Raymond (and Westport Branch!) week 7

Family!

I love so much to hear from you and all the wonderful updates of family and friends. So many good things. Life cannot get better for me. Serving the Lord, in the WA-TAC. The best mission ever!

Probably the most exciting news this week is in Westport! Westport is a small tourist town just north of Raymond. It's the tip of one of the cracks in Washington. Driving there is fun because we get to pass the Pacific Ocean and see the beach. I've lived in all three states on the west coast now. A few fun things from Westport, on the way into town, passing through the endless forests of Washington we saw three road kill! A porcupine, a deer, and a bear! Oh my. There are also tons of cranberry fields, just like you see in those Ocean Spray commercials with the old guy. They flood the fields and all the cranberries float to the top. On Friday we did our tracting 5-7 pm in Westport near North Cove, on Wash-a-way beach. They call it that because the beach gets closer and closer to the houses and washes them away! One member lives right on the beach and their house has not much time left. They have a good attitude about it though. They say they'll be there until the Lord wants them to leave, ha ha. It's just a vacation home, so don't worry. Anyway it was fun to do some knocking on the beach, even though everyone was mean to us that day.

We also went to church in Westport! What a great experience, the branch is small but it is strong. A missionary who just returned home spoke in church (from Shelton, a different ward) and a high council member, both great talks. They even had a musical number, "Come Thou Fount" can't go wrong with that! The branch president is from Scotland so he has a cool accent and he is very supportive of us. He strongly encouraged the members to have referrals in mind to bring to church to the ward mission leader! Perfect.

Lastly, Kris's family is doing fantastic. Kris got the priesthood yesterday and his daughter's baptism is this weekend!! Alexis, the 9 year old daughter is so, so, so smart! Especially in the gospel. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and asked where Adam and Eve lived. She responded, "something like Adam-Ondi-Ahman right?"  Elder Green and I just laughed and her parents looked super confused. She's kind of right if you  read the D&C, ha ha. She loves the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and was bummed she had to wait another week for her baptism. We love, love, love that family.

Elder Tommy Webber hears he is staying in Raymond

Scripture for the week is Romans 8:16-17. Elder Green and I memorized this. We memorize one scripture a week, so I'll probably be giving you that one

A ward member sent this text and picture to Wendy from a dinner appointment

“Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful, faithful, diligent, obedient sons with us!  We love them!  They are doing so well here in Raymond and are doing so much to revitalize the missionary efforts in our area!  They are both exceptional missionaries!  We feel very grateful that they are serving in our area!  You both must be amazing mothers to have raised such fine sons!  It is my hope that you will see Father’s great blessings pouring into your lives because of your sons outstanding service!  Thank you again for sharing them and supporting them!  They are doing the Lords work and many, many people are being blessed for their efforts!  With lots of love and a grateful heart, Sister Hamilton”

So much love, you're happier than ever brother/son
Elder Webber

During morning study of the life of Jesus, Tommy can't shake influence of Harry Potter

Elders Webber and Green at the Elma Zone Conference

Elder Webber at the Elma Zone Conference

Week 6 in Raymond. We were not transfered

My Family,

Good news: I'm staying in Raymond! And so is Elder Green!! We are so so so happy. This next month should be the best yet (they keep getting better). Ah, I just love Raymond, there is such a great ward (congregation) here and Elder Green and I get along so well, we are so very similar. Not to mention there are so many prepared people we are teaching. Our first month together we did a lot of finding. Now, we get to do a lot of teaching and baptizing!

The Missionaries serving in the Elma Zone

So in this letter, I will get into some gospel doctrine stuff, which of course being a missionary I love talk about. I also want to include here some of the funny, Washington-esque, or interesting stories and facts! This week we got our first real rain of my mission, it wasn't too hard or too long, but I needed my coat. Also, there are thousands and thousands of ripe blackberries all along the roads, they are just the right tracting treat as we walk along. They also remind me a lot of living in Oregon. We see deer everywhere we go, some are even domesticated. They just walk around in peoples' yards. A member fed us sausage with pork, bear, and elk meat. That was a first. All of which he hunted himself. It was actually really good. And of course, it's not western Washington without unlimited trees or dogs. I wasn't a fan of dogs before I left, and my mission hasn't made that any better! I got bit this week, pretty gnarly. But it's not that bad :)

The work this week was hard. Almost every lesson we scheduled fell through, and we had low attendance at church. Not sure why because we were working hard, but some weeks are just like that I think. We had to leave the apartment with no set plans and rely on the Lord more. That's a good thing. No matter what, how hard or tiresome or slow it seems, you keep being obedient, and hold fast in diligence. The blessings may just come "next week." On a happier note, Kris will be ordained and receive the priesthood next Sunday, and the next Saturday his daughter will be baptized! Also, Terry blessed the sacrament yesterday in church and did an awesome job!! We were so happy and proud.

