some more random pictures

The burning of the Tie 6 months

hey mom hows it going today, we are at the koski's, but yea the library is closed today . didnt know that it was cloumbus day. well this week was good same ole stuff but it was good we have a new gator and his name is tim he is an older guy , hes got this huge ol beard and we tracted into to him and she said that we could come over. we went back 3 times and the 3rd time we went he was there, so we talk with him about the restoration and we gave him the b.o.m and asked him to read and pray, and he said that he would so thats good. really receptive to what we had to say.you asked about paul, he is doing well he still is coming to church, the thing about paul is he is a little mentally ill, so we are taking things slow he likes when we meet with him and when we teach so he is feeling the spirit no doubt, but for him to be baptized it has to be approved by the bishop. but paul still has somethings to work on.kool experience this week well last night i wont get into details because i wrote about it in my letter home but we were looking for a l.a. but they didnt live there anymore but this girl was there and she said that she would listen to what we have to say so we are going over soon so thats cool.yes it snowed kind of cool but not really. and it melted on sunday but it is snowing right now as we speak so looks like winter is here. and i wrote the things that i would like in the letter so i wont tell yo nowwe are starting to cut fire wood for people so thats fun i like doing that we help out dave when he can.im trying to think of what else happened this week but i think that that was pretty much it. oh well kool thing that happened today. this kid john he is the son of another ex member that we talk to but we were in wal-mart today and he saw us and came over and talked to us for a good little while. he is really and he is moving to vegas soon. so thats cool and he has mentioned that he would like to learn more sometime so thats really kool. i hope that he keeps thinking and searching.i hope that everyting is alright with the dog thats crazyhow is your calling? is it going well do you have your advisiors yet?just remember that you will do great. i love you mom i hope that you have a great day. i love you more than you know. bye mom take care and dont mess with dogs ok. love you

September 16, 2009
Hello Everybody!
Currently I am in the town of Hibbing. Our area is the 2nd largest in the mission. This transfer I was called to be a trainer. My companion is Elder Bair. Elder Bair is from Montana. He is a very hard worker. They don’t call ‘em corn bread feed (fed??)for nothing. Later in this transfer I was called to be a District Leader. This was because we were too far from any other district. So, we’re all alone.
Elder Bair and I have been working hard tracting and finding new people to teach. We now have a pretty good size teaching pool. We spend a good chunk of our time searching out and finding less-actives. The mission plan is to teach these members the lessons again to re-light that fire they had at conversion. We are seeing good improvement. The ward is helping us out a lot by finding more people to teach.
Some good experiences that I have stumbled across on my mission…in my last area the Lord blessed my companion and me with 2 baptisms. After I left that area 2 of the investigators that we were teaching were also baptized. In my last area we also worked with less-actives and we started to see 2 families come back to the gospel.
For the 7 months that I have been a missionary I have seen the Lord’s hand in His work countless times. I am very excited to be a servant in Minnesota. I would never change my decision to go on a mission. (The Church is true, the Book is blue, and Jesus was a Mormon!)
The best part of the mission is to see people’s lives change for the better. To look into their eyes and see true happiness. I am grateful for this gospel, to have grown up in a great ward, and to be blessed with the family I have.
Dad. I love you.
Elder Grondel the Younger

just some fun pictures

Elder Grondel and Elder Bair at the end of Zone Conference

hey mom! whats going on. is sounds like things are going good. sucks that you have a bad tooth ach. and it sounds like travis is doing well. so thats a good thing for you. and hahah yea thoes pic wre pretty funny ias i put in in the mail box i totally forgot that i had them, but it was too funny. so this week has gone by soo fast but it was good we worked really hard and we got a lot of lessons in. we picked up 2 new gators and as of right now we have 3 people that we have in mind that are close to being baptized so thats good, we had zone conf. this past week and t was reall good all the questions that ive been having about the work were answered there and now im on fire things are going really good. e. bair and i are getting along pretty good he is learning so fast and he is a very hard worker. i m glad that i had him. oh and brian his comp. is elder nebz. he was in the mtc with me. he was the one that had to say that prayer at the mtc remembe. haha hey brian was there. thats weird. but yea brian is very lucky to have nebz. nebz is one of my best friends up here. i know he is havig a great time. so i hear that you have work today thats a bummer, we are over at the koskis right now eatting breakfast and then we are going to work on their hunting shack so that should be fun. but things are going really well this week ill have to get into more details in my letter. i really feel a change in the wind right now, things are looking up. and i hope that i dont get transfered that would suck finally things are picking up. i hope that everything works out. oh and i finally got a letter from grand ma finally but yea thats good. well i hope that all is well at home. right now would be my fun season with college football. you know that. well i hope that you have a great day at work adn i hope that you know that you are the best mom in the whole world. because you are. i love you mom and you know it~elder gron del the younger

News From Elder Grondel

Elder Grondel has been transferred to Virgina Minnesota. He is serving with Elder Brooks. He says that he is happy to have him as his Companion. In fact he says that they are like Peanut Butter and Jelly.

