10 Months

Dear Family,

Yesterday marks my 10th month on my mission. I am at a loss of words.......... How could it have gone so fast?! Are you sure it is 10 months? I am going to pretend it has only been 3.

This week, I got to have another lesson with the C family! This time was awesome because President Eaton and Brother Whatcott were there! Brother Whatcott was the former bishop in Elk Run and is known to be a spiritual giant. When we let members of the ward know how our lessons have been going they would usually say, "Wow! You are really bringing in the big guns!" It is true. President Eaton helped the shy members of the family totally open up and share comments! Brother Whatcott shared a testimony that would convert anyone! It was pretty amazing. We taught about daily prayer and scripture study, especially as a family. When we asked them if they would pray and read the scriptures as a family every single day, they said, "Oh, we have already planned to do that." Someone from the ward showed them a conference talk about families and the C's have been applying what they found in it! Wow! The members of this ward are just so great! They have already been planning on going to the temple after Brother C. and I. his son are baptized, too! May 7th is their baptism day and they will be confirmed during Sacrament Meeting on Mother's day.

Elder Davidson and I have been pretty busy (as always) with office work this week. We got to go to the Elk Run Ward Chili Cook-Off on Saturday and it was awesome! The C's came and had a great time. I hope all of you have had a great week! I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

This is kind of what Graham looks like. There is no highway, just all small roads and spread out neighborhoods. That is why it takes 1 and 1/2 hours to get to Graham compared to the 1 hour to get to Puyallup South (The stake just north of Graham).

We went down to Graham this week to close some apartments. Graham Stake has half of Mount Rainier in it (and it is the southern most part of the mission), so it looks really close!

Delightful Mission Devotional!

Dear Family,

This week I finally got to have another lesson with the Coate family! It has been 3 weeks! First they got sick, then they went out of town, and so finally the time was right for them! In this mission we have a policy that investigators must live the Word of Wisdom for at least 3 weeks before they are baptized. Sadly, Jamie had an iced coffee when they got back from their vacation, so we have had to push back the baptism date for May 7th. It looks like both Jamie and Isaiah will be ready for that date!

On Sunday, there was an awesome mission devotional! I had to run the lights during it. I would usually turn off the lights when a video was being played, but in the middle of the devotional, the computer froze! One of the assistants to the President told us to keep going with the program and skip the video. So I turned the lights back on and joined the choir for a song. Thankfully, the computer started working again after the song, so we were able to continue the devotional! Candice came to the devotional! Since she is paralyzed, she doesn't get out very often. In fact, this is the first time that I have seen her outside of her apartment. She said really liked the it.

Bethany, congratulations on making it into Limited Edition! You are awesome! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Bretton Steiner.

Spring Break!

Dear Family,

Not much happened this week. In terms of Office work, we got a lot done, but as for proselyting, everyone seemed to be out of town for Spring Break. Since we are behind on the lessons for the Coate family, we have moved their baptismal date back to the 30th. Hopefully, we won't need to push it back anymore. They are doing pretty good. They spent last weekend in Utah. They didn't manage to get into any of the sessions, but they listened to them on the radio. We happened to run into them at the grocery store today. It was funny. They just came back from their vacation this morning, so they looked very tired. :)

Elder Davidson and I got invited to the "Empty Nester Group" dinner last Monday. It was held at the Waldrun's home and they happened to have a non-member live with them for the last month before she graduates from medical school. We shared a quick message about General Conference and about how easy it is for us to hear the prophet today as compared to the past. Now that I think about it, that probably made them feel pretty old... We didn't really get anywhere with the non-member, but she liked the message.

On Saturday, I got to go on an exchange with my District Leader, Elder Nelson (the one from Kaysville, Utah). Everyone we visited got a kick out of the fact that we came from the same hometown! :) Miracles happen while on exchanges and this one was no exception! We contacted people that haven't been contacted for months and we met a lot of people! It was great!

I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

One more sunset! It is really different from the typical, gray overcast days. On those days, it is sometimes difficult to even tell where the sun is.

Heavenly Father's Miraculous and Mysterious Ways

Dear Family,

This week has been full of miracles! Probably too many to write them all. :) So I will choose some of the highlights.

