Elder Boswell is out. He is going to Pasco. I am receiving Elder Dutson
as my new companion. He has only been out about 5 months. One transfer
longer than me. I am his 4th companion in 4 transfers and this will be
his 3rd area. He has seen a lot of change in a short amount of time.
Other than that I don't know much about him. I have been asking other
Elders in my zone about him and nobody has anything bad to say about
him. He is out here to work and he gets along with other Elders.
Perfect. I cant ask for anything else. I'm excited to meet him.
Elder Boswell is very excited to be in Pasco. I know he puts on a
show for me and pretends to miss me blah blah blah :). But I know he is
excited to be in Pasco. He knows the ZL there pretty well. Elder Powell.
Elder Powell is an awesome missionary and anyone would love to serve
around him. It was fun to be with Elder Boswell for three months and I
am going to miss him just like I know he is going to miss me. But both
of us are excited to change and try something new.
My zone leader, Elder Nilsson, just went home. He hit two years and
now he is dead. Probably on a plane right now. My new zone leader will
be Elder Tuttle. So Elder Hansen and Elder Tuttle will lead us. The ZL's
are in my district so we spend a lot of time with them. I am way way
excited to serve around Elder Tuttle. There are only wonderful things
said about him. He is a Spanish elder and all the Spanish elders
proclaim him as the next Spanish AP. I wouldn't be surprised. He has
only been out 9 months and he is already a ZL. It should be fun.
Transfers are tomorrow so all the changes will be occurring then. The
past couple of days have been devoted to seeing people for Elder
Boswell to say goodbye to. We ate breakfast with Sister Neale today (A
less active in our ward). It was fun to be with her. Carrie Neale is a
sweet soul.
Thanksgiving was awesome. Thanksgiving and transfer calls in one
week made this week seem so much longer. We got to watch football on
Thursday! There is a recent convert in the naches ward that invited the
elders out there to thanksgiving dinner and he wanted them to be able to
watch football. He called President Greer and got the okay from him! So
we watched the Cowboys game over at Tom Meere's house. It was so fun. I
missed football. And the cowboys won on a last second field goal! it
was awesome. I hear mason gets to go to the cowboys eagles game on Christmas Eve. That's way cool! Go cowboys.
What else.... Yesterday we were walking downtown and this lady that
we know, Nestle, invited us over. She is always sitting on the porch of
her apartment building and every time we see her she wants us to give
her a pass-along card. So I gave her a Christmas one and she invited us
in. It was weird because we have never been in her home but we accepted.
She stood up and unlocked the door and let us in. Then she stepped back
outside and locked the door behind her! so we were just standing in her
building not really knowing what just happened... Apparently when she
asked us if we wanted to go in she didn't mean with her. She is insane.
So we stood there and just laughed. We waited a minute and then unbolted
the door and waved goodbye to Nestle... Crazy lady.
We taught the Hansens again. They are pretty sweet. We should baptize them. Happy Christmas...
I
don't know what else to say... If you send me Christmas stuff don't send
candy. I don't like candy unless it's reeses. or sour patch kids. the
end. Like you'll send me Christmas stuff anyways :)
I love you all.
Elder Paxman
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Meeting Elder Boswell's Family
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Snow
It snowed on Wednesday. and it has been all week. It is a lot colder
now. Kinda crazy. I wear a beanie every day now so that my ears don't
fall off. I'm able to stay warm. I've got a coat and I wear my sweats
under my church pants HA! It totally works. Yes, I stay warm.
So, on Friday Elder Monson got Emergency Transferred. Elder Monson is one of the Spanish elders in our district and we spent a lot of time with him and his companions Elders Hansen and Nilson. It was a bummer to see him go. I didn't expect him to leave. Transfers calls will be coming this Saturday and I expect Elder Boswell to leave and I will stay in Yakima and get a new companion. I thought Elder Monson would stay in Yakima too but he got ET'd. Elder Marroquin took his spot. Elder Marroquin and Elder Hendrickson were having issues in their companionship in Benton City (near the tri-cities) so President decided to split them up and Elder Monson was the one who moved. Elder Marroquin is from Ecuador and is awesome. I do see how he could rub someone the wrong way though... So he's here now but everything could change in a week... Elder Nilson is going home this Tuesday and Sister Cooper (in my district) is probably also going to be moving somewhere. So, in the district, that would just leave me Elder Hansen and Sister Brown. Then a bunch of new faces. That is what I see happening, but again, you never know. I will update you next week on transfers.
