Letter #2

In the shadows of the glitz and glamour of the big Casinos are dirty, run-down motels where the down-trodden can rent by the week. That is where Elder Hardman and I are spending our time. We met with the Membership Clerk on Tuesday to get our first list of people to try to find. We found out that they have 908 membership records in this ward! We are starting with 70 names that have been sent to the ward in the last sixty days. It seems to be #1- University Students that don’t want to be found and change addresses often and #2- People the world has kind of thrown away. They generally are in their 60’s with sad stories and not much hope for their future. They are transient and generally not at the address provided and no record of where they have gone. I have told Elder Hardman that we will not be knocking doors downtown after dark! I felt bad when we woke up poor Cal, who definitely needed to sleep off something at 4pm. He was kind to us and disappointed that he couldn’t help us but he wasn’t the name we were looking for. We have certainly seen a different side of life here already.

Tuesday has become my favorite day of the week. District training is on Tuesdays. It is fun to be part of the enthusiasm of the young missionaries. Elder Hardman finally made some fudge that turned out, the melt ingredients together kind. We took that and it was devoured. Our new Sister from the Philippines loves treats! She is fitting right in with the American’s love for sugar. They are all so cute!

We also found out on Tuesday that the speakers for Sunday had cancelled so we were asked to speak, ugh! It turned out pretty funny though. The podium was broken. They couldn’t get it to go down and the microphone was being held up by a box of Kleenex. I stood off to one side but the podium was covering me so I couldn’t see anyone and they couldn’t see me! Ha ha, I promise I didn’t break it, it was just a tender mercy. Elder Hardman wasn’t as lucky- sometimes being short is a blessing!

We also helped at the Food Bank this week passing out fresh fruits and vegetables. We enjoyed doing that. It is held outside under tents. There is a long line of people, mostly Hispanic. I need to work on my Spanish! They were grateful as they went through. I also learned about a squash I had never heard of called Chayote. I am going to have to try cooking it. We saw the Mission President this week and he told us he’d like us to work with a Sister in the area that is over volunteer services in Reno to help set up more opportunities like the Food Bank for the missionaries to give service. We will like doing that.

We had a convert baptism on Saturday.  Sister Sorelles lives in a downtown motel. We were asked to pick her up for her baptism interview and later we were asked to bring her to her baptism. We also provided the refreshments for the baptism. I should start to make a list of the treats we’ve been asked to provide. I will save that for another time. Thank goodness I brought Annie’s brownie recipe. It is a hit! Thanks Annie!

We were asked by the other MLS missionaries to go to the Temple Friday night. A sister that joined the church last March was taking out her Endowments and they wanted her to feel supported. You don’t have to know people well here before you are invited to some life changing experiences with them. I guess it comes with our missionary name tags. We feel blessed to be a part of it.

We went to dinner with the Sister’s tonight at the ward mission leader’s home. They invite the missionaries the last Sunday of every month. The kindness of the members is a great example to us. Their little three year old told me he likes my brownies with frosting on them (leftovers from the baptism) Thanks again Annie! If anyone has any other great recipes please send them this way!

You are all in our prayers! How blessed we feel to come from our families and feel your support. Rulon asked when he heard that we had to get all of the Hepatitis shots what we would be doing in Reno! Now we know- the downtown motels! Pray for us! : )

The Church is true! And we love you!

Love,
Elder and Sister Hardman

The bumpersticker for the week:
Got Jesus? It’s Hell without Him!