Member Missionary Magic

Elder Matthews and Elder King at Multonomah Falls - May 16, 2016

It's been a fantastic week in Vancouver WA.  Elder Matthews & I shared the gospel with many and drank diet Mtn dew and Coke Zero w/diet cherry add in (Sonic special). We taught active members of our ward the majority of our week.  You would be surprised to see what strengthening the roots of the church does for the branches.  When the roots grow, the branches can increase.  Elder Matthews loves trees and farming stuff, so he has been teaching me about tree growth as related to the gospel.   Okay ,here is a cool story from the week.  After learning from one of our members how to work better with members, we started taking him up on the counsel he gave.  One important step he taught us is to have the members actually set up the lessons for our investigators.  Have the “fellowshipper”  for any given investigator call or stop by to set up the lessons.  We texted our favorite member of the ward, whom is fellowshipping our top investigator family (on date for baptism the 28th of May), and invited him to set up the next lesson.  For the past three weeks we have struggled to teach the youngest daughter of this family and we assume it is because we are scary 20 year olds that look like FBI agents or something.  But, our savvy member invited them over for a lesson & root beer floats after.  Guess who showed up?  The youngest daughter! He also invited the youngest daughter to take the lessons from him for an easier environment to learn in.  She accepted and now wants to be baptized on the 28^th with her family :).  During our last lesson with the family we taught of fasting for strength.  The whole family fasted (a father age 40, two daughters ages 14 & 10) for 24 hours!  I don't even remember doing that until I was a missionary.  They fasted to be baptized and to have strength.  Guess who invited them to do so?  OUR WARD MEMBER.  Work with the members and missionary work is a lot easier.  This week we took out two priests from the ward and invited them to compile a list of inhabitants perishing in unbelief (people without the gospel - hopefully that doesn't sound mean). Both times we were lead to families & people that we would never have found on our own.  It was really cool to see a couple younglings reaching out to their friends at such a young age.  Missionary work is kind of like the fellowship of the ring.  Everyone plays a significant role.  Just the other day, we had a cool miracle as well.  All day long we worked our butts off visiting everyone we could and talking to as many people as we could.  No luck for most of the day until about 8:45 PM.  We saw a girl walking her dog with headphones on across the street.  We felt inclined to preach some gospel  to her and darted across the street.  With a hand wave she removed her headphones to see why we were so happy to see her.  She asked at least 5 sincere questions about the Book of Mormon and said she would like to take the lessons.  She went from saying she was Catholic and happy where she was, to wanting to take the lessons at the end of the conversation.  Most of the success in missionary work does not come from our own plans.  We just hiked Multonomah Falls, and I only spent 5 dollars at the gift shop so it was a successful day.  This is the coolest place to serve a mission I hope you all know.

The BEST

Hit and Run Miracle Encounter

Scott's baptism May 7, 2016

Johnny Miller Missionary Fireside

Let me tell you about one of the greatest weeks of my life.  The revelation has come pouring out from heaven as if I unlocked some magical treasure chest of eternal joy.  But, all we did as a companionship was pray and desire.  This week contained miracle upon miracle from hit and run car crashes to baptizing a Cambodian.  Okay,  first cool story would definitely have to be the car collision success story.   We received a call from Elder Lambert (my favorite senior missionary) informing us that some missionaries in our zone were hit by another car and the driver sped off.  This man then parked his car and galloped away on foot to evade the Vancouver police force while the sister missionaries called a member to come pick them up next to their nearly totaled 2016 Toyota Corolla.  We arrived shortly after the sister missionaries were picked up and Elder Lambert only remained at the scene.  We chatted and told around 394 concerned people in the area that we were okay, and that  it wasn't us in the crash. Two young men parked their car to come help out at the scene.  We explained to them the story and began teaching the restoration.  Both of these young men desired a copy of the Book of Mormon and took it home to their families.  As we gave them a copy of the book we felt the need to go say good- bye to Elder Lambert as he sat in the car with the tow- truck driver to pay the bill.  As we opened the door of the tow truck we heard a conversation between Elder Lambert and the tow-truck driver.  The driver of the truck had served a humanitarian mission in Latvia years ago.  He has not attended church in ten years due to some questions in his soul that no one has been able to answer.  Elder Lambert told this man we could answer his questions if he would let us teach him.  Next thing you know, we have the address of this man and a big smile is on his face.  We left and as we got in the car Elder Lambert came running over to our window and told us some additional insights... The tow-truck driver told him as he pulled up to the scene, he felt something in his heart as he looked at us and recognized that we were missionaries.  He felt like he belonged there and it felt good.  He told Elder Lambert he is excited to meet with us and figure out what the feeling meant.  HOW COOL!!!   All we did was show up.  The next cool story this week happened when  I returned to the Vancouver YSA this weekend to baptize one of the investigators I taught.  His name is Scott Tur.  He hails from Cambodia and is possibly the greatest human being to ever live, besides Jesus Christ.  I watched this young man progress over 6 weeks like you wouldn't believe.  He went from coffee every day to not one sip.  I am so happy that he has been baptized!  Okay next cool thing.  Do any of you know the famous pro golfer Johnny Miller?!  The one from the 70's with stylish plaid pants?  Well, apparently this hall of famer knows our mission president.  Johnny also is a member of the LDS church!  He came this past week to speak at a fireside for the missionaries.  I tried to make him sign my bicep, but the muscle was far too rigid and bulky for a pen to write on.   We snagged a picture with him.  You would never know he was a hall of fame pro golfer by the way he lives and acts.  He had many spiritual stories to share with us.  During interviews with my mission President this week,  I asked him if he liked Diet Coke.  The response was "yes" and this was good news.  I am currently thanking the Lord for this knowledge.  I really hope you all know how awesome it is to be a missionary.  Please go on a mission if you have the slightest desire.  You will never regret it.  HAVE A SWELL WEEK and don't forget to tell your mothers you love them and buy them a shirt from Walmart!!!  (That's what I did).

