The Epilogue

I love epilogues.  I'm such a sucker for happy endings.

The past two years have been indescribable.  I really mean that.  I have no idea how to describe the past two years.  I can say they've been great, I can say I've loved them, I can say I learned so much, that I grew, that I became a man, and its all true.  (Except the last part.  That's still not true, but I thought I'd slip it in there casually to see if anyone objected.) 

But there is just nothing I can say to do it justice.  My joy is so incredibly full.  I don't even think I really knew what joy was 2 years ago.   My mission has been nothing if not miraculous- and by Miraculous I mean full of Miracles.  so I think it's fitting that I close with one more miracle.

On Wednesday, we met with an investigator, Ciana.  We followed up on her reading assignments, and asked if she had been praying.  She said no, because "she forgot."
 

Oh my stars, people are so frustrating.

So we wrote it down on a sticky note, which she then taped to the inside of her Book of Mormon.  "Pray!"  We reminded her of the importance to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and to have real intent to act on the answer she'd receive.  

She wanted to be baptized, (her wording is "It's not If, but When")  but wanted to finish the entire Book of Mormon first.  We encouraged her to read it all, but explained that baptism is not meant to come after "Enduring to the End" but after Faith and Repentance.  At this point in time Ciana is in the Isaiah Chapters of 2 Nephi. 

She agrees to pray, but tells us that her mother is coming in town this weekend, and due to family issues and stress, baptism is really just too much to consider right now.  We committed her to pray, and left it at that. 

Thursday morning we drop by just to check up on her.  She invites us in, and begins by saying  "I've cleared my schedule, my mom isn't coming til next month- I can be baptized this weekend.  Can you make that happen?"

Haha.  Can I make that happen.

We make the calls, get everything in order, and proceed with the baptism.

Except, oh wait, the water heater at the Church is BROKEN!  We spent the entire day boiling water in the kitchen and dumping it in the font.  It was exhausting, but totally worth it.  We didn't get it hot, but it was significantly less cold at least. 

It was a BEAUTIFUL baptism.  Elder Burton and I sang at it. (We sing everywhere.  After member dinners we say, "For our spiritual message, would you like a scripture or a song?" and they always choose song)

If you remember Maya, who was baptized about 2 weeks ago, we had one more lesson with her last night, where we watched Mountain of the Lord, and talked about preparing for the temple.  She wants to be sealed to her family next year :)
 

Finally, on the way back to the car to drive home Sunday night, we get a call from an unknown number.  It's a part member family in our ward it turns out, and the 9 year old son wants to be baptized.  He took the discussions earlier this year, but the mother felt he wasn't ready.  Yesterday he came to her, and said he'd thought and prayed about it, and was definitely ready and sure of his decision, so she called us :)  He's on date to be baptized a couple weeks out.  Isn't that amazing?
 

Two years ahead, time crawls or flies

The difference, in your perception lies.

A step of faith will wet the soles

Then part the sea of grief and woes.

The grace, the light, the joy, the truth,

The change inside is irrefutable proof.

Two years behind, a life ahead,

Thoughts dance while my body lies in bed.

The future is a fluid thing

And becomes whatever my choices bring.

Doubt bows to Hope, so happily

I soon will see my family.

- Elder Chase Williams Lonas

Final pictures

I took this two years ago at the airport.  WEDNESDAY HE'LL BE HOME!!!!!

with his current companion, Elder Burton

Last email...

He'll be home NEXT WEEK!!!

This is possibly my last email for the blog...

 

And I don't have time to say anything! 

 

The Christmas party is tomorrow, should be a pretty fun performance, I'm stoked. 

 

Our investigators are doing great.  The area has really taken off, and is in great shape I feel for whomever comes next to take my spot.  

 

Sidenote:  Found a way cool investigator this past week, while tracting in the COLDEST weather of my life.  His name is Saleh, he's from Saudi Arabia, and is Muslim.  He feels something is missing, and promised us that if he feels that gap is filled in Christianity/The Book of Mormon, he'll drop everything and follow it.  Sounds like Real Intent to me. :)

 

I had to bear my final testimony in Zone Leader Conference a few days ago.  Really bizzare.  For the most part my body is in utter denial about this whole "going home" thing, but I felt it for a moment when I was up there.  I love being a missionary so much. 

 

Elder Lonas

Baptisms and Bieber

Maya was baptized!  Such a great day.  It's been a journey of a few years for her, and it finally happened.  I cant remember the last time I've seen someone so ecstatic after being baptized.  She's in her mid 60's, but you'd think she was about 16 :)     She was baptized with our Ward Mission Leader's daughter, who had just turned 8.  A bit unusual, but it was really special.  Elder B and I sang our rendition of "He Sent His Son."  I really like singing, and have been trying to sing as much as possible.  Singing as a missionary is the BEST. 

 

The Mission Christmas party is coming up, and the Zone Leaders are in charge of having their zone prepare a song/skit or something to perform.  We also have new preparation day rules, stating that you can only congregate as a Zone twice each transfer (on the 3rd Monday, and the last Monday)  which means practicing will be very difficult/ nonexistent.  So at first we were discouraged, but then while walking home one night, Elder Burton and I rewrote all the lyrics to "Call Me Maybe" and we were stoked.  But alas, when we called Sister Weaver for approval, we were rejected because "Call Me Maybe" is apparently not classified as a Christmas song. 

 

It's a cold, heartless world out there.

 

But Elder Burton and I picked ourselves up (metaphorically speaking- You can't actually pick yourself up)  and dusted off our shoulders (literally.  But how the dust got there, I have no idea) and rewrote all the lyrics to Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe".   (THANK YOU JULIETTE WARDLE!!!!)

Which is now "Knockin' On Your Front Door."  It's way good.  And I wrote a rap for it haha.  So we'll be having zone band practice today. 

 

As far as investigators and stuff goes, I've never had a situation like this before.  We have about 4 people who are essentially unbaptized, active members.  We have no clue what to do about it. 

