1-28-20
Well we had a good day today. Sunday Yvette and Inu and the grandson came to church. I guess they have finally forgiven us. However Inu didn't take the sacrament and he and the grandson left after sacrament. Yvette stayed for sunday school and made some comments.Then tonight she came to our Book of Mormon class. I have never seen her so happy! It was really crazy how just over night she changed. It was like night and day.
Eric came to church Sunday. He just showed up. He is 40 and is a traveler. He stopped in Eagle Butte this spring and just never left. He stays in the homeless shelter. He is a sharp looking guy with a beard and seems very sharp. Anyway we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with the missionaries speaking and I gave the Priesthood/Relief society lesson. He was very attentive and seemed to enjoy it a lot. The Elders gave him a book of mormon after wards and introduced him to the sisters. Well tonight he came to the church and had a wonderful meeting with the sisters and then attended our Book of Mormon class. After it was over he said "you will see me again.)
We met Bill Gather in Cherry Creek today and we took a look at a building that belongs to the tribe that they said we could use. We might buy it, it just depends if they would want to buy the building or bring in a modular. The church is thinking about either of these. I believe that this is going to make the people in Cherry Creek pretty excited to see that the church does really care about them.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
1 27 20
They caught the suspect who burned down the church in Cherry Creek this last week. In visiting with a person in Cherry Creek who is related to the suspect (the suspect's name is Josh Hale) She said he started fires when he was young. His mother is afraid of him and hides form him. He beat up a man in Cherry creek a few days before he was captured for not giving him $100.00 (an old man) He was on drugs and was released form prison a short time before burning the church down. I have been working with President Howell because someone has started a rumor suggesting he burned down the church because one of the missionaries touched his daughter inappropriately. Below is an email from president Howell and the church headquarters.
I have not allowed the elders to go into Cherry Creek until the suspect was caught. Now that he has been caught I asked them not to tract out anyone but to just go to people they know and work with them. If someone gives them a referral that is fine but I really didn't want them to run into strangers in case a crazy believed the rumors. And there are a fair amount of crazys in Cherry Creek.
The worst thing that could happen would be for something to happen to my young friends!!
They caught the suspect who burned down the church in Cherry Creek this last week. In visiting with a person in Cherry Creek who is related to the suspect (the suspect's name is Josh Hale) She said he started fires when he was young. His mother is afraid of him and hides form him. He beat up a man in Cherry creek a few days before he was captured for not giving him $100.00 (an old man) He was on drugs and was released form prison a short time before burning the church down. I have been working with President Howell because someone has started a rumor suggesting he burned down the church because one of the missionaries touched his daughter inappropriately. Below is an email from president Howell and the church headquarters.
I have not allowed the elders to go into Cherry Creek until the suspect was caught. Now that he has been caught I asked them not to tract out anyone but to just go to people they know and work with them. If someone gives them a referral that is fine but I really didn't want them to run into strangers in case a crazy believed the rumors. And there are a fair amount of crazys in Cherry Creek.
The worst thing that could happen would be for something to happen to my young friends!!
|
Thu, Jan 23, 3:03 PM (4 days ago)
|  | ||
| ||||
Great suggestion. I am copying President Johansen and Elder Morgan to help us monitor this possibility.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 23, 2020, at 3:04 PM, Blake D Archibald <archibaldbd@churchofjesuschrist.org> wrote:
President,I would suggest that we verify that he is NOT going to be released on bail… We do not want the Elders to be there is the man is on the loose.BlakeFrom: Scott L. HowellChurchofJesusChrist.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:53 PM
To: Blake D ArchibaldChurchofJesusChrist.org>
Subject: Update on Suspect who burned the Cherry Creek meetinghouseBlake, this message came in to me by text a few minutes ago. . .Dear presidents,They captured the suspect yesterday afternoon in Cherry Creek. I took the elders to work in Cherry Creek last night and taught and visited some of our people. One of the people we visited with was a member who said “the suspect is her mother’s, Brother’s son.” (Her first cousin). She said he has been in trouble sense his youth. She said his mother was afraid of him and would hide from him. The day before yesterday he beat up an old man in Cherry Creek because he wouldn’t give him $100.00. He went around starting fires when he was young. He just sounds like a bad guy.If something comes of the elders “touching a girl” it will most likely come in the next few days and I will most likely receive a call. It doesn’t sound like anyone would believe him BUT, we will see what happens. I am thinking we can send the missionaries back in but to just go into homes for appointments and not try and tract into homes where they don’t know the people. Your thoughts?Elder MorganScott L. HowellNORTH DAKOTA BISMARCK MISSION101 Slate Drive Ste 7Bismarck, ND 58503Phone: 605.391.0206
6- 4-19
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...
What do you think??
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...
What do you think??
1-28-20
Well we had a good day today. Sunday Yvette and Inu and the grandson came to church. I guess they have finally forgiven us. However Inu didn't take the sacrament and he and the grandson left after sacrament. Yvette stayed for sunday school and made some comments.Then tonight she came to our Book of Mormon class. I have never seen her so happy! It was really crazy how just over night she changed. It was like night and day.
Eric came to church Sunday. He just showed up. He is 40 and is a traveler. He stopped in Eagle Butte this spring and just never left. He stays in the homeless shelter. He is a sharp looking guy with a beard and seems very sharp. Anyway we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with the missionaries speaking and I gave the Priesthood/Relief society lesson. He was very attentive and seemed to enjoy it a lot. The Elders gave him a book of mormon after wards and introduced him to the sisters. Well tonight he came to the church and had a wonderful meeting with the sisters and then attended our Book of Mormon class. After it was over he said "you will see me again.)
We met Bill Gather in Cherry Creek today and we took a look at a building that belongs to the tribe that they said we could use. We might buy it, it just depends if they would want to buy the building or bring in a modular. The church is thinking about either of these. I believe that this is going to make the people in Cherry Creek pretty excited to see that the church does really care about them.
1 27 20
They caught the suspect who burned down the church in Cherry Creek this last week. In visiting with a person in Cherry Creek who is related to the suspect (the suspect's name is Josh Hale) She said he started fires when he was young. His mother is afraid of him and hides form him. He beat up a man in Cherry creek a few days before he was captured for not giving him $100.00 (an old man) He was on drugs and was released form prison a short time before burning the church down. I have been working with President Howell because someone has started a rumor suggesting he burned down the church because one of the missionaries touched his daughter inappropriately. Below is an email from president Howell and the church headquarters.
I have not allowed the elders to go into Cherry Creek until the suspect was caught. Now that he has been caught I asked them not to tract out anyone but to just go to people they know and work with them. If someone gives them a referral that is fine but I really didn't want them to run into strangers in case a crazy believed the rumors. And there are a fair amount of crazys in Cherry Creek.
The worst thing that could happen would be for something to happen to my young friends!!
Well we had a good day today. Sunday Yvette and Inu and the grandson came to church. I guess they have finally forgiven us. However Inu didn't take the sacrament and he and the grandson left after sacrament. Yvette stayed for sunday school and made some comments.Then tonight she came to our Book of Mormon class. I have never seen her so happy! It was really crazy how just over night she changed. It was like night and day.
Eric came to church Sunday. He just showed up. He is 40 and is a traveler. He stopped in Eagle Butte this spring and just never left. He stays in the homeless shelter. He is a sharp looking guy with a beard and seems very sharp. Anyway we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with the missionaries speaking and I gave the Priesthood/Relief society lesson. He was very attentive and seemed to enjoy it a lot. The Elders gave him a book of mormon after wards and introduced him to the sisters. Well tonight he came to the church and had a wonderful meeting with the sisters and then attended our Book of Mormon class. After it was over he said "you will see me again.)
We met Bill Gather in Cherry Creek today and we took a look at a building that belongs to the tribe that they said we could use. We might buy it, it just depends if they would want to buy the building or bring in a modular. The church is thinking about either of these. I believe that this is going to make the people in Cherry Creek pretty excited to see that the church does really care about them.
1 27 20
They caught the suspect who burned down the church in Cherry Creek this last week. In visiting with a person in Cherry Creek who is related to the suspect (the suspect's name is Josh Hale) She said he started fires when he was young. His mother is afraid of him and hides form him. He beat up a man in Cherry creek a few days before he was captured for not giving him $100.00 (an old man) He was on drugs and was released form prison a short time before burning the church down. I have been working with President Howell because someone has started a rumor suggesting he burned down the church because one of the missionaries touched his daughter inappropriately. Below is an email from president Howell and the church headquarters.
I have not allowed the elders to go into Cherry Creek until the suspect was caught. Now that he has been caught I asked them not to tract out anyone but to just go to people they know and work with them. If someone gives them a referral that is fine but I really didn't want them to run into strangers in case a crazy believed the rumors. And there are a fair amount of crazys in Cherry Creek.
The worst thing that could happen would be for something to happen to my young friends!!
|
Thu, Jan 23, 3:03 PM (4 days ago)
| | ||
| ||||
Great suggestion. I am copying President Johansen and Elder Morgan to help us monitor this possibility.
