Lost somewhere in the transfer.

Yeah, I can't even remember where I'm at right now. I won't lie, I feel like I've been in Mattawa for years. The members are starting to tell me, "You've been here a while now, huh?" I keep getting told the meaning of Mattawa is "Where is it?" Do all missionaries go crazy? I'm going to say yes, and I'm one of the healthier ones, because I recognize it.

Another week passes by. We didn't have anyone in church, and of the members, many didn't go also. This season is hard for missionary work, so I've heard, because everyone starts working on the farms on Sundays, including members unfortunately. I'm hoping we'll be able to find a new job for some of our investigators, that doesn't have them working on Sunday, but we'll see how that goes. We've been trying to find more people, but we tend to either get ignored when knocking, or get strange responses. Such as, me asking "Hi! What's your name!" and the person cracked in the doorway, pausing for a moment, and responding "...Why?". I gave them a strange look, that kind of expressed, "What kind of question is that?" Anyway, we still haven't been able to find many new people, and the new people we have found we have been dropping pretty fast. We're praying pretty hard that God will help us find the people that are prepared for the Gospel. 

Random experience I had this week. Don't take this the wrong way, but I made the strange decision that I don't want to ever get married except in the temple. So far, while I've been out here, I've seen a lot of marriages, and a lot of "partnerships". More of those partnerships. And generally, they're all broken, except for the people that were married or sealed in the temple. I have no idea who I'm going to marry one day, and luckily, I don't have to think about that right now because I'm a missionary. :) But whereas before I might have thought about trying to marry someone and convert them later, I've now made a resolve to only marry within the temple. The temple is a lot prettier than any other place you could get married anyways.

Something I thought I should mention, is that a few weeks ago I met my Stake President's sister in law. That was pretty cool. She told me a story of how President Teshima once scared her little boy, and she was so mad at him. :) Which is funny, because I've only thought of him as a big teddy bear. Something we've been doing for service recently is shelving books. It's kind of difficult, because I really miss reading books, but I pull through. We also walked a dog one time that weighed more than Elder Wait. His name is Prince, and he's a Great Dane. So far I have avoided eating any kind of fish, menudo (which is cow stomach, intestines, etc.), and chocolate covered grasshoppers (Elder Kelly ate those). I've learned that the best way to make people change, is provide them an example, love them, and try to remind them to do better (when they want it). And I've learned a little how the Savior feels, because as he loves us more than we can ever understand, I love my investigators more than they will likely ever understand.

Hope that was a decent letter! Con amor,

Elder Grant

General Conference week

I can't believe it's been six months since last conference! It seems like yesterday that I was watching it in the MTC with thousands of screaming fans (missionaries) celebrating the new age change. The mission passes so fast. I'm... I think 35 now? In weeks. Elder Wait is old. He's in his 90's I think. He's ready to die.

I think it's hard for me to push myself sometimes. I wonder at times, if Christ really does want me to push myself harder when I already feel like breaking. And then I realize, He doesn't really want me to try harder, but He wants to make my life easier. So I'm focusing on the Savior, and His Atonement, and trying to become more like Him. I never understand things like this. I can only tell you the consequences, or after-affects. I'm not exactly sure how it all works myself, even as I do it, but there's something about giving up your will, praying to God, in the Savior's name, and humbling submitting to His will, that makes you stronger. Greater. Happier. And I can see it. I can see my life looking up. It's kind of like a sunrise, slowly, but surely raising your soul closer to God.

Well, enough of the cheesy stuff. This week, the only investigator that we know of that watched conference was Reynaldo. He saw the fourth session, with President Monson's talk. I feel kind of bad, because many of the speakers were speaking on marriage, and he's married a woman in Mexico, and living with someone else now, and he wants to get baptized, but wants to be divorced and marry his partner right now first. But I don't think he took it badly. The important thing is that he saw the Prophet speak. There hasn't really been much progress in our other investigators here, so right now we're working on finding more people. We'll see if we can't find those that are prepared here in Mattawa. 

