Come What May, and Love It

I am sorry if I made you worry a little...this week has been a lot better. It is getting easier and the days are going by faster.

Week 2 -

At the beginning of the week I prayed so much for the days to go by faster. It seemed like I had been here my whole life and couldn't remember what I had done before the mission. Sister Hollingsworth and I have laughed more this week and that really helps. Last Sunday we were with one of our investigators, Bro. Whitman, at his house. He has been investigating the church for over 25 years. He is in his 60s I think and even has a calling in the ward. His wife is an endowed member though. He has a cigar addiction and has been fighting that for 6 years. That night I asked him to be baptized. He said yes, and that he knows the church is true but he was not ready to set a date. We promised him that if he read the BOM and prayed every day that Heavenly Father would let him know by next Sunday what day he should be baptized. He committed to read and pray. Sister Hollingsworth and I also fasted Monday and asked members in the ward to fast throughout the week for him. We found members and someone fasted each day. The ward is awesome they are super helpful with missionary work. He read and prayed everyday day except on Friday he didn't. My heart sank a little. We continued to pray for him and he also came to the missionary devotional last night with his wife. He has felt really overwhelmed this week and gets frustrated when reading the scriptures. We are trying to give him some space right now because he is almost at his breaking point. So we will contact him soon about his date.

Our other investigator is Cody a 13 year old. He is awesome and we set a baptism date for him on July 30th. He likes to dab and Sister Hollingsworth didn't know what dabbing was so I had to teach her. I am super excited to help Cody prepare for baptism. He also came to the missionary devotional with his mom and sister.

We also are teaching Mike & Jordan - Jordan is a member but less active, and Mike isn't a member. They want to get sealed in the temple but Mike needs to be baptized first, so we are working on that. Margery loves to talk. I pray that we will be able to actually teach her doctrine.

In the middle of the week we got a text from the South Hill  Sister Training Leaders and said that we would be going on exchanges on Friday night. Sister Hollingsworth told me I was probably going to South Hill. SIKE! A few minutes later they texted again and said that Sister Hollingsworth would be going and I would be staying in Sumner. I started freaking out a little bit because I would have to take charge in an area I haven't even been in for 2 weeks. However, Sister Wright, that would be on the exchange with me, served in Sumner 3 transfers ago. I felt more at peace but nervous. When we met up for exchanges they reassured me that they prayed about the exchange and were a little surprised when they got the answer because they hardly ever have a brand new companion stay in their area. I was so grateful I was paired with Sister Wright. She is wonderful and such a strong missionary. We also discovered that she is first cousins with the OSTLERS (a family that goes to Cottonwood)! Her mom is Shelia's sister. I was so happy that we knew someone in common. She actually will be home around the same time as Matt. I love Sister Wright so much. She works hard and helped me grow. I learned a lot from her. She also testified that missions are worth it. She also left the talk "Come What May, and Love It" under my PMG. I read a little bit of it everyday. It has really helped me to stay positive. We saw small miracles throughout the exchange. It was interesting because all of our appointments cancelled, but the Lord had other plans for us. It is amazing that there really are NO coincidences when you are on the Lord's errand. I have learned this week how to trust in God and what I need to do to strive to be a happy disciple of Christ.

So Sunday was the missionary devotional - there is one once a month, that is if President Rasmussen keeps them going. But they are for everyone. Recent converts bear testimony, videos are shown, and the mission choir sings. President Eaton concluded and bore his "final" testimony to the mission. That is the last time we will probably see him and Sister Eaton. President Rasmussen has been set apart and gets here on Thursday. We don't have a welcoming meeting or anything. There is an open house for him on the 16th but missionaries aren't invited...So I am not exactly sure when I will see President Rasmussen.

Also we were at a member's for dinner this week Sister and Brother Palmer are from Utah and moved here about a year or so ago. They are pretty young like 22 and 24? We made two connections though. Sister Palmer worked at one of Robin's bridal stores and also worked with Dexter Beach's mom. So we took a picture together and she said she would send it to Robin,

This week has been a lot better than last week. I have loved all the emails from family and friends. Stacey's email really helped me. I am grateful for all the prayers. Prayer, I know, will be the main thing that will get me through. I love you so much and miss you. 

I think that just about wraps this week up. Peace and Blessings.

Love,

Sister Wynder

D&C 84:88

These pictures are taken with Sister Wright that she went on exchanges with.

This was the last night Bryn was in the MTC with her friend Anna Wilson.

With Sister Williams on the plane when they left for Washington.

Mason's Blog

Week One in WA

Bryn has been in Washington for one week! She left the MTC last Tuesday, June 14, and she called from the airport before she left so it was good to hear her voice before she left!! She was excited and ready to get to Washington! We got a short e-mail from her that night letting us know that she had arrived there safely, that her companion is Sister Hollingsworth, and that her first area is in the town of Sumner. 

Hi Family,

The flight to Washington was wonderful. I sat next to a sweet little LDS family with two little kids. We made it safely. There were about 10 missionaries on my flight and President Eaton along with his wife, and the APs picked us up. We ate lunch at the mission home - Café Rio home style. I was pumped round 2 for the day (they had Cafe Rio at the airport the morning they left for Washington). We each had an interview with the President and had training with the APs. After that I met my companion Sister Hollingsworth - she is awesome, I love her. She is from California but went to BYU before her mission. I am the fourth redhead companion she has had. The first night we went grocery shopping and tracting - I was doing the best I could. It's hard talking to people you have never met about the gospel, but it is getting easier. Waking up at 6:30 isn't has bad as I thought it would be. I love Sumner, it is a beautiful place and everyone is very nice. 

The first week has been one of the longest weeks of my life and so overwhelming. On Friday we had companion study with the President and Sister Eaton. However, before they came during my personal study it hit me that I was really on a mission. I felt very overwhelmed and kind of had a breakdown. PERFECT TIMING, I KNOW! So when they arrived for companion study I was a hot mess. They were very understanding and loving though. They helped so much and President Eaton gave me a blessing. My companion also helps a lot. She is very patient and loving.

The rest of the week was also long but we have 4 investigators right now. It gets easier the more people I meet in the ward and outside the ward. The ward is awesome. They are always willing to come to lessons with us and feed us for dinner. We have dinner appointments every day except Mondays. I couldn't wait for Sunday to come though! I crave going to Church and I wish I could go to the temple weekly but that doesn't happen.

Overall, I really love Washington! It is beautiful and has rained just about everyday this week. Missions are not easy but every time I teach a lesson or share the gospel I feel so much joy. Being here has helped me realize how blessed I am to have the family and friends that I do. I see all types of different families that NEED the gospel in their lives.

There are so many different churches here. Just on one street there are about 6 different ones. A lot of people think we are Jehovah Witnesses. There is also a church called Calvary that has so many members - we think of it as the great and spacious building...

We do have a car and it is wonderful! The mission doesn't have iPads but my companion thinks that they will be changing to iPads when President and Sister Rasmussen come.

Sister Tayco is in Renton but I saw her twice this week for new missionary training and choir practice. I love seeing her, it makes me so happy!

I am glad you are having fun in San Fran and we have to go when I get back. I can only write letters on P day but I can send them out any day of the week. We technically can't give out our apartment address but my companion's mom called the mission office (ask for Sister Young) and she will give you the apartment address. I don't think there is anything I need. I got a letter from Madi and it made my day. Oh and I got an email from Sister Christensen who was in my zone at the MTC, who leaves tomorrow for Seattle and she saw grandma at the temple.

I think that is it for this week. We hope to have at least 2 baptism dates set at the end of this week. Sumner is a wonderful place to be and I know how to pronounce Pullayup now.

I miss you all. I wish I could give you a hug... so here is a hug through email.

Love,

Sister Wynder

New Washington Federal Way missionaries with President and Sister Eaton

Bryn with President and Sister Eaton

Bryn and Sister Hollingsworth

Mason's Blog

Last E-mail from the MTC

Hello from the inside,

I can't believe it has already been 3 weeks since I came to the MTC. The days feel like weeks but the weeks feel like days. After being in the MTC it is hard to remember what I did before coming here. I say that because it feels like I have been here forever but not at the same time...it's a weird feeling. 

Elder Bednar was amazing!!! It was such a wonderful experience. He spoke first with Sister Bednar and talked about the patterns in the scriptures of "One by One." He told us that he wanted to share this message with the missionaries first because we are the ones that will be finding people to teach one by one. From his talk I learned that the Lord knows us and will help us one by one, and that God puts me where He needs me so that my path intersects with the one I need to serve. I also learned that there are NO coincidences when you are on the Lord's errand. After he spoke the choir sang One by One (the song he wrote) with some of his grandchildren. It was such a special experience to sing for an apostle of God. I was sitting about thirty feet away from Elder Bednar and to see how happy he was while we sang was remarkable. When the devotional ended, everyone arose while Elder and Sister Bednar were escorted out. Once they left no one really knew what to do. The spirit was so strong and you could feel that Elder Bednar really is an apostle of God. The song One by One will be released and published in the coming month of the New Era - so keep an eye out for it. 

BATS BEATS BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 

So one of my responsibilities as the STL is to visit the rooms of the Sisters in our zone each night. We were in the Sisters' room that are also leaving this week. Sister Tayco was sitting on the floor and I was standing a few feet away. All of the sudden a BAT comes out of nowhere and almost hits Sister Tayco in the head!!! We all freak out and Sister Tayco runs out the door to find a custodial worker on our floor. We couldn't find anyone so we called the front desk.

Conversation between Sister Tayco and the Brother on the phone...

S.T. - "There is a bat in room 427"

front desk - "UGH! Again?! We will send someone over."

We were a little grossed out that this has happened before. When we went back to the room the bat was just chillin in the corner and the sisters were taking pictures of it. When the "security guard" came she told us to all to wait in the hallway, that they might have to change rooms tonight, oh and that she is scared of bats...so we were back to square one. They ended up having to change rooms so we helped them while animal control was on the way. About two days later I was brushing my teeth around 6:30am and one of the sisters that was in the "bat room" walked by and said that there was another bat in there room at 5:30 am and that animal control was here again. I felt so bad for them and that they had to deal with that. They were told that the bats came through the vent system... I also just found out that those sisters got tested for rabies and have to get shots. That means they have to stay at the MTC for another two weeks. I feel so bad for them, curse those bats! 

Last night we had a district devotional/testimony meeting, because Sister Roberts left this morning. It was a little sad and I will miss my district so much. 

Thank you for the package - I was so pumped when I opened it up. I got it right after dinner along with more donuts from G'ma. My district will have a wonderful going away party. They also say thank you for the calendars - WE LOVE THEM!

Thank you for everything! 

Here are a few of the things I learned at the MTC:

1. Always fulfill my purpose by inviting others to come unto Christ

2. Love others the way God sees them

3. Find those whom the Lord has prepared 

4. Pray like it depends on God, and work like it depends on God - because it does!

5. Keep it simply and always bring it back to Christ

6. Listen, Learn, Preach - repeat

7. Address the investigator's NEED not the concern

8. We teach lessons, we do not give spiritual thoughts

9. There are no coincidences when you are on the Lord's errand

10. Be prepared and let the spirit guide

11. The Book of Mormon is everything and in everything there is Christ

12. Be obedient 

13. Love and serve my companion always

14. Some trials we may never overcome but because of Christ we can ENDURE those trials and be happy

15. Do I love the Savior enough to do what he asks me to do?!

She forwarded Sister Tayco's e-mail to me again (I think they  must decide who is going to write about what and then share their e-mails with each other so they don't each have to write everything!) So here are the parts from Sister Tayco's e-mail that Bryn didn't write about - 

On Wednesday we taught Jen for the second time. She is so much fun-- we spent a good five minutes talking about how cool it would be if we were all mermaids. But she is also really interested in our message-- she says she can see that we have a happy outlook on life and a bright countenance, and she really wants that for herself. We also taught Samson for the second time, and he is on fire! He'd pretty much memorized the Plan of Salvation pamphlet we left with him last time (he has a photographic memory-- also, he speaks 6 different languages, which is awesome), and he just wanted to know what the steps to returning to live with God were. So we told him, and he was like, "Ok, that's it?" and listed them back to us in perfect order. Me (a little disbelieving): "Uh, yeah, exactly! You got it Sampson!" Then Sister Wynder asked him if he would be baptized, and he said yes!

Wednesday evening Sis. Wynder and I helped the Zone Leaders with the orientation for the new district-- seven new Elders and no sisters. Poor things. I think Sister Wynder and I scared them a little bit with our Joseph Smith rap (a Sister Tayco original)...

(From Bryn) This is Sister Tayco's mormon rap to the tune of I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie...

I like Joseph Smith and I cannot lie,

you other Mormons can't deny,

when a prophet goes into a grove of trees and gets down on his knees...

you've got a vision, righteous livin'

man with a mission,

truth restored from the Lord,

Book of Mormon - I'm on board,

I read it, I need it, I plant a seed and feed it. UHHH!

