I remember that cold spring day in Belgrade when I received the call that I was leaving and going to Roundup. I was questioning "what did I do wrong to deserve this?!"
And now, 9 months later, I wonder "what did I do right to get sent to Roundup?"
A whole lot can happen between the months of March and December. I could write a whole book about Roundup from all that happened. And even though so much happened, I feel like those months went by a little too quick.
In Roundup, I have worked cattle, chopped wood, built rabbit cages, helped evacuate people from several forest fires, fixed fences, had some of the most challenging and sad times, and the most rewarding and happy times, and been blessed to get to know some of the most amazing and dear people to me in my whole life. I feel so blessed that I was able to serve in Roundup and for that long period of time. I am even more grateful that the good people here welcomed me with open arms.
When people asked me where home was and who was my family, the first thing that came to mind was Roundup and the good families that have been so good to me.
So, let some of the story-telling begin!
Ranch Life
After leaving Belgrade, I was feeling pretty down for that first few days. That quickly disappeared when my companion Elder Owens and I had the opportunity and privilege to brand cattle. I loved this opportunity! I've already written a blog about branding, so I will keep this pretty simple. At first, I didn't know what to do or think. It was pretty new to me (I didn't know people still used spurs to ride horses). We went out to the Branch President's ranch and were able to work side by side with members of the branch, and with some of the local ranchers. Many of the people I worked with became very good friends by the time I left Roundup. I bet I was pretty funny-looking as I did that for the first time. I loved working on the ranch! We would spend our P-Days out there and I never had a bad time. Half of the reason I loved going out there was being able to be around some really awesome people! Working on ranches in Roundup has made me seriously consider becoming a full-time ranch hand as a profession.
I have had some of the most spiritual experiences and conversations on the ranch and was able to see many blessings come to the work in the Roundup area from the time we spent working on the ranch. I am so grateful for this opportunity (and for the patience that the ranchers had with me when I made a stupid mistake). Gotta learn some way!
The Fires
I have written an entire blog on this experience also. I will not say a whole lot about it here, other than this. During the fires, my companion Elder Hunter and I saw the hand of God manifesting itself among His children in Montana almost daily. We saw miracles happen during this fire. We saw people lose everything. We worked hard for the community. From that, we saw blessings come to the Lord's work in Roundup. People saw us and were not as closed off to us. Doors opened. People became friendly to us. Everybody in the town knew who we were. Half of them loved us, the other half hated us (probably scared of my white hair) but at least they all knew us!
There is nowhere I would have rather been serving during the fire than in Roundup, and nobody I would rather have for a companion at that time than Elder Hunter. I am grateful that I was able to be here for this experience. During these fires, both Elder Hunter and I were able to feel the spirit working in us as we helped as many people as we could. It was very interesting to watch the Holy Spirit guide us when we had no idea what we were going to do. I am so grateful that the Lord let me be in Roundup during this time. I have made so many great friends in Roundup because of the fire. I am also grateful that the Lord made sure we were safe during that rodeo!Roundup Branch Wood-Cutting Project
Back in Utah, my ward does a wood-cutting project every year to make sure families in the area are ready for a hard-hitting winter. I was so excited to hear that my beloved Roundup Branch does the same thing! We started in the morning and weren't done until the sun was going down. I have cut wood with many different groups of people throughout my life, but none have impressed me more than what I saw with this branch. Even though the wood was heavy and wet, I saw sisters in the branch and kids working right along side the brothers. For part of the day, I was loading stumps on a log-splitter that Sister Robison was running. I would load the wood, she would split it with the splitter then I would hand it to Sierra who would throw it in a trailer. Well, this didn't go on too long until I looked up and had a whole row of kids standing next to Sierra that wanted to help! That really impressed me! So I handed wood to all of them and they carried it and loaded it without complaint. It isn't everyday that you see kids who are willing to work like that. They didn't quit there either. None of those kids quit until the tractors stopped bringing trees and the log-splitters were shut off. As we were delivering the wood, just as we got to our drop-off, a tire blew on the trailer. We were blessed that it didn't blow any earlier. I am so grateful I was able to be in Roundup for this experience.
The Mission
When I was in Belgrade, I was still having a hard time trying to figure out if being a missionary is something I should be doing. I came close to quitting and going home, because I wasn't 100% sure that the Lord wanted me on a mission in Montana. After my time in Roundup, I discovered that I was, for certain, where the Lord wanted me to be. I was in Roundup when I decided that I would stay on my mission and would serve as honorably as I could. I have the experiences, the prayers and the people in Roundup to thank for that. I will be eternally grateful to the Lord for sending me to this area. It has changed my life! I shiver with fear to think that I almost went home before I got sent to Roundup. The People
Though I had fun on the ranches working cattle, saw amazing things happen during the fire, learned to love the rugged beauty of the landscape, etc. the highlight of the Roundup area was the people.
We met some crazy ones. That was fun!
Along with them, we met some of the greatest people and the most awesome children of God to walk on the planet. The good made-up for the bad in full.
I have made so many good friends during the past 9 months in Roundup then I could ever imagine.
Saying good-bye to them was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
They impacted me with their hard-working, fun-loving spirits. They made me smile when I really didn't want to. They opened their doors to me when I felt lonely and let me be a part of their lives with open arms. With some of them, I was able to see amazing changes come to their lives because of the gospel. I was able to see some of them come to Christ as they followed his gospel and decided to be baptized. I saw their lives change as they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
My last Sunday in Roundup, the branch president's daughter was baptized. That Sunday was the happiest, and hardest days I have ever been to church. I got to see all those awesome people who I consider friends, see one of them get baptized, and then had to deal with the sadness of knowing I was leaving them all behind for a while.
There are many members of the branch that I couldn't help but smile around, no matter how low I was.
Saying good-bye on that cold winter Sunday night to those families was the hardest thing I've done. I cried to the point that I was dehydrated the next morning and for a few days after that! At that point, I was almost angry at the Lord for sending me away. I wondered why I was being separated from those I love. That was my attitude for a while until I received an answer.
The purpose is for me to learn; to learn how much I love these people, to learn what amazing examples they have been to me, to learn that I would do or give anything to be able to see them again.
The area of Roundup taught me this;
Do your best and work hard. Not for your own gratification or glory, but because the good people around me deserve all and more than I can give. I would never want to disappoint them.
Roundup has changed my life!
I gave it my all for the people here, and hope that some good has come of it.
I pray that I have been a blessing to the people here, not a burden.
I am very grateful for this computer because none of you can see me crying right now!
I think I promised over 100 people that I would be coming back to Roundup. Rest assured that you will see me again, because if you don't, I'll be in a heap of trouble.
I also came across this in Roundup;
"Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." -John Wayne
January 15, 2013; I'm back for another round!!!
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