December 22, 2010

December 22, 2010 - Week 6, Transfer of 7
There is way to much to say today! I don't think I have ever emailed this late. Today we went with a few of the companionships to the "family fun zone". Its a roller skating rink, laser tag and like a bunch of massive astro jumps in one buillding. It was a lot of fun and a good work out. So I always say "sorry this weeks email is going to be really short due to time" but they end up being really long... Well I believe I'm serious this week. I think this weeks email will be short due to time. Plus we talk in three days! And I will be able to update you then! Can't wait.

So as you know we had a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come speak to us this past week. ELDER HOLLAND. It was so intense, you don't even know and words can't describe. All I can say I am glad I follow misison rules and do my studies, I don't think I could have looked him in the eyes as he spoke. I will say though there was a lot of pounding the pulpit but in his way, a way full of love, if that makes sense. He talked about the blessing of having Preach My Gospel and compared it to his day while serving a mission. He talked about missionaries going less active after returning home. Touched on disobedience, if you are your doing it your own way, claiming this is your church. ITS NOT! You do it HIS way and this is HIS church. It was funny near the end he talked about people home sick during these holidays. He said, "I am sympathetic for you BUT I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR YOU! If your keeping the rules, waking up on time and doing your studies then I promise you won't be home sick but excited!" It was something along those lines. I loved how he put things, it all makes sense. He said if you woke up on time I can tell you how your studies were. You tell me if you studied for two hours and I'll tell you how your day went. Tell me how your day went and I'll tell you how your week will go, the next month and you entire mission. Then he said, YOUR LIFE! And it just hit home. He is a motivating speaker.

I was able to go on two exchanges this past week. With E. Ng (my son) and E. Torres two of our District Leaders. Both of them were great and there are spiritual stories I would like to share from the lessons we had. It was nice to catch up with E. Ng, he has improved big time. His teaching skills have increased, we were able to teach in unity just feeding off each other. It was nice to get to know E. Torres and gain some trust there. We are lucky to have him as a District Leader, mainly because he's from Brazil. We have alot of non-Americans in our zone I love it! It's like a going battle in the mission, to overrun the Americans.

So I was in sacrament this week with four of the people we are teaching and I look up and Claudio R. M. Costa is sitting in the stands presiding. I guess he lives in our area. It's nice to have a member of the Presidency of the Seventy living in your ward, keeps you on your toes. We are teaching a young couple Chad and Courtney Curley. Chad served a mission four years ago but stopped attending the minute he got home and Courtney, his wife, is not a member of the church. Chad recently had a big wake up call in his life and has been attending church and reading scriptures with his wife daily for a month now. He is a teacher in Elders Quorum and everything! Well we have taught them (both time E. Dick was gone on exchanges) twice now. First lesson Courtney was way open but didn't really feel if this was her path. We go to church and she shows up by herself, Chad is at home throwing up. She is not the kind of person to come by herself, she even went to relief society! Next lesson she said she had the hardest week in a long time yet it was great? Doesn't make sense but she said she prayed each day and read. She said she felt so good and this extra stength even though it was so hard. She prayed sunday morning and just felt she had to go! It was amazing to see a complete change in her over a week, not even a week. This gosepl is so TRUE!

That is just one of the many stories. Elder Dick and I had a lesson with a new person that was by far the greatest lesson we have ever had together. We were seemless with each other, complete unity, our hearts knit as one! I can't describe how much I love this life. Elder Holland said this is the real life. Capital R! Capital L! I love the scriptures, I love the Book of Mormon. Any spare minute I have, I read it. Lunch time I don't fall asleep I study. I don't ever want to loose this.

This week E. Dick and I were leaving the stake offices as a returned Elder was coming in to be released. He saw us and he looked devistated, a deer in the head lights. He even started to shed some tears. How will I go home! Phhh what am I saying I'll be fine, adapt perfectly! But I will miss this! Good thing I have at least a full year left. Its just gone by so fast. I enjoy this.

Love Elder Pizzey!