Week 24-Rock Springs, WY

It has been a pretty good week! I have definitely experienced the ups and downs of missionary life this past week!

The first half of the week I was on exchanges with Elder Vause. He is fairly reserved and its kind cool that we both are planning to be mechanical engineers and to study at BYU. We always see miracles on exchanges which is one of the reasons I love going on exchanges. It is a good way to see someone else's teaching style and different things that they do that make them good missionaries. Even what you would call the bad missionaries have good qualities that can be learned from. We are teaching some one who is called Melissa Watson. She has had an extremely rough life. She currently has 3 x-husbands and I'm pretty sure had kids with each of them. She is also married to another guy now who a week ago kicked her out of the house. She is living with some neighbors right now and who knows what will happen from there. She has bone cancer and going through chemo. She also has to work so she can be supported. She was baptized when she was young and her immediate family has been inactive ever since. We are now just teaching her the basic of the gospel. Anyways, she said the we could come and teach her at her friends house this past week. So we went and towards the end of the lesson her friend walked in and sat in on some of it. At the conclusion, she asked for a Book of Mormon. We will be teaching her the discussions this week. It was definitely a miracle of God putting someone in our path!

Another cool experience happened after district meeting when we went to Cafe Rio for lunch as a district. Before we walked in a lady stopped us and said that she had been inactive for a long time and she wanted us to come over. We stopped by and the husband and the daughter haven't been baptized yet. Another instance where God has given us people to teach. She is married to someone and living with another guy. They would have gotten divorced but they are fighting over custody of the children. They are an amazing family and I am excited to be able to meet them and teach them.

There were some rough patches this week. When Lisa and her family didn't come to church after we called and left a message, texted them three times, and dropped by their house before church, it was kinda disappointing. Also another one of our investigators moved the date for her baptism way back because of family logistics. I may not be able see her be baptized now.

The highlight of my week was probably the baptism of Rick and Sharon Youngblood! They were married and baptized the same day! So it was pretty eventful for them. It was pretty stressful getting it all organized but it was well worth it. Their confirmations were yesterday and I had the privilege of confirming Rick a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They had been waiting for this for a long time. Working through divorce papers and so forth. They had been taking discussions with missionaries for years! I have worked with them the past six months so it was amazing to see them progress towards baptism! At one point during the meeting yesterday, I looked over to see them in tears. Sharon kept saying" isnt this such a wonderful service!" I knew without a doubt that God had made all the effort they gave to coming closer to Christ worth it for them. My whole being was filled with so much joy.

I am so very grateful for my family and friends and all their support. I am grateful for the people that I've been able to meet and develop relationships with here. Most importantly I'm grateful for my Father in Heaven's love for me and the many ways he expresses it!

-Elder Bass

Later Notes: We met a family called the  Millers. The first lesson we invited them to be baptized and they accepted a date. They lived in trailers that were way out in our area. 

Rosy was their 17 year old daughter. One particular lesson that we had with them was good. We taught them the Law of Chastity. She followed as out to the car when we were leaving. Throughout the whole lesson she kept saying,"I like one of you more than the other." I thought she was talking about me the whole lesson. When she walked us out, she said. I have something to ask you. With the law of chastity are you allowed to date? I said yeah how are you going to get married if you dont date. She laughed and said you you guys allowed to date? I said oh no no we cant. She said she could wait. I immediately shut her down because i thought she was talking to me. She then said oh well i was going to ask him (pointing to Elder Hanks) to be my boyfriend. I just about bursted out laughing. I waited til the car and i just started laughing uncontrollably for like 5 min. While we were driving back her got super scared and said that he was going to get ETed. We called the zone leaders and they said not to worry about it.

Rosy had problems with cutting herself. She told us a few times. 

Elder Hanks was always uncomfortable around the millers and didnt want to go to their house ever. They were a little weird in his defense. He yelled at us over the phone and said that the church was inconsiderate and not helping him. We prayed and asked God what to do. I felt like we should go to his house. Elder Hanks thought that was absurd. After many personal prayers, he decided to go. He didnt understand why the bishop wasnt helping him. He was afraid to pay tithing because of his bills. I promised him that God would take care of him if he payed his tithing first. It turned out to be a spiritual experience when we decided to go there.

