Elder Jaron Hoani King: Flooding the Earth...or just Oakdale

Elder Dea and I joke every single day about all the crazy things that happen in Oakdale. We always say, "now just imagine if we didn't have the best ward in the world." Our ward is chalked full of the best people I know. This last week I went on an exchange with Elder Moss, and I brought him to our area. We had so much fun teaching together again! Then we went on an exchange where I was with Elder Padilla in our area again. Elder Padilla is so great and always looking to improve. If you meet him you would wonder what in the world he could even improve! I love that missionary. To even explain a portion of what happened yesterday I have to mention that Brother Johnson called us during the week and asked if we could teach the fourteen and fifteen year-old class for him because he was going to have to finish some things up at a property he owns. Elder Dea's favorite thing is working with the youth, so we gladly accepted. We had ward conference yesterday, which meant all the stake leaders came. Our ward council was incredible and President Seibert (a member of the stake presidency) taught us that approximately 80-90% of all lightning strikes that occur annually happen to men. One contributing factor is that men tend to be out more, but they also don't come in as quickly. He taught about how it really is a wonderful thing that within the auxiliaries of the Lord's Church we have both men and women counseling together. I was reminded of all the wonderful sisters that have shaped my life. Sister Wagner from the stake also taught about how we need to be counseling together in order to use the council most effectively. Why am I telling you all this? It was super good, but you probably just had to be there. Bishop Olsen (seriously the best person in the world) also gave the most touching talk during sacrament. So... Elder Dea and I were at the church and our meeting doesn't end until 4:00 right? Well the 1st ward had a baptism at 4:30, so we decided to go and fill the font half-way while we taught, and then go fill it with hot water later just so 3rd hour can use the font room for the young men and young women... well we turn it on because we were told it took an hour to fill it. You see where this is going don't you? Someone (years ago) covered the overflow because it was too low for 1 baptism, but Brother Astle calls us during our lesson and I answered it for once, long story short, we flooded the font room, into the hallways. While we are cleaning up all the water, we get a call from 1st that their baptism canceled. I know there is opposition in all things. Elder Dea and I are so grateful for all the people around us! We couldn't do any of this without them. This Church is true! Especially when these 18 year-olds are trusted to do things as simple as fill the font. Nicolette was baptized yesterday. I love ya. Thanks so much for all your prayers! Love, Elder King

Elder Jaron Hoani King: Elder Brent h Nielsen

Elder Jaron Hoani King: MondayOnMondaywe had truly the world's greatest meeting! Elder Brent H. Nielsen and his wife visited our mission, and he and his wife are so incredible! They talked with us about how for the first time missionaries are being sent all over the world to seek out the less active members of their wards. D&C 88:72-3 is where Sister Nielsen saw the original vision where the Lord is hastening his work, and she taught us about how we are being raised up to help our wards reach out to the sheep inside the fold. Anyway, I really hope that all made sense. Elder Dea and I were teaching yesterday when a phrase jumped out for the first time: 1 Nephi 17:2 "journeyings without murmurings." My prayer is that this motto is the motto behind our lives. The Church is true! Elder Dea is on cloud nine because yesterday we got to play dodge-ball at mutual with one of our investigators, then we got to drive Sonora's truck! Our investigators Dustie and James are doing so great. Dustie's sister Nikki came to visit and she became a new investigator. Funny how people become new investigators just by visiting family huh? Our apartment is the best! The A/C is broken so it gets super super cold every night! Love ya!

Elder Jaron Hoani King-General Conference

 This last week came and went way too fast. We felt prompted to go see James and Dustie for the Saturday morning session, so we watched the first session with them. James said he has been praying for the last six weeks about the call we got late Sunday night concerning transfers. Both Elder Dea and I are staying, and James said he is taking that as his sign that God does care about him. As I have pondered that way of thinking I am reminded that God is in the details. The more we give our lives to Him, the more we can see Him in our lives. On Friday we got to go see Meet the Mormons via President Clark streaming it to the Turlock stake center. Please go see it. If it is even a possibility, make the sacrifice and see it opening weekend. It is such a cool movie about six very different members of the Church. Elder Dea was "feeling Applebee's" so we got the zone together and went to the Applebee's in Turlock... being out here, no one realized that it was Game 1 of the NLDS, so the Giants and Nats were playing and it was packed. We had to be at the stake center at 1:30and we ended up leaving the restaurant at the time! But everything worked out and we got to watch the awesome documentary. Elder Dea and I have a car which is super nice since we live just a little outside our area. We visit the trailer park on Orangeblossom about every other day, and that is where James and Dustie live. Saturday night, after Priesthood we got to go help a family move, and the Lee family was at it again. They are so amazing, and their daughter is going to the Baltic States mission (President Harding's mission)! Sister Lee was the sister I had mentioned was instrumental in Steven's baptism, and over conference weekend she and her kids went to help this family who needed to move. Monday we are receiving a training from Brent Nielsen of the Seventy! I don't think I'll be writing then, but we should write Tuesday. Conference was super awesome! Love ya!