Are there Transformers in heaven?

So the subject has minimal relevance to this week, but Elder Short just thought he might bring up some of his own doctrine in the car with us and this was part of it.  Like, y’all know in Transformers 3 when they are introducing Optimus to that one government guy and the black dude says “God created us in his image, he created him.” Well, apparently that’s doctrine now lmao.  Not really, but something funny from today.

Monday we went to Third Realm with Spanish and the zone leaders and then just chilled and played sports.

Tuesday we helped Ethan Henderson move some couches for Sister Worthington.  Right after that we had a zone blitz in our area and we were able to get a ton of referrals from the zone!  It was awesome!  I went with Elder Bolos and a 16 yr old member.  I had a door actually slammed in my face and Elder Bolos and I actually thought that was quite refreshing cause that hasn’t happened in a while for both of us haha.  We knocked for a little over an hour with no success.  We talked to a ton of people but no one wanted to have it.  The last door we knocked on, we ran into a lady named Veronica and she was awesome!  She took a Book of Mormon and actually asked us to share our testimonies on it.  She loved our enthusiasm and gave us her number.  It was so stellar.  We got back and studied and then went to basketball and as we walked to the church (at 8:15 pm) we got a call from the AP’s telling us we had to be in Stuttgart the next morning for an emergency exchange...but to start the call he says “sorry we didn’t tell you earlier.”  Like, Y’ALL STRESSING ME OUT AND Y’ALL KNEW 4 HOURS AGO?!  But it’s all cool, I played basketball and got wrecked...but a ton of non-members came and we talked to a bunch of them.  It was a good night!

Wednesday we had district meeting and then exchanged with Stuttgart.  It was pretty cool!  It’s very flat out in the Delta, but a ton of dope fields.  We rode all day and taught a dope lesson to a couple who is SO prepared!  I’m following up with Stuttgart this week to see the progress.  Stuttgart is actually the world duck hunting capital of the world and it’s also, as the sign says, the rice capital of the world.  So I made history, I guess!  I got to ride my bike down a high way and a bunch of dirt roads.  Like, when I got called to Arkansas, Stuttgart is what I thought I would get haha. I got some rad pictures I’ll send.  We were drenched in sweat, but hey, we talked to almost everyone we saw and taught some good lessons!  We missed a couple, but hey, repentance!  We went to bed way early, as well.

Thursday we exchanged back and went out riding our bikes to see a few people.   It took us a little bit longer to get out cause my tire popped...and then while trying to fix it while I was doing some administrative stuff for the mission, I heard a pop noise and then Elder Roberts say, “uh oh.”  Great haha.  He popped another hole but we fixed it with duct tape and a patch.  Not much success as we were out and about, but we got to sweat a bit I guess.  Ethan picked us up and we ate dinner at the Henderson's.  It was awesome!

Friday we weekly planned and Paul took us out.  We taught a super good lesson to a guy we found last week named Etheon.  We taught the plan of salvation and he loved it!  We gave him a Book of Mormon and explained how it can help him cope with the loss of loved ones.  We told him to read the introduction to gain more insight on why it’s important as well.  This is important.  We went out and tried to knock a street and contact people, but not much happened.  A couple people said to come over on Saturday.  Not a bad day!  Our dinner cancelled, so Paul came in clutch and we got Wendy’s.  We went back out and tired to visit a few other people.  We also met a kid from Salt Lake who was out selling security.  He said he was baptized but not active and left before we could get any info.

