April 5, 2010

Ahhhhhhhh I love Pdays! They are great. I just love hearing from you guys, I really think I would go crazy without email. Sounds like the trip went great, I can't believe your home already, a week here seems like two days. I am always confused on where to start with these emails, I got to get better at them, hopefully they are getting better. So much happense each day here as the days are 10x longer than my days used to be back at home. You don't understand how much I appreciate the easter packages and all the letters. I come close to crying with every letter, not because I'm sad but I just feel so loved. Some missionaries are so strong out here, I couldn't believe serving for two years without the support of family and friends... well friend lol ;). I don't think I should say this, I really don't, but a missionairy in my district packed up and left in the middle of the night. His family disowned him when he joined the church and his girlfriend lives here in the valley, and he's gone for good. It's really sad he was such a solid Elder. But let's leave that at that and maybe not talk about it. I don't think I'm suppose to share that stuff over emails at least.

So much chocalte! From all of you and then Sis. Smart (landlord) gave us two huge baskets of chocalte and toys and a poster! I got one of Nephi as I talked about him in my talk and Elder England got Moroni because he talked about him in his! She's so thoughtful and we really do have the greatest place and landlords in the mission. It wont last for every so I guess take advantage of it. She also gave me some ear plugs because once a week Elder England decides to snoar REALLY loud. I loved the tape you guys sent me, it was pretty funny! The letters from Lindsay, her parents, my sisters, brother in laws and nana are great I love all of you and hope to write back as soon as I can. I got one from Nana today I can't wait to go read! Dad thanks for the GPS, helps so much and I already got it so organized. Every bishop, ward mission leader, relief society, young womens, young mens leader in all 16 wards on it! We are all about getting the members to love and trust us, thats how we get refferrels, try to stop by them all and commit them to things etc. I love all the pictures from everyone Talia and Avery are to cute it hurts! And thanks for the frames mom, sadly one of them broke in the mail, but the big one with the family picture is all good and sits by my bed.

Well conference is over, its like a vacation for missionaires! Plus we get to wear short sleeve dress shirts now, thats how it works here. Conference to conference suits then short sleeves or whatever you want in the summer. I bought four short sleeve's today from Mr. Mac for pretty good price. Conference is sooooo good! Elder Bednar's talk was basically the exact same of what he spoke to us about, it was funny felt like I tested it out on us! And how intense was the smack down from Edler Holland on pornography! He's great I love how bold he is! But it killed me how basically the whole conference weekend was on family! Like torture me some more, made me think of how perfect our family is though and really its all due to the gospel. Main point was bare testimony frequently and often and spontaneously, thats what we do in lessons as well. It's so weird you just get used to sharing you love for the gospel with everyone and it becomes natural. Preisthood session was a little weird/sad though. First time in my life I think that I wasn't with dad during it, I really missed that. Going to DQ after with Jordan and george usually, but mainly just being there with dad. I love you dad and I'm so thankful for all that you have given me and helped me do in life.

We got a baptism coming up this weekend with Luke Fairmen, our most solid and golden investigator. He's an awesome kid, 14 years old and does every reading assingment we give him and has such a desire to learn and become better. I think for the next four weeks we have two talks to give every sunday! It's really quite scary, but I will have to get over it and just man up. Helps me grow and the members know us better. So we got dropped my Lourdes Tea lol! It was a shocker, I'm not sure what happened we both felt so good after that lesson. Maybe just a little to bold but we planted a seed and her husband is working on her, hopefully we can pick her up sometime in the future. BUT we have four new investiagor lessons this week! And they all seem ready. One for sure. Justin Isom he's 14 and his dad is less active but he has been trying to become more active lately. They've only lived here for two years so they haven't been abused my missionaries yet. We met them tracting, Justin was ripping on his new 125 dirt bike up and down the street and we talked to them. Gave them two conference tickets (we get about 6 to give to investigators) for saturday morning session and they both went. We have a lesson for tomorrow I beleive. And I talked to his bishop on saturday and he told me a month ago Justin bore his testimony and said at the end, don't be surprised if I get baptisd soon! So looks like we caught him at the right time, things always happen for a reason here.

I could go on describing each investigator but let me find some other things to talk about. So you don't ever get to go to conference until its your very last opportunity then you get to pick one session to go to. So Elder England picked preisthood session to go to therefore on saturday night I was on exchanges with Elder Bertilino from Cali. He's been out six months and we just got along great, so much in common. Both wear vans, BMX, snowboard, and baptized our girlfriends before coming on our mission. There's something to learn from every Elder here. He is such a soft spoken guy and you really feel is love for you in every conversation. I've never met somone that has so much love for everyone he come's in contact with. Elder England admits it and works on it everyday but he runs short of patience sometimes, not with me at all we get along great. But with members and door contacts mainly lol but he tries not to show it, although it slips out every once in awhile. It's pretty funny if a member doesn't care about missionairy work (you can tell who do and don't easy, hope you are) when we walk away he flips out and says "they will be judged" or something. I'll sum a quick story up real fast to give an example. We were doing unbaptized list and knocked on this one door. Parents are LA but think they are members and they have to UNB daughters who are 14 and 16. We ask if they want to take lessons and the mom goes "Ohh well we don't do lessons but we love the missionaires. We usually just hang out, why don't we schedule to eat lunch and play basketball on friday." We were just like what!? Anyways we explained that thats not our role as missionaries and we are here to bring people closer to Christ and eventually get baptized etc. Well they said well the missionaires before used to always come over and hang out, these girls aren't interested they are just look for a cute mormon boy! We were like this is outrageous anyways Elder England got a little mad and offended by this lady and ended up with DON'T EVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN and Elder England saying something a little snippy. OK point of that story was to show you an example of Elder England being quick to his words, anyways we have had a few crazy things like this before. But what I learned from Elder Bertilino is love everyone, and whatever you want to say bite your tongue and wait for the spirit to guide you. Sorry that story ruined the spirit in this short email but it makes my point, be the better person and never get offened.

So many spiritual experiences here, from lessons to moments with your companion. We've gotten on our knees in a time of serious need and prayed for it. During that prayer of faith the phone rang and we quickly closed in the name of Christ and bang our problem answered. The Lord really does take care of his servants, he does. During a lesson this week I was bearing my testimony on the Holy Ghost and it brought a slight tear to both me and Evan's eyes and I know he could feel Heavenly Father's love for him.

Now people I know without a doubt in my mind I know this is the Lord's work and Christ lives. Through prayer we can all come to know this, as missionaires we pray atleast 30 times a day and I can testify that the Lord cares and loves for each and everyone of his children. We will all be brought forth to be judged one day and depending on how we use the Savior and his atonement we will live together. I love all of you and think of you daily. I ask all of you to repent daily for the little things, become better each day and strive to be like the perfect Son of God. I pray all of you individually and thank you all for your prayers and letters of love. Be safe and read the scriptures daily.

Love, Elder Pizzey.