This week was just overall pretty normal, but still good. I've just been in a generally happy and normal mood lately. There was one thing this week that wasn't fun, but was kind of funny too. So whenever we go out and bike, we almost always have to take the same road since it connects to every other place that we go to in our area. The road doesn't have any sidewalks, so we just ride on the edge of the road all the time. Well on that road there's a house with a dog that is always outside. It's not very big but literally every time that we pass by it runs and barks at me and chases me for about 100 yards. And I swear that every day it just gets closer and closer to me when it runs at me. It usually just runs on the side of me and barks really loud. It would run all the way out onto the road if it wasn't scared of cars so much. So it was time to go back home one night, and we were coming up on that house. I was even biking on the opposite side of the street of the house this time since we were going the opposite way we came. Well I heard the dog start barking at me and I was like "yeah whatever I hear this all the time no worries", but then a split second later I looked down on my left and it had run ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ENTIRE STREET JUST TO COME AT ME. It scared the crap out of me and I freaked out and shrieked and then turned away super fast because it was trying to bite my legs. I tried to kick it while I was riding but I missed. A car came by and it ran back, but geez I hate that dog so much. Anyway yeah that was pretty funny too I guess.
Other than that nothing really happened this week. Carl didn't keep his commitments this week. We've been doing service and trying to get him to come with us so that he doesn't drink, but when he said he would come he wouldn't answer the door when we went to pick him up. So we just did the service anyways at the Scott's house. They're a really old couple that needed help moving stuff in their basement so that they could start finishing it to sell their house. Brother Scott is hilarious. He always says "legit" it's funny. The next day we talked to Carl and he said he was sorry, but we told him that he needs to get in control of his life so that he doesn't miss out on stuff he commits to. He and Dory have been talking and Dory is going to quit smoking if Carl quits drinking and smoking. So that was a big step there, but we'll have to see where it goes. Carl said he would be at church on Saturday, but he didn't show. I'm not mad or depressed about it, it's just annoying that he can't keep simple commitments. I'm being patient with him though, he may just take longer than normal to come around and to change. We a recovery class but it's all the way in Greenville and Carl has been to rehab and AA before and he says that he doesn't want to go back. We are going to try and get him to maybe use the online one that the church has. Hopefully it will help him. (The Church has developed an addiction recovery program that is extremely successful and this is what Sean is referring to. Not only does it focus on behavior, but also the Atonement and how relying on that saving power helps people overcome their addictions better than just therapy alone. Click here to learn more about it.)
We couldn't get in contact with Sherry this week either. She got really sick and then when she got better, a family member passed away. I feel really bad about her situation and I hope that this week we can help her out and teach her so that she can be happier in life. She said that she has been reading though, so that's good.
This week went really well and I had a lot of fun. Elder Welty goes home in a week and a half. It's coming up pretty soon so he's trying his best not to get too trunky haha. He's still doing really good though. This week should be a good one and I feel that a big breakthrough with someone I'm teaching is going to come as long as I stay dedicated and faithful in my efforts. :)
Oh I forgot to mention, I finished Jesus The Christ today. All 750 pages haha. (This is a huge accomplishment for Sean because he does not enjoy reading very much!) Reading Jesus the Christ has helped me understand the Atonement, His character, the Apostles, and the timeline of the world better. I love reading about Peter. He was bold and dedicated to the end and I learn a lot from what he preaches in Acts and how much he loves the Savior.
(I asked Sean what he has been studying recently) Right now mostly I'm reading through the Book of Mormon and marking it up really in depth by doctrine, by what characters are described as, what they say and do, and how it effects their lives and others. Other than that I study out of PMG (this is the "Preach My Gospel" manual that all missionaries use) every day and I'm trying to go through all the lessons and write summaries of what I read and then using the scriptures suggested and picking which I like best and then writing any other thoughts I have on what I learn in the margins.
I'm so excited to talk to you in 2 weeks! I don't think I've told you this yet, but in this mission the missionaries get to video chat or skype home! So you'll get to see me too! :)
I hope y'all had an awesome week. By your emails it seems like you did :)
Love
Elder Bills