Understanding

Hey Family!!!

I hope that Christmas Eve was fun for you all. I can't wait to see you all again. 

I want you to know that as I ended the call the spirit helped me out. I started to cry and suddenly a hand touched my shoulder from behind. It was sister Solonao and she asked me if I was ok. I told her I was and she then asked me that if there is anything she could do for me. I told her I would be ok. We then went in the kitchen and it seemed as if everyone there was trying to cheer me up. I felt so loved and then realized that the ward is my family right now. 

Sunday was interesting. We tried for about a half hour to get into the the sacrament room to prepare the sacrament but we couldn't. We ended up using paper plates and some extra paper cups. I have a question. Is it ok to not cover the sacrament if we know the cups would spill all over? I liked the experience and it was pretty cool to see the Elders and Deacons in keep it cool mode.

Since I got $140 dollars for Christmas from home, I have planned on giving away $120 and the other $20 I used to buy a sword. :0

I know that when you serve others you serve God. ;) hehe

Elder Devon Webb and Elder Bryson Steiner got to teach a lesson on Eternal Families yesterday. We prepared some but I asked Heavenly Father to help me to be lead by the Spirit. I didn't have to write anything down and we ended up giving one of the best lessons we have ever shared. 

Elder and Sister Ferguson are going home Jan. 6th. I hope that the other Senior Missionaries are going to have a wonderful time here. I might be getting transfered out of my first area in the coming three weeks. I'm kinda sad but I know that I have to go, just the time, I don't know. I'm afraid to leave my friends here. 

I want you all to know that i love you all. 

The roads here are a lot smaller. They can only fit 3 cars. 

I hope that you have a wonderful week and I am praying for you. I want you to know that life is good to those that keep the commandments of God. I hope that you all will be able to make it through the trials that are happening in your life. I know that through Christ and his Atonement that all things can become new.

I love you guys so much. I hope that you have fun. Be good! Good Night!

Love,

~Elder Bryson Steiner

Christmas? Wait!! What???

Hey Everybody!

This last week has been really fun. We got to go to a Christmas Zone Conference where we performed the skits we prepared. It was so funny! One of the skits was about Moses and the 40 years in the wilderness. This is how it went:

Long ago in the South Carolina Mission, there was a man named President Holmes. He got word that the people (Missionaries) would receive iPads soon. The missionaries were so excited that they began to stop updating the area book because they would just have to do it all over again on the iPads. 
Let's just say the Lord didn't see fit to give us iPads at that time. As time went on there became a new leader in the land. His name was President Turner. He found that it was expedient for the missionaries to have iPads. Once all the original missionaries died then was the mission ready for iPads. 

They ended the skit by having the acting President Turner Handing the missionaries iPads, just as the curtain closed. That was on Thursday.

Yesterday, Sunday, Brother T. Got the Melchizedek Priesthood. That was a really special moment for me. 

We recently got 2 new people on date for baptism but one has fallen off date and the other one Mya is 10 years old and she really wants to be baptized still. Her mom is a less-active and they both came to church last week. Yesterday they couldn't cause of work. They both told us how fun it was to be at church with everyone. Mya made a new friend and Sister Barber felt really welcomed. That was really cool.

I think the best thing that happened to me this week happened on Tuesday. Sorry I'm skipping around. This is what happened. I'm going to explain it the best I can.

This is From my journal:

7:17 I woke up and was shocked cause the alarm didn't go off cause the phone ran out of battery last night. Everything still worked out and I got everything done just my morning was a little rushed.

We went to see Oliver and Anna and we had a good talk. Afterwards I gave him a blessing with my companion. I felt so good. For some reason I just knew that I was going to give the blessing even before I asked him on who he wanted to give him the blessing. I know that I felt the spirit prompt me to say some things in the blessing. It was really cool. I felt confident in the words that came out of my mouth.

We then went to Blue Ginger for lunch. Two things happened:

1 We ate and then Mike (A guy we saw at Blue Ginger a while ago) came in and everyone else left so my companion and i stayed to talk to him. We went really deep into Joseph Smith and his life. It was my first time talking to a person that believed in the Trinity. He is a really nice guy and he wants to learn more and he wants to exercise with us to get fit.

2 This is what made my entire day a happy one. So we got to Blue Ginger and we were supposed to be served by a girl named Amberley but she was already doing a few other tables. Amberley seated us and she was the one that we ordered water from. When it was my turn I asked her if a lemon slice cost anything more if I had it put in my water. She then joked and told me that it would cost $12 more. 

I told her ok. We all laughed and were smiling.

At that point I felt surprised by how she reacted to my question. I felt happy that she could be her happy self around me. I noticed since she didn't come back that she was busy working at other tables so another came to take care of out orders. 

As I was eating I would see her walk in and out of view. She moved quickly and was light on her feet. I wondered if she was a dancer. Well we were about to leave but then Mike came and we talked for a while. The other Elders left and Amberley told us all to have a nice day on our way out.

I asked Amberley for her name and she asked me for mine. I replied Elder Steiner. She got confused and had a cute facial expression. I then told her my first name, Bryson. 

She was happy and then asked if I would giver the $12. I told her I would.

We then talked to Mike some more. While doing so I saw Amberley a while later sweeping and she was I thought crying. I didn't think of it much at that point cause I was focused mostly on Mike. I remember as we were about to leave I knew that I need to see her for some reason. I looked but couldn't find her.

We then had Mike walk with us to his car. Mike spotted her first and he told me to go over there. I said, Don't worry I will in a moment. Suddenly I found myself the next sentence later saying goodbye to Mike. I shook his hand and then  walked off. I walked right to Amberley and I thought my companion was right behind me. 

Danger went to my mind but for some reason I knew it would be alright. My companion could see me cause we were in the parking lot. I then started to talk to her but I started to get really nervous. I asked, "Mike said that you looked down and sad, Are you ok?" I kinda felt insecure cause my companion was still talking to Mike. I felt socially awkward. 

She then told me that she was going through a hard time, her dad had cancer and it was all over so I felt that her dad would pass away soon. She also told me about her boy friend might be going to jail and just some other things.

I then told her that I was sorry and I then complimented her on how hard she worked. I asked if she danced because of how light she was on her feet. That made her smile.

I told her about God and Jesus Christ and how he loves all of his children. Me and you. (I then pointed to her). I then told her my experience of sorrow and I told her that I found happiness through service towards others around me. i told her that she wasn't happy but sad. That she could find happiness through service. 

She then got up and hugged me and I explained as she was about to hug me that I don't do hugs out on my mission. At this point her arms were already around me and I took a step back. She of course was confused and I explained. She understood and was alright about it.

She then asked some questions. I started talking about church and God with her. She told me that she didn't really go to church but that she prayed. She said she doesn't know if she believes in a God.

I told her that I believed in God and that He knows what you are going through. I got a little more information about her and my companion finally came over. I let him talk with her cause I kinda knew a lot that he didn't know yet but at the end we got her Name and Number down. 

We shook hands and I told her that "If you remember anything about this conversation remember that you are a beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father. I'll still get you that $12." She smiled and said goodbye. 

(End of journal entry)

I forgot to write down that I told her that she had made my day by the joke she made about the lemon being $12.

You could say no I wasn't focusing on the right things but I know for a fact that the Lord placed me at that spot for a reason. It helped her but I think it helped me more. I finally got to bare my testimony without a companion. I was so afraid that I was relying on my companions testimony. I also know that I couldn't have said those things without the Holy Ghost. I didn't even know what I was saying until I said it and I understood what I was saying. That is a weird experience. 

If you think I was being disobedient I wasn't. I even told the Zone leaders I got a hug from Amberley that night. I think that I was suppose to notice her that day.

One more thing. We went caroling with the youth in our ward to the less-actives and we gave them some Christmas gifts. It kinda hard to carry the song.... :) hehe

South Carolina has many weird things. People don't put batteries into their fire alarms and i always remind them that they need new batteries but they still never get them. So the fire alarm just beeps all day and all night long. 

I am starting to make a list of things that I notice that is different from home. So I can tell you a little more about the heart of the south. 

It feels like October or beginning of November here. Yet Christmas is this week. That is really weird.

Well I love you! I hope everything is going well and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!! 

Love,

~Elder Bryson Steiner

P.S. Don't get used to empty batteries in fire alarms.

How is life?

Hey Everybody!

This week has been a really great week. We now have two people on a baptismal date. Their names are Mia, age 10 and Gabby age 16. I am really excited for them and I would like for you to pray for them to be able to come to church. That, I believe will be the biggest challenge. 

Last week we  were walking at night and a car pulled up in the middle of the street and it was a white Camaro and It was really cool. Anyway we were walking past it when we heard two knocks on the back window of the car and heard a help! We turned back and suddenly the car zoomed off. We then went to our members house where we just came from and we called the cops. Nothing really happened after that. The police believes it was a prank because there was a white Camaro farther up the street parked for a party.

