Once upon a time, Elder Ross was serving as a missionary in Las Vegas and got transferred to the middle of no where, other wise known as Quartzsite, Arizona.
Elder Ross served in Quartzsite for six long months and continually asked Heavenly Father why he was sent there. He baptized a family (except for one of the daughters) and figured that must have been why he was sent to Quartzsite. Little did he know Heavenly Father had grand plans. Over the six month span of being in Quartzsite, he got to know the Branch President and his wife extremely well. After Elder Ross completed his mission, the Branch President's wife gave him a number of a girl and told him to ask her out on a date. Six months later they were sealed and lived happily ever after.
About a month ago Monica (a less active member who Trayco reactivated and baptized her children) called Trayco and excitedly announced that Rhyianna finally wanted to get baptized and asked for Elder Ross to baptize her. Monica's husband died many years ago and has been waiting for Rhyianna to decide to get baptized so they can get sealed as a family. Three years ago as a missionary, Trayco taught and taught and taught Rhyianna but she never wanted to get baptized. She attended church and read her scriptures and knew the church was true but for some reason never wanted to get baptized. Rhyianna recently even received her Personal Progress award, when she was meeting with the Bishop to go over her award, he asked her why she wasn't baptized and then bore his testimony of joining the church and the blessings he has received in his life since getting baptized. Something finally clicked for Rhyianna after hearing the bishop bear his testimony and she called him later that day exclaiming that she was ready to get baptized.
Ashton, Monica, Rhyianna, & Trayco
The baptism was beautiful! I haven't felt the spirit that strong in a long time and I couldn't hold back the tears. Monica had all of the missionaires who have taught Rhiyanna over the years record their testimonies and she played it after Rhyianna was baptized. It was really neat and so funny because they all said the same thing, "Rhyianna, FINALLY!" She also asked Trayco to confirm her so we stuck around for church the next day and Trayco gave her a beautiful blessing.
Ever since we got engaged I have been pestering Trayco to take me to Quartzsite and every time his answer was the same,
"Quartzsite is not on the way to ANYTHING."
It most definitely is not on the way to anything. It is a four hour drive from Vegas to Quartzsite and the entire drive is barren. If you ever need to bury anyone, the drive to Quartzsite is the perfect place to do it. It literally is in the middle of no where.
Someday we are going to bring our kids here, just because it's a place you can't imagine until you've seen and experienced for yourself.
The drive to Quartzsite, so bumpy and barren!
We took a picture together in front of the
same sign Trayco took one at as a missionary
Quartzsite is literally a desert full of trailer houses
This is the trailer that Trayco lived in as a missionary.
could not stop laughing when he showed it to me. Ghetto as all get out!
Riding on the back of the Pace's golf cart, during their nightly rounds
At church the parking lot was full of golf carts, so funny!
We are eternally grateful for Dan and Kay Pace. We love them and are so glad they let us spend the night with them. Visiting Quartzsite was a perfect reminder to me that Heavenly Father is in charge and has a greater plan for me then I can even imagine.
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