Elder Powell: Eternal Joy

Hello All!

GUESS WHAT. Happy December!! I can’t believe Christmas is literally THREE weeks away from TODAY. This year has utterly flown by and we are less than a month until New Years Eve and 2018! Wahoo! Christmas lights and decorations are really starting to light up here in Quitman. As I have said before, it is ultimately the “small town Hallmark Channel Movie city” you see where the girl gets a flat tire and Prince Charming comes along and rescues her and has to stay in the small town rather than New York City. IT IS PERFECT. It is the cutest little town here in Quitman during Christmas time.

Anyway, this week was busy, busy, busy! To best part of the week: Cadie Barrera got Baptized on Saturday! After hard work on her family, especially her father, with reactivation and worthiness responsibilities, Danny was able to Baptize their daughter. It was such a wonderful and joyous experience to witness for both of them. We are proud of their growth in the Gospel and Cadie’s desire and decision to follow the example of her Savior Jesus Christ.

In the meantime, Tuesday, we were able to go out with our Stake High Councilor Pilot Brother Pollard and talk about airplane and flying while Elder Rowell continues to be confused and bored during the time. Haha. We did a service project for a less active by doing a bunch of yard work, always so fun in the beautiful Texas winter weather, and visit a variety of people. Plus, Brother Pollard always takes us out to get Gator, the most delicious food in the world!

Wednesday, we were out visiting some less actives again and once a door opened that we knocked, a man answered the door in his Subway uniform and we just dropped our jaw. Hahaha the less active man is one of the workers we know really well at the Subway and had no idea he was a member! He has always kept quiet about the church and not saying anything about it to us so it all came together finally and we were stoked about it. What a coincidence. Of course, we went to Subway later on and got to see him again hehehe.

Thursday – Saturday was the excitement! We went up to the BIG D for our Mission Tour with Elder Pearson of the Seventy. Elder Pearson actually came with Elder Anderson back in February for Valentine’s Day so it was awesome to hear and see him again. We stayed with three other Elders in Oak Cliff which was North of my last area in Waxahachie and five miles South of downtown Dallas so it was nice to be where I am already familiar with very well and be with Elders I haven’t seen in a while. So much fun. Friday we had to wake up at 4:30am (which by the way I was freaking out that it was Dec. 1st and everyone was so frustrated and angry about everything hahah) to get to the church by 7:00am for a Leadership meeting before Zone Conference started at 8:30am. One-on-one interaction with him was very special.

The Conference lasted until 4:30pm. Long day indeed. The theme was “How to get the mission to the next level.” He definitely pounded down to us in a group to step up and become the Missionaries Heavenly Father wants us to become. A week prior to the conference, we each had to prepare a 3-5 minute talk to give at the conference. He picked 3 of 90 Missionaries to give the talk and Elder Rowell nor myself were chosen so we felt very blessed. Hahaha. Really powerful and special meeting.

Which brings us tooo…. #FridayNightDateNight!! Okay yeah, pretty thrilled to be in the BIG D on a Friday Night again. We were able to go to Panera Bread right in downtown which is just smothered with Christmas lights and decorations and beyond perfection. There were indeed several young cute couples on dates EVERYWHERE. We were able to find four Spanish Families for the Spanish Elders to teach (somehow I always find a way to get them new investigators of the limited Spanish I know hahaha) and 8 other families for the English Elders to teach. All in two hours! We were going crazy at the cafe and in downtown. We were able to share the #LightTheWorld video and share some Eternal Family scriptures and things got real. Between December – February teaching the Plan of Salvation will attract anyone you meet. Trust me, I know

Saturday, we woke up at 4:30am again to head to the church building by 7:00am for Mission Leadership Council (MLC). It was a quick two hour meeting that wrapped up the mission tour to get the Mission to the “next level.” It was such a fun experience and opportunity to be with President and Sister Dalton, Elder Pearson, and the rest of the missionaries and leadership the past couple of days. After the meeting, we definitely went to CHICK-FIL-A for lunch!! It was perfect. I have missed it so much. And guys, you would not believe it. There was a a married couple on their honeymoon at Chick-Fil-A!!! Ahhhh in what world! We totally talked about their cute wedding and all the plans they had for it. Sounded so special. And once again, we were able to teach the Plan of Salvation to them!! They just admired and loved it. It’s like I’m good at teaching that lesson or something haha. Of course, they became new investigators (sorta) that live in Chicago so we had to transfer the teaching record up there. Super powerful and super lovely.

Once we got home, it was the Baptism and that topped off the week. But wait, there’s more! In the evening, it was the Quitman Christmas Parade!! Just like in the Hallmark Movies, parade was Christmas themed with lights and decorations everywhere. Right in mini downtown with Speakeasy hosting Santa Clause with pictures and deals on food. It was PACKED. I am so spoiled and got my picture taken for free. Hehe. If you could have guessed, #SaturdayNightDateNight to the max here in Quitman for the parade and festivities. We were able to teach a 14 couples the Plan of Salvation!! Every one of them was blown away and wanted to know more. New Investigators yet againnnnn. WOW! The looks on their faces when marriages can last for time and all eternity is the most precious sight. Our Loving Heavenly Father intends for us to be families forever. What a special night.

I hope you all had the opportunity to watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional yesterday! This is a wonderful time to share and show love to our brothers and sisters. We are Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must witness unto our Loving Heavenly Father the love we have for everyone. Through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, we become even better than we were. We must continue to progress ever day and not sit on a flat line. Let us be bold and follow the example of our Savior by “living Repentance and becoming Converted.” By doing so, we will be blessed by our Father and receive joy, happiness, and peace.

Thanks for the continued love and support. Continue to #LightTheWorld each and everyday. What a special time of year it is to be celebrating. Be sure to make this week, count!

Bye