So I really like Elder Ferguson out here. He will be heading home in January with his dear wife. I am wondering if he in related to brother Ferguson back at home. He lives in Ogden I believe and he is a Green Baret. He basically trained a lot of his life to be a killer, hand to hand kind of stuff. He is always telling us stories about the military and strategy on why the Book of Mormon and Bible have so much war in it.

Last Monday I got to decorate T and Jackie's yard with Christmas decorations. We still aren't done with it yet. He is trying to set it up and put it to music he plays. I got to climb a tree and put lights in it. They don't look very good but hey I got to climb a tree!!!! I really think Becca would love it down here. There are so many trees and I don't even think I would be able to make to the top. 

We ran into a less-active and they are super happy we dropped by. He is Mormon and his wife is a baptist but they often go to church in Fort Jackson. So we are just starting to work with them. 

Jackie got  a calling this week and it is to be a primary teacher for the 7 year old's. She was so warn out yesterday. 

I want the family to know that I love them and I hope that Christmas is wonderful this year. Just don't expect to much. Keep calm and be giving. Don't put your treasures into things of the earth but things of heaven. I got the Christmas box but I regret to tell you that there was no letter with it. So I don't even know if the presents are mine, but I hope they are. :)  Thank you for the Thanksgiving notes. I loved them so much!!!

I hope that you are doing well. Please be careful with the decisions you make. I love you all and have a wonderful week! 

Love,

~Elder Bryson Steiner

Thanksgiving

Hey everybody!

This past week has been a weird one. I hope everyone got full for Thanksgiving. I have to say that I really missed home because of Thanksgiving. I am very grateful for the support. I had a good time being over at T. and Jackie's for Thanksgiving. Since we weren't allowed to go out and tract we could only go over to the members houses that day. I got to watch 2 football games 'cause the families wanted to watch them and they just told us to relax. It was really weird but everything was ok. 

We had an investigator on date for baptism but he now wants to wait. I feel like we have tons of investigators just no one wants to get baptized. 

I got to play a flag football game on Saturday and I think I played too hard. I didn't get hurt or anything just I was tired afterward. I am just about to get over the sore feeling today for playing football. I hope that everything is going well with everyone. I gave a blessing to my ward mission leader Friday and I got some pictures on Saturday.

It's nice to know that I can win a stare contest. ;)

I can't wait to see all of you. I love you and miss you. Have a good one!

Love,

~Elder Steiner

   

Food for Thought

Hey!

This past week was way good! W first found out that it was so cold in the mornings because our heater was broken so now We got that fixed. Now it's so warm in the mornings. I don't really know what to say next because I don't really remember the last week. It went by way to fast.

I have not been sick yet on my mission and I am trying to keep it that way but if I get sick it won't be that big of a deal. I got my flu shot a while back. Today was way fun at the Plex playing Ultimate with a football. I would rather play soccer always, but these people just don't want to. :( 

I got my third spine injury today on my mission. about a month and a half ago I got my neck popped by having an elbow come down on my head. Two weeks ago I was slammed in the upper spine by a really big guy. He was a returned missionary. :) And today I was running and and I caught the ball but I ran into the guy with my body but my head kinda got whip lashed to the side. Now I have a sore neck again. Maybe I just go too hard during games but I don't ever regret it.

So we put a 17 year old on date for baptism this week but then last night he told us that he wasn't ready and mature enough to be baptized. It was kinda sad but I think that we got him to understand more about the Word of Wisdom, which was a concern for him.

We have a ton of investigators right now and this next week we will be trying to put them all on date for baptism. I hope that everything will turn out great. 

It doesn't feel like the Holidays at all. I honestly really just want to go shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I feel like that time here is going by so fast but at the same time it is going by so slow. Another one of my friends just sent in his papers for a mission. I am really excited for him.

Well I am praying for you family and friends. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week. I am grateful for the prayers all give me. I miss you and love you all!!!

~Elder Bryson Steiner

Marvelous Wonderment!!!

Hey Family!

So this week was cool. I mean really cool as in cold cool! It is going to be a very cold winter here with no snow. I hope it is warmer up there but I want you to know that I just bought a hat. :) I will be warm for now. To be honest I feel like I am just about to run a track race in the cold rain when it is raining down here which it is right now.

