President Taylor Says Goodbye

What a wonderful family I have! Gosh dang you guys are great.  And Pat!  Check you out! Shout out to the up and coming newest member of the U of A football team baby!  Haha your boy slants taught you everything you know, just remember that!!  I guess this means that I'll have to cheer for U of A now doesn't it?  I guess that's an exception that I can make. 

Atta boy Pops!  Man wish I could be running 4 miles now! Keep that up and I'll be weighing more that you when I get back... Ha I've had to move up a hole on my belt.  Sounds like I need to be doing some of this 5:30-7 in the morning ball playing like Tyler does!  Well as always I had a busy week this week.  Spent a lot of time on the road.  A ton of time.  Like I've said before our zone is huge, so having to go to district meetings and such takes a good hour and half to two hour drive, depending which one we go to.  We also had a MLC this past week.  It was President Taylor's last one.  Pretty epic to say the least.  It's frustrating at times, to be honest, because we've got 30 or so people in there with the zone leaders and sister training leaders, and when we talk about stuff Pres. Taylor likes to hear everyone's opinion.  It's a work in progress. 

President Taylor gave an incredible training though on Hel 5:12, and ways we can build our foundation upon Christ.  At the end of the meeting, the Taylor's gave their departing testimonies.  Of course I can't share with you all that President Taylor said, but right before he ended his testimony, he paused, looked at all of us in the eyes, and said "I love you Elders and Sisters.  I expect to see each and every one of you in the Celestial Kingdom.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."  It was awesome!  Not that that wasn't my goal before, but expectations were set, and you could feel that nothing less was expected.  Coming away from that meeting, I asked Heavenly Father what he requires of me.  I know I've grown, but I realize that there is yet more growth to happen, and I need to be earnestly seeking for opportunities to expand my capacity. The overwhelming feeling came that I need to be, and am expected to be a man of faith. Then came to mind President Cowan, when he set me apart, saying, "a man of faith has no fear."  So there's my goal. Become a man of faith.  Like Ammon.  Or Alma or Amulek.  Plans to achieve that goal?  Be exactly obedient.  Push myself out of my comfort zone everyday.  Pray for experiences to do so.  Act on them.  Faith always precedes the miracle.  Like I've said before, President Taylor counseled me to expect miracles.  So I'll be doing a whole lot more expectin!  

A miracle we did have happen this week was with the grandfather of a boy that could get baptized any day.  The kid's name is H. E.  He's been taught by missionaries for a year now, and he's sharp as a tack.  His mother is super less active, but she's given permission for him to be baptized.  Grandpa though doesn't want him to be baptized...  He feels that H. will go less active if he gets baptized.  Want's to wait till he's old enough to take himself to church.  Well of course by that time he'll be in highschool and without the foundation of the Gospel will have already have fallen by the wayside.  So Elder Lott and I have been praying morning and night for the Lord to soften grandpa's heart.  

We had a lesson this last week with H. at Grandpa's house, and at the end asked his grandpa if we could do anything for him.  He teared up and said he's getting too old to do everything around the house and his body pays for it for days.  Opportunity to serve!  Like the scriptures say, by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.  So slowly but surely his heart is softening.  We also got back into contact with a former that had a baptismal date a few months ago, and we've been trying to see them for a while now but they've never been there.  So we're going to go back tomorrow and let the spirit do work!

This week, to wrap this epistle up, we had a last hurrah of service up in Norman.  I would send pics but I forgot my USB thinger ma jig.  Did a lot of tree work again.  Worked 8 hours Saturday and Sunday.  Didn't get a headache Saturday, but Sunday I forgot to hydrate.   All is well though.  Thanks for your awesome emails.  They always make me smile!  Enjoy this wonderful day, and study your scriptures!!!! Love you!

Elder Traasdahl

Clean up in Little Axe

It's a beautiful day here in Duncan, Oklahoma! That day has been made all the more beautiful because of your great emails and smiling faces!  

