Greetings from . . .the arctic???
Cold
weather and more coming. This last week there was lots of snow, leaving
about 6-7inches on the ground and we were lucky to see a day in the
twenties. Sunday morning it was snowing so bad that they cancelled
church, which was very disappointing because we had quite a few new
people lined up to come across the district. Today there is some sort of arctic cold front coming in and it is supposed to hit 0 at 4pm and then
never get above 0 tomorrow (according to the members). That is
crazy! Our car right now is very limited on miles since it is the end of
the month and because out of our entire zone there are only 2 sets of
elders with cars, so we have been using almost all of our miles to
shuttle missionaries around on p-days, district/zone meetings, and
trainings. So essentially we are a bike area. After the 2 big snowstorms
this last week biking became impossible so we wandered around shoveling
snow for anyone who needed help. We were able to find a few new
investigators out of it though. The members say that this is one of the
coldest winters they have seen ever and usually the snow storms that
come through Columbus never leave more than a couple inches at a time.
On the flip side to the cold, the district now is on
fire! There is a new wave of energy and success which has hit since the
beginning of the transfer and every area is doing well, now we just need
to move our progressing investigators to the water! We have quite a few
progressing in our area but they all have big concerns like marriage, or
working on Sundays. I hate that!
Cameron's camp out sounds like one I have been on in
the past, in fact I am confident I have been to the same spot to camp
just south of town. I love scout camp-outs!
Elder
Hatch got sick on Saturday night, some sort of 24hour flu or something,
but by Sunday mid-morning he was all good. There is lots of sickness
going around right now and my mission record so far is clean. If you get
the chance to send me some airborne please do. It also works as a great
daily vitamin supplement.
I went on exchanges this last week with Elder McCoullah
(since I am district leader) and we pretty much prevented someone from
committing suicide. We went to visit this potential investigator and he
was really low. He is broke and hadn't eaten in 4 days, and he was
splitting up with his wife so we were talking to him and he essentially
told us that he wouldn't be there tomorrow and he will see us in heaven.
It was really a really scary experience. We ended up running to the
grocery store and buying him a loaf of bread and some pb&j so he
could survive. He was very grateful and is now being taught by the
Big Walnut Creek 2 elders (elder Bowler and McCoullah). So that was
something I have never experienced before which was . . .. a worthy journal entry.
There was a district leader training at the mission
home (by the way it was the first time I have ever been to the mission
home since we stayed at the Stake President's house the first day I came into
the field). It was a way good training. It was just the district
leaders, President and Sister Nilsen, and the assistants. So we were
able to be on a much more personal level with President. I left the
meeting fired up and ready to make my district the most productive one
in the mission!
So that was my week, hopefully the cold will not hinder
the work this week (they may claim a level 3 emergency tonight
which means it is illegal to go outside). But don't worry, I will stay
warm. Elder Hatch and I get really creative, such as, if you wrap
ace-bandages around your hands before you put them in your gloves
it keeps them much warmer, and ace bandages are cheap. But amid all the
cold, my testimony burns within fueling my desire to go out and brave
this dreadful, but at the same time awesome weather!
Have a great week in good ol sunny, dry, Southern Utah! I love You!!!
Love,
Elder Beutler
