Week 90: The Road Less Traveled is Often Harder to Walk

Hello everyone!

Not a lot of time, so just some pictures and a little thought :)

Also, remember: the road less traveled is often harder to walk. Strait is the gate, and narrow the way, that leads to our Heavenly Father. I know that I feel so much better and have so much more hope and joy when I am trying my best to be obedient to what I have been asked to do (as well as volunteered for). God watches over those who obey Him. He can bless them with all that He has!

Elders in the caboose are Elders Neilsen, Parker, and Williams

Week 89: Exchanges and Talks

Hey!!

This week was really tiring. We had 2 exchanges, one on Tuesday with Elder Haines and Elder Campbell, from the Monett area. The other one was with Elder Neilsen and Elder Parker, in the Aurora area. They are all some great missionaries!! They inspire me.

We also had zone conference. It taught me a lot, and I really enjoyed it. I got to see some friends I haven't seen in a long time. It makes me feel old!!

Elder Williams and I gave talks in church Sunday, we accounted for 1 youth speaker, what happened was there were 2 youth speakers and a young lady who got her mission call who announced it in church and bore a short testimony. We both frantically went over our talks to see what we could omit but still keep the flow haha. I feel like we both did well. I have done bullet point talks in the past, but for this one I wrote most of it out. I feel like that helped me convey the feelings I have without getting stage fright.

I have had some troubles this week, some hard days and some long days. I know that they are there to help me become something more. We have things we can be, and things we can do. Doing helps us become, and who we are is our nature. Our nature helps us do. I know things will get harder, but I will be stronger as I put off the natural man and become who God knows I can become!

I love my Savior!

Have a great week :)

Love,

Elder Eliason

We went to Bass Pro Shops after zone conference before the drive home.

From left to right:

Elder Plummer, Elder Eliason, Elder Parker, Elder Neilsen, Elder Bateman

(picture from Elder Williams)

Week 88: Lynn G. Robbins

Hello!
This week was crazy. We were in Joplin, Lamar, Springfield, Branson, Bentonville, and Springdale this week. It was very tiring. We had 3 different missionary meetings. A district meeting, a meeting with a family services guy, and Lynn G Robbins came to our mission!!

It was wonderful to hear from Elder Robbins. He is a very cool fellow.

He talked a lot about how mission life will help us as parents and spouses to deal with problems and move past imperfections to love and support and nourish.

He shared with us a chart, about 4 types of leadership/parenting;

High Love, High Expectations: What Christ taught. Lead by example. Teach.

High Love, Low Expectations: Buddy Mentality, Complacency, Comfort. 

Low Love, High Expectations: Enforcer Mentality, Policing, Hiding. 

Low Love, Low Expectations: Lazy, Counterproductive.

We should all strive to have high love and high expectations for those around us! It makes the world a better place.

I love sharing the Gospel!! It's so great to be able to see myself coming closer to Christ. What a wild ride :)

Also we had church this week. It was awesome

Love,

Elder Eliason!

Mission Leaders with Lynn G. Robbins

 A cool building

 Semi-frozen Stockton Lake

 Sunset

Week 87: Eye Single to the Glory of God

Hello hello!!

I had lots of fun this week! We were able to chase some armadillos, teach some great people, go to Joplin for a meeting, and get 2 inches of snow.

Church was cancelled for the third time in the last four weeks.... I really do miss church! It's not the same without it. 

There was an eight year old that got baptized this week, we helped set up the speakers and program. It was a very special spirit there, and lots of people from different religions came to watch. I think they all felt the peace and happiness that the Gospel brings!!

One of the lessons we taught this week was around the fullness of times. People on the Ranch already know about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, so what we did was talk about the blessings of the Restoration. For me, I have been so so so blessed from the Book of Mormon, modern prophets to lead and guide, and a true nature of the Godhead. Having that knowledge gives me peace for the future. It is so wonderful to see someone align their will with God's. I know that seeking for His will and having an eye single to His glory will pay eternal dividends.

I love you all!!
Have a great (and hopefully warm) week!!

Elder Eliason

Stockton lake last week

Snow!!

  Stockton, MO

 Stockton, MO

Tag in Water Stockton, MO

 Snow in Stockton, MO

Snow in Stockton, MO

Week 86: Blessings on Blessings

Hey!
This week has been pretty cool!

We were doing some service on an old back road one day. While we were driving home, I had a thought to say hi to some members back a ways from where we were. I turned around and we headed back 200 yards. Not too big of a drive. We knocked on the door, and one of the youth opened the door. He said "great! You must've got my text message!" We said "uh, no?" He said "oh. Well my friend wanted to meet you guys today and so I texted to see if you had any time today and now you're here!!" 

We taught his friend and it was a great experience!! It's cool to see the little miracles and the big ones in the Lord's work. We can be led and guided always.

This week has been hard, but it has been good. The hardships and struggles in our lives make our hearts more tender.

We finally had church this week!! It is such a blessing to draw close to Christ. We can learn so much from those around us and their experiences.

Have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Eliason

Week 85: Commandments

This morning in my studies I found something really cool!!! I was reading in Ether 8:16

It says " And they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms."

I pondered on how when we follow Satan we are in darkness and our agency is taken away from us. I made took the ten commandments, then put them in a T chart on one side.

I then went commandment by commandment, and wrote down how keeping that commandment can promote, encourage, or foster free agency in our lives. It was a wonderful exercise!! One thing I learned from Elder Williams this week is that if you don't study something you enjoy, it will not have as much meaning to you. I have found that to be true!! I have read this chapter multiple times, and one thing that sticks out to me every time I read it is verse 7. It says "And now Jared became exceedingly sorrowful because of the loss of the kingdom, for he had set his heart upon the kingdom and upon the glory of the world." 

I drew a little heart and a castle, and the words "Heavenly Father." I drew an arrow to the kingdom and listed what is drawing my heart away from my Heavenly Father. One man in Stockton asked about what the first thing you think about in the morning is. What you think about when you have five minutes just to think. He said that in a way that's your God. Your idol. 

                 Scripture Study                                                            Lunch with the crew

Week 84: Super Cold!

It's been a fantastic week!! 

It was super super cold, school was cancelled one day this week and church was cancelled. 

On the Ranch, we talked to a member and they gave us the name of a lady to go visit. We stopped by this week and asked if we could share a message about Christ with her. She let us in and we got to know her and taught a short lesson about overcoming fear, doubt, and confusion with faith, hope, and charity. The lesson lasted for 5 minutes, but we were there for about 30 minutes. She has recently gone through lots of changes in her life and she said that we talked about exactly what she needed. I felt the Spirit very strong at that moment. 

I haven't had an experience like that for a while, but I know that they can happen as we exercise faith. 

We went to a methodist church this week! Our church cancelled because it was icy out, so we called an investigator that we know goes to the methodist church in town. She jumped on that opportunity! Haha

We went to a Sunday school, choir practice, and the Sunday service. We even sat on the stand and sang in the methodist choir!! It was so much fun hahaha. And now she's more open to coming to our church. 

It's been a fantastic week!! 

Love y'all

Elder Eliason 

Beautiful Icy Morning

 Back in Arkansas

 Back in Centerton

 Custom Bug 

 Cold Lane and Bare Trees