Boonie Tracting

Whattup y'all! This week has been awesome. Elder Collins and I did some sweet stuff. 

First we went and taught the Stoneham family in our beloved trailer park (the epitome of white trash). They are awesome. They have a friend staying with them and you better believe we turned her into a new investigator. She's interested in the Book of Mormon and God. So that was a highlight. Also Buck has fallen of the face of the planet, he hasn't been home all week. His wife, who is about to divorce him, came to see him and they disappeared... I get the feeling he may need a refresher course on the Word of Wisdom after that one.

Sunday was the first time we haven't had investigators at church :( We didn't have a ton of appointments this week. 

While talking to people on the streets, this guy came up to us and saw a picture Jesus. He told us Jesus wouldn't have been that white because he was a Jew, then he stormed off smugly. Jokes on him, no eternal exaltation for him. Nube.

We went to a part of our area no one ever goes to, the boonies. Literally like a mile between every house we went way out into the middle of no where in the mighty corolla. Tracted it out. It was awesome. 

Also we have new schedules as missionaries, so, longer P-DAYS!! Woohoo!

The days here are good. Still a ton of ice on the roads, I drift like a rally car champion driver. It makes me feel cool inside. Haven't fallen as much, shout out to, like, 4 different people for sending me Yaktrak things that go on my shoes. I love you guys.

As a mission we are learning about repentance this month. Repentance is awesome y'all. I feel like there is a negative connotation that often goes with it. I would encourage you to study it more. Repentance is the wonderful opportunity we have to repent and change through our Savior Jesus Christ. It should be applied DAILY. Give him your shortcomings and sins and he will make you what he needs you to be. I testify of that, he live and strives to be active in each of our lives. Let him help you. He loves you and so do I.

Have a stellar week

-Elder J Steele Rapier :)

Protests in Moscow

Whattup y'all?! This week was kinda crazy, but it was awesome.

I met my new trainer, from Thatcher, AZ. Weighing in at 155 pounds, 5 foot and 8 inches, short dark and handsome... ELDER COLLINS. He is an all-star. We have been together like 6 days now. Also Palouse River (my area) is doing, like, the best in the whole mission. We have gone straight to work. We found 5 new investigators this week. Yeah, you read that right - 5. Dang man, we are so blessed. The Lord prepares so many people. We have a bunch of people on date to be baptized. So excited, I will hit the highlights.

           -Buck: He is a 33-year-old guy with 5 kids whose wife wants to divorce him. He is at rock bottom and is looking to change. The atonement it going to work on him. It is amazing to see what our Savior's sacrifice does for others. Nothing has built my testimony quite like seeing other be changed by the gospel.

          -Kevin, Jordan, Brooklyn: We have had trouble setting up a scheduled appt with them and they won't come to church... frustrating. Patience though, I am working on that. They live in a trailer and like don't have water to wash thier clothes or shower and stuff. Really sad. Just have to love them

Those are probably the investigators we are most focused on. We found 2 new really solid people this week though. Hopefully all goes well. Also there was a massive protest in Moscow yesterday with all the Trump stuff going on... Chumps. People need to find better things to do with their time ... like listen to us teach them the gospel!!

Aight y'all, that's a wrap for this week. I pray for you all. I would encourage everyone this week to write down one thing everyday that the atonement has done for them, I have found this has helped me develop a much more personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you don't think the atonement helps you everyday.. you're wrong! Look harder.

-Elder Rapier :))

Lunch last week with Elder Lewis and Jeremy :)

The massager chair - his face says it all!!

The trio at dinner at a member's house

First Transfer Already Done!

Whattup y'all?! It is the first day of the new transfer. I received my transfer call and I will be staying here in the Palouse River Ward. My new companion is Elder Collins. I have not met him yet, but I will meet him tomorrow. Y'all pray for me that he isn't a noob.

This week we got to meet with Jordan, Kevin, and Brooklyn. We committed all of them to be baptized on February 11th. The lesson we had with them was so amazing.  I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. We also extended a baptismal invitation to Buck who accepted and will be baptized on the 4th of February. The work here is awesome and I am so happy to be a part of it. 

Elder Lewis went home yesterday; he finished his two years and headed back to Houston, TX. It will be weird to get a different companion, I got pretty used to him. 

I am working to be a more Christ-like missionary and individual in general. Results come from specific goals, prayer, personal revelation, and hard work! Push yourselves to be better - in the gospel and in everything! 

Have good week y'all,

-Elder J Steele Rapier

Editor's Note: Not sure if this is a good sign or bad sign.

Driving to appointment with Elder Lewis

From the wall of quotes

Last Week of Transfer

Hey y'all! This week seemed to go on forever.

The work here is awesome. We have 18 investigators and 8 of them are progressing now. We are teaching a family with a son named Jordan who is 15. My heart really goes out to this kid. He is a football player and his parents are divorced living in different states and he's moved back and forth a bunch. (Sounds like someone else I know). Anyway we have a lesson set up with them tonight and were going to ask him to be baptized. He doesn't have many friends because he's new to the area, and his parents aren't the greatest examples. I just want to give him the opportunity and show him that his life can be better.

We also taught Buck, a heavy narcotics user for many years. We got him to church and he accepted an invitation to be baptized as well. He'll have some word of wisdom stuff to work on, but he will get there. All of these people live in the same trailer park, lol. 

Mom still hasn't sent me my Christmas package yet. I'm sure it will be here in time for my birthday.

Mission life is good. It is cold, and I slip a lot. This is the last week of the transfer, and my trainer Elder Lewis goes home next week. So pray that my new companion isn't a total noob. 

This week I studied a lot on the importance of the Book of Mormon. I guess I didnt realize the enormity of it until entering the mission field. If the Book of Mormon is true, then we have the Priesthood, a modern prophet, and Christ's true church on the earth. If not, then this whole thing is a sham. Everyone needs to find out the truth for themselves.

All y'all say a prayer for my sister who has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, which by the way I didn't know was still a thing. I thought it was back in like the 1600s. Anyway, she needs some mad prayers right now. 

As always much love,

Elder J Steele Rapier

Elder Lewis and Elder Rapier

Um, how you like wash machine?!

Proof that Elder Rapier cooks?!??