Dear Family,
So I have to start out by warning everyone. Satan is loose. Last week, he came in the form of a horse. If you remember, last week I talked about several people that are doing well and progressing towards baptism. The first up was Charlie Harper. Charlie had his interview on Sunday and was all set and fired up to get baptized on Saturday. Well, Charlie is 85 years old and is a horse trainer. Thursday rolled around and Charlie was working with his horses and he let one out of the gate. As he was working with it, the horse slipped in some mud and fell right on Charlie's leg. It gave him a compound fracture between his ankle and knee. He went in for surgery that day and we went in and visited him Friday in the hospital. I was quite amazed at his attitude. Even though he had a huge cast on that was very bloody and couldn't walk, he still wanted to get baptized the next day. We told him it would probably be best to wait because we don't want to submerge that cast in the water and we would like to have him be able to stand a little bit. There was a guy in Hobbs, New Mexico who had no legs, but was baptized. If that is possible, we can baptize a guy with a broken leg, but it would be best to wait a few weeks. Charlie said that he thinks the Lord will understand and he will tell him in his prayers, but yet he doesn't want to wait too long because as he says, he may not have a whole lot of time left. So all is well, just a slight setback.
This week though, we do have a baptism. I mentioned Shameka Hill. Since I wrote last we talked about baptism and she committed to be baptized on the 22nd. She had her interview Sunday after church and passed and is very excited and ready. That is a great lesson. It only took her 3 weeks. That is what happens when you take us seriously. She dove into the Book of Mormon. Not just reading it, but studying and pondering about it. She says her prayers everyday and has loved going to church these last 2 days.
All is going well. Marina Cobb and family are doing well. We have taught them almost everything. They are scheduled for sometime early in september or late august. We just have to get a time planned out with her brother-in-law, who is a member that she wants to baptism them. He is always working, but has the first weekend in September off, which works well because that is the weekend before my companion Elder Wheeler goes home. Good way to end a mission for him. Anyways, I am signing off. Take it easy all!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Monday, August 24, 2009
Letter 8-10-09
Dear Family,
First things first – I responded to Joe in a personal email, but I am not sure if he got it. Joe wondered if I knew his friend’s older brother, Braden Child. The answer is yes. I didn’t know him very well on a personal level, but I definitely know who he is. Small world, eh? Someone pass that on.
So the Roswell saga starts with some very good news. I am surprised at the production that we have going. I talked about the mission doubling baptisms. Well, Elder Droge has seen 5 baptisms on his mission. He credits himself with 6 because one of his investigators got baptized a week after him being transferred. Well, 2 weeks into Roswell and Elder Droge has 5 people getting baptized in the month of August, with a possibility of 6 happening. Elder Droge is going to double his own baptisms. How fun.
The first one is an inspiring story. The previous Elders were in an area and had a prompting to go to a certain house. When they walked up and to their surprise they ran into a older member who is a recent convert of 2 years out working in the barn with his nonmember, 85 year old brother, Charlie Harper. Normally older people are very hard headed and resistant to change, but not this time. They Elders started teaching him and then I came in with to continue. Charlie is very excited about getting baptized and has a strong testimony. He passed his interview yesterday and is excited for his baptism this Saturday.
Next story comes with Marina Cobb. Marina is in her early 30s. She was previously married to a less active member and had the missionary lessons several times in the past. Well, she is now divorced, but a week or so before I got there she attended the baptism of a person in her family and was inspired. The missionaries talked to her and got a return appointment. That return appointment was literally 10 minutes after I got to Roswell. I got out, the Zone Leaders grabbed my stuff, I got my scriptures, and my companion said get in the car, we have an appointment. With no arguing, I went and we taught Marina the first lesson. I don’t quite know what the difference was this time around, but she’s fully commited to baptism. Not only her, though, but her 3 kids are as well. Eli - 12, Lucas – 11, and Amberley – 8. It will be great to see a whole family come into the gospel.
