6-25-19
Well today wasn’t a real productive day. We talked to a few people but none of them was to excited about our message. I thought the Book of Mormon class and we had a great time discussing 1st Nephi chapter 9. According to elder Joseph Fielding Smith a chapter everyone should read. (About the atonement) the lesson went really pretty good. Our lesson fell through , according to the grandmother who was going to bring her grand daughter she (her grand daughter was out of town). But she said she could come by for refreshments if we had some;). We invited her to the Book of Mormon class but a no show!
My new friend from another city posted this on Facebook today and I thought it was great:
I'd like to share a good story for all of us racially challenged folk who live here in South Dakota...
I'd like to announce that there is still good in the world and we ought to humble ourselves, even in the face of evil... I will share a verse from the Book of Mormon...
D&C 64
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
11 And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.
My son had a very righteous experience... With all the racial hate going on these days, it was finally good to hear that there are still people in this world who are willing to do good for others in need, no matter their ethnicity background. My son didn't want me to share this for some reason or other but I felt that it should be shared because we all need to see & hear that there is still good in the world too and not just hate!...
My HokSiLa, had locked himself out of his car and was down to his last, he was buying himself some work shoes for his new job and locking himself out was not something he could handle financially at this time... He went into the store to ask if they had something to open his door but to no avail, and so he called us and asked what he could do and all I could do was give him an option of using a hammer, wire and screw driver to pry his door just enough to pop the lock but, as I said he was strapped for cash and so were we... I was outside tending to the pool and other odds and ends but, after the call I couldn't concentrate because one of my baby's were in trouble and so I prayed in secret, hoping for an answer. And so... My son told me that a woman had noticed that he was in some sort of trouble and waited, watching to see if he was able to figure it out but, seeing he was unable to, she approached him. She finally called a tow truck but my son told her that he couldn't afford it & also why he was buying new shoes, she told him not to worry about it and the tow truck guy showed up & popped the lock for him. AS the good son I raised him to be, he put forth his hand to shake the hand of the tow guy and the tow truck guy shook his hand and told him "no charge", to begin with the lady was going to pay the tow truck guy for my son but, the tow truck guy was feeling the spirit of a helping hand too... They exchanged names and the woman, whom I am assuming elderly, told my son to "pass it on"...
When I heard this story from my son, my heart broke into a million pieces and I couldn't help but shed tears of thankfulness to the Lord for another answered prayer and to this truck driver who tows for a living, for his helping hand & good heart and for this kind gesture of this unknown lady who was willing to flip a bill for someone she didn't even know... and I thought to myself as I felt feelings of being humbled, why do I join the crowd and hate too, I felt great shame come over me because I've hated my white skinned brother's & sister's for the ignorance of others and I realize that there is ignorance on both sides of the fence… The fence being the many symbols that divide us all, money, wealth, power, social standing, faith and many more. And so I am back to the old me, the guy who didn't hate but was taught hate again when he returned here to South Dakota. My brother's & sister's, let us not be ignorant, lets not put evil for evil but when evil comes knocking and it will, may we prove our hearts and CHOOSE to be the better man or woman & stand for what is right and do good in the world. What one white guy or gal may do in ignorance a native can also do the same but, if we choose and that is the key "choose", to see the good in the world, we will find it in everyone who holds opposite faiths, beliefs or way of life. I for one will CHOOSE not to have a problem with ignorance from this day forwards... because I have been humbled and I know there are still good people in the world. Not all natives are bad..., just like not all whites are bad also. Some are just raised wrong or fail to see that goodness is alive and well in the world. Satan is doing his best to fool the hearts of men..., don't let him fool yours too, as he did mine. Humbled and thankful for this lesson... My son wasn't the only one touched by this, I was pierced to my core and thankful for it.
I might mention that yesterday we visited with a member who said her son was murdered in the back yard a few months ago. Latter we found out she has been drinking ever sense. Life is so hard out here! We are going to teach her. Most members really don't have a knowledge of the gospel.
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
Sunday, June 23, 2019
6-23-19
The last couple days were good. Today, (Sunday) we went to church, Sister Swift bird came. We are now teaching her granddaughter. She is the one who's mother died and she wanted to kill herself. Her grandmother had to take her to the hospital for a few days. Anyway we gave her, the grand mother, and a couple other little kids a lesson, grandma is a member. Anyway she brought the kids today and we were all impressed. I met her in the parking lot and told her we were glad she make it. She said the kids have to be at school at 8:30 (summer school) and she woke up at 9:00 and told them to hurry and get ready and then she realized it was Sunday and so she just decided to come to church. (a little miracle!) She is going to be hard to get out to church.
