Laramie Week 8

Whoot! Hello from good 'ole Laramie, Wyoming! I hope this email finds you well!

I am short on time but want to share one experience from the week and one thing I learned this week studying 'Faith' in the scriptures.

First, this is definitely the Lord's work and not mine. I am a teeny tiny cog in His masterpiece. That isn't to say I'm not important - all of us are extremely important to our Heavenly Father. It is just amazing that we didn't really have much going for us in terms of appointments with people that aren't members, and now we do. Seemingly out of nowhere four people that aren't members want to meet with us and learn about the Gospel. The most miraculous of which occurred last Sunday. In the 3rd hour of church of of the guys created a 20 min video (he spent 8 hrs putting it together) of a "best of General Conference." Essentially, he emailed lots of friends and family to send him the moments of General Conference that touched them the most. Wow. It was one of the best videos I had ever seen. He was trying to help us get prepared for the semi-annual General Conference of the church that is happening on the first weekend of April (the 5th and 6th). It is where all the the prophet, his 2 counselors, the 12 apostles, and other general authorities of the church deliver messages to the church. They basically call us to repentance and change our lives to be more in tune with what the Savior Jesus Christ asks of us. After this video, I met a girl in our ward and her nonmember boyfriend who during that video felt the Spirit and desired to be baptized this upcoming weekend! We have never met with him before - we will be shortly this evening.

Transfer Number 2 Begins!

So transfers are today! And.... I'm staying in the same area with the same companion! Whoot! Still in the Laramie River YSA (young single adults) for another 6 weeks in Laramie, Wyoming. We both thought that would be the case. We are looking forward to an exciting and productive transfer. We anticipate both leaving the area and having no missionaries to replace us because the 6 week transfer period ends 2 weeks before the school year. There are 3 YSA wards during the school year, but only 1 or perhaps 2 over the summer because so many residents are gone (kinda like how half of the Davis, CA population is students so the city shrinks in half when school is out). Either way, we believe our ward will for sure be done over the summer. This last thing I learned the other day about this area blew me away. There are 9 zones in the mission (for example, I am in the Laramie Zone) and ~100 companionships (~200 missionaries) in the mission. Of them, only 9 of them cover YSA wards. And among those covering them, 5 of them are zone leader companionships (they oversee the whole zone while covering the YSA ward). Then, 3 of the companionships are sister missionaries, leaving only 1 other available companionship spot for elders that aren't zone leaders to serve in a YSA. I happened to be assigned on my first transfer to be in that spot AND stay another transfer in that spot. What I'm getting at is that this is HIGHLY unlikely. It almost never happens that a missionary is trained in a YSA ward. The missionary in my district (Elder Murray) who goes home today never served in a YSA his entire 2-year mission! I am blessed for sure! It is awesome being here.

Transfer 1 Pictures

12 Pictures from the first transfer in Laramie, Wy of the Colorado Fort Collins Mission:

The picture of the 11 of us missionaries arriving in the Denver airport on Feb 4th with the Mission President and his wife.

Laramie Week 6!

More stories to share! It is crazy that it is week 6 here! And for those who are wondering, I will find out this Saturday where I will be the next 6 weeks. I personally believe it will be the same place, but it is always possible that I move!

I had a really simple but awesome experience yesterday. While shopping at Wal-Mart, I went past a giant display of Tostitos, salsa, and queso dip. I thought about buying that so much. For some reason, I love eating chips and salsa. I think it is one of the most delicious things ever. But, I decided to hold back and not 'waste' my money on unhealthy food. Later last night, I went to FHE with the ward. Lo and behold, the snack/treat after the lesson and activity was Tostitos with salsa & queso!!! Even more than that, this morning I found out that one of the other Elder Zone Leaders living with me bought some Tostitos chips too! I had some this morning with my queso dip and salsa leftovers that I got to take home from last night! He hadn't bought them once this transfer until yesterday. Haha. God rocks. It is EVIDENCE again that God loves me and is involved in the little things in my life. I love it when I have a deep desire or question that I'm trying to figure out in my head - I didn't actually get on my knees and pray to God for chips & salsa - and God comes through answering my unspoken prayer. God is just so amazing!!! :) I love Him so much, especially when He reads my mind and gives me what I was looking for without asking Him. This was not the first time this has happened and certainly not the last! What I love most about this small experience is that God cares about the simple inconsequential things in my life. I love that we have a God who cares about me having chips & salsa - something that really doesn't matter a whole lot - just to remind me that he cares, he knows me, and he is listening to me.

I had my birthday this last week on March 6th and have what I think are 2 funny stories from it that I hope will translate via typing.

Week 5 in the ever-changing weather of Laramie

There are two things that I would love to share this week both actually were from Sunday.

(Since I just added the title about weather, I will also add that it goes from 0 degrees to 15 and snowing to 45 and clear, to 35 and windy, to 40 and overcast/rainy on a practically daily basis. It's exciting. Or at least all of those happen in 1 week. Maybe even being sub-zero a little. I also can't believe we are starting week 5 here. Crazy!)