Because We Have Been Given Much

The days go by not so fast but the week flies by!  This week a man came into the office and introduced himself as Warren Stephens, and said that because he had been so blessed by the Lord he wanted to bless other peoples' lives.  He said he wanted to give us a  homemade wooden bucket and we could choose the wood variety and he would engrave our names on the bottom of it.  He was so humble, kind, and giving, that we talked for nearly an hour as he told me about his seven missions that he and his wife served, including three 18 month missions to Nauvoo.  That's where he learned to make the wooden buckets.  He told me a lot about his life and the experiences he has had, and I just marveled.  He said that because he is so blessed, he just can't sit around and do nothing--he has to continue to serve.  His buckets take over four hours to make and he sells them for $90, but he gives them to full time senior couple missionaries.  It was just a joy to talk to him!  Glen came out of the office and we chose the bucket that I'm holding.  He also makes the rope handle himself! 

After talking to him, I felt so blessed!  What an example to just keep on serving and giving.  I hope that we can do just that--keep on giving because we have been given so much.  There are so many good people in the world who give so much--what a privilege to meet them!

This is the bottom of the bucket that he engraved and brought it back to us the very next day!

  I also had a very interesting phone call from an elderly woman who lives in the California part of our mission.  She is not a member but wanted help from our missionaries to drive them to Henderson so she could get her shopping done and go to her dr. appointments.  I talked with her for a long time about how sorry I was that the missionaries are not allowed to drive anyone in their car or to go out of our mission.  (Henderson isn't in our mission.)  She told me that she would never join the Church because she already has a faith.  I asked her what it was and she said she just has faith that there is a God.  I asked her if she read from the Bible and she said no.  It was a very long conversation, and I am only sharing a small portion of it.  I explained to her that the Bible contains living water and the bread of life and that we can benefit from it daily just as she needs water and bread daily.  There was a long pause and she thanked me for sharing "such a beautiful message" with her. I hope I can talk to her again. 

Sunday dinner at the Chapmans with Elder Manning (who was just transferred in), Elder West, Zena, the Burts, and Sis. Judd.  Valerie Chapman, who is not a member, keeps giving us these amazing dinners that we enjoy so much.  Elder Manning challenged her to read the Book of Mormon but she said she wasn't ready yet.

We have amazing food every time we eat there.

On Monday night we went to FHE with the Buffalo Ward seniors.  These are SO much fun!  Jay and Dorothy Burt who are the leaders are the funniest couple we have EVER met and we just laugh and laugh the whole time we're together.  

On Wednesday we got these darling pictures and letters from Jade, Brigham and Lily!  They made our day!    Children's artwork is so amazing to me.  Thanks you guys for giving us so much!  We sure love you!

On Thursday my dad and Bobbie were in Las Vegas so we went out to dinner with them.  They told us about selling their Lehi property to the Boyer Company and now they want to buy some property in Mesquite.  We had an enjoyable time with them.

Glen was able to experience a DI miracle of his own.  Sister Ridley and Sister Christensen were in the office and they told Glen how they really needed a closet organizer because they are getting a new sister next week and they will need more room in their closet with the threesome.  He went over to DI and asked if they ever got any of them and they said they had never seen one--until today--it had just come in!!  Can you believe that?  The sisters were thrilled!

Our ward was having a big pinewood derby in conjunction with an auction to raise money for scout camp and girls camp.  They invited everyone to enter the pinewood derby, so Glen decided to make a "mission car" and he had all the missionaries who came into the office during the week sign it.  They thought it was awesome!  Here are Elders Crapo, Carlson, Larson, Kredt, Werner, Woodard, Findlay, and Peacock admiring it.

At the pinewood derby!  His car lost the first round--he was paired up with the guy who has won the derby for the last five years!  But in the consolation round, here is his car on the left and it won this heat!  The priests in the ward were in charge of it, and there are some great priests!

He won the second heat also, but then lost on the third round.  It was such a blast!

Check out some of the cars that were entered.  There were so many and they were all so different!  It was such a fun ward activity.  We bid on all kinds of items that were given away and we won the bids for the coconut rolls, (yum) a pass for four for miniature golf, and a brand new glider rocker!  I was ecstatic!  They raised $6,600 dollars for the camps that night! Now we just have to get the glider rocker home. . . 

On Saturday morning we had another fun run with our Ragnar group and we ran 3 1/2 miles.  Afterward we went to breakfast at this awesome place and had the best omelets ever!  

After our run and breakfast we drove to Mesquite again to inspect the new apartment that was opened the transfer before. It had been filled to the brim with antiques when we saw it last, and we couldn't imagine that it was going to look nice.  But lo and behold, it looked so much better and we were so surprised!!  It was fun to see the transformation.  Elder Buchkovich and Elder Lloyd live there.

Then we drove to Beaver Dam Arizona where a new area was also opened up and the elders are living in this home.  It was so much nicer than we thought it was going to be, even though they live at the end of a mile long dirt road.  Elder Giullian and the brand new Elder Nielson said it took a week or so to get adjusted to the new area, but they like it and are happy.  They're great elders.

Elder Giullian, Elder Ringer, Elder Nielson, and the also brand new Elder Wilson at the church in Mesquite, about a 15 minute drive from Beaver Dam.  We took Elder Giullian and Elder Nielson out to lunch in Mesquite and it was pretty fun.  We truly have been given so much and it is so rewarding to give to the missionaries.  We also stopped in to see Vickie and Dell in Mesquite and it's always so fun to see them.  We had a great week and we had a great p-day.  I got some flights arranged for departing missionaries;  some passport issues figured out; many departure papers and many certificates and letters sent to stake presidents sent out; and letters for departing missionary families, so I was excited about the progress made for the week.