I think that the work is going well for us cause he have run into a few people that have expressed they want to be baptized. We didn't even ask them the question when they said that, so I hope everything works out. I do have to say that I miss home a lot but I don't want to go home. You need to come out here! I think I have decided that I don't want you to come pick me up from my mission. I want to fly back home. :)

So my companion is a little out there but I am dealing with it. I think he was a gangster before he got converted. We're just not seeing eye to eye on some of the rules I think he should keep.

So I need to tell you to send the Christmas stuff before December 1st. Ties, Letters, and the mini BOM, NT, OT, POGP, & D&C. <-- (Basicaly the scriptures) I will be trying to send home a box before Christmas so you can have some things and look through it all and ya. :)

I feel really lazy right now. We will be going to Downtown Columbia today. My companion wanted to go even though the other three of us have already gone, but all well.

So something really cool is that I have learned to fold my clothes the way the military do. I think it is so cool that I want to show you when I get home so that we can do our 72 hour kits. I want you to know that these next two weeks I will be having 2 dinners some nights :) hehe I love the members here and I honestly want to stay here for the rest of my mission but I know that I won't and that is sad. I think that the members here have made me feel more like I am at home. 

Oh something funny that happened was yesterday with bro Barton. We were going to come up and knock on his house to see him and when we got there we heard screaming like crazy and we could tell that he was under stress just by being outside. I thought he was going to cuss but he didn't. We rang the doorbell and he yelled at us to come in and to come into the tv room. Carolina Gamecocks were down 7 points with 12 seconds left against the Florida Gators. Score: 10:17 There was 3 yards left and it was 3rd down, well lets just say it was really intense and they went into overtime and ended up winning the game. 

Brother Barton calmed down once we got there but I will always remember him and how he loves his Carolina Gamecocks, football games. 

So I want all of you to know that I love you and that I can't wait to embrace you all in my arms. I am praying for you every night and I hope that you have a wonderful Holiday without me. I will be over at T's for Thanksgiving. Don't worry, the first year is always the worst when it comes to missing someone during the Holidays. I really miss Black Friday. I really want to go but we can't. 

Something I really like is on lds.org and it is the daily quotes. I love looking through those and understanding a little more in short paragraphs of knowledge. 

So this week we had a guy that said he didn't believe that Mary was a virgin and it got into a really awkward situation. We basically just asked him if he believed that God had all power. I can't remember what his reply was but he tried to side step the question. It's really interesting why people believe what they believe. I feel like I have all the answers it's just they won't listen. This church makes the most sense and I know that you can come to know it to be true by the fruits of it's gospel. 

I believe you have many questions for me and I will try to share what I am experiencing with you. So much happens in one week that it is impossible to write all the blessings, spiritual moments, personal revelations and relationships I am going through right now. Wow, this letter seems long. 

So i forgot to tell you that I have a full flash drive of music and will be sending it home so that you can put some talks and music onto Bretton's iPod before he leaves on him mission. I still need to sort through most of it. 

I want you to know that I am doing well and that I am excited to hear from you. I love you all so much and I can't wait to facetime you. I hope that I can at least. Maybe you should go and visit Amelia for christmas so that I can see Colton. ;) hehe just maybe though. He might facetime at a different time than me.

I can't wait to hug all of you and I hope that you all are reading the Book of Mormon every day. I love you all again!

I love you Mom. I love you Dad.

Love, 

~Elder Bryson Steiner

Families are Forever!

Hi!

So this week has been a cool week. We went to a less-actives house yesterday and it just so happened that we talked to the whole family. 3 generations of the family were there and we asked who had been baptized and there were about 3 and so this got the children's interest and then they expressed that they wanted to get baptized. So we have maybe 3 people that will get baptized. I just hope that everything will just work out well.

The thing with the hair. I can give myself a haircut to myself now. My hair does need to be cut again but I have already had 2 haircuts on my mission.

Today for P-day we went to the Plex and we played ultimate, and football. So during football there was a Samoan from another ward there and he was really huge. Like he was built for football. So the play started and I was in the middle. I ran a few yards up and then turned right around and the ball was thrown to me. I caught the ball and before I landed on the ground the Samoan accidentally hit me from behind. I kept the ball in my hands and landed on my feet cause he basically set my down. He hit me on my upper back and the force popped all of my upper spine. I got the air knocked out of me from behind for the first time in my life and it was really weird. I'm pretty sure I will sleep well tonight but tomorrow morning will be a sore one.

I can play it back in my mind and I'm pretty sure I looked funny. I don't think I broke anything and it doesn't really hurt right now.

