November 14, 2011

November 14, 2011 – Week 5 of Transfer 15

You are right time is going to fast! It has been a great week in the Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. As I explained last week we had Elder Stanley G. Ellis do a mission tour, so it was a week full of zone conferences. It was quite a privilege to be with a General Authority and get to know him. Each day he would interview about 3-4 people that President Miller chose during lunch and I was the first one! That was quite the experience to sit down one on one with especial witness of Christ. He asked me do you have any questions for me. Of course I do! So we had a good chat, he gave me some good advice about returning home, council about future callings and also some straight forward correction. I loved it.

Last night Rudy Flores got baptized! That was one of greatest baptisms of my mission, it was worth the wait. If you remember I found Rudy nearly six months ago tracting while on exchange and after many trials and obstacles he has made the decision to be cut the covenant with God! He will be one of the first people you meet when we come back and tour the mission.

Currently Elder Ng is serving as a zone leader over the South Jordan zone with his senior companion Elder Torres. Elder Torres is an Elder I admire and wish I could become like because he is full of love, you can feel it where ever he goes. They white-washed their area and have been struggling in their area and both admit that their faith in the area is low. Elder Speigner and I went on an exchange all day Saturday to try and help them. Elder Speigner stayed in our area for the first time and took Elder Torres with him so, that left we with my good son Elder Ng in his area. We met at the mission office and drove to his area from there, now the entire ride he was complaining about how terrible his area is. He was very negative and doubtful. So before we begun I stopped and said, “Elder Ng the mission is all in your head.” I explained what I meant by that and told him get ready to have a successful day, we are going to find! It was cold and snowing but we worked hard all day!

I wish I had time to tell you the many miracles that happened that day. Briefly I will mention a few. Within ten minutes of leaving the parked car a young man seventeen years of age answered the door and before he could even think we were in his house, next we were sitting down at his table and before he could gather himself we were on our knees praying to start our lesson. We taught a great lesson and invited him to be baptized and they are teaching him tonight. NEXT, we continued tracting and found a few potential investigators here and there. A couple hours later we were still tracting but found ourselves walking down this wide alley which leads to a small building of four apartments. As we were 100 feet away a man pulled in with his SUV, got out and began to walk towards his apartment. We yelled out, “Hello sir! We have come to talk to you!” He stopped being a little startled as we picked up our pace to meet him. Long story short he is a not a member of the church and his wife is less-active, really never was active. They just moved to Utah and have been thinking of attending church. We taught the family and scheduled a return appointment, the man and his son are now preparing for baptism. NEXT, we visited one of investigators who the past missionaries taught maybe once a month, she really hasn’t been progressing whatsoever. Elder Ng and I taught together with power that night. We were bold, yet in a loving manner, told her that her heart is hardened and this is not allowing herself to progress. We then taught her HOW to open her heart and WHY it is needed. At the end of the lesson she was motivated and committed to reading the Book of Mormon everyday and having steady lessons with the new Elders!

It was a great day with my old companion and at the end of it we both learned a lot. Elder Ng was extremely humble; I left with him four things to work on. The mission is in your mind. It is what you CHOOSE to make it. Any success I’ve had on my mission is due to the Lord, I love Him. He keeps his promises. My faith began as a little seed and as I have acted it has grown. Currently faith is a principle of action for me but I feel faith is becoming a principle of power. I have hope in Christ. Faith and hope foster charity. And except we have charity we can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God. So I better work on that charity part because it’s needed! I want to become as Elder Torres a loving giant but that is just not naturally who I am. So with the Lords help hopefully I can get there one day.
Love Elder Pizzey