We went to Bear Creek to give a birthday cake to Jeffery Turning Heart. A lady said he lived way out in the country. We didn't feel like we had time then so we went out to Bear Creek again and on the way out we followed a gray car that had a tree sticking about 10' out of the back window. we thought it was funny. Another person while we were there told us exactly how to find Jeffery. Well today we went out to find him and we found him. We had a good talk with him. He asked us where we were from and we said Alamosa Co. He said he went to Adams State college. back in 1982 and ran with Pat Porter. Mom said she roomed with Pat Porters girl friend. They both know a lot of the same people. He showed us pictures of him and Pat and others. I guess he was quite the runner. He missed being in the Olympics by 10 seconds. He said he ran to school every morning 18 miles. He said he would come to church. He knows some of the members here. But he attends other churches also. I'll try and get some pictures on here. Oh, I didn't mention that the guy with the tree leaving Bear Creek was Jeffery Turning Heart. Funny! we could have found him sooner.
Then we delivered a cake after that to Murray Red Fox. We have tried like about 10 times. he seemed good and said he would come to church. Not too exciting there.
3 of the 3 people we contacted came to church last Sunday and this Sunday. So that's cool! We will be teaching 3 different groups of people this week twice a week so that is pretty exciting. So our mission is beginning!!
A lot of this is deja vu for me for some reason. It isn't real clear but I feel it actually quite often!!
The last couple days were good. Today, (Sunday) we went to church, Sister Swift bird came. We are now teaching her granddaughter. She is the one who's mother died and she wanted to kill herself. Her grandmother had to take her to the hospital for a few days. Anyway we gave her, the grand mother, and a couple other little kids a lesson, grandma is a member. Anyway she brought the kids today and we were all impressed. I met her in the parking lot and told her we were glad she make it. She said the kids have to be at school at 8:30 (summer school) and she woke up at 9:00 and told them to hurry and get ready and then she realized it was Sunday and so she just decided to come to church. (a little miracle!) She is going to be hard to get out to church.
We went to Bear Creek to give a birthday cake to Jeffery Turning Heart. A lady said he lived way out in the country. We didn't feel like we had time then so we went out to Bear Creek again and on the way out we followed a gray car that had a tree sticking about 10' out of the back window. we thought it was funny. Another person while we were there told us exactly how to find Jeffery. Well today we went out to find him and we found him. We had a good talk with him. He asked us where we were from and we said Alamosa Co. He said he went to Adams State college. back in 1982 and ran with Pat Porter. Mom said she roomed with Pat Porters girl friend. They both know a lot of the same people. He showed us pictures of him and Pat and others. I guess he was quite the runner. He missed being in the Olympics by 10 seconds. He said he ran to school every morning 18 miles. He said he would come to church. He knows some of the members here. But he attends other churches also. I'll try and get some pictures on here. Oh, I didn't mention that the guy with the tree leaving Bear Creek was Jeffery Turning Heart. Funny! we could have found him sooner.
Then we delivered a cake after that to Murray Red Fox. We have tried like about 10 times. he seemed good and said he would come to church. Not too exciting there.
3 of the 3 people we contacted came to church last Sunday and this Sunday. So that's cool! We will be teaching 3 different groups of people this week twice a week so that is pretty exciting. So our mission is beginning!!
A lot of this is deja vu for me for some reason. It isn't real clear but I feel it actually quite often!!
Friday, June 21, 2019
6-21-19
We are just keeping on.
Sunday their was a sister who wasn't walking very well and Sister Morgan asked her about it. She said her knee had been bothering her for a long time and it has really been hurting for the last little bit. Sister Morgan has the same problem so she said she had an extra knee brace and offered to go get it for her. She rand and got it and gave it to her. We were over visiting her sister and she was there. She had the knee brace and she said she was feeling quite a bit better with the brace. It didn't mean much to sister Morgan until she remembered packing our stuff up and thinking "I really don't need two knee braces i'll just leave one home, and then she said oh i'll just take them both, who knows!!