Last story is a young lady named Shameka Hill. Shameka doesn’t have a baptismal date, but she is reading the Book of Mormon and came to church yesterday. From what I have seen, people who do both of those things progress quite quickly. Shameka is a friend of a recent convert of one month. Shameka moved in with that friend right after I got here and was immediately open to hearing our message. We have finished the first two lessons.
So that is the story of this week, way fun stuff. We did have another guy who was going to get baptized, but I told him that Satan believes in Jesus (true doctrine, read James 2 – Satan doesn’t have faith, but he knows that Jesus is the Son of God) and apparently he took it the wrong way and instead of bringing it up, he decided to hold it in and got angry about it when we were gone and now doesn’t want to talk with us. How sad. Oh, well, those things happen. You just gotta move on. Just like me with this letter. Peace out all!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
First things first – I responded to Joe in a personal email, but I am not sure if he got it. Joe wondered if I knew his friend’s older brother, Braden Child. The answer is yes. I didn’t know him very well on a personal level, but I definitely know who he is. Small world, eh? Someone pass that on.
So the Roswell saga starts with some very good news. I am surprised at the production that we have going. I talked about the mission doubling baptisms. Well, Elder Droge has seen 5 baptisms on his mission. He credits himself with 6 because one of his investigators got baptized a week after him being transferred. Well, 2 weeks into Roswell and Elder Droge has 5 people getting baptized in the month of August, with a possibility of 6 happening. Elder Droge is going to double his own baptisms. How fun.
The first one is an inspiring story. The previous Elders were in an area and had a prompting to go to a certain house. When they walked up and to their surprise they ran into a older member who is a recent convert of 2 years out working in the barn with his nonmember, 85 year old brother, Charlie Harper. Normally older people are very hard headed and resistant to change, but not this time. They Elders started teaching him and then I came in with to continue. Charlie is very excited about getting baptized and has a strong testimony. He passed his interview yesterday and is excited for his baptism this Saturday.
Next story comes with Marina Cobb. Marina is in her early 30s. She was previously married to a less active member and had the missionary lessons several times in the past. Well, she is now divorced, but a week or so before I got there she attended the baptism of a person in her family and was inspired. The missionaries talked to her and got a return appointment. That return appointment was literally 10 minutes after I got to Roswell. I got out, the Zone Leaders grabbed my stuff, I got my scriptures, and my companion said get in the car, we have an appointment. With no arguing, I went and we taught Marina the first lesson. I don’t quite know what the difference was this time around, but she’s fully commited to baptism. Not only her, though, but her 3 kids are as well. Eli - 12, Lucas – 11, and Amberley – 8. It will be great to see a whole family come into the gospel.
Last story is a young lady named Shameka Hill. Shameka doesn’t have a baptismal date, but she is reading the Book of Mormon and came to church yesterday. From what I have seen, people who do both of those things progress quite quickly. Shameka is a friend of a recent convert of one month. Shameka moved in with that friend right after I got here and was immediately open to hearing our message. We have finished the first two lessons.
So that is the story of this week, way fun stuff. We did have another guy who was going to get baptized, but I told him that Satan believes in Jesus (true doctrine, read James 2 – Satan doesn’t have faith, but he knows that Jesus is the Son of God) and apparently he took it the wrong way and instead of bringing it up, he decided to hold it in and got angry about it when we were gone and now doesn’t want to talk with us. How sad. Oh, well, those things happen. You just gotta move on. Just like me with this letter. Peace out all!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Monday, August 3, 2009
Letter 8-3-09
Dear family,
So I told you that some interesting things were going to happen this week. I want to start off by giving a scripture:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he that upon the children of men? For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." -Moroni 7:27-29
In 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley issued the commission to double the baptisms in the mission. From the conception of the Texas Lubbock Mission in 2002 through 2008, the TLM dwindled at a mere 20 baptisms a month. In November of last year, Elder Kevin W Pearson of the first quorum of the seventy paid a visited and chastised us, reissuing the commission given by President Hinckley. Many missionaries, including myself, with President Robison being the most important, were inspired and the TLM has been shooting to double baptisms ever since. We set a goal for 35 baptisms as a stepping stone for 40. If you remember, in June we topped that, hitting 38 baptisms for the month. We celebrated that and set the goal for 40. Well, last Monday, President sent an email telling us that the mission had baptized 38 people so far in July. There were 5 days left and 2 to 5 were scheduled for baptism before the months end. The goal was in sight. On Thursday, July 30th, we hit number 39. One day left. The next day, on Friday the 31st of July at 6:30 PM in Canyon, Texas, the 40th person of the month was baptized. We did it. Just as Mormon says, miracles have not ceased. Who would've thought that a mission in the belt buckle of the Bible Belt, full of a heard-hearted and stiff-necked people could ever accomplish such a great task. I am grateful to have witnessed this miracle. We have done. We have double baptized. Now the goal is to continue upward and onward.