For thanksgiving dinner we went to a mans house who was later baptized when i was a zone leader in Wyoming. Then he died a little bit later. At the dinner i was super upset because I didnt get to sit at the same table as sister tennyson. That was childish thing to get upset about. One thing that even in the smallest insignificant ways hurts me is when someone i feel close to chooses someone else over me. Elders Wilson and Martineau sat with them and we sat alone.

I remember that we got chastised for texting the Sisters. I was upset about it at the time but looking back it was a rule and i was dumb.

Week 23-Rocks Springs, WY

I had an amazing birthday! We were teaching lessons all day and found 4 new investigators! The sisters also surprised me with a cake! Still pretty stressed because we will be having baptisms for the next few weeks! This week's baptism is a family called the Youngbloods. They are an older couple. Maybe 40-50s. When we began teaching them she was married to another guy and not the one she was living with. They had been living together for almost 20 years! The divorce process was long and treacherous and it took them almost 6 months to figure it out and get it finalized, but they are getting baptized and married this weekend! It will be an amazing day. 

We have been to the hospital several times this week giving those who are sick blessings. Those are always very hard because you dont know anything about them! In one of the blessing, I felt like she would return home safely that night. I kinda wonder what happened. One of the guys we gave a blessing to suddenly had his pancreas burst. It s scary how fragile life is and how these things can just sneak up on us and come out of no where. If nothing else it was a call to make the most out of our time that we've been given.

Our high councilman let us know yesterday morning that we were going to talk in church in just a few hours. Elder Hanks got up and I zoned out and started thinking about my talk. It felt like 3 or 4 minutes later he said "in conclusion". I looked at the clock and he had talked for 4 minutes and sat down. So I said a silent prayer. I had a few bullet points I wanted to speak on and I just kinda said whatever came to mind. I didn't even look at the clock and I had spoken when I was done the perfect amount of time. God really does make up the rest when we give him what we have.

I have really tried lately to measure my success by obedience and diligence and tried to forget everything else. I like that way a lot better and I really think that it is appropriate. It will help me change and will enable God to help others change through me.

Elder Hanks got asked out a few days ago! That was pretty funny. I thought she was going to ask me but she asked Elder Hanks instead. It was after a lesson with a family in which we taught the law of Chastity. At its conclusion she asked to walk us out to our car. We thought she wanted to talk about a concern that she had when her family wasn't there. So we were like OK. She asked us if the law of Chastity prohibited dating! I asked her how were we supposed to get married without dating! She proceeded to ask Elder Hanks out! It might have been the funniest day of my life! I contained myself for the moment miraculously. I thought she was talking about me at first but then I realized it was Elder Hanks. It went from really awkward and uncomfortable to hilarious!

Anyways thats all! Thank you all for the love and support! It is appreciated and I really do try to return it! 

Oh yeah its freezing here. The wind chill was -40 at one point. You can't stay outside for very long or it hurts to breathe and you die. It's snowed so much and been so cold. The cold is like nothing I've ever experienced. It's biting and cuts to the bone.

-Elder Bass

Check out the new sweatshirt and belt buckle

Birthday cake from the sisters

closeby of Wyoming sweatshirt

Ice skating

Week 22-Rocks Spring, WY

Thank you so much for the package! It was awesome!!! I love the sweaters especially the sweater vest! I'm going to wear them all the time!!! Thank you for the letters in the package. They will mean a lot to me. I am going to try to write all of those back who wrote me letters. Did dad ever receive my card that i wrote him? Just wondering. I don't have too much to talk about this week so I'm sorry about that.

I am so happy to be here. I know that it sounds so redundant but I love it. People come to Rock Springs and just find themselves lost. There is some real truth to that. We found another family who are preparing to come unto Christ by means of baptism! A mom, a dad, and a daughter! They are in a super tight financial situation.It was a touching experience. He recently contracted a illness that stopped him from working. His life was normal and everything was fine until he got sick and was no longer able to work. They still have bills to pay and mouths to feed with no income. We were able to get the Relief Society involved to help them with food. The timing was miraculous. I know that this is the Lord's work and I am grateful to be a part of it.

On splits this past Wednesday, it was cool because the guy I was with knew one of the referrals that we needed to contact and he said we could come back! It was a testament to me that when the members get to participate in the work too, we see miracles from it! Go on splits with the Elders and watch how you can be an instrument in the Lord's hands!

