I don't have a Language problem, I have a Language Problem!

Yeah we had to wait the whole transfer for our exchanges with the zone leaders, but it ended up being fire. We had the whole day planned out.  We were going be done with studies, calls, and everything by 11am and then we were going grind till 9 at night when we got a call that said "hey Elders, we have a big problem, elder [redacted] got hit (punched)" 

So they dropped the cords and we dropped in, the whole way there we were thinking about what we would do in that situation, everything from run away and still invite to church, to some pretty feo (ugly) stuff was said. When we finally got there, we saw that our Elders were ok and it was SUCH a relief, but then we realized they were separated from the actual fight because when we went to go park our car around the corner, we saw where it went down, and there was dead serious 12 sheriffs' SUV's parked with their lights on, so of course we screamed, but then we left the car and asked about the situation... everyone ended being ok.  

The most important thing was the biggest learning point this week--

2 Nefi 33:1 

1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

(in Spanish at least) talks so much about my situation as a missionary. I so often feel like I cant say what I want to, or go where he wants me to, but as we sang yesterday in the gas song: Hymn 270  "I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what you want me to be."

I want SOOO badly to be an instrument in the Lords hand, and am willing to put it all on the line to be able to say what he wants me to as well, (I don't have a language problem - I have a Language problem (not swearing, but SPANISH)

ANYWAYS - this week try to go and look and hear and smell and be who God wants YOU to be! 

Love you all, bye!

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

Bigfoot themed Swedish fish they have here... insanity

Elder Ganir is going home😭😭 some serious tears were shed for his departing testimony in front of the mission last night

Cool Pic I found and took...

Aparently in Canada according to my companion, it's not the armor of god it's the hockey equipment. LOL

Average Impossible Cuban Contact

What is up everyone! Nothing really happened this week other than we had crazy miracles when we would act in faith and skip a meal to help someone and do service or something, and get fed, we had so much faith we actually decided to deplete ALL our funds banking on the idea of epic fiestas, and faith brings miracles

On a more serious note, this week has been sobering to say the least. We REALLY struggled with our friends not keeping commitments, its so easy to get tied up in happiness based on numbers, and the agency of others, but as we had to explain to a random man the other day, "you need to first focus on you and your relationship with God" we absolutely grubbed (ate) and made life changing friendships this week, and almost let it ruin our sabbath yesterday because our one top progressors decided to stay the night in Portland and not come to church. But that's ok!

I miss you all, don't let numbers or results drive your life (except school for my siblings), just the relationship you have with others, especially Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

Fiesta with randos we heard the music from the street (above)

Elder Laycock tracted and made it into his first birthday party! And she wanted a picture! 

Old companions meet up in the middle of nowhere for Thai!

Dinner was free, but maybe not worth anything for the cut...

Average WVM Week

 We had Zone Conference, and interviews, so I was able to ask President Mann how I can be a better missionary and what he worries about me, and he took 30 minutes saying the most personalized answer fathomable, I so strongly felt the love of my savior through him (as I usually do) and he made me very excited for the future. 

Zone conference was all about the Light of Christ VS the Holy Ghost and basically here is what we've got:

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST is the divine energy, power, or influence that proceeds from God through Christ and gives life and light to all things. The Light of Christ influences people for good and prepares them to receive the Holy Ghost. One manifestation of the Light of Christ is what we call a conscience. And how (when we are born) we are somewhat able to distinguish good and bad, but the caveat is that it comes and goes (John 12:46, Alma 26:15, D&C 93:29)

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST is the right of every worthy baptized member of the Church to have the constant influence of the Holy Ghost. Following a person’s baptism into the true Church of Jesus Christ, he receives the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands from one who has the proper authority feel free to read: (Acts 8:12–25; Moro. 2; D&C 39:23)

*you can also watch the light of the world christmas video that's gotta be doc too right?*

Basically, the promise given to us is that the Holy Ghost is a magnified Light of Christ that is also very helpful to overcome temptation and sin. How this looks is different for everyone, but I'd love to extend an invitation to LEAN ON PROMISED BLESSINGS MORE and as descendants of ancient lineages, and members of the true church these are promised blessings, USE THEM and don't feel bad! There is practically infinite love and blessings to go around if we were to just ask of God

W - Elder Witte

Walked 3 miles with our recent convert to a lesson (he killed it)

I've seen many no soliciting signs, NEVER thought one would be thrown at me lol

Average Redhead St. Patricks day Fit

Hectically Calm

This week we had no exchanges or training, or great lessons.

But I did grow my testimony on testimonies. 

We had some English elders ask if the spirit is different in Spanish, and we told them yes, 

they didn't believe us (the rest of the zone) so we did some real-plays 

(role plays with real names, real prayers and therefore real spirit) and they said without 

understanding a single word they felt the love of God that we had for each other SO STRONGLY -- 

it was really cool. I know I was exalted of God by Prophecy and the process of laying on of hands 

by those who are in authority, to let me preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances of God. 

