Mission Week 93: April 17, 2017

Glad everyone enjoyed the Easter season.

I know you hate my letters like this, but this week didn't have that much that went on. The weeks really blend together. I hope I can think of some details, but it was really simple.

We had the chance to go out to the home of a little old lady this week. She is one of the oldest members in Barcelona and is really struggling. She never gets visits, and due to health, it is difficult for her to come to church. She said the saddest thing is that she has let her garden die down. Well, we told her we have eight missionaries who will be by to fix up her garden. So we are going tomorrow to give service!!! It will be great!!!!

We had zone conference yesterday. It was wonderful. They gave us fancy fancy study journals! It was really nice of them.

This week our investigator J. made big steps. He has been having some very interesting days. He has been quitting smoking, and upon leaving his house in the morning to buy some cigarettes, he starts jogging and finds himself sprinting all around Badalona, tiring himself too much and forgetting about smoking. I believe the Lord is blessing him for his efforts that now he has to figure out what to do with all of his new found strength. We practiced with him how to say no to cigarettes when offered and he committed to never smoking again!!

Our brotherhood in our piso, will all be home and going to BYU.... and we are making big plans.... specifically a Disneyland trip!!!!!! We have already set the date!!! August 13-17.... this is real... haha... its going to be fun... hahah.... Elder Simon is from Australia so it will be fun.....

Life is great.... been thinking about school a little bit today.... I think you made some good points, and you are right... I need to go far in my studies. I can't settle for four years, the prophets have even counseled us to receive as much education as possible. So that is what I need to do.

Love you so much, thank you for your words of wisdom!!

Elder Tyson

 

 

Mission Week 92: April 10, 2017

Note: Some friends of the Wilhite's ran into Elder Tyson at church in Barcelona. We were so excited and thankful to get some pictures of him.

 

Hey Y'all!!!!!!

What a privilege it is to write another weekly report! It was a stronger week in the Badalona area, teaching repentance and baptizing converts. We had great opportunities to learn and teach during two intercambios, leadership council, zone enfoque, and interviews, just a full week.

We found quite a bit of new investigators this week through our investigator P. He is a Nigerian man with a big heart. He has studied with the missionaries for almost a year and never got baptized because he felt they were telling him and not his own Spirit. We sat down and read about the sacrament in the Book of Mormon. In the passage it explains that without baptism we can't partake of the sacrament nor have the Holy Ghost to be with us. He agreed and told us that his spirit was telling him to be baptized. We are so excited for his progression.

When visiting him later in the week we discovered that he was having a get together with six other friends. We sat down and they asked us to share the word of God. Elder Knadler and I weren't sure exactly what we could share, so we scanned the room and identified the best thing to teach, the Word of Wisdom. This place was filled with alcohol, cigarettes, and other choice substances. We told them that we were there to cry repentance unto this people and we taught the commandment. We felt power as we testified of the truthfulness of this law and promised them the knowledge of its truthfulness using John 7:17 which states, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself."

They all accepted the invitation to live the Word of Wisdom on the condition that we return and teach them about the interesting prophet who received this revelation, Joseph Smith. We gladly accepted the deal.

Today for preparation day, I got a well needed haircut, then we went to this huge antique market in Barcelona!!!! It is literally a treasure hunt!!!!

In our Zone enfoque we gave out seeds in dirt, and they can only water it when they invite someone to be baptized! It was fun, we hope they grow.

This week I had an experience I will never forget, a miracle, one might say. We were talking to a boy who was very content in his church, that all were correct, so it really didn't matter. So I asked him, "Does God have a body?" He responded no and said that Jesus was resurrected as a spirit. I explained that his statement shows that not all churches were true, because we all have different doctrines. For example we believe that Jesus was resurrected with a body of flesh and bone. He tried to challenge my statement so I took him to Luke 24:36-43 that clearly shows that he was resurrected with a body. He agreed, then said that after, he ascended to heaven without a body. Then I witnessed the miracle. The Spirit brought to my remembrance Alma 11:45 which clearly explains that the resurrection is final. There is no separation after. We testified of the the Book of Mormon, it's clarifying doctrines, and that he could know that it was true. We set up another visit, and we left rejoicing. That may have been one of the only times in my mission when the Bible and the Book of Mormon became one in my hand. The doctrines back each other up. We need both, and I am so grateful for that witness I received.

It was a great week, can't wait for this one!

Love,

Elder Kade Tyson

 

 

Mission Week 91: April 3, 2017

Folks!!!

Good things happening here in the Badalona zone this week, and even more so in the Badalona area! We had a great week and General Conference was fantastic!

I was so grateful for the announcement of the new temple in Saratoga Springs, Utah! I was telling all of the missionaries that they were going to announce one in Eagle Mountain for sure, so I lost control when it was announced that they were going to put one in the city right next to it. I felt bad for disturbing the reverence, considering that I literally leap out my seat and stared cheering. Missed being the family because I know they would have shared the same excitement with me. I immediately said a prayer of gratitude to the Lord for the temples, for the power that is manifested there, and for the restored Gospel that allows us to have our families forever.

