Week 12, 12-18-2017

Wa saw my dudes!

The other day we had very light snow. All the roads were salted so the snow melted on impact. But it was like 25° outside so it all eventually re-froze. Luckily Nielsen learned to drive in North Carolina, so he has some experience driving in the ice. It was actually a lot of fun. (No Mom, we were not doing doughnuts.)

One of the dinners we ate this week was at the J—s' house. The J—s are a member couple in their 50s-60s.  They are originally from Korea. They are very nice and speak great English; there are definitely some interesting cultural differences though. They only had spots set at the table for Elder Nielsen and I. They served us our food and walked away to do other things while we were eating. They would occasionally come back to see if we needed anything, but they didn't sit down to talk with us till we were done eating.

Before we went to the J—s' house for dinner Nielsen warned me that the food they make is often very different then what we're used to. So I went in expecting dinner to be a struggle, but it was actually awesome. They gave us what I can only describe as giant sweet potato fries and rolls filled with cream cheese and chicken all topped with a cream of mushroom dressing. It was very different but very good. I ended up eating until I was completely full. But then they told me I should eat one more to keep myself warm. And so I said a quick prayer in my head that it wouldn't make me sick and ate one more. Don't worry my prayer was heard and I was not sick.

We went on exchanges with the YSA missionaries again this week. Elder Shakespeare came to our area, and I went to the YSA area. I spent the day with Shakespeare's new companion, Elder Baxter. If you think that I look like a Tim Burton character, you should see him; Baxter is literally 6 feet 8 inches tall. He actually has a scholarship at BYU to play Basketball in like half a year when he goes home. 

Elder Baxter is super funny. I didn't know if we were going to get along great because he is such an athletic guy, and I'm, well... I'm me. But he is also into film appreciation (AKA watching movies very closely), video games, and stupid internet videos. We spent the day talking about Star Wars, quoting Sponge Bob, and making stupid voices.

Most people in the YSA ward don't know how to cook or don't have a place to feed the missionaries in their home. So most of the dinners that the YSA missionaries are fed are at restaurants. Elder Baxter and I ate dinner with two members (both named Sarah) at Cafe Rio. Elder Baxter and I were trying very hard not to make it look like a double date, but that's hard when you are two ~20 year old guys sitting across from two ~20 year old girls who paid for your meals.

Heavy stuff

On Saturday Elder Nielsen and I visited a guy named B–  at a psychiatric hospital. One of the patients named R–  started talking to us. He told B– not to let us take advantage of him. B–  informed him that we were friends of his. R–  then told us that he was ready to convert and be baptized. We told him we don't convert people, we just invite people. So we gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it. He was happy to receive a gift.

Next, R–  asked if we would like to play chess. Nielsen doesn't know how to play chess so I did a game with him. Before we started the game he told me that if he lost he would join our church. I again told him that it was his choice to join; we couldn't force him. Halfway through the game he told me if he wins then we have to take him with us when we leave. I told him that it was out of our control whether or not he could leave. He didn't seem to understand. So it was a high stakes game – if he won, then we would have to explain that he couldn’t leave with us and that might upset him, and if he lost he might get upset anyway. 

It was actually a really close and fun game, but he did end up beating me. He then said to me, "Now that I have beaten you, see how clear my mind is and that I am ready to leave this place." I once again told him it was out of my control. I let him know that if he would like I could tell the doctors that he beat me at chess, but he declined my offer.

R–  left and we finished things up with B–. When we were checking out there was a woman saying goodbye to her son. The son couldn't have been older than 16. He was crying because he didn't want his mom to leave. The mother was being very patient and positive with him. She took the elevator down with us. As soon as the doors closed she leaned against the wall put her hand to her face and let out a big sigh. I could tell that if we weren't in the elevator with her she would have been crying. 

It reminded me of the parents I would see when I was working at Children's Hospital. I've also seen the same thing in my mom when I've gone through medical difficulties. (Sorry Ginny, you did a good job hiding it, but I still saw it occasionally.) I did the same thing I would do with all those parents at Children's Hospital; I tried to give her short but strong words of comfort. It feels like a long time since I've worked out those muscles. I just hope that I helped her in some way. I also hope and pray that her son, R–, and all the other patients and their families will have a happy holiday and feel comfort. It seems like the times that are usually the best and happiest are the hardest times when you are going through something.

Stay safe and always stay grateful.

From a missionary -Eli