December 19, 2011

December 19, 2011 - Week 4 of Transfer 16

I loved your emails this past week! Returning home is coming quick, before I know it this transfer will be over. It is an extremely weird feeling and the only way to explain it is as a "jacked up" feeling, excuse my language. I have definitely changed and when I come home I will remain changed. Obviously I can't take the great principles I've learned on my mission and import them into my life at home but I will apply them and keep them. I do not want to get caught up in the world, that is such a temptation for me (worldly things). I was given a ride to and from Sister Isom's baptism from Luke Hendrick's, someone I have become great friends with on my mission (a mentor for me). He is a solid return missionary and we talked alot about personal standards and such, it helped. Today we are having lunch with Toni Bertolino who is in town and I will see what advice he has. Enough of this conversation!

This week has been full of miracles, each week in this area is getting better and better. We are hoping to set mission records in January for the number of baptisms in one month. You may think all we care about is baptisms but we make sure they are converted to the Lord and stress the importance of repentance and enduring to the end. For example check out this sweet story. That story of the family I shared with you a couple weeks back (one about bringing the whole family to church and daughter sharing testimony), well their son got baptized yesterday! The father was ordained to the office of a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday and was able to baptize his son... as he did it tears were brought to his eyes. This past week we met with the parents and invited them to pay a full tithe, yesterday they payed tithing. Their less active daughter as become strong in the Gospel and even invited her non-member friend to church. We will be teaching her friend in their home for the first time this Wednesday, we teach when we find and find when we teach. The family is committed and on their way to the temple.

We spoke in one of our wards yesterday and it was by far the most intense talk I have given. Elder Mayo was asked to speak for 6 mins and myself 8 mins but as I came to me there was still 25 minutes left in the meeting. A member of the Bishopric whispered to me just take as much time as you can... I took exactly 25 minutes and finished five minutes after the hour. I spoke on necessity of faith, hope and charity for exaltation.

Let me list off some of the good news from this past week. We went from 3 investigators to 8 investigators scheduled with baptismal dates and found six new investigators this past week. This Christmas season peoples hearts are turning to the Savior, its great! We have completely shocked one of our wards by bringing an entire family to church. A family they have been trying to work with for 20 years and have never got past the front door, the mom was anti-mormon. Well their son (19 yrs old) is now preparing for baptism on Januray 14th and hopefully a mission after. On sunday the father expressed that their other son who is 13 wants to prepare for baptism as well. The mom is our favorite though, she reminds me of you mom. She is a hoot.

Time is running short and I must go! I can share with you all the details you want in one week as we talk on the phone. What time works best for you? We have church from 9am-2pm so we are thinking 4pm or 7pm would be good for some chatting. Whatever time works best for you will be good for me. I will tell you all about Sister Isom's baptism on the phone, it was a way good baptism. I love that family. I can't wait till we come back and visit all these people I have come so close to.

Love you, love you.

Elder Pizzey.

December 12, 2011

December 12, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 16

Yikes another week and I feel like I can't remember a thing. If you thought my last email was lacking detail then wait for this one, I don't have much to share. But don't get me wrong it was a great week. It probably doesn't help that I haven't eaten lunch yet so I am not in much of an email mood. I received Lee Atwood's wedding invitation today... that is insane. I am so excited for him and I can't wait to send Elder Mayo one of those haha! Please send a little thank you note to Jason and Kams for there unreal Birthday/Christmas present and Lindsay for the excellent package she sent me recently. That Christmas phone call is coming up real quick, then before we know it February 22nd. It is such a weird thought, this just seems like life and I feel like it will never change but I guess it does?

 

I believe I forgot to mention something from last week. We had a mission conference last Saturday December 4th where Elder Christoffersen (Quorum of the 12) and Elder Hallstrom (Presidency of the Seventy) visited our mission and spoke to us for two hours. While everyone was seated waiting for him to arrive President Miller came and grabbed Elder Mayo and I so we could be the ones to great him at the front doors of the mission office. That was quite the experience. We waited for him outside then once he arrived we greeted him at his car and walked him to the chapel, it was tight. So many general authorities we meet!

 

Currently we are living in the basement of one of our ward mission leaders and they are excellent people. We have a bedroom for our stuff, do our studies on a ping pong table and share the kitchen upstairs. At first this housing situation was only to be temporary but it has lasted for more than a year. Just yesterday one of our high councilmen found a new home for us and we hear it is quite the place. We will be moving next Monday and I will inform you of the places status since it seems your so interested in where I sleep!

Whenever you meet someone who knows your family you get a weird chill down your spine, well that happened on Sunday. A brother from the high council and his wife spoke in one of our wards and this sister just kept starting at me. The Bishop, who loves us, welcomed us to the ward as he conducted the meeting and once this lady heard my last name she kept staring like she knew me! Her last name is currently Heninger and has a maiden name of King I believe? I gave her your phone number and said call my pops. She knows Doreen (nana) quite well and her daughter was best friends with Tara. I think, it was weird. The airport is going to be messed up.

The adjustment from being an assistant to a trainer has been excellent! At first it was a little different because you feel so lonely. As an assistant you report to President at least each night and are constantly at their home, work on this or that. You feel like you have a father and mother on the mission and as a trainer I feel like a foster kid or something! He still calls and ask that I call him whenever I got a miracle to share with him, in fact today he called. Last Saturday when I saw Sister Miller she put on a poughty face and came and gave me a hug. I love the Millers, they have greatly impacted my life. What else about the transition? Studies are 10x more enjoyable! They are never interpreted and you actually get to have them everyday no matter what. Currently I have been doing the "Book of Mormon Challenge" with Elder Mayo since all new missionaries are invited to do it. I am only doing the challenge of reading it in three months, I thought it would be nice to read it one more time before I come home. I love studying the scriptures. As a trainer all that stress is taken off and you can just focus! The things that are being taught to me are unreal! Each day I just realize how much I have to learn.

Ever since August the missionary department instituted a new schedule and curriculum for trainers and their new missionaries. For the first 12 weeks of a new missionary he has one hour of personal study (normal) and two hours of companionship study (change) and the trainers responsibility has been magnified. This new curriculum stress the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel and doctrines that the missionaries teach to their investigators. With the outlined training schedule that is given an obedient, yet new trainer and his new missionary can become some of the greatest Preach My Gospel missionaries in matter of 12 weeks. It has been a challenge yet much fun unfolding the scriptures and preach my gospel to Elder Mayo. I am really trying to awaken in him desire to hunger and thirst after the Word of God. Some how Elder England instilled within me this desire to learn and study for myself and I hope I can do the same for Elder Mayo.

Our area is doing well and there has been steady improvement since last week. Next Sunday we will be speaking and having a baptism. Darrius Dempsey a young boy will be getting baptized, we found them day one in this area and have been working on re-activating the entire family and so far its so good. In former areas of mine other investigators I have been deeply involved teaching will be getting baptized as well this coming weekend, including Sister Isom! I don't know if you remember them? Tell Daniel England about this one. We found the family tracting and she would never submit and accept a baptism date yet she has attend church every Sunday since began teaching the family (almost two years ago). Justin and Emily were baptized when Elder England and I were together and now the mother will be taking that next step completing the family as she is baptized this coming Saturday. I have stayed in contact with this family throughout my mission and its a miracle to see this happen. I am excited to attend. I hope your week goes well and I look forward to next weeks email. I really do love them.

Love your son, Elder Pizzey.

December 5, 2011

December 5, 2011 - Week 2 of Transfer 16

It has been a pleasure serving as an assistant for seven months. I love President and Sister Miller and I feel like I just left home again! It gets lonely out here! But things are great and we are about to baptize many people. I thank the Lord every night for this opportunity to train... I have never felt so motivated to work hard and be exactly obedient.

First the area. I lied last week! President Miller changed were I was going Monday night. I have been called to serve in the Draper Crescent View and Draper River View Stakes. I was sent there to whitewash the area and train a brand new missionary. Elder Mayo is my new missionary. He is from Rochester New York which is right by Palmira New York! He is 19 years old and is ready to go. We came into this area and had the baptism of the previous Elders ONLY investigator! That was nice but we were left with nothing, and the area book was junk. We have been working hard since day one and completely redid the area books. I tell you the area is prime pickins right now, I have never seen such success in a short amount of time. You can tell there has been very little trust with the previous Elders but that is quickly changing. We found four new investigators this past week and we are looking at least four new investigators this next week. A few of them have the possibility of being baptized in December but its looking like January is where the fruit of our labours will show. We have had miracles day after day this past week. We have been praying for families and we are currently working with four families and at the end of this next week it should be SEVEN families! I don't understand how the Elders were teaching ONE PERSON when we came into the area... Its confusing.

