Something Else

Dear Family & Friends:

3/20 Monday
Today we went to some caves because we had heard that they were pretty cool. As we were walking into the cave there was a little bed and camp set up for a homeless person. When we got closer the bed started moving and it scared Elder Jensen and he turned around and started running. Elder Ebert and I aren't scared to talk to anyone, so we just started talking with him. His name was Robert and he was a super nice guy.  I wished that we had a Book of Mormon on us because I think he would have definitely read it. It would be quite lonely living in a cave all alone. We searched the caves and they were man made so they weren't super cool. We also played basketball with the AP’s. It was a good time.

3/22 Wednesday
Today was Zone Conference! It was great! We got a sneak peek to the Easter video and it is super awesome! I can't wait to show it to everyone in Las Vegas! Haha. Tonight was something else. At like 8:15 pm, I got a serious craving for some candy.  I contemplated it for a second and then we decided to walk to a little store down the road! When we walked in, we started to talk to the cash register person and talked to him for like ten minutes. He was a nice guy. We then proceeded to look around and I decided on a bag of peach rings! As we waited in line, a lady came up to us and asked for a blessing. There was a church building right down the road, so we went there and a member was there and he helped us out with the blessing. After the lady left we realized she was a less active but her records weren't in the ward! Thanks to our ward mission leader, we found her records!

3/24 Friday
Today we had a lesson with the Bohl's.  It went great again! I know they will be amazing members of the church! I am so excited for their family!

3/26 Sunday
Jamal came to church and another person just walked in and stayed all three hours! We taught him afterwards but he lives in the ZL's area so we passed him off! He is going to come play b-ball with us on Monday! Zion’s Youth was tonight and it was super great! Way fun!

3/27 Monday
We went golfing today and it was sooo much fun! We golfed in Rhodes Ranch and had a blast! I also found out today that Hugh (a guy I found in my first area) was baptized last Saturday! It made my day!

Love you all have a great week!

- Elder Call 🎰💵🎰💵 NLVWM

A Stellar Week

Dear Family & Friends:

Wanted to write a little introduction to the stellar week. As missionaries we are promised blessings and God has poured those out on us this week! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed serving it!

3/13 Monday
Last day of the transfer! Elder’s McClure and Alison got haircuts today so they could be looking fresh when they leave the area. We stopped by a bunch of people so Elder McClure could say adios. It was a good day!

3/14 Tuesday
The craziness of transfers happened and we finally shipped everyone off and got settled in about 1:00. We were able to go play some basketball and that was pretty fun. There is this older guy that comes sometimes and nobody likes him because he is crazy competitive and ornery haha. Once he showed up not many of the young men wanted to play anymore haha. My new companion is Elder Pedersen. He is from Gilbert/Mesa, Arizona and he came out with me! He is way cool and so it is going to be a great transfer. Tonight we had a lesson with Harbor. She is nine and wants to get baptized really bad. We had asked her on Friday to read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon Stories book and when we asked her if she read it, she had read the whole book in like three days!! We were amazed and she told us all about it so that was way cool! We also were asked to teach mutual to the young women on missionary work and so we did that and it was a great time! Elder Pedersen kept getting a little distracted, but all was well, haha, I am kidding!

Enjoying the freaking hot sun on the daily!

3/15 Wednesday
Spiritually powerful day! We got to teach Maggie Bohl and her husband tonight.  (She is the one that stopped us last week). Her husband is actually a less active member, but she really wants to learn and gain a testimony! Immediately as we started talking to them the Spirit touched both Elder Pedersen and I to teach the Plan of Salvation instead of the Restoration! At the end of the lesson, we asked them about what this plan meant to them and why is it important! Brother Bohl immediately said that when they were asked what they believed they would have an answer and they would be able to testify to their children about God's Plan of Salvation! The spirit touched each one of us during that lesson! Satan definitely tried to get the spirit to leave though! I was teaching about life here on earth and our purpose when their puppy clenched on my finger with his sharp teeth and it was quite difficult to finish the sentence I had started! It was super funny but they felt super bad and they put the dog outside and we resumed the lesson!

3/16 Thursday
Tonight was another crazy miracle! We were walking down this street and Elder Pedersen goes "hey that guy is calling elder, elder." I turned around to see a man waving his arms and coming towards us barefoot! We started talking to him and found out that he had seen us from his upstairs bedroom window and wanted to talk to us. He had just moved from California and had been taught a lot by missionaries over there and wants to start being taught again! He is in his twenties and is a great guy!

3/17 Friday
Today was another solid day! Tonight we saw Sister Scott and were able to talk with her! I am hoping that she will continue to come to church because I think if she does her granddaughters will want to come and be baptized! We also saw the Bradley’s and that was great. I didn't wear any green today and I didn't get pinched, so it was a bonus to the day!

3/18 Saturday
Tonight we got to teach one of the Stucki's boys. He is fifteen and is really smart. We answered a lot of his questions and we are hoping that he will feel the spirit and he will recognize it!

3/19 Sunday
We had seven people at church today and both services were really good! Tonight we went and visited a referral we hadn't been able to contact yet and he was finally home! His name is Jamal and he is a great guy in a tough situation. He has met with missionaries before and he wants to meet with us again and go to church he asked us several times to text him and set up a lesson and church! It was a great way to end the week! I am excited about this transfer and the work that will get done!

- Elder Call 🎰💵🎰💵 NLVWM

A New Assignment

This letter came in the emails today:

16 March 2017

 Dear Elder Call ,

Congratulations on your assignment to serve as a district leader in the Blue Diamond District of the South Diamond Zone.  Elder Shey Ryan Pedersen will be your companion.

As a district leader you are expected to set an example for the missionaries in your district through your study of the scriptures and the gospel, obedience, hard work, proselyting skills and other aspects of missionary work.  Your role will be to supervise, teach, and inspire the missionaries in your district.  You will be responsible to plan and conduct weekly district meetings and supervise companion exchanges with the missionaries in your district.

You will interview baptismal candidates within your district, including candidates who have been taught by zone leaders in the district.  It will be your duty to look after the well-being of the missionaries in your district and to carry a full proselyting load in your assigned area, working with faith and diligence to accomplish your missionary purpose.

I express my love and confidence in you and trust that you will serve with a willing heart and mind.  I pray that our Heavenly Father will bless you and sustain you as you carry out these important responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Martin N. Walker
President, Nevada Las Vegas West Mission

This is a picture Ben sent to Hannah on March 14, 2017

B-day and Transfers

Dear Family & Friends:

Thanks so much for the birthday package and wishes! I love getting mail from people it makes my day!

It cracked me up to hear you say it is warming up! I am sweating every day in the 80 degree weather! It is going to be a long summer!

3/7 Tuesday
Today was great! We stopped by a fairly new members home to see how she was doing. She is married to a nonmember and has three grandchildren who are members so we are trying to build a relationship with her husband so we may open his heart a little bit. As we talked to her we asked her what blessings she has seen in her life since she became baptized. She said that her whole life she felt like something was missing and she tried a lot of different things to cover what she was missing up, nothing worked. Once she accepted the Gospel of Jesus Christ in her life that was filled. She no longer felt that something was missing! It is so true that the gospel of Jesus Christ is what people are missing in their lives.

3/8 Wednesday
Exchanges again! Elder Beccari was back with Elder McClure and I for the day! I was quite worried about the day because Elder McClure and Elder Beccari do not get along at all haha. We turned out to have a great day! As we were walking down the side walk, we were stopped by a lady driving down the road who pulled over to talk to us. She asked if we were missionaries and then told us how she had some family that is LDS and her and her husband have been thinking more and more about going to church and getting involved! She said that she was wondering if we could come by and teach them because it would be their first time going to church! She was super nice and had a couple of little kids so hopefully we will be able to visit them this week!

He is happy!

Elder Alisom, Elder McClure and Elder Call

3/9 Thursday
Wow. Today was quite the day! It started by me baking a cake during exercise... whoops. and then we worked for a while and our ZL's wanted to take me to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch! We went sat down and waited for them to show up. They brought all sorts of stuff including the following: Hello Kitty art kit, a princess pen, a couple of princess balloons and so forth... I think every person in the restaurant chuckled as they saw Mormon missionaries eating at BWW's and one of them has a lot of girl stuff. I forgot to mention Elder Alison and Elder Townsend gave me gummy bears, gum, and a pickle card... after lunch we planned for next week and went and worked for a while and then went to dinner at Island Flavor! Brian took us so that was way fun! We had a lesson with the Herleans' and finished the lessons with them. Knew will be baptized in early April but the other two boys don't want to yet:(. We also had a lesson with a man who is less active because of health reasons. I can't even imagine what this guy has to go through. He got some throat problems and has to have surgery every month. He has had 162 surgeries so far. It is amazing to hear his testimony of trials. He knows that God won't give us anything we can't handle!

Hawaiian dinner and guava birthday cake. 

Elder McClure, Brian, Elder Call

3/10 Friday
It was a great day! Tonight we went on splits and so a recent RM and I went and taught a family in the ward that we have been trying for quite some time. We were able to teach them the Plan of Salvation and the daughter wants to be baptized! We set up for lessons on a regular basis and so that was exciting! We saw Tom and we are trying to be bold with him so he may continue to progress with the lessons!

3/11 Saturday
We found out about transfers tonight and I will be staying and getting an elder named Elder Pederson. All I know about him is he came out with me! We went to the wards Brazilian BBQ last night and it was way good and fun a lot of fun! It is pretty crazy our zone leaders are staying together another transfer so that will make them being companions for seven and a half months! That is a long time!

