June 29, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 12
Those were some good emails from home! I love getting the weekly update. I'm sorry I didn't comment on your attending Elder Dick's homecoming talk, it just slipped my mind. I still think it is just completely weird that he is home and you have met him! Confusing... it is coming so fast for me. Before I know it my 18 month mark is coming and then life is right around the corner. Its scary how will I balance everything? Schooling, a calling, a job, marriage, eventually a family! Baby steps, I don't even know why I'm writing about his right now. None the less I love Elder Dick, he taught me alot and we had some great experiences together.
I can't even begin to tell you the full details of this past week. It was just too intense for me. It all started five minutes after I finished writing my email last week. I was here at the mission office and a landlord called the office with a few questions on mission rules. After visiting with the missionaries who live in this man's home everything started to unfold. It took close to four days but finally we got to the bottom of things. Friday night Elder Bertolino and myself were out until 1:00am and had to wake up the following morning at 4:30am to take new missionaries downtown for there temple trip. Never in my life did I think I would be dealing with things of this nature on my mission, its quite sad. But now the situation is looking brighter and a group of eight missionaries who I dearly love are on the road to repentance. A few of them also had plane tickets home and one missionary President is dealing with his in field representative (IFR) to see what we can do to have him stay. I don't mean to share such a negative story but this has been the majority of our week and I have learned alot.
Early last week I was completely focused on chastisement and work ethic in my studies and I didn't know why but I was enjoying it. Then it turns out a few days down the road that was exactly what I needed, amazing how the Lord is always working with us. I am not going to lie it was pretty scary sitting down with a 800 pound former bouncer and rebuking him with sharpness, it was depressing, I love these Elders. The Lord is preparing me to be a father I can tell. What an important role to play, raising one of the Lord's children in this crazy society! But I'm learning and I'm grateful to President for teaching me. I'm really starting to understand the doctrine behind dealing with disobedience and rebellion.
So we found the true problem of why we the number of baptisms for the mission are hitting a extreme low, disobedience and a lack in our work ethic. The Lord is humbling-us and I hope we are learning the lesson. He brings us low before he can bring us high. So besides all this negative news there is alot of good going on as well. These past few weeks we have been extremely busy with trainings. Yesterday we had a training here at the mission office for all new missionaries and trainers (Elder Bertolino ran) and another for new District Leaders (which I held). This Friday we have our monthly 6 hour Zone Leader Council (that is mandatory in all missions, the same for all these trainings), then July 4th we have a mission activity at the Taylorsville Institute (to keep us out of trouble) and the following day we have a Leadership training for all District Leaders and Zone Leaders. Right now the stress levels are high.
Despite all this craziness and the time that was taken away from us to proselyte, the work still moved forward. I feel like the Lord understands and drops all these tender mercies into our lap. This past weekend we had the baptism of Kaden Robinson and it worked out perfectly, everything just came together for Saturday. This week is exciting so many new people we will be working with, so many lessons scheduled! We will be baptizing weekly this transfer which is such a blessing and next transfer even more. It is quite stressful having to have a "model area" for the entire mission and still have to deal with everything else! I had another wonderful moment with the Flores family. They made us some really spicy Mexican food to thank us for what we do and while we were eating dinner, Rudy was basically bearing his testimony. He was telling us that when we walk into his home the spirit enters in before us and they can feel a difference. I know its true, its nothing of myself or Elder Bertolino but simply the calling we hold at this current time. As he spoke I kept saying to myself, "Your going to miss this, enjoy it". I will, never again will I be this in tune and be blessed with so spiritual experiences. I love my mission and I'm excited to say one day that I didn't waste a minute of it. My time is precious and my mission will never be given to me again.
Much love, Elder Pizzey.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
June 22, 2011
June 23, 2011 - Week 2 of Transfer 12
Before I begin I guess I should say happy birthday to the twins! I don't even know how old both of you are now. When ever people ask how old my sisters are I just say 25 for some reason, is that right? It feels like things never slow down as an assistant. The biggest challenge by far is finding time to do everything, literally every minute I am busy. Whether its with the area (my favorite) and trying to prepare people for baptism, finding new investigators, or trying to make contact with each investigator daily. Or it's the mission and preparing trainings or staying on top of things with our zone leaders, holding them accountable or doing exchanges. Time is so short as a missionary, there is always an end. The end of the day, the week, the transfer, your mission! Its painful. It will be nice to return home one day and sit in that hot tub and just relax! I'm not complaining though, I love it.
Yesterday we didn't get a Pday we were mainly in the mission office doing random task and also gave a training a few hours long to all the Sisters in the mission. It is crazy how many Sisters we have and are getting in the near future. We only have 5 sisters who are over one year and 34 who are out under a year, so a total of 39 for now. This next transfer even more are coming too... Its good but they are so new and its just a little scary. They are either the best missionaires or cause drama and make things difficult. But to help us our President recently called a coordinating Sister or we say Sap (Sister AP lol), Sister Estevez, she gets things done.
This past week we went on an exchange with the Cottonwood Zone Leaders and I went into their area. They cover a YSA stake which covers my first area in the mission. We went to a YSA activity and saw Bishop Lloyd, one of the Bishops I got very close to. It was weird going back to the ward, I knew so many people and just felt at home. It is insane how many people I have come to know in the valley here and they are all over the place! I love it.
Not to crazy but heres a little cool experience. A couple months ago now, Elder Atwood and I were going into seven eleven and OYM'd (open your mouth) a few people outisde the gas station. They were both less-active, one was very friendly and open to listening and the other not so much. Well we invited her back to church, testified and left her a mormon.org card. Then never heard from her again, this was down south in riverton by the way. Well this past week Elder Bertolino and I were in this apartment complex and I saw the same girl again, Sarah Pile is her name. Well she told me she has been attending church since that day Elder Atwood and I spoke to her outside seven eleven. Its crazy how such a small act like talking to someone and inviting them can make such a difference. She expressed to us what a difference it has made in her life.
Well I know it doesn't sound like alot and it isn't, there was alot more that went on in my week but I better be leaving real soon. The Flores are still on track and preparing for baptism. It might take a little long than we expected because we are waiting for Rudy's divorce to get a cleared up, it never went through several years ago. But they are just so solid and love the Gospel. Rudy has invited his mother in Mexico to meet with missionaries and she has agreed to do so. I forget if I've told you about the Kalala family. They are from Africa and the parents speak hardly any english but the kids do quite well. We have a translator for the lessons, they are pretty intense. In due time they will be baptized. This past weekend we had these two boys Nicholas and Brandon Dornoff get baptized, they are adorable kids. This weekend they wil be sealed to there family in the Draper Temple, we might attend.
Its to bad about the rain and all the flooding in the backyard, hopefuly everything gets fixed, maybe when you build the cement pad back there you can dig a channel between our two homes so it drains to the front. Make sure the pad is built up high enough so it never gets flooded. I'm sure you know what your doing, I just wish I was involved!
Love you both!
Elder Pizzey
Before I begin I guess I should say happy birthday to the twins! I don't even know how old both of you are now. When ever people ask how old my sisters are I just say 25 for some reason, is that right? It feels like things never slow down as an assistant. The biggest challenge by far is finding time to do everything, literally every minute I am busy. Whether its with the area (my favorite) and trying to prepare people for baptism, finding new investigators, or trying to make contact with each investigator daily. Or it's the mission and preparing trainings or staying on top of things with our zone leaders, holding them accountable or doing exchanges. Time is so short as a missionary, there is always an end. The end of the day, the week, the transfer, your mission! Its painful. It will be nice to return home one day and sit in that hot tub and just relax! I'm not complaining though, I love it.
Yesterday we didn't get a Pday we were mainly in the mission office doing random task and also gave a training a few hours long to all the Sisters in the mission. It is crazy how many Sisters we have and are getting in the near future. We only have 5 sisters who are over one year and 34 who are out under a year, so a total of 39 for now. This next transfer even more are coming too... Its good but they are so new and its just a little scary. They are either the best missionaires or cause drama and make things difficult. But to help us our President recently called a coordinating Sister or we say Sap (Sister AP lol), Sister Estevez, she gets things done.
This past week we went on an exchange with the Cottonwood Zone Leaders and I went into their area. They cover a YSA stake which covers my first area in the mission. We went to a YSA activity and saw Bishop Lloyd, one of the Bishops I got very close to. It was weird going back to the ward, I knew so many people and just felt at home. It is insane how many people I have come to know in the valley here and they are all over the place! I love it.
