This was such a great week, Elder Merrill and I worked hard, and we taught a lot of lessons, we saw and visited with a lot of people and we had some really great memorable experiences. This was a fun week, the weather wasn't too bad, and it was really funny to hear all the locals say "NO, I'm not watching the Super Bowl!" As you might assume the Wisconsinites are still a little hurt that the Packers lost, but I'm sure nearly all of them watched the game anyway. It provides an excuse for them to get drunk, their second favorite past time :)

Five week old puppies at one of the member's homes.
There are five puppies in this litter -- so cute!

So what happened this week? I'll work backwards, starting with Sunday. Sunday was a great day of church, snow, and heavy wind. We were small in numbers but we had a constant flow of members coming up to bear their testimonies. We also had a confirmation for someone that the Sisters had been teaching, she was baptized Saturday and Confirmed Sunday. After Church Elder Merrill and I put on the heavy boots and coats and drove to a less active member’s house. We were blessed that he was home and willing to let us in. We spent some time with him and we shared a message. Then we walked around the block to our investigator's house that has a baptismal date, the 10 year old and his family. We only spent a few minutes at their place and confirmed our Tuesday appointment with the mom. The family didn't come to church on Sunday :(  With the high winds and heavy snow fall Elder Merrill and I drove a few blocks, parked the car and tracted out 10 houses (because that is the Zone Leaders goal, to knock 10 doors every day minimum) So in the freezing wind and snow we knocked our 10 doors with no success and then drove home. While we were driving home we saw a car stuck in a snow drift. We parked our car behind his and hopped out to help him. This was so much fun, hard work too. The car was more stuck than we had anticipated. It took us 15 minutes and another person showed up to lend us her shovel. I'm grateful to have a companion from a cold part of the country because Elder Merrill certainly knows more than I do about getting cars unstuck from the snow. We pushed and shoved, tires spun, and eventually we were successful. The guy offered us a $10, but Elder Merrill had the quick draw on him and offered a pass-a-long card instead. What a great service opportunity!

Saturday was the baptism for the investigator that the Sisters had been teaching. It was a wonderful baptismal service. Nothing went wrong; there were plenty of emotions and happy smiles. It was great to see her get baptized, her husband has been a member his whole life, but fell away from the church at a very young age. He himself has made some dramatic changes in his life and was able to baptize his wife.

Blurry puppies - but at least you can see his face better.

Friday: Elder Merrill and I had a wonderful lesson with our Catholic investigator. This man used to be the pilot for the Wisconsin State Governor and Senators. Not only is he an experienced pilot but also a knowledgeable Catholic. He enjoys meeting with us for the purpose of learning and understanding, for now he is not searching or considering conversion. He likes to have our lessons on certain topics. Two weeks ago we taught an entire lesson on "Laying on of Hands", our lesson this past Friday was on baptism. As our lessons usually go, he teaches us first what the Catholics do and believe about baptism. He explained to us the classes that perspective converts go through and how they administer baptism to babies, on up to adults. He explained the service to us and it was all very interesting to learn about. Then he asked that we explain it to him the "Mormon way" as you might put it. We started by talking about missionary work and how someone would take lessons with the missionaries just as he is. Then we talked about the interview and the baptism by immersion as well as the confirmation which takes place the Sunday after the baptism (for converts). Instead of stopping there, Elder Merrill and I continued to teach about Family History work, and Temple work. We explained what proxy baptisms are and why we do them, then we taught him Temple marriage sealings and how it all connects back to baptism and family history work. I pulled out my family history chart and showed him what work has been done, what more needs to be done and we explained further the why. It was very powerful talking about all this with him. The spirit of Elijah is real, and all those who have a knowledge and understanding of the love of God can understand at the very least why we do this Temple work. This was a very enjoyable lesson to teach, and I bore my testimony on Sunday about the Spirit of Elijah and Family History work.

Skip Thursday and move on to Wednesday: Our Wednesday was almost completely tracting. And mornings are rarely successful for finding which is why we normally do service in the mornings. However, on Wednesday morning I had a once in a life time opportunity; a golden treat and hoopla of excitement. On Wednesday Elder Merrill and I walked into two people who had just come to America from mainland China on December 1st. Their English was very broken and communication between us and them was pretty dang hard. I'm not even sure they understood that we were Jesus people. But I snagged their attention with this spiritually powerful statement, “ Dalai Lama-de ge-ge shr wo-de pengyo”,* I don't really know how to type it, but the Hyer family will know what I'm talking about. "The Dalai Lama's older brother is my friend!" I used that and the Chinese couple was super thrilled with me and they even gave me their address! I was so ecstatic when it happened; I can't believe that the one and only phrase I know in Chinese actually got me somewhere. I felt as if my life was complete, I could have died Wednesday and been happy with it. I need some Chinese flash cards and some quick phrases that will help me to tell them that we are missionaries representing Jesus Christ, and something about the Book of Mormon. I am getting a simplified Chinese Book of Mormon next week and I'm hoping I will be able to introduce the book to them. Isn't this so cool!!!

Scripture for the week: Mormon 9:27

O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him.

Thank you very much, enjoy the week, Love,

Elder Luymes

*Andrew's Granddad travelled through Tibet in 1996 with 3 Hyer siblings and  he used that phrase often to get him into doors and other special places; the monks really loved it.  The truth is that the Dalai Lama's older brother really is a friend of Granddad's and would come to the Hyer family home when he was traveling through Provo UT.

The book with a promise,
The elder who is trying to share it.