Silverdale: The Firesides are back, Cool people, and a Chili Cook-off!

Dear Family,

This week was crazy, a lot happened, and it was all really good. Transfers were on Tuesday and my new companion is Elder Sharp. He's from Lehi, Utah and has been out just longer than I have. He is a very talented missionary, really good with people, and an incredible teacher. He can relate to just about anyone. We've been getting along pretty well, and we had a busy week, so we're excited about this transfer. 

 

Elder Tommy Webber and new Companion Elder Sharp

Elder Sharp prepares Quinoa for Tommy for Breakfast

Also, it was so fun to hear about all the stuff you guys are doing. I love the fall and the school activities. I think the "Donuts and Disney" club you're doing, Claire, is awesome! I love hearing about it all, because it makes me feel close to you and makes my day and week happier.

Like I said, the work boomed this week. We met a lot of really cool people I want to tell you about. Not to mention those we are currently teaching, since we had a lesson with each one of them. A few nights ago, when we were tracting, it had just started to get dark (which happens at about 6:45 p.m. now) and we went up to this old house right on the water. We saw through the window and elderly man sitting and eating dinner alone in his kitchen. He got up to the door to greet us and let us in. He welcomed us to sit down and offered to share his dinner, which consisted of dry meat loaf, rice, and beets ha, ha. We politely declined, and he started talking telling us he is an "Irish American. A Catholic. And a Democrat," and he didn't want to know anything about Mormons! but we kept talking and learned he was born in 1920 and had been a widower for the last 20 years, in this house. At the end he gave us some rock hard cookies to go, which he made himself, and we prayed with him. Well, he prayed, reciting the Lord's prayer. It was a cool experience. Not sure if he'll ever accept a Book of Mormon, but he really appreciated the company.

 

The neighborhood we were tracting (knocking doors)

Yesterday during tracting we were having a rough go. We knocked early, because we had the fireside to get to that night. After about a hundred "not interested" replies, we came to our last door (it is funny how it's always the last door, in fact, I write down what time of day that we find people who are interested, and it is so often either 6:59 or 5:01 - the very beginning or the very end). We met a man named Mark. He lives right next door to our High Priests Group Leader's home. He let us in and we got to meet him. He's an assistant principle at a local middle school, and is very knowledgeable about the Bible. In fact, he learned Greek and Hebrew and spends about an hour a day translating the Bible for his own study. Most people we meet like this are sometimes rude to Mormon missionaries, but this man was really nice! He had just finished doing a study on the Book of Mormon and had sincere questions for us. Pretty tough questions, but we set up another time to discuss. He is a very friendly guy.

 

Last day with Elder Mossbrucker

The rest of our investigators are doing well. Brother Green is back in action as the best Ward Mission Leader ever and we had lots of lessons this week. The best part was our ward activity Friday night. It was a Chili and corn bread and cobbler potluck. All the kids dressed up like Halloween and had a costume parade. We had been working all week to invite everyone there. We were so happy when we got there and we saw June, and her friend Karine and Felicia, and all of their kids! And Ginger and her whole family made it, and the Butterfields (another family we are working with). Plus a few other less active members, and an entire non member family that one of the ward members had invited, and we got to meet them! During the night, the ward did a great job talking to our investigators and getting to know them. Sister Stoddard even offered to drive Felicia to church. Later, she told us that Felicia had joined the ward's facebook page and told everyone that she was a "new member"!!! We talked to her about the discussions and how to actually become a new member of the church! What a miracle. Unfortunately, none of these people were able to make it to church Sunday, for various reasons. So that's the only let down this week. 

 

Musical Fireside - Tommy w/ President Blatter

Sunday night was the Bremerton/ Silverdale/ Gig Harbor fireside. We had a little practice before, and it was sort of stressful because the APs put me in charge of the practice. Everyone was all excited and chatty, but we were able to pull it together, no doubt with the help of the Spirit ha, ha. The fireside had 5 recent convert testimonies, each of which were powerful and spiritual. One of them, from a YSA ward announced that he was putting in his mission papers this week! And the music came along great. It's fun to sing our mission classics: "Called to Serve," "We'll Bringthe World His Truth," and of course, "Amazing Grace."

