Hey all!
Monday was so sick! We payed soccer with the Spanish program at some
outdoor turf fields in Fairfax. It was hot, humid, and sweaty, but we
had plenty of water. Our team won, and we got the styrofoam trophy
painted gold. It made me really miss soccer! It also doesn't help that
almost every living soul here watches the World Cup, and talks about
it incessantly. :p but that's okay. We had 2 lessons with
investigators taught in member's homes planned, but both cancelled, so
we spent the majority of our night with less actives and knocking
doors.
Tuesday we had an exchange with the Burke elders. I went to Burke with
Elder Gledhill, a missionary I went to the MTC with. In fact, he was
the first missionary I met prior to entering the MTC that was going to
the same mission I was. He and I both served in the Reston ward
together our first 2 transfers. It was a great reunion. He just got
transferred into the Burke ward, so he didn't really know where we
were going or who we were going to visit. We street contacted around a
lake, got lost biking in the woods, and somehow, we eventually found
our way to a less active member's home. He was a 60 year old man,
baptized as a child, but he won't come to church or read the
scriptures. He doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, and he won't do the
things he needs to to develop that testimony. It was good bough, to
visit with him and help him feel the Spirit - even if he doesn't
recognize it.
When I got back to Annandale, Elder Johnson had some fantastic news.
Apparently, they taught a guy who basically said he wants to be a
member of our church. He was in a conference in Chicago, and he
overheard some Latter-Day Saints talking about their church, and that
sparked his interest. He wants to find more opportunities to serve in
his community, so he referred himself on Mormon.org. Elder Johnson and
Elder Miles taught him about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith,
invited him to be baptized, and he said "oh yes, I'll be baptized -
with all of my heart, soul, and conviction!"
He's out of town, like the rest of our investigators, but when he gets
back, we're going to teach him the gospel until the cows come home.
Wednesday and Thursdays were blurs, I don't remember what happened one
bit. Friday was pretty good - in the morning, we had to drive to every
companionship in our zone to give them their new insurance cards, then
we had to come back to do our studies and weekly planning. By then, it
was time to go to an Independence Day dinner with some members of our
ward, the Young's. Brother Young told us, "Do ya'll want some Sprite,
or Coke? 'Cause I don' drink water on the 4th of July." It was pretty
funny :).
We drove down to Fairfax to see some fireworks (we were allowed to do
that until 10:30). The roads were lined with cars, there was literally
no place to park. Even the 'no parking' zones were taken! Every
parking lot, every green field, every square inch of Old Town Fairfax
was either occupied by a lawn chair, or a can of beer. It was so
stinkin' crowded, we just drove up and down Main Street in time for
the finale. Thankfully, we beat most of the traffic on our way home.
Saturday Sisters in our zone requested a blessing. One of the Sisters
was really sick. Elder Johnson and I went and helped. I don't remember
much of what I said, but I do remember the feeling of peace and quiet
penetrating the room. She was in tears by the end of the blessing. It
was a good opportunity.
Lenny came to church! We just need to get an appointment with her, we
haven't taught her in a couple of weeks. Every time we have something,
she cancels. Hopefully we can see her this Monday.
We also had a mysterious non-member Russian stranger show up to
church. His name is Alex, and he came to church because he was simply
curious. He had a Mormon co-worker who was very kind and righteous,
and Alex wanted to know what he believes in. He's currently stationed
in Fort Belvoire for 3 months to receive training before he goes to
Poland for 2 years. He was very kind, and he said he'd come to church
next week. Thankfully, the ward members were kind enough to welcome
him and invite him back to church as well. I asked him if we could
talk to him later in the week, but he said no.
Other than that, not much really happened. Kinda slow, with nothing
really climactic or exciting. But it was still a good week.
Thanks for all you do! Love you!
Elder Hansen
Sent from my iPad
Monday was so sick! We payed soccer with the Spanish program at some
outdoor turf fields in Fairfax. It was hot, humid, and sweaty, but we
had plenty of water. Our team won, and we got the styrofoam trophy
painted gold. It made me really miss soccer! It also doesn't help that
almost every living soul here watches the World Cup, and talks about
it incessantly. :p but that's okay. We had 2 lessons with
investigators taught in member's homes planned, but both cancelled, so
we spent the majority of our night with less actives and knocking
doors.
Tuesday we had an exchange with the Burke elders. I went to Burke with
Elder Gledhill, a missionary I went to the MTC with. In fact, he was
the first missionary I met prior to entering the MTC that was going to
the same mission I was. He and I both served in the Reston ward
together our first 2 transfers. It was a great reunion. He just got
transferred into the Burke ward, so he didn't really know where we
were going or who we were going to visit. We street contacted around a
lake, got lost biking in the woods, and somehow, we eventually found
our way to a less active member's home. He was a 60 year old man,
baptized as a child, but he won't come to church or read the
scriptures. He doesn't believe in Jesus Christ, and he won't do the
things he needs to to develop that testimony. It was good bough, to
visit with him and help him feel the Spirit - even if he doesn't
recognize it.
When I got back to Annandale, Elder Johnson had some fantastic news.
Apparently, they taught a guy who basically said he wants to be a
member of our church. He was in a conference in Chicago, and he
overheard some Latter-Day Saints talking about their church, and that
sparked his interest. He wants to find more opportunities to serve in
his community, so he referred himself on Mormon.org. Elder Johnson and
Elder Miles taught him about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith,
invited him to be baptized, and he said "oh yes, I'll be baptized -
with all of my heart, soul, and conviction!"
He's out of town, like the rest of our investigators, but when he gets
back, we're going to teach him the gospel until the cows come home.
Wednesday and Thursdays were blurs, I don't remember what happened one
bit. Friday was pretty good - in the morning, we had to drive to every
companionship in our zone to give them their new insurance cards, then
we had to come back to do our studies and weekly planning. By then, it
was time to go to an Independence Day dinner with some members of our
ward, the Young's. Brother Young told us, "Do ya'll want some Sprite,
or Coke? 'Cause I don' drink water on the 4th of July." It was pretty
funny :).
We drove down to Fairfax to see some fireworks (we were allowed to do
that until 10:30). The roads were lined with cars, there was literally
no place to park. Even the 'no parking' zones were taken! Every
parking lot, every green field, every square inch of Old Town Fairfax
was either occupied by a lawn chair, or a can of beer. It was so
stinkin' crowded, we just drove up and down Main Street in time for
the finale. Thankfully, we beat most of the traffic on our way home.
Saturday Sisters in our zone requested a blessing. One of the Sisters
was really sick. Elder Johnson and I went and helped. I don't remember
much of what I said, but I do remember the feeling of peace and quiet
penetrating the room. She was in tears by the end of the blessing. It
was a good opportunity.
Lenny came to church! We just need to get an appointment with her, we
haven't taught her in a couple of weeks. Every time we have something,
she cancels. Hopefully we can see her this Monday.
We also had a mysterious non-member Russian stranger show up to
church. His name is Alex, and he came to church because he was simply
curious. He had a Mormon co-worker who was very kind and righteous,
and Alex wanted to know what he believes in. He's currently stationed
in Fort Belvoire for 3 months to receive training before he goes to
Poland for 2 years. He was very kind, and he said he'd come to church
next week. Thankfully, the ward members were kind enough to welcome
him and invite him back to church as well. I asked him if we could
talk to him later in the week, but he said no.
Other than that, not much really happened. Kinda slow, with nothing
really climactic or exciting. But it was still a good week.
Thanks for all you do! Love you!
Elder Hansen
Sent from my iPad