So I gave a talk yesterday in the Willow Creek 7th Ward, 15 minutes long and all I had was a Q Card with 7 bullets on it! Let me tell you how I started my talk, now I think all of you are going to think I'm a goof and this wasn't funny. But it was hilarious! So Bro. Jones (WML) spoke briefly first and during his talk he asked everyone to raise their hand if they had a son or daughter on a mission. About eight parents raise their hand, only in Utah. So I get up their and say something along the lines of, "Now I'm sure alot of you who raised your hands would love to hear your son/daughter speak in sacrament while their serving. Well that dream has came true for my mom and I would like to start by introducing her, Mom (while extending my hand to the back rows) please come up here........." Peoples faces! It was excellent! They all turn around slowly, then I pulled the just jokes, I wish. Let's just say people died and loved it. I'm sure Taren and Lindsay are think ah Blake you're such a looser. No I'm a cool guy, they love me. OH bye the way Bro. Jones (I love him, hilarious old man and our WML of WC7) turned to me after a hymn and said you have a unreal voice and hope you sing somewhere. He was serious too! First time in my life did anyone ever say that! He said I could stay on key really well? I like it.
So as usual this week has ups and downs. Some days it was rainy and cold, others its hot and I want to tract in gym shorts. It seems like anytime the work is hard or disappointing it's dark and gloomy out. This work has become my life. I was just randomly flipping through my scriptures during sacrament yesterday and flipped open to P.264 of the Old Testament and read the scripture in the top corner (Deut. 6:7) "And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." This was weird. First of all I was sitting in a sacrament meeting all bummed out, because our investigator who was suppose to meet us their didn't show up. I mean this we focused on getting all our investigators to church and did everything in our power to get them their. Four out of six did show up but its upsetting when they don't, they can't progress. We get members to pick them up, visit them the day before and remind them but then they go over there and they are gone or sleeping. It's hard to decided when you give up and stop carrying them everywhere. But this scripture describes my feelings, I have no clue the background to it The Old Testament is way confusing, but they are all I care about. I pray for them constantly morning, day and night, and when I got to sleep their on my mind. How can I help them. It's like when they don't do their part, keep the commitments we leave with them do I just let them be, leave them out their to dry up and die? Teach them diligently. HM. Its hard some people just dont' understand how important this message is and think the values of the world are more important.
On the other hand there is no greater joy than bringing someone closer to Christ. Out of those six people we are teaching only two have baptismal dates. One of them being Adam(20 yrs old), know he's a true baller. Here's his story. He has grown up in the Valley and never been religious but recently his family has had some troubles. Divorce, he lives with his mom and his younger brother (16 yrs old) lives with his dad. His relationship with both his parents are slowly falling apart and he says his mom isn't the same. So he just kept noticing something in common with the LDS families at work and around the neighbourhood, THEY'RE STRONG! Of course we still have difficulties but we are the ONLY religion that has doctrine supporting how important the family is and how we can have eternal families. The families is being attacked today by the adversary but there are prophets, just as ancient times, that act has anchors to God and help us out! By their fruit ye shall know them! Look at the families, its obvious.
OK sorry I got distracted there. His story. He was out mowing the lawn and saw his neighbour Sis. Quinney (late 50's) walking to church. He shut the mower off and walked over to her and said, "Mrs. Quinney... I've been reading the Book of Mormon on the Internet, but I want to hold it in my hands.... Can you help me get a copy." She was shocked and speechless. We got a call later that day and bang we had a lesson the next day. On the first lesson he had already read 6 chapters into 1 Nephi. He shut the mower off and walked over to her and said, "Mrs. Quinney... I've been reading the Book of Mormon on the Internet, but I want to hold it in my hands.... Can you help me get a copy." She was shocked and speechless. We got a call later that day and bang we had a lesson the next day. On the first lesson he had already read 6 chapters into 1 Nephi and prayed about the Book of Mormon and I extended a baptismal date of June 29th to him obviously. These lessons have been the highlight of my mission. The second lesson he said, "I can't deny it, I know this is God's word and I'm 99% sure I'm getting baptized on the 29th, I can't offend God. Let's set a time." It's to good to be true, he explained to me I can't believe people are just to lazy to read this, I can't believe I was! He said nobody even has a clue of what it is. Yeah everybody reads blurbs on the Internet but do they ever actually pick it up and ask God? Do it.
