The Tale of Two Missionaries!

This letter from Ethan brought me to tears.  So much learning and growing that has happened in just under two years.  

Hellllloooooooo Mum, and everyone. 

So by this point in my mission, the things that I really care about the most are experiences.  Experiences that I can write about, experiences that I can reflect on, and things that I can draw upon as tools farther down the road.  And this week full of each.  Sometimes they made me reflect thoughtfully for a while, and other times they just made me say to myself "whoa did that really just happen?"  It was a pretty cool week. 

So first off, tell Parker that I am totally jealous of the Ipads but not so much the Facebook thing.  This mission has been taunted by the notion of getting Ipads since Elder Craft first started his mission, and he's been home for a year!  I was skeptical that they were never going to come, but apparently the church announced this week that they will be rolling those out for all US missions this year.  They said sometime around October, which is just enough time for me to just get a taste before I go home :P Lammmmeeeeeee

Secondly, thats sweet to hear about the Tennassee road trip that everyone is on right now.  I miss road trips like that.  What prompted that?  Sounds super fun.  I laughed when I heard they were going to Dollywood haha. 

Anyways, I'll give you a rundown of my week.  You might be surprised to hear some of it. 

Monday was interesting just because our entire morning was taken up by sitting at Firestone, waiting for our car to get fixed.  Brother Juett is a member who works on Buckley Air Force Base, so in order to save miles, he escorted us on to the base so we could go to the Firestone there.  It would have killed us had was had to drive to the next closest one.  It was pretty cool to be there.  I got my own temporary military ID haha.  It took close to 4 hours and a dozen phone calls to our Car Czar (Vehicle Coordinator haha) to get through it.  Luckily we went early in the morning.  The weirdest thing was how awkward I felt having a TV on in the waiting room :P  Then "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" came on and me and Elder Lee couldn't help but watch and laugh at how ridiculous it was :P Been a long time since I've seen that movie.
Then when we were done we hung out at the stake center and Elder Tonga gave me a sweet haircut.  Its hip, but not crazy haha.
Ate dinner with the Mo'unga family again.  They are super cool, and really missionary minded.  Brother Mo'unga is a goof ball haha.
Then we had a pretty violent thunderstorm that evening, so most of the work we attempted was accompanied by being soaking wet haha.

Tuesday was a good day.  We did some service for the Crisis Center that morning, and then we went to the stake center thinking it was DLC day, but it wasn't.  I felt silly :P  So we had lunch and went to visit Jeff Green.  Its really hard to gauge where his interest level is, but he and his girlfriend surprised us by coming to church that Sunday.  After that we visited a returning less active named Isaac Palele.  He has just moved into the ward and had expressed interest in meeting with us.  Really cool guy.    Really into ukelele and other island instruments.  We're gonna start reading the Book of Mormon with him since he said he had had some trouble with it before.  
Ate by ourselves that evening, and then we went over to visit the Smith family, but when we got there no one was home.  That was pretty strange for them since we've had that appointment running for a while.  We called them up and were informed that they were going to be getting a divorce cause there had been an affair going on with one of them for a long time and it recently came out in the open.  Man that was saddening.  They were working towards the temple and their kids are recent converts.  
After that we went over to the Martinez family's home to have a little Q&A with Brother Martinez.  His daughter is a recent convert and his wife is a returning less active.  He was also a youth pastor at one point, so naturally he had just a bunch of questions about the church.  Really great guy who has been through a lot in his life.  Gangs, drugs, jail, and now he is a tattoo artist.  I was really nervous going in because usually lessons like this turn into bashing scripture back and fourth.  But he was super respectful and genuinely interested in learning.  It was kinda refreshing.  
Then we had correlation meeting and a baptismal interview that I had to give for a super sick dude named Dominic.  Totally prepared for the gospel.
Finally we had to sit down with Bishop and talk about the Smiths.  He just told us that we were catching a glimpse of it was like to be bishop.  He handles it great though.  

