Lynnwood, WA - week 2

March 24, 2013

So far, I've discovered that it's best to ask Chris specific questions, so here is this week's update:

1.  Tell me about splits or whatever happened that you spent two days at the Reiersen's?  How do splits work, and why?

So I was only there for 24 hours. I just switch spots with companions. The elders that are at the Reiersen's are in our district and it is mandatory to do splits. Splits are just how they sound. You switch comps for 24 hours and work as usual. 

(Explanation from Karen:  We have a friend here in AZ who we met about 3 years ago doing Copperstar Rep shows. Her parents are the Reiersen's, and they live just a couple of miles from Chris, and another set of missionaries in his district live with them, so she gets to see him about once a week!)

2.  Are you and Elder Frandsen getting along?  Do your personalities fit well?  Tell me some of the fun things that you do.

Pops and I are getting along just great! Personalities fit pretty well. We do a lot of work and teaching and, to me, that, so far, has been fun!  We play rock golf which is when you take a rock and switch turns getting it into the sewer. I dont remember if I told you but I got bit by a little dog on the first day and first street contact. hahaha.

(Explanation: missionaries call their first trainer "Dad" (or in Chris's case...Pops).  Their trainer's trainer is their grandpa, and sometimes they get to meet.  It's just a term of endearment)

3.  What kind of continued training do you have to do?

12 weeks of training and there is a booklet that maps out what we focus on each week.

4.  Who, specifically, are you teaching?  Tell us a little about them

Specifically, we teach Taitus and Julianna and their family. They are from the Marshall Islands and are really AWESOME! We teach a 9 year old boy whose name is Jasen and his mom is getting worked by the spirit so much just hasnt accepted the gospel yet. She will soon though. We also teach a boy name John and he is 16 or 17 and is just awesome. Hard to get in contact with but learning well. Cheryl (50) and Taylor (11). Cheryl believes the Book of Mormon is real but wont except the church as the full true church. Hopefully the next lesson will help. Ann Marie is from Jamaica and came to church before I got here but hasnt come back but WE found her so we will start teaching her. Harvey and Ron both are older men. I dont really know too much about them yet. Aaron is good; baptized and confirmed. Now it is priesthood time for him. And everyone else we are teaching are Less Actives and there are to many in the time given hahaha!! I can write them down later if you really want to know.

5.  What, besides library and laundry, did you do on last p-day and what are you doing today?

Last P-Day was hair cut email shop letters basketball and then at 6pm we have to start working again. BUT its sooo FUN!  Today is the same without the hair cut and it's District P-day which means the three companionships can spend time together if we want.

Day 1 (March 12) & A Typical Day in the Life

This information is a little behind, but it came in a letter at the end of last week, instead of an email.  Chris sent a letter home describing his first day in WA, and a typical day in the life...

What did you do on your first day in Washington?

The first day was long.  So first, after we got off the plane, we went to baggage claim.  There we were met by the Assistants,  and President and Sister Wilson.  Then we went to the mission office.  We had lunch and did orientation stuff.  Then, President Wilson started interviewing and that took FOREVER! (Sidebar: there were 27 new missionaries to interview!)  So they turned on The District and everone fell asleep!  Then a few hours later we woke up, got something to eat (subway was delivered).  He then assigned us and we were on our way with Elder Frandsen. We went to Ward Missionary Council/Ward Correlation meeting.  Then had a meeting with John, an investigator.  Came back and went to sleep!

Explanation for our non-LDS friends:  

1. Each mission has a President and his wife who serve for 3 years, without pay, and are responsible for the 170 - 250 missionaries. They move with their families (if the kids are young) to their assigned location.

2. "The District" is a TV show produced by the LDS church and it follows a few different sets of missionaries. Think: reality TV without the drama.  :-)  You can find the episodes by clicking the link below...and you can get a feel for what Chris is doing.
https://www.lds.org/callings/missionary/the-district

3. A Ward is a congregation, and Ward Missionary Council and Ward Correlation are meetings held with different people in local leadership positions.

Chris sent a video of his apartment, but no narration...just a quiet walk through. It looks very comfortable.  He put his Coyotes jersey and banner on the wall, and has family pics and the family calendar up too.  You can watch the video here.  It's grainy, but you get the idea.

A Typical Day In The Life:

530am wake up

545: Go to an apartment complex (of an LDS member) and do crossfit

7 - 8a: go home, shower and get ready for day (incl. breakfast)

8 - 9a: personal scripture study

9 - 10a: companion scripture study

10 - noon:  visit investigators and teach

12 - 1p: one hour for lunch

1 - 5p: visit investigators, meet investigators, etc.

5 - 6p: dinner somewhere at an LDS member's home

6 - 8:30ish: visit more people, go to appointments, etc.

9:00:  bed time

We've got photos!!

Chris sent home an SD card with over 100 photos, and descriptions!!   Here is a sampling:

My desk at the MTC

Decorations for the room

with Elder Rudd, Chris's MTC Companion

Elders in Chris's MTC District

with Hermana (Sister) Larissa Price
(GHS Friend!)

Taken on a walk to the Provo LDS Temple across from the MTC

The spire, with Moroni, at the top of the Provo Temple
(For our non-LDS friends...Wanna know who Moroni was and
why he is on top of the LDS Temples?  Check out these links:)
https://www.lds.org/new-era/2009/11/looking-up-to-moroni?lang=eng
http://www.mormonchannel.org/scripture-stories/33

Chris with Elder Della Lucia, Sister Anderson & Sister Gale

Proof that the boys have fun, and they are still boys.
Cameron's arms hurt, so Chris helped him stretch them out!

