The typical meal

This week, October 23rd, we got to go to the stake center to have a zone preparation day. All of the missionaries in our zone met at the church and we had a pumpkin carving contest. I did not participate because I want to have a great looking pumpkin carved right before Halloween. So I am going to wait a few more days.

After the pumpkin carving contest we had dinner with Brother G. We had a hearty meal of a freshly hunted turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes. It's a pretty typical meal here in rural Montana. There is almost always some sort of meat with mashed potatoes and gravy. As we were about to leave he had us follow him to his freezer, because he needs to get some more freezer space soon because elk season is almost here. So we went out to the freezer and he gave us some black bear meat from the bear that he shot and killed last week Now at home we have black bear meat, elk country smoked sausage, elk pepperoni sticks, elk cubes, and bacon.

Right after our dinner with Brother G., we had a lesson with one of our recent converts D. She is taking the new member lessons from us. Her husband is not a member yet, but we made sure he was there because as we were teaching D. we were going to teach J., her husband, the discussions. As the lesson went on, we both noticed that he was getting pretty emotional. During the part of the lesson where we talked about the first vision with Joseph smith, we noticed that he was tearing up and he was about to cry because he was feeling the spirit so much. So it was at that time that we both knew that he needed to be  committed to be baptized. So we did exactly that, when we asked J, D got all anxious about it and when he said yes she let out a huge sigh of relief. It was the perfect lesson because we did everything that we are asked to do. I can't wait to see him get baptized.

That very same night we went over to our Ward mission leader’s house to explain to him what happened with J’s lesson. His littlest daughter kept running around and having fun. Then Elder W pulled out his laser pointer that he uses to play with cats. So he was shining it all around and she was chasing after it trying to catch it. We were all laughing so hard because it was really funny. Then we shined it on her and she freaked out because she thought it was a bug and it made it even funnier until she started crying and then we felt bad. When would shine it on somebody else she would laugh because it was on them and not her!!!! We had a good time there and our ward mission leader is really excited for J as much as we are.

On Tuesday we had dinner with a member. It was a pretty good dinner; it was fried chicken and pheasant, mashed potatoes and gravy!! You guessed it! Typical Montana dinner! We went over to the G family on Wednesday night. We knocked on the door and he said, "Elder W! Come in!" It was funny how he knew it was us without even looking.  We asked him how he knew and he said that he doesn't really have a lot of friends so he figured it was us.

 We took some pictures for some #bookofmormoning. There is not one attached but the caption was, "If you ever feel like you are lost in the world, turn to the book of Mormon for guidance.  It will help you understand your purpose in life and where you should turn." the picture was basically us reading the book of Mormon in the middle of nowhere because that would represent the "lost" part of the picture. If you can picture that in your head.

On Friday we helped one of our investigators, J (#2), take apart his engine for his VW car. We took everything off the motor till it was just the block. Then we even took all of the parts off inside the block. It was pretty hard. We also helped the B family set up Halloween decorations, and also helped brother B put a timing belt back on their car. Let's say that we learned a lot about cars in the past two days.

This Sunday we had stake conference and the whole zone got to sing a special hymn.  We sang high on a mountain top. It was really good. President and sister Mecham were there and they spoke and the spirit was so strongly there.

Well that was my week and I hope yours was just as exciting if not better.

#BookofMormoning

This week , October 13th, we traveled a lot! We had to drive into Billings on Monday because we have to email and shop and do the other things that we absolutely cannot do out in our small town. Then we had to go in Tuesday because we had to go get our car estimated for hail damage. We have gotten some hail storms lately.  Wednesday we had our district meeting and we HAVE to go in for that. Then Thursday we had to go into town again to meet at the church for our missionary meeting with the ward mission leader. Friday we had to go in for a Facebook/online training. We basically went over the rules for Facebook and some of the things that we can do now. Something that I like that was added to the rules was #bookofmormoning. Basically what book of Mormoning is is that you take a picture of something that relates to a scripture in the book of Mormon and you have a picture of the book of Mormon in the picture. Then you put the photo on Facebook with the scripture as the description and then at the end, you put: #bookofmormoning. If you are confused even from my description then I invite you to go to Facebook and search for #bookofmormoning, and it will have tons of examples. I’ll have one picture of a book of mormoning for next week since I never got one this week. Remember to have the Book of Mormon in the photo!

