August 25

My questions for Matt:
1) Which Branch did you attend today?
2) Do the two Branches meet at the same time?  My reason for asking is that I'm wondering if you ever attend both Branches on one Sunday?
3) Does the Priesthood leadership of both Branches come from Blanding?
4) What about the leadership of the Relief Society, Primary and Young Women organizations?  Are those organizations present in these Branches?
5) What is the general make-up of the 10 average attendance in these Branches (mostly adults or one or two families)?
6) Does Blanding have a grocery store?  Your comment about Morgan having one made me wonder?
7) Does your new trailer have a full kitchen with all the typical appliances like a working oven?
8) Have you been able to meet with the Johnson family again yet?

-----------------------------

Good afternoon!

I can't believe people are starting school! I really just can't keep track of time as a missionary. This morning I was wondering when Easter was coming up and then I realized it already passed, haha. I hope the new school year goes great for Aimee!

1) I attended Bluff yesterday and it went great!

2) Yes, they both run from 10 to noon, so I don't get to attend both at the same time. Instead, me and Elder Waldo trade off which branch we go to each week so I went to Bluff while he went to Todahaidekani.

3) It's the same branch presidency which covers both branches. The main branch is Bluff and Toda is a dependent branch to Bluff, or we refer to it as a ministry. I'm not sure if that's the official name within the church for dependent branches or if that's just what we call it. The second counselor, who is Navajo, attends Toda each week and the first counselor attends Bluff each week and President McPhearson just goes back and forth wherever he is needed. And yes, everyone comes from Blanding. The only "local" leadership is Brother Healey who is the new High Priest Group Leader, but he is a senior missionary from Mt. Pleasant, UT. 

4) The Relief Society and Primary are done by wives of the branch presidency and there are no young women or men. We do have a scouting program that is going with a few young men who we hope we can get involved in the church!

5) Mostly adults and a few people bring their kids or grandkids.

6) Yes, thankfully Blanding does have a grocery store. Blanding is probably similar in size to Morgan, but I couldn't say so for sure. 

7) It sure does! We have a microwave, stove range, oven, the whole works! A spacious refrigerator and freezer also.

8) Not yet, last time we caught them he wasn't feeling too good but we have another appointment scheduled for Thursday! 

Great news with the people you've taken to the Ogden Temple Open House! Keep up the great work! It's so fun for me to hear about you hastening the work of salvation back at home! 

Things are going great here in Bluff. This transfer is a 5 week transfer and next transfer is a 7 week transfer, so we'll find out this Saturday if Elder Waldo is leaving or staying. He'll be going home at the end of next transfer.

This week we had the awesome opportunity to teach a man named Joaquin who was miraculously prepared to receive the gospel. He makes jewelry and sells it to the Bluff Fort and so Sister Rowley, one of the directors, was talking to him and we taught him and he has a very strong desire to be baptized and has decided over his life that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the church he wants to be baptized in and be a member of because he said that he goes to many other churches and his traditional ways of Navajo and Pueblo and they always confuse him, but as he has attended the LDS church he hasn't been confused. However, he is in a different branch's area so we sent him off as a referral to the elders over there! 

Love,
Elder Schaelling