Elder Tommy Webber reunites with Elder Zastrow at fireside

Elder Tommy Webber w/ current comp Elder Sharp

After the fireside, I was talking to Elder Zastrow who told me that one of our converts was there at the fireside! Chris Bone, who was baptized in Bremerton, June of last year! I didn't get to see him, but it was so cool to hear that he is still active at church! 

Tommy conducted at the Fireside

And here is some more amazing news: 

I heard from the elders in Steilacoom, and guess who was baptized? Rebecca!! Remember her? She's the one that Elder Hansen and I found knocking in November of last year, then Elder Schaffner and I started teaching. Elder Schaffner and I sent her a letter to say congratulations. 

Also, I heard from Raymond, and remember Machel and AJ who were baptized after I left? And then her friend Kelsi, who was baptized after that? Well turns out Kelsi's 3 kids were baptized just a few weeks ago!!! 

Last one: remember Ronnie from Soundview? The guy who never could come to church then came my last Sunday there? Turns out he kept coming, and was also baptized a few weeks ago. Each of these is a miracle and shows that the work is moving forward. I love each of my areas!

Tommy gets reflective at edge of Puget Sound 

Entrance to a local church, everyone follows Jesus, especially Tommy

I love you all so much! Keep being awesome,

Love Elder Webber

Scriptures: I've been studying Preach My Gospel (PMG) lesson 2: The Plan of Salvation, so here's some good ones from the lesson: 

Genesis 1:26-27 (we are made in the image of God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ)

Alma 42:4 (this life is a "probationary" state. Our purpose is to repent and prepare to live with God)

Alma 34:32-34 (remember not to procrastinate that repentance)

Alma 11:42-43 (the resurrection of the body promised to all because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ).

Silverdale: Staying, but Elder Mosbrucker leaving

Dear Family,

Transfer calls came (again!). They come faster and faster, it seems. And unfortunately Elder Mosbrucker will be leaving the area, but he is going to be training a new missionary in Olympia! He will do great, that new missionary is lucky to have such a great trainer. My new companion will be Elder Sharp. I don't know him too well, but he has served with Elder Mosbrucker before, and Elder Anderson, so I've heard a little bit about him. I've heard he's a great missionary and good with people. I'm actually very excited about the work this transfer! I'm hoping it will pick up and we will be having more people to teach. Change is hard but it usually brings about greater faith and miracles.

Naval Undersea Museum

 

Mission Training Conference

 This week went by fast too. We did a lot of service for people, especially some struggling or elderly families in our ward. We trimmed a hedge, moved in a family, and pulled a lot of weeds. It is fun :) That is one great lesson I have learned from Elder Mosbrucker, is to love others and to love to serve them. Service is so much fun and you feel great afterwards. Mom, you mentioned your lesson you are giving this Sunday, and one thing I can share is that by serving others we love others. At church yesterday, we went to priest's quorum and the lesson was on service. I love Matthew 25:40 and the verses before and after it.

June is doing alright, she had a lot of house maintenance problems this week, and so we haven't been able to teach Karine or Felicia, her neighbors. Ginger and her family is all back, so we hope their life will start calming down a bit and we can focus with them again. Another big lesson I've learned from Elder Mosbrucker is to work with less active families, I've always shied away from that on my mission, but having more love helped me to see how we can work with the ward to help them, too. Also, our ward mission leader, Brother Green us officially back in town for good and he's back in action. He is pretty much a full time missionary, the amount of service he does for this ward. We are so happy to be able to work with him again. Ward mission leaders make such a difference in the work!

Listening to select classical music is now allowed

Last thing I want to share is how much I love the Book of Mormon, I just finished 2 Nephi this morning and read about repentance and baptism, "feasting" upon the scriptures, and praying always. When we prayerfully and sincerely study the scriptures, we can always find a way to apply them to our lives. Even though this has been a difficult week for me, I feel peace as I turn to the Book of Mormon.

Conference Lunch

President Blatter, Tommy & Elder Green in the Group shot

I love you all so much,
Elder Webber

Scripture: Alma 12:24 (this life is a probationary state - meaning a time to prove ourselves, if we will be good - and a time to prepare to meet God and live with Him forever. That preparation is repentance).

