Week 11 - 2 months into the mish

Hey guys

So I was almost not gonna write this week but I feel bad so I’m gonna make it happen. First off, I love all the emails I get from you guys. I read them all. I’m sorry if I don’t respond, but I promise I read them. I read them when I get them during the week and then by the end I have a ton of emails and It’s a mess, but just know that I read every one of them and they are the highlights of my week. Really. Okay so this week has been a grind for sure. Still not sure what’s going on and not sure if I’m making a difference, but the changes are happening within so that’s good. Here’s what I’m gonna cover:

1. Homeless perfume

2. A woman?

3. Tent City

4. Dante

5. Spiritual Stuff

1. So, call me weird, but when I was younger I had a great epiphany- if girls like the way guy cologne smells, why don’t they wear it? And vice versa: if guys like the way girls perfume smells, why don’t we wear it instead of cologne? Believe it or not, this idea puzzled me in my youth. I would bring it up with family members and they didn’t understand my logic. So, fast forward to this past week, I was at a homeless shelter handing out food and stuff, and I heard this one guy talking outloud to someone and said “I wear girls perfume.”. I was shocked. Then I listened further: “because guys like the way girls perfume smells”. It was like a flashback of memories came flooding back. I literally remember looking up and I was just speechless. Anyways, that was pretty neat. Hey, by the way, I don’t wear girls perfume. 

2. Another thing- so me and Elder Kimball were in a shoe store and put on some “hand sanitizer” but then when our hands got all sticky we realized it was this weird lotion. Anywho, so then we needed actual hand sanitizer to fix the stickiness so we went into an ice cream shop. We walked in, the little bell rang notifying whoever was working, and we went for the hand sanitizer by the counter. Then, the scariest thing happened. A member of the opposite gender came from behind the counter to assist us. We froze, absolutely petrified, having not seen a being so beautiful since before our setting apart. Let me tell you, she was gorgeous. Probably our age, tan, long brown hair, brown eyes, and a christ-like personality (probably). Still trying to get her out of my head. Anyways, she asked how she could help and we just stood there. Then, Elder Kimball said something weird like “hey” and if I remember right I followed up with a “howdy”. It was horrible. Then instead of letting her assist us, we grabbed the hand sanitizer and dipped. We probably looked pretty stupid, but again she couldn’t see our faces. If she saw my face she’d probably have asked for my number though. Jk haha. Well maybe. Who knows. Then, when we were outside, still comprehending the previous events, Elder Kimball turned to me and said, very seriously, “Did you just see what I saw?”. Then, I replied, “ A woman?”. “Yes.” he said. So that was exciting. Female from the ice cream store next to imos pizza, if you are reading this, I am sorry, but I cannot date you. I am serving the Lord. But HMU after the mish please.

3. So this week me and some of my boys went to the homeless shelter to do service. It was awesome. Lots of mission opportunities. Then after the homeless shelter we went to another place called “tent city”. And you guessed it, it’s just a bunch of tents where some homeless people live. Me and Elder Kimball were talking to some of them and talked to a guy named Rudy. He told us that he is the governor of tent city haha which is cool. We talked about the Bible and I asked if he knew about Christ’s visit to the Americas. He was like “whaaaaaaatt???” So long story short, we ran him a book of mormon and are going to go back to tent city tomorrow. So that’s exciting! I basically got my first non 0-0-0-0 week! Buttttt he’s in Elder Pugsley's area so we're gonna have to hand him over to them.

4. So last week I gave exciting news about that guy we ran into at the park! His name is Dante. He was asking us questions and stuff and we had gotten his number! So flashforward to this week, I gave him a call. Not sure what he was on or if it was a wrong number, but imagine a guy just yelling at you in straight gibberish. I’ll try to type out what it sounded like- “heno haya tinkle umbu futi papata”. That’s pretty close to what it sounded like honestly. I was like. “What?” and then he said it again “heno haya tinkle umbu futi papata”. Sounded like an indian accent. We were both really confused. Then, I, in my infinite wisdom, thought “well if he doesn’t speak english...he probably speaks ferb latin” so I was like “sierb istherb antederb? Tsierb heterb issionariesmerb.”. He hung up. Then the other missionaries started giving me crap and said “dude why did you try ferb latin instead of spanish”. Duh! So I called him back. He said the same thing - “heno haya tinkle umbu futi papata”. Then I responded in spanish. Then in ENGLISH he said “Who is this?” I was like “the missionaries” and he hung up. So, rip Dante. That was a low point of my week. 

