Email Dated: 29 August 2011 - Part 2

Elder Johnson and Elder Record in Whitehorse, YT

NOTE: I asked Elder Record for more details about his first days in the mission home and his transfer to Whitehorse. His response follows:

We drove from the airport to the mission office [15 Aug 2011]. We met the people at the mission office. Very nice people. Then we left for the temple and took pictures. We met some of the elders at the church behind the person taking the picture of the temple. It was their p-day and they were going to play basketball.

Then we drove to the mission home, unpacked the luggage from the van, and got some orientation. We talked for a while too. Love President Beesley, coolest guy ever. We went out that evening for our "Greenie" tract. I went with an Elder named Elder Collins who is Samoan and was actually trained by my trainer Elder Johnson. So we're brothers. Elder Johnson even helped Elder Collins to learn English. Elder Collins knew some English, but Elder Johnson really helped him become able to speak it effectively. Anyway we went to teach a less active youth in the Samoan ward. Then I taught with another new missionary from my district back at the MTC, Elder Kearns, the first lesson at a family home evening with another Samoan family. They gave us food to take with us. It's their culture they just feed you. After that we went home and went to bed after dinner and other orientations. We were also told where we would be going. Elder Blackhurst (MTC companion) went to Fairbanks.

Alaskan glacier with the Chugach Mountain range to the right

In the morning [16 Aug 2011] I was interviewed by President Beesley and Sister Beesley, they did that to everyone. I was told who my trainer would be, "officially". Later we went to Eagle River to the chapel there to transfer. We all met our trainers got ready to go and had a short devotional/farewell meeting. After that Elder Johnson and I, since we had to leave in the morning unlike the others who left that day because we had further to travel, went tracting the rest of the day with some other elders who were the zone leaders for that area. We stayed at their house that night. I had taught the plan of salvation with Elder Ankney to a less active member.

In the morning we left at 5am [17 Aug 2011] for our 18 hour bus ride which left at 6am. We arrived in Whitehorse at midnight and got to bed at 1:30am. The other days were kind of crazy with tracting, planning, etc. We finally got settled into our new apt about 2 days later because it was being finished. We got our truck and about the 4th day out were finally independent, on our own, and more capable of doing the work. That's about it.

Love, Elder Record

Email Dated: 29 Aug 2011

Hi everyone,

Elder Johnson and Elder Record in Whitehorse, YT

Thank you all for the prayers. I really have felt their strength. I love the work here. Elder Johnson, my companion, says we are having unprecedented success here. We've been tracting a lot. It's not as nerve racking anymore as it used to be. It's becoming so easy to just talk about the gospel and how we know it can bless them because it's true. I'm working on doing my best to be completely sincere and genuine. I want to really love the people. The only problem with that is sometimes people brush you off and don't want you there like we're some kind of disease. It breaks my heart. I love them and want them to be happy, but they won't listen. They are denying themselves the peace that comes alone from Christ. It's almost as if I have to come to the door with an iron, I don't care about you, attitude, but loving them at the same time. It's sad though because I do love them. I hope they will eventually accept the gospel.

Elder Johnson and I are becoming Family History Consultants. We are going to start opening the Family History Center again, and we'll start holding classes to get some exposure. We not only want to help them with Family History, but we want to show them that we aren't that bad and scary after all =). People here love talking about family history, and apparently the branch has had some success in the past bringing people to family history classes and bringing in professionals to speak. We're hoping we will get a lot of people out to these things, and hopefully we will find the Lords elect even faster. We have noticed already that the Lord will place the elect in our paths. We just need to open our mouths and speak to them.

Elder Bowes and Elder Hartman
with the new Galaxy phone

Since I am the Junior companion I handle the phone and Elder Johnson drives. We got new phones that are really nice. It's a Samsung Galaxy. It's a touch screen and looks very professional. I want to get one when I get back =), although they will probably have something better by that time. Elder Johnson is from Chandler Arizona. He is very smart and has almost graduated as an English major. He is going into investment banking and wants to go clear to wall street. He is very organized and is good with spreadsheets, he loves Microsoft Excel. I told him that my Dad and him would really get along. He wants to learn a little programing too. Before coming out I knew that one thing that would help me more than most other things, whether for my mission or after I don't know, would be learning how to set good goals and plan effectively. I'm learning a lot and have determined that I will use a planner from now on for the rest of my life. =) They are so nice. Goals when not written down are just a wish list. Elder Johnson says I'll definitely be ready to train after these 12 weeks, or 2 transfers. A transfer is 6 weeks. Elder Johnson had been in Wasilla, Alaska for 10 and a half months. He was a very effective missionary, and I guess they just really needed him there. Whitehorse is only his second area he's been in. In his 10 and a half months he's trained several missionaries already. He's 24 too, so he's a little more mature than most missionaries which is nice. =) I'm sending some pictures in the mail.

