This week wasn't too notable, but that's okay. Sometimes they're better that way. The past two weeks I spent a lot of time working on a directory for Freeport that combines Area Book with LDS Tools, so that we can have a more accurate list of who people are, and their status within the gospel. There was something like this in Bushwick, my first area, and it helped the work so much! It kind of felt like paying it forward to make one for Freeport. Not only that, our branch presidency is so on top of things that when I told Presidente Eve I was working on it, two weeks ago, he was dying to have it finished so that he, his presidency, and the Elders Quorum President could use it. Now the trick is to make sure that future missionaries and the branch continue to update it. It's a contribution to the work that I feel proud of, and I know that the Lord is pleased with my work.
Mario is progressing again. Seems the space we gave him did him some good- he's even cracking jokes now. We're going to show him the short version of the Restoration video when we teach him next, so that we can point out to him how the spirit talks to us through feelings, so that he can recognize that he does, indeed, have a testimony of Joseph Smith. Then the next step is going to be getting him to church.
Javy came out teaching with us for most of the week, as the project his construction job was working on finished, so it was really good to spend some time with him and help him get more prepared for a mission. Javy is the kind of guy who I'm going to keep tabs on after the mission. I want to be at his sealing, and I'm going to write him often during his mission. At one point this week he told us that of all the Elders he's known, Elder Benitez and I are the ones that mean the most to him, because we're his friends and his examples, and we've helped him change the most. It means so much to me that I've been such an influence on him, and I know that I don't see half of the effects of my influence on him.
Overall, this past week was pretty good. We taught 15 lessons, and it looks like we're going to teach even more this week. Most of the lessons we did teach seem very solid to me, with real growth. Sure, there's a couple investigators whose progression is kind of stagnating, but it is out of our hands, and it's when the ball is in their court- in short they don't want salvation bad enough. The Lord is blessing us, and I'm starting to fall into a healthy rhythm. I think I've learned, for the most part, how to deal with my stress. One thing I do is I massage my back and shoulders with a tennis ball every night, usually while reading something. Another way I manage my stress is through martial arts. I'm really looking forward to martial arts when I get home.
I realized yesterday that I only have 15 weeks left. That's really not a long time. If I remember correctly, registration should be coming up soon. Please keep me posted on that. Also, last Tuesday I was talking to a guy who works with the church's FM group here- his name's Jose, and he's actually a pretty good friend of mine. Super funny guy. Anyway, he has a nephew in Logan who is renting out a house of his to students. He put out a post on Facebook, and I had Jose post for me. I'll forward you the email he sent me, but the regular bedroom is $375 a month for 6 months, plus an extra 10 for a parking space. I'll send you the renter's agreement. I scoped it out, and it'd be a short bike ride away from school, so I don't have to drive to school until it gets cold and snowy. Maybe the Lord is blessing me through this, but it's an option. Thoughts?
Another important part of preparing for school is getting me a new computer. I foresee a desire and a future in computer science, but I don't need a super fancy computer right now. For now, I'd like a windows/dell laptop with a minimum of 8 gigs of ram. I'd like a 13" screen, as well. I definitely don't want a podunk little computer. Just keep your eyes open for something like that. I'm not going to be super picky.
Anyway, enough about me. How are Spencer and Madi doing in school? Are they liking all their teachers? What classes are they taking? What year is Spencer in now? How's mom doing with the new schedule? How are both of my grandpas doing?
I was doing some digging around in our family tree on Familysearch last night, and I found some very interesting things. On mom's side (in the line I was looking on) we are descended from ten different Scottish clans- the Kennedys, Stuarts, Lord of the Isles MacDonalds, McDowell, Macdougall, Douglas, Gordon, Sutherland, Sinclaire/StClaire, and Bruce. the Kennedy, Macdonald, and Stewart clans have the strongest presence in our tree, though. Also, Macbeth is family history, as we are descended from Duncan, the king who Macbeth murdered, and his son who killed Macbeth. On dad's side we are related to Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, who was the first Yorkist claimant to the throne in the Wars of the Roses, and his son Edward IV, who was the first Yorkist King. that means that Henry VI 1,2, and 3 are family history as well. That means that four Shakespeare plays are about our family history. How cool is that? In several lines we are also descended from William the Conqueror, Robert the Bruce, and several Stewart Kings and nobles of Scotland. There's also a templar and a crusader in our tree. Family history is super cool! Now I want three scarves- each in the tartan of the Kennedy, Royal Stuart, and Lord of the Isles Macdonald.