5. Okay fellas, spiritual time! Wow okay so this week has been really tough. The mission isn’t hard for why I thought it would be. I imagined myself knocking doors in a foreign land, speaking a weird language, eating weird foods, teaching and baptizing a lot, having cool experiences, etc. But here I am in a reassignment with nothing too strange. Everybody is rich, I’m getting fed a lot, and I’m not really teaching anybody. Kinda hurts. So I was reading in Helaman 7. This is where Nephi, the son of helaman, was really hurting because of all the sin going on. He says. 

“7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have ajoyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, bfirm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—

8 Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.

9 But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with asorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.”

This hit hard. I totally relate. Man if only I could have had my mission earlier. I wish I had been a missionary when my dad was, or when my grandpa was, or just something else. Right now, I’m struggling with the fact that these are my days. Also I’m super jealous of all the people who live through the millennium. So when I read this, I felt a connection with Nephi. Then, days later in a mission wide devotional I was listening to, the speaker brought up this same scripture and asked about “why did the Lord call you to serve in a pandemic?”. His answer was that “he called you at this time because he knows you.”. Just like he knew Nephi would work his best to preach the gospel despite the wickedness of the people, he KNOWS that I will work my hardest even in this pandemic. Maybe I would have more baptisms as a missionary in the Dominican Republic without coronavirus, but he needs me here right now because he knows I will push through it. He knows I won't give up. This has been my relationship with the Lord in the past as well. I just don’t give up on the gospel or the Lord. It hurts, but I have always had full faith things will work out. And, to this day, they always have. So I’m gonna keep giving this my all even when I feel like nothing is happening. Maybe I’m not changing others lives, but I do feel a change/conversion happening within myself. Reminds me of something my uncle said in an email to me. It really hit me. He was telling me about how there are some future missionaries out there wanting to serve missions but just waiting until they are more favorable. Hopefully he’s okay with me sharing this haha

“At face value, their attitude could make a lot of sense given how unpredictable travel/economy/etc. is right now. But they're forgetting the entire point - willingness to submit to the Lord's will and timing. You are called to serve - doesn't matter where, or how it may appear right now. The Lord needs people to step up and show up, not wait until it's "more favorable". You think the world and societal conditions are going to stop His work? No, nothing will stop his work and blessings D&C 121:33. Seems to me there may be some separation happening between the wheat and the tares. Grateful for your example of responding when the Lord calls, not only when it's "favorable" to respond.”

This gave comfort too, because it reminded me that I am here for the right reasons. If I wasn’t, I would dip soooo fast haha. It really does feel like a separation of the what and the tares. The Lord gives trials of faith to see who’s really on his side. The refiners fire is too hot for people who love the things of the world more than they love God. I want to go to the Dominican so bad, but I’m not serving a mission to go to the dominican republic. I’m serving to show the Lord that I will be where he wants me, when he wants me there. At the end of the day, that’s really why we are given trials: to prove who’s side we’re on. Reading the book saints, I kinda had a revelation that that’s one of the reasons why polygamy happened. The people who plotted to kill Joseph smith left the church over polygamy. The commandment was too hard for them, so they went from following the prophet to killing him. We are given trials to see if we will endure it well and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am getting better at knowing how I hear him. When I read from the Book of Mormon now, I have a little book where I write down impressions. It’s been super helpful. I never realized how much he speaks to me. I also hear him through music. My favorite thing is just to sit down at the piano and play. I literally feel his presence when I do so. This week we were listening to “Bring Him Home” from les miserables but performed by MoTab. It was good stuff. But while listening to it, Elder Kimball said that this song is like us and the savior. He is pleading to heavenly father to bring us home. I literally started bawling when he said that and i listened to the lyrics. Luckily I was wearing a mask and sunglasses so nobody saw the tears that were coming or my quivering mouth, but it hit hard. I need to work on my relationship with the savior, and as I do that I know he will help me find people to teach. 

