This last
week we started it off with an exchange to Coushatta. I stayed with
Elder Hunt and Elder Ross took Elder Chase to Stonewall. Elder Hunt is a
great missionary and we had some good experience together. Everyone in
Coushatta was actually really nice and they all wanted to talk with us.
It was great! My favorite experience was when we found Alex and his
family. After finding no success contacting less-actives, I suggested
that we should tract a little bit. The first house we came to had a
young man outside named Alex. He is 17 years old and invited us to sit
down with him and his grandfather. We talked about Jesus Christ and his
Gospel and introduced the Book of Mormon to them. They liked it,
accepted it and even were interested in learning more. Then the Grandma
peeked out the door and yelled, "y'all staying for some biscuits!" I
yelled back, "We love biscuits!" So not only did we have an awesome
lesson, but we even got a good ole' southern meal. It was probably the
best biscuits and gravy I have ever had. It was so shocking to me to
think this family invited us right in and fed us like that, not even
knowing who we were. Would we do the same? Just a question to ask
ourselves!
We had lots of service opportunities
as always. I think it is helping me lose some weight too, so that is a
plus. Because of the Red River flooding, volunteers were filling sand
bags and giving them to people to try and help with all the flooding.
They asked us to help fill people's trucks full of sandbags when they
pulled up. We worked for 4 hours and got really burnt by the sun!
Luckily it turned tan the next day and we even got a free meal out of
helping! It actually wasn't that bad. The one that killed me was digging
a trench for this guy in our ward. We only finished a quarter of it,
and we worked for 5 hours. What stunk was that we had to make it level
all the way across so it took forever. I was tired for sure, Elder Ross
and I were done after that service job.
Elder
Ross and I had a wonderful week last week with Will and the baptism.
This week was a little bit slower and a lot of finding. We continued to
try potential's and tract as much as possible. We really have had a hard
time finding people that really want to listen to our message. Everyone
"already has a church" or "I am saved." We did find one person though.
Her name is Dee. Elder Ross and Chase met her at Sonic on exchanges. She
remembered Elder Ross and me from somewhere. She said "I remember you,
but you had a different guy with you. A tall blonde with a big smile
that waved at me!" Sounds like me:) We had a wonderful lesson with her
last Friday and she really understood the Restoration. We have a return
appointment for this Wednesday, we pray it goes well and we might
actually get to teach her whole family! She is 18 years old, lives with
her parents, has an older brother and younger sister.
We
also had a change up in the Stonewall Ward. We got a new Bishop! Bishop
Simpson is our new Bishop! He is a really great guy and will help the
ward out a lot. Plus it helps that he likes us :)
Well
another transfer has come and gone. Sis Dalebout is going home. We were
sad to see her go. We will have a new member of our district now. Her
name is Sis Richards! Elder Ross and I are excited for another transfer
together. I know that we will continue to find success as we work hard
and continue to be obedient. Find joy in all that you do. That is one
thing that I have noticed in a lot of missionaries. They can never find
the joy. I can't imagine spending everyday out here not having any fun
or smiling. It would drive me insane! I promise you can find some sort
of joy in whatever you do, it all starts with your perspective and
vision. Continue to find the joy and keep on smiling. Life is better
that way! Have a great week y'all, I appreciate the love and support.
:)
Love,
Elder Mason Rankin :)
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