Monday, not a lot happened. We did a lot of laundry and cleaning. Then I had a very important discussion with my mom which I will be talking about at the end of this email. Then we did shopping at the end of P-Day and then had dinner at the Morrisons. We talked about Testimonies and why they are important to not only ourselves, but to others, so that was a cool lesson.
Tuesday was pretty interesting. We had our studies and had crazy Roleplays per usual. Then we drove up to try and see Cheryl, but that ended up not happening, but we planned on visiting her later in the week. Then as we were driving down, we got called to help a member on the highway we were on, so we turned around and drove up there, helped her with that, then set up a dinner appointment with her and her 3 Grandkids. Then we tried 2 houses across the street, no luck, but left cards. Then we visited Sister Huckaby, read 2 Nephi 3-4, which was really good and had a good discussion. And then we tried the house next door to her, and left a Plan of Salvation Pamphlet with him. Then we went home, then decided to tract a road again, and ended up achieving our goals doing so, which was 4 cards and 1 Book of Mormon. So that was exciting. Also the sisters in Collierville achieved their goals too which was exciting.
Wednesday was very, very interesting. So it was super cold, and we were going to Byhalia, and talk was going around about ice on the roads. So we still went up, had to stop at the Morrisons to pick up Elder Jackson's oil, then we drove up to the neighborhood we planned on tracting. We parked, and it started snowing, but we still decided to tract. We had very little success, but we ended up having 1 return appointment with someone scheduled for this Wednesday, so that's exciting!! Then we went to the Hulls for dinner, but we were there early to figure things out. We finally decided (with the Zone Leaders) that we will drive up to Southaven after dinner. We had a good dinner and a good lesson about The Spirit of Revelation which was important. Then we drove home, packed, then took the trip up there. Long drive, because I was driving slow. But we made it, and I was thankful!
Thursday we got ready and we drove up to Bartlett and had Zone Conference! We practiced music for a tribute that we are doing for the Stakes in our areas and I cried like once or twice. But it's ok. I love it. And then we had other things talked about and just learned a lot. It was really good. "The Greatest things always are behind fear." -Will Smith. But that was basically all of that.
Friday we got up mega early, around 4:45, and got ready to go to Seminary. And we had a good discussion about Attitude towards things and life. And had good sausage and biscuits, made by President Griffith. Then we did the Animal Shelter when we got back home, and there were only 5 dogs, but I heard there are a lot more coming in. Then after we helped Brother Roswell move a couch out, and took the newspaper for like events going on this week for service projects. Then during comp study, we were talking about how we can improve our finding skills. And I was on a community FB page scanning it out, and I felt like I should look at the members. And guess what???? I found AMANDA! I was really excited and was able to make contact with her. Sadly she is going through a lot, but finally she is back on our radar. Then also we got in contact with a Bishop of a church around the corner from where we live, and he was very open for us coming to help him and his church out. So that's exciting also. Then we drove up to Cheryl's, and had a good discussion about Revelation, The Holy Ghost, and Baptism, and also gave her a blessing, which she needed. Then after we had dinner at the Beckerdites, and had dinner there with her, and her friend, and their kids, and had a good discussion about Faith, and the friend was into it as well. All the blessings, I'M TELLIN YA! Also we are starting to teach the kids that aren't members so that's exciting.
Saturday was very fun. We helped the Hardmans with their floor, and it was interesting tearing it apart and getting it ready for the new flooring. We did that for a few hours. Then we came home, did Personal Study, then went to Wendys and sent out the FB post I had (If you didn't see it check it out, it is really good). Then we tried visiting James but no answer. So we went home, and did Weekly Planning.
Sunday was pretty good. Cheryl sadly wasn't able to make it, but Unique came, and the rest of her family was there too! So I confirmed Unique which was nerve racking, but it went well. And also Sherita came, which I didn't recognize at first, but after I realized I'm happy. She's back on the radar now too! And we had a super good Sunday School Lesson about Exaltation. And basically he had us start off with our own prayers, but don't say amen, so we literally had a lesson in prayer, which was super powerful. Then after church we had Personal Study, then we drove up to pick up pine cones from Mike for Sister Roswell, and then we visited Georgia, and challenged her to read the Book of Mormon 30 minutes every day, and we would remind her every other day. So that was good. Then we had dinner at the Roswells and heard cool stories from them. After that we had call-in for the rest of the night.
So referring back to Monday, the conversation I had with my mom, it's important for everyone to read.. Here it is:
Mom:
You're wonderful Braxton. You deserve to be treated with kindness and respect. I just hope you realize that. You don't need to apologize for anything to anyone. You have always wanted to make others happy. I always hated to see people take advantage of you.
Me:
Well mom, it's sadly the reality of things. It really is, but you know what? We are always taught to forgive, no matter what. Yes, it may hurt, but as we forgive, we will be blessed for doing so. There is no reason to hold grudges no matter what, so, might as well forgive and forget. Just like what Heavenly Father does for us. Forgive and forget.
Mom:
You have me over here crying my eyes out now. Man I love you. Thanks for being such a wonderful son. How did I ever get so lucky?
Me:
Because I got it from you, and I've seen the reality of things. People struggle, more than others realize, and things happen more than we realize. That's why we are taught to forgive, but everyone is kin in the end. And people need to realize that people aren't dagum perfect, and they will do things accidentally, and people will say things unintentionally, and things won't work out, and that's just how life is. We can't hold onto the past when the Lord always wants us pushing forward. Things won't workout the way we want it to, ok, there is a reason behind it, and if it is supposed to be, it will come back, if not, we learned from it, and that's what the Lord wants, is for us to learn, and to grow, and to be better.
I hope you all can take something away from that. People struggle, people get used, but we are always taught to forgive... No matter how much it hurts. I know how it is, and I can testify you will be blessed if you do it as well. No one is perfect, don't judge them or ridicule them because of their imperfections.
Have a amazing week,
Elder Braxton Hotton
Attachments:
-Me and a gift package from my mom. <3
-Tag Photo of Snow
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