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