Soundview: Six Days of Sun, Short Sleeves, and Salvation for Maike!

Dearest Family,

Happy Almost Easter!! First off, if you haven't seen it yet, watch this video about the Easter message: easter.mormon.org The video is called "Because of Him." We may marvel at the many inventions and miracles of our day, but there is no marvel or miracle so great as the first human to live again after death, with an immortal, glorified body. That human was Jesus Christ. And because of Him, all of us will also live again. And as Elder Christofferson so powerfully spoke, that means that Jesus truly was the Divine Son of the Eternal Father and all other points of His Doctrine are true.

Second, thank you Las Flores Activity Days girls (Jocelyn, Bailey, Brinley, Sister Sampson and Sister Rodriguez) for your letter! That was so kind of you and fun for me to read! And thanks for other letters that I hope to get back to soon! (Amy, grandma, & Megan Mittleman)

And CONGRATS to Sister Baker, and (2) Sister Mittleman's!! I'm so happy you have your mission calls and I am excited to hear about each of your experiences, they will forever bless you

We had a pretty amazing week, ending in a baptism and another fireside! Not to mention 6 days (and counting) of sunshine in a row. I think on Sunday it even got up to 70 degrees. And people say it rains in Washington... And that also means it's time to pull out those short sleeve white shirts! Now I will look like a missionary again :)

Zone P-Day Frisbee activity - It's sunny

Sunny, green and lots of water in the Puget Sound in Soundview

We had a Zone Meeting Thursday, and had a training from two sisters on the "Daffodil principle" which is from a story from SisterWeaver. In short, it's about this woman who lived by Mount Rainier who for 50 years planted daffodils one by one until she had planted acres and acres of bright yellow daffodils. Really it's the story of diligence. And yes, dad, I did the math and found that she had actually only planted 2-3 daffodil bulbs per day. And what do you know, that is our mission average for the number of baptisms! So if we are as diligent as this woman in the story, the wonderful WA-TAC will have tens of thousands of new members of God's Church after these dedicated decades.

Maike's Baptismal Service

Most important of the week, and one of those baptisms is our dear friend Maike!! What a great young man this Maike is. Elder Anderson and I would keep saying to each other, "Isn't there usually some more obstacles to have a baptism?" But not for this guy, Maike was as prepared as it comes. My favorite thing about him is his deep desire to do good. That's all he really wants to do. And the best "good" thing he could do was to make a covenant with God "to do good continually" for the rest of his life (Mosiah 5:2). I testify that by him making this covenant and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost the following day, Maike has entered a promise of eternal life, if he is faithful unto the end. He has entered into "the gate by which ye should enter," the "strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life... And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God" (2 Nephi 31:17,18,21). What a marvelous work this is! I am so grateful to be a participant, and to be worthy of God's blessings. Because not only does this bless Maike, but me, and you, and all his family and people he will baptize on his mission! (ha ha I really hope he goes in a few years. He's 16 now).

He asked me to be the one to baptize him, and that was a special privilege. Like I've said before, he doesn't speak any English, and all the lessons have been translated for him by either his cousin or his uncle, both members of the ward. So his baptismal service was one I won't forget. Conducting the service was our assistant Ward Mission Leader, Brother Bateman, who also speaks Spanish. He would say something, then explain it to Maike in Spanish. The welcome to the ward was translated by his uncle, the talk on the Holy Ghost translated by his cousin, and the talk on baptism was translated by a sister missionary serving in our zone, Sister Lechuga. And when we got into the baptismal font, I said the baptism prayer first in English, then in Spanish, then baptized him. I don't think I'll ever be able to do that again, it was memorable. "...Yo te bautiso en el nombre del Padre..."

When we were changing back, I wanted to talk to him but obviously couldn't say much. All I got out was "How do you feel? Como estas?" and he responded with a huge smile and said something I don't understand, but I caught the word "feliz" 

Then in priests' quorum Sunday, the priests started learning Spanish so they can talk to him :)

Visiting Priest at Musical fireside, Tommy 2nd row back on right

Lastly, we had the Lakewood fireside, where I got to see the Steilacoom Bishop, the Gehrings, the Brothersons, Brother Bishop, and a few from the Soundview ward came too. It was a powerful, great fireside. ElderSchaffner and Elder Green were there :) Elder Green and I will be in the same group this Thursday for the temple!

Quick Taco Bell between session of General Conference

Super excited for the Seattle temple this week!!! Life is so great.

Elders Anderson, Smith, & Webber at the Office

Love from the Beautiful WA-TAC,

Elder Webber

Scriptures: Job 19:25-26; Luke 24:36-40; Alma11:42-45

Soundview: A Great General Conference Weekend!