Wednesday was super crazy as well.  We had district meeting, which went really well.  I had one of the missionaries who I can tell has been struggling lately give the training, and I think having to teach others taught her a lot.  I also think it really helped build her confidence, cause it was a super great training.  I know that might have sounded a little risky but it worked out the way I had hoped it would.  Then right after training I got a call from Sister Whetten (bishop's wife) who asked us to do them a favor and to deliver some consecrated oil to someone who was recovering at the local Children's Hospital.  We did, and man was I not prepared for what happened next.  As It turns out, this family, the Mortensens, lived in southern Colorado close to Alamosa, and had had two young kids involved in a serious fire earlier that week.  It was kinda horrifying to see.  The little boy was 2 and the little girl was five.  They had been playing in an old camper that the family had converted into a play room in their back yard (they lived in a pretty rural area), and somehow had gotten a hold of some matches.  In less than five minutes the whole trailer was up in smoke.  The kids couldn't get out.  The fire never actually touched them, but the inside of the trailer got so hot that the daughter got burned on 40 percent of her body and the song got burned on about 30 percent.  When we got there they had been there for a few days, and the father had not gotten a chance to bring consecrated oil.  So we brought it and gave the son a blessing before he went in to skin graft surgery, and then we waited for a few hours so we could be there to help give the daughter a blessing when they came out of skin graft surgery.  Despite the shock of how tragic this accident was, the biggest shock to me was how the family was handling it.  All they could talk about was how much they had been blessed throughout this whole thing.  They talked about the all miracles that had happened and the amazing support and outreach they had gotten from the church and from the hospital.  They even bought us lunch while we waited.  We heard of how their kids had been blessed not to have any of the difficult tissue to replace (ie. the lips, eyes, most joints, soft tissue under the arms,etc.) be scorched by the heat.  You would have needed like 10 or 12 hands to cover everything that was protected on both of them.  After we left, I realized how much of a faith killing thing that that might have been for other people.  But not for the Mortensens.  I pondered on that whole thing for easily the rest of the day.  That evening we had dinner with the Dowda family, and then we went to see the Lake family.  We just determined to drop Brother Lake and to keep teaching the rest of the family.  He was the one who was holding them back, and they all knew it.  So we started teaching them the commandments.  They Came to church on Sunday! 
Then we saw the Castillo family afterwards.  Helped them assemble a slide for their kids in the back yard, and then we taught a short restoration lesson.  We hoped they would come to church but they didn't.  

Thursday was comparatively uneventful haha.  Service in the morning, DLC's in the afternoon all the way on the other side of the zone (RIP to our miles haha), and then we visited a guy named Marvin Burton.  He was a former investigator who we had contacted and set up an appointment with.  Always interested in learning the history of things like the BOM, but as to how interested he is in changing... I'm not sure.  It was a colorful lesson though haha.  All over the place.  Some people just don't know how to not talk.  Then we ate dinner with the Cordner family, and afterwards had an appointment with Werra.  Taught lesson one and committed her to read, pray, attend church, and be baptized if she received and answer.  Then we ended the day with a lesson with the Salazar family.  Sister Salazar isn't a member, but she totally feels the spirit when we're there.  We feel safe in calling her an investigator now.  Great Family. 

Friday was a typical Friday.  Planned in the morning, and saw Clint at one.  I really wanna drop him, but Elder Lee doesn't.  We actually had a long conversation about when it becomes appropriate to drop someone.  I think it helped.  Then we visited Carmen and Darwin.  Great great great people.  Without us talking about it, they brought up that they need to get married and how Carmen would get baptized that day if she could haha.  But Darwin is a super thoughtful guy.  He wants it to be the commitment that he knows it is.  But at one point during the lesson he actually stopped me when I was testifying and said "You know why I believe you?  All my life I've been pretty in-tune with spiritual impressions, and I've never felt those at other churches, but I do with you guys."  I was speechless hahaha.  Couldn't commit them to a date but they are gonna feed us this upcoming week so they're getting there. Sister Fifita gave us money for dinner so we went to Chiles, and then we visited a guy named Dennis Bright and set up a lunch for the next day. 

