Nathan's Mission to Texas

Ok so this week went by really fast!!!! the days are long but the weeks are as fast as can be!!!! One of my biggest challenges here is..cooking... i didn't think it would be so hard to shop and cook and all that. I'm slowly figuring it out and I usually just default to some PB and J. We have ran into some more crazy people this week. We had always seen this guy with a turban on in his arm. So we were looking through the potentials list and we saw this guy that look like he would be good to stop by. So we went by the house at like 8 30 right before we were about to head home. And I was scared out of my mind. so we left and went back the next day and it turned out to be the crazy  guy who walks around in his turban all day. we started talking to him and it was seriously scary. He is basically a devil worshiper and knew scriptures like the back of his hands. he told us about one time he was practicing his karate with his machetes (I don't know how you spell that, but yes he had two machetes sitting on the table while we were talking to him and he was kinda playing with them) and he told us about how the devil or this winged creatures froze him. and that they hang out in his house on this piece of wood. He asked if he could have the prophets number or email so he could send it to him and find out what it is. He is so scary and knew alot about our church and was saying things that scared me. but we gave him the church website and peaced out. never going back. we said a prayer and moved on.

I am getting a lot of exercise and loosing weight!!! riding the bike was hard at first but i figured out that if I hum hymns while I bike, it helps a lot. so I do that a lot.

So something kinda cool here is that there are these things called bodegas where you go tie digging. They don't have any here in Harlingen but in Laredo and Brownsville they do and all the elders that have been there have 75-250 ties because you pick out your ties and they charge you like 50 cents to a dollar for a pound of ties. and they have ridiculously nice ties that are 200 dollars sometimes. My companion is wearing one today that is made by BUgatti the car company who also happened to make a few ties. So i get educated on ties everyday. its pretty crazy. if missionaries aren't working hard sometimes the zone leaders impose a TIE FAST. haha soI don't have to worry about that. but its kinda funny how much people love ties here. 

We get caught in the rain all the time. Like dumping rain. this little old black lady we were trying to talk to just kept telling us to go home. she was really worried about us hahaha.

 Our investigators are awesome. we had 3 people at church this Sunday that have baptismal dates set. They are progressing really well and so so funny. They are like the 3 amigos and its funny just watching them walk around church and be friendly. they are all 3 so great and so humble and just want to be better. we are teaching them all W.O.W next week. so hopefully all goes well...cause they all definitely have a problem with that...

Another one of the most difficult things here is the Happy Christians who just think every church is right and its hard to explain that there is only one church. They are so great but don't really want to change. one of my favorites is A___, he used to sell, do drugs, he was in a gang that smuggled people and drugs across the border. he has been to prison so many times. seriously you name it, he has done it. he told us all bout it one day. but he loves talking about Jesus and we knew we weren't getting anywhere so we stopped going by. and he stopped us in his car yesterday and was like. hey come by dudes!!! you guys are great!!! so we are going by to invite him to church.

K my spiritual thought comes from Alma 60;21. It talks about the "means that the lord has given us". And I started thinking about this and it is so so so so important that we use our "means" to build gods kingdom. I take the word "means" to mean blessings or talents. everything we have comes from the lord and it is only right that we use it to help build his kingdom. Whether it be financial means, talents that you have been given, or even just the ability to mow a lawn. everything we can do should be used to help build the kingdom and help one another. Lately I have been so so excited for prophets. I love reading there talks and if we honestly take the time to listen and apply what they are saying. Our lives can be so much better. Before I got out here I took it so much for granted,. But the prophets have the best advice anyone could give.

Well I love you all and I'm

having a great time here!!!!! love you!!!!

p.s. this picture is a example of how big the Rims on cars are down here. people love there rims. we had a conversation one time with this guy just about his 28 inch rims which is SO big. but really, like they are monstorous. but he wants some 30s. haha the people are great down here

Elder Sherman