December 29, 2010 - Week 1 of Transfer 8
Dear my Ma and Pa!
Well hello once again, I feel the same way. We caught up on the phone so there is not much to chat about today. I say that now and by the end this will be over 15 paragraphs long of me rambling on. So Christmas is over and its the start of a new transfer! You know what that means for me, a new planner! I have described that wonderful feeling of starting fresh and getting all organized for the next transfer.
Christmas was a little different being a missionary but none the less it was great. Far better than what I expected. After speaking to you guys Christmas night I was able to finish the night off with several games of pool at the family of Elder Dick's that we visited, it made my holiday. But really what made Christmas was the letter I was able to open up Christmas Eve night from you guys. That cracked me up and really brought a strong feeling of gratitude to me. I am grateful for my family, I love you guys. I couldn't ask for it any better. But not only from you guys did I get gifts, there were tons who made my Christmas. Let me say thank you to Grandpa, Grandma, Nana, the Low's, the Hirsche's, the Heavenor's, Paige, Lamberts, Lindsay pie, and last but not least Mr. Anderson! Really though thanks for the gifts and the letters of encouragement, I appreciate all of your support and I will try to get better with writing. But no promises just quite yet but I will get on it!
So as you can probably tell I did not get transferred and I am sure glad I didn't. This area is way to much fun for nonsense like that! There were some small changes for our zone though. Elder Ng is now gone, and we got a new District Leader. The sisters got changed up and there were a few in zone transfers made (basically just switches). The changes look good though and we are excited to see what happens. The worked slowed down slightly this past week but that was expected but I can feel it picking up once again!
I have told you about this young married couple we are teaching right now, the Curley's. He served a mission five years ago and quickly fell away when he got home. He recently had a serious accident that he considers was his wake up call since then life has changed! For the past month he has been attending church and reading scriptures everyday with his wife who is not a member of the LDS faith. He is a teacher in the Elders Quorum and this past Sunday spoke in church. There were two lines I just loved from his talk, he was speaking of his previous lifestyle. "never did I feel so alone in a group full of friends and never felt so heart broken while having fun with those friends" I just loved what he said there. It's so true. 'Wickedness never was happiness" I think for those people who have once felt pure, true happiness or real joy that comes from keeping the commandments will have a time in their life when they want it back, as did my friend here. This temporary pleasure or joy he was speaking of does not LAST, hence the word temporary. Friends are so key. Looking back on the last few years before I left I realize that's what made the difference. I thought of the Lord's words to Joesph Smith as he sat in Liberty jail when Bro. Curley was speaking of his friends.
"Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job. And they who do charge thee with transgression, their hope shall be blasted, and their prospects shall melt away as the hoar frost melteth before the burning rays of the rising sun" (Doctrine and Covenants 121: 9-11)
So moving on and wrapping this up let me share one more story. In my first (with Elder England) we taught a lady by the name of Lourdes Tea, she is from Peru. Well we taught her one lesson nine months ago. It was a spiritual lesson and when we feel the spirit, we know they do to! We invite people to be baptized! Well it scared her a little as it does with most people. We never were able to get back in there and teach her again, she was good at dodging us. Well on Sunday Elder Dick and I were able to go back and do her baptismal interview! She started to read the Book of Mormon we left with her and shortly after started to attend church. The Bishop hooked her up with the missionaries and she was on her way to taking the first step, baptism! It was amazing to see the fruit of some of my earlier labors! You never know when your planting seeds, I just had the biggest smile ever while I was over there. She kept apologizing to me and wishing she would have continued on but I have realized once again it happens in the Lord's time. There is a timing to everything and it all comes together.
I love both of you, I love the Lord and love this work.
Your son, Elder Pizzey
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
December 22, 2010
December 22, 2010 - Week 6, Transfer of 7
There is way to much to say today! I don't think I have ever emailed this late. Today we went with a few of the companionships to the "family fun zone". Its a roller skating rink, laser tag and like a bunch of massive astro jumps in one buillding. It was a lot of fun and a good work out. So I always say "sorry this weeks email is going to be really short due to time" but they end up being really long... Well I believe I'm serious this week. I think this weeks email will be short due to time. Plus we talk in three days! And I will be able to update you then! Can't wait.
So as you know we had a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come speak to us this past week. ELDER HOLLAND. It was so intense, you don't even know and words can't describe. All I can say I am glad I follow misison rules and do my studies, I don't think I could have looked him in the eyes as he spoke. I will say though there was a lot of pounding the pulpit but in his way, a way full of love, if that makes sense. He talked about the blessing of having Preach My Gospel and compared it to his day while serving a mission. He talked about missionaries going less active after returning home. Touched on disobedience, if you are your doing it your own way, claiming this is your church. ITS NOT! You do it HIS way and this is HIS church. It was funny near the end he talked about people home sick during these holidays. He said, "I am sympathetic for you BUT I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR YOU! If your keeping the rules, waking up on time and doing your studies then I promise you won't be home sick but excited!" It was something along those lines. I loved how he put things, it all makes sense. He said if you woke up on time I can tell you how your studies were. You tell me if you studied for two hours and I'll tell you how your day went. Tell me how your day went and I'll tell you how your week will go, the next month and you entire mission. Then he said, YOUR LIFE! And it just hit home. He is a motivating speaker.
I was able to go on two exchanges this past week. With E. Ng (my son) and E. Torres two of our District Leaders. Both of them were great and there are spiritual stories I would like to share from the lessons we had. It was nice to catch up with E. Ng, he has improved big time. His teaching skills have increased, we were able to teach in unity just feeding off each other. It was nice to get to know E. Torres and gain some trust there. We are lucky to have him as a District Leader, mainly because he's from Brazil. We have alot of non-Americans in our zone I love it! It's like a going battle in the mission, to overrun the Americans.
So I was in sacrament this week with four of the people we are teaching and I look up and Claudio R. M. Costa is sitting in the stands presiding. I guess he lives in our area. It's nice to have a member of the Presidency of the Seventy living in your ward, keeps you on your toes. We are teaching a young couple Chad and Courtney Curley. Chad served a mission four years ago but stopped attending the minute he got home and Courtney, his wife, is not a member of the church. Chad recently had a big wake up call in his life and has been attending church and reading scriptures with his wife daily for a month now. He is a teacher in Elders Quorum and everything! Well we have taught them (both time E. Dick was gone on exchanges) twice now. First lesson Courtney was way open but didn't really feel if this was her path. We go to church and she shows up by herself, Chad is at home throwing up. She is not the kind of person to come by herself, she even went to relief society! Next lesson she said she had the hardest week in a long time yet it was great? Doesn't make sense but she said she prayed each day and read. She said she felt so good and this extra stength even though it was so hard. She prayed sunday morning and just felt she had to go! It was amazing to see a complete change in her over a week, not even a week. This gosepl is so TRUE!
That is just one of the many stories. Elder Dick and I had a lesson with a new person that was by far the greatest lesson we have ever had together. We were seemless with each other, complete unity, our hearts knit as one! I can't describe how much I love this life. Elder Holland said this is the real life. Capital R! Capital L! I love the scriptures, I love the Book of Mormon. Any spare minute I have, I read it. Lunch time I don't fall asleep I study. I don't ever want to loose this.
This week E. Dick and I were leaving the stake offices as a returned Elder was coming in to be released. He saw us and he looked devistated, a deer in the head lights. He even started to shed some tears. How will I go home! Phhh what am I saying I'll be fine, adapt perfectly! But I will miss this! Good thing I have at least a full year left. Its just gone by so fast. I enjoy this.
Love Elder Pizzey!
There is way to much to say today! I don't think I have ever emailed this late. Today we went with a few of the companionships to the "family fun zone". Its a roller skating rink, laser tag and like a bunch of massive astro jumps in one buillding. It was a lot of fun and a good work out. So I always say "sorry this weeks email is going to be really short due to time" but they end up being really long... Well I believe I'm serious this week. I think this weeks email will be short due to time. Plus we talk in three days! And I will be able to update you then! Can't wait.
So as you know we had a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles come speak to us this past week. ELDER HOLLAND. It was so intense, you don't even know and words can't describe. All I can say I am glad I follow misison rules and do my studies, I don't think I could have looked him in the eyes as he spoke. I will say though there was a lot of pounding the pulpit but in his way, a way full of love, if that makes sense. He talked about the blessing of having Preach My Gospel and compared it to his day while serving a mission. He talked about missionaries going less active after returning home. Touched on disobedience, if you are your doing it your own way, claiming this is your church. ITS NOT! You do it HIS way and this is HIS church. It was funny near the end he talked about people home sick during these holidays. He said, "I am sympathetic for you BUT I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR YOU! If your keeping the rules, waking up on time and doing your studies then I promise you won't be home sick but excited!" It was something along those lines. I loved how he put things, it all makes sense. He said if you woke up on time I can tell you how your studies were. You tell me if you studied for two hours and I'll tell you how your day went. Tell me how your day went and I'll tell you how your week will go, the next month and you entire mission. Then he said, YOUR LIFE! And it just hit home. He is a motivating speaker.
I was able to go on two exchanges this past week. With E. Ng (my son) and E. Torres two of our District Leaders. Both of them were great and there are spiritual stories I would like to share from the lessons we had. It was nice to catch up with E. Ng, he has improved big time. His teaching skills have increased, we were able to teach in unity just feeding off each other. It was nice to get to know E. Torres and gain some trust there. We are lucky to have him as a District Leader, mainly because he's from Brazil. We have alot of non-Americans in our zone I love it! It's like a going battle in the mission, to overrun the Americans.
