This last week was an interesting but not a bad week at all! Earlier on in the week we had an exchange so I was with Elder Burningham for a whole day. Burningham and I have so much fun together! We started out the morning by doing service for one of their investigators named John Frisk. He was a really nice guy and really funny! Just like Grandpa pretty much. We raked some leaves and picked up some stuff and then he took us out to lunch. Five Guys Burger's and Fries! I like going there a lot because it takes me back to the one in Idaho that I always went to, plus all the fresh cut fries come from farms in Idaho :) Later on that day we did some tracting and visited a less-active named Aaron. They had run into him at Wal-mart, he wanted to come back to church and wanted the missionaries to teach him. Really funny college kid, but one of the greatest lessons I have ever taught. The spirit was so strong, it helped that I was in a companionship that didn't have any contention. Plus he committed to reading the Book of Mormon and hasn't read it in like 5 years! Later on that day we went over to the Hinton's and taught a lesson in their home. Another powerful lesson about faith, and the trials of our faith. We were able to come into a home that already had a good spirit and then make it even more powerful, leaving that family with good feelings and a smile. Definitely was a successful day!
Later on in the week we helped in a funeral for this older lady in our ward. She also has a daughter in our ward and 2 grandsons. The funeral lunch and viewing of the casket was at our building so of course we got volunteered to help set up and clean it all up. There were over 200 in the chapel and it was the first time in forever that we needed to open the overflow and set-up chairs. Then after they had the lunch and we had to come back and set up even more tables then we had up before because more people showed up for the lunch then expected. I thought we were going to run out of food, but no. People just kept showing up with more and more food and putting it on the table and of course everyone stacked their plate high. People were just bringing in 12 packs of soda in and setting them on the table because we ran out of drinks. Then this lady came in with 200 pieces of fried chicken and all this other beans and rice and noodles and stuff! Some of the best fried chicken I have ever eaten! It was such a great experience and site to see. We got to chat with tons of people and set up a lot of appointments to come and teach them! I met a ton of cool people and loved talking to each of them. We even saw one of our investigators, kia, that we haven't been able to get in contact with. She told us that they moved so we got the new address and get to go see her again! Afterwards the family helped clean up and this little girl named Nika was helping me with every chair and table. It was so cute because she just kept following me around and was attached to me. She wasn't even as tall as my leg, she had braids with beads in them and when she ran, the beads would make a noise. Seriously one of the cutest little girls ever and then when she had to leave with her family she came and said good-bye to me! So cute!!
Yesterday was also a highlight to my week. Mercedes Star, a young woman in our ward, came up to me in church and asked if I would give a blessing to her boyfriends grandfather. They aren't members so it was an awesome time to give them an opportunity to feel the spirit and see the priesthood work right in front of them. One of the greatest blessings I have ever given! The spirit instantly entered the room and allowed me to say everything that came to my heart that this man needed to hear. After I finished, Mercedes was crying, her boyfriend was watering up and I just felt so full of the spirit. This young man had felt the spirit and I knew he was feeling it then. We are going to try and talk to Mercedes and see him again because she said he is interested in learning more about our church. Such a wonderful experience, I won't forgot it. Definitely a testimony builder to the priesthood and the power of the spirit.
After the blessing, we went to the Sieverts house for dinner. We had breakfast dinner and a wonderful time with them. It's just Sis Sievert and her son Corbin so they enjoyed the company. Corbin is 17 and is heading to YCA (some military thing) so we needed to have one more dinner with him before we left! For some reason he really loves me a lot. He always wants to talk to me and tell me about all the different girlfriends he has. He is pretty funny :) I gave the spiritual thought, and I felt that he really needed it. I taught about the armor of god and even got to use the little lego man that Dad gave me for Christmas! He loved it and wants one just like it for his mission. Just a wonderful opportunity to be in their home and bring the spirit even stronger there.
Looking forward to another week here in Hattiesburg. I have come to appreciate it a lot. I have found out over the past couple weeks that it is the place to be. Every missionary wants to be here and I am in the center of it! Thank you for all the support and the wonderful letters y'all send me. A letter in the mission has the worth of gold, because it means someone is thinking about you and they haven't forgotten about you :) I hope y'all are enjoying the weather and enjoying life wherever you may be! The weather here goes hot, humid, freezing cold and then back again. I'm still loving the mission so much even though I miss y'all so much. Find the joy in the journey. Love y'all, have a great week!
Keep on smiling!
Love,
Elder Rankin :)
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