Snow!

Hey E'ry Duddy!

I'm doing han-TAStic! Everything is good up in Virginia, except for the fact that it snowed last night!!! Not a lot, but there was some on the rooftops when I woke up. It's in the forties right now... so wrong... So the seasons up here haven't quite gotten to spring. Things are starting to bloom, and it's amazing! Random tulips and pansies pop up on people’s lawns!! It blows my mind because it's like a Miracle-Grow commercial!

So yeah, here in Virginia, there are about 10,000 people. There are less people in our whole entire area than just the city of Mesa! It takes probably three hours to drive from one end of our area to another. Up in Ely, its all forest, right by a ton of lakes, and you can even get to see the northern lights!!! I want to live there someday. I’m so mad its summer now, cause I won’t get to see them, cause sunset is at 8:30 p.m. now! But definitely beautiful! It’s not a lot of farms, just kind of small towns, and some villages. We have one town, Embarrass, that holds the record for the U.S.’s coldest recorded temperature in our area!

So Cameron is ho-hum huh? Well getting up early is no fun thing, but he just needs to have a better attitude about it! And not reading his scriptures?! Well, for me personally, you parents did all you could to get me to read them, but it all came down to my choice. There’s no advice I can give you, however, this next part is for Cameron.

Cameron, man you should be reading! For many reasons actually. Actually, this whole church has been under a curse for a long time, because they have not taken the Book of Mormon seriously enough. This book is so extremely important. It clarifies the Bible, teaches us what we must do to live happier lives, and has an account of the Savior himself! I know it’s hard to get into the habit, and there are plenty of other things you’d rather do with your time. However, there are very few things that our time could be spent better doing.

In Alma 41:1, Alma is teaching his son Corianton. He says, “Some have wrested the scriptures and have gone far astray…” What are the scriptures? The Iron rod, right? What happens to those that don’t hold fast to it? They are led astray into “mists of darkness.” I don’t say all these things to make you feel bad, or to say you’re a bad brother for not reading. I say these things because there are many blessings to be had! I have become a much happier person, and I know you’ve been able to see that progression. I want this for you to! When Lehi partook of the fruit of the tree of life, which represents the love of God, he desired his family and others to partake of it. This is how I feel. I want you to be happy! And it’s not that you aren’t happy already, it’s that you can be HAPPIER.

Try reading the scriptures for just two weeks. Once a day, for just two weeks. I can promise you in the name of Jesus Christ that you will feel an added measure of understanding, the Spirit, which brings peace and comfort, and a greater love for others, and you will feel closer to God. I repeat what John says in St John 7:17 “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” Don’t take my word for it. Find out how the scriptures can bless you through daily study. Try it for two weeks. If you don’t feel any different, then you can stop. But you won’t stop, cause I know you’ll feel that change. Love ya, man. I miss you a lot too.

Okay that was my soapbox for the week…
So for sure, Mothers Day was great! Elder rush was on the phone for like an hour, almost two. His mom said he gets to cause it’s his last call home - haha. Well of course Audri was sweet and understanding! That’s who she is! Glad everything worked out though, it was really nice to hear everyone!

Well, that stinks about your braces mom. Just be patient! And I knew you’d start making home made bread and whatnot after I left! Ah gees, oh well, such is life! Cool about the suburban too! It’s a trooper to be sure!

So about the work here… It appears that Jesse “snapped” and smoked… not even a whole cigarette!!! So we are recommitting him. I think he will have to just wean off of it. Maybe he can do cold turkey though. But it’s just a matter of time. He’ll stop, I know he will.

We met this Michael O’Connell guy, he was a media referral and we taught him a first lesson last week and came to see him again this week. I feel really bad for him… He is a really good guy, he’s been to ‘Nam for six months, and then his wife died, and then he started to fall in love with this girl, and was about to marry her and she had a stroke, and she’s only 49!! But now she isn’t in her right mind, and so she is just kind of playing him… I don’t know what we are going to do to help him out, he drinks A LOT as we found out yesterday. Elder Rush and I are going to need some serious inspiration to know what to do here…

We also met someone that is a pagan Druid… hmm, very interesting. (I had to look this one up: somebody who does not acknowledge God, but who worships and celebrates the forces of nature.) Very nice guy, and we even left him with a Book of Mormon, and he said he’d read! Well this may sound weird, but man, Elder Rush and I think we ran into a possessed lady… We saw her a couple weeks back when we were talking to this really nice guy, mark. She came out of this building, saw us, and started cursing, using the Lord’s name in vain, all until we left… That was Marks girlfriend I guess. We saw her again later and she saw us out her window and cursed and shut it. That next week, we stopped buy marks house and knocked with no answer. We knocked again and then there was an answer, but wow, it sent shivers up our spines, and we left immediately. It sounded just like the lady, only it sounded like she was flailing around and just absolutely wailing at us to leave her alone and other things… It was… different.

But I’m loving the mission more and more as it goes on! All I need from you guys is the Benza-clin box with the latest refill sticker thing on it, so I can get that refilled when the time comes.

Love you all,
ELDER LOGAN BROOKS