Tullsonburg with Elder Gardner

December 5, 2017



It has been another wonderful week out here! We have seen miracles every day!

     Our last district meeting of the transfer has now come and gone! I can't believe how quickly this 5 week transfer has gone! We will have Zone council this week which will be a party! also I believe we get to go the the new missionary's temple trip and meeting this week!

     We had a wonderful experience with a man named Mike Gunston who prayed for one of the first times in his life, and the spirit was super strong! We've had a little bit of trouble setting solid appointments with him though and we'll see what we can do in the future!

      We have been doing everything we can to #lighttheworld!! We have given multiple pass along cards to all members that we have come in contact with at church or otherwise and invited them to share them with everyone! Also we watch the video with everyone we can that has a computer(not many haha). Also we give them to everyone we talk to and there are a lot of people that seem interested in looking at it and giving it a shot!

     Sister Nancy Alberta is doing awesome and is SO close to living the Word of wisdom, she still has the goal to have it all solid by Christmas and we're excited for her!

     We talked to Sherry again for the first time in a few weeks on her doorstep in some hefty rain for about an hour, which was cold but so worth it! she seems very hurt by us not meeting with her and had made up her mind that she wasn't going to come to church anymore(that was her real reason, she gave some other weak ones at the start). She is having a lot of inner conflict that we noticed pretty easily and pointed out to her, she didn't really want to admit it but was willing to. She said she would look at the LIght the world stuff and that she needed a few days. I love her more than words can say, and really hope that she starts turning toward Christ so he can help her!

     The Christmas devotional was incredible! It was awesome to hear Brother Holmes speak! He's such a great guy! I remember when he came and did a question and answer meeting at the seminary building last year! That was awesome and so was his message last night! I have come to know that receiving the gift of Christ's love, Atoning sacrifice, and Godly peace are so important and really are the glad tidings of great joy that our wonderful missionary message delivers to the world! And it is REAL! I am more at peace, and feel more loved, and I feel the Atonement more and more and more in my life every day as I seek to accept my Savior! I love this Gospel! The Restoration of it is a fact. God bless you all and have a wonderful week!

This was mom's email to Steve..

Hi bud it’s mom! I of course have been extremely worried about your knee all week. Jane Jeppesen just had knee surgery on DEC 1st and had to get her meniscus taken out. They told her no more sports! She is devastated she has the same look i did at that age. Do you have any idea when your MRI will be? We are having the neighborhood get together tonight here. Dad and I are going to go get the garage all cleaned out. We are also going to have the families he home teaches over and Bro Hawks our home teacher over for soup before it starts so we can get all that taken care of at the same. You can just call me the major multi tasker of the century! Toast is in sleeping because he feels like he is going to throw up. Seano and Tomaicita have had the pukes and Luke Morris threw up at church yesterday. Tis the season for being sick! My Sunday school class looked like they were going to fall asleep during my lesson yesterday, any suggestions. I have Peter Jeppesen, Brooke Vogrenic, Kaytlin Numbers, Emmaline Morris. Its sad not having Logan in there anymore he really added a lot. He has moved to st george to spend December with family before he takes off. Erin has to teach a little lesson in Seminary tomorrow for 10 minutes and it is really stressing her out. Her and Jami also have tryouts tomorrow for their acting class play. Kevin and Sarah are loving the school play Aladdin. Jamilyn asked if she could quit piano and I told her no. Sarah and Kevin both want to start piano! Yikes, that is a lot of kids to get to practice! We have had a lot of fun watching Christmas movies in the theatre room. They had a kid take a gun to Milcreek Jr High and was going to shoot kids but his dad went and wrestled the gun out of his hands. Dad did a great job conducting yesterday but looked so nervous, I think it was because Elder Baxter, the stake president, the missionaries (we have new sisters by the way) and the high council man were all there. Elder Baxter bore his testimony about how amazing sister missionaries are. so be nice to the sisters in your mission. 
We miss you and love you tons. We think and talk about you all the time. We pray for you and the people you are working with. I am so grateful to have my boy on a mission. Go work hard and know that we love and support you.

Steve's response...

I'm not sure when the MRI will be! At the latest February 13, that's the appointment that got set up by the hospital when we went in! However Elder Cannon is working hard to find something sooner, we'll see what happens! That sickness doesn't sound too fun! Ask more thought provoking and inspired questions for the sleepy class! Presenting something is something that "Teaching in the Saviors Way" says is selfish because it's all about putting the attention on the teacher, but worrying more about them and asking a lot of good questions leads to real involvement and participation! Also they need to know that there comments meant the world to you and to adding to the spirit of the lesson, because if they don't know that they will lose interest in giving more engaged participation. As a missionary I struggle with that one a lot because people out here like to talk a lot about things that are not easy to tie in haha. I love sister missionaries! They are incredible and make miracles happen in ways that Elders never could! I love you! I know what you are doing is making a much bigger difference than you think it is and that lives are being impacted in ways that will last throughout Eternity!

Tullsonburg's doctor's looking at Steve's knee Scary!!

