Letter from Colin:

On Sunday, the closing prayer in Sacrament meeting was given by a recent convert. In his prayer he prayed the following things: he prayed about the people down in Texas; and that we all write our congressmen to have them write more environmental legislation, because, quote, "These five-hundred year storms are happening, like every other year!" Then he started laughing.  The best part was that no one was judging him or angry at him because we all know him and love him, so it just didn't really bother anyone. We did however inform our investigators we were sitting with that usually the prayers aren't like that. We had Catherine and her boyfriend come to church and they loved it and are coming back next week. I wrote about how Elder Talbot and I found her in the letter I wrote on July 24th. They even liked Gospel Principles class even though it was a rather blunt lesson on the final judgment and eternal destination of our souls.

   

This week I went on exchange with Elder Beeston, the Missionary I was with in Hampton, Virginia. He got transferred to the eastern shore, so now he's in my zone. Going on exchange with him was fun. I got to hear all about what is happening in my last area. While we were trying to contact a few former investigators, I saw a house with a mailbox shaped like a big fishing lure. We kept walking, but I felt like we should go back and try the house with the funny mailbox. The lady who answered the door was super-interested in what we shared and wanted us to come back.

 

Another funny thing: a sister missionary who served in this ward, who also happened to be in the MTC at the same time as me, and was in my District in Hampton, she was back visiting the mission. She came to visit people here in Virginia Beach. On Saturday night we got in contact with her and she (Sister Everett) came to teach a lesson with us, which ended up being a really spiritual lesson and she was really glad to have been a part of it.

One of the most interesting things that happened this week was seeing a lady who we've been trying to visit and we ended up getting to talk with her for a long time. She explained to us her fears, that she felt there is so much missing from her life, that she wants to feel whole again, and that she hopes we might could help her. After she told us all these things, she randomly asked us what our first names were and it didn't seem strange to tell her, so we did. Elder Davis' name is “Jack” and mine's “Colin.” Then she started crying and told us how her father left their family when she was little, and that the man who she considered her father had passed away not all that long ago. Get this--she told us she was crying because that man's name was “Jack Collins” --Elder Davis is Jack and I'm Colin. She took that as God telling her that she needs to get her life back to where it should be and that she should listen to what we have to say.

 

All-in-all, like usual, a lot happened this week, but until next Monday, I hope y'all have a blessed day!

   

--Elder White