What's
up Fam!
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found a new favorite street... "Dinger Lane". Instantly started
quoting Kent Murphy and thinking of my boy Elder Christensen. Every time we
drive remotely close to it I yell "DINGERS!!!". Elder Metcalf thinks
I'm nuts.
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Hamilton is gorgeous. Saw 3 bald eagles and elk and deer and all that this
week, it's Heaven here.
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went to Helena for a MLC ("mission leadership conference/council/committee
something like that). It was pretty cool. With all the zone leaders and sister
training leaders so there was like 30 of us. Got to see Elder Hendricks and
Sister Freeman from the MTC district, we are definitely the young bloods
in there. You know whenever Dr Evil wants a million dollars he calls into the
world defense council?? It kind of reminded me of that. Lots of experienced
elders and sisters there giving input on how the mission can progress and I sat
there with my 7 months of experience looking like Ricky Bobby not knowing what
to do with his hands. But ya, it was cool. Zone Leader who served in Missoula
came looking for me and said they came across some Utah fans there who asked
about me. Assuming from Twitter so thanks for the shout out whoever you
are!
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finally clicked for me that Elder Kennedy is Qui Gon, Elder Metcalf is Obi Wan,
and I am Anakin. Hear me out.... My first transfer my zone
leaders were Elders Kennedy and Metcalf. Elder Kennedy (Qui Gon) was training
Elder Metcalf (Obi Wan) to be a zone leader. 7 months later Elder Kennedy is
home. Now Elder Metcalf (Obi Wan) is training me (Anakin) to be a zone leader.
Hopefully we don't have a companionship inventory that leads to me being
limbless on a lava beach but at least I get to wife Padme.
*****These are the things you think about when drunk people are singing
"amazing grace" at the top of their lungs at 1 am outside your
apartment and you can't sleep. Perks of living on Main Street. At least it was
a spiritually uplifting song*****
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went to a sweet chocolate store. I'm addicted to huckleberry flavored
anything.
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Hit up the Jessop's and had some ice cream with them. Christine, Will and I
were going through the alphabet A-Z with Disney characters. Glad to see I still
got it when it comes to the mouse. However, you know you have been a missionary
for a while when Book of Mormon names pop into your head first. #AchievementUnlocked
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Told Elder Metcalf "my socks smell like Chinese food" to see what his
reaction would be. He sighed and just kept on studying. Funny guy, I love him.
Still trying to get him to fart in front of me. Gotta think of a operation name
for that.... Stay tuned
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got a letter and when I saw the return address was Swedish i screamed like a
girl and ripped it open. Why have a girlfriend when you have an Elder Walton?
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Had a zone training. District Leaders hold weekly district meetings and zone
leaders do a zone training once a transfer. Once again I was Ricky Bobby'ing it
up there not knowing what to do with my hands but I thought it went well, Elder
Metcalf at least knew what he was doing. I closed it with a discussion on
personal conversion and perspective on your mission. Quoted and/or referenced
Walt 3 times, Star Wars (1), other Disney movies (2),coach Whitt (3), #ULegacy
(2), and coach Shah (1) "preach like it MEEEEEEANS something to
ya".
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Drove past a truck full of sheds. #WelcomeToMontana
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EXCHANGES!!!! Went on a exchange with Elder Peterson in Stevensille. His
companion is the district leader so I switched with him and got to spend a day
with Elder Peterson. It was awesome, we had so much fun. Elder Peterson is a
stud from Payson and has been out 5 months. He's as big of a Cougar as I am a
Ute but he never sucker punched me and I never dumped my beverage on him so we
played pretty nice #ChurchIsTrue. We had a good time. He's never kissed a girl
so we are both members of the VL club which is one of many reasons why our
companionship unity was straight up fire that night. Another reason is our two
favorite scriptures are Helaman 5:12 and Joshua 1:9 #DidWeJustBecomeBestFriends
#KarateInTheGarage. We found a sweet family while street contacting... Dad was
wearing a Oregon Ducks shirt... You know what our approach was??? College
football BayBay. Didn't bring up the duck hunt massacre that occurred last fall
cause the spirit can't dwell with contention but I still slipped in that a Utah
Man Am I. Cool guy, amazing family. I'm tellin ya they need a college football
section in the next PMG... Best tracting approach out there. Lot of different
fans here so I'm in the right spot.
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part of the exchange we met Sam... Sam is probably 50. Tall, skinny, and rocks
a long gray pony tail. For 45 minutes we talked with Sam about how darker blue
patches in the sky are really planets that are right outside our atmosphere and
how we are all gonna die in about a month. #ThatEscalatedQuickly. Reason why we
can't see the planet is because the government sprays a chemical in the
atmosphere so we can only see darker shades of the sky... Reminder we don't get
much television or video games out here so we found this really entertaining
and frankly if we are all gonna die next month I wanna hear about it. It was
definitely up there with the Splash Elder exchange transfer 1 with Wendell. It
was fun talking with him, if one day we wake up and Jupiter is all we see
outside then I'm going to find my boy Sam.
