Whip it!

Cool outdoor pic

Howdy! This week was pretty good. So some big junk happened and I'm in a trio instead of the normal 2 companionship. So now it's me, Elder Ladle, and Elder Torsak. It's been really fun haha. Except people seem really intimidated by the fact that there's a lot of us. Like one dude we knocked into said we looked like the mafia. Because we were all dressed up and stuff haha. Well here we go

Monday: umm I think I already told y'all about Monday but I did give another blessing. I'm handing them out like candy. Jk. But they've been happening really fast. I've given like uhh. Umm. 3 or 4 now. But man its crazy.

Tuesday: we dug up flowers and took them to a members house which we were gonna plant later. We talked to this young couple who the wife is inactive and the husband isn't a member. We gave them a family proclamation and taught about eternal families and stuff it was cool. We laminated it and were gonna build a frame for it haha. We talked to Sxxxx again. And man we talked to his cousin who's a member and she thought he was an atheist. And we had no idea because he seems super legit. Like he had a prayer answered and stuff since we have talked to him. So pretty neat huh?

Whip mark. Sorry I'm frowning hahaha

Wednesday: In the morning when we work out I've started sprinting kind of. We go outside the apartment and I walked through the parking lot and did the math. It's only about 50 meters but still. I'll be super fast by the time I get home. Maybe. Or super fat. I've gained 10 pounds since I got here. I think I might die before I actually come home hahaha. So Wednesday we planted those flowers and then pulled some weeds. The Bxxx's have an 18 year old son and hes dope. He showed us this whip he has haha and we all tried it out. I want one they're freakin awesome. Except. I whipped myself in the face hahaha. I took a picture of the mark. If you didn't know it was from a whip you would think it was dumb. But since it's from a whip... it's super cool. We had Hawaiian pork at the Etes and man that stuff is good. All they did was put salt on it but its was like the best pork ever. Crazy stuff. ALSO! Not to brag or nothing but my companions pointed out I'm really good at promising blessings. Like specific to people for their problems. I had no idea haha. But we were talking to this inactive member. Who is this older woman that (no offense) has an awful memory. Like we told her the churches address like 5 times and everytime we said "so we'll see you at church right?" And she would say "oh yeah...where is it again?" And it's like ahhhh. But I promised her that if she would read the BOM and pray for a stronger memory every day then she would be able to remember things a lot better and stuff. So that was neat. Also we met a dude who was a member and did baptisms for the dead! His mom thought that was weird so he hasn't come to our church since he was like 13. Crazy stuff. He said he remembered liking it and we told him about the BOM and stuff. 

Thursday: COACH GREEN! That guy is dope hahaha. I taught the restoration and gave the most powerful first vision ever. At least for me. Like I've never felt the spirit as strong as I did then while telling it. So cool stuff haha. We ate a ton today though. Gosh dang members always feeding us. It rained quite a bit but we were studying while it rained so it was alright. We went and taught Stephen and he said he wanted to come to church so that was awesome. We talked to a family where the dad was a bishop but has been inactive for a long time. I can't remember what we taught but he seemed really appreciative of my testimony in particular. We saw him at church which was a low key miracle by the way so that was way cool. Perhaps I changed him hahahah. Wild. 

Flat Tire

Friday: We planted flowers at another members house and had spaghetti which was sick. Then we biked a million miles to a new convert and taught about the temple and such. Pretty sweet. Also my bike tire popped. Which was awful. We were on the side of a highway so I had to walk for like a mile. Not too bad. But still. A member came and saved us and we ate at his house so that was super cool hah. We later found a lady who seemed really interested and stuff so we're gonna talk to her again soon. 

Saturday: we went to another members and painted some rooms for them. They gave us pizza so definitely worth it hah. We went later over to Stephens cousins house who's a member. And we talked about him with them. They seemed way surprised so it was cool. FINALLY we saw brother Joe. He has been in the hospital for like 2 weeks apparently. He still talks a ton though hahaha. He is way interested in joining the church even though he has been Methodist all his life. And finally we met a guy named Heath who was pretty interested. We gave him a BOM and stuff so we will talk to him again soon. 

These ducks are outside every morning and
I befriended one. It followed me
around for a while.

Sunday: church goes by way fast. It's weird how back home it took forever to get through. But now it's like Oh it's over. We did a lot of training and junk which sucks. But it's good. I guess haha. We taught Mxxx again and she is hardcore catholic. But were gonna answer the question where do people who haven't heard of God or the gospel go. And also children who aren't baptized. So that'll be good when that happens. 

