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 

Roast Beast

Good day, 

This week was crazy, for some reason I had thing after thing come up that I had to deal with all week, so I'm glad to have some time to rest right now haha

Monday was great, we did shopping as usual, and had a lot of fun at the bins. We tried to find somewhere good to eat lunch, but all our favorites were closed. So we decided on a whim to venture into a sketchy Chinese buffet, and it turned out to be the best decision we could have made! The food wasn't amazing, but it was pretty good all things considered, and I ate lots of potstickers as usual. We drove back up Monday evening, and did some stopbys in Sarepta. Unfortunately all the addresses were fake or at least impossible to find. On our way through Springhill we felt like we should go see Tawanna, and she was sad when we walked in because it was Labor Day and she was missing out on all the festivities. We talked to her for a bit, and she slowly started cheering up, and then we learned she'd just barely read the sacrament prayers today! And it was cool because we just happened to have the sacrament supplies with us, so we gave her the sacrament too.

On Tuesday we did service and then Royce took us to "The Kitchen Table" again and we had some good food! I love the Hotwater Cornbread, and the cheesecake was amazing just like last time. In the afternoon we basically were in meetings the whole time haha--We went over to the Millers for a coordinating meeting and they had some good ideas and thoughts on activities and Callings and food and people and meetings and topics and so on and so forth. It was all good but it was wayyyy too much to address in one meeting tsk tsk, sometimes people need to realize that one thing at a time means that that one thing will actually happen. So we were talking with them for hours, and then I immediately went and met with Brother Lowther for another hour and we did Tithing and worked on some other things.

In the evening we went and taught Jacqueline and Charles, and there happened to be a new lady who was just loafing around in their carport too! (This is normal.) And then there were three. We taught them the restoration, and Sister Bahr was able to join virtually and really brought the spirit with her thoughts. We met a guy named Tydrick after that, and he's intrigued by the Book of Mormon, so that was cool too. We also taught Lois, and then Randy and Tatyana at Royce's house. Randy is interesting, he seems disinterested when we teach him, but then he will say something really insightful that shows he's listening really well. He also gives us hugs even though we've only taught him a couple times, but it's good I guess! 

Wednesday we drove with the Millers to district council, and the ZLs came too. I really like Elder Mora, one of our new ZLs! District council was good, and ended with us exploring the weird old church building with the Baptismal font on the stage. :) We ate lunch at Cottons and drove back with the Millers. Sister Miller is an unending stream of good ideas, she can go for hours and hours haha--by the time we got back we had accidentally agreed to another musical number idea, 2 more activity ideas, and another meeting. In the evening we went and talked to a nice old lady named Vivian. And boy can she TALK. She told us about every aspect of her life, and was very kind to us. It was good, but unfortunately shes pretty set in her church. I also had an hour-long training meeting with the Stake Clerk, and David asked us to help clear out the stuff in his house. We went over at 8:15 and went in and I have never seen such filth haha--everything was covered in bugs, dirt, or crusted on food. Everything was strewn accross the floor, and there were loads of paper plates with food remnants everywhere. There were roaches, and probably rats too. All the furniture was decaying too. It brought us great satisfaction to throw every last piece of junk out of that infernal place onto the curb or into the trash! I don't know how some people live like this haha

On Thursday we walked the dogs in the morning, and nothing interesting happened unfortunately. Just the same dumb dogs. Maybe there will be something interesting about them on Saturday so stay tuned :)

After lunch we were doing some studying at the food court on campus, and a guy came up to us and tried to manhandle our beliefs tsk tsk--he asked us all these questions and was trying to show us kindly how we are going to hell if we don't stop going to this false church. He had some good points so finally we got up, promptly called church headquarters, and got our records removed! So thats that.

Just joking, I don't know what he was expecting us to do haha-- bathers rarely have any logical bones in them, and they are so blinded that they can no longer see things objectively. We should have ended the conversation sooner, but there kept being holes in his reasoning that were just too tempting to pass up...

Due to the basher we got behind on everything, but we did eat at a Chinese Buffet the Millers took us too and Elder Schneider got the phone number for the one Chinese lady in town! 