Guys, please do me a favor and study the Book of Mormon! IT CLAPS SO HARD. It will answer the questions you have. It is true! I can’t say it enough! 

I have so many spiritual insights I wish I could just shove into all your brains, but you gotta work for it. The spirit will teach you as you put in the work. I love you all! Don’t forget that THIS IS THE WAY that leads to happiness. I promise that. Nothing else in life will bring the satisfaction, peace, and joy that the gospel does. Also watch conference. I’m so hyped for it. Literally just as hyped for conference as I was for avengers endgame to come out.

I had some other possible miracles I was gonna share this week that I was excited about, but then thought of the phrase “success is never final”. In other words, they are a good start, but it’s not enough. I will share some of those experiences once I know I’ve done everything I can to keep the work moving forward. 

I think that’s it for this week. Hope everyone is chillin and having a gucci time. The church is true, I know that. Wish I could teach and baptize everyone in the world haha. But Jesus will help a lot when he comes so lets pray for that to happen soon. 

Also I have to add how weird it is to have Elder Pugsley here. I’m in this weird new place having weird experiences and then my best man from high school shows up and it’s like my two worlds combine. From girls, to band, to SBO, to bowling, to walking around in unicorn onesies at macy’s, and then to the mission. It’s just wack, but pretty awesome. I bet we’ll be companions eventually. At this point, it wouldn’t even surprise me. 

Adios muchachos

1. Me taking President Bells dog on a walk

2. felt cute. might dele

3. Me, Elder Kimball, and Elder Pugsley

4. After our spanish study I snapped this gem of a picture.

5. sunset

Week 10 - less than 100 weeks left I think

What’s up fellas

The most important part of this email is the invitation I’m going to leave for you guys at the end. It’s very important. So, if you’re not gonna read the email, scroll to the very bottom (step 7) and follow through with my invite. It’s pretty awesome.

Alright hombres, so this week was decent. Every day and every week it feels like things get better, but even then I feel like I’m not really making progress at the rate I would like to. As far as dealing with myself, I’m not a very patient person, and I have a tendency to get discouraged when I don’t see the result of my efforts as soon as I would like. I had an interview with president bell and his invitation to me was to be patient with myself so that’s what I’m trying to do. Anyways, got some funny stuff to share too so here we go.

1. Phantom of Elder McNeil

2. Almost died

3. approved/unapproved music

4. 160?

5. Teaching people

6. Spiritual thought..?

7. INVITATION

1. Aight so like I mentioned last week, Elder McNeil got transferred. It was kinda sad to see him go honestly. Until we found out he was getting “transferred” to our same apt complex and moving into me and my comps ward, but just out of our current apartment. So basically he’s still here. While he was staying in our apartment though, he would hide in the closet by the door in my room and when I’d walk in he would scare me. DROVE ME CRAZY. One time that he scared it me it made me so mad that I full on punched him and he fell to the floor. Anyways so he would scare me all the time and I was never ready for it. But the closet he’s scaring me from has a bunch of white shirts hanging on the coat hangers, so when I walk in now, out of the corner of my eye I see a white shirt and I always think Elder McNeil is there again. Essentially, everytime I walk into my room I jump and yelp. I literally always think he’s there. It’s not a good way to live. 

2. Okay so this was kinda scary. So Elder Morgan was driving, and he was turning left. Our light had turned from green to red, so naturally when that happens on a left turn you just go. So he started making the left turn, but I could see that the oncoming traffic wasn’t slowing down, so I yelled and grabbed the wheel to stop Elder Morgan from turning as the car skirted past. Basically I almost died. He almost just turned me into oncoming traffic and the car would have totally nailed me. Good thing I was paying attention. Thank you safety zone!!!

