People In My Path

Hello all,

Never in my mission have I felt more like a real missionary than I do here in the Renton Highlands. And this week was no exception. We had a great week, meeting lots of new people and truly seeing that the Lord truly does place small miracles in our place.

Let's just say that tuesday was rainy, wet, and yes, quite soggy. And we were out in the middle of it. Thank Heavens for my good Eddie Bauer rain jacket, and for the nice members that let us in. Wednesday was a good day! We found Sara about a week ago and she told us to come back later. After knocking on her door several other times and days, she finally was home and let us in. When we asked her why, she didn't know but told us that it felt right. To me it is amazing how the spirit touches some people by simply giving them "good," undescribable feelings. So we talked to her a little bit and testified about the cleansing power of the atonement. She has had a hard life and could truly use the atonement in her life. In the middle of our lesson about the atonement, her friend Jacob walked in. As we shared the first vision in Joseph Smith's words, we paused and let them think about it. The spirit told them that it was true and we invited them to be baptized on December 24th. They accepted that date and are working towards it. We're praying that they don't fall off, which they easily could.

 

I have found again and again that the spirit also speaks to us as missionaries telling us where to go to find someone that is prepared for the gospel. So the last door of the apartment building we were knocking on Friday we found a new investigator. This week the Lord truly has placed people in our path, as it promisses in Preach My Gospel. Although, not everything worked out this week, the Lord truly has placed us where we were needed at the time we were there.

Thanksgiving was this week! We had it with the Andersons, a member family that we see nearly every week. We had a great time talking to them and even had a cribbage tournement. Sister Belnap died this week and her funeral was Saturday. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer and wasn't expected to make it to Thanksgiving. But her funeral was one of the best I have attended. It was funny, hopeful, spirit-filled, and uplifting. The Belnaps are one of the flagship families of the Renton Highlands ward. She was strong in her faith and will truly be missed, but will continue to spread the gospel in the spirit world. It was really quite amazing to see how positive her children (now grown up) were. One of her daughters told us that she was okay and it was just like a mission area transfer. It's hard but it will be okay. I have never thought of death being that way, but for those that know God's plan, that is truly what it is.

 

Things are going well. We continue to work hard. And the Church is true!

~Elder Fetzer

It's almost Thanksgiving!

Hello all,

 

Well, this was actually quite a good week! They say that the "Highlands are hot," and I feel that they are beginning to become so. I feel good about this transfer. Hopefully it is the will of the Lord to allow us to teach someone that will actually progress towards baptism!

 

This week we got back in contact with a former/eternal investigator. Derrick and Carly Meehan have investigated since about 2009. RIght now Derrick is ready for baptism, but Carly is not. So we talked about how to recieve personal revalation. We read many scriptures, such as D&C 6:14-15 and D&C 8:2-3. They feel that they may already have recieved an answer on weather the Church is true, but they may not have realized it. So we'll check back on them soon and let them think about what we left them.

 

The Highlight of the week was Elder Dallin H. Oaks. He came to speak to priesthood leaders here, but also spoke to the Missionaries. He talked about always having the spirit with us. When we are able to teach by the spirit, we are able to teach anyone. He also reminded us that selfishness takes the spirit away. We have to let go of our selfish desires and have charity for those around us. It was amazing to be in the presence and shake the hand of an Apostle of the Lord. An opporotunity that we don't get too often. Elder Oaks' "Junior Companion" was Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy. He spoke about how those who are "prepared by the Lord" hear the Lord's voice and have an open heart. Hearing them both speak gave me the extra power I need to get through the next couple of weeks!

 

Thanksgiving is this week! We have a few invites, but we are still trying to figure out what we are going to do. I think that it is gonna be a good week! The Church is true and the Book is blue!

 

~Elder Fetzer

"What just happened?"

Hello all,

 

Well, this week was transfers again and I got a new companion. His name is Elder Dale. But I am staying in the Renton Highlands, which I am actually quite excited about. It is a really good area. We have some great members and many people we can visit and teach. But we do need investigators, some that will actually progress and do what we invite them to do. So we'll keep working.

 

This week we found two new investigators, Heather and Dallin. They are truly people that need the gospel. People say that the Church is kind of like a hospital. For them it could be. This is their third time getting married. They have only been married 3 weeks and are looking for a divorce. We testified about how the gospel could help them and they want to keep learning more. 

 

Also this week was the primary program. It is always fun to see the primary kids get up and sing, especially when we are combined with the Spanish branch. This week we met with Jonah. I told you about him a while ago. It was weird. He is very spiritual and told us that the only mistake in the Book of Mormon is that Jesus isn't a Hebrew name. He also went on and told us about how "father" told him about the 12 degrees of the universe and the meaning of his name and many other things. So we just intently listened and tried to get it back on a gospel subject, but now we know what to do for next time and it gave us a good idea of who to take with us. Really the only thing that could sum it up best is what I asked Elder Ellis when we were walking home: "What just happened?" But Jonah does believe the Church is true and wants to be baptized so I guess you could call him "golden."

 

Well, this week's letter will be short. All in all, it was a good week. All the prayers help. This will be an exciting week though. Elder Dallin H. Oaks from the Quorum of the Twelve apostles and Elder Rasband from the Presidency of the Seventies are coming on Friday. It is going to be an exciting thing for our mission! The Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer

The Mormon Moment

Hello all,

Well, this has actually been a pretty good week. We had Zone Conference this week, which was actually really good. Probably the best one I have ever been to. It was fun and informative. There was a funny skit about golf with President Larkin, showing us that we need to use all the clubs we have in our bag and all the tools we have at our disposal as missionaries. We also had a fun miniature golf activity against the zones. President Larkin called right now the "Mormon Moment" because the Church is making headlines nearly every day. The Church is being examined and often defended. Mission presidents have even been encouraged to get the newspaper so they know what is going on around them. We even watched THIS funny video. The Church seems to be in a good position right now.

Well, the weather is getting colder and wetter right now and it is getting darker earlier, which isn't too fun, especially without a car, but we'll manage. This week we got a new investigator. Her name is Adalena. She was a referral from another set of missionaries that taught her in another area before she moved into ours. She is a single mom and is at wit's end with her 3 children (5, 12 and 17). She is stressed and wants to teach them good morals and values. She was found by a member in another ward, driving home from a long day at work. The spirit prompted her to pick her up on the side of the road because she was carrying groceries. So when she went back to pick her up, Adalena had dropped her groceries and needed help. When she asked why the member picked her up, the member responded, "Well I am Mormon and when you are baptized into the Church, you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and it told me to pick you up." Eventually missionaries did get involved in that ward, but Adalena wasn't quite ready. The member basically bore her testimony to Adalena and told her that only the gospel could help her family. So she is ready to do anything to help her family. Hopefully she truly decides to follow the gospel. So there is a ray of hope for us in the coming weeks.

I went on exchanges this Friday with Elder Peterson, who is my district leader. It was actually quite a fun exchange. He is one of my favorite missionaries out here. Sunday was kind of disappointing. because Adalena's apartment had problems and the water had to be off temporarily. She didn't make it to Church. But she still wants to come and even get involved with the youth programs. Even a recent convert that was baptized here a few months ago seems to be falling off. He constantly cancels appointments and isn't there when he says he will be. Yesterday he didn't even show up to Church to have Elder Ellis bless his child, which may just be the last time that Eder Ellis could do it.

The Church is true and the work still moves on in the Renton Highlands ward.

~Elder Fetzer

This is Halloween!

Hello all,

 

Today is an exciting day! Super P-day is here! Seeing as we can't be out proselyting tonight, we are going to have a good day. Well, Halloween is here, which means that on November 1st, I will have 10 months left. I can't believe how fast time is flying my last half of my mission. So I guess that means I need to go out and work even harder.

 

This was another average week. We did a bit of tracting, teaching, and visiting. Nothing too out of the ordinary. But we did have a really good lesson with Abi, a less active member that is returning to activity. She invites us for dinner quite often. But the best part is that her non-member husband is the one that likes to talk about the Church. He seems interested and has really warmed up to us coming by. Hopefully we can invite him to really learn more. I feel like this area is ready for something big, but I don't know what yet. So I guess I will keep going out and trying to find new people that are ready and able to progress towards baptism.

