February 23, 2011

February 23, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 9

Things don't slow down! I feel like I am sprinting but I love it! Days go by so fast, its like a blurr. The other day I was thinking about this past year and I feel pretty satisfied with my efforts and I think the Lord agrees. I hope that doesn't sound prideful but I truly have worked hard and learned alot. If I could change one thing, now I hate admitting this, it would my preparation before the mission. That would have made a huge difference! Could be an entire year ahead, enough said just need to worry about whats happening and where I am at right now! No only if's....

Last Thursday was the greatest day of my mission so far, but that only lasted for a day. Friday set the bar even higher. Thursday was our first full day of work in so long! We always have meetings or something going on but we had no lessons and the Stockwell's baptism that night. It felt so good to just get outside and WORK! It feels great, I feel like a real missionary when I knock on doors for hours. I can't complain though teaching lessons is 10x the fun. Ashely and Shaun's baptism was quite special. They were adopted from Ukraine into a great family and in a couple weeks here they will be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple (we can't attend, if in Draper we could).

So Friday was intense! We started to teach four new people and all of them were spiritual overload lessons! It is school to see the events that take place in a persons life to lead them to meeting with us, attending church, praying, moving to Utah and so on! The Lord plays a vital role in everything that happens in our life and it is all for a reason. A lesson to be learned constantly. I have never taught four "new lessons" in one day and never ever have I had four people in a row gladly accept baptismal dates on the first lesson! If you could have seen me Friday night, literally jumping for joy and just going crazy. Remember I am still Blake and like to get excited. All four of these people were guys! And close to my age, my favorite group/sex to teach, just so easy to relate. The Lord has blessed us and I recognize his hand in this work. Its truly him, as to ourselves we've done nothing but try to be diligent and keep the rules.

Moroni 10:3-5. I have complete trust and confidence in the promise given here by Moroni. This past week I had five different witnesses of the reality of this promise. Two that really stuck out to me. FIRST. Adriana. Attending Draper YSA, little Spanish girl, 19 yrs old, raised Catholic. She started to attend church and read the Book of Mormon and just felt the biggest change in her life. All she wants to do now is serve and help others, she wants to be a better person. She felt that this was due to the Book of Mormon but didn't feel it was a strong enough answer from God, just good side effects. I guess... I was thinking Ether 4:11-12 the entire time and actually shared it with her and she thought, "well.. yeah, maybe this could be a good answer." But we then asked if she had specifically took the things she read to prayer and asked if they were true. No. So we invited her to do so! Well when we returned a couple days later for another lesson we asked how it went. She shared with us her experience. She knelt down privately in prayer that night and had an over whelming feeling of happiness. She couldn't explain it but she said she started to cry because she was so happy. I was so proud of her! So thankful to the Lord! I couldn't control my smile, it was amazing. Not once has that ever happened to me! For me my days just go better and I feel great so I know its true. But the Lord works differently with all of us.

SECOND. Shelby. Attending one of our student wards. Long story behind it but quickly a year and half ago Elder Dick tried teaching her forever but never got to meet her. His trainer taught her forever (very similar story of the one with Mary Shoeneck and E. England if you remember). Well we encouraged her friend to invite someone to meet with us and he did, it turns out it was her! She met with missionaries for two years straight in high school but her parents never gave her permission to be baptized. Then she peaced to a different lifestyle for two years and now we are meeting with her. SO OUR LESSON, this happened on Saturday. The lesson prior to she expressed that she knew everything was true but she had no desire to change her life right now. So we re-emphasized the only way we can know if all of this is true is determining if the Book of Mormon is true or not. So we asked her do you believe it is? Yes but don't want to change. We invited her to read from the Book of Mormon once more (hadn't for two years) and ask God if its true, even though she already knows. I shared with her even as a missionaries I ask over and over because I need it sometimes.

Well the following lesson we follow up with what we invited her to do. She starts to go over 1 Nephi chapter 1 and talk about how it was familiar but then she stops and starts to get emotional. She looks up at us and says, "I prayed and I want to be baptized." She started to explain why and share her feelings and the spirit was SO strong, it filled the room! We had planned March 19th to invite her to prepare for but March 13th kept coming to my head so I asked her, "Will you prepare yourself to be baptized on March 13th?" She started to laugh (I got scared lol) and she said the was the exact date I was thinking of this morning. AMAZING! It can't really get any better than being involved in the Lords work!

Other than that... We finished a two day exchange yesterday, my first one ever. We have a little problem in our zone. One of our trainers is doing a lousy job with his new missionary. Not working at all and braking alot of rules. The new Elder is great and deserves an Elder England, I feel terrible for him. So I took him into our area and taught eight lessons with him. Its been two weeks and those were his first lessons. We are trying to find a solution but its hard. We had a good time together though, Elder Cole and I that is. Woke up early, went jogging, first time he had companion study, worked the entire day and at the end felt like we were dead. He will do great and there will be a great reward for this trial he is going through (DC 58:2-6).

All I can say is I am grateful! For my trainer, my companions and my areas. Its been too good, I feel like it is too good. Is the tough part coming soon? I mean it hasn't been easy but I have enjoyed this past year. I hope this email made up for the short one last week. I love you guys, my family (future and present hehe) and friends that is! Have a great week and God speed!