Prayers Are Answered

Hello everyone!

First order of business is that I am going to be trying to just email my family and some of my friends. I am having a hard time with distractions from the work and I don't want that. I'm sorry if I offend anyone but I need to say that I will be only taking hand written letters from girls. I can only write back on Mondays so you may not be getting a reply till maybe Saturday. Sorry but I need to do it to focus on writing and emailing my family which is of most importance. Thank you. See my letter and package sending address on the right.

This week has been a real blessing. I got to go on exchanges for about 48 hours. First was up with Elder Adams and then I went back to my area and show someone else around my area. I was really nervous cause I haven't stayed in my area on exchanges before. I had a wonderful experience with Elder Dembinskee. I learned that I should almost fight to talk and share my testimony instead of let my companion talk. I had a wonderful day on Wednesday.

The most important think that happened this week is a story. On Tuesday T. (our investigator) had his baptismal interview. He Passed!!! Wednesday T. got married to his girlfriend Jackie. Thursday T. was baptized by a member in the ward (Tyler Barton).Sunday T. was confirmed in sacrament meeting.

So everything was working out and on Sunday Elder Wright tells me that he feels that I should do the confirmation for T. Elder Wright was originally the one to confirm T. I told him that I might do it and at the time I knew I was going to do it. I tried to memorize his name and the prayer. I was so nervous. 

Just a few moments before church started Elder Wright said to me that I was going to be the one to confirm him. I knew it! and he then told me to go and tell T. So I went and told T. that I was going to confirm him and he was cool with it. I tried to reassure him by trying to say his full name and well I failed. So I'm pretty sure that T. was super nervous that I would say his name wrong. 

I then went to sit to do the sacrament with the Deacons and I prayed. Next thing I know is that I'm about to burst out crying and have an anxiety attack. I was about to give up and tell Elder Wright up at the sacrament table that I couldn't do it. Suddenly a brother in the ward grabbed my shoulder from behind me. It was brother Taylor and he is so buff and so strong and I am so small compared to him.

He then whispered into my ear and then said something like this.  "The fear and anxiety you are feeling now is because you want to have this blessing be perfect. I'm going to tell you now that it won't, it's not going to be perfect. The Lord knows that you are trying and he will bless you for doing your best. It's ok. No matter what the Lord loves you and he see's our mistakes, but it's ok. So don't be afraid about this blessing. It'll be great! And besides if you do mess up I'll just laugh at you. Jk."

So the time comes and we gather in a circle and the mike is placed near my mouth. I don't speak for like 10 seconds. Then I open my mouth I say his name and the blessing. I said his name perfectly for  the blessing. Of course it was Samoan and I was saying it in my heavy English accent. It was beautiful and I felt so calm and relaxed.

What is funny is that I prayed two weeks ago to be the one to either baptize T. or confirm him. My prayer was answered. I am so grateful for the blessings I receive. 

People in the congregation thought I was going to say the whole prayer in Samoan. They were very impressed. But I know that I didn't do it. The Lord did. Afterwards T. and Elder Wright said that I was shaking all during the prayer and to be honest I had no idea I was.

So in the end the Church is true. the Atonement is real and Charity never fails.

I love you all and hope you are having a wonderful week. 

Love,

~Elder Steiner

P.S. Try saying: Fotuotamataneoatasioatuafotumaiataoletaeao Faamalele Toluao.

Bretton's Ankle Shattering Experience

Although this isn't exactly on topic, I think it deserves attention because Bretton asked if I thought this would affect his chances of going on a mission. NOPE.

Bretton shattered his ankle on Wednesday Sept 10th, playing flag football with his YM group. They thought it was just pulled so (as should be done in this case) they had him walk it off  to the sideline thinking that if it was broken he wouldn't be able to do so. He must have a very high tolerance for pain because he walked on it even though he knew something was wrong, since his ankle just kind of floated funny and hurt a ton!

So, Friday he was scheduled for surgery to have it all fixed. He broke both of his lower leg bones that had to repaired using 10 peices of "hardware", not a little thing. He is on major pain meds and even then it didn't seem to handle the after surgery pain.

Here is the spiritual account from him to Bryson:

Dear Elder Steiner,

I don't really know how to start this letter except to say that I broke my ankle. This was quite a serious break, too. I just happened to slip on the ground while playing church flag football (He was carrying the ball). I fell on my right foot and it over extended backwards breaking both ankle bones. My foot wasn't being held in place by the joint anymore, so it just kind of shifted around giving me a lot of pain.