Monday November 21, 2016  We missed Steve on our Thanksgiving trip to San Diego with Kelly's brother Seano and his family. We got to eat dinner at Teri's brother's Scott house! It was fantastic! It was really strange being on our first trip without him. We are so excited Steve finally went to the doctor for his knee. This has been a big trial for his mom! (She hurt her knee at a really young age and it was wrongly diagnosed. ) Pray the doctor will know what is really wrong with it!! Email from Steve..... It's been another great week out here in the field! We've seen miracles and it has just been great!      I got to see Elder Tarter at sports last preperation day which was pretty legit! I love him! There is significant difference in how pure he looks compared to when we left the MTC! He says work out in St. Thomas is quite a bit different than downtown Toronto. He's probably right haha. He is also follow up training Elder Peterson and says he didn't realize how much he relied on his trainer for everything haha. After that we were led by inspiration to a man named Rob who was very interested in the BOM and said he had always wondered about prophets and people in the ancient americas and had heard somewhere that Christ had comed and visited them and said that had always made sense to him. So we gave him a BOM and he even promised us at the doorstep that he would read and pray about it. Unfortunetly he thinks he is too busy to meet with us right now haha. But I'm sure he'll be calling soon!      Also after District meeting we were talking about getting past the first barrier with someone who seems not to be interested. So going out of Subway after the meeting I started talking to someone in his car. He seemed pretty agitated that I had the nerve to bother him, but we had just talked about people like him so I kept talking with him. I was very nice and under control but the conversation ended in about 30 seconds when he threatened to get out of his car and punch me in the face haha. He didn't haha.      Unfortunetly we had a rough time with Sherry. She has been getting more and more contentious and having less and less of a desire to change over the last few weeks. In our last lesson with her eventually she went on a big rant and said "I don't want to know the purpose of life, I don't want to change, I want to worship God the same way I have all my life". That was the dagger. I told her we loved her and that God had infinite and eternally more plans for her, and that I didn't think we were helping her at this point by meeting with her. I said we would love to still see her at church and would stop by, but we were going to give her a while before visiting with her again. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Because I love her. I do think this is the best thing for her though even though it was hard and hopefully serves as a wake up call.      Nancy committed 100% to be baptized! We found out she does smoke which was interesting haha. But then she got super sick and we haven't seen her in like 5 days... WHich is no good and when we talked to on the phone last she did say she has a concern about baptism that she wanted to talk about in person. BUT since she has been so sick she hasn't smoked in that time either!      We got a media referal of someone named Michael and he actually wants to meet with us! We are meeting with him tonight at the church and we're crazy excited becaused he seems VERY prepared!      Also got the wonderful experience of going though Canada's medical care, ended up being at the doctors office for 5 hours and missed multiple appointments for my knee, but now they said they are setting up an MRI for me that will take place in a few weeks!      I know the Gospel is true, and it's found in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I know this is the work of Almighty God and it is to change the world. I add my testimony to the words of Joseph Smith, "the standard of truth has been erected, no unhallowed hand can stop the truth from progressing. persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent. Till it has penetrated every continent, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done." I know that it is the same spirit that testifies of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world that testifies of Joseph Smith as his called prophet, adn of Thomas S. Monson. I am so greatful for this good news that it is my privilege to share with the world.

Steve is Training a GREENIE!! Isn't he still GREEN?

Monday November 14, 2016        Steve's been out about 31/2 months

Steve's new companion is a greenie! OK SO I THINK IT'S A BIT CRAZY THAT STEVE IS TRAINING A GREENIE! A GREENIE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS JUST ARRIVED AT THE MISSION FROM THE MTC (MISSIONARY TRAINING CENTER). Isn't Steve still green?  PRAY FOR HIM!!

Email from Steve....

This week has been pretty nuts! My new companion is Elder Garner and he is the champ of the century! He has so much spiritual fire and desire to make miracles happen! We're gonna see miracles and baptisms this transfer! I can't wait!

     We had the chance to meet with Sherry again (twice), she is really trying to find out what's right, kind of haha. Also Nancy is still working towards November 26 so that's pretty great! 

     It was great to hear everything from home! I actually just finished the recordings! Sounds like soccer season is over and everything for the play is going great! I love and miss you all! I can't believe how fast time keeps going!

     We has stake conference this week which was pretty grand! We went down to London with our Branch mission leader! President and Sister shield's came as well and it was super great to hear from them! Also there were A Lot of speakers, a lot more than I remember from stake conferences back in Babylon haha. And President Sandor(stake president) talked and it was super good. He threw down pretty hard on people not being willing to forgive and said that "the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not for stubborn proud camels who won't shake off things others have done, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for us, and if we are not willing to let go of these things from the past, we are not fit for the kingdom of God" haha. That's just a piece though and everyone still felt very loved because he is an INCREDIBLE speaker. He seemed to have no notes but went on and on and used quotes and scriptures from memory, it was very impressive. Everyone in the stake thinks he will be an apostle haha. He is super young to, probably late 20's or early 30's. Anyway that was pretty sweet.

     Also we contacted my favorite contact of the mission. We were trying to find the house of someone that we talked to and said we could come by on the street. and ran into this guy named Mike. He's super smart, and is all about conspiracy theories haha. He told us about religion being heavily influenced by politics. It was nuts and pretty funny, but he does know the stuff he has read very well! and we gave him a BOM that he was very interested in and I think he will really read it! Also we are going back this week to see him which should be super fun!

     I know this is the work of Almighty God! I have never felt so happy, supported, and loved by my Heavenly Father! I hope all is well and continues to go wonderfully! I love you and miss you!

No More Chatting! Still in Tillsonburg, Elder Brand transferred!

Hey, so the chat thing is a real thing. It would be sweet to just send me a list of questions that need answering and then I can answer in one email. ALSO thanks for the birthday stuff from Grandma and Grandpa Hutchings, the Washington Hutchings, Grandma Dixon and You Guys!! I loved getting it all on Friday! Especially the forgotten carols! That is the PERFECT birthday present ever! It's awesome here because we can start celebrating Christmas super early and you don't even have to feel guilty because it's the next holiday after Halloween! I love you all and miss you! I feel your prayers!    

So this means we can't live chat with Steve anymore, so sad! It is the only way we really get answers to all of our questions! We will miss getting to talk to him live!! KELLY and I will have a hard time not e-mailing him when we see his emails coming in!!

That's awesome they did so well this term! I can't believe it's been that long! That's sweet that BYU won! Our investigators are doing awesome! Nancy came to church again and she is progressing amazingly! George and Lynn are keeping reading commitments and are progressing which is sweet! Sherry has been a bit iffy but we're still optimistic! I am staying in Tillsonburg for at least 6 weeks!

 This week has been pretty nuts! As you may remember this was the last week of the transfer. This transfer FLEW by super fast, WAY faster than the last one!

