Week 28: Exile Ain't So Bad!

May 22, 2023

Week 28: Exile Ain't So Bad!

Howdy hey! This has been quite the week. Cotulla is quaint as ever, but we've been working just as hard! We were able to start teaching some new people and had some really good lessons this week. For such a small place, theres a surprising amount of work to do! Obviously has a lot of dull moments, but there's a lot of miracles too. Missionary work is often like that.

Oh yeah and this week has been filled with TONS of stop bys and tracting so I'm not even going to mention it anymore. Just know that we do a LOT of that every day and bike everywhere. It's good fun! Sometimes.

We got to help the food bank again this week with passing out food to people and we got free eggs! We frequently get the leftover stuff from service and sometimes it's pretty good. After we finished service we had lunch at a park and exchanged companions to be with Elder Smith. And so I got to spend the day in Crystal City! The Spinach Capitol of the World! Er, well it used to be until the farms closed and the canning factory shut down. So...nobody wants to live there anymore because there's nowhere to work. We had a good exchange though and we got to teach several lessons!

We had our transfer-ly interviews with our mission president on Wednesday and that was great as usual! We drove to another small town called Corizo and un-exchanged, had our interviews, had lunch, and then held district council! Lot of stuff. Aaand lunch was FANTASTIC. The senior missionaries in our area (the McDowells. They're from Mesa!! I've probably already said that. Anyways...) well they made the most delicious pork roast I've ever had in my life. Hands down. Turns out if you smoke meat for flippin 5 hours it's preeeeetty delicious. So so good.

The most notable thing that happened the next day is that we had a great lesson with our friend Mariah! We read and discussed President Nelson's Peacemakers talk, and it was super sweet. She's one of those people in who's life we have been able to see such clear blessings come from reading, praying, and learning. It's really amazing to see the difference it makes in people!

Friday we had ANOTHER exchange but with the Zone leaders this time. I don't remember if I mentioned this last week, but my companion is the district leader so I'm going to be doing a lot of exchanges this transfer! Elder Updike, who is also from Arizona, came down here to Cotulla and we had a fairly normal day. We did get taken to a nearby stake house by the McDowells though! They spoil us rotten.

We had a couple lessons on Saturday! We met with Mariah again and that was fantastic again. She's been reading a lot from the BoM and is just doing awesome. We taught her all about church and the sacrament and invited her to come on Sunday but (spoilers) she didn't make it. That was a pretty big let down, but hopefully she'll make it next week!

We also met and taught a man named Jaime who is actually a stud. He has had a pretty hard life, but is super determined to make something of himself and support his young family. He's seen the blessings from faith in God and is super open to meeting with us! I look forward to seeing where that leads.

Sunday was weird hahah

So basically none of the people we invited showed up and we had 12 people, including ourselves, at church. Not the best turnout, but it was a good meeting. We get to bless the sacrament every week which I actually really love. We have a brand new deacon and a teacher and they're studs. Such good kids. They do a great job passing the sacrament and are always reverent and respectful.

We went over to visit a new-ish member of the church and we were able to teach her and her family the restoration! She needed a refresher and her grandkids aren't members, so it was awesome.

That evening we also went to the McDowells again for dinner. Like I said, they spoil us. We had delicious burgers and were able to discuss the area and just have great conversation. Elder McDowell was a fire fighter and he could go on for days just telling stories...And we probably wouldn't stop him because the stories are hilarious.

Today we probably won't do a whole lot because we are super low on miles. Today will most likely be talking to family and playing card/board games haha. We might go to the dojo and do some rolling if we're feeling adventurous! Should be a pretty chill day, and I'm ok with that.

Spiritual thought will be short because this email is kinda long hah

Basically, if you haven't read your patriarchal blessing recently, do that! And if you don't have one? Get one! They are so amazing and provide so much guidance and strength, and I know we all could use a little more of that. It is your personal Liahona and guiding star. Listen to it!

That's all :)

Well, I think that's about all I got for this week! Coming out here to Cotulla has very different but a lot of fun. It's not easy work, but it's good work. I hope y'all have a super week and that you don't have trains come rolling through town at night blaring it's horn while you're trying to sleep! (trust me it's annoying. It goes right through the middle of town)

I'll catch y'all next week.

God bless,

Elder DeWitt