6 March 2016

Elder and Sister Elkington

The first of the week Sister Elkington  was still recovering from the tooth extraction. However, we still were blessed with some choice experiences.

On Monday we took 3 of Sister M’s granddaughters to the branch garden to assist in planting early vegetables.  We are gardening with this family to teach them how to garden.  As we rode to the garden 7 year old Krystin (whose mother died in January) said, “Sister Elkington, when I grow up I want to be just like you!” We have tried to be an example worthy of emulating.  So you can imagine how gratified we felt to hear that comment.

On Tuesday, we took “T” to his anger management class at the Purgatory Correctional Facility.  As we were leaving the jail area we saw a woman dressed in spiked high heels walking away from the jail.  Afterhaving heard a man relate how he was released from jail in the late afternoon and had walked back to St George, we assumed the woman was in the same circumstances.  We knew she could not walk to St George with those high heels, so we pulled over and asked if she needed a ride.  She gratefully accepted our offer and said we could drop her off any place in St George.  We found she lived in the Tonaquint area, so we drove her to her home.  As she got out of the car, Elder Elkington said, “Remember, Your Father in Heaven knows you and He loves you!”  We then took “T” to dinner.  After dinner we had a discussion with him about the responsibilities of the various offices in the priesthood. Then we dropped him off at the 12-step meeting place.

Wednesday was consumed by a LAH (Live at Home) Missionary Zone Conference in LaVerkin.  The conference provided us a lift to our spirits and some great ideas to help us be more receptive to the Spirit of God as we do missionary work.  Pr Eves of the LaVerkin Stake talked about the questions we should ask that enable God to provide direction to our labors.  Basically, we need to ask and contemplate on the question, “Who would be most likely to…?” Then be receptive to the promptings of the spirit – and act on those promptings.  He said the names that will come to our minds may defy logic – but act upon the promptings!  We have already felt impressed to call on people, only to find later why God wanted us to call on them.

On Friday we had a lesson with Sister “M”’s family and talked about the importance of attending Church.  We have promised the children we would take them to eat at a buffet restaurant if they attend Church 5 times consecutively.  It appears a couple of them have about qualified.  Today Sis “M” brought eight of the children to Church – including 2 who are eight or over who have not been baptized and who have not attended Church before.  The nine year old, “V” said, “I only have to attend 2 more times and I can get baptized.”  We had about decided he was not interested in being baptized.

We picked up a nice easy chair from the Deseret Industries and took it to Sister “M’s” home during the week.  The home is much more habitable than it used to be.  It makes us happy to do things for this family – we regard them as part of our family!

We find great joy in doing God’s work! Our hands are His hands!