Monday, September 24, 2012

May Need Some New Shoes


This morning I allowed myself the pleasure of another long run. Elder Christensen and I left our companions far behind as we inadvertently found ourselves in the back woods of a Nature Preserve. We were about a mile into it before the No Trespassing signs popped up.We spent 20 minutes trying to find our way out of it, and eventually decided to just go back the way we came instead of trying to swim across the wetlands to where we could see the public trails. We made it back to the church and found our companions there, so we quick took the car (our companions chosen mode of transport) and grabbed a quick bite whereupon I discovered that my shoes are absolutely tattered around the toes. I have torn them up fairly well, and no longer will be running in them, which is sad cause they are AWESOME shoes.

Something that we have seen a lot of the last few weeks is wild cats, and this morning was no exception. It turns out that Elder Christensen was ejected from his high school CC team for carrying a .22 pistol while running and shooting cats and jack rabbits. The coach decided that was not good for the team's image and kicked him off. Elder said that he wished he had his .22 on him this morning, because we see so many of these wild cats all over. We also talked about the fun runs from this weekend. There were two, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. The fastest times for that race are rarely under 19 minutes (only 1 or 2 under 19 each year between 2009 and 2011) and I heard that the winner this year was not even under 19. I could have won it! Oh well. I am looking at running marathons, and really enjoying the longer runs that Cowboy Christensen and I go on. We are running more often, generally every morning now, and also lifting fairly often, so I am getting in decent shape... now if I could only control how much I eat.
Speaking of eating, I had salmon on Saturday and enjoyed it. I have never really been one for salmon, so having a nice big slab of it and finding out it doesn't taste fishy was a huge bonus. It also was not flaky. So I have now found a fish that I like, which means that I can eat much more healthy food. I did also have a sausage (brat-like, but not as good), a hot dog, and a burger... so not quite healthy. We also had In-N-Out burgers that night, but we had the protein burger, which gives us lettuce instead of a bun. (I talked to some guys at In-N-Out that ran a CC invitational at Angels camp that day, and discovered that I am still probably faster than them.) I have been using a little more protein powder, but it makes it a lot better when I add it into oatmeal or my pancakes. I get protein and I get filled up with good food.
Yesterday was the Church Primary Program. Being a former primary worker, I had a great deal of enjoyment watching them sing and recite scripture and bear their testimony. I sang along silently to most of the songs. I love seeing the happy faces and hearing the giggles of the children and the parents alike. It is such a wonderful day at church. It was also a great way to ease in our new Bishopric. They basically got the day off, making it much less stressful for the first full week they have been a Bishopric. My new companion and I met with Bishop Means this past Friday. He seems very interested in the Ward Mission, and he is still fairly young and spry, so he may continue to be very involved and hands on.
It has been sad having Elder Leavitt gone, and I am also missing Elder Busselberg. Leavitt gave me his memory foam pad for me to use for the rest of my mission. He also gave me the blanket that his ex-girlfriend gave him with specific instructions regarding its future in the mission. He has already been asked by numerous mothers to marry their daughters now that he is back in the Trinity wards.
I am doing a decent job of staying on track to read the Book of Mormon twice more by the end of the year. I figure 5 chapters a day will do it. I started Mosiah this morning. I read through Enos and I still love his story. I have trouble praying for more than 5 minutes. To be able to pray all day is remarkable. He may have started in the afternoon and only prayed until evening, but that is still a few hours more than I could do it. And then he prays for his people. And then he prays for those trying to KILL his people, and LABORS DILIGENTLY to help bring them to God. His is an amazing conversion story, and he has an amazing testimony. I love Enos.
A few odds and ends, now. My new companion is from Poulson, Montana (not sure on the spelling). He is a farm boy. Nice. Fairly quiet. He ALWAYS has candy. He also has the Lord of the Rings soundtrack. I LOVE IT!!!
I saw a sticker in a window that reads "In case of fire, please save my..." and it had a list of pets and animals living within the house that the fire department so rescue. It made me laugh.
We broke the Zone record for baptisms in a month, and we still have a Saturday to go. Way to go LODI!!!
There was an escaped cow roaming the streets of Lodi Saturday night. We could not find it, despite Cowboys best efforts to do so.
Love and other affections to all!
Elder Gavin Strawn
8267 Deseret Avenue
Fair Oaks CA 95628
gavin.strawn@myldsmail.net

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Dawn of a New Era!

