April 1, 2013
So this is the first day of my 4th week IN the field but I am already a month and a half into the mission. TIME FLIES! There is a quote my Mission President said so I will start with that. "The gospel is Jesus Christ is better than...candy" It was really funny at the time. Some things you will need to know while you read.
- Inv = investigator (someone who is "investigating" or learning about the LDS Church)
- LA = Less Active (someone who is a baptized member of the LDS Church but only participates or worships every so often...not consistently)
- IA = InActive (someone who is a baptized member of the LDS Church but does not participate or worship at the church)
- PMF = Part Member Family (i.e. Dad is LDS, Mom is not, kids may or may not be)
- UBC = Unbaptized Child (in the LDS Church, children are baptized at age 8, not at birth; so an "unbaptized child" would be a young person who did not get baptized at age 8, but is on the records of the church as a member because of a parent who is LDS. Sometimes the child is part of a family that was active in the church when they were young but stopped coming for a time)
- P-day = preparation day (this is typically on Mondays, and it is the day to do laundry, grocery shop, sightsee in the assigned area, play sports with other missionaries, etc)
- RC = Recent Convert (someone who has recently become a member of the LDS Church. Usually they have continued meetings with the missionaries to learn more)
- P = Potentials (someone the missionaries have talked to but are not officially "investigating" the LDS faith)
Ok, highlights of the week:
March 25
Today was District P-day which just means my district of 6 missionaries did activities. Luckily the Assistant of the Mission President came to hang out and also the Zone leaders. Other than that, not much on this day. We did have a cool RC lesson with the Shaw's.
(I do not know (1) why it was luck that the Assistant or the Zone Leaders came, and (2) How many missionaries are in a district or a zone, but that question will be asked)
March 26
Today was a little crazy. We had a lot of lessons set up but most of them cancelled...actually, ALL of them cancelled. It worked out ok because we got to meet and see some wonderful LA's, IA's and some P's.
(Leave it to Chris to turn a downer day into a positive one! LOVE HIM!)
March 27
Today was a little bit better, sort of. I had a dentist appointment in the morning and sitting in a dentist chair for an hour in a suit is not fun at all. Apparently I had an old cavity that the filling hadn't stayed in. Whatever the problem was, it was hurting and now it's better. After the dentist, we had a district meeting and because it was the week that led up to Easter, we talked a lot about Christ and what He has done for us. I encourage all to get an Ensign and read some of the talks. The March issue, page 50, and the April issue about Christ's atonement for us. (I posted a link to each below) Very very good articles. We had some cancellations today but not as many. I will try to start remembering what we have for dinner each night because some of the meals are really really good!
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/03/the-power-of-the-word-of-god?lang=eng
http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/04/easter-week?lang=eng
(Note: I'm not sure if the 2nd link is the article he is talking about above. There are several articles in the April issue of this particular LDS Church magazine that discuss Christ and his life and atonement.)
March 28
We had a lesson with one of our new investigators today named Ann Marie. She is from Jamaica and has a sister who we are also trying to meet with. They went to church in Jamaica. After that we had a double meeting (double booked) and I do not ever want to do that again. (Hmmm...question to find out why!) Elder Frandsen (Chris's companion) went with a member to one lesson and I had a member with me at mine. Wow, it was hard, but it was a good learning experience! Then we had an AWESOME dinner with a PMF...it was pasta and some other stuff but I just forgot what. Dang, I guess I really do need to start writing stuff down. After that we had an RC lesson with Aaron. (Aaron was baptized in the LDS Church 4 days after Chris arrived in WA). Aaron has an interesting story. His ex-wife was a member of our church over 11 years ago when they met and married. He never liked the Mormons. Skip ahead 11 years and they have a son, Kepler, and they are divorced. Kepler was with his dad, Aaron, on the weekends. Recently the ex-wife asked Aaron if the missionaries could come meet with Kepler on weekends when he was with his dad. He said ok, and after a few weeks, Aaron started sitting in on those meetings. Then he started asking questions, and began learning about the LDS Church, and was baptized. (Kepler is not yet baptized, and still learning.) After our meeting with Aaron, we had a meeting with an LA which was really good.
March 29
Today was pretty nice. Not much happened. A few cancellations but still pretty good. Actually, cut that first sentence cuz this morning stunk! I woke up a little after midnight and was throwing up for an hour straight. That was fun. My companion said that I was so white he thought I was going to pass out. It was sort of funny toward the end of the day but whatever. (Mom note: I will definitely be asking about this on Monday, the 8th!) We met with a girl named Ashley who is a senior in high school and wants to know more, so she is now an investigator. Afterwards we went and had dinner with an lA, Brother Bradley. We went to a Mexican place which was ok. (insane choice to eat Mexican food after barfing all night, but...) My companion said it was the best Mexican place he'd found so far. Then we went to a sweet place called The Root Beer Store. Yes it is a store that has over 100 kinds of Root Beer!
(Found it online! http://www.therootbeerstore.com Tom and Katy must visit this place in 2015 when we go up to WA to see where Chris served. All three are root beer lovers! Me? YUCK!)
March 30
So Saturday was a little crazy but AWESOME! First was an Easter Egg Hunt for the Primary. (The Primary is the young kids organization within our church...ages 3 - 11.) Then we helped with a move-in. (Note: this is at least the 3rd time in as many weeks that they have helped people move in. I love hearing about the service.) The most important/big thing was a meeting with Gail. Gail is an investigator who has many questions, so we are teaching and answering questions at the same time. She keeps saying that she WILL NOT become Mormon, but Elder Frandsen and I are optimistic. We met a few potentials and then had dinner which was very good. Then we had another meeting with Aaron and Kepler.
March 31 (Easter Sunday)
Not too much today. Usual studying and then we went to the church which was awesome because lots of RCs, LAs and Investigator, and one couple who just saw the building and walked in. Hopefully the couple will start learning more. Easter dinner was cancelled because the people that signed up to feed us forgot and they were out of town. After church we helped a less active family move. We must be watched over though because that family fed us dinner after we helped them move. That was very cool of them. (Chris mentioned last Monday that the dinner was Taco Bell which is a favorite! haha)
Other than all that, it has been a great week! This Gospel is the full and true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ set up His church during His earthly time. It has been restored on this earth and I invite all who read this to read the Book of Mormon for the first time or for the 50th time and pray to know of its truth. One of my favorite scriptures this week is Alma 33: 22-23: Turn your eyes toward God and His Son that you might live.
Love to all! Have a great week!
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