We attended Zone Conference in Aberdeen S D. It's a 3 hr and 45 minute drive. we arrived just a little before 9:00 only to find out we were an hr late, time change. But we make it and it was really good. I am understanding that missionaries that are going home are struggling quite a bit. They spend some time each conference helping them learn a little better how to adjust. One topic I thought was really interesting was; missionaries going home to incorrect traditions of the fathers or "family" . Missionaries go home and families aren't completely living what the missionary has been teaching. He gave an example of when he was called to be stake president. He and all the leaders were being interviewed for the possession. He was called to be the stake president. One thing everyone was asked who they think would make a great stake president. Most everyone in stake leadership said they felt one of the stake presidents counselors should be called. President Howell (our mission president) only got 2 votes. He asked the general authority why the counselor shouldn't be called. He had only been a counselor for about 3 years and everyone loved him and thought he would be great!!
The general authority said hes family has some incorrect traditions carried down from his fathers. He gave an example; He said every sense he was a little boy the whole family would go hunting on opening day (deer) which was always a Sunday. It was only one weekend a year but it wasn't exactly in keeping with the sabbath. And for that reason the general authority felt impressed to call President Howell instead of the one everyone thought should be put in. You know for a long time I have felt we as a family use Sunday's to do traveling because kids need to be in school the next day or we need to be back at work. I have decided to try and keep the sabbath day a little better.
Today we have a person who hasn't had a septic system for a month or so. They are a great family and try hard to do what's right (members). She has been praying for a long time that they can get it fixed. (a tornado moved through and took out their garage and hit the septic and messed it in, caved it in or something) She was pretty discouraged and was complaining to God a little because he hadn't been taking care of them very well. We'll this morning we heard about her miracle. They had been on a list of over a 1,000 people (who need septic's) and they were 847. This is a whole new world. The tribe pays for the septic's and so everyone in town are put onto a list for things like this. It is a pretty crazy thing. They could have fixed it themselves but it would have cost between $7,000 and $14,000 and they are living paycheck to paycheck. Oh yes I was talking about the miracle; they were just put in front of the other's at the number 1 possession! they will have it installed in 2 weeks!
Nice huh!
Gloria's sister's funeral was last night and this morning (wake last night) we attended and set though about 3.5 hrs of talks, songs, and all of that. Gloria introduced us to everyone in the congregation which was nice. But the good news is her son who was suppose to have his leg cut off because of the frost bite got another opinion and it looks like they might be able to save the leg.
One of our elders is going home in 2.5 weeks I asked him today at our lunch serving job how his interview went with President Howell. He said it was fine etc. Latter in our conversation he said he came out with about 30 elders and only 12 are left. I asked him what happened to them. He said their is a lot of anxiety and depression! This world is getting harder and harder!!
Their is way lots more going on but that's all i can think of right now. I'll try and update more often!!
Oh one other thing. Ian had been working in the 12 step program with the people we replaced. He had visited with him a few times and given him 4 sandwiches, homeless, no job, alcoholic, etc. He had never come to addiction class with us but was doing pretty good with the people we replaced. Well he tried to commit suicide over the weekend. We learned about it Tuesday from a person who works in the courts. Looks like he will be released in a few days and hopefully we can start helping him more. Pray for Ian!
We are just keeping on.
Sunday their was a sister who wasn't walking very well and Sister Morgan asked her about it. She said her knee had been bothering her for a long time and it has really been hurting for the last little bit. Sister Morgan has the same problem so she said she had an extra knee brace and offered to go get it for her. She rand and got it and gave it to her. We were over visiting her sister and she was there. She had the knee brace and she said she was feeling quite a bit better with the brace. It didn't mean much to sister Morgan until she remembered packing our stuff up and thinking "I really don't need two knee braces i'll just leave one home, and then she said oh i'll just take them both, who knows!!
We attended Zone Conference in Aberdeen S D. It's a 3 hr and 45 minute drive. we arrived just a little before 9:00 only to find out we were an hr late, time change. But we make it and it was really good. I am understanding that missionaries that are going home are struggling quite a bit. They spend some time each conference helping them learn a little better how to adjust. One topic I thought was really interesting was; missionaries going home to incorrect traditions of the fathers or "family" . Missionaries go home and families aren't completely living what the missionary has been teaching. He gave an example of when he was called to be stake president. He and all the leaders were being interviewed for the possession. He was called to be the stake president. One thing everyone was asked who they think would make a great stake president. Most everyone in stake leadership said they felt one of the stake presidents counselors should be called. President Howell (our mission president) only got 2 votes. He asked the general authority why the counselor shouldn't be called. He had only been a counselor for about 3 years and everyone loved him and thought he would be great!!
