Mission Update

So this last week has probably been the best week of the last six months. By the way can you believe today is my 6 month mark? So last Wednesday was awesome. President decided that it would probably be a waste to go out and proselyte on the 4th of July so he gave us a full p day! and we were also given permission or actually suggested to not wear proselyting clothes on that day. So we went to the ward pancake breakfast in the morning and then went down to the national mall for the big celebration. We went down and the mall was packed with people and tons of little things to do and there were two concerts that we could go to.  It was really a relaxed day and a lot of fun. We went down to this army jazz concert and sat there with 6 other elders and we played cards and just relaxed for a little while waiting for the fireworks to begin. We were told to be home no later than 10:30 and the fireworks were supposed to start at like 9 or something and there were thousands of people on the mall so we decided to move off the mall pretty much onto the White house lawn and watch from there cause it was closer to the metro. We celebrated the 4th on the mall and by the White house in DC.  No other mission in the world was doing that right then it was pretty fun.  It was a little tough to get back into it on Thursday but it was ok after that.
Then on Saturday night was when we had a real miracle. We were just getting home for the night when the visitors center called us and said that a guy had just come in that wants to be baptized and he lives in our area. We were surprised and went over to meet him. We talked to him for a minute and he said that he had come in contact with missionaries like 36 years ago but just brushed them off like everyone else but he said they planted a seed. Then like 4 months ago for some reason he felt like he should get a book of Mormon so he did and it completely changed his life. He said that it was like reading the bible with 3d glasses on. that it clarified everything in the bible. he said that he has actually come to love Jesus for the first time in his life because of the book of Mormon and that for the first time he actually can feel the spirit. We were in complete shock at this point. He came to church Sunday and loved it and then yesterday we met with him again to teach the first lesson.  It all went really well and he just kept saying i know that's true,  I know he was a prophet.. it was awesome.  Then at the end of the lesson he goes quiet and gets all nervous and says ok guys i need to ask a favor. We got nervous thinking this was all a joke or something and then he pulls out this envelope and says I need to pay my tithing right now. and we had never even mentioned tithing. so we probably just sat and stared at him for 10 seconds in pure shock and said ok you can do that. so we walked up to the church and got the slip and he paid his tithing. and it was defiantly 10 percent of his paycheck. All of this came from reading the book of Mormon. He has completely changed his life because of it. It was so cool. We are really excited about that. his name it Patrick and he is probably in his 50s, and he is a computer scientist for the BLM. He is an awesome guy. This has changed how I look at the book of Mormon. I will not continue to teach investigators now if they haven't been reading. I will just sit and read with them. cause without that they will never get it. This has also strengthened my testimony a lot its really cool.
We had a great week and now I am studying even more. After having this experience and reading D&C 131:6 and Peters advice about how important knowledge is in 2 peter 1 I have realized the importance of studying the gospel. I just wish that everyone realized that cause I feel like most people in the church don't really understand how important it is.
Anyway, short on time, i am glad to hear that the trip went well I was worried but hopefully you got home ok and everything was good! Also, I need an update on Kristen's deal with this dude. I haven't heard nearly enough about this.
love you!
Taylor