We taught Edna a lesson last night! She brought a friend and now we are going to probably start teaching him. Edna is amazing! She wants to move her baptismal date up and meet with us more. She feels so happy at church and she loved the primary program yesterday! Her daughter Dianca got to be part of it! Dianca was all dressed up and she did her part so well! I really enjoyed all three of the primary programs we were able to go to! It's so amazing and touching when they sing. We are building good relationships with ward members so its nice to see all of them at church! We have been super stressed out lately. It is really hard to make sure all of our investigators are doing well and progressing. I loved the package and I'm so grateful that I got it! I love the sweaters!!!

Our leaders gave us permission to go to a BMX event! It was super fun to see those we are teaching go on the track! They were super happy so see us. It was really cool how it worked out. We sat near a someone who we may stop by and start teaching! The Lord always has things for us to do! I am trying to to be more kind and charitable and just a better person in general. Thank you all for the love and support it is very much appreciated.

-Elder Bass

Later notes: On my birthday we had the weird urge to visit a LA named Shanelle. It was someone Elder Clark visited and flirted with a lot. It was how we taught Justin and baptized him. She was there and there was 4 people that had moved in with her. We shared part of the restoration with them right there. It was a wonderful blessing for my birthday. The man was named Irish. Later he had a baptismal date. He dropped off after some disobedient missionaries came and taught him and destroyed the area and got it shut down. When the area got shutdown, they destroyed the maps and the records of all the people i taught.

Everyone of my first baptisms i remember kneeling in the prayer and offering a prayer of gratitude to God of a soul that has been given to us to baptize.

PS Tell Jarem that I loved his card and I miss him!

In my new birthday sweater vest

At BMX event:

Week 21-Rock Springs, WY

There really isn't too much to talk about this week. The most eventful thing this week was how God answered our fasting prayer. One of our wards has been struggling a lot. We have one investigator in that ward. Anyway this week we fasted for that ward and asked  members to fast for missionary work as well. Recently, we have received 8 referrals for that ward which is amazing!

There is also a pretty cool thing that happened. We have recently been trying to visit Margaret Parry. We stopped by many times before she was finally home and we were finally able to talk to her. Anyways, we shared a message and a prayer with her and asked her if there was any service we could provide. She chuckled and said that she runs the "cowboys for cancer" event. It is a huge cancer donation event. It was really cool because Evan (one of the people we have taught) may not be alive today if it wasn't for the money donated by this event. People from all over the nation come including dignitaries from the state of WY and other places! We were able to volunteer and help her set up for this event. She said that she could use as many missionaries as we could get. We recruited the other 6 missionaries who work in Rock Springs to come with us. We went and helped and didn't think much about it afterwards. Yesterday in sacrament meeting in one of our wards, someone came up to us and told us this story. At the event, she was saying thanks to people who had helped put on this production. She had been going through a list of those who had helped. When she said our names she stopped and told a story of how we had come to the door and asked for service. She said that she wasn't expecting us to show up because a lot of things like that are mostly just talk. The room was dead silent. She said that not only did we show up but we brought 6 others with us to come and help! She said that she greatly appreciated our support. The crowd started applauding. It started in the back but then filled the entire place. She had to stop talking to wait for the applause to stop. The purpose of this story is not to say how awesome we are or something to that extent. This is a testament that this is truly the Lord's work and how he has opened doors that we didnt even know were in the play to progress his work. I believe there were almost 1000 people in the audience. It is amazing to see the Lord do his work.

God also has given us another family. They just decided to come to church on their own. They have a 9-year-old who has not been baptized. They are a super nice family and really fun and sincere at the same time. I am super excited to begin working with them. We now have 10 people we are working with who are preparing to come unto Christ by means of baptism. The work is starting to pick up in the other wards and we are very excited. The Lord has blessed us abundantly. I love you all and am very grateful for your love and support.

-Elder Bass

Later Notes: We had an intense lesson with the shassets family. They were willing to meet with us. They seemed to have all the right feelings and motives and desires but lacked commitment in following through. I promised the mother who is the only non member in the family, that if she read and prayed every night for 7 days that she would receive an answer. Unfortunatley she agreed but didnt follow through. It was a good moment in my mission where i testified that this was truly the most thing that they could be doing after they said they were busy.

Here is the article for Cowboys for cancer:

http://www.sweetwaternow.com/look-back-20-years-giving-annual-cowboys-cancer-event-took-place-saturday/

ROCK SPRINGS – Take a walk down memory lane. Remember the fun times, the hard times and the loved ones lost along the way. For Cowboys Against Cancer, Saturday night was a night to reflect over the past 20 years.