(Hard to write without the song in my head) 

How social am I, a nobody, to be prophesied of, that I can help people grow closer to Jesus Christ. 

Profound to think about.

Not a lot to report, but sometimes no news is good news. 

Just know that I am still here in Vancouver, alive, healthy, happy, and working.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte

Basher lady gave us advice: never use the book of mormon, then gave us gigantic phat burritos

Bro DEF needs the restored gospel in his life

Shamrock shake was good... but not 4 dollars good (that was ridiculous) 

Standin' on business and testimony buildin'

This week was such a cool and wonderful opportunity to build my testimony. We know that as we share, we grow and as I have had the opportunity to share in Spanish, I've worded things in new ways. I have realized that as I have shared and talked with the Spanish communities,  I believe and know different and cool things. One of the coolest examples was when we were talking with this Venezuelan dude...

He just couldn't seem to comprehend that Jesus died for us to be clean. Of course, I hit him with some doctrine but when he said, "yes he died, and we will be in God's presence but be unclean,"  my companion chimed in with the Spanish version of the good ol' "that totally makes sense, I agree with you" I knew I was going to have to stand on the business of what I know of myself, for myself,  my Spanish, and my testimony.  

It didn't end up fruitful and we respectfully parted ways but I learned a lot about how I truly feel about my savior, who suffered socially, physically, emotionally, and in every other fathomable way, just to know how he can help me best, then ROSE AGAIN now that's gangster. (legendary seminary spiritual thought reference)

Oh yeah and we ate yummy Baklava, so not a total loss.

Love you all!

Sincerely, 

Elder Witte

Mr Webb: this guy "Arthur Burbank" served in the same mission with you and said he knew you, do you recognize him? (We knocked into him)

Legendary tracking thrift finds, (people will pay you very well (in matching shirts) if you are funny enough (Mormons on their property distracting customers from their yard sale)

Making Arepas with the missionaries in the rama (branch) and our top progressing friends

Sealings + Cute couples = Missionary Nightmare

An absolutely awful start to the week: We had a friend that was 2 HOURS late to come to church then after - we found him a ride home (after a super spiritual lesson) and planned the next few lessons for him... he ghosted us, but its ok because we then went on to have a gas soccer night, secret temple trip, I Believe In Christ devotional, and another delicious fiesta we tracted into.

This week, the highlight was that we had a member take us to the temple. She told us about how great it is and that we get to do sealings and she always feels the most spirit when we do those. So we did sealings (sorry Logan, I sold the bag on our pinky promise) and it was sooo cool to get to do them for the first time and really understand the process. We later studied the doctrine and truly it clicks in my head now that happiness = family, but the big emphasis on joy and the long term fulfilling feeling has me thinking Joy = family × eternity.  And we read in the scriptures that it is the best part of God's plan, to bring immortality to man (and his family).

We have barely followed our schedule this week, and have been SO blessed for going "let's go visit Ruperto" or "Maria" or "this inactive member."  We got assigned a recent convert who fell inactive and decided to go off script with him, finding the missionaries who baptized him in Venezuela and asking them to reach out etc - and he came!! Revelation comes through conversation and somehow ALWAYS being behind schedule.😅

Love you all! 

Sincerely, 

Elder Lucas Witte

2 hours behind schedule put us in a weird corner of our map, and definitely delivered...

Rules were bent... but it's the temple... right?

Real 😭

Snowed in and other things...

To my sister, Juliet! Good job on your talk.  I know you hate speaking in public and yet, your talk was witty and good.

So this was maybe the most insane week of my entire mission, and poor Elder Laycock was along for the whole ride

Exchanges with English and Spanish zone leaders, then a zone interexchange where I went to English for the day??

CLIMAX PT. 1

Then it SNOWED and we walked and took the bus everywhere and ended up WAY out of our area boundaries but its ok because we came right back by bus then walked to our lesson(s) 

CRAZY STORY

We were walking along the road in the snow and rain, and the "world record funniest person ever" decided to drive into this puddle in front of us and splash us pretty dang bad, and in my opinion he definitely lost his title because that was NOT funny in the slightest.

CLIMAX PT. 2 (picture form)

Woke up and received news one of our roommates is going home...

Temple trip! We took new converts to the Temple for the first time.  Interesting experience for them and for me.

Legendary interview taken with a random member who interrupted weekly planning but we thought it would be funny

Valentines party!!

I'll end quoting my new 14 year old sister's talk:

As you read the scriptures and go about daily life don’t just pay attention to what the Spirit communicates. Pay attention to how the Spirit communicates.

Sincerely,

Elder Lucas Witte