Round 2 . . . I have been waiting 8 months for this phone call!

Shoot this week was definitely one to remember.  Elder Kaelin and I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting.  I gave my talk on what we sow is what we reap.  I shared the experience you had with Rose and home teaching her for 16 years or however long it was.  It was a great experience and I was nervous but the spirit was with me to make up for my mistakes.  We also had a mission President's fireside last night and we went with our recent converts.  They have recent converts bare their testimony then President Ames speaks and the spirit is always super strong.  Afterwards I was able to see Marcia Sperry who I used to live with in Trophy Club and also my trainer Elder Grigg who I haven't seen since he left the area.  I was also able to see my MTC companion and Elder Shorewood it was so awesome to see them all.

We were riding our bikes and I got a call from the mission office telling me I got my Visa.  She told me I would be leaving the 21st which made sense because it is only a day after transfers.  Then about an hour later I got another call telling me she got more info and that I am leaving Tuesday as in tomorrow.  The phone call that I have been waiting for about 8 months finally came and I’ll be starting my journey to Brazil.  I fly out tomorrow and my plane leaves at 7:45 but I have to be there at 5 in the evening.  I’m going to be spending 2 weeks in the Sao Paulo MTC and receiving intense language training.  It's crazy to be thinking in not to long I’ll be in a whole different country.

Am I excited? extremely!  I understand that this is going to be the most difficult thing that I’ve probably ever done.  A lot of people asked me how I feel and at first I said really nervous or afraid but then I took a minute to think about that.  If there was one thing I’ve learned is to have faith in God. It's going to be hard but at the same time I am going to have help and with God I won't be able to fail.  There is no doubt that I came to Texas for a reason.  The people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned I wouldn't change it if I had the option.  God has a plan and purpose for us and sometimes things don't make sense but there is a reason for it and there is no such thing as a coincidence.  Please keep me in your prayers I’ll need all the prayers I can get and I know they work and God hears us and helps us.

Love Elder Visser

The power of Prayer

We have had a pretty crazy and amazing week.  We had zone conference for 7 hours in the Trophy Club building so that was really nice to see old friends.  I was able to go on an exchange with the district leader and the weather has been pretty nice.  We got baptismal clothing on Thursday for our investigator and his son who was going to baptize him.  When we showed up at their house everyone seemed really frantic and they said they were having a little family emergency.  Turns out that the IRS were on their way to arrest them and take all of their assets.  That was the short version of the story and this is two days before the baptism.  So we did the only thing we could and prayed.  Turns out that it was all a scam and it was just people from India trying to get money from them.  It's crazy how hard Satan will work though to try and mess things up.  Saturday they took us out to lunch before his baptism and someone asked him how his day was going so far and his response was it's the greatest day of my life.  That's something I hope to never forget.  We were able to get previous missionaries who taught him to come back so it was a really cool experience.  His really good friend flew all the way from Vegas to confirm him and give him the Holy Ghost.  It is so cool to see how much he has changed and how God's timing plays such a big role in everything.  He was being taught for about 5 years with a whole bunch of different missionaries and I was blessed to be able to be here at the time when he was prepared and ready to accept the gospel.  I’ve made lifelong friends with this family and can't wait to come back when they get sealed in the Temple.

Love Elder Visser

Baptism in Creekside

We can be a blessing in the lives of others

This week has been really awesome.  It's been nice and hot and we have been doing a lot of bike riding.  Our recent convert received the Priesthood yesterday at church which was really exciting.  We are having another baptism on Saturday that's going to be really cool and we have been working a lot with him.  We also helped him move things back into their office and we have gotten to become really close with them.  He threw out his back the other day and I had the chance to give him a blessing and the next day he let us know how much that meant to him and that is exactly what he needed to hear.  Sometimes we don't know how much of a blessing we are in peoples lives and it's cool to hear things like that. We are having zone conference tomorrow which happens every three months so I’m really looking forward to that and it's always a super spiritual experience.  Thanks for all the love and support, I’ll have pictures to send home next week.

