3.17.14 - "I fell over ..."

Keep reading to find an explanation for this photo ...

Good morning! How is everyone doing today? It was great to hear from everyone this week; I feel I know a lot about what every is up to, so thank you for that.

This week was far from average. The El Centro Elders Elder Humble and Elder Mora put beds in our living room because they got moved out of a nasty downtown apartment. Thus, our apartment looks really dirty in the pie day picture because it was, all week. Our kitchen became their closets. We had a good time though, all week.

It's also St. Patrick's day. We don't really have any plans for that... but we put green ties on.

We did two exchanges this week. I went once with Elder Humble on Tuesday and again with Elder Rogers on Friday. I love it, it changes things up and allows you to learn from the skills other missionaries have developed. Little miracles always happen during exchanges because one Elder has no idea what's going on all day and therefore must exercise a lot a faith so that he'll be inspired in what to do and say in order to best help his temporary companion's area progress. That was me twice this week. I think I coined myself a new missionary move along the way. Sometimes when we drive by someone in the street or on our bikes I'll think about going to talk to them. That's not a weird thing, I think everyone has thoughts like that. What changes on the mission is now I make my companion stop in the middle of the road and we do go talk to them. It puts us in these awkward situations that I don't care for. We biked by one lady's house and waved to her as we passed by. After passing I felt like we should've stopped and had a conversation with her. I fought the thought for a hundred yards or so because we would look dumb passing by again 20 seconds later going the other direction and saying, "Heyyy, it's us again..." But i did make my companion turn around and we did teach her the first lesson and we did set up a return appointment. The next exchange we drove by a man on a busy street. The same thought but I responded a little faster. My companion pulled us off to the side of the road and we got out and met him and set up a time to go by his house to teach him. It looks weird from the outside, i'm sure he thought it was weird, and it definitely felt weird doing it, but so it is with impressions from the spirit and I Will Obey!

President Slaughter came to the area this last Saturday and talked with our District for 4 hours about what he wanted us to accomplish while we're here together. He has us all here because he wants us to try something that's never been done before. He wants us to be creative and experiment freely within the branches and then report back to him. I wish Morgan didn't steal all of the family's creative jeans! I felt like I did get some direction this morning. We'd been praying about it all weekend and this morning I pulled out a pad of paper and for the 1 hour of personal study I wrote down all of the thoughts that came to my mind. I did feel directed in what to write and upon reviewing it with Elder Warren I think it provides a good outline for some procedures we can implement as a District. I know sister Christensen came up with quite a few creative activities we can do with members and investigators and so when we all get together for district meeting on Wednesday we'll hash it out and prepare a series of points which Elder Warren can present to President Krezdorn Wednesday night at Priesthood executive committee. That wasn't a very descriptive outline of what we're thinking about... but i'll tell you a little more about what we're going to after some things have been finalized next week. At this point I know that we won't be getting up and preaching on soap boxes in the streets, and I know that we won't be making any big MORMON banners. Haha, and those ideas actually did came up because the branch president said he felt like the church needed a lot more community exposure.
Anyways, I'm really excited to be here in Eagle Pass. I hope we find success.

The church is beautiful. It invites the presence of the Holy Ghost and fosters environments where families can congregate with that spirit. It ministers and administers the Gospel of Salvation. I hope everyone can be excited about what we have, and have enough love for everyone so as to share it. The only way to bring families and friends together in this church is for families to bring family and friends into the church.

I love you and I miss you,

Elder Tyler Meidell

So here I am cruising on my bicycle and Elder Humble calls me. I turn into a driveway and pull out the phone. While answering, Elder Warren slams on his brakes in front of me and I have only the front tire break in my left hand. I proceed to slam on mine and launch myself over my own handle bars. This is an artist's interpretation of the aftermath.