 

My take away from the week is the power of the Atonement, and the reality of the living Christ.  I saw hard things, but I also saw the grace of Christ in a very real sense.  I'm so grateful for the experiences I've had on my mission.

 

Merry Christmas!

Elder Lonas

If Neil L Anderson is marking up his General Conference issue of the Ensign with highlighters and pens, we probably should be doing the same thing.

(Check the bottom of the page for the countdown.  He'll be home December 18th!!!)

 

Hello! I Have a LOT I want to say, and very very little time to say it. 

 

We had Neil L Anderson of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles visit our mission on November 23, 2013.  :) 

If anyone reading this is unfamiliar, we believe in the same organization that existed in Christ's church during his mortal ministry.  The modern day apostles are the equivalent to having Peter, or James or John come and visit with you.  It's pretty humbling.  We each got to shake his hand :)

 

I learned so much from him in such a short period of time.  One thing that really stuck out to me is that he taught us, by example, how to learn.  Let me tell you, if Neil L Anderson is marking up his General Conference issue of the Ensign with highlighters and pens, we probably should be doing the same thing.  (And he is.)

 

For my family, I'll show you all my notes from him later :) 

 

Everyone should read the talk "Learning By Faith" by Bednar.

 

It looks like this Saturday, the Baptism drought in Olympia 2nd will finally be over :) 

Pray for us!

Conversion Order, not Chronological Order

Dear Everyone,

This has been a fast week one!  Elder Burton is great, we're excited about this companionship and this upcoming transfer!  It's going to be a busy one with a lot of stuff going on.  We have Zone Conferences this week, as well as a meeting with a visiting Apostle, we have Thanksgiving, the Christmas party, departing missionary day, and some other stuff coming up in the near future as well.  So that'll be good.  We also are going to have to squeeze in some time for missionary work!

 

We found a few people last night, and we're excited to go back and start teaching.  And we had one of the best turnouts at church that I've had on my mission, so that's good too! 

 

I'm pretty short on email time, and I'm not exactly sure what to write about.

One of our investigators, Carrie, has made a lot of progress recently.  She has been reading the Book of Mormon consistently, and is around 1 Nephi 10 last we checked.  Chapter 4 threw her for a loop she said haha, and she is still working through that.  We had a whole lesson almost devoted to addressing her concern, and afterwards she still seemed pretty reluctant to continue.  But she texted her ward friends later, (who in turn texted us) to let us know that she decided that she had no reason to doubt what Elder Burton and I told her, which is that if she continues reading prayerfully, she will find more and more answers and have her concerns resolved over time.

 

Something I've been thinking about recently is the sequence of chapters in the Book of Mormon.  Although in some ways it follows, it definitely is not in "Chronological Order"  Otherwise we'd be beginning with the book of Ether obviously.  And the "abridgers notes" and things like the whole book "Words of Mormon" would be stuck towards the end and whatnot.  It stands to reason therefore, when we consider the purposes of the book of Mormon (1 nephi 6:4-6) that it is not in chronological order, but in "Conversion Order."  The Lord certainly didn't make any mistakes in putting chapter 4 so close to the beginning. 

 

Well my time is almost up, sorry this was short!  Talk to y'all next week!  (my companion is from Texas, so I can say that.)

 

Love,

Elder Lonas.

Beauty for Ashes

Transfer calls came in!

 

Elder Chase Lonas will be dying in Olympia 2nd Ward (staying) and my final companion will be Elder B  (whose friend from back home is Sister Flake, who is serving in Fukuoka Japan and is companions with Sister Heather Lane, who is my friend from back home! Crazy world haha)

 

I don't know a lot about him, but I've met him a handful of times before.  I know he's a pretty good singer, he was trained by Elder Thornton (so I'll probably like him) and.... well that's pretty much it actually.  But most people who have served around him have liked him, so I'm hoping for the best. 

 

But Saturday night I was praying about my transfer call, and I think I was murmuring a little bit (oops)  but the Lord was quick to chasten me (probably because he loves me, Hel 15:3)  Haha, I'll spare you the details, but I realize now that the Lord gave me EXACTLY the companion that I need.  I don't know yet in what ways this is true, but I asked that my companion would

 

A) be someone with whom I can be friends

B) be hardworking and obedient, and help me finish strong

C) be someone with whom I can teach well

D) be someone that can help me take Olympia 2nd ward in the right direction.

 

And I know that all 4 aspects I've asked for will be possible if I do my part. 

 

It is my testimony that the Lord absolutely does NOT need my talents and skills as a missionary.  We as mortals do so very little.  We tend to bring afflictions upon ourselves through our own misuse of agency.  We can try our best to perform our best, but despite the fact our efforts are necessary, they are not sufficient.  In every case it is the Lord who will consecrate our afflictions and our performances for our gain.

 (2 ne 2:2, 2 ne 32:9)

 

It is my goal to live optimistically for this next transfer, as a result and byproduct of HOPE.  People can look at the world around them and get from it whatever they choose.  Our perceptions and experiences are subjective and relative.  Therefore, they are a less accurate reflection of what is around us physically, and a more accurate reflection of what is within us spiritually.  No matter what our experiences are, what we do, or who we are, we are in and of ourselves, lacking.  Life would be hollow and meaningless, and completely destitute without Hope.  But that is the miracle of the gospel, that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive "beauty for ashes".   (Isa 61:3.  I think.  that might not be the right reference, but it's around there)

 

Love,

Elder Lonas

Singing Time, Scavenger Hunt, and Scriptures

November came fast.

 

Last night was my last fireside, and it was amazing.  My group sang "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me"  and it went well.  We had a good group.  I don't know what else to say about the firesides- except how much I'm going to miss them, they have such a special place in my heart. 

 

We had our Halloween!  It was a great day, huge success in my opinion.  We had our zone meeting from 3-4:30, which went well..  I very much enjoy training missionaries, and feel confident doing so.  Fortunately I'll get to do a couple more.  We have a good zone, and everyone participated and contributed, and really made it good. 

