Picking Up Tom - His Mission Comes to an End.....

   Well, lets see.....we have been home from Brazil for almost one month now and I am just now getting to blogging about the experience!  I guess my excuse is.....Christmas had to happen, oh, and a homecoming celebration.  So, needless to say, I have been a tiny bit busy, but busy in a good way.  So, here's the next to the final post in Tom's missionary saga, as chronicled by his mother!

    We left Salt Lake City on November 22nd, and flew to Atlanta, then overnight to Brasilia, and then finally made it to Belem at about 2:30pm on November 23rd.  We traveled with a wonderful couple, Lara and Andy Hoch, from Idaho who were also picking up their son, Coben.  Long, long trip!  We took a cab to our hotel and basically crashed for the night - ordered room service and went to bed at about 8:00pm, their time.  We were worn out!  The next day, Sunday, was when Tom and Coby were supposed to arrive from Santarem at about 5:00pm that evening.  The Hoch's came to our hotel and left their luggage in our room and we went for a long walk around the city, ending up at a large mall for lunch.  Even got stuck in a huge rainstorm on our way back to the hotel!  It was fun to finally see one of the cities that Tom had served in.  At around 4:00pm, we headed to the airport to get our boys and we all couldn't have been more excited (and nervous)!  A little after 5:00pm, Andy got a call from the mission office informing him that our boys had missed their flight - what??!!  Andy actually thought it was a joke.  But no, it was true.  They had missed their flight and were trying to see if they could get them on another one that evening.  So, we hung around the airport until they got back to us and informed us they would be arriving at 3:40am.  They told us we could come to the mission office, so we did.  Super nice missionaries in the office and they really took good care of us.  They contacted President Scisci and he was on his way back to Belem and wanted us to come to his house and have something to eat with he and his wife.  Sister Scisci fixed us a wonderful dinner and we got to chat with her and her husband, plus Elder Peterson and Elder Braca from the mission office - they were so incredibly kind to us!  This is where I proceeded to badly sprain my ankle, while helping clean up from dinner, by rolling it on a step I didn't know existed while going into their kitchen - ouch!  President Scisci took us back to our hotel and then arranged for a couple of LDS cab drivers to come pick us up at 3:00am and take us to the airport.  

The city of Belem from our room. 

Belem!

A nativity scene in the mall in Belem.

   So, after a couple of hours of sleep, if that, we got ready to go get Tom!  We were really tired, but so, so excited!  At almost 4:00am, they finally came down the escalator into the baggage claim area with the biggest, happiest smiles on their faces!  We had to wave at them through the glass until they could get their luggage.  It's hard to describe the sheer elation in seeing your son after two long years.  He was tan and his hair was a little long and very blonde and he looked amazing to me!  Once he finally got his luggage, he came through the doors and I got to give him a great big hug and I couldn't help but cry out of sheer happiness!  He hugged his dad and we just wanted to stare at him!  The Hoch's were experiencing the same joy at the same time with their son.  They both seemed so happy!  We had to drop them off at the mission staff house since they couldn't go with us until they had their finally interview with President Scisci.  So, we went back to our hotel and got some more sleep.  Dave woke up the next morning feeling sick and my ankle was huge and very painful to walk on - we were quite the pair.  We just hung out at the hotel until Tom called us that afternoon to tell us what time the missionary dinner was.  We took a cab to President Scisci's house that evening.

Finally!!!!

