Week Seventy Seven

This week was pretty good! It started out with a trip to Manchester for MLC. Once again I had to teach in front of all the leadership of the mission. I can't catch a break😂   It actually turned out really really good though, and the lady we role played with was touched so much she started uncontrollably crying. So we got the thumbs up from the leadership squad😂 Roleplays are really cool because you can still feel the spirit testify through you, and the people you teach can feel it too. Besides that, basically the whole North Shore Zone is now in leadership positions so I got to see a whole bunch of friends at MLC! It also snowed that morning, and I haven't seen snow stick yet this year, so that was fun. 

This week has been very cold, so not too many people have been out and about, but that hasn't stopped us from finding people. The whole week whenever I got really cold, I would just think to myself, I'm glad I'm not in Colebrook right now. Since it's so much colder there😂We saw some miracles here in the Revere area though. We got a text from one of the people we first taught when I got in this area saying that they can be baptized! So he was ready to be baptized, but he's on dialysis so the doctors said it would be very dangerous for him to be submerged in water. He decided that following the Lord is more important and he wants to try. So if things go as planned we will probably make some sort of contraption to wrap around his port, and then put the baptismal suit over him. It's a step of faith I didn't think I'd be able to see on my mission!

We also had the experience of dealing with an Emergency transfer in the zone. Unfortunately we had to say goodbye to one of the missionaries I came out with :( so we had to deal with that this week, and helped move his companion over to the Hardcastle in Salem. It's a good place for him though. We also went to a Catholic funeral of one of our investigators nephews. It made me glad to be a member of our church. Our funerals are not nearly as sad. The plan of salvation is real, and I'm glad to know that.

Week Seventy Six

This week has been awesome! Elder solomon and I were finally separated! It was quite the run. We also lost a ton of missionaries. So it was pretty much the saddest transfer meeting I've ever been to. When I got there I saw some of my good good mission friends Elder Stegeman and McCormick. Saying good bye to Elder McCormick was the first time I ever shed a tear saying goodbye to a comp. It was pretty sad seeing them all head out. Anyways it's still been a party out here in Revere though.

We have 3 district leaders now, and it's made for much more excitement throughout the day. My little bro has a friend that just came to this mission, and I called exactly where he would serve. He's up in Salem Massachusetts with my boi Elder Hardcastle. They'll do good things up there.

We've been working really hard out here, and I hope to see some good things come in the coming weeks. Hope yall have a good week.

Week Seventy Five

After a good 4 transfers together, and many many miracles and memories; Elder Solomon and I are being split up! I'm staying here in this blessed land, and Elder Solomon is moving one zone north up here to the other blessed land of Exeter New Hampshire. I'll be receiving Elder Neilson, and he's got 2 transfers left. The whole zone is being switched around. Elder Solo and I helped bring this zone into the mission. We were able to bring in a new district, and brought in 5 new companionships! It's been a ride. I'm glad I'm still drivin😎.

Also R.I.P Elder McCormick. Gone, but never forgotten. Till we meet again buddy. 😢😭

Anyways this week flew by. We taught a lot of people, and were even able to give a chapel tour! Unfortunately no one came to church. So that will be my next focus here. There would be so many people that came during the summer, but now that it gets dark earlier less people come. The sun's staying out a lil longer now so I'm happy for that transition! Today it was 60 degrees. That's about 70 degrees warmer than last year. It's crazy how different the weather is out here. I feel so blessed that it's been so warm this year. I do hope we get a little bit of snow though. 

I love the mission, and now that there's a new year it reminds me of how short this time really is. It was such a blessing to spend the entire year of 2018 in the service of God. I've learned how to love the people I serve, and I've learned how to be diligent, and always obedient. The mission is definitely the best way I could have spent 2018!

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One of my favorite things in this life is a good sunset after a long day. The sun in general is one of my favorite things. Growing up I would love to get into a car after it had been baking in the sun for hours. 
Each morning when the sun rises it brings warmth, light, and life into the world. We need the sun, and it is essential to survive in this world. Heavenly Father's son is the same. In a world growing evermore dark, cold, and scary, Jesus Christ is still here, and has set his perfect example for us. In our dark times he is there to bring us light, and warmth. He died, and he lived again, because of this we may live again too. Following his example brings peace, love, and positivity into our lives.
Now that I'm older, I still love getting in super hot cars, but I've also learned to love Jesus Christ, and all he's done for me. That's why I've dedicated this time to serve him, and I'm learning more and more about his love each day! May we all have faith in God and his son Jesus Christ, the same way that we have faith in sun that it will rise and set each day!