 

After we finished Zone Meeting, we had a mission wide conference call, where it was announced that one of the 12 Apostles will be visiting our mission in November.  We're absolutely stoked.  Elder G and I have been doing a logistical run of the 12 to try to determine who will be coming, but no one knows for sure yet. 

 

After the conference call, we had a number of zone activities Elder G and I set up.  First we had Singing Time with Lonas, then we had a Book of Mormon Scavenger Hunt (I did all the scripture referencing and putting together of the clues, and Gregersen was in charge of making the map and having everything in place around the church.  Good teamwork :)

And after that we played a variation of Mafia, called Werewolf, where we made a bunch of other jobs besides mafia and townsperson. so that was fun, I think everyone had a good time.  Afterwards we watched Ephraim's Rescue, provided by the Weavers.  During the movie, a very sweet missionary couple in our stake provided pizza, salad, and drinks for us.  So kind :) 

 

We had a few minutes left at the end of the movie before we were supposed to go home, so everyone voted to play another round of Werewolf.  I would like to state that I was a great Werewolf, and won every single time, except the last round where I lost on a technicality.  (so really I won.)

 

Transfer calls will be this week- everyone pray that I'll get Elder Bowen!  There's a lot I want to accomplish in these next weeks, and I need someone I can work easily with :) 

 

I got to interview 2 young girls for baptism the other day,  ages 10 and 9.  I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I love doing interviews.  The spirit was way strong as these 2 little girls passed their interviews, and I got to hear their sweet, unadorned, and unadulterated testimonies.  They were both baptized on Sunday, and their missionaries came up to us after the fireside to tell us how great the baptism was.  There is such a special, sacred feeling at baptisms.  I just love it.

 

In other news,  the other week Elder G and I successfully named all 150 of the original generation of Pokemon, so that was good. 

 

I was reading in Ether chapter 8 this yesterday morning and this morning.  I think verses 8 and 9 are hilarious.  Totally missed the point of the scriptures haha.  It's the equivalent of us reading about Amalickiah and coming to the conclusion that, "ya know, minor details aside, Amalackiah's plan basically worked, we should definitely try that" 

Reading the scriptures isn't enough. They need to be understood, and applied by living the principles, and that's where we see change. 

 

I love the Book of Mormon.  I also love 1 John.  If you haven't First John recently, you should read it this week.  I think it's one of the best parts of the New Testament.

 

Time for me to go, Love you!

Outward Privileges

Haha so, I think it was last week that I was wrapping up my email, and the seconds were counting down to zero, and I meant to say "Love, Lonas"... but instead it came out "Love, Linas" and I didn't have time to fix it.

Get it?  It's funny, because Linas is the man to whom Catholics retrace their authority.  Funny typo..haha :) 

Emailing a little later today- We had a fireside practice out in Tacoma.  I'm in a group doing "Jesus, Savior Pilot Me.  It's a great arrangement I'm very excited to sing it this weekend.  Downside is that they are doing this fireside this weekend, and then no more until January...........

Church this past week was good.  I was thinking again during the Sacrament (turns out its a great time to think, who'd have thought?)  And I was thinking about how much I love and need the sacrament as a missionary.  The importance of developing a spiritual reliance on your mission is absolutely essential, I believe.  We have been counseled repeatedly in the scripture to trust in the Lord (Prov 3) to lean not unto our own understanding (Isa 55) and to receive our knowledge and instruction from the Lord instead of man.(Matt 16:17, 2 Ne 17:15) 

And yet when we perceive other options besides the arm of the Lord, we find it so difficult to really trust Him.  We feel we can find truth and peace in many places, and church is just one of our many options and priorities.  From a worldly point of view we often mistake temporal avenues as the superior choice- and to be limited to spiritual sources of strength would be weakening.  That's definitely what they thought in 3 Nephi 4:16-18.  

But it's really when they/we are deprived of  "outward privileges" that we build a reliance and relationship with the Lord.   It's when we choose to give up "outward privileges" willingly that we develop self-mastery, and put off the natural man (Msh 3:19)

 

In other news, I cut Elder G's hair!  It looks pretty good, for real.  I took pictures :)  And Elder C cut my hair, it looks pretty good too.

Ok. I'm done now I think...

Yeah. 

Ok, Love,

Lonas!

Praycation

Dear everything!

 

It's been a good week! we're starting week 4 of this transfer which is absolutely insane.

We had the ward Halloween party this past week.  Was it a success?  It all depends on your point of view.  On one hand, we had a couple of part member families and investigators show up who really enjoyed themselves. On the other hand, we didn't win the chili cook off, nor did I win the dance contest. 

 

All disappointments aside, it was a good night. 

 

Guess what?  Another round of Firesides are starting up!  They will probably be pretty different than our last ones, but any musical fireside sounds like fun to me.  We're having a practice this coming Friday (And I'll be able to see Elder Bowen!)  and then our first fireside is in *drumroll* Olympia!  First weekend in November, I believe! 

 

So I'm stoked :)

 

I've been learning a lot this past week in my studies, so that's been fun.  I've made scripture flashcards, and have been able to remember them remarkably fast.  If I could have remembered things this well in high school and college I would have aced every test, haha.  Hopefully it sticks with me in college too, but I'm not banking on it, I'm pretty happy just to have this ability for now :) 

 

By the way, I don't know if I mentioned this, but my companion Elder G is one of the funniest people in the whole world.  I would tell you his jokes, but I feel that they are all jokes you need to be there for haha.

 

So I was reading in Ether chapter 2, and in verse 13-14, Mahonri takes a little Praycation (hahahahahah get it?) for 4 years, and then gets chastised.  In the past I've looked at these verses and figured "whoah, I guess even the best of us forget to pray sometimes".

Maybe that's true. 

But really, Moriancumer was a Prophet, and a spiritual boss.  Did he really "forget" to pray? Maybe, but I feel that one of the main reasons why people who have been/currently are living the gospel don't pray, is because they already know what they're supposed to do, or they just don't want to act on an answer they might receive.  I bet Mahonri was pretty happy living on the seashore. 