The annual Cowboys Against Cancer event celebrated 20 years on Saturday night at the Sweetwater Events Complex. Over the past 20 years, the organization has given $4 million to local residents who are battling cancer.

Each year, the event honors and remembers those who have battled the horrible disease. For the event founder Margaret Parry, Saturday’s dedication was special as one of the people honored was her father Richard McClammy.

Richard and his wife Mary Lou are regular attendees to the event but this year that all changed as Richard was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In 2010, Richard told the audience how proud everyone should be because Cowboys Against Cancer was living proof of how people can help other people. On Saturday, the event put Richard and Mary Lou in their thoughts and prayers.

“As you celebrate with us this evening and reflect back on 20 years of giving, I am reminded of one of my father’s most important teachings to my brother and my sisters,” Parry said. “He always counseled us to make sure we gave back. For all of us that benefited from his message, thank you daddy.”

The event was also dedicated to Roy Messer who lost his battle with cancer. Roy was best know for the technology that is a part of the benefit and banquet. While Roy’s life journey took him in many directions, his passion for photography consumed his last years. Many of his works can be seen in the offices and hallways of the Holiday Inn.

“Roy would not like the fact that we are honoring him because Roy preferred being the quiet person who just made things work,” Parry said. “Roy, rest peacefully under the night sky you captured so vividly.”

While event attendees checked out the many baskets around the exhibit hall, the sponsors numbers had already been tallied. Sponsorship donations were $175,000 dollars. Two local companies donated $20,000. They included FMC and Premier Powerplants and Pumps. Chevron, Jonah Energy and Linn Energy each gave $10,000 and up.

Last year, the event raised $327,000 which went to assist local cancer patients.

Another favorite part of the event is dinner. This year, 35 chefs from Salt Lake, Oklahoma and Texas put together the menu.

There were also dignitaries at the event including Sen. Mike Enzi and John Barrasso as well as Wyoming Governor Matt Mead.

Mead told the audience cancer has touched all of us as he told of watching his father’s fight with cancer. He told the audience to recognize what 20 years of giving has done for so many.

“Thank you for giving us inspiration and courage,” Mead said.

Barrasso has also watched his loved ones battle the disease. He thanked Parry for her unbelievable contribution to the community.

“No one has more innovation, creativity or energy,” he said.

Barrasso said Cowboys Against Cancer is the epitome of the Code of the West. Take pride, finish what you start and ride for the brand.

“That brand is Cowboys Against Cancer and the generosity of a community,” he said.

Parry thanked 20 years of volunteers on Saturday. She also noted how far reaching the event had become as she introduced a couple who came to Rock Springs all the way from Hawaii to attend this year’s event.

She thanked Haliburton for helping get ready for the event and all the many students from Green River and Rock Springs High Schools.

Parry told a story of a recent visit by two Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint missionaries. She said as they were leaving, they asked Parry if she had any projects she needed done. As Parry chuckled, she thanked eight missionaries who brought all the flowers out to the event.

As Parry pulled out a letter from her sister Patricia, she began to read it. She was soon stopped by her sister who told the story. Patricia said she was recently in Rock Springs to be with her sister as she received an award. As she started to head back to California, she had to stop because of the weather.

Patricia explained she stopped at the McDonalds in Green River to try to find out what the road conditions were. She said there was a group of men eating as she asked them if they knew how the roads were.

As they continued to talk, the men asked her why she was in Sweetwater County. Patricia said she explained to them she was here for Cowboys Against Cancer.

With tears in her eyes, she recalled how one of the men stood up and gave her a great big hug and told her Cowboys Against Cancer saved his life. He told Patricia to hug all the volunteers of the event.

“Consider yourself hugged by a bunch of men at McDonalds,” she said.

Parry summed up the evening as she explained she has been asked numerous times about what celebrities would be at the event this year.

“As I thought to myself about this I said we don’t need celebrities,” she said. “We don’t need celebrities because you are the celebrities.”

101

SHARES

Volunteer shirt: It was really cool to volunteer at something that helped Evan survive! So cool

Rock Springs at night: Before we went in one night we went on top of white mountain! It was beautiful!

The sisters car on Halloween! We were given some spider webs so we made good use of them!!