Where No Stomach Has Gone Before (06/23/2014)

Guys, this past week Elder Watkins and I have gotten so much swag. You would never realize this, but when two missionaries are biking out in the hot sun and in humidity that feels like a rainforest you acquire so much swag. Like, sweat on your bag. Then there's swack, swace, swands, swarms, swegs, and swutt... Pretty much sweat everywhere. 

We spent a great deal of the week outside on bikes trying every single person we can think of that's not terribly far away. This past week with Rodney we taught him and followed up on prayer and reading the scriptures. We introduced him to the Gospel Library app for his iPad. It's kinda cool that Rodney can join in with the rest of the Elder's Quorum and read out of the manual from his iPad! Too bad full time missionaries can't...yet. On Saturday we went to his house for Part 4 of the bathroom remodel: cutting and laying down tile! We learned how to cut and place tile into the bathroom floor! No dangerous tools were used during this process! 

Thursday morning dealt us some interesting cards. Elder Watkins and I both woke up at 4 in the morning to incredibly upset stomachs. We both got food poisoning. And as a result came the Montezuma's Revenge. Sister Walkenhorst told us to take some pepto bismol and rest up for the day. The sisters gave us some cup-of-noodles to ease our appetites, and a member brought us some remedies to help our stomachs. With those and the power of the priesthood, Elder Watkins and I healed up for the next day! 

Friday and Saturday we went on exchanges with the zone leaders, and I got to go with Elder Zeyer! And wow, what a long time it's been since I've spent time with him. We had an amazing exchange of learning from one another and catching each other up on our lives since our days spent together in Sulphur. So much has changed in the past five months since we were companions. He dropped a surprise on me... As he described his experiences in Sulphur post-companionship and the last few months in Moore (his current area) he told me about how he's changed. And that change, he said, came from the things he learned from being around me. I wasn't expecting that, but I definitely remember make-or-break experiences me, Elder Linam, and Elder Zeyer had last fall and winter and all the opposition that got thrown at us--individually and collectively. I felt strengthened knowing I helped out someone else. Oh man...so much love. Just like old times.

Sunday ended the stressful week. Elder Watkins and I gave our talks in sacrament meeting... Psych! The bishopric decided to not have us give talks this week! But we're still on for this next Sunday. We're excited to speak...just as long as food poisoning doesn't get in the way. And later on that day we had another good visit with Rodney. This week should be great. Zone Conference this Tuesday, talking about working with ward and stake leaders, should be great. Anyway, have a fantastic week!  

Elder Garner 

My Successor My Companion (06/16/2014)

I never thought I would actually have to say goodbye to Elder Bolan. I got so used to having him around. Alva's town of 5,000 is getting a new handyman and new disciple of Christ. He enjoyed living in the new apartment in Yukon for a week! But now he's made room for my new companion: Elder Watkins from Cedar Hills, Utah. I learned that Elder Watkins, the elder that took my spot in Sulphur in February, kept up the good work and helped contribute to the growth of the Pauls Valley Branch--soon to be a ward! Now most of our conversations consist of sharing stories from our tenure down in Sulphur. 

Along with Elder Watkins came two sister missionaries--the first set Mustang 1st ward's had. One of them spent the first nine months of her mission in the YSA branch in Midwest City, and now she's here in her second area training a brand-new sister missionary. I've really enjoyed serving around three new missionaries. All four of us strangers at first, but now unified in our cause to serve in the Mustang 1st ward area. 

Just before all the changes took place, the Elder Bolan and I and the other set of elders went around on Tuesday and said goodbye to all their favorite families. Elder Bolan and I got treated out to iHop by our ward mission leader. Wednesday was when all the magic happened, and suddenly Elder Bolan disappeared to Alva, Elder Woodward to Anadarko, and Elder Faulkner to Edmond. 

Once back to our apartment the zone leaders gave me a little orientation for my new district leader position. I haven't been on my toes this much since the beginning of my mission! Being a district leader's going to be a good whip to keep me in shape for my responsibilities as a missionary. 

