June 1, 2011

June 1, 2011 - Week 5 of Transfer 11


This week has gone to fast, and now look this transfer is almost done! In a couple weeks we will be sleeping at Presidents house then driving the departing missionaries to the airport the next morning, it will be sad saying goodbye to Elder Atwood... truly my best friend out here. We have some good plans for this upcoming week (I forget if I've already told you some of this). This Friday the entire mission will be jumping on TRAX (like our LRT) to leave the mission and go downtown for an oratorio at the tabernacle on temple square. The Miller's son in law is the one who composed it (if thats the right wording) so we got free tickets. It is called "Messiah in America" and all based on 3 Nephi, I am excited. It is going to be a little scary taking 194 missionaries out of the mission but Elder Bertolino and I have organized it so each zone meets at different TRAX stations and no more than two zones will be on the same train. Hopefully all works out when coming home. Then this coming Monday we have Zone Leader Council and we have some exciting things planned. We will have the usual council and discuss some matters, then trainings by President, Elder Bertolino and I but after all of that we will be heading down to Bluffdale (south end of mission) to go to Camp Williams. Camp Williams is a military base and we will be there for a couple hours while a Sargent gets up in our face, training us about exact obedience. Then we will go to this outdoor obstacle course which is used to build unity and leadership. The course is full of obstacles that you must complete together and it calls for some brains to accomplish. Its actually pretty difficult, Elder Bertolino, Elder Atwood, Elder Garcia and I went a few Pdays ago to test it out. Andrew Riddle, one of my recent converts, works there and is hooking us up for free.

I don't have much time this week to fill you in on all our investigators but I must share this one story. Its about "Mr. Porn man" as dad referred to him as. So on an exchange I tracted into this man last week and after a few minutes of discussing at the door we got down to the bottom of it. He is looking for a religion and feels it is important to be baptized but felt he wasn't worthy to do so. This is last week remember, well he invited us in and we quickly realized he is a pornographic photographer, not outrageous terrible stuff but nude images and definitely porn... So we sit down and I put my back to the wall of all his work and put keep my eyes on this fellow! As you can probably image it was hard to bring the spirit into the lesson. So we taught for a few minutes, wrapped up with a prayer and scheduled a time to come back. Elder Bertolino and I came back and this time his wife, (or significant other) was with him and shes in the exact same situation as him! Wanting to learn. We asked if we could have the lesson outside on one of the picnic tables, although a little confused they agreed and we had a spiritual lesson outside! During this lesson we also taught the Law of Chastity and told them they would have to marry as well change their career. After this lesson we felt they had a real desire to change their life and prepare for baptism. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love them.

Now we come back for our third lesson with them and Bob (name change) swings open the door to his apartment and welcomes us in but once again we asked if we could take the lesson somewhere else, this time to neighbors home. He had tried to hide this disappointed look on his face but said, "OK lets go" after some hesitation. So with his wife once again we have a great lesson and invited them to come to church. They came to church and stayed for all three hours! And loved it. Then yesterday we went with Bro. Pinnock (a man I got close to in the University Stake while he served on the High Council but is now released and just happens to live in this ward!) to their home for the fourth lesson... I was really nervous as I walked into their home, but to my surprise every nude picture was taken down! My heart dropped and I almost cried, they feel remorse and are making the changes before we even ask them to! It was a new home, still a few pieces of his work but nothing revealing, just girls modeling. Yesterday I had one of my all time favorite lessons, they love the Gospel. He told us about his reading and the revelation he had while reading 2 Nephi 31, he shared with us the lessons he learned at church about hypocrisy and how he constantly keeps it on his mind. They both told us they want to change, they asked if the Bishop could marry them and asked what more could they do to prepare for baptism! The Lord is guiding his servants who are willing and ready. Missionary work brings joy into your life and it is motivating, I wish you could experience this with me. As we were leaving Bro. Pinnock asked if he would see them at church and Rudy replied "every week from now on". This is a miracle and I'm grateful to be involved.

Things are looking bright four our area. Last night we are starting to teaching this fellow in his early 20's who is going threw a divorce. A Muslim family of five who has been attending church we will also begin teaching real soon here. One story for you this week but I hope it filled you up, it has for me and I'm still shocked. Mick's baptism this past Saturday was one of the best! Elder Brand, one of the former assistants, is serving in my former area in Draper. Well he came to the baptism and brought one of his investigators and one of my recent converts! Adrianna Salazar, it was nice to see her. After a few people (including Elder Bertolino and I) shared our testimony at this baptism we felt prompted to call on Adrianna to share hers. She gladly accepted and bore down in pure testimony, many people in tears. I must be going! Elder Bertolino and I are going to buy the Flores (Rudy and Esmeralda) some pictures of Christ and temples from Desseret Book for their home. I love you Mom and Dad, have a good week and talk to you next Wednesday!

Love your boy, Elder Pizzey.