Uncle Josh!

Dear Family & Friends,

Wow, this week was one for the books! So much happened I don't even

know where to begin! Well, on Monday night, we found out that Elder

Parry had to go home for a time! :( I was so sad! He was pretty sad as

well, but he definitely will be back out in his mission as soon as he

can. It was an abrupt ending, but I am so grateful to have been

companions with him! I learned so much from the transfer and a half I

served with him. He's truly inspiring! We had to drive into Dallas on

Wednesday. I still had no idea what was going to happen to me. You can

definitely say I was VERY anxious to hear the news! I waited at the

mission office with the mission vehicle coordinator (Elder Gilbert)

while President Taylor took Elder Parry to the airport. Eventually,

the assistants came and picked me up. I hadn't eaten in a long time so

I asked if we could go to Panda Express because we don't have one in

our area! I LOVE PANDA EXPRESS! Haha. They told me I'd be staying the

night in Dallas and asked where I wanted to serve... I asked them if I

could serve in the Dallas 4th Ward (which was my last area) and they

let me! I was so excited! I was with Elder Vang and Elder Fonua (who

is from Tonga and is AWESOME). Then we also had another missionary

(Elder Kenworthy) with us because his companion had recently gone home

as well. I was so happy! I saw so many great people that I love! We

went on splits with the members and I asked if we could go see Quay

Mercer! It was so good to see her and her family again! I also got to

see Bishop Monroe, The Spitzenbergers (WHOM I LOVE), Brother Erickson,

Brother Wood, and so many others! The only thing that would have made

it better is if Josh Parker was there! He was one of my favorite

members in the Dallas 4 Ward, but he moved to Utah. It was such a

bittersweet day, but I'm grateful for the blessings the Lord sent my

way. That night President Taylor called and informed me that my new

companion would be Elder Kenworthy and we would stay in my area

(Palestine & Athens). So my new companion is Elder Kenworthy from

Missoula Montana! I feel bad that he had to get emergency transferred

out of his area, but I'm glad to know the Lord had a hand in

everything that happened. There are no English missionaries in Elder

Kenworthy's last area now, because his companion went home, so we had

to help transition his investigators over to the Spanish missionaries.

We finally got to go back to Palestine the next day!

We drove up to Athens on Friday. I'm happy to be in Athens! We went to

lunch and got all settled in when I realized... I left all my ties AND

my two suits in Palestine! I could not believe myself! Elder Kenworthy

offered for me to wear his ties throughout the week, but then later

realized... He left his suits in Palestine as well! So we asked Tim

Brewer if the next morning he would drive us to Palestine and back to

get all those stuff, which (thankfully) he said he would. The next

morning we drove up to Palestine, but I wasn't paying attention to

where Brother Brewer was driving and he drove 20 minutes THE WRONG

WAY! So we had to drive 20 minutes BACK to Athens then drive another

hour into Palestine! Holy moly! Haha. We, finally, got my ties and our

suits and got back into Athens. That day, we had so much success! We

contacted a lot of referrals and got two new investigators! We also

visited the Lang Family. They have a daughter named Hanna who has not

yet been baptized. We went and invited her to be baptized! She said

she would! So her baptism date is April 2nd! We're so excited for her!

On Friday this week, I found out that I BECAME AN UNCLE!!! :) I'm so

happy for my older sister and Brother in law! Their baby's name is

Keaton Garrett Kundis! He was born on January 22nd, 2016. And he's my

nephew! I love him so much even though I've never even met him! I pray

every night for him, though. He's very blessed to have two wonderful

parents, aunts and uncles who love him, and incredible grandparents! I

can't wait to meet him in September! That will be the best day ever!

I'm so glad everything went well and that we have a new addition to

our family.

Mike (in Palestine) is very excited about his baptism on the 13th of

February! It's coming so fast! We are a little behind schedule on

teaching the lessons with him, but we're going to do our best to get

him baptized on the 13th! He really wants to be baptized and is

excited for it... We are too! :) Dave and Ruby are still doing really

well. I'm so glad they are. They don't miss a day of church! Haha.

This week I was thinking about all of the amazing people in my life.

I'm so incredibly blessed. I can't even describe the immense love I

feel for my Father in Heaven for surrounding me with the most amazing

people in the world (HINT: THAT'S ALL OF YOU). I always think of the

times Brianna and I would eat Taco Bell at midnight (which now if I

did that I'd gain ten pounds what is metabolism). Or when Sam and

Garrett would go to Applebee's with us and get the half price

appetizers. Or when I would go on walks after work with Kara. Or every

crazy stupid thing Bryan and I did. Or singing Wicked with Megan in

our kitchen at the top of our lungs. Or playing Call of Duty with

Scott. AND MY MOM AND DAD I JUST LOVE THEM MORE THAN ANYTHING. I'm

serious. I have the best parents. And oh, my cousins. I love every

single one of my cousins. And my aunts and uncles and grandparents and

everyone I've met on my mission and all my high school friends and...

Sorry, I just love you all way too much. Just feeling blessed.

I hope you all have the best week. I hope you all look to Christ in

every thought. I testify that that is where you will find true joy. He

will give you rest. I promise! He's done it for me time and time

again. I love each of you dearly.

Your Stressed but Blessed Missionary,

Elder Joshua Needles

A.K.A Uncle Josh