   There were ten missionaries that were done and going home.  Not surprisingly, Tom had the most worn out, worst looking pair of shoes on!  Sister Scisci prepared a wonderful dinner for everyone, Lara and I doing what we could to help.  After dinner, we all gathered in the living room where President and Sister Scisci got to tell the boys some final thoughts before they went home.  One of the things that stuck in my mind was the saying that "only the strong serve in the North!".  I could tell that all of these boys were strong, both physically and spiritually, after serving in the Northern most mission of Brazil - it was something they could all be very proud of! They sang a hymn together and it was extremely emotional for all of us.  Then, each boy talked about what their mission had meant to them, what they had learned about themselves and how it had changed their testimonies.  All of this was done in Portuguese with Elder Peterson translating beautifully for Dave and I.  Then, the end of the meeting had all of us standing in a circle and singing "Called to Serve" - it was so touching and really beautiful.  Just an incredibly touching experience that we are so, so grateful to have shared with Tom.  Then, we took lots of pictures of the group and then each missionary had their picture taken with President and Sister Scisci.  One of the things that really got to me was when Sister Scisci told both me and Lara that for two years our boys had been hers.  And now, she was giving them back to us.  It was very emotional and wonderful to see the pure love that these two people have for the missionaries that they take care of.  We will never forget the Scisci's and how wonderful they were to both Tom and to us!

The missionaries of Belem going home!

Missionaries and the parents!

Tom shaking President Scisci's hand.

The party!

Tom and President and Sister Scisci.

 

Tom goofing around and Elder Fox!

 

The door to the mission home.

   Tom had to return to the staff house that night, again, because he still hadn't had his interview, yet.  The next morning, we headed to the mission home, again and met up with Tom after his interview.  We had hastily made plans to get Tom released over the phone by his Stake President and so we then had to wait for President Scisci to return from the airport where they were picking up a new group of missionaries.  Tom spent a lot of time out on the balcony writing in his journal, most likely about his thoughts and feeling of the last few hours of being a missionary.  You could kind of tell there may have been some conflict going on for him.  Sad that it was all over, but possibly happy that he would be going home, too.  He told us he loved Brazil and wants to go back.  He made wonderful friends there and loves the people.  Once he was released, we took a cab back to our hotel and let Tom just hang out a little and relax.  He was mesmerized by my phone, his i-pod and my i-pad.  I think he was having electronic device withdrawal!  And, the first thing he wanted to do was to head to the mall and get some new dress shoes, which we did!  The funny thing was he didn't feel comfortable not wearing missionary clothes for a couple of days. 

Tom's shoes!

Tom's first chance to relax as a non-missionary!

Relaxing with the i-pod and his music....

Still with the i-pod, at breakfast the next morning. 

   This entire experience can probably best be summed up by something Dave said.  He said that other than the weeks that his three children were born, this had to be one of the most amazing weeks we have ever had as parents.  The love, pride and gratitude that you feel for having this privilege to share in this experience with your son is really hard to describe.  We are so glad that we went to Brazil to pick up Tom and now we can't wait to do it again with David!  

Week Thirty Three- A Great Christmas and Catholic Cuban Grandparents!

Prospero ano y felizidad!

   It brings a smile to my face and joy to my soul to hear that everybody had a merry Christmas and that the holiday season is still rolling without me!  I was thinking that the holiday season would be a dreadful time as a missionary... boy was I wrong!  Of course, I missed you all greatly, but I was treated really well here and had a bright and jolly and merry and ring-ting-a ting-a-ling Texas Christmas!  Christmas eve was spent with the Fennegan's, who invited all the coolest members of the ward over for dinner.  Then dinner at the house of one of the English Elders' investigators, and then almost another dinner with the Alvarez family, but we were so full we just had to say hi and get outta there.  Christmas day, we opened presents with the Romney family.  They gave us all nerf guns, which was a big mistake.  We had breakfast there, skyped there, and then had an amazing dinner with Jess and his family.  Jess and his wife are very high-end, and they sure know how to put together a dinner and spoil their guests!  They cooked one of the best turkeys I have ever eaten in all my life, and beef tenderloin, and monkey bread, and much much more.  Christmas was superbalific! 

