6 February 2022
VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 438
Family at McFarland graveside service
Endia
This Thursday my ward played volleyball and London and Ashton came over for dinner, and then went with me to the activity. I am starting something where every Thursday we get together for dinner and make something new.
This week we made Mazo Ball Soup. It is a traditional Jewish soup that some of my students told me about, and it turned out great! Next week I am going to try some corn bread, mac and cheese, and chili recipes.
Now for the highlight of my week. On Saturday London and I went on a hike to Donut Falls. The hike was in the snow, but it is popular enough that it was packed down and it wasn’t too steep of a hike.
It was funny, because we got several comments about wearing tennis shoes. Apparently, the word spread as people passed one another on the trail: “The hike is pretty easy. There are a couple girls going up just wearing tennis shoes…” As people passed us, we became known as the “tennis shoe girls” (this fact will play an important role in the story later!).
Endia and London on frozen Donut Falls hike
When we started, it felt like we had entered Narnia with all the snow and beautiful pine trees. When we got to the end of the trail you then get to climb up this waterfall to a cave. The climb was cool because the waterfall was frozen and the snow allowed people to make little stairs to get up, but you could see the water running under the ice at several points.
At the top we dropped into a little cave through a very small entrance in the snow. It was incredibly beautiful. Like a magical fairy land ice castle thing.
Then on the way down we had some real adventures. To get down the waterfall we pretty much sat down and slid down the ice, which was fun but cold! When we got back to the trail, the first part was a pretty steep incline about 50 feet long.
I went first, since my shoes had better grip than London’s, and it was one of those hills where you pick up momentum as you run so I did a weird little jog down the snowy incline and then was able to stop when it leveled out at the bottom.
Frozen Donut Falls
I turned around to watch London go down, and I put my arm out, in case she wasn’t able to stop as easily. As she started going down, she also picked up momentum, but her shoes were slipping around, and she wasn’t slowing at all. She also wasn’t aiming to grab my arm, but was coming straight at me, at full speed! Before I knew it, she pretty much tackled be into the snow bank behind me and we were both laughing on the ground for quite a while!
London kept slipping the whole way down the trail. At another point, she was walking behind me and started to slip and slide into me, grabbing me from behind. When she hit me, I started sliding as well, but that part of the trail was not at all steep or big and we were sliding slower than you would walk, but couldn’t stop! Eventually we collapsed in laughter!
McFarland graveside service
Ashton
Saturday was the last day for the district I am teaching at the MTC. This group has been really amazing, and I am so grateful for them. The first week all seemed well, and then the second week, there were a lot of struggles all of them were facing, but by Week 3, they were able to overcome a lot of those hardships. It was so special to be a part of it with them.
Also, over the last couple of weeks I have been working on applying for a full-time position at the MTC. I didn’t end up getting the position, but it was a really good experience to go through that process.
As of right now I think that’s the direction I want to go. I knew it was a long shot to get this position, seeing as I haven’t been there more than a year, and have no other experience than teaching in the classroom, but I think it was a good opportunity to get my name out there, and to be more prepared for the next time it happens.
Family at McFarland graveside service
Selena
This week we went to Grenville McFarlands Funeral! It was fun to listen to his life story. And all the things he has been through. And the food was so yummy! This week I also hung out with Emma and we went to YogurtLand and the Library.
Alex
We have been taking care of Remi (Yarima’s dog) this week. Also, me, Issac, and Monte were ordained on Sunday. When Monte got ordained a priest, he was then able to ordain me and Issac to be teachers. Monte got a little emotional when he was blessing Issac, and the spirit was really strong there.
McFarland graveside service
Gloria
This week I have been doing really well going to seminary, and I have been doing well talking to other students in my class. We did an activity about Noah and the ark. We had a few minutes to build an ark out of paper, popsicle sticks and tape, and we had to build a boat and it had to stay in the water. Our boat started to stink but it stayed on top of the water.
Also, we went to the Grandpa McFarland's funeral, and it was really nice going to it. Then we went to the cemetery, and after that we went to the church for dinner. We also started going to stake choir practice. I really like a song we are practicing called, My Own Sacred Grove.
