"Good Morning!" That's a President Reese quote for all my Vegas (mission) homies
what a week its been!
Monday: met sister Alatini & her 3 daughters. Teaching little kids is always interesting-- haha. You really have to simplify things. The oldest (age 9) was baptized this summer and her middle child turns 8 in January and is wanting to be baptized so that's exciting. Her husband is not a member, so they're a family that we'll be working with a lot.
Tuesday: a man yelled at us thru his window and told us he doesn't like Mormonism b/c we worship "that one dude George Johnson" or some random name like that -- nowhere even close to Joseph Smith. I was like, "bruh, 1st of all: get the name right & 2nd of all: don't you dare trash on my manz Jo Smith." I let my emotions get the best of me & probably didn't handle the situation the best way. I tried explaining Joseph Smith's role in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but my manz wasn't having it. You live and you learn though. I'll do better next time.
My area and favorite street: Royal Palm
Wednesday: helped out at a food drive at a local church. The city I live in has probably about 30 churches, no joke. Too bad none of them have the power and authority to seal families together forever even after death. kidding but kinda not kidding... I also found out on Wednesday that someone my trainer (Elder Fullmer) and I taught back in Vegas was baptized!! That was very happy news!
Thursday: texted 26 members about church on Sunday. We went over to an Aunty's house and she told us her whole life story. She's a lonely widow and she really enjoyed our company. It's situations like that where I learn the most about Jesus Christ b/c these are the individuals Jesus Christ would be ministering to. Also, had a lesson with a recent convert in the ward named Daniel and heard his INCREDIBLE conversion story. This man was suicidal, but ended up being baptized and has not dealt with any major depression ever since!!!
Friday: helped out at the local church again with their food drive. It was supposed to be from 9-3 but b/c of the abundance of volunteers, it only took an hour!! We went to contact a member family (the Adams Ohana) that night just to say hi, but they ended up feeding us dinner and we stayed and chatted for 2 hours!! It was my 1st time eating Poke & I loved it!!
Saturday: each zone in the mission did a food drive at their stake centers from 10-12. We had a moderate turn out, but filled 5-6 tables with food & we're distributing it this Saturday I believe.
That afternoon we found a new person to teach named Kim! It musta been Elder Gordon and I's matching checkered fanny packs that did the trick! We're exciting to finally start teaching someone! Then that night we had dinner with the Vickers! They fed us like kings, of course. Sister Vickers insisted that my companion, Elder Gordon, eat 8 TACOS!!! & he did it like a champ. We walked outta there feeling like bloated gophers.
Sunday: then yesterday, I went to church for the first time in 8 months!! My companion and I spoke and brought the house down of course. Teaching with power & authority. It was the wards 1st time back at church & there was probably about 15 people there-- so that was slightly depressing, but its all good! That afternoon we found another new person to teach named Jacquie!! She,s a single mom of 4, working 2 jobs so I think she might need the gospel. just a guess tho ;) Then we went to a less active family's house and met them and pretty much reactivated them. They're converts, but have just been very on and off in terms of activity level in the church, so we told em about church next Sunday and bore our testimonies and they were pretty much sold!
That's a very rough summary of my week! It was great!
I love God. I love Jesus Christ. I love Hawaii.
Go check out Jacob 3:1 &2 in the Book of Mormon to be spiritually uplifted!!
But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
AMEN.
tofa (shoutout elder burgess
)
elder buckwalter
PICS:
- sunrise
- my comp with some Seltzer drinks a volunteer at the local church gave to us
- halloween 2018 (yes, I'm Spidey)
