March 21, 1991
Well, yesterday was definitely not the best day of my mission. Things here in visalia are just not going so great right now. (NOTE: from Mom, Dad is overly concerned with Kristin and it is really affecting the work on his mission) Jar Xiong said that he wants to be baptized after his son’t wedding is taken care of, so he should be getting baptized next month or so. All of the other people that we have been seeing have been dogging us pretty hard. We did, however, make some good contacts yesterday morning and we will be running those down tomorrow to see if the people are really interested or not.
Today was a pretty good day. We got to teach quite a bit and it went pretty well. I feel good about the amount of work we have been doing here also. i talked to President Bott again tonight to recommend to him that this area be closed. We have talked to nearly every Hmong person in Visalia and Hanford. President agreed with me and told me to quickly schedule a meeting with the Stake Mission President and tell them why we are planning to close the area. Then I am supposed to write a letter to President Bott about the meetings and also give him any final recommendations. i’m not really sure where I’ll be going next transfer, but it seems pretty certain that I’ll be going.
President Bott spent a lot of time talking to me about my relationship with Kristin. The fact that he was so concerned made me realize how much he cares about and loves me. I hope that someday I can be as great a man as he is.
March 22, 1991
Tonight at about 6:30 pm I got a call from the district leader in Julare. he said that he had seen Elder Watson go get in a car with his comp and two Hmong girls headed fro Visalia to a party. He wanted to know if we could go find the party and send him home. well, I got on the telephone and talked to some Hmong people and found out where the party was. Elder Sorenson and I went and told him to call President Bott. I think Watson was more than a little surprised to see us. i have never seen so many Hmong kids dressed so scummy before in my whole life. Anyway, after being on the phone with President for about 30 minutes, Watson gave me the phone. He said that even through he was probably wrong, he had told Watson that he could stay. He said the Elder Sorensen and I were to stay there and supervising Watson! Then we had to go and find a ride home for him and his comp. The Lord’s work would be so much more productive if we didn’t have to spend so much time doing stupid things like babysitting other Elders!
March 23, 1991
Today has definitely not been one of the most productive ays of my mission. We are in Handford for the night. T he biggest problem is that we have all ready asked every Hmong person in this city whether or not they want to be taught. We basically have spent all day working with members. Today was probably the last day that we will spend working in Hanford. We met with the last of the Hmong people today, and we weren’t able to come up with much. I have learned something important here in Handford and Visalia. I can’t force feed the gospel to people. We have been teaching a lot of discussions, but for the mot part, we have been teaching people that are uninterested. However I still feel that it would be better to teach someone 6 discussion too many that 1 too few. I haven’t yet figured out a good way to tell when I have done my part in teaching them. I know that there are some families that we spent too much time with, but I still think that is better than not enough. I just need to do better at knowing when to quit. maybe this is one of the reasons that the Lord sent me here to Visalia.
Elder Baker’s hmong is still coming along pretty well. I know that I need to be more patient, but sometimes I get frustrated when he makes the same mistakes over and over again.
March 25, 1991
Today has been kind of a weird day. We got up and did our laundry, scriptures study and shopping early this morning. ( More problems with Kristin)
I am finding it kind of hard to have much motivation to truly go out and find people to teach. It doesn’t make much sense to really bust our butts finding when well only be here for 10 more days anyway. The only problem is that there isn’t a whole lot else that we can find to do. A s a result, we will spend our time this week contacting he 20 remaining families that we still have not yet contacted.
We played volleyball and frisbee football all day today at the church. It was pretty fun, but my knees are sure sore. I can’t wait to be resurrected and have a body that works right again.
March 26, 1991
Well, I went to the dentist today because I have had a toothache for about 3 weeks. He took x-rays and all of that kind of stuff. he decided that my problem was that my wisdom teeth were coming in wrong, so he has to take all four of them out. I have called home and talked to my parents, as well as calling and talking to President Bott. President Bott said that he wanted them out as soon as possible so that I am over it by the time that transfers come around. president Bott said that there is a chance of me being transferred to Merced or Fresno. I’ll probable get someplace different all together. He also said that I may go to Fresno for a month or two and then go to Merced.
It was good to talk to my family. They are all doing really well. I was really surprised at ow grown-up Brett is. I really miss those guys all a lot, but there is no question in my mind that I am doing what is right, no matter the cost. I got a package from Kristin today. I really fell dumb about the way I have allowed myself to fell the last few days. She only wants me to be the best missionary that I can be. I am going to be the very best that I can possibly be, no matter the cost.
March 27, 1991
Jar Xiong said that he would get baptized today! I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. He said that he would get baptized on Wednesday, april 3. That means that both he and his wife will be members and able to be sealed in the temple just a few months before I go home. I am so very happy that the Lord saw fit for this to happen! After he is baptized, he and Mee will attend church with the Lao people. They feel like they will be able to understand quite a bit that way. i almost wish now that we were staying here for one more month so that we could follow up on this a little. Elder Sorensen has said that he will keep track of them for us after we leave.
Today was just on e of those days that is just really a good day. We taught 3 discussions today. One of which was to the Hmong minister at the 7th day Adventist Church. he said that he would read the Book of Mormon, so we will have to take him one tomorrow. I am almost wondering if we should really leave here or not. Fortunately, that is between President Bott and the Lord. I am sure that whatever is right is what will be done.
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