Elder Hunter
Liang
Orlando
Florida
Chinese
Speaking
Elder
Liang was not available for comment this month.
We hope he is just too busy sharing the gospel to send us his
article. How we love you Elder Hunter!
Sister Kyla Radke
Washington Spokane
Spanish Speaking Mission
I am currently serving in Coeur d'Alene, a
beautiful city in North Idaho. My companion and I have been working hard to
find English and Spanish-speaking people in the area who are interested in
learning about the Church. We are teaching a couple of really cool people
currently. The ward is very supportive and always eager to help us. We have
started holding a second-hour Sunday school in Spanish and the ward members
have been a big help. I'm having the best P-days of my mission now that the
weather is warming up. We've been to Coeur d'Alene Lake and Hayden Lake, hiking
in some beautiful areas, and we rode the Hiawatha bike trail on Monday. I can't
believe my mission will be ending in two months and I'll be heading back to
BYU. I have loved serving the Lord in this mission so much!
Elder Andrew Harker
Denmark Copenhagen
Mission
Elder Andrew Harker is
enjoying a change of scenery on his mission in Denmark, as he moved from
mission media to the field! It’s been an exciting and welcomed change to get
out more with the people. Here’s a recent excerpt from an email:
"On Thursday, we were
going out to street contact. On the way to the city center in Randers where we
missionaries have street contacted for the past 7 generations, I mentioned to
Elder Gardner that it might be beneficial to stop beating the dead horse and
find a new area to street contact. So we walked across the street to a park.
Moving up in the world! Or down, because Randers is built on a hill.
Regardless, the first bloke we stopped in the park was a
self-proclaimed Christian, and a little loopy, but when we asked if he would
like to hear a message about Jesus, instead of denying us like I was expecting,
he said yes! Then we asked when he had time to meet and he said now. After a
brief side glance and shrug, we gleefully accepted his offer.
We taught him the lesson about the Restoration, and it was
received well. He seemed to agree with what we were saying generally. Towards
the end of the lesson, I felt a thought come into my mind that I should invite
the man to be baptized. Immediately after came the thought of how crazy that
was.
"Terrible idea! That'll be a great way to scare the man
off."
However, another impression followed, recalled in the form of the
wise words of my companion Elder Gardner:
"I've found the first impression is usually the Spirit, and
the second is my mind trying to talk myself out of it."
Well, to be honest I couldn't really argue with that one, so after
saying a hasty prayer begging to not look like a yokel, I extended an invitation
for the man (Daniel) to be baptized. The look of sheer terror on Elder
Gardner's face would have been unparalleled if not for the look of sheer
amazement on my face when Daniel said yes.
"I can't believe that actually worked!" (Said in my head
of course.) Anyways, Daniel now has a baptism date and is progressing well
towards that goal. The Lord doesn't often work in ways we deem probable, which
is probably a good thing. After seeing how He singlehandedly 'roided** my
testimony in an hour, we'll see what happens next week.” **bolstered
Texas Dallas West
Spanish Speaking
Mission
Elder James Harker is working
in a new Spanish-speaking area of Dallas called Casa Linda. The Dallas
Arboretum is actually in his area now. Catch him there studying or
making calls on occasion! He was excited to be able to get back to the temple
last week. The Dallas West Mission will be able to attend the temple every few
months now. Here’s an update from him:
"It was an
interesting week. I got to go on a cool exchange with my Zone Leader, Elder
Thomas Powely. What a legend. Unfortunately, he's headed home after this
transfer as he is finishing his mission. We had a great time, and together
we worked on staying focused on missionary work throughout the day and being
the best disciples possible. He was originally called to Madagascar but due to
Covid he was never able to go. We had a really cool lesson with a man named
Michael. We really connected, and I was able to share some personal experience
and advice with him. He wants to be a member of the Church but has some large
obstacles. Please keep him in your prayers!
I also was able to start the production (filming) of a new mission
video. We filmed a man named John about his conversion to the Church, how it
affected him, and how it relates to Joseph Smith's first vision story,
specifically how the light of Jesus Christ descended gradually upon him. It was
a great experience, but the adversary seriously wanted to impede the making of
that video. We had all sorts of technical difficulties and there were a lot of
sirens that interrupted the filming. But, despite all the trouble, we
successfully got the recording. Pound sand, Satan!"
Elder Ian Shepley
Uruguay-Montevideo
Spanish Speaking
Elder
Shepley is still in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. He has been there since
January so he thinks he may get transferred in June or July. He likes the area
because he said the members are strong and very faithful. They are having
several baptisms. His current mission companion is Elder Buck. They will have a
new mission president in July. It is winter in Uruguay and even though it is
cold they are enjoying the yummy stews Uruguayans prepare in winter. Sister Liliana Shepley just returned from a
Book of Mormon Video Filming. She is
going to be in the scene with Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty. We will have to wait until next year to see
it.
