Week Three - California!

Mondays are now my favourite day of the week!  I check my emails several times throughout the day and when his letters finally come I read them several times, making sure I haven't missed anything.  He finally arrived in California and after a week of no emails and missing his phone call - his letter was a welcome sight!

I am fast realizing how small the world is - before I even knew who his trainer was I had a message from his mother saying our sons were companions.  His name is Elder Beus and Jaxon will be his last companion as Elder Beus is going home on the next transfer.  Elder Beus' mom has also connected me with a member of one of the wards they are serving in.  This member is very willing to help us in any way he can and make sure Jaxon is well taken care of - and will forward me weekly pictures :)  Also - noting how small the world is - Elder Beus' cousin is serving in our Stake - in Maple Ridge :)  True story :)

Here are his letters - he always seems to write one long email and then quickly follow up with a few PS's...  I do the same - and I'm still wanting to text him throughout the week to ask him questions - and then I remember I can't so I write another email...hoping he'll answer it.  But as you can see - there's not a lot of question answering in his emails! :P

You'll also see that he got caught in the rain!!  Note that we didn't send him with a coat, umbrella or rain boots - because it NEVER rains in California...right?

Letter 1:

So.... The moment everyone has been waiting for! I'm in California. It's been a fantastic first week! My first area is a doozy. I am covering the Pismo Beach and Arroyo Grande 1st Wards! Our area goes from the ocean to the border of the mission. A crazy first area, eh? Transfer meeting was great, and I love our Mission President and Wife. They are absolutely fantastic. My trainer is Elder Beus, and we have hit it off great! The work in our area has been slow this first week, as he is the District Leader, and we've been getting training and been in and out of meetings all week. Apparently President Felix really trusts me, being a companion to a District Leader my first transfer. Elder Beus really wants to try Canadian food.... poutine, Ketchup chips. The works. I'll give you my address at the end of the email.

On my first day, my first lesson, we dropped an investigator! That was quite interesting... haha. The area has been great, and with us being in two wards, the dinner calendar is FULL. I'm actually in one of Elder Crapo's old areas! Let our Elder Crapo know that! 

So... Time for the big news. IT RAINED. And I mean POURED. Yesterday was an absolute downpour of rain, the streets in Pismo Beach were flooded! Lightning storms happening all day, and it even took the power out in the church building in the middle of an intermediate hymn for one of the other wards. Super awesome. The people of California REALLY needed it. A lot of prayers of gratitude for the rain we had. 

I am absolutely loving it here. President Felix challenged us to really hasten the work this transfer, so that's what we've been focusing on. It's amazing to see the Lord place people in our paths that are prepared. We went tracting this week, and found a family! As soon as we got out of our car, their dog ran loose and we helped bring it back to their house, and knocked a door and when we turned around, the dog was loose AGAIN. Coincidence? Probably not. That dog wanted his family baptized ;) but yeah. We knocked their house a while later and were able to set up an appointment for 7 this Wednesday! Super excited.

Other than that, nothing has really happened. We have been focusing a lot on specific areas, because our area is so huge. Gosh. We've got our work cut out for us. I am so ready for a super busy transfer! 

So glad you had an amazing time at the reunion, and I hope you are having a great time in Kingston!

I love all of you

Emails would be sweet.. :)

Elder Harvey

Love you all! Oh.... Also we were at church for NINE AND A HALF HOURS. Crazy. 

Love you!

MTC Life

Our second letters from Jaxon came as expected on Friday morning.  We were in Alberta and constantly checking our in-box to see if emails had arrived yet.  I can't explain the feeling when we get a letter - it is joy times 1000! :)  I wish they were longer and answered every question we ask and were full of pictures so we could just see is face and see the joy that he is feeling and that he expresses in his letters...I'm sure we'll get pictures some day...maybe!

We are so proud of him and proud of all that he is learning.  We already can tell that he is learning and growing and becoming a great leader and friend to those around him.  We sure love that boy!

Letter 1:

Hey All!

WHAT A WEEK. It's been an insane week here at the MTC. Classroom time has been so amazing and I've learned SO much from my teachers and my study time. I'm really starting to feel the Spirit more and more and being able to actually teach through it. We heard about Elder Packer's passing, but us having little access and time to the internet, didn't hear about it until our teacher told us about it on Saturday. We were blessed to watch the funeral and listen to the speakers just a few hours ago, and it was amazing to hear our Prophet speak. As soon as he got up, I felt the Spirit testify to me that Thomas S Monson is the Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What a spirit filled service.

We had Elder Condie here on Tuesday Night for the Devotional, and he spoke POWERFULLY about the First Vision. I loved it, and it was just what we needed to hear to teach one of our investigator's, Ben. Gah. I love this church. 

After the devotional, {one of my friends} kinda had a tough go. He wasn't feeling so confident, and I sat down with him and talked to him for about twenty minutes. I really have been feeling the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children this past week. 

Super crazy to think that you guys will be in Kingston this time in a month or two. You all will have an amazing time there, and I KNOW it's the right thing to be doing. The Lord has a work for us all, and this is the family's work right now. Go build the church in Kingston. 

We're also teaching an investigator named Ashton, and he's been totally receptive to everything we're teaching.