Silverdale: General conference boost!

Dear family,

I'm glad to hear you got to watch all of general conference this week! That was definitely the highlight for me. We have such a privilege to hear from our Prophet every 6 months and to hear the word of God as it pertains to our day. And even more, we can bring our questions and concerns and receive divine help and guidance. I had many prayers answered this week.

To start off, a few days this week were particularly challenging for me and Elder Mosbrucker. We feel we have been working hard this transfer and being obedient, but we haven't been able to do as much teaching or bring people to church. Because of that we don't have anyone we are teaching on track for baptism. Then on Wednesday we found no one home and then a crazy 5-7 pm knocking doors with getting kicked out of two areas and one very mean lady yell at us to leave and never come back. The next day Elder Mosbrucker and I were able to talk openly together about the challenges we were facing and pray together to decide what we should do about them. We both felt loads better after that. I'm grateful for a good companion and communication.

Missionaries are always hungry

Then we had a missionary meeting on Friday and talked about a mission goal to get more investigators to church, and we both felt this is the focus that will help get the work moving along again. That and general conference were a huge boost. I'll just list some of the things I got out of conference:

• There were a few talks on the sacrament and the power it gives us to cleanse us and enable us through the Atonement
• Elder Holland talked about caring for the poor and needy and the importance and blessings of fast offerings.
• Hard trials come to us so that we are brought to our knees and rely on Heavenly Father. We then can see how they are a test to make us stronger.
• There was a strong theme of the importance of prophets and how we should look to them for true teaching, true authority, and their unanimous say represents the will of the Lord.
• We should first always ask ourselves, "Is is I?" before blaming others.
• Pause to consider consequences before making decisions.
• President Monson gave a great talk about following the Savior's path, which includes both trial/temptation and the joy of service
• Elder Scott taught that we are here to be "tried, tested, and stretched" and gave suggestions of prayer, scripture study, FHE, and temple attendance.
• Elder Bednar taught the why of missionary work!
The best and most important part of conference is now when we get to apply and live the teachings we learned. Then we experience the change and the blessings.

Thanks for all your love and prayers. I can't believe next week is transfers!

Love Elder Webber

Tommy always seems to be sitting in the back but listening intently

Silverdale: Zion's Camp and the start of rain!

Dear Family,

This week was great, we got to go as a mission to Zion's Camp, a church owned and dedicated site in Belfair. The southern half went on Thursday and the we went on Friday. Both days it was rainy and gloomy and wet in the morning, but by the time everyone got there and started the ropes courses it had cleared up! Thanks Washington and Heavenly Father :)

Zion's camp

Elder Mosbrucker and Elder Tommy Webber

It was really fun to be there, and fun to be helping other people out this year. We ran through 6 different "obstacles" 3 of which were different from last year. I sent the picture of the one Elder Mosbrucker and I were in charge of. We tried to make it challenging, but possible, then spent a few minutes at the end discussing what we learned and how we can apply it to our missions. Overall, a deeper sense of unity came back to the WA-TAC. Here, we are a family and united to serving God's children here. This is the best mission in the world. To the "future" Elder Stevens, you don't know how lucky you are.

Obstacle Course Prep

Obstacle Course solved

After the outside portion we ate lunch and had a short meeting. To all our surprise, we got to view the new church film, "Meet the Mormons." President Blatter said the Church wanted the missionaries to view it and get members and nonmembers excited about it so it can come to theaters. So get excited! It was actually really cool. Mom, you will love it especially the last person on it. The movie went through and showed the lives of 6 individuals who are Mormon and who each have incredible stories. It was super inspiring and a good way to show the world that Mormons are real people too ha, ha.

Another announcement made at Zion's camp, to increase mission unity and the spirit among is the Book of Mormon reading challenge. We started on Saturday and are reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission to finish together at our mission Christmas party, December 16th (I think). It works out to 7 pages a day which isn't too bad. Last year I studied the Book of Mormon with the intent to learn more about the principle of faith. So I decided this year to study the topic repentance! I'm really excited about it and invite all of you to read the Book of Mormon too, whether with my mission or your own schedule.