I had to have surgery to get my ankle back together. I have 9 screws and a plate in my ankle now. The night after the surgery, I was in incredible pain. It seemed that my pain medications weren't doing a thing. I had no idea how I was going to survive the night. I remember mom saying that I will have to rely on the Lord to get through this, so I paid close attention when I read the scriptures. I was reading D & C section 18 when I came upon verse 18. It said if I ask the Lord in faith, I shall recieve. I knew right away that I wanted to recieve relief from my pain, so I prayed for it. In my prayer I acknowledged the fact that I knew that Christ knows what I am going through and that I believed that the pain could be lifted from me. After my prayer was said, even though it was silent, I felt immediate relief. I was able to rest the whole night with out very much pain. I remembered to say a prayer of thanks in the morning. After that I felt good and wrote about it in my journal.

So, what I really wanted to say on Monday was that I would try and work out and prepare myself better for my mission. I don't know how the working out part is going happen with this broken ankle. I have already missed 2 days of school and I am starting to fall behind. I happened to ask a girl out to Homecoming on Monday, too. Her name is Kailee Petty. She was in my cast team at the Hill Cumorah Pagent and she has just moved in. I had a really hard time finding her address because the school directories were printed with last year's student's names. Homecoming is this Saturday and I don't know how well my ankle will be at that point, but I will try to make the best of it.

I have been making some meals from the missionary cookbook and I think thay are amazing. I have tried pizza rolls, alfredo chicken, cake cookies, and chicken pot pies. Everything I have tried so far has been delicious. School is going okay for me. For now, I am looking on the bright side of things as well as looking towards my recovery.

Thanks for the email. I love you too. I can't wait to be on a mission like you are.

Love,

Bretton Steiner.

Nice attitude Bretton!!!

 

He bought a scooter for her to ride around with him at the dance, Cool. He pushed through the pain and made it through homecoming quite well, and is now off the hard core drugs! 

When the splint came off Monday, 22nd, this is what we saw on both sides of his leg:

FrankenSteiner! 

He chose a bright neon green cast. Miss May (the choir teacher) will probably not like that for concerts. We'll make a black "sock" for it.

He can't put any pressure or weight on it for 4 weeks, Then he might get a walking cast. For now he has to scoot his way through classes which he started Tuesday the 23rd. He lost about two weeks of school, but knowing him, he won't have any problems.

Understanding Life's Challenges

Well this week has been really weird. I love being here and I am so glad I do not have to go to school. People look at you differently when you are your own person. As a youth you are expected to progress and to learn the ways of God. Sometimes though we all feel like things aren't going our way, but I know that through the power of the Atonement that all things are made write. Something that Elder Ferguson told me this week was what the Prophet Joseph Smith said to someone. I forgot who he was asking but he asked this man that the Lord wanted his wife to be Joseph's Wife. 

Elder Ferguson asked me if I would be willing to give up my future wife to follow the Lord. I told him I wasn't sure cause I had never had to face that question before. I wouldn't know if I would be willing to undo the powers that held my future wife and I together. 

Anyways the rest of the story is that the guy told Joseph that he would be willing to give him his wife. This man and woman loved each other so much and I sure it was a hard choice but they made the choice to serve the Lord. Joseph then told him that he had passed the test and he gave back his wife and promised them that their prosperity would be blessed because of the choice they had made that day. This story is a true story but it made me wonder if I truly love the Lord more that anything on this Earth. Of course my companion and I had to study it out in our minds and came to the conclusion that the Atonement will make everything right and so we need not worry about such things.

Funny thing is the night before that I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Sheffield and basically it said that i needed to let go of writing all girls on my mission. Well I came to that conclusion cause my companion and I the day earlier had talked about not writing girls cause that was my weak spot. To have them on my mind a lot while serving the Lord. That's not what I wanted so I tried to find an answer and I got my answer through a prayer and then a letter and then by having an elderly couple telling a few things.

Sorry if this is confusing but it makes total sense to me. :)

So a few things that have happened this week have been setting fire to a napkin on the stove and trying to roast smore's but we just set off the fire alarm. It was all an accident while cooking bacon. We tried to fish with a caterpillar and some gum as bate but no luck there. tomorrow I have been out for 2 months and I kinda feeling like 2 weeks. sorry for everyone that thinks it's been like 2 years. 

