Wine

Hello people and animals (if there are some on this list),

We had a good week, including lots of driving! Its a good I like driving. We spent pday in Shreveport with our district. We did shopping, and then when lunch time came we were considering eating Canes again, but then we passed a restaurant called "Yeero!!! Yeero!!!" and I knew what we had to do, I just wasn't sure if we had the strength to do it. We went inside and we were immediately no longer in Shreveport, we were in Greece! The music, the ornamentation, the atmosphere, the seats, the decoration, the bathrooms, and everything else was in stark contrast to Louisiana where we had just been. Even the bathroom was extremely fancy, and had an air of aristocracy. We sat down in seats that weren't quite long enough to sit in comfortably, and stated perusing the menu. After much deliberation we ordered, and eventually our food came. The food was exceptional, better then anything Canes could hope to deliver. I got the Gyro of course and it was one of the great ones I've had for sure. We will definitely try and return.

In the evening we worked Bossier with the Brownlee Elders. We walked around the hood for a bit, and talked to some kids who kept trying to challenge us to a basketball game. We also saw some pretty Casino + Sunset shots haha--and we walked around some dark neighborhoods.

Tuesday we had interviews with our mission president, so District Council was a little later in the day. We had a joint comp study with Brownlee, and then had our district council and interviews with President Taylor. He gave some good tips for how to make Branch Council meetings more effective! Then we went as a District to Waffle House which was good as always. We visited some people in Springhill, and taught a lady named Teresa. Gave her a Book of Mormon which she gladly accepted. Then we drove back to Magnolia and ate a good meal with Royce, his granddaughter Tatyana, and her boyfriend Randy. Tatyana made some super good pork chops (which is the first time in my life I've had good pork chops I think haha), Mac and cheese, cabbage, sweet potatoes with butter, and Cornbread. Everything was super good! Then we read in the Book of Mormon with them afterwards. Also I forgot to mention that for breakfast we made my new idea: Mac and Choc! We switched the cheese powder in a Mac and Cheese box with a packet of hot cocoa. It was very interesting.

On Wednesday we walked around campus and talked to some people. It's BUSTLING these days, everywhere you look are cars, and there's always students out and about. We also walked around in Waldo, though unfortunately everywhere you look are abandoned houses. So you can only rely on about 1 in every 3 houses actually being inhabitants. We learned that David's Grandma passed away, so we had a good lesson with him reviewing the Plan of Salvation and the hope it gives us. Charlien joined us for that lesson. We also stopped by some others in South Magnolia, and ran into lots of interesting things, including but not limited to:

▪︎ A foundation of a house that was pouring water out of its crevices

▪︎ A zombie (some people in this area just wander around with vacant looks in their eyes haha)

▪︎ Tiki torches for some reason

▪︎ A really tall guy who wears his pants very low and it seems to impede his progress (but only mildly)

▪︎ A racoon

▪︎ A lifted Lincoln Truck

▪︎ Many burned down houses, one of which had thumping music coming from within!

On Thursday we walked the dogs. I was walking one who I have nicknamed "The Uggliest Dog at the shelter" and Elder Schenider has nicknamed this same dog as "The Cutest Dog at the Shelter" tsk tsk. Not only is this dog ugly, but it kept trying to jump up on me. Which all dogs quickly learn is not a smart decision...no hugs come from me! After service we walked around and stopped by some of our interested people. As missionaries we often get counsel from mission leaders saying "make sure to be finding all day, not just in the evening" but then whenever we have time to follow this counsel WITHOUT FAIL nobody is home. Not a single visit panned out haha--and this is nothing new. People simply aren't home at 1:30 in the afternoon on a Thursday. Then we had a mission-wide Zoom meeting for the departing missionaries to share their final testimonies. As usual each one was almost identical, I need to make a departing testimony bingo. President Taylor also unveiled the mission-specific standards which he released as if this is Apple and hes releasing the latest iOS haha

We also did some service at the Stew Pot, and then had a Branch family history activity! We were able to help get Charlien and Tyre set up. We also had a lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Tatyana and Randy. 

Friday after the Thrift store we went and found a guy named Adrian! He is very interested in the Book of Mormon and has lots of questions. As we taught him another lady came by and kept trying to say how we aren't supposed to ask questions cause that's questioning God haha--and we kept trying to explain that questions are actually good! We have Adrian a Book of Mormon. We also talked to some others at his house because we meet new characters every time we go to this house! Later in the day we taught Joel, and then in the evening we taught Marquil. We walked around and felt prompted to knock a certain house. A guy named John answered and he goes to SAU and is looking for a church!! We also met a lady named Laquisha and a guy named Louise who we think is interesting but we can't tell because he only really speaks Spanish. :))

On Saturday we woke up at 3:40 and drove to the Bahrs house and drove from there with them and Charlien to the temple. Charlien was able to do baptisms, and then Royce got sealed to his wife finally! He's been wanting to for the longest time but just recently was able to get his temple recommend. It was awesome. A bunch of other missionaries who have been in Magnolia at some point or other came as well! Its always great going to Sealings and talking to the Sealer. I got to be one of the witnesses :). Now I've gotten an opportunity to help people recieve every ordinance except for Endowment I think hehe

In the evening we taught a drunk guy who claimed that it was okay to drink cause Jesus turned water into wine! We also invited a ton of people to church.

Sunday we had a good church service, Elder Schneider spoke and I did a piano musical number. Our friend Sonya came and brought her family which was cool! In the evening we got to teach Logan and Sarah the first lesson of temple prep.

-Abe