Saturday was good. Well, we called a referral and set up an appointment for that day, and then legit 5 minutes later, she calls back and said she don’t want it no more.  Like, who’d she talk to in 5 minutes?  She must have been very easily persuaded haha.  Oh well, we went out with Paul and met a guy named Darian and he was cool.  He was busy and told us to come back on Thursday.  We went to Etheon’s and his wife answered the door holding the Book of Mormon.  In my head I was frantic thinking, sonuva gun, she is giving it back and they ain’t interested.  Well, by the grace of God and to my absolute surprise, she opened it and said “what were we supposed to read again? My daughter was reading and lost the book mark.”  Y’all I threw a fit!!!  I was ecstatic!  We went in and taught her about the Book of Mormon and talked about the introduction and then she told us she works with Bishop Warner.  My heart swelled up and I was on a high!  They have 5 kids.  One 16 and the rest were 7 and younger.  One of this kids kept hugging us and it was precious.  Anyway, we went out and not much success was found as we were out.  One lady even answered the door and then as she went to grab who we were looking for, she never came back to the door.  They literally waited until we left after 5 minutes of standing there...like, y’all just tell us if y’all ain’t interested.  It’d be so much easier for all of us!  We got back had went to dinner at the Dixon’s.  It was awesome!  He is our Elders Quorum President and gave us some insight on who we can help in the ward.  We left and I finished some MyPlan.

Sunday was a good church service.  No one came to church for us, but the sisters had a few and it was great!  We had correlation and then went to check on Brother Accquah and Brother Bellerose.  Brother Bellerose is moving so we got his info and then headed to dinner.  So, this dinner was off the hook lmao.  Sister Bernal invited 4 girls who are visiting from Utah, who are all on the USU Rugby team.  They were super dope and hilarious, but then it got SUPER awkward.  Sister Bernal started to try to get Paul to be set up with them and then told them all that I go home soon and need to open my eyes lmao.  We all just passed the water around and made it a joke to cool down haha.  Sister Bernal then took us to visit a kid that’s dating her friend's daughter.  A lot has gone down with this family so we went over and taught this kid a little bit about God and invited him to pray and ask if he is there.  It was super good!  We gave the member a blessing and blessed her home.  It was a great day!

So this week we have gotten our area book up to speed and have more and more people to at least go visit.  We have been knocking relentlessly and finding lately.  All is well now!  We’re on an uphill climb!  These last couple weeks are probably gonna kill me, but that’s okay, cause if I die for Jesus, what better way?  I love y’all and sorry this is is so late!

Kings Do King Things
Goin' Buck Wild

Operation Fast Hog

Howdy y’all!

So this was a SUPER hot week full of stuff.  I can say I put my blood and sweat into this week.

Monday we hiked Pinnacle Mountain with Ethan, a member who got his mission call to Mexico!  Fun fact, my post mission trip falls on his last weekend and farewell!   Woot woot!  Paul took us and Elders Bolos and Brownell bowling and I got slaughtered.  He then took us and spanish out for shakes!  Later that night we got a phone call.  Well, here’s the catch, the ringtone wasn’t ours.  But of course silly me still told Elder Roberts to answer it (he had the phone in his hand).  We went on a search after seeing it wasn’t out phone ringing.  Yup...the zone leaders left their phone at our place haha.  We called Paul to give us a ride to their apartment cause the sisters had the car.  We felt bad cause he had just gotten home and pulled up in his drive way as we called.  But we got there and informed the AP’s but they told us to wait at their apartment until they get home.  So we did as told.  Around 10:15 we called the sisters and asked if they could drive to our apartment and see if they were waiting for us at our place.  Well la-dee-freakin-dah!  They did the same thing as us haha.  They came back to us and we got home around 10:45.  Great night.

Tuesday we went out with Paul and knocked out our list given to us by the Elders quorum president and then went and did some finding and found a guy named Travis.  Good ole Travis has a sweet corvette and as we talked with him at his door, we realized homeboy was in his underwear haha!  Paul took us back home after we we’re drenched in sweat from knocking.  We had dinner at the Anderson’s and they’re awesome!  Sister Anderson is actually Brother Devoux’s, from Hot Springs, daughter!  She made some bomb enchiladas.  It always gives me a chuckle when people tell us they are sorry for their kids acting out when company is over cause I just think about my family and tell them “if y’all only knew” cause not every family has a Crew hahahaha.  We went to basketball and I am not improving.

???

