Monday, August 30, 2010
8-30-10 Hoover, working hard, Portuguese lessons, sickness
[Jon emailed some photos home last week--I have updated previous blogs with more photos. These particular photos, however, came from President Holzapfel's blog: Jon with Elder DaSilva and boys from their assigned ward--Sam & Isaiah]
.JPG)
YEAH THOSE [photos] WERE BASICALLY FROM MY WHOLE MISSION SO FAR. I HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY SINCE LAST WEEK ANYWAYS, SO NONE TODAY!
THE WEEK HAS BEEN HARD. I'M STILL IN HOOVER LIVING WITH THE THREE NEW ELDERS, AND IT IS ALMOST AS IF WE OPENED A NEW AREA TOGETHER, THE 4 OF US WHO HAVE NO EXPERIENCE. THE ASSISTANTS (THEY ARE IN THE SAME AREA) HAVE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATORS AND APPOINTMENTS ALL THE TIME BUT WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST THE ENTIRE WEEK KNOCKING DOORS AND TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO TEACH. WE HAVE TAUGHT LOTS AND LOTS OF LESSONS OUT ON DOORSTEPS, BUT I CAN ONLY THINK OF A COUPLE INVESTIGATORS WHO HAS EVEN LET US COME IN IN THE LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE MET SOME AWESOME PEOPLE, AND HOPEFULLY MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE READ AND PRAYED WHEN WE SEE THEM NEXT. BUT AS FAR AS ATTENDING CHURCH, NONE CAME. WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT PLANNED ON IT AND WHEN WE CALLED THEM AFTER, THEY HAD DECENT EXCUSES, BUT IT WAS STILL REALLY DISAPPOINTING. WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT ALL IN THE LORD'S HANDS, AND WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING PLANNED, WE JUST SAY A PRAYER THAT WE WILL BE LED TO PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE THE GOSPEL THEN START PEDALING OUR BIKES AND SEE WHERE WE END UP. THERE HAVE BEEN ANSWERS TO PRAYERS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE FOUND ANY PEOPLE WHO ONLY DON'T HAVE THE GOSPEL BECAUSE "THEY KNOW NOT WHERE TO FIND IT." BUT ANYWAYS WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD.
THERE WAS ONE COOL THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK WHICH GETS ME VERY EXCITED TO GO TO BRAZIL! ON WEDNESDAY MY 3 COMPS AND I WENT UP TO GADSDEN BECAUSE WE HAD MET A GIRL FROM THERE THAT HAS BRAZILIAN FRIENDS. THEY ARE ON AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO LEARN ENGLISH BUT THEY WERE ALL MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET US TEACH THEM IN PORTUGUESE. WE TAUGHT 4 DIFFERENT PORTUGUESE LESSONS (SPLIT UP 2 BY 2) AND THEY WERE ALL VERY HUMBLE AND OPEN. AND MEGAN, THEIR FRIEND, SAT IN AND HELPED US TEACH THE LESSONS IN SOME COLLEGE DORMS. AND SO YOU KNOW HOW WE DIDN'T GET ANYBODY TO OUR WARD AFTER A WEEK OF PROSELYTING? WELL OUT OF 5 PEOPLE TAUGHT, 3 WENT TO CHURCH WITH MEGAN IN HER WARD YESTERDAY. SO I GUESS THAT IS GOOD, BUT GADSDEN IS FAR AND WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM AGAIN.
YEAH MOM I GOT YOUR POST CARD, THANKS. AND YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE THAT MY POLICY IS I WRITE THEM WHEN I RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM THEM. SO FAR I THINK I HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT (EXCEPT FOR YOU MOM BUT THE EMAIL COUNTS FOR THOSE:)
LET'S SEE, I'VE BEEN PRETTY SICK THE LAST COUPLE DAYS WITH A MEGA SOAR THROAT AND A COLD NOW. ON SATURDAY MORNING I LITERALLY COULD NOT MAKE A SOUND WITH MY VOCAL CHORDS (UNLESS I YELLED A LOW F#) SO I STOOD AT THE DOORS WHILE ELDER LARSEN TAUGHT AND STUFF. SOMETIMES I'D WHISPER SOMETHING IF I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT. HE'S DOING GOOD THOUGH. IT'S BEEN RAINING A LOT, SO THAT MAKES TRACTING EVEN NICER. NO REALLY IT IS NICER CUZ AT LEAST YOUR SOAKED IN WATER NOT SWEAT.
I GOTTA GO NOW TO SEND MY LETTER TO PRES HOLZAPFEL! OH BTW ELDER LYNN ROBBINS CAME AND TOURED THE MISSION. HE SPOKE TO US ALL AND IT WAS UPLIFTING. I ALSO TALKED TO HIM ABOUT WHEN HE CAME WITH ELDER BEDNAR [TO VENTURA] AND TURNS OUT ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING TO THIS MISSION AND DOING THE SAME THING IN A COUPLE WEEKS! BYE FAMILY
LOVE ELDER HOOKE
.JPG)
YEAH THOSE [photos] WERE BASICALLY FROM MY WHOLE MISSION SO FAR. I HAVEN'T TAKEN ANY SINCE LAST WEEK ANYWAYS, SO NONE TODAY!
THE WEEK HAS BEEN HARD. I'M STILL IN HOOVER LIVING WITH THE THREE NEW ELDERS, AND IT IS ALMOST AS IF WE OPENED A NEW AREA TOGETHER, THE 4 OF US WHO HAVE NO EXPERIENCE. THE ASSISTANTS (THEY ARE IN THE SAME AREA) HAVE THEIR OWN INVESTIGATORS AND APPOINTMENTS ALL THE TIME BUT WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST THE ENTIRE WEEK KNOCKING DOORS AND TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO TEACH. WE HAVE TAUGHT LOTS AND LOTS OF LESSONS OUT ON DOORSTEPS, BUT I CAN ONLY THINK OF A COUPLE INVESTIGATORS WHO HAS EVEN LET US COME IN IN THE LAST WEEK.