The general authority said hes family has some incorrect traditions carried down from his fathers. He gave an example; He said every sense he was a little boy the whole family would go hunting on opening day (deer) which was always a Sunday. It was only one weekend a year but it wasn't exactly in keeping with the sabbath. And for that reason the general authority felt impressed to call President Howell instead of the one everyone thought should be put in. You know for a long time I have felt we as a family use Sunday's to do traveling because kids need to be in school the next day or we need to be back at work. I have decided to try and keep the sabbath day a little better.
Today we have a person who hasn't had a septic system for a month or so. They are a great family and try hard to do what's right (members). She has been praying for a long time that they can get it fixed. (a tornado moved through and took out their garage and hit the septic and messed it in, caved it in or something) She was pretty discouraged and was complaining to God a little because he hadn't been taking care of them very well. We'll this morning we heard about her miracle. They had been on a list of over a 1,000 people (who need septic's) and they were 847. This is a whole new world. The tribe pays for the septic's and so everyone in town are put onto a list for things like this. It is a pretty crazy thing. They could have fixed it themselves but it would have cost between $7,000 and $14,000 and they are living paycheck to paycheck. Oh yes I was talking about the miracle; they were just put in front of the other's at the number 1 possession! they will have it installed in 2 weeks!
Nice huh!
Gloria's sister's funeral was last night and this morning (wake last night) we attended and set though about 3.5 hrs of talks, songs, and all of that. Gloria introduced us to everyone in the congregation which was nice. But the good news is her son who was suppose to have his leg cut off because of the frost bite got another opinion and it looks like they might be able to save the leg.
One of our elders is going home in 2.5 weeks I asked him today at our lunch serving job how his interview went with President Howell. He said it was fine etc. Latter in our conversation he said he came out with about 30 elders and only 12 are left. I asked him what happened to them. He said their is a lot of anxiety and depression! This world is getting harder and harder!!
Their is way lots more going on but that's all i can think of right now. I'll try and update more often!!
Oh one other thing. Ian had been working in the 12 step program with the people we replaced. He had visited with him a few times and given him 4 sandwiches, homeless, no job, alcoholic, etc. He had never come to addiction class with us but was doing pretty good with the people we replaced. Well he tried to commit suicide over the weekend. We learned about it Tuesday from a person who works in the courts. Looks like he will be released in a few days and hopefully we can start helping him more. Pray for Ian!
Saturday, June 15, 2019
6-14-19
Well today has been another, quite a day!
We started out discussing how to improve our missionary work. We decided to leave each home if possible with a spiritual thought and a prayer. Mom had a scripture she read this morning that we thought we would use, it was so good; Jacob 3:1-2 :
1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever
We went to the person who we decided to go to first and set down had had a chat with her. (everyone here has a problem) She told us her daughters husband started beating her and she started drinking. She drank herself to death. Her daughter who is 10 years old felt like it was her fault and decided to kill herself. Her grand mother (who we were visiting with) took her to the hospital last night, where she is now. Not a bad scripture!
Then I have been visiting with another native from Rosebud another reservation about 3 hrs away. I became his friend on facebook and we have been talking. He is wonderful!! He sent me this today:
The moment I finished the BofM for the first time... I knew it happened here & still I receive opposition to what I come to know within... When I'm right with the Lord... He gives me dreams. Very interesting... and I sit & wonder about all the possible meanings but the best so far is when I questioned if my mom & dad excepted the work we did for them... Still figuring it out... but amazing none the less. There was a time when I thought God had forgotten about the Lakota... And I am forever thankful you all have chosen to serve. Thank you... Peace! Elder & enjoy this beautiful day.