Thursday and Friday consisted of introducing members to Elder Watkins and helping him familiarize himself with the new area. Much like me, Mustang 1st is his first metro area. On Saturday Elder Watkins and I and the sisters had the opportunity to go to Shawnee, just east of Oklahoma City, to see one of Elder Watkins' old investigators get baptized. That was a super cool experience. This Sunday we're going to see a member's mother in Sulphur get baptized! I've been looking forward to going back to the Pauls Valley branch for the longest time now. And with every story Elder Watkins tells me it makes me miss the area more and more... 

We had some great success this week--with what we could do aside from transfers. We met with Rodney on Sunday. He had a baptismal date for the 21st of June, but we and him decided it would be best to push the date back to July the 12th for him to feel more prepared. He loves coming to church, and he recognizes the difference it's making in his life. His wife is even noticing and pointed out how much he's changing because of the gospel. His wife is ordering him a quad! Just in time for his baptism! Stay tuned for this transfer! I'm excited to be here for another transfer and get some work done with Elder Watkins!

Elder Garner

Field Becomes Park (06/09/2014)

We had quite the unorthodox week. I went from being a missionary to a furniture hauler and apartment cleaner. I think I wore more street clothes this week than I have my whole mission. We finally moved out of the Fieldstone apartments in Mustang to the Park at Westpointe in Yukon! And I'm pretty sure our new apartments are 5-star upper-class penthouses in disguise. People are so cool here. Except on day 2 at the new apartment our upstairs neighbor decided to pour muddy water out his window and onto our balcony... I guess his kitchen sink wasn't good enough...haha. Really though, the complex has tons of young, active people. Lots of people watch us and ask about us, so our mark is definitely being made. Luckily we made some progress with Rodney, our most solid investigator. He basically already considers himself a member of the church. He's totally getting baptized! On the flipside, Wyatt, the 8-year old we were teaching, now lives with grandparents in Mustang 2nd ward. We had to turn him over to the Mustang 2nd elders...but we will for sure be at his baptism when it happens! 

So here's the crazy stuff that's gone down since we've moved to the Park at Westpointe: On Thursday we moved in more new furniture (no surprise) and in the process we ran into Caleb, the 23-year old we run into last week. He asked for a blessing. He needed some direction. He was out selling pest control to help him develop communication skills. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to serve a mission or if he wanted to get a girlfriend. He felt unworthy in some aspects. So we gave him a blessing to help guide him, we bore our testimonies about the incredible power of being a missionary and servant of the Lord, and we sent him off with some ensign magazines to help uplift his life a little more. Then on Sunday morning he knocked on our door to tell us that he decided to quit his job and move back to Utah and that he would leave on Monday. We sure hope and pray that he finds himself and figures out what he wants to do with his life. 

We were welcomed into our new apartment complex with a going-away party for a member family from Utah that temporarily moved into the ward for the FAA program. The members made really good friends with a referral named Ashley, who loves talking to us. She's looking for a church to go to, and she made great friends with the member family. She recognized something they had, and she wants that in her own life. Another family from Utah that's out here selling for Vivint also met some people that they decided to share the gospel with. We met them yesterday, and their super cool! 

If I had more time I'd tell you more... But wow, this place is on fire! But before I get off you should know that Elder Bolan and I are finally getting split... I'm sad to see him go. He's getting transferred to Alva. I'm getting an Elder Watkins. Interestingly enough, he's the elder that replaced me in Sulphur. My predecessor is now my companion! I'm also a district leader now, so yay for more responsibilities! But seriously I'm looking forward to this next transfer!

Elder Garner 

Bennett Bathroom Blitz (06/02/2014)

The month of May was all about nostalgia. It was all about remembering what happened last year. I tend to think about past events a lot, especially since May was such a big month last year. On May 31st last year I spent my fourth day in Oklahoma driving around frantically away from storms and several tornadoes that had touched down near Oklahoma City, with the biggest one landing south of I-40 in Canadian County (my current area). We drove over to the Winterton's house in Lexington that night huddling up to the TV screen watching the weather report while hailing was pounding on the window and thunder was booming outside. May 31st this year was a little less action-packed, I guess you could say. We went to our new apartment complex and visited the Shanklins, a member family that we're quite literally moving next door to this Wednesday. That night I had a dream about tornadoes, and the Shanklins happened to be in my dream...and I ran to their house to take shelter. It was some interesting dream. 

