Week 33 (6/10/2019) Port Arthur

I know this is a little late getting out today, but we were fishing most of p-day with Brother Fontenosa. It was a lot of fun, I got pretty sunburnt and caught a stingray! 

Port Arthur is a cool area. While I consider it more of a "city" area, it is in fact smaller in population than Kennewick. The big industry is the local oil refineries. As of this transfer there are three companionships in the ward, two with elders and one with sisters, which also make up my district. Take that, Utah ;) here we get three companionships in one ward ;) 

My first few days here have been spent trying to get in contact with people already being taught, but we also had some sweet referrals from a sister that has not been actively attending church in years. There seems to be a lot of potential in this area. 

The elders here get up early every morning to play bball at the church or to work out with one of our members who owns a gym. I kind of liked just working out at the apartment, but I can work with this schedule too. At least I get my cardio all the time. 

We played volleyball with some members and their friends on Thursday, so I got taught how to actually play volleyball. Ruined a pair of slacks doing it, but now I know that I need to change on Thursday night. 

The ward here seems pretty nice, although my first Sabbath with them was a little hectic. Right after our ward council the EQ president asked me to give the lesson in EQ. So my Sacrament Meeting consisted of reading the talk and getting my thoughts in order. The class went relatively well, we were talking about  President Nelson's talk "Come Follow Me". Hopefully my teaching style wasn't offputting to the ward. And it was a small quorum that day anyways, so I can't have upset too many people. 

Let's see. We parked in someones driveway (an inactive member) and came back to see three cop cars around our car. They were very cordial, though, so no complaints. One of the more pleasant mission experiences I have had with cops, so that was nice. 

I cant think of a whole lot else to mention. As always, you can ask me questions if you want. I may also respond ;)

Love, 

Elder DeFord

Week 32 (6/4/2019) Port Arthur

I think I may have forgotten to mention last week that this week is transfers? Ah well, oops. Well, it is transfers, Elder Jensen is taking my place here in Cleveland, and I am going with Elder James in Port Arthur. It is funny: Elder Jensen really wanted to come to Cleveland....last transfer, to be my companion. I guess God heard his prayers a little late ;) but he still has 5 transfers left, so we could still make it as companions at some point. 

Thankfully, when we got the leadership call from President, it was for Elder Wilkinson to be District leader here, not for me to go zone leader. Elder Slade, my current zone leader, keeps threatening that it will happen. And probably will continue doing so, since he is heading over to Beaumont zone to be my zone leader there too. So I'll still talk to him every other night for my district leader calls. 

Anyways, it was a good week. Tuesday was too long ago to remember, but I'm sure it was good. My stuff is all packed up, so I can't access my journal to see what happened. 

Wednesday we got to go to the temple! We went with the Bright's, who work the morning shift, so we had to leave at 5. But that also meant we got to spend a lot of time at the temple. We did one Endowment session, and then helped out in the sealing room for a good three hours. It was an amazing experience, I love everything about the ceremony. Plus it was a good learning experience: now when I teach people about the temple sealing I won't have to be like "it is super wonderful, and spiritual, and all amazing....at least, I think, I've never seen it". Well, now I have, and I can bear testimony about what I felt. It is a beautiful thing, the crowning covenant for us as members of Jesus Christ's restored church. 

While we were down in Houston, Brother Bright took us to pick up a member who was being released from the hospital, so we drove through downtown....I only cried a little ;) I'm a city boy, deep down, and I liked seeing it ;) bustling people, things to see and do...good times. 

It was weird on Sunday to be saying good-bye to the people that have been a part of my life for the last six months. I'm going to miss the members of this ward, I have some good friends here. But move on I must, so I shook hands and bid farewell. 

It was funny: when I told K__ and her grandma that I was leaving, they asked for President's phone number to tell him what for. I was tempted to give it to them so I could listen to the conversation ;) J__ (K__'s grandma) complained that I had healed her after her last surgery, and what if her next one doesn't go well, she needs me there. I tried to explain that Elder Wilkinson and his next companion hold the same Priesthood authority, but she wasn't having it.  I am going to miss them, and everyone I worked with. 

I am sad that I am leaving before getting to watch T__, L__, and D__ enter the waters of baptism, but I guess that is a good reason for me to try and come back to visit. I have loved watching them grow in their faith and testimony, and I am so grateful that I could be a part of their journey. 