Dear Family,

What a great weekend it was with general conference. Now we just have to wait to have the talks printed so we can study them more :)

We met a great new family last night, Tom and Rachel. They both have some Christian background, but are looking for a church to go and feel welcome. They both have felt and recognize the Spirit and our need for it every day. They were open to the message of the Restoration and should be at church this Sunday. They accepted the invitation to be baptized if they know this is true, and committed to read the Book of Mormon. They want a church for their two young boys to grow up in. We're excited about them. We found them knocking doors :)

We taught Maiki this week, and he is very ready for his baptism this weekend! We are super excited for it. We taught him most of the commandments. He told us that there are two major things he loves about this Church: (1) that it teaches us that we should do good, and (2) that it teaches us what good things we should do. And when it comes down to it, that is the purpose of our lives here.

We've been sort of struggling with our other investigators, we weren't able to get any others to watch general conference; and one family has been really struggling. It is a trend that when a prepared individual begins to make steps closer to God, the adversary will make extra notice. It's very annoying, really.

Tommy and Companion at Mission Leadership Council

Entire group at Mission Leadership Council

We do have a rather ambitious Zone goal of 27 baptisms in the Tacoma West Zone in April. It came from the sum of the ward baptism goals for the 5 wards in the Zone, which has 18 missionaries. We are praying for it all the time, and praying not necessarily that we will have just that many, but that it will make us stretch and expand our vision and increase faith in what we can accomplish when we rely on the Lord.

Some of my "take-aways" from general conference:
-We can be grateful in any season for what we have, even in trials or persecutions
-We should focus on worthiness and purity as we strive to have and keep safe our families
-The world will not glide calmly to the Second Coming of the Savior - we live in perilous times
-The Apostles and Prophets are a source of truth - they teach the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, independent of worldly influences.
-God will not leave us comfortless, He will come to us as we come to Him
-As we do temple work, we are saviors for our ancestors; as we live righteously and set good examples, we are saviors for our posterity.
-NEVER give up on others! Anyone can return to the path of gospel living!
-We should share testimony with our family
-Have daily family prayer and scripture study. I am so sure that if we make an effort to do these little things every day, over time it will have a more lasting effect on our testimony and ultimately our salvation and exaltation that most other things we could do. (Probably only exception are the saving ordinances. We should also do those!!!!!)
-We should be obedient because we love the Savior
-Priesthood power is available to bless all of us.
-We can escape any addiction or sin with the help of Jesus Christ
-Have COURAGE, real courage.
-We should follow-up in missionary work! Keep trying
-Members have a responsibility to read and study Preach My Gospel and invite, at least every 3 months, a friend to meet with the full-time missionaries
-We should not pray to have our burdens lifted, but that God will give us strength to bear them and press forward cheerfully
-Show simple loving kindness to others. The impact of such is more than we think, it extends into the eternities.
-We should recognize others' needs, and then go and help and love them
-The Resurrection of Jesus is a critical principle in the Doctrine of Christ. If that event really did happen, then Jesus was Divine, His teachings are Truth, and every principle of the Gospel is validated, and we have living Apostles and Prophets who are special witnesses of the Resurrection of Christ.

Most of all, I gained a stronger testimony that God lives, He knows us, loves us, and answers our prayers. I had very specific, very personal and private prayers that certain questions and concerns would be addressed this conference. And I testify that God answers prayers and speaks to us through His chosen servants, His prophets. For this reason, my favorite talk was the one from President Packer. It was as if he was speaking directly to me, and it answered my prayer in the right timing and in the right way. I know that for those who take part in the gospel ordinances and make sacred covenants with our Father in Heaven, that no blessing will be withheld. In this life we might be unsure of what may come, but for those who embrace the gospel, all blessings will come. It will all be right in the end.

This Sunday is the Lakewood musical fireside!!! I am excited to go back and see members, converts, and investigators hopefully :) It's April 13th at 7:00 pm.
And the following week is the mission temple trips!!!! AHHH!!! So excited.

Tommy at the Port Angeles Missionary Musical Fireside - He is the conductor

Entire Missionary Choir at Port Angeles Musical Fireside

Some more updates on past areas: I heard at our meeting Friday that Saira and Thomas from Steilacoom are to be baptized on the 19th!!!! And there was an unbaptized boy from a family in Bremerton who we were always trying to see, Lucas, and he was just baptized this weekend. Also baptized was a woman named Maria that now lives in Lakewood, but Elder Schaffner and I knocked her door the first night Elder Schaffner was in the mission! They were a part member family, but now they're a full member family. :) yay missionary work!!

