New goals and promised blessings--Ray and Anna

Hey Family!

This week has been great! Pretty busy like usual but so much fun. Real quick before i get into the letter, Thank you so much for the package and packet. I LOVE IT!! Beside the point of making me a little trunky but that was only temporary i swear! Thank you Samantha for the package and amazing kids that you have. Thomas and Sophie, I love you and keep being awesome.

To start the week off we were getting prepared for trainer trainee meeting with all the new missionaries and their trainers. Along with that meeting we also were able to have what we call a Doctrine of Christ training. Mainly the 5 basic principles of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the end and how they relate to our missionary purpose and life. It was awesome to be able to spend some time with them. There is a power about new missionaries. The meetings ended up going great but there was a minor set back. Because of the lack of shut eye the previous night i was a little forgetful. As we arrived at the Quincy church building i realized i had left my suit coat back home an hour and a half away. So we were in trouble. Luckily Elder Budica, a great elder serving in the area was of adequate size. So we called in reinforcements and it worked. So an hour later I'm conducting this meeting in a suit that is maybe a size or two too small. haha it was pretty embarrassing but luckily i was able to pull it off. It really just motivated me to start working out more so it worked out. haha 

For the remainder of the week we spent time preparing and planning for MLC. This MLC (Mission Leadership Council) was a little different than usual. Because we are so new and our new Presidnet, President Lewis, is new and inspired we set new standards and decided what this mission wanted to become. Listing strengths and weaknesses, desires and actions, etc. It was a great opportunity to allow all of the mission leadership to have a part in building this mission from the ground up. Afterward we were able to hear from a few of them and we heard nothing but great things. The incredible thing that really came from this past MLC was the new goals for the mission. We set goals that would stretch each companionship to baptize at least 1 person per month. We all accepted and sustained this goal with a promise that if we are committed, miracles will come. The next morning something crazy happened. Elder Smith and I knew that we had no one on date for this month and so we were a little worried but determined. So we get a text that this guy named Ray was meeting with the YSA elders at this time and to show up for a hand off lesson. We show up and as the lesson starts he asks us what time his baptism will be on the 29th. He wants to invite a friend and he needs to let him know when to be there. Elder Smith and I are just smiling ear to ear and dumbfounded. Ray fell into our laps and just wants to be baptized. The lesson ended up going great and then later that week he attended church with a white shirt and a tie. The Lord definitely provides if we are sincere and are determined to act.  
(From the Washington Yakima Mission blog) Today was an Historic Day in the Yakima Mission.  We held our first Mission Leadership Council (MLC).   We’ve been looking forward to and preparing for this meeting since our arrival.  Our missionary leaders from all over the mission traveled here this morning (some coming from more than 2 hours away).  We met from 10:00 until 5:30 this evening, discussing our Yakima Mission Vision and Identity, hearing reports from each area, and setting goals for the coming month.  We talked about our Standards of Excellence, Mission Policies and Practices, and then President Lewis, the Assistants and I taught.
Our Yakima Mission is divided into 9 Zones, or areas.  Each Zone has a Zone Leader companionship who leads the missionaries in their area.  We also have 3 Sister Training Leader companionships (STLs).  These Sisters work with all of the Sister missionaries in their areas, training, helping, teaching and cheering them on.  These missionaries are the leadership of our Yakima Mission.  It was thrilling to be with them, to hear their voices, their excitement about the work, and their vision for our new mission.
The spirit of camaraderie and love in the room was amazing.  These are good, kind, obedient and  consecrated missionaries.  They are here for the right reasons and they love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are happy and grateful to share what they know.  Several times today I felt moved to tears as I listened to them share their feelings and commitment to serve and bless others.  It really was a remarkable day.

Anna Dankin was another woman that has great faith. We met her for the first time and it was great. Incredibly enough she also just wants to be baptized. Right when we got there she told all  to HOLD UP! My missionaries are here! For the next 30 mins we listened to her tell us her story and why she wanted to be baptized. She said, " I've been reading the Book of Mormon for 4 to 5 years, I know it's true and that by living the commandments god has placed before us I can truly be happy and thats what i desire". We weren't sure if she knew how true her words were and as we testified of those same truths you could feel the spirit so strongly. It is always amazing to see someone desire to change and finding that through Christ it is made easier. To top off the week both, Ray and Anna made it to church!

The week has been great and we are excited for another. The weeks just fly by! Uh oh....

Love, 

E. Archibald

Transfer weeks are CRAZY

Hey Mom!

Sorry this week is transfer week and it has been completely crazy! Its so exciting though! We have been running and running. Just to give a you a little idea of how everything goes on transfer week it starts monday evening. We have all the departing missionaries arrive at the mission home around 4 and from 4 on until that night they are interviewed by President Lewis and play games like badmitten and boccee ball. It was alot of fun! Alot of the missionaries going home were good friends of mine even though we only knew one another for about a transfer. Also, my trainer Elder Doyle went home and was here in this mission. It was awesome to see him off when he got to see me come in to the mission. As the night wrapped up we drove a missionary to the Tri-Cities down close to pasco around 10. It was alot of fun! The following morning the departing missionaries packed up their luggage into the trailer and we were off back to the tri-cities to help them fly out. It's always an interesting experience taking missionaries to the airport especially when time is just ticking down! Luckily while we were there dropping off the missionaries we were able to see some old time friends Elder Stringham and Elder Burton. They were there as well dropping off their departing missionaries. It was great to see the both of them and see what has happened in the Kennewick Mission.

Following the airport we made our way back to Yakima and met all the new missionaries that had flown in earlier that morning into the Yakima Airport. This transfer was a little extra hectic because of the transition into the new airport. Everything has been going smoothly so far so that's great! So for the next couple days we have had trainer trainee meeting, a transfer meeting, new missionary orientation, and transfers. It's been so much fun!

A fun little fact about our driving for the month. We have driven 160 hours total for the month. haha it's pretty crazy. This upcoming week has alot to offer as we prepare. We are excited to be working with a lot of the new missionaries. It's refreshing to feel of their spirits and desire to do missionary work. Fresh feet is always a plus to have around!

Letter is short.. Sorry! I will write more on P-day. 

Love ,

E. Archibald


This picture was taken on pioneer day. The yakima 3rd ward put on a BBQ and we were able to attend and listen to a little enactment of an old trapper Jim Bridger. It was alot of fun. These two girls sitting infront of us were so bright and such fun kids.

Sue Lowe's letter to Jill Stirland

My mom's friend, Jill Stirland, wrote to me on mymission and this was a letter from Sue Lowe who the we lived with for a time until her husband passed away and we were moved to the bishop's house.

Theresa and amazing work

Dad,

Things have been going great! The Lord has definitely blessed me in the callings that i have been assigned to. It's been an incredible journey that seemed to only last a few months if that. I'm on my final stretch, from what people tell us. Elder Smith and I have been out the same amount of time and so it is cool to work together with another decently old missionary. Things are going really good.

Family reunions are always fun. I wasn't actually able to see the video. We aren't able to go onto Facebook anymore haha. which is probably a good thing. I can't wait to see it! 

Still doing the family reunions? That is the best! I don't know if you are still having to take the initiative but keep it up. Those little get together s are so much fun. Well keep up the good work in being super man! You work miracles dad I love ya!

This week has been pretty amazing. We were able to go out and proselyte every night in our own area and also on exchanges in areas around Yakima. We actually were able to serve in Moses Lake. Sadly we didn't meet anyone that knew grandpa Archibald but one day there will be. What was his profession? I may have forgot or never knew in the first place. but the exchange with the Zone Leaders was great. They had interviews with the president for a few hours and so we weren't able to start until about 7 o'clock. So right away we jetted off to the su casa mi casa ( a little Mexican restaurant that makes amazing horchata). We were starting our night off right with some quick Mexican food. It wasn't so quick. Surprisingly enough we had people approach us as they walked up to the restaurant and struck up some conversation. During dinner we were able to teach 2 people and help to to increase their faith in Christ and also to understand really where we come from. The reason people persecute or disagree is because they don't understand the full picture.

Many of the exchanges we went on this week were great just as the last one described. Like mentioned previously we were able to work in our area and find some success. We were able to go and see a lady named Theresa for the first time and it went great. Right when we knocked on the door she opened it and let us in she seemed really excited to see us. Even though her kids didn't show themselves the whole time we were there they were cute. They were on lookout until we got there. At the conclusion of the lesson Theresa and her sister Maria committed to be baptized on Aug 15th. It truly is a miracle. Elder Smith and I haven't had much time to work in our area at all and setting the example for the mission is difficult when we are busy with administrative work. It goes to show if you sacrifice the things that you love for something the lord has asked you to do. The blessings will follow as you press forward with faith. I know that is true.

I had some questions about your mission. 

What was it like? Who was your favorite companion? Were you a district or zone leader? Ever run over a cat with you bike? What is one pivotal moment that changed your mission as you served?

Thanks for everything! 

Love,

E. Archibald

Sister Lewis--the Right Hand Men

 This was an email I received from Sister Ann Lewis, wife of the Mission President.




(It appears that Elder Archibald and Elder Smith don't go hungry.)

 

Assistants to the President–

Elders Smith & Archibald

These Elders have become our right hand men.  Every Mission President has 2 Assistants who, in addition to keeping up with the work in their area, help with the day-to-day logistics of running a mission.  District Leaders report to Zone Leaders, who report to the Assistants, who report to the Mission President.  They help with schedules and meetings and transfers and everything in between.
Elder Smith is from southern California and Elder Archibald is from Wyoming.  We already feel like we’ve known them for months–we went to bed last night marveling that our best friends are two young men we met just a week ago!  This is so fun.  I feel like my family has enlarged one hundred fold in the last week or so.  They call me the “Mission Mom.”  It feels like it.  John and I love these boys and all the others who surround us here.  Thanks to you who are parents, who have sent us your very best.  We will love them and will take good care of them.

Admin work, Naches Street, Roxanne, little miracles

Hey Mom!

Seems like there are always things that keep you and the family busy down there! It is the same up here believe it or not. It's been pretty crazy as we are finalizing everything and then working into transfers again. But everything was even better when I was able to get a box with some goods in it from you and also Travis and the fam. It has been so long since I've seen all of you! its crazy! And let everyone know I'm sorry that me writing back is so inconsistant and brief at times. Mondays are probably the busiest days of our week. Anyways, the pants did fit and fit well. I am actually wearing them as I type. VERY NICE! Very thoughtful present with the dog treats. That will come in handy.

Right now we are serving in the Yakima 3rd ward. We are so excited to start working in the area more as the administrative work dies down a little. the funny thing is is that we have a very diverse area in terms of people and life styles. My favorite street right now is probably Naches street. It has alot of interesting people down there but there are the humble ones that we are really looking for. We seem to always find the most passionate and loving people down in those areas and it is really amazing to hear their stories of faith. We talked with this black lady this last week, sorry i can't remember her name. She was so passionate about her belief in Jesus christ and how her trials and struggles that she faced were the one thing that really brought her to Christ. This whole time and she was sharing her "story" you could see she was very passionate about it. I love It! I just love those kind of people. That is the way JJ and LaVaughnda were back in vancouver and it continues to be true. The african americans win my vote on the most passionate and heartfelt people. I love talking with them!

About two days ago Elder Smith and I went and contacted a referral we received from some other missionaries for a lady named Roxanne. When we arrive we hear some voices from the other side of the door and they are speaking spanish. Luckily Elder Smith is a spanish missionary. But sure enough after we conversed with her for some time she spoke really good english. After making it into her house we got to know her and her 8 children, 6 of which were there. She is a mother of 8 and is looking for a church but hasn't really found one. We began to share our message and also talk about what we do. She loaded us with question after question and as we answered her interest began to rise. As we closed the meeting, because we had to go, we testified of the truths that we had taught and the spirit filled the room. We soon closed with a prayer and she asked us when we were coming back. 

Little miracles like that really happen all the time. In our eyes such a small group of words makes our whole time walking in the sun and knocking doors worth every minute. To see someone come to grasp a little of what we share and ask for more is incredible. I enjoy every minute that i spend out here serving the Lord. He has our best interest and is always looking for the next thing that will move us along in the life we live. I know that by the small miracles that occur within our lives we will come to recognize the power and love of god for his children here on earth. Such a large and magnificent truth can be wrought by a simple action. "Witness." Alma 37:6 ".... by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.."

I love you all! Have a great Week!

E. Archibald

Happy Birthday Matthew!!!!!