Week 4 in Tey-Has!

Hey Y’all!!

This week has been great!

Last week was Stake Conference and it was all centered on Missionary Work and Hastening the Work. It was amazing! So My companion and I have been becoming really close to a certain member family – whenever we’re over at the Eldredge’s house, were all rolling around laughing! They have probably some of the biggest member missionaries here. They have 3 kids: Katie, Bobby, and Travis. Sister Eldredge got a prompting during Stake Conference to text Katie’s friend Shelby, and thought, “I”l do it later.” But the feeling came stronger. So she texted Shelby and invited her over to dinner the next day, “And the missionaries are going to share a message.”

That’s when we got a text from Sister E, “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.

So it came time for the lesson. As we begun, we very quickly realized that the Eldredge’s made it seem like “The missionaries are coming to teach us a lesson and you can join us” kind of dealio. This was an issue because it was supposed to be directed to Shelby. So we over the lesson focused it to her so she realized that we were teaching her. The lesson went very well! Three people were crying by the end and the spirit was strong. So when we invited her to be baptized, she thought for a second, and then said, “Yeah!” as if she didnt see any reason not to! It was awesome! She’s fixin’ to be baptized by the end of the month!!

Elder Austin said that he never really did much service before I got here, now were helping everyone out! Doing lawns, trees, bushes…Everything! We’ve been helping an older man with his yard ripping trees out by his house (so they dont destroy the foundation) and many more things. He doesn’t want anything with mormons…..yet ;]. Elder Austin has said on many occasions that he’s been more tired with me his whole mission! I see that as a good thing :] We bike like crazy everywhere and build that great muscle.

Yesterday at church I was asked to give the opening prayer in sacrament meeting because im the new guy…I have been getting that non-stop everywhere I go since I got here!

Ive gone to a baptism every week since I got to Texas! On Saturday there was two! There was a nine year old girl that was baptized last week by Elder LeCheminant (my district leader) and was going to be confirmed yesterday. Elder L. told her that she had the choice between like five men to confirm her. When she looked around, she looked up into my eyes and said, “Him!” This freaked me out because i’ve never done it before! But alas, I did it, and it was a great experience :]

On Friday my Zone Leaders called and asked Elder Austin and I to do a duet for Zone Conference (Including President and Sister Ames) tomorrow. So we’ve been freaking out trying to pull something together in such small notice! We’re singing “Ye Elders of Israel” and it should be cool!

So you know how I love chicken? Well Arlington has SO many chicken places everywhere! I’ve been trying so hard to gain weight here and I think I got at most 5-8 lbs! My Zone is having a weight loss competition starting today, so we went to a Chinese buffet today to gorge before it starts. I ate a huge plate of five different types of chicken: Pepper-chicken, Sesameseed-chicken , Fried-chicken, Teriaki-chicken, and a chicken ca-bob! Plus loads of other things.

Well we have our second lesson with Shelby tonight so pray for us! She’s definitely golden!

Keep those letters coming, I love to hear from y’all!

Love ya!

~Elder Householder