January 13, 2014

We had the coldest and the warmest days of winter (so far) all in one week! I'm not really sure how to take it all in but I guess I'm mostly happy with it. We were not allowed to go tracting or be outside for any length of time on both Monday and Tuesday (-20). But Wednesday was noticeably warmer and the week just progressively got warmer. We hit low 40's at times but mostly stayed around the 30-38 mark. It was nice to wear only a white shirt and pants for a change instead of living in thermals like we had been.

Yesterday (Sunday) was my 7 month mark. Unlike my 6 month mark where we celebrated and it felt like a milestone was reached. For 7 months, I pondered on the topic of: WHERE IN THE WORLD DID THAT MONTH GO?!?! That was crazy fast and I'm a little confused because this transfer is nearly almost over with. Transfers are on the 29th of January and FYI, chances are small that I will get transferred but still a possibility. It’s been great so far being in the Sun Prairie Ward, the members here feed us some really big meals. One dinner appointment we had this past week was a full on four coarse meal, The family later showed us their all electric car that I thought was just super awesome because the mother has a PHD in chemistry and has spent most of her life working in the environmental science field (my same field of interest and all). J

Sunrise in Sun Prairie

This week I went on exchanges with the Beaver Dam Elders. I went up to Beaver Dam where I interviewed three kids for baptism. This part member family was coming out of inactivity and was beginning to take root in the gospel and come back to church. They have a wonderful success story. So I interviewed the three oldest kids: their ages are 13,11,9. It is very interesting interviewing kids, you have to ask all the questions but you also don't want to ask them in a manner that makes them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. It was really interesting, but a good experience none-the-less. Later, on Saturday, the whole District was able to go to Beaver Dam and watch the baptism. It was great to see the father do the baptisms after only receiving the Aaronic priesthood a couple weeks before. It was a good week for us.

Something that Elder Ferney and I have been spending a lot of time doing is helping a member here prepare for his mission. He is doing a three month trial mission, which means that he won't have any MTC experience. So Elder Ferney and I meet with him several hours a week and teach him important skills and other lessons from Preach My Gospel. We teach him in the Library, then afterwards we take him out tracting, or to lessons with investigators. It has been an interesting learning experience to teach someone at this stage in their life. President Cutler and Bishop Hatch have told us that our job is very crucial and essential to his potential success as a missionary, so they want us to take this task very seriously. It has been fun, and being in a tri-companionship is a little weird when out tracting.

Scripture for the week: Jacob 2:8

And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

Thank you all

Elder Luymes

Inspiration from Coach Green,
"U a Pony" = You're not a mustang yet!



Missionary appropriate "almost" footie pajamas!
Thanks Ally (and the groundhog too).