BBQ and Baptismal Dates- Week 37

Hey family!!!  How's it going?!?!

Elder Parker and I had a fantastic week!!

We started off this week by going to see a Sister Stevens, she is a super awesome lady. We go and see her every other week or so.  She is super cool and she has been coming back to church!!

We hadn't heard from Elizabeth Like all of last week until the end. She apparently did NOT move to Kansas, so that's really cool. She is living in Excelsior right now! So we met her at a park, and Sister Conner came!! It was really awesome! We shared a video called "A Mother's Hope" it was very touching, she really liked it. Sis. Conner
was super awesome! She gave an awesome testimony and offered to pick Elizabeth up for church! So she was commited.. Haha, buuuuttt Sister Conner went to go pick her up, and she didn't answer the phone or door, so that was mega depressing. But church was super awesome! We had really awesome talks, and a great Gospel Principles class. We called Elizabeth after church, and she had already actually called Sis. Conner and apologized, which was good. Apparently she had missed the alarm or something like that. She was super sad and really wanted to go to church, she even got clothes and everything! So we will try again next week!

We also met with some people named Ryan and Renae. They are nice. They were a referral from her mom out in California. They just moved into a new apartment. So they are still trying to get all settled and everything. Sis. Wenig the relief society president went over to meet them. and Renee asked how she could be baptized!!! So that was definitely a huge blessing!! We went over there with a Brother Lauffney, and taught the restoration. Apparently she has had the desire to be baptized before, but couldn't at that time. But she wants to again, and now her husband is also interested! We set a baptismal date with them for June 25th!! So we will be helping them a lot in the next weeks, and we hope that they prepare!! They couldn't make it to church yesterday, but I think they are planning for next week!!

We also met with a part member family the McClures a few times. They are doing well. Haven't been keeping their commitments, so we will need to talk to them about that. But they are really awesome and a super awesome couple!! Talina has been reading and seems to be excited about getting her husband to read!!!

Haven't heard anything from Caleb this week, he has avoided us and Kimberlyn, which is sad, but hopefully this week we will hear something!

#DaSpirit: well as we said, this was a super awesome week for multiple reasons! We found new investigators and got people on date! But my favorite part of this week happened last night! We called up Elizabeth wanting to meet with her cause she didn't come to church. So we decided that we wanted to do a church tour with her, because she has never even set foot in The building and perhaps maybe she was just a little frightened about it. So we met her at the park with Brother and Sister Parkin, picked Elizabeth and her son Braiden up and headed to the church! Started with a prayer and walked up to the sign out front, explained the significance of that, headed inside and walked around the various rooms, explained their purpose and the associated groups or individuals and what happens inside them! It was very very spiritual and touching. We explained a lot of the art on The walls, the symbol of the steeple, and most importantly the Sacrament. We Walked Into the chapel   And the spirit was very very strong. We asked her about her thoughts and feelings and she didn't really open up too well. But I fully know that she did feel the spirit way strong. And we helped her to identify it a bit. I saw her as we started and of course she was happy and everything, but as we progressed through the building, I just saw her smile get so much bigger and bigger, it was so awesome! We ended in front of the baptismal font, she just seemed so. Happy She had a date for baptism this weekend, the 28th, but things just weren't progressing for that day. She still has very much the desire to be baptized, so we set a new date with her for June 25th as well! She is so excited!! We asked her What her thoughts were at that point. And she just said she was very happy and that she likes the church and thinks it's for her! So that was way awesome!!! We are way excited! I know the Lord truly does place those in our path who are prepared!! Will keep you updated!! Love you all!!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Who You Gonna Call- Week 36

Hello family!

We had a pretty awesome week this week! Pday was of Course great as usual. We were supposed to go to the wonderful Visitors Center with Elizabeth on Tuesday. She has been acting a little obscure to us lately. She didn't come to church last week, and wasn't texting or calling us back. We were trying to get a hold of her to make sure the VC was still on, but no answer. Well we ended up just showing up to the appointment with Pres. Dial anyways, just in case she decided to do it. Well she wasn't home. So we officially thought she hated us haha. We decided to give her a couple days before we tried again. So we dropped by Friday to see what was up, she up front said that she was sorry that she was avoiding us. Apparently she got a new job and stuff, so she has been busy, said she would be there Sunday, and set an appointment, well unfortunately she didn't come to church, and cancelled the appointment. So we are definitely worried about her. We are hoping things turn around for the better again! We shall try to see her again this week!

