Federal Way Washington LDS Mission-Current Blog
Time flies when you are having fun! We are approaching our two year mark on July 1st and what a mark it is turning out to be. On that day the Washington Federal Way Mission will be eliminated. Of our nine zones, three will go to the Tacoma mission and the remaining six will join with five from Seattle to become the new Seattle mission. President Rasmussen will preside over the Seattle Mission for our last year of service here. We have known of these changes since January but now it is becoming a reality.
It is going to be very difficult to part with about 40 of our missionaries going to President and Sister Leishman in Tacoma. We have 128 missionaries currently and in Seattle we will have about 180. It will be a blessing for us to associate and learn from the wonderful elders and sisters now serving with President and Sister Schofield.
The last week of June will be zone conference with a special farewell conference for the transferred zones. The first week of July will be the “Meet the President Tour” for the 5 new zones in Seattle. During this time we will also move to the Seattle mission home on Mercer Island. Then we may be able to come up for some air.
As you can imagine, the anxiety level in the mission is a bit elevated. You may have sensed this from your missionary. We are doing our best to keep them grounded in their purpose of teaching repentance and baptizing converts through it all. Our last two zone conferences have addressed their concerns and questions. The next transfer on May 28th will determine where they will be transferred to. Stay tuned for that news!
Each zone is writing a Zone Vision Statement that spells out how they want to move forward as a zone after the transition. They are discussing and defining many ideas in areas including attitude, actions, character, unity, obedience, faith, charity, etc. that they can include in their vision statement. I can’t wait to read them!
We cherish every minute we can spend with our missionaries….your children. They are strong, faithful and diligent as they fulfill their purpose as servants called by a prophet of God and set apart to bring salvation to His precious children in Washington. The bottom line is that when they wake up on July 1st, they will have the same companion, in the same apartment, in the same ward with the same leaders, the same members, the same investigators and are still called to do exactly the same work. For the most part, little will change for them.
Please continue to encourage your children in all aspects of their missionary work. We see it make a difference in their work. We have a saying in the mission field: The days are long but the months are short. They work hard each day and return at night exhausted. You go to bed thinking you will never be able to get out bed in the morning. But, you get up and go out and do it all over again….with a big smile on your face as you give your all to the Lord. We love watching your children as they give their all to the Lord and those they have served in the Washington Federal Way Mission.
Sincerely,
Sister Rasmussen
Message from the Presidency
Spring at the Mission Home. The missionaries love the mission home and President and Sr. Rasmussen are always so welcomin
Washington state is beautiful with all of the early colors of Spring, warmer weather and it is a perfect way to contemplate this beautiful earth.
Missionary Leadership Committee - Zone and District Leaders participate in more about how to teach and support new missionary leaders in training;
It doesn't matter how much you progress, there is always more one can learn. This is art by Elder Wilson but it is very pertinent to situation new Elders find themselves. It is good to have trainers to support and teach them,
Sister Rasmussen is a very animated song leader. Here she is leading the Happy Birthday Song for the missionaries with April Birthdays. She really gets into it, doesn't she.
From the Missionaries:
In my very first area probably 2nd transfer, we had a stake conference. In Stake conference one of the councilors gave a talk about prayer. There were so many amazing things that he spoke about the subject of prayer. One thing he mentioned was the example that Joseph Smith not only in turning to the Lord in Prayer but also in preparing for it. He set apart and prepared a place to inquire of the Lord. The councilor then turned it to us and asked us how we prepared a place for inquiring of the Lord. I thought about it. Where did I pray? at my bedside both morning and night. What could I do to prepare that place to inquire of him? I can make my bed. Cleanliness invites the spirit if I make an effort in preparing and make my bed I can invite the spirit and have the right mind set as I talk to God. I have seen the blessings and the change that has happened in my prayers as I have done so.
Sister Everett
The following link was a video shown in the April Zone Conference To all the missionaries.
Change the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6OoCaGsz94
Change the World by making your bed by Admiral William McRaven
Someone in zone conference said that they put their daily goals in a widget so that they remember them throughout the day. We decided to do that, as well as set a reminder widget that says "SET daily goals" under the area book app so that we see it and remember to make a goal and set plans for it during daily planning.
Member missionary calendar:
We pass this around at church asking the members if they can commit to just 1 hour in the month to come out with us. They write their name, number, time available and we contact them a couple days before. If we have a lesson we give that priority and try to schedule it around the time they can come with us but if not we take them with us to do other visits to potentials, less actives and we have even taken a few members tracting! It really helps us get to know the ward and inspires them to do missionary work! Miracles happen when we work with members!