WA Sunset at South Bend

One more experience I had this week. On Friday morning, before personal study at 8:00 am, Elder Green was talking about Joseph Smith and how great he is. I was prompted to do my personal study on the topic of the prophet Joseph Smith for my morning study. I began, as usual with a prayer, and asked my Heavenly Father that he would let me know if Joseph Smith was truly a prophet. This knowledge I already have. But like praying about the Book of Mormon, I believe that we should continue to ask for additional confirmation that it is true. Always refresh and reawaken your spiritual testimony. It is a like fire, it needs more wood! I studied everything I could find about Joseph Smith, especially from scriptures. I pondered it in my head, thought about it, and humbly asked again, in faith. Again the thought came to mind, "Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God." I kept asking and kept thinking, and that thought became more and more clear. I also paid attention to how I felt. After I had finished my personal study, I realized how peaceful and calm I felt. This is how revelation works, sometimes it takes longer.  I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet!!

Elder Webber Walking the Streets at Sunset

Scriptures for the week are John 14:26 (importance of gift of Holy Ghost) and 2 Nephi 31:19-20  (endure to the end!!)

Love,
Elder Webber

P.S. Thank you so much for the cookies!!! And thank you grandma for your goodies package, those are so fun.
P.P.S. Dad could you send in the next letter a printed copy of my list of "Inspirational Quotes" on my word docs? It has a big list of my favorite quotes from General Authorities.

Week 5 in RAYMOND - Kris was baptized

Hello again beautiful family.

I'm so happy. Missionary work is just so much fun. Thank you so much everyone for your love and support. We got to have a short interview with President Weaver this week, those of us serving in the Elma Zone. He gave me and Elder Green so much thanks. In this past week, I've received so much thanks. From members, leaders, family, and friends. It may look like I'm doing a ton, but I'm just being a missionary. If anything looks like a miracle, it is. And it's from the Lord. None of this could have happened without Jesus Christ who strengthens me.

Elder Webber & Elder Green

You know that makes me think of the Atonement. A lot of things in the gospel are two-fold. The Fall brought sin and death, the Atonement brings immortality and eternal life. There is a lot of "two" when you look for it. The Atonement also can be thought of to bring two blessings. I learned about this from a conference talk entitled, "Clean Hands and A Pure Heart." I think from Elder Bednar (he's really great). He taught that the Atonement can both clean our hands and purify our heart. To have clean hands means to have repented of our sins. It makes me think of bigger sins, sins of "commissions" (bad things that we do). Through repentance - a broken heart and a contrite spirit - we can be clean from that! That is amazing, because when we are clean we are ready for part two:  a pure heart. The scriptures talk a lot about a pure heart. Jesus taught that the pure in heart will see God. Have a pure heart makes me think of being free from sins of "omission" (good things that we don't do). When we work righteous all day and strive to be more Christ-like, have greater faith, Hope, and charity. Overcoming both is possible only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I mention this because as a I do everything I can, as I am obedient and diligent, as I "just do it" (as Nike and my dad would teach) God helps me so much. He strengthens me to do things I could not ever do on my own. Like be doubled into an new area and baptizing two people, and bringing a family back into the gospel. Or any other miracle I've seen the last 5 weeks. Whatever your calling: missionary, bishop, apostle, ward pianist, deacons quorum secretary, or returning member, do all you can and His "grace is sufficient." He will help, uplift, strengthen, fortify, protect, encourage, and give peace. How wonderful is this gospel!! Ah I'm so happy all the time.

Baptismal Service for Kris

Like I told about last week, Kris was baptized and his family is coming back into the church. They are so cool. They participate actively at church and are so excited to go to the temple in one year, to be sealed as a family. There is no greater goal in life. That is the best of the best. We gave Kris's 15 year old son a Preach My Gospel and a challenge to read chapter 3 (the missionary lessons). He is going to help us teach his 9 year old sister. And then she can be baptized! Kris and his son will receive the priesthood in a week or two, then one of them can baptize her. Also, Terry received the Aaronic priesthood yesterday and he is doing so well!! He loves learning. We're hoping for another baptism this weekend, a Chinese lady named Mia we've been teaching. It may or may not happen. Let's pray! She's ready and knows its true. Fernando (17), Kenny (30's part member family), and Layton (70) are also on track. We hope for more baptisms before next transfer!

