Week 11 Try, try and try some more!

Hello everybody!! 

Hope everyone had a good week and that you're enjoying all the cold weather that is coming our way. By some miracle I still haven't cracked out my big coat so that's nice! This week was interesting and definitely filled with ups and downs like always! 

Here you have it:

Monday 

We did some service on our P day!! I know we're basically Angels... Hah just kidding. But there was a family in our ward that wanted us to give them some names of people that could use some service. So we did and I guess with us giving them the name it also meant we were coming.  At first I was a little frustrated that we had to go work for a few hours on our sacred P day, but hey it all worked out. We ended up going to the house of the Nichols who just barely got sealed on Thursday and they were so grateful! There were a ton of leaves but after living on the golf course for all these years, I was prepared. Later that night we went to eat at the Pryzbsz's house. Yeah, try saying that last name (Priz-biz). There ya go. Man I love them. They have a super interesting situation. It's a part member family with THEE driest Mormon I have ever seen. Holy cow, this guy has been a Pa on trek, has given a talk in church, and has gone out with us to teach less actives and he's not even a member of the church. Hahah the first time he came out with us I thought he was a member! You would never know. He's more active than half the members of our ward!  He's a super good Christian, with great values but I guess he is just happy in his own church! All the other missionaries haven't had success with him, but I think we need to do more!! I can just see it. I hope something can change! 

Tuesday

We saw my main man Schizophrenic Scott! We basically meet with him whenever cause he's always just chilling outside on the park benches. Sometimes he just calls us in the middle of the day to just chat. He's really progressing which is crazy. We gave him a commitment Friday to read in Corinthians and he called us today to say he'd already done it. So we met him at the park and started teaching about the plan of salvation. His eyes lit up several times as we explained to him why we're here and where we came from! After we had finished Elder Renteria looked at me and said that it was the best lesson he'd ever had with him and he's been here 6 months!! I hope things continue to roll with him! Today I was thinking about how here we are, teaching this guy that really isn't all there and is telling us some crazy stuff that he "sees" and "hears." I guess I was thinking is this all really worth it? Is he gonna change and remember what we said? Very quickly another thought came to my head that had to be from the spirit that basically said: "Remember who Jesus taught when he was here." He taught the weak, sick, humble, afflicted, and anyone willing to listen. I guess it was a little wake up call as I remembered why I am here and that every soul is precious to God. 

Wednesday

Kind of a slow day but I had one cool experience I could share! So we went to go see some less actives, and after we talked to the little gordito (the kid is probably 10 and weighs as much as me) I saw another kid outside raking leaves. Something just compelled me to start talking with him so I did! There had been a drug bust or something near by so I asked him if he knew what was going on, and he told us that all he knew was that the person who lived there was messed up. Anyways we start talking to this kid and he's just a stud. My type of guy. 14 year old black kid with diamond earrings named Douglas. Yes I had to mention the diamond earrings haha. I know there are certain people rolling their eyes right now but if you know me at all, you know I think black people look classy with diamond earrings. Always have, always will! I asked him if he went to church and he said he does occasionally and he likes what he feels there, no idea where he goes but that's a good start! We asked if he'd be willing to meet with us and he said yeah! I hope we can get back there because this guy is just a brother. Ahh plus we teach so many old women it's nice to find someone I can relate a little better with haha!! Hopefully it all works out! 

Thursday 

We got to see the Matos family that we translated for last Sunday! It was so good and I was able to understand a ton more of what was being said! I was so happy!  I wish I got to teach every day in Spanish... I think the learning process is going to have to be slower for me than most but oh well! Some day right? It's fun to learn all different kinds of Spanish. The way the Mexicans talked is WAY different from how my companion talks, and the Puerto Ricans.... Holy. Elder Renteria says they don't speak Spanish, they speak Puerto Rican. There's a lot of truth there. Anyways Milagros said she wanted to go to the temple so we set her with a date! We hope she can prepare herself and get ready to go! I like being able to teach more about the temple and the steps after baptism! We do a lot of that with the less actives around here. Also I just wanted to tell you guys how crazy big our area is. Today we drove 90 miles!! I'm so thankful for our Jeep. For those that have wondered why we get a car, that's why haha. I'd still be walking to Jamestown if we didn't! Right now Elder Cameron Smith (who went to Bingham) and I are like 230 miles apart and we're serving in the same mission! Wild. 

Friday

Had another Anti-LDS encounter... Boy those are fun... Hah so we're leaving an investigators house and there's this guy outside walking his dog. He must have seen us out of the corner of his eye and he comes bounding on over and motions for me to roll down the window. So I did. Big mistake. Hah I do and he goes: "I hope you guys know that God is a spirit not a man!! And he's all knowing and loving!" So I say: "Yeah we believe that God is all knowing and loving." He then says: "You guys are the Latter Day Saints right?" So we say: "Yes of course!" This man proceeds to go offffff the wall saying: "Well I'm a Greek Orthodox and I'm concerned for your salvation, you guys need to really investigate the teachings of your church because you are still young and have time to save yourselves!" "You guys are on a train moving very quickly in the wrong direction!" Then to cap it all off he told us he would be praying for us. Good-night Amigo. Haha if any of you know me you know my blood is boiling at about 312 degrees during all of this, but hey I kept my cool. I ended up just telling him that I know why I'm here and that I'm serving because I know it's true. That's when he said he'd be praying for us and I said "Same to you sir." Hah you gotta love the haters out here. After this whole experience my beloved companion says: "I didn't say anything because I wanted to see how you would handle it." Hah gotta love my Colombian. He also said he could tell I was fired up so at least we're getting to know each other. One thing I do know is if you wanna know the truth don't go to the Internet. Find out for yourself. If you wanna know more about Mexican food what would be better, to read what one guy said about it or to actually try it for yourself? I think we all know the answer as members of the church. Anyways I hope if any of you are having doubts or questions that you go to the SOURCE. Read the Book of Mormon and you will have your answer. That's my rant for this week haha 

Saturday 

Saw some less actives and really pushed the temple with them! Again I love being apart of that process! It's so great to help them progress and receive some of the best blessings they can receive. We saw my main man Charley. I absolutely love this guy. He's an 87 year old black man that claims he was born into slavery... Not really sure about that one but he's just the nicest man I've ever met. Hah he always tells us all about how he's just been helping his "old" neighbors out and doing the best he can every day. You truly grow to love the people out here even if some of them are crazy haha. I've felt that more this week as we've met with all sorts of people! Members and nonmembers, I guess I've just felt more love for them. Elder Renteria is always telling me I need to ask more about how they feel so I'm working on getting better! 

We also got "Heart attacked" by a family in the ward!! Haha I thought it was very nice.

I know that the church is true and I'm always so happy to be out here. This week I started to feel so much more love for the people here. It's a tough feeling to explain, but you just grow to admire them and all of the sacrifices and real life struggles they have each and every day!! I hope all is well back in the 801! 

Peace and blessings,
Elder Halls