And that's what capped off Nostalgia month. So this week was pretty epic once again. On Wednesday we tracted into two member families—in a row! I had to ask Elder Bolan if we were tracting in Utah. It was quite the surprise. Their records aren't in Mustang 1st ward yet. Later on that night our ward mission leader took the four of us to Applebee's for dinner. Someone apparently was watching and observing us, because our waiter told us that someone had already paid for our tab! We're not even sure who did, but whoever it was most likely knew who we were and what we do, so that was a good reminder to me that people are watching us!

Thursday was incredibly spontaneous. The first person we tried was the stake patriarch's son. He's less-active ish. He doesn't come to church because he has to work, otherwise he would. Anyway, he and his wife moved to Edmond on Tuesday. We literally stopped by their house just in time to help them move! Then we got permission to go up to Edmond to help them move in! EDMOND! That's the happening place in the OKC mission. I would love to serve there one day. I've heard great things about it from Elder Bolan and other missionaries. 

Friday was wild. We went to McDonald's in Mustang with a member, and literally right after pulling in to the parking lot there was a loud screeching of tires rubbing up against the asphalt and then a loud sound of crunching metal occurred shortly afterwards. We narrowly avoided a car wreck by a few seconds. A black Ford F-150 stopped on Highway 152 (a multi-lane highway) to let us into McDonald's, and the other oncoming lane had a black Chevy Silverado coming towards us. With plenty of time to make it in, we pulled into McDonald's. A red Ford Edge decided since we pulled in it was okay for her to pull out, but she didn't see the oncoming Silverado. The Ford Edge clipped the side of the Silverado, which was going about 55 mph, and the Silverado spun a 180 on its tires and hit a Toyota Tundra and a Chevy Equinox. The police and ambulance arrived at the scene. No one was killed or injured luckily. 

The weekend went quite well! On Saturday we helped the Bennetts demolish their bathroom. We got to rip out sheetrock and tiles and pipes and all that fun stuff. And we're doing some more of it today. They also came to church yesterday! And they enjoyed it! We're praying that Brother Bennett will be baptized this month! Tons of good things happening! We're moving to the Park at Westpointe in Yukon on Wednesday, and we're very excited for the move! After helping ward member after ward member move in and out, it's time for US to move!

Elder Garner 

Grand Tours of the Sooner (05/27/2014)

This week was seriously the crowning week of this transfer in Mustang. So many great experiences I'd love to repeat. I would not be upset if President kept me here for a while longer. I hope I stay here till September! 

Monday. WOW. Brother Hulsey, a non-member from a part-member family, took us to dinner in downtown Oklahoma City. My first time there! Oklahoma City, the heart of my mission. Elder Bolan and I experienced OKC for the first time. We ate at a restaurant converted from a garage port to a burger joint! It was epic, and we had a great visit with Brother Hulsey and got to know him better. Afterwards he took us on a tour of all the sites in Oklahoma City. He took us to the Devon Tower, the Capitol building, Bricktown, Deep Deuce, the Arts District, the Boathouse District, and the old mansions north of the capitol. Oh my goodness... so much to see. It reminded me so much of Salt Lake. A temple would make it all complete! I will definitely take my parents to visit there one day.

Wednesday was our apartment touring day with the OKC mission housing couple. We spent the morning and part of the afternoon looking at apartments getting ready for the sisters to come into the ward. After touring all the apartments we wanted to look at we put it to a vote, and at the beginning of June we will be moving to The Park at Westpointe in Yukon. The apartments are seriously so classy. We will be living in 5-star luxury! With a pool and everything...oh just kidding missionaries can't use the pool ;) Me and my new companion (if Elder Bolan leaves) will be moving up to the new apartments just before transfers in two weeks while the new sisters stay in our old apartment to run out the lease. Once the lease is up (about three weeks after transfers) they will move up to the new apartments with us--in a different apartment of course! In any case, look for a change of address in about two weeks. 

