Super Good Week!

Hey family!

We had a super good week this week!

Our investigators are still doing well.  This week Franz invited two of his friends to come listen to us. It was a really good lesson. We were able to share The Plan of Salvation with them and the two people that came were really interested. They are going to meet with us again on Friday so we are excited.

I got to do a comp exchange with an elder from our zone this week and it was a really good day. We had some good plans set up and they all went through. Their area has been pretty hard lately and we just had a good day. We saw him yesterday and he seemed way more excited about missionary work. Hopefully he was able to put that fire into his area. 

On Wednesday, we got to do some nice service. There is a man that is in a wheel chair always asking for money on the street. He lives in the house of a member and she has to push him to the hospital every week. We were able to do it this week. He is a really nice guy and he has a good trust in him now.  Hopefully we can teach him here soon.

sancocho- Colombian chicken stew

Friday, we had comp exchanges with the assistants and it was an amazing day. I was with an Elder Ridd. He is in my group of missionaries but I had never met him until now. We were able to do a lot of contacting and we were able to find a lot of people. The better the weather the more willing people are willing to listen I have noticed. Then we ate with our bishop and he made us sancocho one of my favorite Colombian dishes. We were able to meet with a couple investigators as well as some less actives so it was a good all around day.

 

Yesterday was really good for us. The members did very well and invited friends to church each companionship got one reference from it. We are going to start teaching a lady named Dina. She is from Honduras. We are going to meet with her Thursday. Than in the evening we had a devotional with Brad Wilcox. He talked a lot about the house of Israel and it was really good! Learned a lot from it. Then right after we had a Easter concert. Very good day!

This week there is a lot to do. Tomorrow we have the mission leadership council at President Jackson's house, then the zone training on Wednesday, then after I'm going on a comp exchange to Cuenca, a tiny little city in the middle of no where! Kind of excited. Then we have General Conference! (watch it here) And it's Easter on the same day! How great is that! A lot of learning this week, should be good.

I got the package on Friday, we are enjoying the girl scout cookies too much!

 

Love you all. Hope you have a great week!

-Elder Stevenson 

 

                                                    More photos from our P-day in Segovia

 

COLD!!! again???

Hey family,

I don't really know what happened with the beautiful weather we had but this week it took a turn for the worse. This week it's 35-40 degrees and rain and last week it was 80 degrees and short sleeves but its all good. It was cool on the way back from Segovia today. It was snowing!! A lot the cars were covered. 

 

 

Anyways, things are going really well here! Mara is still doing awesome. We have been trying to meet with her mom for forever. She always said she didn't have time but we know she is 100% free on Sundays. So we got a good group of members to come with us and we surprise visited them. It worked! The mom sat down with us and we were able to share the restoration with her to help her understand why her daughter wants to be baptized. The mom just had a lot of doubts and questions. We feel like she was afraid to let her daughter do something she didn't understand so we are finally going to be able to meet with her more.

Franz and Scarlet are doing really well also. They are progressing!!! They read and are praying so we are super happy. We were able to teach the plan of salvation and it turned out really well. They just want to know the truth.

Other than that, we did a lot of contacting and trying to meet with new investigators. But they never showed up so we are still trying to find news. Elder Hawks was on intercambios and went and visited one of our investigators that has not been progressing and they were having a drop talk basically. See if they were willing to start progressing. They started talking because the brother is a member and will be sealed in the temple. They asked if they could go and he had to say no. But if they started doing the things they need to, one day they could go in as a family. They are starting to progress more.

Things are going pretty well here. We just need to find some new investigators. But things are going well. Hope everyone has a great week. Love you!!!

-Elder Stevenson

 

P.S. There are many things I have learned on my mission. One is: If you really have desires, there is time for everything. ;P 

 

 

 

Alcalá de Henares

This week has been really amazing! A lot of comp exchanges and a lot of time at the temple and finding miracles.

Just to start because this is the higlight of my week. Wednesday, we had the chance to go to the temple as a zone. It was really nice after not going in so long. I really enjoyed it. We started of with a spiritual high then we went and had a really good district meeting. We talked about how we need to be excited and happy about missionary work.

