I feel that I am working harder than I ever have. I owe it to my Father in Heaven because he has also made it easier, more enjoyable, and motivating to work hard at this time. My companion Elder Fullmer and I are adjusting well and I am glad to be his companion.

Our work has been going great!

We are meeting with Sylvie pretty regularly. She prayed this last week if she should be baptized. That night she told us that a pop-up came on her tablet (I was thinking, “uh-oh…”) and then said it was a reference to 1 Samuel Chapter 1. Hannah prays fervently that she can have a child and receives a blessing or an answer. Sylvie wondered if this was an answer to her prayer. The next morning she called and said she woke up at 4:30am and could not sleep. The first thing that popped into her mind when she awoke was the church baptismal font. She couldn’t get it out of her head! We asked her if she got her answer and she said yes!! But she said she didn’t expect it to come that fast…shes afraid to move forward. We have been helping her overcome concerns – she is so close!!

We took a member of the Stake Presidency to see Rufus this last week – President Pack. They connect so well! We went over the Word of Wisdom. He understood and agreed with almost all of it….until we asked him to live it. It took him by surprise and asked, “How can YOU help ME with this?” We did our best to explain and help him, now he is praying about if he would like us to help him over-come somethings.

The sisters have been feeling down on themselves because they are having a hard time finding. We sat in on their planning session and helped them make some great plans and taught them how to plan smart. They were really excited about the whole thing! Now they know how to get things kick-started on their own. The Sister Training Leaders are going on a blitz with them this Saturday (both sets are going to help find in the CC2’s area with the plans we made!) Im excited to see how it turns out.

Gabriel called us this week and said he has been praying about whether he should be baptized on February 6th or not. He had a hard day and went for a walk. He said it then hit him! He got an answer! He said it was like he was carried by the wind. He now feels strongly about that date and we are helping him understand these things fully.

Tito was in the hospital in Temple and wanted us to come visit him. We explained our area boundaries and he was sad about it. So we sent the Temple Sisters to go visit him and they brought some members to give him a blessing! He is out now!

We had an appointment with 2 investigators, but they weren’t there. We had a feeling that we needed top be in Killeen for some reason. When we got out there, we remembered a referral that we’ve had no luck in getting ahold of. He was home and we taught him and set up a return appointment!

There was 2 baptisms at the church on Saturday and between them both, we had 3 investigators attend and really felt the Spirit there.

A member of our District, Elder Bott, had to go to the Hospital this week. He found out that he has Type 1 Diabeetus and has to go home today or tomorrow…Sad day! Not quite sure what will go down, but we are praying for him.

There are no words to express how grateful I am for everything I have at this time. Its almost like I’ve been praying for those blessings for a while and then one day I woke up to a “blessing fire-hose” in my face and tried to take a drink! I know without a doubt that the Gospel is true and that the Spirit will guide me in all things as long as I listen and follow its promptings.

Love,

Elder Householder

This has been a really exciting time of my mission. I have been blessed so much. I love my companion, Elder Fullmer. We have had many of the same ideas and vision for this area and want to work smart. I have been growing as I’ve looked outside myself. The Copperas Cove Sisters have been struggling with the work (as both of them are both greenies), and as I have worked with the Sister Training Leaders to find what we can do for them, I have felt the revelation flow. As I have prepared District Meetings, I have felt lead as to what should be shared. I feel as though I can understand the Spirit’s promptings. Even though it is mainly feelings I get, I have been able to interpret what it means and follow it.

This time has become some of my favorite on my mission. Bishop Martin (Used to be the High Councilor over missionary work) has made me shout for joy many a time. I feel total support and needed here in this ward.

We have members asking us if they can come on exchange with us! They WANT to be involved! Thier testimonies grow as they share them, I can tell.

We have been blessed with a great teaching pool of solid investigators! Never have I seen this many at one time. We had dinner with President Pack (Stake Pres. Counselor) and we talked about how we believe the Lord is blessing this ward with investigators and returning members because Bishop Martin is raising the vision of the ward, and we are joined with him on that. Even less active people who havent been to church in years have just “randomly” decided to start coming to church with their spouses. The SAME week! Coincidence? I think not. “Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.”

There was a hilarious experience we had this week. Kinda complicated to explain, but here I go: Elder Fullmer and I were on a double exchange (we split up and went with different members to 2 different lessons). In my lesson, our investigator asked about the “Unpardonable Sin,” and so I explained it to him.

