Look At That Goob

Isn't he just awesome? I love this guy.

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Elder Benge

Bippity-Boppity-BAPTISM!

Yesterday we had a baptism. It sort of just popped out of the woodwork. We were teaching Stacie and trying to decide how to help her progress. On Tuesday at the lesson, Elder Robb stood up and boldy used his magical abilities. "Bibbity-boppity- Bapti-ZAM!" And she was on date for Sunday. Well, yesterday we had the baptism, and it was wonderful. I was so grateful for Heavenly Father allowing us to have a first baptism for Robb and a baptism for me during my final transfer (Hopefully I can have at least one more). So, naturally, it was a great week. Elder Robb and I are doing magnanimously (no, that doesn't really make sense, but it sure does sound cool there).

I just want to say that I love this work! I love being a missionary. God loves us and has so much in store for us. Here is a wonderful quote I found this week:

President Ezra Taft Benson, thirteenth president of the Church, taught:

 "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life" ("Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations," Ensign, Dec. 1988, 4).

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Elder Benge

Shadows Over Washington

The land grows darker each day. Smoke and ashes fill the air, filling the lungs of those who inhabit this shadowland. Thick clouds have rolled in, vowing that they shall envelope the land for many more months on end. The days of sunshine, merrymaking, and dead lawns are over. An almost palpable gloom seems to clutch the hearts of many and linger in the recesses of every home. My heart is still filled with faith, but tormented by lurking shadows. I fear my time is drawing nigh. I ignore the omens and focus on my calling, but dread still lingers behind me: softly chuckling like a delirious madman. The cold begins to set in.

The winters are back. This is unfortunate for me, as it means my time is ticking very quickly. I still have time, and there is always still hope, but I still feel tinges of melancholy at times.

I do love it out here. The work is wonderful. I love the people. I am so grateful for everyone I have been able to meet. Stacy came to church this week! We are so excited for her. She has been reading the scriptures and has a baptismal date approaching. We brought her and one of her member tenants, Carl, to a barbecue put on by the Elder's quorum. It was a lot of fun. We played some competitive "cornhole", which, for you Utahns out there, is like a more structured form of "bean bag toss" with only one hole in the board. Elder Robb and I played on a team against two of the members and we lost. The final score was a whopping 21 to 5. I'd like to say that it was a close game, but if I did I would be downright lying. They absolutely slaughtered us, processed us, and sold us to a local grocery store as fresh, human jerkey. It was a lot of fun, though, and I enjoyed the opportunity. Elder Robb is a great companion. I enjoy being with him. I love you all. There is nothing more satisfying in life than doing God's will. I can say that with certainty. It is easy to get distracted by Satan's artifices, but don't be fooled: Only by following Heavenly Father and His plan can we attain true happiness. I hope you all have a phenomenal week.

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Elder Benge

Inadequate

I'm sorry, I sped through that last letter so fast I forgot to mention our investigators. We are very excited about Nauss, one of the investigators who came to church a few weeks ago. When we taught him the first time, he just seemed sort of flaky. But just a few days ago we taught him again, and now he has read some of the Book of Mormon and he loves it. His whole demeanor changed. He was asking questions, he was commenting on the Plan of Salvation and very involved. This time he was willing to set a solid baptismal date. The spirit touched his heart. I am so excited for him. I love it when people really open their hearts to the message. The Spirit is so strong when that happens. We also found a potential investigator who didn't seem that solid, but when we came back and taught her the restoration on the return appointment, the Spirit was very strong and she became very interested. I told her she had been feeling the Spirit as we taught, and she agreed, and excitedly accepted a Book of Mormon from us and eagerly committed to come to church. Man, I love the work. I hope you all have a glorious week.

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Elder Benge

Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

Beginning on Monday last week and ending Friday or Saturday, we had the strangest weather here in Washington. For behold, ashes did rain forth from the sky, covering the vehicles and making the air absolutely horrid. When I first walked outside and saw all of the ashes, I legitimately thought that some volcano had exploded somewhere. Alas, it was just the forest fires from Canada. Still, it made for a great week with a fantastic atmosphere (Not the physical atmosphere, that was awful, but the "pervading tone or mood of a place"). I felt like Elder Robb and I were in some strange, post-apocalyptic world, converting people the the gospel while running from nuclear waste zombies.

Also, if you are wondering why I am writing on Wednesday, it's because on Monday we had Mission Tour, which is when a member of the Seventy (In this case, Elder  Benjamin De Hoyos and his wife) comes and teaches us. It was a great opportunity and the spirit was certainly there. I am grateful that we have prophets and apostles to lead and to guide us today. I am grateful for that revelation, and that we can really be guided as a church by God, and not by man. Anyway, I have not much else to write. The church is true indeed, my fellow brethren and sistren. May you all stay strong in the faith, and remember to be humble and keep your eye single to the glory of God.

Adios.

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Elder Benge

Don't Take Cookies From Strangers

This week we had a very interesting experience. We were knocking along a dead end back-woodsy road, and we met a Native American lady who was baking. She said she was spiritual and not interested in our message, so we walked away. A little bit later as we were coming back the way we had come, she came out of her driveway with two small bags, with two cookies in them each. She said she had thought to give us some cookies and she thanked us for what we were doing. We thanked her profusely for the gift, and accepted happily. She then asked us, just for clarification, "Which church are you from again?"

"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or the Mormons if you've heard us called that before."

"Oh, good. Well, enjoy the cookies. They are organic." She replied. Then she left. As we departed, I opened my bag and took out the cook. Organic food items are always a risk, especially homemade ones, because sometimes they taste like straight fodder, while other times they taste normal. I picked up the cookie and took a bite. The moment it touched my tongue, I could taste a horrid skunky taste mingled with everything else. For some reason, it tasted like something familiar. I chewed it a little more, when I suddenly realized that the nasty flavor was familiar because it tasted exactly like weed smelled. 

I quickly spewed the poisoned food all over the side of the road. "Sweet guacamole!" I exclaimed (I'm paraphrasing now), "She gave us marijuana cookies! She tried to get us high!'

Anyway, we narrowly dodged that snare of the adversary. Fortunately, I can recognize the smell of weed after serving in Washington for so long.  Anyway, other than that, the week wasn't too interesting. We put two people on date for baptism that ward members found for us, so that was exciting.

Also, just a fun fact about Washington: It seems that very few living rooms have light fixtures built in to them. I guess they've decided that the darkness of Washington should be inside the houses as well as outside them. Most people end up putting a few lamps in the main room, but it doesn't usually do much to fill the dark space, and the room ends up looking gloomy.

Have a great week, tout le monde!

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Elder Benge