12/24/2018 Miracles

Transfers happened. Elder Perkins and Elder Paopao are now enjoying home life after two years. On Monday we enjoyed one last District P-Day before they went home, and before Elder Patterson went to Lonoake. We goofed around, ate what is called "fazookie" (a pan of cookie with ice cream on top, and you all just eat from the pan), and played Risk. Sadly we didn't get to finish Risk, but it ended up being pretty much me vs. Elder Paopao. We both hadn't played in many years, so it was funny to take down the more "experienced" Risk players

I am now with Elder Jolie, still in Midtown. Elder Jolie is very hard working and bold. He had been the zone leader for the past nine months or so, so he is a pretty great missionary. He still has about half a year on the mission, so it's likely that I won't be killing him off, although it's not impossible. 

So I was kinda bummed at the beginning of the week because we only had a couple dinner appointments, but the Lord doth provide, because on the first day of transfers, a member who pretty frequently feeds us (who we had no plans beforehand to eat with) came by and dropped off multiple tins of barbeque. Pulled pork and corn bread for days. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Barbeque burritos, sandwiches, everything. We got all that food right when we really needed it. 

We also really wanted to get someone to church. We have really been struggling to do that. People not following through on commitments and such. So we have been praying about it a lot. Then boom, this past Saturday we found a guy who was willing to go to church, and not only go to church, but go to the musical tribute in Bartlet. It was super cool. And he said he enjoyed it. We introduced him to President Hansen as well. We'll be in contact with him more. 

So I don't know if I have shared the story behind our branch, or this area, but Memphis is being restructured somewhat because of a panel the church held here in Memphis, lead by Elder Stevenson I think. It was a panel about how the church could better serve minorities, especially those in the Memphis area. A concern was that Memphis 1st Ward and other inner city wards had crazy large rosters (Memphis 1st had 900 members), but would get extremely low turnout, like 100. One of the things that came out of the meeting was to make units have smaller areas so people can more easily get to church. For example, the Memphis 1st building is like 25-30 minutes away for people living in our area, which is a difficult drive for a lot of people living in the inner city (doesn't sound like a lot for rural folk, but that's like halfway across the city here, and many people don't even have cars). So Memphis 1st has been in the process of being split into three branches to cut travel time. Central Gardens was the first split, and Highland Heights is the second, and is starting up sometime in January. Both Central Gardens and Highland Heights are rented out store lots. We need to grow before we get our own building.

Highland Heights got their missionaries this week, before the branch is up and running. They are Spanish/English set of missionaries, and one of them is a greenie. Not only that, he didn't go to the MTC. Not sure why, but what a way to be introduced to the mission, being assigned to a branch that doesn't even exist. I've met a couple people here in Midtown who spoke/understood almost exclusively Spanish, so it will be good to have some Spanish missionaries in this part of Memphis

We also got bus passes to do some bus finding. The Raleigh Elders had found decent success with it, so we might as well get in on it. We haven't been able to ride it much, and the one time we did, there wasn't too much action. There was only three people on the bus: a Jehovah's Witness, and atheist, and a homeless man. All great conversations, but all three are hard to teach. Maybe next time. 

I also got to see Jenni, Travis, Morgan, and Maddie a couple times this week. They treat us so well. Especially thanks for the whole Turkey yesterday. That will surely save us some day soon. 

Also excited to call home tomorrow. 

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope all is well with you. What is the best thing that has happened this Christmas season? 

Pics:

1) the Smiths. Glad they could make it out to two Musical Tributes. Also the Music Tribute was recorded. Hopefully I'll be able to get a copy of the full performance. 

2) we volunteered at Toys for Tots this Saturday. Lots of toys. Was really cool to know all these toys will be going to people who need them. There was one toy called a Beat Bugs, it was some vehicle thing that had some creepy looking character figures, and when you pressed a button, it played an awful version of "Yellow Submarine." 

3) last picture with Perkins and Paopao. Getting ready to be toted off to Little Rock.

4) Fazookie at Raleigh's apartment. I look like I wasn't having fun, but I was. Sometimes I think I'm making a happy face, but it sometimes does not turn out so. The fazookie was really good. Not the biggest ice cream fan, but still good.  

5) graffiti + Elder Jolie.