Week 44: Humidified Service!

Hey y'all! I hope you are having a good Memorial Day so far!... Yes I said that last week because I thought I got the days correctly but no I was wrong. Please forgive my failure of knowledge. Anyways, this week was long, but super successful!

Monday we did the normal stuff, email, shop, ball, eat food, and so on. Then after that Laurie and Sam came to the Church and they gave us food and we talked with them for a little bit. That was really all that happened.

Tuesday we had District Council in Jackson and that was super good. And after we started exchanges and I was with Elder Dawson here in Humboldt, but we stayed in Jackson and did a Blitz there. We ended up finding 3 people for Jackson and it was super good. Then after that we drove back up to Humboldt, we switched into service clothes, got gipped by a fast food place, then we drove to Trenton and did service for a lady. Afterwards we went to Milan, switched back into other clothes, and we visited a couple of people. Then we drove past a court with a couple of guys on it, and soon enough we were playing a game with two other black kids. It was a great game, blocked someone too as well XD, but it was a workout and a half that's for sure. Then we came home and ended the day.

Wednesday we did some studies and we talked about a lot of things, then we drove to Bells and ended exchanges, and me and Elder Hunter drove back to the Jackson Building and we did service (partially in the rain) with the Bishop Storehouse and that was really good. Then after that they took us to a Pizza place and that was really good. We ate for a little and then we drove to Humboldt and went with our Elders Quorum President and we visited a less active member and talked with them for a while. Then he took us back and we did a few things, tried visiting people, and we went to the Church for Gospel Essentials. We talked about Our Heavenly Family and about who we really are. It's something that we all need to realize, is that we are literal Son's and Daughters of God with DIVINE POTENTIAL. I capitalize it to show we have more worth than we ever realize. And we need to personally make sure we are doing all we can to achieve as best as we can to reach that true potential.

Thursday we did studies and then we went out and started doing service. We did service for this lady who knew a couple of members of the Church and recently just became a widow. And we set up times for us to consistently and help her out more and she is really excited for it. Then after we did service for this other lady and we got a lot done with that. And we came back, cleaned ourselves up a little bit because we were just a little sweaty(Understatement Pt. 1) and we went out for a little bit. Then we switched back into some other service clothes and did service and had dinner at the Fishers.

Friday we did more service by going to this place called Helping Hands for a little bit, and then we left a little early due to needing to get some Missionary business accomplished. But as we were leaving, we get a call from a member asking us to come and help someone move, and so we got into shorts and a t-shirt and we went and helped. And after 5.5 hours of a lot of moving things out, hearing one of my favorite songs, and 5 water bottles chugged, we left only a little tired(Understatement Pt. 2), but hey, in this situation the people were in, it was WELL worth it. Then we came home and at this point we were wanting to pull the plug for the day but we had to get planning done, so we showered and planned for the rest of the night. 

Saturday hit my 10th mark in the field! And it also hit 1 year since I got my call! It's crazy how much time has gone so far! We did a few things at the house, called someone we are working with, then we drove up to Milan and we biked around for a while. A lot of people that we tried to see weren't home sadly, but we did get in contact with a few. One of them was Mary, and we had an awesome discussion with her. She was a little tired at first, but after a while she was wide awake(Thanks Holy Ghost). And we commited her to coming to Church! Then we left, did a couple other things, got someone else commited to come, and we came home.

Sunday was really really good. We got up, got ready and such, and (with permission) call spammed a couple of people to make sure they are up and awake for Church. Most of them answered, some didn't. We get to Church, and soon enough, at the end of Church, we had 8 PEOPLE at Church!!! And one of them was Mary, who had a struggle bus time getting here. She is one of the few who didn't answer, and she did that on purpose. She wanted to surprise us at Church and while doing so, Satan decides to poke a hole in her tire. -_- This man I swear, anyways after struggles she was able to get another car and get to Church for the last 40 minutes of it. But it was great seeing all of them there! When that finished we talked with JT a little bit and we gave him a blessing, and same with his member sister Vanessa. Then we went with Brother Johnson and visited a less active family that now we are starting to work with, and gave one of the daughters a blessing. So that was nifty, afterwards we went back home and did some studies and ate for a little bit. Then we drove up to Milan, did Bible Study, came back and did Call Ins, and ended the day.

