Family,
There is a lot to tell you, it has been a crazy week.
Started with some goodbyes in Raymond, lots of pictures, (see below) and the long drive out
of Raymond. I'll really miss it there. I am very happy with what I was able to
help with in Raymond. Transfer meeting was uplifting and spiritual as always, and
one highlight was that I was asked to conduct the music this time. My first time
conducting the whole mission!! I was actually a little nervous before going up,
but it was a blast, I never get tired of 200+ missionaries shouting Called to Serve. The most powerful and emotional part was Elder Dudschus who had to leave
for home for another surgery and this time for good. He was asked to give his testimony
along with the other missionaries who had finished 2 years. Despite a brave
effort, he couldn't hold back tears as he bore a
powerful testimony of the truth and divinity of this work, the
miracle of a mission, and his valiant ability to face the future and God's will, contrary to his own. He fought to be a missionary and I pray for a
part of his faith. Immediately after we all sang "Amazing Grace" and
Elder Dudschus stood on the stand in between President and Sister Weaver,
under their arms. Most of the mission was in tears as we all sang of
the goodness, mercy and love of the Savior of us all.
Now on to Steilacoom (pronounced "Still-ah-cum")!
This is very different from Raymond, there are a lot more houses and a lot more
people and a lot smaller area! It is about 30 minutes outside of Tacoma, and
right on the water of the Puget Sound! It is actually a very nice neighborhood,
haven't seen any homeless people, it's mostly suburb-type homes in neat
neighborhoods. The ward is absolutely wonderful. About 150-175 active members
and they all love the missionaries! We get fed every night and our Ward Mission Leader, Brother Agor (we all call him "Papa") is a short, bald, old
Hawaiian man with a big family! There are a few other Samoan or other
Polynesian families in the ward. I heard they like to feed the missionaries
lots of food, especially raw fish. Not looking forward to that. We also
have in our ward area, sister missionaries!! Sister Stucki and Sister White
(Sister White has been very sick, so some prayers would be helpful). We work
with them a lot and they are awesome. It's fun to have sister missionaries close
again. We are on bikes which has already given me some "wonderful"
stories.
 |
| Elder Webber's new Companion - Elder Hansen |
Wednesday, my first real day on a bike, we have our district
meeting and afterwards a correlation meeting. After we finish, Elder
Hansen and I ride out of the church parking lot on our bikes. Not even out of
the church parking lot, on the wet and leafy gravel, I turn too sharp and the
bike slips out with me crashing, ha ha. Yes, yes Elder Webber is very athletic and
coordinated, I know, lets put him on bike in the winter! Great idea!! ha ha, I'm
kidding, it will be fun. The only hard part is the hills. google earth Roe St.
or Ave. the one we live on, after Woods Dr. and check out those hills!!
Thankfully we have some shortcuts. On Thursday, in the middle of knocking on doors, the
sisters call and Sister White needs a blessing, at the church. Of course we
decide to knock doors down by the water, so the church is up a big hill. In the rain, that
was one of the hardest (physically, at least) things I've done yet! Guess what
popped in my head right at the hardest, steepest part? "I think I can, I think I can" from that childhood storybook. Thanks Dad. "I could."
 |
| Tommy's new Companion and sisters |
I love this area and I'm excited to work here. Teaching pool
is a little small, but we have found some good new investigators. Out of time.
This Saturday we get to learn from the Apostle!!
Love, Elder Webber
 |
| Saying good-bye to a family that joined the church |
 |
| Saying good-bye to a man Tommy taught |
 |
| Saying good-bye to his landlord's family |
 |
| Saying good-bye to his landlord's cows |
No comments:
Post a Comment