Happy Birthday USA!

From our Prophet

“And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.” D&C 12:8

Frustration flees, doubt disappears, and uncertainty wanes when truth is taught in boldness, yet in a spirit of humility by those who have been called to serve the Prince of Peace – even Jesus Christ.

President Thomas S. Monson

Sister Rasmussen's Message

What a blessing the light of day is for our mission! Those who have been here through the winter have a special appreciation for the long light days we are now enjoying. One sister told me she feels guilty going in at 9:00 because it is still light outside. I hope we will be able to use this light from the sun to share with the world the light of His Son. It is a blessing to be able to speak and testify of our Savior in sunlight all day long!

Quentin L Cook teaches us about following our Savior. One of the remarkable characteristics of young wild sunflowers, in addition to growing in soil that is not hospitable, is how the young flowers buds follow the sun across the sky. In doing so it receives life sustaining energy before bursting forth in its glorious yellow color. Like the young sunflower, when we follow the Savior of the world, the Son of God, we flourish and become glorious despite the circumstances that surround us. He truly is our light and life. As individuals, disciples of Christ, living in a hostile world we can thrive and bloom if we are rooted in our love of the Savior and humbly follow His teachings.

We were all given a copy of The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles following conference. I hope you have taken some time in your study to read and pondered that inspired document. In the last paragraph it says,” Jesus is the light, the life and the hope of the world.” We all have times of darkness in our lives but the light of Christ can help us overcome our fears, a feeling of being lonely, health issues, anxieties and be a comfort to us in all times. We need something better than our mortal vision to face our challenges. We need our Saviors perfect vision. Because of Him, His light, His life and His hope, as that great hymn The Lord is My Light says, there is no darkness at all.

John 8:12 tells us, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” May we always find ourselves in His light is my prayer for the Washington Federal Way Mission.

July Birthdays

7 July – Elder Clayton Christensen

7 July – Elder Orrin Olsen

8 July – Elder Brendan Stucki

14 July – Elder Sebastian Cardin

17 July – Elder Braiden Clayburn

20 July – Elder Andrew Mitton

22 July – Sister Lexis Hatch

23 July – Sister Kelani Purvis

27 July – Elder Drake Roach

30 July – Sister Madison Reynolds

Sister Trudo's medical message

Heat Exhaustion

Heat exhaustion is a condition whose symptoms may include heavy sweating and a rapid pulse, a result of your body overheating. It's one of three heat-related syndromes, with heat cramps being the mildest and heatstroke being the most severe.
Causes of heat exhaustion include exposure to high temperatures, particularly when combined with high humidity (Check the heat index on hot days, a heat index of 90+ is dangerous), and strenuous physical activity. Without prompt treatment, heat exhaustion can lead to heatstroke, a life-threatening condition. Fortunately, heat exhaustion is preventable.

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion may develop suddenly or over time, especially with prolonged periods of exercise. Possible heat exhaustion signs and symptoms include:

Cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat
Heavy sweating
Faintness
Dizziness
Fatigue
Weak, rapid pulse
Low blood pressure upon standing (that is why you may feel like you are fainting)
Muscle cramps
Nausea
Headache

If you think you're experiencing heat exhaustion:

Stop all activity and rest
Move to a cooler place
Drink cool water or sports drinks – you need salt and other electrolytes!
Try cooling measures. If possible, take a cool shower, soak in a cool bath or put towels soaked in cool water on your skin.
Loosen clothing. Remove any unnecessary clothing and make sure your clothes are lightweight and nonbinding.

Heat Cramps – Mildest form of Heat Exhaustion

As a result, your body may develop heat cramps, the mildest form of heat-related illness. Signs and symptoms of heat cramps usually include heavy sweating, fatigue, thirst and muscle cramps. Prompt treatment usually prevents heat cramps from progressing to heat exhaustion.

You usually can treat heat cramps by drinking cold fluids or sports drinks containing electrolytes (Gatorade, Poweraide, others), getting into cooler temperatures, such as an air-conditioned or shaded place, and resting.

We will contact the doctor if your signs or symptoms worsen or if they don't improve within one hour. We will seek immediate medical attention if your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher. This is critical. Everyone needs to have a thermometer in their apartment in the summer. A simple manual one will do. You must practice learning how to use it.

Homemade gel ice packs

These homemade gel ice packs are more comfortable than a bag of frozen peas, because they mold better to your body without the lumps and bumps. They can be made for under $3 and reused as long as they are kept in the freezer. When reusing them put a clean plastic bag over them before placing them back into the freezer.

