Elder Erickson's Mission Adventures: Week 101: Exchanges, Thanksgiving, and Brandon!

Again, as always it was another great week in the work of the Lord!

It started off with a zone conference in Vidor to finish all the zone conferences. We left Monday evening to get out there so we would be able to wake up early and set up. When we left it was raining so had to fit everything in the cab of the truck. We were also going on exchanges until Wednesday night so we had to pack our blow up mattresses and clothes and what not for half the week, so all of that garbage as well as the zone conference supplies. It was stuffed to the brim! (Ill try to remember to send a picture of it.) It was a good zone conference! We had gumbo for lunch! It was only my second time having it....and by Elder Hepworth's mouth...it was my first real gumbo....It was pretty good, then after I went with the Zone leaders in Vidor and Elder Hepworth went with the Zone leaders in Beaumont. We had gumbo for a second time Wednesday night for dinner! haha 2 times in 2 days isn't bad for missing it my whole mission! We had a good time in Vidor, it has some sort of magnetic force that draws in white trash so we were able to do some good missionary work! haha. We came back Wednesday night and woke up for Thanksgiving. We had dinner with the Silvers and Armendarez family from the ward! It was a pretty classic meal, Elder Hepworth and I got to make the potatoes. We pulled out the beater and I felt like it was Sunday dinner back home. In the evening we went to the mission home, the Crawford's invited all of the close missionaries over for pie. It was a good time and nice to spend some of it will the Crawfords and other missionaries.

Friday we had a lesson scheduled with Brandon...we went over and his grandpa told us he wasn't there. We were pretty bummed. The next day we called and he told us that he was upstairs and thought he heard his name but by the time he came down we were already gone. So good news was that he didn't drop the appointment! Saturday we went on exchanges again! I was able to go back to Broadway and use my Spanish! I actually felt OK about it! Teresa's mother passes away, this poor women has had the hardest life! It was nice to be back in Magnolia! I Love the Poor and Ghetto! Yesterday Brandon came to church again! It was fast and testimony meeting and he said he really felt the spirit during the testimonies! In gospel Principles he had already read the lesson during the week to prepare for the class (probably the only one in the whole class that had done so). He is so awesome! After church he came over to Bro. Keo's house and we taught the Word of Wisdom...We thought he might have a problem...He smokes and drinks coffee but he mentioned how as soon as we started coming by he has been doing less and less of it! It is such a miracle to see how the Lord is preparing him! I Love it and how humble he is, so much! I've learned a lot from him. He said he can quit because it is all in his head really! We are still on for the 15th!

Love you all! Keep the Christmas Spirit! as a mission we are reading the gospels as well as 3 nephi of Christ's ministry. y'all should do the same :)

Con amor y respeto

Elder Erickson