I asked him if he would share his testimony with me so that I could share it with the people of Eagle Butte and this is what he sent me:
I would rather be in person but... The greatest gift that I received from my alcoholic mother was the gift of spirit... she always told me to pray & my first religion is the Lakota belief of spirits... visions seeking and such. I had the most amazing opportunity to learn the way through a good man, he was old... Around here they call him "O'l man... or O'l man Robert" very powerful man in deed, when he died... I never seen nothing like it since and so... O'l man taught me from the beginning that whether the "white man" religion or ours the worry is God for his children & are meant to bring a man to his center... He told US little ones at the time, that hard times were coming in our time and just like false prophets... false medicine men. He recalled a time when, he said, that the spirit would come for the man because he knows the heart of a man but there were times coming that a man would call himself... and told us young ones what the spirit of our grandfather's wanted us to know... signs. Today... those signs are coming to pass. So... what does this have to do with my testimony? My mom... She brought me up to know God and question everything and so... the gospel of the Lord can be questioned and one true answer that I know is "why did the god of heaven allow the white man to do what they did", the gospel answers this for me because I know what it reads about WHAT the gospel can do for US... My mom was poor and a hand out and so she sent me to other churches because I was the oldest I had to go and at the time... I didn't see or understand the wisdom of it but now.... I look back with a thankful heart. It caused me to question because I heard for my self.... pastors or natives bad mouthing one another's belief. Which ain't cool at all... There is truth everywhere and the Lord will judge the heart of a man and if his heart is teachable then he's golden... My sister's joined the church before I did and at the time I was an young ignorant kid (15) my dad was in & out of my life, so I was the dad & learned form my good step dads and bad too. At that age I was fighting full grown men... I loved the fact that I came from warrior grandfather's but was IGNORANT because a true warrior is aligned spiritually as well as physically. So I was invited to church from my belated sis... and slowly began to question... & question all the unanswered thoughts & scriptures I heard, I blew the missionaries minds... and later they became my mom & dad and gave birth to a new soul, in the struggle. So I questioned and one day, they presented me with "Moroni's promise" and I knew exactly in my minds eye where I would ask... I was raised out in "the country".... by a woman who ain't my blood but was my mother's friend. She raised me to respect and respect fire arms... Old school knowledge. So when I heard this new news that I could ask God the Father of my own self, I was thrilled because the heart of a Lakota is prayer and knowing prayer(s)… I thought awesome, I will take up this challenge... It just blew me away that out of the different religions that my mother had me experience, this one said to me, "You go find that answer & if your intent is true, I would know..." Hoka... I was baptized... November 2nd 1991 and it has been the best struggle since, full of failures and questions but triumphs none the less! This is the Lord's church and when I heard that a 15 yr old boy had a vision.... It wasn't hard for me to believe at all and I know Joseph jr... is a man of god... then & now. Our grandfather's... Sitting Bull had a vision at 13... Crazy Horse 16... and I do come from a long line of medicine men & so, I believe... these are God's lands. Like our grandfather's told us that "life sprang out from here..." that is true. And upon mountain tops were once temples... the law of Moses is fulfilled... bring your broken heart & contrite spirit to the Lord and he'll teach us to gain peace and be the spirits our grandfather's knew... The Book of Mormon is a blessing & a warning to all who should possess these lands... About 80 percent of these blessings have to do with the land... These are God's lands and we should really consider ourselves blessed. Hoka...
Now late this evening Lisa Norris messages me and says she has decided to start coming back to church!
What a day!
Thursday, June 13, 2019
6-13-19
Well kinda a tough day. Last night the old branch president from cherry creek left a message on my phone while I slept that someone had broken into the branch building and broken a door and kinda messed things up. He said we should call the cops and have them investigate. We looked a few people up and then fed the kids in the lunch line (around 300 kids) then left for cherry creek. We got there about 2:00 and the police officer was there. Their was 9 rocks inside the building which was used to break the glass in the door (all the windows were boarded up). After taking care of the building we went over and visited with the old branch presidents daughter. We had a nice talk with her but she told us she had gone back to the old Indian ways. The old branch president (Washburn) had gone out of town but after visiting with the daughter we went over to visit with the wife. She was watching TV and said sometimes she really didn't like visitors. (in a wheel chair and couldn't even move much) So we left and came back to Eagle Butte. We looked up some more people and one lady who was a sister to one of our active sisters was just getting out of the car. Sister Morgan gave her her hand to shake and she just walked off and so we left. Any way we were a little down because of what happened all day long. We went home to eat dinner and after we went about 45 miles to an active sister who really brought us up and made us feel their are really good people left in the world. Well I guess if you think you are going to hit a home run every time you get up to bat on your mission you are going to be pretty darn disappointed!!
Tomorrow will be better!!
Well kinda a tough day. Last night the old branch president from cherry creek left a message on my phone while I slept that someone had broken into the branch building and broken a door and kinda messed things up. He said we should call the cops and have them investigate. We looked a few people up and then fed the kids in the lunch line (around 300 kids) then left for cherry creek. We got there about 2:00 and the police officer was there. Their was 9 rocks inside the building which was used to break the glass in the door (all the windows were boarded up). After taking care of the building we went over and visited with the old branch presidents daughter. We had a nice talk with her but she told us she had gone back to the old Indian ways. The old branch president (Washburn) had gone out of town but after visiting with the daughter we went over to visit with the wife. She was watching TV and said sometimes she really didn't like visitors. (in a wheel chair and couldn't even move much) So we left and came back to Eagle Butte. We looked up some more people and one lady who was a sister to one of our active sisters was just getting out of the car. Sister Morgan gave her her hand to shake and she just walked off and so we left. Any way we were a little down because of what happened all day long. We went home to eat dinner and after we went about 45 miles to an active sister who really brought us up and made us feel their are really good people left in the world. Well I guess if you think you are going to hit a home run every time you get up to bat on your mission you are going to be pretty darn disappointed!!
