Week 18

 Monday, June 7, 2021

WEEK 18- We met Jesus, well kind of...

Good Morning everyone!

I had a really great week here in the great state of Michigan! Let me tell you about it!

This week flew by way too fast but we had some really sweet stuff happen to us. On Memorial Day we went to a fun picnic and played Volleyball and Softball with the ward. The members here are really nice. We were told to bring our own food to the picnic so my companion and I planned on eating afterwards. This woman came up to us and offered us food. When we politely refused she DEMANDED we eat her food  she was so nice haha. 

We moved our friend Alan's baptismal date a week earlier. So he should be getting baptized next week! That is pretty exciting

Two days ago we had set up four lessons and all of them fell through so we were pretty bummed. But, this really cool lady the missionaries were able to reactivate a month ago invited us over to help her with her yard. We cut her tree for her and then she took us to Buffalo Wild Wings! I had that twice this week because on Thursday it is BOGO and it was my four month mark in the mission! So we celebrated. It was so fun! 

That same day, this guy we had met randomly in a neighborhood called us and wanted to meet with us. So naturally we went over to his house. He was waiting for us on his porch sipping beer. When we came up to him, he started saying some super weird stuff about how he was going to "teach us" lol. We followed him around to his backyard and when we sat down, he was like: "Alright this is what I need you guys to do." My companion and I were like what? We are supposed to be teaching you. But he started going off about how he is a Shepherd over his flock and that he is saving all the people here in Michigan. He was like "I know this sounds crazy and you are not going to believe me, but I am Jesus. I saved all of us. I am reincarnated" This guy was absolutely nuts! As soon as we went around back, the Spirit was like "Elder Elliott you need to leave". So as we were talking he was telling us how he was going to recruit us to walk the streets at night with him and teach all the people on drugs and the homeless people that walk at night. We were like "ummmm no thanks". Finally, I had enough and about ten minutes into our "lesson" I essentially said "You do not understand our purpose Tim" and I stated our purpose and then we left. He kept trying to get us to stay but we were luckily able to leave. We were getting some sketchy vibes from this guy. When we left he was like "I will prove to you guys who I am. In time you will see." I was like yeah okay buddy. Because Christ was sipping beer on his porch in His day lol. I think at one point he was even saying "Yes I am Jesus, God gave me Michigan to preach the word. I was angry so I let Covid lose to the world." Just crazy stuff. So yeah, that happened

There is a lady in our ward who has the same last name as me and we went to her house this week! I took a picture with her and her son's missionary tag. Kind of fun!

Next week we have in-person interviews with our Mission President. First one since I got here in Michigan!! We had a Zoom Zone Conference this week and it wasn't as fun as usual. I missed seeing all the missionaries in our Zone. But, from now on we are doing everything in-person! We are allowed to take off our masks if we are teaching people who aren't bothered by it, and we can talk to strangers on the street while we are out and about if we feel prompted to. It will be interesting to see how Missionary Work progresses here in Michigan as Coronavirus becomes more under control. I doubt we will go back to only door knocking. But, it will be interesting! 

We had lots of cool stuff happen this week but I will just end with a spiritual thought. 

One thing that has been on my mind a lot lately is the Christlike attribute Charity. Moroni 7:47 says it better than I can

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

How can you have more Charity, or more love for everyone like Christ did? (The real one, not Tim). 

Have a great week everyone!!

-Elder Elliott