We almost nailed a dog on exchanges the other night. We were out with Brother Flowers and it was dark and cold and kinda hard to see I guess. we were cruising at about 40 miles an hour and then out of no where there was a dog standing in the middle of the street. Brother Flowers Swerved and barley missed the dog. It was a good sized dog. probably 50 pounds. It would have been bad. For us and the dog.
OYM's have been down because of the snow. The work really changes when the weather changes. No one is outside and even if they are they don't want to talk because its cold. We are starting to knock more doors because its getting colder and because we have few good investigators. Anna didn't come to church on Sunday despite her promise that she "already had her clothes picked out". She is a good soul. She will get it one day.
We have seen the Hansens a few times recently too. They said they would come to church as well but they didn't show so we visited them last night and they had a good excuse. Dawn's dad thought he had a stroke. It didn't turn out to be that bad but they had to drive to tri-cites to visit him just in case. So they missed church. I hope they can come next week but they work so much that its hard to catch them on a Sunday where they don't work. Mark really wants some answers but has a hard time understanding. He reads the Book of Mormon and doesn't fully understand what he is reading. But he wants to! If he keeps looking I know he will find what he is looking for. We will continue to meet with both of them and answer their questions. Hopefully they progress toward baptism.
We also have been talking to this young man named Josiah. He is probably 25 years old. Married. No kids. His wife hasn't yet warmed up to the idea of having two strangers in her home so we teach Josiah in the cold on his doorstep. We were walking down the road one day and Josiah just got home from work and got out of his truck so we stopped and talked to him. He told us he has a friend who just got home from a mission. Steven Corbridge. Steven lives in the Terrace Heights ward which is covered by the Sister missionaries in our district. So we got Steven's number from her and talked to him. He went over there and discussed the gospel a little bit with Josiah. Then we went and followed up. Josiah is awesome. He is very Christian and he relies on Christ fully, but he questions himself. He sees the life that Steven lives and he thinks he is too weak to stay away from sin. He doesn't think he can overcome temptation. We try to reassure him and tell him that he can. He served in Iraq but I have no idea how. He is the biggest softie ever and he will be the first to admit it. He is so whipped too. His wife Emily has him wrapped around her finger.
Mike is still doing okay. He had a little scare with his health the other day. He had a minor stroke but is back home with meds. I think he is doing better and the ward is taking care of him with meals. He is very gracious towards us for all the help he is receiving. I love Mike. He wasn't able to come to church on Sunday because of his health but that's okay. He wanted to come really bad. He is getting stronger each day.
Good work. Good food. Good times. On thanksgiving we are going to the Garcia's in the morning and the Gailan's (best ward mission leader ever) at night. Mike will be at the Gailan's too. I'm excited.
I love you all. I've been getting letters and emails. I just said I wasn't because I want more. Greedy me. Miss you.
Love,
Elder Paxman
So, on Friday Elder Monson got Emergency Transferred. Elder Monson is one of the Spanish elders in our district and we spent a lot of time with him and his companions Elders Hansen and Nilson. It was a bummer to see him go. I didn't expect him to leave. Transfers calls will be coming this Saturday and I expect Elder Boswell to leave and I will stay in Yakima and get a new companion. I thought Elder Monson would stay in Yakima too but he got ET'd. Elder Marroquin took his spot. Elder Marroquin and Elder Hendrickson were having issues in their companionship in Benton City (near the tri-cities) so President decided to split them up and Elder Monson was the one who moved. Elder Marroquin is from Ecuador and is awesome. I do see how he could rub someone the wrong way though... So he's here now but everything could change in a week... Elder Nilson is going home this Tuesday and Sister Cooper (in my district) is probably also going to be moving somewhere. So, in the district, that would just leave me Elder Hansen and Sister Brown. Then a bunch of new faces. That is what I see happening, but again, you never know. I will update you next week on transfers.