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also on the exchange we ate at this members house that was unreal! Such a
pretty house. There is a ski resort that financially fell through that you can
see in their back yard along with a herd of elk. Amazing view. Meat for the
burgers came right off their ranch, so dang good.
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had a lesson in the Della Silva's home... As we get there there's 2 minutes
left in BYU - Gonzaga. We went and stood in the kitchen and did whatever
possible to distract ourselves from Babylon. Oh man I miss college ball haha. I
couldn't see the screen but I could see Bro DS's facial expressions and that
was enough. I was actually wanting the Cougs to win this one. Fear not, I'm not
pulling a Harvey on Ute nation, but I was hoping they would pull it out for Bro
Della Silva, I love the guy. I could see the hurt in his eyes after the game,
I've been there before Haha. Gave him a hug after the lesson, such an awesome
family.
MLC
and the exchange were much needed this week. I got a lot of room to improve....
A LOT. And this is a good opportunity for me to learn from other missionaries.
With that said, I'm not gonna pretend to be someone I'm not. The exchange with Elder Peterson was
awesome because I didn't correct him on a single thing, but by the end of the
night he was asking ways he can be more obedient. Some leaders walk into an
area guns a blazing crying repentance and obedience, I'd rather show them the
miracles that come from doing what is right. Plus... We had fun. Met
Sam and a family who is solid. You gotta have fun out here. President Wadsworth
is the perfect example of who I want to be as a missionary. The guy is so in
tune with the spirit but isn't afraid to laugh.
Quick
President Wadsworth story for ya. So we are approaching like hour 4 of MLC and
not gonna lie I was zoned out thinking about Food or something (i just noticed
I talk about food a lot). He jumps up there for his closing remarks and tells
us (mind you we are all expecting some hard core revelation here) "elders
and sisters... The mind can only absorb what the butt can handle..." And I
just bust up laughing. I was sitting near Sister Wadsworth and she gave him
that "get in the dog house... Now." Look... (@pettbryan and I have
received that look several times from my mother when discussing high school
dances or trips to the mouse so I recognized it)... President asked "I'm
gonna be hearing all about this on the way to Bozeman tonight, aren't I??? She
nods her head.
BAD.
IDEA.
One
time in junior year English I had to run to the office to get something and
Jared jumped up with me. Heyborne says "Jared if you walk out the door
with McKay you are getting a U." Jared turns to look at me and says
"well I already have a U so I might as well." President Wadsworth had
that same logic... If he's in the dog house he might as well live it up... So
for the next 10 minutes he is cracking jokes and telling stories. Told us how
he sometimes just wants to tell missionaries "poppy cock". After some
confused stares he explains that means "BS". Sister Wadsworth looked
mortified. But ya, President Wadsworth gets it. You can't do this work without
the spirit, can't have the spirit unless you are doing what is right. But my
goodness don't make it harder than it needs to be!!! The mind can only absorb
what the butt can handle! True words of wisdom from President Wadsworth.
Yep,
that was the week! Still tough getting adjusted to a new area but Hamilton is
starting to feel like home. I like it here. Elder Metcalf is such a good missionary
and is teaching me a lot, doing my best to absorb it all. I have a lot to
improve on. We have a solid group of investigators we are pretty stoked about.
Not sure if you can quote beer commercials as a missionary but one of our
investigators is "the most interesting man in the world". His name is
Greg, 6 foot 3 and skinny, gray hair, and only African American I have seen in
Hamilton. He loves chess, served in the military, and recently found his black
widow he keeps as a pet after she escaped in his apartment... We found this out
after our lesson... Like I said, interesting dude but we freakin love Greg.
After our first lesson he told us he feels like God guided him to us, wow baby
the spirit was strong when he said it. He's awesome. Along with Greg we have a
few other families, no one on date but that's around the corner. The boy I
mentioned last week came to church and loved it, his life is a total 180 from
last Sunday. We also talked with a family who is going through a similar trial
that we experienced as a family a few years ago. I have been in her shoes
before and those trials can really make or break your testimony. Then just
hearing about Lucas's companion put me on my knees for him. I really dont know
why some things happen, but you have to press forward with a steadfastness in
Christ. I do know it's all apart of God's plan. As we were able to comfort
this family, it made me think, maybe we go through our own Gethsemane so we can
be there to comfort others later on. Like PMG says, as your understanding and
love for the Atonement increases, your desire to share the gospel does too. So
grateful for our Savior and what he did for us. Do what he asks and families
are forever. I know it's all true. I know we will see Dave again. My testimony
has grown to be rock solid and I'm so grateful for that, next step is getting
others to that point.
A
lot of work here in Hamilton and we are very grateful the Lord is directing us
towards the elect. It's certainly hard work, but when the spirit is guiding you
it feels like you are HITTIN DINGERS!!!!
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