New area and companion

First of all, this last week was transfer week. That is why my preparation day has been on Tuesday, but now it's back to Monday again. I mentioned last week that I was leaving Miami, and I didn't know where I was going. Well, now I know. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to go to a new area and to be with a new companion. I thought that there was no chance that I would leave Miami this transfer, but I'm glad that I did.

My new companion is Elder Van Wagenen. He is awesome, in every way possible. We get along really well, because we have such a similar personality and such similar interests. For example:

- We both like programming.

- We both like Minecraft.

- We both like reading. (Our favorite author is Brandon Sanderson.)

I also like him because he is funny and he is a great missionary. He is a great example, he wants to help everyone he sees and he is constantly striving to improve.

I left my camera in Miami, unfortunately, so I don't really have any pictures, other than his mission picture, which I'll attach to this email.

My new area is the Boynton Beach North (Creole) area. This area is the only Creole area that is a bike area. The rest all have cars. I have been apprehensive about the new area, because of that. Riding bikes all day long is tiring, even if you are in a flat area like Florida.

This week my companion and I had a real problem with laziness. Part of the problem was that in our area, we have an excuse to wait in a lot of cases, because we are on bikes. So we waited, and we don't get any work done because we didn't use that time wisely. For example, we didn't spend the time thinking about our investigators, or planning lessons, or thinking about how we could make our days more productive. Instead, we used that waiting time to talk about unrelated subjects (such as games that we played before our missions). We became distracted, and we were not focused on our purpose. This contributed to not getting much work done throughout the week, and it is also caused us to not be exactly obedient in getting home on time, and getting out of the apartment on time.

This laziness is something that neither of us wants in our area, and we are looking to do better this week. We have made several resolutions that will help us to keep working, such as not talking about personal matters until after we finish planning each night. If we keep that conversation out of each day, then we can spend more time focused on the work, and we will have more motivation to get to work and to be obedient. The area suffered a lot because of this last week, and we will not let it happen again.

Yesterday, we were privileged to witness the two baptisms from the other Elders' area in our ward. We had the opportunity to teach the people who were there about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was an immensely spiritual experience. One of the people being baptized even started to cry. (Not really a goal, but always a plus.)

Thanks,

Elder Slade

Transfers!

I found out last night: Elder Winslow is staying in Miami Shores Creole. I am transfering to a different area, and a different companion. But I don't know where, or who. I'll find out in transfer meeting tomorrow.

The transfer call last night was a big surprise to me. I didn't really consider the possibility that I might be leaving, it seemed so much more likely that Elder Winslow would be. But now I'm excited to go and meet my new companion and area, and I'm more and more confident that this is what I'm supposed to be doing right now. Although, that means that the stress of driving these last two weeks (in order to get to know the area better) pretty much went for nothing. Oh well, it was a growing experience.

This week, one thing that I learned in the Book of Mormon is that I think that the promised land is a symbol for the Plan of Salvation. The book of Ether, specifically, talks about how we will be free from "bondage" if we obey "The Lord of the Land" - similarly, as we obey God's commandments in this life on Earth, we will be free from "the chains of hell". The Lord goes before Jared + company in a cloud, leading them to the promised land, a land that He had prepared for them to live. Similarly, the Earth was created as a place for us all to remain. We all followed him here as we chose to accept the Plan of Salvation.

We went on another exchange with Elder Tesch this week. I went with Elders Cobabe and Lange. We harvested for a while, and then I sat in on an entirely Spanish meeting, trying my best to understand what everyone was saying. It was fun!

I'm glad to be done training. Elder Winslow was a great companion. I still don't feel ready to be let off the leash, so to speak, but I don't really think I'll ever feel comfortable or complacent in the mission field. There are always new experiences to be had, and there are always new people to meet.

We had another great experience with harvesting this last week. We knocked into a little girl. We asked what time the rest of her family would be there, because we didn't want to do it with her without any adults around. She understood Creole, so we thought that the family was Haitian. That is the only reason we chose to go back later that day to try to harvest bless her again. She wasn't there, and her parents weren't, but her older YSA sister was. We said the prayer with her. When we were done, she was silently crying. We committed her to be baptized, and she readily agreed. We finished the prayer and we left.

