Elder Powell: Post-Valentine’s Day

Hey y’all!

Happy last full week of this perfect Valentine’s and Love Month!! I just cannot describe the most special experiences and events that happened not only this month, but just THIS week! It has been a wild one. First of all and most importantly, thank YOU each for all your lovely emails this past Valentine’s Day. I laughed at my amazing mother for such a special request without me even knowing she did. It sure made my Valentine’s Day extra perfect. The second and last Valentine’s Day on my mission has come to complete and now to look forward to celebrating my favorite Holiday for real!!

Okay, let’s get to the most important parts. The ones we all care about. It all starts on Tuesday and Valentine’s Eve. Things are getting serious! Before departing to Paris Texas Tuesday evening (The Love City of Texas) of course, we went to…..Subway!!! Surprise! Haha anyway, we went to get delicious food and the entire staff was there to welcome us right in! We then dived into a conversation with an adorable couple that were on their pre-Valentine’s date. We taught them about Eternal Families and they thought it was beyond incredible and became new investigators! Just as we about left, the staff made everyone in the store very aware that the entire staff of Subway had a Valentine’s Gift for me. I was jumping up and down for joy and excitement. Everyone at Subway was dying of laughter.

After, we drove to Paris to meet with the Paris Elders and drove with them to stay the night in Quitman with the Elders down there. We were having a 6 Elder slumber party altogether to ring in the wonderful Valentine’s morning! It was wonderful. The other 5 Elders were dying and couldn’t believe we were altogether in one apartment on Valentine’s Day. Hahaha. We had to wake up at 5:30am to head down to…Tyler Texas for Zone Conference!! As much as I wish we didn’t have such a meeting on the best day of the year…I made sure to wish our Mission President a Happy Valentine’s Day and he asked if I could be his Valentine. Hahahaha I told him yes and we would go to Chick-Fil-A after the meeting. It was hilarious.

After the meeting, we drove back up to Quitman and went to…..Speakeasy Coffee House!!! My favorite place in the entire world. I haven’t been there since December and to be able to make it there on Valentine’s Day with lovely decorations and pink hot chocolate was incredible. It was amazing to visit with them again! We drove back to Paris and got our car to drive back to Hugo and went straight to Subway to pick up my Valentine’s Gift! We got in and there were heart streamers decorating the store and tonsssss of cute couples on their dinner dates! They all screamed for joy as they were holding the door open for us to come in. Our sandwiches were already half made and ready to go. Then……they brought out a beautiful Subway Box with……14 PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES. All for free!!! Hence, the 14th which is love day and my favorite cookie they all sang us a song and everyone in the store clapped at them and for me. It was a party going on at Subway. We setup camp at our table with Books of Mormon and pamphlets and food and we started teaching! We taught the 8 couples, so 16 people all at once about Eternal Families! They gave us permission to teach during operation and everyone was actually interested and asking loads of questions! I have never seen such a sight in my entire life. We got 3 couples, so 6 new Investigators out of that mass teaching opportunity in the middle of Subway while we were all eating. Hahahaha it was the best thing I have ever done. The entire town of Hugo was at Subway! Oh yeah – one of the Subway workers burst into tears of feeling of the Spirit. It was fantastic.

Fast forward to #FridayNightDateNight and we had yet another party! We went to Taco Bell, along with my Subway that I brought in haha, to catch a less active we are heavily working with. She started working at Taco Bell a few weeks ago and we decided to go visit her at work. While we were there, a couple in their mid 30’s rushed up to us and said they knew exactly who they were! They mentioned to us that their friends heard about Eternal Marriage and they were so fascinated about it and they wanted to know more! They have 3 young kids. We had a discussion with them for a few minutes and they both became new investigators! Yay!!

This has been one incredible week. We were able to witness many miracles and uplifting experiences with each of us. How I enjoy being a missionary. With only five months remaining, I am giving it my all. I love serving in Hugo with Elder Grimes being a District Leader to such wonderful and young missionaries. This is a precious gift I have been given by the Lord.

Thanks for all your continued love and support. Happy last full week of the love month!

Bye