May 16, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

In Zone Conference, I really enjoyed the roleplay where we were bold
with investigators about keeping commitments. Elder Low and I had the
opportunity that night to apply what we had learned as we were direct
with Bill, a less active member, about coming to church. He initially
has decided he wasn't going to stake conference because he didn't like
the previous stake conference he attended. As we related the teaching
to his level and helped him understand the importance keeping a
commitment we make he had a change of heart and agreed he will come.

Saturday, we had exchanges with our zone leaders. I really enjoyed
going out to work with Elder Petersen. I learned a lot about street
contacting and how to be more real with people. Elder Petersen is a
great example of a diligent leader. I really admire his sense of
urgency he has in the work.

We were able to have a lesson with Jonathan Blake. The topics we
covered were really similar to what we covered the first time, but the
outcome was so much better this time. We had the first lesson on his
porch and second lesson we had in a member's home. It was amazing to
see the contrast between the two. Jon really seemed to benefit from
having another perspective than the missionaries. This has helped
build my testimony of the importance of having members at as many
lessons as possible.

Another change with the first lesson and the second lesson is that Jon
kept the commitment to read in the Book of Mormon. I could see a
difference in his attitude from the first lesson to the second. His
heart had definitely been softened from only believing the bible, to
seeing that there is truth in the Book of Mormon.

Stake Conference had some really amazing talks. I think my favorite
was the genealogy talk. I had never thought to pray before I do family
history work, but it makes sense. Sister Daines also made a comment
that really stuck out to me and I have been trying to apply more. She
said "When we stop pleading for our own will and start pleading for
the Father's will, that is when miracles happen." That talk tied in
really well to Elder Corbidge's talk which mentioned not falling into
the trap of living a church-centered life. We need to be
Christ-centered, which involves turning outward. President Daines
talked about working with members. The members pray for the
missionaries and the missionaries pray for the members. But it really
should be a combined effort and that we should be praying together,
not just praying for the other group.

Thank you for the package. The muffin loaf is delicious as always, thank you.

Sorry the email is a bit later in the day this week, we just got back
from the Columbus Zoo for our district activity (pictures coming
soon). Have a great week everyone!

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

May 2, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

Brother Weidner in the ward asked us to help his daughter and
son-in-law move. They are moving from right near our apartment to the
Powell sister's area. The daughter wasn't there when we showed up, but
we were able to help the son-in-law, Steve. He is a really cool
person. He is an entrepreneur and has worked with a lot of the same
kinds of organizations I worked with back home. He works with software
and medical companies to set up kiosks for places like Walgreens or
CVS, although they do a lot more than take your blood pressure. He was
working on having on call doctors that would be able to talk to you
from a tv screen. I just imagined a tech support room full of cubicles
with doctors sitting there taking calls from patients. There is a lot
of interesting technology coming out these days.

Saturday, we had a couple service activities planned that fell
through. We were already low on miles since that was the last day of
the month, so we had to plan a lot of tracting. In the evening, we
spent 3 hours in the rain on the same road. There were a lot of people
that were nice and talked with us. Usually people just slam the door
and we move on, but there were quite a few that we were able to have
some good conversations with. One lady had just seen the Book of
Mormon Musical a couple days before and was really excited to actually
talk to some "real elders". That was an interesting conversation, I
think that play is doing some good for the church's publicity, but it
really misinforms people on what our church really believes.

Sunday evening we had our District Fireside. The theme was "Finding
New Life in Christ".  About sixty people showed up. Most were members
from the three wards, but there were a few investigators and friends
that came with those members. Everything came together really well.
All of the musical numbers, speakers, and video presentations worked
together so perfectly and it was a really spiritual meeting.

Since this week is transfers, Elder Low and I knew we would be too
busy to teach the Carson's. So, during ward coordination, we asked the
sisters during to teach a lesson to them this week. At the fireside, I
uses the Carson's mentioned that they like sisters teaching more
because they relate to Alyssa better. So I guess our main progressing
investigator may be taught by the sisters now which is kind of sad. I
am not sure if the sisters are allowed to come into our area to teach.
The sisters will be asking President Daines to see if that would even
be allowed. The sisters feel really bad about the situation and didn't
want this to happen, but the Carson's have already said something.

