Transfer Day and I'm in Ketchikan --Connecting Any Dots Yet?

HA. Just kidding. I am still in Klawok, but I'm writing from Ketchikan, but it's because one of the Elders here is leaving, and we need to stay with the other Elder until he gets his new companion. So we'll be here until Wednesday. My PoW is staying the same; Elder Denison and I will be together for another transfer.

President and Sister Beesley came down here along with the Juneau Zone Leaders. We had awesome interviews along with President Beesley giving an awesome fireside about his time in the Air Force and being the chief test pilot for the new F-35, along with over 50 other types of aircraft. It was awesome; he related it all to the gospel.

This week (and last week) has taught me a lot about exact obedience. When we do the right thing; not "almost" the right thing, but the right thing, we get instantly blessed. Mosiah 2:24. We've been trying that out, and let me tell you, it works.

I don't want to make people feel guilty, especially since it's probably a problem on my side, but I haven't received anything from my immediate (even more immediate than you, cousins ;) ) family since I got down to Prince of Wales. I wouldn't be worried, except that you said you were sending a package? That is the only cause for my concern.

The work progresses. We're working hard on getting new investigators, which is slightly difficult when there's only 3000 people on the entire island. We're mostly working with Less-actives, though we have a couple investigators. One has been on date for baptism, but can't get up and get to church, which is a problem. we've done everything from calling to coming over that morning and cooking breakfast. Nothing works. It's all up to him now; either he chooses or not, we've done all we can.

This is all. We've both been feeling a cold virus that's swept the entire island, but my "fortress of immunity" (copywrite that) is staving it off. After all, "No [unsterilized] hand can stop the work from progressing", right?

Love from the Can't-decide-if-it's-winter-or-spring North,

Elder Darcey

Running on Slow Motion/Stop Action Time Here

All,

This week has been slow. There is a distinct "island time" that pervadest he area. "If it can't get done today, tomorrow will come tomorrow." It makes missionary work difficult, especially for people in the outlying aras of the island, who we can only feasibly visit a few times a month. However, as with all areas in the world, the work still rolls on.

The weather has turned off cold. We've still had the best winter ever since I arrived, with most of the days being cloudy without much rain, and some days even being sunny. Now the bays are frozen, the rain is falling horizontally and the forecast is snow for the next week.

I don't really have a lot to write about today. The one that is pervading my thoughts is prayer. Do I really understand prayer? Not how; I don't mean in what order to say it or what I should be asking/thanking for; but I mean in what way do I approach God?

Do I ring for him like a valet? "I'm here and I need..."

or

Do we call on him in earnest supplication?

Do I speak to him casually, as I would to my friends?

or

Do I approach him as we would a King of Kings, our Lord of Hosts?

Do I stand proud of my virtues as did the Pharisee?

or

Do we bow our heads and humbly kneel, aware of our sins, begging for mercy as the Publican?

I'm thinking about how I pray to Our Father in Heaven. This week has taught me how much I need to work on that very topic. I am so far from perfect at praying--a poor prayer supplicant. In fact, I might be far from even acceptable as I realize how much more humble my prayers could be. The only think I do have going for me is that I know God knows that I am now diligently striving to do better. And He loves me.

This week, I would encourage all of you to do the same evaluation.

Salutations from the turned-cold-but-still-much-warmer-than-up-in-Chugiac-though-still-much-wetter North,

Elder Darcey

Whale Watching

By the time I figured out what we were watching, it was too late to get the really good shots. But here is the whale exiting the picture.

And It Did Come To Pass that Elder Did Tell Many Things Pertaining to Craig:

Dear Fam & everyone,

Here are the answers to all the questions you asked. My move went great and I was underweight for both bags still, and I didn't have to ditch anything--go figure? To get here, I took the milk run flight, which stops in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan and ends in Seattle. From Ketch, I took a ferry right out of the airport (seriously) then another 4 hour ferry to Prince of Wales, getting off at Hollis then driving to Craig.

