It's not Supposed to be Easy

I DID IT I FINALLY GOT MY VISA CLEARED!!!!!!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I head out April 3rd!!!! Nah, JUST KIDDING!!  But man, it's a really good thing that every week gets better in my mission or I would be really bummed that I didn't get to see any of that (New Zealand). In all seriousness, this has been the best week of my mission. I don’t know if I say this every time, but it really has!

Saint Bosco…shucks! (That is the volleyball team Highland lost to at their tournament in California this past weekend)  That had to be pretty disheartening!! I still bet it was super awesome and I really hope that Collin wasn't too bummed about 5th place. It still blows my mind how good they are. Hey is Bryce still on the team what happened there???

HAHAHA Disneyland is just way too stressful to be this so called "Happiest Place on Earth", but yes I do remember going that day with Trevor... what a punk. That does sound like typical Ava. Good job dad on well... just good job. Oh and that saying is really funny! (Be an instrument not a tool.)  It's just too bad that there are a lot of tools in and out of the mission field... I actually have a story on that later. Sorry again for the Visa joke I really appreciate that you guys are fasting for that. Oh, and yes mom, I got the package. My life is complete now... except Elder Bills has thee worst taste in music. He doesn't even like Alex Boye, but that is the worst I will say about him because I know that God had a reason or reasons for putting me with him... no doubt!

So, yes the work is still SLOW numbers wise. We have been following Elder Evans counsel and have been working through our members. We received 15 member referrals this week which according to his math…1 in 5 equals 3 baptisms. So yeah, we haven't seen a whole lot of results from our efforts, but I know they’re coming. Anyways though, Thursday we just had a BAD day. Our appointments fell through, we have very few if any progressing investigators, and we had to do weekly planning. I was struggling but I still had a pretty good attitude, but Elder Bills was just frustrated and angry and well just whining. So at the end of weekly planning, I asked him for companionship inventory and if there is anything I could do to help him. He said no and just slumped in his chair and well I just rebuked him (not in a mean way, but in a not as loving as I should have been way) and said you need to have a better attitude… you’re killing me!! He just said, “I’m fine"... Then this is when I slowed down and just asked him what was wrong (in a loving way, don’t worry).  I basically told him that we don’t come on missions for it to always be easy and baptize everyone we talk to. I used dad’s mountains and humility analogy and said that it’s going to happen and that if he is being obedient and working his hardest than there is nothing you should ever be mad about. So, whadya say we go out and tract like we used to for a good 10 minutes before we go visit the Neidholts. That day got a ton better after that!

Friday night though, sheesh, we went on exchanges with some other elders.  I was with an elder who, lets just say can be difficult to work with.... Well, Friday we had district meeting finish at 2:30pm. We got back to the house at 3 so I could drop off my things. From 3 to 4 he sat in the bathroom. When he got out I asked him if he wanted me to call anyone or if we had any plans. He said no and then ate 3 packs of Ramen. So, I took the Ammon approach and just tried to love him and win the heart of the person.  I just talked to him and, boy o boy, he just talked about how much he wants to go home and how obedience is pointless and way inappropriate stuff. I WAS ANGRY... so anyways we sat there till 5 and then we got a ride to our dinner appt.  Our dinner, by the way, was all green. We had corn beef and cabbage, green corn bread, green jello, and green lime ice cubes with sprite. But anyways, the family had me say both the prayers while we there and give the message. It was quite the experience! Elder Bills was not happy about it either, soo yeah, we are going to be working some things out with him.  I promise though that I just loved him and encouraged as best as I could. So that is my story about not even missionaries are instruments all the time some of them are just big tools.

Last story! Last night we went out on a team up with a youth leader in our ward and we worked with him for awhile. When we got back in his car around 7:30pm, he started telling us about his son and how he is falling away from the church. He is really concerned about him and his ex-wife is just pulling his son farther away... ohh and his son is 15. He was really upset and I just didn't know what to say to him except maybe we can come talk to him. So we went to his house and we just sat down and talked with him. While I sat down I caught a glance of something on the computer screen between all these icons… STARCRAFT 2!!!!! So, long story short, we didn't go in and rebuke him and tell him to go to church and repent but I won his heart! We talked about that stupid game and we became fast friends as we debated over whether the Zerg or the Protoss were better. He confounded me... Anyways though, I really know that I can help make a difference in that kid’s life and if I can just be a part of the reason that gets him out on his mission, then well, I don’t think I could be much happier!

I love you guys soooo much and think about you everyday. It’s sometimes like Adventure Time when Jake the dog can’t focus on anything and he microwaves an ice cream cone... Collin knows what I’m talking about. :) Have a good week. General Conference is going to be sweet!!!

Love

Elder Ward

p.s. My theory is that when I finally get to leave for New Zealand, the night before I will stay the night in the mission home. and the first presidency might be staying the night there too before the Kansas City temple dedication or the cultural celebration (early May), and I will get to eat a box of frosted flakes with the prophet... just wishful thinking but man that would be cool!