LINDEN!!!!
So first off... Linden is not even where we mainly work haha. We mainly work in Parsons bcuz we live closer to there. Our trailor is off the road in the hills. Closer to Parsons. So we mainly go there. Dumb limited miles haha. Parsons... is super small... just like Linden. In the week that ive been here, we have already walked up and down every street, twice. haha. And basically knocked on every door.
But the cool thing is, is that my first night here, we set a baptismal date. woohoo!!!!! Then the following night we set 2 more baptismal dates! WOOHOO!! hahaha. So the first one, her name is _______. she is 18, and basically loves our church. We have taught her a first and a second lesson and she came to church on sunday and they taught the word of wisdom in sunday school, and then the law of chasity in relief society. dangit. hahaha. She came out and was like... "So I have some questions for you. and I was like, "kay we will have a lesson on those and it will make more sense." She is super solid. She is gunna get baptized on sept 24th :)
The other two, their names are ________________. they live WAY out in the middle of nowhere. They lived in Massachusetts and moved here like 1 year ago, and they came to our church like 2 weeks ago. I guess the members didnt know if she was a member or not. so we took a chance and drove 40 miles to see her (our area is huge) and it turns out that her and her husband are non members :) They did food storaging up in Mass and worked at the bishops store house. So they knew lots of members. They went to our church up there and didnt like it. I guess they said no one said hello to them, not even the missionaries. So they never went back. But they promised their member friends that they would go to church here in Tennessee, so they did, and we went to go see them and set dates for them. They are gunna get baptized on October 8th.
And Linden never baptizes, so President was freaking out when we called in 2 times in 2 days for 3 different dates hahaha. So great! But thats not the best news yet.... so... here we go.
Since there isnt a lot to do here, we just walk up and down the streets and visit churchs haha. The missionaries before me visited a church called faith baptist. The pastor was super nice and all that. So we are walking down the street and this member pulls over and is like, "did you hear that you guys made the newspaper?" And I was like "what shweet!!" haha. So we go and check it out... and its this pastor!!! He put in the paper an excerpt of a book called "10 lies i told as a mormon missionary." I was like no freakin way. We read it and its just pure anti that he put in the newspaper.
So yesterday, we went to his church again, in our suits, looking all fresh and what not. and we were just staring at him haha. He only has like 5 ppl that go to his church. But even in there he was like "just stick to your bible!!" "some 2 teenagers may tell you something... but stick to your bible!!" And I was just pissed. haha. But I didnt say anything. I just kept my mouth shut... like a good boy haha.
Then in his prayer at the end he said "there are lots of crazy churches out there that americans fall for so easily" and just all this garbage haha. It was great. Me and Elder _______ started laughing during the prayer for a couple seconds. But then we kept our cool. And shook his hand and said good day. Man it was great.
But yeah thats all that is going on in Linden. haha I love yall so much!! Have a good week!! Next time I email yall... I'll be 20. crazy!
peace out girl scouts!!
Elder Cawley