Sometimes we shy away from opportunities to grow, because we don't want to increase our accountability, or basically just leave our comfort zone. 

But if we trust in the Lord's  a) ability and  b) integrity to fulfill his promises, that should never be an issue.  10 seconds left, so I gotta go!

 

Love

Lonas

Literally

There is not enough time in the day- let alone in an hour session of emailing. 

 

It's been a great week, I can't believe we're starting week 3! My mind is literally blown. 

 

(Side note:  You know how everyone misuses the word "literally" when they really mean metaphorically?  Try working the word "literally" into as many sentences as possible, and see if anyone calls you out.  It's best when it's phrases that people really do say on a regular basis)

 

We've had a little success in terms of finding people, but we had some miracles show up at church!  I'm all about vicarious blessings.  Jacob 5:61 is one of President's favorite verses- and with good reason.

 

So I was thinking about it, and my scriptural fluency literally isn't as sharp as it was when I left Bremerton, I've been pretty complacent.  But I've repented this week, and have literally been pushing myself to learn scriptures again, and remember what I've forgotten.  I've made a bunch of flashcards in the past couple days, and have literally been gaining territory. 

 

Ooh, I got sick this past week, I literally almost died.  I had a pretty rough day, but also recovered miraculously fast.  Now I'm only slightly congested!  Hooray for progress! 

 

Haha so awhile ago we had dinner with this family, and on the way walking up to their house, my companion and I discussed how people never believe us, but really what we want to eat the most is pizza or hamburgers.  We had a great meal with them, and then afterwards, they asked us what's our favorite thing to eat.  We told them we're happy with anything! and they said no really, what do you like! and we said anything! and they said come on now, be honest! so I said, do you really want to know? and she said YES! and I said pizza.

 

So that's what they're getting us for dinner tonight. I'm so excited :)

 

I read Mormon chapter 8 this morning....

Moroni is NOT happy with us.  I invite everyone to read the chapter this week, and think of one way we can improve, so Moroni's fury may be calmed.

 

By the way, My companion Elder G is one of the funniest guys I've ever met.  He's great.  We have different styles of missionary work, but that's probably good because we can learn from each other :) 

 

Hope y'all (get it? I'm not actually from Texas) have a great week, and you each have a handful of those moments which literally take your breath away.  (haha, get it?)

 

Love,

Elder Lonas

approximately 10:29:30:27

Dear World,

 

Writing from the State capitol, Olympia!  When you are here, it is a little bit hard to believe that this is the capitol.  Tacoma, or Seattle would seem very logical, this seems very random.  But it's all good :)  

 

You ask, "what's it like having a Pizza Hut at the end of the block?  :)"....  Does the phrase "eternal temptation" mean anything to you?  Haha,  just kidding, I'm stoked about it.  I'm just nervous about making my missionary funds last the whole month.  I'm usually pretty darn responsible, but pizza is my biggest "want" expense.  And Pizza Hut is twice as expensive as Little Caesars.  Early Thanksgiving gift card present? ;)  Haha, just kidding, but also not really.

 

OK, let's make a deal real fast.  I'll do my best to answer "going home" questions, to the best of my physical, mental, and emotional ability -  but no more telling me how many days til I'm home.  I almost had a heart attack.

 

Update on Zhang (Chinese Chase) he has returned to China.  On Sunday he was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  On Monday he received the Priesthood.  On Tuesday he received his Patriarchal Blessing.  On Wednesday he flew back.  Keep this wonderful, valiant young man in your prayers :)

 

I'm serving with Elder G, who is a great guy.  Good heart, and a real desire to help people.  He plays basketball, likes Marvel, and worked in a pizza shop once.  What's not to love there? 

 

So, in a foursome, planning takes about 2.5 times as long, and then with the remaining time in the night, everyone is rushed to make a quick dinner, use the bathroom and get ready for bed, and almost every night in Lakewood I'd hit my bed at approximately 10:29:30:27 or something along those lines, give or take a millisecond. 

 

In this companionship, our planning rarely takes us the full half hour, and never exceeds it.  I have an hour or more every night I have absolutely no idea what to do.  The first night was absolutely terrible.  I finished, and just paced around the apartment for an hour.  I wanted to knock doors, but successfully talked myself out of it.  I have gotten in the habit of working out again at night, and stretching, while watching "Finding Faith in Christ" or "The Testaments".  I almost have them memorized. 

 

By the way that reminds me, my usage of the word "like" has cut down significantly.  Updates on my game:

 

5 pushups for saying the word "like" period.  In any context.  Let's be honest, it's a pretty weak word, and never conveys much.  Always a better word choice somewhere.

 

5 pushups for every "ummm"

 

3 pull ups for every "Ya know?"

 

5 pushups for every "I mean,"

 

It's good stuff.

 

Well, my time is about out, and my poor companion has been done for about a half hour.

The Perfect Storm

I don't remember if I have communicated this in my emails home this past transfer or not, but September 2013 in the WATAC has been titled "The Perfect Storm"  (coined by President Weaver, popularized by the incessant exuberance of Elders Lonas and Anderson)  Because, among other factors, the last day of the transfers is the last day of the month, which means all of our monthly and transfer goals are perfectly aligned, whereas they are usually offset.  This has never before happened in the history of my mission, and who knows how long til it happens again?  It also means we have a 'bonus Sunday' to have people come to church who can still be baptized this transfer.

So all transfer long, in the Perfect Storm, we have been working SO hard, and being EXACTLY obedient. However, all of our plans were falling through, no one kept commitments, and just nothing panned out.  We are in Lakewood Lakewood, one of the most successful areas in the mission, and we had absolutely nothing to show for our work.  Week 6 comes and we have still have nothing, but we keep working, with hope for a miracle.  

Saturday comes, and we get Transfer Calls.  I would have bet all my MSF that I was staying in Lakewood Lakewood until the end of my mission- Nope.  Turns out I'm going to Olympia  (there has been some reorganizing, but that used to be a district in my 1st zone, Lacey) 

This is definitely, historically speaking, a less successful zone than Lakewood. I figured if I WERE to get transferred it would be to Tacoma or something...

But nope.  

I'm basically going to a sister zone, there are 8 sisters, 6 elders, and in one district there are 2 elders and 6 sisters...   So Pres. basically said he needed to send someone 'mature' there.  (Clearly he doesn't know me)  

He also told me he knew that I would initially be disappointed, but I would love my transfer there, and find great joy.  He was right about the first part.  It felt like I was being taken from a great area because of my own failure to succeed there, and being dumped in Olympia where I can pretty much just watch missionaries to make sure they don't do anything dumb.  

Pause and rewind, to when I left Bremerton.  Leaving Bremerton was hard for a lot of reasons, but one of the hardest parts was I felt like I left Bremerton without accomplishing what I felt I was sent there to do.  I felt very strongly impressed I was sent to Bremerton for Sydney- and when I left I was still unable to baptize her. 

So now this makes 2 great areas in a row, that I left without accomplishing my purpose there.  Sad Lonas.

Fast Forward.

Week 6, I get a call from the Bremerton Elders.  Sydney came out of her room when they were teaching her brother Lucas, and said she was ready to be baptized.  

On Sunday, I got permission to go up to Bremerton for her Baptism and Confirmation.  Bishop from Bremerton recognized me, and invited me to be a witness at her baptism, and also to stand in the confirmation circle.  One of the sweetest experiences of my life.

Just prior to leaving for Bremerton, we were in sacrament meeting, and we find out that our stake patriarch has a very special guest with him.  It would take me days to write his story, and I quite honestly don't know all of it.  But for the past 5 years, events have been in motion for this young man, Zhang.  In Fast and Testimony meeting, The Stake Patriarch, Brother Ely, tells a little about Zhang.  He is from China, and when Brother Ely was there teaching English to 500 students, he petitioned him to teach him as well.  He consented, and their relationship begun.  They had lessons every day.  Zhang had contact with him and a few other members, but the government has strict rules concerning religion, and forbids any form of proselyting. All Zhang new was there was a difference, and he wanted it.  On Thursday he came to America for a week. On the way to church, he expressed his desire to join this church.  Brother Ely told us missionaries from the pulpit that Zhang wanted to receive the missionary lessons today.  

His American Name is Chase.

I felt very strongly and deeply that Chase needed to be baptized that very night.  I approached our Bishop with Elder Anderson right after the meeting , and we told him what we felt.  He gave us his approval if we were able to teach him everything in the meantime, and everything was understood and accepted.

We began lessons immediately after sacrament meeting in an empty classroom, and taught him the first 3 discussions (With a break for Elder Lonas to go to Bremerton to see Sydney be baptized, during which time Elder A and Elder S continued teaching)  and met afterwards at Brother Ely's house for a traditional Chinese dinner, and we finished the lessons.  

I've never taught, or probably even met, a more humble, sincere man seeking for truth.

He described (with broken English) as we taught him, and invited him to pray about the Restoration, a powerful feeling within him, driving him to be baptized.  

We went to the stake center at 8:30 (Elder St..., my boy from Bremerton had just finished a somewhat miraculous baptism in and of itself, and we asked him to keep the font full, and stand by to interview Chase) took care of the interview, and had a beautiful and simple baptism service.  

I can't describe the tender, sweet feelings that were present as we baptized and confirmed Chase.  The attendance was small, but everyone present was on the verge of tears or somewhere past that.

I found the reason I came to Lakewood.

September 2013 WAS the Perfect Storm, and was more beautiful than I could have possibly imagined.  

I don't know exactly what our Father in Heaven needs me to do in Olympia, but I have faith that there IS a purpose, and I will find it if I trust in Him.  I'm excited to go find that purpose.  

I testify that our Heavenly Father is a God of Miracles.  I know that his plans for each of His children are more intricate and far reaching than we can possibly imagine.  I have a testimony that, while God is more concerned with our growth than he is with our comfort,  His tender mercies are over all of His children. The Gospel is pure, and precious, and sweet, and there is nothing which will bring greater joy into our lives.  The opportunity to share the gospel is a wonderful privilege, not an entitlement.  

Chase is going back to China on Wednesday.  He will have received the Priesthood, and will be able to teach and baptize his immediate family while in China, and will be a PIONEER.

Elder Lonas

It lasted for, like, 5 minutes.

We're beginning week 6 already! Fastest transfer of my life.  

Of all the people who had committed to coming to church this week, only 1 did, which was disappointing.

 

One of our investigators, Sam, is doing VERY well.  When we met him, he said he was open to talking to us because he felt a hole in his heart from the death of a family member, and it was eating him up inside.  We promised that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would fill that hole, and he could experience it through reading the Book of Mormon.  He opened the door 2 nights ago and told us that it happened- his hole had been filled.  He wants to be baptized, but unfortunately he was out of town this past Sunday.  We'll be following up.

About 7 weeks ago, Elder C and I invited a transient man by the name of John to come to church with us.  He came inside for a church tour, wanted to be baptized, but was unwilling to make/keep commitments to get him there.  Yesterday, Elder A and I were sitting in Gospel Principles class, and a lady opens the door, taps our shoulders, and motions for us to come into the hall.  We go, and John is there.  He goes through some bags he's holding, because he wants to show us something, and he pulls out a certificate of baptism from a non-denominational Christian church.  I guess they baptized him on the spot, and he wanted us to know he had been saved.  He told us that we need to be more bold with people.  And then, as mysteriously as he appeared, he vanished.

But anyway, Jose also came to church.  He's been twice now, and is kind of dating Mary, whom we baptized towards the end of last transfer.  He's pretty cool, we're excited to be working with him this week, he wants to be baptized on the 28th :)

Speaking of last transfer, Elder C and I made a goal to cut the word "like" out of our vocabulary.  It lasted  for, like, 5 minutes. 

Elder Anderson and I have recommitted ourselves to this goal, but this time we are much more accountable. This time there is a punishment affixed to the law.  The demands of justice in this case are 5 push ups for every transgression.  On the first day of this I did, like, 200 push ups. 

 

The second day of this was an exchange day, and we had my boy Elder S in our area with us.  He wanted to join us, but probably regrets it now.  He says "like" like nobody's business.  He had to do well over 500 push ups.  However, even though Steed is very strong, the punishment is more than his physical body could handle.  We determined that mediators would be allowed, and Elder A and myself did about 100-150 pushups each for him.  Thus, the demands of Justice could be satisfied through the Law of Mercy.  Also, our vocabulary is improving. 

So in my New Testament reading the other day, Jesus was chastising the Pharisees and Scribes again, and my mind was brought to 1 Ne 19:23, and I was reminded to liken all the scriptures unto myself.  

I often associate Pharisees and Sadducees with "others."  Perhaps those who are not teaching the True Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In some cases that may be accurate, but in many cases others are kept from the truth only because they know not where to find it.  Important to remember, however, is that the Pharisees and company HAD the truth at one point, they just weren't living it, and had removed themselves from it. Therefore the people who are most like them are us members of the Church of Jesus Christ, who are not living or acting the way we should.  

The Pharisees, Sadducees,  and Scribes (who were usually Pharisees, but could be Saducees as well) represent 3 types of Universal or Personal Apostasies.  

Pharisees believed in 1) the Law of Moses and 2) Oral Tradition.  

We can equate that to believing in the Truth, but also accepting adulterating doctrine when convenient.

Sadducees accepted ONLY the law of Moses, and rejected everything else- regardless of whether or not it was true.  (For example, they didn't believe in Resurrection- because it wasn't in the writings of Moses)

Scribes were those responsible for the Law, and were at fault for misinterpreting or misconstruing the law for their own ends.  No further need of explanation.  

I also think it's hilarious that the Pharisees and Sadducees HATED eachother, and only agreed when it came to hating Jesus Christ.  We see the same thing today by the enemies of Christianity.  They don't stand on a unified platform, and they don't even necessarily get along.  But they can come together for long enough to oppose Christ.  

Down to 45 seconds, sorry I don't explain things very well over email, but it's worth studying.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ can not be something we do, it has to be something we become.  We know it is true, but we must be true to it.

"I'm sure the answer is somewhere in the Book of Mormon..."

Monday, September 16, 2013

We're starting week 5 of the transfer! Everyone keeps saying how fast time is going, and I'd have to agree.

We have a LOT to do in a short amount of time, and in addition to that we keep getting dragged out of our area for meetings and things.  

So with the time that we DO have in our area, we'll be working double time all week again.  So that'll be fun at least.  

Elder S's highlight of the week was definitely a service project at our first counselor's house, wherein we were breaking down a shed.  We gave him a sledgehammer. I've never seen a child so happy.

Our new boy, Elder T, gave a talk in Sacrament meeting.  He loves talking, it's pretty funny haha.  He did a good job though, I think he's still trying to adjust to the mainland.  

I, along with a handful of other missionaries, collect quotes from our beloved President Weaver.  Here's a new one from this week (on the subject of car accidents in the past couple weeks) "Like 7 of them have been with Immovable Objects!  That don't move!"  

It's better if you see it with his facial expression and hand gestures.  He just can't for the life of him figure out why missionaries keep running into stationary objects haha.

Does anyone know what tarragon is?  I keep putting it in my spaghetti sauce, because I found it in the cupboards, and it makes me feel like a culinary genius.    Which I clearly am.  I also put basil in the pot when I'm boiling my noodles, and if nothing else, it definitely adds to the placebo effect of the whole ordeal.  

Having spaghetti in the mission field is a lot like having the spaghetti Dad makes- except I have to make it myself, and it doesn't taste as good.  But on the bright side it is definitely an adventure every day, I have no idea what 's going to happen next!  I also upgraded this past week, and invested in garlic bread.  This side-venture seems to be going quite well, except I haven't figured out how to make the outside crisp, but the inside not way too crunchy.  I'm sure the answer is somewhere in the Book of Mormon, but I haven't found it yet.  I'll be scouring the Isaiah chapters next.

well...... I guess I'll see you next week!

Life. This email will probably have nothing to do with that, but I think it's a good title.

Hi!  It's me! Your long lost son! 

This week was pretty stressful, with some long, long days.  But still, looking back at it as a whole, it seemed to fly by.  So funny.

Hey, so guess what? Last night we were tracting, right towards the end of the night.  We were short on our goals for the week, so we were sprinting up the staircases in the apartments we were knocking haha.  (We had a Papa Murphy's in our fridge we were gonna eat at night, which provides powerful motivation)  

So we're at this door, and a man opens the door with a rather disinterested facial expression.  (It's the one where they are gonna let you talk for a couple seconds, but at the first convenient break, they tell you they aren't interested)  

But wait- what is that on the screen in my peripheral vision? Could it be?

"Hey man, you playing Runescape?"

*A voice comes from behind the door, on the couch* 

"He doesn't, But I do!"

This guy's girlfriend proceeded to tell me about the game's new updates, and her character.  Apparently no missionaries in the past have asked about runescape- they're both new investigators now haha.  

Goodness I love being a missionary.

Hey so I added another personal study project, in case you want something different to read.  As of this morning I started the New Testament again, I'm going to read it cover to cover again before the end of my mission, Which I think is just over 4 pages a day or something.  I really enjoyed it this morning, and it answered a couple questions I had that I should probably have known a long time ago, but was too embarrassed to ask haha.  Who'd have thought, you can find answers in the scriptures!

Making my life doubly fun, one of my Book of Mormon readings is currently on 3 Nephi 14, which of course is very close to Matthew 7, So I'll be doing a whole lot of Sermon on the Mount Studying haha.  Good stuff.

Gosh darn Primary, always teaching me false doctrine.  It wasn't until I was in college that I discovered that the scriptures didn't say "Faith is like a seed", in Alma 32 it says the WORD is the seed.  

Over time, that wound healed- and no sooner do I let my guard down, then they drop THIS on me! Turns out, remember that foolish man who built his house upon the sand?  Yeah, well, apparently it didn't "wash away"  It fell! and great was the fall of it.  

Ok, well, now all of a sudden this is getting way better.  

compare to 1 Nephi 11:36

Goodness I love the scriptures.

Ok, I'm about done now.  

 

Love,

Lonas

Happy Happy :)

They can't all be great letters... :)

Haha oh my stars, My boy Elder T (who, by the way, had Sister G for an MTC teacher, my good friend from back in Bremerton :) :) )  is so funny.  He's so positive and optimistic it's ridiculous. Favorite quote from him, "I'm happy when you guys are happy! and when you guys are sad....., well I'm still happy, I just don't get why you are sad!"

hahahahahaha what a gem :) we'll keep him around.  

So, after staring at this email draft for a long time, I decided to look through the weeks events in my planner to see if there was anything I should talk about.  Unfortunately, you don't know any of the people who we're working with, and it seems very daunting to try to catch you up on their stories...

hmm. 10 minutes since the last sentence. this is terrible.

well...

This next week will be good too.  Except we have zone conference on Wednesday for a good chunk of the day.  Meetings and stuff are good, but sometimes I feel like it slows down the work.  I know it's good though.  

Hard to believe we're starting week 3 already.  and Elder A hits his year mark this Thursday :) pretty crazy. I remember when he came out haha :)   I really like Anderson.  He's a great missionary, and is just way fun. I have such  great companions   

hmmm.  ok, yeah.

So we started reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, 5 pages a day.  Which means I'm now in 3 places haha, this morning I read 3 Nephi 10 (approx 1 chapter a day) Mosiah 11 (3 pages a day) and pages 11-16 (5 pages a day) 

Feel free to jump in with me anywhere haha.  it's fun :)  

especially loved 3 Nephi 10.

3 ne 10:4-6,

3 ne 24:7 / Mal 3:7

Zch 1:3

Jdg 2:1

Ok.... well, much love! bye!

What 3 weapons would you choose?

Week one of the transfer is over!  What a week :)

It was a relatively long week, as missions go... which means it was still one of the fastest weeks of my life.  

My companions are:

1) Elder A

Farm boy from Utah.  

Farm boys have great work ethics. :)  In fact, I was almost worried that he might outwork me.  'Tis not so, but we're totally on the same page, it's awesome. He's way funny, and is a great missionary. He's been out for about a year.  His 3 weapons in the impending zombie apocalypse would be

 a) A revolver,

 b) Katana,

 and 

c) shotgun.  

Pretty solid choices, We'll keep him around

2) Elder S

Same as last transfer. Good guy, glad to have him around :)

a) Maul

b) Shotgun

c) Sickle

I don't know why he thinks a maul is a good idea, but that's okay, we all make mistakes.  Although that one may be his last.

3) Elder T

He's our new boy from Hawaii! Get this, he chose me to be his Father!  Who'd have thought?! I thought I'd never be a father again.  It's way fun :)  

He's the happiest, most optimistic companion I've ever had.  Great guy, so happy to be here, eager to learn and to work.  

a) Bow & Arrow

b) Machine Gun

c) Shotgun

Hah.  Good luck finding ammo for your machine gun, Tani.  

4) Elder Lonas. 

Yep! still here!

a) Machete

b) Glock 19

c) One-handed Crossbow.

So by the last week of last transfer, most everyone we had found and taught last transfer had either been baptized, dropped us, or we dropped them.

Which means this week we knocked a lot of doors! SO MUCH FUN! Elder A and T both love knocking, so I'm happy :)    We've found more new investigators in a single week than I have in quite a long time, so we'll be working with them a lot this next week, doing our whole wheat and tares thing.  

Mainly I just want to knock more doors :)  We'll be placing a lot of emphasis though on trying to solidify the people we found, helping them get to church next week, and putting them on date for baptism.

I've been thinking recently about a talk given, I think by Elder Uchtdorf, entitled something along the lines of "always in the middle".

When people ask me how far I am into my mission, I just say "Oh, I'm in the middle"  :)

I'm definitely past the point of 'picking up speed' and the only thing I think I need to be wary of is the tendency to want to 'slow down' near the end.  What a silly idea :)  I'll be in the middle of my mission until the end :)

I'm in 3 Nephi right now, working around chapters 3&4.  I'f you're bored, I recommend looking up the definitions of "expedient" and "subsist" and see where it takes you.  

Well, I'm out of time.

Love,

Lonas

Book of Mormon Baseball

Official coming home date!  December 18th, 2013.

Dear little world,

This has been the fastest transfer of my mission so far.  I think I'm gonna start praying they slow down.  

Missions are such a privilege.

I remember feeling like a mission was something I could do for God.  In reality, I don't think I've helped any one person out more than I have helped myself.  Don't get me wrong.  Missions aren't about yourself, they're about others.  But as we focus on others, we are the natural byproduct.  

If every time we were to help someone get closer to Christ, and have better lives, we were to arbitrarily say that we were to have improved their lives by 10 degrees, I would say that we as missionaries get a couple degrees closer as well.  Maybe not as big a step as someone who is being baptized, but a significant difference.  If we do that with a few thousand people... the sum total is greatly in favor of others. But as far as which individual is benefited the most, it would definitely be us.  We are so so so so blessed to be missionaries.    (Mosiah 2:21-24)

If Heavenly Father just wanted the job done right, I think he would just have Holland and Bednar come do it all by themselves.  But the wonderful part of missionary work is that he has such silly people called to be missionaries, so we can learn and grow.

This weekend Mary and Lars, along with Bill, were baptized and confirmed.  Building schedule conflicts and working with people's schedules made it kind of stressful - but at their baptisms you can feel The Holy Spirit of Promise, testifying that what is taking place is sacred and eternal.  And nothing else matters :)

My friend Elder Christensen is getting transferred to Alaska.  I suppose Heavenly Father wants him to baptize some Eskimos.  (His two years are over, he's going home.)

