March 23, 2021

Hi everyone!

I hope things are going good with you all. We have been seeing a lot of blessings here, which is always awesome. Also, there is only one week until transfers, so I'll see if I'm staying or leaving on Sunday. This is a good area and like I've said, I've seen a lot of miracles and blessings here.

One cool thing that happened was that we got to teach the plan of salvation to a family, and they really liked it. 

Also, we got to go to a sweat with someone we're teaching out on the reservation. That was really cool. Definitely different than anything I've ever done, that's for sure.

Well, sorry this one is kind of short and I'll only have a few pictures, but it has been a great week. Thanks everyone, I appreciate you! 

From, Elder Pack

Sweaty Ethan!

Someone knows that Ethan loves Red Vines.

PS.  I have started taking notes when we talk to Ethan so I can fill everyone in on what he doesn't say.  Funny kid!!

They taught a man who is in Pakistan the other day.  The man commented on Ethan's companion's video and so they friended him.  The man told them that the internet connection to the US is better than to the Philippines, whatever that means.  The man was raised Catholic and is very proud to be Christian.  Ethan isn't sure where they go from here but they are going to keep teaching him until they figure out who to pass him along to.

They found 3 new people on Monday!  The Zone Leaders were with them on exchanges for the day and a few of their appointments fell through, but they were able to find 3 new people to teach so it all worked out.

More information about the "sweat" (because I was really curious and nervous about how it had gone because if you do an internet search you will see articles about people dying in sweat lodges): The North Arapahoe tribe is the tribe that is on the reservation Ethan has in his area. The man who invited them is an investigator they have been teaching. In the picture, you can see the sweat lodge in the background and how sweaty and red Ethan looks after they finished.  There were about 20-30 people in the sweat.  Outside the sweat lodge was a pit they put stones in to get them hot and then they transferred them into the sweat lodge.  Everyone enters and sits in their shorts (women on one side and men on the other).  When it was time to start, they shut the door, everyone had a towel to put around their shoulders (so the water in the air wouldn't burn them during the sweat, comforting isn't it?), and began to ladle water on the stones. Prayers were then said and people began making noise.  Ethan said it was hot and dark.  After the prayers ended, the man in charge would tell another man how many scoops of water to put on the stones.  Then the people would wrap up in their towels (again, so the air wouldn't burn their shoulders) and the people chanted for about 15 minutes.  When the "round" was finished, they would open the door, let the heat out (Ethan said it was really cloudy inside the sweat lodge with all the steam), and take a break of 10-20 minutes.  Ethan and his companion went outside and drank 3 bottles of Gatorade and a bunch of water.  They did 2 rounds before they had to leave.  It took 1 1/2 hours to finish the 2 rounds and the whole sweat goes for 4 rounds.  Ethan said he thought his neck would be burned because it felt like it was scorching during the sweat, but he didn't have a burn on him.  He did get burned on his foot and has a blister because he helped with the rocks and stepped on some ash.  He said people do this twice a week and do the entire 4 rounds.  He thought it was a cool experience.  He was surprised that he didn't feel dehydrated the next day but he said he felt fine.