July 31- Aug. 6

Dear Matthew,

We were in Cooke city all week.  Last Sunday we had 2 hours of church= Best thing ever!   What is church like for you?  Is it like in Belize where the missionaries give the talks/translate/bless the sacrament/ teach Sunday school?  How many people are in your current branch?  Do members go with you on member exchanges?

We did an over- nighter to rock island Tuesday- Wednesday.  It went well except that EVERYONE in the cabin got sick with a cold.  (We were up there with Emily's family and Athena's family.  Athena's family left Wednesday).  We hiked up and everyone carried their own packs.  We did cliff jumping at the lake which Jacob just loved.  He kept saying "we really need to come back to this lake."  

One our way home we ran into a man hiking alone without a pack (no food or water).  He seemed slightly disoriented, out of breath, and tired.  He was still .5-.75 miles from Kersey.  We talked to him for a bit and them hiked back to the car.  Dad and I felt that we could not leave that man alone in the wilderness.  I just imagined seeing a picture of that man's face on a paper hanging in the general store the next day with "Have you seen me?"  under the picture.  once our packs were off we sent James back up the trail with an unopened water bottle.  He ran as fast as he could and up the trail a ways he turn the corner and saw the man falling off the trail.  James grabbed him and stabilized him so he wouldn't fall on the rocks beneath.  James was that man's angel.  He did follow that man and made sure that he got back to his car safely.  It made me think about

1- How important it is to follow the promptings of the holy ghost

2- How sometimes in our life due to no fault of our own or due to completely our own fault we get in a position where we need help.  It may not happen the way we want or expect but help will come.

3- sometimes we are the instrument of our Heavenly Father.  Right now you are always an instrument in His hands.  You carry his name.

The kids have ONE last week before school starts a week from Tuesday.  Can you believe it?  I'm so sad.  I will really miss them.

Love you,

Mom

P.S.

First of all- We never heard about the termites in your first apartment...  Sounds like an interesting story.....(I don't think termites can live in such a harsh climate like Cooke city- I'll look it up.)

Second- Tell us more about Elder Gillette.  How long has he been out?  are you the senior companion?  

Thirdly-  family has requested your emails.  I hope you got Ryan's first email (you are on their list).