So I was in sacrament this week with four of the people we are teaching and I look up and Claudio R. M. Costa is sitting in the stands presiding. I guess he lives in our area. It's nice to have a member of the Presidency of the Seventy living in your ward, keeps you on your toes. We are teaching a young couple Chad and Courtney Curley. Chad served a mission four years ago but stopped attending the minute he got home and Courtney, his wife, is not a member of the church. Chad recently had a big wake up call in his life and has been attending church and reading scriptures with his wife daily for a month now. He is a teacher in Elders Quorum and everything! Well we have taught them (both time E. Dick was gone on exchanges) twice now. First lesson Courtney was way open but didn't really feel if this was her path. We go to church and she shows up by herself, Chad is at home throwing up. She is not the kind of person to come by herself, she even went to relief society! Next lesson she said she had the hardest week in a long time yet it was great? Doesn't make sense but she said she prayed each day and read. She said she felt so good and this extra stength even though it was so hard. She prayed sunday morning and just felt she had to go! It was amazing to see a complete change in her over a week, not even a week. This gosepl is so TRUE!
That is just one of the many stories. Elder Dick and I had a lesson with a new person that was by far the greatest lesson we have ever had together. We were seemless with each other, complete unity, our hearts knit as one! I can't describe how much I love this life. Elder Holland said this is the real life. Capital R! Capital L! I love the scriptures, I love the Book of Mormon. Any spare minute I have, I read it. Lunch time I don't fall asleep I study. I don't ever want to loose this.
This week E. Dick and I were leaving the stake offices as a returned Elder was coming in to be released. He saw us and he looked devistated, a deer in the head lights. He even started to shed some tears. How will I go home! Phhh what am I saying I'll be fine, adapt perfectly! But I will miss this! Good thing I have at least a full year left. Its just gone by so fast. I enjoy this.
Love Elder Pizzey!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
December 15, 2010
December 15, 2010 - Week 5 of Transfer 7
Hello my family in Christ!
Christmas is coming so fast, the weeks fly by! I love serving in this University stake! People my age! People I can relate to! This past week was unreal as far as the work goes! At this moment we have twelve people working towards baptismal dates, in the last four weeks this area has gone crazy, we can hardly keep up to the work. In the University Stake we started teaching three new people and I love them ALL!
Before I share a few quick stories. We had the longest ZLC of my life! From like 11 to 4 last Saturday. Bro. Hill and Bro. Christenson came to that ZLC to train us, it was fairly interesting. They work with the Brethren and the MTC on the way missions are run. They touched on some good things, my favorite was "mission culture". For the good and the bad. Thing I love about this Church, is that there is doctrine for everything! Well lots learned but not to interesting for you guys. This morning we had a quick meeting (during our PDay!) at the mission office. New rule. You are not alot to delete text messages and your companion has to see everything you send. I think its smart. Enough of the boring things.
So along time ago E. Dick was on a exchange and they were at the College. They met a guy named Francis and set up a lesson with him. It ended up and we weren't able to make the lesson that was scheduled (ZLC that was mandatory) but we had no way to contact him! He is from Ghana Africa and only here for a year and has no cell phone... Well when we were at the institute I saw this guy from far away and just KNEW I had to talk to him. E. Dick was busy talking to someone and this guy was 20 feet way, I went for it! I tracked him down and started to chat. His name was Francis and from Ghana! Elder Dick told me all about him and I found him! It ended up that he actually showed up and we weren't there... how sad?! and terrible. So after a week or two of no contact we found him. Scheduled a lesson and all is good know. He is Methodist yet really interested, he has a mentor family who takes him to church every week and he is really afraid to offend them but he wants to come to church. Everything started to make sense to him when we described the Great Apostasy. It always drove him crazy how he was baptized twice, earlier in a different denomination. He has such a strong belief in Christ and knows exactly what he wants in life. I love him, we have had some unreal lessons with him.
Then on Sunday we attended one of the University ward's Ward council. They are willing to do anything to help us out. Well they told us about this girl who was baptized in Taiwan a few months ago and she is now attending there ward. They (the WML) were teaching her the new member lessons and she started to bring her boyfriend to those lessons and then to church. His name is Dung Le and not a member of the LDS church, never been religious. So we decided to cancel some of the plans we had that day and attend their ward to see if we could meet him. It worked out, we met him. Then went to the Gospel essentials class with them. There was only a few of us in there and the lesson turned out to become tailored to them. Near the end of the lesson we started to talk about baptism and it started to get real spiritual, just five of us gathered in a circle of desks. I then asked Gung (pronounced young mixed with yom) what he thought about baptism. He sat there for awhile in silence then asked, "WHEN CAN I DO IT?" Right then in the lesson I told him we are holding a baptismal service on January 8th and invited him to prepare to be baptized on that date. It was crazy, never invited someone to be baptized with a specific date in a Sunday school lesson! This guy is hilarious to, a big time break dancer with crazy wild hair. It should be fun getting to know him.
We also started to teach Ryan Cook this week, he is my favorite right now! You shouldn't have favorites but he is so REAL! He is a big time skater and just in this past year one of his friends died. It made him really think about life and the purpose of it. Where we go after? What must we do? Well he started to attend a baptist church and got baptized not too long ago. Our first lesson with him was on Monday and just way to spiritual/sad for me! I never cry when I feel the spirit but in this lesson I came the CLOSEST I have in a long time to crying. Not because of the spirit but just emotion, I felt so bad for Ryan. He has gone through alot and right now to top it off his parents are going through a divorce. Well he was amazed when we told him about Joseph Smith, he couldn't handle it. The first vision blew him away! He always wondered why we don't have prophets today, or why God doesn't speak to man anymore. When asked to be baptized though he was devastated, in the thought of being baptized again. You should have seen the look on his face, it almost killed me, so sad. He told us how his baptism was the scariest thing he has ever done. I am having troubles trying to describe this moment in the lesson... Hmmm. Well I loved it. We were able to explain the restored priesthood authority some more and help him understand the importance of what we share.
Well this week I keep learning one thing. God loves ALL of his children. Christ died for all of us and many of us just don't know it. The infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice is extended to all. I am starting to see people and situations through different eyes. Why people do certain things, say certain things. I am starting to have a love for everyone I meet. The time I have with this sacred first name, ELDER is short. Real short, and I am going to make the best of while I can. No regret.
Love your son, Elder Pizzey.
Hello my family in Christ!
Christmas is coming so fast, the weeks fly by! I love serving in this University stake! People my age! People I can relate to! This past week was unreal as far as the work goes! At this moment we have twelve people working towards baptismal dates, in the last four weeks this area has gone crazy, we can hardly keep up to the work. In the University Stake we started teaching three new people and I love them ALL!
Before I share a few quick stories. We had the longest ZLC of my life! From like 11 to 4 last Saturday. Bro. Hill and Bro. Christenson came to that ZLC to train us, it was fairly interesting. They work with the Brethren and the MTC on the way missions are run. They touched on some good things, my favorite was "mission culture". For the good and the bad. Thing I love about this Church, is that there is doctrine for everything! Well lots learned but not to interesting for you guys. This morning we had a quick meeting (during our PDay!) at the mission office. New rule. You are not alot to delete text messages and your companion has to see everything you send. I think its smart. Enough of the boring things.
So along time ago E. Dick was on a exchange and they were at the College. They met a guy named Francis and set up a lesson with him. It ended up and we weren't able to make the lesson that was scheduled (ZLC that was mandatory) but we had no way to contact him! He is from Ghana Africa and only here for a year and has no cell phone... Well when we were at the institute I saw this guy from far away and just KNEW I had to talk to him. E. Dick was busy talking to someone and this guy was 20 feet way, I went for it! I tracked him down and started to chat. His name was Francis and from Ghana! Elder Dick told me all about him and I found him! It ended up that he actually showed up and we weren't there... how sad?! and terrible. So after a week or two of no contact we found him. Scheduled a lesson and all is good know. He is Methodist yet really interested, he has a mentor family who takes him to church every week and he is really afraid to offend them but he wants to come to church. Everything started to make sense to him when we described the Great Apostasy. It always drove him crazy how he was baptized twice, earlier in a different denomination. He has such a strong belief in Christ and knows exactly what he wants in life. I love him, we have had some unreal lessons with him.
Then on Sunday we attended one of the University ward's Ward council. They are willing to do anything to help us out. Well they told us about this girl who was baptized in Taiwan a few months ago and she is now attending there ward. They (the WML) were teaching her the new member lessons and she started to bring her boyfriend to those lessons and then to church. His name is Dung Le and not a member of the LDS church, never been religious. So we decided to cancel some of the plans we had that day and attend their ward to see if we could meet him. It worked out, we met him. Then went to the Gospel essentials class with them. There was only a few of us in there and the lesson turned out to become tailored to them. Near the end of the lesson we started to talk about baptism and it started to get real spiritual, just five of us gathered in a circle of desks. I then asked Gung (pronounced young mixed with yom) what he thought about baptism. He sat there for awhile in silence then asked, "WHEN CAN I DO IT?" Right then in the lesson I told him we are holding a baptismal service on January 8th and invited him to prepare to be baptized on that date. It was crazy, never invited someone to be baptized with a specific date in a Sunday school lesson! This guy is hilarious to, a big time break dancer with crazy wild hair. It should be fun getting to know him.
We also started to teach Ryan Cook this week, he is my favorite right now! You shouldn't have favorites but he is so REAL! He is a big time skater and just in this past year one of his friends died. It made him really think about life and the purpose of it. Where we go after? What must we do? Well he started to attend a baptist church and got baptized not too long ago. Our first lesson with him was on Monday and just way to spiritual/sad for me! I never cry when I feel the spirit but in this lesson I came the CLOSEST I have in a long time to crying. Not because of the spirit but just emotion, I felt so bad for Ryan. He has gone through alot and right now to top it off his parents are going through a divorce. Well he was amazed when we told him about Joseph Smith, he couldn't handle it. The first vision blew him away! He always wondered why we don't have prophets today, or why God doesn't speak to man anymore. When asked to be baptized though he was devastated, in the thought of being baptized again. You should have seen the look on his face, it almost killed me, so sad. He told us how his baptism was the scariest thing he has ever done. I am having troubles trying to describe this moment in the lesson... Hmmm. Well I loved it. We were able to explain the restored priesthood authority some more and help him understand the importance of what we share.
