Alma 26:27

This week was just crazy and feels like it was a month long. I'm not getting transferred, so i'll be here with Elder Keller (the new district leader) until january!

Monday we went and helped the old couple we gave a blessing to move from one house to another. It was way sweet because they are super nice and love us.

Tuesday we had interviews with President Jensen most of the day. He's a sweet guy, and his wife is a sweet heart. After that we went to John and Allie's to meet with them. They had read the Book of Mormon, but were picking it apart word by word, and asking a million questions about it. So we just tried to answer their questions and move onto the lesson but there were so many questions there was no time. It was really dumb. The spirit WAS NOT there, and at the end he told us that they "just aren't buying it. If we have any more questions we'll give you a call." So that's extremely lame, and it really bothered me a lot. I was really really sad, and felt like it was my fault, (because partly it was).

Wednesday i was still feeling AWFUL because of John and Allie from the moment I woke up. But after studies and some prayer it got better. We went and contacted and no one would answer and nothing really happened until we found this sweet girl that was interested, but she's single so we gave her to the sisters. We went out to a members house and helped them with their yard because it had been dug up from replacing pipes, and we moved a ton of their stuff into their barn. When we were finished, they had prepared a full fledged Seder. (meal of the Passover for Jews), and it was crazy weird and cool. They had silver platters and little silver shot glasses for grape juice, and a real script just like when the Savior had it. It was pretty legit. Really quite interesting and cool to see how the Savior fulfilled every "jot and tittle" of the Law of Moses. I had lamb, and it was a little funky but I liked it. She gave us souvenirs and stuff to keep and remember, and it was neat!

Thursday, I gave a training in District meeting, then went on exchanges with Elder Barger. We taught the Restoration to one of our potentials and it was really sweet, but at the end of the lesson, after accepting a baptismal invite, they still said that they "will call us when they find out". So that's really lame. After that we ate some pizza with a Recent Convert so that was fun.

Friday, we were running a little late to an appointment and when we got there he wasn't available anymore so we had to reschedule. But in that free time, in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY, (awful time to knock doors), we had no other choice but to knock doors. So that's what we did! Said a prayer, and started going. NO ONE answered their doors. We knocked and knocked and NO ONE would answer. Then this guy came out of a building and was like, "Hey! are you Mormons?" ...ya "well i'm a dwindling catholic and i would love to meet with you guys. Do you meet with people and like teach and stuff?" yes.. that's pretty much exactly what we do (i said in my mind.) So the Lord gave us that guy. That was neat. He can't meet until after Thanksgiving, but still a blessing. The VERY NEXT DOOR we knocked on, was this man from Spain, he wanted us to come in and teach him right then, but our next appointment was in 10 mins, so we asked if we could come back later. He said he didn't know if he would have time, but we still had to go to the other appointment so we got his info and rushed to the appointment. It fell through, so we ran back to the Spanish man's apartment and he let us in. Very long story short, He is going through the hardest time in his life, and he told us so. He's having problems with his wife, financial, and emotional problems. He is extremely humble, and AMAZINGLY prepared. He's super awesome, and i feel so bad for him. After the opening prayer, he was crying, and We started teaching the Resto, (because he expressed how he thought some truths taught in churches have been changed.) and it was not going well. So we started to teach about the Atonement, and the Book of Mormon. It was extremely spiritual, tears all around. He thanked us and promised us he would read, and asked if we would hug him. When i hugged him, he said it felt like hugging a brother.

I am extremely humbled and grateful to be help him in his greatest time of need. Even if it was just to love him and help him not make irrational and permanent decisions. I know that the magnitude and effect is still not in perspective for me, and what we did to help him, but from what i do know, I am very grateful the Lord trusted us with loving him that day.

That night we tracted again, and on one door, the door across the hall thought we had knocked on theirs, so we split up, (me teaching one door, elder keller turned around and teaching the other). it was sooo funny and sooo sweet. I didn't really think about it until after and realized how sick that was. haha

Saturday we helped the sisters get everything ready for their baptism. He's a tall guy, and so it took 4 times (finally with them kneeling in the font) to get him completely submersed. He said he felt like the Lord was saying, "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to do this?" and he was just like "YES! I WANT TO DO THIS!" haha so awesome. That night was stake conference, which was centered on missionary work, and it was really awesome.

Sunday we had stake conference again, and we went and visited some Less Actives, and had dinner at a members.

I know that the Lord is testing me, building me, and putting me through a refiners fire. This week was really tough, and i'm still trying to work through it all with the Lord. But I know that if we keep working, praying, and being obedient, then we will finally get some success.

-Elder Hollan