I wear my sunglasses at night

Well uhhh. Yeah. A ton of people should be coming to church next week. I hope. But there's a lot more people than I expected who are willing to learn and stuff. So hopefully we will be able to baptize some peeps and junk. But we'll see. Alrighty then. Gotta blast.

Elder Checketts

Diarrhea's since Easter's

Crazy Rain

HOWDY! Allllrighty then. So uh. This week was good. It rained a ton on Thursday and it was the worst. We were walking through like 4 inches of water on the road. It wasn't fun. Ummmm also something I learned is that whenever there's shoes up hanging on a power line or phone line then that means there's a drug dealer nearby. So if you drive by real slow a few times someone will come hook you up I guess. That's what someone told us Haha. Well I go through each day I guess.

Monday: I dont really remember.

Tuesday: jk Monday we met with a family we've been talking to for a while and I think they have a lot of potential. Were talking to them today too so I'm excited for that. We went to longhorn steakhouse with a member and it was soooooooo good. I ate past being full hahaha. I can see why people are obese here. It's a little too easy. 

Water in someone's front yard

Tuesday for real: today was awesome. We went to the gas station and a random guy came up to us and asked for a Book of Mormon. We were so surprised Haha. Nobody does that here. ALSO! I had gumbo. Hahah its so good. I ate a ton of it. It totally seems like a foreign dish but its here in the south so Haha idk. AND. I gave my first blessing. Wild huh? I Have The Powa. Jk not really.  I had no idea what to say but I feel like it was super good. And later we taught a guy named Chris at a members house and it was so good. He understood everything Haha. Having a member helps so much. We taught some other people and that was good too.

Wednesday: I'm kinda crazy. But I didn't sleep at all last night. I dont know how but I had a ton of energy in the morning even though I didn't sleep. We had district council and I held a discussion Haha. I've only been here a few weeks but I totally nailed it. Also we talked to someone today and convinced them they want to be baptized. Haha we're good huh? Also I met a guy named coach Green. He is capital D Dope. He talks about football and all kinds of stuff Haha. Hes in his 70s and hes sick. Also one of the senior missionaries Elder Ferrell gave me a bunch of small things cuz I'm cool I guess. He gave me a jar of salt, a jar with a mustard seed in it, a marble, and a might like the coin or whatever. But each thing represents something and it's super cool. They're all really small so I carry them on my pocket. Kinda intense cuz I asked some missionaries who talk to him more and they didn't get any of these things so uh. He told me he rarely gives them to missionaries but he chose me. And it was also cool cuz a missionary I talked to said he can read people really well. Like he is way in tune with the spirit. So that makes me feel pretty cool haha.

Stereotypical Southern Louisiana Home

Thursday: we helped do commissary for the mission office. It was pretty fun. We got all the supplies that the missionaries needed and then packed everything up for each zone conference. I liked it even though it sounds boring. Later there was huge storm warnings. They cancelled school and work like everywhere. They thought there would be another huge flood like in 2016. But it wasn't too bad. A lot of streets were flooded and even today like 4/22 Monday there's still water in some places. So we were walking in the pouring rain and the streets were flooded. Also turns out my jackets not water proof. Soooo. Bad news bears. But I was freezing all day. BUT. The Lord blessed us for going our because we went to the bishops for the last visit that night and man. They dried our socks in the dryer and them we had steak, crab, and shrimp. Also these huge potatoes but zooweemama. Crab and shrimp are really good Haha. I've never really had it before. There was this weird spice in the shrimp it was so good Haha. Also one of the elders I live with gave me his old machete Haha. Don't worry I'm not gonna use it. But I might for chopping down a members weeds and stuff. Its pretty tall so.

Friday: we talked to a lady named Mary who's a catholic and she's really nice. I think she should be coming to church next week so that's cool. Later we helped some members with their garden. And they fed us taco salad it was pretty awesome.

 

A man on his homemade riding lawn mower

Saturday: we talked to some teenagers who seem really cool. They really liked when we read the Book of Mormon with them so that was cool haha. Later we had pizza at a members and Gatorade it was so awesome. The member works at the temple and he sorta told us what they were doing with it so it was kinda cool. And we talked to coach green again. Hes a cool guy Haha. OH. We also taught a cool guy named Ramone. Hes so freaking smart. He knows like the whole bible and the history of it and hes read a ton of religious books. Crazy stuff but he seemed really interested in learning so he might be super legit. 