Saturday was baptism day again.  The Sisters had two, and the Buckley Elders had one.  So we bounced back and fourth between those.  I have the cool opportunity of being able to interview all of these people before they get baptized, so its neat to see how far some of these people have come in order to get to where they're at.  I just wish some of our people would get there!  Our Sisters are baptizing like every week, which they have totally earned over the last few transfers, but still :P

It actually was kind of a bummer day for us, cause we had an appointment with Ohitaka that ended up cancelling.  Then what was worse was the text we got from him after.  He said that he had lost interest after the last lesson because of something I had said in the last lesson.  Apparently he hates it when people promise him things.  Like when we promise he can come to know these things for himself.  So naturally, not knowing that, I promised him that he could come to know these things for himself.  Nothing happened in the lesson, but it came out later.  I though that was kind of a dumb thing to get offended over, but apparently its a big deal to him. 

Then we had to end up cancelling our lesson with Brother Bright cause of schedule conflicts, which was a bummer.  But Brother Mata'ele took us to golden corral so that was cool. 

After dinner we finished up some weekly planning, and went out to try some formers.  Well one of them was not to happy to see us haha.  Whoever he was who answered the door was verbally abusive and threatened to sick his pit-bull at us if we came back.  It was actually the first time something like that had actually happened to me, so I guess I can count myself blessed.

 

Then finally, I'll tell you about the crazy drama that Sunday brought in. 

So the Sisters have a recent convert named Lee Nord.  Her and her husband Cornelius were both investigating at first, but then they got into a domestic dispute that ended with the cops showing up.  That was a few weeks ago.  Well, the husband somehow got back into contact with the sisters and said that he still wanted to get baptized.  Fearing a conflict, the Sisters told us that we should teach him.  So we set up an appointment.  Then they both showed up to their daughter's baptism, and then to church the next day.  At first it was okay, but the gospel principles lesson was on eternal families, so that became really awkward for them.  So Lee ended up leaving and going home.  Well the Sisters then told us that they thought it was best for Cornelius to be taught and attend in another ward because Lee said she wouldn't come if he was there.  So they called and told the Buckley Elders that we were going to hand him off to them.  Keep in mind we have only met the guy once or twice and that we're just kind of coasting through this whole thing not really knowing what's going on or making any decisions.  Well it culminated in a lesson that evening with us, Brother Mata'ele, Cornelius, and the Buckley Elders.  We basically had to tell an investigator that we had barely met, who wanted to be baptized, that he couldn't attend our ward anymore because of domestic issues.  The worst part was that he totally wasn't expecting any of it.  At some points in the lesson I just didn't know what to say.  It was SUPER awkward and SUPER poorly planned.  We basically got told to do it, so in the end we did. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying the Sisters were right or wrong in the decisions that they made, It just felt like they took the side with Lee, and made us do the dirty work.  And I had barely met the guy!  I just kinda felt like we fell but backwards into a really difficult situation.  And personally, regardless of what the guy has done, I just didn't feel like it was appropriate for representatives of Jesus Christ to take sides in stuff like that, especially when someone's salvation is involved.  I dunno.  It might not be the right way to look at it, but that's my perspective at least. 

 

Anyways, that was our crazy, dramatic week.  I feel like I really have caught a glimpse of what being a Bishop is like.  I don't envy the calling hahaha!

 Love you guys.  Tell everyone I said hi! 

 

Elder Efan

And one from the GREENIE Parker!  Such a fun loving guy!

Hello everyone!

I don't have much time to write one because I am a slow typer and two because we are not given much time.  So sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors!

Monday:  After I emailed we hit up the walmart and got more food.  I have been getting tons of ham sandwich supplies haha. For some reason after eating them for lunch practically everyday I start to have like a craving for them haha.  I usually spend about 25-30 bucks at each p-day for food.  Then we went and got hair cuts because my hair and the ZL's hair was getting a little shaggy and needed a clean up! After that we went to the church and played ping pong.  It gets so intense.  It is nice having four in a apartment because just more fun and more memories.  I totally owned in ping pong and was undefeated!  They are all pretty good but me and dad's epic ping pong matches have trained me well!  After that we went back to the apartment and relaxed till 6 pm.  Then we went out and continued with out normal proselytizing activities.  Apparently before I got there, they were trying to weed out some of the investigators because they werent keeping commitments and weren't progressing.  So we still stop by a lot of them but we are teaching them.  So this week were planned on doing a lot of finding.

