Missipi

Hey Ya'll, first week in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission.

    I was assigned to Holly Springs, Mississippi. Our address is 3018 HWY-178, Holly Springs, MS 38635.  I should be here for the next 12 weeks so if ya'll wanna send me anything that would be lovely. We don't get much mail. You can look it up on Google Street view but I'll also add a picture. It's a really amazing area. The people definitely speak a different form of English lol. They mostly just don't speak clearly or say the whole word. Hence Missipi. That's how everyone pronounces it here. I love it.

    I got to the mission home and got some very minimal sleep then we had more training specific to our mission. Our mission is really strict and very focused and consecrated. There is almost no way to be distracted if you are following the rules. My companion is Elder Cullimore and he is so Amazing. He is extremely obedient and knowledgeable, he reminds me constantly of Reagan. They have very similar behavior and feelings about things. It's crazy how so many things I experienced at home prepared me for this time. Like at home one of my friends liked Norse paganism and out here one of our friends is currently really into Norse paganism. It was really cool to already have background there. As well as so many struggles that I've had are similar to the people here and I feel like I can so much better relate to them. People have really hard lives here and it's really cool just to see people's countenance shift from when we first meet them to the end of the chat, even if we didn't really teach anything just the hope and love of Christ shows them through us makes their load a little lighter, which is so Amazing to see. This is truly Christ's work. I've been studying a lot and have really been learning, one things we listened to this week that was really cool was a lecture from 1980s given at Rick's College about "Why 1820". It's phenomenal. Here's the link https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vnDOKeQ5pX9U999ShCo5YRqjHHilbfUo/view?usp=drivesdk 

It really gave me more insight as to the apostasy and really how it wasn't just a boy that knelt down and asked God what to do. Joseph Smith was a different character than many others. He was one that went through so much hardship and never broke. He never let it keep him from his mission. The Character of Joseph Smith coupled with the first time that it would have been possible for Christ's church to return is what the story of Joseph Smith is, not simply a random boy in New York. 

    Scripture this week John 14:18-I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. I absolutely love not only this verse but this entire chapter. Christ came to the apostles again after he died and he is saying if you will love me and follow me I will never leave you comfortless. For he is our salvation and Savior. Anyway there have been a lot of Miracles and tender mercies. It was such a blessing that we got to the mission home without any trouble. My bags were perfectly 50lbs and I didn't have to pay any over weight fees. Today we were able to get all the groceries we needed including all the vegetables and almond milk etc... that's different from what Elder Cullimore is used to and we still had plenty of money. It was also a blessing to get a car and not have to deal with a bike for at least 12 weeks hopefully 24.

    Also my companion is flip training, so he completed his training 2 days before he started training me. Anyways, it's amazing to be here and to have so much purpose. I really am the happiest I've ever been even though it is really hard. Love you all and I have been praying for you individually, especially my beloved priests. I hope you're all doing well. Everyone Please send me a little email once in a while and let me know what you've been learning, the lessons God's been teaching you and the struggles that have been thrown your way. Love ya'll!

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