Elder Tommy Webber Washington Tacoma 2013-2015: Soundview: Maiki is solid, another fireside, work pressing forward!

Family,

Life is so good. I am thoroughly convinced that serving a mission, this tiny glimpse of two years is the most wonderful, fulfilling, best life that this world has to offer. (Although I am very biased, and have little other experience). But it is good enough for me. It is amazing that religion is not just one piece of my life, it is my whole life, because Jesus Christ is the Life, the Way, the Truth and the Light. And I can feel and know that it is right. If in these letters I seem a little optimistic it is because this gospel is true and it is the best thing ever. I actually am this happy :D

Elder Tommy Webber & his companion Elder Anderson visit the mission office

Elder Tommy Webber (back right), the mission president and others stop for yogurt

Thanks for the package family!!! I know Charlotte and Claire helped, thanks girls! I am always happy for more goldfish, you seem to always send me some, right when I run out.

Our top investigator is Maiki, he is the 16 year old from Panama, who moved in with his aunt, uncle, and cousins in this ward, who are all members of the Church. He has been on a fast track, and is so prepared. He has chosen a date to be baptized - April 12th. We thought there might be a difficulty for him to understand in the translation, but we were wrong. The Spirit attends our lessons so powerfully, and it does not matter what the language is, the Spirit is teaching him. On Monday evening we planned on starting the third lesson, but as we talked, we ended up going into more of how we can get an answer in prayer, that the Book of Mormon is true. The Spirit directed our lesson to his needs, and that is what he needed. We all shared our testimony on how we came to know that the Book of Mormon is true, and he was so excited to keep reading and praying. He told us he believes it's true, he wants it to be true, he just wasn't sure before.

On Wednesday we had invited him to attend a baptismal service for someone in the YSA ward (Young Single Adults), so he could see what it was like. We met with him for about 20 minutes before the baptism. We asked him (in English of course) if he had read and prayed about the Book of Mormon and if he got an answer yet. Before our question was even translated, he was smiling. He told us that he had in fact prayed, and that a warm peaceful feeling had come over him and that was his answer. Maiki knows the Book of Mormon is true. With that critical moment in prayer with his Heavenly Father comes a knowledge of the reality of this work and His restored Church.

We taught him again Thursday night, the third lesson on faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He told us what we say makes sense to him and he was so grateful he could come to America and learn these important truths. He said he wants his family in Panama to know this too, and he prayed for them. He was our only investigator at church (yay! and bummer, because there are others that should be coming and would be as happy as Maiki is!)

Tommy, his current companion, previous companion (Green) and others

Sunday night, we had another missionary singing fireside. Being one of the choir conductors, I get to go to all of these, it kind of feels like I am touring the whole mission. It's pretty fun, I don't think every missionary in every mission gets to do that. It was a beautiful drive up north, past Bremerton, past Silverdale, across two bridges, and lots of water and lots of trees. I have the best mission! I got to see more missionaries, two past companions, and sing and hear testimony. It was a great fireside, very spiritual. One recent convert bore her testimony and it was very powerful. She now knows that the Book of Mormon is true.

I bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, a living, real person who is the way to a happy life and the Eternal Life after this one. His full gospel is on the earth again, and contained in its fullness in the pages of the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I know it is true.

Roommates, and Mission President get Yogurt on P-day

A few updates from other areas! Cesar from Steilacoom has decided he is going to serve a mission!!!! And I heard from another missionary that Dennis, Israel, and Terry are all doing great and coming to church each week. Kris and his family have been going through a rough time, so they could use our prayers too.

I am more than excited for General Conference this weekend, what a blessing that we have a living prophet on the earth and living apostles to teach us the pure gospel of Jesus Christ. I am preparing this week and reflecting on what I need to hear, and I believe God will speak to each of His children through His servants this weekend. Let's get ready! (D&C 1:39)