Hello my dear Family!!

I am so happy to hear from you again! ;)

That is awesome to hear that everything is going well for everyone!

Father, I really hope you get/got that job we were discussing last week! Congrats if you already got it! I love you and cant wait to see some pictures of your progress! J PLEASE CHANGE YOUR PICTURES!!!!!!!! But other than that I Love You!!

Mother, that’s awesome to hear that school is going very well for you! J congrats on all you’re A’s. and thanks for the scripture! My scripture to you is Mosiah 2:41. I love this Scripture!! Please read it and re-read it as often as possible!

Austin, why you not say soda stupid!?!?!?! I mean why haven’t you told me about your High Adventure? And where are those pictures I asked for? And when does school start for you? And how has your reading been going? And has the new Psych season come out yet? And your names doodle!!!! Haha!

Kaden. I love you bro, I have those pictures from the wedding we went to and I laugh at them every time I see them, I really miss you guys and I miss how much we look alike and how much you’ve grown! HOLY COW, are you taller than mom yet? How long have I been gone? It feels like an eternity! But yeah, we need more inside jokes! You should make us some more inside jokes and ill laugh at them!! Alright, it’s a plan!

Xoe, I love you so much little princess, I am in North Carolina and I am having a blast! And WOW, you got a hair cut!?!?! It looks so super cute Xoe, I love you and miss you!

Luke, you love you too, bye! Haha, so how was school for you? How tall are you now? Mom, you should measure them today and then send me their heights every week! J but Lukie I love you so very much and hope to get some more pictures of you!

Mom, you should ask sister dotey to take some more family pictures so I can have some nice ones! And hey, tell me about their newest little sweetheart! J  

And I want to know how everyone’s homework has been going? And if you didn’t read those scriptures I sent earlier then you know have to do 600 pushups and you have to read the scriptures EVERY NIGHT!!! Haha……..but seriously……..if you aren’t ready every night then you really should, I cant read enough for everyone believe it or not, and I would love to have some partners for discussion! I am reading for the challenge that my mission is having to read seven pages of the book of mormon each day and I am marking up my copy like a monster, I just recently read from the end of Jacob into Mosiah and it blew my mind! So keep me posted on you reading! By the time I write next week I will be into Mosiah, probably the ninth chapter! Let me know about you home work and everything else!

So yeah, it’s been going very well here in Roanoke! My companion is Elder Jones; he is from Ogden, Utah. He comes from a family of four I think, he is a very good missionary and together we are the second best fighting force in the world!! Right next to The Avengers!! ;) he doesn’t cook like me so I have been teaching him some things…..OH YEAH!!! I have cooked my usual omelets every morning, then we will make things like Ham-fried rice, spaghetti, fettuccini, stir-fry, cashew chicken, and everything in-between! So yeah, I’m still upholding my fake reputations…..that’s right!!    

The Roanoke Rapids ward covers a 100 mile by 120 mile area with Roanoke right in the center! YAY!!! We have meal appointments maybe twice a week, and when we do they feed us so much that I have already become the bestest friends with Everyone cause I eat everything they give me! HEHE!! Some of the members here are like two time state winning Barbeque……ers…….:) haha, the food here is so so so good, I am trying to get as many recipes from them as I can so I can send them home so you and Meg so you can perfect them and make them even better!:)

Well I Love You All so much but I must be off! Keep living life and keep reading and studying! I just recently read a general conference address from president Hinckley about what all new members need and I love the last of the three things that everyone needs, and that is to be nourished by the good word of God! I Love You and cant wait to hear from you again! J

Sincerely

Elder Zonts

Hello My dear Family! J 

I love you all so much and am so glad to be able to write you! YAY, its my first preparation day! 

So you'll never guess where I am! I am in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. I don’t even know where I am because I am not a-loud to look it up on Google maps or whatever because I am not aloud to get on any other internet sites then LDS.org and some others!

