know that recognition is the last thing he wants.  He just wants to plug away, work hard, help other people, and be invisible.  He let it slip that the reason why his last week was so busy is because he is now the District Leader.  He said it isn't a lot of responsibility but it is busier.  He enjoys the ministering calls he makes to the missionaries to make sure they are doing well and helping them.  I think he will also like going on splits with the other missionaries too.

Well, that's about it.  The weather in Loveland has been pretty mild so he hasn't been too cold yet.  Hopefully they will get snow but so far it hasn't snowed yet.

Thanks to everyone who writes, prays, and thinks of Ethan.  He appreciates it!

-Michelle