Happy Tuesday!
Transfers are upon us! I'm now halfway done with my time here in Las Vegas. My companion Elder Knowles is leaving my area, but I am staying and getting a new companion, Elder Smith.
My scripture for you all today is John 10:15-18. They made this section into a bible video: https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-good-shepherd-and-other-sheep-i-have?lang=eng
My scripture for you all today is John 10:15-18. They made this section into a bible video: https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/the-good-shepherd-and-other-sheep-i-have?lang=eng
There's incredible power in Jesus's words here. He gave up his life 100% willingly. He had the power to lay it down, and he had the power to take it again.
One thing that was hard recently was losing Kaylene, our new investigator, and her family. Everything started off wonderfully and we thought we had a shot at baptizing them. No such luck. She liked everything up until we started talking about "James Smith". Though she accepted a Book of Mormon, she claimed she wasn't "spiritually in a place where she can read it" right now. She found reasons not to trust us in the mistakes we made. They were a nice family, but it's not fun to see them drop us.
So I've had plenty of bike mishaps in my time here, riding almost everywhere we go--popped inner tube, crashes, near-crashes, etc.. But the crown jewel happened a few days ago. Now, our area is really rather sketchy. This hasn't affected us until now. We went to our ward for companionship study and it was a windy day. While sitting in a room we heard noises outside, but assumed it was the wind. Soon, the other Elders in our district show up and tell us that our bike lock is broken, one of our bikes is missing, and they brought the other one inside when they saw it. We checked and sure enough, my bike lock was busted through, and my companion's bike Frankenstallion (which he had been borrowing from another Elder after Elder Knowles's old brake-less bike Mobidiah got stole a week ago) was gone. Miraculously, my bike was not taken when the other Elders biked up to the church and found out what happened. A guy approached and then left while we were checking out the scene of the crime, and our best guess is that he was the thief and was coming back for my bike, Sally Forth. I am amazed that my nicer, newer bike was not taken instead of Frankenstallion. In the few days since the theft, we've been borrowing a nice U-lock and Elder Knowles has been riding a terrible replacement bike, Longhorn (named after its absurdly-long handle spread). Luckily for him, he's going to an area where he won't be on bike anymore.
Last night we knocked on the door of some inactive members who were pretty cool. They were Long Islanders with 100% authentic New Yorker accents (and personalities), a bit of a fun blast from the past for me. They owned several dogs and a giant, heavy, hairy pig. They also fed us expensive cake. Definitely the best result that has come from tracting thus far in my experience. (Better than "Go away!")
Our investigator with a baptismal date, Jamie, finally made it to church again after not making it for about three weeks straight. He also brought his 5-year-old grandson Jason this time, which he hadn't done before. Now, Jason is only 5, but he's not really...on the right path in life. He was a bit of a punk, let's say. I was surprised to see him on his way to church and wondered and hoped things would go well. To my great joy, after church (even though they had to leave slightly early), Jamie told us that Jason loved it. Jamie also had a great time in Gospel Doctrine. It makes me so happy. It's probably the first time Jason has felt anything like he did. All I can do is hope that he'll remember how he felt and ask to come again. This could be a turning point in his life. The only major obstacle is that his mother doesn't care about church and we guess that she doesn't much like us.
One thing that was hard recently was losing Kaylene, our new investigator, and her family. Everything started off wonderfully and we thought we had a shot at baptizing them. No such luck. She liked everything up until we started talking about "James Smith". Though she accepted a Book of Mormon, she claimed she wasn't "spiritually in a place where she can read it" right now. She found reasons not to trust us in the mistakes we made. They were a nice family, but it's not fun to see them drop us.
So I've had plenty of bike mishaps in my time here, riding almost everywhere we go--popped inner tube, crashes, near-crashes, etc.. But the crown jewel happened a few days ago. Now, our area is really rather sketchy. This hasn't affected us until now. We went to our ward for companionship study and it was a windy day. While sitting in a room we heard noises outside, but assumed it was the wind. Soon, the other Elders in our district show up and tell us that our bike lock is broken, one of our bikes is missing, and they brought the other one inside when they saw it. We checked and sure enough, my bike lock was busted through, and my companion's bike Frankenstallion (which he had been borrowing from another Elder after Elder Knowles's old brake-less bike Mobidiah got stole a week ago) was gone. Miraculously, my bike was not taken when the other Elders biked up to the church and found out what happened. A guy approached and then left while we were checking out the scene of the crime, and our best guess is that he was the thief and was coming back for my bike, Sally Forth. I am amazed that my nicer, newer bike was not taken instead of Frankenstallion. In the few days since the theft, we've been borrowing a nice U-lock and Elder Knowles has been riding a terrible replacement bike, Longhorn (named after its absurdly-long handle spread). Luckily for him, he's going to an area where he won't be on bike anymore.
Last night we knocked on the door of some inactive members who were pretty cool. They were Long Islanders with 100% authentic New Yorker accents (and personalities), a bit of a fun blast from the past for me. They owned several dogs and a giant, heavy, hairy pig. They also fed us expensive cake. Definitely the best result that has come from tracting thus far in my experience. (Better than "Go away!")
Our investigator with a baptismal date, Jamie, finally made it to church again after not making it for about three weeks straight. He also brought his 5-year-old grandson Jason this time, which he hadn't done before. Now, Jason is only 5, but he's not really...on the right path in life. He was a bit of a punk, let's say. I was surprised to see him on his way to church and wondered and hoped things would go well. To my great joy, after church (even though they had to leave slightly early), Jamie told us that Jason loved it. Jamie also had a great time in Gospel Doctrine. It makes me so happy. It's probably the first time Jason has felt anything like he did. All I can do is hope that he'll remember how he felt and ask to come again. This could be a turning point in his life. The only major obstacle is that his mother doesn't care about church and we guess that she doesn't much like us.
Well, I've grown quite used to Elder Knowles. Not exactly fond, but...okay I'm kidding but man the guy had zero concept of germs. Anyway, he was a great missionary. I'm gonna miss proselyting with him.
I'd like to express my love for my family. I miss them and I miss St. George. Life was really good being there with them. Family and friends are what make life good.
Pic 1: The hideous remains of my bike lock
Pic 2: The local news (two jokes to explain here: Tablito is Elder Knowles's tablet which got smashed by a chair during basketball last P-day [it still works but the innards of the screen are smashed and most of the screen is covered by green and pink lines], and Yolanda is an investigator.)
Pic 3: Two-thirds of our now-old district with the bishop and WML at a soon-to-be-convert's wedding
I'd like to express my love for my family. I miss them and I miss St. George. Life was really good being there with them. Family and friends are what make life good.
Pic 1: The hideous remains of my bike lock
Pic 2: The local news (two jokes to explain here: Tablito is Elder Knowles's tablet which got smashed by a chair during basketball last P-day [it still works but the innards of the screen are smashed and most of the screen is covered by green and pink lines], and Yolanda is an investigator.)
Pic 3: Two-thirds of our now-old district with the bishop and WML at a soon-to-be-convert's wedding
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