A Funeral and the Temple (in the dark)

 Monday Sept 16, 2019

So This week was pretty interesting. We had some success but more or less a lot of things relating to Death. Why do I say that exactly? Well, this week included people telling us of relatives that passed away recently, Attending a Funeral and finally going to the Temple to do Baptisms for the Dead which was the most unique experience I will probably ever have. So the first couple of things that happened this week is that a couple of the people we are currently teaching have told us that relatives and friends have passed away. It was kind of sad to hear and we are probably going to run out of Plan of Salvation pamphlets pretty soon because of these situations. I honestly don't know why there is so much going on in this area. Usually the Last week of the Transfer is supposed to be the one you push the hardest on but people have just been dropping like flys here in Louisiana. Another thing that does not pertain to the death of someone is one of the People we are teaching, Krystal randomly texted us this week. She asked us to come over and meet with her. We met with her and she said her Boyfriend got in trouble with the law and so she is staying by herself with her twin Daughters. She has been reading from the Scriptures and praying over the past three weeks since this happened and really wants to be better. We are hoping to get a couple members over there the next time we meet with her. We also went knocking a couple trailer homes this week and ran into someone named Courtney. She told us they just moved in the day before and that her Grandpa did Temple work before. As we left my companion felt prompted to go back so we did. He asked if she wants to go to the Temple and she said she wouldn't mind. Hopefully this is a family that can prepare to enter the waters of Baptism in December. I guess we'll see where it leads for now.

Now onto some sad news that happened this week. So there was a Member that I talked about last week who Recently Passed away. Well we attended his funeral and it was very sad. I often told myself that losing someone close to you is not that difficult of a thing but in reality it is. While I have only known this member named Jerry L. Ainsworth for about Three Months I was able to learn more about the Book of Mormon from him. He wrote a book called The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni which is really good. The Funeral Service had people filled with tears as they talked about what he accomplished in his life. From breaking his Jaw, Collarbone and even his neck down to traveling in Central America this member is best described as his family members as Indiana Jerry. One time he showed the comparison between him and Harrison Ford. He said "He is Rich and I am not, He is pretty and I am not, however he acts out what I actually do." His Sister and his Sister's Daughter were there where they spoke about all of the loving memories they had with him between him threatening to bite his nieces nose to him using a Bike going off the High Dive as well as all of the Girlfriends that he had where none of them were Ugly his sister told us. He was a great friend and as I listened to one of the Songs called "Going Home" my eyes were filled with tears. I have a copy of the song which I will send out after this email. He also served in the Canadian Mission and was the Second Counselor to Thomas S. Monson. Before he was released Thomas S. Monson told him that even though he will be released as his counselor that he will always be his Counselor in the Eternities. I'm glad to have known him and I hope to see him again. One other note about the Funeral is that we met with his Sister the next day. We were given quite a bit of leftover food from a gathering just the day before. One of the things she decided to give both of us was his Temple Suit Coat that he wore while he did Temple Work. It will be something that I will wear when perhaps someday I will be a worker in the Temple.

Speaking of the Temple we were able to go to the Temple on Saturday with the Yarbroughs. Ok maybe not the whole family but just the Daughter. The parents, Trent and Courtney had to stay home and watch over sick kids. Carlee who is the oldest Daughter in the home came and enjoyed it. As we went inside the Temple it was a little bit darker than the last time I went in. They told us that the Power has been off all morning and that they cancelled all of the other appointments. However because of how far of a travel we went they allowed us to do Baptisms for the Dead and Confirmations IN THE DARK!!! Ok well they had a couple Flashlights they used but it was a really cool experience. I had my 3rd Great Grandfather Baptized and Confirmed while we were there which was great for me. I want to get all of his Temple Work done besides the Sealing done before the end of my mission. As we finished up our Baptisms and Confirmations a member named Brother Glass said "It is Done." Instantly the Power came back on. Talk about Miracles am I right? 

That is about everything that happened this week. I hope you all have a great week and I'll talk to you again soon.