5/13/2024 - Week 43 - I've been gaslit that Ohio is real

I have been informed by an Ohio Whistleblower that Ohio is not, in fact, real. Unfortunately, with the experiences I've had here, that makes a lot of sense...


To start off, we both found and subsequently dropped a new friend named Lynn. She was super awesome, but then got annoyed that we wanted to confirm that she would be at the church tour? I don't know. Its weird, but she said she'd try it out in a month or so, so I guess I'm back to planting seeds.

Last Monday we had to pick up the biking Elders in our District because one of them absolutely ate it while biking back home (he was rather upset and in pain). He was biking along with no hands (something I cannot do) and his handlebar ran into some rebar sticking out of the ground and turned the wheel around 180° which Newtons first law of motion does not like too much. Needless to say, he flipped over the handlebars and luckily didn't land on his head. When we picked them up the next day for service (and when we planned to have exchanges) he was in a makeshift sling and later that day, I found myself in the urgent care with him for 3 hours getting him a new sling and cast because his elbow is fractured! Luckily he doesn't need surgery and they got him and his companion a car, but its still kinda crazy. We were also supposed to be absolutely destroyed by a tornado (15% chance -- which is high for tornados) but the storm broke around Huber Heights and Tipp City, so everyone in the District is safe and really only had a bit of rain and slight wind.

At service, we cleaned out a stable so they could put their ponies there in case the tornado came through, and that stable was a mess and a half. It took 2 hours and the stench was incredible, between me and Elder Gale, we both almost threw up about 6 times. There was legitimately at least 600 lbs of the nastiest, moldy, fossilized straw in there. I think my sense of smell was burned away in there. It was possibly the least enjoyable experience. I'm also pretty sure an alpaca died in there not to long ago because when it happened they told us about it when we came and thats where the aplacas stayed. Not fun.

On Wednesday we had our regular service at the food pantry and it went late because we were hauling half a ton of yogurt (packaged in 6lb bags too which is absolutely massive) from a flatbed truck to some fridges in the pantry. They were very glad to have some help who isn't over 60 years old.

We had District Council and interviews on Thursday and it was all good! We got lunch with the district and it was amazing as usual! We also had a LSI with a family in the ward I didn't know very well, so it was great to talk with them and share how we can serve others and our family to show the Light of Christ to others! We also got invited to the Elder's Quorum "Steak Night" which is hamburgers at the Beans! It was definitely a highlight for the week.

We also ran into a very old and dementia ridden lady and she was very glad to have someone to talk to for a minute (even if what she said didn't really make sense). She was very nice, and that was a rare occurrence that day.

We also found some new friends and potentials on Mother's Day! They're super cool and I can't wait to see where they let themselves go! A super nice guy we had a good ol doctrinal chat with gave us some *pristine* leather NIV Bibles! It was dope!

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:
This was our Training in District Council from the Elder that broke his Elbow day 2 after the crash (I'm not letting him off the hook that easily). It was on the Doctrine of Christ (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End) and how we can apply it to our own life. 
Embrace the CRASH!
Call upon the Lord - Faith - a principle of action and power. Show your faith.
Return - Repentance - come back to the Gospel after you make a mistake (create a plan, apply the plan, never go back)
Attend Sacrament Meeting - Baptism - recommit to Christ through the Sacrament
Seek Guidance from the Holy Ghost - Gift of the Holy Ghost - We cannot survice Spiritually without Him
Hold on to His Promise - Endure to the End - 2 Nephi 31:21 God promises us that if we live this Gospel, it is the only way for us to be Saved in His kingdom!

MOTHERS DAY SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:
This will probably be a reoccurring theme if you get many missionary emails, but its the truth! 
Alma 56: 47-48
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. 
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it

The Stripling Warriors were able to fight with such great faith and with the power of the Lord on their side because of the great examples which their mothers were to them. They taught them well the Gospel and their testimony and knowledge gave their children the ability to mighty instruments in the Hands of the Lord. I know there a lot of moms/future moms on the email here, so I want to thank each and every one of you guys! You guys have great power for good here in the world and I know the Lord will strengthen you as you rely on Him! Happy Mother's Day y'all!

-Elder Parker Hansen







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