It turned out that her family wasn't Haitian anyway, but because we thought that they were, we went back and we had that awesome experience. It was an amazing miracle, and I'm very grateful that we had it.

We had stake conference this week. President Anderson said that all of us were required to attend both the adult session (the night before) as well as the actual conference on Sunday. This means that, since conference is at the stake center (45 minutes away), and it ended at 9, we returned to our house after 9:30 for the first time ever. But we had permission, so it wasn't disobedient, so that's all right.

The YSA elders, who live with us, had a baptism last Sunday. Their after-baptism party was amazing. The Latino members' families who were friends with the recent convert bought a ton of food and desserts, such as doughnuts, cheesecake, brownies, soda, etc. It was delicious. The best meal I've eaten since IHOP at Christmas.

Last thing, before I have to get off: many people have asked about Harvesting, so I'll talk about it a little more and go into more detail. This is the general procedure, although it is never rote in practice:

1. Knock on door. Someone answers. Say something along the lines of "Hello, we're representatives of Jesus Christ. He has sent us here to pray with you and your family [for such and such reason]. May we say this prayer with you?"

2. Continue, get to know the people, try to get everyone there to join in the prayer. If there in a man in the house, try to get invited in.

3. Ask them what they want you to pray for. (In so many words.)

4. If you are inside, kneel down for the prayer and offer a priesthood blessing on the house and the family. If not, reverently say a regular prayer.

5. Watch the spirit work. Connect the feelings of the spirit with baptism, and then invite them to be baptized. Whether they accept or not, continue to give doctrine and to testify, and invite them for a specific date. (The second Sunday from the date of the blessing.)

6. As the spirit directs, invite to church, accept missionary discussions, or a number of other things.

7. Leave. Follow up quickly, within the next few days, so that the feelings of the spirit are still fresh on their mind.

Thanks,

Elder Slade

Photos from Washington!

Dear family,

WHAT A WEEK! Sister Glancy and I taught more lessons than we ever have before, found new investigators, and were one investigator at church away from beating the Standards of Excellence, something we have been really striving for for a few weeks now. We feel so blessed that the Lord has been showering us with so many miracles!

First things first, Gabriel is on date for February 8th, right before the transfer ends!! It's been an interesting experience teaching him, because we have known that he is golden, but we also have known that he will be moving to Texas soon. Originally we put him on date so that he can have that goal to work towards when he gets to Texas and continues lessons with the missionaries there. Well, the date he leaves keeps being pushed further and further back and we're almost done with the lessons. When we taught him this week Gabriel started to explain how he already loves the people here so much that he wants to buy a plane ticket and fly back so that he can be baptized here in his first ward. We told him that as long as he continues to make it to church and progress in the gospel, he is more than allowed to be baptized here before he leaves, and he is so excited!! The most amazing part of the whole thing, is that the week that we found Gabriel is the week that Sister Glancy and I started praying that we would be able to have a baptism together. We feel overwhelmed with gratitude this week at how the Lord has somehow worked everything out in such an unexpected way so that He could grant us our simple request. Gabriel is solid and we can't wait for his baptism on the 8th!

We were finally able to meet with our favorite southern friend James again this week, and we put him on date for baptism on the 22nd! He says he's tired of living the "wild life" and he is really excited for baptism! The only thing that we are worried about is being able to continue meeting with him. He works so much that its hard to find a free time in his schedule, although lessons are really solid when we can make them happen. I've seen a few times that once you put someone on date they really start to appreciate the magnitude of it and they do what they need to do to change their lives. Prayers for James please!

Also pray for our new investigators Wei Die, Michelle, and Matt. Also if you have time this week, include the last conference Ensign in your personal study! I have seen that as I have done this in my study this week I have gained a deeper appreciation for the fact that we truly do have a prophet and apostles that are called of God. They know whats up! In the words of Elder Hales, "The greatest blessings of General Conference come to us after the conference is over. Remember the pattern recorded frequently in scripture: we gather to hear the words of the Lord, and we return to our homes to live them."

