Trick or Treat

So I'll begin with the business. This morning I went a bit of a spending spree (a Texas state flag and some sharpies set me back nearly 50 bones) however the intentions were good. So I made a note card last week on what I should write you guys and things that happened throughout the week so that is why my last email may have been slightly more organized. However the note card this week makes absolutely no sense whatsoever half the time. Case in point, the first thing I have on the list to write you about says "Megan and I: Enos" so if anyone can interpret that, you have the gift of translation.

This past weekend was one of the most important days of my earthly existence and I waited until this week to tell you about it so I could attach a picture. Elder Johnson and I hit a pretty big milestone that I will brag about. We taught our hundredth lesson last week! Pretty sweet. We have done splits every week and I had the privilege of teaching the awesome kids of Stacey Peters in our ward (she was baptized on the 26th last month). Her kids, Sonya and Jaycee are super solid and I taught some of my favorite lessons with them. Every time I got to go over, half the time we couldn't stop laughing. Sonya was mentioning how sad it was the people in China eat Cats and Dogs so I asked her mom, "do you think if you eat a cat in China it would land on its feet in your stomach?" I have no idea why that is funny but we all proceeded to tell a 100 different jokes about eating cats after that. (they were feeding us dinner at the time ironically.) Both girls after seeing the blessing of baptism in their mom's life set a date to be baptized. They are now officially members!

The fact that I'm being transferred pretty much devastated me. We are having a ton of success and I can not believe how little time it takes to develop strong relationships on the mission. How dare they transfer me! Ok, I'm kidding. I know that this will continue for the next 22 months. So I said my goodbyes to the Peters family last night and Stacey gave me a hug (shh don't tell) which was great. I got their emails and I'm sure that I'll get to see Stacey go through the temple half way through my mission. (she is already doing baptisms for the dead).

So after that great weekend, anything other then seeing people being converted is almost worthless out here. But I will continue toreport.

Our last baptism before the Peter's kids was Holly and she is way solid. She is a 14 year old missionary. She was going through the scriptures with her step dad and reading the ones that she really liked. He asked her "where's that scripture?" she then promptly introduced the Book of Mormon and long story short he came to all 3 hours of church yesterday and the family asked if we could teach them tonight one last time before I got shipped out. Wow, so I hate to say it dear family but I am going to have a way harder time leaving Rockwall then I am when I left on my mission. (don't get mad, families are forever).

So one night when we were on splits this past week we got into our first doctrinal debate. I had an awesome member with me (he isn't afraid to admit he is the 'loud Texan' type). The guy we were teaching has been reading up on his Anti (a very popular thing to do around here) and approached us with the concept of us ourselves becoming deity. Mike (the member) jumped in before I could ever get air in my lungs and bore his heart and soul about the ultimate happy ending of the plan of salvation. He made some very good points one of which was 'could you imagine serving God and learning EVERYTHING throughout eternity and not being able to use that knowledge? That is hell and damnation to me, I can not think of a worse form of torture.' Also we expressed the relationship between God and us. It is the same as father and son (or daughter) except perfect. This seems like such a obvious principle to me and I can't believe how sheltered I was in Utah to the fact that sooo many people disagree!!! So Mike pretty much gave the lesson as one giant testimony which as a greenie helped me learn how to 'guide the conversation' (I failed miserably). Still, awesome points and I need to never be a wuss (as any of us under the covenant should be) to declare the TRUTH.

In other weird news, I totally prophesied the future in my dreams the other night. In my dreams I was riding Charlie (arctic cat) in the middle of winter on Brian Head alongside a bunch of skiers. When I woke up I brushed it off and didn't think much of it other than wow, I am weird. That same day we were 'decorating' our next transfers planners and when I finished putting the stickers and tape around to protect it I saw the true meaning of the 'vision'. I had taped on the back of my planner covering the whole thing a picture of a snowboarder riding down a huge mountain and on top of that picture I had placed a sticker of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. HA! Ok so maybe that doesn't mean I am a seer but I thought it was funny.

Love
-Elder Metcalf

PS - Whenever you tell people what my address is, just give them the mission office address. I will always have it forwarded to me from there. I'll be sure to let you know what the new one is.

The gospel is restored, Joseph Smith is the prophet, the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church on earth. It is the only religion based on revelation. A church without revelation is like a ocean without water.

Love you again