   SKYPE.  It was great to see the fam on Christmas!  It was kind of weird.  I don't know how to explain, but I'm sure you know what I mean.  Skype just doesn't cut it for me.  I just need hugs from y'all!  But it was better than nothing, right?  I enjoyed all the presents.  Tom: did the scripture case come from Brazil?  I have wanted a case like that for my whole mission, but you just can't find that kind of thing around here!  So thank you!  Em:  the scarf will be put to good use, and it will be nice to have something other than just plain black socks to spice up my look!  So thank you!  Dad:  I have actually been meaning to ask for those books.  How did you know?!  All the missionaries that have read "Jesus the Christ" say it is an absolute must read before returning home.  So I plan on getting started on that one real soon here.  The book of family memories is exactly what I wanted and needed.  Like I said the other day, I didn't want it to end!  I have an incredible family.  Mom, I love you.  Dad, I love you.  Em, I love you.  Tom, I love you.  Toby and Sherman, I love you!  It doesn't get any better than the family that I have!   I had to go pick up my second Christmas package at the post office on Friday.  The jacket is super soft and will help out on those chilly days, and ya did good on the ties, Ma!  I like them so much, I'm scared to wear them!  I have a GRANDISIMO box of sweets and goodies that I don't think I will ever see the end of.  I am set in that department.  Christmas away from home was everything I hoped for and more.  Thank you to all those that took the time to send me cards and gifts! 

   This week was a wild week.  I can't remember all of what happened.  But I do want to share a lesson we had the other day.  We received a referral last week for an 18 year old kid that wants a Book of Mormon.  We have stopped by his house many times, but he is never home.  Saturday, his 16 year old brother was, so we shared with him the message of the Restoration.  We were watching the brief Restoration movie, and all was going well, until the highlight/most important part of the whole movie.  Right when Joseph Smith got to the grove, right before the vision that changed the world, the kids grandparents walk in the door.  They were from Cuba, grandpa dressed like he was 17 years old with designer jeans and a Jesse James t-shirt, and according to his bracelet, he was "100% CATHOLIC".  They did not like us in their house.  Grandpa blew up, and rambled on and on and on in Cuban Spanish, which I cannot understand a lick of.  But apparently he said that knocking doors in Cuba would get you shot, and he wants it to be that way in this country.  It didn't bother me too much, but it just amazes me how often that happens.  I think I said this a while ago, but so many times it seems that during the most important part of the lesson, the most spiritual moment of the lesson, whether it be in the middle of a prayer, during the First Vision, or right when something clicks for the investigator.......the phone rings, a crying baby, fighting children, or Catholic Cuban grandparents come walking in the door and totally kill the moment!  I can't let it effect me, because there is nothing I can do about it, but it makes it easy to see that Satan is hard at work, doing all he can to prevent the truth from spreading.  It is just more evidence to me that I am working for the right cause.  We truly are building up the Lord's kingdom!

-I will send off thank you cards soon.

-No plans yet for new years, but from what I have heard, we will probably be asked to stay inside new years eve night.

That is exciting news about Ariel!  I am happy for her.  Funny that you are fb friends with Elder Haskell's mom too.  From what I have heard, she sounds like a fun and cool mom!  I briefly said hi to his family on Skype Christmas day.  Good people! 

Well, we are about to hit a new year.  The GOLDEN YEAR is what they call it.  The start of a new year is always refreshing.  2013 may have been the fastest year of my life, and I am expecting 2014 to be even faster!   I am excited and motivated to make this next year GOLDEN in every way possible!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! ! ! !

Elder Williams  

Skyping With David and David's First Christmas Away

David Skyping from the Romney's in Dallas!

Well, we survived David's first Christmas away from home and I think he did, too!  He called us a little after 10:00am, our time, to tell us what the plan was.  I cracked up because he kept giggling and saying "oh, man, this is so weird" - meaning talking to his mother on the phone!  Then, around 12:30pm, our time, we were able to get connected on Skype after a few minor technical difficulties.  We kept losing the sound through Skype, so we ended up talking to him on the phone, but seeing him through Skype.  He was the same David - laughing and just happy to be calling home.  He got to see his baby, Toby, but we couldn't get Toby to see David on the computer screen.  He could hear him, though and you could tell he could recognize David's voice.  

David was having a good Christmas, opening presents with Elder Haskell and then also going to the Romney's to open some there and to have breakfast.  They were going to Jess's for dinner that evening and then doing some "knocking" after that.  David said the President Durrant wanted them to try to share a Christmas message with people.  I hope they were successful!