Love,
Elder Webber

Scriptures: (sorry I've been slakcing) 1 Timothy 1:12 - I am grateful to be counted one worthy to represent the Lord
D&C 9:8-9 - we can ask God what is right and he will cause us to feel what is right, lead us to truth.
D&C 1:39 - the words we heard this weekend are the words of Christ! They are the same.

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)

Elder Webber and Elder Smith at the mission office

Elders from Tacoma zone go on a morning jog over Narrows Bridge

Tommy with missionary tag on a sunrise run

More Tacoma Narrows Bridge run at sunrise

Love from the beautiful WA-TAC,
Elder Webber

Soundview Starts

Dear Family,

Again, sorry about the short letter from last week! It was a crazy couple of days saying goodbye in Steilacoom and getting ready for the transfer here to Soundview.

Saying good-bye to one more family last week in Steilacoom

I must have done something right, because Heavenly Father has blessed me again with a great area. The Soundview ward is outstanding. We had 13 lessons with members present this week (that is very good). We would set up lessons here and there, then just call our ward mission leader, with the name and place, and he would get us a member there. And almost every time it was a different member. True, not all of these lessons went through, but when they didn't, we would bring that member with us to visit other potential investigators, and more missionary opportunities would open. Also funny, whenever we would try and get a member to come with us, if they ever said no, it was for reasons like, "Sorry I have a home teaching appointment," or "oh, well I'm actually on my way to the temple," or "Well I'm teaching an institute class right now, but if you really need me I could get a sub here!" or even, "Sorry I missed your call, elders, I was just doing some family history work so that I could seal my parents in the temple" 

I think I'm in Zion.

Also, we have members feeding us or the sisters every day of the week, and more members dropping off food at our apartment. The Soundview ward does also have its own set of sisters, Sister Baird and Sister Clayson. This is their 3rd transfer together. They are doing great here.  Our ward council is amazing and got 4 recent converts (all baptized this year) to go to the temple for baptisms on Friday. And they all received callings in the ward this Sunday.

Elder Webber next to his new Companion Elder Anderson

I'm serving with one of the most experienced missionary companions, and he is a machine when it comes to working hard. Except for the first few weeks of my mission, I don't think I've ever worked so hard. From 10:00 AM when we leave the apartment to 9:25 PM when we get home, it is go, go, go. I love it!! He is helping me to be more obedient too, and the blessings are apparent. He keeps me moving and thinking and planning every minute of the day. And we have a car. Elder Anderson taught me that as Zone Leaders, we are simply to do and say exactly what President Weaver would do and say, like the Nephite Apostles were for Christ (3 Nephi 19:8).

The area we live in is perfect. It includes part of University Place, on the water of the Puget Sound, and some very well-off and great members of the ward. It also has a middle class portion called Fir Crest, and parts of Tacoma, which is definitely lower class, and that makes the work very dynamic and the ward well-balanced. We live in this house that used to belong to a member family who built a new home above ours, and they sold the house to the mission. So we live with the two Assistants to the President, and the two Office Elders. It has 3 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms, a large kitchen, fully stocked, and a few study rooms, and a living room. And big windows that open to a view of the Puget Sound. I get to study every morning with that as my view.

Puget Sound view out the window

Living room

Missionary Kitchen, 2 boxes of Lucky Charms, Top Ramen, Licorice

How did I get so blessed?

We sent out texts to 100+ people to invite them to church this week, about 15 of the invites were when we were with people, but we decided to try and contact all of the people on our phone we did not know. Of all of them, 10 committed to come to church, and one showed up. That was sort of disappointing, but we keep going. It has been an ongoing struggle on my mission to get people to come to church and to keep coming to church. The one who came to church we met this week, his name is Maike (Spanish for Mikey pretty much) and he moved here from Panama to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, who are all members. They invited us over to teach him! He already had come to church once and had been reading the Book of Mormon. He is 16 years old. He believes it is true and accepted the invitation to be baptized! His chosen date is on April 12th, we are teaching him the 3rd lesson tonight and he is so ready. He doesn't speak a lot of English, but their family wanted us to teach him instead of the Spanish missionaries. (Not sure why...) but his cousin is a return missionary from Texas and spoke Spanish there. His whole family speaks Spanish. So they helped translate our teaching to him in Spanish, but it works pretty well and the Spirit was there.

I love my mission more than I can say. All is well, All is well.

Love Elder Webber

Final Week in Steilacoom! Transfer, pics, Zone Leader assignment

Dear Family,

I don't have much time today and way too much to say.

