News from the Mission field May

It has been a growing expereience for us in the mission field this week. Sometimes we feel like we are being asked to walk on water because things are so difficult. We have served diligently for nine months helping to build up the branch, finding new investigators, baptizing, teaching and doing the Lords work. We feel like we have served well. Well to our dismay, the branch members have been so busy with the feasts, graduation and parties that they don't have much time for church. Our attendance has dropped dramatically. The high council says this happens all the time in the summer. They are just too busy to come to church and their cultural things take precidence. The last time we brought an investigator into the branch, no one would talk to him. I don't know why. We brought one grandmother who also brings two little children with her and she won't come now because one of the families has offended her. We have trying hard to find new investigaors but ony find out they won't give up their alcohol and refuse to come to church because our little church doesn't have enough people. Of course, they are right!!! our little church only has bout 25-30 members come on a regular basis. Well on Sunday, we got there and no one was there. The Branch President has been very sick and unable to come for almost two months. His first and second counselor have found one reason after another for not coming. They had to take a trip to Albuquerque, play in a baskteball tournament, fix breakfast for his wife and family, too tired to get up, had to wait for his wife to fix the girls hair, went to a class at 11:00 p.m. and it was too hard to get up or just didn't feel like it. Wow. That was very hard on us. We have tried so hard to get the branch going. Dad felt so low he went outside to sit on the path next to the church. I sat by the organ and played, "I know My Redeemer Lives" until the tears started to flow. We asked the question, "What are we doing here??? What is our Purpose???? I cried so hard dad was concerned when he came back thinking something had happened to me. As we spoke about our feelings it would take a miracle to find someone with faith here on the reservation. If there was anyone, we wished the Lord would send them to us.
Then we heard a voice, "Hello, Is anyone here?" It was Carol. I tried to wipe the tears from my eyes and look half way decent. She was an investigator we have been working with. We had no idea that she was coming to church. We made all kinds of excuses as to why no one was there, but I think she realized there really wasn't anyone but us. So we read the Book of Mormon with her. I think she enjoyed it and will probably do so again. Then to our surprise another young man we have been working with came to church. After we asked him if we could come and teach him the lessons and he accepted. Then another member came in with his son. THREE investigators in one day!!! Is the Lord trying to help us? I think so. It made me think of when Christ was walking on the water and his apostles were toiling in the ship with the raging wind and water. When they say Jesus coming towards them they became afraid. Who was this. Was it a spirit. Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid, it is I. Peter was so excited that we wanted to go be with the Savior. He steppped out onto the water but then became afraid and began to fall. THE LORD IMMEDIATELY REACHED OUT TO HELP HIM! Yes, the Lord loves us and as we were beginning to fall, he IMMEDIATELY reached out to help us. Oh how we love the Lord!!! We love him with all our hearts.