I may write more later after I meet my new companion and see my new area, but that is a lot of what this week was. 

Wish me luck...it already broke 100 degrees here, and I am moving to the coastline, so it'll be hotter and more humid. I think it is a car area, at least. So I can hold to that. 

Love,

Elder DeFord

Week 31 (5/27/2019) A Real Missionary

What, Elder DeFord, haven't you been a real missionary this whole time? Well, yes, I suppose I have. But it doesn't always feel like you are doing much work for the Lord when you are knocking doors. 

D__'s interview was Tuesday, and for a variety of reasons her baptism was postponed. Well, she still had a great desire, so I offered that we could come by everyday for a short visit, pray with her and read a few scriptures. When I offered, little did I realize how awesome an experience that would be for me. So every day this week we have visited D__, sometimes going over the principles of missionary lessons, sometimes just reading from the Book of Mormon, one day we just sat and listened to hymns. But through it all, I felt like a real missionary, like I was really making a difference in someone's life. I didn't come out here to knock doors, though I knew I would. I came out to help people, and we have seen D__ grow so much (and make some huge changes). It has truly been a miraculous experience. And she loves the ward and coming to church. She is such a sweet, sweet woman. 

Luckily, my real missionary work doesn't end with D__. We have always made some great progress with T__. We met with him Tuesday night and had just a fantastic lesson. We were teaching about the temple, and he was asking questions that showed that he was really thinking about what we were talking about. We answered his questions and he felt great about what we discussed. On Saturday we went over to his house to help him with his yard, because he can't push his lawnmower. Luckily, about two hours in to using the push mower, his brother-in-law showed up with a riding lawnmower to help. Which is good, because I think I still had at least a half-acre left to mow ;) but we were glad to serve him. Unfortunately, T__ was sick again on Sunday, and so didn't make it to church, which was the last attendance he would have needed before his baptism. We are going to talk to President Hewlett, though: even an active, life-long member wouldn't be able to make it to church if they were as sick as T__ gets, so we don't think that it should hold him back from being baptized. He has already a very strong desire and testimony, and great fellowship from the Sopers. 

We haven't seen M__ and her family as much, but we stopped in and she talked about her prayers, that they have been going well and she feels good about them, which was awesome. 

When we were going by to see a person we had contacted, we met their husband. Essentially just a door contact, I felt the drive to give him a Book of Mormon, so I plopped it into his hands and asked him to flip to a random page and start reading. He read a few verses, and it prompted a great discussion about where the Book of Mormon comes from, what it is, and what it teaches. It is such a wonderful book! Even just a few random verses can teach important principles, and the spirit bears witness of its truthfulness. 

We had dinner with our recent convert V__, and we were going to teach one of the new member lessons, but I ended up assembling a desk for her instead. They make those kits needlessly complicated, I think, but I got it together in about an hour. Unfortunately, it is looking like I will be transferred before she makes it to the Temple for baptisms, as she went out of town this weekend, so no recommend interview. 

Elder Wilkinson and I performed Come Thou Fount for sacrament on Sunday. If anyone wants to listen to it, I think I have a recording of one of our practices. Of course, I am playing the piano for the practice, so that is always dangerous. 

I hope everyone is safe and sound and had a good week. I love you all!

Love,

Elder DeFord

Week 30 (5/20/2019) Can't Think of a Subject Line, Oh Well

To the journal for details...

It was a good week, I just honestly don't remember much. 

On Tuesday we went down to Kingwood to get Elder Wilkinson's new Tiwi card, so he can drive again. Of course, on Friday Elder Price and I found his old Tiwi card, so he could have driven this whole time, but that is another story. Since we were in Kingwood, we got Cane's for lunch! Best fast food place in the south ;) they make only one meal, in different sizes, but it is the best chicken I have ever had. I love Cane's. Anyways ;)

We went back up and saw M__. It has been hard with her because the kids have been a lot more involved, but we made a special effort to invite her to participate and begin praying in our last lesson. And she said that she had been praying, and that it felt good! It was so awesome to hear about that spiritual progress. 

So, a lot of the time when we go to see M__'s family their neighbors kid is over and he participates. Actually, we were there when the neighbors moved in ;) that is just how present we are, I guess. Anyways, two weeks ago this neighbor kid went to church with him. Last Sunday his primary teacher gave us a Mothers Day present to deliver to his mom since he wasn't there. So after seeing M__ we went and delivered that gift and got to talk to his mom about the church, and she seemed interested! So that was really cool. 

