Pretty Interesting Person Profile (1/2/14)

Well, on the mission, we meet all sorts of interesting people, for better or worse. They keep life interesting. I'll introduce you to one of the people I've met. His name is Jack (changed for privacy).

We found an odd kid. His name is Jack. We went somewhere to go contact some potential investigators. He was playing around on his scooter in an empty parking lot across the street. About 9 years old, chubby and blonde, and VERY curious. He told us to keep an eye out for a police car and/or a stray dog without a collar. ...ok. He asked us who we were and what we were doing. We told him we're missionaries and asked if her knew of any hispanic people on that street. He pointed out a few houses and stood and watched on the other side of the street. After every house we knocked, he asked us how it went. Then he absolutely insisted on taking us to visit his friend nearby. He practically did the door contact for us. He knocked on the door and was talking before we even had a chance to breath about us "church people". Needless to say his friend was weirded out... Then he insisted on taking us to meet his family. We resisted a bit saying that we needed to get going. But he said, "Come on, I know you have the time." Well ok... His dad answered the door and was definitely not happy to see us. Probably gave the poor kid a tongue lashing for bringing Mormon missionaries to the house. Then Jack followed us back to our car and wanted to see our materials that we use, our Books of Mormon, Libros de Mormon, pamphlets, cards, everything. We left him with a "Gospel of Jesus Christ" pamphlet.

Yep. That's Jack for you.

Giant update for the month of January 2014

Hi! It's been a while! Not that that's anything new...

Since last time, lots of things have happened such as...

 - I turned 11 months old in the mission! It's a crazy thought to think I'm on the way out. But haven't been freaking out too much about the fact that I don't have too much time left. Some missionaries are freaking out and scared to leave behind missionary life and wish they could be missionaries for 14 years like Ammon. Others are counting down the days and getting "trunky" and ready to go home. As for me, I hope to be well adjusted and in the middle. I'm so eternally grateful for all I've learned and all the good times, all the personal growth and the opportunities to invite others to come unto Christ, but also excited about everything the future has in store after the mission. I'm especially excited for this chance to live life better and fuller, and as a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ. That's how I see things currently and I hope I stay that way even when I'm almost done with my mission.

 - Transfers! I'm going to miss Belton a lot. There are so many amazing members out here in the middle of nowhere and they have my heart. There are also so many awesome investigators that are soaking up the Gospel like a sponge.

 - the first New Year's Resolutions I'm actually going to take seriously.

•  read the Book of Mormon in Spanish
• read the Doctrine and Covenants in English
• run 1 mile (or at least 15 minutes cardio something if my companion won't run with me) every day (even after the mission) (Pardon the parentheses)
• look for an opportunity to serve each day
• Higher quality prayers
• wake up and start over if I find myself getting drowsy
• pray to be filled with charity every day
• to talk to God about how things went that day and ask Him for help with the things that were left undone/not done well

El Plan de Salvacion

I made a giant diagram of the plan of salvation to put on the floor. Especially good for people with lots of questions, the chronologically challenged, the visually impaired, the easily distracted, and for children.

Christmas Day in the Relief Society Room

Yep. We opened our Christmas presents as a district in the Relief Society Room after having breakfast in the kitchen. Fun albeit unusual stuff!