WEEK 11 - ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

Hey everyone, it's your favorite Elder, Elder Weber, here once again for a report on how things are shaping up in the Colorado Fort Collins Mission. Let me first say, though, before I begin to go into detail about my week, how happy I am to be able to serve in such a beautiful and wonderful place like the Fossil Creek Ward in Loveland, Colorado. It is a beautiful city, with so many kind and considerate families, who are always able and willing to work with the Elders. The Bishop, Bishop Cleverly, is perhaps the most joy-filled man I have ever met, second only to my own grandfather, Lou Sansevero. He always greets the Elders with a bright smile and eager handshakes, and often thanks us for the service we are doing in the mission field. The Ward Mission Leader, Brother Keat, is a friendly and helpful teacher and leader, and I have never seen him angry or annoyed whenever the Elders stop by to talk and teach. And, of course, the Mission President, President Brown, is probably one of the wisest and kindest men I have ever met, a born teacher and leader, and I look forward to working with him during the next twenty-two months of my mission.

Now, on to the week. Sadly, though I am still very grateful to be serving in the Fort Collins Mission, I must state, once again, that the work is going at a very staggeringly slow pace. However, that is not to say that it is not moving at all, nor does it mean that my days serving in the mission are being wasted. If anything, the months I have spent here in the Fossil Creek Ward have been the most spiritually strengthening and uplifting months in my entire life, and this week was no different.

 

The work on the temple continues to move forward
 

To start off, let's go back to Tuesday. Elder Proffit, my companion, is a District Leader in our Mission, which means he is in charge of the work the other Elders in our area do. Under his direction are the Elders from Huntington Hills, Stetson Creek, and both halves of the Fossil Creek Ward. Every once in a while, the Elders that serve as District Leaders in a Zone gather together to plan out Zone Goals for the next month. I had been to a District Leader Meeting once before, and it sufficeth me to say that it went horribly. However, I put on a brave face, and followed Elder Proffit to the Stake Building for the meeting. When there, I found out that I would be working with the other Junior Companions the other District Leaders had to do a service project just a little ways away from the building. To my surprise, I was actually the most senior of the Junior Companions, as I had been out for two transfers now, and all three of the other Junior Companions had only been out for about two weeks. And, none of us had driving rights yet. Luckily, we all made it down to the house the service was being done at, and quickly went to work without any major complications. I can only wonder now what could have gone wrong though, with so many inexperienced missionaries together in one spot.

 

Love getting care packages from home
 

This is Elder Weber's Halloween care package loot

 

After the service was done on Tuesday, Elder Proffit and I went out to work on Wednesday. We didn't know exactly what lied in store for us, but I feel we were very willing and able to take on whatever came our way. It seemed as though the heavens had opened to us, much to my liking, as we were able to meet with not one, not two, but FOUR of our potential investigators! First, we met up with Mark, a man who lives a quiet life out in a small suburban neighborhood. After talking with him for a bit, we left him our number, and he promised to give us a call once everything settled down in his home. Then, we met with Joyce, a woman who lives across the street from the Meiers family, and who has acted as their surrogate grandmother for about ten years. She's a very nice and kind lady, and she reminds me a lot of my Grandma Weber. I hope we can be able to meet with her again sometime. Finally, we managed to meet with the McManus family, Pat (Patrick, I think) and Chelsea McManus. They are both very interested in the Gospel, and in fact often throughout our lesson, they would mention that what we were teaching, they could feel that they either believed it, or knew that it was true. Though they are a bit analytical and skeptical in their thinking, I have no doubt in my mind that, should we be able to meet with them on a more frequent basis, they'll both be ready for baptism by mid-December!

 

Thursday was spent searching for referrals. We actually had received one earlier in the week, but when we tried to find it, we found that the address didn't actually exist. However, we stopped by Brother Trenholm's house that evening, and asked him for his help in finding whoever the mystery referral was. Then, on Friday, Elder Proffit and I left for the Trainer's Meeting.

 

Reunited with his district from the MTC

 

Elder Weber and his 1st companion Elder Noh

 I was very glad to see all of my old friends from the MTC--Elders Genther, Nielson, Noh, Dixon, Clavel, Pratt, Christensen, Leavit, and Lires--and was very glad to hear some very much needed advice from President Brown. However, the day took a turn for the more troublesome, as Halloween came around that evening, and we were all forced indoors by six-o'clock in the evening. Thankfully, Brother and Sister Baer let us come over to their house, so that we weren't too bored out of our minds. We were able to play some pool, table tennis, watch The Best Two Years, and even got to hand out some candy! Elder V was still pretty bummed by the end of the night, though. You know, being from Tonga, he's never actually had Halloween, and his first chance at experiencing it, he gets forced indoors. Oh, well. Finally, on Saturday, Elders Wengreen, V, Proffit, and myself were asked to speak at the baptismal service held at the church building. There were THREE baptisms going on, and it was cool to see so many young children walk into the baptismal font, eager to begin their lives as real members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

 

A beautiful Colorado sunset
 

So, what is my concluding thought for the end of my email today? Simple, it's the same thought I gave at the baptisms on Saturday. As the old church song goes; "Onward, Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before." Our lives aren't just a journey--they're a battle. In a world filled with sin and misfortune, we must stand strong, and march on with bravery throughout our lives. Trials will come, and sometimes it will be hard to continue. As any of my Marching Band friends could easily tell you, our teacher, Mr. Graber, would always say, "This is a journey of 1,000 steps, and just when you think you're starting to get the hang of it, you get to the second step." After the second step, we would be faced with the adversities of weather, competitions, rigorous training regiments, and other things that brought many of my friends to their knees in tears and exhaustion. Such is the way with us in our lives. However, even though the trials may be terrible, even if all of Hell may stare us square in the face, I assure you, my friends, that our journey will end in success so long as we press forward with faith. We have the blessings of Heaven on our shoulders--baptism by proper authority, the gift of the Holy Ghost to stay with us so long as we stand in holy places, church leaders and family members who can support us and lead us on our way. Yes, the journey is long. The 1,000 steps are not easy. But, just as any of my Marching Band friends could easily tell you about Marching Band, the pay off from succeeding in our journey will make everything worth it. Please, never give up. Stand strong, and march ever onward. This I say, in the name of the "Royal Master", yea, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Well, that's it for this week! See y'all again next P-Day!

 

--Elder Z.S.Weber