Off to Minnesota

This past week included a trip to Bemidji, Minnesota. We had a CES missionary conference there. It was really a great conference but it was a long ways to travel, about 12 hours. We left home Wednesday afternoon and drove to Bismarck, North Dakota were we spent the night. The next morning we met Elder & Sister Johnson who are CES missionaries in Bismarck. We rode with them to Bemidji and really enjoyed getting to know them. On the way we stopped in Jamestown, ND were we saw 3 very rare white (albino) buffalo, the worlds largest buffalo (a huge statue) and Louis Lamour's writing shack. We were a little late getting to the conference but they waited for us. There was a couple from Duluth, MN, a new couple that just recently came to Souix Falls, SD, Bro. & Sis. Fisher (our area coordinator) and Bro. Mcdonald our area director. Our meetings were really informative and spiritual. After our meetings we went out to a really nice restaurant for dinner, then back to the hotel were we were all ready for a good nights sleep. Fri. morning we continued our meetings until lunch time. After lunch we had our pictures taken with Paul Bunyan and Babe. Then we drove to the Itasca State Park where the headwaters of the Mississippi river are located. We were able to walk on a log across the river. It was really quite beautiful there - some of the leaves had started to change colors. After that we were off on our trip back to Bismarck where we stayed Fri. night. We got up Sat. and attended a session at the Bismarck temple. We really enjoyed it. Before we left Bismarck we went to the state capital and they have a state historical museum which we thoroughly enjoyed. After we finished there we ate lunch and headed home.

Our week of firsts

We started out the week by being invited to the Beau's home for dinner. What an awesome family. They are so much fun!! There is Pat, Gayle, the Dad and Mom, Sara, Emily, Katie, and Rebecca. President Beau is on the high council and over the Seminary and Institute Programs. He has made us feel supported, loved and is grateful for the service we render. He is a great person to have around. Tues., we had our first Institute class. I knew no one would show up. We had six students and it was a lot of fun. We are studying Eternal Marriage. It is fun getting to know these young adults. We went to Nebraska for the first time to visit the teachers there. We attended one Institute Class in Chadron, then went to Gordan to visit a new homestudy teacher. Thursday morning we were up at 5:00 am, to visit and early morning seminary in Chadron, at 6:00 and off to Alliance to visit another early morning seminary. We weren't able to make it to their class in time, but we did meet the students, and gave them a hug, and gave an inservice lesson to the teacher. Then, we were off to Hemingsford to meet another home study teacher. Chadron is about 2 hrs. from Rapid City, that is where we stayed at a hotel. The rest of them are about 50 miles apart. It is a good thing we are enjoying it! The teachers are so dedicated and committed to this wonderful seminary and Institute Programs for our youth. Some of them brought their blankets and a McDonald Breakfast to Seminary. I was impressed at their dedication and for their desire to learn of Christ. It certainly strenghed our testimonies just to be around them. We taught our first inservice lesson to all the teachers of our Stake. We have 13 teachers, early morning and home study. From Nebraska, Pine Ridge, Hot Springs, Hill City, Belle Fourche, Phillips, to Rapid City. We had 10 teachers come. Our lesson was on Teaching by the Spirit. It went really well. We are so thankful for the Lord's spirit that guides us each day. Each day that I am here, I feel thankful for being here in the South Dakota, Rapid City Mission! We love you all, and miss you terribly. Your scripture is taken from 2nd Nephi 2:6-8 Wherefore redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law,unto all those who have a broken heart, and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

mission experiences

We stopped at Mitchell, SD on the way home from Minn. The corn palace is famous because it is made of parts of corn and the cob. It is bigger than I thought. We also visited a prehistoric Indian village that they are still excavating. It was fascinating. The sisters and Elders came over to our apartment and made orange rolls. Elder Geiger's mom sent him a recipe. They are a lot of fun to be around. The sisters have been coming over for lunch occasionally while they are tracting in this area. Sister Bowles is from South Jordan, Utah, Sister Holt is from Fairbanks, Alaska. We love them! We went to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to take teacher materials. We met Pres. Kingi and Martyna is the home study teacher. We gave her an inservice lesson at the church in Pine Ridge. They are fun people. Pres. Kingi actually lives in Rapid City, but drives to Pine Ridge everyday to teach school there. Then again on Sunday to be Branch President. It is a 2 hour drive. We drove to Hill City to give Teacher Materials. It is by Mt. Rushmore. What beautiful scenery, lakes, forests, and lots of grassland. They have a dinosaur museum in Hill City. School started this week, so we went to early morning seminary -6:30 am - and visited with the three Rapid City teachers. We have a lot of computer work that we have to do, especially at the beginning of the school year. We have our first inservice on the 13. We also had our first Institute Social Tuesday night. We had to make all the arrangements, and buy food for it. We had a barbecue, and it was a lot of fun. We would have liked to have more youth out, but in the mission field, you are happy for what you get. We also went with the missionaries to visit some investigators. We always enjoy that. I have been sick again, but they have a Sinus Institute here in Rapid City, so maybe we will be able to get to the bottom of this. It was amazing how quickly I was able to get in. The Lord's blessings are always with us. We love all of you, and miss you. We love our mission. Each day is a new experience. Here is your scripture for the week. Moroni 8:17-19 And I am filled with charity which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation. For I know that God is not a partial God neither a changeable being;but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity. Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.