Yes, THE ADDRESS of my house so Dad can play on Google Earth is on Cedar Street.
We have about 30-40 people attending every week now, with a few people calling in. (Bet you didn't know they could do that?) In the summer, it swells to about a hundred due to fishermen. We use the clerk's computers at the church to email from. Elder Ivan went home to Pleasant Grove roundabout Colorado right now to be with his brother who's about to deploy to Afghanistan.

I would appreciate some crackers. I'm currently using starburst as sacrament. Other food is fine; no problems there.



No, we haven't been to cemetary island yet. And, no, the water in the inlet is not really frozen. It rains all the time, but the temps in the 40s usually. There are many MANY animals on the island, whatever lies you all have heard down there. All the bears are currently asleep, but there's a large population of water fowl, salmon, herring, whales, sea lions, and the like. The bear bear population is all asleep. We also have wolves, deer and EAGLES/RAVENS. The human working population here mostly logs as the main business along with fishing and canning salmon.

I'll get down to it; The work here in the "Bush" is slow. It takes a lot of work to see anything get done. I'm so glad to be out here, though. We got our car back, after only a week of walking and bumming rides with the members. Now we can go anywhere on the island, so we do.

We try to get everywhere we can at least once a month, so this weekend we hit Hydaburg. That place is scary. I don't mean a "oh look, a man with a mask on" scary, or a "mom's early attempts at GF bread" scary, I mean a "Elder Darcey is scared" scary. The Haida natives, by the way, are the one's with the totem poles.

We've had a good week, regardless. Elder Denison and I are working together well. He's an awesome missionary. We're working all day, everyday, and that's all we can ask for. On Wednesday we volunteer at POWER, which is basically a Slum DI. Most mornings we volunteer at The Camo Shop, which is run by a MUCH less active member.

The work goes slowly out here, but there seems to be a never-ending supply of service opportunities. "Obedience brings blessings; exact obedience brings miracles" is my mantra at the moment. Whatever falls through, whatever happens, I know I just need to stay obedient and keep working hard. If we can do that, it will all work out in the end.

Better go, I still have more pictures to send, especially to Sister "I'm a year old" Darcey.

About your comment on angels: We totally have this idea in the mission that the prophet can see spirits all around. (gospel of Elder DArcey; don't quote me on it)

As far as music, if you want to find and send Instrumentals (piano music, lord of the rings, musicals etc) it would be nice.


Love to all reading,

Elder DArcey

A Little Shack in Craig AK

Thank you, Derick for the DearElder. They always make me happy.

Dear All,

Seasons (all three of them at once down here {I no longer recognize Autumn, by the way}) greetings from Prince of Wales Island (I've always wanted to live on an island) Here's some fun tidbits about where I am:

I live in a little shack in Craig. Although it's little, it is cozy, and still twice as big as my apt. in Chugiak.

We walk everywhere we go because our car is currently broken. This isn't a problem in Craig, but it gets a little awkward when traveling to other towns. See, our area is called the Craig Branch, but in reality we cover the entire island. The Island, by the way, is about 2600 sq. miles. So, you know. Dang.

The weather is really, well, it is usually rainy (we're in a rain forest area, after all) and we get about 140 inches of rain a year (Oklahoma gets 40, Utah gets 19). However, 2/3 of the days I've been here have been beautifully sunny. (I've only been here for three days though).

The bush is completely different from the other areas. There is always something to do out here. We have some great investigators. One has a baptismal date set for the 3rd of March, so pray that he makes it to church these two weeks. Investigators have to participate in church or they can't get baptized. We have another investigator who has been investigating for a few years now, and would have already been baptized if her dad would let her. He's strongly anti (or so I've heard; I have not met him as of yet), so she's waiting for her 18th birthday. She's awesome.

We still have problems finding new people to teach. We're thinking of starting a Bible Study group for the towns of Craig and Klawock. It would be awesome to do (I've always wanted to be in a Bible Study group).