WE HAVE MET SOME AWESOME PEOPLE, AND HOPEFULLY MANY OF THEM WILL HAVE READ AND PRAYED WHEN WE SEE THEM NEXT. BUT AS FAR AS ATTENDING CHURCH, NONE CAME. WE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT PLANNED ON IT AND WHEN WE CALLED THEM AFTER, THEY HAD DECENT EXCUSES, BUT IT WAS STILL REALLY DISAPPOINTING. WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT ALL IN THE LORD'S HANDS, AND WHEN WE HAVE NOTHING PLANNED, WE JUST SAY A PRAYER THAT WE WILL BE LED TO PEOPLE WHO WILL RECEIVE THE GOSPEL THEN START PEDALING OUR BIKES AND SEE WHERE WE END UP. THERE HAVE BEEN ANSWERS TO PRAYERS, BUT I'M NOT SURE IF WE'VE FOUND ANY PEOPLE WHO ONLY DON'T HAVE THE GOSPEL BECAUSE "THEY KNOW NOT WHERE TO FIND IT." BUT ANYWAYS WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD.
THERE WAS ONE COOL THING THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK WHICH GETS ME VERY EXCITED TO GO TO BRAZIL! ON WEDNESDAY MY 3 COMPS AND I WENT UP TO GADSDEN BECAUSE WE HAD MET A GIRL FROM THERE THAT HAS BRAZILIAN FRIENDS. THEY ARE ON AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM TO LEARN ENGLISH BUT THEY WERE ALL MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET US TEACH THEM IN PORTUGUESE. WE TAUGHT 4 DIFFERENT PORTUGUESE LESSONS (SPLIT UP 2 BY 2) AND THEY WERE ALL VERY HUMBLE AND OPEN. AND MEGAN, THEIR FRIEND, SAT IN AND HELPED US TEACH THE LESSONS IN SOME COLLEGE DORMS. AND SO YOU KNOW HOW WE DIDN'T GET ANYBODY TO OUR WARD AFTER A WEEK OF PROSELYTING? WELL OUT OF 5 PEOPLE TAUGHT, 3 WENT TO CHURCH WITH MEGAN IN HER WARD YESTERDAY. SO I GUESS THAT IS GOOD, BUT GADSDEN IS FAR AND WE DON'T KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO TEACH THEM AGAIN.
YEAH MOM I GOT YOUR POST CARD, THANKS. AND YOU CAN TELL PEOPLE THAT MY POLICY IS I WRITE THEM WHEN I RECEIVE SOMETHING FROM THEM. SO FAR I THINK I HAVE ALWAYS DONE THAT (EXCEPT FOR YOU MOM BUT THE EMAIL COUNTS FOR THOSE:)
LET'S SEE, I'VE BEEN PRETTY SICK THE LAST COUPLE DAYS WITH A MEGA SOAR THROAT AND A COLD NOW. ON SATURDAY MORNING I LITERALLY COULD NOT MAKE A SOUND WITH MY VOCAL CHORDS (UNLESS I YELLED A LOW F#) SO I STOOD AT THE DOORS WHILE ELDER LARSEN TAUGHT AND STUFF. SOMETIMES I'D WHISPER SOMETHING IF I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT. HE'S DOING GOOD THOUGH. IT'S BEEN RAINING A LOT, SO THAT MAKES TRACTING EVEN NICER. NO REALLY IT IS NICER CUZ AT LEAST YOUR SOAKED IN WATER NOT SWEAT.
I GOTTA GO NOW TO SEND MY LETTER TO PRES HOLZAPFEL! OH BTW ELDER LYNN ROBBINS CAME AND TOURED THE MISSION. HE SPOKE TO US ALL AND IT WAS UPLIFTING. I ALSO TALKED TO HIM ABOUT WHEN HE CAME WITH ELDER BEDNAR [TO VENTURA] AND TURNS OUT ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING TO THIS MISSION AND DOING THE SAME THING IN A COUPLE WEEKS! BYE FAMILY
LOVE ELDER HOOKE
8-23-10 4th area in a month (Hoover)! Three new comps!
8-23-10
[OUR INVESTIGATOR] TERESA IS DOING VERY WELL. SOME OF HER FAMILY IS NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY SHE'S BEEN MEETING WITH US A LOT, BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK SHE IS INVITING ALL HER FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER. AND THE MISSIONARIES AS WELL! IT WILL BE AWESOME. YEP SHE CAME TO CHURCH AND LIKED IT. SOME BIG NEWS FOR ME THOUGH: ON WEDNESDAY WHILE WE WERE AT HER HOUSE I GOT A CALL FROM PRESIDENT HOLZAPFEL SAYING THAT 3 MORE BRAZILIAN-VISA-WAITERS WOULD ARRIVE IN BIRMINGHAM THE NEXT DAY. I WOULD LEAVE TO A DIFFERENT AREA (HOOVER) AND LIVE WITH ALL THREE AS THE SENIOR COMPANION ALREADY. [Lori thinks that Elder Poh is 3rd from back left; Elder DaSilva is center back right; and perhaps Elder Larsen is the blond near Jon?? Got this photo from a blog Jon's mission president does at http://alabamamissionupdate.blogspot.com/ ]
AND SO I GOT OFF THE PHONE AND LEFT THE NEXT MORNING. NOW I LIVE IN HOOVER WITH 3 BRAND NEW ELDERS, NO BIKES OR CARS, NONE OF US KNOW THE AREA, AND AN OLD AREA BOOK FROM SISTERS WHO LEFT THE AREA A MONTH AGO. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE ONLY 4 WEEKS HERE AND AM STILL GETTING THE HANG OF IT. LUCKILY, THE ASSISTANTS WORK IN HOOVER AS WELL SO THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING US WITH RIDES TO PLACES AND A FEW PEOPLE TO TEACH. SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE STRESSFUL NOW. MY 3 NEW COMPANIONS ARE ELDER LARSEN FROM WEST JORDAN UTAH (WE GO RUNNING EVERY MORNING AND HE CAN KEEP UP! ITS NICE), ELDER ETHAN POH, WHO I KNEW I RECOGNIZED FROM SOMEWHERE. TURNS OUT HE'S FROM LAURYN'S HOME WARD IN CLOVIS. AND ELDER DASILVA FROM NORTH CAROLINA. THEY'RE NICE GUYS, AND WE HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO BE VERY PRODUCTIVE, BUT THE KNOWLEDGE IS COMING SLOWLY...