We almost nailed a dog on exchanges the other night. We were out with Brother Flowers and it was dark and cold and kinda hard to see I guess. we were cruising at about 40 miles an hour and then out of no where there was a dog standing in the middle of the street. Brother Flowers Swerved and barley missed the dog. It was a good sized dog. probably 50 pounds. It would have been bad. For us and the dog.
OYM's have been down because of the snow. The work really changes when the weather changes. No one is outside and even if they are they don't want to talk because its cold. We are starting to knock more doors because its getting colder and because we have few good investigators. Anna didn't come to church on Sunday despite her promise that she "already had her clothes picked out". She is a good soul. She will get it one day.
We have seen the Hansens a few times recently too. They said they would come to church as well but they didn't show so we visited them last night and they had a good excuse. Dawn's dad thought he had a stroke. It didn't turn out to be that bad but they had to drive to tri-cites to visit him just in case. So they missed church. I hope they can come next week but they work so much that its hard to catch them on a Sunday where they don't work. Mark really wants some answers but has a hard time understanding. He reads the Book of Mormon and doesn't fully understand what he is reading. But he wants to! If he keeps looking I know he will find what he is looking for. We will continue to meet with both of them and answer their questions. Hopefully they progress toward baptism.
We also have been talking to this young man named Josiah. He is probably 25 years old. Married. No kids. His wife hasn't yet warmed up to the idea of having two strangers in her home so we teach Josiah in the cold on his doorstep. We were walking down the road one day and Josiah just got home from work and got out of his truck so we stopped and talked to him. He told us he has a friend who just got home from a mission. Steven Corbridge. Steven lives in the Terrace Heights ward which is covered by the Sister missionaries in our district. So we got Steven's number from her and talked to him. He went over there and discussed the gospel a little bit with Josiah. Then we went and followed up. Josiah is awesome. He is very Christian and he relies on Christ fully, but he questions himself. He sees the life that Steven lives and he thinks he is too weak to stay away from sin. He doesn't think he can overcome temptation. We try to reassure him and tell him that he can. He served in Iraq but I have no idea how. He is the biggest softie ever and he will be the first to admit it. He is so whipped too. His wife Emily has him wrapped around her finger.
Mike is still doing okay. He had a little scare with his health the other day. He had a minor stroke but is back home with meds. I think he is doing better and the ward is taking care of him with meals. He is very gracious towards us for all the help he is receiving. I love Mike. He wasn't able to come to church on Sunday because of his health but that's okay. He wanted to come really bad. He is getting stronger each day.
Good work. Good food. Good times. On thanksgiving we are going to the Garcia's in the morning and the Gailan's (best ward mission leader ever) at night. Mike will be at the Gailan's too. I'm excited.
I love you all. I've been getting letters and emails. I just said I wasn't because I want more. Greedy me. Miss you.
Love,
Elder Paxman
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Baptism
So yes, I baptized a dude on Saturday. It was kinda weird. Mike keeps
telling us "I wont forget this for a long time". I believe it too. He
loves the new friendship that he has with us and the friends that he is
making in the ward. The tough part of this all is that we are trying to
transition him from the missionaries to the ward. We need the ward to
step up and be friends with him. He doesn't have a car so he needs a lot
of help getting places. This past Sunday there was a stake choir
concert and we had the Goveias take him to that. We had to go up to
Brother Goveia and tell him to go up to Mike and invite him to the
concert. Its hard work getting the ward to be friends with recent
converts. The transition is happening though. Elder Boswell confirmed
him and gave a really nice blessing. After the blessing Mike asked if he
could have a copy of what Elder Boswell said. We told him that it was
all done by the spirit and he was amazed. He is always so gracious and
cordial.
I don't know if I told you about mike... He is a clinical psychologist, but isn't currently practicing because he isn't in great health. He lives humbly because he cant work right now but is in the process of getting knee surgery and maybe surgery on his shoulder. He had a stroke a few years ago and is still trying to fully recover. He's getting there. But until then he can't drive and somehow all his assets are frozen. I dunno. He hasn't gone into too much depth about it. He has never been married so he was worried he wouldn't fit in in the LDS church. We reassured him he would but I don't think he fully believed us until he experienced it for himself. He regrets not having a family but he loves the new ward family that he has.
He reads every day and is so curious to learn more. We just gave him a triple combination and a LDS edition KJV Bible. He reads all the time. He is just an awesome guy. I cant expect to ever find anyone as great as him again on my mission. We met him, and 20 days later he was baptized. That's insane. Elder Boswell and I were Blessed.
