In sickness and in health

November 19, 2012

Well, this week went by pretty slowly since Elder Jennings caught the flu on Friday and was sick all weekend. It was really hard just staying indoors for the whole day on Saturday. Hopefully I don’t get sick!

Anywho, I'm going through the strangest phase on my mission. I still feel like I haven't been out that long, and yet I just got a letter in the mail from President Maynes congratulating me on reaching my year mark. It's also a strange idea to realize I have done all the firsts. Now I'm moving on to the seconds. Second Thanksgiving, Second Christmas. Second everything. It's an odd feeling. I'm also a little nervous because I hear the second half passes a lot quicker. But enough of my daydreaming.

It was sad to hear of Janet Rife's passing. I hope my heartfelt condolences will reach that wonderful family. It's times like these that we truly understand how much we need the truths of the gospel in our lives. In my mission I constantly see those who do not have those basic truths to hold on to in times of sorrow. Just last Friday we taught a lady that had seen so much evil in her line of work that she could not accept the idea that we are children of God. Satan wishes to put hate, doubt, and misunderstanding in our hearts so we have a hard time accepting the simple truths of the gospel. For those who do not have this truth, I can only invite them to find the truth through sincere prayer, scripture study, and even fasting. But how wonderful for those who know the truth of the gospel! We do not have to "wander to and fro from sea to sea" looking for the truth. We have it and this fills us with hope. I suppose that's why Alma called it faith. It’s also wonderful to know that that God and Jesus know our pain, and they can know what we feel. One of my favorite verses in the entire Gospels consists of only two words. "Jesus wept." Even though he knew Lazarus would rise again, he could understand and even felt the pain of loss. We, too, will all rise again. In time.

The work is going on pretty good here. Hopefully we will see the work pick back up again after Thanksgiving. But it still should be a great experience to say the least. Thanks everyone so much for all the support!

Elder Bringhurst

 

Quicky

Welcome to the cold in Colorado. That storm you guys had a few days ago made it to Colorado. It was just snowing like mad. But it was warm so we only accumulated like 2 inches. And it melted in like 2 days.

We found out the members we live with have huge holes in their insulation so we are freezing at night and have very few blankets. So I find myself wearing thermals and a coat to bed. Ha ha.

I really don't have much to report this week. I found out how much bikes cost though. During the freezing storm on Saturday I went over to the bike shop to have them fix my malfunctioning brakes and they charged me 40 dollars! I felt like it was a little steep when all they did was replace the brake pads and redo one of the brake shafts. Oh well, enough of the lament of a poor missionary.

I can't wait for the massive increase in pot smokers coming to Colorado, as if marijuana wasn't already a problem in my last area. Oh well, as the world gets more wicked it’s the righteous who must work harder. But sometimes I fear for society as a whole. Even Abraham could not save Sodom and Gomorrah. But I have faith things will turn around.

No updates really on the area. Our week was a decent one, but our top people still are on the same boat as they were last week... how disappointing. But hey! More missionaries are coming in and it will be a great addition to the Elders of Israel!

Elder Bringhurst

 

 

This Might Interest You

November 5, 2012

So we had transfers this week and President Maynes made an interesting announcement. I noticed that many districts, zones, and areas were being drastically changed, and he got up and said that this in preparation of the wave of missionaries that are supposed to be coming to the mission field due to the age change of missionaries. Salt Lake has estimated that the number of missionaries that will be in the mission field 6 months from now will go from about 50,000 missionaries to over 90,000!!! Every mission will be affected. Currently, our mission has about 160 missionaries in the mission. Six months from now we are expected to have about 250. So wards will be split, and the areas will be much smaller (and probably a lot higher chance of biking on the mission).

President Maynes told us to "have faith that God is in it, and God will make sure the work picks up in every area to suit the needs of the number of missionaries serving." So some incredible estimates are just around the corner.

The work is definitely picking up, and although we only had 14 lessons, we finally have someone progressing well. Michael, husband of a less active member, is starting to come to church and Elder Jennings and I are thinking about putting him on a baptismal date this week! Pray that it goes well! Also we talked to one of our investigator families about the prophets and the priesthood. We challenged the nonmember father to one day hold the priesthood so he could bless his family just as Jesus blessed others. He said he felt humbled and the "prospect seemed exciting." So yes we are finally getting some really good experiences with teaching people.

The ward is also helping so much. This ward is the most enthusiastic about missionary work than any other ward I've served in. So I’m excited to finally see some work pick up here.

The election is absolutely nuts. I'll try and take some pictures of all the signs tomorrow. Its funny how like every other house goes "Romney, Obama, Romney, Obama, Romney etc." The members I live with seem to think Obama is the most likely winner, but we'll see tomorrow.

Elder Bringhurst

Transfer News

October 29, 2012

Well both of us are staying in Heather Ridge this transfer. It’s looking like a cold winter on a bike is ahead of us. I've learned the cold can really destroy your energy. We were huffing and puffing all day on Wednesday. It was freezing to say the least. We had another slow week. But overall our average is starting to climb. We hope we can become a thriving area here pretty soon. I have faith we can.

The ward is starting to help quite a bunch. The ward mission leader is trying to get an elder or high priest to come with us for an hour or two every day! So that will be great to have someone who has a car to drive us around and give us at least a little break in the day. Also, the ward council has updated the "15 names list" of people in the ward they want us to regularly meet with. Hopefully that will yield some lessons. I've said it and I will say it again; this work cannot go on without the help of ward members in every aspect of missionary work. And this ward is responding wonderfully to that invitation and I'm very grateful.

It seems like people here want to talk about two things, politics and the Denver Broncos. I live in Broncos Country, and I probably hear the names Romney, Obama, and Peyton Manning more than Joseph Smith or Jesus Christ. Ha-ha.

 

No updates really on the people we are teaching. But we did go to the ward's "trunk or treat" where everyone just opens up their trunk and kids in their costumes go trick or treating in the church parking lot. I'm hitting myself that I didn't bring my camera because the kids looked so adorable I thought I’d die. One little girl dressed up as a bouquet of pink roses by wearing a green skin suit with some plastic wrap on her shoulders with pink paper roses on her head and shoulder. One baby kid dressed up as an Ewok from Star Wars. Some nonmembers showed up so it was really good!

Well that’s all the news I have for today. Thanks for the Halloween package!

Elder Bringhurst