I like to bear my testimony that I know this Church is true. I'm thankful for all the many wonderful blessings in my life because of it, and I cannot express how much more blessings are in store for each and every one of us in life. We have so much in store, and we need to do our part to follow God's will. I'm thankful for the Book of Mormon, without it I honestly probably won't even read the Bible as much because of how much confusion people these days make of it. I'm thankful for each and everyone of you in my life, for sticking around, and for being here for me even when I'm not the greatest. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-Weird Lookin Spider
-Truck Drivers from the Bishop Store House taking us out to Lunch

Week 43: Service and Battle Scars

Hey y'all! I hope you are having a good Memorial Day so far! This week was pretty good, and a lot of service was completed. So it was overall super good! Let's jump into it!

Monday was obviously not P-Day, but it was actually pretty good! We had District Council and we talked about getting people to Church and whatnot. Afterwards we visited a person and we loaded our gear in Dyersburg car and we went up to Dyersburg for the day. We went to their apartment and switched over to service gear and we did service for this guy who is apparently a pastor. It was really cool and he asked a couple of questions about the Church and all and it was just nice to have a good Gospel based discussion with him. Afterwards we went to the other place to do service but it didn't work out because of technical difficulties(it was honestly a struggle). Afterwards we got Subway and went back to the apartment and did studies and played Clue till we had to go to bed.

Tuesday was our Mission P-Day and that was a lot of fun. We got a ride with them all the way to Arlington and we played a lot of games. From Crochet, to Kickball, to Volleyball, to walking on wood stuff(I forget the name). I also emailed like y'all know. We also watched a movie called Legacy, it talked about the Pioneers and such. Afterwards we drove back to Dyersburg where a member picked us up and we went back to Humboldt and we had Bible Study at the Lamprechts.

Wednesday was pretty good actually. We had studies and after we went to Wal-Mart to get new tires on the car. Afterwards we went to the Church and went with our Elders Quorum President and he took us all the way to the top right corner of our area called Tresvant. There we had a discussion with a less active and helped him with a few things. Afterwards we went to this Chow place in Milan and ate there which was pretty good. Then he took us back to the Church where we prepared for a Church Tour for a family we are working with. And I had my first Church Tour! It was pretty good, and they loved it a lot, and we had a member there too so it helped out a lot. Afterwards we had a Gospel Essentials Class using the Gospel Principles Book and we had a super good turnout! And a lot of people enjoyed it! Then when it was over, I was talking to Sam and he said he wanted to get baptized on the 8th! So he's on date now!! And I also got to call my Dad because it was his Birthday, and that was a good conversation with him.

Thursday we did a lot of service. We went to this town called Three Way and we helped this lady get a crap ton of big rocks out of her flowerbeds and move them to the gutters. That was pretty good, besides the fact that it was during the hottest part of the day. Afterwards we had some time so we did some contacting and then we drove to Medina and some service there. We cleaned out a little shed and picked up Limbs from a tree. And during it I scratched myself, and the first thing I thought was 'man, I keep getting these battle scars, I'm gonna look like I got beat up' XD. But after we went home, showered, then had dinner a members house and burned things as well. So that was fun.

