Hey
Mom! March
20, 2017
First
thing's first, good luck with the move! I hope the team does a good job helping
you guys out, and I hope that the house will be everything you guys have
dreamed/built it up to be. But the best homes are always founded on those
principles that strengthen us as families.
Well,
Coulee Dam is about the closest to Vegas that you can get in the mission I say.
There's the dam, and also a casino. The area covers roughly 2000
square miles, and includes not only the townships around the dam, but also
Coulee City, Nespelem (the reservation), Keller, and a few others around the
area. Elder Saitman hails from Bountiful UT, and hasn't had too much real-world
experience up to this point in life. We get along alright, and I hope I can be
one of his companions who actually gets along with him!
Turns
out the nearest elders live in Omak, 56 miles away, and we have 1700 miles to
use every month for all proselytizing purposes.
In
other words, we're isolated. But you know, that's all not that bad! For one,
Grand Coulee Dam looks a lot nicer than Hoover does if I'm honest. And the
mighty Columbia River starts right at it's base. The drive from Coulee city up
to the dam is about the prettiest you can get, black and brown rock canyons
spiced up here and there by the waterfalls caused by the snow melt.
The
ward is small, but large in heart. heh heh, since I didn't have to memorize two
wards, I almost got everyone's name down just yesterday! They are all wonderful
people, and I think I will come to like them very well. Still haven't gotten a
gist of what the work is like in the area between travel and other factors. But
you know, I wouldn't be surprised if I finished up here. And part of me would
like to come back for one of those laser shows they do on the dam every
summer!
But
the real humor came the actual transfer day, when Elder Mayes was still packing
his gear after a solid day of doing just that. The guy suffers from severe
retail therapy, and among other things he had to find room for were a
skateboard and rice-cooker. We laughed it off and ultimately got packed, and
did a final cleaning of the Jones's downstairs apartment. I'm going to miss
them because they were probably the nicest folks who could ever house
missionaries. I'm glad to hear the galoshes, thermals, and gloves made it back,
and even then, packing was something else. But we got it done!
Elder
Uceda was at our latest Zone Conference, and that was really cool! We talked a
lot about sincere and earnest desire to read the scriptures and praying about
the Book of Mormon. And you know, it was super cool! Basically that whole
promise in Moroni 10:3-5 can be used as a step-by-step thing. Really ponder the
blessings the Lord's given you, and then truly pour your heart out in prayer,
having a sincere desire to act on whatever answer you receive. The answer
itself is inevitable.
Apart
from that, the actual birthday went really smoothly! Elder Saitman made
breakfast for the two of us, and since it was my first Sunday in Coulee, got to
meet a whole new bunch of friends! It was awesome! And to top it off, they
asked us to bless the sacrament (small wards and few hands). I haven't done
that since I was a priest 20 months ago. When I did it yesterday, I had this
whole new appreciation for just what the Sacrament meant, both in general and
personally. I would attribute it to what I've learned about Christ's atonement
even more as a missionary, and because of that, breaking the bread and blessing
it seemed like one of the best things I have done for a long, long time now.
And don't worry! Actually got a cake, sort of. The Barrys had us over for
dinner, and recently they had a birthday celebration, so there was a
half-served cake they re-candled and sang too. It was nice!
I
would've loved to send some pictures, but I am afraid I cannot, due to the tech
we have at the FHC. I'll need to bring an actual USB cable. But in the end,
know that I love you Mom! Still don't know what I'd do without you in my life,
20 years into it. Let me know how the new house lines up. Also, could you
please include the Barry family in your prayers? They just had a grandson pass
in an auto accident. Times like these always make me thankful for the Plan of
Salvation, makes life a whole lot more happier whenever hard times come. An
assurance that our loved ones who pass before us do indeed live on until we can
re-embrace each other!
In
the end though, love you always!
Michael
forgot to mention, thanks for
the prayers! They really do carry us over a lot of high mountains, and teach us
a lot about what goes on on top of them.
Love you! I'll keep you guys
in my prayers.
Michael
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