Come Listen to a Prophets Voice

Monday Apr 4, 2016                                                  Port Arthur, TX

" We started out our P-day shopping at Ross and then we went to Chili's and saw our Stake President there so he paid for us. We were so thankful. 

We were doing hour of power and we come across this lady who tells us that our church is false and we are going to the Devil and stuff like that. So we are still nice while she is attacking us and she had the cutest kid with her. He was about 6. We finally get away and when we were walking away we hear the kid say, "Mom, those guys were really nice and I like them!" Ha ha. We knock on some more doors and then we are walking past her house again and she comes up to us and wants round 2, I guess. She wants to ask us a question and I said okay. She starts in again on how our church is false and I honestly am fed up with it. So I told her I know that the church is true. She then said that she will pray that we find Jesus because we are wrong. I told her we were right. We still are being nice and she said she did not mean to argue( oh, she was arguing, alright). I told her trust me, I am not arguing. She keeps on going and her kid comes up and gives me knuckles. She goes into all this anti-mormon stuff and I'm thinking man we need to end this. She then looks at me and says," I don't know how y'all can believe that John Smith was a prophet." I looked at her and said," Honestly if you really want to argue with us you should do your research because we believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet and John Smith married Pocahontas. She was taken aback and Elder Strong had enough time to come in. So he asks her question after question and she can't answer them. Her kid comes up to me again and starts blowing kisses, ha ha. He asked me if I can come back and play with him another day. She keeps arguing with Elder Strong and says the Book of Mormon is false and Elder Strong asked her if she had read it. She said no and then Elder Strong said asked her how do you know it is not true then? She said that she didn't need to read a lie to know the truth. We pressed her a bit on that and she said she has researched it....Big mistake....I asked her some names in it, where and when does it start and she couldn't answer it. I look at her and said, " You really should read the book and not just believe what your church tells you." 

Her husband comes driving down the road and in a last desperate attempt she tells us that if anything she has said has caused us to doubt, we should look into that because that means that your church is not true. I looked at her smile and said, " Well , I guess that means that our church is true because not only did I not feel one shred of doubt, but I felt confirmation that what we said was true." She was about to say something but I asked her a question. I told her now when we die and we go before God to be judged and one of us is right and one of us is wrong, I have had God tell me that this is right and so where do you stand? We then walked away. 

We then walked to the next house and a guy answered and we were able to teach him. Yeah! 

After that we went to a place called, Gangis. (It is a Mongolian Grill that a member gave us cash to go to cause they signed up to feed us but couldn't at the last minute). We went there and there was this 18 year old waitress from New Zealand. She was funny. She is down here for college and so we talked with her and her boss got mad so she had to go. We got our food and we were eating and it was getting late so the place was almost closing. She comes back and pulls up a chair and wanted to ask us a question. She told us that she has some friends that are Mormon and she was always too scared to ask them what they believe. We answered all of her questions. She went to help some more customers and finally we are ready to leave. She comes back and invites us to this college party and we told her that we can't go to parties. So we were able to teach her more about what we can and can't do and more Church doctrine. Elder Strong then said that there are missionaries at Lamar and when you see them promise us that you will go and talk to them. So she promises us and we head out.

Today we had a choice to watch Saturday conference or go to Deweyville to help out with the flooding. We felt we should go to
Deweyville and help out more with the cleanup. It wasn't just us that went, they called everyone in the Texas Houston East Stake to come and help. We all met at the Deweyville High School. There was like 1,200 volunteers who showed up wearing their yellow Mormon Helping Hands shirts. It was so cool. They split us up and told us which houses to go to. So we hop into this members truck and head to these houses in the deep, deep woods. Three of the trucks got stuck and we had to get them out. We finally got there-all thirteen of us! We helped gut this house. About half way through, they pulled half of us and we helped with this other house. It was a disaster. There was mold all over the walls and clothes. The clothes were soaking wet so we got trash bags and gloves and breathing masks and cleaned up everything. We took out the floors, cabinets, sheetrock, everything. We had time to go to a third house and did the same thing. It was so sad to see all the devastation. 

