October 17, 2011

Hello mom, dad and family!


Today has been a day filled of stuff at the office, I'm sorry I did not write earlier but we just couldn't find time. Thank you for the gifts and kind letters, I love you guys. The beef jerky and eatmoors where perfect and reminded me of our family ski trips. Lindsay's cute little idea with the jones soda bottles was adorable. President Miller grabbed one from my hands and said, "who is this little girly on here?" then he gobbled it down. This week Sister Miller walked into Presidents office and said, "Elders before I forget I need to tell you something... You are both far to good looking to get free hair cuts." We didn't even tell her it was free! So next time I am not going to let the hair students butcher me.

This week has been intense. It doesn't compare to any week I have ever had as an assistant or any transfer this mission has had for ever! The entire mission is now reorganized. In a few minutes the transfer scenario on the "Internet Mission Office System" will finalize and tonight we have to go into each area to assign cars, phone numbers and most importantly ecclesiastical. Then tomorrow we send the email to each zone leader which includes the new organization roster.

It has been quite the process to get all of this going. It began with pulling all the zone leaders in one day for a few hours to present the reasons why reorganizing the mission was being considered. Together we made a decision it was worth it and would benefit us in the long run, so right then we started looking at solutions. It was really quite a revelatory council as we were all gathered around a projector while I had an image of our mission open in photo shop. In photo shop we had many different layers including one for homes, English areas, Spanish areas, YSA stakes, YSA wards, coordinating councils, previous zone boundaries and so on. But together with the zone leaders we brainstormed many great ideas and then President, Elder Speigner and myself took it all together and decided on what was best. It sounds so easy. Draw some lines and say we are good to go but there is alot behind it.

President Miller had interviews this entire week during the day and we taught at night so the only time we could work on it together was after 9pm. But after an entire week of staying at Presidents home at until 12am (a couple nights went to 1 or 3am and we just slept over then) we finished Sunday morning and decided to hold a meeting to present the new plans and zone leader transfers to the zone leaders. To present it clearly I threw together a power point Saturday night and included it as an attachment so you could get a feel of what happened.

This week was hard, really hard and it took much sacrifice. Our area has suffered, we have hardly studied the scriptures and haven't exercised at all. I am excited for Thursday to pass and to be back to a normal schedule. It was difficult to feel this but despite all it took out of us, we were still in the service of God therefore the Lord blessed us, especially in the lessons we did have. One quick story I wish to share with you. There is a family we have been teaching and the lessons have been going no where. The mother will hardly acknowledge us and help her kids in their progression. We have been teaching them for several weeks and have often thought of dropping them. Well this past week we entered their home for just another "lesson". The mother wouldn't allow us to go into their living room because it was a disaster so she told us to use the kitchen which is near the front door. There were three chairs which the brother from the ward and us used, while the kids grabbed a blanket to sit on the dirty, sticky floor. I remember sitting there looking at Elder Speigner with an expression that said, "I didn't study the scriptures today. I don't feel the spirit. These kids are crazy loud and irreverent and what should we do?" Before we began the lesson I said a prayer in my heart and asked for help. Immediately the thought came to sing a hymn. Quickly we whipped out Elder Speigner's mini hymn book and the brother used his phone to turn to "I know that my Redeemer lives". With all these girls we sang all the verses in this hymn and the spirit just occupied this kitchen. As we were singing I noticed out of the corner of my eye the mother was standing there with a tear falling down her cheek. A prayer was offered to begin the lesson and the mother slowly made her way to sit ever so humbly right in front of us on the ground with her daughters. Near the end of the lesson I could tell she wanted to speak and I asked her to share what she was feeling. She expressed she lost her job and knew it was God humbling her and helping her turn back to Him.

After 15 years this lady who has been caught up in the world and tossed to and fro is finally returning and repenting. The lessons have taken a 180 degree turn ever since she has been involved and leading her little family on this Gospel path. I am thankful for the inspiration of the Lord and I know following those little promptings makes the world of difference. I must be going now! We actually have a lesson with this family right now! So have great week and we will chat next week once everything slows down. That will be nice. Thank you for all the gifts and I will use the money wisely. Thank you and love you so much!
Elder Pizzey