Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Last week!! Great blessings August 31st
Hey everyone!! Sorry that this wont really be that long of a message this week. We're struggling with a really slow internet where we are....
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This week has been no less than a miracle and great blessing! I LOVE my mission and everything about it!
I attached a picture of Mary Grace Finch's baptism, and just want to share only a couple thoughts this week.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-17:
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my father!
And now, if you joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Behold, you have my gospel before you, and my rock, and my salvation."
This "one Soul" has been me. I have felt that I have been the one taught this whole time by all these amazing missionaries and people for the past two years, and it has changed everything about me. I have been changed for good!
I owe everything to the Lord. And I thank Him for the amazing blessing of putting up with me for two years, and allowing me to grow as I have. I have seen Him lead me, push me, and mold me. He is my master and Lord! I testify of Him and His love, as well as His ability to make us much more than we can alone. We may make ourselves but a smuge, when He will make a masterpiece!
I look forward with much excitement of coming home in a week. BUT I look with even more excitement for what the Lord has planned this week as I finish strong!
I love all of you so much! I look forward to seeing all your faces soon! Have a great week! And I'll see you next week!
Con amor and animo!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
August 17th--Trunk-a-size me president!
Hey all you amazing people I love so much!!
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Thank you for "enduring to the end" and keeping up with all my emails!! You all have been truly amazing and a priceless support while I've been out here!
BTW, sorry that I didnt send something out yesterday, we got to meet with a General Authority and start the new mission off with a Spiritual bang!
This week has been no less than amazing, busy, crazy, etc..
I have to say though. I have really really grown to start understanding just how "in the hands of the Lord" things are here, it's been pretty amazing.
The weeks before and at the start of the week, we had three on date for baptism for this Saturday, the 29th. It was weird to find that we couldnt find anybody else home, except those that had this baptismal date. Both of us had the feeling that the Lord was making sure that we were using our time in the best way, especially to help them progress this last week. When they were baptized, then we felt that the Lord would have everyone else in our teaching pool ready to talk more often with us.
As the week went on, two of the three fell off date, and just what we felt started happening. People that we hadnt had contact with for a week started really wanting to talk with us regularly, people who had disappeared reappeared, and we found some really cool people who have so much potential. AMAZING just how the Lord works. And we dont understand a sliver of what He does!
Grace is still on date for this upcoming Saturday. All four of us are counting down the days!!!!! It has been an absolute blessing to have been here and teaching her, and seeing the Spirit work with both her and her husband. It's going to be a FUN week!
Feels like eternity ago (just Wednesday)...but WE GOT TO WRESTLE COWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such a fun service opportunity.
Our task was to wrestle the calfs and do all the fun stuff you get to do to them, like de-horning, giving shots, etc.. So half of that time, we were wading though shoe-high amounts of manure! Short to saw, it was a lot of fun!
So yesterday instead of P-day, we got to have a visit with a General Authority, Elder Packer (son of President Packer), to start things in the new mission on a super Spiritual level. SO GOOD! ...except the fact of President going all out in every opportunity to state that I'm the oldest one in the mission and going home really soon. WOOOO!!! I guess this is what all old missionaries feel right about now!
The work here is so amazing right now, I am so grateful I have to blessing to end my mission and start my life here!
That's about all that I can get onto a message right now. I love you all and hope for the best these upcoming weeks! I look forward to seeing all of you!
I testify that this is the work of the Lord. I love serving and look forward to the opportunities that lay ahead of me. I testify of Christ and His Gospel. And invite you all well to "Come and see."
Abrasos!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Monday, August 17, 2015
August 17th
Hey everyone!!
It has been a BUSY week! One of the busiest weeks of my time being here in Warden! Putting that all into perspective: We've had about 5X's the number of lessons this week than in any other week in the past! WOOO!!!! ...I love staying busy!
We've been working a lot with three people who are on date for baptism for this upcoming week, the 29th of August: Grace, Codi, and Jacob! We're so excited for them and love their guts! There has been SOOOO many miracles happening with every one of them!! It's been unreal!
We've got a lot to do this upcoming week, so we really look forward to that as well! Please keep praying for them!!
Other fun stuff throughout the week:
-Had a really awesome Zone Training Meeting!! Everything is better when you have them give out fruit snacks!!
-Got to see Ruth ride her riding lawn-mower, which is a HUGE step for her getting out, moving around, then working. ...we had to stop her and make her take a water break, she was having that much fun!!
-Out and doing our thing in a good-sized wind storm! We got the smaller part of it, in comparison to the tri-cities, which had a 20 car pileup...dont believe anyone was injured though!
-Just living the normal life of a LDS Missionary!! it's the best! (Just ask anyone of us!)
...I'm probably getting pretty horrible about sending all of you good quality messages.
The work is so amazing!! I love it so much!! I have been learning SO much in such a short amount of time!
I love you all and hope for all the amazing blessings to reach all of you as well! I love this Gospel and testify of it! Keep going strong and love what you do!!
Abrasos!
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
August 10th last leg
Hello everyone!!
This has been an amazing week to be a Washington Yakima Missionary!! So much amazing things have been and are happening in this time of the world!! ...this comes from the Gospel (real life) side of the spectrum! ...still not too sure what's happening outside Gospel-life. Grateful for the amazing Gospel we live in today! I cant count or describe what it means to me, but it's a lot!!
Enough of all of that though!!
We've kept pretty busy throughout the whole week. Lots of awesome people we're visited, and the Spirit was pouring out upon many of our brothers and sisters! Love missionary work!
Grace is doing really amazing. Both she and her husband, Chuck are counting down the days until the 29th of this month. She has been zooming through the Book of Mormon and even got Chuck into it a lot. They were in the Isiah chapters...so we got to discuss one of the chapters with them...amazing when you're teaching how much more you can understand Isiah...wish my personal studies were that effective!!! JAJA!!
We're still working with Shawn (wolf) and Codi. We did some more service scraping up some metal from different stuff and pilling it onto his truck. They're working hard in the Book of Mormon, and understanding more and more each day!
Also had some really awesome experiences fasting with some of the members, then breaking it with an awesome BBQ; which turned into a really amazing teaching opportunity for some less active members.
Defiantly had a bunch of trials and difficulties, but we've had some really amazing morning studies that have helped us out a lot!! I love the scriptures and what they can do to help us out!! Do all you can to not be a latter-day pharisee!! There is nothing more worthless than un-applied doctrine! But as we apply it in our lives (mind you, we're not going to be perfect at it), everything changes!!
It's been an amazing week. I love the Lord and will strive to serve Him the rest of my life! I testify of Him and His Gospel and Church!
I love you all and hope for the best as each of you strive to come closer to Him.
Abrasos!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
August 3rd
Hey everyone!!!
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It has been a crazy week around here, but what's new!
We've also rolled right into the last transfer around here. Nothing was too exciting about this one. And to add to it, being out in the middle of no-where makes it like a perfectly normal day. We've got a really cool zone though!! Going to meet them all a little bit later today when we got to the church!!
But the highlight of that day was our weekly yard work with Ruth. She's really awesome!!! We've been working with her for 7 weeks now, but it's FLOWN by if you focus on just what we do with her. We've basically redone her whole front yard, and it's starting to look pretty good! Get's me working on the landscaping skills I dont have!!
But the most rewarding thing that we've been able to see there is the progression of Ruth. Health was a really large problem when we first started helping, but now she's usually out with us, and is out and about throughout the whole week. She's also gotten really motivated to look up and experiment on different plants and stuff, so it's been a huge motivation for her!
It's been another really crazy roller coaster with Wolf and Codi. We havent been meeting as often with them throughout this week, but we've been trying really hard to get back with them. By the end of the week though, we were able to see a lot of re-progression!
Made the mistake of asking what we could do to help them out, and they called the next morning saying that they bought a few ducks from a rodeo auction, and wanted help butchering them up. I wouldn't say "the mistake of," because it was actually really awesome!!! Mark that down as another really really really weird service project we did for someone! WOO!
The rest of the week has been the normal crazys (for a missionary). We've been having really amazing things happening! We're still working as hard as ever to find those who have been prepared by the Lord. It's pretty amazing!!
Just have to add in that we'll be getting the rare opportunity to get our hair cut...so no more hair-whipping for us for a while!!
Brothers and Sisters, friends and family, I love you all so much!! I'm so grateful for the love and support that each of you have given me!! I'm doing well and will go forward with faith and determination, and invite you all to do the same!!!!!!!!! Con amor!!!!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
July 27th
Hey everyone!! How are all of my favorite people in the world doing?!?!
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We've been SUPER busy around here. It's been really weird to have a Preparation-Day...feel like we should be doing something else...BUT that might just come from the fact of being a new transfer and all.
As stated previously stated, we've had a really good week! The best description for everything is what I remember from the California screamer ride in Disney Land: easing into the week is like getting shot forward at a million miles an hour. THEN we had some really amazing miracles out the roof. Then everything seems to explode right in your face. BUT then God sends some more crazy miracles, and a cool loop the loop to add some fun memories to it all!!
...I need to get off the analogies..,.I'm starting to get it apply this one to a full mission. JAJA!!
We've been working a lot with Wolf and Codi. Put simply...they are the best!
We've basically been meeting with them every day, and they've been on fire with a desire to learn and come closer to Christ. But it's been crazy to see that the adversary has been working hard, and very clear and wide open to stop them from taking these steps. A few days in a row, we received a call saying that something happened, and they dont want to see us any more. But we'd run over and just trust the Spirit to help and lead. It's been a black and white change with when the Spirit was there and when it wasnt.
Before we started teaching, he said one of the coolest and funniest things!! He said he read that Satan would send temptations and such to stop us from following Christ...Then said how much he hates Satan, and either how he wants to inflict physical pain to him or send him some of his really hot peppers he's growing (we had some...they're hot!!)!!
Both of them are coming unto Christ the 28th of August, so we are pretty happy bears and eagles (using the native american names Wolf gave us!!).
Both of them were also able to come and join us for Sunday services, and the Spirit of it all was so amazing!!!
I want to bear my testimony of the Sabbath day. We live in a time where the Sabbath (Hebrew for "rest") is not a focus at all. I think that this is ONE OF the brightest lights that others do and can see, but more importantly, it's a clear message to our Father. What kind of message do we want to give Him on His day for us? We need, especially in this time, a day to reflect more deeply on the Spiritual, escape the world, and rest! I love to rest!! Who dosent!!??
I love you all!! Look forward to this upcoming transfer here in Warden...btw, ya, we got transfer calls, and both of us are kicking it here in Warden!!
See yall in a bit!!
Abrasos!!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Monday, July 20, 2015
July 20th--Dancing with Wolf
Hello everyone!!
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I cant really even call this a week!!!! It's been a good two or three days since I emailed all of you last!
As you can tell, we've been keeping really busy, and time is FLYING by!!
Even though it was gone faster than it came, it was an incredibly productive week!!
Amazing news:
-GRACE IS ON DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were able to have an amazing lesson where we could feel the Spirit SO strong. At the end when we brought up baptism, she said that she's been feeling that she really wants to. We've been able to see that desire grow and grow for a good while, and we're really excited for working with her this upcoming month. Not only that, but she downloaded the Gospel Library app and now has the Book of Mormon in Tagalan!!! HOW COOL IS THE GOSPEL??!!
-Armed with hoses, we fought off wasps like beasts!! We had to clear out nests that were in almost all of the 20 or so large flower pots she was going to plant. WOO! Not one sting!
That was for our weekly service with a sister by the name of Ruth. We've also gotten her outside and working along side us, which has really improved her health! Love service!!
-Met one of the two coolest people on the planet!! Wolf and his daughter Cody. We met them when one of our members gave us a referral to go and visit them. They both were on the search for a church. They are a hoot and a half!! He herds, sells, and butchers goats, and Cody rides horses for the Othello fair, which is happening this September 18. We met them on a Saturday, and Cody came to church the next day! The whole lesson was really good, and all of us naturally were a fun, laughing bunch! We'll be meeting them again tomorrow, where he's going to grill us up some fresh goat!!
-Had dinner with a returned missionary at the best Asian restaurant in Othello...kind of the only Asian restaurant in Othello. And shared some really funny missionary stories. He's got some really really really good ones!!
-Had interviews with our mission president, President and Sister Lewis. They are such a nice couple, and we're really blessed to have them here! ...almost got off with them thinking I was really young on my mission, so that could have gotten me at least another month or so until they realized...jaja!! Then all the interview stuff was all about the fun stuff old missionaries do. I'l just hang with all the younins!!
-Had an amazing study focus throughout the whole week: Charity. What an amazing subject!! I was able to have some really inspiring studies that really grew my testimony and love for the Savior, who has shown and does show a perfect amount of love for each and every one of us.
I do want to share with all of you my insight from the two greatest commandments:
It hit me really hard the correlation and how both of these fit together,and worked alongside each other, especially as a missionary (or service-minded person). In D&C 4, we read of 4 things: "Heart, might, mind, and strength."
In the first commandment, God asks us to give of the things that He has promised not to take away from us: Soul, Heart, and Mind.
In reply and in its place, God gives us the Might and Strength to then fulfill the second commandment: Love and serve they neighbor.
Our service will be strengthened as we give ourselves in the service of others. Our Father in Heaven shares that same purpose with each of us: His whole work and His whole glory is to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of Man. And that is a perfect example for each of us!
