Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, grandmas,
and mother-like figure in my life. You spread
love, joy, and goodness all around the world. We would be lost in darkness if
it weren't for God blessing us with so many wonderful mothers, I am very
grateful for my mom and the mother figures who have been such a wonderful
influence on my life. Thank you. Skyping with my family was fun on Sunday. It’s
good to see their tan faces and my cute puppy Dixie. My face of course is still
very white but it will get darker as the spring warms up and the summer
arrives. Anyway, back to mothers. Sunday was fun, and the Sun Prairie Ward had
a potluck for all the Woman age 19 and older. I heard it was very nice and well
planned by the Elders quorum, but I wouldn't know because the Elders
(missionaries) were not allowed to participate L
however the Sister missionaries were able to join in.
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| Chilliin' with Elder Stephens while others Skype with family. |
This week was not normal to say the
least. We had planned on doing a lot of contacting, visiting, teaching, and
other normal missionary things. What really happened was a barrage of calls
from the members asking for help on spring projects. Since spring has kind of come
and the sun is out more often the locals have jumped head first into the
ground! Literally! There is a never ending sight of gardening going on. And
this is what we spent most of our week doing. On Tuesday we did 2 hours at the
F___ family - gardening, another 2 hours at the S____ family - gardening. Wednesday
we worked another 3 hours with the S___ family - gardening, and 2 hours at the
Sun Prairie Museum. Thursday we had an all-day Zone Conference so we spent all
day sitting in a cold chapel (it felt really nice to take a break from all the
standing and pulling, and the bending over from planting) Friday we worked 2
hours with the F___ family - gardening, and 2 hours at the DeForest Community
center - gardening. On Saturday morning we got a last minute call to help out
with a fence that was being replaced at a member’s house. On Saturday we did 5
hours of gardening at the S___ family house and 4 hours of fence work at the
C___ house. Total hours of service this week: 22, a normal week only has 4
hours. By Saturday night we were exhausted, sore, and grateful that the week
was over and that we could rest on Sunday. To add to the fun, I have some
important news, super big LA Times front page news, this could be big!!!! On
Friday, I mowed a lawn for the first time in my whole life!!!! My companion was
shocked when I told him that I had never mowed a lawn before, the members
couldn't believe it either, but when you grow up on LA, chances are that your
dad pays somebody else to do the work for you. So yes, on Friday May 9th 2014,
Elder Luymes touched and used a lawn mower for the first time in his whole
life. (The video evidence will have to be released after my mission, but for
now you should be satisfied with a simple picture)
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| First time EVER to mow a lawn! #I'mfromLA |
Today, May 12th we had a super
awesome thunderstorm. While the six Sun Prairie missionaries were at the church
gym playing basketball, frisbee, and other fun games, four of us (me included)
decided to go run out in the rain. It was pouring really hard and the temp was
perfect for a fun run in the rain. We could see the lightening fill the sky
every once in a while and the thunder was loud and epic. Then a flash of
lightening hit a nearby electric pole and lit up the sky in our immediate area!
It produced this extremely bright light that blinded all 6 of us and the sound
was beating against our eardrum. For a few moments the lights in the whole
church went out and the basketball hoops began to shake. All four of us
missionaries who were outside began sprinting back to the church, one sister
screaming the whole time! None of us were hurt, the church lights came back on,
but the electric pole that got hit continued to spark for a few minutes after
the lightning struck it. The pole was about 250 meters from the church. We all
piled back into the gym and kind of just stood there wet and wondering if that
had really happened. It’s an exciting day isn't it!?!
Today is my 11 month mark. I entered
the MTC 11 months ago today. This means that I have 13 months left of my
mission. I shake my head at this because I love my mission so much. Why would I
want to resume a "normal" life after having such great experiences
with the spirit and developing such a close relationship with my Father in Heaven?
The mission is a wonderful place to be.
Everyone who can should serve a mission and feel the spirit mold and
mend and teach you so many wonderful things as you learn to rely more and more
upon the Lord and his all-encompassing Love and Atoning sacrifice. I am so
grateful to be here. The work is amazing; the gospel is pure and perfect. In
the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
In Honor of Mother's Day, scripture of the week: 1 Nephi 11:13-20
13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city
of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in
the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an
angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest
thou?
17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children;
nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.
18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is
the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.
19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away
in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space
of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!
Thank you, enjoy your week!
Elder Luymes
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| Crayon Phenomenon! It rolled off the table and on to the floor and landed up like this. Must be my electro-magnetic personality. |
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