Coming Home!!!

Well, due to current circumstances in the world, my family has elected to come up to Washington on Monday, and pick me up and take me home. I will have served my mission for 1 year and 359 days. Close enough right?

I could tell you about my many spiritual experiences, the absolute greatest and best friends I have made, and I could tell you about how beautiful this place is.

I can tell you that on our own time. What I feel I need to say is what I have learned.

I for awhile was long in the dark. I relied a lot on my own ability to reason, and logically make decisions myself. I thought I knew everything. That I knew better. This frankly, made me absolutely miserable on the inside. Sure, I could put on a face. But in 2017, I decided to make small, little steps to come back to God. Baptizing my little Brother was a huge step. Being called on a mission, and make sacred Covenants in the Temple, solidified who I needed to be.

You can ask my trainer Brett Conk, I did not know up from down, left from right, or the Old from the New Testament. However, he was patient, and taught me what it really means to be a missionary.

You can ask anyone that served around me. Yes, I never really did master dignified language, I never perfected being obedient (tried as I might), I never truly was as good of a leader as I could have been.

But I did learn what God needed me to know. Jesus Christ is the Beginning, the End, and everything Inbetween. He is a God, and my savior and redeemer. It is through his Grace, infinite and eternal, that I can return to my Fathers throne and be counted worthy to dwell with my heavenly, and earthly parents. It is only through him and by him mankind may be saved. Obedience to his Gospel must be our top priority, as it is that eternal truth that brings happiness.

Thank you all so much. I Love all of you.

Going to the Temple!

Howdy world!

Second to last email. Wow this has been absolutely crazy. These last 2 years have been the absolute greatest thing for my life. I am definitely a way different man. I'm not saying it was enjoyable, but it was definitely amazing. If that makes sense.

I started off the week going on an exchange with Elder Olson. We went to the Tesla vehicle dealership! The guys there were super cool but did not want a Book of Mormon. We got to chill in the Model S, which is clearly the greatest vehicle on the planet. Elder Olson is a total stud, he rocks! We may have stayed up until 2 o'clock.

Wednesday we had a super spiritual district council about not being content. We talked about how Abraham was not content, and how he showed the character traits required to be exalted. It was awesome. 

Thursday was zone conference, and I was able to see so many of my best friends. Elder Harris, Sister Ballard, and so many other amazing people. I was able to bear my testimony for the last time in a zone conference. It was nice, and everyone said I am really good at "Hellfire and Brimstone". Lookout home ward!

Friday was cool, I was able to go to the Temple and it was great. We did Sealings and Endowment. It was great. We had another Lesson with Barbara which was awesome!

Saturday was great, we watched the Restoration with Barbara, and she got popcorn and chips. We met with the Olsons again, and they always provide super awesome insight on the Gospel.

Sunday we had missionary church which was great, they canceled normal church due to Coronavirus. So all the missionaries got together and we bore our testimonies. Sister Mounts and Sister Flake brought a friend!

Today we did a nerf gun 3 gun course which was dope, can't wait to do it IRL.

Love you all! I'll see yall in a few weeks! 

Angels Knocking Down My Door

Howdy All!

Had a super fun week. I started off on exchanges with the Lynnwood Spanish Elders, Meador and Williams. They totally rock and we had tons of fun. I went to Zumiez, and although they heavily market to weed users, their socks selection is unbeatable. It was fun. I also almost spent 30 dollars at bath and body's works (the men's products, they were but 3 get 3 free) but Meador reasoned me out of it.

We had tons of fun. Lots of laughs for sure. The next morning we went to Seattle for my root canal. It is nuts down there. We had a good time though as I was not nearly as high. Elder Meador's mom paid for dickeys and Pizza. What a stud. It was an awesome exchange. 

Wednesday was OK. I gave a District council on teaching skills. Ammon is really a great example to all of us, and in not just talking about melee combat. He is a great teacher.

Thursday we went to Habitat for humanity. Tons of missionaries were there. The Spanish Elders and YSA. We smashed more couches. The safety was questionable. We also went to panda express. We taught Barbara, and she somehow got on the topic of me going home. She tried giving me dating advice but I explained to her that it would not work. Dating in the 21st century is designed to be bland and sexual, not romantic and meaningful. She is depressed by that news and I told her it will work out, I'm sure an angel from heaven will just show up at my door, right?

We answered tons of questions she had and seems to be in Love with the Gospel. She loves the Presidents of the Church, and the Book of Mormon. She even said her relationship with Christ is growing!