Sunday was successful. We were able to share our testimony in every single ward, afterwards the leadership is all over us asking us to do this and that. In one ward the Bishop saw us sitting with an entire less-active family (with unbaptized children) that they have never been able to get past the front door. As we knocked on that very same door she cracked it open and explained with a "closed" attitude that she wasn't interested. While she was speaking I lifted my foot and put it into the crack of the door said interrupting her, "it is cold, let us come in and talk with you" and we walked right into that house and taught a lesson. We taught a lesson with the entire family the very next day and taught the Restoration and focused on preparing to enter the temple as a family. As I mentioned above, they were at church and we sat with them. We shared our testimonies and challenged their 16 year old daughter to share with the ward what she shared with us at the lesson about her family. She walked up to the very front and bore a powerful yet simple testimony of her desire to be sealed to her parents. The Bishop was in shock! We scheduled an appointment for the parents to meet with the Bishop after church. After three hours of church the children waited outside as the parents met with the Bishop. Next we will help them fill out a tithing slip as they attend church once again. THAT'S NOT ALL. As the Bishop came to thank us for the work at the end of church we had more great news to share with him, "Bishop did you know a non-member family attend your ward today? We scheduled an appointment with them this Wednesday can you come with us" In the process of talking with everyone after sacrament meeting we found once again another family who had just moved from Taylorsville and thought they would try attending church. The Bishop loves us. He asked us to speak on the 18th of December in the middle of their Christmas ward choir presentation.

That is just ONE story! This letter is already to long but this is just a taste of the miracles we are experiencing daily. Elder Mayo is excellent and has come to the mission far more prepared than myself. He is very comfortable talking with people and likes to talk! I am focusing on helping him gain a love for the scriptures and become a Preach My Gospel missionary. He will be great. I have 11 weeks to help him become converted unto the Lord and prepare him to become a trainer if called upon. It is so hard to take everything I have learned and unfold it to him but I am learning. I love it out here. I love my past companions especially my trainer. Recently I have been so blessed to have Elder Atwood, Elder Bertolino and Elder Speigner as companions! All three have taught me so much and changed me life. With all I am giving it doesn't come close to what the Lord has given me, I am in dept unto him and will give my life in his service. I miss you and love you! Have a great week.

Love Elder Pizzey.

November 28, 2011

November 28, 2011 – Week 1 of Transfer 16

It has come! I will be training this transfer! As you know Wednesday is the actual transfer day, so early Wednesday morning is no more stress for me! So far I have covered three corners of the mission and I will be transferred this Wednesday to the North West corner where I haven’t served. It is called the Taylorsville North Central and Taylorsville Valley Park stakes. Currently Elder Wakefield is serving in this area but he is leaving with all the missionaries he came out with on December 20^th (mid transfer) so they can make it home for school. A new missionary and I will be coming to joining Elder Wakefield this Wednesday and we will serve in a threesome until December 20^th. It will be great way for Elder Wakefield to finish. Elder Wakefield is one of my favorite missionaries out here, he always ask “Pize when are we gonna be comps?” Well now it’s happening! He was in my district when I was serving as a district leader. If you remember a picture I sent home of my district (at a restaurant) you will be able to find him in it.

Elder Speigner will be serving with Elder McKinney and they will dominate. Elder McKinney is one of the greatest and we love him. Elder Speigner and I are usually with him every preparation day he is one of our greatest friends. He has been studying the scriptures every day since he was twelve years old and he almost competes with President on knowledge in the scrips, well not really… That’s an over statement. But none the less they will lead this mission in the right direction.

We just came out of Deseret Book. I bought the book “Answers to Gospel Questions” by Joseph Fielding Smith, and stocked up on some tools for scripture studies. As far as Christmas goes I think your thoughts were bang on, I really don’t need anything but when I return home I’ll have nothing. The only thing I will need to buy before I return home is a new white shirt (a nice new clean one for the plane) because mine are pretty nasty. I would like to buy a few books from Deseret Book before I return home as well so I don’t have to buy them online and pay for shipping when I’m Canada. Tell me what you think?

Our week went really well. We started teaching four new investigators and it’s looking bright for the area this December, it should be a white Christmas! We have had some miracles recently specially while fasting. A few weeks back we fasted for a baptism because we had none scheduled that week and a brother moved from Texas who was being taught by Elders there and was baptized that week! We fasted last week because we had no one committing for our last week together and one of our investigators had a change of heart and is getting baptized tomorrow at 6pm! It is an exciting way to leave the area. Well not too much detail in this letter but enjoy the rest of your trip! Don’t get caught up in that crazy world! I got a sick feeling in the stomach when you were describing the hotel, that’s disgusting. On a different note, you know who I haven’t thought of for a long time? Macy! How is she doing? I sure miss her. Talk to you next week, I will try to send a picture of our threesome.

Love your son, Elder Pizzey.

November 21, 2011

November 21, 2011 – Week 6 of Transfer 15


Where to begin… It has been a good week, like I mentioned last week it has been full of trainings. The leadership training (happens every 2nd month) was unique and turned out well. We pulled in all the district leaders of the mission and gathered them in the cultural hall of our mission office. There in the cultural hall I held a mock district meeting for an hour and half. I focused on teaching with and power and authority expounded on how we do that! In the 11th section the Doctrine and Covenants we learn from verse 21 there are two ingredients to teach with this divine power. Those two Ingredients are the spirit and the word. The entire training was focused on the power of the WORD, or in other words the importance of using scriptures in our lessons. I used Preach My Gospel to get into the details of how we should introduce, read and apply scriptures in our lessons.

The purpose of the “mock” district meeting wasn’t for the training itself but to give them an example of an effective district meeting which included district accountability and a training saturated in Preach My Gospel. I focused on following the training model which is to explain, demonstrate, practice, evaluate and repractice. It was unique in that we have never done training like this but it was extremely effective. In front of the white board we had a few tables out and 5 chairs around those tables for the elders of my “district”. Around the three point line of the court we had the 25 other district leaders observing and taking notes. President Miller was there on the side to pause whenever he would like to either highlight something I did well or to correct! It was much fun!

The following day we had another leadership training but this time the zone leaders were included. Elder David F. Evans of the seventy (1st quorum) presided at this training. He is the executive director of the missionary department and he had his entire crew there with him. Including my all time favorite Elder Stephen B. Allen the managing director of the missionary department. The training was given from these two good brothers and it was focused on chapter 9 of Preach My Gospel. They had about 10 others from the missionary department (including people from the MTC) observing this pilot training, it was quite intense. They highlighted many areas of improvement and helped us cut some of the traditions of our fathers. President, Elder Speigner and I had a solid half hour with Elder Evans before the training in President’s office. It has been unreal working with so many General Authorities as an Assistant to President Miller. BUT It doesn’t stop there. Last night Elder M. Russel Ballard of the Twelve spoke to our South Cottonwood Stake. We were able to meet him and introduce him to a few our recent converts.

As far as our area goes we did have an extremely successful week. This coming week we will be fasting and praying for a few our investigators mainly Aaliyah, Victoria and Lumeh. Something needs to happen with them and they all have the potential to be baptized this coming weekend but it we will need the Lord’s help. Yesterday was an exceptional Sabbath Day. As always attended about four sacrament meetings but we received some money referrals. There are so many people who are not of our faith who just attend sacrament meeting weekly! It is difficult to find them, we often call them active non-members. During one of our sacrament meetings yesterday I saw a “mini Blake and Lindsay” sitting together. Long story short she was attending church with her boyfriend and after speaking to the both of them we scheduled a lesson for this coming Wednesday, should be great!

You are right, we have the American Thanksgiving holiday this week! I think we might be heading over to Bishop Ulrich’s home in my first area for dinner, I have kept in contact with him throughout my mission. Now as far as transfers goes… things are looking good and my dream of training my last two transfers is coming alive. That’s not for sure but it very well could happen. There are a few possibilities of what could happen but none of us will really know until President makes the final decision. For the past few weeks he has written me a couple letters with specific questions and what not, so who knows! The Elder who is being considered as an Assistant does have much skills when it comes to technology and neither does Elder Speigner but he has been learning what is needed. I’m excited for whatever the Lord has in store for me! I am willing to serve in any postion and in any way, whatever it is I am going to push beyond what I have pushed before! Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Love Elder Pizzey!

November 14, 2011

November 14, 2011 – Week 5 of Transfer 15

You are right time is going to fast! It has been a great week in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. As I explained last week we had Elder Stanley G. Ellis do a mission tour, so it was a week full of zone conferences. It was quite a privilege to be with a General Authority and get to know him. Each day he would interview about 3-4 people that President Miller chose during lunch and I was the first one! That was quite the experience to sit down one on one with especial witness of Christ. He asked me do you have any questions for me. Of course I do! So we had a good chat, he gave me some good advice about returning home, council about future callings and also some straight forward correction. I loved it.

Last night Rudy Flores got baptized! That was one of greatest baptisms of my mission, it was worth the wait. If you remember I found Rudy nearly six months ago tracting while on exchange and after many trials and obstacles he has made the decision to be cut the covenant with God! He will be one of the first people you meet when we come back and tour the mission.

Currently Elder Ng is serving as a zone leader over the South Jordan zone with his senior companion Elder Torres. Elder Torres is an Elder I admire and wish I could become like because he is full of love, you can feel it where ever he goes. They white-washed their area and have been struggling in their area and both admit that their faith in the area is low. Elder Speigner and I went on an exchange all day Saturday to try and help them. Elder Speigner stayed in our area for the first time and took Elder Torres with him so, that left we with my good son Elder Ng in his area. We met at the mission office and drove to his area from there, now the entire ride he was complaining about how terrible his area is. He was very negative and doubtful. So before we begun I stopped and said, “Elder Ng the mission is all in your head.” I explained what I meant by that and told him get ready to have a successful day, we are going to find! It was cold and snowing but we worked hard all day!

