tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19063469422614339552024-03-19T03:13:02.670-07:00RCC needs SLBRancho Cucamonga California needs Shawn Lyle Bennion. sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-78131674264593774002018-08-30T15:54:00.004-07:002018-08-30T15:54:42.680-07:00Communications Journal 1 Though my priorities have changed completely, music still continues to be one of my most favorite hobbies. My amusement of loud music in a car simply could not happen if changes in technology didn't happen in 1877. From there, <i>Rolling Stone</i> has pointed out numerous ways that it has snowballed and eventually made its way to the twenty-first century (Herzog). Had these wonderful inventions never succeeded, 2007 would've been easy to forget. However, Santa brought me a black 32 GB Ipod and I'll never forget that specific Christmas.<br />
I'm too much of a cheap skate to pay for Spotify (and if I was willing to pay I'd like get Apple Music), but it is amazing how Ed Newton-Rex points out how we don't choose the music we listen to; Your music chooses you (Newton-Rex). Spotify and other music channels such as "Songza" can put together a playlist for you based on your surroundings instead of old-fashioned seeking out music by buying an album (Newtox-Rex) from FYE, Hot Topic, Target, Best Buy, etc.<br /> Meanwhile, my favorite place to go eat after I went to a concert was In-N-Out. The affordable quality burger brings back many memories. According to Todd Starnes, In-N-Out donated $25k to the California Republican Party and many Democrats are unhappy about it. The chairman of the California Democratic Party called for a boycott (Starnes). I am an Apple and Amazon fanatic, and though I don't support leftist causes like these big-name companies, my business is still regularly persuaded by the convenience and products that they supply. I don't think a boycott is necessary, but hey, that's just me. <br /><br /><br /><br />Works Cited<br /><br />1. Herzog, Kenny. "24 Inventions That Changed Music" <i>Rolling Stone, </i>https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/24-inventions-that-changed-music-16471/phonograph-1877-222487/. Accessed 30 Aug. 2018.<br /><br />2. Newton-Rex, Ed. "You Don't Choose Your Music - Your Music Chooses You" <i>Medium, </i>https://medium.com/world-of-music/you-dont-choose-your-music-your-music-chooses-you-e4a7c774a0dd. Accessed 30 Aug. 2018.<br /><br />3. Starnes, Todd. "BOYCOTT! California Democrats declare war on In-N-Out Burger" <i>Fox News, </i>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/08/30/todd-starnes-boycott-california-democrats-declare-war-on-in-n-out-burger.html. Accessed 30 Aug. 2018.<br />sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-23658430709092934292016-01-04T11:38:00.003-08:002016-01-04T11:38:50.504-08:00For the last time<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I have 40 minutes for the last time where I will need to email you to let you know I am alive and well. The convenience of doing it in person will be so bittersweet because the very thin distance emotionally between me and the Savior is not going to be the same in a short week. I know there's no such thing as being disconnected from Him, but I do know that this very well may be the last time I can serve Him with the power and authority to be his full time servant. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I am currently listening to a hymn called "Beautiful Zion, Built Above" and thought that I would attach the 2nd verse lyrics.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Beautiful heav'n, where all is light;</div>
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Beautiful angels clothed in white;</div>
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Beautiful strains that never tire;</div>
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Beautiful harps thru all the choir;</div>
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
There shall I join the chorus sweet,</div>
<div class="" style="background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00784314); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Worshiping at the Savior's feet.<br />
<br style="line-height: 18.46px;" />
If Zion is truly built above, I'm convinced that its closest coordinate is Rancho Cucamonga, California. I've grown up calling many places my 2nd home, but I've never had the courage to actually leave home (even for school in the same state) until I came here. Here; here is my 2nd home. Here is where the Savior abides closest with me. They say that each person shows their love differently and His way is so profound where it can be found around us each day, but the magnificence and beauty of His everlasting love is easiest to be seen when you are serving His children. Abinadi teaches us that if we are sinners and are going to need to rely on Christ's atonement in order to live again, then we are all of His seed. I know that our Savior has never ceased to worry about us and we can never do something so wretched that would cause Him to look away and pull back from the way that He loves us.<br />
<br style="line-height: 18.46px;" />
I'm actually getting kicked off in 4 minutes, yikes.<br />
<br style="line-height: 18.46px;" />
Family and friends, thank you for being so good to me and for watching me develop into a missionary in which I hope I will always be able to reflect. I am here to serve our Creator and our Father and am eager to return and offer that service to those whom the Lord needs me to. I love you all so so so much and can't express my love enough for our Heavenly Father for all of these spectacular experiences He has given to me on my mission. I will cherish it forever. I love you. See you next week.<br />
<br style="line-height: 18.46px;" />
For the last time,<br />
<br style="line-height: 18.46px;" />
Love,<br />
Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</div>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-51862863247900615172015-12-28T18:16:00.002-08:002015-12-28T18:36:15.096-08:002015 is ending. <span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel as though you are going to receive the most uneventful email yet ha! I am glad we got to talk on Christmas though. When the ward asked how it went, the word I came up with was refreshing. It's good to hear your voices and know that everyone is doing well. I'm glad to know that there was a lot of family time spent together, that always means a lot to me even if I am absent.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.3px;">Basically here's what my week was like. We had a zone activity and did a white elephant thing, that was good. Trying to explain what that and a mistletoe is to Chinese people is actually very difficult. They do not understand the purpose of a mistletoe ha! Speaking of which, one of our English students had us over for dinner and it was so nice of her! Elder Hsu says she only comes to English class cause I'm there and when I leave she won't come anymore ha! I doubt that, but I basically just sat there and had Elder Hsu translate when I wanted to say something. It was a good dinner though! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.3px;">On Tuesday we did some caroling and then on Wednesday for Elder Hsu's birthday we went to Chili's, On Christmas Eve we just did regular missionary work, Christmas was hard because people were busy, with family, etc., actually this whole week was that way for the most part. I wish I had more miracles to share, but this time of year makes the work pretty challenging. If anyone had sparked an interest in the church, it was always "You can come back after the holidays", so as a missionary, I cannot wait for the holidays to be over ha! I've actually wanted them to be over for a couple of weeks now, so we have one more and then we're done! Yikes...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.3px;">Things are going well though. We have a good week planned actually. Plus I've begun reading Mosiah and man, I just love reading King Benjamin's address. His address to me is all about our dependence upon God and His Son for literally everything we do. We are creatures made from the dust of the earth who are all beggars upon the same God, who's Atonement will reconcile us to the Father and no one, no name, no other way till do that except through His Son. How relieved and ecstatic King Benjamin must've felt to hear the angel say that all people will come to know Jesus Christ. Which reminds me of how we learned about the Millennium this Sunday, and I learned A LOT. What an exciting time that will be where Satan will be bound and we eventually won't even have to exert energy to avoid temptation. That to me sounds like bliss. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.3px;">Anyway, I'll talk to you once the new year comes around, how about that? Wow! 2015 is ending. Hmm. I think I'm just in denial about a lot of things or something because it doesn't seem real. Well, I love you all very much and hope you enjoy the last holiday of the year! We are supposed to be in by 6:00 p.m. that night, so I look forward to getting a good night's rest (: I love you, have a good week!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px;" /></b></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21.3px;"><b>- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX6UzVz3TF6AporYgqiAbZTGSPlX-YSE0W0IwcC4j0rVg4WGiQE1A0Apq3CTvcN6BnQvkllzmLQEHxFgvZIci0NzdQLQ-eoV7UtE5uVj23FGOcPq99xyeriMVgdpioWOnXLd1GIj8QTc/s1600/IMG_1551+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieX6UzVz3TF6AporYgqiAbZTGSPlX-YSE0W0IwcC4j0rVg4WGiQE1A0Apq3CTvcN6BnQvkllzmLQEHxFgvZIci0NzdQLQ-eoV7UtE5uVj23FGOcPq99xyeriMVgdpioWOnXLd1GIj8QTc/s640/IMG_1551+%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJcms5JrDszLVteQUJehvKbgDDr-Mqn4Vjulb3MQiaLwXck01z3aup_FvweC3evViJs0vZdDhcwtNDbmFrAjAoQUG_R78M7PDFWDU-FuGzawNHge4hyphenhyphenCSls4hQKegJk18FKjb86divTc/s1600/IMG_1552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJcms5JrDszLVteQUJehvKbgDDr-Mqn4Vjulb3MQiaLwXck01z3aup_FvweC3evViJs0vZdDhcwtNDbmFrAjAoQUG_R78M7PDFWDU-FuGzawNHge4hyphenhyphenCSls4hQKegJk18FKjb86divTc/s640/IMG_1552.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angel Chen</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aieEp-qENLI4reeOTkCRqzC5I-TJ5jMS3CkcHyApa4KAKFa-FEPp-qu616uzylc19vSees4-zOjgTkg_77NRDkMOVZoAqbjY8a4BX6y21GDbBk8gJPro0l0QZmCoFBdilNL6Dvciy9k/s1600/IMG_1555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aieEp-qENLI4reeOTkCRqzC5I-TJ5jMS3CkcHyApa4KAKFa-FEPp-qu616uzylc19vSees4-zOjgTkg_77NRDkMOVZoAqbjY8a4BX6y21GDbBk8gJPro0l0QZmCoFBdilNL6Dvciy9k/s640/IMG_1555.