Elder May - Chapter 51

Happiest of birthdays to this 21-year son of ours.  We weren’t able to celebrate with him in person but sent him a Easter and birthday package so hopefully there was some fun this weekend.  So grateful for members in his ward who think of him and remember the Elders and Sisters birthdays.  Best news of all, he got a brand new car with safety features galore so this momma is happier.  Can’t believe next week marks his year!  Love him, miss him so, but oh, so proud of him!  Enjoy!!

Chapter 51:

1) A birthday party is a weird finding opportunity...
2) You pick your own date and we can fill this out later
3) If you could meet at our new house at 4 that would help
4) We are a rare anomaly in this world

Our first quote comes from the fact that Akino invited us to his sons
birthday party so we can meet his relatives and friends and because he
felt bad he missed church. It was weird because his whole family knew
who we were but it felt wrong to teach people at this birthday party.
Nonetheless we talked with some people. They weren't really interested
in being taught until we were about to leave. One person asked "You
guys leaving already?" and we said yes because we have to go home but
asked if he knew who we were and then taught him. He told us his
address and after we asked him to write it down and he whispered,
"this is my real address, no one here knows where I live." So we got
his name and have gone by now and he has a Book of Mormon and is
excited to learn.

Second is when we went to Semisi's house and brought him a baptismal
calendar to reset his date. We told him to look at his schedule at
work, write down a day that would work and we can come by the next
time to fill out all when we'd come by.

Third is when an investigator asked us to come by and move him and his
family into the area. We biked up there and it only took thirty
minutes then after we moved in his mother in law. What was nice is we
rode with him in the uhaul to the different places so we could get to
know him. Driving back to his house the last time he asked us to
dedicate his new home. We forgot to but we scheduled to come by this
week to do so.

Fourth is when a 70 came to our stake conference and told the stake
that we are a rare anomaly because there is almost no one else that,
a) believes Christ comes, b) believes Christ was resurrected, C)
believe that we are all going to be resurrected at all. He gave a
great talk about the resurrection. It was a pretty great stake
conference.

That was basically my week. We also got a new car to drive.

Love you all and appreciate all your prayers - Talk to you next week

Love Elder May

Elder May - Chapter 50

We along with Elder May have had countless miracles this week and we know that the miracles have come from our Heavenly Father and because of the sacrifice and service of our Elders.  WE are beyond blessed.  We love him, we miss him (especially with his birthday fast approaching) but we are oh, so proud of him.  Enjoy!

Chapter 50:

1. You can get a lot more done when you have a car. 
2.  It's not often you take a member out with you to lessons and knock on doors from 2:30-9 
3.  Baptismal Interview, Baptism, Confirmation 
4.  Yes, we taught a man named Tank. 
5.  I got to teach someone else that speaks Swahili! He also has a date set now.  

This week we did a lot of driving but it was totally worth it. We didn't need to go to Tampa at all but we did a lot of driving. We got to teach a lot of people as well and that's why I have the first quote on there. 

Secondly, a member of the ward who comes to Florida to do spring training with the Toronto Blue Jays is a returned missionary of about four years and absolutely loves missionary work. He would

come with us more often but doesn't have a car so he can't come if we don't have the car. Anyway, this week we took him out for all of Thursday and we all saw miracles. We met with a Progressing Investigator named Semisi but before that we went tracting for a bit with the member. We met a couple of teenagers outside of their house and then knocked on the neighbor’s door. A lady answered and the member takes the lead in introducing us, inviting them all to church, and to learn more about the restoration of the gospel. She gave us her phone number and was excited to meet with again.

On Friday, I got to have my first baptismal interview as a district leader. The Clearwater Sisters found someone very prepared so I interviewed her Friday, she was baptized Saturday and got the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday. So cool. 

Fourth, we met a gigantic man, named Tank, and he now owns a copy of the Book of Mormon and said we can come by anytime to teach him more. 

Lastly is that last week we meet a man named Ochan who is from Nairobi, Kenya which is where President Monson announced a new temple but Ochan doesn't know Mormons at all? But we went to his house yesterday and went through the restoration in depth and now he has a Book of Mormon, and a baptismal date. Such great miracles. 

Transfers are this week but Elder Swapp and I are staying and so is everyone else in our district. Nothing too crazy. Anyway, I love you all and will talk to you next week!

Love Elder May

Elder May: Chapter 49

As a missionary mom, there is nothing more frightening to look at your phone and see an incoming phone call from the mission home.  I am so grateful for the dear sister on the other side of the phone who said “Sister May, this is Florida Tampa Mission home.  Your Elder is fine.  I do have a question…”.  Leading with your Elder is fine tends to calm the heart quicker than just launching into what they are calling for.  I also am so grateful for the members of the ward that Elder May is serving in who welcome he and his companion into their home and treat them like family to watch conference and then remember to send pictures home to his family.  What an amazing blessing – conference and surprise pictures.  Love him and miss him so but oh, so proud of him.  Enjoy!

Chapter 49:

1) Our Commitment to you is to Strive to be like Nephi

2) Why does every member try to Bible bash with her?

3) 6 hours at the leasing office later

4) I DON'T WANT CONFERENCE TO END!

Hi Everybody!

We had a pretty...unusual week this past week. We didn't have much time to teach and that is probably what made it different but we had good reason why we couldn't. I'll explain. Monday we had our normal three hours of proselyting time. Met a new guy but we forgot to write down his name. He lives with a less active member though so it should be good.

Tuesday we had a zone conference which is where the first verse comes from. The conference went from 8:30-4:45 and one of the trainings we received was about getting rid of fear and opening our mouths. The scripture they used was Doctrine and Covenants 33:8 which reads, "Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness." And the commitment to us was to talk to everyone so you feel like Nephi. Pretty sweet commitment. There were a few others as well but this one might be the coolest.

Wednesday was normal but we saw a miracle. A lady we are teaching who needs to come to church,   her and felt prompted to so we went and biked down there. We show up and she is outside, "YAY", and not only that but so was her granddaughter who is preparing for baptism as well. Not only that but we talked to them about General Conference and they wanted to go to that. (They weren't able to but still) and even better, her daughter came out when we were talking about it and we got to testify of modern day prophets, general conference and the restoration and she said that something told her to come outside and listen and she knows why now because she just wants her and her family to have peace and come closer to God so she is a new investigator now. 

had bronchitis last week but we wanted to meet with

Thursday we went out with a member for the day but mostly everything fell through. One that didn't is a progressing investigator named Kim who we want to Book of Mormon read with if we don't have a member and teach lessons when we do so we aren't out front of her house. So far through each time we have a member with us, if she doesn't fully understand something, they bash with her and throw out very scripture they know. It is interesting but part of the calling.  

Friday we moved apartments. Same complex different apartment. My new address is 1806 Sunset Point Apt A and the rest is the same. But in order for us to get the keys we apparently needed to see if we were criminals and to do that we needed my social security number and I don't have that memorized yet, and to do that I needed the mission secretary to call my mom, and after that the office got really busy, and during that we got put on the back burner until a total of 6 hours had gone by then we got the keys and were moved in in a total of maybe an hour.

Saturday and Sunday were fantastic though because we got to learn from prophets, apostles and inspired men and women for two days, in member’s homes, then afterwards talk with them about it and share the Easter video. The link is Prince of Peace.  Watch it because it is POWERFUL!

SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

It was a great week, a little weird but great nonetheless. I love you all!

Love,

Elder May