Sorry for throwing ANOTHER loop your way. P-day is still going to be on monday from here on out, but with yesterday being president's day, President Ellsworth decided he wanted us to work our areas because most families would be at home. So, sorry for the confusion and all! I wish there was a way we could let you know ahead of time. It was a pretty last minute decision by President.
Hna Cruz posted the truth. Saturday night at midnight I got a call about transfers. I was 100% expecting to be staying because Elder Nerveza and I get along, and we work hard. Also, he has had 3 companions in his first three transfers, now 4 in his first four. I am going to the Camelback Scottsdale Stake. I started my mission in the Camelback 1st Branch. Now, I am headed to the Camelback 2nd branch! Back to Phoenix...kind of. My area is the Scottsdale side. Camelback mountain is in my area, so I am thinking of hiking it daily if my companion is up to it. The richest ward in the Western U.S. is in my stake. Arcadia ward. It is all of the mansions on the side of the mountain...yup. They are all members. My new comapanion is Elder Scherbel from Star Valley, Wyoming. I got to meet him at a Charla Fogonera (Fireside) in Phoenix sunday night. I think we should get along well. I am going to be greenie breaking him (his 1st companion after his trainer). I am excited, but not quite ready to leave here.
This last week was the polar opposite of the week before. It was still hard. I still had a lot of trials, but we had so many awesome things happen. Especially on Saturday when it was POURING rain here. In the last 3 days we have set two more baptismal dates with investigators. One with Jose Espinoza, and one with Miguel Duran. Miguel actually set his baptismal date himself. We talked to him, taught him, and in the end talked about baptism. He said, "I need to get baptized. When is the soonest I can do it?". We set a date with him for March 19th. I am way excited for him because his wife and kids have been members for 15 years and he has never had any interest. Well, something touched his heart as of late and he wanted us to come back over. The first time we taught him, it was actually via Skype because he was in Merida, Yucutan, Mexico. It was strange teaching like that. Yesterday, we taught him in his home.
Right before we left, his wife, Leydi, told us she was hesitant but wanted to ask us something. She says there is an evil spirit in their house that has been causing a lot of chaos and once even scratched her. She asked us to do something. Well, I have never done ANYTHING like that before so I called President Ellsworth. He told me to leave the house for one day and to go back later to cast out the evil. We are doing that tonight....I don't know what to think. President Ellsworth told me that if there is really an evil spirit there, to expect some crazy things to happen after we cast it out. Yeah. I know, it is pretty nuts. I will let you all know how that went next week!
Other than that, I think I had the best Sunday of my mission ever. We had 8 investigators at church, four of which had never gone before. It was the craziest day ever because I had to get one to primary, one to young womens, one to young mens, one to gospel principles, and one to the bishops' office. Ay caramba. It was great though. It really was.
Reyna came with all 5 of her children and her two youngest little boys LOVED primary and asked if they could go back tomorrow. Haha. I love the spirits that little children have. Their 5 year old asked for a Book of Mormon and said he needs to read it every day. His name is Jordi. He is pretty adorable.
A big step in progress happened with Moises and Graciela. They stayed all three hours of Church. We taught moises about the priesthood and he really wants it bad. We explained the responsibilities and blessings he will have and he now understands the importance of the third hour. He stayed. Their son, Moises, went to nursery and for this first week, he stayed with his mom in there. He loved it and it looked like he was making lots of little friends. It is going to break my heart to say goodbye to them tonight. I love them so much!
Also, we had some progress with Maria. Her husband has almosty got the divorce entirely paid for. After that, the ward is going to pay for marriage license and she is going to get married and baptized. She cried yesterday when I passed by to say goodbye. I am really going to miss her and her family, too.
Jose Espinoza loves the Gospel. A lot. He reads, prays, and has already recieved a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true and the Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. So, we extended the baptismal invitation and he accepted. He came to church, stayed all three hours and participated in class and priesthood. He is getting baptized on the 19th of March also.
Dad, thank you so much for your email from last week. You prepared so much harder than me. Before leaving, I had read the Book of Mormon 3 times. I had read the Bible once, and D&C twice. I am so grateful for the example that you have always set for me studying your scriptures daily at breakfast. That is something I wish I started to do sooner. It brings such great joy to my day even when it is dumping rain out and all of our appointments cancel. You are a great father and I love you!
Mom, thanks for the snail mail! It is odd how excited a missionary gets when we get a letter! It really brightened my week and all! I will let you know my new address next week! Thanks for always showing me such patience and love even though I was not deserving of it.
Will, CONGRATS on getting into those schools. I would say that you should go to the K-8th one up by PCC. I heard it was way fun! Let me know what you choose! I love you and miss you! Seeing your picture made me tear up a wee-bit.
Maddy, you are going to have your licence in like, 3 months! AHHHHHHHHHH! Wow. You are gonna be a woman way too soon. Keep working hard and smiling. Read your scriptures and pray. Life will be brighter every day!
Overall, I love you all! I think about you when I have time, and I pray for you always! Keep being the best family ever. I will tell you all about the rich and prideful of Scottsdale next week!
Love,
Elder Jonathan Alma Pearson
Posted By Maddy
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