Ice Cream Overload

On Monday, June 27, 2016 2:49 PM, Dustin Thelander <dustin.thelander@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Right after email on Monday last week, we departed from the library into insane temperatures and a reddish glow in the air. Forest fires in the area deposited mass amounts of smoke, and it hung over Upland. So it was 114, no breeze, and lots of smoke in the air. It all just had a weird vibe to it. On Tuesday, we had our District meeting, and it was awesome. It had been about three weeks time since our last one due to other bigger meetings. It was nice to have the group back together. We each shared miracles we had seen since we had met last, and it was incredible. The spirit was very strong during that time, and we each had something to share. Then we had a great training given to us by Sister Tomason. The topic I assigned was the power of testimony. She did it perfectly. A testimony is so powerful when it's simple. So she asked us to each share a portion of our testimony that is most powerful to us. I simply stated that I know that Families are Forever. Simple yet powerful. Later that day, we did some thrift shop work as well, and that was a good time. They had a lot of donations, so we spent time sorting the good from the bad. One box came complete with like a two inch long cockroach :)

Wednesday, I spent the day in the Spanish area with Elder Williams. It was a fantastic day. We taught an amazing restoration lesson to a guy named Joseph. He was baptized into the church at some point, but literally has no knowledge of religion. He just pretty much knows there is a God, and that is all. He really felt the spirit and is really excited to make the journey back into the church. Good news- the lesson was in English. We also taught this guy named Umberto, this one was in Spanish, but I was able to hang. Key words and hand gestures make it happen. We also heard a really cool story in relation to prayer. A sister we met had a son in an accident, and the whole ward she was in joined in fasting and prayer for him, and after a long time and many struggles, he recovered. She said this all in Spanish, and she was quite impressed how I participated. Miracles I guess.

Thursday through the rest of the week, we did a lot of walking, talking, and other things with not much success. People just weren't home for us this week. Not a terrible thing- that just made us focus on finding new people to teach. On Thursday, after our weekly Book of Mormon class, Brother Reed gave us a ride home and randomly stopped to get us ice cream. Now this was after we had a District Leader meeting earlier in the day with Elder Gunnerson and Jensen and had ice cream at dinner. So I just got a little bit and did some sit ups in the evening. That was the ice cream overload. On a sad note, one of my favorite elders in the zone, Elder Yang, had to go home on Saturday. The poor Elder yawned and dislocated his jaw. He had done it before earlier in life, but this was a freak accident. So he got it reset and the dentist told him the pain he was in would remain if surgery wasn't done. He toughed it out for a week and realized the pain was pretty bad, and he still had a year and a half left on his mission. So, he is back home in Taiwan now getting fixed, and he will be back here in the mission in about 3-5 months time. Pray he recovers well.

Saturday, we helped out with a move for an older sister in the ward. She just had major back surgery and is moving to Texas. This move began at 7:30 AM and was terminated by us at 2:30 PM. They breed American Bulldogs and have in total 35 dogs in a double wide. Things were not organized and the ward couldn't offer much help as we just had a 12 hr warning about the move. We got it done though and were dead afterward. Church Sunday was great, and we had an investigator there. Johnny. This was the bright spot in a slower week. He is homeless and went a little nuts after his dog ran away, but now he is back and looking for help.

This is now week 6, and we get news of transfers on Friday and Sunday and move on Monday!!!!! Happy 4th of July everyone!!! Oh, and President and Sister Hobbs go home tomorrow!!!! We meet and get to talk with President and Sister Taylor on Friday this week. Pray for them as they enter the mission field.

Scripture of the week is from Moroni, Chapter 7, Verses 47-48, "But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethern, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

Love you all lots.

Love,

Elder Thelander

photos- me with Elders Mitchell, Yang and Babcock and the second ice cream overload of that day