That evening we taught Charles, Annette, and Dallas. Dallas is our age, and lives at a frat house kinda, except it also has several girls staying there too haha--so while talking to him there were many antics going on all around us, and everyone just seemed unfazed that we were in the midst of it all. Dallas wants to come to church which is cool! He says he will if he isn't too hungover :)) Cam also wants to come, even though he looks like he wants to look too cool for all that. 

Friday I had to take care of everything I was behind on which took about 3 hours, and then I practiced for a musical number Im doing. We also did service at the Thrift store, and in the evening the Masses drove us out to the lake to eat with their nonmember friend Betty! It was nice eating on the lake basically, and they made us ribs. They were pretty good but would have been better if their were no bones (bones are for dogs). We also taught Tatyana and Randy the rest of the lesson. They were trying to go hang out with friends but Royce told them they have to stay for a lesson with us. And to our great surprise they did! Even though they are both early 20s haha

Saturday we walked the dogs, and they are tightening down security at the shelter because the dogs have started escaping! Specifically one of the dogs, named Buck. He seems normal enough, until you realize he has the power to take off like a rocketship instead of jumping like a normal dog. It was super nice outside which was good, and despite the beautiful weather one of the dogs kept trying to stop and rest cause it was breathing so hard. 

In the evening we taught Jacqueline and Charles again, which went really well! They loved it, especially Jacqueline got really excited about it all! 

Sunday as usual was completely packed. Nothing super notable happened, everything was meetings and administrative work.

-Abe

Humorous Moth

Hi, 

We had a great week! On Monday we hung out with the Flowers and played a bunch of games including Ticket to Ride! We ate some super good taco time style butritos as well, with a tasty sour cream and salsa sauce. We had a lesson on temples in the evening with Tyre, and then had a good lesson with Becky and her boyfriend and family! Cleared up some misconceptions and so forty. We ended the night by touring the campus via Mustang with Logan...reminds me of the BYU campus except not quite as good in every way. :))

On Tuesday we walked the dogs, and this was Elder Schneider's first time doing it. The big difference between him and I is that he LOVES dogs, and I despise them (with limited exceptions). So while he was cooing at and coddling his dog, I was muttering orders at mine. And guess what, they both acted the same way, the coddled one giving no appreciation for Elder Schneider's kindness tsk tsk. No matter how many pats you give them, they simply carry on with their bleak existence. Such is the hard reality we face in this human sphere.

Now if they were bears that would be a different matter...

In the afternoon we had a good lesson with Xavier about commandments, and gave him some fresh copies of the Book of Mormon so he can draw some grafitti in and on them for us! One character he is drawing for Elder Schneider is a bear-shark. :) after our lesson with Xavier as we were about to go in for dinner, we felt prompted to visit Jerry Willis first. And we were glad we did cause he invited us in and we had a good long discussion with him! Talked about the role God plays in our lives, and then had Xavier join virtually and talk about church. 

In the evening we met with Reed and taught him in the middle of the road haha-- and then we had a good study session with David and Charlien. We also found out Tyre is on the run because he's being accused of some stuff he didn't do! We aren't exactly sure what, but we know that he has enemies in town. Luckily he said he will still be at church Sunday :)

Wednesday we had a virtual mission conference, and then did some service at the Thrift Store. Got to test some interesting things such as some mini earphones with built-in mp3 players. Also our tire got another hole in it haha--so we took it into Walmart and had it fixed again! Not sure why this keeps happening, maybe we need shouldn't keep driving it off-road when it isn't necessary...

We had a lesson with Jacqueline scheduled and when we showed up she wasn't there even though she had sworn up and down that she would be there the night before! Luckily there was a guy named Charles just wandering around (as many Charles do) and sat him down and taught him! Talked about the need for a Restoration and Prophets, and had Tawanna share her conversion story over the phone! He seemed to really like that, maybe a little TOO much! He kept commenting afterwards on how mature she was, and how soothing she sounded haha--and said "maybe I will come to church" soon after. 

