¡Hola Fonzfam!
Over the last few weeks I've been reflecting on the time I've spent being a missionary. The service I've given has meant so much to me and has changed me for the better. I absolutely love every single person that I come in contact with, whether they accept the gospel or not. Because I love it so much, I think I've come to a decision: I'm going to extend my mission another 6 weeks so that I'll be coming home at the end of July instead of June. I know the Lord will bless me and those I'm serving as I make one last effort to give it my all.
¡Inocente! As much as I would love to extend my mission, I know that my time to return home will remain in June. And what I said before is true, I have absolutely loved the service I've given and once I get home it will not end. There is always work that needs to be done and a willing Father to help accomplish it.
Today was our mission-wide temple day, which was why our prep day wasn't yesterday. The temple was so amazing as always. For most of the missionaries,' it was their first time experiencing the relatively new changes. As I was going through my session, I really focused on the words of the covenants just like when I had when I went through for my first time. I know those promises are real, I continue to see the blessings that come from keeping them every day in the work. Another bonus was while we were in the Celestial Room I was able to see a couple of my old companions and others who were in my previous zones. The next time I go through the temple will be in June as part of the departing missionary trip.
Something pretty cool happened last Tuesday. Before leaving our car we said a prayer. In the prayer we asked for the confidence to talk to absolutely everyone we saw. We got out and walked over to this younger guy named Dylan, who we saw when we drove in. He was a really nice guy and pretty open with us. As our conversation progressed we began to share the message of the Restoration of the gospel, all the while he was keeping eye contact and nodding his head. We could tell he was listening and feeling the Spirit. He really connected with Joseph Smith's experience by then sharing his own. He told us how he had last all hope and purpose in life this last summer and so he prayed to God to know which way to go with his life as he was about to begin his senior year of high school.
That night he had a dream where he was reading a book, but he didn't know what it was or what it was saying. All he knew was that it made him feel really good and enlightened. After the dream he knew that that was his answer and he wanted others to feel the same way the book made him feel. In his interpretation, he then took on writing to be able to share his passions and feelings. To us, the dots seemed to connect perfectly and we couldn't believe it. It was cool that he opened up to us because what he shared seemed very personal to him. But with those thoughts going through our minds, we gifted him a copy of the Book of Mormon to read for himself. He wanted to pay us for it, but of course we didn't accept anything, but we challenged him to ask God that night if what we told him was true. He said yes.
We followed up with him via text the next day to see what had happened through his prayer. He responded that he had prayed, but hadn't received any specific answer yet. He said he likes what he's read so far but wants to do more personal study first before meeting up with missionaries again. Although he almost turned into a sweet referral for some other missionaries, it was just amazing to see how God is always preparing His children for the gospel at any given moment.
Yesterday was Brandon's 11th birthday and so we went over to give him our best wishes and check in on his family. He and his younger brother, Ethan, have been reading from the children's Book of Mormon every single day and are super excited for their baptism in 2 weeks! With transfers this last week, we got a new set of Hermanas in our Branch (which has now officially combined with another one from Beaverton). So now there are technically 3 sets of missionaries in our new combined Branch. Those new Hermanas' area is now all of Tigard, which was where most of our work was. We've been working hard to send them referrals and pass off some of the people we were teaching. We're now focusing our efforts on everything south of the Tualatin River, mostly Tualatin, Sherwood, and Wilsonville. The Lord has continued to bless us with many opportunities to meet new people and help others progress.
This weekend will mark my fourth General Conference as a missionary. In the time I've been out, there have been so many miraculous changes made to the cultural and functional things of the Church. Being at the front of it all, I am anxious to see what other things concerning the Restoration of the Gospel will be revealed. We'll just have to wait and see. But I want to invite you all to think about what's been on your mind recently concerning the gospel, life, future, etc. If you're having any doubts about things or are just wanting assurance about something, go ahead and bring it to Conference! This is your chance to try the Lord in a way. He really can provide clarity in the path we should take through modern prophets and apostles. We can trust the answers we receive as we pursue them through diligent prayer and meditation. This is something I look forward to doing this weekend, and I know you do too. With a lot of love and many prayers, I hope you have a great Spring Break!!!