Sunday: Easters. Church was really good. They did like a whole musicalish thing and it was cool. Later we went and had dinner with the senior missionaries and that was pretty fun. That's about all that happened really though haha.

So yeah pretty solid. I wrote down a few things that happened so I wouldn't forget. Like we saw lightning bugs after teaching a dude and it was the coolest thing ever. Like they look like embers from a fire. So cool. Also I used my burglaring skills to break into the apartment haha. We locked ourselves out but I "carded" the door and got us in. So pretty sweet. Um. Yeah pretty good week. It's been really mild in the weather lately so its felt way good. Alrighty then. I'll talk to y'all later. 

Ducks outside the apartment

Elder Checketts 

Ps. Thanks to everyone who helped get me out here. And big thanks to everyone who gave me cards and stuff. I read through them when I was having a hard day and it helped a ton so thanks to everyone. Also thanks mom, Chris and Ariel for the candy. It has saved my life. 

Wassup!

The right side of the apartment

Wassup! They don't say that here but it'd be cool if they did. This week has been weird. It feels like it's been a whole month when it's only been a week. But also it kinda went fast Haha. Oh so Elder Savage mentioned me in his email so I gotta do the same. I've actually been telling a lot of people the river raft story and relating it to Jesus Christ like in my farewell talk. I haven't told a ton of people in Louisiana but I told a lot of people in the MTC. The weather has been pretty cold for the past few days. Like 50s and 60s. Which I guess isn't so bad compared to Utah hahaha. I really like it when it rains, but then we have to go out into it. 

So Tuesday: we met a cool guy named Tyler and he has read a bit of the Book of Mormon. He said it's a powerful book and that he was blessed for reading it. Because after he read it, a guy he knows bought him a car so that he can get to work without biking like 15 miles. So that was real cool. His mom apparently had a warrant for her arrest. Oops.  We talked to a Spanish fam. And had a Spanish speaking member translate. I think the lesson went really well so it was cool.

Baptist Church

Wednesday: I met a guy name Carl and he is way Baptist. He is hardcore into the bible and had a ton of questions about the BOM and stuff. But later we had like every appointment fall through so we had to go tracking for like ever. We met this pro bull rider guy named JB. He was really cool. He hadn't heard of the BOM because he's not too religious and is always gone. Also later we met a dude named Josh and he just let us teach him a lesson right then and there. Haha it was pretty late too so that was cool. Oh and earlier we taught a guy named Joel and he is really cool. I think he could be baptized but he needs to learn some more.

Thursday: I had super bad allergies and we got told off by some crazy people. One was a Muslim lady who said she believes in 3 gods and they all have names. And then stood there smiling like she just destroyed us. So we were just like alright. And then walked away. Another lady said we were preaching about a fake Jesus. She hasn't read the BOM and was saying it's not true Haha. 

 

A cool road pic

Friday: we met a way cool family who used to be members apparently. Like when they were young they were but now they go to a Baptist church. They said we could come back though and they liked what we taught. Also there's these frogs everywhere that sound like a dude hiding somewhere with a low pitched kazoo. It's pretty funny sometimes. 

Freeway is lined with trees

Saturday: we met a dude while tracting named Kiki. That's not his real name I guess but everyone calls him that. He was exactly what you expect when you think of a southern black man. He was so cool! He was hard to understand a lot, but I picked up a lot of what he said. He used to meet with missionaries and said he was wondering where they went a few days before we showed up. We went later to an appointment but it fell through and we met a Spanish family who had never heard of the BOM and they were awesome. We also met a lady named Virginia. Pretty weird huh? Well she let us hold her pig and that was cool. Oh also we went to a members house and they had a ton of chickens so that was cool too Haha. Also we talked to another fam. And they gave us some chicken wings so that was sick. Also this inactive part-memberish couple. They let us share a message and stuff so they were real cool. Oh and we also chopped these huuuge logs. It was only for like an hour but that was tough. 

Sunday: church was cool finally meeting everyone. We taught an awesome fam named the Ete's and I guess the dad had heard of my dad. So I don't know if you have heard of brother Ete but he might have met you dad. His first name is Rock I think. Or rocky. Anyways later we sang at an Easter musical thing in the church. It was really good. We only sang a small part of one song but that was pretty good too. They had like our whole zone come and sing it was cool. A lot of the missionaries said that's the first time they have done something like that so it was pretty fun. 

