Clothes Line, Clothes Pins, And Dirty Laundry.

Whats up cuties

Man I feel like I write my weekly email, fall asleep, and wake up to write about my week again. But I'm grateful that I get to talk to yall so often because I've heard thousands of times that back in the day it was only twice a year more or less, so I'm glad I can hear back as often as I do. This week has been exhausting and insanely busy, but I said last week it was going to be, so I saw this coming. Last pday we stayed in plainview to save miles for zone conference, so we got to help a member cook chili riallnos, and they were delicious and I'm glad I learned this skill cuz I'm going to have to make more for sure! After pday we did an exchange and I took another elder up here to my area, we knocked doors from 1pm to 6pm and had a lesson with Val afterwards in the usual coffee shop. They have this horchata there thats hot. It's the most addictive thing ever and I hope they don't add it to the word of wisdom because I would be crushed. After that exchange we had zone conference, then I went on another exchange after zone conference. We found 2 new people this week as well as last week! So it's been going good. We have the opportunity now to also watch over some members pets at their barn and property, and I realized I want 100s of acres like they do so I can do whatever I want like shoot guns or build dirtbike tracks or all kinds of things. Anyways I have a lot to talk bout so let's go ahead and buckle up.

As mentioned previously, my first exchange was pretty eventful. We knocked some dots in our south most part of our area, about 45 miles south of us, then drove about 90 miles south east to floydada. We have some dots there so we decided to just spend the whole day knocking and eating lunch and dinner there. Knocking doors was fun and we were able to talk to some people, but it was the usual "were not interested" conversations. After walking to one house, we noticed that we now had a 3rd companion. It was this little puppy that couldn't be more than 6 months old. It was the chillest dog ever and we tried to put it back in the fence but it kept finding ways to get to us. Eventually we gave up and decided to put it in our car and drive it to the owners house after we were done knocking. After knocking we drove back to plainview. We taught Val and that was a really good lesson with her. She seemed happier than usual which made me happy. We taught more about the book of Mormon and invited her to church. She didn't end up coming sadly, but we still have faith in her.

Zone conference was a good time. It was good to see other missionaries and to have that spiritual boost for the week. It wasn't my favorite zone conference I've attended but it was still a great experience. Me and my district were so tired, especially elder hall and I because we didn't sleep on our exchange and no one slept on the night of zone conference because many missionaries slept over and we played games. Then to make matters worse, we decided to do another exchange after 2 nights of no sleep. It was exhausting to say the least. Elder Wren and I went back up to my area and did some more work here. We met this guy named banks, who we invited to church and to do Bible studies with us. I met him while he was cutting my hair up. I was getting faded up nicely in the chair and I was just teaching him about what we do and what our church was about and he was totally on board. He's a really cool guy and I hope we can meet with him more and teach him more. The other person we met was Tarissa. She is married to James, the person we met last week. She is really awesome and I'm excited to see where things go with them.

If you know me, you know I like to change things up. I can't just do the same thing all the time, I'd go crazy. I've been brainstorming ideas on how we can branch out and find more people and capture attention of more people. One idea that we had was to print out tons of flyers with scriptures on them, and our church location with the time our service starts, and also our number. I made the flyers myself and they are the best flyers this world has ever seen ever. I mean these things looked so good, no one wanted to touch them. But we put these bad boys everywhere, and we still have plenty more. That was really fun and even if we get 1 phone call or person to church, I'll count it all joy. I've been brainstorming and thinking of some other ideas as well, so stay posted for either some hilarious failures, or cool and unique success stories.

Some thoughts occurred to me a while ago and I've been thinking about them since. I have been thinking about why we complain about our trials or struggles, as if that's going to help. We are given very unique experiences that will help us see God's hand in our life in a way only we would know, and yet we complain. Yes what we go through sucks and it's hard, but if we all were to take our burdens and trials and put them out like laundry on a clothes line, and if wind picks up and those things are looking like they are going to be blown away, we are all going to run out there and start grabbing our own laundry or problems, because we know what they are and they belong to us. We wouldn't want to take Jerry's dirty underwear, or his heart problems rather, or Tiffany's wet shirt. We would grab our own laundry. God gives us weakness so we may be humble. Ether 12:27 Is a scripture about that. We are given trials to keep us humble and to give us a reason to follow God and ask for his mercy and hand in our lives. So do it! Instead of complaining, ask God to make your burden lighter and he will! Put God first. In him you will find rest. Stop trying to make things easier on your own and think that things will work out your way, because they won't. Cut out all the extra years, months, days, of pain and suffering and feeling lost, and just take it with God first. You can't do it by yourself. So stop thinking you can manage work loads better by doing something different, or personal problems, or family problems by self healing or doing things you think are going to help. Nope you need Jesus!

Anyways yall sorry this was long but it was a good week so what can I say. I definitely left a lot out, but I don't write for the daily wire or new York times, so it doesn't need to be that long. I love yall and I hope yall have a great week. Take care!

-elder dog whisper

Pics:

1: cow 6am-11pm

2: Odessa peeps reunion

3: LBNZ

4: get pranked president

5: what da dogs doing?

6: me and mark

7: poker

8: free Mason building

9: chili riallnos

10: view from top of parking garage