So just so we can have a written account of my travels: I left the MTC at 7:30 AM on the 10th of July on a flight to Detroit, Michigan; the plane was 25 minutes late so we arrived at Detroit, after passing two time zones, at around 1:55 I believe. While in Detroit I learned that my 3:15 flight to Norfolk Virginia had been delayed to around 3:55 and later to 4:10. So after scouting around and finding a phone I then called my dear family to tell them where I was but they did not answer my call (FAIL AUSTIN!!!!). My travel group and myself, 26 of us in all,  then discovered that our 4:10 flight to Norfolk had been canceled due to mechanical issues in Kentucky……….. >L, so our group of 26 of us were then all given new travel itineraries, many of us were re-booked for flights going into Virginia the next morning so they were forced to stay in Detroit at a nice little hotel. Me on the other hand, I was offered to fly as a single passenger to the JFK terminal in New York and jump on a plane to Norfolk later that evening (the 10th) and be the first of our travel group to make it to Virginia! So YAY!! I was going to go to New York, so I jumped on the plane and was given a seat at the very back of the plane next to the very last window seat, so HA! I was able to fly over parts of Canada and I was able to fly straight over the city of New York, I could see all the super tall buildings and I flew right over central park!! BOOYA! Hehe, soon after landing in New York at the JFK terminal I checked my next flight’s status and found out that the flight had been canceled!!! >L. So I got into a HUGE line to get re-booked for another flight and discovered that most if not all of the flights heading into the east coast, Virginias, Carolinas, and all other southern states, had been canceled due to thunder storms……… >L. So after standing in line for close to two hours I finally got a new itinerary and it said that I was going to fly to Atlanta Georgia at 6:20 the next morning and then from Atlanta to Norfolk. But here was my dilemma, I didn't have my I.D. with me and I was afraid that security at JFK would not let me back into the terminal, at Salt Lake they barely let me in because I had my social security card, birth certificate and they recognized me as a missionary, but they still gave me the royal treatment though: they went through every single thing in my shoulder bag and my carry on, they scanned me twice, and they patted me down nice and good……… :P……. I didn't think they would treat me so NICELY at JFK so I got to sleep in the Terminal, yep call me Victor cause I did the whole thing, I moved the seats and jumped up when a plane went by and I got to eat terminal food…..Wendy’s……Gross!! haha. So that was my New York experience! So after getting close to an hour of sleep, mixed with the fact that I woke up at 2:30 on the morning of my departure from Salt Lake, I was very tired. But I jumped on a shuttle that took me form terminal C to terminal B and was able to get in line for my flight to Atlanta. While in line I met a rather interesting young women from Australia who had the coolest accent but some very strange description phrases….. hmmm. Anyway, while I was in line I checked my ticket and discovered that the Airline had Opt for me to fly to Atlanta FIRST CLASS!!!!! ;) So from New York to Georgia I was flying in style and I have to say, it looked good on me! ;) and I was dressed the part so I didn't get any second glances and they fed me a super rich style breakfast; it was a granola cereal with sliced honeydew and every other rich looking thing like a crescent. Well, after I landed in Atlanta, I checked my second ticket to Norfolk and found the gate no problem. As I was waiting to board I just new that something was going to go wrong so I couldn't get over my anxiety and that left me a little jumpy but other wise okay. I jumped on my flight to Norfolk and was able to jump in front of everyone else because for this flight I was part of the sky priority group!! Hehe, it wasn’t first class but I got on the plane first! So after my hour and half long flight to Virginia I finally landed and could breath again!! J haha. And that concluded my missionary travel experience. 

AND I ALMOST FORGOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So yesterday was my first sunday here in the field and you'll never guess what happened! 

Elder Bednar came to my wards sacrament meeting!!!!!!!

Yep, that's right! I was there to meet Elder Bednar, i was the first person to shake his hand cause me and Elder Jones were 'guarding' his parking spot. I WAS THE FIRST!!!! his address was so so so good and ill have to give you more details but i don't have time! he addressed us and then held a question and answer session which took up all three hours of church. It was amazing!!  I also got one of his cards cause i was persistent, i asked Elder Jones if it was okay if i asked for him to sign my hymn book but i think we both thought it a little over the top, so i just asked for one of his 'business' cards haha, it was a great way to start a mission!!

Here is a picture of Tony and His first companion!!

Elder Anthony Robert Zonts had quite the adventure yesterday, He left the MTC at 3:30 am, flew out of SLC with a group of 26 Elders and Sisters, landed in Detroit, the plane had trouble, so they were all separated, he ended up going to NY by himself, They then told him his next flight was delayed due to weather, Because of the whole mess with his wallet being stolen, and his driver’s license not coming from OK in time, He didn't want to go through security again, and take the chances of getting stuck in NY, he had to "sleep" in the airport.

 He's had several tender mercies so far, First he has very little cash, and his calling card only has enough to use for a couple of calls, so his first tender mercy was a gentleman offered him his phone to use, He is not a member but recognized him as an Elder because he works with a member that has sent his sons on missions. So he was able to call us to tell us what was happening. Second tender mercy, after hours of not being able to sleep, a gentlemen gave him a blanket, he was then able to sleep for about an hour and a half, third tender mercy, around 3am the spirit told him he was in the wrong terminal, he jumped up, barely caught the shuttle over to the other building and climbed right on the plane (earlier than he thought he was flying)

Fourth tender mercy they upgraded him to first class, they fed him a really nice breakfast and he was able to sleep for a half hour, but this time sound sleep. He is now in Atlanta, and is supposed to fly out to his final destination at 10;30.

I am so grateful that the Lord is with him! He had the chance to read 100 pages of Preach my Gospel, and gave two people pass along cards while he waited. I'm SURE the Lord has a plan and I know Tony is in the right place, doing the right thing and the Lord is protecting him, putting people in his path and will for the duration of his mission, and his life for his sacrifice and service!

