5/9/16 - 3rd LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: “GET YOUR VERN-ON…”…

“So…we’re in Delta, and it’s about 7:30 right now, elder…” Elder Stock said as he and Elder Jenkins sat in their car after filling up with gas for the long road from Richmond to Kelowna. “Where do you think we’ll end up before this car turns into a pumpkin?”

“Chilliwack?”

“Let’s shoot for Kelowna…”

“That’s faith, right there, elder…” Elder Jenkins put the Rogue into sports mode and they flew away majestically from the dystopic city of Surrey and the hubbub of the lower mainland. Night fell quick. With their brights on, they sped through the mountains of British Columbia. Elder Stock saw a motorcycle gang chasing them, weapons drawn. Then he realized he was just half asleep and hallucinating. Classic. “Elder Jenkins, we’re not going to make it to Kelowna…” Elder Stock admitted, looking at the digital clock and realizing they were running quite late. The sign notifying them that they were close to Merritt flew by. “Prayer answered. Let’s go to Merritt!” After some phone calls, the two missionaries ended up in Merritt and entered the apartment…only to find that two other companionships had the same idea as them. In total, eight missionaries slept in that small apartment that night. Most spiritually protected place in the world? Probably.

This week was incredible! We found so many miracles. We taught a new investigator named Joyce and invited her to be baptized and come to church. She said that if she likes our church on Sunday, that she’ll stay forever. We bought a cotton candy machine to make sure she really liked her first visit. Kidding! We’re not that desperate, but if anyone knows of a good cotton candy machine deal, we’d love to use that tracting. Who could say no, then? Foolproof…

She came to church, though, and loved it. Helped that it was Mother’s day and she got food! So, she bailed before we could set a baptismal date with her, but we’re seeing her tonight.

We also found a man on the street named Lawrence. He stopped us, said he wanted to talk about God with us, and told us to follow him. Now, I normally only follow Jesus Christ, but when you’ve got an opportunity to help someone come unto Him, well, then I take that opportunity. We followed him all the way back to his home, which was about a ten minute walk. We taught as we did so, and he grew more and more interested as we did. We entered his apartment and taught him the message of the Restoration formally. He loved it, and we testified of Jesus Christ together. He knew that we were sent from God. And he is meeting with the other missionaries in the area, now. They are really grateful for him.

We also met a new investigator named Cindy! She’s been through a lot in her life and is really just grateful to God for being here. It’s just amazing to see that truly what we have is here to bless the lives of everyone in the human family.

Another miracle of the week was being able to Skype my incredible mother! She’s so awesome, and loving, and supportive, and magnificent, and I forgot the other adjectives she requested to make this look genuine, but there you go!

I’m kidding. She really is so good. I’m grateful for my mom and for her teaching of the gospel in a way that has allowed me to truly choose to live it and accept my Savior Jesus Christ into my life. Because of her guidance, I am here today serving a mission in beautiful BC and loving every waking minute of it. In the pitfalls and even in the soaring mountain tops of success, I can see the Lord’s guiding hand in my life and I am grateful for that. I truly do know that Jesus Christ lives. I know through the power of the Holy Ghost, which entered into my heart as it did to King Lamoni, for it has “infused such joy into [my] soul” (Alma 19:6). He is our only hope in this world, and of Him I am grateful. Of Him, I testify. And I know that through His gospel, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith and delivered through the Book of Mormon, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. And truly, I know that our Father in Heaven has a plan for each and every one of us. He will make us greater than we ever imagined. So let’s all go and share this glad message with everyone around us!

Sincerely,

Elder Stock

Elder Jenkins and I in front of our sick mission banner…

 Stock and Stirland reunion!!!

 Making the accounting board for MLC. Let’s go baptize!!!

 Dinosaurs in Vernon…evidence….

Our Skype Call

 My Handsome Boy

 Blue Steel!

 I'm so impressed that he now closes his eyes for the prayer! Had to get proof!!!

5/2/16 - 2nd LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: "VERY VERNON..."

"This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him..." There was a pause as the words of Joseph Smith's First Vision were uttered. The room grew quiet, and a peace entered from the Comforter. Elder Stock - and the member he was on splits with - looked at her, their investigator, as she reflected on what she was feeling and what she had heard.

"What were some thoughts and feelings that you felt as you heard about Joseph's experience?" Elder Stock asked, knowing that the Spirit was definitely here.

