Week 92: Mountains

I think my mountain is finishing my mission strong, loving my companion and other missionaries, and opening my mouth always. I need to rely on the strength the Lord gives me to overcome these mountains :)

I loved all of the conference talks!! Especially Elder Uchtdorf's, and President Nelson's.

Week 91: Weekly :)

This week was so cool!!

We had tons of great experiences. We started off pretty slow, but the weekend was crazy busy. Elder Williams plays piano at an expert level, and one day we were volunteering at a senior center, not an old folks home but more like a community lunch and activity center for senior citizens. I was washing dishes, and he was playing piano when a lady came up to him. She asked if we could teach her husband, she explained that she was an ex-communicated member that wants to get back into things, and she wants her husband to come with her!! She's from the ranch. We had a lesson with them this week and it was a beautiful experience. 

We did lots of service this week, from helping assemble a tin barn to helping a recent convert recover move some truck tires and other car parts. 

Every 5th Sunday, all the different break-offs in the Ranch get together along with members from our church, and have a 2 hour long meeting. Each church gets a chance to conduct the meeting, and they call on different people from the crowd, led by the Spirit, to come up and speak. I can honestly say that I felt the Holy Spirit so strong there. I have learned on my mission, and especially in Stockton, that no matter where I am there are good people. There were lots of good people there. Elder Williams and I were called upon to be the last speakers. It was an honor to address all that were in attendance. I shared some of Christ's teachings about unity and talked about how our goal in life should be to come to the unity of the faith, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Even though we are different in the execution of our faith, we all believe in Christ, we all try to help others, and we all want to be better. I learned so much from that meeting, not only in what was said, but what I felt and what I was able to take from it. I hope that I will be able to share the Spirit that I felt there as I try to go about my Heavenly Father's will.

I love revelation! I love the Book of Mormon. I love Jesus Christ.

I love you!

Elder Eliason

Pictures: (they're older, I don't have my camera with me)

Elders, from left to right

Me, Elder Plummer, Elder Hansen, Elder Barber, Elder Hartley

Elder Plummer and I 

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