Week 69: Baptism Week!

Hello one and all! Welcome back to another weekly where Bike Problems and a Baptism is the highlight of the week! Let's get into it!

Monday after P-Day we visited someone for a while and helped him clean up his house a bit and chatted about life and the struggles of society and cultures these days. It was a good conversation and then we came home and ended the day.

Tuesday we had District Council about Revelation and it was pretty good because in the end we all made goals on how to improve and it was a good Council overall. Afterwards we changed into service clothes and helped out at the Animal Shelter for a while and we had fun as usual. Afterwards we did a few things and then we went to go have a lesson with Scott and he wasn't there. So we went and had dinner for a while and then we tried again and he wasn't there again but when we were about to leave he pulls in and we end up having an awesome lesson with him and we had really good conversations about a lot of things. He's super cool, and during the entire time the spirit was there and it was just amazing. The little moments like those always stick with you and it feels awesome. Afterwards we biked back home. (Note about this day, coldest day so far, it was in the low 30s and mid 20s all day, it SUCKED)

Wednesday we did our studies and went to the Library to work on the Baptismal Program for Keondrick's Baptism. After that we had lunch and then we went out and visited a lot of people and found 2 people out of it which was pretty cool. We had a lot of good conversations with people and some failed contacts as well. Elder Judd also got a flat but thankfully we were blessed by someone taking our bikes back. We got it fixed thankfully and went out and had a good lesson with Miesha and talked with her about a lot of other things. Then we went to a member Bible Study and then came back home.

Thursday we did studies and worked more on the program. Afterwards we came back and made cookies and brought some to people before getting picked up by a member up to Aberdeen where we had Keondrick's Interview and he passed! We taught him some final stuff and was able to set things up for him getting to the Baptism! Afterwards we were supposed to have a lesson but sadly it didn't go through but we were able to setup another one so we're excited about that. Then we got dinner at Wendys and came home where I got a headache and it sucked. I went to bed at like 9:30

Friday we did the Food Pantry and got that done. After that we came back and finalized the program and printed one off so we could copy the rest at the Church. Then we came back and got picked up by a member and drove up to Okolona and had a few lessons which were pretty good. We had one lesson where we were talking about the history of the Church and now we are going to watch. Then we finished a little early and then we had lunch at this Deli place off the highway with the member and it was really good. Then we came back home and did some Weekly Planning and then went out to do some lessons but they sadly fell through so we went to Arby's and had dinner and then we came home for the night.

Saturday was a long but amazing day. We were at the Church from like 3ish to like 6:30. And it was great seeing Keondrick get baptized! He was really excited to get baptized and he thanked people for coming! It was really cool! He has such a cool spirit about him and I'm thankful to be able to teach him! Then Brother Nickerson took us and Keondrick to KFC and we had dinner there. Then we came home and I had ZLC and then Call Ins with the Sisters and we also got Transfer News! And our whole District is staying, making Elder Judd the longest companion I've been with! Hahaha so I'm pretty excited to continue on here.

Sunday we had 3 people at Church which was awesome. And we talked with Miesha after Church during the Potluck on how she liked it and it was amazing. She's glad she came to Church! It was cool. Then after that we came home and studied for the day and then we went out and tried to visit people and sadly a lot of the contacts fell through. But overall it was still good. Then we came back home and had more studies and had dinner and then call Ins.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue to witness God's hand in this area and I'm excited to see more miracles as we do this. Y'all are always in my prayers and hope each of you are well! I love y'all!

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Also, if y'all ever want to send me something, send it to this address:

905 Kierre Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Attachments:
-A quote from Doctor Who my mom sent me
-Me and Elder Judd before Call Ins
-A shirt a neighbor gave me
-Baptism

Week 68: Flat Tires Filled w/Blessings

Hey y'all! Welcome back to another week of a lot of fun eventful things happening that cause us the struggle bus and cause us the happy train! So.. Let's get right into it!!

Monday after P-Day we had to walk all the way down by Wal-Mart to have a lesson. But sadly it didn't go through so we had Taco Bell and met 2 pretty cool people who seemed pretty interested. Sadly couldn't get a return appointment but we got their number so that was cool. Then we walked back and saw a semi get pulled over by 2 cop cars, that was exciting. And we came home and ended the day.

Tuesday was Elder Judd's Birthday!!! We got picked up by a member and we drove up to Zone Conference. Zone Conference was pretty awesome! We learned a lot about being Bold and about Revelation and the importance of it! It was a great Conference. I am also doing parts in the Music Tributes coming up soon again so I'm excited about that! And then afterwards we were driving back with another member and we got some Wendys and then visited someone before coming back and making cake for Elder Judd's Birthday! He had a good birthday so that twas great to hear.

Wednesday Elder Judd's pedals got shipped so we were able to put his new pedals in. And we finished studies too before we left. We had a pretty great lesson with the Youngs, talked about Eternal Marriage. Afterwards we were going around making contacts and then we found a person through that so that was cool. Then we had a pretty cool lesson with Miesha as well about the scriptures and praying! So we're making great progress and we're excited with that. Then we came back in for the night.