3. So as a missionary we can’t listen to a whole lot of music. Or good music anyways. Our library has to be either 1) produced by the church or 2) instrumental hymns. So that’s not a whole lot of stuff, especially for a guy who lives off of music. Butttt there are some songs that are “approved” but probably shouldn’t be. For example, some Motab. I think they’re trying to expand their range of people who listen to their music, so they have some songs that are not “missionary appropriate”. Like for example, Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. TabCats did an arrangement of it. So it’s approved, but like not really. But, if it’s approved it’s approved, sooooo I’ll jam to it. Anyways me and Elder Morgan were in our room playing some modern motab on my speaker and then the ZL’s came in to chastise us because it sounded unapproved. Then I showed them that it was by motab and they were shocked. Then, Elder Bowles pulled out his phone and whispered to Elder Morgan “will you send those to me?”. It’s just pretty funny. So if any of you guys have approved music you can send me feel free. (Avengers Endgame)

4. I’m eating so much food. Any chance I have for a break I eat. A little over a week ago I hit 150 and this past week I hit 160. That’s nearly 10 pounds in one week, and 25 pounds since MTC. The scary part is that I don’t know where it’s going! Like I don’t look different. Or maybe I am getting fat and I just don’t know (not likely). And this is why, as painful as it was, I didn’t buy another bag of Fruity Dino-Bites with Marshmallows this week. I also joined the “swol missionary support” group on facebook. I was shocked to see how many Elders I know on that page (Elder Pugsley was not one of those btw). To join the page you had to write why you wanted to join the group and I said “I’m gaining weight like crazy and I need to turn it into muscle before it’s too late”. So I’m gonna start doing some P-90X with the other Elders this week. I did some push-up workout with them this past week and it broke me. My body was aching for days. 

5. So teaching people lately has been a grind. I feel like we’re not getting anywhere, so the other day I had me and my comp sit down and I set goals for us as a companionship. One of these includes just getting out of the apartment and talking to people. So we’re gonna try to go on a walk every day and casually talk to people. Yesterday on our walk we had this guy come up and just start asking us questions! We got his number and I feel like we’re gonna make progress with him. I hope so. 

6. Spiritual thought for this week: 

I was reading in Alma 56. I don’t know why, but these versus hit hard. It’s about the army of helaman. Made me cry.

“44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?

45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen aso great bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.

46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will anot suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.

47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it.”

Reminded me of my family, especially my mom. “We do not doubt our mothers knew it” really hit me. It continues after the battle and says

“55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.

56 But behold, to my great joy, there had anot one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the bstrength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.”

 

This is probably my favorite story in the whole Book of Mormon. Their faith was so strong. I want more of that. Gotta be honest you guys, I’m kinda depressed about my whole call to the Dominican Republic. I honestly don’t know if I’ll ever go there. I messaged the mission mom in the DR and she basically said everything is still totally closed and that she doesn’t know if we’ll ever get there. It just felt so perfect when I got that call and I felt like that’s where I needed to go, and all the sudden I’m in missouri and don’t know if I’ll ever leave. Why did God call me to the DR if I would never go there? I wish I had just been called to Missouri right off the bat. Then I could just relax about everything. And I have had no spanish opportunities here. Anyways, that’s been on my mind lately and it’s making it harder to focus. I’m trying to lose myself in the work, but it’s brutal. This isn’t what I thought my mission would be like. 

7) Finally, the most important part of your guys’ week. This is extremely important. You must follow the following steps with exactness.

1. In the Doctrine and Covenants, open up to section 138 (the very last section). WITHOUT READING THE VERSUS, go highlight/mark in some way the following: 38-47, 49, 53, 55. 

2. Pull up the audio on THIS LINK and put it at 1:46. Do not play it. Keep it paused, but have the audio ready to go at 1 minute and 46 seconds (don’t worry, the music is by MoTab).

