Giant Bam Bamper

Hello,

This week we had a lot of fun! It's starting to cool down here, but not too much. And the leaves are starting to change color! So missionary work has been going pretty well too. On Monday we spent the day in Bossier City. We went and hung out with a service missionary on Barksdale Airforce Base! Played some pickleball, and then he played some electric guitar for us at his house. We also went thrifting which was really fun, found a bunch of different Christmas albums from people's uncles and aunts where the plastic wasn't even opened hahaha--also found some funny shirts and shoes. We ate at Cicis for lunch which is a pizza buffet. It isn't horrible but the pizza is definitely on the lower end as far as pizza goes. Way too much grease. Then we went shopping and talked to family.

In the evening I went on a mini exchange with Elder Ward and we first went to a lesson with Elder Haymond and Elder Irizarry, because they had a lesson with several girls and didn't have a member to go with them. The lesson was all in Spanish but the girls seemed nice, Elder Ward and I spent the whole time rolling a ball back and forth between us and a kid who was there cause we couldn't understand a thing haha--we could tell that one of the girls really loved Elder Iriza--I mean the lesson because she was staring intently and VERY engaged the whole time! They were happy to set up another appointment. Then Elder Ward and I broke off and went and taught this lady who's name escapes me... tommy? Tammy? Timmy? Patricia? Can't quite put my finger on it, but anyway we had a good lesson about the Book of Mormon and read it with her since she refuses to read on her own. Many people seem to completely lack that ability or desire. Had a fun night with Elder Ward though, I heard all about his shenanigans in high-school and we had a good lesson with Brother Gyl (Gile? Gyle? Geil?). I love teaching him because he makes faces at you and looks completely sceptical and like you don't know anything as you make a comment and you start to feel more and more unsure of yourself and start to wonder yourself if you know anything, and then as your finishing up yet another raised eyebrow makes you wonder what you said that was so wrong, and when you finish he says "No I agree! Commendable!" It's a fun experience especially when you get to see new people go through it. The only problem is Elder Ward and I then started replicating his face as the other one of us was speaking and it just about made us completely lose it laughing in the middle of the lesson haha 

We stayed in Bossier in preparation for district council the next day, and had some fantastic 10 pm tacos and oreo cheescake!

Tuesday we had District council in Bossier, I gave a training on the Book of Mormon which seemed to go well. Then we drove back to Springhill to help the Jacobs put up a canopy, and visited some referrals there. As we were leaving Springhill we saw Sams Southern Eatery and felt it calling to us. We eventually gave in and went and ate there. It was the best decision we could have made, it was the best meal we've had in weeks! In the evening we walked around in a dark richer neighborhood and talked to some people. We also followed a cat as he led us to a few houses. It was a very nice cat I wish we could take it with us! We met a lady named CP who wants to learn more about the Gospel. We also met a guy with the body of a teen and the face of an adult with the saddest excuse for a dog I have ever seen! He wasn't interested.

We also talked to a lady named Rochelle who wants to read the Book of Mormon, and come to church! We taught a lady named Glenda at Reeds, and met some drunk people stumbling around by the dumpsters as well. 

Wednesday morning we got a call from Royce who needed help with texting some pictures to someone. So we helped him out and it took 40 minutes to do something that should have taken 30 seconds because hes a talker and doesn't know how to use his phone. It was a fun 40 minutes though! We made some visits in Waldo, and walked around in the beautiful fall weather. We tried to talk to this family, when we asked to share a scripture this younger woman said "sure!" And then this older woman said, "what she means is no!" We also walked around campus and were able to share a bunch of scriptures, and got a couple of phone numbers too. In the evening we had a pretty normal night. We did talk to a girl named Liliana though, and she said the most annoying and stuck up prayer I have ever heard. She obviously wanted attention with how "hip" and "spiritual" her prayer was. No attention was given! >:( We also talked to this lady who had some suspicious whitw gloves on when she came to the door, and told us she couldn't talk because she was "cooking." (Quotes added for emphasis.) We also met a guy named Robert who's looking for a church! Him and his wife are planning on coming this Sunday, and he is interested in the Book of Mormon! We also had a meeting with the Millers and learned more about Tyre and Juan because they went to the Jail. Juan got most charges dismissed except for one, and since he's a repeat offender he will have to appeal and that could take months. Tyre we don't know much more about except that now we know someone else was involved, and he maybe recieved some stolen property or something. 

On Thursday we walked the dogs. A train came by as we did so we moved off the train tracks where we walk them and I've never seen the dogs so terrified of something. They were scared to death that it kept blowing its horn at us and tried to get away as far as they possibly could from it. It was very entertaining to watch, those dogs need to be taught some lessons. We also had a Mission Zoom testimony meeting where we got to hear testimonies of departing missionaries. Its crazy because everytime we have these nowadays every single sister going home I was also already here when they got to the mission haha

We spent the afternoon taking care of administrative work, and then walked around a bit in the misty rain. Met a guy named Nate who seems interested! In the evening we had a good sit down talk with Mike Jones (a less active member) and he told us all about his life right now. He has a ton of health problems, and swears that his knee gets worse when it rains haha--also he won't come to church because he won't wear pants and doesn't want to come not wearing pants! Shorts might be fine because of his legs but he doesnt want to do that at church. After that we had a couple really good lessons. Gave out two copies of the Book of Mormon as well! One lady we taught is named Brenda and her apartment is filled with an uncanny amount of plants and vines. It's one of the places I will have to show my mom after my mission becuase I'm sure she would like it, it's cool! She also has a spiral staircase in her tiny apartment haha

Friday we did service at the Thrift store, and there was a ton of stuff to test this time! And we even had to test a Super Nintendo, we had to make sure each game functioned as it should in all aspects. We were very thorough (as we should be). I also tested an unhealthy amount of irons and curling irons. In the afternoon we knocked on a Sorority house for fun and found this girl whos very interested in the Gospel! We also met a pentecostal guy who chatted it up with us. The evening was spent on some new streets that we dont visit very often, and met a guy named David who's convinced sin can be in heaven. He also said there's no hell and if you don't believe in God you just cease to exist when you die. :) We also had a fantastic lesson with Kimberly and the Millers on the sacrament.

On Saturday we had our blood drive which went fine. We didn't have a ton of people show up though, and we finally decided since so few were signed up to not do a lunch but instead just do the drive. And it turned out to be the right decision. We also walked around campus during halftime of the SAU game and talked to people on their way out! We got 4 phone numbers, and it was fun to see the game going on, even though it was on a mini scale compared to what I'm used to. We also walked around and visited people in the evening, and found this super nice lady named Shalesa! She has been going through some tough times and said she's been looking for a church. We talked to her for a while and she wants to read the Book of Mormon! Then when we got her address we realized that I had already dropped a pin on her house cause I felt like we should go there a few weeks ago, we just hadn't got to it yet! 

Sunday was great! The Primary Program was really good, if I do say so myself! I'm not biased at all I only played for it and spoke to close it. Had some more Tithing Declaration interviews and a really good in person Branch council meeting in the afternoon! Had a really good discussion on ministering, and I think we are going to do a nativity display of over 70 nativities and have a branch Christmas dinner. Also had a temple class with the Flowers which was super fun as usual. 

- Abe