We Do This Forever

Random event of the week....we found a lady walking down the street with her kids, and she asked us to explain what we do as missionaries to them. In the middle of our explanation she told them that we dedicate our entire lives to this. That we dont have families and the church pays us. I was like uh....not true haha. Needless to say she got us mixed up with Nuns. Could be worse I guess but it took us a long time to convince her otherwise, she was from Canada (too bad) and was pretty nice.

The other cool stuff that happened this week included exchanges with the Bishop Elders and some breakthroughs with some Less Actives! Wednesday was our exchange day and we went and did some service for a Less Active family who lives on the Native Rez. I almost got my ankle smashed between a rock and a tractor shovel. The guy had stopped moving so I went in the load it up and then he decided to move forward even more. The guy across from me started screaming for him to stop but luckily I pulled my foot out, now all I have to show for it is a gnarly bruise on my ankle! After our fun at service we got a call from a lady in Fresno asking us to give her son a blessing in Lone Pine. We went over there and her son was just chillin and watching the world series. I guess somehow he hit his hand against a nail and it went all the way to the bone. He didnt want a blessing but he was willing to talk to us for a while. He is an avid skier and downhill mountain biker so in short...we had a lot to talk about! He let us share a message at the end and I shared one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon. Its Moroni 7:46-48. It says: 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

It was a cool feeling in the room that I am sure he enjoyed. We talked a bit about what Charity is and I explained how paul describes Charity as the "bond of perfectness." It was a good discussion that I was happy to have! We have been able to meet with more and more less actives than we have in the previous weeks. The Branch President announced in Sacrament meeting that unless the ward begins to help with missionary work, President Wilson is going to pull missionaries out. It wouldnt happen for another few months but I am hoping the branch does something! All of the members are very well known throughout the town and could be an incredible influence! I hope they get it together soon! I was really happy about being able to teach this week, I was surprised to see that I can still teach even though we havent been able to for a long time. Studying every day pays off for sure! I hope yall have a wonderful week!

Elder Carper