The other interesting news of the week is that this last week was transfer week. Last Sunday in Eastland, my companion Elder Reed received his senior companion call. I pretty much knew that my time in Eastland was up and that was affirmed Monday morning. After a total of 9 great months in Eastland, I have left. I will miss that place. A lot of great memories with a lot of great people. Tuesday morning, I got on the bus and took a 5 to 6 hour bus ride where I was dropped off in New Mexico. From the transfer site I drove with a member for 2 hours to my new area. Roswell, New Mexico. The UFO capital of the United States, full of a bunch of crazy people. My new companion refers to this place as the Babylon of the mission. Drugs, crime, rape, and murder are through the roof. 8 months ago someone was killed outside our apartment complex. A few weeks ago there were 6 deaths in one weekend. Last week, we walked up to a young girl, asked her how she was. Her response, 'Not very good. I was raped last night and my homeboy doesn't even care.' Oh dear, where have they sent me? On top of that, the town is 50,000 people big with 2 wards. I'm back in a big city with a big ward. I feel lost right now. I got quite comfortable serving in small towns and in small branches for this past year. My new companion is named Elder Dave Wheeler. He is 6'7 and 300 pounds. That is big, but he started out at 420 pounds when he came out, so he is doing good. He goes home at the end of this transfer and is very trunky. He reminds me several times a day that he is going home in a month. It is quite bothersome, but I'll make it through. We are in a co-senior companionship. That I don't mind. It's nice having 2 experienced missionaries teaching. Anyways, I have to go, but I'll leave with my new address.
Elder Adam R Droge
112 E 23rd St #11
Roswell, NM 88201
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
So I told you that some interesting things were going to happen this week. I want to start off by giving a scripture:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he that upon the children of men? For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." -Moroni 7:27-29
In 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley issued the commission to double the baptisms in the mission. From the conception of the Texas Lubbock Mission in 2002 through 2008, the TLM dwindled at a mere 20 baptisms a month. In November of last year, Elder Kevin W Pearson of the first quorum of the seventy paid a visited and chastised us, reissuing the commission given by President Hinckley. Many missionaries, including myself, with President Robison being the most important, were inspired and the TLM has been shooting to double baptisms ever since. We set a goal for 35 baptisms as a stepping stone for 40. If you remember, in June we topped that, hitting 38 baptisms for the month. We celebrated that and set the goal for 40. Well, last Monday, President sent an email telling us that the mission had baptized 38 people so far in July. There were 5 days left and 2 to 5 were scheduled for baptism before the months end. The goal was in sight. On Thursday, July 30th, we hit number 39. One day left. The next day, on Friday the 31st of July at 6:30 PM in Canyon, Texas, the 40th person of the month was baptized. We did it. Just as Mormon says, miracles have not ceased. Who would've thought that a mission in the belt buckle of the Bible Belt, full of a heard-hearted and stiff-necked people could ever accomplish such a great task. I am grateful to have witnessed this miracle. We have done. We have double baptized. Now the goal is to continue upward and onward.
