September 27, 2010

Some of the questions we ask Blake and his answers:
So have you found a place to live?
-- Yup, we have to share kitchen but we get the whole basement to ourselves. They are way nicer. The Johnson's. We move wednesday morning. She (the wife) was born in Edmonton and moved here when she was young. I'll get more details later plus her maiden name.
Are they in control now? (fires)
-- Yes, the win flipped and blew south over night.
Is that normal for there? (warm weather)
-- I think so, I love it right now. Not to hot. Like our summer. But we have to wear suits 24/7 after conference. Lame.


Hello Family and Friends!
I have no time left! And so much to say! I think this was probably one of the best weeks in my mission. I have like ten stories to tell but it looks like most of them will have to wait until I get home with my journals. I will probably make them short so you won't get the full effect but try! First mom wasn't it your birthday!? Am I wrong September 24th? Man I am terrible, this probably looks bad. But I love you and you know it! Happy Birthday if so! 28th?

Alright so lets start off at the beginning of the week. Things in the mission have been all over the place this transfer. We had a member of the Quorum of the Seventy come and make alot of suggestions/changes. The mission is trying to figure out what they want and like so things have been going back and forth for awhile. But in result to the many meetings they have cancelled quite a few District Meetings to keep the proselyting hours up. So this past week I had only my SECOND district meeting but it should have been my fourth! Anyways the meeting start and I turned 15 minutes over to everyone to share spiritual experiences from the week, as we always do. Well President Miller walks in and takes a seat as we are wrapping it up. It's only my second district meeting and I had another District sitting in on my meeting (their DL was sick). So its like packed and Pres. Miller is there, no pressure right! Then I thought to myself, "I prepared, why be scared?" So I didn't. The district meeting went unreal! I never taught so well! Everyone was involved and I was able to speak with energy and share testimony frequently. It was alot of fun.

After district meeting and brake-offs (I meet with each companionship privately and talk) Pres. Miller took E. Wright (other DL in the zone) and myself out to lunch. This was a cool experience. He asked us alot of questions like, "what do you think of...?" It was an awesome opportunity to say what I want to say. Then we went to the sick DL of our zone and had a meeting with our zone leaders and the rest of us. We talked about whats going on in the zone. Who's struggling and what we can do. He asked us what we think of basically everything that's going on. Sometimes I think people are quite and afraid to speak up and voice their opinion, why!? Speak up and say what you think. I think that's what people like, in these kind of cases. There is a reason they are asking for you opinion. So that was alot of fun!

OK so like I said this week was packed with spiritual experiences. I was able to go on two exchanges this week, right in a row. I missed my Elder Lundwall but I do love exchanges. There is something you can learn from everyone. First I went with Elder Conrad on Wednesday. He has been out for 11 months and he is doing unreal right now. He had a few struggles at the beginning but he is on FIRE right now! We had the greatest day together. First of all we had five lessons. Just to let you know this whole week we had to cancel dinners because we had two many lessons. We were eating dinner at 3:00! It's a good problem to have. But back to E. Conrad. We teach in complete unity, just mesh together like no other. Every lesson we had together was spiritual, we both agreed it was nice to have complete confidence in what your companion was going to say next! We had this lesson with a new guy named John. First time we ever met with him and we had a two hour lesson! All of us, including John, thought it was thirty minutes. John is ready. Man we walked out of his house and freaked out! It was to perfect. I could go on but no time.

Then I had an exchange with Elder Aleman. He's from Cali and has been out one transfer less than myself (I'm finishing up my 5th). We didn't have near as many lessons as I did with E. Conrad but we worked hard. Elder Aleman is in the Spanish assignment so it was a little different for him. We picked up a new investigator that night as well, Nicole Valencia. She is engaged to a RM (returned missionary) and we set a baptismal date for October 30th. All I will say is that she reminds me too much of Lindsay.

Then on Saturday we had that District Leader meeting at the mission office with President and Sister Miller. That was good as well. Talked about our purpose and responsibilities as district leaders. Discussed whats going on, some of the mission culture things we are trying to get rid of. Learned alot there. But no time to talk!

OK so Warren and Nicole Fowlks got baptized. Unreal the spirit is always present during an ordinance. But on Sunday when they were confirmed had one of those unreal experiences were you receive another witness that this work is true and real! It's these crazy moments that you hold to and rely on in difficult times. We walked up there and Warren sat down to go first. The bishop confirmed them a member of the church and when he said the words "receive the Holy Ghost" Yikes! I could feel it. I could describe it perfectly but don't like sharing or describing spiritual experiences unless its in the right situation. But I knew every person in that circle was feeling exactly what I was. It is all up to the person as to when they "receive" the Holy Ghost. Warren's heart was softened and his mind is in the right place to receive it at that time. He overcame a lifelong addiction to smoking and man it was unreal. Same thing with his wife Nicole. They were both touched. Perfect. Plus it was the Primary program, what a perfect Sunday to be confirmed. Will never forget it. It was so nice to see their two daughters Shelby (6 yrs.) and Jessica (7 yrs.) totally involved in the Primary. Man it got me a little too excited to have kids one day, those primary kids are cute. It was a cool to hear them sing, "I hope they call me on a mission..." while actually being on a mission. I was pretty happy, finally made it! The lyrics are pretty cute as well.

OK my time is way up! I must be going! But I am even more excited for this week. Picking up more people to teach and others progressing. I can hardly wait for conference, its the greatest thing as a missionary. Next conference I will be able to go! But make sure we prepare ourselves for this weekend! I'm going to make a list of questions and concerns I have about life and the mission. Keep that list with me as I watch and when the Holy Ghost answers them I will write! Love you all!

Keep that faith - Elder Pizzey