Before leaving his old area of Buffalo he was able to have the Baptism for Mr. Ramin. He was very sad that they were not able to baptise Jessica. Other things became more important to her then the Church but the seed was planted.

we need dinner appointments Please !!!!

Elder Grondel reported today again. He is doing very well. He and his companion Elder Tueller have been working very hard. They have had some disappointments with some of their investigators and they have had some real success stories.

He writes on Monday June 22, 2009 this: I wish that I had greatest news to tell you but I don't. This week has been a hard one with investigators. David Wyatt and Christy dropped us this week. and Jessica did not come to church so she will not be getting baptized this week, which Sucks because we talk to President and he said she can be Baptized in 3 weeks and that is next transfer and I am most likely going to be gone. And she has asked me to baptize her. So I am kind of bumbed about that.

The upside is you would be so proud of me. I bought a new suit and shoes for 16 bucks. Haha it was so sweet and the suit fits me perfectly. Now I just need to buy a brown belt to go with my shoes, I've been using Elder Tuellers belt this past week.

Speaking of him we are doing great. I am glad to have him as my companion. We have fun doing the work.

So we went to the Rodeo this week. That was so fun, not as cool as the ones back home. But it was fun. It rained like crazy right before it started so the field was all muddy and wet. But it made it that much better. Talked to a Drunk Guy for 20 mins. about nothing really it was really fun. He offered me and Elder Tueller a beer like 6 times and after the 6th we gave in HAHA JK, of course we didn't but it was fun.

Well that's all that's happened this week Like I said not a great week with investigators but I'm doing very well. I love you so much Mom keep being who you are Love you

Elder Grondel the Younger

A visit to the Temple.

St. Paul Minnesota Temple

Standing with Elder Tueller

100th day of Missionary Service

Celebrated by getting a 100th day package from home and a pizza. Sister Otis is the Sister in the Picture. She takes good care of the Missionaries.

Hey Look its my Mom....WHOPPIE - Little Rascals

Whats Going on Mom? How are you doing? Hows work going? Have you gone crazy with the kids yet? I would. How's the family doing? Thats good to hear about your Bodybugg! Thats good I've been working out so my upper body is getting Big = But I still don't have my Abs back. But I'm working on it.
So I'm doing pretty good. This week we have 6 new Gators, so thats really good. We have one Gator with a date set. But there are things that might stand in the way, but i hope and pray for her. Her name is Jessica. If you can pray for her. We have an investigator name Christy, and she reminds me of you sometimes but she so funny cause she said that she can't say Love but she adores me. Ha And I think she is coming a long pretty well in the gospel. But she is pretty fun and she said that even if she doesn't get baptized she would want me to come and visit her. But I hope and pray that she gets baptized. And remember Chris and Dave. Our Gators who are a little rough around the edges? Well, they are crazy. they like us to come over and talk to them but they still are with the world. I'll put it that way cause they are just too crazy.
Anyways this Sunday they are forming the New Stake. St. Cloud. And my area is apart of that so it should be really cool. It will be my first time seeing a new stake come about.
This past week its been pretty cloudy and rainy. Its ok but I do miss the sun. Me and Elder Tueller are getting along real well. Its fun having him as a comp.
Well I hope that you enjoy this letter. This week has been good and we are working hard and having fun. I see Miracles everyday its Amazing. I Love you Mom.

Elder Grondel the Younger

P.S. send pic's and tell Keli to "SHUT UP" Thanks

Letter to Michelle

I just wamt to share my letter from Blayne to everyone

hey sis,

but im doing so good my new comp is so funny and we work and play hard im glad that we are working together. but the greatest news is that our recent convert sue marshall well her son is turning 8 on sunday and she asked me to baptize him. so i am so excited for that i cant wait im so happy.and we got 3 new gators its so sweet. we are doing so well. and i got your letter i loved the pic i was so glad to see lil ryan and ryan and you. i love you see my family you all are the most important thing in my life and you are the reasons why im on a mission thank you for all you do im glad that you are my sister. tell ryan i love him and tell lil ryan that uncle bain says i love him
~elder grondel the younger

MOMMY!

So this week has gone really well. We are talking to a lot more people and getting a lot more return appointments. This week alone we found 2 new gators, and 4 potentials who right now seem to be Golden. They all say they have been looking for a church but haven't found one. And each time we run into these people they all say its not a coincidence that we came to their houses. So I feel that Heavenly Father is hearning our prayer and preparing his people and guiding us to their houses. So yea we can say this week has gone well.
In "Downtown" Buffalo there is this joint called "the Vault". Its a place where bands come and play and its just a big concert in this little place. But the kids who go to the vault are a little weird. Like punk goth kids. But we walked by one night when there was a concert going on and we talked with the owner. He's a 22 year old kid and he is really nice and we got to talken and he asked Elder Andersen and I if we could help him, and of course we said yes and next thing I know we are in his basement in our shirt and tie sawing and hammering screwing and we built a platform for him. It was kind of weird but it was kool. We were building something in our church clothes it was crazy. But now I am getting to know Buffalo and not just there Front Door. One guy was playing wiffel ball with his kids and asked if I wanted to play. So Duh I did. It was sweet. Heavenly Father works in many ways. I love seeing the miracles.
Well this week has gone by great. How are you doing? Hows the Family? Hows work? Hows the Bugg? I hope and pray that things are going well. How is Family scriptures? Still going strong? I hop.
Well I aske you to keep praying for Buffalo and our new gators. Chris and David. And I got in contact with Irma and she just has been busy but she is trying hard to come to church. Thank you Mom for erverything. I Love you.

