Elder Jackson Beach: Downtown Mo-Town

Hello to all of my fam and friends and everyone else who reads these emails. I hope y'all are doing well and I hope your week was full of fun. Here's a few of the fun things I did this week:

First off, transfers are this week, tomorrow actually. Elder Furgeson is leaving, and I'm being made the District Leader here. I'm not sure exactly what that entails yet, but I'm sure it won't be too difficult. I do know that it means we are going to have a few more exchanges than normal, and I'm actually going to have to be in charge of stuff at District Meetings haha. Other than that, I guess I'll have to learn in the future.

Last Tuesday we had an exchange with the Carter Hill Elders, and I went with Elder Quayle. We had a pretty good exchange. We worked in their area, and they had an appointment with a lady named Irma that they had met tracting a few days before. She was actually home and we actually had a lesson with her (which honestly is not too common for people that we meet who tell us we can come back). Anyway, we had a really good first lesson with her, taught her the Restoration, and invited her to read and pray about the Book of Mormon, and to be baptized when she knew it was true. After we were walking out, Elder Quayle said, "That exceeded my expectations." I definitely agreed. Most people seem not to understand the Restoration, but I seemed like she understood it decently, which was good. I don't know if they have talked to her since, but I know that their return appointment is this week. We also met some other people, taught a little bit more, and overall had a good exchange.

Wednesday we went to the zoo like usual. This week they actually had us do fun stuff (as opposed to wiping glass, which we have done like 6 times). Since we were still finishing our exchange, Elder Cluff and Elder Furgeson went and did something while Elder Quayle and I helped at the giraffe feeding exhibit. We got to feed the giraffes, and then fill up cups with giraffe food for like 2 hours straight because there were so many kids there who wanted to do it. There were several schools that had zoo field trips that day. My hands turned green by the end. And then we finished off the exchange/zoo with our usual Taco Bell stop. It was pretty solid.

On Wednesday we also had dinner with the Freemans. They are a family that moved here just a couple of months ago and then they left on Friday (they were here for an Air Force assignment). We had dinner with them to say goodbye. When they moved here 2 months ago, we basically just became best friends for whatever reason. They have two boys, Stanley and Mason, and a girl on the way that is due in like 3 weeks. We kept joking that they need to stay long enough for the baby to be born in Montgomery, but Sister Freeman was not having it haha. Anyway, we really like them and they like us and we are sad to see them move. They are such good people and really good member missionaries, and Stanley and Mason are so funny. But, that's Air Force life - you move a lot.

We have had a couple of other good things happen this week, but a recurring problem we have had is this: either 1) We have a really good first lesson with someone, but are never able to have a second lesson, or 2) We meet someone briefly, share a little bit with them and they seem interested, and then we are never really able to get in contact again. This has happened with several people recently, and some of them were for people we met last week. Mark (the roller-blader) was one of them. We didn't get his address, only a phone number, but we have called several times this week with no response. Barbara is also someone whom we haven't been able to have another lesson with yet. We have been in a little bit of contact over the phone, but have yet to be back in her home. The Bentleys also are a family that we haven't had a lesson with in a good while. We were supposed to have a lesson with them on Saturday, but they went to Auburn "to get out of the storm." The "storm" was just a couple hours of rain in the middle of Saturday night, and Auburn is outside the mission. They had also promised us (Brother and Sister Bentley both) multiple times this past week that they would be at church. They didn't come. I think they used the storm as an excuse not to come. That was a bummer.

We did meet a guy this week named Zachary who lives just a few streets down from us. He stopped us while we were walking by and he just started talking to us about some things that he was struggling with. It was nothing major, but he was just a little stressed about things and he didn't know how to make these struggles he had turn into a benefit to him. Well, we talked for a bit and we shared Ether 12:27 with him and he really liked it. We gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, and he was really excited about it. We stopped by again the next day and talked with him a little bit more, began teaching the Restoration, and gave him the pamphlet to read. We're going to see him again sometime this week and finish teaching the Restoration to him.

In regards to the title of this email, I just want y'all to know that there is never a dull moment in downtown Montgomery. It's a one-of-a-kind place haha. This week we met some kids who were doing a dance thing that was pretty funny. We also met a drunk guy who just walked up to us and was like, "Choose the right, Brothers!" and then he's like, "I'm a real life Mormon! Well, more of a jack-Mormon, but still a Mormon!" Then he pulls up his shirt and shows us this huge tattoo he has of the entire state of Alabama, and right on top of Montgomery is a CTR shield. It was pretty weird to say the least haha. We also met some of the family of NBA basketball player Demarcus Cousins. I'm not sure what they were doing in Montgomery, but we got talking about Sacramento because that's (almost) where Elder Furgeson's from, and that's where Demarcus Cousins used to play. Well, turns out some of the people we met were his sisters. The things you seen in Montgomery... What a fun place.

This week I also put an ad for free Bibles and free copies of the Book of Mormon on Facebook Marketplace. I had a couple of people message me and try to bash and stuff like that. Haha, it was pretty funny. It's so easy to just destroy people's arguments with doctrine (both from the Bible and the Book of Mormon) but it really doesn't do any good. I pretty much just asked if they wanted a copy of either book and if they didn't then just stop messaging me please. I also referred them to Mormon.org. When someone's only purpose is to bash and not to learn, it's just a waste of time to try and prove anything, even if you know you are right. I just bear testimony and refer them to mormon.org. Can't do much more than that.

Well, despite our lack of many appointments that actually happened, we did have a good week this week. I love being a missionary, and I love sharing my testimony, regardless of whether or not people listen. I know that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and that it truly blesses the lives of those individuals and families who live it. I love sharing it with others. I look forward to another 6 weeks of doing it in Montgomery. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. Know that you're always in mine. Love y'all!

Love,

Elder Beach

#RollTide