On Thursday, Elder Davidson and I got to go and see Candice again. This time, though, before we started to read the Book of Mormon with her, Brother Bean, and Deanna, she requested a blessing to help with her cold. I was chosen to give her the blessing. I don't remember most of what I said, but I do remember feeling prompted to say something like, "God is happy for the work that you do. You are a light to all of those people who visit you, drawing them closer to God." Candice is paralyzed. She can't get up and do work. But when I said that, I could see her smile as she is visited by various members of the ward. Later that night, Brother Bean took us to visit another family, the Smith's. He had each person tell of a highlight of their week. Sister Smith said that her highlight was visiting Candice last Saturday. I felt right then that the blessing was true.

On Friday, Elder Davidson and I went to Federal Way to move around furniture and bikes. We went to an area that Elder Davidson previously served in. We picked up some bikes there and he felt prompted to give one to one of his recent converts (we were going to just donate it anyway). We drove it over to Sister Harper. When we knocked on her door, she opened it and was shocked. She knew Elder Davidson and was surprised at our visit. She said that she had been having a bad day because her much needed paycheck didn't come today. When she learned that we brought her a bike, she started to cry and said, "I know that God is still watching over me. He sent you two to comfort me right when I need it." She was very grateful for the bike and the visit.

General Conference was amazing! I got to see every session and I found myself surprised that it ended so quick. My favorite talk was by Jeffrey R. Holland in the Sunday Afternoon session. I think he hit spot on the fact that we have to "return to Earth". His message has inspired hope to me and hopefully to all of you. I love you all and I hope you enjoyed General Conference as well!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

The sun came out for the whole week, so you will get some good sunset pictures. :)

Sunset at Lake Sawyer. This selfie actually didn't turn out so bad. :)

Some more pictures of the sunset at Lake Sawyer!

This is the secondary storage for the mission. It used to have tons of furniture that had to be taken to the dump, so Elder Davidson and I cleared it out and are now using it as the bike storage for the whole mission. This is actually a garage from the townhouse that missionaries live in, so they made it into their temporary work-out room.

Happy Easter!

Dear Family,

This week has been busy! Since, it is the first week of transfers, the office stays busy! Many things had to be updated: New missionary addresses, Mission President's contacts, new e-mail list for all of the missionaries (now including the new missionaries), and more. Oh, and several apartments were moved around. :) Very busy. Most of the time this week was spent moving and closing apartments. I had to close my first apartment this week. Remember when I deep cleaned it before I left a few months ago? Yep, again, but this time I actually had to take all of the furniture, too. It had the heaviest desk I have ever lifted! It was huge (and I loved it when I was there) and it was really hard to move. Most of the furniture was either too large or not in good condition, so most of it we had to take to the dump.

Easter Sunday was awesome! So many people came to church this week! It is so awesome! The Coate family didn't come, though, because they are sick. They are still on date to be baptized on April 16th! They are planning on going to Utah for Spring Break and going to General Conference! That is so cool! "You can bet your money on the Prophet!" (Quote from The District) I love you all! Happy Easter!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

Q and A:
Is it still raining all the time?
* Yes, but there have been more sunny days this week! Spring is coming!
* Fun fact: Maple Valley is the 2nd rainiest city in the United States.

I love you, Bryson!

It is nice to have sunny days at last!

One of the less active members in the Elk Run Ward worked for the Seattle Sea Hawks when they won the Super Bowl. Bishop Moulton said that he had this amazing ring, so we went and asked to take pictures of it. It is way bigger than I expected it to be! Does this count as worshiping idols?

This is the sunset of Easter Sunday!

God Watches Over His Missionaries

Dear Family,

Today is transfers. The cool thing about being an Office Elder is that I can see what happens at transfers before most other missionaries. :) I also took all of the departing missionaries to the airport yesterday. I had no idea that driving to an airport could be so stressful, but I had another missionary, Elder Lee-Wen (who was an Office Elder in the past), guide me through the steps. There were so many miracles that happened at the airport. First off, I managed to get the giant van to the airport. That is probably the largest vehicle that I have ever driven (There was barely an inch of clearance between the roof of the van and the ceiling in the parking lot). One missionary, Elder Tavo, had to travel alone while the other 6 missionaries got to be together most of the way.

