APOSTLE NEIL. L. ANDERSON

It just seems to get better and better. The past week we had the privilege of being taught by Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve. Because of the many sacred historical sites here, general authorities often come with their families during the summer months to visit. Elder Anderson and his wife flew in Monday afternoon and we were invited to attend an all mission conference at the Liberty stake center. Both he and sister Anderson spoke to us.
Robyn and I were sitting by the back door to the chapel, that was filled to capacity when they arrived. We noticed that there was a family with 4 kids that came into the building with him. As he entered the chapel, he turned to me and said, "Elder Brown, there are some friends here with me, could you please go find some chairs for them to sit in?" I quickly rounded up 6 chairs from the Relief Society room and got the family seated in the back. A few minutes later as we filed by to shake his hand with the rest of the elders and sisters, he inquired if I was able to find seats for his friends. Not a big deal, but I felt extremely honored to have been asked personally by an apostle to do something and then be able to report back to him that I had done it.
His warmth and humility and testimony of the Savior will always be a highlight of our service here in Missouri.

From my notes.

Sister Anderson:

If we follow the prophets, blessings will flow.

I would give up every single P-day on my mission to have the privilege of hearing from a member of the Twelve.

Elder Anderson:

Setting righteous goals can pull you towards miracles.

You never want your mission to be just about working hard, you want to see miracles.

Within a 'few generations', there will be a lot of changes here before the second coming of the Savior.

The first commandment is to love the Savior and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. We honor the second commandment, but we teach the first.

In your lifetime, you will see belief in the Savior diminish in the United States.

Just to be able to testify of the Savior is a privilege. As long as you are doing this, your time will not be wasted.

MISSIONARY BAPTISM

Edwin Lopez was baptized on Friday and will be confirmed a member on Sunday. Elder Call and Elder Mayo met Edwin a few weeks ago as they were leaving an appointment. Edwin was across the street on his porch when the elders saw him. They introduced themselves and asked if they could return and share a message with him. The timing was right and Edwin was very ready to accept the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

ELDERS QUORUM ACTIVITY

Saturday, the elders quorum planned a morning of softball and then a barbecue at noon at a local park. There were almost 80 in attendance. We divided up into 4 teams and everyone that wanted to was able to play and had a great time. I was 2 for 2 at the plate and only committed 3 errors. ;-) The quorum provided the hotdogs and everyone brought something to share for lunch. It was a good day all around.
Edwin came and brought his little brother. We know that he really felt the love and fellowship from all the members at the activity. He loves sports so this was a great activity for him to come to and be introduced to so many members of the ward. He is in the second row in the middle of the picture (blue shirt, blue hat).
The bishop later commented to me that the real strength of the ward is in this quorum. On Sunday, the Spanish speaking MP meet together while the much smaller English speaking priesthood meet separately. These brethren have a tremendous amount of potential.

PREPARING ASHLEY FOR BAPTISM

Luke, Ashley and Joshua

 Ashley Gamez is preparing to be baptized in a couple of weeks. We have been visiting and encouraging her and her family to prepare for that wonderful day. We decided to bring Luke and Josh along this past week to share their experience of having been baptized last year and also to present a short lesson on the restoration of the priesthood by John the Baptist and the importance of baptism. They did a great job and will be wonderful full time missionaries in only about 9 years. The time will go by fast...

Disney, Kenner, Zoe and  Ashley Gamez

WE LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE

Kansas City Temple

Our love for the temple has grown tremendously here on our mission. It has been a privilege to work with so many wonderful members of the ward as they have prepared themselves for temple blessings. We have witnessed first hand how temple covenants refine and polish those that are worthy to enter the House of the Lord. Robyn and I pray that the Lord will continue to refine and polish us that we might be able to serve Him better.

These past two weeks have been very special for us. Last week we were able to see Carlos and Perla Toraya and Medbor and Heidi Chavez and Nefi Mera receive their endowments. Then this week, on Friday, we were able to be with cousins, Moroni Toraya and Nefi Chavez, as they received their endowments. However, the highlight of this week was to witness the sealing of Carlos and Perla and their two little ones on Saturday. 

Carlos and Perla with Mia and Carlos Jr. (thumbs up)

Moroni Toraya (Carlos' twin brother)

Nefi Chavez

Medbor and Heidi Chavez

FIRE STATION #17 KC, KS

Andrew Mayfield

A while ago, we received a call from a member of the church who lives up in Leavenworth, KS. She said that her son lives in our ward and she wanted us to meet him. He is a paramedic here in Kansas City and has been working so many hours that he hasn't had time to come out to church in a long while. We felt that the best way to get to know him was to ask him to help us out with a scout activity. I spoke to the scout master and we decided to work on the Fire Safety merit badge and ask Andrew for his help.  He was happy to arrange a tour of his station and the boys had a great time. We hope to be able to see Andrew at church in the near future.