Happy Birthday Mom! I didn't think about the fact that I wouldn't have a chance to say it on your birthday last Monday when I was e-mailing. I've sent you a card in the mail. I hope it is there soon. I love you.

I was just reading towards the end of Mosiah about the story of Alma and the peoples journey back to Zarahemla from the land of Nephi. It really got me thinking about how merciful the savior is. He is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness, and he will deliver us if we are faithful. Those scriptures showed me that sometimes the lord will chasten his people and test their faith. He will prove to them that he is the way. Like it says in my favorite scripture D&C 100:15-16, all our hardships and trials will work to our good if we are faithful, and to the sanctification of the church. He will raise up a pure people that will serve him in righteousness, Zion. He knows better than me, and if I am faithful, he will purify my heart because he is mighty to save. I know that the Lord can change our hearts and desires. He can bless us with comfort and encouragement. He loves us and wants us to be happy. Christ's atonement was the ultimate expression of love to me, and I will do whatever he asks me to do. What wouldn't I give for one who has done so much for me? It seems so small a price to be diligent, steadfast, obedient, patient, loving, to repent, to forgive. I would give my life for him, and that's a part of why I'm here. He has asked me to be here, and I know who the lord calls he qualifies. I feel inadequate, but I know that if I am humble, his grace is sufficient for me, and he will make my weaknesses become strengths.

Happy Birthday tomorrow Chris!!!! You're going to be a teacher soon. Awesome! I love you so much and really miss you bud. Keep studying your scriptures and doing your best and the Lord will prepare you for a mission. It's hard, but so worth it. You literally see yourself growing and look at it and laugh cause it's crazy awesome. You just gotta pray that you'll be able to forget yourself, go to work, and love the people. I'm excited for you bud. The Lord prepares who he calls and he has great things in store for you.

Love, Elder Record

Another Guardian Angel

The little angel standing guard.

Elder Record has another guardian angel watching over his shoulder. You can see this little angel in Google street view. Here are the steps to reveal him:

1. Click on Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada in "At A Glance" to the right.
2. Click on Elder Record's "First Area" so the bubble pops up pointing to "First Area."
3. Click "more" in the bubble and select Street View.
4. This street view is from 2009, but still works. Rotate 90 degrees to the right so you are facing East. Elder Record and his companion live in the blue trailer house on the corner. The vehicles are not theirs.
5. Now rotate 180 degrees, so you are facing due West. You should now see a blue extended cab pickup truck in front of a "Frontier" fifth wheel.
6. Look in the lower right quadrant of the frame, just in front of the back driver side tire of the pickup truck.
7. Behold! Elder Record's guardian angel. No one mess with Elder Record or Elder Johnson.
8. Now click one position to the left (the left "<" sign) or due South.
9. Turn 90 degrees to the right so you are facing North.
10. You can see a better view of Elder Record's guardian angel, standing guard.

Protecting the missionaries. :)

Enjoy!

Email Dated: 22 Aug 2011

Current Mailing Address:

159 Rainbow Road
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 5E2
Canada

I think our zone is the Juneau Zone, our district is called the Whitepass District with my companion Elder Johnson as the District Leader. There are two other Elders with us in Whitehorse, and normally you only have one set of missionaries per branch so this is very unusual. Obviously the Lord has great things in store for Whitehorse. The Elders are Elder Bowes from Roxboro, North Carolina and Elder Hartman from Sandy, Utah. Elder Johnson is from Chandler, Arizona and is 24 and very smart. He is almost done with his schooling in investment banking. He is planning on going to wall street. He is very organized and is regarded as one of, if not the, best missionary in the area. Whitehorse is our area.

It's fun, but kind of lonely here. The area is kind of dead, and we have a little branch, so it's basically me and Elder Johnson and sometimes we visit the other elders. We are not only white washing the area, but we are also opening up the area in a way because previous missionaries were kind of sent here as a kind of punishment when they were bad. President Beesley doesn't like that though and only sends missionaries he trusts out into the boonies. He sees great potential for the area. I was feeling kind of down on Saturday, but Sunday really picked me up. I love the sacrament, and it always brings me to tears with the comfort the promised spirit brings.

