Halloween Is Coming Up!

Dear Family,

This last week was kind of short because last P-Day was on Wednesday. I can't believe that it has already been 4 months! Wow! I hope you are all excited for Halloween! People in Kent have some quality Halloween decorations! I forgot to take pictures this week, but I hope I will remember next week!

Have I told you yet that we have a bus card? Well, it turns out that we do. Elder Miner is from Salt Lake City and he is familiar with buses and how the bike rack works. On bike days, we can't go down into the valley because of the steep hill, unless we take the bus.

It was hard enough to try and figure out all of the bus stops, but on Friday, we had to make an emergency bus trip down into the valley. Elder Miner forgot that we don't have the car on Fridays when he rescheduled with an investigator. It also happened to be exchanges that day, too. Elder Miner went to Crestwood and Elder Riley came to Scenic Hill. Elder Riley had no experience with buses, either. It was kind of crazy. We got to the bus stop 15 minutes before the bus was supposed to show up, but the bus came 10 minutes late. So we were standing at the bus stop for almost a half an hour. I am so happy that the bus bike rack was easy to figure out and use. It definitely was an adventure for us and was quite fun!

I just found out today, that there is a bus stop closer to our apartment that goes to the same place. Well, that is good to know for future bus trips!

We are still waiting for Elder Miner's bike to come. It has been 3 weeks. I am starting wonder if he ordered it right. Wish us luck with his bike! He is currently borrowing another missionary's bike.


Our investigator, Lili Tuiloma is moving this week. We don't know exactly where she is moving, yet, but it is probably in the Federal Way Stake. I think it is kind of funny and sad. Every person I help bring to the Gospel ends up moving out of our ward. Oh, well. At least she is on the path!

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Steiner.

Oh, sorry, no pictures this week. I forgot.

Afflictions Consecrated 2 Nephi 2:2

Dear Family,

I am grateful for the letters that I have been receiving this week! I got sick last week, and they really helped me get through! I got sick bad enough that I had to stay inside for all of Tuesday last week.Tuesday happened to be the day that I received the Cokeville Miracle package from Grandma and Grandpa Sheffield! I read about the scripture that they were ponderizing, 2 Nephi 2:2. It read,"Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." It made me think of what blessings will come from being sick. Well, we updated the Area Book completely, and also reorganized it to be easier to split with the Sister Missionaries in Scenic Hill. Oh, and I also got a lot of sleep! That was nice. I feel like that scripture has helped me see the bright side of being sick, so it was a lot easier to get through it! Thank you!

We had Zone Conference yesterday! Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy came to this conference. It was so great! They talked about the House of Israel and our part as missionaries. We are to gather the House of Israel in preparation for the Second Coming. I am so excited! We also set a new goal as a mission: We are going to get a total of 40 baptisms in the month of November! That is double of what we are usually getting, but I think we can do it! We can really use some support and every prayer helps!

I almost forgot to mention the Ainuu family! It was pretty funny because when we did our Family Home Evening last Monday, Sister Ainuu said that I was losing weight. She then quickly followed up by saying that our next Family Home Evening would be over dinner. The Ainuu family is a Samoan family, so when they say you are losing weight, they mean that they are going to feed you a ton! We didn't actually end up having that dinner because Sister Ainuu was feeling sick, but it was still a funny experience!

We have an investigator that is progressing to baptism! Her name is Lili Tuiloma and she is technically ready for baptism. She is in the process of moving, so she can't get married until after the moving, so she had to delay her baptism. We talked with her earlier today (Yes, even on P-Day) and she told us her conversion story! I hope I can find the time to write it down and tell you about it! She is so getting baptized!

I love you all and appreciate the prayers! I know that I am being watched over and cared for! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Steiner.

Items Received:
* Cokeville Miracle package from Grandma and Grandpa Sheffield
* Letters from McEwen's and family

Q and A:

Do you mostly eat at members home, restaurants, or cook the food yourself?
* We mostly cook the food ourselves. We go to restaurants sometimes on P-Days, and we get meals from members probably 1 or 2 times every week.

I thought this was hilarious. The little sign says: "If we wee you smoking, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures." (see the fire extinguisher below the sign)

You know how you live in Davis County? I live in King County, but the way they wrote this sign makes it sound funny!

Biking in the Rain

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty good. I can't believe I have been training for 2 weeks already! It is really weird being Senior Companion. I am used to sitting in the passenger seat of the car, being free to take pictures whenever I want, but now, I am the driver. So, sorry for the lack of pictures this week.

We got to go on a blitz with the Assistants to the President on Saturday, but it was really short because they showed up late. It was very rainy that day. Elder Miner went with Elder Downing and the car, and I went with Elder Berkhiemer (That might not be the right spelling) on bikes.

We got to teach one of our investigators on Tuesday. He lives in a household full of many different faiths. He recently got layed off of work, so we could start teaching him more often. For this lesson we sat down at his kitchen table and there were some people watching TV in the next room. I had a prompting to ask him to turn off the TV, but then I thought that would be mean for the people who were watching it. I then asked him if he could turn down the TV. He went over and just turned it off. I that if I didn't follow that prompting, it would have been a lot harder to focus and feel the Spirit. It turned out to be a successful lesson and we plan on visiting him more.

Next week, P-Day will be on Wednesday. It is all weird because of Zone Conference and because general authority is coming to our mission! I love you!

