He's On His Way Home!!!

 An Elder serving in our ward in Billings, Montana taught Elder Hebert. He was called to the Arkansas Bentonville Mission and began his work in the field as Michael is leaving. They had the opportunity to communicate prior to Elder Hebert's arrival and grabbed a quick photo! So glad they were able to meet. We sent a copy the Elder that taught Elder Hebert. What wonderful blessings and experiences.

 Elders Eliason and Barber in the airport... heading home!

Elders Franks and Eliason

Week 103: Last weekly :'(

Hello! I hope all is well for you. 

This is my last week in the Arkansas Bentonville Mission! It's been a crazy time, and I have grown so much. 

This week was incredible. Monday we knocked into a guy named Demarcus and he was looking for a church and wants to get baptized and we were all like, "we can definitely help you!" 😂 We met with him and his wife on Friday and they wanted to come to church, so we came back on Saturday and introduced them to some members, who picked Demarcus' wife, Jamie, up for church, and the members said Jamie really enjoyed church and want to bring their whole family next week! Demarcus had to work last minute :(

We also knocked into a guy named Dillon that couldn't talk then but we set up a return appointment and when we came back, he really opened up to us and had some great questions that he was sincerely looking for answers to. He prayed at the end of our discussion, and when he prayed he thanked God for sending him us as a sign as an answer to his prayers! He is pumped about coming to church as well. He loved the way that the children are taught at church. 

We have had many experiences that are tender mercies from the Lord. 

I love this work!! I am so sad to leave it full time, but I am excited to start a new chapter of my life, and do all that I can to follow God's will for me. 

God loves us. Christ atoned for our sins and he is there to comfort and support us through our trials and weaknesses. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to become like our Heavenly Father and receive all that he has. We can change. Our desires and our works are important. As we follow Christ and forget ourselves, we will be supremely happy. Through Joseph Smith Jr. the Church of Jesus Christ had been restored. As we participate in the ordinances of salvation, we will receive greater light and direction in our lives. The Holy Spirit is active on the earth. He inspires and directs us as we allow Him. God has a plan your you and for me. We can do it! I know these things to be true.

My heart is full, and I feel so much love as I look back on the people I have interacted with during the last two years of my life, and I am so grateful for this labor of love that I have been a part of. This truly is God's work, and His glory. 

I love you!! Take care, and I hope to connect with all of you very soon. 

Love, 

Elder Eliason 

 A live tree growing out of a piece of wood. 

 Pictures with the Palmer family, the Bishop of the 1st ward.

Week 102: Weekly

Hey! I hope this week has been really well for you. It certainly has been for me!

Highlights of the week:

A lady we have been teaching came to church for the second week in a row!! We are excited to help her keep progressing in her testimony of the Gospel of Christ.

I was able to call home on Father's day!! It is always a sweet experience to remember all that my father (and mother) have done for me. It's so much, and I bet I don't even see past the surface. My parents are the best!!

We were able to very specifically pray for people to talk to while knocking doors, and we haven't been able to knock on that many doors because we keep having great conversations with those we talk to.

A recent convert has been struggling with defending truth and his faith, even among his own roommates. We talked with him about how certain qualities like meekness and love unfeigned are how we are able to reach the hearts of those we interact with, and the heart is where true change comes from.

I read this quote in a talk Elder Uchtdorf gave in a talk in April 2016: "Obedience is the lifeblood of faith. It is by obedience that we gather light into our souls." I know that this is true! Obedience allows us to show our faith, to receive blessings, to learn truth, and to return back to our Heavenly Father. These are the blessings of obedience!! What great rewards!

Jesus Christ lives, and through Him we can live, through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Love, 

Elder Eliason :)

 A picture of me with a "razorback" hog, the mascot at the University of Arkansas

 I'm going to expire before a gallon of milk now!

 $23 in quarters I have saved over the last year. For the worth of a quarter is great!!

A quote from President Monson that I really enjoy

Father's Day tie from Elder Johnson, my trainer. Just happened to notice the inscription.

Week 101: Fishers of Men

We went fishing with a nonmember who has taken the lessons in the past and afterwards he and his girlfriend said they'd like to meet and talk about the Book of Mormon!! We had lots of success finding people to teach in the singles ward this week.

                                                

Week 100: Cover Photo

Hey! I hope you had a week as great as mine! We were busy busy.

Tuesday we had a tornado warning, so we ran to the institute building from contacting on campus and played ping pong in the basement until the warning passed. Then we drove to Bentonville and picked up an extra car. (yay!!) On the way back, we saw 3 or 4 wrecks. It was raining pretty hard and I guess people went faster than their tires could handle, and they hydroplaned.

We did lots of service this week, lots of it the same as always, but on Saturday we had 10 missionaries at the library for the Summer Reading Kickoff. We helped set up bounce houses, booths, we popped popcorn, we were parking attendants, I was a crossing guard, and my favorite of all, I got to be Pete the Cat!!!!!!!! It was awesome! There were 6 thousand people there, and we got to interact with most of them. One of the library workers said, "We couldn't have done it without the black tags!" It was a blast. 

We rode bikes some this week, and I went to church at the YSA for the first time, so I guess I'm officially a missionary in the YSA ward. I'm sad to leave the 1st ward, but I'm glad that we are still here to help the sisters transition. This summer, since school is out, the focus for the YSA is preparing the missionaries for the fall. Part of that is having students take a survey that President Strong has put together to evaluate the need of different resources that we have at our disposal, that we haven't used, like the Addiction Recovery Program, or the Self Reliance Courses, or classes to overcome anxiety and depression. I really think that this is a good direction for the future of the work on the campus. The work is hastening! The times are changing! And we are in the middle of it!! It is wonderful :)

Have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Eliason

I made the cover photo of the Fayetteville Public Library!! 

 Cover Photo Close-up 

 A very interesting take on life

 Pete, So Sweet

 Pete The Cat Eliason

South Zone Conference

Week 99: Crazy

This week was so crazy!! We had tons of great experiences. This transfer we moved from a really nice apartment all to ourselves to a one bedroom, one bathroom apartment close to campus with 4 missionaries. My companion and I are covering the first ward, and now we are going to be finding and teaching on the University of Arkansas campus. Go razorbacks!! It is a sweet gig. We moved in Wednesday night, and Thursday Elder Dike and Elder Cepeda moved in. They are going to be traveling the mission the next 4 weeks, and then they will go home with me. What is interesting about this setup is that all four of us are companions. There were a couple of days where we switched companions twice a day! This is so that Elder Broadhead can learn the YSA work and still go to all of the lessons we have in the first ward. I went to church with Elder Cepeda, and we spent most of Sunday on bikes. It was really really humid, but it was a fantastic day nevertheless. We went to the park and talked to people, we biked to a couple of lessons, and tracted a bit. The Lord rewarded our efforts with lots of people to talk to. We have had some great lessons, some great stories, and lots of great fun in the service of my fellow man. Being a missionary is such a blast. It has gone by so fast! But I'll have some great opportunities to share the gospel when I get home.

I love the Lord. He is so so so good!!!! Sometimes he gives us trials and mountains to climb, but as we keep Christ in our mind, we will always have the strength to overcome the challenges that beset us.

Much love!!

Elder Eliason

 District - Boys will be boys

 District Tough Guys

 District

 Experience Fayetteville

 Spider got the dragonfly