Elder Jared Bond: What a Week

This week has been insane.

Tuesday was a pretty normal day. We did some service and had a couple lessons.

Wednesday though. What a day. We got to go to the temple which was amazing. The Portland temple is soo beautiful. Almost as nice as the Gilbert temple ;) But we went through and Elder Anderson ditched out pretty early. He's had a lot on his plate, and he's been thinking about going home. But he left the temple and called his mom and said he wanted to come home, but didn't tell any of us until we were in the car and we had just dropped off the other elders we had with us and he turns to me and says "Elder Bond, I've decided I'm going home." It was a surprise and a half. I knew he had been struggling, but I never thought he would decide to go home. It was a long, crazy, pretty hard day but after a lot of talking with him and praying and giving him a Priesthood blessing and counseling with some of our leadership he decided he was going to stay. It's a really long, crazy story but I figure I'll leave it at that for you guys haha but guys. God listens to our prayers, and He is perfectly aware of us in every moment and Elder Anderson and I saw that firsthand as we figured out what he was going to do. I'm definitely glad he's staying, but let me tell you as much as I love him he can definitely be a handful. And I mean that in the best way. I've learned a ton about forgetting about myself and focusing on others and what they're going through. I've gotten a lot better at being aware of others and paying attention to them and knowing what they might need. I've learned a lot with Elder Anderson, and I really do love him. And yeah, that was that haha.

Thursday was my one month mark in the field (it feels really weird to think about that. It's flying by). We only had one or two appointments that afternoon so we had a lot of time to be out talking to people and teaching them. In around two hours we talked to probably 20-25 people and taught them all and gave 8 of them a copy of the Book of Mormon and scheduled follow up visits with three of them. It was soo good. There was this lady named Lisa we met that was super cool. We were walking and she was on rollerskates going the opposite way and so we just said hi as she rolled by and she didn't say anything, but then we heard a noise and we turned around and she had fallen! She didn't move for a couple seconds which freaked us out, but we ran over and helped her up and got to talking and ended up talking for like 15-20 minutes. She's Lutheran and very politely but clearly said she wasn't interested in changing that, which was fine because we can still teach about Jesus Christ ;) We talked more and got to know her and we did eventually turn the conversation back to religion and the Gospel and I just felt this prompting to be bold with her. I just started talking and started quoting sections from the Book of Mormon to her and I said some really bold things that I wouldn't have normally said to someone on the street, and afterwards she said she'd take a copy of the Book of Mormon to read and asked for our number and we set up a time to go and meet with her again. I know that that was the Holy Ghost filling my mouth with the words Lisa needed to hear. It was super cool.

On Friday Elder Anderson had a doctors appointment in another city that's a ways away, which took a big chunk of our day but we were able to go out and meet with some more people. We met this kid named Alex. He's super cool, and we had another lesson with him yesterday.

Saturday we did a good amount of service, which is always good. Then we met with this guy named Bob. Bob is one of a kind. He's like 6' 6" and super muscular and he has this super long ponytail and broken teeth and really rough skin. He has this huge dog and tiki masks and swords on his walls and three or four motorcycles and fourwheelers and guns and tools and a huge truck in his garage. He's basically super cool. We met him for the first time on Friday and we had a lesson with him on Saturday and it went so well. He already knows a lot, and we just kinda helped him understand more and fit some of the things he already knows together into a more complete whole. He's kept up on every commitment we left with him, and he came to church with us on Sunday and totally loved it. He's just a really cool guy and I genuinely enjoy talking with him and getting to know him, and I'm stoked to see him learn more about the Gospel and his relationship with Jesus Christ. You'll be hearing more about Bob in the future haha

All in all I'm seriously loving my mission. It's hard, but I'm becoming stronger. As I pray and study I can literally feel my Heavenly Father blessing me with what I stand in need of. Jesus Christ is becoming my closest friend. As i learn more about him and try my best to apply his teachings to real life I feel this confidence and this peace that I can't really explain. Jesus Christ is the man. I know He lived, and I know He still lives and loves each of us perfectly and without end. I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the restored church that contains the fulness of His gospel, and that through Him and by Him we can return to be with our families in our Heavenly Father's presence forever. I love my family, and I love this Gospel. I hope you all are doing well, keep being great.

Love,

Elder Bond

1. Our zone at the temple

2. Me, Elder Petersen, Elder Anderson (my comp), and Elder Hoffart. I love those guys.

3. One of my favorite parks in the area. We always meet tons of people here

4. We made this little block wall and planted these flowers for one of our investigators named Susie around her favorite tree. She's pretty old but basically the ultimate grandma, (besides my grandma. Love you Grandma Jo😁)