Chickens

Alright uhhh yeah. Some things I forgot to add was uhh. The water isn't great here so we use a water filter Haha. Or just drink bottled water. But everyone has a bottle of water I guess it's kinda wild. There has been a ton of tornado, thunderstorm, and flood warnings. At least it seems like it. We had all of those at once one day last week I'm pretty sure Haha. I haven't seen any tornadoes but it was way windy on um Saturday. Also everyone's dang mailboxes are on the wrong side. It's like across the street from where you live which is weird. At least not everywhere but a lot of places. And also whenever it rains and gets way humid my glasses fog up when I get out of the car. It's super annoying Haha. Um. I saw the mission president at the Easter thing so that was scary. Just kidding only a little Haha. I've been surviving off of PB and J sandwiches half the time. But the rest of the time we get fed by members. At least it seems like it. They all want to feed us but there's like a rule where it has to be focused on teaching so people think they can't now or something. They still can. We just have to teach them. But uhh yeah cool. Ok gotta blast.

Elder Checketts 

PS a kid called me elder Jackets and a guy called me elder Sheckeetts like I'm French or something. And most people say Chiclets like the candy. Also a member when he heard my name was like CHECKETTS DON'T WRECK ITS. and that was pretty funny Haha. 

RAIN

It's Hot but it's Not

HOWDY. I'm in Louisiana now hahaha. My area is Denham Springs so were right next to the mission office. They have lots of snacks so its pretty sweet. There's so many investigators it's kinda weird. I thought there wouldn't be like anyone because they're already in a church and stuff. There are a lot of missing teeth. Some people don't make any sense in what they're talking about. Or I just don't understand them. A lot of people like this man we met brother xxx talked for like a whole hour. Then we try to teach him and like 5 minutes into the lesson he cuts us off and starts talking about something else. He's really cool and I think after another lesson or 2 he might be baptized. Also there's already a guy on date to be baptized this month and a few other people for next month. There's a lot more that I think we could ask them and they probably will too. 

Area Map

It's been kinda hard adjusting to the weather and stuff here. Like I have to drink a ton of water because the air just sucks it out of you. So my heads been hurtin the whole time which has been kinda rough. The air feels like the lizard section at the zoo. Every time we go outside that's what I think of. There's also this really cool African American family and the dad is from Africa. But he has a really deep accent and I can't understand him half the time! So I've been trying to understand the southern accents and now we have this guy who's completely different. Today we talked to the Tyler family and they are awesome. They fed us tacos! We also went to the bishops house and had chicken Alfredo. So I haven't had legit southern cooking just yet. Except everyone has biscuits instead of rolls and they're really good. Plus this older couple fed us pork chops and "southern carrots". 

They're so good like a can of carrots and a 1/4 cup of brown sugar and then 1/3 cup of butter is what they told me. Its real good. 

Beautiful road

Cool Tree

Oh. Our apartment is right next to this riverish lake pond thing Haha. Its cool because we see geese and stuff. No gators up here though. This is more of like a suburban kind of area. Except some people live like half a mile deep in trees. It's really annoying when we go down a road and then it's just one house in the middle of the forest Haha. That's only happened once or twice though. Sweating here isn't fun though. In Utah it's just well uh normal I guess. But here it's like you're soaked. And it's only spring! I'm not too excited for the summer. Well that's about all I got. I haven't really taken any pictures so I'll send what I got. I'll talk to y'all next week. 

Elder Checketts 

Ps the youth call me elder chickens and this southern man we met calls me elder Chiclets .

Baton Rouge!!

Elder Checketts left on Tuesday April 2 for the Louisiana Baton Rouge Mission. While he was waiting at the airport at his departure gate, he had an unexpected visitor:

His Brother Zach was in the next gate waiting to catch his flight for work.

 Tim made it to the mission home with his district. He said it was very green with tons of trees.  The weather was in the 60's and it was beautiful.

President and Sister Varnum with Elder Checketts

He and his district saw a list assignments and his first area will be Denham Springs where the mission home is and also the temple! His companion's name is Elder Ladle and at the time we heard from him in was the evening of his first day and he hadn't met his companion yet.  Super excited for him!