     Some sweet highlights were that we went on exchanges with the zone leaders, Elder Brand went to London with Elder Taylor, and Elder Certonio came here to Tillsonburg. I stinkin love Elder Certonio! We've talked a bit and I thought he was pretty sweet before, but he is way more sweet than I realized haha. He is rediculously good at giving positive and uplifting feedback and constantly encouraging! That is the kind of leadership style/approach I want to start developing. Lifting, loving, praising, and encouraging more than purely seeking to motivate. Also it blew my mind how quickly he talked in contacts but still made perfect sense to people. He got so much information out, and treated them in the same loving way that people just wanted to talk with us more. Anyway, I have learned lots and think he is pretty sweet!

     That was after zone council where they introduced the Christmas initiative that will be starting in a little less than a month which is "Light the World". It's sweet how much the church does for these "initiatives"(Easter and Christmas). I'm super excited! And I'll get to see the Christmas video early which is pretty sweet!

     Well, unfortunately we did get a transfer call last night... Elder Brand being the champ that he is, is going to be a zone leader in Branfield or something like that. It's no real surprise since he's a total champ and he's going to be a super solid zone leader! Since it was a leadership call we got a call from President Shield's instead of one of the assistants, which I guess happens for all leadership calls. We also have a new assistant because Elder Holt is going home, his name is Elder Sabin. I don't really know him at all but I'm sure he's pretty sweet!

     And by the way I get to stay in Tillsonburg! Which I'm super excited about! It would have been a real dagger to lose Elder Brand and go somewhere else! I'm pumped to be here for at least another 6 weeks!

     I have learned significant patience as I have tried to develop it over the past week. I have come to more fully understand that patience is not lowering expectations! I believe it is having a firm hope and faith that wonderful things will happen and then accepting the Lord's comfort and peace when they come later rather than right now! I feel like a completely different person than I was when I came out here and even from 6 weeks ago! I know what I am doing is what God wants me to be doing! I know I couldn't do this without complete reliance on Jesus Christ, and I also know that I can absolutely do it and be completely successful through and by him! I am more at peace than I have ever been in my life!

    I hope everyone has another wonderful week!

Halloween in Tillsonburg!

November 1, 2016

Steve is playing a little on his knee and it is still popping and clicking when he does. I think we are going to have him go to a doctor and get it checked out.

He just got his coat for 300$. He said it is pretty sweet and is made to use your body heat to keep you warm. Lets all pray it works because he is going to be pretty cold very soon!!

Letter from Steve........

It's been a pretty fantastic week!

     We carved pumpkins last week as missionaries during preperation day. Shockingly despite my incredible artistic ability I didn't win any of the prizes...

     We had our last District meeting of the transfer, which is pretty nuts! I can't believe how much faster this transfer has seemed to go than the last one! If this is a normal thing for how fast it keeps going and keeps getting faster that's pretty scary! This is the last week of the transfer so I guess next week we'll both know what's going to happen haha.

     We did have an absolute miracle this week where we by chance tracted into an older women named Nancy who has met with missionaries before a few months ago, but we dind't know that. She has been reading the Book of Mormon every night and said that she knows logically that the Book of Mormon is true, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that this is the restored church on the earth! She just wants to make sure she gets a sure answer form God. We met with her again and she set a date to be baptized on November 26th! It was my first time having someone accept a date to work towards EVER! So that was pretty heavenly. Also she came to church yesterday for the first time! Unfortunetly she was very embarassed because she has a very hard time walking and has had a stroke and whatnot, but everyone was very nice to her and hopefully she will come next week and keep working towards baptism!

     Sherry has backtracked a bit unfortunetly, but we're still very optimistic that she will eventually get baptized and be wonderful when she decides to commit!

     Tonight we don't get to really do anything after preperation day because they don't like us out on Halloween(that says something haha). So we will be weekly planning after dinner at Mary Fishers, basically no proselyting for an entire day... It will still be fun haha!

     I am convinced more and more of the truth of the message we share as missionaries! I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ did in actuality appear to Joseph Smith, Joseph Smith in actuality restored the same church to the earth that Jesus himself established. I have recieved a real witness that this is true. And just like Paul who saw an angel or Joseph seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter how much persecution or opinions there are on how I know or if I know, it will never change the fact that I have in reality recieved a witness from God that these things are true. I love Jesus Christ more than ever before! Have a great week!

Toasty at BYU GAMES!

Kevin went to BYU's homecoming game! One of Steve's hardest thing on his mission is waiting to see if BYU wins their game that week!~

Birthday P-day ( He's 19)

Oct 24, 2016 (Steve's 19th Birthday!1)


This week I got to go on my first exchange to a differetn area. I went to London chinese with 2 chinese Elders, Elder Chu and Elder Mak. Elder Lee came to Tillsonburg with Elder Brand. It was super fun and we got to talk to a bunch of people! They don't have a car so we rode the bus everytwhere and bus contacting is now my new favorite thing in the world! People are totally trapped! and they know they are trapped! I got to have some legitamate religious discussions and share real testimony and experiences with people! It was soooo sweet! and there were a lot of people that were interested! I could see how it would be easy to get frustrated as a language missionary though, because everyone we found outside of 1 person we passed onto other missionaries who will teach them in English. Anyway, it was an absolute blast and I had such a good time! "wo ei jeshu jidu" means I love Jesus Christ and "ni how ma? wo han pang" means hi how are you, I am fat. Both crucial statements to know in mandrin.

     I did have one day I think on Saturday where I was feeling pretty down, and Elder Brand asked me if I was doing okay in companion study and I broke down and started crying and whatnot. Being a missionary is not easy! However, I have been comforted and brought incredible peace through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I know that I could be comforted no other way. I could simply not be a missionary on my own, I just couldn't. But with God I can do all things, I believe in miracles more than ever before.

     We are being led to those who are ready to accept Jesus Christ to any certain extent, adn they are being led to us. I have felt those on the other side of the veil nearer out here than ever before in my life. I know they are involved with this work, and the Holy Ghost is involved with every single aspect of this work.

