Baptismal Date set for Rodrigo

Goat

Harrison Brown

Harrison Brown

Mabeline, Elenore, Harrison and Sister Louise 

Daddy Caddy has a famous car on the island

Metal Sculpture of Martha's Vineyard

Mabeline, Elenore, Harrison and Sister Louise

Mexican Dinner at Sharkeys

Sharkeys a Mexican Restaurant on Martha's Vineyard

Sharkeys Mexican Restaurant

Week 24
April 1st 2019

      Oh boy had it’s been a fun and busy week. Monday was actually a little slow but real fun, we went shopping a little later then expected so we had to bike to get to our appointment on time. It was a great appointment with Rodrigo and Warley. We set a baptismal date with Rodrigo, and he’s super excited. It will be this month! After our appointment we had family home evening with the Brown family it was super fun. While we were there, Harrison wanted to where my name tag. He’s such a cute kid. Sister Louise was there (sister browns mom) and she offered to tailor our pants so they would fit better. So we brought them with us so she could get them measured.
     Tuesday morning was a little stressful, with me getting a new phone I lost an important date I needed for today. Around lunch time I get a text asking how my appointment went with my doctor (over skype), and I totally forgot about it. I had to quickly call her and left a message along with an email to see if I could get an appointment sometime soon. When we were on our way to Oak Bluffs I got an email saying I could do it at 4, so we had to get off the bus.  With the little bit of extra time we went to go visit a friend of ours to see if we could talk more about the Book of Mormon. He does not believe in it because there is "no evidence" of it being true. He then showed us a video on the book of Thomas agnostic book in the bible. He really likes the book of Thomas because it is all facts to prove of its truthfulness. After visiting him we sadly had to stop teaching because he doesn’t want to read the Book of Mormon at all. We then went back to the apartment for my appointment, and it went real well! After that we walked to catch the number 1 bus to get to our next visit. We stopped by a less active member Clara and she was happy to see us, her oldest son was there so we were able to go inside to talk to her. It was awesome to get to know her more, and we ended with a prayer. We then made our journey to dinner with the Browns. About half way there brother Brown picked us up on the side of the road and took us the rest of the way. For dinner they took us to Sharkeys Cantina, one of two Mexican restaurants here on the island. It was pretty fun and the food was good (for the east coast). New England doesn’t really have the best Mexican food, sadly, but the seafood is amazing!
     Wednesday morning was pretty easy, just focused on our studies and had a small lunch. We then decided to go to Edgertown and meet some of our friends, to see if we could set up a time to come back and visit. We also invited a few of them to our branch game night later on in the week. We were able to talk to Amy right before she left to go pick up her kids, she has been busy with work and the kid have been sick but she said with the weather warning up we could come back and have a outside barbecue and a lesson! It was awesome to here that she still wants to meet with us for the right reasons. After her we tracked all of the houses in the area she lives in, but sadly not too much luck, it was during the day so a lot of people could have been working. On the bright side it was a beautiful day outside so it was nice to walk around. Right before we went to the bus stop we stopped at one of our potentials homes to see if we could come back to visit. The guy we were looking for wasn't there but his wife was. We just stood on the porch to talk to her, and get to know her more. She too is interested and she said the best time to come back is after 7pm. We hope to meet them later this week. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and invited her to read it with her husband. We then just got to the bus stop in time to hop on and head home.
     Thursday was full of service. We first were picked up by Brother Powell to help do yard work at his aunts and uncles house. Both of them are on our potentials list, so it was good to finally meet them. While we were there we had raked a lot of leaves and put them in the back of the truck. We made a couple trips and we still haven't finished, we hope to go back soon. Right after them we were taken to our next service/ appointment with Marie Allen. She has had many missionaries come and help with service, and she can't do much because she's very wise in age, she’s almost 90 and still moving! We set around an hour to help her out but what she had planned took about 15 minutes. By the time we ended sister Biliduea was there so we could have a member present for our lesson. With a lot more time we asked of there was anything we could help with. We then started to help take and trim her front garden to make it look pretty for spring time. To end we shared a message about prayer and the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, she was super happy and really excited to start reading in her new large print we brought her. We started to walk to the bus and we did spontaneous service for a guy, and he had lots of good questions, so we left him with our card and let him know of he had any more to give us a call. We then had to run to catch the next bus so we could make it home to shower before dinner. We did make it home or time then Adam Biliduea came to pick us up. Dinner was super fun to meet with the Biliduea family and they always have really amazing and delicious food! Sister Biliduea is a great cook! We came home to finally have time for studies,, we then went to bed to prepare for the next day.
     Friday morning was slower then usual. We did the normal, studies and lunch. We then did our weekly planning to help our friends for this next week. It did take a little longer with a baptismal date and a new friend found with the few new potentials we have, but it was super good. This next week we hope for a lot of good luck and a few new friends to teach! We then left to the chapel to help set up for the branch activity aka games night! Oh boy was it fun, there were many fun games and of course food. About 15 people came and we had lots of fun. I played a game of jenga with Rodrigo and he made the tower fall. After that we got a few other to join us in the game of life. It got so crazy we had to start over. I didn't play the next round, because I wanted to see what else there was. The last few games I played were all card games.
     Saturday, the morning was a little different then usual because we had district council (we usually have them on Friday). Elder Mulitalo and I were in charge of the lesson. Our focus was on asking inspired question and also listening. One big thing with both of these is following the prompting of the spirit. The spirit will help you know exactly what to say at the time of need. We then went to get the mail at the post office before it closed at 1. After that we headed up to the chapel, a member left a couple bags of food for us and we had to go pick it up. After we got back I did a small cleaning of our place because it was looking a little dirty, the biggest part was the floor. Mainly just because we have been back and forth in and out doing services and meeting our friends. To end the night we had our studies because we had no time in the morning.
     Sunday is always so fun, especially Fast Sunday. That morning we came early to have a meeting with the branch presidency so they can know how to best help us and our friends. After that we helped prepare for sacrament and we passed out all the hymn books on to the chairs. I always love to bare my testimony because I have seen it grow while being here on my mission. After me there were so many more wonderful testimonies shared. I really enjoyed the Sunday School lesson we talked about being self reliant in finances. It really stuck out to me because I know I have been blessed for always paying my tithing. Along with putting half in savings. With knowing how to budget well I have been able to go on a lot of adventures and trips with the family. My favorite part is that I am able to pay for my mission myself, this is my commitment to serve God to the best I can to help his children that are lost return to him. One thing to always remember is to pay tithing first, no matter what, you will be blessed. After church we had a fun linger longer. I was able to get to know Sister Dunn even more, a long with Audrey Polleys asking Elder Mulitalo and I many questions. All in all it was super fun. We then went home for the rest of the day due to there being lots of rain and not the best weather. We once again watched our wonderful church history movies for the rest of the day. For dinner I made some rice, black beans and some super good chicken.
   
                   Alma 46:40-41
     "40 And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—
     41 But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose"

        I truly love this, this scripture is talking about the effects of one of the many wars in the Book of Mormon. They were fighting for their freedom and for their faith in God and learn more and teach the gospel. With it being war many did die in a painful way, but many died of old age. Those who did die with full faith in Christ were still happy and full of love, because they know of the eternal blessings that are to come. I strive to always keep my faith, for when that day does come I can die in happiness knowing I served the Lord throughout my life and I will be eternally blessed, I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen.