Conclusion: I really do know that the Gospel is true, or else I'd be chilling in California.

October 29, 2012

This has probably been the fastest week of the transfer for me, it really has just flown by. 

So our car was out of miles... so we've been biking and stuff, JUST as the rain has come back to Washington.  It's miserable and hilarious.  Really.  Like, we bike across our whole area, the rain just SOAKS us, we're drenched, we pull up and knock on the door.... and no one is home.  hahahahaha.  get it? Me neither.  Except it is pretty funny though.

When I'm biking and wet and freezing to death, I really do think a lot about why I'm out here. It starts out as a rhetorical question, but since i have nothing else to do while I'm biking around, I take the time and answer the question.  Conclusion: I really do know that the Gospel is true, or else I'd be chilling in California.

On Saturday, Jim and Emma  were both baptized!  These kids are great, and we've been working with them for about a month, so it was really really great!  2 hours later, Roger was baptized!  Also great!   It was an EXHAUSTING day, and I havent really recovered yet.  Baptisms just DRAIN you emotionally and spiritually, and I've been physically dead from the past week anyways. So I'm glad this is P day!

Last night was the fireside again! It was in Bremerton (!)  So I got to see a lot of people I really love!  These firesides wipe me out too.  I just get so darn emotional, it's ridiculous. 

Our group (Brightly Beams our Fathers Mercy) had its best performance I think.  When we sang Amazing Grace, it was probably musically the worst I've ever sung it, cuz i was just getting so choked up, haha.

Did I mention I've joined the Choir here in Firgrove? It's pretty funny, There is only one really strong singer, he can sing wonderfully.  The sopranos are comprised 100% of youth, the altos just sound kind of timid.  The good singer can sing bass or tenor, and I'll hold up the other part, and then there's a handful of other men who can follow pretty well so it works okay (except almost none of them were there last Sunday when we sang in Sacrament meeting.)  So after the first week or two of me singing with them, they invited my companion to come sing too!   Anyways, it's been fun and it reminds me of choir back home.

Hmm...

Oh, so I may or may not have already written about this, but like 2 weeks ago, we had a Leadership training meeting, where President trained us on District Leaders and District Meetings.  

So my district is comprised of 3 areas, and then the Zone leaders are separate but they're over us too.  So my district has Firgrove (us)  Sunrise (sisters) and Orting (a trainer and a new missionary)  

So I was at the meeting, the trainer was at the meeting, President always has 1 set of sisters come, so Sunrise was at the meeting, and the Zone leaders were there.  So pretty much the whole district was trained together on what a perfect District would be like..and then the following Wednesday I had to try and do it.  haha I've never been more nervous for a district meeting.  President also has a training schedule he passed out, so everyone knew what my training was supposed to be about, and it was basically taken from a Training we had at that meeting that day, so all but 2 people had already had it.  So I was really nervous.  

BUT when it came down to the actual District meeting, it went splendidly!  Everyone seemed to really like the way I did it, and most importantly you could feel the spirit really really really strongly.  And I loved it, because that obviously isn't anything I could do, but it's something that we as a district did together, cuz everyone in my district is just so great! I love them :)  I'm looking forward to next transfer, but I'm hoping and praying that our district stays the same, they are all such hard workers and great missionaries, I'm lucky to be with them.

Well, in other news it looks like we might have 1 more baptism this transfer, a little girl. :)  The Bishop I think is just really happy because the ward hasn't had more than 2 baptisms in a transfer since .. like... Ever.   honestly haha.  For awhile we had no missionaries in Firgrove because nothing ever happened.  I am so blessed to be here right now and that God has prepared so many wonderful people for us to find and teach.  

Bishop also likes us because we wrote a talk for him. :)

Oh, and I spoke last sacrament meeting, and that was fun too.

wellllllllllllllllllllllllllll, thats it for Little Lonas!  gonna go play ball!

Tracting and Testimony

It's been another week!  Ups and downs and lefts and rights, and a woefully inadequate email to convey it all. 

 

It's been a week of heavy tracting, we average 2-5 hours a day.  I'm pretty sure it builds character or something?  Furthermore, it started raining this week, so it's a different experience than what I've gotten used to, but it's actually a welcome change.  Light rain is pretty comfortable tracting weather, plus we get sympathy on doorsteps.  haha. :)

 

We have 2 possible baptisms this week: Roger if he has recovered from his surgery enough to comfortably go into the font, and Emily if her family can get here.

