Friday, December 28, 2018

Week 22: Baptisms and Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! Hope you are enjoying today and I hope the snow isn't as crazy! It's supposed to get up to the 55s today and tomorrow, so no snow for Christmas for me! But, there are more bright blessings that happened this week and will happen this new week also, so let's get right into it!

Monday was pretty good. After emails and such we had a lesson with Elton and we brought Brother Morrison along and he helped out with the lesson which was great. Then after that we helped move a member family in so that was exciting. Gary didn't think I could bring the Fridge out by the Dolly, but I did, with some side view help because fridges of course, but I did it. Hahaha but overall Monday was pretty good.

Tuesday was a little slow, but it was good. We had District Council and Collierville brought a Sister who is about to leave on her mission soon. So that's cool! Then after we came back home and did our studies and planning. And then we contacted people, and got ready to go to a Branch Caroling event. We sang at a Nursing home across from the Penacostal building and the people loved it. It was a cool experience to do that again.

Wednesday was kinda slow also, but in the end it was pretty good. We had studies and planned out what we wanted to do, which we did a lot of contacting. We talked to a lot of people and to some referrals, less actives, and others to invite them out to things and just to see how they were doing. Then later we had a dinner appointment with the Beckerdites, but we couldn't get in contact with them, so we shot the gap and decided to try and go over at 5, and we did and it worked out! After we ate we started talking about the Plan of Salvation and they started asking a lot of questions, even the oldest who was a member was asking questions, so we gave them all pamphlets and told them to mark and question things if you don't understand and we would come back and explain it all haha, but they were asking some really great questions, it was cool to see how interested they are!

Thursday was pretty interesting. We did studies and planned on to help Gary out with things. So we got ready and we went out to help him. We ate and then we started working, on Brandon's Truck. So back in October, he got rear-ended pretty hard, and I thought the truck was totaled. Well, after we put in shocks and other things, and a good battery charge, it started working! And then he decided to take a drive around the road for a little. I thought it was hilarious seeing a half truck driving around Lamar, Mississippi. Then we had dinner at Mockys and we got a lot of referalls to check out some houses around where they lived, we were pretty excited about that, so we will be trying that out this week.

Friday we did exchanges because we had 2 Baptismal Interviews! So we took President Hull with us because we weren't sure if we would need a member for a less active we were going to meet earlier. So we went to Elton's, and the Zone Leaders were already there interviewing Elton! After the interview we talked with him for a little and then me and Elder Nelson left to Olive Branch. Him and Elder Jorgensen got moved to Olive Branch, where Elder Jorgensen served before Southaven, so it was a half Whitewash. So we get there and they had plans to go tracting with 2 Priests in the ward. We pray, find a road, and we went out and started tracting there. I went with one of the priests and we didn't have a lot of luck, but we got some service opportunities for Olive Branch and we handed out a Book of Mormon to a curious College Student! It was really cool talking with her, but overall you can say it was successful on our end, in the end giving away a Book of Mormon and a Restoration Pamphlet. Then we came back to the apartment and then we got a text from Holly Springs telling us that Mike is at his work ready for the interview, so we get to his work and Elder Nelson interviews him and he passed! I'm really excited for him because he's come a long way! He gets baptized this coming Friday. Then after the priests told us that we should go to Pizza Hut where they worked and they would pay for our dinner. So that was really nice of them. I had a personal pizza and some really hot wings, it was good. Then we sat in the car about to do some contacting and then we got a message saying that apparently we were late for a dinner appointment. We were like oh crap, so we got over there and had dinner with them, they were really nice and told us not to worry about it haha, but it was a really cool family with a lot of talents. I was able to eat all of that stuff too, thankfully haha. Then we got back to the apartment and I helped Elder Nelson do some Zone Leader stuff, so that was cool.

Saturday was a long but rewarding day. We got up really early and packed all my gear and we drove up to Memphis and did Toys for Tots service project, and a lot of missionaries were there helping out, we were grabbing bags with the numbers called out and throwing them down the line, we made it a lot of fun. We did it for like 5 hours. Then after we drove to Byhalia and Un exchanged and drove back to Holly Springs and started getting ready for Elton's Baptism. Then Brother Roswell went with us early to set up for the baptism. And the baptism was really good! Nice enough the Sisters in Collierville had a baptism as well earlier that day and the members left us treats for our baptism so that was nice for them to do that. So the water apparently got cold after we refilled it and Elton doesn't like cold water haha, but we were able to do the ordinance. But yay, another one in! So exciting!

Sunday was pretty good! We had a Musical Program and I talked about Frankincense and what the symbolism was to it. It's amazing how the little things makes a huge difference in the Gospel. It just shows how true it is and how much I can't deny any of it. Then after church we got a ride up to Bartlett for the Musical Tribute, and that was really powerful. I cried a little a few times during it again. I love singing, it really speaks what words cannot usually. That's why I've always been listening to music, because it helps me explain myself a lot. Yay for music.

This week was just more miracles and blessings. And I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas Eve and I hope you all have a Merry Christmas as well! I love you all so very much, and I miss y'all. My prayers are with each of you.

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-The half truck
-A Deer Gary killed
-Cat fits and sits in Animal Shelter
-Elton's Baptism!







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