Elder Rushton and Elder Allen from Herriman, Utah

Sheep Springs, its beautiful there!

So this past week we were pretty busy with a lot of things! We started our week out great last Tuesday when we had a great day we were able to have 5 lessons in just that one day which honestly is a rare occurrence here in sheep springs so that was very cool!  On Wednesday I had the opportunity to go on exchanges with a new elder that is in our district named Elder Allen he is an awesome kid on the drive back to sheep springs we got talking and he mentioned how he was from Utah before and I never knew where so I asked him and he said Herriman, Utah!  I said no way that is where my grandma lives awesome anyway we got talking and new exactly where my grandma lives because he would always go running down her road!  It was awesome it just goes to show how small of a world we live in!  Anyway on Sunday we were both asked to give talk so we got up and talk about the sacrifices we make in our lives due to the gospel! That dang Elder Houston gets up and gives about a 5 minute talk and goes and sits down and leaves me to give about a 30 minute talk ha-ha little brat!  Anyway they were both good talks and I feel like that was what the branch really needed to hear! Anyway love you guys have a great week take care!

SAYING GOODBYE TO ELDER KUNS

A VISIT FROM ELDER WEST

So this past week we had transfers and I was able to pick up my new companion his name is Elder Houston and he is from Austin, TX! I’m excited for this new transfer and to see what kind of work he have to be done! This past week we were busy we got a lot of lessons and a lot of appointments to go to! I love it when we are busy because that means it is fun and time flies! We also had a stake conference this week! So on Saturday we went down to Gallup, NM for the adult session which started at 6 pm! We spent the night with the Tohlakai Elders who live just outside of Gallup on the reservation then on Sunday morning we woke up and headed back to be able to go to the Sunday morning session which started at 10 am! There were some great talks there President and Sister Batt were also there and they gave some great talks as well! We had a good turn out from sheep springs I think we had about 12 sheep springs people there! It was great! We had the chance to be able to go up and do some wood hauling with some members here in Sheep Springs it was awesome I love being up on the mountain because honestly it is the only green place for 100 square miles! ha-ha It was cool we saw some deer and had a great time I have some pictures of the deer I’ll have to send home Anyway imp doing good I still love my mission each and every day and I know there are still things for me to learn out here! I couldn’t picture myself anywhere especially a big city! I am proud to say that after living on the rez for a year imp now an official rezneck! Anyway love you all take care and have a great week!

So this past week was pretty good!  We had a great district meeting!  I decided to train on being a little more focused as missionaries because I knew that was something that would help each one of us out!  So I decided to have each missionary in the district bring a picture of their family!  I had each missionary come up to the front and introduce their families and tell us experiences or things they miss or things that there family has taught them!  It was great not only did we get to learn about the background of each other and what kind of family we came from but also it was very spiritual some people even got emotional!  After they were done introducing there family I talked about how much of an example they are to each one of their families!  Ever since Elder Holland came down to our mission to speak I have always remembered one of the things he said to us!  He said "Be the kind of missionaries that your families think you are!" When there have been times when I have wanted to quit or wanted to just go back to the trailer and come in early for the night I have always remembered that quote!  I know my family especially my little bro probably think I’m the best missionary out here and I told the district that I know their families think the same way and how we should act like it!  We also talked about the strippling warriors and read Alma 56 and 57!  We talked about when they left to battle and how they and their families knew exactly what they were going to be doing! They knew there purpose and they were not going to stop until it was accomplished!  We are the same way we knew before we came out why we were coming out here and we know now what our purpose is!  The example of their mothers was really cool too how their mothers taught them well and they did not doubt!  I know it was the same for each of our mothers back home as well!  On Friday we had a funeral of one of the less active guys we had just found it was very sad to lose him you may remember one of my letters that I sent a month ago, where I told of a less active guy that we had found who was diagnosed with cancer.  Well sadly that cancer is what caused him to pass away it came over him a lot quicker then everyone was expecting what was amazing is we were able to share the plan of salvation with him the week before he passed away!  I know that he is resting peacefully!  He left his wife behind and she was very grateful for the help that we gave her for the funeral!  I have forgot to mention the funerals down here are a lot different then back home!  At 8 o’clock the morning of the funeral we got a call that said they were going to be needed help digging the grave out by their house so we grabbed our shovels and headed out there! We got done digging right as the funeral was about to start!  They don’t those hearses out here so they loaded up his casket in the back of his old 75 dodge pickup truck and gave him one last ride in his truck I thought that was really cool following behind the truck on the way to his grave spot!  Anyway it was a great service our branch president gave a great talk on the plan of salvation as well and we were able to meet a lot of new people there!  This week was also transfer news and I found out I will be staying in sheep springs!  I am very excited to see what the new transfer has to bring!  Elder Sparks will be leaving and heading to Sawmill, AZ I know he will have a great time with Elder Peck he is awesome!  Thanks for all you guys do and have a great week!~