Snow! The First Miracle

December 13, 2021

Good Morning!

It finally snowed a couple inches on Wednesday, and got super cold. I've been relying on my jacket now, and it's about 20 degrees or so in the morning. It's warming up a bit, but I hear it's going to get colder soon.

We had Zone Conference this week, which just means our entire Zone gets together to have a meeting with the Mission President. There's a few companionships in a district, and a few districts in a zone. So it's like a Stake, for missionaries. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot. We had to drive all the way to Richfield and stay the night with another companionship, which was night. I learned all the mission gossip I could handle, which isn't a good habit but that's okay. They didn't spoil me, Elder Knight and Hardy were good guys.

Naturally, since this is in Richfield, and I'm so good at remembering things, I needed to face some good old karma. So now I don't have my bag, which has my journal/scriptures/PMG/and about every other paper material I would need. And a few, personal care items. I just won't tell my mom how I'm brushing my teeth (don't worry, I'm managing). One other thing is I've had to go all "Ariel" with my combing habits, as I lost that with my bag as well. See the photos below for evidence of how effective that method is.

We have a couple new investigators. Bella is about 15, she's been going to activities and church, but nobody knew she wasn't baptized. She's a nice person, we hope she progresses quickly. Another is Micahel, he lost his grandmother a couple days ago. We had the thought to check up on his family, and he was willing to listen to our discussion of the Plan of Salvation. He took it pretty well, and also enjoys church activities. He's up in Indianola, which is cool and all, just a 30 minute drive from Mt. Pleasant. We have high hopes for him as well. The last one I'll mention is Gern. That's his nickname, and he's eternally drunk. He's always got a soda bottle with some new alcohol in it, it's always open, and the stereotype is true. He never spills it. The dude is awesome, if you ever met a Jesus-loving Texan before that's him, same outfit and everything minus the hat. I'll get a photo sometime, Gern has a heart of gold but he isn't super interested in organized religion. We'll just stay his friend, which isn't that hard. He's got some crazy stories, but he's still pretty self-aware.

My companion and I are doing well. Elder Koyle is a better 'direct' thinker, while I'm a more 'retrospective' thinker. He's good with names, I prefer numbers. He has a 'go and do' attitude, and that's exactly what I want to get too. So I'd say we're getting along pretty well.

Just a little miracle we experienced Sunday. We have been looking for a Vern Caldwell, but he lives in an old folks living home (or whatever they're called). We finally get the code from somebody, and I remembered it when the thought came for us to visit him (see? Good with numbers). We enter the building, but don't know what to do. So we go knock one door, but nobody answers except some yappy dog. The next door doesn't respond either, and the whole hall feels musty, and thick, and we didn't know what to do. Then my companion says we need to knock a door on the other side of the hallway. At door 106 a guy opens it, and we say we're looking for Vern. Then he says that's his name, and he invites us in. Later we find out that he has a bit of social anxiety, and normally doesn't invite people inside his apartment, but he was comfortable enough to let us in. The whole experience was awesome, and Vern's a really good guy. He's not active, but he's got a strong testimony regardless.

That's about it, I"m enjoying life up here! The cold is only so bad, I promise. I've got warm blood, at least until February. Then feel free to send hot chocolate or something. Christmas is around the corner, have fun! I'll email again on Wednesday, that's our updated P-Day for next week. Stay warm!

- Elder Williams

Mailing address:

P.O. Box 412

Mt. Pleasant, UT, 84647

As always, I don't expect anything, but I do appreciate anything that does come. Happy Holidays!

Pictures:

1. One gentleman in the Stake is an excellent woodworker, so he made that puzzle snake for his grandkids. I got to play with it. It's awesome!

2. A sunset on our drive to Zone Conference.

3. I found my MTC companion at Zone Conference! Elder Collier is still hilarious, and he's doing well!

4. Steve. I found your secret company. What did you do?!

5-6. A couple snow photos, because it's awesome.

7. Evidence of the Ariel-ness.