Week 39: The End of Pine Bluff

Hello! How are you all doing? Hope you all are doing well! This week has been up and down, but it was a learning experience. And I got transfer news, I'm getting transferred to Trenton, TN! I was honestly not expecting to hear that I was going to be moved, but here I am now, packing! But let's get right into the week!

Monday after emails we went and had a Bible Study with a older couple, and gave them brownies too. Then we went back to the apartment, and found out that our friend that wanted to go to the Temple so bad ended up having to cancel due to appointments. We were really bummed out about it. But, he still wanted us to come by and such, so that's all good. Then we did some Online Proselyting.

Tuesday was pretty good, and pretty rough. We had a lot of contact attempts that fell through sadly, but we had a pretty good visit for a little with Kimberly. She read the chapter and she started reading in the start of the Book of Mormon and marking things up! We thought that was pretty awesome! And we came in contact with a former the Sister previously taught, and had a cool discussion with him. Then after a while we had more failed contact attempts, and then visited a less active member and he appreciated the visit. He's a super cool guy. Then we came back home and had dinner and companionship Study. We didn't have the Bible study that day because the family had family over so we couldn't do it.

Wednesday we tried to get a family to go with the temple with us, but that fell through. Then we went out and talked with people. We read the Book of Mormon with one person we are trying to work with, and we read 2 Nephi 31. He really liked it a lot and learned a lot from it. He's excited to read and understand more about the Book of Mormon. Then we stopped by Theresa for a little bit and talked with her for a while. Then we had Book of Mormon Study Class and ended the day there. 

Thursday was literally s.l.o.w. We had kinda like no time to go Proselyting. We had District Council and talked about working with Members and all that. Then we had District Lunch at Chili's, and that was really good. Then after we had Trinity Village and played Bingo again, and that was fun. Then after we did Companionship Study and then had Ward Coordination. Then we came back home.

Friday we went out with Brother Turley and Brother Ramey, and we visited Theresa and a less active family. Then we came back and helped out at Trinity Village with a Easter Party and that was really fun. A lot of people there know about the Church, and they really like us. It was cool to see! Then we came back and had dinner at a members home, then we grabbed Elder Hormans gear and drove to Altheimer and started exchanges, and I was with Elder Probst here in Pine Bluff!

Saturday we went to Trinity Village again and played Bingo with them. Then after we had lunch and went out and talked with people. We visited Brother Beck for a while and talked about Hunting and about Easter. Then after we went and had a lesson with Tim and taught most of the Plan of Salvation. Sadly he had to go but it was a really good lesson. And then we talked with a few more people, and then visited Theresa for a little bit, she is an amazing person. After we came back home, did studies, posted on Facebook, and got Transfer news, and Elder Probst got his email, and I noticed that I wasn't getting it. So I checked his thing and I saw that I wasn't there, and I was in 15 minute anxiety moment on where the crazy crap I'm going. Then I finally got it and I got called to Trenton, TN. I was super surprised that I was getting transferred. And we had Hamburgers. 

Sunday sadly no one we are working with came to Church, but we had less actives who came. It was cool! Then we did a few things, took photos with the Birdsongs(such a sweet couple) and had a lesson with Bill! He is super cool and loves learning about the Book of Mormon. He's really cool. Then we had dinner at the Rogne's, hid Easter eggs for one of the daughters son, and took photos with them. They are an awesome family. Then we came home, finished Weekly Planning, did studies, and ended the day.

This week was a little rough, because we didn't see a ton of success, but it's ok. We learn, and we grow. It's apart of life. And we become better each and everyday. I'm thankful I had the time to serve here in Pine Bluff, and for the people that I met. I'm excited to serve in Trenton and to meet the people I need to meet there. This week, the 25th, will make 9 months since I've been out. It's crazy how much time has gone. But, I've learned so much. Thank you, each of you, for who you are.

May God be with you all, and know that I am here. I love you all!

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-District Lunch
-Me and Elder Probst
-The Pine Bluff Ward Missionaries/Funny photo
-Me and the Birdsongs (by the cars)
-Me and the Rogne's (House in background)

Week 38: Big Storm and Small Steps!

Hey everyone! Hope you had a good week! This week felt like a long week really, but a lot happened, and it was really good. Let's get to it.

Monday after emails and such we went to Theresa's and taught her a few things. And after a little we decided to push off the baptism for a while, due to a lot of things that popped up, we were sad but we know it'll work out. Then we came home and ended the day.

Tuesday was pretty ok. We taught the Plan of Salvation to someone on her porch, we did the same thing with her the week before with the Restoration. A lot of our appointments fell through, which was sad, then we went to the Turleys and had Dinner and had the Come, Follow Me lesson. Then we came back and did some Area Book cleanup. That was about it.

