Wheel on the sky keeps on turning
Date
July 25, 2023
Area
Las Vegas, Nevada
Companion
Wheel on the sky keeps on turning
It hit 121 F this week, but hopefully we're on the downward slope of heat. It actually does drain a lot of energy, so we try to be inside when we can. However, sometimes you just have to be out in the heat unfortunately, but hey, someone's gotta do it.
This week, I went on an exchange with Elder Tross, that was really fun. There was a pioneer day celebration with pancakes (happy pioneer day btw!).
We also helped some people move, which I don't know what possesses people to move during the hottest ime of the year in vegas, but to eaches own I guess. Although we aren't doing as many service projects now because my comp has tendinitis in his right knee, and he hasn't been doing so great, but hopefully he'll get better soon.
We also surprised a sister in our district with some birthday balloons and presents, that was fun. Our surprise was nearly ruined because we accidentally parked right next to their car lol!
We taught a guy named Eric this week, he works as a stuntman, and he asked us to come over to "talk scripture ". He has already read a third of the Book of Mormon, and even read some of D&C. He asked us some of the most educated and well-thought questions I've ever been asked on my mission. A few times I just legit didn't know the answer, so I just bore testimony. Like, we ended up talking about the language the book was written in and how it compares to biblical Hebrew (shout out to Mormon:9!).
We also taught a young mother named Alejandra, we taught her for about twenty min, basically just talking about prayer and introducing the Book of Mormon. She wants her kids to have a good influence in their life.
It's been a good, albeit hot, week this week! But the lord counsels us that with the armor of God we can be shielded from the fiery darts of the adversary (D&C 27:15-18), so hopefully I can stay Cool underneath the shade of my shield of righteousness.
Stay Cool!
-Elder "Spent too much time writing a fictitious Kool-Aid based narrative" Rogers
Pics:
Helping people move
Exchange with Elder Tross
Sister Curtis' birthday surprise
I took a picture of the sun when it was at its hottest.
P.S. I wrote a dramatized fictional account that was initially the intro of this email, because I had some time because my comp was sick, but it felt way too long so I just decided to put it at the end of the email.
Caution; tis very silly.
The following did not happen. Here it is:
Dust whips about my sun-beaten face, the fiercely warm winds feeling like the open face of an oven. Stretching my fingers over my eyes in a futile attempt to block the impossibly bright sunlight, I look over the deserted landscape of Las Vegas.
A nearby gust pushes a tumbleweed across the street, bouncing over the dirty rocks and the weeds breaking through the sidewalk. The scuffed leather of my shoes slowly bake along with the rest of me, the rubber soles threatening to glue themselves to the radiating asphalt if I stop moving.
Vultures begin circling overhead, eager for my trudging pace to stop so they can enjoy their meal. I refuse to give them the satisfaction, and eye them warily as I continue down the road. Besides the vultures, the only other soul in sight is my companion just to my right. A small flame spontaneously ignites on his shoulder, I pat it out with my tie, singing the horribly designed neckware. Elder Babcock nods appreciatively, lacking the strength as I do to utter a word.
When it's one-hundred twenty one degrees Fahrenheit, your energy is sapped quickly.
Our water ran out hours ago, but I still raise the empty bottle to my lips, hoping the familiar motion will sate my thirst some, along with whatever condensation remains. Alas, the only drops are from the beads of sweat dripping down from my brow toward my mouth, I taste the saltiness of it from my dry lips. The loud buzz of insects fills the air, as if the heat itself is growling with anticipation.
My companion falls flat, but somehow I think he's still standing until I realize I'm laying horizontally upon the ground as well, having unwaringly fallen down. My mind begins playing tricks on me, summoning up mirages of glittering pools of water and strangely, flowing purple grass amidst a slightly cloudy yellow sky.
Shaking myself out of a heat-driven stupor, I'm reminded there's not a cloud in sight, and the sky remains bloody red with the darkness of space on the horizon, like embers in the coal.
I roll myself on my back, lying spread eagle on the road, tar softening under the weight of my head. The sun. The ever burning sun, floats arrogantly directly over me. It feels as if a blazing eye is glaring at me maliciously. Closing my eyes, I see only redness, feeling the warmth penetrating my eyelids.
I'm running out of time. It won't be long until the heat rises to the point where I become an unrecognizable hunk of dried-out beef jerky. An idea floats into my mind, and were the circumstances not so dire I would never attempt it.
Softly, my raspy voice eeks out of cracked lips;
"Hey.... K.. Koo... Kool-Aid!"
My head falls flat to the ground once more, having summoned the last of my energy.
Suddenly, the ground trembles and quakes. The roaring sound of a whitewater river echoes from the end of the street.
An energetic voice shouts out from the horizon: "OH YEEEAAAHH!!!"
The Kool-Aid Man!
Surfing on a wave of what appears to be a liquefied rainbow, the personified pitcher of high-fruxtose corn syrup guides the moving river toward our location, surfing at the head. The grim pitch of summer cicadas are replaced with the music of bongos and electric guitar, creating an upbeat summer vibe that reminds me of a knock-off Beach Boys song.
Kool-Aid Man grabs my forearm, lifting me up onto a surfboard of my own. I see he's done the same for my companion. He hands me a drink pouch with the tiny straw already punched in, with a wink and a "hang loose" gesture with his other hand.
The sugary mixture instantly rehydrates my body, and it feels as though clarity returns to my senses.
