Yell clearly please

This week was pretty good! It feels like nothing really happened though. There were transfers on Wednesday but our whole district pretty much stayed the same. The only that changed was one of the sisters in our district went back home and her companion got a trainee! So I am pretty sure we have the greenest district in the mission. Me and Elder Anderson have both been out 5 months, our district leader Elder Rose has been out almost a year and has a trainee that has been out almost 2 months. Then there are 2 sets of sister both of which have trainees. So it is pretty fun and makes me feel a lot less new haha. 

A few notable things did happen this week! We took a member to see our investigator Joe Green and planned on sharing a Christmas story out of the Bible. So we asked him to open up to Luke and he did, in his new world translation. And he had a Long James Version on his shelf so we grabbed that for him and he followed along with us. After we read he had a question that I'm sure a few people now have so I will take a minute to explain! He asked why we read from the King James Version and what was wrong with the new world translation. We told him that the Bible has been translated soooo many times from its original Hebrew. And in all that translating a lot of meaning has been lost. We believe that the King James Version of the Bible is the most correct and is the most accurate. We also believe that it is not perfect because of all the translation but through modern day revelation we can see a more accurate version of many chapters in the Joseph smith translation! That isn't to say that other versions of the Bible are bad and false. Obviously it is good to study the word of God in any form! 

But that was fun and a bummer at the same time. It was fun because I love talking about the Bible but a bummer because we got distracted and the Christmas message kind of got overshadowed. 

One thing that keeps happening as we are biking and walking along is people keep trying to yell things at us! It kind of sucks because they are going to fast for us to hear! So if you are going to yell something, just know we would love to hear it but you have to slow down so we can understand. 

The next cool thing that happened was on Saturday. We had some people we were going to visit towards the bottom of our area, which is quite the bike ride away. But we went and tried to see like 4 people and they were either not home or busy and couldn't talk which sucked. But before we left Elder Anderson wanted to try knocking up this one street and I am always down for some knocking! So we started and for about 5 house we didn't get anything. Then a few people came to the door and told us they weren't interested. But there was still hope yet! We knocked on a door and asked if they wanted to hear a message about Jesus Christ and they said yes! Which is like a one in a million thing and we were a little caught off guard so I'm sure we looked like idiots for a second. Finally, we composed ourselves and taught him about the Restoration and left a pamphlet with him and he said he would love to hear more about it! So we set up a return appointment and hopefully we will see him next week! It was pretty funny because the next door we knocked on was our last one and the gentleman that came to the door was high as a kite. 

Sunday flew by because we had stuff starting with ward council at 8:30! And ward council was a training on the South Carolina initiative which is how we are spending the majority of our time as missionaries so that was good! Then we had church which was fast and testimony meeting which is a little different in the South haha. Everyone gets up and bears testimony just like out West, but usually it is in the form of a long story that is good, but can sometimes prompt the shutting of eyelids if you aren't careful haha. 

After church we had the Moncks Corner Christmas parade! We stayed in our suits and ties and us and the sisters serving in this ward with us out on some Christmas headwear and walked the parade with the ward mission leader, ward missionaries, and a few other members handing out pass along cards and candy canes which was pretty fun! Then we went to a cookies and carols stake event where a bunch of choirs sang Christmas songs and people shared their talents. It was amazing and the music was soooooo good! Tempe West Stake still puts on a better performance though don't worry (holla). I love this Christmas season because it allows us to reflect on the birth and life of Christ and what he did for us. 

I would like to testify that Jesus is the Christ. He lived and while He lived, He atoned for our sins. He died for us so that we can be made perfect and forgiven. And He lives! He lives and because of him we can live again with our loving Father in Heaven. Both Christ and our Heavenly Father love us immensely. And love is what Christmas is all about! Don't forget that this Christmas season and share it with everyone you can!!! I leave that with you in the name of Jesus Christ amen. I love you all and miss you so much! Hasta la pasta!

"Permission to do a fly by?"

"Negative ghost rider the pattern is full"

Elder Dowell (2)

John Smith and McFlurry's

This week was pretty good! Thanksgiving was pretty fun! I also went on exchanges with Elder Rose (the district leader for us serving in Georgetown) and that was pretty awesome. I have been out almost 5 months now and have met a good amount of missionaries and Elder Rose is definetly one of my favorites! 

We had a DDM (District development meeting) before and I got to give a training which is always fun. I don't know why but I like getting up in front of people and talking! Which makes it kind of sad that we can't soap box preach haha. But that's alright. Anywho, after DDM, we had an hour drive to Georgetown with just me and him and we talked about transfers coming up (and me and my companion are staying together in Moncks Corner) and his trainee and how I can help him. It was pretty cool because I guess Elder Ball (the trainee) had been having a hard time with home sickness and didn't really want to talk to Elder Rose about it and was just going to let it pass. But Elder Rose said that my exchange with Elder Ball last week changed his outlook and he hasn't been homesick since! I have no idea what I could have possibly said or done to influence him but I am glad I could help! 

Then the only thing we had the entire exchange that worked out was a dinner appointment haha. So we did a lot of finding. We also tried to do some Street contacting on the boardwalk! We were stopping people and asking them if they wanted to hear a message about Jesus Christ and most people said they were all set. But there was one guy with a different response. We asked him if he wanted to hear about Jesus Christ and he put his arm around me and said "I already know him but you keep doing good" and kept walking haha. So that was fun. Them we stayed up far later than we should have just talking and messing around which was really fun. Then the day after I got back to Moncks Corner was Thanksgiving! It was great! We had a pretty slow morning. After studies we had some time before any appointments so we decided we would go out walking and talk to everyone we saw! We only saw 2 people for the 3 hours we were walking. And one of them invited us to a dinner at a homeless shelter haha. Which was really nice! But not what we were looking for. Then we went to dinner at a members house and there were a lot of people there and 2 non-members so we did get to teach a little and it was really fun! The food was delicious and they made me and Elder Anderson each a dessert that reminded us of home. Elder Anderson's was pumpkin cookies and mine was Texas sheet cake! It was super nice of them and very yummy. 

The last eventful thing that happened this week was at McDonald's on Saturday. We had a bunch of appointments fall through so we went to get a McFlurry and go over our plans for the rest of the day. On our way out a lady stopped us and asked if we were Jehovahs Witnesses because she wanted a copy of the watch tower haha. So we explained to her that we were with the LDS church and she said she didn't agree with us because we worshiped John Smith. So I corrected and said we Worship God and Joseph Smith was a prophet. And then it the Spirit left and she started using scripture to disprove us. And normally I do not like to Bible bash but it was clear that this lady wasn't going to listen to us either way. So my companion took a step back because he knew what was coming, and I proceeded to refute all of her arguments with bible scripture and it was really fun! Again, not productive or helpful, but it was a good refresher for the kind of day we were having haha. But I would like to testify that this is the true church! And our practices can be found in the Bible because it is the same church Christ established on the earth when he was alive. The very same, with a Prophet called of God to lead it and receive revelation! I leave that brief testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ. I love you all and miss you so much! Have an amazing week! 

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"

Elder Dowell (2)