White Washing in White Oak

I seem to have this strange trend of serving in the areas with "White"

at the beginning of it... White Plains, White Oak... Actually that's

about it.

Anywho, after P-day on Monday, most of my district went to DuPont

square in DC and did a district finding activity! It was supposed to

be a "chalk talk" where we'd draw the Plan of Salvation in chalk on

the sidewalk and talk to people about that, until we got there and it

was pouring rain... So instead, we decided to just go street

contacting for a few hours, which ended up being really fun! It was

only the second time I've ever done non-tracting contacting on my

mission (due to serving in areas with no good places to do so), so it

was very different but enjoyable at the same time! Most of Tuesday was

spent at the office so Thorpe could finish being trained and traveling

around saying goodbye to people, it was a very bittersweet occasion.

That night, transfer calls came out and Elder Thorpe and I were told

that we were both leaving Kensington (they closed the Elder's area and

gave the whole Ward to the sisters) and going to the White Oak Ward

together in a trio with Elder Harrison, the old office elder (since

Thorpe is the new one). Which also means that we are now white-washing

the area, which I haven't done since the start of my mission! It's

fitting though, because as it turns out, White Oak is just north of

Kensington but is in the Silver Spring stake/zone (my "birth"

stake/zone) and it the Ward just to the west of Laurel! Basically,

I've been transferred in a big circle! But it's okay, because I am

LOVING the White Oak Ward thus far! The members are all very

supportive, super nice, and, best of all, THERE IS ACTUALLY WORK TO

DO! A lot of it as well! Which, after a transfer of not having really

anything to do, I'm SUPER excited about! Plus Elder Harrison is pretty

cool too and he fits in very well with Thorpe and I (we are now the

punniest companionship in the mission, by the way)! He goes home at

the end of this transfer though, and Thorpe goes home the one after

that, so I'll be "killing" two missionaries in a row, which'll be fun!

Story time! On Thursday, Elder Coombs, one of the traveling trainers,

went on exchange with Thorpe, Harrison, and I. We ended up going to an

appointment in his area with a guy named David, which was probably one

of the most infuriating, yet spiritual lessons of my mission! To

summarize, he is one of those "we are saved by grace and grace alone,

it doesn't matter what you do, if you accept Jesus, you will be saved,

otherwise you go to Hell" people. He had some questions about the plan

of salvation because he couldn't accept the idea of the Terrestrial

kingdom due to the whole, "if you aren't 'saved' than you are evil and

deserve no salvation" thing. We very patiently taught and testified of

what we believed to him (as I said, very spiritual experience) and

actually seemingly made progress in helping him feel the Spirit

testify of truth to him. Until we invited him to pray about what we

had taught him and he instantly backed off with, "well why should I

pray for an answer if the answer is right here already?" And started

trying to prove us wrong and tell us that we are going to Hell and

have all of the plagues spoken of in Revelation poured out upon us for

"altering God's word" and "lying about the nature of God" (he is also

a Trinity believer...). It was at that point that we decided to

testify to him one last time of what we know to be true and leave. I

know that we have a Heavenly Father that loves us and that we can pray

to know the truth of all things that He sees fit to teach us. I also

know that He loves all of His children and provides us all an

opportunity to hear His word and obtain at least some glory through

the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ!

I love you all! I know that the Gospel is true and that it shows us

our way back to a loving Heavenly Father! I hope you all have a great

week!

Sincerely,

Elder Sam Williams

Washington DC North Mission

11700 Falls Road

Potomac, MD, 20854

The trio of Elders Thorpe, Harrison and Williams

Elders Williams and Thorpe

Found this sign in DC and me being the jazz nerd that I am, had to get a picture.

District finding activity.

Elders Thorpe, Williams, Harrison and Coombs