When we went to the branch building to do some planning on Friday, we were surprised to see the entire kitchen and several nearby rooms flooding with water due to a burst. Following promptings from the Spirit, we were able to help and get more help to at least stop the flow of water.
It reminds me of the scripture from the Book of Mormon which says "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 4:6). We didn't have a clue about plumbing, but we were able to stop the flood using the help of others.
When a gigantic emergency occurs suddenly, remember to stay calm and follow the spirit. Or in better words "...be still and know that I am God." (D&C 101:16)
Okay! Email
Time for the week!
So
technically, I already told you about Monday through Wednesday, since I didn't
shoot out an email till Thursday of this past week. So I guess that’s a good
place to start off with this update. Thursday we were finally permitted to
leave the house but we were not permitted to drive.
Luckily
it was a nice day to walk. As we started out (literally about less than 20 feet
from our house) we were contacted from a semi-drunk guy driving a beat up red
car. He recognized us as Mormons, and he said "Can
I preach to ya'll for a second?" We agreed. Stumbling, slurring, and
stammering, this guy gave what I have nicknamed "The Sunflower Sermon".
It went something
along the lines of: "Y'see we are all sunflowers planted in one huge garden,
and we are all tryin' to git closer to the Sun! Now Christ, He was not just an
ordinary sunflower, but he was an extraordinary one..." It went on like that.
He kept wanting to give us a lift, but we felt it best not to go.
However, against
my better judgment, we agreed to sit in his car since it was bitter cold. As we
sat down he guzzled about half a bottle of straight Vodka and to add flavor,
took a swig of some kind of Snapple drink. THEN it got scary. His voice dropped
from nice drunk, to scary drunk really quick. When we asked for his number for
a return appointment, he slurred the number saying "Yeah it's 6... 6...
6..."
We got
out pretty quickly, said our goodbyes, and watched as he somehow carefully drove
off. We walked on over to the local library laughing and messing around, but it
was about to get super serious real quick later on.
That
evening, we went out with a member who took us over to visit with a couple
recent converts where we had an awesome meatloaf and macaroni dinner. It was fantastic--until
he got a call. During the call, his face immediately changed from happy to
serious. He then announced that we had to leave as soon as possible. On the way
over he explained that his friend's daughter had just committed suicide about
6-9 hours previously. The father had found her and essentially was
understandably in a really, really terrible state.
On the way,
the member asked me to write out as many comforting scriptures as I could from
the Bible to give to him. I also included some stuff from D&C 121. It was
probably one of the most intense spirit in that house I have ever felt. So much
sorrow, so much pain, so much anguish. I could not relate to this man, and I felt
that I could not give him any words of encouragement. I have not been through
this kind of situation before, and have not lost anyone so dear to me as a
daughter.
How could
I help? The scriptures were literally the best thing I could come
up with to offer him--stuff that had helped me through depression. I prayed very hard that night
that the scriptures I gave him would help. The father was in tears and in a
state of shock. He had gone through so much and the member was amazing support
to him. We will check by on him this upcoming week.
Friday we
were finally able to drive after about 5 days of nothing. We drove over to the
branch building in Eldorado and when we got inside, Elder Stange heard water
running. As he went over, he noticed that the kitchen, utility closet, and
relief society room were all flooded ½ an inch. We quickly went to work and
started rotating pots to stop the leaking.
We also called on the members for help.
When help
arrived, they turned off the water and the building wasn't damaged further. It
was a miracle we had been there, but it was still a huge mess. Church ended up
getting cancelled for that and even more ice yesterday.
Saturday
was one of the more fun days of the week. Once more, we were told not to drive
so we set out walking to McDonald's for wifi and food. (By the way we had not
been able to obtain groceries at this point due to the lack of a car. Had it
not been for my mother’s care package and the kindness of a few members, we
would've been in trouble).
As we
were doing Facebook, a guy in the booth in front of me spilled his drink.
Pretty much on instinct, I got out some napkins and started helping clean up
the mess amidst objections of "you don't have to do that." My actions
aroused the attention of a most interesting man sitting nearby.
He
pointed at me after I had finished helping and motioned me towards him. Very
confused, I stood in front of him and had a most amazing conversation. First he
looked at my name tag and said "Ah, well that explains it. You're a Warrior of Christ!" Now that's the
coolest thing I've heard in a while. He told me who he was and said that what
he is doing is telling people that God is building His church again yet not
that many people know about it. He told me (and showed me) this story of how
when his heart began to fail, doctors didn't expect him to live a year. His legs
started to deteriorate from lack of power from the heart.
Eight
years later he is still kicking and all due to prayer he says. He went on to
tell me that the world needs more of people like me. I was very proud, of course.
Later on he had me sit with him and we had a very interesting discussion on
gifts, power, and the Godhead. He actually believed in the Godhead (Heavenly
Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct beings and not one
being altogether), and was grateful to meet someone like me.
He then
asked me quietly, "Do you have the power to heal?" I answered,
"Yes, I have that power as God wills it." Since I do actually have
that priesthood power and authority to do the work of God according to His will
and Spirit.
He
suddenly almost jolted back saying "Oooh! Can you feel that Spirit? I just
felt your testimony! Do... Do you realize that you are glowing right now? It's been
many, many years since I've witnessed true power and belief. Thank you for this
experience."
He also asked
me if I had any spiritual gifts, which over the years I've started to recognize.
I listed a few but he
was mostly interested to see if I had the gift of tongues which I don't believe
I have yet. I swear this guy was a dry Mormon, and I wish he weren't a nomad
cause he was really cool. He also can’t read or
write so we couldn't give him a Book of Mormon. However he did wish me luck in
my "quest" to bring more souls unto Christ.
We later
went over to Walmart to get some USB's since missionaries are replacing our iPads
this week, and had to back up all our pictures and stuff onto something. Elder
Stange's card wasn't properly working, and I realized that he didn't have
enough money. Defeated, he purchased the new soles for his shoes which he really
needed. After he bought the soles and was in a frustrated mood, he went to the
bathroom.
While he
was in there I quietly purchased a new USB for him on my card and placed it in
his coat. Later on as we were walking, he noticed the new USB that he hadn't
had enough for. Safe to say, he was very happy and wanted to pay me back, which
I wouldn't let him. It was pricy, but it was so worth it to serve my companion.
Sunday
not too much happened. Church was cancelled but we did want to start
transferring data onto our USB's so we went to the branch building to use the
FHC (Family History Center) computers. That took a bit. We went to see a couple
of families afterwards. After that, we went back home for dinner and then went
over to visit a less active old lady who was happy to see us. She was watching the
Oscars, so that was a big distraction for me. Elder Stange made her some dinner
while I talked with her.
Other
than that not much else has been happening. It's getting a little warmer out
which is great. I can't wait for spring here. I'm not sure what we're going to
do today but we may be going snowboarding with an
investigator. I'm not sure though.
Thanks
for all your love and support!
Elder Peery
So due to church being cancelled, I studied a lot more on the character of Jesus Christ. One thing I always marvel at is His determination to do whatever the Father asks. Especially in the face of temptation and adversity. Some think that the temptations of Christ ended when he was confronted and tempted by Satan, but in reality and just like in our lives today, He was tempted to the very last moments of His mortal ministry. "If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:40). But He had a work to finish. And finish it He did.
Because of His example, we too can resist the temptations of the adversary and one of the best ways we can do this is losing ourselves in the service of others. For "...when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17).
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