A New Record!

MEL CAME TO CHURCH! WOOOOOO! This is the first time an investigator has come to church from this area since Leon got baptised 6 months ago!

So things are looking up. But It really is stressful to have someone at church... all the talks were on missionary work, and I was like... "MAN he is gonna be so bored!" But afterwards people were talking to him, and he said one of the talks just hit him *points to his heart* right here. HAHA! He is so old. I bet he doesn't even know what the talks were about, but he loves people and talking to people and people talking to him, so I think he chooses his favorite talks based on who gave them..

So, he has a bad leg, and sitting on the hard seats is torcher for him.. so after sacrament he said "I think I'm gonna sit this next class out." and he went and sat on the couch.... Then when its ends, he goes to the bathroom and we are waiting to go to the next class.. and he comes out of the bathroom and goes and sits on the couch again! we were like "do you want to come to class?" and he said "no, i don't think my legs quite ready."

SO! 2 hours of sitting in the hall... BORING! But I got a hold of bishop and asked if there were any cushier chairs. he said to take the wing seats anywhere we want. but by that time Mel says "The class is just about over now, we will do it next week.." ..... 45 minutes later class ends.

AHH!! but it was funny. We will try the chair thing next week.

so, thats our great news. 1 at church!

President Called

I missed the call because we were contacting this lady. But as soon as we were done, I looked and saw the message and freaked out.. I immediately thought "Emergency transfer". Elder George thought NO. He thought he might just be calling to talk about presidents letters.. yeah right. In the middle of the day? I listened to the message and it said "Elder George, Elder Liechty, this is President Paulson. Give me a call back when you have a chance." That was it... He didnt sound happy either.

I immediately started to think if we had done anything wrong... Nothing! We have been perfect! So... EMERGENCY TRANSFER! Thats all it could be.

We called back.. and my fears were confirmed! Almost.

President told me that there was a "possibility" that I would be transferred.. He said there is a missionary somewhere in the mission that wants to leave his area. And he might come join Elder George. And I would have to go be with this other missionary. Well then Prez talked to Elder George and was telling him he thought I could go senior and asking him if he thought I was ready. Man.. I told Prez I didnt really want to leave.. Things are just starting to happen here.

So he said he would get back to us.

Then, the next day, transfers came in. Sister Horning is in the zone. For the first time EVER we are serving in the same zone. At least for now.. But she was talking to me and said she was so excited and how she thought she would never serve around me, because one of the assistants told her she never would... I was just like... "Yeah........"

Well, then we had some exciting news. MEL has picked a date! Sep. 17th! So we will be working with him on quitting smoking soon! he said he would start today!

But, since we got a date with him, we got to call Prez. So we did, and talked for a while about the date and who Mel was and stuff. And then he was about to go, so I quickly asked him about the transfer. He started to laugh a little bit and said that he didnt know.. He had heard from the missionary 3 times that day. Once saying he wanted to stay.. then he wanted to go.. now he wanted to stay.. so he said he will probably just make him stay for the full 6 weeks. But again, he would let us know.

Pain Cant Stop Me

I got bit by a dog! NO JOKE! In Canada of all places! I never thought to worry about that happening! It was a stupid little pug! We are stopping by some kid who said he might be interested, and his brother says he is not there, and then we hear this dog barking and running from behind him and he barrels out the door, and runs right into the leg of my Comp. He doesn't attack or anything.. but then he walked around for a bit... Then jumps up at me and bites me on the hand! The guy at the door didn't even know it bit me. He just grabs the dog, takes him inside, and closes the door.. and I'm standing there, open mouthed... with a bloody thumb..

I was in shock.

It didn't hurt that bad.. but I was mad.. I couldn't believe I actually got bit by a dog.

Well, we had taken a 10 min. bus ride to get to their house.. and the next bus didn't come for another hour.. So we had to walk all the way back to the apartment to dress my wound. (Elder George was like "Do you want to go back.. or could you clean it in a water fountain..?" as my blood drips on the ground..) That was last Monday.... that is how my week started.

that dog better not have rabies.

Comfortable

Yesterday, we went to visit one of the Karen families in our area. We got there, and they let us in. They were just finishing up dinner, and they were watching the Karen/Burma war on tv.(...Its televised?)

They asked us if we liked noodles.. we had already eaten, but I wasnt going to pass up an opportunity to try crazy Karen food. I said yes. and they let us go to the table and mix our food. It was noodles with this soup you put on it, and then all sorts of toppings. chilli powder, fried garlic and onions... Fish juice... Thats what they called it.. The didnt know the word in English.. I passed on that.