     I've seen lives changed, I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly transforms. I know anyone who truly seeks will eventually be led to the Gospel and thereby the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Today I read in Jesus the Christ where it talks about the great apostacy and how honeslty clear it is that this church is Jesus's church restored to the earth. However, no logical or clear proof would or could ever be more powerful or influential than the truth I know by the power of the Holy Ghost. I love being a missionary!

     Thanks for all the birthday wishes! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else doing anything else on my birthday!

#7 P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

October 11, 2016

Steve's p-day was on Tuesday because Toronto's Thanksgiving was on Monday the October 10,2016.
Steve said his knee is doing great. Almost all the swelling is gone, he is till wearing his knee brace. The medical guy there doesn't think Steve needs to see the doctor, so we will keep praying nothing is really wrong!!

The guy on the far right of the picture is Steve's new companion Elder Brand

Thanks for all your prayers for Elder Dixon!!

This week has been another fantastic week!

     We had what's called skills and interviews this week, which is basically zone council, but President and Sister Shields come, give some instruction, and do quarterly interviews with each missionary in the zone! It was sweet! In my interview we talked a lot about BYU football to start ahah. President Shields is a big BYU football fan so that was very fun! He asked if I had any questions, and I had a list so we went through those, and that was pretty much the rest of the interview haha. 

     We're still led to lots of people and are seeing miracles left and right. One of my favorites from this week was we were in an area(I believe by revelation) doing some things and contacting some potentials, ended up staying and knocking some more doors. When we were walking to our car we saw someone in their garage and went and talked to him. He said he had been looking everywhere for a Book of Mormon, bookstores, etc.. He said that his previous boss had said that she based most of the principles of the business off what she had learned from the Book of Mormon and her religion. The business was very successful so he wanted to read the Book! Unfortunetly he works on a boat and is gone for months at a time so I may not see him again, but he is going to read the Book of Mormon and has the missionaries number for when he gets backand I'm sure will want to be baptized!

     Also Reg totally changed and has decided to repent and stop judging others, big change we saw was when we taught the importatnece of the sacrament and invited them to take one thing to church they wanted to "sacrifice" and leave behind. Reg said he would leave behind judging others. President Fisher said he came in early on Sunday and asked if he and President Fisher could start over! It was incredible and my testimony was greatly stregnthened of the power of this message leading unto repentance! We saw him yesterday and he did get a bit offended at church haha, but there is still incredible progress!

     Because it was Thanksgiving we went and said we were "hymning for Thanksgiving" going door to door haha. We said we were singing a hymn of grattitude. I was suprised how many people wouldn't even let us sing them a song! There were some that did though and the spirit was super strong!

     I love being a missionary! I know this message that I am sharing is the most joyous that anyone could be sharing and offering! I know lives change as they turn to Christ, and that any honest seeker who continues seeking will eventually be led to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, and thye will want to be baptized and become a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I hope all is still going well! I love and miss you all!

6th P-day (Tillsonburg) New Comp Elder Brand

Monday October 3, 2016



Steve's knee is doing so well they have cancelled his doctor appointment!

He still hasn't played on it so keep praying for him!!

Good bye Elder Johnson, Good luck getting back into life and going home !!

Letter from Steve.....

This week has been incredible. I cannot put into words my love and complete admiration for Elder Brand. The difference in the spirit has been unmistakable and powerful.\

     Tough to say goodbye to Elder Johnson to be sure. He will do great things back home for his family and future family.

     I got to see elder Ward at transfers! Guess why? elder Brand was his trainer!!!! How sweet is that!! I think its' pretty incredible! I also got to see Elder Thiem there which was sweet! Elder Ward is in YSA in Kitchener if I haven't said that before and doing well! Super jealous of the fact that I see cows all the time though haha. 

     District meeting was powerful with elder Brand, like I said, he's incredible.

     Also going to the temple was sweet this week, we got to go for the "Conference trip" but we were out of boundaries so we only got to go since I am being trained and I'm not complaining haha. We got the Saratov approach devil video which was awesome because I have only seen that one one other time. and its' my favorite creation video of all of them.Elder Brand is super spiritual and has some beautiful insights from the Temple and from everything else! I love talking with him about that and we have had many incredible discussions!

     We have seen many miracles, but honestly for me they all come back to Elder Brand and how he lives and works. He exemplifies exact obedience, and always seeking to find ways to live a higher spirit of the law of obedience. For example, we always set new goals and when we read from the white handbook or preach my gospel, we are always setting new ways of applying so that we can become more obedient. Also whenever we are in the apartment eating or at night or in the morning, he makes sure "the district" is always on our DVD player I believe to always keep our minds on the work. He listens so well to me and always tries to incorporate thoughts I have into action as a priority over his own thoughts.

     There is more that he does, but I think that hopefully gives a basic idea, he basically does EVERYTHING that he possibly knows how to do the very best that he knows how to do it. I think he understands what I learned, That we have been given so many resources to missionaries to be successful, and if we just actually do it to the best we can we will find incredible success.

     We have found incredible success. The spirit we carry and I feel throughout the day is undeniable, and very different than before. When we talk to people I can see in their eyes that they feel it like they didn't before. When we seek inspiration on where to go and what to do IT IS ACTUALLY TANGIBLE AND CLEAR. We are actually being led to people that are ready. We have found SO MANY MORE people that are prepared. Initially I was simply amazed at what was happening and thought it was just luck, now I am absolutely completely convinced it is not. Elder Brand is also super loving AND bold in lessons, and contrary to what I thought might happen, people are NEVER offended. In fact, they want to change! I could go on all day, but I won't. I completely believe in obedience like I never have before. I honestly have learned more in this last week from serving with Elder Brand then my first 6 weeks in the field combined.

     Part of the reason I think we have had so much more success, is because Heavenly Father knows that if He sends us to those that are ready they will feel that spirit now. As Elder Arnold said they should feel it on their doorstep just from your fire, I feel that now. He knows that we are ready to actually help those that are ready. Everything has completely changed.