Tuesday night I did a lot of thinking about how I could improve my missionary work and work with the members. Or, I did a lot of being prompted about that. It was probably around 2 am before my brain calmed down enough to actually go to sleep. I was grateful for the promptings, but not so much for not being able to sleep ;)

We have been working with D__ still, and she has progressed so quickly that we moved her baptismal date to this week! It may get moved back again, whoops, but we shall see how things turn out today and tomorrow. She has an incredible amount of faith in Christ and really wants to follow him. 

Friday was a very good day. District council was as district councils are ;) I am not too much of a fan of presenting them, but I felt like it went well. The Zone leaders were there because they were going on exchanges with us for the rest of the day. 

My perspective on leadership callings has changed quite a bit since I have been out and been a District Leader. I always knew that it didn't really matter ;) but I didn't feel that way. Now the feelings have gotten in line with my knowledge. Elder Price was talking about the zone leaders that were probably stepping down (insinuating zone leaders stepping up) and I just didn't care about it. I recognize that it is just another form of service, and I am content wherever I get to serve. 

At the end of our night we got to go and see T__. He was looking probably the healthiest I have seen him in a couple of months! He attributes it to the blessing we gave him, and said by darn he was going to make it to church. As we were talking to him, and we went out in his yard to lay a cinder block path to his door, he told us about how he came to know the church was true. How he was just a little curious, and he met with us, and something inside of him was telling him that it was right, that it was the right place. It was so cool to have him just bearing his testimony, without us promoting him or anything. I have truly loved working with T__. And on Sunday? He was there. He was throwing up in the morning, and his kids were sick, but he cleaned up and came for Sacrament. I am so grateful for his faith and trust in the Lord, and that I have gotten to work with him. 

On Saturday the sister's had a baptism, the daughter of a returning member. It was a very beautiful service, and her dad got to baptized her, which was neat. 

After the baptism the youth were doing a spaghetti fundraiser plus dessert auction. It was a lot of fun, and a cheesecake going for over a hundred dollars led into one of the talks given on Sunday. The speaker listed the ingredients of the cheesecake, counting up the cost up to something like 21 dollars and 1 cent (for the pinch of salt). But, he said, the addition of love made it worth much, much more. And similarly, because God loves us we are worth everything. It was a really good talk, and a fun night. 

Sunday morning was bright and early. Except not bright. Kingwood stake apparently does their stake priesthood meetings in the morning, so we had to be up at 5 to make it down in time. It was a good meeting, but I am not sure it was worth waking up that early ;) being a missionary is interesting because you aren't really a part of the stake or ward...you are in the mission. And we aren't really a part of the local priesthood quorums. But that is okay. 

I have been thinking about how the parables are often on agriculture, or trees. But I don't know anything about olive trees ;) so when the spirit wanted to teach me, it had to use an apple tree. So this is the parable of Adam's apple tree. (Haha, I am hilarious). I remember every spring that we needed to trim and prune our apple trees. They were growing in the way that was natural for them. There is nothing wrong about their growth, except that it would interfere with the fruit they could give. And so we would prune, cutting off that natural growth so that it could have the strength to grow full and delicious fruit. And we as the "natural man" grow in many ways. We aren't bad people because of our natural growth:we are just bad people. But that growth, when unrestrained, interferes with our fruit. And so God prunes and cuts back that growth, or to put it differently, we let God take away our sins or natural desires, and while it may hurt or be difficult at the time, it opens the door for additional, stronger growth and full and delicious fruit. Just like we never got upset at the apple trees because they kept growing back every year and needing pruning, God doesn't get upset at us. If we let Him, He just continues to patiently trim and prune and help us reach our potential as fruit-bearing apple trees. I drew this all out on the back of my church program. It is practically scripture ;) Doctrine and Covenants section 139 right here. 

Anyways, it was a good week, did some good things, felt the spirit and followed promptings. I know that the church is true, and even more, I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the key to happiness and peace in this life and the life to come.

I love y'all!

Elder DeFord 

Week 29 (5/13/2019) The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up

Buckle your accessories and hold on to your seatbelts, we gotta lot of land to cover!