We left and ate at Chucks-this hole in the wall BBQ place. The have these things called, Redneck Nachos. They are baked potato skins with bbq sauce, brisket, cheese, jalapenos, onions, and special white dressing. It is this huge plate and honestly it is the best thing I have ever had( Okay, I know I say that a lot) It is super famous down here even though it is a small shop. We came home and showered and headed to the Priesthood session of conference and it was super good.
It was especially cool to hear President Monson. President Nelson's talk was so cool because a couple of months ago he told us the exact same story! After that we had Blue bell ice cream, blackberry cobbler and I think I got fat, today.

On Sunday we had the last part of conference and after some members gave us these boxes of MRE's(which are military lunchables- pretty much). So us and the Spanish missionaries tried some of them....And they were pretty gross! After that we saw the afternoon session of General Conference. 

After Conference we went and taught Joann and we had a sweet lesson with her. She told me that if I got transferred then she wouldn't get baptized. I told her well she better get baptized quick and she said a prayer that I would stay in the area cause she feels that if I stay she will maybe get baptized. So that was pretty cool. Joann by far is one of my favorite people that I have ever taught. After we taught her she gave us some hats from where her husband works. They are pretty sweet hats. I got this camo hat. Yeah, pretty legit.
Love,
Elder Saunders

Our Lady of the Guadalupe Shrine in Beaumont, Texas. It pays tribute to the Mexican American culture. It is believed in the Catholic religion that the Virgin appeared to St Juan Diego. One of the artists was a man from Port Arthur, TX Apr 2016

There were 1,200 + volunteers that showed up at the Deweyville, TX High School to help with the flooding cleanup The yellow shirts are Mormon's helping hands that were given to the missionaries and others helping out. Apr 2016 

Lead Us, Guide Us, Walk Beside Us, Help Us Find The Way....

Monday, Mar 28, 2016                                                          Port Arthur, Texas

"We went on exchanges today with the zone leaders. We met a girl name Alma and that was pretty cool. We contacted her and she said her name was Alma and I was like, "Well, Alma, we got the perfect book for you!" We then show her the Book of Mormon. 

After Alma we went to see Justin , the guy who got kidnapped the other day. I was like, "Man, what happened to you on Sunday?". He was like man, let me tell you a story. He told us how he got in the truck with his boss and he's following us. Then he sees us take a right and his boss takes a left. So he asked his boss what was going on and his boss told him that someone didn't show up for work so he's taking him to work. Justin was like man after I heard that I was mad. Like really mad cause I wanted to go but then I realized I couldn't do anything or else I would get fired, so I worked on my day off. After I heard that I was like at least he didn't get anti'd.

The last thing we did for the day was teach the Tegtmeiers. They told me they were moving to New Orleans. They don't know when but it is pretty soon. So I made them promise to call us before they leave. We showed them the Mormon Message, "Mountains to Climb". Sister Tegtmeier lost it, she was crying so much. We talked about enduring to the end and being resurrected. It was super cool. 

So yesterday we finally got to teach Joann again! We asked her when we could come back and she said tomorrow at 4. We said we could do 4 , but we might be a little later like 4:15 or so and she said that was fine. We also said that we would bring Sister Borton with us. Fast forward to the next day and we are having this lesson at 3 and it is going pretty well, but we end faster then we expected so it's now 3:35. We have Joann at 4:00 so we thought

about what to do. Either we try someone else in the area or go to Joann's home sooner. After thinking this over, we both felt strongly that we should go to Joann's house sooner. We get to her house and park in front. We start to make phone calls. It was not but 5 minutes and Joann comes out and asks us if we're alright. We tell her ya, we were just making phone calls. So she said okay and and asked if Sister Borton will be here. We told her yes and that she should be her anytime. So Joann smiles and says okay I will meet you inside. We finish the calls and head inside and Sister Borton and her kid arrive. Now Joann has never read the Book of Mormon so we read it with her. She loved it so we read three chapters. We talked about them and she wanted us to go on, but we had a lesson prepared (that wasn't reading) so we quickly shared it. After that she wanted to share a story with us. She said that today was a rough day for her and it seemed like everything was going wrong. Then she remembered the missionaries were coming over so she felt some comfort. She remembered that we were coming at 4:15 so she prayed and asked God if the missionaries could come by sooner so she could have a whole hour and not just 45 min. So time goes on and it's 3:58 and Joann looks out her window and we are not there and so she said she prayed again. She bowed her head and asked if the church were true, let the missionaries be here by 4:00 and let them bring Sis Borton. She got up and looked out her window and there was our car sitting out front! So that was when she came out and talked to us. She said she was so happy and instantly felt comfort. She told us that we might of thought that it was a boring story but to her it was a prayer answered. Especially cause at the end of the lesson, Sister Borton asked Joann if she could pick her up for the women's session of General Conference and Joann said yes! 