It was interesting that David started to ask Tom how it was to be home, but then said 'never mind, I don't want to know' and Tom didn't want to tell him, either.  There appears to be a deep understanding among missionaries of the importance of focusing on what they are there to do and thinking about being at home or going home, just makes it harder!

We talked for just over an hour and then decided that he better go and time was up.  We got lots of questions answered and he just got to see his family and his dog, which I could tell made him very happy!  I didn't shed any tears until after we hung up and then they came - just couldn't help myself.  As a parent, I think you end up pushing the ache of missing them out of your mind for long stretches at a time.  Then, it will just sneak up on you and that ache comes back and the tears flow. Christmas's will never be the same unless all of my kids are here.  We survived two Christmas's without Tom and now we just have one more without David. There is just a hole in everything when one family member is so far away.  We know David had a good day, or as good of a day as you can have when you are away from home on Christmas.  I have a deep gratitude for everyone in my son's life that makes being a missionary a little bit easier.  God bless them! 

Week Thirty Two - First Christmas Away and Serving!

Jess Johnson and the missionaries at the Dallas VA for a service project. 

Buenos dias mis amigos y querida familia!

My last email before I can see your beautiful faces!  I can't believe it is already almost here.  I just can't believe it!  The last 7 months feel like they have been a dream.  I am happy to hear all is well at home, with the exception of all the hospital visits.  That is terrible to hear about Elder Pratt.  You will have to keep me updated.  Y'all are in my prayers!  Keep your spirits up because all will be well because it is Christmas! 

Rachel Wyss gets to come to the Texas Dallas Heaven and be a Texas Dallas Heavenary?!? (President Durrant replaces the word "mission" for "heaven" because this mission is as close to heaven on earth as it gets, with the exception of the Temples of course)  But what a lucky missionary!  That is crazy exciting, and that is only four short months away!  What a coinkadink.  Is she English speaking?  I would love to hear from her and I could fill her in on the TDM haha! 

Well Elder Haskell and I had a mas o menos week.  Our teaching pool is expanding and we have a few people that are right on the edge of being progressing investigators, but this is a difficult time of year because everyone is so caught up in the franticivity of the Christmas hustle and bustle!  But I think we've found some keepers.  We met a young couple named Frank and Yolanda.  We just talked to them a couple of times outside their apartment before we were actually able to have a lesson with them, but the other day they had us over for dinner, they let us share a message, and we were in their place for nearly two hours!  They gave Elder Haskell and I a bottle of cologne that smells halfway decent!  They are nice and they like us.  I really think they will go somewhere.  We are also teaching a blind guy named Antonio and his family.  But mostly Antonio; he is always home!  And he never hesitates to let us in.  But Antonio is difficult because he doesn't listen well, not to mention he can't read, see pictures, videos, or any visual aids whatsoever.  So it's always interesting.  But he just talks and talks and talks, thinking he is actually teaching us something when we already know everything he is telling us.  He is repetitive and it's hard to get a word in with him.  He drives Elder Haskell crazy, but I think he is hilarious.  He gets SUPER excited when we say something he is familiar with, and he has lots of energy and is super animated when he talks with us, using his hands more when talking than anyone I've ever seen before.  It's a little obnoxious, but entertaining at the same time. 

The weather was nice early in the week, and there was some construction going on in our apartment complex.  Monday the Hispanics working insisted that we eat lunch with them, so we had some tamales and real Mexican tacos.  They were just really impressed by the fact that we could speak Spanish, and they liked to joke around with us.  It was funny. 

Saturday, about 10 missionaries helped Jess out in sorting all the clothes and getting them ready to be sent off to the 3 VA's in the area this week.  It took a long time, lots of counting that made my brain want to explode, but he got us pizza, so it was worth it.  Then today we went to the Dallas VA with him in the afternoon to serve food to all of the veterans.  We didn't get to talk to any of them.  We were just in the kitchen putting plates together, while others delivered the plates to their rooms.  There were lots of volunteers.  It was a neat experience.  I love to serve!  It makes my heart swell with gratitude!

