River Falls Week 14

Hello family and friends! My letter this week may be a tad short because we are emailing from member's homes because of the holiday. 

So this week was pretty brutally hot and humid. The temperature would be in the high 80s or low 90s and I would think, oh, that wont be bad. I lived in Arizona. Wrong. The heat index put the temperature at like 105-110. The dew point was in the 70s. Meaning it was so humid that at 70 degrees dew would form. It looked like it rained when we got home one night because of all the condensation appearing. We bike everywhere so it was a lot of fun. We put between 20-25 miles in a day. So bueno. Most missionaries gain a ton of weight on their mission, I have lost about 10 pounds. ha ha. 

So we are teaching this exchange student named Jessica. She super awesome and soooo prepared. This truly is the Lord's work. Well anyway, all young single adults must be referred to the University of Minnesota ward because that is best for them. The problem is that it is an hour from where we live. Anyway, so after a lot of... discussion we will teach her in the week and the YSA elders will have her at church each week and then baptize her. We are super sad that we cant attend her baptism. We really care for the people we teach and always want to see them make that commitment to God. The Dinkytown (college campus) Elders feel bad that they are basically taking away our baptism. But all that matters is that it happens. 

So while looking for a less active this last week we talked to this lady watering her lawn. We told her we were looking for her neighbor. She cut me off and said "you're lying." I said,"no! really! She lives right there! Her name is Gayle!" The woman kinda stumbled over her words and then just yelled she didnt know anything so we left. It was amusing to us. 

We also taught a woman that we meet off and on this week. We would meet more, but her husband hates us. So that creates problems. After we taught her she whipped out her accordion and played it for us for like 15 minutes. SO LEGIT.  Maybe I'll pick it up when I get home. 

So I think Elder Cole and I should open up a moving business as a side job. We participated in 3 moves this week and helped an assortment of people move random couches, beds, and other furniture. For one of the moves we were the only people to show up to help besides one 16 year old. It was about 93 outside with a dew point in the 60s. so... gross. And we were in full pross clothes. We moved about 3 hours in the middle of the heat of the day and oh man. So much blood sweat and tears. Oh well. I like helping move, actually. 

We helped this one guy named Omar move. We stopped on the side of the road and saw a some people moving boxes and whatnot up stairs, so we helped. At the top of the 3 story building we met the man to whom the stuff belonged. Turns out he is Muslim. He thanked us for the help, then basically yelled at us the rest of the time about how we were basically going to hell and that obedience to the law is what brings salvation. It was an interesting experience, that is for sure. I still like him, though. 

In a role play one morning I pretended to be a yak herder from Mongolia. Elder Cole was not quite sure how to respond to that one. Oh man it was so funny. 

Mosiah 4:11-12 speaks about joy and remembrance. When we take the time to remember all of the blessings the Lord has poured upon us, we will be so much more happier than we are now! Try it out this week. Go read the 2nd verse of hymn 241 Count Your Blessings as well. 

Have a wonderful week everybody! I love you all!

Elder Damron