Not to crazy but heres a little cool experience. A couple months ago now, Elder Atwood and I were going into seven eleven and OYM'd (open your mouth) a few people outisde the gas station. They were both less-active, one was very friendly and open to listening and the other not so much. Well we invited her back to church, testified and left her a mormon.org card. Then never heard from her again, this was down south in riverton by the way. Well this past week Elder Bertolino and I were in this apartment complex and I saw the same girl again, Sarah Pile is her name. Well she told me she has been attending church since that day Elder Atwood and I spoke to her outside seven eleven. Its crazy how such a small act like talking to someone and inviting them can make such a difference. She expressed to us what a difference it has made in her life.
Well I know it doesn't sound like alot and it isn't, there was alot more that went on in my week but I better be leaving real soon. The Flores are still on track and preparing for baptism. It might take a little long than we expected because we are waiting for Rudy's divorce to get a cleared up, it never went through several years ago. But they are just so solid and love the Gospel. Rudy has invited his mother in Mexico to meet with missionaries and she has agreed to do so. I forget if I've told you about the Kalala family. They are from Africa and the parents speak hardly any english but the kids do quite well. We have a translator for the lessons, they are pretty intense. In due time they will be baptized. This past weekend we had these two boys Nicholas and Brandon Dornoff get baptized, they are adorable kids. This weekend they wil be sealed to there family in the Draper Temple, we might attend.
Its to bad about the rain and all the flooding in the backyard, hopefuly everything gets fixed, maybe when you build the cement pad back there you can dig a channel between our two homes so it drains to the front. Make sure the pad is built up high enough so it never gets flooded. I'm sure you know what your doing, I just wish I was involved!
Love you both!
Elder Pizzey
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 15, 2011
July 16, 2011 - Week 1 of Transfer 12
It has hectic the past few days! I am worn out and ready for a nap, I think we are going to take one in a few hours here. Transfers have been intense! We had 18 missionaries come into the mission and only 7 leave, which created alot of work for us. Sunday and Monday we were up till 12:00am, Tuesday and last night up until 1am. Wednesday we got up at 5:30am and 4:00am this morning!
We recently got back to the Miller's home from taking the missioaries to the airport and yes your right, it was sad saying goodbye!
Its now 3:42pm, still haven't slept and we've been at the mission office all day tieing up loose ends. Elder Atwood just called Sister Miller and I guess his flight was delayed so he missed his flight from LA to Vancouver! He was about to cry and told me, "I already miss my mission. Bye" It was funny.
Yesterday was a way good day though. We split the 18 new missionaries (there are 2 Canadian sisters by the way), one group for Elder Bertolino and the other for myself. While Elder Bertolino's missionaries were being interviewed I threw the crew into the big old van and we drove out to Draper Temple. The Draper Temple basically overlooks our whole mission. We had a good chat full of scriptures and testimony about the sacredness of the valley! Then we headed back to the mission office and during their interviews I gave training about talking with everyone and getting fear out of us. Elder Bertolino did the same and after we gave a powerful training on the importance of obedience. The trainers and new missionaries then got their new companions and headed off to work. We finished cleaning up around the mission office at 5:00pm and booked it over to Presidents house for the Dinner with the departing missionaries. We had a great night with them.
I know this isn't the best email but I am just pooped right now and can't really think. We spoke twice on Sunday and my thoughts were directing towards our callings/service and how we can't comprehend this great work, if that makes sense... Next Pday sister Miller is getting all the Sisters together most of the day, and shes doing it for a few reasons. Some are struggling with missionary work so Elder Bertolino and I will be giving training on just the basics. So next week my email might be a little later in the day.
I love you mom and dad! Have a good week and please share the gospel.
Elder Pizzey
It has hectic the past few days! I am worn out and ready for a nap, I think we are going to take one in a few hours here. Transfers have been intense! We had 18 missionaries come into the mission and only 7 leave, which created alot of work for us. Sunday and Monday we were up till 12:00am, Tuesday and last night up until 1am. Wednesday we got up at 5:30am and 4:00am this morning!
We recently got back to the Miller's home from taking the missioaries to the airport and yes your right, it was sad saying goodbye!
Its now 3:42pm, still haven't slept and we've been at the mission office all day tieing up loose ends. Elder Atwood just called Sister Miller and I guess his flight was delayed so he missed his flight from LA to Vancouver! He was about to cry and told me, "I already miss my mission. Bye" It was funny.
