Already Here for 10 weeks!

Drive through Black Hills National Forest

NOTE:  Sorry this is a day late.  We were at the Bishop's ranch last night teaching one of his friends.  It takes a little over an hour to get there, so it was a late night for us.

Amazing things are happening. Today, we are smiling so big, our faces can’t contain it.

We had the Smith family (including the mom) , and the Willadsons at church today.  It’s the first time the Willadson’s have been to church since we have been here.  They are the couple that went to the temple with us last week-end.  We hadn’t realized they had come until we got up to bear our testimonies.  When I saw them, I started to cry with joy.  I hadn’t planned on getting emotional during my testimony, (We were just filling in the silence), but I couldn’t hold back the joy!!  I know you other missionaries (past and current) know exactly what I mean.

We also talked with Gary about coming to church (really holding my breath on that one) and he said he would need some decent clothes.  He didn’t want to go in sweatpants and it’s been a long time since he’s needed something nicer.  I asked if he would mind thrift store clothes, and he didn’t mind at all.  So we went through what size he would need of each item.  That’s our assignment this week.  We are really good thrift store shoppers.  We’ve found at least one in every town we visit, so there’s lots of options.  General Conference is this next week-end, so we have two weeks to look.  I also have some male members of the ward asking people of similar build if they have anything they want to contribute.  Gary even checked out our car to see if he would be able to get in Ok.  It will work!!  (He’s limited in the use of his left side due to a stroke and needs a wheelchair or scooter).  His wheel chair will fit in the back of our car - especially since the back seat folds down.  It will be a drive to pick him up, but so worth it. 

 

Keith's truck (parked outside of Pizza Barn)

Us with April and Keith in front of Pizza Barn.  Good Food!!

Another amazing blessing involved Gary and the Aylesworths.  The Aylesworths have an older truck that has seen much better days.  Keith works hard at keeping it running, but then something else breaks the next week.  It finally died on Wednesday.  That left them with nothing at all to drive.  We remembered Gary was thinking about selling his truck, so we called and asked if he was stilling thinking about selling.  Not sure if we mentioned what a kind and giving man Gary is.  He’s always offering to help anyone he can, and constantly gives us things.  The chest freezer, he gave us has really been a blessing.  Gary was asking $1500 for the truck but said he would take as little as $1000, if the higher price was a problem.   That is a huge difference in price.  We took the Aylesworth’s over and let them take a look and then let them work out details.  The Aylesworths were able to handle the $1500 and gave him a cash down payment.  I think that is  all their savings.  Gary agreed to let them pay the rest when they could.  There was such gratitude and love in the room that afternoon.  What a blessing we can be to others.  Gary and Keith hit it off right away, and we spent another hour listening to their stories about travels, hunting, fishing and other crazy adventures.  I think they will be lifetime friends.  So the Ayleworth’s drove home with a very nice truck! 

We had dinner with the Willadson’s last night.  He’s a very good cook!  That’s when we asked if they would try to come to church.  I realize it’s very difficult to get ready that early, especially with physical limitations.  They had such a good experience at the temple last week-end.  Bless their heart for coming this morning to church.  They seemed happy about coming and stayed for both hours of the service.  (We used to have 3 hours - sacrament meeting, Sunday school and split up for the ladies group -RS and the men’s - Priesthood Quorum).  Now we only have two.  Most people like the change.  

General Conference is this next week-end.  It’s accessible through satellite at the church, the BYU channel or through the internet (computer).  The Willadson’s have a huge, super nice TV and they get the BYU channel, so we asked if we could watch conference at their house with them on Saturday.  They said yes to that too!  That will be a very nice thing to experience with them.  We’ll have to think of some yummy snacks to bring.

Saturday afternoon, there was a funeral at the church.  We didn’t know the man, but Walt was asked to speak on the Plan of Salvation.  He did a very nice job.  It took a lot of prep time, but it turned out quite well.  I made scalloped potatoes (a recipe actually called “funeral potatoes”) and then just helped people find their way around.  98% of the people attending were not of our faith.  I kind of felt like a hostess at the temple, smiling and gesturing which way to go.  It’s always amazing how when you smile at someone, they always smile back.  We both helped with some of the clean-up from the dinner afterwards, before heading to the Willadson’s for our dinner.