Tuesday: We had district meeting which was my first and it was really good Elder Goff my companion is the district leader so he gave a really awesome lesson on preparing investigators to be baptized.  Then I had a bunch of new missionary training.  It is hard to remember if I have mentioned stuff or not but I did want to let you know that we live next to a golf course... haha so everyday we bike past it and I get to see all the terrible golfers throw a tantrum.  We then had ward correlation meeting.  Our ward mission leader looks and reminds me so much of a Coach at AHS! he acts like him and has the same manorisms  haha. 

Wednesday: Is the most time to go out and find because there are no meetings.  We visited a lot of less actives and gave them messages and then went with the Elders Quorum president to visit some people.  We went 0-8 on houses.  haha nobody was home or nobody felt like answering.  This was the day we ate dinner with the Arnolds! They are good friends with the Johnsons, so I guess mom you managed to get in touch with him haha.  They are a really nice family.  We usually get a ride with the Zl's back to the house but they kindof forgot about us so we had to walk like forever to get back haha.  

Thursday: Was similar to wednesday because we don't have a lot of investigators.  We met with some less actives again. We literally have a dinner appointment every night so the feeding the missionaries back home has lead to good karma and so I get to be fed! haha.  I also got to meet Bishop Wright finally.  He is only like 33 and is Bishop. He is so enthusiastic and is a very down to earth person.   Not your typical bishop!  So funny.  So he kindof gave me some advice and things like that.  

Friday: is planning day.  Weekly planning is very boring but very important.  We planned for the up coming week and have our lessons planned.  Elder Goff can go on these monologues about things he has learned on his mission .  They are all really profound advice but just funny!We ate with the bates who are the coolest old people every.  We met with them last time and I think I have already mentioned them.  I can't remember if I told you but he called me a communist becasue I didn't like chocolate ahah.  So they prepared chocolate cake just for me and made me eat it ahah.  He is very sassy but really loves us.  He says we are really incredible and have helped him a lot.  Him and his wife are very old and dont have a lot of money and dont have any family because their family doesn't like that they joined the church.  

Saturday:  we did our normal routine of study and companionship training.  We always eat lunch with the Zl's man they are funny guys.  I love it because there is this thing where Elder Chote (ZL) and Elder Goff like to just randomly start fake beating up Elder Gilland.  Next thing you know he is on the floor laughing getting beat up haha.  We then we got stuck at this crazy less actives house.  I forget the name.  So we bailed as soon as possible.  We also went over and gave brother Bates a blessing because they are driving cross country.  Then after we got back to the dorm we have about 45 min of down time.  Every saturday we have date night where all four of us move the coach over, eat ice cream, and watch like the two approved church movies haha. So that is our saturday date night.

Sunday:Sundays are almost more busy.  We have to bike to church in our suits and it is so hot...  I have yet to get sunburned!  Not sure how exactly that is possible but nevertheless it is a miracle!!!  Bishop randomly decided to give me a good 40 minute heads up that I would be giving a short talk, he was like " this is your best chance to get them to like you haha or else they will just fall asleep like they always do.." like I said he is super down to earth.  We got like 3 sweet referals at church.  One is Jared who has grown up with the young mens but his mom wouldnt let him be baptised till now.  He is 15.  So he is on date to be baptised in like three weeks.  Two other part member families came up to us and said that they wanted to start discussions.  We taught Jared that sunday and he is really awesome and already has a strong testimony.  So we will be meeting with him a lot.  Catalina is still on date for baptism but she hasn't come to church a lot so that is still up in the air.

 I have come to realize that if missionaries are the ones who do the physical baptism there may not be enough fellowship taking place.  We have focused on having a member present at every lesson. The members should be fellowshipping enough that they create a true friendship.  Missionaries are there for a short time but members are there to stay. Just like how I used to love being behind the scenes when it came to hockey assists, I think it is the same way with missionary work.

Well that was my week.  It went by a lot faster than the first!  The people are great.  The area is alright.  It is one of the tougher areas in the mission, but I am here for a reason!  Sound like everything is going alright back home.  Hopefully the perfect house will show up eventually! I will keep you all in my prayers!

Love 

Elder Hemsley