Slamming, eating worms, last Ukrainian in Montana and Life Changing Lessons

This past week was kinda nuts, but we were still able to accomplish a lot!
First, I am blessed to stay another transfer here in Kalispell!
Unfortunately Elder Lancaster is getting transferred, and he is going
to Wyoming.

Slamming since a Elder Lancaster is leaving.

 I am pumped to stay here and feel like I need to keep
trying and reaching out to some people that I've met or worked with
and help them continue to progress. Another fun thing, we are going to
glacier today with the Ciks, so that will be fun!

 Glacier was sick

Marcus I hope you had a happy birthday! I love you.

The last Ukrainians -Elder Barney and Elder Witt- I'm the last one. слава Украине

So back to why this week was crazy, we had to drive to Missoula to
take Elder Barney down, since he was finishing his mission. 
Then we had to turn around and drive back down since we found out our car
needed to be taken to billings, since we are getting a new car. It was
in Billings last year when there was a huge hail storm and there was
quite a bit of damage that never got fixed, so it is getting fixed.

Just the other day my companion and I were talking and saying wouldn't
it be awesome if we had one of those life changing lessons with one of
our investigators, like the lesson that just makes it all click. Then
the other day we had a lesson with Chelsea and we didn't know what to
do for the lesson, the ideas we planned didn't feel right, so we said
a prayer and went by the Spirit. She was able to open up and tell us
some concerns about her family not being super supportive, and you
could see a huge burden lifted off of her shoulders and it was the
life changing lesson my companion and I had talked and prayed about.
It was a cool experience. We have been finding talks and such to bring
to the next lesson which will hopefully help. We also met this recent
convert girl in YSA, who has a pretty cool conversion story about
chatting with the missionaries on Mormon.org, getting taught over
Skype and then getting baptized, she was going to school at USU but is
now doing an internship, anyway the point of that was to say her
family wasn't super supportive of her getting baptized so we told her
about Chelsea and she said she would love to come to a lesson and help
us, I thought it was pretty cool how that worked out.
Oh yeah we had a lesson with Chelsea and Scott and it had been raining
so there were worms all over the ground, they said if we ate one they
would take us out to lunch. So Elder Lancaster and I did haha

District full of Elders ha

We had a great lesson with Sherman, we thought he would just fly
through the lessons and such, he is on track, just on the slow track
he will eventually get there, so that will be awesome. Also a great
lesson with Brenda, Gabes aunt who is less active, we felt inspired to
go over there since she came to his baptism and such, so we did and we
were going to talk about the Restoration, but she talked about her son
who died a few years ago and we were able to talk about the atonement.
We talked about how He didn't only suffere for our sins but everything
else, she had never been taught or realized that. It was cool to see
her faith, trust and love in Jesus grow. She is doing the small things
to help her life back on track.

We went Tracting the other day and we were trying to find this part
member family, which we did and have some stuff set up with them, then
we decided to just keep knocking on some doors, and their neighbors at
first weren't interested at all in fact the lady threw the Book of
Mormon away the missionaries had given her years ago, but she said she
would meet with us again, her husband seemed a little more promising
we'll see how it goes haha

I am lovin the warm weather and riding bikes in it (it will be nice to
ride a bike in normal clothes) Hope y'all have a great week! Love ya!
 С люблю,
Старейшина Дэвид Витт


Sent from my iPad

Truth convinces itself through the Holy Ghost

Another good week in Kalispell Montana. 

We moved on Saturday and it took a lot longer than we thought. It is like we went into a time machine back 50 years haha we live with brother Burningham who is older and whose wife just past away in January so it has been good to live with him. 

The Wehrli's family is moving into their house this summer so we needed to go somewhere else. It is a lot smaller and different living situation but it will be good! (By the way the new address is 202 Park Ave., Kalispell, Montana 59901)

We had lunch with the former mayor of evergreen (the city next to Kalispell that actually doesn't really have a mayor, she just got her named pulled out of a hat haha) she goes to another church, we tracted into her a couple weeks ago and for some reason she loved us so much. She doesn't want to listen to our message but she just wanted to talk ha she was so funny. So she took us to lunch and it was funny when she made us all hold hands as she shouted her prayer in the restaurant it was good haha.

I have met a lot of interesting people on my mission haha

We were teaching this one kid and a couple of his friends, turns out he was trying to get us to come to his church all along and only believes that through grace we are saved, which we absolutely and completely are, but doesn't want to acknowledge the rest of the scripture, saved by grace through faith and other scriptures point out faith without works is dead. 

This gospel just makes sense, talking to all different kinds of people with their beliefs, their beliefs have no doubt made them nicer people, but without the fullness of the gospel it doesn't mesh together. 