“It’s like having a perfect knowledge of God, and turning away from him.”
“Well then, there is no hope for me…I have done that.”
I turned to him and said, “No you haven’t. You may have turned from him for a time, but that is pardonable as we repent and turn back to him.”
“How do you know I haven’t committed the unpardonable sin?”
“Have you seen God?” *He sighs* “No.”

Then we get a knock at the door. It was Elder Fullmer and his exchange. Elder Fullmer texted us during our lesson and said they were finished a little early, so I told them to come join our lesson.

Our investigator then turned to Elder Fullmer, “Let me ask you a question. What is the Unpardonable sin?” (Now this is where it gets funny)

Elder Fullmer: “It’s like having a perfect knowledge of God, and turning away from him.”
“Well, what if I have done that?
“Have you seen God?”
Our investigator then rolled his eyes and looked at me and said, “What?! Do y’all read from a book or somethin’?!”

He almost got everything from Elder Fullmer word for word as I said it before Elder Fullmer came in. I was laughing SO hard.

Last Sunday we got a text from an investigator who dropped the missionaries a couple months ago. She said she was ready to meet again. So we met with her this week and she is preparing herself for baptism!

We had dinner with the Boyntons (Senior Missionary Couple) and their neighbors. We are teaching them regularly now!

We have been blessed to start working with the Ngor family that recently moved in (another coincidence?) who have 2 unbaptized children. Mother is an active recent convert, and father (who comes home from deployment in 2 weeks) was getting ready for baptism before he deployed! So we will teach him as well. Mia and Leah have accepted a baptismal date for February 20th! They have been taught well in the gospel by their mother so they understand what we teach.

I have been having WICKED allergies this last… 2 months? Nothin’ has really been able to kick it. These Cedar bushes are everywhere and the pollen does a roundhouse kick to your sinuses…

The priest-aged foster kid, Gabriel (who Bishop invited to take the lessons a couple weeks ago) has been progressing! He has been eating it all up! Reads the Book of Mormon regularly. We have found that he
has prayed and asked if this was true and has gotten an answer, just may not realize it quite yet.

Church yesterday was from 7:30am-4:00pm with no break! Literally meeting after meeting….Din-din was callin’ my name.

Sylvie comes from a jewish background. Believes Jesus is the Son of God, that he was with God in the beginning, and created the earth, she just didnt understand the Christian claim that he is “the God of
Israel” So we explained it for her and she is good with it now! She came to church!

Rufus has been having concerns that he doesn’t want to be baptized and then do something that would give the church a bad name. We know he is not one to do something like that, but we finally found his deeper concern. We gave him advice to fix it.

Tito and Tania have agreed to have us for a lesson twice a week! Once will be a personal study (help them read on their own and we will be there to answer questions) and the other will be moving them along in
the lessons.

Overall, we have been very blessed!

I have a great testimony that the Lord lifts our burdens just enough to bear them. Almost like a spotter with the buff guy on the bench-press – he holds just enough to allow the bencher to lift the last bit on his own. My problems are so small in comparison to many others out there. The Spirit is able to bring the peace needed because of Christ’s Atonement. Y’all need to pray more. For reals. “And when you are not crying unto the Lord, let your hearts be full drawn out in prayer unto him.”

Thank you for all your support! I love you all immensely!

Love,

Elder Householder

(Elder Austin – My dead trainer. Ive gained weight and he’s lost weight, so I weigh more than him now. SAY WHAA?)

I have really been blessed recently. I have a great companion who wants to be obedient (hallelujah!), we have a bishop that is missionary minded, and solid investigators continue to flock to us! When Elder Fullmer came, he told me I was being too serious. It made me take a step back and look at myself. Back home, I loved playing around and having fun. I feel like its been getting covered through my difficult transfers. Elder Fullmer is helping me be myself again, when, in a way, I forgot completely what that looked like. He also
likes doing work, so its also causing me to delegate things (which has always been hard for me to do). I am very excited for this time to be companions.

This week we’ve seen some great miracles!!

To start, we went on post (Ft. Hood) and did service at a thrift store. A worker was sorting piles of random donations in the shed out back, and as he sorted out the trash, we’d take loads over to the dumpster. Its cool to have people ask questions about our service. In the process, I found some sweet leather shoes and some ties! They gave me a bag and told me to take them home! I have way too many shoes now…

Elder and Sister Boynton invited one of our returning members to dinner this week and it was nice that they have great fellowship!