Noe preparing for the strength and agility exam
required before one can apply to the academy 

Tommy Merritt

FAMILY HOME EVENING AT THE PORRAS HOME

Pedro and Claudia Porras

Angel and Lucia Morillo and the Gamez family

LASAGNA

A while back, Melitza Toraya made us a wonderful El Salvadorian dinner. The pupusas were to die for. For some reason, I told her that Robyn had made Lasagna for me on our first date (after that first Lasagna, I was hooked). Melitiza told us that she had always wanted to learn how to make it, so Robyn bought all the ingredients and brought them over this week. She and Melitiza prepared the Lasagna and while it was cooking, we had a wonderful discussion on baptism. We hope and pray that she and her daughter will soon be members of the church. If so, Robyn's lasagna will have worked a second miracle. :-)

TEMPLE BLESSINGS

Robyn and I received this selfie and text from Carlos and Perla last week. We were introduced to them the very first day we attended the Kaw River ward almost 8 months ago. Bishop Miller met with the four of us and challenged Carlos and Perla to prepare themselves to go to the temple and to be sealed together as a family.  He asked Robyn and I to work with them to make it happen. It hasn't always been easy and there have been some ups and downs, but last night we were privileged to be with them as they received their endowments. It was all worth it. Many tears of joy were shed as friends and family greeted them in the Celestial room. They will be sealed next Saturday.

In addition to Carlos and Perla, Medbor and Heidi also received their endowments last night. The bishop also had asked us to review with them the temple preparation classes. As you can imagine, our joy was full as we shared this beautiful experience with the four of them. It was a beautiful day all around.

Carlos and Perla

Medbor and Heidi and Bella

   

YOUTH TEMPLE BAPTISMS

Getting ready to leave from the Silvan's home 

This has been a busy week at the temple for the Kaw River ward. This past Tuesday, the youth had a temple baptism assignment. There were 16 youth along with another 4 adults who brought family file names. The bishop commented to me that the home teaching in the ward is not where it should be, but about 95% of the youth were able to participate at the temple. He will take that any day! Afterwards, we went to McDonalds in Liberty for hamburgers and fries. All these kids are amazingly close and support and root for one another. Their youth leaders are amazing.

Kansas City Temple

 FAMILY HOME EVENING WITH THE GAMEZ'S

Kenner, Ashley, Karol, Disney and Zoe

Karol Gamez is a single mom with 4 little kids - Disney, Ashley, Zoe and Kenner. I keep forgetting to ask Karol if Disney was named after Walt... Karol was baptized when she was 8 years old in Honduras and came to the states about 15 years ago. We prepared a FHE lesson to help Ashley prepare for her baptismal interview with the bishop this Sunday. Karol bore her testimony to her children about how the gospel changed her life and how grateful she is that she was baptized when she was 8. Ashley is super excited to be also be baptized the first part of August.

The Porras family and Judith were invited to join with us for the FHE

NEW MISSIONARY

Sister Littell and Sister Rowley

Transfers this week. We packed up Sister Hunt who was going to a new area and picked up a brand new missionary from the MTC - Sister Littell. She and Sister Rowley will be serving with us in the Kaw River ward.

LIFE IS GOOD

After we had arrived here in the mission, I began to hear about our ward's young men's high adventure trip that was being planned for the Black Hills of South Dakota. Since it is only about 800 miles and 4 'missions' away, I figured there was little chance I could go with the young men, but it sounded like too good of a trip not to at least try to get permission to go. 

One day, we happened to see Sister Vest at transfers and asked her if she thought her husband could be 'bribed'. She said that she used to make whole wheat bread, which he loved, but she has been so busy that she hasn't had the time. I immediately called his secretary and made an appointment to see him. I also made sure to bring some of Robyn's freshly baked bread, butter and lilikoi jam to hopefully butter him up. :-) 

After pleading my case and offering weekly deliveries of home made bread, President Vest said he would do what he could. He said that he would need to run it by Elder Martino, of the Seventy who oversees this mission. Within a short time, I received the above text from President Vest. Life is good. 

The Kaw River ward is blessed with some amazing youth leaders. Bishop Scott Miller, Mike Albrechtsen and Paul Nielson put together this great trip. They are all serving from other units in the stake, but love these boys as if they were their own. They are wonderful examples to us of Christ like love and charity. I feel honored to have been able to watch them in action this past week.

DAY 1

We left Kansas City at 4:30 am on July 4th and headed for Stockade Lake in Custer State Park in the Black Hills. After arriving and setting up our camp site we drove over to the city of Custer to watch the fireworks. 

Stockade Lake

DAY 2

Mt. Rushmore

Carlos, Jayro, Zach, Andres, Jesus and Noe

Stockade Lake

Jayro Silvan

Carlos Mera

 hay ride with chuck wagon dinner

Day 3

mountain bike riding on the Mickelson trail

the Mickelson bike trail follows the route of an abandoned 1800's railroad track
the tracks have been removed and a bike trail was constructed on the route
the old bridges and tunnels are part of the trail

 Rock Climbing

Day 4

More rock climbing, kayaking and Mt. Rushmore after dark

Day 5

Badlands, South Dakota

Andres Molina

camped Friday night at Mormon Island, Nebraska

DAY 6

Winter Quarters Temple

Pioneer Cemetery