Its WINTER!

Totally snowed last night. I tried catching snowflakes in my mouth, but totally ended up in my eye instead. Ouch.

Now that this excitement is out of the way, lemme e’splain what happened this week!

On wednesday I left the most sincere ward ive ever seen. It was really sad, but I was excited to run an area the way I felt like it should. Now im in Hurst!

Ive had some great experiences being senior companion so far, and its making me grow a little more. Elder Boekweg just got finished being trained, so hes still getting on his feet. He took me to a Less Active family’s home first night and when we were about to give them a lesson, Elder B. turned to me and whispered, “What do we teach?” I was like, “Say whaa?” Took me off guard because I thought that he and his last companion had planned something for them (it was my 1st day in the area). So I whipped out some scriptures. BAM. Thats whats up, the spirit really just tells you what to do! It turned out really good :]

Because I whitewashed my last area, I really found how to manage an area and how to really use the resources I have to the best ability. So coming tho this area, we are doing a LOT of organization and adapting it to how I did it in the LakeCities. Its working pretty well so far!

We taught this huge 400-500 lb black guy this week and he was talking about how Christ died, but his spirit stayed here on earth. then, “Look here!” Broke out into a song! “He LIVES! He LIVES! Christ Jesus lives in me. He LIVES! He LIVES! He talks with me, he walks with me, He lives in my heart!” haha It was so sudden and unexpected I almost laughed, but I was able to hold it. Good guy!

Its been in the 30s this week (A HUGE change from last week) and I was riding without gloves and a scarf, and a member drove up and threw some to me! These ward members are great.

OH! We are teaching this guy that is full native american married to a less active member. Before I came, the missionaries had told him that the book of mormon is a record of the ancient americans and that some of the current natives are descendants. He didnt believe it. He said that there is a story told by certain tribes in the NEW YORK AREA that speaks of Great war. Then, came a peace keeper that told them to bury their weapons of war and deal kindly with one another. Then they became 7 cities/nations now known as 7 of the tribes in that area.

Does this remind you of a Book of Mormon story? In Alma 23 it talks about this. READ THE WHOLE THING. But for short, Aaron and his brethren were allowed by the King of the Lamanites to preach to the people without harm “that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness.”
“And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord. . . as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.” These are those dwelling In the lands ISHMAEL, MIDDONI, NEPHI, SHILOM, SHEMLON, LEMUEL, SHIMNILOM. 7 Cities. “…and these are they that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war…” The modern tribes tell of this story orally in the New York Area and how the peacekeeper counselled them to bury their weapons under a big tree. In Alma 24:17 it says, “And now it came to pass. . . that all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.”

Please someone tell me they didnt get goosbumps from that like I did! Bro Onco is his name, and he said hes from other tribes, but he thinks that this could very well be that record of those people! We go back to see him soon!

We have a couple promising investigators! And Ive already found some Mesa peeps out here! crazy stuff! One member actually was in the Islands ward next to us in the Gilbert Stapley Stake! Everyone has a connection to Arizona, I love it!

Elder Boekweg is from Vernal UT so I I dared him to stick his face in the fountain outside out Apartment and he handed me his glasses….haha He did it in 35 degree weather and was fine.

Well yall, This area is gonna be a lot of fun! Especially when it Ices over. Wahoo. Yall are tanning back home, dont lie.

Love you!! And thanks all for the letters!

Elder Householder