August 23, 2010

Good Day Family and Friends!

Elder Pizzey here. Man I'm in good spirits today, not to sure why. It sounds like you guys had a good week. So many dinners and get together's, I'm a little jealous. Little Avery is adorable! I'm teaching someone who has a little girl named Lesley who's basically her twin. You will see in the next batch of pictures I send home. Dad good pictures, you happy. I almost killed myself laughing seeing Berns in the bungee! Then Nana on the swing. I love all of my Grandparents and think about each of you alot, just thought I'd let you know. Different memories with all of them from the trailer to following Gramps around the yard. Don't forget I think of you guys as well.

Man that's a little rough about Jason working over there for three weeks. Ouch, well I guess you got to do what you got to do right. Hmm what else... I can't believe Austin is going to Las Vegas! Man I was hoping he would join me here, I thought SLCS would be a good place for him. So is Blaine in the West as well? Is there two missions over there? East and West or something. Well Good stuff, I love my family and friends. Let me move on.

During one of the four sacrament meetings E. McClung and myself attended yesterday I had a different experience. A returned missionary was giving his.... talk? (They don't want them to be called homecoming talks anymore, lame.) Well I guess I could say I had my own spiritual moment, personal spiritual moment. I'm having difficulties trying to describe this, I've rewritten this sentence about 6 times now, hold on... I guess I was hit with this impression of how grateful I am for many many things at his specific moment. Like it all came to me at once, overloaded with a realization of all the many blessings I've had in my life to this point. I could go on forever telling you everything that went through my big head. Family of course, the simple things like the basic needs, friends, certain experiences which brought me to a mission. A couple big ones young men's leaders (you know who you are! About 5 key guys) and Bishops. The list goes on!

I started to think about my homecoming talk. It's not what you expected. Up until this point I've always thought man one day, I can't wait, it will be so nice to be home and back to life, carry on. But nope. This time I was scared and sad. I don't ever want this to end. Life is so good right now, why go home! Seriously everything is taken care of and I am completely focused on the only thing that matters. Even though there are really sad and hard moments here, there couldn't be a better two years for my life. I can feel myself growing. I mean when I'm suppose to be awake I'm sleepy and when I'm suppose to be sleeping I'm wide awake thinking. But you just don't stop, keep pushing. The gospel is true and it's this continuous cycle I continue to live. Am I making sense? I just don't want to have to go home, I'm serious though. I get to study two hours everyday and then go live it, I mean I want to do the same when I'm home as well but will I? It's hard I know. Well that's the first time it really hit me, I love it here. Although there is alot to look forward to after the mission ;) don't get me wrong.

So alot happened this week. Zone conference and my six month mark, actually on the same day. I went over to the Isom's that night to have a short lesson and a tie burning party! Sis. Mays dropped off pies for us and Sis. Isom had smores and everything going on, I love the people, I've come to love here! Don't think that made sense. But we got some good pictures and videos, just wait for the next batch.

Zone conference was way different than with Pres. Laney but that's not a bad thing at all. I loved it. I don't have much time left so left me go briefly over my next few points. In all missions world wide they have been introducing this new curriculum. It's really not to much of a change but they are making it sound like it. Still using Preach My Gospel manual but they are making a huge emphasis on teaching people on lessons. So really what we should be doing, but helping us out so more. Which is great but really a difficult thing to teach. I mean how do we teach people to teach by the spirit. It definitely doesn't mean no lesson plans. I would say the biggest thing I learned was to just LISTEN. Truly listen and it's hard sometimes. Always thinking what should I say next? What scripture? Or question should I ask? But I tried extra hard this week and had a few interesting experiences where it worked.

I'm going to have to share them briefly. Maybe I'll stop saying that and just do it. During a lesson Elder Ng was sharing his testimony and this time I was completely focused on his words and listening. I don't think I have ever felt the Holy Ghost so strong from a companion's testimony. I wasn't thinking, "Ohhh man I would have said this or that" or what should I say next". But just listened and waited for a prompting on the certain question to ask after.

I'll skip the other ones and share a couple sad stories. Like I said there are always hard times in the week. This week and more than normal. First I attended a funeral on Saturday. A lady who I taught few times with Elder England and a few after, she took her life last Tuesday. She was a less active member of the church but just in the past year she worked towards becoming temple worthy and was able to go through several times before she passed. She was taking alot of drugs for medical purposes (she had less than a year to live) and I think it got a hold of here. It was a little difficult, brought up some feelings but once again I'm thankful for the knowledge I have of our plan and this life. How there is more to life than just this. I don't know how people go through it without that comfort.

Another time. Bro. Aslami. I have been teaching him for six months and I can't get into complete details because this will on the internet and alot is personal for him. But is diligent and trying to receive an answer from a God. He wants to be baptized tomorrow but won't until he has a answer from God. He is almost angry with God for not reaching out to him. But what we are trying to do is help him recognize his answers, let him know he won't be "cured" or at least he won't be until he takes the first step. I love Bro. Aslami and have become great friends with him but here's the reason our lesson this week was so sad. I had one of the more spiritual moments on my mission while he said the closing prayer this week. Some of his depression rubbed off on me after this because he couldn't feel what I felt! I can't recognize it. Bro. Query (the greatest WML), E. McClung and myself just all looked at each other after the prayer and were in shock. But Bro. Aslami didn't grasp it. I really don't know, if he is denying it. It was hard I just felt like life isn't fair after that lesson. Why do I get to have these moments and not him? This paragraph is a little scatter brained but it was a hard moment.

Well that's basically my week! Transfers are this Wednesday and it's the first time I don't know whats happening! It's a weird feeling. I think E. McClung and E. Gray are going Spanish speaking in our mission for sure and if they don't that's just not fair for them. But me and E. Ng we got no clue! I really don't care either. Change is good but I like it here as well. We could be together or he stay or I stay. We will find out. Can't wait!

So I am taking advantage of this privilege of serving the Lord 24/7, really when else can I? When you share your testimony it grows and when you don't you loose it. Once we have a testimony it will leave us if we don't share it daily. Our testimony is either increasing or decreasing. It NEVER plateau's. So as we share our testimonies it can continue to increase? That's my goal share my testimony everyday for the rest of my LIFE! and I know that's going to be hard at home but we have the opportunity to every night. To someone who really does care and wants to hear it. LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Pizzey.