MATI ATKINSON: I found your friend who you were talking about; Elder Clark. He has been in this area before. Go figure, right?

My new companion, Elder Denison, is awesome. When I walked into our shack (I've always wanted to live in a shack) the first thing I noticed is a Legend of Zelda drawing on his notebook, and I thought "We've going to get along just fine". We have so far. President told me and him "E. Denison has needed a good companion for a while now, so I'm sending someone with whom he can get along, and who will work hard".

This area is going to be full of good things. I'm grateful for all the support at home.

Love from the not-quite-as-frozen-as-it-used-to-be North,

Elder Darcey


Photos coming. I even have a video of a whale, so I hope it's small enough to send. HA!

Ignore My Last Letter About Transfers -- I LIED!

Please note before reading: The picture of the empty PO Box is not serious, and should be taken entirely in jest. Just this week, I have received a letter from my sister, as well as packages from the Atkinsons and Grandma Pat. Thank you for the all great thoughts and emails as well. And Grandma Pat, thanks for the thoughts and the Reeses. They make me absurdly happy.

This week as gotten a little crazy, and it's only going to get worse. We spent the latter half of this week bidding farewell to the people we've been meeting with. Then comes Sunday, and we bear our testimonies, Elder Ivan bearing his under the impression that it was his last one in Alaska, me just bearing mine because I could.


Along comes a phone call from President. They want to meet with us immediately following Church. We meet, and President takes me aside for a personal interview. I'll just lay it straight: The Lord needs me in Craig, and I'm leaving on Thursday.

Craig, by the way, is on The Prince of Wales Island, west of Ketchikan. Population: about 1300. Area: about 9 miles square, including water. By comparison, Kamas (Utah) is about 1.6 miles square, with a population of 1200. I'm going to the bush.

Not much else to say, except that we don't know yet what's going to happen to Bear Mountain. Most of the Ward doesn't even know that I'm leaving, so it will come as a surprise to them.

Anyway, this ward has been amazing with taking care of me and feeding me and stuff like that. If any of the Bear Mountain ward is reading this, know that I love you and wish you and the area my best.

The weather in Craig is hovering in the 40s, and it's technically a rain forest area, so it will be fun to adjust from nonstop snow to nonstop rain. I've picked up a lot more than I thought in Chugiak as well, so it will be fun packing it all up for a plane ride.

By the Way, Dad, for your info, I'm flying out of Anchorage to Ketchikan, where I'll take a ferry to Craig. Total time will be about 10 hours. Craig is actually next to Whitehorse, the hardest/longest place to get to in the mission.

Dad, I really enjoyed Romans 5:19. In my life, I've found the following to be really true. If the Lord trusts you, he puts you in some pretty weird places to do some pretty wild things in life.

President has really emphasized that if we want to go to all the crazy places in Alaska, we need to be responsible. It makes me happy how quickly the Lord rewards.

So, in conclusion: Be reliable, work hard and you too can get sent to Craig.

Elder Darcey

Jeremiah 16: 15-16 Is the Scripture of My Mission!

But, the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the and of the north, and from all the lands whether he hath driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.

Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill and out of the holes of the rocks.

For mine eyes are upon their ways; they are not hid from my face.

Hello, everybody

First, Transfers:

I'm sending you a email that should make sense. When Elder Ivan Leaves, I'll go to a threesome with E. Roney and E. Coombs, and we'll cover Bear Mountain and Meadow Creek. That will be for a month, until I get another companion and (hopefully) go back to Bear Mountain.

The weather is Cold. We've had clear, cold days of -20.

I met a person who claims to be good friends with Bro. Knowles. They're in the other ward, however.

I have a thing to say to missionaries who are not working diligently. They are Piles: (That's also what we call the apostates up here.) What they are piles of is up to your discretion. Personally, I think they're piles of Apostasy.)O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe. 2nd Nephi 1:13.