I wish I had time to tell you the many miracles that happened that day. Briefly I will mention a few. Within ten minutes of leaving the parked car a young man seventeen years of age answered the door and before he could even think we were in his house, next we were sitting down at his table and before he could gather himself we were on our knees praying to start our lesson. We taught a great lesson and invited him to be baptized and they are teaching him tonight. NEXT, we continued tracting and found a few potential investigators here and there. A couple hours later we were still tracting but found ourselves walking down this wide alley which leads to a small building of four apartments. As we were 100 feet away a man pulled in with his SUV, got out and began to walk towards his apartment. We yelled out, “Hello sir! We have come to talk to you!” He stopped being a little startled as we picked up our pace to meet him. Long story short he is a not a member of the church and his wife is less-active, really never was active. They just moved to Utah and have been thinking of attending church. We taught the family and scheduled a return appointment, the man and his son are now preparing for baptism. NEXT, we visited one of investigators who the past missionaries taught maybe once a month, she really hasn’t been progressing whatsoever. Elder Ng and I taught together with power that night. We were bold, yet in a loving manner, told her that her heart is hardened and this is not allowing herself to progress. We then taught her HOW to open her heart and WHY it is needed. At the end of the lesson she was motivated and committed to reading the Book of Mormon everyday and having steady lessons with the new Elders!

It was a great day with my old companion and at the end of it we both learned a lot. Elder Ng was extremely humble; I left with him four things to work on. The mission is in your mind. It is what you CHOOSE to make it. Any success I’ve had on my mission is due to the Lord, I love Him. He keeps his promises. My faith began as a little seed and as I have acted it has grown. Currently faith is a principle of action for me but I feel faith is becoming a principle of power. I have hope in Christ. Faith and hope foster charity. And except we have charity we can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God. So I better work on that charity part because it’s needed! I want to become as Elder Torres a loving giant but that is just not naturally who I am. So with the Lords help hopefully I can get there one day.
Love Elder Pizzey

November 7, 2011

November 7, 2011 - Week 4 of Transfer 15

Today is a good day! We got the November Ensign which includes all the October General Conference talks! We have a few weeks of business ahead of us so we are going to try and get some time today this PDay to let some energy out. We will be heading up Big Cottonwood Canyon to go play in the snow. We have a snowbike from our landlords we will be taking up and I plan on doing a backflip, lets hope we stay safe. Do you have snow in the homeland?

Elder Stanley G. Ellis of the Second Quorum of the Seventy will be doing a mission tour this week with our mission. A mission tour consist of basically zone conferences and leadership trainings SO this week should be quite exciting. It could damage the work in our area so President has agreed to have only one of us in attendance each day while the either works our area, that makes me happy. We are so blessed to be visited by some many general authorities in our mission. I won't even begin to talk about December and who is visiting in that month, we have promised President to seal our lips and not tell a soul. They ask him to tell no one when he finds out. I forget if I told you that last Monday Stephen B. Allen (managing director of the missionary department) spoke to our mission Halloween night. He gave us a buttered up version of Alma chapter 5, "could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been...". He basically gave us a extremely bold sermon but used many stories and analogies to get the point across. Kind of like President Monson as he speaks. Stephen B. Allen (the king of missionary work) will be returning to our mission with Elder Evans to give another leadership training which will be completely focused on working with members, I am way excited.

That is an update of the mission, also this past week we baptized 43 people which is basically our weekly average right now. In our area Gabriel was baptized this past Saturday, it has been great working with him. We were fasting and praying that we would find someone a few weeks ago and right in the middle of our fast he came out of no where. He moved from Texas and there he was taught for six months, he moved into our area and he was baptized two weeks later. We had Jeff Mantels one of our favorite investigators attend his baptism so he could get a better feel of the whole situation. Jeff loved Gabriel's baptism and the spirit touched him. I remember looking at him just after the ordinance and a tear was running down his cheek. This week we will be going downtown with Jeff, Jessica (his future wife), his Bishop and the Bishops wife for a tour at temple square. We will be focusing on the temple and the importance of families. Jeff and Jessica have been with each other for a few years now and have four of the cutest kids in world. I love their family.

This is a short update for the week because we must be going and I emailed a few other family members today as well! I love you very much and thank you for your emails. I love the mission and its coming to an end just a little to fast. I can't believe we will be talking on the phone in December!
Love Elder Pizzey

October 31, 2011

Week 3 of Transfer 15

These weeks are getting faster and faster, it has been a blur since last Monday. Let me think of all that has happened. Well last Thursday we were able to attend the Salt Lake Temple. That is one of the great perks of being an assistant, going downtown once a transfer to take the new missionaries on a tour of temple square and attend the Salt Lake Temple. There is so much to learn at the temple and I love attending, I think I will probably work in the temple when first come home. I like the analogy of the onion, every time you peal a layer off there is another one to discover, its a really wonderful experience.

When I first came into the mission you were able to attend the temple once a week and it has changed several times since. President has come to a decision of what he likes and it seems like it will be kept as it is currently for awhile. You are able to attend once a transfer (every 6 weeks) on an assigned day to an assigned temple with your district (6-8 missionaries). Well since we make that schedule its pretty flexible as to when we are able to attend. President gave us permission to attend the Jordan River Temple this past Saturday as Daniel England's recent converts from Nepal received their endowments and were sealed together as a family of ten! As we baptized their relatives who have recently moved to Utah we were able to get extremely close to this family, I love them. I can't wait for the Gajmer's (their relatives) to be sealed next year, I hope to attend. You can image it was quite the experience and process as they received their endowments since a few of them have poor English. I am excited for you to meet them.

Sunday we had the privilege of speaking in one of our favorite wards and we were given the full meeting, I enjoyed it. I love preparing for talks and I love sharing my testimony.

This letter so far is really general, its because my mind is on other things to be honest! I'm sorry. We have lots do to and tonight we are having Elder Stephen B. Allen come speak to our mission at the Taylorsville Institute. He is the director of the missionary department of the church and I can't wait. He has been asked to speak on teaching with power and authority, I will eat up all of his words! What else has happened this week... We had four baptisms! On Saturday Ashleigh and Shyanne Kunder were baptized. You may remember their names from the story I shared recently about singing a hymn before we began a lesson. Last night we had the baptism of Alec and Katja Tolo! They have been extremely fun to teach, I love their family. We met them by just opening our mouth while walking out of one of our lessons a few weeks back and I am so glad we invited them to come unto Christ that day.

I think that wraps up the week!? In one of our stakes a missionary just returned home from the Vancouver, British Columbia mission. He knew Elder Kearl and said he is great and serving as a very strong zone leader. That made me extremely happy! He also knew or heard of Daniel England and said he is known as the Ward Mission Leader who just gets things done, even takes his ward missionaries out tracting! I love it and hope I can remain as faithful as him. Returning home and leaving this lovely life is a scary thought but I don't let it enter my mind often, staying focused to the end for sure. May I add to this letter I am loving my scripture study, things just keep clicking and I am learning more and more of the Savior's example. The more I learn of Him the more I realize how much I have to change.
Thanks for reading! Love Elder Pizzey

October 24, 2011

October 24, 2011 - Week 2 of Transfer 15

We have almost wrapped up all the loose ends of transfer week, almost that is. This morning we actually were able to go for a nice jog and get a brief study in. It has been a good pday, President Miller took Elder Speigner and I golfing for 9 holes. I played OK for my level but I really got to do some work on my short game. I had the opportunity for two birdies and even one eagle! But I blew them and had to take some pars, but on the other holes usually was a bogey or double bogey every time. That eagle possibility was sweet though! I hit the green on a par 4, even from the blue teas! It was a 260yrd hole. I think I'll pick up the old mans sport when my body can't handle the adrenalin rushes.

My birthday was a splendid day! I woke up at 5:30am got ready and arrived at the mission office at 6:30am. Ten new missionaries arrived shortly after we arrived. After President and Sister Miler introduced themselves and welcomed them President then began to interview them one by one for about 15 minutes each. While they are getting interviewed Elder Speigner and I split them up and one group at a time we drive them to the Draper Temple to check out the entire mission, talk about baptism and help them set some goals for their mission. While I was training the new missionaries Sister Miller had Sister Miller 2 come into the room with a bunch of balloons and a lovely card, then they all sang happy birthday. It was embarrassing for sure. Once President Miller finished we had the trainers come join, transfer calls were given and another training was given just before they headed off to proselyte for their first time ever!

