Howdy,
TRANSFER NEWS: No need to worry, me and Elder Brimley are chillin here for another 7 weeks (his transfer was only 5 and no departing dates were changed, so we're pretty sure next transfer will be 7). Me and Elder Brimley are doing 3 straight together and we're stoked!
Last Tuesday was a party. We drive up to Estes Park and spent a lot of the day up there hiking with a District. Super fun time, but kinda scary because everything was snowy and icy from the snow a few weeks ago. Hiked to a frozen lake and definitely did not do the best at staying on both feet. S'all good though only left with a few torn up hands and bruised knees.
Wednesday we spent on exchanges with Elder Mchan and Elder Landin. I went with Elder Mchan and we got to walk around the entire day! Luckily next transfer I'll be able to drive a little more...but it ended up being a great exchange. Being outside and on your feet from morning till evening leads you to talk to a lot of people. One interesting person got very, very angry that I waved at him as he was sitting in his parked car. He got out and pointed directly at Elder Mchan and said that he told him the other day to stay away....interesting because Elder Mchan has never been here. Luckily we recognized that he probably just had a bad day and we're able to stay Christlike and smiling as he screamed at the top of his lungs as we walked away. Taught a few random people throughout the day, the Lord definitely placed people in our path. Got kicked out of an apartment complex, but not before we met a couple people that were interested! We'll go back with the car to visit them and hopefully avoid the security thinking we're knocking doors again. Definitely felt like one of the Lords disciples this day. It could've been super rough, but our perspective and attitude made it a super fun day.
Thursday morning we showed up to an appointment and before we said much to her, she handed us a bucket full of cleaning rags and water and had us scrubbing her walls. I don't even know how her walls got dirty, but they did, and she was having an inspection the next day. So we scrubbed and scrubbed for a while and made it look better than before. After that she told us "okay let's sit down and pray or something". It was super cool, the service definitely did a lot. Kinds strange to go expecting to teach, get handed cleaning supplies, but after an hour of cleaning still be able to teach.
Friday we had a couple district councils to go to. Talked a lot about shepherds from Luke 2, John 10, and Genesis 47. Went out that night and tried to contact this one lady. The night before a car showed up and people went into this house as we were going to contact her so we decided to just wait another night. Then this night we showed up and got out of the car just as they were backing out. For some reason two nights in a row something got in the way. So on Saturday we didn't care what was happening, we were going to talk to this lady. So we went to her door and knocked and just as we knocked a car pulled into the driveway. I don't know why, but this is the most awkward thing ever. AND their kids opened the door as they opened the door of the car so we had two different directions we had to face and talk to people. But don't worry...the content attempt was made and it was successful.
Saturday morning we went out earlier than usual and walked around. Super sunny and didn't look to cold, so we dressed pretty light, but ended up being freezing. And we had the bright idea to mess around at this lake that was frozen. Which led to my right food breaking through ice and my book of morning falling out of my pocket into the stinky, freezing lake. Pretty miserable walk back to the car. BUT on the walk back we ran into a guy named Andrew who walked with us for about 20 minutes. The thing that started the conversation was his newly adopted dog, Angel. Pretty cool circumstances that led us to talking to this dude. Ended up teaching him a lot and are going back next week. Made the cold, the wet foot, and the ruined Book of Mormon all worth it.
Fun stuff:
-we were at a ward Christmas party and this little kid turns around and sees his friend and says "Hey Dave" in a low voice to his little friend named David. Me, Elder Brimley, and his dad died and his dad said "how're ya doing Bill". Sounded like an old guy talking to his friend at a retirement home or something...it was a lot funnier in person. Writing this out a realize it won't be funny to anyone else...sorry.
-same little kid made us DIE at dinner. We love this family, young couoke with 3 super young kids. The little boy is the oldest and during the closing prayer the loudest fart from such a small body came from this child. Elder Brimley ended the prayer quickly and all of us, inculiding his parents, couldn't stop laughing for a little bit. What makes it better is last time their little girl ripped one on the middle of the lesson as well.
-we were studying and both thinking about what we could share with this specific family. Across the table, out of the silence Elder Brimley says "Light Bulb" (in the voice of Gru from Despicable Me). Super funny in the moment...again doesn't sound that funny written out...sorry.
Spiritual thought: I mentioned how we've talked about shepherds, and I've been thinking about shepherds a lot. Some OD the lowly of lows were the first witnesses of Christ's birth. Even in His first few moments on earth, he was lifting the humble. Then in the bible we learn a lot about what a shepherd does. A shepherd knows his sheep, leads his sheep, often has a name for each, and when in danger the shepherd would risk his life for his sheep. The Savior Himself truly was the good shepherd. He gave his life for His sheep, US. He knows us by name, He leads us and shows us the way, He takes care of us when we let Him. If we don't listen to His voice, we'll wander off and get injured. Heed the shepherds voice. And while doing that, be a shepherd yourself. The Lord has given many of His sheep into our care and its our job to be there to lift and guide others, not only when it's convenient (as a hireling) but even when your own interests are at stake. The Savior, when directing Peter to now be the "head shepherd" on earth taught Peter a very important lesson. The key to shepharding is LOVE. Love for the Lord and love for the sheep. Be the shepherd to the sheep around you. Don't worry if they won't hear your voice, some will and you'll be there to lift them. I'm so grateful for the shepherds I've had in my life, who lovingly pulled me back in with their shepherds crook when I was going astray. Be a shepherd, and listen to the shepherd.
Pictures:
-ouch
-Estes....sorry there's lots of pictures from this and not much else, people we're just snappin lots of pics
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