Because we were devoting so much time to Mike last week, the rest of the work slowed down a little bit. We realized that we don't have very many people to teach... So now we are back to finding. And teaching the few people that we have to teach. Staci thinks we're weird because the last time we were over there baptisms for the dead came up and she thought we baptized dead bodies. We explained what it was but I think she still is a little freaked out. We still meet with her but whenever we talk about religion she kinda puts on a front of "Mormons are weird". Next time we see her we will probably bring it up and see what she says. We're going over there tomorrow afternoon.
We also have Roman still, he is something else... He came to church in a pink polo and short plaid shorts with a virgin Mary pendant around his neck. Ridiculous. But he came to church! He is in the MLM business but he is on the end where he is getting taken for a lot of money and doesn't know it. Nothing like ASEA haha. Whatever he thinks he is doing its not working. But he is convinced that he is making millions within the next few months. one time he said "I'm making 5 million dollars on Saturday" Saturday came and went and somehow the check didn't come! shoot. Hopefully he shapes up.
Anna. She is a nice lady who wants to be baptized. She wants to come to church with her son Daniel too. They are way nice people. We are working with them. Its going well. They could be baptized soon. They are moving forward. We just need to meet with them more often.
That's about it. I attached baptism pictures and pictures from the temple. The small group is my district and the large group is my zone. The temple was great.
I love you all. Where are the letters? they stopped coming...
Love,
Elder Paxman
I don't know if I told you about mike... He is a clinical psychologist, but isn't currently practicing because he isn't in great health. He lives humbly because he cant work right now but is in the process of getting knee surgery and maybe surgery on his shoulder. He had a stroke a few years ago and is still trying to fully recover. He's getting there. But until then he can't drive and somehow all his assets are frozen. I dunno. He hasn't gone into too much depth about it. He has never been married so he was worried he wouldn't fit in in the LDS church. We reassured him he would but I don't think he fully believed us until he experienced it for himself. He regrets not having a family but he loves the new ward family that he has.
He reads every day and is so curious to learn more. We just gave him a triple combination and a LDS edition KJV Bible. He reads all the time. He is just an awesome guy. I cant expect to ever find anyone as great as him again on my mission. We met him, and 20 days later he was baptized. That's insane. Elder Boswell and I were Blessed.
Because we were devoting so much time to Mike last week, the rest of the work slowed down a little bit. We realized that we don't have very many people to teach... So now we are back to finding. And teaching the few people that we have to teach. Staci thinks we're weird because the last time we were over there baptisms for the dead came up and she thought we baptized dead bodies. We explained what it was but I think she still is a little freaked out. We still meet with her but whenever we talk about religion she kinda puts on a front of "Mormons are weird". Next time we see her we will probably bring it up and see what she says. We're going over there tomorrow afternoon.
We also have Roman still, he is something else... He came to church in a pink polo and short plaid shorts with a virgin Mary pendant around his neck. Ridiculous. But he came to church! He is in the MLM business but he is on the end where he is getting taken for a lot of money and doesn't know it. Nothing like ASEA haha. Whatever he thinks he is doing its not working. But he is convinced that he is making millions within the next few months. one time he said "I'm making 5 million dollars on Saturday" Saturday came and went and somehow the check didn't come! shoot. Hopefully he shapes up.
Anna. She is a nice lady who wants to be baptized. She wants to come to church with her son Daniel too. They are way nice people. We are working with them. Its going well. They could be baptized soon. They are moving forward. We just need to meet with them more often.
That's about it. I attached baptism pictures and pictures from the temple. The small group is my district and the large group is my zone. The temple was great.
I love you all. Where are the letters? they stopped coming...
Love,
Elder Paxman
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Mike Waters
This week is going to be a short email.
We went to the temple this morning so the day is a little shorter. It was way cool to go to the temple. The Colombia River Temple is very small but very pretty. There were a lot of missionaries there and it was fun. I learn every time. I love going.
