Mission Life with Willy & Watterson

Here are a few pics Brent sent home, along with a short email to go along with them...

8/17/09
"So just wanted to send a few pictures, one of Watterson and me on the ferry to the mainland! The other one pretty much explains missioanry work, the motto being "ZERO FUN SIR!" :) The last one is of the biggest studs I know out here, Elder Watterson, Elder Brown, and Elder Lemon. Actually that picture was taken on Candice's birthday. To celebrate her birthday we got some dinner! Hope that was ok for us to celebrate your birthday candice? Ok, love you all, and hope everything is going wonderful!"

Poor guys! Looks hard, doesn't it!??? :) I guess almost 2 years on a mission isn't long enough to teach someone how to make his bed...

Starfish, Mosquito, Waffles, and More...

What do you do with a handful of pictures that really don't have much of a story behind them, but are just part of the "Missionary Experience"???? Well this is the best I could come up with, so here are a few pics from Willy's life in Canada, and some short stories to mixed in with them...

Here are couple pics of Brent and Elder Jardin visiting the shores of Nanaimo, British Columbia (the second largest city on Vancouver Island) The first is of Willy and Jardin sharing a "precious" moment while catching starfish along the rocky shoreline, and the second is the pose we've all come to know and love from pictures Brent has sent home...simply known as the "Willy Pose"...

Here is a pic of a "Canada Mosquito." Kind of makes a "Hooper Mosquito" seem like child's play, but don't be fooled by the use of the small hand...

If you know Brent, you know he's never one to shy away from a challenge, especially a challenge that involves food. (Just ask him about eating three Habanero Peppers) So when he had his chance to add his name to the "10 Waffle Chair" while serving in Prince George, I'm sure it wasn't even a question in his mind whether not he could do it, but just how many he could actually eat beyond 10. As you can see from the photo, he conquered this challenge, and added his name to the long list of TWO Elders that have slammed down the infamous "10 Waffles."
Not sure of the story behind this guy, but with a name like "Rappin Rick James," there has got to be something. This is someone Brent will have to tell us about when he gets home, but for now just enjoy the pic of Willy, Rapping Rick, and Elder Richter.

To finish off this post of random photos and stories, here are a couple random photos and one of Brent's emails home that sums up just how random a week in the life of a missionary can be...

8/10/09 - "Ok, just real quick to sum up my week. Nothing too crazy just good times as a missionary! Killed two snakes with a shovel, got stung by bees four times, yeah it hurt, couple slammed doors, but good teaching appointments for sure!!! On exchanges with Elder Whittenburg, got to see America and send a package there! But yeah sorry this is so short more next week I promise love you all!"

Willy & Elder Burton with their "sweet" white van...

Willy saying good bye to Elder Brown

Calvin's Conversion

The first day Brent and Elder Watterson began working together they had the opportunity to teach the 1st discussion to Calvin, who happened to be a referral from the Bishop of the Duncan Ward. It was clear from Brent's emails home, that this young man had been prepared by the Lord well before their first appointment. Calvin is a true testament to the power of Member Missionary Work, and the importance of including members in the teaching and fellowshipping of new converts.
These are a few of the teaching experiences Brent shared in his emails home:

7/13/09
"Our Bishop actually gave us a refferral, which is a first, and we taught the guy at the Bishop's home the first night Elder Watterson was here; then again on Sunday. He has read and prayed a ton already, and now is going to be baptised on Aug 1st. It is good to see the Bishop is trusting us. Dad you were right, service is the key! :)"

7/27/09
"This last Sunday was another good Sunday, only had 6 investigators at church, but the Bishop pulled us in after church and just wanted to meet with us and he gave us some solid compliments. He is very happy to see so much work happening, and is very impressed with Calvin, who is getting baptised on Saturday! It should be awesome! The ward will hopefully keep getting better! I will have the privilege of confirming him on Sunday, and am pretty excited! Just because dang i am getting tired, and it's kind of good to see some things come from the work we are doing! But it's all good no complaints!"

8/3/09
"Ok, I don't have much time, but I do have to tell you about the baptism on Saturday. Dang, it was probably the coolest experience on my mission, and it was so cool! We got about 30 non-members there and maybe 15 members, so I was little disappointed more members didn't show up, but it was way good! Calvin is 20 years old and will be heading on a mission in a year! :) His whole non-member family came, and I dont even know what to say other than just a good day! The Bishop baptised Calvin, then I was able to confirm him on Sunday!"

