13 August 2014 - I was pleased to welcome your son, Elder Williams to the Washington Spokane Mission this week.

13 August 2014
Dear Sister Williams,

I was pleased to welcome your son, Elder Williams to the Washington Spokane Mission this week. I’m happy to report that he arrived safely. I had the privilege of meeting and associating with him the day of his arrival and note that it is evident that he comes with a great desire to serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Elder Williams understands the role of the Holy Ghost in accomplishing the work here in the Washington Spokane Mission and has committed to live worthy of that power.

After prayerful consideration, I have called Elder Silver to serve as Elder Williams’s companion in the Spokane Washington area. It is our objective to call only the best missionaries to serve as trainers and I believe that your son is in excellent training hands. We expect that your missionary will serve in this area for the next 6 to 12 weeks as he begins his mission.

I have enclosed photographs of your missionary and assure you that Sister Mullen and I will love Elder Williams. Our great desire is that his time here will further establish him on the path of righteousness, as well as bless the many people he will serve.

Attached are the new updated recommended guidelines we have for parents. These guidelines are based on many years of accumulated missionary experience, especially those guidelines concerning personal contact with your missionary. Elder Williams needs your good example. I sincerely request that you consider them for the benefit of your son and his fellow missionaries.

The mission has a website where you can see what is happening in the mission. Go to: washingtonspokanemission.wordpress.com

You can send mail to your son at:


Elder Alex Williams3117 E MARIETTA AVE APT 1 
Spokane, WA
99207-5532Thank you so much for sharing Elder Williams with us. 

Sincerely,

Donald E. Mullen, President
WASHINGTON SPOKANE MISSION

August 12, 2014 - The're only greenies once in their mission.

Green breakfast.

On their way to meet their new companions. 

Hi all,

We had the privilege of housing you missionaries last night. We picked them up from the mission home about 9 pm yesterday. They had been up since 3 am and hdd been out tracking every since they arrived in Spokane. So, it was a long day for them. When they got to put home they went straight to bed. Well, at least they're rooms. They were pretty excited because they talking till 10:30.

In honor of their first day, we had green smoothies and green breakfast burritos (See picture.) The're only greenies once in their mission. The 2nd picture is just before they left to meet their new companions for the next 6 weeks.

They are great young men and will be a asset to our mission here in Spokane.

Have s great day!

Brother and sister Uptain

August 7, 2014 - Alrighty, one week down.

With his companion, Elder Pendell.

With his district. 

Alex with Jake Flynn and Spencer Evans.

Alex with Ethan England.

​Elder Pienaar (middle) - from South Africa going to Las Vegas and then my companion.

Alex with Davis Johnson.

Elder Barr - from California going to Las Vegas. 

August 7, 2014

Alrighty, one week down. Literally the longest week of my life. It feels like I've been in the MTC for a month. But I only have a few days until I get to go to Washington! I can't wait to finally get out there! So we've been teaching our progressive investigator Josh (really our teacher and we're just role playing) and he accepted to be baptized! Elder Pendell and I were so excited! It's just a role play but it gives you such a good feeling. Then we are teaching our TRC investigator (real investigator working at the MTC) and things have been going well. His name is Chad and he is a super nice guy. He was atheist but he said he knows there is a God now. Our conversations have been good and he's been asking us questions that we've been getting answers for him and he is very grateful for that. He is ready for the gospel! He just needs that little push! It's so fun to teach people! That's what gets me through. It's so good to help people see how the gospel can bless them and see them become happier. Josh has been happier every time we go to teach him. I'm so sorry I don't have pictures, I forgot my memory card, but if I have time to come back later today I will send them. P day is the greatest thing ever. It's so nice to finally relax but it's weird because we don't know what to do with our time. But it's still nice. So we got new elders yesterday. It helped me so much because it almost forced me to stop being so selfish and thinking about myself and just love the new elders! It's weird to think that I'm technically the veteran even though I've only been her for a week. But they are all cool guys and they will all be amazing missionaries. I know exactly what they're feeling. It was so so hard for me the first few days, but it's getting better. So I saw Weston Monson right as he came out from getting his name tag, so he was super fresh to the MTC. He looked terrified. He eyes were still red and he just looked like he wasn't quite sure if this is what he wanted to do. But I felt the same way and Jon Deiderich (if that's how you spell it) and I just ran up to him and gave him a big hug and told him we loved him. I saw him this morning and he looked a lot better. He said he was doing alright. I also saw Robby Borden and he was the same Robby as always. Super stoked about the gospel and so excited to be here and ready to teach. Both of them are going to be the best missionaries. So I've been eating a big salad with every meal and I've done my push ups and sit ups every day and I'm not fat.....yet. I'm going to work my hardest not to. My pants have gotten bigger. I've gotten to play basketball almost every morning, but it's so different. Missionaries are terrible at basketball, but it's still fun to lace up and play a little bit. My companion is still weird (and so am I) but we've gotten along well and I just have to love him. He doesn't really talk when we're giving lessons. Like at all. Sometimes I just have to stop talking and look at him so he'll say something, but that's ok. We're helping each other and improving every day. Coming here has made me realize how much I don't know. I'm so happy Brina challenged me to read the Book of Mormon or else things would have been that much harder. That challenge was such a blessing. Well I leave on Monday and that's kind of crazy. I'm so ready for it though. I'll be calling between like 5 and 9 am, but I don't know much other than that. I'll call a few times if you don't answer but turn the volume up on your phone. I love hearing from everyone and getting the letters and packages! I've gotten two packages from Dana Johnson, one from Steve Johnson, one from the Crofts, and one from the Bengtzens. I love them all so much. The other elders are all jealous because I've gotten six packages, but when I open them and share the food with them they are happy again! So thank you everyone for all of them! You are all in prayers and I think about you all the time! There is so much that has happened so I hope I'm not forgetting anything! Oh! Spencer Evans is in Romania now! It sucked to have to say goodbye to him again, but I love him and he's going to be an amazing missionary. The people of Romania are lucky to get him. I miss you all and I love you so much! Thanks again for all the letters and packages and prayers!

Elder Williams

August 30, 2014 - Wednesday was literally the longest half day of my life.

Bro. White - his MTC teacher from Grandma Vicki's ward.

Hey everyone! Well I don't have a ton of time to email. We got here on Wednesday and our first P day isn't until this coming Thursday. We only have one P day the whole time we're here. Wednesday was literally the longest half day of my life. It took so long to get to the end of the day. It feels like I've been here for a couple weeks. I just can't wait to get to Washington. We leave a week from Monday. We're leaving here at 4:30 in the morning and we're flying Delta and the plane leaves at 8:59 am, so tell Ronnie so he can find me if he's there that early. It would be awesome to see him. I hope you got my written letter, they told us to send one quick one on the first day. I can't think about home or else I get distracted and then it gets hard. I just have to think about what I'm doing here and why I'm doing it. Brother White is one of my teachers and his parents are Eric and Maylene (if that's how you spell it), so I think you know them. It's nice to have someone who knows people I do. I've seen a bunch of kids from school. Davis, Matt, Spencer Evans, Derrick Neff, Ryan Tatton, Matt Pettit, Jake Flynn, Henry Christensen, and there are probably others that I'm forgetting. I got a package from Dana Johnson today and it had a nerf basketball hoop and a coke and some oreos. She's so nice and I love her, so tell her thank you. Add her to the email list too.  Anyway, it's not bad here. I don't love it like a lot of people had, but I guess it's not awful. I'm just excited to get out in the field. Thank you for the support. I love you guys so much!!


Elder Williams