I forgot my little card thingy that my mom gave me, so I can't think of anything else to write this week. And I forgot my camera. Woops. Til next week everyone!

Con amor,

Elder Grant

End of week 1 for transfer 4. (I've been out six months now?!?!?)

So, about Mattawa. Reynaldo didn't come to church this week, and we don't really understand why. We had 3 lessons with him this past week, and they were all really good. He's already got a testimony of the Gospel, and he wants to get baptized. He still has to get divorced to someone in Mexico, but he says he's already got that underway. We've got an appointment with him today, and will have to see what's up. One of our investigators, Crispin, and his family, didn't go to church because they slept in. And then decided to rearrange the house that day. We had to tell them, that we couldn't keep coming over if they didn't repent, or show that they were changing or doing anything. We're going to have to see how seriously they take us. They really like having us over, so we're not sure what they'll do. Gricelda, our on-date for baptism, didn't come, and she wants to get baptized still, but we're not really sure how serious she is about it... We told her that she has to go to church and get married, and she said she wants to do that, but she didn't truly seem sure of herself. We may have to change her date from the 27 of April. Emelia is a lady we met earlier this week. We'd actually met her quite a while back, but we couldn't go in because she is a single mom. We believe her husband passed away recently, and she has a 16 year old girl, and a little girl about 5 or 6. She was really interested when we finally were able to teach her, and so were her kids. The 16 year old's boyfriend seemed to think the lesson and the prayer was a pain, but hopefully she will dump him soon, once she sees the light of the Gospel. :) Hm. Maybe I shouldn't put things like that in my letters now that I think about it...

In other news, I love wearing short sleeve shirts! I wore one for the first time thursday, and it's the best. So freeing. We also celebrated Easter here, and that was pretty fun. Our Bishop's son got baptized on Saturday, and we got to attend that, so that was pretty cool. Also, if any of you get the chance, watch the Bible Video, "He is Risen". One of the best videos the church has ever done in my opinion. Hope you all remember Christ in your lives during this season!

Con amor,

Elder Grant

First week of the fourth transfer. March 25, 2013

Elder Bennet is staying in Othello as Zone Leader and getting his MTC companion,

 Elder Aguilar is staying in Royal City and training.

Sister Worlton is going to Wenatchee and Sister Collins is staying in Royal City to train.

So, I'm staying in Mattawa another six weeks, and Elder Wait is still my companion. It's kind of surprising, since we both have so much time here! I'm up to about 4 months, and he's at about 8-9 months now in Mattawa. Not much changing here. Although we are moving today, so there goes our P-day, unfortunately. But, oh well.

So, after quite a few tougher weeks, I had a week with 20 lessons for the first time! I feel accomplished, but at the same time, I remember, it's really not my success. Every good thing comes from God, right? I'm happy to be a helpful instrument in the Lord's hands. This work is stressful. I'll admit it. But well, I suppose it's supposed to be when you're dealing with the most important things in existence. People, human souls, including us! It's frustrating when you watch someone fail to act on the spirit that they've time and time again, but when I've done my best, I've felt our Heavenly Father's love comforting me, letting me know they have a choice, but I've done well. I've done something. I've invited them to know their Savior, and if they turn it down, well, you can't decide for them. Well, to talk about investigators, Reynaldo who we recently started teaching went to church again, and we invited him to be baptized, but he said he wants to wait to have a date til he's married. Gricelda, Jorge Bautista's brother, had a church tour with us and accepted a date to be baptized, but didn't go to church. Gabriel wants to go to church, and be baptized too, but he doesn't want to live the law of chastity yet, or obey the Sabbath day every week, or obey the Word of Wisdom. He'll get baptized one day, I'm sure of it, but most likely not while I'm here in Mattawa.

I'm super tired, we've been working on moving today, so I'm going to make this one short. Sorry bout that! I'll work on getting back to everyone, thanks for the support! Til next week!

Elder Grant