I would love to hear about the things that you are all learning in your personal study, and all of your personal missionary moments as well!

I love all y'all!

Sister Slade

The District

 Tasha and Winnie- SOLID recent converts! Love them so much!!!

 Two monthiversary matching scarves!

 This is what Sister Slade looks like at age 19... stay tuned next week for a picture of the big 20 so that you can see the incredible transformation!!!

 Don't mess with WML Lans Drake. Lans is "angry" we made him a Broncos T-Shirt... :)

 Sister's picture

We're Multiplying!

Hey family!

First off, BRONCOS VS. SEAHAWKS IN THE SUPERBOWL!!!! Did I call it, or did I call it!? People here are calling it the "pot bowl" since Washington and Colorado are the only states that have legalized marijuana... :/ Our Ward Mission Leader Lans has been great about texting us and the zone leaders updates whenever there is a game... haha. I keep telling people in the ward that I hope they don't hate me after the Broncos beat the Seahawks :)

Gabriel is on date for baptism! Sister Glancy and I talked about it, and we decided that even though he is moving, helping him have a specific date would show just what an important decision it is and also help him continue to develop his faith. Gabriel is so solid. We're sad to lose him to Texas next week, but happy that the new ward there will have such a great new asset.

Our new investigator this week is Tre', and we are very grateful for him! We haven't been able to meet with Kazim again yet and our lesson with James fell through as well. One thing I have realized this week is that one of the adversaries greatest tools is to make people busy. He fills our schedules with so many "important" things that we don't end up having time for the things that are most important. This isn't just something that happens in the lives of individuals who are investigating, but it happens in members lives too. I can think of specific times when it happened in my life. Be wary of that!

On Saturday we had our ward Mini-MTC that we have been organizing to help the ward members get excited about missionary work. It was a great success! Already we are seeing the effects of it, as one of the guys in our ward invited his friend to FHE last night and our WML is having his friend come join us for dinner on Saturday!

I had kinda a cool experience right before we left for the Mini-MTC that really proved to me that the work is hastening! We got a very angry phone call from a guy who kept demanding to talk to our "manager." Apparently three different sets of missionaries have all knocked on his door in the past month, and he's so angry about it that he says if missionaries knock on his door again he's going to get the law involved. It was a very nasty phone call, but the greatest part was when he said, "I swear you guys are multiplying. I don't know where you all are coming from, but I've had enough of you." Logically I should have felt discouraged or upset over this crazy guy yelling at us, but after the call I couldn't believe how HAPPY I felt!!! You betcha, we're multiplying! I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude for how much the Lord truly does care about His children. This man may have had enough of us, but obviously the Lord hasn't had enough of him since he has given him three opportunities to accept His gospel just in the last month! This gospel truly will go forth until it has covered the whole Earth and there is nothing that can be done to stop it!

I have begun reading the New Testament as part of my daily study. This week my paralleled reading in the NT and BOM seemed to have a theme of how the Lord uses opposition to strengthen us in our lives. I thought about how much Joseph Smith went through so that we could have the restored gospel in our lives. The Lord could have easily sheltered him and made it so that Joseph didn't have to experience as much as he did, but he didn't. Joseph gave his very blood to seal the truthfulness of his testimony. Not only that, but every time Joseph experienced persecution it cemented the truthfulness of this gospel that much more. Has there ever been a time in history where something good did not experience opposition? Furthermore, has there ever been a time in history when the good did not overcome and prevail against the bad that tried so hard to drag it down? How does this pattern apply in our own lives? We already know who will win!

Love you all!

Sister Slade

P.S. Do you remember Sandra who was on date in Oak Harbor but then fell off date when some things came up that challenged her testimony? She was one of the first investigators Sister Turley and I had who we worked so so hard with. Lots of prayers and tears went into teaching her. Sister Anderson said that she surprised everyone by starting the year off showing up at church. She has been meeting with missionaries, is working very hard on resolving her concerns, and feels she is ready to be baptized again! Sandra absolutely knows the church is true. she always has. We are so excited for her!!!

