28 April 2014 Mission Letter

Finally figured out how to post these to my blog.  Before I was trying to log in with an incorrect password.  So I have posted all the mission letters up to now.  This is one of my missionary journals.

28 April 2014 Mission Letter

There are wonderful things happening out here.  Attended 4 wonderful baptisms this weekend and 4 last weekend.  One of the touching things is to watch the work unfold.  I am aware of each areas and the elders’  progress.  I do reports every week which shows in each area how many investigator lessons, how many with members present, whether these come from members, from the missionaries’ own contact, from referrals, how many of their investigators come to Sacrament Meeting, and etc.  In our ward we have two sets of missionaries.  They come early and wait to see if any of their people show up for church.  My heart goes out to them, especially when no one shows.  But, I see the joy when investigators show and later become baptized.  This weekend, the man I talked about in a previous letter who had been in such pain and wanted to die….Sisters were walking the neighborhood, stopped by and ended up saying a prayer with him.  He and his 8 year old daughter were baptized.  He attends our Gospel  Essentials class and spoke of how he knew he wanted something more in his life and how “the pieces of the puzzle” just came together for him when he heard the gospel.  His enthusiasm and excitement is almost tangible.  His daughter is beautiful.  As this man was being confirmed today, he was told that the Lord was pleased with the love and care he has given his daughter.  He was visably touched.   As his daughter was being confirmed she was told that if she remains true to her covenants that she would influence many of her friends.   She asked me before her baptism if she would now be called “Sister Patterson” and her dad, “Brother Patterson”….because we are now members?  The work is moving forward here in Iowa and we are glad to be a small part of it. 

I took a referral this week from a mother whose daughter wants to go to BYU.  They researched it, loved the conservative atmosphere and she wanted to know if she could attend one of our Sabbath meetings and learn more of our beliefs.  She is Catholic and says she is very happy with her church, but wanted to make sure we weren’t teaching anything weird.    The elders set it up for her to come and to visit with her afterwards to answer any of her questions.

One of my responsibilities is to see that those missionaries who come from outside the United States keep their passports up to date.  I have a sweet elder who is what we call an “undocumented missionary” and if he were to go through airport security or do something that gets the attention of someone who doesn’t like him, he could be deported.  So the church got him a deferred  visa for two years to be safe.  His parents actually live in Minnesota, but they have green cards to work here.   Well his passport is due to expire this summer way before his release date.  My job is to get him to a Mexican Consulate for renewal.  Well, the two nearest consulates are in Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois.  So the Mission President has to give me some direction on how he wants that handled.  To leave his mission, even for a short time, requires approval from the Mission President, and the In-Field Representative.  The church knows where your sons and daughters are at all times and keeps them protected as well as they can.

Just got through a pretty exciting thunderstorm!  The members of our ward assured me that they rarely get a tornado in Des Moines!  But, then I looked at the weather forecast on my IPAD and there it was in big, bold red letters, “Tornado Watch”, Polk County, and Des Moines!  Well, it got pretty dark, heavy rain off and on, lots of noisy thunder/lightning but no tornado.  I think we are safe now for the near future.  

Here is a suggestion for those of you preparing your sons and daughters for missions.  Teach them how to care for a car.  The Church often gives them cars.  They are required to care for them.  We struggle with some getting them to get their oil changed at the standard mileages,  checking their oil and tire pressure each time they put gas in their car and keeping them clean.  Also, tell them that a new noise means there is a problem.  Each car is a little different so they need experience with more than one type of car.   And of course, remind them to SLOW DOWN! 

Love you all!   Elder and Sister Stringham