"That it's true. I felt a warm, fuzzy feeling in my heart. I know it's true," she said, filled with joy from the message of the Restoration.

Well, the Holy Ghost is real. And he testifies of truth. He did that day and he does today, and he will continue to do that forever. And that's how we missionaries find success. We let the Holy Ghost come in and do the real work.

Being a missionary never ceases to thrill me. This week, I had the opportunity to teach a lot about the Restoration, and I can testify to you that each time I was able to do so, the Spirit bore witness that what I was teaching and what I knew to be true was indeed the truth. And I'm grateful for a Father in Heaven that's willing to keep us on the right path and not abandon us. I know He lives and loves us more personally and magnificently than we can comprehend. And more than that, He sees our potential and actively helps us get there.

Serving here in Vernon is a privilege. The area is so beautiful and the work is moving along quite nicely. God is in the details! We have a great, supportive ward, and incredible investigators. And the Spirit is so strong here, it's amazing! I love my companionship. Elder Jenkins and Elder Scully keep me grounded and help me to keep working harder than I think I can. So, that's nice.

Seriously, though, the Okanagan Valley is getting BALMY! I feel like I'm tracting in Arizona or something... So, that's always fun... Heck, maybe I'll have a tan coming home. You hear that, people? This man got a tan while he was in Canada! I could be a success story for some skin treatment firm or something...

Anyways, the work is going well here in Vernon. I also got to go out to Merritt, a little town in the middle of BC, and work with the elders there. And against all odds in that little town of 7,000, we found some incredibly solid investigators to teach in just one day. Heavenly Father sure is mindful of all of His children. I am grateful to be serving here. And I know that I come closer to our Savior as I do, "for how knoweth a man the Master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" (Mosiah 5:13). As we serve Him, we know Him. We are drawn closer to Him and to His intents, to His heart. And as we do, that is when the miracle of conversion occurs and we become instruments in His hand that can bring others to Him.

I've learned a lot about giving your heart in this Work, and what that really, truly means. I know that as we give of ourselves a little more each day, that He will lift us and aid us in our giving of the only gift we can truly give to our Savior: our heart--our willingness, our thoughts, our desires, our inner possessions. We can give them to Him, and He will bless us for it. With added faith, increased wisdom, confidence, boldness, a greater desire to obey, and firmer humility and reliance on Him.

I know that His Atonement is real and will redeem us as we turn to Him. But we cannot veer from His path. We cannot relax in this. Coming unto Christ takes effort and is not easy. But it is the most rewarding path we will ever walk. No matter what you've done, who you've hurt, where you've fallen, He is there to pick you up. You just have to reach out and He will lift you. I know that His gospel has been restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith and that the Book of Mormon is evidence of this and instruction on how to live it. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ really does bless families, no matter where they're at. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely,
Elder Stock

Shout out to Bahama Bucks! Thanks for the package. I'll pay you back with some almost Church-official product placement...

 Get your Vern' On!

 We got a flat tire...

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!!!!!!

(when I first saw this today, I thought they wrote "congrats on turning 50!" I was NOT happy. Thankfully, the next picture showed up much clearer.)

 "congrats on turning 30!" 

Much better, boys, much better.

4/25/16 - 1st LETTER FROM VERNON

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: VERNON

"Well, Elder Scully...we're in Burnaby right now, and we've got to get to Vernon way out in the Okanagan in about four hours....You ready, my man?"

Elder Scully turned to Elder Stock in the front of a new Nissan Rogue, with the look of determination on his face. "Oh yeah," he said in a manly falsetto voice. "Bring it on."

Elder Stock flipped the vehicle into sports mode and they went flying through the lower mainland and up nearly the entire width of BC towards their new area. No stops... Well, except for:

"Hey, we're low on gas....and I need a Dr. Pepper. You down?"

"Sure..." said Elder Scully.

And they were off again! Through canyons, mountains, forests, and valleys. They arrived in their new home: Vernon. Of course, they had to pass through Kelowna...and we all know that it's a long road from Nanaimo to Kelowna! The dynamic duo made it to the city that needs them, and were met by their heroic third companion: Elder Jenkins. And they went to work.