This week we went with Mike to a baptismal service to show him what it would be like. It was a stake baptism so it was an 8 year old. Its not going to be exactly like that but it was good for him to be there and see. We have been meeting with him almost daily. He has had a small issue of quitting smoking which is saying a lot. The fact that it's a small issue is amazing. He is showing a lot of will power to quit. We went and bought him a bunch of gum to help him out and he says that helps a lot. I dont worry about him. He says he is done and we have to believe him. He will be interviewed on wednesday and baptized on saturday. We were at his place yesterday and we were talking about who he wanted to baptize him. He felt really bad because he was torn. He wanted us both in the font with him but he understands that only one of us can preform the ordinance. He decided that he wanted me to baptize him. Then we told him that Elder Boswell could confirm him and he got a look of relief. Confirmation and baptism are just as important. So he felt a lot better when we told him we could both be apart of it. I dont think we told him, but he knew that Elder Boswell was the senior missionary. And I felt really honored that he wanted me to baptize him.
Mike totally gets it. He understands everything. Yesterday he said something like "This experience is going to be something that bonds us for life" then he got a little teary eyed and sentimental. Nobody understands this like he does. He is very humble. Very intelligent. Gracious. Genuine. I love him. Every time we meet with him I feel so much better.
It's crazy how this all happened. We ran into him on the street. Taught him. And now we're going to baptize him all in 4 weeks! That never happens. Most of the time preparing someone for baptism takes much longer. and referrals are much more successful. It is a miracle how prepared Mike Waters was. He is just someone who gets it.
One thing I have learned on my mission is that as a missionary being obedient brings blessings. I have been trying to be perfectly obedient. Something President Greer stresses is adjusting and not adjusting back. Adjust to be obedient to God's commandments and when you get home dont adjust back. Thats the hard part. I am learning what to do to not adjust back. And I plan on doing that for the rest of my life. I gotta continue to attend the temple. Pray and read daily. The easy stuff that makes all the difference and sometimes isn't so easy.
I love you all.
Mike is pretty much all we are focusing on right now. We have nothing else to do. Everything else is dead.
Love,
Elder Paxman
We went to the temple this morning so the day is a little shorter. It was way cool to go to the temple. The Colombia River Temple is very small but very pretty. There were a lot of missionaries there and it was fun. I learn every time. I love going.
This week we went with Mike to a baptismal service to show him what it would be like. It was a stake baptism so it was an 8 year old. Its not going to be exactly like that but it was good for him to be there and see. We have been meeting with him almost daily. He has had a small issue of quitting smoking which is saying a lot. The fact that it's a small issue is amazing. He is showing a lot of will power to quit. We went and bought him a bunch of gum to help him out and he says that helps a lot. I dont worry about him. He says he is done and we have to believe him. He will be interviewed on wednesday and baptized on saturday. We were at his place yesterday and we were talking about who he wanted to baptize him. He felt really bad because he was torn. He wanted us both in the font with him but he understands that only one of us can preform the ordinance. He decided that he wanted me to baptize him. Then we told him that Elder Boswell could confirm him and he got a look of relief. Confirmation and baptism are just as important. So he felt a lot better when we told him we could both be apart of it. I dont think we told him, but he knew that Elder Boswell was the senior missionary. And I felt really honored that he wanted me to baptize him.
Mike totally gets it. He understands everything. Yesterday he said something like "This experience is going to be something that bonds us for life" then he got a little teary eyed and sentimental. Nobody understands this like he does. He is very humble. Very intelligent. Gracious. Genuine. I love him. Every time we meet with him I feel so much better.
It's crazy how this all happened. We ran into him on the street. Taught him. And now we're going to baptize him all in 4 weeks! That never happens. Most of the time preparing someone for baptism takes much longer. and referrals are much more successful. It is a miracle how prepared Mike Waters was. He is just someone who gets it.
One thing I have learned on my mission is that as a missionary being obedient brings blessings. I have been trying to be perfectly obedient. Something President Greer stresses is adjusting and not adjusting back. Adjust to be obedient to God's commandments and when you get home dont adjust back. Thats the hard part. I am learning what to do to not adjust back. And I plan on doing that for the rest of my life. I gotta continue to attend the temple. Pray and read daily. The easy stuff that makes all the difference and sometimes isn't so easy.
I love you all.
Mike is pretty much all we are focusing on right now. We have nothing else to do. Everything else is dead.