Well Mom you asked if I was sore from service and doing tornado clean up and my answer is 'ohhhhh yes I am'.  Woke up this morning and goodness, I could tell that I am way too out of shape.  Yesterday and Saturday our zone went up to the Norman area, well Little Axe to be more specific, and help some folk there.  We did a lot of tree clean up.  Cutting up trees and throwing the limbs and logs into piles that can be burned.  Haha my forearms are so cut up it looks like I got in a fight with an alley cat.  Don't worry though Mom I've been putting those oils on for it and it's healing up quite nice.  And I made sure to put sunscreen on.  Anyways, over the two days we got a good 9 hours in of service.  Not including travel time.  It looks like too that our mission will wrap up our "service mode" in the next week or so, because the relief effort seems to be slowing down.  All the big things have been taken care of, and now it's a matter of "what's next" on the owners part.  I definitely put those boots to good use though.  Haha now I have to lug them around though for the year till next storm season.  

Do you guys remember the guy that I've been telling you about that Elder Zerkle and I had a super sketch feeling about.  Well I've learned my lesson.  Always follow promptings of the spirit.  Don't doubt them.  You'll be much better listening to the spirit right off the bat.  Last night we met with this guy...  Again really long story short, (to get the full story you'll have to just wait till I get home, it's just one of those things) turns out he's a missionary from a christian church... that's been meeting with us this entire time to try to convert us.  And his mask came off last night at our meeting and boy howdy, it was sad, and funny, but not funny at the same time because that's rude to say it's funny.  Like I've been telling you he's been bringing out all this anti info trying to question/prove the church wrong, and we kept coming back to "R., you need to read the Book of Mormon, and ask God if it's true," and he didn't seem to get that.  Then he started attacking the Book or Mormon, factually, and kept saying "Well what do you think about that?"  And we kept bearing our testimonies that we know it's true, because of the witnesses that we've received by the Spirit.  And then we'd asked him if he had faith?  And he said, 'Yes'.  Heb 11:1 tells us faith is a substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  We explained that "the evidence of things not seen" is the witness that the Spirit gives us, because of the application of our faith in Jesus Christ.  That's why we don't worry about all the facts and questions and conspiracies out there.  When faith is applied the Spirit testifies.  When he realized he couldn't convert us he got desperate and it went downhill from there.  Safe to say we're not meeting with him again. 

I'm greatful for the clarity the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings us.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the evidence that His church has been restored to the earth once again, and I'm greatful for the witnesses I've received from the Spirit.    I know it's true.   Because of this knowledge I must live it.  Thank you for your love and support and examples!!  You've been such a strength to me.  If I can ever do anything for any of you, please let me know!  I'm always willing and ready to help. 

Much love,

Elder Traasdahl

This is a picture of a movie theater- post tornado of course.

Driving out to the clean up zones

A Mixture of Colors!

My family! So good to hear from you guys this week! 

Haha mom, I love your stories you have each week....  I laugh all the way through them.  Great to hear Tyson's heading out! I wish him the best of luck. And atta boy Pat! If all works out I guess it'll be fine if he goes to U of A.... I know there are some sins that aren't forgivable, and that one does come close, but I think he'll be able to be forgiven.  Haha sike, just messin. 

Well boy howdy. It's been a week. Before I get into it though check you out Tyler! Let me tell you what, that story you told about going back to that house and talking to that guy was awesome! Got me pumped! There's no way now that I can ever not leave something unsaid.  You're right man, no regrets. Gotta serve with no regrets. Good stuff. 

Ok so this last week. Remember that guy I was telling you about...?  Well we've met with him twice since then, both with members... So long long story short, it's beautiful to see the promises fulfilled that if we treasure up the words of life, and open our mouths, we will speak by the power of the holy ghost, and will not be confounded before men. We're going to be meeting with him once more, Elder Lott and I, and set some serious expectations and let him know that we're here to invite others to come unto Christ through baptism.   If he doesn't want to progress towards that then we need to part ways. 

Elder Lott is going to be my new companion, by the way.  I'm staying in Duncan and Elder Zerkle will be leaving. This last week we've also been doing lots of clean up for the tornado.  Most of Friday and all of Saturday.  We helped in New Castle where the tornado started.  I'm going to try to not get on a tangent, but while there it was awesome to see the outreach by the local community.  We were there helping and the fire department and local organizations were passing out food and water for all of the volunteers and also to the people affected by the tornado.  And there was alot too.  These people weren't messing around.  And then when Red Cross would come, in their big fancy trucks, they were passing out jello cups.  It was quite comical actually. 