Well this week I keep learning one thing. God loves ALL of his children. Christ died for all of us and many of us just don't know it. The infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice is extended to all. I am starting to see people and situations through different eyes. Why people do certain things, say certain things. I am starting to have a love for everyone I meet. The time I have with this sacred first name, ELDER is short. Real short, and I am going to make the best of while I can. No regret.
Love your son, Elder Pizzey.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
December 8, 2010
December 8, 2010 - Week 4 of Transfer 7
Hello Mother and Father!
This transfer is flying by, I don't get it. Before we know it it will be 2011! Weird. Weird. This week has been a blast and completely hectic! So due to a long letter to President this week this letter might be a little shorter, I apologize! But I want to get everything in so it might be more of just a list and short descriptions, sorry no long detailed spiritual stories but there were alot of them. They happen everyday! I love serving as a representative of Christ!
So last friday I had my first real ZLC (zone leader council) and ohh man was it intense. From 11AM to 4PM. So there are 9 zones so the council consists of all the zoneleaders, the assistants and President and Sister Miller. We discuss any concerns, issues, goals for the mission, future plans and trains etc. etc. It is fun to be involved and to be able to voice your opinion on matters, but man its is lengthy. Near the end I was ready to run out of there! I just want to go work work work. It's really cool, this transfer there is no more thing as "slow hours"! I love all the hours, the days just fly by and I love all that we do. So the biggest change that was just made is one, the criteria for District Meetings. There has always been a standered training given to all the District Leaders a few weeks in advance and they would give it. Now in our DLC's (District Leader Council) within our zone it is up to us (DL + ZL) to make the trainings for the zone based on the needs of the missionaries within the zone. And each District Leader can tailor it to his district of course. It's more work but I think this is what we needed. It will work.
Maybe a tad bit more information that dad would like. One of the Assistants, E. Brand, is huge on spread sheets and stuff, he works it like pretty good during ZLC. Laptop and projector. Well our mission has 450 investigators being taught who do not have a baptismal date set as a goal to work towards. We are called to teach people who are ready for baptism. Know this number is way to high and the mission goal is to reduce that to half, 225. Our zone has only 33 investigators without a baptismal date but that is probably because our zone is hardly teaching ANYONE! Its not good. Our area has picked up like no other in the past couple weeks. Right now we have eight people working towards a baptismal date and one who does not, we aren't activiely teaching him too. So we are busy busy busy and I love it! It is a great area now to bring DL into for an exchange.
Enough about that stuff! So later that night (Friday) Pres. Miller came out with E. Dick and I to teach. He came to two of our lessons then had to leave at eight because of a training he was giving with Elder Bednar the next day he hadn't prepared for at all! But our two lessons with him were unreal! Elder Dick and I had never taught so unified. We were completely on the same page every minute. The investigators were talking more than us, such a blessing. But that night we had a first lesson with Bro. King. When we set up the lesson earlier he said he doesn't want to be pushed and he didn't want to think about baptism for a year. He accepted a date for January 8 it was a spiritual discussion. We will see what happens.
I had an exchange with Elder Gome's in our zone, a really shy Elder but once you get to know him he opens up big time! So funny! He is the one in the banana suit in the pictures I send home at Christmas. He is from Cape Verda (sp?) Africa and has just learned English in the past six months. He is doing great.
We are teaching a 17 boy named Rocco, he is so cool. He will totally serve a mission. The best thing is that he is a sponsored "free runner" He can backflip/frontflip on ground, run up a wall with 5 steps and backfkip. Jump of a 25' building white backfilpping! So intense, I love him. We met him on saturday and he has a date of December 19th!
Ohh this was the biggest downer of the night. We are out in Taylorsville checking up on a referal with the university stake. First our phone dies while we are way out there. We park the car (in an illegal spot, that we didn't know) and go in a house for 15 mins. Come back out and our car is gone! It was in the ghetto so we thought it was stolen but turns out it was towed! In 15 min, no lie! We were so ticked, so I know have to pay a $225 ticket but we got the car back a couple days later. Sorry about the ticket, please love me and realize I didn't mean to. President felt terrible and was ticked at the company, they wouldn't drop it anymore, it was like $275 I think. Some anti-mormon chick called in the second we parked I guess, really not cool...
So much to say! NO TIME! This weekend Daniel Bay got married on saturday then he was baptized on Sunday! He is the coolest guy. He used to sell every drug you can think of and within the past 10 years made some big big changes. I learn something new from him everyday we go to his house. Such a humble man, he recongizes his weaknesses and where he can improve. Love him. I only have pictures of the wedding because my camera was in the car that night, but I am working on getting some from people.
I love this area. I love teaching. Things just keep getting better and better for us. With the University 7th stake they trust us, referral after referral. Yesterday Elder Dick and I set up a table/booth at the SLCC in Taylorsville! This was what I always dreamed of doing on a mission, well kind of. Just a busy place, lots of people and having the opportunity to talk to everyone! Not a single person got past me. Within the two hours we were there, three new lessons set up and seven referals! We are going to do this once every week or two.
This week I have been doing alot of pondering and recognizing where I am weak. I was reading in Helaman, reading alot about pride. It's a hard thing to really think about where you lack and once you do it hurts. I am a perfectionist in all that I do as I know you know. Sometimes its good and sometimes it bad. I can get into a mode where its got to be done my way or the highway and this turns me into a control freak! I know it's funny but in a companionship it doesn't always work. Although I may think I'm right, I'm not. Now me and E. Dick are getting along just fine but I could always do better. Be unified is key and not always so easy. The difference between what you think is obedience and the other does or doesn't. When do you compromise and when do you lay down the law. Sorry I went on a rant but thanks listening! I am really focusing on goals, I've never really had a testimony of this or been to good at it. Since we are having a GA to speak to us about goals I thought it might be a good idea to get going. It feels good accomplishing goals though. Ok I must go! This was long. Hmm... I must be getting faster at typing!
Love you tons, Elder Pizzey!
Hello Mother and Father!
This transfer is flying by, I don't get it. Before we know it it will be 2011! Weird. Weird. This week has been a blast and completely hectic! So due to a long letter to President this week this letter might be a little shorter, I apologize! But I want to get everything in so it might be more of just a list and short descriptions, sorry no long detailed spiritual stories but there were alot of them. They happen everyday! I love serving as a representative of Christ!
So last friday I had my first real ZLC (zone leader council) and ohh man was it intense. From 11AM to 4PM. So there are 9 zones so the council consists of all the zoneleaders, the assistants and President and Sister Miller. We discuss any concerns, issues, goals for the mission, future plans and trains etc. etc. It is fun to be involved and to be able to voice your opinion on matters, but man its is lengthy. Near the end I was ready to run out of there! I just want to go work work work. It's really cool, this transfer there is no more thing as "slow hours"! I love all the hours, the days just fly by and I love all that we do. So the biggest change that was just made is one, the criteria for District Meetings. There has always been a standered training given to all the District Leaders a few weeks in advance and they would give it. Now in our DLC's (District Leader Council) within our zone it is up to us (DL + ZL) to make the trainings for the zone based on the needs of the missionaries within the zone. And each District Leader can tailor it to his district of course. It's more work but I think this is what we needed. It will work.
Maybe a tad bit more information that dad would like. One of the Assistants, E. Brand, is huge on spread sheets and stuff, he works it like pretty good during ZLC. Laptop and projector. Well our mission has 450 investigators being taught who do not have a baptismal date set as a goal to work towards. We are called to teach people who are ready for baptism. Know this number is way to high and the mission goal is to reduce that to half, 225. Our zone has only 33 investigators without a baptismal date but that is probably because our zone is hardly teaching ANYONE! Its not good. Our area has picked up like no other in the past couple weeks. Right now we have eight people working towards a baptismal date and one who does not, we aren't activiely teaching him too. So we are busy busy busy and I love it! It is a great area now to bring DL into for an exchange.
Enough about that stuff! So later that night (Friday) Pres. Miller came out with E. Dick and I to teach. He came to two of our lessons then had to leave at eight because of a training he was giving with Elder Bednar the next day he hadn't prepared for at all! But our two lessons with him were unreal! Elder Dick and I had never taught so unified. We were completely on the same page every minute. The investigators were talking more than us, such a blessing. But that night we had a first lesson with Bro. King. When we set up the lesson earlier he said he doesn't want to be pushed and he didn't want to think about baptism for a year. He accepted a date for January 8 it was a spiritual discussion. We will see what happens.
I had an exchange with Elder Gome's in our zone, a really shy Elder but once you get to know him he opens up big time! So funny! He is the one in the banana suit in the pictures I send home at Christmas. He is from Cape Verda (sp?) Africa and has just learned English in the past six months. He is doing great.
We are teaching a 17 boy named Rocco, he is so cool. He will totally serve a mission. The best thing is that he is a sponsored "free runner" He can backflip/frontflip on ground, run up a wall with 5 steps and backfkip. Jump of a 25' building white backfilpping! So intense, I love him. We met him on saturday and he has a date of December 19th!
Ohh this was the biggest downer of the night. We are out in Taylorsville checking up on a referal with the university stake. First our phone dies while we are way out there. We park the car (in an illegal spot, that we didn't know) and go in a house for 15 mins. Come back out and our car is gone! It was in the ghetto so we thought it was stolen but turns out it was towed! In 15 min, no lie! We were so ticked, so I know have to pay a $225 ticket but we got the car back a couple days later. Sorry about the ticket, please love me and realize I didn't mean to. President felt terrible and was ticked at the company, they wouldn't drop it anymore, it was like $275 I think. Some anti-mormon chick called in the second we parked I guess, really not cool...
So much to say! NO TIME! This weekend Daniel Bay got married on saturday then he was baptized on Sunday! He is the coolest guy. He used to sell every drug you can think of and within the past 10 years made some big big changes. I learn something new from him everyday we go to his house. Such a humble man, he recongizes his weaknesses and where he can improve. Love him. I only have pictures of the wedding because my camera was in the car that night, but I am working on getting some from people.
