Update with an Elder Hilborn moment...

Elder Hilborn moment of the week: 

Elder Hilborn, "I hate it when I say, "Hey, good afternoon! How are you?" And someone responds with "I'm not interested." Well, what are you not interested in CUH? The afternoon?

Or when I ask, "Can I give you a card?" and someone curtly replies, 'I'm atheist.' Well I didn't say, 'Can I give you Jesus', I asked if I could give you a card! Ugh atheists. Have you ever met a happy atheist? No, you haven't!

Elder LaMont, "Oh man, I lost it"

Update 

Well I don't suppose you would believe this, because I still can't. One Thursday night we were making our last rounds. I was reading my scriptures when we came to an unscheduled stop. I looked up. Elder Hilborn was eyeing the lit home of W+++ G+++. 

Allow me direct your imagination to a scene of the movie 'Spirit': The protagonist, a horse, and his Native American rider are cornered. The antagonists of the story are endeavoring to capture the two heroes and an intense chase has ensued to this point. The stallion protagonist glares at his obstacle: a wide chasm. The Native rider, understanding clearly the thoughts of his mount, becomes nervous saying, "Oh no..." Because the movie is narrated by the thoughts of the stallion, we hear as if from the horse's mind, "Ohhhh yes." The stallion plans to overtake his obstacle by making a daring jump over a seemingly impossibly-wide chasm. 

I hope you see the parallel I saw in peering out the window of the car at W++'s shack to this movie scene as I've explained it to you. In my head I thought, "Oh no..." but the Holy Ghost said "Ohhhh yes." The Spirit planned to go talk to W+++ despite my fear. Elder Hilborn turned to me saying, "What do you think?” I opened the door. Although I was scared, my words (more likely, the words of the Spirit of God), "We're doing this," comforted me greatly. 

We knocked on his door and took a few steps back. "I am going to die," I thought to myself. W+++ answered. Now I am willing to bet whomever read about W+++ last week prayed for him, because he motioned for us to come inside. He was profusely apologetic for his vulgar and cruel texts. Elder Hilborn and responded to W+++ of our forgiveness and patiently asked if he would like to continue to work toward baptism. He responded with, "Yes!" 

Of course, going back to the movie 'Spirit', the stallion landed the incredible maneuver to overcome. I felt that every one of us in the room were the Native American rider trusting the Holy Ghost to leap over an enormous chasm. Our faith, your prayers, the power of the Spirit of the Lord, wrought a miracle. 

I thank you for your prayers. I hope you see your endeavors to bless the people of Hays with your utterances to God are saving souls, bringing them closer to Christ.

Easter Fun... ...coloring eggs with the Sister Missionaries

Happy Easter delivery...

Trials of a missionary...

I'm experiencing this a lot within the house:

SLAM!

*short silence*

Elder Hilborn: Aaaahhhhaaahha Ooooowww!!

Me: *laughing*

Elder Hilborn: I hate my life!!

Story of W+++ G+++

W+++ is 21 years old. He is struggling with probation as a consequence of lewd debauchery in which a minor, a few years younger than he, was concerned while heavily intoxicated. He will have twenty-one months of probation remaining from this date. W+++ says it is "by the grace of God" he is not in prison now. He truly caught a break by receiving the probation alone. Ever since the arrest, it's been his effort to turn to his faith in Christ. Of course, this is where the missionaries pounce. It was a neat circumstance, finding W+++. The Sister missionaries stumbled upon him searching for a less-active member and called Elder Hilborn and I after learning his interest in the lessons. We immediately made goals and set plans.

In our first meeting (sneaky picture courtesy of the Sister missionaries), we taught events that led to the restored church by our Heavenly Father calling Joseph Smith to be a prophet, including the tremendous significance of the Book of Mormon. Although W+++ was slow to understand, he was impressed by the Spirit.

Sneaky picture courtesy of the Sister Missionaries.

W+++ came to church that Sunday. He didn't have proper clothes, but was excited to learn. He brought with him his bible, the Book of Mormon given to him by the sisters, a notebook and a few pens. I was humbled by W+++’s willingness, despite his weakness in study, to learn.

The circumstances were perfect! All with W+++ was progressing wonderfully! We met with him again Tuesday afternoon to teach The Plan of Salvation, but our plans were thrown in the waste bin when we reminded W+++ the specifics of the Word of Wisdom. "I'm not giving it up," he says concerning chewing tobacco, "it helps me relax, keeps me from hurting people and drinking alcohol." Scripture was read, experiences were shared, testimony was borne. The Spirit lit up the room and W+++ said he would try his best.

The following day, W+++ contacted Elder Hilborn and I via text message: "i dont wanna meet anymore its not the direction i want to go". When we inquired what brought about these feelings, reminding him of the adversary's influence, he responded "just ditch my number and dont come back". As our last line of defense, we bore testimony of the blessings of The Gospel of Jesus Christ. His heart waxed harder still, and profanities and threats to our lives were then made.

I was sorrowful and horrified, heartbroken and pained by his choice alone. But a very wise young man told me this:

"I know that The Lord will make things right... His all knowing wisdom will bring both mercy and justice to all of His children! Things will work out!"

W+++ rejected the gospel this time, but he will have a second chance in the next life if not in the next year, months, maybe even weeks. The Lord has a plan.

Missionary work is hard work. Some are troubled by this. 

If salvation is the omnipotent Lord's work and glory, why is it so difficult? Jeffrey R. Holland says, "Because salvation isn't cheap!"

I bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ the truthfulness of this gospel. I know The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Salvation isn't possible without it, and it is not easy.

My eternal gratitude to friends, family, and all those whom support me. Thank you for your prayers and concerns.

A letter from Elder LaMont's companion...

Hello Brother and Sister LaMont,

This is Elder Hilborn. I am your son's trainer here in Kansas and I wanted to write you to just thank you for sending your son on a mission. He is a mighty man in the Lord and I am honored to have him
as my companion. I rarely feel as if I am even training him because of his preparedness and his faith. I hope you both are quite proud of him. I love Him and thank the Lord for him every day. He has great things ahead of him and I am excited to see where his faith takes him. I expect him to take over my leadership role after I am transferred next month. I will be sad to leave him, but I am confident that he will do just fine. Again, thank you for sending him and loving him.

Also thank you for the socks by the way! They truly helped!

Sincerely,

Elder Hilborn

Elder Hilborn referring to this picture, "This is our relationship haha!"

Pictures... Zone transfers and caught in the act.

The Salina Zone post transfers!  Elders LaMont, Sromness, Thompson, Richardson, Demke, Hilborn, Carling, Urston, Hosenfield, Waldron, Michaelis, Christiansen.  Sisters Viera, Furner, Hansen, Webb, and Manu.

Elder Hilborn and Elder LaMont teaching an investigator W+++ G+++.  The Sister Missionaries were creeping on us and took a picture.