Any new investigators? I'VE DEFINITELY TAUGHT SOME NEW PEOPLE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE PROGRESSING. EVEN STARTED TEACHING A MUSLIM GUY FROM INDIA AND WE GOT HIM A HINDI BOOK OF MORMON. LOTS OF BLACK PEOPLE. AND SOME NICE OLD WHITE MAN AND HIS SON AS WELL.
I'm glad you have a great new ward mission leader! It is really a great thing when the ward mission leader actually helps the missionaries be better and teaches them important things. IT WAS NICE [having the new ward mission leader in Oak Mountain] FOR THE 4 DAYS IT LASTED... THERE IS NO WARD MISSION LEADER IN THE HOOVER WARD. BUT THE WARD IS HELPFUL AS FAR AS I CAN TELL WHEN IT COMES TO GOING ON EXCHANGES AND REFERRING THEIR FRIENDS FOR US TO TEACH.
How's the weather? Still so hot and humid? (No, you had not told us about the lightning strike during basketball at the Church...yikes!) STILL HOT AND HUMID. AND I HAVE A FEELING I WILL BE BIKING A LOT HERE, SO IT SHOULD BE FUN!
What have you learned this week?
JUST TRY AS HARD AS I CAN AND NOT WORRY IF I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. CUZ THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO SO WORRYING DOES NOT HELP. AND SEEING OTHERS RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT ALWAYS HELPS ME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF OUR MESSAGE.
Thank you for writing such entertaining and great emails! WELL THEY WILL PROBABLY GET SHORTER WHEN I'M NOT BEING THROWN INTO A NEW AREA EVERY WEEK! [ :) ] THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK!
LOVE
Elder Hooke
[Note from Lori: In three months, Jon has had 9 companions--2 in Provo and 7 in Birmingham. He has served in 4 different areas his first month in Alabama!]
[OUR INVESTIGATOR] TERESA IS DOING VERY WELL. SOME OF HER FAMILY IS NOT PARTICULARLY HAPPY SHE'S BEEN MEETING WITH US A LOT, BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK SHE IS INVITING ALL HER FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER. AND THE MISSIONARIES AS WELL! IT WILL BE AWESOME. YEP SHE CAME TO CHURCH AND LIKED IT. SOME BIG NEWS FOR ME THOUGH: ON WEDNESDAY WHILE WE WERE AT HER HOUSE I GOT A CALL FROM PRESIDENT HOLZAPFEL SAYING THAT 3 MORE BRAZILIAN-VISA-WAITERS WOULD ARRIVE IN BIRMINGHAM THE NEXT DAY. I WOULD LEAVE TO A DIFFERENT AREA (HOOVER) AND LIVE WITH ALL THREE AS THE SENIOR COMPANION ALREADY. [Lori thinks that Elder Poh is 3rd from back left; Elder DaSilva is center back right; and perhaps Elder Larsen is the blond near Jon?? Got this photo from a blog Jon's mission president does at http://alabamamissionupdate.blogspot.com/ ]
AND SO I GOT OFF THE PHONE AND LEFT THE NEXT MORNING. NOW I LIVE IN HOOVER WITH 3 BRAND NEW ELDERS, NO BIKES OR CARS, NONE OF US KNOW THE AREA, AND AN OLD AREA BOOK FROM SISTERS WHO LEFT THE AREA A MONTH AGO. NOT TO MENTION I HAVE ONLY 4 WEEKS HERE AND AM STILL GETTING THE HANG OF IT. LUCKILY, THE ASSISTANTS WORK IN HOOVER AS WELL SO THEY HAVE BEEN HELPING US WITH RIDES TO PLACES AND A FEW PEOPLE TO TEACH. SO IT'S BEEN A LITTLE STRESSFUL NOW. MY 3 NEW COMPANIONS ARE ELDER LARSEN FROM WEST JORDAN UTAH (WE GO RUNNING EVERY MORNING AND HE CAN KEEP UP! ITS NICE), ELDER ETHAN POH, WHO I KNEW I RECOGNIZED FROM SOMEWHERE. TURNS OUT HE'S FROM LAURYN'S HOME WARD IN CLOVIS. AND ELDER DASILVA FROM NORTH CAROLINA. THEY'RE NICE GUYS, AND WE HAVE THE WILLPOWER TO BE VERY PRODUCTIVE, BUT THE KNOWLEDGE IS COMING SLOWLY...Any new investigators? I'VE DEFINITELY TAUGHT SOME NEW PEOPLE BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO WILL ACTUALLY BE PROGRESSING. EVEN STARTED TEACHING A MUSLIM GUY FROM INDIA AND WE GOT HIM A HINDI BOOK OF MORMON. LOTS OF BLACK PEOPLE. AND SOME NICE OLD WHITE MAN AND HIS SON AS WELL.
 |
| Elder Larsen, Jon, Elder da Silva, Elder Poh |
How's the weather? Still so hot and humid? (No, you had not told us about the lightning strike during basketball at the Church...yikes!) STILL HOT AND HUMID. AND I HAVE A FEELING I WILL BE BIKING A LOT HERE, SO IT SHOULD BE FUN!
What have you learned this week?
JUST TRY AS HARD AS I CAN AND NOT WORRY IF I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. CUZ THERE'S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO SO WORRYING DOES NOT HELP. AND SEEING OTHERS RECOGNIZE THE SPIRIT ALWAYS HELPS ME TO KNOW THE TRUTH OF OUR MESSAGE.
Thank you for writing such entertaining and great emails! WELL THEY WILL PROBABLY GET SHORTER WHEN I'M NOT BEING THROWN INTO A NEW AREA EVERY WEEK! [ :) ] THANKS FOR THE PRAYERS AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK!
LOVE
Elder Hooke
[Note from Lori: In three months, Jon has had 9 companions--2 in Provo and 7 in Birmingham. He has served in 4 different areas his first month in Alabama!]
