Week 14, 1-1-2018

Me and a Christmas Dinosaur!

What's up people!

We had interviews with the mission president this week.  (Once a transfer we meet with the mission president and do a one-on-one interview. I don't know if interview is the best word though because it's more like a conversation. It's just an awesome opportunity to open up to someone who will give you awesome advice. Sometimes it feels like a therapy session.) So yeah, that went well. 

It has been very cold this week. The lowest I remember seeing it at was 16°. And it's going be even colder this week. The predicted high is 32°.

This week we had a "Dumpster Day". This was a day that everyone in the mission went through their apartments and got rid of what they didn't need. Seeing as a lot of missionaries lived here before us there was a ton of stuff left behind from them (including an impressive collection of pizza boxes.) We were told to take a picture of our junk pile and send it to the mission president's wife. Whoever has the biggest pile is going to get some prize. I have a feeling that we're going to win. 

Don't worry, we didn't end up
having the heart to throw out Sully. 

Our dumpster pile!

Story Time

M– was born and raised in Northern Virginia. He grew up in a house without religion. Growing up he felt different from the rest of his family like some outside force was guiding him in a different direction. 

He didn’t find out what that direction was, so he moved on with his life. He went to college at George Mason University. Where he is working on his business management degree. Eventually, he started dating a girl named S–.

S– and her family were members of the LDS church. M– had heard of the Mormons before but didn't know much about them. He went to a couple of Sunday services with S– and her family. He really liked the things that were talked about at church. Then S– went back to college in Pennsylvania. M– didn't go back to church without her, but he did read the Book of Mormon.

When Thanksgiving came around S– came back from school for the week. He went to church with her that Sunday. Then a few days later S–'s family had M–  over to their house to meet the missionaries. After the missionaries shared a message M– gave them his contact information so that they could teach him more. 

M– on baptism day!

From that day on M–went to church every week, and kept reading from the Book of Mormon. He noticed how he was becoming a better person because of it. One day he asked God a question in a prayer and the very same day found his answer in the Book of Mormon. He then did the same thing a few days later. Now he reads the Book of Mormon with a question in mind almost every day. 

A week ago M– had surgery on his right hip. Two days after his surgery he came to church on crutches. And even though he was less mobile he still met with the missionaries. His physical therapist told him that his recovery is an entire week ahead of what it should be.

On December 30^th, 2017, M– was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (on crutches.)

After the baptismal ordnance M– shared his testimony. It was an awesome testimony that made me tear up. Even though the roads were icy and slushy so many people came to his baptism that we ran out of chairs.

Stay safe and have a happy new year. 

From the level 5 halfling warrior - Eli

Last week's baptism.