TEAM JESUS

 "Being a missionary truly is remarkable. I learn everyday what a privilege it really is."

Elder Willes and Elder Bennion neighbors and friends from home.  They've been friends for 10 years and are more like brothers.  "Such a sweet reunion!"  They haven't seen each other since April 2013 when Elder Bennion left for Taiwan

This week was another great one! Started out with our last FHE with Elder Westover. It was a great meeting and we had a testimony meeting. Our investigator Huang2 Di4 Xiong1 and our recent convert Habib bore their testimonies and it was really cool. We had transfers this week. Elder Westover and I headed to Taipei for the big transfer meeting. I walked in the chapel and Elder Bennion was right there. Gave him a big old hug! So awesome seeing him! Best reunion!  We hugged forever.  Haha he's such a stud and is training now. It was also good seeing Elder Hughes, Elder Dexter, and others. Elder Dethloff wasn't there. He lives so far away and he wasn't moving so he just stayed in his area. Anyway it was weird seeing the new trainees and knowing exactly what they were going through. The first trainee's trainer was Elder Bennion. That was cool.

 

Elder Willes (right) with his new companion Elder Marchant

My new companion is Elder Marchant. [NOTE FROM MARIANNE:  The craziest thing is my name maiden name is Marchant. Maybe these guys are related. We will have to find out.]  He is from South Ogden and graduated from Bonneville High School and went to Weber State for a little bit too. He's super cool. He's been out a little over a year. He's really funny and fun to be around, but more importantly he's willing to work and we've already seen some cool miracles together. Our first night we went out finding and found 3 new investigators. A teenage boy that we haven't met with since and a boyfriend and girlfriend. Their names are Lin2 Jie3 Mei4 and Yan2 Di4 Xiong1. They are great, we met with them again the next day and taught the Plan of Salvation. It was really cool and the spirit was there. They have a desire to learn and have a baptismal date for 8/4/14.

 

This week I also had a hotpot that consisted of a bunch of random fish, meat and vegetables. I also ate pumpkin and pig ear haha. Not horrible. As for new eats much of it I can't really tell you what I eat because I don't really know what the stuff is. It's really random stuff.

Our investigators are doing good. Shi2 Di4 Xiong1 had a test on Sunday so he couldn't come to church, but he still is looking good for 7/5/14. Keep him in your prayers that he can give up tea and coffee before then. Also, that he can develop better relationships with the ward.

 

Cherry is doing great. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and Thomas helped us Pei2 Ke4 (accompany lesson) and she committed to living it. It was cool! She really is prepared for the gospel. We just need to stress the importance of church and strengthen her testimony.

 

We met with Sui2 Jie3 Mei4 again this week. During her closing prayer she started crying while praying about her family (mom has cancer and just had surgery) and the spirit was so strong. She has such a strong testimony. She said she could come to church next week so that is really exciting!!

 

The Lee Family doesn't live in our area so we referred them to the sisters who say they are super awesome! So that is good news :)

 

Elder Willes with Habib (a recent convert) and his wife Yiyi (over William's left shoulder) and Huang2 Di4 Xiong1 (an investigator - bottom left corner) who will be leaving soon for his military service 

Huang2 Di4 Xiong1 is getting ready leave for dang1 bing1 (the army) so he can't get baptized but he's great. He came to all 3 hours of church. We hope he can quit smoking and start preparing for baptism.

Huang2 Di4 Xiong1 and Elder Willes

 

Chen2 Ya3 Yi4 and Habib moved just out of our area so that is why the sisters are teaching her now.

Elder Marchant, Elder Willes at Hong2 Di4 Xiong1's baptism

 

The last and best miracle was with Hong2 Di4 Xiong1. He is the guy who I pulled up to on a random road two months ago. I started talking to him and asked if I could talk to him on the side of the road about Christ. He pulled over and we taught him a little of the message of the restoration and taught him about prayer. It was really cool. He didn't live in our area so we referred him to the sisters and they taught him and he got baptized yesterday!! It was really awesome. The WML [Ward Mission Leader] asked me to give a talk at the baptism so I gave a talk on Baptism which was a cool experience. And then the young men (about 4 of them) and Elder Marchant and I sang a musical number called Glorious. "It's like a symphony. Just keep listening." It was so fun. The spirit was so strong. 

Our mission has a motto right now called Team Jesus! All of us missionaries are on the same team: testifying of Christ. So when we meet awesome people who don't live in our area that's ok because we are still helping them come unto Christ. It was awesome seeing Hong2 Di4 Xiong1 (the guy right next to me in the pic) get baptized. The Lord is working mighty miracles among the children of men. Lovin' the work!

 

Elder Willes at a place they go and offer service and help with "smashing stuff."

Mom, Dad, Nate, and Jake keep working on those Christlike attributes. [Elder Willes issued us a big challenge last week.]  Pray to develop them. Search the scriptures and PMG [Preach My Gospel] and I know you can and will develop these qualities. I'm working on faith and I've already seen my faith grow and the influence of Christ in my life grow. I've also become more bold inviting random people on the street to be baptized.

 

Being a missionary truly is remarkable. I learn everyday what a privilege it really is.

 

Love you all! You are in my prayers.

 

Elder Willes