3. Find headphones, or a loud speaker. You need the sound in order to fully enjoy this experience. 

4. This is where we have two options. The more impactful option would be to read all of section 138 and wait to play the music until arriving in verse 38. I only recommend this so that you know exactly what’s going on. Either way, it’s pretty awesome. If you don’t have time to read all of 138, skip to step 5. 

5. If you’re lazy or don’t have a whole lot of time, you can just skip to verse 38. DO NOT PLAY THE MUSIC UNTIL YOU START READING VERSE 38. Then, with the music playing, read the verses you have previously highlighted while the music is playing. 

6. REMINDER: While the music starts playing at 1:46, read 38-47, 49, 53, 55. Or, after verse 55, if you want to keep reading you can. But that’s the minimal requirement.

7. Enjoy! If you don’t enjoy it or are confused, you are uncultured and need to watch more marvel movies. If you have any questions or comments about all this, let me know.

Well that’s basically it for me this week. Just gotta keep going forward and pray that the Lord will show me that this really is where I am supposed to be right now. Keep Elder Wride in your prayers. I really want to make the most of these two years. I don’t want to have any regrets after the mission. 

Love you guys! Email me if you feel like it

adios

1) me and Elder Kimball

2) spanish practice call with elder pugsley and elder brady. Don't worry we were practicing spanish but were also simultaneously using filters. 

Week 9 - Third Week in the Field

Subject: I ate a snail which is kinda neat

Oh dang

Another week has FLOWN by. Like whaaaat. Time is a weird thing. I only have 22 months left in my mission. Rip! Okay but I only have two hours to write this email (normally I take like 5 jaja) so it might not be as good but I will try. 

1 - Stomach Pains

2 - Bowling Flex

3 - Dinner with members

4 - Zoom calls

5 - I ate a snail

6 - Brother Erekson: The Beast

7 - Crazy story that won’t make sense and is still unfolding

8 - Spiritual Thoughts

1. Okay so we’ll start off with some funny stories. So, I have been eating A TON of food. Like unreal amounts of food. Been having like 8 meals a day. Lemme tell you, it is the LIFE buttttt it’s also kind of exhausting. I’ve never had so much food at my disposal. When we eat dinner with members I just eat a ton, but I always forget that they have desert, so I have to shove in another cake or bowl of ice cream right after I’ve completely filled myself. It’s just kinda funny. In the apartment I eat a lot too. Elder Bowles said that I eat more food than his companion with an eating disorder did jaja. So next time you guys see me, I’m gonna be tall, bearded, and shredded!!! Probably need to work on the shredded part though actually because I’ve mostly been eating junk. I had 8 bowls of fruity pebbles with marshmallows yesterday. It was so good. Actually funny thing: So the other night I had just finished another bowl of cereal before a district zoom call, and during the call I started to get massive stomach pains jaja (obviously). Elder Bowles, who has always been very critical of my excessive eating, looked at me as I groaned in pain with the biggest “I told you so” look. Then he said in his very monotone voice “I mean that’s what happens when you eat all day elder wride”. Then, right after he said that, I got a text from a member asking if they could drop off some cookies in the next few minutes. Which, I responded right away with “That would be great, thanks!”. It was just so funny. I’m literally groaning with stomach pains because of eating so much food and then a member asks if I want cookies. They were really tasty too!

2. Short funny story. I was doing some work at the church and this elder who I haven’t seen before was trying to flex to another elder about bowling. He was like “I bowled a 203”. Then I turned around and was like “203? Not bad. I bowled a 243.”. Instantly I became the alpha of the room. He was shook. He got emotionally dunked on.