I'll be getting Elder A.  I don't know a lot about him, but apparently he's a good missionary, and a very hard worker.  I think he's a farm boy, so that'll be fun.  

Keeping Elder S, but unfortunately I'll be losing Elder H.  He's a good missionary, and a way funny kid, I'm gonna miss him.  We will be getting a new boy too, so that'll be fun.

In the past couple of weeks we have been separating the wheat from the tares a lot.  I'm excited for the next couple weeks where we can do a lot of finding!  Finding people is so much fun.  

So, I've become quite the culinary prodigy.  I now make French toast, and spaghetti! (not together)

When I make spaghetti,  I add basil and tarragon. I have no idea why, but we have them in little bottles in our cupboards, and it makes me feel like an Italian chef.

Oooh! and Lonas has a new addiction!  It's a game I picked up from Elder F back in the blessed land of Bremerton, but never really played it until this past week.  I taught it to my boy when we were having a long day of tracting towards the beginning of the transfer, and he seemed a little bit discouraged.  Unbeknownst to me, he liked the game a lot and kept playing it by himself.  And then he showed it to Christensen, who later showed it to me again, haha.  So now we are all playing it!

It's called Book of Mormon Baseball. I'll try to explain the rules.

2 players each take turns.  When one player is up at bat, the other is pitching.  The pitcher makes a noise with his mouth to indicate that he is pitching, and immediately begins fanning through the Book of Mormon.  When the Batter says "Swing!" the Pitcher stops flipping through, and opens up the book.  If it's in the topical guide or intro or something, the pitcher calls "Foul" and re pitches.  If it's fair, he calls "Clear!"

Followed by at which point in time the Batter calls either Right Right, Right Left, Left Right, or Left Left (Indicating Right or left page, and then right or left column)

In turn, the Pitcher will tell him which verse numbers are in the column.  

I'll give a quick example of that part.

So lets say he calls swing, and the pitcher opens up to pages 372-373.

Pitcher says "Clear" and the Batter says Left right (so Left page, right column) 

the Pitcher would then say "4 through 10" Because those are the verses on the page (I just checked. I dont know that offhand hahaha)

the Batter will then pick a number. between 4 and 10.  Let's say he picks 10, then the Pitcher will read verse 10.  

The Batter can ask him to re-read it as many times as desired.  He has 3 guesses to guess which chapter of which Book it's in.  (So the Correct answer to our hypothetical round would have been Helaman Chapter 3)  

If he gets it right on his first guess, he gets 3 points.  If he gets it right on his 2 guess, he gets 2 points, if he gets it right on his 3 guess, he gets 1 point.  He can continue guessing indefinitely, but if he misses it after that, he loses a point for every guess, and can still only get 1 point for getting it right.  

You can also use 1 or 2 of your guesses to narrow down the book.  For example:

Is it in the Book of Alma? 

-No  (counts as 1 guess)

Is it in the Book of Helaman?

-Yes (counts as 2nd guess)

is it Helaman chapter 3?

Yes!  (Batter receives 1 point, because he got it on 3rd guess)

So the first person to 21 points wins!  

 OK, now for advanced rules.

If, after the 1st or 2nd guess, the Batter misses, the pitcher can call "Tip!"  

At which point the Book of Mormon is handed to the Batter, the batter flips through and the pitcher calls swing. (just like a normal turn) 

except the Pitcher only has 1 guess to get it right.  If he succeeds, then Batter loses 3 points.  If he fails, then the Batter automatically gets however many points were still possible 

(so If the pitcher called tip after the first guess, and then failed, the Batter would get 2 points, bc the batter had 2 guesses left)

Ok, Those are all the rules I can think of off the top of my head.  If you have any questions, let me know and i'll clarify.  It's WAY fun though after you do a couple rounds.  You learn a lot just by playing, because you're constantly being tested, and then whenever you're wrong you can learn why really fast and then keep going.  

Lonas is currently undefeated :)   

Guys, I love my mission so much.  I'm a little bit nervous for the new transfer as usual, but I'm sure it will be good, Heavenly Father always has such a great plan :)  And I know he has a plan for each of us.  He really does.  

-Lonas

Chase and his buddy Elder Christensen

 

"When obedience ceases to be an irritant, and becomes our quest, we are endowed with power."

This week has been so much fun!  Another short week for emailing, Elder C is going home next week, so we have to spend a lot of Pday time doing "going home" stuff, so we don't cut into proselyting time, which is good :)  

We had a goal in the mission set by our Mission President to give as many church tours as possible.  I don't know if it's good or bad, but once we get a goal like that, it becomes a game.  So it's been a way fun week haha :)  We had a lot of success, I've never given so many church tours in one week before. We gave more last week than I've given in entire transfers before.  It just goes to show you that you can get what you go for.

That's something that Elder Christensen and myself have been talking a lot about.  Faith is the first principle of the gospel, and yet sometimes we don't really live by what we preach.  We as missionaries pray about our goals before we set them, which is the process by which we try and align our will with our Heavenly Father's. If our goals are in line with his goals, then we should be able to bring them about if we really put our all into it.  We won't always hit every goal, and that's ok- but sometimes I think we use that as a cop out to only say we believe in it, but not really do all we can.  

Preach My Gospel recommends that in a companion study, you make a list of every proselyting activity you did that past week, and then evaluate whether or not it was an effective use of your time.  The idea isn't for us to look busy for two years, while in actuality we're spinning our wheels, but to be as productive as possible.  So we've been focusing on only filling our day with the BEST of activities, and minimizing the "good, and the better.    It's fun and satisfying :)

In my personal studies I've been studying a lot about Obedience.  I think it was Benson, who said that when obedience ceases to be an irritant, and becomes our quest, we are endowed with power.

Good thought :)

Hey, short again I know, please forgive me :)

Love,  Lonas! 

Pictures!

A few pics I lifted off the mission blog.  Thanks Sister Weaver!  :)