Yesterday was a way good day though. We split the 18 new missionaries (there are 2 Canadian sisters by the way), one group for Elder Bertolino and the other for myself. While Elder Bertolino's missionaries were being interviewed I threw the crew into the big old van and we drove out to Draper Temple. The Draper Temple basically overlooks our whole mission. We had a good chat full of scriptures and testimony about the sacredness of the valley! Then we headed back to the mission office and during their interviews I gave training about talking with everyone and getting fear out of us. Elder Bertolino did the same and after we gave a powerful training on the importance of obedience. The trainers and new missionaries then got their new companions and headed off to work. We finished cleaning up around the mission office at 5:00pm and booked it over to Presidents house for the Dinner with the departing missionaries. We had a great night with them.
I know this isn't the best email but I am just pooped right now and can't really think. We spoke twice on Sunday and my thoughts were directing towards our callings/service and how we can't comprehend this great work, if that makes sense... Next Pday sister Miller is getting all the Sisters together most of the day, and shes doing it for a few reasons. Some are struggling with missionary work so Elder Bertolino and I will be giving training on just the basics. So next week my email might be a little later in the day.
I love you mom and dad! Have a good week and please share the gospel.
Elder Pizzey
Friday, June 10, 2011
June 8, 2011
June 8, 2011 - Week 6 of Transfer 11
This past week we haven't been able to spend as much time in our area and you could tell from our numbers. The Family... is doing great, we met with them last night. On Sunday they met with the Bishop about having him marry them and discussed the current situation with his job. They are still on track for June 25th! I love the questions they ask, they are both thinkers. One of them asks a question then the other answers it by using a scripture, its just the best. Coming up here on June 17th Daniel Manor, a 14 year old boy we are teaching, will be getting baptized. He is brilliant and listens really well, his mom isn't a member yet wants him to go on a mission after he is baptized. We will be working with her in the near future I'm sure.
"Messiah in America" was intense! Pres. Miller's son in law is quite the professional. All the missionaries loved it and everyone travelled safely. I like driving downtown in a car while they all take trax. We had to get there way early to book off our section in the tabernacle so we had some spare time. Well I took Elder Bertolino to the Lion House. Man... I love bread bowls, I haven't had one since we were all there together! It brought back good memories.
Going to Camp Williams for ZLC was perfect. It was a pretty intense ZLC since we baptized a mission low of 102 last month. What we have concluded after ZLC is that the mission has become to "soft and social". There is hardly any accountability and leadership is getting run over. Really what I think the problem is missionaries don't know how to work. They think a 6 hour shift before the mission was deadly and not to mention Wii and Xbox and what that has doing for future missionaries. My kids will never play video games. Missionaries cry daily in there prayers, "Lord, Lord where art thou?" but they do not do the things He tells us! Missionaries don't open their mouth and talk to people! Don't get out at 10am and work! I'm just ranting now... I'll end.
We had Sargent Wilkerson (friend of my recent convert, Andrew Riddle) teach us a few commands and get up in our face for an hour. We were all about to die, we are definetely out of shape. But we surprised this Sergeant with our respect and obedience, that's what happens when you have 18 of the best missionaries in the entire SLCS mission. Then we went to the LRC, leadership reaction course, to see who steps up. I will have to send you some pictures of these courses and the obstacles! It was so fun and I am proud to say that I have gone swimming on my mission! Half these courses had 3 feet of water laying underneath it and if you fell you were dropping a few feet into water. It was cold and windy (we are grateful for that, everyone would have been baking if it was hot) so no one wanted to go in but three of us fell in, while trying to make it to the other side. It was hilarious. You are probably really confused but pictures will help explain, I will get them from President. But after we were done we sang "Onward Christian Soldiers" and the spirit was so strong as we stood on the top of this hill overlooking the valley. The Zone Leader Council is really unified right now and there is a strong feeling of love. Everyone loved it.
Its a short update today. It is Elder Atwood's last Pday today and we are going on a hike with him. Then at 4:00pm we have a dinner at the Smarts home (my first landlord). They are wrapping up their service with housing missionaries and have invited all the missionaries who have lived there for dinner, they also invited President. Next week I probably won't be able to write a letter on Pday, but still write me one in case I get too! We have 18 missionaries coming in and like only 7 leaving! It is making it really difficult for us with transfers. We are creating a new zone and "white washing" (two new missionaries) several areas to make it work. We've spent a few hours at Presidents house getting it together and in between now and next Tuesday we will be over there alot! I love the Miller's, they are hilarious. Can't wait for you to meet them. They remind me of you constantly. It's great. Love you Mom and Dad! Have a good week.