1-28-20
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 23, 2020, at 3:04 PM, Blake D Archibald <archibaldbd@churchofjesuschrist.org> wrote:
President,I would suggest that we verify that he is NOT going to be released on bail… We do not want the Elders to be there is the man is on the loose.BlakeFrom: Scott L. HowellChurchofJesusChrist.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 23, 2020 1:53 PM
To: Blake D ArchibaldChurchofJesusChrist.org>
Subject: Update on Suspect who burned the Cherry Creek meetinghouseBlake, this message came in to me by text a few minutes ago. . .Dear presidents,They captured the suspect yesterday afternoon in Cherry Creek. I took the elders to work in Cherry Creek last night and taught and visited some of our people. One of the people we visited with was a member who said “the suspect is her mother’s, Brother’s son.” (Her first cousin). She said he has been in trouble sense his youth. She said his mother was afraid of him and would hide from him. The day before yesterday he beat up an old man in Cherry Creek because he wouldn’t give him $100.00. He went around starting fires when he was young. He just sounds like a bad guy.If something comes of the elders “touching a girl” it will most likely come in the next few days and I will most likely receive a call. It doesn’t sound like anyone would believe him BUT, we will see what happens. I am thinking we can send the missionaries back in but to just go into homes for appointments and not try and tract into homes where they don’t know the people. Your thoughts?Elder MorganScott L. HowellNORTH DAKOTA BISMARCK MISSION101 Slate Drive Ste 7Bismarck, ND 58503Phone: 605.391.0206
1-28-20
Well we had a good day today. Sunday Yvette and Inu and the grandson came to church. I guess they have finally forgiven us. However Inu didn't take the sacrament and he and the grandson left after sacrament. Yvette stayed for sunday school and made some comments.Then tonight she came to our Book of Mormon class. I have never seen her so happy! It was really crazy how just over night she changed. It was like night and day.
Eric came to church Sunday. He just showed up. He is 40 and is a traveler. He stopped in Eagle Butte this spring and just never left. He stays in the homeless shelter. He is a sharp looking guy with a beard and seems very sharp. Anyway we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with the missionaries speaking and I gave the Priesthood/Relief society lesson. He was very attentive and seemed to enjoy it a lot. The Elders gave him a book of mormon after wards and introduced him to the sisters. Well tonight he came to the church and had a wonderful meeting with the sisters and then attended our Book of Mormon class. After it was over he said "you will see me again.)
We met Bill Gather in Cherry Creek today and we took a look at a building that belongs to the tribe that they said we could use. We might buy it, it just depends if they would want to buy the building or bring in a modular. The church is thinking about either of these. I believe that this is going to make the people in Cherry Creek pretty excited to see that the church does really care about them.
1-29-20
We had 20 people out to young mens/young womens tonight. Sister did another outstanding job with the youth. She is just awesome.
I didn't mention that on the way home from Book of Mormon last night Fran asked us how often we attend the temple and we said about every month. She said she would like to go. She hasn't gone yet and so it kinda made our day. We told her we are about ready to start a temple class. She is a sweetie!!
Sunday, January 12, 2020
1-12-2020
Well, it is another week. Many things have happened as following up on Cherry Creek, the building was completely destroyed, I mean completely destroyed. The members are devastated. It was such a tragedy. There are so many people who have had so many wonderful memories there. We heard of people just getting together crying with each other. However it seems to me that "and I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and their a little and blessed are those who harken 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. All the people quit going to church, (they wouldn't drive to Eagle Butte to church) The branch president went to church several times and no one showed up and so they finally just closed it down. I guess they said: "We have enough" Perhaps I am wrong but it looks like if these people want the church back in their lives they will have to earn it. God doesn't spoil his children. And if we think we will all have a trouble free life we are just kidding ourselves. I was thinking the other day that I have probably read the Book of Mormon 40 to 50 times. when we started reading it this year I found in the first verse of the Book: "having seen many afflictions in the course of my days". So even the prophet's have problems. Notice when Nephi was being tied to the ship or when he was tied up on the road back from Jerusalem he didn't ask to have his afflictions taken away. He asked for strength to deal with them!! We must need to go through things to teach us the lessons of life. then when we have learned them we go on to the next until we become perfect enough to return to God.
Friday we were working in the lunch line as we usually do. Sister Morgan noticed a boy who had come though our line. There are two lines, I work on one and she on the other. She said he had come through her line twice and that made twice he had come through mine. I mentioned how hungry that kid must be to a worker in my line. She said; "oh some of these kids will not have anything to ear again until Monday. so they try to eat as much as they can on Friday's so they can make it without too much trouble. She said some of the teachers put money into a pot to buy food for some of the kids so when they go home they will have something to eat. Then they bury it deep in the kids back pack so the parents don't find it. Because, if they find it, they will take it and sell it to buy alcohol with the money.
