I loved your emails this week! I have the greatest family. I'm glad that the two munchkins in Ecuador are enjoying themselves, those are my girls! (Blake's sister Paige and girlfriend Lindsay are in Ecador working in an orphanage) Each night I pray for them and hope this trip has a lasting effect on them. I'm sure I could use trip like these, it would most definitely humble me. I'm sure my area is the closest thing you can get to a 3rd world country in the Great Salt Lake valley. Half our lessons we sit on the ground cross legged with a little lamp which lights the old beaten up apartment. I love culture of those we are teaching, especially the food (that’s right Dad, the food).
So this past week we wrapped up with zone conferences and had two baptisms in our area! They were both great. Diana's was a large baptism with a lot of less-active and non-members who attended. We held the service in the chapel and pulled down the big screen to show the first vision. And don't worry we only played a 4 minute clip from the video not the full 20 minute film that was played at Lindsay's. Elder Bertolino introduced it and I was able to end it with my testimony. We both bore our testimony and boldly invited others to come unto Christ. There were a few people who felt it but especially this one man whose name is Corey. We spoke to him after and he now wants to meet with missionaries and be baptized. We passed the referral on and the missionaries in his area are in touch with him, it is exciting see how this work has a domino effect.
Diana is a strong convert and has quite the story. Once again you will have to meet her, she is hilarious. She reminds me of Taren. For her baptism she couldn't handle the white jump suits so she went to the distribution center and actually bought a temple dress, I guess she’s ready for next year now. Then at her baptism she wanted a picture with every person who walked in. Like I said she is hilarious. Immediately after her baptism we had Dona's at the same building. Dona’s was a smaller but such a peaceful baptism, everyone loves her. We are thinking about having Dona come to some lessons with some of our other investigators who are struggling with the Word of Wisdom. She asked for a Priesthood blessing to quit a few weeks ago and since then never second guessed her decision to quit. She just tells herself over and over, “I’m not a smoker”. It has been so fun working with Dona and her boy Daniel.
Friday night we had Mission Fireside at the mission office which I conducted, its weird conducting meetings. President Miller had his son in law Brett and Brett’s brother Brandon come for this fireside. They have both devoted their life to classical music and are doctors in music. They have a choir which competes with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I don’t know if that’s the right way to word it. But it’s big and they are unreal. Awhile ago I shared with you how we took the entire mission downtown to see this “Messiah in America” well that was done by these two brothers. At first they weren’t that comfortable and more just talking to us but President being himself turned the meeting into the most spiritual thing I’ve witnessed on my mission. I am learning so much from him. These two brothers taught us and related the perfection needed for their music to us in our missions. They lead us in music and even performed for us. I am having a hard time telling you really what they did but it was so good. Everyone was a little skeptical at first and not even wanting to come. In the closing hymn we sung with such gusto. I thought angels were going to appear, never felt the spirit in that chapel so strong before.
On my mission I’m obviously learning more and more. When I look back at the beginning I can’t believe how little I really did know. What I’m seeing right now is elect of God. There are those who are prepared and those who aren’t. Everyone we are finding has been so prepared. Almost everyone we meet with have been brought real low but are now ready for the Lord to build them back up. The worst thing we can do is be content with where we are at, Satin works in mysterious ways. I love my mission. It has changed my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I am the same Blake but a new person. I have a love for the scriptures and feast upon them daily.
Have a great week! I’ve been writing this email on our laptop while sitting in the back of our favorite Bishops SUV. He is driving us up to Kamas to go fishing for the day. I am pumped, feel like I’m on a road trip! I’ve been in that valley for 18 months, mountains acting as big walls on each side. I will have to send you some pictures of what I catch. Bishop Springer is the man and he’s a hardcore fisher..... Its now hours after we got home. We have decided we are better fishers of men than fishers of fish, so we are going to stick with sharing the Gospel. Caught zero fish but Bishop caught one and least I held it.
Love Elder Pizzey.
Diane's baptism
Dona's baptism
No comments:
Post a Comment