Seriously, Missionaries make me annoyed when we don't do the work. What it the point of going on a mission if you're not going to do anything? You can't claim that you're getting blessings; you're just damning yourself further by mocking God. If you're not going to do anything, don't go on a mission. I know that I have a lot that I need to get better at; but at least I'm trying to do better.

I have been asked to speak concerning lies. I shall be brief. (lie)

Truth is the most important thing you can have. Too often in life nowadays, we feel it alright to obscure, dim, or simply disregard truth. This is wrong. Proverbs 14:5.

The world finds nothing wrong with telling half-truths, justifying that it isn't a complete lie because it fulfills the letter of the law. Christ put down the Pharisees for their strict obedience to the letter of the law, while disregarding the spirit. Matt 23:27-33, 2Cor 3:6. Yes, expecting others to live truth while you do not, is a lie.

My companion and I were talking about the older days when someone's word of honor meant everything to them. Their honesty, their reputation and their sacred honor was on the line. Nowadays, people think breaking promises or lying isn't anything bad, especially if it isn't for anything "big".

I tell ask you now: if something isn't "big", why lie about it in the first place? There is nothing bigger, or worth more in your life than your word of honor, your honesty. Carl G. Maeser puts it perfectly in the Honor Code of BYU: “I have been asked what I mean by word of honor. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls—walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground—there is a possibility that in some way or another I may be able to escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of that circle? No, never! I’d die first!”

Are we willing to destroy our sacred honor over something trivial?

There is also the myth of the "white lie". "It's just a little thing; it won't hurt anyone". Just thinking this is a lie, and it leads to greater misdeeds.

God is a God of truth. He is a God of light. We cannot follow him if we are shrouded in the shadows.

May we all be honest in our dealings to those around us, to ourselves, and to our Father in Heaven. John 8:32.

And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.

Elder Darcey

MOOSING YOU--Or Still On A Camera High

Look, I'm a missionary, not a tourist, but when you are just walking around, minding your own business, some things need to be shot!



Dear All,

It is good to talk again. This week has flown by. One day it was Tuesday, the next it was Sunday. It's been business as usual, but there are a couple of things I can go over.

First, I LOVE MY CAMERA.

Also: do you realize that it's almost transfers again? It's kind of crazy.

Anyway,

The weather's been holding nice. It snowed for a bit yesterday, but it was alright.

I need pictures of NaTaShA and Jessica. Does anyone else realize that they're 8 months pregnant?

HAPPY 22 TO DERICK THIS WEEK!

The Moose picture You see is a small moose. No joke. Big as a car garage!

We shoveled off a roof this week. It was fun.


We got in contact with that referral I mentioned last week. Remember her?

Great story; but suffice it to say that she was not interested in receiving the Restored Gospel of Christ at this time. Remind me to tell this story when I get home!

This is a reading assignment for everyone:

D&C 118:3 ...continue to preach from that hours, and if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meekness and in humility and long-suffering, I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families and an effectual door shall be opened for them, from henceforth.

This week has really reemphasized (either I spelled that right the first time, or it's so wrong that the spell-check broke) to me how important family is.

I'm seeing firsthand how much having an alternate family, without a father, mother, or anyone to guide, hurts. I've also seen firsthand how much the Gospel blesses family. There are people up here who cling so hard to the Gospel because it's the only thing keeping their families together.

And I've seen how people, despite living in a shack with crazy kids and no peace, can still be happy.

Not from the happiness that comes from things, but the happiness that comes from having family, and knowing that they will be together for eternity.

My companion has remarked on occasion how he thinks that part of Hell is being separated from Family. I agree. I'm not a sentimental guy. (Seriously, those tears during UP was a total fluke), but I can come right out and say this:

Family, (and friends; anyone I trust enough to call a friend is pretty much family anyway) I love All Of You.

My service up here is in part for you. I know that me being up here is blessing ALL of my family far more than anything I could ever do back home. Not a day has gone by that I haven't tried to do better because I know serving the Lord will bless all of you back home.