Ostensibly, the subject line refers to the flooding we have been getting here in Houston, but really it refers more to the blessings of the Lord that have been being poured out!

First of all, V__'s baptism on Monday was beautiful. It was great to be a part of it, the service went well (and smoothly!) and the ordinance itself was very spiritual. V__ has so much faith, and had an incredible desire to follow Jesus Christ. When she came up out of the water, she was sobbing, and it made me think of when Christ was baptized and the Holy Ghost descended in the form of a dove. It was an amazing experience. 

Tuesday we went down to Summerwood for Zone Conference and for interviews. Midway through the day, as the APs were giving their segment, the lights flickered and lightning flashed in the windows behind them. Spooky ;) but there weren't any problems. Until we tried to leave, that is. Kingwood was apparently flooded with a couple of feet of water. So we got on the freeway...and stayed on the freeway...five hours later, we finished the 45 minute drive home. We passed the time by propping Elder Stebbins tablet on the dashboard and watching the Testaments, Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration, Johnny Lingo, Book of Mormon Scripture stories as told by legos...it was a very long car ride. Through water, on some points! It was pretty cool to see the water on the road and off to the side, honestly. Also, even though we all left Summerwood at different times because of interviews, at one point we were stuck next to both our Cleveland sisters and the Hermanas from Oakhurst. So I dashed out of the car and flipped up the wipers on the sisters car. Worth getting soaked for. 

The rest of the week I will probably give a person/event treatment. 

D__, who we started teaching last week, is just awesome. She has so much love and faith in Christ. We taught her the Plan of Salvation on Wednesday, and I felt prompted to include the Word of Wisdom, so we did. I was a little worried about it, because the last thing I wanted to do was to scare off someone who is so prepared, but the spirit told me to go for it. And she understood and accepted it. Fast forward a couple of days, Elder Wilkinson and I are praying to know what to do, where to go, who to see, etc. And we get the feeling to stop by D__. When we knock on her door, she opens it, her eyes red, and says she had just been praying. As we talk to her she bursts into tears again, not feeling good enough. We were able to testify to her that God loves her and is aware of her-and that we were there in answer to her prayers and our own. It was a big testimony to me that God is aware and loves each of us. We were able to give her a blessing of comfort, and I am just so glad that we could be instruments in the Lord's hand to serve her. 

T__, as you know, has been very sick, and it has been preventing him from progressing. We had been praying for what we could do for him, and we felt like we should give him a blessing. We went by and explained what a blessing is, and asked him if he had faith in the priesthood and that the Savior healed the sick. He said yes and so we administered the blessing. Elder Wilkinson was being voice, and as he gave the blessing, the spirit just coursed through my veins. It was like a lightning shock through me. Truly I felt the powers of heaven being called down. It was a very powerful experience. 

I think we gave three other blessings this week. (One of which at 6:31 am...that gave a new meaning to always being ready to exercise the priesthood). I love blessings. I love being a part of God's work to bless His children. It is always a spiritual experience for me, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be an instrument in God's hand. 

We had a wonderful Mother's Day. As we made an especial effort to reach out and thank the mothers in the ward and mission, it made me feel good to be thanking them and serving them. Thank you to all mothers! You truly do so much. I am especially grateful for my mother. She taught me so much about life and the gospel, and truly set my perspective. Just a couple of weeks ago in a lesson I shared some of what my mother had taught me. I truly appreciate her and everything she has done. Shout out to mom, she is the best. 

It was an incredible week, and we saw the Lord's hand in so much. In the big miracles as well as in just the little answers to prayer as I studied and went about my days. 

I know God loves each of us, that Jesus Christ invites us all to come to Him. I love my God and I love my Savior, and I am so grateful to be out here serving them and my fellow man. 

Warm regards,

Elder DeFord

Week 28 (5/6/2019) Fishers of Frogs

(Credit sister Watt for the subject line) 

I had a big debate with myself over "Fishers of Frogs" or "Filling the Font". I guess I could have done "Fishing for Frogs in the Filling Font", but that seems a tad bit sacrilegious. 

Well, on to the week, and I shall explain. 