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

April 25th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

I really enjoyed the service project at OSU planting trees. As half
the mission, we planted over 400 trees on campus. It was a great
learning experience and even helped me learn some skills that helped a
few days later. Elder Low and I had the opportunity to plant some more
trees while we worked alongside a part member family. We were able to
help the Goodson's plant another 25 trees.

In District Meeting I enjoyed learning about how to better face
rejection. Elder Gardner, our district leader, said to be diligent,
remember covenants (including the one to come on a mission), and
things will work out. Part of continuing to find when we could get
discouraged is that we need to do the will of the Lord when the Lord
wills it. The Lord is seeing if we will be like Alma and go back to
Ammonihah even when we know we will likely face rejection. It is
interesting that we had this training when we did, because the night
before we had about an hour of tracting where every person we talked
to would barely give us the time of day and would slam the door in our
faces.

We met one of the potentials, Chad, that we found in the Area Book. He
had some stones out on his driveway and we offered to come back and
teach him while we helped him build his patio. He is a really nice
individual that left his previous church recently and is really
excited to learn everything about our church. We were able to have a
great conversation with him about how the gospel blesses families and
the message really connected with him. He wants us to teach his family
too, so I am really looking forward to that.

In ward council this week, our ward mission leader was able to get
some input for the Focus 15 family list. He has been trying to get the
quorums and auxiliaries invested in thinking of individuals and
families that need some support and fellowship. This week we were
finally able to see some progress and I was really impressed with how
well the council was working together to find ways to engage the
people we were discussing. Everyone was participating a lot more once
we moved from calendar items and we're taking about actual people. I
hope to see this list fill out more and I am excited to see what comes
from all the action items that were made.

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

April 18th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

I have learned some ways to work with Elder Low better this week. In
companionship inventory we talked through some things, but there is
still more contention than I would like in our companionship. He said
being junior companion is taking some adjusting to after being senior
companion for so long. Also, he doesn't like when people tell him what
to do. I am trying not to be bossy or be overbearing, and he says I am
not being like that. He just shuts down when he is told to do
something and he will basically do the opposite. Things aren't
perfect, but we are making progress.

In District Meeting, we learned about how to better work with members.
I enjoyed the roleplay which involved sharing an experience from our
mission then inviting the members to fast and pray for missionary
opportunities and the work in the area. We also learned how to better
teach those with a non-Christian background. I learned that it is
really important to go slow and check for understanding throughout the
lesson. Really, that principle could apply to a lot of teaching
situations.

Saturday, we were able to attend a baptism for Michael, the Lewis
Center Sister's investigator. We invited the Carson family and they
enjoyed being to a baptism again. They haven't attended a baptism
since their own. I think this is a good reminder for them that will
help them as they move closer to their daughter's (Alyssa) baptism. We
wanted to extend a baptismal date to Alyssa, but since she will be
baptized by her dad we wanted to get the bishop's input first. Brother
Carson met with the bishop Sunday to discuss when he will be able to
baptize Alyssa and he told us it probably won't be for a couple
months. So there is a possibility that I am transferred before the
baptism, but oh well.

Have a great week, everyone!

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

April 11th, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

District Meeting was great this past week. I am impressed with the
quality of the teaching Elder Gardner gave for this being his first
district meeting. Elder Gardner is a phenomenal district leader and he
is leading by example to help us develop District Charity. We are put
in our areas and districts for a reason. We are not in our areas just
to help investigators, our testimonies can also strengthen those in
our district.

We did weekly planning at the mission home this week because there was
an elder that went to he ER in the middle of the night and needed a
day to recover. Being the closest elders, we got to be the ones to
"babysit" him. Being able to do weekly planning at the mission home
this week was really helpful though. The previous weeks it has been
difficult to keep Elder Low's focus on planning. I think there were
less distractions for him at the mission home and we were able to make
some really solid plans for this week. I get frustrated when I seem to
be the only one driving us to stay focused.

