I left the MTC at 3 am on the 8th of july
and took off from the airport around 8. They crammed 38 elders and sisters
on a plane that was just larger than a sardine can--plus 2 years of supplies
for each missionary. Needless to say not everyone got there stuff there that day..... I did though!
x)
I had
cool experience; two sisters and I, placed a Book of Mormon and got a contact
information, as we gave him the book he started to cry because it was what he
has been looking for, for a while.
Well, the first day there we stayed the night
at Pres. Finn's home and had some devotionals. Then Pres. Finn started
interviewing all of us. I found out one of the reasons why I'm here
because well, Pres. Finn is a barbershopper, likes bicycles, motorcycles and
etc. He is so cool and I love him
already! The next day was transfer meeting day and the way they put comps
together is they have the trainer up front, they talk about their area and then
assign the junior comp. Well, when I saw Elder Engler walk up, I look over to
the other Elders told them I was about to leave and Bing bong boom, He's to be
my Trainer. Got to love the spirit!
Now I'm finally In the field, and
I've already put someone on date to be baptized and we have 4 others and one
on the way. The days out here rarely get over 80 degrees and people
complain -_- haha its funny, but it does get humid, blah. I'm
serving in a little farmers town name Dekalb about 40 thousand people. The ward
just got spit and we got the short end of the stick with 85 members, but with a
promise of a huge growth in the area. I'm getting pretty excited. Plus the ward
mission leader Brother Bound is awesome. He works at home as a
graphic designer and He reminds me a little bit like Doug from king of
queens. The lord is truly hastening the work and we see it every day with
people who have been prepared to receive the gospel. It’s truly humbling. It’s
been very hard work. My comp Elder Engler is a stud of a missionary and he’s
teaching me a lot like right off the bat! It is amazing to see the Lord plans
and how he works and to work along the side with him and with his angles. I'm
really having a blast out here though and I just can’t wait to experience fall
for the first time.
A few cool experience; first was
that this lady who dropped us called back the day I came in and said she
was having dreams about the church and she was reading the book of Mormon and
had some questions and want us to come back, the Lord guides her
because she's one who asks him a lot. Another was a referral of a potential
investigator for the Spanish sister missionaries and he actually called
us, which never happens. We missed his call and didn't get a hold of
him sadly. So we decided to knock of some potential doors
and they weren't home, Elder Engler didn't wait to go back to the car
and felt we should go the other way so I followed him. We see this
park, and I saw two guys there
and I said we should talk to them so we went over and we get to
the pavilion of the park about 50 feet from the guys and Engler
gets a call and as he takes it 1 guy leaves but the other comes
toward us. Engler gets off the phone and the guys ask “how much?”,
thinking were salesmen and were like, “oh no were not selling anything, were
missionaries” and he says, “oh Mormons right?” We say,”yes,” and he tells us he
got a book of Mormon yesterday. We were confused because we’re the only ones
giving out book of Mormons. We find out
he’s the referral the sisters gave us and we sat down and gave him the first
lesson and it went amazing!
The
Chicago West Mission, is a 0 bike mission, all new cars, they just got 15 new
apartments so there aren't any companionship's that share apartments. I won’t be using the back pack I got
anymore..... because there outlawing them saying there not professional so I
need to get a messenger bag soon! And because it’s a no bike mission and the
streets are confusing as heck I think I’ll pick up a GPS at Walmart.
Well, I have more
stories but too little time.
My mailing. address is:
Elder Travis Herdt
Illinois Chicago West
Mission
1319 Butterfield Rd. Suite 522
Downers grove,
IL 60515.
love you!
-your spirt ninja missionary Elder Herdt
