... another week in crazy Colorado weather:)‏

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was another week of just craziness!! Its funny how you don't notice a lot of things when you are in a car as opposed to being on a bike!! Sister Kipp and I have been caught in weather from 90 degrees to full blown downpours and hailstorms all within the last week! In fact I caught a bit of a cold because we got completely drenched in one of the storms. But it is alright:) I'm on the mend and am enjoying trying to pick out outfits that will be good if it is hot or if it suddenly decides to rain on us. Which mostly means that I am doing a lot of layering with shirts and jackets.. But I am getting better at it! My companion and I are opposites because she is from Spokane Washington and loves the rain and the cold and well.... I like it a lot less than she seems to. In other words I thrive and do best in a little heat and she does the opposite, it makes for an interesting dynamic if nothing else:) We have also had a good time just stopping on the street and talking with people... I feel a lot less creepy doing this on a bike as opposed to stopping a car and getting out to talk with someone. So we are often talking with people, only we forget that  our area is so stinking small! On our first couple of days here we stopped and talked to a gentleman who was eating his lunch on the curb. Well after talking to him for a minute we asked if he would be interested in learning more... and got totally rejected. He is Muslim and had no interest in talking with us. Well for the next week we ran into him everyday as he was doing door to door sales type stuff and apparently we work the same area. It was a bit awkward but I also got a good laugh out of the whole situation. Then we went and taught a less active member who we had talked to before and asked our Ward Mission Leaders advice on who from the ward would be good to bring to the lesson. He suggested Brother Daniels who liked to ride motorcycles and was getting into photography which was great because Brother Edgin (the less active member) is a photographer for the Harley Davidson down here. So we brought him along and it was perfect!! Despite a difference in age these two got along so well. It was a testimony to me of how well our Heavenly Father knows each of us and how he is so very aware of our needs. That is something that I defiantly get reaffirmed to me quite often on my mission as I serve and meet new people. Finally, to round off the week we got to go do some service up in Black Forrest (where the fire took place) and fill sandbags because apparently after the Waldo Canyon fire because all the undergrowth was gone they had major problems with flooding so we are trying to prepare Black Forrest for the likelihood of that just in case they are stuck in just such a situation. So sorry this is really scatterbrained but what you can take from it is that this week was an all in all good week:) Recently, I have been trying to read the bible more in my studies to gain a better understanding of it and I have been in the story of Joseph of Egypt. Well I was reading today about how he revealed himself to his brothers and what he says really stood out to me. Its in Genesis 45:5-8 and it says;

"5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve your life.

6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt."

I really like these verses because even though he was sold by his own brothers and it was hard on him. The chapters before show that, but he looks to the positive side. He doesn't let his afflictions hinder him from seeing Gods plan for him. I find that so amazing because recently one of the recent converts in this ward got kicked out of her house. Her parents were not very happy with her becoming a Mormon and other things kind of blew up as well. But, when we talked with her recently she was able to show this kind of attitude toward her trials. She pointed out to us that yes it was hard, but even though it was a difficult situation to be in God has been blessing her. It is so hard to see that side of things when we are going through troubles but if we focus on the blessings then even though things are hard and difficult to overcome we will be able become strong and overcome it all the same. Instead of becoming bitter at God we will be able to continue in thanking him for his everlasting mercy to us. I have looked back so many times at the trials that I faced and I am able to see now what I wish I had seen then. I can see the Lords hand in my life blessing me everyday:) I love you all!! Remember that with the Lord on your side you can overcome all things:)

Love,

Sister Bice