Elder Dallin Schipaanboord: Solid Week

Last Monday, Renslow and I got to go fishing with some less active members and a nonmember, it was super awesome, but weird! All we did was put some bread on a hook and drop it in the pond and fish would just flock to it, so crazy! We caught a bunch of fish though!! The non member, Tim Lucero, is such a crazy dude! He's is retired army (part of 7th group) and a total red neck! He loves to talk and has really grown to love us! haha He loves to be around us, and showed us a bunch of pics of his family, so we gained his trust, so we are going to start teaching him pretty soon!

After fishing, we had a big cook out the next day with a bunch of deep fried fish, hush puppies, cheese grits, home made fries, and these amazing brownies! It was soooo dang good, I love red neck cookin!!

We also went out to Laurel Hill this week and met some more less active members that we are going to start working with, they enjoyed us being there, but they need a lot of help. We met this less active (Destiny, 16) that we didn't even know she was in our ward, her neighbor told us about her, so we went to visit her and had a really great meeting with her! She got baptized 2 years ago and really loves the church and missionaries, but doesnt have a ride to church because her family aren't members and dont take her...): but we are going to start working with her and her 11 year old brother, Adam, who showed a lot of interest in baptism, so we will see what happens!

We also met with Ashley (Jenkins) and found out her real last name is Beck. We had a really really good meeting with her. She is going through a rough time right now and is getting humbled. She is in a bad situation and just wants happiness, and knows it comes through the gospel, but she wont act on it. We shared a scripture with her out of Moroni 10:8 that talks about not denying the gifts of God, because they are all for our benefit. she started bawling and knew it was true. She is so amazing, but wont act, it kills me!! She is sooo close! But maybe its just not her time... we dont know.

We went on splits with Isaiah, he is doing so good right now! He is going through a rough patch too, but loves hanging out with us and told us his faith has grown so much because of the trials he is facing. So he came and visited Genoa with us and bore a powerful testimony of how if you first seek the kingdom of God you will be able to overcome all things. Genoa loved it. She is making a LOT of right steps in the right direction and is doing her best to quit smoking, it's amazing! Sometimes I look at her and don't even recognize her, because of how far she has come, it is night and day!! I love seeing that in people and hope we can see it more!!

I love you guys and hope you have a great one!!
Elder Skippy