Mālō e lelei! (Tongan greeting or hello)
I haven't been sending photos in my emails firstly because I forgot secondly because I don't take many of them and lastly because there is not much file room on emails. So here are all my photos so far in a Google Photos album where you can comment and like photos and I can share more throughout the week. Yay!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/szPjrgnATfNZnyq77
I hope you enjoy the photos and this week's email. 😁
Last PDay we had another great time at the Portland Temple. The Mesa Temple is still my favorite but I have grown to love the Portland Temple also because it looks cool. It is my second favorite temple. After getting pictures we did the split up again where my comp went with Walter's Hill to exersice and I went with Damascus to Columbia Store, lunch with the Sisters, the Beaverton Stake Center and then back to the apartment. After all that fun we went to the church building to watch Elder Gillett burn a suit because he hit his TWO year mark. It was interesting and we got some epic pictures. Later after calling family and writing emails we had a member meal that was good and went to an adult BOM study night that was very enlightening. We talked a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, what the world would be like if it hadn't happened and all the numerous infinite blessings of it truly happening (2 Nephi 9).
Wednesday we had a lesson with a former (formerly taught person) and while we were geting to know him he said if any church is correct the Mormons have it right, which was epic. We had a lesson with Jean-Marc about the importance of reading the scriptures and invited him to read a verse a day because he is struggling to read. Later we had a member meal with the younger Nelsons and we had a great discussion about The "Temptation Fades" video by Elder Soares. We talked about how temptation is like a magnet and as we get farther away from it the pull of it fades away. After that we had youth activites where we played mafia type games. It was very entertaining and fun.
Thursday was just a normal day full of contacts, almost nobody answering, and a few lessons. One was with a member that we got to know better. He talked about what he has been reading and some history of Book of Mormon. He showed as a picture of an ancient stronghold looking thing that fits the exact description of fortresses built in the war chapters of the BOM. Another one was a member meal with the older Nelsons (the perents of the younger Nelsons from yesterday) and they had so many fun and interesting stories we could barely talk. The last one was with Alyssa and we talked about, a daily scripture we sent her Mosiah 5:15. It is all about being centered and rooted in christ always doing good works then Christ will save us/"seal us his." Later before bed Damascus Elders brought home "Loihose" (horse) made by a Tongan member of their ward. The reason he made it for us was because loihose is Elder Gillett's favorite food. He served in the Rose City Tongan ward for a while and he loved eating it when the members made it for them. The loihose was kinda chewy but not too bad. The flavor was interesting but good. Over all the great experience I would recommend. 👌
Friday, I went on an exchange with Elder Segalla in Powell Valley, and it was an interesting exchange. I felt pretty unorganized and unsure where to go next. We made some good contacts and had an amazing lesson with Chaz where he was so happy and positive about everything. It was interesting, becuse a few lessons ago, he was complaining about some of the very things he was super thankful for today. After that I decided to go to a far contact which went somewhat well, and we set up an RA, but we didn't get his phone number. Then everything went a little downhill when we went to a JW (Jehovah's witness) and he proceeded to nicely bash us for like an hour. I definitely should have been more bold and cut in or said we needed to leave sooner, but it was difficult. After that we had to take the long ride back and after that Elder segalla wasn't feeling the best due to hard work and side effects from his Epilepsy. So we just rested at the apartment until after dinner when Damascus got back. Thats when we did the double exchange becuse Elder Ripplinger was with Elder Callihan, I went with Elder Ripplinger to finish the night in Powell Valley while Demascus stayed home to rest. Because they weren't going out, we took their car and it was nice because we had some lessons that were pretty far apart. The lesson that happened was with Janet and Aloura. He talked about great principles like the Holy Ghost guiding us and acting in faith in Christ, but Janet just kept going off on tangents and changing the subject. It was hard, and it took up way too much time, but we did listen to a chapter of a book that Aloura (Janet's granddaughter) is writing. It was very interesting, good and entertaining. Then we hit a few more contacts that went fine. I just should have taken more action and not backed down. All together, it wasn't a bad day, but I noted how difficult it is to lead out and how much more I need to practice being bold and leading out.
Saturday we took the opportunity again to use Damascus car for the day! Powell Valley in car is odd but great. At the beginning of the day, we went with Walters Hills to the Japanese Gardens to dig more ditches for awhile. It was a good time until it started snowing, and they had us leave. We were able to hit tons more contacts and go from one side of our area to the other multiple times. It was magical. The area seems much smaller in a car, who knew. It was a great day, and we got to do lots of contacts that we wouldn't have gotten to as easily on bike.
Sunday was Elder Gilletts last sunday on the mission, and it was a great testimony meeting to top it off. We both bore our testimonies, and there were lots of other Spirit filled to testimonies shared. After that we went to youth Sunday school and it was very interesting & fun as always. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, except an amazing home grilled burger member meal to break our fast and a couple of interesting lessons.
Yesterday, we had Elder Gillett's last District Council, and him and Elder Callahan as codistrict leaders lead it out well, helping us learn, counsel, and discuss together. We always have a good time and feel the spirit, especially when he bore his testimony and sang "God be with you tell we meet again." The rest of the day, we had some good lessons and set up a few RAs. Elder Gillett is a really hard-working missionary because we were able to make a few more contacts and a lesson while he wasn't feeling the best. After that, we had our last sauna session with him, and it was a good time.
I hope you have a Spirit filled rest of your week and can learn something new in the process.
Ofa 'atu (love you in Tongan)
~Elder Vance~