Week 95: Close Encounters of the Spiritual Kind

A candid picture of us teaching Jayden

Hey everyone!

A lot happened this week so I'll forego the introduction. I might do that from now on actually haha.

I went on exchanges with an Elder Williams this week and I went to his area in the Orem YSA 2nd stake. He's a much younger missionary than me so it was fun to kinda show him some tricks. The coolest thing that happened on the exchange was at the end of the night. We were knocking in a student housing complex called The Green, and a lady with a toddler walked by which I thought was odd. As she got closer I saw it was Theresa! I taught her and her husband Adrian back in Vineyard last summer! I remember tracting into her door and then getting to meet her husband who's not a member and he wanted to learn about the Church. We had had some awesome lessons, and he was totally progressing towards baptism, and I was sad to say goodbye to them when I got transferred.

The Area Book app we use has a function where you can follow a certain person and see how they are progressing after you get transferred. I've followed a couple people on my Area Book app throughout my mission, and Adrian was one of them. I would check his teaching record every now and then ever since I got transferred from there last summer. Through that I knew that they had moved from where they lived when I was teaching them, and that they had split up too. I had no idea where either of them were living now, so I was so surprised to see Theresa at The Green of all places, and on the one day I was in that area for exchanges. Theresa and I actually got to sit down and talk for a bit. She kinda updated me, and then said that Adrian was coming over that night as well!

When Adrian arrived he remembered me and was also pretty surprised, but he didn't look good. He'd lost a ton of weight since that last time I saw him. We shared a brief message about faith in God and prayer, then Elder Williams and I gave them each priesthood blessings. It was really cool to see them again. They could really use all the help they can get, so please pray for Adrian and Theresa.

We also got to meet with Nanaka again this week! Her English is getting so much better. She had read Alma 32 and she loved it. Then we taught her about repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Her knowledge of spiritual things is pretty limited, so it's kinda like teaching a kid when we teach her. We use simple language so that she can try her best to understand, and so the translator we always bring has an easier time. She's really starting to understand the importance of Jesus Christ which is really cool to see. I think she and her roommates (who are her cousins and are active members) usually go to the Japanese family ward in Provo on Sundays, but Nanaka was saying she loves going to church! She said, "Everyone is so nice!"

Friday we had another great lesson with Jayden too. He is ready to be baptized so now we just need to plan a date. Polynesians have a lot of family so it can be kinda difficult to find a date, but it'll probably be sometime in July. His baptism is a long time coming though. They came to church again last Sunday too! They got there super early and they said, "We're starting a new trend!"

Saturday was the mission conference with Elder Bednar. It was very epic. He started the meeting by setting some terms, like saying not to take notes on everything but to record what you are taught by the Spirit. He also said he'd ask a lot of questions, but never with a specific answer; only the kind that would prompt deeper thought. The first hour was people sharing what they learned from the assigned reading, which was 4 of his talks. Then the second two hours were question and answer with him and the other general authorities there (E. Sikahema, L. Todd Budge, and Matthew R. Clarke).

When I was called on I asked, "How can I positively and boldly respond to opposition to the Church?" Since I sat in like the 4th row he spoke looking directly to me. He told me to "lean into it." He told several stories where he has had to defend the Church on a global scale, like at a press conference for the opening of the Rome temple, and at another press conference for the National Press Club in Washington DC (which was only a few weeks ago). He said to stand for what is right and declare true and simple doctrine, and to not get defensive or arrogant. He said the media has a picture they want to paint of the Church, and that we can't let them paint it.

Elder Bednar also had everyone make several 5-word summaries for what they wanted to do with what they learned at the meeting. He also said that anyone who went over 5 words would have their tithing permanently bumped to 37% haha. After calling on several missionaries to share their 5-word summaries, Elder Bednar asked a follow-up question, and when a sister starting answering it, E. Sikahema's eyes got wide and he pointed to her and said loudly, "37%!!" Then he and Bishop Budge got up and started giving her evil looks and pretending to write her name down. Everyone lost their minds cuz it was so funny. By the end of the meeting Elder Bednar didn't seem so intimidating but seemed like a totally regular guy.

This week we also found out about some nonmembers that have been coming to church. Some with friends/roommates, some with girlfriends or boyfriends, and some by themselves! Hopefully we'll be able to start teaching them soon!

So yeah, it was an awesome week. I hope you enjoyed hearing about it at least. If I was a Facebook page, anyone that read this whole email would get a "Top Fan" badge next to their name haha.

Love you all!

Elder Snyder