21 February 2016

Report of Elder & Sister Elkingon

On Monday, Sister Elkington gave a sewing lesson to one of the girls (10 years old) from the Shivwits Reservation.  The girl’s mother just died last month and we have been searching for ways to buoy her up.  The girl learned to use a sewing machine and made a kitchen gift towel.  She absorbed the sewing lesson plus the love and the gospel that came with the lesson.  She is looking forward to more lessons.

When we visited last week with the young man recently released from Purgatory (Washington County Jail) we told him we would do all we could to help him.  We said we would provide rides to compulsory classes or counseling sessions.  He thanked us and said he would call a day in advance if he needed a ride.  On Tuesday, he called at about 2:00 PM and asked for a ride to an Anger Management class at Purgatory that started at 3:00 PM.  We dropped what we were doing and took him to his class, bought him his lunch and then to a 12-step session afterward.  When he was put in jail, they took his driver’s license.  When he was released from jail on probation, he was told he needs to pay restitution and fines.  He was also told he needs to attend regular classes and counselling sessions that are several miles away – all without a driver’s license or money.  He also needs to be employed.  He has a great attitude, but he certainly needs a support group to help him meet the obligations of his probation.  We are here to ensure that he has necessary transportation.  That probably means we will be making weekly trips to Purgatory for a while. Today he received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a priest.  We expect he will be ready to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood within a few months.

We also called on a man on the Reservation who we visited the prior week. He said how much his wife likes the baked goods Sister Elkington has left at their home.  We returned and left him a video to watch with his family – and naturally, we left a banana/pineapple cake Sister Elkington baked.  We cannot force anyone to change – but we can love them!
The children from the Reservation did not attend Church today.  Their father came to visit and since they have not seen him for many months, they wanted to stay home with him.  But some long-time friends from Layton, Mike and Mabel Pavitch, came to visit and attended Church with us.  It was good to see them. 
Tomorrow Sister Elkington is looking forward to a visit to the dentist - she really is looking forward to it!  We hope he can do something to relieve the sensitivity and pain.
We still love our mission!