 

On Friday we had our ward Halloween Party along with the Spanish Branch that used to be just a group in our ward. There were some really great costumes, including a family of Angry Birds, Parents as fishermen and the kids as a lobster and mermaid, and best of all, a younger couple that came as the spitting image of the Mad Hatter and Queen of Hearts that stole the show. Best of all, many of the less-active members that we work with attended and met many more people in the ward.

 

This is going to be a short letter, but things are going well in the Renton Highlands. Missionary work is good and as always the Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer

Thanksgiving in October

Hello all,

The rainy season has officially started in Seattle, making kind of a dull week. So yes, the rain really did put a damper on things. But hopefully things will get better soon. Last week I told you about Julie, an investigator that an intense, kind of pushy zone leader found for us during a tracting blitz of an apartment. Well, after many attempts to get a hold of her (even when we called she hung up), and finally getting a hold of her at her apartment, she dropped us. She has a lot on her plate and isn't ready right now, so we'll keep on looking for those that are truly ready for the gospel in their lives.

I don't know if it was faithlessness, or just experience that has told me that you can't necessarily put people on-date for baptism on the doorstep and expect them to follow through with what they agreed to do. But I guess that it sometimes works. I do know, however, that you should always talk about baptism in every lesson so it isn't a surprise when you invite people to be baptized.

Well, I got my Mormon.org profile finally online. There is a link on the side of the blog where you can find a link to it. Have you created a profile yet?

Well, I already told you that we teach many less active people. There are nearly 300 members and only about 75 come to sacrament meeting. But past missionaries have really made some good relationships with less-active members so we do have many people to teach. Hopefully we can get some new investigators soon. Until then, things are good! 

A dull week did end well. Last night we had dinner with the Kirkhams, an awesome member family that always makes my day when we go for a visit. They had an awesome full-on thanksgiving dinner, which I have to say was quite amazing. Sometimes the Lord knows just what you need after a disappointing week. So the work moves on and as always the Church is true!

~Elder Fetzer

Speeding Away

Hello All-

 

This week was my first time riding in a police car. Don't worry, it's not what you think. He was just a nice member that saw us walking to a 7:00 appointment and offered us a ride because we don't have a car. It was quite exciting!

 

The weeks seem to by flying by this transfer. Days go by faster when you have to walk everywhere! Our area is really quite small for a ward here and it takes about 45 minutes to walk from one end to the other. This week we had a few tracting exchanges in our area, where we found a few new investigators. Like Julie, who is technically on-date, but because we haven't really gotten the chance to meet her and she hasn't let us set up a time to come by, may be off-date very soon. She was tracted into and a really intense missionary invited her to be baptized. So we'll see where she goes, but I am a lot more hopeful about the Paulsons. The Paulsons are former investigators that we found in the area book. They were almost baptized a few years ago, but fell off because it would have caused family tension. So when we went to their house they were open to meeting again. We have an appointment with them this Thursday!

 

This ward has a lot of less-actives. With only about 60 attending sacrament each week and a few hundred on the records, there is a lot to do. I really like working with the less-actives. They have felt the spirit in their life already. There is usually a reason they don't attend anymore. But many of them are open to the missionaries visiting with them. It is sometimes the extent of their religious life and it is a really neat thing to be a part of.

Church was interesting yesterday. We were asked to do the Gospel Principles lesson in our class. Only 4 people attended. And Priesthood? I have never been to an Elders quorum meeting where only 6 (including my companion and I) attended. But the Church is still true no matter how big or small the congregation. And it is fun when you can get to know the members of the ward better and when they actually know who the missionaries are - a feeling I haven't truly felt in a ward since my firs area in Issaquah.

 

So right now we are moving along at a good pace. We teach every night and it is quite easy to have "other" lessons here. I feel like a real missionary again, after being in the office for nearly 6 months and not having too many people to teach. Time is ticking away now that I am over the hump. 

Well, things are going really well here.

 

The Church is true!

 

~Elder Fetzer