It is going great here in Bunkerville and Mesquite. Yes, I am actually milking cows every Tuesday, and yes we drink it after it's strained, haha. I know it seemed kinda weird, but it's pretty good with the cream in it still. And that's what we need since we're going to cross fit 3 times a week, their good workouts!
So as far as the work here goes, it's great! We have a lot more work to do then I've had in most my areas, so you do't have to worry about it haha. Covering 3 wards makes it pretty busy, and we have a few investigators and a LOT of inactive members to see. I guess Mesquite is the place to go if you are inactive, but that's OK because we will find them! When I got to the area, it wasn't organized at all and there wasn't even a ward list for Mesquite 5th, so I have been working hard on getting the area organized, getting lists of people, going to the bishop to see who is active or not. So things are looking a lot better with the ward and we are doing our best to split our time equally between the wards, because it wasn't that way before. We also got to speak in sacrament yesterday in one of the wards so that was really good for the members to hear.
This week we have had some crazy experiences with some people that we hope will get resolved. The first experience is with an investigator who we are teaching who is in his 70's and has some major health problems, such as cancer and hip replacement surgeries. We were inspired to go over there one day in which we did and he told us he was suicidal and didn't want to live. We sat down with him and talked with him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and why we need it in our lives. He argued with us throughout the lesson until we got to baptism and the Holy Ghost where he started to gain a small light of Hope. We went over the next day to see how he was doing and talked to him about overcoming his addictions he has. It was a really cool thing to be able to see the spirit work with him and change his desire. We hope things continue to progress with him.
The next experience we had was with an active member of our ward who is also in his 70's and lives with his wife and step dad. We go over to their home every week to do service and then they feed us lunch. Well, we started to notice things were a little different lately with him, and last night as we drove past his home we were prompted to stop and see them. So we did and we quickly found out why we were prompted to go. He sat down with us and basically told us that his whole life was a waste and that he doesn't know if the church is true anymore and why he is even here. He had completely lost faith in God and everything that he had believed throughout his life. He expressed that he regrets everything and every accomplishment he had done in his life. We were overwhelmed with this conversation as we had definitely not expected it from this wonderful Christlike person we have come to know and Love. Elder Beddoes was able to relate to him an experience he had in his life that was similar and help him understand a few things. At the end he accepted a blessing and I was able to assist the Lord in blessing this wonderful man. I have come to love him so much and care for him and his well being and look forward to continually working with him.
These two experiences I have had this week has shown me a few things. First and foremost, how real Satan is. He tempts us and throws things at us we would never imagine throughout our lives. He targets not only people who don't have a knowledge of Jesus Christ's gospel, but even more he targets those who know of His Gospel and have made a commitment to follow Christ. We know that even after you are baptized and are following the commandments, you will still be put through so many hard things that sometimes you will want to quit, you will want to give up on everything you know to be good and find the easy way out. But the Lord promises us that if we endure the affliction and persecution we are put under, we will be exalted on high in His kingdom along side of Him. And that is definitely something that I want and desire for all. The things we go through will only prepare us to be stronger in the future, just like any other thing. If we work out a muscle, it's torn down, but then becomes stronger. Same principle. I know that God loves us with all his heart and wants the best for all of his children here on earth. I 'm sorry for the rambling but I hope things are will for all of you and hope you have a great week ahead! I love you all.