 

Love Elder Visser

Changing lives

This week has been a pretty awesome week in the Lord's work.  We found a less active part member family that wasn't on our ward roster just sitting in their driveway remodeling a house.  We had no clue until we talked to them then they ended up wanting to have us over for dinner and told us they want to bless their baby and have his wife who's not a member take the discussions.  It's crazy to see how things work out like that sometimes but it's all in Heavenly father's timing.

The other big thing that happened was we had a baptism on Saturday!  It was a part member family and the dad was baptized.  Our mission president and two bishops spoke at it and it was super special.  Elder Kaelin baptized him and said that on the way out when they were getting changed he thanked him and elder kaelin responded with your welcome to which John responded with, no seriously thank you so much.  I thought that was really cool.  The chance to change someone's life and help them receive blessing is awesome.  I’ve been thinking about it and you find pure joy when you share the gospel.  Not the kind of joy or happiness I got when I played video games or saw a cool movie but joy that will last a life time.  It was amazing to see how happy and grateful he was and I'm extremely grateful I had the chance to be a part of teaching him and his family.

It's cool to see how the Lord's timing has an effect on people.  This area has been known as a slower one and hasn't had a baptism in about a year and a half.  The thing is, there have been awesome missionaries that have come through here.  Elder Kaelin and I are working hard but it has definitely built my testimony of just how people are prepared to hear the message of the gospel and prepared to accept to be baptized.

John's Baptism

John's Family

Amazing things are happening

It is getting pretty hot here but we heard a cold front is coming in and it should be in the 80's which is music to our ears.  If you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

This week has been really good.  We have been super busy and a lot of amazing things are happening.  Some of the highlights have been with two of the investigators we have been working with.  One we have been working with for about 6 weeks and the dad is the only one who is not a member.  We taught the plan of salvation and invited him to be baptized.  It seemed like it caught him off guard and he sat there.  He told us he would pray about it which is exactly what we want.  The spirit was super strong in that lesson it was awesome.  The other is a lady we have been talking to over the phone.  We set up a lesson in a widows house and brought a member with us and the environment was so perfect for her.  She told us about a dream her son had how his dad (her husband) who has been dead for almost a year was in a waiting room with cots behind him with people resting.  It was so perfect because we taught the plan of salvation and we testified about the spirit world.  The member who came with us invited her and us over for dinner on Sunday to have another lesson which went just as well.  We invited her to be baptized too.  After the lesson and dinner we went to our mission presidents fireside and both our investigators who were invited to be baptized made it and it was so awesome and the spirit was so strong.  This week has been spiritual and amazing.  I love being able to serve the Lord and am grateful for this chance to be on my mission.  

 

Love Elder Visser

Happy 4th!

 My 4th was pretty quiet.  We went to the breakfast the ward put on and I was on an exchange in Colleyville which is a really wealthy part.  Besides that we worked and did what we could to talk to people.  I do my best to write everyone back.  I figure they take time to write me and tell me what's going on so the least I can do is respond to them.  

 

We got transfer calls today and Elder Kaelin and I will be staying in Grapevine for another 6 weeks!  This is very good news.  We have a baptism in a couple weeks and a few people that are very close to getting baptized so I’m very excited to be able to stay and help them out.  We have also been teaching a lady over the phone for the past couple weeks now.  It's a little different having lessons over the phone but I know it has been helping her out.  She lost her husband over a year ago and is really depressed and doesn't do much.  We have been able to talk to her about the plan of salvation and being sealed in the temple.  It has been awesome to testify to her of those things and see her have hope and a new purpose in her life.  She has also come to church the past couple weeks and is doing a ton better.  It's crazy to think that me being only 19 would be able to help out and older lady get over huge struggles and barriers life has.  I have obviously had help though from Heavenly Father and being set apart to teach and testify has been a huge blessing in my life and the life of others.  I love the Gospel and know it is true. I know families can be together forever through the Priesthood and Authority from God.  This plan gives so much comfort and purpose in this life.  I’m grateful I can be on my mission and for all the help and support I have gotten.

 

Love Elder Visser

  Friend from Trophy Club

Whitter Sign

The Rabe Family

So the story about the Rabe family.  I got permission to go back to Trophy Club for their baptism.  About two weeks before I left we got a referral from mormon.org with his cell phone number and address and it said that he talked to missionaries and wouldn't mind them coming by.  So we went to go try and see him and they live way out in the boonies on this old airport.  We tried calling him but the phone was disconnected and we went to the house but the address didn't exist.  So we asked a couple neighbors and they led us to where their house was.  We set up a lesson for the next week and they were really nice but didn't seem super interested.  When we got there they were waiting for us and basically the dad said he wanted us to teach his kids because his grandfather was one and he approved of it.  We taught them and they ended up coming to church and loved it.  Then on Memorial day we invited them to our ward mission leaders house and they came to that and had an awesome time.  Then I got transferred...I knew they were going to get baptized though, they were such an awesome family.  The dad who at first wasn't interested got baptized along with his wife and daughter.  The son didn't feel ready yet but that is totally fine.  So I was able to communicate with sister Sperry who I lived with and she came and picked us up.  It was so awesome to go to the baptism and the whole relief society room was packed it was great.  It felt so good to see them come together as a family and be excited and happy.

Baptism of Rabe Family

Replica of the Book of Mormon

Friends from Trophy Club

When we step back we can see great things

This week has come and gone quick.  They took our car away because some Sisters in a different area need it so we are on bikes right now.  It's really not bad at all you are just sweaty all the time but you have the chance to talk with everyone so it has it's ups and downs.  Someone in the ward works on airplanes and took us to his hanger this morning for our P-day and we got to walk around on the airplanes and sit in the pilots seat it was pretty awesome.  

Just a couple hours ago we had a pretty cool miracle happen.  So what we do here is teach something called work of salvation lessons with active member families.  So instead of sharing a feel good message after dinner we share a video usually then give them a piece of paper that says family mission game plan.  It is to see who they are working with and who they want to share the gospel with.  We did one about a week ago and it went really well then today we got a text saying one of their friends wants to meet with us and start taking the lessons.  Little miracles like that that come out of no where are the best.  We are also teaching a less active part member family who has gotten reactivated and the dad is getting baptized on July 19th which is awesome!  Some times it seems like the work is going slow here when we look at it number wise but when I took a step back and saw all the great things going on it's a lot different.  There are a lot of amazing things happening here.  We are doing something on Saturday that I’ll talk about in my next email.  This is the only true Church and the only one with the Authority from God.  I love being able to serve others and help them find true happiness. Thanks for all the support and love.

Elder Kaelin

Justin in the Cockpit

I am where I need to be

This week we had the chance to meet someone that my friend Elder Shorewood and Sister Farnsworth knows.  The only reason we found out his address was because Elder Shorewood’s sister gave it to him and then to me when he found out I was getting transferred to Grapevine.  He is a return missionary of about 3 years and is married to a non member.  He is less active I’m pretty sure but when we went to his house he was more than happy to let us in and talk with us.  He is a super awesome guy and was way nice to us.  That is a testimony builder that the Lord knows where I need to be.  What are the chances that we came in contact with someone that I know two of his friends back from Arizona.  A lot of people ask me if I’m sad that I haven't made it to Brazil yet.  Yes I am sad at times but I love it here in Texas and I know without a doubt that I’m here for a reason.  If Heavenly Father needed me in Brazil than I would already be there right now. We are working with two part member families who have both been taught tons of times but for whatever reason are coming to church and loving it.  The Lord knows us personally and wants what is best for us.

