Crazy Week

Hey Everyone,

This week was a crazy one. New Years came and went just like it did last year. We didn't do much last year, this year was a little bit better, but not much either. President Jensen told us to be inside our apartments by the usual time. 9-9:30. The youth were going to have a New Year's party and we wanted to take Seth Chabot with us so he could be with the youth. We took him, after a lot of convincing, and stayed for a little bit. We got there at about 8 and had to leave by 9:30. When we got to the Kokenes' home all the youth were just sitting and talking and the parents were too. We stayed for a little bit and talked with them. Seth brought a Fog Horn and set it off in the house. It was super loud. After a while Brother Kokenes announced that it was time for the Polar Bear swim. He asked us to go light the Fire, so when the youth got back they would be able to get warm. We did so, Seth stayed with us instead of going to the Polar Bear swim. We lit the fire and had it going before they came back. When all the youth were done and back Elder Bell and I gave them a short message. Then we had to go, because of our curfew. We took Seth home and went to our apartment. There we attempted to complete a puzzle before midnight. We failed, miserably. Oh well.

Nobody came to church this week. It was a rough one. We did have some great contacts this week though. We met Anne. She had lived in Montana, grew up around members, even went to early morning seminary, went to stake and ward dances and dated a Mormon boy all while she was in High School. There was however a missionary who did some inappropriate things and she turned away from the church. Now years later here in Niceville, she has had a fall out with the Methodist church and is looking for something else. Anne was a referral from her mother when we went tracting. Her mother wasn't interested, but said that we could go meet with her Daughter, Anne. When she was telling us about her Mormon past she also mentioned things like Temples, Mormons being Christians, the Word of Wisdom and boring Sacrament Meetings. She knew everything and what we expected. We gave her a Book of Mormon and She said we could come back. So that's the plan, but we have nothing for sure.

We also met with Rob. We went to meet the Parry's on Friday. While we were talking to them and getting to know them better they got a call from their friends. They were outside shooting off fireworks. We all went outside to be with them and met Rob. He asked us so many questions. Like what a mission is about and what we do. He asked little things like how we worship and why. He asked how he should start to investigate the church. He asked for a Book of Mormon. It was really cool. We were just answering his questions and he would come up with more and more. His wife is a little bit more skeptical because of her experience with Religion in the past, but Rob is really cool. We are going to work through the Parry's to help teach them more. I am really excited for Rob.

Karen is the last person we met with, but her story is sad. Remember how I told ya'll that she didn't want to meet with us until after the New Year's? Well, Saturday was the New Year and we went over to visit her. She laughed when she opened the door and saw us. We began to talk with her and she said that she had to tell us something that we wouldn't like. With a twinge in my heart we asked her what it was. She said that she couldn't get baptized. She said that she needed to stay with her Protestant roots and that she couldn't become a Mormon. She had the Book of Mormon ready to give back to us. It was really sad. However, there is hope. Karen said that we could still come over a meet with her. It's been a few days since we've talked with her, but I'm beginning to wonder if we went too fast with Karen. She also mentioned that she felt guilty when we would come over and help her or that the members were so nice to her at church. I'm not exactly sure what to do yet, but there is hope.

The Chabots aren't going anywhere right now. Which is really sad. We wanted to help them begin a family scripture study, but when we brought it up last time we were over there Sis Chabot looked at us like we slapped her. :( I don't know what's going on, but I know that little things are creeping up into their life. They haven't been to church for the last two weeks and over all only once in the last five. We are still trying to stay close, but when we asked Sis Chabot when we could have a lesson she said, "I don't know." If she doesn't know, I for sure don't know.

That's it for me in Niceville. I hope this week is going to be better than last week.
Elder Call