Well it's time for another weekly update! The days have been getting so much better. I dont think I expressed how hard my first week was here. In the missionary pamphlet for adjusting to missionary life there are 4 levels that go from green to red. Green being best, red being worst. Well last week I was somewhere in between an orange and yellow, so I guess you could say I was pretty stressed. I wasn't getting along with my companion too well, I saw many miracles but also a lot of rejections, and all together it was just so overwhelming. This week I am very "whelmed."
Tuesday we went to the temple, which was amazing! It was a 2 hour ride there, but our ride was bad with directions so it was more like 3 hours. I rode up with another companionship, Elder Furphy and Loinds. Furphy is a real fun guy, I was talking with him and Elder Ure the whole way up. I think that helped me and Ure open up and become better companions. Then the actual temple was really great too. I think it looks like the "Temple of Time" from Legend of Zelda: ocarina of time. I ran into Elder Carraway at the Temple to which was really great. I actually thought that Carraway went home because Ure and I couldn't find his name in the mission records, so I was really relieved to see that he was still out.
Wednesday was also pretty good. We went to an early Thanksgiving lunch at a city event. They had pictures of red rock from Arizona, but it looked like something from Moab. It was nice to see something from home out here, because the last little bit I've been having that culture shock not really sure where I was. I think seeing things from home helped me realize I'm still I the U.S. and that the people here are American. Another great thing that happened today was finding this gal Melissa. She's a less active member from Vernal, Utah. When she opened the door she laughed and invited us in, I guess she didn't expect to see missionaries out here in Texas.
Thursday I hung out with the coolest people in town. The two old ladies in the family history center. Sister Odem and Teiter. Sister Odem is my hero in this ward, she always has a blanket on. After family history we went over to Granny's house to see if we could help the family with anything. (Granny just passed Tuesday... I never met her so, RIP) the rest of the day was a lot of rejection but we played basket ball with some kids in town. I knew I was comming to the bible belt, but I didn't fathom how many, "born and raised Baptist, and I'll be that way till I die," I'd meet. Some are actually really great to hear us out but their hearts are very hard. 2nd Nephi has been so much more meaningful to me because of the rejection I've been having.
Friday I went on exchanges with Elder Lloyd. We went and visited a lot of people and then when we were tracting we found a family and invited them to church. Their name are the Best, and they are the best! The only other thing we did that day was was find this old lady and listen to her tell her story.
Saturday Lloyd and I found 3 more people. Pam who works at the deli, and two rednecks. The two rednecks were fun to talk to, they talked a lot about crack heads and other druggies. It was awkward at first but they were real great people. Then exchanges ended and I welcomed back Elder Ure. We went to a dinner later that night but it turned out to be a surprise party for a members wife. It was really fun and the food was Devine (see picture of food) after dinner we headed over to the Youth Game night, where we played ping pong and pickle ball. They also had an SNES set up, but mission rules are a thing so, tear. If you haven't looked at the vlogs I've posted this week, there's some videos from game night.
Sunday the Bests showed up to church. A bit late, but they showed! They seem to be real prepared for the gospel and I hope they will accept it as we teach it to them. After lunch we went out and found some other kids in town to play basket ball with. I sat out because I didn't really want to play, but Ure had a great time with them. The last part of the day we went over to granny's viewing, I wanted to go up and shake her hand from the casket because it was my first time meeting her. But I didn't.
So now that Thanksgiving is right around the corner I wanted to share my experience with having daily Thanksgiving. It's great that every year we have a day to remember all that we have and are grateful for. But we really should be doing that every day. One thing I've been noticing from my mission is that miracles happen every day. So take some time today, and tomorrow, and the day after that, to look for the little things God has given you. I'm going to testify to you that God is always there. He hears your prayers and always has his hand outstretched to help.
Take some time with daily Thanksgiving. It's going to help prepare you guys to light the world next month. Now have a great day!
-Elder King
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