Oh man, did we have a miracle. It was one of the coolest things.
FIRST, some background. There is a sister in our ward named [Mary]. She has
been less active but has started coming back recently. There is also our Relief
Society president's brother. His name is [Jim] and he has been relatively
against the church, mostly before I got here. But yesterday, he showed up on
Sister [Roberts’] door (our Relief Society President), and said he was coming
to church. Needless to say she was a bit surprised. Anyway, he came to church
and he and [Mary] (who have known each other for a while because [Mary] is one
of Sister [Roberts’] friends) came to our gospel principles class. It is just a
little class taught by the missionaries for new people or people who are just
trying out the gospel. Anyway, he seemed to enjoy it and the ward was pretty friendly.
Move to later on, we were talking to a family who is moving out
of our ward soon. We were outside and just wrapping up, when the phone rang.
Elder Fanger was talking to the mom of the family so he handed the phone to me.
It was Sister [Roberts] asking if we could come teach a lesson. I said yes, and
asked what she wanted us to teach on. She said to just start from the
beginning. She then said, quite calmly, that [Jim] and [Mary] were getting
married on the 20th. Needless to say I was surprised. She then said that [Jim]
was going to get married and baptized all on the same day. We were very
surprised and very grateful! He is very solid and earnest. And the story is
made even cooler because I was fasting, because it was fast Sunday, that
we would find a new investigator. I didn't realize till after that [Jim] was
the answer, and not only is he an investigator, but he is also a set! It was so
cool to see and I am so grateful for the Lord, He really does provide.
Ha I hope you enjoyed that. Especially all the people who think
I have just been partying the whole time. No I am actually working... ;) No but
it is cool. We have four more that may have a date for a baptism soon. It is so
exciting!!
So I have a funny story. I was on a trade off with Elder Palmer.
We were down in his area, called Bream Bay, though specifically we were in a
township called Ruakaka. Anyway, we were doing rescue nights. It is basically
where the elders get with some of the members of the ward and go out to visit
some of the less active members. So it was me, Elder Palmer, and his branch
president (a branch is like a ward but smaller). We went to go see a man named [Tim].
Anyway, we got to his house and he was sitting in his garage with a pakia (basically
Maori for "white person". Used to be quite derogatory, but now, just
means white person. Pronounced pa-key-uh, if you’re interested...). Assumedly
they were friends. Anyway we went around and met up with them. And they were
both on the bottle. [Tim] wasn't too far gone, but his friend was WASTED. He
was drunk as. So it came down to the Branch President talking to [Tim] and us
elders distracting the other. And WOW he was going on about the weirdest stuff.
All I really remember though was him talking about why Christmas is good...I
think. Anyway, he grabbed my head and gave me a big ol' kiss on the neck. And
then did the same to my companion. Ugh. It was scarring. Cause it was a wet
one. From an old drunk relatively hairy white man. So yeah that was
interesting.
And after that we went
and saw Maori Santa Claus. He looked exactly like him, he just needed the hat
and suit. Man 'twas uncanny. Haha, Bream Bay is a little hoary.
Other than that, we have just been continuing to teach people
and get to know families. It is awesome! Speaking of awesome, I got a letter
this week full of a bunch of notes written by a bunch of people, so thanks guys
it made me all fuzzy inside. ^_^
Anyways, love ya'll and keep being cool people! :D
-Elder Clayton-
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