What you need:

1 quart or 1 gallon plastic freezer bags (depending on how large you want the cold pack)
2 cups water
1 cup rubbing alcohol

Instructions:

Fill the plastic freezer bag with 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 2 cups of water.
Try to get as much air out of the freezer bag before sealing it shut.
Place the bag and its contents inside a second freezer bag to contain any leakage.
Leave the bag in the freezer for at least an hour.
When it's ready for use, place a towel between the gel pack and bare skin to avoid burning the skin.

Depending upon how much freezer room you have you can make up both large and smaller ones for use in different areas of the body. Be sure to use heavier duty freezer bags. Make up in advance to have on hand when you unexpectedly need one.

Elder Nydegger's Car Corner

Car Masters Final Message

First of all, Sister Nydegger and I would like to tell you all how much you mean to us. You have made our Mission Service something we will never forget. You are the elect that Heavenly Father has saved for these final hours of His work. But even the elect can fall if obedience is forgotten or doing our will is more important to us than doing His will. Be valiant, missionaries.

Now this month I would like to deal with speeding. With the warm weather here, it seems that many missionaries like to put the “pedal to the metal” and don’t listen to TIWI or obey the speed limit. As this picture shows, good driving is not accomplished by adding more speed. Obedience to traffic laws, like obedience to the commandments brings safety and peace. As Elder Holland promised, missionaries can expect blessings from the Lord especially when we are obedient to his commandments. Please pull in the reigns a little and let up on the gas. We can save lives, money and our souls all at the same time. Best wishes to you all and remember

BE SAFE OUT THERE!

We love you all,

Elder and Sister Nydegger

Departing Missionaries – June 26, 2017

We will miss you! Thanks for your service to the Lord!

L to R: Elder Andrew White, Elder Junwoo Jeong, Elder Caleb Kidwell, Elder Bretton Steiner, Elder Samuelsen, Sister Hannah Erickson, Sister Aryana Souza, Elder Connley Samuels, Elder Jackson Knight, Elder Nicholas Chance and Elder Robert Rex.

Seated L to R: Sister Nydegger, Sister Campbell, Sister Rasmussen, President Rasmussen, Sister Hannah Erickson, Sister Aryana Souza, Sister Meneghini, Sister Layman. Standing L to R: President Campbell, Elder Nydegger, Elder Andrew White, Elder Junwoo Jeong, Elder Caleb Kidwell, Elder Bretton Steiner, Elder Samuelsen, Elder Connley Samuels, Elder Jackson Knight, Elder Nicholas Chance, Elder Robert Rex, President Layman, Elder Meneghini.

Seated L to R: President and Sister Layman, Sister Rasmussen, President Rassmussen, Sister Hannah Erickson, Sister Aryana Souza and President Campbell. Standing L to R: Elder Nicholas Chance, Elder Andrew White, Elder Jackson Knight, Elder Bretton Steiner, Elder Robert Rex, Elder Reggie Northrup, Elder Bryan Samuelsen, Elder Connley Samuels, Elder Caleb Kidwell and Elder Junwoo Jeong.

Incoming Missionaries – June 27, 2017

A warm welcome to our newest Missionaries!

Seated L to R: Sister Layman, Sister Lexis Hatch, Sister Kenly Secretan, Sister Mariah Hillier, President Rasmussen, Sister Rasmussen, Sister Madeline Sellers, Sister Sheridan DeBry, Sister Summer Derieg. Standing L to R: President Layman, Elder Jared Ruegner, Elder Aaron Nixon, Elder Brook Butterfield, Elder Paul Schuck, Elder Preston Jackson

Missionary Moments

Elder Ovard and Sister Debbie Fried

Elder Ovard, Sister Jayni Jiggets and Elder Snook

Elder Ovard, Sister Jayni Jiggets, Brother Randall Edmiston, Elder Snook

Left to Right: Elder Jackson, Sister Cho, Elder Kim, Brother Kim

Left to Right: Sis. Cho, Sis. Min, Bro. Lee, Bro. Kim

(Sis. Min and Bro. Lee introduced them to the church and Bro. Lee baptized Bro. Kim)

Sister Skousen and Sister Tippets with a recent investigator at the James Hill YSA

ZONE CONFERENCE – June 2017

Auburn Zone

Enumclaw Zone

Federal Way Zone

Graham Zone

Kent Zone

Puyallup Zone

Puyallup South Zone

Renton Zone

The following pictures were taken by Elder and Sister Olsen, our Senior Missionaries serving as CES missionaries serving those who attend institute in Auburn. I loved the comments that Elder Olsen made about the pictures, so I’m going to quote him directly. Thanks Elder Olsen for sending this in to be included in the newsletter, blog, history, etc.

