February 20, 2012 - Blake's last email! What a wonderful two years it has been!

February 20, 2012 - Week 1 of Reality...

This week has been a stellar week and it couldn't have been any better! I am so grateful and have been thanking the Lord over and over for all the good that has happened. Before I give you a outline of this past week let be start by answering your question in regards to my feelings about going home. Might I add I have been asked this question by every member of our stakes this past week! The best way to describe my feels is to say It feels natural and right. I was called to serve for two years and those two years have come to an end. I am not depressed and acting like I am the most hardcore missionary in the world and never want to go home YET I am not trunky and anxious to leave. I love what I am doing and I could easily keep going and I will just at home! I think all will feel normal until hands I am released, that will be difficult... I do recognize that there will be times where I will miss being so saturated in the Gospel. In the past two years I have become acquainted with the spirit and feel it on a daily basis, this I do not want to leave and it doesn't need to. This past week I had a general authority visit with me for awhile and he comforted me greatly, I love him. Regular temple worship, daily scripture study and praying always will be the key.

I hope that gives you a good idea of how I feel! Now as for this past week, lets begin. First President Miller called me up and asked for my thoughts about transfers for the district I serve in. There are three companionships in our district and each companionship is like our companionship, that is finishing be trained/training. All three of the new missionaries (including Elder Mayo) are excellent and well prepared to be 3rd transfer trainers! That is a big deal, basically since they don't have much experience they need to be exactly obedient and they are. Elder Stensrud one of the new missionaries who will be training,  President is considering to have him be the district leader so he asked me to go on a two day exchange and get a feel if he is prepared. So from Wednesday night to Friday night I was in their area while Elder Mayo stayed in ours. Elder Stensrud (by the way he is killer at basketball) is so receptive and willing to learn, its sad his trainer isn't the greatest. It was so fun to be with him for two days though! He just wants to learn and invites correction because he has a real desire to improve. I stuffed him with some goodies from Preach My Gospel and taught him how to plan, he caught on quick. Elder Stensrud will be a great district leader, especially with the zone leaders we have. They are the best, Elder Armstrong (New Zealand) and Elder Pence.

After the exchange we had a huge stake conference in our Draper River View Stake and Elder Keith R. Edwards of the Sevently presided. On Saturday there was a Priesthood leadership and adult session. We were invited by the stake president to attend a private dinner with just Elder Edwards and the Stake Presidency! That was special and it was nice to get some one on one time with Elder Edwards. President and Sister Miller were asked to speak at the adult session and everyone loved them! They are hilarious yet they can really invite some personal revelation by the spirit. On Sunday morning there was a youth session and we were able to have some recent converts attend. Then there was of course the main session of stake conference and some wonderful talks were given by the stake presidency, Draper Temple presidency and Elder Edwards. To start his remarks Elder Edwards stood up and said, "I would now like Elder Pizzey to please come forward and share a few remarks and his testimony," then sat down. I quickly snapped out of my comfortable position and marched to the pulpit. As most stake conferences the chapel, gym and stake were packed but even more they had this being broadcasted to other buildings! I bore testimony of what the Word of God has done for me these past two years and sat down after a few minutes. Elder Edwards then followed and gave a powerful 35 minute talk! He comforted me with his words and shared a story of a returned missionary he released while serving as a stake president. It was exactly what I needed to hear! It was a wonderful stake conference but was really sad to say goodbye to this stake presidency I love so much.

Sunday night was the greatest of the entire week! First we had Richard Neel (82 years old) get baptized by his son with Elder Mayo assisting in the font. We organized a bus to drive all of his friends from the retirement home over to stake center. We ended up having a "drive-in" baptism! Everyone scooted up on their motorized scooters to view the baptism fun fun! Richard is 6'6" and quite a big guy so we had him sit on the floor as he was baptized. Immediately following his baptism we had Melanie, Philip, and Sabrina Walter get baptized! It was a powerful baptism with great talks and musical numbers. Their uncle who has returned to activity while we have been teaching him with the family spoke on baptism, that was my favorite part. It took a few dunks to get Melanie under the water which called for some good laughs but she enjoyed it. We will visit this family when we return. The father, Randy, didn't end up getting baptized but yesterday softened his heart.