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
8-16-10 Sweating a Gallon/ Lightning Strikes Church
SO FIRST, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAD AN AWESOME WEEK. CONGRATS TOM AND CHRIS ON YOUR GRADUATION! AND DAD I HOPE WORK WASN'T TOO MISERABLE TODAY AFTER TWO WEEKS OFF! SOUNDS LIKE BIG SUR WAS AWESOME AS WELL. CONGRATS TO TY TOO FOR BEING ENGAGED NOW. THANKS FOR TELLING ME ABOUT THE WEEK IN UTAH, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU PACKED A LOT OF STUFF IN ONE WEEK. AND MOM YOU'RE IN IDAHO NOW? SWEET. AND EM'S IN MAMMOTH? IF SHE EVER CALLS TELL HER THAT IF SHE RUNS UNDER 13 MINUTES FOR THE "LIFE HILL" I'LL GIVE HER 25 CENTS.
WE HAVE SOME AWESOME INVESTIGATORS WE'RE TEACHING AND ALSO STILL SPENDING TIME TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE. ON FRIDAY WE WENT TO MONTEVALLO (THERE IS A LITTLE OLD UNIVERSITY THERE) AND RODE BIKES ALL OVER. I LITERALLY PROBABLY SWEAT LIKE A GALLON AND DEFINITELY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE. IT WAS WEIRD, I WASN'T BREATHING HARD OR ANYTHING IT WAS JUST SO HOT AND RIDICULOUSLY HUMID. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM WHICH FELT NICE FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS... BUT ANYWAYS WE MUST HAVE LOOKED SO PATHETICALLY TRASHY WHILE KNOCKING ON DOORS.
SPEAKING OF THUNDERSTORMS, OUR CHURCH BUILDING GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING A FEW WEEKS AGO (DID I ALREADY TELL YOU THIS?) WHILE WE WERE PLAYING B-BALL. AND ALL THE SPEAKERS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND SPARKS FLEW OUT OF THEM--IT WAS INTERESTING. TORNADO SEASON IS STARTING SO I'M HOPING TO SEE ONE.
ANYWAYS IT'S GOING WELL, I SUPPOSE. OAK MOUNTAIN [current area] IS TINY BUT WE DON'T REALLY SPEND TIME IN OAK MOUNTAIN, WE'RE IN ALABASTER AND HELENA WHICH ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO B'HAM. NOT SURE IF IT IS CONSIDERED A SUBURB OR NOT, BUT PROBABLY LIKE 45 MINUTES AWAY [from Birmingham].
WELL WE ARE TEACHING A LADY NAMED TERESA WHO IS PROGRESSING REALLY WELL. WHEN WE SHOWED UP AT HER HOUSE ON SATURDAY SHE HAD BEEN READING THE BOOK OF MORMON ALL MORNING AND HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS. SHE IS A REALLY COOL LADY. NOW WHEN SHE GAINS A TESTIMONY ABOUT THE WORD OF WISDOM WE'LL BE GOOD. AND SHE CAME AND SAT WITH US AT CHURCH. ALONG WITH ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR, AARON, AN EX JEHOVAH WITNESS WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON THAN I DO. ON A SIDE NOTE, WHENEVER YOU GIVE A TALK OR A LESSON IN CHURCH, REALIZE THAT THERE IS LIKELY AN INVESTIGATOR THERE WHO MIGHT THINK CERTAIN THINGS YOU SAY ARE WEIRD. WE HAD SOME INTERESTING SPEAKERS SUNDAY. AND I'M SURE SOME FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETINGS WILL GET A LOT [more interesting].
WE TAUGHT A 12-YR-OLD GIRL WHO'S FAMILY IS LESS ACTIVE BUT THEY WANNA START COMING BACK, AND SHE WILL PROBABLY CHOOSE TO BE BAPTIZED SOON. I'M SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF LESS ACTIVES THAT WE VISIT THAT STILL HAVE TESTIMONIES, AND MANY OF THE MEN EVEN WENT ON MISSIONS BUT NOW DON'T GO TO CHURCH.
OUR WARD MISSION LEADER IS AWESOME. HE IS SOO SMART AND KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTION THAT ANTI-MORMON LITERATURE CAN TELL PEOPLE. AND HE HELPS US TEACH SMART PEOPLE WITH TOUGH QUESTIONS AND STUFF SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM AS OUR WARD MISSION LEADER. WE'RE GONNA WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE "EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY."
MY COMPANION ELDER CHUGG IS FROM WEST HAVEN UTAH, HE'S BEEN OUT HERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
I'M LEARNING A LOT OF STUFF ABOUT CHURCH HISTORY AND THE BOOK OF MORMON THAT I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF. I'VE LEARNED THAT RECOGNIZING THE SPIRIT IS NOT VERY EASY, BUT NECESSARY FOR BOTH MISSIONARIES AND INVESTIGATORS. AND PEOPLE ARE ALL USUALLY NICE, BUT NOT VERY OPEN MINDED HERE AT ALL COMPARED TO CALIFORNIA.
LOVE YOU ALL TOO, AND GLAD YOU COULD WRAP UP THE SUMMER WITH LOTSA FUN STUFF. WELLP, BYE.
WE HAVE SOME AWESOME INVESTIGATORS WE'RE TEACHING AND ALSO STILL SPENDING TIME TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE. ON FRIDAY WE WENT TO MONTEVALLO (THERE IS A LITTLE OLD UNIVERSITY THERE) AND RODE BIKES ALL OVER. I LITERALLY PROBABLY SWEAT LIKE A GALLON AND DEFINITELY MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE. IT WAS WEIRD, I WASN'T BREATHING HARD OR ANYTHING IT WAS JUST SO HOT AND RIDICULOUSLY HUMID. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM WHICH FELT NICE FOR THE FIRST FEW SECONDS... BUT ANYWAYS WE MUST HAVE LOOKED SO PATHETICALLY TRASHY WHILE KNOCKING ON DOORS.
SPEAKING OF THUNDERSTORMS, OUR CHURCH BUILDING GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING A FEW WEEKS AGO (DID I ALREADY TELL YOU THIS?) WHILE WE WERE PLAYING B-BALL. AND ALL THE SPEAKERS MADE A LOUD NOISE AND SPARKS FLEW OUT OF THEM--IT WAS INTERESTING. TORNADO SEASON IS STARTING SO I'M HOPING TO SEE ONE.