Every extra knock, every extra shovel-full of snow, every extra step walked, every word out of my mouth, regardless of how much it helps anyone up here, helps you all down there.

I work for three things: First, I work for the Lord. I also work for the people up here, who I love so much, and you all back home, who(m?) I love as well.

I know how much you all are helping me; I am so grateful for everything you do for me, both tangible and intangible.

I want you all to join with me after this life with the Lord as families. I know without a doubt that through the gospel of Jesus Christ, that wish will come to pass.

Love you all much,

Elder DArcey

I GOT A CAMERA!!!!!!!!!!

Picture of this beautiful place will come when I remember to bring my cord as well. This camera is the King of taking pictures. I kid you not; this is the greatest thing ever. Thank you so much for this.

Hello family and friends and everyone else,

I am so glad to now have many more emails from family. It's weird, but since writing you last week, it's hard to remember all that we've done. I'll try, but it only seems like yesterday that I wrote you all previously.

Out lesson with Bobby fell through. Her daughter was trying to cook something, and it exploded, so Bobby has her and her grand kids now while her daughter goes to the burn treatment center. It's up to you to imagine what might have been cooking that could explode.

Jack continues to progress. He's doing so awesome, I love it. He just randomly talked to us yesterday and told us that he was planning on coming to church this week. We didn't really have to do anything.

Mom, I have heard of many weird things regarding GF-ness. First, There are rumors that Vinegar has gluten in it? What?
second, I have heard rumors that it is possible to make wheat flour GF???? I suspect that these things are apostate and blasphemous. Please advise. {"Yes, bunk and blasphemy."}

Anyway, one day this week we were supposed to get 18 inches of snow where we were, so we were ordered inside. How much snow fell? an inch. The weather remains crazy. It's been really clear for a week or so, so the temperature has dropped to the negative teens again. On the plus side, we get a little sunlight now.

We received a great blessing this week. Our dinner calendar walked off (again), so we were calling around the members to see if anyone knew where it had gone. We weren't worried, because it always turns up. Anyway, while calling around, a member asked us about tracting. From there, it eventually wound around to her giving us a referral for a woman recently widowed with eight children. We're planning on contacting her ASAP, so I'll have news on that, Hopefully. And, what a blessing in a wandering calendar.

I was worried to hear about Sister Darcey, and want her to know that My Threats (which aren't idle; just ask mati, saje and jessie about a certain night and a hotel balcony...) are still standing. I am praying that her health improves.

I was glad to hear of Aidan and his school. I would like to hear more about that when you figure out what's going on.

We're out of time because we couldn't email on PDAy (holiday) so I'll say bye.

Bye

Elder DArcey

Burns Happen--not just from Heat But Cold Too

No 18 feet of Snow--not for lack of trying, but our storms? Only three or four FEET per storm. It's Cordova and that area that you need to worry about and pray for. They have to dig down just to reach their houses.

Anyway, Family,

Hello. The work goes well. Our investigators continue to progress. We had another meeting with Roy, which is pretty much always awesome. He knows so much about everything, but is very careful and patent.

We finally got in touch with another investigator whom I haven't ever met, because she's been out of town or busy. I'll call her Bobby. We have a lesson set up with her this week, so remind me to tell you how it went next time.

Our other investigator is awesome. His name is John. He's in the army, divorced with 5 kids. Our first lesson with him after the holidays went awesome. He's made it a new years goal to read and pray about the Book of Mormon every day. He's still waiting for that the Spirit to allow him that "good feeling", but he's open and ready to get it.

This week is all about The Lord's time. If I take nothing else out of this area, it will be the knowledge that things happen in the Lord's time, not ours. Isaiah 55:8-9.

NEW SUBJECT

Aidan got Braces? YAY?

I got to hold and take (bad) pictures of a SS Dagger. (These daggers were more honorary than anything, but they were incredibly revered. The SS were never supposed to surrender it on pain of death. Roy's Dad got it from a SS Storm trooper who "didn't need it anymore". The Trooper tried to break it repeatedly, than finally broke the scabbard and threw the blade at Roy's Dad. Roy's dad spent the next couple hours looking in the bushes for it. It's an incredible relic--particularly for a blade guy like me.

