Week 81--Evanston, WY

I don't have a lot of time this pday. There was a lot of cleaning that was done.

I got in a car accident last week. I went around a turn too fast on the snow and hit a pole and dented the back of the truck. We were ok. The damages came out to just under $3000, so I'm not sure if my driving privileges will be revoked. Then this week, Elder Fallin got the truck stuck in a ditch. The Almy people came and helped us out. They got it out in like -20 degrees. It hurt to breathe. Here's a picture of it.

Christmas was enjoyable. I thought a lot about the atonement and the Savior. There was a new painting of the Savior that I have never seen before but I fell in love with it. I don't know maybe it is the lighting or something. It really inspired me to repent and change so my mistakes would not cause the Savior any more pain. 

It was great to talk to the fam on Christmas. Love you all!

Dinner appointment text message picture

Truck in a ditch

Picture of the Savior

Skyping on Christmas

Week 80--Evanston, WY

At Transfers...new companion Elder Fallin

Superman...all my companions have been workout buffs. :)

Elder Bass and Elder Fallin at transfers

It was a crazy week with zone conference and our mission Christmas dinner and devotional. I got to catch up with some of my old buddies. It was enjoyable. We listened to Elder Gaye talk. He shared some valuable insights. I really appreciated him coming to the mission. We were only in our area for two days this week, so not a lot happened in the area. I-80 got shut down mid-week and so it was quite the fiasco working out all the logistics in the zone. 

My companion is Elder Fallin. We were actually in the MTC together. We have a good relationship so it will be a fun transfer. We also have a lot of people we are currrently working with and more on the way. We are excited to get to work and see a lot of good things this coming transfer.

We had 8 people attend sacrament meeting this week! There was a lot who came to see the Christmas programs.

I'd like to share an insight that I found this week that has personal meaning to me. I have been trying to have more of a desire to be more accountable to my leaders and to God. I have also been praying about it. This was an excerpt that I read from Elder Christofferson's talk on the Resurrection of the Savior: 

"Having satisfied the demands of justice, Christ now 
steps into the place of justice; or we might say He is 
justice, just as He is love. Likewise, besides being a 
“perfect, just God,” He is a perfect, merciful God. 
Thus,the Savior makes all things right. No injustice 
in mortality is permanent, even death, for He restores 
life again. No injury, disability, betrayal, or abuse goes 
uncompensated in the end because of His ultimate 
justice and mercy. By the same token, we are all 
accountable to Him for our lives, our choices, and 
our actions, even our thoughts. Because He 
redeemed us from the Fall, our lives are in reality His."   

I really enjoyed reading this passage. I continue to ponder the meaning. To me this means that I owe Christ everything. Because without Christ, my life would be void of everything good. I would experience pain and hurt but would be unable to find relief. Because he has paid for my choices and I will stand before him one day to account for what I have done, I have a responsibility to live up to his expectations.

Hope you have a great Christmas!! Love you all !!!

Later Notes:
Elder Fallin and I had our challenges but overall it turned out well. At the very end, I confronted Elder Fallin about the rules and i was biased towards a few things and he was very upset. We never really had that problem resolved. Elder Fallin had quite the temper. He kept it under control most of the time but there were a few times that he let it out. I remember him punching the ground really hard after someone hit him with a dart arrow. 

Elder Fallin loved working out. He really was a good guy who wanted me to meet my goals. He really tried to help me work out. We had a lot of nerf wars and a zone activity. It was a good transfer. We saw a lot of success.

Wyoming zone at Christmas zone conference

Wyoming zone--goofy

At Christmas dinner

Christmas dinner 2

Week 79--Evanston, WY

I'm staying Wyoming for another transfer!!!! This next transfer is 7 weeks. Elder Hutchinson is leaving, so once again, I am getting another companion. Elder Hutchinson will become the new AP. I find out tomorrow at transfers who my new companion will be. We have many people who are very prepared in our area. I am very stoked to stay.

We had a cool story this week. We drove past these people who were moving in. We stopped and asked if they needed any help. They said they did. Since we have a truck, we were able to help them move across town. They invited us back, so we will see how that all turns out. It's a young family of 5.

I am very grateful to God for the gift of my mission. Just this past 5 weeks, Elder Hutchinson has taught me so much. I am really striving to be a more accountable missionary. There are many tasks that we have to accomplish each day. It is easy to forget some. I am striving to increase an inward desire to please God so I will naturally remember and accomplish all the tasks that I am given. It will be not out of a desire to remember things but I will naturally remember all those
things because pleasing God is important.

-Elder Bass

I will miss this guy!

Week 78--Evanston, WY

I'm loving Evanston! I think that it's been my favorite area. I've been here for 6 months and I could stay for the next 6 months. The people are kind and they are very proactive about missionary work! People have trust for the missionaries here. It has always just existed as far as I am aware. So I'm grateful for the missionaries before me who set a high standard.

We picked up a family this past week called the Wagstaffs. It is a family of four. The parents are less-active members and they have have a son and a daughter who are 14 and 17. They are very busy yet also very willing to learn and try out the gospel for themselves. The mom has decided that she wants to come back to church so she contacted someone who contacted us. It was a great miracle for the week.

Jarem, we are teaching a kid that's your age! His name is Solan. He is very smart for his age. He only goes to church every once in a while and he taught us the Joseph smith story.

We have been very busy lately and we also are very content and happy with what is going on. It is definitely great to be a missionary!

A spiritual experience that I had this week was we went to a man's funeral who I had interviewed for baptism recently. One month after he was baptized he passed away. He was a kind and charitable person. During the funeral procession, I prayed and asked if the plan of salvation was real. I felt peace and comfort. It was a good feeling to have my
testimony of the plan of salvation strengthened.

-Elder Bass

Nerf Gun Wars on P-Day