Tuesday was Mission Leader Training, so I met with all the other District and Zone and Sister Training Leaders in Kingwood for a very long meeting. It was good, we talked about ministering and faith in Jesus Christ. But nonetheless, very long. While we were gone, Elder Wilkinson was with the non-leader Spanish Elders, and they had both of our areas phones, so they could be effective.  Well, that left Elder Stebbins and I without a working phone. So when we got dropped off after MLT...we had no phone, and no keys. No way to contact them. Well, we broke into the Spanish Elders apartment to wait for them. They went to our dinner appointment and then went to find us ;) thanks, guys. 

Wednesday was pretty sad. We found out that K__ was moving outside of the mission in the next couple of weeks, and T__'s situation hadn't improved, so we were a little bummed. 

Thursday did a good job of making up for it, though. While doing our regular tracting and finding, we got a call about a referral, D__. Well, okay, referrals from church headquarters tend to be pretty trash (they just want a free Bible, and sometimes they don't even want that, despite ordering one) but we called her and set up to meet with her in the afternoon. When we show up for our appointment, she invites us right in. It turns out that she had been given a Book of Mormon when Elder Fowers was here, and had been looking up different Bible studies to try and find our church. I guess she wasn't ready when Elder Fowers planted the seed, but she was super prepared now. We taught the restoration, and everything was just clicking for her. At the end, we were talking and said that as she read and prayed about the Book of Mormon she would come to know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. She responds that she already thinks he was a prophet. Well, okay, would you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding proper authority. Well, I have already been baptized, but I understand what you have been saying about authority, and how can it hurt to do it again? Yes. 

Woah! It was super cool, and the spirit was very strong. 

After our lesson with D__, we went to see M__'s family. I love them so much! When they see our car pulling up, the kids will all run from down the street, bringing their friends they were playing with in tow. As we were walking up to the house, the neighbor saw us and asked if we were Jehovah's Witnesses (we get that a lot)  we say, no, we are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He calls back "well don't go to that house, they are Mormon!". Hahaha, not quite. As we say we were meeting with them, and that that is our church, he repeats "you are barking up the wrong tree, I tell you they are Mormon!". Oh boy ;) but I guess we are doing our job well if the neighbors think they are Mormon. Well, M__ was getting ready for work, and said she had to work Sunday too, so we asked if we could get the kids a ride, and she said yes! We have been trying to get them to church for forever! Awesome. So we made some calls and the Delellatas agreed to pick them up. 

After M__'s family, we went to see V__. V__ lets us know that she got a new job and has Sundays off! We had been praying that she could find a new job, and one showed up out of the blue for her! Well, because of her new schedule, we were going to have to move her baptism-it had been scheduled for next Thursday. Well, she says she had been thinking about what we said the last time we visited her, and she didn't want to wait-she needed and wanted the Holy Ghost. Could we do it Monday? Yes we sure can! So we went into frenetic planning mode, and we will be filling up the font today for her baptism tonight! Super exciting!  

Friday we had district training, which went a-okay. Later that day I got to do the baptismal interview for K__, a little 9 year old the sisters are working with. She is so cute, and just blurted out that she loves Jesus so much before we could even get started. Also, things that are against the Word of Wisdom are "blegh". I love kid's way of looking at the world ;)

Saturday Michael got married, so I skyped into the family luncheon to congratulate him. It was really awesome to get to sort of be there for him, and to see everybody else too. Best of luck to him and Caroline!

Saturday night I caught my first frog. Or toad. Whatever he was. We named him  Timrek (kermit backwards). The next night we went on a short hunt around the complex with the sisters, ended up with a total of 5 little froggies. Or toadies. They are so cute and funny! It was quite the party. 

Sunday morning we went to pick up M__'s kids. I felt like a young parent: get your shoes, get your clothes, where are your shoes, why is there slime on your hands...well, we got them to church, but we missed the sacrament. Ah well. 

The rest of the day was good, and that brings us to here. 

Love, Elder DeFord

Week 27 (4/29/2019) Private Island

I always feel obligated to explain my subject line immediately.

But I won't.

So there.

Welcome to Cleveland, Elder Wilkinson! Elder Wilkinson is from a military family, so while he came to the mission from Ohio, he has loved many a place, including Germany. He also did theater in high school, so that is a big connection right there. We have been getting along quite well, it looks like it will be a good transfer. At the end of this transfer he will have been out for a year. 

The work this week was admittedly pretty slow, but there are a couple of things and people I'd like to note. 

