Monday, September 21, 2020

Week 62 - Farewell Kirkland -Transferred - Samoan Speaking!

So Transfers came and I will be heading out! Goodbye to my two companions, goodbye piano, goodbye upcoming baptisms... Samoan Ward here I come! Sure wish I spoke Samoan :)


Our trio's down to two...


I'll miss these guys almost as much as the piano!

So glad I got to attend Wei Weng's baptism before I left.

Our District - Elders Lai & Brienholt - Dudley & Schelin - Sisters Gneiging & Misi

Zone Conference - With all the masks I'll give you a hint.....Top Right...

My New Companion Elder Seu - He's from American Samoa- He love Naruto too!
Don't think I'll be taking him down in a wrestling match anytime soon 😄

What Elders do in their spare time...

Monday, September 14, 2020

Week 61 - Semi Annual Kirkland Games

 We had the idea to hold the Semi Annual Kirkland Games... we designed and made iron-ons and made t-shirts for all the missionaries. There were games to build unity, have fun and help us get to know each other better. All in all we called it a success!

President and Sister Beardall encourage us to be creative....



We made trophies, medals and everything


No one's going hungry here!
                            This is our video to advertise the games.... we had a lot of fun making it.


Monday, September 7, 2020

Week 59-60 Hot Hot Hot Aug 31 -Sept 7

       This week was amazing, I found myself laughing to tears some days. I want you all to know that of course not all days or weeks are like this, but missions can be very fun on occasion. This week I'll focus mainly on some studies that have made this week great, and in a couple weeks I'll share more fun experiences that make missionary work awesome. 

"Enduring large tests while failing the seemingly small quizzes just won't do. Such short comings must be addressed if we are really serious about becoming more like Jesus" - Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Grace is the word used to connote the enabling power of the atonement. So it's not simply by mercy, it's our willingness to let the enabling power of the atonement change us to become clean. 

P-Day Fun in the sun Elders Fullmer, George and Taylor

My companions are truly great for me. They teach well, they build each other and myself up, and they are fun to be around. It has been one of the easiest companionships that I have been in. We laugh and have a brotherly feel in our home. 
            
     There comes a time in every elders time, where they are in a 2nd or 3rd dinner and they must go to the bathroom for a minute to tell themselves, "I CAN DO THIS I CAN DO THIS" before returning to his plate to finish dinner and begin dessert.

So grateful for all the members here, they really spoil us with how often they give
 us food. Sister Tiburcio's two little girls who are 9 and 12 were baptized and my 
companion Elder Fullmer got to baptize one of them. After they invited us for tacos....

Now for those of you who may remember that I had to eat hot spicy crickets a few weeks ago this is the same family. Well Sister Tiburcio had told me, "Elder George this is a challenge. I will make you cry for challenging a Mexican to a spice contest." Sooo she made this sauce I had to put on my tacos. Homemade! But even she didn't know everything she put in it. I had a total of 5 tacos and on the last one she took it from me and drenched it in the sauce. I've been trained all my life with hot peppers so I knew I could handle it, but I didn't eat the last bite. She came back out and saw I didn't finish it and she says "no, this is what you get for challenging me now you gonna eat the last bite" and she grabs the sauce and smothers the last bite. Now I could handle the heat, but she made a mean sauce. You see, the heat in my throat and my mouth? Easy. The next morning? Ever since my intestinal issues spicy and my lower half disagree very very much. She's awesome I.love.a.good.challenge haha

Yes, this is the mystery HOT HOT HOT sauce!

We had somewhat of a mini ward concert for the Willows Ward. They could drive by, get a snack and request a song. Elder Taylor passed out snacks, Elder Fullmer played the viola and I played piano. We had a great time and  I think the members had fun too.




Service Tetrus Style!

                

          My Grandpa Charles says, "Babies and DOGS are a good judge of Character!"


I've concluded that the best thing in this mission is working with members. They make the week exciting, they make teaching others more worth while and they bring an added perspective. That's all for the next 2 weeks from Elder George! 


Monday, August 24, 2020

Week 58 - All the comforts of home - August 24th 2020

My spiritual notes are two quotes, 
"I chose to open that door, I chose to open it again. It Is all about our choices. I chose to kick him out and I chose to let him in." this is what a friend of ours said who has had a really tough past and found the church later in life. The 2nd quote is "When life's too hard to stand, start kneeling. " I heard my companion say this one. I believe at some point we find the courage within ourselves, to turn to God. This is what we do our best to do, share our witness that God is listening. Have a great week,
Elder George

Who knew, just like in the jungles of Micronesia

Cafe Rio! We are eating really well.

A full size piano donated by some members.

My new suit - left by a departing missionary!

The members just keep giving us food

Elder Fullmer studying
Mattresses and everything.

We even have a real dishwasher

Plenty of practice mowing at home.
This lawn is not like a velvet carpet.

Monday, August 17, 2020

Week 57 - Seattle Washington Mission - August 17th 2020

          I'm back to mission life and gotta say it was a pretty easy adjustment. The reason why - My two zone leader companions Elders Taylor and Fullmer are awesome, they are solid missionaries and have made it really easy to get back to work. They teach well, they build each other and myself up, and they are fun to be around.
          Spiritual highlight: Wei Wang (someone we're teaching) said in order to receive an answer he believes in addition to reading and praying he has to serve people, he believes he isn't receiving an answer about the book of Mormon yet because he has to also serve people as the savior did. I respect that. I too wish to serve the people here as the savior did.
Once again,
Elder George
President and Sister Beard

Elder Taylor                                             Elder Fullmer
        


The Spanish members house had all these little toys on top of the
 piano and gave me a glass coke bottle because they all love coke.

     Right after I got my clothes hung up the closet the entire closet came crashing down!
 This was exciting for me and depressing for my companions hahaha. 

       
Someone stole our sandbags, which we need for our car wash, 
but don't worry our 24/7 toga wearing neighbor will find out who did it.

We were filming simplex testimony videos and I found this place
 Reminded me of pictures of the Sacred Grove. Kirkland, Washington.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Week 38-56 - Covid-19 and Quarantine


For the past 5 months Jacob has been home on a temporary release. The first 14 days were spent in quarantine. Then a whole lot of family time! In May he received his new call to the Seattle Washington mission. (Leaving August 11th) We were very grateful for the time we got to spend as a family again.

Elder Stoddard and Elder George just off the plane!

  
Social distance visits

Welcome home cookies and a whole lot of piano, ping pong and family togetherness!




Food, Food and more Food


Adventures camping, fishing and biking

Chandler and Jacob working on their tans?




Lake Powell Family Trip


Week 93 - The work continues in Samoa, Seattle

Elder Dodson is my new companion!  and the missionary work continues here in Seattle "Samoa" The families are so good to us! Fuati...