Sickness :(

Family and friends,

Preparation day last week was a great start to the week. We got
the regular stuff done and then all evening we went and helped out at
the senior center. On the last Monday of every month the do a pancake
dinner. We helped set up, eat, finish a puzzle and clean up! While
people were eating we sat down and got quite a few pieces placed in
there tine 1500 piece puzzle, it was quite the challenge and we
impressed a few of the ladies that were there eating!

On Tuesday we got into the week with me being sick. I woke up not
feeling well at all, and I never get sick. So I went back to bed. When
I got up I tried to just tough it out but didn't do that well. A
member in town came and helped elder bills give me a blessing. It was
really humbling to have to ask for help like that, and it helped. I
felt better immediately, not 100% better, but it was undeniable that I
felt better. Throughout the day I kept getting better as I rested and
got my strength back. We went out tracting that night even though it
was 10° and I didn't feel good. I know I was helped to do it, I didn't
feel like passing out or falling over and the cold didn't bother me!
More rest and more rest and taking it easy paired with working really
hard when it was time has really fixed me up. Now I just have a little
scratchiness in my throat still, a stuffy nose and my voice isn't 100%
back. But it's miles better than I was feeling before!
Not much happened Tuesday and Thursday because I was still a
little sick and we had LOTS of cancelled appointments. Friday was zone
training! It was so much fun and I learned so much! One of the Zone
Leader shared a story they heard at Mission Leadership Conference that
demonstrates what faith really is, here it is:

"A Dad was walking through his house, past his little daughter's
room, when he noticed she was on her knees praying. He was curious to
see what she was praying about so he stopped and listened. She said,
'please bless that none of the birds or animals will get hurt by the
traps.' He was devastated and worried, he had helped his son place
traps out that day, and they were good traps. He knew they were
definitely going to hurt some birds. He didn't want his daughter to
lose faith when they got hurt, so he talked with her the next morning
and said 'you know, sometimes God doesn't answer all our prayers the
way we want him to, it's not because he doesn't love us, it's because
his plan is better.' To which she responded 'No. I know that no birds
will get hurt' and walked off. He kept thinking about what to say to
protect her, the next morning he said, 'you know, sometimes bad things
happen to good people too because we need to grow. Maybe those birds
need some trials, or they need a little pain or something bad to
happen so they can appreciate life more.' She again responded, 'No. I
know that the birds won't get hurt' and left. All throughout the day
he kept trying to figure out how his daughter had gained such great
trust and faith in God for Him to answer her prayers. He couldn't
figure out why, so he asked her the next morning. She responded, 'I
know God won't let any birds get hurt because the second I finished
praying I went outside and kicked all those traps to pieces!' "
Moral of the story: GO KICK THOSE TRAPS TO PIECES! God expects us
to act. When we pray for something he usually doesn't just give it to
us if we can fix it ourselves, but he will help us and give us aid to
accomplish what we wanted help with! That's faith.
Friday night I also filled up my first journal! My whole mission
I've filled in an entire page every day (except for once, the night
before we flew to billings...I only did half a page...). I know that
having this record of my mission will bless me and my family for years
to come. If you've always wanted to have a journal, start! Kick those
traps! Pray for a desire to do it and then let nothing get in your
way. When you fail or mess up pray and apologize, then ask for help to
do better. We've been counseled by prophets and apostles to keep
journals, I know it's possible and there are so many blessings waiting
for all of us as we choose to heed their words!

The Christmas Devotional was awesome, recently Elder Bednar has
become one of my favorite people to study, he understands doctrine so
well and organizes everything in neat lists. I like lists. Also, y'all
should read the ensigns. I never did before and now I do while I eat
breakfast before study time. In the December 2015 ensign there's an
article compilation of some of Boyd K Packer's teachings, A Witness of
the Savior Jesus Christ, that he chose to put in an article before he
passed on. The last one really touched me and is really cool.
“After all the years that I have lived and taught and served,
after the millions of miles I have traveled around the world, with all
that I have experienced, there is one great truth that I would share.
That is my witness of the Savior Jesus Christ.

“Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon recorded the following after a sacred
experience:
“‘And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him,
this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he
lives!
"‘For we saw him’ (D&C 76:22–23).
“Their words are my words.”
“How privileged I have been throughout my life to be able to bear my
special witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. I testify in
all humility, but with absolute certainty, that He is the Only
Begotten of the Father. This is His Church; He presides over it and
directs this work. He is our Redeemer. I know He lives, and I know
Him. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”


I love you all. Catch the Christmas spirit, it's the best thing to spread!


Elder Tippetts