Staying Put!

I am staying here and getting a new companion.  Hope to stay here for a couple more transfers. 

It’s crazy to think that this much of my mission has already gone.  I was emailing today and thought in 15 months I will be home- then I thought 15 months is short!  But it has been wonderful.

I passed my theory test on Monday, so just have the practical driving test to finish before getting an official license.  I still have to get that set up.

Monday we played futball- soccer, as we Americans call it, with the guys in the district.  It was really fun.  We are trying to get a soccer game started each week with the ward members on Saturdays.  This week was the first one for the ward.  Just having the members come and invite their friends and investigators to come as well.  We are hoping that this week will pick up even more with it.  The weather was been really warm, and somewhat dry.

Tracting experiences this week- We were out one night and ran into a preacher and had about a 45 minute chat with him. That’s the third preacher I have been able to visit with in this area so far.   Another guy stopped us and wanted to know if we were Americans.  I said yep- it’s my accent.  We visited for a few minutes and he invited us to see something.  He opened his garage and there was a 1920’s car fully restored in there. His dad had bought it new and they have kept it in the family.  It was really cool. 

 

Service opportunities- YEAH!  We did some service for a couple in the ward. They are taking out a flower bed and planting it to grass.  We took out the flowers, and while my companion mowed the lawn, I proceeded to dig the dirt 12 inches deep and just mix it all up.  While doing that, the guy said you really are a farmer.  I said yep- a true farmer that plants things.    We also found out that a YMCA charity shop has opened up in our area.  So we went in there to volunteer to help. We will be working there once a week for an hour or so.  It has been fun so far.  When we first signed up we went out with the delivery guy and picked up some couches.  Then this week we put books on the shelves and sorted things.  It should be a lot of fun to help there.

We have been trying to keep in touch with our investigators as well.  One wasn’t home and the phone was working, but we will keep trying.  Another just finished renovating his living room, which is really nice- we had a good visit with him.  Had an exchange with the Zone Leader again this week- it was a good time!

While studying this week, I came across a thing by Harold B Lee.  He was talking about revelation and said, “Revelation comes when we are relaxed and not under pressure of appointments.”

Other than that- nothing too new this week.  Just happy to be staying, we have some things planned!

Love, Elder Stevenson

Mom:    We also got a letter from him this week and he said that he finally found out the Chinese lady was baptized in his previous area. 

Finding paid off!

It was an alright week this week.  On Tuesday we had zone meeting so spent most of the day travelling, but it was a good meeting.   Wednesday we went to the neighboring town again.   While there we were able to see a potential investigator- who is now a new investigator. We had a great lesson with her.  It started on the doorstep and we were invited in.  As the discussion continued, we ended up talking with her mom and brother. The mom said she wasn’t really interested, the daughter was interested and wanted to start reading the Book of Mormon;  and the son said he’s possibly interested.   Finally all our finding has paid off.

We stopped by to see another lady we have been checking on about every other week and mowed her lawn.  When her husband got home we were able to visit with both of them a little about the church. A really nice family.

We had planned to get the car serviced on Thursday and called to make the appointment.  11:00 would work great for us and it would take 30 minutes- perfect.  We got there at 11:00 and they thought we were coming at 8:30- and also informed us it would take two hours.  We didn’t have time for that, the service tech agreed to have us come back at 1:00 for a one hour service job.  We went to our appointment and came back after lunch.  It still took them an hour and a half to service the car. 

We had been planning to do service work on this day anyway.  So we were in our service clothes when we went to service the car.   Once it was done, we just decided to continue the service tracting.   You just go around seeing if anyone needs service, normally in places were elderly people live.  So we did that most of the afternoon. We cleaned up yards and such.   Love to do service.

Friday we had to go pick up the Assistant to the President for the workover.  There were three trading places, so we all agreed to meet in a central location and go from there.  The workover was really good. This Elder is headed home in two weeks and so was really laid back and cool with things.  We had a good workover with him.   On Saturday we headed back to the city to trade back.  And finished up the day with some more finding.

Sunday both my companion and I had to give talks in church.  About Christlike love.  They went well.  We had lunch with a family from the ward.  They had just moved into the area. They live in one of those traditional looking English homes you see on t.v. with the back garden all fenced in with bricks and such. It was really nice.  

Taking my theory test for driving today. And then playing soccer with the elders in the Zone. 

 

Thanks for all the love and support and all the prayers.

Love Elder Stevenson

A little under the weather....

Another week and a lot of finding!  On Monday we had a normal p-day for the most part.  We played some soccer, or football as they call it here.  Then we were able to go and do some service for a family in the ward.  We cleaned up their wood shop.    By the evening I wasn’t feeling that good.  Felt even worse on Tuesday morning with a fever, sore throat and headache, but following study time we headed out and did a little street contacting.   I got some Cold and Flu Relieve and headed back to the apartment for lunch and a nap, hoping that would help.  We had an appointment at 1:30, but he cancelled, so we headed back to the flat and I slept most of the rest of the day.  By morning the fever was lower, I was feeling somewhat better, and so we headed to the neighboring town for some appointments we had set up there.  I wasn’t going to just stay in the flat again that day and miss the lessons.   Wednesday we headed back to the neighboring area for some other appointments.  We were happy to hear one of the guys we had been working with had gotten a new job and was planning to come back to church soon.   The new family we were planning to meet had something come up, but we are hopeful we will be able to catch them this week.

District meeting on Thursday, so a day of traveling to and from meetings.  And three of us Elders were not feeling that good as we spent the day traveling.   We have one District Leader and two Zone Leaders for the area.   Each transfer we have at least 2 splits with the District Leader.  The District Leader will spend time with each companion separately.  The other companion spends the time working with the District Leader’s companion.   Since there are two Zone Leaders, our companionship just splits and one with each of the Zone Leaders.  Occasionally the Zone Leader will go with the companionship to see how they work together as a companionship.  Usually have one or two Zone Leader splits per transfer.   The workovers are for 24 hours.  They will start following morning studies and go 24 hours until after the morning study.  A chance to see all aspects of the missionary’s day.      

Saturday was mostly a day of tracting.  When tracting door after door you have a lot of time to just think about life and such.   It can be a pretty long mental day, but I love it.  Sunday as we were headed to church a member called and asked if I could teach the Priesthood lesson as he was sick.  I said sure.  Luckily it was on a General Conference talk that I heard a few times.   Then out for some more tracting before dinner with a family in the ward.  

This Monday we were invited to go to the air force base as one of the members was being promoted to Major.  He has some friends he wanted us to meet.  It was cool to see it and go through the main building of the base where they are stationed. 

A little bored last night and looked up Island Park on the GPS.

With one gentleman of another faith this week, we were able to share some basic beliefs.  In trying to explain how the Holy Ghost can influence those who are seeking the truth and how the Holy Ghost can become a constant companion following baptism and confirmation.  And also share my testimony of the need for living prophets and apostles to lead and guide His church on this earth today.

 Here’s another great talk.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/doors-of-death?lang=eng

Love, Elder Stevenson

Best Two Years for My Life

Last night we went on home teaching splits.  The member told me she was struggling through her mission, she went as an older sister missionary. She just decided one day that she wanted to serve and that now was as good a time as ever.  And she said it was hard, even as mature as she was, it was tough.  But it was the best time for my life.  She said she got that from some general conference talk.

Monday we had a normal p-day and had dinner with an air force family in the area.  Tuesday we had interviews in the next big town.  Usually we take the train because we are limited to 1000 miles on the car for the month and we have been asked to use the train for most meetings there.  But this time, we drove because we are the only car in the district besides the Zone Leaders.  So we provide rides from the train station to the church.  Wednesday I received a call from the President, he said there was a couple from home who would like to deliver a package and have lunch with us, if that was okay.  It was fun to see them and hear some things about home.  After that we did some finding.  Thursday we had a companionship exchange with the District Leader, so we changed for the day.   Me and the District Leader went to the neighboring area and had a great time finding, it was the first time doing street contacting in that area.  We had a couple of interesting gentlemen on the street who weren’t the most interested in what we were teaching.  After one of them, not even a minute later, we stopped a family that is super interested and we are planning to meet them next week.  It was a real testimony builder to never give up.  Opposition in all things and we were able to overcome it.  Following that, the other guy came up and started yelling at us.  Friday we had a companionship exchange with the Zone leaders and it was good.  We were just sitting in the train station waiting for the train.  The Zone leader we were with spoke Chinese and he saw a Chinese gentleman and walked up to talk with him. He had just moved here and was interested.  They talking and the man knew he needed to be baptized and loved the fact all sins could be washed away.   It was great- but he lives in the neighboring mission.  Still- go England with another baptism.   Saturday we switched back and had a dinner appointment with a family in the ward.  They were fixing dutch oven and it took some time to cook. While we were waiting the guy suggested we go into his wood shop and start making a table. It was really good to be working with my hands again.   