Once things were done at the office we left to the Millers home to be with the departing missionaries for the night. The assistants always stay the night with the departing missionaries then wake up early to drive them to the airport. That day is getting closer and closer to me... scary. Wednesday night was great the greatest birthday present in the world! We were able to be with many of our close mission friends on their last night here, including Elder Lundwall. I even met his parents, I loved that. We played some driveway basketball, shared hilarious stories from our mission and had a testimony meeting, then stayed up real late discussing the mission. Sister Miller even got me a little surprise birthday cake and once again they all sang to me. I never thought I would have a birthday like this on my mission, last year I didn't even remember it was my birthday. The Miller's are too kind. Thank you mom and dad for the birthday gifts! I received so many cards of love and little gifts from friends and family at home, I wish I could name them all one by one just so many. Breanne your card is way cool and it sits on my dresser each day. Others sent money to help out and to all of you I thank you, I really am grateful. I love all of you (special thanks to Grandma, excited to see you).

We just gave one of the missionaries I came out with, a brand new 2012 car four hours ago, a brand new car! It his first car he has ever had on the mission too! Well... breaking news! We just got a phone call he has crashed it, not only crashed it but crashed it into a police car and it's his fault. From what he said it sounds like 3000 to 4000 dollars of damage. Looks like his driving privileges are gone, so sad. On another note President and Sister Miller are identical to Brother and Sister Pizzey! They are mirror images of the both of you, I love it. I read Sister Miller some of dads email and she cried out and said, "YUP! That is President alright".

The week has been mainly packed with mission stuff and we are just getting back into our area which is real nice. I just really want to baptize and it's hard to do it when you can't work your area. To be honest I hope I get released this transfer to go train! Yesterday we were calendaring (all the way up until next August... I told them I will be married haha) and when it came to November 30th President said he isn't to sure about letting me go. Six transfers as an assistant is a really long time, its hard work. I would love to be able to train a new missionary, just work him to death!

This weekend should be a packed one for us. We are having at least 5 baptisms and one of our investigators are getting married. One of Daniel England's converts (a family of 9 from Nepal) are being sealed in this weekend and Elder Bertolino is coming back for it, President has given us permission to attend. I can't wait to see Toni Bertolino! I miss him. This past week there was a multi stake conference (94 stakes) for the southern part of the salt lake valley (mainly our mission) which was broadcasted from the conference center to each stake center. Elder Bednar presided and President and Sister Miller were asked to sit on the stand. Well this conference was just as good as general conference if not better. President Beck (GYMP), Sister Dalton (GYWP), Elder Christenson and David A. Bednar spoke! They killed it. David A. Bednar gave my all time favorite talk, no lie. I have never heard such a talk and it drilled home the one thing I've learned over and over in my mission. I loved it. I know someone over the translation department in the church and he records all the talks given by the GA's he told me he could get a copy but Elder Bednar decided not to release it! I was so upset but I took good notes.

That is basically my week in a nut shell! I can't wait to get caught up on sleep, back to exercising, normal studies and 24/7 proselyting! No more business man style, I just want to be a normal missionary. This was the first pday in 3 weeks we had though! I need to buy some new white shirts though, mine are all stayed brown around the neck and worn hard on the cuffs. Good thing I got some birthday money! Thank you and Love you all!
Elder Pizzey

October 17, 2011

Hello mom, dad and family!


Today has been a day filled of stuff at the office, I'm sorry I did not write earlier but we just couldn't find time. Thank you for the gifts and kind letters, I love you guys. The beef jerky and eatmoors where perfect and reminded me of our family ski trips. Lindsay's cute little idea with the jones soda bottles was adorable. President Miller grabbed one from my hands and said, "who is this little girly on here?" then he gobbled it down. This week Sister Miller walked into Presidents office and said, "Elders before I forget I need to tell you something... You are both far to good looking to get free hair cuts." We didn't even tell her it was free! So next time I am not going to let the hair students butcher me.

This week has been intense. It doesn't compare to any week I have ever had as an assistant or any transfer this mission has had for ever! The entire mission is now reorganized. In a few minutes the transfer scenario on the "Internet Mission Office System" will finalize and tonight we have to go into each area to assign cars, phone numbers and most importantly ecclesiastical. Then tomorrow we send the email to each zone leader which includes the new organization roster.

It has been quite the process to get all of this going. It began with pulling all the zone leaders in one day for a few hours to present the reasons why reorganizing the mission was being considered. Together we made a decision it was worth it and would benefit us in the long run, so right then we started looking at solutions. It was really quite a revelatory council as we were all gathered around a projector while I had an image of our mission open in photo shop. In photo shop we had many different layers including one for homes, English areas, Spanish areas, YSA stakes, YSA wards, coordinating councils, previous zone boundaries and so on. But together with the zone leaders we brainstormed many great ideas and then President, Elder Speigner and myself took it all together and decided on what was best. It sounds so easy. Draw some lines and say we are good to go but there is alot behind it.

President Miller had interviews this entire week during the day and we taught at night so the only time we could work on it together was after 9pm. But after an entire week of staying at Presidents home at until 12am (a couple nights went to 1 or 3am and we just slept over then) we finished Sunday morning and decided to hold a meeting to present the new plans and zone leader transfers to the zone leaders. To present it clearly I threw together a power point Saturday night and included it as an attachment so you could get a feel of what happened.

This week was hard, really hard and it took much sacrifice. Our area has suffered, we have hardly studied the scriptures and haven't exercised at all. I am excited for Thursday to pass and to be back to a normal schedule. It was difficult to feel this but despite all it took out of us, we were still in the service of God therefore the Lord blessed us, especially in the lessons we did have. One quick story I wish to share with you. There is a family we have been teaching and the lessons have been going no where. The mother will hardly acknowledge us and help her kids in their progression. We have been teaching them for several weeks and have often thought of dropping them. Well this past week we entered their home for just another "lesson". The mother wouldn't allow us to go into their living room because it was a disaster so she told us to use the kitchen which is near the front door. There were three chairs which the brother from the ward and us used, while the kids grabbed a blanket to sit on the dirty, sticky floor. I remember sitting there looking at Elder Speigner with an expression that said, "I didn't study the scriptures today. I don't feel the spirit. These kids are crazy loud and irreverent and what should we do?" Before we began the lesson I said a prayer in my heart and asked for help. Immediately the thought came to sing a hymn. Quickly we whipped out Elder Speigner's mini hymn book and the brother used his phone to turn to "I know that my Redeemer lives". With all these girls we sang all the verses in this hymn and the spirit just occupied this kitchen. As we were singing I noticed out of the corner of my eye the mother was standing there with a tear falling down her cheek. A prayer was offered to begin the lesson and the mother slowly made her way to sit ever so humbly right in front of us on the ground with her daughters. Near the end of the lesson I could tell she wanted to speak and I asked her to share what she was feeling. She expressed she lost her job and knew it was God humbling her and helping her turn back to Him.

After 15 years this lady who has been caught up in the world and tossed to and fro is finally returning and repenting. The lessons have taken a 180 degree turn ever since she has been involved and leading her little family on this Gospel path. I am thankful for the inspiration of the Lord and I know following those little promptings makes the world of difference. I must be going now! We actually have a lesson with this family right now! So have great week and we will chat next week once everything slows down. That will be nice. Thank you for all the gifts and I will use the money wisely. Thank you and love you so much!
Elder Pizzey

October 10, 2011

October 10, 2011 - Week 6 of Transfer 14

I feel like I can't breath... We are in over our head with work in our area and with the mission. For the past week I haven't had a spare minute to do a single thing. Zone leader council went great and was very productive. Transfers are next Wednesday and it looks like we will be reorganizing the mission this transfer. Over time small changes have been made to areas and zones making the geography of the mission hectic. It's really to much to explain but the bottom line is it is a lot of work. Something I've never done before. I couldn't handle the old school way of having a bunch of old maps and drawing lines all over them for new possibilities so I found a free version of photoshop online, its called Gimp. We are going to town with these maps and drawing up all possibilities with the current zone, coordinating council, YSA stake, English Stake and Spanish unit boundaries. It is a head ache, so many factors to take in. Not to mention trying to make all zones equal in ratings for baptism, keep the number of companionship's equal in each zone and have zone leader areas in each zone. There are many more little things but while doing all of this we try not to white wash any area. I guess I'm not complaining, you know me I love projects like this but the problem is its on my mind 24/7 and I just want to finish it! If we had a few weeks to do it all would be good but this decision was made Saturday night and it has to be ready to present to the zone leaders in a special meeting tomorrow morning. This is the second day with a preparation day and I need a haircut! I'm learning how to prioritize that's for sure, STUDIES and EXERCISE are the most important for me!

So that's that, but what was so lovely about this morning was coming to the mission office. First I find a big pile of birthday presents for me! I opened the one with food and threw it in the fridge here, I can't wait to chow on those snackers! Hopefully it doesn't make me gain the six pounds I lost in the past two weeks (that's pretty good eh). But I'm holding off on opening the other boxes until I'm down with this email, don't know why. After seeing those I logged on, read your wonderful emails then saw the GNARLY pictures dad sent! (ariel pictures of our home/yard) Those made my week! I literally stared at those pictures for about half an hour, it felt so good. I am pretty excited to check out the yard, and that sucks about the edging. Go ahead and quick curb it but make sure you save that black edging, that stuff is way nice I must have installed it the wrong way.

