Hey Family,
Good to hear from y'all! I spent all week whining about my feet. I thought I had them all broken in but no, apparently even really good calluses can't handle 6+ hours of walking and not turn into bloody messes - poor myself. I think the greatest souvenir that I bring home will be my feet - I will have scars on them for the rest of my life. That is if they ever manage to stay healed long enough to make scars:)
(I asked Kelli for examples of people not letting the missionaries come back because of anti-mormon things they have read on the internet - this is her answer). Yes I've got lots of stories like that. Saturday we were supposed to have a lesson with a girl named Tina, she sent us a text around 10 p.m. Friday and told us she wasn't interested anymore. I can only assume she did some research and found some anti stuff. Amanda, before she got baptized looked up some stuff so that she could know both sides - she had been to church enough to know it wasn't true and was ready to get dunked. Seth the guy that was supposed to get baptized last week - when he went home for Christmas vacation his brother anti-ed him. Kim from PCB did a lot of research before she decided to join - I'm sure she looked up anti as well. Generally people who have been to church don't fall for the anti stuff it's those that have only met with the missionaries that it causes problems with. I hope that helps. There are so many examples its hard to narrow it down.
I talked to Amanda last night she and Tasha were on the 2nd row at the Marriott Center to hear President Monson speak - she said she really liked it. I think I was more excited for her than she was.
Lets see now - I'll tell you about my comings and goings last week. Monday we played Roller Hockey with the Elders, they were nice and sometimes gave us the ball. We got off the rink after two games so they could beat each other up and we weren't in their way.
Tuesday was District meeting. We spent the afternoon on campus and around 7 we got a strange text from the FSU Elders, "We need your medical advice and duct tape." I was more than a little worried we hustled over to their place and they had busted their bedroom window open. They forgot the key and were trying to break into their apartment. Rasmussen got his arm all cut and gross. We helped 'em clean up the glass and watched as the two manly men put up cardboard, canvas and sheets on the hole in the wall with duct tape and push pins - silly boys.
Wednesday we went to FAMU - we are going to go once a week from now on - we got 3 new investigators it was really easy. That is the day my feet threw a fit and decided to blister everywhere.
Thursday we worked on Less Active stuff and had a lesson with a girl named Erin, she is super sweet and wants to learn but is afraid of commitment. We'll have to go slow with her.
Friday was my 9 month mark. I'm 1/2 way through! (It is a tradition to burn a pair of knee highs at your 6 month mark and a shirt half way through - Kelli missed the sock burning so she did both of them at this event). We went to Ronald McDonald House - I carried 20 really heavy bags up 3 flights of stairs and did general cleaning then wrote y'all. The Institute had game night and we got Farrah to go - we stayed with her for a while then left her on her own. She said she had a good time and I love that the ward was so warm and welcoming toward her.
Saturday we planned and went to TCC's baptism. It was kind of a mess. First the water wasn't high enough, the plug had come out or something, then Elder Lewis called her by her boyfriends last name. It wasn't exactly reverent after that.
Sunday was amazing. I have never seen so many people at church! We had lots of less actives there and between the 3 sets of missionaries we had 5 investigators there! It was very cool. After dinner we went tracting and I got to use some of my old tricks and some of dad's tools to talk to a Philosophy major. But the coolest part was when we first said hello he really didn't want to talk to us but I was prompted to ask him about a book he was reading and it lead to a good 20 min conversation. I haven't been able to use really big words in a while I'm a little rusty but the spirit helped and he seemed to really enjoy it. I know I did. He strongly reminded me of myself before the whole, isn't it not not true... so thanks dad! I saw my possible future if you hadn't intervened and I'm grateful that you did!
I love you all and hope all is well! Kelli