Wednesday we met a new investigator named Sharise!  She is super cool!  We taught her the plan of salvation, but I think I my discernment was off cause after we got done she made a few comments about needing direction on truth and I immediately felt chastened cause we should have just stuck with the restoration.  But the lesson went fine!  We invited her to church and to read the pamphlets!  We then went out for a late lunch with Brother Bailey, who was with us in the lesson.  He is our ward mission leader and super awesome.  He dropped us off to get the car from the sisters and then went door knocking and then went to Book of Mormon class.  After that, we had a rehearsal for a song we are going to sing with a bunch of other missionaries my last Sunday in the field.  We then had a short correlation.  This is where the night got crazy.  The sisters never texted in and so the zone leaders called us.  Then the commencement and perfect execution of Operation Fast Hog took place.  We strapped on our safety vests and running shoes to travel the 1.5 mile ruck.  Well, to ensure we arrived at the LZ in a timely manner (within 15 minutes), Elder Roberts had to hop on his bike.  My bike got taken out of commission by some commie screw and blew my tire.  But nothing stops the Bear.  I took to my feet and got a runnin.  We got there dripping in sweat and crampin like none other.  The sisters were safe and apologized at least 12 times.  After securing the sisters inside and making a sweep of all missionaries in the area, we made the sprint back.  We were back in and safe at 10:30 and had a great nights rest.  Operation Fast Hog was a success.

Thursday I was sore lol. We went finding again and found a guy named Etheon.  No other success was found.  Bishop Warner came out with us and we saw some members and brought some women in the ward flowers!  It was great!

Friday started off with a downpour of rain.  Then 20 minutes later, I kid you not, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it reached 115 degrees of skin melting heat.  So, we weekly planned and exchanged with the zone leaders.  I went with Brownell!  I love that dude!  We taught a guy named Mark who’s a member.  Fun fact, I taught this guy one of his new member lessons with Elder May last February!  Then we went and checked on one of their investigators.  She was super cool and let us in and we answered a lot of her questions.  We went to Taco Bell for dinner and then went to try some other people before calling it a night.  I guess a huge storm rolled in that night as well.

Saturday morning we exchanged back and Paul embraced me with a huge hug cause he was glad I was back haha.  We knocked out another list given to us and tried a bunch of other people as well.  Right before we exchanged, Elder Roberts and Elder Bolos had a really awesome lesson with Sharise.  So I was happy.  Other than that, no one was home.  Paul got pizza for us and the sisters and we ate and had a mini correlation.  We went out again and tried to see Sharon Stuckey, she was gone at a friends house cause her power was out.  We tried to see Kim and Randy and another lady Elder Roberts met, but none were home.  Paul got us shakes on another Sonic run and then we came home.

Sunday was good!  I woke up super sick but it’s okay cause Sharise came to church!  She loved it!  She said it was a lot to take in, but other than that, she loved it!  We had correlation and then ate at Sister Bernal’s with Paul.  It was amazin!  I love that family, but it was supper weird without Christian...but he’s on to bigger and better things in Mexico!  Paul took us back to the apartment after that cause I had to make sure I got all of my boxes ready to send home and so I could get some rest.  We called a bunch of people to set up appointments, but to no avail.  The power is still out in a lot of areas.  The sisters and Hermana’s got to sleep at President Jones’s house cause their A/C went out.  Lucky.

It was a super hot one and we done knocked a ton of areas out, but we’re still on the grind!  Our goal is to find at least one person to prepare them for baptism and to build up a good teachin pool.  Right now, teaching pool is better, but we still gotta find more people.  All shall be well in Zion! We’re ending with a bang and are finding more than ever.  If y’all have ever taken anything away from my emails, I hope it was that we are trying our hardest.  We can’t quit cause Our Savior didn’t quit on us.  When it got hard and his closest friends either betrayed or left him, he still carried on and he still
 gave literally all he had.  I’m just asked to knock doors in hot weather.  Ain’t nothing.  I love y’all so much!  Have a great week and carry on!


