September 19, 2011

September 19, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 14


It was sure nice to see a picture of the family, Edmonton seems like a foreign land. That tree house was nuts, Jordan you are the man. Your yard is looking beautiful as well! I'm really excited to see all my nieces and nephews, only 5 months now... That is just weird. Today Elder Speigner and I are going up to Park City to be with Elder Bertolino and former Elder Stonebrink, now Brother Stonebrink. I'm to the point in the mission where all my close friends have gone home, and I'm left here with alot of new missionaries.

One week ago this time, we had only two people scheduled for baptism but the Lord has blessed us recently, we have had a successful week. We are now working with 10 people who have scheduled baptism dates! If you look at our records and key indicators anytime we have to deal with disobedience, heavy trainings or transfers they fall. But once we have some time in the area they sky rocket once again! Our goal for October is 14 Baptisms. I know we will find those 14 souls!

Saturday we had a baptism in our area of little Daisy Woodward who is 10 years old. It was different teaching her because she is extremely shy but so intelligent. We were able to have the entire family (including grandparents) who are all less-active sit in on the lessons. They have been attending church every week for the last several Sundays and are progressing in the Gospel. We were even able to build her Father up enough to have the confidence to speak on the Gift of the Holy Ghost at her baptism and he did a fabulous job. It was really nice to see such a change in a family, there is a different spirit in their home now.

Last night I was able to go back to my first area, the Sandy Willow Creek Stake, for a baptism of a lady I taught for six months. She has been waiting for 2 years to get off of probation and what a change in life it has been for her. She has walked a long road of repentance and learned great lessons along the way and just last night she was able to enter the waters of baptism at age 49! She had great support from the ward, her family and friends. It was held in the chapel due to the large amount of people and I was able to speak for 5 minutes or so and invite all of the non-members and less-active members to follow her example. Lots of fun! I also saw two of my recent converts at her baptism. Lourdes Tea and Cassidy Forman, they are new people! Great countenances.

Our area is blossoming once again and we just need to keep it going. Please pray that we will be able to accomplish our goal. Elder Speigner and I are getting along great and learning lots from each other. I never realized how much there is to teach someone as they become an Assistant. He is extremely passionate about the work and is exactly obedient. The greatest blessing of being an Assistant is your companion, they couldn't get any better. On Saturday night we taught a power house lesson! It was the first time teaching this single sister and her daughter. Pure testimony was born and the spirit was being poured into the room to witness of what we were saying. We invited them to be baptized on October 8th and they gladly accepted with tears in their eyes. The next morning we walked with them to church and they loved it. Karina and her daughter Italia, they have only lived in Utah for 3 years and its their first time meeting with missionaries.

I love you mom and dad and hope you enjoy your week at home. Thank you for the great update of the family. Please, please, please read your scriptures everyday. I am studying the New Testament right and I am in love with it, its my favorite part of my day. By the way I got my new scripture case, its tight.

Love Elder Pizzey!