Another Week Out here Among the Cattle

Funny: We were out at a member’s house helping them move. They had Elder Fenton and I load up a big mattress and as we were caring it out I slipped on some of the ice and fell. I didn't think anything of it until we had loaded it up and we were heading back to get some more stuff. I realized that I could feel a really cold breeze. I realized that I had ripped a huge hole in my jeans. Haha it was really funny but also kinda awkward because i hadn't noticed for several minutes.

Spiritual: We were able to put one of our investigators (David) on date. He has been really nervous about giving up smoking and we were really nervous about teaching him because last time he had gotten offended when we brought it up. But, we decided that we just needed to show a lot of love and it worked! The spirit was so strong and it was one of those classic missionary experiences. 

 Where I am at: I think a better way to phrase that is “Where to Begin”. There are so many wonderful things here in Bayfield. The work is going well and the scenery is so pretty. The one downside is that we only have a little bit of snow. But I will take whatever I can get. There are a lot of cowboys down here and I find myself picking up a few of their habits. Such as sunflower seeds. I eat a lot of those now. ha oh well.

 I love you all and I can really feel your prayers

Elder Black

Culture Shock

Funny: I was on an exchange with the Zone leaders in Durango and we went to an appointment with a less-active member. Halfway through the lesson (which was not going how we wanted it to) her son who is also less-active told her "you are in denial" she then straight-faced shot back "That is a river!" I had a really hard time not busting up laughing.

 Spiritual: We were out in Forest Lakes (which is a mountain subdivision of about 2000 people) and we had a lesson with one of our progressing Investigators David. He is so ready to be baptized but has some concerns about the Word of Wisdom. Elder Eaton (this was his third lesson ever) bore a really strong testimony and the Spirit was incredible. It doesn't matter how long you have been out, God will use you if you are willing.

 Where I am at: I do believe that I have left the promised land and have entered the Celestial Kingdom! I cannot describe how beautiful and different Bayfield is. There are trees and there is snow and there are mountains and there is dirt not sand. It is so pretty I am still in a bit of shock. The area here is also huge. We cover up to the mountains with beautiful lakes and massive forests and down to the Ute reservation with cliffs and juniper bushes. The members here are also the best. I recently learned that we don't have to go tracting because members give us so many referrals! It is mind boggling but true. This area is blessed!!! As for my companions I am truly the luckiest missionary there is. Elder Fenton has been out for 6 months and is a solid missionary. He likes hard work and having a good time and doesn't ever want to give up. Elder Eaton has been out for 7 days and is a hard-working cowboy from Lusk Wyoming. Together we have already seen so many miracles. Also, the other thing is that we have sisters in the district. It was so weird after almost 5 months to see sister missionaries.

I love you all

Elder Black

I'm going to see snow!

Funny: Last Monday we went on a Dam tour (haha). It was the best. Bishop Anderson is the head of security and he told us a bunch of stories about a tradition that someone has where they throw a cat off of the bridge every year. He also took us down to the depth of the Dam and we got to see all the secret stuff ;)

Spiritual: We have had a great week here in Page and Echo Cliffs. We are working with a less active named Norm who finally showed up to church. He hadn't been in 18 years and he came twice!! It is incredible because the first time we met him he was very certain that nothing was going to get him to church.

Where I am at/going: my time here in Page is done. I received a call on Saturday from President Adams he has called me to be a District Leader! About 20 minutes later he called again and said that he had only offered the 1st half of the assignment. I am also training in a trio! I am leaving later today for Farmington where I will then go to Bayfield Colorado. It'll be strange to see snow and trees again. But I know that it is where I am meant to go!

I love you all so much 

Elder Black

Greg, Greg, Greg

Funny: The people we meet in Greenhaven are possibly the funniest people you will ever meet. One of those people is Greg. Greg has done so many drugs that he doesn't even know what’s going on. We went and saw him on Wednesday and he commented how he believes he is the new prophet. He then explained to us how dinosaurs came about. Whenever God thinks it opens a new dimension which is where each species of dinosaurs came from, each one is a thought of God. But the dinosaurs want to be in our modern world so they shrunk themselves down and fly in spaceships through time, that explains Aliens. He told us that this is what makes sense to him and that he is going to write it down all formally like the scriptures are and then send it into Salt Lake to get published in the Book of Mormon. So, if you all get a LDS update that's why ;)

Spiritual: Out in Big Water we have an atheist investigator who really doesn't want to believe in God but we taught him the Plan of Salvation only using questions and by the end of the discussion he told us that he knew there was a God. It was incredible to see the power of asking questions with the Spirit.

Where I am at: It is the end of the transfer and I suspect that I will be voted off of the island. I have really loved my time in Page 3rd Ward and Echo Cliffs branch. This week we had a great time talking to all the people out here. It also rained!!! That's the first time I have seen moisture here in 4 months. The Weiss family came to church and so did most of the less actives we have been inviting. We also finally got a Ward Mission Leader (it has been 9 weeks without one). Things are looking up for this area and I am grateful I have a chance to be a part of it.

I love you all

So Many Churches

Funny: Once again the curse of going to a mission so close to home hits again, we were eating lunch and I noticed that the dad there was staring at me. He pulled out his phone and started flipping though some pictures. He finally found the one he wanted and showed me it. It was of last year when I was teaching BB Guns at scout camp. Haha. They recognized me and the kids could not believe that, they stared at me for the rest of the meal with awe.

Spiritual: We had a week of anti-Mormons. On Wednesday we went to Green Haven and it seemed as though every door we knocked had someone there who had just been dying for the chance to tell us the faults in our religion. But through the power of the Holy Ghost we could not be confounded. It reminded me so much of the story of Alma. They pulled out everything they had on us and could not get us to say anything that could be taken negatively. It was so neat to think about it afterwards and see that.

Where I am at: We went to Echo Cliffs and got lost twice for about 30 minutes each. There are so many dirt roads and we scaled some serious mountains. I am sold on trucks, they are the best! Also, if you would like to know what other religions are in Page just google map Holy Curb in Page AZ. There are about 14 different churches there. and more just down the hill. The work is great. We put the Weiss family back on date for February 17th and we really feel that they will make this one. Other than that, we are just working hard and loving every second of it.