Wednesday, March 22, 2017

That Is So Bright!

Dear Family,

I had no idea that we have gone without the sun for a long period of time until we got the sunshine this week. It was so bright. I guess I am getting accustomed to cloud cover. I heard one of the members in my ward say that we got a total of 4 days worth of sunshine since February. I had to think about it for a while. Has it really been that rainy? Yep. It rains a lot.

This week has been a pretty good one! We found another investigator and we got to attend a baptism! Michelle B got baptized last Saturday. We have been team teaching her with the Renton Highlands Elders for a few months now. Her new husband is in this ward, but she officially lives in the other ward. It was a great experience! My last companion, Elder Ward, got to baptize her! She had tears in her eyes as she was being welcomed to the ward by the bishop.

As for our new investigator, his name is Alex. He is only 9 years old. He was being taught about a year ago by some other missionaries, but Alex's parents ended up telling him to wait until he is 10 years old to be baptized. So, with that birthday in mind, he wants to resume the missionary lessons! We don't have a baptism date, yet, but we will soon!

I hope you all have a great week! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

From Left to Right: Elder Steiner, Elder Scheidell, Elder Smith, Elder Ward, Michelle Buckley, Elder Kim, Elder Ovard, Elder Leavitt, Elder Snook.

The Buckley's at the baptism!


Giving Away

Dear Family,

Sometimes it is more important to give than to keep for yourself. This week, Elder Smith and I, ended up giving away most of our investigators. I don't know if you know Sister Dyke and her kids, Ethan and Lindsey. Our ward mission leader, saw them at church and asked Sister Dyke if she was ready to let her kids take the missionary lessons and be baptized. She said yes. We found out that she actually doesn't live in Garrison Creek Ward anymore. She is currently living at her parents' house in the Tiffany Park Ward.

We really loved to teach them because they were so prepared, but after discussing it with President Rasmussen, we decided it would be best that we hand them over to the Tiffany Park Sisters. It was difficult organizing so many schedules, but in the end, all worked out. The Dyke's were excited to meet the Sisters from that ward and to hear that they could meet at their house instead of at the church building.

The next day, we had a lesson with another one of our investigators, Kyle O. We finally got to teach him something and he expressed his desire to change his life and make some new friends. We knew that he is YSA age and we planned from the start to refer him. Now that he is up and running, we referred him to the James Hill YSA Sisters.

I know what it is like to receive referrals. It makes my day! I leap for joy! We probably made some other missionaries' day this week. Now that we have let our investigators go, our teaching pool has been reduced a lot. So, we are going to find more! I know that it is more important that they get baptized with proper fellowship from where they live rather than just keeping them for a number. In the end, I don't think the numbers will matter, but the conversions will. I know that this is the Lord's work and as we do our best, He will help us succeed. He will bless us for our willingness to let them go. I know that this church is true and that it is for everyone! I love you all, and I hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

The Renton Zone!

Name-tag picture at the actual Garrison Creek!

We helped Sister Remington move!



Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Glad We Didn't Walk Home!

Dear Family,

You know how everyone says that missionaries are protected on their missions? It is very true. I have had a few cases that have really stood out, one of which was this week. On Friday night, the ward had our monthly potluck at the stake center. We had a great time there, some investigators came, and Elder Smith got to meet a lot of the members whom we haven't had a chance to see, yet.

After the potluck ended, we had a choice. We could walk back to our apartment right now (about a 20 minute walk) or we could go and visit some members we didn't see at the potluck and hope that they give us a ride back. We decided to go visit the Willmore family. I didn't think anything of that decision. It turns out that they just forgot the potluck was tonight and they were excited to see us. After we met with them, they gave us a ride back.

A couple days later, we were at Ward Council before church started and they were talking about how there was someone who got shot by the limousine place after the ward potluck on Friday. It had all been taken care of before we got a ride home so we didn't see it. But if we had decided to walk instead of visiting the Willmore's, we would have been walking right in front of that spot when it happened. Yes. We are definitely protected.

I don't think that blessings of protection are reserved only for missionaries, though. Just think about it: How many times have you prayed to be safe while traveling or something, and you were safe? Sometimes, we don't even realize that He is watching over us. I think we all could be a little more grateful for each moment of every day. I keep hearing that Washington is getting more and more dangerous, but I haven't seen it. I know that as I do the Lord's will, He will protect me. I hope that you all have a great week! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

​I have got to enjoy the snow while I can! It doesn't last long around here!