Love Elder Visser

Miracles all around

We had a really awesome week of missionary work with miracles every single day.  I don’t remember if I talked about it last week but we have another set of Elders living with us in our one bedroom apartment right now.  It's only a temporary 10 day thing but it has made things interseting and fun.  We have two part member less active families who are coming back to church and the husband of both families are investigating the church and are really interested.  I had the opportunity to give one of the moms from the family a blessing last night because she is having surgery tomorrow which was a really great experience.  On sunday we had two investigators that always show up come as usual and one got called into work on an emergency call right before church so I was a little bummed about that.  The great thing is that as soon as sacrament was over I turned around and saw one of the part member less active husband and wife sitting in the back waving to me.  I was not expecting it at all and it made me so happy to see everyone there.  We also had a mission president fireside last night which was awesome.  Our mission president is pretty amazing.  I’ve learned so much since I’ve been on my mission.  My testimony has really grown too.  What I love is just how everything makes so much sense.  I have no doubt that this is the only true church on the earth today with the restored Priesthood authority from God.  I have prayed and recieved the answer for myself and the fact that it just makes complete sense and the way I feel about it inside I know that it's true.

Love Elder Visser

Grapevine update

So Grapevine is a pretty cool area and the ward is really awesome too.  I totally thought I was in a bike area but at transfers we got a call telling us we got the car back so we are now in a car but we will still have to bike to try and save miles.  Living in an apartment is really different.  The only down side of it is that we don’t have a washer or dryer so we have to pay for every load.  Besides that though I haven’t found anything to complain about.  I miss living with sister sperry.  She took really really good care of us and she spoiled us like crazy.  We have some really good investigators here and a couple with baptismal dates set.  I’m still trying to get settled in with learning all the streets and everyone that we are teaching.  I’ve come to learn I’m pretty horrible at remembering peoples names.  One cool experience I had this week though was when we were teaching a guy whos family back in Oregon are all members, and he just recently got out of jail for breaking probation.  We taught him the plan of salvation and at the end I went to bear my testimony and he cuts me off and says I just want to let you know I know this church is true and that everything you are teaching me is true too.  That was really awesome and the spirit was super strong.  Oh we are also getting two Elders to room with us for ten days since the members they live with are having family over so that should be really fun.  There will be four Elders in a tiny one bedroom apartment.  I’m still trying to figure everything out and these computers are way different so next week I’ll take some pictures and send them.

Love Elder Visser

The Winds of Missionary Change

Ok so the past couple weeks have been really crazy with the temple and then memorial day but I feel like they have been some of the best days of my mission.  I guess first things first.  I will be serving in the Grapevine area on a bike and my companions name is Elder Kaelin.   Im only moving about 15 minutes away which is pretty crazy and I’ve actually already been there on an exchange before the Stake split.  I’ll be going where Elder Chain from Chicago was just serving at so it's pretty sweet.  I’m not looking forward to riding a bike especially in the heat but I got a camel back so hopefully that will help out a lot.  We have also seen some pretty cool miracles here in the last couple weeks.  We set a date with an investigator who is totally golden.  She doesn't have any problems, she called us to teach her, and she even suggested getting work off on Sundays so she will be able to come every week.  Shes got the coolest boys too, one of them totally reminds me of the little kid from the movie up.  We also found of family of four where the dad used to go to the LDS church all the time and wanted us to teach his kids and give them the chance to accept it or not.  They came to church and stayed for all three hours and loved it.  For memorial day we had a bbq and the kids swam at the ward mission leaders home and the family of four and the lady with a date set all came and hung out it was perfect.  It's a real bummer that I’ll be leaving but I should be close enough to where I can come back for the baptism so that is at least a positive.  I’ve been super spoiled here in Trophy Club so tomorrow when I’m in my new area it will most likely be a total shock.  Im excited though and ready to work hard.

Love Elder Visser

My Address is 2300 Grayson Dr. #415 Grapevine TX 76051