Week 86: The Nerve!

We changed Logan's baptismal date to March 22nd because he and his grandpa wanted him to have a little more time to prepare and that's also his grandma's baptism anniversary! 

Yesterday we had about 20 people who should've been at church and only 8 people came but that's okay! EJ bore his testimony again and called us Elder Christensen and Elder Scott instead of Trevor and Mason haha. He's learning! We also bore our testimonies with him. Michael (our friend who got baptized in November) came too and he's doing so much better! He's working towards receiving the priesthood and going to the temple! 

I forgot to mention this last week, but last Sunday a member of our ward brought their friend, John, to church! We talked to him after sacrament meeting and gave him a picture of Jesus to use as a bookmark in his Book of Mormon. When we handed it to him he said, "Oh this is kick a$$!" hahaha. Definitely not the most appropriate thing to say about Jesus but it was still kind of funny. 

On Thursday we stopped by someone to set up a lesson and their babysitter answered the door. She was actually really interested in meeting so we got her number and then the parents (Mario & Joann) pulled up in the driveway. Joann was not interested in talking with us but we got Mario's number to set up a lesson in the future. When we got back to the car we found out that we got the babysitter's number wrong. We thought we would just call Mario real quick to ask if he could give it to us and Joann answered the phone. When we told her who it was she got really angry and said "Why did you do that? Did you think we were lying to you?" She thought we didn't believe they gave us the right number. Then she told us that she was going to block us and hung up. So that was kinda sad cause now we have no way of getting in contact with the babysitter... Hopefully one day she will run into missionaries again!

We met this lady named Patricia through someone we're teaching and she accepted the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith as a prophet immediately. She told us about all these signs she's seen in her life and that she's been searching for the truth for a long time. It was a little concerning how fast she accepted everything but also cool? I guess we'll see what happens as we continue to teach her!

It got pretty cold this last week but we continued to stop by people and be as effective as we could. We knocked on someone's door that we briefly talked to the week prior and an elderly man answered. He told us that Mary wasn't available and then said, "Y'all really got the NERVE to be out here?" At first we didn't really know what he meant and then he started talking about the cold weather. I told him, "It's worth it for Jesus!" It wasn't even below freezing but apparently it was an unreasonable temperature for us to be doing missionary work haha. Gotta love Texans. 

That reminds me of another night we were stopping by members after dark and on our way back to our car we started talking to a guy walking down the street. He kinda wanted to bash with us but he did tell us that he admires our dedication because we're the only church who has missionaries that continue to work after dark. The work never stops!

Y'all probably don't remember Tia from San Pedro, but she got baptized on Saturday! Elder Neddo and I were the first missionaries to put her on baptismal date. Due to some trials and set backs she wasn't baptized for awhile but I always had a feeling that she would be. And now she's a member of the church! It's cool to see how God gives his children so many opportunities to accept the gospel. 

While studying this past week I came across a talk called "Perfection Pending" by President Nelson. Here is a quote that stood out to me:

"The Lord taught, 'Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now … ; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.' We need not be dismayed if our earnest efforts toward perfection now seem so arduous and endless. Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love him and keep his commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, and dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure. It is the eternal perfection that God has in store for each of us. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I know for me that it can be very discouraging when I can't break a bad habit or continue to fall short, but I can also testify of the power of Christ's grace. I have seen it transform me. Sometimes the changes aren't noticeable at first but as we rely on Him, we will become perfected. 

- Elder Christensen

Pics

☆ Some random swastikas??

☆ The Longhorn Museum!