November 10, 2010

Hello!

So today is one of those weeks were I have way to much to say! So many stories to share, all of them amazing but NO time! To be honest it took awhile to read both the letters, although I loved them! I want to take the next thirty minutes (all I have left) to just respond to them. What a good week we had, busy busy busy. We had 16 lessons and this week hopefully we hit 20, never hit it on my mission yet! But it's do able.

So quick update on Michelle and her two boys. If you remember the story. We were about to go home. We were trying to find the Bishop but couldn't, we decided to check the church building, a Saturday night. He was there and Michelle (LA-less active) and her two boys (ages 10 and 11). She has started reading the BOM and what a change it has made in her, a different person. They come to church each week and the boys are looking at November 23 for baptism. A crazy wild, goofy family from Louse (sp? in Asia?). I love them.

This week has been filled with spiritual experiences one after another. My testimony of the BOM continues to grow, line upon line. I've had this thought a few different times this week and it is strange. A completely different feeling, and this week isn't the first time on my mission. It has happened at zone conferences and in previous areas but its a strong impression. "I know you" Weird? Maybe so but its real. Meeting knew Elders, new companions and new investigators. I know them, we know each other. I know their personality before I even meet them, the Pre-Earth life is so real! I'm in this area at this time for a certain reason.

This week I had a exchange with Elder Conrad in my district. He has been out as long as Elder Lundwall and right now he is training a new missionary. Well I love Elder Conrad. We can teach in complete unity and it is UNREAL! What a spiritual day we had, the entire day. We were being placed in the path of everyone who was reading to listen, we had two people that day say its no coincidence you showed up today. Last night..... long story! We taught a few of our investigators and we came out of those lessons in shock. Words were shared that weren't Elder Conrad or Elder Pizzey's. We gave a blessing to Jennafer Toone, an investigator of ours who's having troubles deciding about baptism. We taught a LA family with a 9 year old son, with "inspired questions" we helped the parents share their testimony with their children. And we all know when one shares it, it grows. We got in a door and had great discussion with this man, John. He wanted us to answer some questions and so we did. Great man. Well he started to bring up a few scriptures from the Bible that he believed didn't go in line with our Church. We answered them and he was satisfied. Another question, answered. We asked him some questions? Shared a few scriptures. He started to put up that wall and I could see it. You can tell when your doing good and doing bad. We were doing good but it was time to leave! We shared our testimonies and gave him chapters to study from the BOM and got out of there. It was a great experience.

We had a family invite a neighbour over for dessert and a message this week. A family of four from Mexico. Carla (17 yrs) and Nitalia (9 yrs) speak perfect English but the parents not so well. So I took the first lesson and squished it into five minutes and shared 2 Nephi 25:26, something simple. This was moment that I will always remember. I would say a few sentences and stop. Carla would translate and I would continue. I don't know why but it was powerful. Maybe it was the pausing that allowed me to not just mutter off what came to mind but to truly seek the proper words. Or the fact that Carla was basically teaching her parents and sharing a testimony to them but we felt the spirit. I loved it. I can't describe my feelings or emotions in words that well, but it touched me.

We have been teaching this lady for almost a month. We teach her basically every second day, and she has gone through alot in life. A single mom at 26 years old and when I say alot I mean alot. More than anyone I know. Well she has brought up this fear of reading the BOM because she knows she will receive an answer and have to act on it.. funny I know. Well her one year old boy has been getting abused by her ex-husband who use to beat her. This week he had to go into the hospital. So she has been trying to get full custody, but it hasn't been looking good for her. Yesterday she went to court. The judge denied it because she was missing a few things, and she was upset. She went outside the court room and decided to read the BOM for the first time by herself as she waited for an hour. She was completely taken in by it. She started to pray and she kept getting this answer that said "trust in me no matter the outcome." She was not liking the answer but continued to read, read a total of three chapters. Then an hour later the family services person came out and told her that something happened that never does. The judge stopped her hearing and decided to re-look at her case. She did and granted it. She has full custody! I can't believe the Lord answers such a prayer, but it was exactly what she needed. After a month of exhorting her to read she finally did and the very hour she did, God kept his promise! The voicemails she left said, "God works in mysterious ways and he has proved Elder Pizzey right." I called her back in complete confusion/excitement and she answers, "Elder Pizzey its true." I never thought I would here those words from her.

This week was great, this work is unreal. We always have something to learn and so much to improve on. Last week of the transfer and I'm on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen. Can't wait to see whats in store for the future!

Love your son, Elder Pizzey.