15th Week

Because we are all wicked we all must repent. My branch president informed the ward council of that yesterday, I laughed very, very quietly.

Things are going great in the Great State of Tennessee, which is what the locals call it, things are always great when UT wins and they did on Saturday albeit by a close margin, from what I heard. We have had a jam packed week for never ending excitement. I think that what you could call it at least. Although our tracting hours were down a bit we taught a lot more and even committed someone we found on the 14th to Baptism! I think the Lord gives us rainstorms so we appreciate the rainbows.

I guess the biggest highlight of the week was challenging and having Ronnie accept to be baptized on the 16th of October. We tracted into Ronnie on the 14th of September and had a short lesson with him. My comp and I were both not too impressed by him but we set a return date for that Friday. Because of mileage complications, we decided to not go out to Etowah, which is where he lives, on Friday and thus were not able to see him. Instead I struck a bargain with my comp which allowed us to go back on Wednesday. When I walked in Wednesday with the teamup, Brother Tedrick from the Branch, Ronnnie looked at me and said, "Where were you on Friday?" I was shocked he remembered so I apologized and then taught him. At the end of the lesson we gave him a restoration pamphlet and a Book of Mormon, and set a return date for next Friday, or the 24th. When we got there he informed us that he had read all the way to 2nd Nephi 27! We didn't believe him, I hate to say it, so we tested him by asking him what the Tree of Life was! HE KNEW! We committed to baptism right then and we are going to get him there I know it.Other then that our investigators are progressing. Carrie Smith is our biggest frustration. We were supposed to baptism her on the 2nd in between conference sessions. Sadly, we couldn't get her moved out of her exboyfriends apartment on time so I guess we'll have to push it back. She frustrates me because I know she knows its true. I know she knows.

Brother Wisemen makes the branch member spotlight today. He is a convert to the church for eight years who used to be a baptism. A great example of who he is took place last Friday. We were driving with him at 9pm on a dark, windy, and dirt road going maybe 60 mph or more when he turned off the head lights screamed, "The power of Chirst compels me!" Laughed like a mad man and then turned them back on. He is scary but a lot of fun. Baptist are the best for everything but tracting and they make me laugh. He is an extreme example though. He frequently tells his wife, "Be gone devil and go into the swine!" Reminds me of my father and if Dad was a baptist this is who he would be. He's also the Elders Quorum President. Church outside of Utah is the best.

I guess, I'm a weird one because I'm still loving tracting and following the rules even if my comp hates me for it, just kidding we get along great.

Love ya'll

Elder Nielson