Kings Do King Things
Goin' Buck Wild

We’re knocking that way...sing it.

I hope y’all read the subject to the Backstreet Boys' “I want it that way” tune.

Monday we spent the day with Paul and the zone leaders!  It was so fun!  We played cards, got pizza and hung out.

Tuesday was full of finding.  We knocked doors and found a guy named Randy who let us in and we taught the restoration!  That t was great!  No one else was having it though.  Jabari wasn’t home and so I went home to do MyPlan but it wouldn’t work so I was sitting there yelling at my phone for 30 minutes.  Yup, inanimate objects got the best of me that night.  We went to the Warner’s for dinner and it was wonderful!  We had a little plan of salvation lesson and I loved it!  The Warner’s are great!

Wednesday we rode to Cedric and Marcus’s place for appointments and they weren’t there.  It was hot so it sucked.  We studied with Christian and Peter and then went out with Christian.  We saw the other Cedric but he said he was moving.  We just set a return appointment to get his details on Saturday.  We attempted MyPlan again...which worked on the computer, but it sucked cause I didn’t finish.  We went to dinner with the Dixon’s and then to Book of Mormon class.  We had a small correlation and got a list of people to visit.

Thursday we had a Really good zone Conference and it really hit me that it was my last one.  As we sang How firm a foundation, during the 7th verse, I just couldn’t hold it in and I cried like a baby.  It was so hard to realize it was my last.  I gave a departing testimony and that made it real.  I love my mission so much.

Friday we went out with Paul for a couple hours to try a referral and some investigators but no one was home.  We came home and built a bike for Sister Marshall.  Let me tell ya, when I have kids, they’re getting motor bikes cause them things is a pain in the booty to put together!  I cut myself like 5 time and almost stripped a bolt with pliers cause we didn’t have a wrench.  So yeah, fun time.  Sister Worthington made a dinner for all of the Zone.  It was so good.  I finally finished MyPlan as well.

Saturday again we went out with Paul.  It was actually really good cause we visited a ton of people, but sadly the less actives we visited didn’t answer or didn’t want us.  There was a glimmer, though.

A less active talked to us and said she’s only inactive due to her son who has Down syndrome.  We’re passing her off to the relief society cause she was awesome and needs ministering sisters.  We saw, Kim, a lady Elder Roberts and Bolos found on a blitz.  She was great!  We taught the restoration and she loved it.  And according to Elder Roberts, Genesis and Exodus were prophets haha.  I love the kid.  Paul and I looked at each other and chuckled.  Kim didn’t catch it but it was so funny.  We went to see Randy but he wasn’t home.  Paul took us home and we went with a member from Pinnacle Mountain to get a washer for Sister Worthington.  We had dinner with Sister Glazier at Taziki’s.  It’s a Mediterranean place.  She’s great.  Paul picked us up and we got shakes and saw Cedric.  Turns out he isn’t moving next week like he said, and he said he might come to church.  So it wasn’t too bad!  We went for a little drive and started a fast with Elder Roberts and I.

Sunday was great.  We had a great lesson 2nd hour and had to do some security for the church cause some random guys came in and so we talked to them.  We have had many break ins and sketchy things happen, so we were security.  Turns out they were with the spanish Branch.  We went home and did weekly Planning and then went to Christians farewell.  It was great

This week was HOT and HUMID and walking and biking wasn’t the best, but hey, we done had a great time and talked to a ton of people!  I love y’all so much and hope y’all had a great week!

Kings Do King Things

Goin' Buck Wild

Murica splosions, flames, dying Elders, and the last transfer has come and gone!

Howdy y'all!

Well on Monday I started my last transfer.  It’s a pretty crazy feeling if I’m being brutally honest.  But anyway, Monday started off with us riding to Cedric’s house and he wasn’t home.  That sucked.  We had a zone p day where we played minute to win it games and my team got slaughtered.  To be fair, there was a lot of cheating on the winning team, so I’ll take integrity over a cheap win any day.  We went to the Jones's for dinner and it was great!  They’re awesome!  Sister Stuckey had to reschedule our appointment with her so we didn’t see her.

