Mission Week 88: Tale of the lost iPad

March 13, 2017

Sagrada Familia,

This week has been a very good one indeed. I am so happy that I get to be serving here in Badalona. The weather is starting to warm up and so are the people. We found a lot of great potential and a good change of attitude have helped me a lot this week. Had a good PPI with the Savior, and he helped me figure somethings out. Then he put me to the test.

Now, don't be disappointed. I am not not perfect... You know I have tried to change and get better throughout the mission. You know how forgetful I can be. I am always going from one place to the next, not paying attention many times to what is behind or ahead, just living in the moment. Well, such an experience happened to me this week. We sat on some stairs to make some phone calls while I was looking at the map for the next visit. As we searched, some kids came by and tried to swear at us in english. So I start talking back to them, and we end up having a nice conversation and they had interest to come to English class. Well they left and we finished our calls. We headed to the visit, then back to piso. We arrived at piso and I realized my iPad was missing. Typical Kader Snots. I grabbed Elder Simon (Piso Mate) and we ran back up to where we were seated. But, as you can imagine, my iPad was taken.

This is where the test comes in. At first, I was angry and sad. All my photos, scriptures, everything lost. I was distrought and angry at myself. But, then I started to think, and realized that some family could probably sell that and eat for a couple of weeks, that all my pictures are on the iCloud photo sharing, and that it was going to be a great story to tell. I am grateful that the Lord humbled me enough to teach me how this was a blessing for others and not a tragedy to me.

I have been trying to find new ways to make my teaching style more dynamic, so this week I carried the Gospel art book to add some life and photos into the lessons. It worked out really well, I think I will continue to use it.

This week I re-started the Book of Mormon. It is a powerful book. I am trying to take it page by page, slowly but surely. I can spend a whole half hour on one chapter. It's been so inspiring to see the constant struggle of a family just trying to reach the promised land. I have always wondered why Laman and Lemuel left the comfort of Jerusalem if they were just going to complain the whole time. I realized, that when this family embarked, Laman and Lemuel probably didn't have a choice, they were too young. That's why Nephi and his brothers waited to marry the daughters of Ismael. It also shows the courage Nephi had in doing what he did at such a young age.

Our good friend J. is back on the map. He was gone for a couple of weeks, but now is back and is progressing rapidly once more. We have come to a knowledge of something that may be preventing hime from being baptized in the near future, but we are going to pray for him and help him quit smoking until he can. It was so great to have him back in church. He is from the Dominican Republic and has a deep past. We hope to bring him to the family night in the mission home this week.

I really admired how calm, cool, and collected Elder Knadler was this past week. We had our zone enfoque and he did a great job leading the zone and teaching will power and skill. We got into some tight contacts this week, and he did a splendid job of not being confrontational and sharing his testimony with all.

We had a zone meeting this week. You would have loved it. We had a teaching on diligence by a missionary and I requested the work work work quote. We had everyone bring a different object from piso, and we set up a park to do a contacting practice. Everyone dressed up and talking to others, tryin g to establish common ground. Just like mission prep. To end, we performed one of President Dayton's song, and I loved being back on the stage. I will send you the video next week when I have my iPad. We then talked about companionship unity and we set the goal that was some advice for me when I was leaving for the mission. Find one way to serve your companion daily. I am so grateful for your examples and what you have taught me. The meeting was very fun and the missionaries learned a lot! so great, thank you.

The miracle we saw this week actually came from a righteous hunch I had in the streets on Sunday. We had a scheduled visit with a member who was not answering the door, nor was their phone working. They live on the second floor and we were knocking the door and trying to make as much dignified reverent sound we could, trying to get their attention in the home. All seemed lost when I had the righteous hunch to say a prayer asking for help. We waited a few minutes more then I said, "Elder, if they don't come in thirty seconds, we are out of here." Fifteen seconds passed and the member appeared at the doorway. Miracle.

Love your same naughty boy,

Elder Kade Jay Tyson

Mission Week 87

March 6, 2017

Hi Friends,

The zone is doing really well, we finished February with 9 baptisms. Elder Knadler and I looked back and saw that the zone really pushed themselves, strived to be obedient, and saw great miracles.

I am grateful that throughout the course of my mission, the Lord has been able to show when I have needed an attitude adjustment, and I having been picking up on things about myself that show me that I need to be humble. My mom used note things like that all the time. She would tell me to go to my bedroom and come back when I was "me" again. I think that is the message the Lord has been trying to send to me this week.  I love the Lord, and I know he loves me enough to teach me and show me
how to be my best self always. I may have had a lower week, but that was because I made it that way. Now, turning to Christ he can help me change my behavior and have a glorious week. I love the quote from Ezra Taft Benson that states, "The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature... Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.”

We are excited about the progression of M., a reference from a member. She has already attended church twice and we had the opportunity to go with her to a ward activity we had this week. We haven't been able to really sit down and visit with her yet, but we are trying to set that up to really help her progress in the gospel.

The miracle we saw this week arrived when we sat down for our weekly visit with our convert, M. To our surprise, she had invited three friends to come and listen to our message with her. We taught the Doctrine of Christ and they all accepted invitations to be baptized saying it was always something they had wanted to do. Furthermore, when they asked how church worked, and how to pray and things, M. piped up saying that there was no need to worry, but that she would be with them every step of the way. Later, all three women noted that M. had changed a lot in the last month, much more peaceful and kind, and that was very apparent as she gave her testimony with confidence on Sunday during Sacrament meeting.

Elder Knadler is a great elder. So happy and bubbly. He makes everyday more fun and bright. He loves to laugh and joke, and have a great time. I have needed his good attitude this week to lean on. I am grateful for his support.

So, If you didn't already know this, Spain is like an old folk's home. Literally. You have people of all ages roaming the streets, and obviously I love talking to them and asking them their stories.  They tend to like to talk for a good thirty minutes, rambling about Franco, then they seem to run the minute we say the word Jesus. Such was the case with A. on Sunday. We talked to him and he had little interest. My interest was getting him to throw away the fat cigar he had hanging out of his mouth. We departed with little success, and I sang to him God be with you 'til we meet again, as he walked away. Returning back after a fired visit, we found him again and I asked him to tell me his story, but just chapter one. We sat down and he told us the first 20 chapters... Classic, But he also told us he loved to read, so we gave him our favorite book... good times.

Yesterday was incredible.  So we had our leadership council in the mission home, and after we needed a recording of him playing one of his famous mission songs so that Elder Knadler and I can play it in our zone meeting tomorrow. Well, he had some interviews so we waited and when he finished it was just us three. Obviously, he had to get warmed up, so he played a few numbers and we sang along. It was incredible. Just two elders on either shoulder of their President at the piano, singing without lyrics, what a sight! We sang probablyfour numbers and every time he would look at us and remark, "without any music brethren, I am impressed." We just giggled and kept singing.
The greatest part is that president doesn't just sing, he performs. We were laughing and having a great time. I felt like we really got to know President Dayton. He is an incredible human being.

Love you tons,

Elder Kade Jay Tyson

Mission Week 86

February  27, 2017

 

Father, Mother, Sisters, Brother,

Life in Badalona is a great one. We were so blessed to find some great new investigators this week that really have potential and to have a great intercambio with some elders in our zone.

I am learning so much from Elder Knadler. He is very much a peace maker. He is always trying to say things to leave everyone feeling happy and uplifted. We worked so hard this week to have more companionship unity. I think we are finally getting used to the teaching styles of one another and we are seeing great things happen for our efforts.

We found an incredible family this week, a mother and her son who had heard of and had listened to the missionaries over 16 years ago. We are so excited for their progression. We were able to set a baptismal date with them and they seemed really excited to read the Book of Mormon.

We are also teaching L., she is Chinese. It is interesting to teach her because she doesn't have a Christian background or really believes what we have to say yet, but she likes the message, she wants to believe it and is very interested in baptism. We have shared with her various lessons on a variety of different topics, but she was most impacted when we discussed the life of Jesus Christ and his baptism. She said she really wanted to witness a baptism so we took her the very next week. She loved the service.

The miracle we saw this week was finding and teaching M. We contacted her in the street during an intercambio and we sat down and taught her a lesson on prayer right there. We even sang her a hymn. She invited us back and we saw the same miracle as we taught her in her home. She loved the message of the Restoration and is preparing to be baptized in the coming month.

