Referrals for Dayzz- Week 23

Well hello! Happy week!!

It's been a pretty good week! We got lots done here in the Wood heights Branch this week! We started off on Monday going referral contacting! Nobody was home, so we left some little notes and such. We taught lots of Less actives this week. One even took us out to dinner! We went to Applebee's. Which it's pretty amazing that they even have that here...we had to get permission to leave the area haha. But I had spinach artichoke dip!! Sister Conner is the one who took us out! It was  really awesome! She brought her non-member friend Ed along. Ed has met with missionaries in the past, in the Independence 4th ward. He was really close to being baptized once upon a time, but he had some issues that hadn't been cleared up yet. And apparently the missionaries just
handled everything utterly terribly wrong, which is so sad. So he wasn't baptized. But he came to dinner, he lives in excelsior now. We cleared up a lot of questions he had. He said he wants to leave everything that happened in Inde. 4th in the past! We weren't able to set up another time to meet with him, but he said it wasn't the last that we would be seeing him! So that was really cool! 

We went on exchanges this week. I Went to the Kearney 1st ward with the  district leader Elder Thompson. It was really awesome! We went to dinner at an awesome members hose WHO IS GOING TO SEE ELLEN THIS WEEK!! Her mom was on it before, on the twins episode, and now they are going back! I told her to tell Ellen that she is awesome from me. So hopefully that gets passed along. But while on the exchange, Elder Taylor and popped went to go see Kylie! Apparently it was really good! She is definitely set on getting baptized, she can't give us a date yet, but we DO know that it's probably going to be in March. She wants her husband to
baptize her, so he is working towards that! 

 We went back yesterday to the referrals home, Cheryl and Steve. We have been praying all week to find solid prepared investigators. We knock on the door, she looks confused, and I'm ready for her to slam it. But we start talking and she says..." Come in!!" Wwwooooaaa! That doesn't just happen. We go in, it turns out they have a granddaughter being raised Mormon. They didn't refer themselves, but they wanted to know more about if she is
being raised right! So we start off with a prayer, and have just an absolutely amazing restoration lesson. They asked all the right questions, and the spirit was just so strong!!! Definitely one of the best lessons I've experienced on my mission so far. They pretty much agreed With everything we talked about That God really can call a prophet today, and that he WOULD and HAS. We invited them to baptism, and they said when they know it's true, that's something they will definitely do. They had some questions about the temple, and we testified of eternal families and the amazing blessings that come from the temple. They LOVED the idea of being sealed for all of time and eternity. They committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. I KNOW that they were truly an answer to our prayers, and will hopefully go to our zone goal of 16 baptisms in the month of March. The Power of Prayer is just so amazing and this work is truly amazing.

 It's so crazy that February is already over halfway over. This transfer is flying! I love this work and know the Lord is at the helm. I love all of you so much!! Have a wonderful rest of the week, talk to you soon!

~Elder Samuel laVar Ward.
(Letters are welcome ;) 
209 Fine St. Apt. #3
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024

I'm wearing a Lava Lava because I forgot my pajamas on exchanges this week! 

I didn't give in! 

Temple Testimonies! -Week 22

Yo yo familia!!

This was a pretty Amazing week! Definitely has been a challenge getting used to Missouri. The people here are just simply awesome! I've seen so many weird pets here. One family has two Guineas. Which I actually thought were turkeys at first. Then there were the monkeys, lots of birds, and creepy looking dogs haha. But it's all part of the mish! I have a rock pet named "Harold the Great" so I guess it's kind of rubbed off on me.

But this was a really super good week! We took Kylie to the wonderful Historic Liberty jail! It was a really good experience. She didn't think that the original key to the jail was real for some reason haha. But the sister missionaries there quickly corrected her. She LOVED the scriptures received there by Joseph Smith. D&C 121-123. It was very spiritual. Well, after that. There is an exit room. Kylie is very interested in the eternal family aspect of the gospel. So I pulled up on the little kiosk the virtual temple tour. And I was like....sssssooooo, you wanna go to the temple? And we did!!!!! It was super great! It was at night. Which the Kansas City Missouri temple is just so beautiful at night. You can see it from the freeway. And there is a 13ft tall angel Moroni on top! So we get there. I explain Some of the symbolism on the outside. Namely Moroni, the fountain, spires, etc. Then Elder Taylor and I run in real quick to ask the front desk guy if we could bring her inside, just up to the desk and in the waiting room. So we did! And she literally was taken aback when she went through that door. The spirit is so strong in the temple, and she definitely felt it. She barely could even get through the door without crying. We told her what the temple is for. What some of the ordinances are. And what significance it has on the Earth. We told her that there is a room that is meant to symbolize being in the celestial Kingdom, and being in the presence of father in heaven, which it definitely feels like. That the temple is a place where Christ can appear if he so pleases. As shown during the Kirtland temple revelations. She loved it so much, as did I. She actually asked when she could be endowed and sealed as a family. I said well, we should start with being baptized first haha. She went home that night with a promise. To talk to her husband about doing what he needs to do in order to baptize her. And she said she is definitely feeling that it will be at the end of February or March. But she won't give us an
actual date yet. Hope fully this week! 

But I definitely have a testimony of the temple. I know that it is the house of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that the words inscribed on the front "Holiness to the Lord, The house of the Lord" mean exactly that. Everything in the
temple points to the Lord Jesus Christ and helps us return to Him. I desire to help everyone receive that knowledge. And that's such a great blessing to being a missionary!

Ok. This is a really long letter. Sorry. Haha. But I love all of you so much! Hope everyone has a great week! It's crazy how fast time flies. Thanks for all the letters and such! I love you all! Here's my new address! 

209 fine St. Apt. 3  Excelsior Springs, MO 64024

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

You Wicked Little Monkey!- Week 21

Helloooo Familyyyyy!!

              This has been a pretty dang good week. Missouri Is super weird I have found out. Lots of interesting places and people, but its all about the work and experience! We had a really good week teaching people. We beat all of our goals of the specific types of lessons we wanted to teach, whether that was with investigators, less actives, etc. So that was really cool! We took our investigators Kylie and her family to the visitors center this week! She is so cool! we gave her a scripture the  night before to read, and she had it memorized the next day at the visitors center!! that place is definitely my number 2 thing in my top 2 things of this mission. (#1 is that it's Zion) #AlphaAndOmega, The visitors center is just such an amazing place! I heard that they only build visitors centers like that only if there is a temple right next to it. But I was like, well where is this temple? but then I realized that as I was walking out and saw the lot down the street, that it just hasnt been built yet. haha, so thats cool! But the visitors center is such a wonderful and beautiful place and the spirit  is so strong. I can't wait to take my family  there someday.
               We got Kylie to "think" about a date for baptism! We are taking her to the Liberty Jail and Kansas City, Missouri temple grounds this week and will follow up! I'm excited! it was such a good experience! There is a lot of less active work going on in this branch, so we've been focusing a lot on that. But we also are focusing on finding as well. Because Kylie is our only solid investigator at this time. I got to do some service at a farm this week which kind of made me miss working at the Coles a little bit, but it was an awesome experience! they are a part member family. We fixed their grain feeder and put up some fencing! I didn't take any pictures, but we will be back for sure and ill take some then! 
            Sorry thats basically all i've got for this week, but quick spiritual pearl of wisdom...I've had a really wonderful time reading the Book of Mormon this week. I've been thinking about the initiative of "teach repentance and baptize converts" and Alma 23:6 really stood out to me. its so amazing that ALL those thousand some odd people were baptized, became the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, and not a single one fell away! not one! that is so inspiring, and shows how great of  missionaries Aaron and his brethren were. That they could have such a spirit  to be with them, to touch those hearts so strongly that that many were converted, and not one fell away... and that is our goal as missionaries. To baptize converts, not less active people, and to be worthy of carrying that spirit around at all times wherever we go! I hope that I can continue to do that as well and get better at it. I love this initiative, and this scripture has really helped me to understand it, and work towards it. Thanks so much for all that you do! I definitely feel the love from home and around the world.I really appreciate it and love being here. You guys are the best! Keep in contact! I love you!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward
Also, the monkey wasn't wicked for any particular reason. The title of the email is a quote from the movie Mrs. Doubtfire... but we weren't allowed to touch or hold them. Because in the state of Missouri, if it even scratches me and I report it, the state just comes in and kills them all, which is kind of sad. But they were super cool!!! Ok I love
you all!!!

