Unfortunately, as I look back on the week, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot to report on. I'll just start writing about stuff and see where it goes...
Just so y'all have an idea of how our week went, last night (Sunday) we went out and knocked doors for an hour or so from about 7:15 until 8:15. Now, it is common knowledge that "prime proselyting time" is from 6-9 PM, because that is when people are supposed to be home and together with their families. Add that to the fact that it is Sunday, a day in which most people would be home anyway, and you would think that everything would be shaping up for us to have a good tracting session. Well, during that hour of knocking, there was a total of one, 1, yes one single door that was opened. And that one man that we met at that one door that was opened told us he "knew all about Joseph Smith" and seemed like he definitely would have bashed pretty hard with us had he not been busy at the time. Haha it would have been a treat. So anyway, that's how our week has been as far as finding and teaching goes. Kind of a bummer, but we also have some things in the works. Let's jump to that for a minute.
We had our first branch council since I have been here in the Highland Home branch. We have been talking a lot with President NeSmith (our Branch President) and with President Sainsbury about member missionary work. We have been visiting with some of the active members and inviting them, encouraging them, and helping them to fulfill their missionary responsibilities. President NeSmith has also been pushing the members a lot in that direction. In Branch Council we were able to talk to some of the branch leadership about what we can do to strengthen the struggling branch and get things picked up in this area. As we talked about it during the weeks leading up to branch council, we decided that working with less-actives is the way to go. So during branch council we identified a few families and individuals that 1) have some potential as far as reactivation goes, and 2) are "active" members but aren't deeply converted or who need better gospel knowledge. We have also found some members who are willing to meet with them with us. We'll see where that takes us, but it should be good.
Another good thing is that President and Sister Sainsbury are coming to the branch to speak next week, so hopefully their comments and invitations give us and the members another little push to get out there and be better missionaries. We have given members suggestions on how they can do that, but maybe President will give them some others. It also provides an opportunity for us and President NeSmith to talk to President Sainsbury about the whole miles vs working with members vs working in Highland Home vs living in Greenville situation and all that. It's just tough, so maybe we can get something figured out together.
Ray has still been coming to church (that's about 7 weeks now). He made a comment in Elders Quorum about how he was grateful for our visit last week and how we left him with a great prayer that he needed to hear. He still is taking things slow, but is reading the Book of Mormon on his own, and he knows that he can turn to us if he has any questions. He shows lots of potential, he just needs some time. It will be interesting to see where he ends up in a few months or a year or two. I know he enjoys coming to church, and the members love him and are friends with him.
Well, it's been an interesting week. I'm looking forward to doing more member work to hopefully get things going in our little branch. We very much appreciate your prayers every day. Love y'all.
Elder Beach
#RollTide
Helping to build a house!
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