I had the opportunity to play in primary AGAIN this week. it looks like they do not have a piano player for primary and they have the primary program not this Sunday because its stake conference but the next Sunday and I might have to play for that as well if they do not find a player! We were finally able to get in with one of our investigators this week that we haven’t seen since I got here seven weeks ago. It has been really hard to get in contact with them. It is mostly a hit and miss situation. 

Oh my aching back

Our mission is going through a purification process. Sending things home that we have collected over time, and do not need, or non approved media, this is in preparation for the missionaries to go to the temple. Even though I did not have much to send home, I noticed I had a few things. I am so excited to be able to attend the temple in the next two weeks! It is always a good thing to go to the temple whenever possible. Whenever you get the chance, you should always take it. nothing beats going to the temple.

We were able to meet with J. who we have scheduled to be baptized this coming Tuesday. We met with him on Wednesday to make sure that he still wants to be baptized, and also to finish the lessons. We were able to cover the topic of chastity. The topic of chastity is always a hard subject to explain without making weird. We still needed to finish the lessons of laws and ordinances. We were able to meet with him on Friday and finish the lessons, as well as get everything set up for the baptism. We scheduled the baptismal interview to be this Sunday. He is ready to be baptized!

One other thing that happened this week, happened on Friday as well. We got a text from one of our investigators, J. (a different person), who was in town. We went to see him first thing the next day. He still has a desire to be baptized, but his dad doesn't want him to until he turns 18. He told us that his sister got baptized in another church, and his dad let her be baptized even though she was not 18 either. We told him that the devil doesn't care if people get baptized in the wrong church, but he cares if they are going to be baptized in the right church! We are struggling a little bit on how we can help his dad let him be baptized now and not when he his 18.

This ward is a very missionary work minded ward. We are very privileged to go on splits with the members every Sunday and Tuesday. It's kind of hard for me to go on the splits when I don't know the area and the people to well. Most of the time we go and see the people that the members have in mind. I'm getting to know the area better and better each day though.

One other thing that happened this week was really back breaking. We helped our elders quorum president pour some concrete stairs. He had about 20 stairs that wrapped around a retaining wall. We went over at 10 in the morning and helped out making sure the forms that we made were going to hold up and there were not going to be any blowouts while we were pouring. We started pouring around 2 and finished around 6. The reason why it took so long was because he didn't order enough concrete and we had to wait until the truck came back. One thing is for sure, concrete work is really…REALLY hard bending over all day is no fun and for the next day my back was aching, along with Elder Wilson's.

Pouring concrete stairs



Local HS football game

They also went to the local HS football game. Not sure, but we think the second J. may be playing. At the very least, hopefully someone they are working with was at the game. Then again, it is a small town, so maybe almost the whole town  is not home during the games.

Farewell Malta

This week was the longest week ever. I thought that I was going to be staying in Malta for sure. Elder Sumner and I got along really well, and we did a lot of service and work there and I loved the area.

a picture of my zone

At least now I won't have to drive for 4 hours each week for district meetings. My new companion is the district leader. 
I am now in a big city, with 6 sets of missionaries. My companion and I live with a member in their basement. I am already seeing myself adjusting to this area and I love the people here. I am doing very well.

I sent a box home that has a hat or two or three in it. These were given to me by a really cool guy. I kept others to wear during service projects. You can try them on and take pics with them and send them to me to see how you look with them. That's the only time that you can wear them. When I come back off my mission,  and speak at my homecoming, I might be wearing boots and pants and a vest and a hat. That would be a sight to see. (Don't forget the bolo tie)

Have a cookie there captain

I am so exited for this upcoming transfer! I can’t believe that it has already been 6 weeks! This past transfer went by so fast, me and Elder Sumner are really good friends now.  We both think that we are going to stay here in Malta for this next transfer, but who knows where we might go? I’ve really come to love this place and this people here in Malta. It would be really hard to see myself leaving this place, but I couldn't see myself leaving Belgrade either. I feel like I am supposed to be here for another transfer. The work is going really well. We have been working with members, and have a few people progressing toward baptism in the next few weeks. We have been praying long and hard for them. 


