On February 26th we were in Ingles to public contact and Vernon Jarvi was the first person we talked to. He was at the deli getting a sub sandwich in his Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts and sandals. He said he felt someone look at him and he turned around and saw us smiling at him. He told us he has known people from the church and wanted to know more about what he had to offer.
We got to talking and he invited us to join him at a table. Since then it became our place to meet every week, soon turning into more frequent meetings and lunches.
Vernon, well he is an interesting man. He has a very diverse background and knows a lot about everything. In our first meeting he said, “Back then they did hands on healing but no one wants to talk about that these days.” We got to teach him about the priesthood and he loved it.
Sister Dever, Vernon Jarvi, and Sister Hodges
Vernon was baptized on May 5, 2024, surrounded by his new church family.
After Vernon got baptized he told us: “I have gotten baptized quite a few times but this, this was different.” He also said that receiving the Holy Ghost was the most amazing feeling.
Vernon was very interested in going to the temple and on May 14th we got to go with him to the Atlanta Georgia Temple. He loved it and wants to go again to the South Carolina Temple so he can then make a round trip to the beach and to go to his favorite restaurant out there.
Getting to know Vernon was amazing and it was 1000% in God’s plan for us to meet him that day.
Bradley Martijn was referred to us by his step-father who is a member of the church. His mom had a remarkable dream just a few weeks before he met the missionaries. In her dream, she saw her son wearing white and ready to be baptized, and she felt an incredible happiness. She woke up in joyful tears.
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The missionaries originally came to visit a member living in the home and started teaching the rest of the family. After taking the lessons, Bradley began to read the Book of Mormon and knew that he should be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints. He said that he just knew he needed to do it and felt like it was the right time.
Bradley was baptized on March 2, 2024 and is a member of the Loudon Ward.
Charlie was just living life as any normal 13-year old boy would: playing football, going to school, enjoying life to its fullest. A friend then invited him to a church that he went to. It was a Christian church of another faith, but there he started to feel the Spirit testify of Jesus Christ and he loved that feeling. That spiritual momentum carried him to get baptized into that church.
Eventually though, people found out that his mom was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or as they called them “Mormon.” They started to treat him differently for it and he was left feeling confused about why people would treat him or his mom differently. He took these concerns to his mom and was wondering why people would be like this, and if there was anyone who would welcome him and help him get as close to Jesus Christ as he could.
His mom, who was not actively participating in the church, knew what Charlie needed. He needed the blessings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his life. She knew he needed the power that came from the Book of Mormon, but she didn’t have one. She went on Facebook and found one being offered for free by Elder Bonham who wasn’t even in the Dayton area anymore.
Elder Bonham sent Elder Hatcher and Elder Jackson the referral and when they called her that Saturday they asked when they could drop a book off to her. She replied with “Oh, we will just be at church tomorrow! You can give us one then.”
The next day the Elders met Charlie, his mom, and his two sisters. A whole family had come back to the church. This was the first time that Sister Bowen had been in church since Charlie was born. Truly a miracle.
After that, Charlie’s progress quickly began to skyrocket. He was taught the lessons, reading the Book of Mormon, praying, coming to church, and even sharing the Book of Mormon with friends at school! During a lesson with him, his mom, and members he was friends with, the Elders invited Charlie to be baptized by someone who was authorized by God to perform that ordinance. Before he could answer, his mom looked at him and said “Are you sure this is what you really want? This is a lifelong commitment and I won’t let you do it if you’re not all in.”
Charlie responded with a powerful testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He testified that he knew the Book of Mormon was the word of God, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that Jesus Christ’s church was back on the earth today.
Elder Taylor, Charlie Bowen, and Elder Hatcher
Charlie was baptized on April 7, 2024. The plan was to baptize him there, then confirm him at church next week (since it was General Conference weekend) once the member he wanted to confirm him was back in town. But, due to a youth temple trip that was happening the next week, Charlie was baptized, confirmed, and given the Aaronic Priesthood all in one day. He then went on a youth temple trip with all his friends in the branch the very next week on April 14th.
