It’s crazy how quick time
flies!!!!! It seems like just the other day I was on a plane for the MTC and
now I'm writing letters from a Family History Center in Idaho Falls. It’s been
great getting letters from all of you and I'm sorry if it takes me a while to
respond but I promise I WILL respond!!! :)
This week was a typical
week in the life of a missionary. Get up early, work hard, go to bed, repeat!!!
It's a great work I'm doing and I love every minute of it! :) This week we had
the opportunity to go on exchanges. ( Switching companions for 24 hours to
evaluate strengths and weaknesses un-biasedly) It was a great opportunity to
get to see what other missionaries are like and it definately made me
appreciate my companion a lot more!!! It also puts you outside your comfort
zone because you visit with members, non members, and investigators that you've
never met and probably will never meet again!
I have one thing to say to
those preparing for a mission. Prepare and get used to being in uncomfortable
situations with strangers!!! Because no matter where you go, it'll happen. I
also had the opportunity to teach a lot of investigators about the gospel. This
is my favorite part of being a missionary! Being able to share the joy and
blessings that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has given me with others. There is no
better feeling than seeing the happiness this gospel brings to others.
This week I've also been
able to exercise my priesthood authority. EVERY DAY this week there has
been either a member or an investigator who has asked for a blessing. For those
of you reading this who don't know much about the LDS faith, we believe in the Priesthood
Authority of God, or in other words, the Power to act in God’s name and bless
others through that power. I could talk more on the subject but for the sake of
time suffice it to say that I believe, and it is the belief of the Church, that
worthy men in the Church who receive this authority can trace it back to Christ
Himself. Priesthood blessings can be called down from Heaven according to the
faith of those receiving the blessing. Anyways... I have seen many miracles
wrought by these blessings which I have had the honor to be able to give. These
blessings range from blessings of comfort, to blessings of healing, to
blessings of knowledge. I am so blessed to be able to help these people. I have
a testimony of the Priesthood. I have seen many miracles wrought by this power.
And don't get me wrong, I take NO credit for it. I am just the instrument in
the Lord's Hands in which these blessings come.
I also have a testimony
that the Lord qualifies those who he calls to this work. I am just an 18 year
old boy. If you had asked anyone who knew me 6 months ago if I was ready for a
mission they would have all said, "Heck no." It is only through the
power of the Holy Ghost that I am able to help people come unto Christ. And I
still have A LOT to learn. But as I try my best, the Lord will do the rest. And
that can apply in everyone’s life in any aspect of life. I want you all to know
that I love and care for you. I think of you all, whenever I can that is ;) I
know that what I am doing is right.
It is my solemn witness
that Joseph Smith did see God, the Father and Jesus Christ. That he did restore
Christ's Church on the earth today. If there are any who want to know for
themselves I would ask you to read the Book of Mormon. Because that is the
proof. No mere man could have written that book, especially one who had little education.
And if you read it, I would ask that you pray to God in the name of Jesus
Christ, and ask if these things are true. I know that you will receive an
answer if you have a sincere heart. I know this is true because I have done
these things for myself. I love all of you and hope all is going well. I hope
none get offended by the preachy tone of this email, it kind of wrote itself.
Love
Elder Rash
Letter Addendum:
We also included this week some of the answers to our families questions we
have asked Caleb. He said it was easier to respond to one set of questions. So
if any of you have questions for Caleb, send them to us via Facebook or comment
on this post with your question and we will include them in our next mass
question e-mail to him. Here is the additional stuff he answered for us this
week:
1.) Tell us more about your companion and his family.
My companion is from
American Samoa like I said before. He was less active and then got reactivated
and decided to serve a mission. He's been out about a year now and this is his
second area. He is really cool and we get a long good. All his family is in
Samoa but he has a brother back east I think. His dad, who was WAY less active,
started to follow his example by serving a mission and is now the 2nd counselor
in the bishopric in his home ward.
2.) What are the street boundaries of your area?
I'm not sure my exact
boundaries yet but I know that Boulevard St is one edge of our boundaries. We
go past Sunnyside and into the nice neighborhood I think it’s like Stonehedge
or Stonerun or something like that. It’s weird how it’s so diverse yet so close
together, the different social classes.
3.) Tell us about some of those you are teaching?
Well Michael is one of our
Golden Investigators. He has background in the Church of Calvary which makes
the fact that he is an investigator all the more miraculous. They preach a lot
of anti-mormon doctrine and really hate on the church for no reason. He says
that one night at a sermon the preacher was just blowing smoke and that he had
had enough, so he drove off and saw some missionaries walking on the road (my
companion and his last companion) and pulled to the side and gave them his
number and said he had a lot of questions. Michael is the coolest guy!!!! He
comes from a tough background (drugs, smoking, bad stuff) but he uses that
background to go into bad situations, grab people who were like him, and get
them out! He is so generous and really shows the love of Christ to all those
around him.
4.) How many lessons did you teach this week?
We taught 4 lessons this
week.
5.) Are you doing more teaching or more observation?
I do an equal amount of
teaching and observing. I definately help when my companion can't think of the
right words to use. English is his second language.
6.) Do you have
any baptismal dates yet?
We had to drop one of ours
because they weren't progressing but we gained another one, so we are still at
10 or 11.
7.) How often do you have to walk and how often do
members give you a ride?
We walk quite a bit. But
whenever we have to go long distance we try to get a member who is free to take
us.
8.) Are you working out everyday?
I'm trying to. We stay
pretty active and we lift most mornings.
9.) Tell us what a typical day is like for Elder Rash
and Elder Malau'Ulu?
A typical day for Elder R
and Elder M is wake up at 6:30 work out until 7. Shower and Eat until 8. Study
until 11.(comp study, personal study, language study) Lunch, then work until 6.
dinner from 6 to 7 with usually a member family, then back to work until 9:30.
Then daily planning at home from 9:30 to 10. get ready for bed. lights out at
10:30.
10.) Have you had anything you feel has been a real
challenge for you yet?
Not really and watch. Now
that I say that I'm gonna run into a challenge :P
11.) What is the strangest food you have eaten?
A lot of Samoan food
surprisingly!!! There are hardly any
Polynesians here yet me and my companion
are like Poly Magnets!!!! Taro is like a Samoan potato. It’s more like a root
but they cook it in coconut milk and serve it in place of potatoes. I've had
Chop Sui too. Don't care for it very much...
12.) What is the best food you have eaten?
Hmmm.... Probably at the
Hammons my first full day. They are a Poly Family and they made a TON of
hawiian food and it was great!
13.) Have you had to cook any meals for yourself yet?
Hahaha not unless PB and J
counts ;) or eggs and bacon. That's all we really need to supply for ourselves.
14.) How are you doing with your allotted budget?
Pretty Good I think. Buying
the value stuff. Nothing to fancy.
15.) Do you have a warm enough blanket. It did not
look like it from the picture you sent?
The blanket is a quilt and
surprisingly its pretty warm.
16.) Is there anything you need?
If you want to send
pictures of family and friends so I can fill up my photo book that would be
great :)
I hope I answered
everything!
Love Elder Rash
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