Work in the Big Fork Ward

We have had a great week of service in this part of our mission as we have been "learning"how to be MLS missionaries. There is a definite learning curve involved here and probably different for different situations and areas. We have found that we basically define the parameters of our own labors. We have spent some time meeting with the leaders, like President Clark, and the Bishop of the ward. We also met with the missionaries serving in the Big Fork district; Elders Swanson and Brewster. These two men are good missionaries and it has been a pleasure working with them. We have also worked on setting up a working relationship with the Zone Leaders; Elders Witt and Eddington. They are two of the most mature, dedicated, spiritually attuned men we have ever met. They are truly men of God and are in His service. We can't say enough about them. 

We visited 4 different families whom the Bisop assigned to us and we're touched by them as well as touching their spirits. Well all except one family who had divorced, sold their home, and moved to parts unknown. One family was especially tender for us as he is suffering from the latter stages of Parkinson's Disease. It was especially tender for Alecia because of having the memories of her father very fresh. A report has been made on these families to the Bishop and we will report to the stake president also.  It felt so good to be about the Lord's work. 

Perhaps the highlight of our week was attending the half mission conference in Helena for the northern half of the Montana Mission. We drove 5 of the 10 missionaries to Helena and thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with them on the way down. We plan on meeting with all pairs and working with them all The conference was one of the singular fantastic moments of our lives. It started out with all the missionaries standing in a large circle around the perimeter of the chapel and the mission president, President Wadswerth, and his wife personally shaking the hands of each missionary. You could have heard a pin drop as silent reverence was displayed throughout the entire process. As the meeting proceeded, we were so greatly impressed by the strength, power, and spirit of those ambassadors of Jesus Christ. As the mantel and keys of authority were taken on by this new president, his dedicated support of the entire mission Elders and Sisters was incredibly shown. 

Then we broke for lunch. OH MY!!! Again we all stood in a large circle, this time inside the multi-purpose room and sang-or they sang, we couldn't, "The Army of Helaman". Never has a song touched our souls as much as this did ours. Truly the statement that there are more with us than with the enemy is so true. This work will go forward til it fills the earth. We will win. 

One other quick story. As we were having lunch in Big Fork, Alecia recognized a man sitting at a close by table and said that he really looked familiar. After he and his son were done eating, he came over and introduced himself and his son. Hello,he said. I am Bronco Mendenhal, the head football coach at BYU. COOL OR WHAT?? I noticed your badges and wanted to say hello. My Father served as a mission president in New Zealand!  

We haven't had a day yet that someone hasn't told us that they have had some relative serving in New Zealand. We take that as hope that we are still going to go there. 

Singing The Army Of Helaman

Us with President and Sister Wadswerth