Week 55: Time's Ticking! ⏰

This week we were able to put a lot of work in, lots of tracting. It was pretty hot last week, this week looks to be a lot cooler.

Throughout my mission, I've had trouble tracting, but recently we've been finding lots of success with just simply introducing ourselves, telling the person what we do, asking them, in succession, if they're religious, if they believe in Christ, if they believe in the Bible, then we tell about the Book of Mormon in this context:

The Bible has the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon is just Another Testament of Jesus Christ, then we explain the Book of Mormon through the front pictures. 

Then we say that we are giving copies away for free, and then try to set up a return appointment and a commitment to read the Introduction page, which tells them why this would be important to them. 

Hard work pays off! Sometimes it feels like a grind, but even the smallest points of obedience show the Lord that we want to do His work, His way. I have seen miracles in the areas that I have served in, and I attribute some of those to obedience, but I'm definitely not even close to perfect, that I can assure you of.

I hope y'all all have a chance to high-five a missionary this week, it'll probs make his/her week 

Love, 

Elder Eliason

 Big Hill Lake, KS

Sunset

Week 54: Weekly Email

This week was very good!! I feel like I'm just a broken record saying the same things, sooooo..... I will just add pictures and a short testimony.

Our mission president did interviews this week, and he instructed our zone on faith vs. fear. Most of our fears we can justify as rational. Fear of the unknown, fear of dogs, talking to people about Christ, fear of rejection, etc. Most of us have fears because of past experiences or the experiences of others. In 2 Tim 1:7, Paul talks about how God gives us the spirit of love, of peace, of a sound mind, not the spirit of fear. Fear and faith can not coexist. We must choose. I have had a hard time with finding faith, but it is so important to cast out fear, so that we can put our trust in the Lord and move mountains! The three pillars that have really helped me to cast out fear are daily scripture study, praying intently, and trying to gain more from church. I know that Christ lives, that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that our Heavenly Father wants us to be faithful in all things.

Have a great week y'all!!

Love, 

Elder Eliason 

 Flour ball at an abandoned water park

 Exchanges

 Helping a member with some steers

Week 53: We Blew Up A Van

This week was lit 💣

The 4th here is so much fun!! We were on exchanges in Joplin, we went to a members house and they had barbecue, fireworks, and a good ol' missoura party!! I'll attach the pictures from it. (We didn't blow up the van, a member did) 

The work is going well in Parsons. It's cool to see how the branch president has the keys for the branch, and by following his counsel we have had lots of success. It is also cool to see how different styles of missionary work have varying levels of success in different wards and branches. It is a testament to me that God is watching over us and guiding the work individually throughout every area in the world, to hasten the Gathering of Israel.

Shout out to my dad, it's his birthday this week!! It's sorta funny because his birthday is my half birthday, and vice versa. He's a great person and I appreciate him immensely! 

Well, have a great week y'all!

Love, 

Elder Eliason

 Bass Fishing

  Elder Hutchings, Marty, me, Elder Sullivan, Elder Eggleston, Elder Rummler

 Joplin District Elders: Elder Rummler, Elder Sullivan, Elder Eggleston, Elder Hutchings, Me

Van Explosion

Week 52: Happy 4th of July Week

At first I thought nothing much happened this week, aaaaand then I remembered that I hit a year on my mission and got a new mission president, President Strong!

Other than that it was pretty hum drum. 

It's very humid, so tracting is very sticky and hot.

For my year mark we were on exchanges in Joplin, it was fun!! The 4th here is so awesome!! Last night, we were doing some companion study at the church, when we got done (around 9) we go out the door and THERE'S A ROMAN CANDLE WAR AND WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!!! It was intense.

People here take fireworks seriously. There are at least 7 fireworks stores in Parsons, and even last Saturday there are families in the streets lighting off fireworks. We even saw two four year olds, with no supervision, lighting off firecrackers in a bucket. It was scary to watch. Independence day here is more like Independence week:) 

Well, I hope y'all have a great Independence day (or week!!) and keep cool 

Love, 

Elder Eliason 

President and Sister Strong

 Flyshooter

 No Trespassing

Temperature in Parsons, KS 06.29.2018

Week 51: Parsons punching the petrol pedal!!

Hey what's good?!

I hope you are having a great week! I sure am. I got my new companion this week, Elder Hutchings. He's awesome! He has acquired a lot of skills over the last 23 months, and I am trying my hardest to keep up with him! He really is putting the pedal to the metal. It's always nice to get some fresh eyes in an area, a fresh perspective and most missionaries have a strong desire to start off on the right foot. Just like in a race, the start is one of the most important parts.

One thing that we are focusing on is really strengthening the members here. We visited a lot of the active members when elder Hutchings first got here, and they said things like "I'm sorry you got called here" and "I don't even remember when the last baptism here was." I think that a lot of the members here have become discouraged and burnt out, but we all need times of rejuvenation!! One of the things we are praying for is at least one baptism this transfer. Not for us, but for that person, and also for the branch. If the work can get a kick start, it will start to roll. So, that's what's going on in Parsons!!!

I love my mission! I love working hard, I love helping others, I love talking to people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I love you!!

I hope all y'all have such a good week!

Love, 

Elder Eliason 

 The Bloody Benders

 Dirt in your life

 Wheat harvest has begun

Week 50: Transfers/Temple Week

This week was good. I found out I'm staying in Parsons! My new companion is Elder Hutchings, from Beaver, UT. This is his last transfer, so I'm getting ready to try to keep up with him as he sprints to the finish line! Also, our Mission President goes home in A WEEK!!! It's going to be an interesting time in the ABM.

We went to the temple this week, we were supposed to go on a bus but I guess our mission president miscounted, so we got to drive to Kansas City! It's quite a change of pace from the small towns I've served in! It's fun up there. We went to the indepence visitors center on the way home, it was neat! We also saw the Community of Christ spiral building. It was a great day!

Kansas is different, but it's good. If we can just harness the power of the members here, we will be in good shape!

Well, a short but concentrated weekly this week. I hope y'all have a great week!

District Meeting

Temple trip, Kansas City Temple

Temple trip, Kansas City Temple

                                Independence Visitors' Center Christus                                   

Williams, Franks, Eliason, Wakefield

Eliason, Williams, Franks, Wakefield

Community of Christ Temple, Independence Missouri

Week 49: Short n' Sweet

Hey!! I hope y'all had a great week this week! I sure did! 

It's super hot here, we rode bikes one day, and I have never sweat so much on my mission!! I think I'll stick to the car in the afternoons from now on:) 

We have a great park to street contact in town, it makes me feel like I'm in a big city hahaha!! It's fun to carry lots of different cards, so that you can share family history with one person, then go to share a Book of Mormon app download to the next person, etc, so that you can be the best at meeting people's needs. 

Being a missionary is always stressful but always rewarding. Preach My Gospel always gives me a million things I can be doing better, same thing at district/zone meetings. I have found, however, that starting with a foundation and building line upon line, precept upon precept has helped me grow so much more than if I would have just tried to do everything all at once!!! For me, the foundation is solid prayer and scripture study each day. For you, it might be something different, or something along the same lines as what I have done. Whatever the case, I can testify that as we consecrate our performance unto the Lord, He will multiply our efforts and consecrate them for our gain. 

I love y'all!! Have a great week

Elder Eliason

 Luckily I still remember how to ride a bike

Firefly

Turtle 

Flower

 Gorilla (Pittsburg state gorillas)

Turtle