FIRST BAPTISM!

February 17, 2014

Today was a holiday, and the library was closed (no computer to write home).  Instead, Elder Snow uploaded a VIDEO letter this week!  Pretty Fun!

Video #1: A week at a glance - and a BAPTISM!

Video #2: Playing the Ukelele

Video #3: Valentine's Day goodies

Photos from the week

FIRST BAPTISM, COMING UP!

February 10, 2014

hey hey! another week! The weeks go by so fast, man.  It's crazy, crazy, crazy!

So, let's talk about some of the stuff that happened this week, shall we?

I sure had a lot of fun!  We went on 3 exchanges this week.  The zone leaders asked if Elder Wright (my companion) could go work with them because one of the AP's was sick.  So, I got to work both areas of New Braunfels with Elder Gray and elder Swonson.  Man, it was so fun.  We got to visit some people I've never met before, including a less active member who was trying to get reactivated.  Since it was in their territory, it wasn’t someone I’ve ever met before.  It was a woman that lived in Germany for the last 10 years.  She's super super cool.  We watched early father Heavenly Father with her.  It was great!  

Then, we went over and visited with my little buddy “A,” but he wasn't feeling too well.  So I just taught him the first couple parts of the plan of salvation, then taught him the 10 commandments.  Then we got out of there because he looked like he was gonna yak.  We’re going back again on Tuesday, so no worries!

After that, all three of us went down to the basketball courts because it was like 8:30 and we couldn't go visit anyone else.  We talked to a bunch of guys down there and told them who we were and what we do. Then, we played basketball with them for a little bit, in our missionary clothes, and then we taught a 30 second plan of salvation with one guy.  It was great!

The last exchange was just the other night. The traveling assistants (aps) called at 8:45 and said they'd be here in 15 minutes to go on an exchange.

Elder Rogers came and lived with us for a day, and it was pretty great.  He's like...THE happiest person I’ve met in my life.  It was kind of weird.  I don't get how he could be so genuinely happy and dedicated all the time. Blew my mind!   I mean, I fake it for people when I’m maybe not having a great day, but he just seemed SO STOKED ALL the time. It was weird haha. Nicest guy ever, though.  He left me a little note in my “Jesus the Christ book, which I found today.  The note basically complimented me.  I barely said anything or did anything, but he was just complimenting me for whatever i did. Great guy. Elder Swonson liked him a lot, too.

Okay, that's it for exchanges. What else happened this week?  Oh, I popped ANOTHER tire! 6-week streak yeaaaaaaaaah! 

Some else that was fun:  Brother “K” had his birthday on Wednesday.  I made him a peach cobbler. It was fantastic. I made it during my training hour (I got ahead in my training...I've actually kinda been done with it for a while, so that's just extra study time for now). and then we took it over later in the day as a surprise. He was so stoked. We had cobbler and ice cream that we brought him.  Then,  he was like hey you guys want to go to dinner?  Of course we were like, psssh YEAH sure, sounds good.  He took us to a habachi grill!   You know, one of those expensive places that cook the food right in front of you and entertains you with all the cool tricks they do when they're cooking.  It's AWESOME - freaking amazing.  It was the greatest thing ever. And, the food was so good! ah man it was great.  I’m going back today actually! It’s Elder Grays birthday today...so I made him a cobbler too. He loved it. And, we’re going to that restaurant again.  I'm so excited!

Last cool thing that happened: We went to “H” and “L’s” wedding! “H” is the man I invited to be baptized my FIRST day in the mission.  We went to their wedding on Saturday, and we bought them some gifts.  They were these little Jesus mugs that have scriptures.  They're so funny.  We thought it was funny; you guys probably won't. Missionaries think everything is funny haha.

The wedding was great!  It made me SO happy. They seemed so happy. I seriously just about cried. Then, we got some food and told them we had to go, and we then rode a looooooooong bike ride home in our suits.  And, guess what? “H” is getting baptized THIS SATURDAY! I’m super stoked - I can't wait. It’s going to be great. FIRST baptism is coming up, on the 15th of February!

That’s about it for my experiences this week. I hope you guys had a good one! Love you!

ANOTHER TIRE bites the dust...

February 3, 2014

hello everyone! good to be back, I hope everyone had a great week!

This week, on Tuesday, we had the opportunity to help the “R” family move into their new home.  It was awesome! It took a few trips and a few hours, but it was cool because I got to wear normal clothes for a few hours.  It was a nice little break.  However, the bummer is that my legs have gotten flippin’ huge from riding the bikes everywhere, so my old jeans that I used to LOVE are skin tight on me. I was so sad haha.  I still wore them, though.  I don't care; I’ll wear them skin tight.  OH, and it was freezing, so there was no way I was wearing shorts!

Wednesday we went out to dinner with brother and sister “M,” and they took us out to a nice Mexican restaurant.  Then, we went on visits with them for the rest of the night! The thing you have to understand about brother and sister “M” is they are...THE most missionary oriented old couple I’ve ever met. They went on a mission already, and they go out on visits EVERY NIGHT. They just got back from an extended trip to California to help family, so that's why i haven't talked much about them so far.  But, I’m sure I’ll be writing a whole lot more about them the upcoming weeks. They are signed up to feed us every week, and to go out with us after dinner every time. They love going to see investigators, and this entire TOWN loves them.   Loves them.   Loves them. Sister “M” will knock a door and someone will answer and literally hug her and kiss her and tell her how much they missed her while they were away. They’re so inspiring!  They could be doing so many other things, but they are doing everything they can to build the kingdom. They’re awesome {AWESOME} people.

Thursday night, we went to dinner with brother “K.”. I’m sure I’ve talked about him before.  He goes out with us nearly every week.  He's so missionary oriented!   He's only been living here in New Braunfels for like 6 months, and he's actually planning on moving again very soon. BUMMER.  I like him a lot.  Since they haven’t lived here long, the missionaries are their best friends.  We went to dinner at their house, played with the kids, then went out on visits with brother “K” for a while.  He, then, took us to get ice cream.   

We gave brother “K” a blessing that he would be able to receive the necessary revelation for his family as to whether or not he should move.  His wife actually does a super cool thing, too.  She "records" priesthood blessings, as in, she writes them down.  Well, the important things mostly. I thought that was super cool.  She says she often goes back and looks at them, as if they are patriarchal blessings. How awesome is that? Well, we gave him the blessing, and the next day he went to the temple and got his answer.  He's moving.  How cool is that, though?  They're such a great family.  We had ice cream with them and they just didn't want us to leave. It’s kind of a bummer sometime being a missionary, because we build such great relationships with people.  But you still have to work.  I'd love to just hang out with brother and sister “K” all the time, but I can't unless we're going on visits or something. Hence why brother “K” takes us out on visits time. He loves hanging out with us and doing the Lord’s work. 

Saturday, I blew another tire.  It was the same tire that I put the green slime tape in, thinking it was foolproof now. NOPE. Blew another one.

I had an awesome lesson with R&S. “R” is an investigator.  They’ve been coming to church, and “R” says he wants to be baptized (long way down the road though, as they’re working on some things).  But, they both committed to quit smoking on Saturday! How awesome is that! We taught a bit about the restoration. We watched the "origin" Mormon message, and then talked about the Joseph Smith story. It was fantastic-such a great lesson.  The spirit was so strong. “R” is for sure getting baptized in the future. I probably won't be around, but he will. He's such a great guy.

Sunday, I wore my glasses to church. Nobody recognized me. They all thought I was a different elder. It was hilarious hahaha. 

That’s it for this week! I love you all and hope you enjoy this week!

Love

Elder Snow