We then taught a guy who has cancer and only has a month to live. He rejected us. We told him that in the afterlife two missionaries will come up to him and teach him and we asked him if he would accept their teachings. The guy said that he will never accept anything we say in this life or the next. We pleaded but he was set in his ways, so that was sad.

The next day we taught a guy who lives in a mansion. He was a super nice guy. We also got his wife to listen. We went to teach Mohammed after that. We were discussing things back and forth when a thought came to me. So I asked Mohammed, " So you believe in the Bible, right?" He said yes. So then I asked him if he had ever read the Bible and Mohammed said no. Suddenly in my mind everything made sense. All the Bible stories he knew came from the Quran-which are actually pretty close. We once again show him scriptures that say that Christ is the son of God. He is a super smart guy and remembers the first time we taught him and when we went over the restoration. We told him that the Bible has been translated or changed over time.. So every time we pull out a Bible verse that contradicts him, he says, "Well guys, as you said yourself, the Bible has been changed." Haha it is funny yet so frustrating! We ran outta time so we are coming back for a 7th time to explain the Atonement to him. When we were driving home my companion was like, "Man, I cannot figure Mohammed out! I said that in about four more visits he will understand what I am saying cause he has a hard head. Every time we go over the spirit slaps him right on top of the head, so it's only a matter of time till his head gets so sore he will be able to feel the spiritual slap.

So today we dressed in street clothes and went to Deweyville, Texas to help the people who lost their homes in the flood. They put us in three groups and sent us to some houses. Our group had three houses that we had to help. I drove our car into Deweyville and it is just sad. I mean there is house after house that was destroyed. Peoples furniture, clothes, and sheet rock all mixed up, laying on the ground cause it is all ruined. It was weird to me cause this was my old area. Some of the houses I saw were some of the houses I knocked! So we go through these back roads and find the house and all of our convoy hop out. We go in and everything is destroyed. The family has taken all of their possessions and they probably saved about 20% of what they owned. We saw the water line from where the water was and it was 5 feet high and everything has mold on it. The owner of the house tells us to get rid of everything but the frame of the house. We put on our breathing mask and suit and gloves. We started tearing up water soaked carpet. We tore out the sheet rock and took out the rest of the furniture. It took us 7 hours to finally tear the whole house down except for the frame. We were covered in...I don't know what. Everyone starts to leave because they are tired. We were told to re group and and join someone else's group. They took us down this sketchy back road that is flooded. Keep in mind we have a van and not a truck and we have three and another huge white guy and two others. So I am driving and it is taking extreme skill for me to not get stuck and scrape up the van. Eventually we get to the end and the house is literally surrounded by a lake! One of the other convoy people in a truck hops out and tells us that we won't make it and to turn around and go home. So after pleading with him for a bit we...turned around and went home. We tracked the distance we went today and it was 214.3 miles!
Love,
Elder Saunders

Oil Tanker in Port Arthur, TX out of Singapore. Eagle Kuartan Mar 2016

Deweyville, Texas flood damage March 2016 So sad!

The Rains Came Down and the Floods Came Up...

Monday, March 21, 2016                                                                 Port Arthur, TX

" Today we had Derrick( a Pentecostal preacher, who loves the missionaries) come out with us and he drove us around all day. Now he didn't shout out false doctrine, he actually gave us a lot of scriptures that helped us a lot in teaching the people. Everything he said he started off with, " Now, here is what their church believes...." but yeah he was cool. He saved us a lot of miles though!