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5-DVZ3-ONeCYNHZJ_BfMdvMpwO8zT7tWYtk_nh1r-jZa1VCXRqarNoqAp6JQ1gqWCU1O-A4Fd-peSx1HbCLNdxLVdAD5rDnPJgGKf9xiFWWksMDB5Haa6tF44N4aINdzRX17gkUTXJE/s1600/308517_10156278532025459_1003751683755454002_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5-DVZ3-ONeCYNHZJ_BfMdvMpwO8zT7tWYtk_nh1r-jZa1VCXRqarNoqAp6JQ1gqWCU1O-A4Fd-peSx1HbCLNdxLVdAD5rDnPJgGKf9xiFWWksMDB5Haa6tF44N4aINdzRX17gkUTXJE/s640/308517_10156278532025459_1003751683755454002_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ox1Bnmru-L5Py97tUk_TrdnWYl0C2K6hgKKLTSji_VRkjpLj-diAE-LX3121arIzORcba1yD4UFTu20xyJmcbZeLCDal-68izWNNca4XgIWIeHnWUASlY9cMoOxPNCuv2eIh3D8z-nQ/s1600/1604745_10156278532065459_8640506641290659413_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ox1Bnmru-L5Py97tUk_TrdnWYl0C2K6hgKKLTSji_VRkjpLj-diAE-LX3121arIzORcba1yD4UFTu20xyJmcbZeLCDal-68izWNNca4XgIWIeHnWUASlY9cMoOxPNCuv2eIh3D8z-nQ/s640/1604745_10156278532065459_8640506641290659413_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcoe6Rf4f0BhoFDl6xtaTfUUJv22Z51uJqbsUkcpF1h3f8rp4vKibPx3fawhNphThoxLF7CgLhXxiHZYUaxqsBqyCPueUqu1NYjRVIjHJuBHzCJ5HUYqJQMlOXZ6JnQelWDAAI8MKNhM/s1600/1919292_10156278531945459_264312664799504671_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcoe6Rf4f0BhoFDl6xtaTfUUJv22Z51uJqbsUkcpF1h3f8rp4vKibPx3fawhNphThoxLF7CgLhXxiHZYUaxqsBqyCPueUqu1NYjRVIjHJuBHzCJ5HUYqJQMlOXZ6JnQelWDAAI8MKNhM/s640/1919292_10156278531945459_264312664799504671_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvIgZBaWgtPk6YUxyyp4NcctEfPX-cfS63tj7Y2nQWqbYsmygwLkxRpmbii4ghVkDZ1UdVhgIqZs-NG_funjsjxSHtwtY3EBFPJzJNKgmdgfUwb1r_zvZQ2T3mBHUE-beGZxY53v0MjI/s1600/1934203_10156264775935459_766335192999285926_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisvIgZBaWgtPk6YUxyyp4NcctEfPX-cfS63tj7Y2nQWqbYsmygwLkxRpmbii4ghVkDZ1UdVhgIqZs-NG_funjsjxSHtwtY3EBFPJzJNKgmdgfUwb1r_zvZQ2T3mBHUE-beGZxY53v0MjI/s640/1934203_10156264775935459_766335192999285926_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR0TfTQcQFtWDqc9kO42NxGJs4rLBDD4C6WE_FTYekBGQgd8rvoQUm__ptQ8ss9Ngd2r7asNyWdzV0UM1N5nYJylQoC89dcqZGCXctSShH4CnPCBBlPpfPhhYYYb_lAIuXV2rljHQSAs/s1600/12366261_10156264775940459_4981409269760460994_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzR0TfTQcQFtWDqc9kO42NxGJs4rLBDD4C6WE_FTYekBGQgd8rvoQUm__ptQ8ss9Ngd2r7asNyWdzV0UM1N5nYJylQoC89dcqZGCXctSShH4CnPCBBlPpfPhhYYYb_lAIuXV2rljHQSAs/s640/12366261_10156264775940459_4981409269760460994_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxyattWflFUmgo_7oE8mHCADlk2W4kKWiKioH4LYGtNidnSE64Rp5oL0hu1CY9euIHkWQZzmqMIHRlDqOMYd9bRQEwVjPG3s1bwayPXMwpWMcCfkxtvdYYbJqCaC-1BFOgn7BG-rkSLA/s1600/12391133_10156278532360459_81435428971658566_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxyattWflFUmgo_7oE8mHCADlk2W4kKWiKioH4LYGtNidnSE64Rp5oL0hu1CY9euIHkWQZzmqMIHRlDqOMYd9bRQEwVjPG3s1bwayPXMwpWMcCfkxtvdYYbJqCaC-1BFOgn7BG-rkSLA/s640/12391133_10156278532360459_81435428971658566_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-39480076375004931162015-12-22T11:43:00.002-08:002015-12-22T11:45:17.452-08:00Merry Christmas<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I'm not a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas, but I am carol-ed out already. I think it's because this year is the most Christmas-y I've ever celebrated before. Yesterday we had our final choir concert with St. Denis Catholic church and they did a wonderful job. It was one of two times I recall being encouraged to clap in the chapel, it was still then kind of odd, but their choir did excellent! This Christmas we will be having brunch at a member's house, skyping at 2:00 p.m., and having dinner at our Elders Quorum President's house and having Mexican food, which I am very excited about! It's going be a wonderful Christmas and no matter what form of communication I have related to you that day I will cry, so let me ponder what'll keep me focused but also let me feel like I've done Christmas its justice. I will inform you before I leave the library.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">This week it's been pretty cold and it's been making our car battery act funny. We had to jump it so many times that now I feel like a professional at it. I figured I'd mention that to make dad proud. We got the battery replaced on Thursday in Rancho when we had the Christmas devotional at the mission office with the other missionaries. My brain just hasn't been thinking properly and I was literally the only elder to show up without a suit! I was embarrassed, but it's all good. I got to meet up with Elder Hancock which is always great! </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">On Friday we went to the Chino Hills Boat Parade to pass out hot chocolate and Christmas cards, it was good. We tried really hard to find Chinese people, but Koreans, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese people all look so similar! And I discovered that not many people wanted to talk to missionaries during a parade anyway ha! We did our best though (:</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I've got a wonderful story to share with you about those whom the Lord is so generously preparing for us to meet, I love this story, oh man. Brace yourself. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We met a mom (Maria) and a son (Ricky) when we knocked on their door and they invited us back next week with a member of the ward who spoke Spanish for Maria. And no words will adequately describe how well the lesson went. After we taught the Restoration, he told us he really liked the message, and you should've just heard the sincerity in his voice! You could just tell he was ready to accept everything the gospel has so we invited him to be baptized and he said yes and his mom gave him permission and we are going back on Tuesday to establish a date for him to be baptized and hopefully Maria will feel inclined to do the same (:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Showing up to their door and the first and second time was so interesting because the first time she said that Ricky had seen missionaries in a nearby city and was curious about them, and then we end up knocking on their door. When we went back on Saturday for the actual lesson, Maria said they only had 20 or so minutes, but we ended up being there for an hour and a half! She definitely felt the Spirit while we were there. Ricky said the closing prayer and if there's one thing I love most in missionary work it's when investigators say a sincere prayer for the first time. In his prayer he said stuff like "thank you for the way you've made me feel, I wish every morning started out like this" and then he said something so neat. He said "Thank you for sending the missionaries... it feels like I've known them for a while." You can tell what's on a person's mind through what they mention in their prayers and you can tell when the Spirit is within them when they use a different tone than casual speaking. And then the rest of the day went really good as well and I just know wherever we are at, people are being prepared for the gospel. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I'd say that about concludes my week. I wish every week was like this one, but it's all good, the Lord has everything under control. He'll supply us with the things that we need as well as the rest of the children. A sister reminded us in District meeting that the Lord loves His children more than we do, so of course He'll always try to do things to bring them closer to His Son. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Lastly, I just want to say how much I love and appreciate our Savior. I understand Him best through that title because I think it defines His purpose and nature perfectly. I know His role in my life through experience and also by reading The Book of Mormon. I know that God loves us so much that He was willing to send His Son to us and I'm grateful for how patient He is and thankful that He has no resentment toward us even when we make mistakes. I know that Christ was harmed both physically and spiritually for the possibility of us regaining life again with our Father. I know Jesus Christ is indispensable, and the very thought of Him can remove any hedges of doubt or unwelcomed temptation. His name truly is Wonderful and His gift of life is enough for me this Christmas season. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We will speak again next week and possibly on Friday. For now, be safe in the snow and despite the business of the year, keep Christ forever nestled closely to your heart. I love you, Merry Christmas! (: </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMeGVRAA1XiTSlPajGMJkXGgVM49KN7hqmUMFPXvAbuSco4fj0oMwyRImMlVXTgUhCix3_g65TDcJxPPtCDEoRqM7FT8_AlVvx_LOC4YYmzKQ1_VwocmOuxrnp3UWITw2_9mXCPVSg9w/s1600/IMG_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMeGVRAA1XiTSlPajGMJkXGgVM49KN7hqmUMFPXvAbuSco4fj0oMwyRImMlVXTgUhCix3_g65TDcJxPPtCDEoRqM7FT8_AlVvx_LOC4YYmzKQ1_VwocmOuxrnp3UWITw2_9mXCPVSg9w/s640/IMG_1548.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Merry Christmas in Chinese</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC1d_ekg2qxUjhivbiIU8-7UjnY7Qrd1QPnd23KkR1ZdUDds37UBgsVmIiImqcK6HpmUYyYXQp7XdgxE23j6ALKHAwgv5YwoQGXxy1Ky9THLsrIG-pRq5cWkEC414MUy5YT3LU4su0F0/s1600/IMG_1550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbC1d_ekg2qxUjhivbiIU8-7UjnY7Qrd1QPnd23KkR1ZdUDds37UBgsVmIiImqcK6HpmUYyYXQp7XdgxE23j6ALKHAwgv5YwoQGXxy1Ky9THLsrIG-pRq5cWkEC414MUy5YT3LU4su0F0/s640/IMG_1550.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsGe0sx3pSxGW-9kN1S3UQiTOsa9v2uGIyiUpQEA2It_0mrGp9NSTcsIFNjVq461eepZ9qRZ8F8HPsMgZVQ52HXOja7_KhHbzXypaPg8fGCdgHPOwWdiOuSVcW6TfOiWklqghpcM6BF8/s1600/IMG_1526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsGe0sx3pSxGW-9kN1S3UQiTOsa9v2uGIyiUpQEA2It_0mrGp9NSTcsIFNjVq461eepZ9qRZ8F8HPsMgZVQ52HXOja7_KhHbzXypaPg8fGCdgHPOwWdiOuSVcW6TfOiWklqghpcM6BF8/s640/IMG_1526.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz-Z0PgOW1PsLASVOSrXTugWtJR2jtTDuGuAQK9f1oikjlQSSNgpzHDc1oySoU7yYllKDMt_W8ufD4dzURquf7_N_noozaFWTXx5bFpIUCyFICEzEhD6A39gPDIcVo-9w1X_AoVG0ZAg/s1600/BOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz-Z0PgOW1PsLASVOSrXTugWtJR2jtTDuGuAQK9f1oikjlQSSNgpzHDc1oySoU7yYllKDMt_W8ufD4dzURquf7_N_noozaFWTXx5bFpIUCyFICEzEhD6A39gPDIcVo-9w1X_AoVG0ZAg/s640/BOM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfZ0gxqjfCbMlcnSygR_2MZUxIQe7kkw5H8HbeRBrcOSUSbUo-aq8iQxkLeVYQkJvnhf3aC9h6kMu_9WvvcI_Mh31Fd0tUwCJ4HZexnbgZ3MjabrRR-Y7JCcG1Z3yWwpxyrXZv8XL-fg/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfZ0gxqjfCbMlcnSygR_2MZUxIQe7kkw5H8HbeRBrcOSUSbUo-aq8iQxkLeVYQkJvnhf3aC9h6kMu_9WvvcI_Mh31Fd0tUwCJ4HZexnbgZ3MjabrRR-Y7JCcG1Z3yWwpxyrXZv8XL-fg/s640/IMG_1532.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcSGgV0fHD9uehtj3T0l6wXAz2lLhxAL4ouiLRlgbzvWcoWuge-5B9epNKyfDHKCNNaAeOm9pwE9m0aPszOxpx7itYRDaY3DoONrBfoJUtW3AS-YTwnZyRI-leziN2dEnGsG6lZnuD8Q/s1600/IMG_1546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcSGgV0fHD9uehtj3T0l6wXAz2lLhxAL4ouiLRlgbzvWcoWuge-5B9epNKyfDHKCNNaAeOm9pwE9m0aPszOxpx7itYRDaY3DoONrBfoJUtW3AS-YTwnZyRI-leziN2dEnGsG6lZnuD8Q/s640/IMG_1546.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-33667827654061134762015-12-10T08:05:00.003-08:002015-12-10T08:06:39.091-08:00Brother to Brother After Reading Shawn's email my heart was heavy. I immediately text my husband, Ben (Shawn's brother in law) and told him he needed to write a letter or email to Shawn immediately. Ben typed a beautiful letter to Shawn and got it sent out to him yesterday. I hope he finds peace and comfort in his brothers words. This is sure a hard time for Shawn, but what great lessons and patience he is learning. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br />December 9, 2015</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Dear Elder Bennion,</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I hope you don’t mind a typed letter. It is so much easier
to type than it is to write. But I hope you still feel the personal touch that
you would get from a written letter. I know I haven’t written you in a while. There
is really no excuse but I have always felt that a missionary needs to serve
“their” mission. I could have given you advice along the way, but every time I
started a letter or an email, I was always told to wait. By the next week, I
would read your email and you figured it out, solved the problem or overcame
the trial. That is why I never wrote because the Lord needed you to figure it
out.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I know you don’t want to think about it, but it will always
creep into your mind that you don’t have much time left in the mission field.
