natalie ann: week 39: chasing cows

Monday, July 25th, 2016

HELLO EVERYONE. Great news! I'm not getting transferred! Yep I am staying in round valley for another 6 weeks! Praise. So President Robinson switched transfers that were on Friday to Tuesday and we find out our transfer news via call not email anymore. Also our district got smaller though and the Elders aren't in Lima anymore. Anyways this week was good!

Monday we had a lesson with Gaylon. The Cricks came with us. He is having a hard time and there is a lot going on in his life right now so trying to quit smoking is just that much harder. He is very emotional in lessons and said he didn't really want to come because he was so down on himself but he said this would make him feel better and he made this commitment. He has been reading his Book of Mormon!

Tuesday we had a lesson with Haylie about temples and eternal marriage. She is cute and wants that for herself. She went to the snowflake temple before girls camp and loved the peace the temple brought. We took Abby out (a laurel) and we saw Jerry. He is so funny, he doesn't know he is less-active so teaching him is difficult some times. Plus he talks a lot. We then saw Teri and she seems to be doing a lot better. Her and Kenny made it to sacrament yesterday! They sat in the foyer and left right after but that's so good for them! They both know they need the gospel in their life and this was a huge wake up call for them. We then had Sister McNeill come out with us and had a miracle! Seriously she is the best. We got to see the Williams (less-actives we have been trying to see for a while). It was very good and we got to share a message with them. They are a great family and have been sealed in the temple. It's just sad to see great families fall away.

Wednesday we saw Haylie again and had our last lesson with her before her baptism! Ah she is awesome. We then saw the Tisdells, Colin was there which was good. We then had a lesson with Gaylon and he was doing better. We read the talk from last conference called "He will place you on his shoulders and carry you home." It's a very comforting talk and was good for him. It brought a lot of hope. We then saw the Nelsons. They are so cute. We taught the church, pray, read. The dad says he wants to get to church which was great because was the only one who didn't come last week. They all came to church yesterday! We then had a lesson with Daryl. We taught them about spiritual gifts and patriarchal blessings. It was really good and everyone was there. He and his daughter decided to wait till winter break to get endowed for multiple reasons. Basically Daryl doesn't feel ready yet and wants to be at church more regularly.

Thursday we saw Cyndie. I just adore her. She is doing well. She keeps a lot of our commitments and I am really impressed. She loves personal progress. We then had our last district meeting! I'm gonna miss everyone that is going home. We then saw Chelsea, it has been forever since we had seen her. We then saw Tyric. We had a good lesson on the sacrament and blessing it. We committed him to come help prepare it but he didn't...sad. We then saw Sally and she just had a hand surgery done but she was still really preppy. Probably because her hand was still numb. We then finally saw Anna Davis and her family. Her husband is sick and not a member. But he was doing well that day. We then had two other appointments that night but of course they fell through. We had Chelsea with us and we felt like we should go to the Eagar family. Chelsea didn't recognize the name and then we get there and she is like I dated him! Haha. But it was a while ago and it wasn't awk at all. I was super bold with them and invited them back to the temple. They want that for themselves. They just feel like judged and such. We get that problem a lot with being in a small town. Everyone knows everyone's problems here. They are getting their baby blessed in September! It was really good having Chelsea there, she was perfect for them.

Friday morning we went to the Tisdells for like three hours and painted the trim on their house. It was pretty fun. We got to talk to their grandsons who aren't members and one is less- active so that was good. And we got banana pancakes

we then went to Luna, New Mexico! They were celebrating Pioneer Day all weekend so we got to go. No one we invited came but that's okay! Haha. I saw the Estradas in McDowell ward! I was so confused when I saw them. It was good seeing them! Now I can say I have been in New Mexico on my mission. How exciting. On our way home the HUGE elk ran across the road and that was a bit scary.

Saturday we saw Sister Markley. She is painting her kitchen and seems to being doing better. She has come to church the past couple weeks. We talked to her about getting back to the temple. We were in an apartment complex and decided to try to see some less-actives that never let us in. The door opens and our recent convert's daughter opens the door who isn't a member. I was super confused. Her name is Destiny and is 16. She was cleaning their house. Anyways she wasn't getting paid much and let's just say she needed LOTS of help. It was the messiest thing I had ever seen. So we randomly did service for her in a less-actives house. Winning. We then filled up the font and set up chairs for Haylie's baptism! The baptism went super well. Mark had to dunk her twice. I'm not really sure why but he did. We went back with her and got to be on the sides to watch her get baptized. It was a really great feeling to know she made those covenants with God. The Spirit was so strong and Haylie looked so happy. The talks were good and her choir sang a hymn. It was overall just a great baptism. I love that girl a lot! And SO many people came that we had to set out extra chairs. Haylie then had a dinner at her house afterwards. Her step mom Peggy and other family bought her a quad!! We then visited the Shupes. He can not hear so we have to yell the whole lesson. It's kind of hilarious.

Sunday (Pioneer Day!) Haylie got confirmed! I'm so happy for her!! We saw Dave Jr and Dakota (nonmember) came! He is ysa age but he comes to all of our lessons. He is awesome! And the Ericksons aren't moving yet! I'm so happy about it! We then saw Dave and Haley, they are the best.

We are watching 17 Miracles right now in celebration of Pioneer Day!! I wanna share this quote from President Monson that was in the Ensign. So you maybe have read it.

"To be a Latter-day Saint is to be a pioneer, for the definition of a pioneer is “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.” And to be a pioneer is to become acquainted with sacrifice. The path of a pioneer is not easy, but we follow in the footsteps of the ultimate Pioneer--even the Savior--who went before, showing us the way to follow."

I love this. Probably cause I can apply to it a lot as a missionary. There are lots of good things we sacrifice. But these sacrifices really do bless us. I'm so grateful to be a missionary.

Oh and this morning we helped heard a cow. These nonmembers asked us to get their cow from the woods, it got loose. They had been trying for days. So yes this morning we chased a cow. We did get him though. They are going to get horses this weekend to get the cow. Sounds cheesy but it made me think of going after the lost sheep. His cow had strayed and we needed a whole team (fellowshippers) to get him back. But it takes time and lots of trying. But to never give up. We are to feed his sheep and go after the one.