Thanksgiving to Remember!

     Hello my dear friends and family! This past week has simply been amazing. God truly blesses us all so much. I love this life, this work, and this opportunity to serve. There were many tender mercies from the Lord this week. Thanksgiving was a great day. There aren't too many days in the year with a more tender spirit. 

     The morning of Thanksgiving, three of our zones had a Thanksgiving activity! It was great to spend time with Elders I hadn't seen in such a long while! 

Best Apple pie baked by Sister Bean!

     We had Thanksgiving with the Bean family and what a true joy that was. Oh how I love that family. Her homemade apple pie, is the single best pie I have ever eaten. What a blessing it was to spend that wonderful holiday with that family!

     On Friday Elder Berry and I along with the district leaders held a fast. We needed help. We have been striving so hard to find more souls to bring in the gospel, and all of the changes we had been making on our own weren't seeming to work. This fast was the most spiritual one of all my life. I KNOW that God lives. We had been trying with all our might to find success in the work, and it was to no avail. But the second we petition God's help, when we sacrifice our worldy desires, the windows of heaven open. I have never felt so clean and pure in all my life! The power of God flowed into our hearts. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to fast! That night once we ended our fast, the spirit whispered to me that I needed to call Natalie, a recent convert, and ask how her Thanksgiving was. That prompting was immediately followed by the feeling that she had been treated poorly by family. So I did just that, we picked up the phone and gave her a call. “Natalie how was Thanksigiving?!” “It was Ok” she said. “What happened", I asked. She proceeded to tell us that in the middle of dinner her aunt stood up and pointed at her and said, “You are a part of a cult!” She then yelled that twice more in her face. She said it was hard to see her family treat her that way, considering they never said a thing about her being Catholic.  She then said, “But it's alright, I know this is the true faith, and I will give all for it.” It was amazing as we talked, to know that God literally knew her. That he prompted us to call her! I know that God truly knows us all and what a blessing it is!

       The most amazing experience of all my life happened yesterday! You all remember Chelsie and her kids who were baptized a few weeks back. They are such a special family. Prior to us finding Chelsie, her husband was given a do-not-contact order between he and his wife. The order came by mistake from an argument they had with a friend.  It was a huge relief this week when the judge had time to review it and lifted it! Ivan is the most amazing man I have ever met. He is from Mexico and got papers to come here a few months back. His spirit shines from his face as he talks about his love for God. In Mexico Ivan was almost killed three times in very scary circumstances. We had our first lesson with Ivan last night at their home. Ivan said, “I know that God has saved my life for this, I want to be baptized so my family can be united.” His friend Jesus will also be baptized with him! As we taught Jesus he said, “a few months back I gave up drinking and cigarettes because I felt that I needed to come to know Christ.” WHAT A MIRACLE! It's great to see these to men, who throughout this life have been prepared to accept the restored gospel. We told Jesus that baptism was the first step to prepare to return and live with God. He then asked, “OK so now what's the second!?” They wanted us to stay the whole night and teach them all we knew about Christ.  I will never forget looking at Ivan and then at Chelsie, as he looked at her and said he wanted to be baptized. This family will now prepare to be sealed in the temple forever. We hope to baptize he and Jesus this weekend! Ivan walked around at church shaking everyones hand saying, “See you next week!” - before we ever even taught him. The most powerful part was his prayer. He said, “Thank you God, Thank you God for sending the missionaries to my wife. Thank you God, Thank you God for helping us find the truth.” As he finished his prayer he began to cry.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas!

       This gospel is the most amazing thing in all my life!  This week was a week of miracles! We prayed so hard that God would send people to our church building on Sunday that we hadn't met before and he did! He sent many souls! It was a miracle. Lisa and Nick and the whole family came to church this week. I LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

      I can't wait to come back next year and see Ivan and his family sealed in the temple. This is God's plan. This truly is the truth and the way. I love this gospel with all my heart! It changes lives in every way possible. I would be a lost soul without it. I LOVE YOU ALL MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER KNOW!!!  Please stay safe.

Love,

Elder Aiken

Visit from Elder and Sister Oaks!

        HELLO EVERYONE!!! Boy-o-boy has this been a blessed week. I am forever grateful for my life! I love it here! We had a wonderful Stake Conference this weekend that touched my soul. We spent much of the morning conversing with recent converts and close friends from our wards! I just looked at the Stake Presidency on the stand, and I thought to myself, I never thought I could find another place that felt like home! This has become home! I love it here with all my heart. These are some of the greatest people that I have ever met in all my life. What a blessing from God to have been sent to a place that has become so near and dear to my heart.

        This week Elder and Sister Oaks visited our mission! We have been blessed with so many General Authorities which have visited this area, but these two were something very special. Saturday they came and spoke to the missionaries. I will never forget the spirit that was in that building! What a Man of God. There were many things said that will touch and shape me the rest of my life! The thing that touched me most was his talk of the evil of the world that exists today.  He said that “Now more than ever we must have the armor of God! Without it we are naked before the world.” How true that is. If we do not live our lives in such a way as to allow the spirit to comfort and guide us, we cannot be strong in this ever changing world. 

