Hello friends, family, and other random people I've included on this email list!
First off, I want to address something. I could spend my entire P Day writing you a novel on my week, but no body wants that. I don't want that, you don't want that, in fact your dog probably doesn't want that. So we'll try to avoid that by instead sharing some of the action packed highlights of the week! But first some announcements.......
I'M STAYING IN GREENVILLE BABY!!
In other words, transfers have once again come and gone, and Elder Bailey and I will both be staying in Greenville, Texas for another six weeks! (This will be my third and probably last transfer here.......)
Now for the part of the email you've (probably) been waiting for!
"
It's a Trap!"
Oh yes. I will remember this event long after my mission. Last Wednesday Elder Bailey and I were knocking doors when we ran into this really nice lady named Amber who recognized us, but had never met with the missionaries before. After talking with her briefly we gave her a Book of Mormon and set up a time to come back and teach her and her husband a couple days later. Mistake number one.......
The day of the appointment we pulled up to their house, and they invited us into their dinning room for a lesson. That's when we saw it....... On the wall they had a HUGE whiteboard filled with all the reasons why "we're wrong." The table was covered with markers and bibles of everykind. IT'S A TRAP! I'm serious when I say it took us nearly two hours to battle our way out of their home, they just would not let us go. The majority of the bash centered on the age old question of grace vs. works...... Supposedly I held my own, but still, it got messy. It wasn't totally fair because they had everything prepared and ready to go by the time we got there. (Whiteboard included......) It was awesome, I've never been told I'm "going to hell" so many times in one day. I freaking LOVE missionary work in the South!!
"Speaking of Hell....."
I'm not convinced yet, but I'm starting to suspect Dallas might be close to it. We have not had a day under 105 degrees this week....... Most have been 109 degrees and up. Combine that with lots of walking and door knocking and you have some very hot and dehydrated elders........ Elder Bailey and I have been killing it this week. I think this blasted heat has just pushed us to work harder. I love missions, but man, I have never been so exhausted my entire life........
"Friday Night Date Night"
Just because I'm on a mission does not mean I've put off date night for two years! Last Friday night, Elder Bailey and I stumbled into the apartment after another 109 degree day, and after a quick companionship prayer, decided to mix things up. We were in need of a date night. I grabbed the mini portable movie player and blankets, Elder Bailey popped some popcorn, and after before you knew it the lights were off and the date night was on. Our movie selection: Praise To The Man. (It's shocking how many kissing scenes there are in some of these church movies........)
"In Which My Inner Robotics Fan-Girl Comes out....."
When missionaries come out on their missions they leave everything they care about at home. Family, friends, hobbies. You name it. And for me, one of those things would have to be robotics. I competed in robotics and loved it, but had mentally put it away for two years, not expecting to come back to it until after my mission......... What a joke. This last week we were eating dinner at a members house when I noticed a book on their coach. I leaned over for a closer look and realized it was an in depth FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition) book. My mind froze as I stammered in bewilderment, "How did this book get here?" Come to find out this family had mentored and competed on one of the greatest FRC teams in the world!!! Team 148 the Robowranglers! I had always assumed this legendary team was based out of Dallas, but NO!!! They are based out of GREENVILLE TEXAS!!! I SERVE IN GREENVILLE TEXAS!!!!!!!!!! I SERVE IN THE HOME CITY AS THE ROBOWRANGLERS!!!!!!!! (Most of you probably think I sound like a crazy person in this part of the email, which I probably am, but just for reference it's like finding out that a professional sports team that you love is now based out of your city and your next door neighbor is the quarter back.........)
Let's just say the rest of that dinner appointment and evening were completly ruined....... I'm still recovering from the affects. (Plus it doesn't help that they gave me three of their teams tee-shirts as souveniers!)
"Attack of the Giant Cookie!"
My dear companion, Elder Bailey received a package from his mom a couple weeks ago which contained the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies! How loving, right?? (Not so much.......) This last week when we attempted to make the cookies we discovered that the suger had completly melted and solidified, same with the chocolate. This resulted in us literally beating the chococlate and sugar chunks into the cookie dough. Next we discovered that we did not have a whisk........ After attempting to mix it with a fork we dumped the nasty looking contents into a frying pan and stuck it into the oven. Eventually Elder Bailey went to go take it out, but the oven mitt he had on didn't completely cover his hand. You can probably guess what happened next.
"In Which I Perform 2 1/2 Baptisms?"
And now for the real highlight of the week! Baptisms! On Saturday I had the opportunity to baptize Betty Sherman and Cassie Elder! (Cassie's pregnant, so I'm counting that as an additional half-baptism......) No super crazy stories with the baptism. It went very smoothly and the spirit was present. Satan, as he likes to do, was throwing EVERYTHING he could at Betty and Cassie this last week, but they stuck it out and now they are the newest members of the Greenvilleward. So proud of them. Baptism really is the way to go!
I just want to testify of the truthfulness of this church. The gospel that Jacob and Amber (The couple that bashed with us.......) believe and argued, was honestly just kind of wacky and without logic. But our church is (mostly) not wacky and very logical. And you can know about it's truthfulness from a divine source directly for you in your life. It's not some big mystery. Just ask God and read the the books he has asked us to read. This church makes more sense than any other church I've encountered, and I know of it's truthfulness. We have answers in this church. Other churches don't have the answers. They just dodge the topic. Let that stand as a testament as to where the truth lies. We have the answers from the time of Adam until now, and we continue to receive those answers today. Don't be stupid, hearken (That's my favorite word in the scriptures.......) to the words of thhe prophets. They will lead you where you want to go.
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