3-28-16
We went out to eat with a less active lady and her
mentally handicapped son. We went to a seafood restaurant (The Mayflower) and I
had fried catfish! Her son, Jake is such a funny guy! He cracks me up with the
stuff he says. Before that, we went and played some tennis with Frank. When we
got back to the apartment, we went out to proselyte. We rode our bikes by the
church and there was someone sitting in their truck just in the parking lot. It
was a less active member. We talked to him for awhile. He's going through a lot
right now including a divorce. I'm glad that we saw him and was able to talk to
him. My throat has been bothering me quite a bit. I hope I'm not getting
sick...
3-29-16
Yep, I'm sick... We went out for awhile, but I just
didn't have any energy. Every chance I could get, I just laid down. My throat
has a bunch of white spots including one on my uvula! So it was not a very good
day. The appointments we had, cancelled. They cancelled without telling us, so
we rode out there to be disappointed.
3-30-16
We went out a saw a less active outside her house
reading. We stopped to visit with her for a little bit. We talked about the
importance of the BoM and committed her to read it. She was a really sweet lady.
She offered us a bunch of snacks for us to take. After that, we biked over five
miles straight one way to a person's home whole requested a Bible. They weren't
home, so we rode all the way back.
When we got back into town, we saw another less
active and visited with her for a bit. She doesn't talk about the church very
much if at all, so we just talked to her. I feel like she will open up sooner or
later! We just have to show that we value her more than just getting her back to
church. We have to be there for her. We have exchanges tomorrow with the Cheraw
Elders. Elder Griffin had to get emergency transferred to Columbia because he
has to get surgery on his finger. He broke it playing catch with a football.
Haha and the Cheraw doctor gave him a brace that didn't even cover the broken
area. So it made it worse. He could definantly sue for malpractice.
3-31-16
After DDM, I went to Cheraw with E. Webb. We went and
taught a guy that I referred to them because E. Rose and I had taught him in
Hartsville with his daughter. The lesson went really well. We put him on date!
We also got two referrals and contacted them, then set set up appointments to
come by another day. There was also, a Bible referral we met with and we put her
on date as well! We had a really good day, but I am exhausted now. My throat is
killing me, so that's the downside... We ended the night with a victory frosty
from Wendy's!
4-1-16
We finished up exchanges and I got back to
Hartsville. On our way back, Bro. Edwards took us to the Society Hill LDS
Cemetery. It is where the first LDS church in South Carolina was built! There
were all kinds of names that still run in the churches here. I really feel like
poop today, so I decided to finally give in and go to the Doctor. Bro. Haney
picked us up and said that I don't need to be riding the bike today. Haha he
took me to the doctors office and picked us up when we got out. We waited about
an hour and a half to get in. I went back finally and they swabbed my throat for
strep. We waited around for the results for that. The test came out negative and
they said we could go... I said; "Well there's something wrong with my throat,
so can I just have someone check it?" Which is what I asked for initially. So we
waited longer until someone could check my throat. Sure enough, the lady said I
have over 5 ulcers and they're pretty big. The black lady doctor said; "OH LAWD!
Don't those hurt?!" Haha so she ended up giving me antibiotics to treat strep
because she thinks that's what it is. She prescribed some stuff called
"Lidocaine Viscous" for the pain which is a nasty gel like stuff that makes my
tongue and throat numb! We missed a dinner appointment because of the long wait,
but they dropped off some awesome steaks anyway!
4-2-16
Conference starts today and I am super stoked! We
called it the Super Bowl for missionaries. David A. Bednar had such a good talk.
He talked about how we can always continue to retain a remission of sins. He
touched on baptism, the Holy Ghost and the Sacrament. I thought it was funny
that he said you might as well baptize a "bag of sand" without proper authority.
With sacrament, we shouldn't just go through the motions, but prepare ourselves
with a broken heart and contrite Spirit.
The priesthood session was so good as well! They have
really talked about being worthy of priesthood power and being a good
father/husband (in the future). Stephen Owen had a really good talk about being
a follower of Christ and a leader. He stated; "The greatest leaders have always
been the greatest followers." He talked about how Christ was a follower of his
father and is also a leader. That talk has really stuck with me. I have such a
great appreciation for General Conference. Especially, on my mission. We have
the amazing opportunity to listen to prophets and apostles called of God.
There's nothing better than that! I am so honored to be able to sustain them as
the Lord's servants and church leaders.
4-3-16
The Super Bowl continues! Another theme that I have
found is that they are really talking about temples and the ordinances that
follow. We now have 150 temples that are open. There will always be temple work
to do! The church is growing a lot and that is such an awesome thing. I know
that this is the only completely true church on the face of the earth. There are
truths to some, but they lack the priesthood authority which is vital. I am so
honored to be a servant of the Lord and to be on my mission right now. I don't
know what I would do without this gospel.