Friday was service filled also. We went with a member and helped him out a little bit, and he took us out to eat. Afterwards we did some Weekly Planning and then we drove up to a town called Gibson and helped out a lady with her dad's old barn and cleaned up a lot of the stuff. They had a lot of land and it was super cool. And after she wanted to at least give us something, so she asked if we liked fishing. Then she takes us to a small building, and she opens it up and it FILLED with Fishing Poles. So we took a fishing pole each and we plan to keep it here for any missionary who is in Trenton. So that was cool. Then we were supposed to have more service in Milan but it fell through, so we visited a couple of people and had a lesson in Service clothes with someone we are working with and that was really good. Then we had dinner, and walked around Humboldt a little and then came home.

Saturday we did service for a member and we got to know them a little more. And that was pretty cool. Afterwards we came home, changed, and went up to Milan and had a lesson with a grandfamily we are working with. We answered a lot of the questions they had and it was awesome. Afterwards we helped out a member move bedding to the upstairs, and then they fed us and took us to Bartlett for Stake Conference. And that was really good. And we got ice cream and such after, then came driving home. We didn't get home till like 11:15pm and didn't go to bed till like 11:30... It was bad. Basically about a 2 hour drive back home total.

Sunday we had 3 people at Church that we are working with! It was really good, we watched Stake Conference and I enjoyed the speakers quite a bit. Afterwards we were talking with Laurie and she said she is healed up to the point where we could tape her and baptize her! So she is now on date as well for June 8th! It's really exciting! After that we had lunch, Elder Hunter did some calls, and then we drove back up to Milan and walked around. No one was home except Mary (the grandfamily who we are working with) and we had an awesome discussion with her. She is going to try to get her other family members involved in the discussions as well! I was super happy about that! And also, during the walk that day, someone said the full name of the Church correctly! Like, the first time ever! It was the little miracles that day that made it really good. Then we had dinner with members, did a Bible Study, and then had Call Ins with the Zone Leaders and ended the day there.

I hope you all have an amazing week! It's crazy to hear that school is almost over! And that means I'm almost at my year mark! It's even weird for me to even type that out. Haha, but I'm thankful for each of you, and know that I pray for you each daily.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton


Attachments:
-Service with Dyersburg
-Fire
-Me tired like no other

Week 42: Service and Festivals!

Hey y'all! How are ya doing? I hope y'all are having a good week! Here is what happened this Mothers Day Week/Weekend! Also, Happy Late Mothers Day to all the Mothers, Grandmother's, and future mothers! Thank you for all that you do!

Monday after emails and someone not showing up for Basketball (it was sad), we got picked up by a good friend of the missionaries and he took us to the opening ceremony of the Strawberry Festival. We watched fireworks and we also talked to him about Missionary Work and about the Gospel. He's a super cool guy who owns a Inn and loves talking to the 'Holy Men'.

Tuesday we had District Council and we talked about the importance of Church and how to better get people there. Then afterwards we had Exchanges and me and Elder Ferrell went up to Dyersburg. We got some food and came back to the apartment. We started to do studies, then plans changed and we switched into service clothes earlier than we planned and we went to do some service. We did a lot of cleanup, raking, moving crazy huge limbs. And we did that for like nearly most of the day. Then we came home, showered, had dinner at a place called Hog Heaven with some members and that was really good. Then after we went to a house someone and helped her understand a lot of things about the Gospel, then we gave her and her daughter a blessing. It was an awesome experience to witness herself change. Then we came home and rejoiced. 

Wednesday we did some studies, then we drove to Maury City and ended exchanges. Someone we are working with lives not far from where we ended exchanges so we stopped by, and he let us in and we ended up setting him on date for June 1st!! We were really excited. Then we drove home, made some cookies for someone, then we drove up to a lesson. After the lesson we visited a Recent Convert and drove to Burger King to do some Comp Study. But in the process we meet this Preacher guy and he is really a character. But he really appreciated what we do and even prayed with us to find success... IN THE MIDDLE OF BURGER KING. It was awesome. Then we drove to the Auto Zone and hopped on the bike. We biked to this one person's place, talked with her for a little, then we went to go drop off the cookies. Turns out, we left the cookies in the car, but we felt like we still needed to stop by. So we go by, and she isn't there, but her nephew is. At first he was a little confused about the yellow vests, but then when we said that we were missionaries, he said he needed to talk to someone about Christ. It was an amazing experience talking with him, he's so excited to learn more. Then we biked back, got some good ol Pizza, went to the church and had Ministering Interviews.