Set Daily Goals Widget!
Festival of Finding:
For the festival of finding we used the book of Mormon approach from the video at the prior zone conference. The morning of we ran to the church and copied key pages from a paperback book of Mormon and brought some highlighters. People were very open to taking one or two minutes to highlight any reference to Jesus Christ. Then according to the Spirit we would be able to tell them that it was from the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. 18 passages used, 6 Book of Mormons passed out, two new investigators, 22 potential investigators
Finding new investigators with whom to share the Gospel.
This is the tech crew that runs the audio visual part of the devotionals. Our office Elders and Brother Egbert who does the audiovisual for all the devotionals. They are an amazing team.
Devotionals are held once a month and rotate through the steaks of the mission who host them. For Missionary to go they need to bring an investigator or recent convert. Ask your Missionary if they have had an opportunity to attend a devotional. They were a wonderful spiritual experience for all who attend!
Really Elders, transfers should not be this hard! Are these the office Elders or someone changing apartments?
Missionaries, are you ready for transfer day? Its really a great Day
These delightful sisters make it happen. It all starts here. They prepare all of the logistics of moving missionaries around, changing companions, apartments etc. Sr. Leavit and Sr Hayes are two of the missionary's favorites.
Elders Sugihara, Thibaudeau, Smith, Reynolds, and Delp. It begins in the parking lot of the stake center as the missionaries arrive.
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| A missionary's alternative to cars. Its time to go home now! Prayers go with you always! |
Zone Conference
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| by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ |
This football trophy is labeled “Preach My Gospel”. President Rasmussen always teaches the missionaries to go back to the basics which are in Preach My Gospel. You can Google the story “Vince Lombardi this is a football” and read the whole story behind it.
Brother Gonzalez of the missionary department told us when he visited if we master goal setting and planning reaching our goals will be like peanuts and gum drops. We will be able to meet and exceed our goals. Last zone conference we spent a lot of time learning the new instructions of goa lsetting and planning using the technology on our phones.These two footballs are always on the table at zone conference.
President Rasmussen teaching and supporting missionaries during role plays at zone conference. Elder Christensen, assistant to the President looks on, ready to help.
President Campbell observing missionaries doing role plays while learning to teach a Gospel Principle.
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by enjoying and developing righteous relationships.
Oh we'll all eat together when we eat.
Elders Nielson, Duffin, and Hancock
Elders Inman, Christensen, Jacobson, and Elder Norris.
Elder Inman wins the "nicest smile award"
and Elder Duncan
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| Nice smile Elder Brackner |
Is Elder Wagstaff Hangry?????
Elder Richardson and Elder Crittenden, move over please!
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| Elders Neville and Holden |
Elder Holden and Elder Pond
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| Elder Bollwinkel |
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| Elder's Mortensen and Lambert |
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| Srs. Watts. Livingston, Unit and Sawyer |
Sr. Ford- Trudo, Mission Nurse and her loving sisters. She has the best job in the whole mission, taking care of these Great sisters and Elders.
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| Lovely sisters and lovely smiles! |
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| Love our Senior. Missionaries! Elder and Sr. Reynolds |
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| President and Sr. Rasmussen, Sr. Allread, and Sr. Brown |
President Campbell who assists the President with his many tasks along with Elder Leavit. Their service is greatly appreciated.
Member Support
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| Members who feed our missionaries are so important. Members help out the missionary effort in many ways. We are always appreciative for their kindness. |
Pictures: Zone Conference April
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| South Hill |
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| Graham |
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| South Hill and Graham - Zone Picture |
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| Renton |
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| Kent |
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| Maple Valley |
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| Puyallup |
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Maple Valley, Kent, and Renton  Baptisms   Chance Smith is a wonderful 12 year old who lives with his aunt who is a recent convert to the church.He decided he wanted to start coming to church and learning about the Gospel. He was very excited and kept all the commitments he made with the Elders. He recognized early the feeling of the spirit as God answers his prayers. Though young. He has a testimony of the restoration and of the reality of the Plan of Salvation. Since being baptized he is already recognizing the guidance and protection he has received from the Holy ghost. He is an amazing kid and the Elders Love him a lot! |
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| Enumclaw Missionaries |
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| Auburn Missionaries |
Thank you Pres. and Sr. Rasmussen and all the senior missionaries and local church members for nurturing our missionaries! We love you!
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