To update on the work, Ginger and her family still have innumerable challenges, but find a way to make it through day by day. This week she is going up to Everett to help her mom and step dad move out, then driving their moving van down to Arizona. She'll be back this Sunday. We met with their family this week, unsure of how to help. And really there is not much we can do as missionaries, like drive them places or watch the kids, which is pretty frustrating. But we listened and shared a scripture and encouraged them to keep going. There is always help and happiness and relief ahead for those who embrace the gospel.

I haven't told you much about a recent convert family in our ward. The mom's name is June and her two kids were baptized the weekend before I got to Silverdale. She's a brave single mom and her kids are Isaak who is 9 and Isaiah who is 10. They are a great family. She has a lot of struggles too, but she finds strength and fellowship at church. Her kids can be a struggle too. This week they were particularly rebellious when it came to coming to church. I gained a great appreciation for you, mom, for always getting 5 kids up and ready to church each week for years. You're the greatest mom ever!

June has a friend and neighbor, her name is Karine (pronounced "Kar-in") who she has been a super great missionary to. She invited her to the woman's brodcast this weekend and Karine loved it! She really want to come to church and learn more. Karine is also a single mom and has 4 kids of her own. We're excited about member missionary work and a new family. Members really make a difference.

Silverdale Zone Meeting

After Zone Meeting

Zone Meeting group

After Zone Meeting Ice Cream Break

I love my mission and I love the gospel. I'm so lucky to be able to study the scriptures every day. I love learning about the life of Jesus Christ, and striving to be more like Him. It is the best life this world has to offer. Keep doing the good things, and get ready for General Conference this week!!!! YAY!!! It's going to be awesome. I'll write next week with my "take-aways" and it would be awesome if each of you sent yours'. Thanks,

Tracyton beach - overlooking Olympic mountain range

Love,
Elder Webber

Scriptures: Matthew 4:1-11 (see JST also. These verses were extremely meaningful to me this week).

Silverdale: "God is in Charge"

Dear Family,

Happy Fall! I cannot believe it is upon us. The leaves up in Washington gently fade from green to evergreen... ha, ha no we really do get some color change, but not much. This week went super fast. I can't even remember all that happened.

I have started a new study this week on the life of Jesus Christ. I was looking through the "Harmony of the Gospels" in the Bible Dictionary (in the new edition of the scriptures it is found on its own in the back). And so I am reading the 4 Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, along with Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage. I have yet to fully get through that giant text. I am actually really excited about it, I have felt like I need to learn more about my Savior, and I feel like this will help. I am looking forward more to each personal study now. I do it after reading something from Preach My Gospel and the Book of Mormon.

We had Stake Conference this weekend which was great. Brother Green, our Ward Mission Leader spoke Saturday night and shared all of these cool stories of missionary work and the Book of Mormon. On Sunday our stake president, President Gillespie, who is the head engineer at the shipyard, gave a great talk. He started by talking about how he came to be an engineer (piqued my interest) and how everything has an order and how things happen in a certain way of cause and effect. He related it to the gospel by explaining how "God is in charge" and there are "coincidences" in our lives when paths cross with a friend who changes our life or we change theirs. "If we are faithful," he said, "we will recognize miracles." It is true and I have seen many miracles on my mission, which I think about often. One night this week before I went to bed, as I was starting my prayer, my mind started to remember all of the powerful spiritual experiences I have had in my life. All of them have a direct tie to my decision to serve a mission. It is life-changing, as it affected me before my mission, during, and the time that will be after I return home. Truly, God is in charge and He has a plan for each of His children.

Sisters, Elders at a baptismal service

So many people we have met this week are struggling. Elder Mosbrucker and I keep noticing the different challenges people go through. Even people who are already struggling, they keep having more put on them. I don't have time to tell all the stories, but there has been family emergencies, hospital trips, and even deaths. An example is after we had a good visit with Ginger and her family this week, they texted us this morning to say that a family member passed away yesterday of a sudden heart attack. Of course we can all keep them in our prayers. It is hard to answer when people ask us why these things happen, but perhaps it is the same statement, "God is in charge." Elder Mosbrucker's favorite scripture is Mosiah 4:11, which teaches us to remember the goodness of God, those of us who "have tasted of his love." And that we must "humble [ourselves] even in the depths of humility." Even when we are struggling, when we feel humbled, that's when we need to humble ourselves and stand sure in the faith of the great promises God has in store. I love the people here and want to help them understand God's plan.