Thursday we went back up to Milan again and had a lesson with a super cool guy. He talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and we gave him a chapter to read, and as we were talking to another family member and answering her questions, the good sir of ours was reading the chapter to himself! We were quite happy to see that. After that we had lessons fall through, we also went to Burger King and talked to that preacher again because he was there. And the rest of the day was kinda bust. Except for being fed by our Branch President, President and Sister Hardin, that was pretty cool. 

Friday we went to the Strawberry Festival Parade and we talked with someone we are working with during it, and watched her daughter march in the band during the parade. Then after we walked back to our apartment and had lunch. We visited a part member family, gave a member a blessing during it, and her boyfriend was touched by it and he was really happy for that. We've been working with him for a while so it's awesome to see that. Then after we went to the Church for a little, then we came back, went to a recent converts house, who offered me to use his laptop to finish my talk. And Elder Hunter had to do a Leadership Call as I was finishing the talk.

Saturday after studies we walked around Humboldt a little, handed out a Book of Mormon, then we walked back to our apartment. We then did Weekly Planning, and during it we posted on Facebook for service opportunities. Then we visited Sam for a little and helped him understand the Book of Mormon more. Then we had a Zone Call, bought and ate gator, which was good, then we had Call Ins. 

Sunday I was able to speak in Church on Mothers Day! I spoke on the Divine Role of Mothers! People said I did really good, so that must be good! XD We had 2 people at Church and they really enjoyed it. After Church we went home, ate spaghetti, gave a blessing to a member. After we came back and then drove to the Church and called home. It was an awesome time, but a little difficult. I don't say it to get attention, I say it because it's not all fluff and games. Sometimes missionaries struggle and that's ok. After we had an awesome lesson with a family, then we had dinner at the Jorgensens, and then had a Bible Study at the Johnson household. Afterwards we went and had Call-Ins. And that was about it. Though throughout Saturday and Sunday, we got a lot of service opportunities lined up. We are super excited.

I will be leaving my talk down here. I invite y'all to read it. I hope you will know yourself how much divinity your mother's really have.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton


Attachments:
-A Frog
-Me and Elder Ferrel
-Service Photo
-Elder Hunter going Southern
-Our friend Rene

Week 41: The Ultimate Biff

⚠️Just a heads up, next week my P-Day will be on Tuesday the 14th instead of the 13th, but the next week after will resume Monday!⚠️

Hey y'all! How are ya doing? This week was literally a little slam into a wall, but it's just what happens, but let's get right into it!

Monday after emails and all that we had a lesson at the Church with a Recent Convert couple and gave the wife a blessing and it was pretty cool. We answered some of their questions they had as well. Then after we came home and had 50 cent Corn Dogs with someone we are working with.

Tuesday after studies we and following up with a Senior Center, we went to the Library where we did some Online Proselyting and some Family History work for a little bit. Then after we helped someone out a little bit with Sam. Then we biked back to the apartment and we drove up to Dyer and visited someone we were working with for a little bit. Afterwards we went to a members house and had dinner with them and a goat. So that was fun, the goat was a little sassy (they call her Moca Sassy) so yay Goats. Then we came drove and had Bible Study at a recent converts home and gave Sam's wife Laurie a blessing and it was interesting. She felt like someone touched her shoulder but no one was near her except me and Elder Hunter, and we had our hands on her head. And we found out as well that the person we gave the blessing to yesterday that her knee hasn't hurt all day. So little miracles are around! It's awesome!