3/12 Sunday
It was sad because none of our investigators showed up to church so that was a little disappointing! Elder Alison and I spoke in our second Sacrament Meeting about the power of the atonement in missionary work!

Love,
- Elder Call 🎰💵🎰💵 NLVWM

Remember Him

Dear Family & Friends:

2/28 Tuesday
Today in District Meeting, we were talking about the role the gospel of Jesus Christ has in us as missionaries and in the people we come into contact with. Preach My Gospel states, "The purpose of the gospel is to cleanse people of their sins so they can receive the Savior’s mercy at the day of judgment." What a powerful statement! It was brought up that Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance/forgiveness, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end is all made possible because of Jesus Christ's Atonement! I remember hearing a talk that I don't remember much about it, but the gist of it was, as missionaries or as members when we get discouraged or when we want to throw in the towel, we need to think of two words, "Remember Him!" Think of the Atonement, think of the miracles performed, think of the perfection. As we ponder on a number of things the Savior has done for us and continues to do for us, we will be able to set our problems aside and grow our faith, to be able to serve the Lord. If you are struggling to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, like many people in this world, at this time, may I pose the same question that Christ did to his apostles in John chapter 6:67. "Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?" I hope that we may all answer as Peter did with the knowledge that there is really nowhere to go. Jesus Christ has the words of eternal life.  I talk to less active people on a daily basis and I can testify that there is no other way to find true happiness. There is no other way to draw unto the Savior, and there is no other way to resist the evils of the world, except by continually growing our faith in Him, repenting, and making and keeping covenants with God!

Ben's b-day is March 9th

 3/1 Wednesday
The move! Yesterday late afternoon, we received a text from our Elder’s Quorum President asking if we could help with a move that was today.  Because it was last minute and at 1 pm on a Wednesday, nobody would be able to help. It was no surprise when we were the only ones there to help unload a very large U-haul. When we showed up the new family was flustered to say the least. Every smoke detector in their new house was going off and they couldn't get them to stop. We flipped the breaker so we didn't have to listen to it while we moved stuff, so that was nice. We worked hard and were able to get it done quickly. We saw Brother Maloa tonight to try to set up lessons with his niece and nephew who aren't baptized. We set up a lesson for next Sunday, so, I hope they progress quickly.

3/2 Thursday
Today we had interviews with President! President Walker is such an amazing guy.  I love being able to talk with him and receive counsel from him!  Sister Walker reminds me of my mom, so it goes without saying, that she is alright.  Right after interviews we headed to Cafe Rio to meet the second counselor in the bishopric and his son for lunch. Brother Larson is a convert of 7 years and used to hate the church and now he is in the bishopric haha! His son is 30 and is not a member so he wanted to introduce all of us! It went well and his son is a great guy! Hopefully we can start teaching him. The bishop of the ward is a convert as well. He was baptized 12 years ago! We had a busy day after that! We saw Sister Nettleton again this week and Brother Campbell, so that was good! During our visit with Brother Campbell he pretty much vented to us about his son. His son lives in California and is a sophomore in high school and he showed us his report card no joke was all F's and one F-. It was a rough report card.

3/3 Friday
Today was exchanges, so I was with Elder Alison and Elder Beccari. Between the three of us it was counted that 9 languages were spoken... of course the only one that I chipped in for was my half fluent English and they made up the other eight languages! It was a great day. We had a lot of fun and a lot of success. We met with a less active lady that brought her two nonmember granddaughters to church on Sunday and she said they loved it and wanted to go back this week! We were asked to help clean the church tonight and so we said we would help. While cleaning we were informed of a man that was an investigator in the Zone Leaders area who moved into some apartments in our area and he needed help moving a bed. We left the church and helped him! He really wants to get involved with the church so I am excited for that. After helping him we went to finish the church cleaning and I pulled out the ghost buster remake (see pictures).

3/4 Saturday
In today's personal study I kept reading 3 Nephi 5:13: "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." I am so grateful for the opportunity to have that title at this time to declare His word, among His children here upon the earth!

3/5 Sunday
We had five people come to church so that was exciting! Next week are transfers, so I will send my letters on Tuesday!

Overall, this week was great! The biggest miracle and tender mercies this week is that God has blessed me with Christlike attributes. I don't say this to boast or be prideful, but because it touched me to see what God has done for me recently. When Elder Bednar came, he said that Christlike attributes are not something that we just have or something that we gain by ourselves but they are gifts and blessings from God. God gives us these when we are worthy of them and we can bless others with them. I have been blessed to be filled with love and patience this last little while. Transfer calls are on Saturday and I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen. We mentioned transfers to one of the bishops and he didn't look happy that the last six weeks have gone by so fast!

Well I am doing well and love you lots! Have a great week!

- Elder Call 🎰💵🎰💵 NLVWM