My favorite talk of the conference was given by Joy D. Jones, the General Primary President. She spoke about honesty and how we should do things because we said we would. I thought about my own life, how many times do I really do the things I say I will? I am so grateful for the examples of integrity around me. I am inspired by mission leaders, family members, and great members who do what they say they would, and only because they said it. I hope that I can exemplify that characteristic in my life. I love how she finished by saying that Jesus Christ did all he did, because he said he would before this life. It reminds me of the many promises I made with the Lord before this life, before the mission, and through my covenants, and I can ask everyday, "am I doing what I said I would?"

Our area took some hits this week. We found out that several are moving and others do not live in our area, so we are hitting the streets. It will feel nice to wear down the shoes, sweat a little, and just contact. Of course we are also trying to work smart by setting up effective pass-bys and things but I love so solid time to hit the pavement, preach the gospel, and cry repentance! So grateful!

Today for preparation day we went to the zoo!!!!! It was so fun.... we really enjoyed it.

 

The miracle I saw this week may sound silly but it was a powerful moment for me. Our piso has hot water, but it decreases immensely when two missionaries shower, or use any hot water at once. Well, I was showering and I felt my water go cool. I waited for a minute or so wanting to finish my shower nice and hot. So I offered a little prayer, asking Heavenly Father to let me finish my shower as it began. As I said amen, the water immediately regained it's heat and I finished my shower both physically and spiritually warm. I said a little prayer of gratitude and it set me up for a great day. It may sound foolish, but it's the small miracles that make the biggest differences, I think.

Glad you enjoyed conference, and so happy for Allie!!! How is Kalee doing?

Love you,

Elder Tyson

Mission Week 90: March 27, 2017

Hey everyone!!!

So glad to hear that you are busy as ever!!! Typical Tyson family!!! SO HAPPY FOR ALLIE!!!!! I BET THE SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! So sad I didn't get to see it....

This was a week of just putting our shoulders to the wheel. We had days of just work. It felt nice to just hit the pavement and just talk with people. The days flew by as we tried to use our time effectively. Not just doing one activity but focusing on different aspects of missionary work to help fufill our purpose. 

This week I have learned that it doesn't matter how we think, or how we feel, or what we or anyone believes. There is one truth, one doctrine is correct, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism". Everyday we hear people say that all churches are the same, or they believe one way and that is okay and they don't need to change, or that God is one way, or his ways are like this, or all that is important is be a good person. That is wonderful that they think those things, but at the end of the day, God is truth and we can think what we want, but God has his ways and we can't change them. We can choose to accept or reject them, but they will never change. We have to play by his rules, for lack of a better term, accept his contaracts, if we truly want to know him and feel his presence in our lives.

I think that throughout the mission I have grown in so many ways, and one of them being a direct defender of the faith. Early on in the mission, I would accept half truths that people share, hearing them out, then trying to use what they said and make it true. What I have learned is that when we accept half truths, they think we agree with them, and even though we try to change the lie, they still feel like they have got it right. As I have grown, and gained a true love for this people and restored truths of the restored gospel, I have become comfortable telling people that what they are saying is not true, and teaching them the true doctrine of Christ. It had amazed me as I have been simply bold in defending the truth, how so many people have responded in a positive way. They begin to recognize us as servants of Jesus Christ, they note our confidence, and the Spirit bears witness that our word are true.

Such was the case this past week teaching some new investigators, P. and O. We entered the smoke filled piso to find them ready not to necessarily listen, but to teach us. We begin and P. begins to tells us his version of the Gospel. We heard him out and testified that there is one way to know God (the topic of the discussion) and he can think however he wanted, but we know that there is one way and if they really want to know, they can try it. If it doesn't work, that's fine, but we knew that it would work, for it had worked for us. They seemed stunned, and yet the Spirit ended the room and O. said she knew our words were true. She has accepted a baptismal date and now progressing. I am grateful for my knowledge of the truth and the the strength and confidence I have gained in sharing it.

Love you lots,

 

Elder Kade Jay Tyson

Mission Week 89: March 21, 2017

March 21, 2017

I love you!

Transfers this week.... no changes for us!!! Stayed with Elder Knadler!!! Powerful!!! I still get to be a Badalona missionary!!! Crazy things happening this transfer, in fact, Zane is with Robert Allen... two Westlake boys together, classic!!

Preparation day was very calm, we cleaned, said goodbyes to leaving missionaries and tonight I have to take a new missionary out!!! Hoping to get some cigarettes to throw away!!!

Elder Knadler and I had the chance to teach in the zone conference this week. We taught about the power of persuasion, it was so fun, and I think we actually gave some good ideas to help missionaries be more persuasive. We talked about how we be like Nephi persuading Zoram, it was great.

Our miracle this week was with C. and C. They are incredible investigators who are progressing towards baptism next month. We went to their home and had only thirty minutes to teach and invite them to come to church with us. They accepted the invitation but weren't so sure how to get there. They then offered to take us to church! So Sunday we hopped in their car and they took us to church in their car. They loved the service and on top of it, we had three other investigators in church! It was a miracle to go from one or two a week and to finish the transfer with five. What a great way to finish off the transfer.

I am so excited to have another transfer with Elder Knadler! We are already working on a plan for the zone. We have incredible missionaries coming into the zone which is comforting knowing that we are losing a lot of strength as well. I am so grateful for the wonderful missionaries we have here. They work so hard, are striving to be obedient, and are seeing miracles.

So happy, excited for another six weeks!

Invite Daily, Baptize Weekly, Badalona
Elder Tyson