3. We’ve been eating outside with members a lot this week and it’s been awesome! Buttt some district got covid and now all of st. louis south zone is in quarantine so we need to stop eating with members. We had some really good discussions though. Tuesday we ate with our Bishop! They are such an amazing family! Again, reminded me of home. Bishop Lake also reminds me a lot of an old Elder from MTC (Elder Bliss). Anyways, it was neat because the mom went to Olympus and knows everyone down there. I also said how my best friend Elder Pugsley came out to Missouri too and she knows a bunch of Pugsley’s as well! Kinda neat. Thursday we had dinner with a part member family, the Mortensons, and we taught the wife (who’s not active) the first lesson. It was awesome! Not sure if she was really impacted by it or not, but I got really emotional during my testimony of Joseph Smith. He was such a good man. Dinner on Friday was with the Englands. It was so funny. There were flies everywhere so we had a fly-killing contest jaja. I got 3/5 and Elder Morgan got 6/5 which was insane. The oldest boy killed a fly with his ice cream, it was so legendary. I was like “dude that was sweet!” and he responded very unenthusiastically “if you think that’s the best kill I’ve had today you’re wrong.” This line just killed me. Totally reminded me of my little brother Hyrum. Hyrum is just hilarious and has a very mild sense of humor. He’s super laid back and chill, but then also really weird jaja. I don’t really know how to describe him. If you know you know. Go watch The House at 15:53 is Hyrum's scene. Anywho, I could totally imagine Hyrum saying that line jaja. Anyways and on Wednesday we had dinner with Brother Erekson. 

4. So yea, lots of zoom calls lately. It’s honestly a party. The other day we were on a zoom call with our district, so all of the companionships shared a screen. Anywho, sister jarman and sister huffaker were on, but then sister jarman went to get some water or something so it was just sister huffaker there. Then on the zoom call I was like “Hey, Sister Jarman you need to turn your camera on”. It was hilarious. I know this is like Dad humor but I was dying. Anyways then all of us were like “sister jarman we can’t hear or see you” “you need to unmute” until she came back. Good stuff! Another hilarious part of the zoom call was with our zone the other day. Elder Pugsley is in my zone, and since I was bored, I was copying whatever he was doing during the zoom call. We always revert to our high school selfs when we’re together jaja. Anywho he was leaning back in his chair, and since I was copying him I leaned back in mine, but then I went too far and completely fell backwards and off of the screen. It was quite funny. 

5. Okay so a member named Brother Erekson took me and my comp out to dinner the other night to a french restaurant where we ate snails jaja. It was kinda gross not gonna lie. I have a video and some pics I’ll add. On the menu it said “Six Naughty Little Snails Swimming Naked in a Pool of Fennel Garlic Butter”. This line made me really uncomfortable. I’m glad the snails were naked though because I don’t like the idea of eating the shell. Also I meant to ask the waiter - is it harder to catch naughty snails versus snails that are well behaved? If any of you have any insights on that, please let me know. Also you may be asking yourself - “Elder Wride, what was it like to eat a snail?”. My answer would be that it’s exactly how you’d imagine. Just add a little salt. And some garlic. But, then again, I’m not sure if the naughty snails have the same taste as ones that are well behaved. 
   

6. Anyways, on the way to the restaurant, I mentioned an idea of a service project I had and told him how we just needed certain tools to do it. Then, before I had even really finished my thought, he started making calls. That night we got everything in order. It was just awesome. He then said something about that that really stuck out to me: “You don’t let moss grow under your feet when the Lord is involved.” I loved this so much. He didn’t even wait 30 seconds to follow the idea we had, because the Lord is involved. During dinner, we talked a lot about the gospel. He is such a spiritual giant. One scripture he shared with us was 2 Timothy 1:7-8-

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of afear; but of bpower, and of clove, and of a sound mind.

8 Be not thou therefore aashamed of the btestimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

I thought this was so awesome. He told us to memorize it and reflect on it throughout our lives. It literally gave me goosebumps just listening to him recite it to us. I’d go into why that’s so powerful, but I think the spirit can teach you better than I can. Ponder those versus! Anyways, at the very end of dinner, Brother Erekson asked the waiter “do you know who these guys are?”. I was embarrassed. Kinda wanted him to stop talking. The waiter said “Nope!” but he said it really fast and really uncomfortably so I think he really did know who we were. Then Brother Erekson said “these guys leave their families for 2 years to teach people about Jesus Christ!”. The waiter was like “cool” and brother erekson responded “do you want to learn more?”. The guy said “Nope!” and brother erekson responded “it would change your life”” and he said “I’ve heard that one before!” and walked away super fast. I was kinda uncomfortable but the whole situation, but Brother Erekson was not bothered at all by that interaction. We are supposed to preach the gospel to everyone, and that’s what he did. Brother Erekson then looked at me and said “he is a son of God, with a divine heritage and divine potential” then with a big ol smile added “he just doesn’t know it yet!”. So awesome.

