Sorry so slow to update the blog..........

It has been a little while to update Elder Armatage's profile. But not because he has not been busy. Besides finding snakes and wanting to see a Gila monster, he has a new companion from Kansas, Elder Hawes. They are working very hard together. We had a great talk with him on Skype on Mother's Day. He talked about the people he has met in the 2 Wards they are working with and what he does each day. He is excited to be there and serving the Lord. Here is his email this week:

"We had a great week! We are killing this area and we are finding soooo much work out here! I love it! I'm having soooo much fun. We have two more baptisms coming up and we are stoked for both in June. We played ball on p day for like 2.5 hours. It was fun and I'm sore today. ha ha Yeah we had our baptism on Saturday. I talked on baptism and confirmed her on Sunday. It was a pretty cool thing. I'm addicted. ha ha I want to baptize everyone I meet! How was Idaho? How was the zoo? I miss those little kids! ha ha Thanks for sending me D&C. I love reading it,  sec 110 I read every time I go to the temple. I love that section.  That baptism was great. The girls is 9, her mother has a super rich boyfriend and he's not a member(yet) but he took us all to lunch after. 8 of us to the cheese cake factory!!! It was really good. Then we had a lesson with the boyfriend and he would be a great member someday but i don't know if its today. ha ha But we will keep trying."

It is so fun to see how much he is growing and enjoying his mission (except for the heat - that is the first thing he said to us on Skype!)

He mentioned again how much he loves getting letters..........

                                                      At a Zone Conference

One of the snakes

This weeks email:
"Thanks for the quote. Conference was great I loved it. I loved Elder Nelson talk on Sunday morning it was great. As for that guy we got a hold of him! And taught him and he still wants to get baptised! So we are working with him and we got a referral about a lady that has read the Book of Mormon, Jesus is the Christ and watched all of conference and went to the Easter pageant so we need to get over there and teach her quick! I'm supper stoked about it. The little girl's baptism is set for the 27th of this month."

And then on Sunday night, the most exciting thing ever:
A Sister Peterson stopped at our door. She lives in Elder Armatage's mission area and has fed him a few times, in fact he was there on Easter! She and her family were driving up to Utah to pick up a daughter and when Kyle heard about it, he asked if she would drop by a belated gift for his Mom. It is so sweet of him to think of that and so wonderful of Sister Peterson to take the time to come by and see us! It made my day!! Below is a picture of the gift - it is a case that they have made for a paperback Book of Mormon to hand out to people. Sister Peterson said the missionaries carry them around. And she said that Elder Armatage is so awesome and is working so hard. It was amazing to hear about our son from someone who has been with him. Tears........happy ones! : )

                                                    View from the top

                                                     View from the bottom 

                                                    View from the opposite side of where
                                                    you slide the Book of Mormon in

This week's email from Elder Armatage:
We did watch all of conference it was great. The work is still going we are only teaching the little girl now. We dropped the other we couldn't make contact again so that's sad but we are still going. We will be going to the temple on Wednesday to the 7:30 session. That's exciting. Not much happened this week, we are still working with less actives in the wards and trying to get them back to church. I love working with members and helping them out in any way that we can. The new scriptures you sent work great thanks! I love being a missionary it's hard sometimes.

Here are some pictures he calls mission life -

                                          So funny!

                                          At the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant

A sister that fed Elder Armatage today sent this to us! She said he is awesome and serving like a champ!

Elder Armatage is still in Scottsdale. He reached his first transfer which he ended up staying in the same apartment, same companion but they were assigned to 2 different wards. They started teaching a 9 year old who wants to be baptized and then another guy who called them for lessons. He said he is learning a lot and loves being a missionary. Here is a few things he has written in different emails: "The Lord knows who we are and will hear our prayers, I know that's true." "It's just hard to stay positive but the Lord will help us when he sees fit. It's hard to comprehend how much the Lord is in our lives and we don't even realize it." "We went to the Mesa Temple for the Easter pageant. It was sweet. We took two non members and it was fun. The work is still going." It is fun to see how he is growing. And he is taking on the culture - bought a "sweet' pair of cowboy boots! He also has mentioned that he loves getting letters!
Last P Day they hiked Camelback Mountain and took some fun pictures. But none of himself! Maybe next time.
2 Sundays ago he gave his first talk in the new Ward, he doesn't say how it went, but we are sure it was great! We are so proud of him and don't forget he really likes getting letters........

                                          All pictures  from Camelback Mountain

                                           Elder Bostic (too close to the edge I say)

So yes prayers are being answered.........Elder Armatage and his companion have a referral for Tuesday and are also teaching a 9 year old girl who wants to be baptized and her family! This is their first lessons and Elder Armatage is "stoked"! We have been praying for members hearts to be open to find families for the missionaries to teach. And they have been studying a lot and praying a lot!
Last Tuesday was his first transfer - they stayed in the same apartment though, were just changed to 2 new wards and Elder Bostic is still his companion.
They also spent Saturday moving a lady with a LOT of stuff to a new house all day but he said it was fun. Next week Elder Armatage will be giving a talk in his new ward. I wish I could hear it. He has been out 3 months now!!  He said last week "it's just hard to stay positive but the Lord will help us when He sees it fit.  It's hard to comprehend how much the Lord is in our lives and we don't even realize it!!  ha ha yeah mom i still haven't changed I am still way goofy"
We are so proud of all you are doing Elder Armatage!

Email and a letter in one day - I am so happy!!
Elder Armatage said their days are full of studying and praying and studying more. They are praying to find someone to teach. They don't go out in the day because no one is home. But he feels like he is getting the "hang" of his mission and how to teach by the Holy Ghost. And he did say he is writing in his journal which is great!
He enjoyed his birthday, went to a Ward Game night and they sang Happy Birthday to him. He bought a bike from Elder Hills so now has that to get around but they must also have a car, too.
I had asked him about the snow that we heard about they had one day in Mesa and this is what he said: "they call it snow but it wasn't snow it was hail that stuck not snow". Funny! But this week it has been 65-70's so it is very nice. Sounds great!
He knows the Lord answers prayers. We are all praying that they will find a family to teach. They rely a lot on the members to give them names.
He loves getting letters, so would love to hear from you. The church is true!

Elder Armatage's 20th Birthday! A sister in the ward wrote and said they had a Ward party tonight and the Elders were there. They sang Happy Birthday to Elder Armatage who was very embarrassed, but I am glad they did that for him since we couldn't. She also said that he refused to eat the cake because he is worried about getting fat! And here is the picture she sent - typical Kyle expression: