Letter 09-24-1013

Hello,

The weather is finally changing! We've got a pretty good amount of rain lately which has also cooled things down. Last P-day Elder Mintey and I went golfing with another companionship even though the winds were probably 20 mph+ but it was still way fun. (actually I think the wind makes it even more fun...) Elder Mintey raced NASCAR before his mission and so took a picture next to his "racecar" as well.

Week three of whitewashing / district leader was swell. We know the area pretty well now and can find our way around. Jasmin's baptism was pushed back a week to this Saturday because her husband Tyler (who is the competitive Pokemon battler) got worthy to baptize her but had to work an all-day shift on the 21st. She's great though - we saw her at Walmart today (she works as a manager at the customer service desk). It's funny to think she and Tyler graduated in '11, and to see a bit of what life would have been without a mission. It would have been weird.

We taught a 12 year old boy that was adopted/is a foster child/ward of the state... his parents are active and he's in a great family. We're working with him for a baptism date on October 19th - he's been worked with previously but never worked out because he has slight anger issues but lately he's been voluntarily coming to church. That's a big step for him! We picked him up as a new investigator when I was on exchanges with the Zone leaders, who had taught him in the past. They said he was doing the best they've ever seen him so we're excited.

One of the ways Utah missions are interesting is that new investigators are SO HARD to come by, but when you do pick one up almost invariably they end up getting baptized 3-4 weeks later. The polarization of people towards the church is crazy. Either they're super prepared or super anti without much in-between, which makes for some crazy stories on both ends.

Elder Chandler

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thought: for those who have been offended...

The mission is still reading the Book of Mormon together. Sometimes I don't like that they've kind of scheduled our personal study for us by giving us these reading assignments each day. Either way it's powerful.

We run into a lot of people that are turned off towards the church or offended by the "stereotype Utah Mormons" - judgmental, wont-let-kids-play-with-nonmembers, etc. All we can say is that's not what the church is all about. This week one of the scriptures in our reading was Helaman 3:33,

"...pride began to enter into the church - not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people that professed to belong to the church of God".

The church is true even if people are not always true to the church!... so we shouldn't go leaving it because of others inside of it.

Letter 09/17/2013

Everyone,

I found out earlier that the city of Bennion was actually dissolved into Taylorsville not too long ago, so the area I'm in actually is about half Taylorsville city and half Murray city (but in the Bennion Zone of the mission). Both are awesome cities, but it's kind of interesting to have the youth split into two different high schools. I know a lot of the Murray kids still though.

Lately I've been noticing that my suits and my belt is a little big. When we were at Mr Mac buying the clothes and stuff I needed for my mission, we purposely bought stuff a bit bigger thinking I would gain some on my mission here in the "heart of Zion". Apparently there's not enough Jell-o and funeral potatoes to get me yet, though. Definitely not complaining.

Our teaching pool continues to increase. We went on exchanges twice this week. Elder Reed came here (ZL) and was with me. We found a fair few people to start teaching, especially since he was just transferred out of the area not too long ago. The next day I conducted my first exchange as a DL and went over to the other half of the stake with Elder Franco which was super fun as well! And I'm sure Elder Mintey and Elder Dean had a good time as well, judging by the Domino's boxes on the table when I got back... :)

We had a mission conference on Wednesday up at Brighton. It's always nice to get out of our little boxes here in the valley and go somewhere fun as a mission. The thoughts were good... a lot about OYMing. Apparently some of the mission is struggling a lot and other parts are explosive so we want some continuity. Our district went from having 4 people on date to 9 people on date at time of writing so things are going great here at least!--

Elder Chandler

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thought: 

http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng#media=

Letter 09-10-2013

Dear _,

The unthinkable actually happened... I got transferred to Taylorsville! (the zone is called Bennion but the area I cover includes parts of Taylorsville, Murray, and Bennion - mostly Taylorsville) It's crazy because the houses in my area are SO NICE. The basement we stay in gives my companion and I our own bathrooms which is awesome. The apartment actually has a nickname - The Palace. I've also already ran into Grandma Wendy's sister so I've met by great aunt and uncle who also happens to be one of our ward mission leaders. Another first is that I went to Leatherby's earlier today for the first time on my mission :) :) :)

Even though we're whitewashing the Zone Leaders left us two people on date, which is nice. One of them is a 21 year old girl that is newly married to a returning member. His name is Tyler... and he actually plays Pokemon competitively so we get along very very well! The work is a lot different than Midvale; there's a lot more stopping by members and less people just wandering/walking. We have a few nice apartment complexes to work in as well.

I really enjoy working an area like I did in Murray Parkway again with lots of youth and families. Hopefully we can get through the whitewash and by the end of the transfer have things really rolling with a solid foundation.

--Elder Chandler

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thought: whitewashing an area

My brain isn't working too well right now (I think I'm just starting to have some kind of mild bug come on...) so I'll just muse on whitewashing for a bit.

Transfers are always great because they give you a chance to literally start over. You can drop all of your bad habits, pick up good ones, and do so very easily. On the converse, you can also drop all of your good habits and pick up bad ones very easily so you move forward with caution! All in all though, as you strive to do better and better transfers give opportunities to take giant leaps forward.