Then I was able to go back to the assistants area for the baptism of Jeff Mantels! I had Cameron Keys (19 years old) be my companion and drive me out there. We had really good heart to heart chat on the way out there and talked alot about a mission! Jeff was married on a BMX track saturday and baptized sunday night, I know legit! That gave me some good ideas about my wedding, just kidding. Jeff is one of the people that I taught where we just clicked and connected. He asked me to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost and I was pleased to do so. I bore down in pure testimony to him and taught how recieving the Holy Ghost will help him become more like Christ. Changing his character is something he has really focused on and something he needed to do. It hit me while singing the closing hymn that that was my last baptism as a set part missionary. I didn't cry but the emotion was there. I love what serving the Lord. My heart is filled with a fullness of joy when I see people come unto Christ and use His Atonement. I love the Lord and my mission has been perfect. Now my bags are packed and I am ready to go, I will see you shortly.

For the last time, Love Elder Pizzey.

February 13, 2012

Possibly our last post from Blake, he arrives homes Thursday, February 23, 2012!

February 13, 2012 - Week 6 of Transfer 17

So is this the last email home or am I expected to email next week? I will log on next week and see if you send me anything I guess. I can't believe it has winded to an end, it still hasn't hit me. On another note, I am cracking up about Mitch and Brad, that story defines them. I wish I could have joined. When they get on talk shows they need to open up and say they are "mormon", if they do their story will get much bigger and spread faster. To funny!

As for my week the work has been great, thanks for your prayers. In that picture Sister Curlleti sent you, you saw Trevor and his brother Cam. I love their family! My last night in the mission I will be eating dinner at their house. This coming weekend we will be having four baptisms, possibly five. The Walter family are on track and doing well! Philip, the 17 year old son had a change of heart and is now getting baptized with his sisters Sunday night. Richard Neel (82 yrs) will be baptized that same night by his son. If Richard's wife Grace can open her heart and feel the spirit confirm to her that what we taught is true she will be entering the water with him! We found out that Grace is actually 90 years old and with that age she is fairly stuck in her ways.

We did speak this past week in two different wards, both of them I just went up their and taught by the spirit (one for 20 mins and the othe 15 mins), I think they went OK. One of the talks was in our favorite ward of the area the Crescent View 30th ward. The Keys family live in that ward. Ryan Keys passed the sacrament, Trevor was welcomed into the ward and Cam blessed the sacrament. All were involved but the mother, Karen! So I called her up during my talk to share her testimony (I warned her before). She came up and said in a humble and quiet manner, "I told Elder Pizzey I couldn't share all that has happened in the past few weeks briefly but if I can say it in a few words it is, I know this church is true because of the spirit I have felt while reading the Book of Mormon and all that has happened to my family. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." She said it with such a sincere heart and everyone could feel the power of God. I love the Lord. Thank you mom and dad and I will see you next week.

Love Elder Pizzey.

February 6, 2012

February 6, 2012 - Week 5 of Transfer 17

Two weeks left, that is intense... As always I loved your letters, mom you are hilarious and make me laugh. I am sure Macy has no clue that I am coming home! Dad your probably right I could use some help in that department when I get home (He is referring to the dating scene).

Well I have two weeks to pound Elder Mayo to the ground and pump him with what the Lord has taught me. If you could please say some additional prayers for our companionship! Pray for the Walter's that they will get baptized on February 18th, they are a family we are teaching. Currently half the family wants to get baptized and the other half is becoming lazy and not keeping commitments, just not acting. I want to leave Elder Mayo with some much work he can't handle it! Pray that we will have miracles, that we will find new families, that we will find those who can receive the Priesthood and help establish the church. Thank you!

President Boyd K. Packer is a well full of water, so much knowledge! I have been had some unreal experiences with General Authorities and specifically Apostles on my mission. We sat in the very front row on the left hand side. He rolled right in front of us, was assisted as he walked up the stairs and then sat for nearly two hours ten feet right in front of us. President Miller knows him quite well because President Miller's brother served in the First Quorum of the Seventy back in the day. His son, Elder Allen Packer, attended as well, he is currently serving as a General Authority in the Seventy. All three of them sat on the stand so comfortably with each other and spoke with portable mics due to President Packer's health. The polio he had as a child is coming back and slowly taking him but the Lord keeps sustaining him. It was a open meeting and we could ask him anything. I asked him about the relationship between the Second Comforter and the sacrament prayers. Really my question was about taking upon you the name of Christ and at what point does that actually happen. I got a legit response.

