Yesterday we were visiting our elderly neighbors, Milo and Mildred (sometimes they are referred to as “M&M”). They still heat their house with a wood-burning stove, and let me tell you, there ain't nothing like the big cast-iron stove that they got! We walked in and it must have been, at minimum, 94 degrees in their house! One time when we were sitting there Mildred turns to Elder Pruitt and says, "It's a bit cold in here. Would you put another log on?," and with sweat dripping down his face, he responded, "Cold?...are you sure you don't just want a blanket?" Before we left they gave us some of the freshly boiled peanuts that they were boiling on their woodstove all night long. The thing with boiled peanuts is that you can not expect the same texture or crunch as a roasted peanut, because that's what I did, and much to my exasperation it had the texture of a rather soft bean. It wasn't that the boiled peanuts really tasted bad, but I never like it when I am expecting something to taste one way and it turns out to be completely opposite.
At Church on Sunday we had one of our investigators, Ricky, and his brother, Michael, who is a member but less-active, both come to church! And although they may have slept through most of Sacrament Meeting--at the end of three hours of church they said they enjoyed it a lot. We asked if they'd be back next week and they said, "As long as Ben comes and picks us up, we'll be here every week." I just hope that Ben doesn't tire of driving them each week.
In other news, we taught Elders Quorum in church for the 3rd hour block, but right before it started, they announced that the High Priest Group would be joining us, and just then Stake President Jones walked in to join us, too. The lesson we taught went exceptionally well, I thought. Of course no credit to our own, it was most definitely the Spirit there helping us. The lesson must have gone well because at least a half dozen people came up to us at some point afterwards and complimented us for, "not teaching a boring lesson in Elders Quorum." I'm pretty sure that is a compliment.
Two weeks ago we set a goal to have a local member of the church go with us to teach lessons everyday from Tuesday to Saturday, and we were successful in that endeavor again this last week. With Bishop Herring (he used to be the bishop here, but everyone knows him by "Squinkie" which is the coolest nickname on the face of the planet), we went out and ended up teaching 5 lessons with him! We went to visit Squinkie’s uncle, "Hoss," who is next-to-impossible to understand because he's got the real old-guy mumbly southern accent. He talks like this a bit: (make sure you slur all of the words and sounds together not much louder than a mumble) "y'all boy gaoon rowwwnd bek naa ta dr serd da herse ya hur," which would translate to, "you all boys go on around back now to the side of the house you hear." I either have to have him repeat what he said, or just say, “Okay,” but Squinkie understands everything he says perfectly every time. However when we say something to Hoss, he never understands what we say. If Squinkie even so much as whispers something, Hoss hears it perfectly. I think his hearing may just be selective to what he wants to hear sometimes, and he usually don't want to hear us.
Many very, very, good things are happening here in Albertson. We are working more with the members than I ever have on my mission, so I am sure good things will come of it. But until next time I hope y'all have a blessed week now--ya hur?
--Elder White
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