May 26

Wassup yall! this week was full of mixed feeling. Our investigator Gene got baptized so thats awesome! He asked me to baptize him so I felt extremely honored. We had to do weekly planning this week, its when we set goals for lessons and such for the upcoming week. But we have a goal for baptisms and for the first time in 3 weeks we had to put 0 as a goal. I got kinda use to a baptism every week so it was a lil depressing. Oh well, more are to follow soon.

 It was also me and Elder Milne's first full week on bikes (please kill me). Bikes were cool in Chattanooga because our area was tiny but Bristol is massive!!! We cross the Tennessee/ Virginia line EVERYDAY! So we had to rely on alot of member team-ups to take us to appointments which is what we're supposed to do anyways so SWEET.

 We had a lesson with our Investigators the Perry's and they are studs! They have been so prepared to receive the gospel. They are set to be baptized in June. And they are planning on going to the Indiana temple open house in July. It was sweet! So they announced the open house in church and Chris the husband was already planning  on doing to Indiana for a convention on the same weekend. So when we had dinner with them he was saying how theres no way it was coincidence so they HAD to go. It was dope.

 Transfers were also this week but I get to stay another transfer with Milne and finish training him. We have to much fun and GET WORK DONE!

We'll thats it for me.

Love yall and God Bless

Elder Seth T. Dillard

MAy 18

Sup Ya'll!!! so this week was pretty good. Whenever you have a baptism its gotta be a good week. The Clays boys are awesome and Bradley will be getting the Aaronic Priesthood soon. Besides for that ummmmmm... oh yeah! We got in a car wreck on Friday. People in the South cannot drive for real!!  But me and my comp are all good and now we're on bikes til its fixed (sad panda). The Bristol ward is fetchin' awesome!!! The ward is going some awesome missionary work and love us to death. Transfer call we're Saturday night and Im staying to finish training Milne!!!! I love this kid sooo much. and Gene is getting baptized Saturday so thats too legit.

Our Investigators the Perry's are the coolest people ever!!!! Chris (the dad) is a giant Randall Cunningham fan (UNLV baby). Kathy is so awesome. The spirit is so strong with her, and her desire to be more passionate about the gospel. She came to the Clays baptism and someone asked her if she was getting baptized. "Yup! June 13th!" with no hesitation. IT WAS DOPE.

OK so funny sorry of the week.

So we got a referral form the Kirkland Temple this week so we went to contact him. His name was Jordan and he is a interesting dude to say the least. We were talking about Joseph Smith then he just randomly turns to Elder Mine and asked if he was a christian. Milne replied yes obviously. The Jordan says "well you seem rather resentful towards Christ'' then goes off on some tangent about demons possessing people. So long story short Milne is possessed   by demons. Then we say him again Friday and as soon as Milne ted to teach Jordan said 'Bye Bye" and walked away. This guys doesn'tlike Milne and its kinda funny. He felt a lil bad but I just told him not everyone is gunna like you and move on.

Well thats it for me. I got people to teach, people to baptize. Love yall and God Bless

Elder Seth T. Dillard

April 21

Well Sunday I hit my year mark.Now the # day I've been out begin to become bigger then the amount I have left. Its come too fast. But I've already since the amount of growth in myself and I pray it continues.

Im emailing today due to the fact that yesterday was a Zone Training Meeting.It was good. Had some great trainings about working thru the members of the ward. Thats where the real missionary work gets done. The Bristol ward is waking up and getting excited about the work. Its sweet!!! So due to ZTM our Pday got moved to today. But life is Fan- diddly- tastic!!! We have 5 baptisms lined up with more to follow.

The Bristol 500 was Sunday on my year mark (consequence I THINK NOT)!!!! So all week the town was nuts with fan/hicks/rednecks you name it. Main street had concerts goin all week.

Oh and last night we were heading home and saw a homeless dude. We had some brownies from a member but thought better off he have em. WE parked and gave a fellow  the treats. He knew who we were. He was all like "you Mormons are brainwashed".  Well he thought all religion is brainwashing so you know he's happy. A your Welcome would have nicer but whatever, we just laughed it off (the south is full of crazies).   

Training is great! Elder Milne is a mirror image of Ryan (my cousin) so we get along perfectly.

We just have a ball. Also my district is doing well and great things are happening.

Great area. Great comp. Great district and Great work> what more can I ask for?!

We'll love yall and remember ITS BRISTOL BABY!!!