We found out there has been major flooding in Orange, my last area. We started off our day by going to a Red Cross training in Beaumont. Then we went to Lamar University cause they had a shelter there for all the people to go to who had no where else to go cause their homes were destroyed by the flooding. So we helped out there all day serving food, counting inventory, showing people around, moving stuff around. President Drake said that we might even get to go to Orange in a couple of weeks to do service once it dries out. So I am pumped to go to my last area and see what happened to it. 

So we had exchanges yesterday and it was a good day. We rode around in the ghetto and then we went to the sea wall and hung out with the Spanish Elders and taught some people. Then a member from the Spanish branch fed us and the Spanish elders. They fed us this soup. Spanish people when they cook soup they put everything in whole. So he had a whole chicken, whole corn on the cob, whole peppers, and potatoes and rice on the bottom. Then he made some tortillas to put in the soup or dip in the soup or take stuff outta the soup and put in the tortillas. It was so good. After that we biked to the edge of their area just to find out that person was gone! Anyway we looked and found out we biked 27.4 miles that day!

A sad day today. 30 minutes before church, we went to our investigators house to wake him up for church. Right when we knocked on his door, he opened up all dressed so we told him we'd meet him at the church and then we left. So fast forward we were at church and it is 8:50 and church starts at 9:00. So there is no Justin. So we hop back in the car and drive back to his house and we find him standing outside. We talk to him and he said he is waiting for his ride to take him to church. Me and Elder Strong look at each other and we wanted to tell him so bad that we could give him a ride, just this once. His ride came then so we told his ride to follow us. We start driving and they're following us and then we get in the right lane to take a right and when I look back that car gets in the left lane and goes left. So we are confused and Elder Strong is like, "What now?" I was like lets follow them. So I turned around and try to follow them and they go on the freeway and I lose them. We go back to church and we are 25 min late. Both of us are so discouraged because of what happened. Our investigator got kidnapped by his boss. He wasn't answering his phone so we are pretty sure he got anti-mormoned. I have been here long enough to counter anti mormon stuff I'll update y'all next week....
Love,
Elder Saunders

Zone Conference March 2016

Sea Wall in Port Arthur, TX built to keep out the tides and waves from coming on land.... March 2016

An Answer To My Prayer

Monday, Mar. 14, 2016 Port Arthur, TX

" So we had P-day and then after that we taught our boy, Leroy, and this guy was associated with a gang. He has a tear drop tattoo and everything. We went and taught him and he told us that every time he talks to us, he feels peace and joy. He told us he was so happy that we stopped by and talked to him because we saved him. During the lesson he was crying and told us how much he appreciates us. After we went and had family home evening with the Tegtmeiers and Bro. Tegtmeier said that he considers us some of his children.

Today we went on exchanges so an Elder from Bridge City came up. I don't really want to get into how today went, mostly cause it was a bad day. It rained all day. I can't really explain how the day went, but let's just say this: There was alcohol, screaming, there was fighting (not us but other people), angry hotel workers, Police, we were questioned by the police, there was a paramedic and a person went to the hospital, kids who were put in child protection custody, a fire truck, jerks on drugs. We got soaked by rain, and we were stuck in the hotel lobby where all this was going on for 3 1/2 hours. So ya, not my favorite day.

At the end of Thursday, we had a lesson with Mohammed. We just went back and forth. See, Mohammed is super smart. Like super super smart . So because of that he asks you really really really good questions. He can also argue your answers really well. So we have this back and forth 'debate' for two hours about Christ being the Son of God and also the Atonement and the need for it. Finally Mohammed says, "Okay, guys, I'll tell you what. Ever since you came over I have tried to find the true faith. So, if you can find one fault in the Quran, just one, I will change to your faith." This took us back and I honestly said to him, " Man are you sure?" He told us he meant it and we agreed and then had to leave.

