Hey Mom!

I got the package you sent! Thanks for that! I laughed so hard when I saw the ox, I didn't even have to look at the note! And the shirt is sweet! 

Brother Huggins always records us without us knowing haha! I'm glad you liked it. I just randomly got asked to get up and share my testimony on the Book of Mormon in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. We had about 15 minutes left over so our Branch President gave me this look, and I knew exactly what he wanted me to do... haha! So I got up and I hope it went pretty well! 

Our new mission president is doing well I think! I honestly haven't seen him or heard from him since he got here. Plus neither Elder Ciminski or I are getting transferred so we didn't get a call from anyone, so I don't think I'll even see him until our interviews which are a week from tomorrow. Not a lot has changed at all. Everyone says that change will probably be coming soon, so we'll see! Oh he's about 65 I think? All their kids are old and have at least one child! 

This week ended up being a good week. The Greene's were at church again yesterday and it was great! We have re set their baptism date for August 5th. They had one set back, but they have agreed to work on it and the branch is helping them out so much! Everyone is so excited for them and I am too! It's going to be coming up quick, and I'm glad that Elder Ciminski and I will both still be here for it for sure! Things are going great for them. 

We were able to see a lot of less-active members this week which was so cool! There was one that let us in that hasn't let missionaries into his house in a long long time! The branch is really happy that we were able to get in there. We're hoping that if we continue to meet with him he will eventually start to come back to church. I just love our branch! This last ward council we had yesterday we gave our usual weekly report, but it seems like they just trust us so much! My first transfer here, there was a little bit of a lack of trust I could sense toward the missionaries, but the trust level has gone way up and you can feel it! They are really excited with everything that is going on with the Greene's, and they just are willing to help us as much as they can! 

We had a really cool thing happen on Friday! So I was on an exchange, and we had just driven to Elizabeth City for a zone meeting so we were low on miles, so we didn't have enough to go back to the trailer and go back out again, so we just had to stay out! It was hot, and humid, and it was really tough at first. At one point we were going to stop at a gas station to go get some more water, but we decided to go to this neighborhood that we were passing because it would be less miles. We were walking around and knocking on doors with not a lot of success. But then We knocked on one door, and they gave us a cup of water with ice! It's amazing the blessings that come from working diligently. And not only that, but the very next guy we talked to, we had a GREAT conversation with him. We talked to him for about 15 minutes, and he invited us inside to get out of the heat. We were able to leave him with a pamphlet and get his information to get in contact with him again. It was just a sweet experience and I know it was because we decided to keep working instead of taking a break. 

I also gave another baptismal interview this week which is always really cool. I love being able to do that! These people have such strong testimonies and it just strengthens my own to see them so excited about everything! 

My ponderizing scripture this week is in 2 Nephi 8:22. "Thus saith thy Lord, the Lord thy God pleadeth the cause of his people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again." So this is from the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon which are always confusing for me, but it just hit me in my personal study the other day that this is talking about the Atonement! The Lord is always pleading our cause, because He knows exactly what we've been through. He loves us so much and is always going to give us that support! I know that the Atonement is real, and I know Christ lives today. 

I think that's about it for this week! Just more missionary work. I'm excited to stay in Currituck, because I love it here so much. I love everyone. I love the trailer haha! I love working every day. I love being a missionary.

Hope you have a great week this week! I love you so much Mom! thanks for everything.

Love you so much and I'll talk to  you soon!

Love,

Elder Collier