October 13, 2010

Hello Family and Friends!

It's been way to long since we chatted! So many things have happened! Where do I start? I mean there has been like five highs and five lows since, its really a roller coaster. I got in an car accident this week! We also got a new phone! Way better than our old brick. Well before I get going let me say a couple things. Thank you to everyone who sent things for my birthday, I feel loved. I just saw alot of packages before I came over here, excited to check them out. Another thing, this email might be way short. Sorry I just don't have alot of time today. We have an intense basketball game, basically invite only. Some of the best ballers in the mission, including one guy who red shirted for BYU. There are like eight of us who seriously play. So I apologize if it's short but you guys know me every week they are crazy long.

Well on Saturday I had a baptism in my old area. He is a wonderful young man, I love him. Elder England and myself taught him since our first week in the area. We helped him work towards baptism and a week before the baptism we found out he was on probation and had six months left. He's not what your picturing in your head right now. Sweet little guy, shy and just completely humble. Twelve years old too. Well that time flew by and Saturday was the day. I got a phone call last week from him, he asked if I could baptize him. Of course I was up for it and was super excited for him. Another spiritual experience. I could go into details of the baptism but no time. When he came up out of the water we hugged each other and I have never seen such a smile on him. I remember when we first found out he couldn't get baptized it was so hard. I just kept telling myself he's ready, he's ready. Its not fair. But now looking back on it I realize it was meant to be. We continued teaching him once a week and so did Elder Ng and his new missionary Elder Ellege from Hawaii. But now he was truly prepared and was anxious to enter the waters. I love him and will keep in touch with him.

Ohh man I have to wrap this up! So many other experiences, shoot! Well we started to teach a new lady this week, Jordan Poulsen. Her maiden name is Roy, I believe. She is a single mom. Raised in Winnipeg and lived in Lethbridge for a year. She went to Fleetwood Boden Elementary in Lethbridge, you heard of it dad? Well she is in her late 20's and she had been completely prepared by the Lord. She has gone through alot in her life. I mean at a young age, like 16 years old, she was selling hard drugs. Became addicted to meth for a few years but now she is completely clean and has been for several years. She has her life together and it's amazing to think of all that she has done by herself. From the first time we met with her we challenged her to stop smoking, its been a week and a couple days since she last smoked. A couple Preisthood blessings and lots of prayer we give thanks to. I told her to flip open the Book of Mormon if she ever has a tempation. Well she did it and opened to Alma 34. DON'T procrastinate your repentence! It hit her hard and the temptation left. Well we have at three or four lessons with her and everyone is spiritual. Something I've learned is to just bare down in pure testimony, it's more powerful than trying to convert with fancy teaching skills or anything. She has a million questions and our biggest struggle is just keeping things on topic. But it's good, she has such a desire to learn. Jordan has a Catholic background and she has a great understanding of the Bible. It's amazing to see how true this Gospel is. Take all the good from other relgions and bring it to ours! Your questions will be answered.

We had a mission fireside this week, on monday morning. That was nice, gave us something to look forward to so we didn't die with a week and two days of no PDAY! haha it wasn't that bad at all. But right before this mission, President and Sister Miller served in Austrailia as a senior couple. Well they met a return missionary who served in our mission 13 years ago, he ended up helping them alot with their service over there. Ben Mitchell. Then President and Sister Miller got called to our mission and Pres. Miller called him up and flew him out here to speak to us. He is an unreal speaker and so motivating. I think alot of the Elders and Sisters left with a greater desire to be more obiedent. I liked it because he served in our areas, he knows what its like. The hours of 10-3, brutal. No one home, everyone at work. No public place to just go OYM (open your mouth). It was great, he spoke on the reality satan. How he tries to get us and its so true. I've witnessed it this week.

This past week we were real high and were just thrown real hard, real low. It sucked. I would say yesterday was one of the hardest days I've had on my mission. Mainly due to one thing but a few other contributed. I am glad today is Pday and I have alot of mail! Shauntae a girl we have been teaching since my first week in the area, she was supposed to get baptized this saturday. Long story short. It's not going to happen for six months. It's not a fun story and it's way too long so I am going to leave it out. I'm sorry. She's a foster child (18 years old) and the people who I guess are in charge of her told her she can't think of any of this for six months because it's causing her too much stress. It's so lame. She wants to be baptized. But I have to get over it and continue working, can't let it get to me. We will do everything we can of course but man, satan does anything to prevent this work.

OK I MUST GO! It's time to go play some serious ball then read the letters I got this week! I love all of you and God bless!
Elder Pizzey