Week 38

 Monday, October 25, 2021

Good Morning everyone!

Honestly, we've had another pretty slow week. OUR FRIENDS WONT MEET WITH US. BUT we had some fun things happen. We were able to find a new friend, I re-organized the areas in my District, we had exchanges, we had Stake Conference, and some funny stories! 

This past transfer has been miracle filled, but very challenging. Up until this week, I have not enjoyed being the District Leader here in Bay City at all. It was a struggle to have a good attitude. Living with and loving the Elders we serve around has made leading very difficult. But, on Monday night it all came to a head with them and we were able to figure things out more. My companion and I stayed up wayyy too late talking with one of the Elders and we were able to help him out. It needed to happen, and there is a sense of unity in the apartment. These past weeks, the Lord has taught me patience, charity, and humility. It has been challenging, but worth it. I love Elder Clouse so much, and I love these Elders we live with. 

Before the Zone Conference, we had a meeting and all of us were told to organize our Districts properly. Because of quarantine in 2020, Bay City has been disorganized for a long time. I prayed and thought about how to split up the areas. This week, we split them up into three! It was kind of hard because now we have to give away like half the people we are teaching but, it will bring blessings in the future. 

On Tuesday we had exchanges and they were so great! I went with my Zone Leader Elder Boyce from St. George and I went to my old stompin' grounds in Saginaw! It was such a blast! We were able to go to the ghetto areas and street contact and we met some really cool people with some really hard names to pronounce. One woman was named Aquanice ( pronounced agua-niece). She's actually meeting with the missionaries now! SO that is cool. Elder Boyce is an absolute stud and we had a blast on exchanges. We went to the soup kitchen I used to serve at every week and we were supposed to dump out the trash but we accidentally dumped all these turkey bones and gross stuff into the wrong dumpster. It was so funny because as we were dumping it in Elder Boyce was like "this is so clean" and then we realized it was the recycling dumpster. We almost made it out without having to fix the damage we had done but the guy caught us as we were leaving haha... So we had to clean it out of the dumpster with a shovel. We were in our nice clothes and bees were attacking us, it was rough. But Elder Boyce was such a champ and he volunteered to do it haha. 

Exchanges were a blast. We met this crazy guy on a bike named Uncle Baebae and he was talking to himself while he was biking around. We saw him 3 times and decided to take a picture haha. People in the hood were so much nicer than the people in Bay City! They were actually receptive to our message. Keeping commitments? Well, that is another story...But Elder Boyce and I had a great time. I hope we are companions some day! He truly has the kindest heart and we had some amazing stuff happen that day. Too much to write, but my journal will suffice. 

Elder Clouse had an entirely different exchange. Apparently, our Zone Leaders are having a hard time getting along and Elder Clouse literally led the exchange here in Bay City. I was proud of him. His comp for the day was having a really hard time, but they got a lot done and Elder Clouse basically took care of him for the day . He gave him a blessing, and made him food. He is a good companion. 

We have been unsuccessful for two weeks trying to find any new friends. We were able to find one new guy this week. We are so hyped!! Our goal is 12 this transfer, and so far we have 4. SO we are going to pray for a miracle and try for our goal of 12, which would mean 8 in one week. I believe we can do all things through the Savior. I will be praying like I have never prayed before!!  

We had Stake Conference this week and it was so good! We went to Midland and got to hear all the speakers including President and Sister Heap which was amazing! This week we also had a Covid scare. Elder Reynolds was really sick so we made him go get tested and it came back negative, which was a relief. 

Okay, I will share a few funny stories.

This week we had to go get our oil changed for the car. We have a thing called "Tiwi" in our car that tracks our speeding and when you un-plug it, you get in big trouble. Well, we were watching the guy move our car and he just pulled that thing out. Elder Clouse and I looked at each other in horror hahaha it was so funny. 

At night, Elder Clouse and I have been pranking each other lately. I walked into our room and I was like, "where is Elder Clouse?" turns out he was on his desk and I look over and he's just standing on his desk. We both started laughing really hard and then all the sudden the desk just snapped and I am sure every one of our neighbors heard a huge "CRASH" as the desk broke. THE BRAND NEW DESK IS BROKEN haha

This upcoming week we get transfer calls, which is hard to believe. I am nervous, I HATE CHANGE that is why transfer calls are stressful haha but Elder Clouse and I anticipate I will probably leave. Which is so sad. I guess you will find out next week! 

OH- okay, I am sorry but I have to add this story to my email because I completely forgot:

Last Monday was a good p-day. We went bowling as a District and it was a blast. Of course, it was going a little late so Elder Clouse and I were like "we need to be back by 6". Of course, the Elders we live with put up a huge stink and we ended up just dropping them off with everyone else to do whatever. Elder Clouse and I felt it was important to get back before 6 so we could start work right at 6 on P day. 

We were in our proselyting clothes. Responding to messages from Facebook when around 615 we both felt we should go knock on some doors. I have been trying to help Elder Clouse become more spirit led in finding, so I asked him to choose where we go. I already knew exactly where we were supposed to go, but my heart took courage when he looked at me and said, "let's go to Sister Ramos' house". We drove over there, and got there around 630ish. The timing is important because when we knocked on the door ROBERT ANSWERED! We've been trying to get in contact with him for a while but he works weird hours and we hadn't been able to meet in like 6 weeks! He had just gotten back 15 minutes before! 

We sat down with them, and had a wonderful lesson about the Restoration. I gave Robert a copy of the Book of Mormon. Even though I don't usually do this, I bore my testimony AGAIN and told them it was my most prized possession. He thanked me, and took the Book of Mormon. It brings tears to my eyes to think about how he held that book. He treasured it in his hands, and promised he'd read it. 

Thinking about it now, I am not sure if I will get to see him again. I love Robert. On Elder Clouse's exchange the met with him the next day (before he went out of town again) and he told them that he can feel the spirit really strong when he meets with us missionaries, but he said "All of you are special, but Elder Elliott he brings a special spirit to my home. He has an aura about him that is just powerful." 

Now, I am not some special missionary, and I wouldn't even consider myself "highly favored of the Lord" like Nephi; but, I can testify of the mantle the Lord gives us missionaries. Why he trusts guys like me, 18-19 year old's to do this very important work, I will never fully understand. But this is HIS work and it brings me so much joy. 

Anyways, I love you all. HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Elder Elliott