ANYWAYS IT'S GOING WELL, I SUPPOSE. OAK MOUNTAIN [current area] IS TINY BUT WE DON'T REALLY SPEND TIME IN OAK MOUNTAIN, WE'RE IN ALABASTER AND HELENA WHICH ARE PRETTY CLOSE TO B'HAM. NOT SURE IF IT IS CONSIDERED A SUBURB OR NOT, BUT PROBABLY LIKE 45 MINUTES AWAY [from Birmingham].
WELL WE ARE TEACHING A LADY NAMED TERESA WHO IS PROGRESSING REALLY WELL. WHEN WE SHOWED UP AT HER HOUSE ON SATURDAY SHE HAD BEEN READING THE BOOK OF MORMON ALL MORNING AND HAD A LIST OF QUESTIONS. SHE IS A REALLY COOL LADY. NOW WHEN SHE GAINS A TESTIMONY ABOUT THE WORD OF WISDOM WE'LL BE GOOD. AND SHE CAME AND SAT WITH US AT CHURCH. ALONG WITH ANOTHER INVESTIGATOR, AARON, AN EX JEHOVAH WITNESS WHO KNOWS MORE ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON THAN I DO. ON A SIDE NOTE, WHENEVER YOU GIVE A TALK OR A LESSON IN CHURCH, REALIZE THAT THERE IS LIKELY AN INVESTIGATOR THERE WHO MIGHT THINK CERTAIN THINGS YOU SAY ARE WEIRD. WE HAD SOME INTERESTING SPEAKERS SUNDAY. AND I'M SURE SOME FAST AND TESTIMONY MEETINGS WILL GET A LOT [more interesting].
WE TAUGHT A 12-YR-OLD GIRL WHO'S FAMILY IS LESS ACTIVE BUT THEY WANNA START COMING BACK, AND SHE WILL PROBABLY CHOOSE TO BE BAPTIZED SOON. I'M SURPRISED AT THE NUMBER OF LESS ACTIVES THAT WE VISIT THAT STILL HAVE TESTIMONIES, AND MANY OF THE MEN EVEN WENT ON MISSIONS BUT NOW DON'T GO TO CHURCH.
OUR WARD MISSION LEADER IS AWESOME. HE IS SOO SMART AND KNOWS THE ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTION THAT ANTI-MORMON LITERATURE CAN TELL PEOPLE. AND HE HELPS US TEACH SMART PEOPLE WITH TOUGH QUESTIONS AND STUFF SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE HIM AS OUR WARD MISSION LEADER. WE'RE GONNA WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE "EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY."
MY COMPANION ELDER CHUGG IS FROM WEST HAVEN UTAH, HE'S BEEN OUT HERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR.
I'M LEARNING A LOT OF STUFF ABOUT CHURCH HISTORY AND THE BOOK OF MORMON THAT I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF. I'VE LEARNED THAT RECOGNIZING THE SPIRIT IS NOT VERY EASY, BUT NECESSARY FOR BOTH MISSIONARIES AND INVESTIGATORS. AND PEOPLE ARE ALL USUALLY NICE, BUT NOT VERY OPEN MINDED HERE AT ALL COMPARED TO CALIFORNIA.
LOVE YOU ALL TOO, AND GLAD YOU COULD WRAP UP THE SUMMER WITH LOTSA FUN STUFF. WELLP, BYE.
Monday, August 9, 2010
8-9-10 Oak Mountain, Elder Chugg
8-9-10
[Photo: Elder Chugg, Jon, and roommates]
MY NEW COMPANION IS ELDER CHUGG, A BIG WHITE GUY FROM WESTHAVEN UTAH (CLASSIC). HE'S REALLY COOL AND A GOOD MISSIONARY. HE ENJOYS FOOTBALL AND EVERY YEAR'S "ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH" CD. WHEN HE GROWS UP HE'D LIKE TO BE A... I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT. HE HAS A FAMILY SIMILAR TO OURS, 27 YR-OLD BRO, 24YR OLD MARRIED SISTER, HE'S 21, AND HIS 15 YEAR OLD LITTLE SISTER. HE TRULY CHERISHES EVERY CHANCE TO EAT, ESPECIALLY A GOOD SOUTHERN BBQ. HOW'S THAT FOR A LITTLE BIO? HE'S A DISTRICT LEADER (SO WAS MY LAST COMPANION ELDER LASIKE, THE GUY LEILANI REMEMBERS FROM BYU. HE SAID HE DOESN'T REMEMBER HER THOUGH HAHA) I LUCKED OUT AND THE AREA I GOT TRANSFERRED TO (OAK MOUNTAIN) STILL HAS A FULL TIME CAR, SO I MAY NEVER BIKE ON MY MISSION. BUT ANYWAYS ELDER CHUGG'S BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR 3 MONTHS SO HE KNOWS IT WELL AND HE HAS BAPTIZED A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE GREAT MEMBERS NOW. WE TAUGHT YESTERDAY A GUY THAT WAS JUST BAPTIZED AND I BET HE'LL BE A BISHOP OR SOMETHING ONE DAY.
THE WEATHER IS HOT BUT NOT AS BAD AS EVERYONE MAKES IT SEEM BY COMPLAINING. CHURCHES HERE LIKE TO PUT SIGNS UP THAT SAY STUFF LIKE "HOT NOW? HELL IS NOT FOR YOU" AND STUFF. LAST NIGHT WE ATTENDED A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROCK AND ROLL CHURCH! IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, AND MUCH LIKE A CONCERT. AND THE MUSICIANS WERE ALL PRETTY DANG GOOD. WE ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO OTHER CHURCHES SO SOME TIME WE MIGHT GO TO A HOLINESS CHURCH, I THINK IT'S CALLED, WHERE THEY HANDLE RATTLESNAKES. APPARENTLY IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH THE SNAKE CAN'T HURT YOU, BUT PEOPLE DIE THERE SOMETIMES. THE FAITHLESS DIE, THAT IS. EVERYONE WE TALK TO ALREADY HAS A CHURCH USUALLY SO IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO BRAZIL AS FAR AS A BELIEF IN CHRIST, BUT LOTS OF THE PEOPLE HERE ACTUALLY ATTEND THEIR CHURCHES REGULARLY.
WE GET TO MOVE TODAY INTO AN APARTMENT WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKING ELDERS IN THE AREA, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WASHER AND DRYER YET BUT WE'RE HOPING WE'LL FIND ONE.
