The Church is True in Burnaby

Family!

Well, it's been a great week in Burnaby. Marc had a wonderful baptismal service yesterday. We had the chance to teach an 8 year old, Nico Esquivel, with kind of less active parents the missionary lessons over the past weeks, and so although he wasn't a convert baptism, they shared a baptismal service. It was just fantastic. The Spirit was very strong. We got to participate in both confirmations, and I had the chance to confirm Marc a member of the church. He's going to serve a mission. Ha ha. We're sure of it. Baptism days are just the best. We had been fasting that day, but we still probably ate twice the number of calories as a normal day because (the Esquivels are from Guatemala) both families brought a ton of food. It was also great because the recently assigned home teachers for Marc's family were there and setting up home teaching appointments and everything. The work of salvation. It's the best.

Other than that, the work is going great! We're still working with a few different part member families. We're teaching a few different people from Islamic backgrounds, come to think of it. And a lot more with non-Christian backgrounds. We're still teaching Shaikh, who is just kind of cemented in his beliefs, although not really practicing. We're also teaching Murat, a man from Turkey who is sincerely interested in what we believe. It's been interesting teaching them, because they believe in God, but they don't understand at first why we believe that we need a Savior. It has given us a lot of special opportunities to teach very simply about the necessity of an atonement. It has also given me a deeper appreciation of the knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation. It makes a lot of things that don't make sense otherwise make sense. We're teaching a Chinese guy named Jason. He's a student on the last year of an economics degree at some university around here. He was raised in China as a Buddhist, and so he's very curious about God and about prayer. He is always asking about how God has helped us and how God helps us. We taught him how to pray and we'll continue to work with him.

We're also still working with a part-member family, the Steiners. Sabrina, the mom, is struggling to believe in God because she's read a lot of atheist literature, and as a result, she's become one of the people who don't have the truth "because they know not where to find it". She's really spiritually unhealthy and you can see that it's been hard on her. She'll start crying sometimes when she just starts talking about how she feels. It's very easy to see how the adversary likes to work by weaseling doubt into somebody. A little bit of doubt can undo years of spiritual experiences. She struggles with the word of wisdom, and sin weakens her faith, and it also lifts a burden of guilt that she isn't doing what she is supposed to be doing. She's really honest with us though, so we're going to keep working with her, and when her faith is strong, we'll work with the family too.

There are a lot of miracles though! We're managing to find a lot of new people teach. Burnaby is a pretty big place, and there are people kind of sandwiched all over the place. We feel very blessed to be here. I'm still blown away by how multicultural it is here. French is on all the labels, but if they printed labels by population, there would be Chinese and Arabic and everything else.

Ha ha, and, if you must know, one of my essays was indeed used for Russ Beck's English 2010 class. Last year one of my friends from high school took the class and wrote to tell me that my essay on memes was required reading and he called it a "joyful romp". I don't recall writing any poems about roses, however... I think that there might be 2 Josh Blotters. I think I googled myself one time or something and I had a doppelganger that went to Woodscross high school or something. So that's my theory. :)

Well! Out of time! Love you all and we'll talk to you next week.

Elder Blotter

Elder Francis's first chance to baptize someone.

Marc and his family with Elder Francis and Elder Blotter.

Re: Re: Re: :)

Oh mother. When you come, bring garments. That would be nice. I can give you the Canadian candy for Jacey, too.

Re: Re: :)

Oh mother. Love you lots. Hopefully you don't think I'm trying to make you feel guilty! Just tell me what you think.

Re: :)

Mother! You stinker! :)

Sister Tilleman did call...

I really can't believe that you got permission for that. I really just can't at all. But it would be just like you to at least ask, ha ha! And you know what, maybe somehow getting permission for that may be Heavenly Father giving you a tender mercy. I just do not know what else it could have been. But nonetheless!

Yeah, you should go to the Vancouver 1st Ward! Patrick would be there. I'm sure all these things can be googled, but it's at 308 W 41st Ave and it starts at 9:00 AM.

I'm not sure, but the temple might be a call in and schedule deal, and believe it or not, that Tuesday is going to be the missionary temple trip day! Our p-day is moved to Tuesday because the temple is closed Monday. So the temple might be booked that day.

But what a dilemma. Mother. I love you so infinitely much. I really do. And so I don't want to in the least hurt your feelings by not sharing a meal with you after you got permission for one. But at least read this and see how you feel! (Can you make it another 8 months? You've already done it for almost 16!)

"Visits from family members, friends, and acquaintances
are against Church policy. The impact of such
visits may extend far beyond the visit itself, both before
and after the visit and among other missionaries. It can
often take some time for missionaries to refocus on
their callings and their work. While expressing your
love and your desire to share your experiences with
them after you have been released, help those who may
want to visit you to understand the importance of
maintaining singleness of heart and mind on the work
of the Lord (see Matthew 10:37–39; Luke 9:61–62)"

That's a quote from the white handbook on page 37.

