Crazy Week

Hi To All,

Where to begin?  It was a crazy week. Last Saturday we experienced our first transfer. Our shift was at the Visitor Center when all the calls were made to the missionaries telling them where they would be going.  For some it was Christmas morning and for others it was doom and gloom.  We had little sisters weeping for joy and others weeping for fear and sadness.  We had Elders coming in with grins from ear to ear and others with shoulders drooped. But by Tuesday morning they met at the Visitor Center with their bags packed and said their goodbyes with firm resolve. Even though we have only been with the Sister missionaries for 7 weeks, we had become attached and it was sad saying goodbye, knowing that a couple of them will be going home at the next transfer.  We had a testimony meeting prior to the vans leaving and those missionaries going home bore sweet, beautiful testimonies.  We send them on missions as very young boys and girls and return them to their homes as strong, confident young men and young women ready to take on the world.What a Plan!!  It is so nice to know who is in charge.  

Just a side note, some of you may not realize that our mission goes as far north as Nephi and as far east as Moab.  It also takes in Mesquite NV, so the boundaries for our out-bound missionaries are pretty far away.  (I know its not hundreds and hundreds of miles, but when I see 26 missionaries every week and then they are sent to Manti, or Cedar City, its far away)  (Stop laughing cause you think I'm crazy)

Our week started out pretty weak.  Neither of us had much success with teaching any of our visitors nor handing out Book of Mormons or other material.  We tried but had lots of "No Thank Yous'."  I just knew that one couple who were visiting BY's home from Indiana, were going to take a Book of Mormon and all the information we have, but when I asked if they would like a B of M they said no.  Popped my balloon real quick.  We just have to keep a smile on our faces and try again.  

However, last night at the VC we started having all these people coming in who spoke several different languages.  Bruce gave a tour to 5 of them who told him they were members of the 7th Day Adventists church and were attending a convention in St. George.  They told him there were more than 400 of them attending.  Within an hour most of the Sister missionaries were giving tours to these people and I gave a tour to 5 who were from Russia, Israel and Croatia.  Bruce's group all took B of M's, most of the Sister missionaries gave out several B of M's.  My Russians and Israelis declined, but the Croatians not only took the B of M but wanted all our other information and took the pass-along card and promised they would send it with their address and email address.  I told them there were missionaries in Croatia that would be happy to answer other questions.  They were so fascinated with baptism for the dead, marrying for "Time and Eternity", and genealogy.  We had a wonderful discussion for over 1 1/2 hrs.  It was a great way to end the week.

I think I am destined to have weekly experiences with the French.  This week our tour bus came and did not break down but after they left one of the Sisters brought me and I-Pod with headphones attached.  Yup, one of the French had left it.  Pretty soon I get a call from the Tour Guide asking if we had found it and I told him, we had.  He then asked how he could get it back since they had left St George and were in Las Vegas and weren't coming back through St. George.  I offered to mail it to the gentleman and went and found our little sister who speaks french to get his address.  He wanted to give me his credit card, like I carry around a CC processor.  Now I get to mail an I-pod to France, but I am slipping a B of M in the package along with a note thanking him for visiting the VC and hope he will read this book.  I also told him it will change his life.  Hope he doesn't send it back.

As you can see by the picture, we had visitors.  What a treat to see friends walk through the doors to see how things are going.  We gave Steve and Linda a tour but I had to cut it short to entertain my Russian, Israeli​​ and Croatia group.  But we hope they heard information that they had never heard before and enjoyed our wonderful Al Rounds Art Exhibit.  Thank you for stopping by.

Our other pictures are of our adventures this week.  We hiked up the Anasazi Trail head.  It is not a particularly hard hike but it is rather long. I had done it before and sort of remembered where the petroglyphs were. So Yea, look what we found.  Lots of petroglyphs.  At first after climbing up to the cliff we didn't find any petroglyphs so we worked are way down the cliff to check out the face of the lava rocks. After being very discouraged and Bruce not believing that anything was there, I finally found one, then a bicyclist rode up the trail and we asked him where all the pictures were.  He told us we had come to far and had taken a slight wrong turn when we had reached the top of the cliff.  So back we went and there they were.  What a fun day.  I think I am slowly convincing Bruce that hiking is really fun.  We'll see.

     

It's time for bed so I better stop my essay until next week.  As I read what I write, I realize that I write like I talk.  Fast, and jumbled, but I do hope you enjoy our weekly ramblings.  We send love to all and pray all is well.  Have a wonderful week.

Love Bruce and Dawna,

(Elder and Sister)