We were not able to meet up with some of the people we have been working with last week, but plan to contact them this week.   The weather has been sunny and warm the last few days.  About 50-60 degrees and SUNNY- it’s been good.

Hope all is  well. Thanks for all the love and support,

Love Elder Stevenson.

Learning to Love the Weather

Here’s a great talk.    It’s called “Will We Finish the Temple, Brother Brigham?”  by Jeffrey R Holland.

http://www.scottwoodward.org/Talks/Audio%20Talks/2-Prophets-Apostles/Holland,%20Jeffrey%20R/BYU-Idaho--Ricks/HollandJR_WillWeFinishTheTempleBrotherBrigham-1981.mp3

Things here have been alright.  It’s been pretty slow with finding people to teach.   On Tuesday we did finding most of the day.  Just talking to people in the little 1/8 mile town center street.  We were walking back and forth, back and forth talking to everyone that we could see.   Wednesday we went to the neighboring town in our area. It was a good time.  We really focused on the less actives in the area that day and we were able to have a  good day.  Through a contact we were able to find one gentleman.  He was going to come to church on Sunday, but did not make it this week, perhaps because his little baby had been sick when we visited. On Thursday we go to another city for District Meetings. It was a good time.  We leave at 8 am and don’t get back until 3 pm, riding the train.  A lot of traveling for a 90 minute meeting, but it is one of the most important things on a mission.  District Meetings are a chance to be trained and instructed by our leaders on matters that will help us to become better missionaries, to help uplift us, and ease our burdens.  Friday we met with a gentleman who was interested in studying some aspects of the church.  We were able to help him to understand a few things.  We also tracted on Friday- a great day for tracting.  It was pouring rain and windy, the winds reminded me a little of the winds at home. But since my mission I have loved to learn the conditions.  If you have a problem with something, change it- if you can’t change it, learn to love it.  From a song on the subway the other day.  “If you can’t get what you love, then you learn to love the things you have got.”   I can’t change the weather, so I have learned to love it, even when it’s cold and wet. 

If you look closely, you can see the pinstripes disappear… that’s where my trench coat stopped.  I was drenched from there down.  

 Yesterday was a normal Sunday of church, a good day.  We talked about families in Elders Quorum.  

Driving around I have seen that they are still harvesting sugar beets here. They harvest with an all in one machine that tops and digs the beets. No implements behind the tractor, just kinda like a combine all in one. I don’t know how they can continue to harvest, it hasn’t gotten cold enough to freeze them at all.

 I’ve also accumulated a nice collection of ties while on my mission.

Missionary work is not easy, missionary work has never been easy.  And according to Jeffrey R Holland, missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience.  Because salvation has never been an easy experience. Missionary work is hard because we learn to love and appreciate the atonement even more once we have walked a few steps in our Savior’s shoes- just a few moments in His suffering.  

Jeffrey R Holland again, I have listened to him a lot.  Just have faith and believe, you don’t know all that God knows. We are living and choose to live in the last days. There will be hardship and trials, there will be times where we don’t know what to do with life. But we must look ahead and believe.  Have faith!

 http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1371   

 [This link is to the written text of that talk.  There is a link on the page to listen to the talk as well.]

Thanks for all the love and support.  Love, Elder Casey Stevenson

Scripture Study

This talk by Richard G Scott was touched on in our Sunday School class- I love it!

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/to-help-a-loved-one-in-need?lang=eng

President Jordan talked about the Greeks and how when they went to conquer an area of land, they got there and burned their ships.   Because then the only way they could go was to battle.  He encouraged us to see what our ships were- anything that distracts from the work- and see if it was worth keeping or if you wanted to give it up to serve the Lord.  [Mom- What ships are we willing to burn to serve the Lord everyday of our lives- not just when serving missions?]

Zone Meetings are a smaller group- just the Zone- a few districts and the Zone Leaders give the training.  Those are held every another transfer.   On those transfers we have interviews with the President.  On the opposite transfers, we have Zone Conferences- when 2 or 3 Zones get together and we are taught by the President and his Assistants.  That way we are able to see the President at least one every transfer.