The next day, Elder and Sister Boynton invited us over for dinner and a lesson with their neighbor. It was awesome! They were asking great questions and we are starting to teach them now!

We went on a double exchange for Elder Fullmers first day. We promised a priest that he could come on exchange with us Thursday. We had a lesson planned with 2 new investigators Nikki and Gabriel, and Brother
and Sister Hakes wanted to come with us to them, so I sent Elder Fullmer to a different lesson, and I went with the Hakes. It was awesome! Gabriel and Nikki want to be baptized!

Rufus said he will continue to go to church and read and everything, but he decided not to be baptized at this time…He is being too hard on himself.

We had a Mission Conference with Elder Christofferson! It was really cool to shake an Apostle’s hand. He is a funny guy – im pretty sure its a prerequisite for apostleship! He opened it up for questions and one sister asked, “As a Special Witness of Jesus Christ, what does He look like?” The room went dead silent and everyone wide-eyed. Elder Christofferson scratched his head, said, “Nothing like his paintings…” And dodged the question further by talking about what a special witness is. It blew us away! But there were good questions,
dont worry.

We had a 3 hour journey to the conference and back after. We watched a documentary on Pres Hinkley and listened to The Prince of Egypt Soundtrack. Stayed with the office Elders over night.

Last night we showed up at Titos and Tanias and Tito was sitting outside with head in hands said it wasnt a good time. The words of Elder Holland rang through my head, “isn’t this a time for missionaries? As should ANY time be a time for missionaries!” And so we kept trying. He eventually agreed to us staying and he let us
inside. Turns out he just had a fight with Tania and was down. We read with him from the Book of Mormon and cheered him up. After a half hour there was a knock at his door! Brother and Sister Hirsch showed up randomly!! They joined us and Brother Hirsch asked to leave a blessing on his home and it brought the spirit and peace! They said us coming was a God-send!

I know that the Book of Mormon brings peace. I love the experiences I get to experience out here. It is so cool to watch people change. I want people everywhere to feel these things.

I love all of you!

Elder Householder

PS. I forgot to mention I got to see my trainer Elder Austin this week! He visited the mission! It was really nice. I got a call and he said President allowed him to come see me. I was very grateful! It made me miss all the experiences we had together. Its almost been 2 years…the Mission has changed so much.

Hey Everyone!

This week has been a busy one! A lot of great stuff has been going on.

First, transfers is this week, Elder Anderson is leaving me and Im getting Elder Fullmer.

Tuesday was awesome. Did some service at Tito and Tanias (investigators) and trimmed trees and organized their back yard. Then they fed us lunch! Pork Chops and home made fries (its called southern hospitality ????). Then we read from the Book of Mormon with them. As we were reading, Tanias mom came over and actually sat in! Asking questions and said she’ll be at church on Sunday.

Tuesday night, the Hirsch family in the ward invited Tito and Tania over for dinner with us and a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. It was awesome! The spirit was strong and they really understood everything. After the lesson, we left to another and the Hirsch family kept Tito and Tania over and watched some Bible videos!

We’ve been really focusing on Rufus recently. We asked Bishop to come out with us Tuesday to see him. While we were there, Bishop laid things out really simply for him and we asked him if he’d be baptized if God told him this as true and he said yes! He is now waiting for his answer! He also committed to come to church every week and he came!

We met with a part member family and asked them if they have desires to progress spiritually and they sort of said yes….they were at church Sunday so I guess so they do!

Sylvie is getting pumped to read pray and come to church – shes on her way.

Left our keys in our exchanges car last night, so after we were done doing key indicator reports at 10, he had to drive back and give them to us or wed be sleeping on the senior couples couches!

At church yesterday, someone brought a friend to priest quorum and after the lesson, bishop asked, “Gabriel, would you be interested in learning more?” and after he said he’s been looking for a church to join and be baptized in, Bishop looked at us, said, “Take it away, Elders!” and walked out of the room! hahaha soooo funny! We’ll be meeting with him this week.

There is also a sister that just moved into the ward and has unbaptized children so she wants us to teach them!!

Bishop saw a non-member guy in sacrament meeting and told us to go say hi to him. We got his information from him and turns out he is in the sisters area, so they’ll teach him! Cool stuff going down.

I am excited for this transfer!

The last couple of weeks its been difficult to find people to teach, and NOW the blessings come from being obedient! So happy!