Love Elder Pizzey.
This past week we haven't been able to spend as much time in our area and you could tell from our numbers. The Family... is doing great, we met with them last night. On Sunday they met with the Bishop about having him marry them and discussed the current situation with his job. They are still on track for June 25th! I love the questions they ask, they are both thinkers. One of them asks a question then the other answers it by using a scripture, its just the best. Coming up here on June 17th Daniel Manor, a 14 year old boy we are teaching, will be getting baptized. He is brilliant and listens really well, his mom isn't a member yet wants him to go on a mission after he is baptized. We will be working with her in the near future I'm sure.
"Messiah in America" was intense! Pres. Miller's son in law is quite the professional. All the missionaries loved it and everyone travelled safely. I like driving downtown in a car while they all take trax. We had to get there way early to book off our section in the tabernacle so we had some spare time. Well I took Elder Bertolino to the Lion House. Man... I love bread bowls, I haven't had one since we were all there together! It brought back good memories.
Going to Camp Williams for ZLC was perfect. It was a pretty intense ZLC since we baptized a mission low of 102 last month. What we have concluded after ZLC is that the mission has become to "soft and social". There is hardly any accountability and leadership is getting run over. Really what I think the problem is missionaries don't know how to work. They think a 6 hour shift before the mission was deadly and not to mention Wii and Xbox and what that has doing for future missionaries. My kids will never play video games. Missionaries cry daily in there prayers, "Lord, Lord where art thou?" but they do not do the things He tells us! Missionaries don't open their mouth and talk to people! Don't get out at 10am and work! I'm just ranting now... I'll end.
We had Sargent Wilkerson (friend of my recent convert, Andrew Riddle) teach us a few commands and get up in our face for an hour. We were all about to die, we are definetely out of shape. But we surprised this Sergeant with our respect and obedience, that's what happens when you have 18 of the best missionaries in the entire SLCS mission. Then we went to the LRC, leadership reaction course, to see who steps up. I will have to send you some pictures of these courses and the obstacles! It was so fun and I am proud to say that I have gone swimming on my mission! Half these courses had 3 feet of water laying underneath it and if you fell you were dropping a few feet into water. It was cold and windy (we are grateful for that, everyone would have been baking if it was hot) so no one wanted to go in but three of us fell in, while trying to make it to the other side. It was hilarious. You are probably really confused but pictures will help explain, I will get them from President. But after we were done we sang "Onward Christian Soldiers" and the spirit was so strong as we stood on the top of this hill overlooking the valley. The Zone Leader Council is really unified right now and there is a strong feeling of love. Everyone loved it.
Its a short update today. It is Elder Atwood's last Pday today and we are going on a hike with him. Then at 4:00pm we have a dinner at the Smarts home (my first landlord). They are wrapping up their service with housing missionaries and have invited all the missionaries who have lived there for dinner, they also invited President. Next week I probably won't be able to write a letter on Pday, but still write me one in case I get too! We have 18 missionaries coming in and like only 7 leaving! It is making it really difficult for us with transfers. We are creating a new zone and "white washing" (two new missionaries) several areas to make it work. We've spent a few hours at Presidents house getting it together and in between now and next Tuesday we will be over there alot! I love the Miller's, they are hilarious. Can't wait for you to meet them. They remind me of you constantly. It's great. Love you Mom and Dad! Have a good week.
Love Elder Pizzey.
Friday, June 3, 2011
June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011 - Week 5 of Transfer 11
This week has gone to fast, and now look this transfer is almost done! In a couple weeks we will be sleeping at Presidents house then driving the departing missionaries to the airport the next morning, it will be sad saying goodbye to Elder Atwood... truly my best friend out here. We have some good plans for this upcoming week (I forget if I've already told you some of this). This Friday the entire mission will be jumping on TRAX (like our LRT) to leave the mission and go downtown for an oratorio at the tabernacle on temple square. The Miller's son in law is the one who composed it (if thats the right wording) so we got free tickets. It is called "Messiah in America" and all based on 3 Nephi, I am excited. It is going to be a little scary taking 194 missionaries out of the mission but Elder Bertolino and I have organized it so each zone meets at different TRAX stations and no more than two zones will be on the same train. Hopefully all works out when coming home. Then this coming Monday we have Zone Leader Council and we have some exciting things planned. We will have the usual council and discuss some matters, then trainings by President, Elder Bertolino and I but after all of that we will be heading down to Bluffdale (south end of mission) to go to Camp Williams. Camp Williams is a military base and we will be there for a couple hours while a Sargent gets up in our face, training us about exact obedience. Then we will go to this outdoor obstacle course which is used to build unity and leadership. The course is full of obstacles that you must complete together and it calls for some brains to accomplish. Its actually pretty difficult, Elder Bertolino, Elder Atwood, Elder Garcia and I went a few Pdays ago to test it out. Andrew Riddle, one of my recent converts, works there and is hooking us up for free.
