3-15-20

Well a lot has happened since I last posted. The prophet has counseled church world wide and the stores are being trampled with people who are wanting to buy up everything. It is a little scary being so far away from our food storage as well. We bought up $1,000 worth of food to take care of ourselves, the sisters, and the elders. We also bought up some extras for people we are working with who might be in need. We took over a bottle of Clorox to Valerie yesterday and today we sent a pack of toilet paper to Veronica Holy as she was out. They were both pretty appreciative. (felt good!)

We had 4 baptisms last night and it was great! They were the grandchildren of Deloria Straighthead and Carla Veaux. We had activated Deloria and had been working on Carla ever since we got here and we hope this gets her activated! She has only come a few times. Her husband is pretty anti and we think that is why she hasn't been coming. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak...... for most people around here!

After the baptisms and cleaning up the church the 3 elders; Brown, Anderson, and La Vin all spent the night with us. Then this morning they and the sisters had breakfast with us. It was great. Soooooooo this is the time where we have the corona virus and  everything has been shut down throughout the world. That includes the church. President Nelson closed down all the church in the world and invited people to have sacrament meeting in the homes of those with worthy priesthood holders to bless and pass the sacrament. I asked all the missionaries to come up with their favorite story. It would be their favorite scripture story, favorite story their parents told them, or just anyone that had experienced or read. It was great! Elder Lavin shared a letter he had to send in to the first presidency to be able to come on a mission. He was in the Boise, Idaho mission and was sent home and got to come back on a mission and he came here. He is a really good missionary but I guess he beat up his companion who had been bullying him. I shared the finding, baptizing, and the after fruit of the Berkheisers who Elder Thompson and I baptized on my first mission. I guess that is my favorite story of all time until maybe now. (excluding family) Anyway we blessed and passed the sacrament and had the talks and it all lasted an hr and a half, well worth the time. Then the elders left to a dinner appointment and we fed the sisters and had a little birthday party for Sister Houser. It was a great day! We have wonderful sisters; Sister Houser, Sister Van Hoff, and Sister Sonnenburg. They are doing wonderful! Of course our elders are doing wonderful as well, especially Elder Brown.

We took a long overdue nap and afterwards we went over to visit with Deloria Straight Head. She is the one we activated. We gave her the temple lessons and she was going to be interviewed to go the the temple this last Wednesday. She had been drinking coffee since she was young and was really having a hard time giving it up. She also was not paying her tithing. She ended up being taken to Rapid city this last week for a problem on her kidney. We didn't know about it for a few days. When we found out we called the Rapid City elders and asked them to give her a blessing. They did go over and gave her a blessing. Anyway, this afternoon when we visited with her she said he had a very strong feeling that we, the senior missionaries spirit's were with her. She said the Holy Ghost was so strong with her in the room and told her missionaries would come and give her a blessing. Shortly afterwards the elders came and gave her a blessing. She said "I know I am loved" there were a lot of tears all around. She also said she has given up coffee and has been paying her tithing. We all know when we attempt to go to the temple the devil gets really strong in our life. Well she not only went into the hospital but also has to go back for an operation in a few days. And the temple is closed!! She is feeling really bad that now that she is active she can't go to church!!  We will get her there! She is absolutely wonderful!!