I'll do some brief catching up:
Friday (26th) was weekly planning and we talked to people. Elder S made brownies for the lawyer whose car he had hit since he felt bad. We dropped them off but the head lawyer was the only one there. Apparently everyone in law offices leave at 12 on Fridays. Anyway, we had a great dinner with the R's- they're way cool. We made copies of a form that we needed and the printer was running out of ink and not working in one section so I took out the cartridge and shook it a bit. I then noticed there was toner everywhere on me! On the bright side the printer worked fine and the shirt came clean with some help from Oxiclean.
Saturday (27th) was tiring. We had a move for Sister D. We rode our bikes in service clothes which felt really weird. I accidentally stood in an ant hill and got quite a few bites which itched. I made a chocolate milkshake for lunch as well as some real food. We had a good lesson with A. The Spirit truly directs us though as we found A- someone who we had knocked on his door on a few times previously and no one had answered but he was home and we had a good chat with him. We had dinner at the S's but it was more of a birthday party. Really good food though.
Sunday (28th) we spent some time early before church cleaning and flushing out the baptismal font. They fixed the rust problem so it was running pretty clear. The focus of church was being spiritually born of God and it was quite good. The baptism was for the F's 8 year old daughter. It went well. We were biking to an appointment when a jogger lady stopped us on the side of the freeway and she asked me, "How's preaching your fake gospel going?" I stopped my bike as I had just come up a hill and explained "It's not fake- it's the real thing." Then she went off for a long time how we're leading people astray with all sorts of Bible verses because it says in Revelation and in Deuteronomy that no one can add to or take away. I then asked her if we are leading people away then why would we ask people to read and pray about it. She told me she didn't want to listen to our sermon. She didn't look happy at all though and I mostly feel bad for her. I said a little prayer as we biked away. We had splits with Brother K our ward mission leader (who really reminds me of Alex Thomson in terms of personality as well as a little in looks). Most of our appointments fell through though. =( I did make onion rings though which were quite good (we have about 5 or 6 pounds of onions for some reason).
Monday (29th) we waited around in Walmart for a long time after shopping for the Sisters. We both were on tight budgets as it was the 5th Monday of the month. I made my planner cool looking which was cool.
We had dinner at the N's which was delicious. There was, as usual, a big pile of food. I actually really liked the fried okra she made which was breaded and delicious.
Tuesday (30th) was mostly spent walking. We went to A's- had a good lesson and while coming back to our bikes noticed that Elder S's bike tire was completely flat. We were about 6 miles from home so we started walking. I didn't mind though, I had a good attitude that it was all going to work out. We did stop at an auto repair shop to see if they could fill it up and they tried but it was just go flat in seconds. The guy filling it up was very nice and said that he had seen us a lot and he wanted to talk to us. We had ridden by a few times and I felt like I wanted to talk to him but we were late and by the time I made up my mind to talk to him so he was behind us a ways so we kept going. We walked back to the apartment and Elder S had a replacement tube so he replaced the tube and we had an enjoyable evening helping the U's repair their deck as the wood had rotted out quite a bit. Great family- they're just out of town most Sundays which is really sad. But we're working with them. They made us hamburgers and stuff for dinner which was really good and gave us a ride home just right before 9:30.
Wednesday (31st) I was tired but it was still good. Elder S's bike odometer hit 700 today making all in total about 500 miles biked in Tifton (he was at 187 when he first arrived a month ago). I had two really ripe bananas so I made banana bread- it was good. Michael entered the MTC which was great to hear and think about. We saw D since I had a feeling to go see him (it was his day off) so we talked for a bit. We were biking to the hospital when some people walked out and saw us and said, "ELDERS!" I stopped, thinking this was going to be either really good or not good. Turns out they were members from the Douglas 1st ward and needed a blessing for her daughter-in-law who had just found out she had tumors on her brain stem. She is a young mother with a 2 year old son and very nice husband. It was an honor to be able to assist to give that very powerful blessing. Her husband did the actual blessing but the Spirit there was incredible. We then visited a member of a ward in the hospital who isn't doing as well (he was who we originally went there for). We met a nice young lady named K. We talked for a while and it turns out missionaries had knocked on her door but never came back which she was kind of sad about. She does work a night job which makes her very hard to catch though. We had Zaxby's for dinner (fried chicken tenders, french fries, toast, and coleslaw all with special sauce) and then a coordination meeting. We were going to see D but J was in a car wreck and had flipped her car 4 times. Luckily she was just fine, just shook up.
I know I promised I'll catch up and I will try harder next time. Things have been going great! We had an amazing experience the other day and D and J and her brother are doing amazing! It truly was a testimony to me that the Lord has people for us and that people truly need what we have- they just don't know it. We had a lesson with D and it was funny since his son who had been gone the last few lessons sat down and he was getting really interested but the poor guy was kind of confused but he was getting it. We left since it was 9:15. We started walking home (another thing- Elder S snapped the axle on his bike so we've been walking everywhere. But we've been blessed) and J asked if she could ask us some questions. We walked and talked. She basically prayed and got an answer and she felt a happiness she had never felt before in her entire life and she knows that the things we share are true and it has changed her life. It was pretty amazing. We testified and told her now she knows she needs to act. It was an amazing moment for me. Then we parted ways as we were headed back to our apartment and she was headed back home. She asked "I know y'all have rules and stuff but would it be alright to ask for a hug?" I looked at Elder S and then at J. 17 year old girl, 9:25 or so, 2 Mormon missionaries. I told her, "Sorry but not right now. But I promise you when I come back- since I will come back and visit y'all- I will give you a hug." It was a great day.
I know the Lord is willing to help us and speak through us. My words are not my own but the ones of Him who sent me. It's been amazing week of struggle but it's been an amazing week of blessings such that I do not look at the hard things as hard. I look at them as blessings in disguise.
I love you all. But I love it here too.
Elder Matthew Carlson