I don't have much time this week to fill you in on all our investigators but I must share this one story. Its about "Mr. Porn man" as dad referred to him as. So on an exchange I tracted into this man last week and after a few minutes of discussing at the door we got down to the bottom of it. He is looking for a religion and feels it is important to be baptized but felt he wasn't worthy to do so. This is last week remember, well he invited us in and we quickly realized he is a pornographic photographer, not outrageous terrible stuff but nude images and definitely porn... So we sit down and I put my back to the wall of all his work and put keep my eyes on this fellow! As you can probably image it was hard to bring the spirit into the lesson. So we taught for a few minutes, wrapped up with a prayer and scheduled a time to come back. Elder Bertolino and I came back and this time his wife, (or significant other) was with him and shes in the exact same situation as him! Wanting to learn. We asked if we could have the lesson outside on one of the picnic tables, although a little confused they agreed and we had a spiritual lesson outside! During this lesson we also taught the Law of Chastity and told them they would have to marry as well change their career. After this lesson we felt they had a real desire to change their life and prepare for baptism. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love them.
Now we come back for our third lesson with them and Bob (name change) swings open the door to his apartment and welcomes us in but once again we asked if we could take the lesson somewhere else, this time to neighbors home. He had tried to hide this disappointed look on his face but said, "OK lets go" after some hesitation. So with his wife once again we have a great lesson and invited them to come to church. They came to church and stayed for all three hours! And loved it. Then yesterday we went with Bro. Pinnock (a man I got close to in the University Stake while he served on the High Council but is now released and just happens to live in this ward!) to their home for the fourth lesson... I was really nervous as I walked into their home, but to my surprise every nude picture was taken down! My heart dropped and I almost cried, they feel remorse and are making the changes before we even ask them to! It was a new home, still a few pieces of his work but nothing revealing, just girls modeling. Yesterday I had one of my all time favorite lessons, they love the Gospel. He told us about his reading and the revelation he had while reading 2 Nephi 31, he shared with us the lessons he learned at church about hypocrisy and how he constantly keeps it on his mind. They both told us they want to change, they asked if the Bishop could marry them and asked what more could they do to prepare for baptism! The Lord is guiding his servants who are willing and ready. Missionary work brings joy into your life and it is motivating, I wish you could experience this with me. As we were leaving Bro. Pinnock asked if he would see them at church and Rudy replied "every week from now on". This is a miracle and I'm grateful to be involved.
Things are looking bright four our area. Last night we are starting to teaching this fellow in his early 20's who is going threw a divorce. A Muslim family of five who has been attending church we will also begin teaching real soon here. One story for you this week but I hope it filled you up, it has for me and I'm still shocked. Mick's baptism this past Saturday was one of the best! Elder Brand, one of the former assistants, is serving in my former area in Draper. Well he came to the baptism and brought one of his investigators and one of my recent converts! Adrianna Salazar, it was nice to see her. After a few people (including Elder Bertolino and I) shared our testimony at this baptism we felt prompted to call on Adrianna to share hers. She gladly accepted and bore down in pure testimony, many people in tears. I must be going! Elder Bertolino and I are going to buy the Flores (Rudy and Esmeralda) some pictures of Christ and temples from Desseret Book for their home. I love you Mom and Dad, have a good week and talk to you next Wednesday!
Love your boy, Elder Pizzey.
