Dang it, you've got me tearing up.

 The top thing I've learned on my mission is to look for deeper needs and problems in people's lives, whether that is being patient and picking apart subtle jabs instead of verbally fighting back, or just point blank trauma dumping to you. Usually, I'm not a fan of either of those but this transfer I had to grow my empathy, patience and humility to better understand my companion and help our companionship. This was a challenge for me and through Jesus Christ I have been so changed for the better and been able to heal and help others.

My mission has meant everything to me and I will do whatever it takes to protect this opportunity that I have been given to learn and grow. It has been the biggest, fattest, greatest spiritual experience of my entire life (so far). My testimony is at an all time high in conjunction with my thorough understanding of the gospel, restoration, and plan that God has for each and every one of us. I was sent HERE to help people, and will not stop until they make me. 

Well, unfortunately this transfer we just got the call and my companion and I are both leaving... As per usual we will have 24 hours to pack then we will get on the transfer van and head out to somewhere new that we are needed. Peace out Camas.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

Leo was found right as I got to this area, and got baptized yesterday... how perfect his conversion is is insane, his confirmations was SO POWERFUL

W Recent Convert (as per usual)

 The Spanish zone conference was excellent. I have made it my goal to really grow close with the youth/young/prospective elders in this beautiful branch we've got here in Camas Washington, and one of my best friends came to Zone Conference by invitation and in one of the breakout rooms you could interview him about his experience on being baptized and retained. It was so epic and SO spiritual as he testified to us about prayer. What I got out of it is to pray more WITH not just FOR your friends, families, spouses etc. It will grow you so close to Heavenly Father.

I was able to go on exchanges the exact same day that the other companionship had a temple tour! So we drove down with one of my favorite members from when I was in that area and we listened to some INSANE music, from "Despacito" to "gangnam style."  It was HILARIOUS. I hope the best for those elders in the near future.

Have a great week and pray more.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

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Portland BBQ that took FOREVER to make but was so delicious (do not tell the assistants)

W temple trip with these folks!!!! The temple Hermana was from el salvador too!!!

Candelaria is gonna get baptized!!! (Before she goes back to Argentina hopefully)​

The field is white and ready to harvest.

​Our new sun block blanket (our poor neighbors)

365 Down, 368 to Go...

 Howdy y'all we got another week that has unfortunately flown by: here are the highlights:

CAMAS DAYS was hype, the local stake had a tent and we went like 5 times to contact in public: we went tent to tent and low key got bashed but then I always hit them with, "hey we bruthas out here," and then to disarm we asked how much the Jesus shirts cost? And eventually we got the brotha in christ discount (20$ off a 20$ shirt) (pictured below)

We had a zone exchange where we all exchange with everyone in the zone, for instance, I got put with Elder Averett from the complete opposite side of the zone and different districts, to whitewash (for the day) into the Spanish Hermanas area, kind of confusing but we found SO MANY PEOPLE. It was pretty great.

Zone exchange + Jesus shirt I won after Bashing (don't bash y'all you usually don't win a shirt)

Jaime got baptized!!! (WWWwwWWww) She is great. We have been working with her for 3 months and watching her progress from a fairly musty house to glowing at her baptism was so cool to watch.  She is such a neat lady.

Curious George Camas Days

Camas days parade

Ducky at camas days

Elder Averett and I zone exchange

Have a good Week,

Read Alma 7:14 - It has been on my mind.

Sincerely, 

Elder Lucas Witte

A Stroll with the MP

 We had a zone conference. It was good. President Pulsipher's first ZC, so naturally it wasn't as doccy but that's alright.

First round of interviews too, turns out he wants to lose weight so we walk around the building and this time it was just getting to know me, and it was perfect because I love talking about myself (joke-not really)

President Pulsipher was reading this week in Alma 5. He LOVES asking questions in order to teach, the Savior did too, so I'm going to be teaching more by asking questions, like some of my favorite teachers. 

17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord on that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?" 

Do good works! SHOW you are faithful and I promise you Heavenly Father will show you just how perfectly powerful and knowledgeable of your situation he is 

Sincerely, 

Elder Lucas Witte

Fogata: bonfire (we roasted marshmallows)

For my birthday we got lifted free jerseys from our good friends (the latino in the black guillermo, and we are pretty sure Mohammad on the right isn't spanish)

Turns out - I shared a birthday with a good friend and member Rebecca, we celebrated together and ate SO MUCH FOOD. she is the best (and we got double cake)

Temple Attendance - Made my week.

 Hola!

Wonderful week. It was starting to be a super long week but I was blessed up by nature this week and found multiple trees full of fruit... and ate the fruit. (Sorry mom, but it wasn't that bad)

Speaking of eating fruit - that was only kind of really not that naughty...we were able to go to the temple with one of the recent converts in our branch!!!

It was mega revelatory and my following studies were amazing, and visiting with them were 2 old sister missionaries that were present when Alejandro was baptized a year ago!!

The Lord works in mysterious ways and prepares us for each moment. Are you allowing yourself to be prepared BY him for the second coming? And judgement day??

The one wearing just the white king sleeve shirt with his hands around his girl is Alejandro. Their love makes it very difficult to stay locked in missionary mode, let me tell ya.

Deseret book W..?

Fruit pt. 1

Fruit pt. 2 (immediately following a prayer for food) Fresh Cherries mom!

Exchanges with the district leader who has a broken knee, so we sat and ahem "grinded media" (the couch) while just having some deep talks for 8 hours...

Have a good week.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

Oxygen Acetylene Bomb + First time Bucking Hay

 Well this was a 3 day work week so here are 3 things that happened:

The 4th was splendid, we had a branch breakfast and then went to this random wards Bishop's 19 acre property where there was yummy food, oxygen acetylene bombs...and if you see a video of a bunch of missionaries going down a 100FT. Water slide and my mission president or my mom asks you if the redhead in the video is me... it is NOT.  (I'm on the second run, BTW.)

I bucked hay for this family, it was a workout and a half but my brain just went "Porter Boyce + God's Country the song moment" and it made the time pass so much faster, it was SOOOO fun and I am sore.

Futuro Chorizo as we say.

Fasting testimony was good, the spirit brought to me Ether 2:12 and so I read and talked not just about the patriotism that I have, but also talked about how we are all the people of God! (Especially here in America) but anywhere we stand, if we serve God we will be saved, and delivered, just like Alma the Younger when I was reading in my personal studies! 

Said goodbye to 2 of the best examples for me, one hermana went home, the other got transferred out.

That is all,

Enjoy summer camps and summer experiences!

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte