Week 30: Keep On Keeping On

This week was a bit rough, we tracted a lot but not a lot of people were open.  

We are getting smartphones soon, so we are preparing for that.

We set a baptismal date with one of our investigators, our teaching pool is quite small but there truly are people in the Poteau area that have been prepared by the Lord.

Even though people don't always listen, it is always a delight to be in the service of others.  We are trying to focus on answering questions of the soul on the doorstep that lead to the message of the restoration, such as:

Where can I turn for peace?

How can I help my family become closer?

How can I become happy?

Why does God allow us to struggle?

As we try to answer these questions, we have the answers that can bless their lives!!

I know that sometimes we will go through rough times, and sometimes we will have a period of peace, but as we look unto Christ in every thought, we know the destination that we have as a goal, and we have the perfect Plan of Happiness to achieve that goal of knowing our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (John 17:3)!

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and hope you all will find the truth of it as well!

Love,

Elder Eliason

A cool truck in Clarksville, AR

The Bonnie and Clyde gang's last stop was here in Poteau!! (Photos below)

Week 29: Poteau

Hi!

This week was really fun!

We had lots of tracting time, but also lots of teaching time.  

There was a guy who just showed up at church last Sunday, who has been looking for a church that matches the doctrine of the Bible, and he has been looking for 2.5 years.  It has been wonderful to show him the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, and to introduce him to more of the word of God, being the Book of Mormon.  

We had a tornado warning yesterday, and we were walking to a house and saw some mist coming very close to us.  We continued walking, and on the street in front of us we saw a WALL OF RAIN coming at about 15 mph straight towards us!! We had to run to the house, and we barely didn't make it, and got a little wet before we got inside.  The weather here is about as crazy as Montana's!

Love,

Elder Eliason

 Messing around at a dam while waiting to start an exchange

Disc Golf!! My favorite sport on the mission :)

Week 28: Birthday in the Field

We did lots of tracting this week, and I am beginning to refine and improve my techniques for tracting, so that I can be a more effective teacher at the doorstep.  One thing that I have learned recently is that you can teach more than just a 3 sentence explanation of the Book of Mormon to lots of people, and they will most likely listen.  The more they know, the more intrigued they will be and the tools you give them will reap better results.  

Shout-out to my family for making my birthday interesting!! My family somehow got in contact with a member of the branch I am currently serving in, and she baked me a cake!! That was a great surprise.  It felt different having a birthday on my mission, not as much focused on me, and I liked it!  It always feels good to serve others at any time, and I know that it is what Christ would have us do.

One thing I have learned this week is that families are so very important!!

Families are a huge gift from our Heavenly Father, because as we interact in families we understand our relationship to Him in more detail and in a wider frame of perspective.  I am so happy for the family He has given me, and I appreciate their support so much!!

I know our Heavenly Father loves us, and He wants the best for us.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ will allow us to continually align our hearts and minds with His will, and by aligning ourselves, we will be blessed!

I love y'all!  I hope you have good weeks this week!

Love,

Elder Eliason

 This little pup followed us around when we went tracting in a really small town.  He was fun!

We shared some cake with Elder Barber (from the MTC), and his trainee, Elder Angelbuer.  The day after that we blitzed their area and found lots of new people for them to teach!!

Week 27: Poteau, Oklahoma

This week I was transferred to Poteau, Oklahoma.

This area is a town of about 8000, which is a different pace from Centerton!!

The whole town smells like beef jerky to me, the people are so great.  Lots of people will let us share our message.

It's a branch, so there aren't as many members to help us, but they help us so much!  They are some of the funniest people!!

My new companion is Elder Hurst, who has been out for 20 months.  Some of his favorite hobbies are tracting and talking to people, so I am going to try to learn all that I can from him!!

I am excited to serve here, the work is good and I am ready to get to work!

Well, I hope y'all have a great week!

Love,

Elder Eliason

  A lady who was baptized this week.

The first hills I've seen in quite some time!!

This is southern country!

Week 26: New Year's Day & Transfers

This week was crazy!! 

We had so much fun here in Arkansas, it snowed!! We went out and made snow angels, it was so much fun!

Veronica was baptized!!!!  It was such a sweet experience, the speakers were all converts, and they shared so much love and support for Veronica.  It has been a long journey for her, but she is so excited and ready to receive all that our Father has to offer her!!

We went tracting a lot, the wind chill for today is -7 right now, and we are in a car share so bikes are the way to go!!  The wind just cuts right through you.  We have found a lot of good people to teach, who are ready for our message.  It has been a good time in Centerton 2nd.  I have grown so much in the last 3 months, and I am so glad to have served here!! However, we got transfer calls and I'm headed to Poteau, Oklahoma on thursday.  I am excited to go to a smaller town, I've heard from a lot of people that the small towns are where all the "stories" come from, but I'm just excited to serve God's children!!  

Well, not a lot to say in this one but finally some pictures!!

As always, 

Love,

Elder Eliason

Veronica's Baptism!!!

Alma 29:1-2

Elders Dike and Rosier

Wendy's selfie

Week 25: Christmas

This week went by quickly!! We had a wonderful time spreading the Light of Christ, and it was an amazing time!!

We knocked doors a little bit this week, and people were really receptive to the message, more than usual!! It was great!!

We were so blessed by everyone around us, we received so much love and support around Christmas away from home.  

I hope you all had a wonderful week, and keep Christ in your lives throughout the upcoming year!!  

Love,

Elder Eliason