I mentioned earlier our area is out of control, the Lord is blessing us! So many epic stories and miracles happened this week. First we have Karina and her daughter Italia. Karina is at the top of my list of recent converts who are truly converted. Studies every day and can't wait till church each Sunday. She was able to go to conference and she received so much revelation there. Her daughter, Italia, attends a Catholic school and has been torn on the decision of being baptized. She loves church, reads her Book of Mormon stories daily and feels she needs to be baptized but she just couldn't. Italia isn't like any other nine year old, she has the respect, manners and social skills of a righteous 16 year old young women. For the entire week she decided no for baptism but she would continue coming to church. Saturday night we read Enos with her and invited her to "Cry unto the Lord" and give her the courage to be baptized. Well she did. We came back Sunday afternoon for her mothers baptismal interview and we followed up. She said God told her she needs to be baptized but she wanted to wait. Then the zone leaders came and while her mom was being interviewed she said well... I might as well get an interview in case I decide tonight! She had an interview and came back and said I've decided I need to listen to God. Last night was the highlight of the week! Spirit was very strong and the baptism was so well attended by the ward.

What else should I include.... That little story took quite abit of time. Hmm. Well we found another family to teach! That is my favorite, finding families. We were leaving one of Karina's lesson and the family below her was moving in so we asked if we could help but they were just wrapping up. We then asked if we could teach them but they denied. A few days later we ran into them again but this time their kids were there. We asked once again and this time they said yes. We taught them and invited them to be baptized on October 30th and they gladly accepted. The very next morning we walked with them to church and they loved it! Their last name is Tolo, they are a way cool family and the parents are from Fiji but have really lived in Utah forever.

The last little story I will share with you. I met this guy named Jeff Montel my very first day in the area. Elder Bertolino told me that he had a feeling that we were going to baptize him. Well we taught him one lesson and it didn't go to well, he wasn't to receptive. Now six months late we were able to arrange a lesson in the Bishops home. This was yesterday and the only way to describe it was a power house lesson! As much as we can, we try to teach in Bishops homes because once they see us teach, feel the spirit and see these people progress they are sold on missionary work and the whole ward flips! At the beginning of the lesson Jeff had a feeling of yes baptism is essential but I could never make up my mind because there are just way to many churches out there. At the end of the lesson we invited him to be baptized on November 6th and he wanted to move it up! He wants to be baptized before then. He now recognizes the promptings of the spirit and how the Lord has been working with him. Line by line, here a little, there a little. He has attended church 4 times in the past couple months and he knows that the Lord has prepared him to be baptized at this time. It was the best lesson Elder Speigner and I have ever taught.

This has been a nice little break from wrapping my mind around a map of 117 Stakes and 90 some areas in our mission! Time to get back to work and thank you so much for the wonderful gifts! I am about to go open them.

Love Elder Pizzey.

October 3, 2011

October 3, 2011 - Week 5 Transfer 14

Wow, I feel it has only been a few days. I don't have much to update you on. Thanks for the emails I really enjoy reading them. I love you guys. Conference weekend was really good, I wish it wasn't over. Downtown I saw Kensey and Alex which was really weird, seeing family while your a set apart missionary just doesn't seem right. I still can't believe Kensey is engaged, it is awesome she is on her way to the temple. I also saw the entire Bonnie Doone Stake Presidency and their wives, that caught me off guard. Once again it was weird but this time seeing my future Priesthood leaders. They looked really good and I'm excited to report to them when I come home. While I saw them I was trying to meet up with all my recent converts and investigators who attended so I wasn't able to talk very long with them. To be honest it's exciting thinking of being home and having a calling I can magnify. I will always have subject to my leaders and great respect for them.

Lets see I will try to go over a few of my favorite talks with out spending to much time on them. Elder L. Whitney Clayton's talk was excellent, he is in the presidency of the seventy. He focused on prophecies about the Lord's work which are being fulfilled in these days. I think I enjoyed it because I am directly involved with His work, it felt great. It was full of doctrine and blew me out of the water! Boyd K. Packer's was bold like you said. He sent a strong message to the youth that they are being raised in enemy territories. I loved Neil L. Anderson's talk! I really feel like I need to head his council and there is only one way to do that! Haha, I'm too funny. Its hard not to list off a massive list of talks I liked so let me take a minute to find my favorites........ OK. Elaine S. Dalton, that just got me way excited to have raise a daughter one day. M. Russell Ballard's is probably at the top on my list this past conference. You will probably remember his, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints versus the Mormon church, he killed it on that one. My favorite session was Sunday PM I think the 70's did real well. Russel M. Nelson's and Dallin H. Oaks will be fun ones to study! They just packed their talks with doctrine and taught it with such simplicity. That is my crammed over view of conference. One thing that stuck out to me was President Monson's behavior of "can do and will do", I want to have that same attitude for the rest of my life, especially towards my leaders.

Time is going faster and faster! We have so much on our schedule. In November we have a general authority coming to do a mission tour, that will be quite the opportunity to learn and grow. As for this week we have Zone Leader Council (monthly meeting with all ZL's (18 Elders), the coordinating Sisters (like Sister AP's) and the Miller's. We haven't even started to plan that yet and its this Wednesday, a solid 5 hour meeting... Ughhh, can't wait to train one day! As for the area it has stayed strong. We had Jeremy's baptism last night which was just perfect and tomorrow we have Sis. Long's baptism, she is 84 years old. That sets the record for the oldest person I have ever baptized! OK, enjoy the week. Dad finish the yard and both of you don't forget to read the scriptures each day.

Love Elder Pizzey

September 26, 2011

September 26, 2011 - Week 4 of Transfer 14

Those were some solid letters! Mom you made me laugh with your dreams, people in the office were staring at me. Its weird you having messed up dreams because I'm having them as well. Its the first time in my mission I've had them of going home but I tell you they aren't exciting. In every dream I end up crying because I've lost my calling and life at home is just to depressing... Scary! Anyways this week is looking way good! I am so pumped for general conference it is the greatest thing that can happen. I have been praying and studying in preparation for general conference and invite you to do the same. Elder Holland puts it good in this video. Please watch.

https://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today/unto-all-the-world/general-conference-has-something-for-you-b?cid=email-shared&lang=eng

I hope you use LDS.org they are killing it on that website, mormon.org is good for non-members. But please please dive into LDS.org there are so many helpful tools on that site. This weekend Elder Speigner and myself will be downtown the entire time. We will be attending the Priesthood and Sunday Morning sessions with President Miller, so watch for me on TV. For the other sessions we will still be downtown but just to meet the group leaders, give them the tickets and lead them to the door of the conference center. After that we will jump into the tabernacle to watch the sessions we won't be attending. Looks like a legit weekend downtown for us.

Its going great with Elder Speigner he is so willing to learn the English assignment ways and work hard. For almost an entire week we have been running every morning at 6am for 25 minutes then doing some good stretches and workouts. Your right dad I defintely need it. I forget if I told you but Elder Speigner pitched D1 baseball for a school in California before his mission and is way athletic. So I'm slowly but surely burning off my little belly. You feel 10x better and leave the house with such a clear mind.

Our area continues to improve but of course I'm still stressing to find more and work harder! September was a hard month for us only 2 baptisms, our goal is always to "baptize weekly". Don't get me this is two more precious souls who have entered into the kingdom of God and I do love them, its also great compared to any other mission. But this is the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission where we hit the pavement! For October our goal is still 14 and at this time we have 12 baptisms scheduled. It is so hard to stay on top of things, 20 different wards and the task of assisting the President. In our last weekly planning session we looked at the weekend of October 1st and 2nd and saw we have zero baptisms scheduled. We told each other lets find someone this coming week who's prepared and able to be baptized in a matter of a few days. We both felt it was possible and at the close of our planning got on our knees and told the Lord our desires. Well today at 11:30am we met with a fellow by the name of Jeremy. His wife is less-active and they are both willing and wanting to be real strong in the faith. Jeremy was taught a year ago by missionaries, had a baptismal interview and backed out the last minute. Since then he has been reading and praying but hasn't accepted visits from the missionaries. Three months ago I even tried to contact him. Long story short he contacted us and told us he wants to be baptized ASAP! We invited him to be baptized this Sunday night and he gladly accepted! What a beautiful way to end the conference weekend.

I was able to watch maybe half of the General Relief Society broadcast, your probably wondering why? Well let me explain. President asked us to organize training and figure out if it was possible to have the broadcast played at our mission office (an old Stake Center) for all the Sisters in the mission. Well after looking into it, the Satellite was still connected and everything worked out smoothly. We had a solid, jam packed one hour training for the 40 Sisters on becoming a "Preach My Gospel Missionary". I will tell yeah Sisters are 10x easier to train. They listen, are so willing to learn and ready to act. Then Sister Miller had some big fancy dinner for them and after that, the broadcast. Sister Beck was the first Sister I actually enjoyed listening at General Conference, I didn't feel like she was teaching a primary class! And of course E. Uchtdorf was great.

