Elder Soutas

Elder Soutas

Monday, September 21, 2015

Week 2 - Centralia/Carlyle


Hey fans!
Not too shabby of a week. We didn't get in with very many people but we still at least tried. 
It started off great. After emails last monday we met Ken, who is having lots of troubles. He's about 38 and has a Chicago accent. He's kind of gangsta. He hates life right now and wants to leave Centralia. We gave him a book of Mormon and talked outside the library for like an hour. He was hopeless before we talked to him but after he had some hope. Unfortuantely when we met him Friday he told us that he got really buzzed and then passed out in the middle of the street. Also his parents, will kick him out of the house if he continues to read the book of mormon and continue meeting with us. We were saddened to hear all of us but then talked for like 30 min again especially about the word of wisdom. He is not sure if he is willing to learn from us anymore. He said he was coming to church yesterday but never showed up.
On tuesday we got another investigator named Pat. She is MIke's Grandma and has heard lots from Mike and is now very curious. Mike didn't come to church this week :( Mike will be moving in a couple of weeks so we probably won't be able to baptize him. If he comes this week though we may be able to if he is ready of course.
On Wednesday we drove many miles to Okawville to talk to an old single guy named Bro. Barfield whose wife passed away. He is less active right now but after talking with him he might come back to church soon. hopefully.
We visit a 90 year old every thursday and give her the sacrament after church. Her name is Sister Slininger. She lives in a nursing home. soon I am planning on playing the piano for all of the old timers there. I'll have to find some music that won't put them to sleep for good.
On Thursday we had a mission conference where Elder C Scott Grow of the 70 came. He spoke about a lot of things. We have a lot of things we could improve at.
On Friday morning, I had the privilege to give a priesthood blessing to one of the Sisters' investigators named Lori. She is very poor and has injured feet as well as her brother just died. It was a good experience. One of the better blessings I've given.
On Saturday we went to a hog roast hosted by the ward. A hog was roasted over a fire and the members had a pickup football game. We are not allowed to play sports with people besides missionaries. It stinks. We are allowed to go on hayrides though. That's what we did after, and when we left the relief society president gave us a 5 gallon bag of chocolate milk which is now in our fridge.
Yesterday at church we were asked last minute to teach the 13 year old sunday school class. We taught about why we have commandments. It was a really good lesson expect for Lucas who would interrupt saying things impertinent to the lesson. Also the Atwater family had me accompany them while they sang Teach Me To Walk in the Light.
From this week's experiences I have learned to stay positive. Not everything went super well like we had hoped this week, but we still have hope. I also have a lot more confidence it seems like..for the most part. 

I've been reading in 1st nephi 20-22

10 "
 And would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.
 11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nationsin bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.
 12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivityand they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritanceand they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darknessand they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel."
I've seen this week how the gospel brings light to people's life. I also see people who don't have the light. For instance, this one old lady on her porch told us how bad she felt for us because we believed that God had a body of flesh and bones. She was pleading with us to think about what we were doing and to stop. She said she would pray for us which I highly doubt. 
I know the Savior Lives. The fullness of the gospel has been restored and is the only true gospel that can make us perfect and bring us the fulness of light to our lives. The Book of Mormon is true. The more I read it, the more I love it, and also the more questions I have! Joseph Smith is who he said he was. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever and he communicates to us by revelation to his prophets "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ"

Love you all!

Elder Soutas





Centralia



Cornfields



Chocolate milk






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