Need The Lord's Help

Elder Winslow and I are also very excited about many of our investigators. In particular, we're excited for Rosemine and her family. They haven't been able to come to church thus far because of Rosemine's schedule at the hospital, but they are all very excited to come and we can't wait for them to get baptized. Pray that they will be able to get work off, so that they can come to church, so that they can make sacred covenants which are essential for salvation!

We are also very excited about the Fort Lauderdale temple. There will be a open house from the 29th of March to the 19th of April. Then, the dedication will be on the 4th of May. We get to go to the open house if one of our investigators is going. I can't wait!

The longer I am in the mission, the more I realize that I really am not a very good teacher, and I really do need the Lord's help with everything that I do. Missionary work would not work if it was not for constant miracles, as well as the testimony of the spirit, when we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and thinking about our investigators. Teaching to their needs, not to their concerns, and not using rote presentation.

This week I took over driving, in order to become more familiar with the area. I am still nervous about it, but I feel like I know the area a little better. If it turns out that I end up taking over the area this next transfer I feel like I will be less of a struggle. But for the record, Elder Winslow and I both want to stay in MS(C) for the next transfer.

We had an exchange last week. Elder Tesch came up to this area with me, while Elder Winslow went down with the other Spanish elders. It was a hard day, because I was taking over the area, and I blanked on what to do a lot, but I tried my best and it ended up being a good exchange regardless.

Our next mission president, President Richardson, will be arriving in the mission on July 1st. President Anderson will be leaving about two weeks after that. I'm hoping that President Richardson will decide to introduce iPads to the mission, which is something that President Anderson was dead set against. I also really hope that he loosens up the rules with regards to music. But that's still a while away, we'll have to see what happens.

I'm sad to hear that Evie is probably leaving the family. I had wanted her to still be there when I got back, but what can you do?

Thank you all for all of your love and support. I'm about out of time...

Thanks,

Elder Slade

Picture of my district

Miracles

Hey family!

We have definitely had some miracles this week!

The most exciting one is a person- Gabriel! It has been such a HUGE blessing to be teaching Gabriel! Gabriel was a former in our area book that we contacted last week and began teaching. He is changing SO quickly and each of our lessons have been so filled with the spirit! He has had a really troubled past and now he can't get enough of the gospel! He came to church and absolutely LOVED it! He said he has never felt so much at home, and the ward can't get enough of him either! When he said the prayer at our last lesson he said "I have never felt this happy before." He came to volleyball on Thursday and our ward mission leader Lans said that on the way back when he was taking him home Gabriel really opened up and told him that he had been thinking about baptism, (we only met him a week ago!) and he had talked to his mom about what she would think if he became a Mormon, and she said she would be fine with it. We went into our lesson on Thursday fully intending to put Gabriel on date, only to find out that he isn't leaving for Texas in February after all- he actually has to leave in about a week and a half. Bummer. Some missionaries in Texas will be getting a golden soon! Hopefully the Lord will reciprocate and send us one too... :)

Juan and Alexandra both came to church again! They are building a lot of bonds with the ward members and I think they are here for good! They are both so wonderful, definitely part of the reason Sister Glancy and I are here. I have really developed a love for less active individuals recently.

Our new investigator this week is Kazim! Kazim is this big black guy from Grenada (close to Jamaica.) He is a little bit sassy. He is a professional swimmer, but doesn't want to come to volleyball because he says that volleyball is for girls...haha

We were unable to have another lesson with James this week because he had a family emergency and had to fly to Florida (Elder Slade probably contacted him while he was there...:) We called James last night and had a good conversation with him. He apologized for being so busy working two jobs and wanted to make sure we knew that he really isn't trying to avoid us, his schedule has just been crazy. He's been reading "that book" and we have a lesson with him on Tuesday so we're hoping he will be progressing even more soon!

