Week
52…June 2, 2014
- How was your week? What were the highs/lows? It was a good week. It is still kind of slow but we have been able to find some potentials with the LA's (less actives) because of the list that the branch gave us. The list is full of people that they want us to try and track down. We’ve spent a lot of the week trying to locate a bunch of the people. It’s an opportunity that has opened a few doors so we are taking it and running. We were able to make it up to Kane this past week and visit with some of the people on the list. We visited with a lady that we had an appointment but we weren’t able to get too much of a lesson in because the member we took with us is quite the talker. He pretty much talked the entire time just catching up with things that have happened with her over the last little bit. The weather has been pretty good. Wednesday we went to the S family’s house and helped them out. We moved a bunch of wood, helped with their garden and did a bunch of things for them. The best part was the food, she had really good pie for dessert. We had corn on the cob and ribs and it was all really good. The low is we are still having a hard time contacting a lot of the people we have been teaching; however, we are starting to see new doors open.
- Has the flood receded in Ridgway and are things back to normal? Things are pretty much functioning now. I think people are just continuing to get things cleaned up now. All the water is back down now.
- How's the weather been? Anymore terrible rain? It has been nice all week with a little bit of rain. It has been pretty good though, a bit humid but not terrible.
- How did things go with the AP? It was pretty fun. We had a day and a half with him. They came Monday night and spent the night with us. Then they split up and one went to Phillipsburg and the other stayed here with us. He went out with us all day Tuesday and stayed over into Wednesday. They went home on Wednesday.
- Were you able to make it up to Kane? Yes, we made it up there and it was really
cool. We went with a member of the branch presidency to see some of
the people that live up there. We passed the Kane chapel where the Kane
branch used to meet. It is now
owned by the historical society. The Kane chapel is where Thomas Kane is buried. I will
get pictures of it next time we are up there. We met with a less
active lady while we were there (as I mentioned above). After we had
dinner with the branch presidency member that we were with and his
wife. We had crock pot roast. After we continued to go around
trying to find lost names on the records.
- Have you had dinner appointments this week? Yes, we had the 2 I told you about. The one with the people in Kane and then the S family fed us on Wednesday.
- How's the money situation holding out/up? Good, now that it’s a new month I have more money. The reason I ran out so fast is because we had a lot of stuff going on during the month of May and there were quite a few times we had to eat out. This month will be good.
- How are your investigators?
- S? We still have no idea where she is at. When we were in Kane we stopped by her parents’ and sister’s house to see if she had gone there but she was not there. They said she was in Johnsonburg. I don’t remember if I told you, but the reason she is MIA is because she and her fiancé got in a fight and she pretty much ran away. We’ve tried to see if she made it back but she is nowhere to be found. So she is straight up lost. We are just hoping she is ok because no one seems to know where she is.
- Daughter in law of active lady? We have not seen her lately. She had knee problems and things so we have not been able to get in to see her. We have been trying to contact her but can never figure out what the deal is. Her step mom (who she comes to church with) can’t get a hold of her either. So we stopped by last night to try to get more info but we have a lot of MIA people L
- Kane people? We did a lot of quick drop in’s to check on people and most of them seem to be well.
- Hometeaching prospects from ward last week? Things are going good, we’ve found a few people that we can start teaching. We are still working our way through the list.
- Any new leads/prospects? No not really
- Here's a few HUMP Day questions for you...
- What's the biggest change that you see in yourself over the past year? I’ve definitely become more self-reliant.
- What's your favorite scripture/story? “The depth of the concepts in the Book of Mormon are a constant source of inspiration, if we will but contemplate them. There, more abundantly than in any other volume, the Lord opens the windows of heaven, not only to pour out blessings, but to let us look in.” (Neal A. Maxwell) With that said about the BOM, I really like the story of Alma and Amulek. It takes place during a time when people are so committed to iniquity that they give up their right to the blessings the Lord offers. The city of Ammonihah was obliterated in a single day by a brutal and unexpected Lamanite attack. But it was not the Lamanites who destroyed this city. The people of Ammonihah destroyed themselves. The story that Alma tells is unlike any other story in the BOM. We learn about the heart and soul of Alma as he labors and suffers with people who must have reminded him of himself just a few years before. He might have gone on to greener pastures. Both Gideon and Melek must have been delightful fields of labor and Ammonihah showed little or no promise. But Alma did not abandon them to their impending destruction. “Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city . . ." (Alma 8:10). He preaches repentance but the people reject him because they don’t believe him (he is only one witness) and they don’t understand God. There are so many lessons we can learn from this small section of the BOM. How do you suppose the Lord feels when we, who have been so richly blessed, rebel and choose the things of the world over the things of the Spirit?
- What are your goals for the 2nd half of your mission? The first year in the mission I have learned so many things. Now I want to be able to take everything I have learned and really work hard to apply those things to becoming the best missionary that I can be.
- What do you feel is your greatest strength as a missionary? I have a great love for people I’m serving
- What do you feel is your greatest challenge as a missionary? I still struggle talking with people. I am definitely better than I was in the beginning, but I’m still not fantastic at it. Also, I struggle with asking good questions.
- What 3 experiences stand out most to you from the past year? Definitely the visits from the general authorities…Elder Holland and Elder Arnold . I also learned a lot of valuable lessons from the situation with Sis. B and her husband when I left Camp Hill.
- What people have influenced you the most in your mission/areas? Oh boy, that’s a hard one. Everyone that I’ve come in contact has influenced me for good in some way or another.
- What do you love the most about your mission? For sure the people, especially the people in the branch and wards that I have been in.
- What area did you enjoy the most? What companion did you enjoy the most? So far I would probably say Lititz. It was a beautiful area and was the “coolest small town” in America. The ward members were so nice and took such good care of us. It felt a lot like our Utah ward. If I had to pick on companions I would probably say Elder J, but really all of them have been great in different ways. I’ve learned something important from each of them.
- Anything else that you want to add or share? The girl from Lori’s ward is now in my district.
Here is the quilt Sis. K
made me for my mission. She makes a
quilt for each missionary serving in this area.
She said she kind of messed up on the pattern, but it looks good to
me. The dinosaurs are the back and the plaid is the front. It’s
awesome, she did a great job and is a really nice lady. There are some really
nice people out here that we could all learn from their examples. It will be a great memory from my mission a
great memory of her family.
Well another week of adventures.
We will see what this week brings. I can't wait to get/open the package
you sent for HUMP day. I can’t believe
it’s been a year already. PS…I got you letter on Saturday, thanks!
Love you tons!!!
Elder Muir
The Ridgway Branch...Elder Muir & Elder G are halfway back in the middle
The Ridgway Branch YM
Elder Muir's quilt from Sis. K