This week we are excited to be able to go again to "Zion's Camp" which is in Belfair. Our mission got to go there last summer, it was really fun and beautiful. We'll be there this Friday. I'll tell you more about it next week. Keep up the good work family! I love you,

Elder Webber

Scripture: Matthew 16:15-19 (Peter promised the sealing keys)

Silverdale: "Pointed Toward Perfection"

Dear Family,

This week we had interviews with the mission president! Our district in Silverdale was interviewed on Wednesday after district meeting, and the rest of the zone is this coming Saturday. It was fun to see President and Sister Blatter, it felt like it had been a while since leaving Tacoma. We saw them again at our meeting Friday. President Blatter is such a great mission president. Looking back, the transition was incredibly smooth, and he is starting to make appropriate changes and new focuses for the WA-TAC. We are always inspired by their example of being a missionary. Every so often they share a story of talking to someone at Safeway or talking with the moving guys and giving out pass along card. They've found a lot of investigators through their efforts! And they always encourage us to "Open Your Mouth" and talk with everyone. It's even one of our key indicators we report weekly now, which helps us to remember to do it!

During interviews President told me something I think I already knew but needed to hear it. He said, "You know you're kind of a perfectionist." We're not supposed to be perfect here, just pointed toward perfection." It hit me when he said that and that phrase stuck with me: "Pointed toward perfection." I'm still trying to figure it out, but I think he meant we need to be constantly improving, and not expect to make no mistakes. Mistakes are human and we need to realize our weaknesses. We are given weaknesses so that we will be humble (see Ether 12:27). In companion study this week Elder Mosbrucker said something in passing that also hit me, "God gives us things we struggle with so that we can turn to Him for help." When we turn to God for help, his grace is sufficient to strengthen, or enable, us to work on our weaknesses until (through patience and faith) they become strengths. I hope to get there someday. Anyway, I think I knew I am a perfectionist. Connor will probably laugh when he reads this because he knows it's true :) But it doesn't matter so much where we are but what direction we are moving in.

Members drop off dinner, love the local ward members

Our meeting on Friday was all about working with members, We had a great training on the importance of getting to know the members and being a good example when we visit members or see them at church. We all know this is what we should be doing, but it helped us to know how to go about doing it. The Silverdale 1st ward is pretty great already, so I am happy to be here and excited to get to know more of the members and work with them with their missionary goals.

We didn't really have any investigators at church. One of our recent converts brought her son, Bryan, since he was not at his dad's this weekend. Ginger was out of town, but she did go to the Relief Society activity this week, and we didn't even invite her! She's starting to be well fellowshipped with the ward which is super important. Sadly, we're not teaching Sharon anymore. We think she received anti-christian material and like we said she is pretty sensitive so she probably is afraid of Mormons. We did what we could! This week we found a couple of new families we are excited to teach. There are a lot of young military families here, that work on the Bremerton shipyard. A lot of engineers in our ward too. The work is good!

Traceyton beach

Love Elder Webber

Scripture: Acts 10:38-43 (prophets and apostles are our special "witnesses of all things [Jesus] did" and by listening to their testimonies of Jesus Christ, we can "believe in him [and] shall receive a remission of sins").

PS We had monthly Mission Council Training 

Seminar - serve and open your mouth

Tommy Conducts

Lunch

Group

Group close-up

Silverdale 1st ward Starts

Dear Family,

Again, so much has happened this week! I don't know how it keeps happening but I have another amazing area. And another amazing companion, Elder Mosbrucker. After leaving Soundview on Tuesday (with some sadness in my heart) I resolved to make Silverdale my new favorite area before I even got there. I admit I was a little worried going there from Tacoma, which is a great area with a strong ward and lots of people to talk to. But it worked - I love Silverdale so much. not only is it beautiful but the people here are great. There's also a super funny "coincidence." On our way to Silverdale on Tuesday Elder Mosbrucker told me our ward mission leader is Brother Green. I started thinking, I knew a Brother Green is Westport (in Raymond's area - the same one who was such good fellowship for Dennis when he was baptized and who was one of the best member missionaries I've met on my mission). I thought, I know Westport was his beach house and he had a home somewhere in Bremerton/Silverdale..... Turns out it is the same guy! So I already knew my ward mission leader and he is one of my favorite people here.