Today, Sunday we went to Cherry Creek to church. Church was held in Gloria Belmonte's home. Sister Morgan and I talked in church. Sister Morgan talked on the Book of Mormon and I talked on Cherry Creek, the history, the burning of the church, and why things like that happen. (The adversary see's things are gong to happen positively for the people and he doesn't want that to happen) Anyway it was a good meeting. We only had 7 natives and us 4 missionaries. Looks like we are going to start over. BUT, we are ready!! We have a couple of really good missionaries, Elder Brown and Elder Anderson! We are blessed.
We did have two miracles in one day this week. Last week we took a cake to this lady and we met with her. Her sister wants to be baptized. They seemed very excited but they didn't make it to church this week. Hopefully next week. We also took a cake to a lady who said her son wants to be baptized. There is so much work to do.
Well, it is another week. Many things have happened as following up on Cherry Creek, the building was completely destroyed, I mean completely destroyed. The members are devastated. It was such a tragedy. There are so many people who have had so many wonderful memories there. We heard of people just getting together crying with each other. However it seems to me that "and I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and their a little and blessed are those who harken 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. All the people quit going to church, (they wouldn't drive to Eagle Butte to church) The branch president went to church several times and no one showed up and so they finally just closed it down. I guess they said: "We have enough" Perhaps I am wrong but it looks like if these people want the church back in their lives they will have to earn it. God doesn't spoil his children. And if we think we will all have a trouble free life we are just kidding ourselves. I was thinking the other day that I have probably read the Book of Mormon 40 to 50 times. when we started reading it this year I found in the first verse of the Book: "having seen many afflictions in the course of my days". So even the prophet's have problems. Notice when Nephi was being tied to the ship or when he was tied up on the road back from Jerusalem he didn't ask to have his afflictions taken away. He asked for strength to deal with them!! We must need to go through things to teach us the lessons of life. then when we have learned them we go on to the next until we become perfect enough to return to God.
Friday we were working in the lunch line as we usually do. Sister Morgan noticed a boy who had come though our line. There are two lines, I work on one and she on the other. She said he had come through her line twice and that made twice he had come through mine. I mentioned how hungry that kid must be to a worker in my line. She said; "oh some of these kids will not have anything to ear again until Monday. so they try to eat as much as they can on Friday's so they can make it without too much trouble. She said some of the teachers put money into a pot to buy food for some of the kids so when they go home they will have something to eat. Then they bury it deep in the kids back pack so the parents don't find it. Because, if they find it, they will take it and sell it to buy alcohol with the money.
Today, Sunday we went to Cherry Creek to church. Church was held in Gloria Belmonte's home. Sister Morgan and I talked in church. Sister Morgan talked on the Book of Mormon and I talked on Cherry Creek, the history, the burning of the church, and why things like that happen. (The adversary see's things are gong to happen positively for the people and he doesn't want that to happen) Anyway it was a good meeting. We only had 7 natives and us 4 missionaries. Looks like we are going to start over. BUT, we are ready!! We have a couple of really good missionaries, Elder Brown and Elder Anderson! We are blessed.
We did have two miracles in one day this week. Last week we took a cake to this lady and we met with her. Her sister wants to be baptized. They seemed very excited but they didn't make it to church this week. Hopefully next week. We also took a cake to a lady who said her son wants to be baptized. There is so much work to do.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
1-9-20
This actually happened last week (I am catching up)
We decided to take a birthday cake to everyone in the branch (as you know by now). We have about 425 members of our branch and we have been taking each one a cake. It has been wonderful. We will visit every one once and half of them twice before we go home. A lot of these people have moved out and so we are cleaning out the records also at the same time. 99 percent of them are way excited about it. One man said “no one has ever done that for me”. (Degraw’s are also doing this). It keeps us busy and we have to weigh our time working on fellow shipping and giving out cakes. Our record day was giving out 8 cakes. We have had a lot of great experiences, I will share one from tonight: sister morgan and I about an hr ago gave a cake to a sister who said she was on the placement program and still keeps in contact with her family in Idaho. She said no one has contacted her here in Eagle Butte In forever. She said she has been visiting about the church with the family that took her in and she had been praying about getting back into the church. We are going back!! We are eating dinner tonight with a sister who we have activates and have given the temple lessons to. It all started out by getting a branch list from the branch and baking cakes It really have been fun.
I know everyone is in a different situation so please share ideas you have learned that might help the rest of us. I know Peterson’s (as busy as they are) have taken opportunities to find people. Life is great!!