Kris about to be baptized by his friend

Kris, family and Missionaries

The scripture for this week is Alma 18: 34-35
Last week's scripture is Acts 2: 36-38, 41

Love,
Elder Webber

Week 4 in Raymond - another miracle!

Wonderful Family,

Sorry this e-mail is a day late, yesterday for our P-day we had a mission wide activity! It took about an hour and a half to get there (in Lakewood) but it was so fun. The WA-TAC has a special love and unity between all the missionaries. I remember my first day in the field at transfer meeting feeling like I knew so few people, only those in my MTC group. Now I have a blast with them there. I got to catch up with Elders Lonas and Ferrin and many others. President and Sister Weaver are also so wonderful. They are very much like our parents in this figurative mission life. We also had some skits, awards, and sang our mission songs (Called to Serve, Battle Hymn of the Republic, Amazing Grace).

Elder Green and I are continuing to LOVE Raymond. There is so much here to do that the Lord has been preparing for us. We are richly blessed. Terry is doing super great he reads scriptures a ton and comes and participates in church every week. Sunday was very exciting because we had Terry and 6 investigators at church!! Six! Elder Green and I teach Gospel Principles second hour and our class was huge! The ward was visibly excited and we had an amazing testimony meeting. I had the chance to bear my testimony of the Savior and express my joy and excitement. I listened to Elder Nelson's talk "Catch the Wave" from last April conference today. I am catching the wave. I encourage all of you to "catch the wave."

Terry's Baptism last week

Now for another miracle! Last Monday we had a lesson with a man named Kris. We heard about Kris as a referral from the Aberdeen Elders (the ward next to us) who saw Kris and his family at church. They live in our area but went to the wrong ward. Turns out, Kris is the father of a part member family. The wife and kids joined the church 5 years ago, but due to many trials, fell off the path and the mom relapsed with a smoking habit. They then both lost their jobs and had to live with a family they knew. They're trying right now to get back to school and get jobs and find a place to live. So far so good right? OK, it sounds bad. The good new is that family they're staying with are active members! They brought them to church last Sunday and Kris loved it! We went over Monday night to have a lesson. We taught the Restoration, with no greater conviction or effort than we have with anyone else. But Kris was ready. The Spirit bore powerful witness to him of the truthfulness of our words. He told us he felt good, warm, a feeling he had never before felt though he had been to many churches. We told him about baptism and he leaned forward and said excitedly, "What do I have to do to be baptized?!" We were in shock and bliss. His baptism is this Saturday. Last Sunday they came to our ward and his wife went up to bear her testimony and introduce herself to the ward. They are both thrilled to be a family in the gospel. Kris plans on baptizing his 9 year old daughter as soon as he gets the priesthood. They look forward to being sealed as a family in one year and their 15 year old son plans on serving a mission.

Do you see the miracle? I hope you feel excited about this, because I am!! Here's a family about to partake of the greatest joy life can offer: a family centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love our Savior and His work.

Lastly, thank you so much Las Flores Ward, Westcott family, Kayla, Maddy, Megan M, Amy (surprisingly I got that one post card, thanks to the post office's great cryptography department), and especially grandma for your letters, love and support!! And most of all, family!

Love you all,
Elder Webber

P.S. Dad: Elder Green has a calculator watch and with a laugh it always reminds me of you.

Udd Road - somewhere in south west Washington

Week 3 in RAYMOND! - Another Book of Mormon Conversion Story

Family!

I just love all of you so much. I hope that you can feel that through this e-mail today. You have no idea how much your love, support, and prayers lift and carry me day to day. Reading your quick updates and awesome experiences bring me so much happiness. I look forward to it every week, but I also try to keep focused on the work.

The most exciting thing this week was Terry's baptism. I'll get you a picture next week (sorry!) This was the first baptism in Raymond in 8 months! The Bishop, Ward Mission Leader, and members were all excited. We met Terry the second day in Raymond. We went to donate food to the food bank that the members bring to church. Being new, we came an hour too late and the food bank had closed. But outside were an elderly lady and her disabled son with a broken down truck. Helping them was Terry. We got out to see what we could do and together fixed their truck. They drove off, but we still stayed and talked to Terry. We told him about the Book of Mormon and he sounded interested. Terry is very humble and teachable and found the gospel to make sense right away! He read through the whole Book of Mormon in about 3 days! At a church tour we set a date for baptism and he gave up chewing tobacco and progressed right along. We love teaching Terry because we actually learn from him while we are there!