Thursday we did studies and afterwards we changed and went down to the Animal Shelter and helped out for a few hours which was fun. Afterwards we biked back after it stopped raining and got ready to head out. We went out and tried to contact people but it didn't work, and while we were biking, Elder Judd's bike proceeded to get a flat. So we were pretty bummed about that because we didn't have any patches. We decided to do our daily contact and in doing so we ran into someone we've been working with and chatted with him for a while which was good. Then afterwards we got a hold of one other person we were working with to take us back to our apartment to assess. And not even slime could fix the hole, so we had to walk. We had a lesson that sadly fell through so we just came back and ended the day.

Friday we did our studies and did some Weekly Planning before we got picked up to go to Okolona for some appointments. There we had most of all the stuff fall through sadly but we were able to find one person through it so we were pretty excited about that. Then afterwards the member took us to Wal-Mart and we got tubes and patches. And we came home and put the new tube in. We biked around for a little bit then we came back and finished Weekly Planning.

Saturday we did Studies and I had my ZLC Call which was pretty good. Then after we got picked up by our old Branch President and we had lunch at a Mexican place. Afterwards we had to go to Houston to visit a recent convert to check on their central unit. After we drove all the way to Aberdeen and tried to see a few members, some success some not. And we were able to find 2 people out of that also so that was pretty exciting. Then afterwards we came back home and got ready to go when to our surprise we find ANOTHER hole in Elder Judd's new tire. Turns out it got pinched and it wasn't fixable. So we put in the backup and tried visiting people and sadly they fell through so we came back home and ended the day.

Sunday we had Keondrick at Church which was awesome. And after Church we were able to teach him most of the rest of the stuff which we are excited about. Then after Church we did our studies and then we left to go visit people. We contacted a few people and had a great discussion with Betsy about prayer. Then we visited John for a little bit and talked about things going on. And then we went finding for a little and thankfully found a person at the last door which was awesome. Then we came back home and had dinner and Call Ins.

Even through the Bike problems, we saw some cool experiences and we were thankful for that. Please pray for Keondrick as he is approaching Baptism this week, it would mean a lot to me. And I also get transfer news this week! So I'm excited to see if anything changes! Y'all are in my prayers!!

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Also, if y'all ever want to send me something, send it to this address:

905 Kierre Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Attachments:
-Cat
-Sunset
-Me

Week 67: Busy Work, Busy Mind

Hey y'all! I hope y'all had a fantabulous week! This week for me was busy busy busy! But it was really good! I definitely have learned a lot because of it! So! Let's get right into it!

Monday we had Zone P-Day, which was awesome! We ate food and did a lot of Nerf War Rounds! It was a great bonding time with the Zone! Afterwards we came back home and we finished up a few things then we biked down to go visit someone we haven't seen in a while and had an amazing lesson with him! We talked about a lot of things and gave him a new Book of Mormon and a new Bible with pamphlets as well because they apparently got lost sadly. So we were able to set up a time to go see him again!

Tuesday was a normal day and we went out and visited a few people. We had a lesson with someone and it was a really cool discussion about different churches and all other stuff that is going on! We ended up talking to her about Family History and she got really interested about that so we planned that! Then we tried a few other people and then we came back home for the day.

Wednesday we had District Council with the Zone Leaders and we talked about the Priesthood! It was a really good learning experience for everyone and it was really inspired! It was great! Then we had District Lunch at a Thai place in Starkville and that was pretty good actually. Then we came back and got ready for some lessons. Went out, sadly it fell through. So we knocked around and sadly we didn't get any success sadly. Then we came back, had personal study, then we walked over to Mieshas and had an amazing lesson with her about the scriptures. It really opened up her mind more to them and it was just amazing. Afterwards we came back home and ended the day.

Thursday was a pretty good day. We got a ride up to Tupelo because I had the opportunity to go to a Leadership Training Meeting! It was a really cool experience to be able to be with the leaders here in the Tupelo side of the Mission and be able to grow in understanding of the work in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission! I also had the opportunity to instruct on Call Ins and the importance of them! I was really nervous, but it went really well I think in the end. Then afterwards I had interviews with President Hansen so that was good. Then afterwards we started exchanges and I was with Elder Jorgensen in Tupelo and we tried visiting a few people but sadly it didn't workout so we came back in and just talked about things going on.

Friday we went to the Church because Elder Jorgensen had to get some Zone Leader business done. Then we did our studies and planned out the day. And after we had lunch and chatted for a little bit. Then we went out and visited people and such. We ended up finding a few people because of it which was awesome. Then after we got a few things done and then we drove to Okolona and waited for West Point to get there and then we came back home and ended the day!

Saturday was pretty busy! We had a ton of lessons sadly fall through. I had ZLC and then we started doing Weekly Planning and got it done thankfully. Then Bro. Nickerson picked us up and we went up to Aberdeen and visited a few people before seeing Keondrick. We read a few chapters with him and we all went in the car and drove up to Tupelo for the Adult Session of Stake Conference. During the car ride we als talked about the Plan of Salvation with him and that was good also. And Stake Conference was really awesome! I learned a lot! Then after we all got back in the car and drove home!

