September 19, 2016

Current Address:

Elder Truman Burgess

3556 Carriage Hill Circle

Apt #101

Randallstown, MD  21133

Subject: Cooling Cement Adventures--

Preparation days are always a big deal for missionaries. For us every Monday is set aside from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. to grocery shop, clean, do laundry, and whatever time is left is used to hike, play sports, go to the zoo, etc. So you know that as Monday gets closer missionaries already have plans set in store to make the most of it.

Elder Ashby and I geared up and tightened our laces, ready to sand-volleyball it up at the Baltimore Inner Harbor sand courts, and drove down the road to carpool with some other missionaries. The normal meet up spot is exactly half-way in between our areas, making it the most efficient way to save our precious car's monthly miles. Unfortunately this half way point happens to be in the thick woods on a sharp turn, side-winding around a river. We parked our car, set foot out the door and noticed a mini van screech around the corner, followed by a loud crash.

Immediately the four of us ran around the corner to see what had happened. A woman named Tasha was driving her nine-year-old daughter and three-year-old toddler to a private school when her front left tire popped as she turned the tight corner. Luckily her brakes were working well, so everyone was all right, but they had the dilemma of a popped tire in a mud drenched side of the road. 

She had a spare tire, but no jack or tools to change it. Just so happened that our Ford Fusion had the exact jack needed for the size of her tires, and two of us had job experience specifically changing dozens of tires a day. Oh, and did I mention we weren't wearing our "beloved" white shirts and ties? Mud was a welcomed friend for the moment.

While the other three Elders slipped and slid to take the tire off, I noticed that Tasha was arguing with someone on the phone, leaving her two daughters standing anxiously and scared in the mud. I wiped off my hands, walked up to them, and began asking them what their favorite things to do were.

"Watch t.v." 

"Play on my mom's phone."

....

I knew there had to be something else, so I prodded a little further, "What about.....dancing??"

Immediately both of their faces lit up and the nine year busted into free style dance moves, her little sister looking up to her and trying to mimic her moves. I added in a couple moves, then laughed it off with them and challenged them to a patty-cake contest. Yep.

There on the side of the washed-out forest road I had the most intense and enjoyable patty-cake clapping game of my life. The three of us ended up laughing our heads off and getting more and more into the game until the other Elders interrupted and gave me a hard time for literally playing patty-cake while they changed a tire in the mud.

I looked to the left and saw Tasha folding her arms with the brightest smile on her face, wiping tears away. She told us how grateful she was that we were there at the exact time to help her, both with her kids and with the tire. Also turned out she is looking to join a church with her family. Hm. What a coincidence. ;)

xoxo

Elder Burgess