MRE & MEMORIES

Check it out! My family has now been initiated into the Texas club!! Yeee haww! Hahah good to hear y'all enjoyed your trip to Dallas! Yaaaa I know I know, I feel ya on how tempting it is to have just taken that little side step up to Wichita, but hey! Gotta remember, sacrifice brings forth the blessing of heaven! To quote my good man W.W. Phelps (wrote Praise to The Man).  And I have to keep reminding myself that as I think that mister pessimistic Austin hates GB thinks he's a fear mongerer got to go on set and a live show. Sacrifice baby!  haha just kidding. You know I love you Aust. And that's awesome to hear you got to do that! What an experience.  Mom can't wait to hear the CD's of the concert!  Y'all ready know I'll be jammin out to it as I ride around the mish in OK and TX.  

Well, for the week. It was a week, that's for darn sure.  My capacity was stretched.  Well let's say soul was stretched and capacity expanded.  While I'm thinking about it I had 2 headaches this week, both from stress, sooo if I there's any like "in the moment" stress relief techniques you guys could send me that'd be awesome. Time to talk about why I've been stressin though. Satan's waging war!!!!!! Mom you were right, contention SERIOUSLY is of the devil.  Super duper week long story short we've got two companionships in our district that are having issues. One major and one minor. One just communication issues and they don't get along, the other, well I'm not really sure how much I can say.  Sooo I'll just say that we had to have an emergency exchange yesterday and now I've got one of them and Elder Owen is with the other, and we're making it a two day exchange to get things sorted out.  And I've got the wonderful job of doing the sorting. Because if  I don't President Taylor gets to, and I already know he has enough on his plate right now.  So ya I've been stressin, and I've come to find out I could get better at handling stress. 

But anyways, super cool experience, was in sacrament meeting, and just have all these thoughts racing through my mind about what's goin down and what I need to do.  And I was asking Heavenly Father what do I do to set things straight here.  Because it's not working right now.  So I turn to the scriptures.  And lo and behold they don't fail me!  Mosiah 4:15 "Teach them love one another and serve one another" or somethin like that.  Our district is lacking Charity!  We don't have that Christ like love.  So I sat down with a companionship, laid it down with Mosiah 4:15, and then turned to Moroni 7:45 and there's a sermon in and of itself.  So that's the situation here.  We're lackin charity.  And I'm plum outta time so sorry for it being so short.  I used most of time writing president and filling him in.  Love you guys, thanks for all that you do! You're in my prayers. Keep on keepin on!

Love,

Elder Traasdahl

Elder Traasdahl Eats an MRE... I wonder if this was dinner appointment?  

Beverage of choice-- it was the green gatorade in this package

And in case one was needing more flavor on their freeze dried food--
a mini bottle of tabasco was included.
A little spice makes everything better, right?

And so do missionaries as they teach the gospel.

(Dec. 2012)

A note from this missionary's Mom:  Yep, we just went to the Dallas, Texas area this past week and brick seemed to be the decorative building material of choice as shown in the above pic.  I loved it~
By the way, we were only 1 1/2 hours away from Elder T. and literally saw the freeway sign that said 'Wichita Falls' as we drove.  Sigh.  :)
 He will come back with some 'narly Texas pride'... of that I have no doubt.
It's a great place with great people!  We loved Texas and we surely love Elder T!

March 2013 -- Meet Elder Owen

Here's Elder Traasdahl's new companion fresh out of the MTC.

 

I think they call this a generation picture...  Elder T's first trainer (right) and now Elder Owen (left) is Elder T's first Trainee.  Love those Smiles.

And it looks like the local TX barber gave Elder Traasdahl quite a haircut. 
That should last for at least 2 transfers. 

"Have you ever wondered...?"

One of the words that I regularly use now is "Howdy".   It's kinda funny. Yeah you can call me a wannabe.  Just had to throw that in there cause of your email Mom. (I addressed him by saying 'Howdeeeeee'.)  Sooooo so so good to hear from everyone! 

Gotta tell you guys about a dream I had last night.  So we were at general conference, and President Monson comes up, and he had another awesome announcement!  He changed mission times from 2 years to 3 years!  And I was sooo stoked.  Oh I forgot a detail, this was like the conference where I was about to come home, so October? even though I shoulda been home by then.  Details like that don't matter in dreams though.  Anyways I had like a week left, and then he said that and I was like awww yeaaaa baby!!  And then I signed up for another year and you guys were all ticked at me, because I lost my ASU scholarship, and then I had to start preachin at ya about how servin the Lord is better than money and yada yada  annnnnnnd then I woke up.  But seriously, 2 years goes by way too fast.  Heck this 6 months has gone by too quick. Anyways, I guess y'all wanna hear about how training's been going.