I love you all and will email next week!

Love,

Elder Householder

Every week is a journey. I have really increased in patience.
Hopefully it’s patience. Maybe it’s endurance? One of the two. There’s
been a couple opportunities I had this week to get really upset, but I
stayed quiet and tried to show kindness instead. That is extremely
difficult for me to do. My mind goes back to a favorite movie of mine,
“Fireproof” where a husband is trying to repair things with his wife
that wants a divorce. He does many kind acts of service and love that
go unnoticed. He takes a walk with his Dad and unloads on him, “How
can I continue showing love for someone over and over while they just
spit in my face?…” After his rant, they end up being in a Christian
campsite and he looks up at his dad who was leaning on a cross. He
explains that that is what Christ felt. It gives me strength. It’s
hard, but everytime I start to feel alone or down or uncertain, I feel
that burning in my heart. The role of the Holy Ghost that comforts. I
am so grateful. I will remember those moments for the rest of my life.

Our Christmas service project ended up being really great. It started
by spending time with some elderly people. We talked with them, sung
to them, helped them feel loved. As a zone we met all of them in that
building and had 2 hours left. We took some trash bags to a park and
picked up trash. Elder Tupe and I went down to the river bed and there
was soooo much to pick up, it was awesome! It was some great hard
work. I really enjoyed it.

This week was very cool to see the growth of Sylvie, Rufus, and Luis.
They are spreally starting to move along and Its only a matter of time
before they commit to come to the waters of baptism.

We had Sylvie over to the Boyntons (senior missionary couple) for a
lesson and read the Book of Mormon with her. At first she got really
frustrated that she needed us to explain every verse, but after a
while, she was understanding them all and didn’t need explainations!
We asked her if she would read the rest of the chapter on her own and
she said shed love to! She hasnt read on her own before. We also asked
her to say the closing prayer and she did! First time praying in 5
years. She came to church!

Rufus says he might just end up joining with us eventually. He knows
its true, he just needs to act. Weve found his concerns and are
working to overcome them. He is finally reading and praying on his
own!! He came to church!

We went over to a lessactive sister in the wards home to help her
start the process if coming back. While we were there, we realized
there was a couple people in the home and asked the sister if theyd
join us. She went into the back and brought out Alyssa! We planned on
teaching the sister the missionary lessons to help her grow in faith –
so we taught the restoration! Alyssa was really interested! She said
shes been wanting to learn about Christ and come to church so
after,mshe said shed get baptized on Jan 30th if she finds its true!
We will meet with them twice a week!

We taught Luis and double and triple checked to make sure he was
coming to church and a member picked him up!! He really enjoyed it!

We had great experiences this week and very glad that the doors are
opening for us.

I thank you for a wonderful skype call on Christmas! It was very great
to hear from all of you and see how much you’ve all grown. Keep it
up!!

Elder Householder

This week was an awesome turn-around for me. The beginning of the week was like the last 3 weeks – me trying my best to be kind, sincere, and loving toward my companion, but in return it felt like I was getting annoyance, dislike, and disobedience to the rules. I prayed many times to know what was wrong, and what I was doing to contribute. Wednesday came around and it all went down hill. To keep it all short, after getting some help, everything went to neutral ground and I tried harder to have a good relationship with my companion because I knew we needed to get along and work hard together. As I did this, I realized that because I was so focused on showing love and sincerity, I had forgotten to be myself and just have a little fun with him. The rest of this week Ive worked on just being normal (but continued being kind) and everything has flipped 180. We have been having a great time, laughing, joking, and working hard together. Everything is great. The Lord answers our prayers in ways we wouldn’t think (and sometimes ways we dont want him to) But Ive learned a great lesson.

We had some great experiences with Brother Nottingham (who is preparing to go on a mission). He stopped us and said, “We should talk to that guy” *pointing down the street* We didnt even see the guy, but Bro. Nottingham felt prompted to go talk to him. As we approached, 3 people got up and went inside, but 1 remained. Mike had no problem talking to us and was thankful for his new gift of the Book of Mormon. He said he’d love missionaries by, and we sent the referral to the Killeen elders.

