Ghost Week at UVA

Well because it was Thanksgiving this week, and I am on UVA campus...pretty much nobody was here this week. But it was still great!
So both Monday there was a normal amount of people on grounds(campus) but still not tons so we were contacting there for a bit. Then at 7:00 Cai Zhanglao(Elder Richter my companion) went with the Zone Leaders(Elder Campbell and Elder Wheeler) to a Chi Alpha(Christian fellowship at UVA) event because one of the Zone leaders investigators was invited them and we were all interested to see what it was like. So we go and it is in a small auditorium and when walk in there is a band at the front playing some soft music, so we wait a little bit. And fairly suddenly the music starts to pick up and then it basically turns into a concert....they band started jamming out and the whole crowd is singing along, and it was really loud....and people were dancing and stuff....yeah it was definitely a different experience...and us four missionaries just stood in the back and weren't really sure what to do....but that went on for a good while, then they welcomed everyone talked about some Chi Alpha business. And then some guy started giving a talk of some sort, I don't really remember what it was about...but we had to leave early. But in all it was definitely a unique experience. Also I got a free candy and a Bible from it!(which has a weird summary on the back...I'll send a picture next week).

Then Tuesday there was even less people on grounds and they were all for the most part headed home so none really wanted to talk to us. Then Wednesday we had interviews with the Mission President in the Afternoon, but in the evening went to grounds....and it was pretty much a ghost town...I think for the 3 hours we were there we maybe saw 6 people. Which made it easy to talk to everyone! But yeah it was very barren...(and it isn't even Thanksgiving yet!)

THANKSGIVING!!!! So the morning of Thanksgiving most of the Elders in our Zone went to help out with a community 5k race, and help organize all of that and stuff, which was quite fun actually, I got to use a magic wand and zap all the people that crossed the finish line! Also got a free T-Shirt! And a bunch of free food(mostly cut up bagels[which is the common free food I get...]) so that was good and fun. But after that we returned home, and then because we are in a YSA ward most of the college students headed home for the break, and the ones that stayed aren't really able to feed us a Thanksgiving meal...so...THE CES MISSIONARIES FED US!! So what happened it was kind of a ward activity anyone in the ward that stayed in town was invited to the church where the CES Missionaries(The Binghams) helped prepare a meal for us. So some of the ward members came, as well as the three sets of missionaries in the YSA ward(us, the Zone Leaders, and set of Sisters) and the missionaries also invited some of our investigators....but none of them ended up coming....but it was still a really good meal and I got quite stuffed....well really stuffed actually I almost didn't finish my pie..but I did, and it was very delicious. Also apparently I don't know my Thanksgiving foods very well....because I thought that I saw some beets....but it was cranberry sauce(the can form) so I kind of ate plain cranberry sauce....haha oh well...it was still very good!
Anyways that night we went with the Zone Leaders to grounds....and I think we maybe saw 4 people the 3 hours we were there...and they were older people just walking around on grounds. So we played a little football...it was quite enjoyable despite the fact that it was nightime and we couldn't see the ball....but it was still good!.

And Friday kind of had the same result of hardly any people on grounds...then Saturday we had this thing called return and report where all the Trainers/Trainees go to Richmond with President Wilson and learn some things how to improve, and for two hours we street contacted in downtown Richmond....and wow...I definitely do not like the city, what I learned from Return and Report is that I'm grateful to be in C'Ville(Charlotsville) but it was a good experience still.

And now for some actual inspiring things....So Friday we were on exchanges with the Zone Leaders, and Elder Richter and Elder Campbell met with this Chinese guy name Gan Wei who Elder Richter met awhile ago but haven't really taught him much. But they went to dinner with him, and ended up inviting him to Church! And he said yeah! So then on Sunday at first he isn't responding to his phone....but we find out that he just slept in...so he comes to church with us which is super cool.(and he speaks pretty good english, but we also speak lots of Chinese to him...well Elder Richter does, I mostly just listen). But Church was good, and he seemed to get a along with lots of the members well, and I hope he really enjoyed it. And because it was fast Sunday the YSA ward has this thing called 'Break The Fast" where the ward kind of breaks their fast together. And we took him to that which he enjoyed(he kind of really enjoys eating food, like me!) but it was good. And then we dropped him off. And yeah...1ST CHINESE INVESTIGATOR WHO CAME TO CHURCH WITH US!!!! It's quite exciting.

Anyways that was my week...quite different Thanksgiving than normal, but still really great.
Scripture of the Week 2 Nephi 7:7 Trust in the Lord, and be not ashamed of what you believe. I've found that really knowing what you believe and sharing that or standing up for it is a great way to strengthen your roots in the Gospel.

Thank you all for the love and support!!!
Elder Smith =D