I met a lot of the members and even taught a practice lesson with the McCrakens (he is in the branch presidency). I taught the atonement and used Alma 7 to tie it into baptism and invited them to be baptized. We call those active member lessons and do them mainly to gain the members trust, but also for a little practice. It went over very well, and they were very impressed. I love the area. It's very pretty. I'll be sending some pictures soon. I read the words to the hymn that goes "I know that my redeemer lives, triumphant savior, son of god." The last verse hit me pretty hard. It goes, "Oh, give me thy sweet spirit still, the strength that comes alone from thee, the choice to walk the lonely road that leads to thine eternity." It was written by Gordon B. Hinkley. In his book, Standing for Something, he says that the price of leadership is loneliness. I believe it, and I've felt it lately. I still feel the loneliness, but it just comes with the smallness of the branch and not as many friends and family around. The Lord has comforted me, and even though I will feel lonely at times, I know the Lord is with me, and I will work diligently through it all. I love you and can't wait to hug you again. I think that's the biggest thing I miss is hugs. Thank you for praying for me. I'll need it for these first couple weeks till I can really lose myself in the work.

On a lighter note, I'm back to my normal diet. ☺ I basically am living off bread, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and raisin bran. I'll be sure to eat vegetables soon though. They have the best peanut butter here I have ever tasted ☺. It's sooooo good! We are basically tracting out the area too. We are going to start working with the members more, but for the most part we are tracting out the area.

I used a family history approach for Almond and Walnut streets in the Porter Creek area of Whitehorse. We had an easier time talking to people about that. I think it was definitely inspired because at one door we talked to a guy named Harvey Kearns who was doing some family history like 10 minutes before we showed up. He was very open, and we gave him a restoration DVD. He even gave us the info for an ancestor he was stuck on. We are going to help him out. I found out that Brother Hirsch in the ward is also big into family history. I guess him and I are basically the area experts on family history. I love it here.

Love, Elder Record

Email Dated: 15 Aug 2011

New missionaries arrived safely in Anchorage, Alaska
standing in front of the Anchorage Alaska Temple.
Elder Record is 4th from the left.

I'm here! I love President and Sister Beesley. Sister Beesley is the sweetest lady I have ever met. The assistants to the President are awesome. They are Elder Richmond, Elder Starkie, and Elder Calk. Elder Starkie is leaving tomorrow so Elder Calk is replacing him. The flight went great. Dinner, lunch I guess I should say, was amazing. Everyone here is so nice. I have been assigned to Whitehorse, Canada. President said most of the work is here in Anchorage, so he only sends people he trusts out into the boonies. Elder Blackhurst is going to Fairbanks. Elder Richmond said my trainer is an incredible missionary. He said he has never met a more organized missionary before. President Beesley said to us that the missionaries in Whitehorse, and the missionaries he sends to Whitehorse, are top notch missionaries. I can't wait to meet my trainer. Anyway cya later.

Love, Elder Record

NOTE: Whitehorse is in the Yukon and approximately 500 miles due East of Anchorage, Alaska. It is the capitol of Yukon with a population of about 26,500 people.

Letter Dated: 13 Aug 2011

Hello everyone, glad to hear you got the pictures I sent. Today we've been having our infield orientation. I am so excited, I can't hardly keep it in. It's been an amazing experience here in the MTC, but I can't wait to really get to work. I can't wait to learn and grow from my challenges and experiences. I can't wait to set meaningful and specific goals and then plan accordingly. I know that these experiences will teach me skills that will give me a head start in the world, but more importantly the message of the restoration and gospel of Jesus Christ have blessed me with such peace and joy it's impossible to describe. I can't wait to share that joy with others, to tell them there is hope. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel which teach us how to become like our Father in Heaven. It is never too late for any of us. His arm of mercy is extended to all who will believe on his name, and when we don't, he loves us still. God intends for us to have peace and joy in this life and in the life after.

The in-field orientation was amazing. It was a full day of training giving us the vision of missionary work out in the field. This was new training, and we were some of the first missionaries to officially get it. They also told us about a new training they've started in the field. They have new missionaries stay with their trainer for 12 weeks instead of 6. At the end of this training, we will be trained enough to become trainers ourselves. I am so excited. We have been provided with the newest and best training available to become the best missionaries the Lord has ever had. I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on how it goes. I love you all with all my heart, especially Mom and Dad.

Love, Elder Record

Phone Call from Elder Record

Delta's web site let us track his flight.

We just got a phone call from Elder Record. He is at the Salt Lake City airport, and sounds great. The most important information is his new mailing address:

Elder Jason W. Record
Alaska Anchorage Mission
3250 Strawberry Road
Anchorage, AK 99502

P.S. - Elder Record made it safe to Alaska.