Today we were visiting this part member family and when we got to the door, we found out that the family moved away. So we start talking to this guy named Jeremy. He says he believes in God but not in churches. We explained to him why there are so many churches. He said, "Wow, that makes so much sense." Then we asked him if we can stop by another day and he says, " Yeah but can you also teach my two kids and wife!?" Those words left me speechless. I was shaking my head up and down like a dog trying to get dry. Like that never happens. As we were biking down the very next street, I see my recent convert from Orange. He was working hard trying to install cable to this house so that was cool. He said that he goes to church every week. He is aiming for the temple and has stopped smoking. It is so cool to see him change and honestly he looked and sounded a lot better from the first time I met him. That was for sure a testimony builder. 

Today was a cool day. It started off by visiting the Tegtmeiers. We were talking to them and then Bro. Tegtmeier tells us how he woke up at 12 last night and how he couldn't go back to bed. He said he felt a strong impression to pray, so he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true. Then he said with tears in his eyes, " I got an answer. I now know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Joseph Smith is a Prophet." It was amazing. He was praying for awhile but that proves that God answers prayers. But that brought up the issue of can he get baptized. We're not sure, but at the very least, we've done as much as we can do. He has accepted the gospel in this life and will be able to be baptized in the next life. 

We then visited this guy from the Caribbean and we showed him the Book of Mormon. He couldn't read that well so he didn't like it. We told him about General Conference and he was super excited and gave us his phone number to remind him so he can attend. "

Love,
Elder Saunders

A church on every corner... Port Arthur, TX

My new cowboy hat and yummy juice! Mar 2016

We are still here....Reminds me of Easter coming and Jesus' final days Mar 2016

My new haircut by my Polynesian Missionary friend.  He gave me a part on the side of my head, ha ha. It's all good. Port Arthur TX  Mar 2016

Prayers Aren't Always Answered When We Expect Them to...But They Are Answered!

Monday, Mar 7, 2016  Port Arthur, Texas

"So today was transfer day and we started it out by eating breakfast at a members home. It is so cool. This member will not cook the same thing twice for us. Every time we go over he experiments and makes up new kinds of food. We have eggs with a unique seasoning and we also had pancakes with a little bit of pumpkin seasoning and we have had cranberries and choc. chips in the pancake mix. Like it wasn't bad, it just wasn't the greatest thing to be honest, ha ha. He has one rule and it is if you don't like it , don't eat it. As simple as that. So my companion packed some more and then our district went to Buffalo Wild Wings(so good-it has been a long long time since I have been there). Then we went to transfer meeting and I found out my new companion is Elder Strong. He was my zone leader in Orange and he only has two transfers left. So if I stay with him for another transfer, I will be here for 6 months.

We had another lesson with Bro. Tegtmeier today. We start off by asking him if he prayed to know if the Book of Mormon is true. He answered yes. So, I'm like, sweet! What did you get from it? He answers, nothing. We tell him that it is important to keep praying cause sometimes God wants us to work for it. At that moment a thought came to my head and I smiled. I said, " Brother Tegtmeier, I have a story for you." I told him a story about how I prayed to know if I should go on a mission and every time I prayed, all I got was peace. I didn't get an answer. This happened for about 3 weeks of me constantly praying and receiving nothing. Up until it was the day before my farewell and I kept praying but still got nothing. I was freaking out and then at the last possible moment, my prayer was answered. I said, "So, Bro. Tegtmeier, I know exactly how you feel. You wanted an answer and you didn't get it. I also know how it feels to constantly struggle to find that answer and still not get it and I know how it feels to receive that answer after I had gone through all of that. That is why we want you to keep praying about it cause prayers aren't always answered when we expect them to be. Sometimes God wants to see how much we really want it before you get the answer you're looking for." Then I looked at him and he said, "I guess I could try some more." Then we talked about faith and prayer. We went to lunch at Jasons Deli, which actually is a super good place. Like who knew, right?

Today we were trying to get formers and found out that one of them got baptized in Austin. That was new, I've never had that happen. Then we stopped by this one formers house and we met his friend and actually taught him and he was pretty solid (He ended up dropping us after a couple of days cause he got anti-mormoned pretty hard by his friend) For lunch we found this BBQ place. We go in and they had this deal where you get a salad, baked potato loaded with cheese, sour cream, peppers, ground meats, and then they poured BBQ sauce on it. After that they gave us a hamburger steak and jalapeno bread- all for $8! It was the most Texan meal you could get. I was fixin to take a pic of it but my i pad died, so ya.