Con Amor,
Elder Fonnesbeck
Over the last few weeks I've been reflecting on the time I've spent being a missionary. The service I've given has meant so much to me and has changed me for the better. I absolutely love every single person that I come in contact with, whether they accept the gospel or not. Because I love it so much, I think I've come to a decision: I'm going to extend my mission another 6 weeks so that I'll be coming home at the end of July instead of June. I know the Lord will bless me and those I'm serving as I make one last effort to give it my all.
¡Inocente! As much as I would love to extend my mission, I know that my time to return home will remain in June. And what I said before is true, I have absolutely loved the service I've given and once I get home it will not end. There is always work that needs to be done and a willing Father to help accomplish it.
Today was our mission-wide temple day, which was why our prep day wasn't yesterday. The temple was so amazing as always. For most of the missionaries,' it was their first time experiencing the relatively new changes. As I was going through my session, I really focused on the words of the covenants just like when I had when I went through for my first time. I know those promises are real, I continue to see the blessings that come from keeping them every day in the work. Another bonus was while we were in the Celestial Room I was able to see a couple of my old companions and others who were in my previous zones. The next time I go through the temple will be in June as part of the departing missionary trip.
Something pretty cool happened last Tuesday. Before leaving our car we said a prayer. In the prayer we asked for the confidence to talk to absolutely everyone we saw. We got out and walked over to this younger guy named Dylan, who we saw when we drove in. He was a really nice guy and pretty open with us. As our conversation progressed we began to share the message of the Restoration of the gospel, all the while he was keeping eye contact and nodding his head. We could tell he was listening and feeling the Spirit. He really connected with Joseph Smith's experience by then sharing his own. He told us how he had last all hope and purpose in life this last summer and so he prayed to God to know which way to go with his life as he was about to begin his senior year of high school.
That night he had a dream where he was reading a book, but he didn't know what it was or what it was saying. All he knew was that it made him feel really good and enlightened. After the dream he knew that that was his answer and he wanted others to feel the same way the book made him feel. In his interpretation, he then took on writing to be able to share his passions and feelings. To us, the dots seemed to connect perfectly and we couldn't believe it. It was cool that he opened up to us because what he shared seemed very personal to him. But with those thoughts going through our minds, we gifted him a copy of the Book of Mormon to read for himself. He wanted to pay us for it, but of course we didn't accept anything, but we challenged him to ask God that night if what we told him was true. He said yes.
We followed up with him via text the next day to see what had happened through his prayer. He responded that he had prayed, but hadn't received any specific answer yet. He said he likes what he's read so far but wants to do more personal study first before meeting up with missionaries again. Although he almost turned into a sweet referral for some other missionaries, it was just amazing to see how God is always preparing His children for the gospel at any given moment.
Yesterday was Brandon's 11th birthday and so we went over to give him our best wishes and check in on his family. He and his younger brother, Ethan, have been reading from the children's Book of Mormon every single day and are super excited for their baptism in 2 weeks! With transfers this last week, we got a new set of Hermanas in our Branch (which has now officially combined with another one from Beaverton). So now there are technically 3 sets of missionaries in our new combined Branch. Those new Hermanas' area is now all of Tigard, which was where most of our work was. We've been working hard to send them referrals and pass off some of the people we were teaching. We're now focusing our efforts on everything south of the Tualatin River, mostly Tualatin, Sherwood, and Wilsonville. The Lord has continued to bless us with many opportunities to meet new people and help others progress.
This weekend will mark my fourth General Conference as a missionary. In the time I've been out, there have been so many miraculous changes made to the cultural and functional things of the Church. Being at the front of it all, I am anxious to see what other things concerning the Restoration of the Gospel will be revealed. We'll just have to wait and see. But I want to invite you all to think about what's been on your mind recently concerning the gospel, life, future, etc. If you're having any doubts about things or are just wanting assurance about something, go ahead and bring it to Conference! This is your chance to try the Lord in a way. He really can provide clarity in the path we should take through modern prophets and apostles. We can trust the answers we receive as we pursue them through diligent prayer and meditation. This is something I look forward to doing this weekend, and I know you do too. With a lot of love and many prayers, I hope you have a great Spring Break!!!
Con Amor,
Elder Fonnesbeck
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Temple Day with the OPM
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New Tualatin Zone!
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