Well, I've been blessed.  Elder Owen (greenie) is a stud missionary.  Of course you can tell he's a greenie, but with time he'll learn the ropes.  I'm kinda just here to point him in the right direction! He has a strong desire to be obedient and wants to baptize everyone! Its kinda funny, he's always talking about how he wants to find a "golden investigator."  We've been out finding alot this last week, and our new term is "embrace the awkward." Haha and man. Let me tell you what. You can get some funny stories outta it.  Maybe not gospel productive, but some darn good stories.  So whenever we see someone, and we wouldn't normally go talk to that person, we say "embrace the awkward?" and challenge the other to go do it.  Now he doesn't always do it, and there are sometimes where, yes I don't either, which I'm still working on being courageous and talking to everyone, but now, given that I'm in this position of having to train, if I don't talk to everyone we see, and show that example to Elder Owen, thennnnn that sin is on my head, kinda like parents not teaching their children the gospel.  So I'm constantly striving to go out of my comfort zone.  African American people are my favorite to talk to. They've got a lot of personality, its awesome.  

It's kinda funny, being a trainer, I remember now what it was like when I was a greenie, and what my expectations were. They were kind of unrealistic.  And I say that now because Elder Owen made the comment something along the lines of "what we don't teach 4-5 lessons to investigators a day?"  I told him go to Mexico if you want to do that.  Shoot though shout out to my brother from the same mother!  Elder Traazasaurus going DL and training back to back!  Check that kid out!! Mannnnnnn, the Lord's got some awesome experiences in store for you! Can't wait to hear how your first district meeting goes.  As far as out here, I'm learing how to handle situations of the contentious type between people.  Haha was that coded well?  Like I said earlier this is one of the bigger districts in the mission, but I love it.  I don't think I'd like serving in a small district.  It's fun to watch your capacity to love grow.  Especially when its someone that at first you didn't want to or were hesitant to love.

Last thought. I shared it during district meeting this week. Have you ever wondered why we are asked to kneel when we pray?  The answers of humility and respect come to mind. But for what? Our Father in Heaven of course.  As I was studying prayer, I came across a scripture in Luke. And it's one of the very few instances where there Savior is recorded praying to his Father. It's Luke 22:41-42. It's when he's in the Garden of Gethsemane, performing the atonement.  It says "41. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast and kneeled down, and prayed, 42, Saying, Father if though be willing, remove this cup from me:  nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done."  As I thought about that it kinda just hit me that as we kneel down and pray, we're following  the example of Christ. When he was in his weakest moment, he knelt down in prayer.  When we're in our weakest moments, who do we turn to?  Do we rely on the arm of the flesh?  Or do we rely on God?  Food for thought. I love all who read this, because you are a son or daughter of God ! Thank you for all you do.

Mom, Dad, B-Dog and Aust, you guys are awesome.  If I can do anything for ya I'm just a letter or email away. Love you!

 

Elder Traasdahl

A little bit of The Bible Belt

Here's a glimpse of Elder Traasdahl's last area showing us a few of his good neighbors.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elder Traasdahl has discovered there's a lot of incorrect information out there about 'The Mormons'.  He daily strives to  clear up misunderstandings and teach of God's love for all his children and His Plan of Salvation.  He 'points' people to the fullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ where the most beautiful blessings on earth can be found in the Temple.  
Good to see he's still smiling while he does so.

Oklahoma City Oklahoma Temple

Becoming acquainted with the Great Plains

This was a picture taken before Elder T. left Oklahoma.
He and his companion found the one and only hill in their area.

Trying to battle the wind in Oklahoma --
Is kind of like trying to swim without getting wet. 

Quaint scenery.

 

Yes Elder Parker Traasdahl of the Oklahmoa City, Oklahoma Mission --
We love you!
6 months of the mission completed this week. 

Powerful statement: "No, it's against my religion."

It's been a week! It's always a pleasure hearing from home and how things are going. Hope everything is well.

Now that it's about over, the truth comes out. I hate killing missionaries. (serving their last transfer with them).  I made it through it, but I'm not gonna lie -- I'm so happy it's over with. As hard as I tried, I couldn't get him to not be trunky these last few weeks.  It's okay though, it just solidified my resolve not to get that way when it comes that time for me.  Cause I don't want to do that to my last companion. I'm going to be sprinting across the finish line!!  So just a heads up, come like my last 3 transfers, I'm going to have 0 talk of home.  Mark my words.  And you better hold me to it! 

Highlight of the week though. We had a baptism! Lucas was baptized on March 2nd, and confirmed March 3rd. We had a small baptism for him.  Only 11 people showed up, but he preferred it that way. Mom and Dad he said he's going to send a friend request on FB my way so if ya could be checkin on that and accept it when he does that'd be great!  Anyways, he's a stud.  After we taught him the Word of Wisdom, one day in class on base, a classmate asked him if he wanted a cup of coffee. (Because just a few days ago he had had one) and Lucas said "no it's against my religion."  The class mate laughed at him and was like "good joke man, really though here ya go". And Luke said "No seriously, it's against my religion."  So he's stickin to and keeping all the commandments and really excited now to get the priesthood. 

(Lucas was baptized 3/2 by Brother Cook.  Happy Day!)