Welcome to Silverdale

The ward up here is a little smaller, but still very strong. The area itself is tiny, so we don't do much extra knocking outside of our usual 5-7s. It is a beautiful place, with a good view of the Puget Sound, mostly the "Dyes Inlet" and has some "beaches" in Tracyton. A lot of great missionaries have served in this ward, so there are big shoes to fill. Our apartment is very nice. Not quite the "mansion" but second best I've seen. We live in a duplex, kind of, and our neighbor is Sister Korp, she's a convert of about 7 years and our meal coordinator. One of the sweetest ladies ever. We'll come home sometimes and there will be a box of healthy food or a new cleaning supply for us. She's either really nice or trying to tell us something... ;) 

Good-bye to the "mansion" in Soundview (Tommy's bike and bags packed)

Elder Mosbrucker is great. We are getting along very well. He is really good at being kind, and even made me pancakes this morning. I returned the favor by sharing my nutella ha, ha. He is from Fort Collins,Colorado and played football in high school. He loves snowmobile-ing and promised he would take me after our mission if I make a trip to Colorado! Elder Mosbrucker is one of the most humble and loving guys I've met. He is obedient for the right reasons and we are able to work hard together. He's very easygoing and appreciated my ideas. I think this will be a great transfer for us and this zone! 

 

Elder Tommy Webber and new companion Elder Mosbrucker

We are teaching a lady named Sharen, sort of off and on. She is very sweet, but also sensitive, I would say. She takes the gospel and her relationship with God very seriously, which is good, but is easily confused and strayed by some of her "Facebook friends" who have their own things to say about the Mormons. But on Saturday we had a good lesson with her where we just shared what the Book of Mormon is and its truthful, pure testament of Jesus Christ. She asked us if we knew the Lord's prayer, almost testing us and I started thinking, "I think it starts with 'Our Father'..." Thankfully Elder Mosbrucker had it memorized because his football team would say it before each game. After that I showed her 3 Nephi 13: 9-13 where Jesus Christ teaches the Nephites the same prayer in the Book of Mormon and that really helped her. She was supposed to come with us to a baptism the Silverdale 3rd sisters were having, but didn't show for some reason.

We are also teaching a part member family. The mom's name is Ginger and has been an "eternal investigator." She is living with a less active member but their kids have all been baptized. She came to church this week with her oldest daughter and youngest baby. We had a lesson Thursday about family prayer and scripture study and coming to church. We called it "Spiritual CPR:" Church, Prayer, and Reading. They really liked that and Ginger is really excited to start living the gospel as a family. A few things and changes have to happen first, but they can do it!

 

Elder Mosbrucker helps some kids get their football out of a tree

Other than that we are exercising our faith to find. I feel like we can find a family this transfer that is ready for baptism. We'll see what the Lord has in store! We have both been very happy this week - more than usual missionary happiness. I am super excited to be in Silverdale, it is a blessed land. The work is going forward! 

Have a great week everyone at school / work / seminary! 

Love,

Elder Webber

Scripture: 3 Nephi 12:20

P.S. Some exciting news from past area. Remember Avery and her 5 kids? She and her daughter Miley are going to be baptized this weekend in the Highland Hills ward!!! When we passed her over, the sisters there started teaching her and after many visits, she is now prepared! She's been coming to church and has really strong friendships with some of the ward members. I'm not sure I'll be able to go, but it still so exciting and makes me happy to see those who I have taught finally make it :)

Good-byes in Soundview

Good-bye to companion Elder Slavens

Good-bye to Elder Slavens and Anderson (Returning home)

Seeing Elder Green at Transfer Day

Labor day Lunch at the Mission President's home

Labor Day Group picture