Monday, April 22, 2013

Week 14: "I've got big shoes to fill"

Hey Y'all!

How is everyone doing today!?!?! Seeing as how you can't answer me directly I'll assume you are all doing wonderfully!!! This week has been such a rollercoaster!!!! Everything from transfer calls, to appointments, to meetings!!! The life of a missionary is never done! Let’s see if I can fill you in a little bit.

This week was transfer calls.... Sadly, Elder Malau'Ulu will be leaving me. He has trained me sufficiently and now is being sent down to Pocatello to be a District Leader again. I will stay here and continue the work, along with an Elder Standage. I haven't heard a lot about him but what I have heard.... Missionaries aren't supposed to judge... So anyways!!! Yep, he leaves me on Wednesday and then the fun begins! I'll miss him a lot. He's become like a brother to me! He's taught me a lot and now I will have to utilize that as I lead the work in this area. Oh another thing. I'm done with my training!!! I am no longer a trainee! My official term is Junior Companion, but technically I am the one with the experience in the area so at least for a little bit I'll be running things.

Our Investigators are doing well! Michael, Jeszyka and Zach are doing well... now... I'll talk about that later...

Rachel has been sick and going through a lot of hard times lately. We haven't really gotten in to see her just stopped by occasionally. She says she believes in all that she's been taught. But every time we go over she is drinking and/or smoking... Please pray for Rachel and her family. She is going through some hard times.

Jenine has not been feeling well either so we've kept rescheduling, and rescheduling, and rescheduling, we WILL get in one of these times! :)

The Briggs(This is the family that Elder Malau'Ulu and Elder Carroll came across that was very golden and they had an amazing lesson, I wasn't there, I was on exchanges) They have been sick too!!!!! So many of our investigators have been sick!!! Satan is trying to keep them down and not able to hear our message.

We've also stopped by many members and Ward leaders to ask for referrals and see if we can do anything to help them. It’s also a good way for Elder Malau'Ulu to say goodbye. This area is like his home and family, he's been here for 8 months. We've seen the Hammons too. They fed us... again.... Have I mentioned I LOVE the Hammons and their food ;) hahaha

We've taken a lot of our investigators to the Temple Visitor Center lately. Man I have so many connections here in Idaho its crazy!!!! There was a lady in there and we started talking. Apparently she is from Queen Creek. I mentioned I have family in Queen Creek. Jodi and Troy. You are very popular people in Idaho!!! Hahaha Congrats on winning that race troy!!!

Another really neat family experience happened on last Tuesday! Every Tuesday we go do service at the Humanitarian Center. Lots of.... Elderly People... sewing and looming and quilting (side note: I can quilt and sew and loom now). So I began talking to members that were helping me quilt. We started talking about where we live and a lot of them said, Shelley, Idaho. (All my family knows where this story is going). So, I told them I have family in Shelley. This got their attention. I told them that Ivan and Nora Davis were my Great Grandparents. Their eyes lit up!!! They ALL knew them! They sang their praises about how they were the most generous, kind people they ever met! How Ivan would bring fresh corn to them and Nora loved to garden. And this is the Best Part! One member LIVES in their old house!!!!! He says he finished the basement, has kept the garden that my grandmother loved and he says they'd be pleased with the house if they saw it now! He also said that if I ever wanted to come down and see it I'd be more than welcome!!! It was such an amazing experience! :) To hear how wonderful my ancestors are is a very humbling experience! I've got big shoes to fill!!!

We had an interesting experience with Michael, Zach, and Jeszyka. We went over last night and you could feel the tension... There had been some problems going on between them and it kept getting worse. We tried to help but as things came to a boiling point Michael stormed out the front door, Zack packed his bags and stormed out the back door and we were left sitting there COMPLETELY stunned... I quickly went after Zach while Elder Malau'Ulu stayed with Michael. After 30 minutes of them both venting to us, things were shared and told to us, and we were left even more stunned. At this point I had NO IDEA WHAT TO DO! All I could think of was "Lets say a prayer", the golden answer! ;) so we did... not 10 seconds later Michael and Zach confronted each other, truths were told, apologies were said, and Zach brought his stuff back inside. I have such a strong testimony of Prayer!!! There was no way that situation was going to end well... But through prayer a miracle happened. Things are back on the right path now! :)

Well that was my week!!! It’s so rewarding being a missionary and being able to mend broken hearts and strengthen feeble knees! I love this gospel so much!!!!

Love Always,

Elder Rash
 
 
Elder Rash and Elder Malau'Ulu at the Idaho Falls Temple
 

 
A little down time
 

 

 

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