To be honest, this week has been pretty
rough. On Tuesday, we had Zone Conference. It was fantastic! It was all
about families and how we can strengthen them and bring them closer to
Christ. We got a new recitation (scripture that we recite everyday) they
are Moses 1:39
and Doctrine and Covenants 132:24. In the Doctrine and Covenants
scripture, it says in the beginning "This is eternal lives..." President
Brinkerhoff pointed out that it says lives. We cannot get to the
Celestial Kingdom and receive eternal exaltation alone. We have to be
sealed to a companion. We aren't meant to do this alone. After zone
conference we came home and our Zone Leaders sent out a voice mail to
our zone informing us that Elder Floyd and Elder Ward had been in a
really bad accident. Elder Floyd went to the hospital in Blackfoot and
had minor injuries and Elder Ward was life-flighted to Pocatello and was
in critical condition. (we found out later that they were hit on the
passenger side by a 23 year old man driving a F350 truck.) Then the
Assistants sent a voice mail to the whole mission saying that two Elders
were in a bad accident and asked us all to pray for them. We prayed a
lot that night. That night, I went to Idaho Falls to go on exchanges
with Sister Corry. In the morning, we received a voice mail from
President Brinkerhoff informing the mission that Elder Ward had passed
away. We felt completely helpless, so we decided to go to the temple
that day. We later found out that he was pronounced brain dead, but had
to stay on life support until his family got there to take him off of
it. On Thursday night, Elder Ward's district (I am not in his district, I
am in his Zone) had a service with his family, the ward and stake
leaders that he served with, and the man who hit him. On Friday morning,
our whole Zone went to the Pocatello Airport to say good-bye to his
family. His Mom, Dad, Little Brother, Little Sister and his Aunt were
all there. We all lined up and gave them all hugs. The hardest person to
hug for me was his little brother. He looked exactly like him. It was
really emotional being there. Then on Saturday afternoon, we went to his
viewing. He was in his temple clothes with his missionary badge on. He
also had Elder Floyd's sunglasses resting on his stomach. This has
unified our zone and has brought us closer together. I'm so grateful for
the plan of salvation. Everyone here in Blackfoot has been so loving
and supportive. The mission office has been getting calls with donations
to his memorial fund. there was also something on Facebook about
raising money for his family, and over $12,000 was donated within 48
hours, from people all over the world. He served in the area where the
funeral directors in Blackfoot live. They are doing the whole funeral
for him free of charge. So many blessings for the Ward family. Elder
Ward also donated all of his organs. Elder Floyd is doing ok considering
the circumstances. He is strong. He is staying on his mission here in
Blackfoot. He is such an example to me.
On a lighter note, we have been teaching some great
people here in Rose and Wapello! We taught a family last night, and they
are very interested! We are also teaching a less active woman who's
name is Cindy. She is Sacajawea's 5th generation granddaughter! We are
starting to teach a woman named Lyn, who owns llama's, sheep and horses.
She is very knowledgeable and I'm excited to start teaching her more.
We are teaching Cody still and he is getting baptized on the 21st! We
are also teaching a woman named Norma. She is married to Wes. Norma is
83 and Wes is 92. Wes' wife died a few years ago, and he wanted to get
married again. So he decided to try online dating! He found Norma who
was living in Indiana. He flew there, they got married that weekend and
they drove back to Blackfoot together. True love!
Blackfoot has a major skunk problem. I always think of that skunk song that mom would sing when we were all little.
It's harvest time! We are going to help out the Nickell's with potato harvest this week :)
The Nickell's are the best people to live with. They
had a family tragedy this past week. My heart aches for them. But they
are doing well. When Sister Nickell grieves, she bakes!! So we have had
lots of nights this week where we all eat cookies and chat about our day
:)
I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!
love,
Sister Kuhns
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