Nephew Samson knows which way to go.
I need to begin at the end. Monday night, September 17th, 2012, Elder Leavitt, a Zone Leader in the Lodi Zone, California Sacramento Mission, was transferred. He is going to the very area I hoped I would be going, an area called the Trinity, because it is three congregations served by one set of missionaries. The reason I wish to go there is simple: Austin Collie, Wide Receiver for the Indianapolis Colts and former standout for BYU, lives there. So does his family. I know I have mentioned it before, but I do want to serve there. Also, my companion, Elder Busselberg, will be going to Georgetown, CA. They will both be greatly missed in our apartment.
On a more positive note, I was asked to take part in a 9/11 commemoration in Lodi this past Tuesday. I was told I would be giving a prayer, but it turned out I was supposed to address those assembled individuals in the Legion Hall about my memories of 9/11, the impact it had on me and my outlook for the future... I was unprepared, but a Jewish Rabbi told me that he was very touched by my words and the sincerety I spoke with. He took Elder Busselberg and me out to lunch at Dennys. I had a delicious burger. Oh, and I made it into the paper (http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_b9fffcfa-5a08-53d4-9c5f-df7fd2912988.html).
I need to say that I enjoy wearing my Tau Kappa Epsilon shorts when I go running or workout. So many people stare at my knee and ask "what does 'tech' mean?" and I have the opportunity to talk about the fraternity. It reminds me a great deal of things I left behind, but not with a sorrowful longing for the past, but with a brightness of hope for the future.
I have been loosely informed of some of the dangerous happenings in the world as of late. Many people enjoy telling us that the world is coming to an end, that these are the end times... and I am not saying they aren't...but I really hope to have a college degree when the world ends, simply so that I know that I didn't waste three years of my life...but really, I would not consider it a waste. I enjoyed those three years so much, and have many wonderous memories of St. Norbert College. I eagerly anticipate returning to its lovely, riverside campus and completing my education with Reed and Grant, the only two people I know of who will  still be there since they graduate in 2015 (unless they work hard and leave early).
I have been working very hard lately... well, harder than before at least. I am still not to the brink, but it is stressful. A great thing about it is I am finding more information about the Gospel. There are two fabulous videos on Mormon Channel on YouTube. One is "Patterns of Light" by David A. Bednar, a wonderful series of three short videos that explain the Spirit of Christ and receiving direction from the Holy Ghost. The other is a talk by Jefferey R. Holland entitled "Staying Within the Lines". He speaks on the dangers and impacts that sexual sin have on people, but the message is more far reaching than that. He speaks with power on the battle between us, as children of God, and Satan, a real being whose mission is to destroy all hope you have for the future. Any allowance we give Satan to operate in our lives can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Also, I would like to extend an invitation to ALL of you who are LDS, as well as to all who are not: Get a copy of the Book of Mormon, ask a question you have always had about the Gospel, or the Church, or the nature of Christ, and then read at least one chapter every day and underline everything you find that answers your question. I promise you will learn so much. If you do this prayerfully, you will feel the Spirit testify to you. Also, just a fun numerical fact: if you were to read 2 chapters of the Book of Mormon, one in the morning and one at night, every day from the time you were 10 until you could no longer see those small words at age 90, you would have read the Book of Mormon 240 TIMES!!!... that's 3 times a year. And it is so easy. Just do it! It's simple, and it is so powerful.
I would like to end with a very fun story. A member in our ward, Bro. Lance, served his mission in Dublin. His departing interview with the Mission President went something like this...
Mission Pres: So, are you ready to go home?
Bro Lance: Not yet.
MP:Well I have one more challenge for you before you leave tomorrow.
BL: Okay
MP: When you arrive at your home airport, and before you see your family again, I want you to do something.
BL: Place a Book of Mormon, right?
MP: No. I want you to walk up to the most beautiful girl in the airport, and say "Hi, my name is Elder Lance. I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I have not kissed a girl in two years. Would you like to be the first?"
BL: (absolute stunned silence)
The point was not to kiss her, but to get over the hump of talking to girls. I just loved the story though.
Take care all!!
Elder Gavin Strawn
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628

Monday, September 10, 2012

The difference...

