March 13, 2018

Family,

This week has been pretty slow. We were able to meet with our investigator Sister (N) which was really good. She has been super busy lately just trying to get bills paid after her husband's death and just trying to get her life figured out right now.  We were also able to teach a couple lessons to (K) which was way good. She's awesome and we will probably be having a baptism for her pretty soon. Her parents are just trying to find a day that all the family will be able to make it.

On Saturday we had the Festival of Finding. The whole mission goes out finding from 10 am - 5:00 pm. It was good. It was like the first super nice day we have had this year. It was clear and warm so that was nice. We also went to another Marshallese baptism in the branch Elder Delp used to serve in. It's so funny going to them. They are not formal at all. The Marshallese people are super flaky so they never ask people to give a talk before hand because they will say yes but then just won't show up. So they just ask people when they get there. In this case there were not to many people there so they asked me to give one of the talks. ha ha On the bright side there were not to many people there so it wasn't a big deal. They are fun baptisms to go to.

Sunday was just a good day of church and a lot of meetings. We had 2 investigators there as well which was good. The investigators we are teaching are doing good but they are just moving a long kinda slowly. But still forward!!! So that is good! (K) is doing awesome and will get baptized pretty soon. I'm sure.

Monday was amazing!! We basically had a full day of being taught by President and Sister Rasmussen and Elder and Sister Costa!! Elder Claudio R.M. Costa is a General Authority. One of the 70. Right now he is assigned to work in the missionary department. So it was really cool to hear from him. He's a funny man and just so full of wisdom and knowledge. It was so fun to learn from him and his thick Brazilian accent. We had a devotional with him from 9:00 - 3:00. After that we were able to have a special MLC meeting with him as well. So we learned a lot from him today!!

I love hearing from the Lord's anointed servants! I am so grateful that we have them here and for the knowledge that we have of living prophets and apostles. Something that was talked about a lot at the devotional is the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is so essential in our lives today! We need it now more then ever. We know that it was written for us in our day. It is so important that we don't take it for granted but that we read from it, we study it, and we ponder it's message!

I have grown to love the Book of Mormon so much! I have a goal to read it everyday for the rest of my life. So when I see you all when I get home you all better follow up with me on that!!! Keep me accountable. I have this goal because I have seen how much it has blessed me as I have read it each day here in the mission. I have felt the love of God and the tender mercies of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as I have read it each day. That is something we all need in our lives. We don't want to go on this journey through mortality without the blessings that come through the Book of Mormon and without the knowledge of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that we can gain from the pages of the Book of Mormon. I'm preaching... but this is important to me! I know the Book of Mormon is true!! I know God is real, that he sent His son here for us. For our benefit. And that it is only through Christ that we can return to live with Him again.

Please continue to read the Book of Mormon or start if you haven't been. Gain a testimony for yourself that these things are true. Continue to ask God if they are true EVEN if you already have a testimony. He will continue to manifest the truth of it to you! I love the Book of Mormon. I love this gospel. I love my Savior. I love all of you!! 

I'm sorry for ranting and preaching but I'm tired and I just got done with a long day of sitting at the feet and learning from a General Authority and I'm just feeling the Spirit and I gotta share it. I love you all and hope you have a good week!!!

Elder Ethan Wayne Stucki

**I have lost 15 lbs since my last area so that is probably another reason why my shirts seem big on me right now. I could use some more razors and the shave oil stuff. I would like it if you can get that again

Okay. I love you all have a good week!!