November 24, 2010

November 24, 2010 - Week 2 - Transfer 7


Hello Hello Hello from Draper Utah! It's cold here too! Well not that cold. It was funny everyone was freaking out all day yesterday because of a storm that hit. Universities closed down early, stores shutting down, we had to ground all the vehicles in our zone and tell everyone to cancel there lessons for the night. The storm ended up coming but it was just an average storm compared to some of the ones we get at home. People were devastated here. I was still able to make it back to West Jordan for a baptism in my old area though, just got a ride from a member over here. Quinn (11) and (10) Landin Nguyen, Michelle Nhothibouth is their mom. These boys have alot of energy but we were able to focus and channel it while teaching them. I will be keeping in touch with this family for sure I love them. It was fun to see all the people in my old area as well, plus Elder Lundwall and his companion Elder Spencer, they are going to kill it over there. The Larsen family from my old area is related to all the Ackryods, well they love Elder Dick and I and will be taking us out to dinner soon here. Fun fun fun.

So Elder Dick and I have had alot of organizing to do this week. His last companion was pretty stuck in his ways and not open to new ideas, says Elder Dick. Well we are working together on make some necessary changes to our area and zone. Some ordering was in need. We have 12 exchanges to go on this transfer within our zone, its intense. Seems like we will hardly be together this transfer, weird. Tonight we are going on exchange from 6-10 with the assistants to the President tonight. Way to intense. I'm staying here and E. Taylor (the intense tall baller) is coming with me. I am excited to learn.

I'm starting to learn the area. I can't handle not knowing every detail about the area! Not knowing the map also drives me nuts, I hope Elder Dick doesn't get upset with all the questions I ask. Its the only way you learn though. It's coming though, going into the area by myself with E. Taylor tonight well help me learn it for sure. Its weird because this is a zone leader area but the missionaries don't know alot of the leadership or Bishops. It's the only way to work in this mission, I feel alot of the work here has been done with just the missionaries. Some WML's not even aware of people in their ward being taught. But that is changing and we are going to make the work explode! We haven't had any opportunity to work with the UNI 7th Stake yet (8 singles wards). But this week we sure are, there is a devotional once a week we attend and other than that its strictly referrals.

So tomorrow is the big Thanks Giving day here, they really make a big deal of it. We have 4 dinners scheduled so far I think and a breakfast! I don't know what I'm going to do... I'm not a big eater. BTW I've dropped from 190 to 180 (were I should be) recently. Its the working out every morning! Well anyways I will probably just end up puking in between meals or something. But proselyting is basically shut down tomorrow because no one wants to talk about the work, they just want to feed feed feed! I am going back to visit the Fairmen's (first baptism) tomorrow and the Roosendaals (family I called from on mothers day) too, excited!

Well we had zone conference this week, actually on Monday. Alot learned there, we didn't have to give any trainings, that was nice. Being a zone leader was fun for zone conference though. They call you up alot to ask you advice, what you observed during role plays and put you on the spot alot. I like it though lots of fun. We have a few leadership trainings coming up and Zone leader councils. We have a couple GA's(general authorities) coming to the mission around Christmas time. I am stoked. I will definitely get the opportunity to meet them being ZL. Elder Bednar I think is coming for sure, but that is secret only ZL's know yet.

Alright so here is a good story I hope you all get a laugh from this. So... This is how I was welcomed into the Zone Leader calling. A couple days go by... The entire time Elder Dick is telling me about this golden referral from the sisters. His name is "Francis". He told me the sisters just OYM'd (open your mouth) him and he lived in our area, so they called us up. Eventually we decided to go check out the referral. Well he opened up the door and thought we were "one of his people". Jehovah's witness that is. Well he let us and eventually let us sit down, it was on from then! We started to chat, he told us he was a less active Jehovah's Witness. Told us how things didn't make sense and he was looking for truth. It was unreal! I was confused though, Elder Dick wasn't really talking that much. Well I shared testimony, we shared a few scriptures and set up a return appointment for the next day. By the way Francis is a hip black guy in his late 20's. So after 15-20 minutes we left and I flipped out. Elder Dick and I throwing high fives back and forth, talking about how we felt the spirit! It was a miracle! I couldn't get over it the entire day, really just wanted to go home and write it in my journal. Night time roles around and I want to call the WML to give him an update but Elder Dick wouldn't let me. I tackled him and we wrestled and I didn't know why he was being so weird about. Then he said, "well you already met him.." what..? No I haven't. Yes you did. Today. I was way confused. I asked for his name, and Elder Dick said, "Bro. Abraham... Bro. Francis Abraham!" I hope you've put it together like I did. Francis is and was the WML. I flipped out running around the house, aghhhhh!!! So embarrassing, then Elder Dick said, "welcome to being a zone leader" Way to funny, Bro. Abraham is way to good of an actor and the owned me. I can't wait to continue the tradition, it will even be better.

Here from you in a week! Love you guys.
Elder Pizzey.