Week 20
Monday, June 21, 2021
WEEK 20 Alan's Baptism!
What a crazy week we had! Elder Kofford and I were running around like crazy people everyday! Let me tell you the highlights
We have missionary devotionals most mornings on zoom for about 30 minutes. Usually our Mission President just gives us some council and we continue with our day. This week President Heap laid down the law! He called our mission to repentance and told us all to shape up lol. It is one of those talks that afterwards you are like "wow." In the devo, he talked about how missionaries hair is too long and we need to be groomed appropriately. I felt so bad about my hair length (even though it probably was okay to be honest. I just felt bad). So That night I cut it myself. It actually turned out really well! So if you notice my hair's shorter, that is why.
We went to the park with our friend Paul this week to have a talk about his testimony. He is a recent convert of about 5 years and his faith is just not there. It was an interesting conversation but he asked us what kind of drinks we like. I told him I love Powerade and figured he would bring just one. He brought us TWO whole packages of Powerade 
it was awesome
it was awesome On Thursday we had exchanges with our Zone Leaders. What great guys! I got to be with the new Zone Leader to the area and we had a blast. We did a videocall with this guy I found off Facebook, and we went for a run with our atheist friend. Elder Vandyken also did the baptismal interview for our friend Alan. It was so great to be with someone new and just get to know them better. I love Elder Kofford, but it is such a refreshing moment to have a new companion for a day. Eldee Vandyken is a really cool guy. He was impressed by the way I taught people. I really try to teach simply and explain things clearly when I teach. It is just how I teach I don't really think much about it. But he was impressed by it haha.
Okay this is really long already but there are a few funny stories I need to share!
Crazy Lady: We were to our friend Sister Macillaney's house this week with the Sister missionaries because we needed to giver her a priesthood blessing. As we left her house, I wanted a picture because the sky was beautiful. I was taking pictures when this lady walks over and starts talking with us. We could tell immediately she was in drugs of some sort. But it was so entertaining to hear her interactions with us haha! She wanted to show us her backyard so we were like sure! Why not? She started showing us her yard and all her lawn stuff. She has like 5 grills for some reason. As we were walking around, she insists that we sit in her swing that she had just bought so my companion and I sat in her swing! The whole scene was just hilarious. Her neighbor wandered over smoking a cigarette and laughing, this lady's boyfriend peeked his head out the window really curious what we were doing in his backyard. The lady yelled "come out side! We are having church with these missionaries!" He refused so she got mad and grumbled "Lord knows that you need church more than anyone". At one point a bee was flying by and I got scared (for some reason bees really scare me idk why but there have been a lot lately and I am dodging them left and right) and she looked at me all weird. Then she said "I know you're cute or whatever but those bees aren't coming after you they're going for the fruit in my tree". I was just having the time if my life wandering around with this lady on drugs laughing at all the weird stuff she said. When we ended up going home, our friend came outside and was really concerned. She was like "that lady is crazy! Are you guys okay?" LOL
Okay let me tell you about Alan's Baptism now. Alan's Baptism was just nuts. Friday night Elder Kofford and I were calling every member we could trying to get someone to take him to the baptism. Everyone was busy and I was super stressed because we didn't think anyone was even coming to his Baptism! We felt so bad. We called probably twenty members and NO one could come! Ekder Kofford and I finally decided we had no idea what to do. We messaged our Mission President and asked if we could call an Uber for our friend . He actually told us he loved the idea and offered to drive up from Lansing to pick him up from us. Before his response, we decided to call one last member after that in a hail marry attempt and she agreed! She is an angel. She picked up our friend Alan and brought her old friend to the baptism with her. They were the only two members there and we had all 6 of the missionaries. That was it! Luckily, I think Alan still had a good experience. But his actual baptism was pretty funny too. Elder Kofford was dunking him and as he lowered him in the water, his feet slipped and my man was struggling. He started grasping the wall and flailing around trying to get some balance. Elder Kofford then proceeded to SHOVE him under this guy is like drowning! Well we got him baptized and all of us watching were kind of in shock lol we were glad he was okay . But then, as he was walking into the bathroom to change he slipped and fell really hard. All of us heard a BANG echoing from the bathroom. Elder Kofford was the only one over there and I felt so bad for him. He was hoisting this guy up by his armpits while he was grabbing the coat hanger desperately trying to get back up! The whole scene was just interesting. Looking back, we are sure it was part of God's plan for nobody to be at the baptism because it may have been embarrassing for him if a lot of people were there. In the end, we are so happy for Alan!! And this will be a memory never forgotten.
. He actually told us he loved the idea and offered to drive up from Lansing to pick him up from us. Before his response, we decided to call one last member after that in a hail marry attempt and she agreed! She is an angel. She picked up our friend Alan and brought her old friend to the baptism with her. They were the only two members there and we had all 6 of the missionaries. That was it! Luckily, I think Alan still had a good experience. But his actual baptism was pretty funny too. Elder Kofford was dunking him and as he lowered him in the water, his feet slipped and my man was struggling. He started grasping the wall and flailing around trying to get some balance. Elder Kofford then proceeded to SHOVE him under this guy is like drowning! Well we got him baptized and all of us watching were kind of in shock lol we were glad he was okay . But then, as he was walking into the bathroom to change he slipped and fell really hard. All of us heard a BANG echoing from the bathroom. Elder Kofford was the only one over there and I felt so bad for him. He was hoisting this guy up by his armpits while he was grabbing the coat hanger desperately trying to get back up! The whole scene was just interesting. Looking back, we are sure it was part of God's plan for nobody to be at the baptism because it may have been embarrassing for him if a lot of people were there. In the end, we are so happy for Alan!! And this will be a memory never forgotten. Well this email is too long already. I love you all have a great week!
-Elder Elliott