This group from Texas came up, set up a stand, and cooked these awesome burgers and cooked for the 100 or so volunteers that were there. The neat part about it though was to see everyone working together. Of course you have the Mormons in the yellow shirts, and the Methodists in the red, and the Church of the Nazarene in the white, and so on and so forth.  As we were working though it was a mixture of colors of t-shirts, and it was a refresher to tell you the truth to be accepted and to be able to talk with them and build relationships, even though I know I won't see any of them again. There are some great people I met those two days.  And the work will continue on.  Our mission will be a part of this clean-up effort for a long time, months and months. 

Oh, funny story. So Thursday our bishop called and asked if we could give talks and we said yeah we could, because he needed someone last minute.  Well Friday we got a call from Pres. Taylor calling us up to do service, so we had no time to write our talks then, and the same thing happened Saturday.  So Saturday night at 9:00 when we're planning, we sit down and plan real quick and get a good 45 min to write a talk.  And I was so tired I said 'forget it I'm going to bed'.  Sooooo I wrote my talk on the stand Sunday morning.  And I pulled it off! Definitely a blessing from Heavenly Father.  The talk was on the blessings and power of the sacrament. 

I love you guys, thanks for all you do! Let me know if I can ever do anything for you!! Till next time!

Elder Traasdahl

Days in Duncan, Oklahoma

Ta Dun! I got a memory card from this missionary so here's a little glimpse at who he's meeting around town.

 

 

And this one is for his twin...

(They've done this since they were babies.

When one had an idea, the other had to do it and vice versa.  Good to know that though they are seperated, some things still haven't changed.  It's actually been one of my favorite things to watch how they motivate eachother in their missionary efforts with all the good things they are sharing.)

This was a great picture but I had to crop it because Elder T.
was standing in front of their contact board. There were so many names of people they were looking for or working with in Duncan.  In honor of their privacy, here's just a quick glimpes at his p-day tshirt.  Sorry you  missed out on the great smile that went with it but just thought it was worth mentioning that Elder Traasdahl SAVES SOULS  too...

Tornado Watch

We've heard from the Mission President of the Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Mission today through email, twice. Elder Traasdahl happens to be serving in Tornado alley and yes, the season is obviously upon them.  President Taylor sends an email once a storm has passed and when everyone is accounted for. We actually also got a surprise text msg from Elder Traasdahl verifying his safety early this evening too.  He was given permission to do so since the weather was so crazy. We're grateful the Missionaries are all safe, and feel for those who have lost loved ones and all their personal belongings. The missionaries will most likely be helping in clean up efforts in the days ahead. The picture below speaks volumes...


http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/moore-oklahoma-tornado-relief

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Below is Elder Traasdahl's email udpate for the week.

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Ok, it's official. Tyler's beating in the picture race. Check you out though Tyler! Getting some lime light there! Before you know it we'll be seeing you on SportsCenter!! 

So yeah crazy stuff been going down, tornados and whatnot. Like you said Mom, nothing around us thank goodness, just some windy winds and rainy rain. For your peace of mind, all missionaries have a weather contact for their area, that gives them up-to-date info. on what's happening.  Our's is the stake presidents wife. When a tornado watch happens, it's kinda like we get on our tippy toes, ready to bounce at the first sign of trouble.  And then during a tornado warning, we go to our safe spot, which is a tornado shelter at the stake president's home.  Which is only a mile down the road from our apartment.  And depending where we're at in town we've got some other places picked out.  So don't worry, we'll be safe even if a tornado comes tearing straight through Duncan! (knock on wood.)

This week we've had some awesome miracles. We've had some great lessons with less actives, and the members here have been doing a great job of coming with us to lessons.  We've had a member with us nearly every day for the last two weeks.  A lot of great fellowshipping has been going on.  Now the tricky part is getting these less active members to come to church!  The other day we had a member with us for a few hours, B.. Everyone we had planned fell straight through. Kinda dissappointing.  Before we were about to turn in though we asked if he would be willing to go see someone that another member had referred to us a couple days earlier. Only problem is is that they live 25 minutes out of town, so we were slightly hesitant to ask. But B.'s a stud  and said lets do it!  So we went and it turned out he's related in someway to these people and cha-ching!  Miracle find!  It's was great.  Instant fellowship too...

I'll keep you guys posted on what happens. I do love you guys!! I hope you have a great week! I hope work is going well! Thanks for sending out the quotes. I've been doing good on memorizing. 1 week down 51 to go!