It was so awesome to see a less active, Sister Cuthbert come to church 2 Sunday's in a row! She hasn't been in a really really long time. My heart was "filled with exceedingly great joy" when I saw her at the back of the chapel. I have only felt that a few times on my mission. I met her when I first got here and she said she would come to church then, so it was so so awesome to finally see her come!  

It was also super exciting news when we got texts, phone calls and found out in lessons that the people we are working with have been reading the scriptures, understanding them and applying them to their lives. 

 Chelsea and Scott Wilson have been reading and she is still on tract to get baptized, she moved her baptismal date to the 4th of July since her mom will be in town then, the Nicklaus shared how much they have read and enjoyed how their lives have been so similar to Nephi's life., Gabe is so smart and was remembering all that he has learned and was asking about the anti-Nehpi-Lehi's he is such a smart 11 year old,

Sister Luis has been reading on her own every night and had been doing things to be able to get a temple recommend and go for her first time, Sherman, who we haven't been in contact with him for a few weeks called us and said he has started reading again and wants to meet up this week. Great news from all of them. It has been awesome to realize that we don't have to try to convince anyone that we ever talk to, ever! Truth convinces itself and as they read the Book of Mormon the Holy Ghost will be the one to convince them this is true. 

I have read the Book of Mormon quite a few times on my mission so far and this time around every morning I read I feel the love of our Heavenly Father and have been able to love and understand the teaching of Jesus Christ more exponentially. 

A little better email this week than last. 

We will see what transfers bring this next week, love you all

love Elder David Witt

I love America

We had an awesome Saturday and Sunday with Gabe getting baptized and confirmed, his uncle did them and it was so awesome. He is so smart and loves the gospel. His parents aren't active, but he wakes himself up and walks over to his grandparents house they they can take him to church on Sunday, he is awesome! 

I was able to go on exchanges with some of the other Elders in their area and help them with a few things, for the most part there are really good missionaries in our zone. It is great to be able to serve here with these missionaries and see the growth that has occurred since when I first got here. 

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day, I am grateful to be here in America and enjoy the things that we have. It is a lot different here in the states than other places in the world. 

We also watched meet the Mormons earlier today, I am grateful for this gospel and can't wait for opportunities to go to school and travel and such.

Hope you have a good week love ya

love Elder David Witt

May 25, 2015

The Amazing Race

Good afternoon 

I was reading a quote by President Heber J. Grant this morning about what true prosperity since I was reading about Nephi and his view vs his brothers views pres grant said: “When I say prosperity I am not thinking of it in terms of dollars and cents alone. … What I count as real prosperity … is the growth in a knowledge of God, and in a testimony, and in the power to live the gospel and to inspire our families to do the same. That is prosperity of the truest kind”

This week ran in a race, The Amazing Race, for a fundraiser. I want to go on show and I thought it would be challenging yet very rewarding, as we compared ourselves to other participants.  We got the first clue, flew through the challenge and got our second clue. It said something about "Jim" and being healthy. We had no idea what it meant, we tried the few places we thought could be it and couldn't find it, so we asked people on the streets that we saw and asked if they could help, two of the groups of people we talked to were from out of town, so we probably shouldn't have taken any of their advise. The others said they had no idea either. We knew there was a health store down a ways and the people who said they had no idea said that could be a possibility. We ran and didn't feel like we were going the right way, but we said we had already committed and kept going. I was trying to remember the sponsors for this race and I couldn't remember if I had seen the store in the list of sponsors. We got there and it wasn't the right location. We asked for help and the lady said oh it's probably the gym, not Jim. We were tired and discouraged that we had gone off course. We got back in town and found the gym and continued on with the race. We passed a few teams but knew we were far behind. We persevered and passed a few teams. Knowing that we were so far behind discouraged, not motivated me. We eventually completed the course and finished the race. We were sore and tired but we completed the race. 

There are lots of things we can compare to the gospel in this event. 

1)We shouldn't be prideful or big headed, we shouldn't compare ourselves or our abilities with those around us. 2)We shouldn't just trust or believe what anyone says. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine" 3) use the resources and knowledge that we have and have been given, we aren't going to know everything, but we should use what the Lord has given us. 4) We were not prepared physically for this race, there was no prior training. If we aren't constantly doing the "small and simple things" the race is going to be really hard and you will be really sore afterwards. 5) No matter what place we are in, no matter what detours have happened in our race, we need to continue to press forward, trusting in the Lord, knowing that He is in charge we can't get discouraged and we must endure to the end. 6) Continue to love everyone, if they were pushing you too much or slowing you down, passing you, or saying things when you passed them, we have to keep doing our best and loving those around us, when we have that pure love of Christ we will be a lot happier and so will the people we come in contact with.