I love this area. I love teaching. Things just keep getting better and better for us. With the University 7th stake they trust us, referral after referral. Yesterday Elder Dick and I set up a table/booth at the SLCC in Taylorsville! This was what I always dreamed of doing on a mission, well kind of. Just a busy place, lots of people and having the opportunity to talk to everyone! Not a single person got past me. Within the two hours we were there, three new lessons set up and seven referals! We are going to do this once every week or two.
This week I have been doing alot of pondering and recognizing where I am weak. I was reading in Helaman, reading alot about pride. It's a hard thing to really think about where you lack and once you do it hurts. I am a perfectionist in all that I do as I know you know. Sometimes its good and sometimes it bad. I can get into a mode where its got to be done my way or the highway and this turns me into a control freak! I know it's funny but in a companionship it doesn't always work. Although I may think I'm right, I'm not. Now me and E. Dick are getting along just fine but I could always do better. Be unified is key and not always so easy. The difference between what you think is obedience and the other does or doesn't. When do you compromise and when do you lay down the law. Sorry I went on a rant but thanks listening! I am really focusing on goals, I've never really had a testimony of this or been to good at it. Since we are having a GA to speak to us about goals I thought it might be a good idea to get going. It feels good accomplishing goals though. Ok I must go! This was long. Hmm... I must be getting faster at typing!
Love you tons, Elder Pizzey!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
December 1, 2010
December 1, 2010 - Week 3 of Transfer 7
Hi Ma and Pa!
Sounds like you guys had a good trip, I completely forgot you were in Florida this past week. I met quite a few people this past week with ties to Florida, weird. Mom! You killed it golfing, an 83! How? That is nuts, I'm proud... How intense is Thanksgiving here!? Ohh man people wouldn't let us go unless we ate! We had a huge stake breakfast then four dinners throughout the rest of the day. It hurt. I gained 10 lbs that day and lost in the next day. Its grouse I know but people get so offended you don't eat. Please don't force missionaries to eat. I was able to go visit the Roosendaals and the Ulrich's. Felt like going home. I will probably go to Roosendaals on Christmas for a little bit.
So my exchange last Wednesday night with Elder Brand (assistant) was unreal. He is a missionary I respect and look up to in the mission. We taught a couple lessons that night and man do I love teaching with someone who has the same style as I. I hate when Elders say OK you teach this principle, I teach this one. NO! Every minute there should be a transition between missionaries, a question asked, a scriptures shared or a testimony born! When you yield to your companion and both add in you don't hinder the spirit and allow the inspired thoughts/scriptures/questions to be shared. Elder Brand and I had a good conversation about teaching. The only reason I teach people is to get them to feel something. That feeling awakens a desire and that desire builds to action! This past week I studied David M. McConkie's talk from this past General Conference. This paragraph spoke to me and I wrote it down in the front of my Book of Mormon.
"The role of the teacher is “to help individuals take responsibility for learning the gospel—to awaken in them the desire to study, understand, and live the gospel.” This means that as teachers we should not focus so much on our performance as on how we help others learn and live the gospel."
When teaching I think what do THEY need right now to feel the spirit. Not how am I going to transition into our lesson plan. The key is to LISTEN and to truly listen. Its hard and something always to work on. Not thinking of whats next, what question, what scripture. But just listening then allowing the spirit to tell you what to do, once they are done. My thought for the week!
So we cover the University 7th Stake and man is it unreal! We spoke in one of the wards this past week, it's so nice being able to be with/teach people you can relate too. We go to the Taylorsville Institute building alot to find. Play some pool/ping pong with some guys not of our faith then set up a lesson! lol it works though. There are some many people attending Institute classes who aren't LDS its prime. Exams are this upcoming week for all of them so it's a little hard but we just need some time and we will be doing unreal. We are setting up a table near the food courts of the SLCC in Taylorsville this coming Tuesday, we will see what happens. Ohh! Also! So I'm at the Institute on Friday and I see a picture of Bro. and Sis. Forysth, totally forgot about them! Well it turns out he is the in the Stake Presidency of our stake! So cool, Sunday was the first time seeing him and that was at the Stake High council meeting. I have seen him quite a few times since, we are going to set up a dinner soon. So he is one of the main teachers over there and I guess we have permission to attend some of the institute classes if we can find the ones with the people attending who aren't of our faith. So Sisters had this stake prior and they just weren't doing anything with it because they were to shy but we are ready to go. It's such a blessing to cover this Stake. (young single adult stake)
So on Sunday we got a referral for this guy named Sid. He has been here for three months and came here for school from South Korea. Well during Sacrament meetings we left the Institute to go follow up on this referral. Sid comes to the door and peeks through the glass, waves and walks away with look on his face, "I'm not interested, go away." We sat there for a few seconds just thinking... this sucks. We were about to walk away then I decided to give it my last shot and knocked with some attitude. The knock said, "you come back here". Well he did and starred through the glass again then cracked open the door and asked us what we wanted. We were able to explain who we were and eventually get inside! We shared a short message and asked him to say a prayer before he left. His prayer was unreal and so sincere. He was speaking directly to God. I love the prayer of a child or a investigator. So simple and brief, the way it should be. He told us the reason he came to school in Utah is because of the LDS standards and view on family. He's 19 years old! I love being a missionary, you really learn alot about people and learn to understand how they feel and where they are. We are all raised differently and are in completely different places in life.
That is the main part of my week. We have some fun things coming up in December for the mission. A couple general authorities coming. One on December 17th and another on January 1st. I know who they are too! But can't say sorry. This week Dan Bay one of our investigators is getting married on Saturday and baptized on Sunday. Also Donavin Thompson from my old area is getting baptized on Saturday, way excited. He is the 6'8" Jamaican. On friday we have a 6 hour Zone Council! Aghhh! Basically like a ward council but for the affairs of the mission. Should be fun. Later that night President Miller is coming out for the night with Elder Dick and I to basically see how we teach. A little scary but should be a good experience.
Love you guys,
Your son Elder Pizzey!
Hi Ma and Pa!
Sounds like you guys had a good trip, I completely forgot you were in Florida this past week. I met quite a few people this past week with ties to Florida, weird. Mom! You killed it golfing, an 83! How? That is nuts, I'm proud... How intense is Thanksgiving here!? Ohh man people wouldn't let us go unless we ate! We had a huge stake breakfast then four dinners throughout the rest of the day. It hurt. I gained 10 lbs that day and lost in the next day. Its grouse I know but people get so offended you don't eat. Please don't force missionaries to eat. I was able to go visit the Roosendaals and the Ulrich's. Felt like going home. I will probably go to Roosendaals on Christmas for a little bit.
So my exchange last Wednesday night with Elder Brand (assistant) was unreal. He is a missionary I respect and look up to in the mission. We taught a couple lessons that night and man do I love teaching with someone who has the same style as I. I hate when Elders say OK you teach this principle, I teach this one. NO! Every minute there should be a transition between missionaries, a question asked, a scriptures shared or a testimony born! When you yield to your companion and both add in you don't hinder the spirit and allow the inspired thoughts/scriptures/questions to be shared. Elder Brand and I had a good conversation about teaching. The only reason I teach people is to get them to feel something. That feeling awakens a desire and that desire builds to action! This past week I studied David M. McConkie's talk from this past General Conference. This paragraph spoke to me and I wrote it down in the front of my Book of Mormon.
"The role of the teacher is “to help individuals take responsibility for learning the gospel—to awaken in them the desire to study, understand, and live the gospel.” This means that as teachers we should not focus so much on our performance as on how we help others learn and live the gospel."
When teaching I think what do THEY need right now to feel the spirit. Not how am I going to transition into our lesson plan. The key is to LISTEN and to truly listen. Its hard and something always to work on. Not thinking of whats next, what question, what scripture. But just listening then allowing the spirit to tell you what to do, once they are done. My thought for the week!
So we cover the University 7th Stake and man is it unreal! We spoke in one of the wards this past week, it's so nice being able to be with/teach people you can relate too. We go to the Taylorsville Institute building alot to find. Play some pool/ping pong with some guys not of our faith then set up a lesson! lol it works though. There are some many people attending Institute classes who aren't LDS its prime. Exams are this upcoming week for all of them so it's a little hard but we just need some time and we will be doing unreal. We are setting up a table near the food courts of the SLCC in Taylorsville this coming Tuesday, we will see what happens. Ohh! Also! So I'm at the Institute on Friday and I see a picture of Bro. and Sis. Forysth, totally forgot about them! Well it turns out he is the in the Stake Presidency of our stake! So cool, Sunday was the first time seeing him and that was at the Stake High council meeting. I have seen him quite a few times since, we are going to set up a dinner soon. So he is one of the main teachers over there and I guess we have permission to attend some of the institute classes if we can find the ones with the people attending who aren't of our faith. So Sisters had this stake prior and they just weren't doing anything with it because they were to shy but we are ready to go. It's such a blessing to cover this Stake. (young single adult stake)
So on Sunday we got a referral for this guy named Sid. He has been here for three months and came here for school from South Korea. Well during Sacrament meetings we left the Institute to go follow up on this referral. Sid comes to the door and peeks through the glass, waves and walks away with look on his face, "I'm not interested, go away." We sat there for a few seconds just thinking... this sucks. We were about to walk away then I decided to give it my last shot and knocked with some attitude. The knock said, "you come back here". Well he did and starred through the glass again then cracked open the door and asked us what we wanted. We were able to explain who we were and eventually get inside! We shared a short message and asked him to say a prayer before he left. His prayer was unreal and so sincere. He was speaking directly to God. I love the prayer of a child or a investigator. So simple and brief, the way it should be. He told us the reason he came to school in Utah is because of the LDS standards and view on family. He's 19 years old! I love being a missionary, you really learn alot about people and learn to understand how they feel and where they are. We are all raised differently and are in completely different places in life.
