A good day to spead the gospel

Things have been going really well for Christopher in Buffalo.  In fact they have been going so good that Christopher and his companion recently had some baptisms.  This is the kind of thing that really makes a mission worth it.  But then there is more to that story.  Not only did they have some baptisms, but on top of that, one of the people that was recently baptized even did a little missionary work of their own.  So now Christopher and his companion are teaching a friend who is also really excited about the message that these missionaries bring. That is one of the exciting things about a mission.  You never really know where the Lord is going to lead you next.

A couple of weeks ago Christopher told us a really funny story about his companion.  The story starts out when a member of their Ward decided to take the missionaries to a local Denny's restaurant.  Being missionaries and always looking for the most food for their money, everybody ordered the all-you-can-eat pancake meal for $4.  All except for Christopher's companion.  Since it was dinner time, Christopher's companion decided that he wanted a burger instead.  That is, up until the time when the Ward member challenged the missionaries to a pancake eating contest.  Being missionaries and also being 20-something year old young men, a pancake eating contest was right up their alley.  At this point a little trash talking ensued as to who could actually eat the most pancakes, with the Ward member telling everyone at the table that they had this one in the bag.  Christopher's companion chimed in claiming that he could not only eat the most pancakes but he could do it on top of also finishing off the burger and fries that he had already ordered.  With that claim, the gauntlet had been thrown down and the contest began.  After a few orders of pancakes most of the Elders had already thrown in the towel, all except for Christopher's companion and the Ward member.  They both went back and forth eating more than the other up to the point of around eleven pancakes each.  By this time the Elder was really toughing it out and was having a rough time not only keeping the pancakes down that he had already eaten, but also struggling with each additional bite.  The Ward member finally called it quits after eleven pancakes. Just to be able to say that he had won the contest, Christopher's companion choked down a half of a pancake more.  So the ultimate winner was Christopher's companion at a burger, fries and eleven and one half pancakes.  Oh, did I mention that the Ward member was a Sister.  Christopher also mentioned that this good sister probably could have eaten more but she didn't want to bruise any egos at this point.  Especially since this good missionary really gave it all had for this contest.  I think they are all just glad that this Elder didn't give it all back up (if you know what I mean). 

Oh by the way, if you thought that the last story was funny, Christopher told us a great story about a hidden letter and a call to the mission president.  It was hilarious!  But to get the full story, you will have to come and see us in person.  OK, you can call us too.  I'm telling you, it's worth your time. :-)

Transfers came and went and Christopher is still in Buffalo.  But not with the same companion.  His previous companion was transferred to another area and Christopher told us that he is really excited about working with his new companion.  In fact in Christopher's most recent letter home, he told us about some of the work that he and his companion have been doing.  He said that in just the last week they have taught a lot of lessons, set some baptismal dates and found eight new investigators.  Christopher said that he is really excited about everything that is going one right now.

Then there are those days when things just don't quite work out the way that you would like.  Christopher told us about one day when he and his companion were out following up on some of the people that they had been teaching and the appointments that they had set up for the day.  Well, as the day wore on and most of their appointments had fallen through, they decided to check in on one of the appointments that they had set up for a little later in the afternoon.  When they arrived at the house and knocked on the door, they heard a woman's voice yelling back "who is it?".  The Elders responded with "its the missionaries".  Then she said, "you told me you'd be here at 2, it don't look like no 2 right now. I'm still sleeping, don't bother coming back!".  Well that's just how some days go as a missionary.  When the days are good, they can be great.  When they are not so good, well... those days can still be memorable.  Then there is always tomorrow.

Here is a picture that Christopher sent home recently.  Another one of those great and memorable days.