Honestly it had a big change on my perspective as a missionary. Being fearless. I was reading in saints the other day and these guys kidnapped Joseph Smith and threatened to shoot him. Joseph ripped his shirt open and said “shoot! I am not afraid of your bullets!”. WHAT A LEGEND. That man is truly goated. I want to be that fearless, and I’m getting there. I need to do better job of fearing no man. Honestly, I have the power of the Lord on my side to protect and guide me. Why should I be scared? I know in whom I have trusted. And I’m definitely feeling that. The other day this lady we taught on the phone was like “would you die for the gospel?”. Honestly it was kinda sketch the way she asked it, and she said she would deny Jesus Christ to keep her life. We all agreed that we hope to never be in that situation. If I had to die for the truth I would, but I would rather live if you feel what I’m sayin jaja. I was thinking about it more, and I think that possibly even more incredible and more difficult, is LIVING for the gospel, not dying for it. Joseph and Hyrum Smith didn’t just die for the truth, they LIVED for it. That meaning we live the gospel every day despite the challenges around us. This, I think, can be harder because of the world that we live in. It is seriously SO HARD at times to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ because of the people who try to push us in the other direction. Everywhere we turn it seems as though Satan is there, distorting the work and making others miserable like he is. It’s difficult, but we can live for the gospel. We can be strong despite how hard it is in the world today. I hope none of you guys have to die for the gospel this week jaja, but I hope you live for it.

7. Alright I really wanna play some spikeball so I’m gonna make this quick-ish: So, if you read my last email, you heard the story of the guy who I talked to on Facebook about the church. Good stuff. His name is DA. Well, he responded this week with an anti-mormon video. I watched it, and the argument (not surprisingly) was pretty weak. I was in the middle of typing my spiritually uplifting and devil destructing message, when I got a facebook message from Elder Garrett Peterson. Elder Peterson and I were friends in high school. When I was sophomore class president, he was a publicity officer, so he’s a couple years older. Anyways, he was like 

“Elder Wride, how are you doing? Hope all is going well. Hey so we just happened to run into DA, who sounds like he has talked with you before. He seems to want to bash and share anti over anything else. Do you have any insights on him by chance?”

I was absolutely shook. Long story short, Elder Peterson (who’s serving in Arkansas) stopped by a Jesus convention and ran into this guy (DA) who lives here in Missouri! Crazy right!? And then DA mentioned he knew me and Elder Peterson was like “yo what the heck” and messaged me. So, wild story. Not sure what God is trying to tell me exactly but I know there are no coincidences and that I outta do something with this. So right now we have a group chat with us and DA, except he’s just been Bible bashing. At first I responded to all of his arguments, but when he kept asking the same questions I realized that he wasn’t even reading what I was putting in. And I don’t blame him jaja, they are very long. But anywho, I think me and my comp are gonna do a zoom lesson on thursday. We’ll see where that goes, but I just thought it was super crazy and y’all would appreciate it. 

8. Okay y’all, sorry I gotta wrap this puppy up. There’s more I could say that you’d probably enjoy but the sister missionaries are mad that I hog the family history center all day jaja and I need to get out of here. I just want you guys to know that this church is true. It absolutely is. 100%. No doubt about it. My favorite scripture this week was in Alma 48:17. It says:

“17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto aMoroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the bdevil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.”