Me and my companion surf alongside the Kool-Aid Man, flanking him on both sides. The Kool-Aid river flows through the streets, adding bright colors to the otherwise dull Nevada landscape. We surf off into the sunset, before a freeze frame cuts the action and the music goes on for a minute until trailing off, and the credits roll.
This week, I went on an exchange with Elder Tross, that was really fun. There was a pioneer day celebration with pancakes (happy pioneer day btw!).
We also helped some people move, which I don't know what possesses people to move during the hottest ime of the year in vegas, but to eaches own I guess. Although we aren't doing as many service projects now because my comp has tendinitis in his right knee, and he hasn't been doing so great, but hopefully he'll get better soon.
We also surprised a sister in our district with some birthday balloons and presents, that was fun. Our surprise was nearly ruined because we accidentally parked right next to their car lol!
We taught a guy named Eric this week, he works as a stuntman, and he asked us to come over to "talk scripture ". He has already read a third of the Book of Mormon, and even read some of D&C. He asked us some of the most educated and well-thought questions I've ever been asked on my mission. A few times I just legit didn't know the answer, so I just bore testimony. Like, we ended up talking about the language the book was written in and how it compares to biblical Hebrew (shout out to Mormon:9!).
We also taught a young mother named Alejandra, we taught her for about twenty min, basically just talking about prayer and introducing the Book of Mormon. She wants her kids to have a good influence in their life.
It's been a good, albeit hot, week this week! But the lord counsels us that with the armor of God we can be shielded from the fiery darts of the adversary (D&C 27:15-18), so hopefully I can stay Cool underneath the shade of my shield of righteousness.
Stay Cool!
-Elder "Spent too much time writing a fictitious Kool-Aid based narrative" Rogers
Pics:
Helping people move
Exchange with Elder Tross
Sister Curtis' birthday surprise
I took a picture of the sun when it was at its hottest.
P.S. I wrote a dramatized fictional account that was initially the intro of this email, because I had some time because my comp was sick, but it felt way too long so I just decided to put it at the end of the email.
Caution; tis very silly.
The following did not happen. Here it is:
Dust whips about my sun-beaten face, the fiercely warm winds feeling like the open face of an oven. Stretching my fingers over my eyes in a futile attempt to block the impossibly bright sunlight, I look over the deserted landscape of Las Vegas.
A nearby gust pushes a tumbleweed across the street, bouncing over the dirty rocks and the weeds breaking through the sidewalk. The scuffed leather of my shoes slowly bake along with the rest of me, the rubber soles threatening to glue themselves to the radiating asphalt if I stop moving.
Vultures begin circling overhead, eager for my trudging pace to stop so they can enjoy their meal. I refuse to give them the satisfaction, and eye them warily as I continue down the road. Besides the vultures, the only other soul in sight is my companion just to my right. A small flame spontaneously ignites on his shoulder, I pat it out with my tie, singing the horribly designed neckware. Elder Babcock nods appreciatively, lacking the strength as I do to utter a word.
When it's one-hundred twenty one degrees Fahrenheit, your energy is sapped quickly.
Our water ran out hours ago, but I still raise the empty bottle to my lips, hoping the familiar motion will sate my thirst some, along with whatever condensation remains. Alas, the only drops are from the beads of sweat dripping down from my brow toward my mouth, I taste the saltiness of it from my dry lips. The loud buzz of insects fills the air, as if the heat itself is growling with anticipation.
My companion falls flat, but somehow I think he's still standing until I realize I'm laying horizontally upon the ground as well, having unwaringly fallen down. My mind begins playing tricks on me, summoning up mirages of glittering pools of water and strangely, flowing purple grass amidst a slightly cloudy yellow sky.
Shaking myself out of a heat-driven stupor, I'm reminded there's not a cloud in sight, and the sky remains bloody red with the darkness of space on the horizon, like embers in the coal.
I roll myself on my back, lying spread eagle on the road, tar softening under the weight of my head. The sun. The ever burning sun, floats arrogantly directly over me. It feels as if a blazing eye is glaring at me maliciously. Closing my eyes, I see only redness, feeling the warmth penetrating my eyelids.
I'm running out of time. It won't be long until the heat rises to the point where I become an unrecognizable hunk of dried-out beef jerky. An idea floats into my mind, and were the circumstances not so dire I would never attempt it.
Softly, my raspy voice eeks out of cracked lips;
"Hey.... K.. Koo... Kool-Aid!"
My head falls flat to the ground once more, having summoned the last of my energy.
Suddenly, the ground trembles and quakes. The roaring sound of a whitewater river echoes from the end of the street.
An energetic voice shouts out from the horizon: "OH YEEEAAAHH!!!"
The Kool-Aid Man!
Surfing on a wave of what appears to be a liquefied rainbow, the personified pitcher of high-fruxtose corn syrup guides the moving river toward our location, surfing at the head. The grim pitch of summer cicadas are replaced with the music of bongos and electric guitar, creating an upbeat summer vibe that reminds me of a knock-off Beach Boys song.
Kool-Aid Man grabs my forearm, lifting me up onto a surfboard of my own. I see he's done the same for my companion. He hands me a drink pouch with the tiny straw already punched in, with a wink and a "hang loose" gesture with his other hand.
The sugary mixture instantly rehydrates my body, and it feels as though clarity returns to my senses.
Me and my companion surf alongside the Kool-Aid Man, flanking him on both sides. The Kool-Aid river flows through the streets, adding bright colors to the otherwise dull Nevada landscape. We surf off into the sunset, before a freeze frame cuts the action and the music goes on for a minute until trailing off, and the credits roll.
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