Thanks for taking the time to read, hope you feel updated. This week is busy busy. We have two trainings on Wednesday should be fun. Elder Bertolino leaves just a little over a week, that's sad. I can't believe Elder Atwood is engaged! He called me yesterday, it was hilarious. I was shocked. So mad I won't be home for it but congrats to him, his woman is a lucky one. I love him. Love you mom and dad. Enjoy conference!
Elder Pizzey

September 19, 2011

September 19, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 14


It was sure nice to see a picture of the family, Edmonton seems like a foreign land. That tree house was nuts, Jordan you are the man. Your yard is looking beautiful as well! I'm really excited to see all my nieces and nephews, only 5 months now... That is just weird. Today Elder Speigner and I are going up to Park City to be with Elder Bertolino and former Elder Stonebrink, now Brother Stonebrink. I'm to the point in the mission where all my close friends have gone home, and I'm left here with alot of new missionaries.

One week ago this time, we had only two people scheduled for baptism but the Lord has blessed us recently, we have had a successful week. We are now working with 10 people who have scheduled baptism dates! If you look at our records and key indicators anytime we have to deal with disobedience, heavy trainings or transfers they fall. But once we have some time in the area they sky rocket once again! Our goal for October is 14 Baptisms. I know we will find those 14 souls!

Saturday we had a baptism in our area of little Daisy Woodward who is 10 years old. It was different teaching her because she is extremely shy but so intelligent. We were able to have the entire family (including grandparents) who are all less-active sit in on the lessons. They have been attending church every week for the last several Sundays and are progressing in the Gospel. We were even able to build her Father up enough to have the confidence to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost at her baptism and he did a fabulous job. It was really nice to see such a change in a family, there is a different spirit in their home now.

Last night I was able to go back to my first area, the Sandy Willow Creek Stake, for a baptism of a lady I taught for six months. She has been waiting for 2 years to get off of probation and what a change in life it has been for her. She has walked a long road of repentance and learned great lessons along the way and just last night she was able to enter the waters of baptism at age 49! She had great support from the ward, her family and friends. It was held in the chapel due to the large amount of people and I was able to speak for 5 minutes or so and invite all of the non-members and less-active members to follow her example. Lots of fun! I also saw two of my recent converts at her baptism. Lourdes Tea and Cassidy Forman, they are new people! Great countenances.

Our area is blossoming once again and we just need to keep it going. Please pray that we will be able to accomplish our goal. Elder Speigner and I are getting along great and learning lots from each other. I never realized how much there is to teach someone as they become an Assistant. He is extremely passionate about the work and is exactly obedient. The greatest blessing of being an Assistant is your companion, they couldn't get any better. On Saturday night we taught a power house lesson! It was the first time teaching this single sister and her daughter. Pure testimony was born and the spirit was being poured into the room to witness of what we were saying. We invited them to be baptized on October 8th and they gladly accepted with tears in their eyes. The next morning we walked with them to church and they loved it. Karina and her daughter Italia, they have only lived in Utah for 3 years and its their first time meeting with missionaries.

I love you mom and dad and hope you enjoy your week at home. Thank you for the great update of the family. Please, please, please read your scriptures everyday. I am studying the New Testament right and I am in love with it, its my favorite part of my day. By the way I got my new scripture case, its tight.

Love Elder Pizzey!

September 12, 2011

September 12, 2011 - Week 2 of Transfer 14


Elder Bertolino is gone and I miss him! He was called to the Spanish assignment and served there for 10 months then was taken out for Leadership. So for the end of his mission he was able to finish Spanish, he's loving it. I talked to him yesterday and he is working miracles up in Park City. That area has had one baptism since February. He went up there found seven new investigators and scheduled baptismal dates with five of their investigators! All in three days! One of their investigators who wasn't progressing got baptized yesterday as well. So he is doing excellent, just a little update for you.

Elder Speigner and I are doing well, but its a crazy adjustment that's for sure. Going from Junior to Senior Assistant is quite the change. Sometimes a little stressful. This is Elder Speigner's first time in an English area which really is a whole new ball game. The way you teach, find and really just work the area. Going from one Bishop to 20 Bishops, its all different. So he feels like he's being re-trained in a way, he is adjusting well though. And since he has been out only one year and served as a Zone Leader one transfer there are many mission protocols he has to learn. Its quite the process. He has lots of faith and does not lack in confidence in anyway so we will be ok.

As far as the mission goes we got this entire week to work our area and we need it! This past week we did not have any baptisms but that will change real soon. I scheduled exchanges with all the Zone Leaders at the beginning of the transfer so they everyone can get to know and trust Elder Speigner. We are doing two to three exchanges per week this transfer. This past week I was able to go on an exchange with Elder McKinney, he will most likely replace me when my times done here. He is my favorite! We worked hard and tracted almost all day finding many people. He knows the doctrine so well, just dominates in the scriptures. I hope to be like that one day.

Well make sure you pray for us! We need all the help you can get. Many of our investigators got legit issues holding them back from baptism but we will exercises perfect faith this week by being obedient, working hard and sacrificing all we have to find the elect of God. I love you Mom and Dad, have a great week!

Love Elder Pizzey

September 5, 2011

September 5, 2011 - Week 1 of Transfer 14

Sounds like you had a pretty rough trip. The story about Dad going into the back alley made me chuckle, people probably thought he was a drunk. (Tal and I and Taren had a quick little trip to Mazatlan and we are got terrible food poisoning) Today is the last Pday before transfers and it’s called “deep clean Monday” in our mission. Basically there are apartment inspections and you got to scrub the whole place down. We are at home right now just taking things easy today. Elder Bertolino is packing and going through all his junk. I believe I told you last week but once again, he is getting transferred up to Park City for his last four weeks (he leaves mid transfer). He will be finishing his mission in Spanish with a new missionary who has been trained poorly his first transfer. I am going to miss him. He has taught me a lot. My new companion is Elder Speigner who has been out a few days less than a year! He has only been a Zone Leader for one transfer and has no clue what lies ahead of him, he finds out tomorrow. He is definitely one of the strongest Spanish missionaries in the mission. I look forward to baptizing with him. Life in the mission has been really good this past week. Let me give you a quick update.

Zone Leader Council was one of the big highlights of the week, they just keep getting better and better. Elder Jay E. Jensen spoke to us in a small, hands on setting. I loved it! Revelation was flowing. At one point I shared connection of scriptures that came to me while he was unfolding the word to us and he got way excited! He made note of it and said, “If the spirit is teaching you then you young Elders can teach an old timer like me some things.” Elder Jensen knows his scriptures like no other. President Miller who knows most of the general authorities believes he might be the churches greatest scriptorian right now! He just unloaded on us and opened our eyes. He taught us how to better study the scriptures and revealed to us the power of the word. It was extremely motivating, I wish you could have experienced it.

Then we had Kayce Goodro’s baptism. We have been working with her forever! And only recently did things get serious. For a long time it was hard to get in the door or to even have her open the door. But eventually the Lord worked on her and her family. We were able to teach the family together. Her husband comes from an active family but he has been less active since age 16 and now he is preparing to enter the temple. They attend church every Sunday and keep all the commandments. Smoking was the big hold up with Kayce but when it came time she humbled herself and accepted a blessing from us. Just recently she shared with us a story we were unaware of. In the blessing I mentioned something along the lines of, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command your body to be free from the addiction of nicotine, even the very cells of your body to reject nicotine.” I don’t even remember using those words but Elder Bertolino and her said that was part of the blessing. Well it turns out after the blessing that anytime she even thought of smoking she felt like hurling! And if the temptation grew strong enough it resulted in her puking. It is quite the story especially when you have Kayce share it, she is extremely intense and maybe a little vulgar! End of the story though, she was baptized on Sunday with her eight year old daughter Kassidy.

The whole disobedient mess that I explained last week has been cleaned up basically after a lot of hard work. We have seen some miracles in the mission recently though. Elder Bertolino and I had our most spiritual experience while sitting down with a missionary to correct him this past week. My love for the Elders and Sisters is really growing. This certain Elder was pointing the wrong way but by the end of our visit he was heading in the right direction. Elder Bertolino and I were like two little tugboats pulling a massive ship from opposite ends to turning it on the spot into the right direction. It is amazing how willing missionaries are to repent and be obedient if they have some help. We read from Helaman 5 about his countenance and Romans 13 about being subject to our leaders. In the weird mission lingo this Elder would be considered my Grandson (Elder Ng’s son lol) and before we left he asked for a blessing and we were able to give him one. I love this Elder.

Transfers, new missionaries, departing missionaries and a new assistant are all this week! It should be hectic and a good opportunity for me to grow. It will be a little scary without Elder Bertolino but I will be able to do it with the Lords help. These past few transfers Elder Bertolino has taught me so many things especially how to use and exercise the Priesthood. I will miss him and do love him. I love you mom, dad and family! Have a good week.

Elder Pizzey

August 29, 2011

August 29th 2011 - Week 6 of Transfer 13

This morning we went golfing with my MTC companion at a ghetto golf course for 9 holes, it was real fun. They let missionaries play for free and then we just rented a golf cart. I can drive the ball and hit from the fairway quite well but my short game is no good. Putting I'm awful at. You could say I was one of the better ones in our group but that's not saying much... I actually double boogied every hole! I think I could pick my game up real quick though. I got on the green on a par 4 in two shots twice! Just can't finish. Well when I'm old and boring I'll pick it up.

