Week

Hello all!

Today I only have 45 minutes to email, so I won't be able to respond to any this week. I wonder why so many of you aren't receiving my reply's? I had a rather "generic" week, they are all starting to blend together.

Don is continues progressing to his date. We are trying to work out the logistics of a chair-baptism with Edward. So it may be possible for him to be baptized on his day yet! Elder Leavy and I continue our search for investigators. On Friday we had exchanges. I went with our District Leader, Elder Bowman, who is by far the goofiest guy I have ever met. While knocking on doors, a man let us into his house! After we shared a quick message, he started shouting at us. He then tried to cast the demons out of Elder Bowman and I. I did all I could to refrain from bursting out in laughter. Elder Bowman couldn't hold it in, and started laughing so hard he started to cry. After rebuking us for half an hour, he offered us a ride home which we of course declined. 

I continue to enjoy the food out here. I was fed, no joke, a corn pie! It was one of the most delicious things I have ever had! Unfortunately, the people of the Mid-West are infatuated with cheesecake. I have had to choke-down waaaay to many slices of cheesecake. 

This week hasn't been too bad weather wise. It has been ultra windy which is always a joy to tract in. During one of our morning runs, we saw a man fall over as a result of the heavy wind which was rather amusing.

This morning, we held a dunk contest with a few of the Rock Island Elders. It was a blast. I'll be sure to include a few of those pics! Every P-day, we get to spend three hours playing basketball as a zone which is awesome.

That is all that occurred this past week! Thank you all for your continued support! And Yes! I am still smiling! I love you all!

Elder Zinn

Absurd Dream

(A random picture Loni took of herself on my Kindle)

I just woke from having the strangest dream. I was walking in a mall looking to surprise David, who was on a business trip, when instead I saw James (so I guess the trip was in Iowa?) James comes over to me and gives me a huge hug, then grabs my hand to introduce myself to Elder Leavy. We then go outside where the two want to show me something. A crowd has gathered around a coffee table where, at closer glance I see a lit candle, a handgun, and razor blades. James then explains that he and Elder Leavy are going to have a contest to see who can shoot the flame out on the candle. I take out my camera to take pictures of the event and give my phone to James to video it, as Elder Leavy is going first. After asking me to not post the video or pictures online, I wake up.

How many broken mission rules can you count in this absurd dream of mine?

This isn't the first dream I've had of James since he's been gone. I've had many and they are all bizarre. However, this is the strangest.

Shepherds and a Sheep

The Jr. Primary lesson this Sunday was, "The Birth of Jesus Christ brought Joy to the Earth".

I am grateful that Dave-o has a teacher who not only makes the lessons interesting, but brings joy to him. Thank you Sister Hardester.

Trainee Meeting

(This picture and post was on the Iowa Mission Facebook page that the mission president's wife, Sister Jensen, oversees.)

"The January 27, 2016 arriving missionaries new trainer and trainee meeting in Iowa City. They are all doing fantastic! We are so grateful for our new missionaries and all their service. Thank you parents for your love and support. We love and appreciate you."

Face to Face Time with Marine Animals

It's been a long time since taking the kids to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Dave-o doesn't even remember it. Thursdays are always pretty open, so we got to spend the afternoon in beautiful Monterey. 

Funny story: We took our lunch outside and sat on some steps that overlook the bay. Moments after pulling our sandwiches out of our baggies, I heard a "swoosh, swoosh, swoosh" above my head. Then there was a "scream" followed by a "thunk" resulting in a peanut butter sandwich flying in the air and a seagull leaving empty beaked. That bird swooped down out of nowhere. It's target? Kirsten's sandwich which was entering her mouth. The desperate bird missed and collided into Kirsten's face, which freaked her out. It was the funniest thing ever!

Eels are so ugly!

Before driving home, we spent some time collecting shells and wading in the ocean at Lover's Point.

Oh Poop!

Day one of potty training Loni.

A complete and total failure.

Seeing the potty chair was hate at first sight.

Sigh...

Squiggles brings Giggles

(The thick black lines are the "squiggles" that Dave-o added to.)

