It's me in a NEW area (new to me and new to the mission!), and with a new companion. We actually have to spend the first couple of days/1st week looking for an apartment...for now, we will stay in the Salem Elders' apartment (which is a little bit far from our area), as that area just downsized to one set of missionaries in it and there's room for us. With us taking over this new area, there will now be four sets of missionaries (3 Elders and 1 Sister companionship) in the Roanoke 1st Ward. Botetourt County is really beautiful, and there are plenty of wealthy houses up towards this area.
Elder Shirley is my new companion - my former companion, Elder Caldwell, once served with him, too! Elder Shirley is pretty great - we get a long really well. He's from Burley, Idaho. He's 19 yrs. old and graduated from High School in 2015. He's been out since July 2015. He's the oldest of 6 kids in his family.
Earlier this week, along with me saying good-byes to people in the downtown Roanoke area (only to see most of them at church on Sunday again), I spent time getting packed. The latter part of this week included Elder Shirley and I getting to know each other, as well as our new area. We don't have much to go off of; there is only one current investigator when we entered the area, and the Sisters want to do a "pass-off" lesson because the investigator has had bad experiences with Elders in the past, so I haven't even met her. I do know all the active members already, so we had that advantage, as we were visiting them over these couple of days.
Here's the week:
April 26, Tuesday: P-day. We mostly spent time emailing and then getting packed.
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| The Roanoke Star |
Brother Winkler did take us up to the Roanoke Star!
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| Views of Roanoke from The Star |
We had dinner with the Miller's and then they came with us to see Jim Flemming.
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| Jim Flemming |
They invited him to church and he seemed a little more keen this time around (it's the power of members doing the inviting!)
Then we went and taught Kim with Brother Winkler, however he was hung up on this one scripture in Genesis, and we were barely able to really teach the Restoration.
We saw Sister Bell and Tim. They thought it was hilarious I got transferred, but I wasn't leaving the ward.
Once Sister Bell heard we were looking for an apartment in our area, she jumped on the computer and started looking for us.
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| Sister Bell & Tim |
We went and saw Brother Ostrander.
April 27, Wednesday: 20 months a missionary! 2-0 WOW!
Since neither I nor Elder Jolley's companion (Elder Larson) were coming down until the afternoon, we were able to go see more people and do some street contacting. We were able to set up a lesson with Chase Lester (a less-active) and his girlfriend/baby mamma, Erica.
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| Chase Lester, Erica, and kids |
Sister Schwiendman, the Primary president, came with us. She was really good for the kids. That was my first time teaching Erica; she seemed touched by the Spirit and our desire to help their family become closer.
We also dropped by and saw Brother Nillson.
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| Brother Nillson |
I went to the Salem apartment and moved in all my stuff and cleaned the place up.
The transfer van came, and NO Elder Shirley......where's my new companion? It turns out, he was bringing down our car with another group of Elders (and arrived 25 minutes later). And he was sick! He didn't look good at all.
He had the flu or a stomach virus. Elder Shirley was so sick, so we just went straight to the apartment while I organized the area book, and he slept. We missed ward coordination meeting, but I listened in on the phone call.
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| Elder Shirley "getting sick" on the side of the road. ;) |
Elder Shirley asked me to give him a Priesthood Blessing. I felt very blessed and humbled that after knowing me for just for four short hours (most of which was him being asleep), he would ask me to give him a blessing.
April 28, Thursday: Elder Shirley was still feeling down and out today, but he started feeling better in the evening, and we went to the library to search all of the members and less-actives.
The Scroggin's had us over for dinner. Brother Scroggins is the 2nd Counselor in the Bishopric. They are a wonderful family. They have 6 wonderful kids, and you could feel the Spirit in their home. We role played with them on how they could invite their friends/co-workers to the upcoming fireside.
Then we were asked by Sister Smith to go give her husband, Brother Smith, a blessing. He was in the hospital in Salem, so that worked out nicely since we are currently living in Salem. I was again touched by the Priesthood power when I saw Elder Shirley, who just about 20 hours earlier was in so much pain and looking helpless, had received his own Priesthood blessing, and then was able to give the blessing to Brother Smith (and I did the anointing).
April 29, Friday: We had District meeting in the morning - it was really good.
Then we went out to Botetourt County and started seeing what there was to see. We were able to knock several doors; one man was really nice and let us sit on his porch with him, enjoy some ice water, and gave us a referral.
We were able to meet with the Harris family, Amy and Andy . Sister Harris has been inactive for a while and has never been to the Roanoke Chapel. Andy is not a member, but has showed interest and has been taught before.
April 30, Saturday: We went apartment hunting with Sister Bell & Tim.
We also did our weekly planning.
We tried going out proselyting in a place named, Troutville; no one was home or interested.
May 1, Sunday: In Fast and Testimony meeting, 6 out of the 8 missionaries got up and bore their testimonies - it was a Spirit-filled testimony meeting.
We sat by Brother Keaton (a returning member in Botetourt). It was good to see Myra and Roxanne at church, as well as Garrett - all three of them from my last downtown area.
Brother Winkler came with us for the whole day in Botetourt County. He helped us out big by saving our car miles. We tried this city that is 47 minutes away from Roanoke named, Buchanan.
We met with the Hensley's. They are members with two boys (ages 11 & 9). They remind me so much of some of my family up in Cache Valley.
We met with the Barnes couple - they are members, as well. He's good at the piano, and she makes good strawberry cheesecake.
We got a return appointment with this sweet lady named, Connie (a former investigator).
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| {a [Roanoke] license plate I saw!} |
And that's the week!
Please keep Elder Shirley and I in your prayers, as we take on this new challenge of opening up this area. We are building from the ground up.
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| My new companion, Elder Shirley |
Again, I just want to part with how real the Priesthood of God is here on this earth. Jesus Christ organized His Church, He gave His apostles the Priesthood authority to teach and baptize, and to lead the Church. After Jesus Christ and the apostles were killed, that revelation and Priesthood authority was no longer on the earth. The world was without the Priesthood. However, just like God always does, He called another prophet, and that Prophet's name was Joseph Smith. Jesus Christ's disciples, as heavenly messengers, restored that Priesthood to Joseph Smith. It is here on the earth today! I so testify with passion, and conviction to remain faithful and worthy the rest of my life to be able to use the Priesthood to serve in anyway. I know and and sustain Thomas S. Monson as a prophet of God, and the one who leads Jesus Christ's Church today. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone (see Quetin L. Cook's talk from this past Conference). I know this Gospel to be true!
I love you all!
Love, Elder Brenchley
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