Week 34: Brevard, NC

July 24, 2023

Yea they don't celebrate Pioneer Day because they hate Mormons. It was a fun day, though. We went up to Hendo and hung out with the other elders one last time before transfers. Somehow we got into the Pokemon battling card game, so we grinded that out for a while. That's about it. 

July 25, 2023

I think it's crazy how tight you grow with your district in so little time. Today was the last district council with Elder Greenhalgh and Elder Brown. We had a little testimony meeting to finish it out, which was sweet. After that we helped Brother Jones lift this antique pump organ upstairs so it doesn't get moldy. Thing was literally from the late 1800's, which is wild. He played it for us and it kind of sounds like an old accordion, or like some old pirate organ or sum idk. Other than that we talked to some cool friends like Jose, Maggie, Philippe, and Maria. Then Sister Payne hooked us up with Fuji's steak and shrimp for dinner. 

July 26, 2023

We had a decent lesson with Bruce again today. He took it south and told us a bunch of random stories, mainly about crazy stuff when he worked with the fire department and other hooligan stuff he did as a teenager. The Spirit was already gone during this particular lesson, so we gave up and just went along for the ride haha. Later in the night we had dinner with the Miller's and hung out for a minute.  

July 27, 2023

It was a pretty uneventful day today, not gonna lie. We talked to Chad for a while about his modded out 1992 F150. He said he could pop wheelies in it, but it might be cap, I don't know. We tried doing lots of finding and contacts today, but nothing crazy happened. 

July 28, 2023

We had a good conversation with David today, baking up in his cigarette smoke in his mancave. He isn't going to keep commitments, but wants to come to church sometime. This cracked out lady we met started preaching to us about how messed up the world is, but didn't want to hear anything we had to say. She was a 'worship the cross' kind of lady. 

We had a great dinner with the Booth's tonight and had a good conversation with Brady as well. He had called us and wanted to meet at the church. He's struggling with the 'culture' of the church and a lot of the members with the branch going crazy on him, expecting him to be more than he is right now. I don't know what he needs, but God does, so prayers up for my boy Brady. 

July 29, 2023

So we had two major lessons today. A super good visit with this family, CJ and Jordan, and a lesson with Bruce. CJ and Jordan are some awesome people we met a while back, but we talked with them for a hot minute today and they are awesome. They have three young kids and we told them all about our church and Primary, which got them excited. Jordan, the mom, was taking notes on pretty much everything we said and wants to come to church. 

Next, we had one of the best lessons of my mission, topping that chart, baby. We taught good ol' Brucey a lot today. We started off talking about his life and some questions he had. He talked a lot about angels and spirits and wondered what's the deal with them. We felt inspired to read the testimony of Joseph Smith in the Book of Mormon, and it took off from there. About halfway through, Bruce shared a story about old man Galloway, who had had some wild experiences with angels. Bruce believed everything Joseph Smith said, and supported it with stories of his own. The entire lesson revolved around the Plan of Salvation, and Bruce recognized the spirit and the truth of what we taught today. He told us that we bring more spirit than his pastor and that he teaches like a puppet haha. Get lit up pastor. 

One of the missing pieces to the puzzle for Bruce was people not getting baptized before they die. He'd been taught his whole life that they go to Hell if they aren't baptized, but his own brother hadn't been baptized, so it made him sad and confused. We told him we have the answer, but he has to wait until next time, so that made him excited, haha. The whole lesson the Spirit was strong and you could see a light in Bruce as he listened and recognized truth. Even stubborn old Baptists have feelings buried somewhere, but the Holy Ghost knows how to find them.

July 30, 2023

We had a good day at church and then we went and gave Sister Powers the sacrament. She was watching some Women's Conference, so we watched that with her for a while, and it was actually pretty good. We had dinner with the Baker's, they made us some crazy, good enchiladas. Also Brother Baker gave us some free ties, which was hype. Also they have a massive dog named Pippy.