Easter

March 28, 2016

Dear Family,

This was a long week. I got a new companion and Elder Gough got a new companion. That means the areas were split in two, and so was the area book. We spent a lot of time "finding." Normally I don't like finding, but for some reason, I actually loved it this week. I had a lot of fun with it.

Here's the breakdown of the week.

Monday
It was the first ever official 2016 Jasper District Frolf Tournament! (Frisbee Golf) All the elders in the district came down to throw discs at chain cages! It was a blast! I didn't win but I still had fun. My new Wraith disc was super fast.
Later, I got to teach Mr B for the last time. We went over some commandments. He liked it. Then some members took us out to Denny's for dinner.

Tuesday
Elder Passmore left early in the morning. Elder Gough and I spent the morning moving his stuff back to his apartment. After that we helped some members move (destroy) a desk. It was an old desk. It was Heavy! 
After the desk, our new companions came. And you know the first thing we did with them? We took them to Moonlite BBQ. That place is dangerously good! After Moonlite, we took the bike elders back to their apartment and Elder Salazar got settled in ours. 
After he settled in, we went TWEing. (Talking With Everyone - It's just a funny way of saying "contacting everyone on the streets") Because Elder Salazar's English isn't perfect, people actually listen to him. It's great! We contacted this crazy Pentecost that started crying because he believed we weren't baptized properly and going to Hell. Oh Pentecost's, how they amuse me.
Later, we went on splits with the members. I went out with Bro Emmert. We gave a member a blessing and taught some investigators. As always, blessings are awesome!

Wednesday
We did a lot of finding. A lot of TWEing. We taught a couple lessons and man! For learning English on his mission, Elder Salazar is a boss at teaching. He's easily the best companion I've had that teaches often from the scriptures. I figured out why. Since English is his second language, he has to rely on the scriptures more than any native English-speaking missionary to articulate what he wants to teach. 
I had an abnormally good morning study. I read about Nephi in the Book of Helaman and about his prediction of the chief judge's murder. I noticed how crazy specific his prophesy on the judge's murder was. It was a testimony builder for me that I, too, can receive revelations like that, if necessary. Because I spent last transfer working both areas, I don't know the car area as well. We're basically reopening it. At the moment, we don't have a lot to work with. So I have to rely on the Lord more now, to tell me where to go. I think that's why I was happy in all the finding I did this week. Making me happy was the Lord's way of saying "Keep it up, you're doing good."

Thursday
Elder Gough needed to borrow the car Thursday morning to drive up to Jasper. While he was gone, we did our weekly planning and then biked up to an appointment. On the way up, my back tire popped. Right at the moment I started walking, it started raining heavily. That could have not been timed better. Eventually, we got the car back. 
Later on, we taught the Swopes. Elder Salazar, as usual, had a lot of scriptures to back up what we were saying. This lesson wasn't as profound as last week's but it was still good. Bro. Swope drove us back in their new Dodge Dart. That was a nice car! It felt great and handled well. I may have been convinced to get one when I get home. :) Elder Jensen has a Dart. He really likes it.

Friday
District meeting. Nothing extraordinary happened other than me finding a brand new crisp, freshly printed $20 bill on the ground. :D:D:D It was right after a guy rudely waved us off :):):)

Saturday
We had a ward Easter party in the morning. It was a lot of fun. They had breakfast and a lot of stories about Jesus. A lot of the ward members were there. Later, we taught the G family. They're the only full-Spanish speaking family in the ward. Sis G's mom was recently baptized. While we were there, we found out that they and Elder Salazar have some mutual friends in Nashville. They became instant friends because of that.
Later, we went to Bro Emmert's for missionary coordination. We ate pulled pork sammiches on his back porch. The weather was really nice. He also showed me his bikes. I'm going to buy a bike soon and I got some good recommendations from Bro Emmert. 

Sunday
Easter Sunday. There were some good talks and lessons at church. After church, we went to the Fuqua's for Easter lunch. And basically after that, we went to the Capener's for Easter dinner. While we were there, they set up an Easter egg hunt for us. So, for like 5 minutes, there were 4 missionaries running around a yard, shoving each other out of the way for Easter eggs. They also had Easter baskets hidden for us. It was really fun. 
After that, Elder Salazar and I drove up to Evansville with the Swope's for an investigator fireside. There weren't many people there but the Spirit was really strong. Everyone who talked was a convert and they all had super good testimonies. I think recent converts always have the best testimonies. For members who have been members forever, or who grew up in the church, it's really easy to give a "routine testimony". The kind of testimony you've heard a million times from other members. But recent converts are able to give a testimony that's a lot more sincere because they're still extremely grateful to be members of the church. For long-time members, being a member becomes second nature and is something you can autopilot through. But for recent converts, being a new member is their world. It means everything to them. I've tried to remember that and make sure when I'm giving a testimony, I make it sincere and real. 

Well that's it folks! See ya next week!

-Elder Benjamin Kohkonen Cox (GKLM)

Selfies at the Fuqua's for Easter lunch.

Easter basket I got at the Capener's for Easter dinner.

The Fam at Elder Jensen's homecoming.