This has been the main reason I have been trying to work on being more
patient as I listened to conference. Sometimes I feel like I am the
only one motivated to work. I know that we all have our weaknesses and
it is unfair to expect perfection of others, but at times I feel like
I am trying to walk a mile to change myself and all I need is Elder
Low to move a foot. Part of this may come because I feel like I am bad
at voicing my concerns. I don't want to cause contention and I know
that Elder Low gets rather defensive when I ask him to change. So
usually I don't say anything and I let my companions get under my skin
to the point where I let the anger bubble up inside. I know it isn't
Christlike to hold onto anger and I am working to focus on "looking
for the good" as President Utchdorf said in priesthood session. I try
to ignore the problem if it is a personality difference, but even that
can be really difficult at times.

Despite disagreements, I have seen many tender mercies of the Lord
this week. These are things that people would normally call
coincidences, but I know I can see the hand of the Lord in my life.
Elder Low and I were visiting some potentials we didn't know in our
areabook and we stopped by Grant's house, someone that Elder Low had
taught over a year ago when he was on exchanges. His sister answered
and Elder Low was able to catch up with her. Grant stopped meeting
with missionaries before because his work schedule was hectic. Grant's
sister informed us that just last week Grant switched careers entirely
and his schedule has completely changed. We hope to set up a lesson
with him this week.

We also talked to Susan, another investigator that missionaries were
unable to contact after a return appointment fell through. When we
talked with her she was still interested and wondered why missionaries
hadn't followed up after the last meeting was cancelled. We have a
lesson with her scheduled for tomorrow and I am excited to see how
interested she is in our message.

Another tender mercy that happened this week is that we got a call
from Sister Carson letting us know that her husband wants to start
being active in the church again. He wants to take the missionary
lessons and wants to work towards baptizing their nine year old
daughter, Alyssa. This took us completely by surprise. Brother Carson
has never shown any sign of interest whenever we stop by. I think
Sister Carson starting to come back to church and their daughter,
Andrea, bringing Oscar (her boyfriend, another investigator) to church
has softened his heart. Most of the Carson family came to church this
week. It has been nearly a year since Brother Carson attended. The
ward did a good job welcoming him. Fast and testimony meeting was also
a great week for him to decide to come back. I am excited to see their
family grow closer together as they all embrace the gospel.

President Daines called our district and another district to meet at
the mission home to talk about contention in the zone at the last zone
training meeting. The discussion has helped me to see how I can better
help our companionship. President Daines put things in perspective by
saying that most goals going forward are interdependent. We need other
people to be able to accomplish more. Growing up, most goals people
have revolve around themselves and not accomplishing that goal they
only have themselves to blame. With interdependent goals, it is a team
effort and no one is to blame when a goal is not met. I need to learn
how to better work with others. This requires trusting in others and
also not doubting their abilities to do great things.

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

April 4th, 2016

Dear Family,

In Zone Training Meeting last week, I really enjoyed the roleplay
where we extend baptism, then help discover/resolve the investigator's
concern. During the roleplays, we weren't able to find either concern,
but through listening intently we were able to help resolve the
concern. When listening to the spirit in a lesson, we can have a
greater impact that we may realize. The spirit can work through us to
help others. Something I wanted to work on going into the training was
how to have more faith in inspired goals. I learned to not give up if
the names behind the goal drop off. The goal that was set is still
inspired, and so we should keep working diligently.

Through each of the sessions of General Conference this past weekend,
I have been reflecting on the points that are being repeated by the
apostles. The thing that stood out the most was that D&C 121 was
quoted in almost every session. There was also a big emphasis on love
for others, which is demonstrated through service, forgiveness, and
rescuing the lost sheep.

The past couple of days, I have been working to apply what I am
learning from conference. The things I have been working on the most
are developing patience with others and listening to the spirit. There
were many talks that felt like they were direct instruction for me.
Watching conference on my mission has been so much more fruitful
because of preparing beforehand with questions to which I am earnestly
seeking answers. I know that the Lord reaches out to us as we prepare
and are listening. Applying what I learn, right after learning it has
also helped me to change faster and gain an instant testimony of the
words of the apostles and prophet.

