2 Nephi 31:20

Iowa is really quite a bit colder than Utah when the wind blows. I mean, honestly, when it hits you straight in the face then you kind of wish you were dead. It's awesome! haha

This week was great! felt like utah because earlier in the week it was WAY cold, then got warmer, all the snow melted, and now it's FREEEEEZING with lots of snow! yay! (the snow here sucks. and just gives the wind weapons to throw at your face.)

 

Tuesday we put some of that wheat in the huge trashcans in plastic bags, and Elder Keller needed a haircut really bad so we went and got a haircut. While I was waiting for him, I started talking to this lady about life. We ended up talking about the Gospel, and what she was looking for in a church (just so happens she was looking for a church.. hmm... ;) ). She wants a family oriented church, and I gave her a Proclamation to the World and she just loved it. We got a long really well. Just so happens she's not in our area, so we had to give her info to someone else. Then we taught this sweet less active guy who loves guns. Then we taught this other inactive guy who lives with his girlfriend, and we just answered a ton of her questions and taught her. It was pretty neat.

 

Wednesday we had a church tour with one of our grace-lovers and a member family, it was... less than good. BUT that night we went to find a new investigator, and we prayed, and I felt prompted to go to this apartment building we've never been to. Only one light was on in the WHOLE building, so we were like, eh. maybe not. We thought of other places to go, but the thought came to me, What if it's that ONE person that's here. There's no way i can deny that prompting. We went, and ENDED UP TEACHING HIM A 10 MINUTE RESTO! It was way dope! he heard about the church 2 weeks earlier and wanted to learn more. He's muslim, and so we can't really pursue him or invite him to baptism (its dangerous for them to convert), so he will call us if he wants to learn more.

 

Thursday we did a lot of service and found out that we can do service in a butterfly house and just talk to people. So we are anxiously pursuing that. A lesson fell through and we ended up going to visit the Widow of the man who died last week. She's having a really hard time, and it was way good to go see her.

 

Friday, we did service for a while, and prayed a lot and were directed to some sweet potential investigators.

 

Saturday we had a meeting all day, but I DROVE FOR MY FIRST TIME ON MY MISSION to go pick up some other missionaries. It was easy. haha. Then there was a ward christmas party, and there were tons of non members and it was sick! there are some pictures on facebook (i havent seen them) of us, if you can somehow find them.

 

This week was way awesome. I love all of you! thank you so much for everything!

-Elder Hollan

It's Cold

It's freezing cold in Iowa. When the wind blows, it kills. It snowed, and was blowy, and it was freezing. But later in the week it warmed up and im wearing a short sleeve right now. Sounds like utah, but the wind is frigid here.

This week was pretty interesting! not really too busy because of Thanksgiving and everyone was out of town or not in the mood. Which is pretty unfortunate when you're a missionary.

Monday night we had a dinner with a member but when we showed up, they had totally forgot. The wife went sprinting for the waffle iron (pretty good idea) but we were able to get out of it and tell them we were just stopping by. hahahhaaha

Tuesday, some members were given trash cans full of wheat and rice and beans for food storage. 8 huge trashcans full. We drove up to where they wre with the members and the members were surprised to find out that they were legit full size (the kind you put on the curb) trashcans with one huge plastic bag full of crap. They thought that it was gonna weigh like 100 lbs or something. hahahahaha. We tried to pick one up (elder keller and I) and ALMOST got it. I think we could've done it if we didnt want a hernia. but we ended up taking an old wooden fence, some cinder blocks, and jimmy rigging a ramp to get into the back of the truck. It was nuts. and incredibly heavy. to unload them, we didn't have the fence anymore, so we thought we would just empty some of the can out and then be able to lift it. Scooping endless amounts of wheat into plastic bags with a subzero (serious) wind biting at your bare flesh is not easy, fun, or what i signed up for. It was incredibly cold, and i thought my skin was going to break and fall in with the wheat to make some really interesting bread. finally our brains turned on and we ended up half sliding/half dropping the cans off the tail bed so we could just roll them. woohoo. they are estimating the cans weighed about 600lbs. NEAT. SO FUN. That night I went on exchanges and ran around and taught a sweet lesson to the guy from spain that is having a really hard time.

Wednesday we found out that the homeless dude was gonna have to move to des moines to live with friends because you can only stay at the shelter for 2 weeks. We also had some knocking, and ate lunch with a sweet less active guy and dinner with some of my favorite members.

Thursday we made some lesson plans, and went to some members to eat thanksgiving. Played some board games, and ping pong, and ate a lot. It was really good. We went and spent the night with a less active guy who was all alone, and we juggled and ate and had a good time with him. He's a genius, and makes me feel like it.

Friday we had meetings, planned, and some typical knocking.

Saturday might have been the worst day ever. We had a lesson fall through in the morning, walked to city hall to do some service but they were closed, got a flu shot (that wasnt bad i kind of liked it) and went to the old people we gave blessings to and found out that he had died that morning. did some knocking and found a lot of asians who believe in science. hahaha taught a lesson to a sweet family (that was good. and he made good pancakes) and went to teach the guy from spain but he told us that he talked to his wife and she doesn't want him to investigate anymore. overall, a no-show, a death, and a drop. hahaha

That's pretty much it, but I'm very thankful for every one of you and everyone who loves and helps me. Thank you for the support.

Most of all, I am thankful for the Atonement and the Savior, and the Gospel in my life, and the opportunity I have to share the blessings and happiness that comes with it.

-Elder Hollan