First off, nobody made it to church, oof. That was a pretty rough one. But Elder Wilkinson at least had the opportunity to meet T__ and L__, K__, and M__'s family. It was funny, M__ had friends over, so we were trying to leave so as not to impose, and the 8 year old, N__, told her mom that we were staying ;) those kids are awesome, I love them. 

V__, who I think I have mentioned before, has been investigating the church for nearly four years, and moved here so she could be in a situation where she could be baptized. We finally got to sit down with her, and get to know her a little more. She clearly has a strong faith in the church and the gospel, but it was interesting to see that convert perspective on the gospel-she is one of the few long-term people I have had the opportunity to talk to. So we answered some of her questions and set a baptismal date of May 16th...the only problem is that she currently has a job that has her working Sundays. So she will need to take a day off or come in late so she can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  She is looking for a new job, though, and knows the importance of church, so that is really cool. 

The other person we began teaching this week is by the name of S__. She may be more interested in a Bible study than conversion, but we shall see. About halfway through the Restoration, her son came in and asked us "What is success?". Which was very off topic, but sparked a very good conversation. Immediately I said that success for me was to live eternally with my family and my God. But no matter what we said, this teenager could only see success as getting rich and having things. He thought, if I had these things, I would be happy. As we talked I saw how incredible our gospel perspective is. This kid wasn't happy. He wouldn't be happy when he was working, and even if he did make it good, he wouldn't be happy. That isn't where happiness comes from. Men are that they might have joy, but that joy comes from the peace of living gospel standards, making and keeping covenants. One of my favorite scriptures is Mosiah 2:41 (or somewhere around there) that says "I would that you should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God, for they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual". Truly an eternal perspective is beautiful. It was as we spoke to this teen that couldn't see beyond the moment that I really saw the import of the plan of happiness. I saw why it is different from what the world teaches. I have always taken it for granted, and thought the Plan of Salvation lesson was really just a bunch of interesting trivia. Which kept me from having a lot of faith in it as I taught. But I understand now that a correct understanding of the Plan of Salvation can change perspectives, can bring peace and happiness that the world just can't provide. It was a rather eye-opening experience. We didn't convince this youth, but I was definitely convinced more surely of the importance of the Gospel and the family. I think about the quote "no success in life will excuse failure in the home" (or however it goes). And it is true. Our families are the only things that are going to be waiting for us up above. 

There was an exciting announcement made in sacrament meeting-Victoria Roberts was called to serve in the Kennewick, Washington mission! So be looking out for a Sister Roberts coming to the area about the end of June. 

No raccoons have been climbing into the traps, so my hat is sitting unfinished, but that is alright. Elder Wilkinson isn't thrilled about the raccoon hide sitting on our floor ;) but I will clean it up just as soon as I get another coon to finish the hat. Speaking of animals, I wore a snake belt this week! Not a belt made of snakeskin, mind, I just wore a snake as a belt ;) 

Well, that is a lot of my week. As always, address any questions to me at adam.deford@missionary.org...and I might get around to responding. 

Love y'all,

Elder DeFord

Week 26 (4/23/2019) Put on the Armor of God

There are a whole lot of things that happened this week, but only one could make the cut for the subject line. See attached picture. 

Well, from the beginning of the week...I have no idea what happened. Lemme see...Tuesday wasn't a good day. I don't know what happened, since my journal entry from the day was, and I quote, "obligatory journal entry"...so I gather it wasn't a good day. Well, we all get off the blocks a little rough sometimes. 

I have been studying a lot about Christ during this Easter week. It is interesting to think that he truly was a mortal, and that not only did he experience all of our sins and sorrows, and overcame them-made it to the end, so to speak-but He conquered them. Instead of just taking the crimes off of our record and paying the sentence, He literally wipes the slate clean. 

A major mile-stone of Wednesday was the sixth month mark of my mission. I celebrated by doing absolutely nothing different than I do any other day. 

Let's see...Elder Mooney finished his raccoon skin hat. I am still waiting on another raccoon to be able to work on mine some more, but I sewed the interior lining to get ready. 

On Thursday I wore the suit of armor of T__, one of the people we are working with. It was a little big on me, but a lot of fun, plus I could tie it into putting on the armor of God. 

Friday's district council we talked about how even as members, missionaries, whoever, we all have the need to repent. Though we did not discuss it, President Nelson's talk from Priesthood session was on my mind as I prepared for the council. Truly each day we need to be making commitments to do and be better-more like the Savior. 