I got my transfer call to go to the Soundview Ward in University Place, which is right next to Tacoma. Very close to Steilacoom, and very similar in the kind of area, the ward, being on the Puget Sound, having sisters in the ward. My new companion is Elder Anderson, who is a great missionary with lots of experience. I'm grateful I'll get to serve with him! But of course sad to leave Steilacoom.

Quick updates: Chris came to church after a great lesson Saturday with our Bishop there, he is getting his life back and loves everything he's seen in the church. We had a great lesson with Rebecca Wednesday and taught the Plan of Salvation, she is really feeling the truth. On Saturday I bore my testimony to her about the gospel and about families and told her about the night I was set apart and admitted I cried. I feel she is very close.

Sorry this week is so short

Love Elder Webber!

Saying goodbye to a convert family who had missionaries over a lot

Saying good bye to the Bishop, an investigator and newest convert

Saying goodbye to his District

Elder Webber and Elder Schaffner's last day after 13 weeks

What Tacoma-ites call a "beach"

Mt. Rainier view from Steilacoom

Preparation-Day, this time bowling with the whole zone of missionaries

Elder Webber's transfer to Soundview ward, Tacoma stake -maybe 2 miles?

Steilacoom: Another baptism, Cesar's missionary efforts, and a great Elma Fireside

Dear Family,

We had a fun week with lots of rain, a weirdly sunny day, and daylight savings! That means that there will be no more knocking doors in the dark! (until September comes again) It's funny, I remember when it started getting darker in the winter, I was complaining about it and wondering if I would ever see the sun again, but now it is weird knocking in the daylight, it's like everyone can see us... But I am grateful for the sun. I probably shouldn't say this, but the best kept secret in Washington is that it really doesn't rain that much. We'll have days of sunshine in between. And it doesn't rain hard, but it can rain for a long period of time.

In our mission we have weekly scriptures we memorize and weekly goals for key indicators. This week was "Books of Mormon placed", and this coming week is "lessons with members present." We have an ongoing mission goal of 500 "lessons with" in a week. And our mission goal for baptisms for the month of March is 100.

Baptismal Service with Sisters

Speaking of, we had another baptism this week in the Steilacoom ward, a man the sisters found named Tom. They were knocking doors one night and saw Tom out on his porch, smoking. He had quit smoking for 27 years and had just fallen back in the habit in the last month. Because he was outside, the sisters talked to him. God works in mysterious ways?? But he was looking for a church and upon reading the Book of Mormon, gained a testimony of its truth and was soon baptized. Elder Schaffner got to confirm him a member yesterday at church. The week before, we got to participate in one of his lessons, on the Word of Wisdom. After the lesson he asked us elders for a blessing to help him give up the smoking again. We provided the blessing, and he told us he hasn't had the urge since. How great to have the priesthood power in our lives.

Cesar, our other outstanding recent convert has been with us twice this week, and yesterday blessed the sacrament. On Wednesday we spent from 8:00 a.m. personal study (we did at the church) until 8:30 p.m. our last lesson of the day. And all day on his bike! (Remember though he is not afraid to ride bikes. He is super fit and was actually riding circles around us all day ha, ha). It rained all day and most of our lessons and visits fell through. On Saturday he met us at the church and we talked about how to administer the sacrament. He then asked if he could spend the rest of that day with us. Saturday was the rainiest day of the week. By 7:30 we were drenched. We had an appointment with Tiffany and Haopeng, who we hadn't seen in two weeks. They were home and we were able to teach and help them back to where they were when we left off. The best part of the lesson was when Haopeng came into the room, very interested in Cesar's conversion. He asked him what it was like to be baptized, how he felt before and after, and what his family thought. Cesar has difficulty opening up about his past and some personal thoughts, but he described an amazing conversion process that began years before we knocked on his door. He powerfully testified of the gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ and confirmed our words as missionaries. Cesar needs to go on a mission. He is an amazing example. Tiffany came to church yesterday!

We also had (finally!) Rebecca at church Sunday, with her 7 year old daughter. Elder Schaffner spoke, and they had a great experience. The Steilacoom ward did a great job greeting her, having someone sit with her, answering questions, and being friendly. That can make all the difference. Miracles happen during the 10 minutes before and after sacrament meeting.

