March 23, 2011

March 23, 2011 - Week 1 of Transfer 10 (total of 17 CRAZY!)


There is so much to update you on! Yet I basically forget all of it! Usually each week I make a list in my planner on the following Pday of stories or things I would like to share with you. This week was just to intense. But let me start I have a few in mind.

I was on an exchange (once again) and we were driving around an apartment complex looking for the right building but having a hard time finding it. I saw this guy walking and had the weird feeling talk to this guy. I am not being weird, I truly felt it. So I pulled over rolled down the passenger window and leaned over to talk to him. Elder Torres (DL) was confused. I asked him if he knew where Alex lived, lol I had no clue what to say so I just made it up! Well it turns out he did not know where Alex lived but his response was as follows, "I have no clue but I was actually looking for missionaries, I want to get baptized." It turns out he was meeting with missionaires in southern Utah and just moved up here. So that was quite the experience, we were out of our area (working in the Uni Stake) so we called up the missionaries and passed the information over to them.

By far the greatest experiences of the week were the two baptisms! Adriana Salazar and Sean Carnely, both of them in the same night. It is hard to describe these baptisms, I wish you could attend one. Sean is the man. He has some good friends who are preparing to go on missions and he asked them to speak. They did a great job and you can truly tell they have experienced the Atonement in their lives and understand it. Sean's family attended his baptism and his little brother actually came to one of our lessons! I love when your investigators are truly converted and want to share the gospel. Sean shared his testimony at his baptism and at church, infront of a huge singles ward! We are pushing a mission and I think he will go.

Adriana's baptism was just as good. Elder Dick and I switched up and tried something different while she was changing, during the wait. We opened it up to SHORT testimonies and it worked out really good. It kept people from talking and getting loud which usually happens, causing the spirit to leave! Adriana asked to share her testimony at the end of the service before the Bishop welcomed her to the ward. She got up there with her spanish Book of Mormon and preached a beautiful sermon! Her testimony lies completely in the power of the Book of Mormon and prayer. It was so spiritual to hear her experiences while reading and praying, she understands personal revelation. I have to add though she was quite bold! Her family who were there, they haven't been to supportive of her decison, actually they have given her a hard time. I wish you could have heard her proclaim the restored gospel!

Then the next morning at 7am President Miller, Bescerra and Bishop, our mission presidency, came to our Draper Utah Stake to giving a training to all the ward councils! I love hearing them speak. The training was to be focused on the ward mission process but once President realized we have had 10 baptisms in that Stake and in this year alone he changed his training slightly. We wished he wouldn't have because we still have only recieved one referral from the ward mission process but it will come. It was a great opportunity for the leadership of the wards to meet the mission presidency and feel of their spirit. Now they know them and trust them. It was really cool President Miller had us stand up there at the front and he asked, "How many know E. Dick and E. Pizzey?" and almost every hand went up! We have really worked hard together in that Stake. The area has completely flipped around, I think in total the Stake had 6 baptisms last year and now it is exploding!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! So after the meeting we met with the Stake presidency, mission presidency and our high councilman over missionary work. After the meeting President Miller asked if there was anything he could do to help? And Bro. Felts (the worlds greatest high councilman) quickly raised his hand and said, "Please don't move these two Elders! Things are going great here and lets just keep them that way. Please don't transfer them!" President Miller laughed and said he will take his advice if the Lord confirms it... Right after the meeting President Miller took us aside and talked to us in a room for a little bit. He told me that I was being transfered to another zone leader area but one that is not having success and teaching nobody. He told me I am to do the exact same thing I have done here with Elder Dick, a little scary.

So since we are in a huge rush I must leave! But it happened I got transfered! I am serving in the South Jordan River and Country Park Stakes, which is in the Riverton zone. Elder Atwood (who I love) is my companion. He is from Jaffery, British Columbia! My fifth Canadain companion! It is insane, I am so blessed! I love it. We mesh 100% and both love basketball. We actually played each other in highschool at the Cardston tournament. Elder Atwood goes home in two transfers and asked President if we could be companions beacuse he thought we would work hard together. This area is going to flip around just give us a few weeks. Ok I must go! Let me add we live in a barn! All to ourselve, a windmill powers our barn (it is finished upstairs though lol). I am way excited even though it is going to be hard going from teaching 20-25 lessons a week to 3-5 lessons a week. Elder Atwood is bold and business, man I love the friends you make on a mission. I can't wait for you guys to meet them! I must go!

Love your son, Elder Pizzey!