Other highlights from this week include exchanges, I went to the Kearny 1st ward with Elder Kirkham which is ALWAYS a joy. He was one of my old MTC companions and has really helped me out a lot and is a great missionary, so that was cool!

Jay Fanning took us on a Ghost tour of the old Elms Hotel here in excelsior springs! It was way super Cool!! He has had some. Amazing Ghost encounters, and also the hotel is just Absolutely beautiful and historical.  President Harry Truman apparently stayed there a few times and so forth, so that was cool!

Not too much else happened, we got A really awesome referral/ New investigator this week. Kimberlyn Parkin, one of the Young women here is a total champion.  She is the one who Pretty much  Introduced Parker to the missionaries a year ago. And he got Baptized,  and now she introduced us to Somebody named Caleb!  Caleb. Is a stud. He is 19 and basically just wants to find something better in life. so he came to church! We taught him the restoration in Elders Quorum, and we have a return appointment! So we definitely owe Kimberlyn cake, and are grateful to the Lord! So we are looking forward to a really awesome week this week!! WWWOOHHOO!!

#Spirit: President Meyer came to church and spoke in sacrament this week. As you know, that man is awesome. He is in the Stake Presidency and definitely called of God, He reminds me of some people very near and dear to me at home, mainly My old boss Dr. Cole. Just the sense of humor, puns, etc. so that's cool. But President Meyer gave an amazing talk in church about the sacrament/ Sabbath Day, Patriarchal Blessings, and Hymns! All three of those things really tied together perfectly for me in its own special way having to do with my own patriarchal Blessing. It was very tender for me. Anyways, He emphasized the hymns quite a bit, something that's always been sacred to me. He said to pay attention to the beautiful music the Lord has blessed us with, and that of course Hymns in Particular have an even greater significance. There is a reason that we sing a sacramental hymn each week in church, this is of course in some degree, preparations spiritually and physically, but more importantly a patten set by the Lord. In Mathew 26 it tells the event of Christ instituting the sacrament, and the apostles finding out who betrays him. Well right after the sacrament and just before he went to the Garden of
Gethsemane to perform the atonement, in verse 30 it says "And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." I had NEVER picked up on that before!! They had "sung an Hymn" in preparation for what the sacrament was for. They had the spirit brought in more abundantly through a hymn. The great eternal sacrifice that we are remembering each week through the sacrament, started with beautiful music. I just want to testify that the power of the spirit through music is real and mighty. It was the first spark of a testimony of Christ for me through music. I know this to be true. Please pay attention to the hymns and beautiful music of the world.
They are gifts from God. And are so very amazing and powerful/beautiful. Each one has beautiful lyrics and melody all about Christ. I know this to be true. I love you all SSSOOOO much. Have a fantastic week! And share the gospel! Love you!!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Your Mom Goes to College- Week 35

Hello family! This was a pretty dang awesome week!

The beginning of the week was pretty good. We went and saw a bunch of potential investigators on our list. None of them really panned out. They all took some literature but were not super interested. So we'll see if any call back!

I went on exchanges to Kearney 1st ward with Elder Papworth, he's pretty awesome. We had a good time. They have a pretty rough ward to work with, but it seems like the Lord is starting to open up work there. They have a couple more investigators there now.

We met with a part member family named the McClures. They are doing really well. We taught them the restoration last week and they have even read a little bit! But that day, Elder Parker and Kirkham went to go see Judy on exchanges. They read some scriptures with her and something to really cool happened! And I wasn't even there for it! 