Kai with his Gryffindor scarf from Mom
Kai
Recently, Mom has been making some scarves for each of our houses (Harry Potter). I am in Gryffindor, so Mom made me a Gryffindor scarf when she went to California to help Jen and her new baby. My scarf is SO cozy and comfy. I really like the colors, and I am super grateful that Mom made a scarf for me.
Veidi
Remi came over and Dad got Stardew Valley. It looks like a fun game where you build things and have your own farm and make it really nice. We also went to Grandpa Mcfarland's funeral.
The church building in Caleb’s area
Caleb
Last week we got two people to attend sacramental meeting— más o menos—we got them to watch it through Zoom. One of them, Frank, lives far away, so it's understandable. This was his second time watching. He is progressing very well! He's excited to learn and has a genuine desire to come closer to God.
The other person that attended is Darlin. She's from Haiti and kind of speaks Spanish, so there's a little bit of a language barrier. This past week she was sick, so we made some cookies and dropped them off at her house. I think she's just super curious why there are two Americans that keep texting her about God and giving her cookies, but at least she knows we want to help, so with the Spirit we can to help her progress!
I feel like we're actually helping these people to come unto the doctrine and gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am grateful beyond all words that I have it in my life, because without it I would be lost. People are lost and confused without this light, and for that I am grateful to share it!
Caleb at wood-stacking service project
We've focused on setting smaller goals, which has helped us to be so much more effective. That's something that I have been learning, because usually I have an attitude or a desire to try and take on something big, like trying to bring all unto Christ, or learning a language all at once. But really, we just need to focus on one thing at a time, and God will magnify our efforts.
Now for a funny story! Last Sunday, the baptismal font overflowed two hours before a bautismal service! Me and my companion had just returned to our apartment from having lunch with our Bishop and the hermanas called and said the church building was flooding, and the hermanas weren't able to get there right away. Immediately we ran out of the apartment building, caught a colectivo (taxi) and arrived at the chapel.
We bailed out the baptismal font with garbage cans (the drain doesn't work) until the water was low enough that it wouldn't overflow. Then with whatever we could find, we started to unflood half of the church building. We got everything basically taken care of before the service, minus some soggy carpet in the sacramental meeting room, but all will dry eventually.
Caleb at wood-stacking service project
This week, our numbers didn't look good, and I’m not sure if the zone leaders were too happy, and that’s okay. I understand how it looks, but they just weren't with us to see how much work we did, and how much we were trying to follow the spirit. But this week was amazing! Looking back, we found a lot of people that I think genuinely want to come and learn of Christ!
And now for the miracle! After a week that would have added up to 0 new people in teaching, 0 attendances at church (of the people being taught), 0 people on date for baptism, and 0 baptisms, on Sunday afternoon, we got a call from the hermanas and they said they had someone that lived in our area that wants to be baptized!
We had a call with him, and I'm confidant he's ready to receive the blessings that God wants to share with Him. Then we also talked with another guy and even though we have a little work to do with teaching and clarifying, this guy accepted a date to be baptized too! So, Sunday afternoon literally hours before we were going to report our numbers, we got two people on date for baptism!
Love you guys! This gospel truly is amazing! Study it every day! Be bold and share it with the people you love, because if you love them, you'll want them to have the same joy as you! Simple as that! Scary, I know, but know the fear is the opposition from Satan. So share it! Be confident. Be bold. If you don't have a testimony, read the scriptures and pray to know it is real, and you will receive one if you do so with faith.
Jenny and James in California
Isaac
This week Dad wanted to get a game for the family but was trying to figure out a way that everyone could play it. Well, we didn't find the perfect way, but you can still play with two people. The game is called Stardew Valley, and it is super fun.
It is a game where you are basically living a life farming and taking care of your crops and your house. The game is one of the ones included with the Tesla’s computer system, and Dad really liked It (finally, a video game Dad likes!), so he bought it for the Switch for two players instead of one.
Since one of our Switch remotes is broken, Dad also decided to get new ones and I helped him pick them out. We also picked out a new Switch case for the Switch and it is super cool. Thanks, Dad for getting the Switch remotes and the new case holder. Now we can store it easier when we are going places and it looks a lot nicer.
Children watching Endia’s sermon on faith