We've been teaching a part-member family (later we learned that they aren't married) and all of them came to the baptism. This was good because the "wife" has never been to church. She has up and down moments with her receptiveness but she seemed happy at the baptism. When we first pitched the idea to the member he seemed like he thought it would be good for the twelve-year-old (which is hers), who's been coming to church, but he brought her as well.[1]
We've been working with another investigator for a few months and this week he came to church for the second time. He had bought clothes just so he would feel comfortable at church. He stayed for Sunday School. We were a little antsy; the subject was eternal marriage, including having spirit children and becoming gods. We were impressed when Shaun (our investigator) spoke up at the end with a comment about science and religion not conflicting. Most people agreed. Our teacher is a convert of about two years and he started stating his opinion on evolution. I did not feel it was the place or the situation to correct him. Shaun was nodding, so I didn't speak up. I don't know if he was nodding in agreement or not.[2]
It's been decently warm here but not 75 degrees, probably just the 50s and maybe 60s.[3] Spokane might get snow this week, from what we've heard. Maybe it'll snow Thanksgiving weekend and the roads to Spokane will be impassible.[4]
Elder T. frequently has times when he doesn't feel well and we have to stay home. Elder Warren left an Etch-a-Sketch and you know how I like to doodle on them. I've done that when he's been sick. I finally figured out how they work. I drew a picture of a mushroom surrounded by blades of grass, and drew the root system underground. I filled in the dirt around the roots and thus discovered the mechanics. I used to think you put black stuff on the silver stuff but I learned you just take the silver stuff off. My filling in the dirt allowed me to see inside the toy, including the mechanism and all the little aluminum powder particles.
I figured I could write about something so silly when you wrote about the Oreos. I saw the candy cane ones last year and almost bought them but decided not to. I don't like Oreos too much anyway, primarily because of the strange filmy feeling they leave in my mouth.[5] I've kind of lost my sweet tooth, to an extent. I want to keep my 65 pounds off when I get home and even shed more. I used to buy and eat lots of holiday candy. I've decided I'll buy enough to put in decoration dishes at the beginning of the seasons and they'll have to last me.[6] I've also decided not to watch TV, unless I'm on the elliptical or doing some other worthwhile thing that TV doesn't distract me from. I'll still watch a lot of TV (at least for a month) but I'll be getting fit instead of fat while I do it.[7]
Sometimes I get excited for Christmas. But this year it's not appealing. It just sounds sickeningly sweet. Maybe you can buy clearance Halloween stuff with black and purple spiders and bats and decorate a tree with that. Not really, but the reds and greens just don't sound fun this year.
I had a dream last night about meeting Preston and Franklin at the airport. Preston didn't know what to think of me, but he still called me Shu-shu. Franklin was scared of me. I was trying to interact with Preston in such a way to make Franklin trust me, but Preston was a little stand-offish. I imagine this will be somewhat accurate.[8]
I can't believe Preston will be five this week! I figure I'll wait to get him birthday stuff.
I can't believe Spencer J.[9] is already 19. I'm old! An interesting note on the Joneses--in the other Lewiston area is an Elder R.[10] from California, and Andrew [older brother] lived in his house. The primary song is wrong. The world is NOT so big.[11]
Love,
Elder Jeremiah Melville (I felt so weird filling out the name of the person performing the confirmation on the Baptism and Confirmation Record)[12]
[1] After
I was home, the twelve-year-old got baptized. But later one of his friends in
the ward died in an accident, and eventually he drifted away. I think he’s made
some poor life decisions.
[2] My
companion later told me I should have talked about how I believe in evolution.
[3] My
mom wrote, “It has been a nice and toasty week. It reached 75 one day
which ties the all time high for November.”
[4] I
was going home right after Thanksgiving, and I didn’t want to.
[5] My
mom wrote, “Did you know there is a new kind of Oreo? We bought candy
cane Oreos this weekend. They are only so so. Not that it was
difficult eating them anyway.”
[6] I
don’t really care about filling candy dishes anymore. Since I’ve been home, I’ve
kind of become more fanatical about seasonal candy.
[7] I generally
try to be productive when I watch TV now. I no longer consider TV a hobby of
mine.
[8] In
real life, Preston wasn’t especially interested in me because he didn’t
remember me. Franklin was afraid of me at the airport, but it didn’t take long before
he warmed up to me and preferred me over many family members.
[9] A
neighbor.
[10]
Oh, Elder R. He was an odd one. Looking back, I wonder if he was on the autism
spectrum. A Church-service mission would have suited him (and his companions) much
better. He was super intelligent. He wrote me a letter after I got home, but
before I could respond, he was sent home, so I lost track of him.
[11] “The
World Is So Big,” Children’s Songbook, 235.
[12]
Recall that I didn’t like using my real name as a missionary, so I would say my
name was Jeremiah. I think I did use my real name for the record. Now
missionaries can’t hide from their names, because they’re listed in the Member
Tools app, and sometimes they have Facebook profiles too.
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