Enlisted

Where to begin and where to end.

Starting with the last and ending with the first

Sunday. Jon Schmidt. Spirit. Music. Beauty. Couldn't ask for more.

Exchanges with my good friend, Elder Fortuna. He goes home next transfer and we have been planning to have an all out intense proselyting day together for the past six months. Saturday we finally got our chance. We did a 24 hour fast and canceled all appointments: lessons, dinner, lunch, breakfast, and proselyted for the entire day without breaks. No planned visits. No food. No car (bike area) and just pure, old fashion missionary work. We were so stoked for it ha. The night before we set some goals we wanted to accomplish together:

1. Get kicked out of somewhere or get in trouble somehow... (sketch? little bit)
2. Soap box like they did in the early days of the church. Stand on something and preach to people.
3. Proselyte at a bus station
4. Talk with absolutely everyone we saw. Be bold.
5. Anytime we were hesitant or nervous one of us would say, "comfort zone." and the other would say, "shattered." and that's exactly what we did.
6.. Perhaps pass out from exhaustion.
7. Anytime we were walking or not teaching we would role play together how to start different conversations with people and what not. Teach all day long baby.

First we went to Target and proselyted in the parking lot ha. We talked with everyone and man... it was one awkward couple of hours. We kept saying, "comfort zone! comfort zone!" but we shattered all the barriers and finally had the relief of someone kicking us out so we didn't have to do it anymore ha. Thank you, Ashley, dear store manager.

Towards the end of the evening we still hadn't had a chance to soap box. So we stood crouching on some benches on the street and were planning on jumping up if anyone walked by and preach to them... but no one did. Rough. So we went to the dock and no one was there too so we stood on the tables and role played what we would do later. We went back and a girl named Lisa and her son were hitting golf balls into the lake... so I hit a few off with them and then asked if we could preach to them on the rails. So we did.... and she said she wants to go to church and be taught. Like... yep. That happened.

Soap Boxin'

Hit up a bus station. Talked with everyone.

Almost passed out. Not quite. Pretty close though I never knew how powerful thirst could pain the body to that extent. We just kept riding up the long hills with our rain jackets on while there was no rain. Obedience kids. Obedience.

At the end of the day.... we were confused. Nothing really happened ha. We were trying to figure out what went wrong. We dedicated everything to that day. Sacrificed it all so that we could be led to the right people at the right time. But.... nothing happened... I mean... a couple potential investigators and what not but... not that much. We somewhat concluded that this is why we don't do missionary work like this anymore. We work through people and ask for referrals... change it up from just tracting and street contacting (which is all we did) so that you can stay enthusiastic about it throughout the day. We found out that bible bashing doesn't work too well. (Did that all day too... kind of one of our unspoken goals we set together... no good reason. Not proud of it.) If there was one thing I learned from it all it was that I'm very grateful to have teaching appointments throughout the day and have food to eat and water to drink. Everything else seems easy now.

Shelly

Yep. Found five new investigators from the last time I got to talk with you. Miracles keep coming. Can't stop the work of God from progressing. I'm just on the right train... finally.

Sister Holly Archer

Well I guess a lot of other things happened this week but I don't have much time. We have to run over to some Elders apartment who got in a little ole fight. I know how they feel. I'm grateful for change. I'm grateful for repentance and progression. I never feel stuck.. and if I do then I'm not using the gift that my Savior has provided for me. I can never be stagnant. Always correcting and adjusting. I need it.

From Adam down to the present time,

Elder Trent Jay Merrill