The week was incredible. I enjoyed the drive to the Okanagan and it was really fun to be able to come back to this area of the mission. It is WARM up here! (I googled to see how warm it was when he arrived. Vernon was having record breaking temperatures at 81 degrees fahrenheit. I don't know if my boy can handle the heat in Arizona anymore) I got to bust out my short sleeves again. Time for that missionary/farmer tan! This week, we started working in Vernon and preaching the gospel like crazy. We saw some huge miracles so far, such as a random woman seeing us in downtown, then wanting to talk to us but we had left, and then we felt inspired to tract on her street and she ran out of her home, wanted to meet with us and is now progressing towards baptism. Whoa, people. It's like the Hastening or something!

We got to know our zone. The missionaries here in the north Okanagan are incredible. Our zone is on fire. My companions are really great. Elder Jenkins hails from Bountiful, Utah, and is really good at just about everything and being a great, hardworking missionary on fire. Elder Scully comes from the far away land of Edmonton, Alberta, and is a boss at finding out scriptural lineages and making the best voice impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Morgan Freeman of all time...that's a plus.

We are seeing crazy miracles, the ward is legit, and everything is going really well. I am learning a lot at this point in my mission about the heart and how to give that to the Lord. I am doing everything I need to be doing, but the way to improve from there is to give of your heart to Him and really allow Him to change your nature. And I am learning that, I love my Savior. He is there right beside me and He redeems me when I fall. He makes me into the missionary He needs in His vineyard. His words this week from the Doctrine and Covenants stood out to me. He said, "yea, [you have] undertaken a greater work; therefore, I will make [you] as flaming fire and a ministering angel; [you] shall minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation who dwell on the earth" (D&C 7:6).

I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and He is at the helm of this great Work of Salvation. Wherever you go, He is with you. So long as you come unto Him. Because He has come unto you. I know that He invites us all into His rest, and that He has restored His everlasting gospel to the earth once more through a living prophet. He has brought forth more of His word. The Book of Mormon is true, and it is the instrument we need to draw closer to our Savior than ever before. We live in dark times. Trials come our way that we can't foresee, temptations surround us that seem impossible to overcome, sadness looms over top a world that on the surface looks so "put together". But amidst the challenges we face, amidst the perils and pitfalls of this broken world, we can find hope, peace, and comfort through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that I am called of God by a prophet. And this great Work will never cease. Until He says it does.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have a great week,
Elder Stock

Possible the last ferry ride.... :(

 Elder Scully and I gearing up for the long road!

 Our first view of Okanagan Lake!

 TERRIFYING Primary posters in Canada...

 The TRI to end all TRIs!

 Elder Jenkins and I at a Mexican food hole in the wall...

4/18/16 - 13th LETTER FROM NANAIMO

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: 'NAM-NAIMO...

"Elders, we're sorry to call you.. What we're about to tell you saddens us, too...." the assistants to the president said over the phone. Elder Stock and Elder Stirland looked at each other, panic in their eyes.

"No!!!" they yelled in unison.

"Yes, elders. We're calling on behalf of President Burt. With some transfer news..."

Needless to say, Elder Stirland and I are going to be having different companions this transfer. And I'm no longer going to be on the island! I am heading off to Vernon, out in the beautifully balmy Okanagan Valley. Now, if you remember your study of The Missionary Journeys of Elder Stock, you will notice that this isn't the first time I've been to the Okanagan Valley. But Vernon is a little more north than Westbank. I am so excited to go there and to be able to serve in this zone!!!

Maybe I'll get to find the infamous monster of Lake Okanagan...the Ogopogo!

I've had such a blast here in Nanaimo. Vancouver Island is precious land, and I am grateful for the time I was allotted to return here. The members on the Island are incredible, and the people here are, as well.

This week, Elder Stirland and I found a miracle new investigator as we were finding by the Spirit. We were walking through the south end of our area, in the sketchy part of the city, and seeing lots of fun "mission story" people. But we wanted to find people to teach, not just to talk about later. So we decided to go farther up into a street we had never seen before called View Street. On it, we found a young single adult named "R". He's from China and lives in an immaculate house. He goes to VIU and studies fine arts. He was so interested in what we had to share, that he let us in and we taught him the message of the Restoration. Even though he has very little Christian background, he was so excited at what he learned, and wants more of it. He committed to baptism in May and to come to church...which he did the next day! He is loving it and is soaking up the gospel.

The Lord is preparing His children all over the world! And we, as missionaries, can find them and teach them as we rely on the Lord to do His work.

We had a really great zone meeting this week! Nanaimo is on fire!!! We learned how to be great missionaries, and how to press forward even through trials.