We had another lesson with Bro. Tegtmeier. I didn't think he got that much out of it, but when we finished, he thanked us for coming by. He told us that he knows we are dedicated to what we teach and because of that he is warming up to the idea of spending eternity with his wife, not just until death. So that was cool. 

After that we went with some members to a Mexican restaurant. They have the cutest kid I have ever seen. She's about 4 and she loves the missionaries. Like she sat in the middle of both of us and she just talked constantly and then would randomly give me a hug and then give my companion a hug. She talked some more and then grabbed her fake camera and "took" pictures of us. She was super cute. 

Then we went to visit another former member and he lives in a really, really, really nice neighborhood. Like these houses are mansions. Even the streets sound rich, ha ha. Like King Arthur Drive, Nottingham Drive, Yorkshire Lane and Round Tower Lane. His name is Bob and we knocked on his door and he answered and was super friendly. He invited us in and give us drinks and said his wife wasn't home. Then he told us how he found the missionaries and they gave him a Book of Mormon and he started to read it and couldn't stop. He finished it in a week! Then he told us about how he wanted to be baptized! His wife is a Southern Baptist and hated the fact that he wanted to be a Mormon. She told him that if he joins the church she will leave him. Then Bob looks at us and says maybe in the future, but I can't choose between this or my wife. Honestly, it was sad cause I knew what he was missing out on. I also thought how hard it would be to choose that. I told him to invite us to do service and his wife may change and he said, maybe. Then his wife came home. Let me tell you that the look on her face was priceless when she saw us in her home, talking to her husband. She was pretty nice and she made sure to tell us that she was a baptist. We have been out here long enough to know what us and the baptists agree on. So we start talking about Christ and stuff like that. She warms up to us and then Bob gives us this really expensive Italian soda and the flavor is Blood Orange. (it was so good). It was getting late so we told them we had to go. The wife gives us a giant container of cashews and Bob gives us more of the soda for the road. They told us to come by whenever we want or if we needed anything or if we just wanted to talk. Its weird, when we left I was talking to my companion and we both agreed that he will get baptized eventually in this life, it might take a few years, but I know he will. 

Today was like a super good day. Me and my companion walked around an apartment complex trying to find our investigators apartment. We ended up teaching 3 people before we reached his apartment and then we taught him. We then went to Port Arthur to find a referral and he wasn't home. His neighbor had tear drop tattoos and other tattoos and even some gang tattoos. Anyway, he told us he's done things but wants to change his life. So we taught him. Then we were able to teach a couple more people. Like it was going great! It was a day where we didn't get bashed at every other door and it was great! 

So we finally taught this investigator named Joann who we were trying to teach for like a week and we brought a member with us. We taught Joann and it was a good lesson. We invited her to church and Joanne said that she didn't know. She said she had to watch these kids for her church. Suddenly, Sis Borton (our member) says, "Well, hey, I can pick you up and drive you to church and you can stay for half of sacrament meeting then I will drive you to your church. And Joanne said, "No, I can't have you miss the Sacrament. " Sister Borton was like, " No, I'd rather pick you up so you can experience it." Then something clicked with Joanne. I think by Sister Borton's example, she was able to see how important the sacrament is to us. So she said she could drive to Sacrament but she might have to leave early. So we started the lesson by Joanne telling us there is no way she could come to church and it ended by Joann saying okay I'll see y'all tomorrow at church. It starts at nine, right? So that was a pretty cool experience.
Love,
Elder Saunders

Our newest fan! She loves the missionaries- 4 year old member with Elder Saunders and Elder Strong Port Arthur, TX Mar 2016

I'm still here....In Port Arthur!

Monday, February 29, 2016 -- Port Arthur, TX

"My companion is being transferred and the next transfer will be in 7 weeks. 