We spend at least a couple hours each day studying the gospel.  Here’s how I am marking my scriptures and have them set up to help in teaching the gospel to others.

This week we met with one of our investigators and read Joseph Smith History 11-19 about the first vision. The spirit was there.  We decided to fast to find new investigators and to help this investigator also.  We followed up with the investigator and he said he had received an answer to his prayer.  He was encouraged to continue learning more about the gospel.  It was great!  He is going to continue learning more and continuing to pray.

Our other investigator is doing great as well.   We have a good discussion on the apostasy.  I was extremely grateful for the knowledge that I had so I could help him understand it.  Hopefully we will invite him to be baptized this week.

Crazy to finally hear about all of the snow/rain at home, it’s been the wettest winter they have had here in a long time. It’s flooding in the South London Mission a lot.  We were walking by a playground the other day and it was flooded, so they couldn’t play in most of it.  But there were some kids playing on it acting like they were alligators it in that were going to get them. It was funny!   Since I been here I have seen a lot of different styles of irrigation boots, polka dots and striped all colors.  I think I may bring home some nice pink ones to the farm, so that no one will take them ….  Haha probably not!

[Mom- I had attended Roots Tech and heard a speaker- Stephanie Nielsen.  I told him about the story and he remembered her from Elder Holland’s conference talk as well. Link to her story from Roots Tech.  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865596105/Utah-blogger-Stephanie-Nielsen-promised-God-she-would-share-her-story-of-healing-faith-and.html  ]  Truly people can get through anything if they just work hard enough and have the support that they need.

Other than that nothing too much this week- thanks for all the prayers you have sent out in my behalf!  Love you all much! 

Elder Stevenson

Staying in this area!

Staying in this area for the next transfer with the same companion. 

This week we were doing some lost sheep finding.  That’s when the ward has some people on the ward list that they want to find out if they are still live there or not.  So we as missionaries just go out and knock on the door.  Then knock 10 doors on each side if they don’t answer to see if anyone knows where they may have moved, or if they still live there.  Well we were down in the bottom of our area.  It took forever to get there, we had to go on so many back roads.  The back roads here are all paved, just the more back country you get, the narrower the roads.  Sometimes about one car width- but it’s a 2 way road.  So you have to just go along and if you meet another car coming the other way, then, if hopefully you don’t crash; the closest one to a turn out (which is a 10 foot pull thing) lets the other car pass.  The roads are really windy as well.  We finally got to the area and knocked the door. No one home, so we knocked both sides, and it was confirmed that she did live there, so we left a card saying- Hello, her name- it’s the missionaries and we are just coming around to see how you are doing.      We went on our way to the next one.  Which was even further out in the country.   This time no one home and no neighbors to knock doors.

As we headed back to town, we drove through a real farmer’s shop and shop yard.  They had the stuff all hooked up for spring.  A 8330 R hooked up to an air seed grain planter.  Fun to see the farms and all of it again.

Later that night we got a phone call from a lady, she wanted to know how we got her information.  She wouldn’t tell us which lady she was, so we couldn’t really answer her question, as we had more than one that day we were looking for.  We tried to explain that if she would tell us who she was, we could answer her question.  She just said to not contact her again, to which we explained that if she didn’t tell us who she was, we wouldn’t know who not to contact.  She just said to not contact her or she would call the police.  To which I tried to explain again we needed to know who she was in order to do that. She yelled something I didn’t understand and she hung up.  The next day as we were on the train going to the District Meeting, we got a call from the police. She decided to get them involved. They asked how we got her information.  We said we were missionaries with the church and we have all of the membership details.  But if you would tell us who she is, we can tell you exactly where we got it from.  Ended up she was a member, but didn’t remember ever having been one and so asked not to be contacted again. 

Yesterday when no one would listen to us- I was ready to just get on a barrel and cry repentance to the whole city.  But having our record in the police once that week already- I figured I didn’t need it for a second time….

The weather is wet and cold, but the last few days it’s had been super sunny.  Thinking spring is already here.   Here’s a shot of the moon from last night.  

Here’s a link to a great talk from Richard G Scott April 2012

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/how-to-obtain-revelation-and-inspiration-for-your-personal-life?lang=eng

Love, Elder Stevenson