Wednesday was actually pretty good. We went out and the first person we talked to we ended up teaching the Plan of Salvation to them and she really appreciated it. She wants us to come back and teach her more about the Gospel. Then we walked around some more and handed out a Book of Mormon, talked to a lot of cool people. That was a lot of most of the day. Then we had Book of Mormon Study Class and then we came home and had dinner.

Thursday we had Zone Conference and it was one of the best actually. I learned a lot about prayer and a lot of other things that helps out with planning. It was pretty awesome actually. Then we came back home and had Ward Correlation. It was a good day, but that was all that really happened.

Friday we had Weekly Planning and started implementing the new Planning techniques and it seems to make planning a lot easier now, it's awesome! Then we went to Trinity Village and played Bingo again. Then we walked around Theresas, and found a really cool person who wants us to come back. It was awesome! Then we came back home, had dinner, and we did a Zone Zoom Call.

Saturday the weather was CRAZY. We had a huge storm come through, and we went to a funeral for someone we are working with. His dad died and he invited us to come. This is now my 3rd funeral I've been to in my life... And all 3 of them were on my mission XD. Then after the funeral we went and talked to a few people. Then we went to the Andersons and talked with Fransisco for a while. It's been bumpy for him but we've been helping out a lot and it's awesome to see the bond get tighter and helping him out in those things. During that time the power went out a couple of times as we were talking cause of the storm. But it was fine haha. Then we came back home.

Sunday sadly no one we were working with came to church. We were actually doing a Zone Fast that day to help gain the faith to find the elect in our mission. But it's always worth it. As we were out after church, we weren't able to meet with a member, but we were able to meet with someone we met briefly a few weeks ago. I can't remember if I told y'all or not, but he stopped us and told us about his family history. He had family who were members and took the Pioneer trek TWICE. He wanted to feed us and we left our number at his house. We didn't hear from him so we stopped by and it was an awesome visit! Long story short, we he taking us up to Memphis and we are taking a tour of the Memphis Temple with him and he's really excited for it. I am too. I miss it. And after we talked with a few people and talked with Theresa for a while. She actually got a job so she sadly wasn't able to come to church. Then after we came home, then later to be picked up by a member and left to go give a blessing to someone, which was really good. Then we got tickets for Tuesday. Then we came back home.

This week was a lot of things learned, and I'm thankful to be out on my mission. I hope you all have an awesome week.

May God be with you all, and know that I am here. I love you all!

Elder Braxton Hotton


Attachments:

-A random photo of me and Elder Horman

Week 37: Conference Fun!

Hey everyone! Hope you had a fabulous Conference Weekend! I really enjoyed this year's Conference, so much to learn and apply! This week was really good overall, so let's get right into it!

Monday after emails and such we went out and did some contacting before we had a Come, Follow Me lesson with a less active family! They really enjoyed it and wanted us to come back more! Then we came back and did some messaging and ended the day there.

Tuesday was pretty interesting! We found 4 new people that day and we were kinda surprised by that. One of those people we taught the Restoration right on her porch, and it was kinda interesting, but it was really good! Another we found by helping him clean up some property that his Uncle owns that got burned down over a year ago. He was really interested about what we believe after a long conversation. Then we dropped off a Book of Mormon to someone, then taught the Plan of Salvation to Theresa, and she really liked it a lot! Then we had Come, Follow Me at the Turleys and the we came back home. It was just really effective of a day. 

Wednesday we had District Council and talked about Unity and had a lot of fun with that. Then after we had lunch with Stuttgart and Hot Springs at Wendys and we had a lot of fun there. Then after we parked in Central Park (In Pine Bluff, not New York) and we had lessons and biked around a lot. It was really good. We talked to a lot of people doing so. Then we biked back, talked with a recent convert that the Sisters baptized, and had Book of Mormon Study Class, then we came back home.

Thursday was like pouring almost all day, so that was fun. After studies and typing out a few things, we had a lesson with someone we are working with, and that was pretty good. Then after we played Bingo at Trinity Village, then we came back to the Church and had some Online Proselyting, and had Dominoes delivered to us. Then we were going to have Ward Correlation but it got cancelled, so we came back home and contacted people.

Friday was a little strange, but it was still really good. We found a new person with the little Proselyting time we had, yay Holy Ghost! Then we had a lesson with Theresa that went really well, and we were happy about that. Then we did Bingo again at Trinity Village, and then came back to the Church for a little. We posted on Facebook and did all that fun stuff, then we had Dinner at the Andersons, and talked with the family there. It was pretty effective for the most part. Then we came back and did some Weekly Planning and started planning for Theresa's Baptism on the 13th!

Saturday we had General Conference! But before we went to a members home to sign a picture that they had many missionaries sign, it's crazy. Then we watched Conference! President Hansen stayed for both sessions and did our interviews in between. We at one point lost power due to a storm that came through and the lightning was having a little too much fun. But it worked out. Then we had the Priesthood Session and I really liked that. Then we came home.