Here are a few pics from Calvin's big day...

"At the MTC" by Kevin Schmidt / Starring "Willy"

We received an email this week from a member in Brent's mission, expressing her gratitude for Brent's example and service he is giving to the members in Duncan. These were the kind words she had to say about Willy:

"Thought that you might enjoy a copy of a couple of pictures that we have taken recently of your son. He continues to serve with all his heart might mind and strength here in Duncan. He is a wonderful example of a misisonary to our sons .
Recently I have been fellowshipping someone and so I get to see first hand the Elders as they teach the gospel. Elder Wilson definatly carries the spirit of Christ with him. Him and Elder Watterson have been working so hard here in the Duncan ward, and they are getting all the members excited about the work.
I know how excited you must be to have him home in November, we will be sad to say goodbye to him but we are ever so grateful to have had him serve here ! "


Here are the pics she sent, along with a link to a music video her son created which had Brent as the "Star" in the video. It's a remake from Taylor Swift's song "You Belong with Me," and it's titled "At the MTC." Click on the link below, or paste in your browser to check out the video on Youtube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdtgV4hz4sk

Willy, Kevin Schmidt, & Elder Watterson flashing their sweet "Missionary Ties"

Island Zone Tolfino Trip - July 6th, 2009

Willy and his zone had the chance to spend a P-day in the District of Tolfino, which is known for it's awesome winter rains, and year long "wetness." The amount of moisture is best describe by saying, "When it rains here it pours, and when it doesn't pour, it surely sprinkles and if you're lucky to dodge the sprinkles, you're likely to find yourself standing in a perma-mist."

Needless to say it's a little "wet" there. Here are few pics from the Island Zone's day in Tolfino:

The Island Zone Elders Masyama, Jardine, Salmon, Foster, and Willy "Crabbin" at Tolfino. Willy said, "We took sweet pics on the Dock! It was tight!"

Willy chillin on the Beach with Elder Brown and Elder Lemon.

The "Willy Pose" in Tolfino

Island Zone, July 2009

4th of July & The Bekke Family

Once again Willy missed out on the usual 4th of July festivities, but had the great blessing of being apart of a family's day of "freedom" as they entered the waters of baptism. What a great way to celebrate Independence Day as he was able to see a mom and her two kids, as it says in 2 Nephi 2:26-27, "...become free forever...free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men..."
Even though he missed hangin with family and the traditions that come with the 4th of July, he was greatful to be apart of the this special day for the Bekke Family. This is what he had to say in his email home:
"Lets see quick update on the mission...the big thing would be the baptism on the 4th. The Bekke family, well the mom and two kids because the dad held off, but after that baptism dang give hime two weeks an he is gonna be diving in the water! It was so cool! I will be honest I miss the 4th of July back home...but I have to be very grateful for the chance I had to be apart of that family's baptism. It changed a ton on the ward so we are expecting many more great things in the next few months!"

Here are a few pics from the special day:

The Elders, Bekke Family (the Dad (in the suit), Mom, Michael, Elizabeth) and Brother McCullough

Willy, The Bekke Family and their Grandpa

Power of Service

Somtimes a little act of service can go a long way to creating teaching opportunities, that otherwise would not have been possible. Brent has had many of these experiences while serving in Canada, and this was another one of those experiences he shared with us in one of his first emails from Duncan:

"Lets see, nothing too exciting this week in the mission life other than I was able to dig a huge trench in my suit. So we went over to teach our investigator Erwin, he is about 60, and his wife is about the same. Way cool couple, but we have never been able to teach his wife, because she hasn't wanted to listen. Well we go over there and they are trying to dig a trench to their shed to put in electricity. Well it's a big job and they needed some help, and even though usually the wife wouldn't talk to us, we just said, "hey, we'll dig this for you." So he gave us two t-shirts and we dug a nice big trench in our suit pants and shoes. Yeah not the best idea, but in the end it was worth it! The wife got us some water, then sat down and listened on the porch at the end when we taught. So it was supposed to be a 20 min lesson but turned into 2 hours of digging then a 20 minute lesson. To top it off Erwin came to church and his wife came with him! How tight is that? So yeah, I may have to visit the dry cleaners, but I am thinking it was an ok idea now. :) That was probably the most excitment this past week, not too mention we did have 8 people at church and the ward even started talking to them! Haha..."