But it was pretty good.

Afterwards. we went and sat on there couch. Their sliding door was open that lead to their second story apartment balcony. We watch and it started to get windy.. and then rainy. and then it poured! it was so fun. just to watch it with them..

Then we read with them about joseph smith. It was short.. they dont speak much english, so we usually keep it short.

There was just a good feeling in the room. I love that family. So generous. Such a good end to the week.

I Met 3 drunk guys in one day

We were walking down 20th st. One that we have been told to be careful of... And I found out why! We were stoping by a lady that used to meet with the missionaries, and this Drunk (and I mean DRUNK!) guy comes up to us. he's like "hey! whats in your bible?" I just looked at him.. and said "What?" and he repeated "What's in your bible?"

We could obviously tell he was plastered, so we didnt really pay much attention to him, seeing as we had already knocked on the door of the lady's house. But he just keeps yelling "Talk to me! Turn around!" and I told him that we would be there is a second, but we had to talk to this lady first, who had answered the door. But he keeps yelling! "Whats in your bible? 13:3!" And I turn around, and i'm just frustrated. "13:3 what!?" and he replied "13:3!" to which i said "13:3 what!? What book!?" ... "Your BIBLE!" he says... AHHHH!!

My comp, through it all, finds out that the lady we were looking for has moved. And she was obviously not wanting to stay at the door, with this drunk guy on her sidewalk. So she left.

So we go talk to him. "What do you want to know! what book!?" He says "your bible" a few more times, but finaly, he says "Hebrews."

I was holding a Book of Mormon.

"This doesn't have Hebrews in it." i told him. but he tells me to give it to him. So I do. He looks through it for a bit, and starts reading the names.... and doesn't recognize any of them. I tried to tell him it was a different book. but he just stops somewhere in alma and says "here it is!" and starts reading something about the Judges....

All I said was "wow.. you found Hebrews! I didnt know it was in there."

He seemed pretty pleased with himself, and we talked for a while. He told us he was an angel with a broken wing.. about 4 times.. At first he introduced himself as Sid... then he said Jeff when he looked at me.. It was kinda creepy..

My comp looked behind him and he started going off about never looking behind you! "theres nothing back there!" he kept saying.

I started to have a lot of fun with him. He was nice. He kept calling us "long hairs" (his hair was a shaggy mess) and when he found out we were from Utah he said "ya bunch of hippies!" I loved it! we were dressed in nice white shirts and ties, and he's a drunk on the corner calling us hippies. It was so funny.

Then we asked him if he had family in town and he said "yeah! Your my family!"

And i was just like "YEAH!" and i go to give him a high five.. but he gave us both hugs instead. haha!

Well, he was still holding our Book of Mormon, and he asked, "Is Revelations in here man?"

My comp tells him no, but he keeps looking in the back and gets to the index and sees the word prophet. "here it is man, here it is" and i got all excited for him "You Found it! no way! i didnt know it was in there!"

he just kept talking to himself "yeah man, Prophets. Here it is..."

Well his drunk buddy came up and told us not to talk to him. Then they hugged and his buddy complimented my tie.. but we figured it was time to get out of there.

The guy, sid or jeff.. held the Book of Mormon to is chest and said "Keep it in here, man." and handed it back..

as we were leaving i said, "see ya, sid.. or jeff or whatever" and he said "it's Sid!"...

what a great day.

The Ivy League

We had a dinner appointment last night at the Slocombe's (stake president)... it was good. the people were so... smart.. and well mannered.. talking about the "Manifesto" and when the Russians had their war... I felt so out of place. Nothing like Sunday dinner at home, talking about sponge bob and laughing our heads off when Adam says something ridiculous/offensive (but funny)!

It was fun to pretend to be smart. When they said some fact i would just nod and agree "Oh yes, yes. Quite right". "yes, i believe that was the name of Picasso's first painting."

Haha

It made me appreciate who i was though. I like me, and i like my family and friends. We are so fun.

The Pigeon Problem

We have a "pigeon problem" at our new apartment. They LOVE to hang out and poop ALL over our deck... And there are two baby pigeons in a nest in the corner.. and two more on the way... man.... i want to crush them sometimes.. (the Eggs.. not the baby's..) but I think I would rather watch them hatch. We may build an incubator.

*UPDATE*

The Assistants to the president came over and threw the pigeon eggs off the balcony. so I guess that solves that problem.