It's a Tuesday - I know. Monday was a little crazy. We went to the library like normal and noticed there weren't any cars there. "Maybe it's the whole Christmas season thing?" We walked up to the library and joined the small group of people reading the sign on the locked doors informing us due to unexpected remodeling that they would be closed until Wednesday. We tried some members but that didn't work out so we are emailing from Robertsdale, Alabama today! It's a nice little town - much like Philomath, OR.
It's been an eventful and interesting week. The other Elders - Elder C and Elder J left. It was fun to have them to pal around with and more fun to be able to work with them. It was really nice because we could do two things at once and we could tract out a neighborhood twice as fast. They left on Thursday to their own area. It was a long ways away though. I assume they are good up there. Elder C and Elder J are both great guys and Elders. As you can see from his picture, he is very enthusiastic about the work.
Anyway - it's been an interesting week as we've just had far too many appointments fall through. I don't really know what else we can do to have our appointments be more solid. =( As far as investigators goes, here is an update on them all.
T: We have a baptismal date with him but we're not sure on his understanding. He's working on reading the Book of Mormon but I'm not sure how much he gets out of it. Shortly after that lesson where we set the baptismal date with him, his wife lost her job and it's been really rough one them. Last time we came by he was quite sick so hopefully he's better now.
S: We've taught her most of the restoration except for the restoration. She had to leave right as we finished the Great Apostasy. We explained that the church was restored and left her a restoration DVD. She read some of the Book of Mormon (yay!) and enjoyed what she read. Hopefully she'll continue.
B: He had been reading the Book of Mormon every day (about 20 pages a day) but has been really busy with work and is just really tired when he comes home and finishes all the Christmas stuff he's working on. He's in Jacob and enjoys it. He just doesn't understand how there can only be one true church. Hopefully the Book of Mormon will continue to soften his heart - we just need to help him pick it up again.
S: He's been investigating for a long time and we're working on re-teaching him. He's kind of waiting for his wife before he really goes ahead. He reads the Book of Mormon every day and is in 3rd Nephi. He wants to be baptized but is waiting for his wife. His good friend and neighbor, Brother S, has really been working with him.
M: He's not an investigator but a somewhat less active. He's a great guy and is trying to do what's right. He comes from a large family and is related to half the stake. He came to church on Sunday and it's great to see him there. It takes a lot of guts to come by yourself and none of your immediate family wants to get out of bed. He's working on preparing himself to receive the Priesthood which is awesome!
We've found many new people with some great potential. Usually it's been in strange places like Belk's when we went to use the restroom, or walking in the park, or helping someone's son move. Hopefully we'll be able to follow up and really start sharing our message with them.
This is our district. The young man not in the suit in the back on the right is T. He's preparing to go on a mission to Brazil (Recife) in February but until then he is always happy to help us out and go out with us to do stuff and run us all around the place. I really like him plus he's super cool. I wish I was that cool before my mission. Ah well.
"This is Christmas! This isn't just any old holiday - I get a bunch of those throughout the year." - Brother Patterson
I wish you all a merry Christmas and may you keep Christ before Mas (more). The Church is true - otherwise the Priesthood wouldn't work. It's that simple.
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Elder Matthew Carlson