     Conference was incredible. One thing I was really taught by the spirit was how much more I need to use the Book of Mormon and how much I am failing to have total confidence in it. Elder Brand is super big on the Book of Mormon so that won't be a problem and I am super excited! I loved Uchtdorf's opening address, Elder Oak's was one of my favorite's he had ever given, Holland's brought me emotion as usual. This conference though I think I was shedding tears through almost the entirety of every session. We missed a good chunk of Bednar's which was a dagger. But from what we caught I could tell we really missed out. My testimony is stronger than ever that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, and He stands at the head. One idea I just remembered that I loved was that people should be invited to be converted to Christ's Gospel, not His church, that will come naturally as they desire to live His Gospel.

      I know that God simply wants us to obey His laws and His commandments the best that we can. And that doesn't mean we can't do that better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today. I know He is so happy with all progress and loves us so much, even when we choose to knowingly disobey. I would write more, this has been my favorite week of my mission, but I just don't have time haha!

Poor Elder Johnson dying at his funeral

So lucky getting to go to the temple with some member of the Branch!

5th P-day Toronto (Tillsonburg)

Steve Said his knee is much better and it will be checked out at the doctor on Oct 7th!
I am scared to death for socialized medicine to diagnose this wrong, but my knee was diagnosed wrong when I was 14 here so maybe not much better. Pray for a miracle that nothing will be seriously wrong with it.

He will be getting a new companion on Wednesday, because Elder Johnson is heading home. His new companion is 6'4, so that should be an interesting combination. Can't wait to see pictures!!;)

Here is the letter from Steve....

This week has been great.

Reg and Margarett have taken to showing us everything they own which is awesome and Reg is softening up a bunch and is not ready to come back to church yet but I bet he will soon.

A picture of some of Reg's stuff he likes to collect

    With Sherry this week was awesome. She is still scared to commit to a baptismal date but totally knows she should and is receiving incredible fellowship from the branch. She even told us in a lesson that we had saved her life, and she knows that it really is God who sent us there. She still thinks a lot of it is just getting her out and being social. But obviously we know that there is a lot more happening than that. She is changing so much! Her daughter had a mental breakdown and is in the hospital which I think will be huge for her, she prayed to be closer to her family and she is getting it! Also we have prayed a bunch and think Conference is going to be where she gets a solid answer. 

    We also met this guy on the street and he was super nice. Homeless with nothing but insisted on buying us Tim Hortons and wanted to know his purpose in life. We told him a bit while walking around town and set up a return appointment which was hard since he's homeless and he didn't show which was too bad, but he was super awesome.

    Also Elder Johnson had his departing interview which from what he said was pretty intense. Elder Bakker was there though cause he has a companion who is dying.(Elder Bakker MTC Farsi speaking). So it was way cool cause I got to talk with him for like 30 minutes. Also I got to talk to Sister Shields a bunch and we talked about traveling and Israel and stuff and it was way fun. I also got to go teaching with one of the Brampton Zone leaders named Elder Taylor, he is super sweet. Unfortunately it fell though but we tracked into some sweet Indian people in Brampton that I'm way excited for him to teach. We slept over at the mansion that night and got to see how that works when not many people are there. The assistants(Elder Holt and Carrol) and the Brampton zone leaders(Elder Flake and Elder Taylor) are the two companion ships who live there. I got to talk with all them a bunch and ask what they would do if they were starting again differently. It was sweet and you can just feel their power just like with Elder Johnson that you can tell comes from their commitment to their service.

     The temple with Brother Gary Pidgon was phenomenal, and I get to go again for the 6 week  newbies next week before conference which will be awesome! We got the video that I see almost every time and the spirit was so strong. My testimony was greatly strengthened as to how real this Gospel is and that what I am doing has real consequence in these peoples lives and how much I want all of God's family to be in the temple together.

     In church we sang 159 "Now the day is Over" as the final hymn of Elder Johnson's mission church experience. I of course was so happy they chose that classic hymn!

    I know everyone Jesus Christ. I know His restored Gospel is the best way and only way to fully access Him and His Atonement. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a missionary and be offering Jesus Christ as a representative of Jesus Christ every day. I know Him so much better and my relationship with Him and my Heavenly Father is beyond so much deeper than I ever knew it could be. I know God knows me. I know he loves me. I know he loves ALL of His children and has a plan for all of them.

Emailing back and Forth on September 19, 2016

Sorry to hear about the knee still giving you problems. It sounds like you now have the right brace which is great. I would suggest taking it real easy for a while (as long as your medical guy recommended) and not playing sports and give it time to really heal. Certainly, it sounds like walking is good, but just make sure to wear your brace. I know you hate not being able to play and this is a significant trial so remember President Uchtdorf's counsel to "slow down" and don't try to just speed up and get through it. You don't have to be perfectly humble in order to warrant the Lord's blessings or be a successful missionary. None of us are perfect anything so I hope you don't believe you have to be completely humble before being loved and blessed. Just try your best. Can't wait to hear your recordings. Have you got to attend the temple yet in Toronto? If so, did you work in the baptistry or receive an endowment?

I have not gone to the Temple, but this week I get to go to go twice. Once for the 6-week training and temple trip that all missionaries in their first 6 weeks get to go to. And we have a returning member who is receiving his endowment on Saturday and we get to go with him for that. We don't get to participate in any ordinances in the font because water, could do other stuff though. I think that both the trips this week will be recieving enddowment ordinances .

Ok I'm not liking this medical guy very much, did your knee feel like if popped again? I would really like you to go have it checked by a real orthopedic doctor , didn't he come and see you and look at your knee and brace and see if you have torn the ligament? Is it al swelled up again


Haha, you can call to get all the details if you want, this is the first time he had seen my knee brace though.
He had me on Tylonol extra strength but I rarely take that now because it doesn't really hurt, not too swollen but the swelling has never really went away, which he said is because it is healing so that's normal. He did look at it after you talked to him but I couldn't find my brace that morning cause their was loads of comotion at "The mansion" because of Elder Arnold. Anyway he got me a great brace now and you should probably like him because he is a super nice guy.

4th P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

This week has been pretty sweet!