SO ANYWAYS I GUESS I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE VARIETY OF SOME OF OUR INVESTIGATORS. THERE'S THIS GUY RANDALL, WHO IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT KEEPING COMMITMENTS AND READS PRAYS, IS CURRENTLY QUITTING SMOKING, ALWAYS GOES TO CHURCH, FEELS THE SPIRIT, ETC. THEN THERE'S THIS ETERNAL INVESTIGATOR, THE ONE LEGGED SMOKER WHO DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH WHO LIVES WITH HER MEXICAN "BOYFRIEND" WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. WE HAVEN'T BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON HER, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KEEP HER COMMITMENTS. [photo: "At least THEY keep their commitments!"]
[Photo: Elder Chugg, Jon, and roommates] MY NEW COMPANION IS ELDER CHUGG, A BIG WHITE GUY FROM WESTHAVEN UTAH (CLASSIC). HE'S REALLY COOL AND A GOOD MISSIONARY. HE ENJOYS FOOTBALL AND EVERY YEAR'S "ESPECIALLY FOR YOUTH" CD. WHEN HE GROWS UP HE'D LIKE TO BE A... I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT. HE HAS A FAMILY SIMILAR TO OURS, 27 YR-OLD BRO, 24YR OLD MARRIED SISTER, HE'S 21, AND HIS 15 YEAR OLD LITTLE SISTER. HE TRULY CHERISHES EVERY CHANCE TO EAT, ESPECIALLY A GOOD SOUTHERN BBQ. HOW'S THAT FOR A LITTLE BIO? HE'S A DISTRICT LEADER (SO WAS MY LAST COMPANION ELDER LASIKE, THE GUY LEILANI REMEMBERS FROM BYU. HE SAID HE DOESN'T REMEMBER HER THOUGH HAHA) I LUCKED OUT AND THE AREA I GOT TRANSFERRED TO (OAK MOUNTAIN) STILL HAS A FULL TIME CAR, SO I MAY NEVER BIKE ON MY MISSION. BUT ANYWAYS ELDER CHUGG'S BEEN IN THIS AREA FOR 3 MONTHS SO HE KNOWS IT WELL AND HE HAS BAPTIZED A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE GREAT MEMBERS NOW. WE TAUGHT YESTERDAY A GUY THAT WAS JUST BAPTIZED AND I BET HE'LL BE A BISHOP OR SOMETHING ONE DAY.
THE WEATHER IS HOT BUT NOT AS BAD AS EVERYONE MAKES IT SEEM BY COMPLAINING. CHURCHES HERE LIKE TO PUT SIGNS UP THAT SAY STUFF LIKE "HOT NOW? HELL IS NOT FOR YOU" AND STUFF. LAST NIGHT WE ATTENDED A CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROCK AND ROLL CHURCH! IT WAS VERY INTERESTING, AND MUCH LIKE A CONCERT. AND THE MUSICIANS WERE ALL PRETTY DANG GOOD. WE ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO OTHER CHURCHES SO SOME TIME WE MIGHT GO TO A HOLINESS CHURCH, I THINK IT'S CALLED, WHERE THEY HANDLE RATTLESNAKES. APPARENTLY IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH FAITH THE SNAKE CAN'T HURT YOU, BUT PEOPLE DIE THERE SOMETIMES. THE FAITHLESS DIE, THAT IS. EVERYONE WE TALK TO ALREADY HAS A CHURCH USUALLY SO IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO BRAZIL AS FAR AS A BELIEF IN CHRIST, BUT LOTS OF THE PEOPLE HERE ACTUALLY ATTEND THEIR CHURCHES REGULARLY.
WE GET TO MOVE TODAY INTO AN APARTMENT WITH THE SPANISH SPEAKING ELDERS IN THE AREA, AND WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A WASHER AND DRYER YET BUT WE'RE HOPING WE'LL FIND ONE.
SO ANYWAYS I GUESS I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE VARIETY OF SOME OF OUR INVESTIGATORS. THERE'S THIS GUY RANDALL, WHO IS REALLY GOOD ABOUT KEEPING COMMITMENTS AND READS PRAYS, IS CURRENTLY QUITTING SMOKING, ALWAYS GOES TO CHURCH, FEELS THE SPIRIT, ETC. THEN THERE'S THIS ETERNAL INVESTIGATOR, THE ONE LEGGED SMOKER WHO DOESN'T SPEAK SPANISH WHO LIVES WITH HER MEXICAN "BOYFRIEND" WHO DOESN'T SPEAK ENGLISH. WE HAVEN'T BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON HER, BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KEEP HER COMMITMENTS. [photo: "At least THEY keep their commitments!"]
THEN THERE'S THIS COOL BLACK GUY WHO WE JUST GOTTA GET HIM TO TAKE A SUNDAY OFF AND COME TO CHURCH. HIS BEST FRIEND HAS AN "OLD PERSON CAR" WITH 26" RIMS. NO JOKE. AND OUR BEST INVESTIGATOR IS A LADY WHO CAME TO CHURCH YESTERDAY, TERESA, AND SHE HAS HAD AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE WITH THE GOSPEL SO FAR. SHE IS MUCH HAPPIER THAN WHEN ELDER CHUGG FIRST MET HER, AND SHE RECOGNIZES HOW MUCH JOY FOLLOWING GOSPEL STANDARDS HAS BROUGHT HER. WE HAVE HAD THE MOST SPIRITUAL LESSONS WITH HER, AND IT IS JUST AWESOME TO KNOW THAT WE'RE TOOLS IN GOD'S HANDS TO HELP HER LIFE SO MUCH. WE ALSO VISIT LOTSA PART MEMBER/LESS ACTIVE FAMILIES.
I LIKE BEING A MISSIONARY, AND NOTHING UNCOMFORTABLE OR ANNOYING OR HARD EVEN MATTERS. SOMETIMES IT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT I JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AS LONG AS I'M DOING MY BEST IT'S OK WHATEVER HAPPENS. LIKE MY OWN DISCOMFORT, OR LIKE INVESTIGATORS NOT USING THEIR AGENCY THE WAY THEY SHOULD. IT'S THEIR CHOICE WHAT THEY DO, AND IF WE DO ALL WE CAN, WELL.. WE DID ALL WE COULD.