This scripture is just absolutely goated. So awesome. Moroni was a beast. Literally, if we were all like Moroni, SATAN WOULD BE BOUND. I want to get to the point where my name can be inserted into that verse interchangeably with Moroni’s. When I wake up in the morning I want satan to say “fetch. He’s awake.”. I want to be a Man of God, and I’m really striving for it. Let’s all work towards being more Christlike. The world is PLENTY wicked right now, wicked enough for Christ to come. Christ is just waiting for a people ready to receive him. We need to gather israel, establish zion, and prepare the world for the second coming of Christ. I wish I had taken better advantage of the missionary opportunities I had back home. You guys need to act on those promptings! The other day I heard this story of this missionary who was at the subway and had a strong prompting to talk to this guy. He ignored it, and kept getting it. After 30 seconds, the guy ran off and jumped in front of a train. This story is like super sad and wayyyy extreme but the lesson is important. We can’t wait even 30 seconds. When we get a prompting from the Holy Ghost, we best be acting on it. Hopefully we never are in that situation, but just remember y’all to follow promptings. SHARE THE GOSPEL. Please. Give the missionaries in your area referrals. We all have someone in mind. I want to close with my testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet. If you don’t know that for yourself, rely on my testimony till you know it too. Praise to the man! Don’t forget to read from the Book of Mormon today you guys. That stuff is great. 3 Nephi is fire!!! JESUS CHRIST IS REAL

A few logistical things- so Elder McNeil is getting transferred. I’m muy triste. Love that man. That means we’re getting a new elder in our apartment. We’re also getting two new frontenac elders. I’m praying that they’re cool dudes jaja and good at spikeball. Also this week me and elder morgan filled the font for a baptism which was neat. It took literally 4 hours to fill the whole thing. It also hurt after the baptism when we had to empty the font. All of our hard work down the drain. ):

 As for myself, I’m doing a lot better too. I’ve accepted that I’m gonna be gone for two years and I’m not holding back anymore. I’m all in! Missionary work really is a marvelous work and a wonder. I got an email last week that I really liked. I do not have permission to share this, but I loved it and it gave me spiritual goosebumps so I’m going to share it anyways.

“I am a convert to the Church of 47 years. I searched for 7 years for a church to match my inner-self. I started looking before I was 5-years-old. One day when I was 12, I answered the door and saw (yet again!) two missionaries standing there. Without hearing their message, I politely told them I wasn't interested. They left. A week later I decided to check-out another church, this time the "Mormon" church at the end of my street, and guess who was there!  Yep, the same two young men who knocked on my door! A week earlier, I didn't think I needed to hear their message; I had to find it on my own, and after becoming satisfied with my OWN investigation, I approached THEM, and I told THEM that I wanted to be baptized; THEY never got the chance to ask me that question; I had to do it all on my own. Sometimes this is how things work: No effort on the missionary's part, even though you pray everyday that people will be receptive to your message. AND, since I found it on my own, without any pressure from missionaries, etc., (who would have loved to say they baptized me just to say they did, and then moved to another area), I have never doubted or looked back for even a millisecond and I have a "Rock"(Christ)-solid testimony.  My point is: Do your best and grow your best; Christ will take-over from there.  He's got this.  He's looking for "Rock"-solid converts!””

I just loved this. It’s easy for me to feel like a failure honestly. Every week I’m sending all zeros to my mission president and I feel like a failure. I’m trying so hard to share the gospel and it feels like my effort is in vain. But, no effort is wasted. Maybe I’ll never see a baptism, but I don’t doubt that some of the seeds I’m planting will make the world better. My purpose is to invite others, and I’ve been doing a lot of that. The results of what I’m trying to do aren’t really apparent, but I don’t doubt that they’re there. This is the Lord's work, and I will do my best and let him do the rest. 

Again, I literally don’t remember what i said in this email. Nothing apostate hopefully! If I did let me know and I will repent. Hope y’all are vibin this week! I’m doing pretty well. Feel free to shoot me an email! I can only respond before 6 on P-day (monday) but I love hearing from y’all. Be strong this week! Remember what this life is all about: to prepare to meet God! 

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