Anyways, this is going to be a great transfer! I can't really talk, as I have to catch a ferry soon. But I will update you all more on how epic this week will be.

Sincerely,
Elder Stock

Nanaimo Zone Meeting!

 "On Fire" announcement

 The banner.... to announce our new found fire!!!

 Reflecting on life and discipleship out by the end of the world...

 Starfish be like....

 Me and the starfish...

 Elder Stirland and I's family picture frame!!!

 Starfish hang out spot.

 Homemade burgers...how to break a fast right! ;)

 My personal, narcissistic shrine...

 The storm clouds of life...come at me!!! 

Just kidding....just kidding....

4/11/16 - 12th LETTER FROM NANAIMO

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: 'NAM-NAIMO....

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life!" (John 4:14). Jesus Christ has promised us everlasting life. Everlasting knowledge, everlasting love, everlasting peace. All we need to do is to partake of it.

The joy of partaking continually is that we have something to continually partake of. There is no end to our gospel knowledge, no end to our conversion, no end to our trials, and no end to our joy. But there is an end to death and sin, and it is through Christ that we find this. I know that He is there. That He lives. That He loves us. I have seen that so plainly here in British Columbia and even throughout my pre-mission life. And I am so deeply grateful for Him and His atoning sacrifice. I am grateful that right now, I have an opportunity to help others to feel of His love and His redemptive power.

This week, I had the opportunity to teach many people of this. A family, the Littles, were found this week and came to church. The mom is really grateful for the opportunity she has to come to church and for her kids to be involved in it. And, as a side-bonus, the little boy that was baptized recently - Leslie - is best friends with one of the new investigator kids! God's hand is in this Work!!!

Elder Stirland and I were able to go to a special meeting out in Richmond this week and get reunited with some old friends around the mission. I got to see Elder Murray and Elder Petersen again, who were in my zone back in Burnaby!!! Blast to the past! At this meeting in Richmond, I was able to speak about "pressing forward amidst trials on your mission", and it was incredible to be able to teach and learn by the power of the Spirit. I summed it up into five points to face trials with confidence and joy. First: to pray fervently and secure your place, second: strengthen your testimony of the plan of happiness and the doctrine of the role of trials in that plan, third: seek the word of God (scriptures, a priesthood blessing, words of leaders around you) and then apply what you learn, fourth: lose yourself in the service of others, and work harder than you ever have, and fifth: have confidence in your call as a missionary. KNOW that you are called of God. And if you aren't a missionary, KNOW that you are a child of God. Doing these five things will ensure that you can rely on the Savior during times of need. And as you do, He will support you. I have seen that vividly in action out here, and am grateful for the lessons I have learned. Just know that our Heavenly Father loves you!

As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated beautifully in this last general conference. "The first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind and strength--that's the first great commandment. But the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life" (Jeffrey R. Holland, "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You"). Let's all press forward a little better this week and find ways to strengthen our brethren! He will bless us as we do. Because He loves us more than we can ever know.

Have a great week!
Elder Stock

Me and Elder Murray. He's in Kelowna YSA right now...I picked him up on his first day in the field...Whoa!!!

 The Georgia Strait coming back to Nanaimo...

 Elder Stirland and I's family picture wall. The Nanaimo zone is where it's at!!!

4/4/16 - 11th LETTER FROM NANAIMO

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: 'NAM-NAIMO...

"Hey, Leslie...what do you like most about praying....?"

"I like that I get to say 'hello' to my Heavenly Father..."

That is why we are here. To help others to know their Father in Heaven, and to follow Him and experience His plan of happiness.

I am so grateful to be a missionary, and to be able to go forth with faith each and every day in this great work. I am grateful for the blessing it is to be able to help others to receive this restored gospel. Truly, this is the work of the Lord. If knowing that our Savior lives, loves us, and is reaching out to every single person on earth doesn't get you pumped up to share the gospel. I don't know what will!

So, this week was general conference, if you didn't notice. And as a missionary, general conference is the best. It's hype level is like the midnight premiere of your most anticipated summer blockbuster, and everything that the speakers say is like a golden nugget that you cannot wait to incorporate into the lessons you teach. In short, it is just incredible.