Guess what? There is nothing you can do to stop it. There is no way around it. Every
missionary has to go through it at some point. I was just like you, afraid to
come home. I was afraid of the unknown. I had no idea what I wanted to do with
my life because I was so focused on the Lords work. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When I was 18 months out in the mission fields, my mission
president concluded his 3 year service. Before they left, Sister Gilliland
spoke to us at a zone conference and said this: “Make sure that when it’s your
turn to leave the mission field, you leave with no regrets.” That statement hit
me like a ton of bricks. At that time, I felt I was working as hard as I could
but I wanted to make sure that I left nothing on the table. When the new mission
president came in, the next transfer he called me to be a Zone Leader. When I
talked to my new companion I told him all I want to do is work and he agreed to
it. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Some of the missionaries in my district and my zone teased
me because I was getting ready to come home. But my companion and I outworked
every single companionship in the district and zone. We would cut our
preparation days short because scheduled lessons on those days. We did not care
about sleep, or food or ourselves. We simply cared about the message of the
restoration and wanted to do everything in our power to make sure everyone in
Western Hills, Ohio know that great message. We were also blessed for our
efforts. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When I stepped off the plane and embraced my family, I knew
I had given the Lord everything I had. I had no regrets. I had no clue what I
was going to do with the rest of my life, but just like in the mission field,
the Lord will provide a way. There were struggles and trials but I used the
principled I learned in the mission field to solve them. You will never be
alone. Think of it as the next chapter of your life. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I hope you still have those three guitar picks I gave you
and the I Am of the Fellowship of the Unashamed card. Remember who you are
Shawn. Remember who you represent. Be Bold. If <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>your mind in places where it should be, work
hard. If that doesn’t work, then work even harder. Ask Heavenly Father for help
and work even harder. You can’t change the last 23 months but you can change
these last four weeks. Go out with a bang. Give it everything you got and then
some. Make sure you are tired when you go to bed and tired when you wake up.
Don’t leave any stone unturned. Talk to everyone you see. Let them know of your
great message. DON’T STOP!!! Leave it all out on the field. Come home with
nothing left give. </span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I should have given you this talk sooner. I had it all typed
up and ready to send to you but the file got put somewhere when I moved offices
at work. Read it, think about it and ponder about your mission. Then, pull up
your bootstraps and get to work. You have a work to do. Read the 31<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
section of the Doctrine & Covenants. Then get back to work.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Love you brother,</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ben</span></div>
<br />sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-8019821042918889192015-12-08T19:25:00.002-08:002015-12-08T19:25:06.852-08:00To my immediate family<div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">
To my immediate family,<br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" />Reading your emails has cheered me up a bit more than how I felt prior, because I just feel like I have no sense of balance these days. I feel like there are so many things out of my control and I simply don't know how to feel. I feel like I don't have permission to think about home, yet I have so many instances where it crosses my mind or missionaries or members bring it up and ask what my future holds, etc. It's all a very trying period of my life and it certainly doesn't help when you aren't having the most success in your very last area. Oi aue, I'm gonna ask some of the elders for a blessing tomorrow at our zone meeting. <br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" />It's not that any of you are doing anything wrong, I just feel a type of resentment toward lots of things that deal with home right now. If anything, my love has grown deeper and healthier for you all since I've been out here. It may not appear that way right now, but I can assure you that God loves families and the most important and retained lessons will be through the Spirit in a home devoted to God and every family (including our own) needs that. I long to experience that feeling with you once again.<br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" />If anything, just keep me in your prayers and keep the faith. I'll be okay, I just need to man-up by humbling myself. The Lord chastens those He loves and when all is said and done, the scars in Christ's hands and feet will never close up, therefore His grace and forgiveness will always be accessible through His sacrifice. And because of my gratitude for that, I will pass out a card to someone in the library, that will make me feel better. <br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" />Well everyone, I ought to sign out and get back to work! Stay safe and be warm! I love you.<br style="line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.3px;" />- Elder Bennion</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-48595007209220052842015-12-02T07:53:00.002-08:002015-12-02T07:53:11.513-08:00Wishing you all the best from my heart.<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">To make sure that I don't forget, let me confirm that I did get the cards you sent me, thank you for those, they are going to be a huge blessing to me for when I put them into use. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">It's so strange to be e-mailing you right this second. I'm used to transfer day being hectic and little to no spare time. Luckily, I'll be spending my last transfer in Diamond Bar with Elder Hsu, so today will be pretty relaxed. I'm grateful for the news I received on Saturday about staying. It took me a little bit to enjoy serving in Diamond Bar, but I've noticed how much the Atonement gives us strength to adjust and grow and enjoy the things that are challenging in our lives. I've been looking in the scriptures for the word 'remember' to see what happens when people do remember the Lord. It's so interesting to see how the Nephites and Lamanites behave when they do remember Him. I think that for us, it instantly fills us with gratitude and assurance that if He's done something good for us, it's bound to happen again. No wonder we promise to remember Christ throughout the week when we partake of the Sacrament. Because of this, it's caused me to ponder how many times the Lord has presented opportunities for me to share the gospel and how he'll continue to do that forever. I have this irrational fear that I'm going to leave feeling incomplete about my service. It's so hard to push that thought aside.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Which is why I've chosen to do this thing called The 40 day fast where you write down a couple of things that you either want to remove or cultivate that will help you to have the Spirit more and when you begin, you fast and attempt to edit these things in your life for the next 40 days. I've begun today and am looking mostly for further trust in the Lord from this experience. It'll be good for me. Elder Hsu says that I'm basically punishing myself ha, he's a funny elder. But in all seriousness, I'm determined to do this. One of the things I've put down is to only email for 45 minutes, I don't want to become pre-occupied or attached to things back home quite yet. I'm really not even sure that I want to Skype on Christmas, we will see as the time gets closer. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Can you believe that we're one day shy of entering December? The holidays are great and all, but it can make missionary work challenging with all the family around and investigators going out of town. President Hobbs says this is the time where he gets the most homesick emails ha! Makes sense. I imagine at this point you want to hear about my Thanksgiving? It went well. We ate at a family's house named the Merrill's and they made some really good food! It was very nice of them to have us in their home that day. We still had English class, but only 2 people showed up. Then Sister Kilburn made these delicious rolls from Lion House? Is that a restaurant in Salt Lake or something? either way, they don't top Maddox, but boy they were delicious. It turned out to be a good day.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Our whole week was pretty good really. Week 6 of the transfer always tends to be a good one. No complaints here, just a lot of work to do (:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Well, I'm concluding this email and wishing you all the best from my heart. I pray for your safety each night and am so grateful for what you have all done for me while I've been in California. Thank you for everything. I love you.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-4648195372336753802015-11-23T14:48:00.002-08:002015-11-23T14:48:31.151-08:00 I love it here so much!Family,<br /><br />Do you think that the Lord has a sense of humor? I seem to think He does. I'm not sure why this makes me laugh, maybe it's just because of how it's spot-on of how He runs things in missionary work. On Friday, we were looking for people to teach and nothing special was happening, but we made our way over to see a potential investigator at 8:45 but he wasn't home. We had 15 minutes left and I thought to myself that it's okay if we went in a tiny bit early, but as we were passing the only lively house in the neighborhood, I put my pride aside and suggested we knock on it. It was a peculiar thing to do because it just sounded like a bunch of teenagers upstairs, but a very nice woman named Marie answered the door and we talked for about 15 minutes and we left her with a Book of Mormon and she initiated our return appointment. New Investigator!!! haha, so cool. It's always the last door that you don't want to do where something goes great. The Lord certainly answered our prayers with that one. It's a rare occasion we find an investigator by tracting, but it doesn't mean it doesn't work!<br /><br />It was actually a pretty good week for us here. We taught 4 people this week, which is the best weekly report we've had so far. The weather is very warm here, it's been in the 80's all week (: I'm not really all that sad about there not being any snow here, to be honest. Often people ask if we'd ever move to California and it's too bad it's so expensive here, because the winters really are great here.<br /><br />On Tuesday, the Hobbs and the assistants visited our zone and presented a new video the church is putting out for Christmas. It's exciting for us as missionaries because it gives us a way to connect to people easier since everyone's starting to feel the Christmas Spirit. The cashier today at Winco even told me to have a Merry Christmas, it was weird. And Pepboys was playing Christmas music. Either way, the church is so great with the audiovisual stuff. I'm never embarrassed to view or suggest a video for someone to watch. <br />Recently I watched a great bible video of when Christ healed a blind man, and He instructed the man to wash in a certain pool of water. What I noticed was that Christ wasn't even there to see the man regain his sight. Doesn't that just sound like Christ's character? He never acted compassionately for a reward or praise. I'm so grateful that we get to celebrate along with many others of different faiths the birth of the Savior and how He humbly entered our world. He truly has been refined through the Atonement, it goes to show that our trials results make us stronger and better than before. It's unreal what he experienced while He was on the earth. It'll be a special time of year. I started the Book of Mormon again and this time, I'm highlighting any reference I see to the Savior and from my reading, I picked out 58 times He was mentioned in the first 3 chapters. How could a wicked person write a book so inspiring? I know Joseph Smith is a true prophet of God and that he helped millions find renewed faith in our Savior. Myself included.<br /><br />Our English class went well this week. We had 10 people attend! It's such a fun class. It's a different form of service, but I really like it. We taught our class what kind of things to say when they go shopping. They were so relieved we taught it, they said it was very helpful to them. There's a guy that leaves our class each time in his struggling English saying: "I feel good!" haha, he's awesome. On Friday, we knocked on a guy's door and he was pretty drunk and gave us a hug, but he said if we knocked on his door any other time he wouldn't have answered, so that's kinda cool. And because Elder Hsu speaks Chinese, we got 100+ referrals for Chinese speakers in the Chino stake from missionaries in Arcadia, so we should be pretty busy till Christmas it seems like ha!<br /><br />Well that's our week in a nutshell. We've got 2 Thanksgiving meal plans on Thursday, so that's good! I really hope we can find a new person to teach that day. Just because it's a holiday, doesn't mean the Lord's work ceases! Thank you all so for being wonderful people, I am truly thankful for the Lord in sending me to California. I love it here so much! I love you guys as well. Have a great Thanksgiving, talk to you next week!<br /><br />- Elder Bennionsbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-30852129558147877302015-11-19T15:38:00.004-08:002015-11-19T15:39:16.178-08:00We are Proud.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuY_rroUQV0emrf1m_9A7Jg0DTosFYmY5wU6XwVxHSlsU3yzYMCGV8_7TOMMRB9QjiLNSwZ_PcZc_3xAa_E2xfTHOKx8lQpufvEgI-x8bHT27A89NpDXoEjr7I6pFWkGe35lzLH5TkRI/s1600/shawn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuY_rroUQV0emrf1m_9A7Jg0DTosFYmY5wU6XwVxHSlsU3yzYMCGV8_7TOMMRB9QjiLNSwZ_PcZc_3xAa_E2xfTHOKx8lQpufvEgI-x8bHT27A89NpDXoEjr7I6pFWkGe35lzLH5TkRI/s640/shawn.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