Week Seventy Three

Well. This week was quite the week.  One of the first things I did this week was finally give into my dad's advice, and take my beloved brown eccos to the shoe cobbler. So I had to let go of those babies for a few days. I'm surprised they were still alive. Buuuuut after a long few days, I got them back. And this Honduran cobbler replaced the heels of my shoes. So now they definitely got enough life in them till I head home.

Anyways this week was really random. I was on TV this past week, because someone interviewed the Sisters about what they were doing, and we got to sing with them after. I don't even sing either😂 The Sisters had us come by the place where it was happening, and this panicked guy grabbed us and said we needed to help him. He took us back into some control room. Long story short Elder Solo and I helped film the show. Elder Solo was the sound guy, and I was the camera guy😂😂 They liked us so much in that studio that they invited us back to be interviewed this next Thursday night.

Also this winter so far has been like 30 degrees warmer than last years. So I feel blessed. We haven't gotten really any snow yet, and it's been raining a lot. We did a hot chocolate booth out in Revere in the rain last night that went a lot better than it should have. We brought the Spanish Elders and Sisters with us, and we had a party. We may or may not have accidentally posted up in front of a liquor store. Some may say that is garbage placement. I say it's prime.

Anyways hope y'all are enjoying this Christmas season. Just like the rhyme for my favorite city of Lynn. We can be cleansed of all those sins that burden us. Since being on my mission I've definitely learned much more about the atonement of Jesus Christ and I am very thankful for the sacrifice He made for us. 

Stay warm, and stay safe. I won't have a pday until after Christmas, so, Merry Christmas as well!

Haircuts at the Dominican barber shop.

Baby Timothy

Week Seventy Two

Yo what's good everyone! This week was a good one! It was a classic week for missionary work!

We did a lot of finding like always, but definitely more teaching this week! We got to go on some exchanges with the Assistants, and had a blast! We ended the exchange at Smashburger, and sent them off with a bang. Anyways Elder Solo had a doctor appointment up in Freeport Maine this week. It was such a fun road trip up. So Freeport Maine is where LL Bean comes from. So we got to go to the LL Bean stores! Good times. They do Christmas right up there!

Not too much happened this week though. Y'all have a good week though! 

Temple with Abela!

Week Seventy One

This week was a busy one!

We had our district meeting on a Wednesday this week. And our MLC on Friday! Elder Haney of the Seventy came to that meeting. I'm not sure why, but I guess he felt the need to come. Anyways we had some fun activities in the district this week too. We went Christmas Caroling on Saturday in Salem! They have a big weekend there called Christmas in Salem! We didn't sound too good, but it was fun!

Saturday was pretty crazy! It was the worldwide day of service, so we started it out with an activity with our ward, and then after that we had interviews with our Mission President! Our Mission President tries to interview us once a transfer! So he's always running around area to area doing interviews! Straight from interviews we drove all the way to Salem for the caroling! After caroling for like 2 hours we took the district leaders and sister training leaders, and had a meeting with them to create some goals for the zone, and their districts. From that meeting we began an exchange with the Methuen Elders, and since they crashed their car a few weeks back we only had one car. So Elder Burger and I got dropped off in Lynn, and hit the streets. We had an awesome miracle lesson. We passed the house of a former. All the lights were off, and I told Elder Burger "something awesome is about to happen". Elder Burger had no idea that I knew the people who lived in this house. These people lived on the 3rd floor, around the back. So I told the Elder to follow me, and to be quiet. So we walked around the back of the house and I slowly opened the door, and the stairwell was pitch black. As I quietly walked up the stairs, I turned around to see a terrified Elder Burger. I felt bad so I broke the news to him that I knew this house, and the people in it. Buuuuut when we knocked on the door, a lady named Cindy answered. She had wanted to listen to our lessons before, but was busy with her newborn baby. She invited us in, and we taught a 👌👌 restoration.

Besides that we had Stake Conference on Saturday, and we had Abela and her fam sit by us.
Good week. The mission is still a good time, and I'm glad to be out here. Y'all have a good week!

Christmas Caroling for Salem Days of Christmas

Malden tree lighting 

Abela fed me this fish head 

A turkey we saw on Thanksgiving

Me and my African girls 

The t underground 

Sister Foot's mom makes stickers. So I drew up a rough draft of this design, and she touched it up, and literally made some stickers for us.

Some of my MO Bettahs!

(for his birthday he was send a jar of teriyaki sauce from his favorite restaurant, Mo Bettah's, a rice cooker and some calrose rice to make sticky rice and some money to buy steak so he could recreate his favorite meal!!)