Much love,

Elder Blotter

:)

Sep 23

Elder Blotter,

   Hi. Are you still my friend? I'm tried to not facebook message Sister Tilleman, really I did. But Jean Payne convinced me that as I sat in the city of Vancouver and knew you were right there in Burnaby, I would regret not at least asking. I was almost sure the answer would be no. In that case I would be fine because I would know that it was not allowed. (Though I may have driven past your house for 4 days)  I was looking for the mission e-mail and just couldn't find it anywhere. I googled Karl Tilleman and up came a facebook page in both of their names. I looked it up and she had posted a conference talk the day before. I just sent her a private message saying I was the mom of one of her missionaries, Elder Blotter. I told her you had been there since June of 2012 and had spent most of your time up North, in what you call the "promised land". And wouldn't you know it, he was recently transferred to Burnaby. I told her about Dad's meetings and how we would be there for a few days. I asked if she knew if there was some way I could ask for permission to take you and your companion for a meal while we were there. And if not, if it would be possible to drop off a care package at the mission home". (Giving her an out so she wouldn't have to sound mean when she said no) It sounded nicer than this is.  :)

     Well, the next morning I woke up to a message back from her! She thanked me for my e-mail and told me how much they love you. What an excellent job you are doing and how you know how to get things done. She told me that you are very faithful and how much they appreciate that. "Also, I talked with my husband and he thought it would be okay for you to take Elder Blotter and his companion our for a meal and then get them right back to work"  She then gave me your cell and then proceeded to give me her cell if I had trouble reaching you. She told us to contact you when we get in Vancouver to set up a time. At this point I am having a heart attack and CANNOT believe it. I didn't tell Dad I had sent the message because I was sure it would be no. So I told him. Now I have to tell you. Don't be mad at me, please. One day you'll be a parent of a missionary and you'll understand. But clearly in my mind I can just hear you saying, "Mother.....you facebook messaged Sister Tilleman!"   Will you forgive me if I bring you garments and feed you a yummy meal? We can't wait to meet Elder Francis.  Please take a minute and think clearly about what I can bring you. We leave on Saturday, so this is your last p-day to let me know if you want me to bring you something. 

    Should we go to the Vancouver 1st Ward? Is that Patrick's ward? If there is anything else about the beautiful city of Vancouver that we should see, let me know. We are so excited to take it all in and see everything there is to see.  Dad is going to his meetings Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday morning. I am hoping to go to the temple Tuesday morning. 

         Dad was feeling bad Claudia didn't have a date to Homecoming. The dance was Saturday. On Monday he found her a date with a patient and she went last night and had a great time. I bought her a Spanish Bible and Marissa Balls gave her a spanish B of M with her testimony in it. I got her a scripture case and a red pencil and she felt right at place at church. The sister missionaries spoke today and they are coming to dinner soon.  :)     Well, Sis. Tilleman told me she would call you to make sure you knew you had permission. Did she do that yet?  Can we text you or should we call?  If you've forgotten, my cell is 435-770-8628.

        We love you so much and feel it a tender mercy to be able to see you even if for just a short time. Someone told Dad at work we should go somewhere with terrible service so it takes a LONG time to get our food.  Hee hee       Love, Mom

    

The Week

Elder Blotter

Okay, so right off  I want to clarify that I did not approve of your mother facebooking Sister Tillemen to get permission to go to lunch or dinner with you while in Vancouver.  You might not even know that she has done that yet, and if that is the case I should start this letter with......."your mother facebook messaged  Sister Tilleman and she successfully obtained permission from President Tillemen for us to meet you for a brief meal while we are in Vancouver. 

I pondered this for awhile during the past month, and frankly I kind of wish they would have left you  up in Kitimat, far out of the reach of your mother.  Because once in Vancouver, "a man might stretch for his puny arm to stop the Missouri River in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream as to prevent your mother from finding you."  This is my version of D and C 121:33.

So there you have it, I guess Jim and Jill Blotter might disrupt the work in Barnaby for an hour or so.  I guess if the Good Lord would have really not wanted this to happen you would still be in Kitimat. 

Something really funny happened on the Campus of USU last week.  Jacob, your cousin, was in a class and the professor announced that next week they will be studying a poem entitled "A Rose" by none other than Josh Blotter.  This left me to wonder if there is some famous poet out there with our name, or if by chance you are the author of famous poetry.  So that is something to think about up there in Vancouver, Jacob is here at USU, paying thousands of dollars in tuition, to study your poem. 

Well, as you can see, we celebrated Grandma Blotter's big day at our house today, and it was fun.  She is just the best mom ever.  I'm certain that if the worldwide Engineering Meetings were held in Argentina circa 1986, that Grandma would have found me, whether President Pitarch would have approved or not.  I guess that is the price one must pay for having a wonderful mom. 

I sounds like the work is progressing well in the Vineyard of Barnaby.  It has been fun to work with Claudia in our home.  We are teaching her how to pray, and that religion is not a token cultural thing, but that Jesus Christ is real, and we must follow him and build our foundation upon the rock that He is.  I am teaching her Helaman 5:12.  If you have not read Helaman 5:12 for awhile, it is a good one.  As your father, I give out my core beliefs rarely, but I will say that Helaman 5:12 is one of my core beliefs. 

Well, I hope that you have a great week.  We arrive in Vancouver on Saturday Sept. 28th and leave Thursday October 3rd. 

Love Dad

Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnaby

Family,

Well, just like that it's been another week. Time is flying by, I have to say. Days go by really quickly when you're on transit, particularly when you have a lot of appointments. You go to one place, teach, then go to the next place, teach, miss a bus by 2 minutes, run, be half an hour late for a dinner appointment, that sort of thing, and before you know it you're planning your next day. And as you go throughout the day, it feels like we're perpetually making calls to schedule appointments and get members to come to said appointments. Which is sometimes like pulling teeth, but hey. They've got their hearts in the right place.

This week we managed to have a lot of success on the streets of Burnaby. Our area has 2 general areas that you can street contact. Metrotown, which is a massive mall, and parts of Edmonds, which is an area with some bigger apartment complexes and some busier streets. Those areas have missionaries in them all the time, and so we've been shaking it up by doing what we used to do in Vancouver, plotting out where all of the hundreds of less actives live and then picking a few in an area to drop by and then doing some contacting in the area that they live in. It's fun. One time we were walking to visit one, and a mini-van pulled up and offered us a ride. We got in and they asked where we were going. We told them the address, and they just pulled into the garage. Which was weird, until we found out that it was the less active we were going to drop by. Probably not the best to get into random vans, but the guy had a baby in a car-seat, so we figured it would be fine. Plus, we can help the ward clean up their member lists, because over half don't live where the list says they live. We would try to add the less actives that we find on our own to the ward lists, but for some reason, to move records, you need to have a date of birth. And we can't figure out how to suavely get that information.
Us:"Hi, we're missionaries from the Church of..."

Less-active cuts in: "I'm actually a member of your church already. My name is Steve Soandso, but I'm really not interested in talking with you guys right now."

Us: "...What's your birthday?"

Anyways, I digress. It's good because in contacting all of the less actives, we've found a few part member families. (You wouldn't think that Muslims and Mormons would be two to hit it off, but we've found two such families.) We're teaching this Muslim guy, Shaikh, who is married to a less active LDS lady, Patricia. Shaikh doesn't seem to be actively practicing, but he still holds the belief system. He's from Bangladesh, and he talked about the culture of his home and the religious practices that they had there. They have speakers throughout cities to call people to pray 5 times a day. The first one is at 5 am. And, however they managed to make it work out, they both still hold their religious beliefs and are happily married. We taught Sam (which is what Shaikh usually goes by) the first lesson yesterday. I've never considered not needing to wake up at 5 in the morning to pray a truth of the Restoration, but we'll take it. We're working with another part-member family, where the Mom, Sabrina, is the only member. She converted by herself 4 or 5 years ago, but is struggling with a belief in God and is reading a lot of evolution literature. She wanted to know if the church library had any books on "creation science or cosmology". We told her that the Book of Mormon had all the "creation science" she would need. In any case, we're going to be teaching her and her family the lessons and we're excited about that.

Other than that, the work is going well. Mark, our 10 year old investigator, has a date for the 22nd now. The only concern is that the bishop is worried that he won't have the support that he needs to stay active, since his mom is less active and his main support would come from the other members of his extended family that live in the same home as him. Difficult questions, sometimes. You don't want to baptize somebody who can't keep the commitment, but you also don't want to delay somebody's baptism unnecessarily. We're going to set up an appointment with the bishop this week to meet with Mark's mom and uncle, and we'll see how things settle.

Otherwise, life is good! I had some more Ethiopian food the other day. I tried bubble tea for the first time. It's this drink that you can get without actual tea in it. They pretty much just put big tapioca balls in flavored milk. Asians love it. Sister Harper is buying is expensive things that we don't really want. Like... a very pricey-looking bottle of "rice wine vinegar". She apparently is going to buy us a coffee grinder so that we can grind nuts for salads or something.

Well! I hope that you all have a great week!

Elder Blotter