What up what up!? This was a crazy week. We went to Pensacola, Florida on Tuesday for a bi-zone conference which Elder Browning and i got to teach at. Scary but fun. We learned how to teach the Restoration lesson in 3-5 minutes so that we can teach it on doorsteps and try to snag peoples attention to the gospel. It works well and we're using it a lot so hopefully we can get some more people to teach. Wednesday we were out at Bryan Sizemore's (a member of Atmore) cuttin down some trees. It would be so much fun if we could use the chainsaw but rules are rules and Sister Smith taught us about obedience and the life consequences that come from being disobedient so we weren't gonna break any rules..... well while we were there Bryan got a text notifying him that Patrick Morris passed away early that morning. I don't know if i told you guys about Patrick previously but he's the son of our Branch President and he had Muscular Dystrophy. He wasn't supposed to live longer than 12 years old but he was 34 when he passed. He was the most positive guy you would ever meet and he never once complained about his position even though he'd been sitting in a chair for close to 20 years. He always had a joke to tell or he was always tryin to get his dad to get him some girls number. I only got to know him for 5 months but you could be around him for 1 day and be inspired by him. He's one of those special spirits who was down here to inspire others and to get a body and move on. We got to attend his viewing on Thursday and his funeral on Friday. His funeral was awesome. The speaker was Brother Pete Coon (a former Branch Pres of Atmore Branch) and he did an amazing job of teaching the plan of salvation as he talked. I have been thinking a lot about how i look at death now. I remember going to funerals and they were very sad but i think it was so sad for me because i didn't have a solid testimony in the Plan of Salvation. This funeral wasn't that sad for me. I didn't know Patrick that long and i'm sure that was a huge contribution but the sad part was seeing his heartbroken father. His father is a whole other story.... President Morris has got the most faith in the Lord that i have ever seen in a person. He buried his son on Friday and he was at Church on Sunday. And while at church on Sunday he is finding ways to help others, making plans to visit people who have family members who are in the hospital and close to death, and at the same time he is giving Patrick's things to another member in our branch that has muscular dystrophy. President Morris inspires me to serve even in the face of sadness and despair. He is the one that needs service but he demonstrates the principle of how to push through and get over your sorrows... by giving service. I could go on and on about Patrick and President Morris and how awesome they are and how i felt at the funeral but i don't have all day. I would invite anyone who is struggling to do as President Morris does and look for those that you can extend your arm to and lift them by giving service to them. You won't regret it.
-Elder Rogers
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