Hallelujah y'all,
This week was another great week in paradise!! We were just out evangelizing and praising the Lord and what have you, and it was fantastic!
Elder Jensen and I are just having a great time serving, working hard, and laughing along the way. One day last week during personal study I didn't realize Elder Jensen had gotten up and as I walked out of the study room next thing I know I am staring up at a massive blow up Duck that he had found in the closet and strung up on the wall hahaha. Bless my heart for sure!
We have been working with this part member family, Jeremy and Becky Nelson, and they had us over last week for a lesson. Jeremy has been asking questions about the word of wisdom, and some wheels have been turning. Unfortunately some missionaries in the past were a little too blunt and ended up offending him about a year ago. He has just recently been attending church with his wife, and so hopefully been thinking more about the gospel. We shared a lesson on faith and the stripling warriors, and made sure to try and gain trust. Jeremy then asked us if we could help him on Saturday put up a trampoline for the kids. It was an incredible opportunity to go and do service for him, but also to be able to talk with just him without any family pressure. We ended up talking to him for quite a while and hopefully mended a few bridges there. Still trying to figure out how to best help him, but definitely going to try and have some members invite him to Elder's Quorum since he feels like his only friends are those outside the church that are social drinkers, etc.
We also had a couple great lessons with our man Chris Corrona and were able to bring our ward mission leader with us as well one of the times since he is a convert that used to be Catholic as well. Nothing better than taking a convert to a lesson! He has been talking to his friends about the B.o.M and of course they are all like woah man that is crazy stuff. He stands strong though! He was like, "Do you believe in Moses and the burning bush? Jonah and the whale? What about Noah's ark? Yeah, then why not the Book of Mormon? Haha let's goo Chris!!
Danny was able to make it to church again this week, and we were able to have a great lesson on the priesthood with him. He is doing great and seems to really fit in High Priest's Group. Brother Helm invited him over to dinner this coming week as well, so that is great! The members all seem to be starting to jump all over the missionary work in this area, and it has been awesome! Only taken a little while to get some excitement, but it really seems like things are starting to pop over here :) A famous Mormon singer, Gladys Knight, is having a big testimony presentation in April where she sings and also shares her conversion story down in Slidell where the stake center is. We as missionaries/members are starting to rally the troops (reach out to neighbors/friends, etc) in preparation for that! Some amazing things are starting to come down here, and just trying to get some more outreach in the community. Last time Gladys Knight came to Louisiana was in Baton Rouge and the current Stake Relief Society president was found and ended up being baptized :D
I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Hoopes this week since they are doing exchanges with all of the new missionaries, and so that was a total highlight! The boys were back in business :D We had a great exchange preaching the gospel and reminiscing on the good times haha. Not to mention we got some good 6:30 a.m pinecone punting in :)
So many other investigators to talk about and amazing progress, but I will end with the miracle of the week:
Last night we decided we were going to finish the week with some pounding. We went to this big apartment complex and began tracting. We got there, parked, and then started walking since no inspiration comes from standing still. We said a prayer as we had no idea which building to hit, and felt prompted to hit building H. We ended up hitting all three floors with 4 doors on each floor, with very little interest even after getting a foot in the door after pointing out some nitrous oxide. Anyway, we get to the top and literally the last door. After knocking this lady opens and yells "Elders" and then her dog runs out. Before we could say anything we are chasing her dog around the complex. Well, turns out she was baptized in New Orleans about 30 years ago when there were 2 big buildings and several wards. Apparently she was sitting outside on her balcony and recognized us when we got out of the car. She didn't holler at us, but I guess she didn't need to! She knew the Lord would send us, and was so excited to see us when we knocked on her door. We got all of her information, and she even remembered the Elders that baptized her when she was 12. She lives with her daughter and granddaughter and is excited to have the sister missionaries over there! Total miracle to finish off a great week.
Well, I will leave it with that, but just so grateful for the opportunity to serve. I love my mission, and especially my Savior Jesus Christ.
Love,
Elder Wilson