The next day, his first sacrament meeting as a member of the church, he passed the sacrament. Charlie has since given the missionaries two referrals because he just keeps sharing the gospel. Some people have tried to drag him down, and make him question his faith, but he knows what’s true, and he’s not shy to talk about it!
“Hello, my name is Isamuel. Before I came to America, I had a lot of faith in Jesus Christ and in the power of prayer. I talked with God as I went through hard times. He helped me and guided me in all things. As I continued through my difficulties, I saw signs of the hand of the Lord guiding me and helping me overcome all that I was facing.”
Samuel was found when the missionaries were teaching his cousin, Cecelia, and her significant other, Fabian. He joined in on the lesson when they invited Cecelia and Fabian to be baptized, and they all said yes! Cecelia and Fabian ended up having to wait to be baptized so they could get married first, but Samuel went through with his date and is now a confirmed member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
About being found by the missionaries, he shared, “I had doubts about what church I should join, so I prayed. A few days passed, and later, out of the blue, someone knocked on the door and it was the sister missionaries and an Hermano from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I knew it was God answering my prayer as He had in the past. I then knew the truth about which church to join and now I am a member of the church.”
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The growth that Samuel experienced in a relatively short amount of time is monumental. Cecelia, his cousin and close friend, mentioned to the Hermanas how proud she was of him and how much he had changed since accepting the gospel and strengthening his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Samuel himself said that he felt himself becoming more patient, having better relationships with his friends and family, and more strongly feeling God’s love for him!
One experience that left an impression on Samuel was the first time that a member came with the Hermanas to a lesson. He said that he really appreciated how the member shook his hand, listened to him, and how strong his testimony was. Throughout the teaching process, the missionaries brought many members with them to aid in teaching the lessons. Samuel formed special friendships with members in the process, including Jim Knott, the branch mission leader, Felipe Hernandez and Sergio Salazar, other members of the branch. Hermano Jim Knott performed Samuel’s baptism on April 14, 2024, and Samuel received the Aaronic Priesthood on May 19, 2024. He is currently preparing to go to the temple with Cecilia and Fabian for the first time as a family.
About going to church, he said, “The first time that I went to church, it felt nice and I felt like I was home. Compared to the church I went to before, where no one greeted you and I felt bored, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I feel peace, calmess, the Holy Ghost, I feel like I belong with the members, and I feel a connection with each of them. I feel fortunate to be a member of the church because I know that God is helping me everyday and that He is with me.
“I know that the Lord has answered each of my prayers, and I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
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TAbout going to church, he said, “The first time that I went to church, it felt nice and I felt like I was home. Compared to the church I went to before, where no one greeted you and I felt bored, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints I feel peace, calmess, the Holy Ghost, I feel like I belong with the members, and I feel a connection with each of them. I feel fortunate to be a member of the church because I know that God is helping me everyday and that He is with me.
“I know that the Lord has answered each of my prayers, and I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Jonper moved to Hendersonville, North Carolina, from Pohnpei, Micronesia, shortly before his baptism. His wife had arrived a few months prior, and was taught and baptized by the missionaries 7 months before Jonper made the trip to the states.
Jonper has been close to the church his whole life. His best friends are all members of the church, and many of his children, who still live in Micronesia, are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In the Micronesian Branch here in North Carolina, Jonper has been known as “the stubborn one.” Jonper had been taught by missionaries numerous times back on the island, but refused to take any steps toward conversion.
Something changed for Jonper when he decided to come to the states. A new world, with new beginnings. He knew that baptism by proper authority was something that he needed in his life. Our Branch President, who is one of his good friends, told Jonper before he came: “When you get here, I am dunking you in the water.” And that is close to exactly what happened!.
Right as he arrived, the local members introduced Jonper to the missionaries, reporting that he wanted to be baptized just like his wife. They taught him the lessons and he was doing remarkably well. Jonper only had one concern, the Word of Wisdom. He was partaking of substances very common in Pohnpei, yet contrary to the commandments. Missionaries were told that he needed lots of time to overcome this trial, and that they would let us know when he is ready to be taught again. So the missionaries stopped teaching Jonper, and trusted that the Lord would help him overcome his addiction.
Just a couple weeks later, after I was transferred to the Micronesian Branch, we got a call from Morney, one of Jonper’s closest friends. In Morney’s own words, he said:
“Hey Elders! Jonper has been off that stuff for a couple weeks now and he’s ready to get baptized. How many lessons do you have left to teach him?”
We responded with joy and excitement: “Just one!”
“Okay, come to my brother’s property and teach him today. This guy is ready bruh, he is ready.”
The day Jonper (white shirt) accepted the invitation to be baptized and confirmed.
So we went to the middle of nowhere in the forest of North Carolina, and had a lesson and a meal with Jonper, Morney, and others. There, as we sat around a fire, we taught Jonper the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and invited him to be baptized. He easily accepted the invitation, knowing the gravity of this commitment.
Just a week and a half later, on April 27, 2024, Jonper was baptized by Morney Alati, his good friend who had been there the whole time. Jonper speaks very little English, so daily contact was not really possible for us. However, Morney had daily contact with Jonper, and helped him prepare to be baptized.
Jonper’s baptism – April 27, 2024
At Jonper’s baptism, Morney told me: “I never expected this to happen. Jonper…man he’s hard headed. Something changed in him, he didn’t like the church before, now look at him.”
Just a couple Sundays later, Jonper bore his testimony during Fast and Testimony meeting. It was all in Pohnpeian, but even those who speak Pohnpeian said his testimony couldn’t be translated into English because of the eloquence and power with which he testified.
Now, Jonper and his wife Karlihna are making steps toward entering the House of the Lord to be sealed as husband and wife, and enjoy the blessings of an eternal marriage.
Jonper’s life is forever changed, because he had good friends that continuously shared with him the good news… the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
On February 10th 2024, Nikki was surprised to see two missionaries knocking on her car window.
She reluctantly rolled the window down and listened to what they had to say. She felt strangely happy to have met them, but she was apprehensive to meet with them again. After a month of persistent contact with the missionaries, she gave into meeting with them.
After meeting with them twice, she attended sacrament meeting for the first time. She came two hours early to ensure she would not be late. She was greeted warmly by a couple of members who showed her around the church building. One of the members was her 4th-grade teacher, “Miss Reed,” whom she loved dearly.
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Over the next few weeks, her faith grew, and she started meeting with the missionaries more frequently and was honored when the missionaries invited her to prepare for baptism. Brother and Sister Reed became her honorary cheerleaders and supported her all the way through baptism. She started bringing her 4-year-old daughter, Ember, to church with her, and had insisted on coming every week since.
After weeks of saying her baptism day could not come soon enough, she found herself grinning from ear to ear as she entered the baptismal font. Nikki was baptized on April 13, 2024.
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She recounts her experience saying, “I think the most profound thing I’ve experienced throughout is finding myself speechless when feeling the spirit. When I was baptized, all I could do was cry happy tears. The temple was not only stunning but also felt so holy and you just felt God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit throughout.”
Nikki attended the temple for the first time one week after her baptism and now helps the ward with their family history.
DJ is from Pohnpei and was baptized on the island in a catholic church. However, it didn’t have much meaning to him and it didn’t change how he thought and acted.
He moved to South Carolina, but could feel he wasn’t on the path he needed to be. So he moved here to Asheville, North Carolina to live with some family. DJ moved in with strong members who recently got sealed as a family in the temple. They were great examples to him and helped us as we taught him.
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DJ believed everything we were teaching him, and he overcame every obstacle that came in his way. His testimony was growing, and it was evident that his life was getting better from it.
He was baptized on March 9, 2024. Since then, he hasn’t been shy to share his solid testimony. He has since moved back to Pohnpei to be with his family. He is being an example to his family back home who are not members of the church.
The missionaries were in Target and found Connor as he was roaming the aisles. They invited him to church so Connor brought them over to his mom Shena and said, “I found these girls! Do you want to go to church with them?”
But it took some time for Connor and Shena to actually come to church. That first weekend they were sick, so they didn’t attend sacrament meeting like they had planned. Then Shena had to work on Sunday. But even though they didn’t come to church, they agreed to let the missionaries begin to teach them.