 

 

 Then we went to teach Mara and she is doing super well. Right as we leave the lesson, we head down into the metro, we go one stop and then here comes walking in someone I haven't seen since before the mission. It was... ITALIA!!!!! One of the Ayala Water Polo coaches!!! I freaked out and she just yelled BRYCE?!? It was soooo weird! And cool!!! She  lives in Madrid right now, teaching english at a school!! We were able to get her number so I want to try and teach her! We are still in shock that it happened! 

We had a really good week of finding. We found a lot of people. It's what we need right now to start finding new people. Yesterday we were able to get a new investigator. We have been teaching a guy named Franz for a while and he hasn't progressed. But his wife finally decided to join us, her name is Scarlet. She is super prepared. She has been hopping around churches, trying to find the truth. She was born Catholic, raised Evangelist and now she is studying with the jw´s and she just wants to know. She really liked the restoration, so we think this will help Franz and if she does what she need to, she will recieve an answer. We are excited.

We had a really cool experience on Saturday. One of Elder Hawk's converts got sealed to her husband and family and we were given permision to attend the sealing. It was a really beautiful experience to see them all in white in the temple being sealed. Taking people to the temple is an amazing experience.

 

In response to a letter you sent 9 months ago. I met the Braun's daughter. Send this to her parents. They would like it. (We knew the Braun's when we lived in Whittier, we both moved from the area and later our children were called to the same Mission.)

 

Well hope everyone had a good week! Love you all!!!

-Elder Stevenson

Alcalá de Henares

 

 

Primavera!



 A cool park in our area

Hey Family !

The weather is soooo nice! Sounds like it was fun in California as well.We had a really tough week! I n the end Mara didn't get baptized on Saturday. Her mom wants her to wait a little bit more which is ok. She is only 17 so we need the mom's permission and we dont want to push it. We are going to start teaching her mom just so she understands more of what her daughter wants to do. But Mara is still doing super well.  It was her birthday this week so we got her a cool blanket scarf. They are the best scarves ever! Super soft and warm. I wish they had them for guys but no. She came to church this week and everything. She absolutely loves it.

 

 

On Thursday, I got to do a super cool comp exchange with a Spaniard! There aren't very many Spanish missionaries so it was really cool. So Spanish people in the streets when you contact them don't want to listen. It's pretty tough, but when he opened his mouth every Spaniard stopped and listened. It was super nice.

 

We are doing exchanges with all the missionaries in our zone because we are trying to help the Elders serve more effectively and have a purpose when we visit with the members. It is basically taking better advantage of the time we have as missionaries. It has been working really well. Even just going by the members and giving them a card but then leaving right after works!  This is what we have been doing a ton because there are new "Because of Him" cards, the video that came out last Easter. so we are handing those out to members asking them to watch it then give that card to a friend. It's going really well.

 

This has basically been our week slow and long but very effective.

love you all!

-Elder Stevenson

 

Last P-Day with Elder Williams

Good bye, my friend!

 

Concilio de Liderazgo

Hey family,

It sounds like all went well with Grandpa's funeral. It's weird to not have been there with you all but I'm way happy to be here. I'm glad to see in all the pictures smiles and my beautiful family. Everyone has changed a ton! 

Things are going very well, We are still teaching the roommate of German and surprise!   ... SHE IS GETTING BAPTIZED ON SATURDAY! We are super excited and she loves the church. We are being sooo blessed. None of what is happening is from anything special. We are just being obedient and working hard. A lot of the times the people find you and that is what is happening to us.

We also started teaching two Cuban ladies, who are a member reference from El Ferrol in Galicia. They are super cool. They came to church on Sunday and basically want to get baptized as well. We are going to keep meeting with them a lot. 

 

Elder Hawks, Elder Williams, and me

Transfers came this week and Elder Hawks and I are staying together as zone leaders. We are super excited. I don't have much time to write because we have to go take Elder Williams to the Mission Home. I am super sad he is leaving. He is honestly one of my best friends. He served well and all will go home well. He may be going to BYU-I (I have been trying to convince him and he is thinking about it.) He actually lives in Vegas so he will be a bit easier to see. He is just flying into St George because he has family there. 

 

Other than that things are going well. I love you all and hope you have a great week. I will let you know how the baptism goes!

 

-Elder Stevenson

 

 Also I got to go to the temple for the first time in almost a year!

