ELDER POWELL: Happy Valentine’s Day

Hello hello!

Can you believe what week it is ALREADY?? The Valentine’s week has arrived. It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Our plans are set and ready to rock. To keep the suspense, I will not say a word until next week. *hint* all missionary approved activities. Haha. #ValentinesDay2018 is going to be something to remember. What a wonderful day, week, and month to appreciate love and the true meaning behind such a powerful word.  I just can’t describe my excitement for this week!!

Last week was a crazy day between a massive end of transfer Zone P-Day and gearing up for the #LoveMonth I was unable to email. Paris & Hugo has now been split so now my new companion, Elder Grimes, and I have moved to Oklahoma to serve in the Hugo Branch specifically. The Paris Ward were able to receive two new missionaries. Happily serving as the District Leader to one of the biggest Districts in the mission, of ten missionaries including a Senior Couple. Elder Grimes has been out 13 months and from Heber City, UT. We have known each other since his first day out, all starting from when I was in Irving & Waxahachie. I was able to be his District Leader for three months and now I get to be with him once more. It has already been a blast of a transfer and looking forward to the next five weeks! Except he can’t wait until the #LoveMonth passes. Hahaha.

We have been working on changing up the schedules and appointments to include week days instead of solely on weekends like it was prior to the area split. The members are incredibly enthusiastic to finally have their own set of full-time missionaries.

Wednesday we were able to have our first Facebook Video Message District Meeting of the transfer. Like before, we only gather in person for District Meeting once a transfer at Interviews due to how spread apart we are. We were all able to set goals for the upcoming weeks and catch everyone up to speed of what else is happening within the Zone as well as Investigators. We have a very young District, including Zone, that we are excited to serve, teach, uplift, and encourage.

We have already reactivated six people since serving here in December. The work is progressing so well. We are hopeful to have at least three baptisms in March, including two children from a part-member family and another individual. This small town is hopping with miracles and opportunities to help others come unto Christ!

Guess what time it is? HOLD ON. #FridayNightDateNight is HERE. With Hugo only having a Subway and McDonalds, we are really making our mark in these two places. Every time we walk into Subway, the workers  are already making up our sandwiches and holding the door open for us. Apparently they always talk about us between all the Subway workers too…haha. Anyway, as always, hehe, there was a SUPER cute young couple on a date. Naturally I went over to start up a conversation with them. They have been married for…….11 months! I was so excited and congratulated them for almost making it to a full year. They even showed me pictures of their wedding. Adorable! I came up with a good idea, especially because I’m always hungry, I quickly bought another footlong turkey on white and freshly baked peanut butter cookie and made up an awesome lesson plan. I explained to the couple that the first 6 inch sub was the pre mortal life, and other 6 inch being the mortal life, and the delicious peanut butter cookie being the post moral life for dessert! Since dessert is the the best, well so is eternal marriage and family. Ehhhhhh see what I did there??? SCORE! We had a wonderful discussion about the Plan of Salvation and our beliefs of family and marriage. While eating afterwards altogether They really enjoyed the lesson and welcomed us back to visit them this week. How awesome!! What’s better than talking to a cute couple, at Subway, eating and talking about eternal families. On a Friday Night. What an evening!

Saturday we were able to help move a family to another house within the Branch boundaries. One of my favorite things to do. The new house is in the middle of nowhere on all these dirt roads, but a beautiful home and property. Afterwards, we went on splits with a member of the branch and able to visit some really wonderful people.

To leave you with a scripture in preparation for this upcoming Valentine’s Day:

1 Corinthians 11:11

“Nevertheless neither is the man without the women, neither the women without the man, in the Lord.”

To then…

4 Nephi 1:11

“And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them.”

I suppose “”1:11” is a must in making a wish!

I know through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we can be bound in Heaven forever through His Holy Temples. I’m blessed to be able to have this knowledge and be able to enthusiastically share it with so many others. Pour out love to your fellow brothers and sisters and uplift that ONE person today. You don’t understand the type of positive example and light you are to the people around you. What a special time to be extra loving and caring to all.

Thanks for your continued love and support. I love each of you and wish you a lovely heart filled Hallmark Channel Valentine’s Day!! ️

Bye