      So they were reading, finished the chapter and we're talking about it. And then her clock chimed. Which the Elders didn't make anything if at the time. But the clock has no batteries in it! She asked them if they heard it and they said yes. Apparently the clocks chimes randomly every now and then, but she knows it means something. She said her deceased mother chimes the clock whenever she is supposed to do something, or the spirit is really strong. She shared some cool experiences with them. She said her mom was there telling her that the message is true!! So hopefully she will take to that!

We also met with our investigator Elizabeth! She is doing awesome! We read 3rd Nephi 11 with her! Bro. Parkin came with us and we had a super duper awesome lesson! 3rd Nephi 11 talks about, (which we weren't even really planning to talk about, but we sorta did)  then all the sudden Elder Parker asks her if she wants to be baptized, and she said yes! She committed to coming to church and stuff! She seemed really super excited! Her date is for May 28th. So hopefully that all works out! Buuutttt. We got a text from her at like 6:50 am Sunday morning saying that she had been invited to the first baptist church in Richmond and wanted to check that out also, so darn, we are going to the visitors center with her tomorrow though, so hopefully that will change stuff around. We are super excited though! I think she is good to go, just still figuring stuff out.

Sppiiirrriiiittttt: Well Mother's Day was AMAZING!!!! I Cried wwwaayyyy too much haha but it was SSOO. Good! Love my mother and my family.  The Spirit bore witness to me that my family sure can be together forever. I love that knowledge and I know it's true. I love the gospel and am so thankful to be a missionary!! Thanks for all that all of you do!! I love you all!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Templeton, Templeton, TEMPLE.TON! 🐖 #CharlottesWeb- Week 34

What up family!

This week was a pretty awesome week!!

We had dinner at the Offields again last Monday which was super awesome as always.... they are just a super awesome family! We have been teaching their son Mason the lessons, and he got Baptized yesterday! He is way cool, his dad baptized him,  and it was actually a very spiritual program.

Well I think I my have mentioned someone named Elizabeth last week? She is a self referral. She googled "Free Christian Books" and WHAM BAM! We show up on her doorstep the next day!! Haha. Well we have taught her the 1st two lessons now and she is doing awesome. She is pretty shy and doesn't talk much, but I can tell she is really liking what we are teaching her. She was definitely going to come to church this week but said she was going to have to move to Oklahoma with her grandparents for a month until she can get on her feet. Again. So that was sad,  so we were going to see if we could get permission to give her Skype Lessons online until she gets back. BUT we LITERALLY JUST GOT A TEXT that she thinks she's not going to move anymore, so hooray!!!! So hopefully we can get over there today or tomorrow and see what's up!

We also had an appointment with our new investigator Judy. We showed up, and she had a ton of intravenous Lines in. It was a little creepy. But she let us in. We didn't feel like it was a good setting to teach the restoration in because of all the meds going through her, and there was a ton going on, so we showed a Mormon Message to her and had a prayer. Well, we got a text the next day, basically a really nice way of dropping us. It goes "blah blah blah...The Prayer was nice...See you in Paradise" so at least she doesn't think we are evil! But we will call her again in the next couple days and have a little chat.

So, besides all that. This week was super hectic, with Elizabeth moving to Oklahoma..then not, and Judy. Then Karrin forgot about our lesson with her so that didn't happen, etc. BUT!! Elder Parker and I had a ton of miles left over so we decided to go out way to the middle of nowhere (in our middle of nowhere area) to a place called Hardin...Pop. 159. There are a couple members that live there that we have never met. We decided to knock on their doors. and the Members don't live there anymore so we got them off the Ward roster. Then we went tracting in the Farm land! All the houses are like 2 miles apart. So we drove forever and just knocked on random farm houses. We got 3 new investigators!! They are pretty nice! One is like 75 yrs. Old. Has some Mormon cousins and wants to learn more! The other one is a younger guy living with a friend, knows nothing about Jesus, and wants to learn more!! SO YAY!!! We are totally pumped!!

Not much else happened. Training is going way super awesome. I absolutely love it and am so honored to be trusted to do it! Elder Parker is super cool and a great missionary!!