On Monday we went bowling which was super fun. Elder Tukuafu taught me how to spin the bowling ball, cause he is a master bowler. After that our zone with the zone leaders came down and we played chair soccer. At the end of p-day we went to see the older couple in the rest home and did a family home evening. We watched a movie made by the church in like the 70's called, "Forever Together". It was cool and at the end Sister Tegtmeier started singing along with the song and when it ended both Brother and Sister Tegtmeier started crying. It was a really sweet moment. Sister Tegtmeier asked me if I had a girl back at home and I told her no and she coached me to say the least. We brought Oreo's cause family home evenings suck without treats.

Today we watched Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration with Bro. and Sister Tegtmeier. Man let me tell you there was a struggle cause there is two versions of the restoration. One that is 30 minutes and one that is 1 hour. They don't give out the hour one, however it is on lds.org. So we downloaded it on a disc and took it over. Well, Sis. Tegtmeier's dvd player couldn't play it, so I got my flash drive and downloaded it on the flash drive and plugged it into their television but the television could only view photos on it. We eventually got her laptop out and all four of us watched it on that. 

We also visited this one lady who has had cancer four times. She can't come to church because she can't be around kids, but she is super funny. She told us that when she got cancer the fourth time a person asked her if she was scared to get it again. She replied, "Are you kidding? You can't scare me with Heaven!"

So today was the temple trip for us and we planned with the member driving us to leave at 9:30 for the 12:00 session. We started the day by doing a early study with the Spanish elders. At about 9:45, we got a call and he said that he just got out of the dentist. Yikes! So we arrived and missed our session but the President said we could go to the 1:00 one. Honestly, it was meant for us to be at that session. I can't tell you really what went on through email, but talk to me after my mission and I'll tell you what happened. So after that, the member who drove us took pics of us on his camera and is going to send them to our parents. The we went to Cici's pizza and had a competition to see who could eat the most slices of Pizza. I took 3rd place outta 12 people with 15 slices. Elder Tukuafu won with 18 slices. During the 2 hour drive back, I fell asleep on Elder Ludlow and Bigler. We finally got home at 7:30 p.m. and went to visit members.

We visited Brother Livingston. We walk in and he gets a phone call and says, "Oh, I gotta take this" and leaves. He comes back and tells us that it was his 'homie' from back in the day. I'm like, " Cool, where does he live?" Bro. Livingston says he's in Kansas City and he plays for the Chiefs. (now Port Arthur is actually 1st place in players who go professional, so in my mind I am thinking of 8 players who came from there and one of which is on the Chiefs named Jamal Charles!) So I'm like, " Is it Jamal Charles?" He was so surprised and said, "Yeah!" Then he goes on to tell us the story of how they met in 6th grade and have been friends ever since. They call each other about four times a week just to talk. He told us that Jamal Charles comes down every now and then to meet with him. So we are trying very hard to get a chance to meet with Jamal Charles. Especially cause he is coming down here in about a month. So we got a month to get things going, ha ha.

We gave our investigator, Mohammed, a church tour today. He was amazed by how beautiful it was. It was cool cause when we brought him into the chapel, he saw a couple of hymn books on the ground. He's like, " Oh, someone must have accidentally put these on the ground." He then went over and picked them up and put them on the bench. Also when we were showing him the sacrament, I put my Book of Mormon on the ground to show him the sacrament trays and he came over and picked up my Book of Mormon and holds it in his hands until I am done and then handed it back. Like it hit me that this guy that doesn't even know if it's a true book or not, realizes the importance of what it means to us so he will respects it and will not let it touch the ground. Like our investigator who is Muslim does a better job then I do at that! 

Transfers came in and my companion is leaving to become a zoneleader. It wouldn't have killed me to stay another 7 weeks. He was growing on me very very slowly but still growing. 