Should have been a cowboy

This picture is of me and Cliff. He is the coolest guy you could ever meet! He is so nice and he always says, " so how many did you convert today?" every time that we would go and see him. When we are there he always feed us cookies and he always says, " have a cookie there, captain.."
We helped out with the rodeo again this week, pushing cows up the chutes. I almost got kicked a few times.

Thanks for the packages that came this week. I got a packaged that contained some cowboy boots, and another package that had some 4th of July decorations and homemade treats.

Probably the coolest Mormons ever

I think this week was very beneficial to me. During our district meeting we made goals to have at least 2 more people in each of our areas that have a date for baptism. After the district meeting we had exchanges with Elder Eddington and Elder Oaks. We did not accomplish our goal but we got two more people on date yesterday, even though its next week. Right after the district meeting, Elder Sumner and his exchange companion for the next 3 days, got 3 people on date 2 hours after the meeting. The dates that we have set already are really solid and they are set for the 5th and 12th of July.

When Elder Eddington told us that I was going to be staying in my area, I about freaked out! I did not think I was able to take on the role of senior companion for three days. Partially because I did not think I was ready because this is only my second area. I saw myself coming out of my comfort zone and talking with a lot more people than I usually do. It was really neat because I am now somewhat comfortable with being the senior companion. But I am grateful that elder Eddington felt inspired that I should be the senior companion for the exchange.

We were walking down the road to a less actives home and we see these two young people sitting on an island in the middle of the road with a sign that said, "STUPID TRAVLIN' HIPPIES". We decided that we were going to talk to them. We ended up talking for a really long time. There was a guy that was 25 and a girl that was 18. They were pretty cool people. He told us that he was Mormon and that his dad is a really good practicing Mormon and he has been traveling for over 5 years. Somewhere down the line he met this girl that was traveling. All they do is hop onto freight trains and go to wherever it takes them. They stay there for a few days and get some money for food and such. He said he has been to every single state in the USA. (I am guessing he didn't take a train to Hawaii)He had a lot of stories to tell. We were going to see them the next day but they had left that morning on a train. They were both trying to get to the east coast. Who knows! They are probably already in Nebraska now. They both said that we were probably the coolest Mormons that they have ever met. They made like 30 dollars within the hour that we were there talking with them. It’s a rough life but it sounds like it pays pretty well. (Not my idea of how to make a living. (one of McKade's great- grandfathers had been known to travel by train back in the day, so maybe it's in the blood) 

I’ve been asked how big our church building is. Well it is REALLY small. I can walk throughout the whole thing within 15 seconds.

 

Listen. . . . Listen . . . . to the still small voice

The small town life is great, even though the whole town has been tracted twice already by Elder Sumner with his other companions. I am thinking that I would like to get some cowboy boots. I could wear them for service because the only shoes that I have for service now are my basketball shoes. Everyone around here has boots and so I feel left out and weird. We went and looked for some at a store, and the cheap brand of boots in my size are like 190 dollars. That is not what I would call a cheap brand of boots.
I checked our PO box on Saturday and we got a package, but we could not get it because the office was closed. We went to the post office today (Monday June 16th), and it was a package from Grandma Jones full of food.



Miles and miles of wheat fields
 

Each week, we eat with the same families for dinner. Monday's we eat with one family, on Tuesday's we eat with another family and so on.



Zone Training here we come
 

This past week was really cool. First off, we helped out with a youth rodeo all day. It was good because now everyone knows us and we got a lot of lessons from it. We were driving back from zone training, which is 200 miles away, and Elder Sumner got this feeling that he should put his hands on the wheel firmly. He did and not too long after he followed that prompting, our front tire blew out. If he hadn't listened to that prompting we would have crashed because the car jerked really hard. We pulled over, and a short time later a highway patrolman pulled up to check on us. We were fine, and we changed the tire ourselves. We got our tire fixed and then drove to a less active members home. They live on a 5,000 acre wheat farm and there was wheat fields for DAYS!!!!!!  We are anticipating 4 or 5 baptisms in the coming weeks.