Happy Mother's Day 2016!

A wonderful Mother's Day gift...a skype with our favorite missionary!  He sounds so happy and so in love with his calling to serve as a missionary.  He has had some incredible experiences and has brought the gospel message to many people in Vancouver, Washington.  Love that kid and miss him, but couldn't be more proud of him.

Slow Down, Take a Deep Breath and Smell the Roses

Selfie with favorite senior missionary.

This was one of the best weeks of my mission Elder Matthews & I seem to get along like Pepsi & Costa Vida.  Both of us are running at the same speed.  Let's get you a good review of the week which contained miracles, 7/11 pizza, and making some mission memories. Okay, first cool story I will share happened just yesterday.  Earlier in the week we received a referral to go contact someone that moved from Astoria down to Vancouver in our area and we did just that!  She told us to come back the next day but was unusually friendly.  We returned the next day and she explained that two years ago she took the mission lessons to progress towards baptism.  When she was two lessons away from baptism a close family member passes away which turned her away.  However, the Lord has now given her the feelings it is time to return to church and be baptized.  All we did was show up at the door and it was the coolest thing.  Heavenly Father knows all His children.  We believe the lessons we are learning this week have contributed to the success seen in the area.  As we have prayed before lessons and activities, we typically pray for success in the lesson or success in finding people with the plans we have made.  Never have we considered... Perhaps the plans we make or activities we plan for may NOT be the Lord’s intended plans!  This week we told the Lord if He wanted us to change our plans or the lesson outline we would do it.  We just asked for the Spirit to be our senior companion and He was ALL WEEK.  WE GOT LOST in apartment complexes like it was some sort of REAL LIVE LABYRINTH BECAUSE WE DIDNT EVEN USE LDS TOOLS OR GOOGLE MAPS.  We trusted the Lord would take us where we need to go.   Around each corner we seemed to find those of Heavenly Father’s children that needed us at those moments.  He lets us try our best and then he makes up for the rest.  Alright, now let me get real with you all here.  Yesterday I put do Terra oil on my neck to focus and instead it just made me smell like rotten fruit for most of my church meetings.  Actually, to be real with you all, this week I had quite an awakening!  I won't lie... For most of my mission, if I was to be sent home I would have considered it just "another step" in life probably with not too much pain... Mostly just a "content" attitude.   This week I caught a glimpse of what Heavenly Father sees.  He opened my eyes to take a step back and realize that this is honestly the greatest two years.  I looked around and saw how great my companion was. I even looked at the FREAKIN trees everywhere.  I remembered an amazing family I had taught earlier in the day and realized you're happiest when you're in the Lord’s service.  But sometimes you need to slow down, take a deep breath and SMELL THE ROSES.  Amidst any stress you have,  you will probably find plenty of things to rejoice over.  I also realized that I kind of like not working and going to school.   There’s nothing better than serving the Lord.  So PLEASE go on a mission.  It's awesome.