This past week has been pretty intense, alot happening. Tuesday we asked President what district meeting he would like us to go to. He thought about it for awhile then gave us one. We both second guessed what he told us to do because a few weeks prior we attend the exact same district. We of course did what he had asked of us and we are lucky we did because it opened up a whole can of problems! Which sounds bad but its better they are resolved than continue on covered. Real fast it turned into a 48 hour exchange for Elder Bertolino and myself. Elder Bertolino grabbed an Elder from a three some and I went to join this companionship who are actually serving in my greeny area (my first area). As I spent 48 hours with them the onion kept peeling back layer by layer till we finally got to the bottom of it. They were so humble and willing to change after some time of sitting down with them. But like I said from this one situation alot has opened up that we did not know about, so it's a little stressful trying to take care of it. It was nice this happened before transfers, it definitely helped.

On Sunday we did have five baptisms! Two different families. There was the Lagi's who are from Africa and the Stewart's. We have been teaching the Lagi kids for a month now and it has been interesting. Their English isn't the best so we have had their close friends who are active members help in translation at times. I am in love with these kids though, they are adorable. They love church and learning about Jesus Christ. It's so cute to hear them teach each other and discuss things we leave with them. When we go over to their house they come running out of the apartment and jump from the top of the stairs attacking you. They always want a hug. And I believe I shared how we met the Stewart's. Just walking by Heather (the mom) one day as she was getting in her car and decided to talk to her. Now after a month and a half of teaching her children are baptized and she is on her road to the temple! Their baptism was great, there was lots of support from the family.

That is basically it for the week. Things are lookin gnarly for this week. I don't know how we are going to do it. We have new missionary training, new district leader training, zone leader council and a training for all the trainers of this upcoming transfer. On top of that madness (those are not short meetings) we have our area to maintain. Zone Leader Council is going to be unreal. We are heading downtown to have it in the conference center and while we are there a few different under the scenes tours, then Jay E. Jensen will address us! Just 20 of us in a special little room! I hear he knows his Scriptures like crazy. He is the Presidency of the Seventy. Expect a jam packed email next week.
Love your boy, Elder Pizzey.

August 22, 2011

8 August, 2011 - Week 5 of Transfer 13

I loved your emails this week! I have the greatest family. I'm glad that the two munchkins in Ecuador are enjoying themselves, those are my girls! (Blake's sister Paige and girlfriend Lindsay are in Ecador working in an orphanage)  Each night I pray for them and hope this trip has a lasting effect on them. I'm sure I could use trip like these, it would most definitely humble me. I'm sure my area is the closest thing you can get to a 3rd world country in the Great Salt Lake valley. Half our lessons we sit on the ground cross legged with a little lamp which lights the old beaten up apartment. I love culture of those we are teaching, especially the food (that’s right Dad, the food).

So this past week we wrapped up with zone conferences and had two baptisms in our area! They were both great. Diana's was a large baptism with a lot of less-active and non-members who attended. We held the service in the chapel and pulled down the big screen to show the first vision. And don't worry we only played a 4 minute clip from the video not the full 20 minute film that was played at Lindsay's. Elder Bertolino introduced it and I was able to end it with my testimony. We both bore our testimony and boldly invited others to come unto Christ. There were a few people who felt it but especially this one man whose name is Corey. We spoke to him after and he now wants to meet with missionaries and be baptized. We passed the referral on and the missionaries in his area are in touch with him, it is exciting see how this work has a domino effect.

Diana is a strong convert and has quite the story. Once again you will have to meet her, she is hilarious. She reminds me of Taren. For her baptism she couldn't handle the white jump suits so she went to the distribution center and actually bought a temple dress, I guess she’s ready for next year now. Then at her baptism she wanted a picture with every person who walked in. Like I said she is hilarious. Immediately after her baptism we had Dona's at the same building. Dona’s was a smaller but such a peaceful baptism, everyone loves her. We are thinking about having Dona come to some lessons with some of our other investigators who are struggling with the Word of Wisdom. She asked for a Priesthood blessing to quit a few weeks ago and since then never second guessed her decision to quit. She just tells herself over and over, “I’m not a smoker”. It has been so fun working with Dona and her boy Daniel.

Friday night we had Mission Fireside at the mission office which I conducted, its weird conducting meetings. President Miller had his son in law Brett and Brett’s brother Brandon come for this fireside. They have both devoted their life to classical music and are doctors in music. They have a choir which competes with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I don’t know if that’s the right way to word it. But it’s big and they are unreal. Awhile ago I shared with you how we took the entire mission downtown to see this “Messiah in America” well that was done by these two brothers. At first they weren’t that comfortable and more just talking to us but President being himself turned the meeting into the most spiritual thing I’ve witnessed on my mission. I am learning so much from him. These two brothers taught us and related the perfection needed for their music to us in our missions. They lead us in music and even performed for us. I am having a hard time telling you really what they did but it was so good. Everyone was a little skeptical at first and not even wanting to come. In the closing hymn we sung with such gusto. I thought angels were going to appear, never felt the spirit in that chapel so strong before.

On my mission I’m obviously learning more and more. When I look back at the beginning I can’t believe how little I really did know. What I’m seeing right now is elect of God. There are those who are prepared and those who aren’t. Everyone we are finding has been so prepared. Almost everyone we meet with have been brought real low but are now ready for the Lord to build them back up. The worst thing we can do is be content with where we are at, Satin works in mysterious ways. I love my mission. It has changed my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am the same Blake but a new person. I have a love for the scriptures and feast upon them daily.

Have a great week! I’ve been writing this email on our laptop while sitting in the back of our favorite Bishops SUV. He is driving us up to Kamas to go fishing for the day. I am pumped, feel like I’m on a road trip! I’ve been in that valley for 18 months, mountains acting as big walls on each side. I will have to send you some pictures of what I catch. Bishop Springer is the man and he’s a hardcore fisher..... Its now hours after we got home. We have decided we are better fishers of men than fishers of fish, so we are going to stick with sharing the Gospel. Caught zero fish but Bishop caught one and least I held it.

Love Elder Pizzey.

Diane's baptism

Dona's baptism

August 15, 2011

Week 4 of Transfer 13 - August 15th, 2011

Being an Assistant to the President is definitely not the easiest thing... Constantly going and never time to slow down. I love it though and I am so grateful for what I'm learning. I can't believe I will be hitting my 18th month mark this week. That is insane. When I look back at the beginning of my mission and remember all the missionaries who were at their 18th it seems crazy, they are all gone! And have been gone forever. My life has changed 180 degrees due to my mission. I can't describe what my mission means to me. I love it. I love Jesus Christ, I love the Gospel and I love the scriptures. By the way you should read "The Inconvenient Messiah" it is a great talk. This past week we had two of the four zone conferences (we group of zones) and this week we will finish them off. We had zero baptisms this past week which broke our seven week run of weekly baptisms (sometimes more than weekly) but this weekend it's picking back up once again. Let me share with you some of my experiences from this past week.

We are teaching this lady who's name is Diana. She is 25 years old and just the greatest person to teach. When we first met with Diana she said she wasn't interested in baptism but just wanted to learn more about the church. She was baptized two years ago in a christian church and was happy with where she was at. Well even though she told us that right from the beginning we invited her to be baptized on the first lesson and prepare for the 20th of August. She actually laughed at us and said no! Although she accepted the invitation to pray and ask God if it was necessary to be baptized and if the Book of Mormon was true. Second lesson she came doubting her Faith in Christ due to some SERIOUS trails in her life which she didn't share with us at the time. We threw our lesson plan out the window and taught to her needs. Ended up focusing the purpose of trails in this life and our moral agency. At the end of the lesson she said that she never felt anything like what she felt during that lesson, but still said no to baptism. Our third lesson she said yes to baptism but maybe in a few months. The fourth lesson she said, "Elders I want to be baptized on the original date you invited me, August 20th. Can I?" It has been amazing working with Diana, she will be baptized this weekend at 11am. Now you may understand why missionaries invite others to be baptized with a specific date on the first lessons. When someone is ready for the challenge, there is no need for the challenge.

I don't have time to even begin describing the progression of Dona! Remember she is the mother of Daniel Manar who we recently baptized. She has just taken off in her learning of the Gospel and is truly converted. We love her. She has sacrificed so much but the Lord is blessing her ten fold. She will be baptized this Saturday as well. It is nice having Daniel retaught the principles of the Gospel too.

There is this shady looking apartment complex in our area we call the "white buildings". We have names for all the apartments, just makes it easier. For the past month both Elder Bertolino and myself have felt prompted to tract them, but haven't found the time to do so. We always discuss and say we need to but finally this past Saturday we had the entire day to knock them down. Miracles occurred while we tracted those streets. From the beginning of the day I had a prayer in my heart that we would find someone because we needed to catch up! We hardly had anytime at all this past week to FIND. The second door we knocked a pretty lady covered in tattoo's opens the door and says as if she just woke up, "I am not a member... but I am interested. Can you come back?" We were a little confused and thought she was just playing with us but after some further conversation it turns out she really is. She has been thinking about it for awhile and wants to prepare for baptism. We are teaching her tomorrow. Other great things happened. Ran into people who recently had children and married. Basically the perfect time to find people.