So I just got some gloves and I now have 37 ties cause I can get really good ties at goodwill for 50 cents each. I think I have an addiction. I am also trying to find really light weight work out stuff.

I think for Christmas I really want a full set of small scriptures. There will be 4 books. The Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, and the Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. You should find them on the Lds store. They are, I think priced for about 14-15 dollars. I think that I would like my own haircut kit. I would need the one that has the inch long and then goes shorter. I have found them all over here and I am thinking about getting one. Here they are about $20.

I can't really think of anything else right now. I believe I am doing good and I really don't want to move out of this area yet. I love it too much and I hope to stay at least another transfer for Christmas.

So the things that I have missed the most out here are. Watching baby David grow up. Having my family around all the time. And my friends.

I am still homesick but I am trying not to be still. I hope you are having a wonderful time. .

I love you! I am praying for you.

Love,

~Elder Steiner

P.S. I want to be a Photographer when I get back home. Even if it is only for a hobby.

All I want for Christmas...

On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 4:03 PM, Elise wrote:

What do you want or need for Christmas?

On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 4:13 PM, Bryson wrote:

A lot of letters because those are treasure,

Maybe some ties to wear under the skies,

And your love for perfect love casteth out all fear.

~Elder Steiner

Oh, and pictures!!!!!!!

First Transfer

Hey!

Saturday was the coldest day on record at that time of the year. I think this year will be really cold but that is a good thing that you will not have to worry about. My new companion Elder Webb can't ride bikes because he is legally blind in one eye. Now you just need to worry about the driving. He is the driver. :D 

I was really stressed about a new companion, but I think I am past that now. I just hope that I can be who the Lord wants me to be. 

When Elder Wright left, he left a lot of ties so now I have 35 ties and I want more. ;) hehe I am going to collect as many as I can and bring them home. I have to admit that I was scared to get a new companion because I was staying in the area and I had to basically tell Elder Webb all about the area. T was really sad to see Elder Wright go, I realized after he left, how much he meant to me.

Today I went and played 4 games of bowling and that's what we did for P-day. It was fun my scores were 125, 87, 99, and I forgot the last games score. So I hope that everything is going well back at home. I hope everyone was safe on Halloween. Halloween is really scary down here. People just like to scare you by looking suspicious or something like that. 

Well the days are now night when we go out to work and no one really wants us when It's dark outside. Would someone really want two 20 year old's in their house at dark? So it is going to get a lot harder to work. 

This transfer we get trained on the iPad's but we don't get them until after this transfer. I hope that I get a Christmas Present. :)

There still hasn't been any new baptism's but we are working and I just hope that we can find someone that really wants to be baptized and eventually get to the temple. The temple is where we want to be and that is where we want to stay. I have to say I love the temple so much and I can't wait till that day I get to be sealed to my wife for Eternity. I hope that day will come because that is what I want. 

I realized how little I know about the Gospel. I am finishing reading the Book of Mormon for the 5th time but I have only read D&C once. I haven't read the Old or New Testaments, and i haven't read the Pearl of Great Price except JS-H. I hope that I can read them fast and learn more. 

I did get the Halloween package and I did give away the mummies and they loved them and well we didn't really get any one trick or treating. I also got Brianne and Matt's letter and I want them to know that I love them for the cute pictures of baby David. I really miss him and  hope that they have another child the age of 6 months when I get back. ;) hehe 

I am still praying for all of you and I can't wait to see you all again. I really hope that Bretton will heal. Don't let him eat any ice cream. Only healthy stuff cause then he will heal faster. I love you all and I miss you a lot. 

Love,

Elder Steiner

Halloween!

Hey everyone!

I haven't been really good at writing and I need to catch up on some events.

Two weeks ago on P-day I got to go with T. and some other Elders to the State Fair. We didn't do much but we got to see pigs race and a 15 ft. tall sand castle.

Last week I went to Fort Jackson and got to go on a tour. I was thinking about joining the army but now I really don't want to. It just seems super scary. I got some pictures of some tanks and stuff there.

Today I went to the PLEX. Basically an indoor soccer field. We played ultimate. 

I will be getting a new companion this Wednesday. Elder Wright is moving out of the area and going to be a Zone Leader. I am really nervous about showing Blythewood to the new Elder coming. The members keep on saying that if my new companion picks on me they will "Make sure he doesn't." hehe Most people here think of me as small and just someone to help take care of.

I almost like it but I do wish I was taller. Yesterday I got to finally do my talk. It was about "Looking for the Good." I know the Lord helped me speak. People said "That was exactly what i needed to hear." 