I finally got the package that Uncle Gary sent. it got here almost a month after it was sent, but it did get here. Please tell him Thanks a lot.

I'm glad all my grandma's are doing great. Happy birthday to Great Grandma Bezzant and to all my cousins. And my sister, but I'll email her on her birthday. Maybe.

Our less actives are fun. They know where they should be, but they can't get there. We work with them a lot.

BYTHEWAY...

Did you know you can get burn blisters from cold just like heat?

Picture this:

Evening

-14 F

Elder Darcey, among others, helping a woman unload her trailer

Elder Darcey just in his shirt and gloves, because he's really hot (seriously)

Elder Darcey getting a bunch of large metal pipes in his arms and carrying them around

Elder Darcey getting freezer blisters on his arms from where the pipes touched.

They're healing rather nicely, so don't worry.

ANYWAY

Love and prayers to all of you. Remember that the Lord will help you and answer your prayers, but on His time, when it will help us the most. We're looking in times of hours, days and weeks, but the Lord sees us from the beginning to the end and throughout the eternities.

Elder DArcey

Associated Press Article

FYI Weather Update in AK



ANCHORAGE, Alaska Dozens of National Guard troops have arrived to help an Alaska fishing town dig out from massive snows tha thave collapsed roofs, trapped some people in homes and triggered avalanches.

The Guard reported more than 18 feet of snow has fallen in the past weeks, although the National Weather Service did not immediately have a measurement.

There's nowhere to go with the snow because it's piled up so high," said Wendy Rainney, who owns the Orca Adventure Lodge. A storage building for the lodge — which offers fishing trips, hiking, kayaking and glacier tours — partially collapsed under the weight of the snow, she said. "This is more quantity than can be handled."

Officials said at least three buildings have collapsed or partially collapsed and six homes are deemed severely stressed by heavy wet snow.

The city has set up a shelter at a local recreation center, but said people leaving homes in avalanche-risky areas have been staying with other residents. Cordova spokesman Allen Marquette said the town also was ready to set up a pet shelter if necessary. The town issued a disaster proclamation last week after three weeks of relentless snow overwhelmed local crews working around the clock and filled snow dump sites.

The World Didn't End--Unless ALASKA Didn't Notice.

Huh? No emails--no letters? Oh well. There's always next week.

Anyway, happy new year, family and people.

Your emails, though a little late, filled me with happiness. Unfortunately, The Emails that I'm waiting for from my cousins still haven't materialized in my inbox. Go figure. Maybe they got eaten by computer bugs.

These couple weeks have been rather slow. The weather turned negative 20 again and is remaining there, but it's not really a problem. New years was fun for us; we just stayed up till midnight drinking martinellis, and dropped asleep as soon as it hit midnight.

It sounds like you got my package and pictures. That makes me happy.

The work has been progressing. We're working harder with our less actives. We have one who is active again (Missionaries 1, Satan 0), and another who's scheduling meetings with the bishop so he can come back again. When he comes back (M 2, S 0), he's wanting to bring his wife with him, and she's the type who would take the discussions if her husband were active (M 3, S 0).

Our investigators progress less, though still well. We have concluded that Our investigator (here I call him "Roy") doesn't have a speck of faith in him. He does want to know if God exists, but he then said that if he "Saw a being appear that said that he was God" He still wouldn't absolutely believe that it was. Roy wants to know, but he doesn't seem willing to search for an answer right now. He's patient. Too patient. He's going to be one of those people who just sits up one day and says "I need to get baptized". I can't wait for that day.

Anyway, That's Bear Mountain for you. All the members love you, Mom, and your Blog and they feed me well from it. I'm low on time, so I'll sign off here.

Elder Darcey

Did I tell you that I got an Alaska Library Card?