4-18-16
PDay was a lot of fun today! We went to a new big tennis center in
Florence. We played the zone leaders. They struggle when it comes to tennis...
Haha Frank was joking and making fun of them. He said that they just need to
stick to handing out copies of the Book of Mormon. After that, we went back to
H-ville and played a little more tennis with Frank and Jody. We played some
doubles. Then, he took us to get groceries. He bought us some ribs!
When it was time to proselyte, we went up ton a ways to go watch a kid play
baseball. We have been teaching him and his mom. He supposedly, had a game
today, but there was no game going on! That was kind of frustrating...
4-19-16
We had DDM today and I prepared a training/testimony of something called
the South Carolina Initiative. The mission president proposed it to the stake
awhile back and they're implementing it. It is an effort to get members and
missionaries working together for strengthening wards through ordinations,
temple ordinances and baptisms. We are focusing on less actives and part member
families. So, I talked about how it has already affected our area. Then, we
talked about using faith as a principle of power! We are setting the goal to get
three baptisms by the end of this next transfer.
After DDM, Bro. Anderson took us out to lunch. He took us to a really nice
Thai restaurant called the "Bow-Thai." We talked a lot about his mission and he
told us the story about the cat food sandwiches! Later one, we went to a lady's
house to teach her and she gave us free haircuts while we taught her! We had
another appointment where a member went out teaching with us and the guy stood
us up… Then, we left to give a lady a blessing. She is a hoarder, so we couldn't
even find a place to sit down!
4-20-16
It is starting to heat up quite a bit! We stopped by the Barefoot's .
They're an older couple who are the parents of Tammy Barefoot. Taking care of
Jake so we got to see him! He was happy to see us. After dinner, we had Ward
coordination. We showed up in jeans and a T-shirt. They were surprised! Must've
thought we are going apostate. Haha but we had service right after. We helped
the young men with a lady from the ward's yard.
4-21-16
We went and saw Dequan today and talk to him for a while. We talked about
the BoM. He's been reading a little bit of it! We met with a couple people after
that. Then, we stopped by a less active. After we talked for a bit, the Spirit
prompted me to get to the bottom of why she's not going to church anymore. It
was really intense and the Spirit was so strong in there. She was offended by
someone in the ward and said that the Lord was there and understands why she
doesn't go. I was strictly following the spirit… I asked her, "If the Lord was
with us right now, would He tell you to go to church? Because He is here." Then,
the Spirit just filled the room. That didn't come from me! It was really neat.
We were being pretty bold because we were prompted to be. We proceeded to tell
her that the sacrament is a saving ordinance. We used scriptures and testified.
I was sad when she said that she didn't care where she ends up after this life,
but can't go back to church. Dang agency… Now she doesn't want to see us again.
I feel bad that she didn't listen to the Spirit and follow it. I called it out
and said that I know she feels the Spirit right now. I feel bad, but I knew that
we were following the Spirit. She needed to hear it no matter how much she
didn't want to. We met with her quite a bit before that and we needed to make
sure she knows our purpose as missionaries.
After that, we came home for dinner. I had stuck some ribs in the crockpot
earlier and they were amazing. The meat fell off the bone so easy.
4-22-16
We had exchanges today with the zone leaders from Florence. Elder Dillree
came here with me to Hartsville. Bro. Harvey took us to Florence and got us some
smoothies before the exchange. It poured rain there. We got out of it when we
got to Darlington and Hartsville we started biking and it dumped on us. The
raindrops were huge and we couldn't even see. Frank's friend Ronnie asked if we
wanted to get out of the rain for a bit, so we followed him across the street to
his house. We talked to him until the rain died down for a bit. We couldn't
catch anyone at home. Eventually, it was dinner time. We threw our clothes in
the dryer and then, had to leave and go to an appointment. We taught a lady
named Deloris about coming to church she's a funny lady. She said, "listen to yo
black mama!" Haha. We had a member go with us. We were going to see some less
actives too, but they cancelled... We stopped by a couple potentials that
weren't home, so we went and got milkshakes. Then, it poured on us again. Our
shoes were just full of water all day.
4-23-16
We finished up exchanges today. Elder Dillree is planning to go to Weber
State! That's probably where I would like to go. He thinks that I'm going to
stay in Hartsville after transfers and become the district leader. So we will
see what the Lord has in store for me. We went to go see a less active member
and talked to her for a little while. Then, we went over to a potential's house
where her daughter was having a birthday party. They had a bouncy house obstacle
course, so Elder Rose and I went through it of course! Haha. It was a lot of fun
and they gave us a bunch of snacks!
4-24-16
Church went pretty well today. We fasted today for our District goal. There
was quite a bit of less actives at church! Tammy Barefoot was there and so were
the Johnsons. They are the people we helped put the flooring in.
-Elder Mitchell
