Hey hey hey!
This week has become more of a blur, but still amazing! Our ward here is amazing! Small, but great people. I think 45% is active? We live in the ghetto and we hear sirens ALL the time – Its normal now. Our apartment has always smelt like smoke because of the people upstairs, but Im getting used to it. My companion keeps the AC down to about 60-65 each night and its amazing! He sleeps with a fan in his face too! haha so i bought a small fan and all is well. Except Im still only sleeping with a sheet so its pretty cold, but I sorta like it :]
On my Bday we happened to get a dinner from a part-member family and they took us out to Golden Chorale and I made another 10 in. ice cream cone! Then my companion challenged me to “One bite it!” So I shoved like 6″ down my throat….but there was no way it was staying…..so I put it back on my plate….haha
So since I love service, we have been asking everyone if we can do service for them. Lots of people who have turned us down to teach them accept us to do their yard – So basically were gonna teach them eventually, but they dont know it ;] . We’ve spent almost two days just doing service for people! always doing hedges, hula-hoeing (I guess Cali was beneficial :] ), and many more things.
So our ward has been doing a “40 day fast” for missionary work. Each family takes a day to fast, then the next day is someone else and so on! And cool thing is – we get to “Break the fast” AKA dinner appointments ALL the time! Its been great because I have gotten to know many of the members.
I love how involved the missionaries are here. My first Sunday here the deacons asked me to pass with them, they ask us to usher sometimes, were great friends with the priests etc.
Stake Conference was Saturday and yesterday. It was basically ALL on missionary work! Sunday session Pres. and Sister Ames spoke, part of the temple pres. spoke, and of course the stake presidency. This conference opened soo many minds that as soon as we left and went to our apartments, we got a text from a member (Sister Eldredge) basically saying, “So when you come over tomorrow, prepare the first lesson, my daughters friend is coming over to listen to you and will most likely want to be baptized. Oh, and what do you want to eat?” Elder Austin was yelling and bouncing off the walls of our apartments! It was hilarious! And then (over excited) he said, “Elder, kneel down!” *As he stopped suddenly, landing on his knees* He said a thank you prayer. Elder Austin is hilarious – he’s one of those guys that is always joking around so you cant tell if he’s serious or not (but that’s if were not out to work).
Yesterday we went with Bro. Sloan (Ward mission leader) to eat dinner at another members house in a different ward. Back Story on Bro. Sloan: He is a tough Texan – is always giving us a hard time, but its hilarious! You’ll understand better as I explain. After we ate dinner at this lady’s house, we went into the living room and he sat down on a recliner as we gave a “Hastening the work” lesson to this sister who gave us dinner. He passed out and was snoring during our lesson and we just laughed. His wife is like strait from China and doesn’t speak any English (long story) but she just sat in a different chair listening. After the lesson, Elder Austin kept texting Bro. Sloan trying to wake him up and it was hilarious! His phone kept ringing on his chest, and when he woke up he turned to Elder Austin and said, “Get outside where you belong!” and goes back to sleep! After a few more texts (to bother him) Bro Sloan texts him back and says, “Get outside NOW!” and goes back to sleep! haha Elder Austin calls him and leaves him messages and we were dying of laughter. So I was like, “What the hey.” So I took a nap and so everyone was resting but Elder Austin and This sister we didn’t even know! haha this goes on for like 45 min. Eventually, Bro. Sloan gets up, looks at me, Elder Austin, and his wife and says, “You three are walking!!” and runs out of the house! haha It all was so random but kills me every time something like this happens haha
The progress is going! We have some baptismal dates, and we hope they stick! People rarely answer their phones/let us in their house (even members) but its all good, they love us :]
Updates to come! Love Y’all!
Elder Householder