Far West is #FAR OUT! - Week 20

Hello family!!! 

Things are going pretty well! I got transferred :( it was pretty sad, but also expected. haha. I now live in good ol Excelsior Springs Missouri!! There are like 5 people that live here, we are totally in the boonies.   

We now get 1800 miles on our Ford Fusion haha. My new companions name is Elder Taylor. He is 6'7" and pretty awesome. He is pretty quiet, but awesome, I'm excited to serve with him!

Missouri is super different, I kind of miss Kansas, where I was the past few months.  haha. But it's cool being in Zion!! I've learned that a lot of people have a HUGE misunderstanding of Adam-Ondi-Ahman, even the members, so we've cleared that up a few times already. 

But things are really good! I'm serving in the Wood Heights Branch in the Far West Zone. There was only about 30 people at church on Sunday, and we had to sit on the stand... I'm  not quite sure why,  but it was cool. The Branch is full of nice people!! We have not had a single dinner appointment since I've been here, which was an adjustment because in my last area we never NOT had a dinner appointment, but it turns out my preaching and begging for food at church on Sunday went well

because we are full for a week or so now, so YAY!! 

There is mainly less active work going on here, we only 3 or so investigators, so we have a goal of finding more this week! It was super hard saying goodbye to a lot of people in the Chapel Hill Ward, I cried, a lot. haha Which is okay i guess.   

But this area is super cool!! It's been snowing and we've taught some people! Not a lot has really happened this week because of transfers, but here is a spiritual thought! I was reading in the Book of Alma this week- chapter 31, who was just a super awesome prophet! I am definitely learning more and more about the atonement every day; what it has done for me and how happy it has

made me, this part really stuck out to me: 

"34 O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we

may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ.

35 Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our

brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we

may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee." 

I just love these scriptures because it encompasses our purpose as missionaries, and shows that we MUST have the Lord's help in carrying out his work, we simply cannot do it on our own, just like we really can't do anything on our own without Him. 

I'm so excited to be here in Zion, and to serve! I know that I am in  this area for a reason, Just like I was in the Chapel Hill area for  reason.

All is well!!!! Thanks so much for everything you all do!! 

My new address is 

209 Fine Street. Apartment #3 

Excelsior Springs, Missouri

64024 

I promise its the right address this time ;) ok i love you all!

Love, Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Elder Christensen, Me, and Elder Slesk!

Elder Kolacz and I saying goodbye

Me a T! Whoops! I accidentally put my arm around her... 

KIRBY VINCENT! And the owl he helped me carve 

Ron and Cheryl Pehrson

Another one joins the fold! -Week 19

Hey fam! This was such an AWESOME week! 

We started off Monday evening going to the wonderful family of Collin and Ashley Smith again. The snowball fight people. Well, we had awesome breakfast for dinner, I take my plate to the sink, look up, turn around, and see people holding high tech nerf guns. IT WAS ON!! I got wrecked. hahaha Their 4 yr old son Nolan is such a pro. He has awesome hiding places, and shot me more than i could handle. We also had an ugly face contest...I think i won, but I'll leave that for you to
decide below. 

Tuesday was good, we tried to find some new gators, but ended up unsuccessful. But we passed out like a ton of Book of Mormon copies. So #SeedsPlanted. 

We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders Wednesday night for learning purposes. I was with Elder Vehar. He is super awesome. Ww taught Jan and had a great conversation about baptism, it was really open, which was good, because we haven't been able to talk about it for a while.  She is definitely getting way close! She stopped going to her old church, and is making baby steps to the Church of Jesus Christ! Also, Elder Vehar and I threw some glow sticks around the apartment later that night..it was fun.

The next day, we had lunch at a place called Jazz. Apparently they give free food to missionaries, it's been 2 miles away from our house the whole time and we had no idea. So hooray! That's fun. Its really good! and they played a Curtis Stigers song! 

That night we went on exchanges with the District Leader, and Elder Ili came here with me! He's so fun and so cool! We sang non stop, and went to see a lot of people! 

The next day was Theresa's Baptism! Which was really stressfully AMAZING! We have been searching for weeks for a baptismal jumpsuit that would fit her...to no success. We finally had to settle with a 5x that she was just swimming in. LUCKILY, we finally got permission from the temple to borrow one of their jumpsuits, that day!!! haha, so Brother Reynolds went and grabbed it. It all worked out! We spent about 2.5 hours filling the font, which was just ridiculous. haha. So we did that, and got everything ready to go. The time finally came and we started! I gave a talk about baptism, and then we went to baptize her, (which bishop Bebel did)

Well...we opened the curtain aaannddd HALF THE WATER DRAINED OUT IN
ABOUT 13 MINUTES!! HOORAY!!  Well, I panicked, kind of a lot...President and Sister Vest were there and it took so long to fill up in the first place! ssooo, it turns out that we have a leaky plug, the
plug is built into the font, and something was messed up. So we grabbed a TV and throw on the 20 minute restoration video while it is filling back up.  I definitely had my testimony grown this week that
everything happens for a reason, and the reason is usually preparatory for bringing people into the gospel. 

Like i said before, I definitely panicked when we learned that a lot of water had drained out of the
font. I was embarrassed for us, and was worried that we made things stressful for Theresa.... Well, It filled back up in about 15 minutes, and we ended up just ending right after the first vision. She was
baptized and it was one of the most amazing things ever! The spirit was so strong, and I know that it happened just as it needed to. Then Elder Kolacz gave a talk and we were done!  

On Sunday, a sister who Theresa works for came up to me at church. She said that at the baptism, she went back during the restoration movie that we put on to go talk to Theresa. She said she found her on the bench, crying and smiling. Theresa looked at her, nodded her head and said "It's true!" Theresa had a confirming witness that what she was making was the right choice, and gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. To me, that is the most rewarding thing that I was able to see as a missionary. Yes the baptism was amazing, but the fact that she now has for herself that testimony, tells me that she is more likely to stay very active and endure to make more covenants and that I have done my job as a missionary. 

I KNOW that the water had to drain for a reason. So she could have that time to ponder. And there is no way it could've filled up again that fast, save it were only God's will. (Because it took like 3 hours to fill the first time.) I know that it happened for a reason, and it's such an amazing feeling to be a part of that. 

Then, i got the opportunity to Confirm her a member of the church!!! It was so awesome!! I'm so  grateful that she asked me to do that. and the spirit was SO strong!! Anyways- definitely an awesome week. 

So, Elder Kolacz got another training call that day, so it is for sure that one of us will be transferred. We aren't sure who yet, but it will most likely be me, but you never know. So transfers are this week. So probably don't send anything until next week if your going to. :) 

I went to the WW1 museum today!! It was so sick!!! It took like 5 hours to get through, but totally worth it. It's the only one in America of that caliber, and is definitely world class. I learned a lot!! 

Thanks so much for everything you guys do!! Have a great week! Talk to you soon!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

Baptism day!

Downtown KC!

I spent 3 hours scrubbing the font with Comet- there was some moldy alien substance there. 

Selfie at the WWII Museum- Model T Ford Ambulance!

Ugly Face Contest! Did I win?

Fun at the Smiths!

"Bust the Windows out Your Car"

 HARRY POTTER and the CHOCOLATEY MILK!

Thanks Gretchen for the fun gift! haha!

Kolob- Week 18

Hello family! 

This was a pretty awesome one! Lots of things happened! We had a great lesson with a lady named Teresa and her  husband Ron. Not the same Theresa getting baptized soon though. This one was a good lesson! We had Bro. Black with us and he answered a lot of questions that I definitely couldn't, so it worked out well. We are meeting again this Tuesday! 

We also taught Jan! it was pretty good! We had Brother Bruce with us to reteach the restoration because she has forgotten it a little bit over time. It was a good!  We asked her to be baptized again, but she said "nah... someday!" She is beginning to move away from her old church, so... baby steps!

We also took Theresa to Liberty Jail! It was great! Bro. Reynolds took us. It was very spiritual as usual, and she said multiple times how pumped she is for her baptism on Friday! She is so excited and I'm pumped for her! It's so amazing to see the progression she has made! I love it. 

