December 12, 2011

December 12, 2011 - Week 3 of Transfer 16

Yikes another week and I feel like I can't remember a thing. If you thought my last email was lacking detail then wait for this one, I don't have much to share. But don't get me wrong it was a great week. It probably doesn't help that I haven't eaten lunch yet so I am not in much of an email mood. I received Lee Atwood's wedding invitation today... that is insane. I am so excited for him and I can't wait to send Elder Mayo one of those haha! Please send a little thank you note to Jason and Kams for there unreal Birthday/Christmas present and Lindsay for the excellent package she sent me recently. That Christmas phone call is coming up real quick, then before we know it February 22nd. It is such a weird thought, this just seems like life and I feel like it will never change but I guess it does?

 

I believe I forgot to mention something from last week. We had a mission conference last Saturday December 4th where Elder Christoffersen (Quorum of the 12) and Elder Hallstrom (Presidency of the Seventy) visited our mission and spoke to us for two hours. While everyone was seated waiting for him to arrive President Miller came and grabbed Elder Mayo and I so we could be the ones to great him at the front doors of the mission office. That was quite the experience. We waited for him outside then once he arrived we greeted him at his car and walked him to the chapel, it was tight. So many general authorities we meet!

 

Currently we are living in the basement of one of our ward mission leaders and they are excellent people. We have a bedroom for our stuff, do our studies on a ping pong table and share the kitchen upstairs. At first this housing situation was only to be temporary but it has lasted for more than a year. Just yesterday one of our high councilmen found a new home for us and we hear it is quite the place. We will be moving next Monday and I will inform you of the places status since it seems your so interested in where I sleep!

Whenever you meet someone who knows your family you get a weird chill down your spine, well that happened on Sunday. A brother from the high council and his wife spoke in one of our wards and this sister just kept starting at me. The Bishop, who loves us, welcomed us to the ward as he conducted the meeting and once this lady heard my last name she kept staring like she knew me! Her last name is currently Heninger and has a maiden name of King I believe? I gave her your phone number and said call my pops. She knows Doreen (nana) quite well and her daughter was best friends with Tara. I think, it was weird. The airport is going to be messed up.

The adjustment from being an assistant to a trainer has been excellent! At first it was a little different because you feel so lonely. As an assistant you report to President at least each night and are constantly at their home, work on this or that. You feel like you have a father and mother on the mission and as a trainer I feel like a foster kid or something! He still calls and ask that I call him whenever I got a miracle to share with him, in fact today he called. Last Saturday when I saw Sister Miller she put on a poughty face and came and gave me a hug. I love the Millers, they have greatly impacted my life. What else about the transition? Studies are 10x more enjoyable! They are never interpreted and you actually get to have them everyday no matter what. Currently I have been doing the "Book of Mormon Challenge" with Elder Mayo since all new missionaries are invited to do it. I am only doing the challenge of reading it in three months, I thought it would be nice to read it one more time before I come home. I love studying the scriptures. As a trainer all that stress is taken off and you can just focus! The things that are being taught to me are unreal! Each day I just realize how much I have to learn.

Ever since August the missionary department instituted a new schedule and curriculum for trainers and their new missionaries. For the first 12 weeks of a new missionary he has one hour of personal study (normal) and two hours of companionship study (change) and the trainers responsibility has been magnified. This new curriculum stress the fundamentals of Preach My Gospel and doctrines that the missionaries teach to their investigators. With the outlined training schedule that is given an obedient, yet new trainer and his new missionary can become some of the greatest Preach My Gospel missionaries in matter of 12 weeks. It has been a challenge yet much fun unfolding the scriptures and preach my gospel to Elder Mayo. I am really trying to awaken in him desire to hunger and thirst after the Word of God. Some how Elder England instilled within me this desire to learn and study for myself and I hope I can do the same for Elder Mayo.

Our area is doing well and there has been steady improvement since last week. Next Sunday we will be speaking and having a baptism. Darrius Dempsey a young boy will be getting baptized, we found them day one in this area and have been working on re-activating the entire family and so far its so good. In former areas of mine other investigators I have been deeply involved teaching will be getting baptized as well this coming weekend, including Sister Isom! I don't know if you remember them? Tell Daniel England about this one. We found the family tracting and she would never submit and accept a baptism date yet she has attend church every Sunday since began teaching the family (almost two years ago). Justin and Emily were baptized when Elder England and I were together and now the mother will be taking that next step completing the family as she is baptized this coming Saturday. I have stayed in contact with this family throughout my mission and its a miracle to see this happen. I am excited to attend. I hope your week goes well and I look forward to next weeks email. I really do love them.

Love your son, Elder Pizzey.