That is the main part of my week. We have some fun things coming up in December for the mission. A couple general authorities coming. One on December 17th and another on January 1st. I know who they are too! But can't say sorry. This week Dan Bay one of our investigators is getting married on Saturday and baptized on Sunday. Also Donavin Thompson from my old area is getting baptized on Saturday, way excited. He is the 6'8" Jamaican. On friday we have a 6 hour Zone Council! Aghhh! Basically like a ward council but for the affairs of the mission. Should be fun. Later that night President Miller is coming out for the night with Elder Dick and I to basically see how we teach. A little scary but should be a good experience.
Love you guys,
Your son Elder Pizzey!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
November 24, 2010
November 24, 2010 - Week 2 - Transfer 7
Hello Hello Hello from Draper Utah! It's cold here too! Well not that cold. It was funny everyone was freaking out all day yesterday because of a storm that hit. Universities closed down early, stores shutting down, we had to ground all the vehicles in our zone and tell everyone to cancel there lessons for the night. The storm ended up coming but it was just an average storm compared to some of the ones we get at home. People were devastated here. I was still able to make it back to West Jordan for a baptism in my old area though, just got a ride from a member over here. Quinn (11) and (10) Landin Nguyen, Michelle Nhothibouth is their mom. These boys have alot of energy but we were able to focus and channel it while teaching them. I will be keeping in touch with this family for sure I love them. It was fun to see all the people in my old area as well, plus Elder Lundwall and his companion Elder Spencer, they are going to kill it over there. The Larsen family from my old area is related to all the Ackryods, well they love Elder Dick and I and will be taking us out to dinner soon here. Fun fun fun.
So Elder Dick and I have had alot of organizing to do this week. His last companion was pretty stuck in his ways and not open to new ideas, says Elder Dick. Well we are working together on make some necessary changes to our area and zone. Some ordering was in need. We have 12 exchanges to go on this transfer within our zone, its intense. Seems like we will hardly be together this transfer, weird. Tonight we are going on exchange from 6-10 with the assistants to the President tonight. Way to intense. I'm staying here and E. Taylor (the intense tall baller) is coming with me. I am excited to learn.
I'm starting to learn the area. I can't handle not knowing every detail about the area! Not knowing the map also drives me nuts, I hope Elder Dick doesn't get upset with all the questions I ask. Its the only way you learn though. It's coming though, going into the area by myself with E. Taylor tonight well help me learn it for sure. Its weird because this is a zone leader area but the missionaries don't know alot of the leadership or Bishops. It's the only way to work in this mission, I feel alot of the work here has been done with just the missionaries. Some WML's not even aware of people in their ward being taught. But that is changing and we are going to make the work explode! We haven't had any opportunity to work with the UNI 7th Stake yet (8 singles wards). But this week we sure are, there is a devotional once a week we attend and other than that its strictly referrals.
So tomorrow is the big Thanks Giving day here, they really make a big deal of it. We have 4 dinners scheduled so far I think and a breakfast! I don't know what I'm going to do... I'm not a big eater. BTW I've dropped from 190 to 180 (were I should be) recently. Its the working out every morning! Well anyways I will probably just end up puking in between meals or something. But proselyting is basically shut down tomorrow because no one wants to talk about the work, they just want to feed feed feed! I am going back to visit the Fairmen's (first baptism) tomorrow and the Roosendaals (family I called from on mothers day) too, excited!
Well we had zone conference this week, actually on Monday. Alot learned there, we didn't have to give any trainings, that was nice. Being a zone leader was fun for zone conference though. They call you up alot to ask you advice, what you observed during role plays and put you on the spot alot. I like it though lots of fun. We have a few leadership trainings coming up and Zone leader councils. We have a couple GA's(general authorities) coming to the mission around Christmas time. I am stoked. I will definitely get the opportunity to meet them being ZL. Elder Bednar I think is coming for sure, but that is secret only ZL's know yet.
Alright so here is a good story I hope you all get a laugh from this. So... This is how I was welcomed into the Zone Leader calling. A couple days go by... The entire time Elder Dick is telling me about this golden referral from the sisters. His name is "Francis". He told me the sisters just OYM'd (open your mouth) him and he lived in our area, so they called us up. Eventually we decided to go check out the referral. Well he opened up the door and thought we were "one of his people". Jehovah's witness that is. Well he let us and eventually let us sit down, it was on from then! We started to chat, he told us he was a less active Jehovah's Witness. Told us how things didn't make sense and he was looking for truth. It was unreal! I was confused though, Elder Dick wasn't really talking that much. Well I shared testimony, we shared a few scriptures and set up a return appointment for the next day. By the way Francis is a hip black guy in his late 20's. So after 15-20 minutes we left and I flipped out. Elder Dick and I throwing high fives back and forth, talking about how we felt the spirit! It was a miracle! I couldn't get over it the entire day, really just wanted to go home and write it in my journal. Night time roles around and I want to call the WML to give him an update but Elder Dick wouldn't let me. I tackled him and we wrestled and I didn't know why he was being so weird about. Then he said, "well you already met him.." what..? No I haven't. Yes you did. Today. I was way confused. I asked for his name, and Elder Dick said, "Bro. Abraham... Bro. Francis Abraham!" I hope you've put it together like I did. Francis is and was the WML. I flipped out running around the house, aghhhhh!!! So embarrassing, then Elder Dick said, "welcome to being a zone leader" Way to funny, Bro. Abraham is way to good of an actor and the owned me. I can't wait to continue the tradition, it will even be better.
Here from you in a week! Love you guys.
Elder Pizzey.
Hello Hello Hello from Draper Utah! It's cold here too! Well not that cold. It was funny everyone was freaking out all day yesterday because of a storm that hit. Universities closed down early, stores shutting down, we had to ground all the vehicles in our zone and tell everyone to cancel there lessons for the night. The storm ended up coming but it was just an average storm compared to some of the ones we get at home. People were devastated here. I was still able to make it back to West Jordan for a baptism in my old area though, just got a ride from a member over here. Quinn (11) and (10) Landin Nguyen, Michelle Nhothibouth is their mom. These boys have alot of energy but we were able to focus and channel it while teaching them. I will be keeping in touch with this family for sure I love them. It was fun to see all the people in my old area as well, plus Elder Lundwall and his companion Elder Spencer, they are going to kill it over there. The Larsen family from my old area is related to all the Ackryods, well they love Elder Dick and I and will be taking us out to dinner soon here. Fun fun fun.
So Elder Dick and I have had alot of organizing to do this week. His last companion was pretty stuck in his ways and not open to new ideas, says Elder Dick. Well we are working together on make some necessary changes to our area and zone. Some ordering was in need. We have 12 exchanges to go on this transfer within our zone, its intense. Seems like we will hardly be together this transfer, weird. Tonight we are going on exchange from 6-10 with the assistants to the President tonight. Way to intense. I'm staying here and E. Taylor (the intense tall baller) is coming with me. I am excited to learn.
I'm starting to learn the area. I can't handle not knowing every detail about the area! Not knowing the map also drives me nuts, I hope Elder Dick doesn't get upset with all the questions I ask. Its the only way you learn though. It's coming though, going into the area by myself with E. Taylor tonight well help me learn it for sure. Its weird because this is a zone leader area but the missionaries don't know alot of the leadership or Bishops. It's the only way to work in this mission, I feel alot of the work here has been done with just the missionaries. Some WML's not even aware of people in their ward being taught. But that is changing and we are going to make the work explode! We haven't had any opportunity to work with the UNI 7th Stake yet (8 singles wards). But this week we sure are, there is a devotional once a week we attend and other than that its strictly referrals.
So tomorrow is the big Thanks Giving day here, they really make a big deal of it. We have 4 dinners scheduled so far I think and a breakfast! I don't know what I'm going to do... I'm not a big eater. BTW I've dropped from 190 to 180 (were I should be) recently. Its the working out every morning! Well anyways I will probably just end up puking in between meals or something. But proselyting is basically shut down tomorrow because no one wants to talk about the work, they just want to feed feed feed! I am going back to visit the Fairmen's (first baptism) tomorrow and the Roosendaals (family I called from on mothers day) too, excited!
Well we had zone conference this week, actually on Monday. Alot learned there, we didn't have to give any trainings, that was nice. Being a zone leader was fun for zone conference though. They call you up alot to ask you advice, what you observed during role plays and put you on the spot alot. I like it though lots of fun. We have a few leadership trainings coming up and Zone leader councils. We have a couple GA's(general authorities) coming to the mission around Christmas time. I am stoked. I will definitely get the opportunity to meet them being ZL. Elder Bednar I think is coming for sure, but that is secret only ZL's know yet.
Alright so here is a good story I hope you all get a laugh from this. So... This is how I was welcomed into the Zone Leader calling. A couple days go by... The entire time Elder Dick is telling me about this golden referral from the sisters. His name is "Francis". He told me the sisters just OYM'd (open your mouth) him and he lived in our area, so they called us up. Eventually we decided to go check out the referral. Well he opened up the door and thought we were "one of his people". Jehovah's witness that is. Well he let us and eventually let us sit down, it was on from then! We started to chat, he told us he was a less active Jehovah's Witness. Told us how things didn't make sense and he was looking for truth. It was unreal! I was confused though, Elder Dick wasn't really talking that much. Well I shared testimony, we shared a few scriptures and set up a return appointment for the next day. By the way Francis is a hip black guy in his late 20's. So after 15-20 minutes we left and I flipped out. Elder Dick and I throwing high fives back and forth, talking about how we felt the spirit! It was a miracle! I couldn't get over it the entire day, really just wanted to go home and write it in my journal. Night time roles around and I want to call the WML to give him an update but Elder Dick wouldn't let me. I tackled him and we wrestled and I didn't know why he was being so weird about. Then he said, "well you already met him.." what..? No I haven't. Yes you did. Today. I was way confused. I asked for his name, and Elder Dick said, "Bro. Abraham... Bro. Francis Abraham!" I hope you've put it together like I did. Francis is and was the WML. I flipped out running around the house, aghhhhh!!! So embarrassing, then Elder Dick said, "welcome to being a zone leader" Way to funny, Bro. Abraham is way to good of an actor and the owned me. I can't wait to continue the tradition, it will even be better.
