July 21st, 2014- Maryn (Bonus!)

Hey Mom!

Thank you so much for the pictures!

Want hear something pretty cool? So yesterday, we had a young woman speak and I thought she said her name was Maryn, but I wasn't for sure because we had a child crying. Anyways, later that night we had dinner with a family and their daughter is the same young woman who spoke earlier. I asked her what her name was and said it was MARYN! Spell the same way and everything! When I mentioned that I had a sister name Maryn they were kinda happy. Anyways thought you and my little sister would enjoy that little info.

I'll send my weekly P-Day email later. 

Love

Elder Willis

July 21, 2014- Everybody, Hey! (Oroville)

Hey Everybody!

So, before I forget here is my area address so that you can send me
letters and I can receive them quicker because, apparently, the
Mission Home takes awhile before you actually get it:
2995 Lower Wyandotte Apt #8
Oroville CA 95966
I'll let you before hand when I get transferred to a new area.

We had a good week, we found some new investigators and did some
service for a couple of members. It was fun and hard work. My bike is
still not here yet, but Elder Lords (the Zone Leader and one of the
missionaries we are sharing an apartment with.) is letting me borrow
his, and we've done a lot of biking since then. Everything is going
great in Oroville and my new zone.

Elder Moseley is helping me out a lot, he's been really patient with
me and on a bike. It's his birthday next Sunday and I had secretly
bought him a hat he really wanted and Elder Lords and Elder Page
helped me out by keeping it a secret until then. I think he's gonna
love it.

So, interesting story, on Friday night Elder Moseley and Elder Lords
had to leave unexpectedly to go find a stranded, former missionary two
hours away from where we are at. Elder Page didn't go because he was
in the shower when they had gotten the call and President Marston
wanted them to leave at that moment. Elder Page and I became temporary
companions for a while. Our companions didn't retired. Till 3:00 PM
the next day! They told us one crazy adventure they had.

However, Elder Page and I had a nice "exchange" for the day. It was
mostly laid back, but we got to visited two investigators (one of his
and one of mine. His canceled on us as soon as we got there. And we
had to bike since Elder Moseley and Elder Lords had the only vehicle!)
Then we bought some ice cream at Rite a Aid and did some service on a
convert's farm and he fed us. When we got back, our companions finally
showed up!

Elder Lords, however, became sick later that night. So the next day, I
went with Elder Page to his sacrament meeting while Elder Moseley
stayed home with Elder Lords. Crazy weekend.

Take care everyone and I hope to get letters from all of you!

Elder Willis

July 14th, 2014- Week One in the Field (Oroville)

Hey there Everybody!

So I made through my first week in the field and I am so beat right
now. I enjoy receiving emails and letters from you guys so much! Thank
you so much for them,

Now, here's some quick information about the area I'm serving, my
companion, and myself. My trainer is Elder Moseley and he is from Salt
Lake. He and I are "shot gunning," meaning we are both starting out in
an area that neither of us have been before, in Oroville and we are
doubling up with another companionship, Elder Stein and his trainee,
Elder Shapiro. Despite that fact, we are staying with the Zone
Leaders, Elders Lords land Page. They all (even Shapiro.) like to
tease me because how "Green" I am. I love all them even so.

Since we are "shot gunning" Oroville, Elder Moseley and I have to
kinda start from scratch. Elders Stein and Shapiro have given us some
transfers since Thursday but we still need to find some of our own.
We've walked a lot and the mission leaders can't put my bike together
until this Thursday and they won't let any of the missionaries put
bikes together. Thus, my body is sore. However, we've met a lot of
people and some potential investigators during these times. In a way,
I love it!

Our ward is great, I have had plenty of dinners with members and I
love them and they just adore the Missionaries. We had a Ward Meeting
yesterday and about 85% of the meeting was focused on missionary work.
Elder Moseley said the ward is one of the best in the whole mission
and, even though I don't have that 10 month experience he has, I can
believe.

Fun fact, in our mission, we have "postarities." (I think I spelled
that right.) It's a thing to refer certain companion ships as certain
relatives. For ex: I am Elder Moseley's son and Elder Moseley is my
Dad (I jokingly call him "Pa" when he calls me "son.") and Elder
Moseley's Trainer (who is an AP named Elder Dimick. I've met him.) is
his Dad, thus he is my grandfather. Since I am Elder Moseley's first
son, I get what we call the postarity tie, we has the lineage written
on the back.


I still got a long week ahead of me. I'm very excited to continue
working in the future. I love you all!

Elder Willis

July 7th, 2014- Last Week at the MTC!!!

Hey there everybody!!! 

I'm heading off to the Field tomorrow and I'm really excited to do so! (Despite having to get up in 3:00 in the morning.) I'm also a tad nervous and scared to go, because I've learned alot in the MTC but do I truly know enough to prepare myself for the actual thing? 

However, the last week at the MTC was amazing. The Zone has never been so close together before and we all love each other very deeply. 