Let us make the resolve to serve others selflessly, and shine the Character of Christ!!
I love you all, I pray for you all, and hope that your weeks are full of blessings and miracles. Live it all with joy! Will be working hard on this side, and having a blast!!
Abrasos!!!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Yakima Mission
early July
Hola everyone!!
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Wishing the best to everyone from the Washington YAKIMA Mission!
This has been such an amazing week, it's going to be really hard to share everything. We've been super busy with the amazing work as missionaries, and trying to stay out of the heat. We've been looking at an average of 110 in temperature around here, but that's done nothing to stop us from getting out there and keeping busy serving others and teaching.
Highlights for the week:
-The whole week brought so many miracles, it's been crazy. The first half of the week, our biggest problem was not being able to walk down the street to where we were planning on going, because so many things happened at each step. And that's not an exaggeration!! It was one of the coolest weeks that I have been able to take part in in my mission. I am so grateful for the Spirit and its ability to help direct us where we need to be and do what we need to do!
-Had a really awesome last day as a Washington Kennewick Missionary, and a great first day as a Washington Yakima Missionary!! We got to meet our Mission President as well. They are the BOMB!! They are really fun, and are so excited to get going in the work!
-Had an awesome 4th of July! I am so thankful to be able to live in a place with so many freedoms. In comparison with any other country, we really cant be complaining, but fully engaged in helping be a part of sustaining the great truths God has granted and given us here. I am proud to be an American, where I know I'm free! And I'm also grateful to be a Christian, where I know I'm blessed and Spiritually free!
-Yesterday's Sunday service at the church was really something as well. We were with the Spanish congregation this time, sitting with one of our investigators.
This week around, the attendance of the group was SMALL!! Add to that, it was testimony meeting. I am so grateful for the blessing it was to be there in such a small group. Almost everyone had the opportunity to bear their testimony, including the brother we invited to come with us. But for me personally, it gave me, in the time of silence, to sit and ponder on my personal testimony.
I hope that everyone in that room could feel that same spirit that I was able to feel there. It really was a special one! I know that testify that my testimony really did grow and strengthen with the opportunity and time to sit and think on what I really do believe and having the Spirit witness of it's truthfulness.
That's a really cool thing about the promise found in Moroni 10. No matter how many times that we have read pondered and prayed in the past to know, the visitation and promise is still extended to us.
I share my testimony that I really do know with all my heart that these things are true. I love the example of Christ found as he was inviting his first Disciples to follow Him, with a simple "Come and See." And that's the invitation that extend to you as well. Come and see!
I know He lives, He is our Savior. I know with that same Spirit and power that He has restored His Gospel in these days.
Come and See!
Come and See!
I love you all, I express my gratitude for the support that each of you have given me! Hope for the best in the upcoming week! Keep me posted and send me letters!! :D
Con Carino
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
July 13th
Hey everyone!! Another weekly update from your long lost friend/son/brother!!
This has been an amazing week here in the WYM!!
This has been one of the more busier weeks that we've had, so we've been working hard. The weather got a little bit cooler, so that made our week a million times better! We were especially grateful for that, because we had a bunch of service opportunities outside!
While we were doing a service this past week of installing red rock into a yard (which looks great now btw!), I got thinking of what a missionary service resume would look like. Holy cow we've got a lot of just weird "certifications!!" We've done everything from painting interior and exterior stuff for homes, landscaping, irrigation systems, clearing out homes of cockroaches, demolition, floraculture, worm hunting, pluming...running out of brain-power to think of all the things we've done...pues, de tocho morocho! I love what you can learn from just going out and helping people. Even if you want to look at it in a really selfish way, you get a ton out of it!!
But you get even more as you forget yourself in the service of others. And I can attest to that!
Other really cool highlights:
-Really cool exchanges!! Drank a lot of the other elder's chocolate milk!
-Installed irrigation to a bunch of fruit trees! Super fun service right there!!
-All the Wheat fields are white and being harvested now!! D&C 4 will never be the same as it had been in the past!! "The field is white all ready to harvest."
-Taught a super fun Daily Dose (English) class on emotions.
-Got some really amazing referrals from some inspired kids that were playing in a trailer park...LOVE kids!!! Coolest way to see the Spirit work!
-Had a church tour fall through with someone we planned it with, but felt to still set up, and happened to have a less active member come and want to talk to us there!!
-Another amazing service at Church!! And another opportunity to partake of the Sacrament! Up and ready for the new week!!!
The whole day, and week, was really focusing on specifically finding one person who has been prepared and is willing to faithfully accept and apply the Restored Gospel in their lives. We had really cool experiences and met really cool people throughout the day and throughout the week, but I want to end on the topic of how our week ended, namely the last 15 minutes until 9:00.
By the way, I've got a pretty awesome companion! He's always super Spiritually on fire, even when he's goofing off! But after talking to a few people and trying by a few families, we sat in the car with 15 minutes to 9. "I want something really really really cool to happen right now!" Was what I got from Elder Brassanini, followed by a really exaggerated point forward down the street for us to drive down.
We parked the car after a few blocks and felt we needed to tract the whole street before 9:00. We found that there was only one house on that whole street, and all the others branched off on other streets. We felt to go to the intersection at the end of the street and started knocking some doors. JUST before 9:00, we knocked on the door and a sister, Jessica opened the door with a huge smile. We had a really good conversation, and everything brought us back to Christ and His Gospel. We were able to share our testimonies about the living Gospel that God has restored today, and we really felt the Spirit testifying of it.
I wont say much more of that experience except my testimony that I know that the Lord is preparing our Brothers and Sisters in all parts of the world to come unto Him. And it's through this restored Gospel, His Gospel, that they and we can do that. I know that. And I share that with you in our Savor's name, Jesus Christ, amen.
I wont say much more of that experience except my testimony that I know that the Lord is preparing our Brothers and Sisters in all parts of the world to come unto Him. And it's through this restored Gospel, His Gospel, that they and we can do that. I know that. And I share that with you in our Savor's name, Jesus Christ, amen.
I love you all and pray for each of you!! Keep moving forward strong and with faith and hope!
Abrasos!!!
P.S. for those who didnt get the message last week. I've got a new address to send everything! Love you all!!!
Elder Glen Wright
Washington Yakima Mission
1006 S. 16th Ave.
Yakima, WA 98902-4260
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
End of June, change of Mission!!
Bueno!!! How is everyone wherever you are!!
We have been HOT!! But SUPER awesome!! This week cant really even be called a week with how fast it's gone by.
It's been such an amazing blessing to be here working in the Lord's vineyard. I know it's His, and He
's directing this work, we're just trying to run to keep up!! We've kept pretty busy with the work and seeing countless miracles each day. This transfer has been full of miracles! We've been working hard to apply the Gospel more fully to be better and more consecrated missionaries. We've still got a long way to go, but that's also a great blessing! There's still so much more that we can do and more miracles that can come from the Lord! We have been SO blessed to be here at this exciting and chosen time to serve!
Some of the exciting things of this week:
-We had a pretty cool miracle from a run-in with a German Shepherd. We went up to a gate to a home where we had a planned lesson, and out came a rather infuriated German Shepherd with all the whistles and bells of ripping apart anything. We were going to go for it, but it didnt seem to want to let us in at all. But through the whole time, I felt that somehow we would be able to be fine. We went instead to the side of the house and then found that there was no gate there...but a German Shepherd bolting out of the yard!! ...honestly didnt really feel that we were going to be fine at that point, but we held our ground while the dog was making its rounds of sniffing and grouling and all that awesome stuff! BUT then its hackles disappeared and he happily led us to the yard. So we went in! Sadly, we didnt find the brother who we set the appointment with, but we met his dad and had a really good conversation with him for a few minutes!!
-We had one more meeting with our Mission President...sad stuff, but we were so happy to get to see him one last time. The meeting was really Spiritual, and I felt really just focused on me and what I needed to be doing for the last leg of my mission. One of the coolest parts of the meeting was the feeling of pure excitement to meet President Lewis. He'll step foot on Yakima Washington soil Wednsday, then we'll be able to have a meet-and-greet the following Friday. I havent met him yet, but I can testify that he holds the keys for the WYM, and those keys will be active when he steps foot on Washington soil. I am very excited to meet him, and look forward to working side by side with the WKM in bringing our Brothers and Sisters back to Christ!!
-Yesterday was a major highlight for the week, especially in how we've been able to accomplish our missionary purpose.
We took the things we took away from Specialized Training (meeting with President Ware), and made of list of things we could change and focus on from now on in order to be more worthy of our calling. Some amazing things occurred as a result of us being more focused on that purpose.
The whole day was really amazing, but the part to focus on was the last hour of the day. We were in a lesson with a Less Active brother reading in the Book of Mormon, when we got a text from a member family to have rootbeer floats before we went back to the house (meaning we would need to do that around 8:45-8:50. DISTRACTION was the first thought I had, and upon looking at my planner, the Spirit hit us hard in us needing to pass by a sister that night, right after our lesson. When we left the lesson, we felt to first go to another less active family and introduce myself, so we got to talk to them for a few minutes. And then we passed by the sister we felt prompted in visiting. Right as we pulled in, her husband pulled out and was off.
We were met with this sister in tears, and had the chance to talk with her, then give her a Priesthood blessing, which brought a lot of peace of all of us. As we were walking away, the door reopened and she popped out asking why it was we planned to pass by right then, and we said that we didnt know, save the Spirit told us to. The expression on that Sisters face was priceless, as was the Spirit that I felt right at that moment.
This is HIS work, and I couldn't stress that enough. I pray that we can always be placed in these situations, so we can be instruments in the hands of the Lord. There was such a reverent feeling that night as we made our way back home, empty of rootbeer floats, but full of gratitude for the Lord and His willingness and love to use us (no matter how broken of tools we are at times) as His instruments to help others We love.
I love this work and testify of its truthfulness. I love the Lord and also testify of Him, and His place as Lord and Savior, as well as his position as head of this Great Gospel and Church.
love you all and hope for the best of blessings for each and every one of you!
Con carino,
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Thursday, June 25, 2015
June 22nd--Warden
Hola everyone!!! It's so awesome that I can send you a little something! A really cool blessing as you start to think about it!! I'm so grateful for the small blessings that we have! And Emailing is defiantly a huge one for us!!! ...easy to take "instantly sending a letter to everyone you love at home while you're off miles away" for granted! I 100% can say that I'm SO glad I came to the Earth at this time in the history of the World!!!!
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So this week was transfer week, so we spent the week packing, saying farewell to everyone, etc. But the largest highlight of Chelan before transfers was the last lesson we had Tuesday night with Jim. We were able to have a dinner with Brother Riggin and his wife, and we also were able to enjoy the company of Jim. Both of them became the best of friends the moment they met each other a few weeks ago, and this dinner made it even cooler...for example, both of them are general contractors, and Brother Riggin built the home we ate at.
The dinner was so amazing!! Their home also had the BEST view of Chelan...kina like the valley was saying goodbye to the both of us!
The lesson we had with him afterwards was really awesome!!!! It was so cool to be sitting on the other side of them, both Jim and Brother Riggin, because they both looked like they've been members all their lives!! It was really amazing to hear Jim's testimony and feel the Spirit throughout the whole discussion. We love him and will miss him, but we know we'll be having an awesome conversation and cool get-together in Heaven!!!
Transfer day was pretty good...you get pretty pumped to go out and work hard, cause you're so sick of sitting in a car the whole day!!!
But after a long day of traveling, we made it to Othello, where I met Elder Brassanini, then we were off for Warden.
I'm not going to lie...Warden STINKS!!!!
Ok, I dont mean that kind of stinks, I mean literally "stinks"!! A dairy and cow pasture decided the best place to place themselves is right where the wind would carry all the wonderful smells to the town!!
Apart from that, Warden is the BEST!! LO MEJOR!
I know that I've been sent here for a reason and there are many people here that are prepared for the Gospel. I'm really excited to keep working here!
So far, the week was full of a lot of getting to know the area and the people we've been teaching. It's a pretty small town, so just about everyone knows the missionaries, so that really adds a cool twist to things!! Jaja, the people here are really cool! I'm just really excited to get working here!!!!!
Lots of miracles have been happening so far!!!!!!!!!!!!
This past week, I've been thinking of a specific talk given a year ago from one of the Apostles:
I am pretty sure that most of you have had the blessing of listening, watching, or reading this talk, but it's been one that's been on my mind and has been a large blessing for me this week! Dont know really what else to say about it, but please take the time to read it!!!
Love you all!!! I'd give all of you a big hug right now, but as a missionary, some might just have to do with a nice firm handshake! Love you all and hope for the best this upcoming week!
Abrasos,
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
June 15th
Hola everyone!!!!!...BTW with the best way to start off a P-day, found the BEEEESSSSSSTTT T-shirt today...have to keep it a secret for a little while...but it's pretty amazing! ...pretty well puts my mission right onto a t-shirt! I LOVE tourist towns, they have EVERYTHING you ever never needed!Como estan?! Everything is really awesome here! The work is going really well and we've been working really hard the past week. Some really cool things have been happening in the Chelan area, and we're really excited for everything and everyone!Highlights for the week:-We had some really amazing lessons with our Recent Converts this past week, Steve and Juan. Juan is on fire and has been called to be the assistant ward mission leader! So we're getting him going on that! He's storming through the Book of Mormon for the first time as well, so it's been super cool to see! We made cookies with Steve!...enough said! He's a BLAST and we had a great time making chocolate chip cookies to give to a few families.-We've been planting lots of seeds. Meeting so many really cool people!! We havent been able to talk to a whole lot of people, but every person we were able to talk to 100% was placed in our path and was a huge miracle!-Jim is doing really well. We love him to death and pray constantly for him. We always can feel the love that God has for him!! Keep praying for him!!-Got transfer calls and results for the next transfer and who's in what mission-Both of us gave talks in Church in Spanish, along with another brother who was giving his first talk...super strong spirit that Sunday!! AND we met another brother who was visiting the church for the first time and was basically smacked flat on his back with how strong the Spirit was there.-MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST!!!-Church is True! ...defiantly a highlight for the week!SO, results of transfer calls! Both of us will be doubled out of the Chelan area. Elder Womack will be on his way to Oregon, and I'll be heading back to the Othello zone and serving in Warden. So that will also mean that I will new be in the new Washington Yakima Mission!I am SO grateful that the Lord has permitted me to serve here in Chelan as well as the Washington Kennewick Mission. I love President Ware and will miss him. I look forward with faith and excitement for what the Lord has in store for me and for my brothers and sisters in Warden, and I look forward to meeting President Lewis. These two last transfers will be two of the best!I love you all and hope for the best for the next little while! Thank you for everything that you have done in serving and supporting me as well as our Father in Heaven. I know He lives, I know He loves me, I know He hears me and He answers me when I pray, I KNOW His Son is my Redeemer and that He died for me, that I can live Eternally one day!Abrasos!--Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
June 1st
Hola! Como estan?!Everything here is going as great as usual!! It's been a funny week though, lot's of realy extra things to add to everything.Everything really started with Wednsday, that being our fake preparation day. We spent most of the day in the car, then the rest of it at the Columbia River Temple. BA!!! Cant say anything less than absolutly amazing!!! I have a tesamony of the amazing Spirit in the Temple, and the need that we have to go more often! The misison has really helped me grow my desire to go more often, and have a constant desire to go. Something that we ALWAYS have bolded, highlighted, and underlined on our calander.A highlight for the week definatly had to be the ward activity.............drumroll.....PINEWOOD DERBY! For the past week, we've been inviting everyone! And we were so happy to see people come!!! We had one family come, then a recent convert and his family come as well. SO many hambergers and Hotdogs...and SOOOO many cars. Funniest part of it was that most of the cars were from one member!We had a blast, and raced out own: The TIE BREAKERAdd on to that, we won third place! We were pretty suprized about it though...once you see what we raced!But the best part of it was that the activity was a BLAST and everyone had a great time. The Orrosco family was even able to build their own! And they won a couple of the races!An update on our good friend Andy. He's been doing really really well. It's just a slow go for him. BUT the best news is that he just got a job! We're pretty happy for him. It'll help a lot with many of the struggles he's been going through, especially with so much time on his hands just staying at home.Exciting news as well! I finally got my farmer's tan back!! IN ONE DAY!!!!So we got to go up to the Pateros area (the same place where exactly one year ago we did cleanup service for the Fires). We helped out a family who had a large farm higher in the mountian area...they said it was just above that farm where all the news footage of the huge flames were taken. But we built a large fence spaning one of their fieds so they could have a pasture for their cows. That was some really awesome and hard work! Both of us were pretty tired the next two days after. We got to spend the day with this family, and got to be able to chat a lot about what we do as missionaries, and got to share our personal testimonies on the role it has in our lives.One of them was constantly repeating the prase in the Scriptures "Be doers of the word, not hearers only."I have such a strong love for service, and I give all the recognition and thanks to God for that. It's been something that I've really grown to love and do in my mission. And something that I'lls trive for for the rest of my life. And invitaton for all of you as well! For isn't that what Christ would want us to do?!This upcoming fast Sunday is going to be a special one for the mission and the stakes in the WKM area. We'll be doing a special fast for the people who are investigating the church, as well for those that the Lord will be preparing us to find in the next little while. We would want to ask or invite you as well to join in on this fast, praying for them. I can give a couple names if you would like:Orrosco familyRanferiJimBillyJoseSherly (who is a less active member)Thank you for everything that you do, the love and support that you have for me and the wonderful brothers and sisters we've been teaching have been felt in abondance! I love you and pray for each fo you, and wish you the best!Take care, work hard, smile often, and live the doctrine of Christ daily!!!!!!!!!!!Abrasos!--Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
May 25th Under house arrest
HOLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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How are all my favortie people in the whole WORLD!! Love you all to death!
This week has been so much fun! Just about everything was thrown at us throughout the week. ...and to add to all of it, today isn't really a P-day. (We've got our temple trip this Wednsday, but living so far away, it'll take just about all day, so we get to do this today!!
I have NO idea where to start!....
-We've had some pretty amazing discussions with our investigators this past week. Especially those who we've been having trouble getting in contact with the past few weeks. The members have been able to help SO much!! And it's brought such a strong Spirit to each and every lesson! I want to make sure I'm a good ward missionary when I get back!!!!
-Had an AMAZING zone conference!!! So much revelation recieved, not even funny! ANNNNNNDDD got some cool little add-ons to our mission vehicles: TIWI!! Those not too familiar with this, essencially it's a box that mimics your mom if she were driving with you in the passanger seat. It even talks to you!!! Said that this has really helped the safety for missionaries driving, so it's a pretty neat little device.
-Thought that we'd get back into our area Friday, but called last minute to drive down to Wenatchee for a leadership council. And started out 40-day fast....40 days until the mission split. Some amazing things are going to happen, the work is hastening, and we as the instruments need to be better sanctified. The 40-day fast is such an inspired thing!! Essencially it's a full 24-hour fast to start it, and during this fast, you write everything that you feel has been "poking" at your Spiritual sensitivity, then for the following 40 days, you do everything you can to be accountable to the Lord in not doing those. It's a pretty amazing way to really see change in yourself, and it was a really amazing thing to see those things I want out of my life and what I do want in my life more.
-Memorial day for the tourist town left us over in the other town for most of the weekend. We spent the time finishing up our weekly planning, then building a ramp for a couple in wheelchairs. The member we spent the day with was an absolute blast, and kept us busy as well with all sorts of his projects and "to do" stuff!
-Got to give a talk in Spanish in Church on the topic of Memorial day...(always find that I can speak a lot more freely and out of the heart when I do it in Spanish....might as well be full blood Spanish!! But I focused on my favorite scripture: ! Nephi 2:15. And if you have a funny face when you look at it, I invite you to deeply study those first few chapters to descover what I found. Amazing to see the sacrifices each of them made so so many people that followed could reap the blessings.
I thank all of those in my family (being ALL of you) who have sacrificed, especially in the armed forces, that all of us may reap the blessings we have today.
-This Sunday brought an amazing miracle with an amazing family we were able to meet. They are SUCH A BLAST!!! We were laughing so hard though the whole conversation. The whole family it super cool. They used to go to the English classes, havent for a few weeks due to schedualing, but look to be going back really soon. Then we inveited then to the Ward pinewood derby activity this Friday...and they jumped right onto that!!
-That also brings me to the Pinewood. SUPER AWESOME!!! We're both super excited for this actuvity. We've been inviting like CRAZY, and so many people have already jumped on it!
Andy was a really cool miracle with that. We was able to be complety off the alcohol and smokes for four days, but fell back. His face lightened up sun-level when we gave him the car. He apparently did them all the time with his father...got pretty emotional there. BUT also commited to be complety sober every time he worked on it, and he shook at that! ...pretty competitive, so we need to make it fair!! Jaja!!!
The work is really amazing. It has really impressed me so much to see how the Lord is preparing His children, both to be found and to find. I love Him and testify of Him and His Son, our Savior. and do so in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Monday, May 11, 2015
May 11th
Hello everyone, and HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for everything that all of you do!! "For God so loved the world that He gave us Mothers!"
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It might be a little bit harder to write some things...it's almost like I just talked with the family yesterday! Btw, it was absolutely amazing!! It was a little bit of a struggle with everyone looking so much older, just the sisters I mean!
The biggest parts of the week have been saying goodbyes to Elder Budica and getting ready for Elder Womack.
Highlights up to transfer day:
-Had a wicked awesome Hispanic-style shredded Elk tacos
-Ate my first fried oreo...then made some bomb Shmoreos!
-Found out some pretty awesome and fascinating family relatives from Family Search! (pretty awesome and hilarious!! You need to check it out!! It's on something like "Relative search" or something)
-Had an awesome lesson with an awesome sister we've been teaching...then lost contact for a while until now
-Worked out in the orchards laying down irrigation hosing
-Eating at some of the hotspots of Chelan, all the way from Hispanic, to fine dining. (the good side of saying goodbye to a comp-anion is that the ward wants to do the same, in the form of taking him out to eat...and as his companion...TAGALONGS!!!)
-Got one of the coolest missionaries here in the mission!!
The transfer so far has been really amazing! Elder Womack is such a good missionary! It's been a lot of fun to serve with him. Lot's of amazing things are going to happen in this area really soon! So far, we've had some really cool things. Looking forward with faith and working my heart out!!
I love you all so much! Miss you...but having the time of my life out here!! :D
Take care, have fun, and keep moving forward with Faith in Christ!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
May 4th
Hey everyone!!
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Everything is going fantastic here in the WKM. Just got done fishing a little more...getting a lot hotter around here. Near the lake, that just means more bugs!
We've pretty busy with the work around here. We've been finding new and "out of the box" ways to go out and give service to the community, so that's been a lot of fun. We got to sit and talk with the ward leaders on some of the service ideas we've been thinking of, they had a really good laugh on some...most of them! ...not like we thought all of them up while we were walking in the sun ALL day.... I love this ward so much!! So many amazing people! Ya, so we'll be working a lot more in serving around the community, and it looks that the ward will be super excited to go all into it as well!
We've been working really hard in finding by the Spirit. There ARE people who the Lord has prepared, and our focus has been to know who they are, and where they are. We've had some really cool miracles in the past week from that. I've always said it, but there are really amazing things happening here, and as we do all that we can, the Lord has promised us that we will be prepared to find and share the Gospel with those who have been prepared. ...man, the more I think of it, the Lord is preparing tons of people!! Not just those that we're able to come in contact with every day, but us as well!
We're teaching some of the coolest people in the world!! I love these brethren to death! Keep Billy in your prayers. He's one of the coolest guys I know!! He's gone through so much in his life, but the Lord's had has led him so far, and he's been acting with amazing faith, committing and wanting to be baptized on the 30th of this month. Every lesson has been such a strong Spiritual experience for everything there!
I cant really hold in Transfer news any longer, so on the fun side of things.......... I'll be staying here for this upcoming transfer! Elder Budica got the really cool call though, he'll be heading to Othello to work in the Mizteco area...which is a new language. So he'll be with a native companion who dosent speak a lick of Englsih, only Spanish and Mizteco. Pretty excited for him!
I'll be getting one of the best missionaries on Earth! I served as DL in the district in Yakima with Elder Womack. We had a blast there, and he was full of greenie fire while being greenie busted. Love the Elder to death, so I'll be excited to see what will happen on Wednesday!
Everything else is going really great!! Got the opportunity to translate for the ward this last Sunday. I found that it was A LOT easier than the last time I did it in Mattawa some......long time ago. So Spanish seems to still be there! We're running into a lot more Hispanics around here, so I'm getting my fill! :D
I love all of you so much! Keep working hard and love it!!
ABRASOS!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Thursday, April 30, 2015
End of April
BUENISIOMO LO MAXIMO!!!!!!!
Holy Cow! Yet another week comes rolling to a close! ...Elder Budica and I have been talking, and both agree that this has been one of the fastest transfers so far! Things are moving so fast around here.
It's been such a great week. Feeling kinda like an AP with all the exchanges we had though. :P That's all they did "back in the day" (funny I can start using that). We had a couple exchanges back to back. With the first one, I traveled all the way up north to Bruster. The the second day I was in our area with the zone leaders.
Bruster was a BLAST!! Learned a lot and had a lot of fun. There's a pretty well known hispanic there, Pedro, who basically owns the town, so we got to meet up with him and do some service. Then he took us out the best Mexican-food joint, also getting me to do the initiation for new missionaries of eating a type of pepper. Just super fun stuff like that!!
Getting thrown back into the area after a day added a really fun twist to the exchanges back with the zone leaders. We had so many amazing conversations throughout the day. Which really helped me get on tract to my "next step" as a missionary. SO GOOD!!
Apart from all of that, we've been fighting to find the vision the Lord has for the area of Chelan. Lots of stuff is happening, and we need to make sure that we're keeping up and prepared to reach out and find and teach those who have been prepared and are elect. Elder Busica and I have spent some good time talking about what it is, and the things that can help us change. I love transfers like this, where everything about you can change! The one of the best parts of the Gospel! We have such a great potential, and our Father is just waiting for us to take the first steps. I love this Gospel with all my heart and know it to be true!
That's pretty well been our week in a nutshell...or sombrero hat for us Hispanic Elders. We got to fish this morning! Fishing is pretty hot around here right about now. I got myself a good looking............fish!!! Gave it to one of the members we were with, we'll see if he can cook that thing up for us!! WOOO!!