     I'm bummed to hear about BYU. It's probably good i'm here and not there being infinetly frustrated with the decision to play Taysom rather than Tanner. I of course have thought since Taysom's announcement of playing this year that Tanner would probably be the better option. Oh well. I'm glad Kalani is saying the right things I guess, I'd rather have him play the right players. Like I said, probably good that I'm out here instead of back there.

     At sports last week I messed up my knee again. That was great. The next day we went to Brampton and Elder Cannon looked at the brace I had and said that's not what he meant at all. That was fun. We went shopping with him and he got me a hefty brace and says, "Be wise, what can I say more?" about what to do on it. I won't be playing sports on it for at least 3 weeks to be safe. Anyways that has been fun.

     We have had some pretty great Branch involvement and our investigators are really starting to feel very welcomed and loved at church and at other activities that they are being invited to and coming to.

     I was pretty emotionally and physically tired at the start of the week and I'm crediting my knee for that.

     We did some service on Thursday for some members which was fun.

     We had my first zone council this week! It was super sweet! The spirit was super strong and I think the individual preparations of the zone. One piece of personal revelation I recieved was that I can be obedient with the right spirit and attitude of love for God while still not being absolutely enthusiastic and bursting with optimism, as well as even thinking that I don't want to do it. The perfect example of this of course is Jesus Christ, who was outwardly weighed down by sorrow through different parts of His ministry and especially while performing the Atoning sacrifice, and He even asked to have the cup removed, he didn't want to do it. Yet He did, and of course we know He did it out of a perfect love for us and for our Heavenly Father. It brings me great comfort to know that it is okay if I don't absolutely want to do this work everyday, and that I can still serve for the right reasons in the right way.

     There was lots of great instruction given, and I felt the spirit very strongly throughout the entire 3 hours. Probably my favorite part was testimonies though at the end of the meeting. Elder Johnson bore a very simple, short, yet powerful testimony. It was wonderful. Elder Wehi who I have also grown a great respect for(one of the zone leaders, going home with Elder Johnson and is from Austrailia), gave a beautiful testimony to finish the meeting and said somehting that has really stuck with me. He said that those out in the world without this Gospel are so much more tired than we are. They are tired of not having the truth, tired of not accessing the Atonement, tired of not knowing Jesus Christ, and that we cannot afford to let our tiredness get in the way of them recieving the gift that will stop their tiredness forever. He said he knew that our missions were intended to prepare us to raise an Eternal Family. They were beautiful thoughts in a beautiful testimony.

     I think our talks in Sacrament meeting went well and hopefully will provide some motivation and inspiration to come join this labor of love.

     Something that I have really thought about this week was how I don't know of any other work where there are so many resources available and specific instrustion given than to missionaries to carry out missionary work. On one hand it shows how important missionary work is the Jesus Christ, on the other it shows and tells me that I don't have to re-invent the wheel. I think often times I think that I am the exception or those that we are working with are the exception. This simply isn't true, if we will just follow the pattern that has been so clearly established we will have the most success possible.

     In my studies I have also tried to apply a similar principle. Often studies feel like review because I lack the true humble searching spirit and think that I know enough about these and there isn't much more to find besides small insignificant details. Obviously this is very untrue. to help with this I have been applying one thing from studies each day to do during that day, so far it has been a wonderful experience.

     I know that Jesus Christ is the leader of this church and this work. All of God's children were His and are still His long before and during and after my interactions with them, and He will take care of them. This Gospel becomes very simple if we will honestly trust in God. Trust Him enough to obey without full knowledge, trust Him with our friends, trust Him in difficulties. I know as we trust in God he DELIVERS. Always.

3rd P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

September 12, 2016

It's been another great week!

     It has been ultra hot and humid. Pretty much over 30 degrees Celcius and very humid the whole week.

     Sherry is really starting to improve and is gaining a serious interest in the BOM! She still doesn't want to talk baptism at all and shuts it down super fast whenever it is brought up. but she has said relatively passively(only when I asked her very directly) that she believes the BOM is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet. That was awesome but it is still very passive and not inspiring real change, at least at that point in time. Anyway she also is reading a ton of the BOM and before hand had not read really any at all. I know that if she keeps reading she will begin to develope that real intent that has not been there or is not there super well yet.

     However, we had a sweet experience with her and church. She had said she would come to church, but our follow up didn't work because no answer to phone. The member that was going to bring her showed up without her and we were super bummed. However Elder Johnson saw her coming in outside the window in Priesthood 10 minutes before sacrament meeting so we went out and talked to her for a sec. She was holding her mouth which she has been in a lot of pain because she has had multiple mouth operations recently. she said that when the member had come to get her it had woke her up cause she forgot, and decided not to come. But she said that "God kept telling her that she needed to come" and she DID!! I was so excited and talked to her after and she said that she really liked the speakers that spoke, it was a high councilman and someone else that he had brought. Such a miracle! Can't wait to meet with her on tommorow and talk about her expericences with the BOM. We are also going to leave "The Testaments" with her which I don't think I had ever seen the whole thing pre mission but it is one of if not my favorite films that the church has ever came out with before.

     We also finally got to have a lesson with Jordan and I think we have set up in his mind a real opportunity for him to pray with real intent and recieve his answer, I have my fingers crossed!

     An absolute highlight and probably biggest highlight of the week was Elder Arnold! Holy cow! He spoke in last conference and gave a great talk, but what he did here was nothing short of miraculous for me individually. we stayed at "The mansion" the night before in Brampton(big house where the Assistant's live). It was fun to see so many missionaries but none of the ones I came out with were there. My zone was though and they are all pretty sweet!

     The next day we were in the church right by the temple(general meeting place for big meetings). the district and zone leaders, and the sister training leaders were with Elder Arnold in a seperate meeting for the first 2 hours, and the rest of us had a great led discussion about the stripling warriors and Christlike attributes they demonstrated. It was sweet and it really brought the spirit! There were people at the mansion who had met with Elder Arnold the previous day that said he was super bold and laid down the law.