A sad thing happened to our ward this last week. Sister Jenson had to go home because of some medical issues. She was trying so hard to hide the pain she was going through but she then had to go home once someone called her mother and told her what's been going on. The last In Home Devotional I had with her was Thursday.

Saturday was the ward Trunk or Treat. It was really cool and funny. Elder Wright was carrying his plate of food and Terrance (Mr. T.'s son) was trying to pull elder Wright into circles and well you can guess what happened to his food. :) hehe Let's just say you couldn't save it once it hit the ground.

For Halloween this year I wanted to be a box. (see the picture of me in the box and having fun with my companions). Usually for Halloween we have to go in early before everyone goes trick or treating. Usually it is at 7 or 8 but this year it is going to be at 6. I don't understand why cause here it gets so scary but no one is out after dark. Only cars and motorcycles are out at night. You are blessed to live in Utah.

We have some new investigators but it doesn't seem like they are really interested right now. I just hope we will find success soon. Mr. T's baptism has been the only one in this area this year.

I hope everything is going well back at home. I miss all of you guys and I can't wait to see you. Love you all!

Love, 

~Elder Steiner

A Short Hi!

Sorry about this but we just had someone come at talk to us for a half hour and now I am rushing to read all of the emails.

So this week I have been really thinking of home and I really miss it. I keeping thinking about the times we had as a family and well, I really miss the family. I am trying to keep my mind focused on others.

I went to Fort Jackson today. I will send a picture next week. I just feel so rushed out here that I hardly have any time to do things.

Keep praying for me please. I love you and Dad. I love the family.

Love, 

~Elder Steiner

Sorry this is short.

Homesick and gaining...

Dear Mom, 

Thank you for your letters and emails, they are the true treasure in any mail that I get. 

This week has been stressful. Not so much that I have a ton to do, but that I feel homesick. I find myself thinking about home too much and it's hard to wake up every morning to battle the feelings that I get. I feel like every day I have to gain my testimony again. I want you to know that I do gain my testimony again every day. I know that it will help me but it's just hard to do. 

I know that there is a package waiting for me when I get back to the apartment but I haven't picked it up from the apartment front desk yet. I believe it is from you. :) (yes it is)

So last Sunday-Monday we kinda had a sleep over with the other missionaries for P-day. We had like I think 12 missionaries in one apartment. That was fun! :) I was the first to go to bed at 12. One thing that I know the Lord has helped me with is to be able to sleep through anything. I no longer wake up because of someone snoring. :) hehe 

Today I will be going to the fair with T. and some other Elders. I'm not sure what we can do there but I'll try to take pictures. Sorry that i haven't been sending pictures I just haven't picked up my camera in a while. Hopefully next week will be good.

I wish I could be there to help out (with Bretton?). 

I also got Grandma and Grandpa Steiner's letter.

Oh and I have gained 10 pounds. :) hehe My arms are a bit bigger and my thighs are as well. I think I will rip my suit pants in about 3 more months, or less. :) hehe I love to work out and I don't think we get enough of that. :)

I miss you and the family. I love you! , 

~Elder Steiner

Thank You.

Hi Mom!

General Conference was way cool! I loved the story about the hatchet and the story about the two brothers and the band aids. That was a cute story and it was perfect for applying it to the Atonement. I miss you and the family so much. I'm sorry to say this but you and Dad only have a few more years till everyone is out. Set your priorities on spending time with the family. I believe you already are but I just wanted to say it. 

So something that hit me during General Conference was the fact that I have stewardship over the Blythewood Ward. It's not a lot but it's something that I applied to the family. Sometimes we are caught up thinking to much about the parents view and their responsibility to their children. Usually a youth I would hear when you get that age you will have stewardship over your children, but what I was thinking about was having it go the other way. What do the children think about the parents of today? 

When that question came to my mind, I was filled with the spirit and I just realized how much you and Dad did for me. I honestly don't think I could repay you for helping me through my struggles. I have thought a lot about you and Dad this week and just thinking about that first hug I will give you once I get off that plane. I will treasure that moment for ever. Thank you for pushing me out the door. Thank you for being my loving parents.

I then realized that it will be the same when we see Jesus Christ again. Will we not want to hug him and cry? 

I just want you to know that I love you and that I do miss you and Dad and the Family. I hope that you are having the time of your lives.

Love your Son,

~Elder Steiner

Bryson attending General Conference

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.