<br />sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-91211059156516030622015-11-19T15:36:00.002-08:002015-11-19T15:36:46.998-08:00Diamond Bar<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I know at this given time, it doesn't affect me much, but I am so sad that our ward has been split! I have no idea who our bishop or his counselors are unfortunately. Thank you for informing me about this, I now need to inform our mission office about this. Church at 2:00 huh? Perry must really be growing in membership then. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I read a letter that I got from mom today and she mentioned that our family keeps having bad experiences with the Jazzy haha! You'd think our family would've learned from the first time. "and she says STOP!... That's what mommy said" ha! Brighton is too cute. That first time was actually kinda startling, but I now I look back on it and laugh about Brighton's reaction to the whole thing. Teasing aside, I am grateful that you are all going okay.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">To explain the dynamic of Diamond Bar, we cover the south side of Diamond Bar which is very populated with Asians. Diamond Bar High School is 80% Asian I think and there are less than 10 LDS kids there. Needless to say, it's so nice that Elder Hsu is here to speak Chinese to those who are interested. In China, they don't really go to church there, so he says coming to church in America is kinda just a fashion thing, so I think a lot of the Asian population here are simply unfamiliar with church and unsure of what to expect. The majority of the Asians here are Buddhist, so they really don't know much about Jesus Christ, since they worship Buddha. They typically don't show much interest in the church, but they are nice people. That's why I love the English class that we are doing because it's showing them that there's no need to be afraid of the church or missionaries (: We're located about 25 minutes east of Los Angeles, so the people are pretty wealthy. There's a gated community called the Country that Snoop Dog has a house in, if that gives you an idea of that place is like. We haven't been there because the security is outrageous and not many of our members live there and they need to inform the Country of our visit in order for us to come in.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We are trying so hard to find a new investigator and often I'm a bit hard on our companionship because we've been unsuccessful with it so far, but we do try awfully hard and that's what counts. I could definitely extend a bit more gratitude for being able to serve a mission regardless of where I'm called to serve. President Hobbs advised that I set little goals each day to help me feel effective and that principle will bless me for the rest of my life. Bishop Thornock said something similar to me yesterday, so therefore I will proceed with their counsel and we will see what results come from it!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I woke up with a headache and a stuffy nose today so I'm ready to call it good for email today and get home to take a nap. Take good care back home and keep serving as the Savior would. I love you!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-79848322025409606992015-11-09T15:17:00.003-08:002015-11-09T15:19:19.216-08:00Because of HimFamily,<br />
<br />
I always look forward to emails such as this when you can share something eventful with me. It was a good report and I'm simply happy to hear that you all had a spiritual filled weekend.<br />
<br />
I wish I had a lot myself to report on, but we reached the climax of our week last Monday and then the rest of the week, we didn't have a single lesson "/ However, last Monday we did have a lesson with someone and we shared the Because of Him video and I have seen that video so many times, but something was different this time. Watch the video and pay attention to when the drum comes in to the video. I certainly don't think it was placed there on accident (:<br />
<br />
It sounds like you got a picture or two of me this weekend from the O'barr's. We did some quilting on Wednesday for the humanitarian stuff and then did yardwork at their house on Saturday and had crepes! It was probably the second time in my life that I ate Nutella.<br />
This weekend, the Chino stake got a new stake presidency and that was good! Along the lines of what you have expressed to me in your emails, every single calling in the church is delivered straight from the Lord through His authorized servants. I'm not sure why people lack such faith in that. Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet of God and that's that (:<br />
<br />
Today I got a flu shot and we had to drive to Rancho for it and we still have a lot to do, so I'm gonna call this good. Keep praying for me and that the hearts of Diamond Bar will soften! I love you all, have a good week!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_S3TI4bYerU/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_S3TI4bYerU?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
- Elder Bennionsbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-53762091673569457412015-11-02T13:08:00.000-08:002015-11-02T13:08:00.257-08:00We just had a good week serving the Lord. <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I'm not sure if you felt the same way, but this week flew by! Maybe it was the fact that we had to be in on Halloween by 6:00 and that we got to sleep in an extra hour on Sunday, I'm not sure. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Slowly things are getting to be ship shape and bristle fashioned (as Elder Cook taught me what that means). I'm trying to keep track of the littlest things that make a difference to me. For instance, being in the same zone as a certain missionary, the 3 sticks of deodorant someone in the ward gave us, and the lunch that someone from the ward provided us, that kinda stuff. Because it's November, I felt inspired to show more gratitude this month. Sister Hobbs tells us it's the basis of all righteous desires, and I can attest to that and that when we feel a type of gratitude, we tend to do things more with our heart. I am hoping it makes a difference in my prayers, my Sabbath day worship, and the way I face our jam-packed days of missionary work. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I am so thankful that things are getting more organized with our area and that though we haven't found a new investigator, that I can at least look back knowing I tried my best. I've also learned that there is a huge difference in disappointment and discouragement. We should be disappointed when we don't reach our goals or when we do something wrong or if we come home and no one accepted a Book of Mormon, but when we face discouragement, that steers us from giving a fuller effort. I am so grateful for the wise words of Gordon B. Hinckley's father "Forget yourself and go to work", it always provides me with motivation to work no matter the circumstances. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">On Wednesday we had our very first English class and we even had one person show up! I wish I could explain what the classes are like, it would definitely be best if demonstrated in person. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">This whole week we really worked hard to find people to teach and we talked to so many people, I really don't think I've been more diligent with it on my mission. I know that we have to go through the bad to get to the good. I rely a lot on chapter 9 of Preach My Gospel to keep my faith high that there are people waiting for the gospel. In my recent study, I was frustrated and then was led to D&C 64:29-34, and I've never felt as though the Lord has communicated so clearly a scripture to me until I came across this one. It was a neat experience. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">As we sang a hymn in our studies, Hymn #281 said something that struck me "Help me teach with inspiration...Help me lift a soul's ambition to a higher, nobler way". What's so interesting is how the gospel influences every part of us and inspires us to be our best self. It truly has done that for me. Someone once told me "Don't compare yourself to others; compare yourself to where you started", I'm not sure why I shared that, I just thought it was interesting.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">You want to know something else I find interesting? I'm learning that people don't believe in the same things we do with the after life. Of course that's to be expected, but what I was unaware of was what others think happens to their relationships and more importantly, their families. I'm so grateful that I've come to find out God's plan for families and how the same joy we have right now being around our families will be identical afterward too. I understand better why we have bodies and why it's so important to have an identity. I am so grateful that as long as I am faithful, that I will be blessed with a blissful sight of seeing others that I loved so dearly. I am grateful that with the divine love God has for our families, we can enjoy our bonds continually with them when we pass on. God's plan surely is a plan of perfection and happiness and I'm so grateful for that.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We had a good Halloween, but most importantly, we just had a good week serving the Lord. I love being a missionary so much with all of my heart. It's hard to express that feeling, but I'll keep it at that. I'm in shock that it's November, but am going to continue laboring with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Thanks for everything, I love you all , have a great week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Bennion</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kg2wXJ-WgRU75sA12ptut7qPJwaYKcYZuOFVNO3fhzBKWT8gGB4R9DVdMuEGZs2xZnYeQ9pNar_r14wKrQG6yVNchYPQvlJWGL_2neI3S_KDkc5KZjaQNvec_jYII1x8S2pKjgjBYIM/s1600/IMG_1519.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kg2wXJ-WgRU75sA12ptut7qPJwaYKcYZuOFVNO3fhzBKWT8gGB4R9DVdMuEGZs2xZnYeQ9pNar_r14wKrQG6yVNchYPQvlJWGL_2neI3S_KDkc5KZjaQNvec_jYII1x8S2pKjgjBYIM/s640/IMG_1519.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-16419053407150116772015-10-26T13:49:00.002-07:002015-10-26T13:49:47.078-07:00Ni hao!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Ni hao! This week has been so interesting that I am having a very difficult time knowing where to start ha. Perhaps if I express that I know we make the most growth during our adjustments, my e-mail might make a little more sense. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">When I got to Diamond Bar on Tuesday, I met the Kilburn's (which is who we live with. Their address is 1921 Kiowa Crest, Diamond Bar, CA 91765- which I encourage you send letters to that address now instead of the mission office) and they are such a great old couple! They took us to dinner that evening and then we went to a meeting about an English class the ward is starting up this week. There was no exaggeration when I said that there were a lot of Asians around here, there's even more than I expected! It'll be neat though. I get to teach the intermediate English class twice a week. There will be very minimal Chinese spoken which will allow them to be immersed completely in English, which that is how they do it in the MTC. Elder Hsu has been teaching me a tiny tiny bit. Before I got here, Elder Hancock said that by the time you see me next, I'll know how to get by with Sign Language, Tongan, Spanish, and now Chinese ha. I'm not sure about that, but we will see. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Diamond Bar has so many giant hills that potentially exceeds me strength to bike around this city, oh my goodness biking here would kill me. But I do want to try it one day. When we walked around the other day, there were many people who honked at us, it was great! It's been kind of frustrating being in a new area because everything is just so unfamiliar and the people are different as well, but every time without fail we are always led to someone who we blessed in one way or another. That's one thing I am so grateful for in a mission. Each time we step outside, our purpose to assist in making someone's burden lighter, but there's only so much we can do until an individual needs to act by reading The Book of Mormon. My studies have been so much more quality and enlightening when I really study the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the word of God. I've been learning such interesting things in it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">On Friday morning we got a call from President Hobbs about a new missionary that went home, so President decided to re-assign Elder Clemons to Hesperia. It was sad, but the Lord knows what He is doing. Ever since that happened, I've been able to get to know Elder Hsu better and he has been so kind to me, it is so great. I wish you could meet this Elder haha! He cracks me up. He is super Asian, I need to send you a picture. He's from Taiwan, but came on his mission from West Jordan. I want to tell you a story and I won't even hide my emotions.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">On Friday, we were setting our weekly goals and I just stared at my planner and starting crying because I've got such little time, but so many things I want to improve on while I'm out and while I have the Spirit with me in such a magnified way. I know that this is where I will make the most significant progress in my lifetime because this is where I have come to know Jesus Christ best, and through that I feel more capable of finding more of what I was like when I lived in Heaven. I struggled to vocalize what I wanted to improve on, and then Elder Hsu rushed to my side and put his arm around me and asked me what was wrong and he did it with such compassion. He did it so similar to how Brighton does it. Not that I'm saying Elder Hsu resembles anything like a child, but I could tell that he had the purest of intentions in making me feel better and then he said this to me "It's okay, the Lord has better things for you in January, like get marry." haha! so I just laughed and that made the whole thing a little better. That story basically summarizes Elder Hsu, he's a very good Elder. I'm blessed to have him. He is such a blessing to the population here too. The only lesson we taught this week was when he taught in Mandarin, not that I could understand it, but he did a great job! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I wish I had more interesting things to say this week, but just know that progressively, things are meshing well. We have a clean room now, I'm getting more familiar with the area, and there are 3 members in particular in the ward that are really going to make serving here special, I just know it. This week has proved to me that the Lord knows what we are in need of and that if we don't take a step back to see what He has blessed us with, we won't be able to His grace that is so fully evident. I'm not sure how I failed to see it this week, but I'm grateful that He has worked with me and helped me humble myself to see the wonderful things happening in my mission. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I love you all so much and hope you are all doing great! Have a great Halloween, I'll talk to you in November! (:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-18309600756918071442015-10-20T08:30:00.001-07:002015-10-20T08:30:10.012-07:00I loved being an assistant.<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I know that Ben has had good luck at winning things over the radio as well as guessing the right things that is happening in my mission, because it is true that President Hobbs has called me to be a trainer this upcoming transfer!