There is my week for you. Thank you for the wonderful update from home and looking forward to hear from you next week. Please keep me updated with Paige and Lindsay, I proud of them. I imagine it would be humbling experience working with some of those kids. I can't wait to see pictures as well. I love you Mom and Dad, don't forget to read that talk! Maybe do it today as a little family home evening. Have a great week!

Love Elder Pizzey.

August 8, 2010

August 8, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 13
Just so you know. Its 4:45pm and we are in a huge rush. I have been typing for the past 20 minutes and everything just got deleted... Not to happy anymore. Well let me try to shorten everything up I said.

I am glad to see everything went OK this past weekend with the funeral and the birth of Marli, I like that name. I loved the pictures you sent of the kids, I hardly recognize them anymore. Good work Sisters for laying up treasures in heaven. Now Taren and Dave you better get started, don't let me beat you. I am really excited to have little Pizzey's running around. I almost forgot to mention the bad news you shared though. The car, I knew it. To be honest I thought it was already totalled and you were just waiting to tell me until I got home. Well good thing your off to Africa Paige! (Blake obviously does not know they are going to Ecuador) You won't need a car there that's for sure. Have fun girls! Love both of you.

Today we are emailing so late because we hiked Mount Olympus with Elder Brand who is leaving this week, he leaves mid transfer for school. We will miss him, he is unreal. Served as an Assistant from his 10 month mark until his 20th month mark, way intense. The hike killed me though, I am way out of shape. You just don't get enough time to exercise everyday as an Assistant. We also don't have meals everyday, which you think would be good but that just means we eat food that isn't as healthy. Fast food. I hate it. We just don't have time during those crucial hours for meals though.

This past week has been crazy hectic as well. We had Zone Leader Council last week. We addressed a few of the topics we felt our Zone Leaders need. There are a few that have polar opposite needs but with the training that was given both sides were met. It was focused on serving those we preside over and building our love for them. While we trained on that for an hour President Miller actually got down on the floor and polished every ones shoes... that was humbling to have him do that. I will never forget it. Then switched that around to IF you actually have true love for your Elders and Sisters you will have high expectations, therefore you will hold them accountable. The spirit was ever strong and it was the best ZLC I've attended. We have a few Zone Leaders who are departing this transfer and they shared their testimonies as well. I've learned alot from them.

There have been some crazy miracles with investigators that I wish I could share. This work is truly the work of our Heavenly Father. This past month we baptized 12 and for August we are projecting 9 and have a goal of 10. I hope we can hit it. It is a little stressful to have the "model area" for the entire mission but truly its my favorite part. I love being in our area and working it. We are trying to help our mission catch the vision which we have obtained. That is baptizing weekly.

The Salt Lake Big Cottonwood 2nd ward is the greatest ward in the world. The demographics are all over the map. Different ethnicity's and from extremely wealthy to low income. We attend this ward every week and feel at home here. A majority of Baptisms have been in this ward. I think it is stressing the WML out but also the ward council a little. The WML needs some help though, hardly any Ward Missionaries. I think one... doesn't work so well for teaching weekly new member lessons, which is scary. It is definitely keeping all of us on our toes though. The great thing is the retention rate in this ward is basically 100%, they do an unreal job.

Behreh this past week was baptized into the 2nd Ward this past Sunday. He is from Berma and speaks Korenni, not a common language. He is 14 years old and just the cutest little guy. We have been teaching him for 5 weeks and has come to church each week. Sumeh, one of Elder Bertolino's recent converts has been translating for us. She is 18 and preparing to serve a mission. She will be one of the first Korenni speaking missionaries. She will be the Lord's tool in bringing her people the Gospel, its so exciting.

So many other great things have happened. Recent converts receiving the Priesthood and passing the Sacrament for example. This week we have two Zone Conferences and next week two more. That means late nights and early mornings and long days at the mission office. Recently Zone Conference has gone from the Assistants training with the Mission President for the majority of the time to the Zone Leaders taking a big bulk of it with the mission President. So we will see how it goes, hopefully we can stay in our areas to study and proselyte.

Love you Ma and Pa! Also family and friends.

Love Elder Pizzey.

Behreh's Baptism

August 1, 2011

August 1, 2011 - Week 2 of Transfer 13

WHAT! I just started my email and got another one from you saying I have another niece! Marli! How cute, that is intense. Guess what!? I will let you in on a little secret, I have known for months that Breanne was having a girl. It was so hard not to tell you on Mother's day over the phone. She sent me an email awhile ago letting me know but told me to tell know one. How fun, I know. I'm glad all is well and everyone is healthy. I can't wait to see these little munchkins when I get back. Love you Breanne and Jordan.

I am so glad transfer week is over! I think we put in a total of 50 hours for that transfer, it was painful. We had 22 missionaries come in and President interviewed each one for 15 minutes, so you can do the math. That was a long day. We filled the time with trainings and what not. Drove them up in two different groups to Draper Temple to over look the mission and share some scriptures, get them pumped and catch the vision of baptizing weekly. For awhile in this mission we lost the vision of baptizing weekly and no one believed or even thought it was possible to baptize 100 people in your mission. Well its coming back, thats what Elder Bertolino and I focus on. We first had to start with our area and proving that it was possible. It is a complete mindset, and slowly other Elders are startng to grab hold of it. We have some Zone Leaders now who are starting to catch fire and then their zone follows. On the other hand there are a few zones struggling big time. It's hard to know just what to do to help them out. We are working on it.

We had 10 baptisms scheduled for this past weekend and 4 of them fell through but 6 baptisms is still lots! Let me explain about the four that fell through. Alex (10 yrs) and Miranda (12 yrs) Campbell from Ontario Canada. They are the smartest and most spiritually intune children I have ever taught! They were here for a little over a month visiting their mom who is an active member. Their father who lives in Canada is a non-member. It was a really difficult decision for them to get baptized but finally decided to go through with it. At first their father said he would support them in what ever they do but once they decided yes he told them they weren't allowed. The baptism was scheduled for Saturday and they found out Friday night it was a no, Alex was crying for ahile. It was a depressing night and it was extremely hard to have the motivation to work. BUT! We are going to have the missionaries in Canada begin teaching them and if the Father allows them people will pick them up for church. I love these two though, it felt like I was teaching somone my own age.

The other two. Behreh (14yrs) from Burma! I love him and he has fallen in love with the Gospel. He attends all the YM (youth) activites, church every week, and studies like crazy the things we leave him. His mom said yes but his dad said no to him being baptized but after us talking with his father he agreed it would be good for him. So Behreh's baptism moved from this past Sunday to next Saturday. And the other person really just fell off the map, hopefully one day though.

I love this area, it has been resurrected! It is baptizing like it used to back in the days of Daniel England. I don't think I have time to describe to you my day yesterday but it needs to be recorded! Let me make an attempt as usual. It topped if my mission as one of my greatest, it seems like they just keep getting better. First at 7:30am President came to our 'money' stake, the SL Big Cottonwood Stake to train the Leadership of the wards. As usual when President was speaking it was powerful and people didn't want him to stop. He called on us to come up to the pulpit and teach some princibles of the Restoration. After we had a meeting with the Mission Presidency, the Stake Presidency and us. At 9:15am we taught a joint Relief Society and Priesthood class on the Doctrine of Christ, which went quite well. Then we spoke at 11am for twenty minutes each, I focused on the Atonement. We didn't have anytime to prepare other than to gather some thoughts while the sacrement was being passed but the Lord really helped us there.

Immediately after speaking we flew to another church building for the baptismal interviews of the Gajmer family. We had this brother there to translate the sacrament meeting for this family, it was great for them. They could actually understand! The Napoli brother who came translate, is the man! He is a spiritual giant. Born in Napol and lived there forever, moved to China and was baptized there. Then came to study at BYU and now he works for the church and has just begun the translation of the Book of Mormon into Napoli. He submitted a request to make a Napoli branch here in the valley and was just given permission so it will be happening soon. Yesterday we baptized the 190th Napoli in the Salt Lake valley! I love these people. It was so cool to see Daniel England's recent converts, the Biswa's, using their Priesthood to baptize and confirm their relatives. We are now preparing the Biswa's to enter the temple in a few months. The hardcore translator will be teaching a temple prep class each week for them, this work is exciting.

Nasir Kalala, one of our recent converts, was in a serious car accident Saturday night and was rushed to the hospital. Our WML was able to go over there and give him a blessing, and the very next day he even showed up at church, but could hardly walk. He recieved the Aaronic Priesthood that very day and baptized his wife a few hours later! Elder Bertolino had to get in the water to help him lift his wife up and out of the water, it was hilarious. It is hard to catch you up to speed but this is the majority of it. I feel like most of these emails I just dump a bunch of stories into a big blob and it makes a big mess. Hopefully you get a sense of how things are going though. I do love your emails and look forward to them each week! Time is ticking down and going so fast! I am extremely motivated to work hard and accomplish my mission goal, it will be a tight one but I have faith that it will happen.

Love Elder Pizzey.

The Gajamer's and Biswas

The Campbells, fellow Canadian Kids