This is Michael's second full week in Brunswick, GA on his mission. As you can tell from his letters, he is having some interesting experiences and learning to love the people in this area. The following is from his latest letter:
We are in an apartment across the green, algea infested pool from the other missionaries lol. It looks radioactive. Last night, we caught a leopard gecko in our kitchen. Pretty cool, he reminded me of the leopard gecko I once had that drowned himself, probably because of my terrible parenting. I feel at home in the apartment. We have six to seven mugs that are somewhat cool, which feels just like home in GJ or at BYU. This week's excitement included a car accident for us. We slowed down to a stop because the car in front of us was performing a beautiful, graceful, slow, arcing swan, old man left turn. Just as we took the foot off the brake to accelerate, BOOM! We got hit by a man in his 60s. Watch out for the Buick Le Sabres, or maybe just the people who would drive such a car. We are all perfectly fine. We were a bit sore from whip lash but luckily that was it. He was probably going 20 mph when he hit us. The police woman who came was so nice and had actually gone backpacking near Ouray somewhere last summer. That was way sweet. We gave her a pass along card as well and talked a bit about the message of the Restoration. One thing I want to become better at is finding investigators all the time--Whenever I am outside of the apartment. Whenever I am inside the apartment I should be thinking about how to find.
As a Mom of a missionary, I realize that I have another thing to worry about that I didn't while Nate and Grant were on their missions because they didn't drive or ride in cars that much. Now my worry is 19-21 year old young missionaries driving around town. Watch out and be careful!
I have had two member dinners this week! Amazing food both times. I have never had salmon so good before! One of the dinners was with the Tomlinson's and we brought our investigator Cathryn Watson along. They live on Saint. Simon's Island which juts out into the ocean and is really pretty. About half of Brunswick 2nd Ward lives on the island. We had a great evening.
Last Monday night, we visited my first legit "black old lady" that follows the stereotype of being completely devoted to Southern Fried Cooking. We knocked on her door and when she came to the door, she had three chicken drum sticks in her hand haha. Of course, I would later ask her if she loved cooking and have her go into all the collared greens, gritz,...she loves to cook. Sadly, she doesn't come to church even though she is a member.
The other most exciting event was my first baptism! We first visited Beverly Eckhoff on my first day in Brunswick, on May 24th. That day we told her she would have to come to church every week, give up tea, coffee, and smoking. She has smoked for the last 44 years and she said at times it was six packs a day!!! That night she threw out all her tea and coffee and we made the goal for her to stop smoking all together on June 1st and then she would be baptized on June 5th. She stopped completely and has gone Cold Turkey for the last five days. That is miraculous. She was baptized and was so happy. She also had another miracle happen. The day before her baptism interview, we taught her about tithing and she became very concerned that she would not be able to pay it because her brother controls her money. She was completely willing, but not sure if it was possible. We promised her that God blesses us so much because of faithfulness to tithing. That night she called us and told us the miracle: her brother approved that she could pay were tithing, except for June they could not quite pay it all due to things she needed to buy. Beverly's neighbor knocked on her door and said "I'll bet you need a dining table set and a mattress, don't you?" Beverly was going to buy that very thing this month, but she was given them and can pay her tithing. It was amazing.
For those who aren't familiar, tithing is 10% of one's earnings members give to the church (Malachi 3:8-10).
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