This was my last week of training. My trainer said that when she got out of training she was so scared & felt like she hardly knew anything. She didn't speak up in lessons and let her trainer do all the work. I feel the complete opposite! I feel like I'm ready. Can't believe I've only been out two transfers.. it feels like I've been a missionary my whole life haha. We got transfer news! My comp is headed all the way to the other side of the mission. She's going to Arkansas. I'm staying here and I'm getting a new companion! It's always scary getting a new companion

Wednesday we went to Brandon's house! The last two times we met him at a park because he was pretty embarrassed by his house, he lives in a shack basically. He finally felt comfortable enough to invite us over though! We have become good friends with him, he's actually hilarious. We had a lesson and it was so good. The spirit was SO strong. I had finished the Book of Mormon for the first time that morning so I was on a roll haha. I promised him so many blessings and bore testimony of the Book of Mormon. I started tearing up and I know he had to of felt the spirit during the lesson. He is so genuine and kind. Last year he went through a super rough time and was searching for relief through religion. He was studying so many different things but nothing clicked for him. We invited him to church this Sunday & he seemed pretty nervous about it. We explained how kind everyone is and explained how church would go. I could see him ease up a little bit and he committed to come. He doesn't have lots of friends and is pretty shy at first. My companion is about to be transferred to a new area but I am excited to stay here to help him progress. So cool how the Lord was able to lead me to find him. Even if I'm not the missionary to baptize him someday I'm so thankful that I am able to plant that seed for him to nourish. 

Update: Brandon texted us the next day and told us that while he was sleeping his house caught on fire. He lives alone with his pets. He woke up and got out as quickly as he could but realized his dog & cat were still inside. He went back to grab them and ended up getting burned pretty bad. They all made it out okay though. He went back the next day and all of his belongings were burned in the fire. The fire started in the kicthen. He told us that that night he realized he needed to change the batteries to his smoke detectors because they were running low. He took them down and was going to change them but didnt get around to it. He woke up at 2 in the morning to thick black smoke everywhere. He got up but couldnt see anything and tripped over a chair. He fell to the floor & said he contemplating even getting up- part of him wanted to just stay laying there on the ground. He found the strength to get up and was able to crawl out his window. He told us he keeps his Bible and his Book of Mormon on the table next to the kitchen, he said that somehow the books survived but nothing else did. He told us this and I told him that we know exactly why they didn't burn. He told us his Bible was damaged a little bit but his Book of Mormon was completely untouched. He said he thinks that was a sign. We went and looked at his house and the entire thing is ash. So crazy that his Book of Mormon survived. I find it very weird that right as we start teaching him his house burns down. My companion and I were talking about it and wondered if it was Satan trying to get him to not come to church or to distract him from meeting with us. On the other hand it could also be wisdom in Heavenly Father that this trial will help him fully humble himself and turn to Christ. 

We told him he didn't have to come to church this Sunday so that he could rest. Next thing I know he was limping into sacrament meeting! I was so happy he showed up. We had 5 friends (investigators) come to sacrament meeting!! My companion and I were sitting next to them but when Brandon walked in we separated so that I could sit next to him. He looked so dirty compared to everyone else, his skin is still pretty black from the fire. Since it was Easter the two wards combined so there was so many people there. We sat next to little kids and they were SO loud. I'm sure Brandon couldn't hear anything. Once church ended I swear 10 different people rushed over the Brandon to say hi. The first thing they said was: "I heard your house burned down." I have nooo idea how the word spread so fast. I was nervous because I didn't want him to get overwhelmed with all of the members talking to him. He seemed like he liked it though! I am just sooooo excited for him. He said he felt awful this morning (He is still coughing up ash) but he came anyways! I was so so happy. Beverly came to church too! She brought her grandson. She showed up super late but I'm so happy she made it. She never leaves her house because she's always so sick but she made the sacrifice to come because she loves us. She always tears up & tells us we are angles that God sent to her. She always tells us she can see the Light of Christ in us and it makes me tear up so much. It's funny there is an African American member in the ward and when we bring a black friend he goes so overboard trying to talk to them. When we bring a white friend he doesn't even acknowledge them or introduce himself. But he's good for our African American friends in making sure they feel welcomed

This week we went to a members house for a phone lesson with our friend Matthew. I always get so intimated teaching with members because I feel like there is so much pressure to do perfect. The beginning of the lesson was good! Then towards the end it started to take a turn and he started bashing us. The member tried to give evidence to his accusations, but at that point I felt the Spirit leave. I can see how some missionaries would want to stand up for what they believe but I just realized that this lesson wouldn't get anywhere. The spirit is what confirms truth and since it left the lesson was pointless. I apologized to the member but he told us that he thinks we are so awesome haha.