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Before I get into that, I just want to mention how much I loved being an assistant. Even though there were mornings that I felt sleep deprived, I really enjoyed serving here for 6 months. It was such a great experience to see how hard of a worker President Hobbs is. It's amazing to see what the Lord helps His servants accomplish even when they are mortals and are dealing with the same homesick emotions and fatigue, yet they give even more from a source that I'm not even sure they knew existed. He is truly an inspired President and I am really going to miss being able to see them and be closely associated. I learned a lot from him and consider him to be of the finest of mission presidents. He's shown me the importance of family, the need of conversion to our Savior (which comes through the Book of Mormon), and how much our Heavenly Father loves us. And I can tell by the way he treats his wife that he is gentle and loving toward all of our Father's children. I really admire him, as I know a lot of us do.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Explaining my week would be so much easier if I could upload pictures, but it's not working for some reason. So I will give it a shot without them. This week we've had Elder Findlay with us and he's an awesome missionary, he'll be serving as President's assistant probably until he goes home. For what President Hobbs wants to accomplish in our mission, Elder Findlay is so fit for this. Elder Hancock and I have had a good week with him (especially since they've been companions before).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We had dinner with a family on Wednesday who encouraged us to sing in sacrament on Sunday and when I found out earlier this week that I was going to be transferred, we thought it'd be a good idea, so all week we were preparing a hymn to sing in Tongan, so we chose one of my favorites "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" ('Eiki te U Muimui Atu) and it worked out very well considering Elder Hancock sang the tenor part, I sang the melody, and Elder Findlay sang the bass, and honestly, it turned out pretty good! The ward was so thrilled. I'm not sure what it is, but when palangi's embrace their culture, they get so excited, so singing in Tongan was just so amusing to them. It was so great to sing in their ward. Most importantly, to serve in it. I discovered that every Tongan ward is different, but man, I loved serving in this one so much! The members down here have very busy schedules, so any teaching appointment was special and being able to teach the Meleisea's was probably the best thing to happen while we were in that ward. Jonathan said the prayer for the first time yesterday when they had us over for dinner and that is one of my favorite things when investigators pray for the first time around us if they're shy to do it. Within the 3 months of knowing them, it was so great to be at their home each Sunday. The gospel will continue to do wonderful things for John and I hope to hear about a baptism of his in the future. The members there are so great, I love them so much! I'm grateful that they continued to open their home to us even after the mission. They've played a big part of my mission, but I am aware that the remainder of my mission will be now be spent around a different ward. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Starting tomorrow, I will be serving in the Diamond Bar ward which is the closest you can get to Los Angeles from the Rancho Cucamonga mission and it is apparently very populated by Asians. It's in the Chino stake which is the only stake in our mission that covers LA county. I will be training a missionary named Elder Hsu who has been out for 6 weeks and will be training another new missionary that is arriving tonight. It is going to be something very new and will take a lot of pondering on how to make it work ha. I'm very excited though. I've wanted to serve in Chino since I got here and when I found out about Diamond Bar, it just felt right. Our neighbors in Rancho are pretty cool and when I told them I was being transferred, our neighbor mentioned his Brother in law that lives one street over from where I'll be living and told me to go visit him. I took that as a sign the Lord needs me there. I am so excited for this new part of my mission. I am eager to serve in the ward and so excited that I get to have full proselyting days, it is going to be so great to use that time in proclaiming the gospel more frequently. I've been anticipating it all week and know it's going to be great.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I am sure going to miss Elder Hancock though! He's been such a great companion. I thought I was going to be in Rancho for another 6 weeks honestly. It doesn't exactly feel all that real though that he won't be my companion for long. He's such a good missionary though. He's very diligent and does the right things for the right reason and is so goal-oriented. I really hope that being with him for that long will help me to apply that everywhere I go. He's very kind and is the best at serving companions, he always looks for a way to do it and it's so awesome. I've been very blessed by his example and friendship. Him being from Arizona made me feel such a desire to visit the Walker's because that state sounds awesome! Plus it's been a while since we've since them, I haven't seen them since Grandma's funeral I think. Either way, I'm really gonna miss him. His actions definitely speak louder than his words and I am appreciative of all the ways he served me and lent a hand to let me know he cares.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I think that's about all, and there was a lot of it too! Lots of new changes, I am going to try my hardest to embrace each one of them. President Hobbs made many remarks today that caught my attention about how it's the Lord's work. He shares that a lot, but I think it's because we can forget that pretty easily in missionary work. I do know that there is a lot of improvement in myself that needs to happen within these next 3 months and so I think I'm going to mark in The Book of Mormon every time there is a reference to Christ. I know that many others have done that and said it is an effective way to truly see how much the Book of Mormon is about the Savior. I know that's who it all encompasses because that's who our ending revolves around. I'm grateful that I have His promise of eternal life with our Father again through making and keeping sacred covenants. It's been cemented in my gospel knowledge that the Lord will always keep His promises to us and I have complete faith that that will never change. I'm grateful to be heirs of the Eternal King and am grateful to call Him my Father. I'm also ecstatic to have a Savior who once died for me because He knew what I was going to struggle with. I know I have His support and with Him being the center of our lives, we shall granted into His rest where we won't even need to try not to be tempted and we too will have the disposition to never do evil again. I know just like the famous primary song, if the Savior stood physically and spiritually beside us, we would follow His example and live more righteously. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I love you all and hope you have a great week and that you put on a jacket, I bet it's getting cold up there in Utah!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 21.3px;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2tTizPkab0IJuJWiYQeeVcSp_cXT7KlDL_VoSOtfxq_fVyWBpx7FbGcSP8KTWcqSLWp4-HToqcR-O4EHHtFNUC3FoKkIphRCztxDu-jQfOnMqJM_anYEpJ5Aw6-ZxrNr7caUDmdduPs/s1600/IMG_1505+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2tTizPkab0IJuJWiYQeeVcSp_cXT7KlDL_VoSOtfxq_fVyWBpx7FbGcSP8KTWcqSLWp4-HToqcR-O4EHHtFNUC3FoKkIphRCztxDu-jQfOnMqJM_anYEpJ5Aw6-ZxrNr7caUDmdduPs/s640/IMG_1505+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elder Hancock and I!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYEP3TApgtfDaoubhnoDxZngT0ycJmPWiGe4qP7vJlmJLdv5YN8ExunFSHSf5w4r43tnv49rOUNZJkuA0jycU-0uweWLtAZHrwqeYaNG6lAH-2g2Ta916gmJ1kzSm0Qg7ZKXdEpGCEc8/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYEP3TApgtfDaoubhnoDxZngT0ycJmPWiGe4qP7vJlmJLdv5YN8ExunFSHSf5w4r43tnv49rOUNZJkuA0jycU-0uweWLtAZHrwqeYaNG6lAH-2g2Ta916gmJ1kzSm0Qg7ZKXdEpGCEc8/s640/IMG_1508.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Moala's!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGstN7KltYRSn_hCjCVVzYQaaSp6OlvBdRmYwEwOlAmg5FJR_iFhCmVS9DVbqVOHqn51cB12fwaE7DzvOBKEOiQA5-sI8s-9_kImz6OndIasZt1oZzp0K4ahDWk-rnaJyGqGMuW2UuuL8/s1600/IMG_1510+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGstN7KltYRSn_hCjCVVzYQaaSp6OlvBdRmYwEwOlAmg5FJR_iFhCmVS9DVbqVOHqn51cB12fwaE7DzvOBKEOiQA5-sI8s-9_kImz6OndIasZt1oZzp0K4ahDWk-rnaJyGqGMuW2UuuL8/s640/IMG_1510+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The purple tie trio!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1elglW2yGeruUiv_g96wpqioSlj1jl_FLtbQSvm_3-3csLXcgMwgTbd3trbt4Dh9VHVN3dxkL4tAHc8OZUWYVojOpOdI0mW973HyXA_uav9HsCKqxKD8m3Ju5arc6KsrS3Lt44Fy4F0/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1elglW2yGeruUiv_g96wpqioSlj1jl_FLtbQSvm_3-3csLXcgMwgTbd3trbt4Dh9VHVN3dxkL4tAHc8OZUWYVojOpOdI0mW973HyXA_uav9HsCKqxKD8m3Ju5arc6KsrS3Lt44Fy4F0/s640/IMG_1516.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Fonua's!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-8372572972884872502015-10-12T16:13:00.003-07:002015-10-12T16:13:24.750-07:00The mission is great, I couldn't be happier!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family, </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We're making our way into week 6 of the transfer, I don't get how it always comes so quickly. This means I've been in Rancho Cucamonga for 6 months now! I've really enjoyed serving in the heart of our mission, I was always hoping to serve here. The people are so nice here. We've been out on the bikes a lot more and it's always fun when people honk at you. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I wish that I had more exciting things to share, but perhaps that gives me more time to speak more spiritual and mention some things I've learned from my mission.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I did want to mention that on Friday morning, I looked at my planner and had a feeling that October 9th was something special, but I just couldn't think why. After eating dinner though, it clicked that 2 years ago that day I had opened my mission call!!! I could hardly believe it. As you're reading this, can you wrap your brain around that? My choice to serve a mission has brought me the most satisfaction that I personally could fathom. It's been such a delight to share with others how I know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. You'll run into this everywhere in the world I'm sure, but California especially has such a variety of religions and philosophies that distract from the underlying fact there is only One who was capable of making a sacrifice so profound to redeem us from our sins and our follies. I think about how foolish some of my decisions have been, but that Christ will never be one to hold it against me. I'm so thankful for never having the feeling that He is going to withhold His forgiveness from me. Not that it's anything to take advantage of, but I do know it's always there. Thankfully because of that, I was able to put aside my pride and choose to embark in the service of the Lord and I'm blessed to carry that message everywhere I go. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">To be honest, I'm drawing a blank on what else to mention. I just know that the gospel is true. It's so black and white and I'm grateful to have The Book of Mormon to make everything I believe in to be valid. I trust so thoroughly in Moroni's promise about The Book of Mormon and I'm grateful that my testimony is not good enough for others to make the decision to join our church. I know that is the Spirit's job and in order to receive that witness, we need to be showing the Lord that we desire His knowledge by praying, reading, going to church, etc. God won't let us take the easy way out and eliminate any chance to exercise our faith first. He is so wise, isn't He? I'm grateful that our relationship with Him is so similar to how our relationship with our earthly father is like. It makes understanding His love and reaction to our choices much easier. 'Oku ou i'lo'i 'oku ofa a e Tamai Hevani 'iate kitautolu. (I know that Heavenly Father loves us).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">The mission is great, I couldn't be happier! I love you, have a good week.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Bennion<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sNFkuqvC9Vw0UTe-gf6LIpUdxsR7hO7pbpJMWEgIx_JyHK3azOUApNWHexDLwZR5q4Uivg7nzjCCUSSKGuLX8d_9ggAF-gvvWkf9ybdUC245c7IIhgFW3XwceEesWK0pjwIvUzAMpjY/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sNFkuqvC9Vw0UTe-gf6LIpUdxsR7hO7pbpJMWEgIx_JyHK3azOUApNWHexDLwZR5q4Uivg7nzjCCUSSKGuLX8d_9ggAF-gvvWkf9ybdUC245c7IIhgFW3XwceEesWK0pjwIvUzAMpjY/s640/IMG_1494.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">This is the Australian flag, right? There was a Becoming a Missionary conference and they had these on some of the cupcakes.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNjQUC8rHKD9XkvGNP9tUWM1E902VXcTGJJuZjlAfOTe8-Gy-3xjajqABsz1UtRJjh90k69hBL899V6PUbfxjBijfMBzUrUJDSIf7b1aF5ZD_wFntUas2gi-61oT94Fk-P-tbDW15mQ4/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNjQUC8rHKD9XkvGNP9tUWM1E902VXcTGJJuZjlAfOTe8-Gy-3xjajqABsz1UtRJjh90k69hBL899V6PUbfxjBijfMBzUrUJDSIf7b1aF5ZD_wFntUas2gi-61oT94Fk-P-tbDW15mQ4/s640/IMG_1496.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">Elder Kaufusi! </span><br style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;" /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px; text-align: start;">He is leaving to the El Salvador/Belize mission on Tuesday. I'm super proud of this guy, I'm excited for him and know he'll do amazing things for those people.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-26389134263308750322015-10-08T11:54:00.001-07:002015-10-08T11:54:17.005-07:00Conference Weekend<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">What a busy week! I'm not sure that it was the same for you, but we spent a lot of time indoors. However, all the time indoors that we spent listening to conference was so great!!! I love conference so much, I'm always amazed at the sincerity of the brethren of their testimony of the Savior. They are all so dedicated to Him. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Elder Hancock and I had a goal to follow any spiritual promptings we receive, so that is always neat to see what results. We saw a less active that we don't normally see and that went well. Here was a cool miracle. Elder Falabella taught us a neat principle (that Elder Bednar said very well) "If you always do what you have always done, then you will always get what you have always gotten", so I've been really taking that to heart because we keep hitting a roadblock in our work with one of our investigators. He is only 10 and he wants to get baptized, we just have to get the mom on board with it. So instead of seeing him after school, we went by on Tuesday evening to see if we can meet his mom and we pulled up and basically, we had a great talk with her and she said she needs to get her kids baptized, start coming back to church, and basically start living the gospel again. It was pretty cool! Perhaps you might want to evaluate something in your life to change and see the difference it makes. It's a great feeling (: I also owe the miracle to the mission fast that we had at the beginning of September. It took 3 months of trying to meet Sister Toki and it finally happened once we fasted. I always see great things result from fasting.