18 September 2018 - Tuesday

18 September 2018 - Tuesday

Another marvelous day in the mission field!  We were up at the usual hour, this morning, as we prepared for the day.  I got my three mile walk in and we left a little earlier than usual this morning to attend our correlation meeting.  We were on the work crew, and it was a stunning day to serve here.  Mom and I had the thoughts and the prayers at the correlation meeting.  That may be our last time to have this assignment, but time will tell.

We got two separate assignments this morning.  The Wyoming Mormon Trail Mission has the litter assignment along the two mile stretch of Highway 220 in front of the Martin's Cove entrance.  So about 20 senior missionaries were out picking up the litter along the highway.  

Picking up highway trash along the interstate

A near perfect day here in the high plains of Wyoming!

As we were attending to our duties, we had several truckers honk, as they drove by, thanking us for our service.  That was both unexpected, and very much appreciated!  There was plenty of small papers, cans and bottles and broken glass, and cigarette butts, and car parts along our assignment.  It took us about two hours to complete the process.  

Our next assignment was to paint the office window sills, and frames, that we sanded last Saturday.  It is somewhat of a challenge to start painting an older building without wanting to completely tear it down and build a new one!  Here are some "before" and "after" pictures of one of those window sills that had been exposed to rain and snow and heat over the last 50 plus years;

Before painting

After a fresh coat of paint

There were still some blemishes in the wood, but it sure looks a whole lot better!  This is the side of the building that gets the heat of the afternoon sun, and the dusting of the strong gusts of wind, on a daily basis.  I was pleased with the effort, and that mom and I could work together!

There have been so many lessons learned along the mission path this summer.  As I have mentioned before, there is a statement in the mission language that we; "should never, never, underestimate the Spiritual power of Temporal service". The quote is attributed to President Eyring and I found what I think is the origin from a talk he gave on August 17, 1990.  He was speaking to Church Educators in the Seminary and the Institute programs.

His topic was "The Book of Mormon Will Change Your Life".  I had not really grasped the significance of temporal  service before I read this.  He referenced the story of Ammon and how he went to the bloodthirsty Lamanites and began his missionary service there as a servant to King Lamoni.  He gave the King a chance to see him in his uncompromising service,  and once he caught the attention of the overwhelmed King, he was able to teach him the Gospel, and, ultimately, see his conversion along with the conversion of his household and his people...

To me that is what ministering is all about.  We go and help our family members and our friends and our neighbors and look for ways, as we get to know them, to teach them Gospel principles.  Ultimately, those Spiritual powers grow from the size of a mustard seed to full grown opportunities to teach each other with power and authority.  And we can only teach with this power and this authority if the people we are teaching trust us enough to listen to our words.  As we begin to communicate with each other, the Spirit takes over and both parties benefit.  

Wouldn't that be a wonderful scenario in our government today?  Perhaps we can refocus on that effort in our own lives, changing ourselves to be the ministers that president Nelson is talking about.  I have never looked at Ammon this way, but what a significant example from the Book of Mormon!