Our district on Wednesday at Buffalo Wild Wings.  The sister on the end (polka dot dress) went home on Friday.  Our last fun lunch with her.

Duncan helping clean up after the Pot Luck on Sunday

The rest of the week was quite busy, almost a blur.  We had two days of serving at the Senior Center.  Our usual meeting with the other missionaries got changed to Thursday, so decided to help with lunch on Monday and then again on Tuesday.  We weren’t sure about which day would be the 2nd one, so Tuesday, they didn’t know we were coming.  It turns out that Monday and Tuesday both, they were short 2 out of the 4 staff for the kitchen.  So we were really needed those 2 days.  It always feels great to be needed.  We were grateful we could be so helpful.  Although I think we are blessed more with a free lunch and meeting so many senior members of the community. This week we were really blessed with meals.  We had two free lunches, 4 dinner appointments and some leftovers as well.  Many times people that feed us make a lot and send us home with leftovers.  People are so generous and kind here.  We love it!

Drive to Spearfish SD

Such beautiful trees in SD!

We did have a half a day of fun on Wednesday.  The weather was really nice and we decided to check out the town of Spearfish, SD.  So far, it is one of my favorites.  It’s about 3 times the size of Newcastle.  We tend to judge if it’s a “real town” by the number of restaurants and other familiar stores.  Spearfish even has a Safeway!  Of course, we found a thrift store there as well.  The drive there was really pretty!  We drove all through the Black Hills National Forest.  Evidently, that is a popular snow mobile area.  They still have quite a bit of snow up there.  We drove through the towns of Lead and Deadwood.  They are small but very nice.  We had a nice day there- shopping and having lunch at a little local BBQ place.

We visited 9 families, 2 Sr Lunches, 3 meetings, and one bingo game!  We love calling Bingo!  There were a lot of quicks wins this week.  So, it’s been a busy week!  The weather has been pretty crazy - a couple of days of sunny warm weather with two days of bleak and cold in the middle.  This coming up week we will have a high of 65 and another day only 42 and calling for snow.  We had some wintry mix on one of our bleak and cold days.  Wyoming weather is an adventure like everything else here.

One of the cows at the Bishop's Ranch  (#725)

Calves at the Bishop's Ranch

Mom's and babies at the Ranch.  Not sure if it will do this once I post, but if you watch, it looks like the cows are shaking their heads "no"

The last bit of exciting news is about calving.  It’s that season - lots of little baby cows!  I am really hoping to have the opportunity to see one being born.  The Bishop still has about half of his first time mom’s that haven’t given birth yet.  One heifer had twins on Friday - a very unusual thing.  Most times, at least one will die.  They were able to save both calves, but the tiny one needs extra care.  So the Checketts took it to their house in town, since it will need fed every 4 hours.  Tomorrow we get to go for the 4 pm feeding and help.  There will be lots of pictures.  We figured we would even wear our jeans (and Walt his cowboy boots) for the occasion.  

We have been discussing all that has happened since we have been in Newcastle; which is 10 weeks on Saturday.  There have been so many miracles and blessings.  We’ve decided we need to start recording them in a little book.  It will be something we’ll keep forever.  We know it’s difficult for our families to have us gone for 18 months, and we miss them all a great deal.  The amazing things that have blessed the lives of families here, makes it all worth it.  Anya gave us a plaque thing that says “Missionary (noun) - Someone who leaves their family for a short time so that others may be with their families for eternity.”  We wouldn’t have said it better.

Thank you so much - all of you!  You show us great love and support.  We need it often.  It’s not all a bed of and roses (I almost said “guns and roses”, which would fit this area). But with the love and prayers from our family and friends, we are truly blessed and supported.  

Antelope out at the Bishop's Ranch (Bishop Checkett)