The other interesting news of the week is that this last week was transfer week. Last Sunday in Eastland, my companion Elder Reed received his senior companion call. I pretty much knew that my time in Eastland was up and that was affirmed Monday morning. After a total of 9 great months in Eastland, I have left. I will miss that place. A lot of great memories with a lot of great people. Tuesday morning, I got on the bus and took a 5 to 6 hour bus ride where I was dropped off in New Mexico. From the transfer site I drove with a member for 2 hours to my new area. Roswell, New Mexico. The UFO capital of the United States, full of a bunch of crazy people. My new companion refers to this place as the Babylon of the mission. Drugs, crime, rape, and murder are through the roof. 8 months ago someone was killed outside our apartment complex. A few weeks ago there were 6 deaths in one weekend. Last week, we walked up to a young girl, asked her how she was. Her response, 'Not very good. I was raped last night and my homeboy doesn't even care.' Oh dear, where have they sent me? On top of that, the town is 50,000 people big with 2 wards. I'm back in a big city with a big ward. I feel lost right now. I got quite comfortable serving in small towns and in small branches for this past year. My new companion is named Elder Dave Wheeler. He is 6'7 and 300 pounds. That is big, but he started out at 420 pounds when he came out, so he is doing good. He goes home at the end of this transfer and is very trunky. He reminds me several times a day that he is going home in a month. It is quite bothersome, but I'll make it through. We are in a co-senior companionship. That I don't mind. It's nice having 2 experienced missionaries teaching. Anyways, I have to go, but I'll leave with my new address.
Elder Adam R Droge
112 E 23rd St #11
Roswell, NM 88201
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Letter 7-27-09
Dear Family,
Well this last week there were no hang-ups with the baptism. Michael Blakeley was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We confirmed him yesterday. He will be a great addition to the Eastland Branch, which has been starving for priesthood holders. The cool thing was that his wife Melody was there to support him both on Sunday and on Saturday. I don’t think she was ever against the church, we just always went over and because Michael loves talking, I believe that she got the impression that we were there for him and not for her and always managed to dodge us. I believe that now that the spotlight in a sense is off Michael that she will follow his example and want to talk with the missionaries. Good things lie in store for this area.
So I had a weird question that was on my mind that almost disturbed me. Maybe scared is a better word, but you get the point. I remembered that everyone who enters into a degree of glory will have their sins forgiven. God is a loving God and will save as many of his creations as possible. Even those who enter into the Telestial Kingdom will have their sins forgiven eventually, after they suffer the penalty of their sins in spirit prison and later accept Jesus as their savior. With that said, I was reading through the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood in D&C 84 and I came across the scripture that said that those who break this oath shall not have forgiveness of their sins in this life or in the next. Whoa. If it says in one revelation that upon entering into a degree of glory your sins are forgiven and in this one that if you break the oath and covenant you will not receive forgiveness in this life, does that mean that those who break the oath and covenant will become sons of perdition? I didn’t find a definite answer, so I planned on asking it in email, but on Saturday we had to go fill up the font and that took a while, so we had a lot of extra time alone at the church. Well, I decided to dive into the church library to find an answer and I got it from a guy who I have decided is the smartest man in the history of the church. Joseph Fielding Smith. Doctrines of Salvation. If you haven’t read those three volumes, I’d highly suggest it. I plan on it when I get home. He talks about every point of doctrine, whether deep or shallow and simplifies it, making it very easy to understand. He talked a lot about the oath and the covenant and spent a considerable amount of time on my specific question. I felt like he was talking right to me. He said very clearly, with emphasis marked, that that scripture that stumped me does NOT mean we will become sons of perdition. It means that if we break the oath and covenant and don’t repent in this life, then we will not be able to regain that priesthood and gain a fullness of exaltation, but for everything else, we will be forgiven. That made perfect sense to me, so I thought I’d share.
