September 9th Letter

Dear Everyone back home,

 

Yet another week has gone by here in Biloxi.  We are definitely having a blast down here!  We have been battling menstral cycles, cat poop, and colds this week.  I would say it was a roller coaster of emotions.  We decided that the best course of action today would be to take naps and relax.  Hopefully that actually happens! 

 

Updates on our investigators:

 

The Powells- We tracted in to this couple one evening and they instantly invited us inside.  We sat down on the couch.  We had no idea what to expect from this visit.  NO ONE is that friendly to us!  The first thing they do is point at a painting of "Black Jesus" above their TV and proceed to explain to us that they don't believe that Jesus was black, so they just call him  their "Black Hebrew." And then they start telling us about how they found God while in prison for murder and became Pentecostal after that.  She said "I could feel God SKRENGTHENIN' me!" They are the funniest couple.  We love them! We went back yesterday and tried to share a little about the Book of Mormon with them.  The wife didn't really listen, but Mr. Willie understood.  He said "Now y'all make sure you leave that book for me.  I want to read it!" (He has a Barry White-esque voice.)  I can't wait to go visit them again.

 

Lilly- I've mentioned Lilly before, I think.  She is a young mother who is living with a less active member name Carlos.  She really wants to get baptized, but she knows they have to be married first, so they're working on getting married while we meet with her.  She is so funny.  We haven't quite figured out how she thinks, but without fail, the Spirit helps her understand what we're teaching in a way that she can understand.  Some of my favorite highlights: when we taught her about prophets, she said "oh! so you guys are like my baby prophets because you're here teaching me what God wants me to do!" which is true, however we are not THE prophet. She also said when we taught about the premortal existence that "we all probably knew each other up there and I told you that I was going to be rebellious but yall were going to come find me and teach me. Then we all held hands and jumped down to earth together."  Her take on life after death: "And then we're all going to meet back up in the Celestial Kingdom and have a fiesta!" We love her.  Her enthusiasm about the church is contagious.

 

Jonathon and Samantha-  We tracted in to them one day and found out that Jonathon has had a couple of the lessons about a year ago.  So we had two lessons with them this week.  They're an interesting couple.  Very simple people.  I'm not sure either of them really have a job.  When we come over, they sit on the couch and we sit on the floor across from them.  They're funny because she's PAINFULLY shy.  Whenever we talk to her, she ducks behind him and starts giggling.  He's very outgoing and kind of hits on us.  It's pretty uncomfortable actually.  He always refers to us as "pretty ladies" and things like that.  One funny thing (which is actually not funny, given my recent WEIGHT GAIN).  He offered us some crackers and we all said no, then he turned to me and said "come on." so I took some.  And he said "see, I can tell that you eat a lot." WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?  Darn you Mississippi!

 

Final story- This is about a less active member here in Biloxi.  She is in her 40's and has Lupus.  I'm not sure how debilitating of a disease it is, but word on the street is this woman can actually function a lot more than she claims she can.  But no worries, we're sister missionaries and we love to do service! So we tell her that we'll come clean her house for her.  We get in there and the place was a disaster! They recently bug bombed the apartment so there were dead bugs EVERYWHERE.  While my comps cleaned and organized the kitchen, I started sweeping.  I got behind the table and found a pile of crumpled newspaper and started to pick it up until it stuck to the floor and a bunch of cat poop fell everywhere.  I had to scrape that CRAP (literally) off of the floor with a plastic spoon.  Then I decided to be Christ-like and clean the litter box for her.  WORST DECISION OF MY LIFE.  I'm pretty sure my nostrels are still burned from the impact of the smell.  The cherry on top is that part way through, she texts us from her bedroom upstairs and says "do you want a jolly rancher?"  That was all. 

 

I laugh about the funny people that we meet, but surrounding these experiences are tender mercies from the Lord.  I wouldn't be able to keep going week after week if I didn't see the Lord's hand in our work.  I know that I'm out here serving my fellow man because I love the Gospel.  I will scrape cat poop all day for the opportunity to share our message and help people increase their faith in Jesus Christ, but God sure does have a sense of humor!

 

Well, until next week!

Sister McElderry