Van Beast

FHE "squatch" chalk drawing activity

Okay now the reason I put this as the subject title is because it rhymes with Van East which is our new zone.  This week was one of the greatest. A new car was granted unto us, 3 new investigators to invite to baptism and I live in a mansion with WWII picture books.  Plus…today Walmart had shorts that say USA on them as well.  Cool miracles of the week #1:  We simply showed up at church and talked with a kid named Ty who is investigating the church.  He is dating one of the members of our ward and we scheduled a time to come over for a lesson today.  The lesson went very well we taught the plan of salvation and brought up baptism and He explained that he has been thinking about being baptized into the LDS church.  This was joyful news and we set a date for his baptism.  He said he has received a witness from God that this is his path.  The coolest part of this baptism was the fact that we worked all week and committed to talking to as many people as we physically could, and then a “goldie” showed up right at church!  Miracle that was cool #2:  We started off this Sunday by going to church and talking with Ty before we hit the streets later that day.  We struggled finding people that would listen... this happens often!  But this time we felt impressed to take a moment break and reassess our efforts.  We decided to try the less active member list and started with the ones in the apartment complex we were working in.  The first stop by we made was a less active member that wants to feed us next  week! They simply work on Sunday's, that’s why they can’t attend church,   and they treated us like we were long lost friends.  A little tender mercy after some hard work.  The Fisher’s Landing Ward is a dream come true.  Many newly- weds that  just graduated from BYU, that love missionary work.  Tons of homes and tons of people all condensed close together in our little area.  Most of these people have no backyards.  I live in a mansion, probably the biggest home in Vancouver! Old man Jens built a house for his wife before she passed away. We live in the left wing of the house and partake of his many stores of food and his jolly countenance .  Tons of miracles, but today we have been trying to get a new car, clean the place and fix old man Jen’s AOL account.  Last night at about 4:30 AM we got a knock on our door to go cast out a devil from the neighbor’s wife.  Yes, it was success, but it freaked us out for sure.  Thank the heavens for the priesthood power to keep us safe.

See Ya Later YSA!

Elder King and his new companion, Elder Matthews.

I have been kicked out of the YSA due to excess swooning and consuming of the church supplied foods & beverages.  The bishop of the ward has requested an emergency transfer because apparently he feels it is a distraction for the ward to have me at church with combed hair & a pair of clean slacks on.  Actually, I just got transferred to another area. My YSA life has come to a close for now!  Still one YSA left I would like to aspire for. For now, I shall serve in the Fisher’s Landing ward in the Vancouver East Stake.  It is only 5 minutes from where I now live.  My new companion will be a potato picking, farm hand from Idaho, who will teach me the art of roping and wrangling.  Perhaps in the future, I will move to John JARVEY (Mom, Dad and the family should understand that one).  Elder Matthews is his name BTW. I will have you know in truth, YSA areas are a dream life for missionaries and if you have never served in a YSA ward you should try it. It has been a fantastic week full of miracles.  Let's talk miracle number one.  It would definitely be the Lord’s mindfulness of my situation.  Do you ever have those weeks or even consecutive weeks where it feels like you HAVE JUST HIT A ROADBLOCK?  Something just doesn't seem right.  Your oatmeal in the morning doesn't taste as good... Your hair doesn't flow correctly with the wind... You KNOW what I'm saying? Well I am usually too dumb to ask the Lord how I should change or what I can do to fix this "funk".  But for some reason this time, my brain must have grown a few times its normal size.  I asked the Lord for guidance and he delivered.  Let me tell you what... Sometimes we just act like our problems are so big and terrible, when it's almost like holding a pebble close to your eye.  It seems big because you’re holding it there and making it a big deal.  Throw the pebble elsewhere! You’ll discover what you thought was a big problem, is no so big after all.  Life is great and good.  There are souls to find and save in Vancouver.  Pepsi to drink!! After asking the Lord for help, I was blessed with tender mercies that only God could provide.  "Ask and ye shall receive".  Now this next miracle surely is a great one.  At FHE this past Monday we had the monthly potluck meal.  We showed up on missionary standard time, about 15 minutes late, and hopped in line next to some people we had never met.  I talked with a young man for about 10 minutes discussing which grub we should partake of and then we decided to sit down together and enjoy the potluck feast together.  He then expressed concern about the ward and his personal testimony.  A “golden opportunity.”  We walked in at the exact same time to begin talking and it was an opportunity to teach and help someone else.  He wanted to have a lesson after our feast and I am so grateful the Lord allowed us to be an instrument that evening.  This week at least  5 people talked to me about Donald Trump and 2 people asked us about Polygamy and  garments.  Overall, a pretty great WEEK!   I really do believe in this Church.  I know it is true I love being in the service of Jesus Christ.