Southport North Carolina

Southport North Carolina
Patrick in Southport

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Week 91

Mar 18, 2014 at 9:58 AM
Family!!!

Well, well, well, Word has reached mine ear by an unknown tongue that thou didst receive such communication of vocal performance from kindred here yonder in North Carolina, brothers and sisters of the Thornton bloodline, ah, such a choice bloodline indeed.  

Okay...did y'all really think I was going to be writing the letter like that again?? Sheesh, ..., rookie mistake. ;)

So, anyways, yeah, apparently that is a tradition that they do when a new Elder comes to their home.  I think it's the first time I've ever sung a solo to a group of people.  But I think it went alright.  Speaking of which, and this is ridiculously coincidental, since I've been planning on telling you this for a while....anyways, mom, I know you pick classes soon (or possible recently) and I was wondering if you could see if there is a voice lesson class or something (I have absolutely no idea what it would be called).  Ask DJ if you need help navigating the BYU system.  And then book what appears to be the best for my schedule etc. If I end up not liking it, I'll just drop it later, but I think I want to take a sort of class such as that, to refine myself :)  Muchas gracias.  I hope that all makes sense.  I forgot to mention it last week.

We had a regional stake conference last week, and that was great!  EVERYTHING was geared toward Hastening the Work...I LOVE THE WORK!!!! Missionary work is seriously the best thing ever.  We also were able to attend the adult session (and youth session) Saturday night.  Super good.  Elder Perry spoke on Sunday and gave a personal shout out to our Stake President here in Raleigh, saying that he'll see him in a couple weeks when he comes for the regional priesthood leadership such-an-such meeting.  Good stuff again.

So, like I mentioned last week.  We continue to work with Jay.  We saw some definite growth this last week.  Turns out, he really does believe sort of in God.  I don't think Jesus Christ though, but at the end of the lesson, we invited him to pray and he did so, but he wouldn't pray in Christ's name.  It was a nice prayer nonetheless.  One thing he did though, was he thanked us for coming over because we have caused him/helped him to once again think of religion on a spiritual basis.  It was really nice.  He is a great kid.  Next week, I hope he can come to church.  

Oh, by the way, my instruction on Thursday that I asked you to pray would be better than the instruction on Tuesday went much much better.  I definitely felt that I at least taught more by the spirit and in a manner that was much more conducive for the spirit to testify to the hearts of those I was teaching and ultimately be the true teacher.  I, at least in part, felt that I lived up to the standard that I would expect from those that taught me when I was in the youngins' position.  

Our Bishop's family, the Thornton family, is awesome :)  They invited about 5 families over for dinner on Sunday.  They were shooting the odds.  1 family, a part member family, did come, and we had a wonderful lesson afterwards on the reality of Jesus Christ and His love and Atonement.  Then, our amazing Bishop bore powerful testimony and extended ever-so-loving invitations for the part member husband to read and pray about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and to search these things out for himself.  It was great.  Can't go wrong with Thornton as a last name, I guess ;)  

Also, yesterday, I talked with the Thorntons we live with and we compared some genealogy.  We couldn't find a connection as of yet with the data I received from mom, but we know somewhere back there, we have got to be connected.  Ah, family history work, why are you so exciting??? :) :)

Okay, here's a question...mom or dad, do you know any Rodeback's (that may be speeled wrong) HAHAHA (did you see what I did there...I knew there were 2 p's) :) anyways, a lady in the ward here knows some or is related to some in Grand Junction.  Just thought I'd ask.  BTW, y'all are doing great with the lack of trunkiness.  I'm grateful and impressed.  I'll tell you that most other moms and families cannot say the same thing.  Also, funny story.  I just happened to be here when the letter from mom to the office came in with some itinerary data...yep...that's awkward ;)  I believe, Mom, that you are the first one in for my group...you even got it in before my companion's parents and he leaves a transfer before I do.  I told the office secretary that my mom is super efficient.  I think she agrees :)  Mom, you're the best!  But that's quite obvious, wouldn't everyone agree??

Well, needless to say, I really don't know of anything else to write except a stankin' hilarious story about Facebook.  Here goes...

Once upon a time, there was a diligent little missionary who ever so much desired to use Facebook to track down elusive less actives members in the wards where he served.  Well, thus he did.  Friend request after friend request...message after message, but some small successes came, which fueled his desire.  However, after many a days in such a quest, he received a notice from Facebook that informed him that he was blocked from sending friend requests and messages for 7 days because he was sending too many requests to people he didn't know.  Frustrated, but undeterred, at the conclusion of 7 days, he continued his efforts, however, maybe not so robustly as before.  However, in just a few days after being unblocked, this poor young missionary was again informed by Facebook that he was blocked for 14 days.  Slightly hurt and confused, this little missionary wondered what he had ever done to deserve such treatment.  Is not the furthering of the Lord's work a good enough reason for Facebook??  Apparently not.  Nevertheless, it was shortly after this 2nd block that this dedicated missionary was transferred to a new area. This prevented problems in using Facebook for said missionary as he was unable to friend any of the members or missionaries in his new area.  Finally, the ban was lifted, and he was at it again...off finding those lost sheep in cyber space.  Only in the deepest depths of his mind did he fear that he would be blocked once more, but he took the chance and send many friend requests.  Well, this story doesn't end here.  One morning this young happy missionary logged on to Facebook to reveal that he had once again been blocked from sending friend requests and messages to others that aren't friends.  Shattered, he noticed the time span.  30 days.  This young missionary's companion will practically be home before he can once again send a measly friend request.  This block this time, though, came with a warning, if it happens again..he may be blocked PERMANENTLY!!!! Gees, all for trying to labor in the vineyard of the Lord.  

Moral of the story: It's hard to help lost sheep that tell Facebook that you should be blocked.  

The End.

Well, I hope you liked my, uh, I mean, the story of the young missionary.  Poor chap, I hope he's alright ;)

Thanks for all you do; I love y'all so much!

Love,

Elder Patty



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