Elder Andrew Luymes

Hello and Happy MLK Day!!! January 20, 2014

This past week was a fairly traditional week: lessons, visiting potential investigators, tracting, District Meeting, exchanges with the Madison East Zone Leaders, dinner at member’s home, all that good stuff.

The Sun Prairie ward continues to impress me. We had Ward mission coloration with all of the auxiliary leaders. I was so impressed at how well the members knew the investigators that we are working with most closely, and how well the leadership came together to discuss the needs and ways of helping our investigators. Also, we have member volunteering to take us to far locations to meet with Less Actives and other important people so that the missionaries in the Ward don't have to use their own miles. It’s great! This coming Saturday, we will be having a Ward Youth sports activity. All the youth have been encouraged to invite a non-member friend or a Less Active friend. This simple and non-preachy activity is just one of many great ways that the youth are getting involved in the missionary work. We have two youth here in DeForest that we take with us to lessons, or out tracting. It’s great to get to know them, and to help them gain some vital experience as they prepare for their missions in the coming weeks or years (depending on the youth).

It appears that everyone wants to know the story behind the shoe and White dress shirt that hang on the wall in our apartment. Sorry to burst your bubble, but there isn't a story for everything that we say, do, or hang up on our walls. It’s simply part of the mission culture. Most areas have something that every missionary that serves there signs, for some areas it’s a stolen stop sign, or a table, or an Elders white shirt. As for the shoe, everybody needs motivation to work a little bit harder, to knock just one more door, or to go visit that last person for the day. A shoe with no sole is a testimony that knocking just one more door leads to success. That's the story. The two Elders who "opened up" DeForest put those there.

The Weather has cooled down a little bit, and we got more snow since last week. It hasn't put a halt to our work though. Elder Ferney and I are often out at 7:30 pm or later, walking the streets trying to visit potential investigators. It helps to get used to the cold and to have the right clothing too. But I know I can speak for all the missionaries and the residents of Wisconsin when I say: We are sick and tired of the cold, when will spring come and the sun too?

Scripture for the week: Jacob 5:72

And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their might; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

Thank you all :)

Elder Luymes