Friday was when the torrents came. We're supposed to be getting rain for a solid week. It's even raining right now. Our stake is doing a fast next Sunday for the drought in Oklahoma, and it seems as if our prayers will be answered early! The Tuttle elders happened to be up in Mustang and while they were driving their power steering on their Ford Fusion died! So Elder Bolan and I had to rescue them and shelter them from the rain. Later on that night we had our ward game night! The Bennetts came! And the ward fellowshipped the absolute daylights out of them! They loved the game night! Success! 

And to top off the week we had some great lessons with our investigators this week. We met with Brother Bennett and his less-active wife on Thursday and Sunday. His growth is incredible. He loves meeting with us, and he always asks what we'll be talking about next! His wife's even taken an interest in listening to us! We had a great connection with Brother Bennett in the last lesson, and he's making some progress in the gospel! We also met with Whitney and taught her son, Wyatt, the plan of salvation. So far so good. He seems to understand everything. She even came to church on Sunday, but just not our ward... :/ We even got to meet with Alex and got back into contact with Sister Griffin, who had went to Utah for a few weeks. We taught Alex the Word of Wisdom and the 10 Commandments. Elder Bolan and I got somewhere with our investigators this week, which pleased us greatly :)

And yesterday. Since we couldn't email at the library with it being Memorial Day, the four of us went to member's house and played a game called "Killer Bunnies." Anyone here heard of that game?? That game is the most hilarious and aggravating game I've ever played... It's insane. We played that for six hours....ya. But after that we got dropped off at the Park at Westpointe to do some contacting. We visited our recent convert, Sister Taylor, and found out she's smoking again... :/ sad day. But then the biggest miracle happened. Seriously it was so inspired. We walked around the apartment complex--our future home--and tried a referral named Ashley. She knew a family from Utah that's been here since March. She said we was interested in wanting to meet with us and wanted to throw a surprise barbeque for the Utah family for when they leave. We got invited, and we've on board to meet with her and her husband! Heck yeah! Then she dropped like five referrals for us to go try! While trying them a kid named Caleb walked by us, called us "elders," and then we found out he was from Utah! Boom. Sweet miracles.

The Park at Westpointe is hopping with Latter-day Saints. And soon it'll be hopping with missionary moments of sharing the gospel! Y'all can bet you'll have that to look forward to in the next few months! 

Elder Garner

Crossing the Line (05/19/2014)

I don't think I've ever done so much service in one week! Other than tornado cleanup last year, of course. We had several opportunities this week to help out the community and ward members with individual needs. We get called upon almost everyday this past week to help out with one project or another. We helped shovel dirt, move sheetrock, move a family out of the ward, and give blessings to the sick. 

On Monday we had an incredible specialized training from our zone leaders about the costs of discipleship in reference to Elder Holland's talk this past General Conference. The sister training leaders gave a training about Alma and how the Anti-Nephi-Lehies chose to bury their weapons on war. Earlier on, they had merely set them on the shelf with the thought in the back of their minds they could potentially wield them again at a moment's notice. They eventually chose to bury their weapons altogether. It made me think about things I had that needed to be moved from the shelf to the ground. The sisters gave us a challenge to find something we as missionaries were holding onto and to burying that thing--abstract or concrete. It sure can be tough making sacrifices, but it's all out of love for the Lord.

Tuesday was a little unusual for a missionary. We spent most of the day apartment hunting... That just gave me a scope into the future! *Scary* The housing couple at the mission office told us to start looking for apartments to make way for the sister missionaries that are coming in to Mustang 1st this summer. This Wednesday the housing couple will come out with us and tour apartments with us and talk about the options. Our niche of living with three other elders will soon come to end... 