I love you all, and miss you.
Talk to you soon,
Elder Hull
Mario is progressing again. Seems the space we gave him did him some good- he's even cracking jokes now. We're going to show him the short version of the Restoration video when we teach him next, so that we can point out to him how the spirit talks to us through feelings, so that he can recognize that he does, indeed, have a testimony of Joseph Smith. Then the next step is going to be getting him to church.
Javy came out teaching with us for most of the week, as the project his construction job was working on finished, so it was really good to spend some time with him and help him get more prepared for a mission. Javy is the kind of guy who I'm going to keep tabs on after the mission. I want to be at his sealing, and I'm going to write him often during his mission. At one point this week he told us that of all the Elders he's known, Elder Benitez and I are the ones that mean the most to him, because we're his friends and his examples, and we've helped him change the most. It means so much to me that I've been such an influence on him, and I know that I don't see half of the effects of my influence on him.
Overall, this past week was pretty good. We taught 15 lessons, and it looks like we're going to teach even more this week. Most of the lessons we did teach seem very solid to me, with real growth. Sure, there's a couple investigators whose progression is kind of stagnating, but it is out of our hands, and it's when the ball is in their court- in short they don't want salvation bad enough. The Lord is blessing us, and I'm starting to fall into a healthy rhythm. I think I've learned, for the most part, how to deal with my stress. One thing I do is I massage my back and shoulders with a tennis ball every night, usually while reading something. Another way I manage my stress is through martial arts. I'm really looking forward to martial arts when I get home.
I realized yesterday that I only have 15 weeks left. That's really not a long time. If I remember correctly, registration should be coming up soon. Please keep me posted on that. Also, last Tuesday I was talking to a guy who works with the church's FM group here- his name's Jose, and he's actually a pretty good friend of mine. Super funny guy. Anyway, he has a nephew in Logan who is renting out a house of his to students. He put out a post on Facebook, and I had Jose post for me. I'll forward you the email he sent me, but the regular bedroom is $375 a month for 6 months, plus an extra 10 for a parking space. I'll send you the renter's agreement. I scoped it out, and it'd be a short bike ride away from school, so I don't have to drive to school until it gets cold and snowy. Maybe the Lord is blessing me through this, but it's an option. Thoughts?
Another important part of preparing for school is getting me a new computer. I foresee a desire and a future in computer science, but I don't need a super fancy computer right now. For now, I'd like a windows/dell laptop with a minimum of 8 gigs of ram. I'd like a 13" screen, as well. I definitely don't want a podunk little computer. Just keep your eyes open for something like that. I'm not going to be super picky.
Anyway, enough about me. How are Spencer and Madi doing in school? Are they liking all their teachers? What classes are they taking? What year is Spencer in now? How's mom doing with the new schedule? How are both of my grandpas doing?
I was doing some digging around in our family tree on Familysearch last night, and I found some very interesting things. On mom's side (in the line I was looking on) we are descended from ten different Scottish clans- the Kennedys, Stuarts, Lord of the Isles MacDonalds, McDowell, Macdougall, Douglas, Gordon, Sutherland, Sinclaire/StClaire, and Bruce. the Kennedy, Macdonald, and Stewart clans have the strongest presence in our tree, though. Also, Macbeth is family history, as we are descended from Duncan, the king who Macbeth murdered, and his son who killed Macbeth. On dad's side we are related to Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, who was the first Yorkist claimant to the throne in the Wars of the Roses, and his son Edward IV, who was the first Yorkist King. that means that Henry VI 1,2, and 3 are family history as well. That means that four Shakespeare plays are about our family history. How cool is that? In several lines we are also descended from William the Conqueror, Robert the Bruce, and several Stewart Kings and nobles of Scotland. There's also a templar and a crusader in our tree. Family history is super cool! Now I want three scarves- each in the tartan of the Kennedy, Royal Stuart, and Lord of the Isles Macdonald.
I love you all, and miss you.
Talk to you soon,
Elder Hull