Sunday was almost a same repeat. We came to the Church, Theresa came for the 1st session, and she really liked it a lot! Then after we ate at the Church, and then Theresa had to go, so we watched Conference at a members home and helped them do a few things and they were really thankful. The Rogne's are a really funny bundle. I have all the notes attached below about Conference that you can read what I had! Then after Conference we came back and planned more and ended the day!

This Conference was pretty good! I really enjoyed everything that was said! I hope y'all was able to learn from it as well! And as Jeffery R. Holland said years ago, 'Fan the flame of your Faith, because all things are possible, to them that believe!'

May God be with you all, and know that I am here. I love you all!

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-Pic of me and Elder Thorman eating PIZZA!!!

Week 36: A Different Week

Hey y'all! It's weird to think it's already April! This week has gone by pretty quick, and a lot of interesting things happened. Let's get into it!

Monday after emails and such we went to the Andersons and we were able to teach Fransisco the Plan of Salvation and talk to Brother Anderson. It was really good. Progress is definitely happening and I like it a lot. After that we came home and had dinner. So besides them nothing much really happened, but it was effective.

Tuesday was a roller coaster really. We first had a few appointments that fell through and we were really bummed about it, then we knocked on a door and we had a cool experience with that and the guy wanted us back. Then we kept going down in the direction of someone and we talked to a few cool people, and things started to look up. Then we came across one lady who called us over, and we started talking with her. Turns out, she met with missionaries like 20-30 years ago and she recently had a death in her family. We chatted with her for a while and it was just a tender experience. We ended up talking a little about the Gospel(her husband's brother is actually a member) and gave her a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet. So that was really cool. We're definitely keeping in touch with her. Then we stopped by Theresa and chatted with her for a little, then Sister Turley picked her up for Come, Follow Me and she loved the class. It was a really good experience for her. Then we came home and had dinner. Overall it was a super good day.

Wednesday we stayed North most of the day. We did a lot of Contact Attempts for members and formers. And it was really effective. We found 2 new people, had some really good conversation with a active member a few less actives throughout the day. It was really cool to see the effect missionaries can make on people. Then we gave a less active a blessing and set up a time to come by again. Then we went to the Church and had Book of Mormon Study Class. Theresa came as well! It was awesome and a lot of cool things happened. It was tender. Then we came home and had dinner.

Thursday was a little interesting. We weren't able to do any door knocking or visiting because of everything that happened. We had District Council and then we went to a cool Chinese place called Chef Lee's, and that was really good. Then we did some Ward Correlation Preparation and went to Trinity Village where we called Bingo again, and that was really fun. They also pulled in a trained dog and it did some tricks, so that was a good boy. Then we came back, did some studies, took a little nap because we were just dead, did some Online Proselyting, and had Ward Correlation. We came back home after and kinda just crashed.

Friday was a little slow. We had Weekly Planning, then a few lessons fell through, and it was a little sad. Then we taught Theresa the Restoration and talked about plants, and we plan on helping her with her plants. Then we had dinner at a members house. After we came back and finished Weekly Planning. And then we had a Zoom Call and talked about Faith, and that was really fun.

Saturday was a little bumpy, but nonetheless good. We had a couple of lessons fall through, but we talked to a lot of people, and found 2 other new people. And while we were walking, it started to rain, luckily we had our umbrellas with us and managed to get back to the car. And before that we were able to talk to a husband of someone we met a few weeks ago, and he was surprised to hear that we don't pay to do service. So we may do service with him hopefully haha. Then after we got a card for a member who was sick and dropped it off there and gave her a blessing with her Husband. Then we went to the Andersons and talked with them for a while. Then we came back home and had crock pot dinner. It was good.

Sunday was pretty good as well. Theresa came again and loved it. I'm excited for her to be baptized. It's going to be awesome. We were able to show her the font and all that, she's set on wanting to be baptized. Then after we had a lesson with the Mays, and after we contacted a few people. By doing so we also found a new person with that, so yay for that. After we went to the Andersons, spoke with Brother Anderson about a few things, then we came back home and did studies and had dinner.

This week was pretty good, slightly different than other weeks but other than that it was good. But on other terms, GENERAL CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEK!! I want to invite each of you to watch Conference and have a question in mind that you have. I promise that if you do so it'll be answered by one of the speakers. This is a glorious time to come together to listen to the Prophets and Apostles speak to all of us. It's on BYU-TV, Channel 5 (In Utah), and on lds.org(ChurchofJesusChrist.org). 11-1 and 3-5 (10-12 and 2-4 Utah Time) both Saturday and Sunday. I hope each of you will watch Conference, because I promise as well that it'll give you strength and energy to continue on with work and school. I am really excited for this and I hope you are as well.

May God be with you all, and know that I am here. I love you all!

Elder Braxton Hotton


Attachments:
-Chiropractic Joke
-Hoopdy