 

We had a fireside in Gig Harbor last night!  It was loverly :)  I dont know how long I've known the song Amazing Grace, but singing it as a full-time representative of Jesus Christ made it meaningful to me for the first time.  It's hard not to cry when I sing it, when I realize that I really mean these words and it comes from my heart. 

 

I tend to write these emails pretty light-heartedly, and I think I kinda briefly touch on the more spiritual parts of my life, and then continue to talk about the stuff that doesn't matter very much.  I dont know why I do this, but it's just what I do. :)

 

But I want to take a moment and testify of Jesus Christ.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that he is my Savior, and I know that he is the Christ.  I have felt his undeniable presence in my life, and will never be able shy away from that fact again.  I know that the Son of God came to earth, and lived his life for us, and gave his life for us, so that we can overcome both death and sin.  His Gospel is the one and only way to true happiness, and there is no substitute.  

 

If anyone is reading this and does not know the same things, I beg you to read the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ, and Prophets have PROMISED us that anyone who reads and prays about the Book of Mormon with a sincere heart and real intent, will gain a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ.  If that promise was not true, and infallible, I would not be on a mission right now. 

 

Sincerely, Elder Chase Lonas 

"Could we be ANY more vague in describing missions?!!?"

October 8, 2012

Oh man!!  Crazy week to be a missionary! 

For those who are not yet members, or for whatever reason did not watch General Conference, the prophet is lowering the mission age!  Young men can leave at 18, and young women at 19!!  (Previously guys left at 19, and girls at 21) 

This will really change the dynamic in the field, I'm excited to be here to witness the transition.

The work of the Lord is going faster than ever.  Remember, "The standard of truth has been erected. no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing.  Persecutions may arage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, and calumny may defame.  but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, til it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, til the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

With more missionaries than ever, I'm so excited for the world to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Hey, anyone else LOVE Russel M. Nelson's talk?  and Hollands.  mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :)

Anyways, so all you 18 & 19 year old women out there, get your papers in!  If you're younger, get ready now!

The work in Firgrove has been doing well.  For whatever reason, things had been going slow for quite awhile, so it's taken a lot of effort to get the momentum started, and pointed in the right direction.  Vast amounts of tracting have done just that however.  Last Friday we tracted for a solid 5 hours straight, and saw nothing from it.  But right afterwards we had a lesson with a part member family, and the 2 unbaptized children now have a baptism date :)

 

Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of Heaven.  Eternal principle.

I've had a bit of an epiphany.  Everyone knows their whole life that missions will be "hard."  but what on earth does that even mean?  "Hard"?  Could we be ANY more vague in describing missions?!!?   

The truth is we have to be vague, because everyone's mission is so different.  For some people the trial is serving in a third world country, for some it's the language,  for some it's talking to strangers, for some it's learning the gospel well enough to explain it to others.  For me right now, it's something else.  But when I signed up for a mission, I signed up for the miracles, the moments of intense happiness and peace, and overwhelming warmth.  I signed up for the feeling where your heart feels like its expanding, and there just isn't enough room in your chest to contain it.  I signed up for the tears of happiness, and for the eternal friends I've made.

And I also signed up for the hard things. :)  I've been praying like crazy, focusing on working hard and being obedient, and I'm going to get through this just fine.  I would, however, be forever grateful if you could pray for me!

Welp, little Lonas is gonna go.

Send me a letter if you get a chance!   :)

14213 103rd Ave Ct E

Apt C102

Puyallup, WA

98374

;)

Adjusting

I am now in Graham!  which is... right down the street from my old area.

it's hard adjusting to a new area, no matter how close it is.  I guess the highlight of the week though is this: Remember how I was called to serve in Firgrove, on bike?  after 2 days on bike, we get a call, and they are giving our area a car :) hahahahaha :)

So, our most solid investigator here is a guy named Roger.  He's a cool guy, sadly he's going through kinda a rough divorce, and he has a pretty serious surgery today, so pray for him and his recovery!  He should be baptized on October 20th if he recovers fine.

We had another one of those glorious firesides last night!  The group I'm in (I'm doing Brightly Beams in a sextet right now) did pretty well. 

Remember Tony?  It's looking good!  Elder B told me at the fireside last night that his parents will probably let him be baptized!  It's close enough that i'll definitely be able to get permission to go to it.  I love this kid a lot, we taught him the best lessons,and he's so cool.

Short i know, i apologize.  Keep sending letters to fruitland until i figure out the address of where i am now, Elder B will get them to me in the nearish future :)