He can't get enough what we are teaching him, "It's like one big puzzle coming together" he said. He wants to meet with us every second day! No one wants to do that! On the third lesson I just felt prompted to ask him to serve a mission, and I did... I told him the Lord has blessed you with certain talents, one of them being great personal skills and you need to multiply them in his service. Think of the effect you could have on others. He said he has put some serious thought into it already. But I told him to take it to prayer. I can guarantee you he will and one year from now I will be with him going through the temple for his first time and listening to him give his farewell talk. I'm sure most of you are thinking right now, he's probably some weirdo. NO. Seriously if I was a girl, yikes! No just kidding that's a joke. But he's one of the coolest guys I've met while I've been here. Parents are from Romania too! I'll send a picture next week hopefully and you guys will see what I mean. He has already shared his testimony of the Book of Mormon during the Gospel Essentials class that Bro. Brown (previous Provo Mission President, our ward mission leader for the WA5 ward!) teaches! I wasn't there but a member told me.
Like I said, there's no greater joy than helping someone come closer to Christ. The power the Book of Mormon holds as is testifies of Bible and Christ's ministry is unreal. I believe it's due to the obedience that I have been given this privilege to teach Adam. He has helped me understand the basics that no one wants to do. Read and Pray. I love my family and I'm grateful for the knowledge the Lord has given me by his Holy Spirit that His church has once again been restored. The knowledge that has been brought back to us today truly does strengthen our families. Let's be a faithful echo of the Brethren of the Church!
Love Elder Pizzey.
Have you got our package?
No, maybe today. I really hope!
Was the light tie to light in color?
Can't wait to find out!!!
Breanne was wondering if you got her photos etc.?
You bet! Her letter was unreal.
So how is it being a trainer?
Hard! You have to be way obedient and always leading the lessons.
Are you enjoying being the driver, no more shot gun, that was funny!
You don't understand, I can't handle shot gun. Finally in control.
I was wondering if you wear the same suit everyday or if you need to buy another one?
To be honest not a big fan of my suits, but its all good I'm a missionary. The Mr. Mac one will be to small soon and I'll prob get a new styling one! hehe but I only wear suits to meetings.
Have you bought another pair of shoes?
Nope! I will wear these shining kicks until they are dead, then I'll get some new ones.
This is the e-mail we got from the May's. They fed Blake the yummy breakfast!!
Kelly,
What a fun, fun morning! Thank you so much for letting me do that! What a great way to celebrate Dave's birthday. Your son and his companion are such wonderful missionaries (as well as great young men!!)
I got up early and made both the cinnamon knots and the scone dough. We had fruit and a breakfast casserole, bacon, juice and milk. We actually had it at my next door neighbors because she has a big nice deck--but then it is cold and rainy, so we ended up just serving informally at the bar in the kitchen. A few of the boys were heading off to a high adventure camp, so they ate quickly so they could leave. Our bishop stopped by before the camp send off, too. So we just had people in and out all morning!
It was just a really nice informal morning.
I was so impressed that they wanted to stick to their missionary schedule. We had breakfast at 7 so they could get home by 8 for their study before their p-day began.
Elder Ng will be a very good, sharp companion for Elder Pizzey. They seem to be a good companionship. I think Blake was a little surprised when I handed him your little note and told him the scones were your recipe!
Before they left, Elder Pizzey asked if they could leave with prayer. He offered a beautiful prayer and asked the Lord to bless my son and to protect him. It was tender and sweet and really meant a lot to me.
I'm sending a couple of pictures. We were really done eating, but made them sit back down for a minute to take their picture! We didn't get one with everyone who was there because they had all started to disperse by then.
What a treat for me to be able to spend that little bit of time with them today. I am so glad you gave me the breakfast idea. The scones and cinnamon knots turned out good (we couldn't get the scones to brown up very fast!) But I'm sure they didn't look like you usually do.
Elder Pizzey was cute--when we were trying to figure out why they wouldn't cook as fast as we thought they should, he came over and looked and said, "My mom makes them a little smaller. Maybe that would make a difference." It did!
He said you have just been called to be the Relief Society Pres. I was just sustained as ours yesterday. I am a little terrified right now! I may be emailing you for a little advice!
Thank you again. It was a great day to share with two great missionaries.
Bonnie
THANK YOU BONNIE!
(Breakfast looked AWESOME!!!)
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