On Wednesday we met our "baptismal referral's" mother, Whitney. Wyatt is her 8-year old son that she wants baptized. She is very less-active and does not intend to give up smoking, although she loves the teachings of the church and the gospel. She very much wants her son to be baptized. The real test for commitment, however, is getting her to come church with her son. We had a lengthy chat with Bishop Robertson, the bishop of the Mustang 2nd ward, who told us everything to watch out for with Whitney and Wyatt. Whitney's mother lives in 2nd ward, and Whitney insists on going to 2nd ward so she can be with her mom...even though they live in 1st ward. So now there could potentially be a feud between the Mustang 1st and 2nd wards... It's been a rather interesting situation. The members tell us one thing about Whitney and Wyatt, but then when we teach Wyatt they act totally different than what everyone else is telling Elder Bolan and I... Everyone says Wyatt is "special needs with a capital 'S'" and that Whitney is "non-committal and hot and cold." On Saturday we taught the Restoration, and they seemed opposite of everything people told us about them. 

So now we hold our breath and proceed. We are praying for the power to handle Whitney and Wyatt's situation gracefully! Thursdaycame and went. One year came and went just like that. We "celebrated" by going to a Japanese Hibachi restaurant called Wasabi. Ha. It was all I could do not to choose McDonald's or Wendy's yet stay on the cheap side! Anyway, great day of remembering my first day in the MTC, meeting Elder Hoddy for the first time, saying goodbye to mom and dad... 

Friday was pretty sweet! We left our area and went to five different areas! With permission, of course... We helped a member get stuff from his grandparents' house over in the Moore 1st ward area (1). To do that we had to jut across the OKC 2nd ward (2). Later on that day we went out with Brother Tonay, our 2nd Counselor in the bishopric to see Brother Wray, and member that lives clear out in the middle of nowhere! So of course we drove through Mustang 2nd ward boundaries (3), then we had to cut through the corner of Anadarko branch's boundaries (4) to get to Brother Wray's house. We had a really spiritual visit with him and gave his mom a blessing! Afterwards we drove over the boundary and went through OKC 5th ward boundaries (5!) and got on I-40 to get home. We saw some of the damage from the tornado that hit in El Reno almost a year ago. Tornadoes seem to be hiding out this year.

Elder Bolan and I love this area! And we love this work! Have a fantastic week y'all!

Elder Garner   

The Month of Nostalgia (05/12/2014)

This week I approach the top of hill: my year mark is this Thursday the 15th. This past month I've kept thinking about everything I was doing a year ago: finishing finals at BYU, moving back into the house (for only three weeks!), going down to St. George to visit Kayla, giving my farewell talk (a year ago today), getting set apart, and of course, entering the MTC in Provo. For the first time on my mission I am starting to see the end, which scares me!

So I'll tell you about my week and make the most of it before I no longer have the chance! So Tuesday was pretty...interesting. We got the go-ahead to take our mission car into the dealership. The 2013 Chevy Cruzes have a massive recall because of issues with the front axle. So we took our car in for inspection, and pop goes the weasel, our car gets replaced! So the dealership had to provide us with a rental car. We waited for a couple hours before they had one available. They gave us the first thing that arrived: A tiny, hot-red Chevy Sonic! Raise your hand if you are familiar with what those cars look like. Yeah, we pretty much drive around a Hot Wheels car now. Not sure when we get our normal Chevy Cruze back, but I miss it already. 

On Thursday we went on a quickie exchange with the zone leaders for a few hours. Both sets of us had some cool miracles! We had an amazing visit with a couple inactive members that needed help figuring out their purpose in life, and we had a very spiritual discussion with them. The other set found some great potential investigators for us to visit. On Saturday I got to meet "Terrible" Terry. He's an Okie talker! We spent two hours with him talking about the Restoration! He has so much kindness in his heart and has so much to give to others. He really has little to learn about the gospel--because he lives it so well already. Elder Bolan and I continue to pray for miracles to happen with our investigators and for opportunities to meet new people and share with them the gospel. 

And of course, Sunday. Mother's Day. What a great time to remember all that my mom has done for me. For helping get to this point in my life. She deserved nothing less when I skyped her and the rest of my family last night. It was so much fun seeing my family for the first time in a year. I'm excited to reunite with them and my friends, but for the time being, it's back to serving the Lord for the latter half of my mission! Have an epic week!

Elder Garner