email: March 4, 2013

Subj: "Pain is temporary but quitting is permanent"

This week was a good one and I am excited to let y'all in on my week

As you know, Ken is on schedule to be baptized on March 12th. We taught him twice this week so on Tuesday we went over and taught him the first part of the commandments. Brother C***** went with us and he was such a help! We taught Ken about the Word of Wisdom and he really didn't have any big issues. He would have the occasional cigarette and cup of coffee so we said that he could give those up. Now, as a missionary we are supposed to leave them with commitments. Brother C***** jumped the gun and started to commit him to quit! He would ask Ken "so do you want to quit smoking and drinking coffee? When do you want to stop?" Ken would say "now, today" and Brother C***** response was "congratulations!" It was so cool to see Ken commit to stop and the help that Brother C***** was to us. We also tried to get him to pray out loud but he still wouldn't so Brother C***** jumped in and committed him to pray out loud on Thursday. We also gave him the baptism questions so he could go over them.

Wednesday was filled with going and seeing people on our ward list that we have no idea who they are. We have started a project that we are going to clean up the ward list and get info on the people that the bishopric has never seen. Even though we really haven't found anyone, we have found more potentials to go bless their home from it. So it is a win-win for us and the ward. Our main stop that night was to the S***** again. I want that family to be eternal family so badly. We asked him to read and to pray about baptism so we will see what happens with him. We set up a time to go and see him again on that Friday.

On Thursday, we went and saw Melissa C, one of my recent converts here in MoVal. We hadn't seen her in a few weeks and we thought it would be good to check up on her and Chris. She is doing well, she is battling sickness with her and the kids so that is why she hadn't been there in a few weeks. Earlier that morning, we got a text asking if we could go and work on the horse ranch again with the Rogers so, of course, we went :). I got to put the boots and Wranglers on and get my hands dirty. We mucked stalls and helped with chores around the ranch. Some of the young men came to help to raise money for camp so that was fun to be there with them. I have grown to love the young men in my ward. Where ever I end up after my mission, I want to be a part of that program. I have come to love it.

We then changed in the truck on the way to Brother P***** house to go to Ken's lesson. Our lesson consisted of finishing up the commandments and talking about the baptism interview questions. He didn't have any issue with paying tithing or keeping the Sabbath Day holy. He has actually seen a difference in going to church every week and feeling the Spirit there. We went over the questions with him and he is having a lot of trouble with the abortion question of the interview. The reason why is because his wife of 30 years had FOUR abortions without telling him. He would have been the father of four children and he has said many times that he wanted to be a father. He feels like he is kind of responsible and feels guilty about what his wife did. So President Crippen is going to interview him, just to make sure that he is okay. Then the greatest thing happened. He said his first audible prayer in front of us! That was seriously one of the proudest moments of my mission. Seeing Ken pray out loud for the first time was incredible. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the night.

We had AP exchanges on Friday so that was super fun. I took Elder Gardner (a really good guy) with me to teach Anita. We taught her about the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Convents and sustaining church officials. We are running out of things to teach her so we are getting creative. We then took her to see the baptismal font stairs. She wanted to see them so we took her there to see it. After her lesson, we went to Chipotle and got a salad. It was über good then we went back to work. We knocked on a lot of doors and talked to a lot of people. We even chased chickens too haha. Our lesson with the S*****'s was hard for me. Brother S***** didn't accept baptism and it seriously broke my heart. It has been such a long hard road with him. I want their family to be an eternal family so badly... So I wasn't in the best mood Friday night.

We picked up a new investigator on Friday and had a funny experience with it. We went to a missionary farewell party for the Stake President's son who is a good friend of ours. He had other young woman come from the other wards where the Sisters are serving. There were all over us like hawks! I was funny, they sure are Elder deprived. But we are going to teach a guy from there so that will be good.

I had a super spiritual experience on Sunday night with our dinner appointment.They were an older couple, just married about 6 months ago. The husband is an amazing man. He went on to tell us a story about this family that really touched me. It is the story of the prodigal son, but in modern times. The parents lost a son who went wayward and never came back. They never hear from him for five years. Well, this couple gets called to a couples mission in Philly. They were on a special proselyting mission so they actually went and knocked doors. They felt prompted to go down this rough looking street and knock. So they did and guess who they found? They found their lost son. They talked with him and brought him back into the fold. He was that prodigal son.

Well, that was my week. A lot of ups and downs. It will be a busy week for me again. Love y’all so much!

Elder Tonini

P.S. Hey Uncle Ross - thanks for the Lance Armstrong quote (above). He may be a cheater but he never quit!