Tomorrow will be better!!
June 12 19
We had a Relief society meeting tonight. Roberta showed the sisters how to make laundry soap for penny's a load. We had only 7 ladies show up but had a nice time with them. We took flyers to over 50 people so we were a little disappointing in the turnout. We had asked the elders to help and they stayed in their apartment all day and "just didn't get to it "They were calling and "texting people" all day.
We do have some wonderful people in the branch but like 380 inactive ones. We also went to Pierre S D for district meeting. It was good.
The natives kinda have an attitude of just get baptized and we will be fine. We really don't need to go to church, etc. For example we talked to a lady last week while we were out handing out flyers for Meet the Morgans that said she was a member and had a couple boys who needed to take the lessons and get baptized. We set up and appointment for the first lesson night before last at 5:00. She asked if she should just drop them off and we said no she would need to come in with them. (new rule in the church that missionaries, even seniors can't be alone with kids younger than 18 without a member being there. So last night was a no show. It would have been our first lesson. Up to this time we have been just wanting to find the people in the branch and I believe we have found about 75 percent of them. However we now have people we need to look back in on. So I think we will need to start teaching members and perhaps non members and then it will get fun! We will run by the home and see if we can set up another appointment. It is pretty frustrating to have people who think all we need to do is get baptised.
We had a Relief society meeting tonight. Roberta showed the sisters how to make laundry soap for penny's a load. We had only 7 ladies show up but had a nice time with them. We took flyers to over 50 people so we were a little disappointing in the turnout. We had asked the elders to help and they stayed in their apartment all day and "just didn't get to it "They were calling and "texting people" all day.
We do have some wonderful people in the branch but like 380 inactive ones. We also went to Pierre S D for district meeting. It was good.
The natives kinda have an attitude of just get baptized and we will be fine. We really don't need to go to church, etc. For example we talked to a lady last week while we were out handing out flyers for Meet the Morgans that said she was a member and had a couple boys who needed to take the lessons and get baptized. We set up and appointment for the first lesson night before last at 5:00. She asked if she should just drop them off and we said no she would need to come in with them. (new rule in the church that missionaries, even seniors can't be alone with kids younger than 18 without a member being there. So last night was a no show. It would have been our first lesson. Up to this time we have been just wanting to find the people in the branch and I believe we have found about 75 percent of them. However we now have people we need to look back in on. So I think we will need to start teaching members and perhaps non members and then it will get fun! We will run by the home and see if we can set up another appointment. It is pretty frustrating to have people who think all we need to do is get baptised.
Well interesting day. We delivered birthday cakes today and one was a delivery in cherry creek, a little town about 45 minutes away. Their is maybe 20 homes in town and we found a M.... Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints building that was shut down about 6 or 8 years before. We found the birthday boy and found out he had been the branch president years before. He was about my age; 67 and had thought school for 30 years and then Had worked in the church similarly department for 2 years with different seminaries in the area. He had 7 kids who live in the area except one that lives in Utah. The one in Utah seems to be the only active one. Some of the kids might be a little receptive. His wife is really bad off medically and pretty much bed ridden. We wanted to help the family (lots of grandkids living close by who haven’t been in church at least for a while, (not all baptized). I told the brother that I wanted to give him an assignment for next week and we would come back for a visit. I asked him to come up with ways we could help him and his family. We had offered to bring his wife the sacrament and she didn’t say yes. I really didn’t understand that one?? Anyway he said I have something off the top of my head you could do for us. I said what is that, he said you could teach us the gospel. We really don’t understand it! My jaw dropped and we said we would be glad to do that! He mentioned that Br Allen was his district president (president Allen mows the churches lawns and was due to mow our lawn today. When we got here he was here working. I went over and asked him how in the world this old branch president (seminary leader) didn’t understand the gospel? He said he probably never understood it in the first place. He said the church picked these people to lead because they are the best in the area to do it! I said they probably never read the scriptures and lessons etc. he said yes this is a verbal society. These people never read. Then comes to mind 2 Nephi 28: “30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have. “ (or don’t continue to try and learn more) shall be taken away even that which he hath Then I began to understand at least why this new program (come follow me) has come out. It will help us teach our families in the homes. But as Paul Dunn has said “their are many secrets to success but none of them work unless you do” anyway we have a lot of work to do!!
