Dear family: Thank you so much for the amazing care package!
I estimate that I now have enough candy that, if carefully rationed, will last
me my whole mission! I especially liked how you didn't include any letter, and
instead you put a bunch of stamps in an envelope. I got the message, loud and
clear. :D Also, I was wondering if any of you could send a few more physical
pictures of the family, and Evie and Nathan, and all of us together. Thanks!
We had our first two investigators who attended church yesterday.
(The last two Sundays they all said they would but none of them did.) It was a
real blessing. It made me pay attention in church much more, and care about
what was being said. (Not that I didn't before, it's just that when you're
worrying about how an investigator will view it it adds a whole new level.) It
was a great spiritual experience to me and it helped teach me the importance of
missionary work. It was great to see them in church, and it was great to talk
about church with them afterwards and during the meetings.
The two investigators who came to Sacrament meeting are Lucy
P. and Eva B.
Lucy hadn't been to church in a year, because she has a job
that forces her to work every Sunday. So we committed her to ask for Sundays
off or to quit her job in order for her to go to Church, and she did it. She'll
be baptized next Sunday. It'll be great!
Eva's husband didn't come, even though they both said that
they would. They are both hung up with wanting to know everything about the
church before they are baptized again into it, but we are struggling to get
them to test it out and find out for themselves that the church is true. Eva
could be baptized next Sunday, but because her husband didn't come to church
yesterday he will have to wait until the 8th of December.
Florida rains like crazy. I'm not kidding, the rainy season
ended several weeks ago, but that doesn't mean that it's stopped raining! It's
really amazing that Florida doesn't flood. I can definitely see why it's
classified as swampland, and why so many exotic plants and trees grow here.
It's beautiful, when it's not trying to wash everything away.
I'm going through Alma currently, and trying to relate all
of the chapters and experiences in them to myself. In particular, I thought it
was interesting what it says that Ammon and Aaron taught to King Lamoni and his
father. There's a pretty close association between the missionary discussions
and what they taught. (Exception: the restoration.) They also place a strong
emphasis on teaching from the scriptures.
Yesterday, we were out harvesting. (A special technique for
knocking on doors - you ask them to say a special prayer with you, then you go
in their house, kneel down, and give a priesthood blessing on them and their
house, they feel the spirit, and then you hit them with the kesyon batèm.) We
had started a little late because of the rain and thunder, and because of that
we weren't going to get a full hour in, so we were trying to make the most of
our time. After we had knocked on a few doors, a car drove by and shot at us
with paint balls. I wasn't hit, but Eldè Winslow was hit in the arm. At first we
took the experience as a punishment for not being obedient and getting a full
hour of harvesting in. (We're supposed to do at least a full hour each day.)
Then we decided that whether or not it was a punishment, we still needed to
improve in that way and others and we resolved to do that. If nothing else
comes from the experience, at least I have a good story to tell.
I'm learning a ton each day, in the language and in how to
be a missionary.
All of the members love the missionaries. It's kind of weird,
everybody wants to shake your hand during church, and they all get in line to
feed you. There's one member in particular who always, always, every single
Sunday makes food for us and puts it in the fridge for us to pick up. Yesterday
she even gave us a couple of slices of cheesecake. It was delicious!
Thanks,
Eldè Slade
My desk and bedroom, from a different angle. (Shared with
Eldè Winslow, of course.)
My bike, which received one good day of use, and then was
put back into the garage. I don't know when I'll use it again.
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