Week 81 – This man is nonstop – Elder Gideon Tonkinson, Washington Everett Mission

Hey!
This week was so so busy. There were so many days where we didn’t even have time for more than like a granola bar from 12-9. The biggest thing this week was that we had zone conference on Thursday and unlike last conference we took the bulk of the planning and everything where as last time we more shed it off to some companionships in the zone. But zone conference was an absolute success and a blast. We focused on how we as missionaries can work better with our members, and we had a great discussion on how Christ involved members in missionary work and then kind of went more in to detail on how by having some companionships do some role plays in front of the entire zone. We had President Auna, Sister Auna and the Assistants (Elder Herbst and Elder Matangi) also do one, and it was so funny. President Auna is a super funny man, but most missionaries don’t get to see that because they just see him in meetings or in interviews, but by having him portray a bad example, they got to see a side of him many hadn’t before. We got so many comments about how missionaries didn’t even know he was funny, so I hope that this helps give people a wider perspective and respect for him. Then during the break some elders made beneighs and we provided chocolate milk and then we finished off by having Raymond one of our awesome friends who was just recently baptized (we taught him because the Sisters in the ward couldn’t ever), and he talked about how we can do better. He spoke powerfully and it was so awesome. He’s such a great man. Raymond also bought everyone lunch so we had a zone lunch too after which hasn’t been done in over a year so that was awesome to see. So zone conference was great and I was happy to see it through. Sadly that will be the last one for me [We now have his travel plans for August 9th].

,Then Friday I had to speak in the mission devotional and that was fine. It was good to reflect and just try to maybe help someone understand some part of missionary work better. So I focused on the need to teach more about Christ and focus on our friends conversion to Him. Then we made two new friends Adrian and Eveline that night and they had been taught before. Anyways, we get to know them, and Adrian’s like “well, I’ve never really like listened a ton. I just sat for like half and then would do something else but I’m ready now.” So we start teaching the Plan of Salvation because, in all their times meeting, somehow they hadn’t been taught it fully and honestly it started out rough. Adrian was kinda like weird about us being children of God, but we explain it and he’s like “okay,” and then we jump in and he loved it. He said that he thought God was more merciful and that we had lived before and that there was more to the plan, and he just ate it all up. We even invited him to be baptized, and he said he’d pray about it. Unfortunately, due to a family circumstance they couldn’t come this Sunday. But honestly, he’s so ready and hopefully we can get the rest of the family on board. It was sweet.

Saturday we spend a large part teaching, planning the baptism for the next day and delivering packages. It was fun. Then Sunday we had Silver’s baptism planned. That morning we text him, and he’s like “oh yeah, I’m so ready for today,” and so we’re like “sick.” Anyways, church starts (Sunday School is first), and he’s not there so we call him and straight to voicemail and then we just start filling the font with faith and doing as much as we can to be ready, and we check the Sunday School and nothing. So about 10 minutes before sacrament meeting, we just go stop by his apt, and his roommate answers and is like “yeah, he’s not here and I don’t know where he is at”. So we go back, and I’m pretty like oh no it’s gonna fall apart literally last minute. But as we walk in I see the back of his head. So the baptism happened, and it was great. He was so smiley, and I had the opportunity to baptized and confirm him and that was epic. And that was pretty much everything. Good busy and tiring week.

Questions –

Top five things from the past week? – Zone Conference, Baptism, Zone Lunch, Adrian’s lesson, and Pizza Rolls

What have you learned about prayer while serving a mission? – It’s important to remember to always be greatful

Share some qualities you appreciate in your companion. – He’s just a lot of fun, we just get along super well and have a lot of the same energy level and drive so it’s just awesome.

Insight from personal study this week? – Well I studied Humility and I still need to work on it. That’s the insight 😛