Pitch and Hit & Teaching an Apostle :)

Hello Family and Friends,
   

It's been a quick week for us here. We actually did a Blitz last Tuesday. (A blitz is where me and Elder Wilcock go to the District or Zone Leaders and do an exchange down their) I am not able to drive because I am a Visa waiter. My district leader, Elder Pulotu, cannot drive because he is a Red dot Drive. He actually got in a car wreck here in the mission and is not able to drive for the rest of the Mission. Crazy! Since me and Elder Pulotu could not drive and it was impossible to drive down to Normal for District Meeting the next day without wasting gas money, we did a Blitz.

I learned a lot from Elder Pulotu that day. All we were able to do was go Tracking! Door Contacting. As everyone knows I don't like it. Because I do a repetitive door approach which is not the way to do it. It needs to be done with the Spirit. Elder Pulotu knew that I was struggling. He asked if I wanted to play a game? Why not? It's called Pitch and hit. He would say Pitch and turn the pages in the Book of Mormon. I would say Hit. He would stop turning the pages. He would tell me how many lines are in a chapter heading. I would give a number for a line and a number for the word on the line in the chapter Heading. And we had to use that word in our door approach. If we didn't than we would get a point. Whoever had the most points by the end of the day loses the game.

If you look in some of the Chapter Headings this can be difficult. I was given many words that were unique but easy. On many of my own door approaches I received 2 Potential investigators for the Bloomington Elders. One of the Potential Investigators came with the word of Zoramites. Don't ask how I used it. But it worked haha. I found when playing this game I was focusing on how to use the word instead of what to say. It worked out every time! It was a casual conversation and it was different every time. I came back home with Elder Wilcock and he doesn't like that game. I try doing it on my own but it's boring. I'll have to wait until I get to Denmark.

Me and Elder Wilcock have not gotten well together this past 2 weeks. We found out why. Last night we had companionship study and were guided to Teach people not lessons in Preach My Gospel. We came under the conclusion that we were teaching Lessons. We fell under a routine and realized we have made a terrible mistake. We asked for forgiveness. And we are determined to change and focus on our investigators. We are focusing on teaching our investigators and focusing on teaching to their needs, instead of teaching lessons. I can feel me and Elder Wilcock growing closer together instead of pushing each other away.

This week we have an appointment to teach an "apostle". Some crazy man called us from his apartment and talked with us. He was shirtless, smoking, need of a shower, and had a beard. Huh! Last time I checked we didn't have those kinds of apostles. We will see how well this goes. He was preaching to us and talked a lot about stuff "in the flesh". We call him Mike Davis in the Flesh. He just kept saying that over and over. haha. I stopped him and asked him if he really wants to hear our message. He thought about it and said he would be willing. this will still be interesting to visit him. It may be an hour with him or it will be 10 minutes. Whatever the spirit directs.

Well I will find out about my Visa probably Wednesday. President Fenn is interviewing our Zone then. Most likely I will be leaving next week. Man time has gone by so fast. Well you may not hear from me for another 2 weeks. I you do I may be here for another 6 weeks haha. I have mixed feelings about receiving my Visa. As Elder Wicock puts it "I'm excited to go to Denmark, but I am not excited to Leave".

Love you all thanks for your love and support!

-Elder Jantzen Ricard Read