WEEK ENDING 5/8/2016

ELDER AND SISTER ELKINGTON

This report is a day late due to a power failure at our home that occurred last night from about 8:00PM until after midnight.  So the report is being typed tonight –Monday.

No matter how we try, it seems Monday, our supposed P-day, turns out to be one of our busiest missionary days.  We received a phone call from “T” Monday at 7:00 AM asking if we could take him to meet with his parole officer at Purgatory by 8:00 AM.  We immediately jumped into our missionary attire and took him to his meeting.  Afterwards we took him to breakfast and had a good discussion.  We talked about the commitment he would have to make to living the Gospel in order to be ordained to the Melchizedek Priesthood..

The rest of Monday was spent preparing food for the Heritage Park Branch potluck Family Home Evening..  We took 5 children from the Reservation to FHE.

Tuesday we took 4 children who had met their Church attendance commitment to eat at McDonalds.  Then we worked for a while in the Branch garden.

Wednesday we traveled to Enterprise to a Live at Home Missionary Zone Conference.  We questioned whether to attend because Sister Elkington has been struggling with the effects of the fall she had a few weeks ago.  But, the conference was very uplifting and we were fed spiritually.  Sister Elkington’s pain level got to where we had to leave the conference a little early – but it was well worth the effort on our part to have been there. The Enterprise Stake Patriarch, Neldon Jones, gave a talk in which he quoted a talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in October 1975 Conference.  It was an outstanding talk!  One of the quotes was:

        “Faith is the Power,

         Obedience is the price,

         Love is the motive,

         Spirit is the key,

         Christ is the reason”

This quote seems to sum up the Gospel and missionary work.  It struck a very responsive note in our hearts!

We tried to take it a little easy this week to give Sister Elkington a chance to heal and gain strength.  We were partially successful.  But we did take 3 of the boys from the Reservation to the Jacob Hamblin Home on Thursday. As we were preparing to leave, a Native American man named Lakota John came up to talk to the boys.  He is a very polished man who dresses in Native American attire and is very articulate.  Lakota used to be in the Branch Presidency.  He has been living in Australia and New Zealand for the last couple of years.  He performs on the drum and sings (chants) native music. He is looked up to by all the members.  He talked to the boys about being involved in scouting.  His visit was the height of the week for these boys!

 Then we took 3 of the girls to the Visitors Center by the St George Temple.  Both of these events provided spiritually uplifting experiences for those involved.

Friday we met with all the children with the elders and participated in teaching a lesson.  Victor is planning to be baptized on May 14^th and we promised him we would provide cake and ice cream for a reception after the baptismal service.

We took “T” a birthday cake on Thursday.  With us trying to take some pressure off from Sister Elkington, COSTCO’s bakery is becoming our best friend.

Sister Elkington is gaining in strength and healing more each day.  We feel she is making progress and we still love serving the Lord and the Native American people.