Thursday was torture-- um, I mean, infield orientation. For eight hours. Eight *#$(!@*! hours. Of training. At least, the parts I was awake for were training. :P But after training we go to meet with Samson again, so that made up for how dead-boring the rest of the day was.

On Friday we taught Jen and Samson for the last time :( We taught Jen the Word of Wisdom, Law of Chastity, and Law of Tithing all in one lesson (trust me, we were NOT planning on this. When I brought up the Word of Wisdom Siser W. looked at me like "What the bleep are you doing?!?" But the Spirit led us, and we followed.) We committed her to all three, and to baptism as well. It was an incredible experience. She was very willing to obey, although she did hesitate for a bit with the Law of Chastity, until I explained the blessings a bit better (turns out chastity is actually not that awkward to teach. In fact, I thought it was pretty funny. Jen: "So, like, is kissing ok?" Me: "Oh yeah! I'd be in a lot of trouble otherwise." Sister Wynder took over the talking after I said that...)

Our lesson with Samson was also awesome. We figured that if we could commit Jen to everything in one lesson, we could do the same with Samson. So we taught him W.o.W., chastity, and tithing and committed him to all three. Also, Samson told us he always feels like a comedian when we visit him cause we never stop laughing.

Here are pictures Bryn sent of her district, zone, companion, etc.

Mark - their district pet frog

She titled this picture Alma 19

And last but not least - the bat

Link to Mason's Blog

MTC - Week 2

This is the e-mail we got from Bryn today - and she forwarded the e-mail that her companion wrote to her family, to me so she didn't have to write everything that happened this week. So some of this e-mail is from Bryn and some is from her companion. 

TALOFA,

Ua mai oe? Guess what? You will never believe what happened? I was reassigned to speak Samoan in Washington!!!!

HAHA! I wish, but Elder Fuiava in my district is Samoan and he has taught me how to say "hi", "how are you", and "good, thank you." This week we were assigned new TRC investigators and one of them is Sampson from Samoa. He is really cool and hopefully tomorrow I can greet him in Samoan. I have been practicing a lot. 

This week Sister Tayco and I were called to be the STLs (sister training leaders) for our zone. I have loved getting to know the sisters. This week we found out that Sister Roberts in my district will be going home next Monday. She is in a lot of pain and the doctors aren't really sure why...She hopes that when she goes home the doctors can figure it out, but she might have to have surgery. However, she is planning on going straight to the field after she recovers.

I love my companion even more. She is the funniest person. My district still gets along super well - we laugh so much, have secret handshakes, and whenever someone talks to a Sister or Elder outside of our district we joke about pg. 33 in the missionary handbook.

Today we get to go to the temple and tonight we get to hear from Elder Bednar - you could say I am STOKED!

This week we get to welcome the new district in our zone - 7 Elders, no sisters.

I still can't believe I leave for Washington on Tuesday. I am really excited/nervous, and I am sad to leave my MTC district.

Lesson learned: One thing that I have really learned about is how Christ helps us ENDURE our trials. We may have trials we never overcome, but because of Christ we can feel joy and peace during hard times.

Much love,

Sister Wynder

From Sister Tayco's e-mail:

We finished teaching Ashley and Kelsey last week -- our first lesson with Ashley was pretty rough, but on the second lesson she really opened up and we committed her to baptism! Kelsey was our favorite person ever, we had three lessons with her and we learned so much about the atonement with her. This week we have two new investigators. We taught them both for the first time yesterday. First was Jen who is clueless about missionaries, surprisingly open, and has gorgeous blue hair. Then there is Sampson, a super chill Samoan guy and ex-military (Sister Wynder told me I'm not allowed to compliment his sick tatoo). He is super interested in the idea of "families are forever", and we are excited to teach him the Plan of Salvation. They are both great, and I can't wait to see them again tomorrow.

Sister Sherri Dew came and spoke to us on Sunday. It was a great talk about spiritual wrestling, not being afrais to ask hard questions, and learning to speak God's language.


And here are pictures from both Bryn and Sister Tayco -

Their district - Elder Alba, Elder Fuiava, Elder Cardin, Elder Tetrault, Sister Roberts, Sister Hart, Sister Warburton, Sister Wynder, and Sister Tayco

 

Mason's Blog