Letter from Colin:

All this week people were freaking out about the huge snow storm that was coming. One person vigorously told me, "Y'all best be prepared! This here is gonna’ be the most snow we've gotten in 33 years!!" Here in eastern North Carolina people don't know how to handle snow--I mean it makes western Washingtonians look like they know what they're doing in the snow. The moment people around here hear there's snow coming they speed to the grocery store, and buy ALL of the milk, and All of the bread, . . . and that's pretty much it. Then people would ask us, "Did y'all get bread and milk? If not, we got enough for 3 weeks." I think the weather forecasters are in cahoots with the bread and milk companies, they over-exaggerate the forecast so people will buy all the bread and milk at the stores, . . . .but that's just a hypothesis. 

         I really do like the snow, but I was mad about all this talk of snow for really only one reason: because on Saturday we were supposed to have a conference in Virginia Beach with Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve, and on Friday they made the call to cancel it. When we got home from our meeting they told us to park the car and not drive because of the weather. The thing that made me really, well, let's say “frustrated,” was that it only snowed 1/4th of an inch where we live and that's not even enough to do anything in. Still they wouldn't let us drive, and they canceled church! That's my favorite part of the week! On Friday night, which was when all of the supposed "snow" was to come, the wind blew out the pilot light in our furnace, so when we woke up it was about 36 degrees inside! The inside of our windows were covered in ice, and the doors frozen shut (!), but no real snow. We got the furnace relit and stayed warm after that.

         Coming to you this week on my new feature, "Sounds of the South," is a quote from our 90 year-old neighbor. Talking about the sun coming out of the clouds the other day she said, "I was sittin’ right here, when the dag-gum sun popped out and pert-near blinded me when it reflected off that windder!" --and by "winder," she meant window.

         Just yesterday we still weren't allowed to drive so we were walking over to our neighbors to teach, another of our neigbors (whose name is “Poodle,” although I am certain that's not his real name) was outside bringing in firewood, and he yelled at us from across the street (or some people out here say "skreet" I am unsure why the "T" makes a "K" sound, but oh well--). He said to us, "WHAT ARE Y'ALL DOIN OUT WALKIN!?! IT IS SOME KINDA’ COLD OUT HERE! AIN'T NOBODY NEEDS JESUS THAT BAD!" --and then he said, "Well, alright, there's a lot of people who need Him that bad," and he is right! There are a lot of people (as in everyone) who need Jesus Christ “that bad” even if that means us out walking in 14 degree weather, which really isn't that cold, but now I'm used to North Carolina weather and it feels unrealistically cold.

         We were walking to a returning less-active member with whom we have been working, and our lesson with him was full of great things. The Spirit in the room warmed me spiritually, which is what I needed, especially because we didn't get to take the Sacrament that Sunday. Over the last 4 months I've been here I have seen his enthusiasm grow increasingly, and it wasn't until Elder Grow got here that he really started to be more excited about the gospel.  I believe it was because Elder Grow taught me well, by example, how important it is to show and tell people how much you love and care about them. He was telling us about how he is starting to work for his temple recommend so that he can return to the temple, and he wasn't just wishing, or saying it either. He tells us all the time about his love for the gospel, and how he always is looking for opportunities to share it now, too. 

         There was much that occurred this week . . . . Elder Pruitt who's now in Week Two of missionary life is doing well. I am learning just as much as he is, just in different aspects about being a missionary. And until next time, as always, I hope y'all have a blessed week!

 

--Elder White