My companion and I went back to the basketball court this last week.
There were a whole different group of people there. These weren't
kids, these were huge guys. a lot of them were taller than me. They
all had tatoo's, and long dreads. Once again I started talking to
them, and the same thing happened. They didn't listen to us. So I
decided to play again and see what would happen. Those who have seen
me play basketball, know I cannot shoot a 3-pointer to save my life.
Well, that changed. I hit 4 threes in a row, and won the game for our
team. If that wasn't the help of God, I don't know what is. And after,
the same thing happened as last time. They all couldn't believe what
had happened, and were curious as to what we did and taught. Who says
tracting is the way to find people to teach. After those two times of
playing on that court, we had 6 people to teach. These people are
living in an environment that will lead them on a bad path. How
influential this gospel could be in their lives if they accept it!
Transfers are this week, and they are always up in the air, so we'll
see if I stay to teach them or leave to another area.
   We also visited a man who goes by the name "Preacher James". He
has been talking with the missionaries for some time now. He is a paid
preacher at a local Baptists church. He pretty much gave us a sermon
on why we are automatically saved as soon as we take on the name of
Christ. He feels that repentance is a one time thing. After he
finished, a thought came to my head. I told him that if a freshman in
high school makes the varsity football team, and does really well the
first year, but during the off season he lets himself go and doesn't
work out or show signs of getting back into shape, does he still
deserve to be on the team? I believe the same is with Heaven. We must
continually prove that we are worthy to stand in the presence of God.
The scriptures tell us that no unclean thing can enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven. How great of importance repentence is then! After I
had told him this, he looked at me, paused, and then said "you have
given me a lot to think about", and that's all he said. I know I was
an insturment in the hands of the Lord, and it was his words that were
coming out of my mouth. Something I will never forget.
    Till next week!

Elder Michael Litchfield

What a week! Wednesday, my district leader went on an exchange with me
in my area. I had only been in the area 2 weeks, so navigating was a
bit difficult. We walked by this basketball court in the middle of a
park, and saw some people playing. We decided to go over there and
talk to them. I'm not going to sugar coat it, they were guys that grew
up in the hood. They didn't want to hear anything we had to say. My
district leader told me to play with them, and earn their respect,
then they might listen more. I was in my white shirt, dress pants,
dress shoes, and tie. I went up and asked if I could join in. They
laughed and said sure. They asked me if I was going to change into
other clothes, and my district leader told them that I would be fine.
We played a game to 13 points, and I had scored 9 of those points.
They were shocked! I was this skinny white kid in a shirt and tie,
scoring on them. After the game, 3 of the guys let us talk to them and
said we could come by their place and teach them. It was awesome! 3
new investigators right there! They each have their own copy of the
Book of Mormon, and are reading it.
       However, that was not the highlight of my week. Saturday, at
6:00 pm, Carol was baptized!!!!!!!!!! It was an event I will never
forget. I hadn't seen her since being transferred, but when I did, she
ran up to me and thanked me for being there for her and teaching her.
She was confirmed Sunday. I even found out that her husband, who was
not interested at all when we were teaching her, is taking the
lessons! I couldn't believe that! He was very set in his ways when we
asked if he would like to join in on the lesson, but seeing his wife
be baptized must have touched his heart. God works in mysterious ways,
but the final result is always incredible.
       Another funny fact. I was at a church event, and a guy in the
ward from Seirra Leon came up to me and asked me if I was from
Washington. I told him I was, and he asked if I was from Olympia.
Again, I told him yes. He told me that when he served his mission in
Kenya, his mission president was from Olympia, Washington. He asked me
if I knew Larry Brown. I told him that I most definitely knew Larry
Brown, he gave me my patriarticle blessing! It was really cool to talk
to him about that. His name is Freddie Thomas (Dad, tell Patriarch
Brown that I know him)! He served as AP for 13 months of his mission
for Larry Brown! That's so long!... It was a very neat conversation.

   Elder Litchfield

So Elder White had the idea to go tract an area with our roomates. So
we drove to a street and tracted either side of the street. I was with
Elder Barney and Elder White was with Elder Hanna. Out of the 50 doors
that Elder Barney and I knocked, two of them asked us to come back,
and said that they were interested. That was really neat. One of them
was named Eugene. He was in a wheelchair on his front porch, smoking a
cigarrette. He used to play Pro basketball in Germany, and even played
against Allen Iverson (An NBA Star) in High School. He told us that we
could come back anytime and talk to him. We tried getting in contact
with Dominic, but he wouldn't answer his cell phone. So we decided to
stop by his house on Thursday. His sister answered, and told us that
he has been in Maryland working all week. But she told us that he has
been reading the Book of Mormon. She also told us to come back any day
after Sunday and teach her as well. That was really good to hear! We
also had a lesson with Carol of friday at noon. Friday morning she
called us and told us that her daughter was in the hospital, and that
she had to cancel our lesson. That was a real bummer. However, later
that evening, she called us and told us that she was going to a
baptism on Saturday with her neighbors, and she wanted to have us
teach her after! That was really good to hear. She is on track of
being baptized on Feb. 18th. At about 9:00 PM Friday night, I was
blindsided. Our zone-leaders called us and told me that I was being
transferred to another area in the zone, and that I had to be packed
up and ready to go by Saturday morning. Apperently an Elder in a bike
area broke his wrist about 5 weeks ago. The doctor told him last week
that it wasn't healing correctly. So president had him put in a car
area. That mean't me being put in a bike area. That was a real bummer.
I loved my area and my companion and my roomates. Oh well, the work is
the same wherever you go. I'm looking forward to meeting new people
and finding as well. My new companion is Elder Call, and he is only
one transfer older than I am! We are such a young companionship! But
that doesn't matter. As long as we are obedient, and strive to have
the Spirit, we will see success.

Elder Litchfield