Lynnwood, WA - week 17 (June 30 - July 7)

July 8, 2013

So this past week I was bad and didn't write in both my journals so I will be just emailing this weeks stuff to you.

This week has been pretty crazy. Monday was the 1st which was the day the mission president changed AND the mission. My area is now the lowest part of our mission now. CRAZY!!

So I had a dream 6 or 7 weeks ago that I was to start involving the youth more by playing some sport or activity once a week and have them invite their friends. Well it wasn't too good the first two weeks but this week it took off. We played volleyball at the church and had multiple people there. It was a TON of fun too! We are having good success with it especially when the same people that came to volleyball on Tuesday were at the Decker's on Thursday for the 4th! They now understand what we really do. We don't just go try and shove our religion down people's throats. We go and invite others to come UNTO Christ. Not just come closer but come UNTO. Reading the bible or praying or anything spiritual like that can bring people closer to Christ but our purpose is not that. We can help people learn ways to do that but WE as missionaries are called by God to go somewhere and serve him and be a disciple of his Son, to invite people to come unto him. We Invite, Teach and Baptize.

Wednesday was pretty AWESOME! We went on a mini exchange with Mays Pond Elders and while we were on the mini exchange we had a lesson with Clayton who is scheduled to get baptized on July 13th. He is SUCH a smart kid! That night we helped Brother Perry with his yard....NEVER WEAR SHORTS WHEN YOU WEED-WHACK SOMEONES BACKYARD WITH ROCKS IN IT!!! It hurt so bad, haha!  Picture to come of my leg. I got pelted with rocks as I was weed-whacking the weeds and what not.  Today was the 4th and most of it was spent at the Decker's because if we wanted to be out past 6pm, we had to be with a member. I found this quote that I have heard before but I really do love it and it hit me different this time. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away." If you look in your everyday life and see where God has played a role, I promise you will be grateful for those things he gives you and it, at least for me, takes my breath away.

Not much today but had an AMAZING dinner with Willy, Odis and Eric! They always make sure we are tired when we leave their house. If you notice I did not say full when we leave! That night we went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders. I went with Elder Holt to their HUGE area. Its only HUGE because they cover the Zone which is a bunch of areas where missionaries are serving combined. We had a great day. Visited a lot of people and actually got a new investigator! We had dinner with one of our members, The Larson Family. Okay, so both Brother and Sister Larson are cooks. It was sooooo good!! We had Copper River salmon and a type of potato salad thing and for desert....SIN!!! hahaha Now before you think anything too crazy let me tell you what this "Sin" is. 1st of all, I had heard of it since I have been here and finally got it. Sin is a layer of graham cracker, then a layer of vanilla pudding thing, then a layer of chocolate pudding, then a layer of whipped cream and it was not solid but not all pudding-y. It was SOOO delicious!! My arteries were screaming "Stop clogging me!!" haha! I love that family! Yesterday was Sunday and it was a good church meeting. We went to class with the youth and then to senior primary. Let me tell you this one thing: if you want to feel good and peaceful and love from a child than go to that part of church. When the children were singing, angels from heaven are singing with them. The spirit was SO strong as they were singing We'll Bring the World his Truth and to end they sang Praise to the Man....just remarkable. I wish I could go in there every week. That evening we went over the the Decker's again and spent time with their family and some of their sons' friends. 

By the way, at church we had a member of the Quorum of the Seventy there. After church he came up to us and said, "These are the guys I was looking for." Luckily instead of scolding or rebuking us he shook our hand and embraced us. The Spirit of the Lord was with that man. 

Now I will end with this quote. "A coincidence is just a small miracle God doesn't get credit for." Things happen for a reason. God has a plan for everyone of us and KNOWS US BY NAME. In the Bible he talks about how we (his children) are as numberless as the sands on the beach or the stars in the night sky. BUT he STILL knows us by name. He knows you. He knows what you are going through and is always willing to help you but we must choose to. Yes, bad things do happen. Welcome to the world where there is opposition. But when we trust in God and do HIS will, the trials we face will be easier to accomplish and when we do overcome it, we come out with a knowledge of that thing, NOT just a faith or belief in it. I know this to be true and that's why I do this work and service for my Father in Heaven. Have an awesome week and look for God's hand in your life and when a trial or struggle comes, reach out to your Father in Heaven in prayer and in reading scriptures. He will strengthen you. I know it. I say this in the name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

July 21, 2013 -
I received a second SD card in a package this week.  The photos are from this time frame!  Here's the link to view:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200977415269589.1073741831.1592776047&type=1&l=aa52229920
Reminder:  you do not need facebook to view the photos!