First week in June 2019
Well exciting night! We had a lot of people to the BBQ and then a lot of fun with the games. While we were in playing the games the elders gave a ride to someone (not suppose to do!!). When I came out of the church members told me they were gone giving a ride to someone who’s is a suspect in a murder investigation. He was released on bond because he was in prison when they found the bodies. They just got the autopsy results and found out he wasn’t in prison when they died (his girl friend and her new boy friend) so I called the elders.... no answer..... I texted them and told them to call me as soon as they got my text. They called and they said they were ok. I told them to tell the guy I was the boss and they needed to drop him off now and come home and to text me when they did and let me know they were ok. They texted me and said they were on their way home and they had dropped him off. They showed up about 20 minutes latter. Scary night!! Some of the members stayed until they came home to make sure they were ok. Some told the missionaries how they had made such a serious mistake. (Yes he was a member)
Well exciting night! We had a lot of people to the BBQ and then a lot of fun with the games. While we were in playing the games the elders gave a ride to someone (not suppose to do!!). When I came out of the church members told me they were gone giving a ride to someone who’s is a suspect in a murder investigation. He was released on bond because he was in prison when they found the bodies. They just got the autopsy results and found out he wasn’t in prison when they died (his girl friend and her new boy friend) so I called the elders.... no answer..... I texted them and told them to call me as soon as they got my text. They called and they said they were ok. I told them to tell the guy I was the boss and they needed to drop him off now and come home and to text me when they did and let me know they were ok. They texted me and said they were on their way home and they had dropped him off. They showed up about 20 minutes latter. Scary night!! Some of the members stayed until they came home to make sure they were ok. Some told the missionaries how they had made such a serious mistake. (Yes he was a member)
Saturday, June 8, 2019
second day in Eagle Butte
Day after we arrived was Sunday. We had stake conference which was broadcast from the stake center in Bismark N D because it is 3.5 hrs away. The missionaries were in charge of getting the broadcast and we never heard a talk in it's entirety. The WI FYI kept messing up. It was really quite miserable. Luckily (or maybe not) only about 7 or 8 members showed up. We learned that afternoon that the High School was having graduation. We decided to attend. It was quite the special. They also had the drums going and chanting or singing and after they had a reception in the gym. We went in and a sister came up to us and said hi missionaries. I am sister Iron Lightning. Her granddaughter was graduating and she took us over and pointer her out to us. Latter Sister Iron Lightning becomes really helpful in helping us find a lot of the people who we can't find. It was a nice night and like about 80 kids graduated.
Friday, June 7, 2019
7 June 2019
Trip to Mission
We left Friday, June 17, 2019 at about 4:00 p.m. to head to our mission. We decided we would stay in Casper, WY the first night. When we entered Wyoming, we lost cell service and didn't get it back until we were almost to Casper. I had Booking.com on my phone and as soon as we got cell service we tried to get a reservation. None to be had. There was a bunch of graduations and the state track meet for Wyoming that weekend. We looked high and low and finally found a smoking room at Motel 6. It was about the worst room we ever had and it stunk, but we were so tired we finally got to sleep. We paid a lot of money for the room also which made it even worse. The next day we drove to Eagle Butte. We thought that it would be a lot like Wyoming, dry and desolate. It is fairly desolate but it is very green and lots of farms and ranches. A nice surprise. Driving into Eagle Butte is a little like driving into Center or Antonito. There is a lot of trailers and most of the houses are a little trashy. Nothing new for us.
First Day in Eagle Butte, SD
We got here just after lunch and unpacked a little. Then we went to the Lakota Thrifty Market to get a few groceries before Sunday. When we started into the store, Gary saw a man running crouched down through the cars. Then he came up and asked us for money for gas and then money for a sandwich. We were told that this would happen and that we weren't supposed to give them any money because they use the money or sell the sandwich for drugs or alcohol. We have never been back to the market when we haven't been hit up for money.