THANKS GUYS I PRAY FOR YOU TOO. HAVE FUN ON YOUR TRIP AND I'LL WRITE AGAIN NEXT WEEK!
LOVE YOU GUYS TOO, I GUESS [that's Jon!!]
I LIKE BEING A MISSIONARY, AND NOTHING UNCOMFORTABLE OR ANNOYING OR HARD EVEN MATTERS. SOMETIMES IT'S FRUSTRATING, BUT I JUST HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AS LONG AS I'M DOING MY BEST IT'S OK WHATEVER HAPPENS. LIKE MY OWN DISCOMFORT, OR LIKE INVESTIGATORS NOT USING THEIR AGENCY THE WAY THEY SHOULD. IT'S THEIR CHOICE WHAT THEY DO, AND IF WE DO ALL WE CAN, WELL.. WE DID ALL WE COULD.
THANKS GUYS I PRAY FOR YOU TOO. HAVE FUN ON YOUR TRIP AND I'LL WRITE AGAIN NEXT WEEK!
LOVE YOU GUYS TOO, I GUESS [that's Jon!!]
Monday, August 2, 2010
8-2-10 Three companions, two areas-- in one week! Also--small world!
8-2-10
New format: Jon writes answers to questions in ALL CAPS in the text of my email to him. I've shortened my questions and comments a lot for your reading pleasure!
YUP I'M IN BIRMINGHAM NOW. I STARTED OFF WITH THE ASSISTANTS [Elders Cooley and Canevari], WHO WERE REALLY COOL. WE HAD A LEADERSHIP TRAINING MEETING FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS, WHICH WAS INTERESTING CUZ EVERYONE ELSE THERE WAS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND I'M STILL AS GREEN AS THE GRASS (AS MY NEW COMPANION NEVER FORGETS TO REMIND ME). WE TAUGHT SOME COOL PEOPLE IN THE EVENINGS, AND IT WAS COOL TO SEE HOW THEY TAUGHT. I ALSO WENT OUT ON EXCHANGES WITH THE SPANISH ELDERS AND TRIED TEACHING SOME PEOPLE IN SPANISH. I FELT LIKE I ACTUALLY HELPED, ALTHOUGH I WAS SPEAKING SPANTUGUESE. ONE LADY WE TAUGHT--IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE'D MET MISSIONARIES--AND IT WAS AWESOME BECAUSE SHE TOLD US LATER IN THE VISIT THAT SHE FELT SOMETHING REALLY PEACEFUL WHEN WE CAME IN AND SHE WAS VERY ACCEPTING OF OUR MESSAGE. SHE REALLY LIKED IT AND WAS CRYING A LITTLE BY THE END...
Companions? I WAS ONLY WITH THE ASSISTANTS UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING, AND NOW I AM WITH A NEW ZEALANDER (WHO HAPPENS TO BE FRIENDS WITH MY ROOMMATE MICAH FROM BYU HAWAII) IN AN AREA CALLED HOMEWOOD. I'LL WRITE MORE ABOUT HIM AND OUR MISSIONARY WORK HERE. BUT I FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT I'M ALREADY BEING TRANSFERRED THIS THURSDAY TO BE WITH ANOTHER ELDER IN ANOTHER AREA CALLED OAK MOUNTAIN.
Weather? FREAKIN HOT AND HUMID. WORSE THAN ANYWHERE I'VE BEEN, BUT WE'RE IN A NICE MALIBU WITH A/C MUCH OF THE TIME SO THAT IS NICE. APPARENTLY I LUCKED OUT CUZ USUALLY THE MISSIONARIES HAVE TO BE ON BIKE HALF THE TIME.
Food? I'VE ALREADY HAD A FEW SOUTHERN BBQS WHICH ARE VERY TASTY. PEOPLE DON'T FEED US TOO OFTEN THOUGH SO I'VE EATEN AT HARDEE'S A FEW TIMES (I STILL HAVE MY EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT CARD [from Carl's Jr/Hardee's]) AND HAD SOME TOAST FOR DINNER AND STUFF BEFORE TOO.
Spoken Portuguese? I HAVEN'T MET ANY PORTUGUESE SPEAKING MEMBERS, BUT WE GOT A REFERRAL FOR A BRASILIAN FAMILY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE HOME NEXT TIME. I DID SPEAK A LITTLE PORTUGUESE WITH A MEMBER OF OUR WARD NAMED SISTER MAY, FORMERLY ASHTON, SISTER OF BISHOP ASHTON. YUP, AS IN SHE IS FROM OJAI [in our Stake!]
Flight to Alabama? BORING
First week there? OK SO OUR TOP 3 INVESTIGATORS (2 CAME TO CHURCH) ARE: THIS BLACK LADY MARIA WHO IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO BE BAPTIZED, HAS A BETTER TESTIMONY THAN MOST MEMBERS, AND HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE FOR THE 14TH (TOO BAD I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO CUZ I'LL BE OUT OF THIS AREA). THEN THE NEXT TWO ARE REALLY COOL, TOO. MARK IS A GUY IN HIS 20'S WHO'S BROTHER-IN-LAW IS A MEMBER. HE STARTED READING HIS BRO'S BOOK OF MORMON AND HAD QUESTIONS SO WE WENT TO ANSWER THEM. AT FIRST THE QUESTIONS WERE SKEPTICAL AND TRYING TO STUMP US, BUT AS WE ANSWERED THEM WELL, THE QUESTIONS BECAME MORE AND MORE SINCERE AND NOW WE'VE TAUGHT HIM EVERY DAY SINCE. HE CAME TO CHURCH, AND IS READING FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY. THE OTHER ONE IS TERESA, MARC'S SISTER-IN-LAW. SHE IS COOL AND KNOWS THE CHURCH IS TRUE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING HER BACK NOW IS SMOKING, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM HERE. ANOTHER OLDER BLACK LADY WE TEACH REALLY LIKES EVERYTHING BUT SHE CAN'T QUIT SMOKING.
