Kissed By The Sun

Well, the week started off like 95 degrees and now we are dealing with like 60 degrees, and honestly, the contrast is making me shiver a bit. Rainy days have smitten the land. This is the first year I didn't have to inhale smoke all summer, so that was cool.

Speaking of the flaming temperatures, one day became too much for your boy, Elder Ruth. We had some people who needed some major wood split. They gave me a wedge and a sledge and set me to work. It was so much fun splitting large rounds and feeling super manly. It got less fun when Mr. Sun came in like a wrecking ball. I had to stop, due to some serious heat exhaustion. I felt kinda weak the rest of the day and was having a hard time eating, but I still got out there and kept working. I mean, lots of water, a nap and other care first, of course. Don't worry mom, I'm fine.

There's a family that we started teaching as soon as I got here. We taught them twice, and then we were unable to teach them again, supposedly because I invited them to be baptized, and the excommunicated member woman who wears the pants says that we are pushing way too hard. Anyhow, we tried all transfer and finally gave up on them this week. We traveled over there and we talked with the guy who really wanted to meet with us. The woman shut it down again. All I know is, we didn't do anything wrong, we followed our purpose in inviting others to come unto Christ, and the woman is directly responsible for halting the salvation of three others. If you couldn't tell, I'm not pleased with her.

I was so excited to one day get an email from the church informing me that the Book of Mormon videos are coming September 20th. I waited literally my entire mission for this. Anyhow, we mosy to someone's home who hasn't allowed the Book of Mormon in for over 30 years, and I ask if I can show them a video. Boom! Our member support then bore a testimony, and then I finished the job with more testimony. It was so hot, I don't know if she had a tear or a sweat drop streaming down her face. She says, "just one problem Elders. We don't have any Book of Mormons." Which is absolutely huge. We slopped two Book of Mormons into her and her husband's hands. He is so excited to read it, saying it's something he has wanted forever but never pursued because of her. These two are now well on their way. Sweet!

I didn't really want to tell our military academy boys that I was leaving, but a member dropped the news. They were sad to hear of my departure, but they all expressed their love and appreciation for me. I enjoyed bearing testimony to them, comparing the academy to a mission, and how they can do hard things when they rely on the Lord. It was sad to see them go, but I'm glad that liked me and that they are going to keep coming to our class. Three of them expressed they considered going to the catholic gathering instead because of how fun it is, but they will keep coming here because they know our church is the Church of Jesus Christ. Reminds me of when Jesus said to his friends, "will ye also go?" And the apostles all said they'd stay because Jesus is the way to eternal life. We aren't an exciting church with roller blades and a rock band, but we are the only true and living church on the earth. This is where you will find lasting joy and happiness.

I guess I don't really have much else to say. Orofino has been good, but my family has me excited to come home. Elder Haws is staying here for a third transfer, so he is happy about that. We ran over a skunk late at night in our car and it still stunk the next day. I also saw a raccoon, which is a far less common sighting than I thought. Missions are great. The church is true. I survived two years. Time to go home and do some serious girl hugging. Gird up your loins, boys, we're going on an adventure!  

Looks like my cat from home!

The Beginning of the End

Well, thus begins my final week as a missionary. Not that anything in this email relates to my final week, since I'm not Marty McFly, I'm just putting this out there. I'm fixing to come home in nine days, and I couldn't be more excited. It's bitter sweet, but missionary work doesn't end just because you've finished the mission. 

So Elder Larsen, my companion from December to February is up here, and he can't seem to sleep in his apartment in Kamiah! But any time he goes literally anywhere else, he sleeps as good as I wish I could. President had us do an exchange which lasted 3 days, where I was left in charge with Elder Larsen once again at my side. One of my favorite things I noticed is, people often change and become better than the last time you saw them. He's not the greenie I remember training! Anyhow, me and him got out to slop the streets and let the good times begin. (The good times are also present with Elder Haws, I love that guy.)

So we have a family of gators who up n moved that I wrote about in my last email. I wasn't pleased with this, and so I started some serious detective work. We eventually learned the general area of their new location. We gave details to the ward mission leader who gave us faulty directions, landing us atop the Dworshak dam, which is huge. I enjoyed doing a hand stand atop one of the cement barriers with the dam behind me. We then scurried around searching for anywhere else it might be. The other side of the dam was not the place. Finally we returned to the one who gave us the dirty deets on the families location and ended up becoming pretty good friends with her. She will become an investigator here in just a bit. Anyhow, we finally find the supposed campground and park the car. After walking through the woods, we scoped em out along the river! Boom! They were so glad we found them since they didn't have our phone number. So now, we are back in business teaching this family.

Another time, we were walking to a referral we received, and I felt sheepish since a party was going on at that house, and people were outside just staring at us. We just kept walking and I pulled us down the road into the first turn, landing us in a trailer park. I believe that for us missionaries, there's usually a reason for us when something like that happens. I decided we would knock on two doors. The first was a no answer. I stared the park down and then selected your boy, Devante's trailer. He's a Muslim kid who frankly doesn't care about that since he's a christian who only converted because his family did. He isn't sure if he can have us over, but before he closed that door, I dropped the dirty, "so what do you know about your family history?" Two days later, we had that man in the family history center. That's right, boys!

Saturday was one of the longest days of my life. We went to Kamiah for BBQ days. Woke up at 5:40 to leave at 6:00 and arrive at 6:30 AM. *grumble* Me and Elder Haws were way down a street holding a sign to direct runners in a 5K. Unfortunately, the people before us directed them wrong, so we were standing around for nothing more than to enjoy the excuse of the mountains they have. Later, we helped people set up for a parade, serve dinner, and then fold up bouncy houses. We finally left at 8:30 pm. The highlight of the day for me was no doubt when I was sitting under a pavilion, and a lil sparrow flew in and landed on my head! I had never had such an experience! The other elders joked about how they wish it was a dove so they could say the Holy Ghost descended upon me. 

Lastly, we got to teach at the military academy again this week. Only four boys showed up this time. So sad.. but they were the ones who participate the most and the ones I've developed the best friendship with. My patriarchal blessing talks about how I will learn to love the people that I serve on my mission. I could see that start to be the case in airway heights (and I'm referring to the people who I didn't know, since I loved my investigators) but that day, I saw the prophecy come true. You see, my whole mission, I've struggled with the word "love" when it came to other guys. I've had companions who say "love ya" just before bed, and I stayed silent because I had a mental block. I think Elder Herem got me to say it like twice. That day in the academy, I was able to look at these boys who I almost never get to see and barely know, and tell them that I love them, and they can make it. The military academy isn't easy, but neither is a mission. I heard them describing how they missed basic things, like seeing their family every day, or being able to just go home and lay down or open the fridge whenever they wanted and have food provided in abundance. They told me they'll never take these things for granted again. Me and the boys have learned, and I know because they told me, the Lord will always provide a way for you to make it. He will never leave you totally alone, and when you rely on Him, He will be with you and get you to the finish. I stand as testimony. 

I had my final interview with President, and he asked how it felt for me to have made it this far. I said, "I didn't think I would make it this far," and he said, "you know, Elder, I didn't think you would, either." The Lord provides a way. 

So there's my second to last mass email I'll ever send to this specific audience. Thanks to everyone to has supported me this whole time. It's been good. Anyways, Gird up your loins, boys, we're going on an adventure!

Check out this view!

Dworshak Dam