But anyways, I am signing off for this week. Interesting things will happen this week in a few different matters, so make sure you stay tuned next week. Peace out All!!!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Well this last week there were no hang-ups with the baptism. Michael Blakeley was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We confirmed him yesterday. He will be a great addition to the Eastland Branch, which has been starving for priesthood holders. The cool thing was that his wife Melody was there to support him both on Sunday and on Saturday. I don’t think she was ever against the church, we just always went over and because Michael loves talking, I believe that she got the impression that we were there for him and not for her and always managed to dodge us. I believe that now that the spotlight in a sense is off Michael that she will follow his example and want to talk with the missionaries. Good things lie in store for this area.
So I had a weird question that was on my mind that almost disturbed me. Maybe scared is a better word, but you get the point. I remembered that everyone who enters into a degree of glory will have their sins forgiven. God is a loving God and will save as many of his creations as possible. Even those who enter into the Telestial Kingdom will have their sins forgiven eventually, after they suffer the penalty of their sins in spirit prison and later accept Jesus as their savior. With that said, I was reading through the Oath and Covenant of the priesthood in D&C 84 and I came across the scripture that said that those who break this oath shall not have forgiveness of their sins in this life or in the next. Whoa. If it says in one revelation that upon entering into a degree of glory your sins are forgiven and in this one that if you break the oath and covenant you will not receive forgiveness in this life, does that mean that those who break the oath and covenant will become sons of perdition? I didn’t find a definite answer, so I planned on asking it in email, but on Saturday we had to go fill up the font and that took a while, so we had a lot of extra time alone at the church. Well, I decided to dive into the church library to find an answer and I got it from a guy who I have decided is the smartest man in the history of the church. Joseph Fielding Smith. Doctrines of Salvation. If you haven’t read those three volumes, I’d highly suggest it. I plan on it when I get home. He talks about every point of doctrine, whether deep or shallow and simplifies it, making it very easy to understand. He talked a lot about the oath and the covenant and spent a considerable amount of time on my specific question. I felt like he was talking right to me. He said very clearly, with emphasis marked, that that scripture that stumped me does NOT mean we will become sons of perdition. It means that if we break the oath and covenant and don’t repent in this life, then we will not be able to regain that priesthood and gain a fullness of exaltation, but for everything else, we will be forgiven. That made perfect sense to me, so I thought I’d share.
But anyways, I am signing off for this week. Interesting things will happen this week in a few different matters, so make sure you stay tuned next week. Peace out All!!!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Letter 7-20-09
Dear Family,
In follow up from last week, Michael Blakeley is all set to get baptized. We finished teaching him everything and had his interview, which he passed, so this Saturday we’ll be having another baptism here in Eastland. Really his only holdup was the idea of modern-day prophets. We showed him the scripture in Ephesians 2:19-20 and Ephesians 4:11-14 and that showed him that Christ’s church is led by prophets, so it got him over that one stumbling block, which made me happy. From the first time we met him back in February, I felt that he could be Eastland’s next branch president. Now that he will be a member, that first impression could very well be possible in the future, given the lack of priesthood here, but hey, lets take it one step at a time. Thanks for all your prayers on the matter. I know that that helped quite a bit.
Honestly, there is not much else to discuss, just another week that has come and gone. Spiritual thought of the day. The high councilmen came and spoke in church in Sunday. One thing that he taught stuck out. He said he’s been on many disciplinary councils and out of all of them there has been no one that he has talked to that said that they read their scriptures everyday. I think that Elder Bednar once said that if you read your scriptures everyday, you will never go inactive. There is a reason for that. Gospel study is vital to our everyday lives. Like Alma says, we need to nourish the tree or it will wither away and die. That can happen to anyone if we slack off on the basics of reading, praying, and attending our meetings. Something to stew on. Have a great week everyone!
Oh, and by the way, Happy Half Birthday to me tomorrow! Yay!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Letter 7-13-09
Dear family,
So I opened the mailbox this last Thursday and what do I find? A letter from Joe. As I read, something felt a little wrong. Then I got it. It was dated July 27, 2008. That was last year. How in the world did that happen? Oh, well. I hope that’s a first time and last time thing. I would hate it if there were several letters written that took a whole year to make it to me.