Then we went over to teach Paul. When we arrived we realized the house that Paul wanted to meet at wasnt even his house but his buddy Bre's house! And Paul wasnt even there yet so we ended up just talking to Bre for 20 minutes while he was drunk. Then a lady named JP showed up (she doesnt live there either haha) and just plopped herself down at our table. She then proceeded to ask for her number and promise she would call us to hear a message about Christ. Every time we started to just try abd talk with her and teach her then she just would say, "Okay, I will call you dont worry and we can talk." We were very confused at this point and then finally Paul showed up. He seemed to actually be in his right mind, so we talked to him for a bit, and then drove to Shreveport to stay the night before Zone Conference in Longview. 

Thursday we woke up early and drove to Longview for Zone Conference. It was cool because we had a General Authority Seventy there, doing a mission tour. His name is Jose Alonzo, and he was great! He basically did a giant 2 hour Q&A and taught a lot of great things! Unfortunately I promptly forgot these things so I have no specifics to share here, but rest assured he did indeed teach great things! We had a mediocre lunch with pork and chicken with rice, salad, rolls, and dessert. It was better than no lunch though! In the evening we got pizza, and then exchanged with the Brownlee Elders. We went over to one of their member's houses (Franciso), and even though we intended to teach a Gospel lesson, instead we ended up being TAUGHT a lesson on all the best tourist spots in Mexico, and the best beaches in Cancun. :) I may end up taking a quick vacation this week so the sound of the quiet sand and water can allow me to recieve revelation more easily. 

On Friday we drove back up to Taylor, and helped Brother Mass put a tread back on his Skid Steer! We also pupped it back up with grease using a grease gun to increase the pressure again. And we may have even taken it for a little bit of a drive...just to see if it would work of course. :)

The Masses also fed us dinner, and took us out to some lessons as well. We had a good lesson with Becky and her family about baptism and why it's so important. The kids loved it, and want to be baptized eventually, but Becky still must have some reservations cause she told us that reading the scriptures IS baptism of the word, which is apparently enough haha

Saturday morning we walked the dogs again, and this time we had to keep a couple of them from climbing on top of each other. They would wine and try to go where they wanted to but they met an iron will and a concrete grip. Or in Elder Schneider's dog's case a thoughtful pat and a mild but friendly rebuke. We walked around in the afternoon, and visited some people on the party streets. One group told us they, "don't want to hear the word of the good Lord when we are about to drink some alcohol!" Which is fair.

We also stopped by 3 different people who call themselves KD within 2 streets of each other! Sadly one of them vanished without a trace. In the evening we drove down to Emerson, and visited a couple that was referred to us by a member. We drove into the woods, and once you get deep inside a big cheery yellow house jumps out! We talked to Rickey who LOVES members of the Church and Utah, but isn't interested. Talked to him for a long time though it was pretty cool. We also talked to Annette who unfortunately can't come to church because she's on house arrest. :( We talked to a lady named Shardae who was interested but was also drinking lots of wine so we will see how she is sober. We also walked around between our visits and saw a guy run out of his house shirtless as a woman came quickly behind him with a broom and proceeded to chase him around the yard! Had a good lesson with Charlien as well.

On Sunday we had a good time at church. President Smith came, and I was able to help 2 more people get temple recommends! Also had a bunch of meetings as usual. In the evening we had a few good lessons and had a good talk with Logan and Sarah.

-Abe

Destroyed By a Guy Riding on the back of a Brownish Giraffe Camel

Hey Everyone,

This week was fun, pday was spent first at Barksdale Airforce base playing pickleball, and then shopping. We spent the whole day in Bossier and Shreveport, and then in the evening we split up and double worked the Brownlee area. The other Elders dropped us off at a Taco Bell and we did some planning for Xaviers baptism, and then waited for them to pick us back up after 30 minutes cause that's when they said they would pick us up. We got talking to a guy at Taco Bell for a bit which was cool, and after a while we realized we were neglected. :(( So we decided to Adventure forth and find who we could talk to. We were on the side of a highway and no neighborhoods were near, so we decided to walk down the highway until we found something. We walked a mile or two, and found a train track! So, thinking that we could find a shortcut to another road via the tracks, we turned and walked down them. We passed under the freeway, and over the river. We started to get further and further into the forest, and it started to get darker and darker outside. We realized that there were no nearby roads, and we had come way too far to turn back hahaha-- as it got darker we started to hear more and more animals in the forest. Felt like Shawn Spencer who is thrown out of a carriage and then has to make the long trek back to his hotel in Canada and is trying to sooth the impending raccoons all around him! As we were walking we finally saw a faint light in the distance, and luckily it seemed like a road, and not a train haha