That night there was a pow wow. These are huge. It is like the rodeo circuit and the people go and dance all summer and they get paid just like the rodeo. They have different circles of men who beat on a big drum and chant in high voices. The costumes or regalias are beautiful and cost a lot of money. The moccasins have beautiful bead work that takes many hours to complete. My favorite dances area the jingle dances (dresses have rolled up Skoal can lids that jingle when they dance) and the grass dancers. They are the boys with a ton of feathers. It is quite the thing and we loved it. We were talking to a man before the pow wow and then we had to leave and go to Stake Conference in our building. Because of the distance it is broadcast to the outlying areas. Our Stake Center is in Bismarck which is three and a half hours away. After the broadcast we went back to the pow wow. The guy we talked to must have told the announcer because they announced that the new elders from Colorado were there tonight. Very interesting.
Trip to Mission
We left Friday, June 17, 2019 at about 4:00 p.m. to head to our mission. We decided we would stay in Casper, WY the first night. When we entered Wyoming, we lost cell service and didn't get it back until we were almost to Casper. I had Booking.com on my phone and as soon as we got cell service we tried to get a reservation. None to be had. There was a bunch of graduations and the state track meet for Wyoming that weekend. We looked high and low and finally found a smoking room at Motel 6. It was about the worst room we ever had and it stunk, but we were so tired we finally got to sleep. We paid a lot of money for the room also which made it even worse. The next day we drove to Eagle Butte. We thought that it would be a lot like Wyoming, dry and desolate. It is fairly desolate but it is very green and lots of farms and ranches. A nice surprise. Driving into Eagle Butte is a little like driving into Center or Antonito. There is a lot of trailers and most of the houses are a little trashy. Nothing new for us.
First Day in Eagle Butte, SD
We got here just after lunch and unpacked a little. Then we went to the Lakota Thrifty Market to get a few groceries before Sunday. When we started into the store, Gary saw a man running crouched down through the cars. Then he came up and asked us for money for gas and then money for a sandwich. We were told that this would happen and that we weren't supposed to give them any money because they use the money or sell the sandwich for drugs or alcohol. We have never been back to the market when we haven't been hit up for money.
That night there was a pow wow. These are huge. It is like the rodeo circuit and the people go and dance all summer and they get paid just like the rodeo. They have different circles of men who beat on a big drum and chant in high voices. The costumes or regalias are beautiful and cost a lot of money. The moccasins have beautiful bead work that takes many hours to complete. My favorite dances area the jingle dances (dresses have rolled up Skoal can lids that jingle when they dance) and the grass dancers. They are the boys with a ton of feathers. It is quite the thing and we loved it. We were talking to a man before the pow wow and then we had to leave and go to Stake Conference in our building. Because of the distance it is broadcast to the outlying areas. Our Stake Center is in Bismarck which is three and a half hours away. After the broadcast we went back to the pow wow. The guy we talked to must have told the announcer because they announced that the new elders from Colorado were there tonight. Very interesting.
6-7-19
Well we have been waiting to get caught up on this blog before inviting everyone on and seeing what we have been doing. We just keep getting further and further behind. So we will try and mention a few things to help us get caught up and then hopefully post every day or every time different things happen.
We entered the MTC on May 13th. It was a little easier to take ourselves in than it was dropping kids off. It was a good experience. We learned a lot about our new callings. Elder Neal L Anderson came and spoke to us on the talk that our prophet spoke on in conference, Repentance. His wife spoke also and it was grand! We were in a district and found out the Williams were from Idaho Falls and live in Jana's ward. They will be going to Washington DC visitors center. We were also given some "others" who were to get to know and then teach. We really got close to them. We realize that nothing with the Lord is coincidence. As we talked we found out that she had been divorced and that they were married within two months just like us. Their inactive son lives in North Dakota. When we go to Bismarck, we are going to try and look him up and take him to lunch. Crazy!! We really learned to love them and hated to leave them.
Well we have been waiting to get caught up on this blog before inviting everyone on and seeing what we have been doing. We just keep getting further and further behind. So we will try and mention a few things to help us get caught up and then hopefully post every day or every time different things happen.
We entered the MTC on May 13th. It was a little easier to take ourselves in than it was dropping kids off. It was a good experience. We learned a lot about our new callings. Elder Neal L Anderson came and spoke to us on the talk that our prophet spoke on in conference, Repentance. His wife spoke also and it was grand! We were in a district and found out the Williams were from Idaho Falls and live in Jana's ward. They will be going to Washington DC visitors center. We were also given some "others" who were to get to know and then teach. We really got close to them. We realize that nothing with the Lord is coincidence. As we talked we found out that she had been divorced and that they were married within two months just like us. Their inactive son lives in North Dakota. When we go to Bismarck, we are going to try and look him up and take him to lunch. Crazy!! We really learned to love them and hated to leave them.
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