Week 84

Fishing in Portland for PDay did not disappoint.  Hudson caught this beautiful crappie.

Thursday, April 21:  Exchange with Elder Ramell.  Lacking in social awareness.  He and Hudson are standing on a doorstep waiting for someone to answer and he removes his tie because it is too long.  Spoke with a Spanish speaking person who Hudson live actioned google translated with and passed off to the Hermanas in Madison

Friday, April 22:  Apartment neighbor had a discussion with the Elders.  He watches the changing missionaries and notices that some are more committed than others. 

Wednesday, April 27:  Hudson called during the day today, as I had a meeting to be to that night.  He caught me just as I was getting out of the shower hence the bathrobe.  He was fishing in Portland again and forgot his sunscreen.  Whoops, even missionaries aren't protected from everything.  He was so gracious to entertain talking to me while he was baiting and casting his multiple fishing poles.  He did not have a lot to report on the week.  He is teaching three investigators regularly with three lessons each this week.  That has kept him busy!  He also happened to meet a 1 eyed horse and of course, had to have photographic proof.

 

A whole family of possums (Hudson Podcast Week 83)

 Hudson is headed to Portland for PDay.

Saturday, April 9:  Lesson with Danielle (post baptism!)  She is getting ministering sisters.  Read about the brass plates in the Book of Mormon.  Hudson likes the philosophy of the gospel (the meat) but investigators seem to like the Book of Mormon stories (the milk).

Sunday, April 10:  Invited Jason to church and he didn't show up.  The Elders had scheduled a lesson with him so they drove to most back wood part of Franklin, KY mission area, Hudson has been.  They were driving along a lot dirt road and saw him sitting on his porch.  As they approached he went inside and quickly closed the door.  Hudson realized he didn't dash inside to get them milk and cookies.  They proceeded to knock anyway and they heard him shushing his dog and his little boy trying to answer, yet the door was never opened.  Rough  Visited an inactive family from Idaho that lived in the area.  Hudson asked if they had ever been to Redfish Lake and they said yes, their Grandma lived in Stanley.  Lots of conversation ensued that made Hudson's heart happy.

Monday, April 11:  Lesson with Krista in the trailer park along with Sister Roach.  At the end she asked how Hudson knows the Book of Mormon is true.  Hudson told her the Holy Ghost has testified it to him.  She asked how Hudson knew that the Holy Ghost feels like, that instead of Satan.  Sister Roach told her if it is a big trick and they are following Satan to do good in the world then so be it!  Hudson's final stance was if living the gospel makes people happy, then it can't be bad and he has seen a lot of people have happier lives by living the gospel.

Tuesday, April 12:  Interaction with Harold, not sweet like our balloon friend, that did not go so well.  His dad is a member of the Gideon's.  He feels like he should be a witness of the gospel to the missionaries. His last thought was from Revelation 22:18 that states no scripture can't be added?  Elder Walrath pointed out that was written only for the book of Revelation not to be added to.  If it meant pertained to any scripture, the New Testament can't be gospel?  Visit with Caroline and Hudson recorded their conversation.  She opens up to them, but it is some weird thoughts.  She feels every time she reads the scriptures her head shrinks, and she always sees people turn black and die that are sitting around her, like at church 2 days previously.  Hudson was sitting next to her, and no baby died?  Hudson talks to lots of weird people on Facebook.  One in particular that believes he has been physically taught by Jesus and he is God.

Thursday, April 14:  5 weeks ago Bowling Green Elders called inactive member Sister Suzanne Morris, and she came to church!  She performed an Easter song on sacrament.  A few weeks ago Rebecca Pearson called and asked the Elder's to come visit her.  She and her fiancé Harold, a different one, are inactive and preparing to marry each other as a second marriage.  Hudson invited them to come have a church tour with President Alley to be comfortable when they come Sunday.  Just happens several ladies from the Relief Society will be at the church as well, practicing for a special musical number they will be doing on Easter.  Sister Morris shows up as well and points at President Alley and says he is her dad?  She was really pointing at Harold, who actually is her dad and they haven't seen each other in a year. WOAH!!

Friday, April 15:  Driving home from the Boyers Hudson, with his eagle eyes, spots a possum.  He says, "being the TNM missionary I am, I slam on the brakes, jump out of the car, sprint across the lawn, I'm trying to turn the flashlight on, on my phone, boot the possum and something explodes behind it."  He then sees it was carrying six baby possums and they all went flying.  He felt bad, but he kicked a possum, actually 7, in Kentucky. Yeah!?!  He repented in great depth that evening.  A picture of Hudson "working".  Friday night lights looking different then 2 years ago?

Saturday, April 16:  19 month mark!

Sunday, April 17:  Five friends came to church and Hudson got to see Sue the eye reader.

Monday, April 18:  Interviews with President Weaver and lunch at Stormin Crab.  President Weaver spent the first six minutes gassing Hudson up for taking the special assignment to stay and help Elder Walrath.  President Weaver gives great hugs making up for all the non-human contact the Elder's endure through the mission.  Hudson will be sad to see him leave in July.  President Galland will be the new Mission President.