     Anyway I had some specific questions going into the meeting, hoping that the spirit could answer them and teach me anything else I needed to know from Elder Arnold. I can't begin to tell you how crazy it was. Every single one of my questions were answered in depth, and 90% of them were answered in the first 10 minutes. By the spirit some, but mostly by the actual things he said. I have an absolute testimony and it has been significantly stregnthened that Christ's chosen representatives are His chosen representatives and they are absolutely inspired to recieve revelation for me.

     One question I had had how important it was to kneel with investigators in lessons. in the MTC they taught that it was very important and should always be a priority. However out here Elder Johnson seemed to suggest that it wasn't that important and that it wasn't as important they the investigators were the ones actually praying and that it was more important for them to be the patriarch of the home and choosing. I honestly was very worried about this because I had some spiritual experiences with investigators praying while kneeling. Elder Arnold shook everyone's hands as the music was playing and then when the prayer was going to be said everyone kneeled down. Elder Arnold got up and said this was not okay, we don't kneel in big meetings. He said that we would from that point foward be kneeling with all of our investigators in every lesson. Prayers answered. He said that the foundation of the mission was here, but we were going to be making some small changes to help the mission stop being so "flat". He talked ab out obedience being so important because if we don't do obedience we will never get onto anything else. He said that we should have such good studies in the morning that when we get tgo someone's doorstep there is NO WAY that they won't feel the spirit super strongly. Another question I had was why goals were not focused and why we didn't make it a consistant priority to follow up on goals all the time. He talked a lot about goals and how we should be fired up about goals and how we were approaching goals all the wrong way and not setting nearly enough, which I completely agreed with.

     One thing I really loved that he said was that when people reject me they are only rejecting Christ, and that he was willing to be rejected for Christ all day every day. 

    Another thing I was super worried about was that we just seemed not to be using the ward in the way we should be, and was going in with the question of how we could get the ward excited about missionary work and really work as a team. He answered this with fire. Totally said that we are spending way too much time contacting(just waking around talking to people) and tracting and not spending nearly enough time teaching and using members as the PRIMARY way to find people. It sounded like angels singing in my ears. He then shared some specifics of how we can make that happen.

     I was so excited and hyped to go back to our area and basically change our entire gameplan of how we were doing things. However I quickly found that Elder Johnson was not nearly as excited as I was about all this, he was immedietly saying why he thinks we should apply it, but not expect immediate results because of the "uniqueness" of our are and whatnot. Oh well. He did tell me the next day some things that I thought probably were going on in his head which makes a whole lot of sense.

     Elder Arnold seemingly just came in and tore down a huge foundation of things that President Clayton had been doing. To Elder Johnson it felt like everything that he had been taught in the last 2 years had been torn down by Elder Arnold(This of course isn't actually the case, but I could see how he could feel that way). And it's difficult because Elder Clayton is now a General Authourity as well and obviously he was doing a lot of things right here. Also he has 2 weeks so I'm sure it is tough to think that we should change the very fundamental way that we use our time. We'll see what we can do.

     On the brightside about half of our mission is missionaries that came in within the last two transfers, so everyone is fresh and if we apply these things, I know that it will work out incredibly well. I do feel that I have for sure been very prideful about this and that I was looking at it much to much in a way of justification for me being frustrated with how we have been approaching it. the truth is though that I have a lot that I can personally do a lot better at in relation to this advice. And even though I am new I haven't really proactively done anything to help us be more successful in these areas that were addressed.

     I am just so excited to get going. It is so much better out here where I don't have personal distractions that get in the way of carrying out revelation of how to improve. I love it.

     My faviorite quote that Elder Arnold shared was from Richard g. Scott, "In order to reach a higher goal we must do things differently." I am so excited to do things differently, and then continue to do them differently to reach higher and higher goals!

     

2nd P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

This has been an incredible week. I've loved every second of being out here. Before I forget again I have to say a few words concerning the Canadian food I've been introduced to, it's fantastic. They have putin which is heavenly and Smoke's is the resturaunt the missionaries love. the maple syrup is actually that good. They have a desert called "The Great Canadian Sunday" which is probably the best thing on this planet. It's vanilla ice cream with the corn flakes cereal and coated in maple syrup, it's heavenly.

    NO NEW INJURIES THIS WEEK! YAY!

     I took some serious spiritual rebuking this week, and a lot of comfort. We were teaching one of our investigators named Sherry and she just doesn't get that we have what she needs, or at least that was my prideful thought. She had decided by the end of the lesson that she was really just there for us and that she was going to help us so we could be better missionaries for others. That's true, but she needs our message said my prideful mind. Anyway I was rebuked and the spirit taught me that really there were many that could help her, and I was here mostly for me. I needed to focus on others, but I was moslty there for my own progression. It was difficult to take in and I'm definetly still learning about it.

     Dad's voice recording made me cry and was super good the day after that spiritual rebuking. That day I was simply comforted by the spirit and experiences all day after the difficult one before. When dad said that the spirit told Him from God that He had me, I felt the spirit very strongly say that He did have me, and He was going to be with me and take care of me, and that I could do it through Him. That's when I cried and stuff. Later for portal trainging stuff I saw a clip from President Monson talking about how sometimes life is hard and we don't see the light at the end of the tunnel. This is how God wants this life to be, and it is the way that I can truly grow.

     Sunday was wonderful and I really felt the spirit during testimony meeting. I know that this is Christ's church anywhere in the world and that all people on the earth truly are children of God. We were listening to a piece of some talks and got to one from Holland addressing mission presidents. He said something along the lines of, "I have often wondered why the work of Salvation is so difficult, and why people don't just accept this Gospel that I know could bless their lives forever. After much thought I have come to this conclusion as to part of the reason. THE PRICE OF SALVATION IS NOT A CHEAP EXPERIENCE. Not for the investigator or for the missionary, it is difficult, and it is absolutlely worth it. I invite you presidents, when your missionaries question as to the difficulties of the work and ask why it is so hard. Tell them that someone much greater then them, much better, did something that wasn't easy for Him. Tell them that He asked if there was no other way and for the bitter cup He was asked to drink would be removed from Him. This is no cheap experience, but it will be eternally worth it" This was powerful for me and gave me the motivation to keep going.