I love you all so much!! I miss you, but know without a doubt that this is where the Lord wants me. I love this work and have a strong testimony of it! Keep moving forward with a steadfastness in Christ! "NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER! FULL SPEED AHEAD! "
Abrasos!
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
April 20th
Hello everyone!!
...man I wish I could just do this all in Spanish!! I've been on that thought process for the past week! Jaja...working here in English has been a blast, but I really miss speaking nothing but Spanish every day. It's kinda funny that I'd be thinking like this, but it really is something that grows on you! I feel more Spanish than anything else...still have a lot to learn, but what I know sticks like glue!!
This week has been pretty amazing! ...man I wish I could just do this all in Spanish!! I've been on that thought process for the past week! Jaja...working here in English has been a blast, but I really miss speaking nothing but Spanish every day. It's kinda funny that I'd be thinking like this, but it really is something that grows on you! I feel more Spanish than anything else...still have a lot to learn, but what I know sticks like glue!!
I share my testimony with President Uchtdorf and my desire as well to sing praises to the Most High God, our loving Father in Heaven.
I'm going to blame the fact of the lack of information on me wanting to do this all in Spanish!! Thank you all for putting up in my messages, no matter how repetitive it gets sometimes. I love you all! I really hope for the best as you stay close to the Lord as He builds and blesses you!
Abrasos!
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
April 13th
Hey everyone!
Hoping that everything is going super bien wherever each of you are at!!
These past few weeks have been filled to the brim with many finding opportunities. We've had so many amazing miracles as we've acted in faith to find those who have been prepared to hear the gospel. We've run into many awesome people, now the thing to do is to be able to run into them a second time!! Who knew that making scheduled work on both sides was a super skill...missionaries do!! jaja, but it's been a blast to meet all these amazing people!
This past Sunday defiantly was a highlight! Juan got confirmed!! He was baptized three weeks ago, so we've been trying to help him get the confirmation part of it for a while.
My testimony of the blessings of Baptism and confirmation have grown a ton just through that experience. One cannot have the full blessings of the covenant of baptism without both parts, the baptism by water and the baptism by fire (as we see described in the scriptures many times). He was kinda in limbo trying to make it back to church. The adversary was working really hard, but he kept super strong and made it!! The ordinance was really amazing! And I know that he felt that change and difference so strongly!
The Gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest blessings and gifts that our Father in Heaven has given us, as we've acted in faith and been baptized by that proper authority. We need that comfort and guidance from the Lord, daily. And I know that I've been blessed so much as I've striven to stay close to my Father's counsel and direction.
Love you all and hope for the best! Looking forward to all the amazing miracles that can happen this upcoming week! Lovin' the work!! ABRASOS!!
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
April 6th
This week has been no less than fantastic!! We've been keeping really busy and have been trying to get the work moving forward. AND not to forget how amazing General Conference was!!!
This week was a lot of trying to find more people to teach. Which means lots of walking around and tracting!!! It's been really good for me to get out there and work with Elder Budica. He's super good at talking to people, so I'm hoping a lot of that rubs off onto me.
I LOVED general conference!! The only problem I had with it was it passed way too quickly! There were so many amazing talks, and I know that, just like one of the speakers stated, that they in deed are assigned, from God. I know that as we follow its councils, we will not go astray.
I know that the ability to communicate with God through Prophets has been restored today. I know that Thomas S Monson is His prophet on the Earth, and that the 12 are Apostles. There are living Prophets and Apostles on the Earth, and they are found in His restored Gospel.
If you want to know for yourself, ask God. They are His servants, so He knows who they are, and He will tell you who they are if you but ask with real intent, meaning that you are willing to follow the answer you were given. And I know for myself, having asked, that they are His servants. The world's voice may change, but the truths of God will NEVER change, and we will never be wrong if we follow their counsel.
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
Lake Chelan
Hello everyone!!
This week has been a really good one. Even though we had a LOT of stuff to get ready for transfers, everything whent really fast!!
One of the coolest people as well lives here, his name's Andy. He's had a very hard past, but is seeing crazy changes just over the few days that we've been able to meet with him. The next step for him will be giving up his drinking, which starts today, but we know that he is on fire with the spirit!!
Things here are going really well, and I'm very excited for this transfer to really get into motion. I'm very excited to be with my companion, it seems that my prayers have been clearly answered, to be with someone who can really help me make the next steps of progression and growth. It's going to be awesome!!
Not to meantion how exciting it's getting to wait for General Conference. I know that we will be able to hear a living Prophet's voice in just a few days. Prepare and tune in so that all of you may recieve the amazing guidence that the Lord has for each of us!
I know that this is His Gospel. And what a priceless blessing it has been to be able to share that with so many amazing people! I love you all as well, and hope for the best! Work hard, love everything you do, and watch conference!!!!
ABRACITOS!!
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Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
March 23rd
Hey!!
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Funny how five-day weeks just FLY by!! Through it all, we've been staying really busy here in Pasco Washington.
So this week also marked us getting our next transfer calls. And not to break the mold, we've been called to be doubled out of Pasco, and I'll be heading up north to Shalan. I've heard pretty amazing things from up there, both from the work as well as the amazing landscape! So I'm pretty excited. But now the focus is getting the area ready and working really hard the next few days we have here in Pasco.
Yesterday was a little harder of a day in the fact that we had our last Sunday service in Pasco, as well as had our last lesson with Jesus and Catolina. While we've been here, we've really grown close to them, such a great family!!
We brought over "The Living Christ" and had an amazing discussion for a few minutes on Christ. It's really amazing to see that when you lay everything down flat, everything that we share, and that we know, those branches always take it through Christ and what He did for each of us, and what He's doing today! Pretty amazing!!
Sad to say goodbye to them, but we know we'll see them soon!! We said the first place we'll look will be the church on a Sunday!!
I have to say how excited I am for General Conferences coming up in the next couple weeks!! What a great blessing that each of us have to hear our Father's voice through His instruments, the Prophet and Apostles. Let us all make the time to attend and tune in! I know that this is the word of the Lord, which is received in and needed for our day.
I know that God shows His love for each of us by calling prophets. I know as well that they are giving the power and authority to act in God's name for the salvation of His children. And all of us as His children, have the gift of agency, which includes the freedom to accept or reject the gospel as taught by the prophets and apostles. Those who choose to obey are blessed, but those who ignore, reject, or distort the gospel do not receive God's promised blessings.
If we follow God's counsel, we will NEVER be wrong. Let us all be ready for the amazing guidance we will receive in these next weeks, and search out what we need to do to better apply the Gospel into our lives.
I love you all and pray for each of you!! Have a fantastic week!!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
March 23rd
Sorry for the late message everyone, but HOW ARE ALL OF YOU??!!
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I'm doing pretty fantastic here!! It's a great day to be a missionary!!
