Monday, October 1, 2018

Week 65: Stayin' alive

We are moving apartments for real this time so not a lot of time to e-mail :/
This week was really good! We are focusing more on growing trust with the people in this area, service is a great way to show that you are a hard worker and can get a job done!! On Friday morning we went with a member here who needs to put up 600 feet of fence for his cattle.  We were able to dig some holes and put some cut up telephone poles in the holes, then fill with concrete.  It was hard but good!! Elder Johnson got some blisters, I, fortunately, did not :)
It's getting cooler here, which is good.  Lots of good experiences with people we are teaching!!
Enjoy some pictures! :)
Love,
Elder Eliason

PS My new address to the new apartment is:  

Elder Eliason
201 McKnight Dr. Apt 204
Parsons, KS 67357

                                                                                                                 50 Cent corn dog day this week @ sonic. This has been the best trade deal in the history of trade deals. Yes, Elder Johnson did put ketchup on a doughnut.  (and he puts peanut butter on pancakes...smh)
post hole diggin'

            pretty sunset- and cows                                 

Monday, September 24, 2018

Week 64: Close Encounters of the Drunken Kind

This week was super cool! We went down to Bentonville for a missionary meeting and it was quite a good experience. I learned a lot about motivation and general missionary skills.  

We have been knocking on a lot of doors outside of the city, it's always interesting to see the people who live out in the boonies.  Also sometimes very effective, not a lot of the outlying cities get tracted.
We met some really open people!! One guy just moved into this town of approximately 481 people, with his wife and small baby.  He has gone to church at different denominations, but it never seemed like home to him.  He has since been looking for a church that will feel like family to him.  We were able to talk about how families are super important to us and explain a bit about what we do as missionaries.  
We tracted into a lady in that same town, she looked pretty rough around the edges, but as we talked to her, she explained to us that it's her daughter's birthday, and she had just ran away with a boy.  We could tell that she was experiencing a lot of internal struggle and pain, and so we shared Alma 7:11-13 with her, about what Christ has done for each of us.  I think it consoled her, and she accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon.
I know that the Lord has a plan for each one of us, and as we try to follow what He wants for us, we will be blessed.  

In that same town, we also talked with a drunk man, as we were walking down the street late at night, on Saturday. We saw something stop at the intersection that we were walking away from.  (Most of the people in this town use golf carts or side-by-sides to travel in the city.)  He called out to us, and so we walked over to him.  You could smell the alcohol on him, and it was hilarious to talk with him.  He gave us some very nice remarks about how sharply we were dressed, told us that he's not going to quit smoking or drinking (we didn't say anything to prompt that response), and that he's more in tune with God than most preachers "round these parts."  He offered us a ride home on his golf cart (which had a large supply of alcohol on the seats, which would have prevented the three of us to sit on the cart), I kindly declined, and gave him a pictures of Jesus with an invitation to order a free Bible on the back.  He loved it so much that he said he would put it on the window of the local Barbecue joint, (he worked for the owner).  It is so much fun to talk to everyone you see:) haha

Well, there are lots of pictures, so I'll shut up.

I love y'all!!!
Elder Eliason

Possums and railroads and car shows, oh my! (Also sunsets)



                                                             


                                       


Monday, September 17, 2018

Week 63: Weekly E-mail

Hi! 

The Mission Department is trying a new finding technique in our mission, so while we were on an exchange we went to the college campus in this one town, which has about 5000 students, armed with a giant whiteboard and some markers. 
We got permission to go in street clothes, go by our first names, and with no missionary tags. We posed a question, "What is the most important message that you can share today?" 
It was really successful! We definitely got a better reception than we would have in white shirts and ties. We got some really good gospel conversations, and we helped people think about the most important things in their lives. I loved it!

One thing my trainer said is "If you aren't having the best day of your life, what ARE you having?!"
soooo...
This is the best transfer ever!! Every day is the best day!

My appreciation for the Lord and His Work has grown so much in the last little bit, and I know that gratitude can really help us find blessings, especially in the cases where the Lord doesn't give us what we want. 
For example: someone who is chronically ill learns patience, empathy, and resilience. Someone who is blind develops a heightened use of the other senses in their body.

Well, I hope you have a great rest of your week!
Have the best day EVER today!!

Love,
Elder Eliason





Monday, September 10, 2018

Week 62: Hey ya!

This week was good. I'm staying in Parsons for 6 more weeks! 
This week, I would like to share some sage advice from a wise missionary:
"The Lord is just plain good." -Elder Noah Brown

Well, that's all I have for this week! I'll have more next week- I promise!!

Love,
Elder Eliason
 St. Paul's Catholic church. It's reeeeeally Catholic in South-East Kansas
 Some cool license plates that I found at a car swap meet
 We all gave blood this week. It is always a good time!
Snap snap - find the snapper

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Week 60: Zippity Doo Dah

Hey y'all!
This week was really good. We definitely saw the Lord's hand moving things into His order!!
We are switching from an apartment to a house this week, it took us FOREVER to find something suitable for the missionaries, but we think we found the right place.  We have been trying to have more regular contact with our investigators, it's been working out well!!  I have definitely seen faith grow in some of the people we are teaching.  

Some people take longer to accept the Gospel than others.  Some grow roots before limbs.  Some almost don't make it.  But the thing that brings joy to all of them as well as all of us is the Book of Mormon, another Testament of Jesus Christ.  It truly is the keystone of our testimony, the keystone of our witness of Christ, and the keystone of the doctrine of the Resurrection.  The Book of Mormon is such a valuable record!! 

In the new book put out by the church, "Saints," it narrates the beginning of The Book of Mormon.  It shed new light for me on how small the flame of the Restoration got at many points in time.  What it also shed new light for me on is how much the Lord requires a broken heart and a contrite spirit to do His will.  We can help others so much as we submit our will to His.

I love y'all!
Elder Eliason
Our new crib
 Pose with mushroom
A cool sign on the side of the road, complete with an engine and transmission!!

Monday, August 20, 2018

Week 59: A Good Week in KS

Hey y'all!

This week was good. I love the fly-over states!! Good people are everywhere in this big colorful world!

One thing I was pondering on this week is the great blessing of living at a time where we can: be baptized into a covenant with our Heavenly Father, partake of the Sacrament, be sealed with our families for all eternity, be led by prophets and apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, receive personal revelation to guide us throughout our lives as we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit at all times, read multiple testaments of Jesus Christ, and share this great message of the Restoration of the Fulness of Times with all of the many people around us "who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it."

We have been busy here in Parsons, planning is not one of my strong suits, but we have been trying hard and working hard and we are seeing success. There is a part-member family here that we are working with, they came to church this week for the first time in a couple of years!! They enjoyed it and we hope that they will continue to come. 

The teachings of Jesus Christ, summarized as "The Gospel," truly are the most important things we can learn and apply in this life. They also bring us the most happiness! I know that that is true!

Love ya!
Elder Eliason