MTC

Hello my son,

So, first things first, I prayed to know what scripture to share with you, and the Lord led me to Alma 38, Read it..... Now we can talk about it!! It made me think of you and how proud I am of the wonderful person you are, I also loved the advice it gives. It was so perfect, it talks about missionary work, about his great faith and about loving and serving with humility! I know that you are strong and faithful, that you have a great desire to serve in diligence and humility! I am bursting with gratitude to have been given the awesome privilege to be your Mama.

So, what’s happened here is we went to Braden Grants home to watch him open his mission call, everyone said to say hi to you and they are proud of you. Anyway, he was called to the Philippians. He reports August 14, to the Prove MTC, Cool right?

Sister Barton wanted me to tell you thank you for your wonderful example of reverence in the temple the last youth temple trip.

Xoe says: I love you Tony, You’re the best brother in the whole world! And I love you very very very very much!! I miss you a lot! Love Xoe.

Luke says: I love you and I miss you! When you come back I will be 6!

Kaden says: I love you Tony and I miss you, I wish you could have come to the encampment It was so so so fun! I can’t wait until you come back.

Austin Says: How’s it going broski?

I want to hear all about your experience in the MTC and what you are learning, don’t forget your scripture to share! I love and miss you, Thank you for being such a great example to your whole family, especially your brothers! We are spending our Sabbath listening to classical music, remembering all of the wonderful Sundays with you and feeling HAPPY!

Be good, remember who you are, make good choices, be respectful, and have fun!

                                                                                                Love you

                                                                                                Mama

MTC

That is so awesome that there was ten thousand people there! and that's all fantastic! Have you told everyone to letter bomb me? and also, if you fax my records then it will be faster! i put the number on my first letter! yeah, i only have time for that! I love you so very much! have an amazing day and i will not be able to email until two Mondays from now.... :'( at least that's what i understand  if not then great! Keep sending me letters cause i want to know everything that's happening, thanks so much for having everyone send me a personal message! Tell Austin that the spirit is whats up! Tell Xoe and Luke that i Love them and cant wait to hear them at the Airport! I don't know exactly what time ill call but it will most likely be early in the morning, like 6 or 6:30. I love you and miss you, God be with you till we talk again! :) <3 <3

MTC

Elder,
We are so proud of you and the way that you have allowed the spirit to help you in all of your accomplishments. It sounds like your days are definitely eventful! That is awesome that you got to sing in such a huge choir, must have been an awesome experience. Speaking of awesome experiences the scout encampment was very cool! There were more than 10,000 people there!! The boys and I got this awesome medallion to help us remember to put on the armor of God and the awesome power of the priesthood. I was able to get you one too, so I will be sending it to you with the other stuff. Well, I want you to know I love you and Mom will write you later!!
I love you and am so proud of you!!
Love Dad

MTC

Hello dear family!!

I just wanted to start off by saying that i love you without bounds!! I cant wait to share my experiences with you and i cant wait to grow here on my mission!.

So my first day in the MTC was AMAZING! i met my companion- Elder Shell! i took a quick tour, everyone there got to say "welcome to the MTC" or "velcomin ouse die MTC" or "ching chong wing bong wong" because i was wearing a sticker on my name tag so everyone new that it was my first day!! hahahaha! So on my first day we went to a huge group teaching thingy and i was able to make some awesome inputs and i actually got one of the investigators to cry because she felt the spirit so strong and the Brother who was over my group said that he had never seen Luwanna choke up like that!! ;) yeah that's right! I was also interviewed on my.........second day and the Branch President instantly knew that i was suppose to be the district leader, that s what he said to me! hehe. so i second and third and four days were all pretty much the same: my district and myself go to a study period at 7:00 and then we go to breakfast at 7:30,  we then have Zone teaching and then we go to lunch after two more hours of study time, then we lunch and then we go to another hour of study time and then we have six and a half hours of classroom instructions! So my days have been pretty busy! But its PREPARATION DAY!!!! :):) oh yeah my P days are on Wednesdays but i only get one while I'm here in the MTC! MY DEPARTURE DATE IN JULY 10th!!! So i will leave to go to Virginia in one week!! YAY!! Yeah, I've been having such a super fun time! All the Elders in my district are super cool in both physical and spiritual things! All the sisters in my district are super cool and we all respect each other very well! So yeah.... OH YEAH! so on Sunday we had sacrament meeting and then priesthood and then we had a Branch devotional! it was super cool! oh and yesterday! (Tuesday) we all attended a huge devotional which so super inspirational! and i got to sing in a 700 member choir!! :) it was super super super super fantastic!! I cant wait to tell you all the details of everything but i only have five more minutes but i can respond later today cause I'm only using 30 minutes of my computer time!!

MOM!! im so sorry that you hurt your leg! I love you and know that you'll be fine but that stinks! Pleas make you leg heal quickly so that you're not in pain! :)

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH

Your wonderful Elder

Elder Zonts

P.S. If you email me today (like now) then i can respond later! I love you!