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We gave a training on Thursday with all of our zone leaders/sister training leaders and the Hobbs' said that we really followed the Spirit on it. I was really happy and it enlightened myself honestly. It was about how we need to increase our commitment as missionaries so that the Lord will bless us with committed investigators. It makes so much sense that if we are going to teach others that the Lord will bless us for our sacrifices, that we must show our investigators that we're experiencing the exact same thing. It's so hard to give up our will for the Lord sometimes, and that's exactly how others feel about making changes in their life. I have chosen to make a deeper commitment to the Sabbath day by being on time to all of our meetings that take place that day. I'm excited to see the difference.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">On Friday, I had a really great interview with President Hobbs. I expressed feelings of being overwhelmed with the work that has yet to be accomplished here in our mission and he advised me to set small goals every single day so that I can feel that I'm making a difference. I've just been able to see so much good in that man and I am so so grateful to have him here with us. He's so qualified in the Lord's work simply because he loves Him more than any one or any thing. I've seen him take his calling from the Lord 100% seriously and I love his stories, his humor, his passion for golf, and his deep love for his family. He's a phenomenal person. On Sunday, we had a meeting with him and he invited us over to have dinner as well and Sister Hobbs made a wonderful, traditional roast beef/potatoes Sunday dinner and it was delicious. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">As for the weekend, I thoroughly enjoyed conference. I love that each talk emphasizes a lot of the same principles, yet with a unique way for us to learn. Like the story from Elder Maynes of the Potter, the Elders Quorum President that shared the gospel when people were humble, and my most favorite was Elder D. Todd Christofferson's and the explanation he gave us for why God established a church to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, I thought it was perfect because you'd be surprised how many times a week we hear "I don't need to go to church to be a good person" or "I don't need to go to church to show God I love Him". I was so sad about President Monson as I know a lot of us were. He was doing so well, but I think Elder Bednar's talk really complimented President Monson, especially with Elder Hales' comment of "When you can't do what you've always done, do what matters most" and I certainly know our prophet will keeping serving the Lord to the best of his capabilites. I also found comfort in King Benjamin's words in his address when he said that he was a mortal and was subject to all the same things we are. I know that sometimes we have a tendency to think that we're exempt from problems just because we have a testimony of the restored gospel, but that's where the real testing comes in!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I had many confirmations that this is the Lord's work this weekend. I had such an appeal to President Eyring this session and thought that there was no way men and women like him would continue being so faithful to a church if it were not the Lord's true church on the earth again. I love the reasoning Joseph Smith was so committed to the gospel and it wasn't to become famous or build his ego, but he wanted to be in the best possible standing before God and he loved the Lord so much that he was obedient to every one of his commands. I know that Joseph was instructed to build this Church according to revelation he received from the Lord. I know that nothing in His Church is out of place and I know that 'the Kingdom is ours'. Hopefully it's still wonderful enough to you to rejoice in the glorious gospel and that you delight in these magnificent truths that the Lord has revealed through His chosen servants. I know that they are men of God and that it is our job to sustain them in these latter days. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">A year ago today was my very first day in the Tongan ward up the hill and so much has changed in my life since then and I'm just so grateful to be a missionary. I know that it my duty and my commission to Christ to declare that He is truly the Son of God. I know He'll steer you away from danger and will help you evolve to become the person you desire. I know He has a heart of gold and has pure intentions to deliver us from bondage. He has been a very dear friend of mine since I discovered how much He truly loves us. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I love you all very much and pray for you each and every night. Have a good rest of your week!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-1158828596516850532015-10-08T11:53:00.006-07:002015-10-08T11:53:31.539-07:009/28/15<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">There's really not much I can inform you of since I just emailed a couple of days ago, but I thought I'd just mention how much I have learned from President Hobbs since being an assistant. He told us the neatest story about his grandson that wanted to call his mom and his phone. Unfortunately, his grandson didn't know his mom's area code and he was so upset and President Hobbs requested over and over again to let him help him to type it in but he just sobbed and refused. Finally, after some humbling minutes, he asked for President's help, which then allowed his grandson to cheerfully speak with his mom. He then told us how we act the exact same way to the Lord where we fight His assistance, when our lives could be so much easier if we simply let go of our pride. That has stuck with me for the past couple of days and I am appreciative of his life lessons that he's willing to share with us. He's such an inspired man with his heart exactly in the right place. I really love President Hobbs.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We did 2 exchanges this week and on both of them, we spent a lot of time on bikes and it was so great! I've missed it. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">We had a really good Sunday. Church is always good and we had dinner at a family named the Fonua's and they are so awesome! Brother Fonua goes "For being 2 palangi's in the ward, they really like you!" it was nice to hear that. They let us leave with ice cream and we took it to the Meleisea's, which was perfect because it turns out it was their 2nd anniversary yesterday! It was nice of them to have us over. I love teaching Jonathan, his lessons are going so well. Hopefully we'll be able to watch conference with them this weekend. I love the hymn We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet so much because I know the last line is so true "While they who reject this glad message, will never such happiness know". Use your ears and your brain this upcoming weekend and you are going to receive the best counsel for your future, I know Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of God. All of God's callings are inspired, and I am so grateful that he has the faith to receive revelation for the world and even in his old age, he is willing to serve Him with all his capacity. I know that as members of Christ's church, it is our responsibility to help the prophet maintain a good name because we sustained him and told him we'd support him and never would we ever disregard or mock his message. I know he speaks directly for God and it makes his words even more special. I can't wait to see what is next for our dispensation. I love you!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-59529142181599820122015-10-08T11:53:00.002-07:002015-10-08T11:53:06.991-07:0009/24/15<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">09/24/15</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">It's been a bit since we spoke last, hasn't it? It's actually been a blessing to me, I'd probably do even better out here had I not been given an option to email. Sometimes one simple letter home sounds like it would suffice, but I'm not sure who would end up writing me after all because the art of technology is so much more simple. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Today we got to go to the temple so we skipped Monday p day and spent all day in the office doing work here and what not. I LOVE the Redlands temple so much. I've spent so much time pondering what I can do in order to be more converted to the gospel and I love the unique things that stick out each time we visit. I understand why our temple attendance right now is semi annual, but I would love to go many more times! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I feel like so much has happened since I last emailed, but all that's coming to mind is that we taught this Argentinean couple and the wife brought her mom who is a pastor from Vegas, so that lesson was a nightmare. It's too bad because her daughter was so persuaded by her mom and I can understand that, but I feel even more bad because the husband who is less educated about religion didn't get to hear one good thing about the church, only us trying to convince one another that our religion was true. I wish I had been smarter to just testify. Something I learned through President Nelson is that when we sustain a prophet, we promise to defend his good name, so it only makes sense why I got a little upset when this woman kept telling me Joseph Smith was dead and Jesus Christ lives. Oi aue. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I cannot tell you how relieved I feel that Connor is not going to Russia. I'm not sure why, but the thought made me nervous, but Australia sounds SO PERFECT, and I am so thrilled to hear this great news! I was really hoping someone in our family would serve a foreign mission, so I'm glad that Connor will be heading overseas. Maybe sometime in his mission he'll be able to serve in a Tongan ward, there's a lot of them there! I hear there's so many different cultures in the country, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. As for his choice to open his call before everybody got there, I can lend my respect and hope that if anyone gave him a hard time, that they will be understanding of why he did it. It's such a special experience to find out where you are going to be called and I'm glad that he can start preparing for Australia (:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">My desire to email fades each week for some reason, so I'm going to call this good for now. I'm just happy to hear about my little brother and to be apart of this great work! There's so much to do and such little time! Pray for me and I will continue doing the same for you all. Love you!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Bennion<br /></span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-60378454475001077622015-09-16T06:19:00.006-07:002015-09-16T06:19:56.476-07:009/14/15<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">It has been pretty busy around here though in all honesty. It's always such a relief when the new missionaries are settled in their apartments and we don't have to be in charge of them at the office. The new missionaries always come in so excited to proselyte anyway, it's good that we get them in the field as soon as possible. I remember once I asked Elder Kirkham if we really needed to take a preparation day ha! I've now come to realize how we need them. I've never prayed for this until today, but I asked Heavenly Father to help me prioritize my day and that no matter how much I want to do other things, to help me to take a nap. I'm so behind on my journal though, so I think I may end up spending a lot of time on that. I used to be really good at it, and taking pictures too, but then I got transfered to Rancho and it's been a challenge ever since! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">There are some points in our work where the work just really feels like it's trickling, but Bishop Latu always re-assures us that the wheel is moving, he's a really good bishop. This week, we were only able to have 2 lessons, but each one really had the Spirit there with us. I really enjoy being able to teach a part member family named the Meleisea's. Jonathan is 25 and watching his faith grow is so interesting. The Book of Mormon is such a powerful resource to bring about conversion, I love it so much! I had a very good study today when I read Alma 28 and one thing that I love about The Book of Mormon is that regardless of what the Nephites were facing, they were able to find hope and joy among their mourning through their faith in Christ. The anguish that could've existed was replaced because of their knowledge that the Lord would fulfill His promises to them and grant them eternal life. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">This week, Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the seventy visited our mission and I had learned many important things from his visit. Elder Falabella is the one who spoke in conference about when they got sealed in the Mesa Arizona temple, they shook hands with a lot of people and with each handshake, they were given $20, so he shouted to his wife "Blancy, shake hands with everyone!" I don't know if that sounds familiar to you, but that's a pretty common talk of his. His native language is Spanish, but his English was pretty good! He has a good sense of humor and when we had lunch, he insisted on serving us, I thought that was very neat. From his visit, I have now committed myself to during the administration of the sacrament, to think about Christ and nothing else. I can get pretty distracted at that time, and I realized that the sacrament is most likely the most intimate and penitent time we have to repent, and if we're not feeling remorse for anything we did wrong, we can't exactly repent. Not that the sacrament is meant for you to reflect and feel guilty, but it's meant to enlighten us that Christ is the Son of God and that we need Him in order to be forgiven and that He was the only one who loved our Father enough to lay down His life willingly. His life and history is so neat and spectacular. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">On Thursday, we had a neat experience while we were on our way to visit a family. We stepped out of the car and found this couple talking and they accepted us from the get-go, but conveniently we had the portable dvd player with us, so they let us share a quick video about Christ with them. They really enjoyed it and they said that we could visit them today, but after our visit, we are going to pass them off to the YSA ward. And then here's another really cool proselyting story. We were again going to visit a family, but there was a couple with their 2 young daughters. We talked and walked and picked up on the fact that they weren't from California. They are from Argentina and their names are Damien and Yessica. It's challenging to know what direction to take a conversation when they say "We believe in having a good relationship with God, but we don't go to church because we don't like labels". I'm not really sure what we did next, probably just testified that our message is true, but by the end of our conversation, they accepted a pamphlet and a Book of Mormon and then she goes "What are you doing this Saturday? My daughter is having a birthday party and I really want you to come and get some food and share more with the rest of my family" so at that point, we are just in awe because it's not very often that people set their own return appointment ha. We'll be on exchanges this Saturday so I probably will be going to the desert, but it works out better that way because Elder Hancock knows an impressive amount of Spanish anyway. We are very blessed to cover the whole stake boundary because we meet so many great people. Handing them off to other missionaries is rewarding in it's own way as well (: </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">I wish I had more to report on and more exciting things to share, but we spent a lot of time in meetings and preparation this week. Regardless, we still had a pretty good week and I know that there is still so much left to do. And when you simply don't know what's left to say, just testify of Christ.