Happy New Year

January 3, 2012 (email)

Hello hello hello!

I hope you all had a fantastic New Years! Mine was lame. We were home by 9 and we went to bed at the normal time. We slept through the illegal fireworks, and were bright eyed and bushy tailed at church the next morning. We may have been the only people that awake.

Last Monday for P-Day we had a Nerf war with our district. Everyone one had gotten Nerf guns for Christmas, and a couple of the Elders had some HUGE refill packs of bullets. We set up tables and chairs and walls and had an all out battle. It was WAY fun. I was obviously the wuss who screamed and squealed with every shot. I don't know why I react so badly, because they really don't hurt that bad. At one point I got so fed up with everyone aiming at me, that I started hiding all the bullets, and then was left with an entire armory at my disposal. No one can shoot my face if I am sitting on all the bullets :)

Monday night we also had an experience that wasn't very full of missionary work, but it was Heavenly Father using us to bless one of his daughters. We wanted to visit a recent convert who has been struggling, but it didn't look like anyone was home. We tried them anyways, and just as we were about to leave his mother opened the door. She is a very kind religious woman, but not LDS. She invited us in immediately and sat us on the couch. Something was obviously wrong, and it took a little probing, but we were able to learn that her family life was falling apart. Her soul was wounded and her heart was heavy. She didn't need a lesson from us, she just needed someone to talk to and to let her know she was loved. We didn't do much missionary work, but Heavenly Father used us to help lift the broken hearted and strengthen a lonely daughter. It was an amazing thing to be a part of.

We have been having problems with our heater going out. Its not too big of a deal, because we have 2 space heaters we can put in our room and it gets right toasty. Its just a frustration. Well, Elder Buynak does construction work and knows a lot about wiring and electrician stuff. He was able to fix it a while back, but it kept giving out. This week I called him and had him talk me through how to fix it. I did all right the first time, but the problem kept getting worse. I called again during the week, and he had me start re-routing some of the wiring in the heater. BAD PLAN. It was fun, but I blew up a couple wires by sending energy to the wrong place. It was quite entertaining. I eventually got the dumb thing fixed and all the wires going where they should, and we haven't had any problems since.

We also have had more problems with our truck. We kept getting a flat, so we put on the spare. We did it all by ourselves!! it took a really long time, longer than it should have, but we did it. Then we took it to a member to get it patched. The tire was pretty much shot, so he said to just get a new one. We told the new vehicle specialist, and he said take it to a certain shop in Farmington. We drove all the way in, I told them what the tire specialist in our ward said (that if he patched it, the thing would just blow out again). they PATCHED it and sent us on our way. Nobody listens to the little one. Nobody. Then on our drive back, KABLOOIE!!!! Lucky for us we were near a gas station and could pull over. Our Jack was busted, so we thought we were in for it. The wind was blowing like crazy and we were about to give the world a show as we tried to fix the tire. Thank Heavens some members from that area saw it blow and followed us to help. They didn't know we were sisters until they were half way done. It was such a blessing to have them there.

Yesterday for P-Day we went on an exploration of a bunch of deep washed out holes. It was like an Indiana Jones style adventure. We would climb down the 20+ foot river wash, and climb into the caves...crawl around in the dirt and cobwebs, and then when it opened up into a giant space (open to the sky) we would have the elder's climb out free style, and then Sister Kesler and I would climb the rope they tossed down. If it was too much for me to climb, I would get as high as I could, and they would reach down, take my hand, and pull me out like I was a rag doll. Sister Kesler didn't trust that they were strong enough to do that for her, so we tied the rope around her hips and the three of us pulled her out. Really, Elder Wise and I kinda held onto the rope while Elder Buynak pulled by himself. She was completely shocked he did it. He doesn't look that strong, but he must be, because she is kind of a giant.

Well, that was my week. I hope you all have a fantastic week. I know I'm really behind on writing snail mail letters, but I'm working on it. I have not forgotten, there is a pile that I'm slowing making a dent on. Love you lots!

Sister Melinda Wilkins