#Spirit: well this week was good! We had a zone action plan to find new investigators by improving our faith. We were all asked to come up with our own plans as a companionship to do it. Well, Elder Parker and I decided that since faith is 'Hope for things which are not seen,' we decided that we are going to hope that the people that we can't see behind their doors will become new investigators! We prayed for the gift of discernment and increased hope and positivity. And it definitely worked! We got some more really awesome investigators such as Bernita and Marcus. They want to learn more and seem prepared! I know that the Lord definitely provides. Everything is founded on

faith. That's how Christ healed people and how we repent, etc. Faith allows us to draw closer to God and perform his Miracles. I Know this work is true and is HIS work. Miracles happen!

I love you all so much! Thanks for everything you do!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Us and the Offields. Devon is eating the cake I baked!

We climb on piles of gravel for fun! 

Me and Wilbur.... she will probably be breakfast soon

This is Marissa and her nerd glasses. She's cool. 

My first born son in the wilderness! -Week 33

Hello family! Another great week down in the books!

We had dinner at the Offields last Monday! We finished all of the lessons with Mason and he will be getting baptized this Sunday! Woohooo!!! So maybe we can bring some investigators to it!!

The next day we met a super interesting guy named Lanney. Elder Taylor and I were knocking a few doors. He didn't answer, but then right when we were heading back to our car he comes running out after us. I had a mix of fright cause I thought he was going to kill us, but also joy due to the possibility of a solid gator!! Well when we went inside, he takes us to the basement. There was only like one chair and a radio and it was basically pitch black almost. Elder Taylor and I grabbed some chairs from upstairs where all the furniture is, and we sit down to have a discussion. He told us

his whole life story of high blood pressure, and then talked about the bible for like 3 hours, and how he is pretty much the only one going to be saved haha. Luckily I had a Snickers bar in the car waiting for me after that. It was a little rough haha.

We found out that Elder Taylor was going to be transferred and that I am training a new missionary. So Wednesday we mainly were going around saying goodbye to people. We also went to Liberty Jail with Jay and Aaliyah Fanning, which of course was amazing as always.

So, on Thursday we drove to the center place of Zion (Independence) to drop off Elder Taylor and pick up Elder Nakatsu!! Haha. He is going to go by Elder Parker though. His new tag just hasn't come in yet. So Elder Parker is fresh off the plane from the MTC! He is from #Hawaii, and is way super cool!! He is super laid back, but a very dedicated missionary! He and I had an AWESOME rest of the week! We found 3 new investigators!! 2 of which are actually pretty darn solid!!

A lady named Elizabeth self referred herself. She is a very very nice lady. Late 20's with a kid! She had been searching for something new and really wants to get back to Christ! Which is so awesome! She ordered a Book of Mormon recently, and then BAM, the missionaries show up! She has now had

the first lesson, and it was sure great! We are meeting again on Tuesday to teach the Plan of Salvation!!

Elder Parker and I went tracting on his first full day and ran into a lady named Judy!! Judy rocks!! She loved learning about the Book of Mormon, and what we told her about the Plan of Slavation. She said she WANTED to read it, and now we are going back Wednesday to teach her!

Also that day, Elder Parker, myself, and Pres. Dial went to go teach Karrin the First lesson. Which doubled as being Elder Parkers first lesson as well! And WHOA! Holy cow it was awesome! Elder Parker did fantastic! And Karrin definitely felt the spirit!  We are meeting with her again this week! And are definitely going to see how she is feeling about joining the church!

#Spirit: With all this talk about the good ol' Book of Mormon. I wanted to share what I learned this week!  My reading took me to 3rd Nephi 9-12. Which contains the crowning event of the Entire record. The appearance of Jesus Christ to the Nephite and Lamanite nations! This event is what the WHOLE record points to and prepares for. This is my most favorite part of the Book of Mormon for a few reasons: 

1. God the father speaks to those people. And 

2. Jesus Christ sets forth his gospel among those people and allows EVERYONE of them to feel the marks in His hands, feet, and sides. This is what we as missionaries testify of. That Jesus Christ went through what He did. And that these events of the Book of Mormon are REAL and actually happened! I realized that his mortal wounds are tokens of his sacrifice. Elder Holland taught that "He retained for the benefit of his disciples the wounds in His hands and feet as signs, if you will, signs, that painful things happen even to the pure and perfect (The ONLY perfect person being Christ),...that pain in this world is NOT evidence that God doesn't love you, but rather signs; if you will, that problems pass, and happiness can be ours through our Savior Jesus Christ. I KNOW that this is True, and that the Book of Mormon is true. I KNOW that everyone can know that. It has truly blessed my life.