Here from you in a week! Love you guys.
Elder Pizzey.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Pictures
Blake and Austin (one of Blake's good friends)
Blake's new companion Elder Dick
He's from Wetaskiwin, Edmonton, Alberta
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
November 17, 2010
Hello Ma and Pa!
Where to start! I have no clue, actually I do. OK are you ready for the worst thing about serving a mission? You can't play with little kids! Well you can play with them but not hold or let them sit on your lap. You know what I mean, just one of the rules in the white handbook. Keeps missionaries out of bad situations or false accusations. The reason I mention that is because I love kids, I've been thinking about my little Avery and Talia. I love them, I love family. They are adorable and anytime I see a three or four year old it's crazy to think when I come home they will be all grown up!
So this week I had lunch with Austin Fairbanks! That was fun, so weird to hear about home. Not going to lie, I like life in the mission! I'm sure Austin will to, he's going to be an unreal missionary. I was so glad I could visit with him before he headed off for two years, he's truly one of my greatest friends. He is going lead with love in his mission, he's a Christ like guy. I love you Austin!
So Mom and Dad, did you love that leadership training or what! We weren't really suppose to go to it but everyone kept inviting us so we did. And I am sure glad we did, it was amazing! I learnt sooooo much, everything applies to the mission. District leaders equal Bishops, Zone Leaders equal Stake Presidents. I'm trying to remember some of things I liked, I loved the role play ward council! Corney at times but it really was how it should be! It felt like a zone conference for missionaries because all we do is role play and practice. The panel discussion was so cool, Elder Bednar and his "revelatory experience" I love it. Here is something that I really took home from the training on these new handbooks. Take care of business before you report to the council. In a couple trainings ago with all the District Leaders Pres. Miller taught this principle and shared a story about him reporting to a 70 awhile ago. Basically instead of reporting to the Zone Leaders, Assistants or Pres. Miller about a problem, if you can solve it, solve it first then report. I felt they are really trying to take weight off the Bishops shoulders and in a way Mom you can apply this to yourself, within your presidency. Delegate! OK I could go on for hours about things I learned from that broadcast but NO TIME! Real fast thought. To be a good council leader you must be able to listen, don't do all the talking. LISTEN, then inspired questions come!
Alright so I went on an exchange with an Elder is my (old) district this week who's having troubles keeping the rules. He's a great missionary. Knows his stuff, great teaching skills and an all around smart guy but he doesn't care to much for the hours of 10-3 and thinks there pointless. He also hates exchanges because thinks they are pointless and do nothing but ruin the area and investigators. Really he's just a little stubborn but I still love him and we get along great. Anyways President has called me a couple times about him and we discussed how we can help him. Well I went on a exchange with him from 8 to 3, basically during the slow hours and tried to show him how there are actually things you can do. But it was hard to give him advice. Reason I tell you about this exchange is because it was sad! I was almost depressed about the day with him. I've never met a missionary so negative and so full of doubt! There is no faith with doubt. I'm just glad I've had the trainer and companions I've had, these nine months have truly been perfect. Each day you learn something new, there are so many unique situations which you find yourself in and you really learn who you are, where you struggle and what your weaknesses are. So many things to work on and improve. I just tried to deal with that exchange with love and give him any advice I could. Idefinitely learned some things from that exchange.
Alright so the highlight of my week! It was last night, Tuesday night. We have been teaching Jennafer Toone for three months, ever since I got here! She is the one that has been attending church for her whole life. Her mom died a year ago and she was a completely faithful and active member. Her father is not a member of the church but for the last couple of months he has been attending church with Jennafer. PS Jennafer is 15 years old. Well she has been a brain teaser for us! Gives us headaches because it has been difficult to figure out whats holding her back. She doesn't even know whats holding her back. Well we met Monday and Tuesday. Monday we had a intense lesson on PROCRASTINATING! It was a scary lesson, I even got a little scared from the words that were coming out of our mouth. It was bold. She teared up a little. She gave us a letter to read as we left that basically said thanks for everything but she doesn't feel ready to be baptized. She always thought at age 18 (was parents deal) and never at 15 would she get baptized. But now with her dads permission its game time and it scares her almost. Anyways last night we met. Taught about the importance of the commandments and it came to the end of the lesson. There was a moment of just silence, for quite some time. I didnt know what to say. But I just sat and so did Elder Lundwall (this is at the church building, amazing [ward mission leader] Bro. Bentley present). Finally something came to us, Bro. Bentley was invited to share his testimony of how we are never prepared for the next step. I forget how I worded it. Well a few minutes later I pulled out a Baptism Program and said I have a note for you. I handed her the program and asked her to fill it out and be baptized on December 11. Jennafer Toone will be baptized on December 11, 2010! Right after our lesson she had YW's (young womens) and went and told all of them!
I witnessed a miracle last night. She was the first person Elder Lundwall and myself found and the last person we extended a date to, together that is. There were times we almost gave up and moved on even though we cared for her so much. Times where she didn't keep her commitments for awhile, didn't read. But we never gave up because we both new she was ready. She was prepared by Heavenly Father and it has been in His time. Not hers and not ours, that's for sure. But His.
OK so yes there was and has been a transfer today! The thing you have all been waiting for! So I was transferred. I am no longer with Elder Lundwall. I am with Elder Dick, my new companion. We are serving in the Draper Stake and University 7th Stake. We are Zone Leaders of the Draper Temple Zone, my old zone! It's insane, I was a little shocked. President are you sure? But I am excited, a good opportunity to grow and to serve. Also my son, Elder Ng is a one of our District Leaders, so exciting! That means I get to do exchanges in my old area!
So Elder Dick. He was Elder Lundwall's companion before me, I kicked him out of the Park and Prairie Stakes! So funny and now we are together. Whats even better is that Elder Dick is from Wetaskiwin Alberta Canada! My fourth Canadian companion! Really only my second but I include Visa Waiters and Elder Ng is technically still Canadian citizen. We are excited to serve together! We know alot of the same people! TONS! The Paynes for example. BTW did everyone see Jackson in the New Era? I flipped out when I saw that, I miss him too.
Well I'm excited to serve as a Zone Leader, a little intimidating but I can do it. It will be intense giving trainings at zone conferences and going on exchanges with Pres. Miller and the Assistants. It's a privilege though, I think time will fly bye even faster now. Less free time. So this you might find interesting. This area (the DTZ area) picked up the University 7th Stake this transfer, we stole it from the sisters! They weren't to happy. But it covers the entire mission! That means we have unlimited miles and teach throughout the entire mission! INSANE! It's a Stake with eight singles wards, all university students mainly for the University of Utah. It's gonig to be way cool, we already have two investigators in the Stake. But as far as missionary work goes, this is the hardest zone in the mission. It's going to be hard. It's just really wealthy and the numbers aren't as good here, compared to the north end of the mission. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy it though! Alright well I best be going now! I am just mumbling now. Thanks for the wonderful emails and I hope all is well at home. I love both of you and the entire family and everyone who reads this! God Bless!
Love, Elder Pizzey.
Where to start! I have no clue, actually I do. OK are you ready for the worst thing about serving a mission? You can't play with little kids! Well you can play with them but not hold or let them sit on your lap. You know what I mean, just one of the rules in the white handbook. Keeps missionaries out of bad situations or false accusations. The reason I mention that is because I love kids, I've been thinking about my little Avery and Talia. I love them, I love family. They are adorable and anytime I see a three or four year old it's crazy to think when I come home they will be all grown up!
So this week I had lunch with Austin Fairbanks! That was fun, so weird to hear about home. Not going to lie, I like life in the mission! I'm sure Austin will to, he's going to be an unreal missionary. I was so glad I could visit with him before he headed off for two years, he's truly one of my greatest friends. He is going lead with love in his mission, he's a Christ like guy. I love you Austin!
So Mom and Dad, did you love that leadership training or what! We weren't really suppose to go to it but everyone kept inviting us so we did. And I am sure glad we did, it was amazing! I learnt sooooo much, everything applies to the mission. District leaders equal Bishops, Zone Leaders equal Stake Presidents. I'm trying to remember some of things I liked, I loved the role play ward council! Corney at times but it really was how it should be! It felt like a zone conference for missionaries because all we do is role play and practice. The panel discussion was so cool, Elder Bednar and his "revelatory experience" I love it. Here is something that I really took home from the training on these new handbooks. Take care of business before you report to the council. In a couple trainings ago with all the District Leaders Pres. Miller taught this principle and shared a story about him reporting to a 70 awhile ago. Basically instead of reporting to the Zone Leaders, Assistants or Pres. Miller about a problem, if you can solve it, solve it first then report. I felt they are really trying to take weight off the Bishops shoulders and in a way Mom you can apply this to yourself, within your presidency. Delegate! OK I could go on for hours about things I learned from that broadcast but NO TIME! Real fast thought. To be a good council leader you must be able to listen, don't do all the talking. LISTEN, then inspired questions come!
Alright so I went on an exchange with an Elder is my (old) district this week who's having troubles keeping the rules. He's a great missionary. Knows his stuff, great teaching skills and an all around smart guy but he doesn't care to much for the hours of 10-3 and thinks there pointless. He also hates exchanges because thinks they are pointless and do nothing but ruin the area and investigators. Really he's just a little stubborn but I still love him and we get along great. Anyways President has called me a couple times about him and we discussed how we can help him. Well I went on a exchange with him from 8 to 3, basically during the slow hours and tried to show him how there are actually things you can do. But it was hard to give him advice. Reason I tell you about this exchange is because it was sad! I was almost depressed about the day with him. I've never met a missionary so negative and so full of doubt! There is no faith with doubt. I'm just glad I've had the trainer and companions I've had, these nine months have truly been perfect. Each day you learn something new, there are so many unique situations which you find yourself in and you really learn who you are, where you struggle and what your weaknesses are. So many things to work on and improve. I just tried to deal with that exchange with love and give him any advice I could. Idefinitely learned some things from that exchange.