We marched forward in Earnest again, and then the other Elders called, and we told them to meet us at that road, and that because of their neglect we were now on the other side of the freeway and the other side of town, many miles from where they left us. We finally reached the end, and scolded them for their negligence tsk tsk they should have known we'd do something adventurous when left to our own devices. 

It was a great night!

Also we got transfer news and sadly Elder Davis is leaving. :( My new companion will be Elder Schneider, who is a Chinese speaking Elder!

On Tuesday we had the last district council of the transfer, and then had lunch at Popeyes. The customer service was horrible, I wouldn't ever go back to this Popeyes. :) But it was fun, and then we drove back to Magnolia. In the evening we had a lesson with the family Tyre is staying with. We taught who he calls his "adopted step-mom," and she seems nice. She told us that she steals stuff sometimes and is trying to stop, which is progress! We also taught Tatyana and her boyfriend, and answered her questions about excommunication. Then we went and hung out with the Flowers so Elder Davis could say goodbye, and may have ridden in Logan's Mustang...

Wednesday we did service at the Thrift store, and Elder Davis said goodbye to a bunch of people via phone. Then we had a lesson with Enoch who again had not read anything in the Book of Mormon because he "didn't feel inspired to." Bad. Then in the late afternoon we set up for the baptism and filled the font! We had dinner with the Flowers and then Xavier got baptized! It was so great, Xavier pulled up with his "WEED" bucket hat on! After the baptism we got to hear Logan play his saxophone, and then had a meeting with the Millers. Elder Davis finished packing as well.

Thursday morning we left at 5:30, and started the long drive to Allen, TX. We stopped in Rockwall on the way and I showed Elder Davis around, including some giant houses! I picked up my new companion at transfers, and then I payed a visit to In-n-out before we drove back. After the 4 hour drive, we got to Magnolia. We ate dinner, shopped, and then went out and talked to some nice people! We walked around and met a cool guy named Marquil, and a lady even pulled over and talked to us as we were walking. She wants to go out and be a missionary with us, and goes to SAU haha

We also taught Tyre and the friends he's staying with again, and this time the step-mom commandeered Elder Schneider's prayer right in the middle of us praying! She took over and completed it for him. Very nice of her.

On Friday we had a great lesson with Joel, and taught her about God's plan for us. On her wall every place you could look were pictures of her. Pictures of her with the same expression in every picture, and just her. Not anyone else in a single one of them haha, most of them were of her in different outfits with different backgrounds. She was super nice though, and is interested in learning more about the Book of Mormon. 

In the evening we were again stopped by a lady in her car! She told us she's really looking for a church and wants to come to ours!! Super cool. We also taught David and Charlien over the phone while we gathered everything up and drove to Bossier City for Stake Conference the next day. 

On Saturday Stake Conference was amazing, we went to the Leadership session which is a first for me. :) had an Area Seventy (Elder Gottfredson) come too which was great. We ate with Brother Harris at Mi' Mexico in the break between sessions, and had some of the best tacos I've ever had! Then we went back to the Shreve Stake Center for the evening session which was phenomenal. Maybe the best Stake Conference Ive ever been to! Got to see some old friends from New Boston as well. Tyre and Charlien came as well to both days of the conference! 

Sunday after the morning session we went to the recent converts session with Elder Gottfredson, and that was good too! President and Sister Taylor, the Atkinsons (service mission leaders for the area), and the Platts (returning Mission leaders) were all at the conference as well. We drove back to Mag after, and had some great lessons! Taught Tatyanna and Randy the Restoration super in depth, and found a new lady named Jacqueline who really wants to come to church and said she'd bring her family too!

-Abe