Sister Nielsen,
Well how was your week? We had a very good eventful week. As you know, Monday, we were in SLC for getting Erins and Moms wisdom teeth pulled. Every thing seemed to go pretty well. Erin got very swollen. She looked like a chubby chubby bunny. Mom's month did not swell much and she did really well the 1st 3 days, but then after that hers was starting to hurt more and giving her headaches. They both still can hardly eat anything and can open their mouths just a little bit. So I'm hoping they get better this week.
I believe mom and Erin went with the sister missionaries to teach Whitney during the week. Cody and I tried to go elk hunting early Friday morning, but as we were driving down the freeway, the truck's transmission would not shift and go down. I kept telling Cody, something is wrong, so we turned around at Osino and drove the frontage roads back to Neff's diesel. My overdrive button could not turn off. I thought it would be a quick fix and we would be back on the road. Well we were there until 1:00 pm in the afternoon and they were working on it but could not find the fix. So they tried to eliminate everything and concluded that it was probably my power control module and that would cost $800 just for the part itself. But he said if we went slow we would be ok. So we went to Spring creek and took the dirt roads over to secret pass and then took secret pass over to Ruby Valley to Jared Sorensens ranch. We talk to him for a bit and headed up the mountain. He said he had elk on his property and I envisioned 30 to 40 acres with some elk in their quaky patches. But they own 18,000 acres. Basically the entire mountainside. We were on the other side of the mountain where we took you hunting with Hernold that one time on the 71 Ranch and we saw that big buck down in the bottom of the Quakies and you could not see it as your scope was fogged over. But we hunted all day Friday afternoon, camped out in the back of the truck and most of the day on Sat until about 3 or 4 and did not see any elk. Lots of deer but no elk. And there are only 30 or so elk on his property so that is like finding a needle in the haystack. So we decided to bag it for now and wait until Sept. when they would be bulging and hopefully get the truck fixed so we can go back. We left the 4-wheeler at Jared's house in case we have to take the Suburban back out, we could hunt off the 4-wheeler.
And then yesterday was a super day. It was fast Sunday and so we were all fasting and Whitney was fasting and we had a great Sacratmeeting. We had 2 individuals get up and bare their testimony who had both been inactive, 1 since 2000 and the other since 2002 or something. But the lady she had quit her job to go spend the last few months with her brother who had cancer and was only given 8 weeks to live. Her brother lived in Carlin. He was sealed to his wife in the temple on the 27 of June and 12 hours later went into the hospital and never left again and died on July 1st. But she said her brother taught her about the atonement, and she never wants to be inactive again. The other guy just moved here from Utah, had a long pony tail and did not have any family here, so he came back to the church where he new he could find his new family. He said his brother was atheist and was angry with God etc, but he was giving God a second chance and looking to get back active in the church. They were both neat testimonies.
Well how was your week? We had a very good eventful week. As you know, Monday, we were in SLC for getting Erins and Moms wisdom teeth pulled. Every thing seemed to go pretty well. Erin got very swollen. She looked like a chubby chubby bunny. Mom's month did not swell much and she did really well the 1st 3 days, but then after that hers was starting to hurt more and giving her headaches. They both still can hardly eat anything and can open their mouths just a little bit. So I'm hoping they get better this week.
I believe mom and Erin went with the sister missionaries to teach Whitney during the week. Cody and I tried to go elk hunting early Friday morning, but as we were driving down the freeway, the truck's transmission would not shift and go down. I kept telling Cody, something is wrong, so we turned around at Osino and drove the frontage roads back to Neff's diesel. My overdrive button could not turn off. I thought it would be a quick fix and we would be back on the road. Well we were there until 1:00 pm in the afternoon and they were working on it but could not find the fix. So they tried to eliminate everything and concluded that it was probably my power control module and that would cost $800 just for the part itself. But he said if we went slow we would be ok. So we went to Spring creek and took the dirt roads over to secret pass and then took secret pass over to Ruby Valley to Jared Sorensens ranch. We talk to him for a bit and headed up the mountain. He said he had elk on his property and I envisioned 30 to 40 acres with some elk in their quaky patches. But they own 18,000 acres. Basically the entire mountainside. We were on the other side of the mountain where we took you hunting with Hernold that one time on the 71 Ranch and we saw that big buck down in the bottom of the Quakies and you could not see it as your scope was fogged over. But we hunted all day Friday afternoon, camped out in the back of the truck and most of the day on Sat until about 3 or 4 and did not see any elk. Lots of deer but no elk. And there are only 30 or so elk on his property so that is like finding a needle in the haystack. So we decided to bag it for now and wait until Sept. when they would be bulging and hopefully get the truck fixed so we can go back. We left the 4-wheeler at Jared's house in case we have to take the Suburban back out, we could hunt off the 4-wheeler.