Alright so the highlight of my week! It was last night, Tuesday night. We have been teaching Jennafer Toone for three months, ever since I got here! She is the one that has been attending church for her whole life. Her mom died a year ago and she was a completely faithful and active member. Her father is not a member of the church but for the last couple of months he has been attending church with Jennafer. PS Jennafer is 15 years old. Well she has been a brain teaser for us! Gives us headaches because it has been difficult to figure out whats holding her back. She doesn't even know whats holding her back. Well we met Monday and Tuesday. Monday we had a intense lesson on PROCRASTINATING! It was a scary lesson, I even got a little scared from the words that were coming out of our mouth. It was bold. She teared up a little. She gave us a letter to read as we left that basically said thanks for everything but she doesn't feel ready to be baptized. She always thought at age 18 (was parents deal) and never at 15 would she get baptized. But now with her dads permission its game time and it scares her almost. Anyways last night we met. Taught about the importance of the commandments and it came to the end of the lesson. There was a moment of just silence, for quite some time. I didnt know what to say. But I just sat and so did Elder Lundwall (this is at the church building, amazing [ward mission leader] Bro. Bentley present). Finally something came to us, Bro. Bentley was invited to share his testimony of how we are never prepared for the next step. I forget how I worded it. Well a few minutes later I pulled out a Baptism Program and said I have a note for you. I handed her the program and asked her to fill it out and be baptized on December 11. Jennafer Toone will be baptized on December 11, 2010! Right after our lesson she had YW's (young womens) and went and told all of them!
I witnessed a miracle last night. She was the first person Elder Lundwall and myself found and the last person we extended a date to, together that is. There were times we almost gave up and moved on even though we cared for her so much. Times where she didn't keep her commitments for awhile, didn't read. But we never gave up because we both new she was ready. She was prepared by Heavenly Father and it has been in His time. Not hers and not ours, that's for sure. But His.
OK so yes there was and has been a transfer today! The thing you have all been waiting for! So I was transferred. I am no longer with Elder Lundwall. I am with Elder Dick, my new companion. We are serving in the Draper Stake and University 7th Stake. We are Zone Leaders of the Draper Temple Zone, my old zone! It's insane, I was a little shocked. President are you sure? But I am excited, a good opportunity to grow and to serve. Also my son, Elder Ng is a one of our District Leaders, so exciting! That means I get to do exchanges in my old area!
So Elder Dick. He was Elder Lundwall's companion before me, I kicked him out of the Park and Prairie Stakes! So funny and now we are together. Whats even better is that Elder Dick is from Wetaskiwin Alberta Canada! My fourth Canadian companion! Really only my second but I include Visa Waiters and Elder Ng is technically still Canadian citizen. We are excited to serve together! We know alot of the same people! TONS! The Paynes for example. BTW did everyone see Jackson in the New Era? I flipped out when I saw that, I miss him too.
Well I'm excited to serve as a Zone Leader, a little intimidating but I can do it. It will be intense giving trainings at zone conferences and going on exchanges with Pres. Miller and the Assistants. It's a privilege though, I think time will fly bye even faster now. Less free time. So this you might find interesting. This area (the DTZ area) picked up the University 7th Stake this transfer, we stole it from the sisters! They weren't to happy. But it covers the entire mission! That means we have unlimited miles and teach throughout the entire mission! INSANE! It's a Stake with eight singles wards, all university students mainly for the University of Utah. It's gonig to be way cool, we already have two investigators in the Stake. But as far as missionary work goes, this is the hardest zone in the mission. It's going to be hard. It's just really wealthy and the numbers aren't as good here, compared to the north end of the mission. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy it though! Alright well I best be going now! I am just mumbling now. Thanks for the wonderful emails and I hope all is well at home. I love both of you and the entire family and everyone who reads this! God Bless!
Love, Elder Pizzey.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
November 10, 2010
Hello!
So today is one of those weeks were I have way to much to say! So many stories to share, all of them amazing but NO time! To be honest it took awhile to read both the letters, although I loved them! I want to take the next thirty minutes (all I have left) to just respond to them. What a good week we had, busy busy busy. We had 16 lessons and this week hopefully we hit 20, never hit it on my mission yet! But it's do able.
So quick update on Michelle and her two boys. If you remember the story. We were about to go home. We were trying to find the Bishop but couldn't, we decided to check the church building, a Saturday night. He was there and Michelle (LA-less active) and her two boys (ages 10 and 11). She has started reading the BOM and what a change it has made in her, a different person. They come to church each week and the boys are looking at November 23 for baptism. A crazy wild, goofy family from Louse (sp? in Asia?). I love them.
This week has been filled with spiritual experiences one after another. My testimony of the BOM continues to grow, line upon line. I've had this thought a few different times this week and it is strange. A completely different feeling, and this week isn't the first time on my mission. It has happened at zone conferences and in previous areas but its a strong impression. "I know you" Weird? Maybe so but its real. Meeting knew Elders, new companions and new investigators. I know them, we know each other. I know their personality before I even meet them, the Pre-Earth life is so real! I'm in this area at this time for a certain reason.
This week I had a exchange with Elder Conrad in my district. He has been out as long as Elder Lundwall and right now he is training a new missionary. Well I love Elder Conrad. We can teach in complete unity and it is UNREAL! What a spiritual day we had, the entire day. We were being placed in the path of everyone who was reading to listen, we had two people that day say its no coincidence you showed up today. Last night..... long story! We taught a few of our investigators and we came out of those lessons in shock. Words were shared that weren't Elder Conrad or Elder Pizzey's. We gave a blessing to Jennafer Toone, an investigator of ours who's having troubles deciding about baptism. We taught a LA family with a 9 year old son, with "inspired questions" we helped the parents share their testimony with their children. And we all know when one shares it, it grows. We got in a door and had great discussion with this man, John. He wanted us to answer some questions and so we did. Great man. Well he started to bring up a few scriptures from the Bible that he believed didn't go in line with our Church. We answered them and he was satisfied. Another question, answered. We asked him some questions? Shared a few scriptures. He started to put up that wall and I could see it. You can tell when your doing good and doing bad. We were doing good but it was time to leave! We shared our testimonies and gave him chapters to study from the BOM and got out of there. It was a great experience.
We had a family invite a neighbour over for dessert and a message this week. A family of four from Mexico. Carla (17 yrs) and Nitalia (9 yrs) speak perfect English but the parents not so well. So I took the first lesson and squished it into five minutes and shared 2 Nephi 25:26, something simple. This was moment that I will always remember. I would say a few sentences and stop. Carla would translate and I would continue. I don't know why but it was powerful. Maybe it was the pausing that allowed me to not just mutter off what came to mind but to truly seek the proper words. Or the fact that Carla was basically teaching her parents and sharing a testimony to them but we felt the spirit. I loved it. I can't describe my feelings or emotions in words that well, but it touched me.
We have been teaching this lady for almost a month. We teach her basically every second day, and she has gone through alot in life. A single mom at 26 years old and when I say alot I mean alot. More than anyone I know. Well she has brought up this fear of reading the BOM because she knows she will receive an answer and have to act on it.. funny I know. Well her one year old boy has been getting abused by her ex-husband who use to beat her. This week he had to go into the hospital. So she has been trying to get full custody, but it hasn't been looking good for her. Yesterday she went to court. The judge denied it because she was missing a few things, and she was upset. She went outside the court room and decided to read the BOM for the first time by herself as she waited for an hour. She was completely taken in by it. She started to pray and she kept getting this answer that said "trust in me no matter the outcome." She was not liking the answer but continued to read, read a total of three chapters. Then an hour later the family services person came out and told her that something happened that never does. The judge stopped her hearing and decided to re-look at her case. She did and granted it. She has full custody! I can't believe the Lord answers such a prayer, but it was exactly what she needed. After a month of exhorting her to read she finally did and the very hour she did, God kept his promise! The voicemails she left said, "God works in mysterious ways and he has proved Elder Pizzey right." I called her back in complete confusion/excitement and she answers, "Elder Pizzey its true." I never thought I would here those words from her.
This week was great, this work is unreal. We always have something to learn and so much to improve on. Last week of the transfer and I'm on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen. Can't wait to see whats in store for the future!
Love your son, Elder Pizzey.
So today is one of those weeks were I have way to much to say! So many stories to share, all of them amazing but NO time! To be honest it took awhile to read both the letters, although I loved them! I want to take the next thirty minutes (all I have left) to just respond to them. What a good week we had, busy busy busy. We had 16 lessons and this week hopefully we hit 20, never hit it on my mission yet! But it's do able.
So quick update on Michelle and her two boys. If you remember the story. We were about to go home. We were trying to find the Bishop but couldn't, we decided to check the church building, a Saturday night. He was there and Michelle (LA-less active) and her two boys (ages 10 and 11). She has started reading the BOM and what a change it has made in her, a different person. They come to church each week and the boys are looking at November 23 for baptism. A crazy wild, goofy family from Louse (sp? in Asia?). I love them.
This week has been filled with spiritual experiences one after another. My testimony of the BOM continues to grow, line upon line. I've had this thought a few different times this week and it is strange. A completely different feeling, and this week isn't the first time on my mission. It has happened at zone conferences and in previous areas but its a strong impression. "I know you" Weird? Maybe so but its real. Meeting knew Elders, new companions and new investigators. I know them, we know each other. I know their personality before I even meet them, the Pre-Earth life is so real! I'm in this area at this time for a certain reason.