...if you cant tell, still have the fresh energy and excitement that comes from going to the temple!! It's been a really good day. We got to start off things over at the Columbia River Temple, ate lunch at Costa Vida, then got some stuff at Far West bookstore. And now I'm here!! What can get better?!
This week has been filled with so many amazing miracles, it's been really crazy. ...and now is the moment where I ACTUALLY cant think of where to start!
Our week started off with a zone conference (that's the one with the Mission President). We had some awesome trainings, and left with the energy we needed to keep fighting strong! so many miracles have followed!!
We had a crazy cool lesson of the side of the road with a brother that called us out while we were walking. As we were walking a little ways away, he stopped for a second and yelled "Give me a sermon!!" At first we thought that he was kinda poking fun at us, but as we met, we found that he was dead serious. We then had a really good discussion about the message we share, the restoration of the Gospel of Christ. He has A LOT of faith in Christ, and we feel that he can be very prepared , so we're really excited to meet him at his house tomorrow and get to know him a little better!!
Lots of other awesome lesson and street miracles happened throughout the week!! The work really is moving forward, and it's a blast to be a part of it!!
Finishing last week, and starting this week with the blessing of going to the temple is one of the best things on earth!! That, and everything last week that led up to it has gotten me thinking of just how much the Gospel blesses families. I know that the restored gospel brings blessings, available now and in eternity, to families as they strive to develop stronger relationships and spiritual strength with each other. With the help of Christ and His teachings, the trials that we face each day can be lifted, and I'm able to see that every day!
My thoughts on our Father in Heaven last week has led me as well to think on the ability that we have, in a smaller sense, to grow families of our own. No wonder they are the most important social unit in time and eternity, because they're ordained of God. A place to learn and apply the principles of the Gospel, a place of refuge and safety, a location where the Spirit of the Lord can dwell and feelings of peach, joy, and happiness can abide.
My joy is full to think as well on the amazing blessings that come to those families after they enter into the waters of baptism. Through the Priesthood authority that God has once again brought to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith, families can be sealed for all time and eternity, or in other words, they will be without and end. We can live with our families for all eternity, and that one of the greatest blessings I have come to grow my testimony on! I love my family and hope nothing lower than that, to be with them and feel that joy for all of eternity!
I have a testimony that this is the work of the Lord. I know He lives, and I know that His blessings are real!
I love you all and hope for the best as each of you go out through this upcoming week! iDios les bendiga!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
March 9th
Hello everyone!! Como estan?!?!?!
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Things here in the WKM are doing really great!! We're keeping really busy in the work of the Lord.
This Sunday was a really cool experience for all the missionaries, especially myself! For the month of March, the wards will be focusing the theme of the Sacrament meetings on "Missionary Work," and who better to testify about missionary work?? THAN US!!!
So for the next month, we'll be having a different missionary giving a talk and another giving a testimony, and for the first week, the lot fell upon myself and my companion.
...My first thought was how I still had a really good excuse to be nervous, on account of now knowing the language because I just started.........oh wait.....cant really use the "still a greenie" card now-a-days.... But I really love the opportunity to go up and share what I have learned about missionary work. This month is going to be SUPER cool in terms of member missionary work! We hope to get everyone as excited as we are to share what they have and hold so dear!!
The work has been moving forward. We've received a good number of training throughout the week that has helped us in, well, the theme we've been focusing on as missionaries for a good while now, complete change. We're getting closer and closer, and there are SO many miracles happening each day. There really are so many amazing people who have been prepared. And we are more and more prepared to be able to take this message to them. The work is moving forward, and it's growing at amazing speeds.
So, we're working hard and having a BLAST every second of every day!! Missionary work is where it's at!!
I love how one of the first things that we are able to testify of as missionaries is about our loving Heavenly Father!! It's amazing to come together as children of Him, not taking note of religion or beliefs, and discussing what we know about Him, and growing as we build our knowledge and apply them each day. How fast are so many people to rise in temper when doctrines are shared, is the moment when each of us forget that at the top, we have one of the greatest things in common, our Father in Heaven.
My faith and testimony of my loving Father in Heaven has grown so much, and I love how it can grow so much more! But I wish to share just a portion about what I love about my Father in Heaven,
I know that He is our Father, and we are His children. He LOVES us. And He wants to communicate with us, and we can through sincere prayer.
He has given us this amazing experience on this earth so we can learn and grow. He has provided a way for us to be successful in this life and to return to live in His presence, and that comes through the priceless gift of the Atonement, which is central to the Plan of Salvation, which is the plan He has created and given us. Through this Atonement, we can be freed from the burden of our sins and develop faith and strength to face our trials.
"My song of testimony" is a song that I sang just before I left, and has stayed with me for the longest time!! For part of my mission, it was written down and placed always in my front pocket.
"I know God Lives,
I know He loves me,
I know He hears me and He answers when I pray.
I know His Son,
is my redeemer,
And that He died for me
That I might live eternally one day.
I know God lives,
I know He loves me,
This is my guiding light
my strength to all my fears.
This is my song of faith,
my song of testimony,
my song of praise."
My next thought draws me to one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon. I appoligize, this is a long one, so bear with me and keep scrolling!!
1 Nefi 2:15
"And my father dwelt in a tent."
Ok...not the largest...and I promise that it's also not the smallest!
A strange scripture to say the least, but with the limited space to write in the plates, why was this included? Why was this something that Nefi, or Mormon wanted us to know about Lehi?
For those not too familiar with the background of the scripture, this is where Lehi has just led his family into the wilderness after fleeing Jerusalem. They had just stopped to set up camp, and Nefi takes this brief second, these 7 words, to describe the situation that his family, and specifically Lehi is in.
We know from 1 Nephi 1 that Nephi was "born of goodly parents" with all manner of gold, and silver, and precious things, to the point that Laban did lust after it (when they attempted to exchange it for the brass plates).
But Lehi had heard the word of the Lord, and the commandment to flee into the wilderness. "And it came to pass that he departed in the wilderness. And he lift his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness." (1 Nephi 2:4)
We arent asked by the Lord to leave everything and live in tents, but how can we apply this to our day. We have our own calls to flee into the wilderness, for Jerusalem will be destroyed. First, how will we reply to the call? What will we feel? And what will we take with us?
The sacrifices may be larger than what we may be comfortable with, but the results and consequences are worth every effort. With an eternal perspective, we know that blessings, and we know their worth, and so did Lehi. He forsook Jerusalem to follow his God, our living Father in Heaven, who was leading them to a Promise Land. We all have our promise land, and can be led by our Father in Heaven. I can only imagine what Nephi felt when he wrote that verse, "And my father dwelt in a tent." And can only dream to improve myself to the amazing example that Lehi was to his family.
I love you all and hope the best for each of you this upcoming week. Work hard and love everything that you do!!
Elder Glen Wright Washing Kennewick Mission
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