17 Months

Friends and Family:

    This week has been one of the most productive so far here in Historical Ft. Stockton! We got a lot done, and had time to put in some service hours:

   Picking Up Trash:

        On days we don't have any service projects, we find big churches in town, and pick up garbage around their buildings that the Texas wind has blown from all over the state. We can spend hours and hours picking up all the garbage here. Everyone drives by and looks at us like we're crazy, picking up trash in slacks and ties.

   Burying Tires

         Our branch president's goats needed something to play on, so we got around twenty tires from one of his amigos, and spent an afternoon burying them randomly across his yard for the goats to play on. 

    Rabbit Poop

         Our Branch President also owns around thirty rabbits that he breeds, sells, and occasionally eats. We go over each week and help him clean out their cages, and sometimes help them breed them. 

    Bingo!

         We were privileged to help out some of the residents play bingo at the senior center this week. They get so into it it's hilarious. One week one of the guys won 4 times in a row, and all of the old ladies were yelling at him because he kept winning. The guy I was helping this week wet himself, and had to leave early, so I spent some of the time just playing myself before we helped take down. It's also a great place to practice Spanish. Most of the people there don't speak English. 

        We also mowed a member's lawn, and finished cutting that dog's hair. Lots and lots of service. 

    John Hammond is our most progressing investigator right now. He is so smart, and picks up on concepts so quickly it's amazing. We got him from some other elders and started teaching him two weeks ago. He connects really well with a member here, brother Boswell. He currently has a baptismal date for a few weeks. He has been reading from the Book of Mormon, and is meeting with us three times a week. I love finding people so prepared to accept us. 

Oh hey, btw, transfers are tomorrow. I'm staying here in HISTORICAL Ft. Stockton another transfer, and am training Elder Allen as a new Zone Leader. I also came out with him, so I already know what to expect (; 

     Brother Boswell, a member here in Ft. Stockton has been helping us out a ton lately. He drives us around any evening we need him to, and fellowships all of our investigators. He converted from the first Baptist church here, and spent around 8 years there as a deacon. When we don't have anyone to teach, sometimes he drives us to some of his old baptist friends houses for us to teach. They usually just bash with us, but we're super grateful for his willingness to serve. 

     I'm excited for a new comp, and a new transfer! Have a blessed week! 

Elder Carter Johnson