Everyone,
I will probably be in Pleasant Ridge North for 3 more months because Elder Rich is brand new in the field. Usually, new missionaries and their companions stay together for the new missionary's first two transfers or 12 weeks. That's about 3 months.
Elder Rich reminds me, in some ways, a lot of myself when I first came out. I see now that I was probably an extremely frustrating companion. Both of us are naturally reserved people though, so we don't talk that much. I think he's tense mostly because he's new, but also I think it's just part of his personality and mannerisms. Also, it's been very cold since he got here.. You could say we get along, but we're not best of friends just yet.
Thanksgiving was great. I POUNDED THAT FOOD! In the morning, we went to the Turkey Bowl for a couple of hours and I just ran til I dropped. It felt great and I was sore for like three days afterward. It prepared me for the feasting that we would partake in later that day. We went to the bishop's home for dinner and it was just wonderful. Turkey, ham, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, cornbread stuffing, (no cornbread). There was this amazing dessert that had a crushed up pretzel base, then whipped topping first layer, and a strawberry gelatin on top. SO GOOD! Then I got me some warm dutch apple pie with ice cream. Technically, it was a work day, but we planned all of our administrative tasks for that day (which is still work that we have to do). Maybe I'm a bad missionary.... but at least I'm a happy missionary, right?
no?
okay.
Anyways...
Some horrific news for the week: We were eating dinner on Tuesday evening at a members home, having some of the most delicious enchiladas and guacamole I've ever had (it's tough to beat Mom, that's all I'll say), when I opened the hot sauce bottle. Without noticing, millions (about 10) of drops of hot sauce drops splattered my shirt and new tie. The shirt is ruined. The tie is at the hospital (i.e. the dry cleaners) and I'll have the diagnosis tomorrow. But now I get to buy new shirts! Hooray!
Yesterday, I was asked a huge favor. A gigantic favor. The first counselor texted me at about 10:30 a.m/ and asked if we could speak in sacrament meeting that day. Oh yeah, it was the SPANISH BRANCH SACRAMENT MEETING. I was terrified. After lunch, I cleared the schedule to prepare my first talk as a missionary (which was my first talk in Spanish coincidentally as well). The topic was about the birth of Christ, so naturally I just read half of Luke 1 & 2. It went well. Afterward, one of the members said that my accent sounds like it's South American. Yes, I'm almost a native.
We taught a wonderful lesson this week to JJ and Regina who are some new investigators. The spirit was so strong. JJ is great, every time I say something like "Jesus restored the true church through Joseph Smith" or "Jesus sent an angel to give us the Book of Mormon" he'll say "praise Jesus" in almost a whisper. I love it. We'll be seeing them again tomorrow.
Fortunately, Steven is still a free man. Unfortunately, we didn't get to meet with him last week. I'm bummed about that. We don't really have any other prospects at the moment, so it's kinda tough.
We did have an amazing finding experience this week though. Usually, Elder Grandy (who used to live in Hyder actually, for those of you Arizonans who know about it), who I was on exchange with this week, carries several of The Restoration pamphlets on him when tracting. However, this time, he only had one. So after he handed that out, he was forced to utilize the Plan of Salvation pamphlet. The next person we talk to tells us that his wife died within the past few months, he just recently started seeking out religion since his childhood, and he wants to learn more about God's plan for his life. I think Elder Grandy was holding the right pamphlet. I'm so glad that the Lord has his hand in this work and makes things happen so that we can unwittingly be prepared to bless the lives of His children. We're going to try to see him again this week because he wasn't there at the time that he said we could come back.
Overall, the work has been rough. I try and try, and it seems like I never have any lasting success. Maybe just with myself and my own personal testimony... that's good enough I suppose.
Oh, I don't have that much time anymore because of my District Leader responsibilities. And my district is massive (there's five companionships, as opposed to like three normally). So for those of you who are waiting on replies to letters, I promise it'll get done!!! Be patient with me!
Nothing too crazy happened this week while talking to people. We just ran into that one occasional person that likes to freak people out by saying "I worship Satan" and then walking away. Whatever you gotta do to be happy... she didn't seem to happy though. I wonder why...
Okay, have a good week everyone! I miss you lot's! Chloe's reminded me that the year long countdown starts in about another month!
Love,
Elder Grabinger
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