Yes, I got the package. Everyone loves the Canadian candy. 

OH. And Dad. One of my teachers is a Brother Winters? He's Marc Vance's Nephew. It was super sweet to meet him. 

My P-day in California will be on Monday, and I leave at 3:30 IN THE MORNING on Monday for my flight.

Things have been amazing. I love this work, and I know that I am called of God to do His work here on the earth.

Next time i email, I'll be in the field!

Love you All,

Elder Harvey

Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9

Letter 2:

AND THERE WAS A FREAKING AWESOME THUNDERSTORM A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO AND I LOVED IT. 

Letter 3:

Oh, and to answer your question, I will be getting a new training companion on Monday i believe. But yeah, Monday is going to be my P-day and I'm super excited to finally get out into the field.

I love you all so much. Remember that we are converted not to the church, but to Jesus Christ. And that Jesus Christ and His Atonement is central to EVERYTHING in the church. 

Miss you all, 

Elder Harvey

PS.... This has been the most amazing two weeks of my life. Here's to 102 more weeks! :) I'm gonna go baptize all of California.

First Letter!!

I was waiting for Monday to hear from Jaxon - expecting that Monday would be his Pro-D Day...you can imagine my surprise (and tears) when I got his emails after work!  It was so nice to hear from him and although he doesn't say much...his words filled my need.

Email 1:

THanks for the kind words. It's been great to be here the last couple of days, and I have been having a great time. My companion is Elder Plummer, and we're getting along great! I have an amazing District, Zone, and Branch. Elder Plummer and I have been assigned as Sacrament Meeting Coordinators and start our assignment next SUnday, because this SUnday is Fast Sunday. Ive been learning lots, and The SPirit is so strong here. I AM the only Canadian in my district, so I'm getting a lot of the whole "you say things weird" from everybody. EVERYONE is from Utah or Idaho here. It's nuts. 

I was reading Isaiah 50:7-9,11 today and i completely dissected the scripture and man. I felt the spirit so strongly. It was awesome. It's been really easy to feel the spirit and feel God's love for me.

Ive also come to realize how prepared I really was before I came out here. It's been really easy for me to adjust and get into MIssionary Life.

My first night here, I watched a devotional and then some Elders showed me and another ELder around and we went to a class with them. They left the next day to Texas, but thatnight IT STARTED RAINING. It was sweet. A LIGHTNING STORM TOO. I loved it. 

Life is good. Prayer has become a really important thing to me already.

Oh yeah. DFunny story. I met a member while waiting for the plane to Salt Lake. He was awesome, and the lady behind us thought it was so weird that we had JUST met and were talking so easily, she asked if we were talking about golf and we told her about the church. Awesome experiences everywhere.

Elder Plummer and I are preparing to teach an investigator tomorrow. Teaching the Plan of Salvation.

I love the church, and I've felt my testimony grow immensely already.

Love you all, stay safe, and keep a prayer in your heart!

Love, Elder Harvey

Email 2:

Oh yeah, and if you could send a BUTTLOAD of Canadian candy, I'm sure my AMerican Elders would LOVE it.

Love you guys. THanks for the Picture book by the way.

P-DAYS are friday here. So i'll talk to you all in a week.

Email 3:

One more thing, I ran into Hermana Beaumont lastnnight at Dinner! we got a picture, and I'll send it to you next week.

I'll make sure to takemore pictures too.

Love you all.

Email 4:

Sorry, one more thing..... I REALLY need some Doctor Pepper...... :) 

It was really great to hear from you. Talk with you next week!

Beginning

Today at 1pm Salt Lake time Jaxon reported to the MTC to start his two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He flew out of Abbotsford yesterday morning.  Emerson had to work so he said his goodbye's at home.

We took two vehicles out to Abbotsford as I had to go to work after saying goodbye.  Grandma and Grandpa Shirley were still with us and flying out later that morning.  We got him checked in, paid for his one piece of luggage and walked to the boarding area.  We all gave him our hugs, wished him well and sent him on his way.  Not thinking - he packed all of his shampoo, sunscreen, toothpaste, etc. in his carry-on bag - so they were confiscated at security.  Lucky for us the guard let us take them home.  Jaxon would have to stop and pick some up once he got to Provo.  He went through security, checked in at the gate and walked on the plane.

All the build up - all the anxiety in saying goodbye - and just like that he's gone.  I said goodbye to my parents and my family and headed on my way to work - had a good cry on the drive there and was good to go!

Everyone stayed behind and watched the plane take off, went and got some breakfast and then drove Grandma and Grandpa back to the airport to head home.  Then we were left to wonder what he was doing - did he get through customs - did our friend Jessy Robinson meet him - did he get some more shampoo - did he get to the MTC - did he get a good companion - do they get companions in the MTC - so many questions and we have to wait until Monday to hear from him and hope he has time to answer all of them in his email home.  I think that will be the hardest part of all of this here at home - wanting to know how he is and what he's doing all the time but only getting weekly updates.  Here's where the faith in the Lord comes into play.  We know he is doing what he should be doing and that the Lord will protect him.  I'm sure with time we will stop wondering and thinking of him so often - and maybe not...