First off, I'm grieved about Hammy's passing from this world. Don't worry, I'll find another to send :)
This week was slower, most of our investigators were sick and on top of that, we had zone conference on Wednesday. We still had some great lessons, Jimmy (well he's always amazing.) He was a helicopter gunner in the military for 20 years and is such a treat. We figured out that his wife who is less active, is the key to getting him to church and committing to baptism. She felt like she would be judged because of the divorce she went through. We had a church tour with them and I found that our concerns people can have about church are usually easy to wash away when we realize the why and how things really are.
Carlos was doing fantastic but unfortunately he went on the internet to find out about Mormons and what do you know? He found false information which is strange, the internet is always a reliable source. We're going to stop by and try to explain how everything he was talking about is false and what we are actually like. I really hope he can be understanding because he was a very bright and enjoyable hombre
Monday we got a call from the assistants asking if I could play the hymns for Zone conference. Of course I said "Yes, I can play those songs" when I had never practiced them ever. I think I practiced harder than I had ever in my life, well, at least when I came to my senses and realized what I had agreed to. Proud to say I got it down pretty good and shocked president when I busted open the organ (figuratively) and played them with such faith and prayers. Luckily things didn't crash and burn. Yay!
Elder Nistler and I are jiving pretty nice now. We're at the point where we can say what we feel throughout the week and be totally cool. I really have had great companions and with transfers coming up soon I'm wondering if my streak will end.
Sunday was a little different. At zone conference President Griffin asked us to keep to a low profile at church and then to stay home unless we had set appointments. While I was on exchanges with the zone leaders who's area is in plain sight of the stadium, we could see the blimps doing circles all day. Sunday night we got together as an apartment and made some scrumptious mexican tacos and veggie pasta mix. Man, I loved having that time to make food and relax.
This week is going to be awesome.
Love you guys!!
Oh cool story,
On exchanges with the zone leaders, we were knocking on less active YSA aged doors to see if they still lived there. Things weren't going swell until we stopped at this house Elder Hamilton decided to go to out of the route we had set. When the guy answered he got a little emotional. He told us he was baptized last May in North Phoenix and moved out here soon after so he didn't have any contact with this new ward. He kept saying we answered his prayers and that his testimony was strengthened. He was going to go to the NFL experience but decided to catch up on homework instead which proved to be the best thing because his buddies got in a crash after drinking which could have been fatal for him. He was feeling discouraged and felt like he wasn't being a good Mormon. When he finished talking about all this he expressed a desire to go to the bishop and get things in order so he could get his patriarchal blessing and start working on going on a mission himself since he's 22. That was a really nice moment. Those are the silver linings everyone talks about. Whoo!!
January 26th 2015
Candles are my favorite thing now. Unfortunately things are starting to get warmer so I'll have to hold out with the one I have till it gets chilly again.
On exchanges this week Elder Brown and I were walking up to a former investigator's house in the dark. Elder Brown asked if "this house" was the right one and from the porch we hear an immediate response, "Yes this is". Michael Adams who I had only met once was that guy and honestly scarred me out of my crocs that I don't own. He's such a cool dude and reminds me of Jesse from BB. He explained to us that he wants to get back on track and go to church and do "all that stuff" I was a little cautious but he was completely genuine. Last night (sunday) we had a lesson in his room, all three of us Indian style sitting on the floor-kinda fun, not going to lie- and we got down to the nitty gritties of what was holding him back from being baptized before. He's changed a lot since I had last saw him and man what a cool dude. He commited to the 7th so wahoo! We're really getting things moving along. I guess the time is right, there really isn't an explanation I can give to why things are different now. I'm also not complaining :).
It's awesome to see how much Taylor has changed from his baptism. We have some lessons set up with an older man (eric-the member who never was) because he has an impact on him. Pretty sweet! Getting Taylor set up to go with the youth to baptisms for the dead on the 31st is one of my favorite times of the day! Our Verrado ward really does a good job of fellowshipping and welcoming him and Michael into the ward.
My spanish is improving which is always good. I understand how to use some of the tenses a lot better and things aren't so tense when I use one instead of another.
I heard a quote this week that I'd like to share. "We don't always know what is ahead, but the Lord does"- Neil A Anderson. I love this very short quote because even though I don't know what will happen tomorrow, I know who does and that he loves all of us. It's so cool for me to be here on the Lord's errand. I get to Teach people all day, every day. It's the fantastic!
Thanks for all of the emails and prayers you offer for this work. I feel so blessed and loved. You guys are the beeeeest!
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