HELLO ALL. Its Elder Snow. haha I know it's been quite some time since you all have heard from me so I figured I would send out a quick update.
Life in Iowa has been pretty swell!! I'm serving in this tiny little town called Story City, it is about 20 minutes north of a city called Ames. It's where Iowa state University is. Story City only has about 2100 people that live in it. So it's a tiny town, but the people here are really kind for the most part. We cover about 10 different towns that are all about half the size or smaller than Story City, and the work here is hard. Everyone that lives in the area has been here for generations and is very set in there ways. And it's hard because if you have a town of about 600 people, with 6 different churches in it, people will usually just go to the closest church. So that is a challenge, but we have been working really hard to get some ins with the community and change the peoples' vision of what a Latter-Day Saint is. Cuz I swear some people think we have horns.
Anyways, I am training a new missionary again, his name is Elder Arsenault and he is a beast. Super funny and keen to learn and work hard. His training is almost up, we will see what happens in next week's transfer. I will be sad to leave him if the day comes.
Some people we are working with:
Beto: the most bachelor dude I have ever met, he is so funny and is really looking to come closer to God, but he struggles with keeping commitments.
Adrianna: she is a single mom with the funniest kids. Her significant other is a less active member, so we are working with them both. She has a strong desire to do what is best for her family.
We have a few others but I'm tired of writing. haha.
Spiritual thought:
As my time on my mission comes to a close, I reflect on the past 21 months and am filled with lots of emotions. But most of all gratitude. To my Father in Heaven, for giving me this chance to labor in His Vineyard, and for the sacrifice of his son Jesus.
Its been more apparent than ever to me of late, that is really what our message is. Sure, the restoration is important to know and is a beautiful thing, and sure there are a lot of beautiful things about Church including the community and friendships that we make in it. But really, all of that is secondary to 2 facts. That God is out loving Heavenly Father and that through His Son's atoning sacrifice, we can be cleansed from sin. With out those two facts, where would we be. I'm grateful for the knowledge I have gained about how real God is. And how much the sacrifice can do for us when we apply it.
Anywhomst. I love you all. And to be honest I might not write another one of these for the rest of my mission, but. I hope you are all doing good. And I know now more than ever that God has a plan for me. And for you.
-elder snow.
Ps. Pls write me emails or letters or something