Love,
Elder Paxman
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Awesome Week
Hey there family and friends,
This week was awesome. Mike Waters. He is the epitome of one who God has prepared for the missionaries. Like I said, we ran into him last week and he was willing to listen. He goes into the lessons with what he calls a "healthy amount of skepticism". But he doesn't doubt. He accepts what we have to teach and really thinks about it and then takes it to God. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and he hasn't even read any of it. He prayed about it and has read the intro and the testimonies of the witnesses but he hasn't started in 1 Nephi yet. We are going to see him again tonight and tell him he needs to start reading. But we met with him last week on Thursday and he accepted the invitation to be baptized and he will be baptized on the 12th. We set that date before realizing that if he does it a day earlier it would be 11-11-11. so we will ask him about that and see if he wants to have a friday baptism haha. He came to church on sunday and he is so excited about everything we have to tell him. He loved church and loves the Book of Mormon. In our second meeting with him he said "I want to be a member of your church". The missionaries can work with that! I am so excited for him. Just to be able to see him every sunday at church. He seems very solid and sure of this path. He is kind of out of work right now. Its an interesting situation. He has a lot of assets I believe but they are somehow tied up. I dont know how truthful that is but Mike is a smart guy so I tend to believe him. He is living in a hotel right now because he cant afford anything else until July when he apparently can get ahold of the money that is unavailable to him right now. He was a mental health therapist. And he is out of work. So no car. No real house. But he has a lot of time to study and pray about the things we bring to him and he has the desire to always know more. Seeing his progression is fun. Im always excited to get over to mikes place even though its a long walk. From our house its probably an hour walk if we just do it straight. But its worth it. We are trying to introduce him to as many people in the ward as possible. He is a single 56 year old man who never really got around to getting married. He is self conscious about that and its his biggest regret, that he never got married. So he was nervous to go to church when he heard how much emphasis we put on families. He didn't want to be judged or feel out of place. I feel like that is a real concern for a lot of people who we invite to church. They don't want to be judged. I guess what that tells me is that at a lot of churches around the world, people feel judged and uncomfortable. And when they come to the LDS church they fear that judgment. So all we can do as missionaries and members is make everyone feel welcome. Otherwise they aren't going to want to come back because the LDS church is just as unwelcoming as any other church they dont want to go to. The members are very important. And in Mike Waters' case, the members did a good job and he is excited to come back next sunday and learn more.
Other than Mike we had a really good week. We are focusing a lot on him, but we have other new investigators too. We still have Denim, Anna, The Hansens, Stacie, and others. They are all kinda in and out, up and down. We haven't been able to meet with the hansens for about a week because they had family in town but we will see them tomorrow and hope they have read. If not we will recommit them. One thing that Mark said in our first meeting that was really cool was "If I have half as much faith as you two young men have then I would certainly be baptized". He said that after we invited him to be baptized. It was cool to see that bearing my testimony to people really does have an effect on them.
We are meeting with Denim on Thursday and that will probably be the same routine. Although, I believe Denim has read. I just hope he recognized his answer. That is part of the Missionaries' job, to help people recognize how the Holy Ghost talks to us. Anna, Stacie, Roman, Sandro, they all need to keep commitments. I love them to death and I want them to be happy and I know that the gospel is what brings true happiness so we are trying to let them know that for themselves. Oh well. There is only so much we can do. They still have their agency.
So, I hear Brother Pfunder was a Leprechaun for Halloween. The Lamphier family in our ward are related to the Pfunders. Sister Pfunder is Sister Lamphier's niece? I think that's right. But when we see the Lamphier's, they usually give me an update on what Brother Pfunder has posted on Facebook recently. They think he is hilarious of course. Because he is. Its a small world.
Someone told me yesterday that no one cant teach you to hate God better than the Catholic Church. So... Stay away. Because we love God. He told us how much he hated God and he didn't believe he loved us and was cussing at us and telling us about his Catholic experience. And then as he walked away Elder Hansen (we were on exchanges) said "God bless you". and then we walked away as he was still yelling. It was pretty funny. Elder Hansen is one of the zone leaders in Selah and he is pretty funny. He is a 300+ pound man with Tongan heritage. Funny kid. Push over. Big, but harmless.
