River Falls week 15

So on Monday Elder Cole and I went up to Hudson (our church building is there; it is 10 miles away) to play some ball with the zone leaders. We went to lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings (the missionaries in this mission are totally obsessed with that place) and Elder Cole and Elder Farnes did the Blazin Challenge. 12 wings in 6 minutes with their hottest sauce. They tried to get Elder Mattison and I to do it with them but we laughed at them and said heck no. Besides, we ate 5 pounds of ice cream two weeks ago. The ensuing scene was quite hilarious. They brought out the consent forms and it mentioned death on it. Elder Cole and Farnes freaked out. So funny. But the wings were on the grill. It was too late to quit. So then the wings finally get out and the waitress comes and starts the timer. Elder Farnes went to town. He just started chowing down like a mad man. He started turning beet red and his eyes were watering. He started sweating too. His face was covered in the sauce and then some of it splashed into his eye. Elder Mattison and I are just sitting there enjoying our Honey Barbeque ribs laughing. Elder Cole didnt think the wings were too hot, he just cant eat very fast. Elder Farnes finished with about 30 seconds left. Then he just started yelling and basically screaming. The waitress was like, "shhh SHHHH". His eye started to swell up super big and he said he lost feeling in his face and whatnot because of the sauce everywhere. He looked like he got beat up or something. But hey, he got a free T-shirt. 

I went on exchanges with an Elder Lotulelei this week. His brother is Star Lotulelei, who played football at the U of U and is now on the Caronlina Panthers. E. Lotulelei has a scholarship to play at the U when he gets home. He is a 6'5" 340 pound Tongan. What a man. Anyway, we knocked on this guy's door and he came out and we started chatting. He is actually a horse trainer and he goes to Missoula, Montana a lot. So I talked with him about that. He also goes to Mesa a lot! He was like," yeah I work on Lindsay road in mesa a lot." I was like wUt. I told him that is where my house is. He trains at the Arabian place right next to Lavender and Old Lace. Small world, right? He saw E. Lotulelei's name tag and joking said, "is Star your cousin?" Then he chuckled. E. Lotu said, "no he is my brother." The guy's face was pretty amusing. 

We also taught a lesson around a campfire this last week. That was cool. We were up in a trailer park meeting with an investigator at about 8 pm and she had a fire going so we read the BoM by fire light and taught a good lesson on the foundation of Christ. That was unique. 

I fell for the first time on my bike this week... So E. Cole and I found this crate of sports equipment that someone was throwing away. So I picked it up to take home. I was trying to balance it while riding my bike at a greater speed than I should have and then... boom. That was like a long 3 seconds where I realized that I was about to hit the pavement pretty hard. The crate went flying and I went down. Luckily I managed to roll and I landed on my side bag and rolled over. I didnt even get anything on my white shirt. Still hurt a little. Oh, and it was super awkward and embarrassing... lulz. 

We visited this man named Tori this week. He wants us to come back and help him move some stuff around, so we told him we would love to. Then he said," do you like hamburgers? We can grill some up and have some Coke too or something." We said yes. Then he said," yeah that's cool, I'm actually a vegetarian." We both looked at him a little funny and then began to say" Oh ok..." He then said,"of course I'm not a vegetarian you fools! I love the freak out of meat! I'm a carnivore!" That was pretty funny, ha ha. 

When visiting a less active lady in a nursing home one of her friends called. She did not want to talk to the friend so she said, "there is someone here who wants to talk to you," and handed me the phone. I was a little surprised but then started talking to the lady. She was pretty nice. I tried to teach the restoration over the phone. Needless to say "tried" is the key word there. At least she took our number down and might call us. 

We taught a college student named Jake last night. It was such a sincere, spiritual lesson. He really worries about whether or not he can truly even plant the seed of faith in his heart (we read alma 32 with him and he REALLY liked it and talks about it every lesson). We shared a talk by Elder Faust on how to build a relationship with Christ. Toward the end he really opened up and told us all his concerns. Elder Cole and I started to teach him and the things I was saying were things I have never even thought of before. The Spirit took over. I learned just as much as Jake did in that conversation. I love lessons like that!

Spiritual thought: Mosiah 2:5-8

 5 And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his^afamily, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.

 6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his ^atent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;

 7 For the multitude being so great that king Benjamin could not teach them all within the walls of the temple, therefore he caused a ^atower to be erected, that thereby his people might hear the words which he should speak unto them.

 8 And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words.

Mosiah 2 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon, I read it frequently. These verses stuck out to me this time. In verse five it talks about how the whole family came to listen. Every member. Salvation is a family affair! This is part of God's plan! They also stayed in their tents and listened. We must allow the words of our prophets into our homes. We must worship within our own homes, not just once a week during church. This is so critical. And then in verse 7-8 King Benjamin made sure that EVERYONE could hear/read his words. The words of the Prophet are so important. I read this week in the ensign or something that even if we had the fully translated plates, all of the sealed portion too, even if we had all the prophecies of John the Revelator, without prophets and apostles salvation would be impossible.

I love you all! Have a wonderful week! 

-Elder Damron