September 6, 2010

Hello Family and Friends!
Another week has passed! First I'll say I'm pretty lucky to be emailing today alot of Elders weren't able to because it's labour day and everything is closed. I'm at a family history center. OK let me start by easy with the fat comments! I would like to let you know I weigh 185lbs. and that isn't that bad! I have gained 15 pounds in total and ten of those were in the MTC. I have stayed steady for close to four months! And we have made a companionship goal waking up at 6:00 AM and running to the stake center, shooting hoops for 45 minutes then running home. Not to much work but fun and wakes me up for studies!

Today was lots of funs! I have to stop using exclamation marks they are getting over used but I want you to understand how I feel about everything. Well we had a zone activity. We all met at this neighbourhood/little town? Not sure, called Daybreak. I love the area. This crazy modern little community and alot of different styles of homes. Google it, street view it. The address of where we met was 11445 South and 4540 West. ANYWAYS. We all met there played some out door basketball, beach volleyball and frisbee. We got a BBQ over there and we all brought some things and had some good burgers and hot dogs. We were there from 11:30 till 2:00. We have a really good zone for basketball. I love it, we play everyday and I probably loose 5lbs every pday. I don't have much time left for the rest of the day though. But that's OK.

So our numbers for this week were pretty low but that's OK because we were able to do alot of work and it is paying off. We are really starting to know all the leadership in the wards, well one ward at a time. It takes forever! There is so much work in this area though! I don't want to talk it up too much just in case next week nothing happens but we should be picking up five new "investigators" this week. I find it weird calling people "investigators" more like people we are teaching, who are our friends who we grow to love! But we have so many people inviting people to meet with us and already have a few new lessons. It's like previous Elders just didn't know how to work it. It's all about knowing the leadership, being aware of every possible situation, then figuring out who is the right person to invite them to meet with us. It's ten times better than us knocking on there door and saying, "Your close friend told us to come ask you if you want to meet with......" Door shut on the face.

Elder Lundwall and myself are getting along real good. I really think it can work between any companionship, if your being obedient. It's cool though you learn things everyday by working together. I think this goes for all relationships but there is something I always try to remember with any trouble in a companionship. This is going to be way hard to explain by email, way easier in person. BUT it is always equally you as it is the other person. It is hard to not just think of what your companion does wrong and how they can change. But there is alot that we do wrong and can always improve on. I'm not just saying this though! I've really learn't this and it builds unity like no other. I think having a girlfriend really prepared me for companions, learning to compromise and realizing that they are usually always right.

So this week we were able to set two baptism dates for these people we are teaching. One lady Nicole who is in her late 30's I'm guessing. It was my first time meeting her this week and all I knew is that she wants to be baptized next year on Easter! And I thought no way, way to long. But when we went in there, we vwere able to come out with a goal for September 25th! She is ready and has been studying all religions for a year now. She has come to a conclusion this is the only church that makes "sense" and has answers to questions. Something that also convinced her of the truthfulness was the focus on families and the doctrine we have that supports it. She knows satin is attacking the family today. But Nicole and her husband have four children. Two around the ages of 6 and 9 and the other close to mid teens. Her husband doesn't know if he was baptized when he was younger but the WML (ward mission leader) says they have records of him. He is completely supportive and involved just has much as Nicole is. Nicoel's father was also a preacher at a Christian faith and she will be facing some tough family opposition. So that is that! We will keep you updated.

We also set the same date for another girl we are teaching who's name is Shauntae. She is 18 but has a learning disability. I am not to sure what it is but she has the comprehension of maybe a 14 year old. She is learning alot and what we are sharing with her is really helping her out. We have the same goal for baptism September 25th. This area is really exploding though! Everything is going the way it is suppose to! Just keep working is all I think. Time flies.  This week we have a "mission tour"? I'm not to sure why it's called that but Elder Grow, I believe a 70, is coming to the mission and giving a few trainings. One to all the District and Zone leaders then another to the zones combined. I'm pretty excited, alot to learn.

Well yesterday was a good fast Sunday. Even though we have the opportunity to share our testimony everyday I like sharing experiences at fast and testimony meetings. Plus it builds trust. Well something I feel like I have come to understand while serving is how living the gospel of Jesus Christ it truly makes us WANT to live with our families forever. Does that make sense? Everyone always says, "I know I can live with my family forever." But does everyone really want that? Not everyone but they can get there by living the gospel. I thought I loved you guys before I left but I feel like I didn't even know what love was now. As you truly live the pure and simple gospel it brings you to a new level of love. My family is all I care about and they are my best friends. I love teaching and sharing these simple principles of the Gospel because I'm able to build this desire with people, to live with our families forever. I hope that made sense. Basically we can draw close to each other by trying to become more Christ like. This doesn't mean I'm trunky and wanting to come home because I miss you guys so much but I mean I love you guys and look forward to the February 2012, which is real soon, when I can come through those doors and squeeze the brains out of all of you. Starting with you mom. This week I was asked if I am a mommies boy and I said Yep, of course. If I could get one point across today it would be to truly live it. Be converted and realize the change we need to make. This is church is real as I like to say. Not just true but REAL.

Elder Pizzey