The other amazing part of this week was getting your e-mail, Claire and your letter, Matthew. Hearing about your experiences and testimonies grow gave me so much joy and happiness. I have such profound love for each of you guys: Mom, Dad, Allyson, Matthew, Charlotte, and Claire. I have been blessed with a deeper love for others. The strongest is for you guys. The second thing we teach as missionaries is that the gospel blesses families. This is so so so so true. I think back to the night I was set apart as a missionary. That night stands out as the most singular powerful experience of my life. The Spirit was ever-present to everyone in that room. I felt in a very real sense that we are sealed as a family. How amazing is that!! This love is so precious, so real, and so important. I feel love for many others too. For my companion Elder Green, we get along so well and have so much fun. Working together every day, side by side, supporting and serving each other, he is my best friend here. I feel love for those we teach. I really enjoy talking to Terry and I desire the best for him and everyone else I meet.

These blessings of love alone merit the need for the gospel in everyone's life :)

Moroni 7:48

Lots and lots of love,
Elder Webber

P.S. Mom I also got your Dear Elder letter today :) that was fun

----------

Mom,

Elder Green and I laughed so hard to see our families together!! I probably should have guessed it coming. It made both of us really happy. We talk about you two moms a lot and realized how similar you two are as missionary moms :) I loved hearing the update in Utah and the fun stuff we do there. And dad's African garb ha ha

I also like seeing Matthew and Charlotte's EFY bands, ha ha!

Note: While on vacation to Utah, we were able to connect and visit with Elder Green's family in Ogden, Utah.  We had a great visit and they are a wonderful family.  It was a unique opportunity to be with them and to talk about our sons while they are actually serving together.  We sent these pictures to Elder Webber and Elder Green.

Elder Green and Elder Webber's Moms meet

 

Family picture

Annual Brockbank Education fundraiser

 Brockbank Education Fund web site

(Elder Webber's Grandma Kay started it in 2001 after her mission)

-- Back to Tommy's letter to his Mom.

The members did have their baby! Sunday morning. Its their 6th child, a girl. We gave Brother and Sister Angelovich (our landlord) a priesthood blessing on Saturday after our baptism. Oh, by the way we had a baptism!! I'll tell you more soon. We made their family a chocolate cake :)

Love, Elder Webber

Week 2 in Raymond!

Hello family,

What another great week here in beautiful Raymond! The weather got a little colder, but there's been little rain, for now. I hear that Forks and Raymond are the two rainiest places in WA. Some fun experiences this week included milking my first cow, getting lost while knocking on remote doors in rain forests, climbing a lighthouse on P-day, and painting a building on Saturday for service in the community!

Lighthouse

Elder Green is so great, he's my favorite companion so far, which isn't very far yet. I find it really fun, yet not surprising at all that his mom and our mom already know each other. I'm sure you are close in touch! Elder Green is very similar to me, we both started to really have a testimony about the start of high school and have never really gone off the path. He has a great testimony and gospel knowledge and we teach well together. Most importantly we share the same commitment to obedience and hard work. Together we have seen many miracles.

Elder Green

Like I said last week, Raymond has had a slow last few months, actually year. They've had three or four baptisms in the past year and their last one was 8 months ago. We now have a baptism scheduled for this Saturday. On Tuesday Elder Green and I stopped by the church to look at the baptismal font. To our surprise and amusement there were four spiders in it and sections of cobwebs. Oh the irony. We cleaned it up and got it ready. When you work hard, simply work hard, the miracles just flow. The Lord's plan is so marvelous and being a small part of it is the best thing ever. I really, really love missionary work. I love it more and more. As a missionary I always feel like I am doing the right thing. I am clean and worthy and active and strong. Elder Green and I were laughing because we both felt pretty converted to the gospel when we left on our missions. But compared to now, we have grown so much and have developed much deeper dedication to the gospel and the church. I hope that continues.

On top of the baptism we have another baptism scheduled for August 11th (hopefully) and several others who are really progressing. One man, named Layton, has come a long way. He had a hard upbringing with his family, but we had an amazing lesson with him on Saturday night and he said that "a light turned on." he is beginning to let things of the past go and he sees that it is through the Atonement of Christ, which only has full effect in His church, through His baptism.

One thing I have come to understand more is the doctrine of baptism. Many members of this church are hesitant to "push" people towards baptism. D&C 20:37 states that "By way of commandment unto the church" there are qualifications for baptism. We as members are commanded to let all who are qualified into the waters of baptism. Further, and more powerfully, look at what Christ did. Immediately after He appeared to the Nephites in America, he told them who He is, then taught His gospel! In a matter of a few verses He teaches them, giving them a commandment, to be baptized. Baptism opens the door to the fullness of the Atonement. Without it, one cannot receive a "remission of sins." I remember the words of my MTC teacher who also served in the WATAC, to remember to be "baptism focused and Atonement centered." And what joy it brings to see people baptized when they are ready.