I LOVE YOU ALL!! HAVE  A WONDERFUL WEEK!!

Love, Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

There was a REALLY big wasp! 

My SON and I!

We helped some people move!

Reilly McPherson!

Ropin' the Nations! -Week 32

Hello family!! This has been a crazy week!!

We had some really great things happen!! Earlier this week we went on team ups with Bro. Parkin our Branch Mission leader. It was super great! We went to go try some less active members and invite them to stake conference.  We went to try somebody we had never met before to give them an invitation. Turns out that they don't live there anymore. But we met a new guy named Santiago, and we got a return appointment for him tomorrow!!! We mainly just went around teaching some of the regulars and finding new people.

We had weekly planning on Thursday and were discussing a person named Karrin, Elder Taylor and one of the assistants found last December. We have tried her a whole bunch cause she lives just outside of Richmond. But every time her house helper just says she's sleeping. So we said we would knock on the door one last time and if it doesn't work we would finally drop her. Well, we were on team ups with the High Priest Group leader and we decided to her place with him.  Well..... holy cow, BEST LESSON EVER!! We finally met with her and talked on the porch!! We only got to meet with her for like 10 minutes. But we talked all about the first principle of "God is our loving Heavenly Father" She cried like 3 times. She has some pretty intense medical conditions, and she has never looked at the trials in her life from the angle we do. It was super powerful.  And.  We have.  A RETURN. APPOINTMENT with her!!!!!!

Alsoooooo.. I GOT A TRAINING CALL!! So that is way cool! So it is definite that I will have a new companion this week. Odds are that I will stay here with my son. But you never know. I opened my first area with my trainer, so it's been done before. But I'm sooo excited! And am so grateful that the Lord has trusted me with this call.

Also, we had a marvelous stake conference this weekend!! It was way up in Gallatin about an hour away. We were even invited to the priesthood leadership session on Saturday which was way awesome!!! The Saturday evening session Pres. and Sis. Vest Spoke. As well as a previously released Mission president that now lives in the Gallatin ward. It was so awesome!! All about preparing missionaries!! So spiritual. I definitely cried.

Spirit: Well, the next day. We rode up to stake conference with the Conners. It was super great!! There were sooooo many people there! The chapel was completely full. The rooms televising it were completely full as well. There was only standing room. People had to set up chairs in the foyers and the hallways. It was waaaayyy cool!!

But best part of the week....ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN!!! The Conners took us there for a picnic!! It is so beautiful!!! A consecrated and Holy choice land indeed. I could feel the spirit SO STRONG!! The events that have taken place there and will take place there are just incredible. I love this land so much and am so grateful to be serving here!! I love this gospel and know it's true!!!

Also, we went roping today at the Dunlaps!!! It was Soo sick!!!! Elder Crawford bought me a rope haha. So I gotta bake him a cake or something. But it was super fun!! I was pretty bad a it. But the cow finally decided to stand still so I got her!! Hahahaa Fun Days!

Anyways, love you all!!!

- Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Stake Conference

Selfie-ception

Brother CONNER! 

Picnic!

Adam-ondi-ahman

Tower Hill!

Tower Hill!

Out Ropin Rascals in the Rain!

GOT HER!

Week 31- Part 2

Had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Far West Temple site this morning! It's such a blessing to have consecrated and holy land nearby. The Spirit definitely resides there.. A place of promise, history, and future! MISSOURI ROCKS!!!!

This corner stone was laid as a representation of the higher priesthood

Here's your sign!

We also got to take some epic model pics- enjoy!

We also stopped by the Far West General Store and got to see the man Joseph Smith!