Wednesday was really interesting to say the least. We drove down to Bartlett because Elder Hunter had Leadership Training Meeting so I got to Blitz Bartlett. Well, to sum up what happened for that. We get to Bartletts apartment, did studies, having lunch and all of a sudden it starts POURING and we were like 'oh crap...' And we booked it back to the Bartlett building. Thankfully it stopped raining after a while but we kept some extra umbrellas just in case. But then me and Elder Larsen from Bartlett went out while the other 3 went another direction and we tried visiting a few people. After that we did some contacting and came back to the Church. After the meeting was over we had Interviews with President and that was really good. Then after we were driving home, Elder Hunter misses the exit and we get off another exit. We were trying to think what we should do for dinner, and we were thinking Taco Bell, so we pass it and we start turning around. Then we were going to see what Waffle House had to offer, so we are about to walk in and we hear 'Y'all hungry?'. I turn around and I see a group of people with coolers filled with take out boxes with Hot Dogs and Hamburgers and such, turns out it was the EngleWood Baptist community doing service for people in Hotels and we got 2 containers each of food. They were really nice people and it was a blessing really. Then we came home and ate it and ended the day.

Thursday was interesting. We had District Council in Dyersburg and we talked about being Bold and loving and talked about what we can do to improve daily. Then after we went to a restaurant and had some buffet and that was really good. Then we drove home, grabbed our bikes and drove up to Milan. We had a big contact list we wanted to go through again so we started going around. We had a lot of success with talking with people and finding new people. Turns out as well there was a Tornado Watch going on for a while, but it wasn't bad at all. And one point, we were biking to try this former, and we start to get chased by two dogs and I tried shooting them with pepper spray while biking but I missed, but luckily down the street was the owners. And then after that later on, we were biking back to the car, and... I end up biffing it. I was trying to slow down, and I slowed down a little too fast and tipped over and scrapped up myself pretty good and ripped a hole in my Grey suit pants. So that was great. Luckily others around us helped me get patched a little bit. Then we came home and I was a little upset about biffing but it happens.

Friday was pretty interesting too. We drove all the way down to Millington to do exchanges and I was with Elder Lee here in Trenton. And we drove back up to Trenton, visited a few people, then we drove up to Milan and went around and had a few discussions with people. Then we got a call about some service, so luckily we had service clothes with us and we got into those and drove to Medina and did service for some people and they want us back over in June which was cool. We had dinner at a members house and all that. Then we drove to the Lamprechts and surprised them with Elder Lee and had a good conversation there. Then we came home and ended the day.

Saturday we did some studies and then went to visit people, and walked around Humboldt and saw all the people prepare for the Strawberry Festival going on next week. Then we ended exchanges and we did a couple things in the study room. Then we got ready and drove up to Milan and fished for a little(sadly I didn't catch anything) with someone we were working with and answered her and her friends questions about the Gospel. Then we went to the house and ate with them and answered more questions. It was really cool. Then we came home and did Call-Ins.

Sunday sadly no one came to Church, but Church was really good. After church we visited someone we were working with and gave him a CD of the Book of Mormon. Then we came home and did Weekly Planning, drove to Medina and had dinner with some members, then we had Bible Study in Milan, watched part of the Devotional, had Call-Ins, celebrated a birthday, then came home and crashed.

This week was a little interesting but a couple of small miracles happened as well. It's crazy to think how much things can change and how time flies. Today actually marks 2 years since my dog Zinga passed away. But I'm thankful for the Plan of Salvation and to know that Dogs go to heaven as well. I'm thankful for this Gospel as well, it has helped me always want to be better and to be the best example I can be. I hope you all have a good week this week.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-Fancy 3 wheeler
-The Rain Storm

Week 40: Humb(le)oldt Service!

Hello from Humboldt, TN! I hope you all had a good week and you are excited for May to come around! This week was a lot of re-adjusting but I'm excited to serve here in the Trenton Branch! Let's get into the week!