April 13

This week was good a slow start due to transfers but good. Elder Hagans went back on home to Idaho and I picked up my greenie. His name is Elder Milne from Fairview UT right next to Snow College. We've been having a ball!!! I took him over to the Turners  (investigators) and had to mess with him. Todd pretended to be a snake handler priest and ask Milne if he trusted the Holy Spirit to protect him if the snake bite him. Milne was buggin out and Todd came back with a box covered by a sheet. Then he "tripped" and scare the crap outta Milne. It was awesome!!!!  Its been great thou, he is a stud of a elder.

    So once transfers were done with the week went great. We now have 2 people set to be baptized on May 9th with 2 to follow shortly. We also got word that Prez will be putting a set of sisters back into the ward next transfer so our area will get smaller which I'm ok with. Driving 40 mins to a dinner appointment kills our miles. Beside that just been working our tails off. Training is great!!! It just give you the pump up you need to go the extra mile I feel and I can already see it in the work.

Well thats about it for me. Love ya and God Bless

Elder Seth Thomas Dillard

March 23

from seth

ok the walmart transaction are atm withdrawals. when i went to pay for my suits my card didnt work because i set a daily spending limit of 5 bucks. so my companion was nice enough to cover me at the store so i took out the cash to pay him back right away. then i got them and another of my suit jackets tailored. i still have money. its in cash hidden away in the apartment i i dont carry it around. and im fine. im not trying to run you dry. dont send me anything. thats fine. i can send pics of the suits if youd like. im not trying to play you. im really trying to budget. its hard but im improving little by little. 

in other news that stinks about grandma. i knew when i left thatd be the last time i see her. but thats great about brina going to the temple. thats was one of the coolest moments of my life. being in the celestial room by myself for a min or 2 then everyone i loved joining me. just like how it will be later on.

this week was good. i was sick and out of commission one day by besides that a great week. last night we had a lesson and dinner with a investigator Ms. Rush. she is 77 and has been taught by elders for 2 years. she knows it all and believes but just wont commit. but we had a amazing lesson. she is struggling with her church. the spirit was so strong and she commited to pray about being baptized on april 4th. shes like the mission grandma! and she can cook!!!!!! we had chicken alfredo and it was so good. and she likes me because im a fat boy who will keep eating. besides that we have a few investigators who are so close to a date!! Bristol is great. and crap time flys!!!!! these last 4 transfers have flown by. its crazy to. i look in the mirror and see someone completely different. someone im proud to see. i have been dreaming alot lately about coming home and getting all my wayword friends back on track. life is good and thats the simple way top put it.

March 16

this week was good. a lil slow at first but really picked up near the end. 

The APs and ZLs came to district meeting so i was a lil nervous but got over that rather quickly. After district meeting we when on exchanges and one of the APs Elder Searle came with me. It was great. he was trained in this area so had alot of great insight and knew alot of the people. one of the highlights was we went and saw Ms. Rush.. She is a older woman whos been investigating forever. She loved Searle when he serve here so we had to go over. it was a amazing lesson. you could cut the spirit with a knife. we just kept prodding her to commit to a date. she knows its true but is just scared to commit. she is so close thou!!!! we'll be buggin her alot this week. afterwards we when to a burger joint called burger bar for dinner. its awesome! the owners used to investigate the church and love missionaries. they even have a mormon burger! there was a news team there and me and Elder Searle got interviewed. is was pretty cool.

We also had Stake conference for the Kingsport Satke this weekend. Elder Meredith of the Seventy came along with Prez Griffin and its was great!  Alot of converts bore their testimonies and alot was focused on "bringing back the one" whether it be a less-active or people visiting. To be honest better than any stake conference back home. now thats nothing against Prez Harper or Tew but theres just so many converts coming from so many religions that you can just feel the sincerity. I dont know what it is maybe im just more spiritually intune. who knows.right now im reading Teachings og the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith. I love to learn about him and his teachings. i really just truly enjoy studying the gospel. learning more so i can help those i come in contact with. well thats about it for me. Ill pray for Great Grandma.

I love yall and God Bless 

March 9, 2015

This week was good. got alot of lesson and 6 new investigators so thats awesome, my comp is going home in a few weeks and is getting trunkier by the day but oh well. i've dealt with this before.

we are teaching some pretty interesting people.( a messianic jew, a family who the head of the household is a southern baptist preacher and a drug addict). so yeah lots of fun.

i love bristol!!! it's such a legit city. we're gunna go take a tour of the speedway one of these pdays. and the race is coming up and theres a chance i could go to the saturday races!!!!!

Im coming to learn that not only can I help people come closer to christ but other (outside of the church) can help me. its cool to feel of other peoples spirits and grow. I finished reading Jesus the Christ yesterday and love it. I actually look forward to our study periods in the mornings now. I love learning about the gospel and trying to gain any new knowledge i can.

thats really is thou.