I also saw the new Mormon message, "Lift" -that is what this gospel and life is all about. Whatever we do to lift someone is missionary work. If we are helping people feel the love of Jesus Christ, we are doing missionary work. 

Chelsea Wilson, Gabe Denna and Randy and Virgina nikclaus are all doing great. The Lord is hastening His work. And when we do our part we can help with his work. 

This week was crazy with crazy people. I have seen lots of people with lots of different beliefs and I am so grateful for the truthfulness of this work. It's not just some organization but it is Jesus Christ's church. I love this gospel. 

I love you all.

Love, Elder David Witt

May 18, 2015

Dont forget about the Luis Girls

Good talkin to you yesterday, I love you all.
Lessons in Lakeside went well yesterday.

Not sure why I didn't talk about this yesterday sorry!!
We had a great baptism Saturday with the Luis girls, the Habels, their
home teachers, were able to baptize them, it was great and their
confirmation was yesterday. The Spirit was strong at both of them and
it was exciting!

Can't wait to see yall in person.
Love you much
Love Elder David Witt

May 11, 2015

Last Skype call this Sunday!!

Well good news

Mother's Day is next week!! 

This week was super! We had 9 investigators come to church! It was great! 

It was crazy making sure they were sitting by a member and feeling comfortable haha 

sister Cik is awesome and brought one of our investigators to church, she also picks up a few less actives. It is awesome.

 

We had quite a few great lessons this week. 

The Luis girls are getting baptized this week, Chelsea Wilson put herself on date for June, and the others we are working with are progressing. 

We had transfers this week so we did quite a bit of driving. We also had to pick up Elder Barneys companion from the South Dakota Rapids city mission, he is awesome. Mission boundaries have changed, we lost some in the north east and Wyoming and gained some in Wyoming. So there have been some changes but all has been good. 

We went to eureka this week and we went on splits with the elders there, we were going to this neighborhood by the boarder and we thought we were going to cross it a couple time but thankfully we never did. Montana is so pretty I love it.

 

Good things are happenin and I can't wait to see ha Sunday!!

 

Love Elder David Witt

Longest stay in one area- go Kalispell!

Us pickinup chicks

This week we have been super blessed. First off, got some great news, I'll be staying in Kalispell! I really wasn't ready to leave so I am glad I am staying. This will be the longest I have stayed in an area and with the same companion (unless for some reason there is a mid transfer ha) but I am excited since there is so much going on here. 

Last preparation day we went bowling, I haven't been since Missoula so that was fun and I did pretty well too, once a got the hang of it again. Then our dinner with Thomas and his friends went well, we thought it might be so smooth but it was. There were like 5 of them and we showed the the Elder Holland and the Book of Mormon video and they texted us later that night saying they wanted to learn more, so hopefully we can meet with them all soon. 

The Denna boys, Gabe and Trenton, are doing well, they didn't make it to church but they are remembering everything we teach them it's great. The Luis girls, Elena and Ashley, are doing much better, they have been to church a lot and are opening up more at the lessons. 

A guy I tracted into with Elder Burnham when he first got here and he said try again another day, when we were riding our bikes last week I felt like we should,stop by so we did, had another great lesson with him this week and is just super prepared! Heart of gold. 

The Wilsons a part member family we are working with is progressing well too. They came to church Sunday and enjoyed it! 

Another lady we tracted into last week, Laura is also super prepared. Sister Cik, came with us to her lesson and she is like this is where I need to be. We are looking forward to working with her. 

Seriously the Lord is blessing us with so many prepared people to teach. That is why I am so glad we stayed! 

I wanted to finish the Book of Mormon before transfers and I did last night. I am so so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the knowledge and peace it can give us. I bear a firm testimony that it was written by ancient prophets inspired by God, then translated by Joseph Smith, who was also a prophet. Even though we are imperfect and this church is run by imperfect people, Jesus Christ and His teachings, the gospel, is perfect. 

What an awesome week. I am grateful to be here in Kalispell, Montana. 

#lovinlife #sunnydayzz #mothersdayintwoweeks

Love ya. 

Love, Elder David Witt 

PS Oh I forgot to mention another cool thing that happened. We were
walking around tryin to find this family and we were walkin and this
dude on his bike pulls up to us and was like "hablas espanol" my
companion said no I said yeah a little bit. I could understand
everything he was saying but when I wanted to reply only Russian words
kept coming to my mind. But we set up an appointment with him for
tomorrow. And we are bringing a returned missionary that just got back
from Mexico so it should be good. I wish I could remember my Spanish.
At the mtc only Spanish words were coming up when I wanted to speak
Russian, so I asked Heavenly Father to help me forget it, and sure
enough I forgot it haha I hope I can remember it when we teach him
though.