Elder Tavo had to take 3 different flights, but he doesn't know anything about airports or even what to do. But God knows. When we went to check in his luggage, the man at the desk happened to be the Stake President of the Seattle Stake and he gave Elder Tavo his baggage for free. Not only that, but he also upgraded him to premium, meaning it goes directly to his home, so he doesn't have to check it in after every flight. But the blessings didn't end there for Elder Tavo. After we checked him in, he had to go through security and there was a line that was about 1 and 1/2 hours long. Elder Lee-Wen felt prompted to talk to the lady at the premium line and as he did, the lady said Elder Tavo can go through premium (at no cost). That allowed him to completely skip the line and go through first. We couldn't follow him through security, but I know that he is in good hands, God's hands.

I know that God is watching over his missionaries. He is willing to help us out in times of need and I know that He protects us. I am very happy to be out here serving His children. Even though I don't do as much proselyting as a regular missionary, I still get to serve my fellow missionaries around the mission, making sure that everything runs smoothly so that they can focus their efforts on serving. Also, being an Office Elder is a lot of fun! I love you all and I hope you have a great Easter!

Love,

Elder Bretton Steiner.

Spring is in the air! And the beautiful sunsets are returning! Oh ya!

Just for fun. :)

Group picture this morning! Elder Lee-Wen is on the right, Elder Elzey is in the middle, Elder Jackson is in the middle, but a little to the left, and I am on the very left.

Prosperity Picture!! My Trainer on the left, Elder Nelson. My trainee on the right, Elder Miner.

Welcome Enumclaw Stake!

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty good! The Coate Family is progressing very well. Sister Coate is a member who has been less active for a while and she just got re-married to a non-member. I don't know what gave her the motivation, but she just out of now where started to bring her whole family to church. She has talked with the bishop and has set up a plan to get her husband and son baptized and the rest of her family to return to activity! So far, we have had the first 3 lessons with them and they are accepting it well. Brother Coate really wants to get baptized, and so does Isaiah, their 11 year old son. They currently are committed for April 16th to be baptized, but at the rate that they are progressing, they could be ready long before that! During my last lesson with them, they set a goal to be sealed in the temple in April of 2017. Wow! They are so committed!

On Wednesday, Elder Davidson and I put our "8 birds with 1 stone" plan to use. We filled the trailer with the supplies that many missionaries needed, and for the first few hours of the day (While all of the other missionaries were doing their studies) we dropped by 7 different companionship's and either picked up furniture of dropped it off. Then we went and got a replacement mattress for the new mission nurse that moved in last week. Yep, 1 drive, 8 tasks complete! It was going to be 9, but we didn't have time to go to the D.I. to donate the futon... Anyway, the plan was a success and we put 124 miles on the truck that day! Good thing we have unlimited miles! It is so nice!

Saturday and Sunday was Stake Conference. I thought the Saturday session was pretty full, but then I was surprised again when the Maple Valley Stake Center was completely full on Sunday. The parking lot was full and people parked all the way down the street. It was pretty crazy. The Stake Center is about the same size as the Haight Creek Stake Center and it was so full that people had filled the whole gym and were sitting on the stage all the way in the back. It was amazing! The Stake was officially split into the Maple Valley Stake and the Enumclaw Stake. Two new Stake Presidencies were called, too. It is a pretty exciting change. I love you all!
​
Love,

Elder Bretton Steiner.

Elder Davidson is really good at backing with a trailer. This is when we are putting it back at the storage unit.

​

The Wonderful Plan of Happiness!

Dear Family,

This week has been pretty busy, too! We don't get to proselyte very much, but when we do, I always look forward to when we get to see Candace! She is a recent convert who is paralyzed from the waist down. We go over to her apartment every Tuesday and Thursday with the ward mission leader to read the Book of Mormon with her. She usually invites the maintenance worker of the apartment complex. His name is Tony and he is a non-member. He has had all of the lessons, but somehow just hasn't decided to get baptized, yet.

