Not Your Typical Bay Watch (Chesapeake that is): Wild Wild Week

This week was crazy.

Monday- I went on an exchange with Elder Tortorici and we went to the Turner's house for my birthday dinner. It was a pretty crazy night. Just look at the pictures to come.

Tuesday- Elder Tortorici and I went and contacted some potentials and formers. We had a little bit of success. We talked to this one guy who was being taught last year. He is super solid.

Wednesday- We met with the a less active family. We helped them establish a family vision, with some goals and plans.

Thursday- We went to do some service, but it started snowing, so the member we were with decided to take us to a steakhouse instead. We went and visited the Shortts that night and had just an amazing lesson. We didn't really have a lesson plan, we just went completely by the Spirit. It was super sweet.

Friday- We went and helped some members in Gloucester with some service with the Gloucester Elders. It was the last time we would see Elder Friend on the mission.

Saturday- This is where things got wild. A guy that Elder Black taught in his last area got baptized, so we went down to Norfolk to see it. On our way back to New Kent, we stopped in Hampton and got some grub. When the member tried to start the car, it wouldn't start. We had to get a new battery. We finally got on our way. Just before we got home, we got transfer calls. Elder Black is going down to Clayton North Carolina. I'm staying in New Kent. I won't know who my new companion is until Thursday due to the fact the I'll be that missionary's first companion. I'll be his trainer. Since Elder Black was leaving, we went and said goodbye to some people. The wind was blowing really strong and it blew over a powerline. The power line was in a median and it caught all of the trees and grass on fire. Some of the flames made their way to the road when we drove past. We literally drove through smoke and flames and it was nuts!!

Sunday- Elder Black had a lot of packing to do. During Sacrament Meeting, I had to be the substitute music conductor.

Monday- A wicked bad storm hit us last night. We got about 6 inches of snow. Not too bad for Utah, but for Virginia, it's like the apocalypse.

Spiritual thought: "Being mistreated is the most important condition of mortality, for eternity itself depends on how we view those who mistreat us." (James L. Ferrell) Many of the trials we will go through will be because of the misdeeds of another person. The test will be for us to forgive those that had wronged us. Christ himself declared that we are to forgive all those that have wronged us. He himself forgave all mankind for all of their sins. When we refuse to forgive, we are basically saying that the Lord's atonement wasn't good enough. That his payment of the sin wasn't enough. When we choose to forgive, we are set free from a heavy burden. When we forgive, we allow the power of the atonement to fill our souls.

That's all for now. This will be the first time that a missionary has been trained in this area for a long while, so this aught to be interesting. Love you all. Have a great week.

Elder Dumont

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