   Wednesday we had specialized training, where nearly all the Spanish missionaries got together to learn from President Durrant.  I got to see all my old companions, which is always a treat and a half!n  President is a funny and creative guy.  Also very smart.  He said something the other day that I have never really thought about:  the most faithful members of the Church are the ones that know the most.  The more knowledge you have, the more converted you are.  All the leaders of the Church are practically walking Church encyclopedias!  They are incredibly smart and know an insane amount of knowledge. It makes complete sense to me.  I believe that so many people turn us and our message down simply because they have  misconceptions or false ideas about the LDS Church, or they just flat out don't understand or know enough.  If they would just take the time to learn or research for themselves accurately, it is the only thing that truly makes sense!  So let us all continue to expand our knowledge of the Book of Mormon, the Gospel and doctrines of the Church, Church history, and whatever else so that we can come closer to God and Jesus Christ, and be ever more converted to this amazing Gospel! 

-Christmas day, we will be going to the Romney's for breakfast and to open presents, and we will probably be skyping there in the afternoon, some time in between 11 and 3(Texas time).  It will be difficult because there are 4 of us, and they have a daughter that will be skyping home from Chile around that same time.  We might split up and have two of us go to another members house, but we just haven't figured that out for sure yet.  But I will try my best to make it be sometime in between 1 and 2.  I should be able to call you Christmas morning around 11, and hopefully I will be more sure about what the plan is by then.  But we are still going to Jess's for Christmas dinner, around 3 or 4. 

-the beginning of the week was really warm, I went short sleeves until it got late, but I think Friday is when a cold front came in, and it has been chilly for the last few days. 

-Emilee, le extrano BASTANTE! 

-Elder Haskell is from Salem Hills, Utah. 

So last night, we had dinner with the Myers family, a nice family with 3 young daughters, a beautiful home, great food, and even a gospel discussion about Christmas.  Couldn't have asked for a better member dinner.  But the thing that killed me was after dinner, Brother Myers said to his 3 girls:  "Go get your coats on girls, we are all going to take the Elders home, because after we drop them off, we're going to go look at CHRISTMAS LIGHTS!  That right there was a dagger to my soul.  The things I would do to be able to spend a Sunday night looking at Christmas lights with the fam right now!  Nevertheless, duty calls.  The Lord has work to be hastened, and building of the Kingdom to be done.  I am happy and being treated well here.  May you all get the most out of this holiday season and cherish every minute of it!   FELIZ NAVIDAD

con mucho amor,

                 Elder Williams

Week Thirty One - Christmas Caroling and Working Hard!

 
A tree fell down right outside their apartment - trees are weak!


Our helmets were made out of the bottom of plastic milk jugs. clever idea, but I don't think it quite worked.
 
 
 
 

 
Caroling at the Son family's house in Dallas!

Greetings friends and loved ones,

What a wonderful time of year this is!  I always felt I was such a pain going to the mall 
with you this time of year, but I should have known you would miss it!  It's crazy to 
think that Christmas is only 9 days away!  My second big holiday away from home.  
Thanksgiving wasn't too bad, but I have a feeling that Christmas will be a little 
different... I'm still excited though!  I hope you are all enjoying frantically preparing 
for the big day, but remembering the true and spiritual part of Christmas as well.  JOY 
TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME!
I'm terribly sorry to hear about the hospital visits in this past week.  I hope Grandma 
and Blaine are doing better and it will not effect their Christmas spirit!  I will keep 
them both in my prayers, as well as the rest of you so that no one else ends up in the 
hospital any time soon.
This time of year seems like it would be the perfect time to come home from a mission.  
The Book of Mormon, Alma 27 I believe, it talks about the reuniting of the Sons of Mosiah 
and Alma after many years of being on their own separate paths, and how exceedingly 
joyful it was!  I am happy to hear that Tom is catching up with his friends; I can't even 
imagine how great that must be!