      The past week we have been in a few leadership meetings. Recently we were in a Stake Leadership meeting for our Stake. As I sat on the stand it was amazing to look out across the audience. Here were many righteous men who lead and guide us, yet there was a difference between many. There were some who seem to have “plateaued” and used the meeting as a time for Iphone games. Others were anxiously seeking revelation from God, writing the inspiration that came to them during that wonderful meeting. In life it is easy to “plateau". To think, I have learned all I can learn, helped all I can help, and been all I can be. This is when we begin to enter treacherous waters. The storms of life will take us away and swallow us in the deep! ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD TODAY! Our armour must ever get stronger. We must always seek to grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as with any muscle in the Human body. We can work out for weeks and our muscles can become huge! Can we “plateau” in those workouts and maybe slow down a bit? No. The muscle will shrink. It may not be noticeable at first. But slowly it will fade away! As will our testimony if we don’t constantly nourish it! 

     Another thing that really touched my soul, was when Elder Bussey of the Seventy spoke on following the spirit. He said, “Never consider the outcome.” It's so easy to receive a prompting from the spirit, and then spend the next ten minutes debating the outcome of following that prompting. When we receive a prompting from the spirit, it isn't debate, think, ponder, then do! It is, Go and Do.

       This Sunday was also another special day! Elder and Sister Oaks held a special stake conference for our stake! It was yet another tender mercy from the Lord to be here for this lovely experience. He arrived an hour early to walk amongst the people and shake their hands. It was a special sight to see. There were nearly 1,300 people there! The night before this meeting we had been praying that God would lead us to someone in the Issaquah 1^st Ward we could invite to attend the meeting! As we had left the Elder Oaks missionary meeting, this strong prompting to invite a woman named Vickie came into my mind. We rushed over to her house and she said, “I would love to come!” which absolutely shocked us, as she had declined all of our previous invitations! Well she actually came on Sunday! Sister Oaks walked in at about 10 minutes before the meeting began. I brought her over to those who were investigating the Church! She sat with Lisa and her kids for about 5 minutes just talking about life! Lisa just cried as they conversed. Then the most amazing thing happened. She saw Vickie who was crying as the meeting began. She followed the promptings of the spirit and went as spoke with her. Little did Sister Oaks know, Vickie had just recently lost her beloved husband. Right as the meeting was about to begin, Sister Oaks walked Vickie to the restroom to get her a kleenex and to be a comforting ear! It was amazing to see a woman that put everything aside to help someone in need! When Elder Oaks spoke, the spirit just flew into that wonderful meeting. There was something that he said that I will never forget. He said, “As I have visited this stake and looked at its report, it's one of the strongest stakes of Zion in the whole church. But a brief thought I would like to mention. Only 38% of the full tithe payers, donate fast offerings.” He didn’t even expound much but just simply challenged us to ponder it. Last night I could hardly sleep. I couldn’t stop thinking about all that I was blessed with! How much God has poured into my life and how easy it is to forget to give back. That’s all the Savior did. He gave ALL for the people! All of those around us are truly our Brothers and Sisters. As we look through the eyes of God, our eyes can be opened to see all those that stand in need. I am forever grateful for that humbling moment in my life where I realized I need to rededicate myself to giving more! To helping our Brothers and Sisters. 

     I LOVE YOU ALL! My Birthday was amazing! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOVE THIS WEEK! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! I hope that all is well. Please be safe my dear friends. God be with you!

Love,

Elder Aiken

Let's Follow Christ!

Not quite sure why we wash our cars - it's always raining!!!

     Hello everyone!!! What a beautiful and fabulous week here in Issaquah! We survived another transfer!! Elder Berry and I are so blessed and excited to serve another transfer together. It will be great to have my second Thanksgiving and Christmas here. Our Stake President wants me to start looking for property. This truly is the best place on earth (besides Sandy, Utah.) 

     My heart is so full. Lisa is doing amazing! That family has become dear friends. She won't be baptized this weekend, she is waiting a bit until her husband is in full support. The lessons with them this week were so touching. It's great to teach people about Christ. Homes, and lives change when His gospel is taught.

     Over the past week, I have been pondering a lot, my love for my Savior, Jesus Christ. The most amazing thing to me is meeting people from all over the world and seeing their view on Christ. I have realized and come to know that this life is about choice. God, in his wisdom gave us agency. We all are given the choice between good and evil, these choices are presented to us daily, even hourly. The ultimate question of life is who will we follow? Will I follow Christ? This choice is simple, straight forward but will chart the course of our life.  Life without our Savior, can be liveable. Yes, you CAN make it through. And yes we can follow Him in some of our choices, but solely following Christ, living so that we can one day see His face, is true Joy. The Light and Life of the world can be our constant and ever changing guide through this mortal existence. And yet simply, that choice is left up to us. Do we want to live in such a way as to let His light fill our souls? 