Elder Ayden
Nichols
Washington,
Yakima Mission
Spanish
Speaking
Elder Nichols is still happily serving in
Toppenish, Washington, and has a new Companion— Elder Tilby. They are getting
along well and working hard to find those who are ready to be taught the
Gospel. This past week, the Washington Yakima Mission had a special Conference
for all of the Missionaries. They got to hear from Elder Bednar, and Elder
Nichols had the opportunity to shake his hand and talk to him briefly
afterwards. Elder Bednar asked where he was from, and Elder Nichols responded,
“Dallas, Texas”. Elder Bednar then said that no one is actually ever from
Dallas, so Elder Nichols clarified and said he was from Plano, TX, to which
Elder Bednar responded, “Oh yes, Plano.” Elder Nichols is still serving in the
Spanish Branch as well as an English ward, and he is growing to love the people
he serves. He is still in a sketchy area, but says he “kinda likes that”, so
his emotional resilience is shining through! He is at his 5 month mark and time
is flying by!
Elder Matt
Baker
Brazil,
Belo Horizonte Mission
Portuguese
Speaking
Starting on Tuesday, I had
a 3-day division with our district leader, Elder Jacob! We spent a lot of time
in this one favela which was super cool because the people there were
incredibly receptive to hearing the message of the Restoration! We found some
really awesome people that accepted baptismal dates, so I'm excited to see
those baptisms come to past for the elders serving in that area! It was a
really good division as I learned 3 very valuable lessons:
1- Missionary work should
be normal and natural: Elder Jacob is really good at being normal and natural
with people in the street and when knocking doors!
2- Missionary work should
be fun: being with Elder Jacob was a ton of fun!! When we were walking in
between lessons or doors, we were always joking or singing sort of song that
really just lightened the mood a ton! These first few weeks I've been here,
I've been so focused on trying to doing everything perfectly that I haven't
been having a ton of fun. But serving the Lord should be fun, so I'm going to
work on trying to have more fun in the work while still serving with all my
heart might mind and strength!
Sister Madison Hein
Cape Verde Praia Mission
Sister Hein has been busy in the Provo MTC
learning Portuguese and how to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She
loves her companion, thinks her district is the best in the world
and is being as social as she can be (that's her style).
On Wednesday, June 15, she leaves for Cape
Verde and couldn't be more excited (except for the long plane ride - Salt Lake
to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Lisbon, Lisbon to Cape Cape Verde). When you
think of Sister Hein, have no worries. She is loving it all.
Elder
Tom Hodnett
Employment
Service Missionary
The past couple of
months the Texas Active Job Search (AJS) Group has been instrumental in helping
8 people obtain employment. Each person extended their gratitude for the help
the group provided. They said that, because of the training they received in
the group, they were able to get a better job with better pay than they would
have on their own.
One of our candidates
even got a job as the Building Manager for the McAllen Texas Temple, which is
still under construction. He is so very happy and feels blessed to have this
opportunity.
I love this mission. It
is so satisfying to help members and non-members find better jobs and improve
their ability to provide for themselves and their families.
Right now I am
struggling with some health issues that are keeping me from participating and I
ache to get back. I love this work.
Elder Jacob Mass
North Dakota Bismarck
July 25, 2022
Jacob graduated fromm high school on Saturday and will be
ordained an Elder this coming Sunday and is making final preparations to depart
to the mission field. What a busy guy he is.
Plano 4th
Ward Missionaries
Sister Hatch was just
transferred into our ward and is from Gilbert Arizona. She just passed her 9
month mark. Hermana Milla from Draper
Utah and Guatemala (Spanish speaking) just passed her seven weeks on the mission.. What great missionaries they are. They bring
such a great spirit with them when they come to our homes to share a meal and
to teach lessons. We are so blessed to
have them in our Plano 4th Ward!
Sister
Amanda Morris
Spain
Madrid
Enters
Online MTC Sept. 19, 2022
Amanda just received her
mission call! We are all so excited for
her! Congratulations Hermana Morris!
Elder Alberto Marrero
Idaho
Falls Idaho
Spanish
Speaking
MTC August
22, 2022
Albert opened his
Mission Call last night (June 7, 2022) and we are so excited for his great news. Idaho Falls Idaho Spanish Speaking! Oh how they are going to LOVE Albert in
their mission!!! Congratulations to you!