I went to church yesterday on a big rush. I had finished reading the Book of Mormon again. I had received such wonderful revelation and inspiration from it, and was so excited. It was slightly dampened through out the day by the numerous 49ers fans I go to church with. They continually updated me on the game, and eventually my Ward Mission Leader got in touch with me to inform me of the Packers loss... and yet I was ok with it. It hurts a little bit, I still love the Pack, but I think I have changed.
I am really trying to allow the scriptures to change me, to allow my service to others to change my desires. I love it out here. California is not Wisconsin. My family is hours away at the closest (love you Tommy!) and across the whole country from me (you're a scumbag Brando!!). I want to see my little nephew walking (or swimming, whichever comes first). The milk here does not taste as good to me. The cheese is not as yummy. The days are getting much shorter (a world wide thing, not a Cali thing). People have returned to college. The steak is a little tougher out here. The weather is hotter. I never see bodies of water. There are fewer trees. There are PALM trees. I haven't run on a track in 4 months. I missed all the wonderful birthday wishes that my mom tells me I received on my facebook wall, and I look forward to seeing them when I get home in time for my 25th birthday. I live with 3 other guys, and my bunk bed squeaks with most every adjustment. I gained 8 pounds this week. It has not rained more than a slight drizzle for three minutes. I can't keep updated on everything going on in the NFL. And yet I love it here so much. It is not home, and yet I am at home here.
This has been a wonderful week, and what made it very great for me is that it was very basic, very unmemorable, and yet it meant so much to me to work with and get to know and meet the people I did this week.
My love goes out to you all.
Elder Gavin Strawn
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628
gavin.strawn@myldsmail.net

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Game Time!!!


I was in a dim room. The sun was not yet up, and a sneeze began to tickle my nose. I readied, but it began to fade, and there was no bright light to stare into to spur my sneeze. Depressed, I dropped my gaze and they met my florescent Adidas, whereupon, I SNEEZED!!! It was great.
Lodi CA has been treating me well. I have been running a little, lifting a bit, and even got play football today. There were three guys from Wisconsin in attendance, and we played very well, though it was not classic, grind it out, Wisconsin football. I have dropped to about 178 pounds out here, 8 pounds less than when I left. I am feeling pretty good, except for my shoulder. The pain does remain some days, and has continued to keep me up some nights, though it is not nearly as stinging as the first time that I had it. I do not know the cause, but it seems fairly random.
Due to the delay in snail mail reaching me, I am looking forward to receiving birthday cards from you all... belated cards are accepted.
I have met two individuals out here with connections back home. First is Brother Harddy who served with Robert Graham in Washington back in the early 2000's. Second is Bro. Ellsworth who served in Wisconsin back in the early 80's and he knows my Stake President, Pres. Kindt, and his family. It is wonderful to find these connections in the world.
I have been pouring through the Book of Mormon. I am on pace to finish it before the week is up, but it will take some dedication, so forgive me if I have not written you back recently. I am spending 5 dollars a week on stamps. If you write me a letter, I request, but do not require, a stamp. If a stamp is included, I will write you back sooner as I am all but out of stamps now.
Regarding reading, I read about Samuel the Lamanite this past week. Just at a time when I was called to repentence (lovingly and kindly) by my apartment mates, I was reading this. What Samuel tells the people (among many other things) is that the people rejected the true prophets of God because they called them to change their ways, but upheld false prophets who flattered them and spoke to the pride of their hearts. I also read that God chastens us because he loves us. Between these scriptures, I knew that I must, in order to uphold my calling as a follower of Jesus Christ, follow the commandments that I have been given. It would be wrong of me to invite others to draw closer to Christ while not doing everything I can to do the same.
I truly believe that the Book of Mormon is an inspired book of scripture and testimony of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the gospel. Immediately, Nephi testifies of the blessings of following the gospel. In Nephi 3:7, he stands up for what is right by saying that he will go and do whatever the Lord commands because he knows that the Lord will not command him to a task he can not accomplish, as long as he trusts in the Lord. In Mosiah 3:19, we are instructed that in order to really trust in the Lord, we must humble ourselves and become as children, humble and submissive to our Heavenly Father. We have an example of a man who does trust in the Lord fully: Captain Moroni in Alma. In Alma 48:17, we are told that if every man exemplified the example Moroni leads, in trusting the strength of the Lord above all else, the very powers of hell would be shaken that none would ever fall. I bear testimony that as we follow the path set before us, we are given strength, and added guidance, and the companionship of the Spirit of the Lord. I know that I have only improved my life with each page of the Book of Mormon that I have read. It has been the greatest blessing to me so far in my life, and I am seeking to share it with all those who are willing.
I feel sad whenever I grow close to those that I am teaching, and see them struggle with temptations. I can do little more than invite and direct them, and to see the pain in their eyes at their struggles brings me pain. I have never been one to be overly empathetic, but my heart is growing to encompass so many people as I teach them, and see them grow in the light of Christ. I love these people, and seek for their happiness.
I am growing ever more comfortable in California, and will miss those I grow to love here as well as those I miss at home. I miss so many already, and look forward to meeting many more that I may miss. God Bless, and take care!
Elder Gavin Strawn
8267 Deseret Ave
Fair Oaks CA 95628