Tuesday we drove to North Little Rock to say bye to basically all of my mission friends.  That was the hardest thing I’ve done in a while.  I about cried when I had to watch Elder Barron and Elder Parks leave.  I was also super upset watching Elder Paopao leave cause we have had plans for my last district meeting for almost a year now.  We had a ceremony and everything, now he’s in Mississippi. We drove home and did studies and then went to basketball.  I still suck.  Oh and I started MyPlan, which to be short is the trunky course for dying missionaries to readjust to life back home.

Wednesday was, of course, the best day of the year, the birthday of the best nation on Earth.  The United States of America.  We started off the day with helping a lady in our apartment complex move.  It was freaking hot, but worth it!  We were there until about 1 and gave her a Book of Mormon and she wants to come to church!  Sadly it’ll have to be in the Pinnacle Mountain area, but hey, planting seeds am I right?  We came back and showered and did our studies before Brother Bailey picked us up for a huge party at the Henderson's.  It was good, wasn’t as big as they made it out to be though.   But we were able to talk to a bunch of non-members and I let Elder Roberts wear my American flag tie as I wore my constitution.  Lots of compliments ensued.  We had to leave to help Mrs. Jasper (lady we helped move) unload at her place, but apparently they already unpacked.  She wanted us to bless the house the next day, so we passed her on to Pinnacle.  Paul took us to clean his car and then get shakes at Sonic.  Y’all wanna hear something strange?  We went to a sit down Sonic.  It was like a restaurant but there was a phone on the table that you ordered on.  That rocked my world something fierce right there!!  We started back to watch the fireworks but then a house exploded in front of us from “fireworks” (were convinced it was a meth lab).  But that fire was HUGE!  We saw the flames over the trees on the highway.  We missed fireworks, so we watched random people’s as we drove home.

Thursday we went out with Christian and I swear I cannot get a good day when he is with us!  I feel horrible because now, missionary work is going out and literally all of our appointments falling through!  No one answered and it kinda really sucked and upset us, but there is nothing we can do about other peoples’ agency.  One lady told us off pretty bad.  Nothing new.  Brother Webster came and picked us up with his son (he is special needs and in a wheel chair) so we could visit Brother Bellerose.  He is a vet who lost his legs.  He is super awesome though.  We visited and taught him the restoration cause he wants to remember more.  He told us stories of his service and this man had some serious guts.  Great man and I respect him so much.  We went to the Loken’s for dinner and set up a time for us to walk with them and meet their neighbors!

Friday we studied with Christian and he took us to get cansadas (anyone with Latino background forgive me if that’s spelled wrong) and then went to give a guy a blessing at the VA.  He was nice and told us he needs us to visit his son (Hot Springs Elders are already teaching his son) and wanted us to pray with him as well. Super nice guy.  We came back and weekly planned until Paul picked us up to visit some people and clean the church.

Saturday was finding galore.  We went out on a blitz with Paul, Benton Zone leaders and Otter Creek sisters.  We found about 5 people with interest and it was a SUPER nice day.  Although, when we pulled up to park, it was in front of a lady at her house.  She was like yelling at the sisters car cause we pulled away.  Then this chick pulls out a switch lol!  We drove off and found somewhere else haha.  Then we went out with Christian and again...NO ONE ANSWERED.  What a life haha.
After that we had a goodbye party for the Hess’s (the mission nurse and wife) and I about cried.  It was a surprise and they were so shocked haha.  I’ll miss them so bad.

Sunday I woke up with a train wreck of a head ache.  I slept it off for a sec before church.  It was a good church service though!  We went out with Christian again and again no one answered.  Well, a girl we found named Tierra was home, but she had to reschedule.  Funny story on that, she answered the door in what we thought was lingerie....she’s a heavy set girl and her swim suit was a little too small...so yeah...awkward haha.  But we ate with Sister Bernal and it was STELLAR!  We had steak and chicken and mashed taters!!  Afterwards we tried Markus but he wasn’t home...sadly even though he said he would be home.