It really hardly felt like an Easter season without dyeing eggs or going on an egg hunt. Instead of the traditional turkey or ham, we had crawfish! The Johnston's taught me how to eat crawfish at our first boil, so by our second one with the Roberts two hours later, I was a seasoned pro. It is pretty darn good! I did get some ham when we stopped by the Patterson's house for Elder Mooney to say good-bye, though. 

Yeah, so it was Elder Mooney's last week in the mission, and he had a lot of good-byes to say, so we ran around and did a lot of that. He has been a fun companion to have, but back to Reno for him. 

On that note, I am staying in Cleveland with Elder Wilkinson for at least one more transfer.

Let's see...M__ and her kids are awesome. We went by to see them, and N__ and E__ were clamoring in asking their mom when they were going to go to church. It is just a matter of time. They are super cool, though, I love that family. 

Alongside crawfish, I also ate intestine this week. I think I will not do so again, the texture was pretty bad, it looked gross and was pretty tasteless. 

I know this isn't a great email, but hey, at least you know that I am alive. 

Sayonara (or however you spell that)

Elder DeFord 

P.s. (picture-script) the house is the Johnston's, we put in those front flower beds- rockwork, mulch, plants. Turned out pretty pretty!

Week 25 (4/15/19) One Week Older and Wiser Too

Dear everybody,

No, my subject line has nothing to do with anybody's birthday, I am just lazy and it didn't sound too bad for a subject ;) 

This week went by very quickly, and I am really not sure where it all went, so I will try to pick up on what happened. 

Yeah, I have no idea. We will start with Sunday and work backwards ;)

Church attendance on Sunday was essential for T__ and L__ to be baptized before Elder Mooney got home. Sadly, T__ has diabetes and doesn't have medication, so he is often sick. Sunday morning rolls around, he is throwing up and can't make it. So that was really disappointing. T__ has been such an amazing person to teach. They both are filled with faith, and really think about what we say and teach. But it wasn't to work out so soon, I guess. Assuming I stay another transfer I will still get to baptize them, probably. Just gotta get them to church. 

Which brings up another good point-this is the last week of the transfer. One more week until I pack Elder Mooney onto the airplane, back to Nevada.  In any case, next week my p-day will be Tuesday, all that good stuff. Although if you email me Monday, I am probably going to be in the apartment all day as he packs. Two years of living and collecting things is hard to boil down to two suitcases. Of course, he already sent home his gaming computer, so he doesn't have to worry about stuffing that in anything. (Side note....he didn't use his gaming computer, he just acquired it out here)

With the other people we are teaching: M__ and her kids are still awesome, although we didn't have much opportunity to teach them this week. And they promised us they would be at church and Sunday morning brought some empty seats :/ so that was pretty sad. But we will keep working with them!

Some kids we are really working with are S__ and M__, and their cousin B__. Their mothers are both members, not currently active, and they are unbaptized. We are building our relationship with them, beating them at basketball and all, and trying to work church in there. Well, I say we are beating them at basketball. I am really bad at basketball, but Elder Mooney is extremely good. So he beats them at basketball ;) and I run around like a chicken with my head cut off. Ah, well. 

We did some service for the Johnston family-I feel like a pro landscaper at this point. After doing the rock work and making the front flower beds on a previous occasion, we were planting some of the plants! It is starting to look really good over there. Oh, and the Johnston's son Marshall and his wife officially moved into the ward, so we helped them get their stuff in. I say officially, because he has always been there when I have. We did have some fun tornado  and severe thunderstorm warnings while we were working, though. Needless to say, the plants were well watered their first day into the ground. 

Another big upset from Sunday- Brother Resendez, our awesome ward mission leader, got released (or fired, as he likes to call it) for a new calling as young men's President. And he was only called the Sunday before I came into the ward. So that left us all a little taken aback. But that is alright, these things do happen. 

Well, I can't think of much else other than that. Lots of news next week, I suppose, given that it is transfers and I know I am getting a new companion, since I am "firing" Elder Mooney.

Well, I love and pray for y'all, take care!

Elder DeFord

P.s. DeFord is really hard for people down here, so here is my line: "when you go out you aren't driving 'da chevy, you are driving 'da Ford". And they know my name, just like that. Works every time.