Mom It almost sounds like you want me to come back home just so I can have my bed back. ;) Oh well, there is still 22 months left. hehe

Dad, I want to hear some of your experiences on your mission.

Brianne and Matt and Baby David I enjoy you sending letters to me I love knowing how you are doing and I want you to know that I look up to you. Matt I also want to know some more experiences about your mission.

Braden there are some cute girls at BYUI this year and they know me. Their names are Abby Clark, Elizabeth Sommers and Emma Lenker. they are all from the South. Tehe. Love you Bro!!!!

Bretton You still need to email me about your foot now all I know is that you did something with church ball and that you have had surgery. Your making me worried cause I want to hear from you even though you have all day long to write to me with you not being able to come to school. Please... Write me???? Oh and please get well soon. I love how you used your scooter for the dance. ;) (note: for some reason the snail mail isn't arriving to Bryson, Bretton and Dad have been trying to keep him informed that way.)

Becca don't worry about your homework so much. I know you can do it. Just put everything off of your mind and focus on your homework. something that helped me is that I did my homework at school and It helped me have time for the things I loved to do. 

Bethany I hope you are having a wonderful time at school. Just know that when the world seems to gang up on you, that you can withstand against all things if you build your foundation (testimony) on Christ's rock.

I want everyone to know that I love them and that only through Christ can we succeed at all things. This year for Seminary is the Doctrine and Covenants, I found them so interesting and very powerful. The scriptures can help you understand what you should be doing to grow closer to our Lord. 

Again I love you all and keep close to the Lord.

Love,

~Elder Steiner

Prince T.

Hi!

This week has been really cool. I found out that the ward that I am in is struggling a bit. We got inspiration this Saturday to focus on the members.  By doing so, the work should really be able to progress here. 

We are doing a program called the In Home Devotional with the Sister Missionaries. It is a simple message about Christ and it is used to get people more interested in the gospel. 

Mr. T. and Jackie have a date for marriage on the 24th and then a date for baptism on the 27th and confirmation on the 28th. I found out last Monday that Mr. T. is basically the Prince of American Samoa. He will become chief and will have to move there.

Yesterday we found some pretty cool stuff on the side of the road. We saw an iPhone but didn't pick it up. We found a new hat that had, I think, NY on it. We also found a turtle shell. 

I want you to know that the Lord knows what I am going through and that I am turning to him for help in all things. I feel really calm and peaceful right now. I just wish I had more time to tell you what has been going on. I know the Lord's hand is at work and that I can withstand anything if I build on the foundation of the Lord.

Please keep praying for me and I will start praying for Bretton's foot. How did it break?? I love hearing about Bretton and the family.

- Elder Bryson Steiner

Mr. T

Well I'm going to start off with Mr. T. he is an investigator we have been working with and he is really cool. He is in the military with Jackie his girlfriend. They are planning on getting married so that Mr. T. can get baptized. I'm so excited!!! Jackie is already a member and they well... they took us to a football game!!!! Don't worry we got permission from President Turner and to be honest I was super surprised. It was way fun and Mr. T. used his drill Sargent voice the whole game. It was so funny.

I am going to be trying to write the siblings so that they can have a little individual mail from me, so this is a little short :) 

Well, I love you and I hope to hear from you soon. Love your son.

Lighting and Thunder, Ya'll

Hi everyone!!!! I just want you to know that I'm am doing great! I had a talk, and well the two other speakers took up the whole time and I was asked to basically bear my testimony. I had originally planned to speak for about 15-20 minutes but all well. Now I might have to give another talk  cause of how short I was up there. 

I can't wait for some of our investigators to get baptized. It's taking time but I have faith they will get there eventually. It's so amazing to see how the Lord will show us how he has helped out with today. I'm not quite sure what else to say cause I mostly focused on my talk this week but I honestly think y'all are missing out.

This place is covered with trees and I love the storms that have been going on. Lighting and thunder are so cool when they are so close. I love feeling the ground shake from it. Well I think it shakes the ground. It's not really hot here and it doesn't seam very humid right now, but I think it will once the hottest months are over. 

I got a really nice jacket, a flag, two car stickers of the South Carolina tree and yup I feel like I have way to much money out here. $135 a month is a ton when you don't spend money.

Anyway life is going great and I'm not really sure what else to say just that I love you all back at home.