Band of Brothers

On Monday, October 5, 2015 12:29 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

This week was full of ups and downs. To begin with the bad news- our really good friend and member, Uncle Bowk, the crazy guy, passed away last Monday morning. It was very sudden and very hard on his family. He was up in Utah picking up a car he had purchased and died Monday morning in a friend's home up there. We had dinner with the family the next day, and we went around and shared what we were thankful for. Across the board it was the knowledge of eternal families. That is the only thing his wife said after I did that takes away that sting of death a little bit. His services will be this week, Friday. Pray for his family, please.

We finally got to meet with a recent convert, Tony. He had been down in LA doing some work, so I got to meet him for the first time when he came back. He is super solid and loves the church so much. We watched a session of General Conference with him at his home, and after every talk he just displayed his love for the words that were spoken. I gave my first training at District meeting, and it went very well. I trained on asking inspired questions. It is very important what you ask people so they can really think and give a profound answer. We meet with the kids twice this week, and they are for sure on track for baptism on the 17th. They love the church and even defend it day to day. Jheri's niece even takes her Book of Mormon to school to read in her free time. Also, this week we have seen the Campbell's twice as well. Pam and Larry watched all four sessions of General Conference and loved it. They have some questions, and Pam actually had some questions answered from the addresses by our prophet and the other apostles and speakers.

The miracle of the week was a huge one. We were over teaching at Juan and Jocelyn's house, and the mother, Janell, has never sat in on a lesson. It is interesting because she is always within earshot and even participates sometimes, but has never actually sat in. So, on Sunday when we went over we just spent some time talking to them about whatever. We then transitioned into our thought which was just a simple scripture. She stayed seated with us, read the scripture, and answered questions about it. She said a prayer before we went into the lesson, and she helped her son say the prayer on the way out. She is excited for us to come back, and I know having the priesthood in the home with Juan being a great example has made a big impact on her. Juan is awesome, and he bore a great testimony in the lesson to confirm what we were saying and what Janell was thinking.

Thursday was the best day ever. We began with service at Squash for Friends, and that went really well. We had a great group of guys there. Elders Gifford, Paxton, Smith, and Brown are friends that I will keep in contact with forever. I love those guys. We then went from that service to an elderly woman's home who needed weeding done in the backyard. She has this dog named Ginger. This dog is literally a ball of energy. She can never have the dog outside due to pokies in the yard, and the dog would knock her down if in the house alone with her. So when the Elders come over the dog is really ready to go. It was described that you can literally see the energy coursing though this dog's veins. It made for a fun time playing with her. Anyway, all of the elders there along with myself and Coburn are officially known as the Band of Brothers.

I love you all so much. Once again, time here is flying, and I can't believe it is week 5 in Hesperia. Holy cow! I am anxious for transfers because Elder Coburn will likely leave- he has been in this ward for almost 6 months. I hope not, but I am ready for it if it happens. I love the work I am doing here, and I love you all and miss you.

Love,

Elder Thelander

Band of Brothers with the crazy dog!

Dusin working at Squash for Friends