What up.
So it's like this right: Texas is pretty cool, I'm not gonna lie - it's super diverse in terms of people but also weather. I got here and IT WAS SO COLD. Because humidity is so high, it literally was "bone-chilling" cuz it sinks so deep, you freeze from the inside out. But then Mother Nature came around, today it's a super nice, sunny day - my new companion and I rode our bikes to the office to write our emails - it feels about 75 degrees.... SA-WEET. Anywho.
The first day I got here, I was assigned to a temp. companion to go out and do what's called "running" or contacting people on the streets. Dude...it was radical! I was little nervous to go up to people and be like "Hey, how are you? etc. etc. So we're missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints blah, blah." But we met a lot of cool people who were willing to talk to us, it was neat to share a short message and we met lots who were interested and wanted to know more! We met a couple who spoke Spanish only, and it was embarassing how I stumbled over my palavras...it was a Spanish/Portuguese mess! hahaha. it's all good. The funniest one though was this middle-aged black guy sitting in his car in a parking lot with his window down...we went up started talking to him, he seemed nice because he immediately started opening his car door as if to be more polite. Then he started rumugging (sp?) through his wallet for something, at first I thought he was looking for money, like he was gonna give us a donation or something awkward. Finally, he found a card he was looking and showed it to us. I busted up laughing in my head when I saw it, it was an official i.d. that said "Reverand so-n-so". It just made me laugh that he felt the need to prove himself "already religious"...he wasn't rude or anything at least, and we still talked to him, he left though probably thinking he taught us something ---- not really.
The last few days have been packed with AWESOMENESS as my companion and I have been teaching people about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I've met a lot of members and a lot of investigators who we teach. The first night, we taught this one family (dad + 3 kids) the Plan of Salvation, and by the end of the lesson, the Spirit was so strong and we bore testimony of the truthfulness, and the anticipation was heavy as I boldly said it, "Will you follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper authority of God?" Dude, seriously, the spirit was thick in the room. They said yes. We invited them to church on Sunday, but they didn't come - RUDE! They'll come next week - The Barr family is their name.
One other cool story is that of Patricia Kyles, an older black lady from SAN DIEGO!!! She's got a heart of gold, she's in her 70's I think but she's taken in 2 kids (age 6 and 7) and has housed this other man Richard for a few decades - she has taken these individuals in need into her home. Even though she had been taught before, we felt impressed to teach her about the Restoration again. That was another cool lesson with the Spirit just testifying of truth left and right. Sister Katoa (my comp) gave an awesome analogy of the Great Apostasy using the decoration of candles on her kitchen table (that we were sitting at). Anyway, the BEST part was when we gave her a "big print" Book of Mormon and she was so happy, it made me laugh (cuz she had had a hard time reading regular size print). hahaha. In the closing prayer, she said "Thank these sisters for bringing me the "Book of Norman" instead of "Mormon" -oh it was so cute and made me smile real big during the prayer. She did come to church on Sunday.
I met a sister who's waiting on her visa too! The first day I met her actually, she had been here like 3 and half months and still hadn't filled out her electronic application! YEEKES! but, that night (of the 1st day), President Saylin told me that THAT day, her electronic application had come through. So if that didn't make sense, that MEANS I was good luck to get her her electronic application, but it also means I could be here upwards of 3 months. Whatev. =]
So I hope ya'll are doing good in all areas of your lives. PEEEEEAAAAAAACCCCCCCEEEEEEE.
Love,
Sister Roy
