The Power of Prayer

So yeah our pday was bumped to today because we had half mission conferences on Monday and Tuesday and meetings for leaders Wednesday so they wanted to have the whole mission on the same pday. So we get one today and Monday! The training was really good. Elder Perkins of the 70 came and was doing the training. It was focused a lot on boldness and quickness. We need to be bold in our approaches but not offensive and quick to get the message across so we don't bore people. It was super good but super long. We were there from 8am to 4pm. We were fed though so it wasn't too bad I suppose. These last two weeks have been decent. Jorgé, the 15 yr old, hasn't been keeping commitments and continually bails on us. Most likely because he's 15... He's super interested but doesn't care enough to act. We're kind of just dropping him and seeing if the young men's president can do anything with him and the other priests. Gustavo and his family, the Bolivians with the 2 yr old, are still doing super good. They couldn't make it to church but have been reading the Book of Mormon and have questions and like the way things are going. They keep inviting us over so it's been super awesome. We hope things will continue to progress. Mr grant, the black guy with tons of strange questions, has been continuing to ask questions but we go over at like 8 and it's way too late and he's only available on Sunday's so we have to wait a week to go back. So we're still trying to get things worked out with him. But he's asked for stuff to read from the Book of Mormon which is awesome.
This day light savings thing is killing us... As soon as the sun starts going down people here say "oh it's way too late guys I'm not interested" or "I'm going to bed you guys need to come by during the
day" (they're not home during the day because work) or "I just put my
kids to bed" or many others which are are all valid excuses except for when the sun goes down at 4:30????? People say that, then we look at our watches and go ummmm ok.... We'll try by another day.... That's always pretty rough.. And to make it worse people don't answer doors, phones, or any form of communication because it's waaayyy too late if the Suns going down. It probably sounds like a lot of complaining but it's how it works here.. And if we don't have pre-planned lessons with members we don't have anything to do all evening... It can be quite the struggle...
We're having tons of fun and I'm still learning lots but it's just super frustrating.. Nothing real crazy has happened. Halloween consisted of the zone eating food and watching cokeville miracles. Which was actually really good! The movie, not Halloween.. Highly recommend watching it. The power of prayer is remarkable and I see it all the time here.
DC was pretty sweet! We just went through a few museums and hung out as a missionaries. We were walking down the street and some guy with a cool tie walks by so we're like hey that's a cool tie and he responded with find the real Jesus... We were just like really.... Really bro? You had to stoop down there after we complimented you?? Oh the love we get for saving people.. Jk things are going good and I'm loving it. I hope all is well at home and thanks for your continual love and support. I know the church is true and I love it
Love elder Lucas

I miss the snow! We have zone activities like every transfer. We can
go to DC once a transfer. And the zone leaders are always in charge.
It'll be cool to have two close pdays. Yeah I'm doing good and am nice
and settled. And yes happy. Sometimes it can be hard because but I'm
doing good.​

Everything is Awesome!

