Blessings

Dear Family and Friends:

2/6 Monday

With a First Edition of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine & Covenants

Today was a busy day! We got to do all of the normal P-Day activities that we usually do, which is always fun. Tonight we had a lesson with the Rodartes. They decided they wanted to feed us and so when we arrived there was all sorts of food! They made some cheese stuffed jalapeños and wow! were those good! Sister Rodartes mom is a non-member and I was able to talk to her and try to start to build a relationship with her so we can start teaching her! She doesn't speak great English but understands it perfectly. She is from Mexico City and so I told her about Alex and was able to pull up his emails and show her pictures of his experiences so far in the mission! She loved seeing missionaries in her own city. It is a testimony that the Lord works in interesting ways and things you never would think of talking to her come to mind! We also had a lesson with the Henning/Labovitz family. Brother Labovitz is the Jewish man that sits in with his wife's reactivation lessons wink, wink, haha! We lost them though because upon arrival Elder McClure asked them about some of the dragon games they play and so they described how they play this game Dungeons and Dragons. It is where you pretty much create a storyline of yourself in a manically sense. For me it would be impossible to use my imagination like that. It was all up Elder McClure's alley so he was loving it, but Elder Alison had no idea of what they were talking about. On the drive home Elder Alison was saying how when they were talking about these imaginary things in their game he wasn't sure if they were being serious about these things happening in real life or if they were just crazy hahaha. I was laughing super hard because I was just as lost as him but I at least knew that they were talking about a game!

2/7 Tuesday
I was a lucky man today! Got the mail today and got three packages! Big thanks to my Mom, my Grandma, and the Howells! I have world’s best friends and family! We tracted a couple hours today and not much came from it but it was fun! We had a lesson with the Bradford’s tonight and they were asking questions about where each of us were from and they were really intrigued by Wyoming until they asked me about the cold and the winters! They decided Wyoming was not a place they wanted to move to... just the way we like it!  We had ward coordination with our new ward mission leader and he gave us the idea to write the names of the people that we are working with down on a sticky note and have 5-minute member visits to ask members to pray for these individuals. I am excited to try it out!

2/8 Wednesday
Finally, we were able to meet with Joseph again! His mom, Claudette, wasn't there because she started working again, so it does not leave her with time for us, but she is asking her boss for Sunday's and Monday off so she can attend church! The last time we meet with them Joseph was very troubled and very closed so we have been worried for him, but today we were able to get him to open up and share with us what was going on. He has many friends that found out he is becoming a "Mormon" and so they have fed him anti stuff and that gave him doubts and questions. We were able to answer some of those and reestablish the purpose of the Book of Mormon. I look forward for his continued conversion to the Savior!

2/9 Thursday
Today we had a couple lessons. They were very interesting haha. The first lesson was with Sister Patton and Brother Fuller.  Sister Patton gave us these big knives that are pretty cool so that was super nice of her! Brother Fuller tried telling us this story that he has told us on several occasions about his near death experience. Sister Patton kept interrupting and telling him how boring the story is and how he has told us already several times. It was kinda funny haha! We had a short lesson with the Stucki’s. I say short because it was like 10-15 min max. You could tell she was super mad about something and so it was super awkward so we taught and got out of there!

2/10 Friday
Today I was on exchanges with Elder Townsend. He is from Nebraska and is a cool guy. I am started to get a little worried because as we were on bikes. I was sweating like a horse and was thinking it was super-hot outside but it is only like 70. I braved up and held a disgusting lizard it was pretty gross. We got them a new investigator, named Mark, that we met as we were walking down the street.  We set up another appointment to come and teach his family on Sunday. We stopped by this members house and they opened the door and no joke about five feet from the door was their ping pong table. The wife made some comments of how bad she hates it taking up her entire front room. We got to play and after months of not playing I was terrible and got stomped by Elder Townsend, so that was humbling, haha. It was a fun day!

2/11 Saturday
Rumor has it dinners are going to get changed back but I am not sure. It rained so much and so it was a fun day!

A couple of weeks ago I was studying in PMG and it said that as missionaries as we think of the things we teach all throughout the day we will be more powerful teachers. I thought that one way I could do that was pondering one principle that I teach each week! This week was the Gospel blesses families and individuals. I have been able to see that this week as I have observed the life of members, nonmembers, less actives. God blesses us in many ways!

Lots of love,
- Elder Call 🌵🎰🌴☀️ NLVWM