Other than that, as far as the work goes, as Tyler would say, we're at zippo hippo.  So we've got some work to do!  It'll be fun though. I don't want to raise my greenie to think that tracting is the only way of finding.  So we're really going to try to work with the ward and ward members and their network of friends and see the miracles that our Father in Heaven has for those that share the gospel!  K and get this. So our district down here in Texas is one of the biggest in the mission.  10 people.  3 companionships and 2 senior couples.  And this next transfer it's getting bigger.  They opened up a new area.  Wichita Falls Central.  So I think it'll be the biggest district in the mission.  Or I think there may be another one the same size. So 4 companionships and 2 senior couples. 12 people and when our Zone Leaders come it'll be 14. I can do math! haha but yeah kinda nuts. It'll be fun though, I'm excited. I thought I'd be stressed out about it, but I'm not really.  

(The District)

Last little tid bit. I've been learning how Satan works. We've been working with some LA's, and some of them have been anti'ed. It's been interesting trying to rekindel that flame in them. Going back to how Satan works. He's the perfect military strategist.  What's an army's first target of it's enemy?  Their communication.  If you can't communicate with leaders, you're lost. Satan does the same thing.  If he can separate you from church, scriptures, and prayer, then he's won the battle. If he can get you to forget the feelings the spirit brings, he's won.  Satan uses logic, and says 'forget what you feel'.  That's how the holy ghost works.  It pierces the heart. This last week has been such a testimony builder for me, because no matter what anyone says, I can not deny the witness I have received from the Holy Ghost.  This gospel is true.  I just love it!  Mom your big email you sent me, as you were talking about the song 'How Great Thou Art' you guys were singing, I couldn't help but feel the spirit as I read it.  I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, and it is only through Him that we can be saved.  Thank goodness for the infinite and eternal atonement!  I love each and every one of you.  Thank you for all that you do for me.  Your encouragement and support means so much!  Love you!!

Elder Traasdahl

And Charity Suffereth Long...

I got a call on Saturday night.  I'm training next transfer.  Nooooot to sure how I feel about this yet!  Of course I'm excited, because training I hear is always one of those experiences you'll never forget, but then again it's like what if I don't "raise him right"?  We'll see how it goes.  I'm staying in Burk though for another transfer.  It's back to the regular 6 week transfer.  

Oh totally random thought but Aust remember Brooke Waldie? Well her older brother, Br. Waldie (don't know his first name) is here in Texas!  He's a MVT grad and everything.  Crazy what a small world this is.  So he was part of the mega 5 couple wedding thingy.  Back to the week though.  We had a Zone Conference on Friday.  It was AWESOME.  President Taylor is AWESOME.  He gave a training on the Doctrine of Christ and how it can help us build member trust (part I of his training) and how it can help us control our thoughts (part II of his training). 

The mission is starting to focus on working through the members, and utilizing the networks they have, because we always hear that God is preparing people to receive the Gospel.  Little do we sometimes realize that it's through the light and examples of the members of the church that Heavenly Father is preparing them, rather than a knock on a door.  Cause honestly I had an epiphany the other day.  More like some awesome revelation.  How do we get people to want to have that desire to recieve the gospel?  By listening to two salesmen like men or women knocking on their door, who instantly get preconceived judgements plastered all over them? Or by talking to your neighbor, co-worker, classmate, best friend, who you trust, respect, and value their opinion?  And as we share the gospel, and let our "light shine" others will "see our good works" and that will in turn "glorify our Father which is in heaven" (Matt 5:16).  Wish I could talk more about his training but I've gotta move on. 

I had a super cool experience this week, that really strengthened my testimony of charity. So I haven't previously gone into details about it, but super long story short there's a companionships in my district that's been really struggling with working.  And one elder of the companionship has, well, quite simply, given me hell.  Haha mom you didn't read that word. But he despises leaderships up the wazoo and yeah, big time trial of charity.  He's been out a while so thinks he know everything, get the picture?  Anyways, my plan of action for this elder = love the crud out of him.  It's like hugging a porcupine.  There have been times when he'd tried to call me out on something, or get in an argument, what have you, or call me a prideful leader (which I soo wanted to start pointing out instances where I wasn't prideful, and then realized 'wait, that's prideful').   So it took a lot but I apologized to him for being prideful and told him I'm work on being a more humble servant of the Lord and that I loved him and was here to serve him in anyway that I could.  I hope that you got the picture I'm painting.  Because over and over I've tried to love this guy, and nothing changed.  Friday night, after zone conference, I texted the district to see if everyone got back safe.  This companionship just said "ya".  And then about 5 minutes later we get another text from them, and it was from this elder I've been having a hard time with.  And it was an apology.  He apologized for giving me such a hard time, and he knew that I really did care about him and that he knows he needs to do better and that he's going to work to make the changes necessary to be a better missionary.  Now I feel like a cheese ball for saying this but as I read that text I started to tear up, because in that moment my testimony of charity was strengthened 10 fold.  After I read that text Moroni 7:45 came to mind, word for word.  Shout out to Mama Traaz for having us memorize that...  "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."  I wish I could go through that scrip right now, but I'm a windbag.  I just wanted to share that with you guys. I know that our Father in Heaven loves us.  Because of that love, we in turn should love his other children.  Thank you for the love that I've felt from each and every one of you!  If there's anything that I could ever do for you, please let me know.  Till next time,

Elder Traasdahl