Rufus again did not read from the Book of Mormon. He said he was sick and the other half of the week he was working. We were thinking, “Clearly, if we can stop by any night and you will let us teach you, YOU HAVE TIME!” But of course we didnt say that (even though I totally wanted to). Instead, we said, “The reason you haven’t been reading is not because you’ve been sick or busy. It is because you have a hidden concern or problem with something. What do you think that is?” and after a while and an itch of the head, he answered and said, “I just dont know if I can give up [some things]!” (We hadn’t gotten to the Word of Wisdom or law of chastity yet – someone else apparently told him about it) He thought that if he found the Book of Mormon was true, then that means the revelations of WoW and LoC were true and we would have immediate leverage to get him to stop everything immediately. We told him to focus on the Book of Mormon first. “If you find that the Book of Mormon was true, then the church is true – focius on that for now!” We committed him to read a chapter and pray about it and the spirit directed us to say he would gain an answer that night. Then he showed up to church! We are going to follow up tomorrow.

Sylvie still is having a hard time finding hope still. We taught her about the Atonement and tried to help her see that Christ can take all of these feelings away from her. We plan to read the Book of Mormon with her.

We were able to meet with Luis and read with him from the Book of Mormon and he said that it cleared up a lot of concerns he had about it and that since we started, he is going to continue! He is a cool guy and super sincere about the whole thing.

We had our Mission Presidents Christmas Devotional on Thursday and it was awesome! I received the letters that Mom and Dad sent and Im very grateful! We watched, “A Christmas Carol,” ate some brisket sandwiches and President Ames served us food. It was even combined with my old zone, so I knew literally every missionary in there! Twas great. President Ames wrote a Christmas story for us just using scriptures. Ill attach it and I invite yall to read it!

President had a phrase he made up when he was on his mission. When going through hard times, he would think, “Fire burns wood, but tempers steel, I am made of steel.” They handed us these cool little keychains with this quote on it.

We went caroling with the Sisters at a nursing home and it was awesome! Sister Eaton said, “You’re not down to sing, ‘Joseph Smith’s First Prayer’!” I am one to take a challenge, so we all did! it was awesome to bear testimony of the first vision through hymn to them.

We had the MOST LEGIT ward council of my whole mission yesterday!! Our new bishop used to be the high counselor over missionary work in the stake – so he knows whats up! He put us on the agenda first (something President wants us to try to get to) and as we talked about our investigators, he ASSIGNED the High Priest Group Leader to find someone to come with us to see Luis this week, and ASSINGED the EQP and the RSP to find a couple to visit Luis during the week and invite him and his wife to church! “Next!” Bishop says. We went through our appointments for this week and he made sure we were supported. It was “So totally wicked!”

Today for Pday Activity we are going to play, “The firey darts of the adversary” AKA Nerf war with the PVC pipes like dad does. If any of them have lungs like Dad, Im scared!

Well family, I love you loads! Merry Christmas!

I will be Video-calling yall between 3-3:30pm Texan time using Dads URL thing!

Elder Householder

Continue reading December 14 →

Hello hello!

This week has been [Nathan didn’t finish the sentence]

Brandon from the YSA Ward has come out with us on exchange a couple times this week and had a great time. He has been asking us a bunch of questions about the mission. We’ve been helping him out through some of his hard times and he actually went to the Branch President yesterday and told him that he wants to go on a mission!! He’s starting his papers as we speak!

We went to church last week and sitting next to our usual seats was a brother in the Ward we didn’t recognize. We talked with him a bit and says he doesn’t come very often, so we asked if we could visit him this week. We went to his house and checked to see where he was at. After talking about it a little, Brother Bigford decided he wanted to go to the temple! So we made a plan with him on how he can get there! He is full willing to drop somethings and pick up somethings to be able to go in the future. So happy for him!

Rufus has been saying the Lord’s Prayer every night for basically his whole life. When we asked him to pray about if he should keep meeting with us, he had a surge of, “yes yes yes yes yes!” In his head! So this week we committed him (after a long discussion of why and how) to read Book of Mormon and Pray about it and he accepted! We hope he will get his answer soon!

We called a old referral in our system that looked legit and he invited us over happily!! So we jumped in the car with Brandon and he took us over there to see Duncan. We drove for about 45 min (20 miles north of Lampasas) and met him at his trailer out in the middle of nowhere. After talking with him a while, we found out he was actually a member baptized a couple years back in the other ward! Weird…haha

We had a missionary fireside last night before the Christmas Devotional and it was awesome! We had a brother in the Ward that gave a talk tying together Christmas to the Restoration and it was way good! I really enjoyed the Devotional! The talks were amazing!

We visited a former investigator named Matthew the other day and when we asked the man at the door for him, he looked at us really suspicious at first, but then told us Matthew moved. Then he let us in and gave us water! Turns out he used to be a member and now he’s pagan, probably thought his active sister sent us over or something….he wasn’t interested, but said his little kids might want to learn!

For District Meeting, I felt inspired to train about Finding, and have a Roleplay on simplicity. Before we began, I asked everyone what they want to get out of District Meeting this transfer and they said they want to know more ways to find people and how to teach simply! So I was very glad to tell them that that was what this district meeting was going to be all about! I typed up a LONG paper on everything I have come to know about how to find people to teach and unloaded it on those greenies and they were so excited! One of the sisters had actually been praying how to find people to teach this week!

I love you all! I’ll send pictures soon!

Elder Householder

Hello Hello!

This week has proven to me that this transfer is going to be awesome!

Wednesday was a full day of transfers. The Copperas Cove 2nd Sisters rode back down from transfers with the Senior Couple and picked me up from Waco on the way to Killeen. We watched the whole Legacy video
before we got there.

Elder Anderson and I like a lot of the same things, so it’s been fun! Let’s just say the apartment is really cold 🙂

We have been getting this area organized so we can make sure nobody in our areabook is missed. We have already gotten a couple appointments from some previous YSA Former investigators! This is basically the Military capital of Texas! Fort Hood is HUGE! Everyone here has some
tie to the armed services. We had a member show us his “den” where it is basically a mini museum of Guns, old Nazi gear and knifes and such,
so cool!

I’ve never served in two wards/branches before – it’s a long day of church!

We had a lunch thanksgiving meal and a dinner one – it was pretty good, but with a new area I didn’t know any of them.

Funny story for you: this week I was calling missionaries in the district to assign them things for District Meeting. I called Elder Bott, a big 360 lb black Elder who is a fresh greenie to bear his testimony, but before I asked him, Elder Anderson told me to assign him to give a training on the Facsimiles of Abraham! So On the spot I assigned him to do that! He started getting nervous and asking me to clarify. It was so hard not to laugh and Elder Anderson had to leave the room a couple of times as he laughed. After an hour of letting him
believe it, we called him back and he was freaking out (in a funny way) saying that he was going to pack up his bags right then and call President Ames. He was totally joking so it made it so hilarious, “NOBODY ON EARTH CAN READ THOSE THINGS!” Hahaha I bought him lunch today to make up 😉

So far I’ve met a couple investigators and they are awesome, have great potential:

Rufus is on the line trying to see where the Lord will take him. He prayed once if he should continue meeting with us and the answer her heard ringing in his head was, “yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes” we committed him to read the Book of Mormon all the way through and we promised he would get a similar answer when he prays about it.

We had a hand off lesson with the Copperas Cove 2nd Sisters where we
are going to teach one of their investigators moving into the Ward. MacKenzie is studying Preach My Gospel right now to completely understand everything, but we told her she will gain her witness from reading the Book of Mormon. We have a return appointment on Friday.

Dusty is on the fence right now. He had a friend that told him not be careful when meeting with us. So he decided not to read the Book of Mormon right now. We are still working with him.

We found a couple YSA Potentials and set up appointments with them as well. We are excited to meet with them and help them gain a desire.

I love you all! Remember, “If you read from the Book of Mormon everyday for at least 20 min, you will stay at the center of the kingdom.”

Elder Householder

I’ll start out by saying I’m headed to my 7th area this week! Yep, my
second “one and done.” I will be companions with goofy ‘Ol Elder
Anderson in Killeen. Copperas 1st Ward and YSA.

My new address: 1202 South FM #116 Unit # 11-208 Copperas Cove TX 76522

Ain’t nobody gonna write to that address! I don’t get it either.

I got a call from President Ames on Wednesday and he told me that he felt the Lord would have me be a District Leader this coming transfer. He said he wanted to let me know early because he loves me and wanted to make sure I knew it wasn’t a “demotion” (cause clearly it’s not – there is no ladders in the Lords Kingdom). In my new district there will be 2 missionaries that just finished being trained and will be training. AKA: Greenie Train. So I’ll have a young district! Straight outta the crib!

I kid you not it was one of the hardest logistical things I have ever
done – hurt my head so much. We coordinated the rides with Killeen
Zone as well.