Sunday we got picked up and we drove down to Starkville where we watched the General Session of Stake Conference and Keondrick was there also! He enjoyed it a lot as well! Afterwards we came back with Elder Judd's fixed bike and we went out and tried to find people. We visited someone that Elder Judd and Elder Reardon came across and we made her a new person, also found out that she had heavy interaction with the Church in the past so we were suprised by that. We're going by this week to answer questions she has. Then we went and visited others and found 3 other people. And the last person we found, was because Elder Judd's pedal broke....................... So we had to walk. We visited Betsy and talked with her for a little bit and then we got a ride back home thanks to Neely's Husband. Then we did Call Ins with both the Sisters and then the Zone Leaders.

I definitely learned a lot from this week, and I'm thankful for that opportunity to learn! I hope I can continue to be a light towards each of you and show that there is hope in all things. I love each of you and I hope you all have a great week!

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Also, if y'all ever want to send me something, send it to this address:

905 Kierre Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72116

Attachments:
-Zone P-Day
-Leaf photo

Week 66: Olga and Blessings

Hey y'all! Sorry this is late but I hope y'all had a good week so far! Let's get into this week!

Monday it was raining a good bit. We had to get a member to take us to Wal-Mart to get groceries haha. But after P-Day we biked to a lesson and had a really good discussion with her about things that are going on and overall it was just a really good lesson. Then we came back and ended the day.

Tuesday we had District Council again and talked about Christ-like Attributes and what we learned from certain attributes, like Charity, Humility, Diligence, and Patience. It was a cool District Council on how they all came together and how it all tied together. It was really inspired I feel like. Then afterwards we switched into service clothes and did service at the Animal Shelter here in town and we walked a couple of dogs for them. After we did that we came back and did Companionship Studies and contacted people over the phone. Then we biked to a restaurant and had dinner with some members and that was pretty fun. Sadly during that someone dropped us so we were pretty bummed to see that afterwards. Then we did a few other things and came back for the night.

Wednesday we did our studies and got things read y for the day. We had a few things fall through so we did some more contacting and then we went out and tried to find a few people. We were able to setup a few return appointments and talked to a few people. Then we had a super cool lesson with a guy we haven't had much contact with for a while, and talked about the Book of Mormon and things that are going on. He is super cool and super ready for the Gospel. After that we reported a little and then we visited Betsy for a while and fellowshipped with her for a good bit and that was nice. She's coming a long well. Then we biked up to a members home and had a Bible Study with them. It was pretty good and we learned a lot. Then we biked home.

Thursday we had a early lesson with Vernita, and talked with her for a little bit. If y'all can pray for her to have courage that would mean the world to me. She's awesome, she's just having a hard time with a few things. Then after we finished studies and did a few things at the Library. Then we came back and contacted more people and went out and tried to visit people also, but not much luck sadly came from it. Then later we had a lesson with Miesha and had another good discussion with her also. Gave her 2 talks that we told her we would bring by, so that was pretty good. But overall it was a pretty ok day.

Friday we did our studies, and the Food Pantry was cancelled because someone did it for us because of Tropical Storm Olga that was starting to hit us. Then we did some of Weekly Planning and then we got picked up by a member and we went up to Okolona and visited a few people and actually found 2 people during some time we had which was awesome! Then we tried visiting a few people while we were out in that direction, not much came from it, except a good less active member discussion we had for a while which was super nice. Then we came home and got some dinner and finished off Weekly Planning and was texting people and found a person because of it which was good.

Saturday the Tropical Storm was on and off during the morning mostly. We had to walk to go feed some dogs but we had to get a ride halfway because of how bad it was getting, but we took some funny photos and videos because of it. Afterwards we finished up a few things we needed to do and we got a ride up to Aberdeen from a member and had some pretty good lessons with a lot of people! We even put Keondrick on date! It was awesome! It was an overall super good discussion with a lot of people about the Plan of Salvation and to her things and it was just really effective up there. Then we got some food as well and then came in for the night and I had some calls to take care of and did Call Ins with the Starkville Sisters.

Sunday we went to Church early because we were asked to attend Branch Council, and that went pretty well. Then Vernita was at Church which was awesome! Then after Church we came back home and did some studies for a little bit and then we had a few lessons that some worked, and some didn't. But overall we were able to help someone out move some limbs around due to the storm. And then I got a call to help instruct at a meeting I have to attend Thursday so that's exciting. Then we finished up a few things and came back and had Call Ins with the Zone Leaders.

There was a lot of things that happened this week, but I'm grateful for the blessings that came from it. And one things I learned from this week is this... "Don't you quit.. You keep trying.. There is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon, some come late. And some don't come till Heaven. But for those who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be alright in the end. Trust God, and Hope in Good Things to Come." - Elder Jeffery R. Holland.

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

Elder Braxton Hotton

Attachments:
-Olga photos of things
-Animals we walked and a cat
-Our bathroom floor was being fixed, and this is what is under us