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Chapter 2: Siler City North Carolina (Week 1)

 And it came to pass in the commencement of the first transfer of Elder Shadel in Raleigh North Carolina...


I was assigned to Siler City. I've been advised against drinking the tap water because we are too close to the chicken farm so if I drink it I might get salmonella apparently. And the dishwasher doesn't work. Don't worry I have been informed that this is the only area in the mission that I can't drink the tap water.

Lots of people speak only Spanish here so public contacting and knocking doors can be a little tough sometimes. For the most part Elder Walker, my trainer and district leader, knows the areas that mostly speak English so most of the time it's alright. But still most people don't answer their door and fewer let us share a message and only 1 seems like he might gain an interest in the gospel. 

I'm in a branch, not a ward. We live next to Spanish Elders and because there are 4 of us (plus a service missionary with the Spanish Elders most days) and because there aren't many members we don't get fed very often, especially compared to most other areas. 

You also can't go after lights turn green until you see cars fully stopped. We often wait 5 or more seconds after a green light because that's the culture in NC. 

I think it's a lot of fun to be in somewhere so different than home! It's also so cool that I get to be in an area so different from the rest of the mission!

Elder Walker is my trainer and therefore my dad. My first area is Siler City which means I was born here. That should be plenty of context to figure out the rest of this. I met my great grandpa, Elder Anderson, and he's pretty nice. I only saw him as we were leaving so I don't really know him too well. My grandpa died because of medical reasons but he desperately wants to be resurrected and meet me and I want to meet him too. Apparently I can have a kid as soon as next transfer! I can have a kid while still being in training myself! Which is absolutely crazy to me. 

I have a couple moms floating around out there and to all y'all I love you! It's about time I get another dad. Don't worry dad I still love you much! I also love my new dad. He's really great!

Lots of people love Jesus but unfortunately aren't interested in what we have to say. A lot of them don't seem to listen to anything we say even when they let us share a message. 

On Friday one guy seemed half interested. He believes in the Bible and God but he doesn't think Christ's church is on the Earth and he's skeptical of every church because everyone claims to have the correct church. We told him he doesn't have to believe our words but he can pray to know for himself and I gave him a Book of Mormon. We told him a little about 3 Nephi 11 and hopefully he reads it and reaches out to us. I could easily see it going either way. 

I've been slowly writing this throughout the week but a miracle just happened this Monday morning! Some sisters were trying to reach a less active member and ended up calling Wayne. Wayne lives in our area and has read 3 Nephi 11 he felt the light of Christ and wants to come to church! They sent us a referral and we are now reaching out to him. Hopefully all goes well!

This mission is big on service and obedience. Most areas aim for 6-8 hours but here in Siler we try to do 8-10! Friday morning we did service on a goat farm which is a lot of fun! I did some goat wrangling so they could give them medicine. Then we helped move a lot of wood. On Saturday we did more farm work then watched conference while eating the best chilli I've ever had! The food is pretty good when we get it.

The Saturday evening session goes until 10pm here so we watched that at the apartment but the rest were with members and Saturday afternoon we watched with friends, which is how we refer to nonmembers interested in the gospel.

There were so many good general conference talks, but more importantly there was way more than one theme throughout it. Usually there is one or two things but I can think of at least three: minister to the one, reinforce and continue to grow your testimony, the family is essential, and Christlike attributes. Christlike attributes stuck out to me the most because we talk about it a lot in the MTC and it has an entire chapter in preach my gospel! Developing Christlike attributes is important both eternally and temporally.

Pday is Monday except for weeks of transfers it gets moved to Wednesday so 5/6 weeks it's Monday. On the weeks where it's Wednesday I'll still probably send an email that ends on Sunday and wait to send Monday - Wednesday (and the rest of the week) on the following Pday when the rest of the week has happened. 

I love hearing from everyone! I don't have a ton of time to respond but I'm happy to! If you want to chat do 3 things: message me the day before or of Pday. Ask a question/give me something to respond to. Email me, don't respond to the mass email because everyone's responses show on the same email on my end so yours will get lost in the shuffle. I love seeing all the responses and having them organized, it just makes it hard to respond if you want a response. Thanks y'all! I didn't really expect to hear from many people so it's been so cool to hear from so many of you! 

I know this church is true. I know God is our loving Heavenly Father. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. As written in 3 Nephi 11, He did visit the people in the Americas. He does love and speak to all of His people. I know God speaks to us today through prophets and apostles. He truly knows and loves all of us on a personal and individual basis. And I bear witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love all y'all very much!

And thus ended the first week of the first transfer of Elder Shadel

Here's pictures mom

Goat farm:


Kitty!!!!!!!!!!!!!


NC trespassing signs are amazing! (this is from a wonderful member with chilli 😋)


Meme we made. Can't share it in missionary chats so it goes here.

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