Got the oil changed, cleaned the fridge, mopped the floor, made fish tacos again (perch isn't a favorite of mine), did some grocery shopping, and drank a milkshake from a fast food place called Jacks.  It's been a good preparation day.

Elder Guinn and I are the Bessemer stake zone leaders, which means we are in charge of going out to the district leaders in our zone to train and help them in any way we can.  We are also conducting 3 hours of training in our Zone Conference on Nov. 5th.  I'm pretty excited about it.  President Holtzapfel dropped a big ol' bomb - he asked Elder Guinn and I to share some things we've learned about and from obedience in front of the whole mission.  It's worse than speaking in Sacrament Meeting.

Other cool news - we are going to have two new missionaries here in our apartment starting in November.  I'll be remaining at this address for a long while - unless they send me to Suriname.

Elder Guinn and I were working in this neighborhood trying to contact people we met a week ago.  This little boy came up and asked in a very sweet voice, "Are you guys coming to our house?"  He was only about 6, so we told him to go ask his parents if we could come over.  He came out a minute later and said, "I told my Grandpa you were white guys, and he says he doesn't have time."  To this, I had a great big chuckle.

The Lower Lights CD is now my most treasured possession.  The girl singing in "Ye Elders of Israel" sounds like an angel.  I want to take voice lessons some day to learn how to sing well.

Mom, you asked if we go tracting often.  We do tract, but usually we just wander around and help people rake leaves, or carry in groceries and stuff.  They then ask us to leave them alone.  Some will allow us to teach.  We probably knock on doors 3 hours per week in our spare time.

I like Alabama, but I'm not sure it would be a good permanent residence for me.  Maybe...  Stuff is going well.

Angels

(Photos copied without any permission whatsoever from the Alabama Birmingham Mission Blog)

Brother Jones (our recent convert) was ordained a Priest yesterday.  He was also called to be the Branch Missionary.  He's been walking around introducing himself as Elder Hulme since I put my name tag on him yesterday.  I think he's going to be an integral part of this branch.  He's been setting up appointments for us with his friends.

Elders Fisher, Robison, Guinn, and Hulme

Yesterday, I was getting pretty down because we don't have very many, if any, good progressing investigators.  Elder Guinn was pretty down, too, and he was praying for someone to help us out.  President Archibald from the Stake Presidency was visiting our branch.  It was fast and testimony meeting and I enjoyed the service.  Afterward, President Archibald wanted to talk with Elder Guinn and I.  I need to backtrack...  When Elder Bednar was here in September, a missionary asked him why or how we could receive the ministering of angels.  His response was like this, "Why would he have body-less beings try to do angel stuff when there are home teachers to do it, or missionaries, or bishops, or any number of other influential people already living?"  Well, President Archibald was our angel.  He spent 1.5 hours with us.  He gave us sound advice, a lot of encouragement, and was exactly what Elder Guinn and I needed.

Folks keep saying that they're sorry I haven't received my visa yet.  It's okay.  I actually am growing to like Alabama.  I'm content to stay here as long as needed.  However, I think it would be a tragedy to never make it to Suriname to finish learning Dutch or meet my original mission president.  Although, I'm not sure anyone could have a better mission president than President Holzapfel.

Elder Hulme and President Holzapfel

It's nice knowing that I'm not in this work alone.  I purchased a little composition book and have been recording all the miracles I see.  It's going to be a real treat to look back and see day-by-day all the incredible stuff that's happened while being here.

We make some pretty stinking good sushi.  We also made a vegetable lasagne, but it wasn't anything special like I had hoped.  It was still good, though.

I love you guys.  Thanks for all the nice notes sent my way.  I'm learning lots and doing good.

Determined

These past few weeks have been tough.  Missionary work is more enjoyable when you spend lots of time teaching.  I have had such a challenge teaching lately.  Everyone has been ditching out on our appointments.  We've spent 1/3 as much time teaching as usual, and it's so boring!  The best days are when you have lesson after lesson after lesson.  These days seem to be just failure after failure all day long.  Luckily, though, it's not getting me down - just determined.

Autumn began on the 23rd.  Summer ended exactly 2 days after, and the days have been so nice.  I honestly thought that the heat here was always miserable, but after that one rain storm, it's been nice.  It's truly incredible.

Conference was awesome.  I hope you were able to enjoy it half as much as I did.

Elder Guinn and I went tracting yesterday, and I think this whole block has been stewed in anti-mormon stuff.  They told us multiple times that what we believe is evil and also that Joseph Smith was an evil awful man who was a murderer and stuff.  I was amazed.  First, because Joseph Smith was an incredible man and did great things for mankind and for the Church.  I was also amazed that Baptists were telling us, as missionaries, that we live in sin.  Interesting claim.

I like Elder Guinn.  He has a solid understanding of when it's time to be serious, be serious.  But when it's time to have fun, then have fun.  He's a hard worker, understands and lives the doctrine, and makes me laugh sometimes, too.  He was home schooled for a long time, up until high school.  It seems like homeschooling gets a lot more learning done than public school.  We also like the same foods, both being former picky eaters.  I guess I'm still picky, I just don't tell anyone.

Life is good.  I love you guys.

Sushi, Baptism

Elder Guinn's family sent a box .  It had a bamboo roller, sticky rice, and seaweed.  So, we bought some "krab" and frozen fish (there is NO fresh fish in Ensley), and made some California rolls.  The rice that Elder Guinn made was tasty.  The sushi turned out good.

Saturday, Br. Jones was baptized.  The service went great.  Frankie did the dunking, and tried 3 times.  Luckily, Br. Briggins suggested kneeling the 2nd time, and it worked.  Sister Davis spoke on the Holy Ghost and did an exceptional job.  Br. Jones asked me to confirm him.  Giving blessings is really cool.  It must be a grand calling being a Patriarch.  The whole time, though, Br. Jones' phone was ringing.  There was an emergency at his house, so he had to take off right after the service.  Everyone who came to the baptism didn't even get to talk to the baptisee.  Turns out that his cousin and 2 friends who had been staying with him got into a fight (they should have come to the baptism!)  Big fights over little things are frequent in this area.

Next Monday we're going to the McWane Science Center.  I think it is an OMSI equivalent.  I learned that the Museum of Art I wanted to visit is closed on Mondays (my p-day).  I'm a bit bummed about it.  P-day is too short.  I'm headed back to work.