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">I love my Savior. I know that God knew that we were going to face challenges, and He sent His Beloved Son to give us a way to escape the things that we don't like about ourselves. I think one of the most challenging things for humans as a whole is that we cannot change human hearts. It's a vessel so strong and yet can be so vulnerable and I know only God has the ability to change it, but He will not do it against our will. At one point, the Savior's own heart stopped beating and it finally got a break. I bet that was a good feeling to be freed from the agony He was experiencing. I know that even with the world upon His shoulders, He accomplished all that He was sent to do and I think the only reward He is expecting from it all is to live with us and Heavenly Father once again. I know that no one can take away His title and identity and I would love to declare and defend Him myself that He is literal Son of God. I know that He lives and continues to bless us each day. I know that He loves us and wants to help us seek a better way of life. I know that whoever believes in Him will be granted a peace of mind that they desire and through His atoning blood, we can live with our Heavenly Father in the most ideal and prime happiness that He can offer. I love Him dearly and thank Him for all that He provides me and my family with.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">Love the Lord and you will succeed. May His perfect love lead you to paths of righteous bliss.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22.72px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-83298888277825788382015-09-16T06:19:00.002-07:002015-09-16T06:19:16.364-07:009/7/15<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">Family,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I prepared you for a short email this week and that's exactly what's gonna happen again because today has been crazy! There were a lot of changes made in the mission this transfer and it's simply been a crazy day. We sent out a group of 9 missionaries home. They're all home by now except the two sisters from Tonga and one of the sisters from the Philippines. Sister Manumu'a and Sister 'Otuafi taught me some things in Tongan to add to my testimony before they left and I love learning Tongan, but even more when it's something sacred and meaningful to the Lord. I feel such power come into the language when it's in reference to Sisu Kalaisi (Jesus Christ). And since I'll be here with Elder Hancock for another 6 weeks, I'll be able to add more to my vocabulary throughout the weeks! I'm grateful that we feel important to the ward, it's honestly a really nice gesture that they're happy to have 2 palangi's serving in their ward ha.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">This past week was so busy, I cannot believe we've reached September, Blair's birthday, and now Labor day. This week I know is Shelby's, Kaylee's, Martina's, and Kylee's birthday, so tell them all that I said Aho faka fiefia! The weather here was so nice, we didn't reach higher than probably 85, and it felt great. Now it's back to pretty hot, but it'll cool down a little bit over time we're hoping. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">This week Elder Enrique Falabella will be visiting our mission for 2 days and we are all really excited about it! We fasted yesterday for our mission to have more faith in Christ and we have been asked to read Mosiah 2-5 and Alma 17-23 in preparation for his visit. I love learning about Ammon so much, he's easily my favorite scripture hero. King Lamoni was so impressed with his kind heart and willingness to serve that he mistook him for the Great Spirit! I think what made Ammon such a good person was the fact that though he was once a son of Mosiah that was destroying the church, something significant within him changed and he got to experience what the retroactive Atonement of Jesus Christ feels like. That's what is superb about the gospel, it won't change us against our will and it is an act of love tailored to each one of our needs. I know I often need the strength to endure challenges, setbacks, and infirmities that I will claim due to of a lack of trust in the Lord. That's why I am excited that we fasted yesterday, because I have faith and am designed to change and become better, and I get upset when that is not already occurring within other people I care about. I've learned that if you are not moving forward, you are undoubtedly moving backwards, because Satan is the one who promotes the luxury of being stagnant. I'm grateful that my mission has pushed me so be a thousand times better than the person I was when I left. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">I am grateful to hear from everyone and hopefully will have more time to email next week. But maybe not, because next week might be the only preparation day to catch up on some sleep, we will see. I love you all and wish you all a great, great week. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.3px;">- Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-26328507862609565022015-08-31T12:40:00.002-07:002015-08-31T12:40:15.365-07:00I love you all.Family,<br />
<br />
I ponder upon what my mission has been like and I don't really think I ever anticipated it to be this way. I think that unless you serve one of your own, you can't prepare someone for how great it is going to be. I remember talking with Taylor and Ben and Bishop Ellis and each one of them sharing with me their experiences, but each missionary's service is so different and so special that it gives me such a strong motive to keep serving the Lord. A mission honestly is so fit for each individual to experience all different aspects of life and I'm thankful that the Lord has supported me in each phase of my mission.<br />
<br />
Currently, I feel as though I am in a phase of testifying more boldly, and I owe so much of it to the Spirit of course, but also President Hobbs. He has shown me such a helpful way to improve in my proselyting and it has been such a great experience for me. I know that our testimonies grow as we share them and I can definitely feel such a vigorous difference in my knowledge of the Godhead, The Book of Mormon, and modern-day prophets, compared to what it used to be like. As I draw upon the Spirit, I feel as though I can engage and put forth my testimony of our Father in Heaven bringing back His gospel to eventually bring us home again. It's interesting to see His motive behind all of this and I know it's the unbearable thought of our Father's children receiving less than eternal life that makes Him so anxious to hasten His work.<br />
<br />
Recently, I've felt quite a bit overwhelmed with all that needs to be done in our mission. It's stressful thinking how many people do not have the restored gospel in their life or have shown any progression or desire to receiving it further down the road. If I feel this way about just our mission, I couldn't imagine how our Father feels with the whole world!!! I'm coming to find out that I need to trust that it is the Lord's work. The second that we try to do this work ourselves is when we will find that our efforts are much less effective and fruitful and may even hinder us from trying at all. I know the Lord appreciates the service we render to His children, for by so doing, we are serving Him. President Hobbs said something really neat. He said that if we want to baptize more people, then we need to be around more non-members! That's just a thought to process.<br />
<br />
I have a story for you, specifically for the Anderson's. We do a lot of tracting in Rancho since there are only so many Tongans in the area. We were driving to find the right street and we found a street named Cherokee and it was appealing to me so we knocked on a couple doors and the last one we did, a lady named Tina answered and she's this really nice 7th day Adventist woman who has a backyard with a lot of upkeep that they have neglected this summer. It's not too often that people are open to our free service, but Tina agreed to let us come over. We took a member from the ward over that week and were able to take care of a small portion of her yard and will be returning this week again. I LOVE spontaneous acts of service so much and we have had a lack of service projects recently and it was such a blessing to find this opportunity through tracting. I find it so interesting that our backgrounds and our personalities have a tendency to place us in the path of those who need our help. Thank you for naming your first child Cherokee!<br />
<br />
As for the work, we had a lesson with a family named the Bloomfield's and we had a really good message about the Sabbath day. I was amazed to see the difference the Spirit makes in our lessons. We kept it short and I felt as though we covered all that the Lord needed us to. I could definitely tell the connection their family had made through the Spirit of the importance of that day. There's a hymn called "Our Savior's Love" and the 2nd verse says "The Spirit, voice of goodness, whispers to our hearts a better choice than evil's anguished cries", I know the Spirit helps us think more Christlike and much more thoroughly. I love being able to learn under the influence of the Spirit and to spread that initial feeling of warmth from it's connection to the Lord.<br />
<br />
This week, the ward had their back to school night (which was where our dinner was at) and we got to learn about the genealogy of some of the ward members and took some pictures of things that I thought I'd share. They have such a fascinating culture, I just can't help but be so influenced by their way of life. It seems like each member in the ward is so rooted in the church. For a lot of the families in this ward, the church is everything to them. It's so neat to see their appreciation for the church and how attached they are to it. If there's anyone that understands the principle that Families are forever it is definitely the Polynesians. They are always so happy when they are at church and they show the highest respect for the Lord and for the Savior. When we sing in sacrament meeting, I can feel the Spirit so strong as each word seems to burst with praise to Heavenly Father. There is seriously so much good that we can learn from them. It is just so great to be around them.<br />
<br />
I'm grateful for the gospel and I'm grateful for the way it can help us cope with everyday issues. I love how God relates to us in each situation and provides a way out of the things that trouble us. There's so much beauty in the gospel and how universal it is and how it teaches us to love God more than any one or any thing. I know He cares deeply about each of us and if we always remember His Son like we covenant to do each Sunday, we will never cease to be in good standing before God. I love Him and thank Him constantly for the life He has blessed me with.<br />
<br />
I love you all. Have a great week!<br />
p.s. next week is transfers so don't expect a very long email from me next week!<br />
<br />
- Elder Bennion<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-39156028542681658582015-08-24T13:21:00.002-07:002015-08-24T13:21:59.864-07:00Life is awesome<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">We are approaching the end of August, how odd. This week was a pretty good one though! Last week we played soccer and I shouldn't have let myself get so into it because I certainly regretted how sore I was all of last week ha! I definitely shouldn't take my health for granted. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">This week we had a meeting to follow up with the new missionaries and their trainers and we have got a lot of new missionaries coming in again in 2 weeks, so it's gonna be interesting who the Lord calls to train. I would love to train again, it was such a good experience for me. I get to see Elder Boltz a lot more too now that he is a zone leader. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">We did 2 exchanges this week so that allowed us a lot of proselyting time. Earlier this week, I made it a goal that I would boldly follow all promptings. I was nervous to try it, but I was excited at the same time to see where the Lord wanted us to be. We were talking to these guys in their garage who were clearly not interested, but they accepted a card anyway. Right as we were walking away, I hear someone from that same garage say "Today marks the day that my mom passed away 4 years ago" and right then, I knew we had to go back. I was so nervous, but I knew a prompting promoted us to go back. They were surprised to see us back on their driveway and we basically bore a brief testimony of The Plan of Salvation and his tone changed from the time prior and he said "Thank you, I really appreciate that" whether that did anything, I'm not sure. But I'm realizing so much more now than ever that if we want others to feel the Spirit of our message, then we need to testify so that it'll create an environment for the Spirit to touch these people's hearts. Nevermind that we believe that the church is true, we need to proclaim that we KNOW it to be true! Being bold shows that you have faith and confidence that the church really is the restored church on earth again. Try taking that to heart and I promise you will be amazed as to what your testimony is like along with what it can do for others. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">On Friday, we moved in the new senior couple, the Hess'. I believe they are the ones from Layton that have grandkids in Brigham? We met them today, so we'll progressively get more acquainted. And then we just did more planning the rest of that day and we also got to see a guy named Seni Toki, he's awesome. The Toki family is huge in this area, so it's really cool to meet them all and see how they're related to others in the ward. The Tongans certainly have connections to everyone in their culture. It's pretty cool to think that there are enough Tongans in one area to have their own ward, I feel very lucky to be serving in one too (:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">On Saturday, I was on exchanges with a spanish missionary named Elder Millano and we ran into some people who were deaf, I love those opportunities to try and speak with them, those are little tender mercies. But either way, he was telling me about Utah and how his school is only 20% LDS. I was shocked! Apparently Salt Lake is being more and more populated, which means that there is a lot of missionary work to be done there! How exciting! Here's a name you'll never forget. We finally got to meet someone in the ward named the Fahamokioa's and they're awesome! The father used to be in a band called Sons of Manasseh, which is pretty big in the Polynesian culture. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The work is going really good for us though! The Tongan wards aren't known for having a lot of work to do with investigators, but our lessons with Jonathan have been going great and we're trying really hard with a guy named Michael, and though I don't see what the Lord sees, I still have a very good feeling about those two and the church. We'll be fasting for them sometime this week because they have such great families and great potential and are great to be around. I'm very blessed and very happy with the things in my life. I was reminded about the love my family has for me because I got a card from the Luker's this past week and it brought a big smile to my face. Tell them I say Malo aupito! (thank you very much). </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Life is awesome, have a good week everyone!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">- Elder Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-68855711424487871592015-08-18T13:15:00.002-07:002015-08-18T13:15:31.555-07:00Boy did this week go by fastFamily,<br />