And then yesterday was a super day. It was fast Sunday and so we were all fasting and Whitney was fasting and we had a great Sacratmeeting. We had 2 individuals get up and bare their testimony who had both been inactive, 1 since 2000 and the other since 2002 or something. But the lady she had quit her job to go spend the last few months with her brother who had cancer and was only given 8 weeks to live. Her brother lived in Carlin. He was sealed to his wife in the temple on the 27 of June and 12 hours later went into the hospital and never left again and died on July 1st. But she said her brother taught her about the atonement, and she never wants to be inactive again. The other guy just moved here from Utah, had a long pony tail and did not have any family here, so he came back to the church where he new he could find his new family. He said his brother was atheist and was angry with God etc, but he was giving God a second chance and looking to get back active in the church. They were both neat testimonies.
The sister missionaries from the 1st ward came over about 4:30 after their church and we broke our fast with them and Whitney and had Hawaiian chicken for dinner. Afterwards we had a discussion here with the sister miss. and Whitney and it was awesome. The spirit was really strong. They asked Whitney how she felt during fast and testimony meeting and she said during the guy w/ the pony tail, she was overcome with emotion, and was getting goose bumps, etc. We told her that was the spirit telling her these things are true. The sisters asked her what she thought about everything and what her fears were. She said her biggest fear was telling her parents. Especially her mom. Then one of the sisters told us about her dad. She said he has been inactive since right after she was baptized. And she was really scared to tell him that she wanted to go on a mission, but she felt very strong that she needed to go on a mission. When she told him, she said he went crazy, yelling at her and telling her not to go, how could you believe in a religion like that, etc. Well he was totally against it even as they were taking her to Provo to the MTC. I guess from the window of their hotel they could look out and see the SLC temple. and he would pull back the drapes and say, how could you possibly believe in a religion like that? And was yelling and slamming doors and she said, she did not have a answer for him, but she knew the church was true and knew she needed to serve a mission. When the dad was going crazy, she said she and her mom left the hotel room and went to the temple. When they came back, her dad was crying in the hotel room. Any way, she has only been out for 2 months and since she has been out, her mom and dad have returned to the temple. Miracles have happened and she said I know they will happen with you and your family. Any way, it was a Cubillo like discussion and there was not a dry eye in the entire group. At the end, we sang Abide with me tis evening tide, one I selected as one of my favorites from my mission and they asked me who I wanted to say the closing prayer. And I asked Whitney if she would like to say the closing prayer and she said, I might get too emotional, I don't know if I can get through it. And she gave the most sincere sweetest prayer I have ever heard, crying the entire time. Even Cody and Summer were getting teary eyed. I asked Cody after the discussion, "see Cody, wouldn't you like to go on a mission and have these kind of experiences every day?" He said yes, I am ready to go right now.
Any way, she ended up staying here until 10:30 pm at night. I do not think she wanted to leave. We played our family baseball game in the backyard with her and she really enjoyed that as well. But it was an amazing Sunday, full of the spirit and a day to remember. Erin said went she got home from work Sunday night, that she was going to quit her job as it was prohibiting her from being in discussions like that.
Any way, I am heading down to Pahrump for the the week and I better jet and Sister Nielsen would say. We love you and are grateful you are serving our Lord as a missionary.
Love,
DAD
Dearest Sis. Nielsen,
We have had the best experiences this past week with Whitney! She is making awesome progress. Hey, we are missionaries too! She had her first lesson last tues. and Cody and I went together and picked up the sisters and went to her house. It was good. I was so proud of Cody; they would ask him questions about what the gospel meant to him and such and it was fun to hear his answers. They challenged her to baptism that day, and I thought it was kind of fast, but I guess there is no messing around in this missionary business. She said she wasn't sure, then the sister rephrased the question and said "as you come to know these things are true....will you be baptized?' that felt a little better, and she said "yes , when I know it's true." Dad and Cody went hunting on Fri. and Sat. so Erin and I went to her next lesson which was on friday. That went even better. Then she came to church with us again on Sun. and it was of course Fast and Testimony mtg. and that was really good. The speakers all said really great things, but the one she enjoyed the most was a man who had been inactive for 11 yrs. and was just coming back. He was really sincere and testified how much happier he was being now then when he was lost. We had Hawaiian chicken for dinner and the sisters came over to eat and then taught lesson #3. It was really powerful. Dad was in on this one and so he talked a lot, but the sisters didn't seem to mind. He kept saying something to add to the discussion and then he'd apologize and say "ok,I'll be quiet now", then of course he would not. It was fine. He asked Whitney to say the closing prayer. She wasn' t sure she wanted to, but he just encouraged her and so she did and it was soooooooooo sincere and sweet and touching, we were all in tears. Don't you love the prayers of people who are brand new at it? They are the best. She ended up staying over until 10 pm. We played baseball in the backyard for FHE and then we had scrips. and prayer and chatted some more and then she left. What a day! She has until Aug 15, when she leaves for college to become mormon, so we hope we can fit it all in. She is a little afraid of telling her parents she wants to be baptized, but dad told her to pray about what to say and how to approach it. Cody could baptize her, isn't that kind of crazy? Our next lesson is tomorrow, and that's it. I thought there were a lot more lessons. Your prayers are helping, thanks.
Erin and I are still popping our pain killers, my mouth is still sore. Her swelling has gone done considerably.
This is going to be kind of short, because I am near the deadline, but how was Flossy and who is your new companion? I love you, keep being incredible!
Love,
Mom
PS sending package today, I am my mother's daughter :)
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