So today our investigator, Mohammed came to church. He actually liked it. He said he will probably come back again. It was funny. He sat by Sister Tegtmeier and she was telling him after Sacrament how he should get baptized. It was so funny. We visited a ton of families that Elder Ericson wanted to see and take pics with. 
Love,
Elder Saunders

Our Zone in Beaumont, TX 2016

My companion Elder Ericson and I at the Houston Temple Feb. 2016

My District Elders at the Houston Temple Feb 2016

The group we ended up going on a session with-Houston TX temple Feb 2016

I love to see the temple.  Feb 2016 in Houston, TX

It was a great day at the temple. Houston. TX 2016

Houston Texas Temple Trip with some fine looking Elders-Feb 2016

The group the Elders ended up going on a session with-Houston, TX  LDS temple February 2016

Elder Ericson, our investigator, Mohammed and Elder Saunders

Bro. Tegtmeier, Elder Ericson, Elder Saunders, Sister Tegtmeier Port Arthur, TX Feb 2016

Hey! There is a Buffalo Wild Wings in Port Arthur! The Elders in the Zone. Feb 2016

Happiness is... Having a 'Mini Missionary'!

Monday, Feb 22, 2016-Port Arthur, Texas

' We went on exchanges and we had a lesson with our investigator Mohammed today. He cooked us all kinds of Egyptian food. It was so good. After that, we went with the Spanish Elders to the Jail cause we had a referral. We went down and they said we had to contact or call the warden to set up a time. The warden was gone so we drove back and we saw a sign that was kinda funny so we took pics in front of it. (See pics below).

Today we taught a lesson with an investigator that lasted 3 hours, haha. She literally had a full sheet of paper full of questions. We went down the sheet and answered all her questions. We then went down to 'Raising Canes' which is like a chicken place down here that is super good. We got a mini missionary who is super cool and his name is Trevor. His parents brought us two huge cases full of food and fruits and treats. They said it was so we wouldn't get hungry, so we don't have to go shopping this week.

We had a mini missionary with us(Trevor), today. We usually wait for referrals but we decided to knock on doors with our mini missionary. We went to this apartment complex and inside the complex they were having a BBQ. We walked up and started talking to the wife about the Book of Mormon. The husband comes over and says, "Hey, do you want me to grab my Bible?" We told him, "Yeah, sure, if you want to. We're cool to have a Bible study. In fact, did I mention that the Book of Mormon and the Bible go hand in hand? The guy told us to leave and I felt bad for Trevor. 

Trevor knocked on a door next and he did a really good job, but the person came out and said that she was cheated in business by a guy who was Mormon and then she turned and left. I went to Trevor and patted him on the back and told him 'good contact'. The day didn't get better. We taught some lessons and all the lessons we taught we were bashed one after another. One singled out Trevor and asked him a bunch of questions that I couldn't even answer. Trevor was a rock star mini missionary.

We took Trevor to teach our our investigator, Mohammed. We taught him about the atonement and Christ. It is really hard to teach someone of the Muslim faith. We were teaching him and we answered all his questions and the lesson went really well. After we ended it, Mohammed says, " Wow, guys that was really beautiful, but you are so wrong. You are so far off." Like he has never said that before and it took me by surprise. So we spent another hour teaching him in a different way and using a lot of Bible verses. By the time we finished our 2 hour long constant Q & A he was like, " Man, ever since you guys came over, I have been using all my free time to find the truth. Like I have been trying to find out if being a Muslim is the right religion so I have been studying hard."  So we are right there, we just need that last push.

At the end of the day, I asked Trevor how he liked it and he said it was the longest day of his life. I burst out laughing and gave him a hug. I felt so bad for him , but he is a stud missionary. One of the best and he has only been here for a day.

Today was the last day with the Mini Missionary. We taught a couple of lessons and it was a pretty good day. I was really sad when he left. We bonded. Trevor said I'd be a good trainer. We talked about our families and missions. I was straight up honest. When he left, seriously, tears were shed.
Love,
Elder Saunders

A Hero among Heroes. 'Protecting and Saving Lives' Elder Saunders in Nederland, Texas Feb. 2016

Spanish Elder Hepworth, Elder Saunders, Elder Tukuafu and another Spanish Elder. Beaumont, TX Feb 2015

Elder Hepworth, Elder Saunders, another Spanish Elder, Elder Tukuafu in Beaumont, TX.  Feb 2016

Me and Elder Tukuafu 

Me and Elder Tukuafu

Elder Ericson, Our mini missionary-Trevor, Elder Saunders  Feb 2016