Week 39: Brevard, NC

August 28, 2023

Ayyy we went on another hike with the whole district this time. We went to this sweet waterfall up by Hendersonville. Elder Richin's caught a lil' orange salamander and a frog, which was hype. After the hike, the Henningson's took us to get some pizza. After pizza, you already know we went to Tokyo Toybox. 

Our night was pretty much already planned out because we had to drive up to Asheville for a baptismal interview for Nashanda. She's this Micronesian who is a senior in high school, and she's really cool and really wants to get baptized. Elder Steiner did the interview and I talked to Nashanda's mom for like 30 minutes. She was talking about how one of her coworkers was bugging her so she slapped her in the face and got fired because of it. 

August 29, 2023

Good lesson with Bruce, good lesson with Shirley, good lesson with Matthew. We taught Matthew half of the Plan of Salvation and he really liked it. Still hesitant about church but good to be having lessons with him again. After that, FUJI'SSS!

August 30, 2023

I made a massive STACK of pancakes for breakfast. I made a SpongeBob's house pancake, and Squidward and Patrick house pancakes. I also made a dragon pancake and a pokeball pancake, it was wild. 

We had district council and then we pulled up to Subway with the Zone Leaders. We met a cool lady in Mills River named Ann and later we met one of the coolest people of my mission. We were planning on going to see these two Hispanic homies Franklin and Roman, but they weren't home. We decided to keep going down the trailers and knocked this one trailer we passed by several times. This sweet lady named Darcy answered and asked if we were LDS missionaries. She said she'd been baptized in 7th grade, but hasn't gone to church since (60 years ago). We talked a lot about the branch and how loving they were. She was one of the happiest and most positive people, regardless of her rheumatoid arthritis that crippled her hands and feet. She lived alone and none of her kids live near, so she is very alone. We told her she's welcome to church and she said she would come in two weeks. We prayed with her before we left and she was in tears. The Spirit was so strong and she was so grateful that God had sent us to her. Really special experience. 

After that we had dinner with the Jones' and that lady Patricia low key bashed us over the phone for 45 minutes haha. But it's alright because Daisy made everything worth it.

August, 31, 2023

Alright, yeah today was pretty nuts. This was the craziest, most confusing exchange I've ever been on. So the plan was Elder Steiner would go to Arden so he could interview two people and then Elder Bowen would come here. But this morning we get a call from Arden that Elder Bowen is sick and can't do anything all day. We do the exchange anyways because Elder Steiner needs to be there for the interviews, but Elder Bowen wants to stay in their apartment because he has been feeling pretty rough. So Elder Bowen and I go back to Brevard so I can grab my study stuff and drive all the way back to Arden. Somewhere along the way, Hendersonville calls and brings up the idea that we could do some mini exchanges. So we're at Arden's apartment and Hendersonville pulls up. Somehow I actually go to Asheville with Elder Richins to visit some Micronesian's, Elder Steiner goes to Hendersonville with Elder King, and Elder Karren and Elder Bowen stay back. Elder Richins and I had a good time eating wacky shrimp and probably saw like 20 homeless people in Asheville. Eventually we went back, and Elder Steiner went with Elder Richins to do the interviews and I went with Elder Darren to a member meal with the Bishop. And Elder Berg stayed home with Elder Bowen. At the end of the day, I had Elder Steiner's phone with the sim and Elder Berg had their phone in Arden. Eventually we all regrouped and were feeling sick. Exchanges within exchanges. 

September 1, 2023

Highlight of the day was Lauri, the awesome lady from a while back who let us right in when we knocked on the door. She said she was very interested in learning more about our church. It was one of the most solid lessons Elder Steiner and I had in a minute. We taught about the Book of Mormon and some other things she had questions about. She was very genuine and said she'd like to have us come back. 

In the evening we had dinner with the Miller's. Can't get enough of this amazing family. We always pull up and hang out, have an amazing dinner and then share a message with them. Gets better every time. 

September 2, 2023

We went to say goodbye to Don at the old Episcopal churches tailgate. Don is this 'New Yorka' from Bread of Life that we've become homies with. We figured one of us would probably leave before next Friday so we went and got a pic with the old yankee. 

Then we pulled up to Juanita's and she gave us her Book of Mormon back. It's alright, she never read it anyways and never gave us the time of day. We always walking on eggshells talking to her, and maybe some day she'll get those priorities straight. We went and helped Bruce make some firewood today, which was way sick. We'd planned on goin fishing with him, but he changed the plans :(. So we did some service instead, which was honestly so sweet. I felt like I was back home helping dad with firewood. :'). Also Bruce is still reading his Book of Mormon, almost done with Helaman!

September 3, 2023

Testimony meeting was funny as crap today. President Van was there and to open, he pretty much nicely chastised all the members who share 20 minute long testimonies. After that, Brother Downs, who is literally the one he was talking about, gave a long testimony, and then later in the service got up and gave another one. He is honestly probably too deaf to hear President Van. 

We then taught the youth in Sunday School, which was fun. The two Brige's kids were fighting the whole time and with their mom. :-| After church we had lunch with the Miller's and then we went and visited the Baker's.