Mountains on fire (week 55)

Soooo just about all the mountains we can see from Sunnyside caught on fire and we almost had to evacuate last night. Luckily that din't actually happen and we all got to sleep well. During our day yesterday we would every once in a while get an alert telling us that so-and-so area needs to evacuate. It was a little freaky ,but we just kept on with our missionary work. The scariest part was the huge clouds of smoke filling just about the whole entire horizon. It was a bit weird having the whole apartment smell like smoke ,but it was also sort of welcomed because it had that campfire smell. 

This week we had a bunch of service and meetings. Tuesday we did service at the food bank and I got to carry out a bunch of boxes for people. I was exhausted by the end and didn't really want to move my arms. It didn't help that on Monday I blistered up my feet real bad playing a bunch of soccer with the zone. They it took a few days to heal ,but now it's all good. 

Wednesday we had our district language study over here in Sunnyside. We wrote stories and practiced using the past tenses. We came us with some pretty interesting stories since we would all write a line and then pass it on. It's fun being able to come together as missionaries and learn the language together. A little after we had our language study and the English elders got back we went and did service pulling weeds at the house of one of the members. It was hot and the weeds didn't want to come out ,but the member brought us ice cream and some water. We also got to talk as we worked and get to know everyone a little better. That same day we went and taught one of our investigators named Roberto. He is a great guy and he came to church this Sunday. He has really enjoyed us coming over to talk to him and teach him things. He is already reading in the Book of Mormon and has been reading the pamphlets we have brought him. Something really cool about him is that he is from Monterrey, so we have that in common. He has been prepared to receive the gospel and we are looking forward to working with him some more. 

Thursday we had our district council here in Sunnyside. The Zone leaders joined us which added for some more good input. We talked about the importance of using members in missionary work and what we can do to get them excited. We just have to work and put in the effort to have members out with us whenever we can, even if we just go out to knock doors. We also talked about how we need to make sure our investigators are reading and praying before we have them moving on to other commitments. 

Friday evening we drove out to a little town called Outlook and taught one our less-active families and then decided to try and find some other people to talk to in the town. This little kid talked to us and showed us some people we should meet. We talked to his mom and she told us we can talk to them this Tuesday. When we showed the kid a picture of Jesus Christ he thought we were talking about one his neighbors named jesus. We didn't figure that out until he pointed out the house where Jesus lived. 

Saturday we did even more service pulling weeds yet again. It was a lot more enjoyable this time due to it being earlier in the day and the weeds not being dead and buried in rocks. Pulling weeds isn't all that bad. It can actually be fun. Sorry I didn't do much pulling of weeds in the garden back home. Saturday was also the day where all the fires started. The clouds of smoke came out of no-where. We also had a great experience meeting a guy who was super happy to have us knocking on his door. He was on the phone with a pastor and he welcomed us straight in and told the pastor that he had to go because the mormons where there. We gave him a book of Mormon and prayed with him a few times. It was a little hard because he was a little boracho and wasn't completely there. But he gave us some cowboy hats and wanted to give us some other stuff ,but we wouldn't let him. 

On Sunday we had a good block of meeting and Elder Steadman got to talk. The Branch is focusing of Self-reliance this month. The hermanas had two investigators there along with the investigator we had there. It was awesome. After church we spent the day walking because we don't currently have a lock for the bikes and the English elders were using the car. But it was good to get out and walk a bit. We taught a guy who talked to the missionaries before ,but lost contact when he moved to another house. He remembers a bunch of stuff he was taught and we are hoping to be able to get in and teach him again this week. We left him with a Libro de Mormon because he lost his when he moved. 

Well that was most of my week I hope all has been well back home. Keep being awesome and enjoy another great week.

With love,

Elder Boren

 A member here in Sunnyside bought us bikes to use. They are really nice an we are very grateful for the member. 

                                            Clouds of smoke coming from the burning mountains.

                  This was yesterday morning. It was really bad last night but I don't have pictures of that. I think the                                                             fires might actually still be burning. 

I got bored one night and drew a Celtic knot.

     Elder Flamm and I chilling out at the laundry mat while out stuff was in the wash. Elder Steaman and Dodson                                                                     were counting coins.

                                            Them Counting and enlarging their coin collections.

some guy we met this week end gave Elder Steaman and I each a cowboy hat. Too bad it's not approved to wear out proselyting. 

One last zone picture before Elder Turley headed home.