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As she began to learn, the first question Shena had was, “Why would God, if he loves us and we’re his children, why would he send any of his children to burn in hell?” The missionaries were able to answer that question! They taught her the Plan of Salvation and Shena felt the spirit so strongly. After that lesson, everything just made sense to her.
Shena loved that central to Heavenly Father’s plan for the happiness of His children was the family. Another principle that helped her make the decision to be baptized was the hope she felt of being able to see family members that have passed away.
Ever since meeting with the missionaries, Shena has been the happiest she’s ever been her entire life. This was something that stood out to Connor and helped him decide to also be baptized. He saw how much it meant to his mom and how much it was changing her life. As he was preparing for baptism, the missionaries asked him to pray about this decision. He heard the Spirit tell him it was the right decision and moved forward with excitement!
A few days before her baptism, Shena found out her friend Ann, who she had known for a long time, was also a member of the church. At her baptism, she heard a voice while she was changing in the bathroom. She immediately recognized it as Ann’s voice. The familiarity of her voice just gave her extra reassurance and confirmation that she really was doing the right thing. She had no idea Ann was going to come so that was a special moment for her.
Shena and Connor were baptized on April 12, 2024.
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A cool memory for Connor from his baptism was that his hair was still wet from his baptism when he was ordained a Deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood.
Shena and Connor went to the temple the day after being baptized. They had been members for less than 24 hours as they were immersed under the water a second time, but this time it was on behalf of family members that had passed away. Shena and Connor both said being baptized for family members was so special and that they felt the spirit so strongly as they were in the temple.
They continue to see God’s hand in their life and have found so much joy in being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
On May 21st, 22nd, and 23rd, we held zone conferences with our seven zones. The focus of this zone conference was to increase the number of our friends attending sacrament meeting each week. This focus was identified by our Mission Leadership Council in our council meeting held earlier in May.
Mission Leadership Council – May 2024
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At Zone Conference, Sister Barlow taught us about removing “lids” that may be limiting our efforts and success. She did this by showing a video about fleas.
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Sister Barlow taught us to have a “No Lids” mindset like Nephi.
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She then invited us to “bury our lids” by writing down any lid we have, and putting it in a jar as a symbol of our efforts to remove all lids from our missionary work.
She then taught us about how we can use technology more effectively to involve more members in more of our lessons. In addition to having members join us in person for lessons with our friends, we want to include them via the video and phone, even if only for part of the lesson to share the blessings of going to church and inviting our friends to attend church with us. Involving members more will help us increase the number of friends who attend sacrament meeting each week.
The sacrament is essential to applying the Doctrine of Christ in our own life. The sacrament helps to strengthen our faith in Christ and to reflect on His relationship with us. The sacrament is all about repentance and lifting the burdens of sin. The sacrament helps us renew the covenants we’ve made with God. It is all about the Spirit, so that we “might always have His spirit to be with [us].” And it is the one ordinance that we repeat over and over in our life to help us endure to the end.
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We reviewed the symbols of the sacrament with the bread and water and how they represent the physical and spiritual sides of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And we thought about the blessings we can promise others as they come and participate in the sacrament with us.
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As the missionaries learn to apply the sacrament in their own life, they will be able to teach it more powerfully with their friends.
We also had four workshops to help us improve our invitations to sacrament meeting:
Planning for members in lessons
Using technology to include more members
Inviting to church with greater power
Leveraging the power of Chapel Tours
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We closed out the zone conference with an “Avengers Assemble!” moment where we broke into zones for zone councils on how we can apply the invitations we received throughout the day.
We left with big goals to have more powerful experiences at sacrament meeting ourselves, and to significantly increase the number of friends who join us at sacrament meeting each week. It’s been remarkable to already see the faith and efforts of these wonderful missionaries to apply the things we learned.
Kingsport and Asheville Zone Conference (Johnson City)
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Knoxville and Cumberland Zone Conference (Farragut)
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Chattanooga, Cleveland, and Cookeville Zone Conference (Sparta)
Barlows in TKM 