The next day we helped the Kaw River Ward with a "lost sheep" activity and they gave us pizza! 

We had Theresa come to church this last Sunday, and we taught "Exaltation." Which she LOVED. But Liberty Jail was amazing, and other than that we mainly were trying to find people this week. And we also had a good zone training. 

One night this week we went to dinner  at Patrick Bruce's house, aaaaannnndddd he bought a

PRACTICE CHANTER!!!!!! aaaaahhhhh and I even got to play it! I have been missing my pipes  sooooo much lately, and that was definitely a blesssing...  This work is truly a blessing of the Lord, I love seeing the changes not only in my life, but others as well. I'm so glad to be here.  

I finished the Book of Mosiah this week. The Book of Mosiah has always been one of my favorites in the Book of Mormon. I love that it shows how influential people are to each other, especially when they are in some sort of leadership position. Mosiah was a righteous ruler, King Noah was a wicked one. Both of their people followed in their ways. But the Lord only helps one way. The people of Mosiah prosper and the people of Noah perish. it is also amazing to see how Mosiah didn't care to be king, and that he even set up the Judge system for after his time. I learned that those who are truly humble are definitely favored of the Lord and receive many blessings. Also, that they are able to help others even when they are gone. He set up a system where people could dwell in righteousness, but more importantly have the agency and ability to do so. He helped bless the lives of many. I hope to be like him someday and to always strive to be a righteous and humble servant continuously forever. 

I know the words of the Book of Mormon are true, and I love sharing it with others. Thanks so much for all the love and support! 

FYI--- Transfers are on the 21st of January, so if you are going to send something, and it wouldn't get here by then, I'd recommend waiting haha. 

BUT THANKS SO MUCH!! I LOVE ALL OF

YOU!!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

HI!

Our car got PUNKED!

With the Zone Leaders at KC Joes. SOOOOO good! 

Elder Torrico and I.... and a daughter of God in the background.

Stopped by the 9/11 Memorial

Best Zone EVA!

Liberty Jail with Theresa, Bro. Reynolds, and Elder Kolacz

and FINALLY.... BAGPIPES!!! (practice chanter) "If You Could Hie to Kolob"

Shout out to Grant Harbison... Wish we could have them harmonies! haha

#2k16

Hello family and friends!

This week was great!! Our Investigators are

doing pretty well also. Theresa is still on date for baptism January 15th!! She is loving the gospel and came to church the last two weeks. Our ward mission leader is setting up plans for retention and they are already assigning home teachers to her! 

We haven't heard from Monica this week. We were supposed to give a church tour but we couldn't get a hold of her so it didn't work out. We took Sheryl to the VC (vistor's center) yesterday with her member husband and  non-member grandkids. It was a good time. I'd say she DID feel the spirit and we set up another time to come see her, and she is going to make us clam chowder! So a win-win! Jan is doing fairly well. We are starting the lessons over with her because she seems to have forgotten a lot of them. We invited her to baptism again last week. She won't commit because she is afraid of

losing friends and family relationships, but we are still trying though! She is beginning to cut ties with her old church so that will be a big stepping stone. It is amazing to see how much these people progress, and I LOVE being a part of it and that I have been able to meet and

get to know them.

I have been reading lots of the Book of Mormon this week. I am in the book of Mosiah learning about King Noah and Abinadi. I love that story so much. Abinadi was such a great prophet and missionary. He never lied and would never give up, especially if he hadn't finished his mission yet. He stood up for what was right and endured to the end to carry out the words of the Lord. The Lord preserved him in all things and he was able to fulfill what he needed to do because of his righteousness and determination to do what the Lord commanded. I hope to be like that and strive everyday to become so. 

I love this work and that story definitely shed a whole new light on what it is I'm doing. I love

all of you! Thanks so much for everything!

~Elder Samuel LaVar Ward

P.S. I also meet someone that works on the Da Vinci surgical robot! She's super cool and is going to show me some day.  SO AWESOME! 

Here we are with Will Dilullo!

And now with Captain Kirk and Freddie Kruger

Here's Theresa- she is super sassy!!

Us right now on P-day! COOLEST zone everrrrrrr!