<br />
Boy did this week go by fast! It sounds like you are aware that we had a very busy week with all the zone conferences. We had them on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and by this time, I still have not caught up on the sleep that I desire from those busy, busy days. They all went well, I would say the last one went best, but that's to be expected since we had 2 days prior to perfect what we wanted to be changed. Someone from Salt Lake installed a black box called Tiwi where it monitors our driving and what not. It's a really good idea for our mission, especially because when you drive in California, you adapt to their lifestyle and we're always in a rush, so it'll do really good things for us and keep us safer on the roads.<br />
<br />
I must tell you of a great experience we had on Wednesday evening that I will never ever forget. As we were going to the mission office, someone right in front of us had run out of gas, and the woman was just a couple of feet from being out of traffic's way, but where she was stuck at was on an incline. I get nervous to stop for people because I'm so ignorant towards cars and I convince myself there's nothing I can do, but we asked the lady how we could help and we decided to attempt to push the car. First we asked to say a prayer (because Elder Hancock and I sure are not big like the Tongans) and we pushed with all our might and then, nothing. ha, we got it moving a tiny bit, but I'm not sure what changed, because we tried it again and with all the strength I can provide, Elder Hancock and I were able to get the car out of the way and on to the side. We pushed it even further to the nearest park and wait there for AAA. It didn't end up working out though, so we call someone for help and a man named Andrew shows up to jump this woman's car. Andrew works super early in the morning and he is not even a member. It was so inspiring how good his heart is. He'll join the church one day (: We gave the woman a Book of Mormon and her response was "Oh, you're the Mormons! When I was 7, I ordered a DVD from your church because I wanted my family to spend more time together" (: How great is that!? She was on her way to Santa Monica, so I doubt we'll ever hear from her again, but it was awesome.<br />
And the day before that, we were driving down Haven and saw an older man fall on his bike, so we went to help him to and he got cut up and what not, but he turned out okay. I'm just grateful for those experiences that the Lord put us on the right path for at just the right time. That seems to be a mission in a nutshell, right? the Lord is too good to us.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure how we managed with the meetings, but this was the busiest week we had in the Tongan ward, we had 7 lessons and it was so awesome! 2 really spontaneous miracle lessons with our investigators, member missionary work, and a whole lot of talk about Joseph Smith. It's just so easy to tie back to him. If we aren't reading The Book of Mormon, it's crazy how easily our testimonies can plummet. A lot quicker than we'd like to admit, may I add. We're just very blessed to serve around people who have such a deep and abiding faith in the Lord. They live with such gratitude for the gospel. Where they're from, they don't have the best medical attention, so faith is what they rely on to get through illness and anything unfortunate really. There are so many great people in our ward, I love 'em. Yesterday, the Fonua's cooked Tongan food for us because they say they want to give us the Tongan experience without having to go to Tonga, which means we Kai peke Lu'a (eat till I throw up). I found a scale that said I only have 6.4% body fat, so I think the ward is really trying to beef me up ha. On Friday, I got to meet up with Elder Va'enuku! He's from Vava'u, he's so awesome. They're just such special people, I really don't know anyone like them. We are so lucky to know them and to be serving in their ward, I don't know what I would do without them at this point.<br />
<br />
I've been in Rancho for 4 months now and it's so weird to think what's happened since I've been here. It feel like just last week I was made an assistant, there's so many great things to do for the Lord. Sometimes I get very overwhelmed because of the amount of work that needs to be done among the world, but I read in Alma 4 about how the Spirit of the Lord will never fail us, so that was encouraging. Elder Hancock and I can't stop singing Come Unto Jesus and Let Us All Press On, the former is so special and the latter is so invigorating. We cannot do this work without Him and the second we try to do it alone, that's when we get frustrated. We can't forget to let Him be apart of our everyday lives, even in the smallest things. I'm grateful to be able to call Him my friend and my Savior. His life helps me realize anything that the Lord asks of me isn't unrealistic. I know that we are victorious through Him that redeemed us.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Elder Shawn Lyle Bennion<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X9vVAY48VWYYtNlEQqGF6A02Kfi6koOBw0NlaNUhfJ6jaTUKSdpfXBIiCOuSTYYPxni3rGDIL_XGxRlNzyTJNiRNetP_jKJUlUMvRf6Aidcyv1n4WYsvLrGwlYLCGy8WEjMCA5o-Zto/s1600/IMG_1458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2X9vVAY48VWYYtNlEQqGF6A02Kfi6koOBw0NlaNUhfJ6jaTUKSdpfXBIiCOuSTYYPxni3rGDIL_XGxRlNzyTJNiRNetP_jKJUlUMvRf6Aidcyv1n4WYsvLrGwlYLCGy8WEjMCA5o-Zto/s640/IMG_1458.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Elder Hancock and I took a bite straight out of these mango's! That's probably not how they are supposed to be eaten, but oh well!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6M9ka5u7Ggcx7XkU5BceuwBMaLfLRAVJQMQ3jLqoE7zvoX_Qeam317gFttaknVS1OPb72SsO-MvwMJazEFevGeFH5q3gbQsjux4WvRV2sW6-3VAmG93o2cCyjRqa6YgMrXRQwC28NI4/s1600/IMG_1460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6M9ka5u7Ggcx7XkU5BceuwBMaLfLRAVJQMQ3jLqoE7zvoX_Qeam317gFttaknVS1OPb72SsO-MvwMJazEFevGeFH5q3gbQsjux4WvRV2sW6-3VAmG93o2cCyjRqa6YgMrXRQwC28NI4/s640/IMG_1460.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Elder Va'enuku!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-18312405654374500132015-08-11T16:31:00.000-07:002015-08-11T16:31:56.621-07:00This week was productive.<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">It's a good thing that numbers don't reflect our efforts that we put into the work, because we didn't have a single lesson until last night at 6:00 p.m.! However, I would say that this week was productive and that as we serve our fellow men, we are also serving the Lord. I think about that concept and I think when we do kind things for others, it's a blessing to the Lord because He relies so much upon us to be His hands. As we serve others, I think we're doing the Lord a favor because it causes Him less worry for His children. To know that they're in good hands has got to be such a relief to Him and allows Him to focus more on those who appear farther beyond reach. I hope what I said make sense, it does to me at least!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">This week, 3 of our days revolved around a meeting we had with all the zone/district leaders so that took up a lot of our proselyting, but this Tuesday was Elder Hancock's 20th birthday! We went to Wendy's and then got taken to Ono Hawaiian barbecue for dinner and it was awesome! I love Elder Hancock, he is a well-rounded person that is sympathetic and very caring. He's also a very fun and easy-going companion. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">It's so nice that we are only having to serve in one ward, doing two at a time was stressful and it has allowed us to get to know the ward better, which is so helpful in a Tongan ward. They must like us because they assigned us to speak in sacrament meeting yesterday and I'd say it went very well! On Saturday, there was a party for the Meleisea's son Francis. He turned one, which is a big deal to their culture, and there was awesome food and it was just so nice of them to invite us. The ward says that the missionaries are always special guests anywhere we arrive at, it's just nice to know they feel and enjoy the Spirit in which we carry with us. The power of the priesthood is real! I actually had this awful dream this week that a house we were staying at was haunted and that we used the priesthood to banish the evil in it, ha, it was kinda weird, but cool!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I want to write about another dream that I had this week. I had a dream that Shelby and I we're with Grandpa Walker. We had our hands on his shoulders as if we were trying to comfort him because something was bothering him. He pleaded that we could say a prayer together and in the dream, all I remember was Grandpa started crying and in the prayer, he uttered "I just want it to be Sunday so I can be happy". I'm not sure why I remember that line so vividly, but I thought it was so interesting that I woke up on Sunday morning with that comment in my head. I'm not sure if the dream has any connection to things going on back home, but I just think that every Sunday needs to be treated with the utmost reverence and with those whom God intended for us to be with eternally. I know that Grandpa made Sunday his priority to go to church, it didn't even matter if he knew he was going to fall asleep or that he couldn't find his hearing aid, I think what mattered to him was that he could feel the sacrament keep him alive and empowered. I know he had a deep appreciation for the gospel and that he always retained a remembrance of how the Lord was so merciful to him. Grandpa was always so grateful for the simplest of things, which is why I feel as though my dream was so realistic and matched his character completely. What a great man he was, I'm thankful to call him my grandfather.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">As for the teaching, this week will be great, we have 3 zone conferences to attend, it'll be great! Jonathan Meleisea has been praying all week, sometimes even before his wife gets to it! I love when people take small steps, such as praying (:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I love the gospel so much! I wish that my mind would unplug from any distraction or tie I have because I know that what we do is so important! I'm trying really hard to be more genuine when I testify and quickly respond with my testimony of Joseph Smith. I know he restored this gospel which gives us access to our Savior's atonement and that we're bound to Him when we make covenants, participate in the sacrament regularly, and study The Book of Mormon. I know the church is true and it always will be. I know God lives, simple truths as this fills my life with joy and abounding hope. I love my mission and my life as a whole. I love you, have a great week everyone!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">- Elder Bennion</span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1906346942261433955.post-66057364875884859162015-08-05T07:50:00.002-07:002015-08-05T07:50:20.282-07:00I love serving a mission, that's all there is to it!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I love serving a mission, that's all there is to it! I don't necessarily have much news, but that doesn't matter!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">This week was super great. All the new missionaries are now to their new areas and doing well. It was really busy around here, but things have settled a bit. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">We get to teach more and more each week in the Tongan ward and that makes me happy. We continue to see progress with the part member family we're working with as well as making good relationships with the ward members and there's another part member family that we're really hoping the Lord will work a way for us to start teaching. The work we do at the office is a good combination with the ward. Elder Fonua leaves on his mission today and yesterday he had a big eat and I met Kalani Fitisemanu! Pretty cool. I like meeting new people. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Let me tell you about Elder Hancock:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Elder Hancock loves soccer and music and Wendy's, those all seem to be good components to me! He's a very ambitious person that's always anxious to improve, I enjoy that about him. On Monday, we locked an important key in a cupboard and with his skills, we were able to retrieve the key and though that may seems uneventful, it was awesome once the task was complete. He's a thinker alright!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Sorry this is not very informative and probably kind of boring, just know that things are going really well for us, it's just that we spent the majority of our time in the office Monday-Friday! The Lord is splendid though and helped us have some great proselyting opportunities in the meanwhile. The wonderful thing about the Restoration of the gospel is that from here on, the Lord is always preparing His children to hear the gospel in all parts of the world. I'm grateful that there's no need to scramble around looking frantically through the bible of how to obtain what He intends for us and hitting a dead end. I'm thankful for prophets and how clear their prophecies and counsel are for us in the latter-days. There are so many struggling on the wayside and abandoning their faith, but I know that unless we have a faith in our Savior, He will deliver us into the promised land. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I love you, happy to hear from you all as well. Take care!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">- Elder Bennion </span>sbennionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15500599498862695442noreply@blogger.com0