Whitewashing is even more exaggerated. You have no "senior area companion" to buffer your entrance. Both the new companions must be on their 'A' game at all times for good impressions. It's a chance for, not just missionaries, but areas, to have the same benefits of a transfer. It can start over the foundation for the better, and that's what we're going for.

This foundation, especially with the members, is vitally important. It's our opportunity to have a ton of members out here, each with a heart that wants to do missionary work. One thing that has been especially important in this is working closely and in the line of the vision of the bishop. Luckily I didn't have to learn this by error because of Heidi's letters :) When you jump on board with the bishop, even when the previous missionaries haven't liked him, even if you feel at first his vision (or lack of vision) is limited, to get on board with him and move forward with the key holder.

The next step is the rest of the ward councils, then the youth in the area, then the "social butterfly" active members, and finally the Less Active/Returning Members/Recent Converts. Each step is vitally important in giving the area ability to flourish. The people here are great so it's going to be a great six weeks!

Elder Sighting 9-05-2013

Grandma Wendy got a text last night from her brother, who is serving as a Ward Mission Leader in his home ward in Bennion, Utah.  It said something like this, "We met our new missionaries tonight.  They are on fire!"

Attached was this picture of Ryan and his new companion, Elder Mintey.

Letter from President Moffat--

September 6, 2013

Elder Ryan Chandler

1918 Ben Air Drive

Taylorsville, UT 84129

re:  District Leader Calling,

Dear Elder Chandler,

I am grateful for your acceptance of the call to serve as a District leader in the Second District of the Bennion Zone beginning on September 4, 2013. As a District leader you fulfill a fundamental role in the success of the mission and of the missionaries.  

Your new responsibilities include:

·      *   Setting an example for the missionaries in your district in obedience, proselyting skills, studying the gospel, effective planning and hard work.

·       *  Carrying a full proselyting load and baptizing in your assigned area.

·         * Supervising, teaching and inspiring the missionaries in your district by serving them and strengthening their faith in Jesus Christ.

·       *   Plan and conduct regular district meetings

·        *  Conducting companionship exchanges and outlined in the Missionary Handbook pages 63-65

·       *   Interviewing baptismal candidates

·      *    Looking after the well being of missionaries in your district, especially the sisters

·         * Accounting and reporting any concerns to the zone leaders.  If the concerns are confidential, urgent or of a worthiness nature you should report them directly to me.

This is an important responsibility that the Lord will help you righteously fulfill as you humbly petition him in prayer and then become anxiously engaged.  I express my love and appreciation to you and will remember you in my prayers.

Love and Support,

President Moffat

Letter 9-10-2013

Hello,

This week is way exciting!

Elder Oliveros and I are so blessed to be able to be a part of Kissandra and Amy's baptism... this could have materialized a year ago but somehow things work out and it landed with us. The Lord again provided a way for us to baptize two people this month and reach mission standard of excellence. :)

These girls have been going to church for a very long time now while they've been at their grandparents house in west valley. None of their family is members - mom, dad, grandpa, grandma - just one uncle that's a convert. Their mom lives in some apartments in our area and has them on Friday and Saturday. We met her as she just finished moving in on my very first day in this area - May 1st. My very last Saturday in the area we're able to baptize her two girls, and they were confirmed on Sunday. Also on Sunday, a testimony by the girls' grandpa that he wants to be baptized. The missionaries in West Valley will be happy :) Kristi, the mom, needs to get a divorce from her husband that's in Mexico currently and then get married to her husband, but she'll be baptized once that happens.

Transfers came around as you can tell. I'm going to the Bennion East Stake. My new companion will be Elder Mintey. He came out with Elder Oliveros, so he's just finished his first 12 weeks... I'll also be the District Leader over there. It came as a big surprise because president ended up calling us wayyyy later than he usually does for these kind of things. Eh.

PS yes mom I'm wearing a Taylorsville High shirt in the second picture... found it at Wal-Mart and felt I needed to share in alumi pride. I just remember your stories of your football team suiting up in baby blue and yellow... ha

Anyways,

Elder Chandler

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thought: "What should I do?"

This week our mission Book of Mormon reading included Alma 32. One phrase I love comes in verse 5 when a large group of the poorer class and ask Alma and Amulek a simple question: "What shall we do?" This phrase is actually used word for word in another place in the scriptures in Acts 2:37, when another group of people speak to Peter and the Apostles on the Pentacost - "men and brethren, what shall we do?"

If this phrase is used twice, both in missionary context, it flags to me that it's an important step in hooking people to the gospel. We need to get them to ask, "What should I do?". The basic finding pattern goes like this:

1) bear testimony

2) pricked with the spirit

3) what should I do?

4) invite/commit/follow up

Now, because this is part of the finding process, it's a great tool for members to use (as finding is your responsibility in the first place!). Whenever anyone asks you any form of the question "what should I do", you can immediately respond, "Ask the missionaries! They can help you!"

People can ask this question in many forms. Elder Nelson makes a big list of them during his last two talks in general conference. If people come to you for advice on just about anything though, let it run across your mind to tell them to ask the elders instead. We'll be glad to answer any questions for sure! :) So listen for times when people ask "What should I do?" and have them get their answers from us then we'll be busy and happy and stuff.