October 21, 2013
Say Ay to da U.P Ay! This was a pretty Yooper weekend: rain, cold
weather, Packers ball game, beer (not for the missionaries), deer (for the
missionaries), hunting, and venison tacos (for the missionary belly). Yup, I
think I got it all. Right now we are laughing so hard in the Library.
This week was a pretty typical week. Not in a bad way, nor in a
good way; just normal. Elder Baird and I continue to have fun serving together,
working hard in the rain and cold. Serving the people as best we can (or at
least for as long as they are awake) The town shuts down at 6pm and by 7pm most
houses are dark and the streets are empty. That is the life of a cold weather
missionary in the vast U.P. All is well though, and there is still progress being
made and we are doing what we can.
A short funny story: last Monday at the conclusion of our P-day,
Elder Baird and I headed out to go street contacting. We said a companionship
prayer before we headed out, Elder Baird stumbled over his words and said mid-prayer
"bless us as we go street hunting". When we were outside we talked
about what he had said and we both agreed "street hunting" is a much
better term for describing our situation. In street contacting you actually
have people out on the street and you talk to them. However, in small town
Manistique, we street hunt, looking for that one soul who just so happens to be
out on the street on a cold Monday evening. In our 1 1/2 hours of street
hunting, we saw zero souls.
To answer your questions or concerns about the deer remark made in
my intro. We did not hit a deer, but we were about 1-2 feet away from hitting
one, or rather being hit by a deer ourselves. On Sunday as we were driving to
church, all was well on the M77 heading North. When out of nowhere a deer comes
galloping across the high way. I quickly braked and steered to avoid the deer
as it finished crossing the road. All was well, and no one was hurt but it
would have been an interesting call to the mission president.
Last but not least. Do you remember me sending a picture of a truck
that said: Hill Billy Deluxe, and Hypnotic Hydroponics? Elder Baird and I went
tracting this week and we met the wife of the owner. She was very interested in
reading the Book of Mormon and we were able to set up a return appointment with
her. To our surprise she was very nice and I guess we shouldn't be judging to
soon.
One of our members here has been a member for 15 years. He has
severe cancer, diabetes, and multiple other health issues. His doctors don't
expect him to live much longer. But Bro.S___ has had a goal to get to the
Temple before he dies. When I arrived here in Manistique I was appointed the
task of teaching him the Temple Prep lessons because I had been a Temple Prep
teacher at BYU my Winter semester. I taught him each lesson twice because of
his slow learning. We worked very hard with the Marquette Ward Bishop and Stake
Presidency (who lives all the way down in Green Bay) to come up to Germfask and
interview him and other members for Temple recommends. Finally, Bro.S___ got
his recommend after several months of hard work. With all the love and delight
in my heart I am delighted to say that Bro.S___ got endowed on Saturday in the
Chicago temple. But it doesn't stop there. He also got sealed to his wife who
passed away unexpectedly over 35 years ago. And he was able to do the temple
work for his parents and paternal grandparents too. All three of the couples
were sealed and the children were sealed to their parents respectively. This monumental
occasion is the highlight of my mission so far. I can honestly say that all
these months of slow or sometimes no progress has been very stressful at times,
but the reward that has come, and the unexpected addition of Temple work for
five others who we weren't planning on in the beginning has been a true
blessing from God.
Press on Christian Soldier
Elder Luymes
"Lets take a selfie" |
Sunrise from our apartment; those clouds mean rain. |
Red neck or Yooper solution? Don't slam the door! The air conditioner will fall out! |
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