Elder Grondel the younger

P.S. I Need Stamps I'm out. BAD.

P.P.S. I want to come home
HA JK APRIL FOOLS ! !

News from Minnesota

Elder Grondel (the Younger) is doing great. He reported to us in his letter that he is working hard. He has been on exchanges with other Elders in his District, and also his Zone Leader. Said that it was really fun. "We talked to so many people and got a few return appointments". He is still trying to work with Irma, but she is never home. He said that David their Investigator is coming along. He has been talking to the Missionaries for over a year and so they are working on trying to get him to stop sitting the fence and be baptized.
They have had a few Bashes but he reports that he didn't start any of them.

The snow is melted but nothing is green yet. He says that he has been told that it will be green very soon. He said that he likes that the snow is gone and that the roads are not icy any more. It is warming up but had snow again and Thunder storms.

He met an Elder from Las Vegas and they have many friends in common. He didn't tell us who this Elder is only that the Floyd's and the Harper's would know him. He is from the sunrise Stake. Also reported that his Bishop in the ward that he is serving in, is from Ogden UT and went to the same High School as his Dad and Bro. Boyer. So that is cool. His name is Bishop Elwood.

He has learned to do the Rebuic's Cube, so he is talented. hahaha

He says that he is Doing Great.

This is the news from Elder Grondel this last week of March.

Today we heard from Elder Grondel. He is doing well. He reported that he was already teaching and being very busy. As they were tracting on Sunday they meet a lady names Irma. She said that she thought that the Lord had sent them to her. So He has asked that we pray for Irma that she will continue to take the lessons and except the gospel. He also asked that we would pray for the City of Buffalo.

He said that it was soooo cold. It was -18 yesterday. He also said that he slipped on the ice 2 times, while tracting. The second time a new member seen him and she laughed at him. He said that he was all good. (Maybe he might need to wear a helmet)

Elder Grondel is doing well and says that he is happy. He wants you to know that if you send a letter and you don't get a letter back right away please understand it is not that he doesn't want to write you it is that he is very busy. He Loves the mail, and your support.

I am in Buffalo Minnesota

Elder Blayne Grondel
5931 West 96th Street
Bloomington MN 55438-1715


I will have a new address when I get a letter from him. He is in Buffalo Minnesota serving with Elder Anderson as his trainer. This address is to the Mission office. They will forward it to him the same day that they receive it.

He is in Minneapolis Minnesota

Elder Grondel has now left the MTC bound for Minneapolis Minnesota. He should have arrived there this morning around 10:00 am. I will post an address when we get one. Please do not write him at the MTC.

I was able to talk to him this morning for about an hour. It was wonderful to hear his voice. He is doing great. I will post pictures when I get some from him.

Thanks for all of your support.

Mission Preperations

Blayne has been preparing for his mission his whole life. He really started really preparing about a year ago though and he has really come a long way. He has been really excited and and it's been an amazing transformation to see him grow from a teenage to a young adult, to an Elder, and now an Elder in the mission field.

Blayne got his mission call on December 11, 2008. He was called to serve in the Minneapolis, Minnesota mission and was called to report to the MTC on Februray 11, 2009. The two months went by so fast. He got his call on Dec. 11 and he received his endowments on Jan. 11, 2009 and a month later he was in the MTC.

He has really had some special experiences while preparing. He had his farewell and he had a ton of people show up. It really made his feel great that he had so many friends and family come and support him. When he recieved his endowments, he was very emotional. He wrote home in his first letter and said that it had changed his life. When he saw his family, he said he had an overwhelming feeling that the family is meant to be forever. He said that he knew that night that the church is the only true church.

While getting to the MTC he was emotional but he knew what he was doing was right. He had family and friends come to the MTC. It was really awesome to have Tate, Brain and Oakley come and see him off. It's been so great to see Blayne and his friends grow up and to see that they have all grown in the gospel and have made themselves ready to serve the Lord. We know that the Lord will have some amazing missionaries out in the next 3-4 years.

Blayne has written home and has let us know that he's busy at work. There really is no time for him to worry about home life. He has found strength in the branch presidency at the MTC and has found strength from the other missionaries. The food is good he says and he's excited to work. He's greatful for the chance to serve the Lord.