Hi Mom!
Well, it was a pretty great week again! This time, it ended not as well. Usually Sunday determines if we had a good week or not because it determines my mood for Monday. But we had a lot of lessons this week and we met another most amazing individual named Nnameaka. He is from Nigeria. He is one of those people who you can just see the spiritual light that he possesess. I've not met very many people like that. We were walking to an appointment and he was sitting on his porch watching his family play on the sidewalk. We waved and I really wanted to stop and talk to him, but we didn't. I even told Elder Vargas right after that I wished we would have stopped. We went and visited some people and fortunately that road Nnameaka lives on was on our way back. So about an hour later we walked down the street and he was still there. So of course we stopped to talk to him. He was so nice to us. He told us that there was a church in his village in Nigeria and he thought that the members were an exceptional group of people. I think that missionaries had even talked to him before in Nigeria. So we gave him something to read and talked a little bit about what we do and then we set up an appointment for the next day. And best part - he was actually there waiting for us the next day at that hour. Nobody does that. We taught him three times last week and he accepted a baptismal date of September 8th. He told us he had no concerns but that he would pray to know what we had taught him is true. He understood everything, especially the message of the Restoration. Sadly, he couldn't come to church on Sunday but he said next week he would. Now we just need to get some members at his place so he has friends in the church. Because I know soon he will receive an answer to his prayers and he will be baptized. So that was our miracle new friend of the week. We still are teaching Jos and Manny and the Cassignol family (part member family). And we are still trying to teach Camille's family - the best family ever! But the parents are just never home except for Sunday afternoons so we can only visit them once a week if that.
The whole week was great, but our Sunday was kind of a let down. All of our investigators, less actives and recent converts couldn't/didn't come to church so we only had two investigators there with us. Half of the ward was gone too because it is vacation time for a lot of families. A lot of families have moved out lately, and we haven't gotten the new families yet. ACTUALLY, Fritz and Akim came, which is awesome. They only come about once every two months. Fritz is Courage's friend (Recent convert from 2012) and Akim is Courage's brother. Courage is the only one in his family who is active in the church, which makes his story even more amazing. I was really happy to have them there. Ange had to work last minute and so he couldn't pick up Johnson and of course his brother couldn't come. And he was supposed to pick up Manny. Ugh. Then Jos had a family/friend conflict right before church so she didn't come, and she was giving our investigator Aluel a ride. So that was a big smack in the face like an hour before church started. But Marshelle Cassignol and Edward came (investigators)! So that was great! But we were doing favors for all the teachers so we couldn't sit in any classes, so it was just a decent Sunday. We've got a good week ahead of us though!
Sounds like you had a good week! Good ole Indie bike rides, I remember the first few times you took her (it may still be this way) and she would tug till she busted her neck muscles. And it looks like Dad had some fun for the first time in a while! Or at least I hope he had fun.... What does the yard look like now? Oh how was Ritas? The gelatti with swedish fish ice is still the #1, but don't spill it on anything because it won't come off. I'm glad Colby is good - tell him he's a goon - I never had that problem from my golf swing! Either he is swinging funny or his golf bag is not on right. Or he's swinging too hard, haha.
To answer your questions:
1. Yes, I am enjoying him as my companion. He's in the great companion bubble, which is basically all of my companions! We're starting to get much better at teaching and the work in our area is accelerating. We enjoy each other, and seriously, we don't ever have conflicts. That's mostly why I don't write about him, and the fun/great things we do every day are just normal to me. He's good at keeping an easy going attitude like mine. All four of us in the apartment have a blast!
2. Being district leader is great - I am not really that great at it. But my district likes me and I try to help them the best I know. The cool part is that our area is a really good example area for the district (so hopefully they look up to us for that) and President Jeppson told me that I don't need to be the greatest at anything to be the greatest district leader... I just need to have sincere love and concern for my district. So I try to do that, and the other things come naturally.
3. Yes, I did. And thank you kindly! I'll find somewhere to go that is yummy. We went to Red Robin for my birthday - that was really good, but not as good as the teriyaki burgers I cooked for us at home. Oh, we have a grill that our awesome neighbor/landlord gave to us. His name is Bill, he lives above us. He's really cool.
4. Yes, last week I did. I haven't heard back yet, though. And I will. Our secret.
5. I can't think of much that I need. Just keep doing your thing! I might send some ties home that I don't wear that much. I'll switch you for a few. Like that one tie I am wearing in this picture I am going to attach. I want that one! It's nice.
6. Well I hope that I don't become a wierdo on my mission. If you ask me, I've learned to be a lot funnier and random from living with Elder Traasdahl. That helps me in the work. My letters aren't ever going to be super funny - I am not good at conveying satire in text, especially an email. Unless you want me to write the way I do to Clark and Reese. In that case, you probably wouldn't understand what I am saying. President Jeppson is serious, but he is always funny too. And he is mega passionate! So I don't think with him as the mission president that it is possible for me to be any different than I am now, because that's the way he is. He's the greatest. I might become more loving and passionate about things though.
Well I have to close up. Thanks for the email! How are Regan and Caitlin doing? What are they up to? I don't hear from them much. Tell Regan and Chase to get married or something. Hey, see if you can find Clark's home address for me. That would be neat.
Buenas. I love you!
Tab
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