Love,
Elder Steiner

Items Received:
* Package from family. Thank you for sending my GPS! I can actually find my way around now!

Q and A:
How are you doing with biking?
* Pretty good. Elder Miner ordered his bike last P-Day and we are still waiting for it to come. He is currently borrowing some other Elder's bike. We had to bike in the rain on Friday and Saturday. It was pouring on us! We recently found out that Scenic Hill has a bus pass! Now we just have to figure out all of the bus stops...

Do you share the car with the Sisters?
* No. The Sisters have their own car, full time. We are sharing our car with another set of Elders from the Park Orchard ward.

Is there enough work to go around since you Split the Area?
* Not really. Our teaching pool is very small and we often run out of things to do. But I know that God wanted this area split, so He will help us increase our teaching pool.

Let me know how you are doing.
* Sore from biking, but still happy.

This picture is actually from two weeks ago. Elder John and his trainee, Elder Riley, are in the back. Elder John is now my District Leader.

Training Week 1

Dear Family,

I think you might be dying to know about this week. I will start off with Transfers. I had to stay in the Maple Valley Stake Center and wait for the new missionaries and Elder Nelson left to be a Zone Leader in Graham. I have never felt so much anxiety in my life. I remember sitting down in the chapel, waiting. I had a packet in my hands with my name on it and my new title, Trainer. I opened it and started reading the papers and instructions inside it. As I was reading, an overwhelming sense of peace came to my heart. I smiled as I realized that God will never leave me and will fill the hole in my heart with His Spirit. At that moment, I knew that everything was going to be okay. I felt happy, hopeful, and even excited to meet my new companion. It turns out that I actually got to meet him before I knew he was my companion!

President Eaton was running late, so we got to have dinner with all the new missionaries first! Elder John, Elder Miner, and one other Elder sat across from me. We had a nice conversation and we got to know each other. I had a feeling that one of those three would be my companion. When President Eaton arrived, we found out who our new companions would be. This is what President Eaton said, "I didn't realize until now that their names rhymed. In Scenic Hill, Elder Miner will be serving with Elder Steiner."

I'll be honest. I feel like Elder Miner came pre-trained. He has some pretty amazing skills for missionary work. It has been awesome being able to serve with him for one week, and I am looking forward to serving with him for the rest of the transfer! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Steiner.

P.S. Sister Ellineta Smith's Conversion Story Part 3, as said by Ellineta Smith, with details added by Elder Steiner and Elder Nelson.

On August 10th, the missionaries taught Sister Smith in what they called, "The Mission Home." She met President Eaton and Sister Eaton. President Eaton entertained her son, Josh, and Sister Eaton helped with the lesson. They taught about repentance that night.

Sister Smith worked very hard to do what the Elders taught her to do. She slowly read more and more of the Book of Mormon. The missionaries invited her to a Mission Devotional on August 16th, but she wasn't able to attend. She had to go to Auburn to get her car fixed and stay at a friends house over night the same night as the Mission Devotional.

The next morning, August 17th, the missionaries received a phone call from Sister Laude. Sister Laude was in a panic and was speaking so fast, the missionaries almost couldn't understand what she was saying. She was saying that Sister Smith had just called her and had said that she wasn't interested in being baptized anymore.

The missionaries immediately called Sister Smith. She didn't reject them over the phone, but instead said that she had a lot of questions and she wanted the missionaries to answer them. They set up an appointment for later that evening.

When the time came, the missionaries came to Sister Smith's apartment with Sister Laude and one of her sons. The missionaries listened to Sister Smith's questions. It turns out that the friend that she stayed with over night, had showed her an Anti-Mormon blog.

The missionaries help her realize that the real question she was asking was whether or not the Book of Mormon was true. They showed her some videos (some were actually from the devotional the previous night) that talked about the Book of Mormon.

The missionaries then asked her if she would kneel and pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon was true. She accepted and said a very sincere prayer. The Holy Spirit was there so strong that she was crying at the end of the prayer. She said to the missionaries that she wants to be baptized still! The missionaries set up her interview and said their good-byes for the night.

The missionaries taught her about the Law of Tithing on Wednesday, the 19th.

Sister Smith passed her interview on Sunday and was ready to be baptized! She kept reading the Book of Mormon and finished all of 1 Nephi the day before her baptism.

On August 29th, Ellineta Smith was baptized. She came up out of the water with a huge smile! The Spirit was so strong! She was Confirmed the next day, August 30th. She showed up that day with a Tithing envelope in her hand.

Sister Smith has since then moved out of Scenic Hill into a different Stake. She moved to try and find a better place for her son to grow up. The missionaries hope to see her again, in one year, at the temple.

Q and A:

Where is your new companion from?
* East Salt Lake, Utah.

How is your training going?
* Very busy, but good. We only had time to train 3 times last week.

Does he like to work?
* I don't know yet. Probably yes.

What are some of his talents?
* Charity in contacting and in lessons.

What are some of the things he doesn't like?
* I don't know, he seems to like everything.

Does he cook?
* Yes, he cooked a meal from our crock pot already.

Now that your area is split, do you still live in the same place?
* Yes.

You would think you could see more of my desk top if I got a bigger desk. Nope. But, I did get to inherit the Master Desk and Master Chair! 

Elder Steiner and Elder Miner.