Transfer week! Elder Fullmer and I are staying! Last transfer of the
mission #17.

This week I went on exchange with Elder Lewis in Gatesville. I was
able to help him understand how to get organized and how to use his
time to the max. He is a great missionary, I love him. We also had a
cool experience in our preparation time before studies in the morning.
He expressed his frustration for a member of his branch and how
disrespectful that member is to the missionaries, “I have done nothing
but be nice to him, but he still shows no respect.” He explained
further. I tried using the counsel President Ames gave me in
interviews and share that with Elder Lewis. I even used part of my
studies to help him out:

“When we think we see failings, weaknesses or faults, whether they be
real or imaginary, in our brethren and sisters, … if we will use
sufficient charity, and friendship, … we will go to our friends who
suffer our displeasure, or our belief of their defects, and tell them
how we feel and what we think, and do it in the spirit of helping them
to overcome their weaknesses, and we will thus do ourselves, as well
as them, much good. We will not go to them in the spirit of
condemnation and complaint, and hurt their feelings and fill their
hearts with enmity.” (Joseph F. Smith)

It helped me learn as well. Elder Lewis said that their missionary
coordination meeting that night was going to be interesting after
their confrontation. So I suggested he sit down with the brother and
have a loving honest conversation with him. I had him roleplay with me
how he would do it. After he tried it, I recognized that his practice
was a little upfront and and so I gave it a try. During this roleplay,
I learned how to do it myself. It was loving and purely out of
strengthening the relationship. That night Elder Lewis called me and
said that he tried to be accepting of the ideas of the member shared
in the meeting, and in return, the member was respectful back! Elder
Lewis said the roleplay helped! Helped me too.

We reset 2 dates: Maya and Leah! Now we just need to get them to church.

Elder Fullmer had Strep for a couple days so we had to stay in while
he was contagious. I went on exchange while he was down once.

Sylvie said that (after we read the Joseph Smith pamphlet with her)
she is starting to believe that he really saw the things he said he
did. She said it rings true!

Our new Branch Mission Leader Aaron has been going all out trying to
find people for us to teach! He brought Jonathan to FHE and he really
enjoyed it! We had a pie eating competition and it was sweet! I got
sick on my 3rd personal one while Elder Fullmer did 4 and went on to
be the runner-up champion. Jonathan won! Wouldve been awkward if Elder
Fullmer won cause the prize some goodies and a movie for a date
night…. Jonathan Came and did service with us this week and we have
our first lesson tonight!!

I love you all!!

Elder Householder