So this is a historic time in the Texas Lubbock Mission. If you remember, last November, a stud seventy named Elder Pearson came to our mission and reissued President Hinckley’s commission to double baptize. That was quite the challenge, being that since the conception of this mission, back in 2002, we have averaged 20 baptisms a month. Hitting an average of 40 would be quite the task, but we took it on. A couple of Zone Conferences ago, after having hit 30 baptisms as an average since Elder Pearson left, we set a goal to hit 35, a stepping stone to 40. Well, in June, as a mission, we got 38 people baptized and that pushed our average just above our goal of 35. President Robison being the great fun person he is, decided that we needed to celebrate this occasion and so last week we had a combined zone party over in my former area of Midland, Texas. Great times. Now the quest is on. The goal is 40 and it is just around the corner. I am excited.
In concordance with this, Eastland plans on contributing to this quest to meet President Hinckley’s call. There is a 41 year old guy named Michael Blakeley that we have been working with for a while now. We knocked on his door back in February and have been teaching him on and off since then. He is a great guy. Some would call him a dry mormon because everything that he believes is pretty much what we believe, we have been just trying to help him connect the dots. He loves talking and has a crazy gift that most people wouldn’t understand. They would call it psychic powers, probably like what Lamoni was thinking when Ammon read his mind. I rightfully call it the gift of discernment. Our first visit was crazy. At the end of our lesson Michael gave me some great advice. He pretty much told me that I had a hard time with rejection and often get flustered when things don’t happen the way I expect. He told me not to worry about because I am doing the Lord’s work. I was rather shocked. I hadn’t said anything about that. I felt like I was getting interviewed by my mission president, not an investigator that I had met for the first time. He was right on, though. I do have a problem with that. I hate it when I go through days, weeks, or months when nothing works out. I feel like Alma when he says he wishes that he was an angel and could shout repentance from the rooftops, yet I sin in that wish because I should be content with what I have been allotted. Anyways, Michael has been reading the Book of Mormon and has just started to come to church. I truly feel that he is beginning to see the light and we have set a baptismal date for the 25th of July. He is thinking about that hard. I feel it can happen and I would ask for your prayers for Michael to make it to that date. It would be nice to perform a little swan song dealy and get a 3rd baptism in Eastland before they finally boot me out, if that ever happens. Anyways, have a great week everyone!
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Letter 7-6-09
Dear Family,
It is officially July and today Dad is 56 years old. I hope that everyone had a very good 4th of July. I’ll be honest and say that for me this past 4th of July will go down in history as one of the most boring ever. Holidays as missionaries aren’t that exciting. At least last year on the 4th they let us stay at a member’s home. This year we had to be in our apartment by 6 PM. We were allowed to go to other missionaries’ apartments until 8:30, but the closest one from Eastland is close to an hour away, so that would be a waste of miles. Out working was rough. There was no one that was home. They were all out celebrating and/ or felt more inclined to spend time with family on the 4th rather than mormon missionaries. How rude… I guess it wasn’t totally eventless. We spent lunch at a barbeque put on by a part-member family. But hey, even if nothing happens, it’s nice to have a day set aside to honor our country. I always remember reading from 1 Nephi where Nephi sees this land and how God fought on our side during the Revolutionary War and how Columbus was led by the spirit in his adventures towards finding this land. So, yes, Go USA! We sang the National Anthem in church on Sunday; that was fun. I heard that our little death spree continues with former NFL quarterback Steve McNair getting shot and killed. That was weird to hear. He had just barely retired when I left. Only in his late 30’s I’d imagine. Not much else happened this last week. We did get into an intense discussion with a Jehovah Witness guy. He was the one who tracted us out really. We were walking along in Breckenridge and he pulled over and asked if we wanted to do a Bible study with him. We didn’t want to feel hypocritical, so we accepted and wow. Talk about a religion that is in the dark. He was very knowledgeable about his religion and