On Tuesday, we read Alma 40 with Candace. This chapter talked about the Plan of Salvation. I remember looking around the room and seeing the many statues, pictures, and stuffed animal horses all around her apartment. It also had a lot of Indian beads, cloths, and pictures, so it looked awesome! We read about the Resurrection and Brother Bean (the ward mission leader) talked about how the body will be restored to its perfect frame. He talked about how his daughter got in an accident when she was 13 and was paralyzed from the waist down, and how he knew that she will be able to walk again some day. Then he got emotional and with tears he said, "And I know that Candace will be able to ride horses again." Candace was crying, too, and the Spirit was in the room. It turns out that riding horses was a huge part of Candace's life and she had to leave it because she became paralyzed from an accident, too. In fact, Brother Bean's daughter and Candace both had their accidents the same summer.

Knowing about the Plan of Salvation brings a peace and comfort into your life. Candace, even though she is old and bed ridden, has the hope for a better life in the Resurrection when she can continue to do what she loves most, to ride horses. God loves us so much! That is why He set up this plan for us! There is a reason why it is also called the Plan of Happiness. It is because God ultimately wants us to be happy and joyful! He knows what it takes and He is willing to help us out at any time, if we call upon Him. I know that this is true.

The Maple Valley Stake is being split next Sunday! The new stake is going to be called The Enumclaw Stake! The Enumclaw Stake will be the largest in the mission and the remaining Maple Valley Stake will be pretty small. It is pretty dense, like Provo, except with more non-members. :) Actually when we call it Provo, we meant to say, if there is anywhere in the mission that we would call Provo, the Maple Valley Stake would be it. :) Anyway, I will still be in the Maple Valley Stake and so will the Mission Office, so no change for me. With the formation of a new Stake is making all of the missionaries think there might be a new Enumclaw Zone next transfer! No offical call has been made, yet, though Elder Davidson thinks he heard Assistant Mousser talk about "another zone". I don't know how it is going to work, but I am excited to see the changes!

I love you all!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

We finally finished deep clean the old Lake Lucerne apartment this week. We brought our District Leader and his companion to help us out. Elder Jackson decided it would be easier to just mop out the refrigerator. The housing coordinators were happy with it. :)

This was my failed attempt to get our P-Day group picture. I look like a ghost and I totally missed Elder Davidson's face. You can see Elder Jackson (The left back) and Elder Raps our District Leader (The right back).

Wow, There Is A Lot To Do!

Dear Family,

This week has been busy! There is so much office work to do! At the beginning of the week out list of things to do include having furniture to move all over the mission, a full and unorganized storage unit, a new truck to set up, an apartment to close and an apartment to open.

On Tuesday, after Zone Training, we brought both trucks to the Mission Office and while Elder Young (The car coordinator) took the Tiwi from the old truck to the new truck, Elder Davidson, Elder Raps, Elder Jackson, and I switched the canopy. It fit pretty good, but the curvature of the new truck is a little different, so we just clamped it on really tight. It still locks, so it is good! 

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we get to set down and read the Book of Mormon with Candace, who is a recent convert. She usually invites Tony (The maintenance worker at the apartment complex) who is not a member, yet. He has been an investigator for a long time, but he just hasn't chosen to be baptized, yet. I hope it is soon!

We organized the storage unit on Wednesday and tried to go to the dump to through some things out. Sadly, the Enumclaw Dump isn't open on Wednesdays or Thursdays, so we got there and came back with the same load.

We ended going to the Auburn Dump on Thursday with the trailer which is really hard because it is a tight squeeze! Good thing Elder Davidson is a good truck driver!

We opened an apartment this morning before P-day started and we will finish setting it uptomorrow before the new Senior Missionaries show up.

A lot has been completed this week, but there is still a lot to go! In terms of proselyting, it is a little slow, but both wards are determined to fill up our schedule. They are having a competition to see which ward can give the missionaries more things to do. I think it is awesome! All of the members are very nice and willing to help out. I really love it! I also really love all of you! Keep up the good work!

Love,
Elder Bretton Steiner.

Sorry, I keep forgetting to bring my camera with me! I will try and take more pictures!

So This Is Office Work!

Pictures at the blog: http://steiner-mission.blogspot.com/

Dear Family,

This week has been busy! There wasn't very much for us to do until Wednesday. That was the day that Elder Davidson and I picked up the new truck. Right now, it is sitting at the mission home waiting for the canopy to be placed on it. Hopefully, the canopy on the old truck is the same size.

On Thursday, we were doing weekly planning. We planned for about 30 minutes and then all of the text messages and calls came in. So many things were requested that I had to start writing them down! Chairs, desk lamps, bikes, mattresses, and more need to be moved around the mission! President Eaton called and said we are taking over another ward, Lake Lucerne, and that we had to close an apartment. We ended weekly planning right then and went to work. So far, we have only done a few things, so we are very busy!

On Friday, Elder Young (the car coordinator) took us to pick up 2 new corolla's for the mission. They didn't have Tiwi's in them, but I still tried to drive safe. :) I ended up cutting someone off to get the exit off of the highway.

On Saturday, I went on an exchange in Lake Wilderness Ward and biked all day. Luckily, it was very beautiful weather. I got a good picture of it all below! It was an awesome exchange!

On Sunday, Elder Davidson and I got to run the Mission Devotional! We put together the slide show and put it in action! Elder Davidson ran the slideshow and I ran the lights. It was awesome!

Though this week has been very busy, I have learned that it is very important to have patience. I have definitely had to show patience when trying to manage all of the work. Patience with others and with yourself can help you calm down and take things one step at a time. It has worked for me! I am really getting the hang of doing office work! I love you all!

Love,

Elder Bretton Steiner.

P.S. In this mission an Office Elder isn't what it seems. I can think of a better name: "Housing Coordinator Assistant That Also Updates Mission Spreadsheets." That is pretty much what we do. That is why we get a truck!

Q and A:

How are you? How is life as an office missionary?
* I am good, life as an office missionary is very busy. I felt like there was nothing to do on Wednesday, but then Thursday we got a lot of assignments. Missionaries from all over the mission are requesting replacement, dump, or new furniture and we also received word that we are taking over another area. It got pretty busy out of now where! Even though we have a lot on our plates, we are still doing all that we can.

Have you gotten to tour the mission yet in the new truck?
* Not yet. We did get the new truck, but it is staying at the mission home until we can get the canopy over the bed of the truck. Hopefully we can take the canopy from the old truck and fit it on the new truck.

Why does a mission have a truck?
* Because we have to move a lot of furniture. We also get to pull a trailer because sometimes we can't fit everything in the truck.

What have you learned or are learning as an office missionary? Is it harder that you think?
* Well, I have learned how to drive a large truck. I have learned that Office Elders create the slideshow for the mission devotional and operate it (I did the lights). I have also learned that it is really hard to completely clean out apartments that have to be cleaned. Those missionaries really lived dirty. I also learned that it doesn't really work to move furniture if the storage unit isn't organized. There is a lot to do. :)

I have been wondering... but I don't want an answer because I'm afraid that if the answer is yes then I will be tempted. I'm wondering that if I ever call the mission office will I have the chance to talk to you? I can easily see myself calling, waiting for a hello and then hurrying to hang up just to hear your voice.
* No, I only work in the office part time. If you call at any time, Sister Young (a senior missionary) will answer the phone. I only update spreadsheets.

My Companion?
* Elder Davidson likes to cook. He doesn't like to sing, but he still really likes to listen to music.

Dinner appointments?
* Pretty much every single night, especially now that we are covering 2 very missionary active wards. :) We are now the Elk Run and Lake Lucerne and Office missionaries. I guess you could call that triple covering because the office has a lot of work to do.

How are the new wards?
* They are great! The members are great, but in terms of non-members there aren't very many. I have heard people say that Maple Valley is just like Provo. Small wards, very dense members, not very many non-members. The biggest difference is that it looks like we live in the middle of a forest! It is so pretty!

Is it harder to proselyte in the evening?
* Yes. Especially when it is raining (pretty much everyday). No one is outside after dark and hardly anyone wants someone at their door after dark.

Elder Davidson and I in the new truck. It is really awesome!

This is probably the best picture I can find to explain Maple Valley. We practically live in a forest! Behind me is Lake Wilderness. I am on exchanges and on bike for the day. I am really lucky that it didn't rain. :)