12-29-19

Today is sunday and a big storm has moved through and we are not able to have church today because of the snow and wind.

We invited the sisters over and we had a little sacrament service, passed the sacrament and we each took a few minutes giving a spiritual thought. It was good!

I find myself reflecting a little on our mission and how things are going. This is a hard place for the people. There is a lot of sin and if we aren't living right we are not blessed. The biggest problem in our branch seems as though no one cares about each other. When we first came into the branch I asked the branch president what he would like us to do and he said the people don't really care for each other. They don't fellowship or reach out to others. Families are like Nephi & Sam, and Laman & Lemuel. They all fight with each other and don't support each other.  Their has been no ministering going on in the branch at all (my thought not his about the ministering)! When we moved in they weren't having any branch councils and we were able to get 3 so far sense we have been here in the 7 months we have been here. Although we have asked for ministering to start nothing has happened so far. We have had inactive members and non members say the people in the branch are just not friendly. Sister Howser from Castle Rock Co. went up to the stand last sunday and told the branch president that "we would have an investigator to church. The last time she was in church no one came up to make her feel welcome and shake her hand. She doesn't feel welcome here she said. She asked him if he would great her and make her feel welcome." He said: "no I am not setting next to her so I am not going to do it." It all starts with the leadership of the branch.

I mentioned earlier how Valauri was visiting her daughter in the Provo area and attended church there and not one came up to say hi to her, not even in relief society. Well a person brought some girls to church who were in a special home for girls who were struggling. One happened to be Valauri's granddaughter and she told the caregiver that "she saw her grandmother at church and she didn't even say hi to her. I guess she didn't recognise me......and so it goes!!

It looks like our main task here is to get the members to like, care for, and minister to one another!

The gospel is true!The prophet is inspired and has let us know what we need to do. The devil is working overtime and is very cunning. We need to step up our game to meet the enemy for he has stepped up his game!