Love you all! Keep the letters coming! Goodbye
Love
Elder Paxman
This week was awesome. Mike Waters. He is the epitome of one who God has prepared for the missionaries. Like I said, we ran into him last week and he was willing to listen. He goes into the lessons with what he calls a "healthy amount of skepticism". But he doesn't doubt. He accepts what we have to teach and really thinks about it and then takes it to God. He knows the Book of Mormon is true and he hasn't even read any of it. He prayed about it and has read the intro and the testimonies of the witnesses but he hasn't started in 1 Nephi yet. We are going to see him again tonight and tell him he needs to start reading. But we met with him last week on Thursday and he accepted the invitation to be baptized and he will be baptized on the 12th. We set that date before realizing that if he does it a day earlier it would be 11-11-11. so we will ask him about that and see if he wants to have a friday baptism haha. He came to church on sunday and he is so excited about everything we have to tell him. He loved church and loves the Book of Mormon. In our second meeting with him he said "I want to be a member of your church". The missionaries can work with that! I am so excited for him. Just to be able to see him every sunday at church. He seems very solid and sure of this path. He is kind of out of work right now. Its an interesting situation. He has a lot of assets I believe but they are somehow tied up. I dont know how truthful that is but Mike is a smart guy so I tend to believe him. He is living in a hotel right now because he cant afford anything else until July when he apparently can get ahold of the money that is unavailable to him right now. He was a mental health therapist. And he is out of work. So no car. No real house. But he has a lot of time to study and pray about the things we bring to him and he has the desire to always know more. Seeing his progression is fun. Im always excited to get over to mikes place even though its a long walk. From our house its probably an hour walk if we just do it straight. But its worth it. We are trying to introduce him to as many people in the ward as possible. He is a single 56 year old man who never really got around to getting married. He is self conscious about that and its his biggest regret, that he never got married. So he was nervous to go to church when he heard how much emphasis we put on families. He didn't want to be judged or feel out of place. I feel like that is a real concern for a lot of people who we invite to church. They don't want to be judged. I guess what that tells me is that at a lot of churches around the world, people feel judged and uncomfortable. And when they come to the LDS church they fear that judgment. So all we can do as missionaries and members is make everyone feel welcome. Otherwise they aren't going to want to come back because the LDS church is just as unwelcoming as any other church they dont want to go to. The members are very important. And in Mike Waters' case, the members did a good job and he is excited to come back next sunday and learn more.
Other than Mike we had a really good week. We are focusing a lot on him, but we have other new investigators too. We still have Denim, Anna, The Hansens, Stacie, and others. They are all kinda in and out, up and down. We haven't been able to meet with the hansens for about a week because they had family in town but we will see them tomorrow and hope they have read. If not we will recommit them. One thing that Mark said in our first meeting that was really cool was "If I have half as much faith as you two young men have then I would certainly be baptized". He said that after we invited him to be baptized. It was cool to see that bearing my testimony to people really does have an effect on them.
We are meeting with Denim on Thursday and that will probably be the same routine. Although, I believe Denim has read. I just hope he recognized his answer. That is part of the Missionaries' job, to help people recognize how the Holy Ghost talks to us. Anna, Stacie, Roman, Sandro, they all need to keep commitments. I love them to death and I want them to be happy and I know that the gospel is what brings true happiness so we are trying to let them know that for themselves. Oh well. There is only so much we can do. They still have their agency.
So, I hear Brother Pfunder was a Leprechaun for Halloween. The Lamphier family in our ward are related to the Pfunders. Sister Pfunder is Sister Lamphier's niece? I think that's right. But when we see the Lamphier's, they usually give me an update on what Brother Pfunder has posted on Facebook recently. They think he is hilarious of course. Because he is. Its a small world.
Someone told me yesterday that no one cant teach you to hate God better than the Catholic Church. So... Stay away. Because we love God. He told us how much he hated God and he didn't believe he loved us and was cussing at us and telling us about his Catholic experience. And then as he walked away Elder Hansen (we were on exchanges) said "God bless you". and then we walked away as he was still yelling. It was pretty funny. Elder Hansen is one of the zone leaders in Selah and he is pretty funny. He is a 300+ pound man with Tongan heritage. Funny kid. Push over. Big, but harmless.
Love you all! Keep the letters coming! Goodbye
Love
Elder Paxman
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