Have a great week and look for opportunities to share what you learned
at conference with those around you.

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

March 28th, 2016

Dear Family,

Elder Marvin is home now and Elder Low is my new companion. He is from
San Diego, California. He has four siblings. He is a really hard
worker and has been great to work with so far.

I am grateful for the opportunity to stretch myself as I take over
this area. This week has been stressful and has taken some adjusting
to make everything work. Last transfer there were three of us to get
the work done and I didn't realize how much having a third person
helps with the transfer week tasks. Elder Low is doing a great job
learning the various tasks. He isn't very confident in his abilities
since he doesn't have much prior experience, but I haven't noticed him
stumble over any task he has been given. I am optimistic that in
working with Elder Low, we will be able to make a positive change in
this area. Elder Low has a strong drive and is working hard to be the
best missionary he can be.

This Sunday has been one of the best Sunday's in the mission for me.
We were one short of our goal of investigators at church for the month
and the one that came two weeks ago, Oscar, had already said he
wouldn't be able to come. Saturday night we get a text from the family
he came with that he actually is coming and I was so excited. I had
been praying the last few days for us to be able to get ahold of him
and that any obstacles preventing him from coming would go away. I had
felt bad that I haven't been able to be out inviting a lot of people
to church for the past few days, because transfers had been keeping
our days packed, but the Lord provided a way and did all the work to
make Oscar be able to come to church again.

Elder Low and I were able to get ahold of a less active member, Sam,
that I have been wanting to get ahold of for weeks now. He has
expressed to us in the past that he was working on getting his papers
submitted. Elder Marvin had started texting him each morning with an
inspirational text to motivate him to work on his papers, but Sam
eventually stopped replying to us and stopped coming to church. I was
starting to worry so we would stop by Sunday mornings to invite and
encourage him to come to church. This was the third Sunday in a row of
stopping by, and after a lot of prayer, this was the time that he
answered. He still wants to work on getting his mission papers
submitted, so we are committing him to complete smaller steps of his
papers so that he will eventually be able to serve. I have gained an
even greater testimony of prayer this week as it has kept me going. I
know that this is the Lord's work and nothing happens without His
help. President Daine's advise to pray as if success depends on the
Lord, and work as if success depends on you has stuck with me. In
working closer to President Daines I have picked up many life lessons
and strengths to my testimony as a result of his wonderful example.

The Columbus Ohio East Stake had an Easter fireside yesterday that I
got to help with the tech work for the audio equipment. I am so
grateful that the videos worked and we didn't have any technical
difficulties come up at all. Other than the five minutes leading up to
the program starting where we were running around like chickens with
our heads chopped off to get the projector working, everything ran
really smoothly. That was probably the most stressful part of this
week. Now that I have participated in running the audio for a musical
fireside, I have a better idea of what preparations we will need to
make beforehand so that we aren't rushing to get everything set up at
the last second.

President Daine's guidance for us as tech elders to be more
informative rather than instructive has been really helpful in how I
interact with other missionaries. We are to inform, but we are not to
tell anyone to do anything or report anything directly to us. Whether
it is tech support calls or mission-wide emails, knowing my position
has helped me better know when I can help and when I can better direct
others to the proper source of authority. Usually a district leader or
office couple would be better with dealing with those kind of
situations anyway. I imagine this has parallels to how church
authority works in other church callings at the stake and ward level
and I like how on the mission I am able to learn more about how all
these processes work.

--
Elder Aaron King
Ohio Columbus Mission

Here is a companionship photo of Elder Low and I. Sorry it isn't a

full picture of us, I realized today that we haven't taken any photos
together and all photos I have of him don't have his face in the
frame.

We had dinner and FHE with the Knight family last Monday. They have a

son on a mission currently.

Elder Long, the vehicle coordinator, had the office watch some van

training videos for the fifteen passenger van. The assistants weren't
too thrilled to be there for two and a half hours.