SERVICE

Auburn Stake Humanitarian Project (quilt making)

“When I picked up Sister Olsen from the Humanitarian project I saw four of your Sister missionaries working happily on the quilts”

“Busy like Bees”

“This picture was taken at the Auburn Ward chapel as we helped spread bark around the building. (Sister Olsen is “diggin’ her mission!) Lots of Ward members showed up along with the Auburn Ward Elders. We also did wheelbarrow work on June 5^th with the Mirror Lake YSA Branch doing service at the Light of Life Community Garden in Federal Way. The Light of Life Community Garden produces thousands of pounds of produce for the food bank and others in need in Federal Way each year.”

“A night at Institute – Feed them Physically and Spiritually!”

“Each Wednesday Sister Olsen prepares a meal for the students who attend institute in Auburn. During the past three months she has prepared servings for a total of 1,100. (note from Sister Nydegger – if you aren’t hungry now you will be after seeing this! Sister Olsen is an incredible cook!)

“Last night she served French toast and parfaits. We did lots of preparation at the apartment before taking the food to the Institute. Then she started cooking French toast in preparation for the throng of students who come each week."

“It was hard to keep up as they loaded their plates (many came back for seconds, thirds or fourths).”

“The students eat while lessons are taught.”

“Brother Nelson is an excellent Institute Instructor”

“The YSA Sisters are a wonderful addition to the Institute class”

“Each Wednesday night we share the leftovers with the six Elders in our Apartment complex when we get back from the Institute.”

“They are glad to help us make the food disappear! Elders love to eat!!”

“Then it is time to hurry back to their apartments before 9:30 p.m.

And then………..

…it’s time to work off some of the calories the next morning –

“Push- ups with Elder Olsen, in Auburn”

Sister Rasmussen’s Message

We were blessed as a mission last month to have Elder and Sister Dube visit us for several days. Elder Dube has been a general authority of the church since 2013, He is the first Zimbabwean and the second black African to be a general authority.

Elder Dube was born in Chirumanzu, Zimbabwe and raised in a small village. He was first introduced to the LDS Church when his employer, Leaster Heath, the branch president he worked for as a servant, gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon. Two years later he first attended an LDS Church meeting in the Kwekwe Branch in

February 1984, where he initially felt uncomfortable, feeling as if he was "in a servant relationship with most of the members of the branch". That quickly changed as he and branch members were able to share feelings about the Book of Mormon. He was baptized in August 1984.

Elder Dube served as a missionary from 1986 to 1988. He initially served in the church's South Africa Johannesburg Mission, which at the time included Zimbabwe, and then in the newly created Zimbabwe Harare Mission when the mission was split in 1987. Among those he taught as a missionary was the family of Naume Keresia Salazini, although she was later baptized by her brother who had previously joined the LDS Church. After his mission, he renewed his acquaintance with Naume and they were married in 1989 in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. They were later sealed in the Johannesburg South Africa Temple in 1992.They are the parents of three daughters and one son.

Elder Dube has served in the Church as a branch president, district president and counselor in a mission presidency. In 1999, Dube became president of the first stake organized in Zimbabwe. From 2009 until 2012, he served as president of the Zimbabwe Harare Mission. He was made an area seventy in 2012 and served for a year prior to becoming a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on 6 April 2013. (Wikipedia—Edward Dube)

Elder Dube has done some very hard things in his life. He is a great example to us. Elder Dube taught us that God knows us and he called us to be His missionaries in this mission. He lifted our vision of ourselves as he taught us you can change your life to what you can become as a missionary.

He asked us the question, “Elders and sisters, will you see your potential?” When you find your potential you find your success. The brethren, even they are along in years, are very hard working every day and work through everything. L. Tom Perry worked hard to the very end of his life because he knew what he could become. He challenged us to know that for ourselves – to know what we can become as we work hard to the end of our mission. We were taught well how we can become “disciple of Christ missionaries” and not “me missionaries”.