We were extremely blessed to find lots of potential investigators this week, so we're hoping and praying that the Lord will continue to bless us and we will have more investigators than ever before next week! We're working so hard! Nothing feels better than reaching the end of a day filled with nothing but tracting and realizing that you gave it your all. Then doing the same thing the next day, and the same thing the next day. This area is making me work harder and become more deeply converted than ever before.

I love this work!!!!!!!! For my study one day this week I read 2 Nephi 4 and compared it to Alma 26. I can't express how grateful I am to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. It fills me with joy absolutely 100% of the time. I have been praying so hard to have my heart completely turned to the Lord, and recently I feel like nothing bothers me at all. Even the days this week that it was pouring rain and we had hours of tracting ahead of us, I couldn't wait to get out there. I just don't get it. How can I suddenly look forward to something so miserable with so much excitement? I know it is because of Jesus Christ, who has overcome the world and gives us every reason to be happy! (John 16:33)

Love, Sister Slade

P.S. Seahawks and Broncos both won!! They're playing each other in the superbowl, I just know it! Don't worry, Sister Glancy and I have become pros and getting door-to-door updates :)

P.P.S. Jesus is a less active individual in our ward who we tried to find last week but had the wrong address and phone number for. We were tracting a complex this week and Sister Glancy saw someone out of the corner of her eye and stopped to talk to them. (Proud mama moment!) Out of the thousands and thousands of people in our area, this individual turned out to be Jesus, getting ready to move to Snohomish 2 days later. He gave us his phone number and new address so that the ward there can contact him. A few days later in ward council one of the ward missionaries, Esther, asked, "Does anybody happen to know someone named Jesus _____? I had a really weird dream last night where someone called me and asked 'Do you know where I can find Jesus _____' I woke up instantly, but I have no idea who Jesus is." In case any of you were wondering if Heavenly Father cares about us on an individual basis...

P.P.S. Do you remember Yassine, the Muslim who we started teaching? Well Esther, like the solid member fellowshipper that she is, introduced him to her best friend in the Silver Lake YSA ward, they hit it off instantly, and they've been dating the last few weeks. The Lord works in mysterious ways I suppose... :)

Pedicures on New Years

 The sun came out, its a miracle!

 New year new fresh cut.

 Lots and lots of wind and rain here lately, guess I need a new umbrella.

Harvesting

I'm doing great. Elder Winslow is really a great companion, and we have been getting much closer together than ever before this last week. We have been closer in unity, and we have been talking more than we used to as well. We are very glad to be working in both a ward and a branch - it allows us to have more opportunities to get our investigators to church, and we get double the spiritual boost each Sunday. And in the Branch, we get to know the members much more, and much better than in the ward before it split.

We decided that I don't know my area well enough, in case Elder Winslow transfers out, and I stay. So this week I am taking over driving in order to know it better. It's really scary for me, because I've never really driven in a busy city before, and I'm still nervous from my accident a while before I left on my mission.

In the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures, I have been studying the last few chapters of Jesus' visit. I have also been studying specifically looking for symbolism and deeper meanings, and my companion and I have made it a point to study for at least one of the investigators/members we'll be seeing each day.

Last Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?), we had a really neat experience with harvesting. We started saying the prayer at the door of the house, because they didn't want to wake up anybody else; we finished, and they invited us in to say another prayer with the whole family. We prayed, and we invited them to be baptized. One of the family members accepted immediately. She told us that she had wanted to get baptized in Haiti, but she was too young and her parents didn't want her to. After she moved here, she couldn't find the church again, but she still wanted to get baptized. It was an amazing experience!

In other news, my companion and I had to call 911 for someone. It was a member, Frè Tony, an older Haitian who got in a car accident. (You're not the only one, Paul!) We came to his house to pick him up, found out that he had been in the accident that morning and that he was in a lot of pain. We gave him a blessing and called 911. The lady asked us if we wanted police or rescue. We said "rescue." They sent a fire truck. :D Luckily, it didn't end up being life threatening. He's fine, he's just in a lot of pain.

I love you all! Thank you all for your letters of encouragement and support!

Thanks,

Eldè Slade