This week I learned from the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants section 121:7-8, "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes." I love this scripture because it applies to all of the trials that we have and all of the problems we face. Nothing we pass through this life is permanent. God has a plan for us and everything we face is for our own good.

Today for preparation day we went to a fancy labyrinth! It was a lot of fun.... I also ripped my pants, trying to carry Elder Knadler after he twisted his ankle. 

Funny stories....

So two drunk men came and talked to us, and I told one of them that I liked his watch, so he took it off and tried to give it to me. I couldn't accept and when I denied the offer, his friend offered me one of his two smart phones. He put it in my hand, and turned to walk away. Can't lie, the temptation was real, but I returned the phone and we went on our way.

I always ask people if they want to quit smoking to start my contacts, because it is such a dirty habit. And they always say no or another day, and I ask them to give me their cigarette to throw it away, to help them. They always say no, but yesterday, a man actually gave me cigarette. I felt like a real superhero. I was doing super hero poses and everything. I was elated. It was so great!!

Excited for another great week!

Elder Kade Jay Tyson

Mission Week 85

February 20, 2017

 

Family Tots,

This week had a lot of up and downs, but I feel like it was what our area needed and our companionship.

It was great to see the progress of our converts here in Badalona. M. was baptized three weeks ago and was sustained as the secretary of the Relief Society this week. I was walking on cloud nine. To see a convert really be embraced by the members and embrace them as well. Also we saw great progression in J., who was baptized last week. He received the priesthood and we blessed the sacrament together this week. Thank you so much for the money, I was able to get him a shirt, and I ended up giving him lots of other clothes... it was good, cleaning out the closet! I was so proud of these converts, so blessed to have been part of their lives, of this teaching experience.

We had to drop a couple of families this week for lack of progression. Wonderful families who love a spiritual message, but that's all. We tried to help them understand the importance of reading the Book of Mormon and coming to church and they just aren't prepared yet. It's sad because the wife has made it all the way to Mosiah, but has no desire to come to church. We received a very strong impression to let them go, and I think it was the best thing for them. I hope they choose to accept the Gospel when another opportunity comes.

The zone is doing great. Our goal of inviting daily and baptizing weekly is working. We are on a 4 week streak with many baptisms planned in the weeks to come. We are so happy for every area, everyone is working hard and seeing miracles. I am so grateful that I get to serve with such great missionaries! Elder Knadler and I had our first zone meeting together, it turned out great. We gave out blue keys reminding them that baptism is the door, and we have the key to let them in, it's inviting! We are already planning for March, we are looking to perform one of President Dayton's hit numbers, Lamentations of a Companion. It will be great!!

For preparation day, we went and played soccer, got haircuts, and I got my suit pants repaired. Just wonderful. I think you would be proud we went to the grocery store and while everyone was picking out junk food, I was grabbing the vegetables. I love the broccoli. We are now in this grilled cheese phase, it's a great nightly snack.

Well I think that's it, love you lots!!!

Elder Kade Jay Tyson

 

 

Mission Week 84: It's not Badalona...it's Good-alona!

February 13, 2017

Hey Tyson Family,

Just a swell week in GOOD alona. We saw a miracle this week! J. was baptized!!!! It was incredible! He was so prepared, so changed. The service was so special. Though it started off rough.

The service was supposed to begin at six, and at six there were only four people there, us, President Dayton, and his wife. So, as you can probably infer, we were very stressed. Members stared to arrive, and our music player for the prelude wasn't working, so President Dayton got on the piano and started to play. That is the last thing we wanted to happen. Then J. and his aunt showed up, and his pants were too small. Yes, rookie mistake in not trying the pants earlier, but we switched pants and we were ready to go. The service began and the Spirit entered the room. Elder Knadler pulled off a three hour practiced piano piece, and I kept J. under water just long enough to really clean him. Dad Style. All in all a great service, great day. To be celebrated with root beer floats that night, priceless.

 Anyways, just a great week, getting used to Elder Knadler, saying goodbye to Elder Maurer, Elder Sedgwick and others. Sad day, but happy all the while!

Today for preparation day we went bowling, a personal favorite of mine. Started slow, but I had a great second game.

So that's about it!! Also, I got two packages, one with sees chocolates and one from the ward for Christmas thank you!!!

Love you all,

Elder Kade Jay Tyson