Teaching, service, and 4th of July in Boise!!

July 09, 2018

Great week this week, just like it always is out here. You learn more and more when you spend your days helping and talking to many different types of people. The mission has been quite a great experience for me so far, definitely cant believe ive been out for over 3 months already, crazy!

Monday-Went to a buffet place that has all different types of meat called Tucanos. We went in with faith we would get paid for and we did haha. We and our zone leaders ate a couple pounds of chicken, beef, steak and pineapple. Then we talked to a new move in to the area in his garage, and invited him to church, then we helped out some members send referrals.

Tuesday-We taught a less active mother and son. They explained to us they felt dissconnected from God, so we taught them about the importance of praying and reading the bible and book of mormon and how thats really the #1 way we can feel connected. Then we visited the man we baptized a few weeks ago. Later we taught a family who is trying to get married in the temple for eternity and we always have a great time with them. A member who speaks very little english was telling us all about his mission stories in mexico that night too, and his dog was being a little frisky with me haha.

Wednesday-Definitely the most unique 4th ive ever had, had a good district council, got some new mission rules, then we went to mans house from Tanzania and he fed us some foofoo and fish soup with all these little fish in it. Im not picky at all so I ate all of it and I thought it was good, I love my fish. Elder Thompson didnt enjoy it as much haha. Taught another guy about the gospel of Jesus Christ and its been cool to see his faith grow. Then we ran into a BYU-I college student and he studied with us and I got a feeling to teach him more about temples. He was searching for an answer on how to find more peace in life and he thanked me because the answer was go to the temple. Our ward mission leader assistant hooked us up with some good ribs and we ate them while we listened to the fireworks shoot off. Some guy started cursing and yelling at us but we had to walk away since we really cant have the holy ghost with us if theres contention going on.

Thursday- Did work at idaho youth ranch warehouse, visited a less active family and had a good time, tried to go see a man we teach named smokey but some lady answered the door and told us to leave. Talked to another lady in the trailer park next to us and she was telling us how this family in our ward stopped waving or talking to her and she was all upset then literally right after she told us that the same family drove by in there mini van and waved and smiled to her. With her funny british accent she was like "oh my goodness that is so bizarre" haha. Then her dog dropped her a present right next to her on her porch. Then later that guy who was yelling at us on the 4th came to us and apologized which was actually pretty cool.

Friday- Made some supply kits for the International rescue committee, then we visited a kid who was sadly moved to the hospital because of some issues he was having which was too bad, visited some more people, then we were talking to a 11 year old who races cars on the meridian speedway which was interesting. I never even drove until i was like 16-17. Interesting because his dad wont let him be baptized until hes old enough but he lets him race and crash cars. Then we taught some more people that evening.

Saturday- We ate a good breakfast with some less active members then we did yard work for them and moved some dead trees. Then we had a meeting and visited more people, then we taught another lady who is close to baptism but has things she needs to take care of, made some more visits to people after that

Sunday-Had a few people we teach show up to church which was good, were always doing lots of stuff and meeting with people since we cover 2 wards close to the same times, found some more people to teach, then we taught a recent convert about the plan of salvation, then we taught another man with a couple that came with us from the ward, we had a good disscussion about how we have been able to feel the presence of the holy ghost and how it can teach us truth from reading the book of mormon.

Nothing too crazy really happened this week, but its always fun being a missionary. I bear you my testimony that the things we teach isnt "phony baloney" as one man told us a month ago, it is all very true. Nice thing is nobody has to take our word for it, we can read, ponder, and pray about the book of mormon and any other piece of religious info and we will find truth through feeling the holy ghost sent from our beloved heavenly father. I love all of you and my prayers go out to many! God bless!