My week was mas o menos.  We had some good, and we had some frustrations.  We started 
knocking on Monday an hour before P day officially ended, and we found mucho and taught 
mucho.  It was a great start to the week!  Maybe sacrifice does bring blessings!  So we 
had really good lessons in some categories this week.  We found lots of people that seem 
to have potential.  Elder Haskell and I have been teaching our first lesson differently 
this past week and it seems to be going a lot better.  We taught lots of good, spiritual 
lessons, but it is just too early to tell if these people will progress or not.  It's 
hard to keep hopes high after the million of people I've talked to that have gone 
absolutely no where, but I'm still doing it to the best of my ability!  This week we had 
two different members come out with us on two different nights, we had appointments set 
up, and we didn't teach a single lesson with them!  Nobody was home.  It was embarrassing 
and terribly frustrating.  Luckily, both members had served missions and been in our 
shoes, so they understood.  I guess that is just part of the work.
The ward Christmas party was on Saturday night.  It was exactly like the party our ward 
had last year.  A throw back to Bethlehem.  The Elders were asked to be Roman guards and 
stand at the door and be greeters.  I wasn't as good a Roman as John Farrington, but I 
got the job done.
Sunday night, we went caroling with 8 other missionaries.  We went in the Dallas 1st ward 
area, which is I think one of the richest areas in the country.  It's where Cuban and 
Nowitzki live.  The bishopric of that ward drives a Ferrari, Aston Marton, and the nicest 
Jeep you will ever see.  So that was fun!  A group of Mormon missionaries singing 
Christmas songs is taken a lot better than two Mormon missionaries that want to come in 
to your house and talk about Jesus.  We visited some very wealthy members as well as 
others, and even got some cheesecake and money offered to us!  To say it was a success 
would be an understatement.

-this week I received a package from the Hansgen's and a card from the Watkins, but 
nothing from you.  Elder Haskell's mom sent a package last week too that he has not yet 
received, but hopefully we will get them today.  Thank you Hansgen's and Watkins!
-Jess wants to have us over for dinner on Christmas, so as of right now, the plan is to 
skype there.
-in a closet on our patio there was a box labelled "four foot Christmas tree".  
we took it out the other day, and it is about a foot and a half, and the lights don't 
work.  but it will just have to do I guess!  don't worry about sending us one.
-I don't think this would be a good week for pizza.  maybe hold off on that until 
January!
-Spanish is coming along.  I still run into people that either talk super fast or have a 
funny accent that I can't understand or they just use words I am not familiar with, but 
I'd say I can understand more than I can't.  I'd say I take the lead more in lessons than 
Elder Haskell does, although it is pretty even.  It usually comes pretty easy to me.

So that's my life right now.  Yup.  Love and miss y'all as always.  Talk to you next 
week!

Elder Williams

Week Thirty - The Zoo and An Ice Storm All In One Week!

Thanksgiving dinner with the Rodriguez family!

A sprinkle of Christmas....hehehehe!

David at the Dallas Zoo!

Lion at the zoo...

Lion goes nuts over a dog at the zoo.

Lion staring down the cheetah....

And the cheetah staring down the lion!

Crykee!

David and friend!

The real giants of the Savanna!

David and the crew at the Dallas Zoo!

David getting a free shoe shine in the Underground in downtown Dallas by an ex Globe Trotter!

  

 

Well, I am happy to hear that y'all had a fun trip and returned home safely.  I'd imagine it will take Tom some time to get back in to the swing of things.  I just wish I could see him in this wonderful stage of life! 

   I didn't have a very good week.  It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good.  On Monday it was hot, and after emailing we went to the zoo with some other missionaries.  The zoo is practically empty on a Monday afternoon, and lots of the animals were just sleeping.  It was fun though! 

   The rest of the week was bitter bitter cold.  Friday the snow/ice storm came.  There is less than an inch of the snow on the ground, and it hasn't melted yet.  Cars turned into ice cubes.  I think humid Texas cold is worse than dry Utah cold.  And we are supposed to have another week of it!  I'm greatly looking forward to it.  Friday, Saturday, and the majority of Sunday, they asked us to stay off the roads and inside.  So it was a long and boring weekend. 