Saturday we had a lesson with some of my favorite members. The Wildings. They totally rock and give me hope that good young people do exist. We had a lesson with Olson's as well, and they are great. They definitely give me a new perspective of everything. 

Pray for me. Love you all! 

Jimmy and Knee-C

Hey Everyone!

Tuesday this week was annoying, I finished my plan which is an absolute atrocity of a program designed to make you as trunky as possible. I am considering contacting the UN and filling it as a human rights violation.

The flip side of that is we had 2 awesome lessons. We had one with Barbra again and showed her the Rome Italy temple tour. She teared up and knew it was a sacred space. It was super awesome and she is trying to gain a testimony.

We had a lesson with our friend Allison and showed her the same video and it went super good. She had tons of questions and requested we talk about the afterlife next time. 

Wednesday I had a super fun instruction on symbolism in the Scriptures. We had two new members in our District! Elder and Sister Fiske who are senior couple missionaries. They totally rock.

Thursday I was on exchanges with my zone leader Elder Ashton. He is like super straight laced so I was pretty on guard. Heaven forbid I say heck or something. He is a great guy though so it's alright. 

Friday we had a lesson with our favorite members, Vivian, Jimmy and Knee-C. Knee-C actually isn't a member yet, we are working on it. They are black and come from a rough neighborhood so they have the best stories. One of them blew up an RV one time. Long story. 

Saturday we had the Macho chef ward party. We gorged ourselves on Food, and Rodney and Barbara were there! That Sunday Barbra came to church. 

Its been a great week. Renew your Temple Recommends and go to the Temple ASAP. The Restoration is here, and if you don't get on the train now, it will leave the station without you. 

Love you! 

Flying Metal Plungers

Hello World!

Super good news. Elder Swindlehurst and I are still together kicking Butt! We had a few awesome lessons this last week. We had two with Barbara, where we talked about Joseph Smith and some of the things he did that where """""sketchy""""" (Oh no he looked in a hat!! Oh no he practiced polygamy?!!!  What a bunch of baby's) and she said it all makes sense. She totally rocks and takes the title of Grandma. She demanded I come visit her with a pretty wife. I will try and meet those demands.

We also taught Anila, a Catholic refugee from Iran. She loves our gospel, especially as she is confused with the heretical Doctrine of the Trinty. We explained the truth. She likes it.

We had fun going to exchanges and seeing everyone. Elder Lowry is still kicking it! First thing he did is throw a metal plunger at me which was hype. Seeing Elder Eatough for probably the last time makes me weep.

We are still working hard at Habitat! Pray that we will continue to grind and work hard.

Love you! 

From Facebook

Never once does the Doctrine of "God will never give you a challenge you can't handle" show up in the scriptures. If this Doctrine were true, there would be absolutely no need for our savior. We would be able through our own works to overcome sin and pain all on our own, with nothing but optimism and a good mood.

This, of course, is blatantly wrong. No doubt those attributes can take us a long way. But the Book of Mormon teaches something different.

2 Nephi 9:7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement—save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more

No amount of our own works could save us from an eternal rotting, and our lives eventually through laws of entropy and sin crumble to its mother earth. Only an infinite amount of grace from the death of a perfect being could have the power for us to overcome, and become saved and exalted.

Don't ever just rely on yourself. Life is a challenge that no one can handle alone. No matter how tough you think you are or how good your GPA is, the Lord Jesus Christ has literally taken on every challenge, so that he can be with us every step of the way in our existence.

With Swoosh Again!

Hello all!

It was a wild week. We had a bonfire on P-day at the beach. It was awesome! That Tuesday morning I went and got half a root canal done, and will rap it up at the end of the month.

That night I went on exchanges with Elder Slack again. It was pretty fun, probably stayed up way too late talking about the Doctrine of the Kingdom. I have really enjoyed getting to know him.

The night after that I was able to go on exchanges with Elder Hatch. We were in the YSA ward and had a great dinner with Elder Eatough again. Me and him got along way good when I was the dictator of Bothell. It was a fun dinner, and me and Hatch are super tight. We taught an awesome lesson to a man they were teaching, and testifying of the Book of Mormon was awesome.

After that I went in exchanges with Elder Wright, who was Elder Eatoughs companion in Bothell. He is super tight-laced so it was funny poking him and testing his limits. He is super inspiring though.

