So are we gonna smile or be serious in this one? |
Emmaleigh and Mikey in front of her family's chicken coup |
Mikey called this, "The chicken killing squad!" Does Emmaleigh know this??? |
Mikey and the Goats ;) |
Elder Hess trying to keep warm while studying! Could this be more dangerous!!! |
Hello Friends and Family!!!
I had another good week full of
stuff that is crazy as usual. I had a lot of special experiences happen this
week that impacted me a lot out here.
This past week on Wednesday, elder
hess and I were asked to go to mutual and teach about missionary work to the
priests of the Metfield branch. We weren't really sure what to expect. We were
in a small room with 4 or 5 of the priests and their leader, the atmosphere was
not serious and the spirit was not there. I remember how I was at 17 and the
lack of interest I had in church related stuff and my heart was beating super
hard as I looked at these 17 year olds who were unsure about serving a mission
just as I was. I was asked by the leader, Brother Andreason, to share how I
came to the decision to serve a mission. In this moment I had such a strong
spirit overcome me as I looked around the room with some of the priests on
their phones and not really caring about the meeting. So, I spoke up and bore
my most powerful testimony I have ever born and as I was speaking my heart was
so full. I felt as though when I looked into one specific priest’s eyes who is
an athlete at his school, that I was looking into my own 17 year old eyes. I
explained in my testimony that I am just like them because of still really only
being 18 and new to my mission. And that like a lot of them I was unsure about
leaving on my mission, but I realized an important and simple truth that Joseph
Smith saw the first vision and so there wasn't really a decision to be made but
that this church is the only true church, and that I need to commit my life to
that. It really is pretty simple, either the Book of Mormon is true or it
isn't. I know that it is though and that's all anybody has to realize to know
our church is true. My heart breaks for these young priests and I hope to do
all I can to inspire them to get into the mission field. It is the best thing a
young man or woman could ever do and I have a testimony that this gospel brings
hope and happiness.
Every day I walk into different
homes that I could have never imagined before my mission and I never thought I would
be in a place like I am. I have such an important and simple message about
happiness and it is like nobody in Arkansas knows it. I desire so badly for
people to come to our church and be humble and receive this happiness our Lord
and Savior has to offer them. It breaks my heart everyday. It is just like Lehi
saw in the vision of the tree of life. I feel like the mist of darkness can be
so thick and heavy as I stumble over my words trying to tell everybody about
how much joy our church will bring them. But I hope so badly to lead people to
the Iron Rod and lead them to the tree of life where true and everlasting
happiness is found.
I am learning a lot, and a lot of
things that you can't learn unless you look into the eyes of people who have
had heart break for 40 or more years and still don't know where to find
happiness. I am so glad to be here, even though in a lot of weird situations I will
find myself thinking "what am I doing out here talking to these
people" and what a selfish thing for me to think because there really is
no place I need to be more than here. I learn way more every day than I could
ever teach. I am loving my mission and know this church is true.
Elder Green
Poor Emmaleigh's chickens! |
That's a pretty big smile there Mikey! Ewwww I told him to buy some gloves!!! |
Warning! Graphic |
Pea Ridge High's Homecoming Parade |