Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Monday, July 6, 2015

Peoria Week 98 *July 6. 2015

Hey there!

This week was a tough one for Elder Bunn. On Monday we decided that it
would be a good idea to go jump around on a trampoline at this place
called SkyZone. We were all having a blast for about 10 minutes and
then someone tried to convince Elder Bunn to do a backflip. Mind you
that he has never done a front or a back flip ever on his life. I told
him I would stand next to him and try to spot him. Well he didn't
exactly know what he was doing and no one told him what to do so he
just trusted that I would catch him if things were going to end badly.
Well let's just say I was kicked off the Olympic spotters team due to
a lack of skill. He totally only made it halfway and landed straight
on his neck in the worst way possible. He sat out for the next 50
minutes while we all finished our jumping session. We got him checked
out by a chiropractor and everything was fine except that his neck
muscles were super sore for the next few days. Then on the 4th of July
we had to be someplace safe after 6:00pm so we all met up at the stake
center to play some basketball. Then it was Elder Bunn's ankles turn
to get hurt. He went up for a pass and came down on top of another
elders foot and totally rolled his entire ankle. It was all swollen
and bruised up. In our stake we have some podiatrists so they took a
look at it and nothing severe was done. He did have to cruise around
church on Sunday with crutches. It was pretty funny.

For the 4th of July we had a normal missionary day until 6:00 and that
is when we went to play some sports. After the incident with the ankle
we went back to our house with some other missionaries and climbed on
the roof to watch the fireworks that we put on by the Peoria Sports
Complex. It was a good show and we had a blast hanging out, talking
and drinking too much Mountain Dew. For our YSA family home evening
someone had the fantastic idea to play Quidditch like in Harry Potter.
Let me tell you what! That was the best dang game I have ever played.
Everyone has to pretend to fly around on a broom and there are
positions and different plays. It was a blast. I had the chance to be
the Chaser, which is the only person that can shoot the ball for
points. Over the course of the game I scored 8 shots! It was so much
fun. And a bonus was they got some sweet pictures haha.

Rob and Alexis are still progressing towards baptism. We had a really
great lesson with them all about the plan of salvation and where we go
after this life. Normally this is a source of some serious questions
from investigators but they both accepted it all and we're excited
about the fact that they could live with their family forever. I know
that if they would just make the effort to come to church consistently
that they would be ready for baptism. We are working on that part. I
am excited to just keep helping them and I know that whenever they
decide this is the right path for them then they will be fantastic
members of the church. We have a bunch of other investigators that are
so close to wanting to keep taking the missionary lessons but for now
they are just unsure. We are working with the ward members to help
fellowship these people and invited them to activities. We should see
some good things happening soon.

Thanks you all for the things you do each day. Keep being awesome and
I will talk to you next week. Love you!

Elder Cole Safford

Friday, July 3, 2015

Peoria Week 97 *June 29, 2015

Hey hey!!

This week was great! I think one of my favorite things that ever
happens to us is when we plan to go to a house and share a message but
when we show up the family is in the middle of preparing dinner for
the family. Instead of suing us away and telling us that is not a good
time they welcome listen with open arms and a full plate of food. This
past week that exact thing happened to us at 8 o'clock one night. We
knocked on the front door and nobody answered but we could hear people
talking in the backyard so we looked over the fence and there they
were having a big old barbecue. So we hollered at them and they
invited us in for a burger and to share a message with everyone! It's
not every day that you get to have two free meals back to back but
when that day does come it is glorious. Haha I have come to realize
that a lot of missionary work is just simply becoming people's
friends. People just want to feel loved and if you can help them to
feel that and to be comfortable most of the time they will feel
comfortable letting you teach their friends. I have really learned the
power and asking heartfelt questions and then sincerely listening to
the people answers. It helps to build that trust and show them that I
care more about them than I do about the numbers. I think it's a good
thing for life as well so I hope to continue it when I get home.

Through our iPads we have the ability to receive referrals from
LDS.org. We were sent an email with a address and the name Divine and
told he requested a prayer from missionaries. At first when we walked
up I thought that he only wanted to mess with us but after talking to
him a little more we came to find out that he had simply meant some
missionaries on the side of the road and offer them some water and
they offered to send missionaries to pray with him. We asked him about
his family and found out that his wife is going through cancer for the
third time. You could tell that he loved his family and he poured out
his heart and would to us. We are just two kids but this man trusted
us and showed me that you don't have to be the same religion to get
along. He has a deep belief in God and in the hope that miracles can happen
as he believes in Christ and shows it through his actions. He was a Muslim
but converted to Christianity when he found the bible to be the word
of God. He has a strong testimony that could easily be felt as he
talked about his wife. We offered to say the prayer and he grabbed our
hands and we formed a circle in the middle of his driveway. Elder Bunn
offered a very heartfelt prayer and Divine couldn't stop from giving
thanks to God and to us. It was a really neat experience that I know
will change all of our lives.

We have a part member family where the wife is a member but isn't
regularly attending and the husband Nick is a member. Now you might be
thinking that I have mentioned these people before but it's not the
motorcycle painter from a few weeks ago. Coincidentally this new guys
name just happens to be Nick as well hahaha. Anyway we have been
teaching them on and off for a few weeks but is week they came to
sacrament meeting and also had us over for dinner. We ate breakfast
food which is always a treat and had a great lesson on the plan of
salvation. Nick accepts everything we tech but is hesitant about
joining the church right now. We will keep doing what we can and I
know eventually he will come around. Alexis and Rob are still going
great and wanting to meet with us which is never a bad thing.

Oh my word the other day a new member family moved in to an apartment
and the bishop asked us if we would come and help. Well we were on
splits with a member that night so I went with the member to the move
and Elder Bunn went with the other member to a lesson. I was in my
missionary clothes and we moved in the entire fully furnished
apartment in 1 hour in 115 heat! It was insane. I don't think I have
ever sweated so much in my life hahahaha. It was fantastic.

Well I love you all and appreciate all you do for me. Thanks for the
letters and packages that you still all send. They are great. Talk to
you next week.

Elder Cole Safford