River Falls week 11

Hello family and friends! 

So this week I was in Cottage Grove, Minnesota for Mon/Tues on exchanges with the Elders there. I was with Elder Seiler most the time. He is from Bozeman, Montana! We had a great time and talked a lot about Montana and the fun to be had there. Everyone we talked to we sold that we were a Montana duo out to preach to good word. But I mention my time in Mesa too. It is nice having a mixed background. A background of hellfire and brimstone, and a background of beauty and zion-like quality. he he

Anyway, on Tuesday night I was with Elder Crozier. Now Elder Crozier is like 6'4" and a literal cowboy. He grew up on a ranch and the mission has been "the laziest time of his life" (he is still a hard worker). He would tell us of his time waking up at 4:30, being out on the trail until aboutnoon, eating lunch, then going back out till like 9. wuT. He had about 6 different horses he used throughout the week because they worked so much. So anyway, I went out with him and at about7:45 we came out of a Veteran's Home we were visiting and off in the distance we saw a storm that screamed death and destruction heading out way. Fast. We got a mass text from our mission president that basically said take cover, there is a tornado warning. If you hear the sirens, get in immediately. I expected Elder Crozier to be like, "eh, whatever. It's just a storm." The exact opposite happened actually. He saw the storm, yelped a little, and took off on his bike. I could barely keep up with him. He kept on muttering and yelling to hurry up. At a stop sign I was like,  "Elder Crozier scared of a little storm?" He turned to me and said, "elder where I grew up we got 8 inches of rain a year. I am not going to be out here and die." And he took off again. Halfway home we ran into the other missionaries in the car. They were laughing at how fast we were going. We threw our bikes on the back of the car and went home. Right as we got home the storm descended upon us. It looked almost like a giant sandstorm made of clouds. So crazy. The tornado sirens went absolutely nuts. Butt dont worry, we are alive and well :)

Fun Elder Berg moment(s) of the week time!

So we were teaching this woman named Laurie and we asked her if she wanted to say the prayer. She has said no every time for the last 10 weeks. So Elder Berg pulled out 2 Ne. 32:8-9 and read it to her. The scriptures say that the evil spirit teacheth a man not to pray. Elder Berg looked right at her and told her that the devil was telling her not to pray. She still refused to pray.

Toward the end of the week, we were out tracting. We came to a door and there was a cat in the window. Elder Berg said,"watch me beat this cat in a staring contest." He then proceeded to have a stare down with that cat. Neither beast nor man would relent. After a couple minutes of staring, complaints of hurting eyes from Elder Berg, and of course picture taking by me to have proof to the fact that my companion was having a staring contest with a cat, the cat turned and hid its head behind a beam in the window. The improbable actually occurred. Elder Berg actually beat a flipping cat in a staring contest. Alright then. 

So I was SOOOOO CLOSE to playing a cello this week. The zone leaders called me and asked me to play the cello in a zone conference this tuesday. I said yes and after much searching I finally found a cello. The school districts dont have orchestra here (absolute blasphemy if you ask me) and so finding one was quite difficult. Right as I went to pick it up I got a call saying there was a miscommunication and I would no longer be playing. So close... so far... Maybe some time soon. 

So we have been teaching Jamie Halfen for about 11 weeks now. I taught her last Saturday with Elder Berg, then I went on exchanges, and then I taught her on wednesday. The change that occurred in her is absolutely remarkable. I have never seen anything like it. She went from slightly resisting baptism to a converted soul in a matter of days. She finally allowed the spirit into her heart and the result is so obvious. It is nothing short of a miracle and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to teach her. She has embraced this gospel and she is visibly happier. Her relationship with her husband, which was degrading, is all of a suddenly being healed. Her husband is an atheist and wanted nothing to do with us but he saw the change in her wife and is now super supportive and is even coming to church to see her confirmed! Miracle after miracle is occurring. She will be baptized a week from Tuesday. 

Spiritual Thought of the week:

Matthew 14: 27-31

 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good^acheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was ^aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little ^afaith, wherefore didst thou ^bdoubt? 

Peter sought Jesus out. That is the first key. But along the way, he sunk into the water. He then cried to the Lord for help. Jesus immediately stretched forth his hand, and he rose from the water. The word immediately here is so powerful to me. The Lord WANTS to help us immediately! But we must accept His help! And what is the crux of his help? The Atonement. The Atonement will lift us from those dark and treacherous waters. Seek His help! Let the atonement in!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Elder Damron