Hey Y'all.
I hear things are pretty good back home! Thank you for your thoughts, love, and prayers.
This week was an Up-and-Down week! But, if you only have a short while to read, I'd read Sunday Nov. 9 - one of the best days on my mission.Nov. 3, Monday: P-Day was Cray! Dentist appointment for Elder Johnson in the morning.
Then on our way to Wal-Mart, we saw Tom Wood at Starbucks, so we stopped by and chatted with him and his two cups of coffee.
After shopping, we went to go get more air in our left, rear tire - the PSI was dropping. We took it to Sears, and it turns out there was a nail in the tire. So, that was a long process; calling the mission office so they could pay for the replacement over the phone - that took about 2 1/2 hours to sort out.
So, I didn't have too much time for email.
We had dinner @ McGrady's.
Nov. 4, Tuesday: Katelyn's Birthday! And Election Day! A member from the ward was actually running for Beckley House of Delegates out here.
We met with the flamboyant Ms. W. We actually were able to have more of a lesson with her, discern her needs, and help her understand her relationship with God.
David Lilly was next - we read with him the pamphlet, "The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith." We had a kneeling prayer at the end and David asked God if Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was one of the best lessons we've had with him - he didn't go on any long talks or tangents.
After dinner at the Young's, we set up appointments.
Nov. 5, Wednesday: Today was a sad, rough day. We went to our scheduled appointment with Joyce Young and she said she'd have to forfeit our visits. Her husband didn't like her meeting with us, so she has to respect his wishes. We sadly listened to her as she dropped us.
Then, shortly after doing some walk-and-talk, we got a call from Sis. Graham that our appointment with the Graham's and their 8-year old son, Lucksas, would have to be cancelled. It quickly turned into one of those days!
Besides district meeting and correlation with the Bishop, it was a sad day.
We went to see some less-actives in Glen Morgan; a town I've never worked in, and found a potential at the address of a less-active. One little highlight. :)
Nov. 6, Thursday: Today was weekly planning - always long and hard and fun.
We taught a lesson today to Elizabeth Bright and her care taker on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and self worth. The spirit was strong and she said she would be baptized by the proper priesthood authority if she prayed and found it to be true. We set up an appointment for Saturday!
We went to go say, "Hi" to the twins and they welcomed us right in. Their Mom waved at us from the top of the stairs, but she was on a conference call. They said they still wanted to be baptized, so I guess they still really want to, they just said they couldn't come to church this weekend because they'd be at their dad's.
We had A GREAT member-present lesson with Tom Wood! Bro. Snuffer came out with us and we had a Restoration review with him. Bro. Snuffer shared his great conversion story. Tom and Bro. Snuffer really connected. Interesting fact: They both have survived multiple strokes!
The Young's fed us again! They are the best!
Nov. 7, Friday: We had zone meeting in Charleston today! It was great as always!
However, Elizabeth Bright's caretaker called us and said Elizabeth was uncomfortable with baptism and wanted to cancel our appointment for Sat.
For the rest of the day Friday and all day Saturday, we were going to be on exchanges. I was with Elder Carter in our area, and Elder Johnson was with Elder Morse in Beckley.
We talked with Melissa and Emily outside for a little bit.
The rest of the day was spent tracting and trying to set-up appointments with some investigators in Shady!
Guess What???? We got approval a week earlier to go to Shady Spring's High School football game to support the band because there are several band members, who are members, including Josef Heller. Sis. Heller really helped us get this approved; she wanted Josef to introduce us to the less-active kids in the band. For some reason, they weren't there. We were able to watch the first half of the game and the band's half-time show. Shady Spring was losing 28-0 when we left.
Nov. 8, Saturday: The exchange continued and we had lessons set up with members. For David Lilly we taught the word of wisdom with Bro. Snuffer. It went well until David went on a rant about how hard his life is. Elder Johnson & I get this a lot, but I guess since he'd never met Elder Carter or Brother Snuffer before, David thought he'd tell them. David seemed uneasy about the Word of Wisdom, seeming he's always smoking while we are there.
Sister Maxtant called in sick and said she couldn't come out with us to meet with Sis. Cline, so we were still able to teach her, but w/o a member there. The lesson was a Restoration review and we were able to clear up a lot of things. (She thought the Book of Mormon prophets had changed their names from the Bible prophets.)
Nov. 9, Sunday: Such a marvelous day! We got an email early this morning from President Salisbury letting us know he'd be attending the Beckley ward today and he'd be interviewing each of us during Sunday School.
Tom Wood came to church and also Sister Cline! Tom sat next to Brother Snuffer and I, and Elder Johnson sat next to Sis. Cline. It was such a good sacrament meeting! Probably over 100 people there! Lots of members, less-actives, and investigators!
The Gospel Principles lesson was on temple work & family history.
President took us each out one by one. When I went to my interview, instead of sitting in a classroom, we went on a walk around the church building. It was so real & relaxing; like no other interview I've ever had. He is such a great man and I have so much respect for him.
The priesthood lesson was on missionary work! President Salisbury added a lot of great input, trying to help us missionaries out with the members. Tom raised his hand and gave us a shout out to us two in front of the whole priesthood body (and President :).....)
After church, we had a lesson with Tom Wood at the church in one of the classrooms. I grabbed Bro. Connor (the teacher of the lesson on missionary work) and asked him if he could stay and sit in on the lesson. See what I did there?! (: You could feel a different spirit about having a lesson in the church than just at a house. The lesson we were going to be teaching was the Word of Wisdom. We were naturally worried to see how he'd take it. Tom has admitted to us he's addicted to coffee and cigars. He says he has 6-7 cups of Starbucks a day and when we go over to teach him, he's always got a big stogie in his mouth. The lesson, however, went so well! The Spirit was so strong! Bro. Connor, unknown to us, before he was a member of the church, had to give up smoking and drinking, and he was just perfect to help teach the Word of Wisdom lesson. Then we took an approach we learned at zone meeting; to teach a principle using a Book of Mormon story. In our previous lesson, we left him with the Stripling Warriors story to read. We were able to relate Tom to these young boys, who had never fought before, but because they had faith, and put their trust in God continually, they were unconquerable (Alma 57:26-27). So, with Tom never being without coffee or tobacco before, we testified, if he put his faith and trust in God, that he would be able to quit and enter the waters of baptism, and someday go to the temple and be sealed to his wife, who has passed on. He had tears in his eyes and said he would pray about it. These moments are what make all the hard work worth it!
We also met with a potential investigator named, Mike. He's got a great, young family and we introduced the Restoration to him. Then we had dinner @ the Heller's and left with them a message on spiritual gifts.
I love seeing miracles work! God is truly hastening his work. We are all missionaries. We are one of three things. We are Sowers (prepare and nurture the fruit), Reapers (reap the reward of the fruit), or we are Sleepers.
I encourage all of you to always look for missionary opportunities. We have the greatest message on the earth; don't be afraid to share it!
Love You All!
-Love Elder Brenchley
P.S hey! Elder Johnson here! Elder Brenchley is a stud! its awesome being his companion! Hope yall are doing great! ;)
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