#jamesthemormon

elder carlson and i helped a less active member of the ward with some yard work, and spent 5 hours over at his house! we helped him rip up half an acre of grass, and then lay 8 pallets of sod, it was so crazy!! even though it was incredibly hard work (i almost threw up and passed out), and i am still sore from it, i am so glad that we went, cause it was just us and him for like 3 hours, no one else from church showed up until we were almost done, he would've been out there for soooo long! but i feel like we created a great relationship of trust with him, so it was a success!

so highlight of the week, we definitely used rap music to teach the gospel! hahaha we were at a members home for dinner, and they had a bunch of young military guys over, and so we were trying to figure out how to share a message, and so we just said "do y'all like rap?" and they said yeah, so we showed them "the restoration" by james the mormon, and then basically taught the entire restoration afterwards, and gave out 2 copies of the book of mormon, it was so sick!! not only were we able to teach, but it opened the door to the member to have so many more conversations with these guys, and teach them even more!

 

then, we were on exchanges in dothan with the zone leaders, and we were walking around the hood, and found these guys outside bumpin to some music, so we looked at each other and said "james" and proceeded to go and share a song by james the mormon, and it went so well! we ended up teaching like 12 people right there, and gave  out a ton of copies of the book of mormon, and created such a good relationship with them. they said "man, we don't even have black people come visit us, but here we have white folk coming to teach us in the black part of town" hahaha it was so sick! we ended up inviting them to church, and they said ill go if you go, so we went to their bible study as well, it was lit!! they have a blind preacher!!!!! this guy straight up has the bible memorized!! it was so crazy! he was throwing out verses and chapters like it was nothin! 

as for people we are teaching, we are really focusing on 2 inactive members, who have such a desire to change. it is really cool to see how they will make sacrifices to meet with us, and are so willing to do whatever it takes to find the happiness that they once felt.  they have been through some crazy things in their lives and have come to a fork in the road, and they are trying to rid themselves of the bad in their life. it really is a pleasure to be able to hear them open up to us and allow us to help them to allow the savior to help them through the hardships that this life has to offer. i truly love to teach about this gospel! my favorite thing ever is being able to sit down and talk to someone about life, and being out here i have that opportunity soo much, i love it!! i am definitely going to miss it!

thanks for everything guys, i love y'all lots!

remember, the book is blue, and the church is true

elder schipaanborod