That family didn't come back yesterday on sunday but we heard they were coming next week. I like that analogy about the orange juice I might use that in a speech soon. I don't know how I plan on sharing the gospel when I come back but I am going to try and find ways to do that. Dad seems to always be busy. I am grateful for everything he does for us. I had a dream this week that I was playing like a new Halo game that had come out since I was on my mission with Kaden and I had just gotten off the mission. I woke up angry because I kept remembering how he was beating me at halo in my dream. I just didn't know how it worked haha. It is fun having Keegan live so close. I saw pictures from Preston of him, Will, Kylee, and Alex Hill at Applebee's - I am pretty jealous. Sounds like everything is going well back home.
This Week:
I am pretty grateful to be here on the mission but this week felt like a long week even though our p-day was last Tues. Things are still going well and I am still going through the daily grind. Enjoying the little things that I know I will miss after the mission.
So we had a few ups and downs this week. One was that we finally got to teach Sarah the Plan of Salvation on Tuesday and she loved it - I am actually not sure if she loved it. She knew she needed to make some changes and said It just all made sense. It really put baptism in perspective as just a step. On Thursday we got a text from Sis Kavea asking how many people need to attend a baptism. We explained that it was the one performing and the witnesses and a presiding member of the bishopric. The next text explained to us. Sarah was actually the one on the phone and she told us she wanted to be baptized. We asked her when and she said as soon as possible! We were stoked and set an appointment for the next day. We were pretty excited to see her... then she pushed that appointment back to Sunday. We were still excited but a little gutted that we had to wait a couple of more days. Then on Saturday she sent us a text asking if we really believed that we could become gods of our own worlds and stuff. Apparently she had told her friend she was going to be a Mormon and her friend told her about that concept. We gave a brief answer and promised to explain on Sunday. She came to church by herself which was really good. She then was about to leave so we caught her in the hall after Sacrament meeting and she said she had to leave so she couldn't come to class but before she left we had just a short chance to answer her question. She didn't seem happy that we hadn't explained this principle in the Plan of Salvation when we taught it. Then she left. Just before church ended she sent us a text canceling our appointment for yesterday. She said we might be able to see her tonight but we will see what happens. It is so hard when we can't have time to explain things to her in person. I know we will see her this week, I hope we do. We still have some work to do with her. She is an awesome person and one of my favorite people to teach.
The Gordon-Samuel Whanau family is doing well. We taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson and then seemed to enjoy it. We explained the baptism is something for them to work toward, and help them return to Heavenly Father. They agreed that it would be a good thing and Cassie the mother said it was okay for the kids. We asked them if they were coming to church and they said yes... but, they didn't come.
We are trying two work with some twins that have had permission to be baptized. Every weekend we try and go teach them, we have an appointment then they aren't home. Or they are busy. We had an appointment this week on Saturday, we went over on friday to double check it, the rescheduled for sunday, then on Sunday they weren't able to come to church and they moved our lesson after church for thursday this week.
We overall seem to have everyone in our area telling us they will do stuff, and seem like they are committed to doing it and then they don't and it is frustrating but more so disappointing. We had 12 people or so tell us they were going to come to church this week. 3 showed up. I was very happy for those three and it is good to see them. It is just dissapointing because we know how great the OJ is. They say they want some so we are pouring them a glass and then they just leave it on the table.
A lot of good things did happen this week. Not sure if my email highlighted those things but it was cool to see one of our LA sisters. Her name is Josie. We have gotten started with her doing family history and she is doing so well. She has a 7 year old grandson that she is taking care of and is going through a hard time. She just likes to stay home alone, doesn't have money to do anything she says. We are some of the closest thing to family she has around still. We were able to talk to her about her brothers and sisters and her parents and step parents. Her Grandparents. She barely knows anything about them. She grew up on the street, has a broken family got baptized when she was dating a member, he ended up being abusive so she left him and now she is struggling to get by. About a month ago or so she was diagnosed with cancer. Even with all of this she is a happy person who finds purpose in raising her grandson that her daughter doesn't want. This is the kind of stuff that I need to recognize how lucky I am to meet someone like her.
Love
Elder Summers