I want to tell you an experience this week that grew my testimony in
the atonement. This week has been extremely stressful for both Elder Judy and I as we’ve been preparing the SMC document, and being in charge of getting our Zone to and from the departing missionary temple trip, new leadership meeting, Elder Falabella conference, and transfers. Through it all I have been on a rollercoaster ride with emotions from “we can do this!” To straight up depressed. Saturday was one of many breaking points. My companion and I weren’t happy with each other because of the stress, and I felt so alone. I couldn’t help but just cry. A couple thoughts were placed in my mind. First was Sister Ames’ promise that if we pray for charity, we will receive it. I did exert the energies of my heart and prayed hard. The other thought was along the lines of, “Please just give me peace!” I prayed hard for peace and to not feel alone knowing I can receive because I read in John 16:

31 Jesus answered them, Do ye now believe?

32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I
am not aalone, because the Father is with me.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I
have overcome the world.

After, we got back to work and we met with the Fuete family. They are investigators that have been on the fence, haven’t really been keeping commitments. We started to teach the Plan of Salvation, but it just didn’t feel right. I could feel the spirit leading a different way. I asked to open up to Alma 32 because they said their faith in God has been struggling with the passing of a loved one. As we asked if they want greater faith and they said yes, I could feel the spirit drawing them in. After we were done and bore testimony, they committed to read and pray everyday. As the lesson went on, I FELT SO MUCH PEACE. All feelings I was feeling that day disappeared and I felt so much comfort. I felt more love for my companion. I want this always! Always. I’ll do anything to have it.

Christina’s baptism is this Saturday! I’m really sad to miss it, but
I’m glad she made the decision and that everything is in place!

Gena called us this week and said she has been reading the Book of
Mormon every morning and every night! She thanked me for having her read Alma 24 and said it really spoke to her. She also said she has
“had one foot in the door and one foot out of the door of the church,” But she has been praying long and hard to know what to do. She got her answer!! She asked to be baptized on December 11!! That will be the completion of a family to be converted!! That strengthened my testimony in the power of the Book of Mormon!

Kenny came out with us this week with a white shirt and slacks! His
whole countenance just changed so much over the last 2 weeks, everyone can see it! He even called and asked if he could go do service with us at a food pantry and had a great time! Bishop pulled him into his office and next thing we know, KENNY IS GETTING THE PRIESTHOOD!!

Bishop also told us that he committed 2 people to baptism yesterday! Go bishop!

We had a Mission Conference with Elder Falabella of the 1st quorum of the 70 this week and it was awesome! All about how to find more people to teach. We had a small MLC with him beforehand (18 of us) and then afterward we had a bigger MLC with all the Zone Leaders in the mission. I loved it so much, The spirit was so strong. He’s also hilarious! He had us stand up after an hour and do some “exercises” which was just “head, shoulders, knees, and toes” it was so funny.

Before we were headed down south afterward, the poor Hermanas ride canceled….so we talked to president told us to have the Killeen Zone Leaders go with some other Elders and the Hermanas come in the van with us and the Sister training Leaders. Talk about luggage! Haha 🙂

This week was a bunch of lasts for me, and it was bittersweet. Lemme e’splain… No there is too mush, lemme sum up:

Last time collecting numbers till 10pm every Sunday night (actually
I’m pretty stoked to leave that)
Last time going to MLC
Last time calling the missionaries about Transfer Doctrine
Last time going to SMC
Last time putting the SMC document together!!!
Last time driving the minivan
Last time seeing my Wacko buddies
Last time sending in supply requests

Annnnddd the list could go on forever. Many responsibilities I don’t
mind giving up, but others I will miss, like MLC.

This week we needed to find rides to and from the metroplex (2.5 hours away) for:

⭕️ Wednesday:
???? Hermana Ford – Departing missionary temple trip
???? Elders Harris, Brinkerhoff, Barber, Law, Escobar, Williams – New
leadership/followup training mtg

⭕️ Thursday:
???? Us, Killeen Zone Leaders, and our Sister Training Leaders

⭕️ Friday:
???? The whole Zone to and from the Mission Conference

⭕️ This Wednesday:
???? Transfers

I kid you not it was one of the hardest logistical things I have ever
done – hurt my head so much. We coordinated the rides with Killeen
Zone as well.

I have loved my time here in Waco to death and I am very sat to leave it. It’s difficult to not see the full fruits of my labors, but I am
glad to have seen the conversions happen here.

I am excited for my time with Elder Anderson in Killeen and pray that I’ll have charity and be whom he needs me to be.

Elder Householder