   Sunday we were asked to teach the Spanish Sunday school lesson.  There were only 5 people in the class, and we didn't even have to teach anything because they all like to talk so much.  Fine with me! 

   Tuesday we helped Jess with some service.  Right before Christmas he delivers clothes and foods to multiple VA hospitals, so we help him get ready for that sometimes.  This morning he picked us up at 5, took us to Gold's Gym, got us a free week pass, and taught us how to work out.  Ohhh how I've missed the gym!  But now I'm about to fall asleep here at this computer.  He wants to have us over Christmas day for dinner.  He just keeps giving!  He travels to Utah often for business.  I'm thinking about telling him he should go to dinner with my parents one time if he can.  Let me know what you think about that haha!

   So transfer calls were Saturday night, and we received nada.  Elder Haskell and I are going for round two.  Elder Munday and Elder Maloney are sticking around as well.  I was really hoping for a new area.  We don't have a lot going for us right now, and a car area would have been nice for these winter months.  But oh well.  I guess you could say biking around all day in 30 degree weather builds character?  Or at least we hope so!  I will survive.  Especially with Elder Haskell!

   A testimony building experience from the week:  Elder Haskell and I were knocking one night, and at one door a teenaged kid answered the door.  His name was Rudy.  He was a sad, punk looking kid, wife beater and gauges in his ears.  We thought there would be no way he would accept to hear our message, but he surprisingly let us in!  So we tried to get to know him a little bit, but he was quiet and we couldn't get much out of him.  We started teaching him the Restoration, but because he was so quiet, I was asking more questions than normal to try to get him to open up.  In doing so, we found out that his mother had just barely past away in October, and he broke down crying.  We were then able to tell him where his mother is, and hopefully bring some comfort to his soul.  We got his phone number and a return appointment.   Now he is never home and we can't get a hold of him on the phone, and we may never even see him again.  This is the Lord's work and he is putting people in our path and us in other people's paths that need us.  People still have their agency, and many people will even feel the Spirit telling them that our message is true, and they will still turn it down.  Too many people just don't care.  Too many people are okay with being miserable.  But the Lord is giving people chances.       

-the pen and pencil you gave me is dark, either black or dark dark gray.

-the gloves I have are okay.  It's strange because mine and Haskell's gloves are different, and when I tell him my hands are still cold, his are toasty warm!  So we thought his gloves were just better than mine, so we switched.  And my hands were still cold, and his were still toasty warm!  So it's not the gloves.  Maybe I just don't know how to use gloves?  But they are good enough.  They protect from the wind just fine. 

-no letters or packages this week that I can remember.

   Sorry, somewhat of a boring week this week.  Next time I will have some miracles to share with y'all!  Thanks for the quote!  Love y'all and miss y'all!  May God bless you all in your weekly journey!   

Elder Williams

Week Twenty Nine - Under the Weather and Thanksgiving!

Mi querido familia y amigos,

   Well it sounds like y'all had a great week and I can't wait to hear more about it!  It's amazing what missions can do to you, right?  There is no way you can serve a mission and stay in your comfort zone at the same time.  For example, going to dinner with total strangers is completely normal for me now.  Something I could never imagine doing prior to the mission.   I used to get nervous before going to member dinners, but now it's just part of life!  It's crazy and funny when I think about the stuff I do these days.  Only on the mission!  You are forced to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and you have no choice but to grow.  The experience gained on the mission is priceless.  I'm sure Tom is the same old kid, but a completely new and transformed man at the same time!

   I had a pretty eventful week here in East Dallas.  It started out with a ringing ear last Monday morning.  It rang and rang and rang, so Tuesday I went to a CareNow to get it checked out.  It felt funny being in a doctor's room, sitting on the bed, with Elder Haskell right there with me.  I felt like he was my mom!  The doctor was funny.  She had an accent, kind of like Gru from "Despicable Me", and it made me feel like I was in a cartoon movie.  She looked at my ear and came to the conclusion that I had an ear infection.  She gave me two options:  antibiotic pills for a week, or a steroid shot in my behind.  I decided to go with the shot, just because it would make a better story.  Turns out I had to take the antibiotic either way, so the charges on my card are from the copays for that.  My ear continued to ring all week, but I can't hear it anymore, so I'm good! 