Mission President? PRESIDENT HOLZAPFEL IS REALLY NICE, AND SUPER SMART. WE WENT BY THE MISSION PRESIDENT'S HOUSE A FEW TIMES. ONE TIME IT WAS TO HELP HIM TELL ONE OF THE ELDERS THAT HIS 55 YR OLD DAD HAD UNEXPECTEDLY DIED THAT DAY, SO THAT WAS SAD. BUT HE HANDLED IT VERY WELL.
Photos? I THINK I COULD ACTUALLY EMAIL PICTURES TO YOU NEXT WEEK, I FORGOT TO BRING [THE CAMERA] THIS TIME.
THANKS. LOVE YOU GUYS TOO.
BYE
New format: Jon writes answers to questions in ALL CAPS in the text of my email to him. I've shortened my questions and comments a lot for your reading pleasure!
YUP I'M IN BIRMINGHAM NOW. I STARTED OFF WITH THE ASSISTANTS [Elders Cooley and Canevari], WHO WERE REALLY COOL. WE HAD A LEADERSHIP TRAINING MEETING FOR THE FIRST TWO DAYS, WHICH WAS INTERESTING CUZ EVERYONE ELSE THERE WAS IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, AND I'M STILL AS GREEN AS THE GRASS (AS MY NEW COMPANION NEVER FORGETS TO REMIND ME). WE TAUGHT SOME COOL PEOPLE IN THE EVENINGS, AND IT WAS COOL TO SEE HOW THEY TAUGHT. I ALSO WENT OUT ON EXCHANGES WITH THE SPANISH ELDERS AND TRIED TEACHING SOME PEOPLE IN SPANISH. I FELT LIKE I ACTUALLY HELPED, ALTHOUGH I WAS SPEAKING SPANTUGUESE. ONE LADY WE TAUGHT--IT WAS THE FIRST TIME SHE'D MET MISSIONARIES--AND IT WAS AWESOME BECAUSE SHE TOLD US LATER IN THE VISIT THAT SHE FELT SOMETHING REALLY PEACEFUL WHEN WE CAME IN AND SHE WAS VERY ACCEPTING OF OUR MESSAGE. SHE REALLY LIKED IT AND WAS CRYING A LITTLE BY THE END...
Companions? I WAS ONLY WITH THE ASSISTANTS UNTIL THURSDAY MORNING, AND NOW I AM WITH A NEW ZEALANDER (WHO HAPPENS TO BE FRIENDS WITH MY ROOMMATE MICAH FROM BYU HAWAII) IN AN AREA CALLED HOMEWOOD. I'LL WRITE MORE ABOUT HIM AND OUR MISSIONARY WORK HERE. BUT I FOUND OUT LAST NIGHT THAT I'M ALREADY BEING TRANSFERRED THIS THURSDAY TO BE WITH ANOTHER ELDER IN ANOTHER AREA CALLED OAK MOUNTAIN.
Weather? FREAKIN HOT AND HUMID. WORSE THAN ANYWHERE I'VE BEEN, BUT WE'RE IN A NICE MALIBU WITH A/C MUCH OF THE TIME SO THAT IS NICE. APPARENTLY I LUCKED OUT CUZ USUALLY THE MISSIONARIES HAVE TO BE ON BIKE HALF THE TIME.
Food? I'VE ALREADY HAD A FEW SOUTHERN BBQS WHICH ARE VERY TASTY. PEOPLE DON'T FEED US TOO OFTEN THOUGH SO I'VE EATEN AT HARDEE'S A FEW TIMES (I STILL HAVE MY EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT CARD [from Carl's Jr/Hardee's]) AND HAD SOME TOAST FOR DINNER AND STUFF BEFORE TOO.
Spoken Portuguese? I HAVEN'T MET ANY PORTUGUESE SPEAKING MEMBERS, BUT WE GOT A REFERRAL FOR A BRASILIAN FAMILY THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE HOME NEXT TIME. I DID SPEAK A LITTLE PORTUGUESE WITH A MEMBER OF OUR WARD NAMED SISTER MAY, FORMERLY ASHTON, SISTER OF BISHOP ASHTON. YUP, AS IN SHE IS FROM OJAI [in our Stake!]
Flight to Alabama? BORING
First week there? OK SO OUR TOP 3 INVESTIGATORS (2 CAME TO CHURCH) ARE: THIS BLACK LADY MARIA WHO IS PRETTY MUCH READY TO BE BAPTIZED, HAS A BETTER TESTIMONY THAN MOST MEMBERS, AND HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE FOR THE 14TH (TOO BAD I WON'T BE ABLE TO GO CUZ I'LL BE OUT OF THIS AREA). THEN THE NEXT TWO ARE REALLY COOL, TOO. MARK IS A GUY IN HIS 20'S WHO'S BROTHER-IN-LAW IS A MEMBER. HE STARTED READING HIS BRO'S BOOK OF MORMON AND HAD QUESTIONS SO WE WENT TO ANSWER THEM. AT FIRST THE QUESTIONS WERE SKEPTICAL AND TRYING TO STUMP US, BUT AS WE ANSWERED THEM WELL, THE QUESTIONS BECAME MORE AND MORE SINCERE AND NOW WE'VE TAUGHT HIM EVERY DAY SINCE. HE CAME TO CHURCH, AND IS READING FROM THE BOOK OF MORMON EVERY DAY. THE OTHER ONE IS TERESA, MARC'S SISTER-IN-LAW. SHE IS COOL AND KNOWS THE CHURCH IS TRUE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING HER BACK NOW IS SMOKING, WHICH IS A HUGE PROBLEM HERE. ANOTHER OLDER BLACK LADY WE TEACH REALLY LIKES EVERYTHING BUT SHE CAN'T QUIT SMOKING.
Mission President? PRESIDENT HOLZAPFEL IS REALLY NICE, AND SUPER SMART. WE WENT BY THE MISSION PRESIDENT'S HOUSE A FEW TIMES. ONE TIME IT WAS TO HELP HIM TELL ONE OF THE ELDERS THAT HIS 55 YR OLD DAD HAD UNEXPECTEDLY DIED THAT DAY, SO THAT WAS SAD. BUT HE HANDLED IT VERY WELL.
Photos? I THINK I COULD ACTUALLY EMAIL PICTURES TO YOU NEXT WEEK, I FORGOT TO BRING [THE CAMERA] THIS TIME.
THANKS. LOVE YOU GUYS TOO.
BYE
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