April 15, 2019

Elder Trezise and Elder Legas (who would soon become AP)

Service project!

Arizona boys - Elder Smith and Elder Trezise

Shelley Zone

Missionary BFFs

 Yay for pictures!  Here is Elder Trezise's email:

This week was really great, and I'm doing really well. Wednesday we had Zone Council, where President comes and talks to our zone and then interviews each of us to see how we're doing. My interview was stressful. He started off by bringing up the email he got from me about how I was struggling a little a few weeks back. I told him the truth, that we're working hard, having fun, and finding success, and things are WAAAAAY better now. He told me that he trusts me and that the Lord trusts me. He asked if I was going to be a dedicated servant, worthy of that trust, or if I was going to be mediocre. I told him that I made a promise to God, a promise to come give it my all and leave my nets behind me, and that was a promise I intended to keep. No matter what happens, I will NOT be mediocre. He said that I am going to be a great leader in this mission, and a lot of missionaries will look up to me. I don't know. It made me a little nervous. I'm used to doing things my way. I'm stubborn and if I think something is right, I do it. And leading people requires compromise, which is definitely not something I'm good at. It doesn't help that I've only lived with Zone Leaders my whole mission who have ALL talked me up to President and the Assistants. But whatever happens, I know that with the Lord's help, it'll work out fine. 

Friday we spent most of the day just contacting people, and ran into some interesting guys. Saturday I was on an exchange with Elder Smith. It felt like the good old days when I was comps with him and Elder Woods. It's crazy how much Elder Smith has grown without Elder Woods though. Elder Woods is one of the best missionaries, if not the best I've ever known. But he had only trained once before, and spent most of his mission as an Assistant. He wasn't used to sharing responsibility by letting others lead, and he lead with Elder Smith. He didn't give him the opportunity he needed. And Elder Smith has grown a ton. Our lessons were sooooooo Spiritual and amazing. And he took the lead and testified boldly. I really like him a lot. We talk a lot  about music, and have probably been to a lot of the same concerts. We sing the Format and Motion City Soundtrack a lot, and talk about video games a lot. We want to come up with and design our own video game. I told him I'd help if he teaches me guitar. It's really helpful that our houses are probably only 15 minutes apart.

We didn't have as many people at church as we had hoped, but we're going to crush it this next week. Elder Brazier is really dedicated, and we hold each other accountable. It's awesome. I'm so glad to have only had companions that I get along with so far. President told me in my interview with him that I won't always have that. And that I need to hold others up when I have hard companions. I'm nervous for transfers. I got to see Elder Robinette on Saturday and we talked about it a lot. He's a really good friend. And he's really supportive. He says that whoever I'm with I'll get along with them. He seems to think I just have that ability. But I get angry easily and forgive difficultly. So we'll see. It's all worked out so far. 

I am so grateful for General Conference. I ended with 45 pages of notes that I read through a lot. It was so amazing. I feel like I personally need to be more prepared. I need to be more focused. I KNOW, with an absolute surety that President Nelson is called of God. His talks gave me the distinct impression that he is the Lord's prophet on the earth. I KNOW that Church is vital. It's not one and done. We don't get baptize and then say it's enough. No. The Celestial Kingdom isn't hard to enter in to. You get baptized. Check. You repent. Check. You ENDURE TO THE END. That check doesn't come until Heaven. That means continuing to read your scriptures, continuing to pray daily, and continuing to go to church. And repenting when you fall short. It's a life-long journey that will bring us more joy than anything else. If I know anything, it's that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I KNOW, completely, 100% that it is true. And because I know that, I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Because I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know this church is true. I know that we have a prophet today. I know Jesus IS the Christ. The Only Begotten Son of the Father. His only Perfect Child. Who's life was given for the redemption of all the rest of us. Like Elder Holland says, "What was once a tiny seed of belief for me, has grown into the Tree of Life. So if your faith is a little tested, I invite you to lean on mine." If you don't know this church is true. If your testimony isn't where you want it to be, lean on mine. Because mine is strong enough to bear it. Because NOTHING will take this knowledge away from me. Nothing in this world will convince me to abandon the feelings I've felt. To leave the faith that has brought me joy. I love this Gospel more than ANYTHING. Even my little puppy. This Gospel has given me the knowledge that everything will work out in the end. That if I keep on the path I'm on, I'll live with my God and my Savior in a state of never ending happiness. I will be with my family, and my dog, eternally. And I will see those I love who aren't here anymore again. I'll see J.D. I'll see my ancestors. I'll see everyone again. God loves us. All of us. It's the first thing we teach s missionaries. He WANTS us to be happy. He didn't make it some complicated thing. He wants us to find joy, so He gave us the scriptures. A Book. A Book that  brings us joy. Silly that a Book can do that, but it can. It does. Because God's not making some complicated, winding and turning path back to Him. It is the straight and narrow path. The straight way back to eternal joy. I testify that this Gospel is true. That it is God's church, and Christ's church, again on the Earth. Find out for yourself. Read the Book of Mormon. Not because I asked, but because you want to know. 

 

-Elder Trezise