very nice, yet very cunning. He actually lived in Utah for 20 years, so he knew how to deal with mormons. We in our religion talk about not being pushy and teaching line upon line, that way people can find out for themselves. Nope, not for him. He was very pushy and threw it all at us at once when we asked some innocent questions about his beliefs. He spent the whole hour cunningly telling us how right he was and how wrong we were and compared us to the Pharisees, calling us vipers, just as he said Jesus did. He told us that we know absolutely nothing about the Bible and that we preach a different gospel because we don’t agree with him and we’ll be cursed for it. I wasn’t contentious and didn’t try to Bible bash, that doesn’t go anywhere, yet I didn’t remain perfectly silent. I had to defend my beliefs and try my best to help him see the light, but it didn’t really work. Oh well. What can you do? Just pray for the guy, I guess. Just be grateful that we are not Jehovah Witness at this time of year. They don’t celebrate the 4th. They believe that it is worshipping your country more than your God. To each his own, I guess. As for me and my house, we will honor our country because I know that without this country, we would not have freedom of religion and this church may not exist. God gave us this country and we should be grateful that we have it. That’s my Independence Day thoughts. Have a nice week everyone.
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
It is officially July and today Dad is 56 years old. I hope that everyone had a very good 4th of July. I’ll be honest and say that for me this past 4th of July will go down in history as one of the most boring ever. Holidays as missionaries aren’t that exciting. At least last year on the 4th they let us stay at a member’s home. This year we had to be in our apartment by 6 PM. We were allowed to go to other missionaries’ apartments until 8:30, but the closest one from Eastland is close to an hour away, so that would be a waste of miles. Out working was rough. There was no one that was home. They were all out celebrating and/ or felt more inclined to spend time with family on the 4th rather than mormon missionaries. How rude… I guess it wasn’t totally eventless. We spent lunch at a barbeque put on by a part-member family. But hey, even if nothing happens, it’s nice to have a day set aside to honor our country. I always remember reading from 1 Nephi where Nephi sees this land and how God fought on our side during the Revolutionary War and how Columbus was led by the spirit in his adventures towards finding this land. So, yes, Go USA! We sang the National Anthem in church on Sunday; that was fun. I heard that our little death spree continues with former NFL quarterback Steve McNair getting shot and killed. That was weird to hear. He had just barely retired when I left. Only in his late 30’s I’d imagine. Not much else happened this last week. We did get into an intense discussion with a Jehovah Witness guy. He was the one who tracted us out really. We were walking along in Breckenridge and he pulled over and asked if we wanted to do a Bible study with him. We didn’t want to feel hypocritical, so we accepted and wow. Talk about a religion that is in the dark. He was very knowledgeable about his religion and very nice, yet very cunning. He actually lived in Utah for 20 years, so he knew how to deal with mormons. We in our religion talk about not being pushy and teaching line upon line, that way people can find out for themselves. Nope, not for him. He was very pushy and threw it all at us at once when we asked some innocent questions about his beliefs. He spent the whole hour cunningly telling us how right he was and how wrong we were and compared us to the Pharisees, calling us vipers, just as he said Jesus did. He told us that we know absolutely nothing about the Bible and that we preach a different gospel because we don’t agree with him and we’ll be cursed for it. I wasn’t contentious and didn’t try to Bible bash, that doesn’t go anywhere, yet I didn’t remain perfectly silent. I had to defend my beliefs and try my best to help him see the light, but it didn’t really work. Oh well. What can you do? Just pray for the guy, I guess. Just be grateful that we are not Jehovah Witness at this time of year. They don’t celebrate the 4th. They believe that it is worshipping your country more than your God. To each his own, I guess. As for me and my house, we will honor our country because I know that without this country, we would not have freedom of religion and this church may not exist. God gave us this country and we should be grateful that we have it. That’s my Independence Day thoughts. Have a nice week everyone.
Elder Adam R Droge
The DrogeMiester
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