Earlier in the week, my companion, Elder Williams, had recieved a concussion during gym! Not from Four-Square (Surprisingly.) but from playing volley-ball. He's been a little slow and off track for the whole weekend but he has put tons of effort into his studies now!! Love him and I'm gonna miss him.

Fourth of July was great, we had a special devotional for the holiday (and earlier we had In-Field Orientation at the MTC for those who are leaving this week.) and the devotional itself was short. However, they had put in the movie 17 Miracles for everyone to watch after the devotional! I've seen that movie many time  before and it's still a tear jerker. The movie did make me have a thought, though: 

These pioneers had died and traveled long ways for their strong belief in the gospel that I'm teaching. Their sacrifices would be in vain if I didn't choose or didn't try to preach this gospel. 

Sunday was great, being fast and testimony meeting. The Elders have never had eaten so much in the caffertia then that day at the MTC. (Though, Elder Williams did eat twelve bowls (no joke cause he had stacked one bowl after another.) of Captain Crunch this morning.) Anyways, the Sister had made us "MTC Yearbooks" and we're all working on getting them signed giving each other our emails. The majority of us live in UTah anuyways so we'll be able to see each other after two years. 

Thank you to those who sent me letters and cookies! I love them and keep the letters with me as much I can! Take care everybody! 

The crowning event of the Book of Mormon is the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. 

The Book of Mormon Intro, 3rd Paragrah

Elder Willis

June 30th, 2014 - MTC

Hey there everybody! 

We made it to our first P-Day and it has been a week for the whole zone! If you guys haven't received my previous (but very short email.) I was called to be the District Leader of my district. (There are two districts in our zone/branch.) That has been keeping me very busy... Yeah. 

Anyways, my district consists of two Elder companionships and one sister companionship. The other district is the same. Not only are we very close as a district but also as a zone! We eat all our meals together at one table (including the sister missionaries.) and we all love to talk and joke around with each other. I can already see how amazing this zone is and, the best part, it's only going to get even more amazing. 

My companion, Elder Williams, is amazing altogether! He's a firm believer of praying before we do anything and I know that he tries very hard to serve the Lord. We room with the other Elders in our district, their names is Elder Jensen and Elder Wolfe, and we get along with each other very well. (Such as agreeing to hit Elder Williams with a pillow when he snores at night. Ha!) We also get along with the Elders of the other district, too. They're in the room next to us and it seems like we never each other's side. (We are all actually in the computer lab write now writing to our families.) 

However, we did have some troubles in our first week. On Thursday, Elder Wolfe got sick. I mean, vomiting and other symptoms. That led to total chaos for the whole day but we received a spiritual experience from it all. He asked us to give him a blessing, asking me to anoint the oil and his companion to give the actual blessing. It was my first blessing ever! Then, everyone kind of went over the edge yesterday. Their were problems in the zone every where... However, the leaders (including me, Elder Jensen and Elder Wolfe as the Zone Leaders, and another Elder called Elder Nicohls who was the other District Leader.) had a meeting to decide how we can help our district. The spirit was right there with us and revelation came pouring into our souls. We decided to hold a meeting for the whole zone and tried to see how everyone was doing and offered to anyone who wanted blessings at the end. I now know that God has called us Leaders for a reason, and, as long we are willing, he can use us for greatness. 

Other then that, we had our temple walk yesterday! I'm not saying when we have our walks because they don't want any "unanticipated" meeting from families and friends. I must also insist that you guys don't try also. Haha. It was fun and it was a nice break from the every day stuff we do at the MTC. Still, I love the MTC and how it keeps me busy throughout the week. 

I received a card the first day I got here saying that I'm returning home on the 21 of June of the year 2016. (return date 6/21/16.) Plus, we already received our flight itinerary and I'm leaving to go to the field on the 8th. Everything is happening so fast, I hope i'll be ready.

Well, please forward this email to anyone else who would like to hear from me. I hope to receive letters and emails from all of you soon enough! 

Elder Willis

June 26th, 2014- MTC

Hey Family! 

They're giving me short time to write this email to you all and limited sentence but I think that's enough time to tell you everything is great. My companion, Elder Williams, is great and our two District companions, Elder Wolfe and Elder Jensen, are just as great and I enjoy being around them. My branch has called as District Leader and I'm very glad to be serving the Lord in at the MTC. 

That's everything in short brief sentence but alot has happened a little more then twenty-four hours. I am surprised all the knowledge and tips I'm receiving here! It's amazing. 

Love you all and miss you all, too! 

Elder Willis 

Our little family (Maryn is at girl's camp)

Parley Erickson, Elder Willis, Uncle Bryant and Conner

Missionary Mama and Missionary

June 22, 2014 - Farewell

Paul's farewell was on June 22nd. I (mom) was able to sing a solo called "Let it Begin". Paul gave a talk about family. He specifically talked about how we are all family... and how he was looking forward to going out and meeting more of his "family".

Here are some pics of those we love who joined us that day afterward at the Veteran's Memorial Park for some lunch.