April 27, 2011

April 27, 2011 - Week 6 of Transfer 10


Well it is the last week of the transfer, these six weeks have flown by. Next preparation day will be transfer day and I hope and pray Elder Atwood and I stay together. Last Thursday Elder Atwood and I went out to lunch with the Assistants and they made a comment that we did not like about transfers. I think they were just playing with us and we will stay together, they couldn't separate us. We are like brothers, and so much good has happened! But there will be some big changes made in our zone and we are excited for them. There are 18 new missionaries (one Canadian sister) coming into the mission and we are getting a few of them. We will have two brand new district leaders who we will be able to train which is always fun. So things are looking good for next transfer. New missionaries, new district leaders and just a young zone in general.

We can't wait to pick up a third stake! Guess who the Stake Presidency is of the new Riverton YSA Stake we will be covering coming this Sunday!? President Plumb, President Forsyth and a new brother! Basically the exact same Stake Presidency of the University 7th Stake I covered in my old area! I talked to President Forsyth on the phone the other day for awhile, its so funny that I cover his Stake again. So their old Stake (Uni 7th) was dissolved and all YSA wards/stakes in the valley are being re-organized. President Plumb and Forsyth were switched from up in Taylorsville to here in Riverton. I can't wait, we have Stake Conference with this Riverton YSA Stake this Sunday. Should be good and hopefully lots of work comes from it.

We spoke this past Sunday again which was fun. I do enjoy speaking so often and I see it as a blessing but it is definitely stressful to have on your mind each week. At the beginning of the mission I would usually always stick to the same talk, when I became companions with Elder Lundwall I started to modify them each time. Then I became a Zone Leader and wasn't a big fan of ever giving the same talk twice and now with Elder Atwood we really focus on our talks and pray fervently about the topic, stories and scriptures we use. Last week I was struggling and wasn't receiving anything and started to get a little nervous. Throughout the week I had a hymn in mind and early Sunday morning I realized that was the answer to my prayers! I studied the scriptures the hymn was based off, and immediately a story from my childhood came to my mind that would help emphasize the principle I was trying to get across. I love having these experiences with revelation. We speak so often here yet every time I speak I get so nervous, it never goes away but I enjoy being pushed outside of the comfort zone.

My love for the scriptures (not mine but the scriptures in general, while mine to i guess lol) are growing each day. I love studying, its my favorite part of the day. I wish we had more time but any spare minute I have at night I hit the books. I am going through the New Testament right now for the first time and am in the book of Luke, excited to read John and be done the Gospels. I always feel so inadequate with my scripture knowledge and never feel like I know enough to be a "zone leader". All things happen for a reason and I feel this was meant to be and its really the Lord just keeping me on my toes. I love the doctrine and I try to find doctrine to support all that we do as zone leaders, missionaries or whatever it is! We are realizing a lack of studying in our zone and trying to help people see the importance of those morning hours when we connect to heaven.

I'm sorry no crazy stories or heart pounding stories but hopefully a good update for you. It was a great week, lots of exchanges. At the end of every exchange Elder Atwood and are always excited to be back together, we usually go out for lunch to catch up and talk about the exchange. I'm laughing right now because you probably are thinking we like each other to much but we do! He's a great friend and the perfect companion to have as a zone leader. I hope you enjoy your time in Las Vegas, it is crazy how close you are! But it’s also crazy how little time I have left, its flying!

Love your boy, Elder Pizzey