There is this pastor at a church here in Collierville who puts requests in to meet with missionaries to bash them. He asked if he could call us or meet us in person. He tries to act sincere and genuine but we knew his real intentions. We told him we weren't going to talk with him but that we would answer his questions over text message by sending him church links. I think we made him mad by not giving in. I can't believe this guy has nothing better to do than to bash young 18-20 year old kids who believe in the same Jesus he does.

After church on Sunday one of our friends that we've been teaching invited us to his Easter Barbecue! It was us and like 20 black people haha. They were all sooo nice though and so funny. He was telling all his friends that we teach him about Jesus and they told us to start teaching him how to be kind haha

Yesterday we went to a retirement home to see if there was any service we could do.  The workers seemed sooo confused but grateful. It sounded like no one comes by to do service. The owner told us we can call her with what crafts we want to do and she'll order it for us. She wants us to come by every week. Yesterday Sister Udy had her mini guitar in the car so she decided to sing to them. It was a retirement home just of older ladies who have dementia or lost their memory. It was so cool, these women can't really remember their own children but they remember Jesus Christ. They knew every word to the songs my companion was singing and we were all singing along. I watched as they all sang and they all had tears in their eyes. It was so sweet and the spirit was SO strong. There was one lady who started sobbing and she started praying and looking up to heaven. They all thanked us so much and told us they miss going to church. It was so sweet and there was definitely angles in the room as we all sang

We had transfers & I am still here in Tennessee! I really do love it here

I guess the highlight of the past couple weeks is our friend Brandon. My companion & I were getting gas one day and as we were leaving I noticed a man walking to his car at the gas pump next to us. He stood out to me for some reason and my heart started to beat really fast. We had already pulled out onto the highway but I told my companion to do a U-turn, and that we needed to go talk to that man. She turned the car around and we went back. He looked like he was about to leave and I felt so awkward I had no idea how to talk to him he definitely saw us circle back around haha. I pretended to throw trash away at his pump so I could talk to him. I went up to him & told him that I felt inspired to talk to him and that I was a missionary for my church. He told me it was interesting that I felt like I should talk to him because he said he felt the same way about us. He said he noticed something different about us & that we stood out. He was done filling up his car but decided to wipe of his windshield instead of leaving to see if we would talk to him.

Brandon told us this past year has been the hardest year of his life. Hes been struggling and has been trying to figure out what he believes and if God even exists. The first lesson we had with him we taught him about The Book of Mormon and the restoration of the church through Joseph Smith. The next morning we woke up to a text he sent us at 2 in the morning. He apologized for texting so late but that he couldn't wait till the morning. He had been reading the Book of Mormon and told us that it has been able to answer all of his questions about life. He also told us he knows Joseph Smith translated this book by the power of God. I think this was the best text message I've ever gotten haha

We had a couple more lessons with him and invited him to church! The Friday before church we found out that while he was sleeping his house caught on fire. His fire alarms didn't go off because he had just taken them down to change the batteries that day. He woke up surrounded by black smoke. He got up but couldn't see anything & tripped over a chair. He told us he laid on the ground contemplating if he should even try to get out. He eventually found his strength & was able to crawl out the window but realized his dog was still in the house. He went back in and was burned really bad while trying to get his dog out. The second we found out we went over to see if we could help him with anything. His entire house was ash and all his belongings guitars, books, were melted. He told us there was one thing that didn't burn though. The Book of Mormon we gave him was completely untouched by the fire. He told us that it was definitely a sign to him. 

He's been in a ton of pain, a lot of his skin has turned black and he has huge holes on the bottoms of his feet. It's been a couple days & he's still coughing up ash. We had invited him to church before the fire but were not expecting him to come at all. We were sitting in church with a couple of our friends we are teaching on Sunday & I noticed Brandon limping into sacrament meeting. It was his first time coming to church, I was so happy !! All the members in the ward introduced themselves and all offered to help him out. Brandon kept telling everyone that his Book of Mormon was undamaged haha. He was so overwhelmed by the kindness of everyone, he's not used to so many people wanting to help a stranger. I love this church! I love & miss you all too!