Far West Wranglers- Week 31

Hello hello!!

This has been a really good and super busy week!!

We had dinner at the Offields again last Monday. We have been teaching their 7 yr. old son Mason the lessons in preparation for his baptism next month. They are a really awesome family. We have gone over every Monday night for F.H.E for the past couple months. He is Super excited for his baptism which is awesome!

I also went on an Exchange with Elder Pope to his area. It was pretty interesting. The Kearny 1st Area hasn't had a teaching pool for a while. They definitely try hard. But it's just that nobody has been interested there!...Luckily, Elder Pope and I found 3 new investigators in 1 day!!! Hahaha it was way super awesome! It was a little rough in the morning time. But we went back to the apartment to get his jacket or something, and I suggested that we have a prayer. So we did. We asked in faith to have people placed in our path, and the Lord Provided!! It was way awesome! So they have return appointments with all those investigators this week, and hopefully all goes well!! 

Later that night, we were invited to judge the youth cake decorating competition at mutual. It was pretty cool!! They had to decorate based on passages from scripture, one had Noah's Ark, there was the Savior's sepulcher, and my personal favorite was the vision of the tree of life!! They all looked cool, but tasted TERRIBLE haha. But it was fun!!

We had an amazing zone training on Friday. Brother Pratt from the Far West Stake high council over missionary work came and gave a training on HandBook 2 Chapter 5...one of the most important sections in that church handbook. It's all about the work of salvation, and how the ward council plays one of the most critical roles in that. It was really good. He is going to talk to all the bishops this week at stake conference about it, and we have already implemented some of his training and suggestions at Branch council yesterday. So hooray!

We did some way awesome service at the Dunlaps on Saturday. We built a shoot for his cattle to go through. Post hole digging is fun. But tamping the soil is even more "Fun" haha. I was pretty dang sore. But the day was all worth it when his nephew brought a new 3 day old calf for them. She was so cute and waaaayyy cool!! I got to pet and hug on her. I am going to borrow one of the Zone leaders ropes so I can rope all the cattle sometime this week hopefully. We have been practicing hard on our roping the past few P- days. Not ashamed to say I'm getting pretty good at roping the chair and bail of hay! Time to move on to bigger and better things though...#RealCows. I think they named the calf "little Leta" cause it was Leta, Bruce's wife who ultimately wanted the cow. 

We also had dinner with the Conners a few times this week (got Ruben sandwiches) and then we visited a lot of less active and part member families!! We hopefully have a few new investigators out of them. So that will rock!!

#Spirit:I read in the book of 3rd Nephi this week about the Gadianton robbers and the Nephites. At this point the Nephites haven't really been too good at keeping the commandments and have been threatened by the Gadianton robbers that the robbers are going to come down and destroy their people and take their stuff. I saw the imprint of Satan in Giddianhi's (the Gadianton Robbers governor) epistle to Lachoneus (the Nephite Govenor). He used flattery, feigned concern, and made false promises to accomplish his evil designs. All he had to offer was bondage and a promise to share possessions that were not even his to share. Much Like Satan in the premortal life, and his temptations here on the earth today. The only thing he can offer is bondage and misery, and lie about sharing happiness. Later on, the robbers eventually come down to battle, but the Nephites repent and are strengthened by the Lord, and gained victory. When the Nephites praise the Lord for their victory over the Gadianton Robbers they say: "And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction." (3rd Nephi 4: 33). I love that set of scripture, it teaches us on what conditions it takes to be delivered from bondage. We must have repentance, and humility. Repentance meaning 'Change' to be cleansed by the blood of Christ and to change our old ways and to become more in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ. And being humble meaning to realize that such blessings can only come from the Lord, and that we must always rely on, and follow him. This is essential for everyone to do. I know that it is possible though. I know that Christ lives, has gone through and paid the price for our heart aches, pains, sorrows, and sins. He is the only way to return back to he Presence of Father in Heaven. And I desire to share this message with everyone Because It is AMAZING!!!!!! 

I love you all soooooo much!! Thanks for being awesome!! Please have a marvelous week! Transfers are the 21st. So beware. Love you!!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Little Leta and I

Baked a cake for Zone Training

Exchange mutual!

Way super awesome zone!

Wood Heights Warriors- Week 30

Hey family!

This has been a splendid week.  Like I said on Friday, we didn't have P-day on Monday this week because we went to the temple!! That was so amazing!

The missionary work last week was good as usual! We saw a LOT of less active and recent convert members. It was really good! A lot of them we have invited to work towards receiving a temple recommend! And I think a few will!!

We had some pretty good adventures this week. I went on an exchange with Elder Kirkham to the Kearney 1st Ward. We did some good stuff. Their apartment was disgusting though haha. So we spent a little while cleaning it and making it more worthy for the Holy Ghost to be there.

It was really nice, and I think it helped out their companionship a little bit. But while we were there we had an AMAZING dinner appointment with a family in their ward. It was actually really great because the dad of that family actually came to Kylie's Baptism!! It was way awesome!! Their last name is Romero. He works with Robby on the rail yard and they are super cool. We had pizza and had a wonderful lesson with them. The kids were super nice and very smart. We showed them the Mormon Message "Reclaimed" which is probably my most favorite one. They had lots of great comments. We of course asked if there was anyone they had been working with to share the gospel with. And they hadn't, but they said they have a friend who once took the missionary lessons, and even had a baptismal date. But something happened and she kinda stopped with everything. So they said they are going to try to get her back in action and have her and the missionaries over. SO that will be great for them! 

Other events that happened, Elder Taylor and I drove out to a less actives house past Richmond, way in the middle of nowhere, #AllTheDirtRoads.  Well we wanted to invite him to stake conference. He hasn't been to church for years! So we get there, he's peeking from his front door, and I initially actually thought he had a shotgun haha. But luckily he didn't. We went and talked to him, he was very nice, and even asked for a Book of Mormon! So we gave him one. It was a great chat and we will probably go back this week!

On the way back we stopped by a place called "Taylor roadside park" Elder Taylor wanted a pic by the sign, it was pretty cool. Kind of a gross little place, but the idea is nice!! I even attempted to skip a rock in the muddy crick. Haha. 

Well, the highlight of the week was of course the Temple as well as General Conference. We went to the temple early Friday morning. The Kansas City Missouri Temple is such a beautiful House of the Lord. I love the architecture and all the beautiful symbolism. We went there and did a session. The rooms inside are SO beautiful. For those who may not know, there is a room inside every temple called the Celestial Room, this room is meant to symbolize eternal life, in the presence of God. It is truly the closest place on Earth to Heaven and there is so much peace and revelation there. My favorite thing about the temple is that it's quiet. People talk in a whisper, and nobody bothers you haha. I Truly did feel so much peace there as always, and have gained so much insight about how God cares and loves all of us, and that he has a plan of happiness for us all.

General Conference was also a very big testimony builder to me. The Prophets and Servants of God always shed a new light on Gods Plan for us. I loved that the theme for this conference was mostly focused on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Eternal Families. I know that Families can be eternal, because of Christ and the Holy Priesthood. I know that the Holy Temples are the place where we can obtain such blessings of eternity. I am so grateful for this knowledge, that Christ lives, He is the Savior of the World, and that my family can be united forever, for time and Eternity. Heavenly Father truly Loves each of us, and as we seek And live the restored gospel, many many more blessings of eternity follow. I witness that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Gods true and living church on the Earth today, it is organized the way He intends, and is more importantly run by the

Savior himself.

I love you all. Thanks so much for all you do! Have a wonderful week!!!!!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

We didn't have time to take sweet pics at the temple because someone offered to take us out to lunch, so this is the only picture I got. I promise I will get better ones next time!

This is the guy that took us to lunch! He is the uncle of Ashley Smith-
the Chapel Hill Ward Snowball fight and Nerf War family ;) 

We baked Sister Peterson a cake for her birthday!

Taylor Road Side Park

This is Stacy. He is super blind and couldn't read with us until the state provided him with this new gadget! 

Merry Easter!