Monday after emails and packing and all that we biked to the Cantwells and had a Come, Follow Me lesson with them. I had to strap around my bike pump because my back tire was having another slow leak issue so we had to stop occasionally and pump my tire back up. After the lesson and saying goodbye, we came back to the apartment and finished off a few things and packing.

Tuesday was a long day really. We got up to North Little Rock at like 6:30 in the morning, said goodbye to Elder Horman, and we drove all the way to Memphis. We got there around 9:15-9:30 and I met Elder Hunter, who went to CH, was on the Basketball team, and graduated a year before me. He's pretty sweet. We then loaded my gear, and had a 1.5 hour drive up to Humboldt. During that trip we stopped by the hospital in Jackson, and visited someone who was supposed to be baptized on Sunday but had to get immediate surgery. We talked with her for a while, and then after we drove to Humboldt where we talked with her husband at Taco Bell. Then we went to the duplex where we lived, unloaded my gear, fixed my tube.. Again, then we got a few other things done and then we had a Come, Follow Me Study class with a few people that were baptized this past month/2 Sundays ago.

Wednesday we went out and visited a returning member and a less active member, they were really cool to talk with. After a few visits we went out finding and found a really cool guy who was interested in having us come back. Then we got picked up for dinner and had dinner with some members at a Mexican place. Then we went to the Church, where I met the Branch President and some others, and was going to have a lesson over Facebook but it sadly fell through. Then we came back home.

Thursday we got picked up and we went and did service for a while moving things around for a house that's going to be moved in soon. Then after we got dropped off, and we went out and did contact attempts/finding. A lot of the attempts failed but we came across a intersection, and I saw a lady mowing her lawn and kinda struggling, and I felt strongly to go help her, and then we mowed her front and back yard, it was awesome. It almost rained a little too and I was afraid it'll stop us half way through but luckily I prayed hard enough so it won't rain till I'm done(I was doing the back). Then we visited a few more people, found a person, then came back home.

Friday was pretty good. We visited people a little earlier in the day, then we came back and did Weekly Planning for a little. Afterwards we drove up to a town called Milan, and we parked in like a center area and biked to a few contact attempts that we felt like we should stop by, and it worked out really well! We found 4 new people doing it, and it was awesome! Then after all that we came back and finished the day.

Saturday was service filled as well. But before that we had a lesson with someone and answered a lot of his questions, and he really enjoyed it a lot. Then we came back, got picked up, and went to a huge Greenhouse facility and loaded a bunch of bags of dirt with Strawberries onto the truck and trailer. Then we came back to their house and unloaded some of it. After we came home, grabbed a few things at the store, made some cookies, drove up to Dyer (a town), but before that we did more service for a less active and had a really good discussion with them, they really enjoyed us helping them out a lot. We dropped off cookies at someones house we are working with, then we came back, did studies, and had a Zone Zoom Call. Then we came home and had Callins with Jackson and Dyersburg.

Sunday we had a lot of people who were supposed to come, but sadly none of them didn't.. BUT we did end up finding out that a visitor from Utah brought someone from work to Church who is kinda interested, so I'm excited to see where that goes. I met a lot more of the people at the Church. Then during it, a few of our appointments fell through and we got a little sad about that. After church we gave the Sacrament to someone, then we drove up to Milan, talked to a few people, then studied for another Bible Study we had with some members. Then we had dinner with them, talked about John 9 (one of my favorites), then we went to the church, had Call-Ins with the Zone Leaders, and ended the day.

I'm now at 9 months in my mission, it's crazy. I'm really excited to serve here in Trenton, and excited to help the people here. God lives. The Church is true, and nothing will break it down. No pathetic Anti, no bash, no hate, will stop me from saying this Church is true. Even if everyone left, I will still say the Book of Mormon is true. I bear that witness in his name, Jesus Christ, amen.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-Me and Elder Hunter
-Me during service
-Watch doggo
-Redneck Doorbell