September 21, 2015

Hey Mom!

This week:

Investigators attending church, English muffins, outdoor lessons, Buffalo Wild Wings and the Restoration, saying bye to Ruby, the light side of dirt, and the ugly truth (?)

We had another great week this last week! Elder Kempton and I were able to teach investigators frequently this past week, and most of them with a member present. And to make it all better, this one family we have been teaching, the Mclains, attended sacrament meeting yesterday! They really enjoyed it! T hey have two families in the ward that they are neighbors with, and then bishop got to know them better too! We really have high hopes for them!

I also was able to remember to buy English muffins for the week. I don't know why, but I guess those are my carb weakness. It was really nice to have a whole-wheat English muffin for breakfast this past week. I would've bought the white ones, but I still have Bro. Thoroughgood's encounter in mind. Another awesome food experience we had this week was with an investigator who is probably the most awesome guy I've met out here. Dave Matthews is his name, and he is keenly interested in learning more. So he decided to take us out to dinner at our choice! We met him at Buffalo Wild Wings, and we taught him lesson 1. Funny, despite the sounds of the restaurant mixed with the sports jumbo-trons, we really had a meaningful lesson over wings! Dave was really able to relate to Joseph Smith in the sense of finding truth on one's own. He said we teach him again sometime and we are really excited to meet and teach him. And here's the best part; someone else in the restaurant paid our check! 

I also would like to hook up with his cousin. Dave was telling us how he was able to get floor tickets to the Mayweather fight because of him.

We also taught a lesson outdoors, and that went well. I did feel a little awkward just sitting in the open teaching about the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity, but in the end, it went well! We also learned this past week that Ruby went back to Taiwan. We were unable to schedule a final appointment with her, but we do have the information to pass to the elders in Taiwan, so it'll be nice for her to learn now in her native language. We must not fail to pass that info. She seems like she is learning so much about the God that loves her.

I also had a bit of an experience that humbled me in a way. We were visiting the name of this one former investigator that Bro. Hernandez wanted us to start looking into again. When we knocked on her door, we heard one man scream at his dogs to quiet down and when we came in I couldn't help but notice the stench of second-hand smoke. The lady's name was Rhonda, and we got to talking to her. I had a hard time taking her seriously at first, but when I listened to her, I felt the spirit with her. She explained to us how she wanted to come to and join the church, but feared that she would be a bad image on her daughters because of her drinking and smoking problems. We learned that she loves the church, and deeply respects the missionary efforts, despite the living conditions they were in. I had a bit of a moment afterwards where I realized how much I had at first judged based off of environment. Now I realize that the spirit can permeate any condition on Earth as long as there are good people He can get to in said environments. I've found I have a problem tolerating bad living conditions, but I should realize the people that live there are God's children too. Something to work on I guess.

But, wow. It's hard to believe that three months have gone by already. It'll be very nice to see you guys again! I'm definitely looking forward to it! I still haven't gotten any word on call extension yet, but I'm certain that the Lord in his infinite ways will send me down the path that He knows I can accomplish for Him! I know that this is His true church and that He speaks to prophets today, and that if we have faith, He will answer our prayers, and He will continue to guide us in today's world. I know that to be true, and I know I will continue to learn and grow afterwards! 

Thanks for all the love that you guys have sent me. Don't know where'd I'd be without you Mom! After all you've done for me, I can't even imagine letting you down in any way! But......just wondering; have you guys suspected me to have evolved past a point of having fun? I just don't know if you guys would find it improper for me to be having fun during my week off, i.e. like seeing some movies, hanging with Daniel, etc.

Still though, I got one more week to kick down here, and I guess I'll be seeing you in exactly one week!

I love you guys!

Elder Michael Camit