Elder Gonzales, and the photo Joseph Smith.
Haha!...Can you see why Chris
and Elder Gonzales became fast friends?

Elder Udall, Elder Westenskow and ???

Chris with his MTC District and
one of their teachers, Brother Ferrin (front right)

The MTC District

AT THE SLC AIRPORT and THE ARRIVAL TO WA!

Ahhh, Chris in typical-Chris-mode.

In the van, on the way to Everett

Heading north of Seattle

Chris, with his first companion, Elder Frandsen

Aaron Horner's baptism.
Chris arrived on Tuesday night, and Aaron was
baptized that following Saturday

The daily planner!

1st area - Lynnwood WA - March 18, 2013

Received our first email today from Chris.  He is serving in the Lynnwood area and attends the Alderwood 1st Ward.  For our non-LDS friends...a ward is a local congregation.  All missionaries are assigned a "companion", which is another missionary...and they are together 24/7 (except, of course, for bathroom time).  He said that he LOVES he new ward!

Chris is living in an apartment and he and his companion have a car.  We did not get the name of his companion, but hope to have it soon.  His companion is from Utah and they get along well.  Chris reported that he is fed by the LDS members in the area...sometimes lunch and always dinner.  He said that sometimes they have two dinners!

I am in a driving area right now. For the mission, driving areas to biking areas is about 60-40%. We are about to get A LOT more sister missionaries so it will prob go back to 50-50. I already had a baptism! His name is Aaron and he is 40 year old! He has a son that I hope he will get baptized. His name is Kepler. 

We have another boy who is 11 (I think) but he is getting baptized on April 27 and his mom is feeling the spirit a lot (in mysterious ways) and it is so cool!

Lisa and Jason are a "part-member family" and we are just starting to teach them. 

He goes on to list several others that are learning about the LDS faith and says they are very busy.  In my letter to Chris, I asked several questions.  I've posted most of them below with his "answers".

1. Where are you serving?  (Full disclosure: Sister Cahill from the Mission Office did facebook me that you are in Lynnwood, but where in Lynnwood/what ward or wards? Only one ward, or more than one?) 
2. What are the living arrangements?
3. Who is your companion and where is he from?  Do you get along?  What's his personality like?
4. Are you walking, biking or driving?
5. How has the weather been, and what do you need to do about a jacket and/or boots?
6. What was your first Sunday like?  Did they make you introduce yourself in church?  Bear your testimony?
7. What is a typical day like?  Give us a start to finish so we have an understanding.
8. Do the members feed you dinner every night?
9. What did you do on the first day you arrived?
10. How did Elder Gonzales end up as your companion on the day you flew?  Is Elder Rudd not in WA, or did you get to choose someone else for that day?

1. One ward, Lynnwood, Alderwood 1st ward
2. Living arrangements are good. We live in an apartment photos will come.
3. Yes we get along. Cool kid! I will be sending photo. He is from UT.
4. driving
5. No jackets or boots just sweatshirt. Rains here and there but have had 2 sunny days out of all of them.
6. First sunday was good. No intro and no testimony.
7. I will write a letter with a usual day. start to finish.
8. Yes the members feed us a LOT of the times sometimes lunch and dinner and sometime lunch and two dinners.
9. Also will put in letter.
10. No no no. Just was with him when I got the pic taken.

I was hoping for more details, but we'll take what we get.  I will post photos when we receive them.

MTC to WA - Feb 27 through March 12, 2013

February 27, 2013
Chris reported to the Provo Missionary Training Center (MTC) on February 27, 2013.  He spent 13 days in the MTC.  One of the best treats for Chris was to enter the MTC with his friend Cameron Westenskow.  They were called on the same day to the same mission, entered the MTC together and were roommates while there.  He spent the 13 days learning how to teach people about the LDS Church with several hours in classes each day.

Elder Westenskow and Elder Udall at the Provo MTC

Family pic about 20 minutes before dropping Chris off on Feb. 27

Katy saying goodbye!

Last minute hug for Dad

Final hug before leaving was for Mom

And...he's off!

Side note:  As we arrived at the MTC, we asked the "host" missionaries if they knew Jacob Christensen.  Jacob is a friend from our summers at the Hill Cumorah Pageant in upstate New York.  None of them knew him, but we got word from Chris that just after we pulled away, Elder Christensen found Chris and was his host for the afternoon! 

March 12, 2013
On March 12, 2013, Chris left the MTC for Washington.  At the Salt Lake City Airport, Chris was met by his Uncle Mike Dolan who took the time to wait with him and took some photos for our family.  Mikey also shared his phone with Chris so he could call home and chat for about 8 minutes.  Danny and Stephanie were on the phone too, so we all got to chat for a little bit before Chris went through security.  The line for the pay phones was about 3 people deep at each phone, so we are thankful to Mikey for spending the time with Chris!

Then, when Chris arrived at the gate, he was met by our good friend, Jody, who is a gate agent for Delta.  She took more photos and sent him off with a proxy mom-hug.  Thank goodness for Mikey & Jody so that I (mom) could have a great report and know that Chris was well taken care of.

Chris, in a typical photo!  Taken by his Uncle, Mike Dolan, just before checking bags

Chris with Elder Cameron Westenskow before checking their bags

Using Mike's phone to call us prior to going through security.
Mikey told us that the TSA agent was getting a little frustrated because
Chris wasn't hanging up to show his boarding pass.

Our friend Jody captured this one of Chris with Elder Gonzales (from St. George)
before they got on the flight to Seattle, WA