¡He Regresado a Tualatin!

¡Hola Fonzfam!

Last week we knew that I was going to be leaving Milwaukie, Alder Creek YSA, and Elder Matheson behind but we didn't know where and with who. Monday night the transfer details were posted and I found out that I was going back to serve in Tualatin again! Not Spanish this time, but in the Meridian Park ward with Elder Clements. Even though this an English family ward, I couldn't have asked for a better family ward to serve in. This ward is so missionary minded and not shy to share the gospel with those around them. It's just apart of the ward culture and as a missionary it makes our job way more fun:) This is for sure my smallest area but there's a good mix of neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and businesses to be able to keep busy. I would totally be fine to stay here for 6-8 months if that's what the Lord wants for me haha. The missionaries in my zone are awesome too! A couple are still here from when I left the first time, and others I've worked around before so I'm excited to be apart of more of their missions.

But back in Milwuakie Elder Matheson and I had a cool experience within my final days there. So we were finishing up from doing a hand full of tasks in a park early in the afternoon when it was time to leave. As I gathered up my tablet and the BoM I brought with me, a thought popped into my mind that said, "Wouldn't it be cool if someone just asked for this Book of Mormon?" No joke, on our way back to our car, within 15 feet from it, a man pulls up to us and rolls down his window and asks, "Do you have a Book of Mormon that I can have?" Totally not expecting that kind of question we hand him the BoM I was holding and were able to get his number and address. After we're done talking and he leaves I immediately turn to Elder Matheson and tell him the thought that came to my mind a minute earlier. It was unreal let me tell ya. But it was just another testimony of the power of that still small voice.

This last transfer we said goodbye to many good friends and missionaries as they went home to their families. I hope to hit up quite a few of them when I finish up my mission in a couple years;) Elder Goncalves was one of them who actually had his family drive up from Wyoming to pick him up to visit different areas that he served in. He had served in this area I'm in now for over 7 months before I got here and was my zone leader for most of my mission before I became one. Him and his family were invited by my ward mission leader this last week to a dinner, so Elder Clements and I stopped by for a sec to see how this retired Elder was doing and to meet his family. It was kind of weird but it was good to see him one last time.

In preparation for MLC, President Bullen had asked us to fast and study a couple things on patience, leadership, and on a couple stories of missionaries from the scriptures. I had just read over Aaron's experiences in my personal study of the BoM and so I went back to Alma in Mosiah 18 where that big gospel transition was after King Noah. Since Alma was able to teach the people in a way that added to the truth they already knew, I've tried the same as people bare testimony on the streets of their beliefs and I'm able to teach them something new according to the Spirit. Conversion comes by the Spirit, the Spirit comes by righteousness, righteousness comes by desire, desire comes by love. I have a love for my Savior and for my Father. I have loved serving Them and being influenced by Their Spirit in my everyday life. Strive to be worthy of that Spirit so that you can be instruments in the work. Keep cool this week and have fun! I love you and continue to pray for you!

Love,

Elder Fonnesbeck