   Wednesday we went to help Jess in moving some boxes, and he took us to lunch as well.  He is a burger fanatic, so he takes us to all his favorite burger joints around town.  I'm not too worried about him anymore.  I've decided that he is just a good guy that recognizes how blessed he is, and he wants to give back.  I told him about my ear infection, and because he was an army medic, he tried to tell me to rest and not work... pfff!  Who does he think he is?  My ear was just annoying more than anything, and I felt able, so I worked!  I'm doing the Lord's work, and I'm confident that he'll take care of me, as long as I'm not a complete idiot. 

   Thanksgiving day, Rick Rodriguez picked us up in the afternoon.  Rick is the biological father of Elder Haskell's brother's wife.  He lives in the Coloney, which is Deron Williams' hometown.  His kids grew up with D Will and his brother, and know him very well.  So that got a kick out of it when I told them I went by "D Will" waayyy back in my high school days. Ha!   Dinner at their place was great.  Super good food and plenty of it,  We left with full tummies and bags full of leftovers.   Rick and his family are not members, and they are really nice people.  But I think they could definitely use the Gospel.  Lots of divorces and half siblings, and a very confusing family situation.  I'm not saying that that kind of stuff doesn't happen with Gospel centered families too, but the Gospel and the Church are gifts from God to bless families and bring them closer together.  Often times it is easy to see the difference the Gospel makes in families! 

So we spent our entire afternoon at Rick's, and then we spent our entire night in the ER.  Elder Munday has had severe stomach problems for nearly his whole mission, and afternoon a big Thanksgiving meal, he felt the need to go to the ER.  He asked us to tag along with him, which I regret.  We were there from 9:00 p.m. to 3 a.m.  His level of pain was a 2 out of 10, so everybody that came in after him took priority, and we did a lot of waiting.  I'm quite sure he just loved getting attention, and he himself will admit that he milked it a little bit.  Ohhh Elder Munday; he's a one of a kind. 

   Yesterday, a sister in the ward heard about Elder Munday's stomach problems and invited us over for dinner.  She had just recovered from severe stomach problems and being bedridden for 3 years because of it.  She has developed some serious food allergies to nearly everything but raw fruits and veggies.  She had literally just recovered and yesterday was her first Sunday back to church in years.  Now, she lives 100% by the word of wisdom.  Hardly any of us truly live by the word of wisdom.  Most of us just look at it as no coffee, tea, drugs, tobacco,and alcohol, but it really is so much more than that.  So last night we had the healthiest meal of my life.  It was just a variety of different salads and some delicious fish.  I couldn't even identify half the stuff we ate!  It was good and refreshing, but I definitely couldn't live off of it like she has to!  Her and her husband are now health and nutrition fanatics, and they gave us all sorts of diet info last night, and it kinda scared me.  There is so much garbage in food and water these days.  They made it sound like the only place you can shop is Whole Foods!  And I think I would if money wasn't such an issue.  But with so little money, my diet the last 6 months has been terrible!  I feel like if I ate the way I did last night every day, I would turn into IronMan!   When I get home, I'm going to be such a health nut, y'all are gonna think I'm loco! 

   I gave a blessing in Spanish for the first time ever the other day, and it went surprisingly well!  I could still definitely expand my vocabulary now, but Spanish is getting pretty easy to speak now.  Speaking doesn't take much thought anymore, but understanding it is still a little behind. 

   The heating in the English Elder's apartment has been broken all week, so they have been sleeping at our place for the last few nights.  What an adventure that has been!  But I'm definitely anxious for them to get out. 

   Grandma and Grandpa, I got your card on Wednesday.  Thank you!  Dinner Thursday was good, but it still didn't compare to Turkey dinner at your place!   

Welp, I'm out of time.  I've got a busy day today.  But I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving.  I hope you all know that I love you and miss you and think about you and pray for you.  Much love!

Elder Williams