Faith can move mountains

Ok, I mainly did this subject because we did three moves this week... so yeah!  We helped a young couple move in from Idaho. They are super cool and are just down the road. We had to move everything up three flights!! That is always fun! I got put on the part of the fireman line where you have to run up and down stairs. I am not complaining because I got in my cardio! The next move was helping a member move out and into a condo also just down the road. He had some sick old school swords. He does photography and he specializes in weddings. We had some good conversations as we moved him. His parents where there and they made us some authentic Philipino food! It was so dang good! We also helped a member clear out his trees and bushes in the pouring rain!

Andy was baptized this Saturday! He lives back in Linden but I got to Skype in! Man, he is so cool. I got to watch it over at a member's house while we ate. It was dope. We got to eat at a member's home every night this week and that was awesome! We did something that we practiced in district meeting (by the way it was one of the best meeting that I have had in a while). The stake president wants all members to have a date set for missionaries to teach an investigator in the home. Since district meeting we have up to 15 in the district! Whoot!

I got to also eat with out next door neighbors from Africa. They made us some really good Nigerian dish. Like I said before, this place is a melting pot. One day I can eat pizza and the next I could be face deep in some good African food. I surprising have lost weight in this area...

A spiritual experience that happened this week; one my good friends, Sister Mustain, sent me a letter. She explained one thing she does in her mission. She had the experience of telling God that they will do so and so and then He will provide the rest. I tried that. I prayed that I would find some one from that moment until dinner. The second door we knocked we were welcomed right in! They were also from Africa but they have had the missionaries before. We taught them about the Book of Mormon and they were happy to read it.  I am a believer now that as we give it all to God he will make up were we fall.

Have a blessed week y'all! Thank you for sending me updates about y'alls lives.

Love, Elder Q

Splashville

Ok, I have been waiting a long time to send that subject line! We got a baptism! Adam was baptized on Friday and let me tell ya, the adversary did not want it to happen. First off, we started late because of all the traffic. His mom was flippin out because she was stressed. The talks went really well!  After the talks we headed to the baptismal font. The old man baptizing Adam stepped into font and immediately stepped out. He said it was too hot.... too hot?! That never happens! It is usually too cold. We drained some of the water out and filled it up with some cold water. The baptism was quick and good. Then, when they went to dry off there were no towels. We found something to dry them off with and wait for them to change, that took another half year. We did the confirmation and then closed. We had some good refreshments though. It was the most hectic baptism that I have ever been a part of.

I missed this last week but I want to say happy Father's Day! I have so many amazing father figures in my life. I especially want to say thank you to both my dad and my step dad, Niel. They have both played huge roles in my life and development. I can go to my dad with anything and I know he can show me love and help me get through any problem in life. I have learned and appreciate all the outdoor skills from Niel. We have been on some great adventures! I am so glad that I got two to help me though this life. Most importantly I am very grateful for my Heavenly Father. I am so grateful that he has set up the plan of redemption and loves me so much to send His son. The biggest thing I have learned on my mission is strengthening my relationship with him. My earthy fathers love me but I know my Heavenly Father loves me even more and will know how to best help me in any situation, though it may be hard. I came across the verse, 1 Nephi 20:10 that has helped me in my afflictions. I know that God loves me and he loves all his children very individually.

Other things that happened his week was I hit my year mark! Man has it flown! I can't wait to see what I turn into in this next year. We also had Zone Conference and I always love those! We talked with the stake president and he told us his vision with missionary work. He wants every member to have an investigator in there home one night out of the year. I see that is very doable. We figured out to reach his baptismal goal that we must increase on baptism a month. We can do it! I also helped out at the Nashville garden and that was super fun! Got to get out and work hard in the fields! Man was it hot and humid but I absolutely love it! I honestly kind of like humid heat better then dry heat because everyone else is sweating as much as me!

Have a blessed week y'all! Until next time.

Love, Elder Q

Legally Blonde

Awesome stuff is happening in my district!! I got to go do an interview for the sunset sisters and the person I interviewed was awesome! She told me about her life and other things. I think she is just like the chick off of Legally Blonde. She was very popular and a kind of a airhead in high school but always wanted to be a dentist. No one thought she could do it because she was super flighty. She received Best in Class in college and has a doctorate degree!! I love hearing about those kinds of success stories! I also got to go to her baptism and she had a lot of support and fellowship. The next best thing about going to a baptism and watching the ordinance performed was the refreshment afterwards. I had this really good Oreo cookie thing. Like it was two chocolate cookies that had cream in the middle. It was so good!!

I did a lot of service this week from unloading a food truck to cleaning to moving. When we were cleaning this yard up we found a huge black widow! This thing gave me chills down to the bone. It could have possibly kill me if it bit me. We threw other spiders in with it but it always came out victor. We named her Charlotte. Then moving.... we moved this couple that could well be a serial killers. Ok, probably not, but the woman was like Harley Quinn. She would always be giggling and talking about her toys, clowns and guns so I was freaked out. Then the dude reminded me of Dexter because he was cool and a bit twisted too. He had me move two boxes full of saran wrap and boxes of tools so I thought I was a goner for sure.

We also got a call from Bishop today.  He told us Adam can be baptized on the 16th! So that will happen this week! We are fixin to get a bappy! That is baptism but in missionary terms. He is an 11 year old kid that takes piano lessons from Sister Foote. That is how he got in contact with the church plus his mom was a meme bet a long time ago. So things are looking very good this transfer!

Happy birthday to my wonderful grandma! She has been there for me since day one! She bends over backwards for my happiness. I am so thankful for all the many hot games she has sat and watched!  She loves to have fun and I appreciate all the fun things she has taken me too. I am so happy and thankful to have her in my life. I love you Grandma Dean!

Love y'all and have a blessed day!

Love, Elder Q

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Some packages have gone missing from his door.  If you would like to send him anything, please use the mission home address:

1646 Sunset Road
Brentwood, TN 37027

Baby won't you come my way

We now have two baptismal dates! One for July 1st and the other for July 8th. I talked about them a little bit in my last email but the one dude that just came out of prison is doing so well! His nickname is Chief because he is Native American. I have a picture of him at the bottom. He just got a new apartment and a job so now he doesn't have to go back to jail. He has the most repentant heart that I have seen in a really long time. He literally teaches me things about the atonement.

The APs had a baptism and I got to do the baptismal interview. I absolutely love doing the interviews! They are always so spiritual and I tear up almost every time I get to do one. It is just a perfect reminder that the Lord is mindful of every single one of us. If we just reach out in sincere prayer, He will be there to answer us. Sometimes it ain't the answer we want but he still answers us in His own due time.

We got transfer calls but nothing too huge happened. I am staying with Elder Briscoe until he dies and the rest of the District stayed the same. Only thing is we got another set of sisters up in Cumberland. So now I am up to 12 missionaries in my district so it is a party. Oh and 2 of the 3  STLs are back in my district so that is dope! I am about to be relief society president again ha! There is only 5 sets of elders in my zone so pretty much all of them have leadership.

We had stake conference this weekend and it was sick! I have been praying for Charity and that is what they talked on! I learned that I need to rejoice with those that do well. It is one of my hardest things to do but I will be praying and working for it. So far it has been interesting but then again it has only been one day. Oh and I got to see a Nashville Sounds game on P-day! That was super awesome! We got owned but it was still good. The Preds are at home so it has been absolutely crazy here! The series is 2-1 for the Penguins but the Predators will get them tonight!

I am looking forward for the baptisms and all the other peeps that we may find. I love y'all and hope y'all have a blessed week!

Love, Elder Q