     Also, we finally got to see Jerry which was a super great tender mercy. Also I had my first investigator actually drop us so that was awesome. I was so hyped about Jerry that I just didn't really care.

     I know this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and He is who I represent, I'm so grateful for the small amount of time that I get that priveledge.

1st P-day in Toronto (Tillsonburg)

Which one of these is not like the others?
Poor Steve cut his head open getting his luggage out of the trailer on his first day in the mission.
One week later he sprained his knee, so the medical missionary knows him well!

Well, not too long after emailing last week I suffered a knee injury at sports. We were playing what's called "chair soccer" which in all honesty I didn't think was all that fun. Anyway I planted wrong I guess and my knee popped on the outside and I had trouble walking and stuff. We iced it and called Brother Cannon who is now quite familiar with me. He said to get a knee support band which we did. I have been icing it and wearing that and it is starting to get a lot better. Still definetly swollen though and I can't run or anything on it till at least Friday he said. Good times! I'm sure this is no suprise to you back home.

     We had our first District meeting this week and they had us do a bunch of stuff. Elder Johnson says that based on the numbers that were presented our District seems to be struggling significantly. I still don't really understand what reasonable numbers are but I'm not too worried about all that. They are really emphasizing opening your mouth and talking to everyone in part because Elder Ballard talked about that a lot. It's awesome.

     We finally got to teach Sherry who the old missionaries said was our one solid investigator. She was great. She does not want to set a baptismal date and it sounds like the old Elder's did nothing but talk to her about that. They told us she hadn't had any of the lessons... Oh well, we decided to not worry about that and have her gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and the rest will take care of itself.

     I am starting to see more and more tender mercies throughout the day when otherwise it would seem like a difficult thing to do. There are so many nice people here, even the ones that are not very interested in the Gospel. So that's pretty sweet. We definetly are working on how we can do better at finding people which I'm sure based on what I've heard is something to be improving and changing throughout one's mission.

     church was fantastic! It is super small town and awesome! My testimony was significantly stregnthened of the fact that "where two or three are gathered there am I also"

     One of my favorite things that I read today was in Jesus the Christ where it talks about how "one" is in regards to purpose, and power in regards to the Greek original translation, but how it does not relate to the personality. I love this principle of us still keeping our personalities throughout Eternity. It makes Heaven sound a whole lot better to me!

     Also if you have sent any actual letters I haven't got them so that's a dagger. I am sending some (I think) today if I get the chance.

     I would love inserts to my shoes if we decided that would work, the arches of my feet hurt a bit all the time. I love and miss you all.

     I am so thankful for the chance that I have to be a part of this glorious work. It is difficult. It is emotionally taxing and spiritually draining, but it is fantastic! The relationship I have been able to stregnthen with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has been incredible. Elder Johnson is amazing and I have learned and am learning so much from him, and am trying to soak up as much as I possibly can because I know I don't have him for long!

This was the group Steve arrived with at the airport in Toronto on Aug. 15, 2016

Postal Strike

Dear Parents,

We’ve been on the internet today tracking the progress (or lack thereof) for the Canadian Postal Strike.  They are saying a strike is “imminent” starting at 11:59 PM this Sunday, Aug 28.  They will be delivering, but on a rotating basis for the Canadian provinces and territories…it all seems a bit “iffy” since they are not telling what provinces will have deliveries on what days.

Please be aware of this as you plan to use Canadian Post in the coming days and weeks.  You can track progress of the strike on the internet.

September 5^th is Labor Day in Canada – a civic holiday when the libraries are closed.  P-day will be moved to Tuesday, September 6^th  that week.

Sister Erickson

Last P Day in MTC

This week has been crazy. Our District is the most athletic district here, we have destroyed everyone in volleyball, soccer (where they have like 6 more players than us), and spike ball. Fast Sunday was great, for some Elders it was like their second time fasting and most of their first time going 24 hours, so there were a lot of hangry individuals. Anyway because we thought we were going to choir we ended up cutting it at like 22 1/2 which was for sure disappointing. Holland's son Matt Holland spoke, and he talked about Joseph Smith a lot. Elder James in our District is one of Matt's son's best friends! so he got a big shout out. Matt's son just left on his mission a few weeks ago and is in the Mexico City MTC. It was crazy though.

     Tuesday was phenomenal. Neil L. Anderson came to speak and everyone could feel something different in the air before he ever came in, and they kept it super on the down low so no one knew who it was, we could just feel the spirit super strong in the room. It was awesome and I cried a lot cause the spirit was so powerful through his whole talk. We always talk as a District in our classroom after the Tuesday devotionals and the spirit was so strong there as well as I heard my fellow district members testify of what they knew to be true.

     It has been a beautiful experience here, but I am ready to leave and start teaching real people. They try so hard here to keep you guessing to know whether or not the people you are teaching are real investigators or members acting, the problem is even the real investigators are acting for the sake of you teaching them the first time. That has got pretty annoying and old, even though the spirit still testifies of the truthfulness of what we are saying.

     Yesterday we had in-field orientation which was awesome, but so long. And it takes all day so no exercise time or personal study time which was a dagger. Anyway I learned how it is so important to help active members live the Gospel of Jesus Christ because they will then want to share it with others, and as they are strengthened they will begin to trust me with their friends who are referrals. Also it seemed so numbers specific and oriented which I had a really hard time with because that is so fundamentally against what I have believed. Because of this I got a pretty firm rebuking from the spirit. Because apostles and what not were on videos testifying of how they do this and how inspired it is. He told me that He knows what He is doing and that I need to trust doing it His way. They did still emphasize that the numbers always need to represent people and have that be the focus. So I'm working on it. I know through the Atonement I can learn to become exactly what God needs me to be, and that by turning outwards rather than inwards is the best way to access that Atonement, because whether I am turning directly to God or to His children in the end I am always turning to Him.