We had a great lesson WITH Barbra again! She really is like another grandma, she said we are her grandkids. While coming to Stake Conference this Saturday, she explained that she was going through some tough times, and we recommended going to the Temple. We will find out how she enjoyed the gardens.

I love you all! Me and swoosh will be together another transfer.

Love ya! Pray I don't go crazy!

A Wild Week!

Wow, what a wild week!

Tuesday morning we went all the way down to the Devils Spit Can, I mean Seattle. We woke up way early so we could be there on time, but still did not make it on time. Luckily Dr. Baker was super kind and merciful to me about it. That was a week ago, and this morning I got a preparatory root canal, meaning I will get a full root canal in about 3 weeks.

Later that day, we dropped off our investigators letter to our mission President, and got a Suprise third companion. Elder Davenport! He was going home in a few days so it was logistically better for him to be with us his last few days. It was fun, he was in my first district almost two years ago.

I went on exchanges with Elder Davison in Olympic View, and we were able to teach there investigator Tom. He is recovering from addiction, and it is beautiful to see his testimony of Jesus grow. We also went to the Harley Davidson dealership again, and man, I am really considering getting one. They look sick, and I don't think I could be more patriotic. 

I am doing great! I love you all so much, thank you for all your prayers!

A Baptism!

Hey all!

It has been an amazing week! We had the opportunity to see Ethan get baptized this week! It is so cool being able to be part of an amazing conversion process of a young man. He is 14, and picked a good time to be baptzed, that's a rough time of life! It was great to be part of that circle where he received the Holy Ghost. The Spirit was so strong!

I had a fantastic district council about how the Book of Mormon prefigures the second coming almost perfectly from Alma to 3 Nephi, and we went over all the wars and signs and stuff. It was awesome! I greatly enjoy it.

We went down to Seattle to visit Elder Neilson so we could get his signature. Place really looks like a heck hole. So glad I don't have to serve there! I totally love those Elders though.

We had transfers on New Years! I am still Elder Swooshes (Swindlehursts) companion which is great, and I got to see a ton of my favorite Elders. I have Elder Wright in my district! He was Elder Eatoughs companion in Bothell, it's super good to have him!

I am doing awesome!

I hope all of yall have a greta week! 

Love you! 

Super Sick

Sick weekly

We had a pretty annoying week. Tuesday was pretty awesome! We found a really good friend! She has kind of been an investigator for a very long time, however, I guess she never got into the Book of Mormon. She committed to read all of 1 Nephi before Tuesday.

Wednesday I woke up and was super, stupid sick. President Auna insisted I stayed in an instructed district council for me.

Sorry, it's nothing much, but ya, that has essentially been an awful time of waking up and going back to bed. 

I have been doing better though! I hope I can write a better email next week!

Love you all!

Mission update this last week

Pros

-Ethan got baptized!
-Met some great people
-We have an amazing district and zone!-The Infinite Atonement is an amazing book-Lots of time to read-Blanket capes
-Me and Elder Swindlehurst have yucky coughs
-Have to get a root canal
-Locked in the apartment for 3 days (hopefully, today is the last day)

Cons

Wednesday was by far the worst, as I did not have the energy to even read, but could not sleep due to the pain of the headache. So I simply laid down in my bed, trapped in my brain with my own thoughts. I had a lot of time to reflect on what I so often tell people I believe, and consider if I truly believe it. Does God keep his promises? Does God love us? Was Jesus the son of God?

I pondered this for a while. However, like always, the Spirit confirmed, not loudly, not overtly, but very calmly and quietly, that yes. I am no liar. I know what I say, I mean it, and believe it. Jesus truly loves and saves, even when it's dark, painful, and hard. His light is always there, his word is always kept, and his blessings never cease

Thank you to all the amazing people I have met! So many will be my friends forever, and as I wrap up these last two months of my mission I pray that I will heal quickly, and finish strong!

From the Washington Everett Misson

Good Afternoon.  Can you believe that your missionary is just weeks away from flying home? Crazy how time flies. 

Would you take a minute & fill in the information below and e-mail it back so arrangements can be made?   😊 

1.    What Airport would you prefer?  *(OR Indicate if you would like to pick up your missionary). 

2.   Stake President’s name, address & phone number:

3.   Your mailing address & phone number.

 Thank You so much. 

We were so excited to get this email! It means Elder Burt is coming home soon! After I replied with the correct information I got this reply:

Thank You for your info. And Your Welcome, Elder Burt is a great leader with a smile.  He will be missed.

Ryan and I knew that already, but as a parent you love hearing fantastic things about your children!