Elder and Sister Vann

This week wasn’t very eventful.  But a calm, low-key week is just fine.   We are finding out the “closeness” of a small town.  Although several of the towns near us are only a third as big.  We volunteer at the Senior Center twice a week serving lunch and helping in the kitchen.  We try to sit at different tables to get to know more people.  Most of the seniors have lived here for at least 30 years or more.  They know everyone!!  Don’t mess up around here, everyone will know about it.  It’s great to hear stories of the senior’s lives; how things have changed around here over the years.  Most of them have such interesting lives and enjoy sharing their memories with us.   We had our weekly trip to Gillette, no District Meeting with the other missionaries, but gave April a ride back after she visited her sister.  Her husband was very grateful.  He barely made it home before his truck completely died after dr...

  Us in front of the temple on Friday. We thought this week would be a slow one for us.  It started out that way.  We have come to realize there is no such thing for a missionary.  Literally, on Monday, our calendar seemed pretty empty. Monday evening, the Bishop called and asked if we could talk on Sunday.  We feel like we can’t really tell the Bishop - No.  We are here to help in any way we can.  Walt was also asked to lead a 15 minutes discussion in the Missionary District Meeting.  We have that every Wednesday.  We also are teaching a couple the Marriage Relationship lessons each week.  So all of a sudden, we have a lot of preparing to do.   Usual chocolate covered strawberries for Walt's Valentine's Day Then Tues morning, the Bishop called to see if we could give a ride to a woman (not a member but her mother-in-law is and lives in Colorado) from a shelter to a local hotel.  The Bishop was helping out thi...

This week was full of so many different things. We started off the week teaching a Marriage Relationship class to a newly married couple.  It's one thing to work through your own marriage and another thing to teach someone else.  This is where relying on the Spirit is so crucial.  The couple is very enthusiastic and willing to work on each element.  We encouraged them this week to pray as a couple every night.  There is just something so touching to hear your spouse pray on your behalf.  That is one thing, we have learned that is most helpful in our marriage. We found a thrift shop and got all this for $6.00! That same evening was a really fun one.  Two couples and us got together for dinner and game night.  One of the couples had not been to church in about a year.  It was great having them get together and share some fun and strengthen friendships. We did some service this week.  I think it was our favorite parts.  We ...

A beautiful frozen lake in the mountains! This week is so full of stuff, I don't know where to begin and can't begin to tell it all.  I feel like Moroni when he says, "He cannot write a hundredth part of what has transpired."  (paraphrased). Can you see the road?  Good old "blowing snow." Muddy dog prints! Our car after driving down the "Highway" We have decided that there is either snow or mud here.  I think I prefer the snow, it's cleaner and does a good covering up the mud.  Only the main streets are plowed here; which aren't very many.  We're getting used to driving on packed snow.  We did well to trade in our Accord for a CR-V.  Most driveways are only gravel and dirt; thus the mud. Two big mud events were 1) when a dog jumped into our car the minute Walt got out.  Then he happily jumped over to my seat and danced around.  Thank goodness I had gotten out already as well.  It took a few minutes to convince him t...