President Miller called me Tuesday and invited me to attend the zone leader council. If you remember from last year we had a ZLC up in Park City at President's brothers cabin, well President did it again. It felt so nice to be with the "council" again and with all my mission friends, I love many of the missionaries in our mission. It felt like a holiday as we were gone from 6:00am to 9:30pm. We had delicious food, trainings, councils, sledding, more food and some excellent studies. President Miller ended the night training on the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood, my mouth was watering the entire time. As for the council, there were some good decisions made by zone leaders that day. Each transfer the mission is becoming closer and closer to a "Preach My Gospel mission". Taking out anything above Preach My Gospel and implementing anything we don't do which is found in PMG.

This past week we started teaching a couple in an assisted living complex that is in our area. Richard and Grace Neel, they are 86 and 82 years old but sure quick for there age! It is much fun teaching them, mainly because we get to scream as we teach due to their lack of hearing. We’re teaching them daily and can track them down whenever we want, they aren't going anywhere. Might I add each visit we snake a free hot chocolate and popcorn bag on the way out of the complex, we love teaching them daily. We are getting them the extra-large copies of the Book of Mormon, those 12 by 9 inch bad boys. Richard is all game for baptism on February 19th and Grace is originally Methodist so she is seeking the Lord's help on this decision. We love the Neel's, they brighten our day.

Have a wonderful week and I'll see you shortly! Love your boy and soon to be released missionary...

Elder Pizzey.

January 30, 2012

January 30, 2012 - Week 4 of Transfer 17

I can't believe we are walking into week four of my last transfer! I feel like we will be hugging and sobbing in a blink of the eyes. I am so grateful we have written such great emails to each other because keeping a steady journal has been difficult especially when I served as an assistant. We will have to make some sort of a journal out of these letters. As I was preparing for my talk Sunday morning I was trying to reflect back on my mission for something I could share and its so hard! Just one big blur that has gone so fast. I have been pondering and praying recently about what is that I have really learned in these past two years. Maybe I can piece it together and share it with you in my last email but that will be tough.

It has been a splendid week! Nice and busy preparing those we have been teaching for baptism. We ended up having three baptisms this weekend. Those who were baptized are Sophia Lopez, and Monica and Harrison Mescal. To invite the spirit at the lessons with the Mescal's we often would sing 'I Am a Child of God' so they thought it would be a good idea to have Elder Mayo and myself sing a duet at their baptism! Elder Mayo and I were on splits when this was arranged and obviously I wasn't the one there or that would not have happened. But of course I went ahead with it and gave it my all and it was embarrassing, although my voice has improved. Lots of hymn singing.

Sophia's father is Catholic but not so strong in his faith and it was great to have him at the baptism. He has never clicked to well with missionaries but some how we have been able to get a good relationship with him. I think it may be because he has 300 pairs of Jordan shoes in his basement... literally ever pair of Jordan's you can think of! He has only met with us once and shrugged off any other attempts we have made to teach him, but it will happen in the future. He was touched at her confirmation during sacrament meeting when Sophia walked over to him immediately following the ordinance and gave him a solid minute long hug.

Currently we have four progressing investigators and are searching hard for more people to teach, I cannot leave Elder Mayo with nothing to work with! We had one of our most legit investigators, Kayley Lucero, move out of our area. She just happened to tell us at the lesson she finally accepted a baptismal date in February! Her husband, Landin, and herself are newly weds which made it so fun to teach them, I will miss them. It was saddening but the Elders in the Salt Lake City mission will do a find job helping her follow through with her commitment. We also had another investigator drop us due to no desire and some serious hick ups and another family, our favorite family! But they are doing well and back on track now.

Elder Mayo is learning the ropes and will be ready to train, I hope he gets called on to do so. When he feels he didn't teach so well or makes a small slip up he keeps saying, "I am not in missionary mode yet, I don't feel like a missionary yet" I respond by telling him, "You are and keep your focus .... The spirit makes up for your weaknesses if you just give it your best" We have been focusing on the well known scripture found in Matthew chapter 10, verse 27. I don't recall struggling with that what he feels. I remember feeling what I felt as hands were laid on my head and I was set apart, "I am a missionary!" It felt real! Then as I walked into the doors of the MTC it was given to me and since then I have been running! I am grateful for who the Lord has helped me become and all that He has taught me. I will keep running until hands are placed on my head once again but this time to release me. Even after the mission, I plan serving Him until the end. 

Love, Elder Blake Pizzey