Updates from Hermiston

Alright. Here's the lineup this week. Ray Warnstadt, songs about Israel, Chuck, Stake Conference, lunch with the Greers, and maybe some other stuff.

But first, I love reading mason's emails. Isn't it like the best part of your week? Wow. It only took Mason 3 weeks to become a zone leader. It took me like 14 months. He's the best.

We were on exchanges with the AP's this week and Elder Manning called AP Draeger from Yakima. He had a question for him and I happened to be in the car so I got to talk to him! He had some good news. There is a man in Yakima 6th ward that has been actively attending all three hours of church for years now. His wife is a member and his daughter got baptized when she was about 14 even though grandma was vehemently opposed to it. Ray Warnstadt is his name. Ray has been holding off from being baptized because his mother is so opposed to the church and he didn't want to disappoint her. But Elder Manning informed me that he walked up to the WML there and said "I want to be baptized". Yes! It was bound to happen some day. You can only deny the Spirit for so long when you're doing everything to invite it into your life. The Elders Quorum lesson was on priesthood and how you can bless your family with it. It finally got to him and he realized that he need not wait around any longer. He wanted those blessings for his family. That was a cool story to hear over the phone.

NEXT. I might have told you this before but when Israel Mendoza was baptized we thought it would be just great to sing hymns 6 and 7 during the service. Redeemer of Israel and Israel, Israel God is Calling. We thought it was funny. And Israel doesn't really get it because the church is still new to him haha. I'm pretty sure he didn't even know why it says Israel. But the next day at his confirmation hymn number 6 was on the schedule haha. Then the next week we sang number 7 and number 259, Hope of Israel. hahahaha. So it was getting ridiculous. And he came to another meeting where we sang Redeemer of Israel. Then he didn't come for a few weeks and we didn't sing any Israel songs. Then yesterday at stake conference Israel wasn't showing up but he came in about an hour late. Just in time for the special musical number. President Snell stood up and announced that the special musical number would be sung by all the priesthood holders in the congregation and we all stood up and sang hymn number 319 "Ye Elders of Israel" hahaha. He has to think we're insane. Maybe that's why he's stopped coming to church consistently haha we just keep singing about him! Oh man.

We had interviews this week with president and sister Greer. Elder Hutchens asked weeks ago if we could go out to lunch with them afterwards. They said yes! So we got to go out with them to lunch. That was tons of fun.

The next day was stake conference as I said. Sister Pearson (aunt lillie's niece) came up to us and said she was engaged (which we knew) and that her fiance wanted to be baptized (which we did not know)! So that was good news. His name is Chuck. Sister Pearson lives with Aunt Lillie. 96 year old who got baptized. Remember her? Yeah. And she has been taking Chuck with her to church recently so we've got to know him but didn't know he was so interested. He went up to President Greer after stake conference and said "I'm getting baptized" hahaha. I talked to president about it afterward and he said "how long has he been investigating" I said "We haven't even taught him yet" hahaha. President was surprised and basically rebuked us for not teaching him sooner. Not really. But you know. He doesn't even have to say anything. hahaha.

Well that's everything right? Imma send this now. I have no more time left.

Love,
Elder Paxman