 

 

 

The Great Plan of Happiness

Hello Family

This week has been a very special week very spiritual.

On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to meet with Elder Dyches from the Second Quorum of the 70. We had a great meeting talking a lot about pure testimony, diligence, motives-pure desire to serve the Lord, becoming master teachers, and gaining the trust of members. It was a very good meeting we learned a lot that we can apply to missionary work.

The next day, we had the mission leadership counsel and Elder Dyches was there as well. We talked a lot about desires and agency. How to not let the things around us affect us. A lot of times missionaries blame the area or companions or the members. The lazy man finds an excuse the dedicated man finds a way. It was a very inspiring meeting that can really help us all in all times.

 

 

It was really surprising for me as well to hear of grandpa's passing. President Jackson called right before personal study and I had planned that day to study more of the Plan of Salvation because that is what we were to be teaching our investigator that day. As President Jackson told me the news, I was calm; completely calm. I sat there for the first couple of minutes and just stared at a picture I have in Preach My Gospel of Jesus Christ standing with his arms wide spread.

 

 

That was my study on the Plan of Salvation. The spirit and peace I felt knowing that he is O.K. in the spirit world with his eternal companion was just what I needed to be able to declare to that investigator the truth of these things. I always loved grandpa because that's all he ever did to anyone else, declare the truth of these things. I'm thankful for the knowledge I have that he will be with grandma forever.

Some of my favorite scriptures are found in Alma. I love how he describes what Jesus has taken for us. in chapter 7 it says:

 

 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Then, I love these words found in chapter 40.

11... -- Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

 12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

and I absolutely cherish the words of Moroni 10

 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

 34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

This is the example the scriptures have left us, as well as grandpa. He loves the Lord and has served him faithfully all his life, may we all learn from his Christ like example.

 

The week ended with the baptism of German it turned out very well. Christian the man that was baptized two weeks ago baptized him so it was very special for us. I was able to do the confirmation for him and it was just a great way to end off the week.

I thank you all for your support. I feel your prayers daily. Missionary work isn't just a missionary affair, it's a family affair so I thank you for all you do to support me. I love being here. Everyday is more and more special and sacred for me.

Hope you all have a great week.

-Love 

Elder Stevenson

 

 

 

Quick funny story, at the church the water comes out brown sometimes. So we started filling the font for the baptism and it turnded brown. = /  So we tried pulling the plug and it broke! I had to get in to pull it.

Happy Vaentines Day!

 

HEY FAMILY

Happy Valentines Day!

I will probably get your valentines on Thursday at the mission tour with Elder Dyches of the 70.

We had an absolutly amazing week this week! On monday we go to meet with German, the guy getting baptized on Saturday. He had invited someone that lives in the same building as him to meet with us. Her name is Mara. She is 16 from Paraguay and she looks exactly like Krista!! I showed her a picture and she was freaking out because they are pretty similar. We have already met with her 4 times. She has read about 10 chapters of the Book of Mormon and come to church already, has a best friend in church, and she wants to get baptized! The best part is her mom is totally ok with it. 

German is doing well, super prepared for his baptism. We still have a bit left to teach. Tomorrow he is going to have his baptismal interview. So hopefully all goes well.
 

Being zone leaders, we get to do a lot of companion exchanges. This week I did one with Elder Brownell, a missionary that was in the MTC with me. It was really cool. We had a super good day. He was one of the missionaries I went to the park with to contact one of the Saturdays. I got to see an ex-sister missionary who was in my district and zone for about a year of my mission. She lives in that area and came to help us with some lessons. It was super cool. 

Then I went to their district meeting to see how they are and after as a district we ate pancakes. SOOOO GOOOODDDD!!! HaHa! Also this week in the appartment we found a waffle iron! Let's just say we have had waffles a LOT for breakfast. Pretty soon we will get sick of it. 

While on exchanges, Elder Hawks met with a man and his wife that we had found a bit before. They are also from Paraguay. The husband is a member and she isn't but he wants to come back and she wants to get baptized.

Barrio 2 is just full of miracles right now. People are getting excited about the work! We had 12 member present lessons so they are getting out there with us and we are having success. We honestly need the members help to get these people progressing.

Well hope you all had a great week. Love you!

-Elder Stevenson