After James left on his mission, I spent a day boxing up his room. Dave-o would come in and out throughout the day curious to see what treasures I might have found. One such treasure was a "Squiggle book" that he had made in the 1st grade. His teacher (this was before homeschooling), had put together a booklet with a random squiggle line on each page for her students to use their imaginations with. Below it, were lines to write about the above picture. Dave-o and I had a lot of fun going through each page, laughing as we went. Dave-o wanted to include this in his schooling, so I used my lightbox to trace the same squiggles that James had done. Each time Dave-o is done with it, he wants to see what James had drawn for the same squiggle. So far, they haven't been the same. (James liked to draw lots of explosions and monsters and aliens fighting with each other.)

In any case, it's been a fun way for Dave-o to feel close to his brother who is so far away.

Warmth!

Hello!

Woah... what a week. Before I address the going-ons of my week let me just say a few words. I did respond to you Josh! I wrote you back like two weeks ago!? I will be re-sending it just in case, but I did write back! It is great to hear all of you are doing great! Thank you all for your continued support.

This past week has felt sooo nice! I nearly shed tears of joy when I felt actual warmth from the sun. On Saturday, it was 60 degrees with a minimal breeze. Friday was even warmer at 65, but the wind was the strongest it has been. It was so strong that it knocked out most of the power in the area. 

Don continues to progress towards his baptismal date which is awesome! Edward broke his leg, so his date of March 5th is looking unrealistic. Gracias doesn't want to meet with us any more. Elder Leavy and I spend the majority of our time tracting which is tiring. This past week, we came across some rather salty people. One person had her phone out recording our door approach while her husband tried to aggravate us. Luckily, Elder Leavy and I found their insults funny rather than angering and did not give them the reaction the were hoping for. We are just trying to be patient, hoping that we will find new investigators.

The member in this area love having missionaries in their homes, which is awesome. Unfortunately, I have not partook of a deep-fried snickers bar yet. I have had a loose meat sandwich (don't tell anyone, but I wasn't too impressed). Usually, we are fed pork, or something with pasta in it. I do generally enjoy the Mid-Western cuisine.

Almost every study session ends in an intense game of H-O-R-S-E between Elder Leavy and I. Elder Leavy likes to think that he wins the majority of these matches, but that is completely untrue. I have yet to lose, legitimately, to him.

I had to get my haircut today which was terrifying. It turned out pretty good, but I prefer mother as my barber.

All and all, it was a very pleasant week to be a missionary in Iowa/Illinois. I continue to enjoy being a missionary and am grateful for being called to this wonderful area.

PROOF!

Lil' piece of home!

#BallerStatus

Reunion with Friends

It's been almost a year since Dave-o and Noah have seen each other. The Armstrongs met us at Happy Hollow where we spent the afternoon catching up on each other's lives. Happy Hollow has a lot of monkey to look at which made Dave-o really happy.

Don't let Loni's stoic expression fool you. She really enjoyed the rides and would complain every time it was over. Thankfully, it wasn't crowded, so she was able to go on them as many times as her heart desired (or our heart desired).

The twins, Josh and Aaron. They've gotten so big!

Hopefully we'll get to see the Armsrongs again at the end of May which is when Dave-o and Noah celebrate their birthdays.

After our little outing, David and I met up with Mom and Dad Zinn to hear Steven in the Winchester Orchestra. It was a great performance. They had a guest conductor, Sebastiano De Filippi who is considered by the press as one of the most interesting conductors among the maestros emerged in recent years from South America. This director did not disappoint. It was a thrill watching his unique style.

By Lonetta

Hi! My name is Lonetta, but most people call me Loni. I love splashing in water and getting dirty. The dirtier the better. Mud is my favorite. But I also like to put my hands in yogurt, pudding, or any squishy food item and spread it all over my face, hands, and clothes. When I do this, Mom calls me a little Lonster, which makes me laugh. 

Following this fun is always a bath, which is almost as exciting as the playing in mud and food part. I suppose being clean is okay too.

Redwoods

The schools here have the week off. We've been able to have Emily and Owen over a couple of times. Today, we drove to the redwoods. Em and Kirsten wanted to make a movie in a foresty setting and Owen and Dave-o just wanted to run around.

It's essential to find a good walking stick before hiking.

Love how these two trees frame the family of redwoods.

A rock monster tried to eat Dave-o

The boys found their castle.