Rain, rain, go away, come again some other day

Well in the matter of about 2 weeks we have gone from too much sunshine to too much rain. Well, you can never have too much rain but it’s definitely been a bit of a change. Monday night for example, we started work after P-Day at 6, and since it was only a slight drizzle we decided we would walk to save some miles on our car and because it’s easier to talk to people that way. Well, we get into a lesson on the other side of town and come out of the house only to find that it is pouring outside. Since our car was a mile away across town (I don't know what we were doing thinking this whole walking thing was a good idea; I mean come on this is America not some third world country) and it was getting late we couldn't really wait it out so we zipped up our jackets and started walking. As luck would have it, as soon as we got back into the car the torrential downpour stopped, but it did teach me a few things. I have now learned that my backpack is 99% waterproof. My jacket is about 90-95% waterproof. Shoes are about 80%. Pants are about 0%. But alas, such is life. Sure made for a fun night though. 

So out here in Othello there are enough members to have release-time seminary (another thing I learned - you can get paid to be a seminary teacher and make a career out of it; who knew?) So this past Thursday they had a Pancake Palooza where the seminary students invited their friends to come have pancakes for lunch in the seminary building and since there were gonna be over 100 kids coming the seminary teacher enlisted our help in making 300+ pancakes. It was a lot but between 9 of us - err 7 the zone leaders never do anything - it was pretty light work. 

Now for a little teaching experience for all of you future missionaries (or just anyone in general). When you want to get somebody to do something, especially in the religious sense, make sure you end with an invite. Let me explain. Last night we were out knocking some doors since that’s all missionaries ever seem to do, when we came across this one guy who spent 5 minutes explaining very animatedly why we need to be baptized (keep in mind this was all in Spanish which made it that much more entertaining for us to try and understand). I then asked him a question about something then he went off for another 5 minutes (with just as much if not more animation) on a round-about answer that didn't really answer my question, when all of a sudden he extended his hand and thanked us for stopping by and wished us a good night. Since we weren't getting anywhere I took his hand, bade him farewell, and we were on our way, rather confused because he just talked at us for 10 minutes and didn't ask us to do anything. Nothing happened.  It was just a waste of 10 minutes. That is precisely why, future missionaries / teachers / etc., we extend invites. 

And in other news, Elder Risenmay of the 70 just casually showed up to church yesterday. We were talking with our Bishop and had just turned around to head out when all of a sudden out walks Elder Risenmay. Not every day you see a general authority of the church just walk out of the high council room like it was nothing. 

In closing, I quote a member quoting someone else. He had just taken us to show us our new place we will be moving into shortly and we were then sitting in his truck just talking when somehow we got onto the subject of money and retirement, when he offered us these words of council:

"Retirement is doing what you want, when you want to, with who you want."

If that means doing the job you want, I guess you can retire as soon as you find said job. Makes life seem a little bit more pleasant to face. 

Until next week!

Elder Kupferer

The Fair Has Come to Town!

Probably the biggest event Othello has ever experienced. It’s one of those times where everyone drops everything and all they can think of is the [Adams County] Fair. I guess that happens in a small town such as this but from what it sounds like it was a good fair as it always is. Last Saturday (not two days before the time of this writing but the week before that) the entire stake (all the members of the church that live in Othello) came to help clean up the fair grounds. Since it only gets used once a year there was a lot to be done but it all got cleaned up pretty quick. In three hours we had turned it from looking abandoned for 11 months to presentable. My comp and I ending up spending most of the day spreading sawdust everywhere but it was a great chance to get to know some of the members. The giant barbecue they gave us at the end was pretty nice too. 

We also had the opportunity to help volunteer in the church's booth that they have. They use the booth as a fundraiser for girl’s camp and scout camp and from what I understand, they make enough in the four days the fair is open to have everyone go at a very minimal cost, if at all. The booth is a super big hit though in the fair; they basically sell deep-fried dough called Elephant Ears. Think a 15-inch diameter piece of dough, fried, then dusted with cinnamon sugar. It almost tastes like funnel cake, but better. It was super good. I personally got to be the one sitting behind the fryer so I was charged with the lofty task of not burning the food but all in all it was pretty fun. Nothing quite like fair food. 

And in this week’s random department, we were out knocking some doors on a pretty slow day since the fair was going on but we come across this one house and a guy answers the door and we start talking to him (in Spanish) and he asks us to wait and then goes back into the house to talk to someone and in the meantime some guy walks in the back door, stares at us, says “Hola” and then keeps walking. Finally just as we were about to leave this super old guy comes to the door and wraps a green towel around his head and says hi and stares at us with a weird smile. In my mind I was like okay this is a little weird but we keep going anyways. We go through our spiel and then ask him if he has ever talked with missionaries before and this is how the conversation went:

Us: "Ha placticado con misioneros en el pasado?" (Have you ever talked with missionaries before?)

Him: "como?" (Sorry? Meaning, ‘I don't understand’)

Us: "Ha placticado con misioneros el el pasado?"

Him: "Estoy casado? (Am I married?)

Us: (now a little frustrated and assuming he can't understand us because he is hard of hearing: "Ha hablado con misioneros?" (Have you ever talked to missionaries?)

Him: "No entiendo ingles" (I don't understand English)

At this point he kind of just closed the door on us so we sat there for a second and tried to collect our thoughts about what happened. Tracting is never fun but it does have its moments. 

This past weekend we also had the opportunity of having Elder [Brad K.] Risenmay of the Seventy come to our Stake Conference. While normally having any General Authority come is big, this was especially neat because this is his home stake. Twenty-two years ago he was called to be the Othello Stake President and now was able to come back on assignment as a Seventy. It was great being able to learn and hear the great talks and testimonies of not only the stake members but also Elder Risenmay. The big central theme is that God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. It was an amazing conference. This conference is where this week's quote comes from. He (Elder Risenmay) was talking with Elder [Davd A.] Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and he said in regards to the battle between good and evil:

"We know how this plays out, and we win."

The only question now is we have to decide which team we want to be on. 

Until next week!

Elder Kupferer

[Editor’s Note]  Elder Brad K. Risenmay, from Othello, Washington is an Area Seventy.  Area Seventies give part-time voluntary Church service within their assigned geographic areas and support area presidencies in international areas.