Tommy reunites with Elder Green and members from Raymond

Also yesterday was the Elma (not Elmo, dad) fireside. I was so excited to go, hoping to see someone from Raymond there. We had our practice run at 4:00, then went into classrooms to wait until it started. Being one of the choristers, I sat not on the stand, but in the second row of the pews. On the third row was the whole Angelovich family, who housed me and fed me and cared for me for almost 5 months of my mission. Elder Green was in the choir and we were all happy. I was surprised how I remembered all 6 of the children's names. I love that family. The fireside was amazing, very spiritual and I even was asked by Sister Weaver to bear my testimony on the Savior Jesus Christ. In the audience was another family from Raymond, the Hamiltons, and 3 converts who were baptized after I left Raymond. Machel, her son AJ, and Machel's friend Kelsi were all at the fireside. Now my joy was overfilling. These three people were brought to us while I was serving in Raymond, and I did not know they would later join the Church of Jesus Christ, and meet me 5 months later to thank me. I cannot adequately put into words how happy I was. The joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not only the deepest, most pure joy we can experience, it is also renewed and refreshed and multiplied over time and through the eternities. Pleasure and worldly joy are a moment and fleeting, but the joy in Christ lasts forever and gets better.

Local creek running toward the Puget Sound

I love being a missionary, I love the Wa-Tac, I love the people I serve, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ more than I can say. I know for myself that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the whole world. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and the only source for happiness in this life and Eternal Life in the world to come. Without Him I am nothing and with Him, I can become like our Heavenly Father and live with Them and with you, my family, forever. His invitation is to "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).

All my love to my Webber family.
Elder Webber

Scripture is: 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 ("Ye (converts and family) are [my] glory and joy").

Steilacoom: Zone Conference and Cesar gets the Priesthood

Dear Family,

I am so so happy to hear how things are going at home, that the Spirit is at home. "Only the home can compare [to the temple] in sacredness." I know that as you gather together and read from the scriptures and pray every day (or as best you can!) you will forever be blessed and have your testimonies strengthened and conversion deeper and our family will be together forever, as promised by our Heavenly Father. Thank you so much Mom and Dad for your righteous example which has helped all 5 of us kids. I wouldn't be here in Steilacoom, Washington without it.

This week was fast, it is weird being out this long, because time seems to be accelerating and I don't like it! I love my mission so much. There are so many experiences that I can only begin to share. I'm grateful for my journal for sure!

Last night we four missionaries (elders and sisters) were invited to the "Bishop's Youth Discussion" which is the Bishop's Fireside. The topic was missionary work and all 4 of us (as well as Brother Yukon, the missionary who just came home a few weeks ago) shared 1-2 stories from our missions. I thought about it all that day and was amazed at how many stories and miracles I have had so far! How can the Lord be so gracious? He loves us!

Also at church, Cesar received the Aaronic Priesthood! He is amazing. So very excited to serve. He met with the sisters on Saturday who were going to share a Book of Mormon story, the "Iron Rod" which was part of his confirmation blessing. The night before, Cesar had a dream. He told us he dreamed he was in a large field and in the middle there was a large tree, with fruit on it. He said when he tried the fruit it was indescribably good, and all he could feel was that he wanted other people to try it. He said it might have been like an orange. When the sisters told him about 1 Nephi 8 he was amazed and so were we! What a miraculous couple weeks this guy has had. After Elder's Quorum he came up and asked if he could go with us this week to see what missionary work is like. He's probably going to go with us tomorrow, like all day!

The sisters have another baptism this Saturday! An older man named Tom. He is giving up smoking and very excited about the Book of Mormon and the church.

Steilacoom Sunset

Unfortunately, Rebecca didn't come to church, even though she had made a solid commitment. We had a good church tour with her this week, where she said she was really thinking about joining the church. We'll hope she keeps progressing. We couldn't make contact with Haopeng or Tiffany this week. Still working on them too. I wonder what the Lord's plan is.

Elder Singleton and Elder Webber

I have also had a lot of personal growth this week. At Zone Conference Thursday President Weaver did a training on the Book of Mormon and another on prayer. Two things I had been wanting to improve. Two things that are very important for all of us! I was impressed several times about the heart. That I need to open my heart in more sincere prayer and open my heart through the Book of Mormon. Open my heart to really love the people here and love the work. Love my companion, my ward, and my family. The Holy Ghost works through our feelings in our heart. The Lord looks and cares about our heart, and will judge us for our desires therein. I am trying to do that more. One thing I am trying now is writing a prayer journal where I write my prayer in ink and answers to prayers/impressions in pencil, so I can better recognize the Lord's voice. I know He is with us always.

Elder Schaffner and Elder Webber

Love Elder Webber

Scriptures: John 10:16 (read this morning) and Alma 9:9-11 (we should remember the blessings the Lord has given us throughout our life, and remember His matchless power and mercy)