Friday of last week:
Sister Morgan and I are headed to a baby blessing in Oregon. On our way from the motel to to the airport on a shuttle we got to talking to the driver. She said “I really respect you for what you are doing”(Native American from fort Yates) she said she “was in an abusive relationship and had gotten into drugs and alcohol”. She said she had gone into the bathroom to take her own life when their was a knock on the door. She answered the door and it was the missionaries. She felt they had saved her life. She is living in rapid city now (drug and alcohol free) and doing good with her 4 kids and two jobs.
Elders and sisters we will never know all the good we are doing out here. (She said she would listen to the missionaries)
"The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble , the enemy may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent tell it has penetrated every ear, till the purposes of Gad shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done!!
Joseph Smith 1842
This actually happened last week (I am catching up)
We decided to take a birthday cake to everyone in the branch (as you know by now). We have about 425 members of our branch and we have been taking each one a cake. It has been wonderful. We will visit every one once and half of them twice before we go home. A lot of these people have moved out and so we are cleaning out the records also at the same time. 99 percent of them are way excited about it. One man said “no one has ever done that for me”. (Degraw’s are also doing this). It keeps us busy and we have to weigh our time working on fellow shipping and giving out cakes. Our record day was giving out 8 cakes. We have had a lot of great experiences, I will share one from tonight: sister morgan and I about an hr ago gave a cake to a sister who said she was on the placement program and still keeps in contact with her family in Idaho. She said no one has contacted her here in Eagle Butte In forever. She said she has been visiting about the church with the family that took her in and she had been praying about getting back into the church. We are going back!! We are eating dinner tonight with a sister who we have activates and have given the temple lessons to. It all started out by getting a branch list from the branch and baking cakes It really have been fun.
I know everyone is in a different situation so please share ideas you have learned that might help the rest of us. I know Peterson’s (as busy as they are) have taken opportunities to find people. Life is great!!
Friday of last week:
Sister Morgan and I are headed to a baby blessing in Oregon. On our way from the motel to to the airport on a shuttle we got to talking to the driver. She said “I really respect you for what you are doing”(Native American from fort Yates) she said she “was in an abusive relationship and had gotten into drugs and alcohol”. She said she had gone into the bathroom to take her own life when their was a knock on the door. She answered the door and it was the missionaries. She felt they had saved her life. She is living in rapid city now (drug and alcohol free) and doing good with her 4 kids and two jobs.
Elders and sisters we will never know all the good we are doing out here. (She said she would listen to the missionaries)
On Thu, Jan 9, 2020 at 6:04 PM Gary Morgan <garymorgan2000@gmail.com> wrote:
We have an update on the cake we gave away last week. We texted the sister we gave the cake to today and asked if we could get together with her and she said she would come to our house this afternoon. She came at 1:00. She brought a friend who is a not member and they both want to come to church on Sunday and they both took a b of m home with them. They are very excited to read the book and the non member asked for the sisters to come teach her. A couple hrs later we took a cake to a sister at the hospital. (she works there) She lives in Red Scaffold. (Close to cherry creek). She was really happy we found her and said she has a son that wants to be baptized She wants the elders to come teach himJoseph Smith"s quote:
Now the sad news......the CherryCreek building burned down during the night! Yes I know, the adversary is trying really hard to keep us from loving and serving the people of Cherry
"The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble , the enemy may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent tell it has penetrated every ear, till the purposes of Gad shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done!!
Joseph Smith 1842
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
1-11-2020
Well today we realized aging that we have No support from anyone in leadership in the branch. We texted the branch president and his wife and just can't get a response from them. It happened the other night with John's tithing. we ended up driving over and they answered and took the money. Today I texted this morning and again this afternoon about taking the new come follow me book to them and finally I texted again and said we would just come over (no I left a message on her phone) and she texted me and said she would have Kevin come over and pick them up. The friendliest people are the inactive, the non members, and the few we have been able to activate. The only problem is those we get coming to church say that no one is friendly with them when they come to church.
Life as a missionary isn't always easy!
Well today we realized aging that we have No support from anyone in leadership in the branch. We texted the branch president and his wife and just can't get a response from them. It happened the other night with John's tithing. we ended up driving over and they answered and took the money. Today I texted this morning and again this afternoon about taking the new come follow me book to them and finally I texted again and said we would just come over (no I left a message on her phone) and she texted me and said she would have Kevin come over and pick them up. The friendliest people are the inactive, the non members, and the few we have been able to activate. The only problem is those we get coming to church say that no one is friendly with them when they come to church.
Life as a missionary isn't always easy!
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