York Galland, 51, and Jennifer Galland, eight children, Steamboat Springs Ward, Craig Colorado Stake: Tennessee Nashville Mission, succeeding President Rhys A. Weaver and Sister Pam Weaver. Brother Galland is a bishopric counselor and former mission presidency counselor, stake activities committee member, bishop, young single adult bishopric counselor, elders quorum presidency counselor, ward Young Men president, Sunday School teacher and missionary in the Missouri Independence Mission. He was born in Provo, Utah, to Rodger Delynn Galland and Margaret Virginia Rose Galland.  Sister Galland is a ward Young Women president and former stake activities committee member, ward Relief Society presidency counselor, ward Young Women presidency counselor and missionary in the Switzerland Geneva Mission. She was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, to Harold Darcy Clawson and Eileen Clawson.

I went 13 years without eating food (Week 82)

No podcast this week, but I did upload a recording from a conversation we had this week. Proceed with caution

Hudson's email was this warning along with an hour-long conversation with Caroline.  Just a taste of what he gets to experience as a missionary!  He is certain now that she has a mental illness.  His tender heart is heavy when he thinks of how hard her life must be living in this state of confusion all the time.  He respects the fact that she is not capable to be taught the gospel yet feels like she wants the missionaries as friends.  He does not know what to do as she should be dropped from their teaching list.

Hudson made Mac and Cheese from scratch.  He said it does not taste as good as it looks, "it has too much sour cream"!  I will need to send him a better recipe, sour cream does not belong in a rue?

 

Unfortunately Hudson is being plagued with more warts.  This time on his foot.  Not to fear he was quickly on the home remedy of duct tape hoping it will work better on this area of his body than his arm.

Franklin, KY has been having some serious spring rain storms.  PDay was spent at the rec center playing racquetball and pickleball. Afterwards they went to the creamery for some ice cream.  He says the ice cream is good and prices are cheaper then Casper's here at home.  They also have really great company shirts for $12 he is thinking about picking up next time they go.  I tell him that would be a great use of his limited funds.  As we talk to Hudson tonight he is on a tornado watch.  It hasn't been upgraded to a warning yet and the sky is not green so I shouldn't be worried.  His internet is down (they are using the hotspot on the phone) and thunder shakes the whole apartment as we are on the phone...so maybe he is down playing the storm a bit.

Hey Alexa, play smoke on the water (Hudson Podcast Week 81)

Hudson opens the podcast with stating this week has been strange, peculiar and bizarre!

Thursday, March 31:  Danielle's baptismal interview at the Boyer's house with Elder Creamire who is in Goodletsville.  They have to do it virtually and the connection isn't working on multiple devices.  Danielle keeps disappearing as she is super stressed to have this done.  Hudson and Elder Walrath went outside to give her some space.  They start playing with the goldendoodles that the Boyer's breed.  They are outside for about 30 minutes and go back to the house to hear Danielle crying.  They start doing missionary work in the car to get out of the rain.  Elder Creamire calls Hudson's phone 1 1/2 hours later and say the interview did not go well.  Elder Creamire was worried about the serious crime question, he wants her to talk to President Weaver.  President Weaver tells the Elder's to make sure it was labeled a misdemeanor and he will approve the recommend.  It was technically a misdemeanor, but she still wants to talk to President Weaver, here's the catch she wants it "in person".  Hudson sets it up for the next day at 4:00 in Brentwood which they end up missing and talk to him on the phone.

Friday, April 1:  Danny Groves was baptized 2 years ago and died this week.  He had been ill a while and was not able to attend church, so Hudson never met him.  He loved the missionaries and asked for the current missionaries to be his pallbearers at the service.  Hudson was who was serving in the area and got the privilege.  The funeral was strange as Brother Groves was the only member in his family of Baptists.  The other pallbearers besides the four Elders were wearing overalls matching what Elder Groves was wearing in the casket.  His brother a Baptist preacher spoke at the funeral and Brother Calvert the man who converted Brother Groves was the other speaker.  Hudson felt the Baptist preacher was taking shots at the LDS members from the pulpit.  Both men spoke their religion, it got a little heated.  Brother Groves favorite song to play on the guitar was smoke on the water.  As they take the casket out, they play it over the sound system!  What a Southern Thing to Do.

Saturday, April 2:  Conference watch party at the church.  Lots of members came and Hudson had someone at every session.  Danielle sadly was the only person they were teaching that showed up.  

Sunday, April 3:  A man named Larry they are teaching tried to come but got confused between the LDS church (red brick connected to the parole office) and the Fundamentalist Baptist church next door that is red brick and actually looks like a church.  Larry texts at 12:00 and tells them the service was great, why were the Elders not there?  Turns out he went into the Baptist church service, and enjoyed it.  Danielle's baptism happens...YEAH!  Brother Boyer baptized her and his son Sheldon Boyer confirmed her.  Danielle asked if she could say something and it got a little weird.  Hudson's family got to watch it on Zoom.  (No pictures were taken while the ordinances were performed.)

Tuesday, April 5:  Transfers...Hudson and Elder Walrath will be staying in Franklin, KY for the next six weeks.  Hudson received a personal call from President Weaver explaining his decision and feels good about the answers he got. Elder Asay on the other hand will be going to the area Hudson was hoping for down on the Georgia border.  Darn that kid... Hudson was invited to join a new group within the mission titled "Final Four".  President Weaver puts you in this group when he get to your final 4 transfers of your mission.  Hudson got to the today!!!  He will have special devotionals and training through it.

Wednesday, April 6:  PDay.  When Hudson calls McKinley surprises him by answering the phone in her new glasses.  The Elders get into some Spring Cleaning.