This week has gone to fast, and now look this transfer is almost done! In a couple weeks we will be sleeping at Presidents house then driving the departing missionaries to the airport the next morning, it will be sad saying goodbye to Elder Atwood... truly my best friend out here. We have some good plans for this upcoming week (I forget if I've already told you some of this). This Friday the entire mission will be jumping on TRAX (like our LRT) to leave the mission and go downtown for an oratorio at the tabernacle on temple square. The Miller's son in law is the one who composed it (if thats the right wording) so we got free tickets. It is called "Messiah in America" and all based on 3 Nephi, I am excited. It is going to be a little scary taking 194 missionaries out of the mission but Elder Bertolino and I have organized it so each zone meets at different TRAX stations and no more than two zones will be on the same train. Hopefully all works out when coming home. Then this coming Monday we have Zone Leader Council and we have some exciting things planned. We will have the usual council and discuss some matters, then trainings by President, Elder Bertolino and I but after all of that we will be heading down to Bluffdale (south end of mission) to go to Camp Williams. Camp Williams is a military base and we will be there for a couple hours while a Sargent gets up in our face, training us about exact obedience. Then we will go to this outdoor obstacle course which is used to build unity and leadership. The course is full of obstacles that you must complete together and it calls for some brains to accomplish. Its actually pretty difficult, Elder Bertolino, Elder Atwood, Elder Garcia and I went a few Pdays ago to test it out. Andrew Riddle, one of my recent converts, works there and is hooking us up for free.
I don't have much time this week to fill you in on all our investigators but I must share this one story. Its about "Mr. Porn man" as dad referred to him as. So on an exchange I tracted into this man last week and after a few minutes of discussing at the door we got down to the bottom of it. He is looking for a religion and feels it is important to be baptized but felt he wasn't worthy to do so. This is last week remember, well he invited us in and we quickly realized he is a pornographic photographer, not outrageous terrible stuff but nude images and definitely porn... So we sit down and I put my back to the wall of all his work and put keep my eyes on this fellow! As you can probably image it was hard to bring the spirit into the lesson. So we taught for a few minutes, wrapped up with a prayer and scheduled a time to come back. Elder Bertolino and I came back and this time his wife, (or significant other) was with him and shes in the exact same situation as him! Wanting to learn. We asked if we could have the lesson outside on one of the picnic tables, although a little confused they agreed and we had a spiritual lesson outside! During this lesson we also taught the Law of Chastity and told them they would have to marry as well change their career. After this lesson we felt they had a real desire to change their life and prepare for baptism. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love them.
Now we come back for our third lesson with them and Bob (name change) swings open the door to his apartment and welcomes us in but once again we asked if we could take the lesson somewhere else, this time to neighbors home. He had tried to hide this disappointed look on his face but said, "OK lets go" after some hesitation. So with his wife once again we have a great lesson and invited them to come to church. They came to church and stayed for all three hours! And loved it. Then yesterday we went with Bro. Pinnock (a man I got close to in the University Stake while he served on the High Council but is now released and just happens to live in this ward!) to their home for the fourth lesson... I was really nervous as I walked into their home, but to my surprise every nude picture was taken down! My heart dropped and I almost cried, they feel remorse and are making the changes before we even ask them to! It was a new home, still a few pieces of his work but nothing revealing, just girls modeling. Yesterday I had one of my all time favorite lessons, they love the Gospel. He told us about his reading and the revelation he had while reading 2 Nephi 31, he shared with us the lessons he learned at church about hypocrisy and how he constantly keeps it on his mind. They both told us they want to change, they asked if the Bishop could marry them and asked what more could they do to prepare for baptism! The Lord is guiding his servants who are willing and ready. Missionary work brings joy into your life and it is motivating, I wish you could experience this with me. As we were leaving Bro. Pinnock asked if he would see them at church and Rudy replied "every week from now on". This is a miracle and I'm grateful to be involved.
Things are looking bright four our area. Last night we are starting to teaching this fellow in his early 20's who is going threw a divorce. A Muslim family of five who has been attending church we will also begin teaching real soon here. One story for you this week but I hope it filled you up, it has for me and I'm still shocked. Mick's baptism this past Saturday was one of the best! Elder Brand, one of the former assistants, is serving in my former area in Draper. Well he came to the baptism and brought one of his investigators and one of my recent converts! Adrianna Salazar, it was nice to see her. After a few people (including Elder Bertolino and I) shared our testimony at this baptism we felt prompted to call on Adrianna to share hers. She gladly accepted and bore down in pure testimony, many people in tears. I must be going! Elder Bertolino and I are going to buy the Flores (Rudy and Esmeralda) some pictures of Christ and temples from Desseret Book for their home. I love you Mom and Dad, have a good week and talk to you next Wednesday!
Love your boy, Elder Pizzey.
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