This week I had a exchange with Elder Conrad in my district. He has been out as long as Elder Lundwall and right now he is training a new missionary. Well I love Elder Conrad. We can teach in complete unity and it is UNREAL! What a spiritual day we had, the entire day. We were being placed in the path of everyone who was reading to listen, we had two people that day say its no coincidence you showed up today. Last night..... long story! We taught a few of our investigators and we came out of those lessons in shock. Words were shared that weren't Elder Conrad or Elder Pizzey's. We gave a blessing to Jennafer Toone, an investigator of ours who's having troubles deciding about baptism. We taught a LA family with a 9 year old son, with "inspired questions" we helped the parents share their testimony with their children. And we all know when one shares it, it grows. We got in a door and had great discussion with this man, John. He wanted us to answer some questions and so we did. Great man. Well he started to bring up a few scriptures from the Bible that he believed didn't go in line with our Church. We answered them and he was satisfied. Another question, answered. We asked him some questions? Shared a few scriptures. He started to put up that wall and I could see it. You can tell when your doing good and doing bad. We were doing good but it was time to leave! We shared our testimonies and gave him chapters to study from the BOM and got out of there. It was a great experience.
We had a family invite a neighbour over for dessert and a message this week. A family of four from Mexico. Carla (17 yrs) and Nitalia (9 yrs) speak perfect English but the parents not so well. So I took the first lesson and squished it into five minutes and shared 2 Nephi 25:26, something simple. This was moment that I will always remember. I would say a few sentences and stop. Carla would translate and I would continue. I don't know why but it was powerful. Maybe it was the pausing that allowed me to not just mutter off what came to mind but to truly seek the proper words. Or the fact that Carla was basically teaching her parents and sharing a testimony to them but we felt the spirit. I loved it. I can't describe my feelings or emotions in words that well, but it touched me.
We have been teaching this lady for almost a month. We teach her basically every second day, and she has gone through alot in life. A single mom at 26 years old and when I say alot I mean alot. More than anyone I know. Well she has brought up this fear of reading the BOM because she knows she will receive an answer and have to act on it.. funny I know. Well her one year old boy has been getting abused by her ex-husband who use to beat her. This week he had to go into the hospital. So she has been trying to get full custody, but it hasn't been looking good for her. Yesterday she went to court. The judge denied it because she was missing a few things, and she was upset. She went outside the court room and decided to read the BOM for the first time by herself as she waited for an hour. She was completely taken in by it. She started to pray and she kept getting this answer that said "trust in me no matter the outcome." She was not liking the answer but continued to read, read a total of three chapters. Then an hour later the family services person came out and told her that something happened that never does. The judge stopped her hearing and decided to re-look at her case. She did and granted it. She has full custody! I can't believe the Lord answers such a prayer, but it was exactly what she needed. After a month of exhorting her to read she finally did and the very hour she did, God kept his promise! The voicemails she left said, "God works in mysterious ways and he has proved Elder Pizzey right." I called her back in complete confusion/excitement and she answers, "Elder Pizzey its true." I never thought I would here those words from her.
This week was great, this work is unreal. We always have something to learn and so much to improve on. Last week of the transfer and I'm on the edge of my seat wondering what will happen. Can't wait to see whats in store for the future!
Love your son, Elder Pizzey.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
November 3, 2010
Hello from the valley of the Prophets!
Alright before I forget, the shout outs! Grandma Berns! Jalene! and Dianne! For the letters! And also happy birthday to Jason and Jordan, you guys are good brothers. I'm going to say the same thing about my week. I'm not keeping you out of the loop but it was just a little quite, so it might be short. Actually... the more I think about it alot happened! Just no intense stories to share.
So my history I guess, you guys were asking. I spent four transfers (24 weeks) in my last area which was WA and WC stakes. Two of those transfers with E. England and two with E. Ng. I am close to finishing up my second transfer in my second area, PK and PR stakes and of course both with E. Lundwall. So you guys are correct a transfer is coming up November 17 (first week of my seventh transfer). I predict, not prophecy, that I will be leaving and going somewhere else. President has spoken to me a few times about having Elder Lundwall train. There is a very good chance he will train this next transfer but who knows right! Anything could happen.
When I put some more thought into it way too much happened this week to even write about it! Last Wednesday Justin and Trevor Jones were baptized, an unreal baptism. It was the first baptism on my mission that we had to move it to the chapel, like Lindsay's baptism. Then on Sunday we had their confirmation. I love confirmations! We actually got to speak that sacrament meeting as well. Since they are both young men I spoke to the young men, it was great. I basically spoke on preparing for a mission but not the typical go on a mission talk. I touched on four basic things that they need to keep their mind on throughout highschool. I told some hilarious/intense/scary stories from my mission and things that I have learned. I love speaking and it's getting better and better. In the past two weeks we have spoken four times, a couple of them being 20 minute talks.
I forgot to mention that this past week we had our quarterly interviews with President Miller. So we had our district meeting and during our district meeting President would pull the an Elder out and interview him. The Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders and Sis. Miller were there part of my district meeting. So they told me to plan for an hour and half but when I got there E. Bourelson told me it's going to take two and half hours! And that I have to keep the district meeting going the entire time. I was like FREAK. But I said a little prayer and all was good. That was the greatest district meeting I've ever had. It was on revelation through prayer. I don't really know how to describe the meeting other than it was very interactive, alot of practice, then evaluate and re-practice. A spiritual meeting for all of us. My district is excellent this transfer, I love each and everyone of them. I will have to get a picture of all of us before the transfer is over and send it home.
I had to exchanges within my district this past week. One I stayed and the other I left. I always learn something new from other missionaries. Being district leader there are benefits like being able to go on so many exchanges (7 a transfer) and work with so many different missionaries. Prepare the district meeting each week and of course you grow when sharing with others what you learn. BUT MAN! I'm already sick of the calling. Sounds bad but hopefully you know what I mean. Leadership in the mission is a difficult thing. There are so many things President and the Zone Leaders want you to do and I try to do them as best as I can. But when you do what they want it is usually not what the Elders in your district want. So my point in saying this it's hard to keep the relationships strong with all the Elders especially if they are being disobedient. But I always just think it's better to be trusted than to be a friend in the mission field. Second thing I try to keep in mind is acting with no hypocrisy (Nephi 31:13). Being a leadership position is difficult at times but its great at the same time. It keeps you in line, you can only lift someone up if your on higher ground right! So you better be on that higher ground. In life you are either a leader or a follower and if you know me I don't like to follow! Alma 38:10-12 speak to me right now and I felt that was the message Pres. Miller shared with me in my interview.
Well as far as that... the Gospel is true. It's amazing to see the change it brings to peoples lives. Peoples views and morals often completely change over the time they meet with us. As people pray their original concerns go away because their will is brought in line with the will of the Father. They see through different eyes and accept the standards of the restored Gospell! I love it! Keep the faith everyone and talk to you soon on Christmas!
Love Elder Pizzey!
Alright before I forget, the shout outs! Grandma Berns! Jalene! and Dianne! For the letters! And also happy birthday to Jason and Jordan, you guys are good brothers. I'm going to say the same thing about my week. I'm not keeping you out of the loop but it was just a little quite, so it might be short. Actually... the more I think about it alot happened! Just no intense stories to share.
So my history I guess, you guys were asking. I spent four transfers (24 weeks) in my last area which was WA and WC stakes. Two of those transfers with E. England and two with E. Ng. I am close to finishing up my second transfer in my second area, PK and PR stakes and of course both with E. Lundwall. So you guys are correct a transfer is coming up November 17 (first week of my seventh transfer). I predict, not prophecy, that I will be leaving and going somewhere else. President has spoken to me a few times about having Elder Lundwall train. There is a very good chance he will train this next transfer but who knows right! Anything could happen.
When I put some more thought into it way too much happened this week to even write about it! Last Wednesday Justin and Trevor Jones were baptized, an unreal baptism. It was the first baptism on my mission that we had to move it to the chapel, like Lindsay's baptism. Then on Sunday we had their confirmation. I love confirmations! We actually got to speak that sacrament meeting as well. Since they are both young men I spoke to the young men, it was great. I basically spoke on preparing for a mission but not the typical go on a mission talk. I touched on four basic things that they need to keep their mind on throughout highschool. I told some hilarious/intense/scary stories from my mission and things that I have learned. I love speaking and it's getting better and better. In the past two weeks we have spoken four times, a couple of them being 20 minute talks.
I forgot to mention that this past week we had our quarterly interviews with President Miller. So we had our district meeting and during our district meeting President would pull the an Elder out and interview him. The Assistants to the President, Zone Leaders and Sis. Miller were there part of my district meeting. So they told me to plan for an hour and half but when I got there E. Bourelson told me it's going to take two and half hours! And that I have to keep the district meeting going the entire time. I was like FREAK. But I said a little prayer and all was good. That was the greatest district meeting I've ever had. It was on revelation through prayer. I don't really know how to describe the meeting other than it was very interactive, alot of practice, then evaluate and re-practice. A spiritual meeting for all of us. My district is excellent this transfer, I love each and everyone of them. I will have to get a picture of all of us before the transfer is over and send it home.
I had to exchanges within my district this past week. One I stayed and the other I left. I always learn something new from other missionaries. Being district leader there are benefits like being able to go on so many exchanges (7 a transfer) and work with so many different missionaries. Prepare the district meeting each week and of course you grow when sharing with others what you learn. BUT MAN! I'm already sick of the calling. Sounds bad but hopefully you know what I mean. Leadership in the mission is a difficult thing. There are so many things President and the Zone Leaders want you to do and I try to do them as best as I can. But when you do what they want it is usually not what the Elders in your district want. So my point in saying this it's hard to keep the relationships strong with all the Elders especially if they are being disobedient. But I always just think it's better to be trusted than to be a friend in the mission field. Second thing I try to keep in mind is acting with no hypocrisy (Nephi 31:13). Being a leadership position is difficult at times but its great at the same time. It keeps you in line, you can only lift someone up if your on higher ground right! So you better be on that higher ground. In life you are either a leader or a follower and if you know me I don't like to follow! Alma 38:10-12 speak to me right now and I felt that was the message Pres. Miller shared with me in my interview.
Well as far as that... the Gospel is true. It's amazing to see the change it brings to peoples lives. Peoples views and morals often completely change over the time they meet with us. As people pray their original concerns go away because their will is brought in line with the will of the Father. They see through different eyes and accept the standards of the restored Gospell! I love it! Keep the faith everyone and talk to you soon on Christmas!
Love Elder Pizzey!
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