WEEK 28

We got a car again! Off the bikes! Time for my pants to get tight again. Although I am pretty excited about the car there is a sense of accomplishment that comes from walking or biking, we probably will bike a few times still. This week was pretty slow. A lot of our investigators were either out of town or sick. But Sunday was awesome, Sergio showed up to church for the first time and Jesse came with out us asking too. Natalie, Jesse's wife received a calling which completed her quest to becoming officially active again! 

 

Looking forward to the next week and getting back on track with those we teach. The key to missionary work is WORK! I am so thankful for all that Shawn and Kelly taught me about working and teaching how to work... I thought I'd never say that haha! Love you all, have a great week!

~Elder Stevens

WEEK 27

Well, I've made it to 6 months! I got to burn a tie, it's a missionary ritual. At 6 months you burn a tie, at a year you burn a shirts, at a year and a half you burn a pair of slacks, and at 2 you burn a suit. Time really flies. For these past 6 months I have been in the same, awesome area! There is much that has happened in these last 6 months here and there is much to come this transfer. 

This last Saturday, Jun Jun Wang, our 10 year old investigator, was baptized. Setting up for a baptism is pretty stressful haha, especially if you are doing it by yourself. I've had to do it twice now, first, with the Driskell's because it was the first week of my first transfer with Elder Castillo and he didn't know what to do, and now with the Jun Jun's because Elder Gallano isn't quite there yet to do things like this in English. It is so stressful because there are a bunch of tedious things you have to make sure that get done and you are the one setting up this special day for them, I mean it's the day they enter into the path of eternal life with their Father in Heaven! Also because President Winder, our mission president, was going to be there haha. Once the baptismal service began, I was completely at peace and everything went smoothly. We were able to get Jesse Vycital to attend the baptism, the investigator we have been working with ever since I've been here. After the baptism he talked to one of the members of our ward, Brother Blakeslee. They just chatted about the baptism, what Jesse thought about it, and the spirit that was there, and then Bro. Blakeslee said, "I hope I will have the opportunity to attend your baptism." and Jesse replied, "Well, I don't think you will have to wait that much longer." After I heard that I could not stop smiling! During the service, I glanced at Jesse a few times and I could tell the Spirit was working on him. Again, conversion is all due to the presence of the Spirit. We have an appointment with Jesse this Wednesday and we will see what more of his thoughts are. The following day, Sunday, Jun Jun was given the Holy Ghost and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Elder Gallano and I were able to be apart of the brethren who laid their hands on Jun Jun's head. Such cool experience to see. It gets me every time. 

The spirit that is felt at a baptism is one that you can refuse to feel. If you want to feel happy, go to a baptism. I'm thankful for our Savior's example that he set for us to be baptized, Christ said he did it because it was "to fulfill all righteousness". We all need to follow the example Jesus Christ set for us and be baptized. And if we are baptized to do what is left, which is to press forward with faith, always repent because no one is perfect, rely on our constant companion the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the end. 

I love you all. I hope y'all had a great Valentines day, and have a great President's day.
 

~Elder Stevens

Jun Jun's Baptism


Walking at night.

My burning tie. 6 month tradition.



We took these because we thought it would make our mission look unique. haha

WEEK 26

Transfers today! We received the transfer call out this last Saturday and.... I'm staying! I am so happy. If you've been keeping track I haven't left my first area yet, I will be here for 7 1/2 months guaranteed, that's quite a long time for those who know, I could go longer who knows! A lot of my close friends got transferred, Elder Leuga, my old District leader just went to a Zone leader in Boise and Elder Simkins went to a zone over, in Meridian west. P-days will be very different for the next little while, definitely won't be as much sports as there was prior.

The area. This area is so ready to see baptisms, right now we have three on date, Jun Jun, Jesse Vycital, and Sergio. This Saturday, Jun Jun will be getting baptized, so all week we will be busy preparing and organizing for that. It is surprisingly a lot of work, but we are very excited for him. Elder Gallano and I have set a goal to have 2 more people on date and find 3 more investigators! I am looking forward to this transfer! Expect a lot from us!

 

Being in an area for this long you really build a good relationship with the members of the ward and they are able to see you grow as a missionary. Since this is my first area, I'm sure they have seen some changes. Our ward mission leader, Bro. Riley and his wife were talking with another member about us, the missionaries. They were saying how much better I've gotten and talking and the fact that I'm not shy anymore haha. I didn't realize I was being that shy that it was noticeable. I love my mission! Being a missionary is the greatest decision of my life. Serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for two years? Nothing can top that! 

 

I love you all!

 

~Elder Stevens

Chinese hot pot with new ward mission leader.

WEEK 25

Man time flies! Already February!? Time truly flies when you're having fun. We have had an awesome week! We received so many promising referrals this week. We also finished up the mini MTC for the 3rd ward, it was a cool experience for them! And another baptismal date! 

In a short summary, the mini MTC, consisted of 2 weeks and 3 days of meeting with the youth, 2 Wednesday's and 1 Sunday. The first Wednesday all the missionaries in the district taught the first lesson to the youth who were separated in their own "districts". The following Wednesday they went out to different "investigators" but really just members acting. After they all returned, Bro. Riley (our Ward Mission Leader) asked them how it went. They all really enjoyed it, a lot of them said because of this experience they are now going to serve a mission. So I'd say it went well. Then the following Sunday they had a testimony meeting in third hour with them and the Spirit was super strong!

Sergio Espinoza, was a referral given to us, in December before Christmas, by one of his friends who had been taking him to church in Boise. His friend texted us telling us that he lived in our area and that it's time he meet missionaries and attends the ward he lives in. Right after we got the text we called Sergio, he told us he had family in town for the holidays and that he'd give us a call back after they left. I thought to myself, oh we will never hear from him again, I lacked faith! To my surprise, he called us on the 21st. He said, "I'm not sure how y'all go about doing this but if we could meet Tuesday's and Thursdays, what time works for y'all?" Since then we have met with Sergio twice, Once on Tuesday and then another on Thursday. Thursday, we set a baptismal date with him. He said July 30th, he wants to finish the Book of Mormon first, usually when people say that they want to just stall but not with Sergio. He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon already! He knows the church is true, he knows it's all true. I could probably go my entire mission without baptizing anyone else if I could baptize Sergio. He is awesome! 

We had a missionary worldwide broadcast where some general authorities spoke to us and gave us some training. One thing that stuck out to me the most was what Elder Bednar said. He told us that as missionaries we have the power to bring the message of the restored gospel unto the hearts of our investigators but the Holy Ghost has the power of bringing it into their hearts. This taught me two things. First, I must always be doing what is right so that I can always have the Spirit with me, as we should all be. Second, that I need to do all that I can do to bring the message as close as possible to their heart. In order for me to do this I need to gain knowledge. Knowledge is very important in our lives, we use it everyday! Jesus Christ had a perfect knowledge of the gospel, which is why he was the greatest missionary ever. As a representative of Jesus Christ I need to become. 

I hope y'all all have a great week. 

 

~Elder Stevens