I hope we have all set some new personal goals to be more Christ like disciples and work long and hard as we learned from Elder and Sister Dube’s example last month. We were all very blessed to have been instructed by Elder Dube!

(North part of the mission – Federal Way Zone, Kent Zone, and Renton Zone)

(South part of the mission – Auburn Zone, Enumclaw Zone, Graham Zone, Puyallup Zone, Puyallup South Zone)

"Night of Music" held Saturday May 13th

The Star Lake Ward, the Dolloff Lake Ward, and the Rainier Korean branch had a night of music Saturday, May 13th. These missionaries and Allison Avilak sang "I am a Child of God". (L to R: Elder Huston, Elder Lloyd, Elder Jackson, Elder Kim, Sister Zavala and Sister McClellan.)

We want to send a huge WELCOME to our new Mission Nurse Sister Ford-Trudo!

She is amazing and very qualified to assist the missionaries with their health needs.

We are thrilled to have her serve with us in the Washington Federal Way Mission!

A letter to Sis. Trudo from her grandchild - perfect!

May 15th Departing Missionaries

Pres. & Sis. Rasmussen, Sis. Zavala, Sis. Hammond, Sis. Huhem, Pres. Campbell
Elder Thurgood, Elder Sirrine, Elder Pratt, Elder Covington, Elder Sanders

May 16th Arriving Missionaries

A warm welcome to our newest missionaries!

Sister Golden, Sister Watts, Sister Rasmussen, President Rasmussen, Elder Jensen and Elder Reichow

Just a reminder TO missionaries that when you pack your bag in the morning and put in your scriptures, Preach My Gospel, planner, phone and water bottle …. Don’t forget to pack your smile!

Sister Zavala shows us how

One reason it is important to smile at everyone is because of the “Eye Contact contract”. When two people make eye contact and one smiles, the other one is obligated under the “eye contact contract” to return a smile. It works almost every time. Give it a try!

Missionary Leadership Council

MISSIONARY DEVOTIONAL
MAY 21, 2017

One of the highlights of each month is our Missionary Devotional which is perfectly packed with music, conversion stories and testimonies. We are thankful to all who make it happen!

Testimonies and conversion stories were shared by the following individuals -

Arelle Hall, Federal Way Ward

Randy Klotz, Federal Way Ward

Ben Clark

Sister Rigdon, Washington Federal Way Mission

A FEW OF OUR BAPTISMS

Elder Oliva, Elder Hancock, Elder Colton White, Brother Don Zahner, Elder Drabicki, Elder Sirrine, Elder Kidwell.

Brother Don Zahner was found in December of last year a couple of weeks before Christmas. Missionaries tracted into him in his home and left him with a Restoration pamphlet, which he agreed to read. He said that he had found in his life that his way didn't work, so he was willing to try God's way. When the missionaries visited him a week later, he had read through the pamphlet but decided that the Mormon religion wasn't for him. Despite the rejection, the missionaries kept pushing forward, and by the time they left, they had given him a Book of Mormon and he said that "this book will not go unread". From there on, Brother Zahner shot like lightning towards baptism. The power and knowledge that he received from his studies of the Book of Mormon gave him the faith and desire to be baptized and have relief from his burdens of guilt. He made huge changes in his life in a very short time and he was baptized in the end of March. You couldn't believe the spiritual knowledge that he's gained in such a short time. We've learned from this experience that the Book of Mormon has great power in conversion, and the truths taught therein provide great light and understanding. -- Elder Drabicki

from left to right, Brother Madden, Sister Efnor, Amy Watak Horiuchi, Derek Horiuchi, Sister Everett, Sister Wilkinson. Front: Derekson Horiuchi - baptized May 28, 2017.

They had been taking the lessons in the Marshall Islands for years but never took the step of marriage or baptism. They were found, we believe, by knocking doors after they had moved to Washington. They progressed and then decided to be married and baptized! -- Sister Wilkinson

Pictured from left to right back: Brother John McCarthy, Sister Prisilla Gregg, Sister Wilkinson, Sister Everett, Sister Farrah Gregg, her daughter Amelia, Michael Gregg. Front row: Trenton, and Landon Smith.

June 11, 2017 Landon was baptized! He was part of a less-active part member family! Pictured from left to right back: Brother John McCarthy, Sister Prisilla Gregg, Sister Wilkinson, Sister Everett, Sister Farrah Gregg, her daughter Amelia, Michael Gregg. Front row: Trenton, and Landon Smith.

-- Sister Wilkinson