November 16, 2015

We set a baptismal date for a guy who has been investigating for over a year. We were super excited. He decided he wants to get baptized in February. Which is a long time away, but as long as he gets baptized I'm okay with it. We also got permission from this girls mom to let her get baptized once she understands everything and can answer the baptismal questions. Which is huge because 7 weeks ago she wouldn't even stay in the same room as the missionaries because she hated them
so much. She told us that we are the only two missionaries she has ever liked so get on our level haha. This area is pretty awesome because in comparison to the other areas people are much more receptive to the gospel. We went and did service with the elders from the other ward for the crazy guy who thinks he is a ninja. We tried to teach him, but it is seriously impossible because he is so crazy. He read a lot of the Book of Mormon and I'm pretty sure he didn't grasp everything because this is what he told us. 

"The Lehi guy leaves all his s$&/ and goes into the wilderness and then he comes back and he's all pissed off because his S$&t is gone so he finds that drunk guy and cuts his head off and steals all his s$&/ and his genealogy and whatever... Do you realized how f$&/3& up that is!?"

He was so mad hahaha. We tried to explain it, but it is no use. He is too crazy haha. He told us all about how messed up it is that we think we are "gods chosen people" and how the Jews thought that and look hot it turned out for them. In his mind he thinks he is teaching us and helping us find the truth. Then he talked about the Cherokee Indians. And this guy is as white as I am and he kept taking about how corrupt the white man is. He told us his mom was engaged to a former president of the us and his grandpa was a tracker on the trail of tears. It all sounds far fetched coming from a self proclaimed ninja. Anyway that was pretty funny. Transfers are today and nothing is changing for me.
Elder Casey is leaving to be district leader somewhere and Elder Itufia will be training so I won't be the newest guy in the district anymore. So that's basically that.

I have a hilarious story about my dingus companion. He was driving last night and he sucks at driving I think I mentioned that before. So we past the house we were going to. It was pitch black outside because Oregon city doesn't really have a lot of street lights. I told him to just turn into this road and turn around. He drives past the road and then decides to still turn onto it. It was a gravel road and has a three foot gutter type thing on either side of it. So he turned onto it and the right front wheel dropped into the gutter and the car was on two wheels hahahahha! I was laughing so hard haha. So the car teetered for a second and then it balanced out and he made it onto the road haha. The car has no immediate noticeable damage, but we will see if it starts leaking. I was cracking up because it is just sweet justice since he thinks he is the best driver under the sun because "he was a pizza delivery driver". I still pray for patience everyday haha.

Spiritual thought:

"11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
-Matthew chapter 9

Remember Jesus didn't come to call the righteous to repentance. We all sin so there is no reason to judge someone else because they sin differently than us. It would be better for the chapel to be filled to capacity smelling like a bar than to have two rows full of "righteous" people. Be accepting of everyone especially at church because it is pretty likely that it was difficult for them to come because they feel unworthy. No one is unworthy to go to church. No one is unworthy to pray. No one is unworthy to feel welcome and accepted by church members. We all make mistakes and that is the beauty of the gospel and the atonement. We can be freed from the feelings of guilt, shame, and
unworthiness through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

Love you,
Elder Garfield