Love, 

Elder Traasdahl

Loved loved loved loved loved talking with you

Zone Conference

Of Course I'm partial to one of the missionaries standing tall on the back row - 

What can be said after last night?? Can't really think of much! Loved loved loved loved loved talking with you guys! There were some things I did forget to say that I needed. But guess what!  I got a full night's rest of sleep last night!! It shocked me when I woke up. Haha I attribute it to talking with y'all.  But if you could, tell Todd congrats on the mission call!! That's awesome!!  

And I also forgot to ask last night about this, but what's everyone's summer plans? I also was curious what funny comment was said by Austin while that picture was being taken that you sent, because with that look on Austin's face and braden's laugh, I know Austin must've said somethin.  Oh and btw, I've recommitted myself to memorizing a scripture or quote a day, cause if Tyler comes back with a photographic memory and I don't, that just aint right.  So I'm gonna do it!  With that said, if you guys could send out a list of good quotes, inspirational quotes a life, missionary work, diligence, obedience, aka gospel quotes by prophets and apostles and such, that I could throw in there to memorize, that'd be awesome!  And it's fine if you send them on a page in like size 10 font. Well sorry that this has been such a lame email, but after being able to talk with you last night emailing doesn't really compare!  Oh I know what to share.  I'll end with this.  It was pretty sweet.  We had a zone conference on Thursday of last week, and it was President Taylor's last one. Don't worry I got it all recorded on my audio recorder.  All 5 hours.   He gave this amazing training on the gathering of Israel. Super cool. But in his closing testimony he said "Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. Oh how I love to testify of that, especially in this land!  That's just the way it is folks. Deal with it."  It was epic. I wish you could've been there for it. I realize that that didn't do it the least bit of justice... Ok, well I love you guys. Thank you for your beautiful, shining bright examples!!! The family truly is the central unit in God's plan of happiness. Because I'm happiest when I think of you.  Let me know if I could ever do anything for you! LOVE YOU!

Elder Traasdahl

Busy busy week

It's that time of the day again! Loved all the pictures you guys sent this week. Y'all are looking GOOD!!!  Shout out to Tyler for having that wedding, that's sweet!  Now just wait till they get sealed in the temple.  That'll be a priceless experience. 

Well we've had a real busy week. Haven't had much time to spend in our area. We went on an exchange with some missionaries in Blanchard, and then we also went on an exchange with a District Leader of ours who's in Anadarko. Oh before I get to that guess what! I found out about this last Tuesday at MLC? Remember how a while ago I talked about a John I taught while on exchanges in Wichita Falls, and set a baptism date with??? Well he just got baptized!! Made my day when I heard that. Wish you could meet this guy. Anyways, just had to share, because it was such a bright spot in my week. 

This week though we've done a lot of less active work. We've met with a lot of members who have fallen away because they've been offended, and it's really sad. The whole situation. Because of another's actions or words, which in some cases are terrible, some of these people have given up on going to church, and are missing out on the wonderful blessings that come from partaking of the sacrament.  This week has really built my testimony on how important home teachers are.  We've gone away from most of these appointments with an overwhelming impression that, "There's nothing more we can do. It's up to the home teachers now."  And I've thought about that a lot.  And I believe it's because those who have left the church because they've been offended and hurt, will only come back because they know they're wanted and loved.  What's the vehicle to show that love?  Home teaching. Some of these people too, I already know, won't come back after a few visits.  Or a few months worth of visits.  It may even take years. But it's that christ-like dedication that's needed.  I've written in my journal, in super big letters, a promise, slash commitment, to be the worlds best home teacher.  Because I've seen the effects no home teaching can have. 

We had success also this week with a part-member/less active family. The dad's name is M. He hasn't been to church since he was 12, so it's basically like we're teaching an investigator.  His wife isn't a member, and they have a 2 year old daughter.  We're going to try to see them this week, but it's hard to, because they live in the outskirts of town, so we have to see them with a member.  So it takes a bit of coordination and planning. We also are teaching a man named C.

That about wraps it up for me! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! Thanks for everything you do!!! Let me know if I can ever do anything for you, and I'll talk to you Aunday! and Monday! ahah crazy.  Adios!

Love,

Elder Traasdahl