Scripture for the week: 3 Nephi 11: 10-27  especially v. 21 and 23

Much love,
Elder Webber

P.S. have fun in Utah!! Say hi to all the family :)

Elder Tommy Webber meets a cow up close 

Week 1 in Raymond!

Hi family!

Here I am in a new area! And I love Raymond, it is a very, very different area, but a great place nonetheless. My companion is Elder Green and he is awesome! One of the fun parts of this week has been being "doubled in!" Meaning neither Elder Green nor I have ever served in this area. We get along very well and have very similar personalities and desires to work hard and be obedient.

When transfer calls came I knew absolutely nothing about Raymond other than it is in Washington and the southern part of our mission. Mom, you know things about the town that I haven't even heard yet, haha. But I came to learn quickly, first from other missionaries, then from the members, that Raymond has seen little progress in the past year. I didn't know any of the missionaries that served here before us. Many of them think they are being exiled to the outskirts of the mission and feel discouraged. But not us!!

Downtown Raymond

Elder Green has been out for two transfers and I have been out for one. I think that is really funny. Perhaps Raymond needs the bold faith of two young, inexperienced missionaries to spark it up and refresh the work. We've worked really hard this week and, as our ward mission leader put it, "done more work in one week than most." It is sort of fun to try and see, as weak and human as we are, the Lord's great plan. I've thought about why I would start my mission in one of the most productive, active, and busy parts of the mission and then get doubled into this new area. Things will change.

So there we were, in our car, driving through the endless trees of Washington to a place we've never been nor seen before, with nothing more than an address. We reach our place we are to live in, a spare floor above the garage of a member's home. On the table is a paper with some information and 4 potential investigators. By week's end we have had 6 lessons with members present, and 12 other lessons, 6 new investigators, 8 Books of Mormon handed out, and about 4 investigators that we think can be baptized this transfer!! I say all that not to brag, because it certainly was not my own success. But I say this to glory in the Lord, who greatly blessed us. We worked hard, with great diligence, and a commitment to be as obedient as possible. The members are beginning to see, and the great harvest is starting to unfold.

Raymond is a interesting place. It is a very small town, the whole area has less than 8,000 people. Almost everyone here is older. I've never seen so many older people in my life. I've also never seen so much lumber in my life ever. There's a big lumber factory in Aberdeen and every day trucks stacked with huge tree logs drive up there. The member's we live with give us free jars of raw cow's milk. Haha at first I was very apprehensive because they said it's not technically for human consumption but it tastes SO good!!

Local Lumber Yard

We have been teaching some great people. One woman is Chinese and speaks very little English. We got Chinese Books of Mormon for her and I would find the verses I wanted her to read in her Chinese Book of Mormon (because I could find which book is which using the number of chapters in it :) ) and then she would read out loud in Chinese and you could see a better understanding as she tried to explain in English. She wants the best for her son and she realizes that this church, this gospel can do that! She felt the spirit very strong during our lessons.

Another girl (18 years old) we know is a recent convert of two months, who just moved here with her grandparents. She had a very hard upbringing but has a bright, burning testimony and loves the church. Her sister is not a member, but she was asking questions. We had a surprise lesson with her sister Saturday. But because their grandparents really don't like the church, we met outside on this open ground. We taught the restoration and her heart was soft, she is very sensitive to the Spirit. She committed to baptism because she felt for herself that what we said is true. She told her sister, "I feel different; I feel warm" and gave her a big hug. I actually teared up a little bit. Unfortunately their grandparents didn't like that her sister was considering joining the true church and did not let them come to church. We need to pray that their grandparents' heart will be softened.

My scripture for the week is 2 Nephi 4:20-21 because Nephi is awesome and because I feel as he did: greatly blessed and needing to continually repent.

With love,
Elder Webber

2 Nephi 4:20-21
20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21 He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

P.S. Mom, could you send me a few things? :)   I've been wanting to study faith more, and at home in my bookshelf I have Joseph Smith's Lectures on Faith that I'd like to have. Also could you send a good dictionary (it helps with personal study to deepen understanding) one with those cool archaic definitions. And could you send me some music? I'd like two CD's. They are both playlists on my old iPhone and on my old iTunes. One is called "MOTAB" and the other is called "BYU/EFY". It'd be great if you could just burn those playlists onto CD's and send them! And last, my rain jacket because the weather is great but it will soon end, so I'd rather be prepared. You can send to my new address. Love you!!