I need to inform y'all on some changes

Elder Chipman at Zone Conference

So before I say too much on what has happened, I need to inform y'all on some changes that have been made. One of the English Missionaries in the area had to go home due to medical reasons. He was having troubles with some of his medication, and so needed to go home to get that fixed up. As a result, guess who is in the Smyrna Ward now, ME! For at least the next week, I will be the companion to Elder Evans teaching and preaching in English. Honestly its a little weird, you know, going to church and understanding what people are saying. I think its only temporary, they say only until Friday, but until then I'm going to be speaking in English!

That change happened on Saturday Morning, so the majority of the week was spent speaking Spanish. The only really eventful thing that happened was when Elder Bakes locked the keys in the car. We were heading in for dinner at the apartment, and as we approached the door, Elder Bakes reached in his pocket, and a stunned look came over his face. He said that he forgot the keys, and at first we thought he was kidding (He's tried to pull that stunt before) But as we went back outside, we say the keys, still sitting in the ignition. So the last three hours of the day were spent waiting for the office elders to come up and bring us the spare. We met some of our neighbors who were really nice though. She brought us cookies and sloppy joes and we were able to talk to her and her family for a little bit.

On the English side of things, I had a really cool experience. In D&C it talks about how if we are obedient, we will not be confounded. Yesterday we were knocking on doors and we met this heavily Christian Couple. The Man was 86 and started out like he wanted to bash with us about what the Bible said about Hell and Baptism, and stuff like that. We were able to turn the tables into more of a conversation than a debate. We were able to teach him a lot about the Plan of Salvation, and how we can baptize those who weren't able to be baptized in this life. We talked about the Bible, and a lot of his beliefs were the same as ours, in that through tons of translations, certain truths were lost. I was then able to bear my testimony, how we could talk and teach all day, but the only way for him to know is by Praying, Searching, and Asking our Father in Heaven. I really felt good, saying what I wanted to say, and I really felt the spirit there. It was really cool.

Anyway, things I learned from Georgia.

1. I really do sweat a lot

2. Mosquitoes are my worst enemy

3. There are actually hills (I didn't figure that out until I started riding a bike)

I'm sure that list will grow longer the longer I stay out. Any way…..

Yo se que mi Salvador vive, y yo se que el Libro de Mormon es verdadero, y podemos crecer mas cerca de dios si leyemos el Libro y oramos a DIos.

I know that my Savior lives, and I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and we can grow closer to God if we read the book and pray to god.

I lean so much every day, thanks for all of you prayers!

Elder Chipman

Ps: I'm still snacking on my hidden stash of Oreos!

 

Elder Chipman at the Atlanta Temple