October 26, 2015

This week was super busy! Monday we had pday and we had a zone activity where we played games and bonded. Our zone is super awesome! Most the missionaries say it's their favorite zone so far so for me that means I might not be so lucky in the future.. But here's hoping it continues. I have an awesome zone, district, apartment, and companion and hopefully that continues! Tuesday we had exchanges with a different elder and we just did some stuff in their area. It was fun
and is always nice. Wednesday we finished up exchanges and tried to contact some potential people but had no luck.. We never do.. Thursday we had a return and report meeting with all the missionaries that came in with me. We basically got together with all the trainers and trainees and discussed and ate and talked with president. That took up most the day. It was sweet to see the MTC homies again though! We then finished up the day by trying to meet with people we had appointments with but some people are bums and they fell through... Friday we had a leadership mtg and then again tried contacting people... We did have a ward fall festival with tons of inactives and non members which was sweet! Saturday we went to baptism for a convert and then went to lunch with the office elders. Then went tracting in the afternoon and had no success. Sunday was busy as always. We were at church most the day and had an awesome dinner/game night with a part member family. We had an awesome nerf war with the kids. The kids wall has so many nerf guns it's insane and super awesome! We shared a lesson of course afterward though. It was just a fun one.
Today we are headed into DC to do something. Not sure what yet but I'm sure it'll be sweet. The
baptism Saturday was awesome! So elder cox and a previous companion of his had the opportunity to teach Kenny, a black gangster, and go all the way through to baptism. Kenny is super cool and strong in the church! He's also flipped his life around and is way happier now. He's been a convert now for about a year. One thing he said to us a little while back was that the church must be true because we're always learning stuff when we go and you can always feel something which I thought was kind of cool. So his nephew came to stay with him a few weeks ago and say how Kenny has changed and wanted to have that change in his life. So elder huffaker and elder marshal started teaching him
and he has been super excited to learn and become a member of the church. It's been sweet to talk with him. As for the baptism part, Kenny was able to baptize him which was super awesome and he was super excited but super nervous. He kept forgetting the words so we had to keep reminding him. I took him 5 times to baptize his nephew because he was hardly even getting immersed and there was always stuff sticking out but even though they were both quite embarrassed it was sweet to see the importance of the ordinance. They kept trying because words have to be said right and the person has to be properly dunked. It was a cool experience and the spirit was definitely felt. Drick, pronounced dreke, his nephew, short for roydrickas, is super happy with what he's done and wants his girlfriend and family to be baptized too which will be cool in the near future. Elder cox and I have worked
super close with huffaker and marshal throughout the transfer so that's how we've been able to work close with Kenny. Over all though all of our lessons fell through this week but the family we've started teaching came to church and want us over for dinner this week so we're pretty stoked about that!:) so yeah, that's my week real quick.
Somehow we've ended up with 3 boxes of pizza and three big containers of Mac and cheese... We're gonna get so fat... But it's whatever I guess. At least if we die tomorrow we won't be upset for not pigging out. Our apartment is at a 90 degree angle of another building and the apartment right next to ours has a guy (old) that likes to tan in a speedo so that's kinda gross... I've also learned giving away book of Mormons can be super fun. We were at a red light and the guy next to us had his window down so I rolled down mine (we were in the back of a van. Don't worry, we definitely don't have the luxury of having a vehicle...) and I asked if he wanted a Book of Mormon and he said sure so hopped out, gave him one, said have a good day, and hopped back in. It was dope. Church is true.
Oh I just remembered. We were chillin in Wendy's with some other missionaries after an exchange and some Asian guy came in a just stood in the door way preaching something. We have no idea what he said but it was really funny and we're sure he was totally roasting us but we don't know. Everyone there was very confused while we were laughing pretty hard. So yeah. There's my crazy
story for the week. It's been a good one and flown by like always. I hope all is well at home and thanks for all your prayers. The power of prayer is amazing and we'd definitely be doomed without it... The Church is true and watching people progress is an amazing thing. I'm definitely thankful for this opportunity even if some days it's prettyrough being here.
Until next time- keep Reading, keep praying, always go to church, and order us take out. 7700 random run lane, falls church, VA 22042 apt 203 ;)
Lover elder Lucas

The Spirit Directs and Testifies

October 19, 2016

Well this week flew by like always. Which I'm always thankful for. Not a ton happened this week. We had a lot of meetings and different things going on. Also some of our appointments bailed on us so we didn't teach a whole lot. On a crazy note, we met with a lady who said she had only like 20 minutes but then proceeded to take an hour explaining the spiritual journey she went on for 8 months where she didn't work or do anything but wander around visiting churches and pastors and preachers (never went to the Mormon church) and praying and reading the bible.. She also told us about some crazy vision she had which was quite fascinating. It was funny. The interesting thing though is when you hear cool spiritual experiences you normally get a story with the spirit but in this case it was just a story. Just going to prove the spirit directs and testifies of truth and truth only. It was a very interesting experience. We had nothing to say afterward. She doesn't believe Mormonism or that the Book of Mormon is real. So we said well thanks for talking and left. We probably won't go back..
On a positive note We're teaching a new family. And I don't know their last names... A guy, his girlfriend, and their two year old son. They're from Bolivia and they're super awesome. We started talking about the Book of Mormon and the girlfriend said she wants to read it and come to church so we were pretty stoked. They've always liked how nice Mormons are and how we actually live what we preach. They're super cool and we're excited to keep teaching them.
Zafar has been sent home to Pakistan so he's no longer investigating... Which we are a bit upset about. Jorge hasn't been answering his door or phone so that's kind of the pits... And mr. Grant also hasn't answered his door or phone.. So yeah. A bit of a rough week.
Oh another positive note! I finished the Book of Mormon this morning. I started the first day in the field which I thought was pretty cool. Reading it straight through without much stopping has definitely helped me get a better understanding of where things are as well as the story as a whole. I was pretty happy and will probably try to do it again fairly quick. It's definitely getting cold here. I love it! The fall here is not very good but I'm glad it's finally cooling off. I'm short on time today because we are doing a zone fall activity.
Everything is going well and I'm happy to be here. The church is true and I hope all is well back home.
Love elder Lucas