I know that the words they spoke at general conference are of God and are true. That as we apply them into our lives, we will be blessed. I am still in post-conference spiritual digestion overload mode, but I know that Heavenly Father has provided us with these words because he sets forth patterns for us all so that we may not be deceived by the adversary. As we follow them, and are faithful unto His commands, we will receive a bounty of promised blessings that will help us wherever we are in life.

"And the days have come; according to men's faith it shall be done unto them" (D&C 52:20). Let's have more faith and see these blessings fulfilled!!!

I know that this Church is true, that the Lord Jesus Christ is the head of it and that He has restored His gospel and the truths we need to return to live with our Father in Heaven. And I know that His priesthood is powerful. We need to let that power run through us! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sincerely,
Elder Stock

Elder Stirland and Elder Stock enjoying DQ!

3/29/16 - 10th LETTER FROM NANAIMO

THIS WEEK ON MISH LYFE: 'NAM-NAIMO...

"But it'll still hurt my eyes...."

The words rang in my head as Leslie Johnny stood in the font after attempting to be baptized twice, but to no avail. He was scared. He has swimming acne and was genuinely terrified of being completely immersed in water. His child-like faith had gotten him so far. But he had reached the point of no return. The fear he felt right now was unlike anything he had experienced.

"It'll be ok." I tried to comfort him. It wasn't going to work. He didn't want to be baptized. Not right then.

"It'll still hurt my eyes...." My companion and I looked at each other. It was time to call it quits. But it seemed unfair. He had come so far...for this?!

This week, Elder Stirland and I had the privilege of being able to help Leslie and Macaira Johnny to come unto Christ through baptism and confirmation by the restored priesthood authority of God. It was terrific. We have been teaching these siblings for a little while, and their mom really wanted them to be baptized, but she wanted it to be their choice. After teaching them, they chose to be baptized to receive a remission of their sins.

We organized a baptismal service on Saturday afternoon for them, and it went wonderfully. Macaira was baptized in one try, and then...it was Leslie's turn. The combination of a crowd of people to witness him and his fear of water proved too much for him. He walked away from his baptismal service that day very disappointed.

As a missionary, that day was so, so stressful. We went back and taught Leslie again, and asked him what he could do to be baptized. He still wanted to be, but he was just not expecting it to be hard for him. Finally, he built up the courage and decided to try again the next day right after church. He practiced a new position in the font where he would squat instead of leaning back in the water.

We had a very private service and he was so excited to try again. He began to walk down the stairs and said to himself, "I can do this!"

As he got into the water, he looked very determined to be baptized this time. The words were spoken and he squatted down all the way under the water. Seeing him fully immersed and feeling the Holy Spirit of Promise confirm the ordinance was such a blessing. All of my stress about the baptism went away,  and I saw this little child of God walk out of the font yelling "That was awesome!"

That's our purpose right there. Let's all reach out and help our brothers and sisters come unto Christ. So that they can feel of His goodness and realize His love for them. It truly is awesome. Leslie, thanks for reminding me of that!

We had our zone conference up here in Nanaimo. It went really well, and we are all pumped to go out and to see miracles. President Burt is such an inspired mission president. I am grateful for him. Truly, I am.

My former companion, Elder Gawrys, and I went on an exchange. While we were tracting someone decided to take a picture of us. And now we're famous on the Internet here in Nanaimo....apparently, we were trying to steal souls.... Well, I don't know about you, but ...I don't even know how to steal one. Just how to save one...

We are having so much fun up here. Missionary work is the greatest joy you can ever feel. And I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ, is with us in this work. He is there with us in our deepest sorrows, in the pouring, freezing rain. And He is there with us in our brightest triumphs, as we witness others come unto Him and become more powerful instruments in His hands. He is there with us always, and will not cease to be with us. His gospel is life-giving and unending.

As Alma said to his son after a bit of fatherly counsel, "Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same in not compelled to come..." (Alma 42:27)

The waters of life are available to all of us. What are you going to do about it? Partake? Or what? I know without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer. Our Friend. He is our advocate with the Father, and will help us to reach our Heavenly Home. The plan of salvation that has been revealed unto us it true, and has been restored by a loving God to a living prophet. I know that we have a prophet today, and am excited to hear the Lord's voice through Him this next weekend. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

Sincerely,
Elder Stock

Baptism of Leslie and Macaira Johnny!!!

Polar Bears are on the money here...Canada, man! I love it!

 Someone thought we were up to no good...so they decided to tell the world about it...

 Nanaimo....the city needs me.....

 Ammonite Falls....what a place!