     As we have receieved the most recent Ensign, there is a talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks that has been on my mind. There are two parts I would like to quote. Dallin H. Oaks said. “Jesus issued the challenge, “What think ye of Christ?” (Matthew 22:42). The Apostle Paul challenged the Corinthians to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). All of us should answer these challenges for ourselves. Where is our ultimate loyalty? Are we like the Christians in Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s memorable description who have moved their residence to Zion but still try to keep a second residence in Babylon? There is no middle ground. We are followers of Jesus Christ.” When we do this, when we are loyal to our Savior and His path, the windows of heaven cannot be stayed. Our burdens become lighter, we see the world differently. We see it as a place to grow and become like Him. That this life doesn’t have to be lived alone, but that we can walk in his ways and He truly will be by our side. 

     Dallin H Oaks also said “Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself…” As missionaries we proudly wear the name of Christ! And I proudly bear testimony of Him at every door and to every soul I meet. My life would be a dark and dreary place without my Savior! He has saved me from so much, and is a constant source of joy. His path is simple, but straight. It’s the most true and happy path we can take in this life. I am so grateful for Him during this holiday season! That he suffered, bled and died for me! He is there! He always will be, NO. Matter. What. We won't be alone, we never have to be, if we will but hold to His ways. 

     I love you all! I love this life and my Savior! I do know without a doubt that He lives. How blessed we are to have that knowledge. How blessed we are to be able to share it with others this time of year. I love you all! I am truly happy, this birthday week is already off to a great start! God has blessed me richly and there isn't a better place to spend a birthday! I LOVE YOU ALL, LET'S FOLLOW CHRIST! 

Love,

Elder Aiken

Light and Life!

     My dear friends and family! I love you and hope that life is well! My heart is touched so deeply by this past week. I just love this life and this opportunity to serve. My Father in Heaven has blessed me so richly.  I am truly forever indebted to Him!
     It's been one of those weeks that I will never forget. This young family we are teaching in the Tiger Mountain Ward has changed my life forever.  I just love them so much.  The day we knocked on Lisa's door, there was this strong feeling that I knew her before. I had never felt something like that before.  Lisa had seen us the previous day knocking up the street and said she hoped she would be home when we knocked on her door. The days following meeting this family I just couldn’t get them off of my mind, they were just so great.  Everyday I would say to Elder Berry, “I swear I knew Lisa before this life.” So Wednesday we went to teach Lisa and Mike. Lisa said “I have to tell you something weird. When I first met my husband Mike 10 years ago, it was odd, it felt like I had known him all my life. I would constantly ask him where we met before. I had never had something like that happen before or since! But then I met you guys, and I just have the strongest feeling I knew you before! But there is just no way I could have seen you before.” I just tried so hard not to cry when I explained my side of the story.  The bishop was there at the meeting and then he said, "Let me tell my side of the story.  Elder Aiken got transferred to a different part of the mission. And then he got transferred back. Leslie, I know that Elder Aiken was sent back to teach your family.”  The spirit was so strong in the room. I will never forget when President Larkin texted me after I found out I was getting transferred back to Issaquah, he said, "A voice from heaven declared that you should return…” 
     I am grateful for a God that knows each of us individually. God is a God of miracles. He is in charge of everyting and knows us all so personally. I have come to get a slight taste of that on my mission. This family is the most beautiful family I have ever met. Lisa is just loving to learn about the gospel, she said she finally feels like she is home! Her husband Mike is starting to sit in on the discussions and came to church on Sunday with her and the kids! It was amazing to see them there. Lisa is on date for baptism on the 19^th and we are so excited!
     I just hope you all know how much I love God. I know He is there. I have learned that we can only succeed in this life to our full potential as we rely on Him.  I am a weak and simple man, but God has helped me become strong. There is not greater joy than sharing the gospel. We run from person to person, praying that God will lead us to the lost souls searching for Him. God truly places us where we are for a reason. Everything is planned.  It's amazing as we begin to open our mouths and share the gospel, the people that God has placed right next to us that yearn for the truth. We are all just clay in His hands, instruments in the amazing work of the Almighty God. 
     I know that faith, repentance, and baptism are essential! They prepare us to return to God again! Lets not have any empty seats in the Eternities. God has the richest blessings awaiting us, as long as we keep the commandments. I know that following the commandments is THE only way to happiness. I hope you know how much I love you all! I thank you for your prayers. You will never, ever know how much they mean to me! They heal and lift my soul. Speaking of Christ, Abinadi said in Mosiah 16:9: "He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless..."
     I bear testimony that I know light does exist, and it truly is endless.  Only we can hide the light and only we can see the light.  I end, praying that we can all rely more on the light in our lives and turn to it always, as it will guide our way back to Him!
     Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Aiken

Cleaning the pigeon cage!