It was a good week! I mean, we’re still struggling but nothin a little work can’t fix!  Love y’all!

Kings Do King Things
Goin' Buck Wild

Agency: The Best/Worst Gift We Received

Bass Pro Shop is a p-day destination.

So as you can read from the subject, it’s been a week.  But what can I say, it’s tough!

Monday we went to Carissa’s and when we got there, she came outside and said “the Mexican doesn’t want to do the Mormon.”  So of course I chuckled at the grammar, thanks mom.  We then went to the Warner’s for dinner and had a great time!

Road rash.

Tuesday we had district meeting.  We did a three legged race for companionship unity and your boy won.  I exchanged with Elder Brownell.  I love that kid.  We went tracting as we waited for the Tooks to get home.  We found a girl named Sierra so that was great!  We accidentally started a fight between 2 women (that’s a long story, I’ll tell y’all when I’m home.  Ask me about it.) and heard the fight at the opposite end of the apartment complex...let me put it this way, we were at least 200 to 300 yards away from them, with buildings separating us, and we still heard the swearing and yelling LMAO!!  We had dinner at the Henderson's and gave Sister Henderson a blessing.  We played basketball and I balled out again, and then they put a dude comparable to Dwayne Johnson with the skill of MJ on me and I didn’t touch the ball haha.

Wednesday we went out tracting again and a dude named Cedric pulled us over and we talked and he wants us to come over and teach him.  We had Book of Mormon class and exchanged back.

Some churches have whirlpools...

Thursday we went to help Sister Worthington at this homeschool book sale.  They totally didn’t want Mormons there, but we were the only ones who accepted to volunteer.  I was able to get 12 other missionaries to come help and it was a huge success!  We played bouncer and security to make sure no one stole anything and we helped set up and take down.  A couple elders were approached and told the church ain’t true but other than that, there was no altercations!  I got a a forensic science book and it’s pretty dope.  Oh, I slipped and fell and tore up my hand before this started and had to perform mini surgery in getting the rocks out of my hand.  That sucked.

Friday was weekly Planning.  We then had interviews with president and then went back to weekly Planning and sent off like 100 people to another area as we cleaned out our area Book.  We tried to see a few people and NO ONE ANSWERED THE DOOR.  Let me tell ya does that get old.

Saturday we mowed Sister Stuckey's yard and then moved a desk for another member.  We went out contacting and tracting and again.  NO ONE ANSWERED THE DOOR. Like, y’all, get the net! We out here in the blazing heat tryna bring y’all to Christ.  It’s okay though.  I ain’t even mad.  Although, this week has had like 4 days where it was over 100 degrees with high humidity (a couple days were low though) and we were biking and walking and santa vaca (holy cow in Spanish) it was rough.  But hey, I’m alive.

...and saunas!  Count me in!

Sunday was a good day...church wise.  We had a great second hour and a couple non members were there.  President Jones from the mission presidency acted out an amazing visual on the war in heaven and how both sides tried to get us to come over. It was AMAZING. I learned so much!  After church we went and had pupusa’s at Sister Bernal’s!  It was fantastic.  Pupusa’s are my favorite Latino food by far!  We went contacting again and Cedric set an appointment with us for this morning, but sadly he didn’t answer the door...so that was upsetting.  We then saw Sierra and gave a brief restoration and gave her a Pamphlet.  She is super excited to meet with us on Thursday!  Paul took us out for a drive to tell us about his experience at the temple!  He took out his endowments and he was SO excited!!  It was awesome!  I loved hearing his testimony and the excitement in his voice was amazing.  I do, though, ask for prayers cause the area is really struggling and the work is slow.  We’re working but we need some extra faith.  Thanks y’all!  I love y’all!


Kings Do King Things
Goin' Buck Wild