Monday, February 17, 2014

I Don't Ever Know What To Write Here


Hey! So it was a good week. A good week. A quick run-down: Monday, after p-day, all of our meetings fell through, so we went and we did some knocking. It's been a while since I've done that. I like teaching lessons. Same on Tuesday. No lessons, just some walking and knocking. Nothing really interesting. Wednesday was strange... we found this guy on the street last week who had been to Philadelphia (near where Elder Kennedy lived) and so they hit it off and talked and talked. He actually called us to set up the next meeting which has never happened to either of us. We went to the building where he told us to go. It was his office. Cool. Then we went in, sat down, and in come two more people, they just plopped themselves down. So we thought man, they're gonna hear this lesson, it's gonna be awesome. Then we realized that they worked for a company that sells health pills and shakes and all sorts of strange machines, and they invited us to ask for referrals. That was kinda funny, the tables were turned. Anyways, they just said that we knew we help people, so we can do the spiritual work and they'll help with the health. We left, only after having business cards thrust into our faces. It was a hoot. Then that night we had english again, it was fun. A few people that we had talked to on the street came and it was cool. Thursday was the birthday of an investigator, so we made some Texas sheet cake and took it over to him. he called us later and said thanks, that was nice. We gave a member a blessing, she called us and we had free time, so the other elders tagged along and we gave her a blessing for sickness. Then she wanted a lesson. Then she started talking about marriage, so we ended that lesson real quick and ran away. She told the sisters that she's got the hots for one of us. Had another lesson that night where Elder Kennedy played his french horn (he wants to do that for his career, so he was allowed to bring it) and it was cool. He played some hymns. Friday, we had a belated family home evening where we played some games and gave a spiritual thought. It was fun. Saturday, we had a lesson with a lady that we talked to on the street a few weeks ago. We invited her daughters that know english to come, and one of them came on Wednesday. Anyways, it was a good lesson. She has a lot of good questions (the mom) and we'll come back. The daughter was quiet, but at the end we asked her about what her goals or plans are for life. And she said that she doesn't know the purpose of life, still searching. We're going to have a great lesson next week about the Plan of Salvation. It's gonna be sweet. Sunday night, our meeting fell through because the guy's priest didn't bless the meeting. Now he's blocked our number as well, so that's a bummer. Now, I'm here in St. Petersburg. Today we went to see a cool statue, went to a Zenit store, and played floor ball (hockey with shoes) at the mission office with some other elders. It felt good to do some competitive physical activity. Now we're here, emailing. 
Olympics News: not much... just a wave of gloom that swept over Russia as the Americans did some work. I sang all three verses of the national anthem the night I found out about the game, I've never felt more patriotic. Today on the metro there were newspapers with the headline (roughly translated): Who are these refs? and another one: How the heck is it so? with a nice picture of whatever that called back goal was. I bought one for comparison with the American story of the call. Our branch president told us that Shaun White fell and got fourth place and we were sad. 
Anyways, enough of that. Our Branch Prez gave me a CD with his favorite clips from Elder Holland talks, and I have listened to the whole thing at least every day this week. I love it so much. One of my favorite messages from it is that "Salvation was not a cheap experience! Salvation was never easy! We are the church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, He is the Great Eternal Head of this church. Why would we believe, why would we think, that it would be easy for us when it was never, ever, easy for Him" in response to the question "Why isn't missionary work easy?" and I've been thinking a lot about that. I've asked that question before, but with some help from Elder Holland, I'm starting to get it... just a little. Not even close to where I want to be, but it's coming. 
Thanks for all your emails, I love them! 
Love you all!

Andrew

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