"The Field is White": June 30 and July 7, 2014

Missionary service has its ups and downs but we are very seldom down. I had one day this week where I chose to stay home, but then the next day I had even more energy - emotionally and spiritually. Elder Lewis would like to go-go-go, but we both realize that we are pushing seventy - oh my, did I say that? - and we have our limits. This morning we went on our normal walk, which is almost two miles up and down hills, and I'm grateful that I am still able to tackle that a few times a week.

I would say that we visit on an average three families per day. We also spend time taking members of the branch to appointments and such, and we enjoy being of service where we are needed. Things like mowing lawns and carpentry work, we leave for the young missionaries and they love doing service like that.

We talked to a member of the branch this week who is very worried about her finances, and we showed her how to write things down and make a budget so she will know where the money goes and plan accordingly. Service or advice like that is often needed when visiting people that are less fortunate.

The most important thing we do is lifting the weary souls and comforting the downtrodden, reminding them that Christ suffered not only for our sins, but also for our heartaches, pains and disappointments. Everything will eventually be made whole through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Lately I have been a little concerned about some of the negative things I have seen in the news, on Facebook and other places concerning women's rights in our Church. I'm glad that our leaders, both men and women, have made several statements on the subject, and so happy that I know the truth. I have had so many opportunities over the years to grow and learn by serving in leadership positions in the Church.

I remember many years ago, when my mother and I were investigating the Church, someone tried to warn us by saying that the Mormons came to gather all the women, and then take them to Utah. They would lock them up in the temple, and the women would jump out of the windows and drown in the Great Salt Lake. I thought it was ridiculous and funny then, especially after I moved to Utah and found out that the lake is many miles from the temple. Sadly we still have to deal with misinformation and untruths, but we're always willing to "take one for the team."

We love being missionaries for the Lord Jesus Christ. We love it when people come up to us in the stores or on the street and ask us who we are and what we do. We even love it when people just stare at us. In the "Preach My Gospel" manual, page four, it talks about how special it is to be "set apart" as a missionary:

When you were set apart by priesthood authority, you received the right and privilege to represent the Lord. You received a ministerial certificate that verifies that authority to the world. President Spencer W. Kimball said: "The setting apart may be taken literally; it is a setting apart from sin, apart from the carnal; apart from everything which is crude, low, vicious, cheap, or vulgar; set apart from the world to a higher plane of thought and activity. The blessing is conditional upon faithful performance."
(The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball)

Below are a few pictures from the past few weeks: